BOB MITSVEN SURFBOARDS X UWL SHAPERS CLUB

OCTOBER FRENCH SHAPING SESSION 2019
  

BOB MITSVEN SURFBOARDS

Super friendly, kind, discreet and always ready to welcome you. Bob MITSVEN is an incredible shaper and all his boards are handmade with the least number of machines possible. He began surfing at the age of 11 in San Diego – California and formed his first board in 1972 and officially launched his label in 1988. Today with more than 40 years of shape behind him (and a lot of happy surfers) It remains one of the references of the shape for everything that is Longboards, Big waves guns and hybrid boards in San Diego. Bob interacted a lot with his friend and legendary shaper Skip Frye!

 

How long have you been shaping?
Since 1973.

Are you a San Diego native?
Yeah.

Your family as well?
My wife? She’s from South Dakota.

And your parents? Where were they originally from?
My dad is from Iowa and my mom was from Chicago.

You must have seen San Diego back when there wasn’t much.
It was unreal.

Where is your favorite surf spot?
Uhhhh…

I know it’s a hard question.  I guess the one you frequent the most.
I go everywhere. I go to North County, I go to Mission Beach, I go to La Jolla. I go where it’s breaking. I go everywhere, man.

What and who inspires you?
To build surfboards?

Yeah, and in general I guess.
I don’t like the way that surfboards… hold on, I need to sweep this up. I like the way boards look. I just dug surfing, so I just started making surfboards in the back yard, you know?

So was there anyone that you looked up to?  
There are a lot of good shapers here. Skip, Hank Warner, Bill Caster. San Diego has a really good pool of board builders that make really nice boards. Some of the best boards in the world are made here.

Where is your ideal surf destination?
Oh I don’t know. I’ve done Indonesia, Mexico, Hawaii.

Tacos, hot dogs or burgers?
Beef tacos.

And music?  You seem like a more quiet kinda guy.
Yeah I’m more quiet. I like different kinds of music. I like some older rock. Country music.

Like Elvis?
Yeah, I mean, some of those from that era. It’s not like I’m riveted to any of it.

Johnny Cash?
Oh yeah. Johnny Cash was rad.

Hank Williams?
Yeah, a pioneer.

Chuck Berry?
Yup, yup.

What is your favorite surfboard to shape?
Uhhhm. I kinda do ‘em all ya know.  It just depends. I do a lot of custom boards.

Yeah, that’s really cool.  
I get into doing them all, cause they’re all different, so it’s not boring. I like to do all of them. But I like to do a batch of short boards, or a batch of fishes. Like the Mollusk Shop, they order little single fin eggs, mini simmons, quad fishes and mini-gliders.

Mini gliders?  By that you mean like the ones that go up to 12ft?
Yep.

I bet those are a lot of fun to surf.  They’re single fins right?
Yeah, they can be either singles or 2 + 1’s.

Any piece of knowledge that you would like to pass on as a shaper?
Yeah, if you’re going to be a shaper, learn to shape and do a good job.

Don’t half-ass it you mean?
Yeah. Don’t go on social media and post a bunch of pictures, learn to shape. Some of these guys, they blow up on social media, but they never really learn how to shape. That’s what I would pass onto someone who wants to shape good surfboards that work. Because then people start riding your boards and if you never learned, your boards aren’t going to work that good.  You’ve got to be consistent in what you do. It can’t just be an accident when a board works. You’ve got to be predictable. That’s what I would like to pass on.

So a board doesn’t act different every time you use it.
Yeah, say you get a quad-fish from a guy and then you go get another one and it’s completely different.

That’s what I appreciate from hand shaped boards.  
Yeah, you’ve got to keep records, systems. You’ve got to have all of those things. Rockers. Measuring. Notes of what you did. Things like that. Simple, basic things. So that you know what’s going on all of the time. Hold on….(pauses while he measures a fish he’s working on).

Any news or future updates?
Not really, not right now.

 

Interview from LIQUIDSALTMAG.com

SHORTBOARDS & HYBRIDES

MITSVEN-MINISIMMONS MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

MINISIMMONS



COMMENT :
The Mitsven Simmons has a slightly rolled bottom in the nose,going into a single concave through the middle and double concave through the tail.
It's super fast and maneuverable. Available with Half Moon Keels or Quad.
MITSVEN-DHFISH MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

DH FISH



COMMENT :
We asked Bob Mitsven to send us a couple twin keels with pulled in tails for maneuverability in tight spaces. He recommended his Derek Hynd template. The rails are slightly turned up, offering a delicious edge for strong bottom and top turns. These boards will work in a variety of conditions and will have you grinning when the waves are sub-par or straight firing!
MITSVEN-HH2-SWALLOW MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

HH2 SWALLOW



COMMENT :
High performance short board. It's super fast and maneuverable.
Has lots of drive off the bottom.
Available with 5-fin set-up for versatility.
MITSVEN-STEP-UP MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

STEP UP



COMMENT :
This is a straight forward high Step Up performance shortboard that can be ridden anywhere in the world. Tested and recommended for guys that rip !
Board shown is 7'4
MITSVEN-SINGLE-FIN MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

SINGLE FIN



COMMENT :
This retro shape comes from years of evolution that has brought this proven design up to date.
Progression meets Tradition.
MITSVEN-MTS-ROUND MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

MTS ROUND



COMMENT :
This board has a slightly wider outline. It's really fast and maneuverable. Easy to paddle and catches waves with ease.
Works well in waist high to slightly overhead waves.
Available with 5-fin set-up for versatility.
MITSVEN-WING-ROUND-FIVE MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

WING ROUND FIVE



COMMENT :
This is the evolution in five fins with a small wing of the template of the RTQ. Always good but in 5 fins.

MIDLENGTHS

MITSVEN-BONZER-EGG MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

B-TAIL



COMMENT :
The B-tail quad has the speed and planing of a fish surfboard but is much more fluid and manuverable as well as much better performing top to bottom on the face of the wave. The same for backside waves. This new model features a wider nose, relaxed rocker, a single to double concave bottom contour, and Mitsven's own rail style. The result is a super fast, user friendly board that performs better than your fish !
MITSVEN-EGG MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

EGG



COMMENT :
The egg of Bob Mitsven are beautiful, they are built for the speed avec their rail 'Skip Frye'. Perfect for found the right line on the wave and if you like carve on the rail. This board with his down rail keep lot of egde for more reactivity.
MITSVEN-EVOLUTION-EGG MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

EVOLUTION EGG



COMMENT :
A variant of the Egg Mitsven with a more width in nose and single fin. At the base for the Japanese market. This Egg is a design that you can enjoy a wide range from soft waves with soft outlines and somewhat boxy rails that are shaped with beautiful lines from wider nose to round pin tail in rounds.
MITSVEN-MINI-GLIDER MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

MINI GLIDER



COMMENT :
The mini Glider is a shorter version of the big GLIDERS of 10-12'. They keep all the fluidity and easly slide but with more accessibilty for a surfer who don't ride a big longboard. More shorter means more reactive and easy to turn when the wave are not so good.

LONGBOARDS

MITSVEN-MAGIC MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

MAGIC



COMMENT :
The Magic models from Mitsven his him version of the legendary model MAGIC from Skip Frye. The Magic is a board from the Egg family but with a pin nose
MITSVEN-GLIDER MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

GLIDER



COMMENT :
Glider or Eagle Glider, is a 100% Pure Glider from San Diego directly inspired by that of his friend and workshop neighbor Mr Skip Frye.
MITSVEN-FISH-SIMMONS-QUAD MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

FISH SIMMONS QUAD



COMMENT :
Bob Mitsven's SIMMONS are great all-around boards. They'll get you through mushy days and perform on powerful down-the-line days. These boards are for the surfer that still wants to rip, but not sacrifice paddling float and glide. This board features a nice "R-Blank" rocker profile.
MITSVEN-CLASSIC-MODERN-LOG MITSVEN SURFBOARDS
MODEL :

CLASSIC MODERN LOG



COMMENT :
The name says it all. A modernized version of a square tail Log. Speed, Flow, and Versatility. 100% Hand shaped and glassed. It should be a illegal to get a longboard from master Bob Mitsven at this price!

CONTACT

MITSVEN SURFBOARDS AT UWL SHAPERS CLUB
3 Avenue Albert DENIS – ZAC des FOURNEAUX
17690 ANGOULINS | FRANCE

Tel. +33 (0)5 46 27 00 27
Fax. +33 (0)5 46 27 03 27
Email. contact@mitsvensurfboards.eu

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BOB MISTVEN GUEST SHAPER 2019 AT UWL SHAPERS CLUB | FRANCE

If you are interested in getting a board shaped by Bob MITSVEN and for all other inquires you can contact us :

MITSVEN SURFBOARDS at UWLWORKSHOP

3 RUE ALBERT DENIS – ZAC DES FOURNEAUX
17690 ANGOULINS | FRANCE
Tel. 05 46 27 00 27  Fax. 05 46 27 03 27
Email. contact@mitsvensurfboards.eu

BROCHURE PDF

Catalogue des modeles BOB Mistven surfboards