Full Name: Ned McMahon
ned@homeblownus.com

Nickname: Machine

Age: 51

Stance: Regular

Hometown: San Diego

Residence: San Diego

Years Shaping: 30 Professionally, 2-3 making em out in the backyard

Approximately how many boards have you shaped in that time span? 30,000+

What was the first board you shaped? And what happened to it? Cut down an old longboard at about 15, who knows where it is. Some of my early Sunset surfboards are still around though.

Of all the boards you've shaped what have you made the most of? I have always shaped a variety from small performance boards, fish, eggs, guns, longboards to paddleboards and tandems.

What's included in your current working quiver? Now that I am 51 and a bit fatter I have a 7'2" 5 fin bonzer, a 7'6" quad fish, a 7'10" single fin funshape, a 9' three fin, a 10' single fin, and a 16'3" paddleboard.

Your dream surf trip would be: I am perfectly happy on my old wooden schooner surfing a fun point break at the Channel Islands.

Surfing Influences: Joey Cabell, absolutely for sure!! Power, grace, all-around waterman, great sailor, still is, look at him and he is as fit as ever.

Shaping Influences: I'd say my influence has been from Randy Rarrick. He once said a great shaper can do a variety of boards all in the same day and they will all be good.I've tried to embrace that. Shaping mentors for me were definitely Courtney Parks, Sid Madden, Bill Shrosbree, and Ben Aipa... oh I can't forget Mickey Muñoz.

When not shaping or surfing: Sailing and working on sustainability issues for the planet!

Any insight you have for someone shaping with Biofoam: In surfing performance is the key. All the lab tests, numbers, and results don't mean anything until the board is in the water that's where the testing really begins. Being more green or environmental is not enough if the performance isn't there. Surfboards made using Biofoam blanks are performing on par with any board I've ever shaped. They look different for sure but this combination is really starting to approach something that we can call a "green" surfboard.

Any impact from Biofoam to our environment: The slogan "Catch A Wave While You're Saving The World." says it all.I can't emphasize enough the importance of spreading environmental awareness to the masses.Biofoamboards.com has chat forums set up for just such a grass roots effort where all can have their voices heard.

If you are a shaper,
please contact us with your
desires to be our month's
"Meet the Shaper"