Handplane Stoke in Oregon

Dear Brownfish,

I've been meaning to send a big thank you for the inspiration for shaping and riding handplanes for quite some time. Attached are a couple of pics of my creations (obviously, many based on your shapes). I've surfed for quite a while in the Pacific Northwest and have been bodysurfing as well for a few years, but had never tried a handplane. One day this summer up here in Oregon, I ran into a guy named Mike riding one of your brownfish models. After talking with him and watching him catch and ride some of the best waves of the day, I decided handplaning was for me. That very same evening I called my friend Matt in NYC, who got me into surfing years ago, all stoked about getting into handplaning and he told me he had made me a handplane for my birthday and that it would arrive any day. Crazy coincidence huh? Up until that day, I had never seen another person riding a handplane in Oregon (although I'm sure people do) or even bodysurfing for that matter. Since I received that handplane in the mail (it is the small light green handplane in one of the pictures), I have not set foot on a surfboard. It has become an obsession for me and I have used your handplanegoodness site for shaping inspiration. Surfing in the Northwest is already pretty rustic and you usually feel pretty connected with nature. Riding handplanes has pushed that connection even closer for me. Now I have to decide what to do with all of my surfboards...maybe make furniture out of them?:) I also am making so many handplanes, that I have decided to start giving more away to anyone who is interested and leaving behind handplanes to those interested on any surf destinations I visit to spread the stoke. Thanks again for the inspiration. If you have never surfed in Oregon, it is worth the trip. Although the waves are rarely perfect, the beauty and access to the coastline is hard to beat. Cheers!
Chris Pladziewicz
Portland, Oregon
By the way, I am off to the beach tomorrow to try out 4 new planes I haven't even ridden yet. Exciting!

Caleb- Doing his part, are you?

I just recently discovered handplaning and your blog while surfing the internet in my down time and I decided to shape my own in the shop at work. (I'm currently deployed with the Navy to Bahrain and I have access to a pretty rad wood-shop.) I don't really have much of an idea of what I'm doing when it comes to shaping, hydrodynamics, etc.. But I thought I'd try and see what I can come up with. It's made out of teak laminated together with meranti?stringers, and the strap is a piece of a bicycle inner tube. I'm going on a surf trip to Australia in a couple of days and oddly enough I'm stoked to try out my new creation in some good surf way more than anything else. Anyways, Good job on the planes and the blog and thanks for making it easier to keep up the stoke while I do my time over here on this surf less desert Island.
Regards, Caleb Esparza

AWESOME WORK CALEB,  AND THANKS FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY!

Doctoring it up

Occasionally I make some handplanes and leave the pad off. Usually it is when I think that they look really cool, or have a neat grain pattern, and I really don't want to cover it up with a pad. Functionally, I like the pad, but, from an aesthetic standpoint, it sometimes doesn't make sense to cover up a beautiful piece of wood with a piece of processed plastic. This one I made for Dr. Chris Jones in Sydney. He got it last March. He just sent me a picture of what he has done to it. It makes perfect sense from a functional standpoint, and I'm sure in some of the situations he gets himself in along the beaches of Sydney, helps him a great deal. Here is what he had to say about it: "My current one is going so well - I've hooked it up with a dakine deck grip that I trimmed to fit... photo's attached. It seems to work really well with a grip for the fingers and buttress for the wrist. Your hand seems to just slot in perfectly." He is now in the process of adding a Hobbit to his quiver, this one, I'll be sure to put a pad on.

Parkins shot in TSJ

Cogratulations to Shawn Parkin for getting this epic shot in The Surfers Journal on-line. You can check it out at http://www.surfersjournal.com/photo/2011-12-01-1

Action!

Here is a great action shot of Zach Hawkins using his self made handplane. Strong work Zack and incredible shot!

Bourez doing some Pre-Pipe Masters training

Great Pic of Michel Bourez in Transworld with a Brownfish Hobbit. You can find it at: http://surf.transworld.net/1000140961/features/the-north-shore-daily/6/?pid=59239#ngtop

Before the surf came up today, bodysurfing Off The Wall was the call. Michel Bourez and his handgun. Photo: Checky

Matuse Wetsuit Sample Sale

My good friends at Matuse Wetsuits are having a sample sale this weekend. Stop by to get 25-50% off, or if you can't make it, go on-line and recieve 25% off all 2011 wetsuits. Here is the info:

Patagonia Delivery Today

These 5 are being dropped off today to Patagonia Cardiff. 2 Brownfish, 2 Short and Fats, and 1 Hobbit. This will most likely be the last delivery to Patagonia prior to Christmas. Possibly one more the week before if time allows, but, we are looking about 50/50 on that. They can ship anywhere. Get em while you can. On another note, The Brown/Gold Short and Fat is one of my favorites ever. Grain is just amazing. Didn't have the heart to cover it with a pad.

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