by The Editors on May 4, 2009
Mainland Mexico surf tourism has its work cut out for it this year. As if swine flu isn’t enough of a deterant, LA Times action blogger Pete Thomas reminds everyone that last May two surfers were killed by sharks and another had his hand ripped up while surfing in Zihuatanejo. .
The attacks, which occurred within a three-week period, generated “Jaws”-like mania and led to the erection of lifeguard towers and establishment of a shark patrol along a stretch of coastline that seasonally lures hundreds of surfers from Southern California and elsewhere. . . .Now it’s May once more and some might be wondering whether the phenomenon will be repeated.
We know one thing for sure: we won’t be going down to check that out any time soon. . . cough, couch. . .
[Link: LA Times]
by The Editors on May 4, 2009
by The Editors on May 4, 2009
O’Neill team rider Sam Lamiroy and UK pro surfers Alan Stokes, Mark ‘Egor’ Harris, Oli Adams joined members of Surfers Against Sewage with a petition to England’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown to get the government “to take urgent action to increase protection levels for our oceans in relation to litter.”
SAS Campaign Manager Andy Cummins says: “Thurso’s a great wave and one of the most remote venues for a surf competition. But like most surf spots in the UK it’s plagued with plastics and other marine litter. Join SAS and call for the Prime Minister to implement a National Marine Litter Strategy to protect our beloved beaches and surf spots.”
Click here to sign the petition.
[Link: SurferToday.com]
by The Editors on May 2, 2009
We’ve always wondered what was keeping Fred Patacchia, Jr. down. This year we’re not asking that question because it appears that nothing is going to get in his way. After a making it to the semi-finals in the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, he gave everyone a little reminder today by winning the 6-star WQS 6.0 Lowers Pro at Trestles.
Patacchia demolished the Lower Trestles righthanders in his Final against Bourgeois, opening up his battle against the former ASP World Tour campaigner with a 9.17 out of 10 in the opening minutes of the heat. The Hawaiian talent backed up the score with a 7.67 to solidify the win. . . .Patacchia is currently sitting in the No. 3 position on the ASP World Tour after two events and was using the premier ASP WQS 6-Star PRIME to help his competitive focus before launching into the Billabong Pro Teahupoo next week.
We couldn’t be happier for him. For the rest of the details, follow the jump for the official press release.
[click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 1, 2009
Bruce McFarland, the guy who worked for nearly ten years with WaveLoch Tool & Die on the Flowrider is apparently kicking off American Wave Machines first “standing wave machine in the Western Hemisphere at the grand opening of the Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villas & Spa’s Pirate’s Island Waterpark on May 14-18, 2009.
“It is a great experience working with Beaches Resorts and the Ron Jon Surf School to create authentic bodyboarding and surfing for visitors and guests,” said Bruce McFarland, president of AWM. “Beaches guests were really excited that SurfStream is now at the resort and let us know that riding SurfStream felt just like riding a wave in the ocean.”
Seems there is no end to the world’s appetite for fake non-ocean waves. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on April 29, 2009
According to a news release posted yesterday on the SIMA website the 12th Annual Surf Summit has been “post-poned” due to fears over Mexico’s latest export to the United States: Swine Flu.
As of yesterday afternoon, April 27, 2009, the Center for Disease Control has recommended that people avoid all non-essential travel to Mexico at this time. The health and safety of the SIMA Surf Summit attendees and staff are our first priority. . . . SIMA Surf Summit 12 is NOT cancelled, only postponed from the May 6-9 dates. SIMA is working now to determine new event dates for the near future when the situation is better contained and it is safe to travel. New event dates will most likely be announced later this week.
In other words don’t go asking for your money back just yet. Seems like members of the surf industry really could go anywhere to talk, drink, and spend a couple afternoons swimming in pools of their own urine. Couldn’t they?
[Link: SIMA]
by The Editors on April 28, 2009
Surfer John Stevens, 17, was reported missing near Florida’s Navarre Beach Pier on Saturday April 25, 2009 but it wasn’t until two days later that his body was found by a couple walking on a National Seashore beach five miles West of the pier, according to a story on PNJ.com
“They went out to give assistance and pulled him into the shore and observed that he was obviously deceased,” Jordan said.“It’s a body of a white male and the physical description matches that of John Stevens who disappeared Saturday.”
The incident is under investigation.
[Link: PNJ.com]
by The Editors on April 26, 2009
The waiting period for the 6 star Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro begins next Tuesday April 28, 2009.
Lowers is one of the few singular events on the ASP World Qualifying Series schedule that has played a critical role in defining the path that future greats would walk down. Jeff Booth, Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Shane Beschen, CJ Hobgood and Benny Bourgeois all have hoisted the trophy.
True. But the big question: will this swell hold on until then?
[Link: Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro]
by The Editors on April 24, 2009
A surfer who was found floating face down yesterday in the surf off Laguna Beach, Calfornia’s Crystal Cove State Beach likely hit his head on the ocean floor, according to a story in the Daily Pilot.
Newport Beach Battalion Chief Steve Bunting said the man, whose name and age were not immediately available, was surfing with friends Thursday morning when he injured himself and couldn’t swim to shore on his own. . . The group was surfing on the southern tip of Crystal Cove, also known as El Morro, about 8 a.m. when one of them called 911 about their fellow surfer. One in the group, a trained Emergency Medical Technician and student at Saddleback College, swam to his friend and turned him face up, opening his airway, Bunting said. The surfer was breathing and talking as the men swam him to shore, he said.
The man was helicoptered to Mission Hospital’s trauma center and admitted with moderate injuries.
[Link: Daily Pilot]
by The Editors on April 22, 2009
The Newport Beach Film Festival begins on Friday April 24, 2009 and included in the festival is The Action Sports Film Series presented by etnies, Fuel TV, and Surfing Magazine.
Here are just a few of the 20 films and five world premieres: Echo Beach, The Lost Wave, P. Rod’s Street Dreams, Travis Rice’s That’s It, That’s All, and “The Malloys” in Waveriders.
We’d link directly to the show times for the Action Sports Series, but we can’t because the site is in Flash. You’ll have to find it yourself. Flash is rad.
[Link: Newport Beach Film Festival]
Mainland Mexico surf tourism has its work cut out for it this year. As if swine flu isn’t enough of a deterant, LA Times action blogger Pete Thomas reminds everyone that last May two surfers were killed by sharks and another had his hand ripped up while surfing in Zihuatanejo. .
