We arrived around noon on Monday, because the boys at Bing spend their mornings surfing a spot near their house. Adam was the first one I found - limping around outside, bamboo cane keeping him upright (apparently he dropped a big barrel of resin on his foot a few days earlier). A classic California kid, Adam is everything you'd expect to see. Tan, kinda tall, wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, with his hair combed over like someone from the sixties. I introduced myself, shot the shit for a few and then followed Adam upstairs where I came into contact with Kyle, Margaret's right hand man. He showed me around the shop, starting with where Matt (Calvani) shapes surfboards. Honestly, I don't remember which way we went - start to finish or whether we skipped a few steps - but whichever way it was, I got a good idea of how it all happens, and how difficult it is to do.
When we returned to the room where all the boards await their box, Adam arrived with my brand new BN Lightweight. A beautiful board. Everything I'd imagined. We spoke about where to surf, which place had the best burrito, what it's like living across the street from wonderful waves and how hard it is to be a surfer in Seattle. They seemed stoked. And honestly, it wasn't until we pulled outta the parking lot that the significance of our visit really settled in. I mean, not many people get to see where something is shaped, where it comes to life - the process and the people. It was extraordinary. I just hope that the shitty photos I took while walking around will give you a feel for what they've got going on.
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