I met Robert August (Part 1)

Yesterday I planned to go to the Surf Expo (ex Sacred Craft) in Del Mar. I knew Robert August would be shaping live at 11am. It was a no brainer. I took the whole family in the car and we headed to the Del Mar Fairground. The parking was a mess a the Mud Race was going on the same day and I started to doubt it was a good idea to go that day... We finally reached the Surf Expo almost running (not in the mud though :)). What happened there is just a dream come true.

I get to the shaping bay where Robert August is getting ready to finish a 9'0 WIR ("What I Ride") model. While he's waiting to get wired with a microphone and introduced by Scott Bass, I quickly say hi very shyly and shake his hand. We exchange few words. This already made my day.

I am watching the master shaping his famous tear drop concave under the nose. He answers questions from the audience but I am so impressed and shy that I am totally frozen although I have a gazillion questions to ask. 

Then, comes the unbelievable part. 

After Robert August is done with his shaping session the speaker announces that the board will be given away to anyone interested. "Interested"????!!!! I am literally drooling but someone instantly claims it as I am still standing frozen in my little corner. And then my inner me takes over control as I get in survival mode: I step forward, raise my hand and shout firmly in a very non-me way : " I WANT IT TOO!".  To solve the dilemma, Robert August flips a coin. And I won... I mean, I won a Robert August board shaped by him at the Surf Expo. At that point I am ecstatic. My husband is somewhere wandering at the event and when I tell him, he first does not understand as he thinks I lost my mind. But with the biggest smile on my face we all go get the board at the Robert August's booth.

I felt like a won the lottery.

Back home, I am contemplating that board which I will paint and bring back to the Robert August shop in Huntington for his glassing crew to put the official signature and logo.  To be continued...

talking to the audience while shaping... my board :)

The Master

the shaping bay equipped with microphone/webcam and a live audience

with Robert August

I also got to talk to Daniel Thomson :)

also at the Surf Expo, Mike Hynson