In Episode 60 we speak with Tom Wegener, a legend in the world of surfboard shaping who has spent the last 4 decades building and riding boards. Tom takes us through the story of his youth surfing and shaping in Southern California, the influence of Donald Takayama that helped guide Tom to pursue the art of shaping and find the spirit of "ohana", or family, that is a key part of longboard surfing culture. Tom describes the evolution of his shaping from fiberglass and foam into wooden boards and his shares his passion for the traditional "Olo" and "Alaia" wooden boards that he continues to focus on building, and teaching others how to build, today. We hear Tom's perspective and excitement for a transformation happening in longboarding with a convergence of high performance and traditional riding he recently witnessed at the famous Noosa Festival of Surfing. A ton of great history and perspective on longboard surfing culture from a man who has been front and center within it for decades.
Thanks for sharing Tom's ocean life with us. You can find pictures and video of him on Facebook, his website, and Instagram. There is also some fun stuff on the This Ocean Life Instagram and Facebook pages. We are also on Twitter ranting about anything cool happening in the ocean.
This episode is sponsored by Mile 22, makers of surf and paddle board straps — including world famous Monster Straps (which I LOVE and use regularly) — designed in California by folks who surf and paddle every day. Check them at www.Mile22.com.
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Sailing Wildside -- kiteboard adventure trips, Caribbean, Greece, life afloat
Francesca Trotman -- protecting waters and wildlife of Mozambique, alternatives to shark finning
Erin Carey -- family sailing in the Caribbean, trans-Atlantic crossing, S/V ROAM
Sam Hart -- ocean paddling, Coolangatta Gold and M2O competitor
Stoked Grom Stories: Cooper Sisters -- sailing South Pacific, surfing, diving, life afloat
Greg Norman Jr -- kiting, surfing, spearfishing, world travel
Shannon Quirk -- big wave world tour, empowering women in the water
Chris Fuentes -- a better insect repellant, spread of insect-borne diseases
K.C. Scott -- fishing, diving, spearfishing, art
Guy Harvey -- blending art and science of the ocean, spokesman of marine life
SV Delos -- 10 years of sailing adventures, 45 countries
Noah Oppenheim -- fisheries management, the human element of commercial fishing
Surf Expo Stories: Part 2 -- More from North America's largest watersports and beach culture retail show
Surf Expo Stories: Part 1 -- North America's largest watersports and beach culture retail show
Nik Strong-Cvetich -- Save The Waves Coalition, protecting surf ecosystems
Lin Pardey - 200k miles of sailing, dual circumnavigations, book author
Heavy Water Stories -- storms, injuries, big waves, general gnarliness
Adam Paskowitz -- legacy of nomadic family life, reality of plastics in the ocean
Maria Fernanda -- big wave surf photography, fins and a camera
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