This is How Ben Aipa Shapes a Surfboard

In this day and age where computers and technology are king, it's a breath of fresh air to watch someone use their hands to build something...especially if that someone is Ben Aipa and that something is a surfboard. Ben is a true Hawaiian legend as a surfer, shaper and coach and he still hand shapes every single one of his boards. He is at the point in his shaping career that he can take his time and enjoy the shaping process. The way he enjoys it is by talking story, taking meticulous measurements multiple times while shaping and sharing his knowledge and experience with others.
Being the classy guy that he is, Ben invited us into his shaping room and decided to have a little bit of fun and show off his shaping skills. He took a 6'10"A US Blanks fish blank and decided to shape a 6'0" x 19 1/2" x 2 1/2". For those of you not familiar with the blanks or with shaping, it's the same idea as trying to race a big rig in the Indianapolis 500. Ben is a master shaper and he put his skills to work and we were lucky enough to be able to capture it and bring it to you. There are thousands of ways to shape a surfboard, but this is the way Ben Aipa does it. Enjoy!
shop.fiberglass...

[@kazumasurfboards]

Awesome video Grant, this needed to be documented. This is the exact same way Ben taught me to shape over 25 years ago and this technique has stood the test of time. Till this day, I follow these exact same steps and it has never failed me. Matt Kazuma Kinoshita

[@diverdave4056]

43 years ago Ben Aipa made me a custom 8 foot x 22 inch wide nose rider when I moved to Hawaii to learn how to surf ... its a beautiful white board with a concaved yellow section under the nose and 2 yellow channels near the tail .. and a light blue movable fin ! I loved surfing on it and I still have it today !

[@lock446]

Just watched this not knowing who Ben Aipa was, so went to look at some of his boards online to find a story only 12 minutes ago that he has passed away.. Rest in Peace. It was a pleasure to watch such a master in his element. Thankyou for everything you have contributed to surfing!

[@mattmarshall6003]

My 9'4 Big Boy Sting is the finest surfboard I have had in 50 years of surfing. This video is so much more than shaping, it is a commentary on his constant commitment and continued strive for excellence. Rest in peace Ben, I owe you so much...

[@27779206]

This is the best thing on the Internet. Have had to of his boards and dozens of others, none of them even came close. He is a true master. Beautiful to watch!

[@Hibbard1986]

RIP - Ben Aipa. Loved these videos by fiberglass hawaii.

[@Alex_Correa]

I've been at that shape room and spent a long time with him talking story. One of the very few shapers that actually talked and teached how to improve your shaping skills with true valued tips. His passion for teaching and improve was always there!!! Unique way to live. Many shapers just want to keep their secrets and don't care about sharing at all, thinking of money. Aipa wasn't like that!! That was one of his best qualities. Great surfer too! I'm proud to say that I've spent that time with him. RIP, my friend!!!

[@MiscMobileUploads]

-Inspect blank.. Look for consistent light across rails -use tape measure to measure and mark the lengh og your shape. Tip to tip, one foot up from nose and tail, and center. -write mesaurments on blank. Current thickness, and desired thickness. -cut excess tips off blank -measure natural rocker, and mark desired rocker on tail and nose, straight lin across the blank for a guide for planing - plane with your breath, find a rhythym, connection between machine and body as one -optional, cross cut board side to side for first run -long deep cut, nose to tail, continue with regular planes -measure thickness after planning, leave 1/8 to ¼ to play with -check desired rocker -use curved 10’ surform blade, sand off stringer on bottom of tail so that it is curved rather than 90 -use 5” surfofrm to shape bottom tail further -use 10” surform to blend bottom nose to tail -60 grit pad to blend further, nose to tail, back and forth, even and smooth -60 grit sanding pad to cut concaves/ channels mark nose tail and center width of board -draw outline - inspect drawn outline from afar, then flip board upside down and check again. -cut at 90 degrees, 1/8 inch off line. Let go of saw periodically and make sure saw is up and down -draw line to turn bottom edge, - draw 3 rail bands, to guide you as you foil the deck -plane using lines as a reference -10” surform to blend deck -40 grit sanding block to true up the outline -make sure outline matches the outline that you previously drew -long even strokes for nice flowing outlinbe -10” surform to blend bottom edge -80 grit sand screen to blend bottom edge further - 60 grit hard sanding block to turn and blend the deck rail -10” surform to blend deck of rail -dragon skin to futher turn the deck rail -80 grit sand paper to blend rail further -120 grit sand paper to blend further -120 then 220 grit sand screen to blend bottom to clan scratches

[@richardmason902]

Yes -- genuine shaping is a lot of work and it's impossible to get them to pay what an honest board is really worth.

[@paulhetherington3854]

IN'SP'ECT'--At history of Hawaii, self subject.

[@kevinallen6197]

I had an Aipa sting in 78 Moved the fin all though forward Used snap turns up the face and almost go airborne. One of the funnest boards ever.

[@mikedwalrus]

Thank you fiberglass Hawaii for putting this video together and many many thanks to Mr. Aipa for sharing his knowledge. Stoked.

[@fokkerfw]

I miss you Ben. Thank you for being my friend and making my board. I will never part with it. May God always be with you my man. Aloha oe'

[@alexcoberly6679]

Mesmerizing watching Ben shape! Thank you!

[@gregstarr2878]

Thank you Ben! I'm looking forward to having Duke shape me a board very soon! Your a Legend! 🤙

[@a.drewwalker9662]

Watching a true master artist at his passion! TY for the vid, its like watching Mozart compose a symphony.......

[@gregorypage6867]

I was memorised - BA stunning Skills !!!

[@Njsrufrider]

Shaping is so much more difficult than I ever expected. With no guidance or mentor it takes alot of boards before you start to feel even remotely familiar- and thats just one style/shape

[@archelust3150]

such a good guy

[@PaulCarterArt]

Great time capsule. I saw Ben shaping at Bashams in SoCal cutting out the blank vertically which made sense to me and I learned and have been doing it ever since. Much respect from a surfer-shaper-artist myself, thanks guys

[@davel4708]

Thanks for posting. What impressed me most was how light Ben's touch is. Just the exact amount of effort required, nothing more, nothing less. Also you can tell he still really loves shaping after all these years. You guys should post a vid of some of the stories he told while he was shaping the board.

[@mattstine8644]

The guy! Makes it look to easy

[@ocean4lifem8]

thanks Ben, a privileged to see your craft.

[@dennisteti1589]

Amazing 🤙🏽🏄🏻‍♂️

[@diaryofashortat]

That was beautiful to watch! thank you.

[@bonefishboards]

RIP, Ben.

[@derektsuji9520]

Excellent video! Thanks to you and Ben for sharing. Its always a pleasure to run into Ben in the Bowls parking lot to see what he's up to. I always try to subtly pick his brain for anything I can to enhance my elementary shaping skills. This video is an invaluable tool for anyone wanting to learn or improve their shaping skills...again mahalo to Fiberglass Hawaii and Ben Aipa.

[@antoniocanedo7664]

Master Ben Aipa...!

[@zl707hp]

RIP Brother

[@erinsmith7219]

Greqt to see you still shaping boards Uncle! It's been a long time since I last rode one of your boards and I still remember how it felt beneath me and how it responded in the water and on the waves; it's a feeling you can never forget and one I never want to lose...........

[@tommythompsonsurfer]

RIP HAWAIIAN SURFER BLESSINGS...TOMMYT.

[@gulfsurfco]

Cool video of a legendary shaper.

[@jeremyeubanks2387]

I love how he used his finger as a guy guide to make a straight line for his thickness for the end of the board. .

[@ichorousmedia]

epic planar cuts

[@Surfmus]

R.I.P.

[@Jmac8855]

Rest eazy uncle Ben

[@chicoxiba]

so great, thank you BEN Aipa and firberglasshawaiiiii.

[@IGcolin]

very good vid, one of the best u can find on youutube

[@crosstechheavy6453]

MCGI..THE OLD PATH....GOD BLESS.

[@anthonyheaven3722]

Hi was wondering if you in Australia in the 60s shaping a few boards under the name Apia Bertelman model board 7,2 swallow tail .1345. How can i find out more about any ides or help would be greatly appreciated a resto would be great still in good condition but the master fix up his old board would be unbelievable

[@islanddreaming8591]

Ben the Ledge

[@junomarley-gunn4528]

ben aipa deserves a video with better audio

[@wyattnichols8643]

Rip Ben ☹️

[@cadenashworth1753]

Jesus is King of all things and He loves you all so much!!🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@Alex_Correa]

Yes He is! Thanks for publishing that, brother!

[@iclausius7881]

what is that thing at the center of the rocker stick (weight or leveling bubble?) and where is the zero rocker point... the widest point?

[@TheBelal7]

isn't he a LEgend in surfing? And no one have written a wikipedia site about him ?

[@Gilloozz]

great video, how did you do the stand for the surfboard !? and what should i get so it can hold the surfboard harder, sorry for my english.

[@TheSilverSurfisher]

The more I learn, the more questions come to mind (so please bare with me)..... what if you want to shape a blank's natural rocker flatter in the entry or nose area?? Is it possible? would I plane or skin off only the bottom of the blank starting near the center of the board to achieve this? And if it is too flat after doing so, would I plane or skin off something from the top deck? How do I keep the deck and bottom symmetrical from stringer out to rails (for entire length of the board)? The more I learn, the more questions come to mind (so please bare with me)........please help me.... I noticed in another video you suggested a tool specific for rails called a fred-tool or something...which should a newbie use, planer or fred-tool, or sureform? Sometimes I'm seeing shapers pencil in a line down the rough rocker before shaping it...man I'm confused... Also, what if you want to shape a blank's natural rocker flatter in the entry or nose area?? Is it possible? Would I plane or skin off only the bottom of the blank starting near the center of the board blank toward nose to achieve this? And if it is too flat after doing so, would I plane or skin off something from the top deck to get the upward curve in the nose back? How do I keep the deck and bottom symmetrical from stringer out to rails (for entire length of the board)? Which comes first...the finished shaped board or the measurements, or a combo of both starting before the blank is ever touched?? help me Ole Ben Kenobi, you're my only hope!....

[@lihp2497]

matt kazuma has a very good video on this. his youtube is kazuma surfboard, the name of the video is "Lowering Rocker the Quick and Accurate Way"

[@TheSilverSurfisher]

LiHP Thanks....do you know what I should use for a 10 foot rocker stick level? I tried looking at home depot but metal tubes not long enough and wood is not straight enough

[@Surfmus]

@@TheSilverSurfisher find a 2x4 or some Wood thinner, or a long dowel that is straight and that is that long. Or weld a 2' piece on 8' pipe, blend it in and true it.

[@Surfmus]

I use the method of flow. I naturally eye ball such to keep the rocker I want and thin out deck or bottom as I go. Since I shape them from scratch. I tend to create the stringer as close to the board/blank I want.

[@TheSilverSurfisher]

@@Surfmus thanks for your time to reply and provide this info

[@marianogalan9332]

Was he playing Keith Fullerton Whitman music?

[@tayronachan]

RIP

[@paulhetherington3854]

6'6"--Pipe Haleiva, Sunset---> 4-5ft. LIK'G'DAT' --- ON'DEK'Ti'

[@3_too_won]

What are you going on about it seems like mindless shit to me.

[@8brothersProductions]

Aloha oe

[@haileyarita8871]

RIL

[@alohajake6736]

Is he still board shaping? Is not it a machine shape? It's cool, but the price is hot?

[@xwhite2020]

Great vid thanks for the insight. Please turn the volume of that bloody guitar down next tme.

[@stevenboyd5393]

monica jill maruquin gutierrez

[@pangrac1]

Sound is absolute dizaster! Camera so so. Anyway thank you very much for this and plz use only pro videomaker from now. Who other deserve it more to have perfect video then Ben Aipa?

[@Andre.......]

No masks were harmed during the making of this film.

[@elbob248]

Neither was the very obvious vacuum hose on the planer.

[@xyzct]

Ben's only 37.

[@paulhetherington3854]

Computers lie, as the humans, who make them. iO'LIK'NE'G'---Input what? Like not, this place.

[@Dingus22]

hes making a board 1 7/8 inch thick ? thats really thin ??

[@johnmedina5399]

That was the tail thickness

[@paulhetherington3854]

L'ES'S"--Left is, self, side. Damn they, don't use-- decimals or fractions-- like Israel- Iraq? Just like, I hear, my music notes-- not deafly write, down.

[@paulhetherington3854]

7/1 dx=--> (7-1)= * dx---> dx=7, (7-1)=6*7=42 INT! Or in Swedish, = not internal or ing(ch). Fractions are, not in! or-- 7+-1= (8,6)dx=1, *2=2 INT! Hence-- the rocker with, fractions-- is really bad. Mo Beta-- with no haule-- interfaces bra. Haules-- use fake boards.

[@3_too_won]

Mindless shit again and no respect.

[@paulhetherington3854]

AI'LER'ON'? Never aviation.

[@3_too_won]

Mindless shit again.

[@hughgunson2416]

Not cool

[@patriciatagliabue5037]

ohh thats a shitty machine you can make it at any HD