Family and Friends

 Hi!

It's always good to get a face with a name, so here we are.

At our favorite local surf spot, C-Street, Ventura.

Russell, Jeannine, Merrick and Justice

Missing in the family photo is 'bro-bro', Josiah, 18. He is a young adult now, living in Central California.

**We love you, bro-bro!**

(sorry, hope that didn't embarrass you bro-bro....but I'm gonna make it my life mission to make our kids used to hearing those words!)

Merrick means 'ruler-of-the-ocean'. Can you believe it? A name of destiny for Al Merrick, right?

And our little Merrick is our fearless, extreme-sports ball of ever-moving energy!

Justice means, well, Justice. And trust me, don't try breaking any rules around her. She'll quickly put you right.

She's our feminine, sweet ball of kindness.

Hi honey, lookin' good!

Love you too, but in a very different way!

**wink wink**

This is our good friend, Liselle, who like me is also from South Africa.

Liselle took the above photos.

Liselle has the highly privileged and responsible job of travelling around the WCT tour as chaplain to the pro-girls.

She just came back from balmy Puerto-Rico and is soon heading to balmy Hawaii.

Dang! You go girl!

We love her too!

Happy Friday everyone.

(Can  I hear a Hallelujah?!)

Mesa Cafe Margaritas and Creative Mayhem

Some of our closest friends, Dave and Vicki, own Mesa Cafe...the best home-style food in SB County.

They have asked me to make some unique boards to display and sell there.

Dave's always given me the freedom to make boards that exercise my creative muscles.

(muscles that I use to curl the famous $2.50 margarita:)

Here I am putting a balsa/walnut tailblock on a Simster.

I used 3/8 dowling inserted 3 inches on both sides of the blank and the tailblock.

This is held on with Resin-X, with red pigment to add a splash of color.

And for something really unique, I added the foam tailblock that I had cut off of the original.

Now for the shaping and detailing....photos of completed project to follow.

It's 5 o'clock somewhere!

Happy Hour!

Happy Wednesday.

California Spud

This board I shaped a while ago for our friend, Matt Coleman who we met through church and Santa Barbara Christian Surfers, which he leads.

Matt's a good surfer and wanted a small wave mush-buster.

So....California Spud -  modified.

Check out this Swallow Tail or Sqa-llow Tail. Actually, the name I initially came up with was Slingshot Tail because it looks like my son's wrist-rocket.

I've also seen it called the Jet Tail.

At 5'10  x  20  3/4  this outline has LOTS of curve!

This really gives the board the ability to skate and to utilize a smaller portion of the rail during turns.

The cool thing about this board is that Matt is just over 6 foot tall, about 180 lbs and a really good surfer.

He rode this in a lot of good surf at Rincon and Jalama and has since ordered more.

( Fin system: Lokbox. Fins: Bamboo 101)

Longboards

For the most part, people know me as a shortboard shaper.

Probably due to years of working for Channel Islands and other companies known for their high performance shortboards.

But the truth is, I spent the first ten years shaping longboards and sailboards.

 I love this part of the business as much as the shortboard shaping.

Here are just two of my models.

The Performance Noserider and The Bender.

This green board is part of my retro/hybrid collection.

(To be talked about another time. It's got an ego and insisted on being in the photo.) 

9'3 Noserider and an 11'0 Bender

This Bender is my personal board. EPS Epoxy.

Weighs 9 1/2 lbs.

When it comes to longboarding, Have Fun or Go Home! :)

Happy Weekend everyone.

Hawaii or Bust!

Just sent off these three boards to Hawaii for Pasha.

These are EPS/Resin-X.

Two Speed Droids and a California Spud.

Convertable fin set-ups.

The Speed Droid has a fluted wing that allows the board to get traction in critical turns.

Pasha said he would post a full review on Surfer Mag forum and on this blog.

hint. hint. Pasha:)

Andy Irons

Our hearts are breaking for your family and for your friends.

"For you created my inmost being; 

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth."

Psalm 139 

Paradoxes

Let's talk custom.....

My very good friend Sean (we're going all the way back to High School!) likes to try and stump me when ordering boards.

All the typical paradoxes apply to him...

"...light, yet strong."

"...fast, yet loose."

"...skatey, yet carvey."

"...bright, yet subtle."

"...floaty, yet thin."

"Dude??"

5'10 fuller nose outline +

Wide point: 'around the center' +

Straighter tail, 'with a slight hip' +

Lower nose entry

= Skatey, yet Carvey!

Check!

Fuller volume under chest and forward

with accelerated tail rocker and

ample concave throughout.

100% bamboo fins by Marlin Bacon of Fins 101

( one set of these weighs less than one FCS fin without plugs.

The only fin that floats!)

= Floaty, yet thin. Fast, yet loose.

Check!

 100% hand-made and glassed by Russell Hoyte. 4-ounce bottom, double 4-ounce direct-size E-glass deck with tail patch.

4.8 lbs

80's Flourescent paint splash!

= Light, yet strong. Bright, yet subtle.

Check!

Photos coming soon. Right, Sean?

Happy Monday, except for you Ranger fans.

Our condolences.

Congrats Giants on the World Series, 2010.

San Francisco is rockin' tonight!