Talk:Surfboard shaper

Requested move

The following discussion is an archived discussion of the proposal. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

The result of the proposal was move per request.--Fuhghettaboutit (talk) 15:22, 14 April 2013 (UTC)

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Shaper (surfboard) → Surfboard shaper – The current title is confusing; a shaper is not a kind of surfboard, it's a person who makes surfboards. The proposed title also avoids a parentheses in favor of preferable natural disambiguation. The term "surfboard shaper" is common, as can be seen in Google Books and the Google News archives. Cúchullain ^t/c 23:34, 7 April 2013 (UTC)

• Support an improvement. In ictu oculi (talk) 01:30, 8 April 2013 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the proposal. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

Lead Section Revisions

Hello fellow Wikipedians!

I am a college student, and I was recently tasked with the revision of several articles posted on Wikipedia, including this one! I will be making a series of edits on this particular article; however, I will be updating the community with both my presented revisions and my thought process behind them! For this editing post, I primarily focused on the lead section of the article.

First, I have made significant revisions to both the content and the style of the introductory segment. The article’s lead section was initially flagged by Wikipedia for not “adequately [summarizing]” the content of the article; while the original section did introduce the topic of the article, it lacked supplemental information that introduces history and notability of the subject. I retained the presented information concerning the summarization of the actual process of surfboard shaping; however, I also consolidated and revised this information into a subsequent paragraph. Furthermore, in terms of added content, I continued the summarization of surfboard shaping. I believe that both supplementary statements provide a more detailed and explanatory summary of the article while maintaining an unbiased and objective tone as per Wikipedia standards. Specifically, I altered the following elements:

- The phrase "by hand" was deleted due to a lack of factuality. While some surfboards are shaped completely by hand, other shapers utilize various machinery to complete the construction of a surfboard.

- The order of "designs" and "builds" was switched to improve literary flow.

- Sentences 2 and 3 added to enhance the substance of the lead section.

- The lead section is split into two separate paragraphs. I believe that this fragmentation allows for a more detailed summarization of the article.

- "Sanding machines" and "power planers" altered to "sanders" and "planes". This change was made so that each tool could be linked to its corresponding Wikipedia page.

Additionally, the original lead section lacked both proper references and in-line citations. Following Wikipedia guidelines, I utilized a mix of original and new sources and incorporated them within the lead section. While the original references are not necessarily considered biased or lacking in credibility, I believe that the new sources I have provided may more closely adhere to Wikipedia guidelines. Specifically, I altered the following:

-All defining statements are properly referenced

-All listed materials or tools involved in the shaping process are linked to their related Wikipedia article.

Any additional sources that I utilized will be listed below.

While I believe that my revisions are both beneficial and justified, I am open to any and all suggestions or comments regarding content, structure, or source. I have included both the revised lead section and my additional sources below. Revised Lead Section:

A surfboard shaper is someone who designs and builds surfboards. The process of surfboard shaping has evolved over the years, and the shaper often tailors his or her work to meet the requirements of a client or a certain wave. Surfboard shapers can be independent or work in collaboration with mass-production companies.

While originally made from wood, most modern surfboards are now constructed from pre-formed polyurethane or Styrofoam blanks. The surfboard is then shaped using an array of tools, including but not limited to the following: surforms, rasps, sanders, and planes. After the form of the surfboard is sculpted from the blank, the shaper can lay fiberglass sheets over the top and bottom of the surfboard, and laminate each sheet with a thermosetting substance, such as polyester resin.

Additional Sources: 1. Kampion, Drew (2007). Greg Noll; The Art of the Surfboard. Layton, Utah: Gibbs Smith. ISBN 978-1-58685-776-9. 2. Miller, Steven Daniel (2007). Surfboard Shaping and Glassing. Lulu.com. ISBN 9781847285348.

Jackrenaud33 (talk) 16:47, 19 October 2020 (UTC)

References

Structural Revisions: "History" and "Notable shapers"

Hello fellow Wikipedians!

For this specific editing post, I will be focusing on any large-scale structural revisions that could be made to the article. While the organization of the article promotes literary flow, I believe that there are several alterations that could be made to augment the overall aesthetic of the article.

The first major edit that I have suggested focuses on the consolidation of the “history” section. While informative, the opening content presented in the “history” section of the novel lacks topicality. The information presented by the original author more closely relates to the notability and applicability of the subject to the contemporary world. The original information is presented below.

"Most shapers today design surfboards using computer programs to generate data that can be supplied to a computer cutting facility which will mill the raw foam blank within 90% of the finished shape, leaving the shaper to fine-tune the blank to its final state before glassing. This method allows the shaper to have a very exacting and reproducible design which can be easily fine-tuned and adjusted. Wooden surfboards are making a comeback as an eco-friendly alternative, requiring ultra-light boatbuilding skills.

Many professional shapers outsource the highly specialized task of lamination to specialized "glassers", who laminate fiberglass to the foam core of the surfboard using thermosetting resins like polyester or epoxy. Fins and assorted plugs are usually installed after this process and the final product is fine sanded and often glossed with buffing compound and special glossing resin. When shaping, the shaper often takes into account the specifications of the client surfer, and molds his medium to best accommodate the user's personal surfing style and wave of choice.

Shapers play a design role in some companies that mass-produce surfboards ".''

I suggest that, in order to improve literary clarity, the “History” section be denoted as “Surfboard shaping in modern society”, and moved to the bottom of the article. I also suggest that each subsequent section (Ancient Hawaiian surfboards, The Hollow Board, The Hot Curl Board, New Construction), be consolidated into sub-sections to more accurately represent the “history” of surfboard shaping. Since each of these original sections showcases the evolution of surfboard shaping, I believe that they would be more applicable when located directly under the "history" section.

The second major edit that I have suggested centralizes around the “Notable shapers” section of the article. I suggest that the primary elements of the list (Hobie Atler, Skip Engblom, Donald Takayama, Simon Anderson, Robert August) be consolidated into sub-sections. However, while I do suggest that the supplemental content of these sections be seriously condensed in later edits, I believe that this initial alteration will improve the ease of reading within the article.

While I believe that my revisions are both beneficial and justified, I am open to any and all suggestions or comments regarding content, structure, or source.

Jackrenaud33 (talk) 16:47, 19 October 2020 (UTC)

Major Content Revisions: History Sections

Hello fellow Wikipedians!

For this specific editing post, I will be focused on the large-scale revision of the information presented in the “History” section of the article. Primarily, the edits I have made centralize around several key issues that I noticed when analyzing the article. The issues are listed as the following:

1.     A large majority of the body content does not remain topical to the article.

2.     Sub-section titles do not accurately represent their contents.

3.     The sources listed at the bottom of the article are not necessarily considered as “professional.”

4.     Each section does not include a single inline citation.

The primary source of a large majority of the issues with the article focus on the topic itself. The article was originally flagged by Wikipedia for “[lacking] focus or [being] about more than one topic”; the issue is most notably evident in the article’s excess discussion of related topics, including Surfboards and Surfboard shaping. The purpose of this article is to not discuss surfing itself but to rather highlight the history and innovation of shapers. I have separated my revisions into the listed sections below.

Section I: Ancient Hawaiian Surfboards

The section, titled “Ancient Hawaiian Surfboards” showcases the majority of my revisions. The original version of this section includes an excess of information that does not directly relate to “surfboard shaping” itself. In my revisions, I re-structured the purpose of each paragraph to focus more on the actual construction/shaper involvement in ancient Hawaii; this change is evident in my expansion of the information regarding the base materials and surfboard design difference. Moreover, I split this section into two separate paragraphs in order to both mitigate any visual clutter as well as promote the literary flow of the article. I have attached the revised section below:

Ancient Hawaiian Surfboards:

There exists very little evidence to pinpoint the exact location of the first surfboard shaper; however, the majority of evidence suggests that surfboarding itself first originated in Hawaii. The Hawaiian islanders most likely utilized only three species of tree as the base for their surfboards: the wiliwili (Erythrina monosperma), ulu (Artocarpus incisa), and koa (Acacia koa). After the chosen tree was cut, Hawaiian shapers used sea coral and oahi stones for light reduction; subsequently, the root of the ti plant and the bark of the kukui plant were used for the final burnish of the surfboard.  Surfboard shaping was regarded by the Hawaiian islanders as a ceremonial rite; Hawaiian islanders often offered fish to surfriding trees as offerings.

Three foundational templates for surfboard shaping were utilized by the Hawaiian islanders: the alaia, the paipo, and the olo. The type of surfboard shape was actually indicative of Hawaiian social structure; the alaia and paipo boards were used by the commoners, while the olo boards were reserved for the royal class. However, the primary distinction between each ancient Hawaiian surfboard shape is their length and weight; paipo boards ranged from 3-6 feet long, alaia boards ranged from 7 to 12 feet long, and olo boards measured up to 20 feet long.

Section II: The Hollow Board

The majority of the original information presented in this section stayed the same throughout my revision process in terms of base content; however, I added additional information regarding the advent of Tom Blake and the Hollow Board. Furthermore, I also adjusted the tone of the section to fit a more objective framework. I also re-defined the title of the section, changing it from “The Hollow Board” to “The Hollow Board era”. I believe that this revision steers the purpose of the article away from “surfboards” and more towards the historical context of surfboard shaping. I have attached the revised section below:

The “Hollow Board” era

The next technological change in the surfboard shaping industry came with the introduction of the “Hollow Board” by Hawaiian resident Tom Blake. In 1926, Blake acquired an ancient olo surfboard from Honolulu’s Bishop Museum; the board was originally 16 feet long and had a weight of 150 pounds. In an effort to replicate the structure of the olo board, Blake drilled holes in a redwood blank and sealed the top with wood with sheets of veneer, effectively creating the first “hollow” surfboard. Blake’s innovative design drastically reduced the weight of the surfboard, and by 1930 the “Hollow Board” became the first mass-produced surfboard in the world.

Section III: The Hot Curl Board

This section also witnessed significant change throughout the revision process. The original information presented in this section was short and not backed by any historical evidence; in my revisions, I both provided sources as well as depicted a clearer picture of the shaping innovation that occurred in congruence with the construction of the hot curl board. Moreover, while the original content mentions the usage of balsa wood in the subsequent section, the “Balsa Era” actually occurred before the advent of the hot curl board; I ultimately decided to combine this information into this section in order to maintain the chronological timeline presented throughout the article.  I have attached the revised section below:

The Balsa Era and the Hot Curl board

The advent of the 1930s marks the next technological revolution in the history of the surfboard shaper. Balsa wood began to emerge as the most versatile base for the modernizing shaper; the balsa wood drastically reduced the weight of the surfboard, and allowed for surfers to move in the water with more speed and agility

The addition of balsa wood subsequently led to the surfboard shaper’s move towards the “Hot Curl Design.” By shaving off parts of the tail and shaping the sides of the board, surfboard shapers were able to produce surfboards that allowed surfers to pull into the “curl” of a wave.

Section IV: New Construction

The section originally titled “New Construction” was presented in an initially confusing framework; the original author jumps back and forth from “balsa wood” to “rocker” design in a way that does not necessarily align with the chronological history of surfboard shaping. Moreover, the last two paragraphs of this section are completely off-topic in regards to this article; while “fins” and “leashes” do have applicability to surfboards themselves, they are not an integral part of the process of the surfboard shaper.

In terms of revisions, I removed the last two paragraphs of the section, and re-focused the original content in a way that is clear and concise. I also introduced the “Shortboard Revolution”- an era that marks distinct change in shaping innovation, yet was unmentioned in the original section. I have attached the revised section below:

Modern Construction

The beginning of the 1940s marked the introduction of fiberglass resin, which allowed shapers to construct surfboards that were strong, light, and waterproof. Furthermore, surfboard shapers began to utilize alternate base materials, including both plastic and polyurethane foam. The addition of the new materials as well as fiberglass gave surfboard shapers more freedom and allowed them to incorporate both fins and rocker design in the construction of surfboards.

In the 1960s, the design of surfboards began to significantly shrink in size. In the era known as the "Shortboard Revolution", surfboard shapers, most notably George Greenough and Bob McTavish, reduced the length of the surfboard, promoting a higher level of maneuverability. This innovation serves as the foundation for contemporary performance surfing.

Sources:

As mentioned at the beginning of this post, the original article did not utilize a single in-line citation in any of the sections. Furthermore, a large majority of the sources referenced at the end of the article did not corroborate with the information that was presented in each section. Thus, in terms of revisions, I utilized a combination of both new and old sources to provide each section with ample verification. I have listed the sources utilized below:

- History Of Surfboards: From 150lb/68kg Straight Planks To Modern Quads

- The Fascinating Evolution of the Surfboard

- A Brief History of the Surfboard

- Greg Noll: The Art of the Surfboard

- Hawaiian Almanac and Annual for 1896

- What is a paipo?

- Ancient Surfboard Style Is Finding New Devotees — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jackrenaud33 (talk • contribs) 23:25, 24 November 2020 (UTC)

Jackrenaud33 (talk) 07:06, 25 November 2020 (UTC)

Content Revisions: "Surfboard shaping today" and "How surfboards are shaped"

Hello fellow Wikipedians!

For this editing post, I have specified the major revisions that I have made to the article; this post will focus on both the enhancement of the "Surfboard shaping today" section as well as the deletion of the "How Surfboards are Shaped". First, while the information presented in the "Surfboard shaping today" section is both clear and explanatory, the content lacks the inline citations necessary for verification. In terms of revisions for this section, I have incorporated several of the article's original references that adequately verify the majority of the information in the article; however, I would suggest for more in-depth research to discover references that fully verify the included content, as per WP:NOR standards. to meet Wikipedia standards set in WP:CITE. The following sources that I have utilized for this verification are listed below.

- Surfboard Shaping Guide

- Shaped by Software

I also conducted a minor copyediting run-through of both paragraphs in the section, focusing on syntax, sentence structure, and adherence to WP:NPV guidelines. I have attached a copy of the revised section below:

Surfboard shaping today

''Currently, many surfboard shapers design surfboards using computer programs that are used to expedite the design process, especially in relation to mass-production. These computer programs allow the shaper to have an exacting and reproducible design that can be easily fine-tuned and adjusted.

Many professional shapers outsource the highly specialized task of lamination to “glassers”; “glassers” laminate fiberglass to the foam core of the surfboard using thermosetting resins, such as polyester or epoxy. Fins and assorted plugs are usually after lamination, and the final product is sanded and glossed down with buffing compounds and glossing resins.

The surfboard shaper often designs their surfboards based on the specifications of their client; the shaper will adjust the dimensions, and concave of the board to tailor to different styles of surfing and various types of waves.''

The "How surfboards are shaped" section, however, is an entirely different matter. The article was originally flagged by Wikipedia for "...[lacking] focus or [being] about more than one topic"; furthermore, I believe that the section completely diverts from the overall purpose of the article. The focus of this article should centralize around "shapers" themselves and their innovations, not the actual construction process itself. Furthermore, the information presented in this section violates the guidelines set by WP:NPV and WP:NOR; the "steps" in the surfboard shaping process read as imperative commands, rather than objective description. Furthermore, a large majority of the original information can be read as blatantly opinionated and completely lacking in sources for verification. I propose to delete this entire section from the article; "How Surfboards are Shaped" could either be linked to Surfboard or created as a new article, titled "Surfboard Shaping". However, I recognize that it would be unjust to delete this amount of content without the opinion of the Wiki community. Thus, in lieu of deletion, I am open to suggestions or comments regarding the topicality of this section within the greater purpose of the article. I have also left an invisible comment regarding the issues of this section on the article in an effort to direct potential editors to the talk page. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jackrenaud33 (talk • contribs) 01:09, 25 November 2020 (UTC)

Jackrenaud33 (talk) 07:06, 25 November 2020 (UTC)

Content Revisions: "Notable shapers"

Hello fellow Wikipedians!

For this specific editing post, I will be focusing on the revision of the "Notable shapers" section in order to fulfill the requirements set by Wikipedia. The original article was flagged by Wikipedia for issues regarding both WP:NOR and WP:NPV. Specifically, the fully-fledged sub-sections (Hobie Atler, Skip Engblom, Donald Takayama, Simon Anderson, Robert August) lack inline citations, thus restricting the verification of the presented information. Furthermore, I would suggest the reduction of information regarding the biographies of the shapers themselves; in order to remain topical, each sub-section needs to address the shaper's presence and impact within the surfing community without over-exemplification.

In terms of revisions, I have incorporated the necessary references needed to adhere to WP:NOR guidelines. The sources I have utilized are listed below:

- Hobie Atler

- Jeff Ho

- Donald Takayama

- Simon Anderson

Moreover, I also deleted excess information in each sub-section that strayed away from the primary purpose of the article. These revisions provide a more clear and concise framework for each subsection; furthermore, I believe that the deletion of excess information also enhances the literary flow of the article. I also removed "Skip Engblom" title and replaced it with "Jeff Ho"; while Skip Engblom was a co-founder of Zephyr surfboards, it was, in reality, Jeff Ho who acted as the pioneer in shaping innovation.

I have attached a copy of the revised sections below. The links and references have been implemented into the Wikipedia page.

Hobart "Hobie" Atler:

Hobart Atler, also known as “Hobie", was a prominent surfboard shaper from Dana Point, California who is known for his experimentation with polyurethane foam as a base material for surfboards.  In 1950, Hobie first began shaping balsa-wood surfboards in his family’s Laguna Beach garage; however, it wasn’t until a few years later that he opened the first Southern California surf shop in Dana Point.  Hobie was a pioneer in 20th century surfboard construction and design; his most famous legacy lies in his creation of the polyurethane foam surfboard in 1958. The Hobie company continues to manufacture surfboards today.

Jeff Ho:

Jeff Ho had a formative impact on surfboard shaping design and style in mid-20th century California. Ho shaped his first surfboard at the age of 14, and he soon began repairing and re-designing old boards found on the coast. In 1966, Ho began working as an apprentice to Bob Milner at Robert's Surfboards in Playa del Ray, California. It was here that Ho developed both the skillset to design high-performance surfboards; Ho's innovation led to the creation of the swallowtail board, which would later become a signifier of his shaping. In 1972, Ho, purchased the a surf shop on the corner of Main and Bay Streets in Venice, California; he rebranded the shop as "Jeff Ho Surfboards and Zephyr Productions." While the Zephyr shop has been closed since 1976, Jeff Ho continues to shape surfboards as a personal Hobby to this day.

Donald Takayama:

Donald Takayama was a professional surfer and acclaimed shaper from Hawaii. He began shaping surfboards out of wooden railway ties as a young boy; however, in 1957, he moved to California to apprentice under the legendary shaper Dale Velzy. Takayama eventually began to shape for Jacobs' Surfboards; his visually-clean longboard design became one of the most popular surfboard models in the mid 20th century. Takayama's knowledge and skill in regards to surfboard design have defined him as one of the most influential surfboard shapers of all time.

Simon Anderson:

Simon Anderson is a surfer and shaper from Sydney, Australia who is most known for his innovation of the "thruster" board. In 1980, after viewing the work of shaper Frank Williams, Anderson constructed a surfboard with a square tail and three identical fins. Anderson's innovation, colloquially known as the "thruster", produced surfboards with enhanced stability and improved maneuverability. Anderson's "thruster" design is still utilized in the contemporary shaping world.

Note: I have deleted the excess information present in the "Robert August" section; The large majority of this information cannot be corroborated by any sources. Furthermore, the majority of the content in this sub-section does not remain topical to the purpose of the article; the sub-section reads like a biography of August, rather than an explanation of his contributions to the shaping world. Simply, this sub-section violates the guidelines set by WP:NOR. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jackrenaud33 (talk • contribs) 03:09, 25 November 2020 (UTC)

Jackrenaud33 (talk) 07:06, 25 November 2020 (UTC)

Hello fellow Wikipedians!

This final editing post focuses on the final syntactical revisions made to the document. The article was originally flagged by Wikipedia for issues regarding the guidelines set by WP:MOS. Thus, I analyzed the document to make sure that the titles, references, and syntax of the article adhered to the Manual of Style. I am not going to discuss every minor change that I made; however, I have listed the larger revisions below.

• Revised heading and section titles to follow sentence case, as detailed in the Manual of Style.
• Corrected punctuation, capitalization, and other syntactical errors in body content.

I have also incorporated an invisible comment regarding both the References and External Links of the article. Following the revisions made to the document, a large majority of the original references and links are no longer applicable to the article; however, rather than deleting them, I have simply commented on this issue.

Jackrenaud33 (talk) 07:09, 25 November 2020 (UTC)