DOWN THE LINE Surf Talk Radio

Scott Bass Surfer, Jeff Baldwin Surfer — Down The Line surf talk radio

September 9, 2012:

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 — Free surfboards !
Food, Music, Fun
Exhibits, Shaping, Events, Art
$10; U12 FREE
Free sub to SURFER Magazine for each paid entrant
Surfboard Demo morning at 15th Street in Del Mar Sunday Oct 7 CATCH BALDY

WEBCAST OF THE BOARDROOM: ON SURFERSVILLAGE.COM & SURFERMAG.COM & SOLSPOT.COM starts at Noon PSTboth Saturday and Sunday
EVENTS AND EXHIBITS INCLUDE:

Email:#1 Bassy and Baldie- Yeah guy! Great show with Tim Bessell; we listen to you religiously up here in the Pacific Northwest thanks for keeping us in the loop. Doug BC Canada

My trip to Florida:
Surf Expo – was great.
Surfing in Florida or Bahamas? Ponce Inlet or New Smyrna?

Belly Up Tavern & THE BOARDROOM INTERNATIONAL SURFBOARD SHOW have a special night planned for Oct 6th when Stephen Marley son of Bob Marley plays at the Belly Up Tavern. Reggae and Surfing, go together like Wavestorms and Costco.
Stephen Marley at the Belly Up Tavern.
I have one pair of English Beat tickets for Friday Night Sept 21st. Trivia- 858 570 1360 if you’d like to win a pair of tickets as part of the The Boardroom International Surfboard Show promotion, you’ll have to answer some trivia. Call now to test your surfing knowledge. 858 570 1360
TRVIA: MR trivia, in what city did MR’s father, Ray Richards, have a surf shop for years?

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

TOP 5 STORIES:

I survived 9/11 by surfing 15 floors on slab of concrete — Miracle hidden for 11 years by myth, disbelief
and survivor guilt is revealed for first time

Out of the terrible tragedy of 9/11 came a miraculous story of hope — a tale that became the stuff of urban myth.

It was reported that, as the North Tower fell, one man “surfed” down the falling building on a slab of concrete and survived.

The adjoining South Tower collapsed, although Pasquale and his work pals did not realize it had gone.

Only then did they descend the tower down Stairway B, their progress impeded as firemen ran upstairs to get to the crash scene. By 10.28am Pasquale, still clutching his briefcase, had reached the 22nd floor. He said: “Suddenly, I felt the handrail start to shake and heard this loud, loud noise from above.

“I crouched in a corner of the stairwell in a fetal position and covered my face with my hands. Then I felt the wall and base of the floor crack open and give way.

“That’s when I knew that this was it — the entire building was going. I said to myself, ‘My God, I can’t believe this is how I’m gonna die’.

“I thought of my wife, my unborn child, and in those split seconds I was praying, knowing that I was going to die.”

The story was mentioned tentatively by TV reporters — first as fact, then as hearsay, then as fiction.

But now, as the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attack on New York approaches, the story of the 9/11 “surfer” has finally been proved.

British documentary makers have interviewed him and got eye-witness and expert testimony from rescuers, doctors, engineers and scientists.

The result is 9/11: The Miracle Survivor, screened at 10pm on Monday on Channel 4.

The “surfer” survivor, Pasquale Buzzelli, and his wife Louise explain why the full story of “the world’s luckiest man” has taken so long to be told.

Pasquale, 43, told me exclusively: “It was difficult to talk about it. It still is.

“I lost 14 colleagues who were with me when the tower collapsed. They were the last people I saw, then they were gone.

“They were the victims and I was the survivor.

“So I had a sense of guilt. I just wanted to pretend it didn’t happen.”

Louise, also 43, said: “Pasquale did not want the eyes of the world just on him. He had lost many friends and he didn’t want their families to feel hurt by his presence.

“Yet everybody else around him was saying, ‘People need to hear your story. People need to know that there was a miracle that horrible day’. ”

At 8.46 on the morning of September 11, Pasquale was in a lift on his way up the North Tower when the first plane hit it between the 93rd and 99th floors.

The lift stopped on the 44th floor and the doors opened to scenes of panic. But he decided to continue to his office on the 64th floor, where he worked as a structural engineer for the New York Port Authority.

Pasquale was still unaware of the terrorist attack that had trapped hundreds.

But most of his colleagues were already heading down the emergency stairways.

Pasquale called Louise, who was seven months’ pregnant. He said: “I told her, ‘I’m OK, don’t be alarmed, don’t be worried, I’m perfectly fine’.

“And she said, ‘What’s the matter?’ So I said, ‘Just do me a favour, turn on the television and tell me what you see’. ”

Louise added: “I got up, hit the remote and saw the top of the North Tower alight. I said, ‘Oh my God, Pasquale, your building is on fire. They say a plane has hit your building!’ ”

At first, like many, he thought it was an accident.

He said: “That was higher up and, because the air-con and lifts were still working, I felt no sense of danger.” The full horror dawned on him and some of his colleagues when, clustered round a TV, they watched as the second plane exploded into the South Tower.

He said: “It hit at about the same level as we were up there in the sky. Yet we couldn’t see it from our window and we didn’t feel the impact. We could only watch it happening on television.

“It was a very weird feeling, so surreal. And now we knew we could die.”

He made a second call to Louise, who told him: “Why are you still there and why are you calling me? Leave!”

The building shuddered as the adjoining South Tower collapsed, although Pasquale and his work pals did not realize it had gone.

Only then did they descend the tower down Stairway B, their progress impeded as firemen ran upstairs to get to the crash scene. By 10.28am Pasquale, still clutching his briefcase, had reached the 22nd floor. He said: “Suddenly, I felt the handrail start to shake and heard this loud, loud noise from above.

“I crouched in a corner of the stairwell in a fetal position and covered my face with my hands. Then I felt the wall and base of the floor crack open and give way.

“That’s when I knew that this was it — the entire building was going. I said to myself, ‘My God, I can’t believe this is how I’m gonna die’.

“I thought of my wife, my unborn child, and in those split seconds I was praying, knowing that I was going to die.”

At home, Louise watched in horror as the North Tower her husband was in collapsed. She said: “I knew it was over then. There was just dust and smoke and I couldn’t watch any more.”

Incredibly, though, Pasquale was still alive. As the walls around him crumbled, he began to free-fall. He said: “I’ve never jumped out of a plane but I guess I was experiencing that feeling of surfing down, just riding the air and getting buffeted around, as if I was on a roller coaster.

“Then I saw a bright flash. When I opened my eyes it was three hours later.

“I was staring numbly at blue sky and thought I must be dead, until I felt pain in my leg.”

He was on a ledge of the ruins seven storeys up. He had fallen 15 floors but suffered just a broken leg and a crushed ankle. He was rescued by firefighters.

Pasquale called his wife from hospital, who was at home thinking he was dead.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4526901/Pasquale-Buzzelli-survived-911-by-surfing-15-floors-on-slab-of-concrete.html#ixzz25umwjJVr

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4526901/Pasquale-Buzzelli-survived-911-by-surfing-15-floors-on-slab-of-concrete.html

#1 Donovan Frankenrieter concert tonight 4pm at the Billabong’s Cosmic Creek event today in @Salt Creek on the grassy knoll. FREE Concert!
Have you ever surfed in this event?

BILLABONG International shares have again risen on hopes of a takeover, but continue to trade below the price proposed by private-equity suitors.

Shares in the surf, skate and skiwear group jumped almost 4 per cent to $1.415 yesterday — on top of Thursday’s 7 per cent rise — as the market digested the news that US-based Bain Capital had joined TPG in expressing interest in an acquisition.
BAIN Captial is presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s old employer. Long ago. Apparently hey turn companies around. I think I’d rather have a surfer at the helm of Billabong. I hope htey come out this okay.

#2 The home of the late Andy Irons, the three-time world surfing champion from Kauai, sold earlier this year for $4.3 million.

Larry Wilson II of La Jolla, Calif., is listed as the buyer of the property, which is assessed at $4.33 million, according to property tax records.

The three-bedroom, three-bathroom fee-simple 2,610-square-foot home on 16,408 square feet of land was built in 2003. It originally listed for $4.8 million and was on the market since September 2010 before selling in April, so it was listed for more than 500 days.

The Asian-inspired two-story home at 5494 Weke Road sits on Hanalei Bay, according to the listing.

#3 FROM ESPN: The argument could be made that the hotbed of American surfing is San Clemente, Calif. I’m may be biased, my mail gets delivered here, but the relatively quiet town has produced more game-changers and world tour surfers Jim Hogan, Matt Archbold, Christian and Nathan Fletcher, Dino and Kolohe Andino, the brothers Gudauskas, the Beschens, Chris Ward, and the list could go on and on. So ESPN Surfing tapped current rat-packer Ian Crane to see what’s going on around town these days.

#4 A great cause and great fun; 100 Wave Challenge. Sept 22 Mission Beach. http://www.100wave.org

Surfing News – August 12, 2012: Tim Bessell- Master Shaper from La Jolla, California joins us in-studio.

Tim Bessell- Master Shaper from La Jolla, California joins us in-studio.

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
Surfboard Demo morning at 15th Street in Del Mar Sunday Oct 7

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:

Emails, Tweets, Shout Outs:

“I disagree with the listener email last week from Jay (in Carlsbad), that basically called out the surfing and conditions at the US Open. They’ve had really bad days at PipeMasters, when they didn’t even run the contest at Pipe! Sometimes Mother Ocean does not provide, but more often than not she does. Plus, the final day’s action was red hot and very exciting.” - Lisa H. Fan of HB Pier and the US Open from Torrance. California.

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

Lacanau Summer from loyal listener Renz in Europe

Tim Bessell – re-knowned local La Jolla shaper Bessell surfboards

Tim it might be good to go back a bit, Jeff and I grew up in San Diego, so we know all about you...but many of our international listeners don't know your connection to San Diego so let's start there..

Where were you born, raised?

What did your parents do, what was family life like?

When did you become enamored with this thing called surfing?

Do you remember your first surfboard?

As a young surfer who were your influences?

Shaping bug? How did you get involved with shaping surfboards?

What were your early experiences with the planer and foam? Garage stuff?

Sunset Surfboards days...

Regarding early shaping life, who really went out of their way to show you the ropes, or give you tips?

Who did you see go through those doors at Ed Wright's Sunset Surfboards, they had a big influence?
Al Merrick, Ken Bradshaw, Willis Brothers, Ned McMahon, Bill Shrosbree,

In the early 80s you really had a stable of red hot local La Jolla kids including Peter King.

The Artist Series -- tell us how this concept came about?

How did the Clark foam closure in 2005 effect on your business?

I'm of the opinion that cheap entry level, price point boards are good for the local surfboard industry, do you agree with this?

Can a surfer walk into the Bessell shop, and... like going into a Mercedes dealer, choose from a either 300 series, a 500 series or a bells and whistles 700 series?

The Sustainable surfboard... when will an eps, linseed oil resin, bamboo weave be the only board available to surfers?

...it seems we've been hearing about it for years, a day when all boards will be environ-senstive, that they won't eventually find their way into the landfill. Or, if they do, they bio-grade.

Yet, the PU surfboard still dominates the market place. Is it the paying customers that are driving these market conditions or is it the surfboard manufacturers, the industry, that is too stubborn or lazy to change?

THE BOARDROOM INTERNATIONAL SURFBOARD SHOW

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

TOP 5 Stories:
#1 Catch Baldy – demo morning at 15th Street

#2 Shark Week – Great White shark spotted by helicopter off of Carlsbad beach; Reunion Island – French allow for shark culling after a smattering of shark attacks;

#3 SIMA Watermans Weekend honored Sean Collins, Jean Michel Cousteau, and Shane Dorian last night at gala fundraiser that raised money for 20 environmental causes.

#4 US Open last week exciting stuff! Julian Wilson – only ten new guys can make the tour next year…

#5 Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for a low rise in small/short-period SE swell from Sunday, 12th, into next Tuesday, as small WSW swell joins in for waist-shoulder high waves, some plus sets. Similar size SSW swell shows mid week while the WSW drops out. Better, longer-period SW swell and possible WSW swell from current Tasman Sea storm scheduled to move in Thursday, 16th, and peak Friday with chest-head high surf and inconsistent overhead sets. Those waves fade over the following weekend. More onshore flow is expected for the south facing breaks into the start of next week, then SE tending ESE winds on tap for the second half of the week.

AIR TAHITI NUI VONZIPPER TRIALISTS (The winner plus highest placed Tahitian earn Billabong Pro, main event wildcards. If the winner is Tahitian, then 2nd place is awarded the wildcard)

INTERNATIONAL INVITEES – updated list
Jamie O’Brien (Sunset Beach, Oahu, HAW)
Anthony Walsh (Lennox Head, NSW, AUS)
Bruce Irons (Kauai, HAW)
Kamalei Alexander (Kauai, HAW)
Bruno Santos (BRA)
Aritz Aranburu (Zarautz, EUK)
Kalani Chapman (Oahu, HAW)
Manoa Drollet (Papara, Tahiti, PFY)
Ricardo Dos Santos (BRA)
Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW, AUS)
Wade Goodall (Sunshine Coast, Qld, AUS)
Ben Sanchez (Hossegor, FRA)
Matt Bromley (Capetown, ZAF)
Alvaro Malpatida (Lima, PER)
Shinpae Horiguchi (Wakayama, JPN)
Dylan Longbottom (Sth Coast, NSW, AUS)

PLUS 16 TAHITIAN LOCALS – (as determined by the local ‘trials for the trials’ event).
The Air Tahiti Nui Vonzipper Trials is made possible with the support of the Government of French Polynesia, Sports Minister, Institut of Sports, Sports Department, Tahiti Tourism, Air Tahiti Nui, Coca Cola, OPT, Mana, Hyundai, Hertz, Polynesie 1ère, La Depeche, NRJ, City Hall of Taiarapu ouest and the City Hall of Teahupo’o,

June 24, 2012 Down The Line Surf Talk Radio with Bassy n Baldy on XTRA SPORTS 1360AM in San Diego; on iTunes podcast (Google it).

Tom Morey was once asked if he would give up surfing for a million dollers. He responded by asking something to the effect of “does that include hanging your hand out the car window at a freeway underpass?”.

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:
EMAILs/ TWEEETS / SHOUT OUTS:

Email #1: Hey Bassy and Baldy,

Like both of you guys I’m a fan of the WCT, it’s surfers and the webcasts, and like both of you I was both enthralled and disappointed by what went down at the Fiji Pro on June 8. Enthralled because regardless of who was in the water, we got to see some epic hollow big wave surfing go down. And disappointed because we didn’t get to see high-performance WCT surfing go down in rare waves of consequence. I feel Surfline did a great job at breaking down the situation, but my own thoughts — some not brought up in the article and some in response — are below.

1. While the best surfers for those conditions were indeed in the water when things lined up (and I was stoked to see them charge), this was a WCT event and if those big wave surfers were skunked because the contest was run, well, c’est la vie. Those days were blacked out for that event well in advance and those chargers were aware of this as they boarded airplanes.

2. The fact that some WCT surfers were unprepared for such a swell is inexcusable; Surfline predicted the swell well in advance (hell, I was giddy about watching such a swell hit) and so it wasn’t like it wasn’t in the mainstream. They needed to be ready in case it paid off like expected. They’re professionals, it’s their job to be prepared for all conditions. Shaun White doesn’t show up with his powder board when he’s going to be competing in the Superpipe. Or if it’s fogged out, slope style competitors bring appropriate goggles. Can you imagine Kobe Bryant not competing because he brought the wrong shoes? Please. If you don’t have the right board, whatever the conditions, then you perform accordingly. Simple.

3. The great thing about the WCT tour is that the different breaks bring out different strengths and weaknesses in different surfers; advantages and disadvantages are implicit in such a format. This is obvious. The tour tends to be skewed to fairness because of this; things balance out. The PGA Tour is interesting because of this. It’s the same idea. If you’re well-rounded, you’ll probably succeed.

4. If there was ever going to be a time when “inexperienced” WCT surfers were going to compete in those conditions, this was it. It was indeed paddleable and there was arguably some of the most experienced water patrol to minimize the risk and “pick up the pieces” when necessary. If there was ever a time to go and and push the sport forward, June 8 was the day. There might be another opportunity such as this, but with waiting periods being as constricted as they are, and the lack of spots on the tour that have such consequential “magical” days are few. Sure, there will be special swells for trestles, super tubes, bells etc., but they’ll never have the teeth of a break like Cloudbreak.

5). This is the main stage for pro surfing. These are the kind of conditions where names are made. Think about Jeremy Flores last year in Tahiti. Here’s a kid, who only a couple of years earlier opted not to charge the big stuff when presented the opportunity (the infamous vote to wait or not for an incoming swell) in competition and has now been invited to the Eddie based on his performance. The ASP missed an opportunity to further its lesser-known and younger surfers — the brands future — beyond Kelly Slater. A potential gutsy, surprise performance from somebody unexpected was squandered. Somebody was robbed of the opportunity to make a name for themselves. Imagine an XXL nominee in a WCT jersey? Competition is how these athletes at that level push each other. Those who have it in them to step up, will. Those who don’t, won’t. Simple. Competitive, live sports are compelling because of the drama they create; we truly don’t know what’s going to happen. That’s exciting. It’s not scripted. Think Michael Jordan. Think Willis Reed. Think Kirk Gibson. All big performances on the biggest stage. All legendary.

Look, it was great to see all those waves ridden by guys who do that for a living. As a surf fan, and now a quadriplegic who doesn’t surf much, I was in heaven. But this was a WCT event, and this kind of high-level competition can’t be duplicated during a free surf. Yeah, guys push each other with each wave ridden no matter what, but it’s different — it’s friendlier. Look at the emotion generated between Adriano and CJ; that was only because winning and losing were on the line i.e. ratings points, money, personal accolades, a career.

So as exciting as it was to watch some of the best big wave surfers do what they do in conditions they’re familiar with, it would have been far more riveting and dramatic to see WCTers make competitive surfing history, and quite possibly witness an unexpected legendary performance. Extraordinary circumstances have a way of bringing out the extraordinary in humans.

Oh, what could have been.

Great show guys! Peace and aloha.

Tony S — end emails —-

Segment #2 Brought to you by THE BOARDROOM INTERNATIONAL SURFBOARD SHOW Oct 6 & 7 Del Mar Farigrounds – more info at http://surfboardshow.com

SURFING should consider a separate big-wave tour, says 11-time world champion Kelly Slater.

Slater was responding to questions from The Australian regarding the decision to halt the Volcom Fiji Pro in what turned out to be enormous, perfect waves at Cloudbreak.

When that event was called off, it allowed up to 30 big-wave specialists, who had flown in especially for the occasion, to put on their own show. The session was broadcast live on Volcom’s webcast and its TV affiliates.

Asked if the decision not to run the event had diminished the sport’s marketability, Slater said: “It actually brings up a more interesting question about the Association of Surfing Professionals backing a big-wave world tour or events in a specialty way as they happen.

“These (big-wave) guys and these swells need a good platform that supports what they’re already doing and someone to really document the whole lifestyle and help these guys out more.”
The most influential people in Sport

As reported in The Australian last week, the decision to abandon the contest came down to a split vote, with head judge Richie Porta voting for the event to proceed and contest director Matt Wilson and a representative of the surfers calling for a postponement.

There has been some speculation in online forums about exactly who was the surfer who voted with Wilson to stop the contest. However, Taj Burrow, who would have been in the first heat if the event had continued, said the surfers’ vote had been the result of a kind of consensus.

Burrow said he was consulted, as were a handful of other surfers in the ensuing heats. “I was scared,” Burrow said with a wry laugh.

“I’m pretty sure the surfers felt like we just didn’t have big enough boards. It was just this really weird, unorganised moment. In the meantime, the big-wave guys were out there going nuts and a lot of us felt we’d just watch them.”

The incident also raises the issue of the role of the contest director, and whose interests he represents. In an email to The Australian, Wilson, who normally works for the ASP as a regional director, said he was still being employed by the ASP at the time of the announcement to call off the contest.

But ASP tour manager Renato Hickel said: “For that event, Matt was the contest director through Volcom. Once the event accepts, he’s working for the event.”

The distinction is important. Volcom was in a win-win situation at the time. Call the event on, and the world’s most famous surfers will throw themselves at huge waves, live on Volcom’s broadcast. Call the event off, and it still gets to broadcast the unsanctioned big-wave session anyway, regardless of the opportunity lost for the ASP.

Slater said the ASP should have one contest director for the entire season, whose allegiance is to the ASP.

“We should have a single contest director for all events hired by ASP who works closely with the people who know each spot best,” he said. “We have seen cases where contest directors can run based on conditions that suit their friends/sponsored riders best. It’s human nature. We need someone at arm’s length.”

Slater added, however, he wasn’t criticising Wilson. “I don’t think he did a bad job.”

TOP 5 Stories:
#1 QnA Performance Shaping Bay has a solid list of shapers lined up to talk design to the surfing public:
Rusty P., Matt Calvani, Matt Biolos, Daniel Thomson, Chris Christenson, Timmy Patterson, Tim Stamps, a DIY show by Foam Ez, DIY by Shaper Studios
Name Change

#2 Parko to Paddle Molokai. From JoelParko.com
How long has the idea of doing the Molokai race been floating around in your head?

It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a long while now, but I never thought I’d ever get the chance. It’s always been on the bucket list but I never thought it’d come together until I’d finished with the tour.

How much of the race’s vibe have you soaked up over the years?

I’m always watching it every year. We’re generally in J-Bay when it’s on and I’m always checking it out. I guess Jamie (Mitchell, 10-time winner) is the king of it and being a Gold Coast surfer I’ve always been interested in the race and how he went. It’s been in the back of my mind to give it a go one year and experience it.

Are you doing it solo or as a team?

I’m doing it as a team with Wes (Berg). He’s one of the best board paddlers in the world and a guy I’ve trained with for years now, so he’s a pretty handy guy to do the race with.

How do you think you’ll go?

[Laughing] I’ll just be happy to finish. I’m there for the experience, not the win. It’s about being in the ocean, that’s why I’m doing it.

And you’re hearing the Kelly might be doing it as well?

Yeah… [laughing] maybe he doesn’t want Jamie to get to 11 Molokai wins! Nah, I reckon he’ll be doing it for pretty much the same reasons I’m doing it. I reckon he’s probably been thinking about doing it for a while too. It’ll be good having him in the race

#3 Matt Biolos off to Spain to shapes, so if you want him to make you a board call the Pukas factory in Spain and Matt will dial you in.

#4 Congrats to Jake Marshall from Encinitas Ca, for winning the boys U14 division of the USA Surf Championship yesterday at Lowers.

#5 Want to paddle a Downwinder on the Mainland? The Columbia Gorge Paddle Challenge (CGPC) is a Festival celebrating the sport of Stand Up Paddling in the spectacular Columbia River Gorge. The 2012 Gorge Paddle Challenge will once again feature a Distance Downwind Race, a Course Race, a Team Relay Race and a recreational, non-competitive Paddle for the Park, a fundraiser for the new Hood River Waterfront Park. In addition, there will be SUP exhibits from many companies, free SUP lessons and demos, live music and more!

The inaugural 2011 Gorge Paddle Challenge was held in near perfect conditions at the Hood River Waterfront Park. The Event was a huge success, with tremendous positive feedback from the athletes, sponsors and spectators. With over $15,000 in prize money given away the CGPC became one of the top prize money races in the US.
#5