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Stoked.
That’s the best word to describe Mark Brog. As
soon as you walk through the door of his surf shop,
Soul Performance, in Redondo Beach, he is all smiles
and instantly strikes up an enthusiastic conversation.
With the energy of a grommet and the devotion of a monk,
Mark has been crafting surfboards for over two decades
and keeps surfers coming back for more. My informal
poll of surfers using his boards at El Porto always
yielded two statements: "Mark really likes to work
with you" and "I love this board." How
can you argue with that? We caught up with Mark at his
shop on a nice South Bay summer afternoon.
The Shop
How long have you been surfing?
22 years…now like 24, and I have been shaping
for 22 years. I started when I was 14, at Torrance Beach,
back in 1981. Skateboarding and punk rock helped birth
a radical approach to carving concrete, snow, and surfing.
So, you grew up here in the South Bay?
Yeah.
What motivated you to start shaping?
I wanted a new board. Actually, my first surfboard was
a soft board that my dad made me get, so eventually
I wanted to have a different board. So I went down to
ET, watched them glass boards, and then got a blank.
Who did you learn to shape from?
Bruce Grant, Steven Ing (North Shore, Hawaii), Wayne
Rich, Jeff Biggs, Laddie John Dill, Dez Sawyer (South
Africa- Blue Hawaii), Errol Hickman (Aloha Surfboards
South Africa). I spent 4 months in South Africa and
trained with the local Africans at J-Bay to glass and
sand, and then I was shaping for Aloha in Durban. I
was gone for a year and a half, then spent 8 months
in France and worked with Valerie at Ocean Safari. On
that trip, I also spent the winter in Val d’Isere
snow boarding and working at a ski shop — I learned
French and got to do some extreme snow boarding every
day during lunch time.
What is your philosophy when it comes to making surfboards?
The philosophy for building anything is to do it once
and to do it right, and to put care into it. Its all
about quality and craftsmanship. You can’t to
do anything correctly without putting in 110%. That’s
what differentiates my boards from other products or
from the masses. Building surfboards is not a job, it
is a passion…and not all shapers have it. For
me, the passion comes from my background of airbrushing
models and painting. It’s a detail-oriented passion,
as well as a passion for expression. If I wanted a computer-shaped
surfboard, then it would be simple, but it takes much
more effort for me to get an order and make it happen
and keep people happy. An important point is that I
am not just a shaper, but also a sander and glasser.
For 20 years I glassed all of my own boards.
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How
do you help surfers decide what is the best board for
them?
I ask them what their experience level is in years,
what spots they surf, and what is the next level they
want to see themselves coming into. If it is a surfer
who is already an expert, then we are mostly going to
be picking at details, but for a beginner it may include
lopping off a foot from their board size and helping
them cut the umbilical cord so they can get on something
else. One thing that makes me different is that I have
experience shaping surfboards that work for women because
my wife surfs and my women team riders, Cookie Watson
and Jeannie Chick. Boards for women are different. They
are generally shorter, have less width, and some extra
rocker. I am very interested in promoting women’s
surfing - I am even just starting to shape my daughter’s
first surfboard! Also, an important thing is that I
have demo boards for customers.
Wow, so you have demo boards for people to try?
Yeah, it’s the best way for someone to try a new
shape to see if works or not, without having to spend
money. Just this week I made a 9 footer, shortboards,
and an 8 foot egg for demos, and I will add some other
high performance boards to that. I see it as my service
to you.
What do you need to know about someone’s surfing
so that you can come up with the right shape that will
help them progress?
I ask them if they are aggressive or passive….longboard
or shortboard? Rear or front foot surfer? For rear foot
people, it is better to keep on thrusters. For front
foot people, twin fins and quads will be more fun. Some
boards just won’t work off your rear foot. Many
of the board characteristics should depend on whether
you power off the front or rear foot. This is a key
point that needs to be addressed before you shape a
shortboard.
Sometimes talking to a shaper can be intimidating, at
least it was for me as a grom. Do you ever recognize
that in your customers and help them along?
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I
personally don’t recognize that, but that’s
probably because I am so eager to help and chat right
when people come in the shop. However, I understand,
I also felt intimidated poking my head into the shapers
room. When people come in, I ball park them a couple
of questions to see what kind of interaction they would
like, and if they say "I want to work with you",
then I am totally eager to open up and share my 20 years
of collected experience. If someone really wants to
learn surfboard design, then I want to help to teach
them as they are ordering. That way, they can steer
the design process and I don’t have me make the
decisions for them. I usually calm people down once
I start rambling (laughs). Also, the demo boards help
out more than me just standing in shaping room and spitting
out numbers.
Sometimes I wonder if what determines whether a board
"works" or not is more in my head, or the
quality of the waves I surf. What makes a surfboard
"work" for somebody?
It really does not have that much to do with the board.
Instead, it has a lot to do with your mental attitude.
If you have a closed mind, you are not going to see
the differences in a board like someone with an open
mind. You can put people like Rob Machado on an ironing
board and they would still surf great because they know
how to focus their energy into making a board work.
Your dedication will determine what you end up experiencing
from a board. A person who is in good physical shape
is going to be able to appreciate a surfboard more than
someone who is out of shape because they can surf more
waves.
So then, can a shaper just make a "magical"
board or is it serendipity?
It’s total chance. Yeah, much of it has to do
with the shaping, but "magic" boards have
a lifespan and once they break, they’re gone.
You know if you have a magic board because everything
connects, and when that is gone, you can’t just
reproduce it on a whim. As a result, you appreciate
magic boards when you finally find another one. An important
thing about my boards is they last so much longer than
mass produced boards, so you can have a longer relationship
with it. Once a board snaps in half, it never has the
same feel to it.
Then what is your response to someone that comes in
and wants you to clone their magic board?
If they have the board, then I suggest that they bring
it in when they come to see me. From that point, I can
ask them if there are subtle things they want to change
or alter on the design. I have done plenty of duplications
and I try to make the new board better than the original.
You go off the template of their original board, but
I like to see my shaping and their surfing move into
the future and not stagnate. But in the end, I will
make an exact duplicate since they are paying!
But in the end, isn’t it impossible to produce
a clone?
No, not impossible, but close to impossible. A computer-shaped
board can be made over and over, but they are not magical.
If you are a spiritual person that wants energy from
a surfboard, then you want a hand-shaped board. Anything
that is magic comes from energy, like the love in a
relationship. A guy buying a board off the rack is getting
bachelor-style love. Its not until he sits down to have
a serious relationship with a board, like the relationship
he would have with his wife, that he is able to develop
his surfing and progress to better waves…like
going from 2-3 foot slop to Sunset.
Since you brought it up, what is your feeling about
computer shaping?
They have their time and place. It can be good if you
are making the design changes for yourself, but I can
shape a surfboard faster than you can type the info
into the computer, so with a computer you are not really
saving any time. Also, someone shaping from a computer
does not have the direct relationship like that between
a shaper and surfer. Look at all of the pros —
they don’t ride computer boards, they ride hand-shaped
boards from Rusty or Merrick. They wait for a shaper,
not for a computer. If you are smart, you wait that
extra little bit of time. The saddest thing about computer
shaping is that a lot of the work is going overseas
- not that they don’t need jobs overseas - but
unfortunately, there is a disinterest in kids around
here about making their own boards or even making repairs.
Kids just throw their boards away instead of trying
to keep the art going. Hand shaping helps people learn
more about surfing and gets people more jobs in the
surf industry. In the end, there is always going to
be the demand for an experienced shaper. Not just any
old shaper, but one that will take somebody’s
wishes and make them come true. I think the reason I
am a good shaper is that I still try all kinds of other
peoples boards. That’s important - as shaper you
need to try other peoples boards. You have got try some
wild stuff to open your palette.
What is the job market like for new shapers?
It’s very limited. In the South Bay, there are
about 50 backyard shapers who can make something that
is rideable. They have an elevated level of design and
can make a board that is really functional. Please,
go to a backyard shaper before you get a pop out from
Costco. At least there is some level of progression.
To get a job as a shaper?…man it is easier to
become a doctor! I have put in 11 years in my own shop
and those years were the ones that made me legit. It
was hard work. The 10 years before that were the building
blocks. Before anyone can call himself or herself a
good shaper, they need a minimum of 10 years. It wasn’t
until after I started Soul Performance that I considered
myself any good.
Given that most surfers can’t afford to own tons
of new surfboards, do you think that that it is better
to stick with the same design that works or to explore
alternatives?
First, every surfer should have a longboard because
it helps you surf more days. In the end, you need to
have all the basic tools in your toolbox. You need a
hammer, a tape measurer, and a screwdriver. Every surfer
should have a gun, longboard, and a high performance
shortboard. You need these three basic tools, and then
you can add to that quiver later. You need the longboard
for small waves, the shortboard for day-to-day surfing
in good or shitty waves, and a big wave board so you
can’t give any excuses about why you didn’t
paddle out when it got big.
Do see the recent increase in the popularity of surfing
as good or bad?
It’s a good thing as long as it is coupled with
environmental awareness. Otherwise, you have a large
group of people that are saturated with weak energy.
Imagine if all of these new people joined the Surfrider
Foundation. Surfing requires dedication. It can be hard
making boards for beginners who are not serious. Surfing
is not social club hour…you have to surf as often
as possible. It’s a hard core sport, and unfortunately,
it is being marketed otherwise.
Do you ever get sick of shaping?
NO! Never.
It doesn’t become just "work"?
No. Since this is my shop…no. Every surfboard
I make is different and I airbrush and treat them uniquely,
so it is like making art…making a splash!
Is shaping a hazardous or toxic profession?
No. I am so fit from shaping. The only reason it would
be hazardous is if you don’t wear a mask. Getting
foam dust in your eyes kind of itches, but you can wash
it out (laughs). However, I am getting a little tendonitis
and have to work with a brace. After I shape a couple
of boards, it is as though I have walked for several
miles. Shaping is the perfect combination of exercise,
focus, and craftsmanship. To me, it’s not at all
like a job; instead, it’s a passion that combines
all of your focus, creativity, and physical conditioning.
Amateur guys take a couple of days to make aboard, but
I can make a shortboard by hand in a couple of hours.
Focus, creativity, and physical conditioning…sounds
like you are describing surfing.
Yeah, I wish I could surf as well as I shape! A lot
of the shapers around here do surf, and it’s why
we have so many good shapers. Some shapers don’t
surf and that’s not a good thing. It doesn’t
allow personal relationships to develop where local
surfers use local shapers. Local shapers are great because
they know how to shape boards that will work in the
local spots.
Do find that surfers are less knowledgeable about shaping
than ever before?
Yes and no, because now there are web sites and videos
strictly about shaping. However, if you went out interviewing
people, I think you would find that they know less about
board building than people did in the past. I guess
people are less interested in learning and just want
the end result.
Favorite spots?
J-Bay and Burnout.
Anything to add?
Yeah, some special thanks to Mom and Dad, my wife Sheryl,
grandpa George Schwegler, my glasser and team rider
Mauro Teixeira, Marcello Malinco, Ralf Koch, and Tommy
G.
Some advice to groms: 1) shape your own board, at least
once, 2) set your sights high and far, 3) our planet
is a fantastic place that needs to be explored because
you wont feel the juice unless you leave the South Bay,
4) think freely and outside the box because you are
only limited by what others say, not by your dreams.
INTERVIEW BY JORGE VAZQUEZ
If you want to contact Mark
use the info below or click on
the banner up top to visit his website
Address: 2215 1/2 Artesia Blvd
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Hours: Mon.-Fri.(11:00 - 6:00pm)
Sat.(11:00 - 5:00pm)
Phone: 310-370-1428
Email:info@soulperformance.com
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