A SUPER bravo goes Yuichi Takenaka, for earning first place in the SkimOne Pro contest this past Sunday. Being the first ever Japanese rider in Grape History, we are so blessed to have him as part of the team. He rips it over there! With a super language barrier, and google not always translating correctly, it’s difficult for us to get as much updates from him as we would like to. But every time there’s a decent wave in Japan, we know Yuichi is there absolutely KILLING it. So congrats, bro, we are seriously stoked for you, and so appreciative of what you do for Grape Boards and for skimboarding.

Make sure you watch Yuichi wrap, barrel, and spray his way to victory.

Photo Taken by Travis Williams @diltproductions

“I love skimming as much as I did when I was five. The surf and conditions have been incredible, and the crew is as tight as ever!”
-Bill Beaker Bryan

Joss Hudson photo from Monday Funday at West St. The new Grape feels like old faithful! It’s gotta be the extra tail rocker and Paul Wade’s abnormally epic board-making skills. Hit us up for one of the best boards available in no time before the summer rush! Yew!
-Bill Bryan

This board is still alive!!!

The Gold Digger started out as Paul’s  personal surfboard for his trip to the Galapagos Islands. He surfed the “nugget” board  at Tongo Reef. Although it was raining that day, the weather definitely did not take away any of the serendipity in the sea. When you are having the time of your life, barrel after barrel, the last thing on your mind would be ending up in the teeth of a volcanic rock  that wanted flesh and fiberglass. As soon as it was spotted, Paul fought to avoid the monster, but it was too late. He pushed into the massive beast, and felt his board take a beating. At the same time, the volcanic rock took an “ice-cream scoop” chunk out of Paul’s leg. Fortunately  the board made it home safe, and both Paul and the board where repaired.  Team rider Ryah Arthur was the first to use the Gold Digger after its surgery. He was so stoked on it  that he wouldn’t give it back to Paul. In fact, he was so in love with the thing that he surfed it for ten  straight sessions. At the end of his last session, the magic carpet ride snapped clean in half.  Ryah wasn’t stoked showing up with two halves back at Grape, and Paul REALLY wasn’t happy about it. She sat sad on the floor of Grape for about a month, before Anthony Schilling came to the rescue (Super props to the “Master of all Ding repair”). Anthony put her back together and gave her a “Charlie Brown tattoo” over the permanent scars.  Paul got his baby back and rode her for many magical sessions. Now Eli Viszolay, a local shredder, is taking care of the precious  Grape Gold Digger, and shredding her as if she was a freshie!

Check out Colony ThirteenStars’ thoughts on Grape and Sean Brown here- SHAPER MONDAY