Clark Foam Closes!

After producing over 90% of all the surfboard blanks in the United States for over 40 years Clark Foam closed it's doors on Monday December 6, 2005.

Clark's closure, apparently without even notifying the leading surfboard manufacturers in the US, immediately threw the industry in utter chaos. Clark Foam produced upwards of 1,000 blanks per day. With the loss of available blanks shapers were left scrambling to try to locate different sources, both in the US and worldwide.

Several manufacturers and surf shops in California immediately raised their prices on all available boards $100-150. The immediate effect seems to be most devastating to the smaller local shapers and companies. The loss of the availability of small amounts of blanks could put the small shapers out of business.

The seemingly biggest winners seem to be Surftech, Boardworks, and the glass boards produced in China and Indonesia who do not depend on blanks from Clark.

Tuesday Nov 22, 2005


After the Noreaster on Monday night, the surf cleaned up nicely by mid-morning, with pounding overhead barrels. The wind came hard from the west and quickly knocked down the swell by the afternoon. The above photo was taken at the new pier between Spring Lake and Sea Girt.

Hello Again from the sunny Carribbean.......

Friends have come and gone and we've had some pretty good days of surf, mostly in Tortola.
Compared to the last few Fall seasons, this Fall has been somewhat disappointing here. The Fall can quite often be an unreal time. But I think all the unseasonably warm, nice weather at home has prevented those normally potent cold fronts from sending those North swells our way.

Despite the fact of the surf, we've managed to have our normal crazy days here in the sun. The Garbage Man and Kevin Daughton, newcomers to our Fall treks scored some fun surf everyday they were here!

Welcome to the Caribbean!!!! Our band of shop travelers has made our way down to our favorite Caribbean haunts for our annual r&r. As we speak, TS Alpha is passing us by to the west. We've had several inches of heavy rain tonite. The surf was flat today..... hopefully with all this passing, we'll have some fun surf in the next few days. This is normally one of the best times of the year here....... hopefully it will continue. I can't upload any photos because the dial-up is too slow, but will try to keep everyone updated on the surf! I understand it's a rainy cool night in NJ too!

Flooded Lake Como 10/13/05

After over 7 days of rain and over 10" on the ground a flooded out Belmar finally broke into the clear on Saturday afternoon to off shore winds and a thumping overhead swell....... The ESA/CNJ District also held a local contest at 17th Ave.

This photo was taken at the pier on Friday night before it began to clear up!

Saturday featured 50+ surfers at the pier

17th Avenue 10/09/05

The Fall cold fronts have begun, the temp's have started to drop and hopefully this will be a regular occurence!

8th Avenue Boyz......

Frank and Tom Petriken joined the local crew, Justin, Brendan, Dan and Big Joe for some sick barrels during low tide!

Cecil Lear Rock!

The Cecil Lear rock was unveiled during the Belmar Pro on 17th Avenue in Belmar. Besides being a lifelong Belmar resident, Cecil was responsibile for the first full-time surfing beach in NJ. Cecil was also the founder of the Eastern Surfing Association, judge at the World Contest, and an inaugurial member of the East Coast Hall of Fame.

Besides being my friend, Cecil Lear is one of the most humane, nicest people you could ever know. I love Cecil Lear!

Fall In Belmar!

We had our first real cold front of the Fall pass through yesterday bringing us fun chest high barrels. The temps last night reached the 40's on the beach since probably last April.

Today we had a beautiful Fall day. Hopefully lots more fun surf will follow!

Hurricane Phillipe/First Day of Fall

Although it's only September 23rd, we had our first real taste of Fall today........ water temp's around 60, thanks to a recent upwelling caused by the ever present South winds. The surf today was fun early, but the increasing tide and very inconsistent swell, put a pretty quick end to the fun. It's really good to be back surfing with your friends again. It's seemed like a nearly endless period of crowded conditions and no-name surfers.

Mark Sisom and Luke, along with longtime friend and San Fran local Billy McLaughlin, brought a little soul back into the lineup......... I'm looking foward to many more fun Fall days coming soon!

These photos of 12 year old Hawaiian phnom
Jon-Jon Flores were taken in Ocean Grove on
Friday September 9th.

photos by Admiral Stockdale

Rusty Belmar Pro 2005

The Finals of the Belmar Pro was held on Sunday afternoon in diminishing but very surfable conditions. After 4 days and over 150 contestants, the final results were:

1st Place Aaron Cormican Florida
2nd Place Adam Virs CA
3rd Place Asher Nolan Fla
4th Place Pat Gudauskas CA

Immediately following the finals, John Cruz, a Hawaiian sonwriter and Grammy Award winner played a concert in from of the shop. John who is on tour with Jack Johnson, favored us with his beautiful melodies.
It seems everyone in the crowd was stoked!

2005 RustyBelmar Pro

2005 Rusty-Belmar Pro

The 2005 Belmar Pro, sponsored by Rusty Surfboards is scheduled for September 8-12th across from the shop in Belmar. Once again this year the contest is a WQS ** event with a $25,000 purse.

There are lots of events scheduled as part of the contest……… a quick rundown;

Fri Night D’Jais Red Bull Party Meet the Pros!
Sat Noon Barry and the Penetrators and friends…….
Sprout, Youth Ahead, and BluNation
at the contest site.


Sat 5:30pm O’Neill video premiere at McCann’s. Free refreshments and drinks
Sat 9pm Bar A Coors Light Party
Sun 9am Surfrider Paddle across America event 19th Avenue
Sun 1:30pm O’Neill and Eastern Lines present Hawaiian artist and Grammy Award winning musician
John Cruz in front of Eastern Lines. http://www.johncruz.com