| PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE Spring is here. The season for renewal and reinvention. It's been a banner year for surf so far. Reflect on those back-to-back north swells in December and January. On a recent Saturday morning I was checking the waves from the boardwalk in South Mission with some of my neighbors. I said it looked like a good day for Blacks and asked if anyone wanted to go. There were no takers, so I asked why. All four men said they rarely strayed from the stretch of beach before us. "We've marked our territory," was the explanation but they didn't say "marked". Lack of imagination? I think more a testament to the excellent and diverse surf venue we have between Blacks and Sunset Cliffs. All of Southern California for that matter. This made me consider the assortment of surfers riding these waves. Our sport has come to a point of great diversity with the millennium . Let's take a moment to celebrate diversity. Our unique stretch of America is home to all ways, all lengths, all styles, all sizes, all reasons, all colors and all moods. As we look forward to June 3 and the Summer Classic at Tourmaline, let's come together to make Pacific Beach Surf Club strong, fun and better off for diversity. Come to the general meeting Thursday, April 6, at 7:00 p.m., at the VFW Hall and contribute that unique energy that is yours alone and join together with people who share your passion to shape the future and preserve the stoke. Come share about your stand out days this winter, share your ideas for our upcoming contest, share your unique vision of our sport. Next time you paddle out anywhere between Blacks and the Cliffs you just might be surfing with a new friend or two. Kathy Austin President 2006 |
PREPARING FOR OUR SUMMER CLASSIC 2006
Mark your calendars: Saturday, June 3
Place: Tourmaline Surfing ParkSpring has sprung, and that means it won't be too long before our club's premier event of the year is upon us. In fact, it's just two month's away! Help!
Actually, the Summer Longboard Classic committee has met several times already and preparations are well under way. But we really do need your help. We need volunteers who can help before, during and after the event. At dark-30, before the crowds start arriving, we need volunteers to help set up tents, tables, chairs and the like. During the day-long event we need volunteers to help man various key areas such as the food table, the merchandise tent, the raffle ticket sales table and so on. At the end of the day when we're all tired, sun-burned and cranky, we need help taking everything down and packing up. I know, it's no fun, but it has to be done.
If you're interested in volunteering for at least a couple of hours that day, contact the president, Kathy Austin, or the editor, Richard Steadham, and we'll get you on our list and put you to good work wherever we may need you that day.
Thanks!
Click
on images below to view |
 Otis, Halley and Smitty taking a break from the midday heat. |
 High reverse stag |
 Tandem teams. Halley and Travis at far left. |
 Tandem exhibition with Travis and Halley on the left. |
 Lion statue at the Australia Zoo, Beerwah, Queensland. Notice the UFO hovering in the upper right-hand corner of this shot. |
 A wallaby mugs for the camera. |
 Halley makes some friends (notice the baby in the mother's pouch). |
BRICKS & BUTTERFLIES By Travis Long Driving north along the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Noosa Heads, it became blatantly apparent that Halley and I were in for the surf trip of a lifetime. Passing through the Shires of Caloundra, Maroochydore, and Mooloolaba, we decided to take the coast route so we could take a look at the surf. The view from the airplane led us to believe there was considerable swell running, and we were not disappointed. In fact, upon arrival at Coolum Beach, near Perigean, we were astonished at the pure size and mass of water moving out there. It seems we had caught the tail end of what the locals were calling one of the biggest swells in 30 years. With no one out to judge the size of the waves, we had to imagine ourselves surfing out there to get a true scale of how big it really was. After watching a few sets, and realizing how big it really was, that’s when I started “shitting bricks”. Now I’m no stranger to big waves, but we’d traveled 9,000 miles to surf the tandem division of the Noosa Festival of Surf. I was a little taken aback by the sheer size and power of the Queensland surf. My partner Halley Burd is possibly the most capable and talented woman I’ve ever met. She is by far the most fearless of all tandem girls I’ve surfed with. We had surfed big waves tandem in the past, maybe 12-15 foot faces, but this was for real. I’d estimate 3-4 times overhead, a solid 25-30 foot faces. Bricks I tell you. We looked at each other with raised eyebrows but no words. Bricks. The only words I could think of to console her was, “maybe the surf will drop before our heat.” You see, when it comes to consoling a 19-year-old girl, I’m about as expert as a palsey victim doing brain surgery with a pipe wrench (1). Slowly and quietly we continued our journey north to the beautiful town of Noosa Heads. Upon arrival, we were greeted by Swamis Surfing Association’s Otis Sistrunk (not the football player) and Dave “Smitty” Smith, Swamis’s old school ringer. After checking in, it took about three seconds flat to drop our bags, throw on trunks, set up fins, and make it to the beach. Luckily, main beach was protected from the brunt of the massive swell that was visible crossing the outer points and crashing along 40-mile beach. We paddled out into perfect head-high right point surf. No more bricks. The swell took a powder, but the after effects could still be seen. The beach erosion and the destroyed shark nets. According to the locals, the shark nets don’t really work anyway. As Murphy’s Law would have it, the swell dropped so much the organizers decided to hold the first three days of the event over the hill on Sunshine Beach. The venue was open to onshore winds, and was pretty much blown out by 9:00 a.m. Luckily, the swell picked up on Saturday and Sunday, so main beach was back on. Being our first pro event together, there were considerable butterflies, at least there were for me. My fearless partner however, showed no signs of trepidation. In fact, it was in the semis I learned how truly competitive Halley really is. We surfed well in the semis and secured a spot in the finals the next day. More butterflies. Surfing is usually an individual sport where your own talent is all you need. Tandem surfing however, involves a much different team dynamic. After traveling so far for this event, I didn’t want to let her down. After overcoming a rotator cuff injury earlier last month, I was a little worried about my right arm. The one I do most of the lifting with. But thanks to Malibu Rum and Aloha Nossa Massage, all competitors could get free massages. That’s when I learned about Lawang Oil. Lawang oil is manufactured from a tree that grows on only one island in Indonesia. It’s used for muscle aches and joint pains. The only thing I can compare it to is DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide). A horse liniment used on a horse’s hocks to relieve pain. In baseball, we’d use it as a painkiller on our arm so we could pitch longer. But DMSO is so powerful it made your breath reek. Lawang oil works just as well, if not better, but without that nasty pong (Australian for bad oder). So finals day finally came with the usual routine. Wake up at 5:30 a.m., walk through the national park past the bush turkeys and the occasional Koala to Tea Tree Point. Surf, walk back, wake up Halley, eat breakfast, and find some way to occupy your mind before the inevitable. Three o’clock finally rolls around so Halley, myself, and my butterflies all hit the water for what we came for. After a frustrating first few minutes, Halley and I managed to score three solid waves doing an arabesque, a one-arm back, then a high-reverse stay (I don’t expect you to know what that is, but O.K.). Then there’s the wait. Wait to see how it all comes down. Waiting for the rest of the finals to end. Waiting for the interviews to end. Waiting for the award ceremony. Waiting. To make this long story short, we took third. Finished in the money, although not much money, but a good showing nonetheless. In second place was former Australian champion Chris DeAboitiz and his partner. Former world champion Rico Leroy of France and his partner took first. All in all it was an amazing three weeks of surf. The contest was well judged and incredibly well organized. What I came away from Australia with is a great respect for their culture. Their humor is self-deprecating and very tongue-in-cheek. Nothing is off limits: politics, religion or pomegranates (foreigners). One thing they don’t take lightly is their sport. No matter what sport. They respect it like no other culture. That’s what I love about Australia. Good on ya. Footnote: (1) Frank Miller, Sin City. |
Halley, Jen Smith (Pablo's daughter) and Travis. Congrats to Jen on 2nd
place pro women.
DOCUMENTING PACIFIC BEACH CULTURE Would you like
to see a little bit of Pacific Beach history on video? The three
frames pictured above are from a new short documentry featured
on the TurnHere.com website.
PB Surf Club's longtime member and historian Bobby
Challenger Thomas narrates a portion of the flick and talks
about the early history of Pacific Beach and the local surf scene
here (frames one and two). The original PB Surf Club was founded
back in 1957. The club was re-founded in 1993 by Glenn Paculba,
owner of |
| A new surf exhibit called "Taming the Pacific Swell" opened in March at the Maritime Museum of San Diego. The exhibit is presented in partnership with the California Surf Museum of Oceanside. Running through January of 2007, it traces the history of modern surfing from its humble Hawaiian beginnings to the billion dollar industry it is today using changes in surfboard design to illustrate the evolution of the sport. At 12 bucks a head for adults ($8 for children), it's on the pricey side, but included in that price is access to all the museum's exhibits on all vessals in their impressive collection. That goes a long way in easing the capital outlay. Check it out. |
DOES SURFING PROMOTE SINUS INFECTIONS? By Derek Lodico A common misconception with the ocean is that it causes sinus infections. Poor sinus drainage and dirty water can lead to sinus infections. Some people due to their anatomy do not have good drainage from their sinuses surrounding the nose inside their face. The sinuses are lined by the same type of tissue that lines the inside of our nose. When we get a cold or have allergy problems that tissue swells up. So does the tissue lining the already small opening draining our sinuses into our nose. So this opening gets sealed off and now becomes a good environment for bacterial growth. Where do these bugs come from? Polluted ocean water near rain outfalls (such as here) can get flushed into our sinuses, and if the situation happens as described above, these bacteria can start growing. Our own natural bacteria in our sinuses can grow excessively and create an infection as well if they are blocked off from draining. The ocean in itself, if it is not contaminated, is an excellent source for flushing out your sinuses. All of the over the counter ocean sprays are sea water in a bottle. So what do I do to prevent them? 1.First it is cold and flu season, so don’t surf when you are sick. Chances are these viruses are going to cause the openings of your sinuses to swell shut and pushing dirty sea water in that cant get out sets you up. 2. Stay well hydrated! Drink lots of water. When your fluid level is low (dehydration) the lining of your nose and sinuses produce thick sticky mucous that doesn’t drain very well, walla, plugged sinuses. 3.
Flush you nose out everytime you get done surfing. What sniff
water? No don’t inhale it, suck just enough water from
the shower by the bathrooms until you feel it in the back of
your throat, its an art. The cold water will sting. Formulas
are available over the counter at drug stores that come with
a bottle, baking soda/salt mix, and you add warm water. You
can do it at home right after you finish. This may help to
remove and bacteria or viral particles from the surface of
the tissue in the nose 4. Last but
not lease, go see your doctor if you are feeling ill. Most sinus
and nasal discomfort is |
| Volunteers from the San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation showed up at Tourmaline for one of their beach cleanups on Saturday, February 25th. Thanks Surfrider! |
As the editor of this newsletter, I'm always going to be looking for "content" to put into this publication each month. To that end, I'm inviting members to send me material suitable for inclusion in upcoming issues. This is your communications vehicle, and it should reflect your ideas and images. Each month I'm going to need a lead photo (top of the page) which I will then posterize (in Photoshop) and overlay with the club's logo and CURRENTS title. If I use your photo, you'll get a credit line in the bottom section of this page where legalities are taken care of (see below for this month's credit). If you're an artist, showcase your surfing related art here for all to see and enjoy. If you have a website for your art, I can link to it from your art which is presented here. The same goes with photography. Do you have some great shots you'd like to share with the rest of us? When and where were they taken? Who is in the shot? Tell us about them and send them in. Do you like to write? Go to a surfing event and write a report. Do a review on the latest surf DVD or music CD with a connection to surfing. On your next surfing trip with the guys, take along a camera and capture some memorable moments such as catching a sunset surf session, shopping at a local fish market, or preparing food around a campfire. Think surf movie. Then write about it when you return. Speaking of writing, the "Letters" section will return when I receive one. Hint, hint. The bottom line is: if it's about surfing, and you think the rest of the club might benefit--or be entertained--by your unique perspective, send it in and get noticed! Richard Steadham
|
UPCOMING COALITION EVENTS Memorial Day
Classic: May 27-28; Santa
Cruz Longboard Union;
21st Annual; Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz |
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS Apr 1-2: Matix/Sun Diego Pro-Am #6, PB Drive, Pacific Beach
Apr 8: La
Jolla Shores Surfing Association Menehune Contest, La Jolla Shores
|
| Do you have a used surfboard, wetsuit or other surfing related item you'd like to unload, 'er, sell? Our new "For Sale" section is the place to do it. Send information (including a photo if you'd like) to the editor, Richard Steadham, and get it sold here. Please note that this service is for PB Surf Club members only (dues current), and is free to them. Not a member? Now's as good a time as any to join the coolest surf club in So Cal. If interested, come to our next club meeting on April 6, noted in the section above. |
This month's lead photo is by John Slavin Photography For more, visit the PB Surf Club website at: http://www.pbsurfclub.org Copyright
2006, Pacific Beach Surf Club, San Diego, California |
