Karl Hassel

Karl Hassel: Master Surfboard Shaper
Karl Hassel is a renowned surfboard shaper from Australia, with over 40 years of experience. At 61, Karl has been crafting custom boards on the Central Coast since he was just 20. His journey began out of necessity-he loved surfing but couldn’t afford a proper board. So, he would visit local shapers to collect discarded boards, strip them down, and reshape them from scratch. This hands-on experience taught him the art of surfboard shaping.
Today, Karl specializes in creating custom boards tailored to his clients' needs, which is where his true passion lies. As he explains in the documentary, while he could easily produce standard boards for more profit, he prefers the challenge of making something unique every time.
In his workshop, Karl blends tradition with innovation, using modern machinery alongside the time-honored craft of hand shaping. This balance allows him to continue pushing the boundaries of surfboard design while staying true to his roots.