JON BLE$$$$$$$$$$$$$ LAND

spray room.

2010-05-31T14:49:00.000-07:00

TEaK

Williziiiiiiiiiiinho!!!!!

2009-09-23T05:20:00.000-07:00

When I found this guy I wasn't sure I wanted to keep him because I had a one year old puppie named "Monster" that had just got hit by a car and didn't make. Monster RIP. But somehow I felt like the spirit of Monster was inside of this guy and I fell in love. Unfortunately only a few youngster pics of him exist. It was the beginning of the digital cam age. Here he is as a little grommet.

Then

Now

Blow Hole

2009-09-14T05:29:00.001-07:00

So the vent plug has been installed. No more worrying about the board balooning and cracking.
Caught some serious fun ones on this yesterday. Lucas too. Its ready for everybody to try.

Cats Kill

2009-09-09T19:28:00.000-07:00

good weekend

2009-08-25T17:41:00.001-07:00

You were one of the greatest.....

2009-08-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

............and will truly be missed my friend. We love you Kess.

Fully Loaded

2009-08-15T20:21:00.001-07:00

Loaded up the Supers with 18 inchers this past week. Almost finished but not really.

LI Sound

2009-08-11T05:16:00.000-07:00

Deebo's secret spot. He blindfolded me on the way there so that I wouldn't know where we were.
Usually the blues are a plenty but our timing was spontaneous therefore we missed them. No fish for you!

Quiet 4th of July, 2009

2009-07-11T08:20:00.000-07:00

In the Catskill Mountains...without fireworks and booming car stereos.

I think I like it

RIP

2009-06-27T15:47:00.000-07:00

Much Respect is due to the one and only king of pop.
Thank you for all of the great music you made over your too short of a life.

new things in the making

2009-06-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

subwoofers number 2, 3, and 4 almost complete
number 1 not shown.

The new wood shop in the navy yard also almost finished. We will have a little party over there as soon as we complete the build out. Soon come!

aaaaaaaaah

2009-06-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

summer is on??

2009-05-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

A beautiful day at Gilgo last Sunday. My board is finished so we tested it out on some knee high waves. Not exactly what it wants but it works and is fast even on those tiny bumps. Over all just a fun day in the water. Can't wait to get it on a waist to chest high day.

It floats alright

Devo going left.....

Lucas going right while running over a speed bump......

Ashton's left hand stylings while going right on the mini simmons woody. Lucas going for a mini baaaaaarrel.

Almost FINished

2009-04-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

Redwood fins in place......

Nuff Respect to the Grey Ghost himself. Taken matters into his own hands!

Oh yea..... thanks to Mama Falcone also for letting us take up her parking spot.

Summer glass......

2009-04-27T05:07:00.000-07:00

We got a little taste of summer this past weekend so I headed over to Clams Casino for a little lesson in glassing a surfboard. Thanks Joe!!!!! This board would never have come to life without your help.

MTK Getaway.....

2009-04-22T04:51:00.000-07:00

We decided that after a hectic few weeks of work related stress and fear that we deserved a break. We did get a break, but I think Willis may well have had the most fun. I'm not sure. You be the judge.

We ran into these beautiful faces. Nice to see them outside of the urban jungle.A few cold ones and some good laughs and smiles in the Montauket backyard.
Then some lobster back at the "resort" that we picked up from the friendly gentleman at St. Peter's catch. (highly recommend it)Easy like Sunday morning.......

That's right!!!!!!!A dozen or so freshly plucked from our tasty dog.....A quick swim.........some Montauk mind control....then the drive back to BK.

Bass in your face!!!!!

2009-04-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

Construction on the first of four 18" Super Scooper has been completed. I'm pretty sure the friend I am making these for will become hard of hearing. I'm really enjoying this design so I think I will scrap the sound I built for myself some years ago and build some of these instead.

One problem......... these are huge and I live in NY. Storage space is limited. Anyone care to house these if I build them? Get your stomachs ready for some gut wrenching bass.
Anyone interested in these?
(the one's built previously)

For Sale..........

2009-03-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

USED BUT LOVED MANDALA w/ AK4 fins
(a few repaired dings and pressure dimples on the deck)

double wing quad fish

~ double into single concave
~ flat deck, down rails
~ tapered basswood stringer
~ choice of AK4, or Canard Quad Cutaway fins (CQC)

~ 100% hand-shaped

~ Infinite gratitude to Rich Pavel...

"FIN"ished

2009-03-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

I finished foiling the redwood fins and now I am ready to glass. I need to place an order for the supplies. I can't wait to get out on this little rocket.

Training Day!

2009-03-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, Monia and I were lucky enough to get to hang out with our good friends Chris and Erin's lovely daughter Ida. We took her to the park for the afternoon so that the parents could rest and relax a bit, which I know now after only an afternoon of having a kid, was well deserved.

Ida is one of the most beautiful little girls I know and it was a treat to spend some time with her. Speaking of treats, we spoiled her a bit with ice cream and a huge chocolate chip cookie. I guess it was good training for Monia and I. One day, not too soon........hehe.

Cut!!!

2009-03-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

The fins are cut. Now I need to foil.

Redwood

2009-03-03T08:37:00.000-08:00

A big chunk of beautiful red wood arrived in the mail. I needed to take a chip off the old block so I can cut out the 2 fins for the little wooden guy. I sliced it off and I'm letting it set a day or so and let the wood do what it wants to ie warp/bend. It's the nature of wood. Then I can put it through the planer, cut out the fins and hand foil.

A True Legend!!!!!!!

2009-02-22T10:05:00.001-08:00

Did I ever think that I would be chatting with Tony Alva?? A true Legend for real!!! And a genuinely nice guy!!

These days he said he is addicted to riding Simmons inspired surfboards like the Casper, and he was stoked on my wood version when he saw the photo on the Shipworm & Gribble blog. He said he never rode a wood surfboard and he wants to ride it next time he comes to New York. He said he wants to bring a few boards out for me to try too.

I'm lacking words to describe how honored I am.

Respect to RK, Simmons, and Bauguess for the inspiration.

And Thank You Tony!!!

I ain't fraid of no ghost!!

2009-02-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

Big Thanks to Joey Grey Ghost Clams for helping me to bring this Bob Simmons inspired mini Casper the ghost inspired woody to life. 5'3"x23x2 3/8. Fins and glass soon come!

almost

2009-02-12T05:05:00.001-08:00

Spring are you there????

2009-02-03T07:52:00.001-08:00

Saturday drive out to the end of the isle.......

It was mad cold and windy..............Yea cold!!!No waves at ditch, but willis didn't mind.........
On the way home we stopped in Amsterdam....After that we were hungry so we decided to make some pizza. My dough slinging could use a lesson or two from Luigi......It was damn good though.Sunday we woke up and gave Fellini a bath. He was a little pissed.Then enjoyed a taste of spring in Central Park.

keep on keepin on

2009-01-27T10:07:00.001-08:00

My skills are crude but I'll keep on tryin'..............

My wife's on the other hand are not so crude!!
An amazing moqueca de camarão (shrimp stew in a traditional brasilian clay pot) hand crafted by Mônia herself!! Capixaba styleeeee of course. (one from the state of Espirito Santo in Brasil).

A liitle paipo in the making for Brian Lentini and his students to replicate. Every year he holds a one week workshop where he and his students get to let loose on building some cool isht!!
Last year they made chopper bicycles, and this year they will give it a go with some hollow paipo's and skateboards.

And these guys are always around to experience it all.

Big Brother Willini

2009-01-16T10:05:00.000-08:00

These 2 are amazing!! Fellini loves to play with Willis' tail. It's pretty funny.
And Willis is definitely the gentle giant.

Fellini

2009-01-07T10:28:00.000-08:00

A new addition to our family. Say hello to 8 week old "Fellini"

cookies and stomach aches

2008-12-15T10:10:00.000-08:00

Cookie party at the Gentile house on Saturday night left my belly aching. But actually i'm sure it was a mix of cookies, the big gulp of rockaway water I inhaled earlier in the day, beers, cider spiked with rum, wine and some fried zuchini and calamari. Some kind of mash up in my stomach.

But Sunday I felt fine so we took a little drive to harriman state park. Monia saw icicles......

and a frozen lake for the first time

And willis was happy and in his element.

Saturday Snow!!

2008-12-08T20:35:00.001-08:00

I had so much fun making the first one, so I decided to start the second.

A much smaller wide tailed wierdo board that you may know I am obsessed with.
I figured I would try to make my own in these hard economic times.

Devo stopped by the shop to share in "present your craft day".

His first handmade frame he made in Oregon came back from the painter.
SIIIIIIIICK!!!

Monia saw snow for the first time ever!!!!!!
I was so excited too that I probably looked like I was seeing it for the first time also.The Budos Band show at BAM was then enjoyed by all!!

Jaaaaaaah Rastafarianism!!!!

2008-11-17T11:08:00.000-08:00

This little clip was taken from my friends blog. I had a good laugh and I thought I should pass it on.

Big Will Rules!!

2008-10-31T20:42:00.000-07:00

This is my dog Willis.
He has lived with me in Chicago, New York, and Rio De Janeiro.

He makes me happy everytime I see him.
He seems to have this effect on everyone else as well.
What a good dog!!!!!

A few of my favorite things

2008-10-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

#1. Monia
#2. My new board.
#3. Our new car.

Sunday Sunday Sunday!!!!

2008-10-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

We had fun! Sun. Iced Coffee. Bikes. Carousel. Prospect Park. and Fiore!!

Log Jammin'

2008-10-09T16:37:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to surf it. It always seems that when you get a new board there are no waves. Oh well....it gives me a little more time to look at it and admire the beauty that I made with my own hands. No power planer. Strictly muscle. And a sore back. I hope it works.

Thanks to Terence for the great fotos on real film.I was shocked (with excitement) to see the glassed board. It is beyond what I had imagined.

The Mollusk boys take a look.Glorious

HB Willis

Just A TEaser

2008-10-08T11:08:00.001-07:00

Sorry to all my loyal followers(haha), but I have been extremely occupied lately.
In the most amazing possible way. Life is good. More to come soon.

Respect Bryce!!!

2008-09-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, September 6th, goes down as an epic end of the summer super session.
Ashton, Pete, Jack and myself piled into the Maxima with a few too many boards strapped to the roof in pursuit of waves brought to us by Tropical storm Hanna.
We decided on Jersey due to predominantly west winds, and we mos def scored!
The day began in Bay Head at 6am, and ended at another spot which I guess I should not mention.
I think that's what your supposed to do right??, although it's hard for me to believe there are any "mysto" spots these days, but anyways.

Bubbie and Blayne also made the drive out that afternoon and met us for an amazing afternoon session. Aside from Ichabod Crane as Bubbie likes to say, hahahah.

We were also introduced to an extremely kind and excellent gentleman surfing there by the name of Bryce. He takes amazing photos, and surfs damn good I might add. I'll let his photos speak for themselves. Unfortunately we couldn't join him for some beers and bbq at his place because we were all wiped out, and had to make the trek back to BK. Thanks Bryce. Big Respect!!! Check his sight:

http://www.jet1a.com/

bryce jack

bubbie
blessashton

blayne

pete

Dinner For 3

2008-08-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

Another Good Day!!!! Friday, August 29th.

1. Surfed some fun little waves with Ashy

2. While surfing, my wife Monia was approved for her visa at the US Consulate in Rio De Janeiro.

3. Frantically drove from Long Beach to my dad's in Brightwaters to grab some last minute documents needed by the consulate.

4. Dropped the log off at Nature Shapes in Sayville to be glassed.

5. Back to Long Beach for a knish at Lido Kosher Deli.

6. Fish market for tuna steak and swordfish to grill later.

7. Trader Joe's grocery run.

8. HOME!!!

9. Grill

10. DINNER WITH ASHY AND MILES.

Ida Did!!

2008-08-24T05:28:00.000-07:00

CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESE!!!!!!

A lovely Saturday morning with the crew out at Gilgo. Aside froom the regulars we were also joined by some unwanted followers. Jelly fish galore crowded the lineup. Dropping in on us and reminding us of their stinging powers. I guess they just wanted to remind us that if we keep polluting the ocean and over fishing their natural predators, they will continue to grow in numbers. I guess I can't be mad at them for that.

Unfortunately the loveliest girl on the beach wasn't able to get some surf due to these stingers.
Sorry Ida!!

Instead we decided to take pictures of each other. This one here was taken by Ida. Looks like she's following in Papa Bubbies footsteps.

Gettin Glassy with Ashy

2008-08-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

Fun was had by me and the one and only Ashy Goggles aka Ashton Goggins yesterday in the shore. We dragged out a pair of Larry Mayo LongBoards and scored a waist high clean day of surf. I must say that the 9'8" Mayo Soft Tail is the best log I have ever ridden. That thing really works! Hangin toes with ease. A youthful Ashy makin it look easy............

As we returned back to the block, we were greeted by the glorius words of Rev. D blasting out the doors of the Glorious Temple. After 6 months of my patience running thin by his loud "words" I kindly asked him if he could turn down the volume of his microphone which is always turned up to number 11. He blatently ignored me at which point I had no other choice to slam the door shut. Damn that felt really great.

Later that nite after work, me and Ashy met up for a few brews and some live samba rock at Nublu served up by the band of Tonho "Cara Irado" Crocco. He is the man!!
I think Ashy enjoyed the sights.

Chemicals are coming in the mail, next week we set sail!
Bless Up!

SEPTEMBER SESSIONS!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-08-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

Greetings all!! Next month is gonna be a good one!!!

First and most important of all......after 15 months of waiting, the lovliest woman in the world aka my wife Mônia will finally arrive to be by my side here in the big apple. This is long long over due and much anticipated by all! What a crappy situation it is to deal with immigration. Te amo meu amor!!!!!!

Second.....also long over due is this wooden beast I have been having a blast creating in my spare time. Here is a little sequence of the process from beginning to end. A few steps are missing but you get the idea. I guess i need to hit it with some hand sanding and refining but I feel proud to say it's done. Fin will be foiled today and hopefully we can glass it before this month is over and set sail next month.

9'4" x 23" x3". Weighing it at a mere 33 pounds!!!! Without glass!! hahahaha!! Watch out on the inside!

HARD BODY WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!

Much love and respect to all who have helped me through this difficult year.

BLESS!!