Got good surf pics?
Send em off to me directly.
(See link below) Just make sure
they're 650 pixels wide.
NO bigger NO smaller.
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


If you want to access the Pic of the
week from past weeks click here.
Archives

July 1st, 2007

In a few days we'll all be, presumably that is, celebrating the birth of our Nation. Our Independence if you will, from the clutches of England. That day was also the inspiration behind our National Anthem. But I wonder, how many of you Surfers actually know what went down that night off the East Coast...? For those who don't know, here's a brief history lesson for you.

It was the valiant defense of Fort McHenry by American forces during the British attack on September 13, 1814 that inspired 35-year old, poet-lawyer Francis Scott Key to write the poem which was to become our national anthem, "The Star-spangled Banner." The poem was written to match the meter of the English song, "To Anacreon in Heaven."

In 1931 the Congress of The United States of America enacted legislation that made "The Star-spangled Banner" the official national anthem.

Francais Scott Key was on board a ship (name unknown) and watched the battle throughout the night. There were women and children at Fort McHenry that night and the battle raged all night long. While the Americans fought throughout the night, for the most part, all the defenders really cared about that night, was the simple fact, of whether or not, their flag still waving. Think about that. The colors waving, was the sole beacon of hope for those huddled in the constant barrage of shot from the British Navy. The flag.

It meant that much to them.

It means that much to most of us today, some 193 years later. And my friends, it means that much and more, to the brave men and women who are serving our country today. Some in harms way in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fighting scumbag Terrorists. Some serve onboard ships, patroling off the coasts of hostile nations while keeping a constant vigil. Some in desolate duty stations, in places with names you've never heard of.

But all of them, serving under that same flag.

So while we will all celebrate on the 4th, going to the beach, hanging out with friends, maybe catch a few waves, some young American (quite possibly, someone who was, or is, a surfer) will put his, or her ass, on the line for us. And tragically, someone may die.

They all know, that the price of freedom is not free. Yet, they are all willing to make that sacrifice. They took that oath, raised their hands and swore allegiance to our nation, and yes my friends, to our flag.

The same flag that Mr. Key wrote about 193 years ago this week...

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.

Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming.

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave ...O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

Enjoy this week, have a Happy Fourth of July!

 

 

Would you believe me if I said I think there may be surf this week? Well, according to those who make a living at predicting surf, it looks like surf around Wed-Thurs.
Please don't hold me to this...I'm just a messenger, and quite frankly, I don't know if I believe it myself.

Still...it does look promising.

In fact, it looks like there could be a solid ground swell, and hell, who wouldn't welcome that? After the great beginning of June we had, and the last swell that lasted about a week. June 11-16th...we could use it.

I saw a few waves last night and today. I mean, it was clearly small, but clearly ridable. Especially on the board of length. I watched as everyone seemed to enjoy the occasional set wave that loomed up at around thigh high. The water was cold though. Anytime she blows out of the west like that, the water will temp will drop. Now that's something you can almost guarantee. Cold ass water temps in the summer round these parts.

Hope you guys have been digging the new Ralph's Clip of the Week feature. Actually, some of you were unaware that there were video clips to view now. Don't know how you missed that. The first week was a bit too much. I'm going to have to tone it down and just do one or two. I just thought it was time to open up the box and let loose with some viddy clips. After all, homey here makes surf movies. Shit, I've got a few million viddy clips I could post. So what the hell.

I've got a few new movie ideas coming too. Check out my other site and weigh in. www.surffreeordie.com
One in particular I'm sort of excited about. The YESTERDAY, TODAY and TOMORROW project. It's basically going to be a documentary on the history of Surfing in New England. It will be quite an undertaking, but I think we've got enough colorful characters in our history and some very good surfers who can surf as good as most rippers. Hell, you know we have the surf. Albeit, not as consistent as other coasts, but we do get world class surf when it's on.

The movie will have all New England bands from each time period, including the surfers and music of today.

Speaking of music, my new band (shameless plug), will be playing across from CINNAMON RAINBOWS next Saturday July 7th from 1PM-3PM...what's the name of the band you ask? Well, that's a good question bunky. It's called BIG HANDSOME DADDY. It's a blues/rock trio playing Hendrix/Stevie Ray style bluesy rock with a handful of originals. The event is a Support The Troops Rally that is a NON-POLITICAL Rally to show support for the Troops who are serving our country.
This will be another first for me. Having never played on the beach, or at the Wall. Should be fun for all.

GOOD NEWS. John Carden is going to be OK. So is my man Doug Hendry from Westyland. Two bug bite survivors.
Happy Birthday Rick Evans!

And please Don't forget. The Continuing Fund for the Late Surfer Danny Miller's young son Landon can be made to The Landon Miller Fund through ANY Citizen Bank.

Or send your donation to:

The Landon Miller Foundation
83 South Road
North Hampton, NH 03862

Click below to see Danny Tribute or see Danny Surfing
Tribute to
Danny. North By Northeast

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


Ralph



 





Yesterday 1920's Cinnamon Rainbows
This photo was taken at the site where Cinnamon Rainbows now stands. Think of how many unridden waves went
by in those days. I mean seriously, think about that. Hundreds of thousands? More? Millions of waves went by each
summer and fall. If you could go back in time, where and when would you go? Would it be a surf destination? Or
something more significant? Think about it. Meanwhile, try and imagine what life was like back in Hampton during
this time period.
Photo courtesy of Lane Library Hampton




Today 2007 OK we didn't get surf last week, but they got some waves
on the South Shore...NO not in Massachusetts...HAWAII!

Master lensman Bernie Baker sharing some Summer Fun.





(Above) Good Goofy positioning puts this lucky SOB in the sweet spot.
Photo by Bernie Baker



(Above) I love this guy's stance. You can just tell, he has it all going on in the water.
Photo by Bernie Baker



(Above) A bit of weightlessness going on here. Feeling the drift.
Photo by Bernie Baker



(Above) Cool angle and cool art on the bottom of this board. Unknown LB eyeing the lip.
Photo by Bernie Baker




(Above) Floating the Big Boat sequence. Shot number 1.
Photo by Bernie Baker




(Above) Floating the Big Boat sequence. Shot number 2.

Photo by Bernie Baker



(Above) Floating the Big Boat sequence. Shot number 3.
Photo by Bernie Baker





(Above) NEW FEATURE. RALPH'S CLIP OF THE WEEK.
CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW FOR SHORT WINDOWS MEDIA FILE VIDEO CLIP.

VIDEO by SFOD R. Fatello



(Above) Jason "JB" Borte finds a nice hole during his last visit here in Northern New England.
Click on photo for Video clip.

Video Frame grab and Video clip by SFOD R. Fatello


Today 2007 The Phantom Connection. Overseas counterpart checks in.



(Above) There is a wave breaking like this everyday somewhere on this planet. You just have to get off your butt
and go find it. The Phantom's buddies are on it and here's the goods.
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)


(Above) There are rights and there are lefts. What are you waiting for?
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)




(Above) Sometimes there are bigger lefts.
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)




(Above) This guy's name is Jack. I don't know what he's wearing there. Some kind of a hooded Lycra maybe?
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)




(Above) Here's Mark in a similar suit...but forget the getup, check the wave action!
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)



(Above) Jack drop and turn...
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)



(Above) Could you use this wave right about now?
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)

(Above) Just two guys out...excuse me while I get sick to my stomach with envy.
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)

(Above) Two guys...with one guy in the freaking barrel!
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)

(Above) Look...no, don't look...Two guys...two peaks. Twin peaks!
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)

(Above) Why not let this one go? It's not like they are the only two out and can pick and choose.
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)

(Above) Think these two will ever forget this trip or this session?
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)

(Above) Oh oh it's getting crowded. There's three guys out now.
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)

(Above) It just looks like so much fun. Pre lean...
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)

(Above) It looks better than fun...it looks like Paradise.
Photo courtesy of the FOP (Friend of Phantom
)

 


Today 2007 Happy Birthday America!



(Above) John Carden's Hampton Beach July 4th Photo from last year's 4th of July.
Photo by John Carden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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