Watch: Memory Banks Episode One With Bella Gilchrist
Filmed by Dana Shaw.
Memory Banks, presented by FCS and GoPro, is a new series where we talk to some of the faces of the surfboard shaping industry about why they got into the biz, what makes them tick and how they approach constructing a surfboard.
For our first episode, we’d like to introduce the lovely Bella Gilchrist of Road Surf in Encinitas.
Having started shaping at the ripe ol’ age of thirteen after her dad probably figured out she could do it on her own and stopped making boards for her, Bella has been on and around surfboards her whole life. Inspired by her dad’s retro style as well as Wayne Lynch and Morning of the Earth, every board that moves through Bella’s hands is crafted with care and the knowledge that a surfboard has the power to create some pretty special memories. And as important as it is for Bella to experiment with different lengths so too is experimenting with different fins. A twinny on a traditional single fin board? Let’s go. Bella’s pick is the FCS Kelia Moniz fin, inspired by a lady who has had a tremendous impact on women’s surfing and Bella personally.
Another important part of shaping for Bella is working towards a more sustainable way of doing things. She does this by using Bio Blanks, a material made from nutshell polyol.
‘When you’re connected to nature like that, you care about it more. It makes you want to work to protect it.’
The smaller, collective changes are what might make the difference in the surf industry after all. At the end of the day shaping is a creative outlet for Bella and the physical process of making a board and then going out and testing it (AKA surfing) seems like a pretty fun way to do life.
