Name: Teva Bonno
Years living: 41
Years surfing: 30
Years shaping: 15
Specialty: Conception & Design
Teva Bono’s the one I turn to when I need a new board. Not because he’s the shaper of some of Tahiti’s best riders, but because the very first board he made for me was the best board I had ever had in 15 years of surfing: a bright pink 6’5, which was just magic in consistent surf. It’s like the board was doing everything by itself, from easy take offs to big and smooth turns. Then I ordered a 6’3, which turned out to be better than the first one, and then another one, a 6’0, for smaller waves, which I also use as a kiteboard. In the last 4 years, I’ve paid him a great number of visits: to order or try new boards, to have him sell boards I didn’t like anymore (I have a tendency to get bored with my toys), and most of all, to repair all the boards I had broken surfing on shallow reefs. Spending time with him is fun and enjoyable: he always has jokes and funny stories to share, and often tells you about his life experiences and professional plans. This week, meet one of Tahiti’s most renowned shapers, the passionate and positive Teva Bonno!
Vainui: How did you discover shaping: Is it something you’ve always wanted to do, or did it just happen?
Teva: A little bit of both actually. As a surfer, I had always been interested in surfing material and equipment, and wanted to learn and understand how surfboards “worked”. Then one day, French shaper Jean-Pierre Stark gave me the opportunity to work with him. At first, I was just cleaning and decorating his workshop, and when he asked me if I would be interested in shaping boards, “Yes”, was the only answer I could give him. We worked together for 6 years, and I learned everything from building a workshop to shaping a gun.
How would you define shaping: is it work, art or passion?
Haha… shaping can be anything you want it to be – It depends on your mood. To me, shaping is work, art and passion all combined together. And I have to admit that sometimes I love it, and sometimes I hate it. It’s like everything else in life you know, things change from day to day. But the harder the task, the happier I am; like when I had to shape a hydrofoil. I had never done this before, and it was a very exciting challenge.
What do you love in your job?
Taking an ordinary piece of foam and turning it into a surfboard that works; having a surfer calling me and telling me the board I just made for him is MAGIC. Not just great you know, but magic. I would not say that it is the dark side of the force (LOL), rather, it is the part of light that you cannot see: I haven’t done anything different, yet the board is just perfect. I guess it’s a combination of different things, great foam, great mood, perfect focus, perfect glass… and probably a little bit of pixie dust as well (LOL)…
I also like to learn about innovations brought to the market, like those pressurized boards that can be more or less flexible depending on what you want. It’s pretty interesting stuff.
And what is the most difficult thing?
Having someone ordering a board that won’t work for their frame and/or riding style. That’s definitely the hardest part, because you have to take into account the customers’ wish but you also have to make them understand that the board as they want it won’t work for them. So what I usually do, is that I have them bring me their current board and tell me what they don’t like about it. From there, it’s easier for me to understand my clients’ problem and to give them the best advice. It really takes a lot of time and explanation to get to a good end result.
What do you prefer: shaping boards for beginners or for champs?
By far, shaping boards for beginners; it is way more challenging: they don’t really know what they want, yet I have to be able to shape a board that is going to work perfectly as soon as they paddle onto it and take their first wave. I love that. Champs, on the opposite, know exactly what they want, and since I know most of those guys, I also know what’s best for them; it usually is a question of making some minor changes.
What is the essential thing for a shaper?
Getting the riders’ feed back: that is what allows me to perfect my work and to get better. It’s important to listen what they have to say about a board and to analyze their comments to try and understand what has to be changed to make better boards.
And what are your professional plans for the next few months?
I’d like to test some natural material to make my boards as eco-friendly as possible: I’m thinking about ordering soy-based foams and natural cloth; as for the resin, there’s nothing 100% natural on the market, but I’m sure we’ll get there some day. Also, I’d like to clean up and remodel my workshop in order to have local artists come and display their paintings, photos and sculptures. But we’ll see, I’ve been so busy lately, I don’t know when I’ll be able to make this happen (smile).
I’ve also invested in a computer pre-shape device that has yet to be tested. I currently work 13 hours a day, and this investment will definitely save me a lot of time, while allowing me to be more precise in my measurements.
What’s the most important thing in your life today?
Finding a way to spend more time with my 4-year-old daughter (smile).
What’s your life philosophy?
Your questions are getting harder to answer (LOL)… I love Buddhism and its “non-attachment” philosophy. I like to take life as it comes, and to love people for who they really are, not for who I wish they were. Life could be better, but it could also be worse; hell and heaven are made up in your mind you know… You can always wish for something better or different, but don’t forget to be happy with what you have and what you have accomplished.
Check out TevaSurfboards.com
tevasurfboards@yahoo.fr
-Vainui
