When’s The Last Time You Bought A Used Board?

I’ve never been into old cars. 

My focus has always been getting from Point A to Point B, not how things felt along the way. Choosing machines that could cheaply achieve that allowed me to save money I could then spend on very important things. Like surfboards. 

I was never into old surfboards, either. 

One board changed that: A 6’8” Akila Aipa twin fin purchased for $200 on Oahu’s Craigslist. This board does things that I did not think 6’8”s were capable of doing. It’s fast, loose, even whippy – and still has all that paddle power. I would part with any board in my quiver before I would part with my Aipa. The rest, I believe, would be much easier to replace. 

I got that board four years ago. I spent some time earlier this morning attempting to convince a stranger from Western Massachusetts’ Craigslist to sell me an aged 6’3′ CI with glass-ons for $100. I think I may have a problem. 

I never made a decision to start collecting boards. I used to scroll through the used sites every week or so for kicks. On the rare occasion, I would buy a board if it filled a gap in my quiver. I got in the habit of checking more often. Then it became a daily ritual. Now, it’s a proper addiction. 

I’ve purchased five boards for a total of about 600 Euro this year alone. I don’t buy boards for decoration — I only buy boards that I legitimately want to ride. I’m running out of space in my apartment, but I can’t stop. If I see a board for good value, I have to bite. 

The cool thing about used surfboards is that they mean different things to different people. When it comes to buying or selling them, there’s no set standard in terms of value. I’ve been outraged by prices both high and low. Shopping is like a game, and the outcome of winning is a new sensation under your feet for cheap. 

This addiction has made me think about old cars differently. These are objects that somebody, or a group of people, put heart into designing. They could be cutting edge at the time, but they feel a bit more raw once time strips away the emotional influence of trend. 

There’s still something you can tap into by putting yourself behind the wheel. 

Stab’s Guide to the Best Wetsuits of 2020

Many are calling this the best wetsuit guide in the long and storied history of wetsuit guides. At 35 minutes in length, it features ice baths, golf swings and Carissa Moore inspired backside mid-face 360s. I am calling it a must-watch for every rubber enthusiast in the world.  

Florence Gets His GOAT, Medina, and a Pipe Masters to Boot

Pro surfing = BACK! You can’t script this. But if you could, you would have put John John Florence in the final against Gabriel Medina. You probably wouldn’t have missed a few really good days of waves due to the CEO getting COVID but hey, it was still a great final day. If you missed it, here’s what, exactly, you missed. 

Coco Ho Is A Strong, Independent Woman And She Don’t Need No Interviewer 

Did you know that Coco Ho will happily talk to any fan she meets on the beach? She’s a terrific person. She will also talk to herself — which she had to do for this piece. Click to read an insightful interview with Coco Ho, by Coco Ho.

Want to watch the final episode of Stab High (For Free)*

I remember the last asterisk I saw in surfing during a year in which the World Title wasn’t decided at Pipeline. But, Hobgoodery aside, this is a much different situation. This is about being able to watch the last episode of Stab High if you jump on a free Stab Premium trial. I think I’ve used five different email addresses for Amazon Prime trials in my life. This won’t work like that. Get your free month now, because it likely won’t happen again anytime soon. 

Want something to get into? 

It will be nearly a month until the next CT event begins at Sunset. Do you know how much good surfing is going to go down on the North Shore between now and then? A ridiculous amount. And the digital edition of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is going to bring you closer to it. Click above for the roster (Spoiler: It contains many World Titles) and some details. 

Want to celebrate a birthday? 

Good week for it. Dane Reynolds gifted Micky Clarke (but mostly all of us) the gift of this edit to celebrate Micky’s 22nd birthday. I like the way this kid surfs and the film feels so very Dane. Watch, celebrate.

One last thing: 
Always trust, but never hype, a Christmas swell.