Finding a $50 Board & Discovering Underground Aerial Pioneer Surfers in Oceanside | FINDERS KEEPERS
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- FINDERS KEEPERS MERCH AVAILABLE
In the third episode of Finders Keepers, after searching “air surfboard” in my local area I came across a couple of very interesting finds… but one in particular stood out.
A 50/50 Waveskate shaped by Ben Wei for 50 dollars. I had actually met Ben in Japan back in 2010 when I was on the WQS, he was announcing one of the events in both Japanese and English. We had a couple conversations in passing and I just remember him being so energetic and frothed out! That, doubled with being influenced by the 90’s airshow series when I was growing up, I already had a little bit of knowledge of the waveskate designs. It was a perfect fit, it was affordable, and it was right down the road for pickup.
Over the course of this episode we learned of a unique crew of air surfers from Oceanside CA, who rode the 50/50 surfboards. Zach Rhinehart, Gavin Sutherland, Eric Mchenry, Jeremy Somerville, James Lovett, Derek Bockelman, and Aaron Schmidt eventually became known as the 50/50 crew. They all were the unique characters that were thinking outside the box in their perspectives of surfing with Ben Wei’s being a catalyst for their progression.
I would personally like to thank Ben Wei for helping us connect the dots and share his knowledge of design and innovation. Thank you to Zach Cordner for sharing stories and photos from his time with the crew and Ben. Finally, a big thank you to Jeff Simonson for the archival footage of the 50/50 crew riding these designs in the early 2000’s.
During the filming of this episode Zach Rhinehart passed away from cancer after bravely fighting for three years. I had known of Zach for most of my life through magazines and videos but had never met him personally until I moved to Oceanside. Always in the parking lots at the pier or north jetty, I would run into Zach. It’s weird meeting heroes but in this case Zach superseded what I had expected. He was legendary. We’d catch up on surfing and life, always keeping things on the up and up.
I hope you find this episode as a celebration of these surfers and shaper who lived outside the limelight and progressed a side of surfing. They operated from a place of love for the sport of surfing and the crew they rolled with. I was so surprised by this episode. It is my favorite of the three and has inspired me to think outside the box with how I am approaching surfing and life.
Thanks again for all the support.
Tanner
Archival
Photo-Zach Cordner
Video- Jeff Simonson
Music
Abraham rounds- score
Intro- Tanner Gudauskas
Outro- Hobo Dave
Filmed and edited by
Alex Kilauano
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This is dope. Great memories from that era. "For those of you too young for nostalgia, your time is coming." Time flies.
That era definitely had some PURE surfers. I grew up memorizing the video parts. So crazy some of the surfing is still cutting edge! Thanks for watching!
Say it ain’t so
Excellent piece. Shout out to Ben, Derek and all the Johnny’s and Gary’s from that scene.
So good!
RIP Zach and Jeremy.
This is Andy V.
Great Memories living with the 50/50 crew in Oside. Building these in our garage Surf brothers for life. Rest In Paradise Zack. You put up one hell of a fight brother. Thanks for this episode Tanner. Hope to see all the G Boys in Virginia Beach at our New wave pool Atlantic Park. Opening 2025 Yall. ❤🤙🏼
R.I.P. Zach Rhinehart
the Oceanside brothers Ben and Derek have been slayin for years on Wei’s shapes
James Lovett was the man. From surfing to skimming to skating he could do it all. He was always pushing the limits of what could be done. RIP
The skimboard in that group shot is iconic!
More of the this!! Love hearing the history of each board 🔥🔥🔥🔥
thank YOU! yeah its crazy to be able to ride history and meet the designers! been so fun for me!
This is next level! You guys are doing such a good job of combining interesting boards, history, ripping and storytelling. We need more episodes!!!!
LOVE this, great job as always u guys 👏
As I sit thinking of what to write as a friend has asked me to elaborate on my own journey with surf culture, friendships and water ecologies, I'm reminded about how many diverse groups of wave riders there have been furthing on and exploring the potential of surfcraft. Thanks Mr Gudaukas for sharing.
the beats goes on!!! you know the stoke!
Man this is an unbelievable story and it’s super inspiring to see you finding stoke on all kinds of surf craft and the history behind them!
This is great Tanner. So necessary. Ben and I worked together at Hobie Oceanside as kids. He was always future thinking. This crew was legendary.
heck yes Selema! stoked you dig it. and yeah Ben is next next level on the design mindsets so inspiring!
A lot of really cool people in the industry got their start at Hobie/Surfride. Including Derek Bockelman. Salute to you Selema for all you’ve done and do in the industry. 🤙
Amazing work thanks Alex and Tanner!
THANK YOU DEREK! you RIPPED that last section! SO stoked its finally live!
Yeah Big D. Hope all well brotha!!❤🤙🏼
So cool, what a great episode, Thank-you!
What an epic episode. Truly one of my favorites. Rest in peace Zach. Was fun watching ya surf when I lived out in Oside.
This was so rad - for so many reasons! FINDERS KEEPERS!!
DUDE! you got the collection of VHS you know the deal!
So sweet! I love your perspective on surfing and surf history. The people are just as important as the boards!
This series continues to impress. Great work Alex and Tanner. Keep em coming!
As a hobbyist shaper this is a very valuable video for the broader surf comminity. A mini documenrary! Thank you. Love it.
we gotta do an episode on backyard shapers!
Absolutely a great history lesson and tribute to the underground.
Rip Zach that was nice for you to pay respects to him
It's all in the discovery Lad! Good on ya for joining the club!
Amazing legends ! RIP Zach Rhinehart.
EPICCC!! Ben rules!! Loved 50/50 wave skates going way back and what a crew 🙌
Broooooooooooooooooooooooo Rhinehart and Somerville broooooooooooooooooooooooo RIP. Respect 4 ever. Thank you Tanner. broooooooooooooooooooooooo
Oside legends
Sickest stories of bad in the day!
i love this series thank you so much for making it
This is so sick! Super beautiful and mind expanding venture. Thanks Tanner
Alby
Great video! So many memories, nice job y’all!
I think Dan Mann boards with the fat tails can launch pretty good. This video is a great addition to your channel I really enjoyed it and these shapes need further exploration.
So rad I remember seeing this guys on surfing mag when I was a kid in early 2000s!
SO crazy! I remember a surfing video magazine airshow VHS,,, Zach's part was psycho!
Awesome video and such a sick bit of history from our town. Ben is the man.
Totally cool Video Tanner,Love seeing you and your crew out Shredding Oside🤙👍
Thank you So much for talking about Zach! He will be greatly missed here.🙏🏼
Great episode fellas!! Had the privilege to shoot and surf with these guys mid 2000s. Great humans. Rip Zach.
awesome video. perfect piece of surf media and paying respect to a legend
RIP Zach Rhinehart and Jeremy Somerville
Teared up at the end. Really cool material. So so so many underground/fringe/ or just moments in surfing history that have quickly been forgotten due to surfings huge boost in popularity/acceleration of the culture….
Some of my favorite content on TH-cam - amazing video man.
unreal! thanks for the support, stoked you dig!
What a great video! I was really excited to see the boards and all of you guys rip. I’m from Texas, so it was particularly interesting for me. We surfed a lot of Uncle Mikes X-Fish here. Those boards went great in Texas slop. I really like the fishy beefy boards in small waves. Too many people here would try to ride a typical Cali board. Skinny 18.25”, small nose and tail. I always chuckled to myself because the wave here only got decent about 4x a year. The X-Fish would fly over flat spots and slop. Thx Uncle Mike.
That was awesome Tanner and AK :) wow it gave me goose bumps :) you captured something special in this episode :) lots of love :) RIP ZACH :) Inspiring happenings :) Thanks for documenting this amazing crew and the magic of the surf sk8 O-side energy.
YES YES YES!
Love the concept, please keep sharing many of the pioneers in surfing from shapers to surfers like Zack
epic, thanks for the love! stoked you dig it
I want one! Epic work and history lesson!
Honestly you should hit him on instagram,,, he would be so psyched!
congrats!!!!thanks for this amazing episode! RIP Wizard!
Epic! so stoked you like it. Zach is RIPPING in that footage!
As always!@@tannergud 💌
Super stoked
This is so good, love seeing all the surf history with Finders Keepers
Congrats! amazing episode, love it!
I miss Oceanside! Whitlock surf shop represents!
Wow Tanner, that was a great episode. Thanks so much for sharing the story, for the good vibes and for shining a light on that crew! I could have watched you guys surf together for a couple more hours. It also looks like Firewire took some inspiration from Ben's boards (11:15 for example)
Such a great episode!
These are so sick Tanner. Keep up the good work.
Thanks drew! hope you are well amigo!
So epic! Well done boys
Damn Son! Good surfing.
Thanks you guys!
So so good.
Thank you!
good one, really informative , appreciate what u do
Amazing stories
Great video, I love the history of the Californian hybrid board scene 🔥
such a sick moment in time
This is all time!! Such cool stories and a really awesome perspective. Great job!
Beautiful episode!
THIS MAN BE RIPPING
haha!
awesome!
This is Awesome!!! I love that Fat Tail shape!!! Whoa 😳 😮
so much pop!
this is like a proto neckbeard, so rad.
Awesome !!
Sweeeeeeet awesome yeeeeeeaaaahhhh!!!!!! ✌️ 😎 ✌️
This was amazing !!! Always love the 5050 crew
Seriously cool
OSIDE!!!!
Nice edit, crew.
Epic story! So want one of these crafts right now. I wonder if Ben would send to Australia?
hit him up on instagram!
YESSS This is sick!!! ❤🔥❤🔥❤🔥
Broo I wanna try those boards so badly🙌 this Vid was so Epic 👊
Legend! you'd HOIST on one of these!
Cool Story.
Zach...RIP 💙
so sick
Goes to show the people out there that EVERYTHING “works”
hahah lets keep trying!
🙌 👏👏👏👏👏
❤
Epic!
🔥🔥🔥
Rip James Lovett
Sigh Grew Up With Surfers Back In The Day~WayDownInTheSouthSide~ImperialBeachBut Got To Know SoWellAllOf SanDiego~I💕💕💕#Oceanside~AmazingHistoryHereSoSorryForYourLoss~RIPGuyTheCrewIsLigit🤙🤙🤙🌊🏄🌊👍👍👍
u picked it up at my local
really?!?! thats a cool scene you have down there!
I had surf movie called “Nobodys Heroes” which in my opinion is one of the best surf vids ever and featured all these guys…the Geoff Brack section is still infused in my mind
Spencer?!?! dude nobody's heroes was the SICKEST!!!!
How thick is that tail?
THIQUE
we got a board for you tanner its an 80's classic twin fin had to be an old pro lmk if interetsed
THIS IS SURF (!!!/ RIP BRA
ben sponsored Nobody’s hero’s and we have a sick commercial l made for the movie . Gavin Sutherland Zack Mc Henry Derek Ben killed it on them Got a mini movie of them. ❤❤❤
I like the old round noise original ones best ❤❤❤lost copies them . All shapers did.