Santa Monica's WSL Studios has teamed up a reality TV show company from the valley, known for its fake drama reality series "American Chopper" and the completely fake and staged street racing reality show "Street Outlaws" , to make a surfing reality/competition TV for ABC. And if it's like their other shows, it will be fake as well.

"Ultimate Surfer" will be an eight-episode series that according to their press release, "will gather some of the world's greatest up-and-coming surfers to train and live together as they battle it out at the World Surf League's (WSL) state-of-the-art Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California, powered by Kelly Slater's man-made wave technology, in the hope of competing amongst the best athletes in the world's fastest-growing sport."

Yeah, this sounds totally stupid.

Here's more from the press release:

"Alliances and rivalries will be front and center in "Ultimate Surfer" as men and women compete in individual and team challenges focused on specific surfing disciplines. Weekly eliminations will leave two men and two women as finalists who will vie for the male and female titles of the Ultimate Surfer and the opportunity to compete on the WSL World Tour, the pinnacle of professional surfing. Slater's remarkable, one-of-a-kind, man-made wave - the most even playing field for measuring surf mastery - is at the heart of the series."

Knowing how reality TV show work, those weekly eliminations will probably be something like who can wax their board the fastest.

"In addition to being a globally recognized sport, surfing is also a lifestyle; and ‘Ultimate Surfer' will give viewers a uniquely personal look at what goes into becoming a world-class champion. We're ecstatic about the opportunity to utilize Kelly's world-class surf facility and his expertise in showcasing these incredibly talented on-the-rise athletes," said Rob Mills, senior vice president, Alternative Series, Specials and Late Night, ABC Entertainment.



Ol' Kelly himself is excited for the paycheck, being the lead consultant, he says:

"This is an unprecedented opportunity for two surfers (one man, one woman) to win an opportunity to compete against the best surfers in the world on the WSL Tour. This will put some of the best up-and-comers against each other in a more direct way to see who stands above the rest, and Surf Ranch is obviously a great venue to use for ‘Ultimate Surfer.' I'm excited to watch how they step up to the challenge."



"....a grand prize to include two spots on the WSL World Tour, the pinnacle of profession surfing."

Sounds like they are giving wild card spots on the CT, bummer to all those QS surfers who are on that grind. Some reality TV surfer is gonna snag up a spot based on scripted drama.

"It doesn’t matter if you’re a competitive surfer or not. If you have the confidence, ambition and skill to compete against the best, then…CONTACT US TODAY!"

So if you want to apply for it, fill out the form on the link below:

Application for Participation in ABC’S “Ultimate Surfer”

And if you do apply, make sure to read the CONTESTANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, because even for the auditions, you'll be signing away your likeness and not being compensated for it.

The one and only world famous Venice Surf-A-Thon Surf Contest! come one come all get your surf and party on! The contest gentrification could not kill! The entry price is the same as it was $20 years ago! You get a limited edition T-shirt, entry into the contest, food, fellowship and fun.

The entry fee includes the award ceremony party at the Sidewalk Cafe! $ 20 pre-entry via Paypal at surfathon62@yahoo.com. $25 Beach entry.

Visit the 26th Annual Venice Surf-A-Thon Surf Contest Facebook Page for more info.

The average water temps as of November 14th.

Surfline just claimed: West Coast surfers have plenty to be thankful for this week with Southern Hemi swell and northwest swell providing plenty of opportunities to score. Obviously the crew at Surfline never watches their own cams.

And then as usual hyped up the forecast with: "Meanwhile, bigger and better things lie ahead." which means keep checking the website because clicks = money.

Nat Young is hitting the California coast in November to celebrate and sign copies of his latest book, ‘Church of the Open Sky’.

‘Church of the Open Sky' is Young’s seventh book. With a foreword by Pulitzer-winner William Finnegan, it features well-crafted, highly entertaining stories and anecdotes, including can’t-miss tales about traveling through Afghanistan and Nepal in 1972 with enfant terrible Miki Dora, how low rail, “edge boards” came to be, and how one day at San Onofre in 1983 with Tom Blake got him to reconsider how he perceives surfing. Date:
November 17

Location:
Val Surf
4810 Whitsett Ave.
Valley Village CA 91607

This Saturday. Ocean Goddess Surf is hosting another Goddess Group Lesson on Nov 17th. If you are in search of friendly, fun and girl powered beginner surf lessons, this is your chance! This will be at Malibu.

Lessons in LA can be expensive and it can be intimidating to try surfing alone. Join the Ocean Goddess Surf Coaches for a 1.5 hour lesson with up to 5 other women/girls of your skill level! Only $50 per person. All ages welcome. These are lessons for beginner surfers only.

Sign up via this link: Goddess Group Lessons

The 14th annual Santa Monica Film Festival returns to Santa Monica on Saturday November 30 to showcase and premiere current award winning independent films from local, national and international filmmakers. A moderated filmmaker discussion accompanies each film screening that gives the audience an opportunity to interact with the filmmakers. Films screenings are hosted by AMC Broadway 4 including the Santa Monica premiere of The Tony Alva Story.

62-years-old Alva, the oldest professional, skateboarder in the world, is considered by many to be the godfather of modern day skateboarding. Alva’s brand of aggression and bravado in the 70’s set the stage for the way skateboarding would be forever defined.

Vans’ The Tony Alva Story chronicles T.A.’s humble beginnings on the streets of Santa Monica to his rise to super stardom as part of the legendary Z-Boys, his inevitable drug-induced implosion and his ultimate rise from the ashes to accept his rightful place as a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations of skateboarders the world over.

Santa Monica Premiere Date Saturday November 30 ​

Special Guests Scheduled To Appear
Tony Alva
Ray Flores

Screening Time
@ 3:30P ​

Venue
AMC Broadway 4
1441 3rd Street Promenade
Santa Monica CA 90401 ​

Tickets
$20 General Admission includes VANS t-shirt while supplies last. Note that these $20 tickets are just for the Tony Alva Story showing, the tickets for the full Film Festival admission are separate, be sure to select the proper tickets when buying. ​

Santa Monica Film Festival Tickets

At Approx. 11:30 AM Sunday, Lifeguards found a large amount of medical supplies along the shoreline South of the Venice Pier. The the area has been cordoned off. Discarded needles, tubes and similar items - possible biohazard.

The source is unknown and under investigation. LA County Lifeguards will continue to patrol the area by land and sea to monitor for any further materials.

Witnesses from this morning stated that "needles fell from a ship and were floating ashore near the 3400 block of Ocean Front Walk."

Another episode of Rider Shack Guide to Surfing Los Angeles, this one is about Surfrider.

Surfrider Beach is a world famous right-hand point-break with 3 different take-off zones offering a combination of incredible waves and constant crowds.

I AM TORQUATO presents :

A L.A. SURF STORY

On Sunday, November 24th, at Civic Center Studios in Downtown Los Angeles, renowned Artist and Surfer Michael Torquato deNicola will present ‘A L.A. Surf Story.’ A multi-media presentation of paintings, on canvas and repurposed boards, as well as TV and film work, taking you along with him on his life of travel, adventure and very personal interactions with his environment over the past 25 years. The exhibition will be presented as a conversation with the Artist, highlighting his process, successes, failures and gratitude for the lessons learned along his truly unique journey.



‘A L.A. Surf Story’ multi-media presentation will include the following :
Reef Paintings project
Sun Spots series
Recycled Surfboard project
Selected murals around Los Angeles
Documentary film ‘The Westsiders’
Feature film ‘Chapter and Verse’
Red Bull ‘5X’ games

Michael states, “The goal of this presentation is in part to showcase a summary of these works but more importantly to speak to the purpose and intention behind each of them. I want to share the lessons I’ve learned along the way and ultimately to express my gratitude for these opportunities. We are living in intense and radically changing times where truth seems more and more subjective, our attention spans are diminishing, and real connection seems harder to find. This show is an opportunity for me to share some of my experiences with the hopes they will help others to connect with themselves and each other more and empower them to help create the future they want to see.”

‘A L.A. Surf Story’ is an hour-long presentation. It will be recorded and broadcast live via social media. A Q & A will follow and beverages will be served.

Join us, following the presentation, for a first look at a series of museum-quality fine art, hand embellished, limited edition prints that uphold the integrity of each original artwork by artist Michael Torquato deNicola, published by Moby Arts.

RSVP is required. Click here for RSVP Page

Date and Time
Sun, November 24, 2019
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM PST

Location
Civic Center Studios
207 South Broadway
Suite One
Los Angeles, CA 90038

Mollusk Surf Shop is hosting the LA screening of the new feature length film “Zone Frequency” by Jack Coleman on Thursday November 14th at the Los Feliz Theatre. Doors at 7:30, film starts at 8 and tickets are $10

Date and Time
Thu, November 14, 2019
7:30 PM – 10:30 PM PST

Los Feliz Theater
1822 North Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Click Here for Tickets

We got another special coupon code for you. Volcom.com is offering 40% Off Select Apparel when you apply discount code FNF40

Free shipping w/ Stone Rewards (free to join). There are some exclusions that may apply to the coupon, but it should take 40% off the price of selected items on their site, including the sale item. Rash guards, shirts, shoes, sandals, bags, hats, jeans, board shorts, jackets, etc....go stock up on some gear at Volcom.com

Starting today and all weekend long , Santa Monica's CAMI AND JAX is having their biggest sale to date! $10 bins, $30 separates, 75% off one pieces!

CAMI AND JAX
1525 Montana Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90403

One person was killed early Friday when a sedan and sport utility vehicle collided on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. The crash was reported at about 6 a.m. near Tuna Canyon Road. Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage. Debris was scattered across several lanes.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office has identified a 17-year-old girl as the driver who died after a crash on the Pacific Highway Coast Highway in the Malibu area Friday morning. Dulce Maria Ramiro Sanchez of Los Angeles was killed when her car collided with another vehicle just after 6 a.m. near Topanga Canyon Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The other driver was transported to a hospital in unknown condition, the L.A. County Sheriff's Department said. No other occupants were in either car.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The fatal collision prompted CHP to issue a SigAlert for both sides of the highway from Tuna Canyon Road to Topanga Canyon Road. PCH was closed for several hours before fully reopening shortly before noon.

The average water temps as of November 7th.

Surflies reports:

New, west-northwest swell and steep south swell move in the second half of the week to offer up fun-size surf. Beachbreaks should be fairly peaky off the swell combo -- and winds look favorable for the mornings.

Join Ocean Goddess Surf this Sunday, November 10th at 9am for their next FREE ladies surf meetup! Meet Ocean Goddess Surf at Topanga State Beach. They'll be set up at the picnic table. Look for the white Ocean Goddess Surf sign. Parking is free on the street. There is also a lot you can park in. Paddling out just after 9:30 all together! Please leave your valuables in your cars or at home as there won’t be anyone to watch them at this meetup.

All levels and all ages are welcome but there will not lessons given.
If you are looking to learn how to surf, check out their Level 1 (beginner) Surf Skills Clinic on Nov 17th, taught for women, by women.

If you are not comfortable surfing but want to hang out please come! There will be ladies of all levels and ages showing up and it is such a fun community! See you Sunday!

Jacks Surfboards teamed up with COR Surf Gear and Firewire Surfboards to bring you an awesome Fall Giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a Limited Edition LFT 5’11” GO FISH from Firewire Surfboards a $250 Jack’s giftcard, & over $500 of gear from COR Surf Gear that includes a board stand, wall rack, waterproof surf bag, changing poncho and changing mat; more than you can carry!

To Enter:
➡️Follow @jackssurfboards , @cor_surf and Firewire Surfboards on the ol' Instagram
➡️Enter your name + email at the link on this entry form
➡️Tag 2 of your surfing buddies in the post with the above photo.

Contest ends 11/8, Good Luck!