Day Trippers: Kobe Hughes
Photography by Evan Schell
Welcome to Day Trippers - a series of travel guides brought to you by Sun Bum. In this series, we get a local’s perspective from some of the raddest people in action sports about their home towns - from Noosa Australia to Salt Lake City USA.
Kobe Hughes DayTrippers Guide to San Diego is exactly what you’d expect a young gun surfer’s guide to a city should be.
Full of carb recommendations, cheap spots to drink after a long day in the sun and a particular affinity for the board stores and shapers that let him do his thing. If you don’t already know who Kobe is, he was apart of our Bright Young Things Class of 2023, a local to the great land of California and a surfer who we adore. He’s always very helpful, never complaining and exactly the type of person we’d think would show us a fun time around town. So that’s what we asked him to do. Let Kobe show you the way of his hometown - beautiful, sunny San Diego and all the things that make it great.
When we say Kobe doesn’t complain we mean it because when we asked him if there was anything he didn’t like about his hometown it took him a while to actually think of something he hated. But we got it out of him in the end and it was the god damn fuel prices, which I think everyone can agree suck worldwide but especially in a place like San Diego where you need to drive everywhere. So hot tip for those travelling to San Diego - budget for extra fuel. And chuck on this playlist to make the drive more bearable as curated by the man himself.
Captain Kenos
‘Captain Kenos is the pride and joy of Encinitas. Everything about the place makes for a warm welcome to all strokes of folks. They have the cheapest drinks and food in town. Just remember it’s Cash Only. Oh also it’s supposedly getting demoed at some point this year just like all good things so make sure to pay a visit before that happens and if you see the people planning on tearing it down give them a big hug for me’
Cheap drinks make for the best bars. A six long happy hour from 6pm to midnight will probably do the trick too. Sharing is caring.
RESIN CRAFT SHOP
‘This year marks the 15th year anniversary of Resin Craft. Much love to Master Kazu for letting my friends and I live out our dreams of being shop groms. For those who don’t know Kaz, he’s a true G. His generosity, wisdom, and steeze is unmatched.’
Every surf town has their local surf shop, and Resin Craft Shop is the shop of San Diego. Specialising in unique surfboards, skateboards, wetsuits, and clothes unique to other regular surf shops. Find yourself a Ryan Burch fish or a Joel Tudor longboard here too.
RANCHO COASTAL HUMANE SOCIETY
THRIFT SHOP
‘A couple doors down to Resin Craft is pretty much the only thrift store I go to. All of my most prized possessions came from here. Like this huge stuffed cheetah, my gigantic tennis racket, oh and my new schwinn stationary bike.’
Like any good city guide, a place to thrift is key. Everyone wants to know the secret spot to find some steals and Kobe was nice enough to let us in on his.
SECRET BEACH CARPARK
‘My version of the local skatepark. Countless hours of lizarding in the parking lot with the boys before and after surfing. Shout out to Johnny Seaside for always bringing the good vibes and John King who busted the hacky sack out and turned the whole parking lot on to it. HSB! Iykyk’
What is Kobe without the beach? Probably still an extremely lovely guy although it’s that thing that he does on that surfboard that we know him for and so of course the place where he spends most of his time is crucial for a shout out. In the spirit of surfing code though this spot will not be named. If you know, you know.
East COast PIZZA
‘Not trying to start beef with nobody, but East Coast Pizza in Cardiff, CA has my heart. Don’t get me wrong, a slice of pizza in NY will never sit bad but for me it just doesn’t hit the same as east coast pizza on the west coast. Oh also if you a real one your ranch comes free.’
How a place does their pizza is a sure way to find out how they do the rest of things. Generous, delicious and saucy are the kinds of words a town should be proud of when referencing their name.
VG BAKERY
‘I love VG Donuts and always will. The sweet smell of their donuts brings back memories from as far back as I can remember. They aren’t no boujee, vegan, cage-free, gluten-free donuts. Just classic American donuts made with plenty of TLC.’
Most of Kobe’s food recommendations are carbs at this point which is both hilarious and appreciated because if you’re visiting somewhere - you should be eating good.
LAMINATION SAN DIEGO
‘When the waves are shitty I’m usually at LSD aka Lamination San Diego walking in circles trying my best to keep foam dust out of my eyes and lungs. I haven’t gone to college…yet but this will do for now. I owe all of my surfboard making knowledge to my uncle Ryan Burch, and the guys down at the shop, Alex “superwolf” Villalobos, Justin Petix, Alex Banyay, and Tommy Kroll, the list could go on forever. These guys are wizards when it comes to making surfboards and I am forever grateful for the knowledge shared in the past and inevitably in the future.’
Bread is to butter is surfboard is to shaper and what would a city guide be without shouting our where to get your magic sticks.
ANDY DAVIS
‘Whenever I’m lacking on inspiration I can always count on Ando, aka Andy Davis, for a pick me up. Thank you Ando for not only blessing us with your colors, music taste, stories, etc but also just being a good ass person. And thank you Sunbum for letting me distract everybody from working and raiding the snack cabinet. Makes me feel like a little kid again.’
Everyone has a hometown hero and Andy is the pick. A Californian artist lovingly known for his surf art and big heart.
LEMMY CHILLMISTER
‘This is Lemmy Chillmister named after the great Lemmy Killmister. Although he’s rarely chill. He’s a little terrorizer. We have a sort of brotherly love since I I’m the only boy out of four sisters.’
What would a local guide be without shouting out your dog? Something Kobe loves is something we love. A companion from sunrise to sunset.
