Before there was Gidget or the Beach Boys, there was Mandos Mary.

Short in stature but big in local surfing folklore, Mary Monks was among the first female surfers to charge Ventura County waves back in the days of wooden boards and wool sweaters. Her love of the waves and outsized personality earned her an honor bestowed to a very few — her favorite surf break was named after her.

Monks, 89, died Friday at a Santa Paula nursing home. In recent years, dementia claimed many of her recent memories, but she held tight to the recollections of her days on the waves, and perpetually thought she was on her way to the beach, said her great-nephew Brandon Wahl.

“Every time I talked about surfing, she’d get really excited about it,” said Wahl.

When he talked about the waves, her eyes would light up and she’d ask about the day’s swell.

Though few now know of “Mary’s” break just north of Ventura city limits, her reputation is still strong with those who knew the local surf scene before neoprene, foam and crowds changed the sport forever.

read more of the story at venturacountystar.com

On July 11, the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) is organizing an attempt to win the title of the largest number of people simultaneously skinny-dipping. Recently added to the Guinness Book of World Records, the record for this category has yet to be set. “We don’t have a record so we don’t have one we can break. But we can set one and beat it next year,” said Carolyn Hawkins, Public Relations Coordinator for AANR. More clearly stated: they are going to win whether or not you show up.

But if you do, you can proudly share the story of your contribution to this historic event for years to come. “We expect to have several thousand people,” said Hawkins. “People are really taking hold of this. It’s really going crazy and people want to be a part of it.”

read more at surfing mag

Third annual Sea Paddle NYC will aid autism awareness – Aug 24th

New York, NY — Last August, after a successful inaugural event, Surfers’ Environmental Alliance organized a group of over 80 surfers, including several professional surfing legends, to paddle 28 miles around NYC in the name of autism awareness and coastal preservation.

The second annual SEA Paddle NYC received international attention, along with the White Water Gala fundraiser held prior to the paddle, which raised money for four autism awareness groups: Autism Speaks, Autism New Jersey, Autism Family Services of New Jersey and Surfers Healing & SEA.

Because of the incredible success of the past two years, SEA Paddle NYC will again be taking place this year. The White Water Gala will be held on Saturday, August 22, with the paddle event occurring on Monday, August 24.

Darrick Doerner, Garrett McNamara, Izzy Paskowitz and Joel Tudor are just some of the surf legends already confirmed to participate in this year’s event, along with several surprise acting and musical personalities.

Celebrities, including actor, David Chokachi and X-treme athlete, Darian Boyle are returning to participate. Chokachi, who is best known for his role as Cody in “Baywatch”, is a surfer starring in a television series called “Beyond the Break,” which premieres this month.

The Paddle will start at 9am on Monday, August 24th at Pier 1 South Street Sea Port.  Paddlers will go up the East River, enter the Harlem River and come down the Hudson paddling 28 miles to circumnavigate Manhattan.

The White Water Evening Gala is a white themed event held on an ocean front estate in Monmouth Beach, NJ with all proceeds going to autism charities & SEA. The event features great live music, a silent and live auction, autograph session and an open bar catered by top local restaurants. The auctions will feature unique packages with donations pouring in from local residents including rocker Bon Jovi.

For information regarding registration, sponsorship, donations, tickets or other participation in SEA Paddle NYC, visit seapaddlenyc.org