My travels to Hawaii found me in a position to be able to hang and talk story with Legendary Hawaiian Watermen of the 70′s and early 80′s: Michael Ho, Buttons, Dennis Pang, Bobby Owens, Ken Bradshaw,Reno Abeliera and others. These names listed may be lesser known in comparison with names of today like Jamie O’Brien, John John Florence, Mason Ho, Bruce Irons, Mark Healy, but these Legends are just a few of the many Golden Bread that were king during the 70′s and 80′s. Today, their personal vintage riders sell in excess of thousands of dollars at Randy Rarick’s Hawaiian Vintage Auction held every two years. The value of their boards alone says a lot about who these guys were and are – waterman who rode mountains of water in the Hawaiian State.

I was honored to co-sponsor the … Read More »

Results are in and it was an amazing event at Sunset Beach, Hawaii.  The Legends Expression Session was attended by Michael Ho, Buttons Kalulokalani, Ken Bradshaw, Dennis Pang, Kalani Foster ( for Marvin Foster), Reno Abellira and Bobby Owens.

” I was so honored to be standing with all these guys with combined Hawaiian surfing of over 300 years. These guys were my idols back in the late 70′s and to be standing with them on stage handing them cash for expressing their fun and aloha at Sunset will be an unforgettable experience.” – Buggs.

More to come.

SBL has stepped up and joined forces with Da Hui and North Shore Surf Shop to sponsor the first ever 4 Star ASP Junior Pro at Sunset Beach, HI – January 14 – 23rd, 2012 .

“I’m so stoked to be part of a good cause and to be able to support upcoming young pro’s in the Hawaiian Islands” – says Buggs founder of SBL.  ”In addition to the Junior Pro, there will be a 1970′s Legends Expression Session on Day 2 of local legends Michael Ho, Bobby Owens, Dennis Pang, Button K, Dane Kelohoa, Ken Bradshaw, Reno Albrea and others. $1,000 cash prize sponsored by SBL. This is special to me, as these guys were my hero’s in the 70′s and early 80′s when I was a grom.”

It is going to be an amazing week on the North Shore of … Read More »

Hap opened Jacobs surfboards in Hermosa Beach on Pacific Coast Highway in 1959, and came up with the Diamond logo: Surfboards by Jacobs. Business was good and then it was great and then it was ridiculous. “We were there at the beginning during I guess what they call the Golden Years of Surfing between the 60s and 70s,” Jacobs said. “As I look back on those days there was a lot of stuff I could have done. ??It got busier and busier and busier until we had five shapers and people in the front room. Lance Carson and Robert August and Rick Irons all worked in the front room until they wanted to learn to shape. There were a lot of people who shaped for us and at our peak we were up to 125 boards … Read More »

Larry Gordon and Floyd Smith were the co-founders of Gordon and Smith Surfboards in 1961. Gordon and Smith Surfboards, commonly referred to as G&S Surfboards, was based out of San Diego, California and had a large local following.

It wasn’t long before the Gordon and Smith label was well known and surfed throughout the surfing world. In large part, Gordon and Smith Surfboards gained popularity among surfers because of the major talent and influential surfers on the Gordon and Smith Surfboards team.
Team members like Skip Frye, Hawaii’s Barry Kanaiaupuni, Mike Hynson, of Endless Summer Fame, Dale Dobson and Butch Van Artsdalen – the original “Mr. Pipeline” and many others, contributed to G&S’ popularity.
Throughout the 60s, 70s and even well into the 80s, Gordon and Smith Surfboards continued to be a sucessful surfboard, surf accessories and surf clothing … Read More »

KEY: O= Original, R= Repaired, RF= Refurbished. Condition of board rated: 1(worst)-10(best)

Board Dimensions
Length: 7′ 3″
Width: 20″ 1/2
Thickness: 3″
Another cool find in the OC. Storage War’s.  Another  Man’s Fall is another Man’s Gain.  What can I say, but another great example of a 1970′s Mini-Hawaiian Sunset Gun. Made and surfed in Hawaii is this Donald Bennett.  I do not have much history on DRB, but all you viewers, please partake and advise.  - Buggs   (o) 7.5. Coolio Lams and rainbow bolt.  The Photo’s tell the story. – B

VITALS

Height: 5’7″ (169 cm)
Weight: 165 lbs (75 kg)
Stance: Goofy
Sponsors: O’Neill wetsuits and clothing, Swatch watches, Smith eyewear, Ocean+Earth accessories and DHD surfboards
Shaper: Darren Handley
Magic Stick: Coming soon?
Training Ground: The Pit
Favorite Wave: Teahupoo, Pipeline and Rincon
Favorite Maneuver: Barrel
Inspirations: Kelly Slater

CAREER – 2011 – Dropped off ASP Tour at Long Beach, NY Quiksilver Pro. Left with a Bang ! 

2010 Rating: 4
2010 Points: 13000
2010 earnings: $29,000.00
Career earnings: $508,650.00
Highest Rating: 6th in 2006
Elite Inception: 2006
Years on Tour: 2010 will be Bobby’s 5th year on the ASP World Tour
Sabbatical: None yet

Rating by Year:
2009: 8th
2008: 9th
2007: 10th
2006: 6th

Filmography: A Separate Volume, Tomorrow Today, Burn, Mixed Tape (2007)

Honor Roll: ASP Rookie of the Year (2006), Surfer Poll Breakthrough Performer of the Year (2006)

Elite Victories: (4)
- Billabong Pro Teahupoo, Teahupoo, Tahiti (2009)
- Billabong Pro Mundaka, Euskadi, Spain (2007)
- Billabong Pro Mundaka, Euskadi, Spain (2006)
- … Read More »

There have been many impressive brother duos in surfing’s history: Michael and Derek Ho, Shea and Cory Lopez, Andy and Bruce Irons. Never, though, has a set of twins ascended so far in the competitive ranks as Florida’s C.J. and Damien Hobgood. These almost indecipherable goofyfoots and NSSA nightmares turned into top-10 WCT powerhouses, wreaking double trouble on the rest of the world — especially in heaving lefthanders. Hailing from Satellite Beach, C.J. and Damien followed the now well-heeled path from the Sunshine State to surf stardom established by Charlie Kuhn, Todd Holland and Kelly Slater, with CJ becoming the first East Coast’s second-ever men’s world champion.

Since beginning as menehunes in the Eastern Surfing Association, the Hobgoods swapped first- and second-place finishes like they were swapping socks. In 1991, they set the trend in the ESA … Read More »

Since he was a kid, Sunny Garcia’s dream has been to kick back as a fat, happy Hawaiian with a bunch of kids running around. That existence remained in jeopardy as the one prize that would make him content — a world title — eluded him 14 consecutive years. With the inspiration of a new love and a new fitness regimen, he kept a horde of challengers at bay and, at age 30, led the ASP tour from start to finish to run away with the 2000 crown.

Growing up in Waianae, on Oahu’s West Side, wasn’t an easy task — even for a local. Vincent Sennen Garcia came from a broken home and found surfing as a refuge from fighting and poverty. He owned his division in the Hawaiian Surfing Association and jumped onto the tour at age 17, … Read More »

KEY: O= Original, R= Repaired, RF= Refurbished. Condition of board rated: 1(worst)-10(best)

Board Dimensions
Length: 6′ 3″
Width: 19″ 1/2 
Thickness: 2″1/2

I was on a Craigs List Hunt a couple years back on a hot summer day and came across this vibrant craft.  Acquired it from its original owner. Early 1980′s round-pin, Clark Foam Fibercraft.  I have know idea where the origin of this beauty is from, or the Story Behind the Board. I believe the East Coast.  Anyone? Not really collectable, yet it tickled me when I first laid my eyes on it. It whispered at me through the flat screen, “Buuuy Meeee”.  Almost in pristine condition, all original never really ridden.  I had to drive out to South Gate to the Old Man’s garage to pick it up. One of those, “If you … Read More »