Introduction
Billabong USA is proud to announce the second annual "Billabong Art of Shaping Event" to be held September 10th-11th at the ASR Action Sports Retailer Trade Show in San Diego CA. This years' "Billabong Art of Shaping: San Diego Edition" event will feature many of the top shapers from the rich board building heritage of San Diego county. The finalized list of invitees includes Bill Bahne, Tim Bessell, Chris Christenson, Carl Ekstrom, Rick Hamon, Gary Hanel, John Kies, Gary Linden, Steve Lis, Larry Mabile, Gary MacNabb, Bob Mitsven, Rich "Toby" Pavel, Steve Pendarvis, Jim Phillips, Rusty Preisendorfer, Robin Prodanovich, Steve Seebold, Donald Takayama, Hank Warner, Xanadu and Marcio Zouvi.
San Diego County is famous for its talented crew of designers and shapers that have introduced a significant number of innovations such as the Stevie Lis Fish, the Ekstrom asymmetrical, the Rich Pavel Speedialer, the Donald Takayama Step Deck and other notable designs which have had a remarkable effect on the sport of surfing and the surfboard itself.
The intention of Billabong's 2009 Art of Shaping San Diego Edition Event is to showcase and pay tribute to San Diego County shapers and their invaluable accomplishments and contributions to the art of surfboard building over the last five decades. Close examination of the list of invitees will reveal shapers from each decade that collectively have established the reputation of San Diego County as the "hotbed of innovative surfboard design, construction and forward thinking."
The Concept
The concept of the "Billabong Art of Shaping Event" is simple; it is a venue to showcase the talent of San Diego surfboard shapers and craftsmen by allowing them to build boards that highlight their particular contribution or influence on the evolution of the surfboard over a particular span in time. Shapers are invited and encouraged to "create a board representing the era, style, or shape they are best known for or relate to"; or whatever best motivates their creativity and talent.
The shapers entry is then placed on display at the ASR trade show along with full sized images of the shaper himself and a profile that includes information on the board he choose to build, his company or label, and his shaping history or career.
How it Works
Once a chosen shaper accepts the invitation to participate in The Billabong Art of Shaping San Diego Edition Event he is issued a check for $600 cash to be used towards materials for his entry of choice. The shaper is then free to submit whatever type of board he deems appropriate; knowing his board will be showcased with those of his peers. The Billabong Art of Shaping Event will feature 23 boards from 23 different shapers on display Thursday September 10th and Friday September 11th at ASR in the San Diego Convention Center.
A Shaper’s Reception will be held in a separate conference room on the Mezzanine in the Convention Center on Friday afternoon beginning at 4:00 PM. Here shapers will be available to meet guests and talk story while sharing about the boards they have created.
At approximately 6:30 PM a Live Auction will begin where each and every board will be auctioned off to benefit The SIMA Humanitarian Fund. The board that secures the highest auction price at the Live Auction becomes the largest single donor to the SIMA Humanitarian Fund; the charity chosen for the "Billabong Art of Shaping Event", and is awarded a check from Billabong for $2,000. The runner up will receive a full page ad in SURFING Magazine's "Board Builder's Issue" featuring his boards and company.
Intended Schedule of Events
During the course of the show guests are invited to view the boards, read the stories and place silent auction bids on any of the boards of their choice, these will be the opening bids at the Live Auction. The booth will be hosted by Royce Cansler and Eric "Bird" Huffman, who collectively have an extensive knowledge of San Diego shapers and their accomplishments.
On Friday afternoon starting at 4:00 PM the boards will be on the mezzanine level of the San Diego Convention Center in an upstairs conference room where a catered Shapers Reception will be held and guests can have a drink and nibble on some pupu’s while they view and examine the fruits of the shapers.
The reception is open to invited guests from the public that have signed up and RSVP'd in advance for the evening auction by going to billabong.com/artofshaping.
From 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM guests will be able to closely view each entry in preparation for the live auction. During the viewing period guests can enjoy pupu's, Primo beer, Wild Rock wine, Sambazon smoothies and Smart water in an effort to prime the pump before the bidding begins.
Guests making purchases that night will be allowed to take their purchases with them upon payment in full: cash and/or major credit cards will be the only acceptable means of payment.
