A unique shaper in residency program at House of Somos allowed Paul J. Schmidt to show off his surfboard building skills in Costa Rica.
This Spring, the founders of House of Somos invited me to Costa Rica to shape 20 custom surfboards. As a surfer, board builder and artist, I couldn’t think of a better work/surf trip opportunity. I’ve dedicated the last decade of my life to perfecting the craft of surfboard building; something I’ve come to consider an alchemy of sorts. Every surfboard I build is a conversation between function and beauty — between what the wave demands and what the hand and eye can create. That dialogue hasn’t always been an easy one. Even the finest details of the surfboard will expand, or limit, one’s ability to express themselves and experience the power of the wave.
Over two weeks in Santa Teresa, between morning coffees and sunset surfs, I dedicated my best energy and attention to my craft. This experience presented me the opportunity to connect with new places, new ideas and new people. I laminated a custom longboard for Tavo Rio, one of the best surfers in Costa Rica, and my new friend. What a joy it was to see Tavo’s longboard go from the shaping bay racks, to the glassing room, and then under his arm as he walked up the coast to paddle it out for the first time.
It can be easy to underestimate a good, time-tested design. When was the last time you really considered all that went into the creation of your favorite surfboard, or even tee? It’s just some fabric sewn together in some factory somewhere, right? But the truth is, just like the foam and resin I select for my boards, not all cotton is created equal. Conventional cotton farming is one of the most chemically intensive and soildepleting agricultural practices on the planet. Luckily, regenerative organic cotton used in Faherty Sunwashed Tees is grown in a way that heals the soil, respects the hardworking farmers, and pulls carbon out of the atmosphere, rather than releasing excess into it.
I’ve been wearing Faherty tees for over ten years now, and I can honestly say they are the most loved (covered in resin, paint, sand, saltwater) in my wardrobe. The product aligns with the choices I can control and the values I want to live by: durability, responsibility, and respect for the highest quality materials.
No material is perfect; I know that firsthand. The best surfboards, as they’re built today, walk a complicated line between necessity and environmental impact. But don’t be seduced by the illusion of perfection; the path forward can never be the utopian ideal, it’s about real-world intention. It’s about choosing the right tool for the job, and asking how long it will last — whether it’s the board under your feet or the shirt on your back.
The name Paul Surf, like that of Faherty, is a symbol of quality. When you see the logo, you know the choicest materials have been selected and the craftsmanship is driven by an obsessive attention to detail and a belief that the things we make and use should be built to endure, perform, and quietly earn their place over time.
Paul Surf is a handmade surfboard and art studio founded by Paul J. Schmidt in 2014, based in Rockaway Beach, New York. @paul.surf
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