New York City art gallery The Hole is presenting a new show of works by Herbie Fletcher titled Wrecktangles. Here’s how The Hole describes the paintings:
These artworks are massive and vital, like the huge waves this artist was known for pioneering during his fifty-year plus career as a surfer. These pieces are made from the wave-munched fragments of broken boards actually used when surfing giant waves. The thunderous force of the ocean is apparent in these jagged and mishapen “wrecktangles”, but perhaps the most eye-catching component is the various decals, traction pads, fins or logos that show both the personalization of each board and the sponsorship and awards circuits of pro surfing.
Yes, these pieces (like Pipeline Wrecktangle XIV, 2011 above) are broken surfboards fastened together, and apparently they are very collectable. The Wrecktangles show opening party is Saturday, February 9, 2013 from 6 to 9 PM. The show runs through February 28, 2013. The Hole is located at 312 Bowery in New York City.
John John Florence surfed with confidence throughout the entire Volcom Pipe Pro. But getting the warriors helmet was anything but easy. With legends all around and the chaos four-man heats Florence used all his local knowledge and got it done in the final against Chris Ward, Josh Kerr, and Olamana Eleogram.
“It was definitely a special final for me, my third time in a row, I can’t even believe it,” said Florence. “I was just happy to make it through today really, because the waves were small but still really good. Surfing the four man heats in small, peaky conditions like that is really tough and it’s quite a battle to even get a wave. I’m glad I snuck some in.”
In the quarter finals Florence went up against three Pipeline event winners in one heat: Jamie O’Brien, Reef McIntosh, and Bruce Irons. Yet, he survived.
“That quarter final heat was a scary one,” Florence said. So many of the guys that I really respect and have watched since I was so little. I knew I was going to have to go out there and paddle battle because it’s small. But I don’t want to paddle battle the guys I’ve been looking up to since I was little, so I kind of just went out and did what I could to sneak in a couple waves.”
The Volcom Pipeline Pro WQS five-star event slammed through its second day of competition on February 1, 2013 and competitors moved through into the round of 64 in some pretty making surf at the Pipe.
The early competitors had their work cut out for them as they faced much larger, more dangerous and inconsistent waves than the previous day. These warriors however, seemed unfazed by this, taking on the situation with tenacity and battling for occasional monster barrels that left the spectators baffled. Competitors who fought the hardest and had a little luck on their side were able to put a score together that advanced them to the next round.
Garrett McNamara has reported surfed a “100-foot wave” in Nazaré, Portugal. It is one of the gnarliest looking waves we’ve seen, and McNamara is a master of his craft, but doesn’t it seem like the measuring sticks just keep getting shorter and shorter? At this rate someone will undoubtedly surf a 300 foot wave by 2020. Click the link for the misleadingly edited video.
Big wave surfer Mike Parsons was surfing San Francisco’s Ocean Beach on Sunday, January 20, 2013, when he got in late on 10 – 12 foot wave and ended up going down hard, according to a story on Surfline.
“It was amazing out there, I was having the best time; everyone was getting waves,” Snips said. “I was having a blast. About four hours into the session, I was looking for one in, and a nice set was coming. I paddled for the third wave, thinking I’d get in a little early with a chip shot out the back.” . . Turned out to be not the case. “I thought I was into it, then suddenly realized I wasn’t. I took two more strokes and tried to stand up in what turned out to be the lip. I free fell, and remember my feet hitting my board for a second, then my head hit the water really hard.”
That hit reportedly cracked his C7 vertebrae. At first he thought he was paralyzed. Luckily, Parsons was wearing flotation and surfer Charlie Vaughn was close enough to hear his screams. According to the story Parsons will spend “six weeks in a neck brace, but he’s expected to make a full recovery. Click the link for the entire story.
As the San Francisco Chronicle’s Bruce Jenkins said in his story, “It wasn’t the greatest Mavericks surf contest ever held, but it will rank among the most memorable.” While it got off to a rough start with few to no ridable waves and some upset surfers, the 2013 Mavericks Invitational finished well for Peter Mel.
When Mel was announced the winner of Sunday’s event, held in powerful but inconsistent waves up to 30 feet, it was a cherished moment for anyone familiar with the spot’s colorful history. He’s 43 now, with a 9-to-5 job that takes him away from his beloved Santa Cruz, and he had bitter memories about the contest now known as the Mavericks Invitational.
The final results looked like this: 1. Peter Mel, 2. Zach Wormhoudt, 3. Greg Long, 4. Alex Martins, 5. Mark Healey, 6. Shawn Dollar. Click the link for the details.
Paul Santos was surfing Kiholo Bay Wednesday, January 16, 2013 on the Big Island of Hawaii when a 15-18 foot tiger shark bit down on his right arm and leg. His surfing buddy Steve Macres saw the entire thing, according to a story in the Star Advertiser.
“I turned around to go on a wave and heard him. I heard that blood-curdling scream. It was just so primordial. It was unbelievable and it went into an echo so I could tell while he was screaming, he went underwater,” Macres told KITV-TV. Macres said he saw the shark come out of the water, followed by a splash and then nothing. He said he thought his friend was dead and made a quick decision to paddle to shore. About 20 feet later, he decided to turn around to get another look. . . “I just see him paddling for me. It was just incredible. It was like he was just born again, I just went, ‘Oh God. Thank God.’ You know?” said Marcres. “And then he lifted his right arm and his hand was flopping and it was, the bone was connected and it didn’t break, but everything else was gone. I go, ‘Paddle Paul, paddle!”’
On Thursday Santos was at Kaiser Permanente’s Moanalua Medical Cetner in Honolulu, according to the story, where he was “in stable condition with bites to his right arm and leg.”
Big, big, big. Earlier this month in Orlando, Florida Surf Expo had it’s biggest show in its 37 year history. And here’s a little video to prove it, if you weren’t there to see it in person.
Next time you’re struggling to get in after a three wave thrashing at Ehukai the guys coming out to save you will be sporting the latest in Spy eyewear thanks to a new sponsorship agreement.
“The North Shore Lifeguards are watching the water better than ever thanks to our new SPY sunglasses,” says Abe Lerner, NSLA president. “Not only is the afternoon glare bearable with SPY Trident™ polarized lenses, but our eyes haven’t felt this good in years! We’re stoked SPY stepped up to support us in the job that we love to do.”
If they’re happy, we’re happy. Follow the jump for the official word from Spy. [click to continue…]
