Hobby Thread - Sept 13, 2025 [Surfer Rex]

Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. A spin of the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies (TM) landed on surfing and waves.

I have faith that you can either find something in the content that resonates or contribute your own hobbying interests.

You might be tempted to say "I have no hobbies or interests." Bah. Dig around in the content and soak in the comments. Be curious. Glad you're here.

[Top: Sunset Surfer by polynikes. Oil. 16x24]

***

What are you hobbying?

As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. All (legal) hobbying is welcome. However, politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Current events are still on our minds, but let's stick to hobbying here. Pants are optional. Puns are welcome and encouraged.

Play nice. Don't be a troll and do not feed the trolls.

***

Surfing is a hobby for some but a way of live for others. Are you a surfer? Were you a surfer at an earlier stage of life? Have you never surfed but curious to try?

Are you entranced by waves? Can you sit and watch waves break all day?

Even if you're not wise in the ways of the surfboard, the best places to surf are often in beautiful locations. This thread can be about surfing, the art of the wave, and the travels to enjoy memorable parts of the world.

We will do a separate proper Hobby Thread at some point on sea shells and related gathering, collecting and art projects.

***

History of surfing:

***

Under the Wave off Kanagawa, also known as The Great Wave, from the series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji"

***

Denise Romecki - ceramic wave

***

"The Wave" in Newport, Rhode Island:

The feet and the accompanying wave are courtesy of artist and sculptor Katharine Worden, a familiar figure in the lively Newport art community. In 1983, Worden unveiled "The Wave." The design was a twist on Hokusai's famous work. Worden's wave swaps the intense majesty of Hokusai's piece for one that is a bit more humorous. A pair of feet stick straight out from the bronze wave pointing right towards any and all passerby.
Newport locals have taken "The Wave" under their wing in their own special way. In the summer, the statue's feet shine bright as the bronze is polished by the hands of passersby. During the winter, when Newport becomes cold, anonymous locals will put socks on the feet.

***

The 8 best places to live in the world as a surfer (according to Red Bull)

Gold Coast, Australia
California, United States of America
Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
Portugal
Indonesia
Southwest France
Oaxaca, Mexico
Oahu, Hawaii, USA

***

Time for science:

***

Surf board construction:

Most modern surfboards are not made of wood. These are:

Or you could build one with Home Depot supplies:

The Science Behind Surfboard Construction

***

This has nothing to do with surfing, but has everything do with waves and the US Navy. Since this is a quasi-smart military blog and some Morons have served in the Navy, it gets included:

***

Stand up Paddleboarding is not surfing, but we will include for Hobby Thread giggles. Anyone do this?

How to choose the right shape for your paddleboard

***

Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did a horse theme. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.

***

Notable comments from last week:

Honorable mention:

Thanks again to Ben Had for looking after the Hobby Thread horsing around.

***

Words of wisdom:

"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).

***

If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, contribute something from your personal hobbying. We will feature a different theme next time. What are you hobbying? We love showing off Horde hobbying. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 05:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Welcome Hobbiests

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 05:30 PM (+qU29)

2 Surfers be crazy, yo.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at September 13, 2025 05:31 PM (h7ZuX)

3 Don't surf, don't live near the ocean. Guess I'll sit this one out.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at September 13, 2025 05:31 PM (0eaVi)

4 I love the beach, sand sculpture, body surfing, alas my life changed.

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 05:33 PM (+qU29)

5 My hobby is poker. I play online, as I don't live near a casino. Game starting now, see ya later

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at September 13, 2025 05:33 PM (h7ZuX)

6 I have a body board, it's not surfing like standing up but still was lots of fun.

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 05:34 PM (+qU29)

7 I windsurf off Martha'a Vineyard. Keep your damn asses out of my way. If I fall down it's your fault.

Posted by: Jon Cary at September 13, 2025 05:34 PM (0eaVi)

8 3 Don't surf, don't live near the ocean. Guess I'll sit this one out.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at September 13, 2025 05:31 PM

"Even if you're not wise in the ways of the surfboard, the best places to surf are often in beautiful locations. This thread can be about surfing, the art of the wave, and the travels to enjoy memorable parts of the world."

Posted by: TRex - keep trying at September 13, 2025 05:34 PM (PDUpY)

9 I tried surfing but I wasn’t good looking enough.

Posted by: HappyFun at September 13, 2025 05:35 PM (d2+05)

10 Ok, I am starting to think Polynikes is getting a heads up a couple weeks in advance to do the thread painting.
It's another great work btw Polynikes

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 05:36 PM (+qU29)

11 Charlie don't surf

Posted by: Anna Puma at September 13, 2025 05:37 PM (aMl27)

12 Love that painting by polynikes. He really caught the movement and color of the surf. The sun emerging, or sinking, and the clouds are a bonus.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 05:38 PM (yTvNw)

13 The wave sculpture with feet made me lol

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at September 13, 2025 05:38 PM (dE3DB)

14 "Even if you're not wise in the ways of the surfboard, the best places to surf are often in beautiful locations. This thread can be about surfing, the art of the wave, and the travels to enjoy memorable parts of the world."
Posted by: TRex - keep trying at September 13, 2025 05:34 PM (PDUpY)

May be true, but those beautiful places usually cost money to go to. Just have to look at them on the internet.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at September 13, 2025 05:39 PM (0eaVi)

15 I did some surfing in my younger days but my belly always got rubbed raw on the styrofoam.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 05:39 PM (vFG9F)

16 I admire the ability of surfers from afar. Amazing ability and agility.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 05:40 PM (mFSH6)

17 The surf sculpture needs to have a surfboard going off in a weird direction.

Posted by: Anna Puma at September 13, 2025 05:40 PM (aMl27)

18 >>> 11 Charlie don't surf
Posted by: Anna Puma at September 13, 2025 05:37 PM (aMl27)

I do.

Posted by: Otter 841 at September 13, 2025 05:41 PM (ULPxl)

19 14 May be true, but those beautiful places usually cost money to go to. Just have to look at them on the internet.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at September 13, 2025 05:39 PM
***
I consistently fail to meet your hobby expectations. Send a self addressed stamped envelope and I'll send a refund.

Posted by: TRex - refund available at September 13, 2025 05:41 PM (PDUpY)

20 polynikes, beautiful painting

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at September 13, 2025 05:42 PM (dE3DB)

21 https://youtu.be/rj7xMBxd5iY?si=jc_UjQw5B0Uoqz0I

The one dude knows he rode a major wave

Posted by: TheCatAttackedMyFoot at September 13, 2025 05:43 PM (LOZbR)

22 I surfed for a bit. Byproduct of being not too far from the jersey shore. It was a bit hit or miss, sometimes great waves, sometimes ugatz. We didn't have our license yet, so we used to get rides from some surfers we knew that were a couple years older than us who drove. Between waiting for a ride, and waiting for a good day of waves we figured screw it. The 3 of us ditched the surf boards, got our licenses, and figured it was more fun cruising for chicks.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 13, 2025 05:44 PM (snZF9)

23 My hometown has some very good small surf, consistent but different from the towering waves in Hawaii. I never learned to use a board but I was an excellent body surfer. It was more fun than swimming. You knew you caught the wave just right when you ended up on the damp sand as the wave receded.

I haven't lived by the ocean for many years but still remember the 'feel' when you timed things just right.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 05:44 PM (yTvNw)

24 Oh yeah, the movie Jaws didn't help either.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 13, 2025 05:45 PM (snZF9)

25 In California we had "boogie boards." Small body boards for riding waves.

My son, who was about 6 at the time, was on my back during a particularly gnarly day of waves. Slappers and pounders.

The pounders will crack ribs. Yup.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at September 13, 2025 05:46 PM (Q4IgG)

26 I wish I had a hobby instead pf a million half started projects

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at September 13, 2025 05:46 PM (6U1c2)

27 Surfing is one of those " man against nature" things.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 05:48 PM (mFSH6)

28 I aways did sand sculpture, dragons my favorite, but in October a sand pumpkin which sometimes in evening if standing got a candle lit

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 05:48 PM (+qU29)

29 That sculpture with the feet sticking out is a hoot. Came along after my time in Newport. I can easily believe the locals putting socks, possibly with holiday themes, on the feet during colder weather.

BTW, the angle of the swimmer diving under the wave is about right.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 05:49 PM (yTvNw)

30 Surfing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, sailing……. Any sport in the waves is awesome.

It helps to live across the street from the water.

Posted by: nurse ratched at September 13, 2025 05:49 PM (hC7dH)

31 Surfing in WA state is done on the coast. In dry suits. It’s ferking cold.

Posted by: nurse ratched at September 13, 2025 05:50 PM (hC7dH)

32 Too bad I don't body surf anymore. With my build these days I qualify as a floatation device.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 05:51 PM (yTvNw)

33 Very lovely painting, Polynikes. Thanks.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at September 13, 2025 05:52 PM (looXz)

34
About 25-30 years back, a bunch of us guys who worked together would longboard around Santa Barbara/Goleta during lunch. It was nice to work that close to the beach.

Of course, none of us could hold a candle to Snake Plissken.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3HOCIXroqQ

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at September 13, 2025 05:53 PM (FoIOl)

35 Have no pictures of beach stuff on digital sadly

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 05:53 PM (+qU29)

36
The Endless Summer

Surf's Up!!! Hodaddies and Chickie Babies!

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2025 05:53 PM (iJfKG)

37 I do good with a water depth in my shower.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 05:54 PM (mFSH6)

38 Surfin M.O.D.

Posted by: Cow Demon at September 13, 2025 05:54 PM (ngszx)

39 Waves have always fascinated me but my interest was mostly expressed in my vocation as a physicist, so I don’t think my work with waves qualifies as a hobby. I am a retired university professor and had an NRL postdoc.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at September 13, 2025 05:55 PM (uTWkf)

40 Going offline: il fault faire le marché!

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at September 13, 2025 05:57 PM (uTWkf)

41 Fault -> faut

Blast autocucumber!

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at September 13, 2025 05:58 PM (uTWkf)

42 39 Waves have always fascinated me but my interest was mostly expressed in my vocation as a physicist...

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at September 13, 2025 05:55 PM
***
Spent time trying to find good interweb resources on wave generation for this thread. Interesting and surprising how many had some form of "waves push water but we don't fully understand exactly how it works."

Posted by: TRex - amateur scientist at September 13, 2025 05:58 PM (PDUpY)

43 I have a rather mundane hobby that is by necessity to keep me sane when I get dragged along on Antique Store jaunts with a woman that finds that stuff fun.

Almost everyone of the antique stores have a section that includes old news papers. If you know your history and remember dates, you can find some pretty remarkable things. So far, I've collected the Hindenburg Blimp headline, three or four of the Kennedy assassination, VE Day, VJ Day, sinking of USS Indianapolis before they knew how bad it was with the sharks, Atom Bomb headlines in Japan and many many more. I framed a number of Page 1's and switch them around in my home office depending on the month.

Posted by: Orson at September 13, 2025 05:58 PM (dIske)

44 We lived in Corpus for a few years.

Never got out to Padre Island often enough to become any good at surfing.

Though I tried riding those pitiful three foot Gulf waves.

Body surfing is petty much perfect🙄

Posted by: naturalfake at September 13, 2025 06:02 PM (iJfKG)

45 Orson, that is fascinating not the least bit mundane.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:03 PM (mFSH6)

46 45 Orson, that is fascinating not the least bit mundane.
Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:03 PM (mFSH6)
________________________

If you're a history buff like me. It can be fun. And, we're not talking a lot of money. Cost on most of them is under $5.

Posted by: Orson at September 13, 2025 06:05 PM (dIske)

47 I'm spending a lot more time on the motorcycle this past year than I usually do. I think I did more miles this past year than I did in the 5 or 6 years before it combined. There is a group of guys that bring their bikes to the shop who have been riding together for years, and I started going on rides with them. They brought me to some great roads in south jersey that I never would have believed existed. Nice forest type roads in the pine barrens, a few nice marina bars on the water, tons of bikes on the roads and not many cars. I guess its an expanded hobby.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 13, 2025 06:06 PM (snZF9)

48 I consistently fail to meet your hobby expectations. Send a self addressed stamped envelope and I'll send a refund.
Posted by: TRex - refund available at September 13, 2025 05:41 PM (PDUpY)

I was not trying to be insulting in that comment. I don't have a lot of money to go places or do things. The older I get, the less I find I can do, especially if it's something completely new to me. The internet is the best way for me to see things. Everyone doesn't have the same likes and interests, but I still read the thread even if it's not in my wheelhouse.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at September 13, 2025 06:07 PM (0eaVi)

49 43 Almost everyone of the antique stores have a section that includes old news papers. If you know your history and remember dates, you can find some pretty remarkable things.

Posted by: Orson at September 13, 2025 05:58 PM
***
Outstanding! We have a German newspaper showing the fall of the Berlin Wall displayed. Thanks much for sharing!

Posted by: TRex - history is fun at September 13, 2025 06:07 PM (PDUpY)

50 Just a reminder to those who watch Svengoolie. It starts an hour earlier than usual. 7pm ET/6CT.

Movies can be a hobby too, right? Sorry if I shouldn't post this here.

Posted by: Joyenz at September 13, 2025 06:10 PM (2F0/Y)

51 >>The feet and the accompanying wave are courtesy of artist and sculptor Katharine Worden, a familiar figure in the lively Newport art community. In 1983, Worden unveiled "The Wave."

I dated Kay Worden's daughter in high school. The Worden's had a gorgeous home in my town near Newport and Kay's studio sat on a bluff overlooking Narragansett Bay. Marvelously talented artist. She has at least one other sculpture in Newport, The Hurdy Gurdy Man.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 13, 2025 06:11 PM (viF8m)

52 43 ... "Almost everyone of the antique stores have a section that includes old news papers. If you know your history and remember dates, you can find some pretty remarkable things."

Actually, that sounds like a cool hobby although the topics aren't happy ones. How about some happy ones like the sun coming out literally as Reagan began his first inaugural address or the first launch of the shuttle after the Challenger disaster. Or the faces of the Hillary supporters the night she lost. That one always makes me smile.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 06:11 PM (yTvNw)

53 Here ya go - surfing montage from Pointbreak

https://tinyurl.com/yc29ytmm

Posted by: Fenrisulven at September 13, 2025 06:12 PM (ciYHQ)

54
To rise and fall
Without the hands of gravity
To see it all
My hand to cover up my eyes
To move inside
Suspended by my sense of self
Along the line
The river flows and so do I

To live the groove
Is everything that I need
To see you move
When grace is just a simple wisdom
To feel
To live
To speak the truth at every junction
To be with you
And with myself and my suspicion

And Charles Atlas stands upon the beach
Upon his head and says
I will not fall

Posted by: Fenrisulven at September 13, 2025 06:12 PM (ciYHQ)

55 I've never surfed, at least in part because I live in Oregon and, as Nurse R stated, you need a wet suit (and a desire to be amongst marine predators and random logs the size of a tractor-trailer).

My hobby of acquiring things I don't need is going well. I just got a pocket solar watch and I'm trying to fine-tune it.

Posted by: PabloD at September 13, 2025 06:12 PM (s6jlS)

56 JackStraw maybe you would collaborate on a scuba diving thread.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:13 PM (mFSH6)

57 Almost everyone of the antique stores have a section that includes old news papers. If you know your history and remember dates, you can find some pretty remarkable things. So far, I've collected the Hindenburg Blimp headline, three or four of the Kennedy assassination, VE Day, VJ Day, sinking of USS Indianapolis before they knew how bad it was with the sharks, Atom Bomb headlines in Japan and many many more. I framed a number of Page 1's and switch them around in my home office depending on the month.

Posted by: Orson at September 13, 2025 05:58 PM (dIske)

When I used to work in old houses I would constantly find old news papers shoved into walls around windows. I guess it was cheap insulation. It was always a blast to look through them while having lunch. The prices, holy shit the prices. Coats for 79 cents, houses that were enormous for 10K. Found some WWI and WWII era papers. Every time we gutted a kitchen it was like a treasure hunt.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at September 13, 2025 06:14 PM (snZF9)

58 48 ... "The older I get, the less I find I can do"

OrangeEnt,

When unsure: CROSSWORD PUZZLES!

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 06:15 PM (yTvNw)

59 Outstanding! We have a German newspaper showing the fall of the Berlin Wall displayed. Thanks much for sharing!
Posted by: TRex - history is fun at September 13, 2025 06:07 PM (PDUpY)

____________________________

I was over in Bavaria the week Reagan was in Berlin doing the "Tear down this wall." Speech. I have some newspapers of that I bought myself. I, also, have a rather humorous collage framed of about six or seven German articles describing car accidents on the Autobahn when the East German Trabants (remember those?) started crossing into West Germany through Hungary. It was a mess. Those things couldn't go over 40mph safety, and some cars on the Autobahn were going 3 times that speed.

Posted by: Orson at September 13, 2025 06:15 PM (dIske)

60 59 German articles describing car accidents on the Autobahn when the East German Trabants (remember those?) started crossing into West Germany through Hungary.

Posted by: Orson at September 13, 2025 06:15 PM
***
Surely did not go well for the Trabants because they were made of composite cotton and resin. Drove one a few years ago which was interesting but I can't imagine taking one on the autobahn.

Posted by: TRex - rolling death trap at September 13, 2025 06:19 PM (PDUpY)

61 >>JackStraw maybe you would collaborate on a scuba diving thread.

My diving life is pretty dated, but I'd be happy to toss in my unneeded comments.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 13, 2025 06:20 PM (viF8m)

62 I could be wrong, tell me if so, that any hobby news you have is invited to post.

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 06:22 PM (+qU29)

63 Thank you for the thread, Surfer Rex! I've never surfed and don't think I'll ever try it. It looks fun, but I can't even ride a skateboard!

This link is maybe more for a modeling thread, but it's how to make waves for a diorama, so it kind of fits?

youtu.be/l5Px8nL74sw

Ah, found a surf diorama!

youtu.be/04OqLFCXz8U

And here is a diorama with a model ship in rough seas.

youtu.be/mkBhu655BGk

Posted by: haffhowershower at September 13, 2025 06:23 PM (144I4)

64 I used to do some longboarding when I lived in SoCal. I was never really good at it, but I enjoyed it and it kept me in great shape. Until you've done it, you don't realize how hard getting out into the lineup can be.

Posted by: Bert G at September 13, 2025 06:24 PM (VARTN)

65 Movies can be a hobby too, right? Sorry if I shouldn't post this here.
Posted by: Joyenz

Movies can be a hobby

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at September 13, 2025 06:26 PM (tcsrY)

66 Bert G, can you expound on that? I can only imagine all the elements that go into catching a wave.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:28 PM (mFSH6)

67 Amazing surf painting, polynikes! Every time one of the cobs posts a painting of yours, I marvel that you are getting better and better!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at September 13, 2025 06:28 PM (omVj0)

68 63 This link is maybe more for a modeling thread, but it's how to make waves for a diorama, so it kind of fits?
Ah, found a surf diorama!
And here is a diorama with a model ship in rough seas.

Posted by: haffhowershower at September 13, 2025 06:23 PM
***
Great links! Thanks for finding and posting. Wish I would have spotted and included something like that in the content.

Posted by: TRex - modeling water is hard at September 13, 2025 06:30 PM (PDUpY)

69 Inspired by the start of the surfing craze around 1960, some friends and I tried making our own skateboards. (Land surfing I guess.) This was long before commercial skateboards were around. We nailed a roller skate, the kind that used a skate key, to a plank. It sorta worked until I got to a sharp bump at which point the damn thing just stopped and I went ass over teakettle onto the pavement. And I wasn't graceful about it.

That might have increased my interest in body surfing.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 06:32 PM (yTvNw)

70 My husband loved to surf. It was a big part of his life from age 14 to almost 60, when a neurological condition destroyed his balance.

If anyone wants to watch a fun movie about surfing, I recommend "Riding Giants" or "Step into Liquid". You don't have to surf to enjoy them.

Posted by: girldog at September 13, 2025 06:34 PM (ItPl7)

71 Bert G, can you expound on that? I can only imagine all the elements that go into catching a wave.
Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:28 PM

Riding the board is the easy part as long as you have really good balance. The hard part is fighting the current and waves as you paddle the board beyond where the waves start. It can be a good workout; the bigger the waves, the harder it becomes getting out there.

Posted by: Bert G at September 13, 2025 06:34 PM (VARTN)

72 Just a reminder to those who watch Svengoolie. It starts an hour earlier than usual. 7pm ET/6CT.

Posted by: Joyenz

Thanks for the reminder Joyenz. I was out working on some projects and stopped in to check the thread, and to catch a few minutes of the Three Stooges.

I don't always watch the featured Svengoolie movie, but, and this will sound weird, I like the intro to the show.

"Calling all stations, clear the airlanes, clear all airlanes for the big broadcast."

I don't know if they really used to use that in the olden days of TV, but it sounds retro and cool to me.

Posted by: haffhowershower at September 13, 2025 06:34 PM (144I4)

73
Inspired by the start of the surfing craze around 1960, some friends and I tried making our own skateboards. (Land surfing I guess.) This was long before commercial skateboards were around. We nailed a roller skate, the kind that used a skate key, to a plank. It sorta worked until I got to a sharp bump at which point the damn thing just stopped and I went ass over teakettle onto the pavement. And I wasn't graceful about it.

That might have increased my interest in body surfing.
Posted by: JTB

I made one of those and put a Goldwater sticker on it.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at September 13, 2025 06:35 PM (63Dwl)

74 A couple of really cool 3D prints are being made honoring Charlie Kirk.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at September 13, 2025 06:38 PM (XV/Pl)

75 I need to find a new rapier group. I could go back into archery but I kinda maxxed it out. My high scores still stand. I bristled when my rapier coach said archery was one dimensional but he was right - there's not much depth to it. Rapier OTH I could study for another 20 years and still not master it.

And ooof I cant imagine anything hotter than a girl who knows how to spar with a sword. I remember checking my arrogance at a event meeting: "Gwen's a sweet girl but-what am I saying, she could kill me without breaking a sweat"

Posted by: Fenrisulven at September 13, 2025 06:38 PM (ciYHQ)

76 My husband loved to surf. It was a big part of his life from age 14 to almost 60, when a neurological condition destroyed his balance.

If anyone wants to watch a fun movie about surfing, I recommend "Riding Giants" or "Step into Liquid". You don't have to surf to enjoy them.

Posted by: girldog at September 13, 2025 06:34 PM (ItPl7)

Sorry to hear about your husband. I haven't seen those movies, but my kids (and me) really like Soul Surfer.

Posted by: haffhowershower at September 13, 2025 06:38 PM (144I4)

77 I was raised two blocks from the Pacific Ocean in Pacific Beach.

I was quite skilled at body surfing, but I regret not getting a board and really surfing.

PB was great. But Windandsea was legendary.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 13, 2025 06:39 PM (ZmEVT)

78 If the subject is surfing, surely this is appropriate:

https://tinyurl.com/mtps688j

Posted by: Eeyore at September 13, 2025 06:40 PM (s0JqF)

79 Oh, and polynikes, I enjoy all of your paintings but I have to echo all of the compliments here. This one really stands out to me, I'm diggin' it.

Posted by: haffhowershower at September 13, 2025 06:41 PM (144I4)

80 The surfing scene in" Die Another Day" was memorable .

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:41 PM (mFSH6)

81 Watchung the model video.
For all the free foam I could get never used it for game boards

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 06:42 PM (+qU29)

82 >>Riding the board is the easy part as long as you have really good balance. The hard part is fighting the current and waves as you paddle the board beyond where the waves start. It can be a good workout; the bigger the waves, the harder it becomes getting out there.

I've been around the ocean all my life and I've done pretty much everything you can in the ocean including body surfing which I grew up doing. Somehow, actual surfing eluded me.

My dive shop in PR had a surfing beach right next door and one of my fellow instructors was a surfer. Better surfer than diver. He took me out a couple times to give it try. By far the hardest part was just getting out to the waves. It was a frigging workout.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 13, 2025 06:42 PM (viF8m)

83 Well, it involves surfing. Watch 1964's "Ride the Wild Surf", one of the great bad teen movies of the decades. No Annette, but Jan and Dean singing and Barbara Eden in a bikini. Oh yeah, some surfing as well.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 06:43 PM (yTvNw)

84 "The older I get, the less I find I can do"

I bought some Voit surf fins. They were great when I was 30. My legs couldn't do the work when I was 60.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 13, 2025 06:44 PM (ZmEVT)

85 Paddleboarding is not surfing, but we will include for Hobby Thread giggles
-----------

Yeah...ha, ha...very funny.

Posted by: Obama Chef at September 13, 2025 06:45 PM (XeU6L)

86 A friend and colleague is from Hawaii. As a surfer, he was a natural at snow boarding.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 13, 2025 06:46 PM (ZmEVT)

87 Balance and quickness is a must for surfing, I guess.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:48 PM (mFSH6)

88 Paddleboarding is not surfing, but we will include for Hobby Thread giggles
----------
We had a lady paddle boarder attacked and bitten by a rabid beaver. The name of the lake? 'Beaver Lake'. I proposed re-naming the lake to 'Rabid Beaver Lake' to reduce usage. Could not build any momentum for that.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 06:49 PM (XeU6L)

89 87 Balance and quickness is a must for surfing, I guess.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:48 PM
***
Just riding barrels in the ocean instead of in the ring...

Posted by: TRex - horses hang ten too at September 13, 2025 06:50 PM (PDUpY)

90 For those of us who use firearms as a hobby, I just learned that Guns and American Handgunner magazines are ceasing to publish paper editions and are going all digital and streaming. Feels like the end of an era.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 06:51 PM (yTvNw)

91 This guy ( at least seeing hands think so, is quite a skilled modeler

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 06:51 PM (+qU29)

92 I was raised two blocks from the Pacific Ocean in Pacific Beach.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 13, 2025 06:39 PM

When I worked for PacBell my turf was west of the 5 with everything south of Nautilus Street in La Jolla, PB, and down through MB north of Sea World Drive.

I loved it because there was hardly any traffic in PB and MB in the mornings. No one was awake there until around 10:30 or 11AM.

Posted by: Bert G at September 13, 2025 06:52 PM (VARTN)

93 My amateur hobby this afternoon was four very nice Marzen beers. I may have to turn pro.

Posted by: Diogenes at September 13, 2025 06:52 PM (2WIwB)

94 Where there are lots of surfers, I'm always amazed that some don't get clouted by loose boards.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 06:53 PM (XeU6L)

95 That's a problem for doing anything getting older, the less you can do the less later you can do.

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 06:53 PM (+qU29)

96 TRex, interesting point. Are your hobbies dictated by your physical abilities?

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:54 PM (mFSH6)

97 Gorgeous painting, polynikes! I think it's one of your best. Love the delicate addition of sunset orange being picked up by the foamy spume atop the wave. Really pulls the sea and sky together. Great job!

It dates me, but I loved Bruce Brown's movie about surfing, The Endless Summer. The second one was okay but didn't captivate me the way the first one did. Recently acquired both movies and the "making of" documentary, which was quite fascinating. Can recommend it!

Posted by: tankascribe at September 13, 2025 06:54 PM (NtoJk)

98 For those of us who use firearms as a hobby, I just learned that Guns and American Handgunner magazines are ceasing to publish paper editions and are going all digital and streaming. Feels like the end of an era.

Posted by: JTB
------

I am beginning to intensely dislike the digital age. When I hear or see 'Just scan the QR code' my hostility grows.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 06:56 PM (XeU6L)

99 Mike Hammer, Amen. I ain't doing it.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:57 PM (mFSH6)

100 94 Where there are lots of surfers, I'm always amazed that some don't get clouted by loose boards.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 06:53 PM
***
Unwritten rules of respect help keep order. Some beaches are more "regulated" by locals because outsiders can cause contact or cut off others by not knowing the local customs on the waves for who goes, when, what waves, etc. that keep order. If you go to a regulated beach and nobody knows you, best go with humility and stay out of the way until you earn some credibility. (Of course, some locals are just territorial to be territorial, but that's another story...)

Posted by: TRex - local dino at September 13, 2025 06:57 PM (PDUpY)

101 80 The surfing scene in" Die Another Day" was memorable .
Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:41 PM (mFSH6)

That was Laird Hamilton on that wave. The movie Riding Giants is partly about him and the innovative role he's played in big wave surfing.

Posted by: girldog at September 13, 2025 06:58 PM (ItPl7)

102 Norrin Radd was a pretty good surfer.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at September 13, 2025 06:59 PM (CHHv1)

103 96 TRex, interesting point. Are your hobbies dictated by your physical abilities?

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 06:54 PM
***
Thank goodness no! I have a small brain and short arms.

Many of my rabbit holes are interests expressed through reading, interweb, mail, etc.

Posted by: TRex -hobbying dino at September 13, 2025 06:59 PM (PDUpY)

104 In San Francisco, some people have a new hobby of going around and spraying Narcan in the noses of bums, whether they need it or not.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 07:01 PM (vFG9F)

105 98 ... "I am beginning to intensely dislike the digital age. When I hear or see 'Just scan the QR code' my hostility grows."

Mike Hammer,
Oh yeah! First Backwoodsman magazine now Guns and American Handgunner going strictly digital. I want to hold hobby magazines IN MY HAND not read them on a damn screen. Don't get me started on QR codes or the presumption that everyone has the latest 'smart' phone. I hold onto my typewriters and fountain pens both for use and as a protest.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 07:02 PM (yTvNw)

106 I'm with you, Mike Hammer!

I've considered doing a beach/ocean painting just because I've never painted one. Then I remind myself that if I'm going to invest hours of my life into doing a painting, it had damn well better be of something I personally enjoy or it'd be pure drudgery. And I don't enjoy the ocean very much. I'd rather paint mountains and rocks and people and clouds. But someday I'm going to paint a rainbow. A realistic rainbow that doesn't look like a cartoon, which will be a challenge. Just looking for the right photo, so I take pictures of rainbows (and clouds!) whenever I can.

Posted by: tankascribe at September 13, 2025 07:02 PM (NtoJk)

107 And thanks so much for the Hobby Thread, TRex! I look forward to it every week.

Posted by: tankascribe at September 13, 2025 07:05 PM (NtoJk)

108 "Are your hobbies dictated by your physical abilities?

Just today at the rallycross I was thinking "Why is this car not faster? It should be faster. Am I losing my edge? Am I getting too old for this?"

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 07:05 PM (vFG9F)

109 Then I found out one of the parking brake cables was not releasing and I felt a lot better.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 07:05 PM (vFG9F)

110 109 Then I found out one of the parking brake cables was not releasing and I felt a lot better.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 07:05 PM
***
HaHaHa!!!

Posted by: TRex - slower is faster at September 13, 2025 07:06 PM (PDUpY)

111 I want to hold hobby magazines IN MY HAND...
Posted by: JTB
--------

When and where you want to...no battery required.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 07:06 PM (XeU6L)

112 fd, the only thing that would slow you down is 200 lbs weight strapped to you.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 07:07 PM (mFSH6)

113 Reforger, if you're here, I read your Comments of the Week to MrTea and he wondered if you could post photos of the molds, patterns or casts.

Posted by: TecumsehTea at September 13, 2025 07:07 PM (mZ/55)

114 107 And thanks so much for the Hobby Thread, TRex! I look forward to it every week.

Posted by: tankascribe at September 13, 2025 07:05 PM
***
Thank you! Glad you could join "live" this week.

Posted by: TRex - painting by numbers at September 13, 2025 07:07 PM (PDUpY)

115 When you come for a visit Ben Had I will take you to see the Wave statue. I'll also take you to what I think is JTB's old neighborhood which is right up the road.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 13, 2025 07:08 PM (viF8m)

116 Then I found out one of the parking brake cables was not releasing and I felt a lot better.

Posted by: fd
--------

The smoke curling out should be a hint.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 07:08 PM (XeU6L)

117 113 Reforger, if you're here, I read your Comments of the Week to MrTea and he wondered if you could post photos of the molds, patterns or casts.

Posted by: TecumsehTea at September 13, 2025 07:07 PM
***
Or send to me and I'll post in the content.

Posted by: TRex - bronze age dino at September 13, 2025 07:09 PM (PDUpY)

118 We have a few maniacs here in Alaska who surf the tidal bore in Cook Inlet.

You don't even want to think about how cold that water is, even in July and August.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maJjVwX-OiM

Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at September 13, 2025 07:09 PM (qpyNK)

119 JackStraw, I so look forward to that day.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 07:10 PM (mFSH6)

120 Just today at the rallycross I was thinking "Why is this car not faster? It should be faster. Am I losing my edge? Am I getting too old for this?"

Posted by: fd

To go faster on motorcycles the recommendation is to loos weight. Just saying...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 07:11 PM (TnWYh)

121 When Mike Hammer mentioned 'no battery required' in comment 111, it made me think. (Yes it did. Be very, very careful.) Does anyone consider prepping as a hobby, at least in part? So many aspects and levels of involvement.

Just a thought.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 07:12 PM (yTvNw)

122 120 To go faster on motorcycles the recommendation is to loos weight. Just saying...

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 07:11 PM
***
Add lightness.

Posted by: TRex - Colin Chapman says at September 13, 2025 07:12 PM (PDUpY)

123 I knew I was truly old when Field and Stream stopped issuing physical copies of their magazines and went digital. I ended my subscription.

Posted by: Archer at September 13, 2025 07:13 PM (IDphi)

124 Your physical abilities absolutely dictate some of your choices. I have very poor hand-eye coordination. Tennis? Golf? Volley ball? Ha ha. My two lifelong sports were skiing and swimming.

Posted by: Wenda at September 13, 2025 07:13 PM (dqnNP)

125 In the painting up top, Under the Wave off Kanagawa, also known as The Great Wave, I've glanced at that on various websites before, but today is the first time I noticed there was a boat in the waves in the foreground.

In retrospect, it's not that hard to miss but my eyes always skipped over it. And are those net floats at the back of the boat? Hopefully not depth charges!

And where are the fishermen? Did they fall overboard in the wave? Did the boats come lose from the dock and are now out to sea unmanned? So many questions!

Posted by: haffhowershower at September 13, 2025 07:14 PM (144I4)

126 Portugal has monster waves!!! Like 60 ft waves! And people surf them!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 07:14 PM (TnWYh)

127 Pack your flip flops, we are also going to Block Island.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 13, 2025 07:14 PM (viF8m)

128 I walked into a Walgreen yesterday, the LabCorp thing was in the back, by the pharmacy.

I noticed that the magazine section was completely empty.

Hmm

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 13, 2025 07:15 PM (ZmEVT)

129 Waves.

Amplitude and lamda.
It's maths.
REEEEE!!!!

Posted by: Diogenes at September 13, 2025 07:15 PM (2WIwB)

130 South Africa has great waves too. And sharks.

Posted by: no one of any consequence at September 13, 2025 07:16 PM (ZmEVT)

131 I've glanced at that on various websites before, but today is the first time I noticed there was a boat in the waves in the foreground.
Read up on why the Japanese revere that wave. It wiped out a Korean invasion fleet, represented by the boat I believe.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 07:16 PM (TnWYh)

132 "the only thing that would slow you down is 200 lbs weight strapped to you.
Posted by: Ben Had"

I fear I am slowing down. I suppose it is inevitable. I can see #2 son surpassing me some time in the not too distant future.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 07:17 PM (vFG9F)

133 Gotta start supper. Thanks to TRex and everybody for another fun thread.

Posted by: JTB at September 13, 2025 07:18 PM (yTvNw)

134 Time to say thank you and good night before the next act takes the Ace of Spades stage. As always, thanks for being here and talking hobbying. The theme is only a starting point and I love people pitching in their unique interests. Thanks again to polynikes for the painting.

See y'all in Club ONT later tonight!

Posted by: TRex - waving politely at September 13, 2025 07:19 PM (PDUpY)

135 Putting on the last touches of the "Big Ten Inch" scope today and hopefully finish up the site prep tomorrow.

I will be setting it my my backyard under really crappy skies for astrophotography but with the filters I intend to use will cut out the light pollution.

We've been under a crap low pressure system here in FL or almost a week now and it will hopefully push on out to the northeast finally.

I'll be doing a polar alignment with one of the fancy new gadgets that hooks into a laptop and my mount that allows me to get a true north and polar elevation based on the position of Polaris and a couple other nearby stars using a thing called "plate solving".

With luck I might get a run of images.

I think I'm going to start out with the Andromeda galaxy.

Posted by: pawn at September 13, 2025 07:20 PM (PmITa)

136 Surfing Australia.
Sharks to push you inshore.
Salt water crocs to push you into the water.
And let's not talk about the deadly sneks and spidas.

Posted by: Diogenes at September 13, 2025 07:20 PM (2WIwB)

137 TRex, thank you and see you both soon.

TXMOME X is just over a month away

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 07:21 PM (mFSH6)

138 "To go faster on motorcycles the recommendation is to loos weight. Just saying...
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron "

I've been think about taking a 12-18" section out of the car to shorten the wheelbase and lighten it. Turn the 4 door into a coupe.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 07:21 PM (vFG9F)

139 >>South Africa has great waves too. And sharks.

Sharkiest place I've ever been. I stayed at a lovely little guest house south of Durban that was on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Great view of the waves. And the sharks. You could literally see fins in the surf.

You've gotta really love surfing to surf in South Africa.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 13, 2025 07:21 PM (viF8m)

140 You don't even want to think about how cold that water is, even in July and August.

Swimmer's Ear WHAT?!
Even a wet suit won't protect against that...

Posted by: gKWVE at September 13, 2025 07:22 PM (gKWVE)

141
To go faster on motorcycles the recommendation is to loos weight. Just saying...

Posted by: AZ deplorable
---------
When racing F3, I went to great lengths to do just that. I was cross-drilling washers (where safe) just for the few extra grams of saved weight. The ultimate case was fabricating an aluminum clutch cable jam nut (also cross-drilled).

The theory was that all other things being equal, I would have a slight edge. After making the jam nut, I decided that I might gain a greater advantage just by spitting before I rolled up to the starting grid.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 07:23 PM (XeU6L)

142 Posted by: Orson at September 13, 2025 05:58 PM (dIske)

I have a Fort Wayne Indiana special edition newspaper dated November 10, 1918. Giant headline reads ... AUTOCRACY FALLS and underneath in slightly smaller font is... GERMAN THRONE CRUMBLES HOHENZOLLERNS MUST GET OUT! The people will rule in a new Republic.

I found the paper under the linoleum in my old farmhouse. It's been in a gram since then.

Posted by: Madamemayhem (uppity wench) at September 13, 2025 07:23 PM (2J/Lj)

143 130 South Africa has great waves too. And sharks.
Posted by: no one of any consequence

It's not so bad as long as you know where to go and when, and you keep your eyes open and have good security

Posted by: gKWVE on metaphor alert at September 13, 2025 07:24 PM (gKWVE)

144 and some cars on the Autobahn were going 3 times that speed.
Posted by: Orson

And it was glorious!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 07:25 PM (TnWYh)

145 Oh, and for all of you who think this topic doesn't pertain to you...we are all surfers here.

We surf the web!

*groan*

Thank you thank you, good night.

Posted by: haffhowershower at September 13, 2025 07:25 PM (144I4)

146 141 When racing F3, I...

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 07:23 PM
***
Say more words.

Posted by: TRex - racing in F3? at September 13, 2025 07:25 PM (PDUpY)

147 "The ultimate case was fabricating an aluminum clutch cable jam nut (also cross-drilled)."

How many beers would you have had to give up to get the same weight saving?

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 07:25 PM (vFG9F)

148 Wife to this day, and day it happened says a shark was swimming around once when I was out body surfing.
It would have been during days and theory is sharks don't attack during day.

Posted by: Skip at September 13, 2025 07:26 PM (+qU29)

149 haffhowershower, well done!!!

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 07:26 PM (mFSH6)

150 I think I'm going to start out with the Andromeda galaxy.
Posted by: pawn

Without your scope tonight after sunset... Meteor shower viewing!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 07:27 PM (TnWYh)

151 I thought only boomers surf the web.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 07:27 PM (vFG9F)

152 >>It would have been during days and theory is sharks don't attack during day.

Probably not a theory you should rely on.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 13, 2025 07:27 PM (viF8m)

153 Thank you Trex!!!!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 07:28 PM (TnWYh)

154 I really dig the Sunset Surfer painting. Nice work, polynikes.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at September 13, 2025 07:28 PM (mH6SG)

155 "Probably not a theory you should rely on.
Posted by: JackStraw "

I'm no expert but it seems dubious.

Posted by: fd at September 13, 2025 07:28 PM (vFG9F)

156 49 43 Almost everyone of the antique stores have a section that includes old news papers. If you know your history and remember dates, you can find some pretty remarkable things.

Posted by: Orson

My late mother had a stack of old magazines with 'notable' events. Several on the death of Elvis. Princess Di. Several other things that were interesting but I forget.

During my family turmoil, I gave them to my friends across the street hoping they coukd sell them on eBay and make some cash.

Posted by: Posted by: Stateless - VERY GRATEFUL, BLESSED, LOVED AND HAPPY! -- - New Life Creation - 18.1% at September 13, 2025 07:30 PM (jvJvP)

157
How many beers would you have had to give up to get the same weight saving?

Posted by: fd
----------

I had a rowing machine with an electronic load and read-out which reported calories input. Many, many times while panting and heaving, I watched the dismally slow rate at which those were expended, converted to beer calories.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 07:31 PM (XeU6L)

158 113 Reforger, if you're here, I read your Comments of the Week to MrTea and he wondered if you could post photos of the molds, patterns or casts.
Posted by: TecumsehTea at September 13, 2025 07:07 PM (mZ/55)

Let me see what I can do.

Posted by: Reforger at September 13, 2025 07:32 PM (SPOEc)

159 *waves to Ben Had*

Hello!!! T-30 Countdown is getting close!

Posted by: haffhowershower at September 13, 2025 07:32 PM (144I4)

160 154 Posted by: Notorious BFD at September 13, 2025 07:28 PM
***
Sir Deal!

Posted by: TRex - BFD in the house! at September 13, 2025 07:33 PM (PDUpY)

161 haffhowershower, can't wait to see you.

Posted by: Ben Had at September 13, 2025 07:34 PM (mFSH6)

162 movie nood!

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at September 13, 2025 07:34 PM (TnWYh)

163 >>I'm no expert but it seems dubious.

Not an expert either but I've been around a lot of sharks.

Posted by: JackStraw at September 13, 2025 07:34 PM (viF8m)

164 Sir Deal!

*fist bump*

Posted by: Notorious BFD at September 13, 2025 07:35 PM (mH6SG)

165 I have a Fort Wayne Indiana special edition newspaper ...
-----

Second mention of Ft. Wayne this week, and my second recollection of WOWO.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at September 13, 2025 07:36 PM (XeU6L)

166 Or send to me and I'll post in the content.
Posted by: TRex - bronze age dino at September 13, 2025 07:09 PM (PDUpY)

One sent. Let me know if it worked. I'll send the rest.

Posted by: Reforger at September 13, 2025 07:48 PM (SPOEc)

167 Late, but hopefully not banning late. TRC-448 is still on the bench. Power cord finally came in today, but I haven't had a chance to attach it yet. Hopefully this will work. If you never hear about it again, it probably caught fire.

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at September 13, 2025 08:30 PM (lUFok)

Processing 0.03, elapsed 0.0266 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0088 seconds, 176 records returned.
Page size 101 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.