Bob Wise on the Upcoming Tour Event

Well said, but I think there are some communities of surfers still, maybe not as focused as it was back in the day. He's right about being on it by being close, man is it fickle.

Bob apparently hasn't heard of stokereport.com.

Every old dude says the same thing. 'Back when I was a kid....'. It doesn't matter what the subject is. It's just natural that you liked it the way YOU had it. I'll likely do the same thing I guess. "Son, when I was a kid, they didn't even have these slide rocket boards, we used
beat up tri fins and had to wrestle sharks on Tuesdays just to keep face"

His take on teh SF surf scene: 'There was when I was a young guy—I’m 63 now. Years ago, it used to be...'

Waves weren't better then, the scene wasn't better then. You didn't walk up hill to school both ways.

>Let’s talk about that. What challenges do you think the competitors will face?

>The biggest thing they’re going to face is what we face daily. It’s the cold water.

Strange. Not what I would have said.

madpie, yeah I thought that was odd too. Wave roulette? Being pinned to the bottom for a 20 count? 2 second rides? Although the water has cooled off in the past week, it's still relatively warm by our standards. Too many resin fumes maybe.

It is interesting that the man who has made his living selling surfboards in San Francisco in complaining there is no surf scene. Some of the newer shop owners have made an effort to create community among the people they profit from. Tate at the Logshop in Pacifica practically runs an after school program with his in house skate ramp. Alex at Aqua has surf movie nights, $8 yoga, and knows by name half the people that walk into his shop. Pre-internet I did like the Wise Surf report but I was always bothered by listening to the sale of the month everyday, twice a day before I cold hear the surf reports. Obviously I am not a fan of the Wise attitude or way of doing business. Maybe they should hold the contest at ###### instead and interview Alex.

Although I've only purchased one board from the Wise Shop via Dave, I too find some discrepancies with Bob's comments, specifically the following since I'm an "old dude," but doesn't say "the same thing:"

"In the early ’70s, we were the only surf shop north of Santa Cruz in the state of California." Not true, and since I'd been surfing Bolinas for a long, long time, Buzz's Surf Shop has been in existence since the following:

"Founded in 1962 as the North Point Surf Shop in Marin County and relocated to Bolinas Beach in West Marin in 1963, the Bolinas Surf Shop has been the physical, if not spiritual center of surfing in the area for three generations of surfers. The original shop is now part of the Bolinas Museum and Gallery, but today’s shop is just next door in the old barn. Buzz is still behind the counter bringing you the best beach wear and surf items at the best price."

Buzz's inventory back then was 80% surfboards, a few O'Neil wetsuits, and a few accessories like Aloha board racks, wax, t-shirts, and decals. He also rented boards. If you're ever out at the 'Bo, check out the shop and be sure to look up in the rafters at the collection of old boards Buzz has acquired over the decades. Very nice ;-)

Bob did fine. He has seen alot over his 63years...his POV will be different from someone who has only lived here 3 years.Shit happens.... Everyone knows he is a grump at times,but he has quiely helped many surfers enjoy a good sesh or surf trip.Bob never has "sold-out" and the core guys know this.

It's an interview. Somebody walks up and says "Hey, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" uhh yeah sure, why not?. You say what pops into your head, maybe not the best things pop up. Anyway, I think he was mainly talking about how 30 years ago there was a really small tight knit community because hardly anyone even surfed down there at SFOB. Things are indeed different now, except for the experience of being out in the ocean, that's still pretty much the same.

I am not 63 but I was born and raised here and always felt that the "the core guys" is who Wise welcomes in the shop even when it was on Vicente. I guess I am just bitter I haven't got my cove sticker.

Wise comes across as oddly out of touch. OB-###### cam should have been in his shop.

Would have been a much better interview if they had talked to Dave. Dave is all time!

The script is always the same.

*Old guys say it's not like it was
*Young guys say that old guy doesn't know what he's talking about.

Heard the same conversation in 1980 It will be the same in 2040.

haha I hereby solemnly swear to NEVER EVER say get off my lawn, despite the predisposition to do so.

Lawns? You call these lawns? ? I remember when there really were lawns, I don't know what you would even call these, certainly not lawns, not like in the old days...now those were some lawns.

aloha racks. now THAT is old school. damn i miss the simplicity of those things.

Wise runs a first class surf shop. You can't even compare it to anything in Marin in the old days. Who else even bothers to post a report? Bob is a bit grumpy but there are tons of guys in the surf biz who are/were way ahead of him on any a-hole ranking. Anybody remember Kirby?

I must add my 2cents on this subject as well. I find it amusing that individuals always seem to hang themselves, or shed light on their true attitude towards life and the people whom support their business by the words that they speak. I myself am not a big fan of Wise and the way they run their shop. The other day my friend whom i may say is a good surfer and is knowledgeable in the surfing community, walks in and wants to buy the Rip curl Flash Bomb. He wants to special order the version of the a suit with some flair(color), and his size that the shop does not seem to have on stock; he then asks if he can see the catalog for the rip curl suits because he wants to place an order. Instead of the the shop owner being courteous and helpful, he says why do you want to see the catalog. He then answers i want to order a suit. the guy decides to school him on the stock of suits they do have. My friend left pissed off an disappointed. I presume to tell him,"should know better, should have went to Aqua. Alex and the guys are always helpful and courteous to their customers. I vote that Alex should have been interviewed for that article. Oh yeah BTW i resent the fact that we are not looked as a surfing community because we are 40yrs too late, the waves and currents are the same,minus the old pier.