Zen Surfboards - Experience and Style

California. Some would say the surfing mecca of the world. Some would say the biggest percentage per capita that surf. One thing is for sure there are a lot of different waves and a lot of different surfboards which means a lot of different shapers.

So then, if you are in the market for a new surfboard and you don’t want to buy mass produced crap off the shelf, how do you know who to talk to? Who do you choose?

How about a shaper whose tag line is ‘We make boards for fun’? Whose boards that look like the title pic and have glowing reviews from board testers, reviewers and customers.They have a reputation for just being that little bit different and creating the possibility for you to take a different approach to waves. To us, these are some of the indicators that will make you want a Zen Surfboard shaped by Cal Schafer. We talk daily to a lot of people in the board building industry and all have had great things to say, some praise and (to be honest) maybe a bit of reverence.

Sometimes board builders of worth can be stereotypically difficult to contact but not Cal who seemed friendly, open and brimming with knowledge.

SB: Hey Cal, thanks for sparing us the time, how long have you been building boards? What made you want to start?

Cal: I started building boards in 2006 , so about 10 years of designing and shaping of surfboards . I was always fascinated with the early "Fish" designs from the seventies , they always seemed to be bucking the trends of their time and they were starting to make their way back into surfers quivers , that started my journey into shaping and board building.

SB: Everyone that we talk to has said nothing but great things about your boards, what do you attribute that to?

Cal: We have had a very positive response from surfers who ride our boards , I think for myself really listening to feedback from the guys putting our designs to work, and always trying to tweak and refine to get the most performance out of the boards , It makes the whole process so worth while when a customer is absolutely lit up and stoked on his board.

SB: In your opinion how do the various different surfboard construction types weigh up? Are there any advantages if any of keeping it traditional?

Cal: Surfboard construction has more options then ever before , modern cores , carbon fiber ect , I feel that experimentation using new materials gives board builders endless possibilities and creativity . With some modern materials you can build boards light , and strong when that becomes an issue. There are certain shapes that I will prefer to be built with traditional construction ,Hand Shaped , PU cores and polyester resin , but always open to alternative methods and materials.

SB: What is the Zen model that you are the proudest of?

Cal: That is a tough question , I am really proud of the Zen Double Wide Twin , It was one of those designs where all the element worked really well together , wide plan shape (mini-simmons) esque , low progressive rocker , hull entry transitioning to a mildperformance shortboard style rails , s - deck , cutaway hand foiled keels. Board is effortless to ride, skatey , super fast , sensitive and agile , The Double Wide is our game changer.

SB: Is there anyone that has inspired you in your surfboard design over the years?

Cal: That's a tough question , I feel fortunate to grow up in San Diego and I was exposed to the shapes from Bill Caster , Skip Frye , Donald Takayama ect.. I was always inspired by the level of craftsmanship and creativity in their designs.

SB: Can you remember the first board you shaped? Have you still got it and was it any good?

Cal: The first board I shaped was 5'10' quad fish , down rails . I still have the board , I like seeing where I began and all its imperfections and where I am now. The board is far from perfect but surfs surprisingly well , but I maybe a little biased about #001

SB: Haha, Here are some words from a stoked user.

SB: If I would choose a board from your quiver it would be the Lo Fi Single Fin, how much would one set me back? What the waiting time like?

Cal: The Lo Fi Single Fin would run you 575.00 , and we work to streamline our turnaround time to 3 to 5 weeks.

SB: A tricky question but our favorite. Can you describe how it made you feel the first time you caught a wave or got barreled?

Cal: Getting that first wave changes your life , and you do it and do it all over again , getting a good wave at 16 or 60 years old is still that same stoke , thats why I do it.

SB: From a true master of his chosen field. It seems obvious to us that the surfing world is far better off for the decision that Cal made to get that first wave and then start shaping surfboards.

The mantra of ' We make boards for fun' sums it up for me. Surfing is fun. That's what it is at it's essence and you can tell that Zen surfboards exude that in the designs and finish. Fun,  and perhaps a reminder of how simple life and surfing should be.

Huge thanks to Cal for the insight, the stoke and keep making awesome boards.