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.
Tonight (December 6, 2012), some of the most beautiful people in the world (yes, better than the VS runway show) will arrive at the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu for the 2012 Surfer Poll Awards (online live tonight at 8 PM PST). But in anticipation of that event, check out Jay “Bottle” Thompson’s short edit on the Girls of Hawaii with comments from connoisseurs Matt Wilkinson, Evan Geiselman, Jack Freestone and Paul Fisher.
Australia’s Adam Melling took the Vans World Cup of Surfing and $40,000 in prize money yesterday (December 4, 2012) at Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. And he didn’t just sneak by a bunch of old B-teamers either. In the final he faced down Gabriel Medina, Ace Buchan and Reef Hawaiian Pro winner Sebastien Kietz.
“Waking up this morning I was like, this comp is going to be over today and I really want to be on that podium,” said Melling, who surfed a total of four heats today. “Pretty glad that I loaded myself with a lot of breakfast and just hit the vitamin water after each heat to keep a bit of energy in me. . . “I don’t know why it comes to this but on tour it’s definitely hard. It’s only 32 guys and they want it so bad and they all surf so good. Some of the smaller seeds come into play in heats especially man on man. I haven’t had too much luck this year but felt like my surfing’s been the best it’s ever been, so hopefully I don’t put myself in this position ever again.
Melling moves into a tie for second place in the Triple Crown rankings with Alejo Muniz behind Sebastien Zietz, and just ahead of John John Florence. We missed the final because, well, while surfing Sunset well may be one of the biggest challenges in professional surfing, it’s never really has held our online attention for more than a couple heats. But that’s our cross to bear.
Follow the jump for the official word from the Vans Triple Crown. [click to continue…]
The charity with the most votes in their respective category will receive $1 million, runner up will receive $500,000, 3rd place will receive $250,000, and 4th and 5th place will each receive $125,000 grants. . . “Every year we take over 3,500 autistic children who normally suffer from sensory overload and give them the profoundly healing experience of surfing at no charge,” said Co-Founder, Izzy Paskowitz. . . “For some kids, this experience becomes a rare moment of calm and connection. Every year we have to turn families away. Even $125,000 would allow us to reach many more autistic kids with this life changing experience.”
The artist/filmaker Thomas Campbell aka T Mossian has a new book out titled Slide your Brains Out.
The first of ten projected volumes in Um Yeah Press’ surf photobook series, Slide Your Brains Out compiles work from the past 15 years. Often lo-fi and gritty, other times lush and saturated, Campbell’s compositions–which include portraits and action shots of some of the best surfers in the world–are always surprising and full of emotion, from melancholy to exultation.
Transworld Surf’s Justin Cote drops in with a page view a-bomb with The Hottest Girls In Pro Surfing 2012 Edition. Yes, it’s just the sexist “girls that give us boners” kind of photo feature that you’d expect, but then again, apparently, being sexy is what drives the entire world. As a bonus, all 20 of them will kick your ass on the waves, so there’s that.
The list begins at 20th place with Courtney Conlogue and finishes right where you’d expect.
