Please help the people of Haiti by donating $10 to the Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund by texting the word "Haiti" to 90999!!! Please! It's only $10...

Well, it's been a killer start of the year for 2010. Plenty of waves for the boys in the Northern Pacific. Archy's living on the North Shore of Oahu and has been seen surfing Off The Wall, Log Cabins, & Rock Pile lately. If you happen to go to Hawaii, I'm sure you'll see Arch pulling in deep at OTW.

Ozzie just got back home after some time in Hawaii where the Goons of Doom played several shows. Click here to check out a show they did at the Volcom Store in Honolulu.

Christian has been manning the program down at Astrodeck. Can you believe it? Christian actually works. That a boy Christian. Keep killing it brother!!!

Barney, Homer, Austin, Boothy & Matt Ratt have all been spotted in town surfing the SC Harbor Mouth, the Mo, 26, etc., which have been roping for the last few weeks, if not months. What a winter it's been so far!!!

Dylan grom has been handling business down in Central America. He ranked
2nd in the Junior division and 4th in the Open division for 2009 on the Alas Latin Tour. Click here for more news on the Alas Latin Tour. That a boy Rattones!!!

Kalani David has been seen shredding up the Banzai Skate Park on Santa Cruz Skateboards. Click here to check some footy of Kalani tearing it up on the wheels. Kalani is unbelievable on a skate, as well as a surfboard. That's it for team news for now. Check back for more updates. Cheers, Santa Cruz Surfboards...

Santa Cruz Europe is proud to announce the addition of Russell Winter to the team.

January 8th, 2010 - Russell Winter has joined forces with Santa Cruz Clothing. Russell said 'I am so happy to be with Santa Cruz, this has helped me start a new chapter in my career, 2010 looks already to be a great year, Russell will be heading theEuropean surf team with Thiago Tippas, Mike Young, & Ben Baird,

Brad Hockridge owner DOH/ AXL “Russell is a great addition to Santa Cruz, like the brand he brings history and respect, he will be a great figure head for the brand in the surf market ,” “today Russell is still the best surfer in the water and will continue to be, for a long time to come” Simon Tucker Marketing Manager at Santa Cruz said “its great to have a surfer of Russell’s ability, he inspires the youth in the U.K. to reach the level he achieved, I am looking forward to working with him in 2010”

Russell Winter is Britain's most successful professional surfer. The highlight of his career so far has been gaining a place on the ASP World Championship Tour. During Russel Winter's career, he has been the English, British and European surfing champion. He was the first European surfer to qualify for the prestigious WCT tour, where 45 of the world's best surfers compete in some of the world's premier surfing destinations.

Russell was on the tour for three years, famously beating Kelly Slater in a first round heat at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, and coming third in the Nova Schin Event in Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Santa Cruz is the only brand that successfully bridges the gap between surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding. World leaders in hardware, now increasing their already successful apparel. Santa Cruz located in Santa Cruz California, was established in 1973 by then owners, Richard Novak, Doug Haut and Jay Shuirman who founded NHS Inc

Santa Cruz Europe is being distributed by Double Overhead and Axl based in the U.K.

Peter "PT" Townend won the Duke Division (55 years & older) at the NSSA Mission Beach comp riding a Santa Cruz 7'0 Pumpkin Seed over the weekend!!! It was clean 5 ft surf and PT said the board was working great. Way to go PT!!!


PT with his trusty Santa Cruz 7'0 Pumpkin Seed and trophy in hand!!!

Here's some pic's of the team doods and a few scenic shots as well to start your new year off right. Photo's courtesy of Dave "NELLY" Nelson....


This is a real sharky spot, but well worth a surf!!!


Austin Smith-Ford gives it a go!!!


Austin with a little clicker!!!


Barney with a little alley oop!!!


Barney slashington!!!


Gotta love this view!!!


Boothy gets Kerrupt!!!


Boothy slaps the end section!!!










Boothy with a full speed how ya doins!!!


The heart of Santa Cruz!!!


Why this guy didn't whip it? I couldn't tell you!!!







Homer "Nards" Henards grabs this one by the Nards and gets shacked!!!


Nards throwing some buckies!!!


A sick one going through un-ridden!!!


Here's a sickie for you!!!


EASTSIDE gem!!!


You could be in this one!!!


Northern Lights!!!

Santa Cruz Surfboards would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season!!! Cheers, Santa Cruz Surfboards

Environment, Science Culture

Winter Solstice - the World's Greatest Holiday

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 December, 2009 : - - 17h47, December. 21, 2009, marks the solstice—the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The precise moment of the 2009 solstice will be 21 December 2009 at 17h47 UT/GMT.

Longest Night of the Year
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, “sun” and -stitium, “a stoppage.” Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.

Celebrating the Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice, or Yule, is held on or around December 22nd. It marks the shortest day of the year (in the Northern Hemisphere) and is an important holiday to those who follow the old ways.

The Winter Solstice Festival

Everybody knows that in December, people celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah (and now, the newly minted African-American holiday, Kwanzaa), but how many realize just how closely related these different celebrations are? There's a bit of controversy lately about "Happy Holidays" versus "Merry Christmas" but these supposedly separate celebrations are actually connected to the Winter Solstice. As metaphors they remarkably share a message thousands of years older than their respective religions. Furthermore, the explanation for these similarities is more Ice Age than New Age.

What's a solstice?
Thousands of years ago, people noticed the days getting shorter and the sun traveling lower in the sky. They were alarmed. Many thought this was the end of the world. In Northern Europe at Winter, there would be up to 35 days without any glimpse of the Sun. As the Sun waned, people saw everything dead and dying. Without sunlight, there would be no plants, no animals and soon, no humans. In the spiritual realm, many thought the darkness brought out ghosts, trolls, and evil spirits. It was frightening. Imagine our modern world experiencing a 35-day eclipse!

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice occurs every December 21st. It marks the beginning of winter and is the shortest day of the year, but more importantly, it marks the point where the number of daylight hours begins to increase.

In Ireland, Newgrange is a huge circular stone structure similar to Stonehenge. Newgrange is a marker for the Winter Solstice. It is built to allow a shaft of sunlight to penetrate its central chamber only at dawn on the Winter Solstice--a giant celestial clock, built over 5,000 years ago. To put it in perspective, please note that the Egyptian pyramids are only 3,000 years old. Hopi and Pueblo Indians in pre-historic America constructed similar structures called kivas. Throughout the world, ancient peoples marked the solstice and were reassured that daylight would not end.

Solstice means “the Sun standing still.” It signaled the return of the Sun and gave hope to early man. This was a cause for celebration and much of our winter holiday comes from solstice festivities--many aspects of which are related to fire and light and the rebirth of hope. Solstice festivals have been observed around the globe throughout history.

Winter Solstice 1999


On the Winter Solstice 1999, and again on the Summer Solstice 2001, the Earth, the Sun and the
Moon were all Exactly Aligned in a Straight Line with the Galactic Equator
Courtesy GaiaMind

Click here to read more on Winter Solstice, courtesy of Surfersvillage.com...

Volcom Entertainment Presents:
The 3rd Annual Volcanic Rock Out Tour
Featuring Ozzie Wright’s: GOONS OF DOOM!



Tuesday, December 15 @ Volcom Store Waikiki
Paint Party and Acoustic set from 5-7 pm, All ages, Free.
Info-808-923-6200
Also - Don't miss BRUCE IRONS signing autographs after the show!

Wednesday, December 16 @ 84 Kalihi (Blue Hawaii)
1216 Kaumualii Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817,
Info-(808) 845-9300 ext.207
Paint Party and Acoustic set from 7-10 pm, All Ages, Free

Thursday, December 17 @ Tropical Rush
62-620 Kamehameha Hwy # A, Haleiwa, HI 96712-1478,
Info-(808) 637-8886
Paint Party and Acoustic set from 5-7 pm, All ages, Free
Also - Come hang out with some of the VOLCOM SURF TEAM!!! Don't miss this one!

Thursday, December 17 @ Kainoa’s (night show)
66-197 Kamehameha Highway, Haleiwa, HI 96712
9pm-2am, 21+
Info-(808) 637-7787
Plus local band

Friday, December 18 @ Boardriders Bar and Grill
201 Hamakua Dr Ste A. Kailua, HI 96734
9pm -2pm
info-(808) 261-4600
Plus local band

Saturday, December 19 @ Sandpit
2260 Kuhio Avenue Honolulu, HI
9pm-4am, 21+
info-(808) 923-3597
Plus local band

Click here for more info courtesy of Volcom!!!

Peter “PT” Townend is a true stylemaster. A part of the original “Bronzed Aussies” crew that lived on the North Shore of Oahu throughout the 70’s. Known for wearing all pink, PT was surfing’s first World champion. This was during an era when shortboard surfing began to dominate the water as these pioneers experimented with new shapes that worked better in the powerful Hawaiian juice. PT’s board of choice was a 6’2 Diamond Tail single fin. When we spoke with PT about doing a model, he dug up one of his old boards from his shed and we sent it to Chris Gallagher to replicate and modernize.

Up-dated from his original templates and existing boards he shaped back in the day by Chris Gallagher, the prototypes were tested in PT's original hometown of Coolangatta at the “Superbank” and now come to you in the Powerlyte construction.


Santa Cruz 6'2 PT Stylemaster Diamond Tail...

DESIGNER-Chris Gallagher
FEATURED ARTIST-Lucas Musgrave & PT

Board Specs:
Length-6’2
Nose-13.6”
Width-19.5”
Tail-14.19”
Thickness-2.69”

FEATURES:
Cruz Missle Concave
Vee to double concave bottom
TAIL- Diamond
ROCKER-Relaxed
CONSTRUCTION-PowerLyte EXT
FIN BOXES-Single Bayne Box
FINS-Fiberglass PT single by Curtis

To meet the man in person, come on out to Huntington Surf & Sport this Saturday morning Dec. 12th or next Saturday morning Dec. 19th and have a cup of coffee and talk story with PT himself. Pick his brain, talk about single fins, surf trips, the old days, etc...



HOW TO TURN A SINGLE FIN!!! Courtesy of Surfline.com.

QUESTION
I have a retro-style Al Merrick round tail single fin (6'9"x21"x3"). As I usually surf thrusters I don't know much about single fins and I was wondering what size fin I should use (it came with a 7.5"). I plan on using it in mushy waves up to head high.
Asked by Pete from Oregon

ANSWER
Surfline's Nick Carroll replies:

A 6'9" single fin in mushy underhead waves? I dunno, Pete. Might be worth trying it in slightly overhead hollow point waves, and hunting the tube. But be that as it may...

Generally, you'll find the single fin appears to move slower through turns. In fact, what's happening is that it doesn't project through turns as far as a thruster or twin-fin. You can make up for this by adjusting your style and timing, placing turns only in the more powerful parts of the wave. You can also make a difference by using a range of fin sizes. Try a larger fin -- not longboard style, but up to 9" -- set further up the fin box; this will help you run a turn a little further with less pressure. A smaller fin set well back will promote acute angled turns, stalls and tube rides (the single's specialty!). Don't be scared to try some weird stuff, too: The old Cheyne Horan Star-fin is killer, if you can find one.

In any case, you will find a distinct difference in performance, and you'll probably gain a new appreciation for your other equipment in the process. Good luck!

Check it! New Santa Cruz Window Wrap at Huntington Surf & Sport!!!

SANTA CRUZ -- The freezing cold that gripped the county this week, delivering a dusting of snow in the Santa Cruz Mountains and frost on golf courses and windshields, made history.

Tuesday's low temperature of 29 degrees was the coldest Dec. 8 in Santa Cruz ever, breaking the previous record of 30 degrees set in 1980, according to the National Weather Service in Monterey. A normal overnight low this time of year is 40 degrees, meteorologist Dan Gudgel said.

"We're running about 10 degrees below normal," Gudgel said. "Clear skies, light winds, long nights and an Arctic connection set the stage for the temperatures to drop like that."

Starting today, the thermometer is expected to creep up to the normal range of low 40s overnight and mid-50s during the day, Gudgel said. Click here to read more...

Jim Phillips is the man behind the artwork of the Roskopp Face and much more legendary Santa Cruz Skateboards artwork. If you never heard of him, check out Jimphillips.com. Some great stuff!!!

Kick off the holiday season with NAVA YOUNG ...the Australian pro longboarder, singer/songwriter and author of Surf Food – The Ultimate Surfers Cookbook. C'mon out for her book release celebration and enjoy light food & drink, plus a live acoustic performance by Nava. She has 3 NorCal stops -- Tuesday, December 8 at Santa Cruz's Paradise Surf Shop; Wednesday, December 9 at San Francisco's Riptide Cocktails, and Friday December 11 at Aqua's Holiday Shopping Bash. 10% of the book profits will be donated to surf-related charities. Click here to read more...