Tag Archives: city

Nov 12 2010
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City Surf Fix, Contests, In the Name of Science

Kelly’s Numero Diez y No Hay Surfers en esta Ciudad!

Kelly Slater: Superhuman. That’s all I’m going to say about that.

I mostly just wanted to update you guys on the surfer stalking. I saw one character on the 6 train who I’m 96% sure was a surfer (very blonde and wearing a neon pink t-shirt) but he basically disappeared after getting off at Spring Street. I thought for sure he’d head to Saturdays, but no such luck. He has literally been the only person to set off my surfer-dar since I decided to conduct this massively creepy experiment, but I’ll not be deterred…

In other news, I am going to Tex-ass tomorrow for my dear friend Cody’s wedding and I’m super psyched–even though I’m missing this swellage:

Ah well, let me know how your sessions go!

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Nov 04 2010
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City Surf Fix, In the Name of Science

Birthday Month and Mad Science

November is what I like to call “Birthday Month.” Not only is my birthday (favorite day of the year, duh) this month, but so are the birthdays of several of my favorite people. Mom, I’m looking at you. The moniker is made even more appropriate (and relevant) by the fact that Water, Water will also be a year old on November 12th.

B.M. seems like the perfect time to get a little eccentric, so I’ve come up with this experiment. It’s based on a crackpot theory I have that surfers can recognize other surfers. I think it’s partly due to instinct, partly to keen observational skills (probably honed by constant lineup vigilance). RVCA hat, toned triceps, deeper base tan than most New Yorkers, less-than-perfect hair: pretty solid indicators. Nothing infallible, however. This is where instinct comes in. We have a vibe. Or maybe it’s a pheromone. Liable to be imperceptible to other species, it signals our presence to those in the know. Much like how bees are genetically capable of sniffing out fear, surfers are genetically built to ID other surfers. I am the best ever analogy creator. Anyway, that’s my theory. So here’s the fun part: I’m going to put it to the test.

For the next month, every time I see someone who my gut tells me is a surfer [within the confines of New York City] I am going to ask. I’m also going to ask if I can take his photo, so that I can post it here for you (all four of you) and maybe–just maybe–it can be like a game. You tell me if you agree with my assessment, and I’ll tell you whether your surfer radar is better than mine. I might rub it in your face if it’s not. But wait… shit. If your radar’s off, that kind of disproves my hypothesis. Whatever, let the creeping on innocent, Billabong-wearing strangers begin!

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Oct 03 2010
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City Surf Fix, Flicks, Local- New York/Dirty Jersey

New York Surf Film Festival 2010

An Experiment in Time Traveling.

2:00 p.m. Sunday (September 26, 2010)

I just evicted a gang of empty, green bottles that was squatting on the kitchen counter. They had overstayed their welcome; they reeked of last night’s party.

9:08 p.m. Saturday

As Lori and I watched Always Sunny, I tried to push a hundred thousand thoughts out of my brain. First and foremost: My brother Taylor and his friend Moe were not yet here–we were running behind schedule.

4:30 p.m. Saturday

SENT To: Lori Higginbotham: “do you think it would be better if i skipped the first movie then we could get some food and take taylor with us in the taxi?”

10:03 p.m. Saturday

By the time the driver deposits us at Canal and Varick, the free beer has been depleted, but we don’t know that yet. Outside the theater, I tap Christian on the shoulder. He turns around, blinks, and says, “Hey! Welcome home!” as he gives me a hug.

Inside, our remaining complimentary beverage options are Seven Tiki rum and Barefoot champagne. We opt for champagne. To start.

Continue reading →

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Sep 14 2010
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Local- New York/Dirty Jersey, Ship Shape

Ship Shape: Reservoir Running

I’ve been in my new apartment for exactly a week now. It is not a block from the beach, but it is a couple of blocks from Central Park–I can’t very well complain. I obviously have not been surfing every day, so I’m back to gym-ing and the like.

This morning, I ran (ok, jogged) around the reservoir in the park (ok, just part of the way). I got to play the “funcomfortable” game of Nanny or Mommy? which definitely helped distract me from the actual act of running. I discovered that once you get to the top of the reservoir, there is a really excellent view of the mid- and downtown skyline. Finally, and most importantly, I realized that the reservoir runners, who are of all ages and skill levels, employ a fascinating array of techniques, postures, and demeanors. In short, I don’t know if I’ll ever feel self-conscious about my form again. Which is a huge relief. I think I might actually like running in the park.

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Apr 27 2010
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Old News but Good News, Skate, Tech, Video

Billabong’s City Squared Skate @ 1,000 FPS

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about “Billabong Skate @ 1,000 FPSPhantom Ca…“, posted with vodpod
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Nov 17 2009
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Ship Shape

Ship Shape Part 1: YOGA

Part of my mission as a surf-thirsty city-dweller is to stay in shape.  Surfing is one of the few things capable of motivating me to exercise, so, fittingly for this site, I try to think about how each workout I do will affect my surfing.

I’m not a complete yoga neophyte, but I’m definitely not one of those people who do yoga twice a week, or even once every two weeks… well, you know what, I’ve done it before, let’s leave it at that.  The point is, I hear that it’s good for surfers, and I decided that as part of my “training” (heh.  I use that word extremely loosely) I would give this bendy thing another shot.

I’m not sure what I expected, exactly, from Yoga To The People, but after being buzzed into what felt like someone’s apartment building and spying the yoga room with lovely, calming hardwood floors and tranquil exposed brick, I thought, This shouldn’t be too bad. I paid $2 to rent a mat, set it out in uncomfortably close proximity to everyone around me, and before I knew it, I was sweating my ass off (literally, I hope).  By the end of the 60-minute class, all of these little, forgotten muscles felt utterly exhausted.  The next day, I’m almost as sore as that time I was crushed by a giant Australian.  Each and every muscle in my body hurts, which I’ll take as an excellent sign.  I plan to make this a semi-regular thing (at least once a month), so I’ll let you know how it affects my surfing, er, sometime soon, I hope.

Oh, P.S., did I mention it’s practically free?

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Nov 16 2009
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Uncategorized

Mucho Gusto

I love this city.  You know that “center of the universe complex” that people talk about?  Yeah, I’ve got it.  I moved here 2.5 months ago, from New Jersey (I’ll take no shit for that, thank you very much).  Maybe I’m still in the honeymoon period, but New York has brunch with all-you-can-drink beer, an abundance of art, falafel on every corner, millions of beautiful, intellectual people… so in short, it’s a Utopia.  Except for one thing: I am going through withdrawals.  As I said, it’s ironic because Manhattan is surrounded by water, and the ocean really isn’t that far away… if you happen to own a hovercraft.  Most of us city surfers (and especially the grad students like myself, who are seriously lacking in both free time and funds) need to take planes, trains, and auto-mo-busses to access an actual beach, which generally takes about an hour.  So here I’m going to document the ventures, adventures, and misadventures of an oceanophile stranded in the city, along with anything else I find even remotely relevant or interesting.

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