What Most Surfers Get Wrong About Surfboard Design w/ Shea Somma
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Central Coast shaper Shea Somma (@sheasomma) is known for surfboards that make the most out of whatever the ocean throws at you. In this episode, we get into the DNA behind his designs like the Mini Super, a Mini Simmons inspired groveler built around an optimal length-to-width ratio that he reverse engineered into a unique user-friendly board. He also breaks down how he won Best in Show at the 2023 Boardroom with his Bonzer-based Panza shape. We also talk about the most common mistakes surfers make when buying boards, and why the current obsession with surfboard volume might be one of the most misleading trends in the industry right now.
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:13 Shea's Central Coast Waves & Shaping Origins
04:13 Sharks, Colors, and Surfboard Superstitions
05:59 The Mini Super: A Mini Simmons Evolution
12:26 Fins, Concaves, and Hydrodynamics Explained
16:35 How the Simmons Design Spread Across Surfing
19:21 Winning Best in Show with a Bonzer
25:04 Building the Panza: Groveler to Step-Up
30:10 Twin vs. Twinzer: What It Actually Feels Like
36:19 Ocean Beach Guns: The OBG and the Judah
40:02 Biggest Mistakes Surfers Make Buying Boards
44:21 The Truth About Volume
47:04 Good and Bad Trends in Surfboard Design
48:59 Shea's Current Quiver, Board by Board
54:38 Upcoming Film Project and France Art Show
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