The Salty Life of a Master Shaper

Die hard surfer and Founder of Howie Shapes, Luke ‘Howie’ Howarth, is Northern Beaches personified. When he is not in the surf, he can be found in his Mona Vale factory, shaping custom surfboards for the bright young stars of tomorrow.

You’ve been surfi ng since you were a grommet. When and why did you first pick up a board?

As a child, I grew up with asthma and eczema. The family doctor told my mother to get me into the ocean as it would be good for both my lungs and skin. Swimming lessons at Bilgola Beach Ocean Pool helped build my endurance, and I’ve been swimming in the ocean ever since. We are always at the beach, mornings and weekends. My cousin, Malcolm, made me a surfboard with a concave deck so that I could hold on, and my dad would push me through waves at Kiddie’s Corner at Palm Beach. A few years later, my sister was also surfi ng; she even competed with other well-known female surfers like Pam Burridge and Toni Sawyer.

We lived a really healthy lifestyle growing up in Avalon where my parents owned a health food store.

Life in the surf, making a living, and following your passion is a pretty enviable journey. What shaped your life in this direction?

My mother helped run the NSW Women’s Surf Riders Association, along with Pam Burridge’s mother. We often travelled up and down the coast for weekends for women’s surfi ng competitions. I was also exposed to a variety of surfers who stayed with us— Barton Lynch, Gary Elkerton, Robbie Page, The Willis Brothers, Matt and Sam George, Tom Carroll, Dane Kealoha… the list goes on.

By the age of ten, I was competing in state-wide competitions. I didn’t like school much and left at sixteen to apprentice with a local builder. Although I didn’t enjoy it either, I did pick up some useful skills with power tools that I’d use later in life.

You come from a family of exceptional surfers. Tell us about your successes.

My sister Prudence and I were both competitive surfers. In my teens, I won some regional titles and competed in amateur events in Japan and New Zealand. In 1992, I had the opportunity to travel to Japan and start an affi liation with Japanese culture and a company called CHP Surfboards. I lived there for six months surfi ng in competitions and shaping. For fi ve years, I had an endless summer travelling between Australia and Japan.

“I try to give my customers the experience I remember so well from having my first custom-made surfboard. It should feel special and having to wait a bit only adds to the excitement.”

How did you learn to shape surfboards?

When my sister began dating and later married local surfboard shaper, Roger Casey, I developed a strong interest in shaping. I hung around his shop, KC Surfboards, a lot. I was like a hungry puppy, wanting to know more and more.

Then under the advice of my mentor, Mathew Haymes, I shaped my fi rst board in his North Avalon shaping bay. I was also lucky enough to learn from other industry greats like Peter Daniels, Chris McElroy, and Kazumi Nakamura.

Northern Beaches born and bred, where are your favourite local spots to surf?

I love surfi ng off the rocks at the northern end of Avalon Beach. Local surfers call it “The Offi ce.” Then there’s “The Wedge” at Whale Beach—also at the northern end of this beach.

When are you at your happiest?

I love spending time with my two daughters, Jasmin and Seaenna. I also like to relax on my veranda at Lakey Peak on Sumbawa Island, Indonesia.

What does a typical day in the life of a ‘Salty Surfer’ look like?

I usually wake at 5:30 a.m., grab a coffee and check out the surf. If the waves are good, I head out for a session. If not, I go to work and play in the dust. Throughout the day, I check Surfl ine cameras for swell updates. If the surf has picked up, I head out for a surf to rinse off the day’s dirt. Afterwards, I’d probably chill out and enjoy a beer. •

6/89 DARLEY ST, MONA VALE 2103 0414 388 881 // INSTA: @HOWIESHAPES howieshapes.com.au

THE CUSTOM EXPERIENCE

A master in craft ing custom built high-performance surfb oards to suit all abilities, Howie Shapes takes pride e in being a small-run local business, making boards with h an X-factor that you’d struggle to fi nd off the rack elsewhere. where.

What is the best recipe for a great surfboard?

It’s a combination of having enough volume (foam) to paddle well and a responsive rail shape with the right amount of outline so that you can fl ow through turns while maintaining drive off your bottom turn, which sets up everything else.

How do you tailor each custom-built surfboard to its rider?

Firstly, you need to know the image each person has in mind for their new board, what they have been riding previously, and their weight and height. It always helps to see them surf and to know where they most regularly surf and in what conditions.

What is your most popular model?

The ‘Biggie Smalls’ model is a favourite amongst team riders and customers for its ability to perform in a range of conditions, making it a go-to shortboard for year-round surfing.

You have a lot of years experience under your belt. How has the under your belt process evolved during your time process evolve in the industry? in the industry?

Traditionally, all pre-thought ideas come all out through your hands. It’s evolved from out through you hand-shaping and designing all your own hand-shaping a templates to machine shaping. It took templates to m me around 20 years to get things right me around 20 y by hand. Then computer designing and machine shaping came in. I had to start all over again. Now I own two machines, and love the idea that I can design boards on my computer no matter where I am in the world.

Coolest project you have worked on?

I’m always up for a challenge. I guess I’ve always had a good idea of shaping fi nely tuned, high performance blades. I’ve been working with my daughter with fi sh, mid lengths, twin fi ns, single fi ns and longboards. It has been super cool to watch her progression on boards that we’ve designed and built together.

What board do you ride?

It depends on the time of year. I’ll ride any number of different boards depending on the conditions and wave type/quality. I’ve just recently updated my quiver—my current collection of surfboards. In this collection, I have an epoxy 5’11” x 19’1/4” x 2’7/6” swallow-tail (30.58 litres) ‘Lions Mane’ model. For small waves, I tend to use an epoxy 5’9” x 19’3/4” x 2’1/2” swallow-tail (31.26 litres) ‘Spider Pig’ model.

I’m about to start on my Summer quiver, which will include a ‘Half Baked’ Skinny Fish model and a ‘Killer Pigme’ Twin Pin model which is part of our Project Red prototype range. •

WORDS: LAUREN GOLDSACK PHOTOGRAPHY: HOWIE SHAPES

6/89 DARLEY ST, MONA VALE 2103 0414 388 881 INSTA: @HOWIESHAPES howieshapes.com.au

Team Howie - INNOVATION FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

Howie places huge importance on community and surf culture. He proudly represents some of the area’s best surfers including super groms Loci and Balin Cullen, Ollie Heintz and Billy Bain. He aims to keep the core surf-culture alive by encouraging skill, respect and a positive work ethic.

OLLIE HEINTZ

I’ve worked tirelessly to design boards for kids who rip and we are getting great success.

LUKE ‘HOWIE’ HOWARTH, OWNER, HOWIE SHAPES

You are overtly passionate about the next generation. How do you hope to infl uence the community and surf culture?

Yes, I am extremely passionate about keeping surfi ng culture alive, especially educating the younger generation. It’s less about infl uence and more preserving ‘core’ surf culture by handing it down to today’s youth.

I run training sessions for groms and help to educate them on the importance of knowing and respecting the culture. I teach my team not only about the ocean but also about the line-up, etiquette and even sandbanks and rock formation, which combine to shape the quality of our waves.

We also do fi tness in and out of the water on Mondays and Wednesday mornings at 5:30 a.m. I love seeing the ‘froth’ on their faces when they start seeing improvement in their surfi ng and overall understanding.

BILLY BAIN

Would you describe your core values as progressive or old school?

I definitely have old school values with a hint of progressiveness. You are only as good as your word, and we are all a product of our environment.

BALIN CULLEN

You have helped a lot of young surfers achieve their dreams. What young stars have you sponsored?

I’ve sponsored a lot of kids over the years from around the Northern Beaches. I’ve been making boards for Ollie Heintz for the past 5 years. He is currently on the North Shore of Oahu (Hawaii) for their Winter season, and then to Europe to compete in an Olympic qualifi er event.

“You need all the right ingredients to bake a good cake. A good surfboard is no different.”

LUKE ‘HOWIE’ HOWARTH, OWNER, HOWIE SHAPES

I’ve been making surfboards for two young brothers, Balin (13 years old) and Loci (11 years old) Cullen, for the past three years. These kids are amazing! Locana can stomp air-reverses, and he surfs beyond his years. Balin is hardworking, and he has an ‘Occy’-esque backside attack. They are both currently among the top surfers for their age in Australia. They are also now headed to Hawaii for their fi rst season on the North Shore.

Billy Bain, who works with me on the larger-scale equipment, is Captain of ‘Team Howie’. He is a prize-winning sculptor and son of legendary ex-Pro surfer, Rob Bain.

Then there’s my daughter ‘Jassy’ (16 years old); she helps out with our longboards and retro models. Others to mention are Sam Bond from Newport, Luke Bugg from Clifton Beach in Tasmania, and Eliza and Rosie Richardson from Noosa Heads. Eliza being recently crowned the U14’s Australian Champion.

We hear your daughter Jasmin has followed in your footsteps. You must be pretty proud?

Jasmin is an amazing young woman—kind, thoughtful and understanding. She’s an excellent longboarder and competes at a level far beyond what I ever could have hoped for. She’s already won a couple of major events in Australia, and is the current U18’s Aussie Champion (Log Division). There’s more to come with a little more hard work and juggling school work. So yes, I’m very proud.

LOCI CULLEN

What does it take to become a professional surfer?

Firstly, have an amazing ability to surf. Then comes dedication, in and out of the water, together with a solid support network, major sponsorship or the backing of your parents and a mentor. Finally, a good understanding of your surfi ng equipment and the guidance from the person making it.

You are an inspiration within the community. How do you see your role in supporting the next generation?

I am a long-time member of the North Avalon Surfriders Association (NASA), and head judge at their surfi ng competitions. I volunteer my time because I believe in giving back to my community.

If you met your younger self, what would you tell him?

We are only human. Make mistakes and learn from them. Know when you are wrong and apologise. Treat people the way you want to be treated. Strive to be better every day. Follow your dreams and learn to sacrifi ce things to achieve greatness. Don’t ever give up in whatever you do in life and love and respect those closest to you. •

6/89 DARLEY ST, MONA VALE 2103 0414 388 881 // INSTA: @HOWIESHAPES // howieshapes.com.au