Tied to the tide

Seamouse loves: The tyde

Winter Wall Waiting.

Seamouse loves: The ting tings

The Sure Shot

I stumbled across the website of Kirsten Prisk the other day and was blown away by the shots of my local break and how the shots capture the mood of surfing there perfectly. Check out the full portfolio for some great shots of Hawaii and other far flung shores.

Seamouse Loves: Blood Red Shoes

Super Skeg Shred Sleds*

Residing in the house of the seamouse from left to right:

6'6 Green rounded pin - Brought back from Australia this board doesn't see much action due to lacking the all to vital buoyancy needed for local waves. It's battered bruised and broken but like any old seadog it sits there telling tales of old victories while waiting for those special swells to come through.

6'2 Mother Ocean quad fish - fast, loose and loose loose loose! Surfing off the front foot this board and the seamouse clash most sessions. Time to part ways I think.

9'0 Billy Hamilton square tailed log - Super rare and won from a British surf magazine, this board is fun on a stick. Considering it's progressive shape it nose rides like a dream. Seamouse gets his slides on with a big flexy single fin and massive stupid grin.

1'2 Padmae cat - Very light and responsive although really hard to get in the water. A big fan of fish (she's checking out the rails in the photo) and lazing around in the sun.

6'0 Pinniped 'retro' fish - The first board shaped by the seamouse and easily the most ridden.
Now a complete beater after BA luggage staff ran over it on a return trip to Morocco it still goes like stink. It surfs like a hyperactive child running wild and constantly itching for more.

6'3 Jack of all trades - It's an egg...with the middle taken out... and the wide point taken back...a massive chunky V tail...a single fin box...and a quad setup...WTF. It shouldn't work but it does.
Just like Chuck Berry, it goes to show you never can tell.

3'2 Hot Buttered ten 90 - With the only local barrels being those in the shore dump its good to get some fins on, go prone and see how deep you can get.

*disclaimer: no skegs on the bodyboard.

Seamouse Loves: BARR

LogJam

Seamouse Loves: littl'ans

Alaia Day

This weekend on Pinniped's birthday I bumped into my good friend and founder of the British surf museum, Pete Robinson. Tucked away in his beautiful split screen VW van was this just as Stunning alaia given with Aloha to the museum by Tom Pohaku Stone.
The waves were far from epic but it was one of the best sessions I've had in ages. The board is one of the fastest things I've ever ridden constantly flexing to match the shape of the wave.
If you get the chance try one, you'll be smiling all day.

Seamouse Loves: The Thrills

*edit. Changed the thrills link to a video shot in my hometown featuring the bad pier from my 'Welcome to Brighton' T-Shirt.

'...or are you just happy to see me?'

Sneaky peek at the first in a series of 6"x8" two colour lino prints.

Seamouse Loves: The Pigeon Detectives

Happy Birthday Pinniped

One year on.

Seamouse Loves: Blood Red Shoes

How Surfboards Are Made

Cut It Out

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Paper Cut from the beautifully put together Stranger Magazine.

Hip To The Burnout

Yep.

Trailer and more here.

The Package

A big thank you to the extremely talented Mick Sowry for sending me a white label version of the surf documentary 'Musica Surfica' he wrote and directed. I've been following his work on the project via his blog and now that I've seen it, it doesn't disappoint.

I don't really want to call it a surf film because in truth it really isn't. It follows all the principles of a documentary and for that is a far more entertaining watch. The links made between the finless surfing and Richard Tognetti's are sometimes a little tenuous but it is easy to see that everyone involved is drawing huge inspiration from each both in and out of the water.

The one thing that really hit me with 'musica Surfica' was the amount of beauty involved. Shot and edited perfectly on location in the King Island I defy anyone who watches not to want to visit. The music involved is not only lovely to listen to and matched wonderfully to the surfing involved, but is visually awesome in it's own right. To experience it first hand must be mind blowing (I'm pretty sure my beat up old TV with bass heavy speakers didn't do it any justice!).

As I was expecting the thing that amazed me most was the surfing. Its pretty varied, and seeing Tom Carroll Pearl an Alaia is a good yard stick for understanding how different these boards are to ride. The surfers adapt and what is presented is some of the most interesting and different surfing you're likely to witness. Boards are spun and slide up and down the face in a manner more suited to snowboarding than surfing. Derek Hynd doesn't disappoint and shows himself to be a master and stylist of yet another of surfing's genres. Seeing him spin 1080 degrees back into the pocket is insane and his tube riding finless unbelievable.

If I had to sum it up in a word (and I'm going to make myself do just that) I'd have to go with 'inspirational'. I hope it gets a wide release as I'm sure it'll turn people on to trying something new whether it be getting hold of an Alaia, sawing down an old beater to four foot or just taking the fins out of their regular board.

Talk is already flying around the house o' seamouse about wood and shapes and infinite possibilities. Happy times.

Seamouse Loves: Foals

Self Portrait.

Seamouse loves: My Robot Friend

T-MOE ON VBS

Unless you've been living under a rock (and that's just cool with me if you have) you probably already know that Thomas Campbell is the latest surf monkey to be given the VBS Hi Shred-ability treatment. All three installments are now up and even if you have seen them you should probably check them out again....

Without trying Mr Campbell is probably one of the biggest reasons for the recent shift in surfings attitude to surf craft and highlighting the amount of art in and around the 'sport'.
I'm a big fan.

Seamouse loves: Vampire weekend

Old is new again

What with The present and Musica Surfica I'd put my money on the Alaia being the next big 'craze' to hit surfing (Again).

Dan Malloy Speeding.

PAIPO Boarding 1963, Val Ching

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With it already having a cult following I have to wonder what old designs are left out there to re-explore and which might become the next big thing?

The velo spoon maybe?

Seamouse loves: Feist

Amelia's Whale

A thousand whales for the woman you love. Happy Valentines.

Seamouse loves: Noah and the whale

Talking Shop

Is it the same for you that when non surfers find out you surf they instantly want to know if you've seen 'Riding Giants'? I'm so tired of talking to people about Laird, Jaws and the death of Mark Foo that I'm seriously looking forward to 'Busting down the door' hitting the UK just for the conversation to change. I can just hear it now "you surf? I saw this film once,you ever hear of a guy called Gerry Lopez?...."

Kookin' Out

Another Lino print 5.8" x 8.2" limited edition of 12.

Each print is numbered and signed by the seamouse and only £10 including delivery.
(Not even any extra charges for international postage!)

Surf Contests

Anyone remember the contest in 68 when batman beat joker in the 3rd round only to get knocked out by Dewey Weber in the 4th. Possibly the most exciting round of contest surfing ever.

And the winner is....

Danimal!

Thanks to everyone for taking part. (maybe next time eh?)

New moon Giveaway

A free artwork of the seamouse! I'm giving away this 5.8" x 8.2" 1of1 signed two colour lino print to one lucky reader of the pinniped.

No tricks, no qualifying questions, just post a comment if you're interested and I'll enter you into the draw. Seeing as today is a new moon I'll keep the competition open until the next full moon (that's the 22nd by the way). A name will then be randomly drawn out of a hat (box, shoe, canoe or whatever receptacle I get my hands on) and a winner announced.

So thats it. Drop a comment and keep your fingers crossed!

Seamouse Loves: Kings of Leon

2008

Happy new year!

Pinniped Ponders.....

Does the break make the man or the man make the break?

Seamouse loves: Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Home and Away

Home.
The burnt down pier is one of my favorite places to surf. It gets blown out as soon as someone sneezes, rarely is rideable on anything but a log and can only be ridden mid to low tide.
It's locals only too, not that there's any bad vibes, just nowhere to park.

Home.
In the land of little groundswell surfing rules turn themselves on their head.
Everyone prays for onshore winds (well cross onshore).
And offshore winds mean nothing but weeks of flatness.

Away.
Holywell bay, remote, quiet and just a few hours down the road.

Away.
Morocco. Cheap to get to and cheap to live. The land of sweet mint tea and endless pointbreaks.

Seamouse Loves: operator Please

My Current Top 3

Web Places to Check Every Day
1) Fecal Face
2) 70 Percent
3) Sharkbait

Surf tools
1) 6'0 Home made fish
2) 9'0 Billy Hamilton Log
3) 1'0 Redley Fins

Places I wish were my local shop
1) Mollusk
2) Six Ounce
3) Thalia

Things to watch on-line right now
1) The Mighty Boosh
2) Beautiful Loosers 1, 2
3) An eye for Annai

Surf films I can't Wait to see
1) Displacement
2) Musica Surfica
3) The Present

People I would love have shape me a board
1) Danny Hess
2) Dain Thomas
3) Chris Christenson

People of inspiration
1) Dieter Rams
2) Reid Miles
3) Tord Boontje

My mood shifts so quickly that by the time you've looked at all the links it will already be out of date.

Back Blogging

I've been neglecting my on-line life recently due to enjoying my real life instead.
For those who are interested this has mainly consisted of:
Asking a very pretty girl to be my wife.
Walks in the country and tea in the manor house.
Surfing some tiny waves and loving every minute of it.
Jumping around at gigs.
Bit of drawing and other artistic grand plans.
Food and family.
Drinks with friends.
My first beard.

Happy times.

Seamouse Loves: Willy Mason

Venice Beach

Haven't posted for ages due to taking a fantastic trip to Venice. If you're thinking about going I recomend that you take with you the most amazing girl you've ever met.













Plenty of canals, bridges and old buildings as you'd expect. Some cool bars and restarants scattered about all over.
As it was the thing to do, we went into the famous harry's bar. It was crappy, full of tourists and I had the pleasure of paying £12 for a single rum and coke (thats $18US). Yowch!













As a welcome break from all the renaissance art the Guggenheim has some awesome modern works. Plus the Sculpture garden had us messing around for ages (mainly in and around the glass box pictured).You know Venice has a beach too? all but deserted with 1ft peelers! Who knows maybe someone even surfs it.

Seamouse Loves: Devendra Banhart

Night Surf

Finally after the longest flat spell I can remember, the bumps are back on the ocean. The short evenings have returned too, bringing sunsets, smaller crowds and those all important night surfs.

oh yeah.
Seamouse Loves: Hot Chip

Hi-Shred

If you're like the seamouse, then you love sliding round on the ocean and people with crazy self expression in whatever form that may take. If that's the case you've probably heard of Alex Knost and his awesome shaper Robbie K. These cats are both in VBS's new show HI SHRED. Go look at it now with your filthy eyes.

The Locals

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Seamouse loves: Modest Mouse

Ankle Snappers

Its been flat for 5 weeks and counting now. Not even tiny ankle snappers have graced the shore. Where are my september sessions? The warm nights with hints of winter power? The after work sessions and dawn patrols?

Ankle snappers?....I'd love some.

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seamouse loves: Joanna Newsom

Love And Hate

seamouse loves: The Shins

SNAP SNAP

Snap! WHirrrrr SNAP!No surf today but really good light, perfect for stealing peoples souls on beautiful 35mm.

Seamouse loves: Good Shoes

Trippin Out

I read in Nat Young's book that he took magic mushrooms back in the day before going surfing and had some pretty wild experiences doing so. For some reason that stuck in my mind while trying my hand at some vector graphics.

Seamouse Loves: New Young Pony Club

handwave

An old sketch finally scanned.
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It's not the size that counts but what you do with it.

27 Times Around The Sun

I've lucked out and get to have a birthday tomorrow. Thought I'd mark this amazing feat of living by producing the finest self portrait possible. The likeness is stunning.

1fin,2fin,3fin,4

Sometimes all you need is that little nudge to take a board out that you normally wouldn't. Here James Tooze talks me into changing my setup and taking my hardly riden tangerine fish into the first consistantly good surf we've had in ages.

do doodles dude.

These doodles have been finding they're way onto everything lately. This is just a small section of one of the bigger ones.

European Fish Fry

Ended up missing the best of the fish fry but was having far to much fun teaching my girlfriend and her litle sister how to surf. Still what I did see was great, highlights for the girls was the pink resin swirl and glitter fins. I personally liked the Christenson take on the fish dont ride backside myth.

Gone Logging

Like lumberjacks I'm loving the long light logging.

How the seamouse thinks

Thinking's all the same, electric running down nural networks. But what makes the electric choose those paths?
Below is a technical drawing of how my thoughts generally work:

All day I dream of waves