Surf Resource Network Goes Live

The SURF RESOURCE NETWORK has joined forces with Dr. Jess Ponting, a leading expert on sustainable surf tourism and a current professor at San Diego State University, to help develop the world’s first CENTER FOR SURF RESEARCH. This collaboration effort takes a step in the right direction at addressing an exponential problem within surf tourism.

Surf Resource Network Trailer from Surf Resource Network on Vimeo.

The Problem: As traveling surfers continue to expand their horizons to the farthest corners of the globe they pave the way for larger scale tourism industries to follow and too often create a legacy of soiled destinations, disheartened and distressed communities, and missed opportunities to replace poverty with sustainable livelihoods.

The Vision: Surfing’s impact on the world is entirely positive. By incorporating principles of sustainable tourism, surf tourism promotes healthy lifestyles and is a key driver for the environmental, social/cultural, and economic well being of destinations.

read more at surfresource.org

On screen, Dick Van Dyke has been rescued from untimely death by flying cars and magical nannies. Off screen, the veteran star of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins had to rely on the help of a pod of porpoises after apparently dozing off aboard his surfboard. “I’m not kidding,” he said afterwards.

see video of interview (fast forward to 9 mins in)

Van Dyke’s ordeal began during an ill-fated trip to his local beach. “I woke up out of sight of land,” the 84-year-old actor told reporters. “I started paddling with the swells and I started seeing fins swimming around me and I thought ‘I’m dead!'”

Van Dyke was wrong. “They turned out to be porpoises,” he said. “And they pushed me all the way to shore.” The porpoises were unavailable for comment.

Van Dyke made his screen debut on the Phil Silvers Show before bagging his own TV sitcom in 1961. His film credits include Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Dick Tracy, while his TV drama Diagnosis: Murder ran from 1993 to 2001. In recent years he has appeared on screen in Night at the Museum and its 2009 sequel.

read original at guardian.co.uk

Surfers raise their arms in honour of the late Andy Irons (Haw) during a paddle out memorial service held at Middles Beach in Porta Del Sol, Puerto Rico today.

Irons’s friends Roy Powers (HAW) and Dusty Payne (HAW)  lead the paddle out followed by fellow ASP World Tour surfers, friends, industry representatives and fans who carried bouquets of flowers which were scattered into the ocean in rememberance of the late Andy Irons (HAW).

AI Memorial Paddle Out from Surfing Life on Vimeo.

Irons won three  ASP World Championship title in 2002, 2003, and 2004 and was the only true rival to 9X ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA). He is survived by both his parents, his brother Bruce and pregnant wife Lindy.

story via billabong