LA Surfer

The Best Boardshorts Money Can Buy

2011-11-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

So your looking for a new pair of boardshorts or swim trunks (whatever you like to call em) but your not sure which company to go with or even what to look for. It seems like the days of a simple pair of trunks are gone and have been replaced with new "technology" swim attire. Well its true the days of simplicity in that realm are gone but that doesn't mean you can't find a new pair of shorts for the water and not look like a highlighter. The new swim trunks of today are actually for your benefit and comfort and I'll explain to you why and how to choose the best pair.

When you think of Surfing normally a few names come to mind; Quiksilver, RipCurl, Billabong, Hurley,Volcom, O'neil, Rusty. These are the major competing surf brands out there today and they all do a great job with their latest boardshorts however there are distinct differences that can make a huge difference when making a decision as to which brand to purchase. Such a simple thing is actually kinda complicated who would have thought? But it is important you understand as a consumer what you are spending your money on and don't have to return the shorts you thought were right to go and buy another pair.

The price range for the highest quality shorts from the major companies is around $50 but for the exceptionally innovative shorts those will run up to $80. Now to understand why these shorts are priced the way they are and how you can go about deciding which ones are the best for you takes a little bit of product knowledge and brand loyalty. First off, Ripcurl, Billabong and Hurley all have the same "high quality" performance shorts that are stretchy and dry fast. However they don't have a signature fabric that makes their shorts stand out from the crowd and provide ultimate comfort.

O'neil has done a good job with their line of boardshorts coming out with the Hyperfreak series which offers ultimate stretch and super smooth fabric but I'm still not crazy about O'neil shorts. The BEST boardshorts available and the best boardshorts for your money would have to be Quiksilvers Diamond Dobby Four Way Stretch boardshorts. Let me explain to you what that means and why Quiksilver prevails over the rest of the brands. Quiksilver first started their realm of innovative boardshorts with the "Diamond Dobby" fabric pattern which offered 40% less skin to fabric ratio which resulted in no rashes and faster drying shorts. The shorts were also lighter then your standard boardshorts and were so comfortable I slept in my pair the first week I got them. Then Quiksilver introduced the "Four Way Stretch" fabric for their boardshorts which brought them down to the level of their competiton with just the standard stretchy pair of shorts. What really brought Quiksilver up to the top and stand out was when they combined the two pairs of shorts into the "Diamond Dobby Four Way Stretch" which is the ultimate combination in fabric and technology that money can buy.

So now that I've explained a little as to which surf brands make boardshorts to compete with other brands and which surf brands make boardshorts to be innovators and really provide the highest value, you can go out and make and informed decision. To be honest at a store, the sales rep (who is probably a surfer/pot head) will tell you that every pair of shorts is the best and that he loves all of them. You want to be sure your buying the pair that really suits your individual needs because investing in a $50 pair of shorts is a big deal and should be done right. So you know what your looking for now I also reccomend Killer Dana, they have every pair of boardshorts I've talked about and have free shipping!

See you out in the water with your new pair of boardshorts!

Why Surf Specific Workouts Make A Difference

2011-11-08T13:15:00.000-08:00

Check out the Total Surfing Fitness Here!

The sport of surfing is unlike any other sport in the world. There is no other sport where every element is constantly changing and because of that factor, surfing requires an incredible amount of knowledge and adaptability. I have been surfing for 20 years and can speak for experienced and non experienced surfers because I have seen both sides of the spectrum. It took me about 10 years to reach a level of experience where I was comfortable on the wave and had a bag of tricks under my belt to claim the intermediate status. However when I reached that level I noticed that no matter what i did there was no room for improvement, my physique wouldn't allow progression after a certain point in my surfing career. That is when I realized that all the working out and stretching I did up until that point was holding me back. You see, surfing requires muscles to be working all at the same time and in very specific motions. The workouts I had been doing were all working one specific muscle at a time, limiting my bodies performance as a whole. In order to progress my surfing into the advanced level I need to find workouts that worked every muscle at the same time and that were specific to surfing movements. With research and determination I discovered the Total Surfing Fitness program, this program is fairly inexpensive and it walks you through hundreds of super specific workouts. After reaching the halfway mark in my surfing and hitting the ceiling of my performance in the water I was frustrated. I knew there was a whole level of surfing to be tapped into that I just couldn't reach on my own. I invested in the Total Surfing Fitness program and the relief I've received from knowing how to improve my surfing is a life changer. Being comfortable in 15 Ft + surf and having the strength in my core to withstand wipe outs in those sized waves is something you can't put a price on. I used to always struggle when I'd bottom turn up to the lip and go for an air. I'd never be able to get the board high enough or be able to hang on once I landed. After working out using the Total Surfing Fitness program and their aerial specific workouts, I can loft huge airs over sections and stomp them like there's no tomorrow. That's not bragging, that's results anyone can achieve once you understand the proper way to train your body to surf harder and faster.

The NEW! GoPro HERO 2 HD Camera

2011-10-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

GoPro Camera HD HERO2

GoPro has come out with a new and improved action sports digital camera and it's called the HERO 2. As you can see in the video above this new camera is back with avengence and is ready for all the craziest and wildest adventures your willing to take it on. The GoPro HERO camera was first introduced to capture footage of action sports and to see things no one else has ever seen before. For the first time a person who has never surfed before can see what it looks like inside of a barrel. Or you can see a birds eye view of an Indy race car going 200 MPH!

The future of sports is without a doubt among us. The levels of progression amongst the sports of today are rising every hour of every day. Surfing alone has progressed so much in the last 5 years that the judging in contests don't know how to judge the tricks surfers can do. All of this progression is due to the media, the ability to go out and perform and then see footage on the big screen and learn how do even better. With tools like the GoPro HERO 2 camera, theres no telling what the future of sports will look like. We are litterally taking science and mixing it with sports and creating jaw dropping, awe inspiring performances.

Whether you are an aspiring film director or an up and coming sponsored athlete, you need to invest in yourself and get this new camera. The GoPro HERO 2 HD Camera is leading the way in how sports are seen on the screen. People are no longer interested in watching exciting sports from a distance, they want to be right in there with the action. Soon all of your favorite football players will have a GoPro camera on their helmet just so you can sit at home at watch as they score the game winning touch down.

How awesome would it be to capture yourself doing what you love and then seeing it on a T.V. screen! You could attract the attention of sponsors and investors and even land yourself on the dream team of your life. The GoPro HERO 2 Camera is the answer to all action sports activities and is the only way to get your name, and your footage out for the world to see.

Interested in getting your hands on this new awesome camera? Solved that problem for you with this direct link to Amazon. ----------------------------------------------------------------->>>>

<br><br>In

GoodMorning!

2011-10-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

Morning errbody. I've just stumbled upon a surf news widget which I've enabled to your right. It connects to surfline and should add a cool new feature to this blog. You can come here to check out my news and new surf products and check surfline at the same time. woohoo.

The surf has been dismal here in LA, nothing over 3 feet for about a week =(

Surfline reported that California was the best bet during October and we have yet to see a really solid swell..?

Oh well.. It's almost winter which means the water will be getting colder, the swells will be further apart and the swells will be bigger and better then Summer!

Hope you all have a good week.

Clay Marzo surfing Zuma

2011-10-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

This is a sick video of Clayton Marzo one of my favorite surfers shredding Zuma Beach up in North Malibu. I love this kid for his stylish surfing and the fact that he took a mental disorder and turned it into a true gift and an incredibly surfer.

Sit, stay, surf: Sea dogs hang 10 in Huntington Beach

2011-09-30T21:10:00.000-07:00

Not surprisingly for California, dog surfing has its own community of fans and competitors in beach towns. During the summer, several competitions are held up and down the coast. And like some of the other dogs at Sunday's competition, Molly Godiva was invited to the Anaheim swimming pool of one of those aficionados to train for the big event.

Training, Maioli said, consists of putting the dog on a surf board on land to see how it reacts when the board starts wobbling. If that works out, then it's into the swimming pool and onto the board. Molly was a natural, her owner said.
All around Huntington's dog beach Sunday were Labradors and boxers, bulldogs and Jack Russell terriers — and just about every other breed, large and small — surrounded by competitors, spectators and a host of businesses set up to cater to them. One booth doled out samples of dog food on large soup spoons, and another sold LED-emblazoned collars. An enterprising Newport Beach company offered to prepare and deliver meals such as turkey and whole wheat macaroni, and fish and sweet potato with ingredients "approved for human consumption."

Competition started just before 10 a.m. Molly was in the first heat of extra large dogs with Sir Hollywood, an English bulldog, and Stanley, a Chesapeake Bay retriever. They had 30 to 40 minutes to show off their skills and were judged on a point system. The goal, of course, was to stay on the board and ride to shore. Doing that while standing on all fours was worth a lot more than doing it lying down. And doing it backward or managing to recover after almost falling off was rewarded with more points.
At the horn, Molly was the first in the water, but she struggled to get on a board. In the meantime, Sir Hollywood swam out quickly and made the first long ride of the day, floating calmly to shore. Sir Hollywood and Stanley soon caught several waves, while Molly struggled. But she finally got her footing and rode a small wave. A group of fans cheered and shouted her name as she made her way back into the water. In the end, she managed to ride three waves. But it wasn't quite enough to keep up with Sir Hollywood, who at one point rode backward, to the clear approval of the crowd.

Surf Better

2011-09-27T17:59:00.000-07:00

Surf Fitness Program

Learn How To Triple Your Wave Count & Explode Your Surfing Performance Using The “New Science” Of Surf Specific Fitness Training.

For all the surfers out there that want a little more out of your surfing I have the solution. The Surf Fitness Program is a program specifically designed to improve your surfing. There is no better way to get stronger, faster, more flexible and shred harder then working out specific muscles for surfing. In this program you will be taught all the secrets the pros know about working out for surfing. The biggest time waster for a surfer trying to improve his skills is for him to go to the gym and lift weights that have no purpose for surfing. Sure running, sit ups and push ups will help a little but in order to really reach the next level in YOUR surfing, you'll need this program. That's Surf Fitness Program.

Learn To Surf Los Angeles

2011-09-27T12:43:00.000-07:00

Learn How To Surf!!!

If you are new to surfing and you live in Los Angeles then this is the place for you! LA is an amazing city with plenty to do and a lot of great places to surf, but if your new to surfing where do you start? There is nothing worse than seeing someone paddle out on a brand new surfboard in a lineup of good surfers and make a fool of himself. Surfing is a respect and be respected sport and by going out in the water without the proper knowledge you can find yourself in trouble really fast. On the bright side, there are some great places to learn how to surf, rent surfboards, buy new surfboards, buy wetsuits, rent wetsuits, etc. In this article I will let you in on all the best places in Los Angeles to get quality surf gear for low prices and proper surf lessons to get you out in the water and shredding the gnar!

In the LA area there are hundreds of great surf shops to choose from, I'm going to list all the shops that I personally have used in the past and have given great service and quality gear.

1) Malibu Surf Shack is the best surf shop/rental store in Los Angeles. This core oriented shop is located on PCH in Malibu right across the street from the Malibu peir. Owned by Leslie and Sean, your treated like family in this place. They have everything you need to get started and it couldn't be easier with the world famous Malibu literally across the street. Simply roll up to the store and all your surfing needs will be met. They offer great surf lessons for anyone and I mean anyone! Soft top board rentals are available along with wetsuit rentals, so there is no excuse for not getting in the water at this shop. I highly recommend Malibu Surf Shack to any visitors to Los Angeles or beginning surfers looking to improve their skills with quality instructors and an amazing break right across the street. Oh, tell them Coop sent you and you'll get discounts on everything!

2) Santa Monica Surf Shop is located in downtown Santa Monica and is the first surf shop I ever represented. Owned by Jon Monroy a great guy and awesome surfer, this shop has new and used surfboards for sale along with wetsuits,board-shorts and anything else you'll need to hit the waves. If you live in LA or in Santa Monica, visiting Santa Monica Surf Shop should be on the top of your to-do list as there is nothing better then promoting your local shop.

3) Aqua Surf School isn't a surf shop but it is the next best way to learn how to surf here in Los Angeles. A great school originally ran by Allen King on Santa Monica beach has now branched out to Malibu, Hawaii, Florida and beyond. This great surf school is where I started my surfing life about 12 years ago and is why I can speak so highly about their lessons and surf knowledge. They really know what their doing in the water and teach thousands of people how to surf year round. Their prices are competitive and their services are 5 star so if you want to learn how to surf the right way, I suggest hitting these guys up and heading down the beach for some lessons.

So in conclusion, there is no better option then the three shops/schools I've suggested above for getting great surfing lessons in Los Angeles. Remember there is nothing worse then paddling out for a surf with a brand new board and not knowing how to surf! It can really set you out on the wrong foot with your surfing future and it's much easier and comfortable to take lessons and start small. I advise anyone that has read this and wants to learn how to surf the right way to check out one of the three options I listed above. They are all shops that I know personally and can vouch for their quality service and assure you that doing business with them will guarantee you a positive surfing future.

Here is their websites for you to do some research on your own and get out in the water ASAP

Malibu Surf Shack - http://www.malibusurfshack.com/

Santa Monica Surf Shop - http://www.santamonicasurfshop.com/

Aqua Surf School - http://www.aquasurfschool.com/