Enjoy Handplanes @ Surfy Surfy!

Yesterday was a big deal for Kipp and me. My friend JP at Surfy Surfy gave us the thumbs up and is now carrying our beloved handplanes. 

On a personal level it was a huge compliment to have a second generation glasser be impressed enough to carry them. JP doesn't carry crap, and every single product in his shop he believes in. So you can see why we are so stoked.

On another level it goes to show that mission to do something positive environmentally in the surf industry is actually working! People are loving them and we are now not only saving foam from broken boards and manufacturing waste, we are now recycling old wetsuits as well to make our handles. More on that later...

This project has been an education as well as just plain fun. We are really excited to see how far we can take this and to see what sort of difference we can make in an industry that we love so much.

Stay tuned to see what happens next. We can't wait to find out ourselves!

What I'm Watching - Little Black Wheels - Review

I've been taking my time with Little Black Wheels. I think that is what makes surf films so special. It isn't like the latest NetFlix movie you consumed in two hours and spit out never to watch again.  In an age of consumable media, the GOOD surf film is a rare exception to the rule. Instead of watching them once and moving on with your life, you take them in like a fine wine, sipping on them and savoring every flavor and feeling you get from it.

The good surf film is and always has been the way we get to re-experience as surfers what we do, how we look at the world and how we feel about what we are choosing to do with our lives. It's a way to reflect on the beauty and the stoke of what makes us get up in the morning.

Little Black Wheels to me is one of those surf films that is special. It gets better and better with time. It is one of those films that makes you feel great about choosing to spend your life in and around the water. It makes you connect with the special souls that bare themselves in the film and makes you get lost for a few moments of your day to feel completely stoked, inspired and ready to go find a right hander to do some turns on. 

The down and dirty of the film is that it is shot with style and a pure artistic eye. The surfing is great. Tons of soul and lots of barrels. Mick is like a painter with his images. Showing the value of detail in the world and the beauty of perspective. He combines it all with his knack to letting his cast tell their stores, surf their hearts out  and bare their souls for us to be inspired by what  they do is this world. 

The music in the film is down right great. I wish I had a sound track of this film.  I can't stop singing Beau Young's Horse Song. (You have to see it to get it.) Where can I get that CD?!

All and all its a must see. With soul surfing from Johnny Abbeg, Beau Young, Rasta, Kristian Spencer (Beard!), Jimmy McMillan  and a bunch of guys I've never even heard of but made me watch every turn and barrel with an open mouth and sparkle in my eye. It's also narrated in part by Mick's daughter Ruby who steels the show.

You can get it direct from Mick here 

I watched it so much I started taking stills for fun. Here's a few... 

There is always someone new in a film who sneaks up on me, shakes me up and makes me want to know more about them. In this film Kristian Spencer a.k.a. Beard was one of those guys who caught my attention. Beard is a barrel machine and a bad ass in my book. 

Johnny Abbeg and Sea Surfboards where two elements that make this film inspiring to me. Sea Surfboards is a resin tint love'n mans dream and Johnny is flawless in his soul surfing. Two segments that you won't want to miss.

Beau Young is and will always be a huge draw for me in Mick's films. His segment is great and learning about his profession as a children's song writer and singer was cool. The guy is talented for sure. How do I get that horse song?!

Dave Macaulay and his family was inspiring in that the whole lot of them surf. Dave was in the top 3 in the world in 1993 and he still rips. 

Jimmy McMillan was an inspiration. I won't spoil it but it's pretty remarkable he can even do this turn. 

Rasta is always one of my favorites. Seriously, what can you say, the guys just kills it with pure style on anything.

The movie is filled with details and perspectives that make the hard core photographer wish they were there to pull the trigger. It's filled with beauty from start to finish.

Ruby steals the show. 

5 months on the road with your pregnant wife, dog and little girl. Pretty amazing adventure.

These Things Are Art

Bob King sent me this photo of the handplane we made for him displayed proudly on his mantel next to his fine art collection. He keeps it there when it isn't in the water. I couldn't be more proud of this image. Rodney did a fantastic job of painting it up and it deserves to be there. These aren't toys honey... they're art! Love it. Enjoy!

Encinitas Environmental Day

Encinitas Environmental Day was a huge success. Everyone who put it on deserves a big round of applause.  I was at Fieste Del Sol the day before and I have to admit the vibe at EED was one of one big family. I was proud to be there. It just felt good to be with all my fellow compost love'n, organic garden'n, beach cleaning compadres. Our friends Anne & Kirk Fagergren, Jan Rogers, Rodney McCoubrey, Liz Novak and Corey Messer all get my respect for supporting the event and donating so much time to making it happen.  

Too much went on that day for me to recap so I put up a few photos of the places I spent the most time. 

The thing I had the most fun at was the recycled art project where our local Environmental Artist Rodney McCoubrey along with Beach Cleanup Guru Jan Rogers put on a creative workshop for event goers of all ages.  They, along with many supporters, organized this art project that took non-recyclable plasic objects like bottle tops and straws and had kids and adults alike put them together into amazing works of art in the form of garden creatures. It will be on display at the Encinitas Library soon.

I also couldn't come to EED without spending a lot of time with my daughter at the San Diego Zoo booth with Dr. Zoo Little, a fun and lovable animal lover who has a thing for scaring the life out of you with his hissing cockroach the size of a small mouse. He and his crew were really good with the kids and always fun to hang out with. 

The rest of the event was filled with music, poetry and lots booth hopping. I got to meet up with Tyler from Patagonia and even showed him our handplanes! He is down to try one out soon as he is a fellow Leucadia body wamper. 

Special thanks to all that attended and to the city for keeping this alive and well as a tribute to all that Bob Nanninga did for this city. We miss you Bob. We could feel you there.

(If you were there send me photos and we'll add them to the slide show. Photos added 6/8 by Rodney McCoubrey, PLEASE NOTE: If a photo of your or your family was added and you would like it taken off please contact us. Thank you.)

Jason Werbelow

My buddy Jason hurt his knee and surfing was aggravating it to the point that he now has to get surgery. 

To his surprise he found that bodysurfing didn't effect the knee as it was the twisting motion of the knee that was causing the issue. 

Jason dodged a serious bullet as it was looking like a few months minimum out the of the water. Now instead of his being land locked he has become one of my inspirations of how to have a blast while bodysurfing. He is getting really good and enjoying every moment.  

Thanks for sending in the shots Jason, it's been really rewarding to see you getting so good and having so much fun with your handplane and GoPro!

Keep it up!

We have been getting a lot of inquires about where to get your own. Feel free to contact us  if you want one of these little recycled foam and glass wonders. We're making them as fast as we can and have been so stoked to see them go to good barrel love'n owners! If you have one send us shots of you as well, please, as we love seeing the fun people are having. Enjoy.

Swell Stuff Surfboard Swap

Our friend Lisa from Swell Stuff is having a surfboard swap next weekend. Come check it out. Sell it, swap it, show of your quiver! See you there.

We'll be at Fiesta Del Sol Saturday - With Fin Tees and Hand Planes

Kipp and I will be at Fiesta Del Sola tomorrow June 5th. Look for us there and checkout the hand planes we've been making and the TLP Fin Tees we made. 

Hope to see you there.

Get info at there website 

Love'n My Vipers

Our good friend Bobby Beathard is a world champion bodysurfer. He is in his 70's and yet he is one of the best in the world. In fact you'll see him this year again at the world championship body surfing contest at Oceanside this summer. Poised and ready to take yet another win.

Bobby is always stoked to be in the water and talk to you about whatever is turning your glide on. For all the years I've known him I was never much of a bodysurfer. So when I started this project with the hand planes he took me aside and gave me some pointers. The first thing he told me was to go get some Vipers. So I did.

It's been a month now with the new fins and I couldn't be more stoked. They are more ridged then my last set of fins and have a great set up with neoprene on the inside top of the fin that keeps my feet from getting messed up. All and all a great setup and I'm catching more waves with my new found power.

If you are starting to bodysurf yourself then I pass on the same advice.

If you need a set I got mine at Falcon's body Board shop right here in Leucadia. Good to support your local shops. Justin is a great guy and he'll hook you up with all sorts of advise. www.falconsbodyboardshop.com/

If you buy some from him give us your box and we'll give you a wax buddy. We are reusing them to ship hand planes in!


Thank you Bobby for being such a great friend and influence all these years. We really appreciate it!

Encinitas Environmental Day Sunday June 6th

www.eeday.org 

See everyone there. Lots of cool things happening.

Great work to Jamie and Tak for the poster!!!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Here's some red, white and blue resin tent goodness to get you in the holiday spirit. These little beauties' are fresh from Kipp's garage shaping and glassing factory.  Apparently Kipp was feeling a bit patriotic when he glassed these. These two are from the new collaboration between he and I. I shape, he glasses and we both have more fun than we can stand. All while helping out the planet!

For those of you who have been following our handplane shenanigans, we have saved 7 boards form the landfill so far.  From that we have made or will make a few dozen new handplanes that will reenter the world to bring fun and stoke to their new owners. 

We have also discovered a whole new category of "Manufacturing Waste" that comes when a blank is broken or damaged while machine shaping. Next week we will meet with one of the largest machine companies and see what we can do to help save their manufacturing waste from the land fills.  

This project has opened our eyes to new possibilities, partnerships and plain old fun. If you know of any manufacturing waste that goes on in the surf industry or have broken boards that you would like to donate please contact us. We'd love to hear from you. Enjoy.

Little Black Wheels Has Arrived

I was so stoked to get my copy of Little Black Wheels by Mick Waters in the mail. I have been waiting over a year to see this film. It's his follow up to his classic Believe.

I got mine direct from Mick and he not only signed it but he was so cool as to have Beau Young, Rasta and Johnny Abbeg all sign it as well! So stoked. My copy is 120 out of 1000 limited edition signed sets. You can get one from Mick's site at www.littlehouseproductions.com.au.

I'll spend the next week with it to view it a dozen times or so and write up a review.  Of course I already watched it twice and it is an amazing film. More to come later.

Devon Holloway

Here's our new friend Devon. She is a surfer, world traveler and soon to be hand planer. She is gearing up for a surf/boat trip to the Channel Islands with her fiancée and will be filming the adventure via a GoPro. She has promised to share when she gets back.

Check out her site www.themermaidchronicle.com it has a ton of shots from her travels and a really cool video she made about our neighborhood.

Enjoy.

Ryan Shatto

This is a great shot by Justin Outten of local surfer and businessman Ryan Shatto. Ryan is a second generation Leuciada business owner and runs the 35 year old Shatto and Sons Tee Shirt Shop. Ryan is a great guy and helped us out when we did our TLP tees. Check out his shop (Next to Mozy's and La Especial Norte) and if you are a local and need tees made for your business give Ryan a shout. He'll hook you up.

www.shattoandsons.com

Erik "The Punt Master" Baldwin

Alison Renshaw - Here Not There - Museum of Contemporary Art - Opening June 5th.

The lovely Alison Renshaw will be in the art show Here Not Here at the Museum of  Contemporary Art opening June 5th.

See flyer details.


Allison Renshaw
www.allisonrenshaw.com

Pick up 3 and a difference you will see.

Here's a cool promo card local designer Tak Aoyama made. He created it for Pick Up 3, a campaign started by a 12 year old Cobi Emery of Del Mar (now a freshman in high school).

The message is simple: pick up 3 pieces of trash on your way down to the beach and on their way back so we can all keep enjoying the ocean.

Click on it to view a large view. There's a story...

The Green Tiger

Fresh tester board, the "Green Tiger". Smaller template, sharper rails, tons of concave and one sweet resin tent. Shaped by me and glassed by Kipp Denslow.

My buddy Rich Williams helped me test it out yesterday. He's been bodysurfing for years and on his first good wave I heard a scream. It's a pretty common reaction. It happens when you drop in, don't expect to go as fast as you do, and then get caught in the moment letting out a screech like a little kid. After the first one you train yourself to be quiet. Hearing that sound is my favorite part about people trying these. Enjoy.

Calling All Artists

Go this link http://my-artcollection.com/discover_artists/ and submit your art. 

It is a brand new service I created and you can do it for free. All you need to do is post a canned blurb or make up your own about our product on your facebook, twitter or blog and submit the link when you send in your art. 

Follow the directions on the page, it's easy.

The website is for art collectors and the product is designed for collectors to manage their art collections. The product was designed and built by me and has been around for 8 years. 

The site gets a lot of hits from serious collectors all over the world so it is a great way for you to market yourself directly to people who have a passion for buying art.

Thanks for submitting and good luck! If you have any feedback please send it my way as it is greatly appreciated. Ed Lewis

New Lover of the Handplane

Tony scored this tie die broken board handplane from his brother Jason for his birthday. Seriously, Jason, you win the best brother award for sure. Have fun with it Tony! Send me some shots!