Bros not Pros

DukeStorm and SquidForce present interviews with local legends.

11 / 22 /2008
Vol. 1 with Bob Manning

Name: Bob Manning
Occupation: Owner of Longacre Expeditions
Born: To rock
Where/When: Jersey Shore Medical 03/09/1976
Married/Groms?  Married and one grom named Luke 3 weeks old
Nickname(s): Bobushka, Helli, or Broccoli Rob
Years Surfing: 20ish
First surfboard: Dan Van Zanten a 5’0” hand me down from Bruce Boyle in the 2nd grade
Favorite Surf Spot: B&T lefts
Quiver: 6’0” retro fish, 6’0” fish, 6’4” swallow tail, 6’6” rounded pin, 7’0” mini gun (Merrick), big ol Roberts longboard all boards under 7’ are Seebolds
Shaper(s): Steve Seebold

DS/SF: SUP?
BM: Okay with it if you’re at the next jetty down.

DS/SF: Pop outs?
BM:Good for the kiddies or Tippy O’Neil in double overhead barrels.

DS/SF: Slater or Curren?
BM: Tough one- Curren is a weird dude with great style but Slater is the king- I’d have to say Curren!

DS/SF:Tubes or airs?
BM: I’d rather pull into a tube than pull a tube, is that what you’re asking me?  Barrels all the way!

DS/SF: Zog’s or Palmer’s? 
BM: Sticky Bumps.

DS/SF: FCS, Futures, Glass On’s, lok box? 
BM:Futures and glassed on keel fins.

DS/SF: Traction? 
BM: Always, anyone ever seen that Japanese guy’s traction job in Spring Lake?  I like about an eighth of that on my boards.

DS/SF: Travels?   
BM: Mainland Mex, Baja, Peru, Bali, El Salvador, Tobago, Ecuador, Tortola, Nova Scotia, Oregon, Cali, OBX, Long Island and more…

DS/SF: What’s hot?   
BM: Are webs still in?

DS/SF:What’s not? 
BM: Dudes on cell phones checking the waves telling their 10 best friends how good it looks.

DS/SF: What do you look for in a longboard?   
BM: The older the better.

DS/SF: What do you look for in a shotboard?   
BM: Steve Seebold’s signature .

DS/SF: Finish the following statements: 

It all made sense when…
…I realized that chippy boards are not for me. Thanks Quito!

Priority goes to…
…the guys who surf there all the time.

A good day of surf is…
…better than sex! Sorry honey!

Getting burned is when…
…you paddle out in Ecuador without sun block on and surf for 8 hours straight.

You’re blowing it if…
…you show up with more than 1 other guy at any break.

I hate it when…
…there are 20 dudes in the water I’ve never seen before. What’s wrong with your home break on the good days?

Radical is…
…kind of a lame word anymore.

When the surf is flat I…
…get so much more done!

DS/SF:Advice for beginners?
BM: Get some lessons from Shaun McGrath at Summertime Surf School in Belmar.

DS/SF:Shout out to?
BM: My company LongacreExpeditions.com – We run outdoor adventure programs for students all over the world.

DS/SF: Any last thoughts?
BM: Nah!