Delray Beach is the Best Small Town in Florida, according to readers of Rand McNally's "Best of the Road" website.
Although the Village-by-the-Sea would love to have claimed a bigger trophy, the 262 votes Delray Beach received — for categories such as Most Beautiful, Best For Food and Most Patriotic — left it far short of the 2,662 votes cast for Denton, Texas, which was named the Best Small Town in America.
via Best of the Road
The official program will be unveiled wednesday May 30th, but here’s some idea of what’s on...
This year there will be a pretty cutting edge program, some of the best international surf films, up and coming local filmmakers, and a new killer concept!
Extended Vision is a series of masterclasses and collaborative short film shooting with IPhones. Jack McCoy, Keith Malloy, Kepa Acero and Igor Bellido will share some of their secrets of making a good surf film. followed by four hours of filming in La Zurriola Beach, four directors, four groups of students, four hours of editing and Voila! This project is curated by Juan Azpitarte. Reserve your slot quickly as there are very few places available.
via DriftSurfing
Glenn Francis
Originally from Corpus Cristi, Texas, Glenn now resides in Encinitas CA., and Costa Rica. His dramatic paintings capture that special moment in surfing on a perfect day, or as they say in Costa Rica, "pura vida", which translates to a pure moment in life.
Through the years Glenn has worked in Galleries, shaped surfboards, and chased the perfect wave, while evolving into one of the most renowned and dynamic surf artists.
Look who just got the Number One rating for Sunscreen! Our good Friends at #Rawelements. I am a big advocate to great sunscreen ever since a friend of mine died because of melanoma. I also have a fair complexion so I am particularly at risk for skin Cancer! I use sunscreen everyday and I am a bit of a nut when it comes to which one I will use. I stumbled upon the guys at Raw Elements a little while ago and had to try it out. I have never used a better sunscreen! What I really love about this stuff is the complete lack of chemicals that are present in most other Sunscreens. Did you know for the most part those chemicals are actually doing you more harm than good. This is where these guys step in. so give it a try you can find it on our store at
http://www.shop.slydehandboards.com/product/eco-formula-30
GET INVOLVED - Creative Chakra Spa is hoding a benefit for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation "Life Rolls On"
Saturday May 19th, 12PM-6PM
Live Music, free Chair Massage, Local Art, Free Mini-Facials, free Paddleboard intros, Raffle, free Surfboard intros, sample products, meditation, yoga sessions, fireside chat, free Tea and Elixers, Aromatherapy, Live Art performance, and more...
California native/Surfer/Speaker/Founder JESSE BILLAUER
Despite a C6 spinal cord injury in 1996, Jesse Billauer is a professional surfer, motivational speaker, and founder of Life Rolls On. Featured in the surf epic Step Into Liquid, Jesse's life has been made into a fewature film, Jesse's Story. As LRO's Director of National Outreach, Jesse inspires millions each year through speaking engagements and television appearances.
Word is spreading! Refraction Magazine's Spencer Higgs caught up with us at the most recent Surf Expo. In his latest article "This is About Getting Tubed" he lays out exactly what's to love about getting off your stand-up, why bodysurfers are growing in numbers, and how the boards and culture Slyde's been building have been gaining such a following:
"My eyes and mind suddenly wide open, I grew more and more curious about handboarding/bodysurfing/handplaning—whatever you choose to call it—and found that Slyde is a far cry from the standard handboards. Much larger than the standard plane, each model (with the exception of their seriously avant-garde shapes) resembles a surfboard. This is no accident, it’s physics: a bigger handboard increases the surface area of your hand, giving you more lift and more speed. Speaking of hands, Slyde employs the hand of four talented shapers, Donald Brink, Jason Hoffman, Tim Patterson, and Marius Jaubert, whose surfboards are highly reputed throughout Orange County. With surfboard-shaping precision, epoxy construction, and applied hydrodynamics, Steve and his team of shapers design and produce these handboards, the best you’re likely to come across. Holding one in your hand you feel the sharpness of the rails, the curve of rocker and concave, and it’s clear: these are to wave riding what metal is to mosh pits." - Spencer Higgs, Refraction Magazine
Check out some of these evil looking waves from Billabong Pro Tahiti!In 2011 this World Surf Tour was placed on hold due to a massive swell bearing down on the famed big-wave spot, Teahupoo. With forecasts calling for unprecedented surf, some of the greatest surfers in the world descended on the island to be in the water, despite a "Code Red" called by the Tahitian Coast Guard, which sought to keep everyone on shore. See the historic day through the eyes of two surfers -- the young gun Laurie Towner and the veteran Dylan Longbottom -- as they catch some of the biggest, most dangerous surf ever recorded, much of it captured with the super slow motion Phantom Camera for never-before-seen imagery.
Festival highlights include performances by Dustbowl Revival, La Santa Cecilia, Lux Aeterna and Vaud & The Villains, fitness classes, eco-friendly workshops and a Santa Monica Farmers Market “Chef Challenge” cooking competition.
via Yo!Venice!
SURFING FLORIDA
Friday, March 16, 2012
Florida Atlantic University’s University Galleries will host a series of public programs to mark the closing of the “Surfing Florida: A Photographic History” exhibition on Saturday, May 12 from 3 to 8 p.m. in the Schmidt Center Gallery, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. The event will include slide shows, a film screening, lecture and music.
Pictured above, in the center, is a promo poster designed by David Carson for the opening of SURFING FLORIDA, which is taking place on Friday, March 16, 2012. Beneath it is a Bill Whitman photo album showing images of a South Florida Tom Blake-style paddleboard, circa 1930s-1940s, courtesy of Angela Whitman. The background contains a print proof of an exhibition panel with a Tom Servais image ofCory Lopez in Tahiti, 1999 - Surfing Florida Project
“Surfing Florida” is an exhibition documenting the nearly 100-year history of surfing and surf culture in Florida through photographs by more than 60 photographers; media stations including excerpts of Hollywood films like “Gidget,” interviews with numerous important Florida surfers, and many core surf films. The exhibition also includes a collection of more than 50 surfboards — from a 1930s-era Tom Blake hollow board to a contemporary board by shaper Matt Kechele whose 1979 “Kech-Airs” were the first successful forays into the most progressive phenomena in today’s surfing, aerial surfing.
TDC International Surf Festival
Sans Souci, Trinidad12 - 13 May, 2012
Nils Schweizer, Icah Wilmot, Joshua Burke and others to compete
The 3rd edition of the TDC International Surf Festival is set to take place this weekend, May 12th & 13th, in Sans Souci, Trinidad. The lure of a US$10,000 prize purse and a weekend of quality beach entertainment have once again attracted Top International Pro Surfers to our shores. Five Venezuelan professionals, including ISF10 Open Champion Rafael Pereira and ISF11 Open Men’s Champion Francisco Bellorin, are confirmed and will be defending various titles.
Top Jamaican Surfer Icah Wilmot will be representing Jamrock, surfing in the Open Men's Division. From Barbados there will be several top surfers participating including Chelsea Tuach, who recently ranked #11 female surfer in the ISA World Junior Championships 2012.
Also confirmed from Barbados is junior surfing phenomenon Joshua Burke who put on quite a show of aerial performance surfing at ISF11, finding himself as the 'Poster-Boy' for this years International Surf Festival. Josh, who was recently featured as #19 in Surfer Magazines 'Hot 100' Under 21 surfers in the world, will be competing in both Pro Junior (U21) and Open Men's Divisions.
Read more @ SurfersVillage
Wow so apparently...the iconic Venice Gold's Gym will be closing it's doors when it's lease expires at the end of June. Guess who's got eyes on the prime real estate? Yep, it's neighbor Google. Shocked? Nope.
According to Yo! Venice!
"With its 45 years of history, this Los Angeles landmark was once the second most popular tourist attraction in the LA area after Disneyland, but alas, times have changed and the ‘Mecca of Bodybuilding’ is slowly transforming into the Mecca of Millionaires, or ‘Silicon Beach’ in techno-blog-speak.
According to former Gold’s Gym Venice owner Ed Connors, Google has bought the building and the surrounding real estate, with grand designs on walling off the streets and creating a SoCal campus to rival its Mountain View ‘university’. If this is accurate, Gold’s Gym appears to have dropped the ball, and with undeveloped real estate (and mandatory) in the area in short supply, the death of Gold’s Venice is but a foregone conclusion."
Woah these are two badass artists! Backwoods Gallery and House of Bricks, under the curation of Alexander Mitchell proudly bring you separate yet intrinsically connected exhibitions of two Australian street artists, Phibs and Brad Eastman, (Beastman).
Spread across two galleries on the same Collingwood block the duel exhibitions will present the the styles, connections, influences and friendship of two of Australia's leading street artists.
The opening night party will take place across the neighborhood with the extension of murals between the two galleries.
27th April - 6May - Opening Night 27th April. 6-9
Phibs - Perfectly Imperfect - Backwoods Gallery - 25 Easey Street, Collingwood
Beastman - Natural Progression - House Of Bricks - 40 Budd Street, Collingwood
Phibs is the one of the most respected and renowned name in Australian Graffiti and Street Art.
Responsible for the tutelage of many of Australia's leading street artists including the Everfresh crew and fellow exhibitor Beastman, Phibs's crisps iconic freehand delineation are so clean and precise that they are often mistaken for stencils, the product of decades of practice in the mastery of aerosol.
His public artworks are prolific in Melbourne & Sydney and are far-flung across the globe. Several of his works have been acquired by the National Gallery of Australia for its permanent collection. He has painted so many walls around Fitzroy, an inner suburb of Melbourne, that the suburb has affectionately become known as ‘Phibsroy’ by the locals.
Phibs distinctive style signifies the symbiotic, engaging the urban with the organic. He produces works across a vast variety of mediums and consistently reflects his own unique realms of symbolism, multiculturalism and mythology. Largely inspired by nature, his works have spawned a menagerie of signature characters.
'Natural Progression' is a continuation of the artist's successful
'Cosmic Nature' exhibition which took place Sydney in December 2011.
In his first show here since July 2010, Beastman is bringing to Melbourne his unique style and new direction. Travelling around Australia and the world painting large scale aerosol works has noticeably evolved his unique and well recognized style. Alongside his
new paintings, this exhibition will celebrate the release of a new limited edition print and will also feature an installation of many unseen drawings, sketches and other materials. The installation will expose the artist's thoughts and artmaking processes whilst revealing
the natural progression of his work over the last two years.
Astonishingly talented NYC painter Ran Ortner is originally from the w. coast. San Francisco specifically, and then rural Alaska. When he hit 18 he began to surf all over Cali & Mexico. His eye for capturing the detail and movement of waves will blow you away.
About Ran:
In 1966, at the age of five, Ran Ortner moved from San Francisco to rural Alaska. He and his family lived in an isolated log cabin, with no running water, a wood fire for heat and a grass airstrip for a driveway. To escape the brutal winters, Ran and his family would take their single engine Cessna “Ragwing” on 3-4 month adventures from Alaska to South America. On these expeditions, Ran would turn to the open expanse of the sea to escape the confines of his unconventional childhood. When Ran was eighteen, he left home and began surfing the waves off the coasts of California and Mexico. While surfing he was able to consider both the wondrous and perilous conditions of life. Overwhelmed by what he saw and felt, he turned to art as a form of exploration. Ran has lived and worked in New York City since 1990 - he continues to surf.
Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter will be hosting the 12th Annual Art Gala
The evening will include silent and live auctions of fine ocean-themed artwork, surf gear and luxury items. There will also be live art installations, music, food and beverages.
Last year, the event attracted 150 attendees including surfers, ocean enthusiasts, environmental activists and art connoisseurs. The event raised over $17,000 for local chapter efforts to help protect our oceans, waves and beaches here in San Diego County. A sample of the renowned artists that contributed last year includes Wade Koniakowsky, Jeff Yeomans, Shag, Jay Alders, Aaron Chang, Jason Samarin, Andy Davis and Chris del Moro.
To make a donation, or if you have any questions regarding this event, please contact our office at (858) 792-9940 or email us at artgala@surfridersd.org.
BUY TICKETS & check out the Art Gala blog and Facebook event page for more info.
Tomorrow is another First Friday over on Abbot Kinney Blvd, and for this month’s festival, one of the our most renown boutiques is hosting a shopping event benefitting the Elisabeth Glasser Pediatric Aids Foundation. Stop by Gossamer from 7pm-10pm to sip cocktails, pick up some new threads, and support a great cause.
1410 Abbot Kinney Blvd Ste 101, Venice, CA 90291
via LA CANVAS
Gavin McCrea
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Surf-Art-By-Gavin-Mc-Crea/191136127590567
Eoin
http://www.facebook.com/artbyeoin1
Taras Face Art
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Taras-Face-Art-And-Design/172119902799031
San Clemente State Beach
Date: Saturday, May 5th
Time: Sunrise to ???
"This is not a contest in any way, shape or form. Just a day of fun (ie. Fish Fry) to celebrate the handplane. NO POSTERS, NO BANNERS, NO SALES, NO T-SHIRTS. All word of mouth. This event is for everyone, from the first time garage made handplanes, to the super refined handplanes that are being sold in shops. If you're into the food tray thing, bring that too. All companys are welcome to bring handplanes for the masses to try-out."
https://www.facebook.com/events/317697921630023/
Good Tutorial by Ed Lewis of Enjoy Handplanes
<p>Enjoy Handplanes from Board Riders Review on Vimeo.</p>
Slyde is now part of SIMA (The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association)
The SIMA Environmental Fund was created to serve as the environmental arm of the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association by raising funds from the public through fundraisers and solicitations. The SIMA Environmental Fund uses these funds to promote ecological and environmental organizations whose efforts are focused on enhancing the oceanic environment.
As a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit foundation, the SIMA Environmental Fund operates through a grant-making program. Tax-exempt environmental groups and organizations wishing to receive funding from the Environmental Fund must submit and have approved by the SIMA Environmental Fund Board of Directors a grant request form that details the group’s plans for the requested funds. Since its creation in 1989, more than $4 million in grants have been awarded to various environmental groups through the SIMA Environmental Fund.
The 4th Annual Green Long Beach! Festival will take place on June 09, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., at the Marina Green Park on Shoreline Drive, it is an event that celebrates and encourages sustainability and ecological awareness in our city through commerce, education/workshops and the arts via community, environmental and government associations and local businesses/entrepreneurs.
The Green Long Beach! Collaborative Community is comprised of individuals, community groups, non-profit organizations, businesses, and city agencies.
They open on Thursday with movie night! With a special screening of the classic bodysurfing film "Come Hell or High Water" along with an appearance by Director Keith Malloy
Friday: The "Barrel to Barrel" Wine & Beer Tasting
Saturday: DayTrip to WIneries & Brewmaster's Dinner
Sunday: Longboard Surf Contest, followed by BBQ & Live Music
The event celebrates the best of San Luis Obispo County. Combining the fun, laid back atmosphere of wine country and unique surf culture, enjoy four days of unforgettable events evoking the magic of wine and waves. These events take place at numerous scenic venues throughout San Luis Obispo County. All proceeds go to support the Association of Amputee Surfers (AmpSurf). WW&B was able to raise $10,000 for AmpSurf in its first year, and continues to help support this amazing organization.
http://www.winewavesandbeyond.com/events.php
HOMEWORK STUDIO L.A. & Six01 Studio
in conjunction with:TUESDAY, MAY 1st 2012
{6:00pm - 10:00pm}
Solarez/Wahoo International will be doing free surfboard ding repairs! Sign up for an appointment at www.solarez.com. Their booth will be in Section 1-Booth 17.
There will be a raffle at 4:30pm. Tickets for the raffle are $1.00 each or 25 tickets for $20.00.
Music Line-up:
11:ooam–Wave Energy
12:00pm–Shady Characters
2:00pm–Surfwave
3:00pm–Foom
If you are in the area on the 5th of may join surfrider and abunch of voluteers in cleaning up Venice Beaches Come out on Cinco de Mayo and lend a hand at the Venice Breakwater for our monthly beach cleanup!
Cleanup from 9:30am to 2:30pm
Stay for a couple hours or the whole day and grab a margarita after your efforts!
I need several volunteers...
One volunteer to man the Surfrider tent and answer any questions that folks might have.
Two more to gather signatures from beach goers for the LA CITY BAG BAN petition.
And a couple others for miscellaneous tasks around the tent.
Sign up! It's gonna be a great day to be on the beach.
The San Diego Surf Film Festival just announced its line-up of independent international surf films, which will transport viewers into evolving surf cultures around the world. The SDSFF 2012 program offers 13 amazing feature length films and nearly two dozen short films throughout the three-day festival weekend May 11-13, 2012 at the world famous Bird’s Surf Shed.
“We have films from our own beautiful backyard to films navigating every corner of the globe,” said Pierce Michael Kavanagh, a San Diego native and one of the SDSFF founders. “I am really impressed with all the talented filmmakers making it happen around the world. It’s refreshing to see their heart and soul poured into these films. For filmmakers, these films mean everything.”
<p>SDSFF Trailer from misfit pictures on Vimeo.</p>
THURSDAY MAY 10TH - VIP NIGHT
•6:30pm-7:30pm: Music/Meet and Greet/Food & Beer/Slide ShowFor the LineUp, Schedule & Tix go to:
http://www.sandiegosurffilmfestival.com/
If you're taking a holiday and planning on diving or snorkeling, chances are you're imagining tropical locations -- or at least places that are known for having warm weather nearly year-round. Of course places like the Caribbean and South Pacific have great opportunities for diving, but they aren't the only places you can explore an exceptionally cool underwater world...
Sudan
Iceland
Scotland
Egypt
via HuffingtonPost
Venice Community Housing is a local non-profit that's been developing lasting solutions for low-income individuals and families for over 23 years.
Their mission is to preserve the economic, racial and social diversity of Venice and the surrounding neighborhoods. They support expanding/maintaining affordable housing and economic development opportunities for the area’s low-income population.
Some of their programs:
Affordable Housing and Supportive Services for nearly 500 tenants, including a transitional housing facility for homeless women and their children and housing plus services to help formerly homeless, disabled tenants stay housed and reach their full potential in life
Study Lounge, an academic-focused after school program that focuses on providing academic assistance to students from ages 6-12 who reside in VCHC buildings and in the surrounding community
YouthBuild helps at-risk youth earn a high school degree and connect to gainful employment, particularly in the construction and burgeoning "green" industries
Venice High Teen Court provides an alternative to the juvenile justice system for young people
Beatrice Holiday is a line of locally made, Eco-Friendly & Vegan bike gear, that wont deter your style.
"Beatrice Holiday - Wheel Cute Couture came to be after countless mishaps on my cruiser bike. Fallen lipstick into a gutter, lost credit card that slipped out of my pocket while in transit, keys that slipped thru the crack of my basket into another gutter. Lots of roadkill left in my path! I figured I wasn't the only one... right? So, I created a line of accessories (handlebar bags that convert into a shoulder bag, matching seat covers and recycled innertube jewelry) that make you and your bike stand out from the pack!"
-Alison Franson "Cruise the Streets in Style"
Support an alternative mode of transportation and promote the positives of biking versus driving your car. Beatrice Holiday donates a percentage of profits to local bike shops that offer FREE parts and knowledge. Change at a community level.
DIY artist Mike Hamel has been creating some sick taps for your house out of his LA garage. WALL TAPs are upcycled skateboard decks that have been skated and given its own natural distress which makes them all one of a kind. They have been cut and made into a 3.25"x13.5 wall mounted bottle opener... also considered to be functional wall art. They have all been numbered (embossed) and signed. Grab one, grab your fav drink and enjoy....
<p>Wall Taps from Joshua Dragotta on Vimeo.</p>
check them out here:
687 S. Coast Highway 101, Suite 151
Encinitas, CA 92024
The Guys over at meaningoflife have put together some of the gnarliest Big wave shots I have ever seen. You can save em to your desktop. I dont know anout you but wtf would you be thinking when you paddle /tow into some of these monsters?
Here is a very quick shot of the crew Paul, Alicia and other Paul modeling a few of the designs for the new line of Tshirts due for release in the next week or two. Today was Prototype printing day and what you see before you albeit unclearly is 3 of the 40 designs. We will be narrowing our design choices to 15 design to start. Our very talented design crew worked long and hard to bring some awesome T's and these are just a tease. no pun intended. all prototypes will be onsale at the Venice skate and surf show on saturday so come grab one. We will also have pspecial running on our boards Cheap Cheap , Like the budgie.
Music, food, art and drinks minus the sweltering sun and prohibitive price tag. Brokechella will offer festival goers the very best in underground music, with an epic night featuring drinks, art, swag, a photo booth, face painting by the Illyrian Players, LA street food by Mucho Perro, Starry Kitchen, Mango Tango and more Swag bags for the first 300 people to arrive $5 tickets available NOW at www.wearecartel.org Main Stage Gypsy Death Star * The Dead Ships * Rumspringa * The Janks * yOya * Big Moves * Das Tapes * Tapioca and the Flea * LA FONT * INFANTREE * DJs On The Outdoor Stage Dannahan * gLAdiator * GOJ!RA * The KiD * T.B.E (Littlefoot x Koncan X Pilo) * Robin People * Smiles * Cooper Saver * In association with: Six 01 Studios Imperial Beer Sticker Nation The Santa Monica Co-Opportunity Bedrock Rental KXSC RawkBlog Activate Jarritos Pop Chips Rent Food Broke Shuttereye and MORE! So fear not, those of us with empty pockets and overdraft charges aplenty. Brokechella 2012 will be the place to be in LA on April 21st, we can promise you that. (via Experience LA)
Check out the event here:
http://www.facebook.com/events/375753509125085/
The waves werr not quiet what we had taken the trip down for a surf. So we halled out the handboards and turned our frowns upside down with some sweet little shorebreak nugs. check the rest of the images on our facebook and the short video is soon to follow. nothing like sand in every available crevice.
If you grew up in South Africa You would have heard about this place a long time ago. Not only for the folk lore that it is possible to pick up diamonds on the vast expanse of beaches along the namibian coast but also for the insane waves. The only crowds you're gonna encounter is the man in the grey suit so if you have the balls for that you're going to get shacked off your face. This little Vid prooves just that, and also prooves again if you havnt heard of it its probably worth going, well now you have so dont go.
check out the facebook page :https://www.facebook.com/events/324658927581979/
The CHOCOLATE & ART show "LOS ANGELES"
This event is dedicated to underground artists in the Los Angeles Area.
Come and join us for a night of LIVE MUSIC, incredible ARTWORK, NUDE BODY painting, and CHOCOLATE.
The address is
4414 West 2nd street,
Los Angeles 90004
Show goes from 8pm-2am . Age 21+!
OVER 70+ of L.A.'S MOST AMAZING EMERGING ARTISTS,
PHOTOGRAPHERS, & FASHION DESIGNERS
FREE CHOCOLATE!!!
LIVE DJ SET!!! by:
DJ MATHEo
LIVE MUSIC:
8:30 PM
"CARLA HASSETT"
http://carlamusic.com/home.cfm
http://www.facebook.com/carlamusica
9:30 PM
"Kaylan Romero"
http://www.youtube.com/foofreak15
http://soundcloud.com/yourcityhawk
http://www.reverbnation.com/kaylanromero
10:30 PM
"Danny Janklow and GROUP"
11:30
"Brian Travis Band"
http://www.facebook.com/thebriantravisband
FREE PARKING
ONLY $5 COVER
Along with their award-winning webisodes, the new Korduroy features a collective of the world's finest surf, snow and skateboard builders, as well as photographers, designers and filmmakers sharing their blogs, galleries and storefronts in one streamlined location. In addition to the new Makers section, they added 2 new series, 'Happy Beach' and 'D-I-Why Not' to their lineup of original shows as well as a new season of our popular 'Sea Movies' series with the support of REEF.
Here's a link to their new announcement video-
<p>Korduroy 2.0 Trailer from www.KORDUROY.tv on Vimeo.</p>
Come Join Us at the Innagural VENICE surf and skate Festival. Slyde will be there with friends and a tent so please cruise round and come say Hi its going to be agreat day!
Vending Midway:
Come see the latest and greatest products from surf and skate companies.From international manufacturers and local apparel shops, there will be something
Charity Raffle Benefitting Boys & Girls Club of Venice:
A Chance to win loads of prizes donated by community businesses. Feel good that your money will be going to a wonderful cause.for enthusiasts, shoppers & collectors.
Swap Meet:
Trade up for something new or clean out the garage to make some extra cash. Spaces offered at reasonable rates to give the community a chance to make room for the new long board or SUP.
Live Music:
Themed bands to be featured throughout the afternoon.
Locals Only Wine & Dine:
Come taste fine cuisine offered by Venice’s best restaurants. Sip a beer while browsing the midway. There will be no reason to leave!
We get asked quiet a lot what Swim fins we prefer for bodysurfing , we have our favorites and we have a run down on our site of all the fins we have used and the fins that we like , here. But these! These are just amazing! Now you can go get hammered in some sick surf and no need to go home to change just paint the town red in these little sexy numbers. We found these online and dont even know where they are sold. If anybody has seen these for sale or purched a pair let us know we would love to find out how they swim, walk in .... whatever.
Normal 0 0 1 441 2514 Partizan 20 5 3087 10.1316 0 0 0
After the Australian release of Come Hell or High Water they received this heartfelt message from Coffs Harbour based parents Greg and Donna Edwards. Kyan, their 8 year old son has autism. After watching the film their lives were changed forever.
"I would like to share our little breakthrough and in some small way, say thanks for making Come Hell or High Water film possible. Come Hell or High Water has changed our lives. Put simply, our 8 year-old son Kyan has Autism. We have had a very difficult time bringing him up and up until last week, we had given up on the idea that he would ever be comfortable at the beach. The bright sunlight, sand and wind create a ‘sensory overload’ for our little boy and most often he will scream and scream when we take him anywhere near the ocean. My wife and I both grew up surfing and we feel completely at home in the water. Some days, the two of us have wanted nothing more than to be able to take our kids down onto the sand and swim.
Last week, we watched Come Hell or High Water and were so touched by the story of Don and Beau King. The footage of Beau diving under the waves was an inspiration. We watched the film a couple of times and so did our two sons. Kyan was absolutely spellbound by the beautiful images and by Beau King’s smiling face. When we turned the TV off, we noticed him running round the house with his arm outstretched. He started to imitate the surfers he’d seen.
Kyan has limited language and he f
inds it very difficult to talk. He was walking around the house yelling “Don’t cry Beau…”. He ended up running towards his mother saying “beach… surfing”. I think it was the next day that we all decided to go down to the water and just see if Kyan’s enthusiasm remained. Sure enough, he ran down onto the sand without screaming. He ran out into the water and he began wading out toward the waves!! We were still pulling our fins on when we noticed him (in disbelief I might add). That day, and every day since, have been remarkable! Our son has discovered the ocean. He now feels at home in the water. His confidence is growing and he is catching his first waves!!
We can’t tell you what an incredible gift this has been. We can’t tell you how grateful we are. If it all ends tomorrow, so be it — we have had an amazing week with our son. We pray it continues and that this new-found enthusiasm becomes a life-long passion. We have enclosed a few shots of Kyan out in the surf. There’s one shot that’s particularly blurry, but you can make out his smiling face as he races down his first wave!!
I would love it if, somehow, this could be passed on to the filmmakers of Come Hell or High Water. Just so that we can say thank you!
Yours faithfully,
Greg and Donna Edwards"
Slyde is a new, innovative and design driven brand exclusively centered on the sport of handboarding/bodysurfing. Bodysurfing for a new generation The Slyde official website
