If there's such a thing as too much beauty in a film, the surfing documentary "Highwater" is guilty of it. Director-writer-narrator Dana Brown ("Step Into Liquid"), working with cinematographer Steve Matzinger, has crafted a compelling, thoroughly gorgeous look at late 2005's Triple Crown of Surfing, the granddaddy of big wave championships, which is held yearly on Oahu's famed North Shore.

At Montauk, on Long Island's far eastern tip, nearly 100 surfers braved the waves and were excited by what was to come. "It's going to be 22-foot," said Bard Cebula, 21, of Short Hill, N.J. "Surfing that kind of wave, you either know what you're doing or you're going to drown."

"Thanks for the Earl url. "

Need to get a new 4/3 sometime soon. Thinking of trying to hit some labor day sales in SC. Anyone have any experience with the 4.5/3.5 Psychofreak? I have heard its really warm... but I'm concerned about durability. How does it compare to a Psycho 2 (my past/current suit)?

"I just bought a new Psycho 2 at the Log Shop for $300. They have a sale going on through this weekend. 25% off O'Neill and 35% off Rip Curl suits.. ..."

"I hear you. I love the front zip, built in hood and no-rash neck. "

"Get a Buell wetsuit - he used to be Xcel's main designer and he just branched off and made his own company - a little pricey but well worth it - Sick ..."

The botanical society in this beachfront town thought it was honoring surfers when it spent $120,000 to erect a 16-foot tall statue of one riding a wave. Instead, it inspired a wave of humiliation for the hapless bronze dude.

Locals nicknamed it the "Cardiff Kook," derisive surfer slang for a wannabe surfer.

"The statue really does look like the guy is getting ready to launch into a ballet-inspired spin. I do feel sorry for the artist. He executed to brief: ..."

"The Cardiff Kook's form kinda reminds me of Cryptomail. Where's that dude been anyways? Even though the surfer's form is totally f*cked up, it ends ..."

"As an aside, kudos to the surf community for merely "decorating" it instead of vandalizing it."

"The waves were coming in perfectly, it was an amazing and magical morning!" remembers Paul Fisher, winner of July's Surfline Photo Challenge for his glassy water shot. "I remember just bodysurfing a bunch of waves and shooting as they closed out around me and this was one of them."

The dolphin hunting season starts today. Check out this report from Ric O'Barry (of 'the Cove' and 'Flipper' fame) to find out how to help end this!!

"The international pressure might help, but the best way to end it is for them to generate pressure from inside Japan, from the Japanese people themsel ..."

"Honestly I wonder what dolphin tastes like. If it tastes as good as baby clubbed seal, I can see why they wouldn't want to stop eating it. I think ..."

"@p_s: I disagree. There are plenty of f'd up things that rankle, even if they're not in my backyard. These include gruesome dolphin slaughter, slaver ..."

A question for the wise.
I just got my new ultra-compact inflatable Krypt MT5 surfmat in the mail from Australia and now want to get some body boarding fins.
What's the consensus out there on which fins are the most comfortable, effective and cool?

"Thanks on the link, Dingo. I also grew up on these on the East Coast and they have too expensive from other people in the past to try without a big f ..."

(1) The radio buttons for the conditions:

(1a) don't start with any one selected (just get rid of the checked="checked" that currently makes "fair" the default).

"Whoa good suggestions! I'm giving those suggestions a good+ "

"I think we need an option for Double-Plus Ungood, personally. Slavery is freedom."

"@whoa: good suggestions (but i think you are a bit challenged on counting :). i did #2 (let me know if that works for you). i'll have a crack at the o ..."

Added a page to my site for people looking for good gift books for surfers. Send the URL to your mom when it nears the holidays or your birthday. :)

This week, we lost a great friend.

Barney, the sea lion, was doing what he loved most when fate intervened - surfing and eating just outside the breakers at Linda Mar.

Really solid book from the folks over at Surfline. Exceeded my expectations. Good gift and/or coffee table book.

show that people definitely like talking about sharks. 45 comments in one thread and the posting of the salmon shark photo prompted another half dozen in the other.

"@Kooktastic I think the shark is getting closer for mating purposes. Like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T1vfsHYiKY&feature=player_embedded#! ..."

"Just by the look of that pic my guess is a harmless Basking shark LOL!"

From the cam...