Bespoke Surfboards by Ellie Miller

This is something that is just too interesting and rare to pass up. Some things are often transfixing just because they are. In this case I am talking about surfboards made out of a pure passion that shows in the design.

Ellie, who has worked her own surfboard building business into existence from the ground up, has created a presence in the shaping world. Respected by peers, and shaping under Miller Surfboards which are based in Braunton, England, Ellie remains the only professional female board builder in Europe.

Who better to enlighten us further into what it taskes to make boards of such quality, Ellie Miller.

SB: Thanks for your time Ellie, how, why and when did you first start shaping boards?

Ellie: I started building surfboards because I couldn’t find what I really wanted to ride, also to fulfill my need for a creative outlet, and to explore my interest in surfboard design. I didn’t have a lot of money at the time, and building my own boards seemed like good way of being able to ride a heap of different shapes, so I bought a blank and some basic hand tools, set up some makeshift racks in the garage and gave it go. Everything was a first for me. I'd never seen or touched a blank, fibreglass or resin. I had researched board building online for over a year before starting, and the shaped board came out really good... if not a little chunky! I was terrified of the idea of glassing it and ruining the whole thing, so I sent a couple of emails out to see if there was someone who’d glass it for me. One reply was from a shaper named Tim Mason, who encouraged me to give it a try, and offered me loads of advice. Armed with his info I threw myself in at the deep end, and I’m so glad I did, it turned out great. I can still remember how brimming with pride I was, walking down the beach with it under my arm for the first time, like riding your first wave, it's an experience you will never forget. After that I got asked to make one for a friend, and then another and so on. Things just grew naturally and quite unexpectedly. I’m proud to say Miller Surfboards is now entering its 5th year of production.

SB: I saw one of your boards for sale recently, the Bonzer. I loved it. I wanted it. Where do you take inspiration from for your designs?

Ellie: My inspiration to make a particular board can come from literally anywhere. Often the surf at the time will have an influence on me, or what a fellow surfer is riding. As surfers we are always excited at the thought of riding new equipment. For me that just extends another step. The idea for the Bonzer came about after seeing a Campbell Bros light vehicle at the local fish fry event. At the same event I swapped a vintage board for a pile of 1970’s “Surfer” mags, one of which had a a few pages dedicated to the Bonzer concept, which was a totally new and radical idea a the time. So I found out everything I could about Bonzers, and shaped one. I wanted to make something relevant to the waves I ride, so decided on the egg shape. I use that pile of magazines a lot, the pages are brimming with incredible looking shapes!

SB: A little birdie tells me that you are joining forces with a guilder and making golden surfboards, how did that idea come about?

Ellie: It was just a lightbulb moment. As a gilding artist, Danni works with gold leaf on a regular basis, and we had been discussing doing a collaborative project. What better than a 24 karat gold board to start things off! We knew it hadn’t been done before, and that if we got it right, the effect would be stunning. As a crafts-person there is no greater feeling than pushing your own boundaries. Once we had conceived of the idea we knew we had to take up the challenge.

SB: Trade secrets aside, is the process of making a gold surfboard more challenging, how does it effect the price?

Ellie: Yes its highly challenging. Not only did the board have to look fantastic, but we wanted it to still be a functional surfboard . That meant incorporating the gold within the board. We knew it would hard to pull off. We had to invent the process first, which took a lot of experimentation to get the look we wanted whilst maintaining the integrity of the construction. Being covered in 24 Kt gold effects the price dramatically, and the months of work that went into have made it an extremely costly project. It is also a 01/01 limited edition. so all of those factors contribute to the final sale price.

SB: I love the look of your Blimp model, how much would one set me back with all the extras? How quickly could I get one?

Ellie: Thanks! Well for Blimp with a resin tint or combination of different tints, I charge £595 with a gloss, polish, and handmade glassed on birch ply keel fins!

SB: Can you remember your first surfboard that you shaped? Have you still got it?

Ellie: absolutely I can! I still have it, and I still ride it on occasions. It was a 6’4 Simmons which later evolved into the Blimp model. I will never part with it… it holds a very special place in my heart.

SB: What is your view on alternative shapes, for example what Ryan Burch or Ryan Lovelace are doing? Is it something you are think about incorporating?

Eliie: Those guys are doing some amazing things, I particularly love the 'Rabbit's Foot' - the asymmetrical finless board made by Lovelace. Watching those guys surf that... they make it look so easy! They are exceptionally talented surfers, with the talent in the water to ride that type of equipment. its always fun to experiment, and I've played around with a few slightly alternative designs, but nothing too radical. Every shaper gets known for specializing in a certain type of equipment, and for me its all about the logs, mini-Simmons, fish, and mid lengths. I'm continuously experimenting within that realm, but I prefer to keep my focus on the things I do best, and evolve my shaping and design within that field.

SB: Do you have anyone in the shaping industry that you look up to or draw inspiration from?

Ellie: Well Gene Cooper is just an absolutely incredible craftsman. The boards he produces are true works of art. Tyler is another who produces stunning boards. I am inspired by guys like this to keep pushing my creativity, and quality of finished product. It's not just about shaping for me. When, like me, you do everything from start to finish, the shaping is only the first part of the process of making a great board. Tyler is an exceptional glasser, and Gene's resin work is magical. It all has to come together to create something special. I prefer to refer to myself as a board builder than a shaper, and its other board builders who inspire me the most.

SB: What makes you get up in the morning and get excited about shaping? What is favourite part of it?

Ellie: For me personally its always something different. I'm always extra excited when I get to do something for the first time, be it in the shaping process or the glassing. I love to see the way the board emerges as you complete the next stage of the process. Maybe you've had an intense day shaping but you know the next day you are going to have a fun time mixing up some new colours, or laminating in some interesting fabric. I have a small workshop, so can only make one board at time, but that works best for me as I enjoy staying focused on one thing at a time. Last, but not least, getting an email from someone telling me what an amazing session they've just had, and knowing that your creation, that you sweated over, that made your hands hurt and got you covered head to toe in dust for is out there being enjoyed. Loved and admired is the best stoke of all.

SB: Wow, some pretty true words, and who could look at any of Ellie craftsmanship and say that it is anything but the best. I have met people who have surfed Ellie's boards and there is nothing ever but the highest praise. It seems at the moment not how do I get a Miller board, but more how long do I have to wait. Great skill and and application of knowledge is hard to find, it is clear that Ellie has a rare blend of skills that allows her to produce some of the best looking, functional surfboards around today.

Oh and she just happens to love what she does. I am chalking up my order as I write this last word.