The Surfboard Man.com

2013-05-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Choose your own adventure! Each picture is a Link

California | Stay or Go

2013-05-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

VAST Dawn Patrol Hybrid Boardshorts

2013-05-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Surfing during the summer often means coming straight from work or going to dinner afterwards. Luckily, VAST has a new pair of Hybrid Boardshorts that look equally good whether you are in the water or walking around town. With 4-way stretch and quick drying fabric; these VAST Boardshorts are the perfect match for those of you looking to buy a new pair of boardshorts!

Kolohe Andino | Spring 2013

2013-05-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

The Smell of Summer | A Boutique Surf Lifestyle Blog

2013-05-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

I am really excited to discuss my new creative project which is The Smell of Summer. I started it as a way to showcase the creative influences of surfing including Music, Photography, Art and Fashion. The Smell of Summer is essentially a boutique surf lifestyle blog that is full of fun and quick posts that resonate with surfers and non-surfers alike. It will also consist of posts about local restaurants and events for people to visit in Southern California.

Check out The Smell of Summer Today!

Interview w/ Sally Fitzgibbons

2013-05-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

As the 2013 Women's World Tour is on the home stretch with only a few events left, many of the girls are hard at work to prepare for a race to the finish line in the hopes of clinching a world title. We had the opportunity to interview Sally Fitzgibbons this past week to discuss what it's like to be a pro surfer. Enjoy!

Being a professional surfer is a very time consuming career between Surf Contests, Trips, Photoshoots and other commitments. How do you balance your career and social life? Do you find that many of your good friends are on the World Tour since you travel around the world together?

It is a pretty crazy, fast moving lifestyle. I feel right at home having such a busy schedule as I have always been naturally active and trying to do a million things in one day. I love that Surfing provides that holistic lifestyle..I'm able to feed my competitive hunger and work hard to clinch a World Title and on the other hand I can do trips and lifestyle shoots with my sponsors. Adventuring around the world looking for that next best wave. I've made great friends World wide doing what I do and it is an awesome feeling to be able to stop over in a different country and have a good friend to go surf with.

What is the best thing you have ever bought with the money you have won at a surf contest?

When I won my first pro junior event I went halves with my oldest brother and bought a Jet ski. It was so much fun to go towing with my brothers around Gerroa but we sank it so many times in the surf eventually we had to sell it as it was costing too much money.

The US Open of Surfing is one of the biggest surf contests every year, in terms of the amount of people who come to watch all the action in Huntington Beach, CA. What is it like being a surfer in the contest at such a large event? Is it harder to focus? Do you get fewer warmup waves in the morning cause the lines are already crowded before the sun comes up?

The Line ups are always super crowded around any World Tour event, which definitely makes it difficult to practice. But you get use to it and it makes you hungrier to get your share of waves. Competing at an event like the US Open is one of the most exciting feelings. It's the closest we get to competing in a stadium, just with the way the crowd runs right along the beach and then out along the iconic Huntington Pier. It creates an awesome atmosphere and it was incredible to win the event in 2011, it felt like I crowd surfed all the way back to the podium there were that many people watching the final.

What is it like to be a role model and inspiration to so many young girls who see what you have accomplished so far and want to become a professional surfer as well?

It is hard for me to see myself as that role model for aspiring young girls, as I still feel like a young grom myself. I do take a lot of pride in the decisions I make in life and I give everything 100% of my time and effort. I like to promote a really Happy healthy lifestyle and that being active and exercising puts you in such a creative mindset to tackle any of life's challenges.

This year the Men's World Tour has 3 more events than the Women's World Tour. Do you hope that they add more events for the women in or do you feel like 7 events is a good length?

I definitely feel the Women's World Tour needs a few more events in some amazing locations for waves. The Tour is at it's strongest it's ever been Talent wise and I believe we all deserve those great platforms to keep improving our surfing and pushing the performance level through the roof. I think the sport is going to keep growing and pushing more and more into that mainstream spotlight over the next few years. Who knows wave pool surfing might bring the sport inland and showcase it to the rest of the world.

ONE SHOT | An Image and An Attitude

2013-05-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

CLIF Builder’s MAX

2013-05-13T06:55:00.000-07:00

Being a very busy guy, I rarely have time to grab something to eat in-between stops. Cliff Bar does it right with these new MAX bars and new flavors of delight. These flavors are robust with taste that are not only excellent to the tongue, but satisfy my stomach as well as they contain 30g of protein. The mint chip is unreal, very flavorful and unlike any protein bar out on the market. The caramel peanut was my favorite; rich in flavor and very fully developed in the caramel department. Well done, Cliff Bar, well done.

Review by Zach Zeiger

Original Waterman Board Shorts

2013-05-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

I spent most of my early days wearing Original Waterman Ultimate Lifeguard Trunks during my Junior Lifeguard days. From surfing to pier jumps; I did everything in them. I generally wore them for 8+ hours a day and absolutely loved how comfortable they were. Not to mention how quickly they dry.

They are also the perfect length for running and working out which I like as I often spend many summer days training at the beach. Its why lifeguards and watermen rave about these shorts day in and day out.

The Original Waterman Ultimate Trunks retail for $48 and come in a variety of sizes and color variations that you can choose from. Check them out today! They are well worth the money and are an essential piece of my summer gear!

Wave House | San Diego, California

2013-05-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Clik Elite Camera Bags Review

2013-05-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Click Elite is a company that is focused on providing photographers with gear that fits an action packed lifestyle. Click Elite has camera backpacks and bags that cater to all types of photographers from simple slim packs to advanced professional backpacks for the traveling photographer. This company makes some amazing camera bags that help photographers move around with there camera gear safely and with style without having to worry about over their bag break or wear out. Below are three of our favorite Clik Elite Camera Bags!

The Tropfen Click Elite Backpack is a great slim backpack. I really like it because of is low profile appeal and simplistic style. The camera backpack fits small DSLR’s and a medium zoom lens. It also has a cool pouch that can fit an iPad perfectly. This backpack is awesome to use for trips to the beach or touring around the town with it's versatile design. The best part is that it doesn’t even look like it holds a camera which is a plus when your traveling and concerned that someone might try to steal your camera. It also has tripod holder on the back, a rad feature not found in many small camera backpacks. Rain or shine this backpack with hold up because it comes with a tuck away rain fly, which is perfect for surf expeditions to wet tropical locations.

The 4/3rd Elemental is one of Clik Elite's most popular bags. This bag is built for looking for a small light weight bag that stil holds plenty of gear. There is plenty of space in the bag for an additional lens or battery pack which makes it perfect for surf and wedding photographers. The bag goes over the left shoulder and sits very comfortably on the left side. There is a nice pouch that fits an iPad nice and snug in order to protect it. The bag also has a nice metal handle that is comfortable to hold onto if the bag is not over the shoulder. I love that this bag because it has so many pockets to store all my extra gear. Being able to grab my camera quickly is another awesome feature because when I’m using this bag, I know I won’t miss a shot.

The Elemental is a lightweight camera bag which retails for $111.00. This camera bag also goes over the chest just like the 4/3's model. It is built to carry small cameras and maybe one additional lens as well as an iPad or Kindle. This bag, like all of the other click elite camera bags, has pockets to hold lens caps, memory cards and other accessoires to keep the pack very organized. The iPhone holder on the shoulder strap is another plus. This camera bag is a perfect solution to travel both safely and stylishly!

Surf Photography often entails hiking into remote areas to escape the crowds and score the best waves. This entails carrying all of your equipment which can be quite taxing if you aren't well prepared with the right camera bags. Thats why we love Clik Elite and all of their camera bags, as they make carrying all of our gear super easy!

Episode 6 | The Smell of Summer Recap

2013-05-04T17:38:00.001-07:00

Solution to Run :: Andy Davis
Oak Street :: Laguna Beach, California
Surfing in Laguna Beach, California
Billabong Girls Swimwear Lookbook
My Dead Body :: Lowly Spects
Riding Bikes in Newport Beach, California
Summer Duffel Bag :: Herschel Supply Co.
Scrap Surf
Music on my iPad
OC Polo Club
Sacred Streets :: Jason Leith

Jack Threads Photoshoot | Behind The Scenes

2013-05-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Surfing in Portugal

2013-05-03T06:00:00.001-07:00

DOSH Wallets | Australia

2013-04-30T14:20:00.001-07:00

A good wallet is like a magic surfboard; they are out there but hard to find. Ever since I saw DOSH Wallets I was a fan. They have a minimalist flair that is unmatched by any other brand. In addition, they are still functional and include all the functions that a wallet should have. What more could you ask for?

And boy do they catch peoples attention. It seems like people are always asking me about it or telling me how cool it is. In which I promptly tell them it's straight from Australia which makes it 10x cooler. Why? I don't know, maybe cause they have rad accents!

Okay, back to the wallets. DOSH wallets are in the $45-$75 range which is quite reasonable for a wallet which looks great and will last quite a long type. If you want to get away from a boring, fat leather wallet, then check out DOSH wallets today!

Jake Fawcett | West Coast

2013-04-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Interview with Fernando Azpeitia | Aerial Surf Videographer

2013-04-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Fernando Azpeitia is a videographer that captures surfing and scenery from a very distinct and rare vantage point. This had led to his recent success and popularity among those in the surfing community. We recently did a quick interview with Fernando Lopez, check it out below!

Where did your inspiration come for making these videos?
I have always been adventurous. Always wanting to see unique things, and be in places few can. Maybe that is why I love surfing, hiking and flying as much as I do. Nature's beauty is pretty much infinite. I want, through my videos, to bring that majestic beauty to everybody, let them see things from an angle they could never imagine before (as no real aircraft can capture things with such control and proximity as this kind of gear can) -

What has been the reaction of those at the beach while you are filming?
Mainly, very positive. Curiosity and surprise is the main reaction. Some people feel fascinated and pray I have a camera installed on that airplane. They get a big smile when I tell them I do :). Unfortunately (although rarely), an individual will get agitated about such activity, mainly based on lack of understanding or fear an accident might occur. Obviously, safety is the first thing I strive for during these videos, and as soon as I explain what I do and show how, even these individuals seem to come to terms. It is worth noting that the platform I use is extremely light and harmless to people around.

If you could film any wave/beach in the world, which would it be?
So many, but I know I will film one day Teahupoo. Can you imagine getting virtually into that barrel, flying through it? It can, and will be done. Locally, I want to organize a trip to Cortez bank, here in CA and film the site when it goes off, from the boat (it can be done, as well).

What has the reaction been to those who have seen your videos?
Incredibly positive. I am actually humbled by how hundreds of people show the same feelings while watching my videos as I get while filming and editing them. I initially envisioned this aerial filming to be a private activity to be shared with my inner circle of family and friends. However, it has quickly become quite known out there, which motivates even more to keep doing so, and with higher quality/edge standards. I want to travel to so many places and show things in a way that they never been seen before. The best projects are still to come :).

Salad Days | Jacob Vanderwork

2013-04-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

Gorilla Surf Traction Pads

2013-04-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

I recently picked up a new board and thought it would be nice to have a shortboard without a traction pad on it. However, after surfing it a couple times I realized I had to have a tailpad. So I reached out to my friends over at Gorilla Surf and had them send a couple of their tailpads my way.

I couldn't be happier as Gorilla Surf Traction Pads are extremely durable and look great after being applied to a surfboard. Their surf team consists of some of the worlds best surfers including Wilko, Gabriel Medina and Mitch Crews. Did I mention they have a 6 month adhesive warranty for their traction pads? I went with a all black tail pad as my board is solid white and I really like a clean contrast of colors. It was easy to apply to the board and I couldn't be happier.

Check out Gorilla Surf Traction Pads today!

Holes In The Map

2013-04-25T06:00:00.001-07:00

Eidon Surf Apparel

2013-04-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

Edion Surf Apparel is one of the newest brands to enter the surf industry and recently launched their first collection in 2013. I am a big fan and absolutely love their clothes. Eidon exemplifies a brand which embraces traveling and adventure; something which resonates well with surfers like you and I.

My favorite thing about Eidon Surf is their boardshorts, one of which is pictures below. They have the perfect amount of stretch in them for surfing, while also being very comfortable to wear. They will definetnly be a key part of my closet during the upcoming summer!

Check out Eidon Surf's newest collection today!

Surf Capsule | Billabong Girls

2013-04-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Jordy Smith wins X-Games Gold Medal

2013-04-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Jordy Smith who won the X-Games Gold medal of surfing with a fantastic short film that included high performance surfing and radical maneuvers that really stood out among his competition.

Free Clothing Co.

2013-04-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I have another favorite clothing brand which happens to be Free Clothing Co. It is run by two guys, Tim and Joel who are very talented artists. Their collection includes a vast array of T-Shirts that are very unique and include some fantastic artwork that really caught my eye. They also sell a really rad wooden iPhone case that I really like. If you are looking to add some unique pieces of clothing to your closet then you have to check out Free Clothing Co.

We will also be doing a photoshoot with some clothes from Free Clothing Co, which will be published on The Smell of Summer in the coming weeks :)

Zipline Catapult

2013-04-20T06:00:00.000-07:00