Some overdue photos: Pinky, Javi, Brent... the usual suspects.

A bunch of photos I should've posted up a long time ago (my apologies to all parties involved). These are all courtesy of lensman Jeff Wallis. Check 'em out:

Photo: Pinky, chucking his trusty Isle stand up board into the lip. Pinky's not a small guy so if this is your view on the way out my advice is to ditch... and dive.

Photo: Javi on the same day... slashing. The surf looks so fun there- bummed I missed that one.

Photo: Pinky, el-wrap-o.

Photo: Nose riding.

Photo: Brent snagged that Stamps 8'6" Grim Ripper that was for sale not too long ago. His standard board is a 5'10 x super narrow x ridiculously thin potato chip of a short board... which he rips. This was his second time ever out in the surf with a stand up board.

Photo: Kind of looks like he knows what he's doing...

Photo: Taking aim...

Photo: Like I said, second time in the surf... the rippers who are now putting paddles into their hands are going to make us all look slow and old.

Photo: My new favorite board of all time... 9'1 Stamps Viking Bump... running Futures GL thruster set of course!

Photo: She's a tippy little vixen but I'll take the trade off in stability for her performance gains... such a sweet board.

Boat Update: Sanding, sanding, sanding.... the manual says, "some fairing may be required" that means... get ready for three days of sanding... at least!

Here's a little update: My summer break

Stoked on my summer break! I decided to take a week off right when school ended to do nothing- well, I did run down to northern Baja, surfed every day that it was do-able and then there's a whole other project I'm determined to get finished this summer. Actually, my wife gave me an ultimatum... the boat must be finished or it goes in the dumpster... so you can see I've been busy, even if it is my summer break.

The posts have been a little scarce lately. I know, I know, you all want your daily dose of new stuff... well, like I said- I needed a break and so I took it. But, don't worry- I'm coming back on line with some great stuff.

Here's a couple shots of the past week's highlights:

We did get some surf... as a matter of fact there were a couple of stellar mornings when the sun finally came out and my Seattle-style, June gloom depression wore off. Jeff Wallis was on it this morning knocking out some sweet shots. If you want a photo session contact me and I'll put you in touch. Here's me wrapping my new/old, favorite turn... I've been experimenting with a new/old paddle technique for this turn- couple more sessions and I should be able to give up the goods about my paddle style for this turn.

All right, here's my new preoccupation: a stitch-and-glue wooden boat called a Wine Glass Wherry. This is going to be one sweet little dory when it's done. I've even got a killer pair of eight foot oars for it. This boat has sat in my garage for about six years now- partially assembled, taking up valuable space in the garage that has since been annexed by my wife- she's decided it's her new wood shop (she's got some unreal woodshop machinery). So the boat has to be built or burned...

Hope you don't mind but I'll be adding some boat building updates to the blog. Here I'm caulking all the seams with West Systems epoxy. The syringe allows me to get the epoxy deep into the seams. The frames you see inside of the boat are temporary. They'll be replaced by seats and thwarts (don't ask me the difference). The boat is really coming together- she's got sweet lines and with a little sanding the hull is beginning to look good. I'm a little nervous about the giant epoxy and fiberglass laminating job that is just around the corner but I'll figure it out all right. More pics to come.

Finally, our Northern Baja shake down trip went really well. I promise more surf photos to come. Until then, you'll have to admire the two giant lobster platters we were forced to eat both nights that we were there. I ate lobster until I couldn't eat anymore, drank a margarita and a beer and munched chips and guacamole. Total cost? Twenty bucks.

Join the HPWA! Here's why...

The Human Powered Watercraft Association is in full swing- these are the people who are going to fight to keep stand up paddling legal at beaches near you. Tim Ryan, Legal Advisor to HPWA sent me a little release describing why the association came to be:

   " When paddlesurfing was banned from the surf in Orange County very briefly last year, the only reason that it was reversed immediately is because of a paddlesurfing addict ... who happened to be a litigator.  The OC ban, like all restrictions being placed on paddlesurfing (and just plain paddling) across the country arose from the October, 2008, legal memorandum from the US Coast Guard designating the standup paddleboard as a "vessel."  The legal work done to support this designation was and remains embarrassingly suspect.  

How to reverse it... how to make sure your right to paddle is fought for... by people who know how to fight "the man?" Sign the petition, write a letter, join the HPWA.  We have thought this through, had our petition vetted by people on the inside at USCG and Harbors and Navigations... and are preparing an industry and user group challenge to the designation.  In order to do this, we need letters from industry and from regular folks... and thousands of signed petitions!  Join the HPWA, sign our petition, go to our site, get petitions signed by your friends, neighbors, co-workers, enemies, and ex-wives, MAYBE EVEN THROW THE HPWA A FEW SHEKELS THROUGH THE PAYPAL BUTTON.
 

This group is not a bunch of industry folks trying to leverage a non-profit into industry legitimacy... it consists of over a thousand member paddlers... and is directed by the former volunteer head of the Dana Point Boaters Association, with litigator Tim Ryan (me) providing legal and strategic support.  I've got my own gig for paying my rent... and this AINT it!  We volunteer 100% of their time and have invested considerable amounts of our own monies into this gig.

Our first goal is the fight the "vessel" classification that is causing so much damage to our sport.  Once that is reversed, we can work to undo the damage that it has wrought!  

We promise to fight for your right to paddle like freaking superheroes on crack!

Tim Ryan, Legal Advisor, HPWA"

I believe him! Be sure to click over to the HPWA site and at the very least sign the petition and become a member. I'm heading over right after I post this up... you should too!

I'm BACK!

Just got back from the first run of the three day Northern Baja trips we're offering. In a word: unreal!

Photo: Watch out for this guy- he's way too stoked for his own good!

Photo: Zero crowds... none, nada, zilch people in the water other than the crowd we brought with us- no stinkeye, no O.K. sign (think DogPatch), no State Standing Order.... just lefts, rights and smiles!

Check back for a full report!

Three day Northern Baja trip: I'll be right back!

Off on a three day trip. Stand Up paddling Northern Baja- trying to score some of this southern hemi south swell- stand by for a full report!

Photo: P.net officina will be cerrado until Wednesday.... see you then!

Summer's here!

Just said goodbye to the class of '10 and said hello to summer vacation! Got two new boards in the pipeline (Stamps 10'6 toe-hanger stand-o and a crazy surfboard from Stu Kenson called the Pillow, or Flying Pig, or Pleasure Pig or something...), just trunked it and there's two south swells stacked up over the next couple of weeks. Yes, summer is here! Let the games begin!

Photo: And when I click the board racks back into place on my beach cruiser, I know for sure that summer's knockin' at the door.

Want to Paddle Surf in Baja? 2 Guided Trips in the Works...

All right- I'm letting the cat out of the bag... We've put together two different, fully guided, Baja Stand Up Paddle Trips for Summer and Fall of 2010. Sick of worrying where you can and can't paddle surf? Does the State Standing Order piss you off? Want to paddle anywhere you damn well please? Do fun waves, cold Pacificos and tasty lobster dinners sound just about right? Well then, friend, Baja is for you! Lots more info to come in the next few days.

Southern Baja Women's Paddle Camps: All inclusive (boards, paddles, food, lodging, ground transportation to and from paddling sites) and fully guided. I'm teaming up with Palapas Ventana and Cascade Watersports to provide a Southern Baja paddle trip that you'll never forget. Start each morning with Yoga and Pilates classes followed by a healthy breakfast in preparation for the day's paddling activity. No wetsuits needed as the water temperature is close to 80 degrees! These week long trips will feature a three day excursion to surf and paddle the pristine waters of Bahia Magdalena. Learn flatwater paddling and surf paddling in beautiful Southern Baja without the hassle of bringing boards through the airport. Let us do the work. Limited space available, accepting deposits mid-June.

Northern Baja Stand Up Paddle Surfing. Want to surf Northern Baja but don't know how or where to go? Let us take care of the hassles- hop in our surf exploration vehicle and let us take you safely over the border to some of Northern Baja's best reef and beach break waves. No blackballs, no restricted areas, no limits to where you can paddle surf. We'll handle housing and take care of your lobster dinner- you bring your board and paddle or arrange a rental from us. Email me (john@paddlesurf.net) for more information.

Check back for more information.

Hey... I WON SOMETHING! And need photogear advice.

Had to happen sometime! I won a photo contest with my entry shot down in Southern Baja this last winter. Now I know it wasn't a National Geographic Contest or anything... but I'm stoked.

Go check out Manny Vargas's blog site for the next contest....

Looks like I'm going to the WaveHouse... I want to sit in the tube on a bodyboard and sip a MaiTai. Really, though- anybody have any experience on that thing? I have a feeling that it's more difficult than it looks. But it does look FUN!

Been preoccupied with photogear lately- like weird-preoccupied. It's a battle between less body (Canon Rebel t2i) with some bad ass lenses: 70 - 200 IS L and a Tokina Wide Angle or more body (Canon 7d) and less lens (just the wide angle). Any opinions out there on photo gear... fire away, please!

Kelly's new custom 9'2 Rusty Stand Up Board

Summer time means new boards. Kelly's got a couple of fresh, custom made Rusty stand ups that are really sweet. Here's the pulled nose 9'2" x 28.5" that he just picked up:

Photo: Fits nicely in the van.

Photo: The pulled nose brother of Kelly's 9'2 nose rider.

Photo: The important stuff...

Photo: Right off the bat Kelly snagged two little right handers-  the board looked fast and loose.

Photo: El Snap!

Steal this one: New Stamps 8'6 Grim Ripper... $800

 Too LATE: THIS BOARD IS SOLD!

At $800 for a new, custom shaped board, this is a killer deal- act fast because I know this one's going to be gone soon. Here's the story, Tim shaped out an 8'6 x 30" x 4" Grim Ripper, packed it up to ship to a customer and the board was damaged during shipping. One ding. Being the good guy that he is, Tim took the board back and has since had the ding professionally repaired. The board is now water tight and ready to rip turn in el stylo de Luke Egan! This thing is sick! I've seen it first hand and if I was in the 160 - 210lb range I'd be on this deal. Heck, if one of you guys doesn't pick it up too soon I might have to work out some kind of agreement... so save me the hassle of trying to explain why I'm coming home with two new boards and buy this thing before I do something stupid. Check it out:

Photo: New, never been paddled. $800. Do it pull the trigger. This is a sweet, forgiving small board shape- a 30" width is a nice forgiving number if you're just jumping down to smaller boards.

Photo: Five fin boxes, go quad on Monday and thruster on Tuesday... or run all five and get weird. Choices. Future Fin set up.... lots of fin options out there.

Photo: Ding repair. Water tight and ready to rock.

Contact Tim at: surfboardsbystamps@gmail.com

$800 what are you waiting for?

Javi Hitting it on his Gerry Lopez SUP

Another cool little sequence from JWall (jeffwallisphotography.blogspot.com). Sometimes you see a little foam ball that needs to be swatted. Here's Javi taking a swing:

8'3" Stand-O: Plus-One San Diego

Stukey (pronounced: Stew-Key) is no chump. The guy knows surfboards, he's been surfing practically his whole life and he rips. Stand-o or crawler he knows how to make work 'em.  Importantly, he also why they work- which is cool for me because I'm always up to learn something new. When I got word that he was hunting me down, frothing about something crazy-new from his friends up at Plus-One I knew it'd be worth taking a look.


This one is a little too small for me but it's pretty damn interesting nonetheless. Stukey saw it and basically ran out the door with it, promising to get it back tomorrow- the shapers haven't even ridden it yet. His first impressions are positive- ridiculous speed and good old, back footed, chainsaw carving (thank you thruster set up). Check it out: 

Photo: Stukey and the machine... light, low volume and ready to fly.

Photo: A clean, sweet outline. A little width in the nose and a round tail.... anybody think this might be suited to an open-faced, full, reef type wave... breaking in front of cliffs... hmmm.

Photo: This board is all about the bottom effects. Curve in the rail line but flat across the stringer. Carve and speed... but what's the trick of getting point A to point B? Check out the dished out bottom.

Photo: Well part of the answer might be carving out a substantial single concave from the front of fins to just about the nose.... flatten the area along the stringer but keep the curve in the rail... hmmm.

Photo: Like I said, Stukey's no chump- he rides all kinds of stuff. For comparison, look at this little board. He calls it "The Molar", the thing is only about 4'6"- and it's not a novelty; he rips that thing. 

Photo: The Molar and the Stukey... working it.

Thanks to Stukey for letting me check it out and to the guys at Plus-One for okaying the photos. I'm interested to hear more about how this board goes- the thing looks cool.

7'11 Stamps Stand-O: Nelz hookin' one down in the 'hood.

Always stoked to hear from my photog buddy, JWall. This time he had a bunch of land shots of a pretty good day of surf. The stand-os were on it- surfing the Zipper, snagging lefts and rights.

Check out Nelz on the 7'11 Stamps Grim Ripper. He's been test driving this one for the past week or so... Nelz runs it as a quad with an interesting fin set up. The thing looks pretty fast, lots of width in the guts and tail for that one:

Photo: Setting up the bottom turn... waiting, waiting...

Photo: And hammering down on it.... so fun to hold off on that turn and watch the wave start to develop.

Photo: Got to bleed off speed somewhere.

Photo: And how about a little foam rebound for good measure?

Check back for some killer photos of Javi and Pinky.... attack of the stand-o! All photos courtesy of Jeff Wallis, check out his stuff at jeffwallisphotography.blogspot.com.

Weirdest Racing Board Ever: A couple more shots from the Stand-o Roundup

Here's a couple more photos of that strange new race board design that I posted up a couple of days ago. I'm not a racer so I don't know how it goes... designers are named in the last photo. Good luck:

Some Water Shots: MannyVphoto.com

Here's a couple of killer snaps Manny grabbed at Shores this weekend with Nelz out and on it. Of course, I blew it by not getting on the road and hunting it down. Check em:

Photo: Definitely a little chunky out there.

Photo: I can only imagine what the paddle out was like...

Photo: Cool lighting peeking through the clouds...

Photo: Yeah, Nelz!