A story and plea for advice

General Discussion
1

Last night was awesome! I caught some waves after work. I then met up with my friends and went to a surf movie premiere at this movie theatre where they serve food and beverages. Tony from WBlivesurf.com put on the event and it was super fun as always. we watched drive thru south africa, which was pretty entertaining (anything with J bay footage is entertaining in my estimation). I ate 23 chicken wings by myself and was a very very happy man. (All this background crap is furnished with a mind toward sharing the stoke.)

Tony always does a raffle at these movie premieres and gives away hats, tshirts, board bags, and other wave riding accoutrements. Occassionally, he will raffle off a big ticket item like a board. I never win anything at these raffles so I had planned on not buying a ticket. However, when I arrived at the show, what do I see leaning against the wall up in the up for grabs position? A 6’2’’ x 19 1/4’’ MR twin fin. It’s one of the modern ones. It’s airbrushed green and yellow. No signature on the stringer so possibly ghost shaped. I think I read something about the new MRs being made by biolos? Anyway, on the nose of this thing, in black permanent marker it says: “Life is short. Don’t Waste it. Go Surfing! Best wishes, Mark Richards.” Can I get a “hell yeah”?

So naturally I buy a ticket or 6. People are buying tons of tickets. It was a super crowded event. I figured that maybe I’d get a Tshirt or something. The movie ended and I was busily cleaning up hot sauce with my moist towelette as they began calling ticket numbers. People were going down front a picking up hats and Ts and pictures. Finally, the moment of truth, the grand prize drawing. I remember thinking to myself: ‘someone is going to win that board–that is epic!’ I was truly excited by the idea that anyone was going to get to leave with it under their arm and I was getting stoked up for the lucky one. Tony called out the number–696. There was a pause. 696–wait a minute. I looked down at my ticket–696. YESSS!!! I stood up in disbelief. I tried to preserve a modicum of dignity as I walked down the aisle to collect the board by keeping the fist pumping and heel clicking to a minimum. All my buddies were groaning saying: the guy who can make his own boards wins the board?

The whole situation was epic. All my friends and acquantainces in attendance good naturedly informed me that I am a dick. All the grommies were frothing and swarming around asking: “Are you going to ride it? Are you going to ride it?”;

and that, rachel and gentlemen, is the question.

The board was oringinally donated to a charity auction benefiting a family in medical and financial crisis. It sold alongside AI and slater autographed boards. It fetched 1600 dollars and the bidder gratuitously gave the board back so it might raise more money (that is sweet, huh). Tony explained he felt the board should be given away, hence raffling it. The whole affair is quite soulful, if I may say so. It is in mint condition, never ridden nor waxed. The glass job feels pretty dang light. The dims are perfect for me. I could care less how much it is worth in dollar terms as I would never sell it or part with it (except, I suppose, for charitable purposes). I’ve never really liked the idea of a wall hanger, but …; I want to ride it so bad. I think Mark would tell me to ride it. Still, I’m leaning toward wall hanger status. Maybe in my office.

A wise man seeks counsel. What better place than Sways? Any thoughts, encouragment, or reproof will be appreciated.

thanks for reading.

hunter

2

“I ate 23 chicken wings by myself …”

that , you , see is clearly at the root of your problem

Dr. Phil

…‘should I ride a Mark Richards twin fin ?’ …what kind of question is THAT !!!

3

point well taken chippa. I knew you would say that.

let me clarify as to the wings: I ate the wings during the film. I was not alone. I ate them by myself in the sense that I consumed them without assistance. (I got 24 and let John have 1)

4

“YEAH , LOS TURDOS’ , YOU BETTER RIDE IT . I didn’t win four world titles in a row by hanging my boards on a wall and looking at them all day long , wondering how they would surf , you know …”

the great M.R. has spoken …heck , who am I to argue ??

ben

5

By all means hang it on a wall, as long as you keep it waxed up and ready go surfing on whenever you feel like it. It’s nice to look at surfboards but they are really meant to be surfed.

6

well, you could make a copy of it for yourself, then give it back to be re-sold for even more $ to assist the family in need…or something along those lines.

7

If you’re going to ride it, ride it. If you’re going to hang it on the wall maybe you could take a picture of it and hang it on the wall instead and say “this is the board I won and then donated back to be reauctioned. It had already been donated and redonated before I reredonated it.”

Might be a better story. And maybe it would become a habit for that board.

8

Totally agree, lets see how much money that board can generate…specially for a good cause.

9

You might even get the person who originally donated it and the person who won and redonated it to sign and date when they donated it. Sort of a history written right on the board. Then it would be truly unique.

10

Right, adds to the provenance of it and all. Maybe not signing it but get statements from them both. Very good idea.

And, by the bye, if you do so it’ll be a nice tax deduction ( he wrote in mid April in the USA) .

And maybe, sometime, if it keeps getting raffled and such, it’ll wind up with a skilled but broke kid who can surf the bejeezus out of it.

Funny, the only raffle I ever won was one where ( as the new association member) I was picked to pull the tickets out of the hat. And yes, I did indeed turn the prize back to the association. I still buy raffle tickets for raffles I’m associated with, but I buy them in the name of other people who can use the stuff more than I can… simplifies things that way.

doc…

11

Congrats. I would keep it for a while and try to make a very close copy. Ride the copy and then decide what to do with the original.

When I first started shaping, having boards around (both at home and local shops) really helped. Sounds to me like you value the nostalgic aspect of the board more.

12

I won the sweetest Tim Bessell 5’9" fish at the rob machado surf classic here in cardiff:

Friends were saying, “hang it” but I have had so many fun days on this board. If I had hung it I would really be missing out. The charity life of the board is really heavy though. Maybe make a copy, hang it, and pass it on with the next good opportunity.

How is Wilmington? I used to live on oak island/long beach a bit south of you.

13

I agree with Craftee.

14

I think you should donate it to a swaylockian cause. Specifically to helping out Havaard and his little girl. He posted that she got diagnosed with leukemia. Maybe they don’t need help financially but it could go towards a leukemia foundation in his/his daughter’s name. That way you would be donating to a good cause and it would be a nice way of showing a fellow swaylockian that we are looking out for him. Just a thought.

15

Damn if i had onlywaited to visit wilmington. Oh well. the mtf in my expierence is a fun but fickle board it only likes certain waves if they arn’t just right the board with that super narrow tail kinda is boggy and craps out on ya.my friend has two. He is gonna sell the second one he got becuase the facotry mishaped it it’s 2 3/8 instead of 2 1/4, and it’s a 5 10. I would copy it, get every number you can think of and make a copy then continue with it being raffled off.

16

Oh yea while MR is on the table he has a mosquito phobia.

17

I vote w/those who say keep the love flowing, i.e., pass it on to the next good charity.

18
Quote:

I think you should donate it to a swaylockian cause. Specifically to helping out Havaard and his little girl. He posted that she got diagnosed with leukemia. Maybe they don’t need help financially but it could go towards a leukemia foundation in his/his daughter’s name. That way you would be donating to a good cause and it would be a nice way of showing a fellow swaylockian that we are looking out for him. Just a thought.

This is a good idea. Maybe set up a swaylocks raffle. Tickets can be purchased thru paypal or something, and we would all get a PM of our ticket numbers. The winner gets it, with the proceeds going to Havaard and his daughter, or a foundation of their choice…

it would be a good way to pass on the positive vibes associated with the board for a good cause!

Scott

19

Monkstar’s suggestion is very likely the most compassionate use of this “gift” - a gesture that you will never regret making and that the entire surfing community can take pride in sharing.

On the other hand, if something like this ever comes your way again, keep in mind what Velzy said, “They’re just plastic - go ride 'em!”

20

I agree with Craftee.