Shopping has never come naturally to me. School clothes seemed to find me through my younger years and department stores are as corny as a maize maze in my mind. However, when it comes to board shopping, I seem to have feverish tenacity, even when the board being sought isn’t for me...
We walked into Arrow surfshop in santa cruz not to the blank stare and too core for your shorts vibe, but to someone who actually greeted us with a smile and genuinely wanted to help us have more fun in the water. This interaction alone has bolstered my faith in the surf culture that does surround us; it has not disappeared completely to some secret spot where unless you were conceived in the back seat of a ‘57 chevy in the parking lot, you shouldn't ever set foot. He proceeded to do the unthinkable, sell my novice girlfriend a surfboard, the right board, and all the while explaining to her what it all meant.
This is no easy task, explaining accurately and succinctly the different aspects of a boards shape and material to an otherwise blank stare. Luckily he has some back-up for the tough questions. A rather seasoned looking salt replete with mustache and foam dusted regalia had joined our party. Bob Pearson, the man, the myth, the youngest looking 61 year old I have seen in awhile, jumped in when we asked if the board was made locally. Though he did not denounce the asian influx of beginner boards he was proud to tell us about his shop and how all the work is done in town.
The guys down there at Pearson Arrow in Santa Cruz have been doing this for awhile now and I would invite anyone who is looking for surf gear that is created locally by surfers for surfers to head their way; you might even be able to get Bob to shape one for you personally.
