Yu-ki Hiratama's new fish

Yu-ki built this board in Japan last year at Paul Jensen's class.He likes the way it rides as well.

It is the time for giving and thinking of others.

Paul Jensen with his Father in law from Puget Sound on Christmas Day. " Years ago he had planted a Sequoia tree that grew fast and was lifting, then breaking the concrete slab, so Farrell had the tree taken out…Fortunately the tree sections were between 8 and 12’…Someone who cared, cut and dried the 4x4’s slowly and unforced…I was given a few sticks and knew what I needed to do…Build a board for Farrell who has been so supportive over the years of my surfy thing…"

7ft 2" Sequioa Swallowtail

Ready for glassing and making that colour jump..

The raw sequoia has this fleshy salmon color…

The frame and top skin ready to go together.

Jensen Fish gets a test run at Bells

Andrew Roberts built this fish in one of Paul Jensens classes here in Australia and these are some shots he sent to Paul ...
" Well, happy to report a bloody fantastic day, with the pick-up of one fine surfboard and test run in fun 3 foot waves at Bells. Board came up stunning with high gloss finish, waxed up and headed out, just a few other guys in a peaky slightly choppy swell, good for a fish. "

" Got some nice clean waves, Bells is a great down the line the wave, especially in the Bowl section which is surfed at low tide 3 foot up. Easy to paddle and catch waves, had some nice drops, carving bottom turns then maintaining a nice fast line. Sweet! Here's a few pics for the album. Plenty of interest in Torquay in these boards and reckon you would not have too much trouble lining up a workshop down here if keen."
Catch ya soon.
Robbo

Paul Jensens site : hollowsurfboards.com

Paul Jensen class in Japan

Paul Jensen with Nobby who helped organise the course prior to Paul's arrival.Nobby has been to the two events here in Australia and met Paul at the first Wooden surfboard Day 2009.

Paul course comes with notes and a CD of information to take home.

Nobby sent me these shots with a few notes... "Paul held work shop in Japan from Sept 20 to 24 and he set out for Australia to hold next workshop yesterday.13 participants made own wooden surfboards and they will make more in own local area from local wood."















" Paul spread culture of modern wooden surfboards throughout Japan!!! I was very impressed Paul with the quality of his skill, knowledge and wisdom."


"In Japan, he was bedeviled by language barriers all the time but he was doggedly persistent and always polite for participants and me (sorry for that Paul…).
I look up to Paul as a teacher of wooden surfboards and a better way of life… "

A big thank you to Nobby and his friend for getting this all together and helping spread the skills needed to build wooden surfboards with Paul's course.I know from my own experience it is no small task pulling this all together and having all the gear and space required to make it happen. So my hat goes off to you Nobby. And thanks to Paul as well.

Paul Jensen going big.

Paul , just sent me this pic of his new craft. 10'5" Long x 27.5" Wide x 4.5" Thick , he built it from beach harvested Cedar from Vancouver Island and blue foam and cork rails . It weighs in at 21lbs. I am not sure if it is a stand up paddle board or not although it may have a hand hold in the middle of the deck ?

How wide is wide ?

Now this board look fairly well proportioned , until I tell you it is 6ft 3" x 29" wide. I know you thought it was a Mini Simmons , well it is actually a belly board. Now that is some planing area. Pics were sent to me by Paul Jensen of his mate Jeff Chamberlain's new board.Should be a flyer.

Hollow wooden fish , timber strips over plywood frame.

Final sanding ready for glassing
6mm cork and 6mm bending ply to get round the curves
The glassing sure brings out the colour


Steve Friedman, has just finished a 5ft 10" fish that was started in Paul Jensen's class in Melbourne. All ready to glass and polish.

Tony Crimmins new project progress report

Tony is building a Paulownia skinned longboard using Paul Jensen's building method. He has angled the nose to allow for a nose block detail. And as you can see from his and other home builders , they become very resourceful  with things like shaping stands and work spaces. You don't need a lot of gear and special tools. Just be challenged by the whole project and quietly chip away at it.

Paul Jensen's class in Western Australia

Paul , has just finished his class in WA and is setting up to start another in Melbourne next week. Here are the crew in WA learning the skills from Paul. They have come away with some great boards and knowledge that will let them now design and build the boards they have dreamt of in all sorts of woods.

After you select your deck timbers they are taped together , turned over and glassed on the underside for strength.
The frames of a couple of fishes come together and show their form
Frames and decks come together with lots of clamps
Glue gun the whole lot together before adding he bottom
A bit of fine tuning outdoors