The handshape manifesto...

Tom Wegener, creating.

1. Whereas Surfing was born out of a tradition of craftsmanship dating to the beginnings of the pastime,
2. Whereas Surfing was spread throughout the pacific to the shores of California and beyond in a manner seeking to share the magic of the experience,
3. Whereas Surfing pioneers undertook to understand, enjoy, and improve the surfing lifestyle,
4. Whereas Surfing pioneers undertook to understand, enjoy, and improve the surfing crafts that were the heart of the surfing experience,
5. Whereas Surfing culture developed around ideals of freedom, experimentation, individuality, creativity, appreciation, camaraderie, and collaboration during a time of widespread conformity,
6. Whereas Surfing craft evolved as an art form as opposed to a manufactured item in concert with the ideals of freedom, experimentation, individuality, creativity, appreciation, camaraderie, and collaboration during a period of widespread conformity,
7. Whereas Surfing's heroes are most notably and profoundly those whom surfers see at their local surf spots, allowing interpersonal contact and an understanding of the shared ideals possessed within surfing's culture,
8. Whereas Surfing is essentially an uncontrolled and unpredictable endeavor yielding new and rewarding experiences,
9. Whereas handshaped Surf boards remain true to the above stated positions of opinion and fact, separating surfing from any number of other "sports" and placing surfing into a unique and beautiful category unto itself,
10. Whereas Surfing is turned away from its original ideals and transformed into a "sport" of conformity, isolation, and consumerism by the use of machine manufactured surfboards,
11. Therefore, I hereby state my decided preference for Surfcraft created by the hands of surfer craftsmen.

The simple truth, I don't want surfing to be the same as other "sports". I don't want my surfboards to be another "outdoor toy". I don't want Hurley/Nike or Channel Islands/Burton to have more influence on my fellow surfers than the local legend who has shaped and surfed for years. I want to remain connected to the wholeness of the surfing experience. Computer pre-shapes are the first step down a slippery slope. The surfboards might be unbelievable designs, but at what cost? Maybe this ship has already sailed. Maybe the legions of surfers on pop-outs have voted with their dollars and the comodification of surfing is virtually complete. Still, I'll take a handshape.

In Santa Cruz this weekend. I packed my mat.