Posts Tagged ‘surf culture’

Vintage Surf Meet

Sunday 26th June 2011 sees the Vintage Surf Meet taking place in the car park above Lusty Glaze beach in Newquay. This looks like a fascinating happening for any one interested in vintage surfboards. The event starts at 09:30 wrapping up at 12:00.

The wonderful event poster was designed by Nick Radford. More of Nick’s work can be seen at his frootful website; http://frootful.co.uk/

More event info at – http://vintagesurfboardcollectoruk.blogspot.com/ & Lusty Glaze details – http://lustyglaze.co.uk/

 

Gidget – America’s Mermaid

This week on the website truthdig.com a great article by Deanne Stillman entitled ‘America’s Mermaid’ was posted – http://www.truthdig.com/report/page3/americas_mermaid_20110524/.  It is a reminder of a key piece of surf history; the story of Gidget and the role that both the book and the hit movie played in exposing thousands of people to surfing and surf culture.

In 1956 Kathy Kohner (Kohner-Zuckerman since 1964) started surfing.  She was only 15 but hung out with surfers such as Miki Dora, Mike Doyle and Micky Munoz.  The surfers at Malibu gave her the nickname “Gidget” (girl plus midget and you get Gidget).  Her father Frederick, a Hollywood screenwriter wrote the novel Gidget in 1957 and a hit movie version was released in 1959.

16 Year old surfer Kathy “Gidget” Kohner, Malibu, circa 1957

As Matt Warshaw puts it in his History of Surfing; “Kathy “Gidget” Kohner went from an unknown fifteen-year-old Malibu mascot to the subject of a hit movie, which in turn put an entire generation of new surfers in the water – most of whom decided to hate Gidget as a surf-Eden destroyer until they later came to love it as a memento of their beachgoing youth.”

Kathy Kohner-Zuckerman aka Gidget

In Deanne Stillman’s article she writes “The great Kahoona,” the Gidget character says in the novella, “showed me the first time how to get on my knees, to push the shoulders up and slide the body back—to spring to your feet quickly, putting them a foot apart and under you in one motion. That’s quite tricky. But then, surf-riding is not playing Monopoly, and the more I got the knack of it, the more I was crazy about it and the more I was crazy about it, the harder I worked at it.” This is one of the best descriptions of surfing I have come across …”

The topic of Gidget is interesting for followers of surf culture on many levels, not least how – in such a macho world as surfing – did a short female surfer become so popular?


Gidget – The novel

Further reading; The Washing Post.  September 2005; In Malibu, Gidget’s Up – http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/16/AR2005091600693.html

Kevin Cooper – sleepless ink

While dining at a local beach restaurant recently we were drawn to the art work of Kevin Cooper hanging on display. We were struck by the way he uses and composes images to visually communicate the surfing experience. In fact we were so impressed we got in touch with Kevin and now have one of his stunning prints on our wall. In addition to his art work and illustrations, Kevin is a photographer and a surfboard graphic artist.

We are very proud to have a number of Kevin’s photographs on our website’s home page.




Kevin’s work can be seen at;
http://sleeplessink.blogspot.com/
http://boardgraphics.blogspot.com/
http://www.outerink.blogspot.com/

The Surfer – a short film

A short film about an obsession many of us will be familiar with… Shot as a documentary style comedy we follow ‘Michael’ a 41 year old accountant from the Midlands who takes up surfing in response to a mid-life crisis.

The Surfer was written and directed by Dominic Coleman.  Dominic also plays the lead role of ‘Michael’.  The film was created as part of the 2008-2009 Digishorts production scheme with support from Screen West Midlands and The UK film Council.

From The Surfers Path website March 2011;  “A comedian and actor by trade, Coleman explains that creating this cringe-making character, wasn’t actually that difficult for him:  I started surfing about five years ago and as a landlocked, middle-aged weekend warrior I didn’t have to look too far for inspiration for the character of ‘Michael’.

My family all appear playing themselves, again they didn’t have to do too much acting! I also pulled in a few favours from friends like Adrian at Fluid Juice and a few Bantham (Sth Devon) locals who all gave up a bit of time to help out.

The inspiration for the character did actually come from a guy I met at Bantham. His wife and young daughter were lugging his SUP across the car park as he was chatting boards with another sweeper. He had a brand new T5 that he’d converted. I just thought he was a very funny guy and one of the ‘new’ breed of mid-life escapists who’d been drawn to the sea. (Again much like myself I have to add.)

Since I had the opportunity, and some money from the film council, I thought I’d like to make a film about something I love. My background, work-wise, is predominantly tv comedy so I just set out trying to find a way to marry the two together.”

http://www.screenwm.co.uk

From the news wires… Random Happenings.

This week’s random happenings; a collection of news items that caught our attention.

Most mornings prior to going off to the day job, over a cup of coffee I tweet about surfing or travel news items that I hope are of interest to those who follow inkydeep.  Here’s a few of this week’s random happenings:

Surf stoke… no matter where you surf
From some of the images and videos shot of surfing the great lakes of North America you would not initially know that those surfers were not in the ocean. Their surf experience is no less valid than those who are lucky enough to surf ocean waves. Watch any video of those who surf the great lakes and one thing always come across… they are stoked to surf!

From wdio.com; “A lot of people think we’re crazy because we have to paddle for 45 minutes to get a ten second ride, but there’s something about harnessing the energy of the lake, and you know these waves are generated by mother nature,” Isaacson said. “When you do actually make that connection with the wave, it’s really an elating feeling.”

Lake Superior Surfing – http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S2095041.shtml?cat=10348

Be sure to watch the video report.

Oh, Kahuna, What Became of That Endless Summer?
California and the end of the beach movie… An interesting comparison by the New York Times of the golden era of California and the rise and fall of the surf beach movie.

Picture: NYT & Photofest. The Endless Summer.

From The New York Times; “Although the ocean’s waves are cyclic, recurring, endless, and summers, when they’re over, always come back again in another year, Golden Ages somehow never do, except in the eternal, pounding breakers of the imagination. California may never be what it once was, or mean what it once meant. But wouldn’t it be nice?”

Oh, Kahuna, What Became of That Endless Summer? – http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/movies/california-and-the-end-of-beach-movies.html

No paddling required
Its quite likely that the new powered WaveJet surfboard is going to raise heckles in the surf line up and the users will no doubt get the old stink eye. You cannot but help think of the positive applications and use of such a surfboard, for example, those who may not be able to paddle into waves.

Picture: Chuck Kirkman & The Star. The motorised surfboard.

vcstar.com reports; “Walden, who has been shaping boards for decades, has been making sure the board still feels and rides like a regular board. Though the board has to be 3 inches thick where the motor is located — under where a surfer would plant his or her back foot — the rest of it is just like a normal board. Walden said he’ll have boards from 7 feet and up for sale.”

Motorized surfboard hits the wave – http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/may/01/motorized-surfboard-hits-the-wave/

The excitement of surf travel…
Whether going on a local surfari or preparing to fly off to some warm surf destination there is the excitement of the trip ahead and the anticipation of the waves to be surfed.  A recent article on the Imperial Beach Patch website evokes all those emotions…

Photo: Serge Dedina & Imperial Beach Patch. The Hollister Ranch.

From imperialbeachpatch.com; “Our first stop along the way was Trestles. Our session at Lowers proved why Surfline recently called it one of Southern California’s “most rippable summertime attractions.” The mid-morning crowd at Lower’s was manageable, the water was in the low 60s and the southern hemisphere swell provided great 3- to 5-foot rippable walls.”

Up the PCH – http://imperialbeach.patch.com/articles/up-the-pch#photo-5913329

Post surf munchies… I think I need to go to Pipe’s Café for a breakfast burrito…

The Littoral Drifter…

We met the artist Ben Cook in January of this year at the Cornwall Surfing Style exhibition at the Trelissick Gallery (located in the grounds of Trelissick Gardens), where he was exhibiting a small selection of his work. Ben’s unique take and representation of the surfing experience is really impressive. His work includes pencil drawings of surfing landscapes, multimedia pieces comprised of everyday surfing equipment and printed textiles.

The Dance (after Matisse)

An exhibition of Ben’s work can currently be seen at the Hatton Gallery, Newcastle University. The solo show is titled, Ben Cook: Littoral Drifter, and the exhibition runs through March to the 21 May 2011 – http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/hatton/thingstoseeanddo/exhibition/2011/03/03/ben-cook-littoral-drifter/.

From the Hatton Gallery; “Ben Cook is a prolific artist at the forefront of the surf art movement; creating multi-media artworks using materials associated with surfing (such as surf wax and fibreglass) he challenges stereotypes and provides an alternative view of coastal landscapes.

Ben Cook: Littoral Drifter is a solo show which includes newly commissioned pencil drawings of approaches to North East surf spots, part of the artist’s ongoing Surfing Landscapes project.”

Website: http://www.bencookartist.co.uk/
Blog: http://bencookartist.tumblr.com/
Buy: http://www.bencooksurfart.co.uk

The Toxic paradox

The Surf Art of Melanie McDonald

From the ‘things we like’ department comes the art of Mel McDonald.  Mel’s paintings of surfers and of Cornwall evoke memories of experiences, familiar sights and summers past.  They remind us that spring and summer sunshine follow on from a cold grey winter.  There is also the intrigue of places to be visited and surfed… a semi secret spot on the North Cornwall coast.

 Many of her surf paintings radiate sunshine and remind me of the heat of summer, a warmer ocean and the view of the beach and sea through sunglasses; paintings that make you feel good and for a surfer the desire to grab your board and get in the water

You can check out Mel’s art and website here - http://www.melaniemcdonald.co.uk/.  Enjoy.

 Breakers and Surfers, Constantine Bay, Cornwall.  Oil & acrylic on contemporary block canvas.

 Surf Scene, Polzeath, Cornwall. Oil and Acrylic on Block Canvas.

 Surf, Cornwall. Oil and Acrylic on Block Canvas.

Cornwall Surfing Style

The Cornwall Surfing Style exhibition opened today at the Trelissick Gallery located in the grounds of the National Trust’s Trelissick Gardens and park.  This was our first visit to Trelissick and what a wonderful park and garden it is.  Perched on the edge of the Fal Estuary it overlooks the King Harry ferry crossing and the river Fal.  The hint of the arrival of spring was evident in many of the trees and bushes.

It was a pleasure to spend time looking over the small selection of historic surfing items belonging to the Museum of British Surfing.  We particularly enjoyed chatting to the artist Ben Cook about his surfing landscapes and publications.  The wooden board building skills of James Otter are much to be admired; his hollow construction wooden surfboards are beautiful solid functional surf craft – a credit to his craftsmanship.

More info on Ben Cook and his art can be found on his website – http://www.bencookartist.co.uk/
The Otter Surfboards website – http://www.ottersurfboards.co.uk/
Trelissick Gardens – http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-trelissickgarden

Trelissick Gallery opening 2011 Cornwall Surfing Style

Saturday 29 January sees Cornwall Surfing Style opening the season at the Trelissick Gallery, organised by Cornwall Crafts Association in collaboration with The National Trust Trelissick.

Alongside the hand-crafted wooden surfboards and furniture of artisan James Otter, the Museum of British Surfing will be displaying a small selection of historic wooden surfboards from over the last 100 years.  Beachwear and other items from its collection along with their 60′s VW combi van will also be displayed.  Surf artist Ben Cook will also be there book signing.

The gallery is in the grounds of the National Trust’s Trelissick Gardens and park. Sounds like a cool way to spend a few hours.

http://www.museumofbritishsurfing.org.uk/2011/01/24/cornwall-surfing-style/
http://www.cornwallcrafts.co.uk/
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-trelissickgarden

No love?

“Why does the world’s greatest surfer get no love?” – Interesting and insightful article about Kelly Slater and surfing on slate.com – “You Should worship Kelly Slater”