DOWN THE LINE Surf Talk Radio

AUG 05, 2012 – - Surfing news, Surf news, Surf Channel, Surf Industry

US Open – big day of action today — final day … Dane v Kelly

EMAIL: — A FAN’S PERSPECTIVE: They’ve made it okay again; this fog will last a few more years, and there will be a back lash; lipstick on a pig can only last so long before the masses realize they’ve been kissing a pig and not Marilyn Monroe.

The puppeteers are doing what they do best, selling the surfing lifestyle as a day-time RAVE for 17-year-olds, “let’s get drunk, smoke cloves and listen to music…, oh shit, here come the cops”;

SURFING DOES NOT COME FIRST, if it did, they’d run the US Open at a really good surf spot. In the long run, this event hurts competitive surfing. It doesn’t hurt the selling of surfing, but it hurts true competitive surfing.

THE US OPEN of Golf is not held at Oceanside Municipal Golf Course. Maybe it should be? Plenty of parking and a main street, plus, you can get an alcohol permit. Huntington Beach (if you strip away the history, the pier setting, and the Main Street) is just a run-of-the-mill California beach break. Sure it gets good. Really good. In October. In January. If the surfing competition was priority number one, it would be held somewhere else. Somewhere worthy of the nations Open Championship.

Que a smattering of well-played excuses in 3, 2, 1… “can’t do it a Lowers; what about parking for 200K; the city really benefits from the revenue; where else can you get an “arena”; we’ve been having this contest here forever; the industry loves it here; yada, yada, yada.”

All valid points. It’s easy to rationalize. However, just because “we’ve had a surfing competition here forever,” does not make it okay. It makes us stupid. Insane. Bottom line: surfing competition does not come first at the US Open of Surfing.

That’s okay. Let them kiss pork. Call me when Kelly’s wave pool is perfected. They can have the US Open of Surfing at Coachella.

Now the final day matchups are very impressive. I must say I’m looking forward to the final day action. After all, I am a fan…
…of surfing in good waves. – Jay T. in Carlsbad

SEGMENT 1 SPONSOR —

THE BOARDROOM INTERNATIONAL SURFBOARD SHOW

–
HONORING MARK RICHARDS IN THE ICONS OF FOAM SHAPING TRIBUTE PRESENTED BY US BLANKS

October 6 & 7, 2012
Del Mar Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall
Open to the Public
Food, Music, Fun
Exhibits, Shaping, Events, Art
$10; U12 FREE
Free sub to SURFER Magazine for each paid entrant

EVENTS AND EXHIBITS INCLUDE:

QNA SHAPING BAY
BEST OF SHOW
VINTAGE SWAP SHOWDOWN
CINEMA GROTTO SHORT FILMS FEST
SURFAID BOARD ART BENEFIT
ARTIZEN LIVE PERFORMANCE ART
ECO-SWIRL LAMINATING
GUN CLUB LOUNGE
MUSIC BY SURFERS FOR SURFERS
Autograph & Book Signings

SURF REPORT WITH SOLPSOT.COM’S ADAM WRIGHT:

SEGMENT 2: 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;

LIBERIA Surfing with Sean Brody – Surf Resource Network

What is the latest with surfing in and around Liberia?

Liberia and the ISA?

You are on your way to do some Masters Degree work over there, correct?

What would you tell someone thinking about a surf trip to liberia; what are the goods what are the bads?

Are there ugly Americans?

What do you eat?

Any dangers in the water?

SEGMENT 3 SPONSOR —

THE BOARDROOM INTERNATIONAL SURFBOARD SHOW

–
HONORING MARK RICHARDS IN THE ICONS OF FOAM SHAPING TRIBUTE PRESENTED BY US BLANKS

October 6 & 7, 2012
Del Mar Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall
Open to the Public
Food, Music, Fun
Exhibits, Shaping, Events, Art
$10; U12 FREE
Free sub to SURFER Magazine for each paid entrant

EVENTS AND EXHIBITS INCLUDE:

QNA SHAPING BAY
BEST OF SHOW
VINTAGE SWAP SHOWDOWN
CINEMA GROTTO SHORT FILMS FEST
SURFAID BOARD ART BENEFIT
ARTIZEN LIVE PERFORMANCE ART
ECO-SWIRL LAMINATING
GUN CLUB LOUNGE
MUSIC BY SURFERS FOR SURFERS
Autograph & Book Signings

TOP 5 STORIES — SURFING NEWS: Mavericks Contest and Big Wave World Tour Join Forces

Early Winter Swells Anticipated for Mavericks Invitational; Organizers Announce Partnership with the Big Wave World Tour
the organizers of the Mavericks Invitational big wave surf contest are opening the contest season on November 1, 2012.
The contest waiting period is officially November 1, 2012, through March 31, 2013
Mavericks Invitational organizers are also announcing a partnership with the Big Wave World Tour.
The tour showcases the world’s top surfers and local standouts as they battle extreme conditions, and each other, in a season long battle to become the next Big Wave World Champion. The tour includes events in Chile, Peru, Mexico, and now in California. For additional details, visit MavericksInvitational.com.

THE COMPETITORS:

Matt Ambrose (Pacifica, CA)

Ryan Augenstein (Santa Cruz, CA)

Grant “Twiggy” Baker (South Africa)

Chris Bertish (South Africa)

Carlos Burle (Brazil)

Ken “Skindog” Collins (Santa Cruz, CA)

Shane Desmond (Santa Cruz, CA)

Shawn Dollar (Santa Cruz, CA)

Shane Dorian (Hawaii)

Nathan Fletcher (San Clemente, CA)

Mark Healey (Hawaii)

Rusty Long (San Clemente, CA)

Greg Long (San Clemente, CA)

Alex Martins (Brazil)

Peter Mel (Santa Cruz, CA)

Ryan Seelbach (San Francisco, CA)

Kelly Slater (Florida)

Tyler Smith (Santa Cruz, CA)

Jamie Sterling (Hawaii)

Anthony Tashnick (Santa Cruz, CA)

Grant Washburn (San Francisco, CA)

Dave Wassel (Hawaii)

Ben Wilkinson (Australia)

Zach Wormhoudt (Santa Cruz, CA)

#2 US Open – big day of action today — final day … Dane v Kelly
Baldy give me your impressions of the US Open

A FAN’S PERSPECTIVE: They’ve made it okay again; to surf in crap; this fog will last a few more years, and there will be a back lash; lipstick on a pig can only last so long before the masses realize they’ve been kissing a pig and not Marilyn Monroe.

The puppeteers are doing what they do best, selling the surfing lifestyle as a day-time RAVE for 17-year-olds, “let’s get drunk, smoke cloves and listen to music…, oh shit, here come the cops”;

SURFING DOES NOT COME FIRST, if it did, they’d run the US Open at a really good surf spot. In the long run, this event hurts competitive surfing. It doesn’t hurt the selling of surfing, but it hurts true competitive surfing.

THE US OPEN of Golf is not held at Oceanside Municipal Golf Course. Maybe it should be? Plenty of parking and a main street, plus, you can get an alcohol permit. Huntington Beach (if you strip away the history, the pier setting, and the Main Street) is just a run-of-the-mill California beach break. Sure it gets good. Really good. In October. In January. If the surfing competition was priority number one, it would be held somewhere else. Somewhere worthy of the nations Open Championship.

Que a smattering of well-played excuses in 3, 2, 1… “can’t do it a Lowers; what about parking for 200K; the city really benefits from the revenue; where else can you get an “arena”; we’ve been having this contest here forever; the industry loves it here; yada, yada, yada.”

All valid points. It’s easy to rationalize. However, just because “we’ve had a surfing competition here forever,” does not make it okay. It makes us stupid. Insane. Bottom line: surfing competition does not come first at the US Open of Surfing.

That’s okay. Let them kiss pork. Call me when Kelly’s wave pool is perfected. They can have the US Open of Surfing at Coachella.

Now the final day matchups are very impressive. I must say I’m looking forward to the final day action. After all, I am a fan.

#3 SURF CHANNEL – The founder of The Tennis Channel and The Ski Channel is launching The Surf Channel, in mid-September. Founder Steve Bellamy said the video-on-demand network should be accessible to 20 million households when it launches through cable, satellite and online distribution partners including Comcast, Cox Communications, DirecTV, Dish Network, Filmon.com and YouTube.

#4 LACK of SURF in S0. Cal; dismal is an understatement

May 27, 2012 — – Down The Line Surf Talk Radio with Bassy n Baldy on XTRA SPORTS 1360AM in San Diego; on iTunes podcast (Google it).

LISTEN NOW

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;

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

SHOW NOTES:

Segment 2:
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;

REEF CHECK – Greg Hodgson Reef Check Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to conservation of two ecosystems: tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs.
How long has it been going on?
How do you make it sexy, in other words, the people that dive on reefs get it, surfers get it, how do you reach the kid in Oklahoma or the president of an ad agency or the chamber of commerce in Bali?
We have Surfrider Foundation, Save The Waves, Heal the Bay, Surfers Against Sewage, Greenpeace, Green Surf, Oceana, Surfers For Cetaceans, the list goes on and on… are there too many causes?

Robert McClatchy the Reluctant Capitalist, BoD ? Huh?

Reef Check carries out its work through three major programs:

1) EcoDiver Program – an education and certification program for kids to adults who want to learn more about the ocean and take part in protecting reef ecosystems.
2) Coral Reef Management Program – a coral reef monitoring and management system that focuses on establishing Marine Protected Areas to conserve coral reefs while encouraging sustainable use of surrounding reefs by local residents.
3) Reef Check California – a volunteer monitoring program for California rocky reefs designed to provide data for managers and to build a conservation constituency among California divers.

Year of the REEF singing contest: REEF IDOL

We are the earth, the earth is us
our planet’s future is in our trust
The mountains, the sky, the ocean blue
This beauty entrusted to me and you
Fishes and coral that live in the sea
Help sustain the lives of you and me
They’re fragile we all need to understand
Their future’s the future of woman and man

CHORUS: The year of the reef is every year.
Reefs sustain the life we hold so dear
The beauty of the reef everyone should see
The future of reefs depends…………..on you and me.

Great White Sharks: Are there too many? How do we know? Children’s Pool in La Jolla?

Segment 3: 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) The winning bid for 11-time World Champion surfer Kelly Slater’s surfboard was a whopping $4,000, which was matched as promised by another $4,000 from the champions own pocket for an $8,000 donation going to the ROLE Foundation, a Bali-based environmental organization that is actively engaged in the fight to clean up Bali.

ROLE’s founder and CEO Michael O’Leary was extremely gratified when he heard the news, saying, “I would like to thank Kelly Slater from the bottom of my heart for raising these much needed funds. This $8,000 will go toward managing our seven projects that include education programs such as the Children’s Interactive Environmental Education Tour, which is directed at bringing our environmental message to the families and the communities of Bali through the kids, and on to the Solid and Liquid Waste Infrastructure Construction Project at Uluwatu.”

“Kelly also has brought a great measure of global awareness to Bali’s dire pollution problems, and hopefully this awareness will help gain further commitments towards attaining a healthy island and coastal environmental eco-systems for Bali’s land, waterways, reefs and seas. Cheers to the Champ, Kelly Slater, and to Quiksilver for helping the Role Foundation, ‘Fight the Good Fight’, here in Bali,” added O’Leary.

2) Can will and should Occy re-qualify SURFERMAG.com: http://www.surfermag.com/features/occy%E2%80%99s-third-wind/

“What Occy can do, however, is destroy a meaty face on his backside more efficiently than anyone else in the world. This was true 10 years ago, and its still true today.”– SURFERmag.com
That’s not true. Is IT?? Who has a more efficient and meaty backside hack than OCCY?

OCCY: “I mean it might be due to the equipment, which has gotten a lot better—thinner, faster, better boards. But, I probably am surfing the best I ever have,” says Occy. “It’s hard to tell but it kind of feels like it. I would probably have to look at footage, but it feels like it. Especially at Margaret’s and at home on the Gold Coast when it’s early in the morning and nobody’s watching. But who’s going to believe it because nobody’s watching!”

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).

4) Volcom Fiji Pro – event starts June 3 - Solspot.com Forecast looks like June 2nd a solid 6-8 swell hits – dropping slightly of the first day of the waiting period, but plenty of waves…

5) For what it is worth… Hearing thru the grapevine that Kelly Slater is the newest addition to the GoPRO team.

October 16, 2011 Surfing News; Surf News Quiksilver Dane Reynolds Top 10 moments

Dane Reynolds’ virulent strain

By: Chris Mauro, GrindTV.com

Given all the Dane Reynolds hype of late it’s easy to understand how Daneofilia (DANE-oh-FEEL -yah) is now infecting a wide swath of today’s young surfing prodigies. Some doctors describe the disease as a virulent strain of languorous behavior, others refer to it as syndrome more commonly known as the fuck-its.

Notable young talents (especially those residing along the surf-industry-laden California coast) run the highest risks of contracting this virus, but the symptoms typically flair up once they’ve left their comfy little pond for the bigger, badder world of global talent, where they soon discover winning isn’t nearly as easy as they, their publicist, biographers, videographers, agents, managers, coaches, bloggers and astrologers, thought it would be.

Consumed by self doubt, they begin to question not just the nipple they’ve been sucking on since they got their first pair of free trunks, but the very body producing all the nourishment. And the fleeting nature of their most flavored surfer status hits hard. If things don’t work out…they soon discover…they’re replaceable. At the end of the day they’re just tools. Marketing tools. Being exploited to sell wares. Oh the horror.

The lucky ones, like Dane Reynolds, seemingly have a choice in this matter. They can make a career out of being anti-pros, choosing to go down a “soul surfing” route filled with cameras and cameos. The vast majority of pros don’t really have that luxury.

Take Adriano de Souza, who by most measuring sticks is the anti-Dane. They both love surfing, no doubt, but Adriano actually thrives in competition. That makes him incredibly uncool in hipster circles. After all, he always gives 100% (what a jock!) He loves to claim (kook!), and what’s with that (fugly) wide stance? All that annoying hard work and touchdown dance behavior makes Adriano the tour’s perfect villain.

But look deeper into his story and you might begin to see things differently. While growing up in a poor corner Sau Paulo Brazil there were years when his next meal wasn’t guaranteed. He and his family fought hard for everything they had, and when the remote possibility of a surfing career first became possible he had to leave home for good to chase it.

Thanks to hard work and dedication he’s succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. Today both his mother and brother are living in houses that Adriano provided with his winnings. Knowing all that, you might understand the passion behind the claims, and you may even start respecting some of his surfing strengths, like how he manages to put his board in all the right places with healthy dose of speed and power.

Adriano’s path was undoubtedly a tough one. And it remains so in the court of public opinion. Meanwhile, as we learn in the new Surfer Magazine interview issue, Dane Reynolds road has been obstacle free, and he’s essentially flying blind out there.

After all, he prefers to travel with six packs over exercise balls. He doesn’t want to waste energy chasing a 5.5 to get through heats just to please sponsors. He finds his friends in Oxnard a lot more interesting than all the exotic people he ignores while traveling. And, oh yeah, Kelly Slater really hasn’t done all that much for surfing. (Apparently Dane doesn’t count the zeroes in his checks before depositing them.)

All this listlessness makes him a huge surfing hero.

Now he’s searching for even less stress. He wants to ride ugly boards in mushy point waves and hang out with his friends scribbling on T-shirts, posting on his blog and making webisodes.

And not surprisingly a handful of younger “highly touted” Californians think the same path will work just as well for them. Incidental stardom is apparently just a cool little blog away.

Of course they’d kinda like to skip that part that Dane had to endure…y’know, the part where he actually earned all his value, the part where he made the tour and validated his hype with brilliant victories on a big stage.

Wait – victories?

Well yes and no. As Slater so aptly noted during his Surfer Poll speech last year, Dane Reynold’s has never won anything. Not even the NSSA Nationals. But we needn’t weep for him.

Fact is Dane’s simply not cut from the same heat-winning cloth as most tour stars. Nevertheless the tour is filled with Daneophiles (DANE-oh-FILEs) for good reason: once he made the tour, he subsequently made more than a few dents with his freakish flying and carnivorous carves. Dane’s biggest victories haven’t been mathematical ones, they come in statement form – by how he wins heats, and sometimes by the way he loses them. Either way he’s made more than a few boundary pushing proclamations in his contest jersey, and that’s what’s made him the A-lister he is. He’s won hearts.

But whether Dane knows it or not, he won the majority of hearts up on the big stage, and his message resonates more from that platform than anywhere else. There’s a simple reason for that. Performing on demand in front of hundreds of thousands without the safety net of Final Cut Pro is simply more difficult than posting on a blog, drawing up T-shirts, and shooting videos.

Nothing cheap and easy has value, which is why all that other stuff is considered just surf porn. It’s great for a few seconds of fleeting pleasure. Given the choice, the majority of Dane’s fans would rather see him keep pushing.

Of course, after years of grueling travel and that hefty work schedule they have on the ASP he’s certainly earned the right to pursue what makes him truly happy, be it fashion and film or beer bongs and surf smut. If we’ve learned nothing else from the dearly departed Steve Jobs it’s that loving what you do is the only way to do great work. And we love Dane’s great work.

But history tells us that once surfers leave the tour behind a clock starts ticking on their allure, because flash fades a bit faster in this new media age. A few short years from now when Dane’s added 15 pounds to his boiler, his neckbeard is grown out, and he’s home watching a new generation of stars pick up where he left off, it’s possible he could feel more exploited than ever being a video floozy seeking Facebook followers…By then a few 5.5s might just pale in comparison.

GREAT EMAIL #1:Baldy n Bassy:
Been a listener for a while now, all through the podcasts. It’s a
great show but I have a some suggestions (in no particular order):
- Don’t plug Sacred Craft so much. We get it. It’s coming. We’ll seek out the info and details online.
- Don’t talk over the guests. There’s a tendency to interject personal
thoughts/opinions/experiences too much. Let the guests talk.
- No need for Top 5 stories when you do have guests. It just wastes time and leaves a lot less time for the interview(s).
- Bring to light the lesser known stories from the surf world. Be unique. Anyone can log onto the ASP site and get competition-related news.

Anyway, thanks for listening/reading. Obviously these are just my opinions and how you do your show is your prerogative. Keep up the great work. Respectfully,
Clarence

surfing industry news, surf news, ASP, Doug Warbrick, Taj Burrow, Kelly Slater, ASP, surf news

SURF NEWS: QUIKSILVER PRO STARTS HISTORIC 2010 ASP SEASON – Wax heads and surfing fans get excited – the world’s best surfers are headed to the Gold Coast as two of the biggest surfing events kick start the 2010 ASP Men’s and Women’s World Tours next month. From 26th February through to 10th March, the 2010 Quiksilver Pro presented by Land Rover and the Roxy Pro will take place on the southern end of the Gold Coast’s iconic point break of Snapper Rocks. This year’s Quiksilver Pro presented by Land Rover will feature the world’s top 45 ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) surfers including the likes of reigning two-time World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) and current world number two and hometown hero Joel Parkinson (AUS). Nine-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) is the only non-Australian to have won the Quiksilver Pro (twice), and looks to be a top threat in the 2010 competition. Surfing sensation Julian Wilson (AUS) surprised the crowd last year when he knocked out Kelly Slater and will no doubt be looking to do the same again this year as he competes as a wildcard.

SURF NEWS: CLAW HONORED – Doug Warbrick’s huge contribution to Australian surfing has finally been acknowledged with his elevation to the sport’s Hall of Fame at the Australian Surfing Awards on the southern end of the Gold Coast last night. Surf businessman Warbrick became the 32nd member respectively of the Hall of Fame which began with the initial induction of Snow McAllister (Deceased) and 4 x World Champion Mark Richards in 1985.

SURF NEWS: TAJ WINS BREAKA – Gold Coast Queensland: Taj Burrow (AUS) today etched his name into the history books, claiming the inaugral 2010 Association Of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4-Star, Breaka Burleigh Pro. Burrow defeated Josh Kerr (AUS), Owen Wright (AUS) and Dusty Payne (HAW) who finished second to fourth respectively in an exhilarating four-man final. “It’s so great to be back at Burleigh Heads, I’ve spent a lot of time here over the years and it’s such a great wave, so to be able to win the very first competition here in so long is just great,” Burrow said.

HERE is the video of Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, & Julian Wilson that Baldy and I have been watching to get our froth on prior to knee high muck sessions at the local walled of beachbreak. This is sick, especially if you skip through the marketing stuff and just watch the action.

Sunday we interviewed Billabong XXL global director Bill Sharp. We told Bill that a paddle-in surfer will beat out a tow-in surfer for biggest wave this year. He didn’t bite. You can listen to this weeks show via iTunes podcast directory search keyword ” down the line”.

Rachel and Her Comet – 540K and still ticking …. Cool as…