In Encinitas, California there is a compound blooming out the doors of the very rad UNIV Shop on Pacific Coast Highway — we profiled the shop in one of our first posts on this site. Since then they’ve continued to grow..into a full blown workshop of creativity and zen. There’s an Airstream trailer for visiting surfers to stay in. A gallery space. A shaping bay. Plenty of good surfers and lots of pretty polka dot dress wearing women passing through daily. And a variety of rad surfers utilizing the shaping facility. One being our friend Chippa Wilson — who recently came through and knocked out his own single fin.

This is the fifth surfboard Chippa has shaped in his life — and with a little coaching from Benji Weatherley — it came out…well, it looked good…and by the end of his first surf, Chippa managed to get the hang of it. A success!

It’s an accomplished feeling to ride your own work. And we suggest you see for yourself. Chances are you’ll go thank your real shaper for his craftsmanship and patience.