Dick Van Straalen
Last modified on 2010-08-28 02:47:38 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Bending plastic, the rules of symmetry and keeping the fun in surfing.
Words Angie Takanami, Photos Kuni Takanami, Special Thanks DVS, BLUE magazine, Hertz Japan.
(Dick Van Straalen feature written for Japan’s BLUE magazine, April 2010 and adapted for Surfer’s Eyes online media).
“Words can’t explain a lot in surfing, a lot of it is wordless. You can’t explain the enjoyment someone’s having or the exhilaration. But you can see it in the way their body is moving. Just like ballet”. -DVS
“I ride single fin longboards; and set-up the single fin in the middle with two smaller fins on each side. I’m used to single fins; you get a lot more drive in the water, especially if you shape them well. I move the widepoint of the board further back (towards the tail) so that distance of the widepoint to the tail is shorter. That works for me, giving me that drive and smoothness.” -DVS
Always encouraging inventiveness, in decades of shaping legendary Gold Coast shaper Dick Van Straalen ‘DVS’ has worked on collaborative ideas and surfboard design projects with young and old international surfing legends such as Ted Spencer, Peter Townend, Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew, Michael Ho, Mark Foo and Dave Rastovich, creating unique custom hand-shaped boards to give surfers stronger, personal, durable surfboards that last longer.
“Surfboards are just plastic, so the more you bend them the weaker they get giving them a time limit. I’ve been getting right into making carbon boards with epoxy resins because they don’t seem to have a time limit. They’re just really strong. They might cost a little more but they will last longer.”
“Love, alertness and freedom”, the message behind his brand’s logo mark and the man himself are a symbol for DVS’ carefree attitude. Not taking work too seriously, DVS has grown disappointed with the surf industry’s growing complexity.
“Nothing is symmetrical, we (humans) aren’t, so I don’t believe in perfection. That’s why I don’t think computer shaping works. The best computer is the human mind! People think the slightest change in a board is going to make them surf better. That’s rubbish! A surfboard is really just a bent piece of plastic, so just learn how to use it under your feet, and how to ride it in the curve.
Wearing industrial ear muffs and a ‘free and easy’ t-shirt, DVS takes a few minutes each morning to clear his mind, deep breaths to meditate the external stresses out letting only good vibes in.
“I don’t do any work, I just have fun! And that’s how surfing should be. Everything is the way you think it is. If you think everything’s bad than it is, and if you think everything’s good then it’s good”.
-Surfer’s Eyes-
the Surfer’s Eyes 2011 Calendar
Last modified on 2010-08-25 00:05:37 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
Surfer’s Eyes 2011 Calendar
A taste of the world through surfer’s eyes…India, Australia, Japan
12-month calendar printed in Japan on recycled paper
1,500yen within Japan
AU$19.95 outside Japan
40% for orders of 10 or more
*shipping not included, will be calculated depending on your location
Payment by direct bank transfer (Japan and Australia only), Paypal, International Bank Cheque, (Credit Cards via online shop coming soon)
Pre-Order NOW, no deposit required!
Email, Fax or Post your name, order info and shipping address to
Email: info@surferseyes.com
Fax: +81 (0) 470-87-5969
Post: Surfer’s Eyes, 3136-1 Izumi, Misaki Machi, Isumi Shi, Chiba, Japan, 299-4503
