Charlie Weimar -- Jenkins Jr.

Put your hands together for Montauk, NY, surfer/ scribe Allan Weisbecker, whose novel, In Search of Captain Zero, was nominated for The National Book Award—a tremendous honor in anyone’s book (no pun intended)! Allan’s story of drug smuggling and soul searching amongst a surfing backdrop is swiftly becoming a cult classic, and the always humble Weisbecker sent us the following e-mail regarding the honor: “It’s wild for a surfy book to get this kind of thing. It’s like I’m a real writer.” •Another Montauk surfer heading down aprofitable path, literally reeling in the bucks, is Charlie Weimar, who successfully balances a surfing career with his position as a deep-sea fishing boat captain out of Montauk. Like many Northeast denizens, Weimar is currently searching for sponsorship. He won’t be waiting around for the hook-ups, though, as he’s off on a solo trip for his own “personal pleasure” to the North Shore this winter. Charlie, who was issue #74’s Kingpin runner-up, also told us about Montauk wondergrom Jason Hewitt, who recently got the nod from Body Glove Wetsuits. Hewitt squeaked by in the ESA Northeast Regionals with a 6th place in Boys’

Jason Hewitt -- Jenkins Jr.

and a 5th place in Menehune Longboard, citing “crappy waves” as the reason for his less-than-stellar results. But thanks to consistent, chest-high and better waves hittingThe Point for the majority of July, and with Hurricane Season waves hopefully on the horizon, a sharpened Hewitt plans to take no prisoners in both of his divisions at this fall’s ESA Championships in Hatteras. •In other New York news, while Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic surfers found themselves washed up on Mattress Reef with six-packs and channel-changers in hand for weeks on end, New York surf/ skate journalist Eddie Starke sent us the following daggers to the heart from theLong Island area: “In early July, a perfectly groomed, head-high swell graced LI’s shifting sandbars, providing an almost endless array of wedging peaks and barreling perfection. Needless to say, the entire Religion Surf Co. crew was on it, taking full advantage of the offshore winds which caught everyone by surprise.” Thanks for rubbing it in, Eddie. Another beer anybody? •Proving the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Rhode Island’s Watershed Surf Shop owner Peter Pan test-piloted prodigal daughter Tricia Pan’s funshape model from Time Bomb Surfboards. Papa Pan was very impressed

Ditch Plains, N.Y. -- Dugan

with how smooth and loosely the new design handled the knee-high waves he’s so fond of. Time Bomb’s New England rep, Russ George, also tried out “The Condor,” a new longboard design, in the slowly warming Rhode Island waters. If you see Russ riding by, ask to borrow it for a wave or two, or to check these two new shapes, go to www.timebombsurf.com.•Commemorating the 1998 passing of the Queen of Makaha, Rell Sunn, Montauk, NY, residents, along with The Star Foundation and Patagonia Surfwear, hosted The Annual Rell Sunn Memorial Surfing Benefit in mid-August at Ditch Plains. All proceeds were earmarked for a Long Island child with cancer. •Surfrider Foundation’s New York City Chapter was awarded a $750 grant to assist in the creation and development of a video/ CD-rom/ DVD focusing on NYC waterways and their impact on nearby beaches. The money also assisted the August Rell Sunn Foundation in the fundraiser/ surfing competition weekend. •ESM sends a get-well bouquet to New England photog Jim Ready’s brother, Shaun, who took a nasty spill on his mountain bike during a race in Norba, ME. Shaun ate it on a berm and required 60 stitches to close a gaping hole in his knee. Bloodied but not broken, he took out several top

Sam Boardman -- Ready

dogs in true Maine-iac fashion, gutting it out for 5th overall on his one good leg. Lotta heart, dat guy! •York Beach, ME, surfer Sam Boardman is working furiously and socking away his hard-earned Yankee dollars with plans for his virgin trip to Oahu this winter. On the Rock, Sam will give Pipeline a try while staying with friend Davis Knowles, who will show him a few pointers, like how to not fade Johnny Boy. •From NewHampshire, Buck Rowlee told us that Ste ve O’Hara’s Pioneers Boardshop added a new teammember to his talented shop squad, and according to Buck, nine-year-old Max Fatello, son of Hammy legend, Ralph Fatello,is thefirst in the history of New England surfing to receive full sponsorship. Rowlee himself is tearfullyleaving Pioneers, relinquishing his duties as Director of Retail and moving back to his old homegrounds of Wrightsville Beach, NC, after spending almost a decade in New Hampshire shoveling snow and rocking flannel jammies. Buck and his wife Meg sold their house in Hampton after he scored a rep job with Burton Snowboards and Gravis Footwear. Buck’s stoked to be servicing NC, SC, GA, as well as TN and expects to fully relocate in time for the Mid-Atlantic’s first hurricane swell or the Appalachians’ first winter storm, whichever comes first. •Board Stiff of Provincetown, MA, was stoked to say they’ve had a super-profitable summer, almost selling out of longboards, fishes, and funshapes. Employee Janelle found herself surprised at the unusual retail surge as the waves at Truro andCoast Guard Beach were dismal this summer, even by Massachusetts standards, but there’s definitely no lack of stoke as evidenced by the run on waveriding merchandise. If you’re in Massachusetts, from Provincetown to Orleans, stop in and grab a piece of the leftover summer spirit. Compiled by Matt Pruett

Counter Culture is currently expanding its East Coast amateur team, and Kill Devil

Dallas Tolson -- Diggs

Hills local Dallas Tolson, unofficial Godson to stylemaster supreme Barry Price, was one of the first to get the hookup. Look for this longtime OB ripper to be making big moves backed by his first major clothing sponsor. •Cabe Chaplain of Ocean Roots in Avon, NC, said that he and his wife Hannah stocked their store full of John Moldy Shapes, an underground label out of San Diego. Look for the not-so-subtle board logo featuring a seagull puffing a blunt, and, as always, Ocean Roots takes custom orders for Ezera Surfboards. Cabe himself is giving surf lessons around the Hatteras area, and with 18 years surfing experience on the Outer Banks, his knowledge should prove invaluable to beginners, both local and visiting. •Big apologies to the Central North Carolina surfing population from all of us here at ESM. For anyone who caught our dumbass error printed more than four years ago and inexcusably reentered in our 10-Year Anniversary Issue, the late East Coast legend, Hall of Fame inductee, and switchfoot extraordinaire Buddy Pelletier is from Atlantic Beach, NC, NOT Virginia Beach, VA. •Another Tarheel, Scott Riley, opened Pure Life Surf Shop right before Memorial Day. Pure Life, located on Holden Beach Road, is a hardcore shop catering to the local crew of Southeastern North Carolina. Scott added that they are especially stoked with South Carolina shaper Todd Youngblood’s Quest Surfboard designs which proved to be the

Paul Baymore -- Chrisner

fastest selling item of the summer. This fall, Pure Life will expand to a two-story building of 600-square feet, so if you’re in the area, check ‘em out. •Big thanks to Derf McTighe from Island Style Surf Shop, who sent us the following Seabright, NJ, blah: Tom Eadon of Rumson is turning out some great shapes under the Island Style label. ISS doubled their board orders from last year, and the finish work is done by Paul Baymore’s Fly Boards in Ocean City. Together, the two create everything from longboards to full-nosed twinny fish. For info on these classic shapes, call Island Style at 732-842-0909. ISS is also the area’s exclusive dealer for Stewart, as well as Wayne Lynch’s Evolution Surfboards, which are going off in the alternative board market. The Aussie legend’s functional shapes help guys get off their longboards and onto more performance-oriented vehicles. (Are you listening Mez?) Check out the Evolution website at evoman.com. •In other Jersey news, Doug Phillips from Blue Collar Surf barely remembers Dick Dale blowing minds at the longtime surfer hangout Tradewinds in early June, thanks to $1.00 drafts, but he sort of recalls the opening band, Barry and the Perpetrators, blowing up the stage. A special thanks to Barry and all of the Eastern Lines Belmar crew for representing Blue Collar Surf at

Perpetrators

the gig. Doug said they added a slew of new teamriders over the past few months. The guitar player of the aforementioned Barry and The Perpetrators , surfer/ skater Mark Sisom from Bradley Beach, NJ, was one of the first picked up. A host of underexposed South Jerseyites from Long Beach Island made the cut, including Ryan Kelly and Mike Roth from Barnegat Light, Jamie Whitesell from Harvey Cedars, and Jamie Bonner from Manahawkin. These surfers represent what the company is all about: punching the clock everyday for work, staying in touch with the ocean, and of course, banking some money to travel to the real stuff. •Tim Owens, formerly of Virginia Beach, VA, relocated to Hatteras Island and now works as Assistant Manager at Hatteras Wind ‘n Surf. Tim heads the team for the upcoming season and is in charge of the surf camp program, a great opportunity for Hatteras waveriders this year. Hatteras Wind ‘n Surf owner Drew Nawoichik says despite his full plate, Tim devours the many responsibilities like Pac Man gobbles ghosts after a power pill. You can find out more about the camp online at www.windnsurf.com. •Chenzo from Time Bomb Surfboards announced the dealers carrying his shapes in 2001: Cavalier Surf Shop in NC; Mean Streets in ME; Suncatcher in NJ; and The Board Room, also in NJ. Chenzo added teamrider Tom Gore’s solid-orange Dominator longboard was stolen off his car roof the day before a Hatteras surf trip. Anyone in South Jersey spotting this baby

Ray Hallgreen -- Coffey

floating around should do the right thing, and call the police. Good karma goes a long way in a nature-intertwined sport such as surfing. Another Time Bomb teamrider, all-around mega-grom Tim “Dumb-ash” Ashton, signed with NJS Clothing, adding to his other sponsors—TB and Farias—and bringing an all-Jersey theme to his sponsorship deal. Now all Tim needs is a NJ Wawa hookup for the post-session coffee and buttered hardrolls. A final Time Bomb word of congrats go to teamrider Christina Jarosinski for battling her way to second place in the Girl’s division at this year’s ESA Northeast Regionals. • In other Regionals props, Virginia Beach weekend warrior and Gale Force Glass teamrider, Joe Gillen, took first in the Master’s Longboard division at the ESA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, narrowly beating out owner Rascoe Hunt. Meanwhile, GFG shaper Ted Kearns can’t seem to figure out why he keeps getting more and more orders for shortboards. •More news from the Outer Banks found WRV glasser & laminator David Rohde stopping by the offices of ESM and giving a slide show for the Back Country Fly Fishing Association. Rohde runs a fly-fishing charter out of Oregon Inlet but spends the bitch-cold months of January and February serving as a freshwater guide in Chile’s remote but beautiful Patagonia region. For more info on Rohde’s services, log onto www.outerbanksvideo.com, or e-mail him direct at riomar1@mindspring.com. Rohde’s 2001 Chilean summer job almost proved to be his last after a 15-ton cattle truck hit his car head-on. Even with all that beef plowing into him, consider David lucky for only sustaining lacerations, contusions, a broken nose, and a couple snapped ribs. •Word on the grapevine is that Virginia Beach fixture and Hotline shaper Gurney Collins was spotted in California lineups this summer from Scripps to Trestles, enjoying some R&D while in the San Diego area shaping inventory at Fiberglass Works. Back on the East Coast, Gurney’s Hotline staff told us the Hotline Summer Surf Challenge went off once again in mid-June with contestants catching good surf, although it rained Siamese and Shih Tzus the whole time. A few days later, a couple skate pros strolled through Hotline for poster signings. Osiris’ Dave Mayhew hit it off with shop dog Max, but Ezekiel rider and CKY2K co-star Kerry “Hockey Temper” Getz didn’t talk much, as he was busy chasing female employees around the store. •Finally, longtime ESM Senior Photog Ray Halgreen emerged out from behind the 600mm and surfed the waves of Seaside, NJ’s, 24th Avenue and J-Street since it’s been just a tad too small to shoot this summer—or so Ray keeps telling us. Turning 50 in 2001, Halgreen is looking forward to his retirement which looms a scant four-and-a-half years in the distance, but he doesn’t feel like an old fart since most of his friends are in their 30s. We’re not sure, though, because like Thornton Melon of Melon’s Tall & Fat Stores says, “If you wanna look thin, then hang out wit’ fat people.” Compiled by Matt Pruett

Glenn Tanner --Hilke

Indialantic, FL’s, Phillip Watters retraced the Pilgrims’ steps this summer, but rather than traveling back on a rickety, old sailboat like the Mayflower, Watters flew over to England on a supersonic jet airplane. Landing in Great Britain in late spring, Phillip entered the inaugural Etnies Invitational Expression Session in the chilly waters off Fistral. Instead of focusing on the tired, three-to-the-beach routine, the event’s format rewarded the biggest and mostradical maneuvers. And with Watters one of the most progressive young Right Coasters around, he easily trounced the Brits all the way to the semifinals where he settled for third, edged out by eventual winner—Portuguese rider Jose Gregorio. But the Floridian didn’t come home empty-handed as he took the event’s most radical maneuver award, and back on U.S. soil, Watters gained another accolade, scoring a new sponsorship with Pesce Surfboards. •In other contest news, Cocoa Beach, FL’s, Dave Dedrick of Davo Surf Designs headed up the coast with his son Mikey on a sales trip which happened to coincide with two competitions in South Carolina and Maryland. The first event, the Herndon-Lebell Memorial was sponsored by KellyRichards of Perfection Surfboards and Village Surf Shop. Held at Garden City Beach, SC, the event reaped waist-to-chest high surf, and Davo proudly told ESM that the young Dedrick took out the South Carolinians on their own turf to win the Boy’s division. In Maryland, at the K-Coast/ HIC Surfoff—held in similar conditions—the young gator showed the Marylanders what’s up with his win in the Grom division and second place finish in the Longboard final, capping off another successful board run upcoast. •Fellow Floridians, Jeff Schieman and Scott Muller of Old Skool Skates announced that their website oldskoolskates.com is finally up and running. The guys thank Dusty at RC’s Boardshop for all his help. Check out the site to see their full line of longskates. •From the peachy state of Georgia comes a new website that’s sure to help organize the state’s small surf community. From Tybee Island, the center of Georgia’s wave universe, Jeff and Tara Moseley, directors of the state’s Eastern Surfing Association chapter, said the Georgia District now has a new cyber home. Filled with the latest contest results, news, and photos from the Peach State, the site keeps Georgian waveriders filled in on their local action. Check out the cyberspot at esa-ga.org and get the Tybee Island 411.

Corky Carrol and Jay Evilsizor --Furbandit

•Other news flashes in Georgia find the state’s head ESA judge, Travis Williams, branching out his heat-scoring skills to several key Right Coast contests this summer. Williams will help run prime events like the Rip Curl/ Dan Heritage Memorial Pro in Jersey, the ECSC in Virginia Beach, and the ESA Championships in Hatteras. •Satellite Beach, FL’s, Brian Gale sends out thanks to Natural Art Surf Shop owners Pete and Debbie Dooley for loaning him boards and other equipment to run summer surf clinics around his local beaches. Gale also offered sincere gratitude to Cocoa Beach Surfing School’s Craig Carroll for his invaluable input. For information on Gale’s clinics call Natural Art at 321-783-0764. •The crew at McKevlin’s Surf Shop in Folly Beach, SC, reported that their team dominated the latest ESA contest held in mid-summer at The Washout. McKevlin’s riders who walked away with a ton of metal, included Peter Kaasa with 1st in Junior Men’s, Holly Nettles 1st in Junior Women’s, Glenn Tanner taking 1st in Grandmasters and also the Super Heat, as well as Anthony Osment, who hit a grand slam, claiming 1st in Open, 1st in Men’s, and 1st in Men’s Longboard. In sponsorship news, McKevlin’s informed ESM that Kaasa recently picked up OAM while Osment snagged Oakley. •Tommy Scott told ESM that he auctioned off his Bird 1040 T-shirts for up to $200 each, after several buxom betties wore them during the Hooter’s 2001 North Florida Bikini Contest held in Ponte Vedra Beach. Tommy told us that he was sure his hot shirt designs were the reason behind the high bids but admitted that the girl’s mammary magnetism may have played a small role in getting at least part of the cash.

Jerry Burdine --Dugan

•In Florida’s Panhandle, Tony and Lib Johnson of Panama City’s Mr. Surf’s Surf Shop created a new website offering a dependable surf report for the Northwest Gulf. Go to mrsurfs.com or call 805-235-2217, ext. 1 to check the latest conditions. The Johnsons also wanted to get the word out that Corky Carroll, Wingnut, and Robert August, escorted by Florida’s super-manufacturer, Jay Evilsizor, stopped by to chat with customers and sign autographs for Mr. Surf’s Endless Summer Beachfest, held September 14th-16th. Besides the stars, there was also surf and skim contests as well as movie screenings. •South Florida photog Tony Martin told us that Quiksilver Boardshop opened a new store in Palm Beach Gardens’ Garden Mall during the first week of August. Global Kingpin Kelly Slater and skate guru Tony Hawk were on hand for the grand opening and skateboarding demo. •Miami, FL’s, Jerry Burdine, who rides for Kechele and Body Glove, won the prestigious US Champs Men’s division, joining former title-holders from the East, like Pete Hodgson, Tim “T-Bags” Briars, Billy Jack Johnson, and Ben Bourgeois. That’s some big-time company, so congrats from all of us at ESM for your exceptional accomplishment. •Fort Walton Beach, FL’s, Fluid Surf Shop team received three ESA Marsh Scholarships this season. Philip Miesen, as well as Chet and Paula Eichenbrenner, all claimed the coveted prize to help further their education beyond high school. Fluid also told ESM that they opened their second store over in Destin, FL, early this August. Compiled by Chris Towery

Bob Mignogna -- Lally

The biggest bomb to hit surfing since the invention of foam and fiberglass went down this July when mega-publishing conglomerate Primedia purchased competing giant E-Map Publications for a whopping $515,000,000. Overlorded by Long Island native Bob Mignogna, Primedia’s group of outdoor titles, including Surfing Magazine, officially merged with E-Map’s collection of action mags, containing among other pubs, Surfer Magazine. Surfer Editor Sam George maintains that the two magazines will still be extremely competitive, like “two siblings fighting for the love and approval of the same parent.” But an anonymous media insider from out west put the whole situation in perfect perspective: “We Californians have always been a bit incestuous: Everyone ends up playing with each other eventually.” •And now, someone who’s doin’ it on his own, without all the corporate hype, is young Josh Hansbrough of Jacksonville, FL, who just released his third surf vid at the age of 18. Called On the Surface, his latest flick features footage of Florida boys like CJ Hobgood, David Speir, and Aaron Cormican, as well as a slew of other riders ripping all over the Sunshine State and across the globe. Call 904-223-9091 or e-mail Josh at joshans7@hotmail.com to get a copy. To find out more, turn to OTS’s review in this issue’s Peepshow. •Cali shaper Jeff “Rat” Battisti looks to further expand his Rat Surfboards line on the East Coast, focusing on the groms. Any Right Coast shops or surfers looking to check out Rat’s boards can call or fax 760-633-4827. •In Mid-Atlantic news, Jersey-based Rusty rep Mark Neustadter said he and wife Kati are now the proud parents of a baby boy named Benjamin Eric, who popped into the world June 3rd. On the business front, the Rusty team was in the area for their summer tour, looking for surf, shop-hopping, and doing the bro-brah thing. Top teamers and current media darlings Adam Wickwire and Flea Virotsko were spotted signing hundreds of autographs for the groms. •Florida’s Panhandle was the scene of one of the most dramatic and gruesome

Jeff "Rat" Battisti --Ponting

shark attacks ever witnessed in the state. Mississippi native Jessie Arbogast was swimming at a beach near Pensacola on July 6th when attacked by a 7-foot, 200-pound bull shark. The predator tore off his right arm as well as taking a huge chunk out of his right thigh. Jessie’s fast-thinking uncle, who heard the boy scream, jumped into the water and wrestled the shark to the beach, where a park ranger killed the animal with three bullets to the head. The two then reached inside the beast’s giant, razor-sharp maw to retrieve the severed limb. Miraculously, doctors were able to reattach the arm, but as of press time, Jessie remains in a light coma due to blood loss but has been resting at home after being released from the hospital. Doctors remain optimistic he’ll recover soon. •UNCW sponger William “BJ” Freeman, brother to Maryland ripper Chris Freeman, told ESM about his new website, unknownsouljah.com. The cyberzone features surfing, bodyboarding, and skateboarding photos from around the world and also includes a special page on underground chargers. In addition to the internet news, BJ says to look out for Unknown Souljah Garments, a fresh, new clothing line that will hit shop racks near you within the next few months. •Melbourne Beach, FL’s, Doug and Judy Deal sent ESM a postcard from Hawaii, letting us know that their family is enjoying their move to the islands with stays on both Maui and Oahu. Dougie reports catching picturesque eight-foot Honolua Bay as well as North Shore spots Sunset, Gas Chambers, and Velzyland going ballistic with sparse, off-season crowds. The Deals also thank ESM Senior Photog Pete Hodgson for letting them stay at his choice North Shore pad located just across the street from Off-The-Wall. •Spy Optics welcomes France’s Alain Mang as its new European Sales and Marketing Manager. Alain brings with him over a decade of experience in the eyewear industry. He’ll be responsible for Spy’s sales and marketing operations as well as acting as a liaison between his company’s headquarters in the US and European distributors. •In other

Doug and Judy Deal --Bozack

eyewear news, on July 5th, 2000, Smith Sport Optics’ shipment for Canadian distributor Canam was stolen from a Customs Department bond shed. The large collection of snow goggles and sunglasses were valued at over $500,000, and now, a year later, the merchandise is appearing on the market. If any retailers, distributors, or other persons are approached by anyone besides an authorized Smith representative offering these goods, please immediately contact Sr. Vice President Vince Baertschi at 208-726-6503, so the thieves can be prosecuted. •From Melbourne, FL, Final D co-owner Chris Adams married sweetheart Traci Tocco in late May, and the two honeymooned in Costa Rica, scoring Playa Langosta a foot overhead while celebrating their new union. •Attention all surf history buffs—be on the lookout for Gary Lynch’s new biography, Tom Blake: The Uncommon Journey of a Pioneer Waterman. The 274-page tome includes over 300 images, including pictures, documents, and blueprints from the Blake collection, many of which have not been viewed by the public until now. •Billabong International announced that they will host a groundbreaking, three-year expedition around the globe to find and ride the largest waves in the world. The project is named Billabong Odyssey and will focus on combining the best big-wave surfers in the world with the most state-of-the-art, tow-in technology and weather tracking systems while chasing the planet’s largest swells. Event organizer Bill Sharp refers to it as “the most imaginative idea for a surf event our industry has ever seen.” Rumors circulate that the prize purse will also be the biggest in surfing history, so stay tuned to ESM for further developments on this all-around monumental event. Compiled by Chris Towery