Iburi warming?

While other parts of Hokkaido have been hit with cold, windy and snowy weather this winter, we've had it really mild here in Iburi. I've only had to shovel snow a few times this year, whereas most years it's a dreaded daily activity. I don't know what's going on, but Iburi is warm, and I'm loving it. I felt really blessed this morning surfing in plus 4 degree weather, without a hood, and with the kind of south swell we usually get in summer. Looks like the nice weather will continue into next week...long may it last.

A Belated Happy New Year

Boy, January sure is going fast. After getting in for my first surf of the year on New Year’s day, I headed off for a week in Hawaii. Town was pretty consistent for this time of year, so I happily got my fill out at Three’s and Kaiser’s… it was so nice to shed the winter wetsuit. This year I was stoked to run across Eddie Aikau’s board at the Quikilver shop on Kalakaua. I spent probably an hour looking at it and running my hands along the rails…just a thing of beauty and power. It’s so nice of the Aikau’s to let the public see it. Each year I go into that shop to look at the beautiful Takayama “Pacific System’s Homes” styled board they have in there, and now they’ve also got a nice agave gun (I think it’s a Downing). Really nice stuff. Gets me thinking about what to build this year.

New Year's day surf...

 Eddie's board. It's crazy watching tourists walk past this without a second glance, it's probably the most famous board in the history of surfing. When I saw it I stopped dead in my tracks. I feel so lucky, I never thought I'd actually get to see it.

My builds for 2014. What to make in 2015?...hmmmmm...

Winter has arrived...

Winter has arrived, and with it chilly blustery conditions. Everything shifted around favorably last week producing a few days of nice clean waves. Last Thursday was really fun; the pics below are from Friday when the waves were dropping but still fun enough. The wind has shifted around from the north yet again, and we are back to flatness. I'm hoping for a few more decent days before the new year and my annual trip to Hawaii...but with it being solidly below zero I don't mind the lack of surf at the moment.

November's Last Blast

After a fun October, November was pretty inconsistant. During one 11-day spell it was completely flat. Unfortunately, when the winter north winds start blowing across Russia it completely flattens everything out here in eastern Hokkaido...must make for some decent swell in the Aleutians though. We did, however, finish the month with a nice four-day swell. Caught some real gems over that period, and got pounded pretty heavily as well. All in all, a nice last bit of surf before winter arrives.

Fall Swell

After a bit of a lull last week, the waves are back up. Throw the swell together with the warm autumn sun, and this has been a great couple of days of classic Hokkaido fall surf. It's supposed to continue into the weekend as well. I took the day off and surfed two and half hours at Gyokyo, check it out....

Post Typhoon 19

Typhoon 19 turned out be a non-event up here in Hokkaido. The way it tracked over the main islands meant we didn't get the epic waves we hoped for. It was fun though, especially this morning, with sunny weather and shoulder to head high sets rolling through. Once again, I had an hour and half by myself at Kako this morning, then stopped and snapped a few more pics on the way home in evening. Another beautiful day in Hokkaido...

 

New longboard

Just in the midst of finishing off a few projects before winter arrives. Below is a longboard deck I just finished. My son came back from Canada a few months back with a plastic penny skateboard, and I just had to put the hardware to better use. So here it is, epoxy tint over pine and mahogany over a 10 ply glue up. Looks much better than the plastic and rides nice and smooth.