NE BLAHS

Travis Beckmann -- Mez

•In case you haven't seen it yet, the Surfrider Foundation released its 2003 State of the Beach report. As usual, it's full of important Northeastern statistics, pictures, and environmental tips. Log on to www.surfrider.org to see how healthy your beach is.

•In more Surfrider news, the first Surfrider Foundation Surf Team Challenge recently hit Nantasket Beach in Nantasket, MA. Sanctioned by the ESA, more than 150 Surfrider members ripped through a two to four-foot swell. Osiris Torres, Peter Pan, and Roger Beal all put on choice performances, while the Coast Guard team took the contest's prestigious first-place title. Participants also enjoyed a cookout and a raffle courtesy of the Surfrider Massachusetts Chapter. For more deets on the comp, e-mail Massachusetts@surfrider.org.

•The first-ever Duke Kahanamoku Surf Tournament kicked off Saturday, October 4th at Beach 90th Street, Rockaway Beach, NY, lasting from 8:00 am until dusk. The contest, sponsored in part by Rockaway's Tsunami Surf and Dive Shop, was dedicated to all the heroes who lost their lives in the 9-11 terrorist attacks--specifically Rockaway firefighters John Moran, Walter Hynes, Steven Belson, Richie Allen, Steven Russell, and Eugene Whelan. All proceeds went to the New Broad Channel Volunteer Firehouse and the NYPD 100th Precinct Explorer Program.

•On September 19th, Rye Airfield Skatepark in Rye, NH, hosted their premiere Rye Airfield Silent Auction. More than 115 items--with retail values ranging from $10 to over $600--were tendered during the eight-hour-long event. Participants also had time, in between tenacious bidding, to scarf a delicious meal from Cheffy's Meal Market, and, of course, ride one of New England's top skateboard parks. Rye Airfield sends big thanks out to the generous crowd and hardworking volunteers who allowed over $2000 to be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. For more information or to make a donation to the foundation, call 781-431-0700. Also, the United Skateboarding Association and Zoo York brought two contests to the Rye Airfield on October 18th-19th--one being a 13-and-under Grom event, and the other the highly competitive Beast of the East. Competitors ramped up their best moves to qualify for the championships in their respective events, and also had a chance to win prizes from sponsors Birdhouse, Ecko, ES, Chocolate, Flip, Girl, and Alien Workshop. Visit www.unitedskate.com for more.

Billy "Hutch" States -- Dugan

•Long Island staples Fritz Seidenberg and Billy "Hutch" States reported scoring epic, Hawaiian-style waves during an East End odyssey. The notorious duo even managed to get their butts up at 3:30 am--after a long night of unrestrained partying--to be the first ones out at their favorite spot. Rumor has it Hutch even invented a new move that session: the off-the-top upchuck. Actually, we think we've seen that one before.

•The ESA Northeast Surfing Championships hit Narragansett, RI, on Saturday, October 18th, 2003. Along with rated competition in Shortboard, Longboard, and Bodyboard divisions, this year's event featured the first intercollegiate contest held in over 20 years. Peruvian Surf Designs sponsored the function. E-mail bicsurf@hotmail.com for additional info.

•Montauk, NY, Spy Optics rider Travis Beckmann returned to Hawaii this fall... but not before dishing out several slam dunks on the local contest scene. Travis became a three-time State Champ at this year's New York States, taking both the Junior Men's and Open Shortboard divisions. Beckmann also made NSSA history by winning Northeast Conference titles in three divisions: Open Juniors, Explorer Juniors, and Open Men's. Not a bad vote of confidence for the upcoming North Shore combat, Trav.

•Speaking of Spy, December 28th is the deadline for the Spy Holiday Window Design Contest. Submissions can be emailed to spywindows@spyoptic.com, or see a Spy rep for details.

•Rhode Island surf enthusiasts packed the October 25th opening of Surf and Turf, an art exhibition at the Arnold Art Gallery in Newport. Artists Jeremy Miranda and Tom Deininger contributed over 50 local seascapes, landscapes, and waveriding oil paintings to the exhibit. Call Arnold Art at 401-847-2273 for more info.

"Say Cheese." Grant Myrdal (Right) -- Von Wahlde

•Nor'Easter Surf Shop in Scituate, MA, spread the word for a screening of Surfer Magazine Staff Photographer and longtime ESM contributor Kevin Welsh's latest SurfNRG movie, Synergy, on October 16th at the Morada Cafe in Scituate Harbor. Along with tasty tacos, the hearty crowd of Massholes gobbled up footage of the 2003 Red Bull Ice Break, tow-ins at Jaws, tow-ats at Sebastian, and grom mayhem in the Caribbean. If you have yet to pick up your copy, do so now, and while you're at it, stuff the stocking of a friend for Christmas, and spread some holiday surfing cheer. For more on Synergy, turn to page 36 for this issue's installment of ESM's Cinematheque.

•Montauk, NY's, Nick Joeckel's returned to school in California after spending his summer at home in Strong Island working for Billabong, where he labored as part of their Sales and Marketing team. He even managed to spend a week on the Bong Bus with pros Phillip Watters, Sam Hammer, and Benji Weatherly. Back in Cali, Nick's logging in long hours studying, surfing a bunch of NSSA contests, and filming the local wave action on a weekly basis. Nick reported, with extreme pride, finding a bundle of ESMs at a recent NSSA comp... Yup, we're showing 'em all the Right way--one stack at a time.

•St. John the Baptist's DHS Surf Club assistant moderator/ photographer Barb Baker reported a productive fall season for the club, which proudly boasts over 100 high school students who make Gilgo Beach their second classroom. Directed by ESM's longtime friend Ed "Zippy" Arikian, St. John the Baptist is the only school in Suffolk County to sponsor a surf club. They also recently welcomed Long Island native/ Indialantic, FL, pro Mike DeTemple, who presented a slide show highlighting his recent trip to Costa Rica with Robert and Sam August, Robert "Wingnut" Weaver, Alex Knost, and ESM's very own 50-and-still-whipping Tom Dugan. While in Babylon, Mike found time to connect with some old friends, Chris Koerner and James Hilbert. Chris, who recently signed on as a Northeastern rep and rider for Hanley Surfboards, is now zipping around on his new 9'0" Hanley model called "The Octapussy." And speaking of Hanley, Arikian and Baker spent a week at Jim Hanley's crib in San Diego, CA, touring and photographing every break from Malibu to Trestles. Although the two Right Coasters avoided confrontation at Palos Verdes, they brought some to the Surfing Magazine headquarters--where they harassed and beat the free stuff out of Editor-in-Chief Evan Slater, Senior Editor Matt Walker, and Photo Editor Larry "Flame" Moore.

Zippy Showing St. John The Baptist's DHS Surf Club Proper Surf Fashion -- Baker
•Rhode Islanders were stoked with a free slide show from John Rizzilo (thanks to Hurricanes Fabian and Isabel) titled "A Clean Water and Wave Celebration" on October 18th at The Mosby Center, located at the University of Rhode Island Campus in Narragansett. The shindig--which highlighted some of the most stunning fall surf and scenery of The Ocean State--also offered a traditional cookout spread, a potluck dessert buffet, and acoustic entertainment by ESM Contributing Photographer Ted Sorlien and Harold Ambler.

•New England surfers, check out Cutback.com--a revamped grassroots website focusing on the Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island communities. Photos, articles, news items, online surf clinics, travel guides, and the popular... um, Miss Cutback are all part of the package.

•ESM Senior Photographer Grant Myrdal claimed the '03 Hurricane Season was one of the best he's ever seen on the East Coast. With heaving Long Island, crunching New Jersey, and a solid dose of semisecret Rhode Island, Myrdal's portfolio is brimming with evidence. Stay tuned to his website, www.snorus.com, and to the pages of ESM for snapshots of Grant's Northeastern romps. ­Compiled by Mike Fish



MA BLAHS

Jason Griffith Grunting One -- Wilson
•And what would Hurricane Season be without at least one gnarly injury tale (even if it did occur on the North Shore)? Longtime Outer Banks charger/ Oahu resident Brian Zongolowicz is looking a little more like his Hawaiian hero Bu La'ia, since he took a bite out of his rail during a mid-October session at Rockpile, fracturing his jaw and knocking two of his teeth out in the process. Ouch, BZ! Betta you go wit da kine poi lunch fo a few weeks, haoli.

•While BZ received such an instant shock to the dome, OB main man Noah Snyder's condition took a little longer to set in--like 19 years. It seems all the winters Snides spent ducking 40-degree closeouts on the Banks caught up with him in the form of diffuse exostosis, more commonly known as "surfer's ear." According to Noah, he has 90-percent closure in both ears, though his hearing currently remains unaffected. He will, however, be forced to undergo surgery to alleviate the disorder. The good news, however, is that by the time you read this, his documentary, Noah's Arc, directed by Foundnation visionary Nic McLean, should be complete and on the shelves. We're not sure whether or not Noah will get any input on the soundtrack, though.

•"Faaarrrkkk! My flops are covered in shi... Don't fret, stinky--Paxton's Sandal Saver, based out of Richmond, VA, is the world's first 100-percent all natural cleaner for leather and rubber leisure flip-flops and sandals. Just spray it on and wipe off 10 seconds later for the sweetest shine this side of a $20 Tootsies zipper polish. Call owner Matt Paxton toll-free at 866-PAXTONS or go to www.paxtoniscool.com for more.

•Good Griffith, Charlie Brown! VB ripdog-turned-France expatriate Jason Griffith earned a highly commendable fourth-place at the Nixon Surf Challenge presented by Etnies, held September 12th-14th along the Basque beachfront of San Sebastian, Spain. Even bigger news was that Grif topped Portuguese prodigy Tiago Pires in their semifinal bout--a massive scalp for the Virginian.

Nic McLean -- McCarthy
•In other news from the Old Dominion, Coastal Edge Surf Shop now has six stores standing, with number seven in the works, according to Coastal Edge surf jefe Raven Lundy. Their team is currently composed strictly of Virginia Beach, VA, locals--Raven, Adrian Colaprete, Shawn McGovern, Mike Agnew, Brice Humphreys, Macon Humphreys, Ricky Pallouck, and Travis Newstep. Look for those teamers and all the CESS up-and-comers ripping at a beachbreak near you.

•Jensen, FL, boardbuilder Brian Slater is now turning out his Brian Slater Surfboards shapes in the Wilmington, NC, area. Glass Tech is doing his finishing work. Stay tuned to ESM for more on where to find his classic sticks.

•While her peers were most likely scouring college campuses looking for some goofy sorority to join, Philadelphia, PA's, Erin Ann Murphy did one better by starting her own surf wax company at 18 years old, appropriately named Murph's Surf Wax Company, which she incorporated on October 10th. To get the lowdown on the sticky business, call 610-304-8946 during daytime hours.

•And speaking of Philly, after cosponsoring two widely attended screenings of Dana Brown's Step Into Liquid this summer, the Philadelphia Area Surfing Association (PASA), founded by Michael Kmiec in 2000, is asking the industry to consider the PASA when scheduling future events like film and video premieres, product launches, and personal appearances. "Just because we're an hour away from the ocean is no reason to overlook us," added Kmiec, speaking on behalf of all surfers who call the metro area home. And just to show they mean business, the PASA even organized a surf contest/ potluck dinner/ bonfire with the New Jersey Surf Club (NJSC) on October 11th at Coral and Pearl Streets in Beach Haven, NJ. Said NJSC President Barry Schwartz, "The Delaware River may divide us, but it's the love of surfing that unites us." Visit www.njsc.org or www.pa-sa.org for more happenings with those organizations.

•Aaron Chang Clothing + Wrightsville Beach, NC = Chris Curry, the company's newest teamrider.

Keith Noonan Breaking the Looking Glass -- Hallgreen
•In Delaware deets, Split rider Aaron Powell reports his beloved Indian River Inlet was cranking like a truck driver on a midnight run all fall long thanks to the plentiful tropical activity. Powell adds that he's contemplating a Mainland Mexico trip this year instead of his annual North Shore excursion.

•Congrats to former Manasquan local/ current artist and Big House Design webmaster Ben Miller and his wife Emily on the September 29th birth of their son, Matthew Benjamin. Emily underwent labor the all natural way--no drugs--so expect to see a little extra spring in Matty Ben's footwork once he decides to hit the water.

•The Bettybelts team recently returned from a team tour down the California coast on the new Betty Bus, bringing Tarheel grommette Kayleigh Wilson along for the ride. The crew visited friends and shops, attended the Board Culture Expo in Ventura, signed autographs, and even did a photo shoot with famed lensman David Pu'u on the PCH.

•After nearly a year in Southern California, Volcom rider Martin "Faffy" Fucci has returned to the Outer Banks a little hairier, a little pudgier, and... 21-years-old? To keep the recently inaugurated barfly out of OB whiskey dens like Chili Peppers and Quagmires and in the water at his beloved Avalon Pier instead, Martin's elder bros introduced him to his newest passion--lawn darts, the crew's only savior during the tenuous two-day-long curfew that was enforced by authorities after Isabel came to town. See page 56 for a prettier side to her temper.

•Feeling a little... woozy, confused, and parched this morning? Well, peel off that shot glass stuck to your lower lip, grab an aspirin and some coffee, and log on to www.wakeupcallsurfreport.com to get you back on track and in the surf. Designed by Rick Huegi, site operatives actually call you at dawn with a detailed surf report. Just log on, pick your desired plan, and follow the instructions. The site currently serves three Right Coast communities: Long Beach Island, NJ; Belmar, NJ; and Satellite Beach, FL, and Huegi is on the prowl for interested individuals to help cover other beaches. E-mail employment@wakeupcallsurfreport.com for more information.

•No way, dude, Dare County, NC, surfer Dawn Grey is the new East Coast sub rep for Jedidiah Boardriding Company under Steve Miller. You can contact Dawn for inquiries at 252-256-1123 or via e-mail reddawn1982@yahoo.com.

Aaron Powell Powering Up -- Cresitello
•It's official: Team Los Toros Naranajas, consisting of super smooth Mid-Atlantic pro Jesse Hines and young Californian Alex Gray, stomped a gimp-kneed Ian Parnell and Adam Wickwire of Team Los Coyotes Gris, 11 to 4, to win the Honda Element Road Trip Chasing Hurricanes Baja Road Rally, taking home a whopping $5000. Go to www.elementroadtrip.com/ baja for the full story compete with photo galleries and video.

•Did somebody say video? That's right, Long Branch, NJ, slotmaster Keith Noonan checked in to let everyone know the November 6th New York City premiere of the new Stedfast Films full-length surf video Through The Looking Glass was a raging success. Thanks to all who came out. Be sure to look for the project, on sale in December, in local shops and check back here in the pages of Eastern Surf for a review of Through The Looking Glass. The DVD also contains a full-color 48-page booklet featuring action and lifestyle stills courtesy of Seth Stafford and Joe Coffey. Go to www.stedfastfilms.com for a trailer. On a more personal note, congratulations to Keith and his wife Tiffany, who on September 13th gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Lily Faith Noonan.

•Jam Custom Long (skate)boards recently signed duffer wizard Andrew Silvagni to their team. He joins such long (surf)board wizards as his brother Tony Silvagni and San Clemente, CA's, Steve Newton. You can check out Jam boards at Malibu's and Chauncey's Surf Shops in Ocean City, MD.

•And finally, NYC-based photographer/ filmmaker and Seaside, NJ, local Danny Clinch's latest project, 270 Miles From Graceland: Bonnaroo 2003, is in stores now. The documentary concert film features performances by Ben Harper, The Dead, Jack Johnson, The Roots, and The Flaming Lips, among others. ESM's own Assignment Writer Tim Donnelly even served as Stage Producer, working with The Dead, Robert Randolph, The Roots, and Nickel Creek. Boom. ­Compiled by Matt Pruett

SE BLAHS

Cutter "The Fonz" (L) and Melhado "Spicoli"
•Calling all ESA-Northern South Carolina peeps, whoever signs up the most new members by December 1st will score a one-of-a-kind Christmas present: a custom stick from Perfection Surfboards and Village Surf Shop. And remember, the more members you pull in before December 31st, the more slots you'll get at future contests like the ESA Regionals and the Easterns. What are you waiting for? Hit the streets, troops. And visit www.nscsurfing.com for more data.

•Miami, FL's, Kulcha Shok Muzik, Inc. let us know that their second in a series of monthly parties went off at The Bayside Hut on November 20th, and featured live performances by Jamaica-born reggae sensation Natyy Remo, as well as the notorious Lance-O, who spun the tables. The root-down also screened the hot Roxy video 7 Girls, and hosted plenty of other activities and giveaways. Kulcha Shok Muzik is currently seeking more bands and filmmakers interested in sharing their work at future parties. Call 305-534-6110, or log on to www.kulchashok.com for more information.

•Wax Research, Inc. and Sticky Bumps were amped to announce the following ripping Eastside additions to their team roster: Eric Taylor, Eric Geiselman, Danny Melhado, and Karina Petroni.

•Puerto Rico's Ricardo Carbia started a surf instruction clinic on the island called Caribbean Surf School that offers lessons to people of all ages in the San Juan area. CSS also guides surfing tours and rents boards. Call Ricardo at 787-637-8363, or shoot him an e-mail at rcarbia@hotmail.com to book today.

•Matt Katsolis checked in from Flagler Beach, FL's, Sharkinetics--the online wizards behind the ESA's web presence, www.surfesa.org. Taking a break from E-world, Katsolis snuck away from his desk to check out Flagler Pier during one of its autumn glory days. Matt filmed Frieda Zamba, Pete Jagocki, Jimmy Blumenfeld, and Eric Worley attacking ireful, 10-foot sets that smashed into the pier. Keep an eye out for footage of that session in the near future. The Sharkinetics crew also launched www.friedazamba.com, designed for four-time ASP Women's World Champion Frieda Zamba-Shaw and her new line of women's surfboards shaped by her husband Flea, on top of a new video portfolio on their own site, www.sharkinetics.com, highlighting Flagler's most dynamic pro, WRV/ MCD teamrider Will Tant.

Scott Posner Threading the Needle -- Dugan
•Nine-year-old Cocoa Beacher Forrest Johnson is now riding for Rusty. And the kid's getting all the necessary experience, as he's already logged water time in California, Hawaii, and Central America with his father, Quiet Flight shaper Joe Johnson.

•Bobby Brewer with PMG Sports let us know South Florida pro Scott Posner is launching a new surf school, backed by his sponsors Island Water Sports and Spy, and managed by PMG. E-mail bobby@pmgsports.com for more info.

•Congrats to our friends at www.surfmiami.com, as the site grabbed a monumental 96,000 hits this September. More than 16 news stations from Portland, OR, to New Orleans, LA, to Austin, TX, to Chicago, IL, picked up the South Beach cam for instant weather updates.

•Folly Beach, SC, design guru David Carson was all over the surf industry map during the last few months. Let's follow some of his tracks: this summer he worked on the poster/ brochure for the ESA South Carolina State Championships; finished his own opus titled Trek, in stores now; and is in the midst of crafting the look for an upcoming book called Soul Surfing with Albie Falzon and Derek Hynd, as well as sculpting Aaron Chang's first book of photography. Whew... on top of that, if you can believe it, he's seeking more East Coast accounts. Log on to www.davidcarsondesign.com for details and contact info.

•Melbourne Beach lifer Ian Van Dam, aka Horn, checked in from Santa Cruz, CA, a little disgruntled that he was missing meaty--and more importantly, warm--surf back home from Fabian and Isabel. Ian cheered up soon thereafter, though, after he lucked into empty, smoking surf along California's elusive Lost Coast.

•The John Kalagian Memorial Team Challenge came to Southern South Carolina September 6th-7th. Top finishers included the following teams: Surf Goddesses, Barrier Island Dominators, Liquid Parrot, and Barrier Island Surf Shop. Organizers send thanks out to all the teams, participants, volunteers, and especially Quiksilver, who donated heaps of killer prizes.

"This Won't Hurt a Bit." Doc Michael Posner and Patient Will Tant in the O.R. -- Mez
•Pure Atlantic Surf Shop owner Colin Tary is stoked with the hefty new shipment of Channel Island Surfboards--making Pure Atlantic the only place in Daytona Beach, FL, to score one of Al Merrick's popular sticks.

•Longtime Merritt Island, FL, resident-turned-California-based Senior Church Pastor Richard Yeomans checked in from the Church on the Rock in San Juan Capistrano to tell us they're planning a Christian Surf Ministry Conference at Puerto Escondido, Mexico, from April 26th to May 3rd, 2004. Call Richard at 949-493-0748 for more on the trip. Along with the spiritual enrichment, you might even catch Puerto like Richard's superstar son Nate Yeomans recently did.

•Check out new updates to www.thirdcoastsurf.com. With in-depth info on such spots as Bob Hall Pier, Matagorda, and Port Aransas--you'll find yourself scouring the Third Coast soon enough. And if you're already there, check out the site's solid surf forecasting, travel, and links pages.

•Kudos go out to the ESA-Georgia District for their hard work aiding North Carolina coastal communities devastated by Hurricane Isabel's extensive damage. Led by ESA-Georgia District Directors, Jeff and Tara Mosely, the chapter has already raised more than $1500, and numbers are rising by the day.

•In addition to his popular surf clinics, Melbourne Beach, FL's, George "Surfguy" Jones is now organizing surf movies in Ryckman Park, on the river end of Ocean Avenue. His first ho-down went off October 11th, where approximately 100 locals turned out to watch Bill Ballard's The Modus Mix and Anthony Pasarelli's Pure Surf. The next movie date is scheduled for December 13th--with films to be announced--so keep an eye open for flyers around town.

•Big South Carolina congrats go out to Rob and Eileen Schneider on the birth of baby Elizabeth.

•North Florida band Reform sends big thanks out to Louis and all the guys at Spy Optics for their support and encouragement over the years. And with all that motivating TLC, expect a new album from Reform to be released soon.

Shea and Matty Lopez -- Mez
•Good luck to Melbourne Beach, FL's, Brandon Campbell, who goes off to boot camp in January at Cape May, NJ, for the United States Coast Guard. Our Right Coast waters feel safer already.

•Geoffrey Schmidt checked in to remind us that Florida Surf Lessons offers comprehensive lessons and clinics throughout South and Central Florida for all ages and abilities. Visit www.floridasurflessons.com for all the details.

•Howie Jakobi proudly announced that Ft. Lauderdale, FL's, The Surf Syndicate surf team is now officially up and riding with teamers Kenny Keating, Greg Maduras, and Joe Crimo fronting the show. And speaking of "Crazy Joe C-rrrimo Dontchaknow," look for his new air flick to be hitting stores soon. Click on www.thesurfsyndicate.com for more.

•In an amazing morning of mayhem, carnage, dirty barrels, and maddening crowds during Hurricane Isabel, the damages at Reef Road for the ESM crew totaled the following: Jason Apparicio breaking his ankle after getting too deep in a low tide dredger; Baron Knowlton finning his right ankle and receiving a multitude of stitches; and Will Tant getting pitched during a suicidal floater attempt, suffering a deep fin gash on the arch of his foot in the process--and all this was before noon! And that's leaving out a dozen + broken boards, including South Florida hot kid Wesley DeSouza's and former Long Island, NY, ESM Who Da Guy Chris Tomlin's. Speaking of Long Islanders, the barrel of the day award has to go to NY native Bill McGill. That's saying a lot considering the bombs Shea Lopez and Pete Mendia were bagging (when they weren't getting cut off by the crazed, wave-lusting pack). McGill, however, pulled up deep behind one of the more clueless members of the bunch, and disappeared for four seconds before getting spat out clean behind him. The dolt never even knew what happened; he claimed the ride, thinking the whole beach was hooting for him instead of McGill, who nonchalantly paddled back out for another. ­Compiled by Mike Fish

 

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