Dedicated to New England Surfers

Get on that!

2012-02-13T13:26:00.001-05:00

Black ink + photoshop

7:00AM Sunday morning. Woke up. Coastguard cam looked like blown out garbage. Debated. Rhode Island looked like a lake. Attempted to motivate. Went back to sleep. Phone buzzed. 9:30AM WAVES in strange places I was told. An hour later I was surfing somewhere most will never. Swell fizzled and we drove North and scored again. Good day of travel, hunting, and scores. Waist to Chest high mini perfection on a North swell?? Gotta love it.

Photo's by RJAM

Through the Iris of the Sun

2012-02-02T10:31:00.002-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja3LGFY1i0o

We are all merely reflections. Vibrations. Waves of energy. The structural composition of an atom is proportionately scale to that of our solar system. That is, in fact, the distance from electrons, nuclei, etc. is proportional to that of the distance of planets to our sun. Strange to think of it. We are part of an ongoing wave. Why do huge storms happen? Is it all just a coincidence or could it be OUR expectations manifesting into an epic swell event? Our minds, our thoughts are the film to this projection of reality. Similar vibrations are naturally drawn together in our Universe There are many nay sayers out there which confide in the comfort of societical views of "what is supposed to be possible" vs. "What COULD be possible". Maybe there are limitless possibilites. Maybe OUR minds are truly the one precious posession we have in this. KNOW the storm will come. KNOW the swell will be. Know you can fly. Believe you can make that barrel section.

Caged and burning for a shred sesh.

Secret Stash:

2012-01-20T15:21:00.000-05:00

We all have one or two of our slabby secrets tucked away for that oh so special swell angle when everywhere else is less than mediocre...it's gems like this wave that keeps my hunger for exploration alive. Biggest payout I've had in years. Shot this after a 2.5hr session. Unfortunately I forgot my water housing so all you get to see is the aftermath of a 2.5hr barrel spree I won't soon forget. Not the best photo....but your mind can do the rest of the work. Wave starts slow and rollie then the face steps down into a steep wall of intense tubeness. Most waves didn't look makeable until you put on the gas and checked into the pocket.

Somewhere between Montauk, NY and Portland, ME

CENSORED!

Cabin Fever

2012-01-06T16:16:00.000-05:00

get out And skate! Then surf!

W. T. F. !?!?

2011-12-25T12:45:00.002-05:00

I'm not complaining. Personally the weather has been phenominal. Why are you reading this? I'm caged in a 6 x 8 foot cube until 5 p.m. every weekday. Sure I could squeeze a dawn session in, then again, buisiness and wetsuit stench don't mesh in too well. Hope everyone has been scoring. For the first time in my life I have the neccessity of being a "weekend warrior". I'm not happy about it but that just means training after work. Here's to long hours of Skateboarding and Yoga all for the betterment of my mind, body, soul, and surfing.
I saw 60 degrees today 12/22/11 and THIS IS PHENOMINAL. All we are missing is a freakish Indo-esk swell event teamed with warm winds. The weather is shot. The surf HASN'T been huge and I am fiending for an insanely large faced wave to ride.

.....Not bad for my first day of vacation in nearly a year and a half....

First Surf Flick:

2011-11-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

11-11-11 MAKE A WISH!

2011-11-11T17:41:00.004-05:00

A BIT HEAVY

5 hours

So Clean

Score.

2011-10-31T13:43:00.000-04:00

There's nothing I can say other than "Thank You south of Boston!" While Rhode Island was flat as a lake this was happening. High tide was joined with an intense storm surge, the sun came out, and the wind tapered off mid day to leave us with a little N'oreaster fun. Entirely different beast than the sought after 'hurricane swells'. The sets were relentless. 5 wave sets upon 5 wave sets. Getting stuck on the inside was not fun but well worth the reward. Waves were absolutely everywhere!!!!

It's a lot bigger than it looks.

Smaller inside sets would bypass the outer reef and wedge up into some fast pumpable walls which were interacting with refraction that was chucking some good lips.

Later in the day, with the tidal switch, the swell cut down and the break was more in control and playful.

Waves

2011-10-27T23:33:00.002-04:00

Shots from last week.

Katia

2011-09-10T02:57:00.001-04:00

much more to come....

Feast Or Famine

2011-09-01T18:22:00.003-04:00

Get Pitted. Document Everything.

2011-08-25T13:55:00.000-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZzhNy7Rdqk

Batten down. Shit could get messy. Sharpen your chainsaw blades, pack your things, anticipate the unknown and never stop charging.

If you doubt your abilities find a smaller wave to surf and leave the big ones for another day.

Surf Side Days, Great White Ways

2011-08-16T13:46:00.002-04:00

Surfing in N.E. has been a past time I've enjoyed for well over a decade now. It started with my love for the Ocean as a small boy and slowly I found my own way to the beach with a board in hand. We're all nuts...the ones who surf year round, that is, can only describe a fractional amount of what it truly is to be a year round surfer here. The lone and desolate snow drifted and windswept beauty of places most people would not even think of heading to in the peak of a blizzard are what keeps me coming back time and time again. Not only that but the isolation never gets old. The feeling of being swallowed by a dark pit seeking refuge from howling 35kt offshore winds and 22 degree wind chills present an exceptonal challenge to even the most physically fit of people. Lately things have been quiet. Swells have come and gone, not so large. We are on the cusp of what I believe to be the
true season for surf in N.E. FALL/ WINTER. It has been nice shedding a few pounds of neoprene. Yet, the thought of Jaws is forever burnt into my mind when I paddle out. Surfed Just north of Chatham this past weekend and even though the water was clear I couldn't help but to have the theme song to "Jaws" drumming through my mind with every stroke I took.

2011-08-07T15:38:00.001-04:00

We'll take what we can get and we'll like it too damnit.

2011-08-02T10:29:00.001-04:00

My, my, Hello Ms. Emily!

2011-08-01T19:54:00.001-04:00

Possible gnar status.

2011-07-31T14:42:00.001-04:00

Status: Broken. Needs 10ft+ swell. Possible bump Thursday.

2011-07-29T12:55:00.001-04:00

Flat. The taste of summer on your lips. Hoping for a swell to come along at random with the same quenching abilities as an oasis within the dryest of places. FROTHING is an understatement. Some of us don't last the mentally enduring mindgame of the seasonal swell. The dedicated push on and satisfy the urge to shred by finding different ways to surf. Skurfing, wake skating, paddling the harbor, anything to keep the stoke ALIVE. I'd be pulling the hair clear from my head if I hadn't gotten spit out of a 2ft. cover up over a week ago after sipping Martini's @ The Beachcomber. Stay Up, Keep it Irie, Pray for surf, Stay alive! JB

The Wave Machine Is Warming Up

2011-07-20T08:10:00.002-04:00

I wonder if that surface low combined with the Northern Atlantic's prevelant warmth will feed TS Brett's need to develop further...There is abundant tropical activity. It looks as if everything is in sync for a weekend swell event. Come on Friday!

TS BRETT

2011-07-18T12:38:00.001-04:00

The first tropical storm of the season is taking aim for a coastal sweep by N.E. mid week. Cross your fingers hope to ride. Cape Cod was fortunate enough to supply a decent swell all weekend with gentle onshore to offshore winds.

2011-07-08T23:47:00.001-04:00

I hope there's surf tomorrow...

Holding The Vision

2011-07-07T13:02:00.003-04:00

Sunrise July 06,2011 Conditions: FLAT

Summer. A true time of desperation for some. Those of us who've braved the elements all winter keep finding ourselves saying, "I miss winter!" Yet, the 90 degree temperatures and 70 degree water holds us at bay as we are able to snorkel and spear fish at our favorite reefs. However, the small scale surf has only made me eager and itching for a hurricane. There is no anticipation quite like that. Watching a system tear off of Western Africa into the Eastern Atlantic wondering "Is THIS going to take a track wnw-nw or is this storm going to head westerly and then down south!?!" Things have remained quiet for the first few weeks of hurricane season. I feel like Mother Nature is piling up gun powder in a keg that is soon to explode into a fury of storms. Summer was a few weeks late this year and that only makes me feel like we're only in for a longer wait until the fall months hit. The prevalent warmth and the Ocean having reached 70 degrees already only furthers my claim that we are in for one heck of a hurricane season. Last year was great. Billy & Igor combo swells back to back weekend warrior wonderfulness. I can only sit on the edge of my chair and wait for the first ONE to develop and churn some long period groundswell our way. Until then we best not be slacking. I certainly don't want to be questioning my physical abilities when I'm finally standing on the beach looking at gaping 10-15ft + waves.

Shop Visit @ Xtremely Board Dartmouth, Ma

I'm sure you all heard Billy Hamilton was in town a week or two ago. I was fortunate enough to spend some time getting to know the guy and he is a class act comedian. The days were filled with laughter and dogging on one another while the nights were spent cutting loose and relaxing. The guy really knows his stuff not to mention the countless stories he comes up with. You'd think most of them were made up but the guy speaks the truth and only that. Not only that but his numerous years of experience left the door wide open to learn absolutely everything I could from him. He and VEC have reunited and joined forces. The dynamics of the two together are a mesh of father / son / brotherly love. That's got trouble written all over it. Take my word for that one! Rumor has it Billy might be making a return shortly after his endeavour in Paris, France. Watch out Cape Cod! Billy the kid is coming for ya!

Shawn "Vec" & Billy

Gnnnaaarrllyy Brahhhh!

2011-06-30T12:12:00.001-04:00

waiting, watching, fiending, yearning, teasing, flattening, demobilizing, depressing, Disdaining, awakening, sleeping, dreaming, waking, waining, remembering, feeling, anguishing, addicting.

churning, tossing, hucking, hollowing, spitting, humbling, mobilizing, invigorating, exciting, rewarding, breath-taking.

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Memorial Day Brings Memorable Pre-Summer Swell

2011-05-30T08:27:00.006-04:00

Waking up early pays off

Ray Jarvis getting angry

Bradley off the top

Ray likes barrels

Unfinished raw HD fogged lense

Picture quality could be better...but waves were glass!

Bite my lip and Close my eyes....

XB ALL DAY

On Cape no booties or gloves FINALLY

16th hour in the tube for the day

Late in the day size cut down but winds backed off. Still a POWERHOUSE

Noodle arms = Rail to forehead

The man, the myth, the legend, VEC!

Memorial Day weekend supplied the outer Cape with some of the more memorable waves all season. We weren't freezing our asses off, we stayed in the water for 4-5 hours a session, and you really couldn't ask the Ocean to have performed in a more organized mechanical fashion. The morning was amazing with a certain unnamed spot supplying an empty line up with 3-5ft faced double wide heaving dredgers! My mind is still in disbelief!

Dropping in through the early morning fog....in there somewhere.

2011-05-29T22:09:00.001-04:00

More to come.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

2011-05-27T12:54:00.001-04:00

It's finally here. A 3 day weekend we can all appreciate. Seeing old friends, the return of warm weather, and a damn good excuess to kick back on the beach and soak up some rays. It seems there may be some surfing in order on the outer Cape as the forcast is holding the vision of 4.5ft@11seconds with semi off shore winds fluctuating sideshore not much greater than 10-20mph. Swell is forcasted for the whole weekend. I am crossing my fingers. You really have to give it up to New Englands' multitude of swell opportunities. It's not flat everywhere...all you need to do is drive a bit. Ride or fizzle and Die. JB

Drink and Ride responsibly!

Liquid Envelope

2011-05-24T09:16:00.002-04:00

Tearing through the atmosphere,
Reason to inspire. Time stands still as I'm stuck in stone. Time stands still as I stand within this liquid room; reflections of my inner being refracting from all angles, Falling faster than gravity. A moment for myself and the mother of us all. Shielded from the wind my mind finds tranquility within the belly of the Ocean. My soul finds peace, my spirit aches for more. 30lbs of rubber shed come spring....step into a lighter man made skin to brave the elements. No more resistriction of movement. Unleashing a wild cat on the prowl..freedom...the ability to move with ease; 30lbs off my back, Birdsongs in the air, warm breezes, mild water, 8:45pm dusk, and less than 3 months until hurrrican season.

2011-05-18T14:20:00.001-04:00

Never thought it would go this far....starting to wrap the run. Soon the fun house will be completely rippable. Too bad we'll have to go upstairs to check the surf from the window...you can't win em' all.....I wonder if we can make a built in mini-fridge....stay tuned!

BUILd-A-hOLICS ANONYMOUS

2011-05-09T13:10:00.000-04:00

It started out with simple sketches. It began with conversations in the line up. Little did we know how fast and easy it would be to throw together. Our only option is to keep building....and that we will. We've used 80% recycled materials stopping at any and every dumpster in the area scouring them for useful wood and fill materials.

We've had more success than we could have imagined and in the prescence of these concrete works of art all we can do is laugh and plan to keep expanding. It wouldn't have been possible without the co-operation of home owners letting us have at their dumpsters. We are making a full-on snake run. Completion should be just in time for the summer flats and SW thermal flows....mad props to RJAMC & "The Mrs."(chief safety inspector) for allowing this basement transformation. Surreal. This wave breaks all day every day!!!! JB

2011 ESA Regionals

2011-05-07T10:10:00.000-04:00

We couldn't have asked for better weather. The surf was size-able and confused(as usual) which gave the SNE locals a bit of an advantage over the out of towners. You had to stay on your toes and keep your eyes on the horizon constantly searching for a head high right hander to roll through the corner at Second Beach. Advancing heats required 2 good wave scores which was not an easy task as the sets coming into the beach were 4-5 closeouts in a row with maybe 1 or 2 waves lining up amidst the chaotic churning of the southern New England waters. Men's results Open Shortboard results Senior Men
Junior Women Ladies More here

I can honestly say that it was the first taste of summer for all of us Saturday morning. Temperatures hovered around the upper 50's to lower 60's early on. The surf was waist-stomach + clean and had a little kick to it...still lacking a bit of power...would have loved some 3ft @ 14 seconds! Haven't seen that in a while. Much thanks to Moondoggiesurfer.com for complimentary downloads! More event photos here
Next ESA event is in June. Pray for surf! ....far overdue for a venture over the bridge to the outer Cape.

2011-05-04T08:37:00.002-04:00

Build to ShRed. Forecast isn't looking so big for the next week so it's back to the dungeon for some expansion on this mini bowl. Taking over the basement one trowelat a time. Basic construction method after weeks of proper planning we threw this gem together in roughly 10 hours. Wood templates + rubble fill + sand + quickcrete = mini bowl basement training facility. Don't take skateboarding for granted. S.O.D. !

Greater Expectations

2011-04-04T12:45:00.003-04:00

Sheltered points never fail

SPRAYED

The EYEWITNESS is so vital to building the stoke as you haul ass to the beach hoping it's as good as your buddy says it is.Checking the surf forecast is a habit I will never break. It's like an addiction, constantly checking the offshore wave heights....Looks like that double digit swell is on its way for tomorrow. The only thing that can quite possibly beat an online surf report or offshore wave height is a friend at home blocks from the beach on the telephone calling you as he looks at various points with a telescope. Latest captures from the weekend. It was nice to get in the water again. Water is up 3 degrees! Hello 41F!!! FNP

A bit mellow...still fun.

Photo credit goes to RJAMC once again.

Secret Spot Somewhere Southerly

A Few Shots From The Week

2011-03-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Dry reef all ways makes swell break

The past week supplied surf for most of the region.. Clean conditions fluctuated from the southern shores to the northern and the eastern reaches of New England. The cold is still a force to be reckoned with. Water temps are still hovering around 38* and it looks hopelessly flat for the next week or so....hoping for a double didgit swell sooner than later. I can't remember the last time I saw offshore wave heights hit anything over 12ft @10 seconds.....I opted to stay on the southcoast while the NEsurfadventures guys ran up north and scored as well. Hope everyone got some surf! Surf to Live

Photos by RJAM

2011-03-18T13:19:00.001-04:00

60 Degrees and I got a call 10 minutes before I was off work which brought me out to play on waist high walls alone for 2hrs. 5'6x19 3/4x2 1/2 pristine warm fun. Think it's safe to say Spring is here.

SPRING-A-LING-A-LING

2011-03-14T18:07:00.000-04:00

I am sure we have all been getting hungry for waves by now. How hungry are you? Would you say you're hungry enough to hop in your car with a buddy, stuff it full of gas,and go exploring? Would you be willing to drive any more than you had to? I am. You've gotta be down! ESPECIALLY with all the options New England has to offer....it's overwhelming sometimes. Where to surf?!?!....Do you want a reeling point break on a sketchy ledge or would you rather have dredging perfection on concrete-packed sandbars??

Surfing the same spots time and time again gets old. Certain people surf certain spots. Certain spots break certain ways and it just gets old after you've pulled into the same section time and time again. Swell after swell....same break over and over again. Yea, the comfort level is nice but I like stepping out of my comfort zone. Learning to surf a new break can be ultimately frustrating but so freaking rewarding at the same time.

Imagine you scope your local break and 12 or more people are already on it....good time? I have other thoughts about that. It pays to put in the extra time on the road. No one said good waves came easily. Certainly not cheap either. Yet, imagine you leave your local break, drive an hour and find an empty lineup AND it's 3x's better than anywhere you've seen. This has happened to me more times than I can count and I'm going to keep doing it because two's company but three's a crowd.

Two was a crowd....

UPS AND DOWNS: Shots From The Weekend

2011-03-01T12:23:00.000-05:00

I remember winters when there was overhead surf 3 times a week. I remember having the leisure of planning surf ventures days in advance. This has by far been the least sizeable and consistent winter surf season I have seen in over 6 years. I remember New England for giant swells in the middle of January and February. I remember howling offshores and blind take-offs on walls the size of buildings. I remember the Ocean scaring the crap out of me. I am sure I haven't been desensitized. I am positive I am not remembering false occaisions of epicness. I had so much anticipation for this season to out do the last. I can't complain too much, however, our Hurricane season kept us pretty satisfied.

We can only cross our fingers and hope that our nearly swell-less winter will give way to a consistant and busy spring. I DO remember the years when all hope seemed lost in the months of January and February that the coming spring season seemed to explode with all the energy that was missed in the winter passed. Let's hope that jet stream shifts in our favor.
On the bright side of things...there has been swell for the past few weekends and there is more forecasted for the upcoming weekend. Desperation is starting to set in. Hunger for double overhead. We can only wait, hope, and pray.

Thanks again to RJAMC for the water shots!!!!

Puxatauny on the money!

2011-02-07T16:03:00.000-05:00

It's Feb....the month after January and things seem to be warming up quite nicely. A 40 degree day with light offshore wind sunshine and 6 feet of swell were the last things I expected to be wrapped up in on Superbowl Sunday. Surfed a double session with some good friends. Our morning session was alright not so much power on the face but a mellow head high point break is what we ate for breakfast and by low tide the ledge was exposed and I was one fin box less. Went back to the house to grab another board and surfed __________ for 1 more hour.

Lunchtime was easy going. The swell was stable and holding so we took our time eating and relaxing. Around 2pm we decided to check a different spot and it paid off in some draining barrels and some decent water shots. Needless to say it felt like Spring had arrived. The chirping birds and warm pavement made the walk back to the house surreal especially after the score we made. Mid-winter's 43rd annual contest coming up on Feb. 19th!! Enjoy. JB

Much thanks to Ray of NESURFADVENTURES.BLOGSPOT.COM and JA for the photos!

Flatness

2011-01-20T14:48:00.000-05:00

There's nothing worse than a swell-less Ocean. In times of flatness I'd do almost anything to have 6-12ft @ 13 seconds. You have to look on the bright side of things though. We got a good amount of snow to play around with. I don't know about you but I love snowboarding just about as much as surfing. Backyard setups are something I love almost as much as charging through a glade in 3 feet of fresh powder. Just the thing to take my mind off the flatness. Just as the novelty of our make-shift quarter pipe wall ride and mini step down wore off a swell found its way to the coastline. I love how different swells turn a familliar break into a shifty mind game. Hopefully we're falling into a bit more of an active weather pattern from here on out. Where's the epic winter swell???? JB

Winter

2010-12-28T10:34:00.001-05:00

     We have been lucky so far with a mild interlude from fall into winter. Now it is here and it isn't so mild anymore. The recent swell event was dark windy and cold. There were less than 1/2 a dozen surfers at choice spots in the area. The waves were pumping and the offshore wind was gusting up to about 40-50mph. Solid waist-chest+ with a rogue over head 1-2 wave set. SO CLEAN.
     It was empty when I showed up. One soul was looking at the break. It wasn't lining up so well due to tidal factors. This could only make you drive around out of curiosity. I checked a couple other spots and it looked worse. The wind was beating on the solid lines rolling onto various point breaks and sandbars. Not too impressed by the size or cleanliness presented by this swell I put hopes of riding my 6'11 to bed and focused more on my 5'6 LSD twinzer. That shape has proven itself time and time again in a variety of conditions.
     You can imagine it may have been a bit difficult to paddle into these waves. Timing and positioning were everything. Some waves seemed to drift right to you effortlessly holding back JUST enough for you to turn and go. Just 2 strokes and you felt the momentum of the wave pick you up. The wind would send beads of water off the back of the wave so violently that it was literally blinding on a few occasions. "It's like skiing through a snow gun" one surfer remarked. It wasn't exactly a warm paradise out there. In our own silent ways , however, we had found a piece of paradise in New England. Dark and stormy tubes all around. Empty waves up and down the beach and barely a handful of surfers in the water. On face turns were a challenge as was timing the perfectly etched barrel sections reeling through. All in all I'd say Santa was a little late this year delivering surf but I'm not complaining. Surf on! JB

Strange Waves In Familiar Places

2010-12-22T12:29:00.001-05:00

SECRET SPOT IN MY OWN BACK YARD!

Nothing is more exciting than finding a new spot. Nothing beats the feeling of discovery. Nothing beats living a mere 1/4 mile from the beach you surf at. Unfortunately I don't. I drive and drive and drive. Burn that petrol! It's only $3.06 / gal. It was a stormy Saturday afternoon. The surf reports were calling for building swell into the evening and peaking out in the morning. I kept a sharp eye on the cams and the wave heights. Nothing enticed me to shove $20 into my gas tank and put on 30lbs of wetsuit.

I live in a small town with not much else to do but drive around play music and skate. So I got to driving around. Little did I know I should have had my boards and my suit with me. I have always had dreams of surfing my harbor town. I never fathomed it would actually work. I never imagined I would see what I saw.

There it was! solid waist + high reeling along a man made pier. I was in shock as the sets kept increasing in size and consistency. Incoming tide was forcing lines to pile up perfectly along this stone wall. I watched in awe. I noted the conditions in case it would happen again. I had only seen this spot break during hurricane Bob and a few others. It never lined up like this however. The take off was sketch RIGHT next to the pier. Maybe a 20 yard section. I was satisfied just to watch it work. If I had gone home to grab my things it would have been dark by the time I returned to jump in. It looked like a great time for a long board. I still can't believe it. A bit choppy, not so clean, but RIDE ABLE! Next time.......

This Is Dedication

2010-12-16T09:47:00.000-05:00

An early morning alarm clock sounds. It seems all the rest of the world is fast asleep, all the rest but for a few dedicated souls. Darkness still casts its shadow over the land. Dawn is approaching quickly as is the time to arrive at work. All work and no play will only make matters worse. So you pry yourself from your warm bed. After all, it IS 28 degrees Fahrenheit and it COULD be colder. IT IS colder elsewhere. The water is a brisk 45.8 degrees and is dropping slightly every day. IT COULD BE COLDER. IT WILL BE COLDER. You arrive at an empty beach to find the first hues of pale greys slowly turn to hindered shades of the darkest most gloomy blues. The first signs of daylight. IT LOOKS COLD. Not too far off the beach you begin to notice white walls of water turning end over end. You notice it's lining up. You think it's head high. You won't know until more light finds its way to the horizon. You listen for the larger waves crashing like thunder on the reef. Excitement begins to gnaw at you much like the cold slowly eats away at your finger tips. You stand outside your warm vehicle trying to get an idea of what's going on 100 yards off shore. You've got nothing left to do but wait. Suit up. It's looking fun out there and you are all alone. This is home. This is what you live for. This is what you love. This is what you need to survive, much like food and water. This is New England. We are a breed of our own. We have hypothermia breathing down our backs. We surf until we lose feeling in our feet and we'll do it all over again tomorrow. Eat Sleep Dream Live & Breathe Surf. JB

Bring on the winter days.

2010-11-29T12:31:00.000-05:00

Nothing felt more familiar than the bite of the cold offshore breeze as I suited up for the final ESA surf contest of the year. Memories of years passed surfaced in my mind as I drove to Narragansett and donned my wintersuit for yet a second time this year. It was as if I were re-playing each of the passed 9 seasons of surf in slow motion. Every wave, every turn, every barrel streaming across my inner vision like a cluttered collage. Honestly, I didn't care who won the contest. I didn't care how the waves were. I just wanted to qualify for the Regional Nationals. Didn't even check the cam before rolling out on an hour trek to Gansett. Just called the hotline to make sure the comp. was still on and it was. I arrived to find SUPER clean knee-waist high peaks strolling across a primed sand bar. To my relief, it was contestable. I found my way over to Pan's truck to see what the deal with the contest was. He and Ron were stoked to see such clean conditions. "Yea, you're the first one here, we're gonna run it reguardless at 10:30am. We'll see how many people show up.", Said Pan. I was pumped for the small surf. I LOVE SMALL WAVES just as much as I love the gigantic stuff. Small waves take skill and finesse it's SO EASY to over power a wave and get spit off yet the reward for tossing a huge turn and flying down the line of a 2-3 foot face is something only a surfer can tell you. Everyone was stoked to see waves for the contest and practically everyone was free surfing before the event took place. It was tough not to get in the water before hand. Yea, the surf was a bit weak but it was still playful. We all made the most of it and if there's one thing in surfing that's important it's HAVING FUN. I'm sure we all did. Next up: 43rd Mid Winter Classic in Feb. Hope to see you all there making history for yet another year. Ride or Die! JB

Cape Cod

2010-08-20T08:24:00.000-04:00

Nothing beats a summer session anywhere on Cape. "Cod" Island has such a variety of sandbars to choose from. If the variety of waves isn't enough, it's got about 60 miles of shoreline. On top of that, the aquatic life to be seen out there is up close and personal. Whales breaching 1/4 mile off shore can be seen occasionally from the lineup and seals are not shy of surfers what-so-ever. The water is cooler than the usual spots which is nice to feel again. I could not help but to see an empty snow-covered beach with only but a few fresh tracks heading for the water. The restiction of a 6mm suit, the threat of hypothermia, the feeling of being the only person on the planet bearing witness to gargantuan Cape Cod waves heaving into perfectly groomed winter sand bars. That is a feeling only New England can bring to my soul. That is my true feeling of being "home".

GIVE ME A BREAK!!!

2010-06-28T12:05:00.000-04:00

Here it is...the months we've all dreaded. Looks like our flatspell is over with a weak SW flow developing for the next few days or so. Even though the forecasted SW winds are not to exceed 30kts....there is still SOMETHING to stand up on. So yea, I'm taking an early lunch, running home, packing my gear up (including the water housing), and heading back to work with high hopes of a dusk session worthy of at least waist high water shots. Someone has to do it right? You can't really complain about windswell during the summer....but you can go out and destroy mini-peelers!!! My quiver is without my 5'6x20 5/8 fish(turned so hard I busted a fin bite out) so the old 6'0 Webber Taj T-Lite will have to do the job. Getting my gutless summer mush board back on Wed. XB has hooked up yet another FLAWLESS ding repair job. I heard they might be doing SUP tours around local estuaries and rivers (away from surf populated beaches)...anything to beat the flatspell and the heat...right? Oh, the summer crowd waist high windswell will bring....will there be 1 guy out, 5 guys, or 35 guys? This should be interesting.

ATTN: 8 foot baby Great White just got picked up by a dragger no more than 2 miles off the coast of Rhode Island. There's this certain spot....near this certain break where they have been consistently pulling baby greats out of the water for 3-4 years now....less that 1 mile crows eye from spots I surf.... What is this Africa? What's next?....Tiger sharks? Peace. Live to Ride. JB

Make Something From Nothing

2010-06-07T08:44:00.000-04:00

It's not quite summer yet. It's not quite flat yet. It's not quite tourist season yet. It's not that crowded YET. The coming weeks are truly the calm before the storm of tourist season. Shortly our early morning dawn patrol drives will be swarmed by shoobs from the greatest reaches of our globe. Our 1 hour 15 minute commute to Cape Cod surf will soon turn into 3-10 mile back ups that will put even the MOST core surfers ' patience to the test. If the traffic isn't enough NOW is the time of year we have to pay $15 to park at VARIOUS locations around the area. Of course (if you know the right people) there are many ways around closed lots and beach parking fees. Get creative....go meet some locals....get to know the right people. It's the only way you will survive another summer in New England. Nova Scotia is looking very temping right now with the brunt of this past S/SW wind field driving surf far into the northern reaches. Not too many crowds up that way. Stay warm, keep the sun block on, don't drink too much in the sun, and try to keep your composure no matter how hectic these summer crowds are about to get!! We'll see if they're still around come November. Peace. JB.

Loads of thanks to Joey Jones for shooting photos.
More to come.
Can you say Cannon with water housing?
Hope for surf! G'day

WAVES!

2010-05-27T10:30:00.000-04:00

Hey ! It feels like summer out there. Yesterday I paddled out in a WEST 3/2 with NO BOOTIES & NO GLOVES! It was f*cking perfect!! Putting aside the side shore semi-blown out (not really lining up) conditions I had a blast! My 5'6 fish saved the day again. Turned some mediocre waves into rippable sloppy mushy fun. I LOVE TAILSLIDES. Some how that 5'6 gets in the air every time I ride it.....someone told me pigs would fly if I landed an air on that thing (hence the flying pig on the bottom) well this 5'6 pig nosed fish has been getting more than enough flight time under its' belt. Yet another victory over doubtful minds. You gotta believe to achieve!

The Flatspell

2010-05-13T17:09:00.000-04:00

Oh man, it's here. We're used to active weather patterns throughout the winter and then all of a sudden WHAM! Like a ton of bricks all momentum carried through the cold months either gets amplified for an EPIC spring or...well...let's face it.....it gets flat as a lake(right now). Our only hope of a ripple is weeks away.....well folks, all I can do is pick up my skateboard, ditch the skate shoes, don' the Chuck Taylors and improve my balance 10-fold. You see...skate shoes increase your balance...and we all know Chuck Taylors are the equivilent to putting condoms on your feet....so hell why not add a little extra consiquence to the joy of flying around on pavement. Consequence..yes....something surfers HATE dealing with...how many of you shred the gnar get scraped up and then put your bacteria infested wetsuit on with open wounds? It's not JUST about surfing..it's about riding in general...If you can find a way to ride without waves...well you've got it made through these long heartless flatspells....I'm gonna go do some 360 to fakie Indy grabs now and play some crazy jammed out punk funk jazz whatever you wanna call it. We're under ground, we never have a plan but it all comes together. Pray that oil slick out there in the gulf gets resolved! It is predicted to drift around the East Coast of Florida after all...... : /

Small Wave Scientists Unite!

2010-04-29T09:22:00.000-04:00

     If there's one thing I enjoy about summer it is definitely the small SW swells that we get down here! Nothing beats pulling up to the beach to see waves! Yes!! It's not lake flat! Often times it goes flat as a lake....cross your fingers and hope that we are in for an active summer! This spring has been active so far with barely a week long flat spell (knock on wood!!!) The main thing to remember when you do get the first sight of knee-waist high slop is BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU GET!!!! Many times New Englanders call it being 'skunked' truth is...you're not! Drive! Explore! See where the swell is going to wrap in the best. Cape Cod is a fail safe in the summer. She picks up a multitude of swells and yes, holds some serious size and barrels like you wouldn't believe!!! You won't believe it until you see it. So instead of complaining about how Rhody is flat or how Horseneck Beach is overcrowded and surrounded by hounding life guards who won't let you surf....EXPLORE! Get pumped on waist high surf.
     The thing about small wave surfing is it it so sensitive to every motion your body makes. Surfing small waves can be an amazing time with the right board. Not only that but it hones your wave riding ability in larger surf. Believe it or not, a small wave is MUCH more difficult to ride than a larger chest+ wave. Momentum generation skills are finely tuned on knee-waist+ surf. So don't complain! Rise to the challenge! Learn to fly on small surf and you will soar on larger surf. One thing to remember is board selection. With the arrival of new fish shapes at XB constantly, there's all ways something new to get your feet under. The guys at the shop will take care of you ESPECIALLY if you tell them Joe Booth sent you!!!  They all ride what they sell and they certainly are not out to rip you off like larger corporate shops. Heck, they can even line up a custom shape for you!
      Oh yea! For those of you who follow this blog..in the past week I have been picked up by Solid Surf Co. http://www.solidsurfco.com/ pretty pumped! Getting a 6'2 in about a month or so. I'll have a review posted as soon as I get that new piece of foam under my feet. Stay tuned!! Thanks for reading. Peace!

Old Navy Coupons

Fuel To Burn

2010-03-03T11:59:00.000-05:00

If there was one thing every surfer needed at the 42nd Mid-Winter Classic surf competition over the weekend it was fuel to burn. The weather wasn't too brisk but it was cold enough to feel the chill. Intermittent Snow showers blanketed spectators as the contest progressed. Home town heros Ray Jarvis and Joe Booth took Narragansett surfers by storm. Ray with a 1st in Master Shortboard and a 2nd in the Men's Shortboard Open and Joseph, despite lack of time for recovery between heats, managed to take a 1st place finish in the Men's Shortboard and fought through two consecutive heats back to back to manage a 4th place finish in the Men's Open Shortboard. Lesson Learned. Don't surf a heavy session the day before a contest. You will be drained. It was worth it! I have only one picture to prove it. Best left hand point break in Southern New England without a doubt in my mind. Hopefully it'll break again soon!!! Washed my board over the rocks and I'm still smiling when I picture the heaving vertical late drops that were required to make the sets on the outside.

Easter Surfing Associations' 42nd Mid Winter Classic Surf Competition

2010-02-23T07:49:00.000-05:00

There's a little under a week left to pack as much protien and carbos into my system as possible. Yes, I will be attending ESA's Mid Winter surf contest this year. Surfers from all over the east coast are rumored to drive up this Friday in the hope of pursuing glory in 30lbs of wetsuit rubber(neoprene). Only the strong will survive. If there's one thing about a winter suit, it is the resistance training it is capable of producing. Suit up and try running a 1/2 mile, even 100yards. You could try running with a 30lb weight dragging behind you too.... One thing is eveident about this Saturday's event; I feel like a locomotive on a colision course. When I think about my first competition it fuels the fire I have had since day one of my addiction to surfing year round in New England. Yea, it's cold in Jersey, Freezing in Montauk, but ~~Rhode Island~~? How could could Rhode Island be?

Isolated!

2010-02-12T18:49:00.000-05:00

You can't really say much more about finding a new spot than it is AWESOME. The thrill of the hunt will freshen any NE surfer's perspective of paddling out during the freezing months of winter. Long story short we drove North and SCORED. Got two small wave sessions in and plenty of water shots. All alone.

Sunday, Feb. 08th, 20:10

2010-02-08T13:11:00.000-05:00

Frigid morning session. Surfed with 3 plus including Xtremely board's own Hottel and assist. manager. Not too consistent but it was fairly fun on the occasional chest high set that would sweep the middle of our oh-soo dependent (in 11+sec swell intervals) point break. Rode my new LSD 5'6 fish you can view at xbboardshop.blogspot.com you'll have to dig through the older posts. Locked into one barrel and had a couple of fun turns. Wind was cold and offshore at about 20+mph. Juuuusst enough to tear a few waves open enough to claim a legit cover up or two. no pictures. Sorry folks...maybe next time Ray and myself will get the water camera out. Pray for surf!