Photo: Mikey Corker

Eric Rebiere has been at the forefront of paddling big waves around Europe and beyond for years, culminating with the ‘Dorian Session’ at Nazaré last winter. “Normally shapers know what to do when it comes to guns,” reckons Eric on gun advice, “So for the everday surfer wanting a board for bigger waves, I’ll just say this: go heavier with the glass. Heavy is good.” In terms of general big surf tips, Eric offered, “The worst wipe-outs are always the ones you’re not ready for… if you straighten out or a set comes… you’ready, but if you free fall… you’re fucked… hahaha!”

ALL BOARDS BY ROb VAUGHAN*

9’6” x 21” x 3 1/4”
The red 9’6” is for 15ft plus surf. I’ve ridden it at Ericeira harbour and at 15-20ft Nazaré. It’s a thruster, they all are except the 11’2”. In general, I don’t like the feel of the four fin. I don’t like not being able to feel the centre fin when you’re going straight.

10’6” x 211⁄2” 31⁄2” & 10’2” x 211⁄2” 31⁄2”
The 10’6” and the 10’2” are in my ‘new colours’ the French/brazilian colours… The 10’2” is basically a back-up for the 10’6”, I haven’t ridden it yet. The 10’6” I rode at belharra, Nazaré and a new wave south of Alejanto, past Lisbon. It was too small for belharra and Nazaré…

11’2” x 21 3⁄4” x 3 3⁄4”
We just made this one with Rob for the coming winter. It’s got like a ‘double chime’. There’s an edge tucked underneath and then another edge further up. I’m actually going out this afternoon to get fishing weights to put in this one. I like them to be around 15 -18kg. It’s a 4 fin like Shane’s model, which has pretty unique fin placement. When he was here at the house last winter I gave him my kid to hold and ran outside and measured his ‘secret’ fin position hahaha.

ERIC ON ROB

Rob and I worked on about ten big wave boards together to get where we are now. I really think he’s one of the most clued in big wave shapers in Europe. With the work we’ve done, and with him making boards for Sancho, and a lot of the Hossegor locals, he’s had a lot of feedback.

ERIC ON SHANE

I’d say the one thing we learned most from Shane’s visit was that his boards were flatter, thicker and so much heavier than ours. The flat rocker and the weight really got my attention and we’ve incorporated it.

* WHO’S ROB?

Rob Vaughan originally hails from brighton but has been based in SW France for the last two decades. Having shaped surf craft for waves of all shapes and sizes for some of the top surfers in the world, Rob continues to build quality custom craft from his factory in Hossegor.