Interview with Marcos “Dr. Foam” Munoz

Originally published: Mid 1999
Interview by: Darren “Big D” Delmore

In this old school archive, former Toobs head shaper Marcos Munoz talks about the latest (late 90’s) materials, designs, and sushi.

So Marcos, tell me about some new stuff you’ve been working with.
That super light Polypro.

The core or skin?
The skin. It’s the same Polypro [core] most companies are using.

Is it the combo of this skin and the Polypro core that makes it so light?
Yeah.

Have you done any mass production boards with that combo?
We’re making a good amount of stock boards with it for sure. Not all of them.

Are you throwing stingers in there too?
Some, yeah. It works both ways. It’s kinda the same thing how Dow was, when people first started using stringers. There were a lot of guys who’d just ride straight Dow boards and then most people started using Dow with stringer.

Have you heard feedback from both prone and dropknee guys on this new combo of materials?
Yeah. The prone guys like it a lot, the dropknee guys have to get used to it because it is so light. But when they do get used to it they’ve found they can really throw their boards around a lot.

Have you been experimenting with any new templates?
Actually we have. From making customs here and there we’ll come across some curves that look really good and are really different. Things like that. If they look good enough we’ll consider using it in the line and making it a stock board for next season or whenever.

Is that how stock boards get chosen?
Yeah, if something looks good or someone has an idea, then we try to get them what they’re looking for and we come up with something and if it’s new we’ll try to get some feedback and make a few of them and get them out there. And if it’s good feedback, we’ll make ’em.

So having custom boards made is a huge part of the R & D at Toobs?
There’s gonna be people out there that are gonna like things that other people aren’t. So, we offer everything that we can and we’re kinda going the other way where we will make everything for everybody. We might not sell as much of something because it’s not very popular, but there are people out there that want certain things that may have been trendy one time, but [they] still like those things.

So what pro’s do you make boards for today?
Chris’s (Won Taloa) boards, Will’s (George). This winter I made boards for Andre (Botha), Ross (Mcbride). . .

How do you feel about these guys riding for other companies but still having you make their boards? Is it an honor?
Oh yeah, it’s great.

Is it intimidating?
It was somewhat intimidating. But at the same time if you feel like you can do it, just do it as good as you can. I put the same amount of attention into everybody’s boards. I want them all to be great boards, so I’m not really thinking about – other than style and what the rider’s looking for – a name when I’m making a board.

What other materials have you been checking lately that you’ll be using in the future?
I don’t know if I should talk about them (laughs).

Do you think there are some health hazards that go along with spending so much of your time around foams?
Uh . . . yeah (laughs). I’ve thought about it, but- Basically it’s pretty clean. It’s not like surfboard shaping with really fine particles or anything.

That’s worse, right?
Yeah. This is all big chunks of stuff mostly. You’re sanding, but that stuff doesn’t really get past the nose hairs.

What’s the latest on Arcel?
Most of the Arcel boards I make are mostly for Hawaiians.

Is the core losing popularity outside of the islands?
Yeah, at least in the Mainland. It was popular back in the day because you basically had Dow or Arcel and there weren’t Dow with stringers. If you wanted a stiff board it was Arcel. Now, the stringers are a much better option than an Arcel board for colder water. A lot of warm water spots and tropics are getting Arcel boards still.

Do you think Polypro cores have replaced Arcel?
Definitely in cold water. Dow with stringer and Polypro have stepped in there and filled the Arcel gap.

So when you make heart-shaped sushi, do you put the same care into that as you do, say a custom board for Andre?
Yeah. I do make heart-shaped sushi.

Why do you go the heart-shaped route?
‘Cause I’m so full of love and want to share it with the rest of the world.