Surfing

The May issue of Surfer Magazine features an essay by Lewis Samuels titled, Culture of Cool: Surfers Are Sheep. Here Are The Details. The bit features the following line that few can honestly argue with:

I want to believe I’m an individual. I want to believe that my life choices add up to something unique. But the evidence sure as hell suggests otherwise. I’m indistinguishable from the rest of the surf-hipster herd. The sad thing is, I don’t even feel like part of the tribe. Instead, I am who I hate.

Click the link for the rest for more of the annoying-yet-compelling hipster navel gazing that Samuels does so well.

[Link: Surfer Magazine]

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Not saying that the ASP needs more World Championship Tour events or anything, but they just announced that the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro will be a and official WCT stop on the 2013 for women and 2014 for the men.

“ASP is very pleased to announce the sanctioning of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro as a WCT event in the coming years,” Renato Hickel, ASP WCT Manager, said. “Margaret River is a long-standing event on the ASP World Tour and a favorite stop for many of the world’s top men’s and women’s surfers already. We are pleased to add such a quality event and location to our elite World Championship Tour.”

Taj Burrow must be happy. For the official word, follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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In an opening ceremony held today (November 10, 2012) on the beach at Mavericks, the waiting period for the Mavericks Invitational big wave contest officially started. And nearly all of the 24 invited surfers were there to celebrate.

“The surfers look forward to the ceremony to reconnect with each other and with Mavericks,” said contest director Jeff Clark, who introduced the surfers and led the group in a prayer. “It’s the coming together of the family and the brotherhood that goes way deeper than surfing. It helps us remember that it is a power much greater than us that allows us to challenge one of the greatest forces of nature.”

For the official word, including heat lineups follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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The Junior Seau Amphitheater at the Oceanside Pier in California was packed Saturday morning, November 10, 2012 as the surf world gathered to remember legendary surfer and surfboard shaper Donald Takayama.

Under sunny skies and buffeted by a strong north wind, music was played, surf legends talked story, and people shared their stories. Members of the Takayama family spoke, two-time ASP World Longboard Champion and Hawaiian Pro Designs team rider Joel Tudor spoke, but it was two-time world surfing champion Nat Young (right) who wrapped things up.

“Donald Takayama was welcome always every where around the world because all he did was just give,” said Young, becoming emotional. “And I tell you, over the years I’ve head a lot of people talk about aloha spirit. And not a lot of people live by that code, but Donald was it. You know. And he’s always treated everybody the same because he had respect for everybody. And he believed that surfers were like a true brotherhood and we talked about this many times, you know. I just hope that infectious DT character and his whole spirit filters down to the young ones who carry on this activity.”

After a short break close to 200 surfers paddled out to give Takayama the classic surfer’s send off. Follow the jump for more photos from the day. [click to continue…]

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The surfing community will gather at the Oceanside, California Pier on Saturday, November 10 to remember the life of legendary surfer and shaper Donald Takayama who died on Monday, October 22, 2012 at the age of 68.

. . . the Hawaiian born surfing legend and master surfboard shaper/designer that moved to California in the 1960s and became one of the world’s most celebrated surfboard builders. . . This memorial service is open to the public and will have a host of legendary surfers and speakers to share stories about Donald the surfer, the shaper, and friend of the surfing community.

The memorial begins at 9:30 AM on Saturday November 10, 2012 at the Junior Seau Pier Amphitheater. Speakers will include Joel Tudor, Nat Young, Paul Strauch, Linda Benson, Skip Frye, Cori Schumacher, members of the Takayama family, as well as Devon Howard, Jeanette Schumacher and Brendan White on behalf of Hawaiian Pro Designs. For all the info, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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Following the fall out of the 2012 O’Neill Cold Water Classic the question Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, and Mick Fanning fans keep asking is what will it take for their guy to win the 2012 ASP World Championship title. Here’s the “if list” from the ASP:

If Parkinson finishes 13th, 9th or 5th at the Billabong Pipe Masters:
– Slater needs a 5th or higher to take the 2012 ASP World Title.
– Fanning needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title.*
*Contingent upon Slater finishing 5th or Lower at Pipeline.
If Parkinson finishes Equal 3rd at the Billabong Pipe Masters:
– Slater needs a 3rd or higher to take the 2012 ASP World Title.
– Fanning needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title.*
*Contingent upon Slater finishing 5th or Lower at Pipeline.
If Parkinson finishes 2nd at the Billabong Pipe Masters:
– Slater needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title.
– Fanning cannot win the 2012 ASP World Title.

To cut to the chase, all Parko has to do is win the Billabong Pipeline Masters (for the first time) and he’s got the title. Follow the jump for the official word from the ASP. [click to continue…]

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The last minute of the 2012 O’Neill Cold Water Classic was set up for the history books. Taj Burrow, the seasoned tour veteran with 10 ASP Tour victories, was leading Matty Wilkinson in his first ever final appearance. Wilko needed a 5.9 and even with priority it looked impossible. Then the crowd began to hoot. On the horizon a bump began to peek up out of the surrounding ocean and Burrow knew that his lossless event hung in the balance of this last wave. While Burrow sat, Wilko paddled in, got two turns and launched a backside floater. But he didn’t land it. The judges gave Wilco a 5.5 and the win when to Burrow.

“This win feels incredible,” Burrow said. “It happens sometimes where you never feel like you have the best heats. I was kind of in the zone. I never really had a good heat the whole event, but I still felt good. It’s such a tricky wave and I guess the only thing that helped was my wave count. That Final was the battle of the back-ups. We both stacked it on a couple and we were in a fluster. Wilko (Matt Wilkinson) fell on that last one and he would have got the score, but I’ll take it.”

For the official word from the ASP follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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