Surfboard Repairs and Restorations

In September 2019, when my 40 Oz. model Chemistry surfboard snapped, I had no idea what to do—until I discovered ding repair. What started as a personal project to fix my own board quickly turned into an obsession, leading me to launch my own ding repair business just a few months later. Working tirelessly out of my garage, I built a rapidly growing customer base, but as a 15-year-old independent repairer, I found it difficult to charge competitive rates without the backing of a shaper.

After about a month of working at Mencel Surfboards, I integrated my business into their ding repair line, taking over all repair work that came into the factory while continuing to serve my own customers. This transition allowed me to expand my skills, increase my prices, and take on repairs for well-known East Coast surfers such as Quincy Davis, Pat Schmidt, and Sam Hamme, as well as prone paddleboards for Sea Girt, Long Branch, and Belmar Township lifeguarding organizations. Additionally, I partnered with a restoration surfboard dealer, where I repaired and refinished high-value vintage boards from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.

As I became more involved in surfboard manufacturing, I gradually shifted away from repairs and restorations, though I continued to take on large-scale projects when needed. Now in college, I still repair boards for friends and shape my own whenever I have the chance, keeping my passion for surfboard craftsmanship alive. Here are photos of my repairs and restorations, showing my progression from garage setups to professional surfboard craftsmanship.