With many surfers tiring of expensive mass produced surfboards, there is another revival brewing in the undercurrent with surfers who want to learn the craft of hand shaping their own surfboards.  Among these are a new breed of young surfer, who are putting forth the effort and learning all the aspects of making their own surf craft. They are working with or observing the masters and soaking up information. Newport Beach local Whitney Lang is one of the new group and being a girl, even more unique than most to the shaping side of surfing which has been dominated by men. We had a chance to ask Whitney a few questions and are happy to introduce her and her refreshing enthusiasm.

Name: Whitney Lang.
Locale: Newport Beach, California
A little about me: I’m 20 years old and single. Hah.
My life outside of surfing and shaping: I am attending school to become a Physical Therapist. My goal  is to cater to surfers (and extreme sport enthusiasts) by creating an indoor and outdoor program rehabilitating them to progress back in the water as quickly as possible. By working closely with the body, I am hoping to converge the dynamics of surfing and shaping. I love riding my cruiser bike on the strand between Newp home and Huntington pier… chances are you‘ll see me everyday. Also hang out at the Froghouse a lot.

1. How long have you shaped and how many boards would you guess you have done? Started shaping and glassing Fall of 2008. Have completed 3 boards and started a few others.
2. What made you decide to shape your own? I met this guy who showed me his collection of personal boards ranging in all sizes and shapes. He also introduced me to this online community of surf craft enthusiasts called Swaylocks, and I was addicted after I started seeing pictures of boards and reading threads of techniques, advice and ‘rants and raves’. What really got me was that I could create whatever I wanted—the possibilities are endless!!

3. What is it like to be one of the only women shapers out there? Being a girl gives another dimension to shaping. I have the ‘feminine touch’ with the planer. Hah.
Board making is dominated by men, obviously and chances are you have never heard of a girl who shapes…

4. What are your goals with regards to shaping? My goals are to create uniquely simple boards and continue building an amazing network of surfers and customers in the future. In the next ten years, I’d like to have shaped at least 500 boards.

5. How long have you been surfing? Only a few years. I’m not an aggro surfer, in or out of the water.

6. Do you have any shape that you like over others or are you pretty much shaping anything? I’ll shape anything. I do like my little 6’0” twin swallow tail. Has a flat tail rocker and built for my size in these mushy waves. Long boards take a lot more work than short boards. On my list is a 9’0” or 9’6” single/thruster long board to take out at Old Man’s.

7. What challenges have you faced with regards to materials? I am always facing a challenge. From stringers that fall apart to resin kicking too quickly because I didn’t calculate the temperature and catalyst ratio correctly to acrylic paint problems… the list is endless but it’s important to learn and take notes of what I did wrong and how I can avoid a problem next time.

8. Do you have a mentor or whose shapes have influenced you most? I do have a mentor- Ken Moore. We shape out of his garage here in So Cal. He does some amazing work with resin colors, wood veneer, and lest I forget his extensive knowledge to help me fix my problems. All my Swaylocks brothers, too, lest I forget.

9. Who are your other surfing influences..surfers and etc? I am influenced by people working for preservation of beaches, and other stuff like that. People who are positive and help others to learn/progress. I have a friend here, Willy, who absolutely loves surfing—he bikes several miles to and from the beach, rides whatever he wants (usally like a 5’5” epoxy little board), and pulls off the sickest airs yet doesn’t want gratification. This kid can rip! As for pros, Tom Curren, Greg Long, and others.

10. What to you think of the state of the underground surf industry at the moment? It’s way overshadowed by the big companies… but if you take the time to check out a local ‘underdog’ shaper who takes time with you in his or her shaping bay dialing in all the specifics you want or will actually paddle out with you to see how your performance is to find a board and fin set up that will fit you best. Chances are you’ll develop a much more personal relationship with them than buying a dusty stock board from an overpriced surf shop. (But they do have their place.) And the custom board you watched being shaped just might be finished faster than one ordered from a ‘label’. What do you think about that!?

11. How do you feel about domestic manufacture of boards versus imports? I’m a huge supporter of domestic/local boards. Shapers from your town know the waves and which boards perform best in those waves. I tell all my friends, surfers or not, to buy local. There’s nothing better than a hand shaped and quality glassed board you can buy near your hometown! No imported plastic pop-outs, please!

12. What is your personal philosophy with regards to riding waves and the art of surfing? The best days are perfect glassy lefts when just a friend and I are out and the next person is at least 100 yards away minding his or her own business. I’m not out there to chat unless it’s an evening paddle out and I can’t help but say something while waiting a while in between sets. It’s important to cheer your mates on when they surf well. The art of surfing is to be patient—don’t always take the first wave and let someone else go before you. I thought I enjoyed surfing alone but seems like every time I paddle out solo, there is something missing. Surfing. My advice to people who get aggro when someone snakes them or takes ‘their’ wave—dawn patrol… or maybe try walking a little further to find some empty waves. Advice goes both ways.

13. . Other interest..skateboarding, snowboarding or etc? I’m an avid snowboarder but again it’s quite a drive to the closest mountain. Back in the day, I was big into wakeboarding and really wanted to be sponsored. Things change.

14. What types of reactions do you get when folks find out you build your own boards? I get a whole range of reactions. Sometimes while out in the lineup, someone will comment on my board or ask why I have my name on it. Then we’ll talk about shaping and what I do. Guys never think that girls know anything about shapes! Just a few days ago this guy was explaining what fish surfboards were… Ah, I let him feel macho. But I usually always get a positive reaction. Many people don’t believe I glass them myself… ha ha.

15. What type of fin set ups do you ride…want to try? What fin box system do you use or do you glass on. I use Pro Box fin boxes. I’m into thrusters, twinnies and sometimes a single once in a while. Depends on the wave. Foiling fins are on my list of things to learn.

16. Which surfing generation did you come from? I am the first. None of my family surfs, I guess you could call me the black sheep. LOL.

17. Favorite breaks: I’ve only surfed in California, so my favorites are (from north to south) C Street, County Line, HB Cliffs, 9th St HB, RJ’s, Orange St, 64th Newp, all Trestles, the Point, & Old Man’s.