The LAST Swell of 2018. I shot this yesterday morning at the Wall. It was Spring like out there. With air temperatures in the 50's, the beach was crowded with people out taking a stroll with and without their canine companions while the Surfers were all treated to a clean and green waist to shoulder high swell. Everyone I met seemed to be in a great mood. I guess the sun and surf can do that to you. Our weather is so crazy. November felt like February and December felt like Spring. After all this time, you'd think I'd be used to it by now.

Speaking of crazy. I don't believe I have ever taken a photo like this one.



Two perfect barrels on the same wave. Maybe I have, I just can't recall ever taking one. My imagination was running wild on this one. I mean look at this pic. You could conceivably drop in on someone and you both could get barreled on the same wave. Of course trying to time that would be nearly impossible. Besides you'd be yelling at the person who dropped in on you and quite possibly blow the whole concept. Still, if you could time it just right, with the right person? That would make a great pic and even better video.

Speaking of video. I recently joined the MAC cult by getting a MAC for all my future video editing. I googled who makes the best computer for video editing? And the number one computer was the APPLE I MAC with 4K Retina display. I'm going to be shooting a lot of 4K in the near future. The trend seems to be moving in that direction. I'm a little apprehensive about this move. After all, I haven't used a MAC since 1984 when I first used the MAC SE. So it's been a while. I'll be going at this very slowly. But I am excited.
So fingers crossed.

The year is coming to an end my friends. Lots of things happened this year. Lot's of International and national news. But for the sake of time and space, I'm going to focus on our little sliver of life here on the seacoast.



This is Tom Hay from last January. The year started off with a bang as far as winter swells. Including the first ever BOMB CYCLONE. Remember that?



This is a video frame grab of Kevin "Doc" Grondin from a swell in April. Say what you want about getting old and losing your shit. Kevin is not one of those. He still gets barreled more than most people half his age.



The annual SURFING WITH SMILES event finally went off. We had to cancel the first two because of inclement weather. Thunderstorms. But we managed to get one in in August. Wouldn't be summer without it.



And same with HIT THE BEACH! We always seemed to be blessed with great weather and fun waves. This coming summer will be our 12th year!
SURFING WITH SMILES (taking young kids with Autism surfing) and taking the Wounded Warriors surfing has to be the two highlights of the summer for those of us who live and surf here.



This was a personal highlight for me. The Premiere showing of GRANITE GIRLS and The RIVER WOMEN at the Ashworth hotel on the beach this summer was a huge success. With over 300 surfers from all over the seacoast it was a great night for the women surfers of the Northeast. History was made that night. And if you were there, you were part of something very special. If you missed it, you can always buy the DVD or rent it Online as well as buying the MP4 file. *I know that the DVD player is becoming obsolete.



As always, it was the surf that we will remember the most. We had some great waves this past year. Like this wave. Some of the video I shot this past year ended up being some of the most dramatic footage I have ever filmed.



Like this scene. That's my son Max walking away from the carnage that brought such havoc and fury on this small stretch of coastline. He broke his board in half on a wave that would rival any wave anywhere in the world. But that's only the half of it (ya see what I did there?). On the very next wave on his replacement board, he broke that one in half too! That's back to back boards broken completely in half. That's how intense the waves were that day.



And speaking of INTENSE waves. My longtime contributor of the Blog Benjamin Ginsberg placed himself in the arena that is MAVERICKS on the West Coast and shot some of the MOST intense surfing the world has ever witnessed. Ben has a gallery down in the photo section. This particular pic is of Peter Mel skating down the face of a monster wave. Oh hell no!

What a GREAT Year! Here's hoping for better and happier times in 2019!


"Remember my friends, Surfing Heals All Wounds."

This week's ED's Corner pic is Ginger Nelson in August of 2011. Ginger is currently in California surfing the warmer climate of fun and surf. 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
This year has has been one of the most ridiculous times in the history of our country. The shit that has come out of the White House is not worthy of mentioning again. 2019 will be a telling year for all of us. Hopefully justice will prevail on all fronts.

And speaking of the absurd. I decided to make a collage of the year of KSM postings. It's down in the KSM section. If you are a fan of the weekly KSM you'll love this. Meanwhile, here's a couple of my favorites from this past year.



Seriously if KSM was a surfer, this is what he'd be like.



Wonder if Bill and KSM have made love yet? Oh come on, it's prison. It's what they do in prison. Ha ha...look at Bill's face.

Here's how you can own a piece of Women/Girls Surfer's Northeast History!



The DVD's ARE IN! We are taking orders via email. The much awaited All Women Surf Movie of the ladies and girls of the Northeast will be available at all the local surf shops this week and Online. To order yours just send me an email. ralph@adlantic.com or send a check for $20.00
made out to ADLANTIC and send it here:

ADLANTIC
c/o OC Studio Suites
703 Ocean Blvd Suite C-4
Hampton, NH 03842

THIS JUST ADDED! RENT or BUY it Online. You have spoken and I have listened. You don't have a DVD player so I made it available Online. Watch it on your Smart TV, your computer, or your cellphone! I can't make this any easier my friends.


GRANITE GIRLS and The RIVER WOMEN from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo. NOW AVAILABLE on VIMEO ON DEMAND.



HAPPY HOLIDAYS! And Here's to The BEST New Year for Everyone! And I do MEAN everyone!

*Click on the photo above to see a larger version

(Above) The driving in the barrel was sketchy at best. MVF.
Saturday December 29th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) The waves were clean and green and easily accessible.
Saturday December 29th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) The Red Roof will always be a beacon to us locals.
Saturday December 29th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Meanwhile Mackey was slipping into wave after wave.
Saturday December 29th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) This wave? Look at it. Seriously, just stop and take a good look at
this barrel. Who among us wouldn't want to catch something like this?
Saturday December 29th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) The waves would just pop up on the sand bar and rifle down the beach. Mackey V on a runner. Sunday December 23rd, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- MASSIVE MAVERICKS December 17th, 2018.
Photos by Benjamin Ginsberg



(Above) That's Peter Mel at the bottom of a very large body of water.
Monday December 17th, 2018. Photo by Benjamin Ginsberg
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) That's a Big Ass wave. Will Skudin pushing the limits.
Monday December 17th, 2018. Photo by Benjamin Ginsberg
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) That has got to hurt. Male or female. That's heavy. Andrea Moller earning her stripes this day. Monday December 17th, 2018.
Photo by Benjamin Ginsberg *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Look at that section in front of Will Skudin. This is surfing at a whole other level. Monday December 17th, 2018. Photo by Benjamin Ginsberg
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery