5'11"/6'. Ekstrom bamboo fins. Mad thanks to Hank Warner, RK and Carl. Now if the weather and waves would cooperate, I'll have a ride report. Please note the 'lawn' in the Skip Frye post a week or so back as compared to it in this one. It's been raining.
Working with hand made surfboards and the shapers who hand make them certainly has no financial reward, but that's what day jobs are for. It does however mean you get to know some pretty classic characters. Cases in point: Andrew Kidman, who shaped this stunner for Paul Whibley, gem of a bloke from South Australia. Glassed by Simon Jones I believe and sporting some serious channels (the board that is, not Paul), this is wall hanger quality that will get put into the waves it needs. Impressive, as is Paul's photography which he posts in on Tumblr along with other good stuff. That wave shot comes from there and has been my desktop image for a while. And if you're in L.A. and need something to do Boxing Day night, try this.
Had some fun on my Horan single (Spitfire fin in the box rather than the winged keel although that may go back in) and have been admiring some singles. First two are serious Mackie blades, then two from Kidman- a version of his Splice (a sort of Parmenter/Lynch mix) and Wibz' channeled single, similar to the Parmenter built single Stephanie Gilmore rides in Kidman's new book 'Single'. A couple of Sage Joske classics, and a Horan styled big fella single built by Hank Warner. This one's for sale at Revolution and is a mad good deal for someone. Every one of these boards is a one off, a riff on a previous shape, a progression, a tuned out custom, a little pushing of the edges. This is how design advances- hands on.
The San Diego sojourn was made in order to collect this, Andrew Kidman's new Frye fish. Absolutely stunning, and with one of the finest glass jobs I've ever seen- the board (in the colours of the Essendon Bombers) is polished to a mirror-like finish. Crazy pinched rails and just feels nice under the arms. In his local waves, Kidman's going to kill it on this thing. None of us may be able to get our hands on a brand new Frye, but in keeping with the half arsed Xmas gift theme I've been working, you can now get a copy of Litmus again should you not have one.
It of course has the fantastic footage of Derek Hynd on his fish at J-Bay, definitely a contributing factor to the revival of the whole twin fin deal, and the rest of the movie is not too shabby either. It really has become a classic now, and deservedly so. $20 including shipping, email info @ foamandfunction.com to buy or inquire.
Made a run down to San Diego yesterday in my guise as errand boy to the Australians. Mission was accomplished (more on that next post) as well as getting to eat shellfish with RK and paying a visit to the shrine of style that is the Ekstrom residence. He has a few blanks and is doing a bit of shaping so if you're quick you could be in (I think I am). If not, you can get a classic Ekstrom shirt from Hydrodynamica. $22 plus shipping. They have a few of the Tyler Warren Hydro design too.
