This weekend (October 8-9, 2011) the soul surf world is gathering at the Fairgrounds in Del Mar, California for Sacred Craft Expo. This year, 150 exhibitors will be showing the latest in surf crafts at a show that allows civilians (not just retailers, buyers, manufacturers, and media) to duck-dive into more surf information that they can possibly imagine.
Shaping contests, surfboard collectable appraisals, books signing, and a grom skateboard slalom challenge are only a few of the things going down this weekend at Sacred Craft. For a complete overview and extremely detailed hour-by-hour schedule of events, follow the jump.SURFBOARD INDUSTRY GATHERS FOR HISTORIC EXPO IN DEL MAR
Over 150 booths makes Sacred Craft largest surfboard expo; Windansea icon Carl Ekstrom to be honored; schedule of events set for October 8 & 9.
Encinitas, Ca., (October 3, 2011) — With over 150 booths this year’s celebration of the surfboard, the Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo, is historically the largest consumer surfboard expo ever produced. Last spring’s “Best of Show” winner Santa Cruz shaper Nick Palandrani and his Source Surfboards label leads a packed house of surfboard industry shapers, designers, manufacturers, brands and businesses. The event is open to the public on October 8 & 9 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
Surfboard designer & futurist Carl Ekstrom will be honored at the expo during the Tribute to the Masters Shape-off competition presented by US Blanks. During this event, six shapers chosen by Ekstrom will shape a surfboard based on Ekstrom’s asymmetrical design concept. Defending champion Matt Biolos of LOST Surfboards leads the field of six which includes San Diegan’s George Gall, Tim Bessell, Ryan Burch and Daniel Thomson as well as Santa Barbara’s Wayne Rich.
Our relationship to the environment, as surfers and as an industry, will be highlighted in the Sustainable Craft Showcase, a shaping bay and laminating area dedicated to the manufacture of surfboards using more environmentally friendly materials such as wood, recycled foam and low-VOC resins. Shapers include Pat Rawson, Larry Mabile, Stretch, Ryan Lovelace, a Brian Syzmanski/Rob Machado collaboration, Ryan Harris, Gary McNeill.
The Sacred Craft Collectible Surfboard & Memorabilia Appraisals is our version of PBS’s “Antique Roadshow”. We invite the general public to bring collectible surfboards and memorabilia to a panel of experts for appraisal. The panel assigns a value to the items, but more importantly they often uncover the provenance, or story, behind the value of the item. The public is urged to bring out your buried treasure!
The Art of Shaping Los Angeles County Edition presented by Billabong is the fourth installment of Billabong’s stalwart program to recognize the crucial role that shapers and board builders play in building our culture. Twenty four shapers have been selected from the Los Angeles area to build gorgeous and iconic surfboards for public auction at Sacred Craft on Saturday evening, October 8th.All proceeds from the auction benefit the SIMA Humanitarian Fund. Previously Billabong recognized shapers from Hawaii, San Diego and Orange County.The “Art of Shaping Los Angeles County Edition presented by Billabong” invitees include Scott Anderson, Joe Bark, Clyde Beatty, Phil Becker, Matt Calvani, Lance Carson, Con Colburn (Bruce Grant), Bing Copeland, Robbie Dick, Tyler Hatzikian, Brian Hilbers, Jeff Ho, Hap Jacobs, Dennis Jarvis, Don Kadawaki, Glen Kennedy, Greg Liddle, Casey McCrystal, Greg Noll (Jed Noll), Pat Ryan, Mike Starvos, Rick Stoner (Jeff Stoner), Dewey Weber (Jerry O’Keefe) and Michael Zippi. Public auction October 8, 2011, Saturday evening, 6PM @ Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo – Del Mar Fairgrounds
For more information check out http://www.billabong.com/artofshaping/
The Board Art Benefit, an event within Sacred Craft’s Art Grotto, was created to bring leading artists together where they will have the opportunity to create live art on surfboards for the purpose of raising support for SurfAid International. The aim of the Board Art Benefit is to provide a great venue for the participating artists to showcase their work, to provide the public with a great chance to witness some of their favorite artists at work, and to support SurfAid International. The finished boards from this event will later be auctioned, with the proceeds benefiting SurfAid International.
List of Collaborating artists/shapers
Phil Roberts and Gerry Lopez
Damian Fulton and Tyler Hatzikian
Rick Rietveld and Jed Noll
Erik Abel and Robert Weiner
Heather Ritts
Spencer Reynolds and Jeff “Doc” Lausch
Wade Koniakowsky and Mike Hynson
Matt Beard and Yohei Shiraishi
Tyler Warren
Drew Brophy and Ron House
Ron Croci and Jon Birchim
Robb Havassy and Rusty Preisendorfer
Norm Daniels
San Diego’s Bird Huffman and Southern California’s Surfing Heritage Foundation will both be displaying a premium selection from their respective and extensive surfboard collections at the Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo. Each of the boards within The SOUL Project Quivers Lounge will have an informational card providing insight into the boards provenance and/or story. The SOUL Project Quivers Lounge is a place to chill, breath deeply and perhaps enjoy a cold Primo beer whilst taking in the two separate and select quivers.
Korduroy.TV presents an eclectic array of short films and videos within the Korduroy Corner. The DIY experts at Korduroy offer up insight on surf culture with an emphasis on living life simply. Korduroy TV is a website spreading digital aloha. Through video how-to’s, short films, rants and interviews they are creating a new platform for independent surf culture – a place where ideas can be shared that respect self-sufficiency, craftsmanship, and a surfing experience of our own design.
Solarez (booth# 942) will be doing free ding repair at their booth for SACRED CRAFT show attendees. Simply go to their website www.solarez.com, pick a 30 minute time slot reservation and bring your board to the show! Polyester or epoxy, professional ding repairs will be done there swiftly using state-of-the-art materials. Time slots are limited.
This year Sacred Craft has developed a Longboard Surf Skate Zone demo area complete cones, tarp, on other surf/skate gnar gnar. Top longboard surf skate brands will have boards available for demo. For the groms only, …LOST Skates is putting on the Grom Slalom Challenge. All groms are encouraged to test their ability on the timed slalom course. The top six timed runs will receive a free …LOST Skateboard.
The SURFERS VILLAGE Music Stage features a unique blend of styles and characters. The lineup includes Kevin White’s Pacific Jazz Guitar featuring Bridget Eliza; Boaz Roberts’ Jazz Odyssey; Boo Stubbs & Friends; Wag Halen (a Van Halen parade -y); School of Rock V Team; Ekolu Kalama.
Book signings include Mickey Munoz author of No Bad Waves in Patagonia booth #901; Chris Dixon author of Ghost Wave : The Discovery of Cortes Bank and the Biggest Wave on Earth (location tbd); Mike Hynson – Transcendental Memories of a Surf Rebel in Boardworks Booth # 609
15th St. in Del Mar is the early morning site for the surfboard and gear demo. Sunday morning Oct 9th from 7am -10am ; prior to expo floor opening on Sunday morning.
Complete Schedule (subject to change)
Oct 8 Saturday
10am : Sacred Craft doors open to the public
10:05am : Primo Paul cracks a coldy. Outside at Food n Beverage Kiosks
10am Shaping : Ryan Burch – Tribute to the Masters Shaping Bay presented by US
BLANKS honoring Carl Ekstrom
10am Shaping : Ryan Lovelace – Sustainable Craft Shaping Bay
12pm Shaping : George Gall -Tribute to the Masters Shaping Bay presented by US
BLANKS honoring Carl Ekstrom
12pm Music : Pacific Jazz Guitar featuring Bridget Eliza on vocals; outside on the
Surfers Village Music Stage
12pm Laminating : Entropy / EcoBoardWorks Sustainable Craft Lo-VOC Hand
laminating
12pm Shaping : Brian Syzmanksi / Rob Machado – Sustainable Craft Shaping Bay
1pm Book Signing : Mickey Munoz author of No Bad Waves in Patagonia booth #901
1pm Grom Slalom Challenge : …LOST Skates booth – Outside in the LB Skate Zone
1:45pm Music : Boo Stubbs and Friends – outside on the Surfers Village Music Stage
2pm Book Signing : Chris Dixon author of Ghost Wave : The Discovery of Cortes
Bank and the Biggest Wave on Earth
2pm Laminating : Entropy / EcoBoardWorks Sustainable Craft hand laminating
2pm Shaping : Pat Rawson – Sustainable Craft Shaping Bay
2pm Shaping : Matt Biolos (defending champion) – Tribute to the Masters Shaping Bay
presented by US BLANKS honoring Carl Ekstrom
2pm Book Signing : Mike Hynson – Transcendental Memories of a Surf Rebel
Boardworks Booth # 609 ; Limited Edition Hynson “E Summer”
boards with ‘E Summer” Poster.
2pm Board Giveaway : SURFER magazine booth #317
2:45pm Music : Wag Halen – outside on the Surfers Village Music Stage
3pm Music : Boaz Roberts’ Jazz Odyssey – The SOUL Project Quivers Lounge
4pm Laminating : Entropy / EcoBoardWorks Sustainable Craft Lo-VOC Hand
Laminating
4pm Shaping : Daniel Thomson – Tribute to the Masters Shaping Bay presented by US
BLANKS honoring Carl Ekstrom
4pm Shaping : Larry Mabile – Sustainable Craft Shaping Bay
4pm Meet & Greet : ISA President Fernando Aguerre picks up “E Summer” series
board #1 from Mike Hynson – Boardworks booth #609
4pm Music : School of Rock VTeam – outside on the Surfers Village Music Stage
5pm Board Giveaway : Shubu inflatable in the Boardworks booth # 609 ; SURFER
Magazine booth #317
6pm : Sacred Craft Expo floor closes
6pm Public Auction : Billabong’s Art of Shaping LA County Edition benefiting SIMA’s
Humanitarian Fund
Sunday Oct 9
7am – 10am : Surfboard Demos – Ride the Sacred Craft boards at 15th street in Del Mar
10am : Sacred Craft Expo floor open to the public
10am Shaping : Gary McNeil (shapes Rasta’s boards) – Sustainable Craft Shaping Bay
11am Laminating : Entropy / EcoBoardWorks Sustainable Craft Lo-VOC Hand Laminating
11am Shaping : Tim Bessell – Tribute to the Masters Shaping Bay presented by US
BLANKS honoring Carl Ekstrom
11:30am Shaping : Stretch – Sustainable Craft Shaping Bay
12pm Music : Ekolu Kalama – Surfers Village Music Stage
12pm Book Signing : Chris Dixon author of Ghost Wave : The Discovery of Cortes
Bank and the Biggest Wave on Earth
1:30pm Shaping : Ryan Harris – Sustainable Craft Shaping Bay
1pm Shaping : Wayne Rich – Tribute to the Masters Shaping Bay presented by US BLANKS
honoring Carl Ekstrom
2:30pm Laminating : Entropy / EcoBoardWorks Sustainable Craft Lo-VOC Vacuum
Bagging
2:45pm Judging : Carl Ekstrom, Rusty Preisendorfer, Stanley Pleskunas – Tribute to the
Masters Shaping Bay presented by US BLANKS honoring Carl Ekstrom
3:30pm Awards : Winner Announced – Tribute to the Masters Shaping Bay presented by
US BLANKS honoring Carl Ekstrom
4pm Expo Floor Closes – Sacred Craft Expo Ends
