Mick started riding my boards at age 13 on a 5’3”, now at the age of 26 he rides a 6’1” for everyday competition. In board design it’s been a progressive few years as Mick and I have spent a lot of time in the shaping bay together and worked specifically on concaves, tail width and lift, and we were amazed at how the slightest changes made the biggest difference.

It has been a busy year and I have foam dust coming out of my ears but it’s all been worth it. As a shaper I couldn’t think of anything more satisfying. As a result of our time in the bay and the constant pursuit of improvement and refinement there were three boards that made a huge difference to this year’s competitive season:

THE SNAPPER BOARD

First, there was the ‘Snapper Board’, which he rode for the season up until the semifinal in France where it finally broke after being put through more than a heavyweight’s punching bag. This board had a little less concave than boards before it, Mick said that it felt free up-front and surfed really safe. He won $68,000 on this one including the amazing win at pumping Snapper.

THE GREEN BACK-UP BOARD

Secondly, there was the ‘Green Backup Board’ that he rode to win the final in France and solidified a commanding lead over Kelly and Taj. Mick said this board was good also but had a bit more concave and just didn’t feel as safe as the magic ‘Snapper Board’.”

THE BRAZIL BOARD

Thirdly, the board he took to Brazil was the pick of the last batch I shaped just before he left. This was a copy of the ‘Snapper Board’ but just a touch thinner in the rail. Mick won the World Title in Brazil, was crowned the champ on the beach, celebrated quickly and then regained focus to win the semi-final and then the event as well.

They’re all manufactured at BASE and glassed in polyester resin with one layer of diagonally laid four-ounce cloth either side with a toe patch. This keeps them super light with additional strength and the perfect amount of twang. The strength is important, when we get a magic board that Mick feels confident will beat the world’s best, it needs to last long enough for him to get the job done. Most of Mick’s boards are very similar in dimensions 6’1 x 181/4 x 2 3/16 with a tight rounded square and a deep concave between the fins.

Darren Handley (DHD Surfboards)