JOSE exits as his crazy wife MARIA comes storming after him.

MARIA caused some significant damage on PR. Not to mention the Islands that were still recovering from IRMA. JOSE gave us plenty of waves this whole last week. And now it looks like MARIA will be doing the same. Look, we surfers all realize that these storms have killed people, and destroyed their homes and businesses. It's awful. Just terrible.

No surfer I know, wants that to happen to anyone, anywhere. But hurricanes have always been a double edge sword for surfers. Yes we get the benefits of big tropical surf, while people suffer in their wake. There are some I know who refuse to surf hurricane surf, because of the heartache and damage they cause. But that sounds extreme.

Surfers don't cause these storms to form off the coast of Africa. We just happen to reap the benefits from their amazing power. Still, it's a bitter pill to swallow, knowing that the same waves that are giving us pleasure, are also responsible for the death and destruction.

There are some years where we have no storms. But this year? Crazy.

Back to back CAT 5 Hurricanes, 3 earthquakes, unrelenting wildfires, endless floods, death and destruction at every turn. This has been an active Hurricane season. Something is going on. I posted these exact statements on social media and the general consensus is Global warming. There were a few claiming God was behind it. I wouldn't blame him if it was. Some even said this was the beginning of the second coming of Christ.

Whatever it is, it's sure as hell scary. Something is happening.



There's good news coming up from Cape Hatteras on the Outer Banks. The site of the ESA EASTERNS SURFING Championships. Two of the surfers from the NNE district Kai Nichols and Maddie Ryan kicked some serious butt down there.



Kai got the highest score of this heat. Click on the image below to see the detailed info on Kai's score.



He also did the most heroic rescue I have ever heard about, from an ESA contest. He saved some kid from drowning under the Pier in some big surf generated from JOSE. I don't have all the details, but it sure sounded intense.

And honestly, I'm not that surprised by his heroics.

That kid (man) has been growing leaps and bounds both in and out of the water. I don't just mean his physical growth. I'm also talking about his demeanor and his mature manners. The Kai that I know, would make any parent, relative, or friend proud.



I'm sure as hell proud of him.

His talented family all surf (except mom). But his dad, and three sisters all surf and surf well. The Nichols Ohana are the real deal.



And I'm proud of this kid too! Maddie Ryan (Maine) won in her division. She and her family are so stoked. I'll tell you what, I have watched Maddie go from being a fledgling young grom, into a great surfer. Both her parents surf, and I'm sure that has much to do with her talent. Maddie is in my new movie coming out at the Holidays. In fact, I'm not done shooting her.

Especially now that she's a Champ!

I can't wait to see them all when they come back up. So stoked for both families. They both earned their standings in the ESA.

"Surfing Contests Heals All Wounds"

Today- The Still Dark and Gray 3rd Day
Thursday September 21st, 2017 Photos by RALPH



(Above) These cottages all freshly painted has a cooling affect on this beach. Thursday September 21st, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The Semi Dark and Glassy 2nd Day
Wednesday, September 20th, 2017 Photos by RALPH



(Above) Jake trying to make contact with his family in PR.
September 20th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON on each clip to view videos



AUGEASTER 8-30-31-2017 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.

With all the recent Hurricane activity as of late I had put this footage on the back burner. It's that end of August Nor'easter that we had on the 30th and 31st of August. I was surprised when doing the edit at just how good the waves were that swell. There's some really good surf in this edit. It's all local. Both the talent and the surf. I used the cool Beautiful People sampling Hendrix tunes. And once again, it all flows.

I'll be busy shooting JOSE and MARIA in the next few days, meanwhile, take
a short trip back to last month and enjoy AUGEASTER.


IRMA 9-9-17 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.

Me and the newest Inductee into the "East Coast Hall Of Fame" Kevin F. Grondin went south to meet up with the first swell from Hurricane IRMA.
The water was warm and green, and the boys were all over it. The surfers that I know who appear in this film are: Kevin Grondin, Kody Grondin, Robbie Goodwin, Sam, Liam, Jared Veltsos, Max Fatello, and Jesse Gould. The music is by my old band SEMPER FI and it was recorded back in 1986 on a 4-track machine in our rehearsal place. The songs are GIMME SHELTER and DON'T GIVE UP (an original song I wrote).

The musicians in this version of Semper Fi are :Ralph Fatello guitar and lead vocals, Rich Appel bass and backing vocals, Eric Brown drums and backing vocals, and Greg Lyons keyboards.

LABOR DAY September 4 2017 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.

The "boys were back in town". Dougie "Fresh" Wright, TC Christo, and Ryan Olsen all NH transplants were back on the Live Free Or Die coast. They scored insane surf on Thursday August 31st, and now this. Labor Day September 4th, 2017 had a fun little waist to chest high swell, and the vibe was all good. The song is by Thin Lizzy "The Boys Are Back In Town"
This is the second edit in as many days and it's on to the BIG Swell. But hold on kids...it looks like there's more surf coming! Oh hell yeah!