So the first few of us leave for Ecuador tomorrow morning. Now that all of the loose ends are tied up and bags packed, it's finally time to relax a little and start to think about the trip ahead.
As I was packing my boards yesterday I had an idea - maybe it'd be fun to do a short video talking about the trip quiver? Chris started rolling and I ad libbed my way through the boards. It ended up being pretty fun and the video turned out okay.
I'll try to report back as often as I can with spotty internet service. I know there are about twenty-something Great Lakes surfers itching to get wet in tropical waters...I sure am.
Viva Ecuador!
1/29/10
1/28/10
The Bluegill
I think I mentioned (maybe not?) in a recent post that I was aquiring a second new board from Jon Wegener.
I brought the 7'0 Finley alaia back from Surf Expo where Jon had also agreed to sell me one of his new "finless" prototypes - the Bluegill. I told him I was going to Ecuador for a month and would be stoked to test it for him down there. He agreed and sent it UPS when he got home to California.
It arrived today, and it looks fun. It's not finless, technically, as it has two long, shallow keel fins Jon glued on. He left them rough (unglassed) so he could surf it, come in and sand them down, surf it again, and so on. I guess I should bring some sandpaper with me.
This is prototype #2, shaped in early November, and I am honored to give it a go on this trip. Jon's vision is for the Bluegill to surf as much like an alaia as possible, but paddle better and catch waves more easily due to the increased volume. I can't wait to see how it works, and will report back from Ecuador with progress if time allows.
Some eye candy...
Deck
Bluegill #2
Bottom
Concave
Keel and concave
I brought the 7'0 Finley alaia back from Surf Expo where Jon had also agreed to sell me one of his new "finless" prototypes - the Bluegill. I told him I was going to Ecuador for a month and would be stoked to test it for him down there. He agreed and sent it UPS when he got home to California.
It arrived today, and it looks fun. It's not finless, technically, as it has two long, shallow keel fins Jon glued on. He left them rough (unglassed) so he could surf it, come in and sand them down, surf it again, and so on. I guess I should bring some sandpaper with me.
This is prototype #2, shaped in early November, and I am honored to give it a go on this trip. Jon's vision is for the Bluegill to surf as much like an alaia as possible, but paddle better and catch waves more easily due to the increased volume. I can't wait to see how it works, and will report back from Ecuador with progress if time allows.
Some eye candy...
Deck
Bluegill #2
Bottom
Concave
Keel and concave1/27/10
An Easy Task
How hard would it be to pick up one piece of trash every time you went to the beach?
Pretty easy, I would say. So why not do it? If every one of us did, or even most of us, our beaches would be litter free. Seems so simple...
Read this short piece from Tom Fucinga and maybe you will feel inspired the next time you go to check the surf.
Pretty easy, I would say. So why not do it? If every one of us did, or even most of us, our beaches would be litter free. Seems so simple...
Read this short piece from Tom Fucinga and maybe you will feel inspired the next time you go to check the surf.
Great Lakes Surf Luau attendees doing their part in keeping our beaches clean.
1/26/10
Neat Forecasting Tool
One of the guys at the Lake Superior Surf Club forum found this link for a forecasting tool I've never seen. The unpaid portion only goes out two days, but it looks like a paid membership (of course) goes out longer.
Another neat site to add to the online forecasting quiver. Dial them in and you can reap benefits like these...
Another neat site to add to the online forecasting quiver. Dial them in and you can reap benefits like these...
1/25/10
Noosa Nose Picking
Here's a glimpse at local tip tech, Harrison Roach, at First Point in the town of Noosa, Queensland, Australia.
A fantastic wave, and one we will be surfing on our Group trip in March. There are still 3 spots left if you want to go with us. And, no, you don't have to be able to surf this well.
A fantastic wave, and one we will be surfing on our Group trip in March. There are still 3 spots left if you want to go with us. And, no, you don't have to be able to surf this well.
1/22/10
Good Memories
Surfing is good for those.
In fact, it might just be the good memories that we are constantly chasing. Good memories are a surfer's addicting drug - we're always looking for more.
Here is one of mine from this past fall - a reeling Lake Michigan right point and not a soul in sight. This was meant to be shared in the "New Roll" thread of posts but it got sidetracked. Still worth it.
In fact, it might just be the good memories that we are constantly chasing. Good memories are a surfer's addicting drug - we're always looking for more.
Here is one of mine from this past fall - a reeling Lake Michigan right point and not a soul in sight. This was meant to be shared in the "New Roll" thread of posts but it got sidetracked. Still worth it.
1/21/10
Big Rig
Great Lakes surfing culture has its share of characters. "Big Rig" Billy McCoy is right at the top of the list.
Residing in central Wisconsin, Billy is a long haul trucker. He's known to strap his board to the back of his semi cab for a quick sesh after making a delivery, make all of his own equipment from scratch, log countless of hours in the search for surf, and drive around in his "Longboard Limo" - a converted hearse.
He may not be the best surfer in the world, but it's guys like him that embody the pure joy that many of us get from this thing called surfing.
Billy McCoy on surfari up north, fall 2009. That's one of his homemade boards.
The Longboard Limo - fully equipped and ready to rip.
Residing in central Wisconsin, Billy is a long haul trucker. He's known to strap his board to the back of his semi cab for a quick sesh after making a delivery, make all of his own equipment from scratch, log countless of hours in the search for surf, and drive around in his "Longboard Limo" - a converted hearse.
He may not be the best surfer in the world, but it's guys like him that embody the pure joy that many of us get from this thing called surfing.
Billy McCoy on surfari up north, fall 2009. That's one of his homemade boards.
The Longboard Limo - fully equipped and ready to rip.1/20/10
YouTube
For those who may not know, Third Coast has a You Tube account!
Click here to subscribe.
You can then be the first to see all the neat videos we will be posting in the future. With this new camera we have, we plan to upload all types of videos. Sounds like fun to me.
Here is a fresh one from last week at Surf Expo for you surf culture and history afficianados...
And here is one I found that shows Curren surfing the featured boards (Tomson may have gotten sizes/details wrong), and others, to a soundtrack featuring him on drums.
His surfing is so fun to watch.
Click here to subscribe.
You can then be the first to see all the neat videos we will be posting in the future. With this new camera we have, we plan to upload all types of videos. Sounds like fun to me.
Here is a fresh one from last week at Surf Expo for you surf culture and history afficianados...
And here is one I found that shows Curren surfing the featured boards (Tomson may have gotten sizes/details wrong), and others, to a soundtrack featuring him on drums.
His surfing is so fun to watch.
1/19/10
1/18/10
Want to go to Australia?
Third Coast, with the help of our friends at Global Surf Industries, coordinated a trip to last year's Noosa Festival of Surfing in Noosa Heads, Queensland, Australia. I'm stoked to say that we're going back!
We'll be taking a small group down in mid-March, and we only have a few spots left. This is an awesome trip to an incredible little town with lots of great surf. We stay at a killer hotel steps from the beach and all of the festivities taking place for the Noosa Festival, which draws visitors from all over the world.
If you're interested in going, please email ryan@thirdcoastsurfshop.com ASAP. Again, I only have three spots left!
Here's a photo from Tea Tree Point, one of many point breaks along Noosa National Park's incredible headland, and only a short walk from our hotel...
Here's a photo from Tea Tree Point, one of many point breaks along Noosa National Park's incredible headland, and only a short walk from our hotel...
1/17/10
Surf Expo: Day Four
Last day of what has been a productive trade show for us. We've had a chance to put a lot of faces to names of people we speak to over the phone and through email all the time...always nice.
We've also seen some great new stuff and developed new ideas on how we can make our shop better. As a small mom and pop business, it's crucial to stay dynamic and to continue to evolve.
On to day four photos...
Kelly in all his glory.
Xcel's booth, full of some of the finest wetsuits available.
Sector 9 set up a bum camp - classic. Devon, our rep, is wearing the camo jacket.
We've also seen some great new stuff and developed new ideas on how we can make our shop better. As a small mom and pop business, it's crucial to stay dynamic and to continue to evolve.
On to day four photos...
For you single guys; this is how many manufacturers display their new swimwear lines. I'm happily married to an incredible woman, so I don't look, of course!
Kelly in all his glory.
Xcel's booth, full of some of the finest wetsuits available.
Sector 9 set up a bum camp - classic. Devon, our rep, is wearing the camo jacket. Some of the booths are pretty funny.
Long time Florida surfer and shaper Dick Catri puts planer to foam.
This Takayama midlength looked sooo fun.
We met Steve Walden and his friend. Their boards have sold well for us and they were stoked to hear it. Walden is the consumate professional surfboard builder. Here are a few "Wahine" models.
Expo had this SUP demo pool set up. The amount of stand up paddleboard manufacturers, accessory reps, and other paddle people there was telling of it's growing popularity.
Saving the best for last. Matt and Margaret from Bing and Jacobs surfboards were there; I was stoked to finally meet them in person. Great people making incredible surfboards. Also in attendance was Jon Wegener, the man making the most progressive alaias in the world. He was stoked to hear that I had been sliding his craft on the Great Lakes - my first is a 6'6 Peanut model. Here I am with Jon and my second alaia; a 7'0 Finley. Jon hooked me up with an end of show special I couldn't refuse, and I can't wait to try it in Ecuador next month.
Packing the new 7'0 Finley for the Fed Ex ride home.
To celebrate our last day; Teppanyaki ala Orlando.
Long time Florida surfer and shaper Dick Catri puts planer to foam.
This Takayama midlength looked sooo fun.
We met Steve Walden and his friend. Their boards have sold well for us and they were stoked to hear it. Walden is the consumate professional surfboard builder. Here are a few "Wahine" models.
Expo had this SUP demo pool set up. The amount of stand up paddleboard manufacturers, accessory reps, and other paddle people there was telling of it's growing popularity.
Saving the best for last. Matt and Margaret from Bing and Jacobs surfboards were there; I was stoked to finally meet them in person. Great people making incredible surfboards. Also in attendance was Jon Wegener, the man making the most progressive alaias in the world. He was stoked to hear that I had been sliding his craft on the Great Lakes - my first is a 6'6 Peanut model. Here I am with Jon and my second alaia; a 7'0 Finley. Jon hooked me up with an end of show special I couldn't refuse, and I can't wait to try it in Ecuador next month.
Packing the new 7'0 Finley for the Fed Ex ride home.
To celebrate our last day; Teppanyaki ala Orlando.Adios!
1/16/10
Surf Expo: Day Three
Day three went pretty smoothly. After an informative seminar on managing inventory effectively (boring to all but the most most stubborn, and driven, retailers) we had the pleasure of watching surf legend Shaun Thompson speak about the evolution of the surfboard shaper and the surfboard itself. Very Cool.
We then recieved a call and surf report from Chicago surfer Brett Callaway who was down here on vacation. We had hoped to hook up for a surf, and it sounded good enough to these dry lake surfers, so we ditched th show to go meet him knowing that we could finish what we needed to do at the show on the last day...
Shaun Thompson, legendary South African surfer who now calls Rincon home. It was a concise and informative discussion and really fun to hear.
At 54, Thompson is as stoked as ever.
First things first; George Greenough, without whom surfing might still be stuck.
We then recieved a call and surf report from Chicago surfer Brett Callaway who was down here on vacation. We had hoped to hook up for a surf, and it sounded good enough to these dry lake surfers, so we ditched th show to go meet him knowing that we could finish what we needed to do at the show on the last day...
Chris, Third Coast shop manager, ready to tackle day three.
Shaun Thompson, legendary South African surfer who now calls Rincon home. It was a concise and informative discussion and really fun to hear.
At 54, Thompson is as stoked as ever.
First things first; George Greenough, without whom surfing might still be stuck. He was, and still is, the man.
Toward the end, Shaun shared his list of "personal" surfboard shapers who have made him a board over the years. All 41 of them!
Our first glimpse of the wave at Cocoa Beach pier...eeek. Unsesonably cold water and meager surf led to an empty line up. It was more fun than it looked, however.
Equipment.
To think the best surfer in the world - Kelly Slater - grew up surfing here. Maybe the Great Lakes will produce a surfing powerhouse one day? The surf isn't too much worse.
Toward the end, Shaun shared his list of "personal" surfboard shapers who have made him a board over the years. All 41 of them!
Our first glimpse of the wave at Cocoa Beach pier...eeek. Unsesonably cold water and meager surf led to an empty line up. It was more fun than it looked, however.
Equipment.
To think the best surfer in the world - Kelly Slater - grew up surfing here. Maybe the Great Lakes will produce a surfing powerhouse one day? The surf isn't too much worse.Adios.
1/14/10
Surf Expo: Day Two
Day two of the trip, day one of the show. With an initial 18 hours of homework out of the way, it was time to hit the first day of the show...
Surf Expo takes place in a giant convention center. The sheer size of it is mind boggling - at least to those of us who aren't used to it. Erin, entering the pod.
Seminar stage, bikini catwalk...waiting for the keynote speaker.
Surfboards. Take your pick.
Zap Skimboards. Sick skimboards.
We have been a good dealer for them, and they have been good for us.
Traditionally, this is why you come.
Surf Expo takes place in a giant convention center. The sheer size of it is mind boggling - at least to those of us who aren't used to it. Erin, entering the pod.
Seminar stage, bikini catwalk...waiting for the keynote speaker.
Surfboards. Take your pick.
Zap Skimboards. Sick skimboards.We have been a good dealer for them, and they have been good for us.
Traditionally, this is why you come. Erin, at right, observing the latest goods from Volcom's 2010 women's line.
A big draw at Expo seems to be the skate park area. Tourist souvenirs? Boring.
A big draw at Expo seems to be the skate park area. Tourist souvenirs? Boring. The action is at this end - grab a beer and watch the kids drop an 8 set.
Did someone say beer? Patrons lining up for free brews at Volcom's tent.
Funny how that seems to attract a crowd.
A long day ended at dinner for us. Bad lighting, good food; hawaiian-style grub and a good night sleep will set us straight for tomorrow.
See you then.
Did someone say beer? Patrons lining up for free brews at Volcom's tent.Funny how that seems to attract a crowd.
A long day ended at dinner for us. Bad lighting, good food; hawaiian-style grub and a good night sleep will set us straight for tomorrow.See you then.
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.
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.
You don't see a board like this very often. Rennie Yater limited run balsa with abalone inlay.
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!
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!
1/11/10
Mind on Montanita
Our Ecuador trip is mere weeks away. It's hard not to think about when it's been cold and snowy for weeks and the surf here is literally frozen.
Here are two photos from last year's trip. It's easy to stay excited when looking through the album...
Sunset from the cliff. Air temp? 78 F.
Photo: Ryan
-736776.jpg)
Trimmin' life away. La Punta.
Photo: Bob Tema
Here are two photos from last year's trip. It's easy to stay excited when looking through the album...
Sunset from the cliff. Air temp? 78 F.Photo: Ryan
-737347.jpg)
Trimmin' life away. La Punta.Photo: Bob Tema
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