Skip Frye’s planer whirs and then rests. Board A1000 is completed. It is his one-thousandth board at his current shaping shop. The board is an elegant craft of some length, carved from a foam blank of unfortunate material integrity. The foam is irregular in density with a dangerous consistency warranting a bit of concern about potential durability. No matter. The board is glassed with a golden glow and sent to hunt.
A sunny afternoon at Rincon greets Skip as he enters the water on the board. He is there to celebrate fifty years of surfing. Stoked as ever, his first wave takes him the length of the point. He finds his muse- all glide and regal positioning.
Months later the verdict is in. The foam has failed and A1000 may be lost. Skip has an idea, “Hey Pendo, what do you think about Pendo-izing the board?” Before long the dear friends are hitched to the idea. The dialogue moves quickly as a plan takes shape. Pendo will resurrect Skip’s big board and Skip will reciprocate by shaping Steve and his wife Cher a board of their own. They themselves have been surfing for almost five decades and will certainly appreciate a new Frye gem to add to their quiver.
Steve Pendarvis evaluates the patient. The foam is virtually a powder. The board will have to be rebuilt and then given the magical Pendo treatment- dynamic flex the goal. Foam is removed, stringers planed down and new foam added. Customized Pendoflex alterations are integrated into the boards now structurally sound midsection and tail. A gorgeous black foam inlay is installed over the old problem areas. Skip’s iconic logo is etched onto the new foam. A1000 is whole again.
Skip and the Pendarvis’ gather together for the board’s presentation. They share so much; a love for the ocean and a common Christian faith are fundamental. Pendo explains the challenges with the rehabilitation of the board. Skip smiles and marvels at Pendo’s ingenious work. Cher snaps a few photos and joins in, sharing the stoke. The swell is up. It is time for the board to head to the test track.
“It rides better than it ever did!” Skip grins, “Steve brought it back to life!” A few sessions confirm the result. The board has been enhanced and transformed. it is stunning to view and its flex properties are perfect for Skip. “It’s got a lot of life to it. You have to be aware of your movements because the board is just alive under your feet.” He nods his head and runs his hand over the new deck of the board. “Fine work, just great.”
pXs
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