Once Upon A Wave

A forty eight minute feature filmed in the late fifties and early sixties, 'Once Upon A Wave' chronicles a small group of So-Cal surfers, to include Fred Van Dyke, Peter Cole, Ricky Grigg, Mike Doyle, Robert August and Bill Fury, as they travel from Sunset Beach to Steamer Lane in search of surf. Solid gold.

Poler's Summer Stuff

Our friends at Poler recently released some new stuff for summer. Included in their updated inventory is a camera bag turned cooler, a smaller version of their Duffaluffagus bag, a new daypack and a stainless steel water bottle made by Mizu. What's more, my friend Geoffrey Holstad, the man responsible for the new logo sitting atop this here blog, was hired by the Portlandia camping company to create a couple of cool new t-shirts! I like Owl. Anyhow, follow the link and take a look at some of their new stuff.

Justin Quintal & Friends

A slippery summer session at the Jax Pier with Justin Quintal and a few of his friends.

Dirty Dirt Bikes - Or why I didn't surf on Saturday

Each year at the end of June, Touratech-USA, the ADV motorcycle outfitter I work for, hosts the 'Pacific Northwest Adventure Rally,' an off-road event in the woods near Leavenworth. The rally, now in it's third year, sees some three hundred dual-sport enthusiasts descend on this sleepy Bavarian village.

I wasn't able to attend last year, as I spent the weekend sorting out our Silver Swede, but this year, free from car crashes and crazy bitches, I managed to pack up some camping crap, don a dirt bike and head into the hills for three days of motorcycle riding and misbehaving.

The Sea of Possibility

Jack Lynch surfing a perfect little point break in 'The Sea of Possibility.' As seen on Stoke Harvester.

The Golden Breed

Released in 1968 and hailed as "magnificent" by the Los Angeles Times, The Golden Breed was filmed at the height of surfing's 'Involvement' era. Directed by Dale Davis, this 90 minute film captures a somewhat tumultuous time in our sports history. Just a few years prior to its release, Nat Young won the World Championship on a board three feet shorter than most. Over the next few years, as more surfers adopted shorter sticks, the traditional longboard began to appear passé, and as a result The Golden Breed became a rather unpopular piece. But featuring a few of our favorites - Nuuhiwa, Noll, Munoz and Martinson - Davis' film is a welcome reprieve from all the overly edited, off the lip, slowmo shit you see so much of.

Two Tribes - A Custom Motorcycle & Classic Surfboard Show

Join us at The Piranha Shop on Friday, August 10th for Two Tribes, a custom motorcycle and classic surfboard show. We've partnered with the greasy goons from Twinline Motorcycles and the salty scum from Stoke Harvester to bring you the best of both worlds. Bikes and boards! The event, which will benefit The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, starts at six. There will be booze. And raffle prizes.

Click here for additional info.

South of Blackies

Huntington Beach hooligan, Troy Elmore, jazzing the glass somewhere south of Blackies.

Fort George Brewery

Located near the mouth of the Columbia River, Astoria, Oregon was once the lumber capital of the coast. Famous for its role in The Goonies, a film that came out the same year I did, Astoria has since fallen victim to misbehaving meth heads and an almost absent economy. But with the help of good beer and big burgers, that's bound to change.

We'd driven past the Fort George Brewery countless times on our way into Oregon. Saw their sign on the side of the road. Mentioned it to one another. Never stopped. Then Todd took a tall can out of his truck. It was Fort George's 1811 Lager, a bold beer "concocted from two row malted barley and cracked maize." And it was delicious. So on Sunday, with wind from the west, we decided to stop in Astoria for some lunch and a lager.

Get A Hold

What I've been listening to lately...

Finterview: Mikey DeTemple MD3

The MD3 Longboard Fin was designed by our favorite Long Island logger, Mikey DeTemple, and is supposed to "bring your longboard to life." I opted for the full meal deal. Ten inches. Top to bottom. It's big, I know. But I was having trouble with the Blue Banana and thought a fin with less area would allow for some clean, drawn out turns. And I'll be damned if it didn't! On head high waves the MD3 digs deep. Like a big keel on the underside of a sailboat, the fins broad, flat surface creates sideways force by displacing water in the opposite direction that the board is trying to tip. Some serious surf science.

You'll know when it won't go, though. Put pressure on it's pivot point on knee high peelers and nothing happens. Straight as an arrow. Sometimes there's just not enough underneath. But on the biguns, when your flying down the face ready to make things right, er, left, the MD3 gets the job done. Oh, and did I mention it's fast, with tons of trim speed for controlled noserides - assuming you wander that far forward. So what more do you wanna know? It's not spectacular on the small stuff. Probably need a pivot fin for that. But when it gets big, or at least up to your ass, the MD3 is an excellent bit of equipment. Case closed.

This Finterview originally appeared on Stoke Harvester's blog

Saturday @ San-O

Troy Mothershead, Corina Barnick, and Richard Balding surfing San Onofre on Saturday.