Head Shaper:

Matt Calvani

Behind the Brand: The history of Bing Surfboards stretches back to just after World War II when, in 1949, Bing Copeland began shaping at the age of 13. By 23, Copeland was in business, expanding throughout the 1960s and early-’70s as he became one of the major surfboard manufacturers of the era. When G&S took over the license to manufacture Bing Surfboards in 1974, the planer was then passed to Mike Eaton, who continued the legacy through the ’80s and ’90s. After Eaton retired, Matt Calvani took over as head shaper and part-owner at Bing in 2000. “Bing Surfboards has such an interesting and unique history,” says Calvani, who began full-time design work as a production shaper for Becker Surfboards in 1993. “I try to capture and perpetuate that in today’s surfboard market. Bing Copeland’s legacy of innovation earned him the honor of creating the most advanced noserider model of the ’60s-era, which still remains, to this day, the measuring stick by which all other noseriders are compared. Then when most brands were struggling to keep their doors open, Bing was open-minded and forged ahead by bringing on Dick Brewer to design one of the most advanced gun shapes of its day and the Campbell brothers, who designed the Bonzer model, which some argue was the precursor to the modern-day thruster. In staying true to Bing Surfboards’ philosophy, I’ve tried to combine innovation, functionality, and quality in all my surfboard designs.”

About Bing's Most Popular Models: “Among my team riders, the Bing Elevator, which Chris Del Moro helped to develop, is the most popular at the moment. This model has changed the historical definition of a noserider because the leverage and lift is created by a step-deck nose and a tail-kick, which minimizes the need to build a heavy, bulky board and subsequently enhances the board’s ability to turn.”

Shop Talk: “I see a lot of ongoing positive changes happening in the shaping world. Right now, there is an ‘anything goes’ kind of mentality where shapers and surfers alike are willing to try design concepts that would’ve normally been very bizarre and perceived as non-functional only a few short years ago.”

When a new customer comes to you for a custom shape, what kind of questions do you ask to ensure you’ll make them what they’re looking for? “With over 20 years of shaping experience, I’ve not only come across all different kinds of surfers and surfing abilities, but also different kinds of design requests. I find that the most helpful questions to ask are what sort of boards they ride currently and where they ride them. I learn about their dislikes and likes with regard to their current equipment. And, most importantly, I try to figure out where they see their surfing going and what they aspire to accomplish in their abilities in the immediate future. Building an accurate picture of how a customer surfs and what their immediate and long-term goals are is a recipe for a good surfboard.”

What current trends would you like to see continue? “Expanding quivers. I always recommend that my customers choose the most appropriate surfboard for the given conditions and not force things on something unsuitable. Today’s surfer has to go to work, make a living, take care of a family, and find time to do what they love (surf), so why should the limitations of your board create added strain or frustration? With a solid quiver of three to five or more boards, you can almost ensure that you always have a good time.”