Ward Coffey Shapes

New Team Rider

2012-01-17T20:29:00.000-08:00

The groms couldn't resist tagging a local surf shop with a well placed WCS sticker.

I thought the result was rad. It lasted about a week or so which is about right for pro surfers these days. Ha! Anyway, we had a good laugh - the kids are alright.

Surf Buddies

2012-01-07T10:08:00.000-08:00

Everyone needs a surf buddy, someone who gets you amped and fired up to go surfing. Good surf buddies are always planning the next go out. They tell you when you're ripping and bring you back down to earth when you're kooking. And mostly a good surf buddy is someone you can hoot for when they're scoring good waves.

Richie Schmidt, photo by Jerry Miller

Ben Coffey, photo by Neal Swanson www.nealswansonphotography.com

Richie and Ben kick the new year off using the buddy system to it's fullest.

Hollow Day Cheer

2011-12-24T21:56:00.000-08:00

That big dude in the bright red suit gets to stoke everyone out one day a year.

I guess it's fair that I get the other 364 to try and make sure we all enjoy the other hollow days.

Thanks for the support.

Shaper's Alley

2011-11-06T19:40:00.000-08:00

Check out the latest on Surfline.

Watercolor

2011-10-15T20:26:00.000-07:00

Think Different

2011-09-18T19:43:00.000-07:00

Lee sent this postcard thanking the crew for these boards I did. They were a gift from Apple for being such a cool guy and for showing us all how to "think different."

For more insight on Lee and what his gig is all about, check out the current issue of The Surfer's Journal.

New Old Logo

2011-08-22T22:16:00.001-07:00

I recently took one of my logos from the mid 90's and moved it away from it's original, centered placement on the nose.

Off set and a third of the way down the board looked about right. It seems to fit the racy, shortboards the best, and that's fine.

Royce's Ride

2011-08-01T22:27:00.000-07:00

Royce is digging this summertime twinzer fish with lots of curve and volume.

The glass on 101 bamboo fins make for a solid yet light feel. The glassers hate it but I keep telling them, "the more you do, the easier it is to do a good job."

Baguette to Go

2011-07-26T21:14:00.000-07:00

Kelly's Bakery celebrated their 30th anniversary by putting on a big party for the neighborhood and asked me to do a surfboard with their logo for a raffle prize.

I couldn't resist sliding it into Mark's car, parked next to the delivery trucks. "Now that's a big baguette," I heard someone say.

A Day on the Bay

2011-07-19T09:12:00.001-07:00

We scored a perfect day for the Santa Cruz to Monterey paddle race. Ben was paddling as part of Team Grom and I got to tag along as pit crew.

Thanks to Joe for putting it all together: kids, boat, and plenty of stoke!

And thanks to Paul for being an honorary grom (with lots of pulling power!) and for documenting the day:

Bay Crossing 2011 from Paul Steinberg on Vimeo.

Pointing in the Right Direction (back in the saddle again)

2011-07-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

Suffering from a case of blogger blues and computer snafus, I'm a little bummed that there has been such an extended break in the blogging action. There's never a shortage of interesting things happening in the daily life at WCS. It's just a matter of finding the balance of living the dream and taking time to document and share the aloha.

So I've recharged and rebooted the stoke and plan to bring you all up to speed with some of the cool events and happenings in the whirlwind of the past few months. And I'm not complaining, nor should anyone who gets to go surfing with friends and family.

A Little Color

2011-04-28T21:40:00.000-07:00

This is a Sacred Craft

2011-03-22T16:52:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a weekend. What a final day. The shape off was crazy, intense and a whole lot of fun. I felt like Man on Wire most of the time in that shaping room.

And I was really happy with the finished shape.

I want to thank all of you - my friends, customers and fellow surf riders - for your support and your ongoing desire to ride a custom surfboard. Without your feedback, input and individual tastes I would still be trying to rub two sticks together.

Needless to say I'm a bit over the moon with the outcome. To be able to thank and rub elbows with the masters whose dusty footsteps I've been following all these years is an honor indeed.

Sacred Craft Sneak Peek

2011-03-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a log jam at Handcrafted for the last couple of weeks. The boys have been working overtime to get everyone's boards done for the Sacred Craft show this weekend. Here Fletch tries to figure out where to put my 10'6" Streamline, while a classic noserider of mine waits it's turn.

A freshly trimmed volan glass job, with matching tail block, are what make the classics, well, classic.

All dressed out and ready to glass, this is one of my Freeride models in a thruster fin setup.

The yellow Streamline is a board I'm really excited about. The lines and contours on the board are stunning and thought provoking; it has been very enlightening building this board. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Single Shoe Yellow

2011-03-05T13:59:00.000-08:00

Nick holds up his first place trophy "The Yellow Shoe" for his victory in a wacky and fun event that only the minds of frothing kids could come up with.

This one comes from the archives, a classic study of when teen spirit meets the exuberance of youth. The story goes like this: Cole and his buddies were holed up for a couple of stormy weeks watching Thicker Than Water over and over, just dying to get some good surf. The part with cool pro guys trading off riding a funky little green single fin struck a cord and the lightbulb went off. "We could do that." "Let's make a contest out of it." "Yeah." And off they went to enlist their gullible shaper (me).

What we came up with was this little 5'10": diamond tail, single fin, yellow pigment, gloss and polish and most importantly no leash attachment. Purely a soul thing.

The object was to surf the board for 20 minutes and get judged by your bros. At the end of the the day everyone got to vote, looked at scores if they had to, and generally agreed who should take home the prestigious Yellow Shoe. Pretty simple, tons of fun, heavy gaffs, and a bit of swimming.

Nick cranks it off the bottom.

Cole opens up with a big flair off the top making this "old school" single fin look as lively and loose as his trusty thruster.

In the end it was Nick's backhand attack with blazing cutbacks and snapping rebounds that won the day.

This scramble happened years ago and these kids are now adults. They're fireman, lifeguards, scientists; and are starting families of their own. It is my hope that they are passing the stoke along and continue to find good reasons to spend the day at the beach.

Cool Color

2011-02-23T21:07:00.000-08:00

Jim got 2 new boards this week and wanted his patented red bottom and rails, along with some kind of green on the deck. I thought that they might end up a little too Christmasy so I threw in a fade and a purple band on one. The round tail is a 6'1" quad for punchy Ocean Beach style beach breaks. The squash tail is a 5'11" dumpster diver inspired design for the mushy stuff.

#94

2011-02-13T15:28:00.001-08:00

Bolinas seawall

Flow and Glide

2011-01-28T13:07:00.000-08:00

Ben throws a fan and looks down the line during the CSSL middle school contest. We are mid season now and the level of surfing is simply amazing.

Stars & Stripes

2011-01-09T09:06:00.001-08:00

Black on white. Tons of tape, a couple of razor blades, a can or two of stinky black acrylic paint and a good face mask with new filters. Simple designs that pop.

New Year's Resolution

2011-01-01T10:50:00.000-08:00

Have Fun!

Science and Surfing

2010-11-30T08:16:00.000-08:00

You're invited to "Surf's Up Nightlife" at the California Academy of Sciences this Thursday, Dec 2nd, for an evening filled with the science, art, and culture of surfing. There will be films, forums, and surf related displays. You can even see some tarp surfing.

I'll be sitting in on a round table on surfboard shaping and green design. Come on by and get your stoke up. There's going to be a lot of great stuff at a very cool location. Hope to see you there.

California Academy of Sciences
"Surf's Up NightLife" - Thursday, December 2nd

Mavericks Film with Pro-Surfer Panel

We’re pleased to present a screening from the soon to be released movie ‘Super Natural’ from Powerlines Productions. This includes footage from last year’s big wave event at Mavericks and giant surf from Pe’ahi (aka “Jaws”). The movie’s producers will introduce the piece and each screening will be followed by talks and Q & A with a panel of professional surfers. Check back as the event approaches for confirmed panel participants.

There will be two film screenings, each followed by the panel discussion. Seating is limited, passes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis on the night of the event.

Tarp Surfing and More

Throughout the building, we’ll have a variety of surf and ocean oriented activities. There will be a stunning display of tarp surfing in our central piazza, films and videos playing throughout the building, and other great surprises.

Surfing and Ocean Gallery

Our iconic African Hall will be transformed into and gallery dedicated to the art and science of surfing. We’ll have surf board art, interactive displays and games about the ocean and surfing from local Surfrider organizations and others.

Scheduled to participate are: Save the Waves, Marin Surfrider, San Francisco Surfrider, San Mateo Surfrider, Surfaid, Surf for Life, American Cetacean Society, Project Kaisei, Sea Stewards, Frank Quirarte, Art Gimbel, Doug Acton, Seth Migdail, Matthew Proehl, Paul Ferraris and others.

Expert Roundtables

Here is your opportunity to learn more on a variety of topics pertaining to surfing and the ocean in an intimate setting with renowned experts. We’ll have three topics this evening:

Surfboard Shaping and Green Design - Moderated by David McGuire and featuring James Mitchell, Danny Hess, Ward Coffey, and Kevin Whilden

Surfing and Environmentalism - with Kyle Thiermann and J. Nichols.

Planetarium

Enjoy the following planetarium shows this week at NightLife:

Life: A Cosmic Story
6:30 pm

A surfing film from Powerlines Productions (title TBA)
7:30 pm and 8:30 pm

Passes to planetarium shows are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Pick up your pass at the Planetarium Kiosk.

Northwest Passage

2010-11-17T14:07:00.000-08:00

Most of you are familiar with the Malloy brothers getting all bearded out, poking around in plaid, and chasing exotic waves around the globe. Well here's a group of guys living the dream right here in the continental US. In true Lewis and Clark spirit, these adventurers show us that the quest is as much fun as getting to the end of the trail. I am reminded that if we take the time to make the time, anyone can enjoy the riches of the outdoors, good friends, good spirits, and good times.
__________________________________________________

Guest post by Jeff Smith:

With a couple of Ward Boards and boat in tow; myself, good bud Rob Sweet and new to the crew Mike Boo ventured out to the Northwest coast to explore a remote break. The plan was to motor my wooden drift boat over to a lake island to camp.

From there we boated over to a trailhead to begin the 2 mile hike to the Pacific.

We had surfed the spot before but always on very small swells. This weekend we were more hopeful with a 7ft/13sec West rolling in. Due to the remoteness of the 2 mile trail, going was tough on wet, slippery, broken boardwalks with fallen trees to navigate around. Soon, however, we heard the sweet sound of swell and took a break before the last mile on the beach around a couple of headlands.

Rounding the last corner, smiles sprouted at the sight of head high peelers coming through offering slow lefts and fast paced rights.

For three straight days we were greeted to this sunshine and briny dream followed by satisfied hikes back, evening trout fishing, campfires and booze. 4 days of Autumn paradise.

Spudnik

2010-11-09T21:48:00.001-08:00

Look up in the sky. It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's Spudnik! Sean takes an earthly view of his new "mini Simmons" inspired craft. At 4'10" x 22" this board is closer to a bar of soap than a surfboard. But Sean says, "this thing is out of this world and puts me in a whole new orbit!"

Interesting feedback. Could this be the new space race in board design?

Rasta's New Ride

2010-10-09T15:19:00.001-07:00

Though the van is pretty cool, the 5'11" quad fish Dave Rastovich is holding is even cooler. The quad fin project I've been working on with Thomas Campbell has been bearing some sweet fruit.

Thomas has been fired up on these quads and knowing that Dave was going to be passing through town, Thomas had me make one up so he could get it to Dave as he headed to the East Coast to chase hurricane swells and then on to France for a gig there.

In Maine, Dave hooked up with Dug and the boys at "Get in the Van". They've got a good pulse on the East Coast surf scene and put out a nice blog with some great images of their capers. For more photos of Dave's run, go to Get in the Van / the Chase Channel and click on the (hurricane) Earl button.

After we got back the images and feedback from Dave, I told Thomas that if we can make a surfboard that will inspire you to surf, play music, and make art then we've made the world a better place.

Samba for Surf

2010-09-25T08:51:00.001-07:00

This is Santa Cruz and when the surf goes flat for a couple of weeks folks around here will try anything to appease the surf gods. In this case a local Samba band decided to do an impromptu photo / video shoot in front of the Steamer Lane mural by my shop.

I was in my shaping room when I started hearing an unfamiliar beat. It drew my outside to see these cats pounding out a hypnotic rhythm.

Next thing I know it's a party and gala clad girls on stilts with feather boas and hula hoops start dancing around.

Soon it was a carnival and a lively crowd gathered and watched the festivities unfold.

The mural has been the backdrop for a lot of interesting and creative photo ops. Santa Cruz has a richly colorful cast of characters who at an moment can pop up and remind us that life is really worth living. Whatever mojo these folks have it must be working because shortly after their gig we had that nice south swell and our first northwest of the season heading our way.

Double Mint

2010-09-10T21:01:00.000-07:00

Jon's 5'10" double wing Egg measures out at a 15 7/8" nose, 20 3/4" midpoint, 15 7/8" tail and is 2 5/8" thick. Heaps of float but low rails in the nose and tail.

Tri or quad fin options make the board extremely versatile. From the beaches to the point breaks, Jon's got it covered.

When Groms Get Shacked

2010-08-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

From the "it's always overhead" annuals, Sam tucks into a nifty little bowl at our favorite wedge factory. Just a stones throw from our house, this summertime fun spot makes those flat spells spin by.

If you added up all the kids' tube time this summer I bet it would be more than some kids spend in front of a screen or thumb wrestling their phone. I think that's a fair trade off for good clean fun.

All Smiles

2010-08-11T12:47:00.000-07:00

Dave got the green light to get a new surfboard, with the condition that his daughter be in charge with coming up with the color design. With smiles like these I'd say everyone was happy with how things turned out.

Modern Art II

2010-08-03T08:35:00.001-07:00

Another batch of boards for the folks at Del Cabo. Very simple but colorful spray jobs.

The Other Side of the Tracks

2010-07-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

Eli and the boys cross the tracks on their trek down to the beach in search of some waves.

Through the eyes of a talented lensman everyday landmarks take on monumental forms of striking beauty. Such is the case when David Smith (dustybermshot.com) joins up with the crew for a surf.

This was one of those magical times when the sun just breaks through the grays of the morning fog and everything turns sparkly and bright. It's moments like these when you look around and know how lucky we are to be able to live and surf in such a beautiful little notch along the coast.

King Neptune Says Surf

2010-07-05T20:34:00.001-07:00

Toby had one of Neptune's favorite sons, Dave Gardner, do some of his wacky surf themed art on his new board.

If you've cruised through the lower Westside neighborhoods or along the North Coast just outside of town, chances are you've seen Dave's artwork hanging from telephone poles or tucked obscurely along the train tracks.

And any sidewalk surfer who has ventured the highline along the tiles at the Santa Cruz Skate Park will know Dave's work well.

Choosing to work with materials on hand and a lover of all things organic, Dave is the ultimate underground artist. And when you have a resume that includes teacher, farmer, and ultra smooth wave slider you have a lot of humus to draw from.

This surfboard's artwork is witty, simple and fun, and is filled with little treasures of Oceania mixed with what a spirited sailor would dream of while out at sea.

4x4 at the Fun Factory

2010-06-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

Thomas C ponders the possibilities of his new quad fish. We've recently collaborated on a few surfboard projects with some really good results.

With this board we've focused on maximizing the performance features in the design. By pulling in the tail, adding tail rocker, and redesigning the bottom contours, the board feels super responsive, cranks off the bottom, and seamlessly transitions into tight snappy turns off the top. I've paired the board with the Future Fins V2F4 Quads which by all reports is the go to set up.

Like all projects, things keep evolving. And I'm completely stoked in the direction it's going.

Modern Art

2010-05-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

Seems like every time you open a surf mag all you see are super human surf stuntmen chucking their boards above the lip line. As one commentator at the recent WQS contest said, "the air reverse is the new cutback." Interesting.

The other thing you may notice is that most of the artwork is done on the deck of the board, and particularly in the back 2/3 of the board. Reason? Well, admittedly we're all followers of fashion in a sense, and what the pros ride is what the kids want. But there is also a bit of function to the direction of color design.

One, the fresh white canvas of the nose area allows the sponsor's logos to be seen clearly (important, because they are paying the bills). Two, all that color between the surfer's feet flashes brightly as they go through one of their tail chucking turns. Judges like that and the big turns get rewarded accordingly (also important, because good results mean the sponsors keep wanting to pay the bills).

Where is this going? Let's get back down to earth. The folks at Del Cabo Surf Shop asked me to do a batch of shortboards and were wondering if I would do the color work too. "What would you like?" was my question. "Something the kids like" was the reply.

Hmm. I might have an idea. The one thing about the youth movement is that anything goes. And that's what made doing these loose and simple sprays so fun. This batch will also have the WCS logo offset to the right side so the kids can put all their cool stickers up on the nose.

Post script: Stress Test

The most stressful part of my week is loading up freshly shaped and airbrushed boards and driving them to the glass shop. It's similar to running an "egg in a spoon" race across a prairie dog town - land mines everywhere. Traffic and road construction is all part of running the gauntlet.

Not until after the boards are all safely lined up with work cards and decals can I take a deep breath and relax. Now let's go surfing.

Spring Fling

2010-04-30T07:43:00.001-07:00

So here is one of the reasons I haven't done a post in a while. You see, we've been having such a good run of surf I treated myself to a new board. It started out so innocently but things have gotten pretty serious and I've been spending a lot of overtime in the water with my new ride.

This board measures out at 6'0" x 14 1/2 x 20 1/8 x 14 3/4 by 2 1/2. I'm using the Future VF4 Quad Fins which really give the board a lot of drive and speed. With the rounded pin it's very smooth rail to rail and holds tight in the pocket. I'm pretty jazzed.

It's a bonus to the stoke factor when you find a faithful companion that will fly freely on the face of a wave and surprise and enlighten you on each go out.

A Word from the Toy Maker

2010-04-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

My fitness friends Scott and Todd at SurfStronger put together this nifty little video of me talking about getting a custom board. It gives some insight into the thoughts and process that go into shaping a board, plus the stoke I get from my customers.

As you can see, I'm serious about being a toymaker. And the gang at SurfStronger is serious about being fit and in shape to surf at your full potential. Their programs have worked great to help this stiff old geezer stay in the game. Maybe the next workout video will be ShapeStronger.

Easter Egg Hunt

2010-04-04T07:14:00.001-07:00

Damon hops up and takes the high line on his backhand. Like all creative people, Damon not only puts a lot of positive input into his boards, he also designs his own color jobs. For more on his work, check out www.PitchedMedia.com.

The one thing you might not find is where this photo was taken. But that's what surfing is all about, going out on a hunt to find little treats that await us tucked away in the coves and along the beaches.

20th Anniversary

2010-03-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

image by Robert Sturman

Let's face it folks, most people like comets, rockets and meteors, loud bangs and fireworks. Admittedly, there have been very little of these pyrotechnics at Ward Coffey Shapes over the last 20 years. I've been content to quietly hang my shingle, listen to my customer's wants and desires, and go into my hobbit hole and produce the goods. It seems to work and I thank you all for it.

2004

Building surfboards for a living is tricky business at best. But it has afforded me a humble place in a community that values the rhythms of the ocean. Besides, in addition to being able to keep my door open during boom and bust times, I feel fortunate that my wife and I have had the time to share our love for the ocean with our boys. They've logged more beach and wave time than the average bear and their stoke has been fun to watch and be a part of.

When I first started Ward Coffey Shapes I had already put 10 years before the mast at Arrow Surfboards. I had quite a few boards under my dusty belt, wore a lot of hats, learned about the surf industry, and most importantly found out that I really liked shaping surfboards.

At the time I didn't, and still don't, have all the answers on running a business and what it takes to make a magic surfboard. But I'm just as keen and stoked as ever to grab a blank and start a new board. The coolest thing is, the main ideas and values I had back then still ring true today. To me it's just basic common sense that you treat people the way you want to be treated.

That means taking the time to meet the customer, listen to them, and look at their equipment. I want them to have the confidence that I'm the one who will shape their board and put in the time and the attention to detail needed to make it right. I'll see it through the whole process and be there when they pick it up with fins in place and a bar of wax in hand. Oh, I know it doesn't fit the mass marketing model but I'm good with it. Being the town toy maker and seeing my customers riding their boards on a daily basis is both satisfying and rewarding.

Thanks to all of you for your support and inspiration.
Ward

Bold is How We Roll

2010-03-08T07:06:00.000-08:00

Lou at SenaReider Advertising decided to stoke out his client by getting a surfboard done with the product logo. We got together and laid out a board to the customer's specs and Jerry Anderson at Headline Graphics provided the stunning images that we laminated into the board.

Though it doesn't look like it, this is a massive board. It's a big boy performance shape coming in at 7'6" x 23 1/2 x 3 1/4. Jeff at US Blanks was kind enough to cut a custom EPS blank for the job. It's what really made the whole project happen.

It's my guess when the client rocks up to his local surf spot sporting a board looking this cool, bold is how he will have to roll.

Gionni's Green Machine

2010-02-24T14:21:00.000-08:00

This big boy quad is the second generation in Gionni's quest for a floaty yet maneuverable short board. He got a good 5 years out of his last one so he was due. This time around we added some tail rocker to give it a tighter turning radius.

We also used the Simon Anderson quad fins for more grip and drive and, in Gionni's words, "I'm loving the new board. It turns great and can still move down the line when I want it to. Stoked!"

Self Standing Blank

2010-02-05T10:00:00.000-08:00

Ernie from US Blanks was delivering foam yesterday. As he was pulling blanks from the truck, I saw this blank and thought, "what the heck is that thing for?"

So I did a little research and found out the blank was for legendary shaper and forward thinker Joel Woods. Joel is best known for the Intruder series he did for O'Neills in the 60s. He also created a variety of asymmetrical shapes and foils that suited the right point breaks here in Santa Cruz.

This blank is for a reproduction of one of those shapes. I can't wait to see how the thing turns out. For me the blank in it's raw form, with it's balsa outrigger and offset stringers, stands on it's own. It really starts one thinking of the possibilities of wood, foam, and fun.

Wild and Wooly

2010-01-25T21:41:00.000-08:00

After a nice run of surf and weather this fall and early winter, the door has now been kicked in and through it a series of storms has been pummeling the coast with heavy surf, wind, and rain. This annual scouring of the cliffs and beaches is a reminder that the sands of time wait for no one.

When the not so "pacific" ocean is on the march, it inspires awe and respect for it's moods and unrelenting power. A few days brought the low pressure close to shore which meant steep wave periods that sent rouge waves steamrolling through parts of the ocean that rarely see breaking waves.

A highlight is that the major rivers are now running and the much anticipated sand flow is in motion. Could it be a river mouth year? Well, as one sage curmudgeon once told me, if there is a big ole log jam flowing down the San Lorenzo River, there most likely will also be a big ole (surfboard) log jam at the river mouth this spring.

Rock Candy

2010-01-20T16:18:00.001-08:00

Even Willy Wonka would be hard pressed to come up with tastier treats then these three longboards fresh from the factory.

Tim wanted a racy performance longboard for chasing the overhead waves that sweep the lineup at Pleasure Point and outlying areas. We used my favorite Phil Edwards' template, gave it a crisper edge along the tail, and made it a tri fin. With a color job like this, Tim will have no worries about getting fired up to charge the set waves.

Bill wanted an all around Cruzer that would trim and nose ride well. He also wanted something beefy that would handle the open waters off Ocean Beach. The triple stringer pin tail was a natural choice.

For Drew, we copied one of his favorite boards. This time around we added a double barrel concave through the back third of board for extra speed and drive and we also beefed up the glass job.

Three longboards with three different designs and intended uses, but they all say "hail" to the beauty of a glossed and polished surfboard.

Easy Rider in Puerto Rico

2010-01-10T22:14:00.000-08:00

Allyn got a warm welcome in PR, scoring some great surf.

Here he slides into a nice windswept wall. In his words, "the board worked great at Wildo, just as planned. Smooth and stable on the big drops."

He then asks, "can you make me another one for here. Identical. Same yellow bottom, plain white top, all the rest the same?"

Well the answer is yes, but I may have to personally deliver this one.

And the Band Played On

2009-12-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

This was the last waltz for Gary Stachan in his role as a California State Park Ranger, including a long running gig as head ranger at Año Nuevo State Park. After 34 years of service, Gary is retiring. To celebrate he threw a classic shindig full of music, food, and good friends.

As a hardcore surfer and accomplished waterman, Gary has been outstanding in his field. He has always stood tall in the forest of bureaucrats and has embodied the meaning of stewardship of our state's wild places.

During his tenure, the parks along the North Coast have been transformed into real gems of stunning beauty that are well planned, accessible, and most importantly, still natural and wild. Gary was profiled in the summer 2006 Surfer's Journal. It's a good glimpse of a waterman's life as a California State Park Ranger.

How many rangers do you see in a surfboard print button down wearing a lei? Even though Gary will no longer be the front man at Año, rest assured that he has found his voice and will continue to hit the right note in more ways than one (more surfing and kitesurfing!)

I know that for my family, his work along this coast has made our lives richer. Let's hope that Sacramento and the people of California follow his tune and the song remains the same.

Feliz Año Nuevo

Easy Rider

2009-12-29T15:00:00.000-08:00

Allyn makes his annual migration to the warm waters of Puerto Rico and wanted a serious Fun Gun for cruising the bigger waves at places like Wilderness. We set it up with 5 boxes so he could try it as a quad and also gave it a heavy glass job to deal with the strong winds and bump that come with bigger waves in PR.

It's Good To Be Loved

2009-12-29T11:00:00.000-08:00

Leslie, the SwimArt open water swim coach, had her surfboard swiped recently. But she wasn't without a board for long thanks to these amazing speedo clad polar bears who banded together and had me build her a custom board complete with business logo. The next time you're out surfing Fort Point and you see a few bright colored swim caps bobbing around, you might have to reassess your definition of "hardcore"!

Trouble in Paradise

2009-12-29T07:00:00.000-08:00

Steve sends this photo and some insight into what folks living in paradise are faced with when things get rocking in the big pond (and being a surfer, he also took note of the surf potential and local customs).

"I recently went to survey the damage caused by the tsunami in American Samoa. It was my first time working in a disaster area and it was kind of heavy. Some of the villages were completely wiped out. The Samoan people were unbelievably friendly and were quickly cleaning up and rebuilding their homes and lives. Everyone had an incredible story to tell about their experience with the tsunami. I attached a photo I thought you might be interested in, tsunami damge and a perfect wave in the background.

Unfortunately too much survey gear to bring a board!! I know, hard to believe. Plus there are basically no surfers on American Samoa. No surf shops. No boards to rent. Not even a surf sticker anywhere. But there are plenty of spots and we saw alot of perfect set-ups. Most of the spots appear to be high tide only shallow reef ledges. There was quite a bit of wind at the places with the most swell as well. The wave in the photo was a few feet overhead, spitting and makeable. At low tide, every wave ended on dry reef. Respect is key in Samoa. You can't just pull up and surf. You have to find the village Chief (Matai) and ask for permission to basically even just hang out. The people are super friendly and there are no problems, but you have to ask."

2009 Sunset

2009-12-28T22:19:00.001-08:00

Rebecca and Buell sent this photo from their recent Baja adventure and it reminded me that the sun is setting on 2009. Where has the time gone? This past month I've had a full plate. The blog got pushed to the back burner as board orders, holidays, and family fun time began to boil over.

I feel at times that I haven't done justice to all the great feedback I get from my customers. So for these last few days of 2009, my hope is to share a few of the great stories and photos from the year.

Things with Wings

2009-12-09T14:48:00.000-08:00

Jake has always been interested in the classic designs that have come and gone over the years. But he has also had the mindset to bring them forward and transform them into modern performance shapes. This has been a great watershed of experimentation and creative freedom.

Both these boards harken back to the single fin 70's. The outlines give a hint to how plan shapes were set up. But the retro lust stops there. Everything else is pretty much modern. Sure, I'll flatten a deck a little, puff a rail out, or flute the wings, but that just adds to the fact that these are custom boards and not just something you get off the rack.

Gremlin in the Shop

2009-11-30T07:47:00.000-08:00

These little devils start showing up at the shop when I'm on a big push to get a bunch of boards done. This time of year things get cranking and long days and late nights become the rule. So sometimes it's nice to have a little company and an extra set of eyes to keep me focused on the job at hand.

Fall Colors

2009-11-25T07:57:00.000-08:00

With a crispness in the air, nights and mornings have had a chill that makes Mother Nature take notice and bring out her fall colors. Tuned in surfers also take note and oranges and rich reds are always popular this time of year. Thanks to all the colorful people who share the stoke and make this whole adventure happen.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What the Pros Ride

2009-11-15T09:40:00.001-08:00

The Big Top was in town and the Coldwater Classic at Steamer Lane had all the thrills and spills that make a three ring circus good theater. The waves and conditions were testament to why those rabid rumors fly around about where Surf City USA really is.

Dusty Payne was in town for the event and lost a fin so his dad stopped by the shop to see if I could do a rush fix job. As always, I'm stoked to step up, let our local know how shine, and take care of our little tribe of surf savvy travelers. And just as importantly, it's a great way to meet new people, talk story, and learn about their part of the world. Also, as a shaper, it's great to look at the equipment and see how that all translates into our everyday boards. What the pros ride really does have a trickle down effect on what us mere mortals surf.

Dusty also had one of those "Dumpster Diver" boards that Dane Reynolds has been riding. Talk about 1984 gone 2009. Very cool. In fact, I shaped out one for myself using the numbers. So don't be surprised to see me on a Stubby in the coming week.

Stoked Grommet

2009-11-09T07:37:00.000-08:00

Jason wanted a pure twin fin for small everyday surf. Just so happens I have templates and dimensions from some original MR boards from back in the day.

The main changes I'm making to the twins are lower, thinner rails, a slight single to double concave, and an overall foil and thickness flow that is closer to modern performance shapes. Also, the Styrolite construction gives these small wave zippers more pop.

Trivia Question

2009-10-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

Ben finds this rare left to slot himself and set up the barrel. For a free bar of wax and a sticker, this week's trivia question is "name that surf spot."

Change in the Weather

2009-10-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

The first clouds of a frisky storm front start to roll in. On the north coast, a lucky few are treated to some great waves as the swell arrives ahead of the front. The beaches are empty and head high offshore surf stacks up. Looking around I can't help but be grateful for the these slices of time when the wild is still wild.

The Old Napkin Trick

2009-10-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

A firm believer that great ideas are often written on napkins, Robert whipped out the design for his 2 new boards right on the spot over lunch.

The curves and a good flow really show the fullness in the outlines of his everyday board and the step up board he'll use in the upcoming season. Waiter, another napkin please!

Outside!

2009-09-24T23:28:00.001-07:00

So the next time you call the shop for a surf report and I say it's 10' and perfect with no one out, I'll mean it. You see, I can now claim to have the closest surf shop to Steamer Lane and all I have to do is look out my front door and see that it's going off.

This mural project was painted by local artist and chalk wizard Marvin Plummer, and was masterminded by David Terrazas and the Santa Cruz Economic Development and Redevelopment Department. Here are some shots as the project progressed:

Being by the train tracks , this wall was often victim to some unsightly tags. So a fresh canvas was sprayed out.

Marvin lays out the basic outlines and starts the back fill shadowing.

Each day new elements would appear.

The day the lighthouse showed up everyone said, "Oh, I get it, that's Steamer Lane!"

Since it's done in black and white, the light during the day would change the moods and the overall feeling of the mural.

Being a surfer, Marvin was obsessed with getting Middle Peak just right and we had a lot of good conversations about it. I say he nailed it.

Talk about cherry picking the set waves! Marvin had the right tool for the job. The next time I see him in the water, my vote says he gets the wave of the day.

If you want to come share the stoke this Sunday, there will be a reception and site clean up to celebrate the completion of this cool mural.

Sunday / 27 September 2009 / 1:00 pm
820 Swift Street / 831 420 5157

Twins and Channels

2009-09-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

Matt has always liked variety in his quiver. For this fall, he decided to create a modern twin fin and to revamp his old 6 channel step up board.

This twin fin with glass on fins follows the same basic rocker profile, rail shape, and overall volume that his thrusters have had in the past. We just ran a little more vee out the back to make up for the lack of a center fin.

Taking his old 6'2" and stretching it up to 6'4", we made a true step up board that he can go to when the waves are pumping.

Yes, it's a glasser's nightmare, but the simplicity of no moving parts and a sand job that is as fine tuned as the shaped blank when it left my shaping room is what this deal is all about. These things take time and are expensive to make. But after you ride one, you may justify scrimping on those lattes so you can throw down and get into the groove.

The Customer is Always Right

2009-09-08T22:04:00.000-07:00

Despite all the crafty catch phrases and nifty little posts I come up with, customer comments and feedback is beyond a shadow of a doubt the best way to share the stoke and let everyone in on this far out thing called "custom surfboards". Here are some photos and kind words from a couple of my fellow wave riders.

"Just wanted to let you know once again you have succeeded in making an amazing board. Bar none the best board I have ever ridden. The size and shape fit me to a tee. It is so responsive, so quick down the line and I can make those drops that I wanted to in the past. You are a true artist. Expect to see me coming around for a long time. -Scott"

Scott also did these hand drawings.

We did outputs on rice paper and the white knock outs on the lighthouse worked perfect.

"It works great Ward! Plenty of drive and it seems to like to turn off the top. It felt like I had been riding it for years. Thanks again. -Brad"

Brad's last board had glass on keels and he was a little apprehensive about going with box fins. But after we took a good look at the options, he was super stoked to try this rasta future fin setup.

Yesterday I was lucky enough to surf some fun pre fall NW waves with Brad and got a first hand view of how well the board goes. His assessment was right on the money.

Surfer and Artist of the Week

2009-09-01T08:37:00.001-07:00

Carly came by the shop and picked up her new 5'10" round tail, busted out this nice color job with paint pens, then headed up north to take the win at this weekend's NSSA contest. Congratulations!

Greg's 2 + 1

2009-08-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Greg had been using a friends 6'5" CI twinfin as his "go to" board for Ocean Beach. Being a fan of foam, he was stoked on the extra volume this retro design provided.

I'm a sucker for the flat deck, beaked nose, pulled in tail, and down turned rails. When someone brings in a board like that asking for a copy or update, with no hesitation I'll say, "Let's do it!" already thinking about what blank to pull the board out of.

The 2 + 1 gives you some options but is really best set up as a twin with a small back trailer for stability. Future Fins makes a nice T1 series for this setup.

The details in designs like this are what make these boards fly. Fluted wings and slick pinlines with a gloss and polish just add to the whole deal of a custom board.

Get with the Program

2009-08-17T10:38:00.000-07:00

If you've noticed a bunch of bronzed kids in red swimsuits running, swimming, and paddling, then you've seen the Junior Lifeguards in action.

This great summer time program brings kids together to get in shape, learn ocean safety, and compete in games and events that are fun and sometimes wacky.

The Boogie Jump is one of the wacky games. What kid wouldn't want a chance to flip, flop, and fly over a stack of boogie boards? Here Sam does a front dive to clear the stack.

The boys line up for the Distance Paddle race. This tough event includes having to navigate some surf getting in and out of the water. When the surf is up, these nippers put on a good show with their wave savvy skills.

The Taplin event is a run / swim / paddle relay. Sam puts on his game face as he readies himself for the paddle.

Ben went on a tear in the paddle events this summer, winning at the local competitions and going on to win the Distance Paddle at Regionals in Seal Beach.

Team Santa Cruz celebrates their 2nd place finish in the Run Relay at Regionals. Do these kids look fit or what? These are the future lifeguards who will be watching over our beaches in the coming years.

Ben Goes Big

2009-08-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

After his success in the Junior Lifeguard paddle events, Ben decided to look for bigger fish to fry. Last weekend he took a paddleboard down to Carmel for a friendly paddle. He ended up winning the 2 mile course in the 12' stock division and placing 2nd overall.

As one of the older competitors asked, "How old is that kid and how did he learn to draft someone?

Ben's reply, "uhh, I'm 12 and I've just been spending time at the beach messing around with my friends." Again, the master of understatement.

Blue Velvet

2009-08-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

Joe digs blues. On this board, he let me go off on my own with the brush stroke theme but using just the spray gun.

The soft velvety color fade, trapped by a crisp pinline, are easy on the eye and have a calming effect.

Joe gets the Ironman award this week. As he was coming down Hwy 1 to pick up his board he got stuck in gridlock traffic just north of town. Being resourceful, he simply pulled over, parked, and jogged the last 2 miles into town and to the shop. Said he was training for an upcoming triathalon so it worked out fine.

I wasn't sure if I should offer him my bike to ride back or make him paddle up the coast to his car.

A Potter's Collection

2009-07-31T07:21:00.000-07:00

Arguably, Joel sports one of the best collections of my boards that I know of. His quiver influence is no doubt from the "Hynson red fin" era and his search for the sleek, wood rich, triple stringers has carried us along for more than 20 years of fiddling around with curves, foils, and fin set ups.

The boards in his current collection include, from front to back: 7'4" and 7'6" thrusters with Bonzer style double concaves through the fin cluster.
His new 8'10" Styrolite (his current favorite). A 9'8" Cowells Cruzer. Then there's what I consider the cat's meow, a 9'8" pipeliner style board that I shaped for his 50th birthday and have had the pleasure to ride on a flawless big day at Natural Bridges. Followed up by an 8'8" that we used as a baseline for the new 8'10" Styrolite board. And lastly, a 7'10" mini noserider that functions as a cheater longboard in certain conditions.

Like a compass or a good star to guide you, a mentor sheds light along the path. In this case, Joel is my North Star. You see, Joel is one of the areas most talented potters and his gift inspires and brings out the best in my shaping and at times allows me to call myself an artisan.

His simple pearls of wisdom passed along over the years have included: "you must doubt and believe in yourself in the same fashion as you inhale and exhale" and "as you meet failures along the way, accept the ruins, pick up the pieces, place them in the bin, and begin anew with resolve to find what you seek." These and many more illuminations have provided hours of pondering in the shaping room.

One of the reasons for sharing Joel's work is to give you a heads up. If you find yourself passing through Davenport this weekend you might want to check out his Midsummers Eve Pottery Sale. His ocean view studio is stunning and his wares are laid out in style. Plus Joel knows how to throw a party. There will be music, BBQ delights, and good spirits to wet your thirst after a north coast surf session.

For more info and directions to his studio, go to Joel's website at www.DarkHorsePottery.com.

Summer Stoke

2009-07-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

Little groms and big groms alike are digging the summer surf.

Eli finds a little bowl to slip into as his buddies wait for the next wedge.

Carly is one of those stoked kids who rides both long and shortboards with confidence and grace. Being a goofy foot in the land of right point breaks, she savors the rare left.

Not afraid to put it up on a rail, Carly puts her 6'0" through it's paces at a recent contest. Rumor has it that she has a good golf game too. Just shows you how this girl gets into the swing of things by being versatile with her equipment.

Walker takes his mom's 6'2" out and slides into a nice one with style. Does he know that just over the jetty and out off the point is Mavericks?

Sam and Dad getting ready to join a "bunch of friends" at Malibu on our last road trip down south.

It's all aloha when you share the summer stoke.

The EPS Triangle

2009-07-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

It seems when most folks hear "epoxy" they think only of the molded sandwich constructed boards that are built offshore. It's almost as if the word has been patented by that style of construction. In contrast, my Styrolite boards are custom shaped boards that use epoxy resin and EPS foam. Pretty simple really.

Here is a nice piece that gives some historical perspective along with some insight about how the boards are built.

from this week's Good Times Santa Cruz weekly magazine:

The EPS Triangle
- a transformative tale of three local shapers

by Mike Wallace
16 JULY 2009

Ward Coffey. Photo Credit, Kelly Vaillencourt

Wave-smoothing kelp beds, world class point breaks, and a relatively protected southwest-facing bay together tailor Santa Cruz into a high-performance surfing mecca. Marry nature’s bounty with the ingenuity of three local shapers at the forefront of producing red-hot, light and durable custom boards out of expanded polystyrene (EPS), and you’ve got one potent combination.

Ward Coffey, William “Stretch” Riedel and M10’s Geoff Rashe, and their respective team riders, fiercely compete in the water as well as in their shaping rooms. Still, each had the foresight to cooperate when it came to new materials and shaping technology.

EPS is a material very similar to that found in styrofoam to-go cups offered at any convenience store. Despite its superior buoyancy and lighter weight, early attempts to coax EPS into windsurfing and surfboard production were fraught with bonding and quality-control issues that often led to severe de-lamination and dejection.

As Coffey tells the tale, Greg Loehr of Cocoa Beach, Florida, and John Bradbury of Santa Barbara were the early pioneers who led the charge into EPS in the mid-1980s with stringer-less, two-pound core blanks (foam density per cubic foot). “This process created lighter and stronger boards than the heavier ‘glossed and polished’ polyester boards being built, but the epoxy resins at the time were not user-friendly and not accepted,” Coffey explains. “The industry simply went to Ultralite polyester foam and sanded four-ounce glass jobs, but this also just made for very fragile boards.”

Along came “sandwich” construction and vacuum-formed sail and surfboards constructed of EPS/epoxy (think Randy French at Surftech). Stretch and Coffey used that process to crank out sailboards and fill a growing demand for kiteboards. But the sandwich process was painfully time consuming, costly and complex, despite obvious strength advantages. Coffey was convinced there had to be an easier way.

He ultimately stumbled upon a cheaper and simpler solution by chance. In the mid-’90s, when his supplier mistakenly sent him some denser two-pound foam, rather than the one-pound variety he had been using, Coffey called Loehr, the East Coast shaper who formed Resin Research and eventually ironed out the early cantankerous problems with EPS. He asked if he could use the heavier foam, and was informed, in fact, that that was what he should be using for surfboards.

For years in the late-’90s, Ward Coffey built EPS/epoxy boards for his personal use and select team riders. They were ideal for clean waves up to head high. But it wasn’t until he dialed in the blank density and adopted Greg Loehr’s superior resins that he gained the confidence to break out these “stealth” boards for mainstream surfers. He vividly recalls shaping one for local surfer Cole Barthel in 1997, who as a junior-high schooler went on to claim the California Championship on the board, in a dominant performance that vindicated Ward’s faith in the combination. A photo of the event still hangs on his wall as a symbol of that progression.

Having outsourced the bulk of his glassing to Stretch in 2003 and tiring of the laborious sandwich lamination process, Coffey brought by a couple of his refined two-pound EPS blanks and had to convince Stretch to glass them stoutly in epoxy. “You sure about this, babe?” Stretch responded with skepticism. But team riders Josh Mulcoy, Jason “Ratboy” Collins and Josh Loya were psyched on the snappy feel and neutral buoyancy compared to the corkier sandwich version. Pretty soon everyone had to have one of these light-but-livelier boards.

Compared to sandwich construction, finishing an EPS/epoxy board cut the required man hours down from 26 to a mere six to eight hours. Then in late-2005, Gordon “Grubby” Clark unceremoniously exited the polyester blank business that accounted for nearly 90 percent of surfboard blanks used up to that time.

While everyone else was hoarding Clark blanks in the “AC” (After Clark) period, Coffey soon found himself furiously swapping order tickets over to EPS. He just rolls his eyes now when customers ask if he “does EPS” like Stretch and Rashe, since he was instrumental in convincing them to embrace that change at just the right time.

Stretch came to champion the new process and has become the largest dedicated EPS/epoxy board factory in Northern California. Meanwhile, Geoff Rashe at M10 fully bought into the EPS/epoxy combo as well, while being an early adopter of custom computer design and shaping. Both Stretch and Rashe now almost exclusively produce EPS/epoxy boards.

Moreover, Rashe touts his factory as “zero emissions, emitting little enough V.O.C. (volatile organic compound) that the air pollution control can’t even make us get a permit; and it is not carcinogenic. Our EPS foam is recyclable and its expansion process is way less toxic than polyurethane.”

It’s all further proof that three shaper-innovators have transformed Santa Cruz into a cleaner and leaner “EPS Triangle”—raising the performance bar and sustainability of our wave-rich region.

Something Fishy Is Going On

2009-07-15T13:52:00.000-07:00

If you've been to the beach or along the cliff lately you may have noticed there is a lot of sea life activity going on very close. With all the inshore schools of fish and wildlife I thought I'd post this nice little school of wave skating fish.

These summertime blues beaters provide just enough spark to turn even the most meager two foot mush burger into a stoking catch of the day.

Mixed in the pod are varied species of keel fish...

and quad fish...

for where ever your groove runs along the evolution of design.

Shorter and wider is the lure of choice for any frisky feeling wave angler.

Fish on!

New Blue Glue

2009-07-07T22:04:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite pin ups in the lamination room.

It really was fitting when Resin Research came out with their CE formula. This epoxy resin is the most user friendly stuff out there and has been the go to resin for all my Styrolite boards.

If you've ever been in a lamination room, you would be as befuddled as Mr Knox at how gooey...

gluey...

and colorful things can get.

Otto's Fun Spot

2009-07-02T21:02:00.001-07:00

There is a neat story to this picture. I was working for Bob Pearson at the time when he heard that Jeannie was going to sell off all of Otto's boards at the iconic Fun Spot. Bob offered up our help unloading the place and laying out all the boards for her. She was happy to have the help so the next morning Bob picks me up bright and early and we pull his VW van around the back and wait for Jeanie to show.

This gives Bob time to hatch his plan. The idea was to get in quick and do a once over on the boards, check the logo, then the condition. The dogs went straight out front in pretty rows and the choice picks went around the back by the van. We had to work quick before someone else started to pick through our pile.

The pace was furious and soon my back and arms were killing me. Some of the boards had more resin than foam and weighed a ton. There were boards everywhere, stuffed and crammed in a bunch of different racks and up in the rafters. There were also some boxes of old decals and magazines along with other detritus that was downright scary. There were bikes, mats, even a box of zorries, along with the cage Otto kept his parrot in.

Well, after the fire drill a few other folks got into the mix and helped move the boards out and Jeanie was ready to do business. I think her hope was to get $15 - $25 per board, $10 for the dogs.

It's at this point, when Bob is getting thanked by Jeanie, that he mentions he would like to buy a few of the boards and some of the stickers.

"Sure," she says, "which ones?"

"Over here," says Bob, and brings her over to the pile of 20 or so boards and a small box of stickers. Bob made sure that we didn't wipe any of the boards off, that the logos weren't showing, and that we left them as dusty and dirty as possible.

"Tell you what Jeanie. I'd like to give you 5 bucks a board for this bunch and maybe something for these stickers too."

"Now Bob, what've you done. That's not fair to everyone else." Jeanie had a smile on her face and she kept shaking her head. We did have all the boards laid out nicely. It was the end of the line as far as Otto's goes, and she didn't have a lot of attachment to the boards. But she looked up at Bob and said "You got some good ones in there, don't you?"

At that point I wandered away as they worked things out. Next thing I know Bob is saying "Come on, let's go, it's going to take two loads so you'll have to guard the boards." He had his little shop just down the street, right across from the Boardwalk. It wasn't far but I'll tell you in the time he was gone I had to endure telling a bunch of people "these boards are sold". The wise ones weren't too stoked but all the while Jeanie would look over, shake her head, smile, and give me a wink.

The next week my job was to strip wax (rock hard paraffin) off all the boards and lightly touch up any dings and cracks. Then Bob would compound and polish out the boards and bring them up to the Mission Street store. It's to Bob's credit that he was able to get measurements and templates off the boards. I believe this helped perpetuate the longboard renaissance that was to transpire in the coming decade.

I'll have to admit that in the days when a 5'10" twinfin or a 6'5" single fin was the board of choice, having those nice and shiny old logs in the racks or hanging from the ceiling was very cool. And there were some real gems in there too. My favorite was the 9'10" Coke bottle green Phil Edwards "Honolulu Special". The second I grabbed that board I went "Wow, this board is the real thing." And to this day it still is.

Those boards sure attracted a lot of attention at the shop. It was common to have Reddo, Chuck, Tom, and a cast of others in the shop trading barbs as they checked out the boards and lamenting "$125?! You've got to be joking me. This board was only worth $100 new at best. Plus it's twisted and I know what Bob paid for it. Practically stole it!" On and on it would go. It was a great source of stories and history lessons for me.

Then there was Pete. He would casually stop by every week just to pick up a sticker or two. He was decimating the Gidget, Con, Katin, and other classic stickers until Bob cut him off.

There were a lot of boards at Otto's. Most of them were dogs but I know that there were some other good ones in that place that we didn't get and I hope that there are good stories about those boards too.

When I think back, I don't really dwell on the priceless gems covered by dust, sand, and time. I think about the stories each board could tell of stoke, tragedy, and triumph.

Like the young gremmie who could barely drag the board across the beach with his dad saying, "If you want to ride it you have to carry it."

Or the first time a young girl ever was out on the ocean, paddling out to the kelp beds and the otters, kelp crabs, and schools of sardines flashing silver in the jade green water.

Or the show off know it all taking his board across the shins and being forced to watch from the beach as the kooks frolic and splash and carelessly fall in love with the ocean and waves.

And of all the stories of those who caught their first waves with the cypress lined cliffs to their left and the wharf to their right and nothing but the spray and the rush of the wind in front of them, hurtling towards shore and knowing they wanted to do this for the rest of their life.

Brushing Up On Old Ideas

2009-06-24T21:14:00.000-07:00

While I had my paint brushes out and was making a mess, Jim and Steve stopped by to order a couple of boards for an upcoming trip. Jim asked if I was having a flashback because some of the stuff looked like the boards I was painting and riding in the mid 80's.

Surfer Feb 1987, photo: Woody Woodworth

Well, yeah, I guess I was, only this time around I'm not sporting a mullet and a fluorescent yellow and blue wetsuit.

Two Tales

2009-06-17T08:09:00.000-07:00

Drew's interest in all things retro took him back to the mid 1970's. This time capsule represents two design approaches that shapers and surfers were pursuing both in Hawaii and here on the mainland.

The island gun single fin with it's pulled in tail and down rails was the ultimate board for styling in the big juicy waves of the North Shore. At some point we all wanted to be Gerry standing in the barrel with his trademark style and grace.

Meanwhile, the rocket fish was finding favor in the mainland surf breaks. This speedy twin fin would fly over the mushy flat sections yet with the shallow tail and down turned knifey rail, it would hold in on the bigger stuff too.

Drew also knew this journey meant going all the way in construction. Pigmented lams. Glassed on fins. Double pinlines. Gloss and polish finish. The results should be fodder for many tales to come.

14 Feet of Fun II

2009-06-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

So where does the fun come in? Picture if you will gliding out into an ocean of plate glass, the light patter of water drumming along your hull as you tuck up along the kelp beds. The coast and landmarks roll by as you stretch out. Soon you're warmed up. Ready to turn the headland and grind it uphill for a bit. The breeze freshens. The light spray that splashes your face feels refreshing and cools you down. You're feeling it now. It's time to push so you dig in and start to pull. The wind and swell increase a notch or two. The slight pang of pain and doubt surface but you press on and push through the wall that your body and board have hit.

You wait to get a little farther up the coast so when you turn and make the gentle arch out for your downhill run you can catch some good runners. The chop and the wind are now almost annoying but under it all is what you're looking for. Small uniform swells come together and roll by. Two, three, sometimes more they come. It's time to check your bearings and begin the arch that will send you into your downhill dash. As you roll parallel to the swell you set your course and complete the turn. Wind at your back, a feeling of calm resides.

But then a surge from behind comes, grabbing your board and pushing you forward. You dig and adjust. You're off to the races riding this swell, cleaving a path through the open ocean. Fatigue now gone, adrenaline, stoke! You look for the next swell, the hook up and connect. On and on you go farther into the bay, wishing these sleigh rides could go on forever. But soon you run it out. The ocean and swell play out to calm glass again.

Back along the kelp beds, warm sun now sparkles the surface. You just feel the glide. The still water ripple returns. A big exhale, another sweet run. You just surfed tons of waves on a flat day. Your arms are buggered but you feel good in an achy sort of way. You're in shape.

Well for those who get addicted to those experiences and feel that a bit of racing with friends would be fun, the Jay Moriarty Memorial Paddleboard Race is a great opportunity to get out there and share the stoke. Young and old, they have events for everyone. Check it out if you get a chance.

8th Annual Surftech Jay Moriarity Memorial Paddleboard Race
Presented by CLIF BAR

Santa Cruz, Calif. (June 2, 2009) – Mark your race calendar for June 13, 2009 when the 8th Annual Surftech Jay Moriarity Memorial Paddleboard Race presented by CLIF BAR will hit the water. Paddleboarders and stand up paddlers from up and down the coast of California and as far away as Florida and Hawaii will converge on New Brighton Beach in Santa Cruz, California to compete for the coveted “Jay Race” title.

The “Jay Race” is widely recognized as one of the top paddleboard races in North America. The best paddlers in the country come here to brave the chilly waters of the Monterey Bay. They come to test their paddling skills against a field of top competitors and to enjoy the unique setting that only the Monterey Bay and Santa Cruz can provide. “The level of competition for the 12 mile race seems to increase every year,” says Gunnar Roll co-race director, “yet despite the high level of competition in the 12 mile course, the 2 mile race is a great opportunity for beginning paddlers and paddlers who aren’t quite ready to spend two and a half hours or more giving it all they’ve got on the 12 mile course.”

They also come to pay their respects to big wave surfing legend Jay Moriarity. Jay was one of the youngest surfers to ever attempt the massive waves at the notorious big wave break known as Mavericks. To train for the beatings that Jay would inevitably endure at Mavericks, he logged countless hours paddling his paddleboard. Jay passed away in 2001, one day before his 23rd birthday, in a free diving accident while on a surf trip to the Maldives. He will always be remembered for his fearlessness in big waves but more importantly for his friendly, positive attitude towards others in and out of the water.

For the 2009 race, CLIF BAR has stepped up their commitment to the event by coming on board as presenting sponsor. CLIF BAR staff will be on hand passing out their incredible energy bars and other nutrition products including their new sports drink, CLIF Quench.

For more information about the 2009 Surftech Jay Moriarity Memorial Paddleboard Race or to register online, check out the event site at www.surftech.com.

14 Feet of Fun

2009-06-10T11:19:00.000-07:00

With the summer time flat spells getting longer, a lot of folks are breaking out the paddleboards to keep those arms in shape.

This 14 footer was designed using my stock 12 ft templates. I stretched out the curves to come up with some pretty sleek lines. From glass to rough conditions, I try to design my paddleboards to cover a big range.

The 12 ft and 14 footer have really been popular sizes for their versatility and simplicity.

Lofting Curves

2009-06-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

When the blanks and templates don't exist to build what you want, you have to make them yourself. I'm old school and like to loft the curves at full scale before I start throwing foam around. This project is for a couple of short, wave specific SUPs I'll be building.

Expressionism

2009-05-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

Though not a van Gogh, surfboard artwork can be fast, fun, and loose (just like the way a board should ride, right?!)

Like a lot of customers, Bobby brought in a sketch of what he was thinking of for his board. He was open to how I rendered it out.

With a combo of spray gun and brush strokes I just let the colors and motion of the design flow. It's not until the next day when the colors dry that I can assess how it's going to come out. This one worked out well.

King of Cowells

2009-05-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

The crowd gets a few words from the champ. Having come in runner up in his division at last year's event, Sam went long to win at the 2009 Santa Cruz Longboard Union's Memorial Day contest.

Being the youngest contestant in the contest at 8 years old, he showed some pluck and picked off a few really nice long waves in the final at Cowells.

Sacred Balsa

2009-05-22T15:04:00.001-07:00

This 9'8" solid balsa gun has been sitting up in the racks in my shaping room collecting dust for quite a while. It was 75% shaped out but for one reason or another I was stuck on how I wanted to finish the shape out and what to do for the tail block. When the Sacred Craft show came around I was inspired to finally dust it off, finish the shape, and get it glassed up.

I chose to do a simple mahogany tail block and to put a cord loop on it.

A single fin box fits nicely in between the wedge stringer. The board has some very interesting wood with a lot of character. The gloss and polish just seems to makes the wood glow.

This board struck a cord and I was very pleased to show it at the Sacred Craft Surfboard Expo. For me this is what the whole thing is about: top quality custom built boards.

Congrats to the brave shapers who reproduced the Bradbury Designs. Most of them didn't even use templates. Very bold! And a very special shout out to Doug and Dave at Handcrafted and to JP and Peter at Moonlight Glassing for being such good torchbearers for the local Mom and Pop glass shops that do world class quality work and are the envy of all.

Sacred Craft Sampler

2009-05-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

Logistics!

2009-05-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

How many boards, display racks, tools, and other curios can you fit in a Ford van? Well, today we found out. It was Logistics Day which meant putting the finishing touches on boards, packing up, and organizing transport to the Sacred Craft show in Ventura.

Fletch says "What do you mean, we can fit 10 more boards up there. Who needs to see out the back?" My response, "How will I look back and check the surf?!"

Nice Guy of the Month (This Board is Not for Sale)

2009-05-14T10:50:00.000-07:00

How many surfers do you know who would order a board and say "take your time" and "do whatever you want for an airbursh"?

Ok, a few I'll admit, but here is where the field gets narrowed down. Chris not only did that, he also agreed to let me take his board down to the Sacred Craft show this weekend and let hundreds of other surfers ogle and fondle his custom board before he could even put wax on it.

And to top things off, after getting a quick look at his board and handing it right back to me to pack up, he also handed me a couple hundred bucks! "I forgot to give you a deposit," he said.

Flower Power

2009-05-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

With summer size surf starting to bloom, this collection of colorful boards reminds me that it's time to start building more fishes. Known for being outstanding in it's field, the small wave fish is a perennial favorite in a lot of surfer's water garden.

Off to the Races

2009-05-08T15:58:00.000-07:00

Brian's GTO inspired 5'9" single fin is all tricked out with pigment lam top and bottom, white pigment panels, pinlines, and a gloss and polish finish. With the good waves we've been having he's been getting some great runs at his local race track. All he needs now is to get one of those comp jackets that all the guys were wearing in the 60's.

The Egg with an Attitude

2009-05-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

Gary had a pretty clear idea what he wanted for his next board. A board just under 7', 16" nose, 23" wide, 16" tail. We fiddled around with some templates so we could maximize the outline curve.

By throwing in a set of wings we were able to decrease the tail width and create a nice pivot point around the fin cluster.

Again, by going with the 5 box option this will be a very versatile board. So depending on his attitude and what the conditions dictate, Gary should be able to hatch a plan that will keep his stoke going.

For Gary's insight on the board, check out Srfnff.

Road Trip

2009-05-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

Spring break meant we could pack up our bag of tricks and do a road trip down south to one of our favorite campgrounds. It's tucked in right next to a little point break.

With everything from boogie boards to SUPs, we were ready for anything.

This gem along the coast has been a family favorite for some time and always seems to pack some pint size surf for the boys to run amuck.

Ben was amped to try out his new noserider (thanks, Dad, for staying up late the night before to get the board finished}. This board is 8'2" (that's still 3' over his head) x 21" x 2 1/2". It's fully old school: 50 / 50 rails and solid concave up front. Because of the small size it looks racy.

Not to be outdone by his big brother, when Sam wasn't doing his George Greenough thing,...

... he stepped up and charged on his short board.

Sacred Craft Preview

2009-04-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

Just dropped off at the Handcrafted glass shop a few of the boards I'll be showing at the Sacred Craft show in Ventura next month.

I decided to do a couple of classics with some wood. The top board will get pinlines before the gloss job.

This 9'8" solid balsa is in the Pat Curren spirit of big wave guns that the early North Shore pioneers were riding.

Also, I did a copy of the 6'10" Castor board that I did for the Shape-off at the last show.

I'm really stoked on how this came out. It just might end up in my personal collection.

Lee's 7'6" Gray Gun

2009-04-18T21:34:00.000-07:00

Lee wanted a gun for Ocean Beach and came up with this really great color design.

The board was pigmented grey top and bottom, then the color panel was added in the tail.

We also chose to give it a sanded finish so we could retain those crisp edges in the tail and keep the weight down.

One More Egg

2009-04-13T09:15:00.000-07:00

This plan shape is quickly becoming one of my most popular small wave designs for either quads or tri fins. Damon wanted an all around board with lots of curve and this fit the bill. He also chose to go with 5 boxes so he could switch his fin set up. The color scheme is cool and seemed appropriate for this time of year.

Easter Eggs, Island Style

2009-04-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

Put together these boards for a girls surf school. The sizes range from 6'10" to 7'4".

Rasta Camo

2009-04-04T21:44:00.000-07:00

Dean saw some of the camo boards I posted a while back and wanted something similar. Since he was feeling irie, he decided to "stir it up" with a rasta flavor.

The color overlays worked out well. Man this board took a while to spray, but once I got going I was "jammin".

Aloha Is Where You Find It

2009-03-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

Gerry Lopez, master of style and grace, was in town to check up on his line of SUP boards that Surftech is producing.

The crew called to see if I wanted join them up the coast for a demo session on the boards. The waves were small but clean and a lot of aloha was shared.

Afterwards we ended up at our house to talk story. It was nice to catch up and share the things we have in common. Ben and Sam were fascinated with the stories shared. Being a fellow goofy foot, Gerry took to Ben. He now has him convinced that all the best waves in the world are lefts! Who could argue with his point of view?

And it is his point of view that makes him such a good role model for young and old. In addition to the images of him on waves, his written word and ability to tell a story stand out. A good example is his recent book, Surf Is Where You Find It. Check it out.

Delivery Day is a Good Day

2009-03-26T13:55:00.000-07:00

When the truck backs up and the fresh foam gets unloaded, it's a relief that in this crazy world some things are still on track. US Blanks has followed the Clark Foam formula for service and quality, and they deliver the best products in polyurethane and EPS.

Here Ernie gives the thumbs up to another batch of first quality blanks. Now get to work Ward.

Yak, Yak, Yak II

2009-03-25T08:35:00.000-07:00

Following up on a good thing, I got together with Rick Starr and Murky Waters to produce the Salsa.

Rick and I designed the plug. Then the folks at Murky Waters made the mold and now build this very popular International Class wave kayak. This boat has sported an impressive record in competitions around the world.

It's cool to see how some projects lead you into new and uncharted waters.

Yak, Yak, Yak

2009-03-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

Meet Dennis Judson, owner of Adventure Sports, aquanaut extraordinaire, and lover of all things racy and red. He also possesses the power of persuasion, so much so that he and his cohort Rick Starr talked me into building them a couple of wave riding kayaks from scratch.

But wait before we go further, I know, I hear the murmurs. Yes, there were a few cries of blasphemy from my homo erectis wave riding brethren. And even calls of "why are you doing that?" Well simply put, because I can, and I love taking on projects of design and construction of watercraft for riding waves.

So let's see what it took to to get this project off the ground. First off I lofted out some curves for the profile and outline. Then I used the curves to hotwire out this blank. From there I shaped out what the boats would look like.

After the shapes were done I prepped the foam with mold release and vacuum bagged the skins on. The bottoms were sheet foam and the decks were this cool honeycomb matting.

Master Glasser Tony Mikus did the outer lamination which was then polished out.

With cockpits cut open it was now time to let the genie out of the bottle (ie, pull the foam out). After that, the combing went on and we were approaching launch day.

A crystal clear day greeted the christening. And I have to admit that the boats looked awesome. But the burning question for me was "how would they work?"

Mother nature provided a perfect test track. And with waves like this, all I have to say is whatever "floats your boat", get out there and have fun!

As for how the boats went, it was all thumbs up. But our story doesn't end there. Next post I'll explain where all this is going.

Jim's Red Rockets

2009-03-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

If you surf up and around Half Moon Bay and Ocean Beach, chances are you've seen Jim out flying on one of his red boards. Jim logs heaps of water time and has a knack for finding the best peak on any given day.

This batch of boards covers a good range. The top board is a quad fin, middle board is a full biscuit type shape, and bottom board is the every day go to thruster.

Headman II

2009-03-09T10:38:00.000-07:00

Mark brought in a vintage Trestle Special that he had beautifully restored. Rumor had it that it was one of Owl Chapman's personal North Shore boards since it said "Headman" on the board. Mark loved the board but at just barely 21" wide it was narrow for the waves he likes to ride. We decided to copy the board as much as possible but to bump the width out to 22". This added a lot more overall curve to the outline of the board.

The guys at Handcrafted did a nice Volan coke bottle green lamination. Mark is a crafty, hands on guy and did the great polish job himself.

I've said it before but I really dig the racy triple stringer longboards. Not only for their looks but because I like how they ride in the bigger surf.

Photography Student Gone Wild

2009-03-05T08:19:00.000-08:00

Brooks Institute student Derek Bahn grabbed Nate's new twinzer before he could put wax on it and clicked off a few shots.

Obviously this cat is getting a good education in studio lighting and effects. Check out his site at www.dbahnphotography.com.

Nate has always liked loose, busy, handpainted designs. It's fun doing his boards because when it comes to the color work, it's rough sketches on paper and he always says, "Yeah, that's it, go for it. Do something wild."

White Rider

2009-03-02T11:02:00.000-08:00

Matt wanted a classic mid 70's single fin for cruising Ocean Beach. And at 260 lbs, he wanted to make sure we put in enough volume. The result: 7'4" x 21 1/4" x 3 1/8". Matt envisioned a black and white color scheme, white pigment lamination with black logos and pinlines.

Mid flight through the shaped blank, Matt called asking if we could incorporate some bonzer side runners. I thought it was a good idea so I added a little double barrel concave through the vee in the back half of the board.

The boys at Handcrafted did another great job. The gloss and polish really reflects the quality and attention to detail they put into their work.

Back to the Future

2009-02-24T10:33:00.000-08:00

What does the son of a surfboard shaper do for a school project given a choice? How about "The History of the Surfboard."

Not wanting to be too new school and muck about with resin and foam, Ben chose to get back to basics and feel the soft, warm grain of wood. His scheme was to make a replica of an Alaia board.

First step was to find a suitable blank. Our backyard fence that fell down last year provided the perfect piece of aged redwood, worm holes and all.

Once he figured out the length, Ben laid out the plan shape using some basic tools like a compass and french curves. (Who knows what a french curve is?!)

The block plane made quick work of rolling the rails.

Then on to the final sanding.

The last thing was to apply a dark stain and beeswax finish to give it a rich, old wood feel. The end result was pretty cool.

It's about the size of a Paipo board. Looks like fun.

The main thing for me was that Ben was able to get his hands on some new tools, learn how they work safely, and feel empowered that these basic skills and tools can open a lot of doors.

Ben is just looking forward to taking it out and giving it try.

Mocha Coffey

2009-02-21T08:15:00.000-08:00

Tory choose this mocha brown for her new hybrid.

She was also up for my thing for matching decals colors to fins. The red seemed to work out well.