Eric Arakawa: On Shaping Surfboards for Jack Robinson, Andy Irons, and the Hos

Eric Arakawa (@arakawasurfboards), the shaper for over ten World Champions, including Andy Irons, Jack Robinsons, and Michael and Derek Ho, joined me in this week’s Basis Surf Podcast episode to share his insights on shaping boards for these world-class surfers and to discuss how each board was crafted to help them perform at their best. Sign up for our free surfboard guide for sizing down, video library, and newsletter   Chapters 00:00 Introduction and the Impact of Small Changes in Surfboard Design 03:02 The Importance of Balance in Board Performance 05:27 Refining Board Designs Based on Surfer Feedback 09:08 Analyzing Performance and Making Improvements 12:04 The Joy of Seeing Surfers Excel on Arakawa Boards 30:10 The Art of Last-Minute Board Changes 33:23 Shaping Boards for Pros 39:37 The Challenges and Rewards of Shaping Boards for Surfers 45:27 Building a Quiver: Considerations for Everyday Surfers 48:58 Delivering an Experience: Tailoring Boards to Customer Needs 55:31 The Importance of Teamwork in Shaping Boards   Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, Isaac Stant, Nakoa Decoite, and more!   Join our community of over 55k followers across IG, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube: Basis Instagram Basis TikTok Basis Facebook   Surfer: @father._.sean 📸: @john_hook