ESM

Buck showing off his neighboring treasures, eh... -- Mez

•Prized ESM Canadian contact and Volcanic Surfboards shaper Buck Williams and his lovely girlfriend Suzy paid us a visit in April after Buck completed his annual spring trek to Kauai, where he had his blanks cut before finishing them up north. We expect to be seeing a lot more of our pal Buck, too, as he's just changed lanes from Kauai to Central Florida's very own K.K.L. through Clay Lyles, a much shorter (and cheaper) fiberglass shuffle for the Nova Scotia-based charger. Buck is also the Canadian distributor for HIC Surfboards, Creatures Of Leisure, and T&C Surfboards, so if you're lookin', give the man a buzz at 902-209-2266. And to see how your life's going to waste while Buck and his Canuck pals score secluded pointbreak perfection on any number of waves you'll never be able to locate, go to www.surfns.com. Don't say we didn't warn you.

•Sheila Johnson checked in from Marshfield, MA, to let us know that Levitate Surf and Skate just opened up across from Marshfield's new skatepark. Sporting a resume rich with surf travel--from South Africa to Indonesia--Levitate owner Bob Pollard is knowledgeable and ready to help with all your surfing needs. Word has it that Levitate teamrider Erik Volpe and the Marshfield crew relished a weeklong stretch of chilly, epic waves on Massachusetts' South Shore this past March.

•In environmental victories, Northeast-based activist group Oceana announced Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines heard the many e-mail petitions from concerned citizens regarding their sewage-treatment act. For more on the story, visit www.oceana.org.

•Matt Maletta of Narragansett, RI, and Kelli Appenzeller of Avalon, NJ, were married last spring on May 17th. The two recently relocated to Oahu--where Matt placed second in the Longboard division of the WRV Sunset Soul Classic at Sunset Beach. And Kelli just obtained her realtor's license, so all you East Coasters looking to buy a Hawaiian home should give her a ring at 808-293-2004. And wasting no time to capitalize on his buddy's new dream abode, fellow Ocean Stater Steve Melodossian reported scoring some solid winter action on The Rock while staying with Maletta and Kelli. In between lengthy sessions at Velzyland, Steve also had the unique opportunity to hang with and shoot photos of skate legend Jay Adams, while the Big Dog charged various North Shore breaks like Off The Wall and Backdoor.

Eric Volpe -- S. Johnson

•Musician Sebastian Thompson will tour the Northeast and the Midwest with his band The Frequency this summer. For more information on the tour and the music, visit www.thefrequencymusic.com, or e-mail sebastianthompson@hotmail.com.

•Show us a high-rise office full of corporate drones in New York City, and we'll show you more than a few blokes quietly fighting the system. Reliable sources tell us Manhattan workaholics/ Gettysburg College alums Chris Budden, Todd Peters, Dave Vecsi, and Brian "Sarge" Sergeant charged the frosty NYC breaks all season long--dawn patrolling everywhere between Robert Moses and Phillips Avenue Beach. Keep up the good "work," boys--we see an increase in tropical benefits in your near future.

•Narragansett, RI's, Peter Pan reported a monumental day of volunteer action at the Earth Day Clean Up this past April. Hundreds of volunteers, many of them waveriders, showed up at the Narragansett Town Beach to help with the massive effort. The Surfrider Foundation and Eastern Surfing Association organizers directed the workers to various surfing sites from K-39 to Point Judith. Pan claimed the dirtiest job of all was probably loading the more than 8000 pounds of collected rubbish and trash into local Gary Brierty's garbage truck. Brierty, owner of the Narragansett Rubbish Removal Company,

Budden, Peters, and Sarge. -- Budden

generously volunteered his services for the second straight year. Big props go out to everyone involved. The 2nd Annual Earth Day Surfing Championships went down at Second Beach in Middletown the next day. A few standouts from that competition included Erik Cannon, J. Scott Siby, Kate Egan, Miguel Roman, Marc Angilillo, Eric Anderson, Heather Riley, and Kevin Langevin. Pan will also take his Bic Surf "Learn to Surf" camp on tour up and down the East Coast from July 14th to 31st. Clinics will run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, rain or shine. For more camp dates and information, visit www.bicsportsurfboards.com.

•New Hampshire-based ripper Skye Nacel is back in town after a successful sojourn to the Caribbean side of Panama, and he's also the new Northeast rep for Carveboards. Check out Skye's site at www.perpetualmocean.com or visit www.carveboard.com.

•Newport, RI's, Sid Abruzzi--owner of Water Bros. Surf and Skate--and his band Big World are amped to play at the Dan Heritage/ Rip Curl Memorial Pro in New Jersey this September--as well as at the Electric Party at Lulu's Bait Shack at next January's Orlando Surf Expo. Also keep an ear out for Big World's new CD in July.

•Bringing pure Midwestern stoke to Central Florida, the Ohio University Surf Club descended on Melbourne Beach, FL's, Long Point Campgrounds for their spring break trip. The 60-surfer crew managed to score a solid week of waves--with one very memorable day of head-high, glassy north swell. Kyle Stock, Jay Hill, and Danny Redfern even managed to stop into ESM headquarters to say hi and deliver a few hot Ohio U. Surf Club T-shirts--which are regularly worn with pride by the Eastern Surf staff... Maybe a little too regularly--phew. Stay tuned to the club's website for event news, calendar listings, and general updates at www.ohiou.edu/~surfclub.

•Huge congrats go out to Mark and Rachel Anastas from Liquid Dreams Surf Shops in Maine on the birth of their son Jake Robert, arriving on April 19th. In other Liquid Dreams news, the store has a new surf cam at their York location that views Long Sands. Log onto www.liquiddreamssurf.com for a look.

East Coast Big Baller Will Skudin and driver Garret McNamara -- Ogdon

•DaKine Hawaii named five top ESA-Massachusetts competitors to their New England Surf Team: Team Captain Marc Angelillo and Nick Sparrow from Orleans, Malia Rimavicus from Eastham, Eric Anderson from Easton, and Dan Hassette from Hanover. The whole crew surfs year-round, competing and traveling along the New England coastline.

•New Haven, CT, soulrider Jon Nast and his band, Luggage, are making some solid noise in the Northeast--and people are listening--playing select New Haven and New York City venues. A swirling mix of instrumental jazz, funk, and blues splendor, Luggage is Nast on guitar, Drew Lustman on bass, Brad Schmaling on drums, and Joey "Cuz" Cousin on horns. Seriously, if you're in the area--and like good music--check these boys out. E-mail luggagetheband@yahoo.com for show dates. And if you can't make a show right away, turn to this issue's Eargasm department for a review of the band's debut release, An Aural Experience, on Page 48.

•After skillfully penning last issue's Travelers' Notebook on his virgin surf trip to Costa Rica, Manhattan Neonatal Physician at New York University's Intensive Care Unit Shetal Shah embarked on another journey involving waves--only this one was a little further off the map, Vietnam, where Shetal enjoyed touring the country and meeting the native folk--but also managed to snag a few waves at Nha Trang Beach, and suggests we all do the same.

•And finally, in big boy news, two of the Northeast's top big-wave riders--the elder, Connecticut-born giant Grant Washburn, and the youth, New York-raised teenage tow-in phenom Will Skudin--are making waves of their own. Washburn was selected as one of the elite 12 competitors to contest the Red Bull Big Wave Africa 2004 (the same contest he won in 2002) a specialty event held at the ultra-spooky heavy water break known as Dungeons, off Hout Bay in Cape Town, South Africa, with a waiting period running through the 27th of June. Best of luck to Grant. As for Skudin, he recently spent time towing in at Cortes Bank with Hawaiian madman Garrett MacNamara. Look for BIG things from Skudin, as he's currently doing whatever it takes, including paying all the necessary dues, to become one of the best big-wave riders to ever come from the East Coast. And at only 18 years old, with Mavs, Jaws, Waimea, and now Cortes under his belt, he's off to one hell of a start. Compiled by Mike Fish

MA BLAHS

The Pride of Exit 96, MC Ham Slammer -- Cresitello

•In an opening note of salutations and celebrations, a hearty happy birthday from ESM to one of New Jersey's favorite surfing sons, Sam Hammer, who recently turned the big two-five with a major bash at his parents' fine, Point Pleasant Beach bistro, The Ark. And we only wish we could have run this accompanying photo of Sammy in color, as he's posing with 23 of his favorite Jersey girls--all gayly attired in pink for the party's theme. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

•Congratulations to our leading Maryland surf/ skate ambassador Brad "B-Rad" Hoffman on his June 12th wedding to longtime sweetie Mary Pat. "In fact," bragged Indo Board creator Hunter Joslin, "They actually met over a discussion about the Indo Board, so Brad put me in the wedding." Let's just hope the "Mouth of the South" keeps his toast shorter than his contest announcements. Additional props go to Brad for taking over ownership and operations for Cloudbreak Surf Shop, so look for some major positive shop revampings in the near future.

•AJW Surfboards shaper Adam Warden sent word that Crystal Coaster Slater Powell, who has no major sponsors, won the opening ESA-CNC District contest in excellent, four to six-foot surf, and he hasn't slowed down since. Check out photographic evidence of Powell's panache on Brad Styron's site, www.surferphotos.com.

•North Carolina-based Aaron Chang teamriders Nigel Haynes, Carl Wallin, and Chris Curry hung down in the Sunshine State with the Eastern Surf crew for a week this April, assisting in ESM photo shoots and helping run Aaron Chang's Sisters Of The Sea camp. One Saturday night during the NSSA East Coast Champs weekend, Chang, along with Tom Dugan, Dick Meseroll, fellow East Coast immortals Kevin Welsh, Chris Wilson, and ESM Left Coast shooter Fred Swegles, put on slideshows for the beaming young beauties, while Curry manned the grill, Haynes chaperoned, and Wallin kept ESM's drinks full. Thanks to all who came out.

Mikey Weeks' Roast Beef with Wan(chese) -- Stapula

•In Delaware deets, Skim USA Association, a nonprofit skimboarding competition organization, announced that the inaugural South Side Shoot Out Pro/Am Skimboarding Contest went off like a shore-launched backside scud-spin on the weekend of June 5th-6th on the South Side of Indian River Inlet, inside Delaware Seashore State Park. It was the third stop on the ZAP East Coast Pro/Am Tour of Skimboarding and a qualifier for the upcoming East Coast Skimboarding Championships, scheduled for August 14th-15th. Big thanks to sponsors ZAP Skimboards, Dewey Beach Lions Club, Red Bull, and Poorboy Wax and Traction. For more info on the championships, call Skim USA Executive Director Harry Wilson at 302-227-4011.

•The video premiere for Virginia Beacher Brad Bennett's new all-VB surf flick 757 enjoyed a fine turnout on April 10th at The Jewish Mother, starting with a full house and eventually having to turn people away at the door. Local rockers The Meadows blew up the temple until 10:00 pm, and loot bearers included Dragon, Dem-ink, WRV, Coastal Edge, and Billabong. Since the premiere, Brad has sold almost 200 copies of 757. And some of the local video stores are renting it out, with a waiting list. The point we're trying to make here? Never underestimate the power a local venue has in helping get the word out on your project. Look for a review of 757 in next edition's Peepshow.

•You wouldn't believe how hungry you can get typing in all these blahs in one afternoon. Thankfully, benevolent Outer Banks, NC, gnarler Mikey Weeks gave us some roast beef to chew on. For more fattening pics of Mikey and friends shredding the infamous Wanchese Bowl, go to www.eastcoastaholic.com.

•Digital Wunderland, the surf video distribution that is the focus of this issue's Cinematheque (Page 98) just picked up StubTown Media's upcoming release Back To The Front, the second release from the critically acclaimed filmmakers who brought us Destined For Second. Once again, top guns Ben Bourgeois, Asher Nolan, Gabe Kling, Jesse Hines, Matt Gilligan, Noah Snyder, and Matt Beacham will carry the weight with extra assistance this time around from Sam Hammer, Aaron Cormican, and the Hobgoods. Rated "M" for "Miss It And You're Lame." Visit www.digitalwunderland.com for more.

Craig Watson Picking His Line -- 2M

•Don't miss the first-ever OCNJ 125 Surfing Cup, which will go down at Park Place Beach in Ocean City, NJ, on June 25th-26th--a debut North vs. South East Coast team event coinciding with Ocean City's 125th birthday summer celebration. The designated teams, selected by Todd, are as follows: North--Dean Randazzo, Ben McBrien, Sam Hammer, Ryan Kimmel, Matt Keenan, Noah Snyder, Frank Walsh, Luke Ditella, Andrew Gesler, Randy Townsend, Wes Laine (North Head Coach), and Larry Friedel (North Assistant Coach) and South--Tommy O'Brien, Eric Taylor, Phillip Watters, Pete Mendia, Aaron Cormican, Gabe Kling, Asher Nolan, Baron Knowlton, Bryan Hewitson, Pete Dooley (South Head Coach), and David Speir (South Assistant Coach). Contact Event Producer/ Coordinator Todd DiCiurcio at 718-963-0562 or somewherenow@sisna.com for more information.

•While finishing up classes at Cape Fear Community College, our buddy Erik Schub gave us all the latest Crystal Coast dillyo: Erik got hooked up as a Dragon sub rep to Brian Harrison. Meanwhile, older bro Justin Schub is back in Emerald Isle gathering income to make it out west again. Another local ripper gone AWOL, Dylan Stone, recently returned from Kauai where he stayed for a few months with EI transplant "Cool" Dave Green. But it wasn't just the runts who got their pits on this spring. Crystal Coast vets Donald Stone, Carl Heverly, and Todd Martin just got back from Indonesia. And you know those guys were pulling in.

•Speaking of pulling in, Surfing lensman DJ Struntz reported scoring the best waves he's seen on any surf trip he's ever been on, during a Nicaragua video/ photo mission with Noah Snyder, Carl Wallin, Craig Watson, Mark Hunt, and Nic McLean. Waves reached double-overhead and DJ shot 55 rolls on the trip. Cha-ching.

•Toms River, NJ's, Tim Mulvaney announced that after paddling 147 miles along the New Jersey and Delaware coasts in 2002 and 2003, respectively, the Habitat Paddle to Build 3 is now making its way down the Outer Banks this August to raise funds and awareness for Habitat for Humanity, an organization aimed at providing adequate, affordable housing for the less fortunate. If your group is interested in paddling a few miles, making a contribution to the cause, or taking in a nightly slide show presentation, e-mail project coordinator Tim Mulvaney at habitatpaddle@hotmail.com or check it all out at www.habitatpaddle.com.

Jeremy Peters -- 2M

•Wrightsville Beach, NC's, BJ Freeman wanted to give everyone a link from the Unknown Souljah Camp: Scholars Word is the newest act on their label--a super solid dance hall band out of Jacksonville FL. BJ and company are also in negotiations with Mr. Vegas, Buju Banton, Culture, and Israel Vibration while Eastern Skate Supplies distributes Unknown Souljah's music and all season male and female clothing line.

•West Coast tranny and Virginia Beach, VA-spawned video distributor Donaldson Miele's company, Darkhorse, Inc., was hired by celluloid messiah Jack McCoy to set up the Billabong Jack McCoy Film Festival, which toured 30 cities showing the new Billabong movie Blue Horizon. This was Darkhorse's first go at event planning and promotion, and Donaldson called working with Jack and Billabong "a real pleasure." Additionally, Omega Media Distribution (O.M.D.), Darkhorse's DVD distribution arm, hired a new rep in the Northeast, Ray Botelho, who can be contacted at 781-834-1742, and they're still looking for reps to push plastic in the Mid-Atlantic and Florida regions. Retailers can reach O.M.D. toll-free at 866-342-6334.

•Outer Banks photographer Mickey McCarthy is now shaping for Wave Riding Vehicles full-time. A top WRV contributor in the early days, Mickey no doubt feels right at home to be swimming once again with the Friends of the Porpoise. 2M also wanted to let everyone know about local rippers Jeff Myers and Jeremy Peters saving a kid from a life-threatening rip current after the youngster bailed his bodyboard. (Bad idea.) Our hats are off to these two heroes for their quick-thinking.

•After graduating high school and working his tail off all summer long at Tony Giordanos' Ocean Hut Surf Shop, shoprider Clay Pollioni spent November through April learning the ropes on the North Shore. He's now back in Lavalette, NJ, giving surf lessons for Ocean Hut, but at least he now has a few big Pipeline days under his belt. Look for future evidence of his shralptitude on Tom Spader's site, and last issue's (Vol.13, #96) ESM Website Of The Month, www.localswell.com.

•They're almost legal! No, not the Olson twins, you sicko--Hotline Surf Shop. The Virginia Beach, VA store held a celebratory "Almost Legal" party for their 20th birthday on June 12th. Tropical drinks and heavy hors d'oeuvres made it a fine family affair for Gurney and Cammi Collins and the whole Hotline clan. Congratulations, y'all. Compiled by Matt Pruett

SE BLAHS

Eric Taylor -- Dugan

•Volcom's Totally Crustaceous Tour VQS World Championships went off on May 14th-16th at 54th Street in Newport Beach, CA--and two Florida contest terrors made out with very respectable results amidst a slew of international competition. Vero Beach's Eric Taylor took fourth-place and $1000 in the Pro-Am division, while Melbourne Beach's Blake Jones nabbed a hard-fought second and $1750 in the Juniors.

•Everyone raise your glasses to Puerto Rican star Dylan Graves, who just graduated from high school and is now raring to go kick some adult ass in the upcoming summer/ fall WQS comps.

•The Lost Surf Jam and Model Search kicked off at The Washout in Folly Beach, SC, on April 4th. Mike Powell placed first, Glenn Tanner took second, and Anthony Osment bagged third-place. Meanwhile, the Model Search went down at Bowen's Island Restaurant.

•Justin Craddock and the crew at Blue Planet Dive & Surf in Port St. Lucie, FL, sends congratulations out to shopowner Kirk Neville and Cristina Burch regarding their recent marriage. Pines and Palms Resort in Islamorada, FL, hosted the ceremony on the beach on May 15th.

•The 18th Annual Op East Coast Scholastic Surfing Championships wrapped up late this spring with a three-peat performance by the New Smyrna Beach High School Team--who took home $1200 in Op Scholarship funds and another first-place title. The all-Smyrna team consisted of Devon Tresher, Chad Erickson, Nils Schweizer, and Jeremy Johnston. Other local big winners in the contest included Eric Geiselman in Junior Men's, and Nils Schweizer, who won Open Men's. For complete results of the OP Scholastics, turn to Page 131.

•Whoa, dude--check out Eastside legend Kyle Garson's killer opening shot and double page editorial spread in the latest issue of Surfer Magazine (July 2004), available on newsstands now!

•Starting on May 1st, Gene and Rachel Gore of South Padre Island, TX, paddled the entire length of the Texas Gulf Coast on a 12' paddleboard for Paddle Texas--covering a distance of approximately 375 miles to support the Surfrider Foundation's Respect the Beach educational programs. Paddle Texas began at the mouth of the Rio Grande on the Texas/ Mexico border and ended at the mouth of the Sabine River on the Texas/ Louisiana border 10 to 14 days later. Gene and Rachel took turns paddling in one-hour shifts for eight to ten hours a day. Contact the Surfrider Foundation (www.surfrider.org) for more details on this duo's strenuos-yet-worthwhile endeavor. •In other paddleboard news, the 2004 Florida State Paddleboard Championships and the King of The Beach competition went down on April 10th in Central Florida. Big winners included Michael O'Shaughnessy, Robert Cullity, and Chris Lang. Over 40 participants competed in the duel event, so peep www.paddleboards.com for all the goods.

"I See Nils Schweitzer's Schwartz Air Is As Big As Mine" -- J. Wilson

•Holy stars and stripes! The Amerikan Project just signed Panama City Beach, FL, native Warren Smith.

•Sean Slater, who's shaping Slater Surfboards once again out of Ocean Sports World in Cocoa Beach, FL, can be contacted at 321-783-4088.

•For those looking to watch surf flicks in a cozy bar atmosphere, City Tropics Bistro in Indialantic, FL, shows a film every Wednesday night on their big screen. E-mail George Toler at gt@tropicalproductions.com for more information.

•South Florida duffer Roray Kam is now riding for Surfboards Hawaii. Roray recently won the ESA Southeast Regional Championships Senior Men's Longboard division, and the 41 and Over Nostalgia division at the Easter Surfing Festival. Kam also sends out big "mahalos" to all the surf companies who supported the South Florida Longboard Association's Annual Luau. Over 350 people attended the shindig to enjoy super company and entertainment by bands Drums of Polynesia and Cutback Surf.

•Pit Surf Shop in St. Augustine, FL, sends props to all their teamriders who represented Pit at the 2004 ESA Southeast Regionals at Sebastian Inlet: Jonathan Heater, Andy Karabinchak, Mikee Paton, and Devin Ricke. Also in Pit news, four-time ASP World Champion Frieda Zamba will hold her St. Augustine-based surf camps at the Pit shop, sponsored by Aaron Chang. Visit www.pitsurfshop.com or www.friedazamba.com for more on that deal.

•Miami, FL, shaper Carlos Reyes of C.Shapes teamed up with underground surfing phenom Alex "Melon" Casal. Together, shaper and rider created an exciting new C.Shapes bump wing squashtail outline from scratch. Alex claims the board works like magic--but see for yourself by checking out his Who Da Guy profile on Page 125 in this issue.

Erica Badida -- Dugan

•In other Miami news, South Beach ripper Jerry "Leroy" Burdine married Brandi McEuen on May 15th, 2004 in Laguna Beach, CA. Among those attending the ceremony were Chris Burdine, Dave Begley, Carlos "Bam-Bam" Delomo, Jack Gavalin, Carlos "LBL" Montoya, Mike Watson, and Mike Pappas. The two newlyweds also enjoyed a surfing honeymoon in Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti. Congrats to the happy couple.

•Shane Levi Gould checked in from Hilton Head, SC, to let us know Fuel Clothing has a new website at www.fuelclothing.com. Give it a look.

•Mike Forrest is the new rep for Surfsling for Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Brevard counties. For more information on Surfsling, contact Mike at 561-791-4470.

•Calling all Southeastern groms! The Rip Curl Gromsearch is fueling up for another huge season--with a contest in Satellite Beach, FL, on August 28th and one in Jobos, PR, on September 4th. Log on to www.ripcurl.com for more about the events.

•Billabong welcomes Tequesta, FL's, Jensen Callaway, as the newest addition to their amateur surf team. For a complete rap sheet on Jensen, check out Page 52 for this issue's On The Pro-Grom.

•Brevard County's Shon "Dirt" Lassiter will be doing East Coast team manager and promotions work for Sanuk Sandals in addition to his sub-rep duties for Rusty--and he's looking for new teamriders. So far, he's picked up Marcus Heilman, Erica Badida, Eric Rheaume, and Ant Man.

•Hey nows and hearty congratulations go out to New Smyrna Beacher Travis Shaw, who took the time to let us know how stoked and honored he is to have made the elite 2004 ESA Allstar Team. Travis will accompany the squad on their team trip to the merry old land of Oz this summer. Good on ya, son--and don't forget to bring back some Vegemite.

Papi Lopez -- Mez

•Central Florida legend John Holeman is now available for private surf instruction with his new company Progressive Surfing Instruction. John will work with both longboarders and shortboarders, videotaping and analyzing performance. Give Holeman a ring at 321-777-0628 to book a session today--and check out his website at psisurf.com. For additional insight on Hole-Daddy's new coaching clinics, go to this issue's Details on Page 23.

•After a year-plus of fighting a ruthlessly debilitating blood disease, ESM is very happy to report that Gulf Coaster Pete Lopez--father to WCT competitors Cory and Shea--was recently sighted ripping it up longboard-style at an outer Orchid Island sandbar lefthander with a huge smile on his face. In fact, the only people with bigger smiles were us guys, as we watched Papi Lopez stylishly cross-step his way to the nose, looking 100-percent stoked. Welcome back, Pete!

•The First Annual Gulf Coast Surf Sisters Emeralds of the Sea--an all-girl surf clinic--started on April 17th at Navarre Beach on the Gulf. Call Lisa Muir-Wakley at 850-939-4354 for more details.

•As part of their weekly reggae/ surf movie parties, Lance-O and the Miami Kulcha Shok Music crew will air California filmmaker Greg Schell's historic and captivating The Far Shore on June 15th. To find out more about Kulcha Shock parties and their upcoming films and bands, visit www.kulchashok.com.

•Greg Smart wants all you unfortunate Central Florida inlanders out there to get off your butts and visit Inland Ocean Surf Shop. (Check out their ad on Page 94 in this issue's 2004 Surf Shop Guide.) Stocked to the max with quality surfboards, clothes, bikinis, and accessories, Inland Ocean is one of the best cures out there for those suffering from The O'Ville blues this summer.

•And finally, our warmest congrats to longtime ESM, uh... buddy, and O'Neill sub rep Buddy Favor and his new wife Sarah. Dat's it and dat's all. Compiled by Mike Fish

MFE BLAHS

Nigel Haynes -- Mez

•After serving as a model example of a professional team manager in Newport Beach, CA, for the past five years, Jeff "Burger" Hambrecht was given his walking paper and sent home, where he promptly found a place with Billabong as their East Coast Surf Team main man. Welcome back East, Burger.

•Five-year-old South Florida mini-gremmie talent and Hillsborough Inlet local Lucas Marks has received quite a bit of press lately, copping stories in The Sun Sentinel, The Deerfield Times, Happy Times, The Observer, Gold Coast Magazine, and LHP Newspaper. On A Mission, Ezera Surfboards and Himaya Sunscreen just signed him to their ammie squad, too, so look for Lucas to make the most of that push in years to come. It'll be quite interesting to see what a 3'0" Ezera will look like.

•Quiksilver Boardriders Club member and University of North Florida Surf Club President Nick Freeman announced that their Surf Aid International charity event, held April 11th at Bukkets in Jacksonville Beach, FL, was a raging success. Big thanks to everyone who came out, including all the bands that played, benefit sponsors Quiksilver BC, UNF Surf Club and Team, Red Bull, Whisnant Surfboards, Champion Liquors, and Budweiser, as well as all the local tattoo artists and businesses who donated their goods and services for the worthy cause.

•Podium Distribution (Matix, DVS, Lakai) East Coast Team and Promotions Manager Jon Gilleland has beefed up the company's Atlantic ranks in a big way lately, getting Wrightsville Beach, NC, ripper Mark Yonkers on the Matix/ DVS program, and bringing Yonkers' hometown buds Richard Gilligan, Zach Thompson, and Outer Banks surfers Martin Fucci and Nigel Haynes along for the DVS ride. Jon would also like to welcome Mark Clement to the Electric skate team, where he'll join Scotty Moore and Tyler Tufty.

•Speaking of Podium, Mid-Atlantic sales guy Robbie Rhyne is now repping for Vestal Watches and Surf Prescription Surfboards, as well. He can be reached at 910-352-5720 for, well... pretty much anything you might want to carry in your shop: shoes, clothing, watches, boards...

•You had to have heard about Hyperflex Cold Water Surfing Products. Tested and perfected in bone-chilling Jersey surf, Hyperflex has a full line of booties, gloves, lobster claws, and hoods at reasonable prices--offering dealers no minimums, no pre-book, and lightning-fast same day shipping from the Garden State. They're also looking for qualified sales reps for the Southeast and Gulf Coast areas, so if you like the smell of neoprene and think you got what it takes, call Hyperflex Surf Sales Manager Scott Troxel at 800-927-2840, or e-mail scott@neosportusa.com.

Mike Antonelli -- Pfiel

•Upon reaching his first birthday on January 29th, Caleb Paul Miller--beloved son of ever-congenial Indialantic, FL, ripper Tim Miller and his lovely wife Kim--figured he was old enough to check out his homebreak for his first surf sesh, but Tim and Kim kept him restrained for another year to give young Caleb a running start once those blasted knees stop buckling.

•Longtime Outer Banks tubesmith Pat McManus and friend Ben Andrews got their cyber digits going by starting www.obxsurfinfo.com, which will serve Dare County surfers with a live surf cam, daily and archived photos, and a surf report updated twice daily. Gas prices ain't getting any cheaper, so if you wanna get throated for sure, be smart and give it a click today.

•Underground Pipe and Teahupo'o charger Mike Antonelli now reps and rides for Bushman Surfboards in the Northeast. The Grassy Sound, NJ, native is also handling sales for Orion Surfboards and Firewood Skateboards. Call him at 609-780-1704 for inquiries.

DeTemple by Da Doogs

•Dude, everyone's getting sponsored but you! And we got word of all types of new hookups going down. Melbourne Beach, FL's, Rylan McCart plus Cocoa Beach's Robbie Blevins and Deerfield's Wesley DeSouza just hopped a flight with Hurley. South Florida fixtures Jon Gosman and Dave Begley and Virginia Beach underground shredder Todd Pace recently found a place on the Split team while Jersey-based 7th Street Surf Shop teamriders Andrew Gesler and Kevin Richards signed with Axion Footwear.

•And dude, everyone's going on trips but you! Daniel Terry joined an extra explosive cast of Mid-Atlantic powerbrokers--Billy Hume, Jeff Myers, Sam Hammer, and Frank Walsh--on a Nicaraguan surfscapade with fun-loving, double-flash-wielding photographer Tom Carey. Meanwhile, Ian Parnell hit up Australia's Gold Coast with Asher Nolan, Matt Gilligan, and Stubtown Media videographer Brian Townsend--scoring eight to 12-foot burners at Kirra and the Superbank, what Parnell called "some of the best, if not the best, waves of our lives." Look for footage of the Oz sessions in Towny's and partner Pat Stublen's new film, Back To The Front, set to debut in December.

•Ormond Beach, FL, gremmie and DaHui teamer Tyler Crawford tore the New Smyrna Beach lineup apart like a young John Logan en route to his win in the Boys division at the 18th Annual OP East Coast Scholastic Surfing Championships. For complete results on the contest, which gives thousands of dollars away in scholarship money to promising Right Coast talents every year, turn to Page 131.

•Indialantic, FL, got two for two on the latest cover of Longboard Magazine (May 2004, Vol. 12,#3) when they ran a beautiful shot of local logging wiz kid Mike DeTemple tipping well in Costa Rica. The image was snapped by ESM's very own postage stamp patron Tom Dugan.

•And while we're talking about front page Right Coast love in left coast mags, check out South Carolina-bred artiste Drew Brophy's wicked-groovy board art on the cover of the May issue of Surfing Magazine--one of their finest issues ever--available on newsstands now.

Stubtown Media is Pat Stublen and Brian Townsend -- Courtesy Stubtown Media

•Congratulations to Huck and Elisa Carter, owners of Nichols Surf Shop in New Smyrna Beach, FL, on the April 15th birth of Jericho Natal Carter.

•In case you were interested, the surfer walking into the water on the home page for Issue #96 on our website, www.easternsurf.com, is New Yorker Greg Muller, a Bunger Surf Shop teamrider.

•Former Virginian-turned-Salt Creek semi-local Conner Erwin and Roxy graphic designer Dianne Young of Clearwater, FL, tied the knot on May 8th in Dianne's home state of Florida. The couple were soon off to Costa Rica for their honeymoon and would like to thank everyone for their love and support over the years.

•Another Virginia Beacher on the move, Green Run escape artist and ESM music scribe Ben Pratt, will spend this summer up in Cape Cod, MA--where he will work the restaurant circuit by night and hang with last issue's ESM Who Da Guy Josh Clements by day--before returning to his place with Fueled By Ramen/ No Idea cronies in the Right Coast music epicenter of Gainesville, FL.

•Wouldn't you know it, while on a North Shore trip, South Florida upstart and Quiksilver teamrider Skeeter Zimmerman scored the coveted "Taking Off" opening spread in the June 2004 Issue of Surfer Magazine, thanks to Scott Aichner's heavy, behind-the-rider tube angle. Shortly after the shot was taken, though, Skeeter tore the ACL in his right knee during a surf at Off The Wall, and will now have to spend what close friend Matt Oberman called "a long summer" out of the water. Oh well, at least he got the spread of a lifetime and the best over-the-counter medicine money can by. Get well soon, Skeeter.

•After spending every spare moment getting throated and throttled during what he called "the winter of my life" in Rincon, Puerto Rico, Cape May, NJ, ace Jason "Regs" Reagan is fit, fierce, and fiending for a solid run throughout the series of East Coast pro comps this summer and fall. As Monument's number one Eastside pro, Regs will be representing Shane Beschen's new company in full effect, defending his 2003 ECSC (East Coast Surfing Championships) title in Virginia Beach (his first pro victory), while making the rounds in the many New York and Garden State comps, including the Red Bull Ice Break New Jersey Qualifier, and the Smith Optics Garden State Grudge Match. Regs has been charging every wave at every size--from gastrointestinally upsetting Gas Chambers to makeable-only-in-your-dreams Middles to tree-sized Tres Palmas--every day for six months straight. So those of you who've been sitting on the couch all winter in between the odd junk sesh at your local slop-maker, don't underestimate the rejuvenated Regs. Compiled by Matt Pruett

Blah Blahs
BACK ISSUES
#63 / #64 / #65 / #66 / #67 / #68 / #69 / #70 / #71 / #72 / #74 / #75 / #76 / #77 / #78 / #79 / #80 / #81 / #82 / #83 / #84 / #85 / #86 / #87 / #88 / #89 / #90 / #91 / #92 / #93 / #94 / #95 / #96 / #97 / #98 / #99 / #100 / #101 / #102 / #103 / #104 / #105 / #106 / #107 / #108 / #109 / #110 / #111 / #112 / #113 / #114 / #115 / #116 / #117