Valentine's Day 2008 Surf Report

Surf Report: The north shore was windy, mostly clean and waist/chest early this AM. The tide was dropping, but, gusty NNW making the takeoff hard on a shorter board. There may have been some bigger sets. It was good from 6:30 until 8:45 or so, then it got too bumpy. If you haven't been out today, pick your spots with care ...

Mexico Surf Trip

I cannot recommend a winter surf trip to one of the best logging waves in North America. If you go there, don't bring your 9'6". Be ready for heavy crowds and bad attitudes. There are no paved roads. You can't drink the water. The rental cars are a rip-off. The tamales and pozole will surely cause Moctezuma's Revenge. Maybe on the one small day, someone will take some pictures of you and burn a CD for you on the beach. Maybe it will be flat the whole time. Stay away from the Pacific coast of Mexico. Unless it's Ixtapa. Then you should go there and surf that hot wave near the fish pier.

Surfboards Chinatown

Some of you have read about Joe Chen's "Surfboards Chinatown" project from a few years ago. On a recent trip to NYC, I visited his new shop. It's a classic Chinatown building, formerly a furniture warehouse. An empty area behind the showroom contains a single, unshaped, blank. Joe hopes to produce a lot boards in what will be the second phase of his project. The shop is definitely core and it turns out Joe and I went to college together (also in NYC). He has a solid selection of interesting boards, including twin pins, stubs and biscuits. There were few thrusters, no funboards and no popouts. He gives lessons (even in winter) and has an unusual selection of gray market bodyboards. After you check it out, go to the nearest noodle shop for lunch.