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May 21, 2006

Ahhh I love the sound of a fan blowing on a wet rug...or the sound of a Wet Vac sucking up the water from the basement floor. I'm writing this column as these two sounds permeate my office karma. I'm also looking out my window at a pouring rain. Just what we need eh? More rain. Dam...that was one soggy week of rain we all just went through. They say it's the worst flooding in over 70 years. I guess we have no choice but to believe them. It was weird, seeing New England all over the news the last week though. I've had plenty of friends from all over asking me how we are all doing. I truly hope that none of you suffered any real damage. Or, any of your family and friends for that matter.

I guess the silver lining in all of this rain was...we had surf. In fact, there was real good surf yesterday. Hope you got some. I saw Dave and the Green Mountain Boys were all down from Vermont yesterday. Even my man Tony from the city sampled some fine surf in front of his new home.

Speaking of surf this week. I hope you all had enough sense to keep yer mouths shut while out surfing this past week. Why? Because of the raw sewerage that was emptying out of the Merrimac and into the ocean. Our ocean. I spoke to a couple of guys from PI and they said they got sick from surfing in the brown water. You know, you have to question why we'd risk bacteria infections for that rush of surfing. I mean, WAKE UP WHITE PEOPLE! Don't risk getting sick over some fun surf. Wait it out. Let the West winds clear it up, and then head out. Talk about shooting yourselves in the foot. When there's that much crap in the water, it's best to let nature do it's thing, before you paddle out.

Speaking of crap...Max and I were at the Wall this morning, checking the surf, when we found a pile of trash at the bottom of the opening at 10th Street. I mean, it was absolutely disgusting. And at the top of the stairs, was a BIG EMPTY trash barrel. Why would someone purposely throw trash on our beach, when there's a trash barrel within arm's length? I don't know. But what was even more disturbing, was the dozen or so surfers out in the water, who had to have walked by this pile of trash, and couldn't be bothered to stop and pick it up. I'm not just talking trash, but broken glass. The kind of glass that would require stitches if you stepped on it. Come on people. Please don't throw trash on the beach. And if you walk by trash (whether it's yours or not), PLEASE pick it up and throw it away. You don't need me to tell you to do the right thing. Or do you? One more thing...If I walk up on some fool throwing trash and glass on our beach...well, there will be more than just trash being stuffed in that trash can.

We MUST Protect Our Beaches people!

 

This week I got slammed with a few dozen photos from various photographers. I mean, it has been a feast of surf we've been having, so it's no real surprise that I'd see that many samples of photographic proof in my mailbox. Speaking of surf, I was talking about my latest movie, SUMMER 05 to the Rafferty Brothers, when Steve pointed out, that this Spring has been pretty consistent. I guess he's right. It has been quite a Spring so far. Summer doesn't officially start until June 21st, so it could very well end up being pretty significant, as far as Surf goes. We've just had the Infamous FLOOD of 06...and there's been more than one expert talking about the upcoming Hurricane Season. Which by the way, starts in just a few days. Last year we had 27 name storms. That's impressive. Every one of those storms, that produced Surf for us, is in my new movie. Including the remnants of the two bad ones that caused all that damage in the South. KATRINA and RITA. If you recall, we did get something form both of those evil sisters.

I guess we all got a small taste of what those poor people in New Orleans and Texas went through this past week. But their experience was much worse. There was death and destruction, and not to mention, losing everything, including electricity (NO Air Conditioning!) We are all very lucky.

But, if we get another Summer like we did last Summer...well, that would be something. And, if it is caused by Global Warming, or some other weird weather condition, I say let it happen. I mean BRING IT ON! Fire up those storms. Let the dark continent of Africa spawn those massive Ocean Storms and send them spinning our way.

Sorry, if I seem a tad selfish...I'm a Surfer.

I'm not really a horse race fan, but I felt so bad seeing that poor horse "Barbaro" come up lame yesterday. It was hard to watch. I know there are lots of you, who own and love horses, and I'm sure it was devastating for you all to witness. I guess the horse's life is in jeopardy. That's so terribly sad.

And Barry Bonds tied the Babe's record yesterday. No comment. Except, I will say this. Stay away from drugs kids. It will clearly mess you up, even if you have money. Stay away from all drugs. OK Enough preaching.

On a good note. The Sox are still in First place. And that's something we can all dig...what? You're a Yankess fan?
Oh man...why ya gotta be so hurtful?


Remember my friends...Surfing heals all wounds....
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace.
Surf For Fun.

Ralph

 


Yesterday 1972- Da Vince Code (Backside at L-town)
This old photo of Vincent was taken in 1972 during our second NS trip. (Can you crack it? ) We had just discovered the Lost Frontier the year before. Imagine what kind of place NS was for us back then....miles and miles of undiscovered Pointbreaks...IT'S SO OVER NOW. Photo by Jeff Crawford

 

Today 2006 Yesterday Saturday, April 20th...Northern New England
What you missed it? How could you miss this? With all the wave cam technology and all the Surf Hotlines and all the hundreds of people who surf...there's no excuse for missing a swell like this, unless you just got plain tired of surfing. Is that what happened? You were surfed out from all the waves the last few weeks? Wow. Hope them Cali boys don't get wind of this...they may be moving out here to get some of this.
Photos by SFOD R. Fatello


It's empty and calling your name...Photo by SFOD R. Fatello




It's real and it's gone...Photo by SFOD R. Fatello



Billy Ritchie Rocking and Rolling through another perfect section...Photo by SFOD R. Fatello



One more empty one to gently rub it in...Photo by SFOD R. Fatello



Today 2006 Crop Dining Out Last Month At Restaurants
This was from the same trip as the BIG CloudBreak stuff you saw last month... This is Shop Daddy Dave Cropper slicing back at the end of a Restaurant Wave. Photo courtesy of Dave Cropper




Today 2006 Last Week's Brown Water Flood Session
John Carden was safe on the beach 'shooting the shit' both in and out of the water.
ALL Photos by John Carden


(Above) Mike Moran walking on water...brown water. Photo by John Carden

(Above) Mackey V skipping homework for a Chocolate Sundae. Photo by John Carden

(Above) Mike Stanek trying to escape the smell, the hard way. Photo by John Carden

(Above) Mike Stanek flushing the toilet.... Photo by John Carden


(Above) Backside Goofy slap. Photo by John Carden

(Above) We gotta stop meeting like this. Photo by John Carden

(Above) Adam Coates 'Big Yellar' Launch. Photo by John Carden

(Above) Brown water Walkers. Photo by John Carden

(Above) Goofy footer looking more like a lake turn Photo by John Carden


(Above) Casey Lockwood wheeling in the dirt. Photo by John Carden

(Above) Mike Moran testing the brown water with his toes on the nose. Photo by John Carden

(Above) Casey Lockwood about to taste brown. Photo by John Carden

Today 2006 More from Saturday, April 20th...New England
I don't know who Adam is. My guess is he's a photographer, or he's a surfer. I opened my email this morning and found these. With a short note. "Some surf pics. " Thanks Adam...who ever you are.
Photos courtesy of Adam Hermans











Today 2006 Last Week in Jersey...Shop Girl Nohea Nichols Set wave!
The beach went wild when NNE Women's contestant Nohea Nichols nailed this set wave in the Girls Longboard Finals. Good on you kid! Photo courtesy of Dave Storch


Parting Shot ...Flood 06 Paddle...
 This would be funny if it wasn't so dam sad. Still, Surfers do seem to make the best of it..
Photo by Nick LaVecchia







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