Latest News
Showing posts with label Featured Stories. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Featured Stories. Show all posts


On May 17th, former WWE star Shad Gaspard tragically passed away as he was swept out to sea at Venice Beach. He had instructed lifeguards to save his son before he was pulled under the water.

Today, it has been reported that the wife (and family) of the late wrestler filed for negligence against the state of California, Los Angeles County, and the City of Los Angeles. Siliana Gaspard (Shad’s widow) filed a claim stating their negligence and dangerous condition of the public property.

Siliana said the lifeguards were under-trained and were not working with proper equipment that would’ve saved both her son and husband’s lives that day. She feels they left her husband to die while they rescued her son.

She stated that the lifegaurds “left Shad Gaspard in the water to die."

But all reports from that day state the lifeguards attempted to save them both, but Shad insisted that they save his son first. A wave would then pull Shad underwater, where he would never resurface alive. Three days later on May 20th, his body was discovered.

Siliana also claims there were insufficient signs on the beach warning about the dangers of swimming there.

She brought the still unofficial lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of herself and Gaspard’s son, and is seeking unspecified damages and burial costs.

Even though, the Official Shad Gaspard Family Fund on Gofundme has already raised $160,355 (exceeding their $100,000 goal).

But as we know, the lifegaurds are not "under-trained", they did appear to have the proper equipment (see the video below), and they certainly did not leave him in the water to die.





The Official Contest Recap and Results from Ger-I Lewis

In this season of sorrow and discontent Venice Surf-A-Thon was/is a bright spot of liberty, celebration, surfing, fellowship and competition!

With a cloud of uncertainty but plenty of strong support and sponsorship, we went forth and folks we did it! We put the 27th Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon Surf contest in the books! Everybody from the volunteers to the sponsors really did a wonderful job and the the turnout was greater than expected! As the day broke with a typical Southern California golden and pink sunrise, the Groms and parents were waiting at the pier! The surf pushing an early high was very contestable and clean 2-3 feet especially for the Menehunes division and Jr Mens. The surfers did not disappoint and the action was spectacular and a very competitive field was out to win the coveted Venice Surf-A-Thon trophies! Every competitor also received a limited edition Ric Clayton hand drawn T-shirt which will assuredly become a collectors item. One again Thank you and great job one and all . all gloiry to the Lord Jesus, amen!



Results 27th Annual Venice Surf-A-thon Surf Contest

Body Surfing
1st - Brett
2nd - Mike Wood
3rd - Sgt. Slaughter

Menehunes
1st- Mataeo Bierman
2nd - Austin O’Keefe

Groms Div #1
1st - Bohdi Deroma
2nd - Jack Noruzi
3rd - Lenny

Groms Div #2
1st - Max Hinton
2nd - Danny O’Keefe
3rd - Skylar Serrrano

Groms Div #3
1st - Liam Nassour
2nd - Danny O’Keefe
3rd - Skylar Serrano

Jr Mens Div#1
1st - Elijah Labb
2nd - Brad Kay
3rd - Koleo Golden

Jr Mens Div #2
1st - AJ Phelpsd
2nd - Gus Harrison
3rd - Logan Doerr

Mens
1st - Dirk Kay
2nd - Cole Sweany
3rd - Pablo

Masters
1st - Jaqoim
2nd - Lazlo
3rd - Eric Weis

Women
1st - Stephanie Weis
3rd - Seena Galan
3rd - Alysa

Long Board
1st - Lazlo
2nd - Brock M
3rd - Lazlo

For all the contest surf photos, check out the: Venice Surf Photo Recap

If you care to order a 2020 Contest T-shirt just go to Paypal and list the size and quantity. The email associated with the Venice SUrf-A-Thon account is surfathon62@yahoo.com $30.00 includes shipping in the USA. 2 or more tshirts $25.00 each. 5 or more $15.00 each including shipping in USA. Please allow for three (3) weeks in shipping and handling as the Venice Surf-A-Thon will shut down operations 12/24/20-1/1/21

On Saturday, December 12th, the 27th Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon took place at the Venice Pier. This is Socal's longest running surf contest.

We are still waiting on the official results, so we can do like an official contest recap and all that, but here's the surf photos now. Because really, that's all most people want anyways.

We do know that Stephaine Wise took 1st in the Girls Division, her dad, Eric got 1st in one of the two divisions he surfed in. Brock beat Norm in the longboard division, with was the huge upset of the day. And a guy from the South Bay won the Mens.

This set of contest surf photos was shot by Six12 Media and brought to you by XCEL Wetsuits.

These are just a few of the 150+ photos from this contest. If you were out there surfing, you probably got some surfing shots, probably multiple photos, they will be in the complete photo galleries for this event, check them out, the link to the complete galleries is down below.








Ger-I Lewis, the guy who runs the Venice Surf-A-Thon.


Stephanie Wise, 1st Place Girls.







This is Brock, he beat Norm.


That's Norm.




Norm helps make these custom trophies every year.




Cole Sweeney successfully shooting the pier, the next try he ended up with a busted surfboard.



You can find over 100 more photos from this session, all full size and in high-resolution, in these two photo galleries:

Venice Surf-A-Thon 2020 Photo Gallery


If you were out there, we probably got some cool surfing shots of you, go check them out!

We also got non-contest surfing photos from the Venice Pier on this day.
Click Venice Pier - Saturday 12-12-2020 to see them.



The Santa Monica based WSL is now coming under fire for not only allowing one of their CT Surfers who tested positive for Covid-19 to travel to their Hawaii event, but for also helping him do it.

A few days ago, the WSL suspended the Billabong Pipe Masters competition at Oahu’s Banzai Pipeline after having received confirmed, positive COVID-19 test results for five WSL staff members, including CEO and standup paddleboarder extraordinaire Erik Logan.

WSL officials said in the announcement they are working closely with the state Department of Health and “prioritizing the safety of the athletes, staff and surrounding community above all else.”

But, Brazilian News Network, Globo has reported that Yago Dora had been testing postive for Covid-19 in several separate tests right before getting on the plane to Hawaii.

Yago posted about it and mentions that the WSL helped him get an exemption to travel. He origianlly posted about it on a now deleted Instagram post.

Globo has reposted:



Via google translate:
"On November 26th I started my trip from Florianópolis towards Hawaii. The day before, November 25, I did a PCR test from Covid to make sure it was not contaminated before boarding, the result came back NEGATIVE. It seemed to be all right for the trip, but on the 27th morning when I arrived at Dallas airport, where we are asked to do another test in order to be able to board for Hawaii and avoid the 14 days of quarantine required by the government, in this test unfortunately my result he returned POSITIVE, and since then I have been isolated in a hotel room in Dallas and trying thousands of ways to get there in time for the Pipe Masters, which is the most special event on the entire circuit for me and the first event of the 2021 season. Luckily I do not feel any symptoms of the disease and yesterday I had a medical consultation after the tenth isolated day and I am released from isolation, but to embark for Hawaii it is necessary to test negative for Covid (I repeated some tests during these 11 days and I did not get one NEGATIVE) or obtain a quarantine exemption letter from the Hawaiian government. After a lot of effort and a lot of faith, with the help of my team, the WSL, WPS and a medical team today we got the exemption and I'm going to Hawaii! The day before the event starts! I have no words to thank everyone involved in this very intense 11-day battle. You know who you are! THANKS!"

As of now, there is no word if Yago is the one who spread it to the WSL people who are now positive.

Also, the reason why the Pipe Masters competition had to be cancelled was because WSL used a film permit instead of the usual event permit this time. The film permit allowed them to close the beach off, whereas the event permit doesn't. And by using the film permit, they have diffrent CDC guidelines to follow, such as having to stop production when a Covid outbreak takes place.



News Source:Globo: Mundial De Surfe
Top Photo Source: Posted Anymously On the INterWebz
Bottom Photo Source:Yago's Instagram


GoPro has once again put a massive bounty on the raddest clip filmed with its trademark rough and tumble portable camera.

“Grab a HERO 9 BLACK Gopro and be a part of the 2020 GoPro Million Dollar Challenge Highlight Video. Send us your best video clips of epic travel adventures, insane action, family radness or anything awesome. Get in on the action, get creative, get paid”



The criteria are straightforward and submission is frictionless. If you have some raw footy that could take the cake make sure to submit HERE. Just remember, your footage has to be shot on the new HERO 9 BLACK Gopro.





La Niña is a weather pattern that occurs in the Pacific Ocean. In this pattern, strong winds blow warm water at the ocean’s surface from South America to Indonesia. As the warm water moves west, cold water from the deep rises to the surface near the coast of South America.

The video was written, produced, etc by Michael Claisse



The goal to raise funds to get Surfing Photograhper/Videographer Lou Porter some upgraded gear has been met!

Lou gives a huge thanks to everyone!

Lou shoots photos and video clips of everyone surfing Topanga, go follow her on her Instgram: @malibubarbiexoxo



If you haven't met the very much loved Lou, watch the video below:





Meet Lou Porter. A California Native, who loves the beach, surfing and sharing her stories and experiences everyone she encounters. Lou has been coming to Topanga Beach, just north of Los Angeles for years. She takes photos and videos of people surfing and posts them to Instagram and Facebook. Although not a surfer herself she has become a staple in many people's daily routines greeting them as they go in and out to surf.

Lou is committed, she follows the surf charts and on days when there is surf, makes her way from Chatsworth to the beach, a 20 mile commute over the Santa Monica mountains but when the surf is up Lou is there.

A couple of us surfers want to support Lou to get her an upgrade. We are looking to get people from the community to pool together to get her a new camera with a zoom and tripod, to support her. Most of all we want to share our appreciation and enthusiasm for her dedication to the beaches we surf at most.

Please donate!.




What should you do if you see a shark? Chris Lowe, Director of CSULB's Shark Lab, explains what to do and what to look out for.

Information and tips about shark safety useful for surfers, beachgoers, waveriders, swimmers and divers.



LA Graffiti Pioneer RISK talks to Pep Williams - Fine Art Photographer - 3rd Generation DogTown Skater - World Traveler. Risk and Pep talk about art, photography, Venice Beach and Graffiti.

Pep Williams is a self-taught African-American fine art and street photographer, director, entrepreneur, philanthropist and former professional skateboarder who grew up in South Central Los Angeles, California. He has traveled globally creating material for his photography exhibitions, which often feature real life portraits of heavily tattooed individuals. He is one of the only photographers we has ever been granted access into the California State Prison System where he created a series of inmate portraits titled - Out Of Bounds.


Santa Monica Pier, Will Rogers Beach, and Venice Beach are three of the haunted beaches featured in this strange video of California's Haunted Beaches by The Speakeasy

"From popular Los Angeles promenades boasting local legends and terrifying ghost stories, to stunning Santa Monica Piers who's boundaries are rumored to hold all manner of paranormal activity."
One LA native’s desire to change the landscape of surfing led him to create Color The Water initiative, free surf lessons for BIPOC.                                                                                                                                                                            
    
    
    
    
    
    


Video by Angela Sun

One LA native’s desire to change the landscape of surfing led him to create Color The Water initiative, free surf lessons for BIPOC.