Shapeshifter: An Interview with Sergio Gomez

Sergio Gomez has spent most of his life with foam dust on his clothes and salt water in his hair. A shaper by trade, a surfer by instinct, and a traveler at heart, he’s now turned years of shaping bays, road trips, and design experiments into something unexpected: a book.

It’s called Shapeshifter, and while it’s filled with striking images, Sergio is quick to say it isn’t just another glossy surf coffee table book.

Q: Sergio, you’ve shaped boards for decades. What pushed you to make a book?Sergio: For a long time I thought it was about the photos. I had these beautiful shots—boards, shaping, travel, the kind of imagery that makes you stop. But the real reason came later. I realised how little most surfers actually understand about their equipment. You can surf for years, even decades, and still not know why one board works and another doesn’t. I wanted to put something together that helps people understand, that makes the design side more accessible. That’s what Shapeshifter is about.

Q: So it’s a kind of guide, not just a picture book?Sergio: Exactly. It’s a visual journey, but it’s also about knowledge. I wanted to explain design without stripping away the magic. My background in graphic design helped me make it clean and readable, but the heart of it is sharing what I’ve learned in the bay and in the water.

Q: Your Kickstarter campaign was a success. What was that like?Sergio: Incredible, honestly. When you’re shaping, it’s just you, the tools, and the board. You get feedback when someone rides it. With the book, I wasn’t sure how people would respond. The support blew me away—it felt like the community was saying, “Yeah, we want this.” It gave me the chance to bring the project to life properly.

Q: What’s next for you and the book?Sergio: Right now we’re getting it printed, and then comes the part I’m really looking forward to—taking it on the road. I’ll be travelling around Australia with my family, surfing, camping, and sharing the book directly with people. Bookstores, surf shops, little events along the coast—it’s about keeping it personal and connected, the same way shaping has always been for me.

Q: How would you sum up Shapeshifter in one line?Sergio: It’s a book about boards, but more than that, it’s about understanding the connection between design and surfing. Once you get that, your surfing changes.

Shapeshifter will soon be available directly through Sergio and in selected shops. Keep an eye out for updates—or better yet, watch the horizon. Chances are he and his family will be pulling into a town near you, boards on the roof and books in the back.