At the beginning of the month I attended Outdoor Retailer. Held in Salt Lake City, Utah it has 14,000 people descending upon the city for less than a week. A photo free zone you can only imagine the buzz of new products and technologies.
Now it brings us to the end of the month where I sit at the Eastern Outdoor Representative Association. I smaller venue taking a couple of buildings over at Killington Ski Resort in Vermont. The last day of the show has alot of buzz about it as well. A smaller venue allows for a closer look at new product. For the outdoor enthusiast it is a candy shop from the water to the clouds. Think about it.
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While up at the Grain Surfboards workshop back in July a local video crew rolled through, yes that rhymes, to shoot a story on small businesses inviting their customers to enter their shop and learn about the products they make.
While out in the water washing off the sawdust some footage was shot while playing on their little belly board known as the Sea Sled. Here is the story posted. American Business: Chairmen of the Board Excited that some of the footage used came from my own camera. The Wave: In Pursuit of the Rogues, Freaks and Giants of the Ocean
Susan Casey This book follows Casey’s travels as she visits with both scientist and surfers alike for a deeper understanding of the large waves out in the ocean and those who study and ride them. From England to South Africa and beyond the scientist that are within this book have witnessed first hand the cause and effect of some of the largest waves to have hit the planet. There are also waves that seem to be created from nothing, that to this day scientist are trying to create a solid plan of understanding through physics. On the other side of the book there are surfers such as Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama and others whose goal isn’t to figure the science behind them but rather to ride them. Their understanding of these big waves come from a desire to take their skill of surfing to the next level. With the use of jet skis, towropes and specially designed boards, this crew is able to study the incoming swells and find the best way to ride them. From all over the world, to one hundred miles off the coast at Cortez Bank, the waves they pursue are more of a calling. This is where both scientist and surfer have strong similarity. The blobs that one can see on radars, and the open ocean storms that produce these waves catch the attention of both communities, and where one studies them for science the other studies them for sport. The stories in this book bring a heightened awareness to what is happening out in the ocean. With a good pace Casey brings you into both realms without a loss in momentum. A good read for those summer flat spells or land locked moments where a little ocean and surfing is needed to get through the day. The past week has been filled with surfboard building of all kinds. To start is off a "Flounder" was made a boxy railed love child of the Channel Islands' Flyer and Fish. The twin fins hold the speed while the two and a half inches of foam give enough float to get up on knee high days. The other board is still under construction. A seven foot, while actually 6'11", Pandan. Designed by the boys up at Grain Surfboards in York, ME, this board is a performance funboard. Check back at the end of the week to see how this lovely wooden board turned out.
Sitting on a bench swing at a campground in East Haddam, CT kids are splashing in the background, birds are chirping and the one sound I do not want to hear is that of the RV's air conditioning unit in the site next o mine. They pulled in this afternoon and since they were set have not seem them outside since.
It makes me think what is the point of camping or going to a campground if you are not going to enjoy any of the features. There is a pool, and it is hot out. A nice breeze would gladly fill your curtains with cool air. Granted I am living out of a rolling lunchbox, however, that is only the bedroom. The kitchen is outside, the living room is outside, there is no TV room. I can charge all my work goodies though. Not bad. Not bad at all. There are only two more days of being Stranded this week. Then on to a big weekend with a SUP the Coast fundraising cruise and a concert on Sunday. Then another week of Standedness. A couple of months ago I shot a wedding for a friend's sister. Here is a short I made out of it. Enjoy. Danielle and Brendan from Kristopher Kimball on Vimeo. Afternoon Session from Kristopher Kimball on Vimeo. James and Perry rocking the beach breaks just north of the Doghouse.
She let's me skip first and go right into second. I can make her rev like nobody else, and yet she always puts up a fight. Four years this month we started our relationship, drives to the beach, vacations in New Hampshire everything always was good. But there were bad times as well, she would get sick, the outside was always beautiful it was the inside parts that would go. It was a love hate relationship. I loved the dates but hated paying for them.
Then another came and she was left on her own. I would stop by and visit and give her some excitement but nothing she really wanted. Today, however, with the sun out and breeze blowing we had a little rendezvous. Just a quick spin, something to get the juices flowing. The old is so much better than the new. Will and Mike are in the news again on WRAL with SUP the Coast. They are in North Carolina, halfway to Portland, Maine. Their journey has been a good one, the people they have met greet them with open arms. This duo still has half the way to go, show them your support support their causes.
Wounded Warrior Project SUP Clean UP Or if you want to help make a difference where you are head down to your beach pick up what isn't supposed to be there. http://www.wral.com/lifestyles/travel/video/9577353/ After over a month of being stranded all throughout northern New England, resting the paws feels great. Alot has happened since I have been back at the Doghouse.
Great surf has happened, a new SUP shop has opened in Manchester-By-The-Sea, great pizza has been eaten, all the good things in life. Over the next couple of days things will get updated, movie reviews added and some boards are going to start coming into being. Also check back at the Year of the Dog is still going on and new pics will be added shortly. Thanks for checking in and as always have fun getting Stranded. |
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