Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin North.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started shaping at 22 or 23 and started my first label called s.o.s boards in 98 in New England. I didn’t know what I was doing and there were very few shapers or real board manufacturers where I was from so my only influences were boards in the two shops. I side shelved it and decided to move to panama. After a short stay as a boat driver for a small surf camp I moved to Costa Rica where I found a nice little town with a decent left. I was accepted by the community and stayed there for 7 years hopping back to the states for a couple months every year to fill my bank account for the next year abroad. When I was back in the states I worked in restaurants where I became a cook and was able to be creative on a different platform while doing a couple of boards here and there mostly for myself and a couple of friends.
After my time in Costa Rica, I had to move back to the states to be a “grown up” so I found myself in La Jolla. I worked as a chef for a few years saving my money and trying to shape boards. I finally quit cooking all together built a little shaping room behind my apartment and started shaping full time. As I got better I began selling boards here and there mostly to friends and friends of friends. I eventually was able to share a small factory in Oceanside where I shaped more and more and learned from the best in the world. I was the shaper, fin guy, Glasser, and sander. After a while word got around that I was kinda good so I started shaping for Channel Islands, a couple for lost here and there and a few other good guys. I opened a glass shop called Cosmic Glassing and shaped and glasses from there. We glassed and shaped for the world’s best. I acquired an amazing team of craftsmen including Gabe Garcia who was my sander and right-hand man in the factory, windy wind who was my fin girl, different glasses would pass through from time to time and they were all great. I also had an awesome friend/copilot Phil Elder that headed our art department and collaborated in many different areas of r&d, team management, material development etc.
Last year unexpected health related family issues came up on the east coast so we had to close the doors briefly to take care of family.
Moms are first. I am now traveling, stopping in San Diego between events/shows to hammer out boards for people before heading back out to continue doing r&d. I am creating new models to finish the line of boards for next season to round out and give a full spectrum of shapes for every wave and condition.
Has it been a smooth road?
It wasn’t very smooth but it wasn’t too bad either. It was hard starting out in San Diego because I wasn’t from there and really had no connections. I knew how to glass but no one would give me a chance. That’s actually why I started doing it myself. I knew I was better than a lot of guys (not to sound like an ass) so I said to myself I’ll just start my own label and glass shop “and then they’ll see what’s up! I did have great guys like arctic foam, Dane Hantz, rough house, surf supply all those guys really supported me and made me feel like I knew what I was doing. Kinda
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Diamond Surfboards story. Tell us more about the business.
You know I get asked that question a lot. When you get to a certain level of shaping all boards from people who know what they are doing and have spent the time to perfect their craft are essentially the same (short boards that is). For instance, Matt Biolos, Jon Pyzel, Jason Bennet, Michael Barron, these guys were all influences in my shaping and they all have an enormous understanding of hydro dynamics and the way water moves. I think once you care, have the proper knowledge and can figure out how to translate that into working equipment the only thing that can set you aside is your marketing budget.
I make mostly performance short boards and hybrid kinda stuff. A fun board here and there but not too many logs. I’m a short boarder so I figure stick with what you ride.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I don’t know and its actually kind of scary. The work force is definitely falling short of quality craftsmen. In my experience the younger generation coming up isn’t interested in getting their hands dirty or wanting to “work”. Once they realize they have to sweat and work for 8 hours it’s pretty much over. They can learn coding and work whenever they want and make a ton of money sitting on the couch. I think the craftsmanship is being lost.
I think there is going to be a big push to figure out how to make quality boards with way less effort to manufacture them. Lib Tech is onto something with molds and different materials.
Contact Info:
- Website: Diamondsurfboards.com
- Phone: 858-699-7771
- Email: diamondsurfboards@yahoo.com
- Instagram: Diamond Surfboards
Image Credit:
Koby Gilchrist
Leon Glatzer
Cole Huntzinger
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