Danny Fuller | Cloudbreak June 8th 2012 from RVCA on Vimeo.

January Pipe from Dylan Roberts on Vimeo.

Another great one from LNF (Lastnamefirst.tv) on Vimeo! I think every town needs to have one of these at their premiere break. Enjoy!

A semi-oldie, but goodie! Love this organization, this song and this video.

Love this duet with Leonard Cohen and U2. Do you know Cohen? So many still do not. He’s a 78-year old poet, author, singer/songwriter and owner of one of the most unique and compelling voices ever. He’s probably most well known for his song, “Everybody Knows”, but his music catalog and place in history runs much deeper. 

From his Wikipedia:

In a speech at Cohen’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 10 March 2008, Lou Reed described Cohen as belonging to the “highest and most influential echelon of songwriters.”

The critic Bruce Elder wrote an assessment of Cohen’s overall career in popular music, writing, “Cohen is one of the most fascinating and enigmatic. . .singer/songwriters of the late ’60s. . . [and] has retained an audience across four decades of music-making. . . Second only to Bob Dylan and perhaps, Paul Simon, in terms of influence, he commands the attention of critics and younger musicians more firmly than any other musical figure from the 1960’s who is still working at the outset of the 21st century.”

Enjoy this clip of Leonar’ds “Tower of Song”. The album version of this song sounds like it was played/recorded on one of those tiny little casio keyboards that you might have received as a throwaway Christmas gift back in the 80’s. But the simple melody, wry lyrics, golden voice and enigmatic style of Cohen have always made it one of my favorites. Nice work by Bono and team with back-up. It’s clear they recognized they were working with “rock” royalty.

One of the most beautiful and soulful versions of one of the most beautiful and soulful songs ever. Jimmy Cliff, feeling it.

Beautiful work from Riley Blakeway on Vimeo. Beautiful Play from Kelly Slater

I really love this concept: A professional surfer (former ASP World Champion and Central Floridian, CJ Hobgood), being sponsored by a non-profit group! TWLOHA (To Write Love on Her Arms) is an organization dedicated to providing help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA, founded by Jamie Tworkowski, is not only a non-profit, but also a surfwear brand. So people who support the brand also support the cause. It is a genius business model because it is also a very worthy one. 

CJ, along with his twin brother, Damien, are in my opinion, two of the best ambassadors the sport of surfing has ever seen. They’ve both been ripping for years, as adept at the newest of new school airs and rotes, as negotiating the heaviest of slabs at places like Teahupo’o and Pipe.

C.J. nearly abandoned his coveted spot on the World Tour last year, but a couple of outstanding late season competitive successes, along with a bit of self-reflection, convinced him to continue in 2012. Having the opportunity to be supported by and in turn, to be able to promote such a meaningful brand/organization like TWOLHA no doubt provided a fresh surge of motivation for Hobgood, a strong self-professed Christian.

If you’ve ever known someone who has struggled with depression or addiction, then you know how debilitating those things can be. I’ve seen it up close and personal and have watched how it affects not only the individuals experiencing the issues directly, but nearly everyone around them in one form or another. Hopefully, CJ and organizations like TWLOHA will be able to use a similar “ripple effect” in reverse to raise awareness for these kinds of problems, and marshall more resources to help those who are fighting to overcome them.

If you are a Fantasysurfer player like me, take it from someone who has finished in the Top 1% of all players worldwide for three years in a row: Keep you eye on CJ this year. Despite a significant influx of rising young talent, CJ is going to be surfing with renewed purpose. If they price him low (likely), be sure to pick him up. And if he under-performs (unlinkely), well– let’s just say that won’t really matter.

You see, some things in life are more important than surfing.

My 12 year old daughter, Kendall, along with her 13 year old cousin, Madison, have made their directorial debut, an epic film starring the much revered and reviled, “Popular Girls”! Despite the star power, I am not certain if this will make it to a theater near you, so here it is on YouTube. I think they did a bang-up job. Some nice editing, scoring  and special effects work, here. The acting’s pretty good, too. Below is the plot summary Kendall provided me. Grab some pocorn. Silence your cell phone. And enjoy…

“It’s Spring Break, and the ‘popular girls’ are going to Hawaii (not)! Somehow, they end up in…. Canada? The four girls go on many adventures in Pelly Mountain, some of which are hiking, escaping giant tires, bungee jumping – the usual. But only one comes out alive. This teaser will make you itch in anticipation to see the movie!”

This day at Teahupoo- Aug 27th 2011 during the Billabong Pro waiting period is what many have called the biggest and gnarliest Teahupoo ever ridden. Chris Bryan was fortunate to be there working for Billabong on a day that went down in the history of big wave surfing. The French Navy labeled it a, “Double Code Red” prohibiting and threatening to arrest anyone that entered the water.

Kelly Slater described the day by saying, “Witnessing this was a draining feeling being terrified for other people’s lives all day long. It’s life or death. Letting go of that rope one time can change your life and not many people will ever experience that in their life.”

There’s not a lot I can say about this clip that the list of awards below don’t already communicate. I am a surfer, not a skiier; blessed to live near the ocean, but unfortunately, not the mountains. But this trailer makes me want to ski. And film. And ski. And edit. And ski. And create soundtracks. And ski. And preserve the environment.

Most of all, it makes me want to go buy the DVD.

And sit. And watch. And feast.

“BEST FEATURE-LENGTH MOUNTAIN FILM” – Banff Mountain Film Festival 2011
“BEST DOCUMENTARY” – IF3 Film Festival Montreal 2011
“MOST INNOVATIVE VISUAL FX” – IF3 Film Festival Montreal 2011
“BEST SKI FILM” – Adventure Film Festival, Boulder 2011
“BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY” – ESPN Fan Favorites
“BEST FILM OF THE YEAR” – Adventure Film Festival, Copenhagen 2011
“PEOPLES CHOICE” and “BEST SKI FILM” – Fernie Film Festival, BC 2011
“BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY” – International Freeride Film Festival, France 2011
“BEST PICTURE” – International Freeride Film Festival, France 2011

Here is another clip from All.I.Can., the multi-award-winning extreme skiing film from Sherpa Cinema. This segment is titled, “Imagination”. Watch it, and you’ll see why. This whole film is nothing but imagination, at the least the parts I’ve seen to date (plan to purchase the DVD soon). It is so beautifully concepted, shot, filmed and edited. You can tell that the folks who created it are extremely passionate about what they do- their sport and their art. They are also insanely talented. It is dazzling.

Awards:

“BEST FEATURE-LENGTH MOUNTAIN FILM” – Banff Mountain Film Festival 2011
“BEST DOCUMENTARY” – IF3 Film Festival Montreal 2011
“MOST INNOVATIVE VISUAL FX” – IF3 Film Festival Montreal 2011
“BEST SKI FILM” – Adventure Film Festival, Boulder 2011
“BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY” – ESPN Fan Favorites
“BEST FILM OF THE YEAR” – Adventure Film Festival, Copenhagen 2011
“PEOPLES CHOICE” and “BEST SKI FILM” – Fernie Film Festival, BC 2011
“BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY” – International Freeride Film Festival, France 2011
“BEST PICTURE” – International Freeride Film Festival, France 2011

A lot has been written about Andy Irons from some of the surf world’s most notable personalities- people who knew Andy personally and interacted with him in a variety of ways.

So, I’ll offer some perspective coming from the rest of us– fans of Andy who knew him only through a prolific collection of videos, magazines and online webcasts, but who somehow still felt strongly connected to him, just as if he was one of our own crew paddling out, laughing, and sharing good times and bad with one another.

Keala Kennelly wrote in a moving tribute to Andy that her remembrance was “…one of the hardest things I have had to write about, because I don’t feel like anything I write will be good enough to honor Andy.”

Keala, if you happen to read this, it was better than “good enough”.

What was so beautiful about it is exactly what was so beautiful about Andy. It was an honest expression of emotion that came straight from the heart. And honesty in all things (writing, design, music, art, people…) is what ultimately makes them special and so compelling to all of us.

When I reflect on Andy’s passing, I do so coming from a perspective that is likely not too uncommon– that of a lifelong, die-hard Kelly fan, Andy’s long-time nemesis.

I viewed Andy as a “villain” (aka “asshole”) for a great part of his career until ultimately won over, not just by his incredible surfing, which was always undeniable; but by his fierce competitiveness, raw energy and passionate personality– no matter where that passion was directed.

But Andy’s rise from Antihero to Almighty, even amongst those of us who once rooted against him, wasn’t just about that endearing kinetic energy that oozed from him. No, what ultimately drove his popularity off the charts for all of us, the rest of us– even Kelly fans, was when he finally started owning his insecurities.

Not hiding them.

Not apologizing for them.

Just being authentic and admitting that he had them like everybody else. Just like Kelly himself did in front of Andy following the death of his father, as he so eloquently related in his own moving tribute to his career-long foe and good friend.

That’s why Andy became and remains one of my favorite surfers. 

 It’s one of the same reasons people are drawn to Dane. 

 And, it’s why Keala’s tribute wasn’t just “good enough”, it was freaking perfect.

You see– you can be a superhuman surfer… and still be human.

I didn’t know Andy, but I sure do miss him.

You can see a lot of that honesty on display in this gem of a video.

I am a huge fan of Dominic Wilcox. Dominic is a tremendously talented artist and designer who creates unique and imaginative objects, drawings and installations. His work is always surprising, generally profound and always fun. Visit his blog, Variations on Normal, and you’ll quickly lose yourself in his whimsical world.

I wanted to share some of his most recent work here- his “Moments in Time” watch sculptures. He’s created five of them here- tiny plastic sculptures brought to life by setting them upon the second hands of vintage mechanical timepieces. Included are scenes of love and protest, including a brilliant recreation of the “pepper spray incident” at the UC Davis Occupy protested earlier this year.

Like all great works of art and design, it is the conevyence of human emotion that allows the very best to transcend the ordinary. And Dominic has captured several varying moments in time so beautifully, giving them all eternal life, figuratively and literally.

Beautiful, Dominic.