Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s hard to stay focused down here and you almost forget there is a surf contest going on. The main event of interest though (aside from the partying) is the Pro and Junior Pro surfing contests where the who’s-who of the top surfers in the country litter the heat sheets. A bunch of our Surfers Candy crew headed down here to showcase their skills and see what damage they could do. After the first day of surfing a lot of the crew was still going strong. Zack Humphreys and Ian Bloch made some heats before getting knocked out in the Junior Pro and were outperformed only by Rob Kelly’s 5th place finish. Rob, Gesler, and myself made our multiple heats and are surfing again on Saturday with the hope of waking up to some forerunners of the swell sent by Hurricane Danielle. I will keep you posted on how the event unfolds.

The walk to get your jersey for your heat is a task in itself.

The evening lineup. Small but almost fun surf - much better than the usual VB flatness

Zack Humphreys and Ian Bloch scoping the scene. Or should I say "prowling" the scene.

Brad Moran on his way for his fourth heat of the day. He made three Junior Pro heats beating out some solid names.

Cops and tons of free stuff are everywhere.

What I did win was a photo contest.  Actually a reasonably big one, and I really thought I had no shot.  Its the International Photography Awards which usually has a pretty big pool of entries.  Although I haven’t shot much of it recently, I felt like my underwater work is usually something people stop and look at more than my other work.  The problem is that the only category for underwater was Nature Underwater.  I’ve got tons of surfing, models, and even product photos involving underwater, but not too much “nature”.  I decided to enter some of my stuff from my last trip to Tahiti – spent a lot of time shooting underwater angles when the waves were smaller.  Action surfing shots doesn’t really equal nature in my mind, but turns out its close enough in these judges minds.

The only problem is that I entered the Non-Pro category so I didn’t win any money (in hindsight I’m not sure why I did non-pro – think the entry fee was lower).  Apparently I’ll still be published in the book of all the winners photos and I get some sort of bragging rights.  Plus I’ve never entered a photo contest, and winning my first one gives me a little confidence for the future.  Who knows, maybe this will be the springboard that gets me to be the next Maplethorpe (google it).  Probably not.

So while my exile from competitive surfing still stands, maybe I’ll start remembering what its like to win again soon.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In hopes of keeping the summer fun alive Surfers Candy has decided to host a little scavenger hunt for all of our loyal readers. Ocean Minded (the best sandal company in the world by the way) has been extremely generous in sponsoring the hunt by hooking us up with a bunch of killer gear for the prizes. So what do you need to know to get your hunt started? Two important details: What to hunt for and, of course, the prizes.

Prizes

There are 5 scavenger hunt items to start. The first person to successfully complete a given item will be deemed the winner.  There will be one winner for each item on the list. The winner of each item in the scavenger hunt list will get to choose one product from the Ocean Minded Prize Package. You can choose from: A men’s shoe, men’s sandal, women’s sandal, men’s t-shirt, women’s t-shirt, or a hat. This is on a first come first serve basis so get moving on the items below!

Note: You can only win once in this contest so pick the one you will do the best!

The Ocean Minded Prize Package

Scavenger Items

1. Ocean Minded Logo in a Surfers Candy Post: In one of our upcoming posts there will be an Ocean Minded Logo inserted directly in to the post. The first person to comment on that particular post wins. Note: the person to make the comment must acknowledge that they have spotted the logo and that they are the winner of this item for the scavenger hunt. We will contact you by the email address you enter in the comment area so make sure it’s one you use.
2. Photo of an Ocean Minded Team Rider: In order to win this item you must get a photo taken of yourself standing next to an Ocean Minded team rider who is also a Surfers Candy contributor. The team rider/contributor must be holding their surfboard with an Ocean Minded logo showing in the photo. Luckily, there are several people fitting this criteria and they are: Dean Randazzo, Jamie Moran, Rob Kelly, Chris Kelly, and Kevin Richards. So, hunt one of these guys down, get a photo with them holding their board, and email the photo to [surferscandy@gmail.com]. First person to do it wins.
3. Outdoor Sticker Hunt: We have put an Ocean Minded sticker somewhere in the town of Ocean City, NJ (home to several contributors). Over the next couple of days we will give clues that will lead you to the sticker. Find it and take a picture of yourself with it. Then email it to us at [surferscandy@gmail.com]. First person to do this wins.
4. Hilarious Beach Photo and Caption: This is where you can really get creative. Take a photo of yourself, your friends, or a stranger doing something hilarious on the beach along with a caption, and the one we laugh at the hardest will win. We will post the winning photos (and runners up) so get crazy with it!
5. Beach Cleanup: Summertime attracts tons of visitors to the beach and, unfortunately, it often attracts tons of trash to our beaches. Ocean Minded is one the leading companies in the surf industry when it comes to keeping our environment clean. Many of their products are made from recycled and sustainable materials and they are always promoting ways to keep our beaches clean. Now it’s your turn.  Organize a beach clean up with your friends or just tackle the trash yourself and you could win free gear from Ocean Minded. Submit a photo of your efforts with a brief description and the one who collects (and disposes properly of) the most trash wins.

All submissions should be emailed to surferscandy@gmail.com

***CONTEST ENDS SEPTEMBER 5, 2010***

[Specials thanks to Ocean Minded for being a great organization with great products that support healthy and friendly lifestyles. Visit Ocean Minded at www.oceanminded.com or check our their facebook page and follow their recent happening]

Note: This is the logo to look out for in an upcoming post for the first item in the list. This however is NOT the post.

]]> http://surferscandy.com/surferscandy/2010/08/19/scavenger-hunt/feed/ 0 http://surferscandy.com/bradmoran/2010/08/19/tahitian-goosebumps/ http://surferscandy.com/bradmoran/2010/08/19/tahitian-goosebumps/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:17:39 +0000 Brad Moran http://19.118 I’m not sure if it’s the fact that i’ve seen Teahupoo up close and personal, or if it is just the fact that this is the heaviest wave in the world. Either way, this wave gives me chills every time I see footage of it. It may be expensive to get there and such, but Tahiti is the greatest place to travel. Every visit you make you will always leave with some skin missing due to the ridiculously sharp, shallow reef. The VonZipper Trials did not disappoint, and I hope the Billabong Pro is one for the ages. Let’s see...]]> I’m not sure if it’s the fact that i’ve seen Teahupoo up close and personal, or if it is just the fact that this is the heaviest wave in the world. Either way, this wave gives me chills every time I see footage of it. It may be expensive to get there and such, but Tahiti is the greatest place to travel. Every visit you make you will always leave with some skin missing due to the ridiculously sharp, shallow reef. The VonZipper Trials did not disappoint, and I hope the Billabong Pro is one for the ages. Let’s see some scared faces on WCT surfers, and let’s see some surfers put it all on the line!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

There was a time, not long ago, when Myspace was the place to be on the web. You could make your own profile, talk to your friends, and even put up your oh-so-sick surf clips so all the chicks could see that you’re a real ripper. Totally awesome!

There too was a time when Costa Rica was the place to be in Central America. You could surf six-foot Hermosa, grab some Imperials, and maybe even hit Jaco for a night. So rad! Most of us were left believing that we had found the mecca, and things just couldn’t surpass the joys of Myspace and Costa Rica. Then, along came Facebook. And Nicaragua.

It’s funny how the popularity of one thing can lead to negligence of another. Most people neglect their Myspaces now, and likewise, a majority of pro bros and average joe bros alike seem to neglect that silly little country called Costa Rica.

Well, Zack Humphreys, Michael Dunphy, Chris Kelly, Carmen Vicari, Ryan Struck, and I decided to get back to our roots and rekindle the flame with Myspace. That means we went on a trip to Costa Rica, for those of you who are not so metaphor savvy…

We all log on to social networking sites in hopes that we will have a notification, private message, or, at the very least, a good old-fashioned friend request — just like we all go on surf trips hoping for perfect swell, winds, and weather. While our trip consisted of a few notifications here and there, it did not include the inbox message from that smoking hot chick you’ve been out of touch with since the 7th grade. But you know what? The notifications were enough to get by. And in the end, it was great to be back on the good old Myspace.

Surfing-wise, we never got that message from Cindy Lou either — but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have fun. The beachbreak in front of our hotel offered up some fun ramps from time to time, as did another beachbreak about an hour away. At one point, a swell that had us jinxing ourselves by using words like “firing” and “sick” was flanked by awkward tides. Thanks a lot, full moon. We still got some fun waves out of the swell — just not the kind that you drew on your notebooks in 7th grade so that Cindy Lou knew you surfed. No one day really stood out from the rest, but every day there was enough of a wave to provoke optimism: “I could totally land a backflip out there.” Sure you can, Brendan…

Outside of the water, it was the same old routine everyday surf trip. Our time was mostly spent talking about our feelings, reading and discussing the literature of Hemingway, and having abundant and meaningful debates centered on the state of our country’s economic instability. Oh, and when the occasion arose where we felt festive, we would grace our palettes with a sip of fine merlot. Sometimes pinot noir.

Whoops, sorry, I was recounting a dream I had in which Matt Damon and I went to Machu Picchu. Except in the dream, Matt Damon had braces. Anyway, back to the trip… We would drive, sometimes recklessly, from spot to spot, making up excuses as to why a spot wasn’t all-time. “Tomorrow it will be for sure!” Occasionally, the car was graced with the presence of a Taylor Swift song, courtesy of Dunphy’s iPod. We also listened to a lot of rap. We are so hood. At the hotel, we would eat unhealthily and drink beers, sometimes irresponsibly. Dinner was usually eaten on a table weighed down by Macbooks. Eyes were glued to screens, and half-thoughts were occasionally grumbled at one another: “I am sooo getting laid when I get home.” Thank you, Internet.

On one particular evening, a few of us decided to check out the bar scene in nearby Tamarindo. Tamarindo, as I learned, is a place of promiscuity that is teeming with derelicts. The bar that we were directed to was a place where Pitbull’s latest hit played loud and surfers, smelly ex-pats, creepy drug dealers, and Swedish students could come and drink together, united as one. It was like a prelude to Celebrity Rehab on VH1, except without the celebrity part. Or VH1.

As the night grew older, the Pitbull became louder, the Swedes more attractive, and the drug dealers creepier. My other two intellectual standouts and I had made the mature decision to drive to Tamarindo on a near-empty gas tank. Filling stations are a scarcity in the area, so at 2:00 a.m. when I left the other two behind, opting instead for a $40 cab ride back to the hotel, I knew I was really being a team player. By 10:00 a.m. the next morning, Dunphy was getting anxious. He wasn’t worried about our friends’ overall health and wellbeing — he just expressed concern because his iPod was in the car and his flight was coming up. Within an hour, the other two returned, sleepless, with a mangled tire and many a story far too inappropriate to tell.

All things considered, Myspace is still pretty rad. You cool trendy folk can have your Triangle Beach and Flor De Caña-induced hangovers. Go ahead, book your ticket to Nicaragua and change your Facebook status to let all 562 of your friends know you’re going, you world traveler you. Then just send me a Myspace message and let me know how it goes.

Just like the first time you got a call from someone in a car, of if you were one of the 37 people to ever use the phones they installed in airplane seatbacks, there is kinda a bit of a thrill for my first wifi session at 35,000 feet.

I’m en route to LA for a few days for a commercial shooting job – apparently I’m going to have some acting role in the commercial…. we’ll see if that pans out.  Was not stoked to get up at 5 am, check the waves and realize instead of surfing chest high super fun wedges I’d be getting shacked in a phallic tin can that has a musk of morning breath and BO.  I love flying.

But I was pumped to find that instead of watching some Jude Law romantic comedy, I’m actually able to get a little bit of work done.  In fact I’ve been pretty productive trying to track down the dick who has my iPhone right now.  Went through all the surf blogs, did a lot of reading, and finally saw the video on Parko’s blog where he cut his foot (that wave was sick).

Also rummaged through the new Surfers Candy site redesign hunting for bugs.  Is it just me or do you guys like the old site better too?

Sunrise over chest high Ocean City

Patchwork America

Internet? Exit Row? Flying is becoming nearly tolerable