Interview with Skimonline and Exile mastermind Aaron Peluso, 11/23/03 somewhere around 11:30 pm eastern time.
West coast "review" from Aaron's P.O.V.

Interviewed by: Chris Marciniak

Name: Aaron "Pelusion" Peluso
E-mail - webmaster@skimonline.com
Age: Twenty Eight

How long have you been skimming? How long have you been skimming in Laguna?
I have been skimming in Laguna for well over 20 years.

What do you like most about skimming Laguna? What do you like least?
The best things about skimming in Laguna are the waves and the people when you are skimming with a good crowd. The diversity of spots is great. It is always working somewhere. The worst thing about skimming in Laguna is the "better than you" attitude that some people carry.

Where do you most often skim in Laguna? West? 10th? Aliso? Wedge (even though its in Newport)?
Those are the top four. I rarely skim anywhere else as I like skimming big waves.

What are your other favorite breaks, if any?
Lovers, and the rest of Cabo. Balboa. Seal Beach and Surfside get fun.

What type of board do you most often ride? traditional, hybrid, maybe the hydritional..haha...?
Within the last year I have had a traditional, constant and hybrid as my main board at different times. However lately I have been giving the hybrid a hearty workout.

What type of board do you think perform best on a typical Laguna wave?
It totally depends on your skill level and how you want to skim. If you want to catch quick wraps at Aliso all day a constant will suit most people. However if you want to ride sider a hybrid or traditional will give you way more speed. In general a hybrid is the best multi purpose board. The others are more specialized. I would definitely say you need an Exile though. You could try another brand but I don't recommend it...

What are some of the most memorable sessions you've had in Solag? What was the best day you've ever skimmed in Solag or Wedge?
There are way too many to list. However, one day in the mid 90's comes to mind when west was absolutely the bet I have ever ridden it. It was sunny, warm, glassy and not another person on the beach, skimmer or otherwise. The siders were connecting perfectly right at the rock where a little foam ball would form and give you all the speed you could possibly want. For about 20 - 30 minutes it worked on almost every single wave. I skimmed for about 10 - 15 minutes without waiting more than 5 seconds for my next wave. I did this until I totally collapsed from exhaustion. I must have watched 30 perfect waves go by, picking off only a few cause I was so tired. Then the tide came up and it was over. I went home and called Chia to tell him how bad he missed it. He was stoked...

How has Laguna changed over the years you've been skimming it?
The scene is way bigger than it used to be. There used to be only a handful of people you would regularly see at the beach (solag) in the mid 90s. Bill, Geo, Chris Rudolph, Dano, Ivan, Me, Chia and a few others. We pretty much had it to ourselves. Now I see people I don't know every time I go skim. It's kinda weird.

Any tips you'd care to share with newbies to Laguna? or visitors?
Don't be shy. Introduce yourselves to the locals and have a good attitude and they will do the same. You will have so much more fun knowing where it is breaking and being confident running for waves than if you don't talk to anyone and sit on the sidelines trying to pick up the leftovers.

Any other observations, comments, and passions about Laguna? Here's your chance to say something earth-shatteringly profound about The Skimming Life.
Laguna is a great place, but it is a small place. The best thing I ever did was leave Laguna and go away to college. It gave me so much more perspective on how the real world really is. Laguna has a lot going for it, but it's far from perfect. Learn to enjoy what you do have rather than envy what others have. That's the secret to being satisfied.

Thanks Aaron.
-Chris, and the rest of the NJskim.com crew.