| Surf's up: With a lesson, you can have fun from the start
There's no reason to laze on a Hawaiian beach like a sunning monk seal, watching wild, bronzed athletic types surf up a storm. Wouldn't it be great to come back from Hawaii and brag that you, too, caught a couple of gnarly waves? Even at a beginner's level, surfing in Hawaii is a thrill. The warm air, lush green coastline, clear water and the sensory rush of gliding atop a wave make surfing a terrific adventure. But trust me: First get a lesson. With an instructor, you'll have fun the first time out. You will learn essential safety, where to stand on the board, where to look, how to negotiate a wave and how to stay out of riptides and reefs. You'll even learn how to fall so you don't crack open your noggin. For my surfing adventure, I took a lesson on Oahu's North Shore at Turtle Bay Resort from Hans Hedemann, an instructor who competed on the world surfing tour for 17 years.
Surfrider's Art for the Oceans raises over $300,000 in NYC
Is it me, or are boards getting expensive these days? Remember used singlefins for $50? How about when "expensive" new epoxy boards were $385? Try picking a new 6'2 off the rack these days. $475? What kinda bro deal is that?
Well, break it down. The shop makes $100. Fair enough. There's the $100 blank, $30 for shipping, and $20 for that dope paint job. Figure the shaper has to pay his rent, and make a few bucks an hour. That leaves him about $100, and he still has to pay a guy to come up with reasons why your board's not done.
Sounds like a steal when you hear Joel Tudor refer to a board and say, "$75,000? Are you f@#$%n' kidding me?"
Let me put that in context. On Saturday night, at an upscale Chelsea, New York City art gallery, 38 surfboards were sold to the highest bidders at the Art for the Oceans Auction.
Hang Up System Launch a Huge Success at Surf Expo
The January Surf Expo in Orlando saw the official release of the Hang Up System for Surfboards in North America. It was nothing short of a huge success as more than 200 stores took orders forms for the system and currently about 80 stores already converting some or all of their retail surfboard presentation to Hang Ups.
Many of the retailers that visited the Global Surf Industries booth at the show said that it was the best innovation they has seen there. The device allows for surfboards to be hung by their fin system using the patent pending Hang Up hook. The system gives stores a huge amount of flexibility in where they can display boards in their stores. "I would like to see the board room out the back of the store become a thing of the past" said Mark Kelly - President of Global Surf Industries.
ooVoo(TM) Named Best in Show at DigitalLife
Hosted at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, DigitalLife showcased the latest consumer technology products and services from more than 200 exhibitors during the four-day event. "We are honored to be recognized in this competitive industry as an innovator and leader in face-to-face video communication on the Internet," said ooVoo CEO Philippe Schwartz. "This recognition underscores our commitment to and focus on providing the world with an easy-to-use application which enables face-to-face conversation with friends and family across the world, for free." Using ooVoo, up to six people can connect in a video chat at the same time, allowing them to see one another, talk and share emotions just as they would in person. Consumers only need a broadband Internet connection, web camera, speakers and a microphone.
'Pacman' Jones due back in court
Jones was scheduled to appear before General Sessions Judge David Loughry on Thursday morning Jan. 31, 2008, in Rutherford County on charges of public intoxication and disorderly conduct stemming from an August 2006 incident. (AP Photo/Jane Kalinowsky, file) .
SURFING - Evans triumphs at Whangamata
TOP Hawke's Bay surfer Jeremy Evans had no intention of entering Monday's Billabong Pro event at Whangamata. "Mum and Dad and my girlfriend Kate sort of encouraged me to enter. They were giving me grief about not entering last week's nationals in Gisborne, too ... so I went up to Whangamata to make peace with the family," said Evans. The Te Awanga builder more than "made peace" and finished third equal with Gisborne's Bobby Hansen after being knocked out in the semi-finals by Gisborne's eventual winner Maz Quinn. "I was rapt because I hadn't entered a national event for a while and it matched my previous best placing from a few years ago," said Evans, 27, who has been surfing for the past 16 years. .
City officials looking at shutting down park bathrooms except for ...
He said if crews go in with disinfectant and a garden hose twice a week it would solve the problem, although he said there still would be isolated problems."If you have gone to the expense to build them and the public expects them, it's something we ought to provide," Janzen said.In the past, park restrooms have been winterized and closed during December, January and February, when there weren't park visitors but were open the rest of the year. .
It has gone from grotto to grotty
The truth of the matter is that the real Jesus was probably born in June and that magi, shepherds, angels, oxen and asses were nowhere in sight at the time. The centuries have lovingly embroidered the story of his birth with more layers of meaning and faith than a bumper Christmas box of Terry's All Gold - and given it a beauty, richness and depth that still resonates in these cynical early days of a new century and new millennium. The Nativity story as told by St Matthew might not be strictly true, but in my heart I want it to be. And those kings are essential. At Westfield School our annual carol concert always included TS Eliot's poem The Journey of the Magi. You probably remember it too from your own childhood. It's the one that begins: "A cold coming we had of it, just the worst time of year for a journey" and goes on to mention "silken girls and sherbet", "camel men cursing", and "night fires going out".
|
