The surf I'm missing.

Pic by the gun-slinging Mark Mekenas.

I need a surfboard in Honolulu...

Can anybody help me out?

I'm going to be in Oahu for work from Sunday to Wednesday and was hoping to rent a board while I'm there. Would love to get some dawn patrols and evening sessions in. Honestly, I don't even know where I'll be surfing but it'll probably be within walking/paddling distance from the Embassy Suites Beach Walk in Waikiki, where I'm staying.

If anyone in Honolulu would like to hook up and make $50-$100 by lending me a board, I'd be incredibly stoked and grateful.

Thanks and happy holidays,
Rick

BACK TO THE VAQ

I finally got out again a couple weeks ago and went for it on my 7'0 Vaquero De Las Olas. It's pretty much a perfect surfboard for The C*ve. Just point it in the right direction and it does most of the work. I'd love to ask Andreini why it seems to go the exact right speed for the wave. Like a magnet to the pocket. Perfect for a lazy daddio like me.

When I was out there, a nice chum named J.J. paddled over and we chatted a while. He mentioned that Andreini was making a line of less expensive sticks called "Poor Boys." That would explain the clear board I was jonesing for on the rack in Santa Barbara several months ago with the pricetag of $575, new. Yippee kai yay!

Tacklebusters

The Neslcott Reef contest went off yesterday—paddle only. Sounds like an amazing event and I'm glad they decided to forgo the jetskis (except to get to the lineup). I'm hoping to see better pictures and videos soon! Full report HERE. Thanks, Slim.

Now I wonder what went down at the Yeti...

RIP, ANDY IRONS

Crisis Machine

For some guys it's a red Hummer or a convertible Corvette. Should I ever have a midlife crisis, my whip of choice would look something like this.

Baptized Again

I don't know how I pulled it off. But there I was, sitting in crystal clear water, feeling the swells pass underneath me. Me and a few friends sitting on the glass-like ocean. The surf wasn't huge, but it was perfect for the state I was in. My first wave was the best. Shoulder-high, leftward reeling, fast, long, forgiving. I could just go from top to bottom to top to bottom until it let me out.

When I kicked out and paddled back to where the guys were sitting I looked down through the clear water at the ocean floor eight feet below, dunked my face in and wished I could drink it all.

Disney Girls