Windigo Surfboards- Foam Glue Up!

1. Your Name: Barry Snyder

2. Your Brand name: Barry Snyder Designs/ Windigo Surfboards

3. How did you hear about us? I’ve known about you for years.

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Great!

5. Why did you want to build your own board? It’s what I do.

6. Shape of finished board? Fun-Gun

7. Size of finished board: Length 9’2” Nose 14” Width 21 ½” Tail 13” Thickness 2-7/8”

8. What blank did you use? Bennett longboard Blank

9. How was your board building experience? Fun and lengthy

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? No

11. What do you wish you knew going into this project? How hard it was to glue 18 pieces of foam together.

12. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Don’t try this at home! Just joking!


13. What tools did you find most useful? My rocker stick and templates.

14. Where did you run into trouble? Gluing perimeter foam and stringers.

15. What kind of fin system did you use and why? I made these Bonzer fins and used a Bahne 10.5" Fin Box.

16. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Yes I glassed this board as well as all the other finish work.

17. Where did you shape and glass your board? At my surfboard factory in Oceanside Ca.

18. What type of board do you want to make next? Metal / Aluminum

19. Having been doing this for 28 years, I still am stoked to build boards and challenge myself to build what others can’t. Foam, wood, and any other exotic material I can get my hands on. Check out my stuff at the next Sacred Craft show in San Diego in Oct.

Dana Surfboards "Fatty Fat Fish"

1. Your Name: Dana Blocksage

2. Your Brand name: Dana Surfboards

3. How did you hear about us? Swaylocks

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Everyone was very friendly and helpful and they had everything I needed in stock to build my board.

5. Why did you want to build your own board? This board was actually shaped for a customer who wanted an unusual shape somewhere in between a longboard and shortboard with a fish like tail (actually his dream board).

6. Shape of finished board? I named it “The Fatty Fat Fish”. It is a truly unconventional shape that incorporates elements from several different board shapes. Goes against the norm but does everything the customer wanted it to (even nose rides).

7. Size of finished board: Length7’6” Nose 17 ¼” Width 22” Tail 18 ¾” Thickness 2 3/8”

8. What blank did you use? This board was cut form a US Blanks 9-3Y (so I could get the wide inverse swallow tail)


9. How was your board building experience? This board was a little trickier to shape than most I’ve done in the past, especially the inverse curve on the tail. I added a generous single concave to the nose and a slight V in the tail, which has lots of flex.

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? My board building experience has come from scrolling through the pages of Swaylocks, trial and error, and then back to Swaylocks for answers.

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? I have seen the JC Shaping 101 and Glassing 101 which are good for reference.

12. Do you recommend these resources? Absolutely! They make you want to go out and shape a board.

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? I wish I knew it was going to be windy the day I did my glassing, so I could have waited for better weather.

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Take your time, have fun, do lots of measuring, and where your mask!

15. What tools did you find most useful? My Clark foam planer was a must. The Milwaukee grinder with 8” Flexpad “Softie” was an absolute for shaping and sanding the hot coat, and all my templates for creating this unusual shaped board.

16. Where did you run into trouble? The only trouble I ran into was the cold weather. It made for extra sanding to smooth out the hot coats that didn’t pour as smooth as I would have liked.

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? I chose the Futures Vector 2 Quad setup for hold and drive and placed the front fins about ¾” higher to give it a little looser ride. I prefer the Futures installation jig, its like second nature to me. I have always been pleased with Futures fins and that is why I use them on all of my boards.



18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Glassing went better than previous boards (I think it always does though). I did a 6+4 on the deck and a 4 on the bottom. I added a lot of laminates so I had to pay close attention to drying times and work fast, but it turned out really well.

19. Where did you shape and glass your board? My garage/shop. I had a commercial site with a sweet shaping bay but my operation got shutdown by the man (I guess only a surfer appreciates the familiar smell of catalyzed surf resin).

20. What type of board do you want to make next? My next board is going to be a 9’2” longboard with a step deck and then a super wide 5’ fish.

21. Extra Info... The nose and tail blocks are actually balsa end cuts that came from the old Velzy Jacobs shop in Venice. I bought a big box of it from a guy who used to shape there in the 50’s. This board surfs amazing! I just happened to be there the first day it was taken out. Since then the shape and paint scheme have gotten tons of complements and head turns every time it’s ridden.

Evan Rosa -The Nannie!

We got this email after sending out our last newsletter. We're always stoked to receive stuff from home builders who just create. Thanks Evan for this one it's really cool, check it out:

Hey guys. I've been in your shop a a few times, and the Green newsletter reminded me to send a picture of the board I shaped last year with the SuperSap 100/1000.
I stripped, reshaped, and repurposed the fins from an old 8'6". So it's pretty green... err yellow. I think I'll mix a pigment in with the next one.
Pretty happy with the result for a first time. I'm committed to home-shapes for life now.
It's called "The Nannie" after my daughter, Nan.

BOBSLEDS by Bob Johnson

1. Your Name: Bob Johnson

2. Your Brand name: BOBSLEDS

3. How did you hear about us? The internet (Surf line)

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Unreal! The people there are the best folks I have ever had the pleasure of doing business with.

5. Why did you want to build your own board? Design and build better surfboards.

6. Shape of finished board? Round pin Glider

7. Size of finished board: Length 9’7" Nose 17 3/8" Width 23 1/2" Tail 16" Thickness 3 5/16"

8. What blank did you use? Custom 9’9 B US Blanks Blue with triple Cedar stringers


9. How was your board building experience? Great and made all the better with the assistance of Foam E-Z for getting me whatever I need to build boards.

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? Not recently, but there are some good ones that Foam E-Z sells that can show you some good stuff. The Master Shaper and Glasser series are probably the best.

11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? Always reading every Surf journal and book I can get my hands on. You see a lot of cool boards for ideas that way.

12. Do you recommend these resources? Absolutely.

13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? How quickly this board would sell. It really was A LOT of work to build and having someone grab it up so quick was gratifying and a relief.

14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Be patient, never rush, don’t settle for good enough, do your absolute best.

15. What tools did you find most useful? My Clark planer and Milwaukee grinder are indispensable as well as my block planes, surforms and custom made sanding pads and well worn screen. And then there are my custom grinded squeeges for laminating and hand cut brushes for other glass work, buckets and hey…really good scissors! (All available at Foam E-Z)

16. Where did you run into trouble? Cold weather glossing is never boring, but it’s all good now!

17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? Fins Unlimited 10.5 inch single fin box. It is a solid set-up and allows for many different fins to be used in different positions. Also, the neutral feel of a single fin is the perfect compliment to a glider board like this.

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Yes, and those are RESIN panel inlays in red on the deck, NOT airbrush. It was challenging and fun !



19. Where did you shape and glass your board? In my Garage/Shop.

20. What type of board do you want to make next? I have an order for a 8’3 hybrid/egg for So Cal.

21. Thanks again to the Foam E-Z crew for all the help they have provided. Thanks to my top riders and best friends David Ferreira, Austin Ferreira, Adam Ferreira, Derek Bostleman, John and Shane Greer, and the amazing Mike Andreason : Thanks to my Fiance Anna, my little girl Marisa and my Mom.

Icon Surfboards by Dave Reynolds

1. Your Name: Dave Reynolds

2. Your Brand name: Icon Surfboards

3. How did you hear about us? Sacred Craft, Ventura, Spring 2010.

4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Rad + chill

5. Why did you want to build your own board? A head full of Thoreau, a taste of ennui, and a penchant for sculpture. Simply, I knew I wanted to shape a board for a long time because I knew it would be fun.

6. Shape of finished board? Wonky Thruster

7. Size of finished board: Length = 6’1” Nose = pointy Width = 18 1/2” Tail = 6” Thickness= 2 1/8”

8. What blank did you use? Marko recycled Envirofoam

9. How was your board building experience? Fun + cool

10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? Mostly talking with professional shapers and glassers - not being afraid to look foolish or ask a dumb question. Searching Google was helpful. I used the net a bit but by the time I started to surf the net, I was ready so I just went for it. Listening to Grant at Foam E-Z and Steve at Aloha Glass was the best. I later bought the book Essential Surfing which is helpful.
11. What videos, books, web, other did you use? See answer to question #10.

12. Do you recommend these resources? Yep.
13. What do you wish you knew going into this project? That I’d move three times, break up with my girlfriend twice, and get really busy at work.
14. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Practice patience and have another board to surf in case the swell comes up and you want to go surf. Eat really well, educate your mind, listen to good music, and have some extra cash for when you get hooked.

15. What tools did you find most useful? My ears, just listening to the talented shapers and glassers. A rooter would be nice. I like the vibe of using all hand tools, but it’s slow, so some big ol’ power tools would be rock-n-roll.

16. Where did you run into trouble? Got a little carried away shaping, I whittled the thing into a toothpick. I used a real outline form the second time. Furthermore, I didn’t wet the laps enough on the bottom so when I pulled the rails they got a bit dry which led to bunching later on in the build. I also forgot to put the leash plug in which was pretty amateur.
17. What kind of fin system did you use and why? Futures, a stronger, more efficient system; and I like their fins.

18. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Yes, a bit tricky but one of my favorite parts of board building. So fun, especially the Super Sap – the maple syrup smell is kind of trippy if you’re used to the headache old school stuff.

19. Where did you shape and glass your board? Shaped at Foam E-Z in the back, like a regular home style coffee shop over there. Nice guys, good ideas, and they don’t mind if you take your time. I glassed my board at my buddy, John Summerville’s woodshop in LA. He makes world-class custom boats and furniture. He had some essential tools around to make things a bit more convenient and a good guy to kick back with as everything dries.
20. What type of board do you want to make next? I already shaped a 5’6” extra wide quad. Minimal rocker, strong V out the tail. Super fast and loose. I customized the glass on this one with a brown bottom with flicks of blue, orange, and yellow, with a white pin line. Next is a 7’6” fun board for a friend, and a DVS inspired quad fish for myself.
21. Feel free to add any other input or interesting information you’d like… ”All is, if I have grace to use it so, as ever, in my great taskmaster’s eye.” - John Milton.

DDonn Shapes

1. Your Name: Davis Donnell


2. Your Brand name: DDonn Shapes


3. How did you hear about us? Can’t remember to tell you the truth. I live really close and always drive by on my way to work.


4. How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Excellent. The guys behind the counter were super willing to help!


5. Why did you want to build your own board? The experience and to have a killer retro board.


6. Shape of finished board? Think of a mix between a 70’s single fin and a modern single fin…


7. Size of finished board: Length 6’2” Width 19" Thickness 2.5"


8. What blank did you use? 6’5”A US Blanks Fish


9. How was your board building experience? Went smoother than I planned. Glassing was a PITA!!


10. Did you use videos, books, web, other? All web and the guys at Foam E-Z


11. Do you recommend these resources? Yea, I recommend looking more into glassing than I did if you plan on glassing yourself!

12. What do you wish you knew going into this project? How to properly cut the fiberglass to make it even.


13. What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? Have someone else glass it!


14. What tools did you find most useful? Surform without a doubt!


15. Where did you run into trouble? Glassing


16. What kind of fin system did you use and why? 10.5 in Fin Box. I wanted the option to change fins out and have a good time with it.


17. Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Yup. Ugly.


18. Where did you shape and glass your board? My shed. Made a mess but was worth it.


19. What type of board do you want to make next? A 10’ Log

Rubio Surfboards by Chris Gonzalez

Your Name: Christopher Gonzalez

Your Brand name: Rubio Surfboards

How did you hear about us? Online

How was your initial experience at Foam E-Z? Great fast service great experience.

Why did you want to build your own board? been surfing for many years and wanted to explore new trades.

Shape of finished board? Retro Pintail

Size of finished board: Length 5'8" Width 21 1/2" Thickness 2 3/4"

What blank did you use? US Blanks 5'10"RP

How was your board building experience? great very smooth

Did you use videos, books, web, other? web and the helpful staff of Foam E-Z

What videos, books, web, other did you use? YouTube

Do you recommend these resources? yes

What do you wish you knew going into this project? better sanding technique

What would you recommend to someone else for their first time? work on your glassing on small pieces of scrap foam

What tools did you find most useful? sanding block and planer

Where did you run into trouble? sanding
What kind of fin system did you use and why? FCS Fusion System since it was easier to install

Did you glass the board and what was that experience like? Yeah, don't wear thin pants it was hot hahahaha!

Where did you shape and glass your board? in my shop

What type of board do you want to make next? all types of boards