Unexplained Absence

Controversial Z-boy , Jay Adams died

Iconic Z-boy Shogo Kubo died two months before.

Tom Curren still can surf at 50

The water moved around this winter

It did n’t in the spring and summer

There is so much to look forward to.

Buttons

Montgomery ‘Buttons’ Kaluhiokalani has died from lung cancer. He was the most underrated surfer.Bestowed with a physical genius that is only now starting to be appreciated. He had quite a back story but I will always remember his surfing in the surf flicks from the late 70s and early 80s. He was doing something so different to his more competitively orientated peers. A sad loss and a great name.

The Hurricane

Ironicaly my trip to the Golden state at the end of the summer has resulted in fairly severe slackening of my motivation to skate. The quality of the terrain in the UK is the issue. The last pool I skated in the states was this one (below). Eleven feet deep, perfect transitions , silky surfaces and pool coping. I left my favourite skateboard here due to fuzzy headed exhaustion but looking back I can n’t help but feel this was prophetic.

There are no pools or bowls that come close in comparison in the UK. The combi bowl at Shoreham is the nearest in terms of quality and dimensions by some distance.I think a few months out will do me me some good.Boarding on water will as always be my escape and focus.Come on Huey the hyped ‘hurricane’ has only sent some wind blown unsurfable waves. We know here is more in your locker!

Fresh Start

Autumn is slowly creeping up on us. Leaf mould in the bowls and just perhaps the first hurricane swell is hiding below the horizon. C’mon Huey …you owe us.

Holiday Snaps

Some old bloke pausing for thought at the Memorial skatepark, San Diego. Our trusty hippy camper van in the background.

Etnies ‘skull’ pool grinded by some old bloke.

Venice beach bowl. Replica of the original ‘dogbowl’ if the rumours are true.

Old bloke at Etnies in the time honoured old man stance, contemplating reasons not to tackle the scary cradle area.

Memorial Park carve

Injun Ale

The Golden State held many surprises and inevitably confirmed a good deal of my long held impressions. One of my prejudices about the USA was that the nation does not brew proper beer. By this I mean that I expected my recent visit to be refreshed by the fizzy alcoholic pop  such as Budweiser, Coors etc. To my delight and delectation it seems that America has had a beery revolution a couple of decades ago. Now it is possible to find micro breweries in many towns and cities. They produce all sorts of truly delicious ales for the gourmet and gourmand alike. The  India Pale Ale (IPA) is particularly fine.It is generally on the strong side but almost preternaturally tasty.

At the end of each day at our camp site, after much surf/skate/tourist activity a few IPA’s hit the target with unerring accuracy. I was also welcomed with two bottles of similar ale when I got home, thoughtfully provided by Mrs Bowl Rat.

I am typing this at ‘god knows what’ o’clock suffering from the ravages of jet lag on my apparently still stateside brain. The mere act has though had some effect on me…. I have paused for thought.

Beer is a luxury and a pleasure best experienced on special occasions or at least occasionally. I will start to pay more heed to this truism and reap the benefits.

You heard it first here. Travel refreshes the parts that beer cannot reach… to decimate that well known tagline.

Challenge

Just push and go. Easy to say!

Stay Cool

I love this photo of Skip Engblom. You can just feel the caress of the cool water with the merciless Californian sun beating down from above.

I skated a few minutes at the B bowl on some new Cortech wheels this afternoon. Even the extra ‘whoosh’ that they gave me was insufficient to keep me cool. I retreated to the shade of our garden and the house. A relaxing swim in the early evening finally doused the flames.

Crook(ed)

I read in a surf comic a while ago that Mr Lopez (above) ,accompanied by a group of younger pro surfers, went on a boat trip to the Isles of Mentawai. After a four hour session at an off shore reef pass he paddled over to the skiff that was already occupied by some of the younger but less fit luminaries. His slim shoulders tired by the session of multiple tube rides,long paddles and steep drops heaved his light frame over the gunwales and landed him lightly onto both feet. Anyone who has tried to clamber onto any small craft from the water will know what a herculean task this can be when tired. To execute it with grace and style rather than the likely alternative, which is to flop onto the craft like a flapping Halibut, is an act of a supreme athlete. Mr Lopez had already entered his 6 th decade at this time. Snowboarder, dirt biker, yogi and supreme surfer…what’s his secret?

I wish I knew. Jerry has never suffered a continually sore back from one nights camping. He heals quickly and would never be so stupid as to aggravate a gripe by doing some light swimming and cycling before it is healed. He would meditatively dismiss the discomfort and move forward fruitfully by martialling chi from this  unusual (to him) life event. The rest of us (meaning you :Ed) just moan about and suffer from the foibles presented by our gently decaying bodies. I’m off for more back rub.

P-land or Pool?

P-land was at it’s worst this evening. A close period wind swell and strong on-shore winds. Few if any waves to ride. There was a last minute ‘bruised sky’ sunset which made up for it all. I forgot to document it though, so instead this is a short vid on how to conqueror an incredibly difficult to skate pool and to have bags of fun whilst doing it.