ThreeSixty caught up with Mike Stewart to for his thoughts on good shaping and what drives good design and performance.

This is an interesting topic to discuss. There always seems to be some confusion on this topic and these are my thoughts on the matter. I think what first needs to be defined is, what is a shaper? Is it a craftsman, a board designer, a board finisher, or all three? I think a good shaper is all of these, however in this day and age your board is a by-product of more than one person.

In my case, my bodyboards are designed (shapes, materials, cosmetics) on computer by myself, working with team riders. I then send this information packet to the factory to be produced. Designs are arrived at the same way as they are in nature — successful evolution born out of functionality. I would say there is some but little creative input there at the factory.

So my point is that there is no question that there is a difference in craftsmanship and finishing between boards and factories, but the design doesn’t arrive from the machine cutting the board or the guy laminating the skins.

It has (almost always) been the case that many finishers on the factory floor are amazing craftsmen and might not have ever seen a wave. That’s fine, so long as the design is kept in tact. The future is digital design integrated with minimal loss of translation to finished product, and this is actually happening right now.

The Science 1 is the culmination of everything I have learned about board design over the last twenty years. It features a contoured deck to optimise correct body posture, holding you in during critical turns and riding. The exclusive lock is a small cuplike cushion that surrounds your elbow, locking it in the key riding position. Deck and hull hand bulbs at the front of the board enhance your grip. A rear deck channel clutches your legs yet still allows for easy weight distribution. The delta tail (like a bat tail that’s less curvy between release points) creates less drag with more hold, allowing incredible hold in powerful turns and rail to rail transitions. Inside the board is an extruded polypropylene core with a composite stringer. All this works in conjunction with a highly refined template to create a very functional system for performance.”

It has taken five years of chopping and changing curves and dimensions for me to be comfortable enough to put my name to something, knowing I can jump on a board straight out of any shop and surf to my full potential. My boards handle perfectly in anything from one- to 10-feet, ledgey reef breaks, or your favourite sandy shorebreak. With the choice of PP and Dow cores, I have a board for any climate I may find myself in. These boards are truly works of art.