Today we’d like to introduce you to Dane Hantz.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a California native and have been sliding, rolling and surfing on some kind of board for the last 50 years. Although I do many things behind the scenes in the world of board sports, I’m probably best known for my label Vulcan surfboards and our production company Paragon CNC. I’ve grown up around surf/skate/snowboard culture in Southern California, and to date, I’ve likely worked for hands-on with nearly every noteworthy surfer/shaper in the modern era of surfing.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Even though we’re currently in a boom cycle, I would say there has always been significant challenges. It’s interesting, though, because at the beginning of the pandemic, I thought, ‘well, we might as well close the doors,’ but something really interesting happened. People flocked to surfing like I’d never seen before. I think there were two factors that fueled this, one being greater flexibility with work schedules and two being the provision of federal stimulus money.
Now with more free time and money to burn, surfing has seen an explosion of interest. Nevertheless, there are significant challenges that have always persisted. Namely, fair pricing for labor and products, overseas competition and availability of skilled labor. Ironically, most people are not aware of the challenges we face, but as it is, building surfboards in California has been the most physically and emotionally challenging thing I’ve ever tried to have success at.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think the thing I’m most regarded for is innovation. Vulcan surfboards have won the Boardroom International award for best high performance/alternative surfboard design two years in a row, I hold a patent for alternative stringerless surfboard construction called LightDrive and I’m a solid advocate for contemporary material construction. I’m most proud of the fact that Vulcan surfboards are an amalgam of solid material construction, functional design principles and distinctive aesthetics.
I follow the Vitruvian triad of firmitas, utilitas, venustas (well built, functional, beautiful), which Vitruvius initially applied to architecture but also applies elegantly to surfboard construction. We’re set apart by the fact that we are board builders meaning that we build our own boards start to finish under one roof as opposed to being a shaper that relies on a subcontract glass shop for the construction of their board. There’s nothing wrong with this per say, but I firmly believe as a board builder, you have greater control over the material choices that are conducive towards a fully custom board tailored specifically for an intended client. This is the ultimate form of bespoke board building.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
The thing I like most is that we are a focal point for all things related to board sports, especially surfing. It’s relatively easy to connect with people and resources because there’s literally an entire constellation of both rights in our backyard. Moreover, this is a beautiful place to live and no matter where I go in the world, it isn’t long before I’m homesick. I know you asked me about what I like least, but I’m having a hard time imagining anything.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@surfvulcan.com
- Website: www.surfvulcan.com
- Instagram: @vulcansurf
Image Credits:
Dane Hantz, Christine Kueneke
