etnies

Simpo: Surfer Of The Year!

Thanks to everyone who voted in December, OC Register's Readers' Choice Surfer of the Year is the one and only Brett Simpo Simpson! Check out the story and party pics at OCRegister.com.

Ryan's Air Strike Recap

As you know, our very own Ryan Carlson's a viable Kustom Air Strike contender. Everyone's talking about his massive kerrupt flip at Rocky Point, so SurfingMag.com went straight to Ryan for his take on it. Check out the story, then vote for Ryan!

Day In The Life...

If you were Chris Del Moro, your life would look pretty awesome. And then people would wanna follow you around all day, take pictures to catalog each moment and post them up as a slide show on Surfline... like this:

Need Last Minute Gifts?

Happy Holidays from etnies!

Everyone at etnies would like to take a moment to wish you, your family and friends a very happy, fun and safe holiday! We'll be back in a few days!

Eric Geiselman's New Ad!

The Realm Porthleven Challenge

The Realm Porthleven Challenge in Association with etnies, Electric and Porthleven Surf Club

As the saying goes, “good things come to those who wait” and The Realm Porthleven Challenge was no exception. After 3 years of waiting and one false alarm, The Realm Porthleven Challenge was finally held on the 14th December 2008.

The idea of the contest was to break away from the traditional formats—which are usually held in 2 foot, onshore Fistral mush—in order to showcase the cream of British surfers in the cream of British waves. Twenty-four of the best tuberiders in the country were hand-picked to compete only when the conditions became perfect. The invitees included Britain’s best ever surfer – Russell Winter, as well as ex Birtish and European champ Grishka Roberts, last year’s BPSA champ Sam lamiroy and ex British champions Mark Harris and Ben Baird. Initially, the contest was to be held in at least 6-foot surf. However, Porthleven is notoriously fickle and the required swell size failed to materialise even after a 3-year wait. So contest organisers, along with The Realm, lowered the condition requirement; as long as conditions were clean and hollow, spectators would still be treated to one hell of a show.

Weather charts forecasted ideal conditions for Sunday 15th December. While the invitees began congregating in the small parking lot, excitement grew as solid 4-5 foot, glassy lines could just about be made out through the early morning darkness.

Heat after heat the competition kept up and the boys did not disappoint. etnies UK surfer Dan "Mole" Joel won his heat in Round 1 and continued to move on throughout the day.

The final was comprised of Gary Wells, Sam lamiroy, Mole and Egor Harris. Gary got off to a good start hammering a couple of lovely backhand hits and floaters. Half way through Sam bagged wave of the day. A solid set hit the reef perfectly and turned itself inside out. Sam pulled in deep, bolt upright, disappeared for the whole length of the wave appearing in the channel to the roar of the crowd – perfect 10 and £100 for “Best Barrell Award”. Mole and Egor were struggling to find the decent sets although Mole did pull into a gaper but got clipped at the end but failed to exit and get the score. Sam’s backup score was yet another deep tuberide getting high 8’s from the judges. Sam lamiroy took the top spot in deserving fashion having surfed amazingly throughout the day. Gary took second and Egor did just enough to take third spot over Mole who made a nice tube but, alas was just after the hooter.

It was a great day. The conditions turned out to be perfect. Not massive but perfect. 3-5 feet and barrelling its tits off from dawn till dusk. The contest was, to quote Sam Lamiroy - the eventual winner, "quite simply the best contest he has ever surfed in this country". This was a sentiment that was echoed by all the surfers that entered, myself included. The surf was amazing; the vibe in the water was really freindly and chilled. Friendships were forged and everyone got shaked off their head and several people went home considerably richer. Even the guys who got knocked out early including Russell Winter, Grishka Roberts and Ben Baird, said that were so stoked with the comp and even though the exited early, they "had a blast".
The contest was a hit with the surfers, spectators and the sponsors alike. It was an event which succeded in its aim to break from the traditional contest mould by showing that England does have fantastic surf and fantastic surfers. It was a truly original event which will be talked about for years to come.
The Porthleven Surf Club would like to give a huge thank you to Brad Hockeridge at The Realm for sponsoring the event. Also a massive thank you to etnies, Red Stripe Lager and Relentless energy for their support.

Results:
1st Place – Sam lamiroy £500 + £100 for “Best Barrel Award”
2nd Place – Gary Wells £300
3rd Place – Mark “Egor” Harris £200
4th Place – Dan “Mole” Joel £100

Full epic play by play at Porthleven.com.

etnies Ski for JOB!

Jamie O'Brien's new ski has "etnies" written all over it...

Trestles Is Saved Today!

Trestles is saved!

As you remember, September's Save Trestles Hearing was a chance to convince the Coastal Commission that Trestles and surrounding San Onofre State Beach Park are worth saving from the TCA's Toll Road plans. After a long day of back and forth testimonies from both sides, the Commission was left with the task of deliberation and conclusion. And today, the Commission decided in favor of the thousands of voters who have been fighting the toll road expansion... in favor of the natural beauty that we all appreciate... in favor of Trestles!

Now, as with our previous victory, the TCA may try to appeal. And if they do, we'll keep fighting back! Today's victory means so much more than a TCA roadblock. Surf industry vet, Surfrider activist and Trestles advocate Bob Mignogna said this morning,

"Everyone who helped on this campaign deserves a pat on the back and a big round of applause, especially the thousands of surf industry employees who wrote letters and emails, posted comments online, put signs out front of their home and office, wore t-shirts in support of Save Trestles, attended meetings, etc.

Congratulations and thank you to all.

More info at ShopEatSurf.com.

Shoe The Children!

I heard that Santa was in Portland last week... but on Friday he was here in Lake Forest for our 5th annual etnies Holiday Festival... and so were Mikey Taylor, Sean Malto, Lauren Perkins, Brian Deegan and Twitch!

The riders came out, along with etnies founder Pierre Andre, to welcome over 600 kids to the etnies Holiday Festival—aka etnies Skatepark of Lake Forest—where they were treated to a visit and photo with Santa & Mrs. Claus, demos by their favorite pros, arts & crafts and pairs of etnies!

Since 2004, the annual event has given away over 2500 pairs of etnies to Orange County kids in need. Here's wishing all of you a very happy holiday season, from all your friends at etnies.

kids getting sick with their new kicks

to sign autographs...

and please the fans

Malto and his minis

JOB: On The Grill

If only he was wearing etnies...

Maybe this guy's shoes didn't have G2 in them or something. Shoulda got himself some etnies instead.

Dunfee Takes On Mavs!

Derek Dunfee gets his kicks kicking ass... only he doesn't even know that's what he's doing! As far as he's concerned, he's just doing his thing. In Surfline's latest, Derek talks about his last trip to Maverick's.

Save BIG!

Jamie @ Pipe Masters!

Pipeline event is ON... Jamie made his first round. Here’s a little update and pic.

Jamie O’Brien (HAW), the 2004 Pipeline Masters Champion, beat fellow Hawaiians in both of his heats today – Dustin Barca in Round 1 and Roy Powers in Round 2. O’Brien, like Florence, is in the event as a replacement surfer not as a Pipeline invitee earning a spot via the trials event held last January.

"I didn’t think I was actually in the event all year because I did not do well in the trials last year,” O’Brien said. “So it was kind of good I just found out I was in a couple of days ago so I was not really worried about it and it wasn’t on my mind. It would be a dream come true to win the event for the second time.”

Full story at ASPWorldTour.com.

Vote for Eric & Ryan!

Kustom's putting $50k on the table and our boys want a piece. Eric Geiselman and Ryan Carlson are both in the running for the Kustom Air Strike prize... "$50,000 for one crazy air". That's right, one aerial maneuver will win it all. The best part? It's up to you to decide who gets it!

Head to KustomAirStrike.com, click on a clip of Eric Geiselman (3 to choose from... but why not vote for them all?) or Ryan Carlson (or all of the above), watch the clip and click on the stars to rate it. So simple, yet soooo satisfying. Vote now!

Aamion Interview

Aamion Goodwin recently blew out his knee surfing giant Pipeline. After getting sidelined in the middle of the Hawaii season, Aamion is not stoked to be sitting out and rehabbing. etnies TM Dave Boehne caught up with Aamion to see what really went down and what he's been up to since his accident.

Dave: Not such Happy Holidays all of a sudden huh?
Aamion: Well I guess I'll be spending a little more time with my 7 month old son given, pretty excited about that.

Dave: Explain what happened on that wave so all of us regular Joe's can live vicariously through your pipe charging ways.
Aamion: Well She was a perfect Pipe wave and I was in the perfect spot to ride her, right behind the boil from deep. I drew my line and when I started to come off the bottom i could see someone pushing the lip down on the shoulder of the wave, at that point i thought no way this guy is going to drop in on me, but to my surprise he did. He flailed on the drop, skipped down the face and him and his huge 8 foot board blocked my exit. My options were simple, keep my existing line and run straight into the guy, which could have killed him or draw the low line straight into the lip. I drew the low line and now im out of the water for 6 months, "KILLER". This is why you don't drop in at Pipeline always look back and if you're deaf look back at least 5 times. (you can watch a video clip of this wave on Surfline.com)

Dave: So what exactly is wrong with your knee? Is it bad?
Aamion: I Tore my ACL, PCL and my miniscus... no bueno.

Dave: When do you hope to be back in the water?
Aamion: As soon as possible... I'm going to eat as healthy as possible, take all the right vitamins and rehab like a mad man. I plan on being in the best shape of my life when this is over.

Dave: What do you plan to do to rehab and stay busy?
Aamion: What ever the doctor orders. Lots of swimming

Dave: Will you video me all day since you are now dry docked? haha
Aamion: You're actually going to surf the north shore this time? remember there's reef over here.

Dave: Can you at least golf still? Maybe I can beat you now with only one leg?
Aamion: I don't know; I think I could break 150 with one leg, didn't you shoot like a 160 the last time we played?

Dave: Can I have your winter quiver?
Aamion: No worries. Have you ever ridden a board over 5'8"?

Dave: If I grow a beard, buy a caveman wig, ride your board, and wear your hurley trunks you think people will think I am you and I will catch a couple bombs at Pipe?
Aamion: Thats a good idea, you never know 'til you go.

Dave: Is this interview over?
Aamion: For now, many more to come. I'll keep you posted on my recovery. Oh ya, Boehne I forgot to tell you, Kala's Looking for you!

Complex Gift Guide: SLB 23

Complex is always real good with the gift guidance. Guess who made the cut this holiday season...

Malloys On Safety Patrol

This is the Zaca fire last year. Keith and myself went to help our friends Mike, Shane, and Graham. The fire never got to Mike's ranch so we ate elk and drank beer for three days "guarding" the ranch.

Vote Simpo!

Our hometown hero Brett Simpson is in the running for the OC Register's Surfer of the Year. Looks like he's currently in the #1 spot and we'd like to keep it that way! Cast your vote for Simpo now!

Jamie O Pipeline Footage

More surfing videos on SurferMag.com

FREE beanies!