Salem-News.com News Feed for articles tagged with surfing www.salem-news.com 2010 Eric Akiskalian has made a name for himself over the past two decades as a dedicated big-wave surfer, promoter, photographer, the owner of Towsurfer.com, Founder of the Association of Professional Towsurfers, 2X Billabong XXL Global Big-Wave Award Nominee, Producer of Big-Wave Addicts, and now an award winning journalist. Akiskalian recently received the high honors and recognition as the Journalist of the Year for his interview with big-wave surfer, Marcio Freire from Maui, Hawaii. http://salem-news.com/articles/january112012/eric-akiskalian.php http://salem-news.com/articles/january112012/eric-akiskalian.php Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:39:00 PST When the charts in the Pacific Northwest read 10'-12' @ 17-19 seconds out of the NW with light easterly winds there are a handful of big wave chargers that live in the area, know where to go and what to do. As was the case on December 17, 2011 when the swell was in full bloom, with clear sunny skis and mysto waves breaking on the outer reefs. http://salem-news.com/articles/december232011/nw-waves-ea.php http://salem-news.com/articles/december232011/nw-waves-ea.php Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:48:00 PST I have been a surfer for over 42 years and my son Evan who is now 11, never caught on to the one love of my life. Instead, he chose to be a skater dude and he is a pretty good one at that. However, we moved to Washington from California a little over a year ago and his skating time has been declining due to poor weather and logistics of indoor parks. http://salem-news.com/articles/december012011/father-son-snowboard-ea.php http://salem-news.com/articles/december012011/father-son-snowboard-ea.php Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:30:00 PST Garrett McNamara has set a new world record for the largest wave ever surfed. http://salem-news.com/articles/november102011/biggest-wave-tk.php http://salem-news.com/articles/november102011/biggest-wave-tk.php Thu, 10 Nov 2011 02:10:00 PST One second you're on your surfboard, and the next you're under attack from a 2,000 Great White shark. It's the last thing local South Beach surfer Bobby Gumm expected when he hit the waves Sunday afternoon in calm conditions. The White shark that attacked Bobby is estimated to have been 15' - 16' in length. He was sitting on his surfboard and waiting to catch a wave, he experienced this once in a lifetime encounter. http://salem-news.com/articles/october212011/shark-survivor-ea.php http://salem-news.com/articles/october212011/shark-survivor-ea.php Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:28:00 PDT 12 years ago, Eric Akiskalian took his surfing career to the next level and began chasing big waves and created Towsurfer.com. Now 51-years old, not only is he passionate about chasing and riding giant swells all over the globe but he’s equally passionate about promoting the sport of big-wave surfing and all the big-wave addicts that charge these colossal waves along with him. http://salem-news.com/articles/october152011/big-wave-addicts-ea.php http://salem-news.com/articles/october152011/big-wave-addicts-ea.php Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:56:00 PDT A baby great white shark caught with a fishing pole from Venice Beach pier was brought to shore by locals, and one actually took out the hook and set the shark back out to sea. The video is incredible, and it is a fact that very few such occurrences have ever been recorded. A man who has not been identified actually places his hand inside the mouth of the baby Great White in order to pull the hook out. http://salem-news.com/articles/september302011/shark-rescue.php http://salem-news.com/articles/september302011/shark-rescue.php Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:27:00 PDT Surfrider Foundation CEO Jim Moriarty is showing 125 8x8 Giclee prints at Gallery Neuartig at 366 W. 7th St. in San Pedro, CA on Saturday, 9 July 2011, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. This very unique show benefits the Surfrider Foundation. Each of the 125 prints will be sold through a silent auction format starting $100. The Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots non-profit environmental organization that works to protect and preserve the world's oceans, waves, and beaches. http://salem-news.com/articles/july052011/surfrider-art.php http://salem-news.com/articles/july052011/surfrider-art.php Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:21:00 PDT Nominated for the first time ever in the Biggest Wave Category was Salem-News writer Eric Akiskalian, who was towed into a behemoth of a wave in Oregon by his partner Keith Galbraith during a massive NW swell last November. Now living in the NW, Eric has also become the oldest big-wave surfer to ever be nominated in the history of the Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards in this category. http://salem-news.com/articles/may112011/eric-billabong.php http://salem-news.com/articles/may112011/eric-billabong.php Wed, 11 May 2011 17:09:00 PDT We always try to bring our readers stories about surfing. But seldom are they like this article, where Gaza Correspondent Ken O'Keefe, reminds us of the incredible shore facing this war torn strip of land. http://salem-news.com/articles/april212011/gaza-surfing-ko.php http://salem-news.com/articles/april212011/gaza-surfing-ko.php Thu, 21 Apr 2011 22:00:00 PDT Nominees have been announced for the 2011 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards fueled by Monster Energy. It is shaping up to be another spectacular showdown of surfing’s greatest rides and riders witnessed over the last 12 months. http://salem-news.com/articles/march302011/billabong-awards.php http://salem-news.com/articles/march302011/billabong-awards.php Wed, 30 Mar 2011 19:33:00 PDT Marcio Freire is a handsome native Brazilian who came to Hawaii 12 years ago with the intent to learn the Hawaiian Culture and surf the biggest waves he could on the outer reefs of Oahu and Maui. His radiant energy filled with warmness makes you want to just ‘Hawaiian Hug’ this handsome ‘Gentle Beast’. http://salem-news.com/articles/march092011/big-wave-rider-ea-rk.php http://salem-news.com/articles/march092011/big-wave-rider-ea-rk.php Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:38:00 PST With the competition window of the 11th Annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards closing in just over a month, a stunning list of new developments have supercharged the event like never before. http://salem-news.com/articles/february192011/billabong-xxl.php http://salem-news.com/articles/february192011/billabong-xxl.php Sat, 19 Feb 2011 16:31:00 PST The first week of 2011 was an amazing start with surf ranging from 10'-20'. Having spent two weeks in Santa Barbara for Christmas without any surf, made it real easy to come back to Oregon for a week of freezing cold conditions with giant clean surf. Joining myself for the entire week of amazing surf were several locals; It was the biggest paddle session for the local crew by far and they were stoked to be charging it. http://salem-news.com/articles/january092011/season-opener-ea.php http://salem-news.com/articles/january092011/season-opener-ea.php Sun, 09 Jan 2011 20:45:00 PST When the buoys were forecasted to be 30' @ 18 seconds with light south east winds and a direct west hit for Lincoln City, Oregon, we knew it was going to be the biggest rideable swell to hit the Northwest coast in the past ten years. http://salem-news.com/articles/november062010/south-reef-ea.php http://salem-news.com/articles/november062010/south-reef-ea.php Sat, 06 Nov 2010 23:07:00 PDT The pro surfing world said goodbye to a good friend today; former World Champion Andy Irons who was 32 years old, died on a stopover in Dallas, Texas. The Association of Surfing Professionals said Andy "had reportedly been battling with dengue fever, a viral disease". The ASP did stress that the exact cause of death at this point, is not known. http://salem-news.com/articles/november022010/andy-irons.php http://salem-news.com/articles/november022010/andy-irons.php Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:54:00 PDT I've just returned from Pichicuy, Chile where I met up with one of Chile's up and coming big wave underground chargers for the wave he rode at Punta de Docas, Chile this past August. http://salem-news.com/articles/october272010/chile-surf-ea.php http://salem-news.com/articles/october272010/chile-surf-ea.php Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:56:00 PDT When you think of the Pacific Northwest surf scene, the thoughts that come to mind are; freezing cold waters, unpredictable and extreme weather conditions, dense coastal fog, huge tide changes, heavy rip currents, unfriendly ocean life and lots of driving. This is why when it gets really big there are usually only a handful of local big-wave surfers in the water. http://salem-news.com/articles/october092010/oregon-big-wave.php http://salem-news.com/articles/october092010/oregon-big-wave.php Sat, 09 Oct 2010 10:46:00 PDT Two-time NSSA Nationals Women’s Open Champion, "Most Outstanding Performance" award recipient and the first pick for the 2011 USA Pac Sun Surf Team, Lakey Peterson is an unstoppable 16-year-old. So unstoppable, she has decided to pledge all her time out of the water to bettering the environment by becoming spokesperson to the Student Conservation Association (SCA). http://salem-news.com/articles/september282010/student-conservation-society.php http://salem-news.com/articles/september282010/student-conservation-society.php Tue, 28 Sep 2010 23:44:00 PDT A surfer in Southern California has wowed the world with some up close and personal footage of two great white sharks, that he shot from his board. The underwater video was shot off San Onofre, California on Monday, August 9th by Chuck Patterson of Dana Point, California. He sat on his board using a camera mounted on a 10-foot pole, while the great whites circled the area, which is near the infamous surf spot, Trestles. http://salem-news.com/articles/august132010/surfer-sharks.php http://salem-news.com/articles/august132010/surfer-sharks.php Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:56:00 PDT AccuWeather.com reports a storm that first hit New Zealand last weekend with heavy wind and rain will produce big waves over the Independence Day weekend into early next week along many Southern California beaches. http://salem-news.com/articles/july032010/independence-weather.php http://salem-news.com/articles/july032010/independence-weather.php Sat, 03 Jul 2010 20:26:00 PDT A recent trip to Chile left amazing memories and impressions, I had a great time paddling the entire trip and shooting an amazing big wave session: the Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos Big Wave Event. The waves in this remote Chilean spot never wer smaller then double overhead, easily 12' to 15'. That was great, but most days were solid 3-4 times over head, with a few bigger days. http://salem-news.com/articles/may282010/chile-surfing-ea.php http://salem-news.com/articles/may282010/chile-surfing-ea.php Fri, 28 May 2010 21:16:00 PDT Over the weekend of May 14-16, Westport, WA will welcome back the Surfrider Foundation for this year’s 9th annual Clean Water Classic—the longest running surf contest in the Pacific Northwest. The event is a benefit for the Pacific Northwest chapters of the Surfrider Foundation and was awarded the national Chapter Event of the Year in 2008. http://salem-news.com/articles/may062010/surf-contest.php http://salem-news.com/articles/may062010/surf-contest.php Thu, 06 May 2010 19:06:00 PDT The Coast Guard rescued a surfer who was reported to be in distress today off Indian Beach in Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach, Oregon. The Coast Guard says they received a call at 3:56 p.m. from the Cannon Beach Police Department, reporting that a male surfer appeared to be in distress at the north end of Indian Beach in Ecola State Park. http://salem-news.com/articles/february042010/surfer_rescue.php http://salem-news.com/articles/february042010/surfer_rescue.php Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:58:00 PST Footage of a California big wave surfer riding a gigantic Oregon reef wave last October has been entered in the Ride of the Year Category for The 10th Annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. I shot the footage of Camarillo, California Eric Akiskalian last October during the Nelscott Reef Tow-In Classic that is held each year by Oregon surfers John Forse and Adam Wagner. Eric and his tow-in partner Keith Galbraith were towsurfing giant waves at South Reef, adjacent to the contest location the entire afternoon and they were riding some of the biggest waves ever ridden along Oregon’s coast. http://salem-news.com/articles/february022010/wave_nom_tk.php http://salem-news.com/articles/february022010/wave_nom_tk.php Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:11:00 PST The KB4girls world kite-boarding tour is pleased and honored to announce their sponsor and partner lineup for the 2010 clinics, listing such prestigious names as DaKine, Best Kiteboarding, Kiehl's, the Surfrider Foundation and a series of media partners including SportsFeatures.com. Being a role model in the sport and bringing the expertise of nine world championship titles to the tour the Guinness World Record™ holder Kristin Boese has stepped in to support female kiteboarders around the world but would not be able to do so without the support of her great sponsors and partners. http://salem-news.com/articles/january082010/kb4girls.php http://salem-news.com/articles/january082010/kb4girls.php Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:20:00 PST World champion kite-boarding pro Kristin Boese is launching her first world-wide KB4girls kite-boarding tour and looking to etch her indelible mark in this rapidly growing exciting water sport. Kristin has passionately organized and run a total of 16 girls’ clinics around the world in the past 7 years neither for profit or promotion and even with her own funding just out of passion. http://salem-news.com/articles/december012009/kristin_boese.php http://salem-news.com/articles/december012009/kristin_boese.php Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:34:00 PST With Fall barely out the gate, the second major North West Pacific swell marched towards the Oregon coastline promising endless amounts of giant surf for a few solid days. With the predicted buoy reading of 17' @ 17 seconds, Mother Nature delivered once again a massive blow with some 35'-40'+ wave face heights at a select outer reef just south of the now famous Nelscott Reef. The locals call it 'South Reef' and rarely does it break as it did on October 22, 2009! http://salem-news.com/articles/november012009/oregon_surf.php http://salem-news.com/articles/november012009/oregon_surf.php Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:16:00 PST Al Mennie and Andrew Cotton have just managed to surf three giant swells in two oceans all within a one week period. The duo racked up over 8,000 miles last week in order to surf two swells at Aileens, Ireland and compete at the Nelscott Tow-In Classic, Oregon. http://salem-news.com/articles/october302009/tow_surf_ea.php http://salem-news.com/articles/october302009/tow_surf_ea.php Fri, 30 Oct 2009 23:17:00 PDT The Nelscott Reef in Lincoln City was going off Thursday, once again providing 25+ foot waves for the annual surf contest known as the Nelscott Reef Tow-In Classic, the fifth annual event. Competitors like Russel Smith of Santa Cruz, say the event was another ideal day for the top ranked professional surfers in the world who travel here each year to compete, "Oh today's been great you know, not too much wind, the water's not terribly cold and yeah, it's going really well." http://salem-news.com/articles/october232009/surf_contest_tk.php http://salem-news.com/articles/october232009/surf_contest_tk.php Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:20:00 PDT