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Gary Linden is a legend and a local. Gary is a local in Oceanside California where he has lived since 1979. He has been shaping since 1978 in the very same factory location in Oceanside just blocks from a few fun beach breaks. One could argue he is a local in Cape Town as well where he spends a couple months out of the year planning, organizing and participating in the Red Bull Big Wave Africa Contest at Dungeon. Dungeon is the spooky and dangerous big wave break in a place called “shark alley” just outside Hout Bay near Cape Town South Africa. He also somehow finds time to be the Head Judge for the Mavericks Big Wave Contest held in Davenport California north of Santa Cruz.
In Oceanside Gary is a fixture among the many surf legends that blend into the down home scenery that embodies Oceanside. Gary is humble, down to earth and approachable, He’s just doing his thing, running a shop, making boards, keeping his team riders happy and catching a few waves here and there in the morning when conditions and work load permit. When it’s onshore you can smell the salt water from the Mar Bravo shop and Linden Factory nestled in next to the Stay Covered surf accessories factory. The Linden Factory also proudly handles production for Brewer boards, distributes Bahne skateboards and BOZ wetsuits. Where do these guys find time to actually surf? I know they do because I see them once in a while walking down to the Oceanside Blvd groin
Gary can be seen driving around North County San Diego in one of the various Linden branded vehicle, if you see one it’ll either be Gary or Pierre, Gary’s trusted operations manager from the land of cheese and baguettes. Pierre is a fixture as well and a solid person to be relied upon as you would think will all the team at Linden pulls off every year.
I was able to track down Gary with Pierre’s help just after South Africa while he was scrambling to fulfill orders backed up from his world travels to places where the water is very cold and the fish are very big, grey and full of teeth.
Let’s meet Gary and learn a little about Oceanside food spots; Gary and Pierre note that on Tuesdays Primo Market is the place for lunch with 69 cent tacos but let’s see what else we can find out.
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When did you start shaping? Why? What inspired you? (Did you need a board or was it work etc) In 1967, Skip Frye brought back an 8' "V" bottom McTavish from Oz and let every one in the crew (windansea) try it. It was the first short board I rode. "I wanted one and no one was making them. I got a blank and started shaping." Who taught you the most in those early days? Either business-wise or technique-wise Technique. I was self taught but Bob McTavish and Mike Diffenderfer heavily influence me, design wise. What were your favorite boards to work on back then? 70's Round pin single fins - early 80's2 wing swallow twins - Late 80's & 90's squash tail tris, and now diamond tail quads |
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What are your favorite boards to shape right now? |
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Gary Linden Hill Street café Beach Break café Anita's restaurant
