The Seedling

Thomas Campbell's first film, The Seedling, is "a documentation of a small pod of California log riders. Shot entirely on 16mm." The film features Devon Howard, Joel Tudor, Seitaro Nakamura, Erik Sommer, Kassia Meador, as well as Skip Frye and Donald Takayama. An essential logging flick, "The Seedling is a gift for you, a movie in full trim." Click here to watch the first few minutes of the film.

Memo from the Surf Desk: Tres Generaciones?

Jesus. Look at these sorry bastards. Tres Generaciones? More like a couple of potheads and a pompous asshole. Imagine these three in the water, playing Grab-Ass in the lineup. No one would have a wave. But let's be honest, can they even surf? My guess is that they'd need a canoe to catch a goddamn wave. Where'd you find this photo, Mr.Coffey? Clearly some idiot thought you three looked good together. History in the making? How about has-been's and a never-was. Let me suggest something, gentlemen - forget this surf shop slash blog bullshit and just stick to riding desks and delivery trucks ;)

Sincerely,

Duke Dangerpants

Sports Illustrated - May 18, 1964

In May of 1964, a small group of Southern California surfers were featured in Sports Illustrated. The piece centered around the burgeoning So-Cal surf scene and what swimsuits these young folks were wearing. Ricky Young was among those photographed for the magazine.

Friends With Benefits

Early last Spring, on a weekend trip to a western beach break, Karissa and I noticed something sitting beneath a tree not far from our camp - a green(ish) 1975 Volvo 245 DL station wagon. Flat hood, round headlights, roof rack and a Humboldt State University sticker across the back window. Who owns this thing?! Clearly some wild-eyed, long hair hippie from Northern California! But what on earth are they doing here, on this long forgotten piece of land at the end of our great state?

The Black Knight of Malibu

"My whole life is this escape; my whole life is this wave I drop into, set the whole thing up, pull off a bottom turn, pull up into it and shoot for my life, going for broke man. And behind me all this shit goes over my back: the screaming parents, teachers, police, priests, politicians, kneeboarders, windsurfers - they're all going over the falls headfirst into the reef; headfirst into the fucking reef, BWAH! And I'm shooting for my life. And when it starts to close out, I pull out to the bottom and out to the back, and I pick up another one and do the same goddamned thing again."

- Miki Dora

Sight | Sound

Produced by Mickey DeTemple, the surfer-slash-director responsible for Picaresque, Sight | Sound is another film free of dialogue, featuring a group of talented surfers doing what they do best. Set to a rather eclectic soundtrack, DeTemple's new flick is available at most of our local surf shops.

Surf Hell's Kitchen

New York is a big city. Bars on every block, restaurants and retail shops all over the place. But a surf bar in the Big Apple? A little slice of paradise amidst the chaos. Nothing's missing in New York. Named after a small French island located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, Réunion is located in the basement of an old building in Hell's Kitchen, on the northeast corner of 44th and 9th. The sign out front reads: 'Turn an average Beach Day into an EPIC TALE OF RADNESS.' Sounds like my kind of show.

The Wolves

Off his debut album, Every Kingdom, here's Ben Howard's latest song, 'The Wolves,' set to some footage from Protect Our Waves, a film directed by Richard Stewart, starring Gabe Davies and Nathan Phillips.

Climate Change

I thought I was ready to move. Somewhere south. Somewhere warm. I thought that somewhere else might solve my problems... and then I surfed in the snow. I know, it sounds strange. You'd think that surfing in the snow would produce the opposite effect - sending me south even sooner. But it did just the opposite. It reaffirmed my forgotten feelings for the Northwest - Allow me to explain.

The White Buffalo

What I've been listening to lately.

Memo from the Surf Desk: White Devils

Strong off-shore winds create walls of white water. Tumultuous, terrible waves. Pushing in from across the Pacific - or a storm somewhere to the north. You surf them, though. I have. But they're more fear than fun. Sliding down the face of that big white devil. Feet at the back of your board. Arms outstretched, reaching for something... stability perhaps. Bottom turn is always a bit late. Back up that bloody thing. That face. Into the pocket, down the line. Too afraid to look over your shoulder. You know the bastard is back there, chasing you. But you don't want to see its face. The bully. Looking to pound your chest, knees on your elbows so you can't fight back. The bastard. There's ways to avoid these confrontations. The beating you'll likely receive when playing with white water. You can stay home. Stay warm. But where's the fun in that? What good would that do you? Someone has to dance with the devil.

Sincerely,

Duke Dangerpants

The Progress Project - Recycled Billboard Bags

Made from reclaimed and re-purposed billboards (UV treated vinyl that is both tear resistant and water proof), these board bags are the result of a San Diego surfer with a passion for ecology and reclaimed materials. Dubbed 'The Progress Project,' the bags are handmade in So-Cal and feature 1/4" closed cell foam padding, "which acts like one of those soft coolers you keep your lunch in." They range in size from six to ten feet and include a removable shoulder strap and a lifetime warranty.

Follow the link for additional information.