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The “Maiden” departs Los Angeles’s Marina Del Rey Harbor on the next leg of their round-the-world voyage. The All-female crewed vessel is sailing with the mission of raising awareness for gender equality and providing education for women around the world.

Inspired by their mission the Los Angeles County Fire Department Lifeguard Division staffed the first ever all Female Rescue Boat crew to escort the Maiden out of Marina Del Rey Harbor on November 2. The 2 crews shared experiences and talked of challenges they have faced working in predominately male workplaces.


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."