During the pandemic, I was inspired to build my first surfboard, rather than buy one.

El Camarón’s design draws inspiration from Donald Takayama's 'In the Pink' model, combining classic longboard performance with a touch of style. Its shape is optimized for nose-riding, which offers smooth control and glide on a wave.

The process had its many challenges—at one point, a foggy San Francisco day caused the hot coat applied to the bottom to cure improperly, nearly derailing the project. Tears were shed and I almost scrapped the whole thing, but I pushed through and was elated to create a ridable surfboard.

Though the board ended up heavier than your typical 9-foot longboard, it remains buoyant and is a joy ride, especially on a sunny day in Bolinas, CA.