by The Editors on February 27, 2008
We told you about A. Garrett Lisi months ago. He’s the surfer/ snowboarder who claims to have created a unification theory called, “Exceptionally Simple Theory of Everything.” But world physicists didn’t buy it and, in fact, still haven’t. Wired Magazine interviewed Lisi recently. Here’s what he had to say:
It is extraordinarily difficult, even in academia, to find a job that will let you do whatever you want with your time. If you are determined to spend your time following your own interests, you pretty much have to do it on your own. After my Ph.D., there just weren’t any positions open to support the research I wanted to do. And, of course, the surfing and windsurfing in Maui is amazingly good. I did the best I could to make my daydreams happen — and that didn’t put me in an office.
For the rest of the interview (which is mostly about string theory and physics) click the link.
[Link: Wired.com]
by The Editors on February 26, 2008
From the Honolulu Advertiser:
World-class surfers Andy and Bruce Irons are among dozens of investors owed millions by now-bankrupt Kaua’i mortgage lender James W. Lull.
Lull, Kaua’i branch manager of mortgage lender U.S. Financial Mortgage Corp. from 1994 to 2006, filed personal bankruptcy papers in December 2006, listing more than $31 million in debts and $6.7 million in assets.
The total amount owed by Lull is now believed to be $50 million, according to Stephen Jones, attorney for the trustee overseeing Lull’s bankruptcy case.
The trustee, Ronald Kotoshirodo, alleged in court papers that Lull operated a massive “Ponzi scheme” that duped investors with false promises of high interest rate returns on low risk investments.
Andy and Bruce’s Dad Bill Irons says his boys are lucky. “They’re young, they’re successful, but some of the people here, they’ve lost their life savings,” he said.
[Link: Honolulu Advertiser]
by The Editors on February 22, 2008
From the Daily Pilot:
Jack’s Surfboards in Huntington Beach added $9,000 to the $1,000 reward offered by nonprofit organization Crime Stoppers for any information leading to an arrest in the case of the death of a Hurley International intern.
Dane Williams, who lived in Huntington Beach, was last seen Jan. 26 in San Diego’s Gaslamp District.
His body was found three days later, miles away in the City Heights neighborhood.
“Dane was part of the surfing community,” said Jim Johnson, the head of Crime Stoppers San Diego. “Jack’s just reached out and offered the money and it’s a great thing.”
[Link: Daily Pilot]
by The Editors on February 20, 2008
Apparently, the surf was so big on Wednesday February 20, 2008 at Froggy’s near Snapper Rocks that three-time World Champion Andy Irons got “bashed on the rocks.”
The three-time world champion had been attempting to paddle out at Froggys, near Snapper Rocks, when a large wave washed him back on to the rocks. . . .This was quickly followed by a second wave, pushing him further into the jagged rocks. . . .Both his arms were cut and his board was in tatters.
An onlooker who reportedly spoke to Andy said that he mentioned that he hadn’t “been smashed in about five years and was left fairly rattled.” Then again, this was reported in the Australian press.
[Link: Goldcoast.com.au]
by The Editors on February 18, 2008
At the recent Billabong-Pro Open women’s event in Whagamata, New Zealand, Mishca Davis, the winner of the event, was supposed to take home a $750 prize. But she wasn’t so happy about that when she found out that the top prize at the Von Zipper Bikini Contest held later that night was $1,000.
“I was expecting to win about a grand,” Davis said. “The heat sheet said $750. During the contest they started announcing the bikini contest that was going to be on and then they said the first place winner was going to get a grand and it was like what?”
”At first it was a bit funny, and then I was a little bit angry, because a thousand dollars is a lot of money,” Thomas said. “Theres a big difference between 1st place in a women’s surfing competition and a bikini contest. It just doesn’t seem to add up.”
When New Zealand’s TV3 tried to contact Billabong corporate communications office in Australia, Billabong would not respond, instead they provided the station with information about the amount of money Billabong contributes to surfing sponsorship.
Nice, spin, Billabong. Be sure to watch the video. Amazingly funny, stuff.
[Link: TV3]
by The Editors on February 17, 2008
From the Sunshine Coast Daily:
A gathering of the world’s leading surf companies next month is rapidly shaping as a test of their environmental commitment, with keynote speaker Dave Rastovich’s battle with Japanese dolphin hunters already impacting on multi-billion dollar retail sales in that country.
Rastovich, recently named the face of Billabong’s “Be The Change You Want In The World” environmental campaign, will address the Tropicsurf Summit, which is part of the 2008 Global Surf Industries Noosa Festival of Surfing from March 3-9.
[Link: The Daily]
by The Editors on February 14, 2008
Matt Skenazy spends the day with surfer/journalist Daniel Duane author of Caught Inside: A Surfer’s Year on the California Coast and finds him pretty much exactly how you’d expect to find a freelance writer: spending time with his wife and kids, visiting the Saturday farmers market and sending out queries. Matt Warshaw and Steve Hawk are quoted.
[Link: City Hill Press]
by The Editors on February 13, 2008
From The Daily Telegraph:
JAPANESE “Yakuza” gangsters have launched a campaign of intimidation to force a media blackout on the furore surrounding the country’s killing of dolphins and whales, it was claimed yesterday.
Australian surfer Dave Rastovich attracted world headlines after he and conservationists including actress Isabel Lucas travelled to the Japanese fishing village of Taiji last year to protest at its annual dolphin kill.
Rasta says:
“These are the goons from the fishing industry who are visiting surf stores intimidating people and threatening to punish them financially,” Rastovich said.
“People are feeling it. They are washing their hands of us. They don’t feel safe”.
[Link: The Daily Telegraph]
by The Editors on February 12, 2008
Guess standing out in the water holding a paddle can get pretty boring. Maybe that’s why Laird Hamilton has decided he needs a little tunage while he’s out janitoring.
H2O Audio, the leading watersports music company, announced today that Laird Hamilton has officially been appointed to its Board of Directors. As a member of the Board, Hamilton will be strategically guiding the company with marketing its brand and developing its next generation of surf/music products.
Luckily, their product is already solid.
[Link: PR Newswire]
by The Editors on February 12, 2008
The New York Daily News‘ Jim Farber says Jack Johnson’s new, darker album Sleep Through The Static has “a certain blandness to it all.” In fact, he titled his review “Jack Johnson’s surf sound wipes out in serious undertow.”
By his measure, this may mark an uptick in seriousness. But even the breeziest surfer’s soul deserves more.
Clever, huh?
[Link: New York Daily News]
