Cate’s Stoke: Employee Picks Cont…

Part 3: Mason Klink

Hi everyone! I hope everyone is doing their best to stay healthy and think positive during this hard time. At Hobie, our hearts go out to those affected and are keeping them in our thoughts. Currently, all shops are closed until further notice and will keep you guys in the loop on our social media channels. Please continue to practice social distancing, and remember we’re all in this together!

On a lighter note, we have new employee picks, from Mason Klink of San Clemente! Mason is an ambassador at Hobie as well and enjoys surfing at SanO in his spare time! Here are his shop picks:

1) Legacy Surfboard

This board is Mason’s favorite because it’s not just for nose-riding. He feels that “…this board can help any surfer learn to approach waves in a more natural manner.” This board quickly generates speed and keeps its momentum all the way down the line. “Terry Martin designed this Hobie to be the legacy of his shaping experience, and board design talents should motivate any surfer to want to try this board.” Mason recommends this board for people trying to make their surfing smoother and take an organic approach to traditional longboarding.

2) Authentic Wave by Tatsuo Tekai

This book means a lot to Mason because it encompasses the era of traditional longboarding that inspired him at a young age. Now longboarding has become extremely popular, but in the mid-’90s to early 2000’s it was about pushing the boundaries of performance longboarding. This book was shot during this time, so you can get inside this community of surfers. “Having this retrospect and photo evidence of the surfers who challenged the move to more performance longboarding is nearly priceless, in my opinion.”

3) Patagonia R2 Wetsuit

This is Mason’s all-time favorite suit! “Where do I start…I grew up wearing hand me down wetsuits and whatever I could find that didn’t break my dad’s wallet. The first session I had in my Patagonia blew my expectations out of the water, “‘no pun intended.”’ According to Mason, the suit drys extremely fast, and its crazy warm. “You get what you pay for with this Patagonia product, just like their other offerings.”

4) Hydro Flask 32 oz Wide Mouth

Mason says that he has one of these bottles with him at all times. “It helps me monitor my water intake and decreases my use of plastics.” At Hobie, we aim to be sustainable whenever we can and have so many amazing products like this bottle, which can help everyone be sustainable.

5) Patagonia Baggies

These are Mason’s favorite shorts all the time. “They are great for surfing, hiking, and everyday use.” These shorts are made of 100% recycled nylon and also dry quickly, just like the wetsuits. Mason has tried a bunch of different swim and walk short brands, but he loves the Patagonia Products the most.

Thank you guys so much for reading this post and remember to stay inside!!

Let The Wind Howl

By

Andrew Cowell

It’s noseriding, the magic art of walking foot-over-foot on a traditional longboard.  You’re hanging five toes, maybe ten, off the nose with nothing except air and water before you.  You’re flying, Jonathan Seagull free, working without a net.

Born in the 1950s, noseriding a longboard – done while riding the front third of a surfboard — became an accomplished maneuver.  The greats: David Nuuhiwa, Corky Carroll, Lance Carson, and others tested their cat-like skills while balancing on a moving surfboard, propelled by a spirited wave.

In the mischievous game of surfing shenanigans, new tricks beyond the classic hang five and hang ten were added to the dance.  The Stretch Five, Hanging Heels, Front Foot/Heel Hang, Back Foot/Heel Hang, and the Crow Bar.

In 1965, philosopher, inventor and accomplished jazz drummer, Tom Morey (Morey Boogie Board fame) created a cutting edge surfing competition — the first of its kind — The Morey Invitational.  Morey’s concept was a timed noseriding event.  Whoever stood with both feet on the front third of their surfboard the longest would be crowned champion.  Two Hobie riders emerged triumphant that day.  Mickey Munoz won the men’s division, with Corky Carroll taking out all comers in the junior’s.  Both victors rode boards that were specifically designed and shaped for the event by the great Phil Edwards.

Today traditional noseriding flourishes worldwide, thanks impart to Donald Takayama and Joel Tudor.  This is not to slight any of the shapers and surfer’s who have contributed to the resurgence of longboarding and noseriding.  After all Herbie Fletcher proclaimed, “The Thrill Is Back” in the 80s.  I believe that history will show that it was Takayama’s Hawaiian linage and South Bay history of designing and shaping surfboards for the greatest of all noseriders, David Nuuhiwa, that foretold the rise of eminent world champion, Joel Tudor.  Traditional longboarding, like a hibernating bear, emerged to take its rightful place in the surfing pantheon.  Many dismissed longboarding and noseriding, labeling it retro, but Tudor, whose skills rivaled and surpassed those of the greats, passionately defended the ride, igniting an underground, grassroots movement that has fueled the imaginations of today’s young riders of the nasal passage.

SHACC “Temples of Stoke”: A Summoning Perspective

“STAY CLOSE TO THE SOUL”

A CALL TO ACTION

SURFING HERITAGE AND CULTURE CENTER

TEMPLES OF STOKE EXHIBIT CLOSING

By

Andrew Cowell

Surfing has seen many changes, some extreme and dynamic, like the Shortboard Revolution, or Simon Anderson’s Thruster, or the reemergence of the longboard.  Other developments have been understated and hairsplitting, almost incomprehensible.  It’s here, I believe, we find the evolution of the “surf shop.”  The revolution has been subtle.  There’s little dispute that Dale Velzy opened the first shop in 1949; little more than a dimly lit, dilapidated, one room store front in Manhattan Beach, California.  Jack O’Neill upped Velzy’s ante in 1952 with the opening of the “SURF SHOP” on San Francisco’s Great Highway.  (It’s interesting to note that Jack was the first to use the moniker “surf shop.”)  Hobie was nipping at O’Neill’s heals, opening the first dedicated, purpose-built surf shop at Dana Point, California in 1954.  By ’61 beach communities were littered with them.  Peterson’s Surfing Yearbook of 1963 notes that there were 41 in Southern California alone.

For these early adventure seeking, passionate, inventive, nonconformist surfing entrepreneurs the haunting speculation of turning a profit weighed heavily, often consuming more time and energy than their surfing did.  Relying on the sale of surfboards just didn’t pay the bills.  Some, like O’Neill, with his life-long passion for discovery and innovation, saw a great opportunity in living and surfing in such harsh conditions.  He foresaw the creation of the wetsuit and how it would provide for him and his family the freedom to build a life around surfing.  We are all indebted to Jack O’Neill for keeping us warm and surfing longer.  Others saw the need for accessories: wetsuits, wax, car racks, rentals, and lessons.  Still others, like Hobie Alter, set their sights on adventure and tropical isles, developing catamarans and other ocean and wave friendly craft.

Then in the 1970’s three enterprising Australians: Alan Green, Carol McDonald, and Tim Davis, and later a fourth, John Law formed the Rip Curl Wetsuit Company, from which Quiksilver apparel was later spawned.  Right out of the box, they saw success with a boardshort design that was leaps and bounds ahead of anything the surf shop owner and customer had seen or worn.  These shorts were maneuverable, manageable, and comfortable making them brand leading exponents.  These four, along with Americans Jeff Hakman and Bob McKnight saw the writing on the wall.  The coming revolution gained a foothold, apparel would be king, while the surfboard, that on which the industry was built became second fiddle.

Still the focus for most of the tanned, motley crew of surfing misfits was the surf shop. With the mass acceptance of the Quiksilver boardshort, others jumped into the fray.  As the surf/beach lifestyle was trending across middle-America, Billabong, Gotcha, Instinct and a Waimea sized wave of others swept over the market place.  For a while the ride was great.  Everyone, industry leaders and consumers alike were goovin’ on surfing and getting barreled.

Today many of the apparel manufactures have gone through a restructuring and the surf shop is seeing a more balanced approach to their offerings.  Surf shops that stay close to the soul of surfing are a true celebration of the lifestyle, where the unknown creatives who happily toil in dimly lit rooms creating the agents we so enjoy riding waves on thrive.  These Temples of Stoke have always been hallowed ground; a house of community, a bullpen were the generosity of spirit – aloha – is spread from one corner of the surfing world to another.  A surfing life is a deeply rewarding and meaningful existence.

As the twenty-first century plods along, the race for your dollar has become increasingly competitive.  Everything from wax to surfboards is offered for your shopping convenience online.  I’m not knocking e-commerce, here at Hobie Surf Shop we offer you that accommodation for shopping our inventory, but today’s surf shop, much like yesteryear, are independently owned by surfers working to make a living by creating handmade surfboards and offering the goods and services needed to enjoy the surfing life.  All the while employing many people smitten with the surfing bug.  Unfortunately the internet forces many of these enterprising entrepreneurs to close their doors.  Your support is needed.

Journalist Craig Stecyk has said that the surf shop “functions as the sport’s information centers, supply depots, halfway houses, classrooms, libraries, churches, banks, and museums.”  Although Stecyk spoke thus in 1996, his view is still true today.  Here’s the point: the surf shop functions as a societal glue.  Support your local shop, and the next time you’re hunting waves, either in your community, or someone else’s, stop into the local shop.  Buy a bar of wax, a tee shirt, or a hat.  Chat up the kid behind the counter, the experience will be gratifying.

Lastly, check out the richly rewarding “TEMPLES of STOKE” exhibit that the Surfing Heritage and Culture Center (SHACC) is currently curating at http://www.shacc.org.  It’s a guaranteed good time.

Introducing Cate’s Stoke: Prepared to get Stoked!!

Hi all!

My name is Cate Stokes and this is my blog, Cate’s Stoke! This blog, sponsored by Hobie, is going to include all you need to know about Women’s Surfing, especially longboard culture! But first, a quick introduction…

I have been surfing since the age of 11. As soon as I popped up on my first wave, I was hooked! I started competing when I was 12 and longboarding at 14 years old. In high school, I joined the surf team and, when I was in 9th grade, I was sponsored by Hobie! It is such a great company to work with and I am so thankful for all their support over the years! At 16, I started working at the Hobie store in Dana Point shop and have been there ever since. Come say hello if you ever see me working! I started this blog in conjunction with the Hobie team to report on women’s surfing and showcase what is happening in the surf world. I hope you enjoy the content I am planning for you all and feel free to contact me, I would love to hear from you!

Instagram: catestokes

Dana Point Welcomes Chispa House Films & “Search for the Big One”

Four Humanity Focused Films Set To Premiere at Hobie Surf Shop in Dana Point

by

Cate Stokes

Join Hobie Surf Shop in Dana Point on September 12th as we welcome Chispa House as they premiere their film Search for the Big One, featuring Rob Machado and Hobie Surf Shop Team riders! This series features four short films that raise awareness for ocean and land conservation.

The Chispa House team produces films about aspirational humans and providing glimpses into the lives of people that inspire them. Their struggles and triumphs reveal ambitions, motivations, and ways we can better ourselves and the world around us. They reveal the truth, which is exactly what they’re chasing at Chispa House.

Donations to the Surfrider Foundation will be accepted to support their mission to protect our beautiful coastline. This is sure to be an amazing event, so don’t miss it! https://chispahouse.com/