Billabong Pro JBay....ON NOW!

Wicked, the long long lines of Jeffery's bay are a reported 4 ft and nary a wind is blowing. The live trials are on this very second and the boys are all running for the finish line. Its early in the morning there since we are looking at about a 6 hour ahead time difference from Toronto to South Africa. The live video feed displays the beach, rocks, greenery, a bit of a grey sky and some half decent waves. Not amazing waves for this challenging break but waves none the less (remember I live on a lake).

With more than one past winner of this event, 45 full time pros and 4 wildcards the competition should be stiff. Watch legends and newbies alike make it look easy live for the next ten days at www.billabongpro.com .

Enlightened-Sports Photography Exhibition July 2-30 @ Steamwhistle Brewery

 

Its sports photography, skate,surf,wake,climbing photography. After careful selection from well known and amateur photographers including, Dano Pendygrasse (photo editor of Future Snowboarding Magazine) , Jeremy Koreski (photo editor of SBC Surf) and Ryan Allan (local skateboard photographer). Selected photos have been displayed in 2'x3' light boxes along the walls of the Steam Whistle Brewery. The light boxes provide an awesome viewing experience by enhancing colours and contrast making impressive captures that much more dramatic.

Prints of each of the photographs are available for reasonable varying prices and the full light box set ups going for around 500 dollars. 

This is the second year running and already the show has gathered a media buzz around it offering cash prizes to top photos and gaining sponsership from the surf giant Quiksilver among others. 

The work is impressive, the admission is free, flip-flops or skate shoes are totally acceptable foot wear and its located downtown in a brewery. Totally worth popping in and taking a look before the month is out. 

As an added bonus, surf inspired art work by Great Lake Native turned Hawaii local Christie Shinn is also on display. www.shinnoriginal.com

ROXY spokesmodel search.

ROXY is on the hunt for a spokesmodel. To me this is a very exciting thing, I am learning more and more that the things that excite me do not exactly line up with the rest of the city's idea of exciting, proving once again that I don't really belong. Toronto was the only Canadian stop on the tour, an open casting call held at Boathouse, with a surprisingly small turn out of girls with the dream of representing ROXY on a global scale.

Alas, my name was not called as one of the three finalists, but dreams are not shattered yet. 

In addition to the spokesmodel search ROXY is accepting video pitches to have your wildest dreams brought to life with a 10,000 dollar bonus from ROXY. The competition is going to be tough, check back for updates.

Great Lake Surfers Unite - Beer Night Sucess

       

 A great night was had by all at the Steam Whistle Brewery last Thursday. Local surfers and friends hooked up to party, watch vids and not feel guilty for chatting exclusively about surfing and/or surf related issues. 

There were lots of good friends, familiar faces and new ones as well. VonZipper, Boardsports and Billabong hooked us up with some goods for silent auction and little sandwichs. James G. brought his custom built Five surfboards with him and showed off his newest long board creations, a raw carbon fiber deck and a deck with wood sandwiching a foam core, super fun light rides.

Everyone was very festive and many of us stayed until the staff were politely pushing us out the doors. 

Great success, can't wait for some surf to stir up and to see everyone in the water again. 

The room....

 slowly filling at Steam Whistle Brewery, surf movies rocking, food to the left and sweet auction deals to the right.

 

Five boards and their creator James....

high quality local Toronto boards. I've seen his boards make the transition from lake Ontario to Pacific ocean with out missing a beat. 

Robin  of the wahine crew....

representing the freshy girls.

The many faces of Marston Clarke.....

 who is a lovely guy for real.

Testing out the new Five carbonfiber longboard model....

way too much fun.

We love swag......

among many others I will not have to buy another bar of cold water wax for at least a few years/forever.

Team kills it....

spreading the love.

A brief flash of alumni nostelgia....

and the end of a great night.

sssssshhhhhh its a secret

Oh what a perfect day of tropical storms, shifting blankets of fog and surf. Biking around Toronto is magic for finding secret places. Rolling through sand, mud, pavement and puddles I had a feeling that I should have brought a surf board even though the forecast was practically yelling flat. 

The skies opened up. It took about ten minutes of wind, rain and rushing gutters before once dry feet were ankle deep in water.



The rain stopped as quickly as it started. We sat and watched micro waves crash perfectly into shore.



We ventured further to find out these micro waves had bigger rideable brothers crashing left and right around a small pier. I couldn't contain my joy at the sight. 

Before too long a lanky red haired man sauntered up to us to tell us his story. We learned of a party boat that had come and gone a few more kilometers past us. I couldn't help but assume that he was just as pumped on the surf and very excitedly pointed it out to him. He thanked us in between his constant and almost alarming fits of laughter. I worried our seclusion might fast become our enemy, but we soon parted ways and were left with the waves, the fog and a feeling of disbelief. 

OOO LA, summer concerts continue with THE KOOKS

I did (do?) love the backstreet boys, but it would be a horrible miscommunication to saddle the young 20 somethings from Brighton into this category. The boys have kept the vibe going from their first album Inside in/Inside out (Virgin 2006). Their new album Konks (Virgin 2008) keeps the honest ballads flowing with the bands sweet British rock pop voices. 

Much of the show was from Inside in/Inside Out which could be retitled happy (but kinda dark) sing along songs for the summer. Happy days for me having spent many a day and night on the seaside falling in love and listening to the Kooks amongst many other bands springing from the United Kingdom. These were the songs I knew and wanted to hear.

The crowd was a good mix of early to late 20 year olds. Referring back to my original BSB comment, it can be admitted that given the age of the band I was worried that I had somehow gotten into music geared toward a much younger demographic. To my relief, good tunes can be written at any age, based on my experiences on that crazy island I think its easy to grow up fast. Proof of this is lead singer Luke Pritchard who wrote the song "Naive" when he was 16 years old.

The sound was great, with every show the Kool Haus impresses me more and more, it definitely might have something to do with the new favorite viewing spot in front of the sound booth. The solo version of Seaside did it all for me. Video to come.

Summa Summa Summa Murda MIA @ SoundAcademy Toronto

MIA Sound Academy June 3 

Armed with multiple questionable wrist bands we rode our bikes to the docks. A coasting downhill ride along the lakeshore bike path, no waiting for buses or taxis, I highly recommend it.

We had been put on the guest list, yet another wrist band to add to the two old press passes we had taped to our wrist. The so called VIP area was pretty nice, no lineup at the bar, balcony over looking the lake and skyline, and birds eye view, but kinda boring compared to the swelling crowd below.

We headed downstairs to join the party. Grabbing a beer in the caged in area of the club the atmosphere of the audience was immediately evident. A group of girls danced around in circles telling friends they loved them, two other girls wearing mexican wrestling masks, a smattering of H and M and the obligatory wildly printed leggings a la MIA herself. In short, everyone was seriously ready for some silly dancing times. 

Deciding to make a move we marched toward the front, wrist bands out camera up, after all we were there to take footage of the show. We were feeling mighty bold and didn't stop once we reached the side stage, marching ourselves straight pass some very puzzled security guards. Due to the fact that MIA is a international artist and not an emerging local band, our multi-coloured wrist bands didn't quite cut it. We were quickly surrounded by guards and gracefully backed off. We were pretty happy just to be near the front.  However, it was quickly realized that the door located next to us led up to the DJ booth of the club. After missing our first chance fate blessed us with a second try, before I could even think about it I was inside the door and walking up the stairs. We were given what best compares to a frontrow opera house box seat view.

Cameras out we took photos with our feet up bopping around in place. Through the wild mixes, jamming crowd (on and off stage) and mad sparkles the music spoke for itself.

MIA finished the evening with the crowd favorite "Paper planes" leaving everyone buzzing and wanting more.

Globe Pro Fiji sickness!

Cloudbreak, Fiji : photo Tom Servais/Globe

Because I'm still way to pumped about Costa Rica to write about it in a sane way heres a little heads up on the Globe Pro Fiji.

Heading into round 4 there are 16 of our favorite surfers including Slater, Fanning and the Hobgoods competing for glory. Surprisingly, we are already down one three time ASP world champ Andy Irons who was eliminated in round three by fellow Hawaiian Fred Patacchia.

'Wet your pants' barrels are the only currency as riders rip up wicked conditions at Cloudbreak and Restaurants. Regardless of standings the footage shows that buckets of sick rides are being caught all round.

Globe's website for the event is a smorgasboard of videos, live feed, photos and results ready to entertain you for hours, make you want to quit your day job and move somewhere beautiful.

Sooo check it out and I will try to get my thoughts, words and photos surrounding Costa together. 

All Aboard for Costa Rica!

The count down is over. After work tonight I will be grabbing my bags and heading to the airport. One surf board, clean and ready for some warm water wax, my trusty old Dakine Bag (9 years old and counting) and myself. I can't wait. Things are a little up in the air still but we have the important hookups and will be on a beach in Costa Rica by late afternoon. Everything lands in its right place. 

Until my return. 

        Diva

An inspired musical daydream of a tour a.k.a. Matty Powell is back in town!

First of all, April 11th @ Mitzi's Sister and April 23rd @ The Troubador, those are the only Toronto dates left of the tour.  You must go.

Matty Powell left Toronto for Saskatoon to be wed, have babies and make music. He triumphed with all three. With his four part band Matty has travelled by Train playing music remincent of Dave Matthews, Train Track Folk songs and East Coast vibes every chance they get.

 

The Quartet consisting of Matty Powel on guitar and vocal; Gillian Snider on Accordian and vocal; Ryan Spracken on fiddel (go suzuki method) and Joey Laurer on Banjo and vocals. Named "The Great Train Reverie" (Merriam-Webster: 1. Daydream 2. The condition of being lost in thought) the quartet is playing not only bars but house parties and food cars on trains. They are making their way to Halifax and playing again in Toronto before heading home.  

 

Including coverage by the CBC you can check out the band at www.mattypowell.com, adding them to myspace (www.myspace.com/mattypowell) or joining the facebook group "The Great Train Reverie".

 

Other dates include Montreal, Charlettetown, Mocton, Liverpool, Halifax, Wakefield and Ottawa between now and April 22nd. 

                                              

-"Train Travel Fact:A train uses up to 70% less energy and causes up to 85% less air pollution when compared to a jet aircraft."