Art

Part of what I like to do here is share information from my explorations whether they be organic or cyber oriented. My friend Dean runs a site that is a play on YouTube, but for surfers. It is really cool and is gaining some momentum. They have some of the best collections of videos online and because of the viral nature, it is growing pretty quickly. One California Day is a great little trailer I watched the other day, but I really liked the old Surfer Mag episode with Brad Gerlach. Check this one out and support YouSurfTubes.com by posting some of your own vids.

Brad Gerlach, Classic 80’s

Posted to YouSurfTubes by SurferMag on September 11, 2007

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Its all about balance and trying to maintain the liquid lifestyle these days. I have really enjoyed all the recent happenings in the surf world. The Rip Curl Contest in Chile was excellent. Anyone see the footage of Slater body dragging his way through the barrel on some of those waves. No hands and fully steering using his full body. Nobody surfs like Slater. It was also cool to see Kai Otton in his first year rubbing elbows with AI and the rest of the elite surfing world. He reminds me alot of Timmy Reyes for some reason, who also has a smooth like butta style and explosive rad nature about him. He was ten or eleven in the world when he got injured off a floater acid drop at the Lane during the last Cold Water Classic. It’ll be cool to see those two guys surf against each other in 08′. The XGames in Puerto was another cool event with some great surfing. One of my favorite up and comers has to be Clay Marzo of Maui. Incredible guy to watch that will be busting down doors sooner than later. Last but not least, how about the Typhoon swell to bless Taiwan recently. I only got to drool at the photos, but hope we will have some more goodies coming in from friends in the way of footy to publish. All good when helping to fuel the Liquid Lifestyle.

Speaking of that, I was sent an email recently about a new video by Justin Grover which is the first in a series of surf documentaries entitled Liquid Lifestyles. The clip below was shot on the North Shore last season and is aimed at providing a realistic view of Hawaii and the Hawaiian surf culture.

They are big supporters of SurfAid International as you will see if you buy the video which is around $30. There is a 9 min. segment for SurfAid worth checking out. SurfAid has done some amazing things for communities in Indo and continues to save countless lives.

I don’t know Justin but figured I’d do my part to get the word out about his new film. You can check out a teaser below and if you like it…call up Justin and tell him to send you a video. Don’t forget to tell him who sent ya.

LIQUID LIFESTYLES
International Surf Travel
Justin Grover
CEO
P.O. Box 451
Coolum Beach
mobile:
0411 810 282

Ever wanted to duck dive under icebergs?  How about a reason to check out one of those new heated wetsuits?  Or how about just to know what it feels like to have your eyeballs feel like they are frozen in their sockets?

Well I had a great conversation with Ryan up at Third Coast Surf Shop today and learned all about what goes on up in that area of our global surfing community.

Ryan owns a shop that is located in Southern Lake Michigan and it looks like it does some pretty good business.  Ryan actually spent quite a bit of time out here in Santa Cruz surfing the point and working at Pearson Arrow Surfboards.  He now runs his own business catering to a hard core group of surfers up in the Great Lakes….emphasis on the ‘hardcore’ part.

I don’t know how many surf shops there are up there, but I was impressed to find out that there is a thriving community that braves even the harshest of conditions.   I lived and surfed in NY for many years, but I never once had to contend with icebergs in the lineup.

So he told me this winter he hadn’t surfed for about a month and a half at one point cause all his favorite breaks couldn’t be accessed; the shore had frozen over.  He got out in the water recently and had to watch out for icebergs.  He wears 7mm booties, gloves and a 6/5/4 and says he is all over the heated wetsuits coming out this year.

The surf gets pretty good in the Great Lakes and people are always surprised at the size some of the spots can hold….if you don’t believe me check out his photo gallery.  I wouldn’t say that this is my ideal surf trip, but I’m definately adding it to my list of locations to check out before I croak.

Also check out the video Unsalted for a snapshot of freshwater surfing and this unique microcosm of core surfers.

I was down at the ASR in San Diego last week and had the pleasure of meeting Shaun Tomson and getting a signed copy of his book Surfers Code for my two boys. They will appreciate it when they get older is what I told them when they looked confused at my choice of gifts to bring back for them.

If you don’t know much about this man I would highly suggest checking out the link at the bottom of the post, or even better, picking up a copy of his book. He is an exceptionally warm hearted and articulate ambassador for the artform and expression better known as ‘The Sport of Kings and Queens’. I wanted to share his Code of Ethics with everyone that is plugged into Bluebird Surf. They go as follows.

I will never turn my back on the ocean I will always paddle back out I will take the drop with commitment I will know that there will always be another wave I will realize that all surfers are joined by one ocean I will paddle around the impact zone I will never fight a riptide I will watch out for other surfers after a big set I will pass on my stoke to a non-surfer I will ride and not paddle in to shore I will a catch a wave every day, even in my mind I will honor the sport of kings

-Shaun Tomson

At the show, all proceeds from the sales of his book went to the SurfRider Foundation. He also was involved with raising funds for SurfAidInternational.org which auctioned off a beautiful board signed by all the legends at the show, from Greg Noll to Al Merrick. So check it out on that next flat day.

You can buy it here…. Shaun Tompson – Surfer’s Code