tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43849286997450353282024-02-19T16:17:54.605-08:00Strong and LightSurfboard TechnologyMichael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-77906398912672445342012-05-26T10:54:00.000-07:002012-06-16T08:53:10.517-07:00Drawing a BlankArctic Foam, formally Surf Blanks America rebounds back as my top pick as best poly surfboard blank. This time they followed Midget's formula without cutting any corners and have earned my #1 rating. Millennium is right up there, my brand new 7'9 egg shaped by Hoy is carved from it and fit for a king. U.S. Blanks are hanging in but have some slight softness or lower density issues . All of the blanks we use have improved on over all coloration.Michael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-12473263772129800192011-04-09T10:15:00.000-07:002011-05-29T13:01:55.842-07:00Shooting BlanksLooks to me like our worst fears are coming into perish ion. U.S Foam, is staying very consistent showing slight to subtle improvements. Surf Blanks America, while still holding in there. Is instead of being the stronger foam of the two seems to be having some issues with shrinkage, coloration and small stringer blows. Rumor has it they may have compromised quality to save a buck or two on the materials end of things. I still recommend the Blair/King Mac blanks their new name is, Millennium. The bad thing is that a monopoly is looming. On the good thing list, good old, great riding poly boards are here to stay at least for a while.Michael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-56182478590613616782010-02-16T10:22:00.000-08:002010-03-05T10:41:08.282-08:00M.A. UpdateInconceivable how things change in such a short time in surfboard construction these days. My two favorite blanks as of a few short months ago have gone vamoose. Ice9 is kaput, King Mac may or may not be back as a, formally known as, blank. To bad for us because the more foam choice's we lose the more we go back to the same old, same old. U. S. Blanks and Surf Blanks America [ the later made in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mex</span> ] seem to be our strongest suppliers. One bit of encouragement is that consumer confidence in ordering quality custom surfboards at least from our factory is on the rise. News flash, now in King Mac has partnered up with BLAIR FOAM in order to create a more stable high <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">quality</span> surf blank co. We have <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">confirmation</span> it has been <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">confirmed</span> as of a couple months ago. Thank goodness its a marriage made in poly heaven.Michael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-47527854538753082662009-04-01T09:21:00.000-07:002009-04-01T14:59:42.567-07:00SEXY SURFBOARDS, Off the Rack: scope em outMost surf shops carry a wide variety of brand new surfboards. The here, the now, the happening the retro, longboards, guns, fishies, eggs, mid-range, concept boards, soft ones and epoxy ones, etc. Oh my, which one to choose. My advice back when there was less to pick from was, the one you just gotta have. That Channin / Diffenderfer semi-gun standing there in the corner with that Corvette red tint on the bottom and rails I can't live without. If you love it's looks, generally you'll love the way it rides. It might have been a bit tricky to surf on when the waves were tiny but that was still my take on purchasing a board off the rack. Now days I tend to look a bit closer. Think about what I really long for, for longer. When I'm finally ready to make that board mine I will require that it goes through an extensive nose to tail physical before making that final commitment. Here's how we do it, most shops have a set of well padded floor racks to set the board gently on. Hopefully placed under good lighting where you can see the elongated bulbs reflecting on the boards surfaces. Have the sales person secure the fins into the boxes. Check around the boxes for excessive air and for voids in the paste like filler that borders them. View the tail area looking for air bubbles and shatters. Put a bit more scrutiny into tails with wings and channels. Are they the same shape in the same spot on each rail? Keeping the board bottom up go to the nose and sight down the stringer, is the center fin in line with the stringer and standing at a true 90degrees? Are the side fins mirroring each other? Visually are they tilting the same amount out towards the rails? If they look at all funny to you, question it. Check the tip of nose for air. Take your hand and feel down each rail for remaining resin beads, just a difference in the feel could mean there was a factory oversight. Tilt your head from side to side glancing at the elongated lights reflection in the boards bottom. How true the reflecting light is, equals how true the work on the bottom is. Small defections are common its the bigger dips and lumps we need to be weary of. Search the board for slight color changes they could be results of massive air or silvering, meaning fibre glass that was subject to some kind of stress or contamination before being applied to the board. Small areas of this kind of blemish should not be cause for alarm its the obvious were looking for. One big advantage of buying an off the rack board is cure time, the longer the boards been sitting in that shop the more dent resistant its resin shell will be. Ask how long its been in the shop to be safe. Flip it over and give its deck the eagle eye scope out much like we did the bottom. Check for voids around the leash cup and heavy defections. Feel the crown of each rail if its overly lumpy you may want to find another sexy stick to feel out. Do me a favor when your searching out a new stick, remember that the production of a surfboard is not even close to rocket science rather it is a very soulful fragile handmade product, an art form if you will. Most of our fragile egos only need to be massaged with only the tiny est amount of respect. If your the type that over scrutinizes or wants their money back if that yellow was not the precise exact yellow ordered. Please do something else for fun we don't want your money or your ass in the water anyhow.Michael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-349506249199845622009-02-15T10:56:00.000-08:002012-08-27T09:34:41.066-07:00SKIP FRYE , "Wings over Baja" 1968ish Most enjoyable time I spent with the Wind an Sea Surf Club? Watching a contest. Surf clubs from all over the place converged at San Miguel, Baja, Ca. To show case the talents of their members in this WSA sanctioned event. The Wind an Sea beach bunnies and Butch Van Artsdalen showed up. I remember well, because I cut him off while free surfing south of the jetties. He scared the holy crap out of this 14 year old as he glared at me and said." Son, take'n off in front of me is like jumping in front of a locomotive!"' Now famous for their offspring, the Irons brothers were even rumored to be there. Leroy Grannis attended with his bigger than life telephoto lenses focused on the reeling three to six foot surf. My favorite surfer Skip Frye lead the charge for our club and was like usual, making perfection look easy. This was during a time when surfboards were getting shorter and powerful carving turns were in order to keep things moving forward.<br />
That Sunday watching Mr. Frye compete was like poetry in motion. He would drop in, flow up and down with the smoking curl line, naugh nah nah nah nah naaaaaah. Then come gliding completely outside the waves shoulder, after a slight counter turn, Walla! Skip would pull off the biggest most beautiful roundhouse cutbacks on ocean. Wave after wave he would ride flawlessly with that stylish gracefulness only he seems to possess. Ultimately he secured the win for our club.<br />
Up until that time Skipper did not compete on Sundays. Thor Swenson, then the director of Wind an Sea had to convince the pastor of Frye's church, to convince Skip that it would be spiritually all right to surf for his club that Sunday. Somehow it all worked out.Michael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-14666714607612110772009-02-06T15:54:00.000-08:002012-06-16T08:58:20.731-07:00Surfboards, Order Custom. Why?Giving advice seems to be my passion lately so here’s some over qualified thoughts on successfully attaining your next terminally ill custom surfboard. Pick your favorite surf shop and order the board you really want. First choose a quality brand name and experienced shaper. Why?, No one wants to make you happier than your local surf shop and no one shapes better than someone whose done it over and over and over again. Order it when the weather is cool and humidity’s are normal. Why?, Resin gets a little temperamental when exposed to heat and humidity. Ask for the board to be shaped from an Arctic Foam or a Millennium blank. Why?, Because I care about you and I’ve done the research. Stay away from dark colors, just a small bit of sun will make your wax melt and a large amount of the suns heat can and will cause delamination within those dark colored areas. Keep the stickers to a minimum. Why?, Lamination's are time sensitive. Keeping things simple decreases chances for human error. Order their factory standard glassing with an extra full or three quarter patch of 4 oz. S added to the deck. Why?, It’s the smartest lightest most inexpensive way to prolong the life of your board. Hard on your boards ? Order glass on fins. If it’s a long board with a box ask for an oval or football patch for reinforcement. Patches that end abruptly in high stress areas may encourage breakage. If you’re a performance addict I’d recommend a 320 straight line sanded finish. Why?, Done quicker, easily maintained and seems faster through the water. Maybe you’re the meticulous type and having fun is your main goal then by all means go with a gloss and polish. Why?, What little you lose in performance will be way made up for in luxurious hand crafted beauty. Those who tend to want a bit more longevity built into their stick might want a sanded gloss. Why?, It’s a thin diluted gloss coat that doesn’t add to much weight yet seals any missed air and adds a touch more strength still keeping its high performance characteristics. Special thanks go out to Eric (Bird) Huffman, owner of Birds Surf Shed and Joe Roper for their input.Michael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-67467394629469600022009-01-21T10:20:00.000-08:002012-08-27T09:09:08.590-07:00SURFING; IN A FIXI stopped by to visit a long time friend today who once shared a spot in the line up beside a piling at one of Pacific Beaches most predominant left peaks. We met at his business, the busiest surfboard repair shop in So. California and rapped about surfboards for over an hour. He and I came to one conclusion pretty quickly, back in our day the most frequent pain in the ass repair was due to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">de</span></span> lamination. Caused by the blank itself, a bad pour or maybe some kind of contamination contracted accidentally some where along the production line. Super blue and ultra light blanks seemed to encourage even more frequent separations between foam and glass. Laminated fiberglass becomes a very springy material. If it gets depressed into soft foam by a striking action it will cause a reverse gravitational pull away from the depressed foam. M.A's law. De lamination's and heat bubbles can also result from leaving a dark colored board exposed to the hot sun for to long. The early nineties introduced us to our first foam borne epidemic, gassing. It caused little teeny tiny air vents to amass on the boards finished surface called blow throughs or pin air. My <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">suspicion</span> is maybe the EPA may have encouraged Grubby Clark to alter his foam blowing formulation. Or some newly installed foam mixing equipment could have been the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">culprit</span>. When the glassing factories called him out on this problem, Clark claimed the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">glassers</span></span> were at fault for adding to much <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">MEK</span></span> to the resin. Then told label owners if he heard of them purchasing blanks from any other supplier that he would cut them off completely. Clark's airtight monopoly gave him ultimate power over us builder types. That’s when some imaginative surfboard builder stumbled onto an acrylic floor sealer that acted as our quick fix surfboard sealer. It worked pretty well and is still in use today. Acrylic when scuffed back covers a multitude of sanding sins.<br />
Today’s biggest problems like everything else in the world are more complicated. The influx of knock off, cheaply built foreign boards that are sold by discount chain stores are the new repair waiting to happen. And I am so sorry but the Styrofoam - epoxy built surfboards, custom or composite continue to be his local reoccurring nightmare. Some of the major <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">eco</span></span> friendly brands have completely disappeared. Water resistant in no way means waterproof.<br />
Polyester, polyurethane boards have their share of problems too but they seem to relate more to a new product or procedure. I.e., Installation problems with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">fcs</span></span>, futures, rookies fabricating glass-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">ons</span></span> and areas that contain non subtle design <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">gimmicks</span>. More on mine and my righteous friends thoughts on surfboard building coming soon.Michael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-15190736354889282792009-01-01T13:38:00.000-08:002009-01-31T11:30:35.676-08:00EPS Surfboard Foam: ChoicesHappy New Years to all, in order for these observations to make more sense please read them in posted order. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">EPS</span>, ENHANCED-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">PENTANE</span>-STYROFOAM, I made that up. Glassed with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">BGF</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Aerialite</span> fiberglass drenched in Resin Research epoxy is another fairly popular method of high performance surfboard building. As a builder I find epoxy construction to be more problematic than polyester. Due to the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">relative</span> newness of this epoxy we lack some badly needed effective tricks and techniques to put out a truly tightly built <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">EPS</span> product, yet. This is when the panel of foam mowers really blew my mind. Just because I’m old school, tried and true, I thought the conversation would go differently. They clearly <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">recommended</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">EPS</span> not only because it makes ecological sense. They genuinely enjoy the way their own personal <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">EPS</span> boards ride, despite there lack of rack appeal. Another claim is that they don’t break down near as fast. And the sanded finish version closely resembles a poly finished in the same manner.<br />So my four <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">shapers</span>, after educating me into the present recommend only two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">EPS</span> blanks. Scary….<br />Austin Foam, offers great service, selection, water resistance, densities and sizes.<br />Prop Foam, fills their needs for the more custom parabolic type blanks.<br />My intent for writing this is so you the surfboard riding public can be confident in ordering custom boards from your favorite professional builders again. And have your own ideas of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">matierals</span> you’d like your board built with.Michael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-5154703457628129232008-12-31T11:11:00.000-08:002009-02-23T09:17:41.265-08:00Clark Foam RIP: SolutionsLets go back to poly’s and find out who might be the top four blank suppliers in this area. I questioned four professional every day <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">shapers</span>, not a wanna be in the bunch. Rusty, Rick Hammond, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hoy</span> Runnels and Mike Russo. What I found out shocked me. The first credible blank co. that tried to save the day was Walker Foam, they had been around for as long as Clark and may have even been partners for a time. Anyhow after attempting<br />the impossible, Walker Foam suffered some quality lapses and dropped the ball a bit. It was a noble mission on their part but they ended up going under, from what I heard.<br />Just Foam, was a fairly new upstart foam co. at that time. I think they bit off more than what was chewable and didn't make my list.<br />Back to my panel of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">shapers</span> who made it very clear that from a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">shapers</span> stand point the new foam produced by Ice 9 and King Mac has proved to be superior to<br />the old Clark Foam.<br />Ice 9, high performance qualities= lightness and best compression strength. It’s creamy coloring may be its only downfall if any. I recommend this pick for your short board needs.<br />King Mac, excellent service, coloring and shape ability. Not completely perfect but try it I think you’ll like it. Mikey does.<br />U.S. Blanks, is my third pick they seem to have some know how and money behind them. Some of us get the feeling that Clark is only a phone call away. Selection and good service would be their attributes. Lower compression strengths may be the only reason for my number three rating.<br />Blair Foam, is my panels final forth pick. Personally I don’t know much about this foam, but my prestigious panel sticks by the Blair Foam Projects high rating.Michael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-22278500575221688232008-12-23T16:16:00.000-08:002009-01-03T23:22:43.594-08:00Surfboard Foam: The ProblemsDear Surfboard purchasing public,<br />How are you? I hope your doing well, Personally I must say I’ve missed you. Its been since early December a few years back on that fateful day when the foam died. I kind of felt like I had to withdraw, step back and see what surfing's great minds had in store for us. Industrious anything to make a buck people got creative. Lets try and make newer, safer, better and friendlier foam. Some of them came up with fairly descent foam. But didn’t have the know how to finish their product.We can’t really laminate a blank when resin is leaking all the way through it. A couple of entrepreneurs with uppity credentials, like aeronautical engineers went poor quick. They tried and tried and never could produce anything close to a decent blank. Easier said than done. For a couple of years these guys had me convinced that Grubby Clark must have been an absolute genius.<br />Reintroducing Styrofoam and epoxy, lighter more Eco friendly. More likely to blow up, take on water, melt down or cause major allergic reactions to certain human beings. Not enough flex is another problem. Don’t worry research has shown that if we weaken the epoxy by over sanding it we can provide greater over all flexibility which equals increased ride ability. But that non positive grabby feeling might still remain.<br />How about these composite boards, man do they look cool. Years ago when I worked for Hi Tech Sailboards we vacuum bagged, skinned and structurally strengthened cores with high density foams. The strongest = lightest known materials were used on every board we hand made. They were lightweight, state of the art flying machines. In most cases after one years use they retained absolutely no resale value.<br />Molded surfboards should take up only a small space in the surf shop. The beginner boards and buoys section. Some where within the area labeled, for kooks only. Oh yeah there a pretty good deal for the sellout pro or label owner who feels a need to pad his wallet. Molded sailboards are another animal all together. No flex, no problem. To light, just right. Guaranteed against defects for a year or your money back. And they put us custom sailboard builders all but out of business. Only a small contingent of the old faithful wind surfers remain loyal to polyester. On the other hand surfboards have a life uniquely all their own and its completely about flex. To much or not enough and a surfboard will become lethargic or unresponsive. Forever, will the molded surfboard be taking up room in our landfills. Please if you own one pass it on to the next kook.<br /><br />Solutions coming soon....Michael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-847203649825251602008-12-23T11:15:00.000-08:002009-01-14T09:49:14.972-08:00My Pictures<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hW6EVbrBuInw-z_Yxenn8LX8bL8byBdZh2tuYtmed9gtJieos6_JewlgmOJvb4JionQY-RtzuLcenBOY4q0eiZmPrym_3k2IptqD-yFppET2bEWKKtTJ54r9kby8Gqjoua_pU1tRQFE/s1600-h/P1010202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283074429022394770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hW6EVbrBuInw-z_Yxenn8LX8bL8byBdZh2tuYtmed9gtJieos6_JewlgmOJvb4JionQY-RtzuLcenBOY4q0eiZmPrym_3k2IptqD-yFppET2bEWKKtTJ54r9kby8Gqjoua_pU1tRQFE/s400/P1010202.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Backside at<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1o3-UbwufrovHdz9Uq7J00KZliQbOSz54zKdCWNDHDB8L3eGV3nx6T52OCvvN5Ym-kxwWe6inLuZuq0iwWo1AmBLuMkd_hWhtZ-aJKXLPobV8y6nWwrOMABZ2ifl1e_W0Akr3cTTNHo/s1600-h/dad2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283073774830218690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1o3-UbwufrovHdz9Uq7J00KZliQbOSz54zKdCWNDHDB8L3eGV3nx6T52OCvvN5Ym-kxwWe6inLuZuq0iwWo1AmBLuMkd_hWhtZ-aJKXLPobV8y6nWwrOMABZ2ifl1e_W0Akr3cTTNHo/s400/dad2.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sungold Point 1982<br />Backside at Sungold Point<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwYRd80vLsasxbGbwaGPNDxA6YLBkkiu7ogYn93XgeR_-bqNYLp1pkCwI0e97m-_zpLPo5z5Gp2yvkCf031VNjWQvKF9TH7WAJNfuXRBq67OoPjOo2mZCG3eslB3sEZCqxFa8g0f19mg/s1600-h/P1010204.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283069349713430578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwYRd80vLsasxbGbwaGPNDxA6YLBkkiu7ogYn93XgeR_-bqNYLp1pkCwI0e97m-_zpLPo5z5Gp2yvkCf031VNjWQvKF9TH7WAJNfuXRBq67OoPjOo2mZCG3eslB3sEZCqxFa8g0f19mg/s400/P1010204.JPG" border="0" /></a> 1970<br /><br />South Mission Jetty 1972:1st wsa card<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjr0TrNw7whgPCN8psXOLiJ7gtv9dzoSxoTFB_qcxEFMbPY8h_jEUcqk2a1Cb2I4Syv1HFS9ghANoTLIDWIyVzWWvw8aKLUhHj42eKgyQIDQbJwlJJzTxuN09hP67xddNNtpIkWmYadOM/s1600-h/Todd.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283068489853387154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjr0TrNw7whgPCN8psXOLiJ7gtv9dzoSxoTFB_qcxEFMbPY8h_jEUcqk2a1Cb2I4Syv1HFS9ghANoTLIDWIyVzWWvw8aKLUhHj42eKgyQIDQbJwlJJzTxuN09hP67xddNNtpIkWmYadOM/s320/Todd.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8EFfaT8E5vqhj8-XkpKcwJmF6UOG_rVCPOyLv6-BCPJJ3A-fWy8Ebkij9reoJWaSzOJBp2xhqvUVCVZrvYucz3fvmkCWVGWpLxVdbEvnw1eC4-JT1KiJYtz3beXOsiBwOkUVc6w6m8w/s1600-h/BeachSurf.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283068474795317490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8EFfaT8E5vqhj8-XkpKcwJmF6UOG_rVCPOyLv6-BCPJJ3A-fWy8Ebkij9reoJWaSzOJBp2xhqvUVCVZrvYucz3fvmkCWVGWpLxVdbEvnw1eC4-JT1KiJYtz3beXOsiBwOkUVc6w6m8w/s320/BeachSurf.JPG" border="0" /></a> My son Todd showing off my blackball busting 5 foot soft board.<br /><br />My book the Southern CaliforniaBeach and Surf discriptionary.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />My daughter Lauren showing off the prototype soft surfboard I designed in the 90's.Michael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4384928699745035328.post-82967956792468220632008-12-23T10:09:00.000-08:002009-03-26T15:18:56.091-07:00About the AuthorOverview:<br />I started surfing at age 9, while growing up in San Diego, California. I became a team rider for Gordon & Smith Surfboards at age 16. Surfed competitively through out the 70's and 80's. I have worked in the Surf Industry for over 30 years, starting with G & S and now presently work for Rusty Surfboards. This blog is a way for me to share my experiences and knowledge of the surfing industry. Both in lifestyle and surfboard construction. Also it keeps me from getting too bored during recovery from my recent heart attack. Emails to TMAzing@gmail.comm<br /><br /><strong>Michael V Anderson’s (M. Azing) Resume:</strong><br /><br />Custom Surfboards by Gordon and Smith, owner Larry Gordon<br />-This being the first job on my resume definitely requires a bit more attention than the rest. From the Late Seventies to the mid Eighties Gordon & Smith is where I cut my teeth learning the trade. Paul Bordieri, Skip Frye, Mike Eaton, Hoy Runnels, Sam Cody, Hank Warner, G3, TSG, TC, Robin Prodonivich, Glen Vitalis and the Boeche brothers became my first guides through the dust and fume filled factory.<br />-Boards Glassed= G&S, Mark Richards, Eaton, Barnfield and some of the Windsurfer brands were other types of boards we built there during that time frame.<br />-Jobs= I started as a laborer and worked up to assistant manager for Star Systems, which was our house fin system at the time. Then finished up as power sander when the end of an era came and this great factory closed its doors.<br />-Memory= Mike Anderson, team rider 1969, shaper Skip Frye.<br /><br />Steve Seabold’s, owner Steve Seabold<br />-Job= sander<br />-Boards Glassed= Byrne, Shroft, Aloha, Murphy and Seabold surfboards<br />-Memory= Steve’s bathroom was a working commode sitting directly in the middle of his laminating room.<br /><br />Island Scene, Louis or Lucho<br />-Job= power sander<br />-Boards glassed= Angulo Sailboards, Island Scene and Rusty<br />-Memories= Sub standard dust collection unit and something about cattle drives<br /><br />San Diego Surf Shop 1975, owner Glen Horn<br />-Job= salesman<br />-Boards sold= Matrix Surfboards<br />-Memories= Joe Roper, borrowing cups of ice from the food stand to cool down his hot batches. -Practicing Bulls eyes with Glen<br /><br /><br />Surf Shop 1987<br />Wind an Sea beach & Surf, owners Eric (Bird) Huffman and Ernie Higgins<br />-Job= salesman<br />-Boards sold= Rusty, Frye, Hynson and Channel Islands Surfboards<br />-Memories= During that time I had just finished a little book , the So. California Beach and Surf Discriptionary it was my humorous attempt at letting tourists know how us surfer types got to communicating like we did. I self published and promoted it. The Discriptionary was carried in Walden Books, B Dalton, and Upstart Crow to name a few places. Other than I learned a lot, it turned out to be a total disaster, Bummer man.<br /><br />Gordon and Smith Inc., owner Larry Gordon<br />-Jobs= shipping & receiving, quality control supervisor<br />-Boards shaped= G&S, Hi Tech sailboards<br />-Memories= instead of giving me a raise, Brad Woods gave me a title<br /><br />Nectar Factory, owner Bobby Larson<br />-Job= sander<br />-Boards Glassed= Hi Tech Sailboards, Nectar and G&S surfboards.<br />-Memory= The wide eyed night crew.<br /><br />Pacific Surf Glass, owner Harlan Patterson<br />-Job= sander<br />-Boards Glassed= Minard, Frye, G&S, South Coast, Rusty, and Murphy.<br />-Memories= sanding the Endless Summer II poster boards<br /><br />Pacific Sailboards, owner Bobby Larson<br />-Jobs= sanding, routing & plugging, QC<br />-Boards Glassed= Hi Tech Sailboards, Choice, Brewer, Weber, Fish Sticks and Zanadu Surfboards<br />-Memories= Lance, changing the polarity on Hoys vacuum collection unit.<br /><br />North Pacific Composites, owner Jeff Hammer<br />-Jobs= sanding, routing & plugging and rub out.<br />-Boards Glassed= Hi Tech Sailboards, North Pacific Surfboards, Northwest Surfboards, Local Motion, Gerry Lopez Surfboards and some assorted composite sailboards.<br />Memory= G III’s smoked steelhead<br /><br />Waterlines Unlimited, owner Ernie Higgins<br />-Job= sander<br />-Boards Glassed= Murphy, G&S, Rusty, Hamilton, Velzey, Tudor, Swift Movement, Iron Cross and assorted beer boards<br />-Memory= Hearing the story about the sander I replaced, pissing in PK’s boots<br /><br />Kane Garden, owners Stu Kenson and Harlan Patterson<br />-Job= production manager<br />-Boards Glassed= SK, KG, Third World Exotic and Rawson surfboards<br />-Memory= Larmo from Hair mo sticking it out till the bitter end.<br /><br />Rusty Surfboards, owner Rusty Priesendorfer<br />-Job= sander<br />-Board Glassed= R dotsMichael Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02517283283697597198noreply@blogger.com2