Longboarder and Death Weasel

Longboarder and Death Weasel

Photos: Daniel Franks
Words: Steven Thomas

Here is some recent images of Jon Steel A.K.A “Death Weasel” and I taken by Daniel Franks. Jon is an amazing surfer as well as an amazing Surf photographer. I don’t know that many Surf photographers that are badass surfers that will slice the throats of waves like Steel. If you want to check out some of his surf photos be sure and check out his snaps at www.jonsteelephoto.com



Cosmic tube time for Jon Steele.
Photo: Daniel Franks


I often think of my Longboard as a battle Axe and I’m a Viking warrior and the waves are dragons.
Photo: Daniel Franks


Just a little back hand pat.
Photo: Daniel Franks


Jon in battle pit mode
Photo: Daniel Franks


Check the gut on the Nose
Photo: Daniel Franks


The waves throat bleeds for Jon’s needs. Say that ten times fast.
Photo: Daniel Franks


Routine backhand hit day in day out.
Photo: Daniel Franks


My barrel for the day
Photo: Daniel Franks


Shaka,punk rock,fury,surf session ends for Jon and I. We had a lot of fucking fun that morning

Big Wave Slayer's at Noll Surfboards & Gallery

The day before the 2010 Billabong XXL Awards, producer Paul Taublieb of Media X International and crew took over Noll Surfboards & Gallery in San Clemente to conduct interviews with Greg Noll and many of the nominees such as Greg Long, Rusty Long, Twiggy, Brian Conley, Ian Walsh, Ramon Navarro, and Makua Rothman for a show on ESPN that will air May 19thin the US. Sam George, co writer of “Riding Giants” and past editor of Surfer Magazine did most of the interviews securing strong content. All the surfers interviewed were confident that they were going to win and all of them deserved to. At the end of the day a few of the big wave slayers talked with Greg Noll and checked out his big wave gun he road that legendary day at Makaha in 1969. It was a day of days.

Photos and Words by: S. Thomas


Sam George starts with Greg Noll because that's were it begins.


Brian Conley sits and waits while Sam get ready


Sam George doing what he does.


I wonder whats Going through Greg Longs head while he holds the Smoking gun that Greg Noll fired at Makaha so long ago


I bet he's thinking, "I can ride this"


Ian Walsh and Greg Noll


Greg Noll talking story to the fearless youngsters, Rusty Long, Ian Walsh and Ramon Navarro.


Ian's Probably thinking the same thing Greg Long was thinking.


Three big wave riders one gun.


Ramon Navarro tripping out on the bottom of Greg Noll's old gun.

Getting Current With Noah Shimabukuro .A.K.A. Badger

Interview by: Steve Thomas
Photos by: Moonwalker

Noah Shimabukuro the man the myth the badger. One if the most sold Longboarders of our current time. He is regular seen in the magazine or in longboard surf flicks. He is commonly placing in contest and his humble friendly approach to surfing and life makes him accessible to all. He is a true professional. Noah will surf both big and small surf with no complaints and with raw talent. Those who know his humor would say it’s dry, subtle but funny. It is my perception of Noah’s surfing that his goal is to get as barreled as possible. He just likes doing it on a Longboard. Its what I call the “Driving a Cadillac on the Autobahn” effect. I caught up with the Hawaiian Samurai and asked him a few questions to let the world know what’s going on with badger.


Get your board out of my face. Photo: Moonwalker

ST: Currently do you have a beard or no beard?

NS: No beard. I used to have a really good beard until this girl told me I would look amazing if I shaved it off. I did and never saw her again. I keep it off just in case I do.

ST: I like you better with a beard. That chick is dumb. You look like a Japanese samurai warrior and Samurais are the most badass warriors of them all. I will say it again that girl is DUMB!!!! All the fly honeys like the beards YO!


ST: Describe your surfing in three words.

NS: blah, blah, blah
ST: OK fine I will describe your surfing in three words:

BACK HAND MADNESS



Noah lip hater. Photo: Moonwalker

ST: Why don’t you speak pidgin like everyone else in HI?

NS: My parents never really talked like that so I guess that's why us kids never like try.

ST: Oh well Noah your not a kid anymore so you talk anyway you like. HAWAIIN!!!!!

ST: Is it True that you were at one time the unofficial SUP champ of the world? How do you figure?

NS: Well, in 2008 I got really lucky and won like 3 big SUP contests. Puerto Escondido Tuberide event, US Open SUP Division, and Rainbow Sandals Dog Patch event. My friends started calling me the SUP World Champ.

ST: I would always tell girls, “Hey I have this friend Noah he’s the Unofficial Sup World Champ. How many fucken world champs do you know?”

ST: Describe your perfect Longboard world tour.

NS: 3 Events. One at a spot where you can get barreled like Puerto Escondido. Another at a perfect point break like Malibu or something where you get judged at nose riding and style. Then, one type of wave where you could surf hi-performance like a beach break or something. To me, that would be the best all around longboarder who could call himself World Champ.

ST: I would have to agree 100% that sounds like a good well rounded tour.

ST: Why do they call you Badger?

NS: It's a long story but a long time ago at a Halloween party I didn't really have a costume. So this girl put a bra on my head and all my friends said I looked like a badger.

ST: Oh that’s why. I thought it was cause you had the characteristics of a Badger. For example, the badger is a stocky animal with short but extremely strong legs. You are stocky and have extremely strong legs for shredding. Another fun fact is Badgers are quite solitary mammals that prefer open planes, farmlands, and edges of forests. Your always saying how you want to go home to Maui. I rest my case.

ST: It seems like you can’t just be good at surfing/Longboarding. You have to have something else going for you like art, music, or just a really good dresser. Which one of those things are you?

NS: Yeah, I would like to think I'm a good dresser but it's something I'm constantly working on.

ST: You are an excellent dresser, which is really important in Longboarding.

ST: What Longboarders are blowing your mind lately?

NS: Good question, Tommy Witt for his creativity and style, Oliver Parker cause he has a good style and can switch stance really good, Pickle is like a regular foot Joel, Eli Gillis, JJ Wessels is good, Cody Simpkins, Andrew Logreco is super underrated I think, he charges and tuberides really well. I dunno there are so many good kids coming up right now and it's really cool.

ST: I for sure thought you were going to say me that was the whole point of that question. Thanks a lot. Seriously Tommy Witt is a freak on a longboard. It’s unreal some of the shit he pulls. Andrew “Kitty” Logreco is defiantly underrated, probably because he is a moderate dresser at best but nobody can deny he is one hell of a model American.




Noah SUP. Photo: Moonwalker

ST: What would you like to see kids doing on Longboards in say 10 years?

NS: I would like to see more switch stance stuff, kind of like how skateboarding is.

ST: I’ve been seeing you switching it up a lot. Do you think as a goofy footer you’re just destined to learn how to surf switch more so than some one who surf regular?

NS: I see a lot more surfers who are goofy that are able to switch better than regulars. Maybe it's just cause I'm used to surfing a lot of rights where you sometimes want to be front side.

ST: What are you three favorite boards right now?

NS: Donald Takayama Pig its fun because the wide point is pulled back so you get the stability of a wider board with a narrower width, a true log for that time period. Donald Takayama Scorpion, it’s like a mini nose rider plus a fast loose shortboards combined in one. My Donald Takayama model the Noah Kakoi its like comfort food for me I know that board like the back of my hand.

ST: Thanks Badger Buddy your one hot rippa!!!



Noah tip riding. Photo: Moonwalker