5'6'' Bio Bluegill

Josh, the road warrior, rolled through town the other day and picked up his Bluegill made from recycled foam and glassed with entopy bio resin.

Thanks to Shawn Parkin for the photos.  http://www.shawnparkin.com/

Modern Kookbox

This is last Saturday.  It was real high tide and really cold, but the shape was good.  We had a blast and caught a bunch of waves, especially compared to the others out.  The kookboxes trim really well and go fast.

Sequoia Slab Table

Here are some  before and after pictures of chunks of wood I worked on over Thanksgiving.  We need a table for the back yard that can seat a couple of friends.  It will be 9' by 40''.

Paipoing a High Tide Corner.

Another fun session with an assist to the paipo.  This corner only works on a high tide small groundswell.  Everyone else is waiting at the coffee shop for the tide to drop. 

Sacred Craft 2010-San Diego

Phew!!! We just finished up a great weekend down at the San Diego Sacred Craft. We had a booth, and as usual we hooked up with our good friends at Hydrodynamica and Karl Ekstrom which makes for a very happening booth, and a range of boards that can't be matched by any other booth in the show! Thanks to all of the friends of Wegener Surfboards and lovers of all things alaia for stopping by and saying hello! And I dare say we walked away with a few more converts to the cause!

Richard Kenvin, John Elwell, and Carl Ekstom talking design and story...Thanks to Richard for putting this together and reintroducing the world to Bob Simmons and his designs.

Our friends at Korduroy.tv hosted the movie lounge where they debuted some great short films. They also put together a display very reminiscent of my backyard!

It's always great to see old friends at these events, and getting to meet new friends... Jon was stuck in the booth all day so I'm afraid I had to represent in most of the photos. Margaret (Bing and Jacobs surfboards) Riley, Charger Linda Benson, Me, and Farrah (I mean Robyn).

Bing Copeland and Carl Ekstrom catching up... and talking about surfboard design...how'd ya guess?

One of my favorite SC moments was when a surfer from Barbados came to check out the boards...he said that he smelled the booth long before he saw it. He said it smelled like his grandmother's house! He learned to surf on pieces of wood and there are still guys that won't ride foam boards because they are too slow! He and other converts to foam have the kids take off in front of them on the planks so that they'll make a good lip for them to smack. He said they can never catch the kids so everyone catches waves and paddles away happy! He also mentioned the best boards were made from school desks...so school teachers watch out!

Tom Carroll stopped by to say hello and say that he loves his Tombstone/paipo that Tom made him! He apparently hurt his ankle recently so he couldn't surf but staying out of the water was out of the question! Jon and I just nodded a little star struck and of course spaced on taking a picture!

I found this guy a little lost looking for the booth where he was supposed to drop off some mags and a skateboard. I asked what booth he was looking for...and as it turns out he was looking for our booth. Jeff Ho (Jeff Ho Surfboards, Zephyr Productions) and me!

Congratulations to Ryan Burch; notorious yard possum...and now the winner of the YOUNG GUNS Of Shaping! His fingers bleed and he gets blisters every time he shapes...makes me cringe looking at his hands after, but I'm sure after another 1000 boards or so he'll get some callouses!

Stay tuned as we have a few more pictures of the show for you...Jon thought that there was one booth in particular that deserved it's own post!

Overall, the was show was a success and a lot of fun...there were a few gliches and hang-ups at the set-up and take-down, and I do have to say that I did miss the board demos in the morning. They are usually a great opportunity for the curious to try the boards...as well as getting a surf in before a long day indoors! I hope you join us at the next one! Santa Cruz here we come!!!

Thanks,

r

Cinco De Mayo

I drove by the beach last night and the waves looked really fun, unfortunately I had obligations, and was not able to paddle out. With a little luck, I thaught,the surf could be fun again tomorrow evening. It was. This special to us because The Avenues in Redondo are rarely good, especially in the evening, But a combo swell and the rare mellowing of the wind, it can be the place to be. Rosa rode her 8'6'' Green Flash and I rode my latest favorite board, the 8' Bluegill.

knee boards and mini gun

The mini gun is 6'10'' I made for Darren. He wanted a little more float, but still feel good on a bigger wave. It is 19 3/4 wide. Will wanted a couple of kneeboards, I had not made many, but what the heck. He brought one by he likes and we went from there. I liked the way they came out and he says they ride great. 5'10'' and 6'2'', 24'' wide.

Jacob Stuth, Noosa

If you enjoy riding alaias, you must say what up to Jacob Stuth. He was the first guy to grab one with the intention of stand up riding, and has been blowing minds ever since. He is amazing to watch surf and has had a major influence on the design of the boards. Jacob works with bees and grows food and flowers for a living. Looking at the rooster tail comming off the board, one would realize he is gooing really fast.

photo; Chris Stevens

Visiuals From the Noosa Festival

The Noosa Festival of surfing just wrapped up. The surf looked pretty amazing. Tom had all his boards out for everyone to ride. Alaias, toothpicks, tunas, even a bluegill all the way from Michigan. I am pretty sure that is Cameron with a 20' long toothpick by Bill Wallace. At the festival this year they had a 20 minute long finless expression session during the contest and undoubtfully the funnest time of the event. This is Isaac Blyth on one of Tom's alaias, I am not sure of the size or model, during the session. It is amazing how these boards can slide down a wave but then engage to do a gouging cutback and then back into a lala down the line again.

All photoes by: Chris Stevens

More about the Noosa event to come

milling lumber for a batch of alaias

Today was spent chewing on some rough cut lumber for alaias. The Sacred Craft is comming up and want to bring a couple of the models.

I use as much of the shavings as possible in mulch and my friend grows mushrooms with it, but when alaia season comes this stuff piles up. If anyone has a use let me know.

The hard part is getting one side straight, so the other side can be trued up on the table saw. Good, sharp tools and it helps to see straight.

I cringe looking at the scraps, Thats gold!

Bluegill Beach

Here is some more Bluegill footage. Sorry about the editing. I am learning. Soon I will learn how to remove the background noise. This was last week on one of the nicest days, weatherwise, of the new year.

My new Bluegill

6'0'' 19.5 2 1/8 epoxy. Rails
palownia, sequoia. Bottom up
to the imagination.

9'6' 'for sale

I had a custom order for a floaty 9'6''. He wanted a little extra paddling power and stability. Basically a good begginer board or for someone a little bigger. As it turns out he has to wait awhile to pick it up, so it is for sale now. The price is negotiable. Let me know if anyone is interested. Blue pigment, pinlines, removable fins. 3 and 1/8 thick.