AJW Surfboards Shaper: Adam J. Warden

Year started shaping: 1997

Boards shaped: Quite a few

What’s your shaping philosophy?  A shaper is as only good as his last board. It doesn’t matter how fast or how slow you finish one, what matters is putting a little extra love and effort into every single board. In due time, your efforts will show.

What led you to become a shaper?  I was looking for my first new surfboard, but I didn’t quite have the money. I figured I could afford a blank, and if it looked decent enough, then I’d buy the cloth and resin. So I never looked back, and still haven’t bought a new stick to this day.

Who is your biggest shaping influence?  The groms who just want to surf all day, and all the older shapers who paved the way, pushing the limits by testing their own boards in serious conditions just to see if they’d work. Mark Richards, Simon Anderson, Gerry Lopez, Gary Linden, and Jeff Clark, just to name a few.

What do others consider your expertise?  Anyone who has ordered a board from us would tell you that our customer service is great. We truly strive to provide honesty and the best experience possible for people when they order a surfboard.

What do you consider your expertise?  Providing the best board for the conditions that you want to surf. My personal obsession has been traveling and putting myself in deeper water, and as I’ve gotten better I’ve found myself shaping bigger boards every year. Building guns has always been a passion of mine, and to push my own surfing and see other guys trust them in heavy conditions around the world has been pretty awesome to witness.

What are your most popular models?  This year a lot of people  have loved the Potato Launcher, the ultimate one-board quiver, great for the weekend warrior or the traveling vagabond. The contest kids have been really into The Answer, our staple small-wave performer. Also, The Missing Link is bridging the gap between the previous two: A five-fin board that’s great for heavy beachbreak barrels but can still whip on average days.

What is unique about the boards you shape?  I only shape boards that I could see myself riding; no funboards, no longboards, no retros. There’s nothing wrong with them, I used to shape everything, but nowadays I like to focus all my energy on what I enjoy shaping the most.

What’s the biggest lesson learned in your shaping career?  Shaping has been one of the most humbling experiences in my life. The more you know, the harder it gets to perfect.