project Velo

oops! I have responded to a couple of messages and within those responses I gave out an incorrect web site-sorry!!So, for those of you who are interested in checking out Paul Gross’ project Velo, check out Blast Kneeboards Hawaii, (not blast surfboards).As Paul would say,“keep it smooth…” Matt

oops! I have responded to a couple of messages and within those responses > I gave out an incorrect web site-sorry!!So, for those of you who are > interested in checking out Paul Gross’ project Velo, check out Blast > Kneeboards Hawaii, (not blast surfboards).As Paul would say,“keep it > smooth…” Matt way cool site!! >> Matt here are some ???>> if Paul G.s project Velo is authorised, why dont those kneeboards hes making have G.G.s only logo, (the G.G. Fighter Plane ) on them?? is G.G. personally autographing his replicas? and what is G.G. getting a thing aside from the publicity out of this whole shebang?? He dont even ride his kneeboards anymore, not his carbon edge ones or old hulls, sold all the primest ones to some dude in SoCal, so whatsup with Paul G.saying he makes the ones G.G. rides? M.Cundith in OZ said G.G. didnt know a thing about the Project Velo buzz a 3 or 4 months ago>>> whatsup???

way cool site!! >> Matt here are some ???>> if Paul G.s > project Velo is authorised, why dont those kneeboards hes making have > G.G.s only logo, (the G.G. Fighter Plane ) on them?? is G.G. personally > autographing his replicas? and what is G.G. getting a thing aside from the > publicity out of this whole shebang?? He dont even ride his kneeboards > anymore, not his carbon edge ones or old hulls, sold all the primest ones > to some dude in SoCal, so whatsup with Paul G.saying he makes the ones > G.G. rides? M.Cundith in OZ said G.G. didnt know a thing about the Project > Velo buzz a 3 or 4 months ago>>> whatsup??? In a phone call with George earlier this year, he said that he had not used a kneeboard in a long time… just too crowded when the conditions are right for the use of his hulls or carbon graphite edge boards. George sailboards, and for surfing, uses his ultralight nylon surfmats exclusively because of their wide, neutral operating range in a variety of surface conditions, speed, sensitivity, portability and of course, pure fun. In the past, when asked which of all his surfcraft he would use if he had to choose just one, George said he would prefer his surfmats over all else. He did sell his favorite, older kneeboards to an individual in Southern California; as he explained it, he wanted them to be safe and available for the public to view. Because I havent spoken with Paul Gross (George, Paul and I were 4th Gear Flyer) of late, I dont know much of anything about the other things mentioned, except that Michael Cundith was one of the founders of Wilderness Surfboards, and has been shaping in Australia for a number of years. The owner, operator and shaper of Wilderness Surfboards in Santa Barbara, CA for the last 3 decades has been Bob Duncan, who freely uses Georges well-known fighter plane logo with Georges approval. This much is for sure: Paul is a long-time friend and co-worker of Georges, and a meticulous and intelligent craftsman, skilled and quite able to accurately translate Georges displacement hull/kneeboard and fin concepts. Check Alan “Bud” McCray`s “Blast Hawaii” website out (www.blasthawaii.com/) and contact Paul personally about your questions.

oops! I have responded to a couple of messages and within those responses > I gave out an incorrect web site-sorry!!So, for those of you who are > interested in checking out Paul Gross’ project Velo, check out Blast > Kneeboards Hawaii, (not blast surfboards).As Paul would say,“keep it > smooth…” Matt Of note about Blast Kneeboard shaper, Alan McCray, he has one arm and vision in only one eye…talk about overcoming a handicap!!

Of note about Blast Kneeboard shaper, Alan McCray, he has one arm and > vision in only one eye…talk about overcoming a handicap!! Ive thought also that Buddys personal story of survival and victory would make an absolutely inspiring documentary, guaranteed to reach beyond the world of surfing, giving much needed hope. Perhaps someone will make it… He`s the man!

I would hope that we might someday see something written of this in the “Journal”. I just visited the Blast Hawaii site and read the Velo notes and was facinated by the photos posted. Everytime I see one of those spoons and review “Innermost Limits” or “Crystal Voyager” I’m captivated almost, speechless. One question: how is the initial hull shape templated for rocker? A release mold with the foam rails integrated as a part of the initial lamination? Then I suppose the rest could be laid up like making a huge fin. Whew! lots of work and a bargain at twice the price. (hope I never see a Surftech label on one, ;0{ Tom>>> Ive thought also that Buddys personal story of survival and victory > would make an absolutely inspiring documentary, guaranteed to reach beyond > the world of surfing, giving much needed hope. Perhaps someone will make > it… He`s the man!

way cool site!! >> Matt here are some ???>> if Paul G.s > project Velo is authorised, why dont those kneeboards hes making have > G.G.s only logo, (the G.G. Fighter Plane ) on them?? is G.G. personally > autographing his replicas? and what is G.G. getting a thing aside from the > publicity out of this whole shebang?? He dont even ride his kneeboards > anymore, not his carbon edge ones or old hulls, sold all the primest ones > to some dude in SoCal, so whatsup with Paul G.saying he makes the ones > G.G. rides? M.Cundith in OZ said G.G. didnt know a thing about the Project > Velo buzz a 3 or 4 months ago>>> whatsup??? when finished they will have the airplane logo(if so desired)no, he is not.p.g.keeps in contact with g.g. over the phone.g.g. is fairly stoked on the project.p.g. has made boards with and for g.g. in the past.p.g. is using g.g.'s original molds etc.you can’t believe all of the numbers and measurements involved in these boards and p.g., being a perfectionist, is mking sure these are exact.in fact, g.g. liked the boards p.g. made him cause he took the extra time to finish them as near perfect as possible-g.g. wouldn’t usually take that extra step-as soon as he could he got them in the water to test 'em out. true,g.g. just rides his mat now- i say “just”- he f’n rips on those things!

Of note about Blast Kneeboard shaper, Alan McCray, he has one arm and > vision in only one eye…talk about overcoming a handicap!! no kidding! according to paul, alan is an incredible surfer/shaper despite all that.

I would hope that we might someday see something written of this in the > “Journal”. I just visited the Blast Hawaii site and read the > Velo notes and was facinated by the photos posted. Everytime I see one of > those spoons and review “Innermost Limits” or “Crystal > Voyager” I’m captivated almost, speechless. One question: how is the > initial hull shape templated for rocker? A release mold with the foam > rails integrated as a part of the initial lamination? Then I suppose the > rest could be laid up like making a huge fin. Whew! lots of work and a > bargain at twice the price. (hope I never see a Surftech label on one, ;0{>>> Tom I truly doubt that would ever happen. I am quite sure George and Paul would draw the line there.Besides, I don’t think a surftech type board would flex enough, if at all, and flex is what spoons are all about!

As far as Buddy McCray, I remember him fom my North Shore days wery well. Not only was he a great kneerider, but a truly bitchen guy, a true inspiration. aloha

As far as the construction of spoons go this is how I used to build mine: I’d shape the bottom and the rails of the board and leave the deck flat. I’d then glass the bottom up to the top of the rails with I think 3 layers of 6 oz. I’d then cut out the foam out of the deck and shape the tops of the rails. The next step would be to glass the deck. I can’t really remember how many layers, but I would glass it light first then keep adding more glass to diffrent part of the board until I got the flex the way I wanted it. This was in 1968 mind you so I can’t remember the exact glass specs. These were the first boards I built, so normal surfboards were a piece of cake after that. The reason I’m relating my method is because I had no idea what I was doing at the time (15 yrs old) but this seemed to be the most logical way to make them. Oh, by the way, comming off the bottom at the Wedge on those things is still one of the biggest rushes I’ve ever had in wave riding! aloha

As far as Buddy McCray, I remember him fom my North Shore days wery well. > Not only was he a great kneerider, but a truly bitchen guy, a true > inspiration.>>> aloha Here i am promoting the guy yet i never met him.by all accounts he is a real gem perhaps i,ll have the fortune, some day, of meeting him. As for building your spoons- give yourself credit-what you were doing in’68 is basically the way to build them!Later…Matt

Here i am promoting the guy yet i never met him.by all accounts he is a > real gem perhaps i,ll have the fortune, some day, of meeting him.>>> As for building your spoons- give yourself credit-what you were doing > in’68 is basically the way to build them!Later…Matt Matt, Dont feel too bad... Ive never met Paul or George and yet weve shared a good load of knowledge and labor through the years. How many of us back then (I was nervously keeping one eye on an "all-expenses-paid", military visit to Vietnam) would have guessed that the instant, world-wide, free exchange of ideas and communication would become commonplace... and so soon! I have often wondered what would have happened if the present internet had been functioning prior to the shortboard revolution! As for the flexible, kneeboard hulls, back in the early/mid 1970s, George suggested that I start shaping and gluing end grain balsa into the chines with microspheres and polyester resin, because the old foam rails would always eventually break down inside and the glass would get tired, developing a “hinge” where your knees caused them to flex/stress the most often. And just about the time these boards got to feeling really good (like a pair of worn out denium jeans), they would collapse across the hinged area, requiring immediate repair to the damaged area. Although eliminating most of the (foam) problems associated with the chines collapsing, the end grain balsa was extremely labor-intensive, so later on, George came up with the idea of hand-pouring high density (10 to 15 lb.) foam into the edges to replace the balsa. In the late 1970`s, I was purchasing the chemical components for this type of dense foam from Hastings Plastics in Santa Monica, CA. A temporary dam was built up around the rail/chine areas and the catalyzed foam was poured… it rose quickly (like some kind of groovy polyurethane bread) and hardened. It was like magic after all the hassles with fitting, gluing and shaping dozens of little end grain balsa pieces. Only the fiberglass was left to tire and break down in the usual hinge/knee spots. George and Paul moved on to hot-boxing aerospace epoxy and carbon graphite edge boards as the definitive solution to these old, nagging structural problems… and I blew out my right knee… for the first time. Dale