A
Spring 2015 publication
4  Spring 2015
Welcome
Welcome to Pulse. Whether you prefer an empty beach or a friend-filled lineup, Spring is the time of year when you get the best of both worlds. Casual skimboarders are peeking out from under their rocks, but more secluded spots are still barren and empty. The swells have started to shift in direction, and we have time to watch the sand reshape our playgrounds. Even if it’s not summer yet, that sweet taste of warm potential is right there. So stick around and let the fun begin. – David and Jackie
Norcal, full of emptiness Photo: Nikki Crocker | Point Reyes, CA
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10 Editor’s Note 18 Mouthwater 26 Noteworthy 32 Propinionated: Is localism necessary?
36 UST update
60 6 Spring 2015
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40 Covered: Andre Magarao
The Brazilian flash photography expert shows us skimboarding from his point of view.
60 Grom Corner: Alex Dubois
Tybee Island mini-grom and Austin Keen superfan. He’s already turning heads, and pages.
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Contents
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72 Leading Lady: Erin Carpenter
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Erin had a major interview last month, and this follow up is more than just a sequel.
82 Travel: Mexico Throwback
Blair, Sam, Ken, and Hayward visit mainland Mexico, and they strike gold.
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96 Interview: Dave Scott The stoked out Florida native just made a big move. Read his recount of that and more.
108 Exposure Over 30 photos from across the globe. 176 #skimpulsive ou tagged your pics, we chose one. Y
Our favorite’s a goody. Check it.
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Editor’s note For years we’ve seen guys like Jason Wilson and Bill Baxter winching into waves in Delaware. Flatland riders have been dancing atop storm pipes for decades. Paddle-ins have always been around, but they’ve been mostly a rarity until lately. Then wavestorm step offs took off, and we have guys like Max Bourne charging serious Aliso bombs after jumping onto a skimboard from a soft top surfboard. Brad Domke started stepping off jetskis and into throaty drainers in mainland Mexico. Sean McClenahan and Bill Bryan just towed into waves at Jaws. And most recently Austin Keen has gone a bit viral for hijacking a boat wake from the shore.
“ But are those examples of skimboarding? ” Those are all examples that stray away from the classic run, drop, slide, and wave hit. As far as I’m concerned, every one of those examples are incredible feats of athleticism. They’re all awe inspiring to watch, and I’m sure each of those skimboarders is having a blast blurring the edges of our sport. But are those examples of skimboarding? Brad Domke’s Billabong XXL Award nomination and Austin Keen’s boat wake hijack are the two most recent and potent examples of this. Each of these has a novelty, a uniqueness, a double-take factor that made these clips go viral.
10 Spring 2015
Editor’s note
Austin Keen, Mid Step Off Photo: Chris Beletsis | San Diego, CA
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Bill Baxter, Working the Winch Photo: Kevin Newcomer | Dewey Beach, DE
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Editor’s note And each of those broke through the limited reach we normally have in the skimboarding world. Domke was plastered across major surf websites all over. And Austin made it onto the Ellen DeGeneres show, among other places.
“...the broader public will probably always find more appeal in the 10 second clip of something they’ve never seen before. ” It seems like skimboarders have an open-minded approach toward trying new and creative versions of our sport, maybe even more so than other board riders. Glance at any comment section below a Domke skurf video, and you’ll quickly see how that open-minded attitude doesn’t always apply to surfers. The internet loves novelty. As much as I enjoy a 4 minute “pure” skimboarding mini video, the broader public will probably always find more appeal in the 10 second clip of something they’ve never seen before. And maybe that’s the ticket to the widespread exposure we’ve been craving. Back to the question of whether it’s skimboarding. Does it really matter? If a skimboard is involved, then that’s enough for me. Call it skimboarding or call it something else. We’ll continue to call it awesome. -David Haefele
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The Team The team at Pulse consists of enthusiastic skimboarders who are passionate about showcasing the sport in the best possible light. The team has created this publication as a way to interconnect the skim community through beautiful words, images, and design.
David Haefele /Editor
David finished 28th on the UST in 2013. His background in writing and experience in photography and marketing shape how Pulse is portrayed both in the pages and throughout other online channels.
Jackie Gollbach /Creative Director
Jackie has a long list of first-place contest finishes. Her graphic-design style is lively and clever but also professional and sleek, a style that complements ocean photography and creatively accents skimboarding media.
Derek Makekau /Associate editor
Derek founded and ran ForeverSkim the Magazine for nearly a decade. He now runs 20/30north Studios, and he’s helping with various major and minor decisions over at Pulse.
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Contributors This publication would not be possible without photographers and contributors. Be sure to click on the linked buttons throughout the issue for direct access to their feeds. Give your favorites a follow or a like: they deserve it. Andre Magarao Dave Scott Corinne Conklin Kailey Garrison Tyler Brooks Nikki Crocker Chris Beletsis Tom Williams
Marcos Casteluber Kevin Newcomer Matt McDonald Dwight Mudry Matt O’Brien Piero Turco Lauren Fletcher Colton Wallace Andrew Candella
Cover shot
Juan Carlos Nazario, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Luis Uribe Mike Haan Michael Brands Jaybyrd photo Preston Rose Ursi Fernández Eddie Compo Juliana Beletsis
“This was the first time I had experienced the Solmar sider in person, and it was everything it had been hyped up to be. Massive, rumbling, sketchy, and glorious. In order to win this event the rider was going to have to risk serious injury. I shot this photo of Bullo during the quarter finals. The wave tripled in size in less than a second and the only way to drop in would have been a 10 ft airdrop. I think if it were the finals Bullo would have went for it. But since this was the first heat of the final day he was saving his body for more rounds.” - Dave Scott
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Mouthwater
Our photo section starts on page 108, but here are a few standout shots to get your vitals pumping. Lucas Gomes, In Black and White Photo: Andre Magarao
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Mouthwater
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Mouthwater
Casey Gackle, Mid Shuvit Photo: Matt McDonald | Bellingham, WA
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Mouthwater
Jack Howie, Up Close Matt O’Brien | Laguna, CA
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24  Spring 2015
Mouthwater
Austin Keen, Absolutely Surreal Dwight Mudry | Laguna, CA
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note worthy
Skimboarding’s top social trends
Brad Domke in XXL Awards
That 6-times overhead wave that Brad rode down in Puerto Vallarta earned him a seat at the table among the greats in big wave surfing. Brad ended up coming in 5th for “Ride of the Year.” He walked away with a cool $1,500 and some well-deserved respect from the surf world. Our only wonder is “what’s next?” If we know Brad, we know another mind-blowing clip is on the way.
Sean McClenahan & Beaker Ride Jaws
It seems like the skimboarding tow-in game is on. Sean McClenahan and Bill Bryan snuck into a few choppy bombs at the mythical Peahi a few months back. Sean’s massive backside ride was the ride of the day, and this is likely just the start. Read Sean’s full recount of this monumental day. He’s already looking forward to next winter.
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note worthy videos g n i d nths. skimboar mo the bestpast three of the picks Staff web from on the
Austin Keen Hijacks a Boat Wake / Mostic Inc.
This video went viral. It was plastered across social media profiles around the web, for a very good reason. That sideslip alone is worthy of your attention. And let’s not forget that tre shuv.
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NoteWorthy Victoria in Melaque Mexico / Toeknee Media
Melaque seems to be the wintertime getaway of choice for Californians. Victoria’s crew paired up with Tony Bianchi on this one to put together the most polished mini movie we’ve seen in a while.
Cabo Clasico 2015 / Dilt Productions
Perhaps the best conditions ever seen in competition, this years Cabo Clasico went down with gasps from the crowds and roars from the barrels. It’s a wonder that everyone is still in one piece.
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Rad Movie: Isaac Thomas / DB Skimboards
Creativity goes a long way, especially when it’s paired with someone as talented as Isaac Thomas. Multi-trick lines. Barrel boosts. And innovative rail set-ups. Check it.
Mainland Mex Strike Mission / Exile Skimboards
Head high connections from both directions, in-n-outs, and frontside slashes that will make your head spin. It’s another video from mainland Mexico, but it’s not just another video.
30 Spring 2015
NoteWorthy Brad Domke Board Transfer / Maverick Moments
Brad Domke took it to another level. Again. No jet ski necessary. Just an 8 foot soft top, a skim, a life jacket, and a willingness to ignore reason. Macking Puerto step offs are now a real thing.
Aldon Pamogas / Tonyo El-estwani
There’s a surprising amount of talent in the Philippines, and Aldon is another example of it. Those waves look quite inviting, and his shuvit game is very much on point.
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P r o pi n i Is Localism Necessary? Ryan Ward
I think localism is pretty necessary in our sport. If someone comes down and talks to the locals, earns their stripes, and shows respect, they can get all the waves they would ever want. For people who have been skimming a spot everyday for 10 years of their life, there’s nothing more frustrating than some random person coming down and cutting you off on a perfect wave. Whenever I go to a new spot, I tread lightly and gain the respect of the locals before going for waves. It’s the right thing to do. Photo: Matt O’Brien
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propinionated
o n ated Jesse Solomon
To a certain extent, yes. No matter where I’ve gone in this world, I’ve met many cool people, but there’s always a few idiots. Sometimes you need someone to say whats up! A little aloha can go a long way. Photo: Lauren Fletcher
Kyle Calandra
I think localism plays a big role with skimboarding and surfing. It’s necessary because it helps keep people on their toes in the line up. I was raised dealing with localism, so my best advice when you travel and deal with localism is to show respect and be patient and you’ll get your waves. Photo: Colton Wallace
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36  Spring 2015
UST UPDATE
UST update We’re two stops in, and the standings are just starting to take shape. Austin Keen has a pretty commanding lead after a 5th place in Cabo and a win in Delaware. Morgan Just sits closely behind with two solid placings so far. After a monumental win at home, Bullo is in 3rd. However, if the past is any indication, he may not be able to attend many foreign events, and his spot might be up for grabs after the next event in Brazil. The brothers Jake Stinnett and Sam Stinnett are paired up at 4th and 5th place respectively. At the end of the year, the lowest two results don’t count. That means Sam is very much still in title contention despite a goose egg in Delaware. Finally Dave Bracht rounds out the top 6 after making his first pro final in Delaware. These current 2015 standings are very different from the 2014 final results. It’s going to be interesting to watch these standings evolve as the tour shifts into high gear over the next few months. We can’t wait to see how Sununga shakes things up. Bullo, Headed to the podium Photo: Tyler Brooks | Cabo, Mexico
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#1
Photo: Tyler Brooks
Austin Keen
1651 points
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#2
Photo: Tom Williams
Morgan Just 1189 points
#3
Photo: Tom Williams
Juan Carlos Nazario 1015 points
UST UPDATE
For current UST standings, tour info, and contest results visit unitedskimtour.org
#4
Photo: Tyler Brooks
Jake Stinnett 955 points
#5
Photo: Tom Williams
Sam Stinnett 919 points
#6
Photo: Andrew Candella
Dave Bracht 863 points
Pro Men PULSE SKIMBOARDING 39
40  Spring 2015
Covered
Covered: Andre Magarao It’s hard to say enough about Andre. He’s one of the most talented photographers in skimboarding, and his technical knowledge of photography is vast. Traveling from Brazil to California is a yearly pilgrimage for him, and we caught up with him right in the middle of his most recent trip while he crashed at the Conklin family home. Like many skimboarding photographers, this sport is just one small part of his career as a photographer. We got him to let go of his trigger for a second to answer some questions about his style, his photographic process, and his career behind the lens. Andre in Front Photo: Corinne Conklin | Laguna, CA
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Christian Castro, From the Water Photo: Andre Magarao
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Covered
Covered: Andre Magarao Interview by David Haefele
Name: Andre Magarao Location: Rio De Janiero, Brazil Age: 32 Years Shooting: 12
Give me a list of all the sports that you shoot regularly. The sport that I shoot the most I’d say is kiteboarding. Kiteboarding is usually the first priority, always. I shoot skimming, and I’m trying to shoot skateboarding as much as I can. Whenever I’m in Brazil, I try to shoot wakeboarding as well for the Brazilian wakeboarding magazine. When I’m [in California] I try to shoot a bunch of BMX too. In my opinion, it’s one of the more challenging sports to shoot. It’s a nice thing to try new ideas, new things. It’s very challenging. What got you into using flash photography, and what keeps you using flash photography as much as you do? I shoot a lot of sports that depend on nature. With kiteboarding, it’s never windy in the mornings. When the light is really nice and really beautiful, there’s no wind whatsoever. The wind normally picks up around noon, when the light is very hard, not very beautiful usually. The flashes are a way to try to depend less on nature and get good
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lighting even though it’s the middle of the day and the light is not very nice. Skimboarding and surfing for example are lucky sports. The waves are usually better in the mornings and late afternoons, so the light is usually pretty nice during that time. You don’t necessarily need the flashes. I would say that with skimboarding and surfing it’s more about exploring new angles, learning how to use a water housing and different lenses. Lately I’ve been trying to flash everything. I bought these flashes, they’re super powerful. So you kind of get addicted to that look that the flash makes.
“ Lately I’ve been trying to flash everything. ”
Rider: Lucas Gomes
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Covered
Rider: Blair Conklin When you go out and shoot and you get set up with all of your flashes and rigs, do you have a specific shot in mind? What’s your process like? I try to have at least one shot in mind every time as a guideline. In skimboarding, because it’s so dependent on the waves, you have to be flexible. There is this beach close to where I live, Ipanema beach, it has a famous mountain range in the background. I joke around that every time I go there, if I don’t include those in the shot, I feel guilty. It’s something that I’ve done so many times that I’m kind of a prisoner of it. I usually go out with either a trick or an angle that I’m trying to achieve, and we go from there. I feel like when I’m shooting sports, the key opinion is the rider’s. The shot has to please the athlete. It has to show the trick really well and it has to mean something for people who understand that sport. I always try to ask the rider if there is something he wants to do. It’s kind of like a team sport. He needs to do the trick good and I need to shoot a good picture.
“ It’s something that I’ve done so many times that I’m kind of a prisoner of it.” PULSE SKIMBOARDING 45
This is from one of the first water housing sessions I did in Rio. I bought the housing in San Diego, used it for a few weeks here in Laguna, but I was always wondering how it would be to shoot in Rio with it. I think every photographer goes through this “Clark Little” phase when they first get a water housing. So this would be my Clark Little + skimboarding combo.
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Covered
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Covered
Perry Wells at West St. I like this one because it’s from one of my first sessions ever in Laguna. And it’s also at my favorite spot to shoot here. The way the beach is set up and the position of the sun and everything... it makes for some solid shots.
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Austin Keen at Sununga Photo: Andre Magarao | Ubatuba, Brazil
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Covered What percentage of your time do you spend shooting skimboarding? I might not spend that much time shooting skimboarding anymore, but I feel very connected to it. I’m always talking to skimboarders. Whenever I’m in Rio, I’m always checking the sand. I used to skim myself, so I know how to forecast waves. Whenever I get back from a trip, one of the first things I do is drive by the beach and see how the sand banks are, looking and seeing what we need for the sand to get better. I’m always trying to shoot skimboarding as much as I can, but it’s hard to make a living shooting skimboarding.
“ The next time I went to Sununga I was riding an inflatable whale.” You seem to get in the water a lot with a housing. Tell me about what it’s like to learn how to shoot in the water. I joke around that using the water housing is like a different language. If you don’t use it a lot, you kind of lose your ability to be super fast with it and learn how to position yourself. When you’re shooting with a water housing, usually the best shot is the last one before you get tossed by the wave. So you have to learn how to handle that situation and be comfortable in that situation. And if you don’t put yourself in that situation very often, you kind of lose your calmness to be in that situation. It’s incredible how it goes by comparison. I used to go to Sununga and think that Sununga is super gnarly, and then I came up here to California during a Wedge season and took some naked wave shots Clark-Little style. I was so impressed by how powerful that wave is that the next time I went to Sununga I was riding an inflatable whale. [Laughs]
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Covered
Definitely an important shot. It was on the cover of ForeverSkim. And it was the first time I had the opportunity to write about Sununga, in English, on the most important skim media outlet at the time. I like to think it helped putting Sununga on the map. The rider on the shot is Munir Ruffo, a good friend of mine, he definitely motivated me a lot to shoot skimboarding. If it wasn’t for him and a few other friends we probably wouldn’t be doing this interview right now.
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Sam Stinnett is very good at making that one impossible wave of the day. This one was at 10th street… being able to watch these things leave me pretty speechless. It’s definitely one of the best things about being a photographer.
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Covered
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Do you feel comfortable shooting almost anywhere at this point? Everything goes by comparison. Here in Laguna the waves are more powerful than they are in Rio usually. In Rio, it’s more playful, so I can put myself in situations that I don’t feel very comfortable putting myself in here. But I feel like I could stay here for a whole month with a bunch of good swells, I could get comfortable in the water here. It’s one thing to just sit in the channel and just duck diving and never getting tossed. It’s another thing to be right there in the shorebreak and be willing to get tossed every time. It’s a matter of being comfortable. Like [Brandon] Sears is very comfortable. You see him shooting in the ocean with the GoPro. He’s so comfortable wherever he wants to be. It’s a matter of understanding the ocean and being comfortable.
Rider: Lucas Fink
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Covered
Rider: Blair Conklin What skimboarders do you most enjoy shooting? I wouldn’t say I have a favorite like that. Anybody who is down to shoot. It’s a different thing for the skimboarder. It’s one thing to ride for yourself and it’s another thing to ride for photos. Sometimes the waves or the tricks that please yourself as a rider might not look good for photos. I shoot a lot of Blair. Blair is very into shooting and working throug a shot. We can usually talk throughout the photo session and work on a particular thing. But for anyone who is really down to shoot...the flash session for example, I know it’s really frustrating for the guys but they have to do the tricks where the flashes are. And sometimes they see a wave like way out there and they go “ah that’s a good wave, I want to get that one.” But if they get that one, I’m not going to get the shot because it’s out of light range. And
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Blair Conklin, Floating Photo: Andre Magarao | Laguna, CA
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Covered we’re going to lose the time he went to that wave and come back and recover. It’s almost like a team effort. With flashes for example, if I had more people willing to help. More people holding flashes instead of having them on tripods, willing to run, or if I had budget to pay people to hold flashes and run around, we probably would get more good shots out of one session. Any shoutouts? Special thanks to everyone that helped. Morgan Blunder, the guy who started Skim Brasil with me. And all the guys who showed me around when I first started skimboarding. A huge shoutout to Steve from Exile and Blair and Blair’s family. They help me a lot when I’m out here. And thank you guys for giving me the space. Thank you for the interview. And judging from your flash shots, you seem to pull off the one-person shoot pretty darn well.
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Grom Corner: Alex Dubois Raised on the small island of Tybee at the northernmost part of the Georgia coast, Alex lives two blocks from the beach. A beach which just so happens to be one of the best waves on the east coast. It’s the previous home of another wellknown ripper, Austin Keen. After cyber school and before bed time, we talked with Alex one evening to get an inside scoop about living the life of an 11-year old on Tybee. Stoking Out Photo: Kailey Garrison
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Grom corner
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Home break Photo: Kailey Garrison
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Grom corner
Grom Corner: Alex Dubois Interview by David Haefele
Name: Alex Dubois Location: Tybee Island, Ga Age: 11 Years skimming: 5
Who got you into skimboarding? My brother [Steven], Leland [Lively], Benji [Sanders], Brad [Allison], Austin [Keen]. Pretty much the guys known as The 17th Skreet Bros on Tybee. Why did you start? The way it started is that my brother used to beat me at everything. I wanted to beat him at something. He started doing skimboard contests and winning them, so I started skimboarding every day to get as good as him. I was lucky because there are a lot of very talented skimboarders on Tybee, and they all helped me. How old is your brother? He’s 16.
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Are you better than him at skimboarding now? I’m definitely better. [Laughs] I know you surf a lot too. Do you like skimboarding more or surfing more? Skimboarding. You can skimboard a lot more places and it’s a lot more fun. Do you think your brother is better than you at surfing? No I’m better than him at that too. [Laughs] What other sports are you into? I pretty much do everything. Soccer, baseball, basketball, skimboarding, surfing, skateboarding…pretty much everything.
Photos: Kailey Garrison
64 Spring 2015
Grom corner
“Austin [Keen] says it’s the best place within 150 miles from here.” What motivates you to do so many sports? Do you just love to be outside? Yessir. I love being outside, but really enjoy being on the beach and in the water the most. How close do you live to the beach? I’m about 2 blocks. Are the waves really good right next to your house? Yessir. It’s probably the best place on Tybee. Austin [Keen] says it’s the best place within 150 miles from here.
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Monkey Flip Photo: Kailey Garrison
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Grom corner What’s the best time of year to skimboard there? Summer. Even though there’s all the tourists, but it’s summer when it’s the best. What’s the spot called? North Beach Jetty. It’s a frontside liner.
“I didn’t know if I could do it at that time, but I just tried it and did it first try. After that I just added boards.” What’s your favorite trick to do there? Probably monkey crawl just to a wave. I can do step offs like Austin did in that video one time. I can do three boards now. What boards do you use when you do a triple step off? A longboard to a fun shaped board to a skimboard. How did you learn to do that? I started off with two boards, and then I moved to three. One day last summer, Brandon Rolland asked me if I could do it. I didn’t know if I could do it at that time, but I just tried it and did it first try. After that I just added boards. I was going to ask you “what’s the most creative trick you can do?” But that’s probably it, huh? Umm I dunno. Probably a monkey flip.
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Is that a monkey crawl to a widdley flip? Yeah. It’s a widdley flip. Why did you learn to monkey crawl? When I started skimming, I was really little and I couldn’t run that fast. I was so small that I couldn’t run, and hold my board, or throw it, at the same time. I just wasn’t strong enough. So one year when Austin came down before Vilano, he taught me how to [monkey crawl], and how to get on my board that way. That was the only way I could get on it.
“ That was the only way I could get on it. ”
Photos: Kailey Garrison
68 Spring 2015
Grom corner
Where have you traveled for skimboarding? The farthest I’ve ever been is the Outer Banks in North Carolina. In a few weeks I’m going to go to Dewey Beach, Delaware, for the Alley Oop overnight skim camp. And I’ve been all over Florida. What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to for skimboarding? Definitely the Outer Banks. The wave is big and fun. Do you want to go out to California? Yeah I’ve been wanting to go for the past two years. We are going to go in September. What’s your favorite YouTube video of skimboarding? Probably “It’s Da Keen” of Austin. I used to watch that every day, before school and after school, before I went to surf or skim or anything.
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Favorite maneuver Photo: Kailey Garrison
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Grom Corner I know you go to cyber school. What’s that like? It’s fun because I don’t have all the distractions and I can actually learn something. I normally finish right around 12:30 or 1:00 because I don’t have all of those distractions with lunch and recess and going through the halls and everything. I can get to the beach sooner. That’s one reason we started doing it. Are there other kids in your virtual classroom? How does it work? Yessir. It’s done from home on your computer. You have your teacher and you have your classmates. Everyday at about 9:15 you have a class connect session with your teacher and classmates, that ends at 10:30. Then you have another one until 12:30. These sessions are done through Blackboard Collaborative and both your classmates and your teachers are in that. It’s kind of like Skype. The teachers use a virtual white board just like a white board in regular school. I like it a lot because all of the class connect sessions are recorded, so if I miss one because the waves are really good, I can come back and watch the recording. Sponsors? Exile Skimboards. Let’s Party Traction, Salt2Sand Surf Company, Southern Urgent Care, Run Drop Slide, JustSkim, and Mostic. Thanks for the time Alex. We’re excited to see what else comes from Tybee Island.
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72  Spring 2015
Leading Lady
Leading Lady: Erin Carpenter Erin has been living and skimming in San Diego for the past 6 years, and she has quickly risen to high ranks at major west coast contests. But beyond those contest results is a really strong and kind-hearted woman who has other stories to tell. About a month ago, Erin and her girlfriend did an interview over at Skim Magazine, where she delved into her relationship with skimboarding as well as her girlfriend. You likely want to head over there and read that interview too. We asked her about her response to that interview along with her current take on the female skim world. At the Wall Photo: Juliana Beletsis
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Backhand Railgrab
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Leading Lady
Leading Lady: Erin Carpenter Interview by David Haefele
Name: Erin carpenter Location: San Diego, Ca Age: 28 Years Skimming: 6
You’ve managed to place pretty well at some of the contests. What’s your take on competitive skimboarding? It brings us all together. The thing I really like about it is that it’s the few times a year when you get to see everybody, especially for us girls. And for the most part it’s really friendly competition. People get really into it, but at the end of the day we’re all proud of each other for getting out there and being some of the few girls who will do this. But I think it’s a little bit disorganized, especially as far as the women go. I know they’re working on it, but there’s a lot of work to still be done. And there’s not a lot of money in it. It’s tough though. Everybody every year gets better, so I have to stay on my toes to keep up.
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How often do you get to ride? I try to go every day. At my old job I used to go after work. So I would get out at 5:30, so when the time changed like at this time of year, I would go after work. And then on the weekends every day. But then when the time changes again and it gets dark at 5:30, I can only go on the weekends. And I just started this new job like a month ago, and I’ve been working 10 hour days like 5 days a week, so I’m exhausted when I get off and the waves haven’t been that good. But I’m trying to get back into doing it every day.
“...And I almost drowned at one of the Oktoberfests.”
76 Spring 2015
Leading Lady
Photo: Chris Beletsis How do you feel about how you’ve done in contests? I feel like at the Vic I’ve done good, but I always choke at Oktoberfest. Those are the only two that I really do. I think at Oktoberfest, the waves are usually bigger. I don’t do so well in big waves. I can’t swim that well. [Laughs] I get intimidated, and I almost drowned at one of the Oktoberfests. I had to get rescued by Austin Keen, which was pretty embarrassing. I got stuck out there and almost hit the pier, and he had to come out and pull me back in. But I feel like I’ve done ok so far. Last year at the Vic I felt like I did better than I had ever done before. I got third place. I was pretty proud of that. And I beat Keiao in the final round, which is pretty cool because she’s one of the best. But I think she was having a bad day, and I was having a good day, and that’s what it comes down to. I think overall she’s definitely a better skimmer than I am. It just comes down to the 10 minutes.
“It just comes down to the 10 minutes. ” PULSE SKIMBOARDING 77
Frontside spray Photo: Chris Beletsis
78  Spring 2015
Leading Lady
“...I’m gay…or I’m bi, I guess, but it’s hard to talk about with people that I don’t know. ” I wanted to ask about your recent interview over at skim magazine. You mean the one about me and my girlfriend [Lorena]? Yeah, That One. It was interesting. Kelli [Bean] approached us to be interviewed for that, and I’ve never been… I don’t know....I’m gay…or I’m bi, I guess, but it’s hard to talk about with people that I don’t know. To put that out there for anybody who wants to read, it’s a lot different than being able to tell people when you choose to. Being gay is different than being black or something. It’s not obvious. Now, if anybody reads it, they know, “ok, she actually is gay.” But I think it’s good for somebody to do that, to be out there and be open about it. There’s probably other girls and I’m pretty sure there’s at least one other guy out there that’s gay that skims, but nobody is really open about it. The more that people are open about it, the easier it’s going to be for other people to do it too. So I feel like that was important to do. Did you introduce Lorena to skimboarding? Have you taught her everything? Yeah, pretty much. She knew how to snowboard before, and she had skated around a little bit, but never actually skimboarded before. She didn’t really know much about it. One of the first days I met her, I took her to the beach, and she was watching me and my friends skim. She was wearing normal clothes, and I was like, “Hey, just try it on the sand.” And a lot of people just fall on the sand multiple times and give up. But she was able to do it and ride it pretty far. I was like “Oh! What? You have potential. You could actually do this.”
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Does she ever go and skim when you’re not there? Yeah. At my last job, she would have days off when I wouldn’t. I gave her an old board that she can use. She’ll bring that down. She’s gotten to know some of the San Diego guys, and they’re all super nice and encouraging. She goes and talks to them, and does the skim thing. It’s awesome that she goes down there and does it without me. What impact would you want to leave on the skim community? I’d love to encourage more girls to skim. There’s not a lot of girls in the sport. Even if they think they’re not good, or if they get frustrated, they should know it’s a long process. But it’s worth it. It’s addicting. I think it’s a positive thing for people to have. And as far as the gay thing, it’s ok to be open about who you are. As long as you’re a good person and you’re doing the best that you can, it’s a good thing.
Photos: Chris Beletsis
80 Spring 2015
Leading Lady
Sponsors? XTOutfitters. Victoria Skimboards. Any shoutouts or last words? Shoutout to all of the San Diego skim community, to the boys there for supporting me, and pushing me, and teaching me everything I know. And thanks to you guys too for interviewing me. Shout out to Jackie [Gollbach] too because she’s awesome. And to my girlfriend because she’s amazing. It’s really fun to skim with her. And I’m glad she’s gotten into it as well. And props to her for doing the interview with Kelli [Bean]. And Victoria Skimboards and XTOutfitters for taking care of me.
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82  Spring 2015
Travel
Mexico Throwback Corinne Conklin sent us a gorgeous set of photos about a day late for our last issue, and we were left in a weird spot. For the past three months, we’ve been holding on to these trying to figure out how to use them best. In case you hadn’t seen any sneak peeks, these photos are all from a trip that Sam Stinnett, Blair Conklin, Ken Suzuki, and Adam Hayward took to Mainland Mexico. Here’s a few snapshots of that trip along with a little narration from Corinne herself. Quite the Paradise Photo: Corinne Conklin
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84  Spring 2015
Travel
Every day, and sometimes twice a day, the guys loaded the open-air jeep with a quiver composed of shortboards, softboards and skimboards, fishing poles and lures, along with every type of photographic device imaginable. Where ever we turned, we discovered a natural wonderland in Mainland Mexico. About mid-way through the trip we set out to find waves as it wasn’t breaking at the usual spots, so we put the jeep in overdrive and journeyed quite a distance on the sand until the guys discovered perhaps the best surf spot of the trip.
Photos: Corinne COnklin
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It didn’t take long for Sam to dial it in at this new skim spot only known to a few locals. It also didn’t take long for the first injury of the trip to occur— nothing that a bit of Super Glue couldn’t repair by the keen team work of Blair and Kenny as they quickly went into surgeon mode.
Photo: Corinne Conklin
86 Spring 2015
Travel
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88  Spring 2015
Travel
Blair and Ken were on duty each morning before the break of dawn making their home brew to kickstart their day. Surfing, fishing and whales breaching out front--doesn’t get much better than that. Ken Suzuki was all smiles this day with endless waves for him to catch.
Photos: Corinne COnklin
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Good way to start the trip. Our timing couldn’t have been better as the locals tipped us off about the sider working. Here’s Blair feeling right at home with this frontside layback at spot where only a few have ridden.
Photo: Corinne Conklin
90 Spring 2015
Travel
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Photo: Carey Conklin
92  Spring 2015
Travel
The unspoiled lands of Mainland Mexico all to ourselves. The guys gathered together on our last morning before heading to the airport remorseful to have to leave this magical place. As the sign above reads: “Disfruta Hoy”, which means “enjoy today,” and boy did we ever enjoy each and every day. On many an afternoon following a full day of cruising the beaches, the crew typically ended up at a nearby fishing village to take a breather from the sun, replenish, and simply sit back and enjoy the view.
Photos: Corinne COnklin
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On the last day of our journey, Adam managed to land a very large Cubera Snapper the locals had endearingly named “Ophelia” who had alluded their lures for years. All 65-pounds of her managed to provide dinner for our entire complex that night. This is one fish story that will not be disputed.
Photo: Luis Uribe
94 Spring 2015
Travel
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96  Spring 2015
Interview
Pro interview: Dave Scott Dave Scott has been traveling around the planet lately in search of skim, surf, and good times. The Florida native recently followed in the path of many hopeful east coast skimboarders and made the big move out west to California. We talked to him this past month to see how he’s adjusted to the new pad and talk about his recent travels to Brazil, Bali, and beyond. Wrapping in Cabo Photo: Marcos Casteluber
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Photo: Marcos Casteluber
98  Spring 2015
Interview
Pro interview: Dave Scott Interview by David Haefele
Name: Dave Scott From: South Pompano Beach, FL Location: Hermosa Beach, CA Age: 29 Years Skimming: 19
“We ended up renting it out and packed up moving truck full of all our stuff and moved across the country.“ How was the move? It was kind of a last minute move. Me and my girlfriend had just moved into a house I had purchased at home [in Florida]. We ended up renting it out and packed up a moving truck full of all our stuff and moved across the country.
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What was your motivation to get over there? I kind of just moved with my girlfriend. She has a really popular swim wear company called Montce Swim. She has a store down in Florida, and she opened up a second shop here in Hermosa Beach. I do a little construction stuff on the side, so I came out and we built it all up. And now we’re out here at least for a year to see how it goes. I don’t know if it’s permanent or not. But we’ll see. How has the move to California impacted your skimboarding? Well there’s definitely a lot more surf. The skim is not too much different over here compared to the east coast, but I’m only about an hour or an hour and half from Laguna. I’ve been going down there a bunch whenever I hear it’s going to be good. I can cruise down there and catch some really fun waves.
Photo: Marcos Casteluber
100 Spring 2015
Interview
I know in the past, people used to talk about Florida as having a really high concentration of skimboarders. Does it seem like it’s still growing over there, or has it leveled off at all? I think it definitely slowed down from what it used to be when I started skimboarding. But more and more I feel like it’s getting better again. There are a lot more kids skimming. The scene there is bigger than you think. There’s a lot of kids down where I’m from in south Florida who just go to the beach on the weekends just to hang out with their friends and skim. They don’t really keep up with the contests. They might watch a video here and there, but they just have their old board they’ve had for five years and they just hang out and skim. A lot of really good guys though, but they’re just hanging out and skimming. And that’s awesome.
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Photo: Mike Haan
102  Spring 2015
Interview
“...the wind will stick the board to your feet. And you do huge airs ” I’m curious about your kitesurfing and how you’ve used your skimboard with a kite. How did you fall into trying to kitesurf with your skimboard? When I was in college up in north Florida, all my roommates all kiteboarded. They didn’t really skimboard. They got me into it after a couple years of hassling me. I finally did it, and I ended up riding my skim because a skimboard actually works really well when the wind is kind of lighter. We get a lot of wind, but a lot of times it’s not super strong. The skimboard works better with a lighter wind because there’s more surface area and it’s flat. So I started riding it more and more, got used to it, and started riding it in the waves. I already naturally like to ride a skimboard all the time anyways, so it came second nature I guess. And you’re never strapped in with that? Yeah, you’re always strapless. Seeing the airs you do with that, it looks like you’re strapped at times. Is there any technique to all that? Yeah. It’s similar to riding behind a boat with a board and a handle. But when you’re doing airs and stuff, you kind of have to shift the board into the wind. And the wind actually helps. Once you get the technique right, the wind will stick the board to your feet. And you do huge airs with it.
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When did you first go to Brazil? Was it for the contest? Jason Wilson went there first. I had talked to him about it, and he told me it was awesome. So the year after that, I booked a ticket without even realizing what I was getting myself into, just so I could force myself to go. I put it on a credit card and paid it off right before the trip. It was the best thing that ever happened. It was me, Jason Wilson, Tony Bianchi, and Emmanuel Embaixador [Mega]. It was the best trip of my life. It was awesome. That’s the trip where we made that Zap in Brazil edit.
“I booked a ticket without even realizing what I was getting myself into, just so I could force myself to go.“
Photo: Michael Brands
104 Spring 2015
Interview
Even among Indo, Cabo, and California, would you say that Brazil is your favorite skim destination? Yeah. I’d have to say that Brazil is still probably the best one. There’s still so many other places and other beaches you could drive to find waves. It’s not all about Sununga. There’s a lot of opportunity there. Indonesia was awesome too, but there were just one or two beaches with skim. That’s more of a surf adventure than skim. We scored some super fun waves there, but I don’t know if it’s always like that.
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Cabo Fan Photo: Tom Williams
106  Spring 2015
Interview
“If the swell were bigger, it might not have worked out. It might have been too big.” In Indo, did it feel weird skimming at all when you know there’s probably firing surf around the corner? When we were in Bali, the swell had actually dropped. It was maybe waist to chest high, which is still fun. But Bali is known to have hundreds of surfers in the water at any given time no matter what the swell. When it’s not that good, it feels extra crowded. It worked out that the morning high tides at Dreamland were really fun. If the swell were bigger, it might not have worked out. It might have been too big. Tell me about Filibuster. When did you start that and how has it been going? I started Filibuster back in 2013. Two years ago we got the website up. It’s a fun side gig for me. I kind of like doing a little bit of graphic design, putting T-shirts together. My buddy does some art for it who I’m in on it with. He does cool art and graphics. I was actually printing all the shirts in my house. So it’s a fun hobby, and it kind of pays for itself. Sponsors? Zap Skimboards. Filibuster. Runa, a clean-energy Tea Company. Skim City. Run Drop Slide. Let’s Party Traction.
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108  Spring 2015
Exposure
Exposure We receive hundreds of photo submissions each issue from dozens of photographers and many countries. Here are over 30 of our favorites. Jose E. Villaseñor, In the spot Photo: Tyler Brooks | Cabo, Mexico
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110  Spring 2015
Exposure
Diego Arroyo, Tropical Hack Photo: Piero Turco | Costa Rica
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112  Spring 2015
Exposure
Jack Howie, On a bomb Photo: Tyler Brooks | Laguna, CA
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114  Spring 2015
Exposure
Lucas Fink, Stealing the show Photo: Andre Magarao | Rio, Brazil
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Craig Potter, Decades of Experience Photo: Nikki Crocker | Point Reyes, CA
116  Spring 2015
Exposure
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118  Spring 2015
Exposure
Cabo Body Whomping Photo: Dave Scott | Cabo, Mexico
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120  Spring 2015
Exposure
Johnny Weber, Negotiating Socal Traffic Photo: Corinne Conklin | Newport, CA
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Jackie Gollbach, Backside slash Photo: Nikki Crocker | Santa Cruz, CA
122  Spring 2015
Exposure
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124  Spring 2015
Exposure
Austin Keen, Teahupoo Training Photo: Dave Scott | Cabo, Mexico
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126  Spring 2015
Exposure
Isaac Thomas, Back Tail in Plaid Photo: Matt McDonald | Tacoma, WA
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128  Spring 2015
Exposure
Ryan Ward, Accelerating Photo: Tyler Brooks | Laguna, CA
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130  Spring 2015
Exposure
Sean McClenahan, Frontside Air Photo: Jaybyrd photography | Maui, HI
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132  Spring 2015
Exposure
Bill Baxter, As Glassy as they Come Photo: Kevin Newcomer | Dewey Beach, DE
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134  Spring 2015
Exposure
Geo Reyes, Frame-filling Fan Photo: Dwight Mudry | Laguna, CA
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136  Spring 2015
Exposure
Renato Lima, No Taxi Needed Photo: Tyler Brooks | Cabo, Mexico
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138  Spring 2015
Exposure
Tim Gamboa, Slowed down Photo: Dwight Mudry | Laguna, CA
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Dustin Boone, Laying into one Photo: Nikki Crocker | Point Reyes, CA
140  Spring 2015
Exposure
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142  Spring 2015
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Jared Green, Speedy section Photo: Tyler Brooks | Cabo, Mexico
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144  Spring 2015
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George Bryan, Aliso Boost Photo: Preston Rose | Laguna, CA
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146  Spring 2015
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Martí Avilès, Not Sununga Photo: Ursi Fernández | San Sebastian, Spain
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148  Spring 2015
Exposure
Lucas Gomes, All Lit up Photo: Andre Magarao | Rio, Brazil
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150  Spring 2015
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Daniel Sasso, Gawking at the View Photo: Piero Turco | Costa Rica
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152  Spring 2015
Exposure
David Haefele, Backside Air Photo: Nikki Crocker | Santa Cruz, CA
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154  Spring 2015
Exposure
Renato Lima, Loving the frontside sider Photo: Dave Scott | Cabo, Mexico
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156  Spring 2015
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John Akerman, The Southside Shootout Photo: Kevin Newcomer | Dewey Beach, DE
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158  Spring 2015
Exposure
Jake Stinnett, in the hole Photo: Dave Scott | Cabo, Mexico
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Jake Robinson, Lined up for days Photo: Nikki Crocker | Santa Cruz, CA
160  Spring 2015
Exposure
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162  Spring 2015
Exposure
Charge now, think later Photo: Dave Scott | Cabo, Mexico
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164  Spring 2015
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Travis Williams, Alley Oop Photo: Tom Williams | Cabo, Mexico
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166  Spring 2015
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Jason Wilson, Cold Water Step Off Photo: Eddie Compo | Dewey Beach, DE
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168  Spring 2015
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Adam Balaam, Backside Shifty Photo: Matt McDonald | San Francisco, CA
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170  Spring 2015
Exposure
Tim Fulton, Fully Committed Photo: Tyler Brooks | Laguna, CA
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172  Spring 2015
Exposure
Teddy Vlasis, Underneath the ocean Photo: Tom Williams | Cabo, Mexico
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Blair Conklin, Off his rocker Photo: Andre Magarao | Laguna, CA
174  Spring 2015
Exposure
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#Skimpulsive
You tag your photos on Instagram and we pick our favorite. Four simple rules. One stoked winner. • • • •
Tag your pics with #skimpulsive Amateurs only! (Pros get enough attention) Square photo: 1:1 image ratio No watermarks
176 Spring 2015
#Skimpulsive
@bbesseau
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< Jackson Tenney Photo: Tyler Brooks
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