During my trip to the Grain Re-Evolution event
Pierce, Petra and Max from the Manufacturing Stoke crew and I stayed with legendary surfer, shaper, glasser and master ding man (Think Roper's east coast twin) Roger Beal, his lovey wife Lisa and son Tony. I had never before experienced the surfing culture of New England and once I was there I was blown away by the stoke that lives in these amazing surfers.
I had never met Roger before but once I had it was like meeting a long lost brother. Roger is known for his days in La Jolla charging Black's, the Reefs and the Shores and shaping amazing boards for G&S, Rusty and his own RB La Jolla Reefs label. Then about 15 years ago he picked up and moved east to be close to family. In the end we lost a San Diego legend but the East Coast (Boston specifically) gained some good people and one hell of a shaper.
To be a surfer in New England you have to be willing to travel. I realized quickly that we are a bit jaded here on the west coast as we get ridable surf at our home breaks almost year around. Boston is a bit different as depending on the swell you might travel to a state or two away just to score.
The shot above was on a surf check with
Roger. Note the Shed shirt. Roger is a huge fan of the surf tee. If you meet him, hook him up with a tee. You'll get points for that.
It was flat that day but that point on the the left wraps that wall on the right swell. On the other side of that land mass is a left. There are some unreal point setups there. Roger has them all dialed!
The New England home base shaping shed. In the winter, the outside is freezing. A couple of space heaters and production is in full swing.
Roger in his home away from home. He may be in Boston but La Jolla lives in him. Note the influences of Skip.
From times past. He mowed thousands of blanks in his heyday. A little memento to Clark hangs on the wall.
The shack is never far away.
Roger was/is a huge fan of Lopez. I like the little guy dropping in from behind.
Roger is part of the movement of working with sustainable materials. A paulownia fish waits his attention and interest in using materials like bio epoxy is in his future.
Son Tony is an artist at heart. At the ripe old age 16 he has starred in plays, hand made his own fabrics for beanies and painted a number of boards for his dad. At the Beal's Tony's art from growing up is everywhere. Even the shed door forever documents the day he got his first airbrush.
Roger spends a good amount of time at the local Nor Eastern surf shop. They carry his boards and tees and Roger performs his ding magic for the locals. This board is one that was on display in the shop. It dawned some doodles by our own Lecuadia Legend Andy Davis.
I was pleasantly surprised to read my first Volume 1 Surfers Journal on a sofa in Boston. Who would have thought? This bound set of 1-4 was a gift from Lisa to Roger on his birthday in 1992. Now that is a present. You get points mama Beal!
