
"He mastered all aspects of longboarding but was revered mainly as a stylist from the traditional school - quick but smooth, light-footed, able to hang ten for 15 seconds at a time, and possessed of a near-telepathic wave sense." "By 16, Tudor had become the pencil-thin Raphael of the longboard renaissance," notes Matt Warshaw, author of "The Encyclopedia of Surfing." One year later, the young gun won his first event, making him the youngest surfer to win an ASP World Tour contest.
Safari joe blessing professional#
Wave riding was his passion, and by the time he hit 14, Tudor became a professional surfer. I believe he is the greatest longboard shaper of our time," added Joel. "I was blessed to be given the opportunity to study under Donald. The Hawaiian-born surfing legend and master surfboard shaper/designer moved to California in the 1960s and became one of the world's most celebrated surfboard builders.

Takayama would become his teacher and inspiring surfer. In his teenage years, he was mentored by 1960s veterans Donald Takayama and Nat Young. The model, named after Joel's father, would later be relaunched by the innovative logger.Īged ten, Joel Tudor quit riding shortboards and focused exclusively on longboards. The "Papa Joe" longboard featured the 1960s shape but arrived in the 8-foot range. Three years later, Joel's father found his dream template. His memory of 'trimming' and 'nose riding' spawned an interest to try and find a longboard," Joel Tudor once recalled. "Around 1975, my dad got sick of riding shortboards. The military family was given access to the 35-mile surf breaks from San Onofre to Cardiff, and the youngsters rode Hansen-Doyle, Skip Frye, Craig "Owl" Chapman, and Bill Shrosbree surfboards. The siblings owned a Velzy-Jacobs pintail pig surfboard. His father, Joe, a general contractor, and his brother were already surfers. He started surfing at age five and took on skateboarding around La Jolla. Joel Tudor was born in San Diego, California, on July 11, 1976. Pity the beasts.With a natural grace and endless creativity and talent, Joel Tudor is the go-to reference and spokesperson for the classic art of longboard surfing.These full-grown ones are dangerous! Any recommendations, Mule?."Ha, Safari Joe does it again! Another perfect landing! Tell me, Mule, can I hit a target or what? With spaceships, with weapons, my aim's always perfect! And that's why I'm the best big game hunter in the galaxy!.Using the Holojector, Safari Joe is able to learn all the weaknesses of the ThunderCats, except for Lion-O. The Thundrainium weakens the ThunderCats, sapping their strength and ensuring that they are not able to break out of the cages.Īlso in his arsenal is the Holojector, a device capable of generating 3D holograms which provide him with information about his intended prey. He also owns Thundrainium Cages to imprison the ThunderCats. His gun is capable of firing bullets, explosives, holograms, jet-powered shackles and even act as a flame-thorwer. His main weapon is his Gattling Gun which can fire ammunition specific to his intended victim. He is also a big coward at heart, hiding behind a false bravado. This makes him overconfident and prone to failure. Safari Joe's biggest weakness is that he relies too much on his weaponry. Safari Joe is also an expert marksman and rarely misses his target.

He first learns everything there is to know about his prey, including their strengths and weaknesses, before he sets off to capture his prize.

Joe is armed with a powerful Gattling Gun, capable of firing a various assortment of ammunition.Īpart from being well armed, Safari Joe, like any expert hunter, does not go on a hunt unprepared. He also owns the "Holojector", a device which is capable of displaying holograms of his prey. His spaceship is capable of setting up an "electronic blind" which prevents it from being detected. His advanced technology is probably Safari Joe's greatest strength.
