Huntington Beach Becomes “Surf City” By Law

by Erik Olsen on

I’m currently sitting in a Coffee Bean in the center of Hollywood very near a place called “Carmen Miranda Square”. Nearby is Marilyn Monroe Blvd. and Will Rogers Park. And, it turns out, if you head South aways, there is a town with a new nickname…or at least a town that can now newly claim that nickname.

Huntington Beach was officially given the brand name “Surf City USA”, which is somewhat appropriate given the OP competition is there, and certainly more appropriate than giving the moniker to, say, Akron, OH. But Akron was not really in the running. The city that wanted the name as well is Santa Cruz, the once sleepy, but still quite liberal Northern California city where the surf is also sweet, but which, it seems, did not get off the ball quick enough to claim the name.

It does make one wonder what other nicknames cities out there want to claim…which are appropriate. As I say, here I am in Hollywood and as I look down Hollywood Blvd., I can help wonder if someone is trying to claim “Scrounge City”…the place deserves the name.

Surfing Turns 30

by Erik Olsen on

I spent a good part of my early childhood at the beach. I was not a hard core surfer, but I did my share of wave riding. And I was always a fan of Surfing Magazine, especially the photos, which I always turned to in order to see what amazing images they had selected that month.

Well, who knew that a magazine about wave riding could so endure? We hold out our hand in congratulations because Surfing Magazine turned 30 years old this month. That’s some impressive endurance. And the magazine holds its laurels aloft by putting out an excellent issue with a look back at three decades of surfing stories, a 12 Things You Should Know About section, interview with your favorite pros, and more. Surf fans will get their hands on this one for their private magazine collections.

Adventure Travel for Skill-Seekers

by Karen Walrond on

City Slickers, anyone?

Call it a new trend in adventure
travel:  instead of seeking thrills, these adventure-vacationers are seeking skills.  The New York Times is
featuring an article about travel organizations that help holidaymakers not only relax, but learn skills such as
surfing, skiing, even dressage of Andalucian horses.

"Many of our clients want to get out of their
ordinary lives so they can really concentrate on a skill or improve their basic skills," said Ellen Vanuga,
marketing manager and ride consultant for Equitours (ridingtours.com). The company offers instruction-based
horse-riding tours in the United States, Britain and various countries in Europe.

Another company, Access
Trips, does similar tour planning for everything from snowboard instructions, to mountainbiking tuition to, hopefully
soon, cooking and photography.  Geared for adults aged 20 to 45, the company doubled its business in the first
year of operation, and is scheduled to triple in 2006. 

Sounds like a great trend — and we’ll
definitely be looking into tour companies like this for future holidays.  Doesn’t this sound like a great way to
get teenagers into the thought of a cool family vacation?

Manu Bertin to Kiteboard Atlantic

by Erik Olsen on

Of all the new hip happening sports out there, the
one I most want to pick up is kite boarding. I’ve windsurfed, snow-boarded, surfed and sailed, but never have I
done a sport that is a mixture of all of them.

But even if/when I do learn, I doubt I will ever try
something as audacious as Manu Bertin is attempting.
Bertin is considered kiteboarding’s founding father, and at 43, he is undertaking a mammoth adventure. This month
he will attempt to kite-sail across the Atlantic Ocean. You read
that right. Call him the new Columbus, as yes, he will be using three different boards (not named the Nina, Pinta or
Santa Maria…he is also using a boat apparently) with obvious boat assistance. I believe a catamaran will follow
with a crew.

This is true ballsyness and very cool. We’ll be checking in on the effort.

(vai Stellar)

Men's Journal Adventure Issue

by Neil Woodburn on

The
May issue of Men’s Journal is their annual Adventure Issue.  Unfortunately, they post very little of it
online.  I’ve only just started thumbing through it and am disappointed we can’t share links to all
the great articles the editors have shoved in this year’s issue. 

But, what we can do is summarize some of the articles and direct you to your nearest newsstand to pick up a copy
for yourself.  That’s the only way you can read about Tony Hawk snowboarding in Alaska, Richard
Branson’s wild adventures, an Alaska to Panama road trip, adventure photographers, and a piece on what it took to
accomplish the world’s greatest quests.  There are plenty of other goodies in the issue as well—such as
a gear guide.  And it wouldn’t be Men’s Journal without a workout routine and a model
shoot. 

So, sorry if this sounds like one big plug for the magazine, but this is one worth picking up. In the meantime,
check back on Gadling for a couple of brief summaries on some other articles in the issue that we will be discussing in
a little more detail.  Tomorrow: Men’s Journal tackles the 20 Greatest Adventure Authors.