According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel Seacliff and New Brighton state beaches have been closed “for up to seven days after visitors spotted a shark chomping on a porpoise off Seacliff beach about 3:10 p.m.”
“We have a confirmed predatory activity attack by a shark,” said Kirk Lingenfelter, superintendent with California State Parks, who ordered the closures when a four-foot long harbor porpoise washed up on Seacliff beach soon after the shark was spotted. . . Lingenfelter said researchers are still determining the size and type of the shark. Scientists with Long Marine Lab hauled the porpoise off for study Tuesday afternoon.
This is reportedly the first time in five years that a county beach has been closed due to a shark sighing. Marin County’s Stinson Beach closed yesterday after a sighting, but that seems to happen all the time.
The Association of Surfing Professional’s CEO Brodie Carr sits down with Surfing Life’s Chris Binns in Hossegor, France to discuss the rumors of the Kelly Slater Tour and about meeting with former boxing promoter Matt Tinley and Kelly Slater’s agent Terry Hardy. Brodies bottom line:
There are two schools of thought in surfing. One is that it needs to go more mainstream, the other is that what we have is pretty special, and going more mainstream is going to cannibalise that. You have to find the sweet spot in the middle so we don’t wreck what we have, so we’re not quick to jump away from what we already have unless it’s going to be great. We’ve taken 30 years to build the sport to what it is today, and yeah, the surf brands have been great and have made this what it is, as much as the surfers, so it would be irresponsible of us to make a decision quickly. We don’t want to rush anything, we want to take our time and assess everything and make sure we’re making the right decision for the sport, ’cos otherwise we might not be able to turn it back again.
While we tend to agree with “the other,” Carr’s level headed, logical responses to the questions show why he’s in the position he is. Read the rest for all the details.
A 17-year-old skateboarder Michael Wheatley of Severn, Maryland thought it would a fun to light his skateboard on fire and then ride it down the street then try to focus is while the video cameras rolled. Things didn’t go so well, according to The Arundel Muckracker.
Paramedics took the victim to the burn unit at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where he was being treated for the burns that could be deadly, said Lt. Stuart Peters, an Anne Arundel fire department spokesman.
Last week, various skateboarders and skating groups complained to parks officials and to L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Venice-area City Councilman Bill Rosendahl that the opening of the skateboard park should be staged by and for locals. . . This week, parks officials agreed. They pledged that “the people who have been waiting forever for that skate park will be the ones” who inaugurate it and skate there first.”
We always thought Altamont was a great name for a clothing company. Not because of the huge 1969 concert where a Hell’s Angel stabbed and killed a gun-toting meth head while the Rolling Stones played on, but because it is a nice word. Altamont. It just sounds good.
Now, Andrew Reynolds and and crew are going deeper into Altamont “the event” with a collaboration with photographer Bill Owens. His photos captured the concert at Altamont like no one else and now those same photos are on Altamont clothing. We’re not really down with the whole summer of love hippie thing, nor do we want any of them on our t-shirts, but the photos are amazing works of art.
Two American snowboarders who last week were found in possession of marijuana in New Zealand have apparently been granted “diversion,” according to a story on Planetski.eu.
The court heard the evidence yesterday and decided to grant them “diversion”. . . .This is a process whereby first-time offenders who meet certain criteria then pay an amount of money to a charity. . . They then avoid having a conviction entered against their name. . . It’s not clear how much the men had to pay or which charity benefited.
And the cool thing about New Zealand? Their names were never released. . . so we’ll never know who it was <smirk>. But we’re guessing they’re both going to do well in the New Zealand Open.
Dave Gatto, the former CEO of Reef has a new gig protecting all things technical. Yesterday, it was announced that he is the new CEO of bag and electronic’s covering company incase.
“With his proven background and experience in successfully growing lifestyle brands, Dave is the ideal complement to the core competencies of the company’s founders and existing management team,” stated Wahlstrom. “I am confident that Dave’s inspiring approach to business and life, proven skill set and leadership will bring us to our vision of being a globally recognized brand that represents design simplicity and innovation at the convergence of lifestyle and technology.”
Apparently, while not polishing his Olympic Bronze medal from Salt Lake City, snowboarder JJ Thomas has been crafting some electro pop music under the name of MileHi with friend Jeff Cormack.
Their new album Hits and Misses is available for download right here. Check it and you’ll get hot on the dance floor lyrics like this from For The Girls.
You, me, him and her, everybody lets roll. Don’t stop back it up come on lets go go. You girls look good tonight. This place is poppin, poppin. Since you walked in that door my jaw’s been dropping, dropping. Skinny jeans, my gawd girl you look so mean. Girl see the way you’ve been looking at me so right. I can’t wait to be alone and see what’s under those clothes tonight. Red lips, hair’s a mess. I like how you wear that dress. So stop take a drink and let’s get loose. Hey, girl it’s you and me grab your friend let’s make it three.
JJ getting freaky. Looks like he’s going more than his snowboard skills to work on this project. And it sounds, well, not that bad, actually.
New York City’s skate scene lost a legend yesterday when Andy Kessler died of an apparent allergic reaction, according to a post by Bryce Kanights on Skatedaily.net.
We are saddened to report this evening that The Grandmaster of 108, Andy Kessler died today from an apparent allergic reaction to a sting from a hornet while on the Montauk peninsula. He was one of New York City’s legendary pioneers of its core skate scene in the 70s and in later years became a huge proponent of the skateboarding community and its culture in the Big Apple. He will be greatly missed.
Epicly Later’d has a collection of photos of Andy right here.
Amazing to see Zulu kids skating with no outside influences. . . These kids are fearless, and not jaded by the media’s interpretation of what’s cool. True passion. . . These kids have style for days. Isthumba, Valley of 1000 HIlls, SA. . . Goodbye, Indigo Skate Camp. You are proof that skateboarding can change the world. Great work Dallas.
Seventy hours of travel for 48 hours of sharing. Tony Hawk just doesn’t stop giving back. . . these kids will remember it for a life time.
