North Shore's Sunset Beach

In North Shore's Sunset Beach the big, sorry giant waves are building half a mile from shore during late October to early April each year. The waves can be up to 30 feet from trough to crest. Impressive isn't it? From Sunset Beach to Alii Beach Park in Haleiwa the world's best, top surfers wait for the perfect waves.

Also during this time up to shortly before Christmas the five week Triple Crown Contest takes place. As every surfer knows this is the concluding event of the Association of Surfing Professionals Championships.

Haleiwas used to be a sugar plantation town, but everything changed as the first Waikiki surfers started to show up in the 1930s. From 1970 everything changed, than it was officially one of the world's top competition beaches for the big - wave riders. They can show a great range of maneuvers while riding the most demanding breaks in the world.

A Surfing Einstein dude stuns physicists with theory...

"Surfer dude stuns physicists with theory..." A brilliant headline from the The Daily Telegraph and the sub is even better "An impoverished surfer has drawn up a new theory of the universe, seen by some as the Holy Grail of physics...."
This is copy-writing at its best.

Why am I saying that here?

The surfer name is Garrett Lisi, 39 and indeed he has a passion for surfing. As I understand he loves the waves and his favored place is Hawaii. A dream place for most surfers, don't you agree! Do not underestimate this guy, rather hang on to your seat because...

That dude holds an PhD in theoretical physics. Yes, believe it or not, it is still true.

And, oh yes, let’s not forget...

his honors list: Highest Honors in Physics and Mathematics, Summa Cum Laude, Kinsey Prize for The Outstanding Graduating Senior in Physics, just to name a view.

Here’s what this is all about: Imagine the next time you talk about surfing and someone is making this smart type of comment or give you that look ... You know it don't you... Now you can respond in style and refer to your surfing Einstein buddy Lisi.

This is really cool... He is a surfing Einstein, don't you agree!

Surfboard Ban on British Airways

The ban is already in place since 6. November, but there are no news on this since than. I guess you know the story, if not here is a short wrap up.
BA (British Airways) is claiming that large sizes of sporting equipment is to complex to handle and therefore it will no longer accept it at part of the sporting equipment allowance at check in.
This is not only a huge disappointment but it does anger every surfer who loves or needs to take his surfboard with him. Even so you might think this is in old Britain and Brits are anyway strange, than think again. Surfer is Surfer and it can happen to you as well. If BA will get its way, others might follow. Even if you are willing to pay extra for your loved surfboard BA will not let you have your way.

The British Surfing Association hand over a petition with 8000 signatures to BA. Sign the petition on GoPetition. On Facebook you can join a 10000 plus strong group. So do it get active and make a difference, like Mick Fanning did. Today it is the surfboard, wind-surfboard, canoe, and tomorrow it might be the golf bag, ski, snowboard, your mountain bike...

Get active, call your airline and ask them, tell them not to follow BA. You also could your senator or congressman and give them something to do, after all you pay them with your tax-dollar, or your future tax-dollar.

Learn the secret surfing language

As in every activity and sports there are some specific names, terms, words that come up again and again. Not much different with surfing. Besides all the fun that is, surfing has its own language, too.

When you had a look at surfboards, no matter new or used, you must have come across some if not all of these words: Longboard, Fish, Gun, Quad, Egg, Olo, Skip Fye, Rocker, Fins, Deck, Nose, Tai, Stringer just to name a handful or two.

Ever wandered what they stand for?
Yes you could get a surfbook form Amazon now and read all about it, a good idea actually or ask the next best surfer or the surf teacher.
I give you now and here my answer to some of the words above. If I do not explain all, than come back to the blog an other time for the rest. You know I do not like to spend to much time on the PC - I rather surf myself... sorry that was not nice. The reason is, I do not want to write long blog post and make you read it all at once, rather I give you a short series of post on the subject.

Enough now, let's start !!!

Longboard - usually 9 to 12 ft with a round nose and single finned. You hear the word "Mal", which stands for "Malibu", and it is a type of longboard that enable you to ride the wave on the tip or nose of your board. If you do that you are a Noserider, as the longboard is called Noseriders.

Egg - not only in the car industry, but also surfers have a hybrid board, called "Egg" or funboard. It is 6 ft to 8'6" and has the profile of a longboard with a rounded tail. As the name let you imagine, it looks like an egg and it is for having fun and not all the high performance and tricks. It is the best surfboard for beginners.

Nose - as you can imagine by now, yes it is the tip of the board and as human nose it can be round or pointy.

Tail - what the nose is for the front is the tail for the back or better end of the board. You should have a good look at the tail, because its form affects the respond of the board. The tail, as it is with the guys and girls budd, comes in more shapes than the nose. For the start the big categories are square, pin, swallow, diamond, squash.

Leash - it is a stretchy cord that makes sure the surfboard can not loose the surfer, or the other way around. Well it connects the surfer's ankle with the cup on the surfboard and it is only used while you and your surfboard is in the water.

That it for now, the rest will come soon, I promise.

Have a good surf weekend and talk to you soon.

Roxy Jam Cardiff Competition

Coming up Surf Event this weekend in South California is the
2nd Roxy Jam Cardiff Competion 22. & 23. September 2007

This is a must to be event for everyone in the area and for all surfers in general. It's for the ladies, but the guys need to be there to cheer so be there - no excuse !

The days are full of highlights and great side program. First of all packed with competitions with a price money of up to $15,000 in the longboarding competition followed by the Hansen Surfboards Longest Nose Ride specialty competitions with $3000 in price money each.

Besides the competitions, there is a chance to win a trip to Hawaii - every surfers dream, isn't it and a one of a kind longboard is waiting for a lucky surfer to ride the waves.

Music performance, breakfast on the beach, free yoga classes, art inspirations for surf, find great deals from local vendors and get into the amateur competition to win some great prizes as well. All this in Cardiff, this weekend only. If you still need some last minute things have a look at the Beckersurf.com, they have everything surfing girls wants and needs and right now UP TO 50% OFF!! on Women's Surf Apparel.

Get registered for the competitions and get ready for a weekend of fun.

Links:
Roxy Cardiff Homepage all you need to know about the 2nd event!




Have you been at the Roxy Jam Cardiff Competion, than please let me know how it was.

Why you, too should get a used surfboard?

This summer I saw lots of surfers. Watching them was so great that I wanted to try it myself. It is great exercise and believe me I need exercise - my desk job does not provide much and I do not want to start talking about my (body) shape. Getting back to surfing, the question was how to get started, what do I need?

I found that I need to get a wetsuit, wax, leg rope and a surfboard. I need to buy wax and leg rope, but what to do with the wetsuit and surfboard?! First I wanted to rent, but that was not such a good idea after a second thought or would you like to get into a rented wetsuit ?! So I get a new wetsuit as well. My budget for this try out is limited, so there is not much left for the surfboard.

I understand that the surfboard is the most important item after a cool looking wetsuit. The option I have is to rent or buy. Renting is getting expensive and you never get the same board twice, well at least no guarantee on that. So that leave me with buying a surfboard. Looking around I found lots of shapes and sizes and something very interesting: used surfboards !

Used surfboards are like used cars. A great start for beginners and great option for the pro.

1. a used surfboard is not new and has already a scratches, so adding a few more does not matter anymore, or?!

2. it cost less naturally, it is used after all, and so save some money.

3. I do not have any knowledge of what I really need as a beginner and so an easy target for any not so nice sales person. I will end up buying the wrong board - I thing that what happens 90% of the time.

4. Saying that, once I really get into surfing the waves, I will need a much cooler and better surfboard very soon. By that time I will have more knowledge and know better what is best for me.

So for a beginner a used surfboard has great advantages, like I pointed out above.

But what about the more experienced surfer, why they should care about a used surfboard?!

1. As a hooked surfer you want to surf everywhere you go. Now imagine you are traveling, say by plain. The airlines will charge you a good amount of extra cash for taking your board and then you have to leave your beloved surfboard to the mercy of who can throw this 22kg board the best way and hit an edge ? Don't do it - get a used surfboard for that, it's hurts less !

2. You forgot your surfboard at home and the waves are calling you. Renting is to expensive - your choice: a used surfboards !

3. You got a great surfboard, but what about all the other shapes and sizes? You want to give it a try and get more experience, best way to do it with is a used surfboard!

Where to find used surfboards?

You can go to your local surf school and have a look, sure you might find the right one.

First go to amazon.com. Yes, they have used surfboards sometimes, they call them retro surfboards !
Than I would go to ebay. They have a wide selection on used surfboards .

Once you got your used surfboard you need a few more thing and a very small selection you can find at Surfers' Stuff. The place is new, but I believe it will expand the items very soon. After all you can trust the place that the goods will get to your door save and in no time. Payment is also very easy.