Remember how you felt after finishing high school, college, and/or graduate school? Woohoo! Years of studying, cramming, and writing late night papers, and now it’s over. Finish line crossed. Now it’s time to reward yourself or someone you know with a little somethin’ somethin’!

Since we want to celebrate our rad grads out there, we’ve compiled a graduate gift guide that’s sure to get your rad grad feeling that all that studying was well worth it.

Billabong 302 SGX Xero GBS Full Wetsuit
Billabong wetsuits are made by surfers for surfers, and this one is no exception. The Billabong SGX Series is the world’s lightest wetsuit that fits about as well as an additional set of skin, yet is expressively warmer than many other suits out on the market. Give Taj a run for his money. $439.50.

Billabong 302 SOL SG5 Chest Zip Full Wetsuit
You won’t go wrong with snagging one of our best selling wetsuits. Part of Billlabong’s utilitarian SG5 wetsuit line, the 302 Sol CZ Wetsuit is loaded with high-tech features to deliver tons of bang for your buck. Features ZG400 neoprene for flexibility and durability, chest-zip entry for easy on and off, and a classic 3/2 thickness which keeps you prepared for cool-water temperatures roughly between the low 50s to mid 60s (Fahrenheit). $339.50.

Becker Malibu Super Sport
If your reward for getting your degree was to finally master the waves, longboards are the way to go, and the Becker Malibu Super Sport Surfboard is the perfect one to get you well on your way to riding the tide. The Malibu shaped surfboard is the board of choice for most aspiring surfers as a great beginner’s board but it’s also one that many seasoned surfers go back to for its easy maneuverability. Designed with classic lines for good control and a smooth ride, you won’t go wrong with this great traditional single fin nose rider in a pretty sweet shade. $950.00

GO PRO HD Hero 3 Camera
How else can you capture that twelve set you just ollied or that barrel you’ve surfed? Go Pro gives you professional quality footage and audio so you can document yourself landing all those perfectly executed tricks. Just mount the Go Pro using the helmet front mount and you’ll capture all the sick footage. The batteries last over 2.5 hours so go ahead and splurge for it! There’s no better way to capture your memories. $399.99.

Retail Gift Card
Stoke your SoCal buddies with a gift card good for purchases at any of our Southern California retail locations! From Malibu to Hermosa Beach, Mission Viejo to Corona Del Mar, Huntington Beach to Encinitas, card holders will be sure to find a location nearby and the gear that they dig.
Note that these gift cards are valid for use only at our retail store locations, and cannot be used for purchases here, online, at beckersurf.com.

Online Gift Card
If you haven’t stepped foot in a retail store in years and you’re all about online shopping, click on this link to check out our online gift certificates instead. Beckersurf.com online gift certificates make a perfect gift for any occasion! Simply fill out the names of the giver and recipient, together with a denomination and a delivery option, and we’ll take care of the rest. Continue reading →

Temps are finally getting warmer! Time for a music festival (or two), and get your summer steez in gear. You’ll have to battle heat, humidity and of course the wild, open air of the creative vibes that surround a music fest so make sure you’re sporting the right look with some fab fash you can get from Becker Surf!

Bright & Printed left to right: Havaianas Slims Sandal, Billabong Take Me There Bag, Element Fable Dress, Billabong Canyon Cruz Backpack & RVCA Chili Short

Short Shorts left to right: Billabong Lite Hearted Short in Peacoat, Billabong Show Me Skirt, Billabong Laneway Short & Billabong Lite Hearted Short in Light Well Worn

Crochet Cutie left to right: Billabong Liv For Lov Sweater, Billabong Cabana Hat & Billabong Tread Lightly Sandal

Flirty Fringe left to right: Roxy Aquarius Bag, RVCA Laced Intentions Top & Roxy Native Breeze Dress

Neutral Gal left to right: RVCA Speak Up T Shirt, RVCA Supertubos Tank, Billabong Go With The Sun Top, Element Tamblin Hat & RVCA Sprint Voice Trucker Continue reading →

As I’m writing this, Cyber Monday sales are up 24.1% up this year. We’ve spotted some really cool deals so it’s no wonder. Anyway, here at Becker Surf, the savings keep rolling in with up to 30% off!

Spend $50 get 10% off
Spend $100 get 20% off
Spend $150 get 30% off

Use Promo code: HARVEST at checkout.

Here are some winter items you may want to snag at some sweet prices:

1. This Volcom grizzly tee will definitely bring out your inner grizzly bear fierceness and growl. $27
2. The HIPPY TREE Aspen T Shirt will inspire you to hike the mountain trails surrounded by picturesque trees, or go down those famous slopes when they become snow-topped. Heather blue. $18
3. This NIXON Regain beanie is cool… and looks hot. It features a fold up beanie, a woven label, and one size fits most. It’s perfect for the cooler days and nights. $15
4. The ELEMENT Cedar Jacket, part of the Emerald Collection, is the perfect jacket for cooler climates. It is made with 100% organic peached canvas for the shell and conventional polyester cotton for the lining. It features a regular fit military inspired jacket, front button closure, dual chest patch pockets with button flap closure and buttoned cuffs. $154
5. Some of you may have already upgraded to the iPhone 5, but for those of us that still have version 4, check out the VANS iPhone 4 Case. It features a waffle sole replica on the back, a red heel tag at the side, and case glows after exposing it to the light. $28

1. The BILLABONG Shade Of Love Jacket is a gorgeous cropped jacket that is not only beautifully-styled, but also ridiculously cozy-soft. Constructed with a brushed wool/poly blend, this swing style jacket is fully lined and has a Sherpa fleece collar for the look of high end lamb’s wool. $99.50
2. You won’t go wrong with the UGG Classic Cardy Boot. A must have footwear staple, the Cardy blends the coziness of your favorite sweater with the comfort features representative of UGGs. A heathered Merino-wool blend boasts functional wooden logo buttons, creating a three-styles-in-one silhouette that can be worn all the way up, unbuttoned and cuffed, or slouched down for a more casual look. $160
3. Channel the warm cranberry color that is so hot this season with the RVCA Carnaby Street Sweater. This cotton sweater has an open, drop needle cable knit weave for a romantic, classic, crocheted look. It’s the perfect extra layer of of stylish warmth. $60

Continue reading →

And the countdown to the Summer X Games begins… The 18th Annual ESPN Summer X Games will be back at the end of this month! All the action begins on Thursday, June 28 and will continue until the big final on Sunday, July 1, 2012. ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will combine to televise 21 hours of live competition in HD, and on ESPN 3D. X Games will also be streamed digitally on XGames.com and WatchESPN.com.

Once again this year, more than 200 world-class athletes will descend on Los Angeles to compete in venues including the STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE to show off their latest moves and tricks as they compete for medals and prize money and showcase serious competition in skateboarding, rally car racing, motocross and BMX. The X Games, which started in 1995 in Rhode Island, brings the best in Action Sports. With events in the United States, France, China, and more, it’s a place where the world’s best athletes, craziest fans, and biggest brands all come together.

Here’s who stands a chance of breaking repeat records at X Games 2012:

Three-peat Possibility in 2012
Daniel Dhers, BMX Park
Matt Buyten, MTX Step Up

Five-peat Possibility in 2012
Garrett Reynolds, BMX Street

Six-peat Possibility in 2012
Jamie Bestwick, BMX Vert

Tickets are now on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, Ticketmaster.com/xgames, and the box offices at STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE for the Skateboard, BMX, Moto X and Rally Car events.

X Games Los Angeles 2012 ticket prices start at $10 and vary based on location and venue. All tickets to X Games include admission to X Fest at L.A. LIVE. X Fest, free to the public, is the ultimate action sports sponsor and industry village, featuring interactive skate parks, athlete appearances, demos and more. In addition to individual event tickets, several ticket packages are available. Ticket packages vary with options that include skatedecks to complete lodging packages. For more detailed information on ticket prices, times of venue operation and more, log on to Ticketmaster.com/xgames.

For further information, go to http://espn.go.com/action/xgames/summer/2012/index Continue reading →

American chemist Eric Stroud says he’s found several substances that can repel sharks, and he wants to use his discovery to protect them.

Stroud, 38, used to work fulltime as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. Then, in the summer of 2001, after he and his wife noticed that the news was filled with stories of shark bite after shark bite in the Florida oceans, he turned his talents to developing shark repellents. Stroud has now been doing this for more than a decade, founding a company, SharkDefense, which aims to develop and commercialize shark repellents.

When Stroud started, he set up several kiddie pools in his basement, filled them with small sharks, and observed how the sharks fed, swam, and behaved. Then, one day in 2004, he accidentally dropped a large magnet from his workbench. He noticed some small nurse sharks dart away.

“That night, we put magnets into the tank and couldn’t believe [that] the nurse sharks were just extremely distressed and stayed away from them,” he says. It led to an AHA discovery: Magnets repel sharks.

Sharks possess electrical sensors, called the ampullae of Lorenzini, that look like tiny freckles on their snouts. Biologists believe sharks use these sensors to detect the heartbeats of their prey and to navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field. Stroud believes the spinning magnet overwhelms and interferes with those electrical sensors. “It’s probably something like a bright flashlight across your eyes,” he says. “It’s just temporarily blinding, and you’re startled. And it’s not pleasant.”

They’ve tested other substances, too, and have found that some non-magnetic metals also interfere with a shark’s electrical sensors, including rare-earth metals like samarium, neodymium, and praseodymium.

Since many shark species are being over-fished (fishermen trying to catch other fish often catch sharks by accident), and some are endangered, Shark Defense’s main focus has switched to using repellents to protect sharks, and has created a magnetized fishing hook.

“We realized we could magnetize the fishing hook, and we can coat it with a rare earth metal,” he says. “It looks just like a regular hook, and we get the benefit of two repellents at the hook.” Some tests show a 60 to 70 percent reduction in the number of sharks caught.

Stroud received an award from the World Wildlife Fund for his invention, and he’s hoping to soon sell it commercially. In the meantime, he continues to refine the design, trying new combinations of metals and magnets, and observing how they affect different types of sharks.

Holy mackerel! Looks like we won’t need the bat-shark repellant!

Continue reading →