Mitsunori Kumagai's "Kuma Fish" Wins MF Softboards Global Shaper Challenge

The World Surf League (WSL) x MF Softboards Global Shaper Challenge was conceived to raise awareness of the creatives who are the heart and soul of the sport of surfing as part of the WSL's #StayLocal campaign, which shines a light on the world's best surfers supporting their local surf communities and inspiring surfers everywhere to do the same.

Shapers, designers and creatives from all surf regions globally were invited to enter a CNC file and softboard design concept and the response was overwhelming.

Four designs were selected through a public vote via the WSL Instagram story to progress to the final.

Designs from Alex Crews @acsod, Axel Lorentz @pukassurf @axellorentz, Mitsunori Kumagai @kumasurfboards and Gerardo Candelaria Perez @cevichesurfco were produced utilising MF Softboards production process which is the global bench mark for performance softboards.

Along with the four finalists Mick also selected two entries to move directly into the final. The wildcards are Duke Aipa @aipasurf and Kamalei Woolsey Alexander from @modernhawaiiancollective.

Starting with the CNC file that each designer submitted during round one of the competition we milled their design from an EPS blank. Once the EPS core was finish shaped our Hybrid Carbon Spine and Epoxy Shell construction was utilised to ensure maximum performance in the water.

All six boards were delivered to Mick for him to put them through their paces on the peeling righthand walls of his home break Snapper Rocks.

Mitsunori Kumagai

Gold Coast Australia

"Great Small Wave Catcher" The Flat deck makes increases the volume to help catch waves and provide more speed in poor conditions, A Slight forward placed concave bottom with a deep exit Vee that increases the tail rocker. This board is incredibly fast and finds hidden pockets of speed on waves. Enjoy..............."

Mitsunori Kumagai is KUMA surfboards shaper. He was born and grew up in Japan. In 2005 Kuma decided to move to Australia to pursue his passion of surfing and make surfboards. His first board was shaped in a garage at a rented house. Since then he has been shaping surfboards for 15 years.
His winning design was a 5'6 x 20 1/16 x 2 3/8 29.38L