St. Augustine Shaper David Farina Joins the Surf Station 2
The more time that you spend in St. Augustine, the easier it is to convince yourself that there must be something in the water around these parts. No, I’m not talking about the mystical powers allegedly found in the depths of our town’s legendary Fountain of Youth. And while our residents may not hold the secret to everlasting life, they sure are a talented bunch.
St. Augustine is teeming with creatives of every ilk: photographers, fine artists, chefs, filmmakers and creators alike are drawn to this town to share their creative ventures with the world. The world of surfcraft is no exception. St. Augustine is home to a host of talented handshapers creating surfboards suited to the often gutless waves found on our shores. Just one of these masters of the foam is David Farina. 
“St. Augustine has always had a special surf community, the level of surfing is pretty amazing and I think it’s our diversity of waves that contribute to the uniqueness,” Farina said. “You can find a perfect logging wave down south and then head north in the county to find a challenging shorebreak. As far as waves go, we are pretty lucky to have a variety of beach breaks around…even if the surf is marginal compared to the major spots around the world.”
As the newest addition to the Surf Station boardroom, Farina began growing his label, Farina Handcrafted, when he began shaping back in 1989. Throughout his journey as a shaper, Farina has learned from greats the likes of Mike Whisnant, Jacksonville board builder and three times east coast shaping champion. Shapers like Whisnant and Farina provide surfers with a unique option when shopping for a new board: surfcraft that is designed to work well locally.
“Getting a board built by a local shaper is so important because they understand the waves we surf. Our waves are super challenging here in Florida so an understanding of the many design elements from rockers to fin placements are vital to getting a board to work here,” Farina explained. “The surfer/shaper relationship is so unique and no other sport has that, it’s very special and something that has been around since the ancient Hawaiians shaped the first boards.”
So what makes a board well suited for the small waves and summertime blues here in St. Augustine? A resurgence of retro and alternative shapes with wider outlines and lower rockers have attracted the attention of surfers looking to up their wave count in occasionally weak east coast surf.
“I love making boards I know will work well in our surf and knowing that people will have fun on them,” Farina shared. “Boards with more volume and flatter rocker designs are the shapes I’m working on now. The revision of the midlength and fish designs are exciting and I love doing those.”
Despite his talents, Farina works to make the water an inclusive place for surfers of all skill levels.
“For a beginner I would strongly advise a soft top or used funboard,” Farina shared. “Yes, I’d love to sell brand new boards to every surfer but in my opinion, you should get a board that you can beat up, learn the ropes on then come see us.”
Surfing, as with shaping, is an evolving process. As times and preferences change, Farina works to continue to develop his skills.
My plans are to constantly keep learning. Even after over 30 years building surfboards, your art can always improve,” Farina shared. “I want to continue promoting Florida board builders and showcasing some of the best shapers in our state. That’s something that I strongly believe in.”
