Watch: Board Talk With Ellis Ericson
Like many niche industries, the varieties unseen by the masses are usually the most special.
Which is exactly why Keel Surf & Supply thought it was only right to shine some light on the talented shapers stocked in store through their new series Board Talk. The first episode features Ellis Ericson, the surfboard shaper responsible for ‘hot-wire’ and 100% hand-shaped surfboards under his own name. For those unfamiliar with the term hot wire, is it a term referring to the process of hand-cutting the foam blank’s basic shape with a heated wire. No computers. No machines. Just hands. Fighting the machine in an industry where the temptation to churn out as many boards as possible is an admirable thing to do and we certainly admire Ellis for doing it. Sure, saturating the market to produce more and more and more is great for the bank, but never great for the planet. And it is exactly this approach that increases the value of his boards and the experience when it is under your feet.
In Board Talk filmed by our beloved Jake McCann, Ellis talks process and headspace of all things shaping and life. Mixing his background in performance surfing and pursuit of going vertical, Ellis’s boards are a mix of experimentation, performance and art. While he has to be one of the most humble guys in the industry, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know what he is doing. Working out of his place on the Mid-North Coast of NSW, Ellis’s shapes continue to push the limits of surfboard innovation, becoming one of the most renowned shapers in the world, favoured by the likes of Mikey February and Alex Knost.
Celebrating the beauty of life layered in good intent is what Keel Surf Supply is all about. It is why Ellis Ericson’s boards found their home within its walls among many other brilliant, handmade brands. From its humble beginnings back in 2012, Keel Surf Supply has grown into one of the most loved suppliers of fun. From handmade boards to snowboards, print and cool beacon camping lights, this is a store curated for a life well lived. Shop at keelsurfsupply.com or in store at their flagship store at 7C Lawrence Street, Freshwater.
