The California Shaping Scene Is In Good Hands
All photography and film by Josh Walker. Additional footage by Kory Khojasteh. Produced by Daydream Surf Shop.
Where do we even start when we write about Grant Noble these days?
Four years and some change ago, filmmaker Kevin Jansen released OUTSIDE to highlight some self-proclaimed, “desert rat,” kid. The clip mostly consists of four things: Grant surfing every style of board under the Newport Beach sun, clips of his shaping, and then some skating alongside other b-roll.
It’s important to clarify here that I am quite aware that those three things, featured in a surf clip, particularly, are not unique by any means. There are a lot of people out there who can surf well, skate well, have weird upbringings, and know how to use a hand plane while directing their friend on where to stand with a camera. The thing with Grant, however, is that he did it all in a way that made everyone say, “Oh, this guy is just good at everything, huh?”
There are plenty of reasons to love Grant: he’s very good at what he does, he’s genuine, he has two very good dogs, and he regularly makes appearances in this magazine, so, he’s clearly just one of those fixtures we quite like keeping around, good hair, good music taste, he’s really good at just doing slappies particularly, the achingly envy-inducing Mexico trips, the fact he’s always happy to come back to Costa Mesa after the achingly envy-inducing Mexico trips, the impressive little thing he does while surfing where he turns around and walks forward, while really moving backwards, on a longboard, how he charges Newport Point on a fish, how he sort of just eats like a dog, the kindness, the subtle fact he’s just bang into biking, and all the other things we’ve already written about here at Monster Children so I’m not just going to repeat them because, like, look, just go read the articles, okay? I need an ego boost too, thanks, so, yeah.
Anyway, yeah, Grant Noble does a lot of great, cool things. And now he’s done another: he’s the subject of the latest Daydream Surf Shop’s Case Study series. But what does that all mean? Well, let me be your Basil Exposition here and tell you: the Case Study series is all about highlighting shapers and builders that matter.
These types work out of their garages before working their way into shared spaces in industrial parks, making beautiful boards for the love of it and not because there’s a lingering thought of a printing machine and profit maximisation down the road. This series highlights shapers that give you boards that you want to hold in front of you, then balance on your toe as you do a Terminator-esque scan from tail to nose, then toss it under your arm and give it a few shakes while thinking, “Yeah, I’d like to ride this board for the rest of my life.” If shaping is an art, the Case Study series is the exhibition you stand in line for a ticket for. And it’s run by one of, and this is an extremely objective opinion here, but I don’t believe a controversial one, the coolest, best surf shops in all of California.
“The Case Study series is my personal favourite project and we have a lot of projects here at Daydream,” Kyle Kennelly Daydream founder wrote to me. “Our vision is to keep these going and tell the stories behind all the unique board builders we have the pleasure of working with. We’ve had a good run covering Marc Andreini, Liddle through Kirk Putnam, Alex Lopez, and now Grant.”
“Orange County has so many legendary shapers who have always held a presence on the scene but we are really looking for the next generation of shredders and shapers to come in and carry the torch,” Kyle continued. “We can focus on local people for now but it’s worth noting how interconnected younger generations are across the world and exploring the next wave of shapers and surfers requires a more global perspective. I think there’s a lot of hidden talent in the glass shops, it’s a haven for people who care deeply about surf culture and have a solid work ethic.”
We also talked to Grant, of course, and got his rundown on things.
So, Grant, what exactly does shaping mean to you?
Shaping is a creative outlet for me that goes hand in hand with my surfing. On the other hand, it’s pretty awesome to see a friend stoked on a board I made.
From first hand-planer to now, how much have your shaping habits or practices changed?
From the first time I held a planer, I didn’t even want to use it because it was so damn loud. It’s a scary tool but over the years it has become an extension of my hand. Nowadays I use a planer for 90 per cent of the board.
Do you still have that first Mini Simmons you shaped? I remember you mentioned that being your first shape ever, so what happened to it and can I ride it?
I wish I still had it. I was 15 and sold it to buy another blank. I sold it for $40 bucks to a friend of a friend. He told me it was the worst board he had ever ridden (laughs). If anyone finds it, I’ll buy it back from you.
Give or take how many boards did you shape before you realised you’ve got something really special here?
It’s funny, when I first started shaping there wasn’t an expectation. If it floated it was good. The first couple of years were the hardest because they started looking better, but were still plugs. Once I started shaping under my own label, it started to feel really special. People were actually coming straight to me to buy a board.
Is there such a thing as, “a perfect board,” that you’ve shaped?
With hand shaping, in my eyes at least, I wouldn’t say there is a perfect board, but a board that I’m happy with. Every board’s got something going on.
Is there even such a thing as a “perfect board”?
I wish “perfect board” was in the dictionary because I surely can’t find it.
What’s the strangest place you’ve pulled design or technical influence on your boards from?
At one point I was shaping a board with Dakota Roche, one of the best BMXers out of OC. We shaped a board for a Vans project and the nose curve was a set of handlebars, and the tail had a swallowtail which we used he wheel for.
Is Costa Mesa still the best place to be a shaper? Or a surfer in general?
I really enjoy shaping in Costa Mesa, there’s everything from big factories to backyard shed shaping rooms. It’s a great place to draw influence from because there are so many talented people here. And from a surfer’s perspective, when we have swell it’s great. But this summer has been a sad summer for a surfer.
What keeps you there? Would you ever surf, shape, and move anywhere else?
Living in Costa Mesa is home for me. Lots of friends and family nearby. It is an awesome centre point, LAX is 45 minutes away, San-o is 30 min out, and down the hill in Newport, every jetty is basically a mini left point. It’s a goofy foot paradise. I’ve considered moving, and trying something new but Costa Mesa is my comfort food. If I’m not living here, I’ve moved to Mexico!
What are you tired of everyone asking you to shape? What would you rather shape more of instead?
I used to be so annoyed by the “long twinnys.” I couldn’t wrap my head around it. They had so much rail for those twin fins to handle. I made myself one and I understand the fun of them now, they are so epic.
What’s the first board you saw, either in person or in a movie or clip, that made you think, “Oh, I need to shape that so I can ride that.”?
Tyler Warren had a part on Korduroy TV when I was a grom where he shaped a bar of soap and had a clip of him riding it at Lowers. At the time it seemed like the perfect transition board from a log to an alternative shortboard, so I made one in my friend's garage and have been shaping ever since.
What sorts of boards are impressing you these days?
I am super impressed by a lot of stuff from Fantastic Acid. Sorry for the heavy name drop but his stuff is super rad, I think I like it so much because it’s on the other spectrum of what I’d be shaping. Also, Simon Shapes. I’m a huge fan of John’s shapes, and he’s a super nice kid. He’s got an insane blend of modern concave and alternative outlines. Griffin Stepanek also has insane boards. I’m a huge fan of his fishes, I’ll order one of them tomorrow if he’ll shape me one.
What are you shaping right now? And what are you riding right now?
As of now, I’m shaping myself a new quiver. I planned a surf trip to Mex and ended up leaving all my boards down there. So, in the works, I’ve got a 9’6 Combination model, 5’6 Betta Fish, and a prototype step up getting glassed. I try and have the full arsenal, a log when the waves are small, a fish is my everyday shortboard for when it’s under a couple of feet overhead and a step up for the OH SHIT days.
Has there ever been an instance when someone asked you to shape something and you were just, like, “No.” Either because you didn’t like the specific shape, the person, or just the vibe of it all. Tell me what you hate!
I’ve 100% wanted to tell people “hell no” on certain boards but usually that’s my ego. In my head it comes out as, “Performance boards are lame huh,” or, “I don’t shape thrusters,” or, “This guy should try some alternative boards”
But… As of recently, I figured out there is a reason why the person is asking for that board. They are trying to find similar feelings under their feet and they are trusting me to shape it. Instead of hating on a certain shape, I usually just let ‘em know I’ll go for it, but don’t expect much! It’s an honour that someone will trust my abilities to shape a board that is out of my comfort zone like hi-pro logs, long twinnies, or even thrusters.
Under the arm test: it’s what works right? If anyone ever gives you litreage and stuff do you even really listen to that or just want to know how and what and where they normally surf?
I will always go for an under-the-arm test. It’s my “go-to” on boards. But I have had hundreds of my own boards and I know what works for me. Early on, though, litres sounded like a joke to me, especially with alternative shapes. “Wanna know how many litres my logs are?” was my common response. It’s all fun and games until you sell someone a board that is way under-volume and they hate it, though. I don’t check the litres for customers, but I figure out what they are riding prior or what they feel comfortable riding, and then I can figure out how much foam to give ‘em.
Be honest because I genuinely don’t know, but is it still possible for backyard/garage shapers to still, like, get something going these days? With the cost of everything and the barrier of entry and everything else it seems a bit more restrictive and really tough to crack.
Yes absolutely. There is one hundred per cent a way for backyard shapers to make it. You just have to want it. When I started shaping, before Tanner Prairie and Tanner Barrett showed me the ropes, I shaped and glassed my first couple of boards off of YouTube tutorials. That was 13 years ago. Nowadays there are so many outlets to see how to make boards. Social media has cracked the barrier, so go get it if you wanna be a shaper I guess.
What’s something you see some bigger shapers doing that either just pisses you or just is, like, kooky?
Luckily I don’t run across the bigger better shapers often. From stories, I’ve heard some have gigantic egos. It’s like they think they invented making surfboards. Don’t be that guy. Getting big leagued by the people you look up to sucks. If that’s ever me, someone please keep me in check.
If Skip and Meadow (ED NOTE: these are Grant’s dogs' names) had thumbs, who would be a better shaper of the two?
Skip for sure. He’s named after one of the greats. If he had thumbs he’d put me out of business.
Give me your usual shaping bay playlist one, two, three go.
If I’m not just listening to the harmonic balance of a skil100 I’m listening to this (link at bottom).
If I say I want to switch it up from your usual and am looking to get a 7’3” Dahlberg-style Y2K banana-rocker thruster I can whip around both on small days because I live in Southern California or big days because I want to feel like Benji Weatherly in Momentum you’d say…?
I know we talked about this board, James. Hell no I ain’t shaping that. Want a 7’3 mid-length?