Safetosea

Nearly two weeks is a long time between drinks on my little window, but to be quite frank I've had some distractions.

A few ructions in the family that have been achingly draining, work busy (good), surf crap (bad) and general distraction has kept me away.

And, as a site citing life, art and surfing as its raison d'etre, there's not been much of the surfing or art, and the life has been too close to the bone to share with the world.

The bit I can share is my Dear Old Dad is recovering from his stroke, so his desire to be seen as a recovering stroke victim, not a man with cancer is proving both true and continually inspiring.

Over the past few months as some may know I've been beset with a pathetic but niggling injury. A shoulder that has refused to improve is finally doing so, though I get superstitious just writing about it. The bloody thing has grown ears, which is not a good look, and every time I mention it it says to itself, "stuff that, Micko, you're out of the water for a few more days."

So, with all the fuel I've been saving by not driving down, every so often I've been putting a little down on a board I spied.

Though thoroughly spoiled by the wonderful boards from Maurice Cole, which he has been feeding me as testers for ages, I've often wondered what a detuned, mellower take might be like occasionally. A clean, small day shooter.

Having been a curious observer of the hull, that hold on from the days of George Greenough and Ted Spencer, refined and revitalised in California over the past forty years, and being a regular surfer of a pretty fine and speedy set of point/reef setups that suit that style of board, well, I've wanted one for ages, and my birthday is coming up.

Fifty bloody seven in two weeks for Christ's sake so I can afford to go from 6'0" to 6'6".

Added to that they demand a longitudinal, high line and bottom turn, roundhouse and run approach, as old school as you like.

Suits me.

So for want of anything more to post, this is my new ride.

Family members who read this may deem it as irresponsible, and I am, I admit it. The Catholic guilt is gnawing a hole in my back just to spite me, but dammit I can't take it back now.

Hutcho from Vouch shaped it, and I picked it up from Angus at Rhombus.

Thank you gentlemen. Thank you ball boys.