Canedo Surfcrafts

Our backyard beach (Matosinhos International Beach) is also a fishing place, fishing boats are part of the culture, and there are always seagulls moving around watching your back.  They're part of our landscape!  And Canedo is my surname.

Tell us a bit about how, when and why you got into shaping.

I surfed my first wave back in 2003 in Odeceixe (Costa Vicentina, Portugal), but shaping surfboards was not part of the plan back then.  My first surfboard was shaped just a couple of years ago.  I was always a creative and handy guy, so I decided to quit my 10 year desk job career in management and start doing something I really liked.

What kind of boards do you mostly shape?

Mostly single fin classic mid-lengths and longboards. These are the surfboards I prefer to surf, so the ones I know best, but I have to say that travelling along the California coastline was also a huge influence for me.

What’s your preferred fin set up to a) shape and b) surf?

In both cases, single fin!  This classic set up is perfect to surf small / medium waves which are the most common around here.  Slow surfing is the coolest for me.

Best tip for the budding shaper?

My shaping journey has just started, but for me the thing that changed my life was the love of gliding on waves and the love of the craftsmanship.  I shape my boards by hand from scratch.  So the best tip I can give is to love the art, and take your time - no rush needed!

What’s been the most memorable board you’ve ever shaped & why?

The first, I have to say!  It's when the learning curve starts to rise, you touch the materials for the first time, watch them blend and when you realize how amazing building a surfboard is, regardless of how perfect you are with your first one.  My first board was a 8'0 23.3 single fin with a flat bottom and a square tail.

What's the bonus of using Macho Fins in your boards?

It's all about top of the game craftsmanship and creating excellently foiled fins.  The Macho team is also looking towards being environmentaly friendly.  Both of these things combined tell us a lot about who's behind Macho Fins!

Thanks Antonio!  And you can check out Canedo Surfcrafts on their Instagram.