Duskie

http://www.stsurfimages.com/videos/duskie-st-surfimages-film/

Clik above link to watch a short clip I made of Brett Caller and Sage Joske sliding some late arvo waves at a mid north coast point break at sunset

Off to Japan.

The Japan Green room festival is here once again and this year Paul and Sage have been asked to provide the canvases for the Critical slide society display at the event. Sage and Paul have been super busy handcrafting five paulowina Alaia's to have them ready in time. Here are a few pics but you can check out more at The critical silde society blog and for more pic's like these at Stimages.

little runners.

I spent the this last weekend on the coffs coast but before I shot back up to Byron I caught up with my shaper and good friend Sage at a fun little right hand point to catch the last few waves of the day as the sun went down.

Cheers to STsurfimages for the pics.

 

Trio...

Nathan Oldfield took this shot out side Alpine beach surfshop on the Central Coast. We were down there at the end of last year on a little team valla road trip dropping some boards off. 

3 surfers 10 boards 1 point.

3 surfers 10 boards 1 pointbreak from Tom Woods on Vimeo.


check out more pics from this day here.

New stick on the block.

Check out my new shred stick that SJ shaped up for me. yeeeewwwwwww. 

Daisy Day.

Last year when Sage and I went to NZ we got to hook up with a photographer called Daisy. Daisy is a local girl to New Plymouth and is a women of many talents, surfing coach, photographer and she owns her own surf store. This year when I went back to New Plymouth I came a cross this book called 30 years of surf photography. I flicked a few pages in only to find a photo of a couple of familiar faces. I was so suprised and never would have thought, so I took a quick pic. Pretty classic.

A day in the Office.

I've been spending alot of time at the Valla factory this summer listening, watching and learning the craft.  Today I watched Sage shape this fish from start to finish. I love to watch a blank being mowed and I would love to shape myself a board one day when my skills are up to scratch.

NZ.

Here are some of the timber boards that Nathan, Sage and I took to New Zealand last year.

We took with us a handful of Alaias a Hot curl and Kumu. NZ is rad, to me its like a cold Indo plenty of lefthand reef breaks. I'm heading back over to NZ to the North and south Island at the end of the month I can't wait.

Kumu.

This board is one of the first boards Sage ever made and he calls it Kumu which means teacher. Its a replica of an ancient hawaiian board made from a timber called Pink floss. I have had the pleasure of riding this board a few times now but what sealed the deal for me with this board was a day in Raglan at Indicators when Sage and I took out the Hot curl for it's maiden voyage it was about 6 to 7 foot and Sage was really ripping on the hot curl. I can remember trying to stroke into a few on Kumu and it seemed impossible but then everything came together and I timed it right on about a solid five footer. The belly on this board just sucked to the wave and I could not believe the control I had. I just remember flying down this wave double fist pumping, I was so stoked.

Hard Work...

I guess it's a little strange how we as surfers put value on surfboards. It seems that we always want something for nothing. We compare the value of a Thailand pop-out to other boards that are quality and  handcrafted to individual custom orders. I think that we take for granted the beautiful end product and don't consider the hours of hard work along with the dust, grime and toxins that board makers are subjected to to create the product that we are still able to buy for basically the same price as twenty years ago. The pics above are of Sage at the Valla factory putting in the hours to create the boards that we love to ride and enjoy.

Wood.

This is a pic of Paul and Sage at the Wood fry Last year. The board that they are holding is a 7'4 Alaia made from one piece of Redcedar. The board is amazing and the craftsmanship is unbelieveable as Paul uses all hand tools and general perfects his boards down to 1/64th of an inch to perfection. I am yet to ride this one  but I'm sure its only a matter of time.

The Vector.

This board is a board created by the mind of Sage Joske.

It has a fish rocker and Alaia outline, it even has the double square edges.

If your interested to how this board goes you should checkout the Valla saltwater constucts promo on vimeo. Sage is doing some pretty crazy stuff.

Pics above are of me and Jack snapped up by Keith Novosel.

Check this out.

Valla Saltwater Constructs from Nathan Oldfield on Vimeo.

Created by no other than Mr Oldfield

Sage Joske.

So this is my shaper but also good mate Sage Joske. Sage has been making my boards for about three to four years now and I am so greatful to be apart of what he is doing as he has opened my mind to so many different ways to ride a wave.

Just recently Sage, Jack and myself have been working on a new promo for Valla surf boards with good buddy Nathan Oldfield, it's exciting, happy and just makes me want to go surfing. It is about to be released so make sure you keep an eye out for it.

pic:- Nathan Oldfield.

Surfing with friends.

One of my most favourite things to do around summer time is to pile the boards into the car with a bunch of mates and go on little surf trips. Today sage, Jack, Tom Woods, my little bro and I did just that and shot down to Crescent Head for the day.  There was a little east swell running that was super fun for the logs and the timber and suprisingly the crowd must have stayed home today. We surfered all day only stopping to refuel at the famous creso bakery, it's amazing.

River Sea Oldfield

Recently I have had the pleasure of  hang out with my good mate Nathan Oldfield and meeting the new addition of his beautiful family River Sea, he is not quite old enough to be riding a Valla surf board like his dad but he has been reping the Valla apparel. Nice one Nathan cute kid.

Sage Joske Quad fin Volta.

Handcrafted...

This pic was taken by good buddy Nathan Oldfield.

Its my good mate and shaper Sage Joske finishing off my 9'6 Log.

The Vice.

Road trippin..

Last week Sage, Jack and I piled a stack of boards, boxes of T’s and a bunch of Jack’s mum’s awesome homemade treats into PJ’s new van and headed off down the coast to old Sydney town. The mission was to get a whole lot of Valla T’s printed up ready for summer, do a little filming with our good buddy Nathan Oldfield for a new Valla promo and hang with our dear friends Jim and Suzie from the Critical Slide Society who are amazing hosts.


The week was a success. We surfed a bucket load, the T’s were smashed out over two days, the boards made it to Alpine Beach, the food was unreal and each day was polished off with a long bottle of Mr Coopers Green. Jack and I got a little artistic one afternoon and decided to give my old yellowing Volta a makeover. Weapons of choice were Posca’s, spray paint, masking tape, stencils and a projector thanks to Mr Mitchell.

Here’s a few pics from the trip.

                     Alpine Beach:

                         Jack: slash

                     

                      Sage: Vector

                               Myself.

The finished product

Alaia x Fish = VECTOR

We have been lucky enough now to have been able to ride the timber boards for a number of years.
My Shapers Paul and Sage Joske are constantly amazing me with their creativity and excellent craftsmanship.
Sage recently combinded his favourite fish with an Alaia template and called it the Vector.
Check out this clip that Woodsy put together of Jack Lynch and I sliding around my new home break the Pass.

The Valla Vector from Tom Woods on Vimeo.