Surfing from scratch

WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG

Last weekend’s heat spell was an indication that summer is on the

way. As some record-breaking air temps were felt along our California

coastline, crowds came down to Surf City beaches to find some relief

from the heat and cool down in the refreshing ocean water. It was

pretty packed on the sand, with sun worshipers getting and early

start. Santa Ana winds blew pretty hard for a day or so, but when

they mellowed out a bit there was some fun barreling action out there

in the surf. Spring break was felt Downtown, and people who came to

the West Coast to get a break from the cold and a change of pace. Of

coarse the second half of spring break will be around Easter, when

the local high schools and middle schools get out.

For you do-it-yourself types, my buddy Brad Nadell, who’s been a

local surfer for years, has been running his business Foam E.Z. over

in Westminster these days. Brad grew up in Seal Beach, went to

Huntington Beach High School back in the day and was one of the boys

who worked at Harbour Surfboards for many years.

A few years ago, he came up with the idea to house some of the

products needed for building surfboards. If you needed a blank (what

most of the surfboards are shaped out of) you had to go down south or

wait for the good old Clark Foam truck to make it’s way up the coast

and drop them off. He used to stock a few, but with expanded demand

for boards in Orange County he now pretty much stocks all sizes and

lengths -- he orders customs too. Most of his established accounts

are big name brands like Chas, J.C. Hawaii, Nuuhiwa and Surf

Prescriptions. He does have a few who like to take a shot at building

their own equipment, although it usually takes a couple tries to get

it down. You can also pick up resin, cloth, fin boxes and other

supplies needed for putting the whole package together. So, if you

got a couple dings or your ready to shape and glass, which is an art

at most of the professional glass shops, this could be your gig.

As we head through spring get a jump on it, and find that perfect

stick, weather you make it, find it in your favorite surf shop or,

who knows, may be even a garage sale, your guaranteed to have big

fun. Oh yeah, Brad’s still surfing it up locally, but in five years

he plans to be retired on some little deserted island out there, with

perfect surf. On the web at www.foamez.com.

The United States Surfing Federation is heading to the chilly

water of Santa Cruz this weekend. Tell ya next week if there’s any

Great White Shark sightings. See ya.

* RICK FIGNETTI is a seven-time West Coast champion, has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last nine years and has been

the KROQ-FM surfologist for the last 17 years, doing morning surf

reports. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at

(714) 536-1058.