Finn Whitla
Photos Grant Viney
Finn Whitla 2001 began building surfboards for Maurice Cole in 2001. Starting out as most do, sweeping floors, doing filla-coats and repairs. Watching and learning from experienced sanders, laminator and the other shapers working for Maurice at the time like Garth Gibbons.
In 2004 Finn started working for Strapper Surfboards, making everything from kneeboards and longboards to performance shortboards for local surfers Jack Perry, Adam Robertson and Cahill Bell-Warren while working weekends sanding surfboards for Maurice Cole, Rousa and Mark Phipps.
In 2016 Finn started Faze Surfboards in Tasmania. Faze creates a small number of custom surfboards each year using traditional techniques with modern materials and design. Developing skills by hand shaping and finishing each surfboard here in Tasmania.
In 2018 & 2019 Finn was invited to Manly for the Sydney Surf Pro to shape in the Vissla Shapers Shack. Vissla constructed a temp shaping bay at North Steyne. Shapers from around Australia old and new were invited to the QS6000 rated event to shape and share the love! Making some great contacts and working with Vissla Finn was able to build a portable shaping bay to use here in Tasmania to showcase the skills and effort put into crafting a surfboard. Bicheno has been a great venue to showcase some of Tasmania’s best shapers including Nick Stranger (over 40 years experience), Sey Monster Shapes and Faze Surfboards.
The Vissla Shapers Shack has been to Ulverstone for the NorthWest Boardriders Surfboard Expo 2 years and Bicheno Food and Wine festival for the last two events (covid postponing 2020)
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