This week I took a redeye to the south east. Reason for the trip was to go on behalf of ASR / Class at ASR and support a couple of tradeshows in Florida.

Usually I can handle redeye flights with ease. This one kicked my ass however the trip was a great one. I landed in Tampa grabbed the rental car and headed to SPoT. They we’re throwing a tradeshow called the Moat Show. Let me tell you, it was WARM. Very warm. There was an eyeball named Bill spinning in the Atlantic that didn’t hit land while I was there which couldv’e added to the fun but people we’re amped on the surf about to pound the east coast.

So the boys at SPoT had a good turnout. Skate companies came out and set up their 10×10 easy-ups. The people I talked to seemed to be satisfied with the retail turnout and the crowds of the general public cruising the show. Immediately after the show a best trick contest began so as the show closed we headed inside where people were skating all day. Torey Pudwill from Dwindle / Podium manhandled the best trick. Congrats sir!

Czar in Ybor City once again to end the evening was good times as always.   Woke up the next morning and started my drive to Orlando for Surf Expo. I was greeted in the front by Sean Smith and a good game that almost made me shit myself. Anyhow, I met up with Surf Expo Captain and 1st mate Roy Turner and Sean O’Brien for a badge and chat. Those guys are really rad guys. Thanks for letting me in misters. need I say more?

The show was good. Volcom did there thing and themed it up. Pretty funny booth set up.. love them.. RVCA, Atwater, Sector 9 and Vans seemed to be killing it in my short time there. I went by to visit John Gothard in the Sanuk booth and they were crushing it with their new Tube Flop. Wow! they are going to sell a grip of those.. Nice job guys!

Got to visit with many friends at the show I haven’t seen in a while. Some of them were there to skate the set up Surf Expo did for their demos during the show. Enjoyed that as well. Others like the Eastern Skateboard and Surf Supply crew were there doing their thing.

Thank you both SPoT and Surf Expo for your hospitality.

The Moat. I have seen people swim in this for free product during Tampa Pro and Tampa Am contests in the past.

The Moat Show!!!! The show was set up out side behind the park. It was balmy but you can head inside the snack shack to cool off and check out some art.

SPoTs Barak Wise with Jose from Dwindle. Barak is an idea man but it wasn’t his idea to have those two dude in the backround.

Surf Expo’s Roy Turner and Sean O’Brien. they rule.

Eastern Skate Supply main man Reggie Barns on left. I surfed with him in North Carolina. He surfs well. middle is Bruce Walker of Ocean Avenue, and  Abraham Paskowitz was good to catch up with as well.. Abe’s running Mavericks Surf Clothing now and we wish him the best.

Autograph signing in front of Eastern Skate Supply booth. Creager got me good this very night..

RANDOM Pic. Okay .. Usually I go through a few of my pics from the past and when I laugh I post the “Random Pic” Well this pic was actually taken at my hotel in Orlando. I wanted to meet up with Josh Hunter from Transworld Business and a few others and jump in the pool.  Here’s the story.. SOMEONE POOOOOOOOOOhed in the pool. We asked to see the person who committed such and act on this warm post tradeshow evening. I figured if the person looked pretty normal we can still jump in. No such luck. Security surrounded the pool. It was probably a little tike,  so we found some of the Volcom crew in the kiddie pool / fountain and we splashed about in that for a bit.   that was cool and all but have a look at the guy in the pic behind the security guard. He is setting up to hook something big in the pool. How big was that thing?

Hey maams and misters. Hope all is well. Things are kicking into high gear for ASR and CLASS at ASR. A couple days ago was SIMA’s Waterman’s Weekend and I had a chance to go thanks to ASR. I was pretty slammed on Thursday but had a chance to see the golf tourney. It was at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point.  Amazing place. check it out when you get a chance. Or just sign up and play for the 21st.   Make sure you dial in a good kit for your foursome because people didn’t really hold back. I won’t even say who my favorite was but I will say that there was NO recession on the coarse that day. At least not in the team’s outfits. I will say that one gentleman tried tackling me with a Kilt on and once he ended up on my front porch I lifted his “skirt” for “someone’s” photo op. I will keep this rated PG 13. Just a solid turnout of companies and people supporting, good times, and SIMA killed it. Good Job.. More details in the Rated PG pics. I might have some t-shirt ideas though John. did I just say that out loud??  Onto Friday.. LA was kicking me straight in the balls that day and not letting me get to the Ritz in Dana Point but once there I parked my 94 piece of work and rolled in with some borrowed duds. I was floored at  how nice it was. Yes its the Ritz DP but I’ve always rolled by on the trail and surfed creek down below. Once registered and given my sheet of barcodes that I need to do the silent auction with I walked right back outside and stuck one on the front door of the Ritz and one in the men’s on the urinal. So I own both of those now.. If any of yous need to saddle up for a weekend there do so. Just say “its all good. Jim got me”.   So again I was a bit late but made it outside for a little of the silent auction. Really good stuff to bid on. Maybe 2010 - 21st Waterman’s Auction I’ll get that trip to Hawaii with all my friends and yes maybe I’ll call you John Gothard if there’s a cancellation.   Swept into the main ballroom. Dinner was sooo good. GES people we’re kind and gentle. GT killed the mic like Erasure on a comeback tour. over 400K was raised in an incredibly funky economic silly year. That shows how strong it is when we all get together and make it happen. Like the late 2009, 21st Waterman’s Ball “SIMA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Mr Dick Baker always said. “Its about growing the Pond” The industry came together and did just that Friday night.. It was incredible..   Rob Machado - Waterman of the Year and Dave Rastovich took the award for Environmentalist of the Year both deservedly so. Congratulations to all three of you guys and Dick, we really miss you sir. Thank Yous came from everyone on stage that night to him (Baker) and his family who gave 3 amazing acceptance speeches that evening. With them and Dicks great friend Shaheen Sadheghi (founder of the Lab and Camp in Costa Mesa) a huge standing ovation took place with hundreds of people showing their gratitude to such a blessing of a person we all miss.   Thank you SIMA. Sean, didn’t I win you in the silent auction. See you Monday. Bring a paintbrush Holmes.   Again 400k raised. more than last year. In a crap recession. Pretty rad!   Oh and Gerry Lopez was there.. Gerry Lopez. hear me? I think he came in on the Sea Shepard.
Thanks again.
Jim Shubin
ASRbiz.com
Classatasr.com

This was my first stop at the SIMA Waterman’s golf tourney. It was the ASR sponsored hole. I think it was # 2. the crew and a dude with a steel drum making us feel tropical. pretty neato. Leanne Milliken, Ginger Conrad, Darren Bridges, Nisa Meineke, and crew.

WOW. so Vans went all out. I sure they won a prize. If not Ima getem one. Notice the bookends. I don’t know the “politically correct” way of explaining besides just throwing out I saw dudes that looked like my son but older than me manning their fort. I love that..

Transworld Surf Pub Charlie Anderson lubing up as always.

I think its hole # 3. Surfline’s sponsored hole. You have to get one of your foursome to get a ride down to the water and get a few turns in on a Lost Surfboard and your score gets deducted from your golf score. If your foursome turns down the surf at hole three you donate $50. ha! love it!!. I got a pic of Charlie on a little one but the pic sucked. This pic is the setup on the beach. Tony Perez from Surfing / Skateboarder mag and friends set up a side charity to make things interesting. If you hit a tennis ball off the bluff and hit a surfboard you win it.. they raised some extra scrilla for SIMA.. nice!

Gerrrrrrrrrry LOPEZ. nothing funny about that. well he was in Conan the Barbarian. He’s the man.

Another cool moment I remember was Electric Sunglasses Bruce Beach’s son Max. 6 years old focusing on every moment of the evening. Hey max I’ll pay you to hang out with my son. wait. I’ll pay you to hang out with me homeslice. Rob made a smoooooth acceptance speech.

MAX BEACH saying “remember me later” !!

Standing Ovation… Dick, we’ll meet you in the clouds and be with the Lord forever.

Shop eat Surfs Liberace of the keyboard Tiffany Montgomery along with Ginger Conrad from ASR marketing team lookin zippy.

RANDOM Photo- someone just reminded me of this.. This was mid May a couple years ago at Jack’s Corona Del Mar. All I have to say is Santa and a Bear showed up for a few hours in the shop to hang with this kids. Well and the cougars came out as well.