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January 17, 2016 The RUN is 10 out of 10 Weeks.
Waist high or better at least once a week.
There were GREAT waves on January 11th, 2016
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The BOWIE Swell, the Trump and Cruz show, the
Making of a Murderer, and the incredibly talented QWILL.

The Thin White Duke has passed away. David Bowie the man behind so many styles of both music and fashion, left the earth last Sunday. Ziggy Stardust is somewhere else today. Seemed so shocking because his birthday was just a few days before. How many songs? Too many to count here. But we all have a favorite Bowie song or two, or three, or four.



What struck me about Bowie in his latter years, was that he had become a father. And he seemed to really happy just being a husband and father. It was like, even with all the money and fame, his most prized possessions were his wife and child.



Does this not look like a lovely family portrait? The Bowies.

The morning of the 11th of January there was a new ground swell hitting the reefs, points, and beach breaks. As I was leaving the house at 6:30AM my wife told me the news about Bowie. I was stunned. I had to ask her again. "Bowie? David Bowie died?" "Yes David Bowie" she answered. I grabbed my gear and headed for the ocean. Of course every Bowie song known to man was playing in my head.

When I reached my destination and saw the swell. I knew right then and there that this swell would be the "Bowie Swell". So I shot video all day and shot stills in between. My double fisted approach to filming and shooting has served me well the last two years.



The Waves were perfect. Maybe a tad on the windy side, but the colors and size were so good. And everyone, and I do mean everyone were out catching some of the best surf in quite sometime.



And everyone seemed to be getting along just fine.



And with waves like this, how could you not have a smile on your face? I know it's hard to tell from this pic, but I do believe Johnny Meehan is smiling in this photo.

Now it's important to know, that there are hundreds of pics in the blog this week. There are good chances, that if you surfed in New Hampshire this day, one of the five photographers who have pics in the blog this week, may have shot one or two of you. That's why you NEED to go through the galleries. Get off those I-phones and find a desktop, and go through the galleries. Otherwise you are missing the best pics each week, if all you see are these thumbnails on the blog page. Find a PC or MAC and get looking.



The smooth vocals and music of QWILL was a treat on Thursday at Hampton's Flatbread. To see the talent of this man at a venue like this is a treat beyond words. The next time you hear of QWILL playing anywhere, do yourself a favor, and check him out. He usually plays with bassist Jeff and man talk about in the pocket groovemonsters, Jeff is as good as they come. If you can't see him live, check out his site qwillmusic.com Trust me, it's worth it.



QWILL girls. And QWILL boys. QWILL has soul..



The blood runs through us. The Fatello boys.



All friends and family. How can you go wrong? Flatbread pizza and the smooth soulful sounds of QWILL. Look for QWILL playing at a
city or town near you.

"Surfing And Music Heals All Wounds"

 

 

 






"Ed's Corner" pic this week is another shot from the winter of 2009.February 25th, 2013 to be exact. The surfer looks like Weston Rogers and the wave looks...oh what's the word? Oh I know. HUGE. Just one more of the thousands of pics that Ed has shot around these parts.

To see more of Ed's pics just hit the archives tab and scroll through the years and see some of Ed's work. It's worth the trip down memory lane.
Be sure to pick up the SFOD movie The COLD COAST
 and check out the extra feature of Ed O'Connell's gallery.

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

Just when you think it's ok to watch a GOP Debate the last one was a doozy. TRUMP and CRUZ are not buddies anymore. Neither is Bush and Rubio. And Rubio and Christy. But the real rivalry is between TRUMP and CRUZ.



No love lost between those two. I don't know, but I am really concerned that one of these two will face off against Hillary. And honestly? That's not good for our country. Hillary vs Trump or Hillary vs Cruz. Is a no win situation. But hey, that's just my opinion.



You! Yeah you! I am going to kick your ass and your mommas!

Are we living in the most bizarre times? We have been watching Netflix and the series MAKING OF A MURDERER. What is it that make us all watch this series? It is like driving by a car wreck. You just have to look. With The Avery Family it's hard to believe that such a world exists. But it does. If you have watched the series you know the premise of the documentary . But if you haven't, I won't spoil anything for you here. But I must warn you, it is creepy and a little south of normal.



This is the main character in the documentary Steve Avery.
The story is filled with all kinds of quirky, dirty, guilty players and a few suspect police officers.



Stripes look good on this man. He spent the better part of his adult life wearing them. I'm going to show you a few pics so you can get a handle on what we are dealing with.



Yes they are all in the documentary MAKING A MURDERER.




So the New England Patriots beat the Kansas City Chiefs 27-20 and we will find out later today if we go to Denver, or The Steelers come to Foxboro. The three games (Eagles, Jets, and Dolphins) that we lost in the regular season, may come back to haunt us if we go to Denver. As it stands right now, it looks like Denver is our AFC championship game destination. Still, this is the 5th consecutive AFC championship game we will have played in.

I still like our chances. Especially if we are at full strength.

KSM Photoshop of the Week

What's with KSM this week? He wants in on the popular documentary MAKING A MUDERER so bad he's willing to pretend to be Avery's mother? Oh come on Khaliddy! Who do you think you're fooling here?



Please my friends, enjoy the weekly humiliation of the master mind behind the September 11th, 2001 attacks. The man who was behind the killing of 3,000 innocent civilians. The number two big dog of Al Qeada. Khalid Sheik Mohammed.

* Note to self, must pick up a case of Lysol at Home Depot.

HAPPY and HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

Please say a prayer for the family of Doug Derome a local Surfer and Navy veteran who passed away recently. A friend of Jack and Mike Keefe, Doug surfed the 6th street opening each summer. Speaking of Mike. Please send positive thoughts to Mike Keefe Mike's a local surfer who has been surfing these parts for decades. Our condolences go out to Richard Donahue who's dad passed away this week. Also say a prayer for my good friend Robert Gerard. And please continue to pray for local Hampton surfers Terry Morrison and Rick Fiorentini and their families.
Also please pray for Marine SSGT George Masten. A combat Marine who served in Korea and Vietnam. He was awarded the purple heart for wounds received in Vietnam in 1967. George is battling cancer. PLEASE say a prayer for him.

 Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 9 years. **Think about BUYING 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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SINGLE WEEK FROM THE LAST 11 YEARS!

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- The Original Tube Hound Paul Hamblet
Summer at The Wall 1980
 (Below) I wonder how many of you know who Paul Hamblet is? I know a lot of you new guys have no idea. But the older crew who are still with us (surfing and living here) surely know of him. Paul was one of the best tube riders I have ever had the pleasure to surf with. He had a genuine nose for finding the barrel. I can't tell you how many times I would look down a few openings at the Wall and watch Paul pull into barrel after barrel. Paul could surf. His bottom turn followed by and automatic cover up, then upon exiting the tube he would dig deep into a beautiful carving cutback. Only to end each wave with a stylish kick out. I remember Paul. I won't ever forget the way he surfed our waves. Photo Video frame grab from a super 8mm RALPH


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Today- The Bowie Swell . Morning January 11th, 2016
Photos by RALPH


(Above) This was the first photo I shot that morning.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery








(Above) James Morse dropping into one of the few dozen waves he
caught out there this morning. January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above)*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) Some lucky Goofy foot gets a bomb all to himself.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) The Bowie Swell had it all. Including electric kelp.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Johnny Meehan out the back. January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Worth calling in sick for? Oh hell yea.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery









If you know a surfer who may be struggling with any kind of substance abuse. Click here. They can help.
*Click above to save a surfer from substance abuse.


Today- Later that afternoon. January 11th, 2016
Photos by RALPH



(Above) By midday the morning glare had softened, and the tide was a bit fuller. Still the sets found plenty of takers.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Tom Hay popping around the afternoon sesh.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery






(Above) Gavin "Ohara had not been in the water in over a month. You'd never know it by the amount of waves he was catching. *Check him out in the new video clip THE BOWIE SWELL. January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery










(Above) The gulls and the pink skies were swirling around the action.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Ryan Jackson racing down a brown lip.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) The sun set on a long and beautiful day. RIP Bowie.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The Bowie SEQUENCES of January 11th, 2016.
Photos by RALPH



(Above) Dave Cropper got a TRIPLE barrel in this gallery. Yes, you must
check it out. January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery











(Above) Ryan Jackson under a thick Bowie lip.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Mackey V getting another barrel on this day of endless barrels.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Weston Rogers on what I'm calling one of the BEST barrel
sequences I have ever seen, let alone shoot. MUST SEE.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





"North Conway's Family Mountain"



"Southern New Hampshire's Favorite Mountain"




"Superior Snow. Guaranteed.”






(Above) James Morse on one of the longest barrels of the swell. How long
can you hold your breath? January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Unknown getting a little chocolate face tube.
January 11th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
 *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The Bowie Swell as seen by Scott Snyder
January 11th, 2016. Photos by Scott Snyder



(Above) The Long and Winding Wall, that leads to your door.
January 11th, 2016. Photos by Scott Snyder
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery











(Above) There's really nothing like being at the edge of the ocean when
the sun comes up. And if there's good surf? All the better.
January 11th, 2016. Photos by Scott Snyder
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) That looks like Matt Colby. And if it is, I got a clip of him in the BOWIE video as well. January 11th, 2016. Photos by Scott Snyder
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) If I'm not mistaken this might be Casey Lockwood. That bottom turn sure looks familiar. January 11th, 2016. Photos by Scott Snyder
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Not many waves got by without a rider onboard.
January 11th, 2016. Photos by Scott Snyder
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery










Today- The Bowie Swell as seen through the lens
of John Carden. January 11, 2016 Photos by John Carden



(Above) Jesse Gould deep in the pit, with one eye on the kid on the shoulder about to run out into traffic. January 11th, 2016. Photos by John Carden
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Now this is a deep carve. Stevie O'Hara pulling the best roundhouse of the swell. January 11th, 2016. Photos by John Carden
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Mike Stanek knows a little bit about getting barreled. Like just about every wave he took off on this swell he was pitted deeply. It's where he feels most comfortable. January 11th, 2016. Photos by John Carden
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Phil Carey on a beautiful bomb. January 11th, 2016.
Photos by John Carden *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery







(Above) Toby Parke is no stranger to the pitching lip. January 11th, 2016. Photos by John Carden *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



Today- Now for some other perspectives on the Bowie Swell. January 11th, 2016.
Photos by Nick Doucette and Mario Delguidice



(Above) Nick and I shared the same slippery rocks in the morning.
January 11th, 2016. Photos by Nick Doucette
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Love this backdoor shot.
January 11th, 2016. Photos by Nick Doucette
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery







(Above) Cementland. January 11th, 2016. Photos by Mario Delguidice
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





 

 

 

 








Great NEW MARINE FORECAST Website





(Above) Same day. Same place. Cementland. January 11th, 2016. Photos by Mario Delguidice
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

















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.

And we don't care if you shoot pics with 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 and ask questions later.










(Above) Jeff Denholm dancing with the devil at JAWS.
Photo courtesy of Jeff Denholm.
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

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(Above) Tyler McGill on a PR bomb.
Photo courtesy of Tyler McGill
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above). Artie Seaman on January 11th, 2016.
Photo by Becca Speak
*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 #353 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 banner below to read the entire CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY Year Long Blog. From start to finish. In chronological order as it happened. And trust me, a lot happened. Some of it almost too hard to believe. But it's all there. Every single day.



CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON on each clip to view videos


The BOWIE Swell January 11 2016

On January 11th, 2016 David Bowie left this earth. But in his wake, there was a new groomed, ground ocean swell. I had Bowie songs in my head all day long, as I shot from sunrise, to sunset. Seemed like everyone was getting their share of waves. The wind and swell had an almost magical feel to it. Plenty of stoked surfers on the coast. I was doing my typical, two handed strike. One hand held the Canon HF G 30, and the other had the NIKON 7100. Yes, I was shooting hand held. Oh, and there's NO slo mo, except for one eat section that had to be slowed down to see the carnage. Speaking of surfers, the one's that I can ID and remember are: Peter Stokes, Johnny Meehan, Markey J, Mackey V, Weston Rogers, James Morse, Dave Cropper, Tom Hay, Ryan Jackson, Steve Bailey, Erica Nardone, and young Gavin O'Hara. If I missed anyone, I'm sorry. The Music is of course by the Thin White Duke. Heroes. RIP David Bowie.


CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME

This is the first of a series of old super 8mm film I have.
This one covers from 1971-1985.
The two California surfers riding those fish's were way ahead of their time. The year was 1971. They may have been someone of notoriety, but I did not bother to find out. I remember showing this footage to Kevin Grondin and Allen Bigby, and it changed the way we surf our waves around here. The local surfers back here in NH in this clip are Stevie O'Hara, Paul Hamblet, and yours truly. If you look close enough, on one of my waves I perform the "Martini". I take a sip from my martini glass, and then a puff from my cigarette holder. A very distinguished move for those days. Ha. And there's footage of me on my camo board..ugh. I was a self admitted asshole back then. Age has mellowed the raging beast that used to live inside of me. Any way, I love this song. It brings back memories for all of us old folk. *Not sure who shot the footage of me, could be anyone of the surf crew, or my then girlfriend Cory Bunton.



INTO THE FIRE AND SMOKE

Sea smoke has always captured the imagination of those of us who are lucky enough to live by the ocean. Sea smoke is caused when the ocean is warmer than the air. On January 5th, 2016 the air temp was 7 degrees. The water temp was in the mid 40's. It was a perfect recipe for Sea Smoke. This is not the first clip I ever shot of sea smoke, and I'm sure it won't be the last. I will admit I have been inspired over the last 10 years or so from the master of sea smoke himself, Brian Nevins. Sure enough he was there when I shot this clip. We were both freezing and laughing. The surfers in this clip are: Matt Colby, Britt Swartley, Max Fatello, James Morse, and a gaggle of others. All bobbing in the smoke, and taking off on waves that were just steaming. The horizon looked particularly wild with the sun and clouds ablaze. Just a cool phenomena to witness. The music is by Demons.



NEW YEARS EVE 12-31-15 from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.

The Last day and the Last Swell of 2015. December 30th and December 31st, 2015 had some fun surf.
It snowed on the 30th and it was foggy on the 31st. By late afternoon the fog burned off and the boys had themselves a run of good surf. We stayed until dark, or until that massive cloud showed up and it started to pour. The surfers out those last two days included: Perry Reynolds, Johnny Reynolds, Matt Colby, Becca and Harrison Speak, Britt Swartley, Jesse Gould, Max Fatello, Kai Nichols, Ryan Reed, Markey J, Dave "Crop" Cropper, and a bunch of others.

The music is "Let it Snow" by HC Jr and "Auld Lang Syne" by Rod Stewart

 

 

 















 

 

 
CLICK CRACKIE BELOW TO SEE All the CRACKIE VIDS!

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....Today Sunday was fun

Recorded in 1978. Click on VINNY CD art to see a larger
version and how to order this CD and others for sale at
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COMING NEXT WEEK... It was nice 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
 


(Above) Put the cursor over the images above to see what 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 RALPH

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Today January 10th, 2016
" I feel the weight of the world on my back..."



(Above) I'm sure this was a cold and shocking moment for this guy. But worth every second.
Photo by RALPH


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