Before I start my Surf Forecast rant/complaint it's important to know that I use Magic-seaweed 100% of the time when checking the surf forecasts. And they are usually pretty close. They are sometimes a foot or two off and sometimes they are off by a whole day. But this week? This week they called for 1' surf or rather 0-1' surf. I basically assumed I'd be doing a 'dip into the archives' to fill the quota of surf pics this week. But then I saw the surf on the morning of June 27th and soon realized that not only was it bigger than one foot, (knee high) but some waves were shoulder high. Granted it wasn't classic by any stretch of the imagination, but they were clearly ridable and worthy of paddling out.
Kainalu Nichols sent me a text saying he was surfing the Wall that morning. So it was basically out of curiosity, that I took the two minute drive down the street. Well, I'm no Rocket Scientist but, I have a pretty good grasp on wave size when I see it. And what I saw was, a solid waste high swell with shoulder high sets. Looking at the wave above should be plenty enough proof of what I'm writing here. And the forecasts had to have been the reason why there was only Kai out with a couple of other friends. Two of whom I've never seen before. But none of the other usual suspects where anywhere to be found.
When I texted Max to tell him there was surf he said "Yeah but it's small."
To which I said, "I don't know, but I've seen smaller days than this, with bigger crowds." Am I right people? Damn straight I am.
Like I said it wasn't classic, but there were waves. On both the 27th and the 28th. But you don't have to believe me. Just look at the galleries.
OK so what's in a day where four individuals who all know each other well, all share the same Birthday? Coincidence or some kind of Birthday Oobu Joobu? Nah, it's just a coincidence. And a good one at that. The date is June 30th. And on that day, my wife Cory, Cinnamon Rainbows shop owner Dave "Crop" Cropper, Kyle Linseman, and Mike Sidebottom all share this day. Oh and Mike Tyson. Yeah, I know we don't know him, but it's cool that he's sharing this day with the other four.
My wife Cory is first up on the BIRTHDAY BLOG. (Come on, I'd have to be brain dead to have her last.) What's cool about her birthday being in June is, just the other day, I was saying to her how the months of May, June, and July seem to trade off with each other. Here let me explain. Mother's day is in May. Followed by Father's Day in early June. Her Birthday is at the end of June, followed by my birthday at the end of July. You guys following me here?
This is my young bride on our Honeymoon in October 1987. Hanalei Bay in Kauai in Hawaii. We had a memorable honeymoon. We've never been back together. I went back in 1988-89 and have not been back since. We've traveled everywhere but back there. Maybe someday we can go back. But right now we prefer going to Italy along the Italian seashore. We love it there..
This would be Little Cory Bunton at her Birthday party in Morris Illinois. No doubt her dad bought her those six guns and cowboy hat. He was after all a legit Cowboy when he was younger. I can almost see traces of our kids and grandkids in her face here. I'm guessing that's a fan behind her. She is too cute for words here.
If you were to ask her if she is a surfer she would say no. And that's basically true. Though she is clearly a good surf photographer for having been around surfing since 1984. And this? This is a photo I snapped of Cory as she is teetering on the cusp of almost getting barreled on a boogieboard. And as I've said many times before, surfing is the act of riding a wave. Whether you are lying down, kneeling, standing, or using a paddle. Surfing is riding a wave. And clearly my baby is riding a wave here in this photo.
Here's the Birthday girl last month in Rockport. She keeps me young.
Happy Birthday Baby I love you!
Next up on the Birthday list is Dave "Crop" Cropper. Now I've known Dave longer than I've known Cory. He's told me stories about myself that I don't remember, but he seems pretty sure of himself, so who am I to question youth and their 'sharp as a tack' memory. Besides, I was a different kind of Ralph back in those days. And in spite of my past, we have remained friends and good friends at that. We share the same passions for surfing and music. Though Dave is always stepping out on a limb when it comes to riding new crafts. He was the first to hop on the SUP, and his latest passion is the Foil. This photo? He's showing us where he got sliced and diced by the Foil.
This seems dangerous to me. But hey, I'm old school. I'm still warming up to the SUP. And I have finally accepted it as a fully legit wave riding craft. How could I not? I know so many who have crossed over to the SUP. But the Foil? I'm gonna have to wait and see where it goes. I'm a visual person. I love shooting surfers on waves. The Foil is still too weird and new to me.
This is a pic I shot of Crop from last winter. And although he rides a SUP and a FOIL he still shines on a surfboard. And if you have any doubts about that, just scroll on down to the video section and watch Mr Cropper get barreled out of his mind at Kelly's Ranch. And I do KNOW with 100% certainty that you cannot get barreled like that on a SUP or a FOIL. So until something happens that changes that fact, I'll stick to my guns, and claim that traditional surfing still outweighs the new SUP's and FOILS. Not against them mind you, just prefer the standard shortboards and longboards. Any way, Happy Birthday Crop! We all love you brother!
Next up on the Birthday Totem Pole is Kyle Linseman. Now I can honestly say that I've know Kyle since he was an infant. I went to the hospital to see him when he was a newborn. I've watched him grow and mature into the man he is today. I've seen him every step of the way. I'm not a 100% sure but I think this is his third decade on the planet. I have watched and studied his progress out in the water as a young grom, and have marveled at his natural style on a surfboard. From the awkward grom stage, to the stylish surfer he is today.
Kyle knows both style and grace, and his ability to get barreled is second to none. I know that when he is out in the water, that I will get some good to great shots . He's never let me down in the past 10 years when it comes to delivering the goods, that is surf photography. These two pics alone are
proof of that.
This one (above) is one of my favorite pics of all time. This pic made it into the BEST OF RALPH'S PIC on the ESM site. Look at his positioning and his stance. This is pure style. You can't teach someone this. You either have it, or you don't. And Kyle has it in spades. Happy Birthday Kyle! Love you man!
And finally the last of the local surfer Birthday celebrations. Mike Sidebottom.
Now Mike no longer lives here but he's still a New England boy that we all knew. I always enjoyed his longboarding, and I was surprised when he came to visit last year and he rode his shortboard. But like all good surfers, he did well on his shortboard. I don't know Mike as good as the others, but I know enough about him to enjoy his company, and his sincere stoke for not only surfing, but this community of ours.
Mike was the mystery designer of the SURFING, COMMUNITY, and LOVE logo. It was a mantra that I had come up with at the end of my Molly Campaign. Mike took that mantra and made a killer graphic of it. And I believe Buck also uses it now on the Molly website. So, besides being a good surfer, Mike is a good human being. Happy Birthday Mike!
Speaking of Mike...it's Mike Tyson's Birthday. Too bad Mike Tyson didn't surf. He might have turned out differently. Poorer for sure, but richer in other ways. Happy Birthday Mike Tyson you scary son of a bitch.
On Saturday we all said goodbye to Marine Corps WWII Veteran Warren White. I made a video of Warren CLICK ON THIS IMAGE to see the video. In the making of the video I found this photo that I had taken a few years ago. They were all dear friends of mine, now all gone from this earth. We had a saying in the Marine Corps when one of us passed away.
"And When He Gets To Heaven, To Saint Peter He Will Tell, One More Marine Reporting sir, I've Served My Time In Hell." All four of these Marines served their time in Hell. May they all rest in Peace.
Semper Fidelis Marines. I'll see you all again.
"Surfing, Community, and Love Heals All Wounds."
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This is This is both ironic and rare. The date is June 30th 2013 and today's date is June 30th, 2019. I chuckled when I went looking for my weekly Ed pic and found this. 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
These four could very well be the four front runners after last week's Democratic debates. Add Elizabeth Warren and you have the Top Five. I think Biden is slipping. And Bernie is still too cranky and old. And there's something about Warren that gets under my skin. I do however think that Harris and Buttigieg are looking to be the stronger of the five. But Like I've said...ANYONE BUT 45 IS OK with me.
Could the next POTUS be standing here? It's possible.
Time will tell my friends. Only time will tell. (and a few prayers).
This could be absolutely nothing to do with anything, but then again, it could be the start of something to do with everything.
45 is the first sitting US president to step across the DMZ in Korea to meet with the North Korean Dictator Krazy Kim. Unless the obvious denuclearize of all Nuclear weapons are in order, and the dismantling of all missiles aimed at South Korea, this would be what it appears to be. 45 chatting it up for publicity only. Like he's done with Putin and the Saudi King. SHOW US THE MONEY KIM! Otherwise we're not buying the friendly gestures. .
This is no joke. Something MUST Be Done about the Seal Population on the Cape. It's time to cull the Seals.
It's that time of the year when we need to start thinking about this.
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.
The videos are down in the video section. If you haven't seen them you really should. One is called THIS HAPPENED it's a short 4 minute edit of the Best Of the Best from the last 5 years. I used my nephew QWILL's music as a soundtrack. And the other video is the GRANITE GIRL'S Trailer. And once again, I used QWILL's soundtrack in that trailer.
So while I was making the GRANITE GIRLS video I came up with this project and concept. It's never been done before. As hard as that seems to be. I'm onto yet another groundbreaking Surf Movie concept. This will be an overview of Surfer dads and their sons. It's a work in progress and I'm hoping to get as many dads and their sons as possible in this movie.
SOLD OUT SHOW! NO MORE TIX! SOLD OUT!
The DVD's are available at all the local surf shops. Or by
sending me an email. ralph@adlantic.com or send a check for $20.00 made out to ADLANTIC and send it here:
ADLANTIC
c/o OC Studio Suites
703 Ocean Blvd Suite C-4
Hampton, NH 03842
Or RENT or BUY it Online. You have spoken and I have listened. You don't have a DVD player so I made it available Online. Watch it on your Smart TV, your computer, or your cellphone! I can't make this any easier my friends.
GRANITE GIRLS and The RIVER WOMEN from Ralph's Pic Of The Week on Vimeo.
NOW AVAILABLE on VIMEO ON DEMAND.
KSM Photoshop of the Week
Who remembers when this happened? Mike Tyson went to GITMO to put on a Boxing clinic when KSM volunteered to get in the ring with him. Well before you could say Evander's Ear! Tyson was biting Khaliddy's ear off! It was almost as crazy as the night Mike bit Holyfield's ear off. My friends you can't make this shit up. Wait, yes you can. I just made it up (again.) Hey I figured with this being Tyson's Birthday and all, why the hell not?
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 Ear Drops at
Home Depot this week.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cory Fatello JUNE 30th, 2019!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Dave "CROP" Cropper June 30th, 2019!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kyle Linseman June 30th, 2019!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mike Sidebottom June 30th, 2019!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mike Tyson June 30th, 2019!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY America July 4th, 2019!
GET WELL SOON Kim Grondin!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Kevin Grondin June 23rd, 2019!
RIP Warren White USMC WWII
RIP John Grady NH surfer
RIP to the Seven Marines who died in that tragic Motorcycle accident. SEMPER FI
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
Please
Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
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** BUY a HIGH RES Photo
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Remember
my friends... Surfing Heals All Wounds.
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.
Ralph
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