My Blog

Ron House just made me 2 new boards that are really fast and loose.  8'6" 30" wide quad, and 9'6" 28 3/4" quad.  Think blown up shortboards.  I rode the 8'6" in 1 foot surf and was able to generate enough speed to do fin drift carves and vertical snaps.

A friend (dedicated shortboarder) came up to me and said now that is something he would like.  

 The 9'6" is a mini gun designed for 6' to 10' hollow freight trains. 

 

Congratulations to Slater Trout for winng the trials.

Kainoa Beaupre brought some friends from Hawaii to visit with Ron House, Drew Brophy, Mek Stavron from O'Fishl fins.  Kainoa is pushing the limits in and out of the water by riding really small high performance surfboards.  His "short board" is 4'7" and looks like a wake board.  He is working with Ron House to build a 6'5" stand up board.  He also is a world class racer and a nice guy.  See him in action in this 

It looks like the swell might stop for a few days so I can finish my movie.  I have too much good footage.
I can't believe how good it's been this Winter.
Kainoa B. will be in the next video on his 6'5" SUP

Rule #1 - Respect the pecking order.
Rule #2 - Sit (or stand) inside or off to the side of the pack.  Don't compete with crawlers. Give them every wave they can catch.  Leftovers are fine.
This simple rule will eliminate most of the hostility towards SUP.
Rule#3 If you see someone violate these rules give them some gentle coaching.
Aloha,
Tom English

  

 

 

"SSPN" is having a meeting this Thursday Jan 28, 2010 10am - 11am at Ki's Restraunt accross from the Cardiff Chart House.  Come and participate in a group of Surfing Business Owners and Professionals who get together once a month to share ideas and network to grow their business.  Let me know if you are interested.

Aloha,

Tom English

(858) 677-0577

Tom@AlohaWealth.com

 

 

   

Thanks to the Doheny Club for putting on this great event. The SUP division had some great surfing by Kevin Coffman, Chuck Glynn, Rocky McKinnon and the legend Micky Munoz. More pics in the photo section and on my web site AlohaWealth

 

Steamroller is one of my favorite friends to surf with.  He rips and he is always smiling.  Here he tries two different Uli inflatables. 

This thing actually works.  Brian Sysmanski shaped it out of scrap foam and Dan Gavere took it for a test run before it was painted.  Rumor is they are working on a "Big Guy" 7'5" SUP for guys like me (200+lbs). 

A big swell from New Zealand attracted a local crew to Malibu with a van full of very innovative and unique boards.  (See video below)

 Click here to see more pics

 

Chuck Glynn mixing it up last week.

 

Some of the best paddlers in the world showed to at Doheny to compete for a share of $25,000 in prize money.  Jamie Mitchell aka "The World's fastest paddler" big wave charger and nice guy took top honors and will bring $10,000 back to Australia.  14 year old Slater Trout, an amazing all around waterman will bring $5,000 back to his home in Maui. 

I was in the 4 mile open race.  A 4 lap race in nice conditions.  I had to pleasure of watching Bian Syzmanski and Zane from Maui fly by me on 12'6" stock boards while I was on a 14'. 

During the elite race, aka "smash up derby", I saw board carnage never before witnessed.  Boards and bodies were colliding and only the fastest and most skilled survived.  On Jamie Micthell's last lap a head high set greeted him at the bouy and he gracefully rode it to the beach.

I also paddled the 10 mile distance event on Sunday morning from Doheny to San Clemente Pier and back.  The water was very choppy due to 20 mph NW winds.  I have never seen so many elite paddlers fall.  I think I fell about 20 times.  Going into the wind was brutal.  The top guys finished in 1 1/2 hours.  I finished (thankfully with no lifegaurd assistance) around 3 hours. The last guy finished in 6 hours. 

click for more pics http://web.mac.com/tomtomproductions1/tomtomproductions1/Battle_of_the_paddle_Oct_2009.html

Aloha,

Tom English 

The third annual Lake Tahoe Paddle race attracted 250 people to this beautiful lake.  Water temp was mid 60’s and the air mid 70’s.  A great time was had by all.  Chuck Patterson finished the 7 mile paddle in 59 minutes.  That is fast.  Kevin Coffman won the stock division then hopped on a private jet flew to Carlsbad and took 1st place in the SUP division at The Oceanside Club Contest.  Elsa won the women’s division.  They were both on Ron House boards.  

My friends in Hawaii have been raving about this combo.  I finally got one one and tried it out last weekend on a trip to the Kern River.  Wow, this is fun.  The carve board allows you lay the rail, simulating a "on edge surfing cutback".  With the Kahuna stick that you can lean on,  deeper carves are now possible. 

Aloha,

Tom English