DOWN THE LINE Surf Talk Radio

DECEMBER 02, 2012 — Surfing News: STEVE SHERMAN IN STUDIO; SUNSET BEACH, PIPE DRAMA & PEAHI — Scott Bass Host Surfer, Jeff Baldwin Host Surfer

SEGMENT 1: 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

TONS OF SURF THE LAST THREE DAYS.

emails/news/notes:
hi Scott & Jeff — about the ‘FRUSTRATION’ turn and Dane Reynolds’ status as a world tour surfer,
I think he is an artist. A performance artist if you will, but one that shines and creates as he goes along.
Maybe even beyond the term free surfer, more a free-spirit surfer.
His level of performance depending more on his mind-set and inspiration than the buzzer at the beginning of the heat.

But DANE’S ‘frustration’ turn will not be bigger than TOM Carrolls snap. Because that was picture perfect – poster material , glassy with that beautiful board. Highly marketable. I call it perfect technique and balls out. Dane was more a freakshow . I call it art in progress . you shouldn’t want to shackle an artist in a world tour obligated circus. It wears off their shiny feathers we all love to see.
Have a good one — Rens

SURF REPORT:

top 5 stories:
#1 RED BULL Peahi Paddle In
Twenty-one intrepid big wave paddle-in surfers from around the world have been invited to take on the menacing wave giant known as Jaws for the inaugural RED BULL JAWS, Paddle at Pe’ahi. With no assistance from motorized personal watercraft to catch these monstrous waves, the athletes competing in RED BULL JAWS will drop-in on one ideal day during the period of December 7, 2012, to March 15, 2013. The ideal conditions for the event to be called “on” are wave face heights of between 30 and 50 feet, from a NNW swell direction with light winds. An official ceremony on December 7 will open the event period. To watch the event trailer and learn more about the contest, go to www.redbullusa.com/jaws.

TALKING POINTS – DISCUSS
a) Will this contest ever happen? Or is this just a chance to make some marketing noise without much lifting?
b) Red Bull doesn’t fool around. But either does mother nature. How many times has it been 30 feet+ with NNW direction and light wind?
c) Red Bull has already upped the game, we’re talking about it, as a fan I’m excited about it, so Red Bull has already more or less won … but… from an execution standpoint, WILL THIS EVENT EVER HAPPEN? How many years do you give Red Bull before the surf world gives an overall fail grade — from execution standpoint? One year, two years, three years? Or, no matter what happens, they’ve already PASSED just by trying to run this event?
d) What about the politics and logistics of this? Three big wave contests, all with the same waiting period. DOES Ian Walsh get left off of some invite lists because RED BULL didn’t invite certain people? NBC TV and Big Wave events in general must be troubling for the ASP, no? Or is this all sugar coated with a ‘growing the pond” mentality?
e) As of today, Shane Dorian is not on the list of surfers in the event?

#2 PIPELINE EVENT WILL BE THE MOST WATCHED EVENT IN SURFING HISTORY ; SLATER’S SWAN SONG ; PARKO VS THE WORLD
TALKING POINTS – DISCUSS
a) No doubt, the entire surfing world will be tuning-in for this; I hope the ASP broadcast crew is prepared for MASSIVE WORLD WIDE VIEWING AUEDIENCE — web servers are fast & plentiful.
b) How much pressure is Parko feeling, on a scale of 1-10? Is he even on the North Shore yet?
c) Does Slater feel a touch more pressure knowing this is it- one last try at at World Title?

PARKO’s ASP World Title scenarios
As Parkinson is the current rankings leader on the ASP WCT, the following ASP World Title scenarios will be based on his potential finishes at Pipeline.

If Parkinson finishes 13th, 9th or 5th at the Billabong Pipe Masters:

Slater needs a 5th or higher to take the 2012 ASP World Title.
Fanning needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title. (*Contingent upon Slater finishing 5th or Lower at Pipeline.)

If Parkinson finishes Equal 3rd at the Billabong Pipe Masters:

Slater needs a 3rd or higher to take the 2012 ASP World Title.
Fanning needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title. (*Contingent upon Slater finishing 5th or Lower at Pipeline.)

If Parkinson finishes 2nd at the Billabong Pipe Masters:

Slater needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title.
Fanning cannot win the 2012 ASP World Title.

If Parkinson wins the Billabong Pipe Masters, he will take the 2012 ASP World Title.

The Billabong Pipe Masters, the third jewel of the Vans Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing, will be run from December 8 – 20, 2012.
2012 ASP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR RESULTS:

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast: Taj Burrow (AUS)
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Mick Fanning (AUS)
Billabong Rio Pro: John John Florence (HAW)
Volcom Fiji Pro: Kelly Slater (USA)
Billabong Pro Tahiti: Mick Fanning (AUS)
Hurley Pro at Trestles: Kelly Slater (USA)
Quiksilver Pro France: Kelly Slater (USA)
Rip Curl Pro Portugal: Julian Wilson (AUS)
O’Neill Coldwater Classic: Taj Burrow (AUS)
Billabong Pipe Masters: TBD

#3 NIKE SELF-IMPOSED EXORCISM FROM SURFING
Nike pulling out of surfing completely ; entire team now rides for HURLEY; simply a name change and all fiscal energy that NIKE was putting in is transferred to HURLEY marketing. Really?
TALKING POINTS – DISCUSS
a) The new ASP ZoSea sales team (is there one?) must be disappointed.
B) Does HURLEY really get all the fiscal resources from NIKE surfing, or do they have to start cutting team members? Who really moves/sells board shorts for HURLEY? In North America it’s got to be Machado. In Europe? Machado? Does Kolohe Andino move board shorts? Does Carissa Moore sell anything? Believe it or not, these considerations flow through the minds and spreadsheets of somebody at HURLEY.
c) Where does John John fit in all this?
D) This is tough situation, because of all the surf industry companies, it is my perception that HURLEY, and I mean Bob Hurley, has the most compassion, is one of the boys if you will. It would be problematic for him to let someone go. But… it’s a business.
E) If they keep everyone they have one hell of a surf team: Ace Buchan, Rob Machado, Brett Simpson, Carissa Moore, Julian Wilson, Kolohe Andino, Evan Geislman, Tim Curran, Mitch Crews, Yadin Nichols, Conner Coffin, Nat Young, Aamion Goodwin, Coco Nogales, Evan Valiere, Rizal, Laura Enever, Koa Smith, Michel Bourez, Mickey Detemple.

#4 Defending ASP world champ Kelly Slater has been called to testify in a Southern California courtroom over a trademark dispute between his clothing brand, VSTR, and New York-based apparel maker World Marketing.

At issue is whether Slater’s VSTR — which stands for Visiting, Surfing, Traveling, Responsibility — violates a trademark that World Marketing has held on its Visitor apparel line since 1998.

Under the Quiksilver umbrella, Slater launched VSTR in January. In March, World Marketing sent Quiksilver a cease-and-desist letter, to which the apparel giant responded in court, claiming no infringement. The complaint explains that VSTR is pronounced by saying each letter separately, rather than saying “visitor.”

However, during the brand’s rollout earlier this year, VSTR was widely reported as an acronym, pronounced “visitor.” Earlier this week, a representative who picked up the phone at the brand’s customer service number listed at its website also referred to the brand as “visitor.”

World Marketing has countersued, and on November 14 served the 11-time world champ a subpoena. Slater reportedly responded by saying he’s not available to testify at the moment, as he’s too busy “preparing full-time” for the last stop on the ASP’s 2012 Championship Tour. Yet again, Slater’s a contender for the title, breathing down the neck of tour frontrunner Joel Parkinson.

“I can’t really talk about the case,” World Marketing VP Neil Mossberg told a New York paper earlier this month. “I will say this: I know we are not as famous as Kelly Slater, and I know our stock is not traded like Quiksilver’s. I also know we will not be wiped out without a fight.”

“We have no comment on this,” Fresh and Clean Media’s Shelby Meade, who heads up Slater’s publicity team, told ESPN.com. The Billabong Pipe Masters, held on Hawaii’s North Shore, marks the tenth and final event of this season’s ASP World Tour. The window opens December 8.

TALKING POINTS – DISCUSS
a) Does World Marketing group have a valid legal position here?
b) Do you see this having any effect on Kelly Slater as he prepares for Pipeline Masters?

June 03, 2012 — Down The Line Surf Talk Radio with Bassy n Baldy on XTRA SPORTS 1360AM in San Diego; on iTunes podcast (Google it).

Listen to the show RIGHT NOW!!

Down The Line tweeter campaign!! Send this Tweet to the Volcom Fiji Pro folks: “World’s Best in HUGE Cloudbreak! Say NO to RESTAURANTS! #volcomfijipro”

Let me know you want to see the world’s best in HUGE Cloudbreak this Thursday and Friday.

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;

Surf Forecast SOLSPOT.com – Adam Wright – There is a hefty West swell forming underneath Japan that looks to hit Hawaii June 12th. A Pipeline swell.

EMAIL: Hi Bassy and Baldy!

First off, I would like to say that I am a huge fan of the show! I download the podcasts weekly and listen to them over here in Scotland imagining the sunshine while we have snow! You guys really need to stop moaning about the water being cold in San Diego, it’s May and we still have snow on the hills.

My name is Allyn Harper and I am the film maker behind “Through The Whisky Barrel”. I am so stoked that my film was selected to be showcased at the San Diego Film Festival this weekend. It really is a huge honour to represent Scotland over in one of my favourite places in the world!

I am gutted that I could not be over there fro the SD Surf Film fest weekend to meet you all and hang out. I am planning a trip over later in the summer and hope to meet everyone involved then!

It would be great to hear from you both, as your show always gets me stoked when I listen to it every Monday morning. Yeah Guy!

Also, if you can give me an address, I’d like to send you out a couple of copies of the film.

I was happy to get the hood off this weekend for the first time this year, as we are now basking in 46F water. You guys would be more than welcome over here anytime, as long as you can cope with the chilly weather and uncrowded waves.

Cheers,

Allyn Harper

mail@throughthewhiskybarrel.com
www.throughthewhiskybarrel.com
——————————————————-

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

SHOW NOTES:

Segment 2: Brought to you by THE BOARDROOM INTERNATIONAL SURF BOARD SHOW Oct 6 & 7 2012 DM fairgrounds honoring 4X World Champion MR Top 5 Stories

1) Volcom Fiji Pro started yesterday, Round 1 in solid 6-8′ Cloudbreak; really if you were there, the boat dirvers would be calling it 4-6′ ; easily 10′ faces out there. Big moment was Mitch Coleborn snatching victory from Kelly Slater in the final moments of their round one heat.

Fantasy Surfer Fans, let me tell you… when it is this big or bigger, it is all about experience. Time in the water at Cloudbreak, very difficult wave to figure it out, until you’ve figured it out. Veterans will do good, unless it gets smaller and moves to Restaurants. Event then, you need to know the wave.
Kolohe, Gabe Medina, Miguel Pupo, Julian Wilson, young guns on tour were firing blanks today. Except John John FLorence, who went over the falls, and then dominated late.

John John Florence (HAW), 19, who took out his inaugural ASP WCT victory in Brazil last month, recovered from a recent bout of flu in Fiji to take a come-from-behind victory over fellow rookie Miguel Pupo (BRA), 20, and veteran Kieren Perrow (AUS), 35.

“My confidence is there, but I’ve been sick the last few days,” Florence said. “I had a session the other day, so the confidence is there and it’s kind of not. I went over the falls on that one and it was a good warm up to get kind of shaken up a bit.”

Friday the 8th (potential to see very long period forerunners as early as Thursday late afternoon and evening), from a storm that will move through the Southern Ocean and toward New Zealand over the next few days. If the storm behaves as currently forecast surf will easily be triple overhead+++ and larger at Cloudbreak.

VOLCOM FIJI PRO ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Isei Tokovu (FIJ)
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)
Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 7: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 9: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 10: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 11: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 12: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)

2) The Quiksilver Ceremonial Chile presented by MINI will reach the end of its original 60-day contest window on May 31–but with large swells still consistently forming in the region, event organizers have extended the waiting period to June 15. The Quiksilver Ceremonial Chile, the first stop on the Big Wave World Tour, is one of the world’s most anticipated big wave events..

* Hoping they get some surf, this tour needs a full season.

3) explore.org LAUNCHES REEL LIFE with MIKE PRICKETT: A Web Video Series & Community Blog Documenting the Incredible Work & Uncertain Road for Acclaimed Underwater Cinematographer Partially Paralyzed in Diving Accident
On March 14, 2012, while filming underwater on location off the coast of an atoll in French Polynesia, Mike saw a diver below him in distress. Acting instinctively, Mike helped the diver make an emergency ascent but in the process was partially paralyzed from a severe case of the bends. While the man he saved was ultimately able to walk away from the incident, Mike was told he may never walk again. His doctors say it will take six months to find out how well he will recover.
explore.org, the philanthropic media organization and multi-media arm of the Annenberg Foundation, has launched a special web video series, photo gallery and community web site today that chronicles the extraordinary life, work, and current struggle with paraplegia of world renowned ocean cinematographer, Mike Prickett (Hawaii).

* The other get walked away from the accident.

Segment 3: Brought to you by THE BOARDROOM INTERNATIONAL SURF BOARD SHOW Oct 6 & 7 2012 DM fairgrounds honoring 4X World Champion MR

4) Kelly Slater joins Go Pro- Slater will be joining Mark Healey, Alana Blanchard, Sunny Garcia, Jamie Sterling, Kelia Moniz, Harley Ingleby, Monyca Byrne Wickey, Hughes Oyarzabel, Anthony Walsh, Kalani Chapman and Chuck Patterson on the GoPro team.

5) Catching up with Executive Director of a new surfboard show, THE BOARDROOM

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 31 May, 2012 : – - Scott Bass has a hefty resume in the surf world and is most well known as being the instrument behind the Sacred Craft surfboard show. As the owners of Sacred Craft decided not to run the show this year, Scott’s been hit with a lot of questions about future surfboard shows. In the following interview he answers a lot of those questions…

Rob Farrow: So, first off, tell us what happened to Sacred Craft ®*, why did you change the name to THE BOARDROOM?
Well. Frankly I can’t talk too much about Sacred Craft ® because it is not my property. I do not own it. It is not really my place to discuss it. The Nielsen Corporation, the company that produced the ASR shows in San Diego, owns Sacred Craft ®. But, understanding that you and everybody in the industry looks to me for the answer to that question, I can tell you that I was told by the Nielsen Corporation that Sacred Craft ® won’t happen in 2012. Let me be clear that I did not change the name. I can’t change the name of something I do not own. The Boardroom International Surfboard Show is in fact an entirely new surfboard show and is in no way affiliated with Sacred Craft ®.

RF: How is THE BOARDROOM new, what makes it different?
As a lover of surfboards I can tell you that surfboards are at the core of the THE BOARDROOM show, as they should be. I was reading a back-issue Surfer’s Journal entry written by Tom Morey, a fabulous read, and what came across more than anything was that Morey understood and understands, without any sub-cultural dogma, that riding waves no matter what the vehicle, puts smiles on people faces: hand-planes, mats, McDonalds trays, five fins, four fins, no fins, wave-skates, carbon, poly, eps, – whatever. I believe as a sub-culture surfers are finally understanding what Morey has known for decades. We are finally explorers on the wave face, rather than captives. As far as what we use to ride the waves with, I really believe that we as surfers are at a liberating place on our evolutionary surfing timeline. Technology and groovy-ness are becoming comfortable with each other.

RF: That’s rather abstract, what do you mean by that exactly?
I was watching video of Bruce Irons and Todd Morcom getting towed into some meaty Mexican beach break, Colima or Oaxaca, and they were was riding boards that were 4’10”. Doing step-offs, it was incredible. Check out the Volcom Annhilator series videos. Mind-blowing. Sometimes as surfers we are so close to it, we live it, and sometimes we are too close. We can’t see the trees because of the forest. We fail to recognize how radically and how quickly technology is changing things for us. And then to juxtapose, yesterday I was surfing some meager windswell with some 20-something hipster surfers from Newport Beach. They had the whole hipster vibe going, and these guys put a real emphasis on style. They were riding mid-length 6’10” single fins, that they had hand-shaped themselves. They put such emphasis on their bottom turns. There was so much style and body posturing and arching. They were performance artists. And so of course were Bruce and Morcom. Two different perspectives that in the past might not have been able to co-exist, from a marketing perspective, or even in the same physical space. But now it is okay. You can have iced tea for breakfast. And that is really what THE BOARDROOM is all about. It is about Tom Morey’s simple understanding – you and a wave. Go ride it. We don’t care how. Just ride it man.

RF: What are you riding these days?
I’ve been having a blast on some longer single fins that I turned into 2+1’s, widow-makers. They are really similar to the type of single-fins I learned on in the late 70s: single-wing, round pins, slight beak nose, wide-point forward. But they have modern rockers and bottoms, I’ve added the side-bites which I found really helps, especially through full rail-to-rail transitions within the roundhouse cutback. I’m also into Carl’s (Ekstrom) Asyms, and I’m due for the next adventure with Carl. He’s going to do one with the long rail on my heel side. I have so many fun boards right now it’s stupid. I’ve been on the search for the perfect round board. I’ve also been really into the hand plane thing. I can spend 20 minutes swimming with a hand plane and get such a great workout. They waves can be crap, which they often are, but all I need is a 1’-foot wave, an open shoulder. I’ve been doing a little bit of standup too. Long distance runs, which for me is 2 miles (ha). I will say that I’ve taken to that role of aging-shortboard-martyr-dude. You know that crusty older dude that stubbornly sits and sits and sits, up to his armpits in water, for a meager little wave on his 5’ 10” short board while longboarders and SUPS are doing laps around him. That’s me. Sometimes I laugh at myself, “How did I become that guy?” Usually that’s about the time I realize it’s time to swim with the hand plane.

RF: A mainstay of your shows is the tribute to a legendary shaper, I see you have Mark Richards involved this year.
Yes. I am super excited about MR being honored at THE BOARDROOM. I’m calling it the Icons of Foam Tribute. US Blanks is the presenting sponsor and it will follow a similar format to other shape-off competitions. As you know, MR is a 4X World Champion on the ASP World Tour. He is a super person, a wonderful ambassador, a surfing and shaping legend. MR has selected some contemporaries as well as some newer guys to shape. The list is solid: Reno, Rawson, Ricky Carroll (2X winner), Wayne Rich (2X winner and defending champ), John Pyzel (John John’s shaper) and young gun, 15-year-old Taz from the Canary Islands. The MR twin fin is a classic. What MR did on those boards was absolutely masterful. Look, if you get me started on MR I could go on for days. I think the one thing that really sticks out for me, is that he is one of only two world champions to shape his own equipment while on a world title campaign. The other being PT (Peter Townend). Today that’s is simply unheard of.

RF: What about Slater?
Kelly Slater might be in that mix as well. I’m simply not sure how far Kelly translates his designs from the computer to the shaping bay. I certainly do not want to shortchange Kelly. And if he has actually finish–shaped and signed a board that he rode during a world-title campaign, than I want to give him that due as well. Regardless, Slater deserves a lot of credit for opening up the minds of the every day surfer. Kelly is in a powerful position and when he rides something new people sit up and take notice. Just look at Sean Mattison’s Nubster fin. Kelly is an advocate of surfboard design and the surfboard industry. On the webcasts he is often talking about board design, not just his own, but his fellow competitors. It is great for the surfboard industry. In many ways Kelly personifies what Tom Morey was discussing in that article. Kelly is that hardcore surfer who is taking all the tools, the computer, the technologies, the new fins systems, the new foams – all of it, and he’s experimenting. It is not a one-size-fits-all world, and Slater, just as a consequence of his own curious nature and his position as ad-hoc spokesman for surfing, helps push that way of thinking.

RF: What underground shaper is fits that mold, a guy who is experimenting with new technologies and all the tools that are out there?
Well, I shouldn’t really name names because, well really there are too many to name here. You know, we’re going to have a ‘Best of Show’ area within THE BOARDROOM and the viewing public can put in their vote on this very subject. There are five different categories: concept board, longboard, shortboard, sustainable, and wood. The winners of each category will be put into the finals and the viewing public will decide the ‘Best of Show’ from the five category winners. We are asking each exhibitor to enter a board but you don’t have to be an exhibitor to enter a board. It’ll be a great viewing area with state-of-the-art boards. There will be drool buckets… and towels.

RF: I saw on a recent press release that you are including something called ‘Cinema Grotto,’ what exactly is that and does it include Playboy Bunnies?
Ah. No, no playboy bunnies. We’re going to view short films in the Cinema Grotto. The short film genre has been an effective story telling device for, pardon the pun, a long time. It’s also much more challenging for the filmmaker. There are some incredible short films out there. The San Diego Surf Film Festival inspired me to ask some of these filmmakers to show off their films at THE BOARDROOM. Of course we are hoping to show Markus Davids new documentary on the legendary shapers called, fittingly, BoardRoom – Legends of Shaping.

What else do you have planned for THE BOARDROOM?
Oh man, lots of stuff. Tons of live shaping and an inside the shaping bay QnA design discussion with the worlds best board builders including Rusty Preisendorfer, Matt Biolos, Chris Christenson, Matt Calvani, Daniel Tomson and many others. A morning board & gear demo at 15th St., a longboard skatezone, live performance surf art benefitting long time Hobie shaper Terry Martin (RIP) & the Sport of Kings Foundation, the Surfing Heritage Foundation Gun Club lounge, live music, a vintage surf swap & appraisals, free surfboards. It’d be best to check out the website for all the info and the happs.

One last thing, when and where?
October 6 & 7 Del Mar Fairgrounds; doors open at 10am.

* Sacred Craft® is registered trademark, owned by Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Furthermore, Scott Bass, Scott Bass, Inc. and The Boardroom are not endorsed, sponsored, or affiliated with Sacred Craft® or Nielsen Business Media.

www.theboardroomshow.com

March 4, 2012, San Diego, Ca. — Down The Line Surf Talk radio with Jeff Baldwin and Scott Bass

LISTEN TO THE SHOW HERE

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tomo-Surfboards/127022700902
http://www.sdspace4art.org/2012/01/january-28-2012/

http://www.pacificstandardtime.org/exhibitions

http://www.stabmag.com/elliot/the-rapidly-shrinking-world-tour

SHOW NOTES:
It is Mar 4 Sunday, 2012. Joining in studio this morning is Daniel Tom-O Thomson Tomo Surfboards & Justin Philips
We are live every Sunday morning here in San Diego on XTRA SPORTS 1360AM and broadcast around the world via iTunes.

Josh from the Coast Keeper Foundation is coordinating a fundraiser at the Belly Up Tavern this Wednesday. There’s going to be all kinds of raffles including an autographed Gary Linden surfboard.

Adam Wright. solspot.com surf report –

Aussie Slang – What does it mean?
Blowing’ dogs off chains – it’s windy
That’s guy’s a horse’s hoof! — ugly?
He just chucked a wobbly! – ??
A dingo’s breakfast. (Fresh air and a look around).
He’s batting above his average (ugly bloke with a hot chick)
In more trouble than a pregnant nun
Curtain twitcher (nosey neighbour)

An OPINION – Parko’s 10 point ride – Can the judges seriously award a 10-point ride – a perfect score – in 2012 — in 3′ on-shore Snapper Rocks without the surfer doing some sort of aerial or a deep tube ride?
Brad Gerlach : “In my humble opinion that wasn’t a 10. I didn’t really like the turn he did to finish the wave, but Parko’s second turn was bigger than what it looked like it was going to be, so that’s what raised the pulse.”

An EMAIL – Hey Scott,
I’m glad to hear you got into THE VOICE- I am working on the show as a camera operator and have been into YOUR radio show via podcast for a few years now. You have provided lots of hours of good entertainment! I must admit, as a SUP-guy myself I always like your detours into other subjects, be it about SUP, snowboarding or environmental subjects like Fukushima. In the spirit of the super-cheesy contest name “Best of Boardriding” I’d even like it if you would talk to somebody like Kai Lenny about his 4-in-1 day at Jaws (Surfing/SUP/Kiteboarding/Windsurfing) or similar stories. Not sure the hardcore surf-only fraction would love you for that…
Either way keep up the good work!– Geedo

Daniel Tomo Thomson – Some of the most cutting edge, futuristic designs, and proving it with you and Justin both ripping it up on these unique surfboards- you’ve won Best of Show at Sacred Craft Surfboard Expo twice.

These boards are short, rather parallel outlines, tell us about the thought process with regard to your latest designs.

Tom Curren is riding your boards and loving them.

How did that relationship come about?

What type of feedback is Tom Curren giving you?

Is it difficult to ask someone to ride your boards, you’re putting yourself, your designs on the line, what if they say NO?

Did he remember you from your days as a grom in Oz?

Kolohe Andino?

That’s an A-list crew already, but surfers are generally a conservative lot, at least here in Southern California, what other A-listers would you like to see on these boards helping to spread the good word of Tomo.

Somebody posted a photo of Tom Curren with your board and it had a Channel Island Hexicon sticker on it. Did you know that?

Chris from Twitter wanted to ask you about days with ..”ask tomo this morning for stories about George Greenough and Michael Petersen”

You’ve got a new logo designed by Jetter Green -

Deathstar, Raptor, MPH

TOP 5 Stories
#1 Story – Taj Burrow wins at Quiksilver Pro Snapper Rocks ; Stephanie GIlmore

#2 Stab Magazine – Australian surf mag, published a story “The rapidly-shrinking world tour Goodbye J-Bay; goodnight Cloudbreak.”
While it hasn’t been officially announced yet, surfing’s worst-kept secret is that the Volcom Pro in Fiji slated for June has been canceled. This would mean it’s the third world tour event iced this year, following the cancellation of the Quiksilver Pro, New York, and the downgrading of the Billabong Pro, J-Bay to a six star qualifying event last week. Late last year Rip Curl also canceled their mobile Search event for this year. The 2012 tour will now be nine events and surfers will likely take seven results to their final tally.

Why hasn’t Volcom quashed this rumor?

Anthony Marcotti poised this paradigm: PPV WT events. If they are getting 6 million viewers, Why not charge $10 for the entire year? $1 an event, and receive (with 10% buy -in) $6 million dollars.

As soon as Kelly Slater’s wave pool becomes a reality, the WT will become marketable to TV, thus marketable to big sponsor dollars; Kelly Slater will license the tech and be a billionaire.

http://www.stabmag.com/elliot/the-rapidly-shrinking-world-tour

#3 Derek Rabelo. The 19-year-old surfer from Brazil was born blind but that never stopped him from living life to the fullest ; he surfed Pipeline with the help of Makua Kai Rothman and others. 3′- 4′ Pipe pushed into a wave, straight to his feet; how blind is he? Partially? completely? Regardless, pretty amazing stuff, our hats are off to Derek.

#4 The Hydrodynamica art installation – part of the “Pacific Standard Time” series– runs for one more week, do yourself a favor and go check it out.
http://www.sdspace4art.org/2012/01/january-28-2012/

http://www.pacificstandardtime.org/exhibitions

#5 Twitter verse drama with Sunny Garcia and Jamie O’Brien : SUNNYGARCIA: “@whoisjob you’re a great surfer but you talk way too much shit so surf and stop talking about how great you are:)”

Down The Line Surf Talk Radio — FantasySurfer.com team – join our club it is private the code to get into the clubhouse is “bassyandbaldy” lowercase -pick you team , try to better Baldy who is pro surfing expert.

Sunday, February 26, 2012 (San Diego, Ca.) — Kelly Slater is Neptune. Kolohe Andino Nervous. Billabong Worrisome.

Down The Line Surf Talk Radio — Surf talk radio with Bassy & Baldy it is Feb 26 Sunday, 2012.

Big show including lots of Quiksilver Pro discussion. Kelly Slater is Neptune. Kolohe Andino Nervous. So is Gordan Merchant.

We are live every Sunday morning here in San Diego on XTRA SPORTS 1360AM and broadcast around the world via iTunes. email us surftalksandiego AT gmail.com or twitter @sacredcraftexpo @jeffbaldy

NEPTUNE – AT HOME

SHOW NOTES:
An EMAIL – #1 Yeah guy! I’m a northern beaches local and last week I had the privilege of taking my daughter to Manly to watch some of the AusOpen. I think even though Manly is a pretty average wave, it’s one of the best spots that they could have held the event. Manly has the right infrastructure (compared to Avalon further north where I live which has better waves, but couldn’t handle all the people!) It’s great to see contests like this and I think there’s a place for these kind of events alongside the dream tour style contests. Personally even though I’m a big surf contest fan, I didn’t watch that much of the surfing, we were more interested in the skateboarding. Anyway great show guys, I’ve been a regular listener for years!

BTW, it would be great if you could get Tom Curren on the show (like that’s ever going to happen!). — Ziggy

#2 Hi Scott and Jeff, Greetings from Cornwall, UK, where the waves are cold and non-existent right now. Love the show – the podcasts keep me fired up for a surf while driving to work!

I have to zone in on Scott’s comments from a couple weeks back about a need for Pipe ‘SuperBowl’ finale on the ASP tour, where you recommended that no matter how strongly a surfer performed throughout the year, that could be overturned at Pipe. To a limey, that sounds alot like manufacturing the competition for media / dramatic purposes, which surely would only further weaken surfing’s legitimacy as a competitive sport?

We already have a subjective and questionable judging criteria with multiple controversies each year. If you condense all of that and then bring it all down to one event, I just think you have an even less realistic interpretation of ‘the best surfer’ – and that’s if its 12ft pipe – imagine if it were 4ft windblown backdoor – surely it would be a traveshamockery to have the title decided in those conditions?

Also, as amazing as pipe can be, I believe several of the other spots on tour can be right up there, and the performances at those venues need to be fully counted as part of the whole: keep up the good work All the best Paul

A POLL:
Should the Billabong Pipeline Masters be the penultimate event i.e SUPERBOWL of the ASP. i.e No WORLD TITLE being decided prior to the Pipe Masters Event. It all comes down to this event?

Poll online 75% YES 25% No

Add your vote to the POLL – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Down-The-Line-Surf-Talk-Radio/106586356039144

TOP 5 Stories of the Week

Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks: Slater is NEPTUNE in round 1

Kolohe looks nervous in round 1; John John in form; Dane Reynolds in form (if there is such a thing); Mick Fanning solid; Ace solid; Josh Kerr solid

My team: Julian Wilson; Josh Kerr, Mick Fanning, Kelly Slater, Kai Otten, Travis Logie, John John, Dane Reynolds

UPCOMING QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:

HEAT 1: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
HEAT 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
HEAT 3: Adriano De Souza (BRA) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
HEAT 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
HEAT 5: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
HEAT 6: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
HEAT 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
HEAT 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 9: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Raoni Monterio (BRA)
HEAT 10: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
HEAT 11: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
HEAT 12: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Travis Logie (AUS)

#1 Billabong business situation – share price way down after profits lag

private equity groups (TPG) wants to take over, offering a price/per share

Gordan Merchant not so happy says, no;

Private equity group employs different strategy by going straight to BoDirectors ; BoD has a fidicuiary responsibility to ALL shareholders, not just Mr Merchant; many nervous fund managers like the price that private equity is offering.

Some analysts suggesting that selling off NIXON was a mistake. NIXON was a hugely profitable business for Billabong. Makes Billabong business weaker from take-over perspective.

Pressure mounts. We’ll see what happens.

Can the umbrella brand stay relevant, focus on its core value?

Brand specialists contend that with plenty of nurture a youth brand can have its use-by date extended.

”A lot of companies had their moment in the limelight only to wake up and find themselves out of touch,” the Ogilvy Public Relations director, Mike Beckerleg, says.

”Apple came back from the brink and Puma staged a huge retro throw-back. The same goes for the Swiss watch industry.”

Billabong Pro JBay downgraded toa 6 star evetn ; off the world tour ; many fans disappointed that Billabong didn’t get rid of Brazil event rather than JBay.

#2 Fukushima tsunami debirs field heading to the USA – Debris from the devastating tsunami that hit Japan on March 11 has turned up exactly where scientists predicted it would after months of floating across the Pacific Ocean. Finding and confirming where the debris ended up gives them a better idea of where it’s headed next.

Millions of tons of debris – pieces of fishing vessels to TV sets

Scientists estimate the debris will wash up on the Hawaiian Islands in two years and the U.S. West Coast in three.

#3 Three weeks ago; The 2012 Quiksilver Rincon Classic went off last weekend. Three-time World Champ Tom Curren, former World Tour standouts Bobby Martinez and Dane Reynolds, Parker Coffin, Adam Virs, 2011 champ Mike McCabe and a host of other local professionals were on hand for the annual contest. This is a locals only event;

The win was Reynolds’s first contest victory in over a decade. Receiving his 1st place award at a ceremony Sunday night at the Santa Maritime Museum, Reynolds, sheepish yet laughing, explained, “This is the first contest I’ve won since 2001. That’s a long time for a professional surfer.”

TCurren beat Dane Reynolds in a early round heat, Tom Curren rode a Tomo 4′ 11′ and absolutely killed it with his amazing style.

#4 Fellow surfers, including superstar Kelly Slater, took to Twitter and other social media after Chicago surfer Rex flodstroms Slater tweeted, “Surfing is not a crime” and told the Chicago Sun Times, “It makes no sense. … It sounds like a police state.”

Flodstrom appeared in a Chicago court Thursday, with a dozen surfing supporters,

The judge agreed to drop charges against Flodstrom if he completed 20 hours of community service before March 19. But that did not seem to satisfy the surfers, who cited Flodstrom’s arrest as an example of overprotective government.

Mitch McNeil of the Surfrider Foundation told ABC News, “It’s not in the police playbook for them to be policing the surfing community.”

#5 “Of Men and Mavericks” star Gerard Butler has checked out of rehab after developing dependence on pain medication his publicists say was prescribed after a surf accident that occurred while filming on the coast in December.

News reports say a healthy Butler left the Betty Ford Center early Friday morning. The reports quote Gerard’s publicist saying the Scottish actor’s problems began in 2006, during physically demanding filming of “300.” On Dec. 18, 2011, during his final days of filming, Butler was held under for two waves, leading the actor to exacerbate previous injuries. Butler’s manager told online news site TMZ that the actor began struggling with pain management. Rather than developing a reliance on prescription drugs, he checked into the rehabilitation clinic about three weeks ago, TMZ reports.

Jan 15, 2012 Down The Line Surf Talk Radio San Diego and heard around the world via iTunes podcast

Bassy n Baldy with ya every Sunday -858.570.1360 call us if you want to talk surf or email us at surftalksandiego at gmail dot com twitter ATsacredcraftexpo or ATjeffbaldy

BoardArtBenefit with Matt Beard : The Board Art Benefit is a project designed to bring leading artists and shapers together to create original works of art utilizing surfboards for the purpose of raising support for Surf Aid International.

Jan 21. Sat night 6-9pm here in San Diego in Solana Beach at the Aaron Chang Gallery in the Cedros design district

Top 5 stories of the Week
#1 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout – congrats to REEF McIntosh for winning! Check the video below.

2012 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout Day2 Highlights from Prickett Films on Vimeo.

Top 5 stories of the Week
#1 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout – congrats to REEF McIntosh for winning .
There is huge amount of “Pipeline Only Experts” on the North Shore and this is one of their events to shine. My opinion is this, when I watch the Pipeline Masters I see the same incredible tubes being made and the same amount of wipeouts. There are guys on tour that don’t want any part of mean 10′ Pipe. But for the most part I think the gap between the local Pipeline experts, JOB, JOHN JOHN, Markus Hickman, Healey, Fuller, REEF, Bruce Irons etc. etc. and guys like Ace Buchan, Josh Kerr, Kieran Perrow, Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning, is shrinking and in many cases is barely noticeable.

#2 San Diego Surf Film Festival – The SAN DIEGO SURF FILM FESTIVAL is pleased to announce a call for submissions to all independent surf filmmakers everywhere. SUBMISSION DUE MARCH 31ST. In addition, come celebrate the unique contributions San Diegan’s have made to the surfing community through design and invention. Come one, come all and enjoy the art of surf cinema. The inaugural SAN DIEGO SURF FILM FESTIVAL will be proudly presented at BIRD’S SURF SHED. MAY 11-13, 2012
www.sandiegosurffilmfestival.com

#3 Ted Smith paddle out at Windansea today at noon – sadly Ted Smith an iconic Wndansea local had a heart attack ; he died surfing at a young age. If you were a part of the Wndansea scene you knew Ted Smith.

#4 St. Pete Beach photographer accused of molesting teen surfer
The local photographer took pictures of young male surfers, skimboarders and skateboarders, posted them on popular surfing websites, and promised the exposure would help the boys attract the sponsors. He molested one boy, admitted to the charge via a hidden microphone, and was arrested. Gil Benitz, alias was also Guillermo Trejos. Apparently he had all the high priced equipment and seemed believable.

Attention groms: Don’t befriend any 40-year-old loner photographers who use the word sponsor. Creepy.

#5 Irishman Glenn Hall Wins the Inaugural Hainan Classic at Riyue Bay
Despite smaller conditions on the final day of the competition at the Hainan Classic, the Final was an action-packed, wave-for-wave affair. Glenn ‘Micro’ Hall (IRL) managed to take control early with a long, excellent-scoring wave mid-way through the heat and hold off Royden Bryson (ZAF) in order to be crowned the first-ever champion of the Hainan Classic, an ASP 4-Star Men’s World Tour event.

There are human rights violations in China. It is not a place where you can speak negatively about the communist regime. They do not allow free speech, they do not allow free thought on the internet. In the 80s the ASP boycotted South Africa for backward thinking.

Baldy, are we as surfers, supposedly a free thinking bunch, just going to bury our heads in the sand?

Or is this about the money, new markets, if it means selling board shorts, we look the other way OR is this about keep you friends close and your enemies even closer?

Perhaps we have more power if we infiltrate and impose thru hegemony our western ways.

#6 Shark Bites Board at Nelscott Reef: Surfer Steve Harnack reported; “I had traveled beyond the reef about 200 yards by duck-diving through several waves about 20 feet high. I noticed my board dragging as I moved through the water. I had a jet-ski tow me back to the beach where I noticed a section on the bottom of my board had been struck by a shark. A portion of the fiber-glass had been removed and tooth impressions were also present.”

————————————
Predictions for 2012 :

The ASP drug policy is implemented and moves forward quietly and without issue until someone tests positive for a Performance Enhancing Drug.

Specialty events like the Billabong MUNDAKA Challenge featuring Machado, Occy, Luke Egan, take away even more credibility from the ASP, which is left without any real power. This helps open up the door for the likes of NIKE to create their own specialty events.

USA surfers John Florence & Kolohe Andino have remarkable Australian legs; John Florence will separate himself from Kolohe when big Cloudbreak and Teahupoo present themselves;

A rift will form between the shy Gabe Medina and other surfers on tour; as his shyness comes off as an aloofness, a kid with an attitude. Nobody likes that.

American Josh Kerr will win the world title in 2012.

Kolohe Andino will knock off Kelly Slater from the #1 position at the Surfer Poll awards