Luke Moore is a quality board builder who has spent time working with some of the biggest heads in the industry. Through his years of surfing, shaping, and experimenting he has made name for himself and had his hands on many boards throughout the years. He has always been a bold individual since his beginnings on Long Island, New York where in the 70’s he would drain pools and skate them. Only after the wealthy seasonal residents of West Hampton had left their mansions and returned to the city after summer holidays, that is. Through those experiences and from spending time riding waves he has gained many good friends along the way. Luke has also spent time living on Kauai before returning to the mainland where he currently finds himself in Oceanside.
From Luke:
“My name is Luke Moore and I live in Oceanside. I’ve been here for about 15 years now since I moved back from Kauai. I’ve been at this location for about 3 years in the airport valley by the rest of the shapers down here. I’m right next to Landen Surfboards. I surf Oceanside Harbor and DMJ’s in the summer. I have a pass so I go over there. It’s only 5 minutes away…kind of a local spot. I also surf Oceanside pier quite a bit. I like surfing blacks in the wintertime too.”
“I love the Lord and I’m a born again Christian. That’s what this is all about. I’m super thankful to be able to make boards and worship the Lord. He really changed my life back in the 80’s and gave me a new life through being born again. He’s opened up new doors for surfing and shaping. I’m also able to do missionary work and surf, which is definitely a blessing.”
Who are some of your favorite shapers that you’ve had the chance to work with?
When I first started shaping in 1979/80, I shaped with a guy named Ricky Rasmussen from the Hamptons. He really influenced my surfing and skateboarding. Also, Michael Shermeyer, another guy from back there. Dick Brewer, Sammy Hawk, and Gary Linden showed me a lot. Recently, Rick Hamon from Rusty. I shape with those guys and he’s taught me a lot. There’s a ton of different guys.
Is there any particular type of board that you like shaping over another?
I like to shape anything for double or triple overhead. 7’8”, 8’0”, 8’6”s is definitely my favorite thing to shape. Right here is a personal board and the first time I’m going to try a five-fin set up and a quad. I’m not too sure about a quad in big waves, so I’ve got to test it.
How was it getting into shaping back in the day on the East Coast? What was it like starting out over there?
The surf is actually pretty good over there…it’s mostly really powerful hollow waves. We used to have Samuel Hawk and a couple of the brewer shapers come there in the summertime and show us a lot. We had pretty good waves to learn to how shape and test surfboards on. It was actually a good training ground for Hawaii because the waves were real powerful and hollow there.
Back in the late 60’s they built these jetties. There were 13 of them and they were as big as the Oceanside harbor jetties when they first built them. The waves were insane in the 70’s and early 80’s, it was incredible. And they built up sand, which was the whole purpose.
You used to be a professional skateboarder and grew up draining and skating pools on Long Island and were heavily involved in the skate scene over there…Do you ever get out and skate pools anymore?
Yeah, recently a couple of years ago I got back into it. I had to put it down because I just can’t skate conservatively. I’ve got to keep pushing and pushing myself. But I can still fly out of the pools and do grinds and everything, but it was just too scary because I know it was a matter of time before I’d eat it sooner or later. It was kinda cool to go back to it because I didn’t skate for 25 years…I was mostly surfing and shaping, but I got right back into it and all the younger kids were tripping out on me because of my total surf style that you’ve seen in my pictures. They were like “Whoa! Who is this guy?” Which was pretty cool.
With the long flat spells on the East Coast, skateboarding obviously helped keep you sane… Which did you get into first?
“I started surfing in 1972, before I started skateboarding. I grew up with a guy named Ricky Rasmussen who was a pro surfer a really good pipeline surfer. Back then it was a pretty tight group of guys Michael Shermeyer and Billy McGill. We were all surfers and shapers and that’s where I grew up surfing.”
“I used to drain pools back there at the mansions when people would go back to New York City. We’d drain out their pools and skate them all winter. We were pretty hardcore and it was a lot of fun.”
Skateboarding went from boom to bust in the early 80’s. In your time working as a shaper, have you seen anything like this in surfing?
Surfing has always been pretty steady, especially in Southern California, which is one of the reasons I live here. I lived in Kauai for a number of years, but it was hard to shape for a living there because it’s sort of limited. That’s why I moved back to Southern California and started shaping with Rusty and Gary Linden and a couple of other guys. You know, it’s always pretty consistent here.
Who are some of your favorite surfers you’ve ever had the chance to make a board for?
Back in the 80’s I was shaping for Gary Linden, so I’d rough out boards and he’d refine shape them. Taylor Knox, Colin Smith, Chuy Reyna, Mike Lambresi, and Brad Gerlach. I was helping make boards for all those guys.
Actually, when I was living in Kauai, I was shaping for Billy Hamilton, Laird’s dad, and we did the first tow in board in our shop…I believe it was 1990.
Do you have any new models you’re working on for this coming summer in Oceanside?
This one here is something I’ve been working on. It has a real flat top, with that 80’s style rail. It’s not really a fish, but more like an 80’s style board…it’s kinda fishy but not quite a fish. It’s a little flatter, but with enough kick in the tail so that it’s not a fish. It’s got a full rail but it’s also sharp here so it’s not too buoyant. I’m kind of experimenting with these tails too.
To learn more about Luke, click here to find him on FACEBOOK
HUGE UPS FOR THE GUEST EDIT FOR THIS VIDEO TO RICKY OVER AT LaClare Media
TO CHECK OUT MORE RAD VIDEOS BROWSE LaClare Media ON VIMEO
Shaper of the Month April 2013 – Luke Moore of Luke Moore Surfboards
/1 Comment/in Shaper of the Month, Videos /by Local ShapersLuke Moore is a quality board builder who has spent time working with some of the biggest heads in the industry. Through his years of surfing, shaping, and experimenting he has made name for himself and had his hands on many boards throughout the years. He has always been a bold individual since his beginnings on Long Island, New York where in the 70’s he would drain pools and skate them. Only after the wealthy seasonal residents of West Hampton had left their mansions and returned to the city after summer holidays, that is. Through those experiences and from spending time riding waves he has gained many good friends along the way. Luke has also spent time living on Kauai before returning to the mainland where he currently finds himself in Oceanside.
From Luke:
“My name is Luke Moore and I live in Oceanside. I’ve been here for about 15 years now since I moved back from Kauai. I’ve been at this location for about 3 years in the airport valley by the rest of the shapers down here. I’m right next to Landen Surfboards. I surf Oceanside Harbor and DMJ’s in the summer. I have a pass so I go over there. It’s only 5 minutes away…kind of a local spot. I also surf Oceanside pier quite a bit. I like surfing blacks in the wintertime too.”
“I love the Lord and I’m a born again Christian. That’s what this is all about. I’m super thankful to be able to make boards and worship the Lord. He really changed my life back in the 80’s and gave me a new life through being born again. He’s opened up new doors for surfing and shaping. I’m also able to do missionary work and surf, which is definitely a blessing.”
Who are some of your favorite shapers that you’ve had the chance to work with?
When I first started shaping in 1979/80, I shaped with a guy named Ricky Rasmussen from the Hamptons. He really influenced my surfing and skateboarding. Also, Michael Shermeyer, another guy from back there. Dick Brewer, Sammy Hawk, and Gary Linden showed me a lot. Recently, Rick Hamon from Rusty. I shape with those guys and he’s taught me a lot. There’s a ton of different guys.
Is there any particular type of board that you like shaping over another?
I like to shape anything for double or triple overhead. 7’8”, 8’0”, 8’6”s is definitely my favorite thing to shape. Right here is a personal board and the first time I’m going to try a five-fin set up and a quad. I’m not too sure about a quad in big waves, so I’ve got to test it.
How was it getting into shaping back in the day on the East Coast? What was it like starting out over there?
The surf is actually pretty good over there…it’s mostly really powerful hollow waves. We used to have Samuel Hawk and a couple of the brewer shapers come there in the summertime and show us a lot. We had pretty good waves to learn to how shape and test surfboards on. It was actually a good training ground for Hawaii because the waves were real powerful and hollow there.
Back in the late 60’s they built these jetties. There were 13 of them and they were as big as the Oceanside harbor jetties when they first built them. The waves were insane in the 70’s and early 80’s, it was incredible. And they built up sand, which was the whole purpose.
You used to be a professional skateboarder and grew up draining and skating pools on Long Island and were heavily involved in the skate scene over there…Do you ever get out and skate pools anymore?
Yeah, recently a couple of years ago I got back into it. I had to put it down because I just can’t skate conservatively. I’ve got to keep pushing and pushing myself. But I can still fly out of the pools and do grinds and everything, but it was just too scary because I know it was a matter of time before I’d eat it sooner or later. It was kinda cool to go back to it because I didn’t skate for 25 years…I was mostly surfing and shaping, but I got right back into it and all the younger kids were tripping out on me because of my total surf style that you’ve seen in my pictures. They were like “Whoa! Who is this guy?” Which was pretty cool.
With the long flat spells on the East Coast, skateboarding obviously helped keep you sane… Which did you get into first?
“I started surfing in 1972, before I started skateboarding. I grew up with a guy named Ricky Rasmussen who was a pro surfer a really good pipeline surfer. Back then it was a pretty tight group of guys Michael Shermeyer and Billy McGill. We were all surfers and shapers and that’s where I grew up surfing.”
“I used to drain pools back there at the mansions when people would go back to New York City. We’d drain out their pools and skate them all winter. We were pretty hardcore and it was a lot of fun.”
Skateboarding went from boom to bust in the early 80’s. In your time working as a shaper, have you seen anything like this in surfing?
Surfing has always been pretty steady, especially in Southern California, which is one of the reasons I live here. I lived in Kauai for a number of years, but it was hard to shape for a living there because it’s sort of limited. That’s why I moved back to Southern California and started shaping with Rusty and Gary Linden and a couple of other guys. You know, it’s always pretty consistent here.
Who are some of your favorite surfers you’ve ever had the chance to make a board for?
Back in the 80’s I was shaping for Gary Linden, so I’d rough out boards and he’d refine shape them. Taylor Knox, Colin Smith, Chuy Reyna, Mike Lambresi, and Brad Gerlach. I was helping make boards for all those guys.
Actually, when I was living in Kauai, I was shaping for Billy Hamilton, Laird’s dad, and we did the first tow in board in our shop…I believe it was 1990.
Do you have any new models you’re working on for this coming summer in Oceanside?
This one here is something I’ve been working on. It has a real flat top, with that 80’s style rail. It’s not really a fish, but more like an 80’s style board…it’s kinda fishy but not quite a fish. It’s a little flatter, but with enough kick in the tail so that it’s not a fish. It’s got a full rail but it’s also sharp here so it’s not too buoyant. I’m kind of experimenting with these tails too.
To learn more about Luke, click here to find him on FACEBOOK
HUGE UPS FOR THE GUEST EDIT FOR THIS VIDEO TO RICKY OVER AT LaClare Media
TO CHECK OUT MORE RAD VIDEOS BROWSE LaClare Media ON VIMEO
Shaper of the Month January 2013 Dennis Kane of DK Surfboards
/1 Comment/in Shaper of the Month, Videos /by Local ShapersWho are you and where are you from?
My name is Dennis Kane. Originally from Ocala, Florida and now living in Encinitas, CA.
What are DK Surfboards?
DK surfboards is an ever evolving progression of hand made surfboards in the United States of America
How long have you been shaping?
I have been shaping for almost exactly 10 years now. I started on my parents back porch in Florida when i was 14 or 15. I did about a hundred boards for friends and decided to move to California 10 days after graduating high school.
Who was the first person to show you how to shape a surfboard?
The first person I ever watched shape a surfboard was Rich Pavel, up on the hill in Encinitas. In Florida I was self taught and learned things the hard way and at a snails pace. As soon as I moved West I’ve been surrounded by a lot of really talented shapers and have been inspired by Steve Boysen, Rich Pavel, Chris Christenson, Michael Baron, Jeff Clark, Matt Biolas; just to name a few. I’m always inspired by what Jim Philips is building and talking surfboards or picking the brain of guys like Marlin Bacon.
I surf all over., but quite often you’ll find me at many of the local spots here in Encinitas. I try to get down to Blacks a fair bit and enjoy a lot of the La Jolla reefs. Summer time I’ll sniff out the other spots whether it be north county or far south
Outside of Shaping and Surfing what do you enjoy doing with your free time?
Other than surfing I skateboard and try to snowboard as often as I can. I get just as psyched on snow because I didn’t grow up with that, so a good day on the mountain is always necessary.
What style of boards do you like to shape?
I enjoy shaping a variety of different shapes. From the beginning I have always wanted to be known as a guy that can shape anything. I think that’s important. There is always going to be something you are more known for or maybe a popular trend that magazines are selling, but as long as you stay open to the changing designs and technology and revisit old ones with new concepts, I’d say we should definitely be able to keep it fun and interesting.
Do you like to test out your boards? Who do you give your boards to to test out that you can really trust?
I like to test out my own designs and I have everything from single fins to bonzers and everything inbetween. Other than that feedback from riders, friends, and everyday customers is always useful in fine tuning designs.
What board do you enjoy shaping the most?
My favorite thing to shape would be pintails. I think they are the most pleasing to the eye. I still enjoy handshaping a true custom for someone. Whether it be one of my models or something totally unique.
What is in store for DK surfboards in 2013?
In 2013 I have a lot of new things in the works. A couple new shortboard models coming to the website soon a long with some new technologies. Keep an eye on www.dksurfboards.com for more info.
Wavesgiving
/in Surf Trips, Surfing Vicariously /by Local ShapersDecisions, Decisions…
With a few different friends traveling North and South for a Thanksgiving weekend getaway, a choice had to be made on which way to pack up and point the van. After a rather short deliberation which included some homework with a AAA map, weather reports, swell models, and current sea surface temperature chart the best option became clear. Light winds, good weather, warm water and favorable swell were all coming together and we knew right where to be.
Among the quiver of boards we brought with us, the best suited for what the conditions provided were the ones with low rocker, wide templates, and plenty of paddle power to fight the relentless sweeping current. I enjoyed wearing a longsleeve spring suit and mostly rode a Siegel, Pooh Surfboards 5′ 6″ twin fin fish and 7’2″ Stu Kenson diamond tail single-fin.
Here’s Alex Marjanovic laying into a nice long wall and throwing a bucket with his fish.
Brian Grover found some really nice lines on his Firewire and connected this one all the way inside.
Down The Line with Alrik Yuill of Space Time Surfboards
/in The Inside Line, Videos /by Local ShapersYou can’t help but notice a board like this when you first see one. This thing is stringerless and designed to haul ass; it would be a trip to jump on one of these. Alrik has knack for shaping boards and is also an amazingly talented artist and sculpter. Listen to what he has to say in our first ever installment of Down The Line. Check back soon for more of your favorite shapers talking theory behind some of their favorite designs. Coming up next is John Wesley and his space pin model.
To learn more about Space Time Surfboards and Alrik Yuill browse:
http://spacetimesurfboards.com
http://www.alrikyuill.com
Barry Snyder Designs and Windigo Surfboards – Shaper of the Month November 2012
/in Shaper of the Month, Videos /by Local ShapersBarry Snyder of Windigo Surfboards and Barry Snyder Designs
Barry Snyder can be described as a curious, creative, and asymmetrical minded surfboard shaper. Since his beginnings as a factory grom sweeping floors for the Linden Surfboards factory, he’s been around through many changes in the shaping industry.
A true craftsman by nature, Barry is the type who enjoys strolling through Home Depot and letting his imagination take over and often ends up creating boards with quite non traditional items. Among gluing up his own blanks with agave plant stringers that he grows in his front yard, Barry has glassed burlap sacks, window screens, and a massive black widow spider into some of his more recent projects. The bag of tricks doesn’t end there as he is also a master air brusher.
Much of his art and style is heavily influenced by a deep passion for hot rods, rivets, and all things post industrial WWII. Barry has no use for a CNC machine because he already has two attached to his body in the form of hands. When not cruising in his ’55 Chevy or testing a new model in the water, you’ll find him using his well trained hands to produce some of Oceanside’s finest surf craft. Just like he has been doing for decades.