Icons of Foam
Although it is organized as a competition, and its heart the Icons of Foam Shape-Off is a tribute to exceptional shapers who practice this sacred craft. Honoring Bing Copeland this year (as selected by him) are defending champion Rick Rock, East Coast Surf Expo Shape-off Champion Josh Peterson, and six others tbd. The four semi-finalists will all receive special commemorative engraved Nixon watches with the Boardroom logo. Additionally, the second place shaper receives $500. The winner will receive $1000 and their name added to the Mike Marshall Perpetual Trophy.
LEGENDARY SHAPER Bing Copeland
is celebrated in Del Mar in 2023
BING COPELAND TO BE HONORED AS ICON OF FOAM AT THE 2023 BOARDROOM
Eight shapers gear up for friendly yet intense competition.
April 26, 2023, Del Mar, Ca. — The Boardroom International Surfboard Show presented by US Blanks is honoring legendary surfboard builder Bing Copeland in the Icons of Foam Shape-off competition. The Boardroom Show is widely recognized as the world’s largest surfboard marketplace, and takes place October 7 & 8, 2023, in beautiful Del Mar, Ca. Established in 2007, 2023 marks the Boardroom’s 16th year and its 21st show.
“I’m looking forward to being the Icon of Foam honoree,” said Bing Copeland. “To have a few of the current young shapers compete to duplicate several of my most popular models from the 60’s & early 70’s will be a fun challenge to watch. It’ll be fun judging the competition with Matt Calvani”.
“We are humbled and ecstatic to honor Bing Copeland at this years’ show,” said Boardroom Show Executive Director Scott Bass. “Bing’s legacy in the surfboard manufacturing industry is lengthy, storied, and transcendent. But as great a surfboard builder as he is (he’s among the greatest ever) Bing Copeland is an exceptional human being.”
Bing Copeland opened his first surf shop in the fall of 1959 with his friend Rick Stoner and became one of the major surfboard builders of the sixties and early seventy’s. The business grew at an exponential rate, and Bing expanded his factory to include a glassing area and a team of first-rate shapers such as Dick Brewer, Dick Mobley, Mike Eaton, Dan Bendiksen, John Mobley, Wayne Land, and George Lanning.
The late sixties was the beginning of the end for the major manufacturers. It was a time of the “back yard board” and “no label” surfboards. Copeland, along with his master shapers and new designers, the Campbell Brothers, transitioned to shorter boards. The hand-off of the BING Surfboards label to shaper Matt Calvani occurred in 2000 and BING continues to produce incredible surfboards with Copeland’s watchful eye and decades of insight lighting the path.
Eight international shapers will honor Bing Copeland and compete for the $2K first prize and their name etched into the Mike Marshall Perpetual Trophy (see the trophy at Hansens Surf Shop in Encinitas).
Copeland chose shapers Thomas Bexon (Australia), Hank Warner (San Diego), Roger Hinds (Seal Beach), Wayne Rich (Goleta), Michael Arenal (Ventura), Dane Perlee (San Diego). Those six heavy hitters join defending champion Rick Rock (San Clemente) and East Coast Surf Expo shape-off winner Josh Peterson (East Coast/Hawaii).
The Boardroom Show’s Best In Show board build-off competition features The Bonzer. It was 50 years ago, in 1973, that two forward-thinking, creative brothers from Oxnard, Ca., Malcolm and Duncan Campbell, licensed their groundbreaking Bonzer design to Bing Copeland and Bing Surfboards.
The Boardroom’s Best In Show board build-off is free to enter and open to any board builder worldwide. Malcolm and Duncan Campbell will be judging based on creativity, functionality, and construction. Past winners of Best In Show include Ryan Sakal, Renny Yater, Pat Rawson, Gary Linden, Dane Hantz, Stu Kenson, Donald Brink, John Simon, Barry Snyder and many others.
The Boardroom International Surfboard Show presented by US Blanks takes place October 7 & 8, 2023 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall.
For info on exhibiting your boards, gear, art or wares at the largest surfboard marketplace in the world click on exhibit above inthe menu bar