The Surfboard Grooming Kit

By Ann Binlot January 5, 2014

surfboard grooming kit — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Although there’s a good chance that if you’re reading this you’re probably somewhere that’s below freezing right now, but if Instagram and Facebook are any indication, there are quite a few of you right now who are somewhere with surf, sand and sun. Panama, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Australia and Fiji are just a few of the places that we’ve come across while surfing through our social media feeds in the past few days. If you’re one of those lucky few surfers who are soaking up some rays or if you’re about to venture off on sunny vacation in the middle of this horrid winter, then you should look into getting the Surfboard Grooming Kit.

This handy kit is a collaboration between Make Co., Archive and Studio Point, and it just happens to be, as the website refers to it, “the most sophisticated maintenance kit for your surfboard on the planet.” Here’s what you get with it: a Bronze and Brazilian Lapacho waxcomb, a black cotton cloth, a bar of wax and a small bottle of methyl hydrate so that you can clean off any residue left behind from the wax. Not only does the waxcomb have a leather lanyard so you can tote it around with ease, it also comes with your standard grooves and a scraper, it also comes with something every surfer, no matter what level, needs — a bottle opener, so that you can enjoy a nice, ice-cold bottle of beer after you’re finished tending to your surfboard. Oh and did we mention that if you want to get this kit you have to act fast? It comes in a limited edition of 25. So go for it and get it, so that you’ll have everything you need for your surfboard in order to catch that big wave.

The Surfboard Grooming Kit, $129 at tryconsult.com.

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Ann Binlot is a New York-based freelance writer who contributes to publications like The Economist, Wallpaper*, Monocle…

Outdoors

The Best DIY Emergency Kit List: The Basics of Assembling Your Own

emergency kit checklist

When an emergency strikes, preparation can make the difference between a challenge and a catastrophe. In a genuine emergency situation, from a residential fire that puts out of your home to civil unrest that forces you to shelter in place, from a hurricane that destroys a neighborhood to a landslide that cuts off any hope of venturing beyond your area, one thing you can count on is a lack of things you take for granted in daily life. This can mean a sudden loss of access to potable water or a food supply; it can mean a dearth of medical support; it can mean loss of heating in the winter or cooling in the summer. And so much more, but in short, as you begin to assemble your emergency response kit, first think about the things you and your dependents need to get through a given day, from nutrition to health and wellness needs to warmth, and so forth. Make sure, in other words, that your basic necessities will be met.

We'll get into specifics below, but a quick note: This is not a comprehensive guide for assembling a once-and-for-all kit that will help you live on indefinitely after an apocalyptic event. I'm not including a radio, a GPS unit, any sort of defensive gear, a tent or different type of shelter, or other more involved supplies. Rather, this is a guide to help you plan an emergency readiness kit that will help keep you safe for a few days as you wait for civil services to be restored or you travel to an area unaffected by the situation. And while I hope you never experience even a two- or three-day emergency, I advise you to get ready for the possibility by assembling a kit now. You'll be glad you did in the event, or you else you'll be really ... really sorry you didn't.

Culture

Catch Some (Sound) Waves With An Intro to Surf Rock

Friends relaxing outside mini van at beach

Not all genres in music are self-explanatory, just ask baroque pop or post-metal. With surf rock, however, it’s pretty much as advertised.
The sun-soaked sounds of the genre are very much the product of its environment. This is the music of southern California in the late 50s and early 60s, an adaptation of early rock ‘n’ roll influenced almost entirely by the beach life. Inland, the swinging sounds of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and more were defining new type of sound. Along the boardwalks and famous breaks of So-Cal, surfers were getting their own soundtrack.
A few major traits separate surf rock from rock in general. First, the reverb-driven guitar work inspired by the fluid sounds of the ocean. It’s the bubbly twang that sticks with the genre today, first popularized in 1961 when Fender amps first accommodated such an effect. The tempo and guitar-picking style is on the faster side, mimicking the adrenaline rush of riding a good wave.
Another major trait — one some argue creates an additional sub-genre within surf rock — is the layered vocal harmonies. The Beach Boys should jump to mind as Brian Wilson and Co. perfected the approach, with squeaky vocal stacking from all sides of the band. It’s a style that would go on to inspire so many other styles. It’s also one that borrows from old American folk elements, which in turn borrow from traditional communal African sounds.
Think of surf rock as the campfire sing-along-at-the-beach equivalent to American rock ‘n’ roll. Interestingly, the genre’s heyday was short lived. It faded nearly as fast as it exploded, going from mainstream in 1962 to nearly forgotten in 1964 thanks largely to the Beatles. But a second wave has bubbled to the surface lately, suggesting that surf rock may be here to stay. Here are some acts to explore as you look to better understand the summery feel of the category:

Dick Dale and the Del-Tones
Dick Dale & The Del Tones "Misirlou" 1963
Dale is credited with bringing surf rock to the forefront, initiating the "wet" reverb sound by way of the electric guitar. His band, the Del-Tones, specialized in the pulsing, wave-like rock one could associate with the ocean tides. Born in Boston, Dale would go on to earn the title "The King of the Surf Guitar." His band's upbeat discography is a great look at the genre, kicked into gear by a dose of rockabilly and some grander sounds thanks to the incorporation of brass and even string sections. If you see a hot rod on the road, there's a good chance it's bumping some Dick Dale.

Culture

Find a Laid-Back Retreat for a Surfing Adventure in the Heart of Portugal

noah surf house centro portugal design presentation 1

Portugal’s stunning coast is Europe’s summertime playground. While the rest of the world is just now catching on to all it has to offer, surfers have known for decades that to catch the most extreme waves, you have to head to this tiny coastal country.

Those in the know head to Centro, the central coast of Portugal located just north of the capital of Lisbon. It offers up a whopping 17 locations, each with a different type of surf and able to accommodate everyone from beginners to pros.