Surfing News
Friday, September 29, 2006
ORLANDO—Over fifteen thousand surfing enthusiasts crammed the Orlando Convention Center for the bi-yearly Surf Expo. Attendees were laid back and eager to soak up a variety of earth-friendly ideas and make beach activities more enjoyable.
Retailers, surfers and artists including the NYC Endless Love Crew, who painted a mural, added atmosphere for this event and the hundreds of exhibitors. Thousands of boards, fashion, and beach products enticed. Crowds swarmed in booths and rapped about their challenges to make their board experience more intense or safer. The experts and enterprisers had the answers.
At the Expo just with a "What's Up" or a peace signal you can start a conversation, share life experiences or get the latest scoop. SE is where quick spontaneous friendships can form. Orlando was polled the "Angriest city in America," but at the Expo one could not tell. Maybe if more angry Floridians attended the Surfing Expo their moods would improve.
America's top wakeskaters and wakeboarders took their sport past oceans, lakes and inlets when a huge outdoor pool was built for the fastest growing action water sport: "Railing." Pat Panakos & the Projects in Orlando hosted a Liquid Force event. Railing is being mechanically pulled through water and over rails. Tricking out the trip with back turns and other moves is key and showcasing the finale with a splash like a 360 or flip or other stunt, wins points. This fast growing sport unfortunately can't be done in most community's backyards now but who knows what the future holds.
Surfing, wakesurfing, and kiteboarding and of course skateboarding are serious business and major industries from soft/energy drinks to textile companies are getting on board.
Mike Gerard, executive director of Surfing America USA, a California non-profit, spoke to The Epoch Times about surfing becoming a major force in sports and the struggles to propel USA Surf Team to the Olympics. Yes, your eyes are correct: surfing in the Olympics.
From Surf America's website: "Surfing America's Mission is to promote the growth, competitive success and positive image of surfing in the USA and to provide the best possible experience for all participants by encouraging, advancing and administrating the sport, while producing champions." The Surf Expo and organizations like Surf America promote good values and ideas.
They are about individuals expressing themselves and having fun while being harmonious with others, the ocean and the earth. The next Surfing Expo is scheduled for January 11-17, 2007. Surf's up.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Surfrider Foundation Vancouver
Sept 21 @ 6pm Paddle 'n' Party:
Start your evening at Kitsilano Beach for a group PaddleOut to increase Ocean Awareness. Meet at the north end of Kits ñ look for our signs and Surfrider banner. Windsurf, Paddle board, Kayak, Surfboard whatever floats...
Sept 21 @ 9pm New Website Launch Party:
Show up salt water savvy post PaddleOut
@ Nevermind 3293 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver.
Free schwag sponsored by O'Neill & Pacific Boarder
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Organisers of the world's biggest surf on one wave have claimed that they have set a new world record.
Currently the record is held by a team of 44 surfers in Ireland who rode the same single wave, but a group in South Africa claim to have succeeded in getting 73 surfers to stay upright on the same wave.
The Guinness Book of World Records has not yet confirmed the attempt, but should it be successfully ratified, a new world record will have been set at Muizenberg Beach in Cape Town.
Dene Botha from Kahuna Surfing Academy told Global Surf News: "We're ecstatic! It was unbelievable! We expected around 200 local surfers to participate and 349 registered which stretched our organisational capacity to its limits.
"We made six attempts in an hour and also registered 69, 68 and 64 on the three other waves."
The event was organised to raise money for local spotters who warn surfers of sharks in the water. One lifeguard was recently attacked by a Great White shark and lost a foot.
Water sports holidays are a big draw to South Africa every year, but the dangers of sharks in the beach areas are clearly evident.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 8 September, 2006 : - - One of the most prestigious nights in surfing, the 2006 SURFER Poll and Video Awards Presented by Suzuki Automotive, is just days away. The SURFER Poll is a unique part of surf culture and has come to represent the highest honor in the surf world.
The SURFER Video Awards was added in more recent years and honors the finest in surf filmmaking in nine categories including "Best Male and Female Performance" and "Breakthrough Filmmaker".
Who: Renowned faces from the worlds of action sports, music and entertainment will converge to honor the best surfers and surf cinematography.
When: Tuesday, September 12, 2006, 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Grove at Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim, Calif.
Confirmed Presenters & Entertainment: Hosts Sal Masekela and Peter King. Presenters: Tony Hawk, Ultimate Fighters BJ Penn and Rampage and a special acoustic set from pro surfer turned musician Timmy Curran accompanied by Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters and Dave Kennedy of Angles and Airwaves
Male Nominees: Andy Irons, Bobby Martinez, Bruce Irons, Chris Ward, CJ Hobgood, Cory Lopez, Damien Hobgood, Dane Reynolds, Fred Patacchia Jr., Jamie O'Brien, Joel Parkinson, Kalani Robb, Kelly Slater, Mark Occhilupo, Mick Fanning, Rob Machado, Shane Dorian, Shea Lopez, Taj Burrow and Tom Curren
Female Nominees: Bethany Hamilton, Carissa Moore, Chelsea Georgeson, Keala Kennelly, Layne Beachley, Lisa Andersen, Megan Abubo, Melanie Bartels, Rochelle Ballard and Sofia Mulanovich
Although attendance is by invitation only, the event will be webcast live for the first time on surfermag.com and broadcast for the fourth consecutive year in a one-hour television special on FUEL TV. Check fuel.tv for airdates and times. Thanks to presenting sponsor Suzuki Automotive, co-sponsors Boost Mobile and Corona and media sponsor Fuel TV for their contributions to make this event happen.
About SURFER:
Upon its inception in 1960, SURFER Magazine brought a unity of voice and vision to an otherwise niche and fragmented sport. Today, the original surf publication is widely recognized as the "Bible of the Sport" and the driving force in the surf world, reaching more surfers worldwide than any other surf magazine.
www.surfermag.com
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Surf film entries wanted for Kona film festival
by The Garden island
Surf filmmakers are invited to submit their work for consideration for the 4th Annual Kona Surf Film Festival.
The Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu will host the festival from Dec. 7 to 9 as a benefit for Na Keiki O‘ He‘e Nalu, a Kona-based youth environmental group.
The festival committee will consider any films documenting surfing of any form including bodysurfing, kite boarding and more.
Films depicting other ocean activities like sailing, fishing, diving will be considered as well.
Films should be a maximum of 10 minutes in length and submitted on DVD. Submissions will not be returned.
Deadline for entries is Oct. 30.
For more information, contact Chad Campbell at 808-936-0089, or e-mail chadkona@folkloremovie.com.
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