•By now you’ve probably noticed the bonus disc insert in this issue. This enhanced CD is brought to you courtesy of the Long Island, NY, rock band fusing funk, rap, and hardcore sounds, Supercargoman. Former ESM coverboy and Ezera Surfboards rider Java Bailey serves as guitarist for the four-man set, and his brother Bruce Bailey is the band’s official manager. The two say the goal of offering this disc to all ESM readers is to promote both their full-length “Terribly Classy” album and their upcoming fall surf/ music tour, as well as Unsound Surf's Couch Tour video. The CD features a Couch Tour trailer and also introduces the Santa Cruz-based clothing company, Proof, to the East Coast. There are also links to Right Skool, Supercargoman, Oakley and Unsound’s websites, as well as ESM's very own link. The CD enhancement was designed by Right Skool’s Dave Genchi, and it is both Mac and PC-compatible. What are you waiting for? Give it a listen and a look at the same time, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Supercargoman touring a beach near you.

•If you happen to be in the L.I. area this fall, you’d be wise to check out Paul Roman’s fantastic new waterside dining establishment, After Fishing Bar & Grill, “Montauk’s Best Kept Secret!” Chef Roman opened the restaurant/ lounge this summer at 467 East Lake Drive. Stop in and enjoy fresh local seafood and American cuisine while watching the sun set over Lake Montauk. To order take-out or to make reservations, call After Fishing at 631-668-6535.

•In other Montauk news, local gremmie Jason Hewitt is over the moon (Australian for “happy”) to be riding for T&C Surfboards, his newest hookup.

•Let us raise our glasses to Ridgefield, CT-based contributing scribe Michael Fish, who continues to update us with surfy happenings in the Northeast. According to Fish, there was a wicked-large turnout for the annual New England Longboard Classic, held June 9th at Nantasket Beach on Boston’s South

Shore. Scituate, MA’s, Mark Keup, owner of Nor’Easter Surf Shop, said the event is a tradition in the area, held every year even if it’s flat. In that case, the NELC turns into a paddling contest. Lucky for Keup and crew, though, waist to head-high sets graced the South Shore this time around, provoking about 80 logs to hit the water as live music and free food flowed beachside. Mark summed up the event with the following: “It’s low key, and there’s no ego or pressure. It’s more like a gathering of old friends, and the winners were the ones having the most fun, not the ones taking themselves seriously.” Turn to page xx for the final results of the 2002 NELC. Speaking of taking matters seriously, only five days after the contest, Keup went over the falls on a smaller day at Nantasket and copped an eight millimeter gash in the back of the head. A friend of Mark’s called the wound a “skylight to the brain,” and it required a handful of staples to close. With his new turbin-style headdressing, Mark looks like he could run a 7-11 as easily as a surf shop. Thanks again to Mike Fish for all the Massachusetts blahs.

•Fish himself left Connecticut for some Southern Hemi glassoff, San Clemente style, after penning last edition’s (Vol. 11 #82) Peepshow review of the retrospective surf film chronicling the Peterson/ Naughton adventures, The Far Shore. While on the west coast, Fish had an opportunity to interview The Far Shore director Greg Schell, and you can read all about the project on the Surfline website.

•In other celluloid deets, be on the watch for Portland, ME, surfer Ben Keller’s grassroots video, The Dream, which features a 60-minute, “anti-corporate-ish” surf romp along the shores of Cape Cod, Maine, and Nova Scotia, as well as additional footage from Keller’s extendedhoneymoon throughout Mauritius, Hawaii, Costa Rica, and South Africa. Mama Tick (?) and The Vampire Lezbos (!?!) provide the auditory amp. The Dream is available for $15 and can be peeked at and purchased by logging on to www.dubioushonor.com.

•The ESA-New England District wishes to thank York, ME’s, Zapstix for sponsoring August 3rd’s contest at Long Sands Beach.

•Traveling to Costa Rica anytime soon? If you are and want to get a taste of Pavones’ reeling madness, contact former Bayshore, NY, fixture Harry Abrams at Sotavento Rustic Lodging in Punta Banco, “Where the forest meets the surf under the South Wind...” Log on to www.sotaventoplantanal.com for more info.

•In a time when an ongoing lobbying campaign is in effect to open all the beaches of Presque Isle State Park in Lake Erie to surfing, a story arises that makes all Great Lakes waveriders look good. In a quick-thinking act of bravery, Grand Haven, MI, surfers Jeremy Lonnee and Danny Binkowski paddled out on a mid-June day to rescue 12-year-old Madison Shinn literally from death’s clutches. Swimming in red flag conditions near Grand Haven’s lighthouse, Shinn was swept 600 yards out in a lethal rip before Lonnee and Binkowski got to her. During her half-hour struggle in the chilly Michigan currents, she had swallowed several quarts of water and her body temperature dropped to 93 degrees. By the time the two heroes got her to shore, Madison’s lips were purple, and she had difficulty breathing. She was eventually treated and released from Butterworth Hospital, and her very grateful family gained a new respect for both surfers and those evil rips. We can’t stress this enough, parents: Watch your children when at the beach, even if the beach happens to border a lake. And Jeremy and Danny—amazing job guys! May your reward be several weeks of overhead surf and unlimited surfing privileges for all Great Lakers fighting for their waterborne birthrights.

•Word has it in East Islip, NY, that former Rick’s Action Sports and Surf Shop manager and teamrider Dano Bradenstien recently graduated from medical school, resulting in an inland translocation for him and his wife Dina. The couple left in mid-June for Michigan, where they will spend the next five years of their lives as Dano completes an internship in Orthopedic Surgery. He then plans on returning to his beloved Long Island to set up a practice for rebuilding the worn-out shoulders of hardcore New York surfers.

•Dano isn’t the only Rick’s AS&SS rider making lengthy strides in the world of academia. Jeff “Cango” Cangelosi recently completed his Bachelor’s at St. Joe’s and will start pre-Med studies this fall at Stony Brook. Meanwhile, James Abbate will continue his culinary education this fall in Europe. Bon voyage, James!

•In other Rick’s AS&SS news, team spongers Patrick and Andrew Norton, Jeff “Muff’ Winter, and Jay Looney are living it up in Indo, and the boogie quartet reported catching eight to ten-foot waves during a “flat spell” in Bali. Lastly, Chris Colvin, aka “Crispy”, aka “Chico” to the ladies, aka “I got too many fucking nicknames,” spent his summer working at a surf camp in Nicaragua. Congratulations to Rick’s on celebrating their 25th year in business this summer. For details on the shop or upcoming events, log on to www.ricksactionsportsandsurfshop.com.

•Additional congratulations to former Connecticuter-turned California-based Maverick’s maniac Grant Washburn, who won 10,000 rand for snagging the Biggest Wave during the discontinued 2002 Red Bull Big Wave Africa at Dungeons, South Africa, this July. For more on Grant and the Red Bull contest, turn to page XX for Senior Editor Chris Towery’s Q&A with the heavy-water enigma.

•Finally, Bunger Surf Shop celebrated 40 years of business at their West Gilgo home this July complete with old movies, slides, and a huge cast of friends. Attendees included ESM co-owner Tom Dugan, the ESA’s Cecil Lear, Ed Arikian, Bill and Chris States, Hank Heckel, Chuck Weimar, Chuck Hoyler, Chris Shine, Squeak Sanders, Scooter, Warren Rand, Eric Eastman, Glen Walton, Nancy Peters, Harry Abrams, Pete Armata, Tony Caramanico, Rick Henrichsen, Ed Doddy, Mark Triano, George Fagen, Eddie and Jessie Faust, Ronnie Murray, and about 100 others. Partying went from 3:00 pm to sometime after 3:00 am, so that 12+ hours should hold all until the 50th anniversary. -Compiled by Matt Pruett.

•Manasquan, NJ’s, Darin O’Brien is just doing it. Darin left the Zoo York family to join Nike as the new East Coast sales manager for their skate line. He can be reached at 917-776-4517.

•In other Manasquan deets, T.R. Deveney has been seen jamming guitar with Mark Sroka, the ex-lead singer of the famous Jersey shore cover band, Love Pumps, on Wednesday nights at The Champagne Porch in Spring Lake Heights and Friday nights at McCann’s in Belmar. T.R. also urges everyone to check out September’s 10th Annual Manasquan Classic Longboard Contest, put on by the New Jersey Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation at Inlet Beach. Information on the event can be attained by e-mailing Bob Duerr at adksurf@aol.com.

•The Right Coast lost one of our own on June 8th when 34-year-old Robert Gompers, a Wave Riding Vehicles teamrider, and his 21-year-old girlfriend Allison Courter died in a motorcycle accident near Lahaina, on the island of Maui, HI. Originally from Maryland, Robert grew up frequenting the waters around the Chesapeake Bay. Moving to Hawaii in 1992, he quickly gained the reputation as a keen waterman—big-wave rider, kiteboarder, and windsurfer—and he pushed the boundaries of tow-in surfing, participating in last winter’s Tow-In World Cup at Jaws. Aloha and Mahalo, Robert. You will be dearly missed.

•Cooper Webb, son to Action Surfboards shaper/ owner Bobby Webb, made his inaugural competitive appearance this June, winning the Novice Menehune division in chest to head-high glassy surf at the ESA-CNC District Contest #4.

•While Cooper was lifting his first trophy, fellow Central Coast Tarheel Hunter Lupton was also scoring. Hunter traveled to Virginia Beach to compete in the Quiksilver/ Hotline Lord of the Jetty Surf Contest. Hotline owner Cammi Collins called the comp “the best ever” as clean, sizable waves arrived “out of the blue” to bless Rudee Inlet’s First Street Jetty. Lupton dominated the Longboard Division while local boy Mike Schirmer took the 15 & Up ranks. Both won six-day trips to Peru for their troubles. The “best wave wins” format was enjoyed by all and Red Bulleven signed on as a corporate sponsor for the 2003 event. Big thanks to all who came out to show their support.

•Swell or not, you can’t keep a contest from happening in Virginia Beach. A field of over 60 competitors showed up at First Street Jetty on July 20th for Volcom’s Jellyfish Surf Series. Competing on his 25th birthday, Ian Parnell conveniently topped daddy longlegs Wes Laine in eensy weensy shoreslop for the $150 pro/ am victory while Brian O’Toole and Alex Burdett won the respective Juniors and Groms divisions. All the finalists earned a slot into the VQS Championships to be held in Newport Beach, CA, in May 2003.

•Brave New World held a surfing clinic at Manasquan Inlet this July hosted by Robert August and his faithful companion Wingnut as an intermediate stop on the Robert August Surfwear Summer Fun Tour. A parent-child surf contest went down in the one to three-foot ‘Squan waves, which was handily won by Fly Surfboards owner/ shaper Paul Baymore and his nephew. Special thanks to Surf Taco in Point Pleasant for the superb grinds and hospitality. Following the event, Brave New World owner Billy Lammers accompanied the aforementioned R.A. and Wingnut, as well as Jay Evilsizor and Florida busybody Hunter Joslin, on a pool-betting fishing trip off the Jersey shore where Hunter reeled in the prizewinner—a 7 1/2 lb. fluke.

•Speaking of Hunter, the Indo Board creator wanted to thank K-Coast Surf Shop in Ocean City, MD, for hosting the 1st Annual Indo Board Championships, which saw a great turnout due to Brad Hoffman’s usual above-the-call promotion efforts. B-Rad hooked contestants with Electric products while stuffing their faces with hamburgers—the real kind, not that soy crap—and well-fed Scott Laynard from OC’s World Famous Belly Busters seafood restaurant topped the field of 20 competitors with careful footwork combined with shuv-its and uncanny board control. Casey Burke snagged “Best Trick” with a big ollie air, and Jenna Ruppert won the Girls Division. Cheers to all who came out. See ya next year.

•Oh, we almost forgot... Hunter wanted to rub it in that WRV shaping slave Jesse Fernandez found the proverbial fountain of youth by enrolling in a very personal yoga class. The long, loose, and full-of-juice Fernandez says he feels a 25-year-old on a regular basis... uh, we mean he feels like a 25-year-old on a regular basis, and he’s now able to perform body contortions to stave off old age.

•Speaking of rejuvenations, after a month spent charging steep and deep Puerto Rico this past winter, Right Coast Surf Shop’s Mike Colombo in Seaside Park, NJ, vows to keep shortboarding until he needs a walker because longboarding seems boring to him now.

•Whalebone Surf Shop owner Jim “Biggie” Vaughn recently added Robbie Myers to his hardcore squad. While we’re on the subject of Biggie’s Kids, Vah Beach Whaleboner Raven Lundy wanted to add this last-minute blurb to his Who Da Guy profile in ESM’s last edition: “Thanks to Jason Borte for saving my life in Florida that time.”

•Along with all the contests they put on at their very own skatepark throughout the summer, Cloud Break Board Shop of Ocean City, MD, hosted a raging Volcom party with live music by Pepper. The OC Import Car and Truck Show, held in June at the OC Convention Center, was also a huge success for the promoters—Cloud Break owner John “Woody” Wood and pro bodyboarder Brian Stoehr. Speaking of Woody, the Cloud Break crew wishes to congratulate him on his recent engagement to longtime girlfriend Shaunagh Stewart.

•Stephen and Jacqueline Mendel of Sand Jamm in Wildwood, NJ, recently brought twin daughters, Elizabeth and Emily, into the world. Welcome, girls.

•Holden Beach, NC’s Cane Faircloth, who helps with repping Reef and Rusty in the Mid-Atlantic, recently graduated from Cape Fear Community College this year with an Associate’s degree in Rep Guyology, and he thanks “Mom and J.T.” for their continued support. Another surfer graduating from college this summer was Kitty Hawk, NC’s, Trent Barkley. Trent wishes to thank no one. OK, maybe Chopper, Harvey Hess at Captain Frank’s, and Charles Bukowski, but that’s it... piss off!

•Mark Neustadter was recently appointed the new Mid-Atlantic sales representative for Cobian. He can be reached for inquiries at 609-823-1538.

•Congratulations to West Chester, PA’s, premier action sports retailer, Fairman’s Skate, Snow, and Surf Shop, on their 25th year of business this summer. Fairman’s was selected by ESPN’s 2002 Summer X Games to coordinate the skate-check booth at the international extreme sports event, held mid-August at the First Union Complex in Philadelphia. Local Fairman’s teamrider Bam Margera was even present to sign autographs and give away his limited-edition Bam model Element skateboards and other X Games merchandise.

•ESM Senior Photographer Doug Gotthold needs a house! It’s time for us surfers to give back by buying one of Doug’s quality prints. Talk to Trish, Karen, Jeanne, or Jenna to purchase one at the Sounds Gallery, located at 4209 Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City, NJ 08243. Call 609-263-7400 for hours. Another source for Doug’s images is Barry’s Flooring, also in Sea Isle City, who’s giving away a print “ready to frame” with purchase. Call Dan Barry at 609-263-3333 for info.

•Finally, videographer Pat Stublen left for France (boobs) late this summer with fellow ex-Virginians Pete Viele, Billy Hume, and Jeff Myers to wrap up shooting for Stubby’s new flick, Destined For Second, which will be out this fall on DVD. The crew met up with (boobs) Cam Powell, Ben Bourgeois, Asher Nolan, and Gabe Kling—the final components to a project featuring (boobs) outstanding footage of Hatteras, Costa Rica, West Oz, Hawaii, California, and Mexico. Stubby’s collaborating with Brian Townsend and producer Ken Taylor on this one, so you can bet it’s gonna be a doozy. Look for a review of Destined For Second as well as (boobs) a chronicle of the boys’ French escapades in future pages of ESM. (Boobs may not be included or may require some assembly.) –Compiled by Matt Pruett

•While Karina Petroni and Jeremy Johnston snagged the big wins at NSSA Nationals this year, another Right Coast wahine came back from California with a different, yet equally prestigious award. Although she was knocked out in the early heats of the Open and Explorer Women’s divisions at Trestles, sixteen-year-old Leah Dawson of Orlando, FL, did manage to claim the NSSA’s “Scholar of the Year” title. Every year, the NSSA gives out this accolade to the student surfer with the highest GPA, and Leah took the honor with an amazing 4.5 as a sophomore at Orlando’s Olympia High. As reward, the NSSA presented her with a plaque and a $1000 scholarship donated by former NSSA “Surfer of the Decade” Damien Hobgood.

•Sticky Bumps props team member Karina Petroni for her big finish in the Open Women’s division at Nationals and her other first-place in the Girls division at the US Champs. The Bumps is stoked to have both Karina and fellow Floridian Eric Taylor on their squad.

•Wayne Deck, the East Coast Team Manager at Town & Country Surfboards, sends a job well done out to Yulee, FL, rider Brady McKenzie for his sixth-place finish in Explorer Boys at the NSSA Nationals. Wayne also wanted to welcome new Florida teamers Harry Gilbert of Palm Beach, Grady Kirkland of Sebastian, and Tyler Crawford of Ormond.

•Tim McKevlin at McKevlin’s Surf Shop in Folly Beach, SC, sent word that Florida-based surfing rock star Jimmy Buffet dropped by the shop to pick up a new longboard while yachting upcoast to Long Island this summer. Tim said Buffet came in with his whole family, and nobody, including himself, even recognized Mr. Margaritaville until he pulled out his credit card to pay for his 9’2” Allison. After a brief introduction with Tim, Jimmy grabbed his stick along with two rashguards for the kids and left before anyone else even noticed. In retrospect, Tim thinks that Jimmy’s hasty departure may have something to do with his volunteering to perform a beatbox rendition of Buffet’s “Come Monday.” Other McKevlin’s happenings have local lady Kristin Tanner joining the shop team and also picking up additional backing from Rip Curl. Kristin, who’s the daughter of Washout Kingpin Glenn Tanner, comes to Tim’s squad as the ESA’s Southern South Carolina Girls Shortboard and Women’s Bodyboard champion.

•Another South Carolinian who’s been in the groove lately is Myrtle Beach native-turned-Cali transplant Mike Hoisington. Right after claiming his first WQS victory at the Billabong Pro Panama this spring, Mike was involved in a terrible car wreck in Australia, sustaining serious internal injuries and a chipped bone. But after three months of recovery, he’s back in the lineup and winning heats in the west coast pro contest scene. Surfing his first competition since the accident, the PSTA’s Havaianas Pro at Huntington, Hoisington blew through his heats all the way to the quarterfinals, ending the event with equal ninth. And although it wasn’t as hot of a performance as Panama, Mike is feeling confident that he’ll be back in the winner’s circle in no time.

•Jax Beach, FL, locals Jamie Borders, Tom Nuijens, Jim Dunlop of Mystic Surfboards, Paul Figura, and St. Augustine’s Randy Taylor caught uncrowded, bombing surf off Northern Sumatra aboard the swank, 47-foot catamaran, Bohemian. Cruising through the Mentawais, the crew surfed countless perfect island setups, caught loads of fish, and dove the teeming reefs. After 14 days on the boat, the boys headed up to Amsterdam to do a little “unwinding” for a couple days in the local coffee shops. Photos of both the Indian Ocean voyage and the Amsterdam junket are on Jamie Borders’ website Fluidgroove.net which also has North Florida surf reports, forecasts, photo galleries, and message boards.

•From the Gulfside, Mr. Surfs Surf Shop in Panama City Beach, FL, is celebrating their 22nd year in business. Owners Tony and Lib Johnson said that after all the years of successful business, Mr. Surfs is getting so big that they plan to move to a more spacious location and open a new “mega superstore” this October. The new shop will be just down the street from the current spot and will feature an even more packed selection of the latest surf, skate, and skim gear. For more details, call 850-235-2702.

•Les Kocsis wanted to get the word out that Jupiter, FL’s, Ryan Regan is now riding for Hot Buttered Eyewear.

•For surfers who’ve always dreamed of scoring an epic surf photo of themselves but can’t find any qualified shooter to snap the pic, there’s now a pro photographer who might be able to hook you up. Veteran lensman Tom Hodge of Cocoa Beach, FL, has a website called Surfphotos.freeservers.com that’s dedicated to putting Central Florida surfers in pictures. When there’s waves, Tom is on the scene shooting the action at local hotspots like Cocoa Beach Pier, Second Light, or Sebastian, and following his camera sessions, he posts the day’s images on the site where surfers can search for pics of themselves for purchase. Furthermore, Tom can also be hired to do private shoots for personal, team, or advertising photos. Log onto surfphotos.freeservers.com to check out his work, because you never know, you might already be on there.

•Another enterprising surf businessman in Georgia, artist Mark Jones, has started shaping custom Tiki Totems for homes and businesses in Tybee Island. The totems are based on both Hawaiian and Northwest American Indian designs and are supposed to bring good waves while also paying homage to the local surf tribe. Mark’s first models can be found on 18th Street as well as Butler Avenue, and you can get your own by contacting Jones at 912-786-MARK.

•Break out the muscle relaxers and the Ben Gay because it’s once again time for everybody’s favorite working man’s surfing contest, the Doctors, Lawyers, Weekend Warriors Surf Festival. For the past ten years the event has drawn hundreds of over-30 waveriding professionals to Sebastian Inlet to surf for charity. Raising more than $150,000 in the past, DLWW will hit the Inlet again September 28th and 29th. The festivities will kick off Friday night the 27th at 7 pm with a party at Big Island Burritos offering food, cerveza, videos, and live music, but it will be BYOA (bring your own aspirin). To find out how to get involved, call Jack Kirschenbaum at 321-727-8100.

•Speaking of Doctors, Lawyers, Weekend Warriors, one of the event’s organizers, Mitch Varnes, wanted to point out that two issues ago (Vol. 11, #81), ESM’s SE Blahs incorrectly listed that the Hobgood twins donated $1,000 for a scholarship to Brevard County schools. The real donors are the members of the DLWW organization, and the scholarship is offered in the name of the pro surfing duo. Mitch also let us know that the Hobgood’s homepage, Hobgoods.com, has recently been updated with new photos, magazine and newspaper articles on the brothers, as well as their 2002 contest and travel schedules. Go online to find out everything you need to know about surfing’s top twins.

•Current World Tour number three, Shea Lopez, wanted to forewarn fellow WCT competitors that another Lopez sibling may soon threaten the tour’s ranks. It seems that little brother Matthew has inherited the talent rich Lopez surf genes, and he’s already ripping apart the world’s lineups at the tender age of nine. During a recent family trip to Costa Rica, Shea, his wife Dawn, father Pete, mother Anne, and little sister Ashley watched Matty dig his fins into hefty surf at spots like Pavones, Esterillos, Hermosa, as well as Escondida, and the youngster plans to hit regular NSSA contests in the coming year. Already well-traveled with sessions at Lowers, the North Shore, San Francisco, and Hollister Ranch under his belt, Matt looks to be the fastest growing branch in the towering Lopez family tree. –Compiled by Chris Towery.

With all the extreme sports trading cards flooding the market these days, Outer Banks shaper Steve Head jumped in the game and recently acquired copyrights to Super Heat, a surfing contest card game which will debut at the Orlando Surf Expo this September. Any companies or shops interested in personalizing a set for their team can contact Steve at 252-449-0395. In the meantime, Steve and wife Betsy’s band Miyagi’s Army have been playing locally and in Atlanta, GA. Steve describes their sound as “dirty-ass, old-school, hardcore, punk rock that makes you want to take a shower.” Check ‘em out.

•Our unscrupulous Virginia Beach informant, Mike Schirmer, sent us a bevy of Vah Beach blahs, starting off by telling us that Quiksilver/ Pride rider and renowned globetrotting surf scribe Jason Borte was recently snaked by a local bodyboard chick known as The Drowned Rat. After Jason told her that it’s “improper etiquette to drop in,” she rebuffed the former ASP East Champ, telling him that he’s “a kook and should get a boogie board.” And to think, it took Jason thirtysomething years to get that kind of respect! Other haps have Brian "Chicken Peck" Harrison picking up the new Rusty rep gig in VB, and Mick Dunphy and Steve Owens hitting Hawaii in July to surf the North Shore. Meanwhile, the VB Brat Pack—Brendan Petticrew, Granger Clark, Shawn McGovern, Drew Moye, and Schirmer—split on a trip to California this summer, as well.

•Randy Mintz, co-owner of Floorboardz surf rug company, phoned the ESM office to let us know about his new business. Floorboardz makes computer-tufted surfboard, bodyboard, skimboard, and kayak-shaped throw rugs for your home as well as floor mats for your car. All products are designed with Hawaiian-styled, color graphics, and they’re all made to actual size with both longboard and shortboard shapes available from 9’6” to 6’0”. Check Floorboardz out at Floorboardz.com, or call 800-499-1568 for a brochure.

•Speaking of graphics, St. Augustine, FL’s, Drew Baggett at Inspired Surfboards welcomes John Comee as the new artist and airbrusher. Drew also wanted to thank Sunrise Surf Shop in Jacksonville, Surf Station in St. Augustine, and newly-opened Groundswell Surf Shop in Juno Beach for their continued support. Comee’s new designs will be at all three shops starting this summer. Call 904-347-8879 for more information.

Jensen Callaway -- Martin

•While we’re on the subject of Groundswell’s new shop, owner Susan French, former co-owner of Ocean Magic Surf Shop, wanted to let everyone know that the store is located a half-mile from the pier on Donald Ross Road in Juno Beach, and she’s already signed local wonder kid Jensen Callaway to the team.

•The stork is pulling overtime in Central Florida this summer with two First Peak heavies getting the bulk of his deliveries. First on June 12th, Bryan and Tiffany Hewitson were blessed with a little girl named Mysteri Lynn, and then on June 14th, David and Stacy Speir received a boy named Blake Alan. Hopefully, with the new births, the two pros will be so busy changing diapers and reading bedtime stories that the First Peak lineup will be cleared enough for us ESMers to catch a few set waves. Best wishes to both families.

•On the subject of birthdays, Helen Thomas, wife of shaper Jeff Thomas of Jeff Thomas Surfboards in Melbourne Beach, FL, wanted to wish her husband a happy 40th birthday. First, Jeff got an early B-day present when teamriders Shawn Bowman and Matt Sabatino pulled down 4th and 3rd-place finishes at the ESA’s SE Regionals in the Menehunes and Masters divisions. And when the he big four-oh finally came on July 26th, Helen, with kids Indiana and Tigerlily, had T-shirts made with Jeff’s face and logo emblazoned across the front. She handed the shirts out to Jeff’s buds and everyone surprised him at his factory sporting the Tees. For more info on Jeff Thomas Surfboards, the “Best Kept Secret in the Industry,” call 321-863-3466.

•Iris Eyewear out of Canada told ESM that they’ve just inked deals with Satellite Beach, FL’s, Chris Hess and Melbourne Beach’s, FL’s Brenda Fried.

•Matthew Murasko founder of Surflife, creator of the Malibu Surfrider soft surfboard, has joined forces with Dale Christensen’s Surf Source Distribution, making Surf Source the exclusive Florida distributor for the foam boards. The 6’4” Malibu Surfrider is made of closed-cell Durafoam which doesn’t absorb water and has a single, semi-flexible “jelly fin” for added safety. Contact Surf Source at 904-247-0808 or e-mail dale@suncure.com.

•If you’re into either bodyboarding or hot chicks, or better yet, hot chicks on bodyboards, then the new flick, Fired Up Girlz is for you. Betty Depolito at Banzai Productions said that the vid will be released this summer and features the best of women’s bodyboarding with Brazil’s Stephanie Pettersen and Claudia Ferrari charging Tahiti, Leila Alli at Hawaii, and Carla Kosta ripping Reunion. If you’re still wanting more, there’s bonus segments capturing Japan’s best female riders and Soria Roacha’s mind-blowing airs. If that’s got you Fired Up, then call 808-638-8326 to order yourself a copy.

•Bondi Blue eyewear from South Africa is now available in the US. The famous sunglass line from the land that brought you J-Bay is also seeking US teamriders for sponsorship. Call Matt Van Ry at 305-865-6606 for more info.

•In more new product info, SurfCo Hawaii, maker of Nose Guards and Pro Teck Fins announced the release of the new X Foil Pro Tecks. X Foils are sharper, thinner, and have extended trailing edges for smoother, faster, and more fluid rides. They’re in shops now and come with two designs, Regular Flex and Stiff Flex, with new edge colors, Tint Yellow, Smoke, Pearl White, and Silver.

•ESM Senior Photog Bruce Chrisner and Manasquan heavy TR Devaney sent word of the Robert August/Brave New World Family Fun Day at the Beach contest which went down at The Inlet this June with additional sponsorship by Indo Board. The event was a friendly competition with family members and close friends entering as a team to surf against one another for prizes donated by Brave New World Surf Shop. Chrisner said that the waves and weather were perfect, with fun, waist to stomach-high peelers providing the playing field.

•Need a new winter surf destination? How does a week at the world’s longest left at Chicama for under $1000 sound? Former Hatteras local Manolo Durand recently opened a full service surf camp and hotel in Pacasmayo, Peru called Kirra, and he promises three meals a day, accommodations, transportation to the spots, airfare, photography, and all taxes paid for only $900 per person. Don’t pass this one up. E-mail Manolo at farito@54hotmail.com to get in on this amazing bargain.

•ESM bids a fond farewell to ASP Tour Director Al Hunt, who announced his retirment this July after heading the ASP for over 18 years. Hunt, who worked in the both the IPS and ASP as Judge, Head Judge, and Tour Rep before manning the Director position, will step down at the end of 2002 after over 22 years of total service. Replacing Al will be Head Judge Renato Hickel, but never fear, Al will be still be involved as Statistican and Liason to the WQS, and continue to be the owner of the largest surf mag collection in the universe, including every single issue of ESM. Hell, even we don’t have all 83 editions!

•Sneaking upcoast for a little mid-summer R&R, ESM co-owner Dick Meseroll pulled a stealth mission to Atlantic Beach, NC, to catch one of the East Coast’s best kept secrets, Southern Culture on the Skids, live at Ziggys By The Sea. Mez, along with partner in crime, Tonya Wade, wanted to send heartfelt thanks to Ziggys’ owner Michael Farrell for his fine southern hospitality and the band for their on-fire performance. For a review on SCOTS latest release, turn to this issue’s Eargasm on page 128. –Compiled by Chris Towery