About
PIKE SURF has been a huge part of my personal career. It was the first Italian surfboard brand founded by the first Italian professional shaper since 1980. PIKE SURF become quite famous in Italy and Europe during the 90'
Since I started shaping , my own style was handcrafting any surfboard I made. The reason was just beacause that could be the only way to get a total control of my production in every department, then being able in that way, to deliver high quality product for my final customers.
I believe that personal mind about production made possible to build up my professional reputation in the last 40 years as surfboard project designer, shaper as well as craftsmenship in Italy and internationally.
PIKE SURF like any other surf brand in the world , has been obviously exposed to the surfboard industry trend: a brands competition in trying to sell more boards as possible into the global market.
But, fortunately or unfortunately that wasn't matching my same idea about work (keeping it handcrafted), and to make it very clear, just lately I decided to increase more surfboard quality bringing my product at top construction and performances level. My hand shaped and handmade surfboards production is limited to 100 units per year.
21st century PIKE SURF basically are high performance boards only. Their natural location is the niche market. PIKE average customer is an athlete or a top free surfer or a simple surfboard lover of high quality surfboard.
Since I started shaping , my own style was handcrafting any surfboard I made. The reason was just beacause that could be the only way to get a total control of my production in every department, then being able in that way, to deliver high quality product for my final customers.
I believe that personal mind about production made possible to build up my professional reputation in the last 40 years as surfboard project designer, shaper as well as craftsmenship in Italy and internationally.
PIKE SURF like any other surf brand in the world , has been obviously exposed to the surfboard industry trend: a brands competition in trying to sell more boards as possible into the global market.
But, fortunately or unfortunately that wasn't matching my same idea about work (keeping it handcrafted), and to make it very clear, just lately I decided to increase more surfboard quality bringing my product at top construction and performances level. My hand shaped and handmade surfboards production is limited to 100 units per year.
21st century PIKE SURF basically are high performance boards only. Their natural location is the niche market. PIKE average customer is an athlete or a top free surfer or a simple surfboard lover of high quality surfboard.
FABIO GIACOMINI
Italy
PERSONAL STORY:
I was born in Italy in Rome, in a marine estate, where the family home was just in front
of the sea. This natural element has always fascinated me so much that it then became
part of my private and personal life.
Professionally speaking, I started shaping boards in 1980, I think it was a consequence of
my strong passion for the construction and for the surfing on a wave with any type of board.
I started windsurfing, which at that time I practised assiduously, as did many of my peers. Windsurfing was very popular in Italy at the time, and I started to produce my first models of wave performance boards to be used with sails.
Since then I have had the opportunity to work with professional athletes, for example
I produced for Pietro Pacitto, a windsurfing professional athlete, several boards for his use: in the wave Windsurfing World Cup and in national competitions.
In the mid 80s traditional surfing began to take hold in the place of windsurfing.
I surfed myself in those days when there was no wind but the sea waves formed.
It was really fun and exciting to be able to surf the Mediterranean waves without
sail but with my board only.
Those custom boards were already in fact surfboards and then I decided to put in all my efforts into the surfboard shaping, making it my profession.
I have worked for the last 38 years in close contact with national and international pro surfers and with top shapers abroad (France, Australia, United States and South Africa) to improve and refine my technical knowledge in the design and construction of high quality and performance surfboards.
Among the international athletes I remember the collaboration with the South African Clyde Martin who participated in several European Professional Championships in the 90s.
Of the national athletes on the other hand, the longest relationship was surely with the multichampion Emiliano Cataldi still in action on boards designed by me.
In recent years I have also collaborated with some athletes of the WSL circuit, and Ntando Msibi, a South African young athlete of remarkable skills. He and Emiliano are currently the ambassadors of my products overseas.
Today I am a freelancer and I devote myself mainly to the design,
research and development of the product.
I design models for 3 companies with international distributors,
as well as producing my limited series of unique and special boards,
100% made with the manual experience of a craftsman,
who has accumulated 40 years of continuous work in the sector.
I live in South Africa, but I often go back to Italy.
Moving in 2005 to one of the world’s top countries in surfing both
as a production and as well as a practitioner, was fundamental for me.
This new position has allowed me to increase and improve my professional experience
greatly, an objective that I could never have achieved if I was living in Italy.
Since 2020 I set up a new factory in Rome where I do my designs ,shaping and handcrafting
of the sea. This natural element has always fascinated me so much that it then became
part of my private and personal life.
Professionally speaking, I started shaping boards in 1980, I think it was a consequence of
my strong passion for the construction and for the surfing on a wave with any type of board.
I started windsurfing, which at that time I practised assiduously, as did many of my peers. Windsurfing was very popular in Italy at the time, and I started to produce my first models of wave performance boards to be used with sails.
Since then I have had the opportunity to work with professional athletes, for example
I produced for Pietro Pacitto, a windsurfing professional athlete, several boards for his use: in the wave Windsurfing World Cup and in national competitions.
In the mid 80s traditional surfing began to take hold in the place of windsurfing.
I surfed myself in those days when there was no wind but the sea waves formed.
It was really fun and exciting to be able to surf the Mediterranean waves without
sail but with my board only.
Those custom boards were already in fact surfboards and then I decided to put in all my efforts into the surfboard shaping, making it my profession.
I have worked for the last 38 years in close contact with national and international pro surfers and with top shapers abroad (France, Australia, United States and South Africa) to improve and refine my technical knowledge in the design and construction of high quality and performance surfboards.
Among the international athletes I remember the collaboration with the South African Clyde Martin who participated in several European Professional Championships in the 90s.
Of the national athletes on the other hand, the longest relationship was surely with the multichampion Emiliano Cataldi still in action on boards designed by me.
In recent years I have also collaborated with some athletes of the WSL circuit, and Ntando Msibi, a South African young athlete of remarkable skills. He and Emiliano are currently the ambassadors of my products overseas.
Today I am a freelancer and I devote myself mainly to the design,
research and development of the product.
I design models for 3 companies with international distributors,
as well as producing my limited series of unique and special boards,
100% made with the manual experience of a craftsman,
who has accumulated 40 years of continuous work in the sector.
I live in South Africa, but I often go back to Italy.
Moving in 2005 to one of the world’s top countries in surfing both
as a production and as well as a practitioner, was fundamental for me.
This new position has allowed me to increase and improve my professional experience
greatly, an objective that I could never have achieved if I was living in Italy.
Since 2020 I set up a new factory in Rome where I do my designs ,shaping and handcrafting
AGE:
62
STARTED SURFING:
1979
STARTED SHAPING:
1980
FULL TIME SHAPER?:
Yes
SHAPING INSPIRATION:
My deep connection with sea and sporting activity
BOARDS SHAPED:
>10000
SHAPING STYLE:
All my boards are 100% hand shaped
DOES OWN GLASSING?:
Yes
FAVORITE MATERIAL:
Give me a blank and I shape a board
NATIONALITY:
Italy