The Vans Duct Tape Festival Is Made For Ericeira

Longboard competitions aren’t exactly our forte, but the Duct Tape Festival is very much our tapas and, er, vino.

Currently, we’re positioned in a dreamy surf hotel that sits above a playful looking beach in Ericeira. There’s music and wine and cheese. Those indigenous and in the area reek of a happiness unknown to Los Angeles tenants (like this keyboard jockey). Literally, everyone seems content; the thought of taking up residence here is appealing.

Today began sleepily. Clouds polluted the air with a stiff wind that didn’t quite chill the bone. The weather was of San Francisco autumn in its most mediocre-at-best of faces – cold in the shade, burning in the sun when it shone. After two pm, however, the sun broke through the gloom and at the contest venue, carbonated liquids and waffles lubricated the crowd into a joyous afternoon. The event itself went on, as it will tomorrow. And, somewhere in the process Tosh Tudor, son of the Duct Tape Founder Joel won 250 dollars. However, during the night time, Tosh was less worried about the money he’d earned and more fond of the chocolate cake readily available for 3 euro on the beach at the competition site.

Apparently it’s really fucking good.

Suprised Tosh is not carrying a slice of chocolate cake.

Al Knost and one of the many innovative ways to wear a shirt.

After the event, the kind folks under the Vans umbrella funneled back into Lapoint Surf Hotel. Festivities drifted on. A shallow bowl overlooking the scene found itself riddled with skateboards and ground coping and laughter. Soon became time for Nathan Fletcher’s Portuguese premiere of the film Heavy Water. A shuttle brought us into town and we found ourselves in a crowded alleyway, starring at a large television screen behind a window shadowed by bobbing heads and cigarettes, a peculiar place to view a film.

When the film ended, the crowd dispersed into the cobblestone streets overseen by buildings dressed in pale white and light blue pillars. Wine continued to flow, we continued to drink, and for what it’s worth Ericeira boasts the some of the most enjoyable scenery and extracurriculars a surf contest could offer. What’s nice about a longboard contest is egos don’t reign supreme. Everyone hangs and chats. There’s not much I’m better than you and who’s who and this and that. It’s more like your best friend’s wedding, where everyone either knows each other or is happy to shake hands, hug or gently kiss both the cheeks of whoever came out in support.

Ericeira is an excellent place, and the Duct Tape Festival complements it in an uncut form.

More to come from this event. It was a pleasant day, and such pleasantry will likely remain throughout the weekend.

If you’re in the area, it’s in your best interest to join.