She Needs More Wood For The Fire

A board that definitely piques the interest of people swinging into the shop is the Wegner Alaia. Some think we have the board for a boho chic decor we are going for in the shop, most ask if it's practical (side note, what's fun in life that's practical anyway?), others ask if it's an ancient surf craft. Don't know which answer is right or wrong, but I do know that the Alaia is damn fun and offers up a unique approach and view towards riding a wave. There is a grounding aspect to the board that it exudes while surfing one. For starters, they are extremely hard to ride and navigate at first. For a seasoned surfer this can be a welcoming burst of refreshment as we come to think we know it all about board surfing after years of being at it. But we don't. What ever chest thumping you may do surfing a "regular" surfboard, be prepared to be humbled. Good luck even just paddling it. However, once you do line up a wave, get to your feet and experience a friction free slide down the line, your mind will be open to the endless possibilities there are to ride a wave.  One can't also help but have a deep admiration for ancient board riders who used similar designs to the Alaia. An open mind and experimentation is the key to innovation. As the weather starts to make a turn, why not buck the system and throw convention to the wayside. In the meantime, here are some inspired thoughts and meditations on the Alaia from various viewpoints in the surf world....

From Mayhem's blog, he opts to use an Alaia for kindling...

A piece Jamie Brisick did for the NY Times...

Cy Sutton's take with a clip called "Wood Monday" making it look oh so easy...

Wood Monday - Sea Movies from www.KORDUROY.tv on Vimeo.

And our take down on River St.

Regrets A Paradise

Season’s greetings on this balmy G.T.I. Friday a.k.a "Get Through It Friday." Neptune's looking out hard stance with non freezing temperatures and on-shore crumblers for those who bang lips under four foot...

 On the Kulcha note...

SMASH presents “The Surfers Studio: An evening with Jamie Brisick”, Saturday February 26th 8PM at the legendary Anthology Film Archives in the heart of the East Village, NYC. The Surfers Studio is a series of in depth conversations documenting the lives, careers and contributions of surfers who have made impacts on surf culture and the surf community.

The first subject in a series of live interviews is Jamie Brisick, a writer, photographer, and director. He surfed on the ASP world tour from 1986 to 1991. He has since documented surf culture extensively. His books include We Approach Our Martinis With Such High Expectations and Have Board, Will Travel: The Definitive History of Surf, Skate, and Snow. His writings and photographs have appeared in The Surfer’s Journal, The New York Times, and The Guardian. He was the editor of Surfing magazine from 1998-2000. In 2008 he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship. He lives in New York City with his wife and 5’10” Channel Islands Pod.

Follow Jamie Brisick at Wrestling Elephants www.jamiebrisick.com

On the shop front...

in lieu of this beautiful day along with irie / posi vibes, this Andreini Vaquero has now been marked down to $900!!! Get it while it's hot!  

 

 

Rad, huh?

Also, make sure to check out the "$8 Holla" bin of select DVD titles to help along / foster any spring fever you maybe suffering from....

Blessed Weekend!

Uber Cruz

From our sponsors....

The best board for today is....

** PETRO IS DROPPING OFF / PICKING UP DING REPAIRS ON THURSDAY! **

Pass the Cristal

Greetings on a balmy Valentine's Day Monday. Cupid shot some love towards the shores this AM with blustery wind swell...

For all you love birds out there, here is a little mood music and Valentine's Day gift from Mollusk to set you off right...

It seems as though on the streets of New York that Quiksilver has already revamped their marketing schemes in lieu of this years upcoming Quik Pro NY this September...

In da racks, two very lightly used boards...

Fineline twin keel 5'8  X  22 1/4  X  2 13/16   $ 375

Maurice Cole  "Pro Tow" 6'2  X  19 1/2  X  2 3/8   $500.00

Don't forget to call ya mom's  <3

UA MAU KE EA O KA AINA I KA PONO

Starting off the week on a somber note, legendary surf photographer Leroy Grannis passed away over the weekend. Grannis has left the world with so many iconic images through his tenure as a photographer which will live on in his passing. Respect & Aloha.

Neptune showed some serious love this weekend with balmy temperatures and peaky wind swell that dotted along select sandbars kama'aina...

Mark yo calendars, El Capitano aka Bubbie aka Chris Gentile is having a solo show titled Let It Down at the Jeff Bailey Gallery (625 W 27th St btw. 11th & 12th Ave.) from Feb 9th - March 12th. The opening reception for the show will be held this Thursday evening from 6-8pm. Show the braddah some love....

Enjoy the week. Blessed!

Slack n' Mack

Greetings in the Year of the Rabbit. According to some sources, people born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog. And here we have kids in my mom's elementary school class celebrating with colored paper. 

  

From outer reaches of the greater New York area at select certain spots, dudes were claiming back to back days of surfing this week with multiple sessions had each day. I heard there might be some wind dribble this weekend... local homeboy Matt Clark sent these over to elevate levels of stoke and morale...

  

On da shop front, we have a slightly used water tight Maurice Cole Metro trustah in the racks, 6'2 X 21 X 2 5/8. 

Hot off the press, TSJ 20.1 with enough kine goodness to pass a snowed in weekend. Epic Epic J B G story along with love on Steve Lis, Martin Potter, Julian Schnable, TA & RK. Also Re - Up on 7mm mittens and 7mm booties.

<3 

The White Pony

Without a doubt the most cruised board in the shop. By that I mean whether it is a first timer to Mollusk or a neighborhood regular the Hydrodynamica White Pony is always given a once over by the eye, a hand ran up and down the rail, held under the arm, and questioned "does this thing really work?" It is a peculiar shape and even touches upon the avant garde in surfboard design. Maybe it's a board so ahead of it's time it cannot be fully appreciated in a contemporary context, and only years later will it have a greater appreciation. So for all of you that have ever eyed the White Pony and questioned its seafaring merit, I dedicate this clip to you found over on RT's blog Warbles in an apropos post "What Really Constitutes a Hi-Performance Surfboard?" Proof seems to be in the pudding. For as many times as I have tried to describe the board, it can't even touch the words and surfing done by Ryan Burch in the clip Tweakin'.


EXCERPT #1 from TWEAKIN' on BOARDS with RYAN BURCH from R.T. on Vimeo.