We are pleased to announce that the Lighthouse International Film Festival [Long Beach Island, NJ] is screening some of our 2008 picks this weekend: Musica Surfica, Pulp Poo & Perfection , The Rocks, Kooks and Surf Magazines Don’t Talk About Lapsed Catholics.  See below release and links for times and locations.

OVERVIEW: LIGHTHOUSE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Long Beach Island, NJ, June 4 – June 7

The inaugural Lighthouse International Film Festival will be held on Long Beach Island, NJ from June 4 -7. LBI is long considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches on the Jersey shore, so it’s worth a trip in any case if you haven’t already been!

The film schedule has just been announced, and it is a very exciting lineup, especially since this is the festival’s inaugural year. We have 3 films that have played at Sundance (“Big Fan”, “The Missing Person” and “The End of the Line”), 2 films that played at SXSW (“Pulling John” and “Made in China”), 2 films that played at Tribeca (MTV’s “Wild Wonderful Whites of West Virginia” and “Marina of the Zabbaleen”) and 1 from Cannes as well (“Los Bastardos”)!

For a complete listing check out the festival’s website: http://www. lighthousefilmfestival.org

Surfing Lineup- Free to the Public!

We are pleased to announce our partnership with the New York Surfing Film Festival.  We will be offering a selection of award-winning surfing films, and a private Q&A with “The Rocks” director Mark Temme.

Arm Wrestling Showcase and Showdown

Perhaps of biggest interest at the festival will be the Interactive Arm Wrestling Showcase and Showdown, starring the World Arm Wrestling Federation Champions on Saturday, June 6th, 5-6pm at Daddy-O’s (link to daddyohotel.com), starring world champions John Brzenk and Travis Bagent! John Brzenk is the subject of Saturday’s spotlight film, “Pulling John”. John is the undisputed, undefeated world arm-wrestling champion. Equally famous for his profanity and his strength, Travis Bagent is considered the best left-handed arm wrestler in the world and is currently ranked second overall in North America, as of Summer of 2008.

Celebrities and more

There will also be a “Breakfast with the Filmmakers” on both Saturday and Sunday mornings, a talk with the real “Gidget,” cocktail parties on Friday and Saturday nights (one will include a fun arm wrestling event with some of the stars from “Pulling John”), live bands and appearances by Giants’ legend Howard Cross and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Activities for Kids

Finally, there are other great activities, such as free family-friendly beach-side surfing movies at the Ship Bottom boat ramp on the island. There’s also the Kids First program an informative and fun program for the kids. There will be free children’s films and a “junior critics” workshop.

Tickets

If you’re interested, please purchase tickets at http://www. lighthousefilmfestival.org/ tickets.html. You can buy tickets for individual films/events or purchase an “all access” pass for $125 that will get you into every film and event.

Vieux Boucau Surf Club hosts a huge beach clean up

The first European Beach clean Up happened on Saturday May 23rd in Vieux Boucau with the help of Vieux Boucau Surf Club. As the sun rarely comes out theses last few weeks (Landes coast), it was a good surprise and a huge motivation for people actively involved.

And people who came for the event really needed motivation, because the day before, mother nature brought tons of wreck and all kind of trash!!!!

Kids are obviously as usual the more motivated and involved but as the time goes, parents and event people who mainly came to lay down on the beach started to help because it’s not really funny to lay down between fishing nets and plastic bottles!!!! A V.co-Logical pack (contains 2 pairs of gloves, trash bag, an awareness poster and many stickers) was given to each participant.

After 2 hours of collect, almost 80 trash bags were filled up and a lot of others big stuff couldn’t fit in bags. Snacks and all kind of goodies were given to thank people who helped during this beautiful day, and many gifts were, as usual, thrown away.

The day ended by a big BBQ offered by Volcom and Vieux Boucau Surf Club to people who came and stayed despite a big storm in afternoon (Landes Tradition!) Many thanks to VIEUX BOUCAU SURF CLUB and WISHBONE SURF SHOP

V.Co-Logical: V.Co-Logical represents Volcom’s socially responsible movement towards sustainability. Through eco-friendly products (V.Co-Logical series) or through the initiatives for a better environment, on both social and ecological sides, Volcom encourages change to improve the quality of our lives. The promotion of awareness inside and outside the company concerning recycling, carpooling, biking and/or skating instead of driving… is one the main goals.

V.Co-Logical in Europe also supports Surfrider Foundation Europe – a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to preserving the world’s surf spots and their surrounding environment, beaches and oceans – with the 1% for the Planet Donations (coming from our V.Co-Logical product line).

Lately V.Co-Logical in Europe did an educational part on the beach clean up, because we think that it is important for the future generations to be aware of the environmental issue.

www.volcomeurope.com

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It started in a remote corner at edge of the world where the Southern Ocean pounds the isolated Tasmanian shoreline. The O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series then moved up to the northern town of Thurso in Scotland for its perfect but freezing reef breaks.

The southernmost and northernmost events in professional surfing brought together exploration and competition within the depths of nature.

And now come the wilds…

Cape Town with its selection of treacherous waves around the Cape Peninsula under the towering cliffs of the Table Mountain Range, is home to the third stop on the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series.

From June 20 until June 24, the world’s best surfers, including South African World Tour star and event ambassador, Jordy Smith, will venture to the rugged surf spots scattered around the Cape Peninsula to brave the elements.

With water temperatures around 10 degrees, heavy winter storms generating consistent and potentially huge swells, the prevalence of bull kelp around many of the surf spots and the threat of Great White Sharks (against which precautions will be taken), the O’Neill Cold Water Classic South Africa can rightly claim to be the ‘wildest event in professional surfing’.

“It’s going to be an incredible event,” says Jordy Smith, winner of the inaugural Cold Water Classic Series event in Tasmania. “Cape Town offers an amazing variety of waves. There are both sides of the peninsula to choose from, which can hold all types of swell – but it can get pretty extreme out there.”

Keeping the event mobile as with the rest of the series, there are a huge variety of waves to choose from during the week for the 4 Star ASP WQS event.  Misty Cliffs, a favourite wave of Jordy’s in the area, is just one of the world-class beach breaks on offer with fast, hollow waves.

A few of the other options include Outer Kom – an open ocean left hand reef break featuring a radical drop outside a giant kelp bed and a great barrel section, Crayfish Factory – a heavy right hander with a ledging reef takeoff before running down a kelp infested point, and Kalk Bay – a dredging left hand barrel across a very shallow slab of reef that provides potential 10 point tube rides.

“The Cape Town event is going to be awesome,” says Australian surfer Jarrad Howse, just one of the top name surfers who is following the entire Cold Water Classic Series. “I’ve been there once but never surfed, so I’m looking forward to getting there early and exploring the variety of world class reef and beach breaks on offer before the rest of the competitors arrive.”

Paul Canning, O’Neill’s South African marketing manager is eagerly anticipating the Cold Water Classic Series’ arrival in Cape Town. “The standard has been set pretty high with the opening two events especially in so far as surf,” he said. “I hope we get some nice big storms over the week of our event so we are able to continue this high quality.”

Living up to its promise to explore the wilds and venture into the unknown, the CWC Series has so far exceeded all expectations.

“The surfers all love it,” says Jarrad Howse. “It has created an experience that’s so different to the typical warm water, junky surf, hotels on the beach style,” he said. “It has incorporated travel, exploration and discovery and tested us all with freezing water – but with the opportunity to surf good waves in amazing locations.”

In addition, with its own Series ranking list, there is also $50,000 up for grabs for the winner.

Currently leading the Series is the CWC Scotland winner Lord Adam Melling. However with the Series well and truly underway there is going to be some stiff competition in South Africa including the likes of former World Tour Champion Sunny Garcia as well as young Hawaiian talent John John Florence and local legend Sean Holmes.

A 4-Star event on the ASP World Qualifying Series, the CWC South Africa still rewards the surfers with just as many CWC Series points as the other six star CWC events – bringing them ever closer to that $50,000 prize money as the series winner.

Adam Melling is closely followed in the rankings by Joan Duru, Yuri Sodre and Nathan Hedge and Scotland’s runner up Lord Luke Munro.

Despite winning the inaugural Cold Water Classic event in Tasmania, the South African WCT star Jordy Smith was forced to miss Scotland with clashing events, but still sits in 6th place on the rankings list – and will be one of the favourites in his home country.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

Rating: 4-star World Qualifying Series
Prize-money: US$ 85.000
Event Ambassador: Jordy Smith

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