NE BLAHS

"Hey Nellie, Where's Your Guinness?" -- Mez
•Long Beach, NY, waverider Michael Flammer and longtime sales rep Len Valenti have officially established Maritime Surf Company. Maritime Surf offers an awesome line of tees, hats, fleece, and accessories geared toward the needs of the coldwater surfer. The fresh company will also boast a line of custom retro surfboards--including longboards, fishes, eggs, and retro tri-fins. For more information, e mail info@longbeachsurfcam.com.
 
•Unsound Surf and Skate co-owner and Nor'east vid-meister Mike "Nellie" Nelson headed up an ESM video trip to Ireland in November with Sammy Hammer, Billy Hume, and Ian Parnell to film the lads' backside hell tuberiding at two of the island's notorious lefthand slabs, with ESM Photo Editor Dick Meseroll shooting stills and doing second camera work for some of the sickest Emerald Isle clips you've ever seen. Five-second tubes were not uncommon, and all the more impressive-looking with the boys pushing each other to get deeper with each ensuing set (no rail-grabs allowed). For these veteran beachbreak barrel freaks out of Jersey, Vah Beach, and the Outer Banks, it was a field day--and not one to be missed upon the film's upcoming release! And keep an eye out for next issue's Winter Surf Edition and the third installment of our feature series, The Making of the Eastern Surf Video, Always Right, penned and photographed by Mez between rounds of Guinness, bites of Blood Pudding... and a shot of Jameson's every now and again.
 
•Congrats to all of the ESA-Southern New England District's competitors for their stellar efforts and results during 2004--one of the most productive and successful in decades. The season scored the highest attendance, largest number of contests, and the most new members of any ESA-SNE comp this year. Many surfers took home 1st-place honors throughout the competitive action, including John Ryan, Marc Angelillo, Janice Causey, Kitty Pechet, Jen McGovern, Tricia Pan, Drew Simmons, and Peter Pan.
 

Peter Pan Pushing The Limits -- McGovern
•Like many Northeasterners, Laurelton Blvd. local Danny Bobis was stoked by a string of epic Long Beach, NY, days this fall. "The wind was straight offshore for ten days with swell the entire time," Bobis wrote in an e-mail. "Unreal conditions." Also in the Long Beach neighborhood, two more blokes who caught it firing during that infamous 10-day, late-October miracle were photographer Wayne Brudi and rider Ryan Egan. And good ol' Brudi even stoked us out with a few solid pics of Egan shredding the clean, chunky peelers to back it up.
 
•New Hampshire-based Surf Free or Die Productions just released two smoking new surf movies by Ralph G. Fatello covering the 2003-2004 season. One flick is called 13Point5, which stands for the approximate 13.5 miles of surfable waves on the Granite State's 17 miles of coastline. The other is titled Monkey Punk, the long-awaited sequel to Grommatically Correct, highlighting all the grommets ripping apart the local spots in New Hampshire and Maine. Also featured in the fine productions is a slew of hot ESA local contest footage--with segments of many stars from the ESA-North Northeast District such as Julia Nichols, Leanne Falvy, Jesse Gould, Kevin Grondin, Kody Grondin, Nohea Nichols, Colby Pearson, and Lenny Nichols. Ask for both films at your local surf shop, or visit www.surffreeordie.com.
 

Monkey Punk

•Great Lakes legend Magilla Schaus let us know of an alarming situation concerning the City of Hamilton, Ontario's plans for lakefront development, which will most likely permanently alter--and potentially destroy--one of the Lakes' most historic surfing areas since the early 1960's. Join Magilla and others to call upon the local government bodies to preserve and protect The Bridge and other breaks for continued use--and protect the area from the urban sprawl that destroys our surfing beaches and natural environments. Come to think of it, Magilla commented further, instead of investing into overdeveloping, why not put those funds into cleaning up Hamilton Bay's poor water quality? Good question. Now from the city officials, we'll be waiting for a good answer.
 
•The ESM Always Right crew were not the only ones in the Great White North visiting the land of leprechauns and rainbows. Longtime ESM Senior Staff shooters Joe McGovern and Steve Fitzpatrick (seriously, does it get any more Irish than those two surnames?) made their annual pilgrimage to the land of their ancestors, where they caught good waves at Bundoran and attended the Ocean Fest celebration there. By the looks of the surf--and knowing how Irish lads and lassies like to party and wind a good yarn--we're sure both Joe Mac and Fitzy had the time, and the surfs, of their lives.
 
•The New England boys scored some much-deserved big media props for going polar this winter season thanks to a recent feature in The Washington Post. Among the Granite State honchos who received recognition were Jim Creefe, Jeff Denholm, and John Meehan--while Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Shop shaper Shane Smith bagged industry plugs. And of course, the piece contained the usual descriptions of non-surfers' disbelief regarding the great lengths waveriders will go in their winter bravado. No doubt about it, a little frosty nasal drip goes nice with eggnog.
 
•And in one last installment of Northeastern rippahs getting their Blarney Stones off across the big pond, New Hamster videographer Joe Carter hooked up with a lethal team of Right Coasters searching Ireland's misty and mystical shores. The crew included Noah Snyder, Frank Walsh, Matt Beacham, Jeff Myers, Carl Wallin, and Sam Hammer, while Surfer Magazine's Brian Nevins rocked the 35mm stills for editorial ink in both the 'Er and SG Mags. We know the boys lit it up all over County Donegal and hope to peep the goods soon.
 

Joe McGovern and Friends -- Fitzpatrick
•Connecticut-based charger Steve "Yards" Yardin reported another year of epic waves in New England--between the barrage of tropical activity from the south and active winter track to the north--from Narragansett to semisecret offshore spots (yeah, wouldn't y'all like to know). Yards said it was great for morale but bad for boards. Case in point: one snapped, vintage Robert August longboard. But you know that was a fun session, anyway. Also, Big Yards has you covered in more ways than one with the distribution of his innovative Delta Shelter, perfect for the surf traveler who likes to ride light and practical. The Delta Shelter is both an efficient poncho and a tent--all in one convenient unit. Shoot Steve an e-mail at sjyardan@snet.net if you'd like to learn more about his exciting product.
 
•In a final note of begrudging congratulations, the hardcore New York Yankee fans here at Blah Central would like to doff our caps to all of our surfing brothers and sisters in The Red Sox Nation for finally breaking The Curse of the Bambino in record fashion. The Red Sawx trashed both our beloved Bronx Bombers and the vaunted St. Louis Cards by reeling off a combined record-smashing, eight-game streak to take their first World Series title since 1918. So to Boston Red Sox fans everywhere in the ESM readership... C-C-C-Congratulations... Because... You... Truly... D-D-D-Deserve... It. Gawd, that REALLY hurts. "A Kemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu!" ­Compiled by Mike Fish



MA BLAHS

"Hey Regs, The Left Was Better." -- Nelson
•Our buddy Jason Reagan called up ESM's offices in December, bored to death with all the shitty windblown days he was forced to endure on the North Shore, but the Cape May, NJ, Monument teamrider cheered up pretty quickly once we reminded him that he was about to spend the remainder of his winter in his adopted home of Puerto Rico, which saw one of its best falls ever last year. According to some very reliable sources, Regs is fit as a fiddle and ripping harder than ever, so beware the backhand, chop-hoppers.
 
•A whole pirate ship of North Carolina's dirtiest waveslayers showed up for the Quiksilver King Of The Peak this November--including Topsail Beach's Mike Beech, Outer Bankers Christian Kane, Jeff Myers, and Dane Ostlund, and Southern Nawth Cackalackans Jon Gilleland, Chris Curry, Shane Upchurch, and Zach and Nate Thompson--to snag a piece of the event's record $12,250 cash purse. The crew extends special thanks to Zach, who upon winning $255 for a well-earned skin, fronted the grog for the bunch, carrying on the longtime Tarheel tradition at the comp. Thompson was in especially good spirits, as he had just signed with Quiksilver.
 
•Peep this: Tarheel legend Ben Bourgeois now rides for Spy Optic.
 
•In other sponsor swishees, following a rather aggravating year enduring knee surgery, Vah Beacher-turned-Hollyweirdo Cam Powell got the nod from Ezekiel, allowing him to take a break from playing shows with his band Knife Fight at L.A. hot spots like The Viper Room and attend a Surfer Magazine trip to Cabo San Lucas.
 
•Here's something you should really give a puck about: Longtime ESM Senior Photographer from South Jersey Chris Fuller is now the official team shooter for the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). So if you love great hockey, go see a Bullies game already as they face off against the East's hardest stick-wielding brawlers in '05! Tickets can be purchased online at www.boardwalkbullies.com, and to peep some of Fuller's hottest pics from the games, go to his own website, www.fullerimages.com.
 

You'd Have To Pee Too! Boca Barranca, Costa Rica -- Mez
•Darryl Hatheway from the Surfrider Washington DC-Capitol Chapter is feeling really guilty. While most would-be participants didn't attend the annual Rabbit Kekai International Longboard Contest at Boca Barranca, Costa Rica, due to it being canceled in October, Darryl went ahead anyway to distribute the Spanish version of Surfrider's 20 Ways To Cleaner Waves & Beaches. Unfortunately, he and a few other hardy souls were forced to surf the perfect, peeling lefthanders all by themselves for those tiring 10 days.
 
•Surf artist Dawn Gray is happy to announce the official formation of Christian Surfers in Kill Devil Hills, with 80 kids showing up at their first meeting--group leaders Lynn and Nancy Shell presiding and Dawn and Jason Forrest available to answer questions. Planned future activities include movie and pizza nights, as well as surfing and snowboarding trips. Contact Dawn at dawn@reddawndesigns.com for further details.
 
•And while we're name-dropping Jason Forrest, the former Salani Surf Resort boat driver took over the reigns as the new Mid-Atlantic rep for West Surfing and is giving the company's line of wetsuits a full test run in the Banks' frigid wintertime waters. Call Jason for dealer inquiries at 252-573-9628 or e-mail him at livelife810@hotmail.com.
 
•Big ups to Virginia soul arch specialist Mike "Weedy" Wedemeyer, who finished 10th in his first big race--the 42nd annual John F. Kennedy 50 Mile Race, held in Hagerstown, MD, on November 20th. It's the nation's largest and most popular 50 miler and Speedy Weedy's time was clocked at an amazing 6:47:36:8:10, precisely ten seconds faster than his last beer heist as a college freshman!
 
•How's this for helping spread some holiday cheer? Each year, Wrightsville Beach, NC, crossboarders Allen Thornton and Ryan McInnis participate in a charity called Mustaches for Kids, where the boys grow mustaches for a month, collect pledges, and send all the money to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The duo even held a 'Stache Bash at Red Dog's on December 16th, featuring the Wrinkle Neck Mules, a feel-good evening all the way around. Anyone interested in donating can contact Ryan at rymci@aol.com or visit www.m4kny.org. Aside from their benevolent actions, Allen is also repping for Rootamental Skateboards, bringing some west coast style to the Dirty South. E-mail him at datmolera@hotmail.com for the dillyo. And a teamrider for Burton Snowboards, Glass and Powder Boardshop, and Red Bull, Ryan is staying busy coaching the youth snowboard team at Wintergreen Resort.
 

Christian Kane -- Rocknak/ surfkdh.com
•Bells are ringing for former UNCW Surf Club president and current Whalebone Surf Shop manager Pete Erickson, who married sweetheart Brooke Culpepper on November 6th in a truly beautiful oceanside ceremony in Nags Head. Our most sincere congrats go out to you both.
 
•Former ESM Who Da Guy from South Jersey, Clay Pollioni, is currently increasing his lung capacity in North Shore waters, upping his heavy-water act to match his stellar local rep.
 
•Say word, son! Just look at the pics of KDH block-holder and Matix guy Christian Kane, among others, on the hot new Outer Banks surf site, www.surfkdh.com, snapped by our newest digital dog, Charles Rocknak.
 
•In Delmarva contest blahs, announcing the Maryland ESA Winter Freeze Surf Contest, slated for some time in late January or February 2005. The exact location and date will be given on the site, www.marylandesa.org, so stay tuned. Also, the ESA Mid-Atlantic Regionals are scheduled for an Ocean City, MD, break on May 13th-15th, 2005.
 
•ESM Assignment Writer and wahine scribe supreme Anne Beasley-Weber is now handling all the PR and booking for Wilmington, NC's, slickest rock band, The Needles. Get up with her at 949-212-7486 or e-mail anne@moonrockneedles.com. The Needles are ringing in the New Year with a cross-country tour and a new split CD with Killing California. Both bands are sponsored by The Amerikan Project, so be sure to visit www.theamerikanproject.com for updates. They will kick off their '05 tour at the Orlando Surf Expo, playing with ASG at an Electric party at LuLu's Bait Shack. Needless to say, ESM will see you there!
 
•Reactor Watches recently hired Patrick McLaughlin and Trevor Pantone as their new sales rep group for Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Their office number is 757-422-4045. Reactor offers over 40 killer styles, so call them if you have the time. Funny ha-ha, not funny-queer.
 
•Speeedfins is happy to welcome East Coast teamrider Jesse Hines to the family and Adam Price as the newest East Coast sales manager. For inquiries, e-mail adamprice@speeedfins.com.
 

Bruce Jones -- Myers
•New Jersey artist Todd DiCiurcio is drawing more than ever lately, due to a few recent doses of inspiration. Todd created two pieces at Irving Plaza for Guided By Voices' (GBV) final show in New York City. Sunday, December 5th, 2004 was, in fact, officially dubbed "GBV Day," by Mayor Bloomberg, and the group sold out all three nights. They were together for 21 years before breaking up on New Year's Day. However, the very prolific band frontman Bob Pollard has already completed his solo double album, due out soon. Pollard and Todd also spent time rubbing elbows with the one and only Michael Imperioli (otherwise know as "Christopher" from The Sopranos, who is a huge GBV fan) along with Drew Barrymore, Michael Cerveris, and Ryan Miller at the show. Later, in the backstage dressing room, Todd presented Pollard with one of his best drawings for all the inspiration he's given him over the years. Bob, Michael, and Todd all ended up hanging out until 4:30 am, "barely managing to escape the raw touch of daylight on our skins before the zombie reconnaissance came through" said a gleeful Todd.
 
•According to ESM informant Jeff Myers, there's a huge vodka groundswell coming our way for Kelly Slater's 3-Star 'QS Globe Sebastian Inlet Pro the week before Expo, and then went on to tip us off about Ability Boardriding Systems, a new, grassroots, surf/ skate company spawned by owner Bruce Jones on the Outer Banks. Our man Bruce already has a strong surf team, consisting of Christian Kane, Seth Barrick, Brent McCoy, Marc Felton, and Craig Watson. Be on the lookout for a full line of Ability gear along with boards carved by nice-guy Banks shaper Steve Head this spring. Ya heard it here first fellow Blah Jobbers. "Selamat Tahun Baru!" ­Compiled by Matt Pruett

SE BLAHS

•Attention Sunshine State heat seekers: are you having a shitter of a time finding out when and where the next contest is? Well, look no further. Winter Park, FL's, Keith L. Groninger's website, www.sr4z.com, lists over 30 surfing comps scheduled through March, plus links to surf reports.
 

She-Men Gone Wild -- Oberman
•Unfortunately, we got this one a little late for our 2004 ESeMMY Awards this ish, but the unofficial "E-mail Love of the Year" came from the Deerfield, FL, crew following an estrogen-fueled Halloween fiesta. "Whenever you guys want to come down to party," wrote local standout Matt Oberman in a cyber-gram, "I have the hottest chicks in South Florida to hook you up with! Matt O, Wesley DeSouza, and Skeeter Zimmerman aren't exactly what we'd call "hot," but we'll take what we can get at this point. Dibs on the gal to the right. Flavor-savers are damn sexy these days.
 
•Flagler, FL, videographer Matt Katsolis urges everybody to check out the new trailer for The Best of the East--The 2004 Eastern Surfing Championships, which is up and running on Surfline at www.surfline.com/video/video_trailer/index.cfm. The video is scheduled to finish post-production soon. Keep up to date by visiting the ESA's website, www.surfesa.org.
 
•Congratulations to Vince Sicca on the November 5th birth of his daughter, Kaylana Marie Sicca.
 
•Mammoth thanks to Ezekiel Team and Marketing Manager Geoff Armstrong for keeping us in the loop with team haps: Former ESM Who Da Guy from New Smyrna Beach, FL, Chad Erickson recently returned from Mexico with fellow NBK standout and Momentum rider Shannon "Hopper" Eichstaedt. The two scored killer surf and a few solid clips you'll find in ESM's upcoming first-ever video production, Always Right. If you can't wait until the June 2005 release of the East Cosa Nostra Production to peep action of Chad, simply turn to Page 88 for Jimmy Wilson's Costa Rica story, "Pezcoloyo-Loco: Playing 'Round In Played-Out Costa Rica." In other Ezekiel blahs from NSB, Josh Nicastro is off to Puerto Rico with company sales rep John Brooks for some R&R and to do some filming for an upcoming Erie Surfboards video. Finally, get well soon wishes go out to Shamon Burton, who's out of the water due to a nasty gash to his knee. Shamon's now holding down the counter at Red Dog Surf Shop.
 

Steve Fitzpatrick Turning 39 -- Courtesy: Fitzpatrick
•Miami, FL-based C. Shapes boardbuilder Carlos Reyes has teamed up with West Palm Beach, FL, glasser Steve Firogenis of Glass-Works, and together they're producing some unreal boards since Carlos made the switch to Steve's brand of polystyrene epoxy foam blanks. For more about C. Shapes, visit www.cshapes.com.
 
•A belated but hearty ESM shout-out to veteran Right Coast shooter/ Jersey guy-turned-Puerto Rico photo icon Steve Fitzpatrick, who turned 39 this past fall. In honor of the occasion, Fitz decided to throw a little party and give himself the gift that keeps on giving--a couple epic sessions of reeling, four to six-foot Cane Garden Bay perfection on the nearby island of Tortola. Wherever you decide to go for the big Four-Oh, Steve, you can just send us our invitations c/o Eastern Surf Magazine and the beer is on us.
 
•On September 19th, the Treasure Coast lost two longtime surf heroes. First, Bennie Carson, the owner of Sunrise Surf Shop in Jensen Beach, FL, for more than 25 years, passed away from complications due to cystic fibrosis. "Uncle Bennie," as he was affectionately known, and his father Ben Sr. ran the successful landmark business since the days when the area was in its infancy. And second, Ft. Pierce's Sean Cronin, the first surfer in Central Florida to represent North Jetty, died at the age of 40 while helping a friend repair roof damage from this fall's hurricanes. A charger of Stuart's notorious reefs when north swells were thumping, plus a remarkable contest surfer, Sean regularly blew away more established competitors, eventually placing 3rd in the U.S. Championships. Originally born in Jamaica and then later taught to surf by Charlie Williams of Impact Surfboards, Cronin traveled extensively with '90s Floridian pros like Steve Anest and Dwayne Maki. ESM sends our sincerest condolences to all family and friends of Bennie and Sean. Both will be missed dearly.
 
•Any retailers looking for someone to "watch" out for them need just e-mail Brevard County-based Nixon rep Mike Duffield, who can be reached at mduffield@cfl.rr.com.
 
•Greg Pino's Rip Tide Lodge is now open for business in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica! The place is perfect for surfing enthusiasts of all skill levels! Pino's coached the likes of Matt Kechele and Ronnie Kiendl, and even Johnny-Boy Gomes, so you know he knows his stuff! Check out www.riptidelodge.com for pics and further details.
 

Treasure Lost, Sean Cronin (1964-2004) -- Mez
•In wahine news, at Volcom Stone's recent Blowfish Surf Series contest, held at South Jetty, Oceanside, CA, on November 20th, newly transplanted O-side resident and former ESM cover girl Katie McLeod posted several high scores early to convincingly take the win in the hotly contested Girls final. Fear this chick if you draw her in a heat.
 
•Remember that Freestyle Park The Shark Contest we told you about a few issues back, where a surfer/ photographer had to score an action shot of himself in the tube wearing a Freestyle watch? Well, we're happy to report that one of our own ultimately won out ahead of some very stiff competition--former New Smyrna Beach charger-turned North Shore surf photographer Spencer Suitt. He split the $4000 Grand Prize with Damion Dilallo, who used swim fins to help push Spencer into a small wave at Backdoor Pipe. All the entrants' submissions, plus Suitt's winning image, can be viewed online at www.parktheshark.com.
 
•St. Augustine, FL, Podium rep Ryan Langhorne sent us a killer shot of his newest "Jagerboard." Apparently, a couple of his buddies, who work for Jagermeister driving the company's flamboyant motor home around, gave Langey the Tuflite board, emblazoned nose to tail with the classic logo, and shaped with his exact dimensions. "The shot you guys ran in the September Orlando Surf Expo edition (Vol.13, #99) is what got me this board," he said. "And it's only one of 10, so I'm stoked! Thanks." Glad we could help, Ryan. If you get any more sponsor perks from the potent potable company, you know where our booth is at Expo.
 
•Former '80's North Shore standout from Tampa, FL, and esteemed surf artist Jonathan Damm opened Green Room Galleries in Honolulu's elite Queen Street District on Friday, December 10th, with a gala Grand Opening party and Art Showcase featuring Jonathan's work along with that of acclaimed artists Patrick Tobin and Steve Valiere, among others. For more information, log on to www.damm-popart.com.
 
•Aussie footwear & clothing company Globe is now the primary sponsor of the Eastern Surfing Association's (ESA), entire 2005 season. Woo-hoo on ya's!
 

Kyle McCarthy -- Dugan
•Big shakas to longtime Z Wave Surf Shop customer, 14-year-old Wade Graham, who won a week-long trip for two to the A+, all-inclusive Salani Surf Resort courtesy of Local Motion's nationwide Island Surf Tour's Samoa Surf Sweepstakes. Wade took his brother Justin, 18, along for the ride, where they participated in the camp's many activities while reaping the benefits of a fresh New Zealand swell.
 
•Irvin Carrero offers great prices on vacation homes in Punta Borinquen, PR. The homes are close to top breaks like Surfer's Beach, Table Top, Wilderness, Wishing Well, and Gas Chambers, fully equipped with many amenities from billiards to Jacuzzis, and are only two minutes from the Rafael Hernandez Airport. E-Mail ramey@centennialpr.net for more.
 
•New Smyrna Beach surfer David McNeill, who spent much of last summer riding G-Land with East Coast Surfing Legends Hall Of Famer Jeff Crawford and Adam Crawford, took video clips on the trip, and is in the process of editing it all down for an upcoming film that's sure to appeal to retro Crawford fans.
 
•A very special "welcome back" goes out to one of the best surfers to ever hail from Fernandina Beach, FL, Kyle McCarthy, who is back in his North Florida hub after an extensive stint in Southern California (See Page 59 for the whole story). Kyle is now the official Florida sales rep for The Amerikan Project, while continuing to rep and ride for Ocean & Earth and LX Eyewear. He can also be seen putting his Mike Whisnant Surfboards into overdrive at home and beyond. "Blwyddyn Newydd Ddda!"­Compiled by Matt Pruett

MFE BLAHS

•Oz-Surf proudly announces the signing of Brevard County, FL, pro Alek Parker to the H2O Surf Team, where he joins ripping blokes Chris Drummy, Anthony Petruso, Raymond Reichle, Darren Muschett, and Charlie Carroll.
 

Patrick Emery -- Coen
•ESM welcomes Marbella Surfboards back to the U.S. shaping scene. Based in San Diego, CA, Marbella's head shaper Paulo Cabral aims to spread the love to Right Coast shops. Interested stores should check out www.marbellasurfboards.com for more information.
 
•School director of Florida Surf Lessons, Geoff Schmidt, is looking for quality surf instructors in the Central Florida area. Schmidt noted, "All our instructors are consummate professionals (the ones who are not, we weed out quickly), no bro-brahs need apply." E-mail Geoff at geoff@floridasurflessons.com or visit Florida Surf Lessons on the web at www.floridasurflessons.com.
 
•Look for two new spies in the Sunshine State, as Spy Optic just signed two new reps. Terry Claudio will cover North Florida and Martin Barbosa will be on the South Florida beat.
 
•Now getting the Flojos flow are newly announced 2005 Rightside surf teamers Patrick Emery of Beach Haven Terrace, NJ, Scott Marvin of Lakeland, FL, and Haley Welsh of St. Augustine, FL. Click on www.flojos.com for more on the team.
 
•Famous Surf Wax distributed wax all over the North Shore of Oahu, HI, this winter. And folks everywhere are digging on the formula.
 
•The Walker Project (aka: Walker Surfboards and Walker Clothing) officially welcomes four new members to the company's development team: Sam Hellfeld, Jarred Eberhart, Dominic Guisti, and Ryan Leonardy.
 
•Clever Surfboards' Jay Smith welcomes new teamrider Kyle Jacobus from Jacksonville, FL. Keep your eye out for Kyle, who's charging the Eastside pro contests this coming year.
 

Kyle Jacobus -- Dugan
•Artist Drew Brophy's Son of the Sea website has heaps of new goods--including fresh T-shirts, prints, board auctions, and a special surf club. Have a look at www.sonofthesea.com.
 
•If you want to tune in to the only "truly green surf magazine," peep The Surfer's Path, printed on 100% recycled paper and processed using nontoxic soy ink. From Cornwall, England, the mag offers quality editorial, stunning photography, and a mix of international coverage--including a heaping dose of our very own Atlantic, while also paying special attention to both environmental and access issues. It's a steal at $45 for six issues a year--especially when you're getting a free (!) copy of the legendary Ireland-heavy surf flick Litmus along with a Surfer's Path T-shirt with your subscription. Visit www.surferspath.com.
 
•Ashlee Diehl and the Board Retailers Association checked in to let us know BRA was gearing up for their first B.I.G. Event, an art show and auction fundraiser, on January 7th that coincides with the Orlando Surf Expo. Stay tuned to www.boardretailers.org for more details regarding the event.
 
•Huge congrats to The 'Ville local Carl Wallin and his beautiful bride Jessica--from Seattle, WA--who made an honest man out of the Carolina rippah this past November. The ceremony and ensuing reception included other Wrightsville Beach, NC, luminaries such as Best Man and ESM Assignment Writer Josh Hunter, DJ Struntz, Chris Curry, and Tom Brown. The Pride/ Aaron Chang rider decided to give surfing a slight rest after a heavy year of near nonstop travel that took him all over the world map, and the happy couple headed off to the Teahupo'o of snowboarding, British Columbia, where they enjoyed many days of riding pure Canadian powder (27 inches in six days, to be exact) at Whistler Mountain for their honeymoon. "I didn't know snow could get that deep," Wallin gloated. Talk about the icing on your wedding cake!
 
•Scholar's Word, reggae veterans out of Lithia, FL, just cut a new independent album titled Tribal Roots this year on Humble Ark Records. Full of genuine island vibes and tight grooves, Tribal Roots is worth a listen. Visit www.themarleystore.com or www.cdbaby.com to check them out. Also, keep a look out for the band at January's Orlando Surf Expo.
 
•Belated congrats to South Florida native Anthony "Spanky" Passarelli for his win in the Masters division at the ESA Easterns this fall in Hatteras, NC. Spanky made quite a showing and picked up a handful of new sponsors, including Quiet Flight, Anarchy, Poorboy, Screamline, and Cobian.
 
•KRS Global Biotechnology, out of Boca Raton, FL, announced a new line of products for boarders, Sports Specific: Boarding Formula. This exciting nutritional supplement contains protein and electrolytes--designed to meet the specific needs of boardriding athletes. And to make sure the ingredients were on point, Florida riders Scott Posner, pro surfer, and Andy Hurdman, pro kiteboarder, helped develop and test the blends. Visit www.sportsspecificonline.com or call 877-506-0777 for more deets.
 
•After a year or so spent soul-searching in San Diego, CA, (no, he didn't find any there) Wrightsville Beach, NC, shredder Mitch Baker returned home in December and is now working for Jon Taylor as his sub-rep for Rusty, Anarchy, Angel Eyewear, Sanuk, X-Trak, K-Grip, and Sticky Bumps. Buy the guy a welcome-home beer already.
 

"Wow, I Didn't Know Knee-Skiing Was So Much Fun." The Wallins -- Courtesy: Wallin
•A special ESM congratulations to Jupiter, FL, locals Kristy Murphy and Jenni Flanigan, who recently returned from the Toes On The Nose Women's World Longboarding Championships in Huntington Beach, CA, where they both made the semifinals, securing 5th and 7th place, respectively! FYI: having two East Coast girls ranked among the top 10 in the world for women's longboarding is unprecedented.
 
•Established in 1991, Liquid Culture quickly made a name for itself by combining innovative artwork with boardsports apparel. Following a hiatus of several years, the company has been revived with a passion, gaining exposure across the country via such events as the Vans Warped Tour and Aspen Jazz Festival. Check out their Spring 2005 line at www.liquidculture.com, and for catalog and dealer information, e-mail cindy@liquidculture.com.
 
•As we were going to press, WRV's newest big-wave addict, Will Skudin, called in raving about having his cherry popped, as he put it, at Waimea Bay moments before being forced in due to the start of the prestigious 2004 Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Big-Wave Invitational. Obviously, the waves were a legit 20 to 25-foot, and Skudin caught a nice one before the next set pitched him into oblivion for his first big wipeout at The Bay with ESM Senior Shooter Chris "19th Hole" Wilson capturing the scary action. Stay tuned next issue for the rest of Will's big winter saga on the Rock.
 
•And what a Happy New Year it was for several lesser-known East Coasters who earned editorial love in the January '05 issues of the big mags: Egan Mendia and Adisyn Nolan (we know they're still infants, but knowing their daddies, we predict they'll be big rippers) got their first shots ever in Transworld Surf (Puerto Rican ace Otto Flores scored the cover of that same ish); South Carolina grom Hunter Lineback graced Surfing Magazine's "Am Page" for his Cinderella-story performance at the 2004 ESA Easterns; and Crystal Coaster Dylan Stone bagged a beautiful double-page spread bottom turning into a Pipeline-looking Outer Banks left in Surfer Magazine, even though it was identifed as Mickey Hooks.
 

Duce Has Got Some Nirve... -- Dugan
•This winter, North Florida Matix teamer Chris Ropero sold his car, cut off his cell phone, said goodbye to his girlfriend, and headed to Hawaii's North Shore for two months. With barely $300 in his pocket, Chris spent the time sleeping on floors, getting his nourishment from rice and water... oh, and catching some of the best dang waves of his young life. And come to think of it, Ropes, $300 buys a lot of rice. So realistically, we'll see you sometime in the spring.
 
•And lastly, our good buddy Duce Smith will be at the Nirve Sports Ltd. booth (#2855) at this January's Orlando Surf Expo showing off the 2005 line of his insanely designed and super functional custom bikes which Nirve is offering for your riding pleasures to and from the beach. If you can't make the Expo, just call the man at FUN-383-RIDE or stop by his showroom, Ducer Cruzer, at 137 Sunrise Blvd.--just 1 1/2 miles south of Main Street in Daytona Beach, FL. While you're there, pick up a copy of ESM before checking out his line of rentals, choppers, beach cruisers, and low ride custom bikes. Seriously, admit that your car sucks, and you need to get a Ducer Cruzer instead. Tell him ESM sent you and get a free handshake! "And Happy New Year to all!" ­Compiled by Mike Fish

 

 

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