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The Dust Up

The Dust Up

Jimmy Slade Productions 34 Episodes Jul 10, 2026

The Dust Up is a series of conversations about surfboard designs, shaper interviews and lots more. It is for anybody interested in shaping as well as all the surfboard nerds out there. It's all about the boards and they love talking about surfboards. Hosted by Cory Russell along with special co hosts Luke Howarth, John Robertson and Christian Pritchett.

Episodes

Ep 34 - 'STAB in the dark' Season 11 - Surfboard Review
Ep 34 - 'STAB in the dark' Season 11 - Surfboard Review Jul 10, 2026 7086 In this episode I sit down with Luke Howarth from Howie Shapes and Nick Blair from Joistik Surfboards to talk about what we observed in each board's performance submitted to 'STAB in the dark' - Season 11.Shapers are often asked for their opinion of regarding different boards on 'STAB in the dark'.  Ethan Ewing is such a supremely talented surfer that demands a lot from hi
Ep 33 - Surfboard Myths - 'Litres' are not the answer with Matt Hurworth from MH Surfboards.
Ep 33 - Surfboard Myths - 'Litres' are not the answer with Matt Hurworth from MH Surfboards. May 14, 2026 2554 In this episode Luke Howarth and I chat with Matt Hurworth from MH Surfboards about the litres written on the bottom of your surfboard are not the answer. 'Volume' and 'litres' ambushed the surfboard industry approximately 20 years ago with the growth of surfboard design programs and shaping machines.  Many of the big surfboard brands use litreage and stock dimensions to create
Ep 32 - Surfboard Myths - CAD programs create perfect surfboards with Sam Tehan - Force 9 Surfboards
Ep 32 - Surfboard Myths - CAD programs create perfect surfboards with Sam Tehan - Force 9 Surfboards Apr 23, 2026 1912 We kick off the 'Surfboard Myths' series with Sam Tehan from Force 9 surfboards.  We live in a world saturated with marketing bullshit and as the surf industry went corporate, surfboards followed.Topics will be suggested by the Dust Up community, and we will get them on to discuss the myth.  We are not trying to discredit any brand or people in the industry and will do our best to addres
Ep 31 - Shaper Interview with Nick Masarin - Microjet Surfboards
Ep 31 - Shaper Interview with Nick Masarin - Microjet Surfboards Apr 6, 2026 5225 In this episode I chat with Nick Masarin from Microjet Surfboards.  Nick started shaping in the late 60's and experienced the shortboard revolution in the Sydney surf industry.  Surfboard design was changing so rapidly at the time that often no two boards were the same.  Numerous surfboard design ideas were potentially left on the shaping room floor.  I doubt he knew it but this would become
Ep 30 - Outside The Bay with Dan Treloar from Grow Blanks
Ep 30 - Outside The Bay with Dan Treloar from Grow Blanks Mar 23, 2026 5804 In this episode I chat with Dan Treloar from Grow Blanks.  Grow blanks are made in Kenya, Africa from agave storks or poles, as Dan refers to them.  The internal fibrous material is strong, lightweight and a natural alternative to traditional surfboard cores.Dan talks about the agave farm, situated between two national parks filled with beautiful native animals such as elephants, zebras and lions.
Ep 29 - Surfboard Design Elements - Fin Placement and Fins
Ep 29 - Surfboard Design Elements - Fin Placement and Fins Mar 8, 2026 6914 In this episode, Luke Howarth from Howie shapes and I discuss fin placements and fins.  Fins can seem like a simple aspect of a board to some and extremely complex to others.  We both love fins and learning about them, but we are not fin experts. I would suggest many shapers have concentrated more on their designs over the last couple of decades since the introduction of fin systems.  The good old
Ep 28 - Outside The Bay with John from Sanded Australia
Ep 28 - Outside The Bay with John from Sanded Australia Feb 19, 2026 4217 In this episode I chat with John from Sanded Australia, a surfboard materials supplier on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia.The beginning of John's relationship with the surfboard industry goes all the way back to when he was a young man making boards with his friends.  One of his friends was involved in building boats so that is where they sourced their materials - Expanded Pol
Ep 27 - Shaper Interview with Beau Armstrong - Armstrong Surfboards
Ep 27 - Shaper Interview with Beau Armstrong - Armstrong Surfboards Jan 18, 2026 3482 In this episode I chat with Beau Armstrong from Armstrong Surfboards.I was travelling home from Queensland when I stopped into the Bennett Surfboard showroom and was greeted by a young man behind the counter, Beau.  We chatted briefly and I discovered he made surfboards.  I told him I would check out his social media and headed off down the road.As I drove the many hours back to Victoria, I though
Ep 26 - Surfboard Design Elements - Foil / Flex
Ep 26 - Surfboard Design Elements - Foil / Flex Aug 17, 2025 4347 In this episode, Luke Howarth from Howie shapes and I discuss the subtleties of a surfboard foil or profile.  The distribution of foam in a surfboard is often overlooked but it can have a big impact on how your board performs.We chat about the evolution of foil in a surfboard and how it relates to the different styles of boards.  I ask Luke about what he thinks of 'swing weight' which is
Ep 25 - Shaper Interview with Scott James - SJS Customs
Ep 25 - Shaper Interview with Scott James - SJS Customs Aug 6, 2025 7720 In this episode I chat with Scott James from SJS Custom.Scott first appeared on my radar through social media.  The boards he was creating and the way he was presenting them really stood out amongst the many.It piqued my interest.  I was keen to chat with Scott to hear more about his back story and it did not disappoint.  Scott grew up in the town of Dunedin on the very south coast of New Zealand.
Ep 24 - Shaper Interview with Gary McNeill - Gary McNeill Concepts
Ep 24 - Shaper Interview with Gary McNeill - Gary McNeill Concepts Jul 6, 2025 5171 In this episode I catch up with Gary McNeill from Gary McNeill Concepts.I first met Gary when I was working on the Gold Coast nearly 20 years ago.  From the very first meeting I found him to be friendly, dedicated, talented and a real individual pursuing his own path.Gary grew up surfing competitively, but a few changes in life would motivate him to move from Wollongong to the Gold Coast.  He star
Ep 23 - Outside The Bay with Damien Cole from Varuna Surfboards
Ep 23 - Outside The Bay with Damien Cole from Varuna Surfboards Jun 22, 2025 7846 In this episode we catch up with Damien Cole, former CEO of Varuna surfboards.The surfboard industry is a fickle beast; it owes nobody anything and we are regularly reminded of this.  Earlier this year Varuna surfboards closed its doors for the last time.  Varuna surfboards was a new type of wooden construction with a focus on reducing the environmental impact as well as improving the lives of Ind

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