DOWN THE LINE Surf Talk Radio

April 29, 2012 – Down The Line Surf Talk Radio with Bassy n Baldy on XTRA SPORTS 1360AM in San Diego; on iTunes podcast (Google it).
Contact us @sacredcraftexpo @jeffbaldy surftalksandiego@Gmail.com call the show 858.570.136

SHOW NOTES: Kirk Lee Aeder Discusses: Child of the Storm – Chris O’Rourke Story

Listen Here

Segment Sponsor Quiksilver Waterman Collection is presenting next years’ Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection which takes place May 11, 2013 in the brand new state-of-the-art building at the OC Fairgrounds called The HANGAR. Quiksilver Waterman Collection and their brand ambassadors on twitter Mark Healey @healeysurf , Shayne McIntyre @ShayneMcIntyre, Jamie Mitchell, Peter Mel @peter_mel, Mel Pu’u: Robby Naish;

EMAILS / TWEETS / SHOUT OUTS: Cesar Ramirez sent me an email after listening to the show last week…

SurfReport:

Segment 2: Kirk Lee Aeder Discusses: Child of the Storm – Chris O’Rourke Story
Brought to you by THE BOARDROOM International Surfboard Show coming to southern California this Oct 6 &7 at the DM Fairgrounds and honoring 4X World Champion Mark Richards.

What I know about the Chris O’Rourke : He was a red hot California surfer with as much or more promise than Joey Buran, whose life was tragically altered by cancer. Tell us a lot more about Chris O’Rourke starting with his childhood. I found it interesting that his father had organized crime ties.

How would you describe Chris’ relationship with his father?

His mother?

His siblings?

Compared to now, what was Windansea like in the mid 70s. Describe the scene: the parking lot, the beach, the lineup, the surfing.

In the book you characterize Chris O’Rourke as a brash, arrogant, confident young man. He was also a verbal and sometimes violent in the water at Windansea.

O’Rourke’s competitive nature reminds one of great champions such as MJordan, Tiger Woods, Kelly Slater?

What where some of Chris’s competitive highlights?

From a surfing stand point, what was the pinnacle, the high point, when his skills and ability were at their peak?

Did he travel to Hawaii to Australia to compete?

Was their a bright competitive future for Chris O’Rourke, or was the raging Windansea scene going to be detriment to his career?

How old was Chris O’Rourke when he found out he had cancer?

Part of skull was removed.

I saw Chris O’Rourke when our DM Surf Club competed against the Windansea Surf Club at 15th street, I dunno must of been 1981 or something like that.

He surfs again?

How did Joey Buran influence on Chris?

What is the number one lesson that you take away from knowing Chris, from being Chris O’Rourke’s best friend?

Tim O’Rourke, his son.

Windansea’s Ted Smith sadly passed away recently, what was Chris and Ted’s relationship like?

APRIL 22, 2012; San Diego , Ca. — – Down The Line Surf Talk Radio with Bassy n Baldy on XTRA SPORTS 1360AM in San Diego; on iTunes podcast (Google it).

SHOW NOTES:

Contact us @sacredcraftexpo @jeffbaldy surftalksandiego@Gmail.com call the show 858.570.1360

Show Notes:
Segment Sponsor brought to you by Quiksilver Waterman Collection and their brand ambassadors on twitter Mark Healey @healeysurf , Shayne McIntyre @ShayneMcIntyre, Jamie Mitchell, Peter Mel @peter_mel, Mel Pu’u: Robby Naish; Quiksilver Waterman Collection is presenting next years’ Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection which takes place May 11, 2013 in the brand new state-of-the-art building at the OC Fairgrounds called The HANGAR.

EMAILS / TWEETS / SHOUT OUTS:

Segment: “The association has 33 members and more than 16 work as guides or run a camp. Salina Cruz is going to grow, but we hope it will grow with order. And to do that, we need the association to work and the surfers that visit to help us.” — Cesar Ramirez, Union of surfers and Life-guards of Salina Cruz, A C

Salina Cruz – some back-story

* SURFING Magazine put out an article last year that Cesar and the Salina Cruz locals didn’t like – in their opinion, they were disrespected.
* Cesar and crew put out a press release saying as much, and banning any and all media: photos, videos et al.
* They now have formed a “civil association” to control surfing tourism in Salina Cruz
* $800 to take a photo
* You must hire a local guide

I’ve stayed with Cesar. My experience with him was a positive one. I understand the local guys wanting to protect and manage their surfing resource. Nevertheless, this is a slippery slope. An interesting experiment. Surf travel has seen some good, has seen some bad. Everyone has an opinion about this type of action.

Some opinions from SURFLINE.com message boards:

“Seems to me, he’s got a good idea and a plan. so many ‘virgin’ surf spots have been screwed over the years by the soul surfers and pro/whore surfers that someone needs to try a different idea and try to plan and control the change…” - Chuck A

Hey guys, it’s only fair for Ceasar and the locals to protect their spots, and if they can make some much needed money by sharing it, I still think it’s better than getting your tires punctured, stabbed or beat up like in many Localism related issues in Hawaii or California. American surfers have run over every prime surf spot in Mexico but Mexican surfers can’t do that in the States,, not without a Green card anyway, and even so, they would probably be aggresively handled in some US Beaches. — Enrique

Seems they might have it half right half wrong. Charging those that benefit commercially from visiting their place seems right. Given that they are the very reason the place is going to get crowded. However, charging normal travelers for the experience, which is also part of this deal, is not cool at all. It breeds economic exclusivity and leads to only the affluent will be able to experience those places. This happens all over the place: Indo (Niawhatu), Fiji (not so much anymore), etc etc — Jimmy D

I think it is ridiculous to say that i have to pay someone to take me surfing. The ocean is free and for everyone no matter what country I am in. If i feel like exploring to find the waves why should i have to pay ridiculous prices to someone to show me my way around?? — Miles G

Extortion Mexico style,they’ll nickel & dime & hassle dudes for a few years & then they’ll inevatibly start fighting amongst themselves.Eventually they’ll just be run over by the runaway train that is modern surf crowding. –Jim

I cannot believe there are people here who actually support this idea. Are you out of your minds? It is so fundamentally wrong to charge people money to surf. Do you not realize what a dangerous precedent this sets all over the world? The ocean and free access to it is a god given right that everyone should enjoy. — Sppokweed

I’ve been traveling to Mexico for many years, usually to the Lazaro/Manzanillo areas. Only in the last couple have I traveled to the Salina Cruz area, all positive. The stretch is pretty amazing from there to Puerto in terms of surf, but the last thing I want is to spend my once a year, one week surf trip being led around by a guide. The entire purpose of traveling to new places is ‘the search’. So on my next trip to Nexpa I should probably expect a local to ask who my guide is? Great. — Todd

I travel down there often and absolutely love Mexico and appreciate their hospitality in and out of the water. When I go its with one person only and I dont “kiss and tell” so to speak. I take minimal pics for my memories, nothing else. Also Im in agreement with some of Cesar’s actions. However, while there, I pay rental car fees,gas,food,lodging,etc.. That being said, now he wants people like me to some how find a local trustworthy “guide” to escort me to said breaks. Thanks. — Travis

SURFLINE: What happens if you come across visiting surfers who aren’t with a local guide?
CESAR: The area is all sand dunes. There are no restaurants right on the beach, hotels or anything. The only things you’re going to find are the waves and us. Nobody else goes there, not even the Army. So when somebody shows up in a rental car or something, we tell them: ‘It’s good you’re here, but you need to hire a local guide.’ That’s only for foreigners and doesn’t apply to Mexicans no matter where they’re from. But the thing is…if we let people just show up, you’re going to have 50, 60 guys in the water. This is one way to control the crowd.

Segment: Salina Cruz Press release:

—-begin—-

We are informing you that we surfers in the area of Salina Cruz have come together and lawfully formed a civil association for the protection and care of our beaches before it is too late; our indignation and anger are because of an article published in a U.S. surf magazine in 2011, which wounded the pride of the local surfers in this part of Oaxaca. This made us decide to ban all digital and printed media for a period of 2 years in which all foreign professional cameramen will not be allowed to take pictures or videos.

The result of this article helped us realize that we ought to work together so that our beaches will not be exploited by people outside of our community.

The main objectives of our association is that all local surfers who belong may benefit in having a decent job based on what they most love, which is to be able to surf and at the same time to help take care of and direct tourism, to preserve the environment or to be able to enjoy the waves of their home break, getting the respect that they deserve.

To the foreign surfers who visit us for a safer trip:

Most members of our newly-formed association for several years now have been offering lodging, transportation and guide services to surfers who visit us and it is important to emphasize that we all are from this area of the state of Oaxaca; for that reason, we recommend you hire the services of a local surfer for either a guide, photographer, lodging or transportation, thus helping the local economy, since Oaxaca is one of the 3 poorest states in Mexico; and in this area, foreign tourism is seen as easy prey for crime; the small villages and the ranches don’t like strangers speeding down their village roads where the townspeople go about quietly or walking through their crops to check waves or to try to get from one beach to another.

On several of the roads we use to get to the beach, they are now installing rail barricades to prevent the small rental cars from driving through so frequently or getting stuck and blocking the farmers from getting to work with their tractors or carts.

To the foreign surf industry:

Beginning in 2012, you will be able to work in this area either by hiring local photographers or bringing your own photographers with their own permit from the National Institute of Immigration which will authorize them to work in Mexico and/or helping the association to raise funds to be designated for the following causes:

-material and equipment for the lifeguards

-repair and maintenance of the roads and holes in the villages near the surf breaks that each year get ruined in the rainy season, leaving these small villages cut off from other towns for weeks.

-training of surfers and lifeguards to offer aid to the general public in the event of any natural disasters.

Cleaning and monitoring the beaches

We want Salina Cruz to be a surf destination free from foreign
control and the economic revenue derived from tourism to be for the sole benefit of the local population and the visitors’ stay to be pleasant, safe, comfortable, worry-free, and fun!

Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.

Union of surfers and life-guards of Salina Cruz, A C
———————————————————————————

By way of this present notice we allow ourselves to inform all that we have legally organized a civil association in this city of Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, called Union de Surfistas y Salvavidas de Salina Cruz, A.C. (United Surfers and Lifeguards of Salina Cruz A.C.), which has for its objective that of carrying out the following activities:

1. To promote and carry out sport, cultural, ecological and environmental activities for the promotion, dissemination, and teaching of water and beach sports in the ocean and on the beaches for the benefit of the general public and for the management of donations with financial support or other kinds for the various organizations of government, non-government, national as well as foreign.

2. To provide continual up-to-date professional training of its members with regards to: life-saving and rescue, first aid and other activities that relate to those issues in national or international organizations, as well as relaying the acquired knowledge to public and private groups that may request it.

3. To lend support to the Federal and Municipal Governments, civil organizations and private institutions during the vacation seasons for monitoring the swimmers at the most popular beaches with trained personnel in life-saving and rescue.

4. To lend support to the Government Institutions and civil associations in implementing the plan for emergency and disaster response of the Marine plan and DN3 in the marginalized and indigenous communities and their inhabitants.

5. The promotion, dissemination, and teaching of the sport of surfing for all those interested with whom the association has contact, organizing events in the schools and for the general public.

6. Participation for the association and its members in cultural, sporting and educational events in Mexico and abroad; and collaboration with universities and government and non-government agencies on issues of interest and for the benefit of the general public.

7. Advancement of social action, focusing on and benefiting the social, cultural, sporting and environmental conservation activities in accord with the objectives of this association (cleanliness, protection and conservation of beaches, destruction of the eco-system caused by human actions or lack thereof), through the different forms of media.

Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, March 8, 2012
Official announcement: USSSC A.C./SC/001/2011

8. The association shall be able to obtain all types of donations and support, goods and real property, as well as meetings for agreements and contracts necessary at national and foreign levels with national and foreign agencies to carry out the objectives of the association.

9. The association shall be able to accept all types of donations so that private and public institutions, decentralized and informal organizations, the Federal Government, local governments or public or private, foreign or international municipals or organizations as well as meetings for agreements and contracts can put into effect whatever is necessary for the achievement of its objectives.

10. The association shall be able to manage projects for the conservation of waves and the artificial creation of them.

11. The association shall be able to promote exchanges between the interests of the association, on behalf of its members, at the national and international level, with other groups, including those with sporting, cultural and environmental goals.

12. The association shall be able to establish alliances or agreements with those national and international organizations of the surfing industry and to manage the national and international financial backing from private businesses for the promotion and perpetuation of the sport of surfing and the activities derived from it in the southeastern region of Oaxaca for the purpose of maintaining cultural exchanges and social, cultural and sporting benefits with national and international organizations, related to issues of surfing, the environment, education, health and music.

13. The association shall be able to participate in the production and the management of written articles, documentaries and films related to the region’s surfing and the members will be trained in the editing, production and post-production of sporting and educational videography and photography.

14. The association shall be able to monitor and keep the beaches clean as well as to safeguard the natural resources of the area, to protect the endangered species and to assist bathers at the beaches, providing lifesaving, rescue and tourist information services.

15. The association shall make their work, contests, cultural events, studies and research known, through radio, television, internet, press releases, CD rooms, fairs, events, conferences, workshops and by whatever means necessary for the dissemination and promotion of the sport and culture.

16. The association shall be able to promote, encourage and support sporting and cultural projects to develop ways to show the interaction of the sport with the environment and cultural heritage of our state of Oaxaca, and to perpetuate the artistic and cultural values that may arise, which will contribute to an increase in awareness of the need to preserve the rivers, seas and oceans as well as the natural sources of the waves.

17. The association shall be able to participate in commissions and regional boards regarding the water resources and coastal management.

18. The association is non-profit and shows no partisan persuasion, political-electoral or religious.

The association shall have the following leadership:
Jose Ricardo Camacho Calderón.- Director of Sporting Affairs
Aldo Ibarra Teniente.- Director of Cultural Affairs
David Ramirez Salinas.- Director of Environmental Affairs
Cesar Gustavo Ramirez Salinas.- Director of Social Media
Santos Humberto Gomez Cortes.- Director of Training
Keops Santiago Espinoza.-Director of Beach Supervision
Secretary: Yair Uriel Monrroy Camacho
Treasurer: Gustavo Alejandro Frey Loa

The purpose of this press release is to introduce ourselves and to be of service to the governing body of this municipality in order to support it in the activities being carried out for the benefit of the people involved in the activities described above.

Thanking you for your attention to this announcement, without anything further, receive our best regards.

Yours truly,

Ricardo Camacho Jose Calderon
Director of Sports Affairs

Lieutenant Aldo Ibarra
Director of Cultural Affairs

David Ramirez Salinas
Director of Environmental Affairs

Cesar Ramirez Gustavo Salinas
Director of Social Media

Humberto Gomez Cortes Santos
Director of Training

Cheops Santiago Espinoza
Director of Supervision

Uriel Yair Monrroy Camacho
Secretary

Alejandro Gustavo Frey Loa
Treasurer

—end—

TOP 5 Stories:
#1) Alaska Tsunami Debris reaches Alaska shores – Federal scientists said that a volleyball and soccer ball that washed ashore on an island may be the first pieces of debris to arrive in Alaska from the last year’s tsunami in Japan. The sports balls were spotted by a radar technician on Middleton Island.
Writing on the balls includes the name of a Japanese school in an area hit by the tsunami.
Also of note: a coast guard cutter blew up a unmanned Japanese fishing vessel that’d been floating aimlessly as a ghost ship in the pacific after the tsunami sent it alfoat for over a year.

DTL take: The Tsunami and ensuing Fukushima nuclear disaster… obviously horrific. Any NEW nukes built or OLD nukes stamped for continued use should be guaranteed by specific peoples lives and their fortunes — not an agency or a government — but real peoples’ lives and bank accounts and homes will be collateral to insure the nuke towns safety. This will help NRC folks think hard and long about safety. They are gambling with our lives and our families’ lives, all I ask is that they also gamble with their own. Putting their own families’ lives on the line insures this. (God forbid a nuclear accident happens again) Simply firing an NRC bureaucrat will not be sufficient. They can sign the dotted line, proclaiming all is safe — better they better be damned sure. Go ahead, call me crazy.

#2 Surfing Toxic Secret

The $7 billion surfing industry is rooted in an environmentally friendly image, yet surfboards are as toxic as ever. Michael Stewart sees a way to bridge the gap.
by Todd Woody

Forbes magazine published this article by Todd Woody about the surfboard industry being some sort of TOXIC SECRET… waaaat?
———————————————

The writer failed to give this subject proper perspective. The intent of the article was to shed light on :

“to create an industry certification standard for environmentally friendly surfboards to give surfers, from pros to weekend wave warriors, a scientifically sound green choice.”

In other words, a stamp of some sort that says, “Hey, congrats, you are buying a sustainable surfboard rather than a toxic one.”

Surfboard manufacturers can certainly green up the process. What a perfect place to start — cottage industry et al.

… the surfboard industry isn’t hiding. Surfers aren’t hiding. We are actively pursuing alternatives, we have been for years, surfers as a group and the surf industry as a whole is extremely environmentally conscious, and to suggest that we have some toxic secret is a JOKE.

I would suggest, however, that the carbon footprint of the entire surfboard manufacturing process is minuscule. If you want to point a finger or a co2 stamp of disgust check out the rapidly growing travel industry, which sells the fantasy of tropical escape on the shoulders of massive 737 Co2 output (now there is a secret worth revealing). In fact, although I’m no expert, I bet one round-tripper to Indo spits out more toxic emissions than a lifetime of polyurethane surfboards ordered by either you or me.

Are surfboards toxic? Sure. So is the ink FORBES magazine uses. The ship that hauled those FORBES magazines across the Pacific from Asia? Yup, toxic as Three Mile Island. Well, maybe not that toxic.

I find it laughable that the article made surfboard manufacturing to be some sort of evil toxic secret that we should be ashamed of. I find it misleading that the FORBES sub-heading suggests surfboard industry is a $7 Billion industry.

The article failed to address that boards built in the USA must pass through vigorous federal & state regulations from the EPA, OSHA, etc etc. Boards built overseas? Not so much.

I do look forward to the day all my boards are made out of more environmentally conscious materials. Nevertheless, I’m proud of my surfboards, the heritage of the surfboard industry, and the important role it continues to play in our culture — no matter what materials they are made out of.

Too early to tell whether shaming the industry into change will work, but knowing surfers the way I do, I doubt that strategy will be effective. You and I would love to see Kelly Slater on an environmentally friendly surfboard — now that is strategy I can get behind (who knows, maybe this article finds its way into Slater’s hands).

Hopefully some good will come out of this article. Disappointed the writer kicked the surfboard industry in the balls; especially with that absurd headline and sub-heading.

April 15, 2012; San Diego , Ca. — – Down The Line Surf Talk Radio with Bassy n Baldy on XTRA SPORTS 1360AM in San Diego; on iTunes podcast (Google it).

SHOW NOTES:

Contact us @sacredcraftexpo @jeffbaldy surftalksandiego@Gmail.com call the show 858.570.1360

Rabbit Bartholmew ripping in MP Classic

Show Notes:
Segment Sponsor brought to you by Quiksilver Waterman Collection and their brand ambassadors on twitter Mark Healey @healeysurf , Shayne McIntyre @ShayneMcIntyre, Jamie Mitchell, Peter Mel @peter_mel, Mel Pu’u: Robby Naish; Quiksilver Waterman Collection is presenting next years’ Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection which takes place May 11, 2013 in the brand new state-of-the-art building at the OC Fairgrounds called The HANGAR.

EMAILS / TWEETS / SHOUT OUTS: A lot of people commenting about Kelly Slater getting robbed at Bells Beach… most of them agreeing that given that the event was in Australia, that Mick is a Rip Curl rider, in a Rip Curl event, that it was sort of a home field advantage type victory. I think you have to knock the champ out. If anything, Kelly’s heat–being combo-ed– Slater played it like Muhammed Ali’s epic rope – a – dope bout with George Foreman. Fanning had Slater on the ropes, combo-ed, then the Champ sprang to life with a 10 point ride and what should have been an 8.7.

@sludgepickle – Yeah Bassy n Baldy u r right, I’m a cubicle jockey, but don’t spend much time picking my fantasy surfer team…got lucky I guess. Love the show!
@colingilesmusic – Bassy n Baldy – Fun show today, I joined your Fantasysurfer clubhouse – too, thanks
@spartacussurfer – Scott – it would be great to interview the King about the final but I think he’s too aware that the asp listening
Email: Hi Bassy & Baldy – Baldy was going off last week! Loving the saltyness Baldy and the insight into the Bells event. I particularly loved the comment about Kolohe…..cutting straight through the crap. Good work Baldy and keep it coming! Best, Andy Blanchard

Surf report:brought to you by Nicaragua Surf Report.com – 4/15 San Diego – A good surfing day today, if you are willing to brave the urban rainoff from the rain, which, by the way, we are officially telling you to do, stay away for 72 hrs after a rain. Now, if you don’t want to heed our advise and you do decide to go surfing in the dirty water, it looks pretty darn good. Swell energy is mixed up; longer period stuff from the west 4′ @14 secs; 5′ of windswell @8 secs. All energy is fading ; especially the windswell. Tide is ebbs low today at 1245 .05

NEXT WEEK: Tuesday and Wednesday look best – Tuesday sees a new small but fun — shoulder high at best — south swell biggest and best in the North County; Wed sees a decent pop of WNW swell (285-300) will move in and be strongest on Wednesday the 18th, although we will see a building trend throughout the day Tuesday the 17th. Chest-shoulder-head high surf at exposed breaks, with some overhead waves at South county spots.

Segement 2: REEF Earth Day PJ O’Connell

PJ – Tell us a bit about the REEF Redemption Program.

who
what
where
when
why
how

Earth Day is April 22nd.

Quiz:
1) The first Earth Day was: April 22, 1970, Earth Day marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Approximately 20 million Americans participated.
2) What city first observed Earth Day with an offical Proclamation? The first Proclamation of Earth Day was by San Francisco, the City of Saint Francis, patron saint of ecology.
3) What famous news anchor hosted the first EarthDay TV special? Walter Cronkite CBS.
4) Name the famous composer whose song Ode To JOy is the offical Earth Day anthme? Beethoven.

The “Earth Day Anthem” below satisfies these requirements for a universal song associated with Earth Day. Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” melody is already the official anthem of the European Union (in that case purely instrumental without lyrics), the melody is widely recognized and easily performed, in the public domain, and originally composed for voice. Lyrics for the Earth Day Anthem set to “Ode to Joy” are provided below:

Joyful joyful we adore our Earth in all its wonderment
Simple gifts of nature that all join into a paradise
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love through out all time
With our gentle hand and touch
We make our home a newborn world
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love through out all time
With our gentle hand and touch
We make our home a newborn world

Segment 3

Top 5 Stories

#1 Coolest Surfer Ever: Matt Warshaw chimed in on this subject online this week: “Surfers really just did one cool thing, which was to be counterculture with a smile. To be really for something – riding waves all day – and not especially against anything; to be counterculture and athletic at the same time.” Who is this person?

Tubesteak Tracy: Built on fort at Malibu 1st point and rode donkeys to the beach complete with burlap sack Monk garb whilst chomping on a cigar. Pretty cool.
Dora? Ripped off credit card companies. Not cool to spend time in jail.
Rabbit B? Always thought he was very cool. Surfing style was great. On-land style was his own. Too focused on pro surfing? Thing is, pro surfing in his time, was counter culture to the surf culture, at least here in SDiego.
Rasta? He might stand for too much.
Rob Machado? Pretty cool. High fives on his way to second place. Very cool on a wave. When Rob catches a wave, it’s as if he came home, relaxed on the couch, threw his feet up, and started clicking thru the channels.
Dane Reynolds? Very cool cat. Tries too hard for the non-corpo vibe, but everyone knows he’s the marketing vehicle for the next five years.
Wilko? Might be one of the coolest contemporary guys. You get the feeling he does his own thing and if his sponsors try to capitalize on it, he switches gears.
Curren? I think Tom Curren is the coolest.

#2 The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) will honor big wave surfer Shane Dorian as Waterman of the Year, world renowned ocean explorer, filmmaker, television personality and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau as Environmentalist of the Year, and revolutionary wave forecaster and surfing Hall of Famer the late Sean Collins with the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award, as part of the association’s annual Waterman’s Weekend environmental fundraiser. the 2012 Waterman’s Weekend will be held August 10-11, and will raise funds for 20 ocean conservation organizations.

#3 The MP Classic kicks off remembering its namesake, Michael Peterson epic memeorial Paddleout ceremnoy

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 14 April, 2012 : – - Gold Coast — In a fitting tribute to the late Michael Peterson, three generations of Coolangatta surfers in the form of Sheldon Simkus (Snapper Rocks, Qld), Dean Morrison (Snapper Rocks, Qld) and none other than Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew all advanced through the opening round of the Chiko MP Classic today, in powerful one-metre waves at Duranbah Beach.

However, with Peterson’s passing only two weeks prior to this weekend’s 11th annual surfing event named in his honour – The MP Classic, the day undoubtedly belonged to 1978 World Champion Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Batholomew, who entered the event as a tribute to his fellow iconic Coolangatta surfer.

Earlier in the day, Bartholomew took part in a momentous paddle-out memorial service held at Peterson’s home break of Kirra Point, where hundreds of family, friends and fellow surfers including the likes of Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning also gathered to honour Peterson’s memory.

First Round of the Boys U16 and Boys U18 Will Run Today DAKINE ISA World Junior Surfing Championship Presented by Billabong
Sunday, April 15, 2012 Playa Venao, Panama

#4 Lars Muschoot Norway surfer is semi-crazy.

This guy surfers in some cold ass water.

Lars Musschoot is from Ostend, Belgium. At age 11 his father moved to the Canary Islands. Each school vacation Lars & his brother Niels travelled to the Canary’s to visit their dad. They spent every day at the beach and this is when Lars got in to surfing. He started surfing all year round in Belgium. With water temperatures of 6° during wintertime he told himself a thousand times he wouldn’t surf any more during the winter in Belgium, but an hour later I found himself back in the freezing ocean again.

April 8, 2012; San Diego , Ca. — – Down The Line Surf Talk Radio with Bassy n Baldy on XTRA SPORTS 1360AM in San Diego; on iTunes podcast (Google it).

SHOW NOTES:

Contact us @sacredcraftexpo @jeffbaldy surftalksandiego@Gmail.com call the show 858.570.1360

Show Notes:
Segment Sponsor brought to you by Quiksilver Waterman Collection and their brand ambassadors on twitter Mark Healey @healeysurf , Shayne McIntyre @ShayneMcIntyre, Jamie Mitchell, Peter Mel @peter_mel, Mel Pu’u: Robby Naish; Quiksilver Waterman Collection is presenting next years’ Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection which takes place May 11, 2013 in the brand new state-of-the-art building at the OC Fairgrounds called The HANGAR.

Video edited by (presumably) drunk Australians, biased. Great Final!

Watch the Heat using the HEAT ANALYZER
http://live.ripcurl.com/?aid=2053 – This is where you see it without the editing bias above, plus you see Kelly’s disgust with the judging.

Adam Wright SOLSPOT.COM surf forecast for April 8-15:

FANNING-GATE:
Many interested and involved surf fans feel that the ASP judges blew the final at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Was Kelly Slater robbed? The twitterverse is all abuzz about it, and so are message boards and internet forum sites. Kelly himself has sent out various tweets more or less taking the high road, but responding to the many ASP judging naysayers that “judging is just opinion, and debate is fun.” You can hear him immediately after the heat is over, telling Belly, a Quiksilver handler, that the judges “give 8.7s for floaters…” a reference to his underscored wave (an 8.33). Slater was clearly agitated, and even smashed the nose of his surfboard against the stairwell in disgust as he made his way to the competitors area. ASP commentators brushed it under the rug, stating that “Kelly shouldn’t be upset, he has been on the other side of the coin more than once,” suggesting that Slater has been over-scored in past events. What does all this mean? Big picture: any activity whereby scoring is based on a other peoples opinions is not really a sport — it is, rather, a judged activity. Figure skating — not a sport. Small picture: Slater is right, debate is fun, and this debate should help keep us surfing fans in a lather until Brazil, where I hear floaters are big!

The SURFER Magazine forum (a bastion of clear-thinking, level headed individuals) has a Reader Poll and as of this writing 87% of the 300+ respondents feel Kelly Slater was robbed.

Some of the various internet/twitter chatter:
“What’s done is done. But judging by the look on Kelly’s face after the heat, world title number 12 is coming soon.
That man hates to lose.”

“Yes, he (SLATER) was robbed. There’s no way Micks wave was a 9.7.”

“Complete rip off. Slater was robbed.”

“Massive air, carving 360s, full power gauges, under the lip tail gaffes-to-cover up, alley oops — only one surfer did ALL of those things… and it wasn’t Mick Fanning.”

“Bell’s needs to go from the tour. If anything it now suits women more as a prime venue. the men’s CT has outgrown Bells.”

“Only reason I don’t think Mick deserved it, and often why I don’t love his surfing is his lack of variety. He needs to really change it up. Kelly pulled out the bag of tricks and nailed every single one, it was like watching him free surf which is way more enjoyable.”

KELLY SLATER TWEET: @kellyslater “Judging is an opinion and a perception. Not right or wrong. That was the best air I’ve done in my 40′s! But Mick was carving shit up.”

CONSPIRACY THEORY FROM TEXAS (of all places?!): @sotexsurfer “An ASP conspiracy designed to motivate KS to stay on tour?”

And finally this tweet: “I’m pretty sure the ASP judges invented SUP.”

NICARAGUASURFREPORT.COM: Carl from NSR calls in with the surf report for Nicaragua.

How have the waves been?
Do you have Tours available if people want to surf up and down the coastline?
How’s your golf game?
What is the overall Nicaragua surf experience like?
Nicaragua Surf Report – you can help with vacation planning but also real estate needs as well.

TOP 5 STORIES Brought to you by Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo Oct 6 & 7 Del Mar Fairgrounds:

1) Mick Fanning beats Kelly Slater at Rip Curl Pro Bells.
Next stop Brazil. SludgePickle won the event for our Downthelinesurftalkradio clubhouse with 1014 points for Rip Curl bells event; JOIN the Downthelinesurftalkradio clubhouse bassyandbaldy
my team Floatergate – 744 points ‘ Baldy’s team: 686 points

2) Peter Mel Crowned Nig Wave WOrld Tour Champion

3) Flea and Troy Virostko Save Boogie Boarder at Mitchells Cove
To recap, on Sunday brothers Darryl “Flea,” a famous big wave surfer and who just received the Mavericks Legend Award, and Troy Virostko were doing a wave check on West Cliff as one of the largest swells of the year was bearing down on the Santa Cruz coastline. When they rounded the corner by Getchell Street, Flea noticed something wasn’t right. It was body boarder Lee Tolson, a 65-year-old Felton resident, struggling in the water. Read HERE. Troy circled the truck back around to double check the situation. A body boarder was in distress.
Troy Virostko also recalled the scene.

“Darryl and I spotted her in the water as we were checking the waves and were wondering why no one on the cliff had reacted.”

The large waves on Sunday had attracted dozens of onlookers.

“Funny thing was Darryl jumped out of the truck before we even stopped and yelled back at me to hurry up, forget the wetsuit, lets go. I was in such a hurry I realized the wetsuit was inside out. I tried to put it on that way and it didn’t work so I had to flip it right side real quick. I don’t think I have ever put a wetsuit on that fast.”

Lee was holding onto Darryl’s arm and hanging on every word. “You were getting pushed around, the waves were huge and the tide was really high. For a moment there I was thinking we weren’t going to be able to grab you.”

Troy added: “The foam from the waves had piled up and was about 3 to 4 feet high, so between the surging of the waves and the foam at times we would lose where she was at.”

Lee Tolson said it felt surreal to her.

“I just had to let go and think that somehow I would muster the energy to reach out and grab hold. I must have fought for over an hour before Flea and Troy came down. I could barely keep my head above water and when I looked up and saw his sneakers I couldn’t even look up.”

Flea was afraid he would hurt her trying to save her.

“I thought I was going to pull her arm out of socket, but I didn’t care. I knew I had to yank her up or she was done.”

Lee listened as Flea and Troy talked about helping her get up to the safety of the cliffside as the paramedics made their way down the cliff to check on the rescue. It was at that moment that Lee grabbed Darryl’s hand and looked into his eyes and without uttering a word, said thank you.

While the paramedics attended to Lee, the Virostko brothers made their way up the cliff, past the throngs of onlookers and back to the truck. The duo had just saved a life and without any fanfare they went back to checking the waves along the Westside.

4) 28-year-old Hawaiian Joshua Holley, fended off a shark that attacked him – while he was surfing off the coast of Oahu – by punching him in the face.

Holley told ABC News he first felt a push on his body, and when he looked to his left he saw a large dorsal fin and then felt a ‘popping’ sensation in his foot. Later in hospital, he discovered the shark bite had severed two tendons and made a wound requiring 42 stitches, but luckily had punctured no major arteries.

The shark then went under the water and came up on the other side. Holley did some quick thinking, remembered the most sensitive part of a shark was the snout, and then: “I’m kind of holding it and it’s coming out on the right side, I punched him once and twice with my right hand, it submerged and swam off,” said Holley.

5)

April 1, 2012, San Diego, Ca. — – Down the Line – Surf Talk Radio with Bassy n Baldy on XTRA SPORTS 1360AM in San Diego; on iTunes podcast (Google it).

SHOW NOTES: 1976 World Champion and friend of the show, Peter “PT” Townend calls in to discuss the great Michael Peterson MP. Then, we talk all about the upcoming San Diego Surf Film Festival with founder Pierce Michael Kavanaugh

Contact us @surfboardexpo @jeffbaldy surftalksandiego@Gmail.com call the show 858.570.1360

Show Notes:
Segment 1 sponsor brought to you by Quiksilver Waterman Collection and their brand ambassadors on twitter Mark Healey @healeysurf , Shayne McIntyre @ShayneMcIntyre , Jamie Mitchell, Peter Mel @peter_mel, Mel Pu’u: Robby Naish; Quiksilver Waterman Collection is presenting next years’ Surfing Heritage Vintage Surf Auction presented by Quiksilver Waterman Collection which takes place May 11, 2013 in the brand new state-of-the-art building at the OC Fairgrounds called The HANGAR.

Watch this great MP video clip put together by Encyclopedia of Surfing.

Pyrotechnic Australian regular-footer from Queensland’s Gold Coast; winner of the Australian National Titles in 1972 and 1974; regarded by many as the world’s most advanced high-performance surfer during he mid-70′s. Peterson was born in 1953 and raised in the Gold Coast town of Kirra, and brought up by a single mother who ran a local pool hall. He began surfing at age 11, dropped out of school at 16, and the following year competed in the juniors division, won the 1970 Bells Beach event and placed third in the 1970 Australian National Titles. Peterson was by then regularly surfing the bullet-fast point waves of Kirra and Burleigh Heads with local teenagers Wayne Bartholomew and Peter Townend, both of whom would win world pro titles before the end of the decade. Peterson won the first of three Queensland state titles in 1971; in 1972 he won the first of two national titles; in 1973 he won the first of three consecutive Bells Beach men’s division titles; in 1974 he won the debut Coca-Cola Surfabout, the richest pro contest ever held up to that point, earning $3000 for the victory.

Michael Peterson with PT:
Michael Peterson how close were you with him, what was your relationship like through the years… friends, foes, competitors?
How did your relationship change through the years?
In the early 70s he was considered the best, what made him so great? As a free surfer and/or a competitor?
I often see him as Australia’s Miki Dora, a dark knight type character, is that a realistic portrayal, or too simple?
His funeral, how big of a deal will it be in Australia — from a national media coverage standpoint?

Surf Report with Adam Wright from SolSpot.com

Segment 2:
San Diego Surf Film Festival with founder Pierce Michael Kavanaugh
Who:
What:
Where:
When:
Why:
How:

Top 5 Stories:
1) Bells Beach starts Monday afternoon. The world’s best surfers are descending upon the Australian state of Victoria for the second stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour season, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger, to be held from April 3 – 14, 2012.

Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will reignite the explosive hunt for the 2012 ASP World title which kicked off in late February on Australia’s Gold Coast, and if the swell forecasts prove accurate, Bells Beach is poised to turn on some classic conditions for the world’s best surfers.

Will Slater show up?

Plenty of MP tributes; solid swell but variable winds; April fools jokes include: Shaun White gets a wild card’ and Matty Wilkinson fails drug test;

2) Mike Prickett Update ; “UCSD Hillcrest Hospital now and hopefully we will know in the next day or two what his status is, what kind of recovery he can expect to make, how long that recovery will take, and when he will be able to return home to Hawaii.”

Online: www.PrayForPrickett.com
Bank of Hawaii: “Pray For Prickett” account.

3) Sunshine Coast competitor Matthew Barclay, 14, last week became the third casualty in 16 years at the same event — Australian surf championships- – National Lifesaving Club Competition, calling safety standards into question. There are two governing bodies the SLSA and Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association (APOLA) and the SLSA doesn’t let the professionals (APOLA) have say in how things are run. Politics and power stonewalling progress and common sense. Sad irony that a kid can die at a lifesaving competition. Can you imagine if that happened in the United States? It would only happen once I canteel you that, not three times. Lawsuits and embarrassment would put an end to it.

4) In the all-important Billabong XXL Ride of the Year category, there are five very different waves in contention, all ridden in very different regions around the planet. In consideration for the $50,000 winner’s prize are a pair of Southern Californians: Nathan Fletcher for his earth-shattering barrel at Teahupoo, Tahiti and Greg Long for his paddle-in tube at Puerto Escondido, Mexico. Two Australians are also represented, including Ryan Hipwood for his long, spitting pipe of a wave at Cloudbreak, Fiji and upstart Jeff Rowley for a hair-raising late paddle drop and pocket ride at Jaws on Maui (a spot generally believed to be a tow-surfing-only location prior to the last two winters). Rounding out the five is the lone Hawaiian, Garrett McNamara, for his plunge into a massive face off the coast of Portugal, a feat that earned the big wave veteran global headlines in November.

A video summary of all five Ride of the Year Nominees assembled into a single clip may be viewed or embedded via this YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3lzKhlT8rI

5) Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo is Oct 6 & 7 Del Mar Fairgrounds ; honoring 4x World Champion Mark Richards MR; the last pro surfer to shape his own boards and win a world title!