Head Shapers:

Fernando Gutierrez & Mauricio Avila

Behind the Brand: Despite a tough market place, Nexo Surfboards is rapidly expanding. Located in Chiclana, in the province of Cadiz, Spain, Nexo has grown over the past few years into a one of the most recognized surfboard manufacturers in the country. Fernando Gutierrez, who was born in Spain and continues to be Nexo’s head shaper in Europe, began working with surfboards at the age of 14 and soon became obsessed with building the perfect shape for high-performance surfing. That passion has been one of the core principles behind Nexo’s growth, the dividends of which have resulted in a new workshop here in the States, in Oceanside, CA, which is led by Nexo’s other head shaper, Mauricio Avila.

Born in Brazil, Avila began his career designing and shaping boards for friends, but the natural progression of his shaping was rapid. His goal, he says, is to not just create a great shape, but also to listen to what the surfer actually wants, another pillar in the Nexo philosphy. “The key components that Nexo Surfboards has to offer are these:” says Gutierrez from Europe. “One: constantly investigating new ideas to better our designs for top performance surfing. Two: using only the very best materials for manufacturing. And three: focusing on a great shaper-client relationship. In other words, we don’t just make you a board without your input. In customized shapes, every specification will be covered to give the surfer what they want.”

About Nexo's Most Popular Models: “The NX01 and the 345 Fish are our most popular shapes,” says Avila. “With extraordinary acceleration and drive, they’re our most versatile boards and suit a wide range of styles and waves. Basically, they’re designed for everyday surfing.”

Shop Talk: “Surfboards have evolved rapidly in recent years. They’ve been refined to meet the progressive nature of the sport. Shapers are really pushing themselves now to produce the most innovative shapes to meet the demands of an ever-growing, ever-progressing population of surfers. But I think materials are going to be the main change in the years ahead. Lighter, stronger, more durable, and also more environmentally friendly, materials will be used.”

Tell us about the changes you’ve seen in recent years in the shaping realm, and how it has affected your craft. “The surfers, who want to try different types of shapes and combinations, have produced the biggest changes. This is what we love about our job—it never gets boring. An example of this is the Fish evolution-revolution, with its endless combinations of fins and tails.”

What’s one project you’ve been focusing on at Nexo? “One of the most interesting and fun projects that we’re currently involved in at the moment is working on the ‘Woman’s Choice Project.’ The girls are really advancing, and there has been a noticeable boom in the women’s surf industry. So, with plenty of feedback and research from the chicas, we’ve adapted most of our shapes to suit their needs. As you can see on our web page, the ‘Woman’s Choice’ is an option that’s available for most of our shapes.”