Senior Project Reflection

Blog 22: Senior Project Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your Block Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?

I am most proud of my activity. I felt that it really provided a great understanding of how the rail and rocker of a surfboard work and how the connection between the two is important. My audience was able to connect from this activity that certain shapes within a surfboard can be used to compensate or make up for other parts of the board. 


(2) Questions to Consider

a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Block Presentation (self-assessment)?

AE

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

AE

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

Being able to create a surfboard after conducting research on how the different shapes affect the the style in which a rider can ride a board really worked for my senior project. It allowed me to take what I had learned from my senior project research and apply it to building my own surfboard helping me to create a better design that matched my style of surfing. 
(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would have you done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?

I didn't really have anything I would want to go back and change. If anything I would have liked to have met with my mentor Ryan Lopez more often. It was really challenging to get our schedules to match, other than that everything has gone according to plan.
(5) Finding Value

How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.

My senior project has showed me that I want to find something that I am truly passionate about. Throughout this year I have heard many kids complain about their projects saying that they hated it or they didn't want to go to mentorship. Personally I looked forward to doing my senior project and presentation hoping to learn new things about surfing which is one of my passions and hobbies in life. So, what this project has showed me is that I want to find a job that I am truly passionate about because if I can do that then I would never have to work a day in my life. This project has lead me to the conclusion that I would like to do something in the field of water reclamation. I am very passionate about the sport of surfing and the ocean, so anything that I can do to  help the environment and those around it would be spectacular!

Mentorship

Content:

LIA Response to blog:

    Literal

·     Log of specific hours with a total and a description of your duties updated on the right hand side of your blog

Done

·     Contact Name and Mentorship Place

Ryan Lopez- (951) 218 - 4730

    Interpretive

     What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

The most important thing that I gained from my experience with my mentor was being able to pick the right board for the right situation. My mentor Ryan taught me a lot about the different types of shapes of boards and was even kind enough to let me test them out. This allowed for me to see how each board felt under my feet and see how they performed in different types of waves. He also taught me a lot on the shaping side of things explaining the importance of rails and rocker shape towards the boards performance.

   Applied

     How has what you’ve done helped you to answer your EQ?  Please explain.

My mentorship has played a pivotal role in the development of all my answers. It allowed me to experience first hand my first and third answers, which were about the fins, rails, and rocker of the board, by surfing with different fin setups and different board shapes. It also helped me with the development of my second answer, which was through considering oceanography when crafting the surfboard, because I got to surf in different types of surf conditions and geographical locations.

*Please do not turn in your mentorship hours to the office.  After we collect the total list from all seniors, we will turn in one piece of paper with all hours for everybody.  It is counted as 50 hours of the 200 you need in order to graduate from I-Poly.  The 10 hours in the summer have already been added to your community service total.

Carlsbad Surf Sesh

Last Sunday I went surfing with my uncle and his friend Bill at our favorite spot in Carlsbad. This was probably the best waves we have had there all year. It was six foot and imaculant, each wave had a perfect little pocket for you to rip on! But sadely the good vibes soon came to an end after I severely dented one of the rails of my new board. I felt destroyed all my hard work and now it's got a huge dent in it. Luckily it's still surf able but it provided a huge blow to my surf session. I should have put that extra layer of glass to make it stronger like my mentor had suggested!

Exit Interview

Blog 20: Exit Interview

Content:

(1) What is your essential question and answers?  What is your best answer and why?

My essential question is, "How to shape a surfboard that best compliments the riders style?." The three answers that I have produced from my essential question include: Answer 1: the most significant factors that go into shaping a surfboard that best compliments the riders style is the connection between both the rail and rocker of the surfboard. Answer 2: It is important to understand the oceanography when crafting a surfboard. Answer 3: A surfboard can best be shaped to compliment the riders style by keeping the board's fin setup in mind. My best answer is, "The most significant factors that go into shaping a board that best compliments the riders style is the connection between both the rail and rocker of the surfboard." The amount of play between the rail and rocker of a board is what defines one surfboard from the next. Both the rocker and rail shape play a significant role in a boards overall attitude affecting the boards abilities to turn, hold into the face of a wave, and or ability to build speed.

 2) What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

The process that I took to arrive at this conclusion involves my first hand experience of surfing different types of boards during my mentorship with my mentor Ryan Lopez.  

(3) What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

I had a lot of trouble matching my mentors and mines schedule together for mentorship. I have to skip soccer practice and games during the weekend and weekdays to make it work. I also had problems finding reputable sources for my research. To solve that I tried to use major surf brands as a guide to help me find legitimate sources.

(4) What are the two most significant sources you used to answer your essential question and why?

The two most important sources that I used to answer my EQ includes my mentorship and the book, "Surfing the Manuel: Advanced by Jim Kempton". My mentor Ryan Lopez provided me with an explanation of how shape affects the characteristics in which a board will surf. He also furnished me with the first hand experience of just how impactful rocker and rail shape is to a surfboard by suppling me with a variety of different boards to surf on allowing me to compare the characteristics of each. Jim Kempton's book was another source that helped me to answer my projects essential question. It provided me with detailed explanation of the hydrodynamics behind the surfboard which was especial insightful towards my answer that involved the rail and rocker shape of a surfboard. 

Independent Component 2

Blog 19: Independent Component 2

Content:  

LITERAL
(a) “I, Garett Soapes, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
(b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component

My mentor, father, Bill Strange, and my Uncle Dale Shaw all played a role in my Independent component. They provide feed back from both 
(c) Provide a digital spreadsheet (aka log of the 30 hours).   Post it next to your mentorship log.

Done
(d) Explanation of what you completed.

For my independent component I finished shaping my surfboard for my project. I also tried a variety of different boards to compare the differences between them. For example I surfed boards with different tail types to understand how each shape played a role in the boards turning abilities. I also experimented with a series of fin setups. For example I tried tri and quad fin set ups and different fin shapes when I went surfing. Also I have been working with my father on a surfboard design that I will be shaping in the near future for him.
INTERPRETIVE 
Defend your work and explain how the significant parts of your component and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work. 

The significant parts of my component involves me surfing at carlsbad with my uncle and friend, and working on the boards.  

This is a pictur of me putting a dreck pad on my new surfboard that I made.

This is a photo of my friend Jake, French studies abroad student 

and I on our bluff site at Carlsbad before the morning surf session.
APPLIED
How did the component help you answer your EQ? Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped.

This component allowed me to analyze different fin setups and shapes of boards while surfing. I was able to compare these boards and fins to different type of wave conditions to see how each of them performed which helped to provide me with my answers to my EQ. 

Third Answer

Content:

EQ

How can surfboard best be shaped to compliment the riders style?

Answer #3

A surfboard can best be shaped to compliment the riders style by keeping the boards fin setup in mind.

3 details to support the answer (a detail is a fact and an example)

Detail 1: The positioning of the fins on a board can be the deciding factor of a boards overall performance. For example, fins that are farther apart provide more speed while fins that are more clustered together make the board more pivoty. So for instance lets say you had an aggressive shape meant to do a lot of turns already and you throw on some fins that are clustered. The board most likely would be to pivoty and ruin the overall performance of your board.

Detail 2: Focusing on the cant of a fin is also important factor that affects a boards performance. Cant refers to the angle a tim makes in relation to the bottom of the surfboard. A fin that sticks straight up, perfectly perpendicular to the board's base count our, is said to have a no cant. Canted fins point outwards, towards the rails of the board. Increasing the fins cant makes a board more responsive through turns while decreasing it makes the board faster. So lets say that you were surfing a very fast wave that has a small pocket you might want to have a board with a more cant on a fin so you can turn to loose speed and keep your self in the pocket of the wave.

Detail 3: Foil is another factor in fin set up that can affect a surfboard. Foil refers to the tapper of thickness from the front to the back of the fin where the middle is thickest. It is was provides lift for the board, the more pronounced the foil the more lift it will provide. Lets say you were to shape a paddle board that was about 4 inches thing and 30 inches wide. A typical shortboard is about 2 1/2 inches thick and about 19 inches wide meaning that this paddle board is significantly heavier. With this in mind you might want either make or by a fin that has a thicker foil to help provide more lift to the board which in turn will make it more responsive.

The research source (s) to support your details and answer

The book Surfing The Manuel: Advanced by Jim Kempton

and

"Guide To Surfboard Fins." Www.tactics.com. Tactics Board Shop, n.d. Web. 10 Oct. 2013. <http://www.tactics.com/info/guide-to-surfboard-fins>.

Extra blog post

This weekend I got to ride my new board. I drove up to Carlsbad to meet up with Bill at around 6:30am and didn't get home till about 11:30am. The board was perfect for this 3-5 foot day. It was very responsive and I'm very happy with my final product. Below is a pic of my board with a fresh coat of wax.

Fourth Interview Questions

Blog 17: Fourth Interview

Content:

Post 20 open-ended questions for approval you want to ask an expert in the field of your senior project.  The focus of your questions should be on your many answers.

Here I hope to be able to interview my uncles local shaper.

1) How do you shape a surfboard that compliments the riders style?

2) What type break do you prefer to surf?

3)What type of ocean floor do you think is best to surf on?
4) What are some of the things that you look for before deciding whether or not to go surfing?
5) What are some of your favorite places to surf at?

      6) What swell direction is best for each of these places? Why?

      7) What type of ocean floor do each of these breaks have and how do they contribute to their style of wave?

      8) Do you prefer on shore or off shore wind at these places? Why?
9) What is your favorite type of swell to surf in? Why?
10) How would you describe the break that you surf the most?
11) What type of tail do you prefer to have on a surfboard and why?
12) How do you decide when and when not to use each of your surfboard baised on the conditions of the surf?
13) How did you get into the shaping business?

14) What part of shaping do you feel is the hardest?

15) How did you get into the art part of surfing?

16) When you first started what part of shaping was the hardest?

17) What do you like better glassed on fins or fin boxes? Why?

18) What do you feel is the difference between glass on fins and fin boxes while surfing?

19) How much rocker do you like in your board? Why?

20) What is your goal as a shaper within your community?

Advisory Meeting #2

Blog 16: Advisory Meeting #2

Content:

Just like you did for answer 1 and the objectives for Purther's textbook work for answer 2 post:

EQ

How can a surfboard best be shaped to compliment the riders style?

Answer #2 (Write in a complete sentence like a thesis statement)*

A surfboard can best be shaped to compliment the riders style by having a good understanding of the riders oceanography of his home break.

 

3 details to support the answer (a detail is a fact and an example)

Detail 1: Knowing the typical wind forecast of a desired break is essential for being able to shape a surfboard that meets a riders needs. Surfing in an area with a lot of wind can cause a wave to have little to no shape and be very choppy. So a board that is both wide and has a flatter rocker may be best.

Detail 2: Understanding the geographic layout of the ocean floor that you are surfing in is also essential to help a shaper shape a surfboard that meets the riders needs. For example, most reef breaks are very powerful and hollow so a board that has harder rails and a semi rocker is best.

Detail 3: A shaper that understands the swell direction of a break when its best can help provide a board that can surf a break at its best. Suppose your break is best with a North West swell but it only comes around a couple of times a year with some serious tubes while the rest of the time it has slow rolling waves. You can have your shaper build a board that fits that particular condition so you can surf the break at its best with the right equipment.

The research source (s) to support your details and answer

2 Books

Surfline's California Surf Guide by Sean Collins

Surfing the Manuel Advanced by Jim Kempton

Concluding Sentence

Without the shaper fully understanding the oceanography of his customers desired break, a surfboard cannot be shaped to preform to the best of its abilities.

*Write your answer like you would write a thesis statement.  Please don't give us one or two words or start your sentence with by.    Thanks!

On Friday 2/28 for Advisory #2, you will be presenting what you have from this blog.  The presentation is more like a share-out and should not last longer than 2 minutes. You don't need a visual.   

Extra blog post

This is a picture of me and my uncle's friend bill.

Last Sunday I got to surf with my uncle's surf buddy Bill. The waves were about 3 to 4 foot and fairly consistent. I also met a pro surfer, Josh Kerr and got to triad a few words with him while we surfed. Overall this was a great trip!!

Independent Component 2 Approval

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

Content:

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

I plan to ride my new board that I have been shaping and also start shaping my dads board at home.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

I will provide pictures and video for evidence.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

By surfing on my board I will be able to get a feel for what I like and dislike about it. This will help me to now down what parts of the board I think is most significant when shaping. Also I plan on asking my dad specifics on what he wants to get out of his board and try to shape it accordingly.

4.  Post a log on the right hand side of your blog near your other logs and call it the independent component 2 log.

Done.

Lesson 2 Reflection

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

Content:

1. Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?

I am really proud of both my activity and attitude throughout my presentation. My activity I felt was well thought out and everyone in the room understood it. I made sure that I provided a clear explanation on the material that I researched on the application of hydrodynamics of both the rail and rocker of a surfboard. Before now all I cared about was the length and thickness of my board. I did not understand that things like the fins, rails, and rocker of a board have a much bigger impact than just the boards overall length. Also, for the first time ever I felt as if I were just talking to my friends about my topic rather than feeling like I was being graded on it. I felt super comfortable up there. Everything I have learned from my topic gave me the confidence that I needed.

2. Questions to Consider
       a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

              P 

       b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.

I feel I deserve a P at the very least. My answer one was thoroughly explained and my presentation clearly provided a knowledge based off of previous research especially on the concept of Hydrodynamics. I also met and cared out all other requirements.


3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?

I felt that my Lesson worked out perfectly and really complimented my answer to my Essential Question. My surfboard props really helped me to explain to my audience about how the rail and rocker of a surfboard worked and how hydrodynamics applied to it.

4.  (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?

I should have cited more sources so that my audience knew that what I was talking about and explaining was legit and not something pulled out of thin air.

5. Finding Value
What do you think your answer #2 is going to be? 

In order to shape a surfboard that compliments the riders style you should first understand the Oceanography of the surrounding area of your customer's desired surf break.

Independent Component 1

Title:  Independent Component 1
Label:  Independent Component
Due Date:  Friday 2/7 at 8AM
Content:  

• LITERAL
  (a) I, Garett Soapes, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.
• (b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component: Ryan Lopez my mentor gave me tips on how to shape the rails, tail, and concave of my board so I could try shaping it myself at home. He also gave me pointers on how to build myself a shaping rack in order to do it. Also my father, Uncle Dale, and Bill helped me with surfing and gave a lot of insight to me about how surfing and surfboard design has really changed since they first started.
  (c) Provide a digital spreadsheet (aka log of the 30 hours).   Post it next to your mentorship log.
• (d) Explanation of what you completed: A combination of surfing different boards with different types of fins in order to try and understand the different feelings that you get out of a board. I also completed the basic overall shape of my board at my house that I'm doing for my senior project.     
• INTERPRETIVE 
  Defend your work and explain how the significant parts of your component and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work.  
  

Here is a picture of me in my garage sanding down the rails of my board with a surform. My mentor sent me home with my board and showed me how to make a shaping rack and how to shape the rails and concave of my board. The whole process took about 14 hours.

Here is a picture of my new fins on my neck beard surfboard. I couldn't beleive the difference these bad boys made in my board. My board felt a lot more responsive and faster under my feet compared to my two previous sets of fins. I think the experice that I got out of surfing on these fins helped me to lean towards fins as my next answer to my EQ. Surfing on different types of boards and like this case surfing on different types of fins made up the majority of my independent component one hours.

• APPLIED
  How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better?  Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped: This component helped me to understand the foundation of my topic better by getting me to actively participate in the model of my next surfboard that i'm shaping. By surfing as much as I did in my independent component I was able to narrow down my likes and dislikes out of the boards that I already have. For example I like the easy paddle that I can get out of my neck beard surfboard but I also like the turning and drive capabilities of my traditional short board. This allowed for me to attempt to add the features that I liked from the boards that I have riden and try to incorporate them into the board I am shaping with my mentor.

Grading Criteria 

• Log on a digital spreadsheet 
• Evidence of 30 hours of work 
• LIA submitted to blog

Extra blog post 1/28

Two weeks ago I went camping at Carlsbad. The waves were 4 to 6 foot and held up a nice pocket. We had a lot of fun. We arrived Friday night and left Sunday afternoon. But before our departure for home we stopped by the ripcurl store in San Clamente and bought a wetsuit, deck patch, and new fins for my board that I'm shaping. Can't wait till it's finished!!

Third Interview Questions

Content:

Post 10 open-ended questions for approval you want to ask an expert in the field of your senior project.  The first question should be your essential question and the other nine must be about the foundation of your essential question or help you answer your essential question.

The person that I plan to interview next is my Uncle Dale. He has been surfing for over thirty years now and is very knowledgable about the sport.

1) How do you shape a surfboard that compliments the riders style?
2) What is the difference between your long board and your 5'10 surfboard?
3) What fin set up feels best under your feet?
4) What are some of the things that you look for before deciding whether or not to go surfing?
5) What is your favorite thing to do when surfing a wave?
6) What is your favorite thing about surfing as a whole?
7) How would you describe the break that you surf the most?
8) What type of tail do you prefer to have on a surfboard and why?
9) How do you decide when and when not to use each of your surfboard baised on the conditions of the surf?
10) What types of wave conditions do you prefer to surf in?

Blog11:Mentorship 10 hours check

Content:

1.   Where are you doing your mentorship?

I am doing my mentorship at both my mentors house and wherever we both decide to go surfing (usually at trestles in San Clemente).
2.   Who is your contact?

Ryan Nicholas Lopez
3.   How many total hours have you done (total hours should be reflected in your mentorship log located on the right hand side of your blog like your WB)?  

My total mentorship hours come out to be 61 hours.
4.   Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.

For my ten hours I basically surfed with my mentor trying out different boards with different tails to see which one I wanted to have for my board. I also learned how to shape a board along side my mentor at his house.

Blog 10: Senior Project: The Holiday

Content:

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you over the break with your senior project?

Over the break I did a lot of surfing with my dad. We mostly ended up going to our favorite spot in Carlsbad and 17th Street in Huntington. I also met up with my mentor Ryan to work on my board. He also let me take it home to work on it when had free time. Over the break I also looked up some shaping videos to use for future reference for shaping and use as potential research.


2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why?  What was the source of what you learned?

The most important thing that I learned from what I did over the holiday was when shaping everything that you do has to be in reference to the entire board. For example when sanding and creating the rails of your board you need to do long drawn out strokes. If your stroked are to small your rails will turn out lumpy and disfigured. The source of what I learned mainly came from my mentor Ryan but I also referenced shaping videos from youtube.

3.  If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

I would talk to my dad because I'm going to shape his board with my mentor Ryan. I need to know what he is looking to get from his board, does he want it to turn in the pocket easy or does he like  the long drawn out type of surfing?

Mentorship

On Saturday I went to my mentor Ryan's house and got back to work on my surfboard. Ryan walked me through how to shape the rails of my surfboard. He explained to me how to use tools a certain way to get a certain shape. I had a really hard time understanding that when sanding you need to make long strokes otherwise one side might get warped.

Below is a picture of me working on my surfboard!!

Ending to an Awesome Vacation!!!

Today we had to say our goodbyes to the beautiful mountains of Brian Head. Me and my family had a awesome time. We pretty much fit everything we could into this trip. Everything from chilling in the spa, to night skiing, to even intertube riding! We even topped off our already perfect trip with the perfect lunch at wingers with their authentic wings and secret sauce!!

Thanksgiving in Utah, Brian Head!!!

This year our friends the Unger Family, invited us to spend thanksgiving with them in Utah to ski and snowboard. We had such an awesome time and are very thankful to be able to call this family our friends!

Below is a picture of me (in the blue helmet) and my friends before our thanksgiving morning snowboard session!!