So.. what do I write as I’m sitting at my computer thinking back on the year…. 2020.  Who would have ever thought while celebrating 2019 at the end of last year that this year would be anything like it’s been? 

Sickness, protests, riots, shootings, lockdowns, shutdowns…. What else?? For the surfer, beach closures.

An interesting thing for the year is the number of people that were buying new surfboards. The 2 stores here in Ventura that carry my boards both notified me at one point about the middle of summer that they had sold through the inventory of my boards they had. So I went to work getting boards made to replenish supply… which can take weeks. I get a couple boards complete take them to the store and get back to making more. And every time I take more boards to the stores they sold through the last batch already. I could never get caught up.

I’m guessing maybe because Foot Ball, Base Ball, Basket Ball, Soccer, Tennis, Ping Pong… you name it, were all off limits. The one thing people along the coast could do was go to the beach. Well, after people were permitted to go to the beach. So what better time to get into surfing…. After all don’t most people wish they could surf?

I’m also guessing that’s the reason surf spots were so crowded. Sometimes finding a place to park so you could go for a surf was difficult. At least frustrating anyway.

All that and I don’t remember any real memorable swells to write about the whole year. Though the last week or 2 have been pretty good. I will admit with the water temps being in the mid 50’s and air temps in the upper 50’s this old guy can’t handle. Shoot…. The temp this morning at my place was 32. Yeah, maybe 12 degrees warmer down at the beach but that’s just not enough to get me motivated.  Maybe if my son came in and said let’s go it’s good! Nah, doesn’t happen.

So here’s something that happened this year…. I introduced a new board model. The DR Wing Nose. As well, even though I did a reissue of a V-Bottom a couple years ago 2020  got me started putting them in the store.

Speaking of models. With the new Wing Nose I now have The Imperial, The Tip Tool, The ’67, The Dreamsicle ,  The Machine, The Penetrator, The Model 50, an HPLB and HPNR,  The PSQ and The T&G. That’s a dozen long boards.

I also do mid lengths in the Gadget, The 70’s Single Fin and The Long Hull. Then there’s The Retro Hull and New Hull models, The Stubby Quad and H2 board that we call the alternatives. Ok  for 2020 lets round this off to 20 boards… The 7’0 Pro. One of my old favs.

2020 has not been to good. To make 2021 better I hope to have myself a new Wing Nose a T& G and  a new Gadget. Those are my picks.

You can take your pick too, and have a Happy New Year!

D.R