August 6, 2010, 11:47 pm : Unsound Pro Goes Biggins with Nike 6.0 Backing for Jr. Pro

Filed Under: Events, News, Surfing
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For the first time the Unsound Pro will have a webcast…for the Pro Jr. contest. Well, it would be cool to spy the Unsound Pro itself on live webcast, as this is the most unique of contests. The Unsound Pro has become an enduring icon to the New York surf scene.

Read the full dispatch at Eastern Surf’s website : http://www.easternsurf.com/thisjustin_080610/

It is due to the hard work, perseverance and goodwill of Unsound owners Mike Nelson and Dave Juan that this contest carries the onus of showing the surfing world at large that, by golly, there are waves in New York, Janus. It is also important to note the paddle out in memoriam of 9-11-2001, and fundraising for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Here’s to another great year of waves, especially since Nelson is looking to get more video in the can to finish his latest project.

Yes indeed, the waves have typically been insane for this special contest.

April 27, 2010, 9:39 am : German tow surfer happens to claim Billabong XXL Win

Filed Under: Events, Interviews, News, Surfing
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By his own admission, Sebastian Steudtner didn’t aim to win the Billabong XXL Award for biggest wave ridden. Media are full of references to his German background and the fact that he learned to tow surf before he could paddle in. In this Surfline interview: http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/who-is-sebastian-steudtner_42900/, he makes no bones about his unorthodox rise to this prominent victory.

Others (including Christian Fletcher, per his rant as the award presenter at the ceremony) are trying not so subtly to call him out for his lack of a traditional paddle apprenticeship. But anyone that commit to and surf a wave this size deserves the respect of anyone who has never done it. Which is 99.99% of us. Just ask Ken Collins what happens if you eat it on a wave of consequence at Jaws: http://www.surfline.com/surflinetv/ken-skindog-collins.

Check out Steudtner’s 66 foot winner:

May 10, 2009, 9:50 pm : New York Surf Film Festival 2009 Announces Judging Panel

Filed Under: Events, Imagery, News, Surfing
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Building on a premier success, the New York Surf Film Festival has announced a stellar mix of surf emissaries with various perspectives on surf visual arts. The 2009 judging panel includes luminary shaper Tom Parrish, garish yet brutally honest former Surfline Editor of the Power Rankings Lewis Samuels (formerly Surline’s best feature, now posted up at PostSurf.com),  Long Island stalwart Charlie Bunger Jr., respected editor Alex Dick-Reade, and Long Island classic Mike Becker.

Good choices all, and the rest of the cast include surf writer Thad Ziolkowski, who did a strong exploration into surf literature with his debut effort, On A Wave; Alex Karinsky, who lives and breathes New York City surfing and keeps the spark lit, artist Todd Di Ciurcio, a Pennsylvania turned Brooklyn native artist and surfer, and a few others whose resumes I am not familiar with.

But very impressive. Tom Parish? Litmus Trip Tom Parish. That is incredible, kind of like having Mickey Mantle coach your amateur baseball team, or something. I mean, the guy was responsible for shaping boards for the best pros at the most robust time in professional surfing. He has seen and done it and now practices law on Maui.

Also, information I have points to a very big announcement at this years New York Surf Film Festival.

January 14, 2009, 1:18 pm : Sebastian Inlet Pro Contest Webcast is Live Today

Filed Under: Events, News, Surfing
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Here goes the start of the Association of Surfing Professionals 2009 season. The Sebastian Inlet Pro webcast is live, click over to here to check out the low seeds (which includes some top local and international names and plenty of hooaretheys?) hop and flick their way to the business end of the event.

Too bad for the surf, a piddly 2-3 crumbly feet. And the temperature is a blustery 49 degrees. Bet those contestants from tropical areas are freezin.

December 19, 2008, 12:10 am : Riding Pipeline on a 5’9″

Filed Under: Events, News, Surfing
Discussion: C[1]mments

Why would you ever do such a thing? Back in the day when I chased waves of size, my trusty 7’6″ was the go; a proper gun that was big enough to get me in, with a nice pin tail to control the speed that comes from hurtling down a double overhead dredger.

The question is logical for you and me, why would you EVER do such a thing? But its not logical when you’re Robert Kelly Slater. Its not logical when you own an oceanic divining rod such as he does. And its not logical when you just capped off a World Tour season at 36 years old, in which you won your 9th World Title, by winning the Pipe Masters for a record sixth time, riding a…5’9″!?!

Only The King could ride such an incongruous board in true, grinding, medium to large Pipeline waves and win. With the title sewn up a couple of contests prior, Kelly had the luxury of experimenting. Other experimental feats in pro surfing, save for Curren’s heat win on an old, battered twin fin, have had the result of making a professional look rather foolish. But Curren’s was one heat in French beachbreak; NOT THE FREAKING PIPE MASTERS, all the way through to the final horn.

It gets better. Kelly designed the board himself, based on theories he developed in his head about how a shorter board could be more functional than a conventional gun in big, hollow waves. The brains to conceptualize it, and the talent to prove its efficacy. Pay attention everyone, you’re seeing one of, if not the greatest athletes of all time. If you can argue that point, open up. Let’s have at it, but before you do, check this video of Kelly riding his 5’9″, needing two scores to come from behind against Timmy Reyes. Making it look easy.