A Little Goodness Prior to Kauai

The week before I went to Kauai, I was off work and really tried to get all my orders out before I left.  I think it ended up totalling 23 handplanes that week.  By far the most in one week I ever made.  I was able to pretty much clear my list and stock up the shops prior to my departure.  Kauai was a lot of work with three little ones, but, fun nonetheless.  How could you not have fun.  I am finally rested after the return and ready to grind some Paulownia.  Gotsta stock up Surfy Surfy and Matuse as they are again out, plus catch up on the orders that I got while away.  Here is a few pics of the lot that I made prior to my departure.  Some of the best yet, at least, in my opinion.

Feeling Good

Sometimes you're just perusing through the internets, a little burned out, and you find something that just makes you feel good. Something totally unexpected.  Nothing special here, no insane dredging barrels or 6 foot punts with a crazy grab.   Really not much that anyone else would really care about. For me, it makes it all worth while

GoPro Handplane for Mr. English

I get the priviledge surfing around Tom English quite regularly. Not only that, he actually shoots photos of everyone when he's not out in the water. He takes some pretty nice shots. I was stoked when he asked me to make him a GoPro Camera Handplane. This was the first camera plane that I made. The second was the Handplane Around the World prototype. We are still doing a touch of research on which GoPro mount will work best for the camera. I'm leaning toward this one, as I don't have to change the bottom contours of my handplanes. With the FCS mount, which in the end, is a stronger mount, I have to leave the nose real thick. Not sure I want to compromise my shapes in that way. I took the FCS mounted Handplane with me to Kauai this past week, and although a little unorthodox looking, seemed to perform pretty well. Should have some pics of that one in a few days.

Thanks for the Patience

I took the last week off, both from the Handplane Goodness here, and also in realtime. Not that my mind wasn't into it, I was just real busy. I was actually on vacation last week, well, Kinda. I was off from my normal grind job. You know, the one that pays the mortgage and puts new boardies on the kids. I was actually making handplanes. About 23 in all. Wanted to catch up on my list before I went on my real holiday. For the first time since I started my Brownfish Handplane Experience, I am finally caught up. If you are reading this, and ordered a Handplane, it is in air and should be arriving soon. There were a few locals that I wasn't able to meet up with, but, theirs are sitting comfortably at home, awaiting my return. So, here I sit, in Kauai. Waiting for first light. Plenty of barrels have already been had back home. Not for me. Last night me wifey and I put the kids to bed, and left them with the inlaws. We sat on the beach with a cocktail and watched as the swell seemed to start picking up. What were very small, sectiony lefts, now seemed to be much larger, linking and peeling perfectly across the point. The anticipation of what that brings in a short time is killing me. Gonna charge up the Gopro, and maybe, just maybe, get some footage. Until then, here is some amazing shots, taken by Bucket Bob.    Jason Hall over at the The Daily Bread doing his thing at Wedge, on a Brownfish Handplane.  Someone called me out just recently about giving Handplanes to fellow Bloggers.  Something that is just not true, mainly, cause my wife would kill me if I did.  This one, I did give out.  Mainly, cause I knew I would get awesome footage, and testing, if I did.  In my mind, and my wifes, an investment well worth while.

All Photos Courtesy of Bucket Bob

Brownfish Handplanes now Available on-line at Surfy Surfy

Just the other day I was thinking to myself that I need to talk to JP about putting my Handplanes in the  SurfySurfy on-line store.  Hell they already has em in the shop, might as well sell em on-line as well.  Then we can offer em to people outside of our area a little easier.  Plus, I have been making so many planes and also prepping for our "Handplane Around the World" project, I just haven't had time to set it all up on my own.  Well,  I was just doing my normal internet rounds when I spotted his post.  "Brownfish Handplanes now available on-line at Surfy Surfy."  I guess great minds think alike.  Now, if you like one of the handplanes he has posted, you can just click and buy.  Should be in the mail in a jiffy.  I will try to keep him stocked with as much variety as possible.   Course if you like, you can still order one directly from me, especially if you want custom colors or stringers, but, it will take a bit longer.

Surfy Surfy On-line Store

Searching for Kegs Down Under

These handplanes have safely arrived in Australia. At the beaches along Sydney, even though it is dark here, Brian and his buddy's could be scoring foamball sliders as I write this. Hopefully they can muster up some footage to post up in the future.

2010 Sandy Beach Bodysurfing Championships Footage

2010 Sandy Beach Bodysurfing Championships was a great contest for both bodysurfing and hand boarding. The waves were big this year in the 2-4+ feet Hawaiian scale.

Video footage from HSBA/Hui member Capt(R) USMC Ben Mercier

Like Father, Like Son

Here is another board I shaped for the Bass family. Hank is at the perfect age. I don't want to skip ahead and miss all the years in between with my kids, but, I can't wait til they are Hanks age. Nowdays Hank paddles out with Scott, surf all types of boards, and is generally stoked on the whole ocean thing. I hope my kids are that stoked when they are his age.

Here is a message I got yesterday from Scott: "Had a killer HP sesh at Blacks today."

This coming from someone that used to look at me funny when I dawned my fins and first generation Handplanes. Not in a bad way, but, just a little skeptical. It's great to get messages like this. G

New Lot of Handplanes at SurfySurfy

SurfySurfy surf shop in Leucadia, ran out of Brownfish Handplanes at the beginning of the week. Just wanted to let the people that went in looking for them know, that I dropped off a new lot yesterday. One beautiful orange one with black/white stripes coming off the tail, that I made for myself, was included in the lot. I was sad to see that one go, but, I think I'll try to fit some time in the next few days to make myself another. Going to Kauai soon for 10 days. If you are on the fence about ordering a handplane, and don't want to wait until after my vacation, or want to get your husband a Handplane for Father's Day (it's big this year), then I would suggest ordering in the next few days. Gonna make as many as possible until I leave in two weeks. Or, just head down to SurfySurfy and get some instant gratification.

GoPro on board for Handplane Around the World

I just got confirmation yesterday that GoPro is going to be helping us out for the Handplane Around the World project. If you are interested in participating, please e-mail Jason from the The Daily Bread at dailybread.photo@gmail.com .  The first leg of the tour will start in Kauai on June 20th.  Thanks GoPro.

Here is a shot of Ed Lewis of The Leucadia Project using his recycled surfboard handplane, rigged with a GoPro HD Hero.

Some water footage in Hawaii shot with a GoPro.

Lakers Fans

I was wondering if there were any Lakers fans in the Handplaning world. Probably not, so, I'll just go ahead and throw this one away.

Encouraging Artwork

I have been planning on making Brownfish Handplane T-Shirts for a while, just haven't had the time to get it done. So, I have decided to set up a little project for my boys. You see, they used to draw a lot. My, now eight year old, was pretty amazing. A year and a half ago, we got them computers, thinking it would help them with school. As it does a bit, it seems they tend to spend more time on their computers, than doing a lot of the creative stuff that they used to do. So, to inspire them to get back at it, I am having them draw me one handplaning picture per day for the next two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, we will pick one picture per kid, scan em, and put em on Brownfish Handplane shirts. I've seen the stuff that they can come up with in the past, am hopeful that they can do it for this. Here is my five year old's first day of pics.