About the Book and the Author
I’ve been shaping surfboards for many years, working all around the world, and making boards for surfers of all levels—from beginners to advanced surfers and professionals. Over time, I noticed something: most surfers don’t really understand how surfboards work, which can make it hard to choose the right board.
I’ve always wanted to help more surfers make better choices, not just the ones who come to me for a board. The problem was that surfboard design is complex, and there’s so much information that I didn’t know how to simplify it—until I was invited to give a talk. Preparing for that talk, I realised that people don’t need to know every technical detail to make the right choice—they just need the essential basics. The talk was a success, and people kept asking me to do more.
That’s when I decided to turn my years of experience and 25 years of surf photography into a book. I took a year off shaping boards, worked as a barman to free up my time, and spent long days—sometimes 14 hours—compiling, writing, and designing the book. With help from my partner Tiffany, my kids, photographers, and friends, the book came together beautifully. Every person who’s received it has given it a 5-star review.
I self-published the first 200 copies, which sold quickly, and then ran a campaign to print 1,000 more. Now, we’re taking the book on the road around Australia as a family, sharing it with surfers everywhere. I’m incredibly proud of this project, which wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my family and friends. I hope every reader enjoys it, learns something new, and gets inspired to ride better boards and better waves.