Just another day!

If your in the Pacific Palisades keep your eyes out for local rippers Sigourney and Qumani. If they aren't at Paliskates, you can bet they are skating a local spot with friends. Keep shredding!

The Paliskate Krew

Barrels and Pylons

Another beautiful day and great head high surf for southern California. I met up with my good bud Kevin Mobley in Hermosa Beach this morning, and the north side of the pier was empty with people, but plentiful with waves. It wasn't as big as the day before, but the weather was warm and the waves were kind. I was shocked to see Kevin take a nice wave right through the pylons that hold up the pier. He didn't even flinch, as he paddled out he looked at me as if I was supposed to do the same thing. I laughed, the last thing I need right now is shoot the pier and come up short. The pylons are covered with mussels that act like Velcro if you get to close, I did not want to be the other side of the Velcro.

I managed to get in the right spot as a nice set wave rolled through, I stood up, a couple of pumps down the line later I crouched down and got barrelled for what felt like 6 seconds, but was probably only 2-3. This made my day, heck this made my week since I can only count on 1 hand the amount of times I've been barrelled.

Hope to do it again tomorrow.

Double Overhead Surf Hits SoCal

Spectator's Day at Swamis

Encinitas, CA, Feb 25th

Brad got put in his place during a session in monster waves at Swamis yesterday. Despite 15 foot faces and an influx in bro pros, Brad suited up and paddled out into the jet ski patrolled waves.
The session ended after Brad lost his board attempting to duck dive a double over head wave and ended up swimming in to shore to collect his board. (Note the lengthy paddle out above... ouch.)
Although our pictures don't really do this swell justice, we did get some footage of a mystery surfer destroying a beautiful wave with slashes and cut backs that could only be those of a seasoned veteran Swamis local.

Over and out.

Costa Rica Recon Mission October 2007

Craigslist to the rescue

What a long busy week it has been. My #1 goal this week was to sell my car. It wasn't looking good as I had tried every scenario to sell the car with out going through carmax. I was determined to sell my car via craigslist. But I kept scheduling appointments and nobody showed up as planned.

Every night I would post my car for sale in the classifieds section, breaking the rules slightly, but desperate to sell my vehicle. Moments away from meltdown, I decided to check my email one last time. There was another recent inquiry.

Feeling positive I called the number and described the vehicle to the potential buyer. After minutes of going back and forth on the price, he said he would be at my place in less than an hour with cash. I crossed my fingers, I had been getting smoked all week long, and I was on my last nerve. I read a book to help pass the time, which helped indeed, minutes later he arrived. We drove the vehicle around the block and straight to the bank, he was happy and I was ready for a check, cashier's check that is.

We filled out our paperwork and I gave him the keys. I could already feel the burden of my shoulders. The lesson I learned here is stay positive in all situations, and make the most of out of every bad situation. And in the end, it paid off.

Tasty Skateboard!

My last day of work at Paliskates was Friday, it was fun, but bitter sweet. I have made lots of friends over the last 7 months and it will be weird not to see them everyday. I had so much fun with everyone, almost everyday, and I couldn't have asked for a better crew to work with.
When I arrived to work I was shocked to find that my close friend "The Overtaker" had made me a going away Chocolate Skateboard cake. That's right those wheels are chocolate brownies and they did not last long.
Thanks again Overtaker!
The day flew by and all my homies and home girls came by to say farewell. The high five was in the background and there were plenty of hugs and emails exchanged throughout the day. It was a fun memorable day.
After closing I met up with the crew from Paliskates at The Spanish Kitchen in West Hollywood where we enjoyed great food, cold drinks, and lots of laughs. I will miss the staff at Paliskates and all the locals that I got to know so well while working there. I wish you all the very best!
Thanks again for the feast Erica, that was good time indeed!

I will have more pictures to share of my last day and they will be up soon.
Adios

Morty Scores! Again.

He only makes an appearance when the waters are warm and the sun is shining. He spends majority of his time chewing his back leg on a towel or in a bag on the beach. But you can be sure when conditions are good he is out there with the best of em.

Think he's excited? He just found out that he leaves Los Angeles in 14 days to travel to sunny central america.

Not only is he already packed, but to top it off he gets to chill because he can't drive.

"Lucky Dog"

Lucky Hour

County Line Delivers at High-Noon

Good surf prevailed on Saturday morning with pulsing northwest swell building. It was a lazy start with light wind and water growing textured.

Sunset was working; a promising sign that just up the coast we would find fewer crowds and bigger surf... hopefully. With our fingers crossed we saw playful waves but not the size we had hoped for.

Checking a few spots on the way we thought we might have been shown up once again... but just as we pulled away from County Line a macking 7 foot set rolled through. There was a burst of laughter from the tailgating locals on the bluff as 70% of the line-up got drilled on the inside.

It looked like luck was on our side! We pulled over, suited-up and scrambelled over the rocks into the sweet sweet surf. The water was crystal clear and warm for February; the wind mellowed and an off-shore breeze picked up. Everyone surfing enjoyed 4 to 6 foot waves with plenty to go around.

The End

Hangloose

Garage Sale: Round 1

This is really happening.

The fund raising garage sale today brought in garage-sale-pro's with a last minute Craigslist ad pushing designer clothes and bookshelves.

The 8:00 hour proved to be succesful. The regular garage-salers pounced on boutique brand tees, motorcycle helmets and high end denim.

We thought it was a pretty choice selection until a lurking, convalescent Russian declared our yard sale "poor" and proceeded to tell us how we could improve it by adding his goods to the sale, which were just around the corner.

He had a point. Fellow Sierra Bonita resident, Veronica brought down a bedding set and made $20 in approximately 2 minutes.

At the 11 o'clock close of the sale, a couple hundred bones was cool with us, but we could have sold more if we had taken the time to organize a community sale.

Alast let us not forget the power of community!

Catch the Ron Stoner art Show at Mollusk Surf Shop Venice, Saturday February 23rd

Get educated in surf history at the Mollusk Surf Shop in Venice Saturday, February 23rd at 7PM

One of the greatest finds in L.A. has been the uber creative Mollusk Surf shop in Venice.

The Mollusk brothers have put together a shop of legendary proportions with an ecclectic selection of goods ranging from traditional surfing tablas made of Australian wood to petrolium free Patagonia wetsuits and cult-classic surf flicks.

All of these fine goods are housed under a tree house and next to an art gallery showcasing surfing's finest artisans and autuers. Monthly art shows with musical accompaniment move the Mollusk Surf Shop into the upper eschelon of Venice cool, at least in our books ;)

Next up, the Ron Stoner show, showcasing the iconic works of the "Legendary Lensman."

So, to all our friends in L.A., come get educated in surf history at the Mollusk Surf Shop in Venice Saturday, February 23rd at 7PM.

Less than a month to GO!

The anticipation is killing me right now and my mind doesn't realize I am leaving los Angeles yet. Even though I have already given my notice at work and our notice on our apartment it is still hard to convince myself that we are leaving in less than a month. We leave Los Angeles on the 4th of March and head north to see friends and family before our mid March departure.
I'm hungry! Gotta Go.

Time to Focus

Have you ever wanted to drop everything and travel? Have you ever asked yourself this question? What was the answer? What was the outcome?
I found myself pondering this question recently and decided to move on it. Los Angeles has been to good to me over the last 3 years, but my time to fly the coupe has come. As long as I can remember I 've wanted to travel; no where specific, but out there and somewhere new.
Like Central America!
Ever since I layed eyes on Central America I've wanted to see more, and now after experiencing costa rica I have to see more.
To sum it up, I've decided to donate and sell what I don't need and focus on the finer things in life: Travel, Laughter, Love, Life. Traveling by car (with my amazing wife "Jana" and multi-bred terrier "Morty") from California to Panama, we will keep you up to date on our surfari. Be prepared for surfing and fishing and camping and climbing to language and culture and food and friends.
Stay tuned!