Welcome to Shapers Bay!
This portion of the SIMA Web site is dedicated to the SIMA Board Builder membership. With Board Builders making up almost 30% of the total SIMA membership, this page is designed to serve as a source of information – for shapers by shapers.
Although Shapers Bay is in the beginning stages of gathering information, it is SIMA’s vision that this page will continue to grow as a point of reference for shapers. More information to come will include reference materials, important EPA guidelines, industry links, etc.
Billabong Art of Shaping Auction to Benefit
the SIMA Humanitarian Fund
Live Auction on OCTOBER 8 @ 6pm
During Sacred Craft at the Del Mar Fair Grounds
Billabong USA is proud to announce the fourth annual "Billabong Art of Shaping Event" to be held October 8th and 9th, 2011 at the Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, CA. This years' "Billabong Art of Shaping: Los Angeles County Edition" event will feature many of the top shapers in or originating from the hotbed of Los Angeles county.
The list of participating shapers includes Scott Anderson, Joe Bark, Jose Barahona, Clyde Beatty Jr., Matt Calvani, Lance Carson, Bing Copeland, Robbie Dick, Bruce Grant, Tyler Hatzikian, Brian Hilbers, Jeff Ho, Hap Jacobs, Dennis Jarvis, Don Kadowaki, Glen Kennedy, Greg Liddle, Casey McCrystal, Jed Noll, Pat Ryan, Mike Stavros, Jeff Stoner, Jerry O'Keefe of Dewey Weber Surfboards and Michael Zippi.
"The crew at Billabong has again stepped up with a fantastic event. Billabong truly understands the transcendent significance of the surfboard and surfboard builders within our culture," said Scott Bass, Sacred Craft Expo Director. "We're excited, as the auction will be a highlight of the expo, and further proof that Billabong has surfboards in their DNA."
The intention of Billabong's 2011 Art of Shaping Los Angeles County Edition Event is to showcase and pay tribute to LA shapers and their invaluable accomplishments and contributions to the art of surfboard building over the last five decades. Close examination of the list of invitees will reveal shapers from each decade that collectively have established the notable reputation of LA County.
The Concept
The concept of the "Billabong Art of Shaping Event" is simple; it's a venue to showcase the talent of LA County surfboard shapers and craftsmen by allowing them to build boards that highlight their particular contribution or influence on the evolution of the surfboard over a particular span in time. Shapers are invited and encouraged to "create a board representing the era, style, or shape they are best known for or relate to"; or, whatever best motivates their creativity and talent.
The shapers entry is then placed on display in The Billabong Art of Shaping showcase and auction arena at the Sacred Craft consumer surfboard expo along with full sized images of the shaper himself and a profile that includes information on the board he chose to build, his company or label, and his shaping history or career.
How it Works
The "Billabong Art of Shaping LA County Event" is also a charity event, the "winner" of the competition; and we use that term loosely, as every shaper is a winner and the competition is meant to be fun, is the shaper of the surfboard that brings in the highest auction price at the Live Auction held Saturday night, October 8th beginning at 6 PM; and thus becomes the largest single donor to 2011 SIMA Humanitarian Fund Grant recipients, the beneficiaries chosen for this years' "Billabong Art of Shaping Event".
The shaper is free to submit whatever type of board he deems appropriate; knowing he will be in friendly competition with his peers in the "Billabong Art of Shaping Los Angeles County Event". The shaper that builds the "winning" surfboard takes home the winner's check from Billabong for $2,000. The first runner up will receive a free full page ad in SURFING Magazine's "Board Builder's Issue", and the second runner up will receive a free full page ad in SURFER Magazine's "Board Builder's Issue". This year we will also be setting one lucky shaper up with a brand new planer from Accurate Planers.
Schedule of Events
The Billabong Art of Shaping will be displayed on the floor of the Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on October 8th 2011. During the course of the day guests are invited to view the boards and read the stories about the individual boards and shapers. The booth will be hosted by members of the Art of Shaping LA County Advisory Board; who collectively have an extensive knowledge of LA shapers and their accomplishments. Of course every shaper in the event is encouraged to attend or drop by and hang out, as many have done in past years' events.
On Saturday evening beginning at 6 PM as the Sacred Craft Expo Floor closes for the day there will be a Shapers Reception and Live Auction for attendees from Sacred Craft. From 6 PM on guests can grab a beer or a glass of wine, view the boards and settle in for a live auction that will begin at or before 7:00 PM that is sure to be exciting.
About BILLABONG ART OF SHAPING
The concept of the "Billabong Art of Shaping Event" is simple; it is a venue to showcase the talent of surfboard shapers and craftsmen by allowing them to build boards that highlight their particular contribution or influence on the evolution of the surfboard over a particular span in time. The "Billabong Art of Shaping" is a charity event benefiting the SIMA Humanitarian Fund.
Board Builders Pavilions
The SIMA Board Builders also are a key component to the Board Builders Pavilion at the Surf Expo trade shows. Working together with each trade show to build an easily accessible, convenient, and visually appealing area where shapers can showcase their products on the show floor has been beneficial to the SIMA Board Builder membership.
For more information on joining the Board Builders Pavilion at the next Surf Expo show, please visit www.surfexpo.com.
Shapes Newsletter
Please click on the links below for previous editions of the SIMA Board Builders newsletter, Shapes. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please e-mail the SIMA office.
Issue 1: May 2006
Issue 2: July 2006
Issue 3: September 2006
Issue 4: November 2006
Issue 5: January 2007
Issue 6: April 2007
Issue 7: October 2007
Issue 8: January 2008
Issue 9: September 2008
Issue 10: Fall 2009
Issue 11: Winter 2010
Issue 12: Summer 2010
Issue 13: Fall 2010
Issue 14: Winter 2011
Issue 15: Summer 2011
What is the SIMA Board Builders Committee?
The SIMA Board Builders Committee is comprised of 6 members and meets bi-monthly to discuss issues facing the board building community as a whole. The goals of the committee are to increase the visibility of surfboard builders, and at the same time explore ways in which SIMA can help these craftsmen to increase their business.
2011 SIMA Board Builders Committee Members
Shea Weber / Dewey Weber Surfboard – Committee Chairman
Tyler Callaway / FCS
Hank Johns / Graphite Master
Mike Milliken / Firewire Surfboards
Advisors
Bryan Ellis/ Surfing Magazine
Drew Lewis/Rip Curl