Chris & Rob Machado (pic)

Our friend Chris prints a lot of our Third Coast Surf Shop tees and other apparel at Graphic 22 in Chesterton, Indiana. They do a killer job. He was in San Diego for work recently and ran into Rob Machado at the airport. Rob was gracious enough to take a photo; he was on his way to Costa Rica or some other tropical locale. The life of a pro surfer...

Outside Magazine Feature (pic)

TCSS and New Buffalo, Michigan are featured in the latest issue of Outside Magazine as one of the best places for a quick and easy paddling adventure. Our Galien River Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals and stand-up paddling lessons are mentioned alongside Malibu, California and Lake Havasu, Arizona, among others.

We've been offering SUP sales, rentals and lessons since 2007 and are pushing the limits for paddling in the Great Lakes now more than ever. Stoked.

3rd Coast Sandals - You Decide (pic)

We got this idea; "Wouldn't it be neat to make some 3rd Coast sandals?". Just a simple pair of rad flip flops that you can wear to the beach and around town. Captain Jack got to work and this is what he came up with...

Which are your favorites (click photo to enlarge)? Vote here or on our Facebook page and we'll make the ones that get the most votes.

 

(new) New Buffalo Store Grand Opening (pic)

After 7 years at our original location in the quaint beach-side town of New Buffalo, we have decided to move. But don't fret; we're only moving about 6 blocks, and it's a move that not only more than doubles our retail space but also puts us only 3 blocks to Lake Michigan. Score.

To celebrate, we are having a Grand Opening party Saturday, May 26. Door prizes throughout the day, a book signing with our friend Jack Nordgren and his new Great Lakes surfing book Wave Chasers, hand-made movie poster signing by Jeremy Rumas (currently producing the new surf film Hangs Upon Nothing), and a $5 surfboard raffle for a brand new 3rd Coast longboard round out the action at 2:00 ET. All proceeds from the raffle go to the Chicago chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.

CLICK HERE for all of the details.

Nicaragua, Act 1 (pics)

Our week with the Bing family and friends in Nica was pretty killer. Rather than express in words what it was like, I will let our new friends Linn and and Petter, two young traveling Swedes, show it in photos. Take a peek at their Sunshine Stories website HERE for a slew of imagery from the trip. Stuff like this...

Seea Swimsuits Are In (pics)

Our first shipment of Seea Swimsuits are now in at the St. Joseph store. Made in California for active water women, we are stoked to be their first (certainly not last) Midwest dealer. For more info, check out the Seea website, then come see them for yourself.

Johnny Fox Surf Art Exhibition Details (pic)

Mark your calendars for May 5 and join us for the latest Third Coast Surf Shop Surf Art Exhibition at the St. Joseph Store. Featured artist: Johnny Fox. 

What: Third Coast Surf Shop Surf Art Exhibition featuring Johnny Fox

When: Saturday, May 5 from 7-10 ET

Where: St. Joseph store

A little info about Johnny...

John Martin Fox - Saugatuck, MI

Tribal Affiliation - Pokagon Potawatomi 

Education - Institute of American Indian Art, Santa Fe N.M. & Kendall School of Design, Grand Rapids MI.

Exhibitions:

Best of Show - West Michigan Regional Competition 

Institute of American Indian Art Gallery , Santa Fe N.M.

The Mitchel Museum of the American Indian, Evanston, IL.

Indian Summer Gallery, Saugatuck, MI.

Private and Corporate collections throughout the United States

Surfing BIO :

"My first experience with surfing came when I was around 5, that was 1963. My dad and his buddy Bennie where lifeguards at Oval Beach in Saugatuck. They would put me on a 11 foot paddleboard with no skeg, no rails and no rocker. Eventually, in my early teens, I picked up a beautiful 8 foot Con with overlapped rails and a deck patch. It had a large butterfly design on the hull and a clear blue resin fin. That board was the stepping stone that led me half way around the world and keeps me glued to this surfing environment here that I have seen grow to what it is today in the Great Lakes." 

This is a BYOB event and light appetizers will be served. Call us for details at 888-932-4575 x 1!

Nicaragua (pic)

The Bing Surfboards crew invited us to join them in Nicaragua for a week; we leave tomorrow. In the meantime, our St. Joseph store is open from 10-6 ET 7 days a week, and the New Buffalo store will be open in mid-May. Stop in and see us.

We'll get some photos from the trip and share them when we get back. Here's one from in front of the house...

Upcoming Great Lakes Surf Art Exhibition (pic)

Coming soon: details on the latest Third Coast Surf Shop Surf Art Exhibition at the St. Joseph store. Featured artist: the legendary Johnny Fox...

Mark your calendars for the opening reception party on Saturday, May 5 at 7:00pm ET.

Sea of Joy (vid)

One in the trilogy (Hot Generation (1967), Evolution (1969), and Sea of Joy (1971)) of transitional surfing films by Paul Witzig in the late '60s and early '70s, Sea of Joy is a must see for those interested in what the 'shortboard revolution' looked like in real time. Considering the fairly crude equipment they're using, these guys still make it look fun. See the latest issue of The Surfer's Journal for a nice article on the film series, too.

Oh, you might want to turn the volume down and blast your own tunes (eek!)...