Head Shaper:

Adam Warden

Behind the Brand:AJW Surfboards' designer and shaper, Adam Warden, began playing in foam dust at the young age of 14, when he first picked up a planer. Unlike most groms, he saved every penny he could scrape together to buy blanks and resin instead of new boards. To this day, Warden has never bought a board, choosing instead to build his own. “Once I got a driver’s license,” he says, “I starting working at local factories, just learning the processes. Luckily, I had the opportunity to start ghost-shaping early, and I learned young that honesty goes a long way. Always respect your elders—experience is everything in this business.”
During the course of his career, Warden has worked with some of the top craftsmen in many respected factories around the globe, and he’s been thankful for every opportunity. “A lot of very kind people have helped me along the way,” he says, “and I’ll always be indebted to every glasser, sander, and factory crew member who taught me how to put in the extra hours and effort.” Another lesson Warden’s learned is that designer-tested shapes often posses an extra layer of refinement, and he considers the craftsmen capable of this type of multitasking among his heroes. “I’ve always looked up to all the shapers who push themselves on there own designs,” he says. “Surfers like Greg Noll, Gerry Lopez, Mark Richards, Simon Anderson, Dylan Longbottom, and Gary Linden, to name a few.”

About AJW'S Most Popular Models: “Last year, our small-wave models and our guns seemed more popular with our customers,” says Warden. “Both carry similar traits, even though they seem like opposites—they’re all designed to be fast and simple, which makes them very easy to surf.”

Shop Talk: “Shaping machines are inevitably becoming more and more precise. That’s going to allow us to be more creative: Smaller, lower-rockered boards. Fins with more angle. Stronger, more flexible foam with layered glass for controlled stiffness. Vacuum bagging. The future sounds exciting.”

What is the one key component of your company or your surfboards that you’d like to emphasize? “Shaping has always been a means of surfing for me. Pretty artwork and a shiny new board are always nice things to have, but that doesn’t really matter. The focus for me has always been on riding waves.”

What’s the most important quality to look for in a surfboard? “It’s nice to see guys trying to match a surfer to the design instead of matching the design to the rider.”

Tell us about the changes you’ve seen in recent years in the shaping realm, and how it has affected your craft. “Well, the past five to 10 years have been really unique. The attention on design has become extremely fine-tuned with the use of shaping machines. Creativity in design and volume distribution has really allowed shapers to accurately measure and play with rockers on different designs while maintaining the same float. Playing with smaller dimensions has really forced me to keep things simple while focusing on more defined rail rockers and subtle adjustments in concaves.”