Sunday, May 25, 2014

Full Part with Chris Hartkopp




Opening Shot of 'Full Part' at RW Surf Shop in Carlsbad, CA

Cory Patterson has been spending time at RW Surf Shop shooting for our upcoming documentary 50 Years of Shaping. He hooked up with Christopher Hartkkopp filming with RW team riders for the documentary. Chris is a 3 time National Danish surf champ and has traveled all over the world, including CA where  Cory P, Cory W and Christopher spent some time chasing waves up and down the southern coast of CA. Cory P got some great footage of Christopher blowing fins all over the place. Check it out at BoardWarrior.
Chris Hartkopp in Full PART
 
  Thanks. Stay stoked.
 


 

Friday, May 23, 2014

NorCal Ripper in SoCal


NorCal Ripper Shows His Style in SoCal

Matty Jessee, BW’s youngest team rider, was invited to a weekend Ramp Jam in Santa Barbara. The kids of the guy putting on the comp follow Matty on Instagram and wanted him there.  Of course, dad sent the invite, to the whole family. Hey, these kids have the whole Social Media thing covered. Matty, along with mom and dad (Stacie and Matt), sister Shay and even Trouper, the family dog, were invited to spend the weekend, while Matty competed with lots of amazing SoCal rippers.

Backyard Fun

For a backyard jam, it was amazing. Reps were there from Powell Peralta and the Arbor Team. Cash prizes were flowing. Matty was on fire. His energy, silliness and all out ripping style were crowd favorites. Dad, Matt, says ‘I was super proud of him’ and says ‘he was landing tricks he never landed before. Matty was in the zone!’  

There was a one hour jam for kids 12 and under. It was a rad format that let the kids rip it up with each other and show their style. Everyone had fun watching the kids tearing it up and just having fun rooting for each other.

Matty ended up with a ton of prizes and a $40.00 cash prize. He took 1st place for best style and best attitude. Then he picked up best trick over the box for a kickflip and a big pop shovit, taking 2nd overall behind Cash Money, a SoCal 11 year old, who is a sick transition skater.

Why is Skateboarding Different?

When it comes to skateboarding, kids are more interested in cheering each other on to perfect tricks. It’s not about beating the other guy. It’s about pushing each other to do a sick trick, high five’s all around.

 
Santa Barbara TV show, Life Chronicles, interviewed Matty after the comp and one of the questions was ‘why Matty thinks parents should allow and encourage kids to skate.’ He never hesitated with his answer:

‘Its super fun, you can do it with your Dad and family and anyone can do it.’ He said ‘its great exercise and better than just playing video games.’  He pointed out ‘it’s not too dangerous because you can skate at any level’. He also mentioned its fun to meet people from all over and travel to different places. His favorite tricks are rails, kick flips and skating street.

 It was a great day all around and everyone had fun watching the kids out there tearing it up and just having fun. Only in skating do we do this.  

 



Saturday, May 17, 2014

A Man Walks Into a Surf Shop....





Over a year ago, I walked into this surf shop down in Carlsbad, CA, not knowing what I was in store for. My name is Cory Patterson and I’ve been surfing my whole life and I’ve been filming and photographing surfing for years. Walking into RW Surf, I was met by Cory, who I learned was the oldest son of Rusty Whitlock. I was given an introduction to the Whitlock’s by BoardWarrior, who I do some filming for.  My friends at BW thought I might enjoy getting some pics and catching some waves with their old friends at RW. It was an amazing day. We went out and shot some pics, went surfing and shared stories.
 

Keith Halterman, Cory Whitlock,
Cory Patterson, Rusty Whitlock
 

Well, mostly I just listened, absorbing story after story of all this surf history, like I was reading a book. On my surfed out drive home, back to LA, I called my friend Keith (BW’s videographer). Stoked about the day, I told him we need to start documenting this shop immediately. We need to get the history recorded before it’s lost. So, over the course of the past year, I have been shooting with the Whitlock’s, while working with BW to develop a great story we are calling 50 Years of Shaping; The Story of a Surf Family.




The stories this family shares, about living and growing up on the North Shore, pro surfing careers, tragedy and rebuilding, injury and unbelievable comebacks, both inspire and amaze. Through it all, never forgetting that Rusty keeps shaping one of the best surfboards out there. He has been innovating and creating boards, with his own hands, since 1963. Not in a big production factory, but in a one man shop. A shop that has surfing in the corrugated tin walls, shavings on the floor and the smell of resin and fresh salt water in the air.

Rusty and Cory working in the shop.
Through a lifetime staying true to the soul of surfing, Rusty is, to this day, one of the nicest most stoked out dudes I have ever come across. The whole family lives for surfing, doing what they can to keep themselves surrounded by surf culture and the ocean, no matter what life throws at them. But never losing the kindness and the ability to be a real human being in and out of the water. You won’t find flash or trendy here. They are just who they are and that is it.








With Hollywood and corporate surfing trying to sell an image of what a surfer should look like and surf like, Rusty and RW Surf live their own truth. Surfing is freedom. A way to express yourself as a person, as an artist and not giving a flying fuck about what the next 30 dudes in the lineup think of you. Remember earlier on I said "They are just who they are and that is it". Cory said in one of the 50 Years interviews….’we live a million dollar lifestyle, without the million dollars.’ That, my friends, is the soul of surfing. Well, at least in our eyes.

Rusty has been shaping boards for 50 years!
 Documentary in Development
The Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds to complete this documentary will be live in late May. Watch for it. You’ll be able to see a short trailer of the documentary that we hope to release by early next year. We’ve said from the beginning that this is story that needs telling, and we are going to tell it!, So, keep your eyes peeled and keep your stoke.  

  
RW Surf Board