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March 11th, 2007
For the last few years, I've been after my wife and close friend and fellow
surfer Jacko and his wife Carrie to get off our butts and
go see the band Beatlejuice. I'm a huge Beatles fan and
I've heard nothing but great reviews about these guys. Two of my close
musician buddies play in the band Muzz and Joe Holaday.
But the real feature of the band was Brad Delp. Brad's vocal
tribute of Lennon and McCartney were I'm told, uncanny.
Well, that will never happen now. They found the 55 year old body
of Brad Delp on Friday afternoon. Gone forever. Some of
you might remember Brad's other band... BOSTON. They had
a few hits in their time. "More than a Feeling" and a
whole bunch of others. Suffice to say, I'm bumming.
I have regrets.I missed Brad Delp and Beatlejuice.
Rest In Peace Brad.
Today marks the 3rd anniversary of the Terrorist Bombing in
Madrid Spain. 3-11 is their equivalent to our 9-11.
One hundred and ninety one people died and over two thousand were wounded
by the hands of . scumbag, cowardly terrorists. Anybody out there have
a problem with me calling terrorists- cowards or scumbags? Anyone?
Please let me know If you do. I'd be happy to debate it with you, after
I beat you senseless with a 4 inch thick BIC rental softboard. Terrorists
hate us all. Therefore, all of us, should hate Terrorists. Class dismissed.
All kidding aside, it's really hard to fathom, that there is a massive
movement of human beings on this planet who loathe and hate everything
that we (Free Thinking Americans) stand for. Surfing being one of them.
They especially hate anyone who has liberal ideals about life. Half of
my friends fall into that category.
I've lost friends to terrorists and I will personally NOT stop bashing
them until every last one of them has been dispatched from the face of
this earth. Scumbags.
So are you calling what we had today Surf? After last week's one day of
overhead surf and then today's thigh high tease? Is it surf?
I guess I would if I were in my early teens, or a pre-teen like little
Kai Nichols. Kai who's just 7 years old was going out
for session number two when I ran into him and his sister and dad.
Kai's about 4' tall so those thigh high waves look and feel
better on him than it would on us. How cool is it that in today's surf
world we have winter wetsuits for the little groms. Man where was that
stuff when I was scuffling along the beach in the winter as a young gremmie?
Oh well...I'm happy for the kids.
I turned a corner today in my life. How's that? Well, I'm embarrassed
to say this but...I finally figured out how to set my dam digital watch
on my own. This setting the clocks forward and back crap has been a big
headache for me the last 5 or 6 years. Ever since I went
digi on my wrist watches it's been one pain in the butt. I used to slip
down the shop and have Crop set it for me when no one was looking.
I felt like a drug dealer or something. Slipping him my watch and acting
cool and nonchalant . Except Dave always called me on it. Dam you
Crop!. Anyway, I called him today with the good news bad news.
I told him I'd be missing him those two times each year, when I show up
all flustered over trying to figure out how to set the dam digi watch.
It was a bittersweet reality for the two of us.
Seriously, why do we set our clocks back and forth in the first place?
Why can't we just set our clocks ahead and leave em there? Who benefits
from this? The birds? I know the surfers would prefer to surf later each
day.
I say, we set our watches and leave em alone!
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OK, I've been holding off on this subject for quite sometime now, but,
when Jacko stopped by the house yesterday to invite Mackey
V to go for a paddle, I had to finally say something. "I'm
gonna write about this." I told him. "Go ahead" he said.
"We're not gonna be using them when the surf is real." "Oh
really?" I said. "Really." He shot back.
I'm talking of course about, Stand Up Paddle Boards.
Are they here to stay? Will they become as popular as they are in the
Islands and beyond? My friend Jeff Chamberlain and his
buddy Sam George showed me some photos of the the two of them
riding those long thick boatboards with long kayak type paddles, well
over a year ago. I scoffed at them then.
Next thing you know, Laird Hamilton is riding them in
everything from fun little mushburgers, to heaving Jaws! Another
close friend of mine Geoff Haenn warned me that the beaches will
be clogged with them this summer. I of course scoffed at that notion.
Now, I'm not so certain. I know Dave is selling them, and I know,
Jay Gould, Mark Jowett and Jacko have them. And they appear to
be having fun on them. Actually, they are having a blast on them. As
far as Jacko's comments about not using them in real surf, well
that remains to be seen. I do know this. They are popular in certain
places in California. They are HUGELY popular in Makaha.
And apparently, they are getting more and more popular on our own East
Coast. And I also know they are VERY expensive. Over $2,000.
What's my take on these boards?
It's too early to tell. I know that I wouldn't want one hitting me on
the head as I was paddling out. Or hitting one of my kids. Or for that
matter, hitting some tourist. I know I'd be uptight if someone in the
line-up had one and was catching every wave that came through. Even
taking waves from actual longboarders themselves and not sharing. They
don't appear to be, on the surface, very functional. In other words,
they don't seem to turn like a normal board. It's all really based on
just catching waves before anyone else.
I honestly don't know what to make of them.
I know they are NOT going away. I don't believe I'll be calling one
my own. Unless I can mount a 50 cal on the deck. Then I might
consider riding one.
Didn't Cat Stevens have a song about these things? The Longer
Boats are Coming To Win Us...coming to Win Us.
Seriously, let's all just wait and see what develops over the summer.
I'd be curious to hear from some of you and hear your thoughts on these
new water crafts.
On behalf of everyone here at Cinnamon Rainbows we want to extend
our condolences to the family of surfer RJ Castongay on the loss
of their father. May the peace and solitude of many happy memories,
replace your grief and sadness in a short time. And may a new swell
come to wash away all your sorrow. We are all so sorry for your loss.
God Bless.
Please
Remember The Danny Miller Foundation.
Donations for Late Surfer Danny Miller's young son 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
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