February 26th, 2012
The RUN is 52 out of 53 Weeks. Waist high or better, at least
once a week.
The Surf was Chest high on Thursday the 23rd. |
Another potential snow storm has come and gone leaving no trace of the white stuff on the seacoast. Though there is snow up north. That actually needs repeating. There IS SNOW up North. Albeit, not like last year, none the less, there's snow. Just because we don't see any in our backyards does not mean there's nothing up North. There is. So head on up.
They got 10 to 12" last night! "There's snow in them thar hills!"
Speaking of last year. Good lord, what a major difference there is between last winter and this winter. Are you kidding me? It seemed like every other day we were getting slammed with snow. I know, because I had to surf every day, and I could not go up north to go snowboarding. Of course this winter has seen little or nothing in terms of snow here on the seacoast. And with me hurting my knee in December, I've been out of the water and the mountains. Ugh.
Like I said, what a difference a year makes.
There has been surf every week. At least that is, according to my records. There has been at least one day during each calendar week, of waist high or better. This week saw chest high surf on Thursday, and a few leftovers on Friday and even a small windblown waves on Saturday. But that west wind was doing all it could, to flatten those little guys out. They did in fact, end up doing just that. Kilt it. That wind is still wailing out there. But there's snow in the Mountains!
So get your snow loving asses up there and go Skiing and Snowboarding!
How many of you got wet this week? My guess is quite a few of you. And I'm talking about all up and down the East Coast
. I know Florida had waves. I know we had waves here in Northern New England. So I'm guessing that most of the East Coast was lit up with this last swell. You gotta figure that Hatteras was firing as well as Jersey and Long Island. So what is that? Hundreds? Thousands?
But I bet not a single one of you thought about what you were really doing.
Here let me be a bit more succinct. I'm speaking about the actual act of what
we do out in the water. I know it's called surfing. But to me, it's always been something deeper. Something way more spiritual. Something profoundly personal. What the hell am I talking about? I'm talking about the concept of you the human being, riding on a piece of fiberglass, on top of something that is living breathing liquid. That wave is all of that and more.
If you were to stop and think about what a wave actually is, chances are you would look and think about surfing in an entirely different light. I know I have ever since it dawned on me back in the early 80's when I first thought about it. It changed the way I approach surfing. And I believe I spoke of this when we all participated in the Memorial paddle for Molly Rowlee on August 22nd 2009.
I spoke of this personal journey that we all partake in.
And to be more clearer for you. That journey begins with a tempest out at sea. That tempest becomes a moving, living, piece of liquid, and starts it's long journey towards the shore. Gaining speed and height as it moves closer and closer to it's final destiny. It's last gasp. It's demise. The End of life. And there
we are to meet this living liquid swell. This living wave.
We are there to meet it, at the end of it's life. How truly special is that?
And we all know, that each and every wave would be there, regardless of whether or not we are there, to catch it, and share those final moments. To share in it's infinite beauty. That glassy, hollow, perfect wave, moving towards shore. The closer it gets, the bigger it gets.
To swing our boards and stroke deep, moving in that cosmic rhythm of life. Created by nature, by God, by all that is good and
full of life. We meet that wave, catch that wave, and ride that wave...to the end. Then we kick out, and paddle back out, while the wave explodes on the sand, reefs, and rocks, and dissipates and dissolves back to the mother ocean, from which it was spawned.
How many of you thought about that on Thursday?
While you were out surfing those perfect waves? Those unique, individual, living swells of liquid. My guess is not many. If any at all. That's OK. I thought about it, as I have thousands of times since the early 80's...it's why surfing is something so special to all of us. I tried sharing that sentiment on Molly's paddle. How we are so lucky to have what we have. In light of what is going on in the world. Our liquid world will always be special.
Because of that simple act of sharing that final moment with each wave.
I have friends who swear they never watch the news. Really? How
do you know what's happening in the world if you don't watch the news? Or read the news? There are many ways to get your news. TV, Radio, Newspaper (remember those?) and now of course, the Internet.
But me? I need to know what's going on. I can't turn a blind eye to the many different stories unfolding each and every day. I can't. I want to know if IRAN is threatening ISRAEL and the US again. I want to know what North Korea is up to. I want to know what the SYRIANS are doing. I want to know what the political arena is up to. I want to know if we lost any more Americans in the GWOT. I
want to know if any killer storms are heading our way. That is after all, news too.
And I want to keep up on the latest sports and entertainment news as well.
There's too much happening in our world that I want to know about. But then again, that's just me. But I know I'm not alone. I know that there are many of you out there who are just the same. And I also know, that some of you who hear the same news as I do, walk away with a different perspective on what is happening. But I guess that's what makes the world go round. The Left and the Right. And all of those in between. We all make up this big beautiful world.
And the biggest news for me? I'm going surfing with the next swell. Oh yea.
..."Surfing Heals ALL Wounds..."
Now
for some of my Weekly Global Observances:
I was once again saddened by the news of an American woman icon gone before her time. And this time it was in the line of duty. And not by some designer drug or alcohol. I am speaking of the passing of War Correspondent Marie Colvin. She was killed this week while reporting on the story in Syria. Colvin had lost an eye in 2001 while covering the fighting in Sri Lanka. She was known for her stoic reporting and was an icon in the news media with her trademark eye patch.
She was killed along side French photographer/reporter Remi Ochlik in the city of Homs in Syria. The fighting has been one sided and intense as Syrian forces have continued to bomb and kill innocent unarmed civilians. In fact, her last report was a heartbreaking story on a small boy who died while on camera. I know, I watched it on CNN that night. Just terrible, heart breaking horror.
Marie Colvin died doing what she believed in. Facing the tiger to get the real story. It's what hundreds of journalists have done for decades. Rest In Peace Marie.
OK this week the Supreme Court were busy debating on whether or not the Stolen Valor Act was an injustice of the First Amendment. The case is based on Politician Xavier Alvarez who claimed that he served 25 years in the Marine Corps and was awarded the Congressional Medal Of Honor and was wounded 8 times (by the same guy). Turns out, he never served a single day in the Military. There is a law that was enacted in 2005 called the STOLEN VALOR ACT and it strictly prohibits any false representation of wearing any military medals that you did not earn.
The Obama administration is urging the Supreme Court to Uphold the existing law.
What does that tell you? I mean Good Lord people have we all lost our collective minds here? This dirtbag is claiming to have spent 25 years in the United States Marine Corps. He has stated that he was wounded 8 times! And the most disgusting of all, he claims to have been awarded the Medal of Honor. What is there to discuss? At the very least he should be forced to spend 100's of hours of community service at all the VA hospitals, all the VA shelters, all the Wounded Warrior events, and he should attend each and every burial service of any American who was killed in the current war.
The simple fact that 90% of the men and women who have medals of valor earned them the hard way. They died.
Horrible frightening deaths. They gave their last breath for our country. Meanwhile the Supreme Court is trying to decide whether or not this is an infringement on this guys rights to Freedom of Speech? Are you kidding me?
I say keep the existing Stolen Valor Act and get on with more important issues.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
REST IN PEACE Marie Colvin 1956 -February 22, 2012.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Alex Ritchie February 27th, 2012!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Scott Goodwin February 27th, 2012!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Justin Ambrosino February 28th, 2012!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Paul Greenburg February 28th, 2012!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Heidi LaShay March 1st, 2012!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Joe Somogyi March 2nd, 2012!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Erin Keenan March 2nd, 2012!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Alyssa Grasso March 2nd, 2012!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Fernando Moraes March 3rd, 2012!
GET WELL SOON John Carden!
GET WELL Soon Brian Nevins!
GET WELL Soon Brent Reinheimer!
GET WELL Soon Steve "Surfer Crow" Watson!
GET WELL Soon Steve Dillon!
CONGRATS to Steve Dillon on his recent Engagement
!
* My Surf Buddy and fellow Vietnam Veteran Ron Sizemore is NEEDING Votes! PLEASE Got to surfingheritage.org and vote for Ron's story. Mahalo
** Another LOCAL Surfer John Kiskinis is trying to get a Hood Scholarship and could use our help. Please go to this link and cast your vote for another surfer!
https://www.hood.com/promo/scholarship/default.aspx?sid=A5759A0F-1AA0-4245-9C66-7DFF32C119B4
COMING SOON This SUMMER 2012 the Return of EMPTY Clothing.
Don't forget to go back and read the whole DAILY BLOG on My CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY. (Click On the Banner on this page.) Started on July 26, 2010 ENDED July 26, 2011. A Wave a day for 365 consecutive days. Just click on the banner ads on this page.
CHECK
OUT THE NEW/Old YESTERDAY PAGE! ALL OLD New England and
beyond Surf Pics! *NEW PICS added each week!
*Check out the NEW updated DROPPING
IN ON RALPH blog Section. I will have March,and April up soon (I promise).
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to Ralph's Pic
Of The Week
every week for the last 8 years. **Think about BUYING a Photo
from any of the weeks
on RPOTW as a GREAT Gift Idea. A nice framed photo of your favorite
Surfer!
Remember
my friends...Surfing Heals All Wounds....
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.
Ralph |
 |
| (Above) The NEW Movie is coming along...we're trying to get it out as soon as possible. It's all original music (QWILL, Todo Bien and more), and local footage:Joe Carter's GITV, my own, Granite Stoke, and a few others. Plus the many stills from Ed O'Connell, Brian Nevins, my family, and more. A portion of the proceeds will go directly to The MOLLY Fund. |
 |
Yesterday- NH Native Rene Gagnon -February 23rd, 1945
(Below) Manchester New Hampshire native Rene Gagnon (3rd from left on the other side) was one of the 5 Marines and one Navy Corpsman who raised the Flag on IWO JIMA on 2-23-1945. Three of the Flag raisers were killed within days after this famous photo was taken. He survived the war and went on to live out his days here in New Hampshire, February 23rd, 1945. Photo by Joe Rosenthal |
Click on the photo above to see the larger version. |
|
 |
Today- 67 years to the day later. February 23rd, 2012.
Another Surprise
Swell. Photos By RALPH |
(Above) Another weekly surprise. Julie B can't believe her eyes on Thursday,
February 23, 2012. Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery. |
(Above) And neither can Jared Hay...Thursday, February 23, 2012. Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
|
(Above) Max Fatello must of had some sore legs that night, he hit so many cutties that afternoon that my knee was bothering me just watching. Thursday, February 23, 2012. Photo By RALPH * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
|
(Above) Jesse Gould hit as many lips as MVF did cutties. Thursday, February 23, 2012. Photo By RALPH * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
|
(Above) Jake Davidson.
Thursday February 23, 2012.
Photo By RALPH * Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
(Above) Mike M from Mass...Thursday, February 23, 2012. Photo By RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole gallery.
|
Today- Thursday February 23rd, 2012 Photos By Ed O'Connell
(Above) Richard Donahue after school special. February 23, 2012
Photo By Ed O'Connell * Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
(Above) Jake Davidson wheeling cutback. February 23, 2012
Photo By Ed O'Connell * Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
(Above) Dave Cain February 23, 2012 Photo By Ed O'Connell
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
(Above) The Holy Grail of the day... February 23, 2012 Photo By Ed O'Connell
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
(Above) MVF on the same wave I shot in the above gallery. Ed and I have been shooting the same waves and riders for years. I like his better... February 23, 2012 Photo By Ed O'Connell * Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery. |
(Above) Jesse was on fire out there. February 23, 2012 Photo By Ed O'Connell
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
Today- Thursday Morning February 23rd, 2012 Photos By Ed O'Connell
(Above) Erica Nardone in the rain. February 23, 2012 Photo By Ed O'Connell
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
(Above) My buddy Robert, the morning of February 23, 2012 Photo By Ed O'Connell
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery. |
(Above) Ed I'm calling this my favorite pic of the whole swell. Unknown on the
glass slipper. Morning of February 23, 2012 Photo By Ed O'Connell
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
Today- Phantom ROAD TRIP. February 23rd, 2012
Photos By The Phantom
(Above) The mystery of whether or not the Phantom owns a motor vehicle has been finally put to rest. Yes he does. February 23, 2012 Photo By The Phantom
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery. |
(Above) Another SUP or Surf sesh. February 23, 2012 Photo By The Phantom
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
(Above) This a sweet looking set up, that we will never get to surf. The mystery of
where the Phantom surfs is still a mystery to all but a chosen few. February 23, 2012 Photo By The Phantom * Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
|
(Above) This my old friend Glenn McDonald. Surfing in Florida last week. Glenn is the guy who's actually surfing, not sure who the other guy is. To see more click on the photo. February 19, 2012 Photo By Tom Leeman
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
(Above) Another mystery. February 23, 2012 Photo By The WWW
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
(Above) Local Panama ripper this week. February 23, 2012 Photo By Kristi Chew
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery. |
(Above) Kai Nichols last Sunday doing the stroll. February 19, 2012
Photo By John Hintlian
* Click on the photo above to see the Whole Gallery.
|
CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON on each clip to view videos
|
Teaser for Teahupoo Raw & UNCUT
TOTALLY INSANE...oh man
from
Shaggadelic's Home Movies on Vimeo.
|
BELOW- This is the second 5 minute trailer to the NEW Surf Free Or Die -Memory Lane Movies documentary called SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS.
"SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS Trailer II"
This is the insane surf footage from December 2010. Oh yea, there was good surf last December, and this clip will prove that. The soundtrack was recorded in 1983 and it's the classic "LIL DRUMMER BOY" that I sang, played guitar and arranged and well, you should just sit back and watch and listen. The music will speak for itself.
Music is by RALPH
COMING SOON
This is the NEW 5 minute trailer to the NEW Surf Free Or Die -Memory Lane Movies documentary called
"SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS"
It's the true story of the man who surfed 365 consecutive Days in memory of a 5 year old girl (Molly Rowlee) who lost her battle to cancer in 2009.
He called it "Catch a Wave For Molly".
Music is by QWILL
COMING SOON
|
Crackie weighs in on the Supreme Court and pleads with them to uphold the Stolen Valor Act law...it ain't pretty kids. Oh boy.
crackie@adlantic.com
Crackie now has his own Facebook Page. You should Friend Him...though there are no guarantees that he'll be nice to you.
Hope you all learn something from this informative Q&A.
|
The Three Stooges Official Trailer - Farrelly Brothers Movie (2012) HD
I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS TO COME OUT!!!
|
|
(Above) All
Rise: 10th
Street District Court of Surf Justice
is now in session, the
Honorable Judge
RALPH presiding. CASE 150 BLATANT DROP IN OF THE WEEK-
Shot this week in Hampton. CLICK and SEE this Surf crime and the verdict.
Photo by Ed O'Connell |
|
Click above graphic for The Daily BLOG I wrote from July 26-2010 to July 26-2011
Yes you can STILL DONATE to the Fundraiser.
THE "CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY" video by JOE CARTER and
GET IN THE VAN is NOW on the SURFER'S JOURNAL Website and
now
the ESPN website too! Wow!
To see it on this site go to the Molly Page.
http://www.surfersjournal.com/journal_entry/molly-motivation |
 |
(Above) Stan Chew in Panama this week...COMING NEXT WEEK!
|
(Above) Terence Kirby in Panama this week...COMING NEXT WEEK! |
(Above) Stan Chew and T-Bone in Panama this week...COMING NEXT WEEK!
|
(Above) Terence and Stan in Panama this week...COMING NEXT WEEK! |
*Click masthead above to read the original
ISM story.
|
 |
(Above) Put the cursor over the images above to
see happens when you DROP in on someone. You
become Invisible. Simply put the mouse over the photo to see the
original photo and then marvel at
the results of what happens when the criminal
becomes invisible.*Put the cursor over the photo to see the Real
image.
Photo by Ed O'Connell |
Today 2012 The 3rd Most difficult move in surfing. The "Exploding Manhole Cover" Performed by Jake Davidson
|
(Above) For the record, this is what kids do. They do stuff that most adults would never think of doing. Ed and I were not sure what Jake had in mind. It didn't matter, Ed shot it and now I'm posting it. Thursday Feb 23, 2012 Photo By Ed O'Connell. |
Click
on Wave to return to top of page
This site designed and maintained by Adlantic copyright 2011 |
|
