SURFERS WORLDWIDE UNITE TO CELEBRATE THE FIFTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL SURFING DAY

Over 100 Events Scheduled To Take Place Globally on June 20

On June 20, 2009, surfers globally will wax their boards, paddle out and catch waves in honor of International Surfing Day presented by Monster Energy.

Founded five years ago by the Surfrider Foundation and Surfing Magazine, International Surfing Day unites surfers from around the world in celebration of the sport of surfing. As is tradition with the annual holiday, surfers will do their part to give back to our oceans, waves and beaches through various organized events such as clean-ups and restoration projects courtesy of the Surfrider Foundation.

“We are really excited to be celebrating International Surfing Day’s five year anniversary,” says Laura Mazzarella, Surfrider Foundation’s Marketing Manager. “The success and growth since the first celebration is phenomenal, and we look forward to continue growing and raising awareness in the years to come.”

In addition to over 100 coastal events taking place worldwide, various International Surfing Day sponsors will be hosting special challenges, that will allow the public to compete for prizes through various activities. In celebration of ISD’s 5th anniversary, there will be five on-site challenges: You Tube Challenge: Best ISD Influence Video, Most Unique Piece of Trash, Best Trash Sculpture, Costume Party: Best Costume While Riding a Wave, and Most Spots Surfed on ISD: Photo and/or Video Contest. ISD challenges and prize sponsorships will be announced shortly.

For more information on International Surfing Day, including challenges, events and participating chapters, please go to www.intlsurfingday.com.

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One of the most well-known families in surfing is suing an author and his publisher.

Buffalo Keaulana has sued author Stuart Coleman and St. Martin’s press in an effort to have “Fierce Heart, the Story of Makaha and the Soul of Hawaiian Surfing” pulled from store shelves.

Keaulana family attorney John Carroll has a copy of the book.

He says all those yellow tabs point to inaccuracies.

“There are certain things in there that are not right. They don’t want them published. And that’s why we’re trying to shut the book down right now. And pull those books off the shelves” says John Carroll, the Keaulana family’s attorney.

The Keaulana family is synonymous with Oahu’s west side.

The iconic Bufallo was a world class surfer, and Makaha’s first lifeguard.

His two sons, Bryan and Rusty are world renowned watermen in their own right.

Carroll has filed a lawsuit against Author Stuart Coleman and St. Martin’s Press.

In that suit claims defamatory allegations of illicit drug use by the Keaulana’s and that they’re figures of organized crime.

There is also a breach of contract claim.

“The critical issue for them was, don’t do this unless we approve it. All we want you to do is get it right. They had no money, not even a written contract” says Carroll/

The author, Stuart Coleman, says he did send several drafts of the book to the family.

And Carroll acknowledges some changes.

” They did make some attempts to change quite a bit of it. But that’s right now, getting it right is all they really care about.”

Coleman wouldn’t comment on camera because of the suit…But he added that he is “heartbroken that it has gotten to this point…Meant to be a tribute to this family.”

It’s that family name that Carroll says is more important than money.

“They’re well known because of the charities and the tremendous impact they’ve had on kids and surfing, and the whole involvement that has come through their family efforts. And they just don’t want that screwed up.”

Carroll hopes to be in a courtroom soon to try and get the book pulled from shelves.

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For the past few years, surf culture has seen a resurgence of old surfboard models, ranging from California 60’s style to ancient Hawaiian alaia’s. But while modern shapers attempt to travel the timelines of surf history, there is a remote island off the coast of Papua New Guinea that has never stopped practicing the art of riding carefully carved planks, much in the vein of the ancient Hawaiian surfboards. In Feb. 2009, Ernie Higgins, a Southern California shaper and owner of Waterlines Unlimited, stumbled upon this fascinating group of surfers when embarking on a mission trip sponsored by his church.

any knowledge of the surfing activities on the island, Higgins signed up to join a group of missionaries with the objective of building houses for a native people in the Southwestern Pacific, miles off the coast of Papua New Guinea. After five airplane connections and a five-hour trip on an 18ft. boat, he stepped onto a small, volcanic island, with a population of 2,000 and a people speaking its own dialect. While focused on the mission at hand, Higgins suddenly noticed a little boy, in his pre-puberty years, holding a plank, awfully similar to a surfboard. Upon close scrutiny, he was surprised to learn that not only was the lad holding a surfboard, but also that he was participating in a longstanding tradition of riding waves on the island. When Higgins asked for how long they’ve been riding waves, a native said, “For as long as the oldest person in the tribe can remember.”

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image via Ernie Higgins