Brian on Surfing

More Wood Crew Adventures

Brian on Surfing
Written by Brian Willems
Monday, 07 July 2008 23:58
I know in the last blog I mentioned our impending outing to Huntington Beach… well that never happened. Like all best laid plans that one fell apart almost as quickly as it was made. The guy who had the place, ended up working all night and the rest of us ended up turning a “just one beer for the road” into a 4am bender… Hey it happens, especially when you’re with friends. We did however get out over the 4th of July weekend -and it was awesome. Weston, Richard and I met at El Porto, our usual surfing spot, on Sunday morning and hit the water. The waves weren’t bad and we caught a few good rides. Richard, the best surfer of our group, usually likes the waves bigger, but for Weston and I, they were just right. Weston and I have surfed together for years and know each other’s style pretty well. We routinely catch the same wave and always surf with the unspoken rule, “If you can catch it… get it”. There’s nothing like surfing down the line, looking back and seeing a buddy on the same wave. You grin like dogs, shout commands, and try to figure out how to do something cool with it, only to end up waste high in the wash before you know it. We have managed to patent one move though; it’s called the “Tackle Your Buddy Off The Wave on a Slow Day” move. This move is usually met with awe by those around us who are sure we’re going to come up swinging. But when we resurface from the wash laughing our asses off, most just shake their heads with a grin as if to say “Kooks”. But hey, we’re the Wood Crew.. what do you expect.. So, other than that, it was another successful outing. No one’s equipment got broke, of which I’m usually the cause, maybe that’s why they call me “The Bruiser”, and we got our fix for another day. And the more I think about it, “fix” is the operative word. Because the more you surf, the more you want to do it, till as you know, it takes over people’s lives. But for those of us who can fight off the urge to sell everything and move to Costa Rica, a quick fix is all you need.

The Wood Crew Rules

Brian on Surfing
Written by Brian Willems
Friday, 27 June 2008 20:46
I surf with a rag tag group of guys: sure, there are much better surfers out there -you've probably heard their names -and then, there's us. Unlike the guys you've heard of, we pretty much only surf on weekends, when all the rest of the working stiffs are out too. So we pretty much always surf in the same spot (mostly due to the availability of parking). Our crew met because a few of us lived in the same building in Hollywood, thus the name “The Wood Crew.” Get it? When we first started out, all of our equipment was crap and our skills were mediocre, but our attitude was great. Back then, when we hit the beach, we looked like dogs off a leash - just happy to be out. The conditions never mattered to us (and maybe they still don't) -heck, we surfed in water that should have been issued a "small craft advisory" and the scum we paddled though, well prudence (can't say we have it when it comes to surfing) would have dictated wearing bio-suits. Most of our equipment had the unstated label of “community property.” I had a new wet suit that was returned a year after I loaned it to a buddy, only to have it snatched up by another buddy. I don't know where it is, but I heard it's in Mexico -with my friend? Anyway, that’s okay, I was surfing on a borrowed long board last year and ended up snapping it in September… I still don’t know who's board it was. We've all come a long way from those old times and our skills are much better now. Most of the guys have upgraded to epoxy boards with spares in the quiver. I’m old school though, so I'm sticking to my original board, a nine-foot “Bear” surfboard that’s as yellow as a banana and has so many patches that it looks like that baseball Bugs Bunny through around the world. I love my board, it’s still the sweetest ride around and has taught a lot of people to ride. In fact, it’s been nicknamed “The Couch” because a family of four can sit comfortably on it. Oh, and it's as heavy as a refrigerator, but it’s mine… “There are many like it, but this one is mine….“ So, surfs up and the summer is here… we’re going to Huntington Beach this weekend because a buddie's work put him up in an apartment there for the summer, just blocks from the beach... Hmmm, you don’t say… I’m sure we’ll destroy it, but I’ll give you the full report when we get back. To read more about the Wood Crew - click Brian on Surfing on the left menu!