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Castles and Fire!!

Garrett Carmichael — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:26:00 GMT

I love my job. There is a number of reasons why, and one of them is product. The actual product i get to work with. Order, buy, sell, all of it is fun to me. Well lets just say this has been a great week for product. There was so much good stuff i'm not even going to get into it! Just going to mention two things that got me amped the most.

1) Castles In The Sky/ The new Taylor Steele movie is amazing. It is one of those rare movies that has a better sequel than the original. Sipping wasn't bad-it wasn't great- but i think they nailed it this time. It is super artsy-fartsy and i don't know if i'm just getting soft with old age or what, but i really dig the movie. Stunning scenery footage that tells a story in itself and the surfing is good. Really good. Five stars for sure, if you have a big HD tv screen with surround sound and don't own a copy of this movie your blowing it. Heres a link to the movies on website. http://www.castlesinthesky.tv/

2)New batch of Firewire El Fuego's that we just got in. As most of you know i am a fan of another epoxy brand that the shop carries, although the 5'6 FW Dominator helped me win the geriatric division at regionals this year, but i still know a good board is a good board and these look sick! We have them in every size from 5'5 to 6'5 and if your looking for a shorter wider shape, like everybody in the universe, then come by the shop and check em out! Heres a link to the firewire site http://www.firewiresurfboards.com/quiver_boards.php?boardid=el_fuego

Waves this weekend! Hope to see everyone in the water

Former LA lifeguard gets robbed!

Garrett Carmichael — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:56:00 GMT

Well i've watched this heat a couple times and i still think Slater should have won it. I'm a fan of Sean Holmes because hes been the wildcard, dreamcrushing, giant killer here at j-bay for years now, but i don't think he got this one? It was close for sure and heats like this make it tough to be a judge so i could be wrong. http://billabongpro.com/jbay10/videos-view/round_3_heat_8/

Other than that i would have to say this was Jordys event from the start. He knew he could win and proceeded to do so posting an average of 16 points a heat! The Saffa lion was definitly feeling comfortable at home and while he surfed solid his "modern c" cronies (Dane and Dusty) ,although having moments of brilliance, were just inconsistent and flaky throughout the event. Looks like Jordy might just be taking the title this year if he can keep this up. Congrats to Adam Melling, the cat who surfs like Fanning, for making the final!! Think its his first CT final so right on ya!! heres a clip of the final highlights
http://billabongpro.com/jbay10/videos-view/final/

The Withdrawls are over!!! J-Bay is here!!

Garrett Carmichael — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:56:00 GMT

The Billabong Pro started today at Jeffereys Bay in S. Africa. The waves were epic and flawless, the round one standouts were the usual suspects- Dane won his heat, Jordy, Kelly, Owen Wright, Taj, and Mick all did the same. I have watched all the heats and i must say everybody is ripping, even Marco Polo, so its tough to say who had the heat of the day? A couple guys got between 16.5-16.75 . I hate to say it but i think Bobby Martinez surfed the best in round one.It looks like all those Rincon sessions this winter paid off. When you get to the site watch all the heats especially Bobbys, but the link below is actually to Slater and Damien Hobgoods heat. Partly because Damien gets it together for his 2nd wave and throws down a brutal beating upon a perfect 6 ft boneyards runner, mostly because Slater does a carving 360 that is 100% bulls*#t!! I'm sorry folks, but this guy is here for blood and a 10th world title. Its not gonna be easy for Jimmy Slade, but watch this video and tell me its not possible.

http://billabongpro.com/jbay10/videos-view/round_1_heat_8/

The Hunters are back!!

Garrett Carmichael — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:12:00 GMT

Last year Alek Parker, Cory Lopez and a small crew of other dudes started making the "hurricane chasing" videos. They are sick little web vids, tightly packaged in a little series type deal, good music, good editing and overall good surfing. Their webisodes are definitly worth watching. Well they are back for 0'10 with their first one-- The Hunt. They chase hurricane Alex to the hellfire state of Texas! yeeehaww!! Check it out, like i said, its a great webisode.

http://www.surfline.com/video/webisodes/the-hunt-hurricane-alex_45418

Parko's curse!!

Garrett Carmichael — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:55:00 GMT

Joel Parkinson had another freak foot injury while surfing recently. He was out at Snapper a couple days ago and got pinched in a tube, the board flipped over and his foot was sliced by one of his fins. Watch the video link below, they said hes going to need something like 30 stitches, cut his foot straight through the muscle. Must be devastating for Parko considering J-Bay starts in a couple days. He won that event as a wildcard in 2001 and unfortunately this is the second year that a foot injury is taking him out of the title race. Bummer for one of the most stylish surfers alive

http://vimeo.com/13256022

Short and Fat is Good!!

Garrett Carmichael — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 02:42:00 GMT

Three things inspired this post. The article in the new Transworld Surf mag, all the custom Cannibals we have been ordering and our new batch of Teqoph surfboards that Bill Johnson shaped. Go to the links below. At the Teqoph site check out the Bullistic, the Module and the Capsule- we just got some of those in with a couple thumb tail shortboards as well. Then check out the Cannibal site, there is to many good boards to mention, the Conduit, RPG, the 5-fin R.Price; if you want an epoxy board those are the way to go!! As far as the Transworld article goes you have to get the mag to see it- Biolas basically says "for every inch you go shorter, you should add a quarter of an inch in width and an eight of an inch in rail thickness" thats a shortboard shape basically, not a wide nose fish, and of course its a little different for every surfer depending on where they are at.You have to go talk to a professional who knows whats they are talking about to figure out what will work for you. Go to the sites, then come check out some of the new boards at the shop, they still smell like fresh fiberglass

http://www.teqophsurfboards.com/boards.htm

http://www.cannibalsurf.com/boards.html

Flip Novack?

Garrett Carmichael — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:17:00 GMT

heres a link to a quick video of Flynn Novak popping a little flip air at rocky point. I would consider Flynn the opposite of a stylish surfer, as mentioned in the previous blog, his surfing screams tacky and gross all the way down to the giant back tatt. For the record i must point out he gets ridiculously shacked at big pipe, something i have and never will do, and i guess this video shows he can boost some sick little airs. The wind definitely made this thing possible, but nonetheless he did it without towing or winching. I like it, right on ya Flynnie!

http://www.surfline.com/surflinetv/no-category/flynn-novak_44987

Being Steezy ain't Eazy.....

Garrett Carmichael — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:12:00 GMT

I am a complete magazine junky, i love magazines, have them scattered everywhere throughout my house. Transworld Surf, and Skate, Thrasher, Surfer, Surfing and The Skateboard Mag to name a few. Recently while devouring some of these publications i stumbled across a couple articles focused on style. Arguments being made that style has become overlooked a little in this day and age of tail whip recoveries and flyaway non-flyaways (you know the ones where they fly out, land on their back, pet the kitty, roll up the windows, etc. etc.. then stand up a hundred yards in riding a dooky little dribbly piece of whitewater) Skating isn't as bad yet, style is still considered important, hell some pro skaters make careers off being steezy characters who just chill and crush it, with style, when their sponsors need them to. Rob Machado would be the surfing version of that, but hes paid his dues making it as a top level competitor, so its different.
I don't know, its a tough subject for me, i feel like i surf pretty decent, can squiggle through a heat, can boost a little air and maybe get a shot, but being a stylish surfer? Not my thing. I think my style is likened to a drunken gorilla? Kinda flaily and wild, but i get the job done, clear the woods so to speak? Anyways, coming in July the ASP is going to J-bay, a wave that really prefers a stylish surfer who can go fast and draw smooth lines. I'm going to pay close attention to how the judges award the stylish surfers who are making things look good, compared to the ones who are just completing manuevers getting the job done. Maybe if i study this enough i can start surfing as stylish as a sober chimpanzee.           heres a couple examples of style in action, let me know what u guys think about it? important? not so much?

  Mark Appleyard- one of most stylish skaters ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlgsYpFStSA,     heres a link to video of him killing it, watch his style, arm placement, smoothness


Joel Parkinson- stylie master conneisuer/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIhwbT3zrQQ link to Parko video, it has the sickest 50 cent remix to it! The song is great, its horrible really, but in a great way!

Video Review take 1: Cancer to Capricorn

Garrett Carmichael — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:10:00 GMT

Luckily Reef packaged their new movie, Cancer to Capricorn, with this months issue of Surfing magazine free of charge. Why you ask? Because this movie is one of the most mindless, commercial pieces of dribble i have ever been forced to sit through. Forced by who you say? Forced by my need to see something new and good besides Modern Collective. I'm over Kai Neville, the MC crew and everybody else whos jumped on that bandwagon, i have no room to talk i loved that wagon, haha . Unfortunately this was not the movie to watch hoping to be inspired and amped from something new. Its like a really bad tv commercial that keeps going. Crappy soundtrack, tons of slow-mo (stick a fork in my eye before making me watch the same standard air slow-mo'd over and over) throw in some shameless commercial clothing advertising and you have Cancer to Capricorn. Its enough to make me sick, shame on Reef for allowing this horrendous piece of boring garbage to ever be released. Tonino, Ben, Fanning and Nick rip! Not taking anything away from them. The guy who made this movie completely sucks.

Birdman does it again!

Garrett Carmichael — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 18:04:00 GMT

Check out Birdmans grovel to glory video that surfline just posted. I'll put the link to that below, i think its also on www.911surfreport.com with a rad Sunrise commercial before the video. The surfline take doesn't have the commercial at the beginning, but its got a little suprise sunrise love at the end! (trust me, make sure you watch it through, its hilarious!!) The video highlights Gabes 6.0 win, the volcom camp contest and some slow-mo t-tribe ripping at salt creek and lowers. Once again the birdman fly's in any weather and makes jax proud!

http://www.surfline.com/video/locals/grovel-to-glory_44261

The standard top turn of the future

Garrett Carmichael — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:02:00 GMT

This is were it needs to go, in ten more years the pros will be doing this as a stock top turn. This was Dusty Payne at the Bells event in his heat against Slater. Pretty filthy nosepick to nail in a heat, especially first turn off the bottom. I might be claiming this is the best maneuver done in a ASP event this year? Don't think he made it through the heat but he was up against Jimmy Slade so its not suprising.

little dAne, BiG BoaRD

Garrett Carmichael — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:50:00 GMT

Check out the video that is the 7th down from the top, called Damage inc, on Danes blog. It was from 2002' which means he was probably 15 years old, give or take a year or two. Destroying it, surfing fast, powerful and loose- trademark Dane. The funny part is the size of his boards? It looks like hes trying out some guns for mavericks or sunset maybe, the things gotta be 6'3 or 6'4? Just seems kind of bizarre because he rides such short boards now, one extreme to the other I guess. chek it out on the link below

http://www.marinelayerproductions.com/

www.SuckyBlog.com

Garrett Carmichael — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:37:00 GMT

Would just like to take a second and apologize to my readers for sucking so bad lately. Its not that there isn't anything going on out in the surf world, its just that i've been too busy to pay much attention to it. Working two jobs, getting busy with summer, surf lessons and life have made it tough to get on the c-puter and write. Anyways, some things have been made easier, one job and surf lessons for summer (gonna miss T-Lu's ) got life a little more in order, should be able to get back to posting useless dribble for everyones enjoyment. Plus the J-bay comp starts in July, i believe, so hopefully they will get a huge swell and we can see how the rookie tricksters fare against the staples in heavier, more challenging surf. Should be interesting, stay tuned.

Dane + Beer = Fun

Garrett Carmichael — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:22:00 GMT

This was the funnest contest i have surfed in awhile. It was a last minute impromptu running of the Rasta Gray Pro division. Beers from the end of our Saturday shift at the shop ended up being implemented down on the beach for the competitors Sunday morning. It all worked out well except for the fact that i drew Wayne who had been possessed by some holy jah spirit that was into throwing tail whips under the sections and imploding them on themselves. Killer. Bye bye twenty bucks. Watch those 3 or 4 turns he does in our heat? The waves were 2 foot crap and he was just stomping his foot in the perfect place on each wave. Impressive. Very impressive. I drank my beer better though chek the link below

disclaimer: everybody featured drinking in this video is over 21 years old. drinking beer is not cool, especially before you go surfing. skating maybe, surfing, no.....

http://vimeo.com/12222276

Used and Abused

Garrett Carmichael — Fri, 28 May 2010 22:55:00 GMT

This is not an attempt at shameless shop promotion but more so an attempt to hook up all my loyal blogg followers. We are having a huge memorial day sale this weekend, all kinds of stuff under the tents out front- crazy deals on shoes, clothes and all that good schwag, but more importantly we are going to have a huge sale on used boards! We are going to have a pile of used boards for $100, a pile for $150 and a pile for $250. If you need a backup board, or want to stoke out a neighborhood kid or family member, come by and grab a marked down board out of one of the piles. We can also make some deals on new boards as well, but you gotta come in and talk to me, Dane or Ty about that one. Should still be a little wave so go catch one or two, then come by the shop and see what we're hustlin'', Peace!

Visual candy!!

Garrett Carmichael — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:34:00 GMT

heres a link to a great blog from our photo friend Logan Bowles. These days anyone can get a good digital camera and shoot 57 photos until they get a good one (film used to cost to much to do that) That makes it a lot harder to decipher the good photographers from the average ones. Logan is a good one, a very good one and although hes young and hes got a lot to learn, i have no doubt hes got a great future ahead of him clicking away if thats what he wants to do. I'm putting this link in my favorites.

http://bowlesphoto.tumblr.com/

that tumblr site is cool! I think i'm going to start a blog reviewing imported beer on there! haha, wine too!

We are soooo Due!!

Garrett Carmichael — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:16:00 GMT

Waves have been fun the last two days. Nothing insane, but rideable and rippable for sure. Forecast looks good and i think everybody is ready to get in the water so there should be some insane surfing to watch. I know within the last two days i have already seen the likes of Jake McGuire, Dane Jefferies, Adam McGill, Seth Tiliakos, Justin Quintal, Jay "T Curren" Gordon and Slasher Nolan all busting airs, smacking lips and eating waves like hungry jackals. I mean that literally, between my two sessions i saw every person i named land a little boost or two. Top honors go to Jake for consistency- he landed about ten in a two hour period yesterday and all of them were clean and buttery. Asher for overall sickness and amplitude. He stuck one at the pier today that was a solid four feet high, frontside speed blast that he rotated around and rode out of clean. Keep your eye on the swell by checking 911, surfjaxpier and the buoys. Put some links to them below, see everybody in the water!

http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=41012

http://www.911surfreport.com/

HOsS BLaST!!!

Garrett Carmichael — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:10:00 GMT

Sunrise team rider Adam McGill goes winching with Joey from ridiculous winches and blasts this mutant air. They claim to have found a buttery winch spot somewhere between here and Vilano. As soon as my knee is better i'm going to hit it up with them and do a little recon mission. I keep tellin Hoss if he can do this on a 1 foot wave, then he can do it on a four foot wave (of course getting all that speed the winch provides isn't easy) I call this the Dane blast cause hes so centered over his board, but slightly tweaked. Sick.

Link to video that got me eggy :-)

Garrett Carmichael — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:36:00 GMT

heres the video that got me worked up, the narration is brutal, the guy sounds dead or something?

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/05/aerial-footage-bp-oil-spill-shows-gulf-bleeding-video.php

I never get political, but here it is......

Garrett Carmichael — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:20:00 GMT

Exxon Valdeez happened 21 years ago. I was a little kid when it happened and remember it being on the news every night for a month or so. Horrifying pictures and videos of baby seals, penguins and birds covered in a thick, sheeny black liquid that seemed to choke the life out of them. I was not able to realize the magnitude of what i was watching, not really comprehending the overall effects of the incident. The lost jobs, lost ways of life, the death of animals and mother nature in a place where they both were so alive and vibrant.
Fast forward to 2010, the world is a completely different place, we have high speed internet, cell phones for everyone in the household, fast paced life, fast food, fast everything, fast. Life is bigger, cars are bigger, houses are bigger, those fast food meals are bigger (super sized to be exact) and guess what, oil spills are bigger; a lot bigger.The oil rig that blew up in the gulf is dumping upwards of 200,000 gallons of oil a day into the ocean. I don't know exact numbers, as far as gallons, but the Valdeez incident did not involve anywhere near that much oil and it still caused massive death and destruction. BP makes billions and billions of dollars a year pushing their crude sludge to millions and millions of willing americans. The CEO's, owners and executives of BP are swimming in money, much like fish in the gulf are now swimming in oil. I don't feel like i need to say anymore about BP, if you give half a crap about this world we live in you will immediately stop supporting anything they own or do. Personally i would walk ten miles barefoot over broken glass before i would spend a dollar at a BP gas station filling my truck. I ask all of you to do the same, the only place BP will feel any pain is their wallets, and in my eyes, they deserve to feel pain.
Next up is the government, god knows that we arent going to go into debates about Obama vs. Bush idealogies, i'm just going to say one thing. We can put people on the moon, we can invent computers that move at the speed of light, yet we can't plug up a leaking oil pipe? Really? All the resources that the US government and US corporations have, and we can't stop a broken leak in the ocean? I find that hard to fathom, but lets take their side for a minute and say its not possible. If its not possible and not a fixeable leak,in a reasonable amount of time, then we have no business being out there drilling into mother earths gut ( i sound like a treehugger, haha).
Shame on BP and shame on our government for letting this continue, at least try and hit them where it hurts and stop supporting all BP gas stations and companies today. Its all we can do ( at least until the oil washes up, then we can physically go and try to save the wildlife that will be dying on our beaches and in our backyards)