NOTSHOCUZ

Christian Bartsch, Born in Aurora Illinois, to Dick and Rosy Bartsch. As early as I can remember, my childhood included swim team, soccer, white-water canoeing, and skiing. Ice hockey was my favorite sport and I was lucky enough to have a next door neighbor with a backyard rink. All this, and the coolest above-the-ground pool in West Aurora, couldn’t have prepared me better for what I do now! Thanks Mom and Dad!

Age 12, moved to Hawaii. It is the state’s largest island, also known as, “the Big Island”. Here I traded in my skates and stick for a surfboard. I spent my first summer at Magic Sands shore pound on a body board, and have been in the Mother Ocean ever since. Age 14, summer trip to Kalapana…first ride ever on a surf board, and the last time I would see Kalapana. This black-sand beach was covered by one of Madam Pele’s lava flows a few years later.

The seed was planted, I had found the something that would take everything to learn and a lifetime to master, SURFING. First surfboard, Dick Brewer thrift store special for about $20. It was a single fin shortboard, green on green, nose and swallow tail missing. Attended Konawaena highshool(Go Wildcats!), located a stone’s throw away from “the little grass shack in Kealekakua, Hawaii….where the Humu humu nuku nuku apuaa go swimming by”. Worked in Kona for a while and then attended University of Hawaii at Hilo. Received BA in Economics with a minor in Business Admin. Served as Student Body President and made many lifelong friends.

Forsaking a desk job after college, I started building and selling rustic handmade Ohia furniture back in Kona, Hawaii. I soon discoverd the North Shore, located on Hawaii’s most populated island, Oahu. The “North Shore” or Haleiwa is considered by most to be the US headquarters for heavy surf. I now live there and work in a trade called Paintless Dent Removal(PDR), an economical way of taking small dings out of cars without repainting or using body filler. My work is somewhat seasonal and inconsistent, but I don’t complain when the surf’s UP! There are many amazing surf-spots here, it is no wonder that it has become a Mecca for surfers. My favorites spots include, Gas Chambers, Log Cabins, Pupukea, Rocky Point and few others that still remain somewhat secret.

Throughout my life, my interests have wandered to many places and jobs. Wood working, mechanics, economics, and most x-game sports to name a few. Imagine a 250 pound surfer riding a wake skate for the first time at 39 and 3/2 years old! Surfing, tow surfing and surf video(especially from the water) are my current passions. I have been shooting video for the last four years and have really enjoyed capturing moments of surf travel in Indonesia, as well as here at home.Tow surf hawaii

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