Bruce "Snake" Gabrielson and Friends
Shaping Exhibit Trip Pictures
Huntington Beach, California - April 2009

Arrived in Huntington Beach late on Thursday looking forward to warmer water and visiting many friends I haden't seen in years. Any reason to travel to huntington Beach is a good excuse, but this time I was visiting family and attending the International Surfing Museum's opening of the Surfboard Shapers Exhibit, Part 1, the Wooden Years. I was greeted on Friday morning with giant surf and a good group of diehard locals in the parking lot. The wind finally died a little and the tide filled in making for some super surf..

Friday afternoon I visited an new NSSIA instructor Taylor Gibbs, and then Friday night Greek was heading down to dohenny Beach for a barbeque and pre-show get together for the local Woodie Club. The food was great, talk awesome, and of course, the woodies were exceptional.

Saturday morning the waves were clean and after another brief meet and greet at the Pier (always do that), I managed to get out for a nice session beginning around 10th Street and drifting almost to 17th. Spent much of the day hanging out with the locals, Finally went to my brothers birthday activities.

Sunday morning brought another bout of not so great surf but at least I had breakfast with Tom Takano who was in town for the shaping event as well, then got together with Chuck Linnen to talk story that not many of us still remember. Afterwards, I stopped to check on preparations at the museum, then hung around with Greek until the pre-show social started around noon. From there until about 6pm when I left it was a great gathering.

I dropped by Aloha Grill when I left and there was David Nuuhiwa with one of his old girl friends, Gary Sahagen, and several of the youg HB surfing guns having a quick drink. I finally got back to my mom's to visit around 9pm.

No surf my last morning. I met Kim hamrock and Taylor Gibbs for breakfast, put on a beach training session to certify local instructors, then it was off to LAX for a delayed flight home. Below are some pictures from my days at the contest.


Tom, Chewey, JD, and I at the Pier Parking Lot

Rick Bauer and I


Mark Heller, Gary Sahagen and I


Barry Church and I

Bill Fury and I


Carl Ekstrom and I

Chris Hawk and I

Old Partner Chuck Ray and I

Randy Lewis and I

Frog, Gordie, Chris Catell and I

Me, Mike and son Kevin


Gordie Duane Looks Good


Son Kevin and his Bud Freddy


Museum Founder Natalie Kotsch and I