Monday, June 22, 2015

International Surfing Day 2015



An Epic Day for Surfing –
Two Guinness Records for HB   


Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

At this year’s International Surfing Day (ISD) in Huntington Beach on June 20th everyone was eager to celebrate surfing and to see history in the making as HB went for two spots in the Guinness World Records book. 

 

The emphasis of this year’s ISD was on BIG – with Huntington Beach staging its Epic Big Board Ride featuring the world’s largest surfboard with the most people riding a surfboard at once


The City of Huntington Beach, title sponsor Hurley, and other surfing community leaders joined forces to make this Epic event a reality – with a 42-foot-long board and 66 riders piling on top for the ride of a lifetime.


Epic Big Board Ride Event Coordinator Celeste Hamil told SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel that it took a lot of work to put everything together, saying, “The end result was well worth the effort of a year of planning by an international team of builders, consultants and surf professionals.”


Hamil added, “I am, as the surfers say, ‘totally stoked’ to participate in a once in a lifetime experience that will continue to resonate in a meaningful way for the community, visitors and sponsors for many years to come.” 

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Duke Aipa, one of the surfers chosen to ride on the board, was excited to be a part of this historic event and couldn’t wait to get in the water.


Surfers and spectators alike surrounded the Big Board, anticipating its launch. Then everyone waited as it made its way out past the breakers and was positioned to catch a wave.   


Finally, after all the work, when the Big Board came riding in on a wave – with all those on board standing up – everyone on the beach and on the pier broke out in cheers.

 

It couldn’t have been a better day for surfing…especially since it was on International Surfing Day. 


An annual event to celebrate the sport of surfing and to give something back to the world’s oceans and beaches, ISD was started in 2005 by the Surfrider Foundation and Surfing magazine. Now there are 200-plus events in more than 30 countries.


Surfrider’s Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter and the Newport Beach and Long Beach chapters had booths set up on the sand and hosted a jam-packed day of education, entertainment, and beach cleanup activities.


SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti were glad to see such a big turnout.






And over 30 sponsors participated.


Manuel Florence was at the Brewbaker’s booth – showcasing his latest craft sodas and giving out samples of orange cream soda.


Pedego’s electric bikes were on display.


Seth Matson was eager to tell beachgoers about his new environmental organization Drains to Ocean, which will help to keep toxic water runoff from polluting the ocean.


Red Bull had a lounge tent set up that people could duck into to beat the heat.


First-time ISD sponsor Cakez and Cupcakez had a tempting array of treats.



Kind and Cabo Chips had samples



When the sun came out Hubert’s Lemonade hit the spot.


Rubio’s had prizes.


So Cal Kite Surfing gave out information about their kite surfing lessons in Belmont Shore with experienced IKO certified instructors.


And the LA Video Drone team was on hand to provide an aerial view of all the activities up and down the beach.




As usual, Surfrider H/SB Chairperson Tony Soriano was everywhere – setting up booths, coordinating with Celeste Hamil, greeting people, and making sure that Surfrider’s environmental message got out.   
 

By the end of the day thousands of people came out to HB to celebrate ISD-2015, watch the Epic Big Board Ride and remove over 120 lbs. of trash and cigarette butts from the beach.

All in all, it was definitely an epic day for surfing.
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 Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.
 

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Int'l Surfing Day Honors the Sport



Surfer's Code - Say "I will"


Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

International Surfing Day (ISD) – a day created by the Surfrider Foundation and Surfing magazine to honor the sport of surfing – is June 20th.  To join in the action just head to the Huntington Beach Pier for a day of surfing events and activities from 8 am – 1 pm.
   




Local Surfrider members from the Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter and Newport and Long Beach chapters will be on hand to host the festivities and provide information about beach environmental programs.



With ISD almost here, SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are eager to share Champion surfer and environmentalist Shaun Tomson's Surfer’s Code with you. 
     

Much like the Code of the West in the classic cowboy movies, surfers have a code, too. Or at least they should, according to Tomson.


Drawing on what he’s learned from surfing, Tomson wrote the book, The Surfer's Code – 12 Simple Lessons for Riding Through Life, to impart “life lessons” that are just as valid on land as in the water.



Shaun Tomson’s Surfer’s Code
 
                                    - I will never turn back on the ocean


- I will always paddle back out


- I will take the drop with commitment


- I will know that there will always be another wave


- I will realize that all surfers are joined by one ocean


- I will paddle around the impact zone


- I will never fight a rip tide


- I will watch out for other surfers after a big set


- I will pass on my stoke to a non-surfer


- I will ride, and not paddle in to shore

 
- I will catch a wave every day, even in my mind


- I will honor the sport of kings


Tomson, a South African known for riding the big waves joyously and fearlessly, shows the importance of making your move, watching out for others, being persistent, respecting the sport and sharing the stoke.


There is much to celebrate about surfing and much to learn from it.


International Surfing Day is the perfect time to say “I will” to honoring the sport and living up to the Surfer’s Code.


And to make a commitment to achieve the non-profit Surfrider Foundation’s goal of protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches.


To be continued – Look for coverage of this year’s International Surfing Day event in Huntington Beach in the next SurfWriter Girls blog.



Please post your comment below. Comments will appear the next day.

  
Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.