Northeast Blahs

•Dig this: 12-year-old Montauk, NY, wahine threat Quincy Davis made a big statement for East Coast women's surfing back in October, winning the 12 and under division at the Surfing America U.S.A. Surfing Championships, held at Huntington Beach Pier, CA. To find out more about this champ and all the other Right Coasters faring well out west, turn to Page 23.  

•The 2007 Cape Cod Surf Challenge swept the outer beaches of Massachusetts in October, bringing over five dozen year-round residents out for a day of waist to chest-high waves, offshore winds, and balmy air temps. Contest organizers and founders Matt Richards and Brendan McCray said the event was a resounding success, with over 100 spectators turning out to watch nine different divisions of competition. Winners included Mike Viprino, Lyle McCutchon, John McLaughlin, Josh Clements, Adam Laurel, former ESM Who Da Girl Mercy Reed (the only double division winner), Bret Carlson, and Justin Dalby. A special thank you to sponsors The Boarding House, Nauset Sports, The Pump House, Little Over Head, and Sick Day Surf Co. Last but not least, a big hand to Northeast voice of reason Marc Angelillo for hooking ESM up with all the killer details. We don't know where we'd be without ya, Marc. Thanks again!  

•Rhode Island main man Peter Pan gave us the heads-up about Narragansett's Eco-Depot, which allows area residents to bring their used electronics and hazardous household wastes to a safe drop-off spot. Spotted working the Eco-Depot during an October rainstorm were dedicated community volunteers Mike Salvadore, Mike Mesolella, Joe Rotella, and Sara Kite. Organizers said over 35,000 pounds of toxic waste and 12,000 pounds of junk electronics were collected on one day alone in October, with 4 million pounds of waste rounded up and 300,000 pounds of trash collected off area beaches since the Eco-Depot's creation. Pretty hefty numbers, and that deserves a hearty round of applause from all of us on the East Coast.  

•Also in Rhode Island, the 35th Annual Northeast Surfing Titles went off in powerful head-high surf at North Kingstown on October 20th. Big winners included 12-year-old Massachusetts surfer John Ryan, who won Boys, Open, and Menehune Longboard, and John's brother Luke, who emerged victorious in Junior Men's and Junior Longboard. Other double-dippers included Sue Glidden in Senior Women's and Senior Women's Longboard, Ron Belanger in Masters Longboard and Senior Men's, Peter Pan in Legends and Legends Longboard, and Katie Zullo in Junior Women's and Women's Longboard. Look for visual evidence from the day at www.surfesa.org.  

•Mollusk Surf Shop and Michael Halsband brought a little wave action to Brooklyn, NY on October 2nd, screening Halsband's latest creation, Surf Movie Reels 1-14, to a gathered crowd of urban shredders.  

•Down Rhodey way, the University of Rhode Island Surf Club ran the 2nd Annual Fall Intercollegiate Surfing Championships on November 3rd at 2nd Beach in Middletown, RI. Dubbed Oktuberfest, the competition lucked into some late-season tropical energy, with Tropical Storm Noel sending far-flung swell into the Northeast. Due to ESM's editorial deadline, we couldn't squeeze the results in this issue, but look for more on Oktuberfest next month.  

•Smokin' hot swimsuit model Marisa Miller lent her talents to Surfrider's 2nd Annual Art For The Oceans Benefit, held on September 19th in New York City. Artists who donated works to raise money for Surfrider included art world impresarios Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, George Condo, and Ed Ruscha. Who knows, maybe next summer all the supermodels and urbanites will be swarming Rockaway to catch a few with the local crew.  

•Long Island, NY, darkhorse Tom "T-Bone" Abbatiello sent reports about the worst fall for waves he can remember, except for one quick weekend at Montauk. But the lack of surf has meant great visibility, allowing him to score a 36-inch striped bass while spearfishing before winter sets in. Right now, T-Bone's in Costa Rica on an R&R mission, but look for a big push in the spring with his handmade, custom T-shirt line, which can be found at Island Surf in Westhampton Beach and Sunrise To Sunset in Southampton. You can check him out online at www.tbonesartnsoul.com.  

•While we're in New York, Long Beach High School Surf Club held their 2nd Annual Fall Community Beach Cleanup on October 28th at National Boulevard. Also, LBHS advisor Danny Bobis hopes to organize a Surf Industry Night for Long Island high school kids in December. Anyone willing to help out with guest appearances, food, or movie premieres, please contact Bobis at lbhssurfclub@hotmail.com.  

•Massachusetts surfer Dan Hassett sent us a few shots from a small day during an early-October swell. Here's hoping there's more to come up north this winter.  

•Rhode Island surfers-turned-world travelers Gary Lynn and Danielle Ciminero hosted an art show of Danielle's work on October 20th at The Barn in Charlestown, RI. Find out more about Gary and Danielle at www.unitedcirclesquaretriangle.com.  

•Over on the Great Lakes, the ESA scored mushy A-frames at the Poseidon's Rage wavepool (inside the Wisconsin Dells, WI, theme park known as Mt. Olympus) for a September 26th contest. Winners included Burton Hathaway in Open Shortboard and Glen Obear in Open Longboard.  

•ESM Senior Photographer Mike Nelson hit us up with news of Unsound Surf Shop's mega-expansion, which will double the square footage of the store. Nellie also told us to look out for star teamrider Balaram Stack's upcoming special on the Fuel TV show, New Pollution, and added that TJ Gumiela held the lead in the Red Bull Triad amateur surf series after two events. The Triad wrapped up its third contest on November 11th, which just happened to fall right before our deadline. But the innovative, roving competition scored big local points by allowing New York's amateur surfers the chance to slug it out in three different locations. Log on to www.redbullusa.com/triad for full results, and look for an upcoming feature in our January issue.  

•Maine-based ESM Senior Photographer Nick LaVecchia reported that his trip to the Dominican Republic with East Coast stars Jeff Myers, Billy Hume, Jason Reagan and Green Bottles Productions filmer Len Helbig was a serious success, as the crew scored fun waves and some pretty memorable times. "You can bet I will be heading back there to score a few spots," said Nick.  

•And speaking of ESM Senior Photographers from New England, do not miss next issue, as we'll be featuring a long-overdue portfolio of New Hampshire lensman Brian Nevins' best images.  

•It must be baby season or something, because Eastern Surf got flooded with birth announcements this month. In the Northeast department, Rhode Island surfer Matt Maletta and New Jersey wahine Kelli Appenzeller-Maletta (who both now reside on the North Shore of Oahu) welcomed their daughter Ginger Mahina into the world on July 16th. Ginger had open-heart surgery at one week old but is now doing great. Any qualified East Coast wahines interested in being a part-time nanny during surf season can contact Matt or Kelli at 808-293-2004.  

•And wrapping up our baby blahs, Christian del Rosario, the man behind Nesurfari.com, greeted his second daughter Raquel Keala for the first time on October 2nd. Click over to Christian's homepage for a full-size picture of Raquel.  

•Boston, MA, regular and ESM Assignment Writer Ben Pratt just wrote in with these fine words for all you sports fans out there: "Go Sox... Go Pats." Ummm, OK.  

•Eastern Surf urges everyone -- and we do mean everyone -- to do their part and bug the hell out of the East Coast Surfing Legends Hall Of Fame board to induct Rhode Island surf/skate/punk icon Sid Abruzzi into the club. E-mail ECSLHOF Executive Director Tony Sasso at Surfscout71@aol.com to voice your support. 

•This just in: New York's favorite big-wave maniac and WRV teamrider Will Skudin called us up freaking out about the heavy, triple-overhead-plus surf he caught up in Nova Scotia this October. Stay tuned for more next ish.  

•However, prior to Skudin's frantic call, Nova Scotia pro Nico Manos actually reported that the older guys in the area were calling it the worst Hurricane Season the Canadian Maritimes had seen in 30 years. But Nico's been keeping plenty busy, as he just got engaged and is now building his dream home in Lawrencetown. He says it should be finished in July, and was gracious enough to give ESM a formal invite to come up next fall, see the pad, and surf our brains out with all the boys. Yeah, we think we'll have to take you up on that one, brother. ­Compiled by Nick McGregor

 

Mid-Atlantic Blahs

•Two Maryland surfers made a big splash at the Surfing America U.S.A. Surfing Championships, held October 23rd-27th at Huntington Beach Pier, CA. In pumping groundswell groomed by the same Santa Ana winds that fueled Southern California's devastating fires, Berlin, MD, longboarder Kate Bassett went home with the Women's Longboard title. In 3rd-place with just under a minute left in her heat, Bassett snagged a bomb and catapulted herself into a major victory for the East Coast and the Old Line State. Also finishing strong was ESA-Delmarva District Director Art Baltrotsky, who finished 2nd in the Senior Longboard division. Let's give a big hand to these two Terrapins. Pictures from their trip out west can be found at www.delmarvaesa.org, and for more details on the Right Coast's showing out west, turn to Page 23.  

•Virginia Beach, VA, filmmaker-turned-Wilmington, NC, student Pat Stublen (who sent in praise for fellow filmmaker Nate Lee in last issue's Intercourse/ Discourse department) wanted to spread the good word about Walking On Water's North Carolina premiere, where Stubby jammed with the movie's director, Outer Banks visionary Nic McLean, as well as Virginia Beach-born Walking On Water editor Russell Brownley. Stubby even claimed he used to take Brownley surfing as a grom. You must have done a good job, Stubby, because Russell's one of the rippingest cinematographers out there! But enough about those guys. What we really want to know is... when the heck is the next Stubtown Entertainment movie coming out!?!  

•It needs to be mentioned that during the Virginia Beach premiere of Walking On Water, local sales reps organized a silent auction and raffle to raise money for the family of Josh Prince, the Eastern Edge Surf Shop manager who passed away suddenly from a brain hemorrhage while traveling back from the September Surf Expo, leaving behind a wife and young children. The combined efforts raised $14,000 for the Prince family.  

•We here at ESM aren't always perfect in our dissemination of editorial, and a glaring example of that came when we mistakenly ran Jennifer Butler's first name as Laura in our piece on the East Coast Wahine Championships last issue. Our most humble apologies to Jennifer, and big thanks to her husband Tony Butler, manager of Sweetwater Surf Shop in Wrightsville Beach, NC. Tony said, "My wife deserves the credit for putting up with me for so long!"  

•While we're fartin' around in Southern North Carolina, we should mention that Kure Beach powerhouse Tony Silvagni won his 13th professional longboarding title of the year at the Brave New World Pro/Am, held September 29th-30th at Manasquan Inlet, NJ. Check out Page 56 for a full Fight Club report.  

•There's nothing like cold clams on the half shell to counter a scorching Jersey Shore day. The crew at Jetty wasn't expecting an 85-degree temperature reading when they planned the inaugural Jetty Clam Jam Surf Festival, but that's what they got on October 6th in Harvey Cedars, NJ. Warm water, decent waves, and a great showing from the LBI surf community led to a fun day for all, including Conner Willem and his brother Brendan (a Jetty teamrider), who took the Clam Jam title. For photos and more, browse over to www.jettylife.com/clamjam and turn to Page 131 for complete results.  

•In other Jersey deets, Trenton Times police reporter Kevin Shea has a surfing blog up and running at www.blog.nj.com/surfing.  

•Delaware native-turned-North Shore lifeguard Aaron Powell sent us big news of his pending deal with shaper Craig Kawamura of CK Surfboards to develop an Aaron Powell signature model. Nothing's finalized yet, but initial plans place the model exclusively in East Coast shops, with the focus being the Delaware area. All you Mid-Atlantic duffers better start saving your pennies! Stay tuned to ESM for future details.  

•West Chester, PA, madman/ television celebrity/ pro skater Bam Margera has his own signature shades out with Electric. Check out the BSGII at www.electricvisual.com.  

•South Jersey lunatic Ben Graeff sent word of a recent break-in he suffered while surfing South Carolina Avenue in Atlantic City. Apparently, the thief threw a rock into Billy DeJesus' car window, making off with Graeff's pants, cell phone, passport, and wallet, which unfortunately contained Ben's bank card and its accompanying PIN. Then, while in California for the Oakley Newport Pro a week later, Ben hit up the mini-ramp at the Sector 9/ Arbor Skateboards factory and picked up sponsorship from Arbor, but in all the excitement Graeff fell and dislocated his shoulder, forcing him to skip the ESA Easterns in Hatteras. And finally, if you've ever been intrigued by any of Graeff's Jersey Nub videos on YouTube.com, fret no more, because their full-length video The Takeover is almost completed. Things can only get better from here on out, Ben!  

•Central North Carolina's newest menehune wonder Stevie Pittman traveled to New Smyrna Beach, FL, in September for the NSSA Southeast/ North Conference's second contest of the season, and the seven-year-old took 1st-place in Open Mini-Groms. Wonder how good he'll surf by the time he hits 10?  

•Speaking of seven-year-old contest winners, Walker Surfboards wanted to congratulate teamrider Nick Farrell on his division win at the No Flat Earth contest, held back in September in Brick, NJ. In other Walker team deets, new riders Sean Herman and Blake Gregor joined Team Manager Scott Marvin for an East Coast Walker shindig on the Outer Banks. Find out more at www.thewalkerproject.com.  

•Wrightsville Beach, NC, surfer Mitch Baker had his appendix taken out back in October. Everyone at ESM sends get-well wishes to Baker, who will be out of the water for a month.  

•New Jersey surf artist Jay Alders was chosen to tour with the 4th Annual International Alma Surf-Art-Music Festival, running through three cities in Brazil this November. Find details at www.mostradosurf.com.br.  

•The 9th Annual East Coast Military Championships went off on November 10th-11th at Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, NC. Look for full results next issue.  

•Pennsylvania eco-bros Greenlight Surfboard Supply sent out a bulletin detailing British Airways' plans to ban all surfboard luggage from flights starting November 6th. Because of the PR blitz and an ensuing e-mail campaign, BA relented and announced they will still allow surfboards as checked baggage. For more, log on to www.greenlightsurfsupply.com.

•New Jersey native Bob Tanner has kept up his industry ascent, scoring the Marketing Director position with Ocean Minded. Good on ya, Bob, just don't forget about all your friends back on the East Coast!  

•Surf City, NC, local Mike Barden decided to take a day off from surfing a few weeks back, hooking up a charter boat offshore. He didn't have a chance to rest his paddling arms, though, lucking into a massive sailfish right in his own backyard.  

•Spellbinders Surf Shop employee Vince Troniec sent in a shot of himself with ESA pioneer Cecil Lear, taken back in October at a Surfer's Environmental Alliance benefit dinner. Troniec said, "My friendship with Cecil started when I was 14 years old, after my first surf contest in Belmar, NJ."  

•Kill Devil Hills, NC, longboarder "Big" Todd Levy finally popped the question to longtime girlfriend Julia Jennette on October 13th.  

•Miles Lucas Stafford was born on September 14th to New Jersey-based Transworld Surf Staff Photographer Seth Stafford and wife Charlene. Huge congrats to the lovely couple. •In other family deets, Cape Hatteras, NC, surfer and restaurant owner Rusty Midgett sent ESM belated news of his son Colin Matthew's birth back on May 5th. Rusty would have informed us earlier, but he was busy getting his new bar and grill Teach's off the ground. Check 'em out online at www.teachslair.com.  

•And rounding out this issue's bundle of joy news, North Carolina charger Carl Wallin welcomed his daughter Skylar Trinity into the world back in September.  

•Virginia Beach's 17th Street Surf Shop has a revamped website up at www.17thst.com, and you really should take a moment to check it out. We did, and we were particularly struck by the 17thStTV page of the site, which includes some damn impressive video clips of teamriders like Philip Goold. Take it from us: This Goold kid is getting really, really good, and is far and away the most promising youngster coming out of the area.  

•Outer Banks ripper and FCS/ Gorilla Grip sales rep Nigel Haynes took a much-needed surf trip to Puerto Rico before Thanksgiving.

•This news isn't all that new, but we felt some people may not know that after pulling a brief disappearing act from the surf scene the past couple of years, Oak Island, NC, super ripper Shane Upchurch is back and shredding harder than ever. Freshly sponsored by Rip Curl, Shane was kicking the snot out of the waves at this September's WRV Outer Banks Pro. Don't believe us? Turn to Page 62 and see for yourself. ­Compiled by Nick McGregor

 

Southeast Blahs

•In comp news, Space Coast phenom Adam Wickwire (who finished 3rd at the Oakley Pro Junior in Santa Cruz, CA, placing him atop the ASP North America Pro Junior final standings) got picked up by X-Trak.  

•Also making the Oakley Pro Junior final, Vero Beach, FL's, Travis Beckmann finished 4th, just narrowly missing the trip to Narrabeen, Australia, for the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships by a mere 15 points. There's always next year, Travis.  

•The AAU National Surfing Championships went off in pumping surf the weekend of October 27th-28th in Cocoa Beach, FL, with Brevard boys Rylan McCart, Kelsey Strickland, GP Floyd, and Jonathon Canglanellis earning slots into the Sean Slater Invitational during the World Skin Cancer Foundation Fall Classic (look for more details next issue).  

•Didn't we already tell you that Sean Slater is everywhere?  

•Breaking in his new home in Japan, former ASP-WCT competitor Danny Melhado did well in several WQS contests while also discovering what the Indialantic, FL, native called a "Tahiti-style" wave in Okinawa. We'll take your word for it, Danny!  

•Board Sports Management founder and The Goods dynasty overseer Mitch Varnes joined Go211.com's Board of Directors this October. In other Varnes news, the January 2008 O'Neill Sebastian Inlet Pro, which Mitch founded and continues to produce, gained some weight with a much-deserved upgrade to a 5-star WQS event. Now packing $110,000 in prizemoney, this 'QS season kickoff event is second in stature only to the U.S. Open of Surfing on the Mainland. Varnes also donated a framed jersey signed by CJ and Damien Hobgood, along with four SI Pro VIP passes, to The M.O.R.G.A.N. Project, a local nonprofit that benefits children with disabilities. Look up www.themorganproject.org for more information.  

•In South Carolina news, the 2nd Annual Happy Hendriks Memorial Contest went down on October 6th at the Seaview Inn in Pawley's Island, SC. Organized by the Pawley's Island Surf Club and Surf The Earth Surf Shop owner Scott Benston, the contest honors Happy and his family by gathering members of the community for a day of waves and fun. Local artist Al McWhite created the contest's T-shirt, and Pawley's Island Mayor Bill Otis even showed up to hand out awards.  

•In other Palmetto State deets, the ESA-Southern South Carolina District's John Kalagian Team Challenge and Joe Hiller Longboard Classic ran without a hitch on October 27th and 28th. You can find results and photos at www.ssc.surfesa.org.  

•Panhandle surfers Sterling Spencer and Warren Smith recently returned from a Transworld Surf photo trip to Thailand.  

•While we're discussing the Gulf side, Bill Matthews reported that Surftech picked up Plant City, FL, grom Joey Putnall. Log on to www.surftech.com and browse over to the Groms page for pictures of Joey.  

•Puerto Rican tube maestro and former Surfer Magazine coverboy Otto Flores joined the UM Surfboards team. Look for Otto's first pro model in early 2008.  

•Florida's Viking Surfboards recently signed Melbourne Beach, FL, aerial kamikaze Sean Tubbs to the label. Tubbs' personal shaper (and one of the East Coast's most sought-out foamblowers), Brian Tudor of BAT Surfboards, came along for the ride, as well. Check out www.vikingsurfboards.com for more.  

•Sad news from South Florida detailed the untimely passing of father, surfer, and friend Scott Minium. A paddle-out commenced at Deerfield Beach on October 28th, with great waves, weather, and friends coming together to celebrate Scott's life. Jason Schoonover, who informed ESM of the tragic news, said "Minium was a lip-smackin' S.O.B., whose big smile and candor will be dearly missed in the lineup."  

•The Christian Surfers United States held their National Conference from October 17th-20th in Cocoa Beach, with surf luminaries Aaron Chang, CJ and Damien Hobgood, Matt Beacham, CT Taylor, Josh Wilson, and Will Tant in attendance. Look up www.christiansurfers.com to find out how you can become a member for free.  

•Atlantic Beach, FL, WQS warrior Asher Nolan has a signature traction pad in the works with Pro-Lite. Check the Slasher's progress at www.prolite.com.  

•Speaking of North Florida, the Life Rolls On Foundation's They Will Surf Again series swung into Jax Beach on October 27th, coinciding with a First Coast Surfrider beach cleanup.  

•And NFL wahine pro Karina Petroni joined Dave Rastovich and other high-profile surfers and celebrities for a recent gathering in Japan to protest the organized slaughter of dolphins and whales.  

•The crew down at Ohana Surf Shop in Stuart, FL, celebrated their first anniversary on October 13th, with a huge crowd turning out to enjoy tunes from Fresh Catch and Last Laugh. The party also raised $300 for the American Cancer Society. In other Ohana news, teamriders Brent Meinhold and Sean Dowd picked up sponsorship from Ergophobia.  

•New Smyrna Beach, FL, loc'dogs Shannon "Hopper" and Patrick "Tupat" Eichstaedt organized a premiere of Brian Conley's latest tube extravaganza, My Eyes Won't Dry 2, on October 12th. Shea Perkins of Oakley and Joe Surbaugh of ...Lost chipped in with giveaways, and local shops Quiet Flight, Red Dog, and Inlet Charley's also banded together to support the gig.  

•The 2007 Causeway To Causeway Paddle Challenge went off on October 20th in Cocoa Beach. The overall winner in a field of standup paddleboards, surf boats, and prone paddlers was JP Atherholt of Clearwater, FL, who finished the 22-mile paddle in just under four and a half hours. Big thanks go out to the East Coast Surfing Legends Hall Of Fame, who sponsored the event, along with the LIVESTRONG Lance Armstrong Foundation, who backed Melbourne Beach competitor Chip Bock.  

•Maxwell Morrill filmed the third episode of The Mission: Surf series in Ponce Inlet, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville back in September. Have a look at the film's progress at www.themissionfilms.us.  

•Daytona Beach, FL, pro Jesse Heilman placed 2nd in the Pro division of the Volcom Seaslug Surf Series, held on September 22nd in Manhattan Beach, CA. Merritt Island, FL, ripper-turned-Cali transplant (and former ESM Who Da Guy) Corban Campbell came in 4th in the same final.  

•South Florida rippin' rep Ricco Luppino alerted us about up-and-coming Volcom and Electric grom Stevie Andrews.  

•Treasure Coast Surfrider got a welcome drop-in from Surfrider National Director Jim Moriarty and Regional Manager Ericka D'Avanzo, who rolled into town to welcome new TC board members Juan Ayala and Debbi Danielle, as well as to congratulate the chapter on their work opening public access points at Bon Air Beach.  

•Mysurfari.com held a relief party on October 24th in Jacksonville to raise money for earthquake victims in the Mentawais. Find out how you can help at www.mysurfari.com. The following night, First Coast Surfrider held a SurfAid event for the same purpose.  

•Ponce Inlet surfers Jordan Carter and Andrew Bennet and friends spent the month of September in Indonesia filming with Glas. Visit www.myspace.com/fourcomerfilms for a glimpse into the trip.  

•Vestal and Jedidiah teamed up to throw the On The Rocks 2 art show at The Ocean Club in Jax Beach. Look up the visual evidence at www.jedidiahusa.com.  

•Eight-time ASP World Champ Kelly Slater ventured to Israel with Surfing For Peace, a group interested in promoting reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians through waveriding. Unfortunately, the trip ended with Slater being briefly detained by Israeli police after scuffling with photographers, who wanted to snap pics of the Champ with international supermodel Bar Rafaeli. All in a day's work for the world's best surfer, although early reports from the Holy Land detailing who crossed the line were understandably murky.  

•As if the South Florida scene wasn't localized enough, underground film Locals Only 2 premiered on September 27th at the Jupiter 18 Theatre, with Palm Beach County heavies "Big Wave" Dave Hoag, William Kimball, and Ryan Helm in attendance. Ryan Pinder sends big thanks to the venue for allowing two showings of the movie.  

•The Smith Optics High Roller went down on October 27th at the Sebastian Beach Inn in Melbourne Beach. Entrants into the invitation-only contest included Baron Knowlton, Jeremy Johnston, and Ryan Helm, with Knowlton taking home 1st-place. Look for a full report next issue.  

•Flagler Pier kingpin Jimmy Blumenfeld gave us the heads-up on his latest sponsor, The Sports Rooster, a website allowing users to positively promote pictures, videos, and news between amateur and extreme sports enthusiasts. Point that mouse over to www.thesportsrooster.com.  

•Congratulations go out to South Carolina shopowner Scott Benston and his wife DeAnna on the birth of their third child, Christian Stowe.  

•And lest you think that's all the baby news ESM has this issue, former ASP Top-16 charger and Costa Rican ex-pat Charlie Kuhn and Maria Del Mar celebrated the birth of their second daughter Alana on October 15th.  

•And lastly, big ups to Texas pro Morgan Faulkner, who took home the $500 1st-place Pro check at the Volcom Bushfish Surf Series, held at Bob Hall Pier in Corpus Christi on September 29th. Next ish of ESM will recap Volcom's biggest, richest, and most well-received East Coast tour ever! Don't miss it. ­Compiled by Nick McGregor