Tony Award® and Grammy® Award winning musicians Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt of Green Day, world champion surfers Lisa Andersen, Tom Curren and Peter “PT” Townend, surf legend Mickey Munoz, skate legend Tony Hawk and gold medal swimmers Rowdy Gaines and Jason Lezak will join surfing legends and founding co-chairs Laird Hamilton and Dave Kalama to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis at the fifth annual Pipeline to a Cure Gala this Saturday, July 14^th. The event will once again be held at the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa in Huntington Beach, CA.

The goal of the Pipeline to a Cure is to increase awareness and funding for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation by rallying the surfing and action sports world. Over the past five years, Pipeline to a Cure has raised more than $1.5 million for research to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, a deadly inherited disease. This summer gala will again recognize the positive effect that surfing has on the health of children with cystic fibrosis.

Guests will enjoy an evening of celebrity entertainment, fabulous food, and spectacular silent and live auctions, all while mingling with their favorite surfing celebrities.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). A few years ago, Australian researchers found that cystic fibrosis children who surfed had significantly healthier lungs. Doctors determined that inhaling saltwater mist has a powerful effect on rehydrating the lining of the lungs, which allows cystic fibrosis patients to more easily eliminate bacteria-contaminated mucus. This discovery led researchers to develop a hypertonic saline solution, which cystic fibrosis patients around the world now inhale every day.

As such, cystic fibrosis patients literally mimic a “surf session” on a daily basis. Given this natural link to surfing, the Pipeline to a Cure campaign was born, and events such as surf and stand-up paddle events for CF families are planned outside of this gala.

The funds raised at Pipeline go directly to life-saving research. With no public funding, funds raised from the private sector provide a tremendous and critical lifeline to the more than 70,000 children around the world with cystic fibrosis.

The Pipeline gala begins at 6pm for cocktails and silent auction, dinner and live auction program begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets for the event are $350.

For more information about Pipeline to a Cure or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, please call (714) 938-1393 or visit www.pipelinetoacure.com or www.cff.org. Continue reading →

Veteran surf filmmaker Taylor Steele hopes to once again redefine the surf movie. Premiering last month on International Surfing Day with the San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and in Australia, Steele’s latest film with Nathan Myers, “Here and Now,” is an epic effort to document the world of surfing in a single 24-hour period: May 2, 2012.

The Rockaway Beach Surf Club and The New York Surf Film Festival will host the New York City Premiere on Saturday, July 7th, on an outdoor screen at The Spot at 302 Beach 87th Street in Rockaway Beach, NYC.

Steele has been redefining surf cinema for two decades, ever since his groundbreaking 1992 flick, “Momentum.” It was a low-budget flick that featured Kelly Slater, Shane Dorian, Ross Williams and Rob Machado but included none of the genre-standard elements, such as slow-mo or narration or plot or water photography. It was groundbreaking, and Steele’s methods were emulated by video makers everywhere.

This time, Steele dispatched 25 cameramen around the world to shoot the likes of Kelly Slater Rob Machado, Stephanie Gilmore, Dave Rastovich, Alex Knost, Ozzy Wright, Conner Coffin, Matt Meola and others to make “Here and Now.” This project brings together shapers, photographers, legends, beginners, third world, first world and surf world. Some found epic waves. Others couldn’t find a ripple. It’s all part of the surfing experience, ultimately showing the best place to be is here and now.

When asked about his new film, Steele recently told a reporter, “I think there just needs to be an emotional attachment to the surfer, however you get that, so that when you watch the surfing you can relate to that person or you’re rooting for them, in a way. In this film, it’s an overall attempt to humanize these athletes and make their lives more relatable. The surfing is almost secondary, in terms of what’s entertaining. It’s just a real intimate view of what these lives are like.”

The film will be preceded by a live performance from legendary local surf punk band The Supertones. Sixpoint Brewery, Vita Coco, and Kanon Organic Vodka in collaboration with DiCosmo’s Ices, will be providing complimentary beverages. Roberta’s will be selling a selection of pizzas from their mobile pizza oven.

Doors will open at 7:00 pm; The Supertones will perform at 7:30 pm; and “Here & Now” will screen at 9:00 pm. Admission price is $12.

Tickets are available at: http://hereandnownyc.eventbrite.com

Continue reading →