Nick Hodgkinson of AkuShaper San Diego welcomes all students to the 2024 Surfboard Design Contest
New South Wales Department of Education “Surfboard Design Contest”
Participants: All NSW Department of Education students
Timeline: The contest will begin on July 1st, 2024. Students can submit their surfboard designs, artwork, and write ups anytime up until November 1st. AkuShaper & the affiliated judging team will announce the winning designs on November 15th.
Contest Theme: “Blending technology with the arts, focusing on the history/heritage of human practices in surfboard history” (1) grand prize winner will be selected based on their 1980s’s themed surfboard design and (1) winner will be selected for their artwork inspired by the 1980’s surfboard artistry of the time.
Surfboard Design Requirements: Design a 1980’s themed surfboard utilizing the AkuShaper design software. Surfboards from this era were generally wider, with low entry rockers, thick rails and had a combination of step decks, beak noses, and boxy rails. All participants are required to draft a two-paragraph explanation about what inspired their design. For the winning design, we are looking closely at the design of the outline and the rails that most closely match how boards were made during that era. The write up should include what school you attend, the inspiration for the design, and some personal thoughts on what the artisans of this time had in mind with their designs.
Please visit these recommended links to read about 1980’s surfboard design:
https://surfsimply.com/magazine/the-history-of-surfboard-design
https://www.surfnation.com.au/blogs/news/surf-surfboard-history-1778-to-2018
https://surfgoat.com/blogs/news/some-history-on-surf-skate-apparel-in-the-70s-80s
Art Contest Requirements: Design a digital graphic or hand-drawn graphic inspired by 1980’s surfboard art from around the world. This can be a canvas design or a design on a full surfboard digitally. Students are required to submit a two paragraph explanation about what inspired your design. Surfboard art can be submitted in a .jpg, .png format, hand drawn submissions will be accepted as well. Students can also utilize a free Pocket Quiver account and can also use the graphic design functions presented by BoardLams.
Here are some examples of artwork from that era:
https://surfboardhoard.com/category/1980s
https://www.pinterest.com/designbylen2814/80s-surfboards/
https://surfingdownsouth.com.au/2022/10/05/1980s-wa-surfboard-advertisements/
Steve Hamlyn (Founder, Pocket Quiver) - Explains how to use Pocket Quiver
Sponsored by: AkuShaper Hawaii, NSW DoE
Judged by: Jimmy Freese (Owner, AkuShaper, Hawaii) Heart of Glass, Byron Bay (Australia) Brad Buckle (New Zealand)
Artist judges: Mark Townsend (California) Board Lams (California) Brad Buckle (New Zealand)
Winners announced via NSW DoE web channels and on AkuShaper.com website and social media
Grand Prizes:
Surfboard Design Winner:
1st Place: Winner gets their design cut and shaped by Parrish Byrne. Their full design hand-made *$750 AUD value
(1) Year Internship with AkuShaper Surfboard Design R&D department *Meeting fortnightly or monthly with NSW teacher representative
Art Design Winner:
1st place: Winning graphic gets printed by Boardlams in the United States for the winning student to keep & the winning design will be listed as a stock design for sale at Boardlams.com
(1) Year Internship with AkuShaper Art Department
*(1) submission per student. Please contact your school representative for your AkuShaper & Pocket Quiver login information. All participants get a (1) year license to both software platforms.
Please register for the contest below.
Submit your work here!
Work Submission Box, please enter your name, your school, upload your AkuShaper .brd file, your images, and your 1 paragraph write up. Please include your name on all attached files!
Meet the Contest Judges
Mark Townsend - Town & Country Surfboards, Hawaii
Mark Townsend, who was one of Town and Country’s go to artists during the Eighties. Mark was instrumental in the surfboard art of the 1980s. He was recruited by brands around the globe to airbrush boards for the top brands.
Brad Buckle - Buckle Surfboards NZ
For over a decade, Brad wore the hats of both Head Shaper and Production Manager at this distinguished surfboard manufacturing company.
This dual role enabled him not only to craft designs that met the demands of surfers and global retailers but also to meticulously orchestrate and refine the entire production process.
His stewardship propelled the facility to deliver more than 40,000 surfboards, a testament to Brad's dedication to precision and his commitment to quality.
Jimmy Freese - Owner, AkuShaper Hawaii
In the early 2000s, Jimmy Freese created the AkuShaper surfboard design software. With thousands of hours spent designing surfboards and working with hundreds of the world's leading shapers, Jimmy is the technical genius behind the AkuShaper software.
Steve Hamlyn - Owner, Pocket Quiver New Zealand
Steve Hamlyn is one of the chief architects behind Pocket Quiver software. With over 20 years of experience in surfboard design and manufacturing, along with extensive knowledge of CAD programming, Steve is uniquely qualified to identify standout board designs from the 1980s. We extend our gratitude to Steve for providing students with access to the powerful Pocket Quiver software.
Watch Steve Hamlyn & Glen Carkeek of Pocket Quiver discuss 1980’s surfboard design