February 10, 2008

What a difference a week makes. Last week at this time we were all giddy with anticipation of the Biggest Game in NFL history. By 10PM that night, we all slipped into a deep funk that many of us have yet to recover from. Bottom line, the New England Patriots let history slip through their hands. Literally. There is only one Undefeated NFL Team, The 1972 Miami Dolphins.

Has anyone else noticed, that since the Patriots heartbreaking loss, the sun has not come out and it has been snowing every day since. It's like there's a dark cloud hanging over New England and it won't go away. There has been surf all week, but nothing to get excited about. At least for me.

I saw people out all week and there were a couple of days that looked 'almost fun' but I couldn't bring myself to slip into the 6mil and paddle out into snowy, gray, waist high surf. I know, I'm letting this silly game get to me. And hell, I even wrote last week in my special post game wrap up that Tom Brady and company don't put food on my table. And they don't. But I'm a fan dammit. And it's my right as a fan to be upset. Just as it is my right to be happy when my (our) team wins.

I know there are surfers who could care less about organized sports, and I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I envy you guys. Sometimes. For you see my anti sports fans...I would rather have lived through the euphoria and excitement of hard fought victories, and to have suffered devastating losses, than to not have known either. I'm a sportsfan. Worse. A New England fan.

This is our way of life.

We Surfing New England Sports fans. We live and die by our teams. So, having said that...the Celtics are still doing great, and Spring Training is right around the corner. Go RED SOX! And come late Summer we'll start all over again with the Patriots. Why? Because Las Vegas has picked the Patriots as the most likely NFL 2008 team to win the SuperBowl!

Lord help us all...

Not that any of us ever need reminders of what's really important in life, but it was hard to remain upset over a game when watching the news this week. The Tornadoes that struck in the middle of the night on Super Tuesday were sobering to say the least. Winter Tornadoes seem strange enough as it is, but the ones that hit that night were beyond just strange. It was deadly.

I don't know enough about the ingredients it takes to stir up Mother Nature to spurn these twisters onto such a destructive course but dam...it just seems that the southern states and some in the Midwest suffer every year from these frightening storms. Is it Global Warming? I don't know. But judging from the images we've seen all week, I don't ever want to experience one.

There was one miracle story that came out of that terrible night. An 11 month old boy was thrown 150 yards from his home and survived. His mother did not. Think about that. 150 yards? I could not survive being thrown 15 yards let alone 150. The hands of God? Perhaps. There's a reason for all of this I'm sure. But we mere mortals are not privy to that info...at least not yet.

In due time my friends. Meanwhile, say a prayer for those unfortunate souls who have suffered so much last week.

Did any of you local Hampton surfers hear that Thunder on Tuesday morning? Good lord. It was as loud, and as frightening a thunder clap, as I have ever heard in my life. In fact, it was so loud, I had friends who live in North Hampton, Stratham and Exeter hear it as well.
Thunder in February? Maybe God was angry at the Patriots for losing that game. All I know is, that thunder was the topic of discussion at the polls the next day.

Speaking of which. Our man Chris Nevins did win the State Rep for Hampton. Thank you for voting. *If you're of voting age you should vote in every election. Chris will do well on all of our behalf in Concord. Next month is another local crucial vote. Again, if you're 18 or older you should register to vote, and then get your voting ass out there and vote.

Don't bitch and moan about the way things are.

You can change it by voting. And let me remind you all about "how every vote counts". Last primary day in NH in the town of Hampton. Exactly 1, 217 people voted for John McCain. And 1, 217 people voted for Mitt Romney. It's true. A dead tie. Every vote counts. Unless you don't vote.

Speaking of voting. Some of our ex-New Englanders who now live in Southern Cal are facing what looks like a potential nightmare in and around the Trestles area. It seems that they want to put a freeway right up and next to Trestles. While this may seem good to some, it could be a potential crowd increase with the easy access. How can you stop this? Voting. This will no doubt appear on a ballot and be put to the voters to decide one way or another. Unless some kind of legislation gets passed without a vote.

Bottom line is...there 's strength in numbers. Stop the Trestles Freeway project. Save surfing. Vote NO.

Looks like we're in for a warm spell this week. Yep. The temp is a whopping 34 degrees out right now. I know my West Coast friends and Hawaiian crew are shivering at the thought of 34 degrees being warm. Trust me, it is. When you could face days of sub zero temps and biting winds mixed with snow, ice and sleet...hell 34 degrees is balmy. Checking the surf this morning I felt like a dork wearing my gloves. It wasn't that cold. The snow is melting again.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Christo family this week on the passing of Tom Christo. Tom was a great guy and he will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Tom was the father of local Surfer TC. Hey TC you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers this week.

Check out Brian Nevins NEW Website. www.briannevins.com
Brian's work is insane.

PLEASE SUPPORT ALL THE Photographers who submit their work here every week.

PLEASE send your donation to:
The Landon Miller Foundation
83 South Road
North Hampton, NH 03862
Click below to see Danny Tribute or see Danny Surfing
Tribute to Danny. North By Northeast

Remember my friends...Surfing heals all wounds....
Pray for Surf. Pray for Peace. Surf For Fun.

Ralph

I

Yesterday 1983 Doctor D's Whacked Layback
(Below) This frame grab was shot after a 1983 winter snow storm. My then girlfriend, Cory Bunton shot this footage of
all of us surfing this day wearing only a thin jacket, and she had on a pair of high heels, in the snow. This wave has
been viewed a hundred times in our local surf lives. Kevin did make this. And it's really quite remarkable, even by today's standards. Video Movie Frame Grab by SFOD Cory Bunton Fatello




2008 ALL Photos BELOW taken on Tuesday January 29th, 2008

(Above) Twenty five years later...Kevin "Doc" Grondin is still laying it down at 51 years old.
This is the future kids! Photo by Ed O'Connell


(Above) The day after MASSIVE MONDAY still had some size. And a lot less wind. Unknown bottom
turning into the next section.
Photo by Ed O'Connell


(Above) There was still enough juice to move you around. Unknown cuttie.
Photo by Ed O'Connell

(Above) This dude is going to wake up Monday morning and see himself here and say..."Hey that's Me!"
Let me know who you are so I can give you proper props. *The surfer is...Jose Galvez!

Photo by Ed O'Connell


(Above) Jack Cadigan midway through his reborn winter surf stoke. Jack has logged quite a bit of
water time these past few months. He's fun to surf with. He knows how to share.
Photo by Ed O'Connell

(Above) LT in a longboard matador pose.
Photo by Ed O'Connell

(Above) Kevin "Doc" Grondin stalling for time and another cover-up.
Photo by Ed O'Connell

(Above) Brian must have a perpetual backstage pass. He gets access to more remote locales than
anyone else I know. Another Cold Fold early morning beauty. Photo by Brian Nevins

(Above) Somewhere out in the middle of nowhere.
Photo by Brian Nevins



(Above) Sam Hammer paddling out, no doubt giggling to himself. This is New Hampshire?
Photo by Brian Nevins

(Above) Sam Hammer had it to himself. Cutback number 535.
Photo by Brian Nevins

(Above) Sam again. Cuttie number 537...
Photo by Brian Nevins

(Above) Hell yea. The lefts were lining up and winding down.
Photo by Brian Nevins

(Above) Sam Hammer winter launch.
Photo by Brian Nevins

(Above) Pick a peak and paddle out.
Photo by Brian Nevins

(Above) Golden cold.
Photo by Brian Nevins

(Above) Or, just stare into the beauty that lays before you. New Hampshire.
Photo by Brian Nevins

(Above) Good morning Tuesday.
Photo by SFOD R. Fatello

(Above) Prism shism. Sure looks purty.
Photo by SFOD R. Fatello


(Above) Tuesday was almost tropical.
Photo by SFOD R. Fatello

(Above) Surf the left, or paddle across the bay for the right?
Photo by SFOD R. Fatello

(Above) Tuesday Gull.
Photo by SFOD R. Fatello

(Above) Tuesday January 29th, 2008.
Photo by SFOD R. Fatello

(Above) Jon Gozzo after his last wave. He looks satisfied.
Photo by SFOD R. Fatello

RALPH'S VIDEO CLIP OF THE WEEK.
CLICK ON THE PHOTO IMAGE BELOW FOR SHORT WINDOWS MEDIA FILE VIDEO CLIP.
VIDEO by SFOD R. Fatello

(Above) CLICK ON Video (photo) Frame Grab of LENNY from the 01-28-08 swell for a SHORT WINDOWS
MEDIA FILE VIDEO CLIP from the Soon to be released SFOD movie TEMPEST!
VIDEO clip courtesy by SFOD R. Fatello

(Above) Brian Nevins ,Eric Zak and Mike Moran lending a helping hand for Brian's dad Chris. He won.
Photo by SFOD R. Fatello

2008 More Winter NEW ENGLAND

(Above) Chris Valhouli somewhere in Northern NE.
Photo by Kevin J. Doherty

(Above) Mike "Zap" Paugh waiting for things to happen.
Photo by Kevin J. Doherty

(Above) Zappy coming round the bend.
Photo by Kevin J. Doherty

(Above) Zap. I remember Mike when he was just a Grom. I knew he was good back then. He's still one
of our best in Northern NE.
Photo by Kevin J. Doherty

(Above) Evan Nunez holds back a pitching lip with his mitted glove.
Photo by Victoria Bourque


(Above) Evan Nunez during a fun longboarding session.
Photo by Victoria Bourque

2008 Winter Surf NOT in NEW ENGLAND

(Above) Local boy Chris Valhouli on a pre honeymoon wave.
Photo courtesy of Christos Valhouli

(Above) Mike "Zap" Paugh. Where would you rather surf? Tropics or back here?
Photo courtesy of Christos Valhouli



(Above) Fred Pattachia Pipe Rights.
Photo by Bernie Baker

(Above) Pancho Sullivan, North Shore.
Photo by Bernie Baker

(Above) Pancho Sullivan pulling in... North Shore.
Photo by Bernie Baker

(Above) Pancho and kids celebrate.
Photo by Bernie Baker

(Above) Big Pig Pipe.
Photo by Jeff Crawford

(Above) Think this wave is breaking hard?
Photo by Jeff Crawford

(Above) Committed. Pipe.
Photo by Jeff Crawford

(Above) Pipeline is not for the faint of heart.
Photo by Jeff Crawford

(Above) Another butt dragging at Big Pipe.
Photo by Jeff Crawford

(Above) Dustin Cuizon Pipe.
Photo by Bernie Baker

(Above) Dustin Cuizon 2 Pipe.
Photo by Bernie Baker


(Above) Kona's Casey Brown backdoor.
Photo by Bernie Baker

(Above) Meanwhile, Southern Cal boy (via Hampton NH) Kyle Howard, racks up the points.
Photo by Corey Howard

(Above) Hampton NH transplant Kyle Howard representing in Southern Cal.
Photo by Corey Howard

(Above) Dam Kyle! Look at you! Better tell Mackey V what you been up to boy!
Photo by Corey Howard

(Above) Kyle Howard bouncing around the white stuff.
Photo by Corey Howard

Today 2008 Parting Shot...Miss Hampton Beach Takes The Plunge



(Above) Complete with Crown and Sash. Miss Hampton Beach, (Leah Grondin) jumps in the ocean last Sunday
February 3rd to benefit the Special Olympics. While brother Kody brings up the rear.
Photo by Kim Grondin

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