Sacred Craft Expo - Ventura Rairgrounds May 16 & 17

Top again! I'll be at this for sure. No doubts.

Pretty friggin bad ass...
EXHIBITORS
last updated APRIL 14, 2009

EXPO INFO SACRED CRAFT - The Consumer Surfboard Expo is bringing together all of us who love surfboards --and all things surfboard-- under one roof for a weekend long surfboard extravaganza in Del Mar. A large exposition hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds filled with the objects of our desire! If it has to do with the SURFBOARD it will be at SACRED CRAFT - The Consumer Surfboard Expo.
WHY?
Because it dawned on us that the surfboard makers needed a way to market their wares, and the surfer needed a place they could go to talk surfboard design with the people that make them, rather than some 17-year-old shop rat that doesn't know...shoestrings. Most of you remember a time when you could go into a surfshop and talk to a shaper. They're still out there, thank God, but sadly they are a dying breed.
The year: 1977. The surfshop was Tony Staples' Progressive Design on Hwy 101 in Solana Beach next to Bob's Solana Barber shop and the old Solana pharmacy (now an upscale furniture store). Tony would be there everyday, flipping through mags or jawing it up with the local groms as they drooled over a beak nose winged pin. There was a great vibe in that shop. It was core. It is our hope that you will think of the SACRED CRAFT Consumer Surfboard Expo in the same light that we remember the old Tony Staples' shop. Core. Dependable. Real. A place to drool.
WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE:

• A sea of state-of-the-art surfboards, fins, & gear.
• The Tribute to the Masters Shape-off a craftsman competition paying homage to Santa Barbara craftsman John Bradbury; competing shapers replicate a classic Bradbury design.
• Celebrity shaping. These boards will be auctioned off and proceeds will benefit celebrity shapers charity of choice.
• Hands on shapers "experience". You too can get the "feel of the foam!"
• WETSUITS: This year we have invited wetsuit companies to display their latest offerings for winter!
• GREAT DEALS! Many exhibitors will be selling their wares: surfboards, traction, fins, racks, wax,
  shaper tee-shirts (the only softgoods allowed) etc. Bring your pocket book for great deals.
• Seminars by and from shapers and designers

Okay now... I stickied this one for the week. This is THE event that anybody who surfs and lives in SoCal should definitly make it a point to get up to. If you surf... you enjoy surfboards. If you enjoy surfboards... you should love the art that goes into making a surfboard. If you love the art of making a surfboard, then you need to attend this event.

How often do you get to meet Greg Noll or watch Gerry Lopez shape a board?

“The motivation for this thing is pretty simple,” says Scott Bass, the show’s founder. “Most real surfers can’t tell you what kind of trunks Nat Young was wearing during the World Contest in 1966, but they could easily tell you the name of his board. You know why? Because the only thing that really matters in this sport is what you’re riding, not what you’re wearing.” Indeed, most of the people strolling the aisles of this show, which featured more than 90 hard goods suppliers—from boards and blanks to specialty items like repair kits and paddles—were hardcore surfers, which is why they know Nat Young’s board was dubbed Magic Sam.
“It’s just great to see so many like-minded people in one place,” says Byrne, who was catching up with long lost friends as he roamed the halls. No matter where you turned, you were bound to bump into a legendary craftsman. In less than 10 minutes of speaking with Byrne near the entrance to the show, Greg Noll, Rusty Preisendorfer, the Campbell brothers, Carl Ekstrom, Larry Mabile, Gary Linden, Matt Biolos, Pat Rawson, Chris Christenson, and Gerry Lopez all walked by.
The show included seminars on all things board related, shaping demos, and even a shape-off in honor of the late Bill Caster, a legendary shaper from the San Diego area. Since most surf industry trade shows are fashion centered, small label shapers and hard goods suppliers have very little incentive to bother with them, and thus, very few venues to gather together to talk shop. The Sacred Craft show, by contrast, honors the work of those who actually create the fun. “The reason this is so great is it feels like somebody finally cares about us,” says Byrne, who summed it up best for all involved.
“This year’s show was twice as big as last year’s,” says Bass, “so we know there’s a need for people to get together to talk shop. And anybody who knows shapers knows they love to talk about surfboards, which is why we had such a tough time getting everybody to leave last night. That says a lot.”

Can't believe I'll miss this. I'm stuck in a hotel in Seattle until May 24.

So stoked. They have this event in Delmar every year, so happy I don't have to drive 3 hours to get to it this year!
to all those heading up here for this this year, let me know if you want to paddle out beforehand. Or on Sunday.

I'm sure Surfermo will be all over this, right? I mean, quite a few of the old "masters" will be attending this.

Sorry you can't make this LA.. it's one of those "gotta make it" shows that only happen once a year.

Can't believe I'll miss this. I'm stuck in a hotel in Seattle until May 24.

-losangeles

Hey, you're in my hometown ... If you wanna go get some waves, let me know!

Matt987, ECR, Shredster,Chango, meanie, etc, etc, etc... what days are you going?
I'm brining my wife and kid one day, solo another (maybe meet up with some friends)... so stoked.

just saw this thread, haven't put it on the calendar yet.  looks like a great time.

Hey, you're in my hometown [image]... If you wanna go get some waves, let me know!

-skidmoreslough

Very cool offer - I'm here for work - looks like 16 hour work days until I get back on the plane. I was here a few weeks ago and I didn't even put on a jacket and leave the hotel in 5 days straight.

If some miracle comes up and I get a break, I'll send you a message.

UPDATE!
 
last updated MAY 11, 2009

SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED: SURFBOARDS THE HEART AND SOUL OF SACRED CRAFT

Live shaping, seminars, music, art, history, movies, board demos, family fun & good times frame the springtime surfboard extravaganza
- Surfers, state-of-the-art surfboard craftsman, world class designers, and cutting edge surf equipment manufacturers from as far away as Rhode Island and as nearby as Main Street in Ventura will descend on the Ventura County Fairgrounds May 16 & 17 for the one and only surfboard industry smorgasbord known as Sacred Craft. A highlight of the show will be the two, see-through shaping bays where the public is invited to watch and experience live shaping.

The Tribute to the Masters Shape-off, presented by Channel Islands Surfboards, honors Santa Barbara legend John Bradbury. Five select craftsman (Wayne Rich, Max McDonald, Randy Cone, Matt Moore, and Marc Andreini) will replicate five different and uniquely classic Bradbury surfboard designs during the two day craftsman expression session.
In the Primo Beer shaping bay, Dave Daum presents his own special how-to seminar. Daum will walk the audience through the intricacies of shaping. A must see for the do-it-yourselfers and backyard hobbyists, Daum's shaping seminar is both insightful and entertaining. One lucky attendee will be randomly selected to be the recipient of Daum's finished shapes. Also on the schedule is 25-year old shaper Ian Zamora. Zamora represents the new breed of foam craftsman. John Birchim of JayaWave will be crafting a wooden Alaia for the crowd. On Sunday Gerry Lopez is scheduled to put the sanding block to foam as he sculpts a blank. Come out and watch a true legend, Mr. Pipeline, cakewalk around the shaping bay.

Sacred Craft seminars presented by Bubble Gum Surf Wax include Miki Dora biographer David Rensin, Jeremy Sherwin on surfboard sustainability, the Groundswell Society on surfboard design and the swordfish, UCSD's Benjamin Thompson on surfboard flex R&D on a shoestring budget,and artist Drew Brophy demonstrates the ease with each you can personalize your own surfboard, plus others TBA. Seminars take place in the Bubble Gum Surf Wax seminar room @ McBride Hall.

The public is urged to bring their old landfill bound surfboards to the ReRip.com surfboard recycling booth. Other exciting attractions will greet the public including Ashley Lloyd, Mattson 2, Joey Peat, and Shane Stoneman all of whom will grace the musical stage on the green. MyGym Ventura has fun activites for toddlers& kids; SURFER magazine presents an historical exhibit, surf movies loop overhead; vendors offer great surf art; Gerry Lopez will be signing his book "Surf Is Where You Find It" in the Patagonia booth; and, of course, the greatest collection of contemporary surfboards in the world. Come join us at SACRED CRAFT, a hot rod show for surfboards with an old school surf shop vibe.

The Ventura SACRED CRAFT Consumer Surfboard Expo is May 16 & 17 @ the Ventura County Fairgrounds. $5 admission each day - U16 Free Fairground gates open to the public at 10AM

SACRED CRAFT VENTURA SCHEDULE (schedule subject to change):

SATURDAY MAY 16 7AM - Board demos @ Stables (VC fairgrounds beach parking lot)

10AM - Sacred Craft Expo opens to the public - "Southbound" by the Allman Brothers
10AM - Matt Moore shapes - Tribute to the Masters honoring John Bradbury
10AM - Dave Daum DIY how-to shaping seminar; Primo Shaping Beer Bay
NOON - Jeremy Sherwin seminar "Sustainable Surfboards - How Close Are We?" Bubble Gum Surf Wax room McBride Hall
NOON - Ashley Lloyd surfer/shaper performs music stage on the green
1230PM - Ian Zamora, 'young guns of shaping' - shapes a quad fish - Primo Beer Shaping Bay
1230PM - Marc Andreini shapes - Tribute to the Masters honoring John Bradbury
2PM - FCS Box Route Demo - Primo Beer Shaping Bay
2PM - Joey Peate performs music stage on the green
2PM - Benjamin Thompson seminar "Surfboard flex pattern R&D on a shoestring budget for the backyard shaper AND the international manufacturer" Bubble Gum Surf room McBride Hall
215PM - John Birchim shapes - Alaia shape & design - Primo Beer Shaping Bay
3PM - Randy Cone shapes - Tribute to the Masters honoring John Bradbury
3:30PM - Legends of Rincon Discussion - Bubble Gum Surf Wax room McBride Hall
345PM - Dave Daum DIY how-to shaping seminar; Primo Beer Shaping Bay
4PM - Musical stage on the green performer TBA
6PM - San Miguel Expo Hall closes for the night

SUNDAY MAY 17 10AM - Sacred Craft Expo opens to the public - "Jessica" by the Allman Brothers

10AM - Max McDonald shapes - Tribute to the Masters honoring John Bradbury
10AM - Dave Daum DIY how-to shaping seminar; Primo Beer Shaping Bay
11AM - Groundswell Society seminar "Surfboards and Swordfish: New Designs Based on an Ancient Apex Predator" by Glenn Hening - Bubble Gum Surf Wax room McBride Hall
11AM - Ashley Lloyd surf/shaper performs music stage on the green
NOON - David Rensin seminar/discussion "Miki Dora Deconstructed - Author of 'All For a Few Perfect Waves: The Audacious Life and Times of Surfing Rebel Surfer Miki Dora' - Bubble Gum Surf Wax room McBride Hall
NOON - Shane Stoneman Experience - surfer/shaper performs music stage on the green
1230PM - Wayne Rich shapes - Tribute to the Masters honoring John Bradbury
1230PM - Gerry Lopez shapes - Primo Beer Shaping Bay
130PM - Mattson 2 performs music stage on the green
2PM - World renowned artist Drew Brophy seminar/demonstration "Personalize Your Surfboard; Paint Pens & More" - Bubble Gum Surf Wax room McBride Hall
2PM - Special Guest shaper - Primo Beer Shaping Bay
3PM - Tribute to the Masters Bradbury check presentation in the John Bradbury Lounge
4PM - Sacred Craft Ventura Spring 2009 closes. See you October 10 & 11 @ Sacred Craft Del Mar

SACRED CRAFT VENTURA IS SPONSORED BY: SURFER MAGAZINE, SWAYLOCKS.COM, PRIMO BEER, BUBBLE GUM SURF WAX, & CHANNEL ISLANDS SURFBOARDS

Please be sure to thank them when you see them at the expo!!

Dude... so stoked to see Ian Zamora shape on Saturday and then seeing Gerry Friggin Lopez shape on Sunday (wow... I just used both of them in the same sentence... I told you guys Ian is blowing up).

I can't believe the Lopez will be capped off by some great sounds by Mattson 2.

So friggin cool. So friggin pumped and stoked!

And so happy I don't have to drive 3 hours this year to get to it!

So friggin cool. So friggin pumped and stoked!

And so happy I don't have to drive 3 hours this year to get to it!

-mofo

Have to wait for the Del Mar show to come round again.
Somebody take pics!

One word for you... "Gerry Frickin Lopez"

Funny dat!!!! Gerry went to the same Highschool as My Wife, Fred Hemmings. and Obama!!!

Funny dat!!!! Gerry went to the same Highschool as My Wife, Fred Hemmings. and Obama!!![image]

-dragger

Punahou, pretty much the only good school on the island