O'Malley says reason drugs proliferate in SC is also what makes area perfect catalyst for change

"When you surf, you conquer that moment of riding the movement of the flow of the wave. It sensitizes you to a new perception of life, and water becomes home. And when a surfer returns to land, he or she loses that adrenaline, they crave, from being on the water, conquering that wave, and they no longer feel supported. Especially if they question their ability to become successful, they then are likely to turn to meth or heroin so that they can recreate that movement by getting slammed."
OK, so ummm all olympic triathletes and other successful "EXTREEEEEME" sport athletes etc should be shooting up and spiraling out.
This is pure crystals, new age sweat lodges, and rolled oats granola. Welcome to California Genie O'Malley!
You found your spot.

so is this going to be the surf city version of the twinkie defense. bet it works for him too.

I feel so bad all these GREAT surfers like Peter Mel, Flea and all the weak minded suckers who call themselves great surfers. Surfing will never be taken seriously until these clowns get off the "steroid of surfers". Nobody talks about why Andy Irons is dead... they just say, "poor guy, what a tragedy!". I say, what an A-hole! He chose Meth over his wife and family and would be alive today if he chose to face all those "inner demons" he talked about. Want to contest me on this? A guy I know (I won't call a friend) from Brazil was Methin' up with Andy the day before he died. I'm sure that helped his immune system. What a great story!

I have an opinion about Santa Cruz. This article reinforces that opinion.

@ joby1: "Surfing will never be taken seriously [...]" By whom? Grandpa Ted? Auntie Emily? Twenty-three year old hedge fund manager Preston Albright, III? This ranter, for one, longs for the days when surfing was solidly on the counter-culture camp, beyond mainstream's reach or conventions.

from the article:

" if we can highlight its interconnectedness and drive it in a positive and healing direction, the transformation could be solid and fairly quick. It is why I feel that Santa Cruz can be the catalyst for world-wide change."

what a bunch of cr*p. This lady's been there for a couple months and has adopted the hubris. World wide change? Right. I never lived in the Valley, but gag me with a spoon. Santa Cruz never gets over itself does it?

the first step towards meaningful change should be changing the name of the city to Saint O'Malley.

Santa Cruz theme song:

I have no sympathy for meth users. I don't care what they do or who they are. It was their choice to do it. EVERYONE knows what it will do and how bad it is. My Daughter was one who used (even went to slamming it). You can't do anything for them. They have to quit. It's not up to anyone, not you or any Org that thinks they can help. They MUST help themselves or nothing will. My Daughter started in her young teens , now age 24. She said she is 1 year clean now. ( I hope this is true) for I have heard this many times : (
Nothing helped her but her self. Im not saying it's not good to help but if it doesn't work it doesn't work.

I'm a bit tired of all these articles referring to Ruffo as a "pro-surfer". Former pro surfer perhaps but the guy is 49 years old. Has he actually earned any money from surfing since the 80's?

@Quadrafino: in Santa Cruz, a "pro surfer" is someone who spends most of their time surfing recreationally and pays the rent and buys food by dealing meth.

Yep. That's a pro.

Any chance we can stick Genie back in the bottle?