The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that thanks to some new findings the legendary Duke Kahanamoku may not have been the first person to ride the wild surf on the beaches of Australia.
The story of the Duke being the first to surf in Australia is a romantic myth,” Mr Maddox said. “I think it is time that Manly Council acknowledged the true birthplace of surfing and put up a monument outside the club on Manly Beach to rival the bronze statue of the Duke.” . . . Mr Maddox’s research, contained in a new book, 100 Years – A Celebration Of Surf Life Saving At North Steyne, has caused a stir in the surfing community.
Historian Mark Maddox claims that Charles Paterson, the first president of the North Steyne lifesaving club, brought a surfboard back from Hawaii several years before Duke’s widely celebrated ride.
SnowboarderEric McConeghy, 28, suffocated to death at Mt. Hood Meadows yesterday, December 27, 2007, after falling into a large hole at the base of a lift tower.
Investigators said the man fell in a snow well at the base of a pole under a chairlift face first. Friends tried to pull him out of the well, authorities said, but he suffocated. . . Authorities have not released the victim’s name.
Though it has been officially ruled an accident, we find it hard to believe the mountain would have allowed those wells to exist. Packing in the snow at the base of lift towers is job number one for rookie ski patrollers.
It’s the grunge comeup. Vans Syndicate had teamed up with the “Portland based wool mill, Pendleton” for some flyin’ the flannel Vans. [Link: Slamxhype]
If so, then a new ride at the Les Deux Alps ski resort in France may be just what you’re looking for. Developed by businessman Marc Dode (really, “Dode”), the ride simulates what it’s like to be “crushed by tons of snow.”
The “Robocoaster,” as it is called, was the brainchild of of local businessman Marc Dode, who lost a friend in an avalanche several years ago. The simulator is encased in a large dome that features two cabins and a large fan to blow cold air.
The ride lasts two minutes and costs $14 a ride. That’s much cheaper than heli time at Tsaina Lodge.
For couples who surf, having children can really get in the way of time in the water. This is especially true for moms. That’s why Vanessa Thompson, an Australian woman, co-founded “Surfing Mums.”
“Surfing Mums started with two mums who just wanted to go for a surf,” she said. “Mums are committed to a 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week job. There is no time to surf before a job or after. They can’t jump in for a quick surf while the baby is asleep or sneak off while they are playing contentedly on the sand. . . . “They need other surfing mums who understand their needs as a surfer and as a mum.”
Now the moms trade up watching the kids and get much more time in the water. It’s probably time for a similar set up in SoCal. Anyone want to get this started?
Bam Margera’s Uncle Vincent “Don Vito” Marera has been sentenced to “10 years to life on probation after he was convicted on two counts of sexual assault on a child,” according to a story on Pennlive.com.
Vincent Margera, 51, of West Chester, Pa., was also ordered Thursday not to appear as the Don Vito character for 10 years. His defense attorney had argued that Margera had taken on Don Vito’s outrageous and profane character at the time of the incident. . . .Margera was also ordered to register as a sex offender, get substance abuse treatment and undergo a mental health evaluation.
Chris Harazda, 54, of Melbourne, Florida died Sunday December 16, 2007 of a heart attack while surfing in Jupiter.
He began paddling toward the beach after suffering chest pains. He died shortly after. . . About 200 family members and friends paid tribute to Melbourne surfer Chris Harazda in a ceremony this morning at the beach across from Patrick Air Force Base.
According to an email we reveived today “the Stereo Sound Agency would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday! We wanted to give all you Stereo fans out there a fantastic Holiday present in the form of this amazing 2007 Year In Pictures Stereo photo montage put together by Yoon Sul aka Agent Poon. Click here to check it out.”
This has been a great year for the Stereo Sound Agency and 2008 will be even more epic. Look out for new features coming to the Stereo Sound Agency website, Stereo tours and of course, the much anticipated new Stereo video. Happy Holidays!
