V O L. 2 I S S U E 2
s u r f m a g
BALARAM STACK SHOT BY
RYAN MACK
SHOT
IN THE
DARK RAMBLING WITH
BEN THOUARD Pg. 23
MAKANA PANG
Photo: Jersey surfer at heart, Drew Heald nailing the shot in Hawaii @heald
Photo: Drew Heald @heald
BENJI BRAND
Photos: Michael Baytoff @baytoffpictures
RANDY TOWNSEND
CONNOR WILLEM
Photo: Kyle Arc with the B&E (not bacon and eggs), doing whatever it takes to get the shot @kylearc
IN MEMORIAM
CONTENT
PAGE 9
SURFING CRYPTO PAGE 12
SHOT IN THE DARK PAGE 17
Creators:
Brendan Nolan Ryan Gallgher
Contributing Writers: Ryan Gallagher Brendan Nolan Aaron McNulty Rob Kelly Zack Karvelas Ryan Simalchik Jackson Butler
Contributing Artist: Mark Iomal
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Contributing Photographers: Mary Dunham Dave Nilsen Renee Thomas Ryan Mack Joseph Allison Aaron McNulty Fiona Mullen Ben Thouard Robert Siliato Michael Baytoff Tom Addison Drew Heald Kyle Arc
RAMBLER SURF MAGAZINE VOLUME TWO ISSUE TWO. MADE IN AMERICA. SPECIAL THANKS TO THE TOBIA FAMILY, THE STOCKDALE FAMILY, GALVANIC, OLIVIA HARTGERS, GUM SURFBOARDS, JACK GREEN REALITY, CAPE MAY BREWING CO., COAST GUARD HOUSE, AND ANYONE ELSE WE FORGOT ABOUT. THANKS FOR READING. SURF FAST DIE FAST.
RAMBLING WITH BEN THOUARD PAGE 23
AMERICA SHREDS ON DUNKIN’
SICK PICTURES JUST BECAUSE WE CAN PAGE 37
PAGE 31
YOUR NEXT TRIP: NOVA SCOTIA PAGE 33 ART BY MARK IOMAL
EDITORIAL We took a poll on wave pools a few months ago—100% voted “fucking lame”—and for good reason. We had countless conversations about putting a photo from a wave pool on the cover of our magazine. Does it represent what we’re trying to be as a company? Can we count this as being from the East Coast? Will people think it’s just straight up lame? We asked ourselves these questions over and over, until eventually we said fuck it. The picture is rad. That’s enough to make it worthy of the cover. We
don’t know if any other magazines have had a wave pool cover shot yet, and honestly we were too lazy to find out. We do know that we’ve never seen a cover that looks like this before. Bright blue and green dominate the surfing industry’s aesthetic norm, and it was time for some black ink to fill our pages. We’re not sure how this will hold up as time goes on. The wave pool phenomenon might end in a few years, making us look like kooks. But for now, this is what we think is cool. Feel free to think otherwise.
BACK COVER
Contact Info: Email info@ramblersurfmag.com Website ramblersurfmag.com Instagram @urnsurfcolovesbeer @ramblersurfmag 8
EDITOR’S NOTE
In loving memory of our friends and family who are no longer with us, we would like to dedicate this magazine to the Tobia, Stockdale, and Lomanno families. Laurie, TJ, and Diane will be forever young in our minds and hearts. We hope to keep their spirits alive the best way we know how. We love you all.
Laurie Tobia (1993 - 2019) Trevor James Barrington Stockdale (1981-2002) Diane Celeste Lomanno (1964 - 2018)
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Laurie
Photo: Fiona Mullen
P
rint is Immortalization. Hopeful to prove this fact, the crew at RSM enlisted the magazine’s readership. Rambler’s readers identified individuals who should receive the sort of immortalization that magazines’ printed pages provide. Immortal Memoriam is the official release of an “In Memoriam” section inside Rambler. So, to honor those that are no longer with us, we will devote a section of each magazine to shredders in the sky. We hope to make this a part of each magazine as long as we continue to receive the names of fallen Rambler family members. Attendees of the RSM Vol. 2 Issue 1 magazine release at Asbury Park Yacht Club might remember hearing Rambler’s creators on stage talking about this subject. Special properties that printed publications possess set this form of communication apart from any digital platform. Think about scrolling through Instagram to find a post from months prior. Between ever-changing social media algorithms and accounts/posts being deleted, it’s not likely you’ll find the photo, meme, or Gravy vlog you’re looking for. Conversely, and for better or worse, print does not change. In turn, print has the potential to affect people much longer and more profoundly than can something like an online blog post. A human lifespan is a relatively short period of time. However, a printed story can surpass generations. For example, the St. Cuthbert Gospel is one of the oldest books still intact today, more than 1,300 years later. To put that in perspective, scholars are still studying the lives of the
Art Collaboration: Fiona Mullen X Laurie Tobia
Photo: Tom Addison
TJ
people referenced inside the Gospel’s pages, still studying the book’s author (an anointed Saint from the island of Lindisfarne, England), and still researching the life of the book itself. Older than any human could dream to live, the book was printed sometime after Saint Cuthbert’s death in 687 AD and was stowed in Cuthbert’s holy, stone sarcophagus. Over the years, it survived several grave site moves and successfully escaped Viking raids at the hand of Ivar the Boneless and his Great Heathen Army. What’s more, the book was regarded as a relic during the Middle Ages and could be worn by distinguished gravesite visitors in a leather bag around their necks. The bible shared words that elicited action from the book’s followers for more than 10 centuries. In hundreds of years, Cuthbert’s Bible will eventually shrivel to dust. However, if the the words and people inside the book are profound enough, the story will always be reprinted. So, whether in stone or on paper, printed words offer life. Maybe this edition of Rambler Surf Magazine won’t be buried in a sacred tomb, avoid destruction for thousands of years, or survive a global cataclysm. However, if this magazine is able to carry on the life of someone who deserved to live just a little bit longer, our goal will be achieved. RR
Ryan Gallagher, Editor
PRINTMAKING
PAINTING
livjhart@gmail.com
DOG PORTRAITS
GRAPHICS
oliviahartgers.com
SURFING CRYPTO by Ryan Gallagher
“This is looking really fucking bullish for a breakout,” said 22-year-old, Zach Bogetti, pointing at the MACD and RSI trading charts on his MacBook screen. Sitting beside Bogs, I tried to process his answers to my questions about cryptocurrency—a subculture Bogetti has adopted over the last 16 months. In a past life Bogetti might have been a suited banker; making dough and a bunch of ruckus on Wall Street. However, in the futuristic reality we live in, he’s making trades for a strictly digital currency from his bed, between surf sessions, and at the bar. He’s investing in an alternative to traditional banking. “In the green! We’re mooning tonight boys,” smiled Bogetti. He was holding up his phone to me, beer in the opposite hand, and a beautiful sun was setting behind him—full moon rising over the ocean. Referencing the notorious “Moon Boy” phrase, Bogetti exclaimed, “We’re going to the moon!” Continued...
Photo: Fiona Mullen
“It’s banking technology without the middleman—the bank” Photo: Fiona Mullen
In that moment, the beers and beautiful scenery were most definitely talking. However, Bogetti will be the first one to tell you that the “Moon Boys” are the “guys who don’t know anything about trading. Anytime Bitcoin goes up the slightest bit they throw their hats, go crazy, and start dancing on tables.” Bogetti has often been called the “crypto crack head.” However, don’t let the nickname fool you—he’s approached the digital currency market with caution. He knows how volatile cryptocurrency can be as well as the nature of any market to crash after a big bump. He’s seen the potential in his investments, has been focusing on making safe trades, and earns enough to buy a new surfboard every now and again. “It’s banking technology without the middleman—the bank,” said the Montauk, NY native. “What is the point of the banker guy? It’s just trust. So, once people trust crypto, it’s only up.” It’s obvious that the world trusts the idea of a digital currency to some
13
extent. In 2019, 92% of the world’s money is digital, and the cash in your pockets makes up the lesser 8%. However, it’s not as easy to change the banking system and more importantly how people trust the storage of their life savings… Currently, the United States is in a time of trust in banks and trust in what is called fiat money: currency that is worth something only while a government maintains it. In 2008, this trust was wounded by our country’s recent financial crisis—rationalizing the idea of digital currencies free from government backing. Since then, trust in the US dollar and the surrounding banking system has been rebuilt. However, extreme financial breakdowns in other countries have acted as ammunition for crypto advocates worldwide. In 2013, there was a financial shitstorm on the island of Cyprus—a tax haven in the Mediterranean where rich Europeans would store their cash. Cypriot banks made the mistake of lending large sums of money to Greece. After the Greek economy took a dive,
the Cypriot banks owed more money than the entire country’s GDP. In this case, the only money on hand was that of the people who stored their money in those banks. The people’s reaction? Think “bank run scene” in It’s a Wonderful Life. The island’s population flocked to any bank or ATM available—shutting the system down for more than a week and forcing a $10 billion bailout… While these financial issues have been rectified, they’ve revealed flaws in the concept of fiat money. However, Bogetti understands that there is still an innate hesitancy towards crypto. Cryptocurrencies are being built on decentralized platforms called blockchains—another brand-new term the average American does not recognize. The jargon-rich, abstract technology is difficult for one to wrap their mind around and is one main contributor to general crypto mistrust. Bitcoin’s rise to fame began with negative press aplenty—another reason for the distrust in cryptocurrencies. “Right now, there's a lot of crypto
gambling being built on these decentralized websites. It was the same way when the Internet started,” said Bogetti. “Everyone used it for gambling and porn. They say Bitcoin is only for criminals, gambling, and I don't think porn, but maybe. There's all that hate towards crypto right now. But the same thing happened with the Internet.” These blockchains or decentralized websites are the fertile soil where cryptocurrencies (and much more) can grow. Just one of these digital venues can house an exchange larger than the NYSE. Each crypto “coin” being bought, sold, or traded has a special, one-of-a-kind encryption thanks to the blockchain-based exchanges. As these systems have progressed, so has the ability for these exchanges to be secure. Bogetti argues against those that claim crypto to be a tool for criminals. On the contrary, hard cash may become the only way for criminals to operate. “If Bitcoin is adopted it is likely that more criminals would be caught because of its’ public ledger where all transactions are recorded and can be traced,” said Bogetti. Other professional investors have also taken to Bogetti’s point of view. “The criminals will still want to operate with cash, because they catch everybody who is trying to use Bitcoin,” said investor and crypto enthusiast, Tim
“Bitcoin is only for criminals,
Photo: Fiona Mullen Photo: Robert Siliato
gambling, and I don’t think porn, but maybe”
“This is a very good way to bring power back to the people”
Draper in an interview with FOX Business. Draper has made claims that crypto will overtake fiat money in just five years’ time. That seems a bit hasty, but it is clear that cryptocurrencies are being adopted in more scenarios with each passing day. Bogetti references companies like JP Morgan, who in February 2019, made JPM Coin in order to transfer large sums of money internationally. C-Suite officials at JP Morgan are the antithesis of the nerds who created Bitcoin. However, even they realize the positives of cheap, international wire transfers. JP Morgan is bypassing expensive fees by implementing their crypto program. Bogetti argues that the standardization of cryptocurrencies would save everyone involved a bit of money.
happening when surfing the web. For example, YouTubers with interesting content can monetize their videos. The process places an advertisement on the video and gives the video creator a sliver of what the advertising company pays YouTube. In 2017, this “traditional” system for getting paid as a content creator was threatened by something coined “Ad-pocalypse.” It was a mass exodus of advertisers from YouTube that began with ads from large companies being placed on extremist/racist content. Videos that were once making money ceased to do so when advertisers pulled out. YouTubers questioned the platform… Does YouTube care more about advertising money and social justice, or does the platform care about the people who make content worth advertising on?
YouTube has since banned or “de-monetized” users in order to regain adverThink about “if you want to withdraw tising revenue—not unlike the actions $20 at the bar—minus $5. Well, you of other platforms like Twitter. If just took a fifth of what I had,” these trends of “de-monitization” and reasoned Bogetti. “With crypto, you’d “de-platforming” continue, those who be able to send money to anyone with- make money posting on social outlets out a bank or ATM.” may begin to look elsewhere. Bogetti and the crypto community might advise Cryptocurrencies are intriguing these “starving artist” content because the idea is cool, the technol- creators to look into posting on ogy is new, and there seem to be bene- decentralized websites and collecting fits like safety and savings. However, crypto. The technology could allow it is still very viewers and influunclear how much encers to make “Draper has made claims money one can stand money that would to earn by invest- that crypto will overtake otherwise go to ing in cryptocurplatforms like fiat money in just rencies. Right Instagram or now, Bogetti plays YouTube. five years’ time” it safe on small bumps that’ll buy him a new shredstick In this not-so-far-off reality, the every once in a while. However, after crypto version of Instagram would pay pressing him a with some tougher ques- someone like Bogetti for posting a tions, I could tell he saw potential clip that companies want to advertise in crypto trading and investment in on. What’s more, this situation would decentralized platforms to replace the allow Bogetti’s friends to make money traditional “nine-to-five.” for just sitting through the Gillette Razor ad on Bogs’ barrel broadcast. “This last uptick—there were a lot of signs,” said Bogetti. “I should have It may never happen. However, people played, but I’m playing scared because like Bogetti hold the potential to I do have a lot of money in here and make this possible future scenario a don’t wanna lose it. I could have made reality. We’ll soon see if these $1,300 just last week. I have a tweet crypto crazies are smoking too much of that says, ‘Binance coin is looking the crypto crack or if these guys and like a great coin to buy right now.’ gals are truly “going to the moon.” It was at $6 then and a week later it’s Until then, Bogetti will be getting at $11.” manly at the local marina, tubed often, and dropping market knowledge Bogetti also asserts that cryptocur- as the @Crypto_Surfer. rencies will give more people, more ways to make more money. “This is a “History shows—charts don’t lie. very good way to bring power back to Bitcoin used to be worth less than a the people. There’s one coin that is dollar and it’s almost at $4,000 now. its’ own decentralized browser where How is that a failed project?” Bogetti you can search anything and not have and I talked in February 2019 and your info taken. That coin went Bitcoin hadn’t hit the 4K mark. When nuts—the Brave Browser—and they pay RSM went to print in July 2019, you to watch advertisements.” Bitcoin was nearing 12K for every $1 US dollar—up nearly 200% in five Viewers being paid to watch ads is an months. I think we’re going to the inverse scenario to what is currently moon boys… RR
Photo: Robert Siliato 16
SHOT IN THE
DARK BEHIND THE COVER WITH
RYAN MACK
BALARAM STACK CHIPPA WILSON
JACKSON BUTLER &
ROB KELLY
OLIVER KURTZ
SEBASTIAN ZIETZ On September 21st, Fabrizio Stabile died after surfing in the BSR Surf Resort and wave pool in Waco, Texas. The East Coast surfer from Ventnor, NJ allegedly contracted a rare, brain-eating amoeba called Naegleria fowleri somewhere inside the water park—an awful and heart-breaking headline for the entire surf community. Seven months and a $2 million dollar filtration system later, this epic crew headed to Waco to test the water.
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BALARAM
STACK
Photos: Ryan Mack @ryanmackphoto
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ROB
KELLY
Oliver Kurtz
Sebastian Zietz
Before they opened back up to the public, the engineers at American Wave Machines did some testing and modifications to the waves in the pool. It generates waves that can always be fine-tuned and improved, so anytime the engineers head out to BSR Surf Resort the wave pool improves. Its almost like a software update to an app or phone. The engineers were designing waves as we were surfing them and using our feedback after
riding each wave to make adjustments. The whole process was pretty crazy really. Surfing in the dark was so fun. They have stadium style lights that surround the pool so the wave is lit really well. One of the nights the staff at BSR bought a ton of fireworks and shot them off at the edge of the pool while we were surfing. It was definitely a memorable session, surfing the air section while fireworks were shooting across the sky.
I think the pools are the future. The lifestyle aspect of surfing and the ocean is something that will never change or disappear but as far as competitive surfing goes, it’s got to be where surfing is heading. Traditional surf competitions have a lot of issues that keep it from getting to the level of other action sports. With a controlled environment like a wave pool, a lot of those issues are solved making the possibilities of competition surfing endless. —Rob
Chippa Wilson
Balaram Stack
The updates to the new BSR pool make the wave in my opinion significantly larger and more powerful. Compared to when I surfed it last June, the wave feels a lot more like a reef break versus a weaker beach break, that's the most similar comparison I would draw. Over the winter they've installed a state of the art filtration system that makes the water tap-water quality. The filter is as big as a house and is
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constantly pumping clean water in. When I was there they had two representatives of the filter company on-site monitoring the water quality all day. There’s definitely a small learning curve in the pool, but once you get around it I actually find it easier to surf than in the ocean. There's a rip current the tows you back out into the lineup! It’s seriously like a dream wave. All of the other surfers were
ripping the entire time, and everyone started stomping some really crazy airs. I think wave pools will play a vital role in the future of progressive surfing, but they will never compare to the unpredictably and excitement of surfing in the ocean. On the flip side, a wave pool allows a surfer to be the main attraction, and for the spectator, the surfer will instead provide the unpredictability and excitement. —Jackson
JACKSON
BUTLER
Rambling With
By Ryan Gallagher
BEN THOUARD & Zack Karvelas
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On A Three Way Call
RG: I’m wondering about France, and in general, across the Atlantic. So, could you talk a little bit about where you’re from, your home break, and how you got into this lifestyle? BT: I’m from the Southeast of France, in a little town called Toulon. It’s just on the Mediterranean sea so it’s flat, it’s not on the Atlantic ocean. You have to be very patient to surf, but this is where I grew up and discovered surfing and where my passion really started. With the lack of swell, it grew my passion for surfing even more cause I was always waiting for waves, and dreaming about surfing and photos and the ocean. I spent my whole childhood on the sailboat with my dad going from one coast to another, looking for surf spots all the time and just dreaming about surfing. I was going on a lot of holidays on the Southwest coast of France which is much more famous for surfing. I discovered surfing when I was about eight years old, and it was only when I was a teenager when I discovered photography. I found an old camera from my father at home. It was film, not digital like today. So, I bought a few rolls and started playing with it and
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I really just enjoyed it. Taking photos and portraits, right away I kind of started taking photos of my friends surfing and waves crashing onshore—anything related to the ocean basically. After that, I went to Paris for photography school. I was supposed to be there for three years, but after a year and a half I just couldn’t stand living in Paris. It was just too far from the ocean. So, I booked a ticket for Maui and flew to Hawaii when I was 19 and this is really where everything started as a professional photographer. I started shooting windsurfing at first. After that first trip in Hawaii, I kind of traveled the world for windsurfing photos, waves, photoshoots, anything that any companies or magazine would ask me to do. So I traveled the world for three to four years and after that I discovered Tahiti. Right away I fell in love with the place, with the culture, the light and the waves, the people and everything here. Because it’s a French territory, it was very easy for me to just move there. RG: It kind of reminds me of how, you know, you were talking about the lack of waves in your hometown kind of made you more...uh... BT: Hungry! RG: Yeah, exactly! And, that’s kind of similar to what I feel about NJ, especially in the Winter. You know, you get a swell, and it’s usually one day, two days and then you’re waiting again. So, I guess that’s kinda how you started, as well. Talk about that, versus going to Tahiti where there are waves all the time. Do you miss one another or find different things that you like at either one? BT: I think moving to Tahiti was like a dream come true as well as traveling to Hawaii and all these places. Cause now I’m older and it’s a good base for an ocean photographer to be in Tahiti. Now it’s my everyday life and this is where I shoot my photos. So, I can’t complain. I’m not missing home too much. I miss family and friends for sure. The coast where I’m from is beautiful, and maybe I’ll be back
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there again to shoot some stuff a little different. I have everything I need in terms of wave photography and water photography here in Tahiti. So, I’m kinda just stoked to be here. I live on the Teahupo'o side of the island, which is the very remote and wide place. So, I pretty much have everything I need right now. ZK: Everyone finds something in photography that they’re interested in or that grabs them and makes them want to go after it. So, through the transition of all the different phases of types of photography that you've done, how did you end up where you are now, which I think is what sets you aside from other photographers? BT: I think it is mostly two main factors: one would be because I've always been passionate about water, and the element of
water, and I’d be just floating around on the surface and move with the waves. Since I was really young I’ve always spent a lot of time in the water and I feel very comfortable there. So, I love to take photos in that situation. Also, I've been painting a lot since I was a child and just the fact of creating something that you can put on the wall of your living room, for example, is very
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gratifying as an artist. And more than documenting a swell or a sport or something, I was more into creating something that would stay on the wall. I liked that aspect of photography. So, I started as a photographer. First, I started working for magazines, then for the companies and I traveled. I started in windsurfing but then the windsurfing industry kind of crashed down, but it was right at the time when I moved to Tahiti where Teahupo’o
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is and of course it was perfect as a surf photographer. I was happy to work for all these companies like Hurley and Quiksilver, and I still love shooting surfing, but I think I got very seduced by the fact of selling prints and knowing that people choose my photos to put in their living room. It gives me more joy when people are buying my photo for their house rather than doing the new surfing magazine cover. So, just more as an artist than a journalist in
photography. I decided to really focus on the wave and the water, especially underwater here in Tahiti, because we have crystal clear water. After about 4-5 years I had a big collection of photos and I decided to do a book and that's how the chain of events brought me here now.
BT: I released my first solo book [Surface] in May of 2018, so less than a year ago. I created the whole thing, designed the whole book, and made the selections. I went to the printer and set up all the printing. Then I released a second one called Beauté Mer in October which was published by National Geographic in France.
RG: What’s the latest book that you were talking about? They’re two very different projects. Surface is a real
coffee table book, only photos and it gives a big part to photography, there isn’t much text. I even chose to put all of the comments on the photos at the end of the book and not in the pages to really focus on photography. While Beauté Mer is much more mainstream book about the ocean. They hired this famous guy in France to write a lot of text, stories, and explanation. There is an area of photography, and a little bit of waves, as well
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as diving photography, sea life, the water, and anything about the ocean. It’s much more mainstream and not only a photography book. It’s a great, very thick and heavy book and very nice—as National Geographic can do—but two different spirits and products. ZK: In looking through some of your photos on your website and from your travels, I want to ask a question on the conservation side of your photography. Plastic pollution is taking on the spotlight not only in our state, our country but globally. I’m sure you experienced a lot of different types of pollution, and a lot of different forms of harm to the ocean and the marine life. Can you speak on your experiences with these issues from your travel? BT: I’ve been asked a lot of questions about it. Of course, being in the ocean at such a young age, and especially living on an island, I’m very concerned about pollution and the ocean as it covers 70% of the planet. It’s where I spend most of my time. It’s where I work and where I enjoy surfing…it’s a lot of my time. So, of course I want to protect it and I want to do everything I can to help sensitize people to preserve the ocean. But, I think it’s a whole different job and position to be a water photographer and to be active as an ocean protector. It’s a teamwork or collaboration between people who have all the information and the power to reach out to a bigger audience. I think that’s where it becomes interesting to collaborate between surfers or artists or photographers related to the ocean. ZK: What do you see being the biggest threat to the ocean now? BT: I would have to say plastic. Plastic pollution is the big issue. You see it right away, it’s a visual pollution on top of being a real pollution. It sounds very easy to fight against. You think about not using plastic or at least minimize the use of plastic in your life. If you bring it to a global scale then it has a big impact not only on the wildlife, but is also very important for the balance of the ocean. But we are now also learning about microplastics and how it goes all the way back to the top of Everest because it goes up in the air and back with the rain on to all of the mountains and everywhere on Earth. So, I would say plastic is the biggest issue and probably the easiest one to fight.
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When you travel to some remote island in the pacific or in the Atlantic or wherever and you go to, the pollution gets pushed onto shore and it's crazy the amount of plastic bottles you find on the beach. All these photos that we’ve seen are real. I’ve seen it and it’s disgusting. When you see that, you think, how the hell is this even possible? ZK: From my understanding it’s only a few times a year that you get the opportunity to shoot some of the images that you capture. Is that something that motivates you to wait, are you stoked knowing that that time is coming? Do you get impatient and wish you had more? BT: When you talk about the photo like the front cover of my book, Surface, where you can see through the wave, those kinds of photos really only happen a few times a year. So it’s like maybe half an hour, 45 minutes of a window in the morning with very special and specific conditions. I think Tahiti is one of the only places in the world where you can get this kind of photo. Not the only place in the world, but one of the few places. and yeah it's exciting to look at the forecast and imagine when it's going to happen. You don't want to miss it. It's like a game, and it's a challenge and its fun. In the beginning, I didn't know it was even possible to shoot those kinds of photos, and I dreamed about it for a long time until I saw it was real. It took me like a year to shoot the front cover of my book. I just took time to get the right photo, think about how I could bring more diversity into my work and especially in creating a book. RR
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AMERICA SHREDS ON DUNKIN’ A conversation with New Hampshire shaper, Korey Nolan
Interview & Photos by Aaron McNulty
What inspired the idea for the Dunkin' board? Vissla's Creators and Innovators Upcycle Contest planted the seed. It's a challenge to turn 'waste into want' and make something for surfing out of garbage. It can be anything from flip-flops, to an entire surfboard, and anything you can conjure in between. I wanted to create something that highlighted the scourge of single-use waste in an iconic way. Dunkin' cups litter our streets and clog our landfills, but they also happen to be an excellent material for surfboard construction. Why did you choose that shape? I chose a mini simmons for a few reasons. It's wide and tapered outline reminded me of a coffee cup. They are notable for packing a lot of flotation into a small surface area, and I wanted to maximize float, considering all of the adhesive I'd need to hold my blank together. Also, I wanted one. Have you ever shaped a board before? A surfboard, no. I crudely rigged out a section of my basement into a shaping bay with somewhat appropriate lighting. I tried to roughly establish something that would allow me to expand on the space and its accommodations. I have, however, "shaped" snowboards and foiled fins for some friends and family. My goal is to push those projects into becoming their own brands someday.
when it came to more standard shaping and glassing techniques. All of that aside, I loved every second of it, and I could feel that I was going to make it happen regardless of what stood in the way.
What were some of the challenges? Is there anything you would do differently? The entire process was a challenge. Collecting 1,000 used cups took 10 months, and I had help from several people. Figuring out a way to adhere all of the cups together into the shape I wanted was complicated. Shaping the cup and epoxy blank with a planer and hand tools was also difficult. Glassing posed some issues like epoxy sinkholes, where there were voids in the blank. All of these experiences were a new method of construction in general, and primarily my first time
I pressed the cups together using a mold that gave me the rocker I was after. My mold turned out to be a little flimsy lengthwise. I would reinforce that and hope for better compression along the middle section of the mold. All of that aside, I only ended up creating air pockets within the encapsulated board as a final result, and there's not much that floats on water better than air.
How do you feel the Vissla contest went overall? I am so humbled and shocked by the reaction to this board. The contest inspired me to make it, I simply would never have considered it otherwise. I aimed for victory in the contest, which I didn’t achieve. They did honor me with second place, and at the time I was disappointed. I spent a year preparing for it between collecting materials, developing construction, and actually crafting it. I'm not disappointed anymore because at this point, months after the gala in California, this board is still catching people's attention and sparking conversations about the bigger issue of single-use waste. All of a sudden your Dunkin board has gotten a lot of attention. How has that been? I thought things were winding down a bit, but I received an email from a reporter at The Boston Globe about a month ago. He wanted to do a web story on the board, and the day it hit their website, my phone blew up with calls and emails from local news channels and other outlets wanting to cover the story. I ended up on nearly every news channel in New England, and I've seen it pop up in news outlets anywhere from Argentina to Russia. For an introverted 32 year old dad, it's been pretty wild, but it's all positive. Does the board float? How has your experience been in the water? Hell yes it floats. EPS foam is 90% air, and though the overall board weighs nearly fifteen pounds, you'd never know it once you're out there. That said, boards with some weight to them do a tremendous job at cutting through a textured wave. If anything, it gives a feeling of a smoother glide once it's under your feet. I look forward to letting more people (especially more talented surfers) have a go at it. Others who have already ridden it have had positive experiences too. It just works. RR
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By Brendan Nolan
Nova Scotia get away to north of the north with helP FROM All Photos By Joseph Allison
Logan Landry getting a post-surf snack in true Nova Scotian form.
RYAN SIMaLCHIK
Logan Landry taking the scenic route after a session at his local beach break.
WHEN TO GO It’s hard to top the Fall season when it comes to all around waves, weather, and scenery. Since it is relatively close to the the Mid-Atlantic, it wouldn’t be dificult to send it here on a last minute weekend trip with the boys. So if you see a hurricane or Nor’Easter pop up on the charts, don’t be afraid to pull a quick trigger. However, if all you’re looking for are waves then winter is pretty hard to beat. As long as you can handle icy-cold water and unforgiving air, it will all be worth it. Either way, avoid the early Spring-Summer seasons and you’ll be in good shape.
Kevin Schulz spraying into the stratosphere.
HOW TO GET THERE Like most places, traveling by car or plane will be your best two options. After that it all comes down to preference. The upside of flying is the time you’ll save. From NJ, it’s a quick hour-long flight to Halifax compared to a pretty daunting 16-hour drive. That being said, driving allows you to bring all of your gear (which you’ll need a lot of), and you don’t have to worry about the hassle of renting a car. The scenery in Northern Maine and New Brunswick will make the ride easier to handle, so nine times out of ten driving should be your number one option.
WHAT TO BRING Pack as warmly as you possibly can. The waves here are prime when the water and air has some bite to them. A good pair of boots goes a long way in these parts. The priority shouldn’t only be to keep warm, but also to keep dry. Obviously surfboards and wetsuits are essential to a Nova Scotian surf trip. At minimum you should have a 4/3mm suit, gloves, booties, and a hood too. Just look at the picture to the left, it’s fucking cold here. And remember, you’re in the some pretty dense wilderness. You shouldn’t have any trouble with bears, but there is a large coyote population. Bring a knife, or your personal weapon of choice, just in case of a run in.
Kevin Schulz boosting above the lip and to the flats despite his heavy 6mm suit.
Logan Landry taking apart a meaty lefthander just before dark. Later this evening, it's said that the boys met up with Ricky, Julian, and Bubs for a couple drinks.
Nova Scotia PLACES TO STAY There are plenty of hotels and Airbnb’s around to accomadate you. A quick Google search will land you in one that fits best for you. Other than that, campgrounds litter the 4,600 mile stretch of coastline, and that’s not even including the 3,800 coastal islands off of the mainland. A lot of the sites can be found right on the water. Look for Murphy’s Camping on the Ocean and Risser’s Beach Campground if you’re feeling lost.
LOCAL FACTOR
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Compared to most places Nova Scotia has a modest surfing population. The crowds will be much more mellow than you are probably used to. According to our good friend Ryan Simalchik, “Every local I’ve met up there are the raddest guys. Always super helpful and will go out of their way to make sure you’re getting waves and having a great time.” That being said, the locals here are hard-weather people, and should be given the respect they deserve. If you’re behind the camera, be sure to shoot tight and don’t give up the location.
TYPES OF BREAKS There are a great variety of waves here. Everything from cobblestone pointbreaks, rampy beach breaks, to shallow slabs. Nova Scotia has it all. Just be prepared for rocky bottoms that can do just as much damage to your face as it can to your board. Nova Scotia is known for having some of the world’s most drastic tide-swings, causing severe currents. Get yourself in good paddling shape.
Native to San Clemente, CA, Kevin Schulz doesn't mind the cold trip to Nova. The Cali sun hasn't softened his need for cold waves under beautiful, strange skies.
HOW TO GET AROUND It’s a good idea to use a car with 4WD. A lot of the roads near the ocean are unpaved, and would be daunting for your average sedan. A little research and exploring will land you on some really fun point breaks that are easy to access, but if you want to go off the beaten path then there are waves everywhere up here. Just drive around and check every headline in sight. And if you see waves, surf. Don’t think about how another spot could be better. It’s way too easy to spend an entire day driving in circles only to end up at the first spot you check.
CONT. IF SURF IS FLAT There’s plenty of things to do if you find yourself in the middle of a flat spell. Most of the coast in uninhabited making it a dream land for people who like to explore new places. Hike, fish, hunt, do anything that lets you experience the amazing outdoors Nova Scotia has to offer. There is also a large community of kayakers in this area—if that’s your thing. If you want to be a tourist, The Bay of Fundy, famous for it’s extreme tides, is an excellent whale watching destination.
PLACES TO PARTY
This day was epic. Kevin Schulz, accompanied by Shannon Brown and Logan Landry, destroyed this local gem for hours.
Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, is known for it’s lively waterfront and Victorian-Era Public Gardens. It is also home to tons of nightclubs and amazing seafood. It has everything from pubs with live music to party boats in the harbor. Halifax is located right in the heart of the coast, so it wouldn’t be a bad home-base for your trip. It has a little something for everybody, and even a few surf spots nearby. Breweries, museums, stadiums, you name it. It’s all there. RR 36
MATT KEENAN
MARK GILMARTIN
tHOMAS IHNKEN
SETH CONBOY
Photos: Mary Dunham @shoreshotimages
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Photos: Dave Nilsen @dn_photo
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joey pinheiro
MIKE COVELLO
SETH CONBOY
DEREK GOMES
EVAN
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Photos: Renee Thomas @b_uphotography
GEISELMAN DEREK GOMES
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Photo: Michael Baytoff @baytoffpictures
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