This Special Feature is about Valerie Duprat, owner and shaper of Mère-Made Surfboards. Valerie is passionate about her family, her career in science and about building high performance surfboards. Shaping provides her with a creative outlet to balance what she does all week in the laboratory. However, she still applies to her craft the rigor and perseverance of a trial and error approach that comes with her training as a scientist. Valerie’s family stands firmly behind her and encourages her in her work, and she relies on their extraordinary surfing talents (her husband Vincent coaches surfing and her daughter Victoria is a National Champion) to help in the research and development of her boards. Thus, Mère-Made Surfboards is truly a family affair. We found Valerie’s story to be interesting and inspirational, and we’re sure you will too.
By Liam Beckman and Nicholas Paoni
