Gadlinks for Wednesday 12.23.2009

by Brenda Yun on

‘Twas the night before Christmas Eve and all through the house
The children are stirring; you can’t hear the mouse
After some ham or Christmas meat
You’ll all settle in for your winter feast
Take some time to browse the latest reads
From the ever reliable Gadlinks feed.

(I’m not much of a poet, but I try. Enjoy the last few hours of Christmas hype!)

More Gadlinks here.

Get a surfboard, help a kid

by Annie Scott on


If you’ve got a surfing trip coming up and are looking for a new board, get into the holiday spirit by bidding on a surfboard that helps kids with autism.

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is currently hosting a Holiday Surfboard Auction with the help of Surfers Healing, an organization founded by a former competitive surfer and his wife whose son was diagnosed with autism at age three. Now the couple, Israel and Danielle Paskowitz, hosts days at the beach where autistic children can experience the thrill of surfing (with the help of a pro surfer steering at the back of the board). The Paskowitzes say that surfing has had “a profound impact” on their son.

To benefit Surfers Healing, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is auctioning off 26 one-of-a-kind boards signed by surfing legends including Kelly Slater, Laird Hamilton, Matt Archbold, Makua Rothman, Sunny Garcia, Garrett McNamarra, Dustin Barca, Michael and Dereck Ho, Shane and Gavin Beshen, The Malloy Brothers, Joel Tudor, and Lisa Anderson, as well as celebrities Scott Caan, Benjiman Bratt, Robert Hays, Sarah McLachlan and Marc Jacobs.

The surfboards are on display at the resort now, and will remain there until the bidding closes on December 31 — if you win one, you can take it home the next day. Happy New Year!

To see all the boards and place a bid, visit their BiddingForGood site here.

H2O Audio iPod Nano case turns your player into an underwater video camera

by Scott Carmichael on

As the first iPod with a camera, the new Apple iPod Nano is surprisingly fun to play with. But until now, it wasn’t the kind of gadget you’d take to the beach, as iPods and water don’t tend to mix. H2O Audio can change that, thanks to their new “Capture” case.

This $79.99 case turns your iPod Nano (5th generation) into a full underwater sports camera. Plus, its waterproof headphone jack lets you listen to music without the risk of damaging your iPod. Best of all, all controls on the iPod can be fully accessed.

The integrated polycarbonate lens lets you take the case down to 12 feet of water. The package includes a sports armband and beltclip. The case is available for purchase right now, directly from the site of the manufacturer.

(Via: Gizmodo)

Gadlinks for Friday 12.11.2009

by Brenda Yun on

We’re closing in on mid-December and Christmas is lurking around the corner (it’s in two short weeks!). This weekend is the last minute Christmas shopping push for those of you hoping to send your gifts in time to have them under the tree. As for those of you who got your shopping done, you may have a few more minutes to spare to read up on some of the latest travel stories from about the web. Enjoy!

  • Who said you can’t find love on the road? This article makes it seem like your true love may just be waiting for you on the other side of the world. [via CNN Travel]
  • If you didn’t know this already, there is such a thing as apparel etiquette when traveling abroad. Try these tips on for size so you don’t make a fool of yourself. [via MSNBC Travel]
  • Less than 1% of the world’s population will ever see the likes of the top of Mount Everest, but we can always dream, can’t we? [via Travel Fusion]
  • If there’s one place floorsurfing comes in handy, it’s London. This article from the Faster Times shows us how it’s done in the East End.
  • Winter in Hawaii means unbeatable surf on the north shores of the islands, but it also means you can hit the slopes and go skiing/snowboarding! [via Honolulu Magazine]

‘Til Monday, have a great weekend!

More Gadlinks here.

The final stage of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing begins today at the Banzai Pipeline

by Brenda Yun on

It is arguably the most famous wave in the world, the wave that all other waves are measured against. In recent years, Pipeline has provided the perfect arena for the final stage of the Vans Triple Crown, and the first day of competition will be held today in 10+ foot surf.

With its shallow coral reef and a lack of continental shelf to break up the open-ocean swells, Pipeline is one of the most dangerous waves in the world. Add a packed lineup of wave riders trying to get a piece of the action, and Pipe becomes not just a dangerous ride, but an extremely entertaining show for spectators.


Pipeline breaks in the winter because storms from Alaska send groundswells towards the North Shore from thousands of miles away. The waves travel great distances across the northern Pacific Ocean, and unleash some spectacular waves along the north shores of the Hawaiian islands.

Every year, thousands of surfers travel to Oahu from all ends of the earth to test their skills at this famous spot. Depending on the day, surfers go in either direction on the wave. The right is known as Backdoor and the left is called Pipeline.

With the swell that allowed Eddie to go still pumping, the Billabong Pipeline Masters will begin today and possibly wrap up in the next few days. The contest has to finish by December 20. If you aren’t on the islands to see the action with your own eyes, you can watch it live HERE.

Of the three jewels of the Triple Crown, this is definitely the most exciting to watch, as the contests are keen on getting “tubed” and the set waves spit them out at their mercy. If you intend to see these men ride one of nature’s finest spectacles, be sure to provide plenty of time to make the journey north, bring a comfortable chair, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!