This has been a tough year for us older surfers. First we lost John Severson, founder of SURFER Magazine, and now the man that literally changed surfing and how we all looked at this planet of waves, Bruce Brown.

I started surfing in 1964, and little did I know at that time, that halfway around the world, three young men were on a trip that would change the world forever. Bruce Brown, Robert August, and Mike Hynson. From October of 1963 to April of 1964 they embarked on a surf journey that would be called the ENDLESS SUMMER.



Saturday July 19th, 2014 at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, the stars of Endless Summer I, and Endless Summer II, were on stage narrating the 50th anniversary of this classic film. During that narration and the very next day, I learned so much about the behind the scenes making of that classic surf movie. I especially learned that when Bruce Brown got back in April of 1964 he showed the movie with NO soundtrack that summer in VFW halls in California and community centers. And he did it with his own folksy style of narrating. The same with the following year, 1965.



It wasn't until 1966 that the big guys blew it up to 35mm and it was being shown all across the country. That's when I saw it. The summer of 1966. Though, I had already been surfing since the summer of 1964, that movie changed my life (again). And like a lot of young surfers of the day, my dad took me to see it at the North Shore Shopping Center cinema.



I remember leaving this movie theater in 1966 completely blown away.

After seeing the movie the summer of '66, I knew right then and there that I would be seeking my own "perfect wave" somewhere on this planet. But first I had to wait until my little sojourn in the Marine Corps was done. From The spring of 1968 to January of 1971 my ass belonged to the US Government. But that summer of 1971?. Well that was when we went on our own ENDLESS SUMMER. June 1971. I will never forget that incredible surf trip.



My old surf gang from the mid 60's. Left to right Mike Normand, Peter Hilton, Jeff Crawford, me, and Bruz Bowden. Mike and Peter did not go on that trip just the three on the right. This photo was taken months after we got back.

We went north and found perfect waves and even got to name a few of the perfect points. I told Robert August all about the trip. He was smiling from ear to ear. Nodding his head, he had heard this many times before. He and Hynson, and especially Bruce Brown, inspired a whole generation of surfers to go out and find the perfect wave.

I'm so stoked and happy to say, that I lived that dream. I had my own ENDLESS SUMMER and it was all because of this movie, and more importantly, this man. Bruce Brown. We lost another legend, another surf icon, and our world will never be the same. He inspired so many surfers to go out and find their own perfect waves. And a lot of us did.



He not only inspired surfers to go out and discover new breaks, he also inspired many filmmakers like myself, to make our own surf movies.
The photo below was taken in 1975.



I've been making local surf movies since 1971. And I owe it all to Bruce.



I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing today, without Bruce Brown paving the way. His loss is without question, the true end of an era.

I decided early this week after learning about his passing, that I will try and add some narration to the current GRANITE GIRLS movie I have been working on. Let's just call it a tribute and my way of honoring Bruce.

"Surfing and Shooting Surf Heals All Wounds"

I chose this week's Ed's corner pic because of the snow in the foreground. I have similar looking pics in my "First Snow Gallery. This particular pic is from March of 2014. To think that a mere 5 months after taking this photo, Ed would be gone. Still hard to believe. I still feel his loss every single week. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.


Now for Some Local, National and International News
Just watched the weather and they are calling for more snow. Not sure whatever happened to Fall around here, but it seems every year for the last 5 or 6 years we go from Summer to Winter. Which is really a drag, because the falls in New England are some of the best days. It's not fall when it's 80 degrees. Nor is it fall when its 12 degrees. Any way, "Tis The Season"



The first snow outside of our home. The snow was heavy too.



Yeah I know it's pretty. But it's all also a pain in the butt. This kind of looks like some kind of a snow orb playing Prince music.

The WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA stopped by our American Legion Post 35 in Hampton, NH on Monday December 11th, 2017. The day after the snow storm. I'm proud to have been the first to have them stop by here when I was Commander. It has grown considerably since that first stop. If you are not aware of this yearly undertaking, you should Google it. You'll be impressed.



They place a wreath on every single veteran's grave in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC.



There's a whole gallery of the Hampton stop down in the gallery section. It's pretty impressive.



A wreath on every grave. Try to wrap your head around that. Think of how big of an undertaking this is.


KSM Photoshop of the Week
The festivities of the Christmas Season is in full swing down in GITMO. While none of the inmates are Christian, there are many of the guards who are. Somehow KSM was chosen for this year's Santa. He and his little Terrorist elves put on quite a show for the guards. The prisoners on the other hand were not to happy with our boy KSM. But at this point, he could care less. As long as he gets to have some free time eating Christmas goodies!



So my friends, please take advantage of this weekly photo shop of the mastermind who planned 9-11 and resulted in the deaths
of 3,000 innocent civilians by KSM (Khalid Sheik Mohammed).

*Note to self -must pick up a case of "Sugar Plums and Candy Canes" at Home Depot this week.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Tony Berardini December 24th, 2017!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Baby Jesus December 25th, 2017!
HAPPY 33rd Anniversary baby December 23rd, 2017!
CONGRATS To The CARS for being inducted into The Rock
and Roll Hall Of Fame!
MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY HANUKKAH!

I'm still hoping for a Christmas miracle on this movie..



Sending positive thoughts and prayers to Jo Ellen Bunton in Idaho. GET BETTER and GET STRONGER with each day JE! You look great and it sounds like you have not missed a beat when it comes to preparing a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner! Oh I can just smell the turkey from here. Our love and respect to you.

Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 13 years.
** BUY a HIGH RES Photo from any of the weeks on RPOTW.

Remember my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph

(Above) Later that night. December 10th, 2017 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Lt Col Michael Antonio USMC was the MC and the driving force behind this event in Hampton, NH. December 11th, 2017 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Sheila Nudd (purple coat) honoring the late Desiree Loy USAF. December 11th, 2017 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) The pulled back shot. December, 2017 Photo by Steve Dillon
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) He who walks on stones. December, 2017 Photo by Steve Dillon
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Hey Stevie! This should be a poster. December, 2017
Photo by Steve Dillon *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON on each clip to view videos

FIRST SNOW 12-10-17 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.

The first snow of December 2017. We had a strange fall with temperatures reaching 80 degrees in October, and November was not that far behind. Getting snow this significant in early December caught a lot of us off guard. However, there was surf. Not great surf mind you, but surf none the less. All this footage was shot on one day. December 10th, 2017. Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow! Enjoy.

The SOU'EASTER October 30th, 2017 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.

GRANITE GIRLS Trailer II 10-19-17 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.