Firewire Surfboards CEO Mark Price on the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine’s July 2009 issue. The article and cover of the magazine touts Firewire’s innovative style of shaping and how it’s changing the way boards are made.

“Competitive surfing was once about carving the surface of a wave; now the sport is heading “above the lip”-in the air-where skate-style moves are becoming de rigueur for a new generation of riders… Firewire is aiming its manufactured boards at daily surfers.”

check out more at firewire’s site

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California could avoid shutting down 220 state parks, including Chino Hills in north O.C., by charging a $15 vehicle license fee to all the state’s drivers.

The proposal, adopted by Democratic lawmakers in a joint budget committee struggling to close California’s $24.3 billion budget gap, was one of several offered as alternatives to sharp cuts proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Democratic legislators hope to make up the shortfall by increasing revenue and adding some new taxes and fees, and rescinding some corporate tax breaks; Republicans oppose the plan, saying the state’s economy could not support more tax increases.

read more at greenoc.com

Australian author Tim Winton has won the nation’s most prestigious literary prize for a record fourth time, taking the 2009 Miles Franklin award for his novel “Breath” that is centered around his passion — surfing.

Winton, 48, a lifelong surfer and environmentalist, won his first Miles Franklin award 25 years ago for “Shallows”. He also won the annual accolade in 1992 for “Cloudstreet” and in 2002 for “Dirt Music”.

Winton, who has twice been shortlisted for the Booker prize, said the Miles Franklin award has tried to do its part to stiffen the resolve and bolster the confidence of Australian writers and their readers.

The award, which comes with prize money of $42,000, recognises novels which “present Australian life in any of its phases.”

read the full story at reuters