FOAM E-Z Invades the 2007 Action Sports Retailer ASR Tradeshow

Here we are getting a demo from one of the new surfboard blank companies showing at the 2007 Action Sports Retailer ASR Tradeshow. This was not staged, it really happened!

Shape it,
Glass it,
Surf it...

DON'T SNAP IT!!

Foam EZ for all Your do it yourself surfboard shaping needs

Foam EZ for all Your do it yourself surfboard shaping needs!

FINGERPRINTS- Great video with Shaping, Surfing, and Music

This video is really well done. It has some awesome footage of Guy Okazaki (one of Foam E-Z's long time customers) shaping a polyurethane foam blank. Check out his website http://www.guyokazaki.com/ for more info about him. You'll also find some fun looking surf in Hawaii and quality music to cap it off.

Check it out and let us know what you think.

Surfer's Journal Call To Arms

Call To Arms

This is our chance to hammer a silver spike into the heart of the 241 Toll Road extension: California Assembly Bill 1457 proposes to ban the building of roads through State Parks. If this bill passes, The Transportation Corridor authorities degradation of San Mateo campground (itself a mitigation for the San Onofre nuclear plant), San Mateo watershed, and the Trestles wave complex will be stopped. Under normal circumstances in the Sacramento dynamic, a bill of this nature would fail due to business-as-usual, political process that grinds on behind the scenes. Unless the unusual happens and the surfing community collectively rises up and mobilizes to pass this bill, it to will fail and likely Trestles along with it. As a member of our surfing community no matter what party you support or where you sit on or in the state of California (Or the nation) please work hard to support this bill the survival of Trestles (San Onofre and San Mateo) as we know it is at stake. Your break (or campsite) will be next. Contact your local state government representatives and request that they support assembly Bill 1457 banning new roads through state parks!-- S. P.

What happens to the backcountry, happens to the beach, contact your California State Representative to keep the link between trestles and the wilderness corridor of San Mateo Creek untrammeled...
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A SHORT HISTORY OF THE VARIOUS SURFBOARD TYPES

Here are great short descriptions and historys of the various styles of surfboards by Dave Parmenter:

LONGBOARDS: The garden-variety longboard shape is indisputably the most resilient design in surfing history. A lot of people forget that if the Polynesians hadn't finally migrated to an island with big enough trees to make their olo boards, we'd probably all still be riding prone on paipo boards. The ancient Hawaiian longboards literally created the sport we know today. The papa nui went on to bridge the ancient and modern eras, and is the only design archetype to have been built with every conceivable material, from koa to redwood to balsa, foam and even sponge. Today, the longboard is back in a big way and more versatile than ever. Often debunked for its "old guy" stigma or "unfair" paddling superiority, the longboard has endured for a millennia for the same reason we all surf - we love the "glide."

BIG-WAVE GUNS: The big-wave gun is the "warbird" of the surfboard design kingdom. Let the other boards strut down the catwalk with their garish frills and fashions -- the gun is as lethal and purely functional as the rhino-stoppers they're named for. The big-wave gun has changed the least over the years of any type of surfboard because the mission has never changed: build up a head of steam with three strokes, bust through the ledge, skitter down the face, reconnect and worry about the rest later. You really want to learn about surfboard design? Look at a gun. Its design components are the simplest and purest of any board because they're not made for Quasimodos, roundhouses or 540-to-out-of-its. They're shaped strictly for two things: paddle-power and survival.

SHORTBOARDS: We call them "shortboards," but today's state-of-the-art high-performance surfing isn't happening because the boards are "short." The ultra-radical surfing you see on shortboards is more due to an amazingly deft balancing of design features that seem contradictory. Curves and flats, torque and drag are all combined into the most complex, temperamental and volatile surfboard design ever built, then fused to the power plant of the power-hungry Thruster fin array - and heaven help you if you're a sloth-foot or over 30.

THE HYBRID: Since all forward motion in surfboard design stems from combining established ideas into new combinations, then technically the "hybrid" surfboard should be granted the status of being the most progressive surfboard type of them all. What?! You mean those bulbous, hideous "funboards" are more progressive than my Merrick, dude? Well, take a fresh peek into the "hybrid" skunkworks: these aren't yuppie-doofus eggs anymore. The hybrid design family is burgeoning into fresh new fields and is robbing the shortboard blind of its edges, flats and rockers. Now, they're faster, more forgiving and more versatile than anything the "hotties" are riding - why else would all the pros consider riding them in contests as "cheating"?

Now you know the background behind the board you're riding, even if you've built it or want to build it.

In upcoming posts we will be showing examples of each type of board with detailed descriptions and dimensions. Keep an eye out for this cool and informative content.

ANATOMY OF A SURFBOARD; IDEAS FOR BUILDING ALL TYPES OF SURFBOARDS

A Surfboard Anatomy by Dave Parmenter Flash Version This article is great for getting ideas on design for building your surfboard. It is the best document about surfboards you will find. Descriptive, non-commercial, and well seasoned with reflections of the surfboard's role in surfing history.

LAMINATING A SURFBOARD WITH POLYESTER RESIN!

Here is a short video showing the basic technique of laminating a polyurethane surfboard with polyester resin. You can get all the tools and supplies to glass your surfboard at www.foamez.com .

"SHAPED" A Shaping Documentary

Shaped
This documentary film pays tribute to the men and women of the surf world that were there in the 1960s, working in the trenches, creating and un-knowingly shaping the future of surfing as we know it today.This handful of influential innovators had no idea at the time how their work would change the lives of millions of people through their innovative thinking and commitment to their craft. Internationally known world class surfer Robert Weaver "Wingnut" will interview these men and women candidly at the beach, at work and in their homes. This film will also feature interviews with people whose lives have been touched and forever changed by the sport of surfing...

Summer is on the horizon!

Here's the latest update from Foam E-Z:

It took a long time but the position has been filled by Rob Triplett. We are stoked to have him onboard the Foam E-Z crew. He's a rookie so give him a break if he doesn't know everything but it's only a matter of time before he becomes an expert!

Marko Foam is picking up steam as more and more hand shapers are finding these molded blanks to be a breath of fresh air. The word on the Parabolics is still out as not enough people have made boards to get a true concensus. Shape one up and let us know what you think.

PU seems to be as strong as ever with US Blanks taking up where Clark left off. The foam is a little harder than it's predecessor's but just as easy to shape. Of course the stringers are just as straight and the rockers are equally accurate. The longboard plugs by Yater are loved by the classic board shaper and the mix of Timmy Patterson and Eric Arakawa's shorts and midrangers rounds out a stunning line.

If you haven't been in the shop lately we invite you to come on down and see the remodeled showroom. Everything is much easier to find and priced clearer to make your shopping experience that much more enjoyable.

Look forward to seeing you soon-

The Guys at Foam E-Z.

WE'RE HIRING!!!!

We are currently looking for an individual to fill a position at Foam E-Z! The job is very dynamic and requires an organized, efficient, self-motivated, and business minded individual. Tasks, which vary throughout the day, include shipping and receiving, inventory management, customer service both on the phone and in person, and a variety of other duties related to running a small business. The required skills include a customer service background, the ability to work closely in a small working environment, as well as a capacity to flex and task manage. Computer skills are a plus. This is a full time position. Hours include Monday thru Friday 10am-5:30pm and Saturday 11am-4pm. Please feel free to fill out the attached application and email it to support@foamez.com or you can fax it to 714-896-0001. If you have other pertinent documents or information please include them. The contact person for this position is Grant and he can be reached at 714-896-8233. The Guys at www.foamez.com
Employment%20Application.pdf

MARKO FOAM NOW IN STOCK!!!

We have added Marko Foam EPS blanks to our repertoire. They are a close tolerance molded EPS blank that looks alot like the old Clark Foam blanks but are made of EPS Foam. Since these blanks are molded and not cut with a hot wire off a billet they are much more user friendly for the hand shaper. Marko pressure molds their blanks to true 1.9 PCF (pounds per cubic foot) with no recycled material. STRETCH and LOST surfboards are the primary big board builders using Marko at this time. We stock the full line including Marko's Parabolic stringered blanks. Check out the site for more information including a full catalog.
Thanks for your continued support.
The Guys at http://www.foamez.com/.

WIDOW MAKER, Cool Article!

Sorry if you missed the Fall Special, we'll be running more specials in the upcoming months so keep checking back.

We were forwarded this cool article and thought it is right up our customers alley! It was written by a surfer in England for the UK Times.
Here are some exerpts from the article:

Creating a custom surfboard is a specialised and personal practice. The board, from inception to completion, is also an individual. It reflects the methods adopted by the shaper, and the intricacies of his craft. This story charts the construction of a WidowMaker from blank to glassed and ridden article, but first, a bit of history. Dave Parmenter developed the WidowMaker from the Terry Fitzgerald "Drifta" shapes of the late 1970s and early 80s. Fitz was taking his cue from Mark Richards' twin-fin supremacy and the recently devised Simon Anderson three-fin. The boards were characterised by a larger back fin and two smaller side fins. Utilising the benefits of the thruster - which made for critical manoeuvres and ease of turn - and the single fin, with its irresistible invitation to draw open lines and trim with momentum - the WidowMaker seemed to combine the best of both worlds.

Arriving to an untouched blank (Clark foam 7’11’R) is a blessing. Watching board and craftsman from the earliest possible stages is a rite that no surfer should miss. The shaping bay is an alien environment when it is not your livelihood. Here are the smells, the sounds, the pulsing (and toxic) heart of surfing creation

Every shaper approaches the blank in a distinct way, and this is where the most fascinating stage begins. By watching master craftsmen (and women) at work in their environments an appreciation of the individual is conveyed.

Having a shaper bear you in mind throughout the creation of a board surely has a bearing on how the board arrives, and therefore how the board rides. The custom surfboard is one of the most wonderful things a surfer can enjoy. As an art form, it is uniquely precious.

The "Widow Maker", might be a fun one to try to make someday?!

To check the complete article click on this link http://timesonline.typepad.com/surf_nation/2006/11/making_widows_w.html .

The holidays are coming fast and Foam E-Z has the perfect gifts to put on your wish list.

Happy Holidays from the Guys at Foam E-Z!

FALL SPECIAL, SAVE 10%

Celebrate Fall and SAVE 10% on your entire order (excluding Blanks), between November 1st and November 30th 2006. This coupon is good for ONE online order during this period, so use it wisely! Not valid for walk-in or phone orders.
You can redeem this coupon during checkout. Just enter the code BLOG in the box provided, and click on the redeem button. Check it at www.foamez.com
Hope you're getting some great surf this Fall!

DISCUSSION FORUM!!!

Guess what we finally have a forum of our own! We'd love for you to get involved and become a regular. There are three different categories to perk your interests. Check it out http://www.foamez.com/forums/ .

Our US Blank stock is about up to par. The blanks are looking great and we have had awesome feedback. The full line should be available online in the next couple of days. We are taking custom orders and receiving them back within one week. Get your blanks with colored glue, custom rockers, and/or different stringer set ups.

Thanks-

The guys at Foam E-Z

NEW BLANK CATALOGS!!!

We have the newest blank catalogs up on our site from US Blanks and Bennett Foam USA. These catalogs will give you an idea of what to expect in the upcoming months. Bennett Foam acquired all Rusty's old molds while US Blanks had new molds made. Both offer a full range of sizes and shapes to choose from. Check it out at http://www.foamez.com/index.php?main_page=page_2 . Keep checking back for more updates.
Thanks!

US BLANKS ARE HERE!!!

Our first load of US Blanks arrived yesterday August 29th and they look incredible. We received a partial delivery so the availability is limited for now. We expect to get our next delivery very soon and should be fully stocked with everything available within two weeks. For those of you who have not heard of US Blanks they are the group of former key employees from Clark Foam. We will have a US Blanks blank catalog available on our site very soon in addition to the full range of blanks available to purchase. If you're in the area feel free to stop by and check this foam out or check back for more details.
Thanks, the Guys at Foam E-Z

THINGS ARE STARTING TO GET A LITTLE NUTTY!!!

In the last week or two we have received sample blanks from the three biggest "new" players in the polyurethane blank world: US Blanks, Bennett USA, and King Mac. These companies jumped on the void as soon as Clark Foam closed their doors and having been working diligently since. The sample blanks look real cool. US Blanks looks almost exactly like their predecessors (Clark Foam) and have received incredible feedback from the shapers we have talked to. Their catalog has all the flavors and sizes made by experienced shapers/plug builders like Timmy Patterson, Pat Rawson, Bruce Jones, and Yater. Bennett USA's blanks have also had great feedback with most shapers saying the foam feels something like a blend between Clark and Walker. They got all Rusty's old plugs so their catalog looks complete with the majority of the "R" blanks included. We hope to have a full stock within the next few weeks.

For you tool junkies we received the Spiral Shapers Barrel last week and are getting great reviews from the shapers who have tested it. This thing is ideal for shaping EPS and works great with polyurethane too. Check it out http://www.foamez.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_25&products_id=506 !

NEW SITE!

Well the long awaited new site is up and running. There are so many new features it would be hard to list them, but here's few of the best: ability to choose your shipping option (ground, 2nd day, or overnight); international ordering directly online (no more quotes); more products and easier to use. Please give us all feedback, good or bad. We need to know how you like the new site since you are using it.
Thanks for your support.

FISH AND EXTENDED SUMMER HOURS!!!

Hey everyone!!,
The water is warm and summer is finally here, at least it feels like it!!! We are fully stocked with surfboard blanks and accesories and are firing away as usual. Our first "Fish" blanks showed up last week and we expect to have a full stock sometime next week.

With that being said we are going to be extending our business hours effective Monday June 5th. They will be as follows; Monday thru Friday from 12:00 to 5:30p.m. and Saturday from 11a.m. to 4p.m. So come on by check out our new spot and hang with us.

Look forward to seeing you soon.
Grant and the guys at Foam E-Z

FUTURE FINS - ALL STYLES!!!!

We can get you any Future Fins available and ship out the same or next day. You can find all style and templates on theFuture Fins website http://www.futuresfins.com/index.php# . To place an order, find the fin(s) you want and call us at 714-896-8233 or email us. As you know Future is on the cutting edge with their unique fin shapes and materials. Check it out and let us know how we can help. Thanks