April 2007
As you can see not much news in the making. Online surfshops, and a mind numbing number of other retailers poaching on our industry has resulting in substantial loss of gross sales.
The closing of Devils Slide here in our area just about knocked us out of business last year, and most businesses in Half Moon Bay have not recovered since it has re-opened, and as hard as it is to admit, we are one of those businesses.
Here at Cowboy Surf Shop we have had to make some big sacrifices to remain in operation. The biggest and most significant is my working construction full time, which leaves no time for surfing, filming, traveling etc. This would be the reason for virtually no Mavericks, or travel updates, photos, etc.
Another sacrifice is our surf report line, we are sorry to have to suspend it but we cannot afford to do it at this time.
And for all those that still count on us to supply them with their surf gear, we are continuing to be a hardcore surf retailer offering the best products available, always looking and offering underground clothing and product lines you wont see in department stores,(as it should be).
However because of the over saturation of "Mainstream" goods we will not be offering "Mainstream" products sold in Corporate department, wharehouse, and chain specialty stores.
If you are new to the sport, or have been surfing all your life, please understand one thing. When the "Surf Craze"is over and it all goes back to "Hip Hop" again, all those stores selling surf will drop it like a bad habit,
and when you snap your leash and need to pick one up while your still in your wetsuit, you better hope all the surf shops haven't vanished. Every dollar counts to a small business.
Thanks to all that still support us, you got soul.
April 12th 2006
The first of many products to come to our "Online Surf Shop" got posted today, and we will be adding more and more as time goes on.
If you don't mind why not drop us an email to tip us off to what you'd like to see first Email us here
Update on Mavericks Contest coming Thursday Febuary 8th late, as we will be scanning slides, and uploading photos till the wee hours.
We still shoot film for reasons too detailed to boar you about..Please bear with us, and hope you enjoy the images, as for the conterst that's another matter.
July 27
Typical summer of not alot of surf, it is however our busy season and we've been working very hard at trying to keep the store stocked, and building custom surfboards.
New slideshow should break up the "no update cycle", and hopefully we'll have time to put up some more photos, as well as some new videos of Padang Padang. Click Here to go to the new slide show.
May 24th
Not a whole lot to update right now as we are trying to get our online store up and running.
This has turned out to be a very expensive venture and could use a hand if anyone has an idea of who has the best credit card processing rates. Please email us if you do Click Here for email
March 28th
New slideshow added to the site today, and we will continue to add photos in the slideshow format only. All the older thumbnail galleries will be eventually located in an archive section.
Go straight to the slideshow
March 14th
Secound, and final round of photos posted for the Mavericks Contest ...Enjoy
Go Here for the Contest Photos
March 9th
Posted the first round of photos of the Mavericks 2005 Contest. More to come as they are processed.
For anyone that is interested, I shoot film, not digital. I find that film has got a soul of it's own, and the surprises both good and bad are worth the extra expenses and time.
Digital is a great way to shoot for those sporting events, or any events, where you have to get the results out right away, or on a website.
Also today the swell went completely loonie! However so did the fog, and by the time the fog started to lift, the wind was right behind it. It was BIG!
Sorry to those that would have like to see some shots of todays big waves, but after going through all the motions of getting my ski launched and getting out there, the fog was so thick it just looked like crap.
We"ll try again tommoro. Go Here for the Contest Photos
March 1st
We have received information that the Mavericks Contest will be held tommorro morning March 2nd.-05
Surfers in the contest include Flea-Skindog-Peter Mel, and Grant Washburn . No other details on other competetors are known.
The Surf forecast is for a new swell beginning to fill in overnight, with waves up to about 15'. Winds are hopefully going to be northeast early, going to southeast mid-day, to southwest by afternoon, so the best conditions should be early.
Parking is limited so expect to park near the airport, and walk a long way.
If you need a map to get there you may print one off this link. mavericks map
Maps may be obtained at Cowboy Surf Shop when we open at 9:00 AM While they last.
Feb. 01
We are in the process of updating and adding new features. As some have seen we are adding more videos, and will continue to add more, as well as adding different vidwo formats like "Real", and "Windows Media". There are a lot of factors involved in this process, and might not work for everyone. If you are experiencing problems please let us know by emailing us at :
cowboysurfshop.....We also will be adding online shopping soon, so be looking for that.....Enjoy
Dec. 29
First of all for Cowboy Surf Shop, and all of our employees,
offer our deepest condolences for the victims of the Tsunami in Asia. Our hearts
go out to all, and any families affected by this catastrophic, and inconceivable
event.
I personally spend a lot of time in Indonesia, and over the years have made
allot of friends who I hope are ok. If any of you are reading this ....please
drop me an e-mail to let me know your OK.
This spring I was to film on the maiden voyage of the "Seimoa' to the Andaman
Islands as it starts out this new charter destination. I doubt if this is to
happen now after the devastation.
The Update is Mavericks in December 04...Please enjoy the photos.
Nov 15/04
Thunders Chapter is updated and ready for viewing..Click here for the update, next chapter on Macaronies comming soon...
Nov 04/04
OK OK...so it took a while....We can't help a failing film scanner,
but we eventually got the job done, and the first gallery posted, (as
well as the first chapter).
Chapter 2 is going to be a good one as we meet up with Jake"the
Snake"Patterson, Luke Eagan, Matt Hoy, and Nathan Hedge at Thunders.
Jake the Snake was hitting the lip so hard I thought his legs were going to
snap off, Nathan Hedge was getting so barreled that he ceased to exist in this
realm, Luke Eagan was carving the most insane gouges, and Matt Hoy has more
tattoos than a longshoreman, so check back soon. Click
here for the update
Sept 26
As promised we are about to deliver on the Fall Update on the Menatawai Islands (click for preview shot).
Please bear with us as there are alot of photos to still be scanned as I shot over 20 rolls of Film, which at 36 exposure per roll adds up to alot of work. If all goes as planned we should have a gallery or two finished in about a week, so stay tuned.
July 26th
About time there was an update...not a whole lot happening except crowded crummy surf. It seems like the Surfing world as I used to know it is gone forever. My only hope to getting Surf to myself anymore is to travel, so "Where's my Passport"!
The best news is our recent trip to Nicaragua. Just click the link and get the full story.
Stay tuned for our next update on Mentawais Sumatra comming in Sept.
December 31st
Happy New Year to everyone, and we hope 2004 is a prosperus year for All !
Finally Mavericks broke on a day that wasn't completely victory at sea, and although it wasn't all that big, it was very clean. Please enjoy the photos, and hope that there are more big waves on the way.
Also CowboySurfShop.Com has been growing at an alarming rate. Since last summer we have doubled in the number of visits, and hits. Anyone interested in getting in some advertising on our website are invited to contact us at: mavricks@earthlink.net.
December 5
Ok everybody is still waiting for a decent size swell to show up. We've had some smaller "FunSize" swells, but nothing too spectacular.
On the eve of this day we are expecting a good size swell that will probably become a big wave event. Our biggest problem will be the weather and associated south winds wihich will probably ruin the conditions. However if the winds do co-operate we should have some new photos of Mavericks soon.
We'll keep you posted.
Oct 31st/03
Well I guess an update is well overdue.
We have finished the VHF version of our new video "Here & There", and so far the feed back has been very promising.
"Water Magazine", (The first to get a copy), has given us a ripping revue, saying,
"This new release from Northern California-based photog and filmmaker Craig "Cowboy" Mac Arthur is no flavor of the month-style video. This unique and exclusive collection of images and angles features some insane footage of Taj Burrow, Andy Irons, Kelly Slator, Mick Fanning, Shaun Cansdell, Josh Kerr, Ry Craike, Ben Dunn, Jai Quinn, Peter Mel, Jay Moriarity, Ross Clark Jones, Rizal Tanjung, Dan Malloy, Luke Egan, and Mick Campbell. Locations include, Mavericks, Mentawais, New Zealand, and Pipe. Y'all gotta get ya mitts on this, this is some crazy shit for sure. Contact Cowboy Surf Shop.net or phone (650)726-6968"
Water Magazine : Fall Issue 2003
We want to thank "Water Magazine", and especially Steve Zeldon for their more than generous revue.
Besides the video We have been on location in some exotic locations deep in Mainland Mexico filming some spots for the next video. After 6 years in a row in Indonesia, it was time for a change, and to brush up on the Espanole.
We got some insane surf, and video, but unfortunately not a whole lot in terms of still images due to the angle of the light.
More to come soon.
July 21st/03
Not a whole lot to update, except for some news on the video we've been working on night and day.
The movie is entitled "Here & There", and is a 2 year in the making project which incorporates all the best footage of Mavericks from last season, and years past.
It then moves on to some insane footage of Northern Cal. local Jeff Spencer, and Central Coast Local Chad Jackson, mixing it up with hot, hot young Aussie crew Sean Cansdell, Jay Thomson, Josh Kerr, and Ben Dunn at Macaronies in the Mentawai Islands.
Then on to Padang Padang with Rizal, Ross Clark Jones, Marco Foreman, and other International Pros, which also leads into some insane big G-Land.
A breif visit to Raglan New Zealand for some rare glimpses into this world class point break.
Then an edge of the seat view of Hawaii's "Pipeline", and "Backdoor" with all the pros warming up for this years contest season.
If that wasn't enough you get an up front view of what some officials call "The Best Contest Ever Held in The US, the "Mobile Boost Pro", held in epic Hurricane Swell surf at Trestles, California, with action from everyone from "Sunny", to "Slater"..just plain GOIN OFF !
Keep checking this web site for details on it's release, cause your gonna want to own
this one !