US Open of Surfing

by Erik Olsen on

Here’s another event for California folks…surfers and extreme sports fans, especially.

The Honda US Open of Surfing and Beach Games presented by
O’Neill kicks off on July 24 as it has for decades in Huntington Beach at the Huntington Beach Pier.

This is a major surfing event, as anyone who follows the sport knows. They’ve been holding it since 1959,
and it is considered ”the Grand Daddy of all North American action sports events”…or at least of surfing
events. It attracts thousands of people, and this year will likely be no exception when it comes to big crowds. If
you live in So Cal, or are planning a visit, you should check this out. It is a true glimpse of modern
California culture.

 

Head to Tahiti

by Adrienne Wilson on

Before I really knew anything about Tahiti hearing the name of the country always reminded me
of the vacation grand prize you could win on a game show, but I always
wondered did anyone really go there? Whether or not anyone really flew the friendly skies then or now, it
sure is calling my name. With the weather not so bueno in the Caribbean these days the Pacific seems
perfect. There is tons of deep blue to dive, lush green to hike, and hot sand to fall out on. You get the
picture.

There are also numerous culture and outdoor events happening year-round as found on the
Tahiti Tourisme web site.  For the coming months visitors
can attend the Polynesian Artists Festival happening in August, Raid Painapo, a mountain team race through the Oponohu
Valley on September 24 and The 3rd edition of surf competition at the Taapuna Pro also taking place in September.
Sounds like a good mix of everything.

Surfing Manuals

by Erik Olsen on

Here’s another one of those “how to get
started” things; this one about surfing. I’ve posted a few times about taking surfing lessons around the country,
abroad, and even
online. But I hadn’t much thought about buying a manual to
learn how to surf.  One would hope these manuals
put out by the ASI are waterproof.  I can picture someone sitting in the water, legs straddling their board as
they thumb through the “how do I stand up?” chapter.

The manual is put out by the Academy of Surfing, an organization that also helps people find careers in surfing and
surfing instruction. Check this out. I went over to the career
page, and found mention of a Bachelor of Science in Surf Science and Technology. Fancy that. One can get a degree
in surfing. Apparently it’s only available in Bunbury, Australia.

What Locals Love About L.A.

by Adrienne Wilson on

“The gas is almost $3, but I love it here! I’m never leaving Los Angeles!” – My Insane Travel Companion also a Los Angeles Native.

I did my time in Los Angeles, three whole years and I’d surely go back. To visit. Maybe I’ll even settle into a nest of my own again, but if it shouldn’t happen I wouldn’t die. It’s that love hate thing I’ve got going on with the city, but there are certain things that are just unbeatable when it comes to one of Southern California’s most popular and smoggy cities. Nat Geo Traveler has an excellent piece on what the locals dig. What makes the weird, diverse, and possibly normal folks happy and keeps them staying there? The list is actually 30 items deep with many of my personal favorites included like dining in Little Ethiopia, Korea Town’s karaoke favorite Brass Monkey, shopping at The Grove, and cruising the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu. These are the things I miss a lot, but what really makes me want to take a speedy road trip down I-10 is Sunday’s until sunset dancing at the drum circle in Venice Beach, the after hour reggae mixes at Dumas and of naturally my own wonderful friends.

Before I begin to go further with all the memories the article brought back I encourage you to take a look at L.A.’s greatness according to the piece at Nat Geo Traveler and the cutesy photos to go along. It’s fah-boo-lous!

Surf Adventures

by Erik Olsen on

Obscure beaches and rarely surfed waves are the Holy Grail for most surfers. Hard core surf types are known for
trying to find the most out of the way, untraveled places on the globe. But maybe you don’t have the time to fun your
finger over a map trying to find those places. Or maybe you’d like to join other surfers on exotic surf safaris.
Wavehunters.com is a “full-service surf travel agency”. They put together
custom packages and airfares to prime surfing areas throughout the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. They’ll find
you those off-the-beaten-wave places to hang ten with friends without hordes of tards cutting you off or stealing your
waves. Check them out.