Mexico Bound!

Had a great trip down to Port A last weekend with Surfrider Foundation Central Texas Chapter. Cleaned up our adopted mile of beach, camped out with friends, had good food, had beer, and eve got some fun surf (small but fun).

Now I'm headed down to Mexico! Let's hope Sayulita has some surf! I'll catch up with you when I get back! Photos by my wife Leyla Kuhn.

 

Texas Surf Musuem - Steve Thomas and Noll Surfboards

Signed by Steve Thomas

I grew up on the East Side of Santa Cruz surfing with surfers like Jed Noll and Steve Thomas. They gave me plenty of inspiration to improve my surfing over the years (Chris Thomas too!), and I was very stoked to be reminded of them recently at the Texas Surf Museum.

On a side note, I recently I wrote an article about Steve, and how much of an influence he was on my surfing growing up. I was stoked to get several of his magazine covers signed, and am stoked that my wife Leyla framed them for me (for my dirty thirty).

Steve hanging at the Texas Surf Mueseum

During my birthday weekend in Port A,  Leyla gave the framed magazines to me, and we also visited the Texas Surf Museum (with fellow Surfrider member Bill Morris). At the Museum, deep in the heart of Texas, I saw the same magazine cover framed and on the Museum's wall. I was super stoked to see Steve in Texas, and this edition of Longboard magazine (now no longer in print) was signed by the editor of Longboard Magazine at the time Guy Motil (I prefer my copy).

There was also a great Greg Noll exhibit at the Texas Surf Museum. In the exhibit there were vintage Greg Noll Surfboards, old decals, photos, mini boards with the different models, old posters, and even a board shaped by Greg and signed by Greg and Micki Dora. It was cool seeing this exhibit in Texas, and reminded me of how stoked I am to be riding surfboards shaped by Jed Noll (Greg's son) for over a decade now.

Here are some pics (most by Leyla Kuhn) from the exhibit, and cheers to being stoked in Texas!

Steve Thomas and Noll Surfboards

For a California surfer turned Texan for the last 3 years (this April), I was so stoked to receive a package from one of my friends Steve Thomas at Noll Surfboards and Gallery several weeks ago. Steve was my next door neighbor growing up, and he was someone that I looked up to in all aspects of my life. 

Steve on the cover of Longboard Magazine

His dad Chris (I love him like an uncle) taught me how to surf, and I remember when we would all go surf how hard Steve would charge (Chris was pretty good too for an old timer... JK).

Me and Chris Thomas aka My Uncle

I wanted to surf like Steve so bad, and still remember vividly how stoked I was when we were surfing at Capitola one day when Steve told me that I ripped (keep in mind it took me six months to learn how to stand up). Steve currently manages Noll Surfboards and Gallery in San Clemente, and has a blog Nride that you should read here.

One of my favorite boards Shaped by Jed Noll that is fun on all sized waves

Back to the package, when it is cold and dark in Texas, I now Steve to thank for my new favorite hoodie to keep me warm; some awesome dvds to remind me of why I surf, and a couple of notarized mags and stickers. Cheers brother!

Authentic Hoodie now in Austin, TX