I have to admit, I look forward to the annual Surf art Blog each year.
And with this year's Surf art Blog falling right smack in the middle of a bona fide flatspell, it was a true godsend. Trust me, it years past when we've had these special surf art Blogs and a swell hits that same week? It's kind of a nightmare for me putting together both the Surf Art and the Pics of the week. There's usually something to surf that last week in July, and there have been times when there's been an actual swell running. That really throws a wrench in the works. But not this year. Nope. It was all about the art and the artists.
So thank you again to all the super talented surf artists who sent in their work.
I honestly can't wait until next year. Because I know there will be new artists and new pieces that were created throughout the year. And thank you to all the fans of this special Blog. I know it's not for everyone, but it seems that most of you can appreciate good talent when you see it. So thank you.
I'm sure some of you are wondering what the hell this Shark Board is all about. Well, as most of you already know we had another shark attack here in New England. And with the Surf Art Blog last week, I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone. Maybe that was a poor choice of words. How about, "I thought I'd kill two stories with one Blog?" Nah, I'm digging myself further into this poetic hole. How about I just get on with it.
Julie Dimperio Holowach age 63, from NYC was attacked and killed by a Great White Shark while swimming a mere 20 yards from shore off Bailey Island in Maine. She was swimming with her daughter at around 3:26 PM on Monday July 27th, 2020 when she was attacked by a Great White.
This where it happened. The wharf leading to the scene. So sad.
Julie Dimperio Holowach was wearing a wetsuit. Her daughter who was approximately 10 to 15' behind her mother, was not wearing a wetsuit.
So that's a very important piece of information. She was wearing a wetsuit.
Why is that important? Well it is known throughtout the scientific world that wearing wetsuits make you look like a seal. And as most of you already know, sharks eat seals. The Great White Shark that attacked and killed Julie Dimperio Holowach on Monday afternoon, more than likely thought it had an easy Seal Meal. A piece of cake as far as killing seals go.
Like this Seal is experiencing. Surfers and swimmers who wear wetsuits are constantly being mistaken by White Sharks as Seals. Look, just so we are clear on this. Sharks are not looking to eat human beings. They don't like what we taste like. However, they are attracted to seals, and if you look like a seal, you could end up being a meal. I'm not an expert, but having been dealing with sharks and surfing since 1964, So I have been paying attention.
I am not blaming the shark for killing that woman. I'm blaming the seals. They are over populated in many places on the New England shoreline. The sharks are just looking to get something to eat. They don't want to eat humans. And they especially don't want to eat rubber neoprene that wetsuits are made from.
That shark no doubt took one bite out of that woman, and then spit her out.
The taste of human flesh and neoprene is repulsive to the shark. The shark is looking for seal meat. Imagine the shock the shark gets when it bites into a human being. I mean, you know what it's like when you bite into some foreign tidbit for the first time and are immediately disgusted by it. Right? I have to believe that wearing a wetsuit on Monday afternoon was a bad call.
I know for a fact that the water was incredibly warm on Monday. I went for a swim myyself on Monday afternoon and I only wore my surf trunks. I'm not sure why Julie Dimperio Holowach decided to wear a wetsuit, but it's safe to say, that decision may have caused her to lose her life. Maybe the water was a bit cooler up there, but still, her daughter didn't wear a wetsuit. And lets face it, there's only a few times each summer where the water gets this warm. It was in the high 60's and low 70's for the few days surrounding this attack.
And lets not forget that this is the second fatal attack in New England by
Great White Sharks in the last two years. In the summer of 2018 a boogieboarder was killed off Truro Beach on Cape Cod while surfing. Both attacks the swimmer/surfer was wearing a wetsuit. Again, not blaming wetsuits per se, it's clearly the sharks hunting for seals. And look, I'm not a politician, nor am I a scientist but I can see clearly what needs to be done.
We NEED to cull the current Seal Population. I know that sounds extreme.
But it's the only logical soulution. I mean who decides who lives and who dies out there? Sharks are attracted to Seals. Period. I know Seals are cute. But so are humans. Or rather some humans. But if you had to choose?
And make no mistake about it, that's what it basically comes down to. There are environmental services out there that protect both the sharks and the seals. But not the humans. I don't know if it's politically correct or not, but if we were to start culling the seal population we might start to see a diiference. There have been too many shark attacks on the Cape and now we are looking at the second fatality in two years.
That's alarming when you think that the last shark fatality in New England, before the 2018 attack on the Cape, was in 1936. That's 82 years! Look I'm no detective, nor am I a math wiz. But something's happening. To go from zero since 1936 to two in the last two years? Something is not right. And that something is the seal populations.
It's time to cull the seal population. Or face the music (Jaws soundtrack).
And it's not just here in New England. Austrailia has a serious shark problem. Already in 2020, five Australians have been tragically killed after being bitten by sharks in what looks set to be a year of higher than usual deaths from the ocean predators. Two surfers, a scuba diver, a spearfisher and a swimmer have all died from injuries caused by shark bites
This poor kid was 15 years old. FIFTEEN! Is some Seal worth his life?
If your answer is yes. Look his parents in the eye
and tell them that. Or tell the daughter who was swimming 10 feet behind her mom last week in Maine when she was violently attacked and killed by a Great White Shark. These sharks are not serial killers. They are just looking for some seals to kill and eat. They DON'T want to eat humans. They want Seals. But make no mistake about it. Each shark attack is a violent, horrific, and terrifying expereince. Their last seconds on earth were absolutely terrifying. Unimaginable fear.
The poor kid never made it off the beach. He died
on the beach. Think I'm making this up? Google it. So far there have been 5 shark fatalities in 2020
in Austrailia. That's FIVE too many if you're a friend or a family member.
Do the right thing. CULL THE SEAL POPULATIONS.
Or try wearing one of these SHARKBANZ. Click on the image below to learn more about this unique product. Hey it can't hurt.
"Surfing and Swimming Heals All Wounds."
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This week's Ed's corner is from the summer of 2008. The surfer is Casey Lockwood. Not much has changed in casey's surfing in 2020. But there's been a whole lot of changes in his personal life since this was taken. For starters Casey has a wife and three kids. But having said that, he still manages to slip out and catch a few waves here and there. And travel to tropical destinations and score waves of a lifetime. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.
Now for Some More Local and National Surf Art
Next to shark attacks, these babies are the next big thing that gets everyone from surfers to homeowners up in a tizzy. Hurricanes. And this one looks like it could be one to remember. ISAIAS is gonna make landfall in Florida on Saturday August 1st, 2020. Where he goes from there is anyone's guess. But that's all part of the fun with these tropical storms.
Guessing where these storms will go has been the quest of every surfer and weatherman since the begining of time. I never pay much attention to plotting out the course of these things. We've gotten burned too many times thinking they would go one way, only to have it turn around and go in the opposite directions. The steering currents and the jetstreams all play a major role in these unpredictable storms. But looking at this map it appears that ISAIAS could very well come up here. Clearly Rhode Island.
And speaking of Isaias I can't even pronounce it. It doesn't sound the way it looks. I'm just gonna call him Isa or Isaiah. Nah, I'll call him by his name ISAIAS. It just won't sound right when I do.
With last week being the Surf Art Blog I never really got a chance to mention the passing of Derek Ho. Talk about untimely passings. Derek Ho was the first Hawaiian World Champ.
He was a three time Pipe master and the younger brother of Michael Ho. And uncle to Mason and Coco.
From what I can gather he died of a heart attack. Too young to go that way at 55. I heard that he drove himself to the hospital and slipped into a coma. He never came out out of it.
To think of how many gaping barrels he came out of at Pipe and then to lose him so suddenlly is just so sad. Rest In Peace Derek.
Local NH resident Gary Ritter is going to paddle to and from
the Isle of Shoals any day now. It's a long 14 mile paddle. To learn more of this impressive undertaking click on the image below.
FYI he's going to free paddle. In other words, NO paddle. Just his arms. Laying prone or on his knees. He started a fundraiser with charity: water. So it's a legit and worthwile endeavor. if you can spare a few dollars help make this dream come true for Gary.
Speaking of dreams coming true. I missed Nohea when she was in town last week and I REALLY missed her little princess Ariel. What a cuitie pie she is. Too funny to think that lenny is a grandfather of three. Just like me. And our close friend Kevin is a grandfather of two. That's a total of 8 granddaughters between the three of us. YIKES! We love it though. It's all good!
Click on the image above to see a larger version.
ESM (Eastern Surf Magazine) using a READY MAG format did the Best of Ralph's Pic. And while they couldn't possibly use everything thing I've ever done, they did manage to put up some 50 pics of mine, plus two videos. And I was truly humbled by their intro. Mez said some nice things about me. CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE THE WHOLE Spread.
KSM Photoshop of the Week
With this Blog being mostly about Sharks and Seals, Ole Khaliddy couldn't help himself and wanted to get in on the action. So he swam out where the seals are off of GITMO and tried to distract the Sharks from attacking the Seals. Turns out KSM was giving off a repulsive vibe and the shark passed him up for a tasty Seal. Sorry Khaliddy, but Whitey is just not interested in your smelly carcass. But thanks for trying to be so helpful.
And 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 Shark Repellent at Home Depot this week.
REST IN PEACE Derek Ho 1964-2020.
REST IN PEACE Ralph (Sonny) Rowell Jr father of Robin Rowell
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Nick Africano
July 26th, 2020!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mick Jagger July 26th, 2020!
PLEASE Keep Mrs Berardini (Tony's 99 yr old mom) in your thoughts and prayers.
We'd all love to see her make it to her 100th Birthday in December. She's a fighter, but she could use some help. Your prayers can help. Thank you.
PLEASE Keep longtime NH Surfer Greg Smith in your Prayers.
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 16 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
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