Really sad to see and hear of the news. It was a great place with even better times. Knowing the good people down there, it will be back better than ever! Here’s a full article from CBC of the unfortunate fire.
2011 Canadian Surfing Film Festival
Happening at Park Lane Mall until October 2nd. Even though the poster says the first. Drop by and check out the best in surfing from various artists!
Press Release: Canadian Surfing Film Festival
The Canadian Surf Film Festival announces film line-up:
September 29 – October 2, 2011
(Halifax, NS) – The 2nd annual Canadian Surf Film Festival (CSFF) launches its 2011 program with over 20 films, including regular length features and shorts, about surf culture as it relates to communities and traditions all over the world, from as near as Halifax to as far off as rural Indonesia.
“We’re really excited about this year’s line-up. In our second year, we’re bringing eight Canadian premieres,” says Development Director, Keith Maddison. “And we’ve got filmmakers and surfers from across North America joining us to present many of these films. We can’t wait to bring this program to our community, not just the surf community. The line-up touches everything from environmental conservation to mental health issues, and from anthropology to indie art filmmaking.”
The Festival kicks off with the Canadian premiere of Splinters on Thursday, September 29, 2011. Filmed in Papua New Guinea in a traditional society facing the pressures of modernization, this film tracks events leading up to the first national surf competition. Also during the CSFF, New York-based professional surfer Mikey DeTemple presents his film Sight | Sound, an artistic rendition of surfing in picturesque locales around the world, including Nova Scotia and featuring local surfer Dean Petty. The Still Point is a spiritual look at waves, surf and the connection of all things. Manufacturing Stoke, a documentary by Pierce Michael Kavanagh, deconstructs the environmental impact of surfing and the hypocrisy of a sport that depends so completely on a thriving ecosystem. Just Add Waterdocuments the journey of surfing prodigy, Clay Marzo, who after being diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, became a voice for mental health in a community otherwise disconnected. Titan Kids follows Brazilian pro surfer Andre Silva home to spend time with children who aspire to pursue surfing as a way to escape their lives of abject poverty. Professional surfer Keith Malloy presents the Canadian premiere of his directorial debut Come Hell or High Water, a film about the beauty of riding waves with simple tools like wooden hand planes. Minds in the Water documents professional surfer Dave Rastovich and his quest to protect dolphins, whales, and the oceans they share. Somewhere Near Tapachula tells the heart-warming story of two Australians whose orphanage in southern Mexico employs surfing as a rehabilitation tool, tackling pressing social issues like the drug trade, human trafficking, and gang culture. Who is J.O.B. takes a look at professional anti-contest rebel Jamie O’Brien, as he travels the world in pursuit of the best waves. The Hot Generation, a retrospective shot in 1967 by Paul Witzig, captures high performance long-boarding as it peeks, just before short boards take over. For trailers and more on the films go to www.canadiansurffilmfestival.
The Short Film Challenge is a Canada-wide short film competition that encourages both experienced and inexperienced filmmakers to create and produce short films (10 minutes or less). All submissions are considered for the Grand Prize and a World Premiere for a shortlist screens during the CSFF on Friday, September 30, 2011. The Grand Prize is a trip for two to Kandui Resort, Indonesia–one of the premier surf destinations in the world. The winning short also screens at the London Surf Film Festival. Local pro surfer Nico Manos won last year’s Short Film Challenge with his short Nico in Indo. Shorts must be submitted no later than September 15, 2011. To enter, visit http://
A film jury, comprised of surf and film aficionados, both local and visiting, chooses the best film of CSFF 2011, as well as the winner of the Short Film Challenge. Among the jurors, Andrew Murphy, Programming Manager at the Atlantic Film Festival. Grant Ellis, Photo Editor at Surfer Magazine based in California. Scott Hulet, Editor of The Surfer’s Journal also out of California. Tyler Breuer, founder of SMASH Productions New York. Justin Huston, local surfer and President of the Surf Association of Nova Scotia. Ricardo Salcedo, local surfer and freelance journalist. Devon Howard, surfer, writer, and photographer based in California. For more on the jurors, visit http://
The CSFF is excited to host several special events during and leading up to the Festival. Among them, the CSFF Launch Party–in partnership with the Atlantic Film Festival–to be held at Niche Supper Club (1505 Barrington Street) on Wednesday, September 21, 2011. Opening night kicks off at The New Palace (1721 Brunswick Street) on Thursday, September 29, 2011 with hip-hop band Three Sheet,featured in The Coast Magazine’s “Best Of” issue. Local surfer and rock star Matt Mays returns to the CSFF to play at The New Palace on Saturday, October 1, 2011. Last year Mays played a sold out show for closing night. The CSFF closes with the Awards Show at The Seahorse Tavern (1663 Argyle Street) on Sunday, October 2, 2011.
The 14th Annual Surf Art Show at Laughleton Gallery (115 Shore Road, West Chezzetcook) opens Saturday, October 1, 2011 in partnership with the CSFF, with an exhibit that celebrates surf and art culture in Nova Scotia. This a public event and features works from over 40 artists, from children and professional artists alike.
All screenings are at Empire Theatres, Park Lane Mall. Tickets for screenings and special events go on sale this Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at all Ticketpro outlets in Nova Scotia and on Ticketpro.ca . Tickets will also be available for purchase in-person starting September 22, 2011 at the Canadian Surf Film Festival Box Office in Park Lane Mall (5657 Spring Garden Road). For hours of operation, visit: www.canadiansurffilmfestival.
The CSFF shares up-to-date news and announces ticket and other prize giveaways daily on Twitter @canadasurffilm and on Facebookwww.facebook.com/
ABOUT THE CSFF
The Canadian Surf Film Festival began with a handful of local surfers who dreamed of watching surf films, old and new, on the silver screen with their friends. Now in its second year, the CSFF has garnered international press and has established itself as a force in the surf film festival circuit. The CSFF is committed to providing a unique and celebratory forum for local, national and international surf films and surf culture to collide.
Welcome to AGNI Products. We do warm things.
Soon to be released is an innovative wesuit heater.
Coming Fall 2011!
Pete Devries wins spring Innersection video contest
Peter Devries: Spring Round Winner from INNERSECTION on Vimeo.
Congrats goes out to Peter Devries for winning the Spring Round on INNERSECTION.tv
Created by: Adam Chilton & Jeremy Koreski
Here’s another spring vid of Pete on his new “Knock-it” board by AKA Surfboards
A spring session from Peter Devries on Vimeo.
Contest: Why Can’t We All Just Get A Longboard?
Poster designed by Jess Flynn
Back for another year, the second annual “Why Can’t We All Just Get A Longboard?” surf comp and party. Come out to Martinique beach for a fun-filled day of surf, bbq, & volleyball. Guaranteed fun for the whole family.
Event will be held on the first contestable day of surf.
Dates: August 6,7,13,14
Divisions:
Men’s Longboard
Women’s Longboard
Junior Boys Longboard (18 under)
Junior Girls Longboard (18 under)
Gromlins (11 and under, 5$)
How much??
$15 for SANS members
$20 non-member
BBQ and Volleyball to follow: FREE!
SIGN UP ONLINE: registration opens July 14.
Some Cape Breton Surfing History
This is an article that was shared with me a few weeks ago. It highlights surfing on Cape Breton Island in the mid-60’s to today.
A few of these pictures have quite a bit of significance to me and I’m sure to anyone else who have ever surfed the Southeast coast of Cape Breton. It looked warmer back then!
The following are words and pictures from Gary T. (You can read the entire article and see more pictures at his website: Gary’s Surf Page):
A little bit of my history, I bought an old Surfboards Hawaii board in 1966 and was introduced to surfing by a friend Bill Niven from Sydney N.S.
Another friend of mine Gerald Johnston from Glace Bay, also bought an old board and we hit the road every weekend and holiday, to checkout all the possible surf spots in Cape Breton and beyond. Jerry was in better physical condition than I was, as he continually worked out and did weight lifting..it showed in his surfing ability.
Gary 1966
Several of our trips were to Hampton Beach N.H. which I discovered on my solo vacation to the USA.
On that trip, I surfed Gilgo Beach on Long Island in New York, met some wonderful people and had an excellent time. My favorite spot was Hampton or Rye Beach in New Hampshire. The Local Surfers were kind enough to take me along on several side trips to Beaches up and down the coast of N.H and Maine.
A lot of the guys and girls were just getting ready to go to University but some had already gotten their Draft notice to serve in the Vietnam War. They were very scared as to what the future had in store for them.
Lots of tears on the Beach in those days…
Jerry and I surfed Ingonish Beach and it was good during heavy wind days or after a storm. During those times we knew the Lifeguards, and when they would close the beach to swimmers, they would let us get our rides.
Another favorite spot was Kennington Cove Beaches (There are two spots) The main Beach has a good break and there is a point break but you have to watch out for the rocks. It is located inside the Fortress of Louisbourg, but the Security people knew we would not cause a problem and let us stay in the car overnight to catch the surf early next morning.
In those days, the boards did not have Leashes and unless you were careful, you could damage your board as well as doing a lot of swimming to catch it. Which I often did….
We gradually got better and ordered 2 new Boards from California. They were the Ski model by Dewey Weber who was well respected as a expert surfer at that time.
I had several conversations with Him, and he wanted me to start selling Weber boards. Unfortunately, in Cape Breton, there were very few people surfing in those days. Money was tight but we were fortunate to have good jobs wich allowed us to do some travelling.
Back then, I didn’t know anyone who was surfing at Lawerencetown, but my friends repeatedly told me that there was activity in that area. I don’t have any names but I would love to locate anyone who was active there during that era.
I worked for CJCB TV in Sydney at that time and they did a local show called “Tourist Topics”. The man in charge was Evan Loyd and He arranged for Crawley Films to do a film in Cape Breton. When he heard we were surfing, nothing would do but they had to shoot us in action. Jerry worked for Maritime Tel and Tel Phone Co. and couldn’t get away.
We decided to try a Local spot but it was flat and they only got a clip of me falling off my board… on a poor excuse for a wave…..anyway it was my film debut.
We traveled the eastern side of the island and found many excellent spots to surf. We both had jobs and weren’t able to spend the time it takes to be really excellent surfers but we enjoyed the sport and had a great time doing it. Jerry passed away in November, 1996, and I shall always miss Him. He was a great friend, and always ready to try a new spot.
This page is as much his efforts as mine and I can truly say We did it together.
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Again, you can check out the full article here and thanks to Gary for sharing these words and great pics!
Update: Beating Old Man Winter with Witch’s Rock
A friend of ours, Luke, did a piece on his travels south to Costa Rica and Witches Rock a few months back. You can see the full story with pictures here.
Since then his host and friend has sent us an update that I find it really captures the essence of surfing in it’s most basic form: bad roads and time to yourself.
Here’s a vid of his mate, Eladio, along with a few words:
You can check out Witches Rock for yourself or book a trip with Eladio at either his website or Facebook page.
Happy Waves!
