Angel

Aiko got out for a surf on Monday @ Seaside in Kamogawa. The waves were fun and the sun was out without a breath of wind! Saiko!
Thanks Toshizou for the picture.
(Check Toshizou's photos from around Kamogawa HERE)

Beautiful Day

The sun was out and the waves were fun! I'm so stoked that my back is feeling better and improving day by day. Local legend Mikio Kawai paddled out with a waterproof camera and snapped this picture of me on a left. I was riding a board (the "Mackerel") that I borrowed from good friend and surfboard shaper, Junji Sonoda. It goes soooo good and I was having a ball.
Thanks Junji!
Thanks Kawai-san!

Birthday wishes go out to...

From L-R: Dad, Brian and Hiro

These three all share the same birthday! Hope you guys all had a fun day yesterday. More parties coming as my wife celebrates hers tomorrow. Just hope the typhoon passes us by in time and the weather clears!

Maruki

Maruki was looking super fun yesterday with not too many out!
(photo: Nonkey Surf & Sports)

Watching is Torture...not long to go

Local legend and long time friend, Moh-san, was out getting amonst it. He's well into his 60s and still going strong.
Yocci Pro was also out and putting on a display for anyone on the beach watching. The guy oozes style and is always super mellow and relaxed in the line-up. (above and below)

Young ripper! This guy took line honors in the K-SOS Open shortboard final pipping local charger, Kazuki, in a tight final.
Imamura-san from Yokohama, owner of the Italian restaurant (Imamura Trattoria) down on the beachfront, takes off on one of the nicer set waves.

Itching to Surf again.

The back is just about right now and I'm itching to get back in the water. Hopefully we get some more autumn swells like the day Al shot this video at Seaside.

Salmon

Growing up on a farm in my youth meant I was a meat and veges boy from the start. If you gave me steak and/or a rack of lamb chops, it would have made my day.

Since moving to Japan and living on the beach I've developed much more of a taste for fish and seafood in general. Sashimi and sushi are always on the menu. Here's some salmon ($6 in the supermarket) that I cooked up a little while back. This hit the spot and was simple to cook with a little rosemary from the balcony to top things off!

Grace Surfboard demo

Grace Surfboards did a demo day yesterday in conjunction with the BLOOM Cup. They had a huge array of boards to select from and have more demo days lined up I'm sure so stay tuned.... Take your pick

There was lots of rain but not enough to put a halt to proceedings. The waves were tricky for the majority of competitors but most seemed to enjoy themselves. I just wanted to say "congrats" to KI-kun, a 14-year-old grom, for placing second in the open longboard class, just pipping his old man. There's a good future ahead for this kid. He has a good head on his shoulders and is always smiling! Keep the stoke buddy!

K-SOS Finalists

Photos courtesy of GRACE GIRLS BLOG (click for link)

Hachijo trip: Pt 4 (final)

I've got to say a HUGE THANK YOU to the Nishihama family. Fumie and Satoshi, you made our trip. Thanks for the everything. We can't wait to come back and visit and see wee Hanaka again!
Lava rocks line the foreshore.
From Nishihama looking north.
The BBQ pits at Nishihama looking south. Hopefully next time we get to BBQ local style with Taiko drums and the works!
Sightseeing. Hanaka, me and Fumie at Furusato Mura.
A traditional Taiko drum on display.
Daikichimaru Izakaya selection: local sashimi, ashitaba tempura, local okra tempura and yakitori which we washed down with some ice cold draft beer and island shochu.
Before things got messy.
Exploring some of the cobblestone walled streets.
Hachijo ice cream; vanilla and ashitaba!!!
The entrance to the free onsen.
Me chillin' in the free onsen. Best location ever!
Standing in front of Urame no taki, a waterfall that you can walk behind and look through.
Stairway to heaven? We passed this path in the bush as we walked the track to see a waterfall.
Free divers going spear fishing.

This was a truly amazing trip and far exceeded any expectations I had prior to leaving. Again, THANK YOU FUMIE and Family!! I hope you guys are doing fine. We have some pictures here for you to come and pick up (hint, hint....come visit if you get the chance)

Front yard

The local contracted gardeners were busy this week giving the palm trees a quick tidy up. Styling a new short sides and back, I can almost make out the line-up at Seaside. With the yard looking all spruced up, I might have to bust out the BBQ sometime soon :)

Surfrider Foundation Conference 2010 in Kamogawa

The Annual Surfrider Foundation International Conference kicks off today and will be held in Kamogawa, Japan this year. I hope to get along to a function they'll have at KIDS on the Sunday evening. There will be participants from around the world attending, although I have heard that NZ won't be represented this time around unfortunately. Check there website for a full rundown on what's happening and where over the next few days. Good luck to all those involved.

Balance

I've been scoring fun waves ever since typhoon 12 came through and moved some sand. Today I decided to get on my bike and ride the beach path down to Maruki with my short board. There were lots of fun looking peaks but they were pretty shifty so I ended up riding back and opting for a fun right hander in front of Hokuto's place. I got barreled, I did some great snaps and I even landed my first air!!!! Even though it was only about 2cm...hahaha Just goes to show that it's never too late to teach an old dog new tricks.

But then I had to pay my dues.....

A nice right lined up and I took off and wanted to smash it. It sucked up and gave me a nice steep bowley section to do a frontside snap and my back tweaked mid rotation. That was me for the day and I had to limp back up the beach and ride my bike back gingerly, tail between my legs, to my place.

It's starting to get sore and stiff and work is going to suck today!

K-SOS Photos

Behind the scenes in the judging tent.
Oguri Cap and Mizue-chan in the costume contest.
Boards lined up along the promenade.
Blue Men paddling into a wave.
3 beautiful ladies.
The politicians.
Chiaki-chan riding her way to 2nd in the Ladies Longboard behind Mizue-chan.
Me, Lina Kitazawa and Champ Inamoto
Mens Longboard Open finalists with contest director, Naoki.
Okonomiyaki Juju Ken riding in the finals.
Tsuji-san the daikon styling on this left.
Kentaro the Camerman in the costume section.
Jun
Ofuchi
Mystery skull man Enishi!

Thanks to everyone whom I borrowed photos off of, especially Dave, Hiroko, and Enishi.

K-SOS RESULT

This year's event was so much fun. All weather predictions flew out the window and we scored great weather and some of the best surf conditions I've seen for a contest here in Japan yet!
I was so stoked to make the final again this year...maybe a bit lucky perhaps, I don't know, but some good surfers missed out.Unfortunately I couldn't repeat the win from last year, but got second to one of my best friends and awesome surfer Kenji. We drew each other in the semi's as well and went 1,2 to both make the final. Then he reversed it on me to take the title for 2010 and was the deserved winner! Congrats on the win KENJI!!!!!!!