Faze was where it all began. I built a small shaping / glassing bay in the backyard and got to work.
I have always lived on the coast, from Vicco and Tassie to the Gold Coast. I started surfing in the late 80's. At that time, my family and I were living in Ocean Grove Victoria but I was shuffled around the Vic coastal towns of Lorne, Ocean Grove, Fairhaven and Torquay through my early years but here is where it all started. . .
In the Beginning. .
My first surfboard was shaped and built by Howard Hughes in Aireys Inlet. It was a 5'10 thruster with the most amazing air brush spray! I knew the Hughes family well and spent most of my days after school in Howard's Aireys factory / showroom, dreaming of a new board.
We moved to Torquay in 1994, I ordered my first custom surfboard from Micheal Anthony. Micheal was a shaper for Rip Curl at the time and we sat down in the old Rippy store and wrote down some dimentions but most importantly the spray. Fluro green / yellow fade was epic.
Around 2000, I started board building for Maurice Cole. Starting out as you should, sweeping floors, filla-coats and repairs. Watching and learning from experienced sanders and laminator's, as well as other shapers working for Maurice at the time like Garth Gibbons. This was an epic time at Maurice's factory as we were fulfilling big Japan and France orders as well as regular celebrity board pick ups from the likes of Mark Philippoussis and Metalica. It was all time for a 19 year old!!
Around 2005, I made the switch over to Strapper Surfboards were I worked with John Robertson. At Strapper I was making everything from kneeboards and longboards to performance short boards for the likes of local surfers Jack Perry, Adam Robertson and Cahill Bell-Warren. During this time I was contracting out on weekends, sanding surfboards for Maurice Cole, Rousa and Mark Phipps in Ocean Grove.
Faze Surfboards
In 2016 I started Faze Surfboards in Tasmania. I had been a sander, filla-coater but only shaped 2 boards during my time at Maurice Coles and Strapper. After knocking out a couple of really unusual shapes. I finally got onto a few while working with Hamish Renwick. Hamish is one of Tassies finest surfers. A solid unit that can throw down and punt when its needed. We came up with the Brainfaze. This board would be first ridden by none other than Jadson Andre in Sydney. The board went mental! Hamish has since snapped and creased it 4 times but we keep fixing it, its that good!
I would later develop the Faze To Black with Matt Kennedy. Matt is the 2021 Tasmanian State Champion. Originally a board for those getting a little older and wiser. . We joked but in reality the board turned out sick and is still my go to for any condition! I just like to mix up the design atm with an Asym "Volta Cut" which just takes a cut on my toe rail.
All designs have this option and more - see my order page or simply gimmie a call here.
I was creating a small number of custom surfboards each year using traditional techniques and materials. I have spent the last 6 years hand-shaping every board, getting to know my tools, templates a building on technique. Looking into the future, I'm starting to work with AKU SHAPER and get my designs into the CAD world.
I have narrowed my board designs down to two categories, Performance and Alternative. Simple! With only 3 boards in each category, you can simply add on extra design elements to get to your perfect surfboard.
So, the present day!
It's now 2022 and I have moved Faze Surfboards up to the Gold Coast. I am currently working at the GlassLab, its a beast of a factory with so many brands and exciting things on the go! I really am in the right place to grow Faze Surfboards. Thanks to Surf Decals and Core Blanks for your support so far! Legends..
- - - - - -
Thank You Vissla.
In 2018 and 2019, I was lucky enough to take part in the Vissla Sydney Pro at Manly Beach. For the duration of their contract, Vissla constructed a temp shaping bay at North Steyne. Shapers from around Australia old and new converge on the QS6000 rated event to shape and share the love! Huge thanks to Vissla for their support. That was such a hoon!!
- - - - - -
Cheers!
Finn
