Bill Hickey - "Built to Last"

The stringer reads: Bill Hickey 8 • 11 San Francisco "Built To Last"

Happy customers.

Vintage Hickey's from private collectors.

Ocean Beach SF

At the Cardiff Classic yesterday I had the honor of meeting San Francisco surfer, shaper, painter, glasser, legend Bill Hickey. Bill has been shaping for 53 years. A resident of Ocean Beach SF until more recently when he moved down here to be close to family. Bill's boards are hand shaped and painted by him. They are beautiful and feature hand painted art including large "H" logo on deck, hand foiled fins and custom leash loops all by him. He has the boards glassed with S cloth, a very strong fiber glass less commonly used due to the added cost. Bill however insists on nothing but the best as on each board he writes "Built to Last". 

Bill takes a photo of each board with its owner. He had photos dating back to the 60's in albums until they were stolen out of his car. He has since started more albums, and proudly shows them off to interested viewers.

In an age of self promotion and hype I have to admit that Bill is the real deal doing what he does because not because he wants to be noticed but because he loves to make surfboards. 

If you want this (or a custom) beautiful, handmade, hand painted surfboard that lasts from a legend, give Bill a call at: 760-613-2279

Cardiff Classic "The Beard" Portraites

Tak

Pierce "The Beard" Kavanagh

Stop by the booth tomorrow and get your picture taken with "the beard". After hanging next to Sanuk all day with those crazy mustaches we had to join in on the fun. In the *enjoy way we made a cool beard out of cardboard based on our friend and handplane ambassador Pierce Kavanagh. Now you too can rock the full beard and stach.  To see more and get your portrait join our *enjoy handplanes group on facebook and check out the album. See you tomorrow!!!

Cardiff Surf Classic This Weekend

Kipp and I will be showing of handplanes and will have some demos to try out as well.  Stop by the booth and say hi!

Grain Re-Evelution was a blast

The Grain Re-Evolution adventure a.k.a. "Grainstock" was an unbelievable experience.  We shared the experience with La Jolla legend and east coast transplant Roger Beal, his lovely wife Lisa and son Tony. They took us (Pierce and Petra Kavanagh, Max Schmige and myself) up to Maine form Boston in their motor home. Here are a few pics from the trip.

photo EL

Thank God for Roger's driving skills.  If you have ever traveled through Boston you may have noticed that they have some pretty crazy drivers. Roger is an old pro but it was sketchy none the less. 

photo EL

Pierce and Petra. The sun was bright and shinny after weeks of storms.

photo EL

Roger's son Tony is an old soul at just 16. Not only is one talented artist and actor he speak a few languages and even gives card readings. 

photo PMK

Max is the misfit pics director of photography for Manufacturing Stoke. Of German and Finish decent he is a man of few words and a genius behind the camera. 

photo PMK

photo PMK

The motor home was great because while on the road we got last minute details done.

photo EL

Once into Maine we had a challenge finding a close parking spot. Luckily we had a couple of bikes to get us down the the demo event.

 photo EL

It was good to see Rey from Entropy Resin here a the event. Re has helped us out a ton with *enjoy.

 photo EL

Long sands beach is a really cool spot. Once I got there I ditched the camera and went bodysurfing and surfing. This is a photo of a photo hung at Grain but it gives you an idea.

The Grain shop is everything I thought it would be. After 6 years of dreaming I was finally there and it felt so good.

 photo EL


photo PMK

photo EL

photo PMK

photo EL

 photo EL

 photo EL

The had a Screening of Under The Sun in the hay barn.

photo PMK

 photo PMK

Brad from Grain hosted a round table discussion on sustainability. It was so much fun to be a part of that.

 photo PMK

One of my favorite things is to meet everyone at these events. Having a booth at this was the perfect way for me to interact and answer questions about our handplanes.

 photo PMK

photo PMK

Max brought his vintage film camera with a slew of specialty films. He would set up and spend 20 mins for one shot.

Pierce being Pierce.

The Corduroy Gallery put on an art show that was very cool. Tyler Briggs the owner of Corduroy Gallery was actually the coordinator for the entire event. She deserves a standing ovation for doing the job she did.

One of my favorite parts of the event was seeing Pierce and Petra's film Manufacturing Stoke on the side of the the Grain Barn. What a cool experience.

The Speed of Sand was the house band. They where great. 

The bonfire was HUGE. it had to be at least 25 feet high.

At Grain even the clouds make waves. It's hard to see here but I watched these clouds spin off into little barrels all morning.

I think one of our favorite parts was waking up on the farm. It was great to relax in such a beautiful place and the dew was so beautiful on the grass.

If you went then you know how much fun it was. If you didn't there is always next year. Looks like they are already planning the next one.