Do you avoid trade shows like the plague? If so you're not alone. That was one of the inspirations behind the formation of the Sacred Craft expo. Just think of it as the surf expo for people who hate surf expos.

These things get better each time, as evidenced by what's on tap this weekend, August 14 and 15, at the San Diego Convention Center.

For starters, the man being honored this year is none other than Simon Anderson, the three-fin thruster after validating the design in 1981 by winning the Rip Curl Pro at Bells in massive 15-foot surf, the Coke Surfabout in Syndey and the Pipeline Masters in Hawaii.

No, he wasn't the first person to stick three fins on a surfboard. But he was the first to put three equal size fins on there. And it's undeniable that his victories on the fledgling pro tour riding his variation of the design convinced the rest of the surfing world to follow. And follow they did. Today, some 30 years later the basic three-fin bump squash is still the most popular performance shortboard in the world.

Yet Sacred Craft isn't an award show. It's a gathering place for those who love surfboards. Everything about surfboards. Riding boards, Shaping boards. Designing boards. Painting boards, Glassing boards, making board accessories and or just talking board stories.

There's plenty to do there besides meet and greet some of the most influential people in the sport. You can watch the shape off. Check the Bob Simmons exhibit. Listen to music. Cruise through the art grotto. Watch movies. Meet the latest young guns in the shaping scene. Inspect all the latest designs and perhaps even walk away with some equity in your pocket by taking part in this year's coolest addition to the party: the surfing version of Antique Road Show.

Yep, if you think that old dusty board that your uncle left in grandma's attic might be worth something, this is the place to get it looked at and appraised. Or maybe it's the old Rick Griffin poster, or your full collection of surf magazines.

This part of the show is sure to add a whole new layer interest and intrigue, not to mention some pretty darn good stories. It's only $10 to get in, and the show runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We'll have more insights into what's on tap as we approach the weekend, until then, follow this link for more.