A late special shout out to all  our armed forces and everything they do to help make a America a better place. Memorial Day Monday… oh what a day! As the Figawi hordes departed Nantucket en masse with some real special hangovers, we hit the beach for some grillin’ and chillin’ and surfing! 

Burgers, dogs, and brats on the grill, a cooler of ice cold beers, and lots of chips made for plenty of holiday food, folks and fun. Having some fun little waves was the icing on the cake! My buddy and I even paddled the SUPs out in just trunks for a little freedom of movement…

We would roll in and pay the $10 cover ($20 now) and get our pint glasses and one wooden nickel good for a beer. If you had a Friend of Harpoon card you could budge the big line and go in the quick way with a guest. I used to know a couple people who worked at Harpoon and they would always be the ones handing out the nickels. So instead of getting just one, they would fill my pint glass to over flowing with wooden nickels! Needless to say there was a lot of beer drinking for my friends and I to do. If I ran out I could just hunt them down for a refill… my friends and I would be out of our minds drunk,  handing nickels to random strangers and bribing our way to the front of outrageously long port-a-potty lines with the those little hunks of wood. But I digress, rambling away about the good ole dyas… I guess good old Brewstock has morphed into something called Harpoon Summer Session.

Harpoon’s summer festival of beer and bands. This Harpoon two-day, annual event is held annually in early June. Outside and under tents, we celebrate the coming of summer with Harpoon beer fresh from the brewery and great local music from some of the area’s best up and coming bands.

What happened to Harpoon Brewstock? We hope to make this event a showcase for great live music and a great way to kick off the summer. Basically, to steal a phrase, we are kicking it up a notch, in terms of the tunes - same great beer, same great party, now Summer Session-style.

Check it out! Friday and Saturday June 5th and 6th.

www.harpoonbrewery.com

Want to get rid of old surf gear and upgrade to newer equipment? Then come on down to the parking lot across from Liquid Dreams in Ogunquit, ME on Saturday June 6th from 10am until 5pm.

HOW IT WORKS- You bring in any old gear (wetsuits, gloves, boots,
surfboards, SUP’s etc) that you want to sell. We will sell it for you and
you will receive that amount in credit to use in the shop for new gear. You
must have your gear at the shop by Friday June 5th. Most new gear will be
on sale for that day only. This is a great opportunity to save some serious
$$$. Surf Industry Reps will be on hand featuring their latest products.
Free giveaways, Surfboard Raffle and more. Come join the fun and get rid of
the old and get something new.

For more info call 207-641-2545 or email info@liquiddreamssurf.com

Some cool news from Mike and the Grain crew at the skunkworks up in Maine. From their newsletter…

Channel Islands Surfboards produces some of the most well-known surfboards in history. Led by legendary board shaper Al Merrick, and with a team of riders that include Slater and Machado, they are the envy of the surfing world.  Though it’s hard to picture when you visit their current state-of-the-art factory, many remember the humble beginnings of CI that echoed in the rickety halls of their former HQ where some of the world’s best shapes were jammed under every rafter.

But we remember. “Humble” isn’t the word for our own hardscrabble start - old drafty barns, borrowed tools, and cadged supplies - we’re practically still living it. Yet both companies are dedicated to building boards of the highest quality, and subjecting them to constant R&D and improvement. There the similarities stop, though. We could never hope to approach the sophistication of Al Merrick’s shaping abilities, the global scale of Channel Island’s appeal or the recognition that they have earned over the years.

Grain Surfboards and Channel Islands Surfboards are pleased to announce a new partnership. Using our tried and true wood construction method, we’ll be rendering some of the Channel Islands surfboard line using sustainable-yield cedar, low VOC epoxy, even bamboo cloth instead of glass for those who want it.  We’re starting with Rob Machado’s board, the Biscuit, a stubby wave-catcher for knee to head-high surf.  Our first size will be the 6′2″ with more to follow. Soon, these boards will be available as kits as well.

Working with CI to deliver wood versions of their boards is really exciting for us and inspires us to think about the unusual nature of this project.  We’re tempted to make some comparisons with the arrangements some well-respected shapers have entered into with epoxy pop-out factories. Where pop-outs are machine made, our boards couldn’t be more hand-crafted. Where pop-outs can feel corky, ours are solid with great glide and speed. And with more and more boards made overseas (where environmental laws are often lax) being able to get a board made in Maine by folks who make their impact on the planet a daily conversation is becoming a revolutionary choice.

www.grainsurfboards.com

On The Edge|By Peter Pan

In a similar scenario to the previously scheduled ESA contest in Newport, officials saw better potential at First Beach rather than Narragansett this past weekend, and switched locations. With a weak swell hitting the town beach and a solid waist to chest high swell on the Newport side the call was made on Friday night. It turned out to be the right call again as local competitors found perfect left and right peelers with lots of room for some hot, high point scoring moves on the open faces.

As has been the case in the past few events the Open Division featured showcase surfing from local area riders. In another close thriller, Chuck Barend edged out John Basile for the title with a right hander that held up for over one dozen hard cutbacks and lip smacks. Basile made a good case with a super backside 360’ that landed cleanly and awed the spectators. He could not find that valuable second wave and the points needed to top Barend. Ron Belanger got two solid left walls that sectioned and reeled off for several high point moves and a 3rd place. ESA All-Star Ana Barend could not find the better peaks, and had to settle for a 4th place in the final.

As has been the case in recent years, the women have made the big impression at ESA events. As the female surfing population has increased so has the competition level. This is especially evident in New England where some of the best female surfers on the east coast now reside. Sarah (Lim)Parker continued her unbeaten streak, as she nailed down one super left peak and worked it to the inside shore break to top Katie Ryan for the women’s division title.

Ana Barend is yet to be beaten by any female on the entire east coast as she ripped a few right handers and blew off the top of one perfect peak to top Nantucket’s top rider Melanie Kotalac for the Senior Women’s crown. She continued her tear with another win in the Senior Women’s Longboard final heat.

In the Girls final, Mya Kotalac found one good left peak and took the victory. Courtney Sutherland moved up into the Junior Women’s ranks and continued her unbeaten streak with another win. In the Women’s Longboard final heat, it was Sarah Parker topping Katie Ryan for her second title of the day with a long left wall that sectioned perfectly.

There was plenty of hot surfing in the male events as well. John Basile showed he will be a contender at the Northeast ESA Regional Surf-Offs this coming season, with some radical backside entries and 360’s in his arsenal. Basile won the Men’s title for the second straight contest. Newcomer Zack Mayo displayed some smooth nose riding moves to win the Men’s Longboard final, while Chuck Barend’s super nose ride on his second wave, clinched the Master Longboard crown.

In the junior ranks, Cob Ingalls was outstanding, taking both the Boys and Menehune titles with some nice wave choices and high point rides. Pat Redmond continues to terrorize the bodyboarding ranks, as this year’s 3rd place finisher at the recent regional championships won the title with one super hot “el rollo.”

Prizes were donated by Ergo Clothing, Beyond Coastal Sun tanning lotion and JC Surfboards. All finalists received merchandise products from all three companies.

The ESA contest season continues this coming weekend with the 11th Annual New England Longboard Classic Championships. This contest is slated for Nantasket, Massachusetts on Sunday June 7th. There will be rated ESA competition in all age groups. For more information, contact ESA meet director, Chick Frodigh at tourmentor12@hotmail.com.

Final Results of ESA Early Summer Championships

Boys 
1.Cob Ingalls

Men
1.John Basile

Senior Men
1.Chuck Barend
2.Ron Belanger
3.Scott Sutherland

Girls
1.Mya Kotalac

Junior Women
1.Courtney Sutherland

Women
1.Sarah Parker
2.Katie Ryan

Senior Women
1.Ana Barend
2.Melanie Kotalac

Men Longboard
1.Zack Mayo

Master Longboard
1.Chuck Barend
2.Ron Belanger
3.Mike Esordi
4.Jarrett Parker
5.Scott Sutherland

Menehune Longboard
1.Cob Ingalls
2.Mya Kotalac

Women Longboard
1.Sarah Parker
2.Katie Ryan
3.Courtney Sutherland

Senior Women Longboard
1.Ana Barend
2.Melanie Kotalac

Open Bodyboard
1.Pat Redmond
2.Katie Ryan

Open
1.Chuck Barend
2.John Basile
3.Ron Belanger
4.Ana Barend
5.Sarah Parker
6.Jarrett Parker
7.Katie Ryan

A surf movie created by Tiffany Campbell and Andria Lessler

Dear and Yonder is an ocean odyssey of the female kind. Featuring Lisa Andersen, Kassia Meador, Sofia Mulanovich, Sally Fitzgibbons, Belinda Baggs, Linda Benson, Rell Sunn, Silvana Lima, Prue Jeffries, Coco Ho, Stephanie Gilmore, and many more.

Check the Calendar page for New England dates.

www.dearandyonder.com

MO Daddy has abducted Pete Mel, Mark Healy, Balaram Stack Lisa Anderson and Jen Smith for the trip. We look forward to chillin with ya!

See yas soon!

Editor Note: From what I’ve garnered on the web, the pros do a meet and greet in the afternoon and an early surf the next morning before driving to the next stop. You can check up on the Quik updates on Facebook on Twitter, but the info I’ve got from them doesn’t really match up with the info the shops are giving. If in doubt call your local shop for more info.

*All depending on surf conditions. Check themountainandwave.com for daily updates and follow twitter.com/QuiksilverUSA for updates on changes on where we’re going to surf with conditions.

Naraggansett, RI May 30-31st
Saturday 30th 4pm @ Warm Winds Meet the pros, grillin and chillin, autograph signing
Sunday 31st 7am @ ??? early surf with the pros
Facebook event page

Hampton Beach, NH 4:30pm May 31-June 1st
Sunday 31st 4:30pm @ Cinnamon Rainbows Meet the pros, grillin and chillin, autograph signing
Monday 1st 7am @ The Wall early surf with the pros
Facebook event page

Ogunquit, ME 4:30pm June 1-2nd
Monday 1st 4:30pm @ Liquid Dreams Meet the pros, grillin and chillin, autograph signing
Tuesday 2nd 7am @ ??? early surf with the pros
Facebook event page

My wife was off island shopping last week, stocking up with staples for the upcoming summer season. Along the way she stumbled upon these at a certain big box store. Jackpot! Black boardshorts, embroidered skull and crossbones, price $12.50!!! Uhh get me like ten pairs honey….

She picked me up the black pair and a white pair with grey skulls and I’m totally stoked. They are a nice light quick drying boardshort with embroidered skulls just like whale pants. They are a total rip off of the Rugby line from Ralph Lauren from a couple of years ago but better because they are boardies! The only negatives I’ve come up with so far are the fact they have a mesh lining like a kids bathing suit and the tiny velcro tab on the back wax pocket. It took me five minutes to cut the lining out of the black pair and they are now perfect. I’ll leave the lining it he white ones because otherwise when wet they’ll be see through!

I actually surfed (SUPed) in the black pair on Memorial Day with a long sleeve top and they worked like a charm. I also got more positive comments on my pirate trunks then any pair of boardshorts I have ever owned… all for $12.50! Quik and Billabong can keep selling their snazzy $50 trunks to all the little surf fashionistas with too much disposable income and the barneys at Macy’s and Nordstroms!

Some of you may remember surfer/bon vivant/human energizer bunny Jim Plunkett living la vida local as owner of Gloucester’s Visceral Surf Shop back in the mid 90’s. After a few years of art school, getting married, starting a family and of course surfing on Strong Island every chance he can, he has gone through a metamorphosis. Jimmy has traded the demeaning commerce of the surf industry in favor of creating, applying brush to canvas in the highbrow New York art world…

SHOWTIME! - TRANS-POSITIONS Along The Queensboro Bridge
Please join me this Saturday 6-8 pm for the opening of TRANS-POSITIONS along the Queensboro Bridge, a juried exhibition celebrating the centennial of the Queensboro Bridge. Come and see the work of 46 artists selected by Judith Tolnick Champa, former Director, Fine Arts Center Galleries, University of Rhode Island. An image of my painting, DECAY, and an invite with directions are attached.

Also, check out the Open Studios event this weekend across Long Island City. My studio will be open Saturday and Sunday from 12-6 pm. Studio 411, Long Island City Art Center, 44-02 23rd St., LIC, NY. Brochure with map is attached. See you soon. Jim

Open Studios/Trans-Positions PDF Brochure 

www.jimplunkettimages.com

Pint sized grom Dylan O. got his first custom stick for his birthday this past winter, but was finally able to get it in the water over Memorial Day weekend on Nantucket. The shape is a 5′6″ Erie Peebles and Dylan is stoked on his new ride… especially that rad octopus spray!

www.eriesurfboards.com