PLA Cancels HB Open Event for June 2010 !!!

Whats the deal with PLA (Professional Longboarding Association) Canceling the HB Open in June? What happened in Costa Rica that Ruined the Rest of the Season? Can any one clear his up for Us?

Below is what we know:

A news letter went out May 19th 2010 (below)
"The Professional Longboard Association announces today that they have been recommended to make adjustments to the purse at the America's Open of Longboarding, an event that is set for June 4-6 in Huntington Beach, CA.

The decision to lower the purse prize for this event comes from a concern in the PLA that they would not be able to support this event from a monetary standpoint. "It is unfortunate that we have to lower the purse for this event, but due to the economic climate, and considerable lack of corporate support for the longboard community we unfortunately have not been able to bring in the sponsorship monies that would cover a 6-star purse", said Jeff Stoner, Executive Director of the PLA. After multiple conversations between the ASP and the PLA, the recommendation for this event, due to time constraints and proximity to the event date, was made to lower the purse prize, but keep the star rating and point structure in tact. "The decision to make these changes was in the best interest of all parties, including the surfers. The timing is not the greatest, but due to everything the PLA has gone through this year to sustain the PLA, this was the best option we could provide for everyone", said Stoner. "its not the most ideal situation, but it beats the alternative of cancellation" continued Stoner.
The current structure for the event is as followed; 6 star point ratings, and 3 star purse structure, which brings the purse money to $15,000 and $5,000 for men and women respectively."

Now today I hear this?
"Hope all are well. I am writing to you in regards to the PLA event in HB to be held on June 4-6. it is my unfortunate position that I must tell you all that the PLA HB event and the remainder of the season has been CANCELLED due to lack of monetary sponsorships. Although the HB decision is last minute for many of you, the ASP and PLA thought it was the only reasonable option for this event. Last week we made the decision to try and lower the purse prize to help with costs of the event, and at the time this was a reasonable option, due to we were talking with 3 potential sponsors, in the end the sponsors decided they could not put forth the requested monetary amount or asked to pay a lower monetary amount which in the big picture of the event would not have helped.

The PLA admits it made a mistake in Costa Rica, when it came to monetary commitments and payouts, and we feel it is not fair to anyone to repeat this situation just to continue with an event.
I hope you all understand our situation and the time and effort we have put in not just this year, but over the last 2 ½ years to create something for you, the longboarder. We have tried to do everything to keep the PLA in the best position possible. In the end it all comes down to sponsors and industry support. We feel very lucky to have had companies like Maui Jim, Power Balance, Kicker and Ocean Current with us this year, and truly appreciate their support, but without true support from the surf industry as a whole, longboarding will always have a hard time catching up to shortboarding. We will continue to work towards building a surf series and creating events, unfortunately the PLA and myself personally cannot afford to monetarily back the these events without help from corporate sponsors and the surf industry.
What’s next for the PLA? The PLA will take this opportunity over the next couple months to figure out the rest of the 2010 season. The possibilities are slim, but we will never close the door completely. We will also take this time to focus on 2011, and what needs to be done with sponsorships to make it possible for us to run 2-3 high quality events. Although this year has been difficult, we promise that the PLA will always be around to support longboarding, and will always do our best in creating events to help better each one of you.
In regards to other issues, the PLA will follow through with other commitments and asks each one of you to please be patient as it will take some time to resolve these issues.
Thank you for your understanding on this matter, and once again the PLA apologies to each one of you, and asks for your continued support.
Sincerely
Jeff Stoner"

I know there are rough times for all Sports, but whats going on With LongBoarding? Doesnt everyone know that Longboarding started Surfing! That whole "sole" and "free riding spirit" came from Longboarding! Wheither it is Joel Tudor riding the Nose or Kia Salis Boosting an Air on a 9.0, you need to admitt at some point this is a very Exciting Sport! Why hasnt RedBull or Monster or TransWorld stepped up and Sponsored this PLA ASP sieries? I just dont get it? Step it up Corperate Worl; if you are on the fense, go Watch "Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegetables"! I am sure this video will help you make up your mind! Get it together out there! We want to Surf!!!!!!!!

CELESTINO DIAZ: RIP ; MARVIN FOSTER: RIP

The Passing of Two Legends!

North Shore legend passes away in Hawaii!
North Shore local Marvin Foster passed away on May 18th in Haleiwa, Hawaii. He was 48 years old.

According to Star Bulletin, Foster died from asphyxia due to hanging earlier this week, according to the city Department of the Medical Examiner. The manner of his death was classified as a suicide.
Foster, also called "Carvin Marvin", was known for his fearless frontside and backside tuberiding skills at Pipe and Backdoor in the late seventies/early eighties. He turned pro in 1980, placing well in local contests and winning the 1984 Peru International. Foster was also known for his part in the seminal surf flick The Performers, which documented the '82/'83 North Shore winter.
He'll be missed by the North Shore and international surf communities.

Check back for more info on his death, and leave comments below.
http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/marvin-foster-rip--north-shore-legend-passes-away-in-hawaii_43528/

Puerto Escondido local 'The Apache' passes away!
Longtime Puerto Escondido local Celestino Diaz passed away yesterday of unknown causes. He was 32.

Diaz grew up in Puerto's heavy tubes, winning the Mexican Junior Champs in 1995 and spent his teenage years traveling between California, Indonesia and Hawaii.

Fellow Puerto local Coco Nogales wrote, "Honor him like all the others, he was a warrior. I've grow up with him and seen it all."
http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/celestino-diaz-rip--puerto-escondido-local-the-apache-passes-away_43579/

RIP: NOEL ROBINSON

By: Edwin Morales (photos + captions)
http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/rip-noel-robinson--underground-norcal-charger-filmer-drowns-at-puerto-escondido_43204/

NorCal charger and filmer Noel Robinson drowned while surfing Puerto Escondio this morning.


From Surfline photographer Edwin Morales: "I'm really sad to inform you we have lost a good waterman today in Puerto Escondido. He took off on a solid righthander and wiped out and never came out. Lifeguards and everyone else on the beach were looking for an hour and 20 minutes until they finally found his body."

Puerto resident Ana Quadros adds, "It wasn't super big, I don't know how it happened -- no one does."

Robinson was equally home behind the lens and in the water, spending long summer stints in Puerto Escondio and chasing winter swells in NorCal. He's most recently known for filming Twiggy's XXL Ride of the Year this winter at the Mav's contest and has been a frequent Surfline contributor and he'll be greatly missed.


Stay tuned for more developments and leave condolences below.


http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/rip-noel-robinson--underground-norcal-charger-filmer-drowns-at-puerto-escondido_43204/

Want to Sell Surfing? Go Big!

By Zach Weisberg - April 30, 2010 - 01:46



A lot of attention has been given lately to the retooling of the “ASP World Title Race” and the doubtful emergence of a prospective Rebel Tour. I suppose those are important things for professional surfing to consider, but such alterations are relatively inconsequential when it comes to the inspiration for most of these changes: drawing mass appeal. If surfing really wants to gain mainstream traction (which, no doubt, many surfers have no interest in accomplishing), it needs to continue cultivating and repackaging a phenomenon that dedicated watermen and landlocked civilians find eternally fascinating — big-wave surfing — something that Gary Linden has known for twelve years and Billabong’s XXL initiative has only recently begun to fully realize.

In the winter of 2009, renowned San Diego shaper and accomplished big-wave surfer, Gary Linden, launched the first incarnation of the Big Wave World Tour. Just last week he crowned the Tour’s first World Champion, Carlos Burle, at a private ceremony held at San Clemente’s Surfing Heritage Foundation.

“It’s not just about attracting attention to big-wave surfing – but surfing, per-se,” says Linden, 61. “I think that’s a conduit; you can understand it. It’s life or death. There’s no intricacies. There’s no nuances. What is a stale-fish air or whatever? You can’t understand it. Once we get involved and are captivated by surfing then we’ll start to understand the intricacies…like golf. Golf is boring to watch unless you play golf, but there are so many people playing golf that it has a big audience. We need to get to the same place in surfing.”

Agree with his intentions or not, Linden has a point. There’s little room for misinterpretation when watching a human being scale a 70-foot wave face. Despite the apparent risks involved (read: mortality), the image provided by such a superhuman endeavor is startling. “A grandma in Michigan can understand: Little human. Giant wave,” Laird Hamilton told me during an interview last year. “That would cover the conversation pretty quickly.”

That’s why Linden’s Big Wave World Tour, which links together pre-existing events located in Chile, Peru, Mavericks, Todos Santos, and at Nelscott Reef in Oregon fills such an important void in the world of professional surfing. While tailoring the contests’ packaging for mainstream consumption remains nebulous (live webcasts and post-event television edits currently lead the pack), The Big Wave World Tour presents an organized opportunity for surfing to showcase itself at its most extreme. The X-Games certainly couldn’t do that, which is probably in part why surfing got cut from ESPN’s annual tribute to action sports in 2008. A well-timed hack in shoulder high sandbars doesn’t exactly offer the same compelling treachery as a late drop beneath a two-ton curtain at Mavericks.

And Linden isn’t alone in his efforts. The Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards, now in its tenth year, pioneered recognition for big-wave surfers’ value and courage. Billabong most recently awarded Grant “Twiggy” Baker $50,000 for his “Ride of the Year” at Mavericks this winter, and while Billabong may be the surf industry’s champion for big-wave surfing, clairvoyance couldn’t come quickly enough.

Consider the career of the world’s most respected contemporary big-wave surfer, Greg Long. An Eddie Champion and multiple-time winner at the XXL Awards, Greg Long was just another surfer without a major sponsor, literally living out of his vehicle two years ago. It wasn’t until he had the financial backing of Billabong that he could afford to pursue his passion to the extent he deserved – and we deserved. His brother, Rusty, fought a similar battle, finally acquiring sponsorship with Quiksilver this year, which makes it apparent that so many of the surf industry’s resources have been directed at serving the nuances of the ASP World Tour, that we’ve neglected to cultivate surfing’s most marketable (or at least gripping) subculture: the giant-slayers.

But right now, in late April of 2010, big-wave surfing looks to turn the corner. Just a few months ago, the world watched Greg Long win the 2009 Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau. (The New York Times even ran a story last winter surprised that the Eddie didn’t run on its expected day of the waiting period…since when is the Eddie not running news?) Carlos Burle just claimed the first-ever Big Wave World Tour Championship, and The Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards dished out over $100,000 to the world’s bravest hell men. Right now, it’s safe to say that momentum is in big-wave surfing’s favor.

Now, it’s up to the surf industry to keep it rolling.

By Zach Weisberg - April 30, 2010 - 01:46 - http://blogs.surfermag.com/office-blog/opinion-want-to-sell-surfing-go-big/

GULF OIL SPILL: REACTIONS AND THREATS!

GULF OIL SPILL: REACTIONS AND THREATS
Consequences may be Gulf-wide and extend into the South Atlantic

By: Terry Gibson
http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/gulf-oil-spill-reactions-and-threats-consequences-may-be-gulf-wide-and-extend-into-the-south-atlan_43091/

As public awareness grows regarding a major oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon rig well on a lease owned by British Petroleum (BP), the thousands of people that participated in the Hands Across the Sand (visit www.handsacrossthesand.com) movement are stewing in black irony -- oil-black irony.

"Hands" founder Dave' Rauschkolb's concerns about a potentially catastrophic spill are proving prescient, as oil threatens Gulf and Atlantic beaches and many other ecosystems vital to surfing, recreational fishing, the seafood industry, and tourism in general.

"We feel for the families of the eleven workers killed in the blast," said Rauschkolb, a veteran waterman and restaurant owner from Seaside, Florida. "And it is a shame it is going to take a spill of this magnitude to hopefully open our leaders' minds to the risks oil drilling presents to our coastal communities and fragile environment."


During this spring's Florida legislative session, "Hands", along with an array of environmental groups, succeeded in convincing the Florida legislature not to lift a ban on drilling within 234 miles off Tampa, at least this year. But it's now clear that spills occurring far beyond the line of prohibition can have disastrous impacts. Meanwhile, new reports based on whistle-blower testimony suggest that many other Gulf rigs pose significant threats. The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee has demanded that BP produce "a copy of [these] inspection reports, as well as any reports of other inspections at the Deepwater Horizon rig, including all inspections of the blowout preventer."

Speaking from Louisiana, President Obama stated that, "'Let me be clear, BP is responsible for this leak. BP will be paying the bill." One estimate of damages is high as $14 billion, given a worst-case environmental scenario.

Coming to a Beach Near You

As of this writing, Monday morning, May 3rd, EST, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that the 5,000-foot-deep well is spilling 200,000 gallons or 5,000 barrels per day, and that the spill now covers at least 900 kms. Oil is expected to wash ashore today in what ecologists call the "fertile crescent" -- the coastal marshes of the North Central Gulf that are the primary producers of marine life in the water body. Dead animals have been reported already washing ashore. NOAA has closed waters from the mouth of the Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle to fishing for ten days.

Experts say that the geographic range and extent of physical damage will be directly related to how quickly engineers working for BP can cap the well or drill a "relief well," which would siphon off the oil from another hole. Estimates range from a few days to three months. No coastal area in the Gulf or South Atlantic is safe, and virtually every known significant ecosystem could be impacted.

Surfline forecaster Mike Watson explained that the winds that are currently pushing spill towards shores of the northern Gulf will subside as a cold front passes through. These winds -- up to 40mph out of the southwest -- have limited the abilities of responders to contain the oil with booms. But, they have kept it out of the loop current, which feeds into the Florida current, which feeds into the Gulf Stream. The implication is that through this complex nexus of currents, the entire northern Gulf, the Gulf Coast of Florida, and coastal areas as far north as Cape Hatteras are likely to be affected. The western Gulf is also threatened as summertime winds change prevailing currents into an east-west pattern. A Coriolis affect related to the Mississippi River's influence might also hasten its spread to western Louisiana and Texas coastal features.
 
Worries Bigger than Tar on Wax


Scientists are concerned that the spill could push over-fished species to the brink, and already beleaguered ecosystems past "tipping points." For instance, right now, the imperiled bluefin tuna is spawning in the loop current. Their larvae remain at or near the surface, and contact with oil is fatal to most larvae. (For more info, visit http://www.pewenvironment.org/gulftuna.)

"Because of the way that relatively immobile things wind up together in these currents, pelagic larvae and oil may well wind up together," said Dr. Larry Crowder, an ecologist at Duke University.

The implications for estuarine habitats such as mangroves and tropical coral reefs are similarly dire. In 1989, renowned Paleo-ecologist Dr. Jeremy Jackson studied the impacts of a spill in Panama, in an area where significant baseline data had already been collected.

Bob Glazer, Executive Director of the 64-year-old Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute (gcfi.org), interpreted the paper for concerned coastal stakeholders here.

"This most definitive research showed that after a bad spill, transplanted mangroves did not take and seagrass beds died on oiled reef flats. And stony corals in less than three meters had from 45-percent to a 96-percent loss of coral, while un-oiled reefs had essentially no loss in coral cover. Whole strips of mangroves perished. Obviously, here in the Keys, we, like everyone else along the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico, are hoping that the oil from Deepwater Horizon blowout doesn't reach our shores."

The 1989 Panama spill, and other examples, support concerns that the spill could push beleaguered Gulf ecosystems, such as the north-central marshes and coral reefs in the tropical zone, which are already some of the most rapidly disappearing coastal ecosystems in the world, past a "tipping point."

"It is difficult to say in the early stages of this unfolding situation," says leading snapper researcher Dr. Jim Cowan, from Louisiana State. "But there are few directions in which the spill can move that will fail to produce some impacts on fisheries production, especially if the problem becomes chronic--i.e., the flow of oil is not stopped quickly."

Oil Politics & a New National Ocean Policy

In March, President Obama launched an aggressive plan to lift a decades-long moratorium on offshore oil drilling along the East Coast from Delaware to Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska. Most pundits interpreted this announcement as horse-trading with the oil industry in exchange for support for climate change legislation, one of the administration's top priorities. Another priority is the establishment of a National Ocean Policy framework -- and many surfers, anglers, divers and others who depend on coastal and marine resources hope the President puts this framework into place soon through an executive order. The administration has signaled that it will.

This process began about a decade ago with the advent of the Pew Oceans Commission, and it's subsequent report stating, in essence, that America's coasts oceans are in serious trouble. The George H.W. Bush administration established the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy (USCOP), which returned with similar findings. In June of 2009, President Obama sent a letter to Council of Environmental Quality asking the heads of federal agencies associated with coastal and ocean management to make recommendations for a national policy that "ensures protection, maintenance, and restoration of oceans, our coasts and the Great Lakes." It will also recommend a framework for improved stewardship, and effective coastal and marine spatial planning. (For more info, visit www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/oceans).

While it's unreasonable to think that these policies will halt all drilling, which may not be in the best interests of the nation, the President said he will ban new drilling for the time being, and has also ordered environmental agency officials to inspect all offshore oil rigs and platforms to make sure they adhere to US safety codes. If there's a bright side to this black tragedy, it's that the administration and congress will likely be much more motivated to recognize through policy that natural coastal and marine resources are the core economic assets of coastal communities, and prioritize conservation and the preservation of sustainable uses of these resources.

On April 16 and 17, prior to the spill, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenko and Associate Administrator Eric Schwaab spoke to more than 70 leaders in the recreational fishing community at the recreational fishing summit promised by Lubchenko early in her tenure as NOAA Administrator. Both officials, along with an official from the Council of Environmental Quality, stated in essence that, "environment vs. economy is a false dichotomy." If the spill continues unchecked, and if the President holds BP to paying for the damage, the company, along with the millions of people dependent on ocean and coastal resources will painfully and profoundly realize how dangerously false a dichotomy it is.

By: Terry Gibson is a long-time surf journalist, environmental writer and professional advocate for leading conservation groups.
http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/gulf-oil-spill-reactions-and-threats-consequences-may-be-gulf-wide-and-extend-into-the-south-atlan_43091/