Score a major victory for Right Coast coastal conservation! This spring, hundreds of surfers and representatives of Surfrider gathered to oppose a seven-mile-long Army Corps of Engineers renourishment project slated for Long Beach, NY, near Point Lookout. In several heated public hearings, the Corps and local surfers fiercely debated their sides of the issue. At the core of the surfers' argument was the devastating effect such sand refill would have on local breaks and fishing habitats, not to mention the project only provides a temporary fix to the never-ending cycle of erosion. In early May, the Long Beach City Council voted to nix the project in favor of finding a more environmentally friendly solution. Aside from the local success, the victory provides a huge confidence boost to surfers up and down the East Coast who face similar battles at their home beaches. Way to go, guys!

•The slurpers at ...Lost sent word that another New Yorker out of Long Beach--adopted son Ryan Carlson--recently claimed his own big win, nabbing top honors at the Sobe No Fear Airshow in the eighth event of the Matix Sun Diego Pro/Am Surf Series. Held in decent, two to three-foot chunks at Ocean Beach Pier in Ocean Beach, CA, Carlson punted his way to 1st-place, scoring a perfect 10 (his first ever) for a sick rodeo flip in the dying minutes of the final, which earned him an extra $200 for "Best Maneuver." To read Carlson's dramatic, firsthand account of the heat's action, go to www.lostenterprises.com.

•Oakley recently released its very first celluloid production, Separate Volume, which premiered at Sports Page in Portsmouth, NH, early this June. Word has it the flick, which features star shredders like Chris Ward, Nathan Fletcher, and Brian Conley, along with the Right Coast's own Aaron Cormican, had the crowd on their feet for most of the screening. The video is currently on tour and showing at finer establishments along the East Coast, and to find out when they'll hit your neck of the woods, go to www.oakley.com. Check back in future issues of Eastern Surf for a full review.

•Coming across the ESM editorial desks this spring was New York surfer/ videographer Clark Lipton's new DVD, With All Due Respect: New York Delivers. The production is Lipton's first release and features a slew of local riders scoring super deep shacks and ripping the piss out of heaving Long Beach bombers. If you want to check it for yourself, go to www.grem67.com to view the trailer and buy the vid.

•Former Montauk, NY, ripper Travis Beckmann just returned from an extended stay in Japan, where he snagged his best competitive results so far, claiming 17th at the 4-star WQS OP Chiba Pro and 9th in the OP Chiba Junior Pro. Travis relocated from the icy New York lineups to sunny Vero Beach, FL, some time ago, where he's been able to shed his rubber straightjacket in favor of baggies, which no doubt has contributed to his recent competitive success.

•Searching for a cool summer gig that will keep you out on the water? The Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is looking for a coastal ecology student for a paid internship ($12 an hour) through September. The intern will assist the organization's research and monitoring staff with a variety of field-based projects on habitats, ranging from upland coastal forests to estuarine open water. Although a good deal of fieldwork throughout the Narragansett Bay area will be required, the position is based in Prudence Island, ME, accessible by ferry or boat. To apply, qualified candidates should contact Research Coordinator Kenneth Raposa at 401-683-6780.

•After we featured his site, Nesurfari.com, in last issue's (Vol. 15 #113) "Caught In The Web" article on Right Coast surfing websites, owner Christian del Rosario of Nantucket, MA, forwarded us a full write-up of the ESA Northeast Regionals, which went down in May. Held in Belmar, NJ, the comp boasted over 350 competitors from districts from Maine to Jersey as well as the Great Lakes, battling it out in clean, four to six-foot conditions. Northeast surfers claiming big trophies for 1st-place included Mike Paugh for Senior Men's Shortboard, Lee Anderson in Legends Shortboard, and Eric Anderson for Junior Shortboard. Next stop for these rippers is the 2006 ESA Eastern Surfing Championships in Hatteras. For complete results of all the ESA Regionals, turn to Page 121.

•Speaking of websites, NYC's Adam Cannizzaro's Newyorksurf.com recently put up a telling interview with the 2006 Mavericks Surf Contest winner Grant "Twiggy" Baker of South Africa, which was written by New York transplant surf photog Grant Myrdal. Coming into the big-wave showdown as a relative unknown, Twiggy gave Myrdal the inside scoop on what it was like to surf and win such a heavy event. Turns out, his biggest boost came from former Connecticut surfer Grant Washburn, whom Twiggy stayed and trained with in San Francisco while preparing for the contest. The interview is a fine read, but geez guys, you think you have enough dudes named "Grant" in the friggin' story?

•On a somber note, ESM learned that 24-year-old Kyle Rocha, of Matunuck, RI, passed away in a tragic motorcycle accident early this June. Kyle was a local at Matunuck Point and Green Hill in Rhode Island and always loved living on the edge--fast cars, big waves, motorcycles, anything with a rush. All of Kyle's fellow watermen sent their condolences and assured us that their brother will be sorely missed.

•Rhode Island's bastard surf sprog Peter Pan told us that despite an industrywide push for Chinese-shaped boards, the shops up in his little slice of frozen New England hell have been hardcore in their efforts to keep their stock 100-percent American-made. Narragansett's Dave Levy of Levy Surf Designs, one of New England's only full-time shapers, reported that the foreign-made sticks not only ride like shit, but they need repairs at a much higher rate than their U.S. counterparts. But it was John Sheil, owner of Ride A Wave Surf Shop in Westerly, who put the Chinese shaping dilemma in the best perspective: "I only sell American-made fiberglass. The offshore stuff is a lot like the inferior lumber you buy to repair or replace first-grade wood in your house--it just doesn't make the grade."

•Long Beach, NY, Quiksilver rider Balaram Stack was lucky enough to meet his hero, Quik teammate Kelly Slater, during the New York City premiere of Kelly's new video, Letting Go. For a full review of the DVD, turn to this issue's Peepshow on Page 58, and check back next issue for a synopsis of the whole East Coast Tour.

•Robert Bailey from the Surfrider New York City Chapter informed us that members of the New York/ New Jersey 2000 Club were treated to an amazing presentation this June when legendary lensman and The Surfer's Journal Photo Editor Jeff Divine narrated a private slideshow at The Park Restaurant in NYC featuring some of Divine's favorite material from the past four decades. All of the 2000 Club members received a copy of Masters Of Surf Photography: Jeff Divine. And the slideshow, which also featured food and a cocktail reception, offered a prime chance for them to have their copy signed and personalized by the man himself. Bailey said that every quarter, the 2000 Club will host a similar event with a surfing "great," so if that sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, call the 2000 Club membership line at 800-743-SURF to get signed up.

•Brickhouse Boards moved to a new location in Marblehead, MA, less than one block away from the School Street location. They're now at 21 Essex Street, right around the corner from Tony's, and across the street from Starbucks. In other Brickhouse news, ace teamrider and former Red Bull Ice Break champ Zev Gartner is back in Santa Cruz, CA, soaking up all the spring swell and polishing his already oil-slick backhand attack at Steamer Lane and other semi-secret NorCal spots. ­Compiled by Chris Towery

Think you're sporting some sick tattoos? Bet they're not as hot as the ones these South Beach guys are creating. The tat artists from The Learning Channel's "Miami Ink" program will be putting their needles to a new 9'0" Walden longboard and emblazoning it with an array of Polynesian tribal designs and Japanese floral prints, combined with classic Hawaiian tattoos and modern surf imagery. The eclectically colored stick is set to be auctioned off this summer in California at the 2006 UCSD Luau and Longboard Invitational, benefiting cancer research. TLC will be on-hand to film the inking as well as the auction, and everyone's hoping the funds raised surpass the $27,500 raised by Steve Walden's LIVESTRONG surfboard for Lance Armstrong at the 2005 Luau. For more information on the Walden Surfboard/ Miami Ink project, contact Brandy Herrin at 805-653-1717 or Brandy1@aol.com.

•And while you're watching the telly, make sure to check out On Surfari on Fuel TV. This year marks the second season for the show, which documents the travels of pro surfer Shayne McIntyre and his wife, Shannon. Based in Puerto Rico, the couple crisscrosses the globe, exploring far-off, out-of-the-way locales in search of surf and adventure. Spots they've recently visited include Korea, Taiwan, India, Russia, and Panama. Go to www.fueltv.com for local air times.

•Another bloke out of Puerto Rico making news is San Juan's Ricardo Carbia, a pro surfer who recently started a surf school and tour operation in his hometown. Aptly titled Caribbean Surf School, Carbia's business offers lessons, board rentals, and tours of the island. The school's instructors are all lifeguard and CPR certified with 10 to 20 years of surfing experience. To learn more, call 787-637-8363 or visit www.caribbeansurfpr.com

•In case you missed it, the 23rd Annual Jacksonville Wavemasters Charity Surf Contest went off this May at Jax Pier with plenty of sick surfing going down. Hot up-and-coming 16-year-old Justin Quintal, of Neptune Beach, FL, wowed the crowds by dominating both shortboard and longboard divisions. In the Junior Men's Shortboard final, Quintal knocked out defending champ Cody Thompson, and in both the Open and Junior Longboard heats, he had the spectators on their feet as he walked his way to the tip and the win with some spectacular nosework. Visit www.wavemasters.org for complete coverage of the event.

•If you see a big, vinyl-wrapped Hearse with a pic of Teahupo'o on the side sitting along AIA in Cape Canaveral, pull over 'cause you've just reached the new Cape Surf Surf Shop. Team manager and shop employee Josh Wilson said the store carries a fully stocked inventory and has amazing prices on the hottest clothes, boards, and accessories. With such a groovy selection of gear and Josh coaching the team, which includes young local rippers Tyler Thornsley and Savannah Bradley, you're sure to be hearing the name Cape Surf mentioned often along Central Florida's lineups. To get more info on Cape Surf and Josh, turn to the ESM Q&A with Wilson on Page 130.

•Another East Coaster coaching the coming generation is Donnie Macrae of Hobe Sound, FL. Macrae has been training hard with a local crew of kids, including brothers Justin and Ryan Croteau, Shawn Hanson, Josh Guthrie, Josh Hartley, and Chris Watson, along with Kate Fleming of Jupiter, FL. The coaching looks to be paying off as the young guns have been posting superb results at area contests, and Ryan even recently signed with Globe. Outside the heat training, Donnie has been pulling double dootie... whoops, we mean duty, in potty training his young son Dylan Patrick Macrae, who turned 2 years old in June. This spring, Donnie himself was rewarded for all his efforts, when he learned that ...Lost signed him back on with full sponsorship.

•Deerfield Beach, FL's, Annie Tworoger let us know she's now living in Nicaragua and has launched a new website called Nicaragua Surf Report. Annie's site not only boasts the latest reports from many of Nica's top breaks, but it also has heaps of surf photos from around the country, along with listings for local rental properties and other surf-related info. Though the NSR site is fairly new, it's already getting over 300,000 hits per month, so if you're visiting Nicaragua or just want to learn more about the country and its waves, log on to www.nicaraguasurfreport.com, and tell Annie we sent you.

•From Texas, Brent Thrash said the Quiksilver and Roxy squad paid a visit to his hometown of South Padre Island this June. Quik/ Roxy teamers Matt Kechele, Josh Hoyer, David Awbrey, Kassia Meador, and Lisa Andersen were in town performing promo duties and holding a product giveaway and autograph signing at On The Beach Surf Shop, with throngs of locals coming out to meet the stars. Everyone then made their way to Brent's new eatery, Dorados Baja Bar and Grill, where the crowds were treated to a showing of Kelly Slater's latest video, Letting Go.

•Looking to stay in shape and practice when the ocean is flat, but not lame enough to rollerblade and can't afford to rent out Typhoon Lagoon? Then check out the latest in surf training systems, the Zero Impact Slingboard Ride System. Created by Nick Santos of Daytona, FL, the Slingboard takes elements from all boardsports--surfing, skating, snowboarding, kiteboarding, wakeboarding--and combines them into one amazing system. The device features a specially fitted board attached to a boom, which allows the rider to swing in all directions, simulating carves, airs, and even flips. Better yet, Slingboards can be ridden by anyone, any age, with almost no learning curve. Nick is currently offering training sessions and camps in Daytona for those looking to get dialed into the system. Call 386-761-2302 or visit www.slingboards.com for more info.

•Satellite Beach, FL's, Chris Hess just got dialed in with Jedidiah Clothing, scoring the East Coast Manager position for both promotions and the surf team, where he'll be coaching talented teamers like Kyle Thiel. Good on ya, Chris!

•In more celebratory news, Greg "Vargas" Gordon, who headed up the Surfrider Sebastian Inlet Chapter, wed his longtime girlfriend, Amy Wolfson, this June. Vargas' old college buddy and Surfing's Senior Editor, Matt Walker, flew down from the Outer Banks to attend with his wife, Laurin, who heads up our sales team, while ESM Co-owner Tom Dugan was on-hand playing the part of wedding photographer. Following the wedding, the newlyweds spent their honeymoon in Hawaii, where they toured both the South and North Shores of Oahu, as well as Kauai. According to all in attendance, the wedding and reception went off without a hitch, but in spite of Dugan's ample pleadings, none of the bridesmaids were willing to pose as ESM Girls.

•In addition to his nuptials, Greg Gordon also wanted to thank everyone who came out to support the Surfrider Sebastian Inlet Chapter during the International Surfing Day festivities on June 21st. Joining people across the globe, scores of Central Florida surfers hit the sands behind Cocoa Beach Surf Company to celebrate surfing in clean oceans. Besides a beach clean-up and other eco events, Satellite Beach's Brian Gale, who runs NexGen Surf School, hosted free surf clinics for the groms.

•The crew at Glas Apparel and Films told ESM their brand is up and going strong in Santa Barbara, CA. Run by Right Coast partners John Moran of Massachusetts; Vero Beach, FL's, Justin, Matt, and Ryan Kleiner; and Ryan Droze of Sunrise, FL; the company offers fine, "art-driven" apparel and original surf films. Readers may remember Moran's name from past East Coast surf vids he helped produce like Flail and You Flail Too. Go to www.theglas.com for more info.

•Surfers in Melbourne Beach, FL, will be happy to learn there's one less shark cruising the lineups these days. Local DJ Gebelein was fishing in the surf off Indian Harbour Beach in June when he landed a mammoth, 12-foot-long, 350 lb. tiger shark. After a brief fight, the beast was hauled ashore and strung up in front of Beach Bait and Tackle on Ocean Avenue. Gebelein spent the day posing for photos and filleting the toothy critter, which made a scrumptious meal for dozens of hungry locals, including surf artist Damien Share, who got a taste of revenge, as he'd been victim of a shark bite several years ago. Share reported that in spite of what they say, revenge is not best served cold, but rather lightly seared with a pinch of garlic and a slab of melted butter.

•In other Mel Beach wildlife news, Susan Klugel, wife of ASP World Tour Judge Jeff Klugel, is now offering pet baby-sitting services for animal lovers who don't want to board Fido or Fluffy when they go out of town. In addition to caring for pets whose owners are on vacation, her business, called Critter Sitter, also provides dog walking services. For more info, call Susan at 321-591-0912. ­Compiled by Chris Towery