solace ~ the source of pleasure or enjoyment |
Dick Van Straalen With more than 50 years experience since Dick shaped his first boards, it’s no wonder he has gained respect as one of the world leaders in surfboard innovation. Dick has always been a firm believer that surfing is first and foremost an art form and that competition criteria restricts natural expression. His board designs are created for the open minded surfer, but are still built to perform. All of Dick’s boards are 100% hand crafted individual works of art.
From humble beginnings, Jason Rodd began his shaping career in 1994. As demand grew for his shapes he expanded into his own factory and retail showroom in Mermaid Beach. Reputable for his attention to detail, fine finishes and personalising each board to each surfer, Jason is always testing new methods and updating templates. His knowledge of the coast and International breaks give him the scope to shape anything from a small wave grovel board to a big wave gun.
Having legendary Neal Purchase Snr as your father and shaper it’s little surprise that Neal is so dialled in when it comes to surfboard design. His mind is forever ticking over about concaves, rockers, curves and fin design to find that perfect balance of glide and performance. He is the ultimate surfer/shaper that is very rare to find these days. You’ll only ever find Neal at some empty back beach putting his latest creations to the test, slipping into another perfect barrel or doing turns like only he can. After you have ridden one of his boards you will experience surfing like never before.
Matt Keane lives and breathes shaping. He is dedicated to old school techniques, original tints and volane glassing. All parts of the process are done by hand, from shaping to the sanding and polishing. Whilst everyone else is out surfing – Matt and his Eastcoast team are working on designing that perfect board for the perfect ride.
Balsa Surfboards
