Garage Shaper

Garage Shaper is a nickname here at DailyStoke.com as well as a good description of Garage Shaper's favorite hobby…next to actually surfing. Garage Shaper has been surfing for many years and always had an interest in how boards were built but was always too timid to try it himself. He finally broke down a while back and got hands-on; the foam dust hasn't settled yet and he's getting new ideas every day. Being mostly self taught, Garage Shaper says he's had my share of mistakes. His goal is to build unique boards that ride well and share projects with surfers that will benefit every waterman. Look for more cool projects from the Garage Shaper soon!

Bubble Gum Surf Wax: Product Review

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With the water temp starting to peak here in New England, I figured it would be the perfect time to do a wax review.  My good friends at Bubble Gum Surf Wax hooked me up with a bunch of bars and some of their special wax remover to put to the test.  With team riders like Rob Machado, Gabe Kling, Tonio Benson, Freddie P., and JMJ, I figured it was worth checking out. To be honest, I use cold water wax about 80% of the year but for a few short months, I have the opportunity to use a cool or even … [Read more...]

DaFin Swim Fins: Product Review

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First let me start by saying that I am, and always will be, a surfer at heart. However, I also believe that you can’t consider yourself a complete waterman unless you can body surf. After recently making my first alaia I realized that it was better off being ridden prone than standing up. However, I just couldn’t get it going fast enough to get up and planning. I decided it was the perfect time to reach out to the boys at DaFIN to see if they could help. DaFIN is one of the world’s leading … [Read more...]

Wave Tribe Eco-Friendly Cork Traction Pad: Product Review

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Wave Tribe is a company driven to provide low-impact products for surfers and I recently got my hands on one of their new Eco Deck Pads. The pad’s biggest feature is that it is mainly constructed of cork instead of EVA foam. Derek Dodds and his crew over at Wave Tribe did some extensive testing on the material and found that it offered the function and durability of a traditional pad while giving them the ability to focus on the sustainable angle that the company is know for. They also back up … [Read more...]

DXG 595V HD CAMCORDER: Product Review

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We’ve covered a bunch of camera equipment in the past but recently I’ve noticed almost everything is going to High Definition! I mean, you can’t argue against it…watching stuff in HD is just amazing but the cost of the video cameras that it takes to capture those shots costs a small fortune. That was until now! My friends over at DXG (www.dxgusa.com) introduced me to their exciting new line of High Definition camcorders. I told them that we were looking for something compact to bring on … [Read more...]

Bustin Boards Strike: Product Review

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 It’s been a while since I reviewed a longboard skate deck so I thought it’d be a good time to follow up with my friends over at Bustin Boards. Bustin has been around since 2001 and uses the concrete jungle (NYC) as their headquarters and testing grounds. They feel that there is no better place to develop and ride their creations and after this review…I have to agree. They offer many styles of boards but what I feel sets Bustin apart from most of their competitors is that they have created … [Read more...]

Go Pro HD Surf Pro Camera: Product Review

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One of my first and most memorable reviews for the Dailystoke was on the Go Pro Surf Hero camera. At the time I was just blown away with the technology and I found that it brought a whole new level of enjoyment when I used it while surfing, skating, or any at any other event I wanted to capture on film. Since then, I’ve spoken very highly of them every chance I get and I still have people asking me about what that thing is on the nose of my board! Recently I was sent the newest version of their … [Read more...]

Home Depot Surfboard Shaping Project – Part 2

Readers will know that I was intent on shaping a surfboard out of pink foam insulation. I went to Home Depot, and bought 2" and 1" pieces. Once home, I mixed up a batch of epoxy and sandwiched it between the two pieces of foam; placing the thinner sheet on top. To guarantee good adhesion I moved the top sheet back and forth a few times. Then I busted out my old encyclopedia collection; I placed a few books under the nose and the rest on top. This step is critical as it sets the main rocker for the … [Read more...]

Home Depot Surfboard Project – A surfboard shaping story – Part 1

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There is a shared ritual for anyone who puts their hands on a surfboard for the first time. First, you'll feel the smooth contouring of the rails, then sight down the stringer, dance our finger tips over any bottom contours, flip it over a few times and then ask: "How’d they make this?" These days, all you see are cookie cutter, CNC replicas of surfboards being mass-produced and sold at the same price they always have been, if not more expensive than they were! I’m certainly not opposed to this … [Read more...]

GoPro Surf Hero Camera – Surfing Product Review

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A big focus for me this year is going to be highlighting and reviewing some new and existing surf-related products on the market. I am personally testing them and trying to give a truly unbiased, surfer’s perspective. For my first victim, the folks at Go Pro were kind enough to send us their new GoPro Surf Hero sports camera. We’ve all fantasized about having our own cameraman to document our sessions and capture each ride on film. However, without sponsorship or the luxury of living in an … [Read more...]

Finatic – Netflix for Surfboard fins from the Surfboard Warehouse

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The Surfboard Warehouse is now offering a new "Netflix" type of program for surfboard fins (Twin, Thruster, Quad and Longboard), called Finatic. It is a fin testing program that enables its members to test an unlimited number of fins from both FCS and Future Fins for $19.99 per month. After picking your top three sets of fins, you’ll receive a set within a few days. You can keep the fins for as long as you’d like and you will receive your next set once you send the last rented pair back via a … [Read more...]