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Ask anyone who was a grom in the 80s and 90s and they'll confirm Aaron Chang's Surfing Magazine images adorned their walls growing up. Semi-eternal Surfer magazine photo editor Jeff Divine once referred to Chang as the best surf photographer in the world. He was forced to swim laps around Waimea Bay on a 20-30-foot day. Legend? Yes the term is thrown around lightly these days, but Aaron Chang has truly earned the title. Aaron Chang has travelled to the far ends of the earth as a world-renowned surf and ocean photographer. His list of professional accomplishments and accolades are impressive. Yet his heart for God, family, and surfing are what we love most about Aaron. Aaron says, “It’s difficult as a parent to find activities that are Christ centered that get the balance between activity, fellowship and teaching right. To reach young kids, and particularly young men, this balance is critical to the fostering a sustainable, and real, relationship with Jesus. The Walking on Water (WOW) team understands this balance and therefore plays a significant role in shaping the character of the participants.” The surf camps have made a big difference to Aaron’s son, Saxon. “My son has found a group of friends and mentors through WOW that he enjoys being with. Through his involvement with WOW Saxon has found acceptance and recently participated in the Surf Marathon fundraiser through which he experienced the joy of working as a team to achieve a goal; a goal with a bigger purpose than himself.”
In the Surf Marathon, Saxon paddled well on his leg of the paddle. He also exceeded his fundraising goal by nearly 100%, and was awarded for catching the longest wave of the day. When asked how God has worked through the sport of surfing to impact his life, Aaron replied: “Big question. Do you have a few days to discuss this? God has provided me with an opportunity to share the beauty of his creation through my photography. I am a photographer because I am a surfer.” Finally, we asked Aaron to offer a word to all of the up and coming surf photographers out there. This is what he said: “God has a plan for you. Remain faithful, work as though your life depends on your photographs, be original, and always be thankful for opportunities regardless how small they might be.” To see more of Aaron's photography visit aaronchang.com to find out more about Walking on Water visit walkingonwater.com Source: Walking on Water
Surfing has been officially confirmed as an Olympic sport. The 2020 Olympics will be held in Japan, in real waves, far from the dirty waters or Rio – hopefully at one of their perfect river mouth breaks during the peak of a Typhoon swell. Opinion is divided within the surfing community (when is it not?) about the merits of our sport's inclusion. We caught up with ISA President Fernando Aguerre, the co-founder of Reef, for this exclusive interview on the day he realized his Olympic dream. Surfing is officially confirmed as an Olympic sport. Huge congratulations. You must feel a great deal of personal and profess ional satisfaction? It has truly been an amazing journey for me and the countless people that came along the way supporting the cause. I almost f eel as though I have spent my whole life working towards this moment. Most importantly, it was a huge milestone for our sport and fo r the global surfing family. We are thrilled to have realized the Olympic dream. We are stoked for the millions of surfers around t he world who will be able to chase their own Olympic dreams. We gather the waves will be real and salty rather than artificial? Have you got any particular waves /areas in mind? The IOC has confirmed that the surfing competition will take place on natural waves and we are very pleased with this decisio n. Japan has plenty of exposed coastline that receives quality waves. We are in the process of analyzing the best options to choose th e perfect venue location that will allow for the surfers to display their talent in quality waves. How do you think it will work with surfing's anti establishment image? There has been a lot of noise about snowboarding becoming 'gymnastics on snow' since its inclusion. Do you think that perhaps keeping it in the ocean will keep surfing: surfing? I have spoken personally with many of the top surfers in the world from varying cultural backgrounds and they all are super excited about the idea of representing their countries in the Olympics. Gabriel Medina, Johanne Defay, Ace Buchan, Filipe Toledo and Tatiana Weston-Webb, to name a few, have all expressed their support of Olympic surfing. I feel great about the support that we have received from the top athletes and international surf community as a whole. Congratulations again and is there anything else you would like to add? This process has been an amazing opportunity for us to advocate and promote our sport, culture and lifestyle, in a world (Olympics) that may not have had a full understanding of the unique value and appeal that we could bring. Thanks to the new, forward thinking leadership of the IOC who have been promoting change and openness to innovation in the last few years, we have had this incredible opportunity to explain and illustrate our sport on the world’s great sporting stage. This is an extraordinary time of renewal and change in the Olympic Movement and we are fortunate to be in a position where there is now a better understanding of the value of surfing. We are convinced the surfing community has also understood that this is a great opportunity. Source: Magicseaweed.com
Name: Bree Smith Age: I'm 10 years old, and born on Valentine's Day Hometown: My hometown is Merritt Island, but I spend a lot of time in Cocoa Beach. Nickname: Actually my real name is Brianne, but everyone knows me by Bree. Favorite (local) surf spot: My favorite surf spot is 2nd Light, but I also like Ponce and NSB. Sponsors: My biggest sponsor is my parents, and my other sponsors are Cobian, Bubble Gum Surf Wax, Janga Wetsuits, Surfscreen Organics, Hang Ten Kids Sunglasses, Sharkbanz, and Evervolve USA Apparel. What kind / size board are your currently riding: I ride Gordzilla Shapes and I ride a 4'5" round tail, squash tail, and grov board. Favorite place to eat breakfast: My favorite place to eat breakfast is Surfinista in Cocoa Beach, and I always get the Acai Bowls. Do you have any phobias: I have a few phobias, even though we don't have crocodiles in Florida I still think about them and they are my biggest fear. Then alligators, and after alligators, I'm scared of sharks. Favorite movie: I have a new favorite movie, and it is Miracles From Heaven, but original favorite movie is Soul Surfer. How old were you when you started surfing: I started surfing when I was 6 years old, on a foamy surfboard. After I watched Soul Surfer, it inspired me want to start surfing. Local hero: My local hero is 4 Time World Champion, Frieda Zamba. She's very nice and I love her riding style. What do you like on your pizza: Most kids like pizza, but I'm not one of them. I'm more of a chicken nugget kid. Who do you like to surf with: I like to surf with everyone, until they drop in on me, lol. What do you do when it is flat: When the surf is flat, you can find me in the pool or on a skateboard. Do you have any pets: I have 3 dogs, Gigi, Dora, and Coco. Gigi and Dora is a Yorkie-Poo, and Coco is a Miniature Labradoodle. Favorite cartoon: My favorite cartoon is Sponge Bob Square Pants. Recommended reading: I recommend anyone to read the Bethany Hamilton books. Dream surf vacation: My dream surf vacation is Costa Rica again. I went there this summer and had a blast, I want to go back soon. There are other spots like Australia and Hawaii I'd like to surf some time soon too. What music is on your playlist right now: I don't listen to too much music, I do like Demi Lovato, but my favorite song is Power In The Name of Jesus. Favorite sport other than surfing: If I'm not surfing, my next favorite sport is skateboarding. What local surfers do you look up to: We have so many good local surfers that I look up to. I look up to Kelly Slater, Todd Holland, Randy Nolan, Adam Wickwire, Lauren McLean, and Frieda Zamba. Favorite pro surfer: My favorite pro surfer Sally Fitzgibbons and John John Florence. Who has influenced your life the most: Who has influenced my life the most is a hard one. I have so many people who support me and lookout for me, and I'm thankful to all of them. Jesus is: Jesus is my comforter. When I'm out in the water and I get nervous our scared, I find myself talking to him.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him (Psalm 34:8, ESV). I’ve often heard enthusiastic preachers lead their congregations in kind of a cheer: “God is good!”—to which the people respond, “All the time!” And of course I couldn’t agree more. God is good, all the time! All the time, God is good! But sometimes we find ourselves in seasons of life when God’s goodness is hidden, when it’s either invisible to us or we’re blind to it. Let’s be honest enough to admit that those are real struggles. We’ve been in those times, and perhaps you’re in one of them right now. If you’re in such a season and can’t bring yourself to shout “hallelujah,” you don’t need to feel bad about it. I would never want to lay a guilt trip on someone for not feeling like shouting hallelujah at that moment.
“THE GOODNESS OF GOD IS THE SOIL THAT FAITH GROWS IN.” But if we’re to walk in faith—if we’re to be people who truly live by faith—we must believe God is good even at times when we can’t see anything tangible pointing to it or giving evidence of it. Faith is believing the Word of God and acting upon it, no matter how we feel, because God promises a good result. If you don’t keep believing that God is good, even when little on your radar seems to be confirming it, you will not be able to live by faith. The goodness of God is the soil that faith grows in. If you, as His son or daughter, allow yourself to be confused by what you sometimes feel, not fully trusting His goodhearted disposition toward you—if you doubt that His intent toward you is to bless and help and hear and heal—you will not be able to live by faith. Instead, here’s what you may be tempted to do during times when you don’t feel His goodness: you may wonder whether you should take care of things yourself. You might be inclined to conclude what you suspected all along—If I want good things to happen, I’d better go out there and get them, because God sure isn’t guaranteed to do it . . . because He’s not good “all the time.” And that’s just not true. He has promised us good, based upon His own goodness. God is good, He’s always been good, and He’ll always be good. Check out how consistently this is established in Scripture: “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). In every situation, even in our darkest situations, we “give thanks to the LORD, for He is good” (Psalm 136:1). In fact, “No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18). Now I’m hoping that this is one of those times when you can immediately point to a visible piece of proof—right there!—that tells you how good your God is. But if this is simply not one of those days, do not despair at what your eyes and ears are withholding from you. Rely on what you know is true, even when you don’t feel it. In faith—even now, even here—you can “taste and see that the LORD is good!” Source: www.jamesmacdonald.com
October 7 - 9 ASF Championships @ Sebastian Inlet
October 15 - 16 3rd Annual Salty Sweet Woman’s Pro / Am @ Cocoa Beach
October 22 Gnarly Charley Championships @ Paradise Park
October 22 ESA #5 @ Spessard Holland
November 5-6 17th Annual Tommy Tant Surf Classic @ Flagler Pier
November 12 - 13 ASF @ Spessard Holland
November 19 ESA #6 at Lori Wilson
December 3 - 4 ASF @ Paradise Park
December 19 ESA #7 @ Paradise Park
December 24 Surfing Santas 8:00 am sharp @ Cocoa Beach Pier
You see faith is more than just believing in God. That’s part of it, but the true definition of faith is believing the Word of God and acting on it, no matter how you feel, because God promises a good result! Hebrews 11:1 tells us: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Faith dares to stand on the truth of God’s Word and allows Him to do what you can’t do on your own. You may not be able to restore that relationship, but God can! You might not know how to solve that problem, but God does! Faith has been such an important part of my life and ministry, and I believe it can be for you, too.
Bianca Buitendag was, as she puts it, born into surfing. Growing up near Cape Town, on the southern tip of South Africa, when she was 12 her family moved four hours up the coast, to the beach town of Victoria Bay. The water was always part of the family DNA: They would go to the beach together, exploring rock pools and building sand castles until the children learned to swim. Later, her brothers would push her into waves and they would paddle out together. Today, the goofyfooter is ranked No. 10 on the women's Championship Tour and is one of the lethal weapons of the CT. Despite this success, she's had her share of setbacks. She lost her father last year, and surfed through it, to finish at her career-best at World No. 4. But as she makes her way through another season, she took time to reflect on where's she's been, and how she made it through a difficult time for an upcoming WSL video profile. Below is a preview of her very personal interview. On Her Culture I grew up speaking Afrikaans. I actually couldn't speak a word of English when I went to school. My parents decided to put me in an English school, so that was interesting. The first year of school I hated -- I'm very grateful though that they did that. When you're travelling speaking Afrikaans won't take you very far. But I'm still proud of where I came from and the culture I still try to portray. I think people have a very wrong perception of Africa, never mind South Africa. I find it quite funny. I feel like the international media really does [portray it] as dangerous. And the whole poverty mentality -- I feel like Africa is one of the richest places in the world. Might not be monetarily, but definitely in culture. Obviously the big cities, Johannesburg and Durban there's a lot of areas you should stay away from but I've been there for 22 years now and I don't plan on going anywhere else. On Her First Big Win My first big event that I won was the world juniors in Narrabeen. I was 17 at that point. We were just discussing whether I was going to surf or study after school. My parents really emphasized the importance of academics and education ever since a young age. I would always have that as a priority and surfing just as a bonus. I thought surfing was very stimulating but intellectually I felt quite numb if I had to surf continuously. I'd go on a trip for two weeks, pack school books in the airport and just grind on the plane. Come back and have tutors from dawn to dusk. If we didn't come back with straight A's my parents would be a bit disappointed in me and my brothers. Very performance-driven household. On Her Friendship with Johanne Defay The first year of the QS was intense but it was also the first year I didn't have to do school so I took a year just to surf. And I travelled with Johanne [Defay] and [Roxy coach] Mathias Maallem. It was us against the world, it felt like. I came from this quiet town in South Africa without much experience and Johanne came from Reunion Island and we set out with great ambition to make this thing a reality. We worked really hard. That was the first time I was exposed to Johanne's determination, her strength, her character, her training. I was inspired by that as well as encouraged by Mathias. I think that team really invested a lot into my career. I only made one round in seven months and then I won two QS's at the end of the year. On Losing Her Father I don't think you deal with what happens. I think it deals with you. I don't think you necessarily ever overcome a tragedy. I think it changes a lot of your youth, a lot of how you see the world, a lot of what you depend on. You become less selfish. It changes you but you never overcome it. That's where God comes in. I'll tell you the truth. Some days I couldn't get out of bed. I was really in a deep, dark place. And you're angry with God and you're angry with things. You don't want to be surfing a contest. You get that whole questioning thing. But I'm telling you without God's grace, I would not be sitting here right now.
Who We Are FLOW is open to everyone; men, women, youth, boys, girls and families who desire to share God’s love through their actions towards surfers. We are an outreach where we care for surfers at the beach, at surf contests and at special events. Although we do surf and have surfers involved you do not need to be a surfer to serve God. Please take a moment to pray for our group and see if you, or any of your friends or family, feel drawn into our mission field. If you have any questions feel free to approach any of the FLOW guys or gals at the events or e-mail us at flowsurfers@yahoo.com Monthly Events We meet each month at local surf event or contest sites. We arrive early and either help the contest get set up or we help beachgoers who are carrying arms full of chairs, umbrellas and coolers. In between we surf, pass out snacks or drinks and FLOW stuff. Afterwards, we gather for a devotion and discuss upcoming events and opportunities to serve others. Our devotions are very casual and are geared for first timers to Bible scholars. All are welcome to hear God’s word and ask questions like, “What does that have to do with me?”. Special Events We try and pack up the vans and see our local sites. The wave pool in Orlando is obviously a favorite as well as our Summer FLOW Jam where we jam as many kids into two vans and travel up coast and camp our way back home while surfing as many breaks a possible. There are lots of ways to be involved just come and see.
We serve at National and Regional Contests: ASF Florida Contests, ASF Championships, NSSA Southeast Contests, NSSA East Coast Championships, Quiksilver King of the Peak, Gnarly Charley Surf Series, Walking on Water Movie Tours, Rip Curl Grom Search… Get plugged at: flowsurfers@yahoo.com www.fellowshipledonwater.com www.instagram.com/flow_surfers/ www.facebook.com/FellowshipLedOnWater
St. Petersburg, Florida - An independent peer reviewed research paper, published in the international science journal PLOS ONE has confirmed Shark Shield as an effective shark deterrent. The research was conducted over a two and half year period at a cost of $680,000, funded by the Western Australian State Government as part of its investment in Shark Hazard Mitigation, following a spate of shark attacks in 2012. The research was led by Professor Shaun Collin, Assoc. Prof Nathan Hart, and Dr. Ryan Kempster of The University of Western Australia’s Oceans Institute and the School of Animal Biology. The team also completed laboratory and field trials on other electrical shark deterrents in addition to exploring and testing novel ways to deter sharks including underwater sounds, bright flashing lights and bubbles. Collin stated, “During testing, Shark Shield successfully turned white sharks away nine out of ten times. We hope this research will ultimately lead to the development of new electric-based shark deterrent technologies in the future.” A world-renowned expert in his field, Collin has authored many scientific papers in the field including ‘Electroreception in vertebrates and invertebrates’ published in the Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior, Oxford Academic Press (2010). Lindsay Lyon, Managing Director of Shark Shield stated, “This is the third independent scientific research paper proving Shark Shield to be the only device that effectively turns sharks away. This peer-reviewed paper shows adventure sport participates can remove up to 90% of the risk in activities like diving, spearfishing, kayaking and surfing. This removes all doubt about the efficacy of Shark Shield’s proven technology.” The Company recently announced a $400K capital raising initiative to support the final manufacturing setup and inventory for its new FREEDOM+ Surf surfboard shark deterrent developed jointly with Ocean & Earth and 2 x World Surfing Champion Tom Carroll. In 2012, Dr Charlie Huveneers from the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and Flinders University tested the effectiveness of Shark Shield. Part of this independent scientific testing used a seal decoy off the coast of South Africa, with white sharks seen to visibly abort shark attack charges with no surface breach observed with the Shark Shield device turned on. Dr. Vic Peddemors, a renowned shark scientist who has been working with sharks since 1987, was involved in statistical testing of Shark Shield’s effectiveness back in 2003, also in South Africa on white sharks. During this testing it was shown that by using a Shark Shield the probability of an attack was reduced from 0.70 to 0.08 with no sharks taking the bait during testing. Choice Magazine, an independent leading Australian Consumer Research organization, published their own review of shark deterrent testing in January 2016, confirming Shark Shield as the only deterrent with scientific evidence of its effectiveness. “Seat belts have been proven to save lives by reducing risk, without doubt Shark Shield products have been proven to reduce risk, so buckle up and wear one on your next adventure,” added Lyon. The design of the all new FREEDOM+ Surf is the result of collaboration with Ocean & Earth and 2 x World Surfing Champion Tom Carroll. The removable power module with LED indication for power on/off and battery life, is housed in the custom designed Ocean & Earth tail pad kicker, enabling you to move the power module easily between your boards and for recharging. The all important antenna electrodes have been designed into a sticker thin adhesive decal applied to the underside of the surfboard. With a weight of just 0.5 pounds and a near zero drag adhesive decal antenna (only 600 microns thick), there is no impact on your surfing performance. For more information log onto sharkshield.com or read the entire article on Surfersvillage.com
Name: Thomas E Cook Age: 53, Where do you live: Stuart, FL – born and raised Nickname: Mangus Sponsors: Quiet Flight, Surf Central, QUIK, MALU Eyewear, FCS, Sunbum Favorite Local Surf Spot: anywhere on the Treasure Coast Education: Bachelors of Science in Biology Service: 12 years active service and 9 years reserve, US NAVY Medic. What do you do for a living: Scientist, right now I am working in immunization research and pathology which is the science of the causes and effects of diseases. Favorite Board: Quiet Flight 5’10” Sting Fish, double wing swallow tail Best Breakfast spot: Beach Café – Hutchinson Island Favorite Surf destination: I love Pavones, Costa Rica What is your Dream Surf destination: a month in the Mentawis. Do you have any Phobias: the fear of the airlines damaging or breaking my boards when I travel. Favorite movie: MOMENTUM, Finding Nemo When did you start surfing: 11 yrs old Local legend: Charles and George Williams, they had a HUGE influence in my surfing career. Much respect, LOVE those guys. If you could have a super power, what would it be: teleportation (to be anywhere I would want to be and make that DREAM surf trip come true.) What do you do when it’s flat: If it’s flat at home, I’m quick to do a “FL road trip” to surf anywhere there might be a wave. Do you have any pets: I love animals very much but unable to have pets at this time, I work a lot and have a busy schedule. I feel when you have pets, you need to be available for their attention and needs. Recommended reading: The Bible, Surfing FL book, Joel Osteen, Who is your hero: anyone who has served in the armed forces Music playlist: my playlist variety is BIG and love all types of music – Southern California punk rock, electronic, country, reggae. Best friend is: the love of my life, Bethany Fav cartoon when you were a kid: Road Runner (beep beep), Scooby Doo Favorite Pro Surfer: Kelly Slater/CJ Hobgood – “Right Coast” Who influenced your life the most: My parents have influenced my life the most, they have molded me into the man I am today. Jesus is: My Lord and Savior. Because of Him, I strive to be a good person in and out of the water.
Home One of my favorite stories of Jesus is recorded in Mark 5. On this occasion Jesus frees a man from demon possession. That is a massive over simplification of this story. But, let's not get distracted. The man, of course, is amazed and in love with his savior and says, "you lead, I'll follow". But, Jesus' response is, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you." Fast forward to Mark 8. Jesus returns to the same area. Now 4,000 people come out to hear what HE has to say. Where did they come from? Why are they interested? Because this man went to his people and told them what God had done for him. I notice that many surfers meet Jesus and suddenly become burdened for the kids they see every year on their annual pilgrimage to some surf location, or their heart breaks for a certain cause or ministry. These are all good things and we should get involved. But, when Jesus returns to our local lineup how many will come to hear from the one that transformed our lives? I challenge you - go home (to your break and your tribe) and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you. Wanting to get involved in a local surf ministry, e-mail us there are ministries up and down the coast of Florida and maybe we can help you get plugged in. E-mail us at flowsurfers@yahoo.com
The Dot Many times Christians become super consumed with figuring out what the will of God is for their lives. A frantic search ensues, seeking the spot on the map God would have you at. It’s as if God’s will for you is within this dot and you must search until you find it. You don’t want to miss the dot. Don’t get me wrong, I do believe that God does set apart individuals for ministry and does call people to specific places for specific tasks. However, first and foremost, God is concerned with the attitude of our heart more than our actions. Meaning, He desires for us to grow into a reflection of His son Jesus Christ. His will is wrapped up Roman’s 12:1-2: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” This is only made possible as we allow God to transform us, not just in external behavior but within our minds. “Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” He is asking us to be laid down lovers walking in humility and holiness, being present in the present and sharing life with others. He provides a path for us to follow and teaches us how to live and how to love. It’s less of a specific physical location and more of a spiritual state of being. His word rings true in Isaiah 30:21 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”” He will be your spiritual compass, and whether you turn to the left or the right His voice will whisper to your soul assuring you that this is the way… walk in it. After all, early Christians were called followers of the way not followers of the dot. The Pursuit Collective is a brainchild of the Ride Nature organization and an online COLLECTIVE of art, music, stories, videos, pictures, and action sports content. http://www.thepursuitcollective.com
Who is God? Can I really believe what the Bible says? Who is Jesus? Those were the questions we asked on this years’ Summer Surf Jam. With God’s word and Pastor Shawn leading us through it, we were able to better understand what we believe and that the Bible is true.
As we go through our lives we will hear all kinds of comments about religions and that they “all lead to the same place”, “it’s all the same god so what difference does it make”, “all religion is false”… As we dug into the Bible and into history we were able to see where God speaks to man and how man reacts to His calling. Not everyone is going to follow the calling that God gives him. In some cases, they follow the directive and experience great joy. Others drift away from God and return after hardship or after realizing for one reason or another that God’s way was the right way. Others drift away and never return. As we learned about who God is, about how he leads us with his word (the Bible) and how He offers us salvation through Jesus, we were able to ask questions and better understand our role in this life. Shawn shared with us some of his darkest moments and how he continues to struggle. God was there at his darkest moment and spoke to Shawn. The holy spirit guided him into ministry and now he plants churches and points people to God every chance he gets. On top of our more moving moments we had tons of fun surfing and skating. We actually caught waves this year in New Smyrna with some fun waist high waves on our first day. We made a visit over to The Taco Surf for a quick bite and then onto New Smyrna Skate Park. The next day we surfed at the Poles in Jacksonville, ate at Angie’s and skated at the legendary Kona Skate Park. On Saturday we surfed in New Smyrna again and skated at Treaty Skate Park in Saint Augustine and then on Sunday we hit NSB one last time and headed home. The boys were tired and the dads were tired but we cannot wait until next year.
A special thank you to John Pingston at Pingston Electric in Brevard County and Dave Milton with Indian River Project Management in Indian River County for your generous financial support to our ministry. This trip could not have happened without you. Check them out at www.pingstonelectric.com & www.contractorverobeach.com
The Tail The Tail Finally, rounding out the end of the article, and the board, is the tail of your surfboard. As with everything else, the exact size, shape and volume of the tail is essentially endless. But let’s look at some of the basic fundamentals shapers will follow in most tails. Wider tails offer more stability and float, and will give you a faster planing speed. Narrower tails are going to make rolling from rail to rail a little easier, and can also help with your hold on a steeper faced wave. A tail that has rounder angles or no angles, is going to help you ‘hold’ the water for a little longer. This will translate into more control of the board. When you get harder angles in the tail, more water will “release” and give you a looser, more snappy feel to the board. A rounder tail is better for a more open face wave with a little more size and carving potential. In more punchy, shorter waves, a harder angled tail will help you get as many snaps as possible. Basically there are around 5 or 6 major tail categories with an unlimited amount of variations in each, with some being blended together. The main surfboard tail types are the squash tail, the square tail, the pin tail, the round tail, the swallow tail and the asymmetric tail. The squash tail is the most common found on surfboards. With a more square back end with rounded corners, you get the snappy feel of a hard-cornered square tail blended with a little more hold and release of water. They also give you that extra width which helps with slower sections of the wave. A square tail is similar in principle but with harder corners giving you a skatier feel with extra release. Great for down the line speed in smaller conditions, the hard corners act as a pivot point for turning the board. The square tail is a more traditional tail type that is less common these days as the squash tail gives a similar feel with more to it. For slightly bigger days with open faces, a round tail is a great option. With a continuous curve to help your hold on the water, you can gain more control on bigger, more hollow surf. The round tail is a great option for open face carving with plenty of width to give more lift when outside of the critical section of a wave.
Kepa Mendia Name: Kepa Mendia Age: 10 Hometown: West Palm Beach, Fl Nickname: kapoopa Sponsors: Billabong, Proctor Surfboards, Electric, Nomad Surfshop, Freak, Stance, Sushi Jo & of course Mom & Dad Favorite (local) surf spot: Charlie's Crab Where do you go to school, what grade: Rosarian Academy 4th What kind / size board are your currently riding: Proctor , 4'7, 4'6, 4'5 Favorite place to eat breakfast: Home Do you have any phobias: Bad People Favorite movie: Cluster How old were you when you started surfing: 3 Favorite super hero: Flash What do you do when it is flat: skate & fish Do you have any pets: Dog, Choc Lab Ree-Sea 14 Recommended reading: anything on Surfline What music is on your playlist right now: Woke Up: Fetty Wap Best friend is: Kai Canubidua Favorite cartoon: Kick Buttowski What local surfers do you look up to (other than your dad): Baron Knowlton Favorite pro surfer: John John & Mick Who has influenced your life the most: My Dad Jesus is: The Son
Why Blank? Like a surfboard, we all begin as a raw blank; scuffed up, yellowed and not so pretty. God works in us to shape us for His glory and according to His plan. We don’t know exactly what our final shape will look like, but He is the master shaper and we have to trust in his plan. You may want to be a big wave gun and he may be shaping you into a fish. Why a fish? He has a plan to use you when a wider outline, slightly thicker rail and fuller tail is needed. How well will you work, for His glory, if your outline is for Pipe and you are surfing Ocean Ave.?
In this shaping bay, we will never be glassed. The Master Shaper is never finished with us.
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