Archive for January, 2010

We’ve been checking out the beautiful fins made by Captain Fin Company. Unique, artistic and functional, just the kind of thing that gets near and dear to our hearts. Check ‘em out, and scroll down through the news section to see Scotty Stopnik and his brother Turkey posing with Scotty’s new Paipo. Word has it that after building it in our shop last October, Scotty took it with him on a recent trip to Japan, so hopefully we’ll be seeing some photos from the adventure.

Speaking of which, we just designed some new stickers featuring Scotty and Paipo in silhouette. Keep an eye around town, they’ll be popping up.

We thought you all might enjoy this mini-documentary done by a crew from a marketing group called “Exposure”. They shot it right around Hurricane Bill with sponsorship from GzOne, but they missed alot of the best surfing because they had to head back to Neuva York.

They were an inventive group of guys – particularly Dennis who constructed his own set-up for dolly shots out of stuff like a shaping stand, a plank and a skateboard.

Anyway, despite how exhausted we were that week it was cool to watch them work as they watched us work, and we thought they really captured the way it feels to be here in Maine, doing what we love. Enjoy.

Click here if you have any trouble viewing.

Some time ago, brothers separated by a continent came together at our shop to spend a vacation week together – which at Grain, means eight hours a day on your feet in a workshop. Sloane is a fast-talking, biz-making, computer-selling world beater from NYC. His older brother Chris at the time was just dialing in the recipe for his awesome organic candy bar, the Angell Bar.

They each built longboards they could love; Sloane a pintailed Root, built New York Style – fast and furious. Chris did a rally-striped Waterlog. Both boards came out pretty choice, and the fellas just sent us some pics of them getting ready for the first surf they were able to have together.

It’s a funny coincidence that I got their pics during a rare surf trip I’m on with my own brother and it pleases me that much more to see Chris and Sloane loving their new boards. Happy New Year, boys.

Hey Guys,
Just wanted to wish you a peaceful and prosperous and wet and woody 2010. Here are some snaps of Sloane and I rocking our Grain finest before and after our first (believe it or not) session together on our boards, on Christmas 2009. What a gift!
Best,
Chris

Over the last several months, New Hampshire photographer Brian Nevins, Maine videographer Joe Carter and my brother, Nick LaVecchia, have been turning an idea into reality. Between the three of them, they have shot and filmed surfing and surf lifestyles all around the world and in some of the craziest places you can imagine. While they strive to sell their work to support their habits, you have to imagine that for the one or two photos that get published, there are hundreds if not thousands, that don’t. Get in the Van is their solution. Check it out and check back often for updates. It looks to be a great resource for inspiration and entertainment from the east coast and beyond.

The New Year brought with it some classic New England weather, something to make just about everyone, no matter what your sport, happy. The mountains received a ton of snow and the coast was hammered with epic high tides and perfect swell. Here’s a few photos from the first 3 days of 2010. What a great start!