Spongercity.com • Global Version 4.0 » Todd Quigley interview

INTERVIEW done on the 18th of January 2005 – 20 Questions with Todd Quigly – QCDBOARDS

Todd Quigley QCD boards interview

TODD QUIGLY created his own brand QuigleyCustomDesign™ in March 2004, after 8 years shaping with big names and companies such as MEZ, BUZZ from TOOBS and 4PLAY. Todd started at a young age and knows what it takes to shape a good board. He’s been shaping some of the coolest custom boards at QCD™ for well known riders and lesser known ones, Playbord.com thought it’d be a good idea to see what the life of a bodyboard shaper looks like. Join us on the otherside of the force, just before a lifeless piece of foam turns into a brand new board. Enjoy the TQ interview :

1. Hey wassup Todd ? Where are you right now ?
Im just in oz shaping up some boards,good times.

2. First of all can you tell us how you ended up being one of the most famous shaper out there these days ? What’s your background ? How did you get into shaping ?
When a company called Mez boards first started up in Australia, i was lucky enough to be one of the firsts guys to work there, I just turned 17 at the time. I started off just in the production line building boards and learning the BUZZ (from TOOBS) tech way of shaping, Mez helped me out here and there and I slowly got into making customs. As for being being a famous shaper I don’t think much about it I just love making good boards and I think it comes down to knowing and understanding what guys want and then building a quality product.

3. QCD is quite young but it already has a solid reputation, You’ve shaped boards for some of the big names in the sport – what does it take to build one’s own board brand and make things happen ?
Yeah QCD is still young and its all going well. It has taken alot of time and effort setting up,things dont happen over night.I had been working nearly 8 years shaping boards and the oppertunity came up to go out on my own and start making boards for a company that I own and call the shots. I couldnt have done this without the help of my Family, Mez and Kelli, BP (Brian Peterson) and the biggest help was Buzz from Toobs USA as he built all the machines I need to make the best boards.

4. What does it take to be a good shaper ? Would you advise someone to do it ? What’s your advice for someone who’s trying to be a boogie shaper ?
It takes a lot of thing put together to be a good shaper. You need to know how a board works and rides in different waves also you need to know how to use your knowlege of boards and aplly it to shaping,know how diiferent materials work etc,also To listen to the riders needs and wants.For some trying to get into shaping its pretty much if you know someone in the industry you are in with a chance,and the lucky few you do will find out its the best job ever !

5. Do you still surf as much as you want too ?
Yeh pretty much,Im my own boss now so thats pretty cool,But Ive been pretty busy lately shaping boards and working on the bussiness.

6. Do you test a lot of things in the water or do you leave the test thing to the team riders ?
Its a bit of both,as Ive being riding boards for over 12 years now I like to test things myself,But my team guys helps as well because every one is different and its good to get other riders thoughts on certain things.

7. What’s your board right now ? (precise dimensions / materials – stringers or not – PP or PE etc…)
The board Im riding now is going sweet. Its PE core flextip stringer, channels, 60/40 rails, nose bulbs,blunt nose.NOSE 11 1/2 ,WIDTH 20 7/8 WP 17 TAIL 17 5 /8. Colurs are cream deck and rails,blue pinline and red slick.

8. Are you picky for your own boards ?
Not really.

9. have you got any little things you like specifically ?
Im lucky I know what I want and I just make it.

Todd Quigley QCD boards interview

10. Do the pros you work with know what they want or do you proprose things ? also do the pros often change things on their boards and try things or do they stick with what they like ? Who’s the most picky team rider ? the most annoying one ?
The pros pretty much know what they want each time,they dont really change anything but if they do its only slight and it for a purpose as it might be going to surf in certain conditions etc.

11. What’s the typical Todd’s day before the spring/summer season (the big rush) ?
Ok typical day is start work around 7.30am ( if the waves are good Im out there) check emails etc than get into it,I only like to do around 3 boards a day.mid morning check the post office take the boards to be sent out,then its back to the shaping bay to finish off the boards,in the arvo its a bit of office work then Im out the door around 5pm.

12. You just worked with Brian Peterson from VORTEX who came from the US to shape with you, how was it ?
Yeah that was cool,I was over there at the start of 2004 working at TOOBS while buzz built my machines,hooked up with BP and hung out in San Deigo. We kept in contact and just came up with some ideas and it went from there.

13. Was it just a sort of vacation and marketing buzz trick for you and VORTEX or did you guys fed each other with shaping ideas and designs ?
It was a bit of both i must admit, but it was the first time it had been done and it was all cool as we are mates,its going to be an ongoing thing as I will head over there mid year.

14. Looks like you produced a couple of nice little boards, is there a difference between what ozzies like and yankees like ? in term of materials / designs / gimmicks / colors ?
Yeah there is a bit of a diifernace in most of those things as we have different climates etc over here and each guy likes somthing different be it colours or rail angles thats the best thing about doing customs its made to what the rider wants.

15. What’s the big trend right now in OZ ? (color / board style etc…)
The big trend at the moment is BLACK boards so many guys are getting black.

16. Toobs pretty much set the standards of todays shaping – all good shapers learned with Toobs or 4play pretty much ? what makes your shaping method one of the most effective design-wise and quality-wise ?
It all comes back to BUZZ he came up with best way to build and shape boards,alot of credit is due to this man. I was lucky enough to spend time with buzz and the whole crew at toobs it made me a better shaper and person for that matter.

17. Do you have your own little habbits compared to what you learned with Toobs or what you’ve seen Brian do a few weeks ago ?
We all have our own little habbits and we each respect what each guy does as every one is different and they do what feels right to them.

18. Do you wish you had another job sometimes ? What would you be doing if you werent a shaper ?
Nup no way,if I wasnt shaping boards I would be shooting photos I love photography I have some pretty cool gear thats what I’d be doing.

19. What’s the craziest board ever ordered at QCD ?
I’m doing a board for a guy in israel at the moment he is getting 4 stringers and a PP core,he wants its super stiff. In the past I have build a board for a guy with one leg now that was a pretty crazy board !

20. Ever thought about shaping a surfboard ?
Nup but I have had some little things shown to be by surfboard shapers.

>>>Any thank you’s ? hate you’s ? love you’s ? Any thing to add ?
Id just like to say thanks to Mez, Buzz, Susan and the Toobs crew, Clayman for his help, BP and all the guys out there riding boards I have shaped for them as its all for you guys !!!

Todd Quigley QCD boards interview

THANX A LOT TODD
Keep shaping our little jewels so we can keep shreding the world’s beaches and reefs.
SPONGERCITY.COM

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