Eugenio Celli

No-Made Boards

Boardmaker

Valerio Di Filippo ©Nomade Boards

Franco Caimi ©Nomade Boards

Valerio Di Filippo ©Nomade Boards

Riding waves

Eugenio learned his craft through experimentation
He is inspired by the waves of the Adriatic coast
His first surfboard commission was a wedding present

His native Abruzzo and the Adriatic coast may not be associated with big waves, however it did not prevent Eugenio Celli from falling in love with surfing. He built his first surfboard in 2012, after a trip to Australia. He then decided to leave a job in marketing and transform surfing and carpentry, his two passions into a way of making a living, becoming a full-time shaper. Using wood instead of foam, Eugenio handcrafts surfboards that are sustainable and last over time. He favours a retro design inspired by the 50s to the 70s, the aesthetic and finishing of his surfboards are guided by pieces of furniture and the traditional process of making wooden boats. His workshop is located inside a quarry, where you can often spot him manoeuvering an excavator.

Interview

Valerio Di Filippo ©Nomade Boards

©Nomade Boards

How do you define what you do?: I never stop experimenting. The internet was instrumental in my research and I would go to the workshop of an experienced carpenter to learn how to work wood, he was my master. Then there is nature, which inspires me to make sustainable surfboards.
Is there a fine line between tradition and innovation?: I apply traditional techniques in woodworking and combine them to 3D design. Each surfboard is designed through a CAD software. The inner parts are made in CNC but the assembling, shaping, polishing and finishing are totally handmade.
What is well made for you?: When you devote the utmost care for detail in each step of the process. An artisan’s work evolves, each day you learn something new and you improve; the concept of well made is a matter of time and experience, always starting from scratch and incorporating new elements.
What is a memorable anecdote?: My greatest reward so far has been the reaction of the participants at the first workshop I organised. The moment I built my first surfboard was when my life changed, and I realized then that I had to share this experience and the knowledge I had acquired.

Eugenio Celli is a master artisan: he began his career in 2012 and he started teaching in 2018