This year’s Fish Fry (titled Anything But Three) was less commercial and had fewer attendees. What it lacked though, is what benefited it. With the majority of shapers represented being underground, independent or alt surfcraft specialists, a very freeform and BROtherly stoke was extended to everyone.

Christenson, Mandala, Jake Moss, Shaun Ambrose, Ford, Ian Zamora and KG plus lots of other established and up and coming shapers had amazing boards at the event. Surfers got the chance to ride as many different shapes throughout the day as they could pick up. I personally surfed boards I’ve never imagine existed. How else are you going to know how an epoxy, hull bottomed, perimeter stringer bonzer will perform?

Without a doubt though, Marlin Bacon’s (101fins.com) featherlight bamboo fins made the biggest impression. Both the glass-on versions and the new loxbox removables were lightening bonzers, quads and twins all over the reef.

Such a high level of excitement over handcrafted boards and fins begs the question, why does this only happen once a year?

Allan Gibbons sent me more of his experimental boards (I can’t get enough of these). Here’s a few shots from at least two different flex tail fish, one with a step rail of sorts. With a little luck, Allan will drop in and comment on how they ride.

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How to compete with Firewire in the growing world of composite surfboards:

1. Write a press release saying you have Kelly on working on it

2. Mention Jake Burton’s name a few times

3. Throw lots of Jakes and Al’s money at it

I wonder if the first step might actually have something to do with Alan Gibbons‘ composite experiments? I hear he is a CI ghost shaper and making some killer composites of his own.

In the lastest effort to secure the future of hand crafted surfboards, a San Clemente shaper Byrondesign has penned a well crafted response to the latest issue of Surfer Mag. In it, he calls out Al Merrick, Matt Biolas, Timmy Patterson, JC and others for giving the finger to the industry that gave them what they have.

The basic tenets of surfing: talent rules the lineup and revere thy shaper are failing due to the soccerification of surfing. Serious waves are clogged with beginners who think the lineup should be like any other rule enforced sporting field and boards should be bought at the Sports Authority. The only thing we have going for us is a small, but growing movement founded by guys like the Popout Bandit and The Godfather who reminds us that The Kids Are Alright and that Surfer Labor should be respected.

Update: Soccer is great, I play all the time. Beginners are great too. They just need to tap into the decades of culture (and magic within) vs. expecting it to fit their previous experiences, then everyone will be stoked!

I’ve got a few sessions on it already and I’m stoked. I’ll write more and post some pictures after this swell.

What I want to know is, how did my bro AndyB get his boy a new bonzer so quickly!?

Some not so stellar pics from the Podroom last Sunday. Sorry about the quality, I took these myself.

I have absolutely no conception of how these go as this is actually the first one I’ve ever seen. I confess the outline reminds me of a funboard, but the foil on this bad boy is far from your average, bloated kook wagon. Every other part of the board is as different as could be as well. (more…)

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I got a chance to surf the new GH this weekend. I’ll hold off on how she goes until I get to surf the waves it was meant for, but I will say I got a glimpse of the magic. Some pics of before she was waxed…

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