thanks soulstice I had no idea about all of that
i was thinking she just spilled coffee on her and made a ton of money
- logan
It is easy to understand why someone like Owl would take offence to such a story -despite the fact that it was a great read and, for me at least, the story would more likely encourage than discourage me from getting a board from him.
Huntington Beach has a contract with Coca Cola to put all their vending machines throughout the area exclusively.
Well one type of the machines dispenses Water, Dasani Water, a Coca Cola product.
Dasani normally comes in 3 flavors, regular water, lemon and cherry.
However, for the last 6 months all the lemon and cherry buttons are stocked with just normal water.
Usually on a warm day I’ll take a bike ride and/or run near the pier area and want to have a cold
bottle of lemonized water…but I cant have what the buttons on the machine say!
Needless to say it ticks me off that I currently have, to test the waters, so to say, about
every month to see when they are going to be stocking the lemon/cherrry again,if ever.
Been wanting to call the local Coca Cola bottler and leave my name and address as part of the complaint
as a lawyers office and mention the word ‘class action’. That would get thier attention.
On another front , I am 99% against class action lawsuits, as they are primarily used, they mostly just
multi-million dollar enrichment devices for lawyers with ‘little people participation’ --the common man, for pennies.
Don’t know Owl.
I read the (TSJ) story. If anything —for me—it lent to the guy’s ‘character’. Enhanced his mystique.
From what I’ve read over the years on this guy; litigation is something that Owl Chapman would deplore.
But…
If you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em?
Maybe it really is all about the money. For all of us. Sooner or later.
john brewer
Nelscott Reef Oregon Dec 2005
sounds like a storm in a teacup to me. i thought it was a good article that among other things affirmed owl’s mastery of crafting hawaiian-specific sleek singlefins.
Soulstice, are you a lawyer? Excellent job pointing out the absurdity of how the facts of the McDonald’s coffee incident have been perverted in order to further the aims of the tort reform lobby (that from a lawyer who does mostly defense work!).
The lawyer who filed Owl’s case ought to be kicked in the nuts. He hasn’t got a chance of winning. I hope Owl didn’t pay him a retainer fee.
I agree with most everyone else in this thread, if anything, the article is likely to have improved Owl’s business. It was basically free advertising in the form of a magazine profile of the legendary, underground shaper as stock North Shore character.
I am a lawyer, and I must say that after reading that article I would not buy a board from owl.
I don’t want to have to chase a guy to get my product. If you take my money and tell me monday then it should be monday.
I can understand why he would be angry, but truth is a defense to defamation, or libel (libel is written, slander is spoken)
The bottom line is if your going to take the cash at least be honest about your turn around time. How would you feel if that
was all your cash, and you didn’t have a board to surf. And when you went to get your board it wasn’t there.
howzit, bubba. i’m still finishing up law school, but don’t have any real desire to ever actually practice law. i simply don’t like the present state of the legal environment in this country, and want no part of it. did some work awhile back against the tort reform lobbies – got connected with that through an ex-girlfriend who had a med mal suit pending against the hospital that killed her father about the same time the lobbies presented to the Florida Legislature some pretty ridiculous caps on attorneys’ fees for med mal claims (essentially making it a bad bet for any lawyer to even take a case that wasn’t looking at $10million or more). more recently, though, i’ve taken an interest in criminal defense (guess i’m just sick and tired of having my rights violated by overzealous cops – which has started to become a monthly (or so) occurrence). have you heard anything about the proposed crim. pro. rule changes in Florida? – INSANITY!!! [you can check out some of the arguments and issues HERE if you’d like…it’s the first listing on Feb. 15 (my professor is addressing the Fla. Sup. Ct.)].
Sounds more like you need to be in the law-making side of the show rather than crim def… if the state is violating your rights than the best way to change that is politics. Get involved rather than wave a stick at it defending crooks. just my 2cts…
I read the article, yet I would still buy a board from Owl. Even though I already have one. Why? The guy makes great boards, that’s why… so what if you have to wait a while, really?
i would get a board from him too. i think the way the author laid it out just added a little more to the owl mystique as well.plus, not all the details are in the article…all in all it was a nice read and in no way defamed owl, and in no way did the author intend to do so…
i agree Keith
i havent seen his boards out here
but hes famous for a reason
all good things come to those who wait
nb.this next 2 paragraphs is a gross generalization . please dont take this opinion personaly or too seriously!!!
{we are talking about surfers here
not exactly the most reliable people out there
say they will come and pick it up
often late or no shows
after bro deals
never the have the money
cheques bounce
want every design possible in one surfboard
think they know more then the shaper
etc etc etc}
it would be hard enough to make boards for a living
but to put up with that much crap from your customers
and then be hassled by a comercial mag that prolly advertizes for imported boards
well
no surprizes
Hey Bill,
I hate to get off topic (well actually in this thread not too much). I just want to ask a curious question. I jsut finished reading The North Shore Chronicles and remember reading about Owl being a great shaper and big wave surfer, but when it got big he only wanted to ride his Brewer. Is that true and if it was, is it still today?
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I read the article, yet I would still buy a board from Owl. Even though I already have one. Why? The guy makes great boards, that’s why… so what if you have to wait a while, really?
I don’t have a problem if a shaper says I am very busy and your going to have to wait. I have waited over a year for a board in the past without a problem.
What I have a problem with is a guy taking your money and promising a set time with no intention of keeping it.
I don’t want to have to chase a guy down to get what he should feel morally obligated to deliver.
And if Owl reads this link he can use it in his lawsuit as it proves his point. The article, which I read and thought was amusing, did convince me that I am never going to buy a board from him.
Just a difference of opinion.
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What I have a problem with is a guy taking your money and promising a set time with no intention of keeping it.
and THAT is the root of the misunderstanding! when Owl says there’s a 6 month wait, you interpret that to mean that you’ll have your board in 6 months. well, that simply isn’t the case, and Owl’s customers [should] know that. we’re talkin’ 6 months ISLAND TIME, which fluctuates depending on how good the surf is. if it’s crankin’, 6 months might become as much as 8 or 9 months, or even 10! on the flip side, if mother ocean goes flat as a pancake, you might have your new board in 5! (probably not due to a slowed work pace caused by lack-of-wave depression…but anything’s possible).
so, “New York Surfer”…in summary…ISLAND TIME is NOT the same as New York time. in New York, March 15th means March 15th, because at 12:01am on March 16th that’s a New York Minute too late…and as any Eagles fan can tell ya, in a New York Minute, EVERYTHING CAN CHANGE!
language has many nuances that vary by locale. for example, in Jamaica, when you ask your hotel attendant for a pina colada, and he says “no problem, mon”…that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s going to get you your drink. it just means that it’s not a problem…and especially not a problem for him…cuz he isn’t gonna go and get it for ya.
in South Africa, “i’ll be there right quick” actually means “i’ll be there…eventually (which is usually anything but ‘quick’)”.
ya pickin’ up what i’m puttin’ down, my friend?!
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Hey Bill,I hate to get off topic (well actually in this thread not too much). I just want to ask a curious question. I jsut finished reading The North Shore Chronicles and remember reading about Owl being a great shaper and big wave surfer, but when it got big he only wanted to ride his Brewer. Is that true and if it was, is it still today?
Aloha TurboJets
I don’t know about that story, I never read the book. But I do know this well, that you have to be extremely careful believing anything that is ever printed or said regarding anything concerning the North Shore and the people associated with it. This place generates more erroneous and twisted rumors and stories than anyplace on earth short of Hollywood!
Next time I see Owl, if I can remember too, I will ask him about your question though. Many people here have a favorite board in their quiver that they especially enjoy riding from time to time or on special occasions. So I can easily imagine Owl having a favorite classic Brewer that he uses on certain days or conditions.
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i would get a board from him too. i think the way the author laid it out just added a little more to the owl mystique as well.
MY 2 cents worth is that article was blowing smoke…I guess it may be a “slice of life” story, but seemed to be just about as superficial as a surf article can be, and well below Surfer’s Journal standards. I don’t live on the North Shore, and I don’t know any of the guys involved, but I’ve poked my nose around there a time or two and one thing is pretty certain: that’s one small “town” and there aren’t a whole lot of secrets. That whole article dscribed the mystery of trying to get a board from Chapman but never answered “Why?”, and I’m pretty confident both the author and a lot of people who post here know why.
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plus, not all the details are in the article…all in all it was a nice read and in no way defamed owl, and in no way did the author intend to do so…
I thought it ended up being a frustrating read, but totally agree there was no intent to defame…probably quite the opposite…error to the side of protecting Chapman and that made him appear flakey. Modern surfing has been choked by surf journalism insider half-truths and gloss-overs, a veritable rot on the soul of the experience. Three and a half decades of calling someone a “character” and very little insight into what qualifies him in that regard. Some detail - good, bad, or ugly- would probably only increase the mystique.
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in South Africa, “i’ll be there right quick” actually means “i’ll be there…eventually (which is usually anything but ‘quick’)”.
From my experience it’s actually:
Just now - at some point in the near future
Right now - pretty soon
Now now - immediately, or something to that effect
But for all intents and purposes Cape Town shapers on the most part will get you your board now now if you ask for it. Usually give them about two weeks notice before showing up and it 'll be ready, glasser permitting… although if the Kom or de Hoek is cooking eh bru… may be hectic and have to get to it just now… Kief eh?
Bill,
I don’t want to step on any toes or disrespect Owl in any way, I just thought it was interesting… The book, for me, was an excellent read. Of course, I take every thing I read in it with a grain of salt.