- Surfers really only care about two things: waves and the equipment to ride them with. Everything else, relative to riding waves, is bullshit. Matt Biolos gets to work in the shaping bay. Photo: Bass
It’s simple really. First and foremost, surfers are passionate about riding waves. Sacred Craft provides a forum, a place of celebration, if you will, for all the surf craft that we use to ride waves. Mainly surfboards, but we are equally as stoked to present mats, handplanes, and other wave-riding craft such as STP.
The term “Sacred Craft” is a double entendre. Sacred Craft can and does refer to the magic board. We all have one or have had one, and/or are searching for the next one! The special board that, coupled with our own unique style, brings out the best in our performance.
Sacred Craft also refers to the manufacturers of our wave-riding vehicle. Like cars, guitars, and motorcycles, surfboards are special, created by unique artisans, manufacturers, and designers. This thought factory, coupled with the deep historical depth of these various characters, forms an authentic surf culture.
Nobody remembers the type of boardshorts Tom Curren was wearing when he carved that delicious, full-speed roundhouse cutback at Backdoor in 1991 (captured so perfectly by Tom Servais). Many of us, however, do know that it was a logo-free Maurice Cole reverse vee Thruster. And nobody remembers the type of shoes Nat Young wore the day he tore up Ocean Beach on a “small” surfboard, but we do know that he called it “Magic Sam.”
Since the beginning, when the first Polynesian surfer cut down a tree to produce his surfboard, it was obvious. The surfing craft is an extension of the surfer. Surfboards are not generic commodities of production like a computer chip or a tire iron. Surfing craft are direct extensions of our wave dance. The more personal a surfer becomes with his craft, the more his dance becomes an extension of his personality.
It sounds a bit flowery, I know. But it is true. Think of cars. In many cases, what your drive is an extension of your personality. So too with surfboards, except the rules of the road don’t exactly allow you the expression necessary to paint or dance. With surfing, the wave is a canvas or a dance floor; the surfboard is your paintbrush or your dance partner. It is a highly personal item.
The point is that surfers really only care about two things: waves and the equipment to ride them with. Everything else, relative to riding waves, is bullshit.
The highly talented and passionate exhibitors at Sacred Craft are crucial fibers within the web of surf culture. Their presence at the expo is what makes it special. Look, this board building-business is not an easy business to be involved with. But to most, it’s the means to an end. An authentic way of life.
Authenticity emanates from Santa Cruz. This is where the first Hawaiians came to surf. Santa Cruz is the real surf city, and real surfers know it. We are pleased to announce unique exhibits for the upcoming Santa Cruz Sacred Craft Expo.
- With over forty years of experience shaping surfboards, Haut is a master of all types: shortboards, longboards, hybrids, guns, windsurf boards. Photo: Bass
1) Tribute to the Masters Shape-off Competition presented by US Blanks honoring Doug Haut
The surfboard industry honors iconic Santa Cruz shaper Doug Haut at the Sacred Craft Tribute to the Masters Shape-off presented by US Blanks. Five shapers (Mark Angell, Wayne Rich, Bob Pearson, Steve Coletta, Ward Coffey) will pay homage to Haut when they take to the shaping bay on the weekend of March 19-20 replicating a classic Haut design.
Few outside Santa Cruz know the illustrious story of one of the best surfer-surfboard shapers to emerge from California.
Doug Haut could have built a career out of his surfing accomplishments: charging Sunset Beach in the ‘60s, being an invitee to the prestigious Duke Kahanamoku contest, five decades of riding Steamer Lane, the list goes on. But, Doug has continually avoided the limelight and focused on the duties at hand. Shaping and designing some of the most sought after surfboards in the Nor Cal scene.
With over forty years of experience shaping surfboards, Haut is a master of all types: shortboards, longboards, hybrids, guns, windsurf boards. Few have done as many or done them as well Haut.
US Blanks is once again proud to be a part of the Sacred Craft Expo and the Tribute to the Masters Shape-Off honoring Doug Haut. Haut is perfect honoree for this year’s Tribute as his contributions to design and innovation in Santa Cruz and beyond are immeasurable. He’s a class act.”
2) ‘PBS Antique Roadshow Style’ Surfboard & Memorabilia Appraisals – Saturday only
The upcoming Sacred Craft Consumer Surf Expo has something for everybody — even antique collectors. The Vintage Surfboard & Surf Memorabilia “Antique Roadshow” is modeled after PBS TV’s highly successful “Antique Roadshow” series. The Sacred Craft version of “Roadshow” invites the general public to bring collectable surfboards and memorabilia to a panel of experts for appraisal. The panel assigns a value to the items, but more importantly they often uncover the provenance, or story, behind the value of the item.
“The power of the “Roadshow” lies in the ‘buried treasure concept,'” said Scott Bass, Expo Director. “Many of us possess, in our garage or attic, or perhaps under the house, a collectable surfboard; a board that for whatever reason holds intrinsic value above and beyond the value of a regular or ‘normal’ used surfboard. If the board has a strong provenance, well, this generally increases its value. Perhaps it was on the cover of a surf magazine, or Skip Frye crafted it for G&S back in 1971; whatever the case, our appraisers want to see it.”
But Roadshow isn’t just about surfboards. Surf “paper,” as the experts refer to it, is also of import to the collectors and appraisers. Maybe you possess an old Rick Griffin surf movie poster from the La Paloma, or an old Steamer Lane photograph from the 40s, or perhaps a business card from Bob Simmons or signed photo of Duke Kahanamoku. Any item that you think may be worth something, the appraisers would love to see it, and to help you better understand its provenance and possible market value. The more information you can bring to the discussion, the more accurate the appraisal.
We all probably have a bit of buried treasure; we just may not know it! The vintage Surfboard “Antique Roadshow” appraisals will visit the Rittenhouse Building in downtown Santa Cruz one day only, on Saturday March19 from 10am-4pm as a part of the 2-day Sacred Consumer Surfboard Expo. Expert appraisers will be on hand for surfboards, surf ‘paper’, surf posters, surf magazines, surf art, surf books and surf memorabilia. Please bring out your surf collectables for appraisal — and a great time.
- Appraisers:
- Bird Huffman
- Pete Noble
- Tom Brown
- Kirk Putnam
- Keith Maynard Eshelman
- Boyd Scofield
- Wingnut
- Sam George
- Randy Rarick
Appraisals Saturday Only – March 19 – Rittenhouse Building downtown Santa Cruz
3) Billabong XXL Exxperience – Billabong brings a hands-on exhibit highlighting the surfboards, shapers and surfers behind the XXL Global Big Wave Awards- the Exhibit features large format video, photos, surfboards, trophies from the big wave season. A great chance to speak with legendary big waves surfers, feel and touch the big wave boards that rode upon the massive XXL waves. Billabong will also be announcing this year’s XXL Nominees (the winners announced @ XXL Global Big Waves Awards in April 2011) at Sacred Craft on Saturday afternoon between 4-6p.
4) Surf Aid International Shapers Care Shaping Bay — Leading NGO Surf Aid International brings in iconic shapers Pat Rawson, Stretch, Gary Linden and others (TBD) to shape surfboards and entertain the crowd. The shaped boards will be auctioned off to be benefit Surf Aid Intl.
5) Future of Surfing Consortium — An environmentally conscious surfboard manufacturing hub features cutting edge resin, laminating, foam and other products & techniques that push the surfboard industry toward a brighter and greener tomorrow.
6) Art Grotto — Leading surf artists on hand creating art on-site and displaying the work.
7) GREAT DEALS ON SURFBOARDS and other surf industry stuff such as fins, board bags, leashes, wetsuits, t-shirts.
