In the grips of summertime surf, it may be time to pull out your alternative craft.
August 3, 2009, 6:26 PM
By: Jake Howard
What's in your garage?
One of the best things about this time of year is that the surf's usually plenty fun and the water's plenty warm, which means you can goof around on whatever kind of craft you can get your hands—err, your feet—on. Recent accusations have been made that I ride a longboard. Guilty as charged. Evening sessions at Old Man's are fantastic. But to be fair, the log only comes out when it's small and glassy... and I've never once ridden it with a leash. I don't have an alaia, I don't have a surf mat, and I definitely don't have a stand-up board. Out of the couple dozen boards strewn about my garage, I'd say the four I use the most are as follows:
6'2" shaped by Cole Simlar. It's pretty much a standard shorty with glass-on fins. Cole lives and surfs here in San Clemente and the board suits the beachbreaks and works well down at Trestles. I just got one of the fins fixed and am glad I did.
5'6" twinzer shaped by Stu Kenson. I rode it Cotton's when it was about six feet and this little skate just goes so fast. It's about as small of a board as I can ride, but flys in just about everything.
5'10" keel fin shaped by Tim Stamps. The thing's a plug, a complete cork, but for crumbly afternoons at Middles or Church or small Uppers, it's perfect. This one's been in the rotation for seven or eight years. I'll put it away for awhile and bring it back out eventually. It's beat up, but definitely well loved.
9'6" single-fin from Con Surfboards. Summer evenings at San Onofre are the best. It's such a great way to wash away the day. This board's a pintail with a big, old fin, and does just what it should: glides.
The reason I bring all this up is because I'm curious about what everybody else is riding. With all the talk of Kelly and his crazy boards, are you getting the itch to ride something different? Are you married to your standard thruster, or are you into something weird? Did you get our last board from a shaping shop or a wood shop? Have you bought a new board lately, or because of the economy have you been fixing dings and making due? Anyway, inquiring minds want to know what's been going on with your boards this summer? See More Surfboards »
Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. We will take steps to block users who violate any of our terms of use. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Contributors
Jon Coen
Jon is from New Jersey and continues to reside there with his wife and dog—which means occasional empty barrels and the occasional session in the snow.The state isn't as dirty as people might think, but he'll let them keep believing that.
Jake Howard
Jake lives, writes, and surfs in San Clemente, California. He spent his formative gremlin years surfing points north of San Francisco, and for the last 10 years has been contently surviving behind the Orange Curtain.
Kimball Taylor
Author of Return by Water, as well as books on Jeffreys Bay and Pipeline, Kimball drives a red hot Camero, and back in the '70s, he used to party with your Dad.
Daniel Ikaika Ito
Daniel surfs like a hippie, but dresses like a homie. The Native Hawaiian originally hails from Hilo, but now resides in Honolulu. He enjoys twin-fins, new sneakers and being ESPN's "Cuz On The Scene" in the 50th State.
Jason Kenworthy
About as majestic as a turkey vulture, when he's not shlepping his lens around the world or looking for road kill, Jason can be found at home in Dana Point tending to his growing brood.
