April
3rd, 2005
Whoa
what a week! How do we Top Good Friday's Swell? Well, you get one even
bigger and cleaner! Talking of course about the monster swell we had on Tuesday.
' TERRIFIC TUESDAY '. Whoa baby! That was something. And she lasted a
few days too. What did we do to deserve all this good surf? Are we all being
rewarded for being so nice to each other? (I'm sure a few of you just blew
your morning's coffee through your nose on that one). Or...are we being set
up for the worst drought we've ever seen this summer? God I hope not. I just
read in today's paper that they're (the experts) are expecting a very active
Hurricane season. Oh oh, I said it out loud. Does that jinx the Hurricane
predictions? I don't think so. Unless of course, you're one of those superstitious
surfers. Are you? I guess I am, to a certain degree.
Not so much in surfing, but clearly in watching sports. Something tells me
I'm not alone.
And the water temp, all of a sudden it sort of seems warmer. I say sort of,
because we all know it's not. Still, a few of you peeled off the hoods to
expose some cranium. Crop and Sashi being two that I noticed. It's
been a long cold snowy winter. I think I can wait another few weeks before
I let my noggin take a few on the skull. Beware. This is the time of the year
where you truly fall prey to the infamous "Ice Cream Headaches".
Don't let your imagination get the best of you. (Did I just write that?).
Seriously. It's still cold. The water temp is still hovering around 40 degrees.
That's too cold for your tiny brains to handle. Unless of course, you enjoy
the Ice Cream Headache. Then knock yourself out.
The warmer weather brought a few more of the hibernating winter surfers out
this week. Young Grom Jesse Gould came out this week. He was out surfing
with his dad Jay. My son Max and I watched his first day back
in the water. We had just surfed for 3 hours and had our fill. It was fun
watching Jesse catch up on the lifestyle he loves so much. The next
morning was Jesse's 13th birthday and he went surfing. He even got
barrelled on his birthday. We talked after his session on how cool it is to
get to go surfing on your birthday. We all have that opportunity to get surf
on our birthday. But to actually pull it off and go surfing is special. To
get barrelled on your birthday...well, that's Extra Special! Jesse
got shacked on his Birthday. Have any of you ever gotten barrelled on your
birthday? I know I have and I always feel like there's no better gift to get
on your birthday than to get barrelled. Shacked. In the Pit. Tubed out of
your mind. Hold the cake and candles. Cancel the party. Just give me that
wide open cavern and let me come out of it. Clean as a whistle...like the
day you were born.
If you
got good surf pics send em off to me directly.
Just make sure they're NOT huge files. In fact if you have any questions about
the size, email me first and I'll write back. Start shooting crackie!!
Ralph Pic Of The Week
Yesterday
1967. Peter Stokes Strikes
a Classic Pose on the Cape
Peter Stokes again. Hey don't complain! Peter brought over so many photos
of the past (and there are so many good ones) that I have to run em. If you
have some old ones (and I know some of you older guys and girls do)...get
them to me. Please. I promise they will be in good hands. And in most cases,
I scan them right in front of you and then hand the original back to you.
No fuss no muss. Come on! Get off your rusty old butts and get me those precious
gems your holding. photo
courtesy of Peter Stokes
On the mend in our Good News Department is our buddy RICK EVANS. He's
making leaps and bounds on his recovery and it may be sooner, than later,
when we see him back in the line up. Young Phil Carey is off to the
promised land for Good Surf and Good Vibes and we wish him the best of luck.
Shop guru Mr Dave Cropper will be hooking up with Phil later
in the week for the annual Fiji trip. Again, we're wishing them both
a fun and safe trip. Kevin Rafferty is back at the shop after an extended
trip to Hawaii. Kevin's finding the Islands much to his liking
and can't wait to go back. We hear that brother.
A sad week for National losses. Terry Schiavo passed away. Don't know
how you all felt about this situation. But at least her suffering is over.
Frank Perdue passed away. Frank
Perdue made a hell of a chicken. Remember; "It takes a tough man
to make a tender chicken". And
depending on how you felt about this man, Johnny Cochrane passed away.
Personally, I think Johnny now knows the truth about OJ Simpson.
Whoops. Hope Johnny's dressed for the weather. It's going to be warm
where he's headed.
And
finally, the Pope passed away.
The Pope was a good man who believed in all that was good. You can't
fault a person for that. He practiced what he preached. My guess is, he more
than likley saw the good in Surfing. He preached the good word of love. I'm
in favor of that. Love. He sought World Peace. He was a man with a vision.
He will be missed by many.
Like Elvis Costello once said; "What's so funny about peace
love and understanding?"
Rest in Peace Pope John Paul II.
On
a local note of passing. Longtime ESA contest supporter Marilyn
McNeil mother of local surfer Bob McNeil passed away this week.
She was an icon at most of the local surf contests at the Wall and
loved to watch the kids surf. She will be missed by all who knew and loved
her.
Be
good to each other. And if Monday April 4th is your birthday...well...go
out and Catch one!
As
always my friends...Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.
Ralph
