Shred Up: Still Skiing, Lindsey Law & Order + Pipeline POV

A-Basin, Colo. (Shred White and Blue)-Fear not, fair shredders, for the lift-served season is not over yet – at least not as long as Colorado and Utah can keep riding on those ridiculous late May snows.

According to www.skiinfo.co.uk, “There are four areas still open in the US, all on the Western side of the country.  Mammoth Mountain in California has a 7.5 – 12 foot (2.3 – 3.6m) base and reports a fresh dusting of snow in the past few days. The near-year-round Timberline ski area on Mt Hood in Oregon has a 148 inch (4.5m) base.  Arapahoe Basin in Colorado is looking good with about half of its lifts and terrain open with a 45 inch (112cm) base and yet another three inches (7cm) of new snow in the past few days.”

And Snowbird just went over the 600-inch mark for this season! The ‘bird also announced that they’re going to keep the lifts running up to June 20th, marking a 199-day season at the Utah resort. Check it out: www.snowbird.com.

Lindsey Vonn Helps Close Out Law and Order

New York (Shred White and Blue)- On Monday, May 24 Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn accomplished a life goal of appearing on the final episode of NBC’s legendary drama “Law & Order.”

Early in her career, Vonn began a guerilla lobbying effort to become a character on the program, commonly telling reporters that she’d play a “stiff” just to be included in one episode. 

Vonn was able to visit the set and meet with a number of cast members last year during a New York City media swing, then following her inspiring gold and bronze medal performances in Vancouver, show creator Dick Wolf took notice and invited her to film and episode in early spring.

”I was completely shaking, but I had a grin from ear-to-ear” said Vonn, who plays an administrative assistant at a teachers’ union and tries to help Detectives Cyrus Lupo (Jeremy Sisto) and Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) find an anonymous blogger who threatens to blow up a school.

Check out Lindsey (looking just a little Sarah Palinesque), right here.

Pipeline and GoPro

Hawaii (Shred White and Blue)-And for everybody that’s still waiting for spring to start, here’s a little footage of Kalani Robb hitting Pipeline with a GoPro Camera on the nose of his board – looks like some new kind of art!

Maverick’s – How to Watch the Super Bowl of Suring

Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Shred White and Blue)—Mavericks Surf Ventures, Inc. has a wide-ranging series of options for remotely watching the 2009/2010 Mavericks Surf Contest.

Mavericks CEO Keir J. Beadling explained that that the decision to offer such a large array of viewing options was informed not only by the company’s desire to bring the excitement of Mavericks to as wide an audience as possible, but also by its interest in protecting the area surrounding the world-famous break.  “In an effort to limit crowd impact on the Half Moon Bay area and coastal ecosystems, we are encouraging all Mavericks fans to watch the contest via free live webcast and by attending our live viewing party at AT&T Park in San Francisco.  Both options provide a much better viewing experience than the view from the beach. If you do plan on attending Mavericks in-person, please be respectful and cautious of the natural environment, and leave no trace.”

Millions of fans witnessed the 2008 Contest via a live webcast, and this season Mavericks has launched its most ambitious webcast offering to-date.  For the first time ever, fans can catch all the live action at Mavericks’ official website, www.maverickssurf.com. Also new this year, Mavericks will bring viewers around the world an opportunity to experience the thrill of Mavericks via a live, interactive webcast on Facebook and Ustream.  The webcasts will be powered by Ustream, the leading live broadcasting platform on the internet. The experiences will provide fans with an unprecedented level of interactivity while viewing the contest—sharing their thoughts real-time, through Facebook Connect, with other Mavericks fans everywhere.

As was the case in 2008, the day’s activities will also be available via a unique live webcast viewing event at AT&T Park—“baseball’s perfect address” and the home of the San Francisco Giants.  Ticketed fans can watch the Contest live and in high definition on the big screen in centerfield or from any of the big screens throughout the Club level. Tickets for the AT&T Park viewing event will include in and out privileges and can be purchased for $20 in advance, $25 at AT&T Park, or online at www.maverickssurf.com.

Fans who will be in the East Bay can attend a live viewing event at Miss Pearl’s Jam House in Oakland.  The event is free to attend, but space is limited, so fans are encouraged to arrive early.  For more information go to www.misspearlsjamhouse.com.

For those who want to be even closer to the action, Mavericks has a few spots available on its officially-sanctioned boat tours.  These boats are piloted by seasoned, local captains with knowledge of the area around the Mavericks surf break, and guests on the boats are provided with complimentary parking, lunches and official Contest apparel.  More information is available at www.maverickssurf.com.

Finally, fans who want to experience Mavericks from an entirely new perspective will have the unique opportunity to view this year’s event from the world’s largest airship—Airship Ventures’ Zeppelin Eureka.  The “Eureka” is a 246-foot airship that accommodates 12 guests per trip, and, weather-permitting, will run 30-minute passenger trips in the sky throughout this season’s Contest Day from Half Moon Bay Airport.  The spacious cabin comfortably accommodates the pilot, flight attendant, and up to 12 passengers with luxury features including oversized panoramic windows, an onboard restroom with window, and a unique 180-degree rear observation window and “love seat” that wraps the entire aft end of the cabin.  More details are available at www.airshipventures.com or by calling Airship Ventures at (650) 969-8100, ext. 111.

//photo by: flickr.com/jdegenhardt

It’s On! Mavericks Contest Window Opens!

Half Moon Bay, Calif. (Shred White and Blue) — On just 24 hours notice between November 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010, 24 of the world’s best big-wave surfers will be summoned to Half Moon Bay, home of Mavericks, one of the most majestic and infamous surf breaks on Earth.

There, they will test their individual skills and vie to be crowned champion of the 2009/2010 Mavericks Surf Contest Presented by Sony Ericsson. Competitors will face the dangerous elements of the frigid northern California waters in search of the perfect ride on waves reaching heights of 30 to 40 feet or more.

“The 24” make the call

And according to Mavericks CEO Keir J. Beadling, this contest seasons adds a new and exciting element:  “This season we’re embarking on a new chapter, as the Mavericks competitors will choose the day.  Once potentially contestable conditions are identified, ‘the 24’ will vote and determine whether to pull the trigger.  If they say ‘go,’ we go, and that’s exactly the way it should be at Mavericks.”   Commented longtime Mavericks surfer and Contest competitor Kenny “Skindog” Collins, “This Mavericks Contest combined with this season’s El Niño is going to be historic!”

El Niño in-play

Official Surf Forecaster Mark Sponsler of Stormsurf.com says there is good reason to be hopeful:  “The El Niño season, which has already begun, should bring a higher number of storms moving from the International Dateline into the Gulf of Alaska than in years previous. Those storms should have the potential to push larger and more consistent surf down the Pacific Coast into California. It’s likely there will be several good opportunities to hold the contest between now and March 31 when the contest window closes.”

Once the contestants receive the green light alert, they have just 24 hours to arrive for the event.  The international roster of invited surfers consists of, in alphabetical order: Matt Ambrose, Ben Andrews, Grant Baker, Ion Banner, Chris Bertish, Carlos Burle, Kenny Collins, Shane Desmond, Nathan Fletcher, Brock Little, Greg Long, Josh Loya, Peter Mel, Shawn Rhodes, Ryan Seelbach, Evan Slater, Tyler Smith, Jamie Sterling, Anthony Tashnick, Darryl Virostko, Grant Washburn, Dave Wassell, Tim West, Zach Wormhoudt.

Also named were the 15 alternates, in order of priority: Alex Martins, Danilo Couto, Mark Healey, Tyler Fox, Rusty Long, Nic Lamb, Jamie Mitchell, Mike Gerhardt, Russell Smith, Kealii Mamala, Garrett McNamara, Andrew Marr, Lawton Smith, John Whittle, Colin Dwyer.

Record Prize Purse

This year, the invitees will compete for a record-breaking $150,000 prize purse, including $50,000 to the Champion.  The purse is personally funded by Mavericks benefactors Moose Guen and Jane Sutherland of MVision, and Barracuda Networks. In addition, a $5,000 “Gnarliest Drop” award will be offered to the surfer who exhibits the most impressive drop-in of the day.

Sunday Shout Out: Save the Waves, High Tides & Echo, Echo, Echo Beach

Save the Waves

Jaco, Costa Rica (Shred White and Blue) — Got a couple news blips from Costa Rica at the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games. The one that stuck was about Save The Waves asking for countries around the world to submit their top nominee for the World Surfing Reserves (WSR) program (designed to proactively protect the greatest and most threatened surf breaks around the world, of course).

In Jacó, the federations submitted their surf spot nominations to be considered as World Surfing Reserves, with the first reserves declared in 2009 and 2010. Save The Waves also presented its recently unveiled World Surfing Reserves/Google Earth 3D virtual tour of the nominated surf spots, in which internet users can download an application and tour detailed aerial maps and satellite photos of the nominated surf spots and their surrounding environments. Check it out at: www.savethewaves.org

East Coast Surf: 2 Feet Higher and Rising

Internet — Wired Magazine has a sweet little piece on scientists freaking out because they can’t figure out why peak tides at some East Coast surf spots have “outstripped predictions by two feet.” I bet global warming doesn’t have a single thing to do with it.

Or maybe it’s just the natural vagaries of life and waves and stuff: According to a quote from NOAA in the Wired story: “The ocean is dynamic. It’s not uncommon to have anomalies like this but the breadth and the intensity and duration were unique.” See who said that, along with the rest of the Wired report at: Wired.com

Echo, Echo, Echo Beach

Newport Beach, Calif — It seems like Echo Beach has been in the news for almost a year now, and that the surf-u-mentary has been enjoying ‘premieres’ since May at least. But Thursday night it really is hitting the home break, with a screening of the film showing locally on August 6th, at the Lido Theatre, 3459 Via Lido, Newport Beach 92663, at 7:00pm and again at 8:30pm.

Love this blurb about why it’s worth checking out: “Echo Beach tells the story of the Newport Beach surf scene in the eighties. Originally a reference to the steep, fast breaks between 52nd and 54th Streets, the name “Echo Beach” came to signify an entire era of Southern California surf culture. A group of innovative, extra-rebellious local surfers rose to global prominence not only for their new level of athleticism in the sport of surfing, but also for their (then) whacked-out contributions to style, fashion, business, culture and the arts. Neon colors, new styles, and a general loudness pervaded the Echo Beach scene, along with the usual cornucopia of drugs, girls and parties that always abounds in any surf scene worth its salt.”

Read more about Echo Beach.

Waves image: flickr/gerrygiroux

Holy Water: Surf & Soul on the Jersey Shore

Jersey, 4th of July (Shred White and Blue) — Fourth of July vacation could not come soon enough. The monotony of my low-paying summer job finally caught up with me, as did the two weeks of rain Boston lucked out with. I had to get out of the overcast city and into some radiant sunlight.

With a week and some change on my hands, I decided to take a trip down to the Jersey shore. I figured my grandparents could put me up for a couple of nights and maybe I might even get some home-cooked meals. I needed to get away and besides, my surfboard hadn’t seen light in weeks.

As I loaded a duffel bag into my worn Jeep outside of my building, a maintenance guy inquired about the longboard bungeed to the roof. He asked if I was headed to the Cape. When I replied no, I’m driving down to the Garden State, he scratched his head and retorted, “Who in their right mind would CHOOSE to go there?”

I would. Masshole.

On the ride south, I stopped in my suburban, Connecticut hometown to get some gas. While I watched the number of dollars coming out of my pocket triple the number of gallons going into my tank, an old leathery man pulled up alongside me on a scooter that didn’t appear much younger.

Looking up at my board, he spat a wad of Copenhagen juice on the pavement and nodded as if in approval.

After collecting his thoughts, he proceeded to mumble, “I used to ride somethin’ like that down in Wildwood” and off he went. As I climbed back into my car, I couldn’t help but think that I was just in the presence of a legend. He just seemed to possess that wise aura.

The rest of the drive I put on a playlist ranging from The Beach Boys and Dick Dale to Southside Johnny and The Boss in hopes of satisfying my seaside craving. After a straight shot over the Tappan Zee Bridge, I entered the parkway for the final stretch. I finished one of those short daydreams that you inevitably experience cruising on a highway to notice that I was only on Exit 129, and my exit was 10. However, my mood had been convalescing ever since I left Beantown and not even the condescending taunt of every exit sign could dampen my spirits.

When I eventually passed a sign that read, “Now Entering Atlantic County,” a fresh breath of salty air rushed through the car, and I couldn’t help but smile. I was almost there. In that epiphanic instant, I was able to forget any and every responsibility I ever had, and damn did it feel good.

As if on cue, my playlist switched to “The Boys are Back in Town” when I pulled off to the boulevard and crossed the fishermen-littered bridge onto the little beach island. I found a parking spot right in front of the house, spent a little time catching up with my grandparents, then made the 30-second trek to the beach. I climbed the small hill over the dunes and picked out a small opening of sand amongst the thousands of pastel umbrellas.

It was not difficult to doze off as I marinated in the sun and let my exhaustion get the best of me. When I awoke, the beach was still fairly populated though it was apparent the afternoon was waning. Not much later, the lifeguards blew their final whistles and motioned for the swimmers to retreat back to land. This was the universal signal to surfers that the water was now theirs, so I pulled on my rash guard and leashed up.

The task of paddling out usually seems tedious, but that day it took no effort whatsoever. Every stroke brought me closer to ecstasy, and before long I was straddling my board waiting for the first wave. The serenity during this interval was priceless, but a crest beckoning a ride suddenly interrupted it. I dropped in and allowed the energy of the earth to push me for an invigorating ride all the way to the sandbar.

I jumped off prematurely to protect my fin from running aground, and as the ocean engulfed me, my existence seemed to enter slow motion. There I was, every inch of my body surrounded by water, completely deaf and free from gravity. For that single moment, I was somehow one with the world and yet one with myself. I felt as if I had reached the equilibrium of solidarity and solitude, and for the first time in my life I found the unity in metaphysical duality.

While this underwater contemplation seemed to last a lifetime, it was indeed only a moment long and before I knew it I surfaced for air. I continued to ride the short and choppy Atlantic swells the rest of the week. Everyday at 5 o’clock, my faithful board and I sprinted from land to our instinctual habitat.

That Saturday night, I enjoyed the company of some longtime buddies while sitting in the 80th Street field watching fireworks. We caught up on the past year and recounted the glory days, which I continue to pray are not over. Soon, we were swallowed up by the oohs and ahhs of the crowd while Pomp and Circumstance played somewhere in the background.

I looked down at my shirt, a first edition Shred White and Blue tee, and thought to myself, this is what it’s all about. I was proud to represent a company founded on the principles of brotherhood and patriotism. Even the yin yang design of the logo embodied the same duality I had conquered earlier in the week.

Surfing has allowed me to gain a greater appreciation for myself and my life in a context that only nature can reveal. I hope that through my efforts with Shred White and Blue, I can share this passionate discovery with the world.

Shred Salute: Disabled Vets Get Fresh Waves

Malibu Beach, Calif. (Shred White and Blue)—I can’t think of anything more appropriate to post on this site for the 4th of July than a link to an organization that helps real American heroes go surfing.

Founded in 2006, Operation Amped gets veterans wounded in the service of our country a hand up hitting the waves again (on those very same beaches that they sacrificed to keep free for the rest of us, I might add).

Really cool. Check out some of the events, and give these guys some love. Visit Operation Amped.

Happy Birthday America!

Photo: Operation Amped

Rider Down: The Electric Surf of Bob Bogle

LOS ANGELES (Shred White and Blue) — No sport other than surfing has its very own music – not skating, snowboarding or even skiing unless you count reggae, and can somehow make an inseparable match for mystic Jamaican rhythms and snow-covered mountains in your mind.

But surfing? Man, that certain clean twang of guitar and snare snap of drums can conjure up the blue waves and bright sunshine every time.

Guitarist Bob Bogle helped create that sound. Bogle, who died on June 14, at the age of 75, was a founding member of the Ventures, whose tightly paced instrumental masterpieces such as “Walk, Don’t Run,” “Hawaii Five-O,” and even their cover of the Surfaris legendary “Wipeout,” set the template for surf music in the 1960s.

John Fogerty (of Creedence Clearwater Revival) called them “the most popular instrumental rock and roll band of all time,” just last year when the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

As for Fogerty’s own two degrees of surf separation? That’s CCR’s Susie Q that the two Playboy bunnies are dancing to in Apocalypse Now, shortly after “Lance” and Robert Duvall grab a quick session amidst the smell of napalm.

Here are two quick YouTube clips of Bogle’s immense contribution to the stoke. Every time the needle hits the wax, he makes you feel paddling.

Thanks, man.

Walk Don’t Run

Wipeout