Beach Nov 2016

A couple of LONGBOARDERS
by Mike Purpus
Local surf photographer
Anthony Renna and Hall
are both young and
feed off each other.
Renna has
captured many
epic shots of Hall.
Photo by Anthony Renna
Kris Hall and Taylor Stone sync in and out of the water
El Segundo High senior Taylor Stone started surfing just two years ago,
out of necessity. “Kris spends so much time in the water it was the
only way to have fun with him,” Stone said of her boyfriend Kris Hall.
Hall began surfing when he was two, on a Boogie Board at Pine Trees on
the Big Island of Hawaii.
“My dad was over there teaching special education for three years. It was
the perfect place to learn,” Hall said. “My dad is still a special ed teacher
in Compton.”
Today Stone and Hall are arguably the best longboard couple in the South
Bay. His surf style combines elements of Phil Edwards jazzy gestures and
local longboarder Shawn O’Brien’s precision noseriding. His turns are fluid
and on rail like Nat Young’s cutback, circa 1966.
She has an equally graceful style, but with a feminine touch. Her first
two steps to the nose are as pretty as they come.
Stone is one of the El Segundo High surf team’s top surfers. She finished
third in the International Surf Festival contest this past summer.
Hall was a standout on the Redondo High surf team and last winter finished
second twice, behind Dave Schaefer, in South Bay Boardriders Club
contests.
“My dad is my major surfing influence. His idols were ‘60s icons like Phil
Edwards,” Hall said. “I used to ride his old longboards and got teased by
the shortboarders out in the line-up.”
When Hall was 16, he couldn’t afford a new short board, so he shaped
and glassed one, with help from Redondo surf coach Frank Payne.
“I still ride that board when the waves are fun,” Hall said. “The second
board I shaped was a 9-foot-2 that I made for Taylor. I call the shape ‘My
Scarlet Begonia.”
Today, when not attending El Camino or working at ET Surf, Hall shapes,
under his label Flower Surfboards, at Mangiagli Manufacturing (the South
Bay’s oldest surfboard manufacturer) in the old Rick Surfboards booth.
“I’m constantly inspired by South Bay surfboard manufacturers like Bing
Copeland, Hap Jacobs and Rick Stoner, who put Hermosa Beach on the
map,” he said, “I also dig the shapes Phil Edwards did for Hobie Surfboards.
And I admire Dan Cobley (Danc Surfboards) for his versatility and work
ethic, Robin Kegel (Gato Heroi, Creme Surfboards) for his outside of the
box designs and Gene Cooper (Cooperfish) for his craftsmanship.”
“I get the pleasure of having a bay right next to Kris,” Cobley said. “It’s
been a thrill watching his shapes progress.” Flower Surfboards have become
particularly popular among young, local longboarders.
Hall and Stone call the Hermosa Pier their home break but love surfing
all the South Bay beach and reef breaks on big swells. Malibu is their favorite
surf spot because the wave offers long nose rides to the pier.
“We hate the crowds but still manage to get a few good ones to ourselves
every time we surf Malibu,” Stone said.
“One Malibu morning, we got a perfect session in six-foot waves with
only 10 other surfers out,” Hall said.
They also love Mexico’s K-38 and always have fun sharing the playful
waves at San Onofre. Earlier this year, Hall was supposed to leave his lady’s
side for a few months to chase waves up to Canada. But that plan was
halted when he found an original, two-owner ‘62 Ford Econoline. Trip
money became car money.
“It was my dream car as a kid,” Hall said. “Now, I get to restore it the
way I imagined it.”
With his ability on the front half of his surfboard, it is easy to assume
Hall strictly loves nose antics. But he said he prefers a meaty tube over anything
and considers barrel dodging a mortal sin.
“It’s the hardest thing to do on a longboard,” he said. “Switching stance
in the middle of a cutback is a close second.”
Hall and Stone are sponsored by Birdwell Beach Britches and Nine Plus
Wetsuits. For more about Flower Surfboards visit flowersurfboards.com or
@flowersurfboards. B
26 Easy Reader / Beach magazine • November 10, 2016