ReRip Shaper Interview - Dan O'Hara/ Solid Surf

Name: Dan O'Hara

Company: Solid Surf

What inspired you to start shaping?

My father is an artist and wood worker and I have always admired what he has created with his hands. He gave me a Clark shortboard blank for my 18th birthday and I was swallowed whole. My neighbor, Michael Shermeyer (Shred Styx Surfboards), is a shaper and had a strong label in the 80's. He’s shaped and surfed all over the world. Knowing Michael, what he accomplished and how people admire him, inspired me to pursue this dream. As a teenager, I worked in a surf shop and have always been intrigued by the design, function and construction of surfboards. All of the shapers I’ve met and worked for over the years have been a huge influence on my shaping and have been a great inspiration to me to pursue this craft, especially Charles Williams, Mike Shermeyer, Steve Dunham, Pete Falon and Tom Bunger.


How long have you been surfing? shaping?

I've been surfing since I was 11 and shaping since I was 18.


What are your other interests?

Surfing, Art, Industrial Design, Travel


What is your favorite thing about shaping? least favorite?

My favorite thing about shaping is outline... concaves... rails... everything? Taking one of those crude EPS slab blanks and turning it into a high performance shortboard all by hand…. Least favorite... glassing, indecisive customers, haha.


Tell us about all of the cool things you are doing that consider the environment?

The coolest thing that I have been doing lately is taking the 2-3" cut-offs from the sides of the EPS slab blanks, truing them up, gluing them together and making a 100% recycled blank. Usually about 5 standard board scraps yield one recycled EPS blank and shaping a beautiful board out of what would otherwise be trash is extremely rewarding. I have also been taking the cut-off's of Polyurethane blanks and gluing them parabolically to the rails of the EPS blanks, giving the board torsional flex, super strong rails and they are 100% recycled.


What do you think of the "green movement"?

I think it's great… it's nice to have everyone trying a little harder.--from people not throwing stuff out their car windows to manufacturers recycling, reusing and minimizing waste—everyone is capable of doing their part.


What are your most popular shapes?

The Cisco Kid shortboard has consistently been the most popular board over the years. However, this year everyone has been stoked on the Discus. It is a high performance quad egg that you order super short. I'm 6’0, 180 and I ride a 5’9 Discus. It is really high performance as apposed to most eggs--you can really throw the thing around and get a lot of performance out of it on mushier faces.


How can I get a board?

Call up, 858-206-3420, or go onto the website and check out the whole quiver, www.solidsurfco.com You can order a stock board right on the site, or punch in your custom dimensions and submit them. Once you order a board, I will personally go over the order with you to make sure you get exactly what you are looking for.

Any words of wisdom?

I don’t have any, but Mark Twain once wrote, “The secret of success is making your vocation your vacation.”

Companies or people to plug?

My parents, friends, family, teachers and team riders that have all supported me through the years…Shawn Mett of Island Surf NY, Mike Shermeyer of Shred Styx, Charles Williams of Impact Surfboards, Tyler Callaway and everyone at FCS.