Qualia is a labor of love—an expression of artisanal dedication and a deep, enduring connection to the ocean.

Santa Cruz Surfboard Shaper, Fantine Capron was born and raised in Fleurines, a small village in the forests of Picardy just North of Paris, France. Fantine’s path towards board building may have seemed unlikely. Yet, from an early age, her summers in Laguna Beach shaped a different trajectory. Under the guidance of her aunt and uncle, former professional surfers Alisa Schwarzstein and Ian Cairns, she was introduced to the rhythm of the Pacific—surfing the Californian coastline from San Onofre to Trestles, Thalia Street, and Huntington Beach. Childhood memories of the U.S. Open in HB, weaving through the scaffolding and observing the inner workings of surf culture, quietly laid the foundation for what was to come.

In 2018, she left France to settle permanently in California, pursuing the intention of surfing year-round.

With a background and degree in Film Studies , Fantine first immersed herself in the creative pulse of Los Angeles, documenting the mural and graffiti scene of the Arts District. Her path soon evolved toward hands-on fabrication, contributing to large-scale art installations—an experience that revealed a deeper affinity for material, process, and form.

She later worked at Art at the Rendon alongside artists Ralph Ziman and Nicholas Bonamy, where she developed a foundation in fiberglassing, sanding, woodworking, and metalworking. This tactile language naturally led her to surfboard building. In Santa Cruz, she refined her craft at Almar Surf Works, mentored by Michel Junod and Jon Henderson of Strive Surfboards. Along the way, guidance from family and local shapers helped shape both her technical approach and her sensibility in the water.

Every Qualia surfboard is shaped and glassed by Fantine herself, preserving a direct dialogue between design and execution. Her glassing work is carried out using bio-based epoxy resin at Hoddog Glassing in Monterey, as well as at the Santa Cruz Board Builders Guild—known locally as the Haut Shop—where she also works with polyester constructions. Moving fluidly between materials and methods, her process reflects a commitment to both contemporary innovation and traditional craftsmanship.

Board building remains, at its core, a shared pursuit—an ongoing exchange of knowledge, time, and refinement. Each design is alive: evolving through experience, informed by mentors, tested by the surfer, and returned to the shaping room with deeper understanding.

Beyond the shaping bay and laminating room, Fantine’s work extends into the lived experience of surfing. As of 2026, she co-owns and co-operates Sun & Salt Collective alongside Cassandra Keller, where she coaches, hosts retreats, and curates women’s gatherings rooted in community, movement, and connection to the ocean.

Through every board and every collaboration, Qualia seeks to honor the lineage of craftspeople and surfers who came before—carrying their influence forward with respect, intention, and care.