Swaylock's: Treasure Trove of Surfboard Design
photos courtesy of Swaylock's
by JD Jenkins
posted 2003-09-15
EVERYTHING SURFBOARDS
There's a tendency to think the entire site boils down to how to shape a board. Paler is quick to point out that things run much deeper than that.
Photo courtesy of Swaylock's
"It's many things, starting with surfboard design, which takes place long before you reach the shaping bay. The stuff on paper, whether sketched out on the back of an envelope or on a computer screen, is fascinating and endless. Then it's about shaping and all the tools and knowledge from that end, and artwork and glassing too... all essential parts of surfboard creation. There's also a lot of discussion going on lately about mass production, the use of milling machines and the whole Surftech issue, so nowadays you have an ethics component. Finally there's the element of history... of recognizing the heritage of surfing and where the roots of surfboard design took place."
It isn't uncommon for a participant to describe a board they may have picked up at a garage sale or found in someone's side yard. "They see the name and the logo and they just want to know who made it and how they made it," says Paler.
Paler also notes the inclusion of all surf craft. "There's an openness to discuss any kind of vehicle on which we ride waves, including kneeboards, foam boards, and mats, to name a few."
A HEADFUL OF DESIGN AND CARE
At the core of all this are the contributors themselves. Without the endless questions, answers, arguments and humor, Swaylock's wouldn't exist. Paler refers to contributors possessing the "Swaylockian" mentality.
Photo courtesy of Swaylock's
"They're soulful, sincere, serious, but have a great sense of humor and a real caring side. I'm constantly impressed with how cool some of the people are? the intelligence level is high and intense, as is the level of care and concern. Some of them remind me of the guy who taught me how to surf? how he instilled in me [at the age of 14] a sense of water ethics, etiquette and style. One of the biggest ideas he impressed on me was to surf with the wave, not against it? Don't try to rip it apart, just become part of the wave. I've carried that with me and I think there are a lot of people on the forum that have that same sort of perspective."
The level of caring for fellow board members could be compared to a support group. Surfboard creation presents a parade of questions and frustrations, especially for the amateur. Luckily there are plenty of seers willing to share their know-how. The site has been graced with hobbyists who have been at it for years, flanked by the masters, including such names as Dale Solomonson, Greg Liddle, and Paul Gross, to name a few. Newbies have shown up and received advice they could find nowhere else. They go back to work on their boards and eventually return with a finished product. Pictures are regularly posted, and the results are often nothing short of dazzling.
Photo courtesy of Swaylock's
Several hardcore posters happily admit an addiction to the place, calling themselves "Swaylaholics". The word was coined by a long time regular from Miami, who posted under his real name, Ramon. "He had the Swaylockian mentality," remembers Paler, "just cool, soulful, and sincere. He was one of the first to ever submit photos. He had started a thread a long time ago entitled, "My name is Ramon, and I'm a Swaylaholic".
He shaped these beautiful pin type eggs. He shaped this one board dubbed the Cuban Comet. He passed away a couple months ago, and it was heartbreaking. His cousin came on told us the news. All the old voices from Swaylocks did a eulogy for him. He's gone now, but that's where the idea of a "support group" came from. It started out tongue in cheek, but the loss of Ramon brought it home. These guys are obsessed with design, function and shaping, and they're there for each other. On a personal level, they respect each other, their craft and their friendship."
