Down (With The/Until We’re) Underground

Hello, loves.

Los Angeles is thawing quick this AM, the first day of March dawning bright and blue and very flat. Last night I flew in to LBC, coming in late from a three-day mission to the far Pacific Northwest with grizzly bear Matt Biolos.

After hammering out 150 boards* for his WCT crew’s Australian leg, Mayhem dragged me up to Seattle, then north, to visit with Mike Olson and Pete Saari, at the remarkable operation they’ve built on the Straight of Juan de Fuca, a truly modern factory manufacturing zero-toxic waste snowboards, skis, skateboards, and in the last four years, surfboards, working with Matt since 2015 and, if the speed at which Mike Olson’s mind operates is any indication of what’s possible in their engineering marvel, cheap, Asian imports should be shaking in their sweatshop slippahs, and this year they’ll be introducing a bunch of new models…

But (much) more on that later. 

Between factory visits, a morning crack at some freshly fallen snow at Summit, and tales of Lindsey Vaughn… Mayhem, despite having eaten a bad clam or two, entertained with Miki Dora stories, tales of Industry debauchery, and international shenanigans illustrating his deserved moniker…

After the three-day burner, reeling and delirious, last night we bid adieu, as Matt blasted east, a five hour’s drive into one of the biggest winter storm’s of the season at Mammoth, a stack of new GNU and Lib Tech sleds for he and his groms, texting a video this AM’s bombardment. What a fucking animal, that guy. 

Meanwhile, I’ve got a sexy new little Round Nose Fish begging for a Lowers mission this week and D.I.’s magnificent ode to Mayhem’s stomping grounds in my head…

Last week, we dug up Delmarva’s Dennis The Menace, Brad Flora, while our friends at Moist pointed their lens on Brazilian bouncy ball, Yago Dora, who captured our hearts with his Psychic Migrations** ender, and who will be bringing the heat with the help of his Kingmaker pops, Leandro, who many point to as the man truly responsible for ADS’s World Title the very first year Dora coached him. 

With Mick Fanning officially announcing he’s calling it quits after Bells, Brendan Buckley sat down with South Africa’s Michael February, for a lovely little profile of the official 2018 Rookie. 

We were happy to catch up again with the always lovely Brook Power, while many a surf fan was happy to hear they’d have the chance to sit poolside for the Founders Cup Classic  in Lemoore this May 5-6. 

Jake Howard chatted with the uncompromising folks about the worm-ridden and World’s First  “ Zero-Waste Surfboard Factory,” as well as legendary lensman Ted Gamrbeau on his remarkable new retrospective volume, Adventures in Light. 

Curren and The Search crew, on the iconic “Indian Ocean Sojourn”

Photography

Ted Grambeau

We met the 10-year-old getting whipped in at Peahi, and a long-haired, free-friction type. Gabriel Medina demonstrate just how few fucks he seems to give. We almost lost RCJ. 

What did you all think of John Florence’s new whip? While we’d be curious to know Travis Rice’s feelings about that old saying about the two best days in a boat owner’s life***, it’s looking like John Florence is about to take his sailing hobby to the next level, and we’re already making plans to stow away for the inter-island mission. 

As Brenno Dorrington celebrated thirty-one properly, Former blew out their first birthday candle, and Jake Embrey tempted us all into watching Chapter 11 again, which e know you all did, happily. 

Michael C. broke down the three sets of fins every high-minded high performance surfer should have sticking out of their quivers, while the JS crew demonstrated the remarkable range of it’s new Monsta8, which, according to our man Noodles Webster, is “Stab owner’s board of choice also. Copped him stuffing into the tube yesty on the far North Shore.” The old boy deserves some summer kegs after a dry winter here in LA.

This week, our most positive, healing vibes (and hopefully some charitable contributions) go out to our dear friend and comrade, Lyon Herron, as well as Brayden Belden, whose pops, Matt is a good man, and will have his young buck up and ripping real soon. 

While Captain McIntosh is collecting scalps along Sydney’s lesser-known slabs, the kids have the keys to the castle here in Los Angeles, Morgan Williamson thoroughly caffeinated and our man Sam Moody hard at work on some fresh produce for you bastards. 

We hope you’re getting yours, wherever you are, dears. Keep it cutty, Stab. 

Sincerely,

Sasston Scroggans,

Editor in Chief.

*With 10 riders—Kolohe, Tyler, Carissa, Coco, Malia, Griff, Yago, Michael Rodriguez, and Caroline Marks—Mayhem’s boards are under almost 1/5th of the tour’s feet this year. 

**As well as the inimitable Mr. Burch. 

***The day he buys it, and the day he sells it, of course.