When the Mavericks contest window is open it seems there is never a more compelling story than that of Santa Cruz’s Darryl “Flea” Virostko. His tale of glory (he won the contest the first three years), collapse, and rebirth is nearly a cliché hero’s journey, yet few have played it more intensely and lived.
“If I can do it, anyone can do it,” the 37-year-old said of quitting drugs. “Because I went to the edge of the earth.”. . If Virostko wins, he’ll own four of seven titles. He could also use the $50,000 check. He recently had to sell his house to pay off $150,000 in back taxes and stay out of bankruptcy.
We all know the story, but it’s good to read it again.
How would you react after a shark bit your board in half while you were sitting on it? This is how Eric Geiselman handled his interaction with what may have been a Great White while surfing near Santa Cruz, California on November 5, 2009.
Eric was out the back all-alone after his brother, Evan Geiselman, caught a wave in. Amidst the commotion, his foot hit the creature as he began paddling the remnants of his board toward shore. “It’s nuts to think how helpless you are,” said a rattled Geiselman to TransWorld SURF’sAaron Checkwood.
Nothing like kicking a shark while paddling half a surfboard back to shore. . .click here to hear Eric tell the whole story.
G-stringed ass lover? Poet? World’s best surfer? Enigma? Hawai’ian Idol to the sycophant Twitterer Charlie Smith? Rule breaker? The mind-bendingly amazing teaser up on Surfline.com suggests Jamie O’Brien may be all of this and more. Let’s just say we’re looking forward to seeing the final product, when ever it is released.
Looks like not all is well in surfing’s amateur ranks. The Eastern Surfing Association has decided that they and their 10,000 members are no longer interested in being a part of Surfing America.
“Surfing America’s refusal to create an amateur surfing committee that included the ESA, which is in direct opposition to their stated organizational founding, created an unprecedented event that resulted in the rescinding of our inclusion in Surfing America,” stated Debbie Hodges, executive director of the Eastern Surfing Association.
Follow the jump for the rest of the story ESA’s side of the story. . . [click to continue…]
We like Rob Machado and his big, burly, curly locks, but from what we’ve heard we’re going to absolutely love him after we finally see The Drifter with a theater full of civilians. You probably will, too. Then we’ll all buy up an bunch of Hurley product and Nixon watches and feel satisfied and complete.
So just as a reminder: the tour kicks on at the world famous La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas, California on Wednesday, November 4, 2009. For for the rest of the dates and places click the link.
Apparently, for the past two years Australia’s Stab Magazine and Von Zipperhave gotten together to throw a “water themed” party. This year’s was yesterday (November 1, 2009) and it was called Shark Fin Soup.
This year, a barge is parked 50 metres offshore from the Sydney harbour beach of Athol Bay, a beach famous for its white sand, blue water and occasional White Pointer sharks. . . Six cigarette boats pull in close to the party and point their snouts at the barge. On one, Vogue photographer Richard Freeman is shooting two girls for a feature in this magazine’s December issue.
As one of the commenters on the Stabmag.com said, “Shallow, vacuous, self-absorbed, self-important, selfish, extravagant, ridiculous, flamboyant, gay, drug-fuelled, over-the-top stupidity. There are children starving in this world because they can’t find one or two dollars to buy some food. I expect an invite next year.”
Follow the link for all the beautiful people photos.
Reality TV continues to amaze. Loveline’s Dr. Drew has a new show on VH1 called Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew in which a gang of sexually addicted freaks live together in a house and look for solutions. Joining the gang, which includes “a Playmate, a rock drummer, a porn star, a swimsuit model, and the gorgeous wife of a guy who won Rock Star: Supernova” is “one of the world’s top rated surfers and wakeboarders” James Lovett.
It’s truly great for anyone in any public forum to treat masturbation, condom use, STDs, and the tricky connection between sex and emotion as serious subjects worthy of genuine, nonjudgmental discussion. But there’s no denying the more voyeuristic elements of this series.
Nice that Neff can get this kind of quality product placement, huh?
On Friday, October 30, 2009, organizer and surfers celebrated the opening of the Mavericks Surf Contest with a ceremonial paddle out. While they were out a “solitary figure appeared our of nowhere, according to a Bruce Jenkin’s story on SFGate.com.
“Out of the mist,” as Evan Slater said with a smile. . . It was Jeff Clark, cruising in on a stand-up paddle board. Clark may be the center of a highly political squabble behind the scenes, but he wanted to give the event his blessing. He said a few words, provided a much-needed jolt of inspiration and then paddled off. . . . “It was a great thing,” said Slater. “Really eased our minds. We know these past few months have really been hard on Jeff, and it was great to know he’s behind us.”
Clark is still not done with Mavericks Surf Ventures (who’s contest waiting period opens tomorrow). In fact, according to Jenkins he is “reportedly preparing legal action.” As we’ve said before. We’d back Jeff.
Former number five in the world surfer Rob Bain, 47, made a little miscalculation while surfing on October 11, 2009, near his home in Sydney, Australia according to a story in the Sydney Morning Herald. It began with something we’ve all done before. After getting off a wave in shallow water he pushed off the bottom and dove back out toward the line up. Only this time it was a little shallower than he thought.
‘I’d done this a million times before but for some reason I think I was further in on the reef than I thought. As soon as I went under the water I felt my head just full-straight-on smash into the rock. . . ‘‘All the force propelled down through my spine and I felt my whole back explode.’’
Bain miraculously made it back to shore, with a fractured vertebrae, three compressed disks, a broken rib and a gaping head wound. After a week in the hospital he’s very lucky to be alive and walking. Thanks for the reminder, Rob. We hope you get well soon.
Huntington Beach, California police officers have arrested a man and woman who are suspected of robbing the cars of 16 surfers by watching where they hid their keys and then using the keys to get in the car and take what they wanted, according to the OC Register. But the cops got ’em by doing a little watching themselves.
Officers staked out the beach near Pacific Coast Highway and Sixth Street, and waited for a break-in. . . They watched Nathan Pater, 32, of Huntington Beach, take a key from its hiding place and break into a car, where they arrested him, said Sgt. Greg Davis of the Huntington Beach Police Department. . . They also arrested Amber Marie Hintz, 27, of Garden Grove, who acted as the getaway driver, Davis said.
Guess this is what that little pocket in your wetsuit is for.
When the Mavericks contest window is open it seems there is never a more compelling story than that of Santa Cruz’s Darryl “Flea” Virostko. His tale of glory (he won the contest the first three years), collapse, and rebirth is nearly a cliché hero’s journey, yet few have played it more intensely and lived. 
