NE BLAHS

Peter Pan -- McGovern

•Steve Everett, owner of Portland, ME's, Sunnybreeze Boardsports proudly reported the popular snow and skate shop is dropping in to the world of surfing, as well. Along with a plethora of skim and bodyboards, the racks are now stocked with surfboards, wetsuits, and accessories from WRV, Channel Islands, 2si, Liquid Shredder, O'Neill, Xcel, Body Glove, DaKine, and FCS. Everett said the crew is committed to the Maine-iac waveriding community. They also offer full board repairs with quick turnaround. Peep their website at www.sunnybreeze.com, or call Steve at 207-775-2194 for more info.

•With most of June covered in a chilly rain, contestants were amped for the Annual Rhode Island State Surfing Championships, held on June 14th-15th, at Narragansett Town Beach, RI, where they were greeted with a champion day of sunshine and two to three-foot waves. While rippers came to compete from several neighboring states, Rhode Islanders represented the Ocean State very well, winning several divisions. RI victors included Lee "Gidget" Ferrera, Ryan Richer, Mike Milas, John Basile, Tricia Pan, Janice Causey, and Peter Pan. Also, the Gansett Juice Surf Team edged out the second-place Nor'easter team of Scituate, MA.

•In other 'Gansett news, Bic Surfboards of Vannes, France, recently announced that Peter Pan's Magnum model was their top-selling stick in its first two months of production, based on worldwide sales figures. Pan currently has (count 'em) six signature models on the market, sold by three different manufacturers--Hobie and Bic included, proving this guy's obviously no slug.

•Favorite Strong Island sons Mike Nelson and Brian Walsh unveiled their newest cinematic opus, North of Nowhere, on June 18th and 19th at select New York venues. Make sure to keep an eye out for the charged flick at local surf shops and dig this issue's Cinematheque highlighting the project on page 116.

•Also in NYC surf celluloid endeavors, Manhattan-based filmmaker and Rockaway regular Mark Temme is working on a documentary on Rockaway Beach titled The Rocks. Check out Temme's killer website, www.guerrillaguru.com, to peep the entrancing trailer and more samplings of his quality surf action lenswork. And for more on Rock Beach, turn to page 30 for ESM's Kingpin, which highlights the able crew dominating the spot.

Jay Clark -- Ready

•Mark Keup of Nor'Easter Surf Shop in Scituate, MA, reported two of his favorite boards stolen from the roof of his car in mid June. Shortly after, the sticks were located (being surfed on!) and recovered by an elite task force of Nor'Easter operatives--including enforcers Brendan McNamara and Dino Funari--and the perp was dealt with accordingly. Ooh, that's gonna leave a mark.

•Keeping the Great Lakes clean, the North Shore Surf Club of Milwaukee, WI, participated in an Earth Day Clean-Up, lead by Tim Guy, Ryan and Shawn Bigelow, "Tiki Dave" Hansen, and Todd Fillingham. Bags were filled with all things trash including dead, rotting seagulls, stripped tires, scummy bottles, and a wide variety of ocean-borne flotsam-jetsam. Let's keep that stuff off the beach and outta the lineups. Nice work, troop!

•Also, a great Great Lakes cheer goes out to 72-year-old Don Harrison, the oldest competitive Lakes surfer, for bringing home the sixth-place trophy in his division at the 2003 ESA Northeast Regionals. Harrison started surfing in North Carolina in the 1950s. He was also the first president of the Lake Erie-Wyldewood Surf Club and led some of the initial club expeditions to the New Jersey coast in the late '60s--before satellite weather forecasts and internet technologies. Good on ya, Don, and keep the stoke flowing.

•During Memorial Day Weekend, organizers for the Massachusetts Open Surfing Championships considered canceling the event because of the out-of-control storm surf at Egypt Beach--where the contest was scheduled to take place. But with a little collective brainstorming, they remembered Peggoty Point was only four miles away. Organizers then relocated the contest there, and contestants from Rhode Island and Massachusetts ripped the four to six-foot semi-clean Peggoty pointlines. Topnotch performances were displayed by Drew Simmons, Eric Anderson, Mike Nunnery, and Mike Seaberg.

•The S3 Seacoast Skate Series is a five-stop skateboard contest tour for Southern Maine and New Hampshire skaters of all abilities to ramp up their skills. The tour hits local municipal skateparks for the qualifier rounds and Rye Airfield Skatepark in Rye, NH, for the championships. S3 Skate Series is an amateur grassroots skate competition that aims to attract over 1000 participants and spectators. Entrance fees range from $5 to $20 depending on the round and division. The remaining schedule is as follows: July 26th at Hampton, NH's, Town Park and August 16th at Rye, NH's, Rye Airfield Skatepark. Get more info at www.oldmanskates.com/S3/flyer.html.

Ogunquit Rivermouth -- Ready

•In late spring, Great Lakers flocked to the Milwaukee Surf Invitational at Grant Park in South Milwaukee, WI. Contestants relished the head-high waves and moderate water and air temps. And according to ESM's Great Lakes Anchor and contest reporter Magilla Schaus, the conditions even permitted one surfer to sneak into a tube during the event. After the comp, the party raged on at the Palimino Bar, where aloha spirit and fine drink flowed--as did loud surf rock music.

•Schaus and other Lakefolk also scored fun waves after the ESA Northeast Regionals--held in Shipbottom and Harvey Cedars, NJ--when everyone else had gone home. Chris Furminger, Andy Matthias, Lester Priday, and Magilla pulled into a few super clean Joisey peaks with local Ric Anastasi from Ric's Aloha Classics in Beach Haven, NJ. Schaus also couldn't stop raving about the great local eatin' house Lex Mex Restaurant in Ship Bottom.

•Paul Fernandez from Westport, CT, reported sweet late-spring sessions as the Northeast realm began its thaw--eight weekends of waves in a row, if anyone's counting. Fernandez road-tripped to the nearby breaks of Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey when he could sneak away from his other obligations. And to Paul's delight most of the swells hit on weekends. It's a working man's dream.

•Out of York, ME, Zapstix Surf Shop's Linda Novak informed us that Seabrook Beach, ME's, Jay Clark and shopowner Michael "Zap" Paugh returned from a productive winter of searching for warm-water refuge in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Florida. The boys are now back hitting the New England breaks including Ogunquit Rivermouth and The Wall. There's no place like home--that is, when it cracks the above freezing mark.

Shane Smith -- Ready

•Mark Musgrave from Red Sky and Boogie in Toledo, OH, checked in to let everyone know the windsurfing and kiteboarding scene is in full glide on Lake Erie. Red Sky and Boogie is an indie record shop that also specializes in windsurfing, kiteboarding, bodyboarding, and Sector 9 Skateboards. It's located about 15 minutes from the waterfront. Stop in and gear up for all your Lake boarding needs.

•Congrats go to New Hampshire-based 2si Surfboards shaper Shane Smith and Joscelyne Drew on the birth of their son, Taber Stone Smith, who was born on May 25th.

•Imagine perfect eight-foot tubes just outside of New York City. OK, that's not too hard, but now imagine surfing those waves in boardshorts during the middle of winter--or better yet, every day of the year (if your wallet permits). Surfparks LLC and Aquatic Development Group are contemplating launching a warm-water surf park in Randall's Island, NY. Surfparks' new technology promises four to eight-foot surf with a computer-controlled reef delivering world-class form and 60 to 100-yard rides. Visit www.surfparks.com or e-mail info@surfparks.com for more.

•On Mother's Day in Kennebunk, ME, Fringe Marketing and SPC Skateparks launched New England's major action sports festival. The event benefited the Maine Breast Cancer Coalition and offered free skateboarding, BMX dirt jumps, and a killer trials course. Sponsors included: Wheels N Waves, Liquid Dreams, Aleeda Wetsuits, www.sickclips.com, and The Surfrider Northeast Chapter. Footage of the festival is slotted to appear on Fox Network's 54321 sports show in the future, so keep a tight reign on the clicker. ­Compiled by Mike Fish



MA BLAHS

 

Dylan Stone -- Mez
•Who says all politicians are heartless supergoobs? Why not throw a ballot for one of our own for a change? Longtime Monmouth, NJ, surfer Brian Unger is running for State Senate in New Jersey's 11th legislative district (coastal Monmouth County) on the Green Party ticket, and he wants your vote. Unger helped co-found Clean Ocean Action, a coalition that's become the most active and influential coastal environmental group in the state. He also once served on Surfrider Foundation's Board of Directors and founded the New Jersey unit of Surfer's Environmental Alliance (SEA)--so you know our interests are well represented. In fact, when referring to the continuation of state-federal sand and jetty deconstruction projects, Unger summed up his position with, "I'll chain myself to the jetty-wrecking crane or the sand-pumping barge before I let that happen to us." Well, he's definitely got our vote.

•Surf camps are popping up like Mike Tyson felony charges, and Emerald Isle rippers Dylan Stone and Erik Schub are jumping on the boarding school bandwagon to give local lessons. Fellow Action Surfboards teammate/ wahine wonder Sara Willis will lend a helping hand, as well. Stay tuned for more developments.

•Ocean City, MD's, Xon Zane, shaper of XYZ Surfboards (not to be confused with yesteryear's west coast clothing company) has a new showroom located on 25th Street next to his sister Malia Ricks' famed restaurant Mad Hatters Cafe. Besides Xon's quality blades, the showroom will also carry his Peruvian-born wife Janet's sexy, hand-macraméd bikinis. Meeeeoow!

•In other Delmarva deets, Dan Herlihy, father and travel companion to Bethany Beach, DE, bodyboarder Colin Herlihy, is putting the finishing touches on a made-for-television documentary on the history of Hawaiian surfing Dan hopes to have aired by next summer. He also gave word that Colin's been tearing it up on a longboard lately, earning sponsorship from Jim "The Genius" Phillips, owner of the Encinitas, CA-based Jim Phillips Surf Designs.

•Whalebone Surf Shop teamrider Steve Graves and his lovely wife Christina brought a precious little boy, Ashby James Graves, into the world on May 23rd at 9:24 pm, making the Graves' other son, Tristan, an official big braddah. Congratulations to the entire Graves family.

•Surfrider's Jersey Shore Chapter celebrated a huge victory in June, when the Asbury Park City Council finally voted "yes" on a resolution to allow surfing in a designated northern portion of the city during the summer season's beach hours. Keep fighting the good fight, Surfrider!

•Announcing 58 Boards Surf Shop's 2003 Grom Team: Hunter and Fisher Heverly, Casey Goepel, Lucas Jolly, and Davey Morris. Also, congrats to the Emerald Isle, NC, shopowners Jon and Heather Blackwell on the birth of their son Cameron Mason. *West Chester, PA, eccentric-on- wheels Bam Margera's first-ever feature film, Haggard, is currently being distributed exclusively to skateboarding retailers through 411 Productions, the undisputed king of skate celluloid. Bam serves as Executive Producer, Director, Co-Writer, and Star of the much-anticipated project, and if it's anything like his hugely popular CKY series or his Jackass antics, be prepared for a hilariously sidesplitting experience.

Lucas Jolly -- Stone
•Other East Coast skateboarding investigation found Baltimore, MD's, Bucky Lasek leading Team U.S.A. to the gold at the X Games Global Championships after grabbing first in the Skateboard Vert Competition.

•Gale Force Glass Surfboards' Rascoe Hunt dropped ESM a line letting us know that Regis Jupinko was up in Kill Devil Hills, NC, doing early-summer work at the factory. Also, Nik Billington is glassing at GFG again after returning from his eight-month Indonesian excursion.

•In other Dare County boardbuilding blahs, everyone visiting the Banks this fall should make it a point to check out ace tubesmith and longtime Hawaiian Island Creations craftsman Lynn Shell's Outer Banks Boarding Company, located at the old Bert's Surf Shop Nags Head location.

•Frank Sarno is trying to acquire donations in the form of cash, gift certificates, and products for the Absecon Island Surfing Championships, the only contest held at Ventnor City's Ventnor Pier. The comp is scheduled for sometime around the middle of August. Entry fees are $15, all of which will go to the Ventnor City Recreation Department. By donating to the comp, your company's name will be listed as a sponsor on contestant's T-shirts. Call Frank at 609-822-3384, or e-mail him at Indiesurfboards@hotmail.com for more info.

•Pleasure Island, NC, longboard phenom Tony Silvagni just earned a place with JAM Longboards. Check out www.jamlongboarding.com for a full interview with Tony.

Seth Stafford and Charlene Seymour -- Welsh

•Jersey-based SRH Clothing rep Jack Murphy wishes to give a shout-out to Jack Myers at Dragon for hooking him, along with the band he manages, Last Laugh, up with quality eyewear.

•Transworld Surf Photographer Seth Stafford spent ten days in June with New Jersey chargers Ryan Kimmel and Sam Hammer in Puerto Escondido, claiming conditions were "quite large." Frankly, these accomplished hellmen calling anything "quite large" scares the skidmarks out of us.

•Aussie Island teamrider Tanner Perryman, a talented five-year-old (yeah, that's right... five, and he already has two years experience) holding it down for all the 'Ville's pre-preteens, recently got pierced in the temple with his board, which sported a Nose Guard at the time of the injury. Brave Tanner is recovering nicely with a rather ghastly hole in his head, but everyone should take note that nose protectors like Nose Guard's Diamond Tip aren't gimmicks. They could save your life.•After a longtime Oregon/ Northern California sabbatical, Jersey surfer Tim Pauley tossed hi s environmentally safe bag of granola right out his car window into the clean Northwestern wilderness and is now back on the dirty East Coast where he belongs, catching heaps of filthy sessions at Ocean City's 3rd Street Jetty.

•Hatteras Island Boardsports is now a family operation with Drew Scalia joining brother Kevin Scalia after buying out a former partner. HIB teamers Tracy Derbin and Mark Newton officially initiated Drew into the clan with a ceremonial head-shaving. Meanwhile, Newton picked up sponsorship from Sol Life Surfboards, Bully's, and Red X Fin Systems. Additional props to Mark for successfully defending his ESA Regionals Masters title at Dewey Beach, DE, while placing second in the Open division.

•Virginia Beach, VA, contest rat Raven Lundy just took over the team manager position for Coastal Edge Surf Shop. To contact Raven for more info on coastal Edge, send him an e-mail at raven_lundy@hotmail.com.

Bill Frierson -- MoDaddy

•In other VB news, Susan M. Fincke, the Director of Development at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia Surf Exhibition reported their "Big Wednesday" opening was a huge success. Susan wanted to thank Hotline Surfboards' Gurney Collins for loaning the CAC vintage surfboards for decorations, as well as shaper Bill Frierson and his band for playing the VIP opening.

•Ocean City, MD, pro-turned-Cali contest crusher Max Hoshino now rides for Redsand.

•Here's a few Gravis blahs for you to chew on, courtesy of Buck Rowlee: Atlantic Beach, NC's, Kelly Nicely has just been added to the Gravis squad. The Water Co. teamer/ ESA-CNC vet proved her worth by smoking the competition at the recent Quiksilver/ Hotline Lord of the Jetty contest at Virginia Beach, VA's, First Street Jetty. Turn to page 108 for a full report on that event in our new Surfers' Comp department. Two other Gravis guys--Brevin Rock and Carl Wallin--have had their respective ups and downs lately, Brevin winning the Open division of the Lost Surf Jam contest in Atlantic Beach, NC, earning him a wildcard into this summer's Lost Pro Junior in Huntington Beach, CA. Meanwhile, Wallin injured two of his vertebrate while surfing a juicy Memorial Day swell. Finally, Nags Head-based rider Jason Forrest spent this past winter in Samoa as a boat driver for the Salani Surf Resort, even scoring a little airtime on MTV's Surf Girls during their South Pacific stint. He's now back in Dare County dividing his time between pulling shifts at Lynn Shell's Outer Banks Boarding Company, getting his Foundation Surf School back in action, and seshing down at the newly opened YMCA Skate Park.

•And last on our list, Perennial 'Squan standout Bob Duerr sent word that the official date for the 11th Annual Manasquan Classic Longboard Contest has been set for Sunday, September 11th, with an added new twist this year--the Clown division--a single heat where winners are determined by the most laughs received. "What? Do I amuse youse?" ­Compiled by Matt Pruett

SE BLAHS

Patrick Conner -- Dugan
•The recently launched SurfMiami website, www.surfmiami.com, reported a hefty response, pulling almost 1000 hits every day it's flat, and 3000 frothing surfheads when there's any hint of a ripple. It's the only live surfcam on South Beach and four new sections will be added to the site soon--so keep a SurfMiami bookmark handy, and call 305-205-9119 for info on the site's ad opportunities.

•Indialantic, FL, longboard wizard Mike Detemple recently released his own line of signature fins through Island Fin Design, based out of Haleiwa, HI, so keep an eye out for the lot in shops this summer, or call Island Fin Design's Steve Mock at 808-637-5347 for more information.

•The Surf Syndicate in Fort Lauderdale, FL, is not your ordinary surf shop. With couches, TVs, other groovy attractions, and a super helpful staff--this new shop's obviously doing its own thing. And of course, they have heaps of fine boards and surf accessories, too. What are you waiting for? Pop in for a lounge or give them a buzz at 954-489-1335.

•Satellite, FL, native Jen Thompson from St. Augustine, FL's, Pit Surf Shop checked in to let us know staple teamrider from Flagler Beach, Eric Worley, has really been blowing up. Eric recently scored a full-page DSO Sunglasses ad, and is currently on an ESA contest rampage.

•Cocoa Beach, FL, homeowner/ longboarding junkie Seth Acosta took a trip to Ireland in May. While traversing the green countryside and swilling pints of Guiness, Seth scoped some of the lucky land's waves. In an e-mail regarding a quaint, Atlantic town called Lahinch, Acosta wrote: "I sat in a pub facing the ocean and watched the surfers through a large glass window--rum in hand--and with my buzz came the feeling that I never wanted a board so bad." Shortly after, it's rumored that Acosta danced a jig, slammed a carbomb shot, and headed out to fruitlessly comb the streets for local surf shops that rent custom noseriders. They might call that the (bad) luck of the Irish.

Mike DeTemple -- Dugan
•Texas waveriders/ filmmakers Layne Losee, James Walters, and Eric Coan released their new Texas surf film, The Exposure, in Houston this May. The flick is getting rave reviews from locals, and the crew plans to hit the road soon with screenings scheduled throughout the Lone Star State, and the East and West Coasts.

•Drew Baggett, shaper for St. Augustine's Inspired Surfboards stopped in to the ESM office in mid-June. And what would a visit be without the ritual drop-in on the editorial monkeys for a little blah-job? Drew sends heavy props to teamriders Jeremy Creter, Jayson Earl, Jimmy Wilson, John Comee, Luke Bryant, Jimmy "Smokey" Thomas, Jeff Logan, and the rest of the Inspired boyz. Baggett also wanted to make sure everyone knows Inspired now stocks the racks at Juno Surf Shop in Juno, FL. The fine sticks are also available at St. Auggie's Surf Station and Sunrise Surf Shop in Jax Beach, FL.

•Will Russ, Texas-based surf photographer, is relocating to the Golden State to study at the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA. But before he does, Russ is planning a pilgrimage to the heavy beachbreak grinders of mainland Mexico.

•Casino Pier, NJ, tattooed hellraisers Tom Cassidy and Aaron Defranza relocated to Melbourne Beach, FL's, sleepy homestay. The two Garden State chargers moved in with already established Jersey transplant Jon Shearer and his two huge iguana lizards, Perez and Iggy. And no, we don't know what this circumstance is going to do for property values.

•Also in Mel Beach deets, April Grover recently scored fourth-place in the 7th Annual Rip Curl Wahine Classic held at Kuhio Beach, HI. Kudos to April who held her own amongst a predominately Hawaiian cast.

•Aurasurf.com continues to cement its role as the authoritative online source for Gulf Coast surfing. The site features daily surf reports, regularly updated forecasts, travel articles written by Florida surfers, and info about local breaks. For more on Aurasurf e-mail info@aurasurf.com or call 727-455-4323.

•The Third Annual Folly Beach Wahine Surf Classic went down in Folly Beach, SC, on May 17th and 18th at The Washout. Surf divas of all ages diverged on the beach for the FBWSC events, which included surfing clinics, novice and advanced competition, and a range of enticing prizes. Check out http://home.earthlink.net/~follybeachwahinesurf for more on the root down.

Tony Martin -- Mrs. Martin

•Vero Beach, FL's, Eric "ET" Taylor--the top junior pro hoss on the U.S. mainland--took second-place in the highly competitive Billabong Junior Pro in Oahu, HI. ET crashed at Hawaiian buddy/ 2001 event winner Sean Moody's pad while on The Rock. And although Taylor was only seeded eighth going into the event, his competitive Junior Pro record is now two wins, two seconds, and one ninth in the five Billabong Junior Pro Series comps he has entered since 2000.

•In between strip searches, flight delays, and jetlag, take a look around Palm Beach International Airport to find one very pleasant surprise: it's ESM Photographer Tony Martin's fine lens magic. Dawn Patrol, a classic photo celebrating an early morning swell produced by Hurricane Dennis at the Juno Pier, is on display in the Main Concourse, while photos of shredding South Florida mini-grom Jensen Callaway are also on display in other PBIA terminals. Word also has it that Martin was subsequently barred from several terminals for repeatedly asking travelers to snap his picture while standing in front of Dawn Patrol.

•Jupiter, FL's, Jeremy Stanley is charging his way to results--from winning six straight heats up to the finals in the ESA Southeast Regionals to his seventh-place Open Men's slot in the NSSA Southeastern Conference to his first-place Open Men's title for Palm Beach County's ESA District. Stanley was also unbeaten in four years of competition at Jupiter High School. Out da back, y'all, looks like this bloke means business.

Eric Worley -- Big Mike

•Erin Adamson, supervisor at Free Ride Surf Shop in Gainesville, FL, reminded us that the shop hosts free surf movies on the first Tuesday of every month at restaurant/ bar Gator City (located on University Avenue right across from the University of Florida Stadium). This month, Drive Thru: Japan was premiered. Stop in the shop at 420 NW 13th Street or call 352-373-7873 to find out the dilly on next month's flick.

•For the second year in a row, wahine brainiac Leah Dawson of Orlando, FL, was named the NSSA's Scholar of the Year with a whopping 5.0 GPA. Congrats, and keep up all the hard work, Leah.

•Bettybelts recently signed a South Florida rep, Holly Moye. Holly is an employee of The Surf Syndicate in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and can be reached at 954-489-1335.

•Mudpuddlers Kayak of Tampa, FL, is now Mudpuddlers Kayak and Surf. Mudpuddlers now aims to supply the Tampa Bay area with all their surfing needs. Give 'em a ring at 813-243-5737.

•Tory Strange, owner of The Surf Station in St. Augustine reports that Al Merrick's two new board models, The Mongrel and MBM, are "sellin' like hot cakes." The Surf Station's sister store, The Girl Next Door, sees shoprider Lauren Hill traveling a lot, hopping contests and photo shoots--fresh off her Women's Longboard division win at the ESA Southeast Regionals. Also, Surf Station riders Patrick Conner and Jon Barclay continue to wow the crowds at the Pier and A-Street just about every day.

•ESM contributor Nate Nakadate and his wife Dawn welcomed their son (the Irish/ Cherokee womb surfer, as Nate refers to him), Cole Douglas Nakadate, into the world on May 9th at 9:19 pm. Between Nate's exceptional prowess--both on board and with a pen--and Dawn's dexterity as a professional ballet dancer, the kid has a great paddling start on the lineup. Many congrats to the Nakadate family. ­Compiled by Mike Fish

MFE BLAHS

Anne Beasley and Girls Gone Wild -- Wooten
•Whoever said our beloved ESM Girls are nothing more than cute faces and tight bods in bikinis obviously didn't see Rochelle Mitterwald, our May ESM Girl (Vol. 12, #88), dominate the Princess division at the SG Magazine 2nd Annual Queen of Surf, held June 7th at Pacific Beach Pier, in San Diego, CA. Rochelle, who just moved west from Cocoa Beach, FL, beat out a whole slew of seasoned Californian wahines, ages 16 and over, for first-place.

•Wooster Surfboards and Red Dog Surf Shop hosted the late-spring debut of Logan Dulien and Chad Towersey's long-awaited surf film, Snapt, which features some mind-altering, never-before-seen footage of the Hobgoods, Aaron Cormican, and Wooster MVP Kyle Garson. Be sure to peep Snapt, if you dare.

•Speaking of Cormican and Garson, the two just jumped on board with Vezix, a brand new bag company. Go to www.vezix.com to check out their killer sacks. And one final word on Kyle Garson, ESM sends all our heartfelt wishes for a quick recovery from the compound arm fracture he suffered in Costa Rica shortly after winning the late-April Lost Surf Jam in Melbourne Beach, FL. Kyle is expected back in action in time for the meat of the 2003 East Coast contest circuit. Get well soon, Beaker!

•Another get well shout-out goes to Indialantic, FL, aerial phenom Alek Parker, who nearly had his right wing clipped when chauffeur and close friend Justin Jones sideswiped a truck. Doctors initially feared amputation before settling on a surgical procedure that proved successful, but not before the injury ended Alek's chances at attaining a National title his last year competing as an NSSA amateur. Sometimes Proland can't wait for our best and brightest.

•Here's a shocker: Puerto Rican terror Wesley "Chicken Wing" Toth just got signed by Electric. Word is, he's buzzing from the news.

•Brevard County videographer John Lynch, creator of Librium, checked in from his South African sojourn to report a pumping swell in Cape Town forced his crew to break out seven-foot-plus guns on their very first day at Crayfish Factory. Dudeman, if you were surfing, who videoed?! Even one better, John's sister Jennifer Lynch started surfing this summer in Florida, standing up for her first time in mid-June. Now where were ya for that one, Johnny?

•Also riding his first wave this summer was Volcom East Coast Team and Promotions Manager Daniel Terry's 19-month son Graham, whom Daddy DT pushed shoreward over, over, and over again as the thrill quickly consumed the youngster.

Jenn and Tony Butler with Family -- Morgan
•Joe Mapp, owner of the new Nags Head Skates, checked in to let everyone know the shop opened on June 25th. Nags Head Skates is located right next to the newly erected YMCA Skate Park and is chock full of the best hardcore skateboard gear around. Mapp said that along with a range of quality merchandise, the shop rents pads which, sadly, the park does require.

•In other Tarheel haps, congrats to Anne Beasley on her June marriage to Chris Weber at the Outer Banks' Coquina Beach. Anne, who is the editor for the California-based Surf Life for Women, was met there enforce by a female posse of celebrants for a traveling "Girls Gone Wild" party that included Dusty Sawyer, Diana Tsonev, Shannon Sutton, and Patti Hook, not to mention Ashley Wooten and big sis Laurin, who is also ESM's west coast sales rep. Unfortunately, the couple found very little surf on their wedding day to wash away the prenuptial jitters. But with the prior nighttime activities, which included a Tortugas'/ Outer Banks Brew Pub/ Chili Peppers pub crawl, sleeping in before the big ceremony was probably a good thing. The new Mr. and Mrs. Weber did finally get to enjoy some fun, glassy Figure Eight Island surf a few days later during a second reception at Chris and Anne's old Wrightsville stomping grounds. And you can't order that from your bridal registry!

•Also getting hit with the marriage stick was Daytona Beach, FL, pro-turned-Playa Grande Inn owner John Logan, who became engaged to longtime girlfriend Staycie Payne. The two will tie the knot next August.

•California expat CT Taylor is back in Florida offering surf lessons priced at $40 per hour for an individual session, and $35 for more than three students. Coaching and intermediate instruction are also available. Call 321-264-2589 or 619-847-4388 for reservations and details.

•Check out some top-shelf pics on ESM Contributing Coolifornian Photographer John Keppler's image-loaded website, www.kepplerphoto.com. Banner ad space is still available, and Kepp-dog can add you fast, and cheap. *Jim Cook from Kelley Boys Surf Shop, located on Main Street in Saville, NY, sent word that the store is in its second year and doing well despite the frequent rains plaguing the high season. Give www.expressionsessions.net a click for more Kelley Boys haps.

•Melbourne, FL, longboarder John Rodgers recently added Go Surf Sportswear, Dirty Dog Australia sunglasses, Wet Dreams Australia accessories, and Turbo Tunnel Fins to his sponsor log.

Alek Parker -- Cresitello
•The well-respected North Shore Lifeguard Association of Oahu, HI, has endorsed the FloatSuit after a thorough test and review of FloatSuit International's product line. *Wrightsville Beach rippers Tony Butler and Jenn Dillulo finally made it official on June 7th, getting hitched in a beautiful beach ceremony. Attendees included ESM Senior Photographer DJ Struntz, Rip Curl Mid-Atlantic Sales Rep Brad Williams, Eastern Skate Supply Sales Rep John Morgan, Best Man to the Groom Ron "Matador" Butler, Eastern Edge Surf Shop Owner Mike Hearne, Mike Thornton, Allen McCauley, Bart Brinson, Brad Lanto, Scott Wilson, Timmy Casey, and others. ESM wishes Tony and Jenn a long and happy life together.

•If you haven't caught WCT sensation Damien Hobgood on the WB Network's much-talked about reality show Boarding House: North Shore, you can see Mr. Congeniality himself smile and mumble his way through a six-part series airing Wednesdays at 8 pm. If that isn't enough for you, at least tune in to watch Sunny Garcia dish out poun' beef. It's just so funny when it happens to someone else, y'know?

•Rob Machado and Claire Bevilacqua have just been added to the Nixon surf team after unanimous team votes.

•Have a look at Waterboyz Surf and Skate Shop's constantly updated inventory online at www.waterboyz.com.

•New Byrna videographer Pat Eichstaedt scored some nice waves during his May honeymoon on the North Shore. Pat's been working with close friend Shane Beschen for the past six years, helping with Beschen's new clothing company Monument. They plan on releasing a new video, as well--Push to Turn--due out around the time of the September Surf Expo. Pat also wanted to let everyone know his brother, Shannon "Hopper" Eichstaedt is recovering nicely from the debilitating ankle injury he suffered earlier this year.

ESM Girl Rochelle shows her winning form -- Cresitello
•What you really need to do is log on to master photographer Aaron Chang's website, www.aaronchang.com, and dig his new poster series, featuring new images from Indonesia and Isla Natividad, among others. Call 888-350-6188 toll-free to order.

•Dingleberries Surfboard Repair is now available worldwide after signing an exclusive U.S. deal with Billygoat Distribution, the leading surf distribution company, to handle their U.S. and Hawaii sales. Now the California corporation, DB Surf, Inc., can focus more on marketing, promotion, and development. Dangle www.dingleberriessurf.com for more poops.

•This just in: Cocoa Beach, FL, ripper Mason Sapp recently found a place with ...Lost.

•Adam Shandler wants to get the word out about NFG Stuff, a Short Hills, NJ-based hair product company specifically targeting young guys. NFG Stuff already has shampoo and gel on the market and are currently in the process of creating new products. Go to www.nfgstuff.com for more.

•Damn, we be lookin' all sharp up in here now! The entire Eastern Surf staff wants to thank Freestyle USA--the longtime innovator in the surf watch biz--marketing maven Chad LaBass for hooking us up with kicking, brand-new timepieces, which will come in handy during lunchtime sessions. Guess that old "Shit boss, my watch must be running slow" line ain't gonna work anymore. ­Compiled by Matt Pruett

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