Ryan Burch took a trip to Vancouver Island. It's a tough place to surf. It's cold, it rains a lot, and the waves often require a serious slog through the mud.
The original Pipeline Master and Founder of Lightning Bolt Surfboards, Gerry Lopez is an icon and pioneer in the history of surfing. Lopez was among the first to surf "G-Land," and starred as himself in the surf-cult classic film Big Wednesday. Gerry lives with his family in Bend, Oregon where he shapes surfboards, practices yoga, and snowboards regularly.
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Erik ‘Smelly’ Sandin of NOFX has been surfing and producing surfboards for years, but the pandemic has given his some extra time to focus on his craft. Photo: Pickle Stix.
Were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic, Erik “Smelly” Sandin would probably be on a stage in front of 5,000 raucous punk rockers right about now. While his storied career as the drummer for legendary punk rock band NOFX is well documented, less is known of his other passion: surfing. For thirteen years, Erik has been shaping surfboards, and with touring on hold, he has spent the last twelve months turning his surf passion into a full-time gig making boards under his own label – Pickle Stix. I spoke with Erik about the company, life during COVID, and the new NOFX record.
Surfboard volume is presented as a formula that allows surfers to choose the right size boards for them to ride. But is the liter calculator always effective?