Foam E-Z's Q&A with Surfer Mag's Scott Bass

Posted on Surfermag.com May 7, 2008

The good folks at FOAM E-Z have been servicing the Southern California marketplace with board building equipment for 15 years. Brad Nadell is the man behind the machine that is FOAM E-Z and what better time to catch up with the hard-goods retailer than during his month long 15-year Anniversary celebration.

Q: So, 15 years in the surfboard products biz; how did you get started?

Brad Nadell: I started working at Harbour Surfboards doing everything, and eventually ended up spraying boards mostly. Then a friend came to me, he had owned the big glass shop in Westminster; he came to me with the idea of providing professional shapers with foam blanks. In '93 there was a large amount of shapers in the region and we figured instead of driving to San Clemente for blanks we could provide the HB area with product.

Q: And the store evolved from there.

Brad Nadell: Yeah, I bought out my friend and ran with it from there. I slowly added more and more tools and resources for shapers. As time went on I realized there was a market for the home hobbyist builder, and that led me to bring in more stuff like fin systems, books, and resin and all the necessary requirements for the home builder.

Q: How many blanks have you pushed out the door in the last 15 years?

Brad Nadell: Gosh, I don't know upwards of over 100K blanks. It fluctuates each year or cycle.
Q: What other stuff is available at FOAM E-Z?
Brad Nadell: Logo paper; safety equipment, respiratory systems, how-to videos. If you want to build a board we have it all, and we'll help you understand the process. It's all pretty simple but it can also be intimidating. It doesn't need to be. We try to put the fun into the equation.

Q: Do you get a newbie customers?

Brad Nadell: We get hobbyists all the time. I try to pound into our sales staff all the time that it's crucial to welcome the new hobbyist. It can intimidating to walk in and be new to the concepts of board building. Some times our industry doesn't understand customer service. I make sure our people are helpful and service oriented. It sounds simple but customer service is what makes or breaks businesses.

Q: What types of customers do you get?

Brad Nadell: We get all different levels from your professional shapers to your garage builders, to the hobbyist guy who just loves to build stuff. You know, the father and son types stop by or guys doing senior projects for school. It's really sort of cool. Everyone loves the idea of surfboards and building your own magic board. The neat thing is, it is totally do-able.

Q: You've got a big celebration all month long?

Brad Nadell: We are having a month long sale through the end of May, each week we are spotlighting a different section of the store. On May 31st we're having a big party and event at the store with tents and product and demos. So everyone should come by.

For more info on FOAM E-Z check out their website - www.foamez.com.

MONTH LONG 15% Off Aniversary Sale at Foam E-Z!!!

In celebration of our 15 years in business we are having a month long sale! Each week a different product category will be highlighted and all customers will be able to save fifteen percent (15%) on that category. This week, from Sunday May 4th thru Saturday May 10^th, the sale category is Blanks. Customers can either come into the shop to make the purchase or you can purchase online with the redemption code 15YRBLANK1. Look for a new category and redemption code next Sunday May 11^th. Stay tuned, it’s gonna be a great month!

Foam E-Z 15 YR Anniversary Party!!!

Come join us at our 15 Year Anniversary Party Event from 11-3pm on Saturday May 31st. It will take place behind our shop and will include: Giveaways, Raffles, Food/Drinks, Board Building Demos, and a Storewide 15% off Sale. All of our vendors will be present to answer questions and chat about anything you have in mind. Future Fins will be installing boxes into a shaped blank which then will be glassed with Composite Resource UV Polyester Resin and the board will ready to sand with in an hour and a half. Ocean & Earth will be raffling off pads, leashes, and more. US Blanks will have a van full of Seconds (blanks) for sale at a reduced price. Sol Sunguard will be giving away lots of killer sunscreen and lip balm. Many “pro” shapers will be present including Tim Stamps (Stamps Surfboards). ProBox Larry has graciously donated a variety of fin and box setups for the raffle. The raffle will also include Epoxy donated from Resin Research. This list will be growing as the month goes on so stay tuned.

You won’t want to miss this. It will be a great opportunity to talk shop, get some free shwag, and eat some free grub.

See you there!

The Guys at Foam E-Z

The NEW Foam E-Z Fin section!

In an effort to carry a wide selection of fins, we have dedicated a large section of Foam E-Z (shop) that has everything from a 6" cutaway to a 10" Velzy pivot fin. Each fin is selected by us here at Foam E-Z with the idea that everyone surfs differently, and has a different idea of what fin they want to run in their board. We recently received some new L-Flex fins to add to our selection, and keep up with the Hull craze that seems to be sweeping over Southern California. Feel free to stop on by, call, or email and our knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you select your next fin.

The Guys at Foam E-Z

BYOB Build Your Own Board!

SOS SURFIN U$A Art Show - Gato Heroi

This past Saturday April 5th marked the opening of the "SOS" SURFIN' U$A art show, presented by Gato Heroi Surrfboards. Robin Kegal did a wonderful job of telling a story of the rise and fall of surfers through his original surf art. Robin (a regular customer at Foam E-Z), is known for his unique style of turning surfboards and surfboard material into great artwork. The evening also had live music performed by Mattson 2, and lead singer Alex Knost's band capped off the night. The art will continue to be displayed for the month of April at Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana.
Reported by RadRob

Happy New Year, and a short recap of 2007!

2007 was an interesting and exciting year in the surfboard building business world as it was the second year without Clark Foam. This past year was very different from 2006 in that instead of there being a foam shortage there was a glut of foam.

A lot of foam startups came and went in the two years since the Clark empire shut down. Here is a list of some of the larger manufacturers that served the USA in 2007. US Blanks, Walker Foam, and Just Foam are the only the Polyurethane TDI foam companies manufactured in the US (California). King Mac, Bennett Foam USA, and Surfblanks America are produced in Baja Mexico. As MDI Polyurethane goes, HomeBlown US has risen to the top with their cutting edge BioFoam product and Ice 9 is gaining steam as time goes on. It's hard to track all the EPS foam companies in 07 since you could find EPS just about anywhere. Marko was the dominant Molded EPS creating a great product for the hand shaper. The best billet EPS we've found is White Hot.

As the year 2007 came to an end we are sad to report that Walker Foam has closed their doors. It's hard to believe that they are gone after all these years. Harold and the Walker people were a huge part of our scene after Clark Foam shut down. Instead of us going overseas for blanks like most of our competitors, Walker Foam stepped up and serviced us to the best of their abilities. It was an extremely tough time for all and they made the best with what they had. We want to really thank Walker Foam for all that they did for us after Clark Foam closed. They are a great group of people.

This past year saw Foam E-Z adding new foam companies to our line of foam blanks. First, we picked up Marko to fill our "molded Eps" void. Then, we brought in BioFoam as our "green alternative" MDI PU foam. Both companies produce a great product and have helped us round out our blank selection.

That's the short scoop on 07. We're looking forward to servicing all your board building needs in 2008. Who knows what lies ahead but it should be fun.

Happy New Year from the Guys at Foam E-Z! :-)

Service for Travis Northey Saturday December 1st

Death is nothing at all... I have only slipped away into the next room. I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still Call me by my old familiar name, Speak to me in the easy way you always used. Put no difference into your tone Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was Let it be spoken without effort, without the ghost of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was; there is absolutely unbroken continuity.... Why should I be out of your mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you for an interval, Somewhere very near, just around the corner. All is well -Travis



The service for Travis is going to be held Saturday Dec. 1st at the Capo Beach Calvary Church, 25975 Domingo, Capistrano Beach 92624 from 2 – 4 PM. Everyone who can come should. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations to Teen Challenge, 418 S. Main St. Santa Ana, CA 92701 would be appreciated. Nancy and I plan on attending. Please join us. Travis was a good young man and one of the best nose riders you will ever see.

Mahalo:
The Real SurferBill


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FINGERPRINTS- Great video with Shaping, Surfing, and Music

This video is really well done. It has some awesome footage of Guy Okazaki (one of Foam E-Z's long time customers) shaping a polyurethane foam blank. Check out his website http://www.guyokazaki.com/ for more info about him. You'll also find some fun looking surf in Hawaii and quality music to cap it off.

Check it out and let us know what you think.