Tag Archives: surfboard

Masculine Ferry and Foam Boards

In wandering around Sydney and its glorious suburbs, I have been advised many a time to take the Manly ferry from Circular Quay. To MANLY. Seriously, everyone I’ve met has told me to do it. So today, I finally did. I did not bring my board because, quite frankly, I didn’t feel like lugging it on the bus and the ferry and for a walk of indeterminate length. When I got there, I learned that you could rent a foam board for $15/hour, which would be roughly equivalent to the cost of eggs on toast. Worth it! I love to Wavestorm! Who doesn’t? It’s like all the best things about surfing, except being able to turn your board and duckdive. Today, on my pink BZ, I was reminded how much those things occasionally matter–especially when there’s some freaky rip-roaring current and the sea is suddenly composed entirely of whitewater. And not to be a whiner, but just about every time I find myself on a longboard (or carrying one) I say, “Ugh. This is why I’m a shortboarder.” Not because longboarding’s not fun; just because I’m lazy. The boards themselves weigh about as many stones as I do, and paddling out is a bitch. Anyway, I have also decided that while BZ may be the Escalade to Wavestorm’s Suburban, Wavestorms are lighter, more maneuverable, and generally, better. In my opinion.

Stay tuned for the wallet debacle that is WAX in the land Down Under…

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How I Came To Be Boardless. Count To Zen.

On Sunday, I found myself sitting on the beach. Reading. No surfboard next to me. A weird combination of factors and events contributed to this unfamiliar scenario. Read on.

numberONE: The water temperature was freakishly low:

“Holy fuck! The water is freezing today!” — Actual text message.

I believe 55 degrees is a confirmed figure.

numberTWO: “Now once upon a time not too long ago,” I hid out at Strands for an entire day (after strong-arming a hoe) and enjoyed the departure of June gloom. Yes, it’s August. Anyway, I spent the day surfing some fun ant hills. On my first wave, my ancient leash snapped. I took the opportunity to teach myself what everyone from California and Hawaii seems to know: how to surf without one. In other words, properly. With “situational awareness.”

numberTHREE: Within a few days, I was actually feeling comfortable without a leash. I was also feeling disgruntled the following Tuesday afternoon and all I wanted to do was surf–despite the fact that the waves were miniscule. I headed to Creek, which I thought might be better than the Pier (SC), which wasn’t even breaking. Creek was the least crowded I had seen it all summer. So there were about 6 guys in the water. The only rideable waves were to the south, by the rocky point that I usually avoid… you see where this is going, do you?

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Centaur Blog: Just because I believe in science…

I want this board.  And also, that magical — er, I mean, scientific — machine that uses Big Red to turn dreams into realities…

Vodpod videos no longer available.

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Buying Forgiveness … via FINS

My board, which is really beginning to show its age, has never seen new fins.  I feel like a bad parent.  So, like many bad parents, I tried to redeem myself by shelling out.  In honor of its premier voyage to Cali – or should I say, return home – I bought it a new bag (which, hopefully, will protect it from disgruntled luggage handlers) and a new set of fins.

Buying fins is a seriously confusing endeavor.  I mean, I guess not if you buy them all the time.  I Googled something along the lines of “find best surfboard fins” (that is an embarrassing admission) and what I came up with were a bunch of sites that didn’t make it much easier.  You’ve got to consider the system first, right?  FCS.  Then the flex, depth, sweep, surface area… too technical for me.  I ended up just looking at the different features and benefits of each type.

I decided on FCS K-3 Glass Flex, mostly because if Kelly Slater says “you should be set for pretty much any sort of waves you find,” well, that sounds like a safe bet.  They’re also reasonably priced, but should be a definite upgrade from my 10-year-old plastics.  I’ll let you know how it goes…

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Love Thy Wax

‘Cause without it, you wouldn’t be able to rodeo flip.  Yes, that’s right, it’s the wax that makes it possible.

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A Board is Born

I was lucky enough to watch Rich Luthringer rough shape one of his beautiful boards a few weekends ago.  It’s crazy to see a perfect, little swallowtail emerge from a pretty primitive blank.  Luthringer has made thousands of boards- literally, he stopped counting at 3,000.  Sawing and sanding are second nature to him now, and he can (amazingly) feel imperfections in the boards by running his hands over the foam.  Then he simply smoothes them out.  No big deal.

“I could probably shape a board blind,” he says.

“Really?”

“Yeah, I just wouldn’t use a planer blind.”

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The WAX Research Continues

The other day, I thought to myself, Hmm… there’s probably not a book dedicated entirely to surf wax, but why don’t I just check Amazon- WHAT?!? Turns out, there is.  I couldn’t find a copy of Surfboard Wax: A History at the NYPL, but my local Jersey library is kindly holding one for me.

Thanks to those of you who weighed in on what type of wax you use.  As for the rest of you slackers: the link is still up at the top of the page.  If you vote for “other,” digame [por favor] what “other” means.  If you have any other thoughts on surf wax, comment away; I’d love to hear what’s going through your head, no matter how weird.

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“And the speed was indeed ridiculous…” The New York Times on Alaias

Alaias seem to be all over the place these days.  Check out this article from today’s New York Times:

Ancient Surfboard Style Is Finding New Devotees by JAMIE BRISICK

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