Meeting the Locals w. Paul Godette
Photo by Yury Tsednov
In our latest blog interview, we connected with Paul Godette, a Rockaway local known for his surfing skills and expert board repairs. In surf and skate culture, the term hometown hero is used to describe locals doing big things on their boards that all the locals can say, "Yeah, that's our guy". Paul's more than just a hometown hero for Rockaway; he's also been doing some amazing things with his board repair work and is always investing in the community. If you haven't been following his Instagram stories, showcasing his cool board repairs and other projects, you're missing out! I've been a big fan for a while now, so getting to chat with him was a real treat. Keep reading for some fascinating insights into Paul's busy and inspiring life!
Hey Paul, thank you for connecting with me. I really appreciate you taking the time.
Hey man, no worries. I’m sorry I’m hard to get a hold of. I’ve been working two jobs seven days straight for the past couple of weeks and trying to fit in some surfing when I have time. Apologies for the delay.
No worries dude. Let’s get into it then. First off, How old are you, and how long have you been living here in Rockaway?
I am 28 years old and I was born in far Rockaway St. John’s Hospital so I’ve lived here since birth. My dad was also born and raised in Rockaway and my grandfather moved here from Harlem sometime in the early 1900s.
That’s sick. Actual Rockaway locals are a dime a dozen. I don’t know too many surfers who were born and raised on the peninsula besides the Mikes. Surfing in Rockaway is tough since the temperatures are so cold. Many surfers from other places in the US are even surprised you can even surf in NYC. How did you get into surfing?
I got into surfing because I saw surfers in Rockaway and wanted to try it out. I was 17 years old and went surfing with my childhood buddy Tommy Castro. We rented boards and didn’t take any lessons so we did pretty horribly for our first time.
Photo by Jena Cumbo
I got the opportunity to surf years later, I was 21 years old when my new friend Johnny Knapp offered to give me a surfboard for free as long as I committed to buying a wetsuit! This was amazing for me that would mean that for a low entry cost I could have all the gear to go consistently and finally start learning!
I started paddling out frequently, trying to Surf, and going home and watching YouTube videos and getting absolutely obsessed with learning. I fell in love with surfing after that and it’s many benefits. I’m still falling in love with surfing till this day.
Wow, I thought you started much earlier. You surf like someone who’s been surfing since you were a kid. Any tips for progressing fast?
Thanks man! I credit skateboarding to progressing fast, I been skating since I was 13 so once I learned to get of my feet and work the fins the turning and balance was already in some sort of muscle memory.
Ah, so more like you traded boards, lol. So, How did you get into board repair?
Photo by Yury Tsednov
Once I started progressing in surfing I used to damage my boards often and had to continuously ask Nigel from Station, to fix my boards. Eventually, I bugged him enough to teach me the basics of repairing boards and started learning from there. I started working alongside Adrian Howard, the premier board repairman and board builder from Barbados. Working alongside him for a few years really allowed me to learn and hone my skills.
Adrian and Nigel are both amazing people. Adrian replaced my finbox a year back, and I felt like I learned so much just by talking with him when I picked my board up. You must have learned a lot from them.
Photo by Chris String
Next question, what is the coolest repair you’ve done?
The coolest repairs I’ve done has been on boards where people ask me to do artwork on the surfboard. And allow me to get creative with the color matching/ art coverage on the ding. I love doing these jobs because I can do the repair properly and still give it my own distinct recognizable flavor.
That’s sick. I’ve done a fair share of “at home” board repair, but I can’t even comprehend the whole process of color matching to make a board look like there was never a ding. I also saw a while back you doing some crazy artwork on a customer's board, and I was really impressed. The best I can describe it was it was almost like a tattoo artist who helps people cover up scars.
before
after
Yeah, I guess that is pretty relatable. I think that’s why I love repairing surfboards. There is also an artistic aspect to it. A lot of times I feel like I am sculpting and it’s really satisfying to get the correct shape back on a board.
Could you tell me what your most challenging repair has been?
The most challenging repairs that I’ve done have been on boards with non traditional construction. Certain epoxy boards and Lib tech boards for example. The resin doesn’t react well with sandpaper, so it makes it extra time intensive to get the repair done right.
Next question: If you were not doing surf repair, what would you do instead?
If I was not doing surfboard repair, I would be doing many other things. I would probably be working more in the design/ construction industry or in a fabrication shop. I love making and fixing things.
I can totally see that. I remember stepping in the back of Station a while back and you were going to town building all these lockers. Didn’t I see you working on someone's car recently?
yeah I was doing body work on my friends car, we’re not finished yet but it’s his project car so we just work on it when we have free time
Switching gears a bit. You traveled a lot over the past couple of years. What would you say your favorite wave to surf in the world and why? What is has been the most challenging wave to surf?
Yes I’m super thankful to have been able to have gone on a bunch of life changing surf trips! And I’m hopeful that I will go on many many more! My favorite waves to surf has been in Indonesia. Uluwatu is probably my favorite. The most challenging waves I’ve surfed have been in New Jersey which is ironic because it’s so close to home. But when the waves are pumping in New Jersey it looks perfect but it’s no joke and can be very difficult, and can serve up an epic beatdown.
Yes, I’ve heard that from other surfers before New Jersey is no joke. They say New Jersey is such a short paddle but since it’s so shallow it can be extremely tough to get out.
What common preventable ding do you see all the time, and how do we prevent it from happening?
One common preventable ding I see is when the leash gets pulled through the board! This usually happens when the leash string is too long, and the rail saver on the leash is not engaged! In order to prevent the damage, make sure the leash string is tied short enough so the rail saver on the leash is engaged.
What recommendations do you have for someone who dings their board? Is it true you can stuff surf wax in the ding to plug up the hole?
Yes I have some recommendations for when you get a ding. I recommend keeping the board out of the water to not damage the foam! If you still want to surf the board yeah wax in the ding or stickers sometimes keep water out. I always recommend doing a proper repair on the board because you risk damaging the board more if you continue using it!
Okay, with this question, I’m trying to get you canceled in Rockaway. Do you think shapers get too much love, and glassers and board repairmen don’t get enough shine?
Ding repair is a special knowledge base, similar but separate from shaping, and requires a different mindset and working process.
Photo by Yury Tsednov
Lol, I think every worker deserves their due respect. I know that shapers deserve much respect for their work! It’s not easy to make a board that works well! I have never shaped a board, but I’m going to start soon!
Sick! I’ll make sure to keep an eye out for those future boards then. Excited to see what you come up with! Thanks for letting me interview you; it’s always amazing to see all the cool things you're working on and watch you surf. I can’t wait to see what’s to come!
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If you have a board that needs repairing and want to reach out to Paul, you can contact him at Pauliogodezzy@gmail.com. Follow him on social media for more inspiring updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses of his awesome projects!