Jeff Ho

Style all the way. Jason's board in the middle is the reminder that Jeff had said he might be doing a run of boards, but now he's slipped out of sight. The man is very much of the old school mysto shaper deal, but that's why his boards are so damn good.

Ryan Burch & Derek Hynd & Mick Sowry & Jon Frank

Les Boreades/Ramifications/Electric Insects from Mick Sowry on Vimeo.

Orawa from Mick Sowry on Vimeo.

Absolute magic.

Ninelights Twin

The thing about having a lot of surfboards is you wind up surfing 2 or 3 of them in rotation most of the time, and for me the compsand modern twin made by Jeff Beck is definitely one of those 2 or 3. The construction and materials of the board are amazing, it utterly convinced me of how good vacuum bags and veneer can make a surfboard, and coupled with the fact that Jeff is a really good shaper, you can't go wrong. The guy who bought this certainly didn't- 6'7" balsa & redwood version of a MR twin. Epic. The autumnal swell is showing signs of showing, and the thought of a board like this on a decent wave (there's a jetty left that sometimes works very nicely indeed I'm thinking of mostly) that makes me believe it's owner will have a good winter ahead.

Gerry Wedd

As far as surfer/artists go, Gerry Wedd is a unique one. There's not that many guys riding Lazor Zap's that are internationally renowned potters. There's a really good interview with him by Michelle Lockwood here. Totally worth the read, as are the other Coastalwatch columns.

Ur-Simmons

John Mellor built this. It's a tidy little hoop finned bellyboard that predates the Bauguess mini Sims by a bit, and looks a lot like some of the modified versions of the mini's that were being touted as a progression on the originals. The Simmons-ness was always out there, just looking for the correct lightening rods so it could earth itself in suitable designs. This board is apparently being ridden as a stand up by some kids at present which is how it should be. A RANDOM UPDATE

Are you in or around New York? Go to this, it'll be great. Two fine surfers who are also brilliant raconteurs and do enough interesting stuff to keep an evening's conversation on the entertaining side. And how's this for the hoop fin concept in a different context?

Taken from the always good Hye Tyde blog. That's it, as you were please.

Delivery #1

Couldn't feel better. That epic Mackie is out of my house and no longer a temptation. The run north was smooth as silk; easy drive through wonderful late summer scenery- all tan hills and chaparral-y scents and just waiting for rain, a good fish dinner with surfer/shaper I have serious respect for, and the next AM there were waves to be had. Nothing spectacular, chest high and peaky fun which after 3 months of LA summer mush was like being given the keys to the funpark. I surfed until my arms gave out, then went back out on the bellyboard, then a last few attempts on some inside pocket waist high delights on the mini Sim, but I was largely done. The capper was mad good carnitas in Oxnard on the way home. Well pleased.

Chaos

Apologies for the lull in posting, it's been a bit of a week. There was a lot of work and bills to be paid and a diabolically bad surf, but there were highlights too. Tony Alva's DJ set at the Hollywood Amoeba Music store. TA was seriously on; great set and a bit of an impromptu signing afterwards, Jeff Ho came to check it all out too. LA County Fair, full consumerist depravity. An excellent show of LA tattoo art at the Craft & Folk Art Museum , well worth your attention if you are in Los Angeles, and up until January. The Mackie goes north tomorrow, I hope to find a wave or two en route.

Jon Frank Film

God Music from 'The Reef' starring Ryan Burch from Jon Frank on Vimeo.

Bathymetry from 'The Reef' from Jon Frank on Vimeo.

A couple more clips from Mr. Frank and 'The Reef'. Seriously magnificent stuff.

6 foor 4 inches

So this stringerless EPS 6'4" that I've been frothing over since first seeing it is actually in my hands, albeit briefly as it's heading north to a lucky Canadian. It's as good as I'd imagined it to be under the arm, definitely one of Mackie's gems. The deck layup is tri-axial carbon fibre and the bottom has a carbon band stringer, so I imagine it'll be a lively thing under the feet.

RT

I'm back from the homeland and initially being lazy by stealing a post from Mr. R. Thomas. It was worth stealing though- the fantastically arty shot is his Kidman shaped Dreamboard, and he's been interviewed by Kidman for his Australian Coastalwatch column, which is well worth a read. There will be original content very soon I promise, most notably a fine Mackie board that is arriving from The Great Windy South to be moved on to a lucky gent in The Great White North. More soon when I've slept and adjusted to the heat.

"Too Many Fins"

That post title is a quote from Mr. Mackie, yet he builds a flamboyantly good quad. I rode mine the other day and realized how much I love it. Off to the Antipodes for a couple of weeks, sadly a largely non Surf related trip but I'll try. Posting may be light for a bit but between the above Mackies, the new Hydro boards and that single fin you have plenty to look at.

The Future is Available (via Simmons, Tomo & Hank Warner)

Golden Mean Machine

GMM Turning

CyberSim

Butterknife Quad

Butterknife Asym These are a few new boards you can order from Hydrodynamica. Daniel Thomson is responsible for the top two shapes, built in stringerless XTR/Epoxy construction and available with a nice array of fin setups. Tomo is around and shaping so swiftness would be rewarded I think. The Butterknife series is shaped by Hank Warner, EPS/Epoxy and again has enough fin options that you will be happy. It's a really functional looking board. You can ask questions by emailing rk@hydrodynamica.com or info@foamandfunction.com. This is design progression and I like it.

A Single Finned Surfboard

Dean Dampney felt the need for a bit of an all-rounder in a surfboard, so he had this made by Angourie's Col Liddle. 7'3" x 22" x 3", hullish in the back, bit of V, bit of double concave, big old single in it and there's a seriously functional and aesthetically appealing surfboard. Been the nice bloke that he is, Dean took it to Bali to do a bit of testing and as the documentation shows, it's a screamer. I think I could find a use for one of these.

Blue Yonder

The Aussies are at it again- here's a teaser for a new film from James MacMillan and Mick Waters and it looks fun- anything with Derek Hynd and/or Ozzie Wright in it is absolutely worth the effort I figure. James was featured in a segment of Mick's really great 'Little Black Wheels' (which we will happily sell you for $25, shipping included- just email to info @ foamandfunction.com). He had gone through a major back injury/surgery situation and was told he probably would never surf again, yet he managed to condition himself back into water whic is impressive stuff (and it puts my whining about not surfing because of crappy summer waves into context.)

The Olden Days

Bing & Greg Noll at Malibu with Simmons boards c.1951

The Queen Mum & Duke?!

Ukranian Bathing Beauties

Australian Surfer Girl, they've been lookers for decades.

One For The Ladies (It's not Kidman although easily mistaken for him) Yeah, it's still tiny and I'm going nuts. Many of these fine images were lifted from Joe Tabler's weekly surf email. Joe sells surf related books and mags on Ebay and sends out a regular 'interesting stuff' that's well worth getting in on.

Diamond Tails & Chemises

Is that where Parmenter got his plan shape from? There are some of the 'Simmons' hoodies for sale, grey, blue or brown, L or XL and even a few ladies sizes in grey. $35, shipping included. The Bernoulli equation shirts are in red or grey, $25. Email info @ foamandfunction to order or ask questions. Please send waves.