The long awaited premiere of The GRANITE GIRLS has a date and venue. After looking at several venues we decided on the Ashworth on Hampton Beach. The reasons are many.

First and foremost, it's on the ocean! Secondly (and this is big for me) it has AC. Thirdly (is that a word?) they have a large screen and PA system. Plus there will be a bar for those of you who partake in that sort of thing. The movie has tapped out at 45 minutes long. There are over 50 women surfers and photographers/videographers featured. It's been over a year since I started this project. And I can honestly say, that it has been a labor of love. I really enjoyed working with the women of the seacoast.

The hardest thing about making these types of movies and documentaries
is you will ultimately leave some people out. And that's not intentional, it's just the nature of the beast. Remember, I made the FIRST ever surf movie about NH. And I made the FIRST ever movie about GROMS. So I know what I'm talking about. Some people will feel left out. If they could only see the big picture. And that is, this movie is about all of them. Not just the few in the movie itself. I make that pretty clear. This movie is about the women and the girls who surf. And that alone is worth the FREE admission.

Yes that's right, it's FREE. There will be a donation jar, if anyone wants to help out, but it's not necessary. I'm just into this project (financially) all on my own. I don't feel comfortable with one of those KICK STARTER fund raisers. I don't know how some people can feel OK about those. I'm not knocking it per'se, just saying, it's not for me.

There will be a DVD in the Fall and I'll clearly charge for those. But the Premiere is FREE! I want it to be a party celebration with friends and family more than some money making event. This is going to be FUN!

So help me pass the word. JULY 12th, 2018 from 6PM to 9PM at the Ashworth on Hampton Beach. My super talented nephew QWILL will be playing solo before and after. It's going to not only be fun, but historic!



On June 6th, 2018 the 74th anniversary of the D-DAY landing in Normandy, France on June 6th, 1944. We, the surfers of Northern New England found ourselves with a decent ground swell that reached the head high range. In fact, it was bigger on the sets.

It was so good to see Max out there on his shortboard. These are the first images I've gotten of him on a shortboard since his injury the week before Christmas. He was riding one of Mikey Evan's Fish creations. It worked
well in this swell.



That FISH worked well in this swell. *Lest we all forget, the waves we got on June 6th, 2018 came with a heavy price. All you need to do is go back a couple of weeks when I ran the pics of those Americans dying on the beach some 74 years ago.

Forty years ago the debut LP from the CARS came out.



This record was and still is amazing. It turned the music world up on it's ear in 1978. There was nobody like The CARS. And this record was killer from start to finish. Roy Thomas Baker (of the Queen sound fame) produced it. And his production was over the top good. His layering of background vocals was what George Martin was like with the Beatles. It was that good. I guess I'm having a hard time believing that it's really 40 years ago.

In 1978 The CARS were JUST WHAT WE NEEDED!

Ric Ocasek, Ben Orr, Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, and David Robinson were all recently inducted into the Rock and Roll House of Fame. All the LPs that followed were just as good. That means that Candy O will be 40 years old next year. Damn, I feel old.



This was a tragic week in the world of celebrities. Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain both committed suicide within days of each other. Both by hanging. It was both shocking and sad that someone of their fame and fortune could step into that darkness and let it take hold of you. The darkness of depression is real. Many people have a daily battle with it. There was a time in my life when I battled with it myself. It's true. Call it PTSD. Yeah, I've dealt with it.

The war and other personal things caught up to me back in the 70's. So, I resorted to pain relieving substances to help me get through it. Little did I know (at the time), that I was only making it worse. But I got help, and I was able to swim out of the whirlpool of depression, and make it to the shore. This December 18th, 2018 will mark 30 years of sobriety for me.

There's no rhyme or reason as to why this happens. But, there is HOPE.

If you are battling from depression. If you are dealing with substance abuse. If you are in the midst of any kind of abuse, there is an answer. And suicide is not that answer. Suicide is a permanent solution, to a temporary problem. The pain and misery that suicide leaves behind is forever.

A good friend of mine posted on facebook this week saying, that the "survivors" who jumped off of the Golden State bridge, all to a single person said. "They regretted the act, the second they hit the water." That means all of the others, who were successful in their suicide attempts, may have very well died, knowing they made a horrible mistake. Think about that for a second.

They regretted taking that leap. How freaking sad is that?

Both Spade and Bourdain left behind young daughters. 13 (Spade) and 11 (Bourdain). Look, I don't have to tell you all what their lives are going to be like going forward, but suffice it to say, it's going to be hell for them until they can get the help they need. I'm also going to say something, that might infuriate some of you.

And that is, suicide is a selfish act of cowardice. I know. That's harsh.

But it's no where near the harshness they have brought on their loved ones. No where near that pain. There is help. There are certain meds you can take. There are therapists and AA meetings. There are a number of ways to get back on the right track. Suicide is not ending your pain. Suicide is slowly but surely killing the loved ones you left behind. And if you could just see the truth of this through that darkness, you will eventually be able to see the light.

The light of love. The light of love and happiness. It's still out there.

" Surfing and LOVE Heals All Wounds."

This is Jared Veltsos in 2009. I posted this because down in the readers section is all Jared. So what the hell. I'll give him the Ed's Corner this week to tie it all in. Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.


Now for Some Local, National and International News
So the Cavs got swept by the Warriors. And all the Kings Horses and all the Kings men couldn't put Lebron together again. Not that I really give two shits about him. But it was fun to see an actual team of players beat him. Only the King knows where he will be next year. Hell, he could end up on the Green team.



Seriously, think about that. Would you welcome the King into the Garden? Only if he left his oversized ego at home.



So you've heard about this right? PED Performance Enhancing Drugs? Are they talking about Viagra? You can't take Viagra and play football? I guess that could be dangerous. I mean, who the hell wants to get poked in the eye by someone's erection?



Look who sticks out like a sore thumb. Why is it that 45 is the only one who has his jacket unbuttoned? Because he can't button it due to his Golf shape. This whole G-7 summit has turned into the 45 show. He wants Russia back. It's not like Russia has done anything bad in the last 10 years. For someone who keeps calling the Mueller case a Russian Witch hunt, you'd think he'd keep low about Russia. Nope. Not this guy.

So once again, here's hoping things work it out for all of us.

KSM Photoshop of the Week
I may have run this one before. The KSM Triplets on Summer vacation. I don't know, it feels like summer to me. I'm not saying that this is what KSM and his two brothers look like. I'm just saying that this is what I can pretend to make them look like.



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 Fried Dough at Home Depot this week.

HEAL WELL SOON Jon Gozzo!
HEAL WELL SOON Cliff Pappas!
GET WELL SOON JoEllen Bunton!
RIP Ryk Kluver Central Cal surfer loved by many (heart attack while surfing in Mexico)

FYI Lenny Nichols is looking for someone or someones to take over the ESA-NNE District. Please contact Lenny Nichols by calling his cell (603) 944-2418



THE GRANITE GIRLS and The River Women showing at the ASHWORTH By The Sea on Hampton Beach this July 12th.
Admission is FREE. Pass the word. We are going to make history this night!




Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 13 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

*Click on the photo above to see a larger version

(Above) The inside sandbar offered some exciting moments. Ian Dreher going for a mini backdoor attempt. Parking Lots. Wednesday, June 6th, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Billabong wetsuit designer Scott Boot fading into a Parking Lots left.
*Note Mr Boot is not wearing any boots! Wednesday, June 6th, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Gilly got a few good ones. Though he was still shaken up by the NIKE wearing kook the day before. PL's. Wednesday, June 6th, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Crop and the Billabong Crew pose for a quick pic at PL's.
Wednesday, June 6th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Today- The Day Before Tuesday June 5th, 2018.
Photos by RALPH




(Above) Out for a quick session before 8AM MVF tests the ankle and
the Fish. Tuesday, June 5th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) The bottom at the Wall is still filling in with new sand, but that didn't stop the boys from pushing the limits at a higher tide.
Tuesday, June 5th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) This guy was making the best of these warbled rights.
Tuesday, June 5th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) The things that wash up on our shores. Like this Russian Space Capsule that had a baby spider monkey on board.
Sunday, June 3rd, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Other things we find washed up on the beaches. This board belonged to Johnny Reynolds. Sunday, June 3rd, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Young buck staring at an old buck. June 8th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

(Above) Patch had the forest all to himself this day. June 5th, 2018.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) These wild green ferns were electric out there.
June 5th, 2018. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery