Tag Archives: surfing

The GO PRO Aesthetic

As we’ve all noticed, I’m sure, GoPro videos have been popping up like crazy.  Well, I’m just going to say this: I think GoPro has revolutionized the DIY surf video.  An average kid who straps a camera to his head is no more a videographer than someone who point-and-shoots him from the sand, but the GoPro aesthetic is something new(-ish).  The perspective is interesting.  This type of video allows non-surfers to experience, if not what we feel, then at least what we see.  Those of us with mediocre ability may vicariously rendezvous with black diamond waves in top-shelf secret spots.  The usual film standards still apply (clarity, composition, editing, choice of musical accompaniment) and some GP videos are better than others, but they’re almost universally fun to watch.

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Super 8 D.R. from Marine Layer

Pretty soon, Dane is probably going to cut out those pesky middlemen (directors, editors) and just make killer surf movies all by his lonesome:

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more about “Marine Layer Productions“, posted with vodpod
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Small Apartments, Lots of Stuff

One of the funny things about living in New York is the way the smallest apartments can accommodate tons and tons of shit personal belongings.

Other funny things include angry bums, happy drunks, vegan chicken nuggets on restaurant menus, wind tunnels, $14 six packs, $1 shots, incognito celebrities, cats in bars, 9% sales tax, taxi drivers who disregard red lights, PORK ROLL VOID (more like tragic), the facility of spying on your neighbors, the fact that your neighbors (and you) are shameless… I could keep going, but let’s go back to the apartment thing.

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On the inside… Castles NYC

Okay, so here’s a random hodge podge (I said it) of thoughts I didn’t include in the SURFER story:

  • I was literally standing a foot from Dan Malloy for a good twenty minutes before we caught each others’ attention.  I said, “Hi.”  He said, “Hi.”  That was it.  I panicked.
  • Somehow, it was easier to approach Taylor Steele??  Maybe because this was a few hours later… anyway…
  • There were a ridiculous number of models present who made 5’8″ me feel short.
  • Motorcycle-riding girls who smelled of incense were strategically placed in theaters to add another dimension to the viewing experience.  Or, maybe that was a lucky coincidence.

Also, I learned the following lessons… Continue reading

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Billabong Odyssey & XXL Awards

The idea behind Philip Boston’s film Billabong Odyssey is really cool: assemble the world’s most notable big wave riders, dispatch them to exotic locations in search of enormous swells, and hopefully, that elusive 100-foot monster.  The documentary is a little bit choppy, but there are lots of compelling moments, like the end: Mike Parsons suffers an insane wipeout at Jaws.  A few minutes later, he catches the colossus that ends up as the film’s opening sequence.

The footage from Teahupo’o was actually one of my favorite parts; those wipeouts and over-the-falls clips are agonizing.

In related news, Billabong held its 10th Annual XXL Awards at the end of April.  The Biggest Wave Award went to Sebastian Steudtner for his ride at  Jaws on December 7th, 2009.  Check it out:

Even more related news: Read Zach Weisberg’s blog post on big wave surfing and the industry.

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India’s Artificial Reef = Success

Surfline recently posted an update about the artificial reef in Kovalam, India.  When I wrote about the construction of this reef a few months back, the story was met with a lot of skepticism — and understandably, after failed attempts like Pratte’s Reef in California.  Anyway, it looks like ASR made it happen in Kerala:

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Centaur Blog: Just because I believe in science…

I want this board.  And also, that magical — er, I mean, scientific — machine that uses Big Red to turn dreams into realities…

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Buying Forgiveness … via FINS

My board, which is really beginning to show its age, has never seen new fins.  I feel like a bad parent.  So, like many bad parents, I tried to redeem myself by shelling out.  In honor of its premier voyage to Cali – or should I say, return home – I bought it a new bag (which, hopefully, will protect it from disgruntled luggage handlers) and a new set of fins.

Buying fins is a seriously confusing endeavor.  I mean, I guess not if you buy them all the time.  I Googled something along the lines of “find best surfboard fins” (that is an embarrassing admission) and what I came up with were a bunch of sites that didn’t make it much easier.  You’ve got to consider the system first, right?  FCS.  Then the flex, depth, sweep, surface area… too technical for me.  I ended up just looking at the different features and benefits of each type.

I decided on FCS K-3 Glass Flex, mostly because if Kelly Slater says “you should be set for pretty much any sort of waves you find,” well, that sounds like a safe bet.  They’re also reasonably priced, but should be a definite upgrade from my 10-year-old plastics.  I’ll let you know how it goes…

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