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February 26th, 2017 The RUN is 30 out of 30 Weeks.
Waist high or better at least once a week.
There was Chest to head High Surf on the 23rd.		 Send your SURF Pics to me directly to ralph@adlantic.com.
Need photos by 12 noon on Saturdays. 
Click on Archives link to see all the past Blogs and pics..

The Passing of another WWII Hero. The Oscars, The Surprise Surf on Thursday February 23rd, 2017 and the BLOG will be late on MARCH 12th. Lil Ralphie heading to the tropix.



This is Jerry McConnell. He lived here in Hampton and I've known him for almost 30 years. He was a Marine who served in WWII. He was part of the Marine Corps ground forces who fought at Guadalcanal in the South Pacific
in August of 1942 . Guadalcanal was the first battle we won on the ground after Pearl Harbor. The Battle of Midway was our first NAVAL Victory in June of 1942. For those of you who follow history will remember that the battle for Guadalcanal was no walk in the park.

Besides the fanatical Japanese forces they had to fight, there was the elements of the jungle. The heat, humidity, and malaria was just as bad.
Seeing old footage of Guadalcanal always made me cringe. Those young Marines fighting the Japanese in those horrible conditions are true
American Heroes. God bless them all.



The Marine Corps combat art program had so many illustrations of the Canal. Like this one of John Basilone on Guadalcanal fighting off another Banzai charge. Basilone received the Medal of Honor on Guadalcanal. He would later be killed on Iwo Jima. Jerry was my guest speaker in 2002. He was also the Marine who would attend every single Marine Corps Birthday gathering, and he would read the Marine's prayer.

You've heard the sad facts about WWII veterans. We are losing them.

Most are in their 90's. Jerry was 92. That's a good long life. I know there are sadder passings, and more tragic news every single day. But for us here on the Seacoast, this was sad. Come next Memorial Day, and Veterans Day, there will be one less WWII Veteran to acknowledge. One less Marine standing among his fellow Veterans and Marines.

And one less friend of mine.

Jerry you will be missed. You were a kind and gentle man who was loved by everyone who knew you. I know I speak on behalf of my family, and the family at the Legion, that we won't ever forget you, and the sacrifices you made at such an early age. Rest easy my friend, and as always, "Semper Fi."

On February 23rd of this past week marked another important date in our country. It was the 72nd Anniversary of the Flag Raising on Iwo Jima. But this year was special. The infamous photo taken by the late Joe Rosenthal of the 2nd Flag raising on Mt Suribachi was the one single icon that rose to the top of WWII photographs. 5 Marines and 1 Navy Corpsman was what we had led to believe for 71 years. But after a closer look at the photo, and some extensive research, it was brought to the attention of The Marine Corps, that the most prominent figure in the photo (John Bradley Navy Corpsman) was actually Marine PFC Harold Schultz.



PFC Schultz was wounded on Iwo and was sent back to the States. He knew that he was one of the six Marines who helped raise the flag but never said anything. It wasn't until the 1990's that he told his step daughter that he was one of the flag raisers. Can you imagine? How do you keep something that significant to yourself? His answer "I was a Marine doing my job."

And one final note. That Navy Corpsman John Bradley? Well he DID help raise the first flag on Suribachi. There are photos of that flag raising. However, that flag was deemed too small, so they sent up another patrol to raise a bigger flag. And it was the 2nd flag raising, that became so famous. But we all know, that they were all heroes. Every last one of them. Heroes.



On the 23rd, my cell went off at 6:30AM. It was my son. "I'm going out alone. It's waist high, and really pretty." I was startled because I wasn't expecting surf. I was prepared for a week of no waves. So I leapt into action. Max was right about two things. There were waves, and it was pretty, but it was bigger than waist high. It was more like chest to head high. Big difference. I wished I had my Video camera, but the batteries were dead, and because I heard waist high I figured I had enough video in the pipeline. So I just brought the NIKON 7100. I did manage to get some sweet pics of these beautiful glassy waves.

The craziest thing of all was, the whole session was just Max and Matt Colby.



Here's Max on a head high right. *Note the hood is off. Oh yeah, it was warm.



And here's Matt. Look at how glassy it was. And look at the wave out the back. Are you kidding me? No mam, I'm not. This was what was going down.
I made a cool slide show of Colby and Mackey. It's in the video section. It's all of the sequences I shot (and I shot a ton) all tied together with a soundtrack. Go check it out.



"Surfing Glass and Serving Our Country, Heals All Wounds"

 

 

 

 

 



This week's pic from Ed's corner was shot in 2013. The surfer is Ryan Jackson. Ryan is one of my personal favorites to shoot, and he was for Ed as well. We know that when Ryan paddles out, we'll get some good pics or video. I still hold that fact true.

To see more of Ed's pics just scroll through the archives. He has shot so many pics for the blog. Each week I will feature one of Ed's great pics from this blog. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.

Now for Some More Of My Weekly Global Observances
The President said and did shit this past week. But, I'm not gonna write about him. He is however making his first "State Of The Union"
address this coming Tuesday. Oh boy, I can hardly wait.

No my friends, I thought I'd blog a little about the Oscars. You know, Hollywood, movie stars, rock stars, pop stars, the elite who could give a rats ass about you. Just as long as you go to their movies, and buy their DD'S, they will smile and wave at you from the seats of the late night talk shows. But that's as close as you get. But seriously? Is there a more f***ed up bunch of whiners than them? And look, I like the movies as much as anyone else. I just don't look at them any different than I would look at any of you. It's their job. Actors, directors, producers, etc etc. DO YOUR JOB! It truly is LaLa land.



All these hip beautiful people couldn't get Hillary that job. Try as they might, their fame and fortune dropped just slightly south of I don't Give a F*** Idaho. Yes, I blame them just as much as I blame the GOP.
But, I need to stop myself here and get back on the Oscar track.



My wife and I have seen a few of the BEST Picture Contenders.
ARRIVAL, HELL OR HIGH WATER, and HACKSAW RIDGE.
The first two were worth the price of admission. The last one? Well, the story is true. I just couldn't get myself to open up to the characters and the scenes didn't look like Okinawa to me. I spent some time on Okinawa and that is not how it looked.

And if that story was true? How can those survivors live with themselves? One guy saved all those wounded men while the rest
sat on their asses? That's bullshit. The reason I will watch is to see Jimmy Kimmel dismantle the beautiful people live. And I also enjoy watching the "Death List". Those Hollywooders who have passed on to the Big Stage.



Like Abe Vigoda. Am I the only one who thought that Abe had died years ago? So, I was truly shocked when I heard he passed.



We will all miss this man. James Horner. Brilliant musical genius.
The list is very long, so tune in tonight if you want to see "who hath gone before ye."

KSM Photoshop of the Week
So apparently they have a new category for this year's Academy Awards. Most despicable and disgusting worm in a starring role.
I heard through a reliable source that KSM is getting that award.
YES!! So happy for him.



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 Oscar Meyer Weenies
at Home Depot this week.

 Prayers and positive thoughts to Erica Nardone's recovery.
GET WELL SOON Karen Evans!

Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 11 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
Don't forget to go back and read the whole DAILY BLOG on
My CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY. (Click On the Banner below
on this page.) Started on July 26, 2010 ENDED July 26, 2011.
A Wave a day for 365 consecutive days.
Yesterday- Frame Grab from October 1994.
 (Below) This pic or rather frame grab was from Jay and Monique Hammer's wedding. Pictured here from left to right: Kenny Sakurai, Rick Evans, John "JT" Taylor, and Ralph Fatello. Anytime we can find old video and stills of the late JT is a precious find. Oh to be able to go back, for just one day.
 Photo courtesy of Jay Hammer


*Click on the photo above to see a larger version

To contact the advertisers below, simply click on the Ad itself. Anyone wishing to find out info about advertising here can do so by emailing me directly by clicking here. Ralph's Email I'll send you a template and other info on how you can become a paid sponsor

We highly recommend the various businesses and artists listed below. Why? Well simply put, each and every one of them is a Surfer, who lives the Surfing Lifestyle, and their business is a reflection of that lifestyle that we all love.


All PHOTOS BELOW SHOT THIS WEEK
*Unless otherwise noted.
Today- Glassy Day-February 23rd, 2017.
Photos by RALPH



(Above) This Glass is alway full here. February 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


(Above) There was only one person out here for the first hour.
And it was a solid waist to head high. February 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



*For the record, we have bought all of our JEEPS
from Lansdale JEEP the last 25 years, and have
not had a single regret. They are the BEST!!
*Click on the Ad above to see more!


(Above) Though it was clearly overhead for these guys. February 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) New board for Colby. February 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Seems to work just fine. Colby February 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) If Mackey didn't call I would of slept right through this.
February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Colby on a Green Throated Warbler. February 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





















(Above) If this was in the afternoon you'd be able to see Colby's wake. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Don't you just love this feeling? Colby suspended in a translucent dream. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) He's good for one or two of these per session. Colby popping the lid. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery











(Above) Look out the back!! February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The Glassy Day Sequences-February 23rd, 2017.
Photos by RALPH



(Above) Like sequences? Well here's 289 pics of nothing but sequences from this morning. Mackey V setting up. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) I love how glassy it was. Max on a squeaky clean face.
February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Colby on the inside. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) What's better than setting up for a clean tube on a glassy face?
Not much. Just ask Max. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery







These guys make the BEST decals.







(Above) Colby has this move wired. February 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) The more I look at this pic, the more I like it.
Mackey V. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Colby jammin the new craft. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery






North Conway's Family Mountain



Southern New Hampshire's Favorite Mountain



"New England's Most Accessible Resort Destination"




"Ski All Day And Into The Night"


(Above) The hood came off just in time for the shampoo and rinse.
Matt Colby February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery







(Above) Max got inside this wave twice. February 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery











(Above) It all starts here. Colby eyeballing the situation.
February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Though some would argue that it starts the moment you get
to your feet. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


(Above) Twenty years ago this would of been a "radical" shot. Today it's the frame or two before the real radicalness begins. MVF taking it all in stride. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery












(Above) You have to admit. It was bigger than waist high. MVF proving my point. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Sometimes it's just the elegant side of style that catches one's eye. Colby taking a slice out of the surf history books. February 23rd, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery








(Above) I think besides his nose for the barrel this is his second best move. MVF jamming another cuttie. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery







(Above) A different angle on the left. February 23rd, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


Today- My Walk With Patch. February 24th, 2017.
Photos by RALPH



(Above) The day was warm and the snow was deep. And six turkeys were marching along without a worry in the world. February 24th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Those six turkeys would of had a little giddy up in their stroll if Patch was nearby. February 24th, 2017 Photos by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) If dogs could laugh, he'd be laughing. February 24th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery






(Above) This is pure joy. Patch running deep. February 24th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


















(Above) Look a selfie (almost). February 24th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Boot level pic. February 24th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) The end of the day. Patch and Ralph. Man's Best Friend
and Canine's Best Friend. February 24th, 2017
Photos by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery








Great New Marine Forecast Site


We welcome all Surf Related pics from our Readers. Just make sure they are at least 900 pixels wide. If you have any OLD photos of local New England surfers and or of local New England surfing, we would love to see them and share them with our readers.

We can scan them for you. And we get them back to you undamaged. Trust me. We can do this...people love the older stuff. So if you have any, please send 'em along. If you have prints/slides we can scan them for you as well.

And we don't care if you shoot pics with your cellphones. I mean it. Most of the images you see on the news and on the Internet were shot with them Smart Ass Phones. So shoot first and ask questions later, just send the dam things.



   





 




(Above) By the time he sees this, he'll be in the tropics. February 2017.
Photo John Adams
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


(Above) This is a pretty shot from a pretty day. February 23, 2017.
Photo c/o Matt Nardone
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


 


(Above) I shot this kid a few years ago. He was all of 3' tall but he was killing it. I asked "Who the hell is that kid?". This kid's name is Robbie Goodwin. I'm sure you'll be hearing more of him.
February 2017. Photo C/O The Google machine
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
 


(Above) ALL RISE: The 10th Street District Court Of Surf is Now in Session.
The Honorable Judge RALPH presiding.
CASE #408 BLATANT DROP IN OF THE WEEK-
Click the image above to see the outcome of this Surf Crime and the Verdict
that was rendered. Photo by RALPH
* Click on the photo above to see the OUTCOME.


CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON on each clip to view videos



Matt&Max 2-23-17 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.

Matt Colby and Max Fatello found themselves out in perfect 3-5' glassy conditions with a crowd of two. Just them. I wish I had the video camera, but alas, I did not. I did however, take many stills and created many sequences. And that my friends, is what you will see here. I shot this with my NIKON D 7100. The music is by James Marshall Hendrix. It seems to work well. *Be sure and watch till the very end.

SNOW DAY 2-16-17 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.

Another Snow Day in February. I've lost count on how many this makes. I only know that my snow blower died and I'm hand shoveling two driveways. Ugh. But look, I'm not complaining (much), the snow on the trees is a beautiful sight. Surfing in the snow has always been appealing to those of us who live and surf here. And it's always been a treat for those of you who don't. I have to say I love this soundtrack. It's by BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. They remix Hendrix riffs and vocals and add their own instruments. Really cool. Oh and the surfers? Well, the one's I can remember are: Skip Brunette, Matt Colby, Perry Reynolds, Andy Elliott, Mark Jowett, and Gilly Donatelli. There are a bunch of guys I couldn't ID. So check it out, you might be in this edit. Hope you "dig it"



VALENTINE ROCK 2-14-17 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.

February 14th, 2017 and I find the biggest heart shaped rock ever. Actually, I found it years ago, but have been waiting for a reason to use it in one of my web edits. And today my friends would be reason enough. After all, it's Valentine's Day. A day when we tell those we love that we love them. And not for nothing, we say we love each other every single day. We don't need a day to remind us to say love. I chose the song "It's Love" by my favorite band next to the Beatles and Hendrix, KING'S X. Those guys are the real deal. The surfers include: Joel Feid, Gilly Donatelli, Max Fatello, Chris Stelman, Andy Elliott, Marky J, Peter Stokes, and a bunch of Jersey boys. Be sure and get your sweethearts some sweets. Happy Valentines Day baby!




Winter Storm ORSON February 13th, 2017 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week
on Vimeo.

Winter Storm ORSON hit on the 12th and 13th of February 2017. We got about 10" of the white stuff, and about 2" of the wet stuff. The combination of snow and rain equals CEMENT. Took forever to dig our asses out, but once we did, we hit it down the street to shoot the surf. It started snowing again. Ugh. So I shot from the passenger side window. It's 90% Kai Nichols out there. The song is one I've waited 30 years to use in some kind of a video. It needed to be dark and foreboding and it was.
Thank You Orson you mean SOB.


The SNOW MOON Swell 2-10-17 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.

The day started out with a beautiful layering of white fluffy snow. Perfect for both snow boarding and shoveling. There was a nice clean swell running. So I hit it to the Wall. Kai Nichols, Kody Grondin, and Max Fatello got it practically to themselves. There were a couple of youngsters that I didn't recognize. The surf was clean as a whistle but damn was it ever cold. Single digits cold. The wet sand was actually a thin layer of ice. Kody shows us all what that can do, to the unknowing, at the end of this clip. Later that day, the Snow Moon rose up out of the ocean and it was beautiful. As is the song "Lenny" by SRV.
Hope you like it.

 





 


 

 





 

 

 





















CLICK ON THE CRACKIE IMAGE TO SEE ALL THE CRACKIE VIDEOS. The CRACK MASTER is COMING BACK IN 2016 and in HD! Meanwhile just click on his face and go to his YouTube page and watch all his absurd videos. And if you have a question for Crackie, no matter how stupid, or absurd, please send it here...crackie@adlantic.com

You can also check Crackie out on Facebook. You should Friend Him...though there are no guarantees that he'll be nice to you.











COMING NEXT WEEK. Looking like today and Wednesday


Recorded in 1978. Click on VINNY CD art to see a larger
version and how to order this CD and others for sale at
GAF Music. www.gafmusic.com
A Division of Adlantic


COMING NEXT WEEK. It was waist high this morning


Recorded in 1983. Click on VINNY CD art to see a larger
version and how to order this CD and others for sale at
GAF Music. www.gafmusic.com
A Division of Adlantic







Just roll your mouse over the image above to see how the guilty party has ruined the wave. Crime does not pay my friends. Look both ways before
taking off. Or you will end up here.
Today February 26th, 2017

"And then one day in late February, Summer showed up. And all the people in the village were so happy. They put on tee shirts and shorts, even though they were sickly white. But then the next day was winter again. The end. " 		 


I shot this on February 24th, 2017 in Hampton, New Hampshire.
Photo by RALPH


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