Surf Expo: Day One

As I mentioned a few days ago, the TCSS crew is in Orlando this week for Surf Expo, a surfing industry trade show.

It's a nice chance for us to see what's new for 2010, inspect the lines, find new gear, meet with reps, and humbly shmooze with fancy industry types. It's also a nice excuse to get away to somewhere warm (and it is finally warming up here), see other shops, hopefully get a little surf in, and generally relax and enjoy some time off.

I've brought the camera to document the days. Hope you enjoy it...

Erin, contemplating what's ahead on the final descent.

First stop? Lunch...dial "thai" into the GPS and hit the road.

Second stop? The beach, of course. Go east until you hit water.

Unfortunately, it was flat - no surfing today.

Whenever we travel, we like to fit a little homework in. Finding the best local shops is a great way to see what works for other people and figure out if it might work for us.

The Longboard House is a cool one with a great board selection.

Here's Erin again; "This fish looks fun".

You don't see a board like this very often. Rennie Yater limited run balsa with abalone inlay.

And yes, there are four zeros after that 2.

The only other shop we thought worth checking with limited time. Quiet Flight does it well.

Welcome to Florida.

Well, there is one more I like to go into when on this stretch of coast, if only for the sheer fright factor. For a small surf shop owner, I must say I find Ron Jon to be pretty scary!

Inside the ultimate surfing tourist trap. As a reluctant businessman, I have to admit that they have done "it" (business) well. Still scary, though.

See you tomorrow!