World-renowned underwater cinematographer Mike Prickett — known for his spellbinding work on such award-winning documentaries as Riding Giants and Step Into Liquid — is currently suffering from severe decompression sickness, aka “the bends” or “divers disease”, while shooting a commercial video in Rangiora, Tahiti last Wednesday.

Sources say the 47-year-old Hawaiian was sharing air with another diver, drained the tank, and had no choice but go straight to the surface without decompressing. At press time, Mike was undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a Papeete hospital.

“I was doing an underwater shoot for wetsuits and dive gear,” Prickett told Honolulu-based KITV News. “I saw another diver sinking and panicking. I dove down to 220 feet to save him, but he used up all my air. I’m glad I was able to rescue him and he could walk away from the incident. I want to thank my family and friends for their prayers.”
Unfortunately, the bends left Prickett paralyzed from the chest down. And though he has since regained some sensation in his legs, his condition is still serious. Surfline received an update from Tahiti-based photographer and Teahupo’o fixture Tim McKenna after he had returned from the hospital.
“Mike still has still has to do decompression chamber sessions until next Saturday,” reported Tim. “Forty-eight hours after the last session he can fly back to see a specialist, either in Australia or San Diego. He’s in pain and his spirits are pretty low. He still can’t feel his lower body.”

The best news in all this may actually come from Prickett’s past: An automobile accident back in 1984 shattered Mike’s right leg in 36 places and his left leg in seven. Doctors feared he’d never walk again and suggested swimming as physical therapy. All that rehab ultimately led to an interest in underwater cinematography, which led to a stellar career, which led to numerous awards including “Best Cinematography” at the Sundance Film Festival. In other words, this is a very empowered, industrious man we’re talking about here.

Details on a fundraiser to benefit his medical expenses will be announced soon. In the meantime, please pray for Mike and his wife Marya during this very troubling time.

story via surfline

I don’t really like the ocean. Let me clarify: I don’t really like the idea of the ocean. Who knows what’s down there? Not me. So you might not think of me as a prime candidate for a surfing class. Luckily, a surfing class on dry land is no longer a myth, for I have seen it.

Not on the beaches of Long Island in the middle of summer, but in the depths of winter on the hardwood floor of a Manhattan dance studio, where SurfSET Fitness recently organized a string of introductory pop-up workouts. The sessions were so successful that organizers decided to offer classes at the Sports Center at Chelsea Piers through March 4.

SurfSET Fitness Promo – The Rip Surfer X from SurfSET Fitness on Vimeo.

The goal is not necessarily to teach participants how to surf but to simulate the exercise of surfing for 40 minutes without a little thing like an ocean bothering you.

This is made possible by an apparatus called the RipSurfer X. Imagine a surfboard less than two feet off the floor and sitting on top of a handful of miniature body balls that shift and displace air as you perform moves that cause the muscles in your legs, stomach and arms to work hard to maintain your balance. This alone is enough to break a sweat.

read more at nytimes.com

Surfing superstar Kelly Slater has taken to Twitter — and may travel to wintry Chicago — in defense of Rex Flodstrom, the guy arrested Tuesday for catching freezing, fresh-water waves in a no-surf zone.

Flodstrom, a 40-year-old artist, poet and online tea company employee, was charged with disorderly conduct and being at a closed beach when police spotted him surfing 4-foot swells at Oak Street Beach. He was handcuffed in his cold-weather wet suit and hauled to a police lockup, where he was held for four hours.

Chicago ended its surfing prohibition in 2009 when the park district caved to pressure from surfing advocate groups including the Surfrider Foundation. But surfing remains heavily regulated. Catching waves is limited to only certain beaches — Oak Street is not one of them.

Flodstrom plans to fight the charges in court on Feb. 16.

“Surfing is not a crime,” the 11-time surfing world champion tweeted Wednesday. “Say what?! Maybe a few of us should attend court with him.”

On Thursday, Slater told the Sun-Times he’s perplexed by Chicago’s rather harsh surfing regulations.

“It’s unbelievable. It’s just a body of water. What’s with the regulations?” said Slater, the 2011 Association of Surfing Professionals champ. “ It makes no sense. … It sounds like a police state.”

read more at suntimes