Did we try to ride the bike? Yes! It was like steering a time bomb - totally out of balance with two heavy steel tanks full of high pressure air. Walk don't drive worked quite well in those days!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Have bike will dive
Somewhere along the road we found a way to transport our tanks from Hermosa Beach to Redondo Beach California. My Bike was the prefect horse in 1966. Jim Pennington and I walked the bike with two cylinders and equipment along the train tracks and down to the surf.
Did we try to ride the bike? Yes! It was like steering a time bomb - totally out of balance with two heavy steel tanks full of high pressure air. Walk don't drive worked quite well in those days!
Did we try to ride the bike? Yes! It was like steering a time bomb - totally out of balance with two heavy steel tanks full of high pressure air. Walk don't drive worked quite well in those days!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Celebration of Life
Celebration of Life
My father engraves the patented numbers on the Original Force Fin that came out the first Santa Barbara Force Fin head quarters in 1981.
Gordan Evans was a solider, Husband, Father and a remarkable Artist who contributed to my love for the Ocean, Art, Design and so much more...
Following a short illness my father Gordan Evans recently left this earth to join my mother and remain close to me only in spirit. Thank you for all your condolences and I look forward to sharing more of his work with everyone.
My father engraves the patented numbers on the Original Force Fin that came out the first Santa Barbara Force Fin head quarters in 1981.Gordan Evans was a solider, Husband, Father and a remarkable Artist who contributed to my love for the Ocean, Art, Design and so much more...
Following a short illness my father Gordan Evans recently left this earth to join my mother and remain close to me only in spirit. Thank you for all your condolences and I look forward to sharing more of his work with everyone.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Beach Care
Beachcare is an amazing organization that brings beachcare issues to light. Their website is full of excellent information concerning beachcare issues around the world.
Blogs, news, videos, pictures and more. Get informed and get to Beachcare's website
I feel very honored that they have chosen one of my photos for Photo of the Month.
Keep up the great work Beachcare and thank you for your support!
Bob Evans
Blogs, news, videos, pictures and more. Get informed and get to Beachcare's website
I feel very honored that they have chosen one of my photos for Photo of the Month.
Keep up the great work Beachcare and thank you for your support!
Bob Evans
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Reminds me of the Colosseum
I recently shared an old news clipping with our Force Fin staff. It was a response I had written to The Santa Barbara News Press's editorial "The case against captivity" many years ago when the Atlanta Aquarium opened up and I would like to share it with you.
"“Good for the Santa Barbara News Press for pointing out the sadness captivity brings to these beautiful marine animals. When I was a child I lived in Rome, right next to the Colosseum.
Me with my mother and sisters in Rome.
Towards the end of the empire, the Romans would bring animals from Africa-giraffes, elephants, leopards, lions, monkeys, etc. They would perform in the Colosseum. The latest great aquarium in Atlanta, Ga., reminds me of the Colosseum. It is the end of civilization when they can justify captivating people in awe of spectacular animals. If you wish to learn about dolphins, whales, look to our oceans, take a scuba class from one of Santa Barbara's instructional centers, or book a snorkeling adventure. You'll get more out of the experience of floating in the water and watching what marine life may swim by than a beast circling in a Plexiglas Coliseum.
I speak from experience. I have photographed marine animals in their native environment and in Santa Barbara's own Undersea Gardens in the 1970s. I rejoiced when Myrtle the Turtle somehow escaped from Undersea Gardens Aquarium in Santa Barbara, California.
When I was on a photo assignment for a water park in 1973,
I first came in contact with how dolphins were treated. They were in these very small pens, and the trainer told me the dolphins became aggressive over time. I thought to myself that I would become crazy being put in these dark water coffin pens. Time to let killer whales, sea lions, dolphins etc. all go back to the sea and close down these modern day Colosseums
"“Good for the Santa Barbara News Press for pointing out the sadness captivity brings to these beautiful marine animals. When I was a child I lived in Rome, right next to the Colosseum.
Me with my mother and sisters in Rome.
Towards the end of the empire, the Romans would bring animals from Africa-giraffes, elephants, leopards, lions, monkeys, etc. They would perform in the Colosseum. The latest great aquarium in Atlanta, Ga., reminds me of the Colosseum. It is the end of civilization when they can justify captivating people in awe of spectacular animals. If you wish to learn about dolphins, whales, look to our oceans, take a scuba class from one of Santa Barbara's instructional centers, or book a snorkeling adventure. You'll get more out of the experience of floating in the water and watching what marine life may swim by than a beast circling in a Plexiglas Coliseum.
I speak from experience. I have photographed marine animals in their native environment and in Santa Barbara's own Undersea Gardens in the 1970s. I rejoiced when Myrtle the Turtle somehow escaped from Undersea Gardens Aquarium in Santa Barbara, California.
When I was on a photo assignment for a water park in 1973,
I first came in contact with how dolphins were treated. They were in these very small pens, and the trainer told me the dolphins became aggressive over time. I thought to myself that I would become crazy being put in these dark water coffin pens. Time to let killer whales, sea lions, dolphins etc. all go back to the sea and close down these modern day Colosseums
Friday, February 26, 2010
Hitting 100
I have recently hit number 100 in my Tan Delta Flying Force Fins! The Flying Force Fin is special to me for many reasons. One is it looks cool and with its down turned wing tips it always commands remarks even above the standard Force Fin comments. This model has been around for a long time, but I have only recently started selling it to the public. Decades ago the engineers from the Stars and Strips yacht racing team were researching how to make the fastest hull design. They actually bought a pair of Force Fins and took the fin into the boeing wind tunnel to preform analysts. Afterwards they gave me a call and discussed their results! After the call the Flying Force Fin was born.
Now to modern Day I am proud to announce that I have just signed number 100. Amethyst Purple and they are a exquisite!
I can also say the Jaun Fiscal, who has been one of my employees for the last 20 years, assembled them. Thanks for all your dedication over the years!
This pair is going to a wonderful Ocean Enthusiast. His request of inscribing " Save our Sharks" on one of the blades will say a lot where he is diving! Thanks for your support with all my hand crafted products.
Fair winds and Following Seas,
Bob Evans
Friday, February 12, 2010
The Cove
On the night of February 10th the SBIFF awarded the David Attenborough Award to The Cove for Excellence in Nature Filmmaking. I hope you have all seen the movie The Cove, if not, it is a must see and someone should have told you that you must see it.
Blair Mott and I had a truly inspiring experience February 10th 2010. I would like to share his take on the evening. Blair thanks for getting my there and sharing your words with us all.
When I arrived at the Lobero Theater with Bob Evans it was a good hour before the film was to begin. The Lobero is the oldest working theater in California and is a great venue, we have both seen a lot of shows there and Bob has even presented his work inside the theater accompanied by live piano music.
Sandra Squires, Executive Coordinator for Jean-Michel Cousteau, was the first to arrive from our group and she walked up with The Cove poster for the backdrop during the Q & A and awards presentation after the film.
She stopped to take photos and swap stories. Thanks Sandra and good luck to all your efforts in saving the planet. I remember seeing the head of the communications department at SBCC, various ocean activists, enthusiasts, local Natural History Museum staff, plus a plethora of local and out of town individuals who were jazzed for the night. We were then soon joined by Dr. Marc Grandle Alki Chiropractic and Myotherapy, Kirsten Candy ,Holly Lohuis from Ocean Futures Society
and Michal Hanrahan President and co-founder of the Ocean Channel.
Mike deGruy has been the head of the Reel Nature Series for the SBIFF for years and he stopped by. We had a chance to talk about the success of the Reel Nature series this year and about the man himself Ric O’Barry being on-site for the show.
Holly Lohius immediately whipped out her book to ask Mike if he could help her get the book signed for her son Gavin. They devised a plan and something about 8:45, green room and it was another covert OPS in the works. Mike had to run, so we moved inside and when we started to move down the isles we could not get 5 rows into the theater before we ran into Fred Benko from the Condor Express and started a pile up in the theater as our group broke into a barrage of greetings as almost everyone in the group began reconnecting with someone else in the theater. Energy was everywhere and the Lobero was the prefect backdrop.
The Film……is….a MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t know, but I believe if you find someone who has not seen it, I was one of them, tell them it is about poison and they might leave behind their thoughts of watching a movie filled with dolphins being massacred in an unknown cove in Japan. Just a thought.
The blend of allowing us to see a bit of the mobilizations and “behind the curtain” moments drive the film for me and they were inserted appropriately throughout the film. There is excellent historical footage and an extremely visually compelling sequence of a dolphin blowing air rings and manipulating the rings with its sonar and body movement that leaves in you in awe of the intelligence of the mammal. Bob and I will be talking about that forever. I have heard and read about Ric O’Barry for years, mostly from Holly Lohuis, but having him in the film allowed me to get to know him and become a bigger fan!
Among many, one thing that sticks out in my mind was when Ric O’Barry brought the point of- “this is not a cultural issue- we could not win that argument, this is not an emotional issue– we eat cows they eat dolphins etc…– we could not win this either, but we can win because this about health” Japan is poisoning their people by selling them contained dolphin meat. They are actually selling poisonous meat to humans, dolphin meat no less, dolphins can you believe that!
The film is well put together and allows the audience to feel the energy behind a story that needs to be told because it can start a change in the world. Mike deGruy hosted a conversation session with the Director Louis Psihoyos and Ric O’Barry that covered filming making, inspirations and anecdotes with nothing left behind.
Ric O’Barry is trying to get 1000 people to Tijia, Japan September 1st and he opened the invitation to everyone last night at the show. Get your frequent flyers miles ready and go the website as he said they will be posting more info on how to get on board. September 1st 2010 we need THOUSANDS of people in Taiji, Japan. Thanks for the invite Ric!
Afterward Peter Howorth presented the David Attenborough award to The Cove received by Louie Psihoyos and Ric O’Barry and the lights came on.
I asked Holly if she had Ric O’Barry’s signature on her book that he wrote and she sheepishly said she tried, but no. Bob said let’s go and try again, Holly hesitated and I looked and Bob and said,” Get her backstage NOW!” they took off and the theater started to let out.
I did a resonances mission and located Simon Hutchins – Expedition Director for The Cove and Director of Expeditions for OPS, Charles Hambleton – Clandestine Operations -The Cove as well as Mary Jo Rice from the Earth Island Institute. They all stayed late after the show and when the staff of the Lobero finally kicked us out they hung around a bit more to talk and take pictures. Thanks a lot guys and your respective dates for staying till the very end. Out of the 150 plus people that were there that night we the remaining 9.
Myself and Simon Hutchins talk logistics and life on expedition.
I look forward to keeping in touch and keeping informed! Thanks for inspiring us all!
All photos shot by Bob Evans
Blair Mott and I had a truly inspiring experience February 10th 2010. I would like to share his take on the evening. Blair thanks for getting my there and sharing your words with us all.
When I arrived at the Lobero Theater with Bob Evans it was a good hour before the film was to begin. The Lobero is the oldest working theater in California and is a great venue, we have both seen a lot of shows there and Bob has even presented his work inside the theater accompanied by live piano music.
Sandra Squires, Executive Coordinator for Jean-Michel Cousteau, was the first to arrive from our group and she walked up with The Cove poster for the backdrop during the Q & A and awards presentation after the film.
She stopped to take photos and swap stories. Thanks Sandra and good luck to all your efforts in saving the planet. I remember seeing the head of the communications department at SBCC, various ocean activists, enthusiasts, local Natural History Museum staff, plus a plethora of local and out of town individuals who were jazzed for the night. We were then soon joined by Dr. Marc Grandle Alki Chiropractic and Myotherapy, Kirsten Candy ,Holly Lohuis from Ocean Futures Society
and Michal Hanrahan President and co-founder of the Ocean Channel.
Mike deGruy has been the head of the Reel Nature Series for the SBIFF for years and he stopped by. We had a chance to talk about the success of the Reel Nature series this year and about the man himself Ric O’Barry being on-site for the show.
Holly Lohius immediately whipped out her book to ask Mike if he could help her get the book signed for her son Gavin. They devised a plan and something about 8:45, green room and it was another covert OPS in the works. Mike had to run, so we moved inside and when we started to move down the isles we could not get 5 rows into the theater before we ran into Fred Benko from the Condor Express and started a pile up in the theater as our group broke into a barrage of greetings as almost everyone in the group began reconnecting with someone else in the theater. Energy was everywhere and the Lobero was the prefect backdrop.
The Film……is….a MUST SEE!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t know, but I believe if you find someone who has not seen it, I was one of them, tell them it is about poison and they might leave behind their thoughts of watching a movie filled with dolphins being massacred in an unknown cove in Japan. Just a thought.
The blend of allowing us to see a bit of the mobilizations and “behind the curtain” moments drive the film for me and they were inserted appropriately throughout the film. There is excellent historical footage and an extremely visually compelling sequence of a dolphin blowing air rings and manipulating the rings with its sonar and body movement that leaves in you in awe of the intelligence of the mammal. Bob and I will be talking about that forever. I have heard and read about Ric O’Barry for years, mostly from Holly Lohuis, but having him in the film allowed me to get to know him and become a bigger fan!
Among many, one thing that sticks out in my mind was when Ric O’Barry brought the point of- “this is not a cultural issue- we could not win that argument, this is not an emotional issue– we eat cows they eat dolphins etc…– we could not win this either, but we can win because this about health” Japan is poisoning their people by selling them contained dolphin meat. They are actually selling poisonous meat to humans, dolphin meat no less, dolphins can you believe that!
The film is well put together and allows the audience to feel the energy behind a story that needs to be told because it can start a change in the world. Mike deGruy hosted a conversation session with the Director Louis Psihoyos and Ric O’Barry that covered filming making, inspirations and anecdotes with nothing left behind.
Ric O’Barry is trying to get 1000 people to Tijia, Japan September 1st and he opened the invitation to everyone last night at the show. Get your frequent flyers miles ready and go the website as he said they will be posting more info on how to get on board. September 1st 2010 we need THOUSANDS of people in Taiji, Japan. Thanks for the invite Ric!
Afterward Peter Howorth presented the David Attenborough award to The Cove received by Louie Psihoyos and Ric O’Barry and the lights came on.
I asked Holly if she had Ric O’Barry’s signature on her book that he wrote and she sheepishly said she tried, but no. Bob said let’s go and try again, Holly hesitated and I looked and Bob and said,” Get her backstage NOW!” they took off and the theater started to let out.
I did a resonances mission and located Simon Hutchins – Expedition Director for The Cove and Director of Expeditions for OPS, Charles Hambleton – Clandestine Operations -The Cove as well as Mary Jo Rice from the Earth Island Institute. They all stayed late after the show and when the staff of the Lobero finally kicked us out they hung around a bit more to talk and take pictures. Thanks a lot guys and your respective dates for staying till the very end. Out of the 150 plus people that were there that night we the remaining 9.
Myself and Simon Hutchins talk logistics and life on expedition.I look forward to keeping in touch and keeping informed! Thanks for inspiring us all!
All photos shot by Bob Evans
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Catalina weekend
This last weekend our Product Specialist, Blair Mott, was fortunate enough to travel to Catalina Island for the Ultimate Diver Challenge Catalina Reunion. As some of you know the weather was not in his favor for a weekend of diving and it was in question if he could even make it to the island. Erik Phariss, who is an instructor for the National Academy of Police Diving, invited him along and they were lucky to make the first out of the only two Catalina Express runs to the island on Friday. Once they arrived they were greeted by Ron Moore of Dive Catalina Ron asked them who they were with and then he immediately offered to help. He was a tremendous help with getting the gear to their house for the weekend. Blair knew they might not be diving because of the weather, but that did not stop him from bringing 2 drysuits, 2 wetsuits, full scuba set up and 3 sets of Force Fins. With the a recent landslide occurring near the ferry dock they had to lug all of their gear into town.
The site of the Dive Catalina truck loaded up brings a smile to Blair's face.
It seems that not only was he a safety diver and camera operator during the UDC, but a good friend of Blair Mott's old mentor Don Santee. Once they settled in Erik and Blair started to explore the town and if you have been there, you know it is a special place with signs that you are not on the mainland everywhere. Blair captured this photo of one of the local transports.
They met up with Jim Pearson of Cinema Rentals who was the logistical coordinator for the Reunion and in charge of all the filming that took place during the 2009 competition as well as the topside filming that would take place during the weekend.
Erik Phariss recounts his experience during the Ultimate Diver Challenge 2009.
They did not get to dive on Saturday as originally scheduled, but they did see some clear sky from time to time.
It was a great weekend where Blair learned a lot about the Ultimate Diver Challenge and met the very passionate people who compete and support the competition on a yearly basis. Pam Bertrand, the Executive Producer of the Ultimate Diver Challenge, has a lot of great enthusiasm and energy that is contiguous and truly a breath of fresh air towards promoting SCUBA diving in 2010. Blair was fortunate enough to meet the contestants, safety divers, judges and production crew for the 2009 Ultimate Diver Challenge and he is excited about the the UDC 2010 , but Blair's highlight of the weekend had to been spending time with Erik and swapping his Tactical and Special Response Diving missions with his own expeditions. Erik Phariss has an amazing story and a lot of experience with Force Fins. Before he left to Miami to teach another course he shared his thoughts on Force Fins.
Thank you Erik for your support over the years and to all the people involved with the UDC. Thank you for letting Blair be a part of your special weekend. He has told me about the passion and excitement surrounding the competition and that is fantastic! I am excited to learn more.
All of us at Force Fin applaud you on what you have accomplished and what is to come!
The site of the Dive Catalina truck loaded up brings a smile to Blair's face. It seems that not only was he a safety diver and camera operator during the UDC, but a good friend of Blair Mott's old mentor Don Santee. Once they settled in Erik and Blair started to explore the town and if you have been there, you know it is a special place with signs that you are not on the mainland everywhere. Blair captured this photo of one of the local transports.
They met up with Jim Pearson of Cinema Rentals who was the logistical coordinator for the Reunion and in charge of all the filming that took place during the 2009 competition as well as the topside filming that would take place during the weekend.
Erik Phariss recounts his experience during the Ultimate Diver Challenge 2009. They did not get to dive on Saturday as originally scheduled, but they did see some clear sky from time to time.
It was a great weekend where Blair learned a lot about the Ultimate Diver Challenge and met the very passionate people who compete and support the competition on a yearly basis. Pam Bertrand, the Executive Producer of the Ultimate Diver Challenge, has a lot of great enthusiasm and energy that is contiguous and truly a breath of fresh air towards promoting SCUBA diving in 2010. Blair was fortunate enough to meet the contestants, safety divers, judges and production crew for the 2009 Ultimate Diver Challenge and he is excited about the the UDC 2010 , but Blair's highlight of the weekend had to been spending time with Erik and swapping his Tactical and Special Response Diving missions with his own expeditions. Erik Phariss has an amazing story and a lot of experience with Force Fins. Before he left to Miami to teach another course he shared his thoughts on Force Fins.
Thank you Erik for your support over the years and to all the people involved with the UDC. Thank you for letting Blair be a part of your special weekend. He has told me about the passion and excitement surrounding the competition and that is fantastic! I am excited to learn more.
All of us at Force Fin applaud you on what you have accomplished and what is to come!
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