The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) will once again have its annual Waterman’s Weekend this coming August 10-12 at the Ritz Carlton, Laguna Niguel, CA. Now in its 23^rd year, the event has served as the main fundraising source for the SIMA Environmental Fund.

This year, the Waterman’s Ball will honor big wave surfer Shane Dorian as Waterman of the Year, world renowned ocean explorer, filmmaker, television personality and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau as Environmentalist of the Year, and revolutionary wave forecaster and surfing Hall of Famer the late Sean Collins with the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Waterman’s Weekend is a two-day fundraising event held each August that exclusively benefits the SIMA Environmental Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation that awards grants to various environmental groups based on their dedication to preserving and protecting the world’s oceans, beaches and waves. The weekend event begins Friday, August 10, with the Waterman’s Classic Golf Tournament at the Monarch Beach Golf Links, featuring a lively day on the links, a surf contest, and live and silent auctions, and culminates with the main event on Saturday, August 11, the 23rd annual Waterman’s Ball and auction to be held at The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, CA. The ball not only allows the surf industry and friends of the environment to raise money for important oceanic causes, but also honor and celebrate those making significant contributions in the industry with the prestigious annual Waterman of the Year, Environmentalist of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards.

Last year’s events attracted more than 700 people and raised more than $400,000 for 20 ocean conservation groups. Here is the list of the 2012 SIMA Environmental Fund grant recipients:

Alaska Wilderness League
Algalita Marine Research Foundation
Assateague Coastal Trust
Cook Inletkeeper
Heal the Bay
KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance
North Shore Community Land Trust (NSCLT)
Ocean Defenders Alliance
Ocean Institute
Orange County CoastKeeper
Paso Pacifico
Reef Check
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Santa Monica Baykeeper
Save the Waves Coalition
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
SINADES – Natural Systems and Development Civil Association
Surfing Education Association
Surfrider Foundation
WiLDCOAST

Each organization was chosen by the SIMA Environmental Fund Board of Directors based on their commitment of funds to specific projects that will protect and preserve oceans, beaches and/or surf breaks.

For more information on the event and the grant recipients, go to http://www.sima.com/watermans.aspx Continue reading →

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 →