More Floaty Toys..

Channel Islands - "Retro Single Fin 6'5" This is Kalie's quite expensive christmas present that didn't work out. She is pretty much still in love with the Vaquero.. It is a really nice looking board, but without much personality. I guess nobody really has taken the time to get to know her.. Hey, it is in brand new shape and for sale... CI Retro Single Fin If it were bigger I would probably keep it... Channel Islands Retro Single Fin designed by the World Famous Al Merrick and Rob Machado..

Wilderness - "Fun Dog 6'9" This is the only board that I still ride, that is pretty much a conventional thuster design. (read... most common design in the water) Not counting longboards. This is what the pro's ride, and everyone who wants to surf like the pros ride. Of course, this one is a bit different. It's the fun dog... a big guy thruster @ 6'9". I am big, but, I am not fat... Someone comment that please! I could easily ride something smaller and thinner, but why, this one turns pretty well for me, and goes where I want it too. I just like something that floats a litle bit. Well.. I like this board well enough to keep it.. But, have thought about picking up a simalar Matt Moore, because he's local - Carp.. Having so many boards makes it hard to know what to bring. That said, you can bring pretty much anything you want to Rincon and have a great time. I take this one out in good surf only, chest, head high, to overhead++ and some beach breaks when I want to surf like everyone else. It duck dives so much easier than anything else I have, and that is nice.

The first time I took it out was to the Channel Islands, Marmetta Reef. There was some good overhead surf. As soon as we pulled up, via the Boston Whaler with the Custom Built Radon Cabin.. This is the aforemention big floaty and is owned by Charlie Kellogg, Mike Jayne, and Tim Fritch, who all complain about her equally..

I started waxing up my brand new board, and getting ready to put the leash on. I even brought two leashes. Bad news! I forgot to bring any leash strings. I had some of these back in the Westy about 26 mile east of Marmetta reef, across the Santa Barbara Channel. This is a key item, a small diameter, 1/8" -1/4", nylon rope allowing you to secure the hi-tech polyurethane leash to the board. FUCK! I was desperately looking around for a substitute.. The best I could come up with was a string from my floppy hat. That didn't look to promising because this hat has been in the sun and salt for a few years already. But I'm going surfing. So I tie it on, jump in and hope for the best. For the sake of story I'm going to mention sharks...

There are some great white sharks out here. I've never seen one. I only wonder if they have seen me? A lot of fishermen in boats have seen them, some divers have seen them, and the some of the sharks have seen some of the divers, and ate them.. So, the paddle from the boat over to the actual surf break is always interesting... To the best of my knowedge, no surfers have been eaten at this particular reef. But, it is comforting to know, that there are still places you can go where man does not dictate what is and what should be.

The "McGyver" leash string broke on the first wave and my brand new board washed quickly in towards the urchin encrusted rocky shoreline. Swimming at fast as I could, and stepping on as many spiny sea urchins as possible, I made the recovery. Normally, at a lower tide, there would be some nasty rocks sticking up that could have worked the board over pretty well. Thankfully, it was high tide and it went over all those rocks and landed on the cobblestone beach. Just a couple of minor dings, no worries. The waves were good, so I just went surfing with out a leash the rest of the session and the next day. You just have to know how to swim, be selective in you wave choice, and remember that you don't have your leash on.

The FunDog is a designed by George Greenough and shaped by Bob Duncan.. The Wilderness Shop is tucked in between the southbound 101 onramp at Milpas and the Freeway. It might be closed right now??? Tom Curren use to live right next store. There is a ton of history there that I know nothing about. But, George Greenough, brought us todays most commonly used fin design, by studying dolphin fins. Then went on to show us the future of short boarding at Rincon and assorted Austrailian Points. Bob still shapes, and Greenough rides rubber surf mats somewhere in Austrailia. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting either one of them. But, I do want a Rubber Surf Mat, I bet you saw that coming..

Wilderness "Seventies Single Fin 7'0" I just pick this up at a garage sale for $40.00 a few months ago.. I like the older Santa Barbara brands, even though, I am space and storage, challenged. This oldie is water tight and I had it out in some small surf over summer. But, I guess I really need to see how it goes at the 'con. That is what it was made for... Then I could tell you a story. Otherwise, she is keeping all the stories to herself. So, it's a rideable wallhanger, basically. I have a few of those... This is a Bob Duncan Design as well...

wilderness surfboards

It's really the sea lions you have to watch out for now - kalie