
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
Be outside!
How did you go from growing up in the mountains of Tennessee to a surfer in Charleston, SC?
I started out by knee boarding on the surrounding lakes where I grew up and then moving onto snow boarding and skateboarding. Then I finally discovered surfing.
When did you first realize you wanted to make surfboards?
When I was in my mid 20’s and I realized that it was the one sport where you could make your own craft, be your own designer and go play while “testing” your surfboards.
How long does it take you to create one of your surfboards?
Usually just one week.
What is your schedule like when you’re working?
I work in a commercial kitchen as a professional chef from 2 PM til close and then I take of my son in the mornings to the beach. When I get home from work late night, I will often lay templates on blanks to start with my board designs and I cut the boards out and shape them.
What would you say is your interesting quirk while working on one of your surfboards?
I guess listening to music.
Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your boards?
I study surfing history, the work of past shapers.
What do you like to do when you’re not working on your surfboards?
Surf, play with my son Theo, work on more board projects such as the pallets/cork design which I am working on. Experiment with different materials such as flax cloth for fiberglass replacement.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned about yourself while making surfboards?
Patience.
How many surfboards do you think you have created?
I have mage over 10 currently and have several others in progress.
Which style of surfboard is your favorite?
I don’t have a favorite but I do tend to go towards traditional fish boards and hybrid fish.
Do you build custom boards for people or do you just create boards that you like best?
I like making custom boards for other surfers.
How do you decide on which surfboard idea to develop?
Whatever the customer wants.
Do you hear from your fans? What kinds of things do they say about your boards?
They seem to be happy with the boards that I make for them.
What do you think makes a good surfboard?
That’s a hard question to answer because I don’t think there is a bad one but maybe a bad board would be one that does not fit that person so a good board is one whose dimensions do fit the kind of person that is riding that board.