2006 Hawai‘i Board Buyers Guide
Research & Development

Always on the Money: Jeff Bushman & Pancho Sullivan

The Surfer: Oldest first-time qualifier on the WCT. Hometown hero. Power surfer. Pancho is the man and he’s doing it for the big boys on tour. His gouging cutbacks often provoke onlookers to make their own personal sound effect to his every stylish maneuver (usually followed up by a comment of amazement and respect for his commanding style.) Just as recognized as his style are the boards Pancho rides: Bushman. “I was originally introduced to Jeff [Bushman] by Karen Gallagher who owned Sunset Beach Surf Shop,” Pancho remembers. “She sponsored me at the time and got me a board from Jeff. I think I was 15.” So Pancho and “Bushy” (as Pancho refers to him) have worked together a long time now. “[Pancho] is a fine role model today in the community, well-liked, respected by all,” Bushman says. “But he is that same genuine kid he has always been. I am so stoked and proud of him for making the ‘CT. He deserves it.”

The Shaper: “My philosophy is to always improve the boards, always shape to the best of my ability, and most important, to always listen and learn,” Jeff says. “Live clean, surf clean, shape clean.” Pancho concurs and says that Bushman’s outlines are very clean and progressive. “He’s always trying different concaves, vee bottoms, foils,” Pancho says. “He is experimental and has a great understanding about design and how water reacts on the bottom of your board as it comes across the fins. He really breaks it down to help increase performance, which I think every surfer is trying to improve on.”

R&D: “I am sure what we have worked on has helped my designs evolve tremendously,” Bushman maintains. Pancho’s personal quiver is approximately 25 to 30 boards a year from Bushman. They surf together quite often, at Sunset or Backyards, because surfing is the best way to figure out what is and isn’t working. “Pancho's specs evolve around different surf spots and wave size for those specific places,” Bushy says. “I have encouraged him to try other shapers’ boards, or sometimes we may have forgotten a design, only to rethink it, change it and improve it. I have learned to listen to all riders, from average surfers to the best pro; all their feedback is invaluable.” Maybe Pancho will try other boards, but he is happy with longtime shaper and friend Jeff Bushman: “I think Jeff's boards have great control and sensitivity. They work really well in all conditions and he is always striving to make better boards.”—TH

TRUST IN CONSISTENCY: Dennis Pang & Marcus Hickman

The Surfer: Some people hang fine art on their walls. Marcus Hickman hangs his broken boards on his. “Like paintings,” he says with a proud smile. They are evidence that the 6-foot, 195-pound North Shore charger has been hard at work. At 26 years old, the Volcom and Da Hui team rider’s name is coming out of more mouths than ever. Maybe he is not a complete photo slut, but when Marcus paddles out, he makes his presence known. It has really come together for Marcus in the past couple years. Ironically, that is about as long as he has been riding Dennis Pang’s boards. “Some of the shapers I’ve had in the past are inconsistent,” Marcus recalls. “Dennis is really consistent with his boards. If I say I want one just like the one that I broke, it always comes out exactly the same.” Pang is equally impressed by Hickman’s “go-for-it” attitude. “It’s pretty inspirational to watch him surf,” Pang says. “I see it and hear it from guys telling me that he is going off. I would never go for waves that he takes off on. When I was his age I wouldn’t be doing what he’s doing. That’s pretty inspirational for me. I hope my little boy will be like that one day.”

The Shaper: “I’ve known Marcus since he was a kid but I approached him when I saw him surfing the finals of the Xcel Pro at Sunset on this beat-up Local Motion board,” Dennis Pang remembers. “I was like, what is this guy doing in a final riding a crap board? He deserves something better.” Marcus had broken the nose of his crusty board during the quarters, done a quick ding repair and surfed the semi-finals and finals with a big glob of resin hanging off the nose. After the final, Dennis made a pitch to Marcus and that was it. Two winters, a bunch of high contest scores and some great cover shots later, Dennis and Marcus are a team. “I’m trying to guide his life as well,” Dennis says. “Young boy going off on the North Shore. [laughs] I went through the whole deal just like he is, so I kinda know what is happening.” Sitting in the chair next to him, Marcus laughs and says, “You know I need that.”

R&D: The most common specs for a Marcus Pro Model board are: 6’10”x185/8”x25/8”. Dennis’ shaping philosophy is: The more you know, the more you don’t know. “There’s always room for improvement,” Pang says. “You’ve really got to keep an open mind. Try different things. And you’ll make mistakes but that’s how you learn—and improve.” Pang believes that surfing has generations of boards and each generation is improved upon. “Every single generation, you learn the good points and the bad points and refine,” he says. Hickman and Pang are not afraid to try new things. “If Marcus goes somewhere on a trip and he’s raving about some guy’s board or he has a board, I’ll try to incorporate some of that stuff into what I’m doing,” Pang explains. “I encourage him to try other people’s boards because that’s how you learn.” Pang says that from a contest point of view, shapers in other countries probably make better boards for smaller waves than Hawai‘i shapers do. Marcus brings back surfboards from Australia and Europe that he has tried and gives Pang feedback. But for anything over head-high on Marcus, DP is the only name he trusts under his feet. “We just fine tuned from what he already had done,” Marcus says. “Maybe a little fuller rail for me because I am a little bigger, more drawn out concave to rail. With the bottom of the board, we are always trying different things.” If these two are not at Dennis’ house talking about R&D, they might see each other in the water testing it out. “Marcus burned me once at Backyards,” Dennis admits. “I’ll never forget that. All the guys are going, ‘See? That’s what happens when you make these guys good boards.’ They’re all giving me s*!t as I paddle back out with my shorts around my ankles.”—TH

My Shaper Can Rip  Yours!: Wade Tokoro & Jesse Merle-Jones

The Surfer: Rewind: It’s 1999. The Y2K virus is looming. N’Sync and The Backstreet Boys are battling over the Billboard charts with Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock. Kelly Slater is golfing away in retirement. Andy is sowing his wild oats and hasn’t won a World Championship yet. A Wolfpak pup is doing his thing in HASA and NSSA comps— a self-proclaimed late bloomer when it comes to surfing— but he’s catching up to his peers quickly. He and his pops fly over from their home on Kaua‘i to O‘ahu. While in Hale‘iwa they meet a man that will change their lives forever. This man is instrumental in getting the young surfer signed by Local Motion and other future sponsors. This man shapes surfboards into the 21st century. This is how the surfer, Jesse Merle-Jones, and the shaper, Wade Tokoro meet.
Fast-forward: Wade doubles Jesse’s 10-board rugrat quiver to 20 magic carpets a year. On his enchanted wave crafts, Jesse soars into the heights of pro surfing stardom, winning the Foster U.S. Open Tour title in 2002. Surf trips to Tahiti, Australia, Japan and Europe follow. On one of Wade’s finely-tuned sticks, Jesse catches a thick-lipped, double overhead Pipeline beauty that will grace the February 2005 cover of Surfer. Jesse becomes a regular fixture in the North Shore’s heaviest lineups with Tokoro’s shapes under his feet.

The Shaper: According to Jesse Merle-Jones, Wade Tokoro is “The Man.” Jesse’s claim isn’t just because of Wade’s 21 years of foam-mowing expertise, but also because of Tokoro’s surfing ability. “Wade’s the best surfer/shaper combination out there,” says Merle-Jones. “Guy rips ankle-high slop and charges second reef Pipe.” Six years ago, Jesse first witnessed Wade’s ripping at Chopes where Wade was sticking air drops and getting pitted with poise. Since that faithful session, Jesse has had the utmost respect for Tokoro’s game. Wade’s boards are notoriously fast and are made to do the biggest turns possible without sliding out. Merle-Jones says Tokoro boards are the kind that “you feel like you can do anything on.” Typically, Tokoro shapes Jesse’s traveling boards around 5'91/2'' x 18'' x 21/8'' with swallow, squash and pin tail variations. Merle-Jones is confident with his quiver and with Tokoro’s surfing challenging his pro surfing peers, “I bet my shaper can rip yours!”

R&D: Wade Tokoro knows what kind of board it takes to drop into an 8-foot, Second Reef Pipe bomb because he’s been there before. That’s why Jesse has faith in Tokoro’s boards. Although Wade doesn’t get to surf with Jesse as much as both would like, he can rely on Jesse for excellent critique of his surfboards. “He’s gives really good feedback,” Wade says of Jesse. “We’re constantly making adjustments to design and constantly evolving.” This constant evolution has taken Jesse’s surfing to the next level, season after season. “Every board I get is good,” Jesse states proudly. “But we usually get a few magic ones every year that really make a difference.” Tokoro has been getting Jesse the crip quivers for the last seven years and is sure that Merle-Jones will come back for more. “Some shapers are like ex-girlfriends: always worried you’re gonna ride
someone else’s boards,” Jesse explains. “Wade never worries—he knows he’s got the goods.”
—DI

Communication Is Key: Eric Arakawa & Tonino Benson

The Surfer: Tonino Benson is the latest grom-phenom from Kailua-Kona on the Big Island. Tonino means “little Tony.” (Benson’s first name is actually Anthony.) Benson is currently the ISA World Junior Champ and helped lead Hawai‘i to their first-ever team victory at the 2005 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championships in Huntington Beach. The 15-year-old’s dream job is to be the best surfer in the world and he is well on his way to an early lead. The Banyans local usually gets about 10 boards per year from his shaper, Eric Arakawa. The most common design he rides is the “Element.” As a team rider for HIC, the goofy-foot met Arakawa when he started with the company. “Dante Del Rosarosario got me on HIC,” Tonino recalls. “Dante helped so many people on the Big Island.”

The Shaper: HIC shaper Eric Arakawa started mowing foam in 1974 for the sole purpose of pinching pennies when it came to getting new boards. Arakawa is notorious in the industry because of his no-shame use of the CAD system, which he says has revolutionized the way he approaches surfboard design. While some shapers believe in the accuracy of their handsaw, Arakawa maintains that the computer keeps things consistent, constant and more systematic. Arakawa says he always gives his riders his best. In return, he just happens to have some of the best riders in the world: Andy Irons, Shane Beschen and Braden Dias are just a handful of pros that ride Arakawas. Eric has been shaping for Tonino for eight years. “[Tonino] has a bright future,” he says. “Anyone that gets to work with him long-term will benefit.”

R&D: “Tonino is very disciplined about keeping track of his boards and keeping mental notes of his total game,” Arakawa says. “He is very mature in that respect, and it’s refreshing to work with someone like that. We talk about how the boards are performing for him. There is no rocket science involved, just good old-fashioned communication.” Tonino has helped Eric develop range in his designs since he is a young gun who is growing fast. “I give Eric my ideas on how to improve the boards and what I feel, and he tells me how he thinks we can improve the boards,” Tonino says. “I like Eric's boards because we communicate, and my boards just keep getting better! Eric Arakawa is no ka ‘oi.”—TH

Speed Demons: Glenn Pang & Mikala jones

Surfer: Modern maneuvers thrive off high velocity and so does the wave-riding of Mikala Jones. Good thing he has master shaper Glenn Pang building his speed machines. Two years ago, Mikala’s sponsor, Town & Country Surfboards, hooked Mikala and Glenn up. Since then, Jones’ career has gained huge media exposure. Jones and his quiver of Pangs were featured in the surf video hits “Out Of Order: The Surfer’s Documentary” and “Seasons”. Mikala then blew up the surf mag pages, towing into bombs with his 5’6” and 5’8” custom Pang tow boards. The 26-year-old regular-foot affectionately calls Glenn Pang, “G-Panger” and refers to his shapes as, “Fast, responsive, all-around high-performance boards.”

Shaper: With 35 years of experience behind Glenn Pang’s shaping, he can pound out quality boards quickly. Mikala claims that G-Panger can produce a whole 12-month quiver in just five days. “Speed is important,” says Mikala. Glenn’s efficiency with his planer gives him plenty of time to catch a surf at Mokuleia when the winds are good or to watch Jones and his designs in action. “I try to watch Mikala surfing as much as I can when he surfs the contests,” says Glenn. Although Pang shapes under the Town & Country Surfboard label, he still does the majority of his shaping at home. Mikala definitely digs Glenn’s homemade shapes. “I’d keep them all [Glenn’s boards] but T&C makes me give them back,” says Jones.

R&D: Mikala’s 5’8”, 160-pound frame usually requires shortboards around 5’11”-6’1”, 18” wide and around 21/8” thick. For good-sized Pipe, he rides a 6’6” or 6’8”. “Seeing Mikala charge big Pipe and Backdoor always gives good credibility to the boards,” says Pang. “It’s always good to have someone with Mikala’s ability and talent on the boards.” Although Mikala has a good idea of what he likes in a board, he’s totally willing to try Glenn’s innovations, especially if it’s going to increase the board’s speed. “Mikala is always open to new ideas and trying new designs,” says Pang. “Good feedback is essential in board design development.” Jones knows that being quick with his assessment means an overall better quiver. “If you can give your shaper good feedback, then he should be able to give you magic boards,” says Jones. If you don’t believe in Pang’s shapes, Mikala dares you: “Try the MJ Magic stick!”––DI

Hawaiian Boards for Hawaiian Waters: ChuckAndrus & Randall Paulson

The Surfer: Randall Paulson stops on the ways to Chuck Andrus’ house to grab some poke and poi from the market. He always brings something when he meets Chuck. Hawaiian style. “I’ve known Uncle Chuck for a long time just from surfing Bowls,” Randall says of the beginning of their relationship. “I used to always ask him, ‘Hey, can I get a board?’ And I finally did and I was stoked. I fell in love.” Andrus has been shaping for Randall for the past two winters on the North Shore, which have also been the most publicized of Randall’s career. “Basically ever since I’ve been riding Uncle Chuck’s boards I’ve been getting the best waves of my life,” Randall confirms. “His boards definitely help me make my dreams a reality, for sure.” This year Randall ordered 15 boards: three 7’3”s, three 7’6”s and two 7’0”s. (He triples or doubles all his favorite sizes.) “We narrowed it down to two board sizes for Pipe,” Randall says. “Before I used to go every two inches and I would confuse myself.”

The Shaper: Growing up in Kahalu‘u, Chuck was stripping tankers, shaping, glassing and making his own fins from 1966 on. “I always wanted to be a shaper but back then nobody glassed our boards so we had to do it ourselves,” he said. He always looked up to guys like Barry Kanaiaupuni and Gerry Lopez because they were powerful surfers and took that knowledge to make all their own boards—powerful boards. “I looked at that and thought, ‘That’s what I want to be.’ Because I’m a surfer first and a shaper second.” Chuck Andrus is one of the few board makers today of Hawaiian heritage. His mother is a little over half-Hawaiian and his Dad is “a haole from Utah,” which makes Chuck a little over a quarter Hawaiian. “I connect really heavily to the Polynesian side,” Chuck reveals. “I’m doing what my ancestors did but it the modern sense. I’m a modern Hawaiian shaper and I’m proud to do that because if you think about it, there aren’t many Hawaiian shapers anymore. You could probably count them on
one hand.”

R&D: “The secret about shaping boards is there is no secret,” Chuck laughs. “Some of these guys make like they have this big secret formula. There’s no secret. It’s basic combinations. It’s like being a good chef, you know. You go to a restaurant and order a soufflé or some fancy French thing. Each person is different, but that chef knows his customer so he may put a little extra salt or more sugar or something. As long as it tastes good to the customer, that’s all that matters. Everybody rides a certain kind of board at Pipeline but there are subtle little differences. So if I’m fortunate enough to hook up with someone like Randall that likes the board, then he likes what I’m cooking. It’s sweet to him, tastes good you know? But as far as it being a secret, it’s not a secret.” Maybe there’s no secret, but there is something intangible that Chuck gives to his shapes. He adheres to the traditional practice in which Polynesians always prayed before they did anything in their life and then gave praise “Mahalo ke akua” (thank you heavenly father) for the opportunity to do whatever task it was. “If you approach it from that angle,” Chuck says. “I really believe there’s something from me, some mana, that can go into that board.”—TH

In Diamond Head We Trust: Jon B. Mar & Scotty Fong, Jr.

Surfer: Professional longboarder Scotty Fong, Jr. doesn’t need a huge quiver to do his thing in the waves. Six boards a year and he’s good. “I like to keep it simple,” admits Junior Fong, “or else I'll have a hard time deciding what board to ride.” Which is great for his shaper, Jon B. Mar, who Scotty affectionately calls “Jonny B.” But that’s not the only reason the two are amped to work together. There’s also a mutual trust in one another’s abilities. “Scotty rips in the water, and he's a real personable guy and great role model,” boasts Mar. On top of being a pro surfer, Scotty is also an intellectual that is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawai‘i, with plans to attend Medical School. Like his personality, Scotty’s trademark board (9’0” x 22” x 23/4” round-pin thruster with the Hawaiian flag on the bottom) is also versatile. On the tip or off the lip, Scotty’s high-performance surfing demands a stick that will do it all. “Scotty will ride these boards from 1-foot Diamond Head to 10- to 12-foot Sunset, and even 15-to 18-foot Waimea,” says Mar. For someone to ride one shape in such a diverse array of conditions, it’s all about trust in the board.

Shaper: The first time Scotty and Jon talked, Junior Fong didn’t realize Jonny B. was a board builder with two decades of experience. “I met Jon out in the water at Diamond Head. We were both surfing and started talking story,” recalls Scotty. “I didn’t even know he was shaper at the time. I thought he was just some cool guy surfing.” Since their chance encounter out at Lighthouse, Scotty and Jon’s shapes have appeared in choke contests. Fong’s high-performance tail surfing has flourished with Mar’s shapes under his feet, appearing in longboard finals across the state. If Town is firing one week, and a huge North Shore swell is on the way, Scotty can trust that Jon will have a board ready for the upcoming surf. “The most important thing is getting me boards when I need them,” says Scotty. “If the Country is going off and I need a specific board, Jon has got it. If I need a board for a contest coming up, he's got it. He's a shaper who’s really reliable.”

R&D: Unlike many riders and shapers, Scotty Fong, Jr. and Jon B. Mar surf together regularly—usually twice a week at Diamond Head. This is where Scotty claims that a lot of board design development takes place. “We surf together and I get to talk to him about what each board is doing,” says Scotty. “He sees my surfing and fine tunes what I need for my next board.” This type of research and development is reminiscent of the golden years of surfing when shapers and surfers regularly bonded at the beach. Nowadays, this kind of rider-board builder relationship is more rare than a $20 dollar pair of board shorts in a corpo surf shop. Perhaps this is why Jonny B. has nothing but praise for Junior Fong’s surfing. “Scotty confirms that my functional concepts and board designs really work in all surf conditions,” claims Mar. Scotty also values Jon and their time together in the surf, warning others, “Don’t trust a shaper who doesn’t surf.”–DI