Photo: pics22.com

I’m sure, if you are like me, you’ve done it. Can’t quite decide if it’s worth it or not, not quite sure you want to go through the hassle of putting on a wet suit, rushing for a quick session before work or during lunch, getting in trouble with your boss or wife. Not sure if conditions are right? You watch, ask others but get all sorts of answers.

Bet the same indecisiveness has happened in the water as well. You see a wave coming but you are not quite sure. Should I paddle for this one? Should I go? Is it going to hold up, is it too big or too small? Surfing, like the rest of our lives, is filled with opportunities, filled with decisions. How do you decide? What goes into your process?

I wish there was a quick and simple guide to making the decisions we make in and out of the water. I know that there are lots of factors that influence what we do. Sometimes we try to assess the risk.

Are we surfing over a shallow jagged reef or soft forgiving sand? Is the water 80 degrees or 40? Are we at our familiar local break or half way around the world surfing some isolated unexplored atoll? Could be we might simply be afraid to get out of our comfort zone, scared to confront the known or unknown.

It might just be a habit, a learned behavior, doing the same thing over and over, repeating, accepting and maybe even enjoying the pattern. Sometimes though these behavior patterns might just get us in trouble.

In surfing, like in life, it’s really important to understand why and how we do things. It’s not an easy process but confronting ourselves, our habits, our vulnerabilities and strengths, as well as our habitual behaviors is critical. We need to be able to look inward, accept responsibility, figure out what we can control and what we can’t, whether to blame other factors or accept responsibility, ownership.

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Perfect waves of all sizes (standard size between 1,2-1,9 m), lengths (standard length around 18 second surfing ride duration), shapes and speeds are consistently generated in a safe, natural environment using much less energy than any other wave generator in history.

Sources: wavegarden.com

Photo: Annie Babineau

The session was very successful and enjoyed by all participants and their families. Emily saw the potential to carry out additional research and created a more involved study the following season. In May-June of 2012, children and volunteers again teamed up for an 8-week surf program that would observe the benefits of surfing and the ocean had on the children in the study.

“Overall, we have had amazing success with the program,” said Emily. “Using a special watch that measures physical activity, we have been able to monitor each child’s development with the surfing program. We began the observations two weeks before the first surf session, and we will continue it for two weeks after it concludes.”

Assistant Professor Clapham said that even though the program is only ½ way through, “We have seen notable improvement in three major categories, core muscle and strength, balance, and upper body strength.” She continued. “The ocean and surfing has a calming effect even on the severely autistic children in the study.”

Several people are involved in the research project, including Clapham, Linda Lamont, Jennifer Audette, and Bethany Hamilton-Jones. They have collaborated with the local surf shop and school, Narragansett Surf and Skate, which provided the wetsuits and surfboards. “The owner of the shop, Peter Pan, sat down with me and designed a very successful wetsuit that is specifically made for several sizes of children with Down’s Syndrome,” said Emily.

“He made up the suits after combining the median heights, weights, and body lengths of several children with Down’s in the study. Working with Hyperflex Wetsuits, a fully zippered suit was created that comes on and off in less than one minute. It has been a huge hit with our Down’s students. Most can put in on and take it off by themselves. This has to be the first ever custom made wetsuit to cater to Down’s Syndrome children. It is as unique and special as our program and study.”

Ronnie Oatley and Ryan Booth both have autism. Their mother, Cindy Oatley summed up what she thought of the program in one sentence. “For the two months that this goes on, it is the highlight of our week.”

This is the second year that 13-year old Ryan has been surfing, and Cindy noted that he has learned skills on the surfboard and has improved his balance significantly over the course of the study. “Ronnie has severe autism and will totally calm down after riding waves for one hour,” said Cindy. “Although only 7 years old, he has already taken to surfing and being at the beach.  He doesn’t want to leave.”

14-year old Allie Babineau is a veteran of the program, and has been involved in it since the first “Learn to Surf Day” in 2011. “She has enjoyed it so much, that we decided to take our son, Nate to this year’s study. He, too loves it,” said Anne Babineau, the children’s mother. “Allie has Asberger’s, and does not like to exercise at all,” she continued. “This program has given her a goal to reach, and she now has a real sense of pride in her surfing. This exercise she likes!”

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Sources: Surfers Village

Photo: AP Photo/The Tribune, Jayson Mellom

The thing is, your dog can surf. It’s not a matter of his own abilities, but of your patience and commitment toward training him. With a well thought out plan and a cool demeanor, your dog could be surfing by the summer.

Follow these steps and before you know it, your dog will be a surf dog.

1. Get the right board. Step number one, above all else, is to get the proper surfboard for your dog. There’s plenty of debate on what makes a good dog board or not. Many people say foam’s the way to go, but foam can hurt your dog’s paws and can easily turn into a chew toy.

On the other hand, foam is a lot lighter, meaning if your dog wipes out and gets hit by his board, a foam board will be far more welcomed than, say, a fiberglass board.

You can also choose between small “boogie” boards, or longboards. Your best bet is to start with a small, foam boogie board, to give your dog the confidence he needs. Over time he may progress to fiberglass longboards.

2. The water. We know we just said that choosing the right board is numero uno, however, you also have to make sure your dog likes water. If you’re not sure, then don’t introduce both water and board at the same time. There are a number of ways you can safely introduce your dog to water so that he’s not afraid of it. Be sure your dog is confident in the water before you throw a board into the mix.

3. Start small. Don’t go into the Atlantic or Pacific for your first go-around. Try a pool or pond, any place where you don’t have to battle waves, and you can easily touch the ground.

Your first step is to have fun with your dog, in the water. Bring your board, but don’t formally introduce it. Let your dog sniff it out, touch it (treat him if you wish), and let him make the connection that this “thing” and the water equals a good time.

4. Dry run. Now that your dog knows the board in what will become its natural environment, it’s time to put him on it. But don’t do so in the water. While you’re out of the water, place your dog onto the board at his own pace. Don’t force him if he seems apprehensive. Maybe throw a few treats on the board to encourage him. When he gets on the board, place him where you’d prefer him to be (around ⅔ of the way back), and treat him for being where you want him to be.

5. The vest. Go through this dry run a few times, until your dog knows where to stand on the board. Once he’s comfortable, there’s one more thing you have to introduce, and that’s your doggie life vest. Even if your dog is an amazing swimmer, you want the vest. What if your dog gets injured and can’t swim well? What if you need to pull him back onto the board (or your own board) but can’t grab a hold of him when he’s wet? A vest will make all of this much easier to handle. You may want to introduce the vest in a place where your dog is extremely comfortable, like in your home. Give him treats as you put the vest on, and only make him wear it for a short while at first. Over time you can keep it on longer.

6. The run. Okay, your dog now knows how to stand on the board, and he knows that the vest is okay. It’s time to take him out on the water. Since you’re using a boogie board, you’ll want to push him out into the water from behind (like a parent does to a child learning how to ride a bike). Perhaps all you’ll do the first few times is go a few feet into the water. What you want to avoid is keeping your dog on the board for too long, too early, so that he jumps off. Once he learns to jump off, that’s a tough habit to break.

Continue reading, here

Sources: allpetnews.com | Author: Richard Christian

Over the years, photos and videos have surfaced around the Internet of Kelly Slater training jiu-jitsu – from sessions with former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort to world jiu-jitsu champion BJ Penn, but we’ve only seen glimpses of his talent on the mat.

SurferToday recently detailed Slater’s history with martial arts, which started as a young boy when he met Don Dragon Wilson, a world kickboxing champion. According to the article, Slater then enrolled in Wilson’s academy and did karate until he was introduced to jiu-jitsu during his first trip to Brazil in 1982.

During his trip, Slater met the Gracie family, widely recognized as godfathers of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a style that focuses on the principles of leverage and technique, instead of brute force and strength.

Interestingly, when the Gracie family (and other jiu-jitsu practicing Brazilians) migrated to the United States and spread jiu-jitsu, their primary destinations happened to be surf spots. Rickson Gracie, considered by many to be the greatest Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner of all time, used to surf in California.

After Slater became close with the Gracie family in Brazil, he began exchanging surfboards for jiu-jitsu classes with Rickson, according to SurferToday. Apparently, the connection between surfing and jiu-jitsu was not coincidental. In a NY Times article, Slater commented:

Continue reading and watch the video, here

Sources: The Inertia | Author: Carly Long

Nihiwatu Beach, Sumba, Indonesia

Photo: cntraveller.com

Nihiwatu Beach at number 17. In some ways, the perfect beach. It’s remote (an hour’s flight from Bali then a 90-minute drive) with fine, clean sand, clear water, almost no people and amazing sunsets. It is home to the impressive Nihiwatu resort and is best outside wet season.

Highlight: For surfers, the incredible left-hand break. For everyone else, as dusk approaches, a chance to join local villagers as they scour a section of a nearby reef at low tide for octopus, crabs and seaweed.

Canggu Beach, Bali, Indonesia

Photo: tripadvisor.com

Canggu beach at number 39. This surf-perfect coastline has everything from easy waves to serious breaks. The scene is unpretentious and the mood laid-back. The crowd is heavy with adventurous people who know Asia well.

Worth knowing: There’s little nightlife here; instead, travelers kick back with themselves and locals

Pulau Derawan, Indonesia

Photo: adventurenusantara.com

Pulau Derawan at number 63. Tourist accommodations are no-frills here, and that’s what makes the place special. Most visitors will be able to spot turtles wading about on the island’s spotless silvery beaches.

Highlight: The waters surrounding Derawan are known to be a home to manta rays and green turtles.

Watch the full list of World’s 100 best beach, here

Sources: cnn.com

Photo: bigwaveworldtour.com

“We are very pleased to have finalized the deal between the ASP and the Big Wave World Tour,” Paul Speaker, ASP CEO, said. “The competitors on the BWWT are some of the fiercest and most-respected watermen on the planet and we are eager about the opportunity to take their tour to the next level. This arrangement also allows the world’s best surfers on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) to compete in big-wave events moving forward. 2014 will be an exciting year on all fronts.”

Currently servicing six international big wave events in Pichilemu/Chile, Punta Hermosa/Peru, Lincoln City/Oregon, Half Moon Bay/California, Baja California/Mexico and Punta Galea/Spain the Big Wave World Tour was founded by Gary Linden and pits the world’s best big wave surfers against the elements in some of the most intense venues on the planet.

“The Big Wave World Tour is thrilled to be joining the ASP family,” Gary Linden said. “ASP run the best events in the world and we’re thrilled to have their support and guidance as we continue to build the platform of big wave surfing. We also look forward to seeing some of the world’s best surfers tackle some of the world’s biggest waves in the coming years.”

The new-found arrangement between the ASP and the BWWT will allow for top ASP surfers such as 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 41, reigning ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS), 32, Hawaiian phenom John John Florence (HAW), 20, amongst others to join respected BWWT surfers like Greg Long (USA), 28, Grant Baker (ZAF), 40, and Carlos Burle (BRA), 45, in competition with waves in the 25-foot-and-above range.

“The Big Wave World Tour is a great addition to the Association of Surfing Professionals,” Kieren Perrow, ASP Commissioner, said. “It adds another dimension to the sport and will make it significantly easier for ASP Top 34 surfers to compete in big-wave events. We have the utmost respect for the athletes on the BWWT and we really look forward to working with them.”

The acquisition of the Big Wave World Tour will complement the current ASP tours of the men’s and women’s ASP World Championship Tour, the ASP World Junior Tours, ASP World Longboard Tours and regional tours around the globe.

The Big Wave World Tour is currently on high alert for a possible run of the Quiksilver Ceremonial at Pichilemu in Chile in the coming days.

Sources: aspworldtour.com

photo: datensklaven.de

The Bottom Turn
“Like most maneuvers, a good frontside arc begins with a solid bottom turn. You want to have some speed going into the turn to do it properly. When I’m driving down the line, I like to have my back foot at the top of the tail pad, but when I begin my turn, I place my foot farther back on the board, almost over the back fin. By placing your foot that far back, near the smallest width of your tail, you’re able to pivot your board a lot more. You’ll want to explode off the bottom, but as you approach your turn, take your foot off the gas a little, it’ll allow you an opportunity to set up your move.”

Keep Your Chest Open, Head Up
“As you approach the section of the wave where you want to do your turn, you’ll need to transition your weight off of your front foot and onto your back foot. From there, you can begin moving the pressure from your toes to your heels. This is where it gets a little tricky and most people make mistakes. From the moment you start your turn until you finish it, it’s really important to keep your chest open and your head up. You’ll need to do that to create drive throughout the turn. I think that’s the number-one mistake most people make. You’ve gotta keep your chest open and your head up.”

Turn Off Your Back Foot
“How you actually execute your turn depends on the type of turn you’re looking to do. If you’re looking to do a short, in-the-pocket turn, you’ll need to put most of your weight on your back foot. For a turn like this, you’ll also want to get your front arm out of the way as soon as you begin your turn. Try and put your arm behind you quickly and turn through your core. This will help initiate your turn.”

Continue reading, here

Sources: surfermag.com | Author: Jeff Mull

photo: wallpaperhi.com

From the innovative surf gear to maritime science, surfing has been collecting stories, records and achievements. Did you know that…

1. The Hawaiian Islands are the most isolated archipelago on planet earth.
2. The windiest surf city in the world is Wellington, capital of New Zealand.
3. The tallest tsunami ever recorded so far is the 1958 Lituya Bay mega tsunami, which had a record height of 524 meters (1740 feet).
4. Polyurethane foam was created during the World War II as insulation for refrigerators and airplanes.
5. The first competition won by a thruster surfboard was the Bells Beach Classic, in 1981.
6. Mike Stewart was the first to surf Teahupoo in 1987.
7. Kelly Slater generally starts his day with hot water and lemon.
8. Swells were used by Polynesian navigators to maintain course when no other clues were available, like in foggy nights.
9. Tsunami waves can’t be surfed because they’re too fast and only made of whitewater.
10. Archimedes discovered the law of buoyancy that applies to the surfboard size charts.
11. Teahupoo, the world’s heaviest wave, has claimed the lives of five surfers, since 2000.
12. Surfing has been considered the 20th most dangerous sport in the world.
13. A trained surfer can hold his breath for about four minutes, while the static apnea record holder does it for more than 11 minutes.
14. The highest tides in the world can be found in Canada, at the Bay of Fundy. Sometimes the difference between high and low tide is 16.3 meters (53.5 feet).

Read more fact and history at http://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/8836-things-you-didnt-know-about-surfing

Sources: Surfer Today

Photo: Frank Quirarte/BillabongXXL.com

The 32-year-old Santa Cruz resident caught the superlative wave on December 21 during a terrifying session at the Cortes Bank, a notorious offshore hazard to shipping located over 100 miles west of San Diego in international waters. Dollar won a total of $30,000 in capturing both the Pacifico Paddle and the XXL Biggest Wave divisions at the 13th Annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards held on May 3 at the Grove Theater in Anaheim.

A panel of experts measured the wave at 61 feet on the face. Dollar caught the wave using only human paddle power, yet it turned out to be bigger than any waves caught by any means in the last year — including those caught with the use of jet ski assists.

This is not Dollar’s first visit to the Guinness Records pages.  In 2010 he rode a wave at Maverick’s off Half Moon Bay, which was measured at 55 feet and surpassed the previous best set by Taylor Knox in Mexico in 1998.  Dollar’s first tenure as a record holder was short-lived, however, when Hawaiian surfer Shane Dorian bettered the mark with a 57-footer at Jaws, Maui the following year. “Is this really happening?” asked Dollar rhetorically after his XXL victory.  ”Are we really paddling into waves bigger than what we used to tow?  It’s surreal, it’s such an honor.”

How big did that wave seem to him as he experienced it, alone, 100 miles from shore?

“It’s hard to put numbers on those things, but it was the biggest wave I’ve ever seen in my life,” Dollar said.

The announcement on the Guinness World Record website can be viewed, here

Sources: surftweeters.com