IT'S ALMOST TIME!

As this newsletter is being sent out (Saturday, May 27), we are exactly one week from the club's premier event of the year: the Summer Longboard Classic. There will be plenty to see that day, so make sure you don't miss any of the day's events.

Of course for the contestants, it will be a full day of exciting competition. But you don't have to be in the contest to enjoy the festivities.

There will be food and drinks available—free for contestants, for purchase by everyone else; a merchandise tent with cool contest-related items to buy; an art gallery area with original surf art to view and buy if you like; a raffle tickets tent for your chance to win one of five different surfboards being raffled that day; and a membership tent—hey, join the club and join the fun! There will also be a "History of the Pacific Beach Surf Club" display hut, put together by Bobby Thomas Challenger of Challenger Surfboards, one of the club's original members from the 1950's. That's a half-century of club memorabilia to catch up on! Go Bobby!

During the break from competition (noon to 1:00) we'll be treated to a unique and beautiful niche of surf culture, tandem surfing. The club's Travis Long has gathered together a talented group of tandem partners to give us an exhibition of this form of surfing. Also during this time, several kids from the Muscular Dystrophy Association will join us on the beach and get the chance to experience the excitment of a major surfing event. It is the club's commitment to support this deserving organization that help make this event worth while every year as our charity proceeds go to them. We'll also be treated to Kikilia's Flowers of the Pacific Polynesian dance group who will perform for us during this time slot.

At the end of the day is the awards ceremony where all the contestants from Menehunes to Masters receive their well-earned trophies. Who will take home the glory this year? Stay tuned, the next issue will be jam-packed with coverage of the contest and all the day's happenings.

The surfboard raffle finishes off the day's fun where one dollar can get you a brand new, custom-shaped surfboard. You can't beat that with a stick. Of course, to improve your chances of picking up one of these beauties, you just might want to buy more than one raffle ticket. It's up to you.

A big thank you from the club to this year's Summer Longboard Classic poster artist, Wade Koniakowsky, who generously came forward and created a truly memorable poster and T-shirt image for our event. You can visit Wade's website at:

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Hey, compteting or just hanging around taking in all the action, don't miss out on all the fun at this year's Summer Longboard Classic! See you there. —Richard Steadham

SCORPION BAY DELIVERS IT

By Josh Hall

Two trucks, six guys, 15 boards and 18 and a half hours of driving, four of which were done down a dirt road in the dark; but we made it. Dusty, thirsty, sore, but most of all, really ecstatic to have arrived in camp. We prepared a pseudo camp for the night, mostly just to get out of the weather and get a solid nights sleep the first night, because the next morning would provide minimal crowds (8-10 at 2nd) and more waves than are humanly possibly to ride in a day.

The group consisted of, Greg, Jeff, Wanky (Kirk); all La Jolla Shores guys, Mad Jack (latter named El Conejo Blanco, for always seen bouncing around somewhere), Pablo Smith and myself, Josh Hall; all PB guys. We all sort of knew each other, some better friends than others. It wasn’t a random group, but our backgrounds, ages and surfing styles spanned the entire board. Greg (mid-50s), who is newly retired, held the oldest person-position on the trip, and I held the youngest (25). But what soon transpired was the realization that we weren’t any different at all, that the stoke of surfing transcends any generational or age differences. By the end of the trip, we all had commented on the fact that this had been the best surf trip any of us had ever been on.

I’ve been lucky enough to have traveled quite extensively throughout Baja so I sort of knew what was in store with an 18+ hour drive. “No problem I thought, rest at gas fill ups, drink minimal water, split up driving, haul a** but most importantly be safe.” We left on a Sunday so there was minimal big truck traffic on the way down. The only hesitation I had is that when you have a caravan of two vehicles or more, it tends to take more time to get to where you are going; this wasn’t the case. Both drivers were comfortable on HWY 1, and both had similar driving styles, so lagging wasn’t an issue.

Now camping in Baja always has it pluses and minuses. Having been deep in to the Lost Coast numerous times, putting up with high winds, no supplies, sand in the food, and no escape from the sun, can be real trying at times. Yes, you are in wide-open God’s country with not a soul around, other than the local fisherman, but, you have to be totally prepared with everything for the length of your trip,i.e., ice and water, food, camping supplies, extra gas, everything. Not one little thing can go overlooked.

Scorpion Bay is different. It takes Lost Coast camping and puts it to the luxury level. Yeah you still need a tent, some camping gear, some water and ice, all the beer you can handle, but you don’t have to stress about it. The nice little fishing town of San Jaunico is just a mile or so away. Need ice or more beer? Go to town. Sand in the food from high wind? Go to the cantina. Need shade? Stay in one of the palapas or, grab a caguama de Tecate at the cantina and rest a little. This place blew me away. All that is the great of wide open Baja, but with some luxury items: cold shower, covered bathroom, and guaranteed ice cold beer!

This is a place where you can stay for weeks at a time, no problem. It’s also a place where you can bring the family down to experience Baja with out having to put them at risk in the middle of the desert. Did I mention Wi-Fi (Wireless Interent)? From my phone I was able to send text and email messages to my family letting them know we made it. And yes, you can connect (9 bucks an hour) to the internet and work from down there (if you really have too), or you could just check the surf report. I’m telling ya, almost all the luxuries of home, but with the best right point in the world right behind you?

Enough plugging Scorpion, they’ll probably blame me for the crowd this summer. The trip was awesome! The best I’d been on, ever. Waves, location, weather, but most importantly, the group. As I had mentioned before, the stoke of our sport transcends any and all differences. At the end of the day, it was “ah man, I saw that ten you got and I was just flipping out at how long you perched!” Or, “you were in perfect trim, not a drop out of place on the wave, total soul patrol like in the movies!” Hooting everybody and everything. Respecting the order, letting people have their space. Talking story around the fire at night. Putting a dent in the Tecate population of San Jaunico. I think the only downer for me the entire trip was that I ran out of money two days towards the end, and the red tide plagued the point the entire week, causing my sinuses to act up. Other than that, it was amazing.

HONORING A LOCAL LEGEND

By Dr. Derek Lodico

Usually we have more of a formal medical corner concerning issues related to surfing and the ocean. This issue I want to use this space to share with the The Pacific Beach Surf Club member and their families a well known Pacific Beach resident that was recently honored.

On May 21st Roger Hedgecock came to Horizon Christian Fellowship on Clairemont Drive on behalf of the Mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders, to honor Larry and Gayle Gordon for their impact as outstanding citizens of San Diego over the past three decades. I have had the honor myself over the past 12 years of listening to the stories and wisdom shared by Larry Gordon and his friends in the parking lot at Tourmaline Surfing Park. Larry Gordon is highly regarded within the surf community and industry and now, on behalf of the city of San Diego and a well known Christian Fellowship, known for his active role in the community. Below is a link to a pamphlet designed by Mickey Stonier of Horizon Christian Fellowship. Click on it to read more.

Newsletter and Logjam Article
Just a note to tell you what an outstanding club newsletter you've produced! Layout, photos, and stories are so well done. You should be very proud. Also, I really appreciated your enthusiasm for our Logjam event. It's stoke like yours that makes it happen. I hope you'll return next year! Hope you got some of the recent southie over the weekend. It was very sweet up here!
All the best,
Gary Silberstein
Secretary
Big Stick Surfing Association
Santa Cruz

Thanks for the kind words Gary, and yes, we'll be back next year for sure. —Editor

Got a comment or complaint? If it's surfing related (including this newsletter), email the editor at: rlsteadham@mac.com. Be sure to include your name, and the city where you live. Note that letters will be subject to editing for length and clarity.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

June 10: Surfrider Foundation, Beach Cleanup, Solana Beach
June 10: Quicksilver 9th Annual PB Summer Surf Off; PB Drive, Pacific Beach
June 24: Surfrider Foundation, Beach Cleanup, Crystal Pier, Pacific Beach