Kitesurfer. Shaper. Perfectionist. Twenty-five years building the world’s most refined custom kiteboards — tested in Tarifa, built in Germany.
Simon brings the same restless, mechanical mind to every sport he touches — windsurfing, mountain biking, kitesurfing — always asking how something works, and how to make it work better.
That obsession with getting every detail right is exactly why Nomad has stayed the world’s number one custom kiteboard company for the last twenty-five years.
Simon was obsessed with constantly tinkering with his equipment, adjusting every tiny setting – often driving those around him crazy. If it doesn’t feel right then go back and start again until it works perfectly. But his ability to translate his intuition and exceptional feel for kiteboards into innovation made him one of the most successful shapers in kitesurfing.
The Nomad TeamSimon grew up far from warm winds and beach life, in Lancaster, England. After finishing his engineering studies at British Aerospace, he moved to Tarifa to chase windsurfing and surfing — and never really left.
Thirty-eight years and twenty-seven years of kiting later, Simon still splits his time between the Nomad factory in Germany and testing in Tarifa, his second home, never missing a chance to get out on the water.
The day starts at the computer, then breakfast and coffee before heading to the factory.
Hours in the shaping room, fuelled by coffee and Hendrix, catching up with the team and passing riders.
Windsurfing, paddleboarding, skateboarding, kiting — always testing the next shape.
Back in the factory laying up epoxy resin and carbon fibre for the next boards.
Shower, dinner with friends, and usually a little more designing before the day ends.
Dreaming of clean barrels, clean waves and warm water. Then doing it all again.
Simon rides every board he shapes, hard, developing a blind understanding for the smallest details in flex and shape — not just simulating it, living it.
Twenty-six years based in Tarifa, one of the best testing grounds on the planet, with production based in Germany.
Every Nomad rider has their own 3D shaping file, cut on CNC machines accurate to 0.01mm, refined with real rider feedback.
Shaping since the early nineties — the first to bring snowboard construction and true flex to kiteboards.
Twenty-five years of tinkering, testing, and refining — built into every custom kiteboard that leaves the factory.
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