VIEW VOLUME 7, ISSUE #54 IN ITS ENTIRETY

ON THE COVER
Kelly Slater, photographed at Pipeline, Oahu, HI, by Kevin Welsh/Surfer.

BEST COVER BLURB EVER?
“Kelly Slater wins record sixth title!”

WORDS TO LIVE BY
“The East Coast alone buys over 60% of all surf clothing and accessories nationwide — a full 20% more than California, Hawaii, and the entire rest of the US combined.” –House Ad

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST
“East Coasters continue to impact surfing far beyond the Atlantic Seaboard, and few are doing it in a more dramatic fashion than Milton, Connecticut’s Grant Washburn and the small coterie of transplanted Northeast riders who have been tackling massive Maverick’s since the early ‘90s.” –Hero Shot

WORD OF MOUTH
“Even from the desolate regions of the Outer Banks, ESM lackie Matt Pruett manages to come through with a full sheet of well-written deets for the Blahs… In an enraged attempt to disassociate themselves from OBX-strapped windsurfers and the like, Outer Banks surfers are now proudly supporting DORX apparel, the anti-Highway 158 gear of choice…” –Mid-Atlantic Blahs

HAVE WE REALLY LEARNED NOTHING?
“Nowadays, it’s hard to believe there was ever any dispute over whether aerials were ‘functional.’ Not because they’re so common – but because they’re so damn fun!” –Haley Yergens in High Action

MY, HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED
“[click here]… see the world’s first virtual surf store tour on… www.iwssuperstore.com. –Island Water Sports ad

HOWEVER, SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE
“Best Surf Trip: Last Spring Break I finally got to surf Hatteras overhead. I surfed the Lighthouse with six guys and realized Hatteras is one of the best spots on the East Coast.” –Who Da Guy? Michael Armatrudi of Kearny, NJ

SERIOUSLY?
“Just home from another adventure and was stoked and bummed with the shot of myself in the ‘Money Shots’ issue [Vol. 7, #50]. My name is Scot Collins and I reside in New York – not Rhode Island. I’ve never surfed Ruggles and I never care to. When the souths roll in, I pack up my sailboat and surf the true mysto spots. I also never rationalize any take-offs at Puerto. I’ve been surfing there since 1981 and just have always stuck my nose in and gone.” –Intercourse/Discourse: Get It Straight by Scot Collins of New York

BEST AD COPY
“’98 in review — Spring: The Great Swell of… um, uh… I guess it kinda sucked. Summer: The Epic Hurricane Season, oh yeah… you remember the head high sideshore day? Hoo-eee! Fall: The much heralded Great Pumpkin Swell, aaah what a swell you know, the waist high sideshore day. Ho-boy. Winter: Throbbing frozen black monsters. The Chanaka clipper, pumpin’. You know the knee high sideshore day. Repent ye sinners. Pray for ’99. Let Hardcorps show you the way.” –Hardcorps ad

REST IN PEACE
“On a final, tragic note, John Keppler sent the following words on the sudden passing of Will Tant’s brother, Tommy, from an unforeseen heart illness this fall: ‘We’ve lost a brother, and we’re sorely going to miss Tommy Tant, Jr., who passed away on November 19th at his home in Flagler Beach. Tommy was a true angel who shared much happiness and joy. For the lessons he shared, use them to grow, and never forget we’ve been blessed. I’ll never forget. Thank you, my brother. I love you.'” –Southeast Blahs

TALK ABOUT A STACKED HEAT

ESA NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA CONTEST #1

MENEHUNE
1. Jeremy Johnston
2. Devon Tresher
3. Nils Schweizer
4. Eric Geiselman

SURE WISH WE WERE THERE
“Located someplace between Rincon and San Juan, this top-shelf left somehow remains off the radar of both gringo and Puerto Rican surfers.” –Winter Holiday

WE TOLD YOU SO
“The crew at The Cove Surf & Skate in Brandon, FL, send congrats to seven-year shop teamrider and Lakeland native, Andrew Reynolds, who was recently named Skater of the Year by Thrasher Magazine.” –Southeast Blahs