It’s summer and the south swells are among us! We have had a fun run of decent summer swells here in Southern California, nothing big, but we’ve had a ton of fun logging waves. Grant has been putting on a clinic and displaying some really jazzy surfing on his self shaped logs. We just got a new drop of boards from Grant for you to check out:
We also have two demos for you to come in and test drive through the Daydream Research Center: the 9’4” Sangria and 9’7” Wilbur
We caught up with Grant to hear how his summer is going-
Tell us about some of the boards you’re riding in this video.
Grant: In this video, I’m riding the Sangria model primarily. It’s my noserider model and my favorite board to ride at sano since the waves are a little bit softer. There’s also a snippet of a new diamond tailed pig that I’m working on. The no name model is sort of the new age, super bladey, low concave speed stick.
What’s the goal of your Sangria design?
Grant: The goal with the Sangria was to combine a board that noserides with ease but also turns on a dime, especially in the softer waves of California.
You’re the kind of surfer that’s able to ride everything from shortboards to longboards. Do you have a style that you’re particularly partial towards?
Grant: I would always prefer to ride a shortboard, especially if the waves are good, but having a longboard in my back pocket enables me to surf almost every day. Surprisingly enough, being in Southern California we don’t have swell as much as people think so I end up riding a log a lot.
If you were going to design a board for your dog, what would you make?
Grant: Ha ha ha if I was making a board for my dog Skip, who’s a crazy Australian shepherd, I’d probably make him a Wilbur because he’s got those quick feet.
If you could surf with any legend, who would you surf with and why?
Grant: If I could surf with any legend, does Shaq count? I think it would be crazy to see him on a surfboard.
If you could have anyone shape you a board who would shape it for you? What would the design look like and where would you surf it?
Grant: I’ve always been a fan of Griffin Stepanek’s boards, his outlines and the way he foils his boards are incredible. The next board I order from him will probably be a step up and hopefully I get the barrel of my life at Ocean Beach.
Is there a specific design you haven’t shaped yet that you want to build?
Grant: I've been curious but haven’t done the deep dive on finless boards yet. I’ve made a couple in the past but since I don’t prefer to shape eps it’s hard to get super into it.
You always have really fun names for your boards, how do you come up with the names for your models?
Grant: Ha ha ha thank you I appreciate that, all of my models sort of have a funny reference or just really what I was into at the time. Like the Wilbur came from Charlotte‘s Web. I thought it was a fun coincidence that the board is a pig shape.
What’s the first board you shaped and where is it now?
Grant: My first board was a 4‘10“ mini Simmons. I shaped and glassed it in my friend’s garage. At the time, I thought it was a good idea to sell it so that I could buy another blank. I sold it for 20 bucks. If anyone finds it, let me buy it off you!
Do you have a model you’re most proud of?
Grant: I can’t say that I have a favorite because each one of the models had to be a magic board to make the cut. All depends on how i’m feeling that day.
You’re a married man now, how has your life been evolving with a year of marriage under your belt?
Grant: Yup, marriage is awesome. After the last year we have definitely evolved bringing out the best in each other. It’s nice to have a set of fresh eyes on habits I'm being an idiot on.
Are you excited for locals summer to start here in Newport?
Grant: Are you kidding? The reason why I live here is the local summer. I can’t wait to have warm water, waves, and parking.
What new surfboard designs do you have up your sleeve?
Grant: I’ve got a couple new models in the works, hopefully they’ll be out in the next few months. But it’ll probably be a mini glider and a twin fin with a trailer that will be a little bit more sporty than the UFO.