The quick thinking of a skimboarder at Laguna Beach, California’s Aliso Beach saved the life of a toddler on Saturday, May 25, 2013, according to a story in the Laguna Beach Independent.
Pat Watson, 46, who took up skim boarding after moving from Hawaii in 1991, said he threw his board aside and took off in a dead sprint when he saw a child tumbling down the sand berm into swirling whitewater. “I couldn’t see anyone else moving,” said Watson, who was skimming with his son, Danny, 18. They both “bolted” for the child. . . “I was on it,” Watson said. He figures he covered 75 yards before diving into the surf, even though he had yet to see the child resurface. Incredibly, Watson caught sight of her underwater and grabbed her diaper. “I knew she’d been under water at least 15 seconds,” said Watson, who held the baby up overhead while still trying to get his footing before another wave overtook them.
Aliso Beach’s steep sandy beach and pounding shore break is world famous for skimboarding and for catching people completely off guard. The mother and child were walking on the sand when a wave blasted them both into the water. Thanks to Pat Watson, one family is still whole. Equally amazing is that former lifeguard Craig Brashier caught the entire rescue in photos. Click the link for the rest of the story.
Project WOO (Wave of Optimism), a 7-year-old non-profit founded by ex-Peace Corp volunteers, is currently working in Playa Gigante, Nicaragua to create a sustainable community based partially on surf tourism. They’re doing well with the program, however, they’ve turned to Indiegogo.com to help raise funds to do more.
The non-profit has already started a surf-mentorship program where kids can earn donated boards through community service, initiated a waste management program, and procured a school bus that facilitates education. Our next project is a health center and we’re using the crowd-funding site indiegogo.com (link to our page) to help raise money from surfers who have been touched by this beautiful paradise.
The organization is run in Nicaragua by Palos Verdes, California bred surfer Bo Fox, and the Executive Director stateside is Trent Gordon. Watch the edit, click the link to the Project WOO website for more info and then made a donation if you feel compelled. They’d like to raise $15,000 for this project and with 38 days left, they’re already halfway there. It’s hard not to feel good about what Fox and Gordon are doing. Especially when you see the smiles on the kids’ faces.
“We are very pleased to have finalized the deal between the ASP and the Big Wave World Tour,” Paul Speaker, ASP CEO, said. “The competitors on the BWWT are some of the fiercest and most-respected watermen on the planet and we are eager about the opportunity to take their tour to the next level. This arrangement also allows the world’s best surfers on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) to compete in big-wave events moving forward. 2014 will be an exciting year on all fronts.”
The tour, founded by big wave surfer Gary Linden is made up of six international events including Pichilemu, Chile; Punta Hermosa, Peru; Lincoln City, Oregon; Half Moon Bay, California; Baja California,Mexico; and Punta Galea,Spain. For the official word from the ASP, follow the jump.
Now this is one collab everyone can gouge right into a wave. Here’s what Brixton has to say about their Futures Fin deal with Captain Fin:
Each fin has it’s own fun graphic. Plus you get a nice shot of Upton freaking out. This set is perfect for your new setup. Be cool stay in school. Honeycomb construction. Check your local shop or the Captain Fin store. Shred.
Ah, yes. A new set up. Guess we could start with a set of good looking fins, right?
Every surfer needs someone whose looking out for them and Sebastian Zietz just went with about as big a someone as a surfer can get by signing with Octagon. There he will join other athletes like Michael Phelps, Apolo Anto Ono, Alana Blanchard, Mitchie Brusco, and Jamie Anderson just to name a few.
“Seabass is one of the top young surfers in the sport who carries movie-star charisma that is fresh and appealing to fans and sponsors,” said Amen Teter, Octagon’s Action Sports Director. “The sky is the limit for Seabass. He has the talent to compete and win big events on the ASP World Tour and a personality to match. We are excited about the opportunities to expand his profile.”
We’re sure they are and now Seabass has Amen Teter to reach out to sponsors and say, “Pay me.” For the official word from Octagon, follow the jump.
Kane Stewart, son of San Clemente, California’s longboard shaping icon Bill Stewart, is doing lead vocals in a band with his cousin Brad Shultz (of Cage The Elephant) called Plastic Visions. Their debut EP dropped on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 and this is their first single. It’s called Kamikaze and itsounds pretty good, like The Pixies. Watch the edit and you’ll see.
Reality webisodes returns to the Northshore of Oahu with Network A’s new series Surf House. The 8-episode video series features “marketable” surfers on the up Mitch Crews, Alisha Gonsalves, Michael Dunphy, and Bree Kleintop doing their best to survive and flourish on the North Shore while not wearing a whole lot. Sounds like another recipe for success.
Starting Monday, May 20, Surf House will air exclusively on Network A and stars four upcoming professional surfers as they navigate their way through the trials of competitive surfing, the chaos of shared living, and other real world drama. . . Surf House was shot and directed by Jamie Tierney, Quiksilver’s main videographer from 2005-2011. During his time at Quiksilver, Jamie produced countless hours of surf footage and worked with the hottest names in professional surfing including Kelly Slater and Dane Reynolds.
If we’re going to watch reality surf edits they might as well be from Hawaii. Check it.
“Makaha Surf” Mixed-Media Original Painting, by John Severson
The Artist Republic 4 Tomorrow, in conjunction with Surfline, Thalia Surf Shop and Vans, is hosting the opening reception for The Surf Gallery retrospective Expression Session on Saturday, June 1, 2013. The show features art from some great surf artists and photographers including: Art Brewer, Ben Brough, Thomas Campbell, Joe Curren, Harry Daily, Andy Davis, Ned Evans, Julie Goldstein, Andrew Holder, David Lloyd, Jason Murray, John Severson, Kevin Short, Pat Tobin, Patrick Trefz, Tyler Warren, and Alex Weinstein. And it’s all currated by The Surf Gallery’sWill Pennartz.
When The Surf Gallery opened its doors in 2001, it was the only gallery in the world dedicated to surf-related art and photography. Will’s mission was to blend contemporary art and more traditional surf imagery – a reflection of the changing modern surf culture. And he did it. The Surf Gallery, tucked between Thalia Street Surf Shop and Goko Cafe, just up the steps from the famous Thalia Street Surf break made waves – large ones. “There was a movement happening in surf culture,” explains Will Pennartz says. “It just needed a home, and The Surf Gallery was my way to share it with the world.”
For the past two years, Brad and Sheena Van Orden have been piloting their 1984 Volkswagon Vanagon “Nacho” around the world in search of adventure and documenting that search on the website Drive Nacho Drive. Now they have Freewaters helping them along on their mission. The Van Ordens are the casual and conscious footwear company’s newest ambassadors.
“Brad and Sheena (and of course Nacho) epitomize what the Freewaters ethos is all about: the freedom of travel and road tripping, being global citizens and daring to chart one’s own path in life,” says Freewaters Co-Founder Eli Marmar. “The long and rugged quality of their trip makes them ideal product testers and brand messengers. We have a ton of respect for what they are doing and are very happy to have them as ambassadors.”
Follow the jump for the official word from Freewaters, or click here to learn more about the goals of the Drive Nacho Drive project.
It’s taken Jordy Smith a while, but he finally won an ASP event outside South Africa as he edged Brazilian surf hero Adriano de Souza 17.80 to 16.34 in the Billabong Rio Pro on Sunday, May 19, 2013 in two- to four-foot surf. It was Smith’s third ASP World Tour win.
“This win feels unbelievable,” Smith said. “It’s another dream come true. I knew I could win a World Tour event, but I had to prove to myself that I could do it away from South Africa. Thanks to crowd and Adriano (de Souza). He’s been ripping the whole event. Thanks to all of my friends and family for all of the amazing support.”
His appearance in the final pushed de Souza into the lead in the ASP World Rankings just head of Jordy. That and beating Kelly Slater in quarter final one, added up to a pretty good day for the Brazilian even if it wasn’t another win. For the official word, including scores and top five World rankings, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
The quick thinking of a skimboarder at Laguna Beach, California’s Aliso Beach saved the life of a toddler on Saturday, May 25, 2013, according to a story in the Laguna Beach Independent.
