Brett Bean, a 43-year-old surfer who summers in Phuket, Thailand and winters as ski instructor in California has been missing since November 29, 2012, according to a story in the Phuket News.
Mrs Bean [Brett’s mother] told reporters that in his most recent email to her, at 12.20 Thailand time on November 26, he told her that he was going out to join a friend for lunch. There were no emails after that. . . On November 29 she went to meet him, as arranged, at Los Angeles International Airport but he never showed. She contacted staff of the airline, Cathay Pacific, who said that he had been booked on the flight but had not turned up for it. . . Since that last email, two withdrawals have been made from his bank account.
The withdrawals were for about US$50 each and the account is now empty. Also missing from his apartment were wallet, mobile phone, notebook computer, and his Honda Wave motorcycle. Bean’s mother is nowin Thailand hoping to find her son. She has offered a reward. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact call Ms Ananya at 089-646-4191 or Denny Bowman, US Embassy coordinator, at 089-973-3483.
Surfers in the Billabong Pipeline Masters in Memory of Andy Irons rolled all the way into Round 4 before the light began to fade. And it was a day of epic surf and hits and misses. Sebasitan Zietz secured the 2012 Vans Triple Crown win in Round 2, took out 2011 Triple Crown winner John John Florence in Round 3, and then topped Damien Hobgood and Dane Reynolds in the non-elimination Round 4. Shane Dorian took out Alejo Muniz in Round 2 and then did the same to Mick Fanning on Round 3 ending Fanning’s slim hopes of a world title. Joel Parkinson quieted any negative voices when he commandingly dominated C.J. Hobgood and Kieren Perrow in his Round 4 heat.
“It’s good to get in the water and start the game,” Parkinson said. “It was torture watching yesterday, but it’s a nervous frustration. You’ve got to scramble at the start and stay patient at the end. I tried to get a couple of early ones and then wait. I got folded on a crazy left and then found that perfect drainer on the right. Backdoor can offer the best section to lay one over and it had the perfect part to lay one over. It felt so good to do that.”
At Pipeline in December surfers either advance out of their heat or their season comes to an abrupt end. And that’s so often makes the Pipeline Masters a bitter sweet event.
The next heat will see World Title hopeful Kelly Slater face off against Gabriel Medina and Josh Kerr in Round 4 Heat 3. We’ll see that either Monday or maybe on Friday when the next swell is supposed to arrive. We’ll keep you posted on the call.
For the official word from the ASP including results, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
In one of the most amazing Vans Triple Crown runs in its 30 year History Kauai’s Sebastian Zietz, 24, took the 2012 title with a win at Haleiwa, a third at Sunset, and after eliminating John John Florence in round 3 has won his fourth round heat and moved directly into the quarter finals of the Billabong Pipeline Masters in Memory of Andy Irons.
“I’m super stoked,” Zietz said. “I’m just doing it for everyone in Kauai and everyone in Hawaii. Thanks everyone who comes down and watches us, you’re the reason we have a job. Thanks to Andy (Irons), you’re the one giving me the power. I’m so stoked. I don’t know what to say. It’s just amazing. I’d like to thank everyone who was a part of it. So many people have helped me throughout my life. The list goes on and on, you guys know who you are.”
“After our brief hold this morning our new swell is filling in and we’ll get underway with Round 1,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge said. “The surf is expected to build throughout the day and we should see some nice barrels for the opening round of competition.”
For the official word and complete heat draw, follow the jump [click to continue…]
In October 2012, Kelly Slater’s North Shore home was burglarized. Here he talks with KHON2 about the rip-off and what he’s doing to help raise money for people in need during the holidays. For Slater’s handwritten list of things stolen, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
There weren’t a whole lot of surprises at last night’s (December 7, 2012) Surfer Poll Awards at the Turtle Bay Resort, on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Kelly Slater won his 18th number 1 surfer award and Stephanie Gilmore took home her third. Kai Neville’s Dear Suburbia won for best surf film.
Slater, in spite of winning every year grows more gracious with each award.
“Obviously I’m stoked, it’s been a long time with a lot of support from a lot of people,” said Slater. “It’s definitely nice to be recognized by the surfing community and to come out at the top position. I’m surprised John John didn’t get first. I also thought Dane was going to get it this year—maybe next year. I think they split each other’s votes. They stole the election from each other.”
Congrats, to the winners. One thing: they girls rocked the fashion and the guys, well, lets just say a stripped T-shirts and baggy backpack just doesn’t do it for an event as big as The Surfer Poll Awards.
For the official word, and all the results, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
A 60-year-old surfer on the Westside of Kauai was hit on the left foot by a shark on Wednesday afternoon (December 5, 2012) at about 1:20 PM at Pakala Beach, according to a story in The Garden Isle.
The surfer told officials he saw the shark bite his [left] foot. . . Officials estimate the shark to be at least 10 feet long, according to a report from the Department of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.
Sound like the man is doing fine. And that’s good.
Tonight, December 6, 2012, Thomas Campbell is posting up at the Thalia Surf Shop in Laguna Beach, California to celebrate the release of his new surf photography book, Slide Your Brains Out. There will also be a musical performance by the stunning smooth Mattson 2.
Party begins at 6 PM. Thalia Surf Shop is located at 915 Coast Highway in Laguna Beach.
Seems like everyone on the North Shore showed up at the skatepark last night (December 5, 2012) for the premiere of the Blake Kueny/2 John Florence joint Done. Until the rest of us get a chance to view it, this little teaser will have to do.
Brett Bean, a 43-year-old surfer who summers in Phuket, Thailand and winters as ski instructor in California has been missing since November 29, 2012, according to a story in the Phuket News.
