“The purpose of this experiment was to find out which brand of surf wax provides the most amount of friction.
The hypothesis predicted that the brand, Sticky Bumps, would provide the most friction but this was not so.
Surf wax is applied to a surfboard’s surface of fiberglass.
It’s very sticky, but hard.
The surfer’s feet press into the wax and it creates friction.
Without surf wax, it would be extremely hard for a surfer to stay o the board without slipping around.
To test if the hypothesis is true or not, an apparatus was built that would lift one end of an artificial surfboard up.
An area on this artificial surfboard was covered with surfboard resin.
The area that was resined is where the wax would be applied.
A sled was built to represent a surfer’s feet and on it was placed a 30-pound weight.
The entire sled was placed on the waxed area of the artificial surfboard. When the artificial surfboard was lifted, the sled would move.
The angle at which the artificial surfboard was at when the sled moved was recorded.
This was done twenty times for each of the three brands of surf wax.
After averaging the trials for each brand of surf wax, it was found that . . .
the brand of surf wax, Wave Tribe Eco Wax, provided the most friction.”
Go Get Some @ GrainSurfboards.com
I love seeing this type of creativity.
Bravo to this company and I love their moto:
“Made where the debris meets the sea.”
More on someshine.
Very honored to meet the crew behind this awesome project, I can’t wait for it to be completed.
Look for more on these guys soon.
THE OLD, THE YOUNG & THE SEA Teaser #1 from Part of NomadEarth on Vimeo.
After a few years of research and development we decided to build in some new features into our generation five Global Board Bags with a new interior pocket that makes room for your wax, leash and fins while allowing for maximum organization as each pocket has it’s own closure system.
Newly Designed Triple Fin Poscket
But the real big news is the change we have made to the rear and nose sections of the bag. After numerous international surf trips of research and development we’ve engineered a new insert section of the bag with an extra half inch of removable protective foam to make sure that your nose and tail remain ding free.
View Of Board Bag Rear Insert
Board Bag Nose Protection
So check it, now you’ve got 13mm of foam in the bag + an additional 13mm inside where it matters most.
We made a video for you to review the upgrades—you’ll be stoked for sure.
The Green Room Voice is a tough green cookie!
We applied for their green assessment and we are glad to report that we passed with GOOD flying color—which for us was a great accomplishment.
We were stoked on the rating but even more stoke to get lots of great ideas about how to be better and more responsible.
I trip my green glass to Cira and the crew at Green Room Voice and say ‘right on!’.
See our rating here www.GreenRoomVoice.com
We’ve got some awesome new board bags that we are making in California. This is something that I have wanted to do since starting the company. I think that surfers should be buying surf products from their bros—not from some corporate conglomerate that makes its products in an Asian factory.
Believe me, I understand the difficulties of doing it local style—lower margins, less money in our Wave Tribe pockets but it sure does feel good to say made in USA bitches!
To see more of our Board Bags check out the website.
Seth Godin has been a mentor of mine for a few years now.
Wave Tribe, in many ways, is an expression of Seth’s opinions about the world coupled with my vision to create a different kind of surf company.
He made this post today and I echo his sentiments wholeheartedly (sorry for re-posting it Seth but I had to share it completely).
“Let’s not race to the bottom.
We know that industrialists seek to squeeze every penny out of every market. We know that competitors want to drive their costs to zero so that they will be the obvious commodity choice. And we know that many that seek to unearth natural resources want all of it, fast and cheap and now.
We can eliminate rules protecting clean water or consumer safety. We can extort workers to show up and work harder for less, in order to underbid a competitor. We can take advantage of less sophisticated consumers and trick them into consuming items for short-term satisfaction and long-term pain. These might be painful outcomes, but they’re an direct path to follow. We know how to do this.
In our connected world, commodity producers are under intense pressure. The price of anything that’s made to a spec, or that responds to an RFP, is instantly known by all buyers. That means that there’s an argument made by big corporations for each country to charge corporations the lowest possible tax rate, to loosen environmental regulations down to zero, and to eliminate employee protections. All so that a country’s commodity producers can be the cheapest ones.
I know we can do that. There’s always the opportunity to cut a corner, sacrifice lifestyle quality and suck it up as we race to grab a little more market share.
But the problem with the race to the bottom is that you might win.
You might make a few more bucks for now, but not for long and not with pride. Someone will always find a way to be cheaper or more brutal than you.
The race to the top makes more sense to me. The race to the top is focused on design and respect and dignity and guts and innovation and sustainability and yes, generosity when it might be easier to be selfish. It’s also risky, filled with difficult technical and emotional hurdles, and requires patience and effort and insight. The race to the top is the long-term path with the desirable outcome.
Sign me up.”
Check out Seth’s blog here
I RIDE I RECYCLE INTRODUCES THE ‘GREEN ZONE’ AT SURF EXPO
A vast “raft” of volcanic rocks covering 10,000 sq miles (26,000 sq km) of ocean has been spotted by a New Zealand military aircraft.
A naval ship was forced to change course in order to avoid the cluster of buoyant rocks, located 1,000 miles off the New Zealand coast.
The unusual phenomenon was probably the result of pumice being released from an underwater volcano, experts said.
One navy officer described it as the “weirdest thing” he had seen at sea.
Lieutenant Tim Oscar told the AFP news agency: “As far ahead as I could observe was a raft of pumice moving up and down with the swell.
“The [top of the] rock looked to be sitting two feet above the surface of the waves and lit up a brilliant white colour. It looked exactly like the edge of an ice shelf,” the officer said.
Researchers aboard the ship, HMNZS Canterbury, suggest that the source of the pumice was an underwater volcano (seamount) known as Monowai, located to the north of New Zealand.
The pumice is likely to have been formed when lava from the seamount came into contact with seawater, and as it is less dense that water it quickly rises to the surface of the ocean.
The Ocean. I was way too far away from it at the time. Never to move away from it again!
I can’t believe I was living in a landlocked state almost a half a year ago.
After quite some time unemployed, I found what I believed to be my first great job and fit for the career goals I was going after.
Prior to moving to Minnesota from the East Coast in September of 2011, I wandered a bit around the US, Europe, and Caribbean islands, traveling around cities and surfing some waves for about a year.
And then I landed that job, and thought maybe I should work on my career and build up some credible experiences.
When I Realized It Was Wrong For Me
But just 3 months into my job, I quickly realized how much my gut was missing the sea.
How much I missed the feeling of the power of waves over me.
I thought I could just use my vacation days or accrue enough time to fly out to a beach on the coasts to satisfy my surf. Even though Minnesota is known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”, and had Lake Superior to the north … it just wasn’t the same as having the power of the Pacific or Atlantic at your feet.
Besides being sorely disconnected with the sea, I quickly understood why people felt miserable at their day-time jobs. Why people have this negative opinion of working for corporations.
While I understand not all corporations are evil and each working environment is different, what I soon didn’t like was having to work in a time-constraint (8 to 5), dealing with unnecessary office politics, and working on routinely boring assignments.
Leaving the Job and Traveling Around Central America
I am the type of person who believes in not quitting. I didn’t want to appear like I was inadequate or a poor employee. I also was extremely worried how it would appear to future recruiters and other people in my life (especially my parents).
But in the end, after only being on the job for 5 months, I left. And quite frankly, it ended up being the best decision to happen to me (as cliché as that sounds).
With whatever funds I had left and a backpack, I ventured off to Central America, to explore and find some surf.
Surfing out in Playa Maderas, Nicaragua
From February to April 2012, I’d travel across Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, encountering other like-minded travelers who’ve embraced the “enjoy your life” attitude. We’d discuss our dreams and what we wanted out of life, that didn’t consist of the conventional paths that society likes to pressure many of us into living.
While traveling and surfing during those months was amazing and uplifting experience, it wasn’t sustainable for the long-term.
I needed to figure out how to create this location independent lifestyle, in a more long-term basis.
Behind the Scenes Planning and Small Wins
When I returned in May, I quickly got down to researching resources, and connecting up with other entrepreneurs who were seeking the location independent lifestyle.
The three months starting from May would be both emotionally and mentally grueling, as I wasn’t sure if what I was trying to pursue or achieve was even possible, or even acceptable.
But I had to constantly remind myself what my ultimate goals were: To be able to surf and travel when I wanted and where I wanted.
Keeping that goal in my thoughts really helped me through setting up several online businesses I started.
And as a result, I was able to secure my first client this past June, and will soon relocate to Hawaii in August to work on an entrepreneur project, right on Maui … something I would never have imagined happening just 6 months ago!
Bottom Line
This is where I’m supposed to summarize my points. But honestly, that sounds more like I’ve completed my journey … when in fact, I’ve only begun it.
But what can you take away?
– It’s okay to quit. It actually is good to quit. Quitting helps you understand what’s right for you and what’s not. And the part about worrying about how other’s will look at you … who cares? Something I wish I didn’t concern myself with.
– Don’t worry about your resume. Thanks to Derek of Wave Tribe for his wise words. Again, I was nervous about how gaps on my resume would be perceived by recruiters and others, but the importance is that … you are living your life, for what you want to do … not how others should see you. Therefore, not everything in life has to magically fit on a piece of paper to make you credible for that next gig.
– Travel and surf (or do what makes you happy). Those were the two things that truly made me happy. I always loved to be on the move, being able to immerse myself in new areas, new places, and new people. Likewise, I didn’t want to only surf in short intervals of time, and to really improve on my wave riding techniques, I’d have to do it often. So whatever you have a passion for … make time for yourself to do them. The excuse “I just don’t have enough time” doesn’t cut it.
Why traveling is awesome … I get to randomly meet a sloth!
– Surround yourself with the right people. The people you build relationships with will be the ones who will influence you and guide you towards success. Many times, those people will not be your likeliest friends or that live near you. It can be as small as networking with a mentor, and as big as joining communities you are part of online. Having the right people behind you will act as the support base when you go through your ups–and –downs.
What are you chasing after?
_______________________________________
Harrison Tsai currently enjoys stoking it out as a Content Contributor to Wave Tribe. He also talks about travel at Hustle to Paradise and promotes cause-based apparel organizations at Amped Style.
By ROMAIN FONSEGRIVES – Santa Cruz Sentinel
SANTA CRUZ – Santa Barbara surfer Chadd Konig is set to paddle out of the Santa Cruz Harbor early Wednesday, steering his efforts toward a statewide campaign against hydraulic fracturing.
The athlete set sail for Point Lobos for the first stop of a three-week, 250-mile paddling trip along the California Coast, that will take him back to Santa Barbara.
Konig, 24, is riding an 18-foot prone/knee paddleboard, large enough to carry him and a few pounds of tightly packed camping gear on coastal waters.
Coming ashore after a training session off Twin Lakes State Beach on Tuesday, Konig explained that he hopes to raise awareness about hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” in California. Fracking is a technique using sand, water and undisclosed chemicals under high pressure to fracture geological formations and stimulate the flow of oil or gas while drilling.
“My main intention is to educate people,” Konig said. “Most people you can talk to here have no idea what fracking is.”
Konig is concerned that oil exploration could happen in the Monterey Shale Formation, which is estimated to contain nearly two-thirds of the nation’s oil reserves. The formation runs mostly east of Highway 101, stretching from Santa Clara County through the Central Valley to Ventura County.
Konig, a professional surfer, often travels to surf spots north of Santa Cruz, and chose Surf City to kick off his journey because he “thought it’d be relevant. From there I can explore a region that I love while following the shale line that goes through the mountains on land.”
The activist surfer partnered with public interest environmental law firm Environment Defense Center in Santa Barbara for his expedition.
Santa Cruz geologist Jerry Weber tempered concerns about fracking. A retired geology researcher from UC Santa Cruz, Weber worked nine years in the oil industry and is now a consulting engineering geologist.
“It works out fine 98 percent of the time,” Weber said. “But sealing off these wells is a very complicated process. There’s potential for problems and mistakes to occur.”
Weber said the Monterey Shale Formation underlies many aquifers and water sources, but that contamination risks vary widely from one drilling site to another. The main factor is to ensure a sufficient depth separates the water source from the oil reservoir, Weber said.
Recently, residents of Aromas began a campaign against fracking around their community after a company surveyed the area looking for oil.
Konig’s paddle trip may be educational, but it also will be recreational, he said. Despite paddling an average 15 miles a day, Konig is confident he will have enough energy to surf swells that come his way. The eco-friendly surfer built on strength during two previous paddling journeys to Mexico, one advocating for whale protection, the other to preserve the Gaviota Coast from development.
Konig considers his environmental activism a natural payback from the surfing community.
“Not only do I depend on the Earth and its resources to live but I derive so much joy from the ocean that I’m forever indebted to the Earth,” Konig said.
ON THE NET
To learn more about Chadd Konig’s 250-mile paddle, visit the Environment Defense Center’s website at http://www.environmentaldefensecenter.org.
We love seeing other companies rock the eco vision.
In working to restore life to an area of Brazil that only has seven percent of its rainforest remaining, etnies’ Buy a Shoe, Plant a Tree project promises that for each pair of Jameson 2 Eco and Caprice Eco shoes sold, the brand will in turn plant one tree.
Etnies has projected that by the end of 2012, it will have planted nearly 100,000 trees.
Saturday July 21
Uluwatu Surf Villas & RIP CURL Present:
A fundraiser For Eco Surf Rescue Uluwatu
Asian Film Premier: A Taylor Steele Movie,
Kevin Walsh Art Exhibition,
Surf Memorabilia Auction, Short Films from Ombak Bali
Live Music & DJ starts at 5 p.m. Uluwatu Surf Villas
Admission: 150k includes Free Drink+BBQ
All Proceeds Go To Eco Surf Rescue Uluwatu
Jl. Pantai Suluban, Uluwatu
: 0817 555 420
Even though traveling is fun, almost every hotel that you stay in has the same drab, boring appearance.
They all have the same ugly paintings that hang on the same plain white walls. And of course, they’re all made from the same standard building material.
Every year we call all the airlines and find out how much they are going to charge us for taking along our sleds to far-away destinations.
We do this as a service to you, the traveling surfer.
Most of the following airlines include a surfboard as part of your regular bag allowance and let that sled fly for FREE:
- Virgin (Europe)
- Interjet (Mexico)
- Quantas (Australia)
- Singapore (Asia)
- South Africa (duh)
- Air New Zealand
The following is the list of ‘you suck’ airlines and charge over $100 each way:
- American
- Cathay Pacific
- Continental
- Hawaii Air
- Lan
- TACA
- United
http://smelive.com/live/surfrider/
COMING TO YOU LIVE
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20th
Starting 9:00 a.m. PST (Noon EST)
With Appearances By:
and more!
Big thanks to Keith Saitep from Frolic Earth for taking the time to interview Wave Tribe.
I like when the interviewer says something intelligent, Keith Saitep commented during the interview:
“As a longtime surfer myself, I’ve tended to lean towards surf equipment based on proven performance, never minding the materials that are used to make it. I realize now that it was really a selfish way of thinking and that we, as surfers, need to shift our way of thinking to respect the environment, becoming stewards of the sea.”
He goes on to to say,
“We want to applaud companies like Wave Tribe who are inline with our mission and making a choice to exclusively produce and promote eco surf gear.”
And of course we agree!
Here is the full interview if you’d like to read more.
Respect!
Salt Water High 