You never know who’ll stop by our headquarters to pick up some Astrodeck traction pads. One week, it’ll be a group of traveling Chilean surfers. Another week, if the circus is in town, it could be a handful of the pros. And just yesterday San Clemente local and 1/3 of the tow-headed Guduaskas brothers, Dane, stopped by with his new housemate Masatoshi “Mar” Ohno, who just also happens to be the first Japanese surfer to ever crack the grueling WQS Top 40.

Both Dane and Mar have decided to have a go at trying out our front foot pads, and, in return, we’ve only guaranteed them a better success rate at going off and sticking it!

Here’s a photo of the boys posing with the CF 409 Front Foot pads. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! And it wasn’t even Christmas morning! (And you’ll also happen to notice Greyson in the background. He’s snarling because everyone’s ordering a ton of the 409’s and he can’t keep up with the demands. Either that, or he just has really bad indigestion from lunch.)

Mar and Dane got their CF 409's. What about the rest of ya?

We’re really stoked here at Astrodeck that we actually have a relationship and rapport with all of our team riders. In fact, we consider them friends first and foremost. How many companies can claim that their riders come to their offices to just hang out and get caught up and shoot the breeze? Not a whole lot.

As is often the case, we’ll get weekly visitors. You’ll never know who will pop up. We’ll have Reef Macintosh come over and get some sandals for his size 13 feet. Or Nathan will drop by with best buddies Mr. Buzz and Bruce Irons, or maybe Shane Beschen might bring his little groms and chat skate with Greyson. It’s like a constant who’s who of popular surf culture at Astrodeck.

In fact, Danny Fuller just swung by yesterday. He picked up some of our sandals; his favorites are the MG1 and the ML3, as well as some of his traction pads, the 405 Danny Fuller pads, both in black and white and black and green. He talked some art with Herbie and also told the A-deck crew about SUP guys doing tow-ins at Puerto Escondido. Haha, what a trip that is!

Danny likes the MG1 Sandal.

He also picked up some ML3s.

The 405 Danny Fuller Pad in Black & White

The 405 Danny Fuller Pad in Green & Black

Anyway, it was great seeing Danny - one of the nicest guys ever, and one of our favorite surfers of all time.

Danny Fuller gettin' some.

Christian and Nathan went down to Mexico with fellow surfer Brian Conley to film a commercial for the new 2011 Ford Explorer.

This is Part 3 of the commercial where the boys show us just why the 2011 Ford Explorer is the way to go for your surf road travels.

If you can’t click the link, just copy and paste it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRlOAMU_3yg&feature=related

Christian ready to surf.

Christian and Brian Conley showing us why the 2011 Ford Explorer is capable of nearly everything.

Nathan Fletcher; plugged in and strumming.

Christian and Nathan went down to Mexico with fellow surfer Brian Conley to film a commercial for the new 2011 Ford Explorer.

This is Part 2 of the commercial where the boys are skating a little secret cradle spot.

If you can’t click the link, just copy and paste it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKUxNwTcUv0

The boys ready to abuse that cradle!

Christian and Nathan went down to Mexico with fellow surfer Brian Conley to film a commercial for the new 2011 Ford Explorer.

Check out Part 1 (copy and paste link if you can’t click it):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N2DDFoIf4Q

Nathan Fletcher cruising in the 2011 Ford Explorer Commerical

Christian & Greyson Fletcher in Japan with a buddy.

Just as we were going to write up a piece on the Japanese promo tour that Christian and Greyson recently got back from, the devastating and horrific earthquake and tsunami that took place in that nation blindsided the country and shocked the rest of us in the world. And though we didn’t feel it appropriate (at this time) to post up the photos from their trip, we do want to take this opportunity to express our deepest sorrow and condolences to this nation of people we consider friends.

The Japanese are in our thoughts and prayers, and we here at Astrodeck won’t pretend to know of the many struggles and trials they will go through in order to get their lives back in order. Many will question, “Why?!?” along this harrowing time, but we truly hope that they know we extend our friendship with gratitude, solace, and support.

With love,

Team Astrodeck

Herbie Fletcher's "Wrecktangle" at the Waikiki Edition Hotel

Herbie will be in Oahu this week to promote his “Wrecktangle” board sculpture that’s being featured in the lobby of The Waikiki Edition.

Coming from the mastermind of Ian Schrager, The Waikiki Edition is a new type of hotel - kind of like an entity of its own - that’s being introduced by the Marriott International. In collaboration with interior designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg and landscape designer Deborah Nevins, the Waikiki Edition resides as its own sanctuary on the sand; smack dab near the beaches and Marina shopping districts in a coastal urban sprawl. Truly, a visiting surfer’s paradise.

When you walk into the lobby, the first thing that captures your eye is the wall-to-wall “Wrecktangle” pieced together by Surfer/Artist Herbie Fletcher. Emphasizing the impact of just how powerful Hawaii’s Pipeline is, Herbie collected over 100 surfboards that have been ridden (and broken) at this notorious spot by some of the surfing world’s mighty elite: Kelly Slater, Bruce Irons, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Christian Fletcher, Nathan Fletcher, and the late Andy Irons to name just a few.

Many never think to realize the impact and sheer bravado it takes to ride waves such as the Banzai Pipeline, and for those visitors to the North Shore who are lucky enough to stay at The Waikiki Edition, the “Wrecktangle” will perhaps give them a small idea of how intense that ride was.

…coming soon.