New Keels

The D fin on my longboard is actually an Almond shape, tilted to what we decided was the appropriate looking angle, and then hacked off at the base.

The same concept is being applied to a new set of twin fin keels.

Here is evidence of the idea getting one step closer to reality.

Almond shaped keels unveiling very soon.

Photo: Camo Den

Magic Johnson's

From a recent day at San Onofre...

Photos: Cameron Oden

7'9 Stepdeck

I've been inspired by some of the midlengths that I've seen in the water recently. Cyrus has been making himself some fun looking 2+1 boards. I traded boards in the water with Knost a few weeks ago, and really enjoyed the midlength he shaped for himself, and I haven't been able to shake these boards out of my head.

With that in mind, Griffin and I put our heads together the other day to come up with something new and interesting. We started with the original log rhythm template as our foundation (21 1/2" wide log) We narrowed it to 20 3/4"

I really wanted to keep plenty of volume and rail through the middle of the board (50/50), but then transition to a modern edge in the tail. I don't really like displacement hulls, personally, but I do like boards that glide and trim effortlessly, so the extra volume is intended to make this board glide like a log, but turn and respond like a midlength.

We ended up pulling in the nose, because we agreed we didn't need so much foam up there for what we wanted this board to do. So we actually used the tail template of the Pinwheel model (longboard we did for Japan) for the new nose. In order to further eliminate foam in the nose of the board, we gave it a step. A nice heart-shaped step.

New Midlength Development

Dave and Griffin designing a new midlength model, and template tweaking.

California Life is Good

New film by Itoi



If you're wondering, that is Dave in the sombrero.

SURFERS:
ALEX KNOST
BRIAN BENT
BUCKY BURRY
CHRIS CHRISTENSON
CHRIS DEL MORO
CHRISTIAN WACH
DAVE ALLEE
JEN SMITH
JJ WESSELS
NATALIE WESSELS
KAMERON BROWN
KASSIA MEADOR
MITCH ABSHERE
NATHAN ADAMS
NOAH SHIMABUKURO
SCOTTY STOPNIK
TURKEY STOPNIK
TANNER PRAIRIE
TOMMY WITT
TRACE MARSHALL
TYLER WARREN

Nose Patch

You have all seen deck patches and tail patches; introducing the all new Nose Patch from Almond. For all of your noseriding straight-onto-the-shore needs; and symmetrical visual pleasure.

Double Wedge Stringer 9'7 Surf Thump with Almond-shaped D-fin.

Photo: Oden

Aloha Santa Cruz

KyleLightner.com and I are heading out pre-dawn tomorrow for Santa Cruz so we can watch Nathan and the rest of the crew participate in the Joel Tudor Invitational this weekend.

Kyle will probably take a few photos along the way.

I've never been to Santa Cruz, so I'm looking forward to it.

With all those talented loggers in one lineup, it's going to be one for the ages.

Ron Herman x BLUE Calendar 2011

A few pages from the new Ron Herman and Blue Magazine 2011 Calendar.

Balsa Kookumber

Here's a completely balsa wood Kookumber we did recently, as a part of the ongoing Kookumber Project.

Photo/Layout: C. Omarion Oden

SURF THUMP

Almond Surfboards : Surf Thump from Almond Surfboards on Vimeo.

Cam put together a little Surf Thump clip for your informational and viewing pleasure.

Speaking of Surf Thumps, we've got a used on in the shop at the moment. I swiped it off the racks while I was waiting for my new board, but now I'm flipping it. Perfect condition.

New Shirt #2 | Shoot the Pier

Now available online and at the shop.

Kyle Lightner for VANS II

The KL for Vans billboards have started appearing all over the place.

Here are some photos from the side of a couple buildings in LA and NY, plus a NY subway.

Stoked for you Kyle! Still laughing that Griffin and I are somehow on the side of a building.

Top 2 photos/paintings via Colossal Media.

SolSpot Surf Forcasting

I've been using SolSpot to check the waves/tides/etc recently. It's been really straightforward and easy to use.

Stoked that Jon from SolSpot wrote a great article about Almond yesterday.

Read the article HERE, and start checking the surf HERE.

Kyle Lightner for VANS

Kyle Lightner for Vans t-shirt available at Thalia.

These 2 photos are shots Kyle took of Dave and Griffin back when we first started hanging out and working together. The top one is me holding the 'cordless' board pre-glass job. The second one is Griffin crouching down inspecting a 1964 Hobie board that we were talking about, as inspiration for some of the first longboards we did together.

It was complete coincidence that Vans happened to put photos of Griffin and I on the same shirt.

Even more of a longshot that they would use those photos for a KL X VANS Billboard in NYC and SF. (pictured below) Stoked for you Kyle.

"See you in Tokyo!"

While we were in Tokyo, we went to dinner with Yusuke Hanai. He took us to an incredible sushi restaurant on the 14th floor of a high-rise in Shibuya.

This guy is one of the most enjoyable people you'll meet, and of course, an amazingly talented artist.

"Go your own way"

SURF JAPAN

U-SKE sent over some surfing photos that he shot while we were there.

We didn't meet U-SKE (Yusuke Suzuki) until the day after our magical dream session, but he did get some good shots of a few small says around Hiratsuka.

Sunrise Surf Session - Day 3

Nathan, Tomo and I had a magical surf session at the rivermouth by Tomo's house in Japan.

Here are some photos by amigo U-Ske of Nate and I getting ready for a surf.

p.s. the sun rises over the ocean there...

Heading Home

Nathan and Dave are headed home.

Kill the time waiting for them by listening to this song...

Ron Herman Tokyo

Nathan and I are going to Ron Herman Tokyo tonight for a little gathering

Hope to see you there.