MQ- How did surfing came in to your life?
Joe- I acctually started surfing when I was about 7 or 8 years old. It was a G&S 80's thruster. The board wasn't mine. My dad borrowed it from his buddies girl friend. I learned to pop up and paddle in community pool in my grandmothers condo in florida. Its was hilarious. My brothers and my Dad and I would be in the pool with the surf board paddling around while prune like old people with shower caps on would just float by. Its was kinda gross actually. The pool was like the 'Zuppa Di Giorno'. Yuck! I'm getting sick thinking about it. hahah
Joe- I acctually started surfing when I was about 7 or 8 years old. It was a G&S 80's thruster. The board wasn't mine. My dad borrowed it from his buddies girl friend. I learned to pop up and paddle in community pool in my grandmothers condo in florida. Its was hilarious. My brothers and my Dad and I would be in the pool with the surf board paddling around while prune like old people with shower caps on would just float by. Its was kinda gross actually. The pool was like the 'Zuppa Di Giorno'. Yuck! I'm getting sick thinking about it. hahah
MQ- Shaping was something you always wanted or something that happened along the way?
Joe- I've always been good with my hands and I've been obsessed with surfing since my first pop up in that gross pool, so I guess it was only a matter of time. I also owe a lot to a few people who've done a lot to facilitate my shaping. My long time friend/local kahuna Dennis Farrellis pretty much responsible for the spark that started my shaping career. He always inspired me with is homegrown surf craft. Then much later on down the line there is Manny and Josh who've helped me out quite a bit through both teaching and example.
MQ- Working at Mollusk made a difference when you started? Were those boards at the shop a major influence?
Joe- I think working at the shop plays a big role in my surfboard building. I pretty much have Chris "Bubbie" Gentile and Mike "Dutchie" Machemer and obviously John "Honey Bear" McCambridge to thank for opening the NY chapter of Mollusk. Basically Mollusk has provided me a library of insane boards to reference. I learned a lot about all the different styles of rails because I had the opportunity to handle boards from every different shaper that Mollusk had board from.
MQ- You worked with Manuel Caro and Josh Hall. How did it happen?
Joe- I actually met Manny first but it wasn't until the second time we hung out that we got the chance to work together. Being as though he lives in California and I live in NY the second time we got to hang out was about a year after the first time. During the in between period Josh came into town. I think he was here visiting some friends and he wanted to shape a shop demo board for Mollusk. He had his planer with him and templates so all he needed was a shaping room and a blank. I had both of those. Actually I gave him a 8'0 Clark foam blank that worked out perfectly for the 7'6 Fish Simmons that he made us. Me and Josh instantly hit it off. Its not hard to instantly become friends with Josh or Manny. Those guys are so funny. As a matter of fact when Manny and Josh both stayed at my house Josh was making me and Manny laugh harder than we've ever laughed without even trying. He's just funny without even trying. Especially when he's shaping he just does the most random shit.
Joe- I actually met Manny first but it wasn't until the second time we hung out that we got the chance to work together. Being as though he lives in California and I live in NY the second time we got to hang out was about a year after the first time. During the in between period Josh came into town. I think he was here visiting some friends and he wanted to shape a shop demo board for Mollusk. He had his planer with him and templates so all he needed was a shaping room and a blank. I had both of those. Actually I gave him a 8'0 Clark foam blank that worked out perfectly for the 7'6 Fish Simmons that he made us. Me and Josh instantly hit it off. Its not hard to instantly become friends with Josh or Manny. Those guys are so funny. As a matter of fact when Manny and Josh both stayed at my house Josh was making me and Manny laugh harder than we've ever laughed without even trying. He's just funny without even trying. Especially when he's shaping he just does the most random shit.
MQ- Which designs are you making now? and surfing?
Joe- I've been shaping alot of quad fish and keel fish. Manny and Josh both taught me how to make quad fish but Manny's QF are much different then Josh's QF. I like both. So I just do my own versions them altering them to suit my style. The keel fish I shape are totally different. I reference a lot of my keel fish design properties from guys like Lis and Pavel. In my opinion Lis and Pavel make the best keel fish. Again altering them to better suit my style and NY surfing conditions. Thats basically how designs evolve and become new, totally different designs.
MQ- The future for Grey Ghost?
Joe- I can only hope and pray that people will catch on. I would love to make a living doing this because there's nothing that I love more than shaping and surfing. I'll never stop shaping either way though. All I can ask for is a smile. I just want to make people happy and smile. If I managed to put a smile on someone's face then I know I've succeeded.
Thanks Joe
All photos courtesy of Shawn Roche
except the last one taken from Mollusk NY Blog
