Annual Worldwide Celebration of Surfing Aims to Turn Surfers into Activists

Santa Barbara, CA (June 15, 2007) – Surfrider Foundation Santa Barbara Chapter reminds surfers and beach goers around the world to mark June 21st on their calendars to celebrate International Surfing Day (ISD)—a date to give thanks and go surfing. Local organizers aim to raise awareness of the state of our oceans and beaches and help protect and preserve these recreation areas.

Founded in 2005, ISD is a day for surfers of all skill levels and ages to get wet, paddle out and catch a wave. Novices and pros, shortboarders and longboarders, groms and granddads will come together to celebrate the sport of surfing and give thanks to Mother Nature. Surfrider Foundation and its industry friends and partners will commemorate the day by hosting beach events around the world, ranging from beach clean-ups to surf clinics.

"This is our day to celebrate the spirit and joy of surfing," says Surfrider Foundation Santa Barbara Chapter Chair Scott Bull. "International Surfing Day is also an opportunity for us to give back to the oceans, waves and beaches that bring so much into our lives."

Events vary by location, but include beach clean-ups, surf clinics, paddle outs, chapter meetings held on the beach, organized games of horseshoe and beach volleyball, international food fests, live music performances, yoga sessions, and beach barbecues.

Locally, the Santa Barbara Chapter Surfrider Foundation will be hosting a Beach clean-up at Ledbetter Beach on Thursday June 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Participants will meet near picnic tables. Gloves, and bags will be distributed. Free t-shirts are available as well as other donated items from national sponsors.  In addition, an International Surfing Day Celebration Party will be held at Aloha Sharkeez at 416 State Street starting at 8:00PM sponsored by Surfing Magazine and Simple Shoes. The party will feature the new surf film "Monument Nation" that features Shane Beschen and Kalani David. Raffle prizes and giveaways include Monument clothing and Simple Shoes as well as grand prize surfboard and skateboard. Sharkeez is graciously hosting this celebration and will provide VIP seating, 2 for 1 drink specials and free appetizers.

International Surfing Day is presented by Surfrider Foundation and Surfing Magazine with support from Billabong, Islands, SurfTech, SoBe, Simple, WaveWatch, Pac Sun and Earthpack.

For more information on International Surfing Day, including event locations and details on ISD poster and video contests, go to www.intlsurfingday.com.

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Jalama Surf Report: 6.18.2007

Yesterday morning Bret Keller and I travelled North to Jalama to see what the combination of a moderate Southern-Hemi and local windwell was producing.  We got off to a late start, and didn't arrive until after 9:00am.  There was a moderate onshore breeze, and a very low (minus) tide during the early part of the session.  Crowd was realtively light, and every so often the long-period sets would roll through (3-4 waves per set) resulting in some very quick and steep left-peeling bowls.  We paddled out first at Tarantula's, and ended up surfing the area of The Crack mostly.  The largest sets were slightly overhead; a few rights could be had if you happened to be on the peak.  This was definitely a surf-only trip (i.e. I left the camera at home), so I've got no pics from Jalama to share.  Instead, below are a couple from Rincon this Spring, and another taken at an undisclosed Northern SB spot a while back.  Can you guess which one? 





An Unridden Secret Spot



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What's up with the surf? 

As has been discussed ad nauseum, this past Winter's El Niño would be more appropriately called "El Nada".  It was an epic year alright - one of the worst ever in recent history.  One look at the massive buildup of kelp beds along the South Coast right now is further evidence of the lack of surf that would have ripped the stringers from their anchors in any "normal" Winter.  Well, what do we have to look forward to?  I am certainly no trained meteorologist, and I have only been observing SST charts casually since they first became accessible to the general public vis-á-vis the Internet around 12 or 13 years ago.  In all of that time I have never quite seen a SST (Sea Surface Temperature) anomoly chart like the one that I'm looking at right now:



One feature that you will notice is a pileup of warm water at the equator, hinting at another El Niño.  I'd also like to call your attention to the hot water throughout the Sea of Cortez, and outside of mainland Mexico.  Perhaps most impressive is the very large band of water stretching all of the way across the Pacific, around Hawaii, and connecting ultimately with the Pacific Northwest.  In some areas, this water is a solid 3.5 to 4.0 degrees above normal.  Of course, the rest of the Eastern Pacific, particularly the area directly off of our coastline is about 3 degrees below normal.  So, what does all of this mean?  I'm not really sure, but I suspect that we will not have a repeat of this past season's ultra-weak surfing conditions come next Winter.  Time to go mind surfing again...