Northeast Blahs

•Topping the barrage of information Eastern Surf received for this edition's Northeast Blah Blahs, Volcom welcomes Quincy Davis as the newest member of their girls surf squad. A Montauk, NY, native who spends a lot of time ripping her adopted homewaters of Rincon, PR, Quincy's only 11 years old but absolutely setting the coast on fire with her edgework. She most recently won the Girls division and placed 5th in the Groms final at Volcom's VQS Catfish event, held at Aviones in March, then backed that up a few days later with a 3rd-place finish in the Women's division at the Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit. Quincy also got some pictorial love, along with fellow Montauk-turned-Rican chumettes Ariel and Alexis Engstrom, in a Surfline feature as part of the wahine invasion blowing up Puerto Rico this winter. Log on to www.surfline.com to sneak a peekaloo.  

•On Saturday, April 14th, the Montanaro Gallery hosted "Black and White," a solo exhibition featuring recent black-and-white works by gallery owner Michael Montanaro. Hit up www.montanarodesigns.com to find out about upcoming shows.  

•Jon Gozzo of Secret Spot Distribution sent word that Cinnamon Rainbows teamriders Max "Macky V" Fatello and Garrett "Crazy Eye" Krapf of Hampton, NH, both picked up sponsorship from Erie Surfboards, Cult Industries, and Hoven Eyewear. Keep an eye out for these two, who are sure to light up the ESA-Northern New England District contests this year.  

•New Hampshire-based ESM Senior Photographer Brian Nevins celebrated the end of winter with an equally chilly trip to Northern Norway with Jesse Hines, Zack Humphreys, Sam Hammer, and Cheyne Cottrell. Check back next issue to see how the boys scored.  

•Filmmaker Ben Keller at Dubious Honor Productions announced the third annual Proven In The Northeast boardsports film festival and contest is now accepting submissions that have elements of boardriding in New England. "It doesn't matter if you're seven or 70," said Ben, "if you've never picked up a camera or you've been cranking out films in your basement for years. This contest is open to everyone. This year, with a focus on story and excellent prizes, we're hoping to attract an even broader spectrum of films and filmmakers." Submissions of seven minutes or less must be sent on VHS, MiniDV, or DVD by August 31st, 2007 (with the entrant's name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail) to Proven In The Northeast, P.O. Box 5134, Portland, ME 04101. For rules and winning clips from last year's contest, visit www.provenfilm.com.  

•While in town for the Ron Jon Easter Surfing Festival, Sound Beach, NY, longboarder Lee Meirowitz stopped by the ESM office to chat, revealing that he just got picked up by Oakley.  

•Maine surfer/ photographer/ woodworker Eugene Cole urges everyone to have a look at his daily surf blog at www.hugesurf.blogspot.com, which features updates on surf conditions and images from his Higgins Beach, ME, homebreak.  

•In other Pine Street State news, Sunnybreeze will hold in-house surf lessons this summer. Call 207-775-2194 for details or click on www.sunnybreeze.com.  

•Brett Yavener, who handles Northeast sales for The Walker Project, suggests you check out Walker Surfboards' entire 2007 lineup at www.thewalkerproject.com, complete with a video tour of their factory.  

•The New York coastal community lost one of its most passionate surfers and beach activists on March 25th when 52-year-old Hampton Bays local and Surfrider Eastern Long Island Chapter member Gary Ventura died from pancreatic cancer. Survived by wife Alison, Gary earned the nickname "The Mayor" for his pivotal role in preserving the waves and beaches along the East End of Long Island. In fact, in 2004 Hampton Style Magazine listed GV as one of the top surfers in the Hamptons after he spearheaded a successful campaign to protect the spot known as Three's. Eastern Surf sends our most heartfelt condolences to all who've been shaken by his passing. For more on Gary's legacy, visit www.surfergv.com.  

•Great Lakes surfer/ filmmaker Vince Deur, who created the landmark Great Lakes surfing documentary Unsalted, is helping produce an adventure TV series that offers a refreshing new perspective on action sports. Eco-Warriors: Guardians Of Surf brings together the sport of surfing with environmentalists and businesspeople from around the world. Supported by XS Energy Drinks, the second episode shows James Pribram and William Henry of Save the Waves Coalition investigating the proposed destruction of the world-class waves at Whangamata, on the North Island of New Zealand, from a 205-berth marina development. Learn more at www.savethewaves.org or www.eco-warriors.org.  

•In news from the Great White North, CSA/ SANS (Canadian Surfing Association/ Surfing Association of Nova Scotia) President John Fluke gave us a heads up that the 2nd Annual Nor'easter Surf Classic presented by Billabong was a colossal success, with over 55 people showing up at White Point on March 24th to enjoy warm weather, blue skies, and small glassy waves, which grew more challenging as the day progressed. Dean Petty dominated the podium with dual victories in the Men's Open and Longboard. But it was local legend Chris "The Kid" Muise who took home the award for "Wave of the Day." Other winners included Connor Marsh in Under 16 Boys, Keegan Day in Under 18 Boys, Brittany Parker in Under 18 Girls, and Julie Forbes in Women's Open. Big thanks go out to the event sponsors for putting up the capital, Rob Spicer for MCing all day, Jeff Norman for arranging the location, and of course, all the judges. The event after-party unveiled the CSA Junior Team, all the members of which received new sticks shaped by Scott Forbes from Otherworld Surfboards. Billabong and SANS are working together once again to put the final touches on the September Surf Classic. All signs for this contest point to the prizemoney being larger than last year, plus some new divisions like Women's Longboard and Kids 10 and Under. The goal is to make this the premier surfing contest in all of Canada.  

•Ron and Lorraine Aromando recently opened Kennebunk Outdoors Surf & Snow in Lower Village, Kennebunk, ME, and on April 5th, with over a foot of snow blanketing the beach, clean overhead waves arrived just in time for Lorraine to take out her new board, which she shaped and glassed herself (her 11-year-old daughter Maddy did the artwork). Visit www.kennebunkoutdoors.com for shop updates.  

•Since graduating college and moving to Oahu last August, Long Beach, NY's, Kyle Rehm has got himself a lucrative little ding repair business going on, adding "it keeps my (real) work hours super low, so I never miss a swell. I'm starting to make a career out of being a total beach rat."  

•With the company's increasing popularity and viability in the marketplace, Mike LaVecchia and the crew at Grain Surfboards required more space, so they moved their headquarters to a new, 4500-square foot facility on a small farm in York, ME -- just six miles from the beach and close to Interstate 95. The new shop has a larger milling room, custom drying racks for rough sawn cedar, an expanded boardbuilding area, and separate, sealed sanding and glassing rooms. They're even hoping to install a mini-ramp to keep the crew agile during flat spells. The new shop is open for public tours by appointment. Soon after moving to the new shop, Grain was awarded a seed grant from the Maine Technology Institute to help improve their production processes and technology in the construction of wooden surfboards.

•If that weren't enough to convince you of Grain's impact on the international community, they were even profiled in the "Skate/ Surf Issue" of Heads Magazine, a Quebec, Canada-based online publication dedicated to educating the world about the lifestyle, benefits, and misinformation involved with hemp and cannabis. Whether you puff the ganja or not, we urge you to at least click on www.headsmagazine.com to read the write-up on Grain. If you do, you'll also be treated to interviews with Aussie legend Nat Young and Cali pro Dan Malloy, plus a piece on the original Jamaican surf dynasty, the Wilmots. Go ahead, load it up.  

•While you're clicking around on the web, be sure to dig into www.nynjsurf.com, defined best by its motto: "Two States, 247 Miles of Coastline, One Website." The site provides detailed information on the New Jersey and Long Island surf scenes, including contest news, local shop and shaper deets, message boards, photo galleries, and video clips.  

•And finally, taking ESM's unofficial "Wave of the Winter" award this year was Long Beach, NY, Unsound/ Zoo York teamrider Sean Killarney, who on St. Patrick's Day bagged one of the biggest East Coast beachbreak photos we've seen in years at an undisclosed Empire State spot. You've probably seen the photo, taken by Mike "Admiral" Nelson, circulating all around cyberspace by now on Surfline, Myspace.com, random forums, and the like, but just in case, here's another shot from that same session. Go ahead, pinch yourself. We know we had to. ­Compiled by Matt Pruett

Mid-Atlantic Blahs

•After helping run a Billabong camp in Las Flores, El Salvador, with Peter Mendia and Sam Hammer, Virginia Beach, VA, fixture and 17th Street Surf Shop Manager Chris Todd headed down to Wilmington, NC, to open up 17th Street's new 8000-square foot store, which will carry a full assortment of Pride Surfboards, shaped by Dave Endress. Go to www.pridesurf.com for more.  

•Reef/ Sweetwater Surf Shop teamer and one of last issue's Who Da Guys, Ross Stevens just signed with Sabre Sunglasses. Meanwhile, Evan Barton just nailed down sponsorship with Volcom, Dylan Kowalski signed with Quiksilver, and Mason Barnes got wit' O'Neill. All these Wrightsville Beach, NC, gremmies are testing out the shaping mojo of Marcio Zouvi of Sharp Eye Surfboards.  

•After doing the Kamp KeenzO shuffle up in northwestern Costa Rica's Pacific side (featured on Pages 82-91 this ish), ESM Co-owner Dick Meseroll jumped on board a last-minute trip to Panama's Bocas Del Toro island at the invite of Jersey photog and Garden State Surf News Publisher Dave Breisacher. The stacked crew consisted of fellow Jerseyite Randy "Randall" Townsend, Long Island, NY's, Sean "Killarney-asada" Killarney, and Virginia Beach, VA's Mike "Spermer" Schirmer and Brendan "Brendo" Petticrew. After an ass cheek-numbing, 12-hour, cross-country drive from Playa Grande down to Puerto Viejo (which consisted of numerous "refreshment stops"), a walk across the Panamanian border bridge with a ton of equipment, another ass cheek-numbing ride in a cramped taxi van, and topped off with a cramped boat ride to the island -- the group arrived to find (drum roll, please) three to five-foot waves, far from the hoped-for six to eight-foot-plus that was touted by a multitude of wave forecasting sites and armchair meteorologists. After all, it is the Caribbean, a crap shoot no matter what the swell-predicting soothsayers put forth, so the lads just made the best of it and logged as much water time as possible. Read all about it in ESM's September World Travel issue.  

•By the time you feast your peeps on this very column, longtime Senior Scribe Tim "Shreddy' Donnelly will have turned 40 (and they said it couldn't be done, ha!), and taken the redeye to the North Shore to cover Jack Johnson's Kokua Festival for Surfing Magazine and the UK-based Huck mag. He bounced back to his native Jersey Shore with just enough time to do laundry and get some of Mama D's home cooking before heading right back out the door to New Orleans, where he'll spend a chunk of his summer working on a one-of-a-kind tribute album to honor one of the Big Easy's most famous musicians, with the proceeds going to NOLA artists. While the project details are still under security wraps, we learned just enough to tell you (under penalty of castration) the long list of top music industry talent climbing over each other to contribute a song from this legend's discography is nothing short of mind-blowing. In other words, let's just say this project is indeed "Fat!"  

•And, just because "Jersey's where America's at!" we have yet another Garden State surfer of distinction who visited the decimated City by the River. ESM Chief Photog-turned-Army Corps Engineer Donald "Crusty" Cresitello attended the annual National Hurricane Conference in April. Between seminars, Crusty toured the flood-damaged areas of nearby Mississippi and New Orleans' hardest-hit areas, getting a firsthand look at the new flood walls and pumps being installed by the A.C.O.E. to hopefully prevent a Katrina-sized catastrophe in the future. During meetings, Donald reported that he got to meet and hear from the esteemed forecaster from Colorado State University, Dr. William Gray, and his assistant, Phil Klotzbachs, who further expounded on their sobering predictions of 17 named storms, nine hurricanes, and five major tropical beasts (Cat 3 and higher) in 2007. You might want to check your insurance papers and preparedness, because the U.S. Mainland will have "at least" a 72-percent chance of being struck by a major storm, with a 50-percent chance for the East Coast, and a 49-percent chance for the extremely vulnerable Gulf and Florida Panhandle westward to Texas. The accent on the phrase "at least one major storm" was THE scariest moment of the five-day conglomeration of preparedness workshops and training/ management sessions that were held to exchange ideas and recommend new policies to improve Emergency Management, we think it's a good thing, and Katrina is a prime example of the worst case scenario we all need to be ready for. It wasn't all gloom and doom, however, as Crusty got some face time with The Weather Channel's Dr. Steve Lyons, a surfer and a fan of ESM, who was interested in our former Assistant Photo Editor's involvement with the New York Hurricane Evacuation Study.  

•In other news of environmental importance, former ESA Executive Director Kathy Phillips has taken the helm as the new Assateague COASTKEEPER, while also serving as the Executive Director of the Assateague Coastal Trust. "She will be our advocate for healthy water and sound environmental policy in the coastal bays," said ACT President Jim Rapp, "a voice for protecting the natural resources of coastal Worcester and Accomack Counties." A Worcester County resident since 1971, Phillips' primary job is to monitor land and water uses along the coastal bays, and to work with local stakeholders to promote responsible environmental stewardship, while patrolling the tidal creeks, bays, barrier islands, and coastal mainland from the Saint Martin's River in Maryland to Horntown Bay in Virginia. "The wetlands and bays of the Eastern Shore are a national treasure. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to help preserve something I love," Phillips said. Area citizens are encouraged to call Kathy at 410-629-1538 when they observe an environmental violation, or if they have a question about state and local policies. Visit www.actforbays.org to learn more.  

•More Delmarva investigation revealed that Delaware ripper Aaron Powell is making great progress on the North Shore of Oahu. He's currently going through the paces of the lifeguard recruiting process, while also teaching surfing for Surf-N-Sea.

 •Yo! After being off the East Coast radar for quite some time, we finally discovered that former ESM coverboy and Joisey uber charger Ryan Kimmel got the nod from Volcom! And we're sure his hometown Monmouth County buddy-turned-Stone Team Manager Mike Guarino had nada to do with it.  

•Life's been pretty good to Kure Beach, NC's, Tony Silvagni lately. Freshly sponsored by Bavaria Holland Beer, Tony won the 43rd annual Ron Jon Easter Surfing Festival Longboard Championship Pro/Am in front of some 100,000 people, and also brought home 2nd-place in a separate Noseriding division sponsored by Viking Surfboards. And to top it all off, Tony will be one of only four surfers from the U.S.A. (the only Right Coaster besides Indialantic, FL, pro Mikey DeTemple) invited to compete in the illustrious Oxbow World Longboard Championships in France. Check back next issue to see how the duo fared. In the meantime, you can keep up with Tony's success at www.bavariahollandbeer.us.  

•In more Southern North Carolina deets, after six months spent shaping abroad in California, Hawaii, and Australia with touring pros, AJW Surfboards shaper Adam Warden is returning to the East Coast for the entire summer distributing boards. Contact him at adam@ajwsurfboard.com for any inquiries or orders.  

•Hatteras, NC, shredder Morgan O'Connell is set to travel out to the west coast for a photo/ video trip, and along the way will be working on some new board designs with Michael Walter.  

•Jenks local and Bare Wires Surf Skate Manager Adam Holloway wrote in to comment that the very next day following the now-historic ice storm that stung the New Jersey coast this winter -- with over five inches of solid ice on the ground, 36-degree water temps, 25-degree air temps, and 25 mph offshore winds -- 12-year-old PJ Raia from Rumson, NJ, was the only grom to have a go at the frigid, head-high conditions. The kid also just got fully hooked up by Hurley, Chemistry Surfboards, Globe, Dragon, and Bare Wires. Besides frequenting Puerto Rico, PJ travels to Florida every other weekend and competes in not one, but two ESA districts, the ESA-New York and ESA-Central New Jersey Districts, while also doing all of the NSSA Northeast Conference contests. In other words, PJ is freakin' on it.  

•Kill Devil Hills, NC, ripper Jason Breiholz just re-signed with FCS and is now also doing surf reports for Outer Banks Concierge, according to insider Toby Gonzales. Visit www.outerbanksconcierge.com right now.  

•And finally, after years of shaping boards for some of the East Coast's best surfers under Wave Riding Vehicles, Tommy Moore has relocated from Kitty Hawk, NC, to San Clemente, CA, to work with ...Lost Surfboards. He will also be launching his own label, Tommy Moore Shapes, shortly. Visit www.tommymooreshapes.com to contact him. We wish you the best out west, Tommy, and don't be a stranger, bud. ­Compiled by Matt Pruett

Southeast Blahs

•While we were snooping around the Palmetto State, we found out that former ESM Who Da Guy and Folly Beach, SC, standout Shaun Ducker has returned to competition after a several-year hiatus, sweeping the Masters and Open divisions in the ESA-Southern South Carolina District's 2007 season opener at the Washout. Ducker's flashy aerials and 360s were the talk of the comp, evidence that his skills haven't dulled one bit.

•In other South Carolina blurbs, Murrels Inlet's mini-grom and ESA Allstar Team member Cam Richards got picked up by Kustom Footwear.

•In Stuart, FL, Ohana Surf Shop's inaugural Easter Egg Hunt and Fish Fry raised over $1500 for the American Cancer Society. Massive thanks to the 250-plus people who showed up to support the cause, plus the Port Salerno All-Stars for the live music, the Port Commercial Fishing Association for donating over 80 pounds of fish, and of course, RDI, Utopia, Dragon, Ogio, Split, Poorboys, Sex Wax, Destination Surf, and Steve Boysen Surfboards, who donated prizes to be raffled off.

•In other South Florida blahs, 2006 ESeMMY Video Award winner Jason Page, creator of such high-action and delightfully crass films as AA Sponsored and Exotic Nucleotic, just finished up a documentary on the making of a skateboard contest the Starbird crew organized in West Palm Beach, FL. "It was all our style," says Page, "illegal and FUN, three street spots in Downtown West Palm Beach, and we gave away almost $1600 in one-dollar bills, all while hiding from the cops." The whole gig was sponsored by Ezekiel and another newer company called Banquet (www.bnqt.com). Stay tuned to the pages of ESM for more Starbird developments. In the meantime, visit www.starbirdproductions.com.

•Kulcha Shok welcomes Notion rider Sean Dowd to their surf team and Ryan Suits and Brian Delatorre to their skate crew.

•Here's another shocker: Scott Posner now rides for Electric.

•Another South Florida surfer getting the hookup with Electric is Deerfield Beach's Matt Oberman, who just signed with Fox Clothing, as well.

•Jamaican gremmie Ini Wilmot now rides for Insight. Lord'a'mercy.

•Bully's East Coast Sales/ Team Manager Theo Mitchelson is stoked to announce the opening of Bully's giant new warehouse in St. Augustine, FL. They also hired Indialantic, FL, spray king Bryan Hewitson as their new Florida sales rep, and signed four new teamriders -- WCT rookie Gabe Kling, Panhandle pro Sterling Spencer, former ESA Junior Men's champ Eric Rheaume, and current ESA Men's champ Adam McGill.

•Speaking of Adam McGill, the Jacksonville Beach, FL, shredder took a month off work this winter to visit homies Jay Gordon and Bobby Adams in California before hitting up the North Shore. He was ripping, too. If you don't believe us, go to www.surfjaxpier.com for proof.

•In other North Florida shiznit, St. Augustine, FL, enigma Chris Ropero just picked up sponsorship from Analog and vows to make a "major comeback."

•North Florida uber shralper Asher Nolan just signed with Placebo. If that weren't enough, Pro-Lite International signed him, too, and A-Tray's very own self-designed signature series traction pad will be released this summer.

•The 2007 Cholo's Women's Pipeline Pro commenced at Pipeline this March, and a couple hard-charging Right Coast girls put in notable performances, including Puerto Rico's Natasha Sagardia, who placed 2nd in the Bodyboard final. And Floridian Leah Dawson claimed 2nd-place in the Shortboard final, even beating out top pro and Pipe local Rochelle Ballard (!!!), but not before slaying the competition to win the Longboard division for the second year in a row. Way to do it, Leah!  

•Treasure Coast kingpin Ryan Helm now rides for Surf Central Surf Shop in Stuart, FL.  

•Word has it that Chris Yergens, one-half of the Vero Beach, FL, wonder twins, is back in town after a lengthy spell working as a fishing guide in Pensacola, FL.  

•Congratulations to Indialantic, FL, surfers Eric Peters and Lisa Hammerling, who were married on March 25th, 2007. A warm reception followed at The Tides in Satellite Beach, and the couple wishes to thank Susan Belcher and everyone else who helped set up the Indonesian-inspired tropical paradise. Eric and Lisa will honeymoon on the island of Oahu this April.  

•In other Brevard deets, big ups to Jasset Umbel for finishing the NSSA Southeast Conference season as the Open Women's champ. She also finished 2nd in both Explorer Women's and Explorer Girls. Other Space Coast season champs included Tommy Orsini in Explorer Boys and Matt Sabatino in Explorer Men's.  

•Spring typically starts early in South Texas, like before February is even over. And though the winds had started their southeast flow routine around this time, there wasn't a wave-producing fetch significant enough to give local rippers like Brent Thrash and Joe Garza a thrill. But toward the end of March, the switch flipped and the swell jumped up to its seasonal expectations. For nearly three weeks afterwards, the surf pumped, allowing even the weekend warriors to get back in shape and prepare for the most consistent time of year on the western Gulf Coast.  

•In other Lone Star State happenings, Kris Hopkins relayed that JEL Productions recently premiered an all-Texas surf film called Season Of Surf, which chronicles the historical 2005 Hurricane Season swells that hit the coast. Franchise stars Sam Hammer, Matt Keenan, Josh Hoyer, and Josh Sleigh are just a few of the hot guys who mix it up with local Texan talent in the flick. Go to www.jelsurf.com for more.

•Current ASP North America Pro Junior points leader Travis Beckmann signed with the Imperial Motion surf team.

•Former Myrtle Beach, SC, standout Mike Hoisington placed a respectable 4th at the WQS 2-star Van's Pier Classic in Huntington Beach, CA, behind 2nd-place finisher Eric Geiselman, who also won the conjoining Ezekiel Pro Junior. Meanwhile, Eric's little bro, Evan Geiselman, who's only 13, secured the first day's highest single-wave score of a 9.25 en route to taking down down Dave Post and Ryan Carlson.

•Over on the North Shore of Oahu, Cocoa Beach, FL, fixture Eric Super joined a multitude of surf stars, including Jamie O'Brien and Shane Beschen, to take over 100 autistic kids surfing at Haleiwa on behalf of Surfers Healing, a nonprofit organization founded by Israel and Danielle Paskowitz after their son Isaiah was diagnosed with autism. Check out Pete Hodgson's photos on Surfline's "Surf News" section, www.surfline.com.

•Surfrider seeks a graduate student for a summer internship to work on the Tire Removal for Elkhorn Coral Restoration project for a 12-week minimum in June as part of the Salva Tres Palmas Campaign in Rincon, PR. Applicants must be fully bilingual, and have the ability to work independently with strong communication skills. Scuba certification is a plus. Pay is $2500 (oceanfront living space provided). Please e-mail a short cover letter and resume to Leon Richter at salvatrespalmas@yahoo.com.

•Artwork from Glas Apparel's new collection will be shown at the "Digital to Physical" exhibition at 9th & Liberty in Jacksonville, FL, on May 12th, featuring the work by Justin Kleiner and numerous other talented artists from around the world. In addition to lots of great art, there will be Glas DVD giveaways and more. Check out www.9thandliberty.com or www.theglas.com for more info.

•At the beginning of April in St. Augustine, the 2 on 2 Surf Tourney (presented by The Pit Surf Shop and sponsored by Spy Optics and Jetty Clothing) offered an unconventional format where 30 two-man teams competed for the title. In the end, St. Auggie young guns Mikee Fitts and Andy Karabinchak were edged out by fellow locals Ryan Riopko and Austin Martin for the championship. "We really didn't expect the turnout we got," said contest co-coordinator Eric Larson. "The surf stayed contestable all day and everyone seemed really into the way the tournament was formatted. Overall, it couldn't have gone any better. The contest was run in coordination with Beach Blast '07, a community-wide event put together by a Flagler College Sport Management class.

•More contest news found the Pensacola surf shop known as Waterboys putting on the Waterboyz Spring Surf & Skim Jam. In the Open Shortboard final, local sensation Sterling Spencer took down his older brother Yancy Spencer IV for the $200 grand prize, while Graham Wade had to settle for 3rd. Jeremy Robinson took the $200 Open Longboard title from runner-up Joey Dillard, Mike Ingram won Junior Men's, Blake Taylor took Boys, and Jake Fairly won top honors in Groms.

•Florida Bodyboarding Association (FBA) Director Al Rumbos urges all to check out the FBA's new website at www.fbatour.com, which is updated with the latest news, a schedule for the season, and much more. We personally want to invite you to participate in the growth of bodyboarding. ­Compiled by Matt Pruett

More From Everywhere Blahs

•One of our favorite Aussie surfers of all-time (and probably the coolest one we know, as well), former IPS World Champ-turned-U.S.A. Team Head Coach Peter Townend, dropped by the ESM offices for one of his unannounced "sneak attacks" while in town for the Ron Jon Easter Surfing Festival (where he was scoping out heats to evaluate the progress of such Right Coast talents as Amy Nicholl, Evan Geiselman, and Evan and Cody Thompson). As usual, PT contributed some great gossip, none of it more interesting than when he let us in on this fact: The first four IPS World Tour champs ('76 winner PT, '77 champ Shaun Tomson, '78 victor Rabbit Bartholomew, and '79 -'82 4-time world title holder Mark Richards) never received trophies for their groundbreaking efforts, before the tour evolved into the ASP, where ornate hardware is automatic and fat paydays and "Dream Tour" locations abound. As Townend told the story -- with his classic grin, laugh, and with no malice whatsoever towards the current crop of pros -- there were simply no banquets, trophies, nor budgets for such things back in the hand-to-mouth infancy of pro comps. And it was none other than 8-time WCT magic man Kelly Slater himself who announced this fact at the 2006 ASP Banquet, which helped instigate modern pro surfing's "Fantastic Fourfathers" (along with IPS founder Fred Hemmings and Randy Rarick) finally being presented with their long-overdue trophy cups a year later at the 2007 ceremony. Justice may not have been swift for these trailblazers, but their reward is well-deserved no matter how late, so congrats to all.  

•Speaking of legends, another gathering of surfing luminaries turned out on Good Friday Eve for a major meet-and-greet at the growing East Coast Surfing Legends Hall of Fame Museum to check out a fantastic collection of memorabilia, photos, surfboards, and collectibles. ECSLHOF members in attendance included (pictured here, left to right) Rich Salick, Claude Codgen, Pat O'Hare, Captain Dick Catri, Mimi Munro, Maryanne Hayes, Cecil Lear, ESM cofounder Tom Dugan, and Phil Salick -- along with (not pictured) Joe Twombly, Balsa Bill Yerkes, and Bruce Walker, who were on-hand to mingle and sign autographs for the assembly of family, friends, competitors, well-wishers, media, and other members of our diverse Right Coast tribe. Also making the scene at various times during the festivities were ESM's consigliere Jack Kirschenbaum with son Jake, ECSLHOF honcho Tony Sasso, Long Island, NY, local legends Ed "Zippy" Arikian and Pistol Pete Armada, longtime Gulf Coast boardbuilder Juan Rodriguez, Surfguru.com's Lacy "Buddha" Maxx, Brevard County pro Kyle Garson and fiancee Amy Ho, The Resident mag's Sean O'Hare, and someday future Hall of Famer Hunter "The Mouth Of The South" Joslin of Indo Board fame (and for whom they'll have to build a whole new friggin' wing just for the guy's surfboard and T-shirt collection) and his (much) better half Georgette Austria. Yep, this year's turnout was truly all-time.  

•Courtney Potter, inventor of Surfmachine, "the World's First Mini Wave Machine," offers a desktop water feature that generates a mini barreling wave to beat the no-surf blues. Visit www.surfmachine.com.au for more info or call their U.S. agent, Robert Potter, at 949-715-1820.  

•While on an early-April surf trip with the family to the Galapagos Islands, Hobe Sound, FL's, James Jolly started having chest pains in the lineup. Back in the States, James had to have a stent placed in a 100-percent blocked artery to his heart. But he's now up and about and looking to get back in the water (albeit on a longboard 'til his stamina is back full-throttle). Our thoughts and prayers are with you, James.  

•Fil Baker, an Australian independent filmmaker developing a documentary about the life and films of Alby Falzon, is looking to raise the profile of this project and find sponsors to finance the film. Please call 042-110-9424 if you're interested. In the meantime, visit his website,www.albertfalzondocumentary.tv.  

•Congratulations to everyone at Vestal Watches, which was nominated for "Breakthrough Brand of the Year" by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA). This is Vestal's second nomination in two years. SIMA will present all the awards during their Surf Summit in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico this May.  

•Alek Parker now rides for Smith Optics.  

•Mammoth apologies from all of us here at ESM to Steve Walden and the entire crew at Walden Surfboards. In last issue's Spring Board Forum, we listed a 9'0" Viking surfboard as one of Steve's designs, but he himself has never shaped for Viking. Sorry for any confusion we might have caused.  

•Analog signed on as an official Corporate Alliance Sponsor with the Eastern Surfing Association (ESA).  

•Carver Skateboards has assembled a nationwide team of experienced sales reps that will bring Carver's revolutionary trucks and skateboards to your local shops. They're also on the lookout for teamriders and event sponsorship. Get in touch with Northeast rep Steve Turnbaugh at wildhorses2@verizon.net, Florida/ Georgia rep Jeff Smith at js65pony@hotmail.com, North Carolina/ South Carolina rep Matthew Wasik at mwasik@mindspring.com, and Midwest rep Tony Wagener at wagenerah12@uww.edu.  

•Hotline Wetsuits and Maverick's Surf Ventures unveiled The Official Maverick's Wetsuit for 2007, which will be presented to all Maverick's Surf Contest invitees.  

•In other neoprene news, Hyperflex Wetsuits seeks experienced independent sales reps for the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Go to www.hyperflexusa.com.  

•Cobian's new sandal, the Y-Africa, is benefiting hunger relief in Africa. For every pair sold, Cobian donates $2 to World Vision to support hunger relief among African children.  

•Ergophobia has announced a collaboration with renowned industry artist Pinky Taylor. Ergophobia's featured artist line is available with their Spring '08 collection. For more information, go to www.ergophobia.com.  

•Check out ESM Senior Photographer Scott Winer's new business at www.islandsog.com. They're in a dozen stores on the west coast and trying to break through back East.  

•Surfing legend and East Coast pioneer Bill Wise passed away on February 23rd. Paralyzed from a surfing accident over 40 years ago, Bill never lost his stoke and will be sorely missed by the surfing community that loved him so dearly. Eastern Surf sends our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. For further info on Bill, visit www.billwisesurfs.com or www.surf64.com.  

•After returning from a dream trip to Norway with an assortment of badass pros, Margate, NJ, upstart Zack Humphreys came home in time to catch one of the biggest, baddest nor'easters in 15 years, which turned a certain New York beachbreak into a triple-overhead death cauldron. Stay tuned next ish for all the spine-tingling evidence.  

•Surftech's new signature series TL2s will hit stores at the beginning of summer and will be available to demo during the Surftech Tech Tour. The company is also sponsoring International Surfing Day (June 21st) with Surfing Magazine, Surfrider, and a selection of environmentally conscious brands. Check www.surftech.com to learn more.  

•Hungry? The new Everything Soy Bites and Soy Nut Mix from Crum Creek Mills are the perfect, healthy grab-n-go snack for water athletes. Please visit www.ultimatepresspicks.com.  

•Thirsty? We're not, as Power Trip Field Sales Manager Bryan Berend dropped off a bunch of cases of the energy drink to the ESM offices. By the way, Power Trip also makes Ron Jon Bottled Water, 7% sales of which goes directly to Surfrider.

•Ryan Hartegan at Surf Hardware International (representing FCS, Gorilla Grip, and Eskimo Foam) says they have everything from fins, leashes, boardbags, and auto accessories to backpacks and wet apparel.  

•In other product blahs, Beyond Coastal's new line of luxury sun and skin care products are available at www.beyondcoastal.com.  

•Chesapeake Light Craft, a small boat company in Annapolis, MD, designs, makes, and sells boat kits for plywood, glass, or epoxy. Visit www.clcboats.com or call 410-267-0137, ext.11.  

•The 21st annual East Coast Scholastic Surfing Championships presented by FEW-NZ (held at Bethune Park, New Smyrna Beach, FL, from March 31st to April 2nd) were once again a colossal success, marking the return of Eric Taylor to the ESA as he balances a pro career while furthering his education at Flagler College. More information on the FEW-NZ East Coast Scholastics and other ESA competition programs can be found by visiting the website at www.surfesa.org.  

•And while we're talking about contests, don't forget about the Virginia Longboard Federation's (VLF) 4th annual Steel Pier Classic, taking place Memorial Day Weekend at the First Street Jetty. This annual charity event will once again raise money for the Virginia Beach Noblemen to benefit underprivileged children in Virginia Beach, VA. For more information, contact VLF President Mary Knight at 757-409-1363.  

•After the kid impressed him in sizable surf in Mexico last year, ...Lost rep Frank Russell sent word that 11-year-old Wilmington, NC, grom and ESA Allstar Corey Howell is making huge moves toward becoming one of the Right Coast's newest top-shelf rippers. Corey most recently won $25 bones for placing 4th in the Open Shortboard division of the Onshore County Line Classic. For complete results, turn to Page 168. ­Compiled by Matt Pruett