The Beginning…

The year was 1994, like most shapers at the time, I started plowing foam in my shed along with a good mate, we wanted to have a go at making surfboards for ourselves, the first attempts were average but the boards were functional and I was already hooked on the shaping/glassing process. We created a label called Powerlines Surfboards and kept making boards for ourselves and close mates. A local surf shop started stocking my boards and I offered them a ding repair service, I started getting a good reputation and following with surfers at my local west coast surf break. The fire was lit.

Progression

The year was 1999 I was picked up as the head shaper for Hot Buttered Surfboards in Auckland, this was massive jump in production and an amazing learning experience, for the next 7 years I hand shaped customs,shop stock and boards for HB team riders including Larry Fisher, Rowan Smith, Nick Hardy, Michia Davies, and many more.

In 2004 I had the opportunity to shape Hawaiian Island Creations surfboards under the guidance of master craftsman Eric Arakawa, head shaper, this was a massive honour to shape an iconic brand from the birth place of surfing and team riders Andy Irons, Shane Beachen etc. I was so stoked to finally Meet Eric in Australia, We talked surfboard design and where H.I.C was heading, he was and still is the most insipring Shaper I have meet. Eric AraKawa Quote 2005: Johnny (Jdub) is a real craftsmen.

Full Circle

By now my own board label had evolved to be called J-dub Surfboards nz I was stoked to be back shaping my own boards full time, by now I had hundreds of boards under my belt. Yet another door opened to shape for Ultimate Surf and Skate store in 2007 so I moved into the shop on Aucklands North Shore, I was shaping customs, stock boards and doing ding repairs all in house. I was always learning new techniques and had developed my own style in board design. I have also worked with most of the industry in Auckland including HC, Steve Morris, Nick Tansley and Primal Surfboards.

The Present

This brings us to date with many great surfing/shaping memories and adventures along the way I now have 23 years experience in the surf industry and over 30 years as a surfer. My focus is on custom boards and high quality products, My goal is to always to be progressive and my surfboards are a reflection of this belief. J-dub Surfboards are made with a passion and are the very best handcrafted products available.