Confessions of a Crue Member

Confessions of a Crue Member

WOW!
That's because you and SCARY eat too much Portugese sausage!!!!!

Tsunami News Updates

Tsunami News UpdatesFor Immediate Release
(Please forward, post or translate)
February 7, 2005



One World Heart


Reference: Global Tribute for Tsunami Survivors

When: Saturday, February 26th, 2005

Time: 7:58 am

Please join together as One People, One World Community, 'One World Heart' to pay tribute to loved ones who are missing from the lives of families from all over the world, and every walk of life and faith. The real humanitarian work is just beginning!

Let's celebrate the lives of those who are lost, and remembrance for those who continue to struggle with their recovery. Please dedicate with your loved ones close to you, 3 minutes of silent meditation on February 26th at 7:58 in the morning as you begin your new day. Mark this important moment of 'soul' on your calendar!

7:58 in the morning on February 26th wherever you and your loved ones are, tell them how much they mean to you, life can change in an instant. Only 2 months have passed, let's not forget, there is still much that needs to be done.

The number 3 symbolically represents the family, we will spend one minute in reverence for the father, mother and child, as we reflect on how important our loved ones are to each of us, and collectively offer our tribute with a 'One World Heart.'

What You Can Do
Visit these websites listed below to donate resources, encourage or support their heroic efforts of healing, fellowship, and action that makes a real difference in the lives of people during their greatest time of need.

____________________________________________________________________

HONORING
Ms. Kali Glynn Breisch, by giving to the people of Thailand and especially Khao Lak.....Ms. Kali Breisch, age 15, was hit by the tsunami while vacationing with her family at Khao Lak, Thailand on 26 December 2004. She was with her brother, sister, mother and father, who are re-united, but Kali is gone.

A fund has been established by Breisch family and friends to honor Kali. The funds will be applied to the rebuilding of Thai lives and infrastructure... especially the people of Khao Lak who so generously and selflessly gave to Dr. Breisch, his wife Dr. Sally Nelson, and his daughter Shonti, as they searched for Kali. In such a way, we hope that greater good will come from this tragic loss.

We invite you to participate in this humanitarian undertaking by clicking the "Give" button and donating or pledging an amount comfortable for you.

http://www.4Kali.org

__________________________________________________________________


VeAhavta ("you shall love") is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing charitable assistance to low income, destitute and displaced persons and to promoting peace, understanding and mutual respect among people of different religions through education. Please support the efforts of their Sri Lankan orphanage and medical team contributions, visit thier website:

http://www.you-shall-love.org

VeAhavta is a 501(c)(3) charity registered with the IRS and the State of California - all donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. If you would like more information regarding VeAhavta or any of our programs, please feel free to call, write, or send us an e-mail.

____________________________________________________________________

Operation Smile Supports Tsunami Disaster Aid Effort

Operation Smile donated more than 17,000 lbs. of supplies to International Medical Corps to fortify their rapid response team helping victims in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Operation Smile shipped surgical supplies, surgical equipment, medicines and medical supplies including anesthesia machines, surgical gloves, bandages and syringes. Please support the ongoing humantarian efforst of Operation Smile!

http://www.operationsmile.org

_____________________________________________________________________

Wheelchairs Needed in Areas Hit by the Tsunami
The immediate need is medical attention, food and water. soon however thousands more will need wheelchairs. Free Wheelchair Mission wants to ship five containers (2750) wheelchairs to tsunami victims in Sri Lanka and South India. Join with us and help us raise the funds to send these five containers.

http://www.freewheelchairmission.org/index.html
_____________________________________________________________________

Drowning Support Network
Flash floods. Tsunamis. Rivers. Oceans. The force of moving water is powerful, majestic sometimes, and also potentially deadly. Lakes. Ponds. Swimming pools and spas. Even still water offers a hidden hazard. It only takes 30-seconds for a child to drown. And contrary to what people think, there is usually no cry for help. Drowning is a silent killer...

The Drowning Support Network is a PEER GRIEF SUPPORT group for people who have lost loved ones in drownings or other aquatic accidents, including when no physical remains have been recovered, or the recovery process has been lengthy and difficult.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrowningSupportNetwork

____________________________________________________

Please join the world wide water safety community in sharing with this dedication.
Yours In Water Safety,

Shawn Alladio
K38 Water Safety
PO Box 6287
Orange California USA 92863
K38Rescue@aol.com
www.ShawnAlladio.com

ONE WORLD HEART

For Immediate Release
(Please forward, post or translate)
February 7, 2005


One World Heart
Reference: Global Tribute for Tsunami Survivors
When: Saturday, February 26th, 2005
Time: 7:58 am

Please join together as One People, One World Community, 'One World Heart' to pay tribute to loved ones who are missing from the lives of families from all over the world, and every walk of life and faith. The real humanitarian work is just beginning!

Let's celebrate the lives of those who are lost, and remembrance for those who continue to struggle with their recovery. Please dedicate with your loved ones close to you, 3 minutes of silent meditation on February 26th at 7:58 in the morning as you begin your new day. Mark this important moment of 'soul' on your calendar!

7:58 in the morning on February 26th wherever you and your loved ones are, tell them how much they mean to you, life can change in an instant. Only 2 months have passed, let's not forget, there is still much that needs to be done.

The number 3 symbolically represents the family, we will spend one minute in reverence for the father, mother and child, as we reflect on how important our loved ones are to each of us, and collectively offer our tribute with a 'One World Heart.'

What You Can Do
Visit these websites listed below to donate resources, encourage or support their heroic efforts of healing, fellowship, and action that makes a real difference in the lives of people during their greatest time of need.
____________________________________________________________________
HONORING
Ms. Kali Glynn Breisch, by giving to the people of Thailand and especially Khao Lak.....Ms. Kali Breisch, age 15, was hit by the tsunami while vacationing with her family at Khao Lak, Thailand on 26 December 2004.

She was with her brother, sister, mother and father, who are re-united, but Kali is gone.A fund has been established by Breisch family and friends to honor Kali. The funds will be applied to the rebuilding of Thai lives and infrastructure... especially the people of Khao Lak who so generously and selflessly gave to Dr. Breisch, his wife Dr. Sally Nelson, and his daughter Shonti, as they searched for Kali.

In such a way, we hope that greater good will come from this tragic loss.We invite you to participate in this humanitarian undertaking by clicking the "Give" button and donating or pledging an amount comfortable for you.

http://www.4Kali.org

__________________________________________________________________

VeAhavta ("you shall love") is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to providing charitable assistance to low income, destitute and displaced persons and to promoting peace, understanding and mutual respect among people of different religions through education.

Please support the efforts of their Sri Lankan orphanage and medical team contributions, visit thier website:

http://www.you-shall-love.org

VeAhavta is a 501(c)(3) charity registered with the IRS and the State of California - all donations are tax deductible as allowed by law. If you would like more information regarding VeAhavta or any of our programs, please feel free to call, write, or send us an e-mail. ____________________________________________________________________

Operation Smile Supports Tsunami Disaster Aid Effort

Operation Smile donated more than 17,000 lbs. of supplies to International Medical Corps to fortify their rapid response team helping victims in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

Operation Smile shipped surgical supplies, surgical equipment, medicines and medical supplies including anesthesia machines, surgical gloves, bandages and syringes.

Please support the ongoing humantarian efforst of Operation Smile!

http://www.operationsmile.org

_____________________________________________________________________

Wheelchairs Needed in Areas Hit by the Tsunami

The immediate need is medical attention, food and water. soon however thousands more will need wheelchairs. Free Wheelchair Mission wants to ship five containers (2750) wheelchairs to tsunami victims in Sri Lanka and South India. Join with us and help us raise the funds to send these five containers.

http://www.freewheelchairmission.org/index.html

_____________________________________________________________________

Drowning Support Network

Flash floods. Tsunamis. Rivers. Oceans. The force of moving water is powerful, majestic sometimes, and also potentially deadly. Lakes. Ponds. Swimming pools and spas. Even still water offers a hidden hazard.

It only takes 30-seconds for a child to drown. And contrary to what people think, there is usually no cry for help.

Drowning is a silent killer...The Drowning Support Network is a PEER GRIEF SUPPORT group for people who have lost loved ones in drownings or other aquatic accidents, including when no physical remains have been recovered, or the recovery process has been lengthy and difficult.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DrowningSupportNetwork

____________________________________________________

Please join the world wide water safety community in sharing with this dedication.

Yours In Water Safety,
Shawn Alladio
K38 Water SafetyPO Box 6287Orange California USA 92863
K38Rescue@aol.com
www.ShawnAlladio.com

K38 Rescue

K38 Rescue

Oh I do.
There's so much more to learn.
So much to undoe.
Past 3 years have been a hole, so many obstacles, I'm not accepting those invitations any more.

K38

K38

Soon, we'll see how it works.
Good team.
Solid.
No arguement there.

Surfing Mavericks

Surfing Mavericks

Another phone call today.
organizers couldnt' be swayed
The lawyers dont know surf.
but they own all the turf
20 foot last monday, swell
Where the heck is Mell?
No contest.
Just more rest
No JC on the roll
it must be taking a toll
No contest again.
I"m so sorry my friend
This gig is cursed.
and worse,
Potential and waiting athletes amused
others are beign abused
There is an eleventh hour cruise
they arent on the list, they lose
It will ignite at the end in a flash
all this frustration will end up in the trash...........

LIQUID MILITIA

LIQUID MILITIA


He says I have to wait 8 more weeks, Pablo The Latest, lets launch, lets launch.......
I'm waiting for the threads.
No doubt, no doubt.
Succes is imminent with the Liquid Concrete ideas.
Did you get your story written?
Mine is done.
But it was editied 5 times.
now it isn't my story anymore.
I was told it was too 'sentimental'.

I have a lot to be emotional about.

National Treasure

National Treasure

Gary Linden is also a national treasure. He has done more for me in the big wave arena, he's my hero.

I have watched him help out scores of others, he deserves more recognition and accolodes. I do not understand

why the industry doesn't recognize this individual?

It is perplexing and sad to see, he's a national treasure for sure! I give him that vote.

National Treasure

National TreasureNational Treasure


Marcelo was my first treasure.
Once a pirate, always a pirate.
Sad story, just another sad story.

Surfing Mavericks

Surfing Mavericks

Another year in the holding pattern of something that could be so great. No contest yet. History is a common fellow, at the end of the day.

K38

K38

New patrols set to make a splash


Police say the machines will give them more flexibility


Police on jet-skis are to patrol the Tyne on the lookout for terror threats during Labour's Spring Conference. Northumbria Police have taken delivery of two of the jet-skis, and one of their first tasks will be to monitor the river during the event. The conference, Sage Gateshead, begins on 11 February. The 1200cc injection machines can reach top speeds of 60mph and will also be used for general police patrols on the North East's rivers and coastline. Sgt Rod Urquhart, of the force Marine Unit said: "At the moment we put officers on larger boats to carry out security checks on the rivers but we will now be able to do these on personal water crafts (PWC). 'Fast response' "It gives us more flexibility and access to areas that the large craft are restricted from going to due to their size and draught. "They will also be deployed as a fast response vessel to any suspicious incidents during the Labour Party Spring Conference." As well as security patrols, the craft will be used to educate the public about the safe use of PWCs. Sgt Urquhart said: "Jet-skis are rapidly becoming more popular with professional and recreational users but we are finding that we are having to deal with more complaints about them. "By using PWC it will be easier to engage with jet-ski users as they can identify with the officers. This can only help prevent incidents and make our rivers and coastline a safer place for all to enjoy."


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/wear/4232943.stm

shaniah oceania

shaniah oceania

I sent another letter
again there is no response
Its his way of power
so he can punish
it is his only pleasure
He is missing everything
so he can marry his anger
his power is useless
for its spent on the wrong desires

shaniah oceania

shaniah oceania

Love Letters To Your Father.

Prayers unanswered, lost with neglect.
His shadow has run away.
There can only be a shadow
if light has cast the scowl
I'm forgetting him
What did he look like?
Do you remember, can you?
I don't remember his scent,
only painful lies and insults
play on my wounds
some of which he slit
right in front of you.
Love is the greatest
I see the other shoes
his pain is torture
for us two.

COREWEAR: CORE WEAR

COREWEAR: CORE WEAR


Liquid Militia

"Get wet or Go Home"

When I go to work, there is no way to avoid not getting in the water and getting the job done. I'm really proud to be the first sonsored Team Rider for Liquid Militia. First it's a great name brand, I believe I earned that by enough batisms by water to be the first in line to receive my new threads!

Liquid Militia sums up a typical work day for me, and it suits everyone else who deploys in our water world adventures. I'm finally outfitted with the collective function of clothing that stays in step with my lifestyle and has the quality to compliment working in adverse conditions. I fought adversity in areas where it wasn't cool to be a woman, now I'm sporting Liquid Militia originals and I work everywhere I want, I was core way before it was 'cool'.

Core Wear quality is high enough a standard that one of my missions is to find the wrecking point, and so far these threads are armor. Liquid Militia is stealth clothing for those who are looking for a new line on identity theft, pretty soon everyone will want to be you!

Liquid Militia isn't about wearing a logo; it's an attitude for action! You step up and produce or fake and shake. Take ownership of personal expression, our team is not sitting on a couch at home watching others have fun in the water, we're on the active list. Our duty is to be true to ourselves, and let our deeds speak for themselves; Liquid Militia is our uniform of purpose.

I never fit in with other clothing namesakes offered to 'girls' because I wouldn't sell out for the stereotypes women are forever trapped in by perception and marketing decisions. Women are treated with disrespect when it comes to clothing, we either take what we are told is the image, or sell out to the myths that women cannot take ownership of power for their accomplishments. Gender isn't the issue, its intent.

Either you get wet and get the job done, or go home and wish you did. I've always done what I was afraid to do. I never wanted to be less than my full potential as a person, I need clothes that can keep up with me.

Liquid Militia is not only Core Wear, it's a compliment to personal expression. You are what you wear. Ask me how I know?

Please Visit: http://www.liquidmilitia.com

DUNGEONS

DUNGEONS


Looks like winter will be chasing me down under, so far nothing has popped for me here in California.
I suppose that is good, I always feel the angels of God pull me where I need to go. I'll be looking forward to spending time with Carlos again, popping a bottle of good red wine, candles and the south africa night settling. We will probably hear the township weapons firing, the birds freaking out at World of Birds between silent starry nights and talking about all the loss in my life, the sadness and how there is more surprises coming, nothing too heavy, as that is a closed door for me forever more, no thank you, I decline. Just my good friends around me with my baby girl. Fawzia will come over and bring her tea, we'll go for strolls and talk about everything that has passed........
That is only the beginning, then there will be 4 more weeks...LOL

Disturbing

This has always bothered me! Number one the true purchasing power comes from the mothers of these kids, either male or female. The mother takes them shopping in 'general' more so than fathers, the mother makes the decisions in outlets of shopping and in our culture that fore is so overlooked. I will argue this to the end, I am a mother, I have been through this and I am a female. And how sad is it that this is the first female generation that has been finally accepted to have the ability to pursue extreme outlets?

Pathetic!

PATHETIC!

Not only that, but the clothing given to these little girls is way too suggestive and not held up in the venue of extreme but sexual. I'm sorry, too scanty for extreme activities unless you are interested in walking the streets and looking for a john. Our daughters are looking like whores way too early before they even know what the word means.

I'm all for marketing, for business, for profit and chasing the 'target groups' that's just a forever process of captalism that will never change and I'm sadly from that cultural hype. I know it, it bothers my conscious. But why can't clothing designers plunk down the attitude and ideas en masse instead of little token dress items and then surrounding the entire enclave with trash?


Riding the wave

For retailers eager to expand market for surf, skate and snowboard styles -- girls ruleBy Candice Choi, Staff WriterThe baggy street stylings carefully honed by aloof skaters for years is experiencing an upheaval.

The culprits? Throngs of girls who are jumping into extreme sports like surfing and snowboarding -- or at least the casual styles they've inspired in the mainstream market."It doesn't have to be just the hats and typical skater stuff anymore," said Orlee Weisberg, a 15-year-old Calabasas resident shopping at Val Surf in Woodland Hills.

"You can find stuff like this or this," said Weisberg, pointing to a plaid miniskirt and mesh scoop neck shirt. The self-described former tomboy said she loves all the "cute" clothes she digs up at skater shops these days. Take, for example, the yellow sundresses, lavender polka-dotted hoodies, and flip-flops with faux-diamond butterflies found at most skate or surf shops.

They're as much a part of the culture as cargo shorts as retailers like Quiksilver and Pacific Sunwear set their sights on preteen girl shoppers.Roxy, Quiksilver's line of clothing for girls founded in 1994, now rakes in as much as the flagship men's division.

Yet Roxy is growing at a much faster rate and provides a greater potential for growth, said Randy Hild, senior vice president of marketing.Girls now account for a growing chunk of the $12.1 billion skating, surfing and snowboarding industry, according to Board-Trac Inc.

The number of girls diving into surfing doubled between 2001 and 2003 to 37 percent; the number of girls skateboarding tripled to 20 percent over the same time, according to Board-Trac.And that's just the sports.On the fashion side, many more girls are becoming fans of the extreme sports' laid-back styles, said Marie Case, managing partner of Board-Trac."You've got flirty little skirts and dresses -- it's not just stuff you'd wear while you're surfing," she said."We've definitely seen a big shift where a lot more girls are falling into extreme sports," said Steve Crane, owner of Boarderline, a Woodland Hills shop that sells snowboarding and surfing gear.Women accounted for about 10 percent to 15 percent of sales just five years ago.

Now about 30 percent of all sales are for women's products, Crane said.It's no wonder Pacific Sunwear's newest print campaign -- catered to both sexes -- prominently features girls and is running in magazines like Elle Girl and Cosmo Girl.

"We just felt that as we try to grow our market this would be a good area for penetration," said Tom Kennedy, Pac Sun president.There was a time when Pacific Sunwear catered almost exclusively to men; now the juniors market for girls 14 to 17 accounts for 46 percent of the company's sales, he said.Gallaz, a wholesaler of girls' skater and surfer clothing, was launched as a footwear company in 2000 and has since experienced similar growth. The El Segundo offshoot of men's clothing line Globes has since expanded to a full apparel line.

"We were taking direction from the men's market at first, but we've really evolved well beyond that now," said Tabitha Ehrhardt, who manages Gallaz.Girls are much more sophisticated in their shopping decisions than boys; they take into account a wider range of influences like celebrities, musicians and fashion magazines, Ehrhardt said.

They also accessorize, making them a more lucrative market.The fairer sex also prefers having a broader selection of merchandise, Crane said."Women need more of a selection than men," he said. "They'll come in and buy the hairpiece, the purse.

The get the whole outfit." Candice Choi, (818) 713-3634 candice.choi@dailynews.com http://ad.doubleclick.net/imp;v1;j;13236182;0-0;0;5030618;00;849763285155281;;cs=x%3fhttp://ad.doubleclick.net/889409/interceptROL_05.html

Big Waves

Big WavesThe Last Wave

By Russell Seitz Published 01/13/2005

Every winter, surfers gather on the North Shore of Oahu to try to ride Pacific combers even taller than the walls of water that swept the Indian Ocean on Dec. 26.

Nobody surfs a tsunami, but some of the worst hit shores owed their tourism almost exclusively to their extraordinary waves.

The tsunami has done more than decimate hard core surfers, whether caught ashore, or facing their last wave on the Andaman Sea. From Unahatuna on Sri Lanka, to Indonesia's Nias Pipe, it transformed the seabed itself.

Like an iceberg's, most of the seismic sea wave's mass and momentum lay far below the water line.

Inhuman Power

An arc of darkness 1,000 miles long -- the Sunda Trench -- lies beneath the Halcyon surface of the Andaman Sea. The water pressure in its 4,000-fathom depths is higher than the inside of a rifle breech. If some wannabe Captain Nemo were to fire at the first set of big teeth to come along down there, the ensuing scene would be straight from a Road Runner cartoon -- the bullet would halt halfway out of the barrel, and snap back from whence it came. Even a hand grenade might pop like a flash bulb without exploding.

Real world physics puts the same damper on all explosions -- conventional, nuclear or volcanic. A Hiroshima-sized bomb would dazzle the abyss with light, but forget about a mushroom cloud. Its energy would be dissipated in blowing a preposterously small steam bubble barely the size of a hot air balloon.

No rocket science is required to realize that the seismic forces that defied those pressures must have been phenomenal. Imagine 10 thousand Hiroshima bombs strung out 100 yards apart, exploding in sequence at a rate of 10 a second. Their total would be the 200 megatons of explosive power that snapped a contorted strip of seabed forward on Dec. 26, slapping the basalt seafloor and the kilometers of water atop it upward 10 meters.

But that was just one edge of a three dimensional cataclysm in which over a thousand times more energy was released. The bulk went into shoving the Indian plate down under the Pacific Rim and in translating the Burma plate up and over it. -- an event so inhuman in scale that the worlds nuclear arsenals fail utterly as units of measure it was not thousands of millions of kilotons, but millions of millions. Not even Carl Sagan could count that high.

The massive event launched a column of seawater four-miles thick along a stretch of latitude 15 degrees long - 900 nautical miles. For an instant, an unstable ridge stood out like a dragon's back above the Andaman Sea before fissioning clear down to the seabed into the symmetrical waves that raced towards Sumatra and Thailand, and beyond

With 200 megatons of impetus driving a trillion tons of mass, it's a mercy that the death toll merely dwarfs Hiroshima, and that after only two weeks , the daily addition to the butcher's bill has shrunk to the equivalent of 9-11's casualties . It is providential that so many of the million Sumatrans who vanished into bureaucratic limbo are returning alive.

Cruel Destruction

When death becomes a statistic, it can take a computer model to apprehend the devastation's scope -- a sobering one may be viewed at Nature.com.

Yet it fails to convey how far inland the carnage extended. Many died believing a 10-meter wave would spare them 11 meters above sea level. But behind the slowing face of a deep-water tsunami approaching land is a pile of water as wide as the English Channel. It comes on shore twice as fast as you can run, and in running far inland, it stays ashore deeper than the tallest man far, far longer than it takes to drown. Its forward momentum will carry a crest 10 meters deep another 10 meters or more uphill. Safety may begin only in the treetops -- if you can hang on.


And the farther the water propagates over the land, the farther out to sea its retreat can drag victims. Take it from a body surfer -- even five-meter waves in clear water challenge the survival skills of a strong swimmer. The scene of water churning opaque, awash with ragged edged tin and rafters, is a surfer's worst nightmare. It is a nightmare that overtook thousands of them, body and board; Asian, African, American and European. The tsunami region has been a Mecca for the sport. And surfers were killed in disproportionate numbers because they gravitate to and often stay on the beach.

So this summer will not bring endless lines of boards awaiting the arrival of the set of waves along usually crowded breaks from Malibu to Nantucket, Devon to Hawaii.

And when summer ends, those who return to where the rogue wave decimated their friends will find that in tearing people from the land, the tsunami also wreaked havoc on the living coral in the sea. Only unlike reef biologists, they will not see unmitigated catastrophe, for coral can be a surfer's worst enemy. It kills far more of them than tsunamis do.


The Gift

Idyllic as Caribbean waters may seem, many of its windward shores defy surfing. Board and body surfers alike need room to ride, and a user-friendly bottom for when they fall, or waves break over them. Surfers get to know sea bottoms as intimately as clothes do the inside of a washing machine. They prefer sand or shingle shoals, not the biological equivalent of barbed wire, with sea urchins doing the office of land mines.

Surfers sailing the length of the Windwards and Leewards encounter only a few places, such as Antigua's Half Moon cove, Barbados' Crane Beach and Bequia's Hope Bay that pose little risk of laceration . Some of the softer shores are the result of hurricane damage, and a tsunami is the one force on Earth able to do as much or more.


At many places along this great wave's path, coral heads, the growth of which over centuries and millennia had shaped to resist the incoming surge, were struck instead by an uphill avalanche as successive tsunami swells receded from the land. As elephantine boulders of brain coral bowled through forests of pinnacles, and rolled back and forth, their abrasive scree clattered across once pristine barrier reefs, burying what it failed to break.

Thousands of underwater acres that were once a day-glow marine Disneyland have become a skeletal moonscape that will take generations for life to re-colonize and regenerate. But long before scuba divers or snorkelers can see anything below the waterline but cause for weeping, surfers will flock to exult in the destruction.

Scores of offshore breaks once potentially lethal to those who wipe out onto hard coral have become a new and unexplored surfer's paradise. Inshore, dozens of coves once only of interest to body surfers with a strong death wish have been shorn of scimitar thickets of staghorn -- turned into sand-bottomed wave machines.

Nature never takes away without giving. To those whose livelihood depended on the reefs until the Sunday before the New Year, the terrible beauty their metamorphosis holds for the next generation of surfers may be a gift from the cruel sea.

Russell Seitz is recuperating from injuries inflicted by a rogue wave at the Madekasham break on Nantucket.


http://www.techcentralstation.com/011305D.html

Personal Watercraft FREESTYLE

WFWAIntroducing the World Freestyle Watercraft Alliance (WFWA) featuring the 15 foot ramp jump!

"THE FUTURE OF WATERCROSS..."

WFWA Freeride Team

WFWA includes team members Eric Malone, Josh Lustic, Brad Lustic and the 15-foot ramp jump. WFWA is an alliance of freestyle watercraft’s top riders and features PWC freeride and the future of watercross at it’s most extreme!

Event and Regatta Promoters

WFWA freeride stunt shows fit a variety of formats and itinerary or even turn into shows of their own! Advertising on 15 foot ramp jump depends on date and availability.

Rampt DVE Vol. 1.

Eric Malone and the WFWA have released "Eric Malone's Rampt!!" DVD features the new WFWA 15 foot ramp jump! Also available - "Eric Malone's popular On-Edge" Freestyle VHS.



Go to the web site:
www.wfwaalliance.com

DUNGEONS

DUNGEONS

I suppose I should start at the beginning, but that would take me back to utero. So I'll pick it up years later.
Fawzia Collier, one step closer to a friend across an ocean.

Apartheid: Apart from us
This was my first trip to South Africa; I was wide open with prospects of adventure, I had an opportunity to conquer new fears. I waited, dressed in my thick black wetsuit waiting for my cue to ‘go out’ on my Waverunner as the surfing contest water safety director. It was the millennium year 2000; I was entrenched amidst the South African winter, waiting for the waves to strengthen with the changing tide. I was hired to work a surfing contest for the Big Wave Africa at Dungeons the big wave surfing location that Red Bull had claimed as a trademark for marketing their popular drink. A petite woman in a long colorful skirt with hair wrapping her body like a garment approached me through the excited crowd. A new friendship was waiting for me; it would lay vested in this sensual small woman, appropriately named Fawzia which means ‘flower’. I looked at her curiously, intent eyes locked onto me, I stood mesmerized. I knew I was her target.

Strolling behind her was a very proper and elegant man regally smoking a wonderful smelling pipe! It was obvious they were people of presence; I felt royalty approaching, since everyone stepped aside and said nothing to these people. She walked right up to me and her drawn out voice, she slinked “So you are the H E L L W O M A N? You will keep an eye on my boy. Mind you, I will be watching you onboard the Nauticat.” The man just grinned and puffed on the pipe wrapped comfortably in his tweed coat, warm scarf and felt cap. She turned and disappeared in a swirl of scarves and skirts and trailing auburn hair into the cold air. This is the beginning of our unraveling story of friendship.

I'll have to explore the possible next time round.

DUNGEONS

DUNGEONSRibbink seeking the 100-foot wave
January 12, 2005

By Kirstin Scholtz

For most people the start to 2005 might mean buying a new car or finding a new job, but for long time waterman Jason Ribbink, this year is about hunting down the elusive 100ft wave.

As far out to sea as the Oceanos's wreck, Ribbink will monitor storms and swells between Cape Town and Mozambique to find the ocean's moving mountains which, he believes reside at the lower latitudes.

Before he does that, the Quiksilver rider is off to the famed shores of Maui in Hawaii to "tow-in" at Jaws, without a doubt the biggest wave in the world. It's something he's been dreaming about for three years.

Having just won the 2004 Oakley Big Wave Challenge, making the drop on a 36ft monster at Dungeons in Cape Town, the wave at Jaws is a big "drop-in" for Ribbink.

"I've been very, very fortunate, in that every year Red Bull brings the best big wave surfers in the world to Cape Town to ride Dungeons," says Ribbink.

"I have surfed there every year since the onset of the event in 1999 and have been working on my quiver of 'tow-in' boards with the big wave legends for three years now, so I am feeling very prepared."

Having ridden a number of big wave spots around the world including Waimea Bay on the North Shore of Hawaii, Todos Santos in Mexico and Dungeons, Ribbink feels his big wave experience is lacking until he's conquered Jaws.

Tomorrow Ribbink sets off for the North Shore of Oahu where he will practice tow-in surfing with big wave rider Jamie Sterling.

The two will track the swells and fly to Maui when the waves hit.

Ribbink's partner and Yamaha Wave Runner driver, Giggs Celliers, will fly in for three weeks and the two will hopefully have the opportunity to tow in together in the 60foot surf.

"My No 1 aim is to tow-in well at Jaws and my No 2 aim is to tow-in into the biggest Jaws wave and win the Billabong XXL challenge," says an excited Ribbink.

The Billabong XXL window period ends in March and earns the rider of the first 100ft wave $1m, while there is $60 000 for the biggest wave ridden.

While most people would describe this behaviour as insane, Ribbink explains that adrenalin overrides fear and believes there's no better feeling than the adrenalin that big wave surfing creates.

For a surfer who's always had an affinity for big waves, it's not a question of insanity but rather a natural progression for a waterman who has been in the ocean since the age of six.

Meanwhile on Jan Juc Beach, Victoria, Australia, the Globe Jetty Pro is well under way with Durbanite Jordy Smith back in action after a disappointing ninth placing at the Billabong World Junior Championships last week.

The 16-year-old South African sensation knew he had to go with big moves in his round four heat when he faced the highly seeded Gold Coast surfer Dion Agius who is recognised as one of the world's best aerial surfers.

From the start both surfers signalled their intention to go for the high scoring air moves and while many thought Agius would have the upper hand, it was Smith who actually won the air battle to advance to round five.

Satisfied with his performance, Smith commented after his win, "I was ready for an air show battle - power progressive surfing is where it's at these days and I'm committed to flying whenever the waves allow it and that heat was great." - tostee.com