| Arizona's first Margaritaville opens in Glendale
Jimmy Buffett's first Margaritaville Caf in Arizona officially opened today in true Parrothead fashion, with Pink Cadillac Margaritas, Volcano Nachos, clowns on stilts and colorfully dressed employees dancing to It's Five O'clock Somewhere. Developers, local dignitaries and members of the media gathered to welcome the latest addition to Westgate City Center, the Glendale entertainment and dining district at Loop 101 and Glendale Avenue. The two-story 20,000-square-foot restaurant features three bars, an airplane hanging from the ceiling, fishing boat booths and a gift shop. It sells everything from shirts and sandals to mini surf boards. .
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.
Californian rides off with big-wave title
HALF MOON BAY, Calif. - A 24-year-old California surfer topped a daredevil contest yesterday that had competitors riding waves more than four stories tall. Greg Long of San Clemente was among 24 elite surfers who took part in the Mavericks Surf Contest - considered the Super Bowl of big-wave competitions - in Half Moon Bay, about 20 miles south of San Francisco. After the contest was whittled to six finalists, Long was crowned the winner. Grant "Twiggy" Baker of South Africa was second, and Jamie Sterling of Hawaii third. Baker won the event in 2006, the last time it was held. On his first wave in the final heat of the competition, Long barely held his balance on his 9-foot-6-inch royal blue surfboard. He took a late drop down the towering 40-foot wave before landing on the bottom and carving a fast turn to dodge a wall of whitewater crashing behind him.
Love all things surfing? Then blast off to Cocoa Beach, Fla.
I'm standing in the aisle of the main sales floor, watching a clerk restocking shell-covered jewelry boxes. She stops to help a customer looking for flamingo-themed wind chimes. They are temporarily out of stock this time of year -- they are a popular Christmas item -- but she promises to have them by week's end. Not only will they get them in, there will probably be three or four models to choose from; clerk and customer know that if they could be found anywhere, this would be the place. As the sales person says, "Ron Jon speaks for itself." New Jersey, 1959: Ron DiMenna has a developed and growing passion for surfing. He has tired of his homemade surfboards and wants to order his own custom California board. His father advises, "Buy three, sell two at a profit, then yours will be free." He does just that, and in 1961, opens a little surf shop in Long Beach, N.J.
Jamie Sterling Signs with GFH Skateboards
After months of talks, GFH Boards announces today that they have signed one of the worlds top big wave riders, Jamie Sterling. Sterling from Hawaii; is considered one of the most fearless chargers in the world, surfing some of the largest waves ever record. GFH President and Founder Garrett Hurley and Surf Team Manager Tim Hoover have been looking for strong representation in Hawaii and Jamie Sterling is certainly a top find. Sterling will join Tyler Fox as another GFH team rider that charges the worlds largest waves.
With a podium finish this last weekend at Mavericks Surf Contest, Sterling continues to be known for his character and his fearlessness.
Career highlights:
* Eddie Aikau Invitee '07
* Mavericks Invitee '07
* Monster Energy Pipeline Pro Invitee '07
* Pipe Masters Invitee '06
* 3rd Place Mavericks Jan '08
* 4th Place Red Bull Big Wave Africa '06
* 1st Place Maestro de Gringo Peru
* 2nd Place Big Buoy Surf Challenge
* Billabong XXL Best Overall Performance '06
* Billabong Most Committed Deep Throat Award '06
* 12th Place Eddie Aikau '02
* 4th Place Hansens Pipeline Pro '03
* 6th Place Red Bull Big Wave Africa '03
* 10th Place Eddie Aikau '01 .
Stoked--Mavericks becomes friendly competition
The sixth Mavericks Surf Contest showed the world that surfers still run the show out at Pillar Point.Despite all the hoopla and festival crowds, it all came down to a small pack of board riders - friends, alone in the ocean. After spending the morning fighting to get the final - and a chance at a $30,000 payday - the surfers decided to call off the competition."We paddled out and 10 minutes went by and there were no waves," said Tyler Smith, who would place fourth in his fourth Mavericks contest after chasing down more than his share of steep but mid-sized waves to reach the final heat of six.The finalists, a mix of canny veterans and young chargers, knew the tide was rising and the swell dropping. Lulls between sets had been getting longer. They decided the dwindling waves were not enough to crown a true champ.
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