J7 Surfboards  Shaper: Jason Feist

Year started shaping: 1998 

Boards shaped: 4,000 (approx.)

What’s your shaping philosophy? Keep it simple. Clean outlines, balanced foils, and a rocker/bottom contour combination to suit the surfer and the types of waves they want to ride.

Who is your biggest shaping influence? My greatest influences in the shaping world are Jeff Bushman, Michael Losordo, and Marcio Zouvi. All of them are excellent board builders and in some way have helped me understand what it takes to be a great shaper. Local guys like Matt Moore and the late John Bradbury have always inspired me as well.

What do you consider your expertise? J7 is all about progressive, high-performance surfboards. Whether it is a 5-foot grom board, a WCT pro model, or a custom hybrid for maximizing both wave count and performance, our emphasis and expertise is always on performance.

What are your most popular models? Currently our most popular models are The Pill, The Whatever and The Situation. All 3 of these board models have proven to be versatile and super fun in a wide range of conditions.

What makes your boards different? We will never sacrifice quality at any level or outsource production overseas. All of our boards are made in California and  I am dedicated to building the best boards available.

How does your location influence your shaping? Santa Barbara and the surrounding areas have proven to be an ideal location for all aspects of my shaping career.

This unique stretch of coastline offers a wide variety of wave types and conditions. The hotbed of local surfing talent and test pilots has given me the resources to become a versatile and confident shaper.

What’s the biggest lesson learned in your shaping career? That shaping and building surfboards is a genuine “labor of love.” Stay healthy, keep surfing, and get to know both your surfboard and shaper.