MetaFilter posts tagged with surfing

If surfing was more like skateboarding

mathowie — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:32:12 -0800

Matt Meola surfs like a character in a surfing video game. Sky rocketing airs, barrel rolls, 360 airs, shuvits, & weird flip spins that are more at home in a concrete skatepark or snowboard trick park than a Hawaiian wave.

making surfboards in the 20th and 21st century

morganw — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:44:08 -0800

Clark Foam closed its doors almost four years ago due to Grubby Clark's worry that regulations covering polyurethane foam molding would only get worse, but US surfboard making has survived. In fact, it provided some an opportunity to reconsider board making in a historical context. Estimates vary from "well over half" to 90% of US made surfboards used Clark "blanks" which were molded polyurethane foam which was hand shaped then "glassed" with fiberglass mat and polyester resin. The alternative is extruded (like blue Styrofoam insulation board) or expanded (like foam cups) polystyrene foam covered with epoxy resin. "Epoxy" boards were originally a cheap alternative because the plug was molded in its final shape instead of hand shaped. Now you can shape your own board and and "glass" it with bamboo cloth. Partial instructions at the Make blog and more complete ones in the magazine.

Five fit, hairless Australian lads learn to surf

joeclark — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:06:49 -0800

Five fit, hairless Australian lads learn to surf. And they’re gay! (Direct YouTube channel.) In Canada (homeland of two of these “Australians”), they’d be learning to play hockey. In Argentina, what – polo? In Monaco... equestrian? bobsleigh? (Soccer would, of course, be applicable almost everywhere.) This seems to be another example of the now-decade-and-a-half-long effort to achieve détente between Sport and the Gays.

... but then I was like, 'there's no sharks here'

The Power Nap — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:55:01 -0800

When most people think of the Great Lakes, surfing is the last thing that comes to mind. Unsalted seeks to expose the unique world of Great Lake surfers. Storm chasing plays a large role in these surfers lives, as good waves generated by the winds only last a few hours. They brave blizzard conditions to launch off of an ice floatilla onto a cresting wave.

Year of Da Cat

bonefish — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 06:22:33 -0800

Year of Da Cat: Known as surfing's "Black Knight" or "The Angry Young Man of Surfing" (even "the consummate surf nazi") for his attitude, but more famously as "Da Cat" for his feline grace on a wave, Miki Dora defined the soul of surfing when it exploded into 60's popularity via Gidget (a historical moment in which he had no small part). Cashing in as the go-to stunt surfer for beach party movies even as he decried surfing's commercialization, Dora parlayed his notoriety in the surf media (including a highlight in The Endless Summer) to icon status, venerated even more since his death in 2002. When a single encounter with the legend warrants a web page or two and movies have been made about chasing his enigma and taking up his challenge, a Hollywood bio-pic would seem obvious and indeed, the most recent Dora biography has been optioned by Leonardo DiCaprio (though surf bloggers have other casting choices, of course). Through the 1970's and into the 90's, Dora roamed the world as an itinerant scam artist in search of perfect waves, leaving dietrus behind that is now for sale, including his most prized possessions, correspondence and a "forsaken son" who produces a web comic that reimagines Da Cat literally, as a furry! Now in surfer heaven and channeled from beyond the grave, Miki is still suffering the kooks. Miki on MySpace: 1, 2. YouTubluar: Classic footage of Da Cat doing his thing in this tribute video by The Supertones. Dora and others in perfect Rincon. Endless Summer's Bruce Brown talks with Dora at the 1st Duke in 1966. Clip from beach party movie For Those Who Think Young features Da Cat stunt surfing and getting air in the dance pit as an extra. My favorite: Dora charges the notorius Dogtown break circa 1974. Sublime trim! Dora explains himself in this mid-90's clip. Some of the last footage of Dora surfing ever shot. In Search of Da Cat trailer. Author David Rensin (All for a Few Perfect Waves: the Audacious Life and Legend of Rebel Surfer Miki Dora) discusses the man. Photos: Iconic images by legendary surf photographer LeRoy Grannis. Last pic taken of Miki Dora.

Surf's Up

ornate insect — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:31:51 -0800

Clips & trailers from vintage & modern surf films: "Big Wednesday" from Blue Surf-ari (1965); opening sequence from Blue Surf-ari; clip from The Endless Summer (1966); Endless Summer trailer; Pipeline (1st Ride) from Surfing Hollow Days (1961); Fantastic Plastic Machine (1969) trailer; Follow Me (1969) trailer; The Sunshine Sea (1972) trailer; Pipeline sequence, Five Summer Stories (1972); Morning of the Earth (1973) clip; Storm Riders (1981) long trailer; wipe-out scene from Momentum (1992); Thicker Than Water (1997) trailer, Step Into Liquid (2003) trailer; famous clip from Riding Giants (2004).

Glacier surfing

gottabefunky — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:23:30 -0800

Glacier surfing. Filming in Alaska in 1995, photographer and surfer Ryan Casey looked at the huge waves kicked up by calving glaciers – up to 30 feet high, breaking on an ice shelf 18 inches deep, surrounded by tumbling chunks of ice as big as buildings – and thought, I bet you could surf that. A month ago, Hawaiian big-wave surfers Garrett McNamara and Keali’i Mamala did it. (YT)

mini gnarly

nickyskye — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 21:59:41 -0800

Radical Rodents: Chopsticks, Bunsen, Harry & Curly, surfing mice. An Australian man trained several mice on tiny surfboards. More surfing critters, a surfing dog and another one. Surfing parrot (video repeats in a couple of spots).

River Surfing

furtive — Sat, 05 May 2007 23:14:40 -0800

Interesting photos and video of Montreal's standing wave, which has become something of a surfing hot spot (.mov) even though it is 400 km from the nearest ocean. Standing wave surfing is also big in Munich. Perhaps fallen Baywatch star David Hasselhoff had something to do with it?

The healing power of Surfing

Shanachie — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 17:09:48 -0800

Born with a rare syndrome that left him profoundly autistic, seven-year-old Luke was trapped in his own body. But then his dad took him surfing. More on Izzy Paskowitz and Elliot Zuckerman

The Pororoca

jason's_planet — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 08:55:25 -0800

The Pororoca is an Amazonian tidal bore that generates waves up to 12 feet high which can last for over half an hour. Surfers from all around the world have visited Brazil in order to ride this mega-wave. Here are some videos:

The Pororoca Phenomenon (4:28)
Pororoca 1 of 2 (3:11)
Pororoca 2 of 2 (3:21)
Pororoca (26 minutes long)

When Firefox, privacy and relationships collide...

badlydubbedboy — Thu, 23 Mar 2006 08:21:35 -0800

Firefox “causes” breakup... One man uses his fiance's computer to surf dating and swinger websites. He's careful to wipe his passwords etc. as he surfs - and then for good measure, de-installs Firefox.

The fiance then decides to install Firefox for the usual reasons, not knowing the above and happens to decides to edit the list of sites to never save passwords for. And comes across a list of said websites, and realises that he's still an active member of those websites.

Surely when you de-install a program, the uninstallation process should get rid of program-related data too, like in games? Although the geniuses at Firefox manifestly disagree with this. Other commenters also think the man was in the right.

Mavericks Big Wave Surfing Contest finished today. Nice gallery of the days events.

derangedlarid — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 21:03:00 -0800

Mavericks Big Wave Surfing Competition has ended. Grant Baker from South Africa took the 30K first place prize. Nice photo gallery.

Early In The Mornin' We'll Be Startin' Out

fandango_matt — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 23:57:25 -0800

The 24-hour notice was given: the big wave surf contest at Mavericks is on: 8a PST Tuesday!

Gnarly raspberry!

loquacious — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 21:21:37 -0800

Hawaiian lava boarding (he'e holua) revival. History here and holua sleds/boards here.

State of the Beach

MLIS — Sun, 05 Jun 2005 20:05:39 -0800

Surfrider is a nonprofit environmental organization that produces a annual "State of the Beach" (explanation here) report with information about US beach access (public access and private ownership issues), water quality, beach erosion, surfing, links and more. Reports are available for Hawaii, West Coast, Gulf States, Southeast, Mid Atlantic, Puerto Rico, Northeast and Great Lakes. In-depth Water Quality reports for beaches in CA, HI, TX, AL, and parts of FL, as well as results of beach water testing conducted by (or sanctioned by) Surfrider Chapters are also available. There are also Surfrider chapters in: Australia, Brazil, Canada (no website), Europe and Japan. EPA: Beaches is also an excellent resource for information about the condition of US beaches. [via LII New This Week]

Here Come The Sharks

breezeway — Fri, 29 Apr 2005 08:57:04 -0800

Huntington Beach, California (Surf City, USA) is home to surfing's walk of fame and the International Surfing Museum. See the Duke with the Duke, other legends, pioneering photographers, and kings of the surf both local and international alongside other icons in the collection and exhibits .

Ride the BIG One!

fenriq — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 09:53:31 -0800

Mavericks: The Wave Beyond
The conditions were right and, about 30 hours ago, they announced this year's Mavericks Surf Contest was ON, the waves get as big as 50 feet and are considered "one of the most challenging waves in the world"! This isn't Hawaii, this is just off the coast of Half Moon Bay, California!

Surf's Up

Crackerbelly — Mon, 20 Dec 2004 10:29:27 -0800

Surf's Up! While many of us in North America are battling freezing rain, sleet, snow, and other sub-zero madness, the folks on the north shore of Oahu are enjoying their own December weather phenomenon.

Riding Giants.

F4B2 — Fri, 23 Jul 2004 11:16:38 -0800

Riding Giants. Stacy Peralta's new release, is a chronicle of big-wave surfing , from the pioneering men who ride mountains of the ‘60’s, to the humongous tow-in riders of today. To understand the enormity of their courage, read John Krakauer's epic account of Mark Foo's last ride. Check out the greatest photographed wipeout in surfing history. And read more about surfing's most evil wave and check out the waves at your favourite surfing break.

big waves

thedailygrowl — Thu, 22 Apr 2004 17:23:19 -0800

Heheheheheheee wipe oooout! The biggest moving mountain ever surfed.

Shane — Thu, 29 Aug 2002 10:54:01 -0800

One in four employees has a serious Web habit, spending more than one entire workday each week surfing non-work-related Web sites while at their desks.
Is this you? This is me right now. Some days I'm not sure how I still have a job. Does your employer try to control frivolous internet time? Does your boss still peek over your shoulder and find you looking at "pr0n"?
C'mon, 'fess, up, tell us your stories...

jackstark — Tue, 12 Jun 2001 13:53:00 -0800

Boeing is upping the chance you'll be able to surf while you fly.. Question is: will more of these devices also mean a lower price?

tamim — Wed, 30 Aug 2000 17:44:21 -0800

Some are just lucky (via Donkeymon), others, not so.

Nyarlathotep — Fri, 25 Aug 2000 08:03:53 -0800

The weezils at AllAdvantgae.com are up to no good. - First of all, who thought paying people to surf was a brilliant way to make money? AllAdvantage is now seeing the error or their ways and is switching all members over from the Pay to Surf plan to a new Sweepstakes plan regardless of whether their members want to switch or not. Apparently those who have bothered to read the email they sent out about the switch are getting pissed.