Not normal - but in a very, very good way - that’s Jack Dower.
Tall.
Skinny.
Soft spoken.
Extremely humble.
Very knowledgeable.
And still so ridiculously young (24)!
Now, I didn't know Jack before sitting down with him for this podcast episode. We had only spoken on the phone a couple of times. Me in Switzerland, him in South Africa.
I was referred to him by another friend (also a surfboard shaper).
However, soon after our initial couple of conversations (about my surfboards), and having seen the boards he shapes, I knew I wanted to know more. I wanted to sit down for a conversation about how and why he pursues his everyday awesomeness.
You see, shaping surfboards can be just that, shaping surfboards.
A means to an end.
Moulds, machine shaping, quantity.
But, then there’s surfboard shaping.
Done by hand.
For the love of the craft.
With an immense amount of care and attention to detail.
Where earning something from the pursuit is a mere byproduct of the pursuit itself.
Every board that leaves the shaping bay a work of art.
I really enjoyed this conversation on a hot and windy afternoon in his shaping bay in Cape Town, South Africa, as I went to pick up my two new works of art (which I have been thoroughly enjoying surfing since then!).
Watch and listen to the (video) podcast above and join us for some friendly discussion in the comments below.
You can check out Jack on the line, too:
Connect with him on Instagram, here.
Enjoy.
Any thoughts?
Comment below!
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Until the next conversation ✌🏽.
Surf’s up!
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