Ian Wright - I started shaping when I was 15 yrs old. Actually by accident to tell the honest truth. The story goes...friend needs board...you have the tools...Bingo...this must be easy. Well 22 years later and tens of thousands of boards created it has been a journey to say the least. Mostly enjoyable but also very demanding shaping for some of surfing's elite.

I grew up in a small town just south of Durban, South Africa. With plenty of world class waves and surfers surrounding me... the ocean became part of my life very quickly. The whole family were involved in water sports of varying types, but my father being an ex lifeguard made the biggest impact on my life as far as being involved in the ocean.

Coming from South Africa definitely had it's influences on both board design and board construction. I learned very quickly how to do everything, and quality both in shaping, construction and board presentation was first and foremost. My biggest influences in board designs had come from guys like Peter Daniels and Spider Murphy, who together definitely put South Africa on the map with great shaping talent.

After having my own business and Ghost shaping on the side for Safari surfboards, I came to the states to gain more experience in the core of the surf industry.

I joined the Spyder surfboard label of Hermosa Beach back in September 1995. It didn't take long for me to develop a completely revolutionary way of doing high production Ghost shaping. Shaping for a label that was on the rise in the 90's enabled me to redefine my own style of shaping.

As Spyder's main shaper, I was able to shape boards for some of the worlds surfing elite and this brought a new edge to the previously generic surfboard designs that were being offered to the public back then.

I  purchased the licensing rights to the Spyder label in Dec 1999. I was on my way to developing new surfboard designs, however this was short lived due to many factors....Unfortunately along with the 90's Spyder had run it's course in history as a surf label. Once surfers move onto newer and more exciting labels they don't come back.

My time running the Spyder surfboard label was a tough struggle and a hard business lesson learned. I had to dig deep and from all of the negativity that had been generated around Spyder…my own label Aftermath Surfboards emerged.

Parting ways permanently with the Spyder label was the best thing that happened to me as a shaper.  I haven't looked back and was finally freed of all the surf industry Monkeys on my back. Now I concentrate on making the cutting edge designs that I've built my reputation on. For all those customers who stuck with me throughout the years of me shaping at Spyder, a new era is among us...Aftermath is my evolution as a shaper and now my designs are free to flow directly to you the surfers...

Ian Wright.Owner.Shaper.Aftermath Surfboards.