Made in America: Boarded Up

Grain-SurfbordsWhile there has been a trend to make “greener” surfboards using a variety of materials, including carbon fiber, for Grain Surfboards nothing beats wood. The company noted that for more than a thousand years surfboards were made of wood and that’s good enough for them.

The makers use Northern White Cedar with a bit of Western Red Cedar along with a natural blend of traditional construction style with New England boat building craftsmanship and the result is one serious surfboard.

Grain Surfboards
[Via Wood Working Network: Wood Surfboards Make Summer’s Top 50]

Weekend Reading List (06.22.2013): Surf the Waves, Kick Ash, Women Take Aim

Surf the Waves

Surfboard

From CTV News: Researchers use unmanned electronic ‘surfboard’ to track ocean’s social networks
International marine researchers are getting a glimpse beneath the world’s oceans using a surfboard-inspired, unmanned ‘wave glider’ device that collects data about the creatures living beneath the waves. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (06.22.2013): Surf the Waves, Kick Ash, Women Take Aim

Surfboard Maker Catches Wave Down Under

BoardcaveStarting a new business can be all consuming, and often times those who do start a business put their heart and soul into it and that means missing out on the better things in life. But for Ryan Mets, one of the founders of Boardcave, he is ready to ride the wave. His company has new patent pending technology that could challenge the factory-made surfboards that are common in the Australian market.

Instead his online business, which recently went live after two years in development, now allows surfers to order custom-made surfboards made by Australian shapers directly from the website. The Boardcave site allows surfers to compare what various surfboard shapers have in mind and thus get a very personalized and customized board to hit the waves.

Boardcave Official Website
[Via The Sydney Morning Herald: Surfboard Maker Catches Wave of Support]

Shapers of Things to Surf

Art-of-the-CraftThis Friday Starbucks Doubleshot will host a media event to present a mini documentary series on surfboard shapers Josh Oldenburg and Martijn Stiphout. The compelling 3-part surfboard artisan mini documentary series tells an inspiring story about the dedication, influence, and creativity that lies within the art of crafting custom surfboards, documenting the entire process as each craftsman goes from concept to finished product.

This will follow a week long pop-up gallery the works of the shapers. The mini documentary, The Art of the Craft, series will live on the Starbucks YouTube channel—the first chapter will be released on 5/3, the second on 5/10, and the third on 5/17.

[Via Transworld Business: Starbucks Debuts Mini Documentary Series On Surfboard Shapers Josh Oldenburg & Martijn Stiphout]

Surf Tariffs Are Up

SurfingThe surf isn’t the only thing that is up. Apparently so are the tariffs that U.S. surf board makers are now facing when selling American made products aboard. However, the United States allows foreigners to sell in the United States duty-free. The question, as asked on PBS Newshour – which first reported on this story – whether a response could in turn create a trade war.

Surfing was supposed to be about catching waves and good vibrations, but nothing about this story sounds like it.

[Via PBS Newshour: High Foreign Tariffs on US Surfboards: Should We Retaliate?]

Surf Boards Take Flight

Surf-Air-TravelTo truly experience the endless summer means going to the waves. While it would be nice if the waves could actually get you to the destination, the truth is that chasing the waves around the world requires some air travel. As frequent travelers we worry enough that our suitcase will make it in one piece – and can’t imagine that the good vibrations aren’t enough to protect a surf board.

However, Alliance Air Freight & Logistics, a full-service freight shipping company, has announced its niche surfboard shipping and handling division. This allows for surfers to move fast and catch that wave, and be sure that the board arrives in good form!

[Via Surfer Today: Shipping company promises full surfboard protection]

Weekend Reading List (04.13.2013): Surf Sale, Half In, Ball Time, In the Zone

Surf Sale

Surf-Sale

From Montery County The Herald: Vintage surfboard collection for sale in Carmel
In the rafters of a Carmel office are six examples of what Chris Kneisley calls “living art” — vintage surfboards that represent the bygone days of California’s surfing culture. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (04.13.2013): Surf Sale, Half In, Ball Time, In the Zone

Looking to Be Common

Protecting the environment and finding new uses for old things shouldn’t be rare, it should be commonplace and that’s just what Rareform Surfboard Bags are looking to do. We first heard about this company last fall, and now it has gone from concept to reality. The Los Angeles business is up and running and with surf season’s waves picking up we decided it was time to remind our readers about this company.

Rareform is a company that upcycles used products – in this case vinyl often reclaimed from billboards – and this makes each of its surfboard bags totally unique. These are made of UV-, hat-, water and mildew-resistant tarpaulin along with a quarter inch of foam padding so the board inside will be protected. The bags feature a mesh interior pocket, plus a 600D polyester nose protection, and even come with a removable shoulder strap. We expect these Rareform bags to be commonplace very soon.

Rareform Surfboard Bags Official Website

Weekend Reading List (12.22.2012): Sir Wiggo, Runner Resolution, Surf Music

Sir Wiggo

 

From Cycling News:Arise Sir Wiggins: Tour winner set to receive knighthood
Bradley Wiggins and Dave Brailsford are expected to be recommended for knighthoods in the New Year Honours list according to a report in the Daily Telegraph newspaper. Continue reading Weekend Reading List (12.22.2012): Sir Wiggo, Runner Resolution, Surf Music

Billboards Become Surfboard Bags

They blend into the landscape and even if we notice them, many think they’re eyesores. We’re talking about billboards. But here is something most of us never think about: what happens to the materials after the ad campaign is over? What becomes of the billboard?

Alec Avedissian clearly wondered exactly that, because he and two fellow surfers, Ryan Judy and Sho Rust, got together and formed Rareform, a business venture that takes the vinyl material from old billboards and creats durable, water-proof, mildew proof surfboard cases. Given the number of billboards in his native Los Angeles it isn’t hard to see that Rareform could have an endless supply of material! Continue reading Billboards Become Surfboard Bags

Endless Winter Chronicles British Surf Scene

The “classic” movie about surfing easily remains The Endless Summer but what do you do if summer in your part of the world feels like a warm winter day at best? You don the best wetsuit you can and hit the waves anyway.

That’s the ideas that directors Matt Crocker and James Dean had as they traveled through the United Kingdom collecting stories about the British surfers. So instead of The Endless Summer, the pair has fittingly chronicled The Endless Winter. The story actually begins about 100+ years ago when a Hawaiian Princess allegedly hit the waves by Brighton Pier, but really picks up following World War II when American and Australian surf culture made it to England, and so began the quest for surfing in The Endless Winter. For those who want to experience it from the warmth of their couch, the DVD will arrive later this month.

[Via Sabotage Times: Endless Winter: The History Of The British Surfing Scene]