USWA Blog

Classic Interview About Waveskis From 1981

briank — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:29:12 +0000

Classic Interview About Waveskis From 1981 Courtesy of Doug Greaves from Austrailia. Thanks Doug, Great Stuff!

Hi there.

I’ve just uploaded onto Youtube a video from 1981, which was broadcast in Australia on the children’s show “Simon Townsends Wonder World”. It was all filmed at Dee Why Point in Sydney, which was probably the most popular spot for waveskis back then.

The in-water filming was done by a professional film company that was hired by Peter Stuyvesant, the cigarette manufacturer. They were sponsors of the NSW State Titles and they paid for a short documentary about the competition. Fortunately, they agreed to make their film available for the TV show.

Most of the skis in the video were from Raider and were shaped by John Christensen and Roger Shackleton. The riders are Mike Petrie, John, Roger, Paul Wise, Gordon Lang and a few others whose names I can’t remember.

I believe the white Wavemaster was the first epoxy ski ever made. Unfortunately the glasser didn’t really know how to use epoxy, so it was about 15kg (and a dog), which didn’t help to market the benefits of epoxy resin! However, it would bounce off rocks without leaving a mark. Which was handy, as I used to hit a lot of rocks.

I don’t think there’s much high-quality video of waveskis from 30 years ago. So I hope you enjoy this little bit of history.

Best wishes,
Doug Greaves

The Lost Photos of ’08 Championship

briank — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 01:35:05 +0000

The Lost Archives of ’08

Ok, so maybe they were not lost ;’)

After searching through the great cavern of files we found this wonderful trove of un-edited raw photos from the 2008 US Championship shot by Vincent Shay. Probably one of the most prolific shoots ever of a Waveski comp, many sequence shots and some fantastic pictures. If you competed in 2008 it is highly likely there are some good HD photos of you here. For those looking for the best waves, look for Sundays pictures of classic beautiful surf and superb surfing in the Finals.

However, here is the catch, there are over 3500 pictures! Your goal its search and find yours. Feel free to download, as we are not sure how long this huge treasure trove of pictures will be accessible. These pictures are not to be resold or redistributed.

If you watch this as a slide show it could take a whole day and may qualify as the worlds longest paddle surfing slide show.;’)

Click the Picture of this empty Ventura Wave (with the Island in the background!) below to access the photo gallery, Enjoy!

PS. Do not forget to thank Vince!

Photographs of the 2010 US Waveski Championships.

briank — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 01:56:08 +0000

Sorry for the delay in posting these wonderful photographs of the 2010 US Waveski Championships in Ventura California by Vincent Shay. No membership needed to view. Click the link below to view.
Slideshow takes a few minutes to load and it is worth it!

Click here for a Slideshow of Photographs from the 2010 United States Waveski Championships in Ventura California at C Street by Photographer Vincent Shay

Click here for a Gallery View instead.

Enjoy!

US Waveski Association.

Results from the 2010 Waveski Nationals

admin — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 01:27:12 +0000

Held at the “C” Street Point Break in Ventura, California.

United States Top Ranked WaveSki Surfers
Tyler Lausten – 1
Geoff Jennings – 2
Roger Adams – 3
Jim Riecks – 4

OPEN
Blair Moore – 1
Steve Farthing – 2
Tyler Lausten – 3
Geoff Jennings – 4

Womens
Wina Duminy – 1
Lucy O’Brien – 2

NewAge
Tyler Lausten – 1
Kevin Mackinlay – 2
Jim Gaffney – 3
Jason Kozun – 4

Seniors
Morne Erasmus – 1
Geoff Jennings – 2
Francois Duminy – 3

Masters
Blair Moore – 1
Stephen Farthing – 2
Jeff Munson – 3
Jim Riecks – 4

Grand Masters
Roger Adams – 1
Mike Harrington – 2
Eric Luhrs – 3
Barry La Grange – 4

Veterans
Dennis St. Clair – 1
Mike Wright – 2
Dick Galloway – 3
Gregg Butler – 4

MERV
1. Jim Grossman
2. Mike Harrington
3. Rick Hayley
4. Jeff Munson

Kayak
Jim Grossman – 1
Vincent Shay – 2
Geoff Jennings – 3
Lucy O’Brien – 4

Media Coverage & Pictures Of Ventura Paddle Surfing Championships 2010

Thank you Canoe & Kayak Magazine!
http://www.canoekayak.com/kayak/us-waveski-nationals/

Thank you SUP Magazine
http://www.supthemag.com/features/2010-ventura-paddle-surfing-championships/

Thank you Santa Barbara StandUp!
http://blog.surfingsports.com/2010/10/ventura-sup-surf-contest-2010.html
http://blog.surfingsports.com/2010/10/2010-ventura-paddlesurfing-championship.html

More pictures, stories and detailed results later.

Thank to all those attended and supported us!

Don’t miss our future events as we are sure they will all sell out quickly now..

We are looking for sponsors for future events, need a good venue top get your product out in the view of many surfers? Call us

Project P10 Subgraviti Films Teaser

briank — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:55:22 +0000

2009 World Championship video.

briank — Sat, 15 May 2010 21:41:45 +0000

2009 World Waveski video presented by Jim Rieks from Florida.
Enjoy!

Watch 2009 World Waveski Titles in Sports | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

2009 USWA Results

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:52:35 +0000

Tyler Lausten making the most out of small surf conditions ( with onlooking Warren Schultheis, left, and Caroline Augibaud, right). Â Photo: Tom McCarthy Jr.Â

Despite poor surf conditions, the United States Waveski Nationals were a great success due to the hard work of organizers (Brian Kuzmar, Roger Adams, Warren Schultheis), and the dedication and tenacity of this years competitors.

Congratulations to all for a successful event, and many thanks to those who traveled from far and wide to attend and compete.

Here are some photos and a summery of the contest at VeroNews.com

2009 CONTEST RESULTS

Open
Mattieu Barbarit
Tyler Lausten
Fletcher Burton
Caroline Angibaud

New Age
Tyler Lausten
Warren Shultheiss
Nick Scoville
James Gaffney

Seniors
Jim Reicks
Gordon Rock
Fletcher Burton

Masters
Greg Keenan
Rick Haley
Billy Leonard
Bjorn Hansen

Grand Masters
Roger Adams
Sharon Grause
Stewart Diesel-Reynolds
Walter Bruno
Frank Casciotta

Veteran
Ralph Brown
Don Pellegrini ?
Randy Hamilton
Steve MÂ Â Â ?

Kayak
Chris Carter
Gordon Rock
Udo Guddat

Mike Johnson Interview and Q&A

briank — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:04:27 +0000

If you have any interest at all in waveski and/or kayak surfing, you are no doubt familiar with the name Mike Johnson. Yeah, he’s the guy who came up with the Mako designs as well as being very involved with Ocean Kayak’s Rrrapido and Infinity’s waveskis. You might even say he’s one of THE most important guys ever to get involved in paddle surfing in the US.

I had a chance to chat with Mike recently and had a great time learning about the very early days of waveski and kayak surfing from his first person perspective. Mike was also kind enough to share some vintage pics of him and Merv Larson from way back in the 60′s when waveskis first started showing up in SoCal lineups. So with all that said, I would like to share some facts and pictures from Mike as well as a brief Q&A.

Mike is 68 years old as of the writing of this article and has been surfing for over 50 years. He got his start paddle surfing in 1966 when he got out of the Navy. The first waveski he rode was one that Bill Bragg built in 1964 for Olympic flatwater kayaker Terry Lentz as an alternative training craft. Here’s some pics of Mike on that ski at Huntington Pier.

Following are pics from one day in 1969 that, in Mike’s words, was the very best day of surfing he ever had. Mike described the waves as easily double overhead plus and just long, peeling and very surfable point break rights. The paddle out was easy too and they surfed for over 4 hours. In other words, HEAVEN!! They even had a surfing contest that day and Merv Larson took first and Mike took second. Here’s some amazing pics from that day.

Mike was also kind enough to share some pics of him and Merv Larson from the same time period. He pointed out that Merv (with the white helmet in these photos) had rigged up a waterproof setup with a small transistor radio and earphones that went into his helmet and he surfed to music back then! Keep in mind folks, this was the late 60′s/ early 70′s so it show that Merv was a pioneer in more than one way! The following pics are Mike with the green shoe and red helmet and Merv with the white helmet and round-nosed ski.

I hope you all enjoy the photos as much as I did. Like I said, it was a real pleasure talking with Mike and I am grateful to him not only for the conversation and pictures he shared, but also for his huge contributions to the sport we all love so much!

To wrap it all up, here’s a little Q&A I did with Mike.

1. How long have you been paddle surfing?

Almost 43 years.

2. How did you get into it/who influenced you?

When I got into white water paddling, a friend said he surfed his kayak, so I taught myself.

3. You’ve designed some of the best of each so do you prefer waveskis or surf kayak and why?

Waveskis. Less equipment, if you miss a roll, you can get back on anywhere.

4. What’s your favorite break?

Rincon, followed by Steamer Lane, Swamiis, and San Onofre.

5. Talk a little about being an Olympian.

A WW friend asked me if I wanted to train and go to the Worlds in flatwater kayaking. We made the team, went to Denmark in’70. Raced for 6 years ending in Montreal 1976.

6. How has the sport progressed in your 40+ years of participating?

It started with modified WW boats. I made the first surf kayak in 1968. 13 designs currently, all based on my waveskis. The sport now has a life of it’s own.

7. What are your thoughts on fins vs. finless/triplaning hull design? Are there conditions you would rather have a finned ski?

I’ve always been finless (my paddle and hard edges do the same as fins). Three plane acts like tail rocker along the whole side of the craft preventing catching rails.

8. Talk about your paddle designs.

I have a very successful flat blade paddle that I have been making since 1972, designed specifically for surfing. Very light and popular.

9. You’ve worked with some of the pioneers in paddle surfing like Merv Larson, Ocean Kayak and Infinity. Talk about some of the highlights and challenges of working with each.

Merv: met him in ’67 bought my skis from him, designed kayaks with him. He was the main pioneer of waveskis up into the early 90′s.

Infinity: When I couldn’t get skis from Merv, I turned to Steve Boehne of Infinity Surfboards for my design skis and shaping my kayak prototypes Mako Skis & Kayaks.

Ocean Kayaks: for a short time I worked with them to design the Rrrapido based on my 9’6″ Mako Ski.

10. What else do you like to do for fun?

Snow ski, dirt bike and buggy riding.

11. Any tips to help newer waveskiers get better?

Get a good user friendly ski (I prefer anything that come out of the Infinity shop www.infinitysurfboard.com.

12. How do you think we can promote the sport better here in the States?

Just let people see how much fun we are having, and they can do it too.

2008 United States Waveski Championships Video.

briank — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:49:13 +0000

Ormond Beach Kayak Center presents the Kayak Adventures.
2008 United States Waveski Championships held at the World famous “C” Street in Ventura California.

Watch WaveSki | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

New Article in DEEP Mag about Sept. Nationals!

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:55:06 +0000

: Here’s the link.. Make sure you go to page ’21′

Vince Shay, photographer, surfer, and general wave guru has just had this piece published in DEEP Magazine. Â Click the image above to visit the link, and enter page ’21′.