The Best Of The Best...Tokoro

There are a handful of shapers worldwide that process the skills to design, construct and refine surfboards for the elite of our sport. It's all about having that special relationship, of knowing not only how the athlete surfs or wants to surf, but having the two way relationship that makes things special.

If I said to you the names, Jamie O Brien, Sunny Garcia and Keanu Asing and asked you what they have in common, I would forgive you for saying the obvious, yes they all live in Hawaii. Perhaps more to the point they all have surfboards made for them by the Hawaiian shaping legend Wade Tokoro. Having ridden a Tokoro board myself and having some understanding of the craftsmanship hours that goes into the design and refinement of such a vehicle, I was more than excited when Wade himself said that he would answer a few questions for Surf Bunker.

**SB: Hey Wade, thanks so much for sparing us your time, I know you must be a very busy guy. How are the waves at the moment?**Wade: Waves have been fun on the south shore this summer. It’s been consistent with a couple of bigger days.

SB: When did you first start getting into shaping surfboards? How did it happen?

Wade: My brother Kerry and I started building surfboards in 1985. We both love surfing and working with our hands, It was natural that we started to build our own surfboards. The best part of building surfboards is that you get to ride and test the equipment.

SB: Where do you get your inspiration from, is there anyone else that you look up to in the shaping world?

Wade: I get my inspiration from primarily the surfers. What the surfers are riding and what designs are working for specific waves. I like to keep an open mind and I always thinking of how design function.

SB: I really like the look of your SF-2 model for small waves, how can I get one? Are they all shaped by you?

Wade: You can contact us at www.tokorosurfboards.com and we can help you there. All the boards are designed on the AKU shaper and my brother helps me. I have some help with finishing but I will go over and touch every board that comes through our factory.

SB: What do you think about sustainability in surfboard construction, cork, bamboo or recycled epoxy?

Wade: We primarily build Polyurethane surfboards but we do some epoxy. It would be great to build boards that are sustainable and green.

SB: Do you ever go surfing with the guys you shape for? Keanu or Jamie?

Wade: I like to surf with the guys I shape boards for. I can see how the boards are working in person and I can have instant feedback.

SB: When you are shaping boards for Keanu do you shape him specific models for different places stops on tour or does he just ride one model for all?

Wade: Keanu has a base model that is a good all around type of board. We do build boards for the certain venues on tour. We change models and dimensions according to the surf he will be surfing.

SB: Can you remember your first ever surfboard? Do you still have it?

Wade: I still remember making that first board. I didn’t know very much and had no one to teach me. It came out ok for someone who didn’t know much. I actually still have the board.

SB: Thanks so much for your time Wade, do you have anything new that you are working on at the moment?

Wade: Currently we have been working on a few new short board designs. Changing up the concaves and readjusting the balance on the boards. Thank you for the opportunity and aloha.

SB: What we have not mentioned at all about Wade is that he also just happens to absolutely rip on a surfboard. I mean he charges. How rare is it to get someone who is this talented on a surfboard and even more so in the shaping bay. I will leave you with this last little video of Wade getting what most of us only dream of... a perfect Pipeline pit.