Leading surf hardware company FCS have just announced the inaugural FCS Shaper
Awards.
The debt owed to the long line of shapers that have crafted our surfboard fun can never be overestimated. A life of countless days walking circles around foam filled rooms is enough to send any surf scientist mad. Combine that with the impossible task of solving the hydrodynamic riddles that come with surfing’s never ending progression and you’re skulling lunatic soup.
These are the champions of our industry and we owe them the world and with this in mind we commend FCS for creating this initiative to highlight and celebrate their achievements.
From FCS:
The annual FCS Shaper Awards serve to recognise the core of surfing’s rich history and culture, celebrating legendary and iconic shapers for their significant contribution to the craft of shaping, surfboard building and manufacturing.
The awards will consist of two categories:
THE LEGEND AWARD
Minimum 40 years commitment to shaping trade.
Significant contribution to surfboard design, the surfing industry and culture.
Highly regarded and respected by peers.
Currently shaping.
THE ICON AWARD
Minimum 20 years commitment to shaping trade.
Showing innovative and committed approach to shaping and board building.
Highly regarded and respected by peers.
Currently shaping.
So how are these winners going to be chosen?
Well, it’ll be up to you to nominate them. You can vote for your favourite shaper via this link here. Every vote will go into the draw to win a set of FCS II Shaper Series fins.
After that the judges will pick three finalists for each category, and then narrow it down to a winner for each. Oh and the judges? Yeah they’re iconic too. Rabbit Bartholomew, Tom Carroll and Brad Gerlach.
Once the winners are decided, the Legend and Icon Award winners will shape two boards that best represent their shaping philosophy, one of which will be surfed by Mick Fanning and the other will be auctioned for charity.
So, let’s get voting for some legends with foam dust in their knuckles! We’ve got till March 30 to get our nominations in!