NSP caught up with surfboard shaper, Carl Schaper to talk about how he got started in the surf industry and his latest collaboration with the NSP Surfboard brand.
With decades of experience in the shaping bay, Carl Schaper belongs to the higher echelon of shaper royalty on the island of Oahu. Knowing a thing or two about high-performance surfing, Carl has shaped boards for some of the very best, including longboard world champions, pipeline chargers and industry legends like Garrett McNamara (Guiness Book of record for biggest wave ever ridden).
The Dream Factory
Carl acquired a former warehouse, Waialua Sugar Mill, that houses a shaping bay, a surf shop with over 200 customs at all times, plenty of surf accessories and an art gallery featuring works from local artists.
Watching the video below really shows just what a perfect setup it is. A wide-open showroom, with a clear view for shop visitors who get to see what goes on in the shaping and glassing areas. It’s basically the stuff of dreams.
Schaper shaping philosophy
“Keep it simple, stay neutral and make sure the boards are fast. Get the right board for the right guy for the right conditions.”
Working alongside and collaborating with an experienced shaper like Carl brings exciting possibilities for NSP to expand its lineup of high-performance shapes. While we're thrilled for the gun range, this partnership also extends to crafting exceptional longboards and funboards. Our primary goal is to cater to accomplished riders, offering them top-notch, affordable, and long-lasting boards equipped with cutting-edge surfboard technology.
Carl's reputation extends far beyond the Aloha State, having shaped for some of the most prominent figures in Hawaii. For those new to surfing or curious about Carl and this collaboration, we had the privilege of interviewing him about his illustrious career, his innovative board designs, and his passion for surfing.
Carl's workshop - follow the @schaperhawaii feed on Instagram
Hi Carl, thanks for doing this. So, let’s start with the basics; do you have a nickname?
No, No nickname:), at least not one we can print.
I live on the north shore of Oahu, in Haleiwa. My shop is at the Waialua Sugar Mill:
I think I’ve been surfing for 49 years now.
Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Dick Catri was the first guy to give me a job, the crew working at the time was Freddy Grossgritz, Larry Pope , Tommy Maus.
As a kid the group of guys I surfed with were pretty anti-contest, later I did surf a bit of competition in Puerto Rico. My best result in an island-wide contest was second.
I was playing around with surfboards as soon as I started surfing, repairs and stuff like that. Eventually, I shaped my first surfboard in Cocoa Beach, Florida when I was seventeen.
There where so many different shapers that helped me along the way. Early on, Bob Tomb and Gregg Lohr were the guys I really looked up to. And later when I started to understand what I was doing, Nestor Ramirez and Rick Bullock were a couple of guys that really helped me along.
Mainly feedback from my customers and staying in the water.
Mid-length Butter Knife in CSE construction by Carl
Who was the first big-name surfer to use one of your shapes?
Back in the early 80’s I would say Edwin Santos, after that in 1990 Mark “Occy” Occhilupo and then just a few years later I got hooked up with a range of local high-performance longboarders from the Island here.
Any top surfers using your boards today and any titles?
The usual thing, grooming some young kids on short and longboards.
Oh much better.
Why did you get involved with NSP?
I have been involved with Cobra Composites for quite some time, since I was the first shaper to jump in with South Point Surfboards – which went on to be successful. I had done some models for NSP, one of them being the 11’0 which was extremely well received.
I guess to really answer your question, I just rolled into a relationship with NSP and why is easy, Cobra Composites is the leader in moulded surfboard technology, so globally it is a pretty good place to be.
@monkey_surfer_13 on a Schaper - Pic by Will from @aquatech) imagingsolutions
What product range will you be shaping for NSP and who is the target market?
I’ve worked on a range of high-performance boards, and the genre centres on guns, longboards and fun shapes. The NSP Shapers Union range is where you will find most of my shapes, constructed in CSE, Elements and now Nature Flex technologies. I'm also proud of the two shortboards that have been added to the range, the Slot Machine and Pit Cruiser
Back when I was growing up, surfing wasn’t popular at all. To tell you the truth I can’t think of any downsides – I don’t have any complaints.
I think foil surfing will be another niche sport along the lines of kitesurfing and windsurfing etc…
I’ve always said it’s pretty difficult to reinvent the wheel. I currently feel that we are going back to shaping similar boards to the 1989 designs, and of course they are slightly more refined, but the basic shapes have a lot of similarities.
Firstly, I was born in Fort Smith Arkansas. And then, although I am on the map as a well-known longboard shaper, and I had always shaped longboards, I had not ridden longboards prior to shaping them for a select group of locals.
I am stoked about another deal with NSP and getting some new models out there. I feel NSP is on the cutting edge of surfboard technology as they are built by Cobra Composites, easily the best moulded surfboard company in the world and also a leader in hand-laid up composite construction through all genres.
With 44 years of surfboard experience and being on the North Shore, I have a wealth of solid designs that we can bring to our customers in cutting edge construction and at a great price point. I’m stoked to be able to ride this new wave!