Surfings Origins - Whitaker's Forest

Building a Wooden Surf Board

I’m thankful for your responses to this Newletter and to Addicted to Joy and the additional interviews. I’ll be adding a new interview with Wayne Lynch in the next few weeks. I have it rough cut, I’m just adding the finishing touches. If you’d like to help support me in the effort and show your love of the surfing community, we have a line of coffee cups, t-shirts and a few more items. I’d be honored and grateful if you’d take a look. This week’s gift from Mother Ocean is the largest urchin I’ve ever seen. The complexity of the design takes my breath away.

Today’s newsletter takes us to Whitaker's Forest in the Sierra Nevada. This forest is currently managed by the University of California, Berkeley. It is a 320-acre forest located in the Sierra Nevada near Badger, California. Badger has a thriving population of 140 and is reached by California Highway 245. The town’s elevation ranges from 4,000 to 6,500 feet. The forest was donated to UC Berkeley in 1919 and has since been used for research, education, and forest management training.

In 1964, a 284 foot giant sequoia tree, which had stood for centuries, fell. Usually, when these giants fall, they literally shatter because of the immense amount of water within the tree. A healthy specimen can drink 10,000 gallons a day. What kept this tree intact (and allowed it to be featured in this documentary) is that it fell in 30 feet of snow, and the crash was heard 30 miles away. The fall of such a massive tree could have been the result of several factors, including root decay, soil erosion, or severe weather conditions. Giant sequoias are incredibly resilient trees, but they are not immune to the forces of nature. The event likely drew attention due to the size and importance of these ancient trees, which are often among the largest living organisms on Earth.

This tree was massive, 282 feet tall, 27 feet in diameter, and 85 feet in circumference and it fell on a very remote hillside. The wood held great value for use in lumber and cabinet making and it couldn’t be left on the ground to rot. Bids went out to the lumber community, and the degree of difficulty in harvesting was very high. When the dust settled, a team of 2 men from the Central Califonia Coast won the bid. They harvested this wood by hand with horses hauling the sectioned pieces to a road. It took three years to do this feat and this story is true. Jan Petersen was one of the men that did this astounding work.

The story of the wood used for surfboards in ATJ is part of the history of surfing, and to see the elegant creations is mind-blowing. In the Wood Water Soul from about a month ago, Larry Fuller called the boards “snowflakes.” I invite you to revisit this as well.

I’m working on a new interview with Wayne Lynch, which I hope to have done in a couple of weeks. I have so much respect for him; I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Here’s a little bit to tease you with as always, please share this if you are so inclined, Aloha

I want to thank you all for reading Wood Water Soul. I want to announce we have Addicted to Joy and all the interviews are free. Our first coffee cups and T’s are hitting the shelves, thank you. (check out the shirts, coffee cups, tote bags and water bottles ). Please share this Blog with a fellow surfer, or with a friend that needs some Joy in their lives. I invite you to watch, Aloha.