A Word from Steven

Thought you’d enjoy the photo of me using the Brown Fish Orange Barrel rider handplane on the south west atlantic coast of France – next to Hossegor, where the ASP is competing next week.
Just wanted to tell you that your efforts in getting it to me in time for my trip were appreciated and the barrel rider enjoyed the French hospitality. Thanks! I’ll be spreading the word – cheers matey, Steven

Introducing "The Hobbit"

Many good bodysurfers have been asking for quite some time when I was going to come out with a small handplane/board. These are the kind of guys and girls you will see sliding along effortlessly without any type of planing device. They can use their hand or a swimming paddle and slide along better than I, using a big planing device. They truly want something that is mainly an aid to their already impressive skills. Something that won't be a liability at big Wedge or Pipeline. Well here is my offering. Dubbed "The Hobbit" by my wife Rebecca. It measures 9" long by 7.5" wide and pretty much goes from your fingertips (at the nose) to the base of your thenar eminances(your hand). Keith Malloy got his on Friday Night at the screening of "Come Hell or High Water." Come to Sacred Craft in Del Mar weekend after next and check it out.

Comparison of the size of the "Short and Fat" and "The Hobbit"

My Buddy's From Hawaii

Came up for the showing of "Come Hell or High Water" at La Paloma on Friday night.  So, as suggested in my post last week, he was rewarded with his new handplane.  I took Rebecca and the boys to the movie.  The boys really enjoyed it, but, by the time it was over, it was well past their bedtime.  We pretty much high tailed it out of their once the credits were done.  I think the only one that beat us out was Joel Tudor and his kids.  Would have liked to stick around after and shoot the shit, but, that just wasn't an option.  About an hour later, my buddy from Hawaii texted me a picture of him and Mark Cunningham.  It seems Mr. Cunningham was really intrigued by the Short and Fat, and was insistant that the handplane was in the picture.  When Derek gets back to Hawaii, they have agreed to meet up so that Mark can give the Short and Fat a go this winter.  I think that is a grand plan, but, I think I've got other plans, I'm thinking the "Hobbit" might have to make an appearance.  More on that later.

Patagonia Cardiff has Planes

Over the weekend Patagonia Cardiff recieved their first shipment of Brownfish Handplanes in a while. 2 Short and Fats, 2 Brownfish, and a Barrel Rider. If you are interested in any of them, you can stop by, or they can ship to you:

Patagonia Cardiff
2185 San Elijo Ave.
Carfiff-by-the-Sea, CA. 92007
760-634-9886
http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia.go?assetid=5172&src=vuca_0005&src=vuca_005

Tonight- LA PALOMA - COME HELL OR HIGH WATER

8PM AND 10PM showings. $10 at La Paloma box office. Cash Only. No offsite sales.

Scrapwood Series Numero Dos

Here is some shots of my second scrapwood handplane. I was originally gonna do Black and White squares. I did the black stain first, and had a bit of run on the bottom. To me, as little as it was, it wasn't acceptable. Being almost impossible to sand off and not screw up the wood underneath, I took the easy route and put some yellow over the top of it all. I really like the way it came out, and luckily, it was for me. I have been working on my bottom contours for the Short and Fat Model. Going back and forth between having a round section between the spine and rail bevel, or a flat section. As you can see in this one, it is flat. After trying this one out on some good waves, I've decided to go with flat. The way I see it, flat is fastest. As you would expect after using food trays. With the hold that the spine gives, it prevents it from slide slipping. So for now forward, I will be going with this bottom contour on both the Short and Fats and Barrel Riders. So, what do I do with a Short and Fat Model that has been used a couple of times and has a minor cosmetic blem on the bottom. Well, I don't know, but I did recieve a message yesterday that a good friend of mine will be here for the weekend from Hawaii. I know when he gets over here he likes to hang in the city with all my buddies that live down their. I can't fault him for that, probably what I would do. Actually, no, I take that back, I'm sure thats what I would do. But, if he gets the gumption to get his ass up here, then he just might get a replacement for his Brownfish Model that I sent him well over a year ago. I'm sure this one will work much better at Point Panic, Sandy's and the Waimea Shorebreak.

Jamie O'Brien being JOB

Here is a shot of Jamie screwing around with his Brownfish Short and Fat Handplane that Rusty passed off to him while in Indo. I hope to see him give it a go at Pipeline this year. Thanks Rusty.

Donovan's Custom

This one was a fun one to do. A little extra work, but, I like these kind of tasks. Donovan is a bigger guy from Hawaii. Has a good amount of bodysurfing experience. Normally I would have just recomended a Short and Fat for him, but, he really wanted a GoPro Mount. For me, the GoPro mount just doesn't go well on a 12" Handplane. Especially when you have to move the strap back towards the tail so that the hand will fit. So, we compromised and went with a Short and Fat template, but, added 2" of length. This should work well for his purposes. As for the stain/color scheme, you can make your own assumptions on that. I just think that he is really into the Jamaican culture.

THULANDER Rides

I got this set of pics from Eric THULANDER this past weekends. Don't know where Thulander got his Brownfish Handplane, or which model it is? Regardless, He is putting it to the test, and doing a great job of it. Strong work THULANDER.