As a third-generation native of Jacksonville, Florida, I’m not much of a cold weather guy. I start shivering when the water drops below 72. That said, winter surfing does have its appeal, as does the natural beauty of places like this in Vancouver Island. How beautiful is this? Enjoy!
Did she get through her heat?
Had a great time at the 2014 Sisters of the Sea / Saltwater Cowgirls contest on September 6th, at the Jacksonville Beach Pier! What a wonderful event this is for all surfer girls / women of every age and ability. The spirit of the event is really supportive, and I would venture to say that vibe does not come altogether easily or naturally for many women, or surfers. But it sure showed on the beach at this event, which has been held for about 15 years now, I believe. Very proud of Kaelyn who made it through three rounds in the most crowded division (the 12U Whitewaters). 1st place in her first heat; 2nd place in her second heat; and 4th in her third heat. She missed making the final by a single surfer! Arrggh, so close! Sorry, honey! Thanks to all the volunteers, sponsors and photographers, including Joey Wilson, who snapped this one.
Below are a few video clips of Kaelyn. There wasn’t much to ride the day of the contest, so Kaelyn’s strategy was just to ride each wave as far as she could. She had quite a few step-offs during the day. In her semi-final heat, I lined her up outside in what had been our sweet spot all day, but the peak had shifted over with the tide and she couldn’t find quite enough good ones. Oh well, next year!
Wow- a real work of art. Here’s a video that is not so much about the joy of surfing as the joy of the ocean. Or more essentially, water. Get ready to be completely mesmerized. A stunning creation by Morgan Maasen.
I’ve never surfed Puerto Econdido, but it’s on my bucket list. It’s one of my favorite places to see on film and this is as unique a perspective of the entire scene in a cranking swell, that I have seen. Gotta love that drone videography!
Wow- what can you say about this? This is why I surf. It’s not what most of us experience, but is what most of us chase relentlessly, physically or emotionally. It certainly lends some pretty strong gravity to the feelings that can be achieved gliding on water in the middle of nowhere- someplace tropical, beautiful and empty, save for a few good friends. I love the drone photography here which like the RED cameras and Go-Pros, have and do continue to transforming video into a whole new medium.
Heaving straight up vertical slabs in the middle of nowhere. I love this.
On April 6th, I saved a screen grab from the Ocearch shark tracker mobile app showing a Great White shark, just off a local beach (see images, below). Ocearch is a research group that is catching, tagging and tracking the habits of sharks all over the world. The crew were the first ones to catch, tag and release an Atlantic Great White shark, including one that they caught right off the jetty at the Mayport Poles, perhaps northeast Florida’s most popular surfing spot. They almost caught a second, larger one in the same area. The shark they caught, which they nicknamed, “Lydia”, was 14′ 6″ long and weighed 2,000 lbs. Here’s a video of them catching it:
On April 6th of this year, another Great White that Ocearch had previously caught and tagged in Cape Cod, Massachusetts (which they named, “Katharine” (14′ 2″, 2,300 lbs.) pinged in near shore right at Mickler’s Beach, in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, my own favorite spot and home break (I live just one block away). Exactly one week later, a huge Right Whale washed ashore at Mickler’s and it looked like it had been savaged by sharks, which likely explains one of the reasons why Katharine was in the area. I posted a couple of photos of the whale remains (seen here) on Instagram, and they caused quite a stir when they were picked up and reshared by #Igersjax, the local Instagrammers Club in Jax.
It is a shame to lose such a big, beautiful creature as a Right Whale (which are endangered), but the Great Whites are also pretty magnificent animals. It’s the circle of life. Hopefully, Katharine was full, before pushing on…
Katharine, a 14′ 2″ 2,300 lb. Great White shark pinged in near Mickler’s Beach on April 6th, 2014
These remains of large right whale washed ashore in Ponte Vedra Beach on April 13th, 2014
This remains of a Right Whale that washed ashore in Ponte Vedra on APril 13, 2014
Katharine, the Great White Shark that was near shore at Mickler’s in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Was this the best viral video of 2013? Maybe even the best car commercial ever? It’s got my vote. Sixty-six million views and counting. What an incredible branding effort. Cheers for Volvo, JCVD and all involved in this imaginative concept and flawless production.
Seshn is an online community that began as a pretty tight group based around surfing on Linkedin. Brand Winnie, the founder of Seshn, later expanded his vision for Seshn to evolve into a larger platform for publishing and discovering unique content around things that interest you. Brand’s community emerged from Beta just last week. The new Seshn is simple, clean and well designed, showcasing a lot of interesting people and a ton of cool content they create. I’m stoked to be featured as a writer within surfing.seshn.com, where I’ve included some of my work for The Inertia and other pieces. Check ’em out at http://timhamby.seshn.com If you have a passion you want to share or explore, whether it is surfing, music, art, film making, fashion, writing, rock climbing, DIY, coding or anything else- just go to seshn.com and request an invite.
I’ve always been a fan of surfer/film maker/musician Jack Johnson. Not just his music, but his humble attitude, and the things he’s always stood for. A little over 12 years into his ever-progressing music career, it seems to me that Jack is really hitting his stride. My wife recently picked up his latest offering, From Here to Now (released in September, 2013), and all I can say is- Wow, if you haven’t already, go get this CD! Every track is superb and memorable- super catchy rhythyms and melodies and the kind of lyrics that allow you to have new “ah-ha” moments each time you listen to them.
Always talented and flashing many moments of brilliance over his career (six studio albums, one soundtrack, two live releases and a few EPs), I liken this most recent release to a surfer who has identified the sweet spot on their new board and is working it out in perfect conditions. It leaves you feeling good and creates a moment in time you’ll never forget. I think people will look back on this CD as something particularly special/pivotal for Jack’s career.
This is a live version of one of my favorite songs from the new CD, Ones and Zeros.
Here’s a beautiful live acoustic rendition of “Sunshower”- one of my favorite songs by one of the most gifted singer / songwriter / guitarists of my generation- Chris Cornell. I’ve never had the opportunity to see Chris, Soundgarden or Audioslave (his other bands) in concert, but hope to some time. This video was a treat to find. Recorded on June 16th, 2013 with high quality HD video and audio. Amazingly, just 375 views- doubt it will stay that way for long.
Dark as roses, fine as sand
Feel your healing and your sting again
I hear you laughing and my soul is saved
On forgotten graves you cry
Crawl like ivy up my spine
Through my nerves and into my eyes
Cuts like anguish
Or recollections of better days gone by
But its all right
When you’re all in pain
And you feel the rain come down
Oh its all right
When you find your way
Then you see it disappear
Oh its all right
Though your gardens gray
I know all your graces
Someday will flower
Oh in the sweet sunshower
Oh in the sweet sunshower
In the sweet sunshower
Eyes like oceans so far away
A feather trail to a better way
Worried mornings turn into days
Then into worried nights
But its all right
When you’re all in pain
And you feel the rain come down
Oh its all right
When you find your way
Then you see it disappear
Oh its all right
Though your gardens gray
I know all your graces
Someday will flower
Oh in the sweet sunshower
Oh in the sweet sunshower
In the sweet sunshower
I know all your graces
Someday will flower
In the sweet sunshower
And its all right
All you’ll be you are today
Are today
Its all right
All you’ll be you are today
Are today………
Romain Cloitre-Bali Holidays from romain cloitre on Vimeo. {EAV:db883cc94c39f5f8}
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