Surfblog

Too often, people still choose a board by its size — "I'm 6' tall so I need a 6'2"." This is an old habit that leads to buying unsuitable boards. The data that really matters is the volume, expressed in liters. It determines whether you paddle well, whether you catch your waves, and whether the board supports you or sinks you.

Most surfers use whatever wax they have in their bag, all year long. The result: wax that's too hard and doesn't grip in winter, or too soft that melts and turns into a slippery mess in summer. Wax isn't just a small detail — it's the only connection between your feet and your board. And it's chosen based on one criterion: water temperature.

In 1991, Renaud and Thomas Cardinal opened a shaping workshop in L'Houmeau. The idea was simple: to make good boards, to choose them well, and to share this passion with those who understand it. Thirty-five years later, some of the best shapers in the world have passed through their doors. Thousands of boards have left the workshop. And the project has never stopped growing.

On July 3rd and 4th, the Shapers Club House in Marennes will be celebrating.

Thomas Bexon and Jake Bowrey, aka Cutlap, are returning to the Shapers Club House in Marennes from July 25th for a two-week residency. This is a rare opportunity to order a custom Thomas Surfboards, made in our workshop, with personalized assistance on model selection, dimensions, and finishes.

Lay a board flat on the ground. Look at it from the side. It only touches the ground at one or two points: the front and back curve upwards. This curve is called the rocker. It's one of the most crucial elements of a surfboard's shape—and one of the most misunderstood. Two boards of the same dimensions but with different rockers will surf completely differently.

We talk a lot about the board itself, but rarely about the fins. That's a mistake. Three pieces of material under the deck change a board's behavior more than most people imagine: the same shape doesn't surf the same way as a twin, a thruster, or a quad. Before delving into fine technical details (that's the subject of Part 2), we need to lay the groundwork. This article does just that.

Surfboard Repair — Shapers Club... Ding, crack, delam, waterlogged board? We repair your boards in the same workshop where we shape our own. Free quote, drop-off or shipping.