Board Whore . . . Board Tramp—I Answer to Both

The long and short of it is that I got hooked up by my friendly neighborhood—well, if I lived in Newport, I could truthfully use the word "neighborhood"—kick ass shaper. We talked about longboards, but I couldn't give him any suggestions about how to improve on the first board I'd gotten from him. It was perfect. No complaints. Nothing to add. Nothing to subtract. Happy as a clam.

That led us to talk about something . . . different. I'm a big fan of mid-sized boards, but they are hard to find. PG and I have talked about this in the past. Shapers don't view the range between, say, seven and eight feet as part of the paradigm. Those who do will often think funboard.

So, Dave and I got to talking. I expressed an interest in something in the mid-sized range. That's when he asked permission to surprise me. There was no reason for me to say no.

And I waited. This, of course, is what you do with custom boards. Remember the words of Tom Petty. It is the hardest part. Finally, word came that it was an 8'0". That was all he would say.

That was all he would tell me . . . for weeks. (Cue Tom Petty's plaintive wailing.)

Finally. "I have a midlength with your name on it!" I couldn't get down to Newport Beach fast enough, in the pouring rain, on bad tires (that were to be replaced later that day at my friendly neighborhood—for real!!—tire place).


I can't wait to throw some wax on this piggy (or whatever it is) and dare my friendly neighborhood point break to "bring it"!