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.
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