2011

My thanks to those of you who have taken the time to look at this stuff over the last year, and especially those who have helped support truly independent artists and craftsmen by purchasing something through us. 2011 is starting the way we mean to go on- with some beautiful handshaped surfboards from Mick Mackie.

Enjoy your Holiday

This seemed seasonal in a Northern Hemi sort of way, and even environmental as we all love polar bears right?

Things we need

The complete Gonad Man book, via Sutho



Boxed notecard set from Joe Curren
I know, it's waaaay too late for christmas shopping and all that, but any deserving surf aficionado in your life (yourself included) would undoubtedly appreciate these items anytime. Sutho has compiled the legendary original Gonad Man art into an opulent book, while on a slightly classier note Joe Curren has made a beautiful notecard set. Hand made box (from Port Orford cedar offcuts no less) with a set of cards using 4 of his images. Very nice indeed. It's still raining here in SoCal. I've forgotten how to surf I think, or at least am very close to it.

Lost In The Ether

Andrew Kidman's new project is about to start shipping any minute now, and as usual, it's a beautiful, personal slice of the culture. The film 'Lost In The Ether' is packaged in a 100 page book featuring photography and interviews from the making of the film and is limited to 1000 copies. It features surfing and meditations on the design of surfboards from Mick Mackie, Wayne Lynch, Dave Parmenter, Garth Dickinson, MP, Sage Joske and more. It's only available here and you also get a $50 discount voucher for the 'Ether' book, again limited to 1000 copies, making it one of the more affordable pieces of art out there really. Hopefully we'll have some screenings of Andrew's film set up for early next year.

Further Asymmetry

Up in Northern California Jamie Murray has tried his hand at an asymmetrical surfboard and it looks quite lovely. Jamie, if you read this, a ride report from yourself or whomever picked this up would be appreciated. The boards do feel different to a 'standard' surfboard, but as far as I'm concerned, it's a good difference. On the backhand especially, the boards feel magic and after a few rides you find a flow to your surfing you didn't know was there. Not a board for everyone admittedly, but for those with the interest in a diverse quiver, highly recommended.

UPDATE:
Thanks Jamie, my take exactly- loose and fast on the fore, grippy and smooth on the back, and bags of fun on the right wave. Here's a another respectful nod to Carl Ekstrom's genius. This one via RT's fine Warbles blog and shaped by Ryan Burch.

Go out, see art, have a good time

And if you're in San Francisco or New York, here's where you can do it. Tomorrow night- RK shows up in with another van load of ephemera, eclectic wonder and historical gold, all of which you can buy. Meanwhile, in NYC on Tuesday, Glen E. Friedman steps out for a good cause. He's doing a little signing/talk arrangement at Revolution Books. He'll sign a book for you (there's a nice gift for your favourite skate/music aficionado) and no doubt tell some good stories. I have to say that I still have moments where I find it hard to believe that somehow I wound up working with C.R Stecyk and Glen- these guys were the cultural shamans of so much stuff that mattered, and still does. Check it out, it'll be good. I think I still have some Dogtown books signed by Glen and CR3 for anyone who's not in New York and wants a piece of the fun too.

New Asymmetricals

The mad precision of Carl's models never fails to amaze me. Nice check on the Parmenter article in the latest Surfer's Journal too.

I'd be the first to admit there's no money in this surfboard lark, at least not when you dabble in helping out a few somewhat eclectic shapers. There is however great joy at times. Today it involved Cedrik from France and some utterly stunning work by Mr. Carl Ekstrom. Two goofy-centric asyms, shaped and glassed by Carl and sporting his new fin designs. Beautiful fade in the spray, eye popping gloss & polish and general awe all around. Cedrik and his friend Frank were very nice guys and these boards will get ridden (as a surfboard should) in some serious waves soon enough. It honestly is a privilege to be around guys like Carl, he's not only an incredible craftsman but he's always got some great new design concept on the boil and he's as stoked on this stuff as any kid you can name. A genuine inspiration, and he's up for shaping a few more boards if anyone is interested.....

J. Abegg Esq.

So we've been telling you about young John Abegg for a bit now, and here's a look at his newest project, 'Two Weeks'. John is definitely a talented and driven young man, this being his 4th film and a fine one at that. He doesn't make the standard surf film, there's already plenty of footage of perfect waves being ridden by 'humble' experts, and it's the personal and unvarnished take on things that guys like Johnny do so well. His first offering was 'On Credit', a film about trying to be pro surfer and how it took 8 credit cards to do it. Not your standard surf flick by any means, and of course he and Matty Yeates were responsible for the mighty "___" (made after 'Bay Of The Dead' a fine surfing zombie flick of course). It's the guys like John that keep all this surfing nonsense truly exciting and creative. And all this gives me an excuse to post this clip again:

Pure, entertaining madness. You can buy "___" direct from us too- email info at foamandfunction.com and we'll set you up.