June 5th, 2016 The RUN is 29 out of 29 Weeks.
Waist high or better at least once a week.
We had waist to chest high waves June 4th, 2016. |
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Muhammad Ali, Harambe, Trump, and another Swell. |
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The GREATEST Has fallen. Muhammad Ali passed away on Friday June 3rd, 2016. He was 74 years old. Though he looked more like he was 94. He had been suffering from Parkinson's since the late 80's. If you don't know who Muhammad Ali is, you need to stop reading this blog right now and google his name. Once you get caught up on Ali you are welcome back to this blog.
The photo above is the iconic image of Cassius Clay (Ali's first name) knocking out Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship in Lewiston, Maine. May 25th, 1965. Ali was 23 years old. He went on from this bout to so many other incredible fights, that it would seriously take another few months worth of blogs, just to cover them all on this blog.
Hell even the Beatles wanted to meet him and pose for the zany pics that they were known for back in the early 60's. All four of these moptops at once couldn't take Ali down in the ring. The studio and the stage? Yes.
Not boxing.
My father and my brothers were huge fight fans back in the day.
And when the young Cassius Clay burst on to the scene, boxing was changed from that moment on. No one had ever seen, or heard such a flamboyant character than Ali. He was the first outspoken athlete of that era. Many who followed Ali copped his style and his personality. But Ali was the first.
No he was not shy when it came to demoralizing his opponents. It's one thing to be a loud mouth, and quite another to be a loud mouth who could back up anything he said. And he could. Some of the greatest fights I have ever seen were the Ali fights. His absolute hilarious promos leading up to each fight was full on entertainment. His epic battles against Joe Frazier were classic.
Ali could dance and hit Joe at will, while the steady and deliberate style of Frazier would just keep coming. Ali's incredible moves in the ring were nothing short of masterful. Nobody had ever seen anything quite like him. Evasive, fast, and zen like moves, backed with his stinging fists and stinging tongue were no match for most of the heavyweights back in the day.
He would totally embarrass and frustrate his opponents. You would almost feel sorry for anyone who stepped into the ring with him. Almost, because no one wanted to see Ali lose. He was after all the GREATEST.
Taking out the man who would eventually take his title, George Foreman in another Ali classic. One of the things that Ali brought to the table was the excitement he would create prior to his bouts. I know that Sugar Ray Leonard copied Ali's style, and it's obvious that all the wild antics of sports figures who came after Ali, owe this man a great debt of gratitude.
Like all fighters, the game only lasts so long. There's always someone faster and tougher than you climbing up in the ranks, waiting to get a shot at the title.
It was heartbreaking to see Ali lose at the end of his career. But he gave us some of the most enjoyable sports moments in all of history.
His funny antics with Howard Cosell were the best. Ali would be merciless on Howard. Toying with his toupee on live TV was freaking hilarious. How could you not laugh at that? It is a less colorful world today with his passing.
God bless the whole Ali family.
Speaking of sad passings.
This magnificent Silverback mountain Gorilla was shot and killed last week after a toddler got away from his mother and somehow managed to fall into the moat where "Harambe" and other gorillas live. The death of this Silverback sparked all kinds of negative comments on social media as well as on all the TV and cable networks.
You were either blaming the mother, or blaming the zoo. Or both.
Personally, I blame the mother. I know some of you are furious, with those of us who see the mother at fault. There would not be a international discussion if the mother had held onto her 3 year old child.
The boy had just said to his mother "I want to go in the water and see the monkey!" WHAT??? If any of my kids at that age had said that while we were all standing there watching these great apes, I'd be all over the kid.
The image above is terrifying. No mother wants to see her child in this terrible situation. Nobody does. The zoo keepers claim they had no choice but to dispatch the gorilla. So incredibly sad.
Harambe was only 17 years old. Just two years shy of his mating age.
"Surfing and Crying Heals All Wounds"
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I chose this shot of Ed's this week, because one of his peers got a nice cover shot, on the new ESM this month that reminded me of this pic. Ed and I had a funny thing we would do whenever Brian Nevins got a beautiful shot. Which by the way, was anytime Brian pointed a camera at any subject. Any way, Ed would do his best Jerry Seinfeld impression when he would sneer "Newman". Only Ed would do "Nevins". Brian knew about it and would laugh right along with us.
This by the way is the new cover shot that Brian took.
Cover photo by Brian Nevins.
To see more of Ed's pics just scroll through the archives. He has shot so many pics for the blog. Be sure and pick up a copy of the COLD COAST and check out Ed's own 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.
ATTENTION ALL SURF ARTISTS. See above.
The Dan Healy Foundation is something worth learning about.
Now for Some More Of My Weekly Global Observances
Once again "Mr Open Mouth Insert Foot" has spewed forth more hard to believe comments. This time against a Federal Judge. It's almost too hard to fathom that he is still as popular as he is. Every time I think he's gone too far and he is going to topple along with all of his rabid followers, he seems to be able to brush it all off and just keep going.
It kind of was Donnie. Calling him a Mexican. Just saying.
Even FOX NEWS has got his number. But will this be the straw that broke the TRUMP camel's back? Who knows?
KSM Photoshop of the Week
Now what do you suppose would of happened if our boy KSM had fallen into the moat? I'm not so sure the Zoo officials would of taken such drastic measures. But I guess we'll never really know. One can only speculate.
As always... 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 used King Kong VHS tapes at Home Depot this week.
RIP MARK PARENTEAU WBCN Jock June 3, 2016
RIP Mohammed Ali June 3, 2016
RIP Harambe
May 29, 2016.
Please Pray for local Hampton surfer Terry Morrison and his family. 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.
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Ralph
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Yesterday- The timeless empty wave photos.
This was taken at 10th Street in 1986.
(Below) There's no way of telling what year this was taken. There are no surfers in the pic, and no one on the beach that would give it away. But having taken this pic with a cheap Minolta Camera, I can sit here and tell you all, it was taken in 1986. It was head high that day with bigger sets, and yest it was as good as it looks here.
Photo by RALPH
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Today-
Saturday June 4th, 2016. Photos by RALPH
(Above) Proof of size. Clearly it was waist high or bigger. Unless this guy was
2 feet tall. And he was not. Saturday June 4th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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(Above) This man Rick Evans, was so stoked to be surfing with his youngest
on the morning of Saturday June 4th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
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(Above) And this man Mikey Evans was just as stoked to be surfing with
his dad again at his homebreak. And me? I was just as happy to be shooting Mikey again. He is such a pleasure to watch. Any of you longboarders would
do yourselves well to watch and learn when he paddles out.
Saturday June 4th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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(Above) Julie Jakoboski was out hunting down the elusive little barrels on her yellow barrel rider. Saturday June 4th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) I never caught this guy's name, but I did tell him where to see this.
Hope he's seeing it. Saturday June 4th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) Mark Angelini was in town and I was able to catch a few of his waves
as he kept jumping up and spinning around. I was getting dizzy just watching him. Saturday June 4th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) Elizabeth Ann was in her "must surf mode" when she ran past us
all at the 10th Street opening and into the water. This girl is one stoked individual. Saturday June 4th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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(Above) I love Pev's sneaky drop knee stance. Skip and I were talking about Pev's rise to the top of the heap with his peeps in his longboarding. He's one
of our Top 5 longboarders. And he got there by being so diligent and
relentless every swell for the last few years. Saturday June 4th, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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(Above) Another one of the up and coming longboard women surfers. Hannah Vokey is determined to learn the art of true longboarding. I see her getting better with each new swell. Saturday June 4th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) I told Max when he showed up with Jake, that I didn't think it was "shortboardable" . Turns out it was. Saturday June 4th, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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Today-
The Long Ass Sequences of June 4th, 2016.
Photos by RALPH
(Above) Once again, I regretted not shooting video. Between Pev and Mikey
I would of had another classic longboard clip. Saturday June 4th, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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(Above) This was the first chance I had, shooting Mikey Evans since his return
on June 1st. I'm happy to report, that his surfing is a smooth and cool as ever. Saturday June 4th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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(Above) This may have been Skip's first wave this day. I do know that this
was one long ride. I gave him the nod of approval of this wave. He earned it. Saturday June 4th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
(Above) Max somehow managed to generate enough speed to connect
the dots on this long sequence. Saturday June 4th, 2016
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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(Above) Lars Hamilton came out with all pistons firing and stitched a
few lips out there. Saturday June 4th, 2016 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
Today-
The Insane Waves of Tavarua Fiji. May 4th, 2016.
Photos courtesy of Becca Speak.
(Above) While the whole surfing world is watching the FIJI Pro this weekend,
19 year old Becca Speak, will be watching and remembering the waves she caught at Cloudbreak and Restaurants just a few weeks ago.
May, 2016 Photo courtesy of Becca Speak.
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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(Above) The right on Tavarua is always a welcome alternative to the machine like perfection lefts, that the Island is known for. Becca Speak dropping into
a decent size right. May, 2016 Photo courtesy of Becca Speak.
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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(Above) The screaming left at Restaurants is perhaps one of the fastest left handers on the planet. According to Becca, it's the most perfect wave she has ever seen. Becca Speak flying just inches above the coral reef at Restaurants.
May, 2016 Photo courtesy of Becca Speak.
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(Above) Sometimes the reef can bite you. Becca's battle scars at Restaurants.
May, 2016 Photo courtesy of Becca Speak.
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(Above) Becca dropping into perfection. May, 2016
Photo courtesy of Becca Speak.
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(Above) This is a serious cutback for anyone. Becca on the rights again.
May, 2016 Photo courtesy of Becca Speak.
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(Above) And this is a REAL serious cutback. Cloudbreak.
May, 2016 Photo courtesy of Becca Speak.
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(Above) And this is some serious consequences at Cloudbreak.
May, 2016 Photo courtesy of Becca Speak.
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(Above) What we all seek. The barrel on Tavarua.
May, 2016 Photo courtesy of Becca Speak.
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(Above) How bad do you want it? Cloudbreak, Tavarua, Fiji.
May, 2016 Photo courtesy of Becca Speak.
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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Today-
Leftover Video Frame grabs. by RALPH
(Above) Gilly from a hurricane or two ago. Video Frame Grab by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery
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(Above)
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