Been surfing and working for the last few days so I haven’t had time to check in on with my feelings on SA2004. I’m planning on writing an article so stay tuned…
In the meantime, I want to throw out a HUGE thanks to the many people who helped make this thing a reality, again.
Thanks to the organizers John and LeeV (and any other undercover organizers I'm not aware of).
Thanks to Pete Costello for the great artwork on the back of the SA2004 Official T-shirt. People loved it.
Thanks to all the folks who traveled to the event from long and far -- bringing all sorts of goodies to share. Without you guys -- it would just be me and John and maybe Herb. Which would be fine considering how good the surf was.
Thanks to all of the folks who donated incredible stuff for the raffle -- especially the grand prize donators Dale, Paul, Lee and the folks who donated the incredible hand made fin artworks (sorry I forgot who actually donated those...bad on me.)
Ambrose who is doing the incredible Swaloholix traveling surfboard project (TSJ...HELLO?!!!).
All you folks out there who GENEROUSLY bought raffle tickets. We have collected enough money to pay for server expenses for a year!
And while I'm at it (and feeling all misty) -- thanks to all you folks who contribute to Swaylock's regularly and help to make this place what it is. This place has collective soul -- something hard to put a finger on. Someday, I wish we'll all get together for the giant Swaystock.
It was great seeing all you guys from last year and all the new faces Saturday (finally met Steiny). What a great bunch of people. The 2004SA just proves that last year’s good vibe was not a fluke. Just wish I could have spent more time with everyone.
Thanks,
Gary
P.S- Peter(PCINSC), I have an Ambrose “Surf for Peace” shirt for you (very cool shirt Ambrose, my wife and I are fighting over mine). PM me with your address so I can drop it off or I can hold it til’ I see you at beach.
Another great event and experience. Thanks to all who contributed and especially John Mellor for spear-heading everything again. The drive from Portland, Oregon was well worth it. Thanks also to all who keep my learning curve steep. Great vibe in the water too. Just bummed, and a little surprised, that no one showed with a cardboard board. Already planning for SA05.
helloooo swaylaholix… wow!!! what an awesome weekend. i loved surfing with you guys on saturday and cooking lots of great food with chef ambrose… fireside chats, naps in the tents, good beer from luckylab, fantastic vibe in the water, as well as the pleasure of surfing with people who have been surfing longer than i have been alive. all wonderful. tj and i are already looking forward to next year. we arrived back in oregon today and were greeted by an ENTIRE day of shiny glass… not a breath of wind, and a groovy, long-period south swell to boot. a full day of radical surfing to top of our radical week. thanks to all who made the big sur adventure a reality. it was great meeting you! nellyda
I just want to thank everyone for being so cordial, generous and informative. I had a grand time at the gathering and I hope to come back next year. The energy there was super, just like the crystal clear water in the cove.
There were some sweet boards there and a lot of great conversations. It sure was good to meet everyone.
Even though I rarely post, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank Mike and the rest of the guys for their knowledge, patient support and inspiration. Without you guys many of us would be floundering - and no one would be able to do a resin swirl ;). I check this site most days and am so jelous of you guys all getting together and sharing ideas and a few cool ones. Maybe one day there may be an international Swaylocks convention, or maybe the Oz chapter of Swaylocks might get it’s act together and slide a few together, all in the interests of harmony, beer and better board design.
Sorry to have missed the show… self employment obligations had me all day Friday, but still took the second half of the day to start packing the truck, hauling out the gear, grinding coffee beans etc. Still at 8:00pm couldn’t see the light and started to stress out and had to back out. It’s tough sometimes when your mind says go but the body says woe.
I had made extra Rincon trophies, from the “Clean Water Classic”, as Raffle prizes….that’s the biggest disappointment, not being there to donate to the cause. When I had heard of Matt’s late attempt to regroup his act to leave on Saturday, I had tried to hand them off to him to take up the coast. Too bad, too bad. A little bummed for sure…I’ll keep the prizes for another time.
John Mellor – I sent up the money I committed to for the Campsites.
Another job well done, as usual. Thanks have to go out to John for all of his hard work getting it all set up, we all know it’s a difficult and often thankless task. I could only stay ‘half’ the weekend, but I got a full dose nonetheless and enjoyed every one of my chats, board inspections, and new acquaintances. There’s no doubt about it, the Swaylockian Universe is a bitchen outpost of intelligence and creativity in a culure that is changing rapidly. Old School or New Skool, the campout was a reaffirmation of all that surfing comraderie can be, and I have to thank Mike for continuing to provide the canvas on which so many contributors eagerly paint their personal stories. Can’t wait for next year, and I’m down for the whole weekend, come hell or high water…!
Jef good to hookup with you and the crew, man can we BS. or what? Just was going out the door to see The State of S In SB.last nite and my new Surfers Journal arrives ,I see Parmenters article and I gota check it, the first thing I see is Commander Jef holding the Greenbeast on Daves wall , too funny!! by the way thats a very cool article.
Before I left for the last time, I stopped at the top of the stairs, and looked back down to the beach. Ambrose, Proneman, Melville and a few other Swayloholics were standing on the wet sand. Talking and gesticulating. Occasionally a full-body gesticulation. A large woman wearing a garish dress and big hat walked up next to me. She leaned over the rail and pointed. “George,” she said to her husband, “look at all of the old surfers.” Oh, Jeez! I guess Hemingway was right.