NEW YEAR= NEW VISION

12-31-2010--lAST DAY OF A HORRIBLE YEAR -this year was a disaster for the most part --so that means things gotta change or it'll be kinda the same in 2011---so here are some early goalsfor the new year!----------BACK TO THE BASICS-----I love building really nice functional surfboards w/all kinds of crazy detail work ---this takes time and money---so I am effectively cutting down on all the stock work after January ---getting back to what I love---radical-but functional -high end -surfboards whether they are 5'2" or 12'2" my focus will be on detail and function!!! So what does that mean for custom orders? They will be accepted by former clients,friends , or through my salesmen and teamriders only ---in other words you gotta have an in or you can buy from my in house inventory . This change is not to limit my availability to the public but to rid myself of the pompous , microwave, instant gotta have and I 'm gonna ride your ass consumer---it only takes a few of these and your lifes a living hell----I'm going for a big zero count on this type----I want and will build boards for those who want and appreciate my skills and knowledge of surfing and surfboards and ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT! The days of being broke have to end ---so my prices will be going up as of FEBRUARY 1st not unreasonably but to normal pricing--so I can make a confortable living and enjoy surfing more. Pics of new directions in bd design and as always I will build the best longbds on the East Coast---keep checking in and be safe tonight--clay

Christmas 2010

As Christmas draws near and I finish up all existing orders, I personally can't wait for the year to be over! What a nightmare of a year , more drama than should be legally allowed;

My family and I endured 3-family deaths in 365 days (2-way out of town) 1-dramatic local family illness, becoming a 1-year cartaker of an older alcohol + drug dependant brother, 2-family cars dying and another needing major repairs, suffering 2-heat strokes and recently while riding a bike ,getting hit by a guy on a scooter --still dealing with some after effects of that. So yea , I'm ready to put this whole chapter behind me and move forward!

Through all that I did manage to build quite a few surfboards and recently -thanks to Trevor Grooms put together a new group of surf team riders Allissia, Leah, Josh, Chris, and a few others others both local and from down south so yea bring on the new year get Jan + Feb over and lets get some warmer water and get full fledged surf fevor cause I am stoked on many the boards I am making the variety of shapes being ordered lots of quads, retros types , as well as the tried and true noseriders. Here are a few pics of boards ----keep checking back at least once or twice a week I will be updating---and have a great Christmas and be safe on New Years!

Hot Sticks For Hot Riders

Few pics of a couple hot new boards for a few local up & coming rippers:
the 5' squash is for Allissa---the 6'4" hot chick board is for Matt ----& the flower powered quad is for Leah Look for them at a break near you!

Quad Egg on Halloween

Surf was too good to pass up today but I was in surfboard transition ---basically boardless .

But like any good surfer "down but not out" so I borrowed my 18 yr old daughters 7'8" quad egg

WOW!!!__LOVE THAT BOARD--the board paddled well and was fast and loose and on the lined up lefts was one of the best backside bds I have ever ridden--attacks like a shortie, blasts off the lip, and cutbacks on a dime.

I am posting this for the older or bigger surfers ( I'm 200 lbs) that don't really like riding a longbd and yet know their shorty ain't cutting it ----there are valid options and this ain't like the so called funbds in the shops---its thin 2 1/2 plenty of nose and tail rocker and a loose bottom duel concaved "v" and you will see me on one from time to time.

P.S. When I came serveral guys ran up to check it out saying the board was out surfing the shortbds out there---had to be the board I'm an old guy

Memories of Earl Rudisill

Had to sell one of my all time favorite surfboards a couple of days ago . Normally its for stupid reasons that bring back "dang wish I hadn't done that" feelings and a forever feeling that I turned my back on a friend(the surfboard).

But this time I am proud to say I sold the board for a great cause and the money was well spent.

I had my car die about 4-months ago and due to an on going illness with my father in law, everytime I had the money for a down pay on a new used one -my wife & kids had to go to NC to visit her ailing DAD-no regrets-family first --but alas no new car. And with us down to one car putting that one in the shop for repair was about impossible.

So Wednesday the call came Earl had taken a turn for the worse before even a plan could be put in play a second call came in Earl had died !

My wife needed transportation imediately , I was broke ,just paid a ton of bills , so the options were limited ---Sell what you have Now --thanks to help from Trevor Grooms and the selling of my Hurricane Lgbd -a rent al car was procured and the wife and kids (half the tribe) were on their way to NC to comfort her mom and be there for the funeral.

Once again this was (and is) a "magic board" it was me thru and thru over a year in the making and broken in on hurricane Bill at more than one select breaks---how could I sell this board?--how would I feel the next day? And the next?

The answear is Love --I love my wife -her needs are mine --but even more than that to sell a 'magic board' to honor and show respect to Earl Rudisill --well that was an honor and a rare privilage. You see Earl wasn't just my father in law , Earl was one of those rare (in your life you might meet 2-3 of these) people who everyone liked and respected, He probably never had an enemy in his life! He was an old country NC gem of the highest caliber and all I can say is I loved every minute I had with Him as did everyone that met Him. My wife's devotion was to her father and my children all 6 was to their grandfather, me I just always looked at Earl as my friend ---so in essence I sold a friend (my surfboard ) to allow my family to say good bye to my friend Earl.

Unfortunitly I , and 2 of my boys, and my oldest daughter couldn't make the trip and plans to go later fell through so this blog is my TRIBUTE TO EARL and the selling of that board is a sacrificial offering--tomorrow is the funeral --my thoughts and prayers are for Earl's wife and my wife and children and tomorrow my thoughts won't be on the board but on Earl-enjoy the ride to Heaven and save me a seat close to you--for now we will miss you!

P.S> Thanks to Jim for the quick sell -you enjoy the glide!

SURFBOARDS--ITS wHAT i DO

I love it when I run into folks that I don't see all the time or even surf shop employees and they ask "are you still shaping" then follow it up with "really where? Do you have a shop or factory?

The anwear is YES!!!!!FACTORY!!!!__935-11th ave south Jax Bch

Part of the problem is I don't advertise and I don't sell to surf shops (not that I wouldn't but right now I don't) > No by and large I have no beef w/ the shops in fact I really like a few of the North Fla shops (Sunrise & Surf Station) and the guys who own them (in this case Dan & Tory).

But by and large they don't support the local bd builders of which I am one.

My whole goal is not to cave into fads and the latest and greatest theroy but to just build really functional , quality surboards , This doesn't always pay the bills because I also don't charge full retail , so given the fad and shop infatuation of Jaxville this can be tough sledding, but as always I will move forward.

My specialty is and has been longbds, quads, and functional tris, I do -do clears (hate it ) known more for my resin tints and splashes and I only do a few (5-6) a week and I do get backed up and being a one man show there can be delays but given time I can and will build you not a good but a great board (in 35+ years I have learned a few things). I also do RUSH ORDERS

48 hours but no colorwork on these and there is a slight fee for my night labor(its called overtime) . I am posting my basic prices which are based on the economy not normal rates:

up to 5'11----330. These prices are for either tri fins or single box and fin

6'----6'5------360 and are clear sanded 320 & scotchbrited finishes

6'6"--6'11"----390. glassed with either 4 oz or 6 oz warp cloth. And the

7'----7'5"-----420. fins are stock fins.

7'6"--7'11"----480

8'0"--8'5"-----510.

8'6"--8'11"----530.

9'0"--9'5"-----560.

9'6"--9'11"----590.

10'---10'5-----630.

over 10'5---------- 700.

over 11------------800 QUADS ARE + 40.00 AS ARE LGBD SIDES

GLOSSES START AT $30----$60. ON LGBDS

Hope this basic info helps-------happy surfing---clay

SURF PICS VIA EDDIE/911 SURFREPORT

Pictured are a couple of surf shots via 911surfreport.com The one w/out the wetsuit was last week on my Tipparillo and the ones of Weston Merkel are from the winter on a cold ass morning on his DN-noserider I shaped over 5 yrs ago (photos are from Jan 2010) He is still one of the best ever classic longboarders from the north Fla area