Sacred Craft - Ventura

Talking to Cyrus Sutton and Kirk of A Day at the Beach blog

I wanted to go to this gathering of the tribe last year, but the newly installed titanium joint was not allowing me to even think about walking or standing for long periods. That meant I'd have to wait. For some reason, I couldn't attend the last Sacred Craft down south either. Again, that meant I'd have to wait.

Jon Wegener, Soul Brother #2, Kenvin (in the white shirt) and Kirk

This weekend, I did not wait. I drove up to Ventura to see and be seen.

Zeph Carrigg's beautiful Boarddesign boards. (I want one!!!)

What I came away with is an even deeper belief that we, as a community, need to support our local shapers. They may be rock stars to those of us who speak of them with respectful hushed tones in the parking lot as we unveil our beauties prior to a session. They are, however, rock stars who, like the rest of us, are just trying to pay the bills and keep food on the table. They don't go into shaping to strike it rich. They aren't waiting for a venture capitalist to come along and buy them out. They make our surfboards. They make real surfboards, surfboards that you'll never see sitting in a cardboard box at Costco. They are the reason why I'm a unapologetic board whore.

Kirk and I checking out a Wegener beauty

Support your local shapers. Period. Doing so will make you a better surfer . . . and a better person.