My passion for engineering began in middle school through building skateboards—a hands-on way to develop woodworking skills and explore composite materials. I started with basic lamination techniques and homemade presses but quickly encountered limitations in clamping force. To address this, I designed and fabricated custom clamps capable of applying up to 10 tons of pressure to Baltic birch layups. Over time, I built and refined multiple press designs to experiment with various deck geometries, including rocker, concave, and microdrops. This early experience taught me the value of iterative design and practical problem-solving through fabrication.

Each board I designed improved upon the last. I experimented with materials like Baltic birch, poplar, and hybrid layups that combined multiple wood types, varying grain directions, and fiberglass layers. Through this process, I developed a deeper understanding of how these variables affected impact resistance, weight, and axial stiffness. The board featured in the center of the attached photo was the first I took beyond 60 mph—a pivotal milestone that profoundly influenced how I approached future press designs and material choices. From that point on, I focused exclusively on composite layups to improve stiffness, road vibration isolation, and impact resistance—implementing triaxial fiber orientations to optimize mechanical performance. 

After meeting Beau Trifiro, a professional board builder and founder of a custom fabrication program, I was introduced to advanced techniques like vacuum bagging and working with thinner veneers of Canadian maple. Through hands-on training and participation in his program, I built my first vacuum-pressed board and expanded my understanding of composite construction. Beau became a key mentor during my early years—sharing not only practical skills but also deeper concepts, such as applying advanced calculus to mold design. Eventually, he entrusted me with leading several of his board-building workshops, where I taught students how math and common core principles intersect with engineering and manufacturing methods like laser cutting and 3D printing.