Miller Surfboards

Shaper: Josh Miller

Location: Jacksonville Beach, FL

About: From a young age, I always had a desire to work with surfboards. At the age of 13, I started repairing surfboards for friends. After fixing hundreds of surfboards for friends, I had a desire to move into shaping boards.

Miller Surfboards was formed in 2005, just after the closing of Clark Foam. This was a super challenging time for shapers, as different blank manufacturers came with different blanks to fill the void. With all the different inconsistencies in the blanks, it made shapers rethink the way they shape. The new blanks coming in at the time were not close tolerance blanks. This made for a challenging time for shapers. I enjoyed this learning curve as I only had the chance to shape one Clark 6”8R. I learned to shape with some of the toughest foam.

Over the next few years, I studied my craft in the shaping bays of some of the best shapers in North Florida. I had many opportunities a lot of young people do not get. My full time profession as a fireman for JFRD is a 24 hours on, 48 hours off job. This allowed me to spend countless hours in shaping bays learning. When I was not at the firehouse, I was in the factory, watching the ins and outs of surfboard production. I learned what not do before I had the chance to do it!

Today, I currently build boards and do repairs for Aqua East, as well as work with many other shops in the North Florida area. Between shaping, the fire department and my home life; spent with my wife, two boys, and a little girl on the way, life is very busy! But, I am living a life of love.