New Board Revisited

Well, I’ve ridden my new board three times now since I picked it up from Bob Miller last Sunday and I’m extremely happy with the outcome. I’ve always found it funny when someone gets a new board and when asked how it rides, their response is a quick, “This board is bitchin’ man,” or something along those lines. I’ve only came across a couple of people who didn’t like their new boards. I’ve owned a Mandala Quad, Doc semi gun and Pearson Arrow longboard all of which I hated. Nothing against the shapes or shapers, I just didn’t connect with the boards. That’s what got me making my on equipment, I knew what I wanted and how I wanted it to surf. As with this board, most people thought I was nuts have this D fin glassed onto it including BM but he did it for me anyways, and I’m glad he did. The best part about having this board made, besides the fact of getting a new board, is getting it exactly how I wanted it. I’m still amazed and surprised that BM shaped this beast exactly how I envisioned it and all he had to work from was a crappy little sketch that I gave him. It surfs completely opposite of my pig shape and that’s what I need in my limited quiver. I guess it’s the anti-pig. It handles the medium size surf (so far only head high) with grace. It packs a whole shit load of speed when in trim and the turns are drawn out and smooth. This board is bitchin’ man! -MR

Happy Birthday MK

Today is MK's birthday. Lets catch some waves at Boatdocks in her memory. -MR

Crazy Week

This past week has been hectic with work but great news arrived on Friday. I got the call from Bob Miller on Friday afternoon that my board was finished and he was picking it up from the glassers that evening. I don’t even know how to describe the giddiness. I think I even got goose bumps. It’s such a great feeling knowing that a board is on the way but when you get word that it’s finished, it’s just overwhelming. Maybe I was just over reacting but it’s been awhile since I last bought a board. Plus I’ve thought about this design for the past four years. Drawing the board and tweaking it until it looks just right. Deciding which rails and bottom contours to apply and rethinking them over and over again. Then finally conveying what I wanted to Bob and having him make it a realty exactly how I imagined it. I really couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. The final test it still yet to come but I’ve already surfed it in my mind time and time again. Here’s a photo of Bob with the board when I picked it up today. More photos are still to come.

Another highlight this week was meeting Jim “The Genius” Phillips on Thursday night. He ventured up to the Log Shop in Pacifica to discuss board design, show a few beautifully crafted gems and educate the general public on this art. -MR

Powers of Ten

Southwinds

The smell of wet pavement and the tic, tic, tic of drops hitting the metal roof can only be one thing, RAIN! Man do I love the rain. Not only becuase it washes the piss from the city sidewalks and cleans the dirt from the urban structures but because it's so refreshing. I might be the only cheerful person on these glummy days but it's becuase I know what these low pressures just off our coast bring us, South winds. These south winds at my favorite surf spot means it's going to be off-shore. Yeah, yeah I know what you're all thinking, the first few rains also brings that nasty shit smell runoff. This is true but it also cleans up the sand bars which have been lacking latley. Now I'll just sip on my Razzmatazz Jamba Juice loaded with my free immunity boost and then I'm on it. -MR

Sea Ranchers

The Sea Ranch rests about 100 miles north of San Francisco on the rugged Sonoma County coastline. This area is steep in California history which has been occupied by the Pomo people, loggers, fur trappers, gold miners, sheep farmers and in recent years, vacationers. The Sea Ranch is a coastal development with modern vernacular structures that follow strict design guidelines. The houses resemble barns clad in wood siding that blend into the native landscaping. Recently we finished a couple houses for some very happy clients up there. So we took an office trip awhile back to visit and here are some photos on one of the projects. The other project might be in the April ‘08 issue of Dwell which we really want to happen. As you can tell from the first photo, my wife is thrilled out of her mind. -MR

And to keep it surf related. Here's a photo that was taken up the road in the town of Gualala. The large surf poured over the beach and into the lagoon forming a nice waist high a-frame.

Here's our firms website to check out the other project we've completed in the past.

http://www.mdarch.net/

Glass House

Velzy

History Lesson

Mr. John Kelly

The great surf pioneer & activist has moved on. You will be missed but never forgotten. -MR

Fading Light

The days are getting shorter. Get it while you can. -MR