Drift Surfing » Grain Surfboards

Surf Re-Evolution

Staff Writer — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:33:25 +0000

A unique Surf Re-Evolution event is planned for September 10th, presented by Grain Surfboards with KorduroyTV.

Intending to create a destination for lovers of the ocean blue, wood surfboard builder Grain Surfboards has joined with independent surf media innovator KorduroyTV to create “Surf Re-Evolution”. Their goal – to help surf industry standouts, home board builders and others to share and discover new ways to be connected to the world of surfboard building.

Grain has selected a group of innovators, shapers and forward thinkers from around the globe to be part of the day as their special guests. Everyone involved will be sharing thier craft either in the water, back at the Grain shop on a farm in York, Maine, on the walls of a hay barn-turned-art-gallery, or during the festivities throughout the evening.

The event will take place at the Grain Surfboards headquarters nestled in the farmlands of rural Maine and at nearby Long Sands Beach.

Following a day at the beach with shapers, demo-boards, and sun, the soon-to-be released “Under the Sun” – a 16mm surf film – and “Manufacturing Stoke” – a film looking at sustainability in the surf industry – will be premiered along with a couple of hand-selected KorduroyTV shorts.

An art show curated by Corduroy Gallery and housed in the hay barn will feature artists that depict and revere waves and the sea.

As a bonus to the festival, Grain has partnered with two of their specials guests to create two new class offerings – an Alaia class with Jon Wegener during the days leading up to the event, and a one-day handplane class with Cyrus Sutton the day after. For more information and to sign up, visit Grain’s 2011 Class Schedule.

If you are exploring new territories with your surfboard construction or design and would like to be a part of this inaugural event contact info@grainsurfboards.com for more information.

The Surf-Revolution is sponsored by Eastern Surf Magazine.

The Grain Surfboards Rollin’ Nolan Tour

Howard — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:46:43 +0000

Reporting on the Grain Surfboards Rollin’ Nolan Tour: some introspective thoughts by Nolan – past tour happenings – and the last few stops coming up…

Part of the reason that Nolan’s got the Pug on the road is so that he can have some well deserved, kicked-back travel after slogging through sixteen long years of Maine education. But we suspect that he’s been having even more fun than may be seemly for a Maine-er.

But recently, we started getting a flood of thoughts and reflections that sound like they’re coming from his journal and hint at deep-running waters. They start at the beginning of his trip… thought we’d share. Monday May 17th

2:00pm. After possibly the only stressful morning I’ve ever had at Grain, I pulled out of the driveway and the East Coast Ramble began. To pin down the precise moment it began—I mean scientifically precise—it would have to be when my palm struck Johnny Hamblett’s in one of the most epic high fives that ever turned motion into heat and sound.
4:00pm. A couple hours later my initial stoke ran out as I tried to navigate Boston traffic while still adjusting my driving style to fit the pug. I realized the right lane and I were in it for the long haul…

5:30pm. Mark, the owner of Nor Easter in N. Scituate, MA, and Roger, the local shaper checked out the boards. They were generally interested until I brought out the Spray and the paipo, then their eyes lit up at the sight of more complex lines, concaves and channels. A father and son also came by and were interested in building a kit as a winter project—first photo-op with the Pug for the kit discount!
10:00pm. Mark gave me access to the shop to use the internet and sleep on the couch if I wanted. I took him up on using the internet to plan a bike ride for the next morning, then retired to the truck to sleep because of the creepy mannequin on the couch who wouldn’t stop looking at me.

Tuesday May 18th

7:00am. As I woke up, my eyes couldn’t seem focus on the pattern in front of my face. I kept trying, but every time it almost became clear I went cross-eyed. Finally, looking away and back again I remembered where I was; in the pug. The hemp weave of a Wavetribe bag on the board rack above me, which was no more than 8 inches from my face, is much too busy for newly opened eyes.
8:30am. I took a break during my first bike ride, looking over Hull and Boston Harbor. It was a hazy morning so Boston’s skyline was just barely visible in the distance. Tiny, tiny waves lapped the rock outcrop I was sitting on – thinking the waves had better pick up sometime soon on this trip… I hadn’t surfed for two or three weeks, which most of you know, just isn’t good for one’s self.

NEXT STOPS:

Saturday June 5th 8am – 5:30pm- Malibu’s Surf Shop in Ocean City, MD.

Tuesday June 15th from 3- 9pm- The last official stop before Nolan rolls home will be at Chesapeake Light Craft in Annapolis, MD. In addition to having most of our boards there for people to see, we hope to be putting the top planks on the 5?4? that Nolan is building along the way. CLC will also have a nice selection of paddleboards and boat kits on hand to check out. They have been making boat kits since 1992, and paddleboard kits since 2001. You can check out their paddleboard kits here.

Radio Free Nolan On the Air

Howard — Mon, 24 May 2010 11:31:04 +0000

In the interest of keeping people posted up on his whereabouts over the next month or so, we’ve handed over our Facebook and Twitter accounts to Rollin’ Nolan Collins. Maybe that’s a mistake… but we’lll see…

Nolan does have a few places he’s supposed to be over the next month and a half and we’ll keep those dates and locations current on the page the boys at Grain set up for that. But Nolan has strict orders to roam and ramble – so we expect that he’ll be showing up in unexpected places.

So if you want to help us keep tabs on him, check into Twitter especially, or Facebook to find Nolan somewhere on the road. He’s got our G’zOne phone with him, so he should be tweeting his spontaneous stops, surf conditions, people he’s met, places he’ll be and general reflections from the road.

If you’ve got a kit you built, bring it down and get some pics with Nolan so we can pass them along on our blog. If you’ve got a kit you’re building and you want some advice, track him down and he may be able to give a few tips.

… and of course, you can track him here on Drift.

Rollin’ through Cape Cod and Long Island

Howard — Thu, 20 May 2010 11:23:44 +0000

…Keepin tabs on Nolan…

We just added The Pump House in Orleans Mass, Sick Day Surf Shop in Wellfleet Mass and Air and Speed in Montauk to the list of shops that Nolan’ll be visiting with boards for people to try, discounts on kits, board building demonstrations, free Rollin Nolan organic surf wax courtesy of Jimbos Surf Co., and the chance to win a free kit of your choice.

Check the schedule often for details, locations and updates.

Grain Rollin’ Nolan Ramble is underway

Howard — Wed, 19 May 2010 11:15:26 +0000

The burly boys down the road at Grain Surfboards are at it again. This past weekend marked the launch of their Rollin Nolan East Coast Ramble – heading from their home office (barn) in Maine to the Outer Banks – stopping along the way to spread the stoke and leave some sawdust to find their way back home…

We’ll be offering 10% off all kits for anyone that sends us a pic of themselves with Nolan, and – even better – also entering them to win a free HomeGrown Surfboard Kit, winner to be announced at Nolan’s welcome home party. Nolan’s also carrying some freebies to give away to everyone he meets, so track him down if you can.

Ramble Stops scheduled so far:

Saturday May 15th from 2-6pm- Liquid Dreams Surf Shop on Long Sands Beach in York, Maine.
Sunday May 16th from 12- 3pm- Cinnamon Rainbows in Hampton, New Hampshire
Monday May 17th at 3pm- Nor’easter Surf Shop in North Scituate, Mass.
Tuesday May 18th at 12pm- Nor’easter Surf Shop in North Scituate, Mass.
Wednesday May 19th from 3- 6pm- The Pump House in Orleans, Mass.
Friday May 21st from 11- 2pm- Sick Day Surf Shop in Wellfleet Ma.
Saturday May 22nd at 12 noon- Matunuck Surf Shop in Wakefield, RI.
Sunday May 23rd from 12- 4pm- Air and Speed in Montauk, NY, with a demo at Ditch Plains.
Monday May 27th at 4pm – 8pm- Boarder’s in Rockaway Beach, NY
Monday May 29nd at 11am – 7 pm- Lightly Salted in Asbury Park, NJ
Monday May 31nd at 12 noon- Farius Surf Shop in Ship Bottom, NJ.
for more information visit the Grain Surfboards Rollin Nolan Tour page, Grain Surfboards, and stay tuned in here on Drift for daily bloggings and tour happenings.