Here's a look back on some of the memories and where it all started. Heads up, some of these shots were before iPhones and fancy cameras.
Here's a look back on some of the memories and where it all started. Heads up, some of these shots were before iPhones and fancy cameras.
(L to R, Circa 2000, Eastside Santa Cruz: Tyler "Smiley" Walls, Mark Dude aka "Mardoo", Seth Peralta aka "Saydoo", Chase Nicholson aka "Chain", Michael
Barrios aka "Shark's Left Mike", and Alex Ransone aka "Ransone" )
(L to R, Circa 2000, Eastside Santa Cruz: Tyler "Smiley" Walls, Mark Dude aka "Mardoo", Seth Peralta aka "Saydoo", Chase Nicholson aka "Chain", Michael
Barrios aka "Shark's Left Mike", and Alex Ransone aka "Ransone" )
Even though Dane wasn't in the above original pics he joined the Team shortly after those were taken. You could say he's been there since day 1. If you've ever surfed The Hook then you know Dane. He has surfed there is whole life and is synonomous with the spot. Dane actually won gold Reef slippers for the Mick Fanning look-a-like contest sponsored by Surfer Mag or Reef (can't remember). Pretty awesome but hilarious at the same time. Mick is Dane's favorite surfer. Oh yea, and Dane rips too! :)
Even though Dane wasn't in the above original pics he joined the Team shortly after those were taken. You could say he's been there since day 1. If you've ever surfed The Hook then you know Dane. He has surfed there is whole life and is synonomous with the spot. Dane actually won gold Reef slippers for the Mick Fanning look-a-like contest sponsored by Surfer Mag or Reef (can't remember). Pretty awesome but hilarious at the same time. Mick is Dane's favorite surfer. Oh yea, and Dane rips too! :)
The initial concept was to have a circular logo with Blue Lava in it. The left one we made stickers of and put on some boards. Initial response on the water was, "What the fuck is Glue Lava!". Tim and I went back to the drawing board that day and changed the lowercase "b" to an uppercase "B" and the rest is history. We did a run a board shorts with this logo as a woven label. Ironically, we have never made a t-shirt with just this logo on it since 2000. We think it's about time we brought it back.
The initial concept was to have a circular logo with Blue Lava in it. The left one we made stickers of and put on some boards. Initial response on the water was, "What the fuck is Glue Lava!". Tim and I went back to the drawing board that day and changed the lowercase "b" to an uppercase "B" and the rest is history. We did a run a board shorts with this logo as a woven label. Ironically, we have never made a t-shirt with just this logo on it since 2000. We think it's about time we brought it back.
Logos by Tim Ward (left pic)
Extremely humbled and grateful to be a part of this exhibit. It was an honor to be among all the awesome companies and artwork. Thanks Tim for allowing us to be a part of it!
Inspirations and Influences (right pic)
Well said and 100% agree.
Logos by Tim Ward (left pic)
Extremely humbled and grateful to be a part of this exhibit. It was an honor to be among all the awesome companies and artwork. Thanks Tim for allowing us to be a part of it!
Inspirations and Influences (right pic)
Well said and 100% agree.
Our first run for Blue Lava was heavily orchestrated with the help of Tony Hoffman and his crew down at Hoffman Fabrics in Mission Viejo. If you're not sure who the Hoffman's are they're a cornerstone for fabrics of the surf industry and the world in general. Walter Hoffman, a legend in his own right, is the Grandfather to Christian and Nathan Fletcher.
When you get to tour their warehouse it is a MASSIVE museum of boards lining the walls with a little snippet about each board. On the warehouse floor, there was insane amounts of different and cool fabrics. The "guest book" at the entrance was a who's who for companies. With names like Bob McKnight (Founder of Quiksilver) and James Van Doren (Founder of Vans), we knew we were in the right place and went for it.
Shown L to R: The O.G.'s, Island Fever, and The Checkmate
Our first run for Blue Lava was heavily orchestrated with the help of Tony Hoffman and his crew down at Hoffman Fabrics in Mission Viejo. If you're not sure who the Hoffman's are they're a cornerstone for fabrics of the surf industry and the world in general. Walter Hoffman, a legend in his own right, is the Grandfather to Christian and Nathan Fletcher.
When you get to tour their warehouse it is a MASSIVE museum of boards lining the walls with a little snippet about each board. On the warehouse floor, there was insane amounts of different and cool fabrics. The "guest book" at the entrance was a who's who for companies. With names like Bob McKnight (Founder of Quiksilver) and James Van Doren (Founder of Vans), we knew we were in the right place and went for it.
Shown L to R: The O.G.'s, Island Fever, and The Checkmate
Art imitating life. Localism was real and you had to earn your spot in the lineup. That meant everyday, every swell, and years of dedicating your life to a spot if you wanted a wave. With Blue Lava, it was no different. Back then, your friends, guys in the water, and your integrity were measured by your presence, and not online. Blue Lava was out there and we rooted ourself in the community, not only in Santa Cruz, but in Hawaii as well.
Art imitating life. Localism was real and you had to earn your spot in the lineup. That meant everyday, every swell, and years of dedicating your life to a spot if you wanted a wave. With Blue Lava, it was no different. Back then, your friends, guys in the water, and your integrity were measured by your presence, and not online. Blue Lava was out there and we rooted ourself in the community, not only in Santa Cruz, but in Hawaii as well.
Wanting an in-line logo that still had an edge but captured the essence of Blue Lava we again reached out to Jimbo Phillips. The way I remember it, we wanted to have it sort of like spray paint but a brush effect. At the time, "brushes" on photoshop and Illustrator weren't readily available like today. The alternative was to get out a brush and scan your drawing in, which is exactly what Jimbo did. We remember thinking it was the sickest thing ever and to this date we still think it is. We use this logo a lot and love the history of its creation. Thanks Jimbo!
Wanting an in-line logo that still had an edge but captured the essence of Blue Lava we again reached out to Jimbo Phillips. The way I remember it, we wanted to have it sort of like spray paint but a brush effect. At the time, "brushes" on photoshop and Illustrator weren't readily available like today. The alternative was to get out a brush and scan your drawing in, which is exactly what Jimbo did. We remember thinking it was the sickest thing ever and to this date we still think it is. We use this logo a lot and love the history of its creation. Thanks Jimbo!
Working with Tim on our past logo, we decided to keep with the tradition. We went to Tim wanting an object logo. No words, just an iconic object logo. We mentioned how we wanted something that flowed and could capture the essence of a barreling wave. Something that was clean, contoured, and simple. What Tim came up with was not only the creation of the identity for Blue Lava but captured every essence of the brand's identity. As you can see from above, we got some sketches and then refined it a little, ultimately cleaning it up in Illustrator for a final touch.
Working with Tim on our past logo, we decided to keep with the tradition. We went to Tim wanting an object logo. No words, just an iconic object logo. We mentioned how we wanted something that flowed and could capture the essence of a barreling wave. Something that was clean, contoured, and simple. What Tim came up with was not only the creation of the identity for Blue Lava but captured every essence of the brand's identity. As you can see from above, we got some sketches and then refined it a little, ultimately cleaning it up in Illustrator for a final touch.
