We don't kiss and tell

Name: RB

Age: 56

From: Ocean Beach

Location: Ocean Beach

Occupation: Counselor for mental health and substance abuse

I saw RB on the north side of the Ocean Beach Pier on Feb 3. He just finished his 40+ men’s longboard final heat at the Ocean Beach Pier Surf Classic competition.

“I’ve been surfing here for 45 years,” he said, “the biggest difference from back when I started are there are more people out, and there were more characters back then. Do you remember Billy G. and Big Rich Lockwood? I used to surf with them, and during the winter — they didn’t wear wetsuits. They both weighed over 250 lbs. and were nimble as they come.”

RB was reminiscing with some of the other surfers while waiting for the results.

He said that he surfed well on the two-footers, and was hoping to bring the first place trophy back to his house — which is just up the hill from the pier.

He stood patiently by his 9’5″ custom board.

“Rich Pavel, a good friend of mine, has built my boards for 40 years,” RB said. “On this one, we took a long board template, cut five inches off of the tail, split it and turned it into a 4 fin so it rides like a longboard but it flows like a fish. I just like the feel of no drag with a split tail surfboard.”

RB’s favorite spot to surf is at “the reefs” which is somewhere south of the pier. “That's all I’m going to say because we don’t kiss and tell. There’s nothing like the smell of low tide and going surfing with your dog there.”

He said that he’s had both of his shoulders and one knee rebuilt, “from years of paddling …. but that’s just normal wear and tear. I’m happy to be on the right side of the dirt, breathing and surfing.”

RB won a second place trophy after our interview.