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April 3, 2012

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Click HERE to watch the video

Shawn White comes up short next to 12-year-old Tom Schaar (who’s not quite five-foot), the sixth-grade grommet who pulled off the first ever 1080 on March 30th. Not to detract from Master White’s surreal accomplishments in skate and snow over the years, but it’s pretty impressive to see a little guy shine in the glow of legends. And word’s getting around. In a Twitter post, skateboarding Godfather, Tony Hawk, (who in 1999 incinerated everyone’s mind with 900 in the X Games) gave modest praise to Schaar, writing “In the last year I’ve seen Shawn White try 1080s & Michie Bruso crash-land a few. Tom Shaar nailed it.”

One thing that does get to me, though, is the media-hype over Shaar’s age: twelve. I did concede that it’s impressive when placed against the likes of some of the most revered athletes in extreme sports, but that grommets are taking over is nothing of a surprise. You might not admit it aloud, but you know there’s a little kid at your local break who surfs better than you, and one at the skate-park who skates better than you, and one at the lake who wakeboards better than you, one on the mountain… Maybe their generally nano-sized build makes them centripetally gifted, or maybe their bones haven’t yet harden so they bend in unbelievable ways; probably it’s just they harbour that puerile fear of nothing. Whatever the credit, little dudes rule now.

Posted:

March 30, 2012

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Dear Other States,

We’re a lucky bunch, us Floridians. Especially we tan-skinned sun-lovers of the south counties, we’re pretty much the envy of our neighbours. In fact, that’s the perfect analogy: to the states around us, we’re that nice house on the best lot on the block, with the lush green lawn, colourful, blooming plants, shady trees… all alive and thriving in the middle of a long winter drought. We’re envied, and we know it. Other states have hidden gems and secret places. We don’t. Boasted about freely, our treasures and gems are no secret: our beaches, our water, our weather, our everglades, our orange juice. And they’re ours. Come visit for a week, or the winter, but when you leave we’ll still be here.

And, geographically, we’re pretty spectacular, too. Just jump your eyes to any map and you can see, Florida sticks out like a…um…well…well, it certainly does stick out! Alaska’s cool, but it’s so out of place it may as well be an island. Like Hawai’i. Okay, we got nothin’ on Hawai’i, they’re #1. But second is still awesome—it beats the hell outta 50th (ahem…Iowa…ahem). Our protuberant peninsula can hardly even be sub-categorised into a U.S. region. We’re in the east but, despite our prime Atlantic Ocean real estate, we’re not The East. We’re in the south but, despite the abundance of Southern-Cross-clad souped-up pickup trucks, we’re not the South (thank God). We’re our own region. We’re Florida.

Love and regards,

Floridians

Posted:

March 18, 2012

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Steve Pezman, co-founder of The Surfer’s Journal, on the early history of surfing.

Posted:

March 15, 2012

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Got plant separation anxiety? This one’s for you. Take your green thumb on the road with a Bike Planter from WearablePlanter. Beyond looking awesome, the planters are made using 3D printing technology, so not only will you be showing off your love of nature, but you’ll be participating in a little piece of the future.

Hand dyed, UV coated, and bound to rock your socks. This planter works best with a clipping from a succulent that has been allowed to take root or a large air plant. Bike and plant sold separately. No bike? There’s plenty of ways to wear; how about a airplant brooch?

Posted:

March 15, 2012

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We’ve seen eco and fashion joining forces more and more and we love it. Some succeed; some fail. Miami-based Ombu Shoes is a model of upward movement. Now you can outfit an eco-friendly face with retro-inspired shades from Holloway, who designs and manufactures eye wear frames from reclaimed timber and recycled skate decks. See the wooden line @ www.hollowayeyewear.com.au

 

 

Posted:

March 10, 2012

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“You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” - Jack London

We all have days when we’re just not very inspired, when we need passion and creativity breathed into us. I know I do. For anyone who needs a little shove, whose creativity has dried up, who needs to be moved … I humbly offer this simple guide.

While I never claim to have all the answers, nor that my way is the only way, I share here some things I’ve learned about inspiration, some tricks I’ve learned that work for me. I’m often in need of inspiration, but in all cases I’ve found it. And it’s a wonderful thing.

WHAT IS INSPIRATION?

Many people think of it as an elusive quality that can’t be forced, and yet it can be found if you look for it. Others think it’s a way to find ideas, but it’s more than ideas … it’s being moved to put those ideas into action.

Inspiration is finding something else that is divinely inspired (people, nature, amazing ideas), having that inspiration breathed into you (“breath” is the root of “inspiration”), and then taking action on it. Creating, doing, inspiring others.

Read more…

Posted:

March 1, 2012

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“Some May Say” by Sound Proof

I saw this band play about five years ago at a small green market (of all places!).  Instantly-enthralling and mesmerising, however humble of a performance. Since then, nothing. They may have renamed. They may have moved to California. They May have dropped off the face of the earth, or been abducted by aliens. They may have disbanded. The only remnants: a few scratched CD’s floating around, a few ethereal tracks digitally spinning in a few MP3′s.

Posted:

February 29, 2012

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2

The South Florida indie record industry is a fickle one–the record industry as a whole must be a fickle one. Bands rise to popularity and fade from the face of the earth over-night. Some take off on the college campus charts; some even reach the plateau of opening-act  stardom. Some just plain hit it big, do lot’s of shows, release album after album, get repetitive radio play and become subjects of criticism, labelled as “sell-outs” by supporters who recall a better time when they played incendiary soul-zipping shows on a small platform in a musty bar to a humble, nose-pierced, tattooed crowd of punks and punk-lovers every Tuesday night. Then they fade from the face of the earth.

And through all this, most record companies are behind the scenes, either sweating bullets or not giving a damn. But not Discosoma. The small Miami record company has been releasing limited-edition seven-inch vinyls of some of the most credited indie/punk/rock/indie-punk-rock bands that South Florida has pumped out over the years.

But here’s the thing: they actually give a damn. Get this: ALL profits from their limited-edition vinyl sales are donated to the Coral Restoration Foundation, a Florida Keys-based, non-profit organization dedicated to the betterment of Florida’s coral reefs.

The effort is that of Colin Foord, a marine biologist, and Jared McKay, a musician, who both share a binding love for Florida’s marine ecosystem and musical anomalies.

Maybe you’ve heard of some of the bands represented by Discosoma (the synonym for Actinodiscus: Mushroom Coral/Disc Anemone… get it? Disc, vinyl… vinyl disc… yeah, you get it…). Probably, though, you haven’t, but listen to the line-up and I can assure you, you’ll be pirating songs in no time, sending band and label alike into bankruptcy–How do you sleep at night? Well, if your record player spins the bedtime lullabies of the boisterous, extrasolar sounds of ANR, Lil Daggers, and New Coke, you probably don’t sleep at all.

Everything is incredible in Discosoma’s re-release repertoire. And vinyl. And local. And if you don’t love that, you’re nuts, man.

Posted:

February 24, 2012

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The wait continues for the 5th Annual Dirty South Surf Contest presented by Kulcha Shok Musik. It’s been T plus 3 months since the wave window opened Dec 1, 2011, and the prospects look slim. But when that swell comes in, you best be ready for an on-call performance. This year features three different categories:

• Surf Contest [team only]
• Retro Division:
• Stand Up Paddle Surf Contest:
• Skim Contest:

Beyond bragging rights, prizes include everything from new surfboards, $250 prize packages, and trophies. Proceeds from the contest will go to the non-profit organization Miami Surf Archive Project, which is preserving the history of surfing in Miami.

Register @ kulchashok.com/dirty-south-surf-contest

Posted:

February 24, 2012

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Surfers for Autism takes kids’ to the water like fish, now they’ll take out the competitors along with partners Island Water Sports for a ProAm Surf Contest Sunday, April 1st, 2012 @ 9am on the south side of Deerfield Pier. The purse prize is a whopping $5,000, with proceeds benefiting Surfers For Autism.

Divisions

• Pro – $5,000 purse, (1st $2,500, 2nd $1,200, 3rd $800, 4th $500)
  Entry Fee: $100($125 Beach Registration), includes free event shirt
  Limited to 64 surfers
• Longboard – All Ages
  Entry Fee $35 ($50 Beach Registration), includes free event shirt
  Limited to 16 surfers
• Jr’s – 18 and under
  Entry Fee $35 ($50 Beach Registration), includes free event shirt
  Limited to 32 surfers

Prizes:

• $5,000 in cash prizes for the pro division
• Free surf board to the winner of each division provided by Global Surf Industries.
• Finalists in every division win plenty of gear.

Register at iwsproam-eorg.eventbrite.com/

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