OH SH*T! – SURFBOARD PAINT DRAG (WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG!) REEL

Music on, friend in the wings, creative surfboard art brief. What could go wrong?

With several decades wearing the orange jump-suit, that goes with the life long sentence of being a surfboard sprayer, a few phrases are often repeated to the point of them becoming annoyingly standard. 

'Could you just' / 'While you're here!' / 'Just one more thing' / 'It'll be shaped in a minute...it goes on. This flannel, I suspect, is wiped across the faces of many production (and more) industries; the linking thread being humans attempt to orchestrate the workforce and materials toward a finished product – ready for shelves, food in restaurants, or scarily, organ replacements and perhaps even Air Traffic Control. 

The surfboard industry is surely on the podium for the 'Blunders Award Night'.

This is footage of a blunder and recovery of mine on a custom Pyzel surfboard. It was all going so well, especially with the amount of preparation that was put into place for this fast moving paint drag. But not tightening the lid on a ketchup dispenser bottle full of paint, was my fault.

Luckily, I have experience in recovering mishaps, an essential requirement when making surfboards, and Clive of 'Soul Jammer Surfboards' was fast to help. We did it, and after the initial alarm, I would venture to say we enjoyed it!

POCKETS OF GOOD SURF – 1

In amongst the rain and onshore winds, there have been pockets of good surf.

These days must be relished as they have been far and few between. That said, from midweek, this week, the wind has been offshore, sometimes very strong, only going around this afternoon. So it has been a good run.

SURFBOARD FACTORY – WHAT TO DO? WHAT SEASON IS IT?

Well, when it comes to surfboard work, the year continues to be a little sleepy.

Despite being a veteran surfboard sprayer (35 years), it still remains nervy at this time of year. Although the nerves of an off-season flatlining income were more easily treatable in youth. All that was needed was an airfare, along with a pocket of loose change to escape the situation. Some of our (I include my allies) best memories are tied up in those years.

That said, I relish the time I now have away from the dust bowl of a surfboard factory. There is always plenty to do elsewhere. Only this week I finished two new fine art prints, both with a small limited edition print run. They can be seen @ 20/20 on my website.

But back to the beginning, I should express no surprise at the current moseying pace – it is still winter after all. But No! Meteorologically speaking, the official first day of spring is March 1st. Hold on a minute! Surely spring starts on or around the 20th of March – the spring equinox. Are goal posts being moved?

It seems they alter depending on what almanac is being used. Weather scientists divide the year into quarters to make it easier to compare seasonal and monthly statistics from one year to the next. Yet I read, 'According to the almanac, the astronomical start of spring is the spring equinox, on, or around March 20th each year.' 

Take your pick!

To be clear, the weather is presently erratic, although on a positive note, the sun had a pleasing lick of warmth to it today. So for those brief moments, it is spring. But as a cloud trundles over, casting a cold shadow, it is still winter.

So with just a few boards to spray, a part of a working day is literally spent waiting for paint to dry. No flashy sprays to film or photograph. What to do? Today I meandered around with my camera taking pictures. More fun than watching paint dry; which it never does when being watched by the way!

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BARRIER – MEXICO – POST 2

A follow up from the post on February 17th.

The barrier lifts and a few steps take you out of resort world, and into Mexico.

It is immediately clear when walking out onto a busy road, that the gated community is now behind you. Each step furthering you into a barrage of new colour, sights and sounds. 

Without coincidence the road leads directly to a lively pedestrian tourist strip, full of bars, gift shops, tequila outlets, tour operators and a bizarre amount of pharmacies.

The amount of pharmacies was remarkable, to the point of a game being played every time one was spotted. 'Oh look, a pharmacy, better remember where it is in case we need anything!' And then within 30 to 60 seconds another would be seen. 'Oh look, a pharmacy, better remember where it is in case we need anything!' You can see where this is going!

The tourist area recedes within blocks of the main drag, and the town of Playa del Carmen goes about its day to day business. Down on the waterfront there are crammed beaches and a couple of jetties, with the expected throng of visitors, street vendors and performers.

All of this under the watchful eyes of the highly visible Marines. No matter how many times I saw them, I found it unsettling. They are in full combat fatigues, face coverings and are heavily armed. Not only do they patrol the streets, they also comb up and down the beaches, usually accompanied by a beach quad bike.

It is something I had not seen before.

Supermarket patrol.

Tension on the jetty.

More drugs, this time with a deli.

High street patrol

A street vendor shouted 'Look, Real Mexicans!' when this group with new sombreros walked past.