December 31, 2011

Re: 2011 THE BANNER YEAR FOR THE NEW MILLINIUM

Okay, I'm ready to start climbing the new ladder, especially since last year was fraught with turmoil...taught me a lot and made me stronger and more resilient.

There are many projects in the fire: New custom board orders; developing new Ugly shapes, the Malibu Nose Riding Championships; a video on nose riding; updating the web site; EcoMalibu is growing and there are plans on updating www.ecomalibu.org; The Ugly Clothing Company is stirring again; and, I am starting to take acting seriously again.

I love being creative. I've always said that if I won the lottery, I wouldn't change anything I am doing, I'd just do more.

Adios 2011.

bp

November 16, 2011

Re: SURFING HOLIDAY NOTICES

Aloha, Winter seems to be starting early this year. Still getting a bit of a south influence in Malibu but it's now mostly NW. Hope you all are getting your fair share of nose rides.

Planning on getting my left knee cartilage replaced next spring and maybe see you out there by end of summer 2012.

Met with "PT" (Peter Townend), surf promoter extraordinary and discussed the Malibu Nose Riding Championship for 2012. Said his dad gambles on surfing in Oz and has been for a while. We'll let you know how things develop by the beginning of the year.

A guy named "Don" is selling a clean and rare Ugly from 1967, serial number 4601, in very good condition, on Ebay - listing ends 11/29/11. Check out the club Register for more information.

Malibu Surfing Association's 50 year reunion was held at Sycamore Cove beach September 8th and most of the members from the 60's attended. Some flew in for the occasion and it was a great treat to see my good friend's faces again as well as talk story. Too much to try and catch up with everyone but it sure was a joy trying. Saw Roy and Gary Seaman who were the original shapers of The Ugly (Gary shaped the first one). I gave them and others Ugly caps. Dave Rocklin gave out Jams shirts. I could write a thousand words about this event and then some. So many good friends...I wish we could do it again.

Just so you know, I've been working on cleaning up the waters at Malibu Surfrider for the past 20 years and stand behind the Lagoon Restoration and Enhancement project that was stalled for a year because of an administrative misstep made by the California Coastal Commission. Pollution in the lagoon would have been cleaned up by now but for some rabble rousers and a local, Malibu Realtor/surfer loud mouth grand stander who took advantage of ignorance and led a few surfers to believe the lagoon project will screw up the surf - nothing could be further from the truth. The lagoon is not connected to the surf. The creek is connected to the surf and the creek is connected to the surf only when the beach berm is opened by the creek. Nonetheless, we can now see that surfers do have an influence on local government, albeit, in this case it was bad influence by a troublemaker and a few ignorant surfers. Unfortunately, I hear that these few ignorant ones plan to continue drawing attention to themselves by getting physical next year, when the lagoon project gets under way. Fortunately there are a few good surfers, like Steve Woods, who have been educating the ignorant with sound logic. If you are interested in details about the project go to www.EcoMalibu.org The Lagoon project will have far reaching positive effects and will have a great influence on cleaning upstream polluters too.

All the best,

Bob Purvey

August 5, 2011

Re: WOW, SCREAMING TIPRIDES AND GIFTS FOR THE NEW YEAR

Hi, I've got to say, summer is the best season of the year! So much happens non-stop and I feel like I keep trying to catch up.

First off, I need to state for the record that The Ugly line is now being manufactured at 12th Floor Foam & Glass because I want to maintain authenticity in the shapes (The Ugly is the longboard and the Super Ugly is the short-longboard), the promotions (Nose Riding Championship at Malibu Surfrider) and the philosophy (designing for time on the nose). So, in keeping with these mantras I decided to advance the development and join forces with Eric Walden ("Foam Junkie") and Brian Michler ("Resin Head") owner/operator's of 12th Floor Foam & Glass, to create the best hand shaped Ugly's that can be made and to also promote a nose riding contest that will create awareness of how valuable nose riding is to the art of surfing.

So, with that said, I want you all to know that I've been calling on everyone I know and those I don't know to get behind the 2012 Malibu Surfrider Noseriding Championship. The web page is up that describes the event and those who are involved, so check it out at http://www.theuglysurfboard.com/dabu2012.html This event could be an industry game changer and bring in mega bucks to create awareness of who surfers are at their core.

No, it is not about the giant-killer dare-devil death-defying hang-on-for-the-ride-of-your-lifetime surfer. It's about the artistry of timing on the wave and positioning on the surfboard to defy gravity for as long as possible, while riding the nose. It's about the discipline, years of training and mastery of longboarding to accomplish the simple feet of noseriding. This simple maneuver represents the grace of the sport. It is the ballet of the dancing art form in surfing.

When I watch masters of nose riding like David Nuuhiwa, Joel Tudor or CJ Nelson, extend their noserides with subtle shifts of weight and garner long times out front, it thrills me to know how simple they make it look yet how long it took for them to be able to do it.

Till the next time, which may be another month from now - depends on the currents and what nature will bring between now and then.

All the best,

bp

July 10, 2011

Re: COLLECTORS, FANS AND NOSERIDING COMPETITORS

Hi, and WELCOME collectors and fans of The Ugly and Super Ugly surfboard formerly made by Con Surfboards.

I know I'm repeating myself but this bear's repeating simply because of two reasons: collector's of vintage Ugly surfboards get comfortable with this site and I want to impress upon everyone that 12th Floor Foam & Glass customizes really high-end quality Ugly surfboards now.

My old and new lineup is exclusively manufactured now by state-of-the-art craftsmanship at 12th Floor Foam & Glass. See the lineup at www.theuglysurfboard.com

With all the activities that I have to attend to, I can only apply a bit of time to each, so building each and every project is deliberately going slow and carefully, to say the least.

Last week, I notified Joseph Tabler's Surf Blurb about the launch of TUSC and he notified his group, which I am glad to be a part of. Join his list at jtabler@san.rr.com Slowly word is getting out about TUSC and in time the membership will grow.

The nose riding contest I'm organizing is now called "2012 Malibu Surfrider Nose Riding Championship (working title)" to appeal to more sponsorship prospects. Check it out at the link at Da Bu 2012, which is below too or at http://www.theuglysurfboard.com/dabu2012.html There, you'll be able to read an excerpt from Steve Pezman's letter of support.

The format is based on Tom Morey's 1965 nose riding contest, which Mickey Munoz won. Tom's simple format in 1965 created an insurmountable amount of inventions and introduced objective judging (timing nose rides) as a judging alternative to subjective judging (points-system). It also, started professionalism in the sport. I hope to share with you here a discussion that I plan to have with Tom in the near future.

NOSE RIDING TIP: Stay in the hook and keep looking forward, not down.

bp

July 1, 2011

Re: INTRODUCING "TUSC"

Hi, and WELCOME collectors and fans of The Ugly and Super Ugly surfboard, formerly made by Con Surfboards.

My old and new lineup is exclusively manufactured now by state-of-the-art craftsmanship at 12th Floor Foam & Glass. See the lineup at www.theuglysurfboard.com

WOW! I'm really excited about forming The Ugly Surfboard Club and have shortened the club name to TUSC so it's easier to say and write! This is a first for me, writing a blog and I have lots of surf stories to share with you. Albeit, this is the introduction Blog and I'm going to keep it short and hopefully I'll peak your interest and imagination so you'll come back and participate as a full fledged member of TUSC; ask questions, get answers, as well as share your stories, pictures and videos.

Nose riding is a thrill and getting out there on the tip is like gliding on the surface of the wave with just your feet; you're defying gravity. Next to tube riding, nose riding is the most difficult maneuver in longboard surfing. Every second on the nose feels like time is suspended and leaves an indelible impression. It takes discipline to develop the proper skills, many times at the expense of broken boards and broken egos. We want to help make the learning curve a little less strenuous and much more enjoyable.

In case you're wondering, I'm going to try and keep this Blog updated with new information once a week. Also, the TUSC web site is a work-in-progress and I have plans to keep improving it. Now included in the TUSC web site is the TUSC "Home" page, TUSC "BP Blog", TUSC "News", TUSC "Gallery" and TUSC "Register". At the top of each TUSC web page are the TUSC links. At the bottom of each page are the TUSC links and Ugly Board links. Any suggestions, comments or trashing (I can take it - I'm a man) will be appreciated.

Join, let's get it on and ride it out. IT"S FREE!

bp

FREE TO JOIN! Just email uglyboards@theuglysurfboard.com
WRITE:
Subject: "The Ugly Surfboard Club"
Message: Please include your Name, City, State, Country, history of The Ugly and/or Super Ugly, ownership & surf story (optional), pictures and videos (optional).

NOTE: Please, immediately place our email address in your address book so we are not considered SPAM!

IMPORTANT NOTE: The intention of TUSC is to promote original "The Ugly" and "Super Ugly" surfboard brands, authorized by Bob Purvey. We are NOT interested in any other surfboard brands or other brands. Communications that overtly promote competing brands or other brands inappropriately may be deleted in their entirety. Sorry!

IT'S FREE!

IT'S ON ME!

Cheers,

Bob Purvey

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