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Thousands show for Surfline founder paddle out

OC Beach Blog — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:13:37 +0000

HUNTINGTON BEACH A circle the size of a football field made up of surfers stretched across the ocean near the Huntington Beach Pier. In what many say is the biggest memorial tribute ever held for a surfer in Huntington Beach, friends, family and the surf community gathered on Sunday to pay respects to Surfline founder Sean Collins, regarded as one of the most influential surfers of our time.

Many surfers noted it was fitting that as plans for Collins’ memorial materialized, the biggest swell in more than a year showed up – so large the event had to be postponed a day.

“It was strange timing,” said his son, A.J. “After everything, there was an explosion in the sea. Waves began to hit all coasts.”

About 2,000 people gathered under sunny skies on Sunday to partake in or watch the memorial paddle out, a Hawaiian tradition that allows surfers to pay tribute to one of their own who has died.

SEE PHOTOS OF THE GATHERING FOR SEAN COLLINS’ PADDLE OUT BELOW:

Collins revolutionized the way surfers sought waves, creating a surf forecasting website that allowed surfers to “Know Before You Go,” the Surfline slogan goes. The Seal Beach surfer died of a heart attack at age 59 on Dec. 26.

A ceremony prior to the paddle out was held on the sand where friends and loved ones spoke to the crowd. “I wish he could see the love of community in this world he created, and how many lives he blessed with his science,” A.J. said.

Speeches were given by big-wave riders Taylor Knox and Brad Gerlach, with stories about searching for massive waves around the world. A prayer was given by pastor and friend Sumo Sato. Among attendees were surfing royalty like surfwear creators Bob Hurley and Quiksilver’s Bob McKnight, along with several world champions.

Knox choked back tears as he talked about Collins, whom Collins knew when the World Tour surfer was just an up-and-coming grom in the ‘80s.

“He’s going to be really missed,” said Knox. “He’s an absolute legend. I’m just happy to know the guy… I know he’s here today.”
Huntington Surf and Sport owner and friend Aaron Pai talked about the spiritual connection Collins had with the weather and wind patterns.
“Smell that?” he recalled Collins asking him over breakfast one time in Mexico.
“Bacon and Eggs?” Pai replied.
The weather has shifted, Collins said, literally sniffing the air. He pulled up his Ipad to show a real-time video of a tropical storm brewing – and caught the next flight out to avoid getting pounded.

“He had this magic, this gift,” Pai said. “Who can smell a change in the weather? He had this magical gift, to be able to smell out waves, smell out storms.”

While hundreds of spectators lined the pier, a few hundred surfers took to the water – some clutching flowers – and formed a large circle on the south side of the pier. They held hands, splashed water to the sky.

“His influence on the millions of surfers and non-surfers will impact us for years and decades to come,” said Pai. “He changed the way we searched for waves, and sought out swells around the world. This man influenced an entire generation.”

Read the original story from the OC Register about Sean Collins’ life and accomplishments.

For more Orange County beach news:

Thousands show for Surfline founder paddle out is a post from: OC Beach Blog

Sourced from: OC Beach Blog

Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears Splash Into 2012

Surf City News — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 02:12:28 +0000

By: Writer/Photographer: Chris MacDonald, The Local News Columnist

More than 700 people, including 36th District of California Congresswoman Janice Hahn, and Los Angeles Fourth District Council Member Tom LaBonge, ran into the 57 degree water at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro to celebrate the New Year. Hundreds of spectators cheered and waved at the annual event sponsored by The Cabrillo Beach Polar Bear Club, which just celebrated its 60th Anniversary. The club meets daily and runs into the ocean for an invigorating swim.

At the annual event, the new King & Queen, Domino and Miriam Santro from San Pedro, were crowned and will serve as ambassadors throughout the year. On hand to officiate was Cabrillo Beach Polar Bears President Kim M. White and representatives from Cabrillo Marine Aquarium who led the crowd in a “Grunion Dance” before entering the water. The yearly event draws people young to old from around the world. There was a 94 year old woman who ran into the water and a man from Germany who participated in the event. If you’d like to learn more, log onto: www.cabrillobeachpolarbears.com .

Photo:
1. Los Angeles Fourth District City Councilman Tom LaBonge, 36th District of California Congresswoman Janice Hahn and The Local News Columnist Chris MacDonald at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro.

Sourced from: Surf City News

January Big Wave Photo Contest! Sumbit and win

OC Beach Blog — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:20:45 +0000

It has been a slow start to the winter swell season, but with the biggest waves in a long time expected to hit this weekend, we thought it would be fun to see how our readers capture the action along the O.C. coast. Break out your cameras for the “January Big Wave Photo Contest” and submit photos taken from this latest swell, showing strong Friday and Saturday, dropping on Sunday. The photo submission period starts Thursday, January 5 at 6 p.m. and ends Sunday, January 8 at 5 p.m.

We’ll have two winners: A popular vote, and judges’ pick. The popular vote winner will be decided by the number of “likes” by the end of the contest deadline. The judges’ pick will be decided by a panel of judges. Voting begins Sunday, January 8 at 5:01 p.m. and ends Wednesday, January 11 at 5 p.m.

We’ll publish both photos in the Outdoor section of the Orange County Register newspaper. The winners will also receive Spy eyewear.

Need inspiration? Check out some shots the crew at OC Register and OrangeCounty.com during Friday’s swell

There’s no doubt going to be plenty of big waves to shoot — get creative and have fun with the contest! Feel free to let us know where the photo was taken, but if it’s a secret surf spot a vague description is acceptable. While you can submit images from anywhere there are waves, we’ll give more consideration to photos taken at local beaches.

The winners will be announced on the OC Beaches Facebook page by Thursday at noon. Good luck!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO OR TO ENTER AND WIN!

January Big Wave Photo Contest! Sumbit and win is a post from: OC Beach Blog

Sourced from: OC Beach Blog

Orcas, Gray Whales Put on Show

Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:13:16 +0000

A group of about a dozen orcas has been spotted all week from Orange County to the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and whale-watchers saw five of the so-called killer whales harassing a gray whale Wednesday morning.

“These are the same ones that we had for the past two days,” said Alisa Schulman-Janiger, head of the California Killer Whale Project. “They ate at least five sea lions off our area, and more off Orange County.”

Pete Thomas of Pete Thomas Outdoors believes the orcas are expanding their range into Southern California, possibly taking advantage of an abundant sea lion population. Video of the killer whales suggests they are gregarious and boat-friendly, making for some great whale-watching trips now.

On the migration front, gray whales continue to make their way from the Bering Sea to the lagoons of Baja California. They have been passing by the Southern California coast in record numbers, entertaining whale watchers and fishermen alike.

Anglers on the Westerly last week were also treated to fin whales lunge feeding off the Huntington Oil Rigs.

The Voyager out of Redondo Beach Marina offers daily whale-watching trips.

Great fishing continues

Rockfish season has closed, but a mild winter combined with plenty of live squid available for bait has kept the action going. The Victory out of Pierpoint Landing in Long Beach reported great fishing this week. Fifteen anglers caught limits of delicious sculpin, 125 perch, 300 sand dabs and a few sand bass.

“It’s great fishing and beautiful weather,” said Mike Blue from the Victory.

Out of Marina del Rey Sportfishing, 31 anglers caught more than 100 sand bass, along with 18 calico bass and 45 sculpin. The weather in the Santa Monica Bay has been glorious lately, and there have been enormous pods of dolphin and a couple of whales passing by.

Sand dabs, which look like little halibut, are quite tasty. There is no limit on these delectable flounders, and they can be prepared in a variety of ways. Combine that with great-eating sculpin and a chance for some wintertime bass and halibut, and there are plenty of reasons to get out on the water now.

Go fishing with Phil

Fishing with Phil, part of Philip Friedman Outdoors, will be on the Westerly out of Long Beach Sportfishing today and Sunday for extended half-day action. There will be an 8:30 a.m. seminar with a 9 a.m. departure. The trip will target delicious-eating sculpin, wintertime bass, halibut, perch and sand dabs.

“I think we have a great game plan for the weekend,” said veteran Westerly skipper John Ackley. “First, we are going to get our anglers a sack full of great-eating fish, and then we will go looking for some bass and halibut.”

Hundreds of dollars in raffle prizes will be given away, and participants can be part of the next Patch fishing video. For reservations, call 424-237-0250 or email fishingwphil@gmail.com.

Quick bites

Danny Stevenson took over the lead in the Dana Wharf Halibut Derby with a monster 39.3-pound flatfish. The Derby jackpot, which is currently nearing $1,700, is growing every week. It’s easy to enter the derby. Entrants can fish on Halibut Drift Days or cough up an extra $5 on any half- or three-quarter-day trip to be eligible for the big money and prizes.

Steve Herckt from Orange hoop-netted limits of lobster in a short period of time at the Marina del Rey breakwall this week. “We set our nets at 5:30 p.m. and were headed home with 14 lobster for two of us in less than an hour,” said Herckt, adding that they threw back another four legal lobster as they had their limits. “I don’t know what was better; the fishing or the meal.”

Sourced from: Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch

Surf Contest on Hold in Honor of Surfline Founder

Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:10:09 +0000

This weekend has almost everything to make the 2012 Seal Beach Surfing Championships perfect. The National Weather Service is predicting 10-foot waves Saturday along with sunny warm weather for early January, and this weekend marks the opening of the contest’s waiting period. But Surfline founder Sean Collins, the man who helped initiate the contest more than a decade ago, passed away from a heart attack last month, and his absence this year will be sorely missed.

Despite the promising conditions, the contest will not be held this weekend in order to avoid a conflict with the paddleout in Collins’ honor at 11 a.m. Sunday morning off the Huntington Beach Pier.

“We want to honor Sean Collins, and we don’t want to create a conflict with surf contest happening at the same time as the paddleout,” said Seal Beach Lifeguard Nick Bolin.

The Seal Beach Surfing Championships has its roots in the annual Seal Beach surfing competition that lasted through the 70s and went on hiatus in 1982. The championship was resurrected by Seal Beach Lifeguards and community members such as Collins as the Surfliner Championship in 1999. Ever since, the contest has been a part of the community, and Collins has been a big part of the contest.

Each year, for the past 14 years, the lifeguards have hosted a winter surf contest to raise money for local charities such as J. H. McGuagh Elementary and Project SEEK. This year’s donation will help the families of the victims in the Salon Meritage shooting.

The waiting period for the best surf conditions for this year’s two-day contest will run through Feb.26.

Sourced from: Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch

Starting the New Year with a splash in Huntington Beach

OC Beach Blog — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:55:00 +0000

It was a hazy start to the New Year – not because of all the alcohol consumed the night before, but because of the thick fog blanket that lingered on the sand. But just as noon approached on Sunday the thick fog disappeared, allowing more than a hundred revelers to plunge into a sunny New Year on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier for the 12th annual Surf City Splash celebration.

What started as a few friends doing something fun and different on New Year’s Day has turned into a tradition that grows with each year, now with hundreds of people showing up in swimsuits and crazy costumes to take a dip in the chilly water to wash off the old, and bring in the new.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT BELOW:

“Everyone just gets to greet and wish each other a Happy New Year. It’s a beautiful thing. There’s no gift exchanged, there’s no expectations, it’s just a great day to just celebrate life,” said organizer Lee Love.

The event has turned into a fundraiser, with breakfast served in the morning and certificates available to raise funds for various charities like the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach, Canine Companions for Independence, Lions Hearing Clinic and Research Center, and more.

The haze was so thick through the morning that it was tough to see the ocean. But just as plungers started to make their way to the sand, the weather turned – the warm sun making it more tolerable to jump into the chilly 60-degree water.

“I knew it was going to burn off,” Love said. “It’s like June gloom in January.”

SEE THE VIDEO OF THE SURF CITY SPLASH HERE OR BELOW:

For Blair Wilges, of Pennsylvania, the dip wasn’t too intimidating – considering he’s done a polar plunge in the icy waters of Scotland.

“It’s colder than you’d like to know,” he said. “It was about 38-degrees outside, and the water wasn’t much warmer.”
So was he nervous about the Huntington Beach splash?

“It will be a refreshing dip – but not too frigid,” he said.

One of the best parts about the event is seeing what kind of crazy costumes people come up with. There are plenty of New Year’s party hats. There’s the pirate who goes all out every year, looking like he just walked off the set of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” One group of girls wore bright pink wigs. Pretty much anything goes at this beach party, which lasts no more than 15 minutes.

Jennifer Funke, of Redondo Beach, decided to show up in her Christmas pajamas, an apron and a fuzzy purple hat.
“I picked something that wouldn’t get destroyed and would be easy to wash,” she said, later learning that the pajamas got very heavy after getting drenched in the water.

Most people, however, just wore bikinis or board shorts.

“I’m a little scared about the coldness,” said Huntington Beach resident and first time splasher Shenoa Petersen, looking chilly in just her swimsuit.

Joining Petersen was Keith Townsend, who said they had been in the water the day prior – but with wetsuits on.

“She’s not chickening out,” he said.

This year, the Surf City Splash was held on the south side of the pier because of strong swell and rip currents. Lifeguards watched closely to make sure people didn’t get too close to the pier pilings, which waves could have smacked them into.

Those who weren’t brave enough to take a dip watched from the sand and hundreds lined the pier to watch.

Splashers of all ages lined the sand and as soon as the countdown was complete as noon struck, they rushed into the water. Friends and family splashed each other, sounds of screams and New Year’s horns filled the beach, and people ran out as quick as they ran in. Some stayed in the water to enjoy the cleanse.

Mason Bodle, 8, came out shivering.

“It’s so freezing. Really cold,” he said, before turning back around to the ocean. “I’m going back in.”
Among the oldest plungers were Hugh Goldstein, 83, and wife Amy, 78.

The couple – who have been married more than 50 years – came out of the cold water holding each others hands. It was the third year they’ve taken the plunge together.

“He’s holding me up,” she quipped.

“Our hands are frozen together,” Hugh said with a chuckle.

For more Orange County beach news:

Starting the New Year with a splash in Huntington Beach is a post from: OC Beach Blog

Sourced from: OC Beach Blog

Are you crazy enough to do the Surf City Splash on New Years?

OC Beach Blog — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:53:54 +0000

Jump into the frigged ocean … without a wetsuit?! Are you crazy? There are plenty of people who will be shrieking and screaming as they rush into the chilly water on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier at noon on New Years Day, washing off the old and getting a good cleanse for 2012.

Hundreds of people show up on the sand – some wearing wild and wacky costumes – to do the 2012 Surf City Splash, where organizers do a 10-9-8… countdown, and revelers sprint into the water and take a dunk.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM LAST YEAR’S EVENT:

“We’ll be washing off the old of 2011,” says organizer Lee Love.

The event is a great way to do something fun and different with friends and family, and it sounds like weather will be wonderful for this year’s event. People who just want to watch, line the pier and sand to cheer for the splashers. The event is open to the public.

It also serves as a fund-raiser, with a pancake breakfast and T-shirts and certificates available before the event. The funds benefit several charities, including the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach, Canine Companions for Independence, Lions Hearing Clinic and Research Center, SightFirst Foundation, Therapeutic Riding Center, and Project Self-Sufficiency.

Will you take the plunge New Year’s Day?

No way, those people are crazy!
I’ll watch from the pier
I do it every year
I’m going to do it this year for sure!

View Results

The event started about a decade ago when Huntington resident Michael Parks and a few friends jumped in the water on New Years Day, and the event just caught on like wildfire.

Some revelers come dressed up with party hats, others in full blown costumes. There are pirates, clowns, and people trying to shock the hangovers out of their systems.

There are a lot of cultures that partake in similar “Polar Plunges,” mostly in colder temps like New York or Chicago. Many plunges serve as a fund-raiser for Special Olympics.

While we might be called chicken for gripping about the balmy 50-something waters in So Cal, it’s still a bit of a shock to jump into the water!

Information: www.HBSurfCitySplash.com

For more Orange County beach news:

Are you crazy enough to do the Surf City Splash on New Years? is a post from: OC Beach Blog

Sourced from: OC Beach Blog

Shock, Sadness and Fond Memories Over Sean Collins, Surfline Founder’s Death

Surf City News — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:32:07 +0000

Sean Collins, founder of Surfline (and surfline.com) passed away from a heart attack the day after Christmas, Dec. 26, 2011, while playing tennis in Newport Beach. He’s shown in the photo speaking to the audience when he received his hand and footprints on the the HSS Surfers Hall of Fame around 2008. Collins was known around the globe for his surf wave predictions. Those who knew him spoke about his abilities to predict waves as nearly god-like, and many said he had an inside track that no one on else on Earth had. He will be missed in Huntington Beach where his offices in the Pierside Pavilion building are located, and in Seal Beach where his family resides and he was known by the community as a fun-loving surfer and dedicated family man. See larger photo and more information.

Sourced from: Surf City News

Merry Christmas – fun surf on the way!

OC Beach Blog — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 22:47:41 +0000

It’s looking like it’s going to be a fun weekend for surf – and if you were good this year, you might get a fun session in.

For those of you who were naughty, no doubt you’ll get skunked! Today was one of those beautiful days – clean through the morning, a bit offshore, sun was out, and a few fun waves coming through. It wasn’t big, but a new swell is brewing and this weekend should be super fun.

Surfline says a new south, southwest swell will be building though the day, with waves in the 2-3 foot range today and a few chest-high sets.
Saturday we’ll see a mix of building south, southwest mixed with a bit of northwest for some combo action. Expect waves in the 3-4 foot range, with some head high sets, according to Surfline.com.

The swell continues on Sunday and into early next week. Be aware of the 7-foot high tide that is going to mush it up!
Just a few fun shots from this morning to get you pumped on this weekend. Oh, and Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas – fun surf on the way! is a post from: OC Beach Blog

Sourced from: OC Beach Blog

Plane Crash Kills Seal Beach CEO

Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:03:34 +0000

Brian Robertson, CEO of the Seal Beach-based solar power company Amonix, died Thursday in a plane crash in Pennsylvania.The married father of three was 38.

“We are devastated by this tragic accident,” said Amonix Founder, CTO and Chairman of the Board Vahan Garboushian. “Brian was an incredible leader and our heart goes out to his family.”

The company issued a brief statement on its website: “Brian Robertson, Amonix CEO, tragically passed away in a plane crash in York County, Pennsylvania, at 5:30 p.m. EST on December 22, 2011. We are devastated by this news and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Robertson was a pilot and a graduate of MIT and Harvard Business School. He joined Amonix in 2009 when it acquired Sunworks Solar LLC, which Robertson confounded. Prior to that, he co-founded Sun Edison LLC, North America’s largest solar energy services provider. Before Sun Edison, he co-founded PlanetAll in 1996 and served as Chief Technical Officer until Amazon.com acquired the web-based services.

According to the company website, Amonix designs and manufactures concentrated photovoltaic solar power systems that require no water and produce more energy per acre than any other solar technology.

Sourced from: Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch

Shore Patrol: Stories of Seal Beach of old

News — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:41:46 +0000

Seal Beach won’t mark its 100th anniversary as a city until 2015, but Terry Quinlan and Libby Applegate will soon be taking residents down memory lane.

They’re putting together a lineup of about 20 longtime community members who helped frame the fabric of the quaint beach town. They will present their interviews on the Seal Beach Community Television Station. Among the 20 who will be featured, according to Appelgate, will be “people who lived here in the ’20s and experienced the roaring days.”

Sourced from: News

Santa rips surfing and snowboarding … really!

OC Beach Blog — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 04:17:03 +0000

You better not snag Santa’s waves – or you might get coal in your stocking!I was down in Seal Beach today, and Santa was out catching some fun little offshore waves coming through on the north side of the pier.

Michael Pless, owner of M & M Surf School, has been dressing up as Surfing Santa for 17 years, bringing cheer to the beach and a holiday vibe to the line up. He dresses up in a custom-made Coral Reef wetsuit to keep warm, and tries to get his hat and beard filled with water.

Surfing Santa is a famous fixture in Seal Beach, and photos of him have been published around the world. He’s even on Islands restaurant gift cards this year.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS OF SURFING SANTA BELOW:

“Look for Santa in the water and we’ll take some pictures and pose for you,” he said. “It brings the spirit of Christmas to the beach.”

Young Charlie Peck, of Long Beach, looked in near shock as Santa walked along the sand to get his board. He walked over and whispered in Santa’s ear that he’d like a green Power Ranger sword.

“He said to me, ‘I didn’t know Santa liked the beach’,” said his mom Erin Peck.

Santa can be found surfing through Dec. 31, just look for the M & M Surf School truck and you know he’s near.

Santa was up to no good up in Mountain High, and I was cracking up at this video and had to share. He was up on the mountain ripping, spraying down riders as he passed and bringing some serious mischief to the mountain. I had no idea Santa could be so bad!

Check out the video below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

For more Orange County beach news:

Santa rips surfing and snowboarding … really! is a post from: OC Beach Blog

Sourced from: OC Beach Blog

Experts Map Out Best Holiday Displays in Seal Beach

Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:25:56 +0000

Santa may be pretty good about making lists and checking them twice, but he’s got nothing on the kids of Seal Beach.

This month, teams of student judges blanketed the city in the search for the best Holiday light displays. And they found them. The team, led by McGaugh fifth-grader Nathan Thomas, divided the city into neighborhood grids and methodically cruised down each street, looking for the best and brightest display.

This year marks the second year for the children’s Seal Beach Holiday Décor Contest. It’s the brainchild of Nathan’s older brother Patrick Thomas, an eighth-grader at McAuliffe Middle School. Connoisseurs of dazzling holiday displays, the Thomas brothers decided to run a contest as a way to create a map of the best displays in town. With the help of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce and more than a dozen of their friends from school and from Friday Night Lights flag football, they’ve been able to put together a map of holiday lights to share with all.

Student judges include: Paige, Hannah and Avery Kropf; Emily and David Olcomendy; Nicki and Zack O’Campo; Eric and Shain Allen; Sophia, Louis and Henry Cogan; Alex Fullerton; Spencer and Cross Lopez; Mina, Griffen and Paige Mizutani; Jeffrey Zeoli; Bradley and Jeffrey Hartwyk; Oliver Schulten; and Nathan, Matthew, and Patrick Thomas.

The map to the right can be customized to guide you to the best dicplays in your neighborhood.

And the winners are:

Heron Point

Best Use of Color: 937 Heron Circle

Best Animation: 927 Heron Circle – Purdue Family

Lightest/Brightest: 900 Blue Heron – Lopez Family

The Hill/Coves

Best Use of Color:

Best Animation:

Lightest/Brightest:

Bridgeport

Best Use of Color: 235 Clipper Way – Tom and Cynda Logsdon

Best Animation: 425 Galleon Way – Nancy and Biagio Zaby

Lightest/Brightest: 109 Electric Ave. – Lisa and Larry Totzke

Business/Commercial

Best Use of Color: Up, Up & Away Kites

Best Animation: California Seashell Company

Lightest/Brightest: Temecula Olive Oil Company

College Park West

Best Use of Color: 100 Yale Lane – The Olcomendy Family

Best Animation: 232 College Park Dr. – Chuck and Eileen Anderson
Lightest & Brightest: 400 Purdue Circle – Jerry and Jackie Grandt

Old Town East and West of Main St.

Best Use of Color:

126 5th Street – Mark and Denise

227 Seal Beach Blvd. – Diana and Ron Kienast

Best Animation:

Lightest/Brightest:

Honorable Mention Award: “Best Street”

Riviera Drive

College Park East
The CPENA conducts its own contest – winners throughout the area are noted with a sign in the yard.

Sourced from: Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch

Slideshow: Surfer Mike Morgan Remembered

Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:23:17 +0000

There is nothing unusual about surfers gathered in the predawn morning, but today they weren’t just looking for the next set. They were looking back at the life of a man who touched them all with his passion for surfing and love of the community.

Thursday marked the First Annual Morgan’s Wave of the Day Paddle Out Fundraiser in honor local surfing legend Mike Morgan. A native of the area, Morgan worked at Harbour Surfboards, went pro and turned surf announcer and was known as the “Chuck Hearn of Surfing.” Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti, Morgan’s announcing partner and friend, paddled Morgan’s board during the paddle out by a few dozen surfers.

According to the Mike Morgan’s Wave of the Day website in his honor, “Mike, better known to all as “Morgan,” was a nationally ranked surfer in the early eighties. His talent landed him a coveted spot on the prestigious NSSA National Team. He moved on from his amateur career and became a world-class longboarder. From there, he went on to become an integral part of Chuck Dent Surfboards as well as a coach and overall proponent of youth surfing.
However, Morgan’s popularity in the sport was not generated from contest results. In the mid nineties, he started announcing the NSSA Jr. events, and became the official “Voice” of the Nationals. Morgan became a fixture at NSSA events every weekend either judging or calling the play by play.”

Morgan died in 2005 in his sleep. He was just 44-years-old.

In honor of his love for the community, Funds raised from donations and the sale of t-shirts at today’s paddleout will be donated to the Seal Beach Victim’s Fund.

Sourced from: Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch

Mike Morgan paddle out to benefit Seal Beach shooting victims

OC Beach Blog — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:54:23 +0000

A memorial paddle out will be held at dawn Thursday in Seal Beach to remember surf contest announcer Mike Morgan, and to give back to the Seal Beach Victim’s Fund. Morgan, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 44, was all about giving back to his community and bringing people together. He spent years being the voice of surfing, a contest announcer with a unique style that kept events lively.

Morgan grew up in the Long Beach and Seal Beach area, getting his first surf gig at Harbour Surfboards. In the 80s, he was a nationally-ranked surfer for the NSSA National Team. He then became a coach, and in the 90s took the mic to start announcing events.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE IMAGES OF MIKE MORGAN:

Mike Morgan with Rockin’ Fig at the U.S. Open of Surfing. Credit: Chris Sardelis

“His passion for the sport was huge and that translated through his commentary. You could feel the excitement. His sense of humor was sometimes relentless… Tongue-in-cheek remarks would sometimes get him into hot water, but it was all done in fun,” reads the announcement for the paddle out.

For many years, Morgan – referred to as the “Chuck Hearn of Surfing” – announced alongside close friend Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti.

His death shocked the surf community, and brought them together for his paddle out memorial at the Huntington Beach Pier, where 300 surfers formed a circle, splashed water to the sky and paid tribute to him.

“You can tell what kind of a person someone is by how many friends he has,” Deffenbaugh said in an OC Register archive article. “I’m happy we were able to give our time, for all the time he gave us.”

Tom Cozad, who shot photos of the event from the water, called Morgan a legend.

“He could talk from dawn to dusk and keep everyone motivated about surfing,” Cozad said in the past article.
Here’s more about the “Morgan’s Wave of the Day Paddleout Fundraiser”

Mike left us suddenly, passing away in his sleep and leaving the surf community at a huge loss, as well as in shock. Mike’s contribution to the cities of Seal Beach and Huntington Beach for his donated services for their annual city surf events as well as the professional surf scene are greatly missed and the Morgan’s Wave of the Day event is our way of giving back.

It’s the celebration and memorial of Mike Morgan’s life but to also raise funds to those who have been affected by the tragedy and loss of the Seal Beach 8 this past year.

Mike’s spirit still lives. Mention his name at the pier and people smile. People who knew him always have a positive, upbeat story about Mike. Hawaiians have Eddie, North Cal has Jay, Orange County has Mike Morgan.

Every year a paddle out is held on winter solstice, and will raise funds for local charity in Mike’s honor. Seal Beach Victim’s Fund will receive the funds raised from T-shirt sales this year.

Mike Morgan paddle out to benefit Seal Beach shooting victims is a post from: OC Beach Blog

Sourced from: OC Beach Blog

Flash Mob Takes Christmas Caroling To Another Level

Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:41:20 +0000

From Broadway to TV, the vocalists from the Los Alamitos High School choirs have gone on to do great things with their talent. Having won the national championships for two straight years, the students this year performed with the cast of “Hairspray” at the Hollywood Bowl.

But one Los Al grad recently trumped them all, performing at one of the largest star-studded venues in the world: LAX.

Last Friday, Los Alamitos alum and current Azusa Pacific University student Zenna Hodge joined about 90 singers from the university choir in a flash mob to sing Christmas carols for weary travelers arriving at the airport. They blended with the crowds and erupted into seemingly spontaneous song at eight different terminals, baggage carousals and check-in areas.

Imagine the surprise to weary travelers after a long flight when suddenly the entire terminal echoes with perfect harmonies. Not a bad way to start a California holiday.

In the adjacent Youtube videos, Hodge is the singer in the denim jacket and red scarf.

Sourced from: Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch

VIDEO: Hanukkah Greetings from Local Singers

Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:01:04 +0000

In this video, shot in San Clemente earlier this month, the San Clemente High School Madrigals greeted the council with a Hannukah song.Patch decided to publish the video Dec. 20, the first day of the Festival of Lights this year.

Sourced from: Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch

Best of 2011: Surf & Beach Photos

OC Beach Blog — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 23:30:08 +0000

We took a dive into our archives these past few weeks to find some of our favorite photos from 2011. There have been some great days of surf and some flat days, a ton of wind blow days and off shore days, red tide and clean conditions.

Here’s to a prosperous, healthy and happy 2012! If you like any of the shots you can search our site in the upper right hand corner to see more photos from any particular day.Take a look at some of the best of 2011 (CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW THE PHOTOS)

BEST OF 2011: Surf Photos (Click to view more)

BEST OF 2011: Surf Photos (click to view more)

Best of 2011: Surf & Beach Photos is a post from: OC Beach Blog

Sourced from: OC Beach Blog

Battle is Pitched Over $320 Million PCH Development

Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:36:33 +0000

From the outside, the pink hotel looks worn down. On the inside, paint is peeling. And some of the carpet in the lobby’s staircase is held together with heavy-duty tape.

For years, there has been talk about tearing down the aging two-story SeaPort Marina Hotel on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach, near the border of Seal Beach. On Tuesday, the Long Beach City Council is scheduled to vote on a development proposal, which neighboring Seal Beach and environmentalists are protesting.

Developers picture a “Seaside Village” that will establish “an iconic and welcoming” gateway to Long Beach. The $320 million development would include several structures and feature 175,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, a 100-room hotel and 275 condos — 95 of them with hotel concierge services. The tallest building would be 12 stories high.

“We’ll have a vibrant place that has activities 18 hours a day and is connected to the pulse of the community,” said developer David Malmuth.

But opponents picture a traffic mess at one of the city’s busiest intersections.

“Whatever happens at Second and PCH will affect our quality of life in Seal Beach,” Councilwoman Ellery Deaton has told her constituents in Old Town.

Opponents are unhappy with the development’s 12-story height proposal and the traffic the entire project will generate for the corner of Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway, which serves as a key pathway to the freeways for coastal neighborhood residents in Seal Beach and Long Beach.

“From an urban planning standpoint, that’s a completely inappropriate building for that corner,” said Mark Persico, Seal Beach development services director. “They’re taking a downtown-type building and putting it in eastside of the city, which is a more urban setting.

Environmentalists worry about the project’s impact on the Los Cerritos Wetlands, which at its closest point is about 400 feet northeast of the project.

“It is precedent setting,” Elizabeth Lambe, executive director of the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, wrote on the agency’s website. “It is too tall. It will create immense amounts of traffic. It could harm, because of increased noise and light pollution, our local wetlands and the fragile species that depend on them.”

Built in 1963 on nearly 11 acres, the hotel was originally the Hyatt Edgewater Hotel and hosted celebrities such as Elvis Presley, according to the SeaPort’s website. Locals might recognize the hotel’s exterior and the surrounding marina from scenes in movies, commercials and television shows, including “Dexter” and “CSI Miami.”

Proposals for the site have varied through the years, with the most recent changes in the last two months. In October, the Long Beach Planning Commission certified the environmental impact report and approved a recommendation to amend the local coastal plan to increase the height limit from 35 feet, or three stories, up to 150 feet, or 12 stories. Meanwhile, the overall size of the development was decreased, from 325 residential units to 275 and from 191,475 square feet of commercial space to 155,000 square feet, according to a Long Beach staff report.

Seal Beach Mayor Michael Levitt said residents in his coastal town are not opposed to a new development near them. In fact, many would welcome a better-looking project on the corner and “half of them are looking forward to increased shopping and dining.

“But the other half is concerned that they won’t be able to drive anywhere because of all the traffic coming out of there,” Levitt said.

Malmuth said that studies show the most traffic would be slowed down in the area is by 15 to 50 seconds.

Some of those who live near the corner would disagree.

“On a Saturday afternoon, around noon, you sometimes have to wait three traffic signals to get through that intersection,” said Henry Taboada, a resident in the nearby Naples neighborhood.

Once the project is built, Taboada said, “It probably won’t be as bad as most people think, but it will be worse than today.”

The Seaside Village project is expected to impact 25 intersections, mostly in Long Beach, Malmuth said. The developers are planning to spend $2 million to alleviate those traffic slow-downs, but two of the intersections cannot completely be mitigated. One of them is the corner of Second Street and PCH, where the project is proposed, and the second is the nearby intersection of Second and Studebaker Road, the pathway to the freeways for anyone living in coastal Seal Beach or the nearby Long Beach neighborhoods Belmont Shore and Naples.

“Of course we’re going to generate more trips. We want to have a successful project, so we want people to come. (But) we’re trying to minimize the traffic impact as much as possible,” Malmuth said.

Some of the steps the developers plan to include are road improvements, a “state-of-the-art” coastal cycling center, a shuttle to the other corners of the busy intersection and to Belmont Shore, an airport shuttle bus service for hotel guests and a line of “zipcars,” a car-sharing service that can be used by the project’s condo residents.

In warring public relations campaigns, the developer cites polls showing support from a majority of Long Beach residents, while local environmental websites urge their constituents to oppose the plan they say is inconsistent with the California Coastal Act and in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act.

On Tuesday, the Long Beach City Council will consider city staff’s recommendation to uphold the Planning Commission’s decisions to certify the environmental impact report, approve the site plan review and amend the local coastal program of the city’s general plan. City staff also is advising council to deny appeals from residents and groups, including the Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust, who are protesting the project.

Then the project moves forward to the California Coastal Commission.

Environmentalists such as Heather Altman have argued that the city did it backwards.

“They amended the local plan, but that’s the Coastal Commission’s job,” said Altman, who runs a website called Egrets Not Regrets.

Altman and others also commented on the city’s move to place the major development project for a vote five days before Christmas, when the entire council may not be present and most people are focusing on the holidays.

“When this hotel was built more than 30 years ago, there was a participatory process. That’s not happening here,” Altman said.

Malmuth disagreed, saying “We’ve had huge community outreach and involved thousands of people in the project. There have been significant changes and mediations.”

“Does it mean that everybody will be happy? Absolutely not. But when does that happen?”

Sourced from: Los Alamitos-Seal Beach Patch

Battle of the Paddle brings thousands to Doheny

North Shore Winter: 15′+ Swell Winds Down

OC Beach Blog — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:09:58 +0000

Pipeline looked as if had an all night party hangover today…The swell had wind and a sea sickness on it all day. It might have had something to also do with the fact the the Volcom House throw a party for John John Florance the previous night and when I say got a little out of control thats an understatement. With very little of the north shore in the water, most were hung over themselves the day was left to those who did not partake the evenings events.

Pipeline had a surf hangover today as yesterday was perfect Pipe and today was the day after perfect Pipe. (CLICK TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS)

Here’s a highlight video of the Vans Triple Crown below:

North Shore Winter: 15′+ Swell Winds Down is a post from: OC Beach Blog

Sourced from: OC Beach Blog