New from NorCal/SoOr

[Malibusurfer]

Hi all,
Been a lurker for a few years, but decided to join in the fun
I am not a full timer, but spend quite a few weeks stealthing in my 89' Ford E250 while on surfing adventures on the west coast. My van is set up for a few weeks with 2nd battery, inverter, icebox, tv/VCR/DVD, as well as full size bed in back. Walls are insulated, luan and even textured and painted. Building a woodstove in the future as a backup to my Heater Buddy.
Hi all.
Jason

 

[rvwandering]

Welcome Jason! Pictures?

 

[Malibusurfer]

I knew that was coming have to clean out van.. It's full of boat parts right now... Van serves 2 purposes right now as I don't have a truck.....

 

[caseyc]

Welcome to the forum! Yes, pictures please, or it doesn't exist, haha! I'm from NorCal too. Casey

 

[Patrick46]

Hi Jason

interesting that you're from NorCal, and yet your name is MalibuSurfer.

I used to surf here on the Southern Oregon Coast, but I was a late starter, and never got very good...plus, I simply had a hard time squeezing time outta my crazy work schedule to head out and catch a few waves. As you know, you've gotta get out there pretty consistantly to stay in the grove. I'd find alittle time, grab my gear, blast out to the beach...and it'd be all closed out!!...or fogged in. And so I'd go scouting out other spots, meet up with a few of the other locals out checking the breaks, and end up finally going home...losing 2 precious hours with nothing to show for it.
Plus this damn cold water sucks the energy outta me. I've tried all kinds of different wetsuits, but nothing that felt manuverable that kept me warm.

I drove a stepvan when I was surfing. Made a great changing room, had a special spot to hang up my drippy wetsuit, and had racks inside to hold my boards, safe and sound.
We (my son & I) figured out that there are 327 different uses for a stepvan. Sorry you can only find 2 for yours!

Are you a longboarder, ride a gun, or do you ride one of those little potatoe chips??

oh btw....We're definately gonna need to see some pics of your van! (we like pichers here!!)

Welcome to a great forum!!

Patrick from Oregon

 

[Malibusurfer]

Yeah, waves can be hard to find... Crescent City offers about the best possibility for any surf if it's not blown out... I have a quiver of about 5 boards so can surf anything I can find
Just got a new O'Neill 4/3 and it seems to be great. The technology is getting better and better every year it seems..
Patrick, I thought about converting a step van, but make about 4 trips south a year to surf ( Malibu and San Diego mostly, hence the name ) and need good highway miles and need stealth as I live out of it while I'm away.
Looks like I better clean out the van for some pics..

 

[Patrick46]

I'm up in Coos Bay, so we've got several places around here to go to. The most consistant break is at the Winchester Bay bar, but it's way beyond my abilities. Hubbard's Creek in Port Orford has a sweet little left, but that's a bit of a drive if you've got limited time to hit it.

funny thing, is my daughter has moved back home after she finished college this past fall, and has been going out on her own, (she was my surfing buddy.) Well, she's been bugging me "BIG TYME" to get back into it with her, so today I swung through our local surf shop and looked at a few wetsuits. I've still got my old longboard, who knows......

one thing I never really got the hang of was picking my waves. It's hugely important, and I've always sucked at it. If it's clean, that's different...but that's pretty rare around here. SOUP!

 

[Malibusurfer]

When Hubbard Creek is good, it's really fun!!!! I have almost been barreled there!! Good for your daughter trying to get you out... Never been to Winchester Bay..
I have never really been a fan of O'Neill wetsuits but I took a chance on mine and love it!! I buy thru Cleanline up in Lincoln City/Seaside (online) as prices are way better and no tax.
I didn't surf for about 6 months a while ago, and it took me a couple hours to get my timing back, so yeah, I understand.

 

[Patrick46]

I know that if I do go out, once I paddle out to the line-up my arms will be useless rags hanging from my sides!!! How will I ever catch a wave with those???

 

[blkjak]

welcome from s.w. florida .... blkjak

 

[CeeJayee]

Welcome Jason! I am new here too, I lived up in NorCa for 7 yrs!! LOVE it up there miss it a lot ...

Tara

 

[steamjam1]

Norcal here too! Just that I'm not that far Norcal.. :-D

 

[Malibusurfer]

Spend most of my time in Southern Oregon, but in-laws are in NorCal and spend some time there as well.

 

[Malibusurfer]

Trying to add a few pics. I do custom and ol' regular paint jobs for a living
Gotta pay the bills somehow, lol

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Another..
Old Hillman I did for a local family.

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Another

 

[Patrick46]

Nice work neighbor!!

 

[Malibusurfer]

Do my best... Have many other pics of jobs, but not on my iPad..... Stuck on my old dinosaur tower unit...

 

[Malibusurfer]

Able to snap a few shots... Cloudy and didn't have my battery hooked up to inverter, but you get the idea.

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Another angle

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And another.

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One more