For those not in the know, Al is one of the true secrets left in Kerry.
Surfing now for over twenty one years and shaping for over seventeen of them, there’s few people in the country with the wealth of experience he’s gained. His surfing has brought him all over Spain, France, Portugal (that poor Transit!), the Canaries, England, Australia, South Africa, Indonesia and of course, all over Ireland. Given all this time to develop his own style in places like Nias and J-Bay (ask him about the sharks!), his view on shapes began to evolve. He recently set up a small factory for himself in the wilds of Farranfore, where the endless experimentation takes place, from stringerless boards with veneer bottoms and springers to carbon fiber rails to finless alaias.
After spending six seasons living on the beaches lifeguarding and getting to watch the coast deteriorate every year, Al has taken a more environmental approach towards his shaping. Unless specifically requested, Al now shapes using EPS foam and epoxy resins due to their reduced environmental impact compared to their polyurethane and polyester counterparts and with a little bit of experimentation, the performance advantages can be mind altering. Much lighter, stronger, more responsive, the ability to alter flex characteristics! Is there any reason to still be riding poly?
Al’s training as a cabinet maker has proven to compliment his shaping but it has now come to somewhat of a full circle. The very 1st board he shaped for himself (which is still out there somewhere!!) was from foam borrowed from a building site, with wooden rails and door skins on the deck and hull. At the moment, the pinnacle of what Al offers would be, perimeter stringer, EPS core and a wood hull. Amazing the notions some people were having all those years ago.
