"Keeping your daughter off the poll!" Grizzley attends the 2009 Surfer Poll

If you are a fan of surfing like I am then the 2009 Surfer Poll and Video Awards is one of the highlights of the year. I was fortunate enough to attend the event and it did not disappoint. Red carpet entry bright lights, video cameras, and pros as far as the eye could see. There were video pros, top 44 pros, a mean looking group of Hawaiian pros, Aussies and South African getting crazy. The event was hosted by a rotating cast consisting of Benji Weatherly, Fred Patacchia, and Sal Masekela of E! and X Games fame. None of the action was off limits, pros and regular fellas were shoulder to shoulder to catch all of the awards and to check out the ladies.

The ladies were definitely one of the standouts of the evening. It became a theme throughout the night that the ladies were ripping harder than ever and there was plenty of film to support it. Stephanie Gilmore took home top honors for the ladies with a solid field of ladies such as Coco Ho, Carissa Moore, and Alana Blanchard not far behind the rankings. All of them dressed to impress and ripping harder than most of us guys that were in attendance, seriously.
When it came to the men’s category Slater took home the number one spot, of course, but there were other highlights that were great to see like Ken Collins getting annihilated on a 50 foot wave that was projected onto 3 15’X15’ screens with an earth shattering sound system. Taj Burrows best trick which really got the crowd going and Standout Surfer of the Year Bret Simpson who had hometown backing and a great video clip to back the award.

The event went off without a hitch and it was a great honor to get to be in a room that small with that many of the industries elite from the behind the scenes guys, to the corporate suits, to the many different slathering of pros. I can’t wait to see what surfing will bring for the remainder of ’09 through 2010. If it continues on then the Surfer Poll and Video Awards for 2010 will not disappoint.

Drew Brophy Pen Painting Video

Check out this cool clip of Drew Brophy's Paint Pen Techniques video.The clip gives you a brief idea of what the video offers, and what it takes to create radical artwork on your own.You can purchase the video from us here at Foam E-Z for $29.95 http://www.foamezjavascript:void(0).com/paint-pen-techniques-dvd-with-drew-brophy-p-695.html

The 5-10RP Fish Blank by US Blanks

We've been waiting for this one since Clark Foam went out of business in December 2005! The 5'10"RP by US Blanks just arrived in our shop and we're stoked to have it. This polyurethane fish plug was shaped by San Diego legend Rich Pavel. He is one of the experts and innovators in the revolution of the Fish board. Rich has been deeply involved in the "Fish Fry" events around the world which are his inspiration for this blank. The blank is versatile enough to be able to shape short high performance fish as well as traditional fish boards up to 5'10". This blank is thick enough to yield 2-3/4" if you're trying to recreate an old school design.

Come in the shop and check them out.

See you soon-

Brad

Cool Custom Colored Blanks!

Check these polyurethane blanks from US Blanks. This is just a small idea of the possibilities for your next custom surfboard blank. Most custom blanks take only one week to arrive! Let us know if you'd like to customize your next blank.

ProBox is in full force here at Foam E-Z!

If you're looking for ProBox fins, boxes, install kits etc... we now have it all in stock and can be found on our website under Fins & Fin Systems. If you can't find the fins you're looking for call or email us and we can have them here for you usually within two days.

ProBox addresses many of the shortcomings of existing systems in the surfboard marketplace. Adjustments can be made to the fin position forward and backward and the cant [fin angle]. These adjustments allow the performance of a surfboard to be tuned to the conditions, type of surfboard or rider. The fin cant is adjusted through a revolutionary patented insert mechanism that provides controlled angles, initially 4 different inserts are provided 0°, 4°, 6°, and 8°.

This fin system is very easy to install with a minimum of tooling. A single reusable jig is used to handle the alignment, routing, and anchoring of the box during the installation process. No fin is required to install the box as the jig correctly locates the box on the board while suspending it over the routed hole. These jigs are extremely inexpensive and reusable!

Shaping Supplies 15% Off Sale

In celebration of our 15 years in business we are having a month long sale! Each week a different product category will be highlighted and all customers will be able to save fifteen percent (15%) on that category. This week, from Sunday May 11th thru Saturday May 17th, the sale category is SHAPING SUPPLIES. Customers can either come into the shop to make the purchase or you can purchase online with the redemption code 15YRSHAPE2. Look for a new category and redemption code next Sunday May 18th. Stay tuned, it’s gonna be a great month!



The Guys at www.FoamEZ.com

Foam E-Z's Q&A with Surfer Mag's Scott Bass

Posted on Surfermag.com May 7, 2008

The good folks at FOAM E-Z have been servicing the Southern California marketplace with board building equipment for 15 years. Brad Nadell is the man behind the machine that is FOAM E-Z and what better time to catch up with the hard-goods retailer than during his month long 15-year Anniversary celebration.

Q: So, 15 years in the surfboard products biz; how did you get started?

Brad Nadell: I started working at Harbour Surfboards doing everything, and eventually ended up spraying boards mostly. Then a friend came to me, he had owned the big glass shop in Westminster; he came to me with the idea of providing professional shapers with foam blanks. In '93 there was a large amount of shapers in the region and we figured instead of driving to San Clemente for blanks we could provide the HB area with product.

Q: And the store evolved from there.

Brad Nadell: Yeah, I bought out my friend and ran with it from there. I slowly added more and more tools and resources for shapers. As time went on I realized there was a market for the home hobbyist builder, and that led me to bring in more stuff like fin systems, books, and resin and all the necessary requirements for the home builder.

Q: How many blanks have you pushed out the door in the last 15 years?

Brad Nadell: Gosh, I don't know upwards of over 100K blanks. It fluctuates each year or cycle.
Q: What other stuff is available at FOAM E-Z?
Brad Nadell: Logo paper; safety equipment, respiratory systems, how-to videos. If you want to build a board we have it all, and we'll help you understand the process. It's all pretty simple but it can also be intimidating. It doesn't need to be. We try to put the fun into the equation.

Q: Do you get a newbie customers?

Brad Nadell: We get hobbyists all the time. I try to pound into our sales staff all the time that it's crucial to welcome the new hobbyist. It can intimidating to walk in and be new to the concepts of board building. Some times our industry doesn't understand customer service. I make sure our people are helpful and service oriented. It sounds simple but customer service is what makes or breaks businesses.

Q: What types of customers do you get?

Brad Nadell: We get all different levels from your professional shapers to your garage builders, to the hobbyist guy who just loves to build stuff. You know, the father and son types stop by or guys doing senior projects for school. It's really sort of cool. Everyone loves the idea of surfboards and building your own magic board. The neat thing is, it is totally do-able.

Q: You've got a big celebration all month long?

Brad Nadell: We are having a month long sale through the end of May, each week we are spotlighting a different section of the store. On May 31st we're having a big party and event at the store with tents and product and demos. So everyone should come by.

For more info on FOAM E-Z check out their website - www.foamez.com.