Cause to be #Stoked

So, I won a surfboard last night.

Wait, let me back up.  I won a gift certificate for a custom-shaped surfboard last night.

Let me back up further.  I won said gift certificate after spending four hours with some of my friends from StokeReport and other awesome, stoked people at a fun little bar in the Outer Sunset, while we listened to dub and watched surf videos.  I also won two front-row tickets to a pre-season Giants game on Sunday, and an oversized t-shirt from Aqua.

Pretty fucking rad, no?

Listen, I'm a piss-poor surfer.  And "surf culture" is still an alien and frightening thing for me, especially insofar as it is (regrettably) tinged with homophobia, but I am thoroughly stoked to be part of a community of geeky surf pals, with whom I can definitely have a good time, whether we're bobbing around in the water or laughing at a bar (and mind you, I don't drink, so it's not alcohol talking when I say I enjoy their company).

Ever since I started surfing just last year, I've had these nebulous dreams of riding a custom-shaped shortboard, ripping it for all to see with an air of nonchalance and a tight, gray wetsuit that emphasizes all my good parts.  That's not going to happen any time soon, however.  In particular, I really never planned on getting a custom shape... not for years, easily.  I don't deserve it!  I'm not worthy!  I'd probably break it!  I wouldn't even know what I want!  I can barely ride a longboard!

Winning one changes all that.  James from Las Olas Surfboards has graciously donated a board every month, for god-knows-how-long, to be raffled off at Wet Wednesdays to benefit some charity or another (this month's charity was the Edgewood Center for Children and Families; check them out, they are rad).  James is an artist.  The boards are usually pretty, short, and highly-technical.  One of those would be wasted on me.  This week he switched it up and donated a gift certificate.

I've already told him I'm going for something in the "Funboard" range.  A notch shorter than what I'm riding right now, which is a pop-out epoxy board (made by Bic of all people), lovingly handed down from Josh.  It will be made of polyurethane and glass for that delightful "this looks so tasty I could almost eat it" look.  It will probably be white.  And it will be the gayest goddamn board that's ever been shaped.  This I can say with certainty.

I know one other gay surfer.  I know him because he had the balls to slap an HRC sticker on the bottom of his board and, when that wasn't being direct enough, supplemented it with a big ol' rainbow sticker.  We are now gay surf pals who go paddle into waves and stuff, while being gay.  Criminy.  I plan to one-up him by splattering the following text on the deck of my board:

HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

I may have to truncate a few Ys, depending on the length of the board, but that's more or less what I'm going for.

My board will be fun.  It will be pretty.  It will be downright fucking fabulous, and because I won it, I'm going to ride that motherfucker like I stole it.  Every day that I can.

I am really stoked to have won this board.  I look forward to seeing it and taking a goofy picture with myself holding it, for all blogosphere to see.  AYHSMB

Comments

[Thomas]

hey man check www.gaysurfers.net to meet other gay surfers...
You will find gay surfing articles a forums to chat with other members, a list of gay friendly surf spots, a list of films that relate to both ‘gay’ and ’surfing’.
Once you are registered you can, Create a profile, Comment on posts / forums, Search for other gay surfers, Send private messages, Plan your next surf trip and see if other gay surfers live there…
See you there
Thomas