The Here and Now Of It

General Discussion
1

Swaylock’s has been around for but a small fraction of the modern surfing era. Even so, it has still managed to capture a lot of the recent innovation in the industry and sport. In fact, it is the kind of reference some future anthropologist would find far more revealing than a load of evolved (contrived?) mythologies. To bad it wasn’t around in the earlier part of the last century.

Sure, searching the Swaylock archives is about as much fun as dealing with that little drip of unkicked resin that manages to make it in between your toes, but it really is the only truly objective-to-the-point-of-silliness quality ‘research’ resource, and it’s still free. Well, that’s until Swaylock decides he needs another new Acura, or wants to further ‘pimp’ his current ride (… for example?)

It’s pretty obvious that the General Discussion forum is occasionally being used to move ‘product’ – not Swaylock product, but the product of others. I’m not really referring to board builders, but the other kind of stuff, you know ‘everything else.’ If they’re kicking back something to Swaylock it would be nice to know – and I’m not talking about the occasional $10 charitable pop.

Just think, if Swaylock had a little bit more money, he might get some new servers, more bandwidth, offer some better storage options, revamp his archaic archives allowing for CAD files, surf clips, etc., or maybe even start a new section for short stories or monographs – sort of full length pieces members might care to write. Or, maybe he would just buy another Acura, or a TurboPlug ($69.99, shipping extra… but then who could blame him for that! Get yours today!)

But think about it, sure Swaylock’s has been around for but a small fraction of the modern surfing era, but with each year that becomes less true – that is, it captures more of it. This truly is a one-of-a-kind kind of the surfing ‘museum’ in the making, and stands to continue to be, at least as long as Swaylock cares to let it be.

So, if you’re feeling nostalgic about surfing, and it happens to coincide with a bout of generosity, consider sending a little coin Swaylock’s way. Or maybe you’re just thankful someone has provided you with a way of moving your ‘special’ product.

Please don’t take this as my agreement with some of the arbitrary acts of storm-trooping moderator/owner authoritarianism that have occurred recently. Swaylock’s ain’t perfect; you’ve just got to take the good with the bad, and just hope you wind up with something less than a bad rash.

I for one have decided to forgive them for locking my turkey tale thread – the nights of crying myself to sleep, two failed marriages, a curious addiction to Paxil, and the binge eating had to end. So, on that note, [strike]anyone willing to pay the shipping and contribute $25 to Swaylocks can have my ‘oh so hot’ red Harbour 9 inch HP fin – used but a few times. Well, at least on a surfboard, I have used it to harvest a crop of winter wheat, and scare some kids out of my backyard.[/strike](see Note below.)

kc

PS

By the way, as far as I’m concerned, whether or not you contribute to Swaylocks will have no bearing on the value of your threads or posts. In fact, I don’t care to know the particulars of who’s giving what – it will only serve to embarrass me, and my lame-ass contribution.

Please Note:

The fin has been sold! And the contribution made to Swaylock’s by, shall we say a ‘special’ person … (though you would think having reserved parking spaces at all the beaches and malls would be special enough.) Sure it’s small, sure it’s verges on the insignificant… but, it’s just that much less Swaylock will have to save for his new grill (that’s dental, not auto)… anyway, it all adds up. Thanks


2

nice

3

Hi -

“I don’t care to know the particulars of who’s giving what”

Your point is well taken. I just wanted to respond if anybody does care…

FWIW, I’d like to point out that some of the industry guys who don’t owe us a dime have generously supported the fund raising raffles we’ve staged at the group camps in Big Sur. It might not sound like much but every item donated possibly generates another couple dollars in ticket sales. It all adds up.

This year is no exception. I’ve made a few inquiries and have received some very positive feedback. In some cases, they contacted me first.

Sorry if this sounds like I’m pimping the event again but I’d like to thank a few people who have already pledged some blanks and other stuff for our foam comparison display and raffle this year…

[]A blank and full length half-blank from Kip Nead at Ice-Nine Foam Works []A Bio-Foam blank from Chuck Menzel at Wetsand.com []Poly and EPS blanks from Kimberly Thress at US Blanks []A blank from Clay Peterson at Marko Foam []A complete board making kit with Walker blank from Scott at Foam, Fins and Fiberglass in Ventura []A blank and foam samples from Scott Saunders at Just Foam [*]A completely custom hand made longboard by Guilhem Rainfray (Balsa) of Guethary Surfboards in France

They are not only providing us with some great stuff, they all seem genuinely stoked to be able to help us out…

The responses have been along the lines of “Just tell me what you’d like to have and I’ll be glad to help you out.”, “US Blanks would love to donate a few boards for your campout, maybe a couple PU and a couple EPS. Please let me know what you need and we can go from there.”, "I’m the Nor-Cal rep for Ice-Nine Foam Works. We’re a new blank manufacturer. I was wondering if you like us to donate a blank for the

Swayloholics raffle in October?", “I would more than be happy to offer up a Biofoam blank for raffle, and some chunks. Let me know how we can get it up to you. I am in Ventura. When would you need it?”, “I just wanted to let you know I will donate a board kit for the raffle . A Walker blank, cloth, resin fin etc. just keep me informed as of when.”

These are actual cut/pastes of emails and PMs I’ve received. Let’s face it … nobody is forcing them to provide free samples in support of our little event. They know we are mostly hobbyists who will likely be buying just one or two blanks via retail outlets like Fiberglass Supply, FoamEZ, Bashams, or Foam, Fins and Fiberglass. I take it as a gesture of good will that they are willing to help us out at all. Otherwise they’d stick with the trade shows.

We’re going to have samples of some of the newest foams out there and thanks to the good will and generosity of these people, some lucky raffle winners will be heading home with some great prizes. I’ve somehow managed to convince myself that those in attendance will be among the few with a first hand idea of what is currently happening in the world of foam since the Clark shut down.

As an attendee, you’re going to be helping out!

The best part of Swaylocks has always been about people helping each other out. Usually it’s tips on building boards but I’ve seen plenty of moral support and Aloha spirit when people are having issues with other stuff… family members dying, business problems, medical advice, vacation rentals, etc have all been brought up and addressed by other participants.

In spite of being a likely target, the “industry” has it’s share of people who are willing to help out too.

4

John,

It would be nice if you’re going to quote me, that you get it right, here’s the part you left out:

Quote:
….  – it will only serve to embarrass me, and my lame-ass contribution.</blockquote></div>

I was unaware that such contributions had or were being made.

Quote:

[*]A blank and full length half-blank from Kip Nead at Ice-Nine Foam Works

[*] A Bio-Foam blank from Chuck Menzel at Wetsand.com

[*] Poly and EPS blanks from Kimberly Thress at US Blanks

[*] A blank from Clay Peterson at Marko Foam

[*] A complete board making kit with Walker blank from Scott at Foam, Fins and Fiberglass in Ventura

[*] A blank and foam samples from Scott Saunders at Just Foam

[*] A completely custom hand made longboard by Guilhem Rainfray (Balsa) of Guethary Surfboards in France

… and embarassed, my lame-ass is.

kc

5

Hi -

It wasn’t meant to be enbarrassing and I apologize for taking the snipped quote out of context. It just seemed like an opportune moment to pimp this year’s event and give a little credit to the folks willing to sponsor us.

The “industry” as most of us view it has a bad name around here for some reason. Behind the scene, a lot of them are not such a bad bunch. I read about the shaping shed deal on another thread and realized that some of the worst people to deal with are your “bros.”

6

Like I believe you think I was offended?

Please, consider my lame-ass at your disposal for future embarrassment - anytime.

In fact, here are few more asses at yours and Swaylock’s disposal.

kc

7

OK, two things…turbo plugs?

Second, check your PMs.

–Ben

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Its the turbo plug that scares me

9

One hundred and sixty five thousand happy customers couldn’t be wrong*!

kc

*, Estimate is based on projected future sales and is independent of the sales TurboFins. So, I guess that is sort of scary.

10

See http://www.swaylocks.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=336120;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread for more…

kc

11

Somehow I missed that one! So wrong, and yet so right.

–BCo

12

Thanks for the post John Mellor…

KCasey ,

The only person calling you an ASS is you.

Sure these guys have some thing to sell but they also give free professional expert advice. I called ProBox Larry to place an order. I asked about 10" center fin channels. He said he would send me a sample…Well ,he sent me three center fin channels for FREE !!! One week later Larry called me to make sure I got my fins and boxes and other stuff. Oh yeah he sent me a new router bit too , no charge. Larry just called to see if I had any questions about installing the fin channels. We talked about the different install methods and he asked me what foam I was using ect. He set me straight on some things. Disscussed pros and cons of different things fin and fin box related. Great guy , great product, great customer service. The next day I see LOXBOX reply to a thread where a guy has a fin box install question. The strongest install method that LOKBOX recommended is also the strongest method that ProBoxLarry talked to me about over the phone.

As far as the link you posted…I’ve never tried a turbo tunnel fin but I got to chat with The Greek…

Have a great day Kevin. If your thinking about going to Big Sur to win big let me know and I will save you a parking space.

Ray

13

Couple of things …

Occasionally referring to myself as an ass is just my way of maintaining perspective. I don’t know when I started to do it or why, but I do know that it has on occasion, been a good call. As for Larry’s posts and threads – as far as I’m concerned they are remarkable. Interesting in themselves, sure, but especially in terms of their value as a resource. But the same is true for many, if not most others.

You’ll have to forgive me, I’m not really into legends, mythologies, heroes, etc. I tend to prefer the, more often than not, confused muddled exchanges of characters that occasionally manage to do remarkable things, and Swaylock’s is currently capturing a lot of just that. And it does with it minimal editing and with a minimal agenda. Though at times threads and posts seem to move into the fantastic, on the whole it is ‘real’ – eventually, what works is all that matters. Please contrast this with, all be them interesting, the highly selective and edited, museums or personal recountings of what was, or how things came to be - Swaylock’s is raw, it’s about the best ‘collective’ peek into the sausage factory you can get.

If the last few generations of surfers is any indication, in twenty or thirty years, when the current generation of surfers start getting warm and fuzzy about the innovation they brought to both the industry and sport, and there is a hell of a lot of it, if Swaylock’s is still around, or its archives still available, they will have something no prior generation can claim – a real insight into exactly how and what got into the sausage in the first place – not the vague dim light of the shadows of giants, heroes, legends and demigods and their selective and likely edited musings - just surfers struggling to make the next ride – the ride – nonsense, stupidity, genius, insight, the whole confused mess.

The point of the initial post was to suggest that people who have the resources to, might wish to consider kicking a little Swaylock’s way – just trying to keep the lights on in the sausage factory sort of thing.

kc