StokeReport User Surf Reports

Scientists find hundredfold increase in plastic trash in Pacific Ocean since 1970s

madomausu — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:51:18 -0700

The amount of plastic in the ocean area known as the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" has increased a hundredfold since the early 1970s, according to a new study, and the alarming findings could pressure California and other coastal states to do more to reduce plastic trash.

Are Wetsuits the Burka for the Cold-Water Surfer Girl?

madomausu — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:44:20 -0700

Elizabeth writes: The surf industry loves the bikini-clad surf chick, but that doesn’t really happen in the cold, fog-shrouded waters where I am. There are hot girls who rip here, and, for better or worse, they’re all covered up. Is the wetsuit the burka for the cold-water surfer girl?

The ladies take over Fort Point [video]

madomausu — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 08:38:43 -0700

Surf industry company Roxy, which is essentially the female equivalent of parent company Quiksilver, recently sent a group of their team riders to San Francisco’s most iconic surf break, F0rt Point, for a brief surf session. The following video clip showcases their San Francisco adventure.

Light at end of Devil's Slide tunnel: Road paving

madomausu — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:29:56 -0800

The digging is done at the Devil's Slide tunnel, the arched bridges at the n0rth end have been sitting for years, and by the end of this week the concrete roadways will be completed, too.

But California's first highway tunnel in nearly 50 years won't be ready for traffic for several months more.

Middle East Wave Pool Now Open [video]

madomausu — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:00:11 -0800

Golden Gate National Recreation Area to grow

madomausu — Sat, 21 May 2011 03:17:31 -0700

A vast coastal wilderness teeming with wildlife and featuring a mountain rising 2,000 feet from the sea near Moss Beach will officially become the southern entrance to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area this summer, federal officials confirmed Friday.

At the Marine Mammal Center Near San Francisco, Little Miracles Happen Every Day

madomausu — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 10:23:00 -0700

What a big baby -- literally.

Elephant seals weigh 75 pounds when they're born and now, a little more than a month later, these guys should weigh more than 300 pounds.

Pioneer took last Duke Kahanamoku photo dies

madomausu — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 08:51:24 -0800

Clarence "Mac" Maki, a pioneer of in-water surf photography and the last person to capture a photo of Duke Kahanamoku riding a wave, died Oct. 21. He was 86.

Surfing may find its way into Special Olympics

madomausu — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:06:23 -0700

For Megan Bell's first surfing lesson, she didn't need to stand up. No, she was feeling the glide, lying on her belly on a big 11-foot Rozo as the whitewater carried her toward shore, her smile almost as wide as her outstretched arms.

Aquatic elements

madomausu — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:52:02 -0700

Whether swimming with sharks or acting as a body double, these women were made for the water, writes Shelley Seid

Is it possible that we evolved not from the ancestors of chimps and baboons but from apes who spent much of their time in an aquatic environment?

Surfing's 'It Girl' has a hot brain

madomausu — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:35:47 -0700

Courtney Conlogue practically lives out of the back of a truck.

After finishing a surf session at her home break on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier – the first in weeks after getting back in town following a whirlwind spin around the world – she peels off her wetsuit and slathers conditioner through her sun-kissed blonde hair.

Dangerous Riptide Warning At San Francisco's Ocean Beach

madomausu — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 09:42:28 -0700

The U.S. Park Police is stepping up its beach patrols in the Bay Area this weekend because of riptides, which are especially dangerous at this time of year.

Even though the waves may not be large, beachgoers could be lulled into a false sense of security.

Sally and Sofia trade their boards for Caballitos [video]

madomausu — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 13:49:31 -0700

'Caballito de Totora' is the name of the typical Peruvian surfboats, made of a watergrass type, typical to this region. Originally used by fishermen, the caballitos are a versatile tool to navigate the waters.

A History of Women in Surfing [video]

madomausu — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 13:33:09 -0700

Women On Waves, the California Surf Museum’s 2010 special exhibit, in an exciting exploration into the many aspects of feminine wave-riding. From the Hawaiian surfing Queens to the freshly crowned champions of the women’s pro tour, Women On Waves celebrates more than 300 years of women’s standout performances in surfing.

Newly found filmstock shows origins of British surfing

madomausu — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:13:26 -0700

Eighty-one years ago Lewis Rosenberg and a group of friends saw a newsreel showing Australians surfing standing up on their surfboards – it was a moment of inspiration that changed their lives.

This close-knit group of Jewish immigrants, who lived in London and Hove, had been riding their four-foot long wooden bodyboards in the West Country and Channel Islands for almost a decade.

8 Marine Creatures that Light Up the Sea

madomausu — Sun, 09 May 2010 14:44:58 -0700

A great ocean Bioluminescence gallery

Group travels to India, teaches orphaned girls to surf

madomausu — Tue, 04 May 2010 09:47:57 -0700

rriving at Home of Hope orphanage after an eighteen-hour flight, the girls were waiting for us. The sun yet to rise, they peered through windows to take in three unshaven surfers carrying surfboards and bags filled with gifts and needed supplies.

Laird Hamilton is Waterman [video]

madomausu — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:34:35 -0700

Footage of Laird surfing and speaking about his experience with the ocean. Laird is a Waterman. Big Waves, Small Waves, Flat Water, Ocean Life

Woman paddles 40 miles for breast cancer fundraiser (helped by a whale)

madomausu — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:48:44 -0700

DANA POINT – When Jodie Nelson felt exhaustion set in as she dug her paddle into the cold ocean, she would look down at the top of her Stand Up Paddleboard for motivation.

There read the names of loved ones who have passed away or have battled breast cancer – and those people were the reasons why Nelson was attempting what no woman had done before.

Surfing Baby! [video]

madomausu — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:48:22 -0800

22 month old (or 22 month young) surfer and his Mom, Daize Shayne Goodwin go for a surfboard ride in Waikiki.

Save The Waves Film Festival Rocks San Francisco

madomausu — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:29:01 -0800

Last Friday night San Francisco’s surfer and environmentalist communities came together for a very special evening at the Victoria Theatre: the first annual Save The Waves Film Festival, merging film, art, music, surf and environment together into a seamless blend of stoked fun and heartfelt love for the oceans.

US takes brown pelican off endangered species list

madomausu — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:58:25 -0800

The brown pelican, pushed to the edge of extinction in the 1970s by pesticide use, habitat loss and hunting, was Wednesday taken off the endangered species list, US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said. "We can celebrate an extraordinary accomplishment: the brown pelican is endangered no more," Salazar said.

Pierce Brosnan Leads PSA Push to Establish Marine Protected Areas [video]

madomausu — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:34:03 -0700

Joined by a bevy of Hollywood's most visible environmental activists, an alliance of leading ocean conservation groups today released a Public Service Announcement supporting the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) along the Southern California coast.

Surfing Bikinis - Better than Surfing Naked?

madomausu — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:31:48 -0700

Ola Chica make surfing proof bikinis. What a concept. (sorry guys ;). They say:

"Ola Chica designs began while I was on a surfing adventure in the tropical waters of the Hawaiian Islands. Since I learned to surf in Santa Cruz, CA, where wet suits and booties were mandatory, I never realized the importance of a good bikini. My first warm water surfing experiences were pretty embarrassing - I never failed to lose my bottoms while duck-diving or wiping-out."

Surf Movies and Books

madomausu — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:38:58 -0700

Some reviews of new good surf movies and books.

Chasing Waves: A Surfer's Tale of Obsessive Wandering

madomausu — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:34:36 -0700

With a verve for travel and an addiction to the ocean, West-coast native Amy Waeschle explores her lust for surfing in her new book Chasing Waves: A Surfer's Tale of Obsessive Wandering (Mountaineers Books, Paperback, $16.95). To Waeschle, surfing is more of a feeling than an actual sport, combining the mental quest for exploration with the physicality of riding a wave.

Alaia surfing [video]

madomausu — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:10:11 -0700

The Alaia board is a thin, fast, finless, wooden surfboard with no rocker, arguably hard to handle. La La is the ancient Hawaiian word for alaia surfing. It is about sliding across the wave and then breaking trim into a sideslip or a cut back. Check out the video or the driftsurfing article for more information. What are your thoughts? Fad or inspiration?

Just Swell! Bill’s Strength Has East Coast Surfers Psyched

madomausu — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:33:25 -0700

Sunday is expected to be an East Coast surf day for the ages — the biggest of the summer so far, and perhaps the biggest of the past few years. Bill is expected to stay well clear of the East Coast, but officials are warning swimmers to stay out of the water — New York City’s ocean beaches, including the Rockaways and Coney Island, have already been closed.

Dear and Yonder screening this Saturday in Potrero del Sol Park

madomausu — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 11:40:20 -0700

This weekend the city celebrates Tiffany Campbell and Andria Lessler’s latest film Dear & Yonder, which follows female riders as they conquer some of the most beautiful wet landscapes on earth — including Indonesia, Mexico and sessions out on San Francisco’s prized Ocean Beach. For its release, Dear & Yonder is touring the east and west coasts with plenty of stops in CA.

Reckless surfers could face jail

madomausu — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:14:08 -0700

Surfers and canoeists could face jail and fines up to £50,000 if they are caught causing accidents at sea under Department for Transport proposals in the United Kingdom.

Pipeline: Art, Surfing, and the Ocean Environment: Opening Reception Thursday, July 16, 2009

madomausu — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:57:14 -0700

The ocean environment and the influence of surf culture on Bay Area art are explored in works by Jo Ann Biagini, Leo Bersamina, Charlie Callahan, Terry Hoff, Reuben Margolin, Serena Mitnik-Miller, Adrienne Keahi Pao, Charles Valoroso, and others.

Surfing a River When the Wave Doesn’t Move

madomausu — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:32:43 -0700

To the uninitiated, the scene on a recent morning along the St. Lawrence River in Montreal might have inspired confusion. Behind the striking modular apartment complex known as Habitat 67, a crowd of surfers slipped into wet suits and waxed up their boards, 500 miles from the nearest ocean beach.

Surfing dogs fetch a look at annual event

madomausu — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:14:53 -0700

“He doesn't like it when other people get on his board,” said Doug Hokstad, 46, Dozer's owner. The 75-pound English bulldog was just one of many canines trying to be top dog at the fourth annual surf-dog competition put on by Loews Coronado Bay Resort [in San Diego] yesterday.

Celebrate World Oceans Day with the California Academy of Sciences

madomausu — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:27:43 -0700

Celebrate World Oceans Day with the California Academy of Sciences. Dip into a suite of special programs and events from June 4-16, 2009. See the website for more information.

Dear and Yonder [video]

madomausu — Tue, 26 May 2009 07:31:44 -0700

Tiffany Morgan Campbell is in the final stages of putting together her ode to ocean-going females, Dear & Yonder. The film explores the relationship between women and their home breaks (the Dear) as well as featuring ladies who search out waves in the far-flung corners of the Earth (the Yonder)

Bay Area beaches score high on water quality

madomausu — Thu, 21 May 2009 07:44:48 -0700

It's safe to go into the water, according to a new health report card for California's beaches, the vast coastal playground for millions who dig in the sand, swim, surf and dive: download the full report

Seabirds are dying in large numbers yet again

madomausu — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:21:43 -0700

Seabirds are once again dying along the coast from San Francisco as far South as Oxnard, according to WildCare. Brandt’s Cormorants, grebes and loons are those that seem to be most commonly found. The largest numbers of dead birds reported so far include 67 Brandt’s and 13 grebes at Ocean Beach. This event seems to have coincided with the large wind storms that came through around April 15 but no one knows if that’s relevant.

The Ride Home - A Novel on the Surf Culture and Nightlife of Ocean Beach

madomausu — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:33:43 -0700

The Ride Home is a debut novel by author, Dr. Jacob K. Ray. The story takes place in San Francisco's Sunset District, home to some of the biggest waves, and biggest partier surfers in the world. A young transplant from Alabama, moves to California for graduate school in psychology and gets sucked deep into the surf culture and night life. After losing a friend in an accidental, alcohol related death, the young doctor, Chance Feinman, finds himself trying to move forward and reconcile his own problems. This book is the first by Dr.

Surfer Magazine Publisher Files for Bankruptcy

madomausu — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:48:15 -0700

The economic situation in our country has not only hit the retailers and brand name companies in our industry, it has also taken its toll on the material we read. Source Interlink, the company that publishes Skateboarder, Snowboarder, Surfing, Surfer and five other action sports magazines and web sites, said today that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

environmentalists and surfers oppose a 'green' idea for tidal power in the U.K. [video]

madomausu — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:17:20 -0700

Bailey was among the first people ever to surf the so-called Severn Bore, a tidal surge of water up the Severn River that sometimes builds into a rideable wave. "When the river rises," he explained, "it washes everything off the bank. Funnily enough, that's where the wave breaks, by the bank, not in the middle, and one of these guys (in 1964) rode quite a long way. But in the end he got swept up on a bank. Then he was on a farm. He had to run across a pasture, and the bullocks chased him."

Jaimal Yogis' passion for surfing, meditation

madomausu — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:03:16 -0700

Jaimal Yogis lives in the top floor apartment of a surf shanty on ######, just down the street from the iconic surf cafe, Java Beach. It's a pink house with murals of St. Francis on the side, sea horses on the shutters and plants and art spilling onto the sidewalk. As we ascend to his perch, we meet his landlady, Carol Schuldt, a septuagenarian with weathered skin and wild hair, an Ocean Beach water woman who continues her lifelong passion of body surfing every day.

Dropping in on Ocean Beach

madomausu — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:22:45 -0700

The Pacific Ocean is the world's largest and deepest of the Earth's oceanic bodies. And it's right here in our backyard. In his 1971 short story "Pacific Radio Fire," San Francisco writer Richard Brautigan pointed out that the Pacific starts or ends in California, depending what language you speak. We spent a day at San Francisco's Ocean Beach and some folks asked what the waters were saying to them.

Officials ponder how to remove whale carcass from rocky cove

madomausu — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:29:00 -0700

A California gray whale was first spotted early Wednesday, on the east side of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf. It washed back to shore Wednesday evening, just hours after wharf workers towed it about a mile out to sea, away from the wharf, city officials and marine mammal experts Thursday again began plotting a return to sea for the pungent yearling.

Gray Whale Cove Boogie Boarder Makes it Safely to Shore

madomausu — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:18:31 -0700

A boogie boarder who was swept up in a current in the waters off Gray Whale Cove State Beach near Devil's Slide in San Mateo County this afternoon made it safely to shore, a U.S. Coast Guard petty officer said.

Making a Greener Surfboard [video]

madomausu — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:36:02 -0700

Surfers have long been keen on saving the planet. Now, though, it's their surfboards that could go green, with an eco-friendly board that's been developed by the Eden Project in Cornwall, England. Sky's Emma Birchley reports.

Zeppelin offers unique viewing option for Maverick's

madomausu — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:07:51 -0700

The next time the Maverick's Surf Contest hits --" which could be anytime between today and March 31 --" a zeppelin will be on hand to give action-hungry fans a bird's-eye view of the big-wave surf contest off the coast of Half Moon Bay.

Unusual Killer Whales Seen Off Farallones

madomausu — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 12:03:41 -0700

An unusual group of killer whales has been spotted in national marine sanctuary waters off the Bay Area. Approximately 40 orcas were seen by a Sausalito whale watching expedition on Saturday, about 19 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge, inside the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, sanctuary spokeswoman Mary Jane Schramm said.

Rat Surfing

madomausu — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 07:27:33 -0800

I love this image of a rat getting a cover up on a 20x over head wave. You can read more about the surfing rats in the 2008 article.

Local lawmakers want to clean up oceans

madomausu — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:00:22 -0800

A group of California lawmakers today proposed to reduce litter in oceans by banning Styrofoam containers for restaurant take-out orders, charging a 25-cent fee for the use of plastic or paper bags at the grocery store and forbidding beverage makers from using detachable bottle caps.

Wave Energy to Bring Power and Jobs to San Francisco

madomausu — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:20:48 -0800

Here's an interesting article by Gavin Newsom on upcoming plans for wave power generation off San Francisco. Here's the part that worried me: "The study confirms that wave power is a promising resource off Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Our project aims to demonstrate the feasibility of generating electric power from waves about eight miles off the west coast of San Francisco."