Postcards from France - part 2

Second half of the trip started with a visit to Le Salon de Glisseurs in Seignosse to meet Neal and the UWL crew. Then, 2 amazing days spent with Neal (and his wife), the factory crew and the generouns and kind Cardinal family. Too many good moments!

Neal Purchase Jr

It’s with a big smile on my face that I write here:

Neal Purchase Jnr is coming to Europe!

Neal Purchase Jnr is one of my favourite surfers and shaper and I’m extremely honoured to be partially responsible for his first shaping trip to Europe.
Neal captured the world’s attention with his smooth backhand style on Andrew Kidman’s movie Glass Love. Son of one of the most influential shapers of Australia, Neal was born with a hand full of talents. Not only he shapes and surfs amazingly well but he is also a gifted guitar player that we can listen in bands like the Brown Birds from Windy Hill (with Andrew Kidman) or The Haldane’s Daughters.

His boards don’t stand just for the colourful tints or shinny polish but above everything else, for their outstanding performance in the water.
Neal is famous for his 2+1 designs, like the Cuttlefish or the Snubb but lately has captured some attention with his modern quads like the Quartet or the Sweet Pea.
All his boards share the same basic concept… performance is nothing without glide!

Neal will be shaping in France, at the UWL Factory, from October 2nd to 14th.

To order your NPJ contact me at: magicquiver@gmail.com

For more info about Neal Purchase Jnr Surfboards visit: http://nealpurchasedesigns.blogspot.com/

photos by the super talented Dane Peterson. Thanks Dane!

Mccallum at UWL

Jeff Mccallum is back in France for the 4th time, shaping at UWL factory.
This time Jeff brings seven (yes, 7) new models.
Jeff Mccallum is just 28 but has a huge background already. He started working on surfboards in 2001 and has since shaped around 1600. He first started sweeping up and packing boards for Chris Christenson and then worked for him for over three years learning every aspect of surfboard building. Now he does all the boards by hand, in-house, under his roof.

Until about four years ago, he did every step himself but he has now a highly skilled and experienced team working with him, that all together have more than 100 years of surfboard manufacturing.
Jeff gets most of his influences from names like Chris Christenson, Skip Frye, William Riedel, Larry Crow, Bob Simmons, George Greenough and has been working a lot lately with Joel Tudor and his label Kookbox

If you're interested in getting one of his amazing surfboards visit http://www.mccallumsurf-france.com/

photo by Garrett_Highhouse



photo by Elsa Girault



photo by Winer

Ryan landed at Blend

Ryan Lovelace is already in France, at Blend Glassing, in Soustons.
Ryan will stay there till the end of the month so you're still on time to order one of his shapes.
We can ship it anywhere in Europe if you need.

Check out Ryan new website for his models: http://rlovelace.com/

shaping the first blank in france, a Pocket Pickle, photo by Nico

Ryan Lovelace is back

After a very successful trip last year, Ryan Lovelace returns to Europe.

Ryan is coming from August 15 to 31 and this time he will shape in France, at Blend Glassing, in Soustons. All boards will be glassed by Nico from Wavegliders, who is currently working there, and the Blend crew.

Ryan Lovelace is one of the most talented and creative shapers from California and has been Considered one of the most talented and innovative shapers from California, Ryan is all about fluid curves and surfing with the wave instead of surfing against it. His designs come from his environment, from the boards he sees and surfs and the waves around. Although not following anyone, his boards get some ideas from names like George Greenough and Greg Liddle. But like he said on a interview for Drift “I don’t have influences or a preconceived notion of what works and what doesn’t. I’m free to do whatever I want and explore any path I find interesting”.

All boards will be 100% hand shaped by Ryan and fully adapted to the surfer’s needs and waves. High quality finishing will be done by master glassers Nico (from Wavegliders) and Fabrice from Blend Glassing.

Shipping across Europe available and wholesale prices for shops on request.

For more info contact by e-mail: magicquiver@gmail.com

Ryan news

By now, most of you were expecting to see some of the boards Ryan was shaping in Portugal, but as you might have figured out, he didn't arrive yet.

The trip was planned for late May/early June but we have to postpone it a bit. Organizing a trip like this isn't that easy and there's a lot involved. I took some risks choosing such an early date (May) for the trip because I wanted to deliver boards before summer. But it was impossible for Ryan to make it here now. Not easy to leave everything behind in such a short notice.

We are already working on new dates, safe ones, probably very soon (July) and I will keep you all updated.

I'm sorry for this short delay but I'm sure you understand.

Rui Ribeiro

Josh Hall returns to Europe

Josh Hall, the super talented shaper from San Diego is returning to Europe to shape some boards. Josh will arrive in a couple of days and will spend his time between France and Spain.
If you want to grab one of Josh fine shapes, contact him for more info: jhallsurfboards@gmail.com

Josh is a great shaper and a really nice guy and was great to have him in Portugal in Nov. 2009. Maybe next time he can visit us again.

photos by Hugo Correia

Gato french connection

Robin Kegel is arriving in France any day and will do most of his shapes with the crew from ATS Surfshop. So if you want to get your hands on a Gato Heroi surfboard, 100% hand shaped and glassed by the super talented Robin Kegel, go to http://www.board-kulture.com/ or email: contact@board-kulture.com


Also, check out Gato's blog for more information and and tons of amazing boards and photos!

Gato Heroi goes to France

Robin Kegel, the man behind those amazing Gato Heroi boards is going to France to shape a very limited number of surfboards at the UWL Factory.

If you want one, hurry up and contact them at: contact@gatoheroi-france.com or go to www.gatoheroi-france.com for more info

Ryan Lovelace, Portugal May 2011

Ryan is coming by the end of May and will shape at the Wavegliders Surfboards factory, which will finish all the boards.

Ryan Lovelace is one of the most talented and creative shapers from California and it's a real honour to have him with us.

We are now taking custom orders as well as accepting orders from shops all over Europe, just ask us for our wholesale prices.
Start placing your orders now so we can deliver your magic board in time for your summer vacations.

Contact me at magicquiver@gmail.com or phone: +351 919936850

InnerViews on Ryan Lovelace

Most of you already saw this, but it's well worth another watch.
For those who havent't seen it... shame on you!


Ryan Lovelace - InnerViews from http://vimeo.com/apeel on Vimeo.

You can start to place your orders for Ryan. The sooner you order ir, the sooner you will get it! Boards will be shaped and finish on a first come first served basis.

Ryan Lovelace, May 2011

Malcolm Campbell is coming back

One of my favorite shapers, Malcolm Campbell, is coming back to Portugal next month to shape a limited number of Bonzers at Manila factory.

40 years ago, Malcolm and his brother Duncan defined the archetype of the modern surfboard placing 2 side fins ahead of the center fin. Since 1970 Malcolm has been fine-tuning and diversifying the Bonzer concept creating a wide range of models to suit the needs of any surfer, from the classic Russ short Light Vehicle to the high performance Contemporary Bonzer 5.

If you want to get an original Campbell Bonzer contact me by e-mail or phone. I’ll be collaborating with Manila on sales.

e-mail: magicquiver@gmail.com
phone: +351 919936850

Get more info about Malcom, the Bonzer and available models at http://www.bonzer5.com/

Russ Short – 3 Fin Bonzer - Mexico ‘77


Taylor Knox - 5 Fin Bonzer - Mexico

Josh Hall is back in France

After the success of his trip to Europe last November, Josh Hall is back in Europe for another shaping trip.

This time Josh will only visit France, where he will work at Blend Glassing.

If you're interested in getting one of his great boards, contact Blend Glassing at the e-mail: blend40@wanadoo.fr 

Ryan is in the house

Ryan Lovelace arrived yesterday morning after a very long trip from Santa Barbara.

Like expected, he prooved to be a very cool and relaxed guy.

Most of the morning was spent talking.

After a nice barbecue outside the factory, a generous offer by Bruno Birra from Homeblown Blanks, Ryan decided to start shaping a board for himself instead of going to rest. Too much talk and no foam were making him anxious!

Today he started to work early and by midday, an amazing T.Rev Bonzer was shaped. First of it's kind!  Then he started working on a OG. Nice shape, very interesting with the twin keel/single fin combo.

When I left the factory he was drawing the lines for what will be another of his beautiful fabric inlays.

You can follow everything here and on my facebook page

Some shots from today:

5'8 T.Rev Bonzer for Lennart