VOLUME THREE, NO. 3

In Trim: Tom Blake & The Hollows  by Malcom Gault-Williams
An inventor, author, friend and waterman, Thomas Edward Blake helped push surfboard designs forever forward. With an introduction from (and rare photos courtesy of) Gary Lynch, this article looks at this pioneer’s realized daydreams—from the accidental discovery of the first hollow surfboard and paddleboard to the earliest surf photography—and the “unselfish period of rediscovery” he lived in. Some of Blake’s original patents, boards, handwritten blueprints, photos and quotes from The Duke and Nat Young complete the piece.

“The Nose: a user’s guide”  by Jim MacLaren
This 14-page piece has everything necessary to make a proper noserider out of you—nearly 20 pictures of nose action from some of the best in the business, an elegant introduction, what it means to be “on the nose,” the technicalities of the two types of tipriding (stalling and trimming), helpful hints from Israel Paskowitz, Wingnut, Chris “Slick” Schlickenmeyer and Bill Stewart, plus the indescribable pleasure of dangling five and 10 toes over.

“Ohmi’s Secret”
A glance at one of Japan’s best, warm-water, righthand pointbreaks, simply called “Cabbage Hill.” Six shots of a typhoon swell from Denjiro Sato are featured, with informative sidebars from surfer Toshiya Ohmi. 

“The Competitors: Road To Reunion”  by Scott Hulet
A pre-championship glimpse at the contestants set to battle it out at the Oxbow World Longboard Championship at Reunion Island. Brief biographies, competitive strengths and past accomplishments accompany pictures of the year’s major players: Ted Robinson, Dino Miranda, Josh Baxter, Bonga Perkins, Gary Elkerton, Chris Griffith, Israel paskowitz, Joel Tudor, Ray Gleave, Yoshinori Matsuyama, Jeff Kramer, Lance Ho’okano, Raul Gonsalvez, Jim Hogan, Bill Curry, Michael Grendon, Kevin Connelly, Zane Aikau and Jason Blewitt.

“The Essential Surf Discography”  by Domenic Priore
A collector’s guide to surf music vinyl, designed to help weed through the dross and discover the gems. Descriptions and brief reviews of the following records are included: “Surfer’s Choice” by Dick Dale and his Del-Tones, “The Surfaris Play” by The Surfaris, “Surfrider” by The Lively Ones, “Surfin’ with the Astronauts” by The Astronauts, “Big Surf” by The Sentinals, “Waikiki Surf Battle Volumes 1 & 2,” “Battle of the Bands,” Diggin’ Out,” “Surfin’ in the Midwest,” “The Surf Creature Volume Two,” “Wax ‘Em Down,” “Surfer’s Mood Volume Two,” “Get a Board,” “The Exciting Sound of Model Road Racing” by The Phantom Surfers, “Instruments of Terror” by Laika and the Cosmonauts, “Play Suck-O-Rama, Shockwave, Thunder Pussy, Fuzzy ‘n Wild” by The Vice Barons and “The Boardwalkers.” 

Surfer’s Ear: Bill Stewart

Unleashed: Rock Dancer”  by Jim Fitzpatrick
A look back at the (all but) lost art of rock dancing. Fitzpatrick recalls his move from the cushy, sand bottom of La Jolla Shores to the jagged boulders that guard Topanga Point, his quarter century of dance practice and the final solution, a leash.

Dropping In: Michael Gee