Handplane Project Pt. 2...

My handplane project is well underway. In Step 1, I used a jigsaw to cut the rough outline of the plane for my blank, and now it is ready for shaping.

I have had many thoughts on how to go about achieving the desired shapes and contours. A power sander comes to mind, but I think I'm going to go green on this one and do it all by hand.

"Why?" you ask?

The answer is simple... Bodysurfing is the purest form of wave-riding. With bodysurfing you are at one with the wave. With regular surfing, the board still creates a separation between us and the water. It sometimes gives a feeling that the wave is against us. Not so with bodysurfing.

Anyway... back to the project... There are several reasons why I'm doing it by hand. Shaping the wood by hand allows me to be at one with nature, putting care and love into the wood. Also, it is a green way to do it. Why add to the carbon footprint with an electric sander? The final reason (and the most important), is so that I have appreciation for what God and nature have intended.

Mahalo!

Movie Making...

After a long hiatus... well actually, I got to busy with the magazine... but after a long break; I have begun work on the long-forgotten "PackRats" movie.
More accurately, the new incarnation will cover all of the Corpus area surf breaks, to include: Bob Hall Pier, Packery Channel, Seawall, and a few others.

Late last night I began to review the storyboard and action clips, and I think it looks pretty good. Lot's of footage, both HD and SD, should make for a decent little flick. I've got lots of "lifestyle" footage as well.

No time frame on any release just yet... still in the early, early phases but looking forward to working it out.


Here's a little reminder... (Hint: The new one will be FAR less cheesy with FAR better waves...)


It's All About The Ride...

Packery Channel - 2010

Photo - Joe Vulgamore

Waves.
Waves do not discriminate. Waves treat everyone and everything equally. Waves beg for us to join them on their journey, allowing us to free ourselves of our charade that we call life. As the waves speed along toward their inevitable deaths, they allow us to see that there is a difference between "life" and "living".

Waves do not care how you ride them, as long as you ride them. Why should we care how others choose to satisfy their lust for the wave, as long as everyone is stoked, who cares.

I often hear surfers complain about spongers, kiteboarders, and such. Why? Do they not have the right to enjoy Gods gift of the wave as much as the rest of us?
Now I understand the safety risks as far as SUPs, kayaks, and kites; A respectable safe zone
should be practiced by all. But there is no reason one should limit oneself to a particular discipline.

Below are just a few shots of several alternative modes of liquid transport... notice everyone is stoked?

It's not about "Life"; it's all about "Living"...
It's not about "the board"; It's all about "the Ride"


Boogie Boarding in SPI

Photo - Joe Vulgamore
Kayaking "South Packistan"

Photo - Joe Vulgamore
Kelly Norton is like a rocker down the line in SPI

Photo - Joe Vulgamore

Unidentified Kiteboader in SPI

Photo - Joe Vulgamore
This Skimboarder snaps a big 'ollie' down in SPI

Photo - Joe Vulgamore

My New Little Project (Part 1)...

As my fascination with body surfing continues, I've spent plenty of time on the internet looking at handplanes. I've read that a handplane will help for longer, more enjoyable rides, especially on mushy waves like those we get here in the gulf.
I've seen many beautiful pieces of work by some really good shapers, I even follow a blog or two.

Maybe it's my need to feed a creative bug, or maybe I'm just too cheap to invest in a really nice handplane, but I'm going to give a go at shaping one myself.

My research into handplanes suggests that a good wood to use is 'poplar'. So a quick trip to Lowes and six bucks later, I have myself a blank. I purchased a piece of 1x8x24 poplar plank. I selected a nice piece with a beautiful grain and completely free of knotholes.

My next step has been to draw up a basic template for the design I'm going to try. The dimensions for this piece are going to be:

  • 14.5" L
  • 7.0" W (wide point 6" back from nose)
  • 3/4" T
I've debated whether or not to install some type of handle or grip, but for my first attempt, I think I'm going to go with the more traditional "finger hole". This should allow for quicker transfer from one hand to the other (for going either left or right).

Thats it so far... I'll document my progress in this blog as I go along.

See you in  the water!

One of My Favorite Shots...

Corey Williams - Port A 2010

Photo - Joe Vulgamore

This is one of my favorite "Hang 10" shots. I took this photo of Texan standout Corey Williams in Port Aransas. I love his fluid style.

Just look at how perfectly positioned he is out there on the nose. His toes are perfectly hanging off of the nose. Most guys are just an inch or two back, or they have an inch too much foot hanging off, but Corey is in command of his board and body. Look at his eyes, trained on the wave and the concentration in his face.

It's no wonder Corey is widely considered the top longboarder in Texas. He was actually ranked number 36 in the world at one point.

Great classic style!

Body Surfing...


I've had a sudden spark of interest in body surfing.
I enjoy it when I'm just playing around in the water, but I've been more and more into the idea of really doing it right. I'm talking about with fins and a hand plane. 

I think this vid is particularly cool... check it out!

Skunked...



Saturday didn't quite turn out as well as I'd hoped. Small knee-to-thigh and weak. Very frustrating... oh well, such is surf in Texas.
Got a massive sunburn... guess I'm too white over the winter. Lol

Sunday's surf was probably better... they had the contest going on in Port A, which I didn't attend, and then the paddle out for Greg Cheek... the fallen Texan surfer.
I'd didn't attend the paddle out. I only met the man once, briefly. I didn't feel it was my place to be there... I hope all of his friends had a great time.

That's it for now...
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