HEY R.I.,Your Katin Team stuff.................

…Well,I gave it my best shot,I found out that George sold the business to K-2 CORP.and it hasn’t been the same since.When I inquired with the shop in SunsetBeach,Ca.,I got alot of low level heckling from some young adult employees that thought that they were king,and didn’t Know who I was.The employees were to the point of being insultive,so I left before I chewed them a…well you know. …You might what to write George personally,he still manages the business for K-2.As far as doing any shopping there again,F*** IT!!!Walter,and Nancy would be bummed if they knew how things are handled,it’s makes me sad,really sad.Herb

…Well,I gave it my best shot,I found out that George sold the > business to K-2 CORP.and it hasn’t been the same since.When I inquired > with the shop in SunsetBeach,Ca.,I got alot of low level heckling from > some young adult employees that thought that they were king,and didn’t > Know who I was.The employees were to the point of being insultive,so I > left before I chewed them a…well you know. …You > might what to write George personally,he still manages the business for > K-2.As far as doing any shopping there again,F*** IT!!!Walter,and Nancy > would be bummed if they knew how things are handled,it’s makes me > sad,really sad.Herb We used to drive down from Ventura to get trunks there in the mid 60’s I stopped in there about a year ago & it just aint the same. Progress is a bitch sometimes, but an inevitable one. I still have one old t-shirt left.

I still have an old pair that I got around 1967 or so blue with white competition bands.A friggin 30 inch waste which does not apply to current body configurations.If I can find them (and that is if) I may give them to somebody that would wear em…R.B.

Progress is a bitch, but an inevitable one. Spoken like a true Ventura County person, where “progress” always seems to equate to devolution. Herb’s sad story is beyond being an exception. God knows how much money this costs surf shops. After a similar thread months ago I heard back-channel from a couple of guys who said they thought this became status quo to maintain a cheap shop labor force, but I can’t see how that makes any economic sense at all. Still, Pacific Sunwear had a record holiday season, and the so-called “cred” of the real surf shops probably props them up. Maybe we could get the ASR Trade Show people to let us put on a Swaylock’s Seminar: “Try A Little Courtesy”.

Spoken like a true Ventura County person, where “progress” > always seems to equate to devolution. Herb’s sad story is beyond being an > exception. God knows how much money this costs surf shops. After a similar > thread months ago I heard back-channel from a couple of guys who said they > thought this became status quo to maintain a cheap shop labor force, but I > can’t see how that makes any economic sense at all. Still, Pacific Sunwear > had a record holiday season, and the so-called “cred” of the > real surf shops probably props them up.>>> Maybe we could get the ASR Trade Show people to let us put on a Swaylock’s > Seminar: “Try A Little Courtesy”. Alright, I’m on this bandwagon…I’ve gone in to SURFRIDE, Solana Beach, CA several times with a pocket full of cash and been totally ignored by 20 year old ‘clerkoffs’, not even the standard “Hi, can i help you”. The managment obviously sucks or doesn’t care that Mitch’s Surf Shop is a half a block away(way nicer). Of course if you don’t call and complain to Managers (with a clerks name!) how are they going to know? Of course we were all respectful young men when we were growing up!! (Oh my GOD, I’m starting to sound like my parents!!!).

Alright, I’m on this bandwagon…I’ve gone in to SURFRIDE, Solana > Beach, CA several times with a pocket full of cash and been totally > ignored by 20 year old ‘clerkoffs’, not even the standard “Hi, can i > help you”. The managment obviously sucks or doesn’t care that Mitch’s > Surf Shop is a half a block away(way nicer). Of course if you don’t call > and complain to Managers (with a clerks name!) how are they going to know? > Of course we were all respectful young men when we were growing up!! (Oh > my GOD, I’m starting to sound like my parents!!!). “Clerkoffs” - absolutely classic! As for being respectable when we were young, I guess that comes and goes at younger ages (and sometimes gets worse as time goes on ;-)), but a lot of the shops at the start of the 70’s used to feel about half-family…if you surfed you sort of belonged. Now it’s all divide and conquer the disposeable dollars.

“Clerkoffs” - absolutely classic!>>> As for being respectable when we were young, I guess that comes and goes > at younger ages (and sometimes gets worse as time goes on ;-)), but a lot > of the shops at the start of the 70’s used to feel about half-family…if > you surfed you sort of belonged. Now it’s all divide and conquer the > disposeable dollars. …Nels you hit on the head,I’m not saying there’s not other family oriented shops out there(probably more small shops than big ones),but Nancy was like family to me.And I’m sorry that I even feel about it the way I do.I really don’t hold any real dislikes towards the shop,I just hope that when I ran my shop in the 70s I was a better person than that.Herb

…Well,I gave it my best shot,I found out that George sold the > business to K-2 CORP.and it hasn’t been the same since.When I inquired > with the shop in SunsetBeach,Ca.,I got alot of low level heckling from > some young adult employees that thought that they were king,and didn’t > Know who I was.The employees were to the point of being insultive,so I > left before I chewed them a…well you know. …You > might what to write George personally,he still manages the business for > K-2.As far as doing any shopping there again,F*** IT!!!Walter,and Nancy > would be bummed if they knew how things are handled,it’s makes me > sad,really sad.Herb Howzit Herb, Water and Nancy were sponsors of our surf club (Westcoast Wanderers) in the 60’s. We always stopped by to talk story on the way home from the beach. They loved surfing and surfers and always did whatever they could to promote surfing. Entered the first Katin contest and took down Bill Wetzel in my heat. Walter and Nancy were top drawer. Aloha, Kokua

Howzit Herb, Water and Nancy were sponsors of our surf club (Westcoast > Wanderers) in the 60’s. We always stopped by to talk story on the way home > from the beach. They loved surfing and surfers and always did whatever > they could to promote surfing. Entered the first Katin contest and took > down Bill Wetzel in my heat. Walter and Nancy were top drawer. Aloha, > Kokua Retail 101, most disgruntled customers don’t go away mad, BUT they do go away. I do everything I can, within reason to support family run retail business’s. Mall’s suck and the retail help, well maybe I shouldn’t be "large retail chain employee Bashing ???

Retail 101, most disgruntled customers don’t go away mad, BUT they do go > away. I do everything I can, within reason to support family run retail > business’s. Mall’s suck and the retail help, well maybe I shouldn’t be > "large retail chain employee Bashing ??? I remember to all that Nancy did for surfing the old WSA then the Katin which Kokua i surfed in too… I wonder if we surfed in the same heats??? That was a long time ago. Goldwest street Big close out with the rip run it was hard to stay in the line up lit alone even get out… Retail is based on happy customers service. Hell at the RA shop in the mid 70’s we got guys drunk then sell them a board… You know those guys never went anywhere else. They were like so stoked to just chill and have a beer with the boys… That was the good old days. now we have Costco which would you want. http://surfnwsc.com

…Well,I gave it my best shot,I found out that George sold the > business to K-2 CORP.and it hasn’t been the same since.When I inquired > with the shop in SunsetBeach,Ca.,I got alot of low level heckling from > some young adult employees that thought that they were king,and didn’t > Know who I was.The employees were to the point of being insultive,so I > left before I chewed them a…well you know. …You > might what to write George personally,he still manages the business for > K-2.As far as doing any shopping there again,F*** IT!!!Walter,and Nancy > would be bummed if they knew how things are handled,it’s makes me > sad,really sad.Herb Herb, You have a good memory, we had that conversation via e-mail quite a while ago. The buddy of mine who ran the Con shop and sponsered the Con Competion Team/ East, purchased all his baggies and team jacket’s from “Katin”. I think I had told you I still have, in like new condition, this is somewhere around circa 65,66,67. By the way this old friend moved from R.I. to Encinitas about 10 years ago, with a 2-3yr layover in Aspen, working as a ski instructor. Best Regards, Fred

…Did you guys know Guy Gundy,he was always really cool to me and my brother.I use to skate,and surf with him on a regular basis.Herb

…Did you guys know Guy Gundy,he was always really cool to me and my > brother.I use to skate,and surf with him on a regular basis.Herb Hell yes he was one of the HB crew. I didn’t travel the same circles but HB had many… But i surfed with Guy for years… I met him after his state vacation… He was a good surfer… You Had to of known Dave Dilbert Down hill racer of the day… with Guy. Dave showed me how to ding repair… Plus how to tube ride the Pier without a leash… Then how to fix your broken board by the next day… http://surfnwsc.com

Hell yes he was one of the HB crew. I didn’t travel the same circles but > HB had many… But i surfed with Guy for years… I met him after his state > vacation… He was a good surfer… You Had to of known Dave Dilbert Down > hill racer of the day… with Guy. Dave showed me how to ding repair… Plus > how to tube ride the Pier without a leash… Then how to fix your broken > board by the next day… …Dave and I raced SignalHill,along with a host of others like Guy. …The kicker,Do you remember the Dave Dillberg Downhill Racing deck on the wall behind the counter at George’s Surfshop?A O.d green deck,with a Red bottom.My sponsor bought that board for me to use in the 78’ race.I stll have the receipt,small world,huh.Herb

…Did you guys know Guy Gundy,he was always really cool to me and my > brother.I use to skate,and surf with him on a regular basis.Herb Howzit Herb, the name sounds familiar but that was a long time ago,how about a time frame. I know I’m about 7 yrs older than you and I don’t know about Robs age. I left H.B in late 69’ for Haw. and never looked back. Aloha, Kokua

Howzit Herb, the name sounds familiar but that was a long time ago,how > about a time frame. I know I’m about 7 yrs older than you and I don’t know > about Robs age. I left H.B in late 69’ for Haw. and never looked back. > Aloha, Kokua …I was moving from ImperialBeach to Bell/H.P. IN 69’.That’s how I missed you.Robs closer to my age,he’s like 3 years older,rather than 7 or so,and left for hawaii in 77? If my memory serves me. …In 69 my whole world was about to turn over and get spilled out on the grounds of L.A./Venice/O.C…My dad just had to move back to his home town,but all in all I survived.My classmates of some 25 years later still concider me a outsider,and didn’t even contact me for the reunion this past summer,geee I feel bad…On another note…my Great Grandparents(the Mains owned most of Bell/Maywood,and my Great Granny was named First Lady of Bell…But I was the outsider???..Big Daddy was really cool to me and could see I was not ajusting well,He sat me down and told me stories of my rich family heritage in the SE.L.A.area.His house was down the block from where my grandfather built his first home…I bounced around from home to home back then,my dad’s,my mom’s my older bro in hawaii,you get the picture. …Hey kokua,did you ever go in a market in Bell on Gage av.and Wilcox?After my Greats sold the land off to the developers they opened that store,I have a painting of it that my aunt painted in say 61’Herb

… Went into Katins and bought my oldest bor a nice Hawaiian Shirt for $35.00 half off sale though i did see a Joel Tudor fish for $680.00 can’t understand anyone paying that much money for an old styled surfboard, and what does Joel have anything to do with a Fish …I always see him on a longboard! The few that were in Katin that knew me took good care of me and it was cool …They took all the stickers off the front window though…I wonder what happened to Herb’s drawing that he drew for Nancy back in the early 70’s…one was titled in the Eye of the storm and it had David Nuuhiwa riding a fish in the eye of an great tube…Nancy used to keep it behind the counter… Sorry Surfboards cost to much $ for me. At least I have my original Dyno David Nuuhiwa’ fished to surf…or my Bro’s that he makes for me once every 3 years …by the I took 4th in the Seniors division class at the Surfline Championships had a great time debating on if I cut guys off twice in my pre-lim heat…? how do you cut surfers off when you ride a 8.5" longboard and they ride 6.4" in your heat? If a 6 were 9 I don’t mind…

…I was moving from ImperialBeach to Bell/H.P. IN 69’.That’s how I > missed you.Robs closer to my age,he’s like 3 years older,rather than 7 or > so,and left for hawaii in 77? If my memory serves me.>>> …In 69 my whole world was about to turn over and get spilled > out on the grounds of L.A./Venice/O.C…My dad just had to move back to his > home town,but all in all I survived.My classmates of some 25 years later > still concider me a outsider,and didn’t even contact me for the reunion > this past summer,geee I feel bad…On another note…my Great > Grandparents(the Mains owned most of Bell/Maywood,and my Great Granny was > named First Lady of Bell…But I was the outsider???..Big > Daddy was really cool to me and could see I was not ajusting well,He sat > me down and told me stories of my rich family heritage in the > SE.L.A.area.His house was down the block from where my grandfather built > his first home…I bounced around from home to home back then,my > dad’s,my mom’s my older bro in hawaii,you get the picture.>>> …Hey kokua,did you ever go in a market in Bell on Gage > av.and Wilcox?After my Greats sold the land off to the developers they > opened that store,I have a painting of it that my aunt painted in say > 61’Herb Howzit Herb, moved back to Bell in 69’ that must have been quite a cultural shock. Not sure if I ever went to the market,what was it’s name? I know what you mean about being an outsider, I’ve never gotten a notice of class reunions either and they know where to find me. Some classmates (about 10 of us )and I had our own reunion in Vegas 5 days after 911, rented a high roller suite and had a great time. When I graduated from H.P. ther were only 3 real surfers in the school and 2 of use live here in Hanalei. We never quite fit in and spent more time in South Gate where our surf club was based, no wonder we were outcasts, we hung with the enemy.Aloha, Kokua

Howzit Herb, moved back to Bell in 69’ that must have been quite a > cultural shock. Not sure if I ever went to the market,what was it’s name? > I know what you mean about being an outsider, I’ve never gotten a notice > of class reunions either and they know where to find me. Some classmates > (about 10 of us )and I had our own reunion in Vegas 5 days after 911, > rented a high roller suite and had a great time. When I graduated from > H.P. ther were only 3 real surfers in the school and 2 of use live here in > Hanalei. We never quite fit in and spent more time in South Gate where our > surf club was based, no wonder we were outcasts, we hung with the > enemy.Aloha, Kokua …I think it was called the Gage av.market or Wilcox av. market.Tried to contact some of my reletives ,but no ones home right now,at any rate, it’s nice to know that someone else lived there that really surfed,not just had rax on there car and wore Hawaiian shirts to school.Herb