Nride

Little Fun Day at Scripps

2012-02-09T17:56:00.000-08:00

If you ever see the Photographer Manny V. with his water camera out and in the water around Scripps in SD make sure and get his water proof card he probably got some good ones of you.

Steve Thomas. Photo: Manny V.

Taylor Jensen Some Good Fucking Longboarding!!!! By Bird Man Media

2012-01-21T10:52:00.000-08:00

TJ from Bird Man Media on Vimeo.

The Lane

2012-01-19T15:00:00.000-08:00

Photo: S. Thomas

Some Where Up In Norther Cali...

2012-01-19T14:54:00.001-08:00

Cadillac on the Autobahn, Steve Thomas. Photo: Johnny Thomas

KOALA KHRONICLES New Birdman JOINT!!!

2011-10-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

KOALA KHRONICLES from Bird Man Media on Vimeo.

Daily Hot Shot PLB October 5th, 2011

2011-10-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

Steve Thomas Photo: Moonwalker

Jed Noll Surfboards Marko iFoam, Steve Thomas Model at The Surfing Heritage Foundation

2011-09-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

Recently Steve Thomas Donated one of his models to The Surfing Heritage Foundation made by Jed Noll. We are very proud to have a modern Noll Surfboard at the foundation.

The Surfing Heritage Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, presenting and promoting surfing’s heritage for the appreciation and education of current and future generations; and to achieving our goal of surfing being more accurately understood, represented and enjoyed.

Focusing on the complete spectrum of surfing’s history and development, including but not limited to significant surfboards, photography and the full range of other forms of information and objects of cultural value.

Establishing a world-class museum/resource facility, including an outreach program that creates exhibits and develops venues for effective traveling and/or off-site display: that this facility might serve as a symbolic center for the wave riding culture in the United States, dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of surfing as a sport, lifestyle, and culture.

Building a community who actively support the Surfing Heritage Foundation with fundraising, promotion and advocacy.

Noll Surfboards & Gallery Presents The Extraordinary Waves of Scotty Carter

2011-09-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

The Extraordinary Waves of Scotty Carter

Noll Surfboards is pleased to announce a special event featuring the Fine Art Photography of Scotty Carter, whose extraordinary images of waves transcend any surf-related niche and rise to the level of pure art.

Please join us on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 6 p.m. at Noll Surfboards’ Flagship Store in San Clemente for some amazing wave images, live music, Kalua pig sliders, wine and beer, door prizes, and friends!

Scotty will be showing 30 pieces of his fine art collection in our Gallery – stunning images printed on a variety of mediums, including 100% recyclable and reusable bamboo, metal, acrylic, and canvas. The effects are truly stunning.

The Noll Ohana (family) and friends are coming together to make this a very special (but casual) happening: We will have local reggae band Jah Mex and the Translators playing (starting at 8 p.m.), and we want to express our huge thanks to Primo for providing the cold beers, to Fifty Barrels Winery Group in Carlsbad and Ames Estates Winery in Northern California for the great wine, and to Hapa J’s Restaurant for serving up the fabulous pupus!

A highlight of the evening will be a raffle with door prizes contributed by Scotty Carter, Noll Surfboards, and Billabong (XXL thanks, as always!) … plus, the first 25 people to arrive for the evening will receive a free poster, signed by Greg Noll and Scotty Carter!

Scotty Carter’s Art

Scotty Carter has been in and around the ocean for most of his life. Time spent at the beach led to the discovery of a natural environmental process that magically forms unusually perfect waves. Scotty was so in awe of these waves that he spent the better part of the last 10 years documenting them with his camera. While his work is a labor of love, his job is by no means easy. In order for the wave to work, a number of hydrodynamic and atmospheric elements need to come together and work in harmony, making his collection of fine art wave images especially intriguing and rare. Only when sunlight, tide, swell direction and wave heights cooperate does this mysterious wave come to life. While he can’t tell you how he does it, and his competitors are fishing around the surf industry for his secret recipe, Scotty is happy to be welcomed at Noll Surfboards to show us his life’s passion at a very fitting location with strong roots in American surfing history and culture.

Statement by Scotty Carter Fine Art

“Recently, the Scotty Carter Fine Art team reached out to Noll Surfboards in San Clemente with the hope of creating a collaborative event. We felt like the nostalgia and history surrounding Noll Surfboards, as well as its appeal to ocean-minded people and surf culture, would make this a great location for an event. Jed, Candice and Steven are amazing and have treated the Scotty Carter Team like family, and we are excited to work with them to put on a nice event to conclude summer!“

We hope to see you all there!

Noll Surfboards Flagship Store is located at
1709 N. El Camino Real
San Clemente CA 92672
949-369-6500
contact@nollsurfboards.com
Visit us at: www.nollsurfboards.com

LB Summer Slam Smack Down Tuesday 2011 Photos: Jorge Salas

2011-08-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

Steve Thomas, The General Stokemeister,Travis Edwards and Jorge Salas Photographer made the walk down to trestles Tuesday and had a fun surf. Check out the photos.

Travis Edwards T21 Hovering Ten
Photo: Jorge Salas

Smack Down Tuesday 2011
Steve Thomas Pork Chop Baby Back Hand Snap
Photo: Jorge Salas

Fly away Travis. Fly away to the great blue.
Photo: Jorge Salas

Steve Thomas Front Hit
Photo: Jorge Salas

Heels are for the bird. Travis Edwards surfing backwards on the nose.
Photo: Jorge Salas

Steve Thomas Front Hit
Photo: Jorge Salas

Travis's secret to floaters is putting your hips in it. You got to really just put some hip into it. Hip it out. Don't be afraid to show some hip. A little Hipster never hurt no one.
Photo: Jorge Salas

The General Stokemeister Happy Tom set in trim.
Photo: Jorge Salas

The beginning of a good roundy... Sonic Round House ON!!!!
Photo: Jorge Salas

Travis and Steve i see you
Photo: Jorge Salas

Big Dec 69 Makaha Wave Heights Greg Noll By: Larry Goddard

2011-08-04T16:48:00.001-07:00

Jed Noll,Greg Noll,Larry Goddard,Laura Noll

I have the weather maps for that double-barreled swell (two huge swells, a couple days apart, overlapping on Dec 4th, to produce waves at least 10 feet BIGGER than the giant Jan. 28, 1998 swell that was called "Biggest Wednesday" by some, and otherwise the one featured in the "Condition Black" film, where Ken Bradshaw rode a 50-ft wave. He told me that there were even bigger sets than that one he rode (60 ft?).

That '98 swell was produce by only ONE storm, but there was a secondary, more intense fetch that developed near the dateline packing 55-60 knot winds. The first swells arriving were generated by a VERY long 1200 NM fetch of 40-knot winds, blowing for a day and a half, with periods of 20 seconds or more reaching "Buoy 1", (#51001, located 253 NM WNW of Waimea Bay, on a true bearing of 296 degrees from the 20-ft surf lineup at Waimea bay).

For a comparison, the Jan -98 surf at Waimea Bay was reported as "35-40 feet", and the waves out where the tow-in guys were sitting were probably 40-50 ft +, and 60 ft maybe on the very occasional sets.

The Dec '69 surf was completely closing out the Bay, running about 55 ft, and Kaena Point had waves of an estimated 50-70 ft! I saw it with my own eyes! Awesome!!

The first waves ridden from the 1st big swell were about 15-25 ft at Makaha on Tuesday morning, December 2nd, (ask Randy Rarick and Fred Hemmings how perfect it was. It was glassy and looked like 3rd point Malibu, only 2-3 times as big!). The North Shore was down to about 30 ft or so, after having been an estimated 35 ft during the night. It hit Kauai the evening before, Monday, Dec 1st, at 40 ft, and was very WNW in direction. Because of the swell direction, Makaha was able to produce PERFECT Point Break, catchable from the far west lineup, off the point, some 400 yards from the Bowl, just before the channel. That's almost a 1/4-mile ride on a freight-train wave!

Buzzy Trent, Wally Froiseth, and George Downing rode a similarly perfect Makaha Point Break in 1958 (Jan 12th, I believe). Note that both the 1958 and the 1969 swells occurred during a Sunspot Maximum, with the '69 swell also during an El Nino.

The SECOND big Dec '69 swell came in on top of the 20 ft or so that was left over from the first swell on the North Shore, (Makaha was down to 10-15 ft before dawn Thursday). The new swells began arriving on Thursday morning, the 4th, (also produced by 60-knot winds in Storm #2). The big problem was that the swell direction of the new swell was more NorthWest. That means that the lineup shifted about 150 yards down the line from the WNW lineup at the point to the NW Lineup. But, NW swells can't be ridden if the surf is much more than 25 ft (my, opinion, based on my own observations). And, the Bowl closes out on you at the end! You get the 'door' slammed in your face if you try to 'shoot the Bowl'. West to WNW swells let you make it past the Bowl to the safety of the channel.

Thursday, the 4th, started out really glassy, but by mid-morning, a light NW wind started blowing. And, as the waves got bigger, the wind got stronger, finally blowing at about 30 MPH, and the surf got really ugly. By late morning, all but one of the 7 guys out in the water gave up, and paddled or swim in. Only Greg Noll remained out there, determined to RIDE in!

I was on the 3rd floor lanai of the Makaha Shores Condominiums, with my camera set up 39 ft (about 4 stories!) above the reef right in front of the Shores. The only other guy up there with a camera was Albert "Alby" Falzon from Australia. He was set up right next to me, on the same lanai, with a 16mm movie camera, and on a separate tripod, a motor-drive Nikon 35mm film camera. I had called him up from the park next to the shores. Even with the tripod on the beach park picnic table, the camera could not see over the white water in front of the next wave coming in.

After we got setup there, there was an evacuation of tenants in the Shores, due to chunks of coral and seaweed being tossed up against the lowest floor of the Apartments. We ignored the orders and continued to shoot the surf.

By mid-late morning, the waves were getting up to 35-40 feet, and soon the biggest waves were rising well above the horizon, as seen from my vantage point. Those 13-minute sets I estimated to be about 5 or 6 ft above the horizon, or near 45 ft, not adjusting for the distance out to the lineup. That makes the waves about 40 feet ABOVE SEA LEVEL (i.e., NOT including the part of the wave BELOW sea level...the TROUGH). The true, TOTAL wave height, with the Trough, would be 15-20% higher: maybe 46-48 ft!

Greg was soon the only guy left in the water, trying to find the lineup where he could catch a wave. When you are out in surf you've never been in before, it takes time to find the right lineup...at least 3-4 big sets have to pass by, while you carefully work yourself closer to that precise location where the wave first gets steep enough to catch, but not too close to where it pitches out. With 13-minute sets, that could take an hour of repositioning yourself closer to that take-off spot.

But, the northwesterly wind kept getting stronger and stronger, so by the time Greg found that lineup, it was blowing about 30 MPH, and already pretty gnarly from the heavy chop. But, I could see that he was absolutely determined to wait until he could at least drop in on ONE wave!

I had just run out of film, and had the back of my camera open, getting ready to change to a fresh roll of film, when one of the bigger sets arrived, and Alby yelled "He's paddling for it!".

Alby had just finished a reel of 16mm movie film and was also about to replace it with a new roll, but barely had time to jump on his motor-drive Nikon instead when Greg started to catch the huge wave. He was able to bang off a series of 4 or 5 frames before Greg got to the bottom of the wave. The wave was breaking from the northwest lineup into the beginning of the "Saddleback" area, (where the water's deeper), and was already pitching out in the Outside Bowl ahead of where he was dropping in. There was no place to go! The white water was closing in on him from both directions, and he had to bail out at the bottom of the 40 ft wave.

I started timing a couple seconds after he disappeared under the 35 ft or so of white water, until finally we saw Greg's head pop up above the surface WAY inside of where he got nailed. I estimated that after about a full minute, he reappeared at least 200 yards inside of the spot where he disappeared! That's 600 ft in about 60 seconds, or 10 ft per second, about 6.8 MPH, for the current produced by the broken wave.

I had estimated that Greg was about 800 yards out from the Shores, (700 meters, or so), in the direction of the channel side of the Northwest Lineup, just before the Saddleback. That's looking southwest from my position at the front of the Makaha Shores. My 1970 Edition of the "Waianae Port" Coast & Geodetic Survey (#4136, 3rd Edition, dated June 27, 1970) is a large-scale Quadrangle map that shows the bottom depth contours in the waters just off the coastline. The scale of the Map is 1:10,000, so 1 centimeter on the map represents 10,000 cm of the real world , that is, 100 meters.

I am very familiar with the bottom in the entire Makaha-to-Klausmeyer's area, out to about 600 yards, having snorkeled and dived there (including SCUBA diving in the '70s) for all the 16 years I lived there. The C.& G.S. chart shows that Greg Noll was sitting in 10 Fathoms of water if he was 700 meters out, SW of the Shores. That is 60 feet!, or twice as deep as the 20 ft lineup at Waimea Bay! Must be about a 40 ft wave, right?

The wave propagation speed in shallow water is dependent mostly on the water depth, rather than wavelength or period, as when out in the open ocean. The speed is given by a simple formula:
Wave Propagation Speed = Square root of (g times d)

where g is the acceleration due to gravity, and d is the water depth.

At the Latitude of Makaha Point Lineup, g is about 32.11 ft/sec/sec.
If the depth of the breaking wave, d = 60ft,

then, Wave Speed = 43.89 ft per sec.

The calculated wave velocity toward the beach in 60 feet of water is pretty close to 44 ft per second, or about 30 MPH. After the wave broke on Greg, if the speed of the white water was only 1/4 of that, or 11 ft per second, then if he was under water for a full 60 seconds, that would have carried him 660 ft, or about 220 yards.

I saw him pop up after about a full minute, time enough for three more 18-second waves to pass over him. If he was only held down for 3 waves, or 54 seconds, then he would have been carried in just about the 200 yards that I had estimated. That's a LONG time when the adrenaline is rushing, and the heart racing! Few surfers would survive THAT! Only an experienced big-wave surfer or a diver, would have a chance. Training and conditioning DOES make a difference!

So, How big was the wave, if it broke in 60 feet of water?

There is also a simple formula for that, where the bottom slope is not very steep. Most good surf spots have a bottom slope of about 1 in 30. Easy surf spots like those you find in Waikiki, have gentler slopes, 1 in 80, or 1 in 100.

For the less steep bottom slopes, the wave height is at least 0.78 times the water depth. That is, the "True, Total Height", INCLUDING the trough, (which is well out in front of a breaking wave and unridable) is around 78% of the water depth. The portion of the wave that is "Above Sea Level", is probably about 6/7ths or 5/6ths of the true total height. Most standup surfers only use the upper 80% of that part of the wave that is above sea level, so now we're talking about usable, Ridable Heights of maybe only 2/3rds of the entire top-to-bottom ("crest-to-trough") height that you could measure, and that all the formulas used in surf forecasting deal with.

Most surfers are even more conservative than that, typically reporting about 3/5ths or 5/8ths of the True Height. To minimize the need to specify HOW you are "measuring" wave heights, I convert my surf height forecasts to the only universally understood scale in the world: "Relative Height", i.e. how big relative to the surfer trimming across the wave.

Thus, "Head High" is pretty well understandable anywhere in the world. The problem is that in some places, surfers use "Slant Height", which is about Twice the vertical height (as in a 30-60-90 degree right triangle; the hypotenuse is twice the length of the verticle height of the short side opposite the 30 degree angle).

Anyway, as John kelly said decades ago, there are only TWO ways to estimate wave height: "Underestimated or Overestimated."

So, if the water is 60 ft deep where you see waves breaking, the waves are at least 0.78 times as big, or 46.8 ft. That's top-to-bottom. If the wave height WITHOUT the trough is 6/7ths of the true height of 46.8 ft, then it's about 40.114 ft...just what I suspected all along!

So, Greg, you paddled into a 40 foot wave, probably 5 ft BIGGER than that giant Waimea Bay wave in your famous poster! Too bad it wasn't a WEST swell, and still glassy. It would have been the most fantastic ride in the history of surfing, before the advent of Tow-In surfing.

Alby Falzon's slides that he shot that day are now ruined by fungus. Oh, well...You have the "video" in your memory cells, and can replay them whenever you want to relive that fateful day.

By the way, I had a near-death experience once when I almost died on an operating table at a young age of only 12 years. And once I went LEFT on a 15 ft wave at Sunset Beach, and got slammed by a dozen waves, as I was in the impact zone during a triple set, and my life flashed before my eyes as I surrendered to my drowning experience, but, my conditioning and diving experience helped my survive that ordeal.

When you have a near-death experience, everything changes in your perspective on life...things that once seemed so important no longer are, and other things matter more. So, I think I understand well why you gave up surfing giant waves after that day. Most people don't have a clue...

Larry Goddard

Steve Thomas full Page Slide Magazine Issue #19 2011 Photo: JPVC

2011-07-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

Steve Thomas full Page Slide Magazine Issue #19 2011 Photo:JPVC

Steve Thomas, Daily Hot Shot on Pacific Longboarder to day 8/9/2011 Photo: Moonwalker

2011-07-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Steve Thomas Photo:Moonwalker

Mark Richards Noll Surfboards

2011-06-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

Tom Holbrook, Steve Thomas, Mark Richards,Jed Noll

MR At Noll Surfboards

MR

Of course Dora had a P.O. Box

2011-06-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

Call the number see what happens. Photo:S.Thomas

Noah and Steve

2011-05-24T12:43:00.000-07:00

May Mornings from Bird Man Media on Vimeo.

Santa Cruz Quick Run

2011-04-07T16:13:00.000-07:00

Pre-tube Steve Thomas

Just Trimming Steve Thomas

Brother John Tola

To the Nose Hop Skip and Jump Steve Thomas

Heading For a Back Hand LB Snap Steve Thomas

Noll Surfboards Steve Thomas

Steps Steve Thomas

Gliding Times Steve Thomas

Beach of the North

Brother John and Steve Thomas Going For a Surf

Sunset North
Photo: S. Thomas

Tip Trip Tola Steve Thomas

Driving off the bottom Steve Thomas

Jai Lee Bird Man Media

2011-04-06T16:41:00.000-07:00

Jai Lee from Bird Man Media on Vimeo.

Tommy Showing Quantum Characteristic of Strangeness...Tommy Witt

2011-03-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

Tommy Witt from Bird Man Media on Vimeo.

Internet Thug

2011-01-29T11:29:00.000-08:00

I'm on the internet cause i'm an internet Thug
Steve Thomas
Photo: Jorge Salas

OH No Do Ho
Steve Thomas
Photo: Jorge Salas

Cali Logging SURFER Magazine

2011-01-29T11:21:00.000-08:00

Steve Thomas
Photo: Van Swae
http://www.surfermag.com/photos/cali-logging/

Steve Thomas
Photo: Van Swae
http://www.surfermag.com/photos/cali-logging/

January Adventures with Steve and Troy

2011-01-26T17:10:00.001-08:00

Junuary Adventures with Steve & Troy from Bird Man Media on Vimeo.

Monday Morning Noseride with Happy Tom

2011-01-11T17:53:00.000-08:00

Steve Thomas and Thomas Seltzer riding waves
Photo: Manny Vargas

Bird Man Media: presents “Taylor Jensen”

2010-12-18T11:10:00.000-08:00

Tyler Warren AKA Pickle

2010-12-07T11:12:00.000-08:00

Nride spotted Tyler Warren, AKA The Myth, AKA The Trimmer, AKA The Pathfinder, AKA The Truth Seeker, AKA Pickle. It looked like he was riding an 11’0” glide machine. But could have been bigger. Who knows.
Photo: S. Thomas

Tyler Warren on the nose for like ever
Photo: S. Thomas

Tyler waiting for his special one
Photo: S. Thomas

In Trim

2010-11-30T13:28:00.000-08:00

Random Guy Set In Trim
Photo: S. Thomas

HotCurl's and Rincon

2010-11-30T13:04:00.000-08:00

Words and Rides By: Steven Thomas
Photo By: Stephanie Vigiano

This Weekend I went down to Santa Barbra to go surf some small Rincon. I wanted to try this Redwood Hotcurl Jed made for us to ride. The challenge was unexpected. To simply pick a line and set trim was not an easy task for me, which made it more fun. I managed to get a few and my friend Stephanie Vigiano was nice enough to take some photos. I let this fella Kyle try out the board and he caught a few as well. I had a really great time and a new found respect for the guys that rode these boards back in the day. It was defiantly not as easy as it looks.

10'0" Redwood Hotcurl Made by Jed Noll
Photo By: Stephanie Vigiano

Set in Trim.
Photo By: Stephanie Vigiano

Finding that speed
Photo By: Stephanie Vigiano

I met this guy Kyle in the water. He was riding an Alaia and surfing pretty good on the thing. he started to ask me about the Hotcurl so i offered him a go. I wanted to see if it was hard for him as well or if i'm just not good at surfing a 60+ Pound wood board.

Photo By: Stephanie Vigiano

After a couple waves Kyle got this one and showed a lot of control. I sat and watch humbled. When he gave me the Hotcurl back I asked him if it was hard for him to surf. He said yes but i think he was just trying to make me feel better.

Photo By: Stephanie Vigiano

Richie Twitchie Cravey

2010-11-23T10:00:00.000-08:00

Part 1

Part 2

Josh Hall Surfboards

2010-11-23T09:58:00.000-08:00

OSide November 2010 Rip Session

2010-11-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

Days Of Our O'Side from BirdManTV on Vimeo.

Lazy San Onofre Monday

2010-11-02T17:16:00.000-07:00

Photos By: Steve Thomas

Gumby

Bikini BeeBop Clicking Ten

Glimmering Rocks

Micro Five

Micro Heels

One Guy Goes in

Dustin Franks Goes Out

Dustin Franks Late afternoon Single Fin Cut Back Before Dinner

Morning Surf On A 9'9" Photos By: Jorge Salas

2010-10-29T14:00:00.000-07:00

Steve Thomas Black and White Pulled Back Noseride.
Photo: Jorge Salas

Steve Thomas Parallel Drive
Photo: Jorge Salas

Whatcha Know About Tommy Witt ???

2010-10-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

Tommy Witt from BirdManTV on Vimeo.

Video By: Taylor Larison

Steve Thomas Clip From "Pictorial Perspective" By Taylor Larison

2010-10-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

Steven Thomas from BirdManTV on Vimeo.

Mitch Surman Killing it!!!!!!

2010-10-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

Mitch Surman from BirdManTV on Vimeo.

Video By: Taylor Larison

Elijah Gillis

2010-10-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

This Kid is on point. Watch Out!!!!!

Elijah Gillis from Taylor Larison on Vimeo.

Brought to you By Birdman Media

FU DALE!!!!!

2010-10-26T12:44:00.000-07:00

HMB Jetty, Glassy, Shitty. Steve Thomas shows frustration with a wave named 'Dale'.

9'2" Redwood Hotcurl Shaped by Jed and Greg Noll

2010-10-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

Jed Noll and 9'2" Redwood Hotcurl Just Finished.Photo:Steve Thomas

Shipping The Paddle Board Shaped by Jed & Greg Noll

2010-10-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

Photo: Steve Thomas

Shipping a 16-foot Redwood Paddle board across the country is no easy task. A cardboard box would just not do the trick. All the time and effort in building this beautiful piece of art required something much stronger in order to assure the giant boards safe passage across the country. Jed Noll built an 18-foot crate with braces to make sure him and his father’s craftsmanship was protected, guaranteeing the Paddle Board’s new owner can see its perfection preserved.

T21's Got Pop!!!

2010-10-02T12:42:00.001-07:00

Travis Edwards Pops a kick flip over a little curb cut on a Element Travel Well Greg Noll Skateboard call "Da Bull"

Photos:Steve Thomas

T21 Kick Flip
Photo: S. Thomas

Travis Edwards
Photo: S. Thomas

T21 Backside 180
Photo: S. Thomas

Last Time Tim Varner Went Longboarding

2010-10-02T12:02:00.000-07:00

Travis Edwards Just Another Broke Ass LBer Who Shreds

2010-09-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

Travis Edwards No Longboards.
Photo: S. Thomas

Interview By: Timothy Varner
Photos: By: Steve Thomas

Nride asked Tim Varner to interview his BFF, Travis Edwards aka "T21". Nride wanted to know what the deal is with this underdog ripper. Travis gives Nride some insight on his perspective on Longboarding, Who his dream Longboard pro girl is. also he shares some open minded experiences Thailand and admits that he has a problem with down loading applications. Good for you Travis. The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem . Nride has your back!!!!

TV: First off give me the sats: name, age, height, weight, day job, night job, sexual orientation, SSN, sponsors.

I know my name is Travis Edwards aka "T21"

5'8" on a good day.

130 pounds.

Ladies girls women senoritas.

Lightning Bolt sends me the coolest retro clothes but I don’t know if I'm team, gotta ask Paskowitz. Hopefully Jed Noll Surfboards can be added to this list.

Travis Edwards bottom turn on the blue
Photo: S. Thomas

TV: Well lets hope they get the hint and start sending you more stuff, We all now your a hot commodity right now. By the way I’m an XL in shirts and 36 in shorts just in case you were wondering. So any companies looking to get to Travis Edward's I am the deciding factor. What was the story behind your first Longboard?

TE:So back in '08 my dad's father, George, told me he had a surfboard for me that he found in a dumpster. I was a little skeptical but it ended up being this sweet beater board that was shaped by Dano, I think. I guess it was a premature dumpster diver for Longboards.

TV: You have only been Longboardsing for two years that's crazy!!I remember that board it was the sorriest excuse for a Longboard but you still managed to Noseride the hell outta that thing.So how does a valley kook like you end up being a full time Longboard shredder? This where you can get super corny with no shame.

TE: My registered address and where I grew up is Temecula. Yep the town with the Indian casino. I currently attend Cal State Fullerton and Saddleback College so I'm out here for educational purposes but it somehow ends up more as surfing purposes. My aunts a professor at Saddleback and she very kindly lets me stay with her. Without her I wouldn't be up on the Interweb with you right now.

Travis all lock knee Knosted out on the nose
Photo: S. Thomas

TV: Man you came from the town were those Metal Mulisha Hounds From Hell are from. Those dudes are heavy. Julie Bright has got to be the coolest aunt out there! Would you say your more a turn man or a nose picker? explain.

TE: I used to Shortboard so I think I got turns outta my system early. I try to keep it 50/50 but I keep my nose pretty dang clean. I'd blow any turn section for a ten probably.

TV: Noseriding is definitely a trip, and your dam good at it no doubt. Who do you look for inspiration when it comes to surfing style?

TE: No one trips me out more than Tommy Witt. The guy is Gumbi on a surfboard. We were in a contest last year and people told me after the heat that Tommy got shacked fins first going switch or something ridiculous like that. How do you compete with that?

TV: Yeah that guy is just plain nuts, not a bad guy to look up to. What absolutely bothers you about the sport of Longboarding? Don’t worry about hurting anyone’s feelings we got your back.

TE: I'll refrain from naming names but mainly those super loggy too cool for school guys. I feel like your surfing should do more of the talking then your hip board and one-of-a-kind wetsuit. Idk, I mean honestly Longboarding is kinda lame compared to shortbarding. Those guys are finally getting back-flips dialed and we have a small percentage that can barely do airs. You can't be some super shredder if can only ride a 10'4" log. Longboarding's fun factor is way higher than Shortboarding's and our crowds are so much less aggressive in comparison.

T21 back hand punsher
Photo: S. Thomas

TV: Well in true Nride style I’m going to take the low road, The point hipsters really grind my gears too. If there could be a type of surfer that was a “tool” they would be the epitome. What do you want to see Longboarding become in your life time? Or are you just satisfied?

TE: I think we have a lot of work to do. Skating, Snowboarding, and Shortboarding all seem to be at par, in the "extreme maneuver" scale. The stuff those guys do is just so much more action packed and entertaining than us. I want us doing flips and spins already and combo it up with a long ten.

TV: This takes time young grass Hopper, you must be patient. Just lead the revolution and “DO IT!” How has surfing ruined your life? What do you do when your not a prune?

TE: I usually put surfing before anything important in my life, so in return I'm an extreme procrastinator. I'll surf at night, be tired and go to bed, and then get up at 5 to write an essay or whatnot. Up until recently, I enjoy skateboarding when I'm bored but I was just in the hospital for it, so we're not really friends anymore. I also like to make vases on a lathe back at home. "wood turned segmented vases," Google it. OH and I watch movies with your Netflix account!

TV: Yeah you got super bloody after airing outta that backyard mini ramp. As far as my Netflix account goes I've never seen someone be so into nip tuck. You are full on addicted to that show. I think It’s the sexual tension, nudity, blood and money that keeps you coming back for more. Top 3 most played Artist on your Ipod? Anyone that knows you, knows your an “Appaholic” as well.

Travis Heels Ass Over
Photo: S.Thomas

TE: How about artists cause I jump around a lot? Felt, Black Keys, Yelle. I’m so addicted to apps it's kinda sad. Once I'm home that's all I do. It doesn't matter how lame it might look, I'll be into it. Look up "Pocket Frogs", got to level 16 today and I just downloaded Superfall. It's free today, you should get it.

TV: Man you are so lame, but your Ipod always has the sickest techno songs. You can learn a lot about someones personality by what their favorite Youtube/Vimeo video is, would you mind sharing?

TE: I'm really into stop motion videos, animated videos, and like cannon 7d slow-motion stuff but that's all on Vimeo.here's my top three. grand finale is a tie between 2 and 3.

1.http://www.vimeo.com/4723188

2.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1pppDAguQY

3.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVUMdkg78tc

TV: My Favs are:

Tommy Witts 720 thing is hectic.

I’m always game for kicking babies!

Duh i’m not a girl!!

Travis Nice Walk Up The Beach So Pretty.
Photo: S. Thomas

TV: If you had a million dollars how would you spend it?

TE: Buy a better car, pay for school, travel a little bit and then invest the rest wisely. I'm sure that was the answer you were looking for. I watched this documentary, "We Live in Public" where this guy got rich off the Interweb in its infancy and hired all these people to live in this secluded underground building where they couldn't leave but had access to anything. They even had a shooting range. But they had no privacy, a camera was always on them. The cops thought it was a cult and broke the thing up but it looked nuts! I would totally do some creepy experiment like that.

TV: Yeah if I had a million dollars I would stick to the more simple things in life, like Cocaine and hookers. Maybe some traveling to surf and to do cocaine and hit international hookers. Have you traveled the world at all? Do you have any crazy international stories?

TE: Tahiti, South Africa, Thailand, and I got Nicaragua coming up in month or so. Thailand was pretty gnarly. We watched that kickboxing fight at that transvestite bar and the girls or guys or shims started getting naked and dancing up on you whenever there was a knockout. I'm glad we destroyed those pics before we got on U.S. soil.

TV: Deleting those pics was one of my better judgement calls; and for that night, Well lets just say I let the tiger out of the cage that night. There’s only four witnesses and lets keep it that way. When and where was the biggest wave you ever rode, or ate shit on?

Mr. Edwards Fly like a bird. We all know Bird is the word
Photo: S. Thomas

TE: When I was 14 or 15 I went to surf the North Shore for the first time. I had some 5'9 super thin board with me and I remember the newspaper said the waves were like 12-14 feet. I went to paddle out at Sunset and the lifeguard stopped me and said not to go but somehow I convinced him it was ok. I paddled like a mile out there and realized it's kinda big. I couldn’t get enough speed to catch anything super big but I got frustrated after getting only 2 and tried for the first wave of this set and just drilled. I got hung up at the top with the lip and just jumped. I got held under for two waves and came up without a track top. I panicked real good.

TV: Edwards would go. Favorite beverage to consume? Give me both alcoholic and non alcoholic? don’t be ashamed if its a foo foo girly drink I totally support those. They are so progressive!

TE: I know you're super into your froo froo stuff but I am happy with just a cold Bluemoon. maybe two. I've been on a pretty big Rootbeer kick lately.

TV: Yeah I feel ya on the blue moon. This is just a warning to all the women reading this, if you're around Travis and you get the “eye” your in big trouble cause you're gonna be lip locking. Shot out of a cannon: Alana Blanchard, Kassia Meador, Daize Shayne. You gotta marry one, break up with one, and knock boots with one?

TE: Sorry Alana but we need to break up. Daize and I are getting married and Kassia will get an invite to the honey moon.

TV: Hooofa, that's probably a good call, Didn’t think you’d be into the older ladies though.If it were me I’d have to dump Daize, white chicks don’t age well “usually” there are exceptions. Marry Kassia and Alana’s gonna get “it”.

T21 racing on the nose to make the section.
Photo: S. Thomas

TV: If you could travel back in time and have tea and crumpets with anyone who would it be?

TE: Anyone high up on the chain in Lockheed Martin. I'd be asking them non stop questions about aliens and stuff. I've always been curious but even more so now that Steven Thomas got me addicted to that Serpo website.

TV: Your never gonna get laid after that answer. What are your accomplishments as a logger?

TE: I don't have any really. I got second to Taylor Jensen the other day at the San Onofre contest, It was a good underdog moment, but even then I'm just first loser hahah.

Travis making his way around the house.
Photo: S. Thomas

TV: Wow, that's pretty gnarly. What kinda board are you shredding on now days?

TE: You'll probably see me on my 9' Wavetools High Proing it. I also got an Alter 9'1 that is fun at church for some tip time. Hey ever notice that it's "high pro" instead of "high per"? From high performance hence the PER?

TV: That is a good observation. You’re a real witty young man. This was my first interview how did I do?

TE: You did great, I feel thoroughly exploited and somewhat embarrassed. Congratulations.

TV: Thanks man! There You have it folks the interesting, witty, disco surfer in a nutshell. Look for him in your local lineup say hello he’s a real swell guy.

Tim and Travis BFFs
Photo: S. Thomas

Doh Ho Yo!!!!

2010-09-22T15:48:00.000-07:00

Cheater Five Steve Thomas
Photo: Jorge Salas

The many Nose rides of James Cordova
Photo: Steve Thomas

Skip Frye

2010-09-09T15:55:00.000-07:00

Skip Frye and Jed Noll
Photo: Steve Thomas

Check out Skips Fancy footwork
Photo: Steve Thomas

Skip loved the planer and ended up getting the Accurate JN1 Longbed.
Photo: Steve Thomas

The Hands of Skip. These hands have shaped so many boards that have made so many people happy.
Photo: Steve Thomas

Jed, Donna Frye and Skip Frye
Photo: Steve Thomas

Jed Breaks down the features of the Accurate Planer
Photo: Steve Thomas

The Mystery Knitter Strikes Noll Surfboards & Gallery

2010-09-02T11:01:00.000-07:00

I came to work this morning and as I open the doors I noticed the poll next to the shop had a knitted black and white striped poll wrap with a green Owl. Who is this masked avenger? We thank you mystery knitter. Your Creativity brought us stoke.

Photo: Steve Thomas

The Mystery Knitter Reviled. Photo: Steven Thomas

Josh Constable Making Longboard History Everyday

2010-07-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Josh Constable, this guy is truly a champ and a seasoned vet. Every time he surfs he makes Longboard history. He gives Nride some insight on his current situation, breaks out his list of accomplishments a mile long and responds to some naysayers from his youtube clip. Don’t get your hopes up, like a true champion, he takes the hi road so NRide took the low road for him.

Interview By: Nride
Photos By: Moonwalker

NR: Where you from essay?

JC: I’m from Noosa Queensland Australia born and bred !!Not a bad place to grow up

NR: Here’s a verse for my rap song I made for you. “Straight out of Noosa, Crazy MF longboarder name Constable” Did you see what I did there? I ripped off a N.W.A. song and just changed the words. I know I’m clever. You've been in this Longboard rap game for a while. How long has it been?

JC: Wow yeah its been a while I’m 30 at the end of the year. I started riding a Longboard in my early teens and my first year competing in pro events was 96 when I was 15 so it’s been a while !!!!!

NR: Your 30? Shit I thought I was younger than you. That’s lame. I feel like the unaccomplished 32year old longboard guy. Excuse me while I cry my self to sleep.Who influenced you in surfing as a kid?

JC: Well I always looked up to the Ozzie guys when I was a kid like Ray Gleave, Jason Blewitt, Wayne Dean and Noel Woods from beach beat surf shops. He lived in Noosa so I always got to surf with him. He's one of those guys that rode everything. He was one of my first main sponsors and I also worked in the shops on weekends and after school so we used to hang out a lot but one of the main guys that really got me frothing was Geoff Moysa he killed it on everything Shortboard longboard stand up body board he always stood out in the line up anywhere he surfed my first trip out to Cali was when I was 17 I ended up getting taken in by him and his parents that was all time, all we did was surf all day every day, and I just wanted to be like that ride everything and try kill it on whatever I rode.

NR: Dude how’s the God Fathers Ray Gleaves and Wayne Dean? From my perspective they were the guys who brought Modern Longboarding to Australia. I’ve never met them but I sure as hell know who those dudes are. Also Geoff Moysa can walk on water. The guy is an amazing surfer.What new guys are standing out to you in Longboarding right now?

JC: That’s a hard one cause I think my generation is just starting to hit there straps right now. Harley Ingleby, Taylor Jenson, Ned Snow, Kai Sallas, Mouse Moir and the list go's on and you still got guy's like Bonga and Josh Baxter and Collin killing it that’s why I think its hard for the kids especially for the guys in Australia coming thru. I haven’t really seen anyone come in and push hard in events yet, but young Mitchy Surman; I have been traveling with him this year he has a lot of potential for sure and there's 2 young 16 year old twin brothers Ed and George Cuningham from home that surf really well too so it will be good to see them do well in the years to come there are a lot of other hot surfers that have chosen different paths guys like Harry Roach, Jai lee, Christian Wach, Alex Knost. They were the next guys I guess that were gonna come through the contest scene but didn't end up down that path but are really killing it and making a name for them selves.

NR: Yeah Mitchy is something else. I really like how that kid rides a longboard He’s got to be from outer space man. Can’t wait to surf with him. I think he’s coming to the U.S. again soon. It seems like Australians have really embraced the progressive Longboard approach to surfing (from my perspective) do you think that’s true?

JC: Yes and No. We have so many perfect right points on the east coast of Australia. Some of the best logging points in the world that all the top Ozzie contest surfers ride logs and lot of them kill it on them and can stand out in a crowd I would almost say I ride that style of board more than my 4oz HP's especially on the points, but if u want to win events and make a living out of the sport I think you have to be solid in the progressive side of Longboarding cause that’s what the judges want to see and that’s how you win.

NR: Must be rough living by some of the best point breaks in the world. Why, when you invite an Australian to crash at your house they stay for an over extended amount of time? I really need to know this because ever body I know who’s had a Aussie crash at there house always tells me that they just wont leave.

JC: Ha-ha yah its classic, I think its a combo of a lot of things epic Mexican food, beers cheap waves seem always to be fun everyone’s super cool to us and make Ozzies welcome. Oh and the girls love our accents too ha-ha. Just like the Ozzie girls froth on you guys when you come down here.

NR: So true American girls are suckers for an Ozzie accents it’s so funny. One of my buddies’ landed a girl because he faked an Ozzie accent and she bought it. Poor girl. You’re a married man with two kids am I correct?

JC: Yeah mate that’s right, Anna and I have 2 boys Jet who's 4 and Jive's 18 months.

NR: Good deal.Are your kids surfing yet?

JC: I have always had the boys on the front of my board since they were real young. I think this summer jet will be ready to get a few by himself he's been getting real confident in his swimming classes. It could be a super fun summer far as getting Jet out there.

NR: I’m not a dad so I can’t pretend to know how proud you must be. Those boys got a good life ahead of them. To this day my favorite thing is surfing fun waves with my dad. If you had million dollars what would you spend it on?

JC: I would buy a house over there in the states and travel back and forth between the summers and not do much with the rest of the bucks maybe invest it so I could, just surf play golf and hang with my family. I wouldn't work again or try not too ha-ha-ha.

NR: I wouldn’t invest that money in Wall Street unless giving large amounts of money away gets your rocks off. You were World Champ in 2006. That’s a big deal. What other accomplishments do you have under your belt?

JC: Yeah mate that was a big accomplishment a dream of mine since I was a grom. I have 6 Australian titles the most held by any surfer so that’s really special to me to be the only one with 6. My idols Ray Gleave and Jason Blewitt both had 3 so I smashed them a few years back and now I'm trying to put it out of reach, of the next guys trying to knock me off. I also won the S.U.P Australian title last year. The first title that they have had for S.U.P so that’s cool. Also I have 4 Noosa festival wins which is special since its in my back yard and one of longboardings biggest events probably world wide.

NR: Christ man you’re a machine I had no idea.Who are you riding for these days?

JC: I’m really lucky to have some great sponsors that allow me to surf and train and travel. So I owe a lot to these guys. Noosa longboards, Creatures of Leisure, Flojos, Swisse vitamins, Power Balance, Physio Sync Noosa, and Santoras restaurants in Mission Viejo. Still looking for a clothing sponsor hint hint.

NR: Seriously, Surf industry, give this guy a clothing sponsor! What’s a longboarder got to do to get a clothing sponsor these days? Josh maybe you should not surf so god dam good and win everything and just look pretty on the beach and paint some shit. Last time you were here you surfed the WLA event at Huntington Beach 2010. Rumor has it you got kind of a raw deal on that when you should of won the contest. What happened that day?

JC: Don't know about that, but I was having one of those events that I felt real good waves coming my way posting real good scores, I love those type of waves at Huntington so things where looking good. I came up against one of my real good mate's Taylor in the semi and you know as well as anyone the guys ripping. At the moment he's having the best 2 years of his career so if u want to beat him especially in his home country you gotta really beat him. We both had a good heat but not the best of waves came thru and I lost to him in a close one. Hey that’s contest and you gotta roll with it. I took a lot of confidence out of that event so it wasn't all bad.

NR: See people. You can’t listen to gossip. Yeah man Taylor’s no joke he’s going crazy right now wining everything. That Youtube clip of you punting and air on a Longboard has over 47 thousand hits and a shit load of comments did you know that?

JC: Not that it had that many hits and comments but that’s cool.

NR: Here is the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL1JSgQaQ7E look at all the hits and comments. The comments on the clip are sooooo funny. There are guys bitching about you doing an air on a longboard and guys defending you to the death. Lets set the record straight and give you a chance to remark on some of my favorite comments from some real Dick Head Nay Sayers.

colemanbrown says:
"Fuck new school Longboarding"

JC: Mate what do u say to that, I’m just surfing the way I want to surf and I guess u cant please everyone.

NR: Josh your so nice. What I would say to Colmanbrown is “GOBBEL A BAG OF DICKS MR. RIPPER” There I took the low road not you.

frankinplasm says:
"9' long board my ass. That thing looks about 7'6"

JC: Ha-ha I'm 6'3 and 86 kilo's so I guess it looks short to them, but its legit, it's a 9 footer.

NR: I’m not as tall as you but people always ask if my board is 8’6” for some reason. Maybe its because such a husky man. This one is funny because the guy is pleading with you. Like, if you don’t ride a Shortboard his life is going to suck even more than it already dose.

bimzelle says:
"Why don’t ya just ride ya short board Josh all the time? You’d rip...aren’t Mals something Phil Edwards and Dora style mastered on till Nat’s power came along and pushed surfing to its current level...Mals are great for learning, and fun styling when waves are tiny to get wet. Progresses don’t regress."

JC: I ride everything. There's a time and a place for every type of board I guess that’s why I got about 50 or so different boards in the garage. My thoughts are ride each board how its meant to be riding ... its a hp so u gotta do what u gotta do when u get a perfect ramp like that one u just gotta punt would of been lame to just straighten out.

NR: If you got to punt you got to punt.

kingbarry111 says:
" Is that really Longboarding? Or a Shortboarder being greedy and wanting more waves?"

JC: Ha-ha this guy wouldn't have a clue; I’m one of the mellowest guys in the water far from greedy.

NR: See When I’m asked why I longboard the way I do by guys on shortboards I just tell them it’s because I’m lazy and inconsiderate. Ok enough of that shit, lets hear about your plans for the year. Are you working on any thing cool? (Movies, trips, contest goals?)

JC: Mate, I got a full on late part of the year gonna spend some time in Cali with the family do a few events over there surf and shoot and cruz, I got the ISA games in Peru which is the Olympics of surfing I guess, which Harley and I will be representing Australia and competing for a gold medal and a world title so I’m really looking forward to that. I have only competed in it once and had a ball doing it. You travel as a team which consists of Shortboarders guys and girls coaches trainers physio all that stuff usually its all for your self at events so cant wait also the world tour event in Hawaii that will be great to have a event in some solid surf.

NR: Look me up when you’re in my neck. You can stay at my place but for only 1 WEEK!! Are we clear? Ha just kidding if you need to crash let me know. I’ll leave you with this question? What would you like to see in the future for the sport of Longboarding?

JC: A healthy world tour with a bunch of events in great longboard waves where you gotta mix it up and do it all and everyone making a little better money than what we are making right now but if that all fails, like it probably will, ha-ha, we will all be doing the same things going to the beach and riding every type of board and still loving it cause that’s what we all love to do.

NR: That sounds like a clear vision. I have to say that’s not the first time I have heard that same wish. It sounds like you have some back up on that vision. I’m with you a 110%. I see so much talent these day from kids and they have no real outlet except for the pure love of doing it, which is (like you said) why we do it. Thanks so much for your time Josh. I’m looking forward to surfing with you in the future.

Miki Dora

2010-07-17T09:21:00.001-07:00

Photo: S. Thomas

Pacific Longboarder Pick Of The Day

2010-07-14T15:16:00.001-07:00

Steve Thomas Photo: Moonwalker

Tommy Witt, Pictorial Perspective

2010-07-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

Tommy Witt somewhere in the secret land of San Clemente shooting for the new longboard mega smash, "Pictorial Perspective" by Taylor Larison

Photo: S. Thomas

Pictorial Perspective, New Longboard Joint!!!!!

2010-07-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

Mitch Surman, Man that kid can Longboard

2010-07-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

Interview By: Steve Thomas
Photos By: Ron Greene/SLIDE Magazine

Mitch Surman, one of Australia’s promising young Logboarders gives Nride a little insight in his life. I was watching Mitch disfigure this little shitty left on a crap day at San Onofre in California. He blew me away with the turns I saw. One thing I learned is if a surfer can kill it on a weak wave they can destroy it on good wave. Here's Mitch Surman raising the bar for the future of Longboarding.

ST: Is Mitch on your birth certificate or is it Mitchell? Come on give us your whole name.

MS: Yeah mate my full name is Mitchell Thomas Surman, born on the 12/11/1990 In Nabour Hospital Australia.

ST: So if you were a artsy fartsy Longboarder you would say, “Hi I’m Mitchell Thomas Surman singer, song writer and surf artist, can I paint something for you before I go for a surf?”

ST: How long have you been riding a longboard.

MS: Dad had me on the front of his longboard when I was about 5years old.

ST: So you were nose riding before you could even surf. That’s heavy.

Photos By: Ron Greene/SLIDE Magazine

ST: What’s your sign?

MS: Scorpio

ST: Here’s what I know about Scorpios

Don’t ever tell Scorpios they've had too much to drink, They'll sneer and keep drinking at you until they’re shit-can drunk. Scorpios like to drink and if you have a problem with that you can kiss the ass that the God of wine Bacchus gave them.

ST: Are you a big, (as we Americans say) Soccer fan or Rugby fan?

MS: Ha a big rugby fan. Can’t beat a good game of Rugby.

ST: Yeah that games crazy, something to do with a watermelon no pads and no condoms. Very unsafe, someone can get really hurt.

ST: Are you even old enough to drink or just by cigarettes and kill for your country.

MS: In Australia I’m old enough to have a few quiet beers as you have to be 18 to drink.

ST: “Quiet beers”, I’m pretty sure that’s a oxymoron.

Photos By: Ron Greene/SLIDE Magazine

ST: What’s your biggest accomplishment in Longboarding.

MS: Last year when I was 18 I was invited to compete in the World Longboard Titles, was a pretty big achievement.

ST: That’s a huge achievement man. You should be proud.

ST: Who are you riding for young Mitch?

MS: I am riding for Oxbow, On A Mission, Classic Malibu and Westpac bank.

ST: Cool man sounds like your getting the support you need to get where you want to be. You deserve it with your skills.

ST: Top three things you love?

MS: Riding a Longboard, Mates, and Friday arvo.

ST: Top three things you hate?

MS: Money, Work, Monday morning.

ST: I love Money ask anybody who knows me they’ll tell you all I talk about is how much I love the all mighty dollar. What’s more, there is nothing, I’ll repeat, NOTHING that excites me more than a Monday morning of work. It really gets me off. Just kidding I hate those things too.

Photos By: Ron Greene/SLIDE Magazine

ST: When I met you, you were riding a quad Longboard and just destroying these little waves at San O. I got to tell you I was pretty impressed. Is it true, “Once you go Quad you never go back” Why do you think that is?

MS: The Quads do go good I think they are much faster and I seem to be able to ride them better then a normal tri fin setup so I don’t think I will be going back anytime soon.

ST: I’ll have to give one a try it’s been years since I’ve had one but you’ve made them look like they work insane.

ST: Tell me, what made you start riding a long board vs. just going mainstream and riding your basic 6’2” three to the beach thruster?

MS: I kind of like it when you see 9 feet of board out of the water it looks so cool and the feeling to be able to do it is amazing. That’s why I love riding a longboard.

ST: On the same note do you find your self-riding high performance Longboards more that single fin Longboards?

MS: Yeah I’m pretty much always on a high performance longboard as I kind of get board riding the logs but I must say there still fun.

ST: Yeah a good log session never hurt nobody.

ST: Who’s your favorite Longboarder? Say me Say me Say me!!!!!

MS: Ha-ha my favorite would have to be Harley Ingleby or Josh constable.

ST: Nobody ever says me. NEVER!!!! Oh well Harley Ingleby and Josh Constable are pretty badass surfer dudes. I’d say those are good favs.

Photos By: Ron Greene/SLIDE Magazine

ST: So I like movies, books and TV shows about aliens and space ships and wizards and swords are you into any of that stuff or am I alone in the surfing world.

MS: No, I think your alone there mate.

ST: OK, just seeing if we have any outside interests in common. I guess we don’t. So sad.

ST: What do you expect to accomplish it the wide world of longboarding by the time your 25?

MS: I’m hoping to be able to win a world title.

ST: Shit man if you keep this up, keep your nose clean, and, keep it wrapped, my money says you’ll win the worlds before 25.

ST: I want to end it with this; do you eat poor defenseless kangaroos?

MS: Haha no way I couldn’t do that some people do but they usually have a screw loose.

ST: I’m glad to hear your not eating kangaroos or as I like to call them, “Horse-rabbits.” Thanks again Mitch. I appreciate your time and I’ll see you when you’re in Cali.

Photos By: Ron Greene/SLIDE Magazine

Diina Horo's 2x B-day at Trail 4

2010-06-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

Words and Pics By: S. Thomas

The other day I get a text from Darren Eudaly Saying, “Diina’s B day tomorrow. Trail 4 at 12:30. Bring your board and a good time. See you there.” So my friend Thomas, a.k.a “Happy Tom” from Turbonegro and his Girl Cecilie and I hike down this long dirt trail to do some surfing and B-Day celebrating with Diina, Darren and friends. I grabbed my camera and my 70 to 300 cheapo Canon lens (that I dropped on the ground a ways back) because I knew there would be some serious longboard stunt riding. The surf was overhead but bumpy and the fog just wouldn’t bounce out. However I was right, some serious longboarding went down on the day Miss Diina was born. Zak Fritz came down and displayed style and grace while Steve Newton and Darren Eudaly were all over the place on full battle-axe attack ,along with birthday girl and shred lady of the sea Diina Horo and friend and ripper Stephanie Vigiano. Here’s what I got.

Diina Horo the Birthday girl.

It was Gloomy at the beach but the water was super warm so what ever.

Click to See Steve Newtons 1,2,3

Steve Newton's Round the way

Stephanie Vigiano,I can’t believe this girls not sponsored.

Darren Eudaly with a smooth back side top turn on a bumpy wave.

Like i said Darren was ever where. Back Hand KA-BAM!!!!

Steve Newton, text book back hand banger

Steve Newton has a good driving bottom turn.

Darren Eudaly always game to run a train.

Diina Horo, white wash roller coaster

Diina Horo, cutty at the Trail 4 cuts

If you Surf and you live by the beach you almost have to spend the day surfing on you birthday

Thomas Seltzer A.K.A. "Happy Tom" from Turbonegro came down and caught a few bumpy ones with eveyone.

Mr.Zak Fritz

I don't get to surf with Zak Fritz much but I always enjoy surfing with him when I do.

Diina's Lady friends.

Zak Fritz smooth and silent through the bump.

Noll Family ASR

2010-06-19T10:40:00.001-07:00

Photo Via: www.normhere.com

Trippy Wetsuit

2010-06-08T16:19:00.000-07:00

Photo: S. Thomas
This Girl had this really tripped out wetsuit.

Oh Surfing

2010-06-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

Oh surfing how you rule me. How you make or break me. No matter how well I’m doing in life, I still need your approval. If you don’t let me have my way with you I feel less of a human being. If I don’t partake in you I feel irresponsible. Sometimes all I think about is you and it drives me crazy and other times I don’t think about you and it drives me crazy. Some times I love you and other times I hate you. As my body gets older it makes it harder to be with you and that makes me sad. Today I love you. Thank you surfing for my life.

Photo: Nick Borelli

Julie Cox interview from readymade.com

2010-05-29T16:48:00.000-07:00

To read readymade's interview of Julie Cox go to:

http://readymade.com/projects/article/julie_cox_hdygtfaj

Surfing With, Chris Thomas, My Dad

2010-05-29T10:54:00.000-07:00

Words and Photo by S. Thomas

I’m so lucky to have a dad that I surf with. When I was little I actually didn’t like getting up early in the morning to go surfing in the cold water of Santa Cruz. Back then the wetsuits were stiff and I never had a very good one. What motivated me to break away from cartoons and sleeping in was after my dad and I would surf we would stop at this market on the way home and my dad and I would get a snack and talk about the waves we would catch. He would get a Fosters and spicy pork skins and I would get a soda and a king size butterfingers. That was my favorite part of surfing in the beginning. Here’s a picture I took of my Dad Chris Thomas surfing in Capitola California; the very place he taught me how to surf 20 years ago.

Longboarder and Death Weasel

2010-04-30T14:22:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

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

PLB Daily Hot Shot Julie Cox Photo: Moonwalker

2010-03-31T15:09:00.000-07:00

Jed Noll's Julie Cox Floating a section At Noosa.

San O Sunday 3-28-10

2010-03-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

You know what I like about San O? It’s like going surf camping, but no sleep over. Everybody is surfing, taking naps, and cooking something over an open fire. I didn’t understand the attraction to San O until I moved down to Southern California. For a guy who doesn’t have a lot of time to go camping San O really dose the trick for some camping relief. Here are some images of this past Sunday at San O.

Photos: S. Thomas & J. Salas

Young River burning me.

Jed Noll micro nose riding

Foam ball nose slide

Jed going low on a high

The weather was so nice. Here's some of the crew enjoying the warm sun.

Jed's Boy James on the nose.

Jed introducing his baby girl Trinity to the ocean.

Julie Cox one foot wonder

This girl was getting some good ones off the point.

Jorge Salas (photographer) going for a surf on this bad ass nose rider Jed built him.

Julie Cox in Classic Julie form.

Julie in trim.

Big bru Zane

Oh its the little River Band again.

Julie going for a surf

Jed and Julie talking shop

Japanese Jed Noll team rider and friend Yoshishiro Sakurai

2010-03-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

Recently Japanese Jed Noll team rider and friend Yoshishiro Sakurai came to visit in us in Southern California. I was so stoked to finialy meet Yoshi. He is such a cool guy and a ripper to boot. I lent him my 9’4” HP LB and the guy blew me away with how well he surfed the board. I was so flattered that he was stoked on the board. I only wish I got some surf shots of him on. Oh well next time.

Yoshi and I looking all cool at the Noll Shop

Yoshi about to go slay at San O on my board

Yoshi checking the Greg Noll limited addition Da Bun Skateboards by Element

Yoshi by some Greg Noll Replicas.

Jed Noll Surfboard I GOT SOME NEW BOARDS SWEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!

2010-03-20T11:50:00.000-07:00

Got some new boards. The Orange one is 9'0x23x14x2-3/4" and the green one is 9'4x23x14x2-3/4". pure whack attack nose blasting joy. this time i put a 1/4" of concave in the nose so we'll see how it goes.

Reno Abellira Came By. Photo: S. Thomas

2010-03-13T17:13:00.000-08:00

Today legendary surfer Reno Abellira came by to say hi to Jed with his Chiwawa Lola.

Reno with GN T-shirt, his good luck Chiwawa, and a gum ball machine. All the things a guy needs.

Jed and his Uncle Reno

Reno Signed the Wall "Waves of courge in the water. Waves of peace on da land"

Reno's Lucky Chiwawa Lola

Old Greg Noll Price lists, adds en stuff

2010-03-11T10:53:00.000-08:00

Stemwinder logo

Old Price List

Dora the Explora Will Destroy Ya

2010-03-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

Here are some old adds Greg Noll and Dora did back in a time before I was thought of.

Model Collection By Malcolm Wilson

2010-03-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

Greg Noll Surfboards

Cross Roads Tradshow 2010

2010-03-09T17:25:00.000-08:00

Birdman Media T-Shit

2010-03-03T15:34:00.000-08:00

Photo: Jorge Salas

Weekend at San Clemente Pier. Photos: Daniel Franks

2010-02-16T12:41:00.000-08:00

On my Weekend, which is Sunday and Monday, I met up with Daniel Franks and we had a couple of nice mornings at the pier in San Clemente. I've really never surfed the North Side of the Pier but I got to say I had a good time. Lately I've been obsessed with the South side of the pier watching it like a dragon on a mountaintop looking for some people to slay. This is the best I got it so far. Take a look it’s in a book reading rainbow.

Steve Thomas.
Photos: Daniel Franks

This one was fun.
Steve Thomas
Photos: Daniel Franks

Steve Thomas
Photos: Daniel Franks

What? I made this. OK OK I didn't.
Steve Thomas
Photos: Daniel Franks

Steve Thomas
Photos: Daniel Franks

Steve Thomas
Photos: Daniel Franks

Moonwalker Strikes Again 2009: Photo: Moonwalker

2009-12-15T07:28:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos of me from Moonwalkers visit this year.

PLB Web Shot Photo: Moonwalker

2009-11-24T11:50:00.001-08:00

Cover Shot MorSurf Mag. Photo:Daniel Franks

2009-10-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

This is my 3 cover Shot Photo: Daniel Franks

More Photos By Daniel Franks

2009-10-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

Steve Thomas Photo:Daniel Franks

Steve Thomas Photo:Daniel Franks

Steve Thomas Photo:Daniel Franks

One Steve Thomas Photo:Daniel Franks

Two Steve Thomas Photo:Daniel Franks

Three Steve Thomas Photo:Daniel Franks

Four Steve Thomas Photo:Daniel Franks

Five Steve Thomas Photo:Daniel Franks

Big Shorts To Fill. Photos By: Daniel Franks

2009-10-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

Check out these shots. There were only 50 pairs of these trunks made for the GN team. They're pretty cool trunks however wearing the trunks that represent Greg Noll is pretty intimidating to say the least.

Photos By: Daniel Franks

Photos By: Daniel Franks

Photos By: Daniel Franks

Photos By: Daniel Franks

San O Tuesday "Shark Week Special Edition"

2009-07-23T10:26:00.000-07:00

Photos By:
Steve Thomas
Danny Franks
Jorge Salas

In the year of our lord 2009 on the day of 21st of July another fine San O Tuesday occurred. Waves, sun, Great White Sharks, chicken smothered in processed yummy BBQ sauce and the best God Dam potato salad money can buy from SC café. This Tuesday the waves were small but real fun, the wind stayed moderate and the sun was hot. At least 5 people came up to me and said they witness an 8-foot GW Shark but no one stopped surfing. Its funny because when I tell people I’m from up north they always ask me if I’m scared of the sharks up their and I just tell them that I’m more scared of the Shark that everyone sees all the time everyday at San O. Shark or no shark it was fucking fun hands down. No wait ..HANDS UP!!!!!

There is a fucking shark out there
Photo: S. Thomas

Mason Klink is the coolest kid.
Photo:S. Thomas

That dude wishes he can turn like Lindsey Engle
Photo: S.Thomas

What I'm doing here is walking back from the nose with the song "Fuck the Police" by Americas classic thug rap band, "NWA"
Photo: D. Franks

Ryan Engle owner of Nation Surfboards LLC. dumbfounded by the beauty of Jed Noll's craftsmen ship. I'm just confused.
Photo: J.Salas

Dustin ruff riding the evening bump
Photo:J. Salas

Ryan Engle out of retirement all hip hop graphited out.
Photo:S. Thomas

Diiner(Diina Horo) and huglife(Justin Hugron) eating chips in judgment.
Photo:J. Salas

Diiner (my new nick name for Diina Horo) The California kid's Hina and Easter Europe's delicate little flower is now on the nose.
Photo: S. Thomas

Chicken Mo-Fo. Engle cooked these little bitches up.
Photo: S. Thomas

Space Man Travis "21" Ooodwards
Photo: S. Thomas

This is why I call him Travis Ooodwards "21" cause he's 19 and when he goes in to the store to try and buy beer and the guy asks him for his I. D. he just points to his stash and says, "Here's my I.D. ass. 21"
Photo: S. Thomas

Future WWLBC Lindsey Engle is about to paddel out.
Photo: S. Thomas

Lindsey Engle on the nose. I'm calling it right now, Lindsey will be WWLBC. You heard it here first.
Photo: S. Thomas

Fuck you too Little kid God! Little River is a punk ass. Just kidding. Little river rules.
Photo:J. Salas

Big Zane crushing it.
Photo: J. Salas

This board Looks (i'll say it again) Looks really good. I wonder if it works.
Photo: S. Thomas

Once again with Dustin Franks.
Photo: J. Salas

Hi my name is Steve Thomas I prefer Steven but know one ever calls me that. I first started going on eHarmony when i turned 30. I haven't had any success but I'm hopeful. My therapist said its an excellent way to meet hot single christian girls who are approaching midlife crises. I told him I'm not a christian but i was baptised catholic just in case I'm wrong.
Phot: J. Salas

same old same old me
Photo: J. Salas

Dust and Luna-tic
Photo: S. Thomas

Steeeeeve Newton
Photo: D. Franks

I just like the colors on the umbrella.
Photo: S.Thomas

Mason Klink smack down
Photos: D. Franks

Diina worrier princes. I bet she gets that all the time and hates it.
Photo: D. Franks

Little River announcing that he's hungry
Photo: S. Thomas

Jorge Salas doing some surfing him self.
Photo: S. Thomas

Me round the way
Photo: D. Franks

Travis "21" Oodward
Photo: S. Thomas

I dont know what they were looking at. Take a guess.
Photo: S. Thomas

Burnt Buns
Photo: S.Thomas

Big Dustin Franks on zee fish tip
Photo: J.Salas

Klink on Drums
Photo: S. Thomas

Bend at the knees not at the hips.Me
Photo: D. Franks

Dust and Hug
Photo: J.Salas

Men just grab there junk a lot ladies. It's part of having BALLS!!..balls.
Photo: S. Thomas

Trav 21 round about
Photo: S. Thomas

New Stuff

2009-06-25T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a few photos recently taken of me by Mr. Franks. If you want to see more of Daniel franks photos go to

www.dfranksphoto.com or his blog at www.dfranksphoto.blogspot.com

Photos: Daniel Franks

On the crouch

I just busted up my nose

San O Nose Ride

Black White stay high

Boob bash roundy

Little Nose
Photo: N. Moskos

Noah and Steve’s San O Tuesday 6/23/09

2009-06-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

Photos:Daniel Franks
Words&Photos:Steve Thomas

This week Noah and I stepped it up and had a little BBQ. The Guys at Ocean and Earth Let us use their EZ Up tent and Noah brought a Q. I went to La Tendita in San Clemente and got this bomb marinated chicken and carne and we had tacos and BBQ quesadillas which Dustin Franks and his life partner Heather Rose showed me how to make. Daniel Franks came down and took some photos and my buddy Jorge Salas (super bad ass photographer) came to the beach with his two little buddy’s River and Zane. Steve Newton came to the beach to surf and just started destroying it out there. Man that kid can Longboard. What’s more Bonga Perkins was at the beach surfing, which was pretty cool to watch. The surf was fun and the food was great. God I love beach Days.

Noah back side nose ride
Photo: Steve Thomas

Noah Shimabukuro
Photo: Steve Thomas

Bonga
Photo:Steve Thomas

Bonga Perkins San O nose ride
Photo: Steve Thomas

Noah on the grill
Photo Steve Thomas

Unidentified at the point
Photo: Steve Thomas

Dustin Franks and Life partner Heather Rose cheer leading.
Photo: Steve Thomas

Steve Newton back hand turn
Photo: Daniel Franks

Steve Thomas Kicking out
Photos:Daniel Franks

Me on the most micro nose ride in the world
Photo: Daniel Franks

Steve Newton moody nose ride
Photo: Daniel Franks

Me with a little roundy
Photo: Daniel Franks

Steve Newton This kid kills in on a longboard
Photo: Daniel Franks

Little river and his new Jed Noll Surfboard
Photo: Steve Thomas

Need to eat
Photo: Steve Thomas

River Up and Riding
Daniel Franks

Noah on the nose
Photo: Daniel Franks

Daniel Franks bad ass surf photog doing a little surfing before shooting
Photo: Steve Thomas

2009-06-12T21:44:00.000-07:00

Relish - Great Appreciation Of Something from Taylor Larison on Vimeo.

A 2 minute film for the Surfrider Foundation San Diego chapter.

Wild California Pacific Longboarder

2009-06-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

Thread book launch party Laguna

2009-05-30T14:29:00.001-07:00

Words and interview by: Powerhouse Books
Photos and captions by: Steve Thomas

Photographer and filmmaker Patrick Trefz spent more than two years wandering country roads, always in search of the best way to the beach. Thread follows Trefz on his travels from the Basque Country to Steinbeck country, from New York City to West African island nations, scaling fences and hunkering down in the dirt to capture his vision of the visual language of surf culture.

The book is a study in juxtaposition, particularly between the man-made and the naturally occurring. Freighters in a harbor, arranged like pieces on a game board, are set against the light ruffle of wind on the water. Wheels and gears, line running through an installation like belts in a motor, the extremity of industrial production, are countered by a man and a wave, two products of natural energies. Seen one way, everything is natural, and the question becomes one of degrees of manipulation. Still, the settings in these pictures suggest duality, differing realms—the road and the beach, the train track and the lineup—each element evoking its own associations. Patterned yet non-linear, Thread takes seemingly disparate subjects and gently ties them into a unified whole, finding commonality in devotion and practice.

Patrick Trefz is a longtime staff photographer for Surfer Magazine. He is also a filmmaker, who directed the 16mm film on which the book version of Thread is based. He was born in 1970 in Düsseldorf, Germany, and lives and works in Santa Cruz, California.

Charles Wehrenberg is a biochemist, writer and art collector who lives in San Francisco. He is the author of five books, including Mississippi Blue (Twin Palms, 2002).

Ari Marcopoulos began his career in New York City assisting Andy Warhol. In his quarter-century career as a photographer, he has become known for stunning landscapes and playful portraits of artists, musicians, extreme athletes, and other muses.

Christian Beamish is the former associate editor of The Surfer’s Journal, as well as a writer and builder of surfboards and boats.

POWERHOUSE INTERVIEW WITH PATRICK TREFZ

Thread is a study in juxtaposition, particularly between the man-made and the naturally occurring. Freighters in a harbor, arranged like pieces on a game board, are set against the light ruffle of wind on the water. Wheels and gears, line running through an installation like belts in a motor, the extremity of industrial production are countered by a man and a wave, two products of natural energies. Seen one way, everything is natural, and the question becomes one of degrees of manipulation. Still, the settings in these pictures suggest duality, differing realms—the road and the beach, the train track and the lineup—each element evoking its own associations. Patterned yet non-linear, Thread takes seemingly disparate subjects and gently ties them into a unified whole, finding commonality in devotion and practice. Trefz sat down with powerHouse Books to discuss his creative process.

powerhouse Books: Tell me about your background… Where are you from, and where does your interest in photography stem from?

Patrick Trefz: I spent my childhood years growing up in Düsseldorf and Paris. My first memory of cameras came from my father, who worked as a still life studio photographer. Early on, I liked the idea of getting into it professionally, so I interned for several high profile photographers. This made me realize that I wasn’t into the studio work at all—I was more into documenting and enjoying the world around me, skateboarding with friends, traveling by rail around Europe, working on my graphic doodles and graffiti—basically just indulging my creative impulses. Years of vagabonding with surfboard and camera eventually led to a job at SURFER magazine.

pHB: How would you describe your photographic style?

PT: I find that hard to describe, as it all comes from the bottom of my heart/belly region. As I daydream, I visualize compositions and scenarios. In time, when everything falls into place, the moment to realize my vision presents itself. Rolling the film camera or snapping the picture, I am totally gratified. So, I wouldn’t necessarily call it a style; it’s more of an approach. If I were pressed to define my style, I would say that the early years of working with my father in the controlled environment of the studio gave me a strong, classical foundation by being immersed in aspects of formal composition. As I mentioned earlier, I was compelled to explore the world. Thus, I believe that I brought this formal sensibility to the streets and beaches of everyday life. Over time it evolved into introducing a view to the surfing genre that was typically found only in the realm of what was considered fine art photography.

pHB: Is this a style you’ve developed over time, or was it something particular that you had in your mind when you first started shooting?

PT: When I was 15 I took my first solo trip—to Tunisia. I roamed the country by train, bus and foot, hungry for the experience and culture, overturning every stone in sight. There was a certain spontaneity and innocence to it that is hard to find these days. I’d have to say that my original intent, curiosity, and zeal has and will remain a driving force.

pHB: Who or what inspires you and your work?

PT: I am inspired by the new and unknown, a country or city I haven’t been to, an artist or musician I haven’t heard off, finding a new hiking trail in the woods behind my house—an unending fascination with discovery and exploration. This also applies to surfing and waves: each wave that breaks is unique and you have to be alert and observant to deal with the constant change. I like how that idea is applicable to the endless transformations within every day life.

pHB: The book Thread is based on an award winning, 16mm film that you directed… Talk to me about these projects, what themes do you explore through them?

PT: Thread is based on a common creative thread that a group of surfers share, showcasing a different aspect of our culture, away from the boobs and tubes stereotype. The main theme revolves around the idea that the lines that these surfers draw onto the waves translate into their artistic pursuits on land. For example, Jim Denevan is highly dedicated to producing land art on low tide beaches that vanishes with the incoming tide. Joe Curren explores his roots via photography, whilst Tom Carroll gets into the science of shapes and experimental fin design.

pHB: Is there a photograph in your book that you consider a personal favorite of yours, if so, which one and why?

PT: It is the opening shot of the book: Patxi Oliden, autodidactic surfboard shaper from the Basque country. A genuine man who has been surrounded by the sea his whole life, he was originally an oar shaper for the whaling fleets from Orio. When Californian surfers arrived at the coast for a visit, he taught himself how to shape in order to supply the hometown kids with inexpensive surfboards. His company, ‘itxastresna’, directly translated from Basque, means ‘Democratic Surfboard Company’

pHB: Thread follows you on your travels all over the world in search of the surf… Describe some of the experiences or the memories that stand out the most.

PT: The surf is the icing on the cake and the time spent traveling to it makes for such rich experience. The different people and places that led me to the final product of the film and the book were incredible: surviving a 10 hour taxi ride from hell from Athens to Corfu, getting stuck and crazy sick in a massive sandstorm on an island off the Saharan coast, drinking Rioja with my Basque friends in their family winery that dates back to 1150 A.D., collaborating with musicians on the soundtrack, and spending 2.5 months in the Chelsea hotel whilst editing in NYC. This is certainly an abridged list, as there were many, many more.

pHB: What are some of the greatest challenges that you face as a surf photographer? How do you overcome them?

PT: The way surfing is portrayed in its current commercial form has nothing to do what surfing really means for my friends and me. The monthlies just show off the same old surf porn with a flavor of the month mentality, front lit and close up so advertisers see their logos. An independent book is the perfect medium for me to tell a story that usually doesn’t have the chance to breathe. Working on non-surf related projects is also a nice way to step away from it all and return with a renewed perspective.
pHB: Do you prefer shooting on land or in the water?

PT: Whatever it takes, really: from land, swimming in the pit of a wave, riding a surfboard with the camera, from a canoe, boat, jet ski, helicopter, or plane.
pHB: And lastly, what does the future hold for you and your work?

PT: I have been tracing and shooting Steinbeck’s legacy in the Salinas Valley for the last few years with my trusty 6by6 Rolleiflex. A book is in the works. Since digital still cameras have evolved to also shoot motion, I will be able to work with more freedom and spontaneity, rather than having to shift from one piece of equipment to the other. Right now I’ve got a new project is in the works entitled ‘Steeped’. It is about the refinement of the aging surfer. I am also working on a script for a narrative feature about a Sinti that fled from Nazi Germany to the woods of Northern California.

For more info or if you want to buy Thread go to:

http://www.powerhousebooks.com/book/1081

http://www.patricktrefz.com/

Patrick's Fasha would be proud.

Trefz and Barbee getting deep about the capturing of imagery Gaaaaaay.

Serious art talk going on right here in this picture

Greg Long winner of the Billabong XXL Awards 2009, Patrick Trefz Staffer at Surfer and Barry Haun Curator and Creative Director of The Surf heritage foundation together these guys could run shit.

A french guy would say "Rusty Long superkuuuuhl"

Ray Barbee jim-jam

Whats up with Julie Cox?

2009-05-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

Julie Cox Photo:BobTorrez

As a talented longboarder, surf coach, massage therapist, painter, freelance writer and photographer, Julie Cox travels the world catching inspiration from the waves.

Though she didn't start surfing regularly until she was 16, Julie remembers being entranced by the ocean as a little kid. She grew up in Agoura Hills, not far from the longboarder's paradise of Malibu, and soon became a local at Zuma and Leo Carrillo State Beach.

At UC Santa Cruz, Julie pursued a degree in Environmental Studies in tandem with a pro surfing career, and was soon offered a ROXY sponsorship. Though she enjoyed her degree, it was the surfing that stuck. The road hasn't been without its bumps. In 2002, Julie suffered a major injury while surfing Santa Barbara's legendary Rincon, and was out of the water for six months. Worried that it signaled the end of her surfing odyssey, she decided it might be time to take a "normal" career, so she pursued massage therapy. She loved making a difference in people's lives, but it only took one surf session to get her back in the water for good. Before her year of recovery was up, Julie was charging waves at Mexico's notorious Puerto Escondido.

Through surfing, Julie has gained confidence in her creativity, showing her art in exhibits all over California, and writing stories for various publications. As the latest merger of her two loves, she recently launched The Jule Collection with Jed Noll, a line of jewel-inspired women's surfboards that mixes her art and surf knowledge with his masterful shaping.

Julie loves the camaraderie of women's surfing as much as the sport itself. She credits many of the competitors, with Linda Benson as their mentor, for their collaborative efforts-together they built the momentum and the community for the Women's World Longboard Championship.

Now living in Oceanside, California, Julie will continue researching and developing the Jule Collection surfboard line, pursuing photography, and hopes to make a documentary film about the lives of the women longboarders.

Here's a little update on what Julie is doing now:

I got asked to be one of 2 surfers in a science and physics of surfing movie. I am the Longboarder in the film and Kyla Langen is the shortboarder. The movie will be 35 minutes long and will be distributed to science museums around the world. It will be in 3D, a first for a surfing film. We just completed our first shoot on Oahu and will be on an aggressive shoot schedule until it is done later this summer.
-Julie Cox

Another photo. Me during an interview scene in a Banyon tree forrest on Oahu.
Shot by James Human.

Kyla Langen and me. The 2 surfers in the movie.

Kim shooting Kyla Langen during her interview scene in the Banyon tree forrest.

Leah, Brandon, Nick shooting with RED cameras.

Diamond board resting on the coral while I jump off the rocks.

Me paddling over scuba divers who are shooting up at my silhouette during sunset at Waimea Bay.

If you want to check out Julies website it's
http://www.juliecoxsurfing.com

Jed Noll Surfboards & Gallery

2009-05-09T10:41:00.001-07:00

Wild California

2009-05-08T11:08:00.000-07:00

Photos & Captions By: Moonwalker

Ashley Lloyd, Dane Perlee, and myself decided to go camping during a good swell in Norther California this winter of late. Check out some of the photos that Moonwalker took of our excursion.

A macking belt – no holds barred. Dane Perlee.

Low-tech ingenuity - Wetsuit/backpack combo. Why take more than you need?

Ashley Lloyd, tripping the tip.

Dane Perlee finds the spot.

Steve Thomas, seriously committed.

It’s out there – inviting lines.

Steve Thomas, back belt to the face.

Cruising the tip on a mellow morning – Shaper, singer, musician Ashley Lloyd.

Under canvas – back to the roots. Shades of Steinbeck and Kerouac abound in this raw atmosphere. Dane Perlee, Steve Thomas and Ashley Lloyd enjoy the shades of sunset.

If a wave barrels and no one’s around . . . does it still count?

Meet Joe Stasney, Architect, Surfer, Collector, Bad Ass

2009-04-30T15:54:00.000-07:00

Interview and Photos By: Steve Thomas

Recently I met Joe Stasney at Jed Noll Surfboards and Gallery in San Clemente. He came in to check out the shop and order some boards. As conversation evolved, I came to find out that Joe has been collecting Greg Noll’s boards here and there for a while and was looking to add to his collection. He asked me if Greg would sign one of his vintage boards. I told him I’d ask Jed Noll to talk to his Dad and see if he could get Greg to come down to the shop. Naturally Greg was happy to check the board out and sign it.

Having had the experience of seeing people bring in old boards for Greg to sign, I thought the board was going to be the usual broken down old board that wasn’t anything much to speak of. The kind of situation where the signature was worth more than the actual board itself. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen some real amazing boards that people have asked Greg Noll to look at and sign. But I hadn’t seen something I’d actually want to ride that was in excellent condition. Boards are very subjective to surfers. I’m sure you can relate as a surfer. Some boards do it for some and not for others. The board Joe brought into the shop was my kind of girl. Good outline, a nice bottom, personality, not too flashy, wrapped up in natural beauty. The board was clean with a good weight. The thing just felt like it would ride well. I decided to ask Joe a few questions about the board as well as his surfing past. Below are a few pictures with Joe and Greg and the Noll family. Also some pictures with his new limited addition Balsa Da Cat with Koa rails. A nice addition to Joe's Collection.

ST: So Joe, where and when and how did you get the board?

JS: I acquired the board from a guy in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. So yep, it's a Jersey board.

ST: do you know how old it is?

JS: Not quite certain on the age, although from the Logo style it's an early 60's vintage

ST: What’s the significance of the board to you.

JS: It's one of my favorites. I was looking for a slot-bottom, primarily because of it's uniqueness in design. The philosophy behind the slot adding to control is fascinating.

ST: How long have you been surfing?

JS: Been surfing since I was 12. We don't need to talk about how many years ago that was, but yes foam boards were being used!

ST: Where did you grow up surfing?

JS: I grew up on the east coast, and yes, we did have surf. Surfed mostly Ocean City and Long Beach Island (variety of spots).

ST: Where do you surf primarily now?

JS: Primary surf spot now is The Point at San O. Just enough character in the break to make it interesting. Also surf at Doheny, Cardiff Reef, and Blackies.

ST: When was the first time you heard of Greg Noll and or his boards?

JS: When I was growing up in New Jersey in the sixties.

ST: What is it about Greg Noll surfboards that drives you to collect?

JS: Greg's overwhelming desire to ride the biggest and best waves with complete abandon is infused in his boards. The logo, his approach to surfing, just kind of makes it all seem right.

ST: How many Greg Noll's do you have?

JS: Well, let's see, the ones the wife knows about - 6. All total after this summer - 9.

ST: What do you think about Greg passing the Craft torch on to his son Jed?

JS: The aspect of a father sharing his craft with his son just doesn't get any better. It's a special gift that isn't seen very much anymore and should be cherished.

ST: Tell me what your impression on Jed and his craftsmen ship

JS: Jed's got the spark that his Dad had and with his careful approach and attention to details/history, he's on his way to staking a spot in the best of craftsman.

ST: What do you think of Jed Noll surfboards and gallery?

JS: The shop steps up and makes a shop statement. Surfboards, a place to see 'em, a place to talk about 'em and a gallery that speaks to the quality of handmade elements of art. The atmosphere makes it a place you want to be, a place that talks about surfboards without a word being said. Good job guys!

The board Joe had signed

The proof that Greg Noll signed the board

The offical hand shake

Joe and the Noll Family with his New 9’2” Da Cat surfboard made of Balsa with Koa rails - Limited edition of 50 made. Hand signed by Mickey Dora and Greg Noll on the deck, hand signed and numbered by Greg Noll on the bottom.

Pictorial Perspective Trailer

2009-04-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

By Taylor Larison
Birdman Media
http://vimeo.com/birdmanmedia

Pictorial Perspective - (surf)trailer #2 from Taylor Larison on Vimeo.
Surfing is not based on which particular board you use, but rather the experience that you gain from it. There is no correct manner in which a surfboard should be ridden; it is just the feeling gained which holds the most importance. Since the advent of shortboard surfing, longboarding has become the ugly step-child of the surfing world. This film will attempt to crush the current stereotypes by investigating an array of longboard equipment, ranging from light-weight, high performance tri-fins to more traditional, single fin noseriders. Ultimately, the story will reveal how longboarding is beginning to gain acceptance and positive influence in the surfing community and beyond.

Wetsand Shot

2009-04-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

Photo: Neil "Moonwalker" Armstrong

I got a shot on Wetsand, Crazy.

Water Shot Photo: Daniel Franks

2009-04-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Here’s a photo taken of me recently at Middles in my new home of San Clemente California. It was super fun that day.

The Nolls Meet The Longs

2009-04-22T11:19:00.000-07:00

The next day after the Billabong XXL awards father Steve, and sons Greg, (winner of the best ride of the year, Billabong XXL awards) and Rusty Long along with some friends came by Jed Noll Surrfboards and Gallery to talk a little story with Greg and Jed Noll. Here’s a Few Photos.

Jed Noll Surfboards and Gallery

2009-04-07T22:10:00.000-07:00

Words by: Ben Marcus
Photos by:Steve Thomas
Truks Photo by: Dave Nielsen

To celebrate the Grand Opening of Jed Noll's surf shop in San Clemente, his proud parents Greg and Laura Noll beat on the redwood wireless, which connected with the Coconut Wireless and sent out an invitation that apparently no one could refuse. On a fresh spring afternoon in April - the 4th to be exacto - Jed Noll's surf shop at 1705 North El Camino Real in San Clemente was the place, and the faces included none other than Phil Edwards and C.R. Stecyk, Paul Naude, Bruce and Dana Brown and entourage, L.J. Richards.

The Scandinavian countries were represented by the brothers Aaberg - Kemp and Denny and also Karl Ekstrom and a large number of tall attractive blondes.

The literati were there in the form of Chris Ahrens and Paul Holmes while the intellectual museum types were there in force. The board of directors from the California Surf Museum included President Jim Kempton, co-founder Jane Schmauss, Secretary/ Art director Tara Lee Torburn, Advisor/founder of Tracker Trucks/founder of Transworld Larry Balma, Architect for new location/board of director Louise Balma, surfart.com/staff Tom Glenn, curator of our Skatboard exhibit Dale Smith, staff Todd Quinn and Julie Cox.

Also, just about everyone from the Surfing Heritage Foundation: Dick Metz, Spencer Croul and Tom Pezman.

Jeff Divine was talking about being a friendly drunk with Allen and Colton Sarlo while Garrett McNamara and Jeff Ho, Joe Curren listened and smiled quietly to themselves.

Leroy Grannis rolled in on a wheelchair with his entourage and, WHAT OTHER NAMES WERE THERE?

Wingnut came from as far away as Santa Cruz and because Jed Noll is quiet and red-haired like his mom, and didn't realyy inherit (yet) the BS-gene from pops, Wingnut took the microphone as Master of Ceremonies and welcomed one and all to the Grand Opening. Wingnut gave Special Guest props to Leroy Grannis for making the show and then: "CAN WINGNUT RECAP WHAT HE SAID, AND THE TOOLS FROM RICH HARBOUR ETC"

The farthest traveled was probably Jed's Japanese distributor, Mune Takehana and Jed's team riders included Joe and Jordan Aaron, Steven Thomas, Bobby, Julie Cox, Lance W., and Shilo Steinthall.

Several hundred guests mixed and mingled from the biker bar next door, through Jed's shop lined with surfboards made of hardwoods and the best plastics, and through the back, where there were free Primos and Mexican food, and a surprisingly large crowd.

One can only hope that the crowd for the Grand Opening will be the shape of things to come. Jed's shop will offer surfboards Jed Noll Surfboards including all the foam pro models-Joe Aaron, Steve Thomas, Jule Collection, accessories from Ocean and Earth accessories and Scott sandals, books, wood boards, art.

Shaping appointments will be available for custom boards made of woods and plastics. Jed is also selling high-quality fishing reels out of there and will be distributing balsa.

Jed Noll Surfboard is at 1709 North El Camino Real in San Clemente, across from the abandoned theater.

Please feel free to stop on by or call if you have any questions.

Phone: 949-369-6500

The Front

Side Wall Front

Hall of Riders

Zee Gallery

More of Zee Gallery

The Trunks

Mexico Photos: S. Thomas

2009-04-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

Here are a few images I've taken in Mexico.

This lady can cook and has a really nice... well that's between me and her

Restaurant point of view

I will eat that cow

Lizard King

I looked for God here but he wasn't there...shit

Restaurant point of view 2

This Donkey has a huge Dick... Just calling it like i see it.

This image reminded me of something out of Vietnam

This is what happened to the cow...then i cooked her up and ate her and she was good

Living large

Idle Hands

2008-11-21T09:05:00.000-08:00

Photo: Nick Borelli
Design: Steve Thomas

The Devil will find work for idle hands to do

Steve Hed

2008-11-20T12:54:00.000-08:00

Masculine plural inspirati: Shaving my beard off.

Low fidelity at its best