The Sun Rises in California

Last March, the crew from Real Surf Shop in Izu, Japan came through town. They help me distribute my boards in Japan. They are alaia enthusiasts. While here, we went to the beach with a pile of boards to ride

I rode the 9'8'' hollow. Funny it is the middle of summer and I still need to wear a fullsuit. The water around 64 degrees.

This was Naoto's first time on a bluegill. I still have not cranked a turn like this. Naoto owns Real Surf Shop and is a former top professional in Japan.

Kai is the shop manager. He ripped on every board this day. That is a 6'10'' Stuth.

Kai again on a 5'10'' fish.

Naoto doing a Tom Curranisque bash off the mush on a 6'6'' Bluegill. I want to thank Shin Yamasaki for sending these pictures and helping with translation.

Two more woodies

This 8'2'' is a strong paddler and trims like 15' long surfboard, but it will still the alaia slides. I find narrowing the nose helps keep it from catching rails and pearling. Below is a paipo, tombstone, bellyboard. It is 3'8''.

Redy to go

The top board is a sporty 6'0'' Bluegill with redwood strips. Not edible 6'2''Peanut. The 8' Bluegill has blue foam and going to Tugger. The almost orthodox board is 10'6'' and also made of blue foam.

Bluegill'n in Mexico

Matt Calvani and I found that Bluegill like the waters off the Mexican coastline. This one is 7'0'' and works both frontside and backside in various conditions.

My computer is back, and I am stoked. Also we worked on the comment section. It should be usable now, so make a comment.

more boards

6'6'' epoxy stringerless, Thi is a custom headed to the third coast, fresh water. It is hard to see but by the rails I put a tough. I figure, once fibreglassed, this may stiffen op the flex a little. Below is a 8' Bluey.

6'10'' Quadrodamus. With a light sand finish, it feels like a high performance shortboard with way better paddling

Computer issues. Stay tuned

The computer needs a new hard drive and it is on the way. I have great clips comming soon. Stay tuned.

Thanks,
Jon

Experts on Bluegills and ewarnerphoto.com

Kassie Meador has been an alaia advocate for some time now and surfs them really good, like all the other boards she rides. I asked her to try a bluegill. She stopped by with Eric Warner, who took these nice photos. Check out Eric's website ewarnerphoto.com. Kassie currently has the board in Europe. It will be interesting to hear what she thinks and what the Euros think.

Some new fins

These are paulownia fins with beads tinted to match the boards. The lower fin is for a Gabezilla and the barn door is for a remake of a old Rick.

This is Curt and my 4th hollow longboard. It is a 9'8'' with sequoia and paulownia lumber. This is one of the nicest looking surfboards I have ever seen and am very proud of it. Upon first review, I did not see any crystallization with the sequoia, always a worry. The Bing Jacobs factory glassed it. The fin came out insane, again no crystallization. Stoked. You need to see in person how cool the grain looks. It kind of looks 3 dimensional. I really want to keep and ride it, but I can't afford it. I am riding Number 1 paulownia hollow presently. Wood longboards rid really good. Soo much momentum and forgiveness.

Early Spring Malibu

Cory and I heard about the sand bar at Malibu in March. We were excited to do a Bluegill test. Here is a couple of waves on some 6' boards. With the close up camera work it is hard to see how fast and distance covered. I have yet to surf Malibu on a 8'er but it must be insane.

Tom hanging in Taiwan 2007. Chris Del Moro cheering him on.
Photo M.Yao