Chiba’s Nakadaki art village is throwing a Beach Garden Home Party to kick off September, live art, hula, workshops, bonfire and live music. Pop in and say hi!

Online Magazine Version Link

Dick Van Straalen

Dick Van Straalen feature has been posted.

http://www.surferseyes.com/wp/feature/

We caught up with DVS in his shaperoom on the Gold Coast back in December last year (09), whilst shooting for BLUE magazine’s April 2010 issue. Adapted in English is the original story up for you to see!

-Angie-

Bending plastic, the rules of symmetry and keeping the fun in surfing.

Words Angie Takanami, Photos Kuni Takanami, Special Thanks DVS, BLUE magazine, Hertz Japan.

(Dick Van Straalen feature written for Japan’s BLUE magazine, April 2010 and adapted for Surfer’s Eyes online media).

“Words can’t explain a lot in surfing, a lot of it is wordless. You can’t explain the enjoyment someone’s having or the exhilaration. But you can see it in the way their body is moving. Just like ballet”. -DVS

“I ride single fin longboards; and set-up the single fin in the middle with two smaller fins on each side. I’m used to single fins; you get a lot more drive in the water, especially if you shape them well. I move the widepoint of the board further back (towards the tail) so that distance of the widepoint to the tail is shorter. That works for me, giving me that drive and smoothness.” -DVS

Always encouraging inventiveness, in decades of  shaping legendary Gold Coast shaper Dick Van Straalen ‘DVS’ has worked on collaborative ideas and surfboard design projects with young and old international surfing legends such as Ted Spencer, Peter Townend, Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew, Michael Ho, Mark Foo and Dave Rastovich, creating unique custom hand-shaped boards to give surfers stronger, personal, durable surfboards that last longer.

“Surfboards are just plastic, so the more you bend them the weaker they get giving them a time limit. I’ve been getting right into making carbon boards with epoxy resins because they don’t seem to have a time limit. They’re just really strong. They might cost a little more but they will last longer.”

“Love, alertness and freedom”, the message behind his brand’s logo mark and the man himself are a symbol for DVS’ carefree attitude. Not taking work too seriously, DVS has grown disappointed with the surf industry’s growing complexity.

“Nothing is symmetrical, we (humans) aren’t, so I don’t believe in perfection. That’s why I don’t think computer shaping works. The best computer is the human mind! People think the slightest change in a board is going to make them surf better. That’s rubbish! A surfboard is really just a bent piece of plastic, so just learn how to use it under your feet, and how to ride it in the curve.

Wearing industrial ear muffs and a ‘free and easy’ t-shirt, DVS takes a few minutes each morning to clear his mind, deep breaths to meditate the external stresses out letting only good vibes in.

“I don’t do any work, I just have fun! And that’s how surfing should be. Everything is the way you think it is. If you think everything’s bad than it is, and if you think everything’s good then it’s good”.

-Surfer’s Eyes-

www.dickvanstraalen.com

Surfer’s Eyes 2011 Calendar

A taste of the world through surfer’s eyes…India, Australia, Japan

12-month calendar printed in Japan on recycled paper

1,500yen within Japan
AU$19.95 outside Japan
40% for orders of 10 or more
*shipping not included, will be calculated depending on your location

Payment by direct bank transfer (Japan and Australia only), Paypal, International Bank Cheque, (Credit Cards via online shop coming soon)

Pre-Order NOW, no deposit required!

Email, Fax or Post your name, order info and shipping address to

Email: info@surferseyes.com
Fax: +81 (0) 470-87-5969
Post: Surfer’s Eyes, 3136-1 Izumi, Misaki Machi, Isumi Shi, Chiba, Japan, 299-4503

www.surferseyes.com

Surfer’s Eyes 2011 Calendar

A taste of the world through surfer’s eyes…India, Australia, Japan

12-month calendar printed in Japan on recycled paper

1,500yen within Japan
AU$19.95 outside Japan
40% for orders of 10 or more
*shipping not included, will be calculated depending on your location

Payment by direct bank transfer (Japan and Australia only), Paypal, International Bank Cheque, (Credit Cards via online shop coming soon)

Pre-Order NOW, no deposit required!

Email, Fax or Post your name, order info and shipping address to

Email: info@surferseyes.com
Fax: +81 (0) 470-87-5969
Post: Surfer’s Eyes, 3136-1 Izumi, Misaki Machi, Isumi Shi, Chiba, Japan, 299-4503

www.surferseyes.com

TOKYO SLOW DOWN 2010

Taito beach, Chiba, Japan

Sat 21 Aug, from 4pm, beach clean from 3pm.

Habushi in May

Sure is!

The Seven Cross Tokyo Surf Masters were held at ‘Secret’ surf point in small conditions on July 31st, Niijima Island, Tokyo Japan.

It wasn’t that it was a great contest, as I’m sure all surfers would’ve been stoked for better waves, than that it was the contagious island love vibe that saw even the oldies from the council roll down to the beach for the show.

Kuni was the official photographer for the contest so Ryder and I jumped aboard the Jet Ferry (2 hrs from Tokyo to Niijima) and joined him for a week of ‘slow down ya life’ of island living.

Niiima is a sure way to balance out the simple things in life; love, peace, friends, family, good food, good music, cold beer, free camping, free onsen (hot springs) and of course uncrowded waves!

Although Kuni scored better waves back in May for the shooting of the contest poster, Niijima is about to be hot on the surfer radar again with Typhoon season opening up.

More to come in our features section on Niijima soon.

Angie

Half of Japan’s surf and skate crew were out in Tokyo Friday night helping Eiji kun and Mago chan celebrate 10 years of surf&skate with their 73Riders & Lover brands! Congratulations 73 fam!

Eiji also had a nice surprise with an early birthday cake and champagne tower.

Thanks to everyone for supporting 73Riders&LOVER for 10 years and be sure to check out the new catalog featuring Surfer’s Eyes own Angie Takanami!

AND for a limited time only purchase one of the 73xKuni Takanami anniversary T-shirts!

Front

Back

Product No.: 7310-ANVTEE

Col: White/Black

Size: S, M, L, XL

⇒ http://www.73-r.com/?prid=21777173&view=mobile

4,095 yen

For international orders or to order a t-shirt in English contact info@surferseyes.com

http://www.73-r.com/

Kuni Takanami is now selling his amazing surf/travel shots on Etsy

Most shots from the Surfers Eyes galleries are also available to order, please contact direct to inquire info@surferseyes.com