Take Action Against Plastic
Sep/100
I just heard on the radio today that California alone uses 19 BILLION plastic bags a year. If you are as tired as I am of seeing these bags on the beach, or surfing past one out in the ocean, please visit the site below and take action. Send a letter to your Senator and let him know how you feel about plastic. The bill to ban plastic bags in California was not passed today. However, we can all still do whatever we can on a daily basis to cut down on plastic use.
http://www.riseaboveplastics.org/
Write to your Senator. Click on the link that reads “Click here for more info” and it will take you to the page of your local senator. You just need to fill in your name and send it off. It takes two seconds…maybe three.
Happy Oceans Day!
Jun/100
Diving Safety – Never Breathhold without a Partner
May/100
Shallow Water Blackout is no joke. This is when a person loses conciousness in water, usually less than 15 ft. If alone the result is almost certain death.
There are also other safety tips that are crucially important. Please watch the following video for a sobering look at the importance of the freediving buddy system (or even having someone alert when practicing holding your breath in a pool or bathtub).
Latest news on the oil spill in the Gulf
May/100
Go to the ABC link to watch the underwater videos from Jaque Cousteau Jr. and
Carol Browner, White House Representative for Energy and Climate Change.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/bp-oil-spill-white-house-worst-american-history/story?id=10735137
The Environmental Protection Agency last week ordered BP to use a less toxic chemical dispersant but the company failed to comply. There are fewer dispersants being manufactured in the quantities needed, Browner said, and scientists are continuing to examine how the particular dispersant interacts with the environment.
“What the EPA did yesterday was direct BP to use less of this dispersant while they continue to study what other alternatives may be available,” Browner said.
In response to questions being raised about whether BP will follow orders given by the administration, Browner said that BP will “absolutely comply” and is already complying with Monday’s order.
Basically, it is a toxic soup of oil and chemical dispersant that formed large underwater plumes as deep as 25 feet. The worst chemical disaster in U.S. history.
From the Good Pirates Of the Sea
May/100
“My name is Brad Latimer, I crewed on the M/Y Steve Irwin last year. We got sent a few boxes of Surf-furs from somewhere, when we got the box it had no return address….Anyways, I would just like to thank you for the gift as they kept us warm all through winter and when we went to Antarctica they were super for going out on deck.
I left the Steve Irwin in Hobart last September and went to Mauritius and picked up the ship Bob Barker there. We took it down to Antarctica to stop the Japanese whaling fleet. We had the most successful campaign ever this year so I was stoked to be a part of that.
But, I also took my Surf-fur with me and all the Bob Barker crew were jealous. It takes at least 15 min to put a mustang suit on and the action could be over before then….”
Thanks again,
Brad Latimer
The first one is at Kerguelen Islands while we were hiding out from a storm.
The second is well down in the Southern Ocean right up the backside of the Nisshin Maru where we stopped them from whaling for weeks.
there are also a few extra in there.
All credits to Brad Latimer/Sea Shepherd
Article from Paddle World
May/100
Stand Up Paddling
Fun & Fitness
By Dan GavereWhether you want to cruise the shoreline watching for whales and sea turtles, get outside for a full body workout, or mess around on the lake with the whole family, Stand Up paddling is the way to go. Easy, simple, and convenient, SUP is fun for everyone and is taking the world of watersports by storm. Join experienced kayaker and waterman Dan Gavere to find out what you need to know about this dynamic and exciting new sport…
Lakes, oceans, and rivers around the globe are seeing the rapid spread of a new phenomenon-Stand Up Paddling. Originated from surfing by the Waikiki Beach boys, SUP has taken center stage as the new rage in watersports. Thanks to people like Laird Hamilton, Brian Keaulana, Dave Parmenter, and others, the sport is now accessible to virtually anyone; as long as you have water you can paddle. Requiring just a paddle and a board, and offering fun on flat water, waves, and rivers, it is simple and convenient for a broad population of enthusiasts. Some think SUP will eventually be more popular than surfing, due to its wide usage and its appeal on both ocean and inland waters. Dedicated users quickly notice the physical fitness benefits and like I always say “it’s the only sport that comes with a six pack at no extra charge.” Whether you’re interested in paddling for exercise, catching waves, riding the meandering river near your house, or just getting the family out on the lake, stand up paddling is now the most versatile recreational paddlesport in the World. So don’t just sit there! Get up, Stand Up, and get yourself out there to see what all this buzz is about.
Stand up paddling is a very easy activity and everyone gets the hang of it quickly. Using a long canoe style paddle to provide the power and some steering, the board creates a platform to stand upright and move with ease. Paddling a stand up board forward is similar to paddling a canoe forward, except far easier and more comfortable! You’re standing facing forward in a skiing style stance and paddling on one side or the other to keep the board moving in a straight line. You can start out slow and easy, cruising short distances to get the hang of it. Once you’re ‘dialed in’, it becomes fun and easy to take longer trips, spending more time outside with friends enjoying the scenery.
Twenty years ago Hawaiian surf instructors created Stand Up paddling; using a paddle to propel a huge surfboard it was easier to get good photos of their surfing pupils and spot waves. Athletes like Laird Hamilton and Brian Keaulana then started using stand up paddling as cross training to increase their stamina, balance, and strength while sticking to their “waterman” ways. It was just a matter of time before images started appearing of Laird and others attempting to stand up paddle into bigger and bigger waves. As these images began to circulate in the surfing world, surfers started trying the sport at their local breaks. Breaking into the real mainstream, the sport began gracing the pages of People and US magazine, featuring high profile movie stars like Jennifer Anniston and Pierce Brosnan talking about how they use the sport to stay in shape while having fun in the sun.
Now the sport of stand up paddling has exploded onto our saltwater and freshwater coastlines as the ultimate recreational vehicle for surfing, cruising, fitness, and simplicity. Stand up surfboard companies are doing clinics and hitting the paddling community with new designs for rivers, lakes, racing, and fitness – boards that have nothing to do with surfing and everything to do with paddling. The sport has officially morphed from Stand Up Surfing to Stand Up Paddling. Where will it go in the future? Many believe it will become bigger than surfing. Some even say Stand Up will be the most popular water sport in the history of the world! Olympics’ 2020?Proper technique and the right equipment is important to getting the most out of paddling a stand up board so making sure to speak with a specialty retailer and instructor who knows stand up paddling is a good idea to get going. Many surf and paddling shops are beginning to see the benefits of sup in their areas and starting to carry equipment and offer lessons. Otherwise you can become what I call a “Laird of the internet” and find some online blogs, forums and videos to watch and learn from.
“It’s the only sport that comes with a six pack at no extra charge.”
Stand up is a whole body workout that is focused from the core out; so your abs, legs, and back get to feel the benefits, as do all the smaller balance muscles in your knees, ankles and even toes. Naturally your arms and shoulders are getting a great workout from the paddling side, but it’s the core muscles that seem to really show the earliest benefits, trimming inches from the waistline or even creating those coveted ‘six pack’ abs. It’s the new cool way to get in shape and look like a surfer. In addition to the more obvious coastal areas, Stand Up is also gaining a strong inland following in U.S. “hotbeds” for the sport like Durango, Colorado, Chicago, and even Las Vegas NV. These are areas with easy access to water where paddling can be a quick 1 or 2 hour “workout” or just a way to get out and unwind from a stressful day in the office. Fitness trainer, Nikki Gregg owner of NRG Lifestyle Fitness Training (www.nikkigregg.com) says ”I have been entrenched in the health and fitness industry my whole life and, even after years of training in the gym, I have personally never seen such an improvement with my own physique as I have with stand up paddling. Most of my training sessions are done outdoors and I am delighted to add stand up as a tool for my clients to have fun, add variety, and get a unique workout”.
Now the sport of stand up paddling has exploded onto our saltwater and freshwater coastlines as the ultimate recreational vehicle for surfing, cruising, fitness, and simplicity.
In California and Hawaii there is now a racing scene that attracts this new breed of watermen and women. There are freshly sprouting events like the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez “Battle of the Paddle,” which attracted over 300 competitors its first year and awarded over $10,000 in cash to the top racer in a 4.5 mile stand up paddle race. Although the course included a grueling 200-meter beach run on each 1.5-mile paddling lap, some 80 pro men and women entered looking for that chunk of cabbage in a wide open field of paddlers from around the globe. The real surprise came when everyone realized there were an additional 260 amateur competitors on top of the pros, making this event the biggest Stand Up race in the sport’s short history. The Molokai Crossing is a prestigious event that started many years ago but more recently added a Stand Up division; undoubtedly the most grueling race on water it entails a 32-mile paddle between the Hawaiian Islands of Molokai and Oahu. This race began as the ultimate prone paddleboard race drawing athletes like Jamie Mitchell, who has won this event the last 7 years in a row. Similar to many other prone paddleboard and outrigger races the Molokai has added a division for stand up paddling. Since SUP is an extension of paddling and growing so quickly, the Molokai Crossing is not the only race to have added a Stand Up division. In some recent races, the stand up divisions are attracting more participants than any of the other divisions.
In Hawaii the sport of stand up paddling is everywhere. You can’t drive past a beach now without seeing someone out paddling one. The funny part is that when there are no waves you still see them, cruising the reefs, turtle spotting, and doing “runs” when it’s windy. “Runs” are down-winder’s, or miniature paddling trips letting the power of mother nature push you naturally downwind from one protected cove to another. The higher winds push up waves that can be easily spotted and caught in the open water on the longer stand up boards. Stand Up boards like the SIC F-16, with a sleek designs and long length, were designed to catch these waves and ride them. Riding from one bump to another bump is an addicting technique that allows you to increase your speed dramatically and travel further distances.
Experienced paddlers will easily paddle downwind 12-20 miles in winds as high as 45 mph trying to surf every bump possible.
In Hawaii, and particularly Maui, the downwinder rage has bitten the north community like a bug. From house wives to professional windsurfers paddlers of all ages and abilities are doing “Maliko Runs”. Maliko runs are 6 mile downwinders starting off in a small stream ocean inlet known as Maliko Gulch. Heading out into the reliable daily trade winds which blow directly parallel to shore happy go lucky paddlers paddle in groups traveling down the North Shore past famous breaks and landmarks like Ho’ Okipa, Paia, and finally arriving on the beautiful beach in Kahului. The 6-8 mile downwind runs offers amazing views of turtles, whales, waves, and reefs making time slip by faster than you think is possible. Some of the locals and serious fitness buffs will do this daily for exercise with GPS units to track their progress and speed. Some of the faster paddlers with custom boards can maintain over 10 mph throughout the run making it in under an hr, but the goal isn’t to go out there and paddle as hard as possible. The ultimate goal is to read the open water, wind, swells, and feel the ocean’s power surfing the runners and only paddling at the right times and then resting while riding the swells.
With a well-organized race series, the UK seems to be leading the charge on competitive Stand Up paddling. BSUPA the British Stand Up Paddling Association is the first nationally organized association in the world to host races, create rankings, and crown national champions. Other parts of Europe are starting to light up on the sport as well: Germany, France, Italy, and Spain have seen some serious growth in the last 12 months. Windsurfing is very popular in Europe, and many of the windsurfing brands like Naish and Starboard are now coming out with complete SUP lineups with everything from recreational cruising boards to short high-performance SUP surf designs to full carbon racing boards. Naturally it’s only a matter of time before all the European “boardheads” get a Stand Up board to add to their quiver. Some boards even have a mast track insert so that any sail can easily be attached, making these boards great for light wind cruising and wave riding.
For recreation, fitness, fishing, racing, tripping, or simply just paddling with kids, Stand Up paddle boards are truly bicycles for the water. The sport is in its infancy and the future is wide open to become as mainstream as snowboarding or fishing. With the broad appeal, current growth, and limitless possibilities offered by Stand Up paddling, anything is possible. It’s a sport for everyone, so get out there and check it this newest rage to hit the water!
Online Resources: Providing information, forums, event calendars, manufacturers lists, product reviews, and more…
www.bsupa.org – British Stand Up Paddling Association
www.standupzone.com – The website of Standup Journal
www.supsurfmag.com – The website of Stand Up Paddle Surfing Magazine
www.standuppaddlesurf.net – An all-inclusive Stand Up website
Dan Gavere can be found following the path of his paddle from Oregon to California and now even to Hawaii. He has fully immersed himself into the sport of Stand Up paddling but also switches it up with kayaking, mtn biking, snowboarding, and the occasional MX or snomo ride.
From head to toe and the river to the ocean Dan is a waterman through and through.
New Customer Feedback on The Surf-fur
May/100
Taken from Scuba Gadget…link below
http://blog.wetcatscuba.com/?p=842#more-842
Surf-fur for Divers
For those of you who dive the Pacific Northwest, or other cool climes, you know that even though you may be warm and cozy during the dive in your heavy undergarments and dry suits, before and after can get chilly. Also, in the cold or crowded parking lot of the dive site, you may need to don or doff garments to get ready. There might be no changing facility available or your car may be packed tight with gear making changing clothes a bit tricky. The Surf-fur™, a full length light-weight coat with “Zen Changing Pockets™” (slits inside the pockets) to enable access to the under-layers, may be your answer.
Made by a company called Heatlab, The Surf-fur™ is a mid-calf length coat. Made of two layers of soft polyester fleece with an inner membrane of Polytetrafluoroethylene, the coat is advertised as windproof, water-resistant, breathable and warm. To test these claims, I recently took a Surf-fur™ out for a spin in Egmont, British Columbia, Canada.
We had been assured that the weather at the Strong Water retreat, in Egmont, BC, would be mild and sunny during our four day stay. Instead we were greeted with cold rain and early spring temps of high 40s to low 50s. I whipped out my Surf-fur™ and put it on.
It has a row of snaps down the front. A generous hood. When all snapped up and hood in place, I was fully protected from the rain. My dive buddies suggested that we further test the water resistance of the coat by pouring water on the arm (what a bunch of kidders, these guys). We did and no water got inside. When it got windy, the coat kept the wind out. On one dive in particular, I was quite cold after I surfaced. I put the coat on and was instantly warm. It really does a great job at providing insulation.
I started to really like my Surf-fur™ and found it hard to part with it on this trip. It kept me warm and dry when walking to and from the boat. It provided warmth and protection when walking down to the hot tub at night in my swim suit. It made a soft seat at dinner. A cozy blanket at night. When it was windy, I was warm. Cold, I was cozy, Rainy, I was dry. In short, this coat does the job promised.
Although boat coats are normally used in temperate climates by wet suit divers we found that this coat would provide a great hypothermia safety net at any latitude.
A few minor issues
Here are a few minor things that I did not like about the coat: Not a fan of snaps, but I did see the value of having snaps over zippers for durability. When the hood was in place and the coat was not snapped at the top, the hood obscured my vision. Be sure to have the top snaps snapped so that you can still see. When I stuffed things in the pockets, a couple of times they fell through the Zen Changing Pockets to the ground. It is made in China so you need to inspect for defects. We found one Velcro patch that was not sewn properly on a small inner pocket and it pulled off the coat.
I’ll be trying it out on the boat going to and from the dive sites in Palau this fall. While Palau is MUCH warmer than the Pacific Northwest, a boat coat is recommended on the dive charter because divers can get cold on the moving boat in between dives. We’ll let you know how the Surf-fur™ handles the tropics. It performed beautifully in the Northwest and will get a lot of use beyond diving. We give it a 4.5 our of 5 star rating.
May/100
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is expected to strike the Louisiana coastline today, and officials are bracing for impacts to shorebirds, turtles, shellfish and other endangered wildlife. But many ocean scientists are now raising concerns that a powerful current could spread the still-bubbling slick from the Florida Keys all the way to Cape Hatteras off North Carolina.
These oceanographers are carefully watching the Gulf Loop Current, a clockwise swirl of warm water that sets up in the Gulf of Mexico each spring and summer. If the spill meets the loop — the disaster becomes a runaway.
“It could make it from Louisiana all the way to Miami in a week, maybe less.” said Eric Chassignet, director of the Center for Ocean Atmospheric Prediction Studies at Florida State University. “It is pretty fast.”
Right now, some computer models show the spill 30 to 50 miles north of the loop current. If the onshore winds turn around and push the oil further south: “That would be a nightmare,” said Yonggang Liu, research associate at the University of South Florida who models the current. “Hopefully we are lucky, but who knows. The winds are changing and difficult to predict.”
Imagine the loop current as an ocean-going highway, transporting tiny plankton, fish and other marine life along a watery conveyor belt. Sometimes it even picks up a slug of freshwater from the Mississippi River — sending it on a wandering journey up to North Carolina.
The Gulf Loop Current acts like jet of warm water that squirts in from the Caribbean basin and sloshes around the Gulf of Mexico before being squeezed out the Florida Strait, where it joins the larger and more powerful Gulf Stream current.
Fishermen follow the current as a harbinger of good catches. It has also transported algal blooms — toxic “red tides” — from the Gulf of Mexico to beaches and bays along the southeast Atlantic coast.
Oceanographer George Maul worries that the current could push the oil slick right through the Florida Keys and its 6,000 coral reefs.
“I looked at some recent satellite imagery and it looks like some of the oil may be shifted to the south,” said Maul, a professor at Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Fla. “If it gets entrained in the loop, it could spread throughout much of the Atlantic.”
In fact, new animation from a consortium of Florida institutions and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, predicts a slight southward shift in the oil over the next few days.
Emergency responders are working to cap the oil spill at its undersea source, but admit it could be weeks before the well is shut down.
Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are expected to release their predictions of the spill and the loop current early this week. A spokeswoman for the agency did not respond to requests for comment by Discovery News.
-Eric Niiler is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C.
101 ways to save the Earth
Mar/100
Here is an article from TW Surf Magazine. #42 should say “put on your Surf-fur”
