First Suits

They got their first wetsuits and then proceeded to body surf for 2.5 hours. Me too

Wave Garden

The mad scientist surfers are still busy trying to create the utopian surf break . I have never seen a man made wave look epic..

Until now. Some where in Eastern Europe enters...



Wavegarden (Short) from wavegarden on Vimeo.

"Wavegarden dates back to 2005, when engineer Josema Odriozola and sports economist Karin Frisch decided to combine their expertise in designing and building sport facilities, particularly skate parks, with their passion for surfing." (taken from the wave garden website.)

The rumor on their website says they can/have generated a 3 kilometer long ride. That's 1.86 miles!!!
If that is true, we might start seeing some real backwoods surfers from Eastern Europe come to compete at a world class level.

The claim is that they are working on a shoulder high model to be released soon. Check out more at

http://www.wave-garden.com/

Bruce Usher

I ran across this legendary photographer today while reading a blog about photography. His name is Bruce Usher. Read his Bio here He is an Aussie who has been at this art photography thing for a while. Ridiculous photography. Click the photo to go to his site at see all his stuff. I recommend visiting his personal photo's first. What I find interesting is how he captures the angles of the waves in the human subjects within the frame.

Photo by Bruce Usher, click it to be amazed

Or if you want a more traditional click:

Bruce Usher Photography

In 1972, a year after he began shooting with 16mm film, Usher got involved with a project that produced a surf movie called A Winters Tale (Produced by Phil Sheppard & Russell Sheppard and Bruce Usher. Additional photography: Bruce Channon and Midget Farrelly).
What is interesting is that the movie had an intense bootleged sound track of CSNY, Cream, and The Beatles. Good luck finding that on youtube.
There is a rumor that this classic flick will be re released, but I can't find confirmation.

A Winters Tail Produced by Phil Sheppard & Russell Sheppard and Bruce Usher. Additional photography: Bruce Channon and Midget Farrelly)

A nice bio on Bruce Usher can be found here at Switch Foot

Dave Homcy: El Mar, Mi Alma

Another Photographer you need to know about is Dave Homcy. Currently Homcy is working on Hawaii 5-0 and has a couple of new surf flicks coming out. Anybody familiar with Thomas Campbell's movie, Sprout and Present, know Homcy's work.

One of Homcy's new flicks he shot is called El Mar, Mi Alma . If there was ever a doubt that Dave Homcy is one of the best photographers on the surf scene, then this trailer should dispel it. The shots are on a completely different level. I can't wait until it releases. For more info check out http://www.davehomcy.com/



El Mar, Mi Alma from Dave Homcy on Vimeo.

Surfing Through The Frame: 2nd Annual Canadian Surf Festival

                         http://canadiansurffilmfestival.com/

Canada has a Surf Film Festival. In fact this is it's second year and for 2011, the 4 day festival is being held in Hailfax Nova Scotia. The festival apparently started with the handful of local surfers who did what they could to realize their dream of watching Surf Movies on the silver screen. Well Evidently they must have done it right because it's got quite a line up of movies this year . In total there are 8 films that are being premiered in Canada and the films cover a whole spectrum of surf culture." Development Director, Keith Maddison states:

"The line-up touches everything from environmental conservation to mental health issues, and from anthropology to indie art filmmaking

Judging by the high quality of the trailers, this festival seems commited to content driven narratives. Then again, Canada takes film making very serious. Just take a look at the Canadian Film Board
and it makes sense these Canadians would choose some up and coming cult film makers for this party.

There is also the Short Film Contest for Canadian filmmakers. From what I can tell this is where the Canadian surfers will be showcased. The winner of this contest gets 2 tickets to the Kandui Resort. That is a far cry from the fridgid North Atlantic waters.

In addtition, there is going to be an art exhibit features 40 or so Artists from around Nova Scotia. These artist run the range from children to Professionals.

Who would have thought that Canada had such a dedicated surf culture though. Really the last thing that comes to mind when I think of Canada is surfing. But it  does make sense that they get good surf. Yes 38 degrees or less in the winter might thin the crowds out, but a wave is a wave. If its ride-able ,people will find a way to make it happen. On the Eastern Board the same Hurricanes that churn up hollow barrels that grace the Eastern US states spin into Nova Scotia, undoubtedly stoking those rough enough to pull in. On the west, the wonderful storms of the North Pacific that light Up California, I am sure have an even more dizzying effect on Western Canada than a macking day at Mavericks. Plain and simple Canada Surfs.  Here is a cool Website dedicated to the Nova Scotia Surf Scene:  http://magicseaweed.com/Nova-Scotia-Surf-Forecast/26/

Here's the film festival link

http://canadiansurffilmfestival.com/

Trailers to the Films Being Presented:



Splinters Adam Pesce, 2011, 94 mins



Canvas Christian Wach, 2011, 29 mins
Canvas Surfboards The Movie from George Trimm on Vimeo.

Sight I Sound Mikey DeTemple, 2011, 42 mins.

SIGHT|SOUND from High Seas Films on Vimeo.

Manufacturing Stoke  Directed by Pierce Michael Kavanagh, 2011, 29 mins.
MANUFACTURING STOKE from misfit pictures on Vimeo.

Titan Kids  Directed by Lean Curren and Andre Silva, 2011, 26 mins.


Teaser Titan Kids - us from Ridemotion on Vimeo.


Minds in the Water    Dave Rastovich, Justin Crumb, Jonny Vasic, Milan Vasic, Steve Barilotti, Global, 2011, 29 mins.



Just Add Water Strider Wasilewski and Jamie Tierney, 2008, 48 mins.

Come Hell or Highwater Keith Malloy, 2011, 40 mins.



The Still Point Taki Bibelas, 2010, 52 mins.


The Still Point Preview from Taki Bibelas on Vimeo.


Somewhere Near Tapachula Directed by Stefan Hunt & Jonno Durant, 2010, 63 mins.


SOMEWHERE NEAR TAPACHULA from stefan hunt on Vimeo.


The Hot Generation Directed by Paul Witzig, 1967,

Who is J.O.B.  Vincent Laforet, Jamie O’Brien, 2011, 64 mins.


Who Is JOB? -- DVD Trailer from NESurf on Vimeo.

Cypher Film Challenge

Surfing Through the Frame: Random Surf Clips

Bruce Brown and his experience with Endless Summer.



This guy is a legend. However, I have to say when I first saw the Endless Summer on Channel 2  I hated it. It was so long and boring. But then again I was probably 5 years old.  Fortunately I got over being 5 and now I recognize that it is a phenomenal flick.

Even cooler though, is now in the 2000's there is a serious movement in the surf culture to showcase the heart, creativity and playfulness of the sport's culture. While there is still a ton of "ego" dominated crap being created, there are incredible films being made by the likes of Thomas Campbell, Jack Johnson, and The Malloy clan. These folks are telling the story of what the essence of surfing is. The stories are serious, well shot, (many times on film) well edited, and the sound tracks are amazing. These movies are works of art. told with passion and integrity.

This video by Cyrus Sutton is a fantastic example of what is happening with the Surf Film movement..It's about Wayne Lynch a legend in surfing and his experience with competition and ego. Aweesome Flick!




I also recommend checking out The Surfers Journal. (THE PLACE THESE VIDEOS CAME FROM) These folks are the print version of Surf culture. There are no bikini ads and the articles are not written by stoned out surfer dudes.  It's a well structured magazine that substitutes ego in favor of interesting content.


Ok one more video. This one is trippy. Put together by JontyPTraveler. In the Midnight Surfer the Intergalactic Council has abducted a human surfer known as the Midnight Surfer. It appears he was out surfing a macking Rock View at midnight. Kids don't try this at home! Don't worry though this is not a remake of the Midnight Cowboy. It's a remake of the unexplainable imagination of Mr P Traveler. Yeooow!! The original sound track is inspired by a Halloween Poem but has nothing to do with it. The lyrics will make you laugh.


The Midnight Surfer from JontyPTraveler on Vimeo.

Doney

Doney wasn't spooked on this day. In fact the surf was down right small. There was a lot of seriousness in the lineup though. I think Doney should have done the blinker. Would have chilled them groms out

Amazing Surf Photography

Here is a master of surf Photography. This guy will blow your mind!

                  Ray Collins Photography

Photo By Ray Collins. CLICK THIS! YOU WILL BE AMAZED

                          Click the Pic                  

Dolphin

The new 6'3 board from the Mill Works. I shot this at 60p unintentionally and didn't white balance.

Thanks for letting me crash on your couch!  We need to get some more images of these boards you folks are making.

Hope

In Search of Capitain Zero, A book by Allan Weisbecker.

                                                  

                                                           Bandito Books 

Just finished Allan Weisbecker’s book, In Search of Capitain Zero. What a book! I hated it, I loved it, I was bored, I was thrilled, I was annoyed, I was inspired and all in all it was an outstanding piece of Non Fiction. I won't ruin the details of the book, basically it's an intense travelouge. Many reviewers paint an image of a lonely self pitying Weisbecker on the verge of a breakdown. I totally disagree.
  Sure, he is a loner of sorts, and has his share of the travelers melancholy.  Underneath the ups and downs though there is a Man on a hell bent mission to find a way to rid himself of the trappings of mass society.  Allan is a salty surfer, smart in reading people and situations that would make the average person shit themselves. He gets into some gnarly stuff in this book.  Everything about this book and Allan himself scream of extreme existence. He is a breed of human that is truly, almost religiously, committed to living in a surfers paradise(What ever that means.)

   My one word of caution is for those who don't surf. This is a story told through the perspective of a surfer. Intense descriptions of wave riding, while well translated into non surf language, may bore the non surfer. As a surfer, I found my heart racing and small amounts of adrenaline as I read about Salsa Brava experiences. The man has an ability to keep his fear in check! Anyway, read this book. It will make your life seem stupid.

This one of the best books.

Troy Surfing Rio Del Mar...cira 1995?

I found this old roll of Kodak 200 film. It is damaged but still looks cool. There will be more in the next few days

The Lane, cira 2001

Capitola 2000

 Here is the Erak Wall

Here are some pictures from the pad and San Jose Ave.  This is right after I got back from my world trip. 

 

Big Puffs

Random Surf

The battle wagon!! I remember going to Taco Bravo in that thing in the early 90's

 

I think this is Aaron and Matt surfing Manresa.

Surfing the Hook 1992

So here are a few photo's of Matt and Troy surfing the hook. I think I had a broken ankle or stitches  from stabbing my skeg into my foot at 26th. I sat on the beach and took pictures. Nice rainbow board. "Looks like someone's going to get beat.

The Rockview

I took this the morning after the Ping Pong mind bender. It was a good day for surf. The heads were still asleep when I left. I had to go home to change a diaper.

Flow Motion

Flow Motion from dats4sure on Vimeo.

DOUBLE CLICK TO MAKE FULL SCREEN

Marsha's Bread Makers

Marsha's Bread Makers from dats4sure on Vimeo.

So this was Circa 2005. You know the rest. DOUBLE CLICK WINDOW TO WATCH FULL SCREEN