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1990 NH to PR.mp4 from SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.

This was shot on a Super 8mm movie camera. Featuring Kevin Grondin.
At the time our wives were pregnant with our first children.
We shot from NH to PR. Pretty classic and grainy film.

   

October 30th, 2022 The RUN is 8 out of 8 Weeks.
Waist high or better at least once a week.
There were chest to head high waves on 10-27-22

THE RECORD FOR THE MOST CONSECUTIVE WEEKS IN A ROW FOR WAIST HIGH OR BETTER. August 8th, 2021 was 53 WEEKS! TOPPING THE 43 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS SET IN 2009!



 Send your SURF Pics to me directly to: ralph@adlantic.com.
Need photos by 10 AM on Saturdays. Seriously.
By 10AM. Make sure they are 1300 to 1555 pixels wide.
If you have more than 10 pics please use wetransfer.com it's free up to 2 gig. Please DO NOT send me over 10 pics without first contacting and communicating with me.
Thank you.

Click on Archives link to see all the past Blogs and pics.

LOCAL LEGEND KEVIN "DOC" GRONDIN.
GET WELL DAVE "CROP" CROPPER.
RIP JERRY LEE LEWIS.


  




LOCAL LEGEND KEVIN F. "DOC" GRONDIN October 2022



When I first started this LOCAL LEGENDS series everyone (and I do mean everyone) thought I’d start the series off with this guy. Well, clearly he would be one of the LOCAL LEGENDS in fact, he’s probably the most well known of the entire group of Legends. But what most people don’t know is that I met Kevin when he was just a young neighborhood rival gang member. No, not that kind of gang.

When we were kids down on the North Shore of Massachusetts, we had gang wars by throwing crab apples at each other. Kevin hit one of “our gang” (that’s right, think Little Rascals) in the eye with a crab apple. He was captured and then released after questioning and some minor torture. Of course Kevin and I did not know each other until years later when we both ended up in Hampton, NH. And we both got a kick out of the “Apple War” story years later when it came up in conversation.

Kevin F. Grondin age 66, first started surfing in 1968 at Briny Breezes in Florida. His older brother Allen surfed, and Kevin followed Allen to the beach. His first surf buddies were Ric & John Aho along with Bill Walberry. He eventually met Lenny Nichols down there in Florida and they became lifelong friends. One of his early influences was Carmen Erving US Champion from Boynton Beach, who insisted that young Kevin “move your feet.” To this very day you can hear Kevin give that same advice to other young surfers.

Truth is, the real story of Kevin Grondin started at 10th Street (The Wall) on North Beach in Hampton, NH in the early 70’s. His first NH surf was when Greg Smith picked him up hitchhiking and took him to the Cape and then back to NH in the summer of 1971. I personally met Kevin in the summer of 1972. He was (even back then) one of the better surfers in the water. I quickly realized in short order, that Kevin wasn’t just a good surfer, he was an amazing Surfer. And there’s no question in my mind, that it was Kevin who got me into making surf movies back in the early 70’s. Why? Because he was that good. The first surf shop he worked at (and owned) was here in NH was The Rocky Bend in Hampton NH.

Ask any surf photographer or surf videographer who they shoot and they will tell you. They shoot the BEST surfers in the water. Back in the early to late 70’s Kevin Grondin was the up and coming best surfer in the water. There were others who could surf really good, but Kevin was that one young surfer that stood out from the crowd. My best friend and fellow Vietnam Vet at the time, was the late Joe Somogyi, and we both instantly recognized Kevin’s natural talent and as a result of that talent we let him tag along with us. This was still during the Vietnam war. And both Joe and I kept Kevin focused on his surfing, rather than him entertaining any ideas about joining the armed forces. We needed to Kevin to be a surfer/skateboarder. Period.



We did everything together back in the day. Surfing and skateboarding. We discovered so many new breaks and skate spots together and had the times of our lives. Surfing was the main focus in our lives and Kevin kept getting better than all of us. Like I said, there were other good surfers of Kevin’s age: Greg Smith, Steve Clark, Jay Hammer, Rick Evans, Steve Magliano, Lenny Nichols, JT, Jeff “Berts” Obst, Ric Aho, and the younger crop of surfers that were coming up in the ranks. Stevie O’Hara, Mike Paugh, Duffy McCarthy, and Dave Cropper and a host of others.

But Kevin seemed to be on the fast track to radical contemporary surfing.

And unlike Joe and I, Kevin had a competitive edge to him. And because of that, it was a natural transition to go into the contest scene. And when he did, he got into contest surfing with a vengeance. He was a fierce competitor. He knew his shit when it came to contest surfing. Mostly because he did his homework. He knew how to time sets, how many waves he needed, and he knew the game well enough, to outfox his fellow competitors. I know for a fact that some of his contest peers couldn’t believe that this guy was from NH. In the contest world, Kevin Grondin literally put NH on the contest map.

Here are some of his contest results:  

1974-6th Jrs. US Championships
9 East Coast Championships in Short Board (SB), Long Board (LB), Knee Board (KB), Body Board (BB), and Iron man
6 US Championships- SB,LB, KB, and all Ironman
1 Pan American Championship as US National Team Head Coach
1 World Championship as Head Coach, National Team he was awarded the first Olympic Surfing Trophy ever given out. He also received the first ever “President’s Trophy” from the Olympic committee in 1996.

3 Legends Masters SB & LB in Puerto Rico

Suffice it to say, Kevin earned the respect and admiration from his peers in the contest scene.

But, he really earned the respect of the hardcore surfers from the East Coast, The West Coast, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico because, as good as a contest surfer that he was, he really shined in the free surfing world. I’ve personally seen (and filmed him) surfing some of the biggest and best waves in the world. He was fearless in big surf. He was (and still is) one of the most stylish surfers anywhere. My movies don’t lie. And to this day, I have shot more footage of Kevin than any other surfer from NH. Like I said, you shoot the best guys in the water. And year after year, swell after swell, that would be Kevin.

I’ve seen him paddle out into the large surf the North Shore of Oahu and just fully charge it. He learned how to surf those big waves by watching those like: Tony Moniz, Martin Potter, and his tube riding style came from watching the master himself, Shaun Tomson. And if I can add this. Doc’s local tube riding style back in the day, was second to none. Kevin knew (knows) how to get barreled. I didn’t call him a “Barrel Hound” for nothing. *And his son Kody, is following in his dad’s footsteps. Like father like son. Kody gets barreled just like his father. And let’s not forget that his daughter Leah is an incredible surfer too. I have often said, to be a good surf photographer you have to know surfing. Well Kim has been around surfing for over 50 years.

She can take a pretty damn good surf pic.

The biggest waves he’s ever surfed were in Hawaii, Mexico, and Rhode Island during Hurricane Gabrielle. This one photo taken by Richard “MEZ” Messoroll is legendary. Look at that wave.



I’ve filmed him surfing GIANT storm surf on the North Shore of Massachusetts during the Halloween Swell of October 30th, 1991. They made a movie about that storm. THE PERFECT STORM. I’ve documented Kevin surfing the biggest waves in NH as well. There was nothing too big or dangerous that he wouldn’t surf. We had a thing going on for years when he was faced with big unruly surf and was slightly hesitant. I’d stand there with my cameras and look at him and say, “Pull in for the boys back home! Get your ass out there!” He would shake his head, but he would always go. Because he knew, that the Boys Back Home would be hooting his heroic efforts when we showed my movies in his darkened home. And they did.

When I asked him where was his worse wipeouts, he answered. Hanalei Bay in Kauai, Marias in PR, and once back home in NH. His best Surf Trips were Tavarua in FIJI with his family, and Mexico with the Boys. His favorite waves are back home in NH, his homebreak (Doc’s Reef) in PR, and Mexico.

  

I was the best man at their wedding in 1989.



I would be remiss ed if I didn’t include his lifelong partner in all of this. Kim Grondin his wife of 33 years has been by his side forever. She is truly a saint. They have been dating since the early 70’s (I met and knew Kim back when I first met Kevin.) They were always together back in the day. Together they have two adult children Leah and Kody, and a son-in-law Rob and three grandchildren. Kevin’s own words: “I would not be where I am today without my angelic wife Kim, and my daughter Leah and her husband Rob, and my three grandchildren. My son Kody, and his girlfriend Lili. All my close friends and family. They all mean the world to me. And I hope to be remembered for always trying to help others.”

I say to you Kevin “Doc” Grondin, my Best Friend. You will be remembered for all of that and more. There’s nobody out there like you. You are loved and admired from coast to coast. And you are clearly a LEGEND among Legends. I am proud to call you my friend and brother. And I hope we all get to grow old together and enjoy these times we have left with our mutual families and friends. We are truly blessed to have what we have.  

 

Kevin and I have literally raised our families together. We have both watched our children grow up together and get married and have kids of their own. My wife Cory and Kim are best of friends. My son Max and Kody are like brothers. Leah and Gabby were born just 23 hours apart. Our daughter Noelle is very close to the Grondins. And Kevin and I have lost close friends and family members, and we helped each other get through those hard times. I know his whole family.

And his late father Frank was someone I truly loved and respected. Frank was a WWII US ARMY vet who was seriously wounded in Europe at the end of the war. And the best compliment I can give to Kevin, is to tell him, he is his father’s son. I see so many of Frank’s honest hard working traits in Kevin. Frank was very special individual. He passed away at 98.

 

So Kevin “DOC” Grondin is 66 years old. He still rides a shortboard, and he rides it very well. Most surfers who live in Northern New England who are close to his age are either riding longboards, or SUPS. Kevin is not one of them. Oh still he rides a longboard when the surf is small, and he never, ever, uses a leash. Another example of his surfing expertise.  



In 2018 Kevin “DOC” Grondin was inducted into the EAST COAST SURFING HALL OF FAME. The man who put New Hampshire on the map. The man who devotes his time and true waterman's knowledge every summer to helping run the SURFING WITH SMILES event at North Beach. The same man who also volunteers to help The WOUNDED WARRIORS in our annual HIT THE BEACH every summer. The man who would give a total stranger the shirt off his back. That man is our very own, Kevin Grondin.

Today Kyle Linseman commented on my Facebook post about Kevin, and called him the “NH GOAT.”  You won’t get any argument from me on that title. Kevin Grondin is a LEGEND AMONG LEGENDS. So yeah, feel free to call him the GOAT of NH surfing. He's earned that title.

"SURFING AND BEING HUMBLE HEALS ALL WOUNDS."

 



From the Ed O'Connell galleries. This is me out at that fun left point break that everyone seems to like. God I remember this day like it was yesterday. Just me and Tony Berardini out there. And of course Ed O'Connell on the beach capturing memories.
Photo by Ed O'Connell
*Click the photo above to see a larger version of Ed's Pic.

NOW FOR SOME LOCAL AND NATIONAL NEWS
Just when you thought things couldn't get much scarier for Dave Cropper and company this happened last week. Unbelievable.



GET YOUR ARTERIES CHECKED OUT
Dave doesn’t eat meat or dairy and is very fit…we had no clue and then almost lost him to a clogged right interior carotid artery.

This is No joke

Everyone should take advantage of this…we almost lost Dave to a clogged carotid that we never knew about and it could have been avoided if our regular medical care included these images!
I’m making an appointment tomorrow!

They send images right to your PCP.



Thank God he's going to be alright. I swear whoever came up with the "when it rains, it pours" saying sure knew what they were talking about.

Meanwhile the GO FUND ME Page is still VERY active. Please if you have not made a donation, there's still time to help out the shop that has helped so many people in the past.

No amount is too small. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. We won't forget what you all did.

THANK YOU ALL WHO MADE SUCH GENEROUS DONATIONS. WE ARE KEEPING THE GO FUND ME PAGE OPEN. PLEASE HELP CINNAMON RAINBOWS OUT.



*Click on the photo above to make a donation

THE PATRIOTS are now 4-4 for the season.
They lost that winnable game last week to the BEARS. For those who watched it, you saw a debacle of nonsense. They started MAC10 and then pulled him out when he went south out there on the field. But then again, the back up QB ZAPPE had some kind of reality check. In short, he was not that good. Long story short, the Patriots got their asses kicked by a team who should have been easy to beat. But nothing in the NFL is easy. Nothing.

I found this old pic I shot of Tom Brady beating the snot out of the Chicago Bears in 2014. He threw five TD passes in this game.



I suppose we should be happy that they beat the 5-2 JETS last Sunday. I am happy about that. And I hope they continue to get better each week. And stop with all the nonsense. Like most Patriots fans, I miss the Good old days. And I know we had 20 good years that nobody can take that away from us. 20 years.

But those days are gone. TB12 is playing for Tampa Bay and Gisele has pulled the plug on their 13 year marriage. So much for the storybook marriage and life. Oh well. I guess we should be happy with what we have. Up in Maine the last two weeks we kept seeing signs all over the place. They simply said, BE KIND. At first I chuckled at them. But the more I thought about it, the more I agree with it. We should all try and be more kind to each other.



But then I saw this meme on the Internet, and well, it made me laugh. So BE KIND as much as you can, but don't lose your sense of humor.

Especially after November 8th, 2022. GET OUT AND VOTE!



COMING NEXT SUMMER IN 2023. THE HISTORY OF SURFING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. From the very beginnings to the current crop of rippers. The who, what, and where of NH surfing.




KSM Photoshop of the Week
So the news of Tom Brady and his wife Gisele splitting up was too much for Khaliddy to handle. He sent this Photoshop to Gisele in hopes that she would contact him and perhaps they could start a fresh new relationship. But alas, even Gisele could see through The Sheik's BS. She alerted the authorities at GITMO and the Khaliddy ended up in the camel room. That's right, he had to sleep with the camels this last week or so. I swear it's always something with Ole Khaliddy.



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 Brady and Gisele perfume at Home Depot this week.

GET WELL SOON Dave "CROP" Cropper!
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY Eva Fatello 10-28-22.
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY JoEllen Bunton 10-29-22
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
REST IN PEACE Jerry Lee Lewis.


GET WELL SOON Ryan Jackson NH2O!
Please keep local surfer Mike Keefe in your thoughts and prayers in the next few months during his treatments.
Keep fighting Mike!
Please keep local Surfer/Musician Pete Kowalski in your thoughts and prayers. SURFING HEALS ALL WOUNDS!
Please Keep local surfer Bill M. in your thoughts and prayers.
Please Support ALL The photographers who contribute to
Ralph's Pic Of The Week every week for the last 18 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

 

 
   
   



Yesterday-KEVIN "DOC" GRONDIN AUGUST 1974
From one of my old super 8mm movies. The footage of Kevin surfing in this old movie is still some of my favorite NH surfing. This footage will be in the New Hampshire Surfing documentary next summer.
Super 8mm video frame grab by RALPH SFOD





I kept a daily Blog on my CATCH A WAVE FOR MOLLY surf campaign, when I surfed every single day for 365 consecutive days. Click on the Banner above to read entries of my daily journey. There's some really interesting and true experiences
that happened during that year. Some of which are to this day, unexplainable. Some are just mind blowing. But all true.

I started on July 26th, 2010 and ended on July 26th, 2011.

Some rainy Sunday, pour yourself a cup and go through the journal. Pay close attention to the month of May in 2011. Read that month and let me know what you think of that. Be forewarned it will change you forever.


*Click on the photo above to see the large version of this pic.


To contact the advertisers below, simply click on the Ad itself. Anyone wishing to find out info about advertising here can do so by emailing me directly by clicking here. Ralph's Email I'll send you a template and other info on how you can become a paid sponsor

We highly recommend the various businesses and artists listed below. Why? Well simply put, each and every one of them is a Surfer, who lives the Surfing Lifestyle, and their business is a reflection of that lifestyle that we all love.

All PHOTOS BELOW SHOT THIS WEEK *Unless otherwise noted.  

Today- THE KEVIN "DOC" GRONDIN LOCAL LEGEND GALLERY. Photos by various Photographers

 



(Above) Kevin Grondin's classic barrel stance. I know that style from miles away. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Kevin surfing big Tres Palmas in PR 2005. Photo by Kim
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Kevin carving back in the NH winter. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Kevin in the barrel again. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery

Click on the ad above to see the Menu and other
important info on their Somerville restaurant

 



(Above) And again. Doc knows how to get in the perfect position.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Another super 8mm video frame grab. This is Kevin at Lenny's Private break HAZZARD'S REEF on Oahu.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) The man has style. There's no denying that. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery








"BEST EAST COAST SURF COVERAGE"

 



Clark Little's new book
Click on the ad for more info.

 





Click on the ad above to find out more about
more about Stan Chew's art


   





(Above) Smooth and stylish. Kevin Grondin at "Doc's Reef" in PR.
Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) It's funny how he always seems to surf better in a crowd.
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) This was shot at 10th street from out in the lineup on his actual Birthday. June 23rd on his 60th Birthday. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Always smiling. Always happy. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) This was taken in PR I made him go out one last time because I wanted more footage of him. Kevin is truly one of the classiest and classic LOCAL LEGENDS. Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


Today- AND ANOTHER GOLDEN OCTOBER SWELL
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photos by RALPH



(Above) These late October swells seem to have a certain glow to them. Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) MVF bottom turn. Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




DIPG THE CURE STARTS NOW
To learn more about Evan and his journey  https://thecurestartsnow.org/sup.../view-heroes/evan-austin/







Click on the ad above to find out more about
NH2o's cool selection of product




If you love the Beatles and you love the guitar
click on this ad above for a great band.

 



The BEST guitar tech on the planet.




(Above) MVF Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) There was only a handful of people out this morning.
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) This is Preston eyeballing the lineup before paddling out.
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery






(Above) We are all hunters and gatherers. Thursday October 27th, 2022
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) One of the better waves of the morning.
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by RALPH
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Preston's smooth carve. Thursday October 27th, 2022
Photo by RALPH *Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


Today- THE DINA GOLD GALLERY PICS
Thursday October 27th, 2022.
Photos by Dina Crawford



(Above) The waves seem different down there. Same with the air quality.
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by Dina Crawford
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Though the waves seem to have the same Golden tint.
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by Dina Crawford
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) Won't be long before we're all back in hoods.
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by Dina Crawford
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery





(Above) DINALAND. Thursday October 27th, 2022
Photo by Dina Crawford
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) This wave? Something to play around with.
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by Dina Crawford
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) This looks like Mike. Thursday October 27th, 2022
Photo by Dina Crawford
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by Dina Crawford
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery




(Above) This month of October has been pretty dang good.
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by Dina Crawford
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Theres more waves this week too.
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by Dina Crawford
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) The waves seemed really playful down there.
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by Dina Crawford
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery







Send your SURF Pics to me directly to ralph@adlantic.com.
Need photos by 10 AM on Saturdays. Seriously. By 10AM. 
Make sure they are 1300 pixels wide. If you have more than 10 pics please use wetransfer.com it's free up to 2 gig. Please don't send me over 50 pics without first contacting and communicating with me.
Thank you.

Click on Archives link to see all the past Blogs and pics.




(Above) There's other places that were breaking pretty good as well.
Thursday October 27th, 2022 Photo by Steven Avola
*Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery



(Above) Veda Day Cropper enjoying the Indian Summer swells.
October , 2022. Photo c/o Heather Day Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery


CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON on each clip to view videos

OCTOBER 6th 2022.mp4 from SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.
On October 6th, 2022 the surf cleaned up from the night before. I was a short window to shoot. Max and Artie Seaman were the only two out at the Wall that I knew. I used the Beautiful People soundtrack. It just seemed to fit. I live for October. I wait all year for her to show up and in the blink of an eye, she's gone. But I do my best capture her beauty each year. Watch in 1080

Hurricane FIONA RI to NH September 2022.mp4 from SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.

On September 23rd and 24th, 2022 the crew from NH scored waves from Hurricane Fiona in RI to NH. She was a short lived, but she was a clean ground swell. Clearly the size was down south, but the clean green was up north. Kudos to Lili Lapierre and Kody Grondin for the RI footage.
* I only shot the NH footage. Watch in 1080
Music is by Ty Tabor
tytabor.com

HURRICANE EARL 2022.mp4 from
SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.

HURRICANE EARL in New Hampshire
September 9, 10, 11, & 12th, 2022

PADDLE FOR ROBIN 8-19-22.mp4 from SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.

Robin Rowell was a New Hampshire and California Surf legend. The Memorial Surfer's Paddle was held on August 19th, 2022 at his favorite break in New Hampshire. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Keep paddling Robin...keep paddling. We will meet you out in the lineup, when we cross over the Rainbow Bridge. We love you.



NINETEEN EIGHTY TWO
The year was 1982. A handful of friends surfing the Wall.
Featuring: Robin Rowell, Kevin Grondin, Mike Paugh, Billy Ritchie,
and yours truly Ralph Fatello Music is by Roxy Music


FIRST SUMMER SWELL OF 2022.mp4
from SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo. This was the first official swell of the summer of 2022. It hit on the 24th of June and lasted 5 days. The two best days were Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th. The water was intoxicatedly warm. In fact it was 70 degrees on Sunday. That's pretty damn warm for June. The music is a song I wrote in 1982.
I remember writing it in the summer of 83 and David Robinson and I worked out the arrangement and he produced it at Syncro Sound. This was to be one of the follow up songs to The VINNY LP that he produced.
I remember doing those cool ascending and descending background vocals. David and I have worked well together with all three of my bands. That's David playing the Linn Drum and my brother Johnny plays a really cool guitar
solo at the end of the song. *On a sad note, the day I shot this video, a biker was killed by a drunk driver in broad daylight.

There's a scene of bikers at the end of this video. I wonder if he was one of them. RIP David Penney.


MAMA'S DAY 2022.mp4 from SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.

From Sunday May 8th to Friday May 13th, 2022. Five days of overhead waves. Seriously, 5 days worth. It never really cleaned up, but surfing overhead surf in May? Nobody was about to complain. The whole Mother's Day theme was carried along with the soundtrack. I used my own music that I wrote and recorded from the mid 70's.
The VINNY Band was a popular Boston/New England band in the 70's-80's. These songs? They crack me up. There's nothing about them that sounds like surf music to me. But that's what makes it so funny. It kind of does fit the vibe. Three of these songs were produced by the super talented Steve Sadler. 

The highlights? Billy Leibundgut's drone footage adds to the overall vibe. And my favorite? The version of my song MAMA MIA by Steve Sadler is brilliant. And PLEASE try and watch to the very end where some of the boys wish their moms a Happy Mother's Day. It's all good.
As always, I hope you enjoy it. All 25 minutes of it. Watch in 1080 or higher

WILD WINDY WEDNESDAY.mp4 from SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.

Wednesday April 27th, 2022 was a WILD and WINDY day. The swell filled in from late morning until dark. The locals that were around, scored some fun waves. This has been a pretty good Spring so far.
Music is by the Adobe Library.



SPRING EQUINOX 2022.mp4 from SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.

Spring Equinox. The first day of Spring, March 20th, 2022. Followed by another Spring swell on March 26th, 2022 and then the big swell. April 8th, 2022. The day my 4th grandchild was born. Her name is "Malia" and it means
"Of The Sea." The music is by my two bands The VINNY Band and The NOR'EASTERS. The first song is called The WHIFF and the last song is called UPSIDE DOWN.
Both songs were produced by The CARS Drummer David Robinson. 

The whole video is under 10 minutes. I know that seems like an eternity to some of you younger folks. But I don't care. I have said this before, and I'll say it again. I make surf movies, not Tik Tok clips.

Of Sun, Sea, And Smoke.mp4 from
SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.

Saturday January 15th, 2022. One of the coldest days that I can remember
(and I've been around this block of ice a few times).
Single digits, with a wind-chill factor way below zero.
I got Frost Nip on my fingers. Took me hours to get some life back in them.
But having said that, the local crew were out and making it one of the
most dramatic videos I've ever shot.
I'm still cold just thinking about it.



Nicaragua from Brayden Rudert on Vimeo.

Always happy to share Brayden Rudert's videos here. This is one he shot and edited from his trip to Nica last summer. This edit features a handful of local Hampton locals. Kody Grondin, Matt Colby, Mikel Evans, and Max Fatello. The video is cool and so is the music. And boy couldn't we all use warm tropical water.


SURFER'S PADDLE For Greg Smith from SURF FREE OR DIE on Vimeo.

The traditional Surfer's Paddle for Legendary NH Surfer/Skier Greg Smith 
on October 24th, 2021 at The Rocks. This was one of the Top 5 Paddles I've ever been involved in. Greg Smith was a true legend. The video is long compared to most edits, but to hear the true Greg Smith stories is worth it. Thank you to all who helped out in the paddle. From the photographers, to those who spoke, and to those who came to pay their respects to a true New Hampshire legend. Special thanks to the Grondins for hosting the after hours gathering. Keep Paddling Greg. Keep Paddling Brother. "A Hui Hou."

Please donate to Greg's daughter Sofia Smith Go Fund Me Scholarship Fund.
gofundme.com/f/sofia-smith-scholarship
Video and edit by Ralph G. Fatello
Additional video Cory B. Fatello
Drone footage by Martha Lardent
Music by QWILL
qwillmusic.com




A Best Of RPOTW The Last 5 years, or something like that.
Song "Mirrors" by QWILL qwillmusic.com


This is the updated trailer with additional footage from PAX. The named storms of Winter 2013-2014 are featured in this impressive winter season of snow, surf, and freezing temps. The local surfers here in New England have been charging all winter. Look for Weston Rogers, Jesse Gould, Max Fatello, Joel Feid, Lenny and Kai Nichols, Johnny and Perry Reynolds, Steve O'Hara and a host of others. The music for this clip is Robin Trower.





(Above) ALL RISE: The 10th Street District Court Of Surf is Now in Session.
The Honorable Judge RALPH presiding. CASE #678 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.

 

 



* The mid week looks like fun.

This is my pic of the week. Tuesday. 11-1-22

 

 

 



Because the newer version of DREAMWEAVER no longer has a Rollover feature I will simply place both BEFORE and AFTER images side by side. This is what happens when you get caught doing something stupid.





Photo by RALPH
Photoshop by RALPH

 

October 30th, 2022
"So I'm pretty sure I saw a guy go by me wearing a real pumpkin on his head.




(Above) I hope he got a few laughs over this.
Photo c/o Google




Click on wave to return to the top


This site and blog maintained
by ADLANTIC. 2022

 

 

 





*Tony and Jimmy do a hilarious Podcast called TWO BOSTON GUYS WHACK UP A PIE. Click on the image above to hear some of this insanity.

Nat Healy has some really cool stuff here.
Stop int at 72 High Street, Hampton, NH directly
across from the AMERICAN LEGION Post 35.
And PLEASE tell her that I said hello.




 





 



Several weeks ago I posted about Sam George
and his new venture. If you like great writing with wit,
humor, and an incredible legitimate insight to
everything that is surfing, you will LOVE
Sam George's new venture.
His stories are the best.

*CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE
AND START READING TODAY*

*I urge you all to sign up to get these important
and entertaining stories of our world.
Besides, it's FREE. Trust me it's worth it.

 



 



 


 



Click on the ad above to get tix





Click on the ad above to find out more about
this unique NEW business.







Click on the ad above to hear My Podcast
with Host Chase Rosa






Click on Jimmy above to see his website
and other wicked important JD info



Click on the image above to purchase
Shaun Tomson's new book.

 

 









 









Click on image above to see more of Donna's work

 

 

Visit our facebook page.



Visit our Facebook Page

 

 



Click on the image above to visit
driftwoodfoto.com


 



 

 




check out the amazing sounds and songs of qwill
click on this image to see and hear the man who's
music I use more than 90% of the time in my videos

 

 

 

 




 






 




 


 







Great new book by Paul Theroux.
Click on the image to buy a copy.







Several months ago I posted about Sam George
and his new venture. If you like great writing with wit,
humor, and an incredible legitimate insight to
everything that is surfing, you will LOVE
Sam George's new venture.
His stories are the best.

*CLICK ON THE IMAGE ABOVE
AND START READING TODAY*

*I urge you all to sign up to get these important
and entertaining stories of our world.
Besides, it's FREE. Trust me it's worth it.

 




 






 






The SURFER’S EDGE A Guide To Conceptual Surfing

You can purchase The SURFER’S EDGE here 

https://www.zinnkoskosurfs.com/

Or click on the Book Cover for more info



Click on the image to purchase your copy
Click here for my review

 




Click on the image to buy this book and
or to see more on KING'S X

 

 


Click on the image above to purchase
Mike's New book.