American Surf Designs Pilot and NYTVF

Remember the tv pilot we were working on called "American Surf Designs"?  Well, it has been receiving awards and screenings at various TV and film festivals from Hawaii to Florida this year.  The biggest honor has just been annouced.  "American Surf Designs" has been chosen to be screened at the prestigious New York Television Fesitval.  Its a big deal and our producers will be there to schmooze and (hopefully) SELL IT!  Wish us luck, congratulate our producers if you know them, and go to our homepage to see the pilot.  To see the trailer for NYTVF, click here.

The structure of the show will be something like "LA Ink" or "American Choppers" where different kinds of surfers- celebrities, charities, professionals, friends- order custom surfboards and the process is followed from start to finish.  The show would also follow the hectic, exciting, sexy, REAL southern California surf lifestyle.  Its not a glossy image of making surfboards, its the real portayal of craftsman dedicated to the art of stoking surfers out!

Let us know what you think.

Tyson St Board Demo

One thing is for sure, board demos are best when timed with swell!  We had a great day- good waves, good boards, and good friends.  Come on down next time, we're sure to have something you'll like.

During HSD board demos, shaper JP Holeman is on site (or in the water) to talk to you about board design and help match you up with the right board.  The point is to get wet and have some fun, so try 3 or 4 boards, mix up fins, and talk to a pro to improve your surfing experience.

New Shaping Room

JPs new shaping room is fully functional and packed with blanks to shape.  He's been shaping out Bill Johnson's factory for a few weeks now and its going great.  Great room, fun people, and best of all... not in our living room!

Moving Shaping Rooms

For the past 3+ years JP has lived and shaped out of his home in Oceanside, until his wife, me, decided living anywhere other than a surfboard factory might be nice for change.  So JP rented a shaping room from Bill Johnson (still in Oceanside, don't worry) and shaped his last boards at home last Friday.

JP was a little sad to say goodbye, but also excited for the new opportunity with Bill Johnson, and his now happy, dust-free wife.

After the boards were shaped, we loaded up the Prius and headed over to the new shaping room to set things up.  Then we had the huge task of moving all of our stuff into storage while we embark on a CA road trip.

 We underestimated the amount of stuff 2 business and a couple can store in an 1100 sq. ft place, so we had to give the spillover away.  Here, our friend scores an entire living room set, a bag of assorted sundries from the fridge, and an ice cold bottle of Jagermeister.  Thanks for taking that of our hands.

The best scores were found in the alley.  Thats where we left all the surfboards that were dinged, old, or just had nowhere to go.  Here, the neighborhood paleontologist scores a surfboard on his rollerblades.  I will miss the alley and the local bums.  Gotta love Oceanside.

After the move out and clean-up we packed the car and the dog and hit the road.  When we get back to SoCal, we'll still be making surfboards in Oceanside, but we'll be living in San Diego, closer to our roots and family.  Change is good.  Thanks 310 for the good times.

"You have to go out on a limb to get the fruit."

HUGE THANKS TO DEREK, RON, AND DAVE FOR THE HELP!!!  YOU GUYS RULE!!

Another Satisfied Customer

I had to post this... I love opening emails like this, even if I had to edit it a bit :)  Love the enthusiasm, Liz.  For those of you that don't know Liz Lantz, get to know her amazing work and photos.

HOLY SH*T.
JP, the board is so f**king awesome. I just got back from my first sesh on it and it was one of the best sessions I've had in a long time. I wish I could surf all day, and I also wish I had told you and Andrea I was going out on the off chance you could've met up with me- didn't think of it till I was in the water.
Seriously, you did an AMAZING job and it is exactly what I wanted. It's so responsive and maneuverable, easy to paddle and get into waves....it is PERFECT for me. I think the ultimate test will be when I take it out on a big day (the waves are pretty small today), but the surf today was my favorite conditions so that says a lot right there.
Anyway,

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!
Liz

Custom Boards

Here at HSD we mostly sell custom boards to surfers that want something specific out of their surfing. Our Cherry Bomb model is a popular model. This one was custom made for Tanner, the generous owner of Cali Bamboo. He provided us FSC certified bamboo for the stringer and fins, we made a blank with post-consumer recycled styrofoam, and our buddy Woody hand-foiled his fins. Pure Glass laminated the whole thing with epoxy resin and Tanner is now surfing this board all around Sunset Cliffs and Blacks. He loves his new HSD Cherry Bomb and was stoked to contribute to the making of his custom board.

New Digs, Ya Dig?

HSD has a little more room thanks to a new office, board room, and jewelry studio. We just finished up the painting and are busy working away. There are only a few more touches before it will be complete. Enjoy the photos. Its nice to have more room:)

91X Surf report

Holeman Surf Designs is now the official sponsor of the 91X surf report. Listen to 91X and figure out where to go surf the epic swells we've been having or follow Pat on Twitter.