1st Place MSA Contest Sept 11-12

Held in beautiful weather with small but fun 1-3' surf at world-famous First Point, Malibu, the MSA Classic entered over 275 athletes representing California's elite surfing clubs from Sunset Cliffs to Santa Cruz. Also participating were teams from the Hawaiian Longboard Federation, Virginia Longboard Federation, Noosa Malibu Club (Qld, AU) and, for the first time, the Salinas Longboard Surf Club from San Sebastian, Spain.

"This year our youngest competitor is 9, our oldest, 79 -- the surfing collective on display. A little something for everyone, and all at historic Malibu," said MSA President Michael Blum. " It's a privilege for us to annually host one of the only contests at First Point. Thanks to our friends and partners who joined us for the weekend and to members of Malibu's surfing community who've helped to make this one of the world's most famous waves."

Fifteen minute heats, with a maximum of five waves ridden, made it extra challenging for surfers. Not only was the surf small, but tidal surges played a big role for each surfer in the lineup. Strategy and carefully selecting each wave was a determining factor in order to move into the next final rounds.

The event's only perfect 10-point ride was turned in by surfer/shaper Kevin Connelly (Men 30-39 Finals, La Jolla Shores Surfing Association). With style to spare and noseriding skills that have won him several titles -- including the 2009 U.S. Open Corona Noseriding Invitational -- "KC" connected tens and fives on a wave from the top of First Point to the beach, easily accumulating 25-plus seconds of tip time.

Other standout performances were delivered by: repeat champions Tony Silvagni (Men 20-29, Virginia Longboard Federation) and Mary Osborne (Women 19-34, Ventura Surf Club), Keoni Bloomfield and Sierra Lerback (both of the Hawaiian Longboard Federation), and Josh Constable and Matt.


Not only was the beach lined with talented surfers young and seasoned, celebrities filled the Surfrider Foundation tent surrounded by paparazzi. The Fifth Annual Celebrity Expression Session was able to raise over $29,000- a 500% increase in funds raised from last year- to help Surfrider continue it’s efforts towards protecting our world’s ocean, waves and beaches.
This year’s event was hosted by musician Martyne Lenoble and actress Christina Applegate. Commentating from the microphone with the ASP judges was pro surfer-environmentalist James Pribram The celebrities, which included Anthony Kiedis and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane’s Addiction’s bassist Eric Avery, and actors Austin Nichols, Brian Geraghty, Eric Balfour and Sam Trammell, were all treated to a rare opportunity; the chance to surf Malibu’s famed First Point all by themselves.. For each wave caught and ridden, event sponsors donated $200. Additionally, away from the water, celebrities encouraged their social network followers to make donations to the Surfrider Foundation via www.crowdrise.com and raised an additional $4,600.

It was a classic Malibu weekend at it’s finest. There were great competitors, lineup spectators and fun glassy surf. Can’t wait for next year’s event.

Major support for the 2010 MSA Classic is provided by Global Surf Industries. Other major partners include: Jim Beam Suftag, Surfrider Foundation, Duke's Malibu, Emergen-C, Clif Bar, California State Parks, and 100.3 FM The Sound.
A portion of proceeds from the MSA Classic will be donated to organizations working to improve water quality at Surfrider Beach.

China here I come...

I just realized I will be the first women invited to surf this crazy tidal bore. Check back soon for a full coverage of this amazing natural event.



Surfing China today announced the names of the four invited surfers to this years Qintang Tidal Bore event scheduled for September 23rd - 25th in Hangzhou, China.

Returning for a second year is Hawaiian big wave charger, Jamie Sterling. New this year, Jamie’s regular tow partner and fellow Hawaiian Mikala Jones of the famous North Shore Joneses. Past years athletes included Rusty and Greg Long, Mark Healy and Serghino Laus.

On the second ski, co-star of Endless Summer “part deux,” Longboarder and SUP’er, Robert “Wingnut” Weaver of Santa Cruz will be joined by the co-star and winner of the longboard divison of MTV’s “Surfer Girls,” the multi-talented Mary Osborne of Ventura.
The event is held during the Fall lunar equinox, in the beautiful Chinese city of Hangzhou. The Qintang river bore breaks for over 30 miles and is regularly between 9 and 12 ft faces. There are big rolling faces, walls of white water and reflecting wedged barrels along the way. Four to six world class surfers will trade cut backs, slashes, airs and tail whips as they ride the daily bore to the cheers and amazement of literally hundreds of thousands of people lining the shores.

For additional Information, contact Glenn Brumage gbrumage@cox.net or visit: http://www.surfingchinaexpo.com/

Gulf Report 2010

Overview from above.. you can see the oil film

Restaurants already out of seafood
This says it all...
BP workers covering the beaches
Save Our Sound event, Chuck Patterson painting

Every minute passing means more beaches are covered in brown oily tar balls. Weather and winds fluctuate in all directions, pushing crude oil into new areas of fresh white sand beaches, covering sea animals, rivers and marshes. Fish are dying; crabs are now toxic, and mammals slowly are being poisoned. Three days ago today, the beach that I spent watching beautiful fireworks explode into the sky, is now spotted with tar, endless miles of boom and BP scouring the beach. The same beach I listened to families cheering and kids running around happily in celebration of our country's independence is the mirror opposite of the evening of July 4, 2010. The feeling of independence in the southern states has now vanished.

I don't even live in the Gulf and my mind was consumed minute after minute with mind-boggling questions. What is completely unsettling is one beach remains wide open with people swimming, while 100 feet away another beach is closed. Is this not the same ocean waters? Isn't it the same air we are breathing from one beach to another so close by? Who is in charge down here? What is our government doing to stop this?

One can only imagine how the fisherman, business owners and avid beach lovers are feeling. You honestly have no idea until you see it with your own eyes and hear the stories with your own ears what is really happening with this tragedy.

Gulf Port fisherman, Skipper Tom, put a lot in perspective for our crew. We were fortunate to sit with him for a morning as he explained what is honestly happening to the fisherman in the Gulf.

“We don’t know where our future is. People have no clue the magnitude of this spill and the effects it will have,” said Tom. “My son was going to take over my business in a few years and now I don’t think he can. I wanted to teach my grandson to fish and I don’t even know if that is possible for the future. It’s sad to think we know more about our universe than our oceans. I have over $145,000 in my boat with my credentials. Overnight, I have nothing.”

What seems to be commonality amongst people here is the aggravation of communication with BP. The hired BP workers are unfamiliar with the local waters they are paid to look after.

Skipper John explains in disgust, “These BP officials don’t know how to read swells, buoys or weather reports. They are hiring men for the Vessels of Opportunity program who can barely drive a boat. We have local fisherman who have been denied getting on this program that need the work.”

Skipper John is just one of the thousands of affected people we spoke with.

Just as the South’s economy was on the rise, they have been hit with yet, another disaster. Strange how our nation’s economic downfall and this oil spill are both manmade catastrophes. At least Katrina was a natural disaster where one could rebuild the physical elements of their life that were lost. At this point in time, the future is entirely unknown. So who is to blame in this situation? We easily point fingers at BP, our government and towards other people. The reality is, we are all to blame. It is time to stop blaming others and take matters into our own hands. We need to make changes to protect our Mother Earth, changes for this current generation and, most importantly, the future generations to come. My heart goes out to everyone affected by this tragedy.

Gulf Port, Miss. This beach is still open to swimming and tar is everywhere.

Rock jetty covered in oil
Grand Isle, Louisiana BP workers and miles of boom
Independence Day, 2010
Save Our Sound Benefit July 4, 2010

Gulf Alert 2010 Here we come!

Project Save Our Surf and The Eco-Warrior Project are joining forces to launch "GULF ALERT 2010". The aim of the Gulf Alert initiative is to raise awareness of actionable ways the surfing public can help shift the direction from pollution toward renewal. Gulf Alert 2010 will accomplish these goals with direct action on-the ground, in the water and over the skies of the Gulf area.

On Saturday, July 3rd ECO-Warrior James Pribram, professional surfer and model Mary Osborne, along with champion stand-up paddler Chuck Patterson and actor Richard Burgi will leave for Gulf Port Miss. The Gulf Alert team will stand-up paddle through areas of the spill in protest of the devastation that is plaguing that region of coastline as well as document a fly-over and participate in local wildlife rescue efforts.




Details of the paddle mission will be made public afterwards due to the conflict of interest within local agencies and restricted areas of coastline.

Project Save Our Surf was founded in 2008 by actress and surfer Tanna Frederick to raise funds, awareness and hope around clean ocean issues. For more information, check out projectsaveoursurf.org.

The ECO-Warrior project, is led by professional surfer James Pribram shows how people can contribute to environmental issues such as improving water quality, protecting endangered reefs and wildlife while enhancing life on earth for everyone.

For more information please go to www.ECOWarriorSurf.com

PSOS Event PIX

Over $50,000 raised to clean our oceans last weekend in Huntington Beach. What an amazing weekend we had with 24 hours of straight surfing. I was somehow put in the 2-3am heat, which wasnt easy to keep my eyes open before my session, but our team "Eco Warriors" managed to to place 1st in the recreational division. Thank you to everyone who donated and supported us!

In this picture James "Eco Warrior" Pribram, Project Save Our Surf host and actress Tanna Fredrick and myself.

Deep Magazine Bikini Issue

A complete underwater shoot for DEEP Magazine's 2010 bikini issue.

Photos by Mallory Morrison

The Good Blog

The Good Blog Interview by Stiv Wilson

Ocean Minders: An Interview with Pro Surfers Mary Osborne and Jennifer Flannigan

Synthetic Sojourn: The 5 Gyres Outreach Tour > Stiv Wilson on April 26, 2010 at 3:30 pm PDT

This is part three Stiv Wilson's tour to better understand how plastic ends up in the ocean. Read the first and second installment here and here.

As I drive down Highway 101, I’m passing world-famous surf break after world-famous surf break. I'm in Southern California to surf and meet up with some other environmentalist surfers that I've been in email contact with for ages but have never officially met. I stop at Rincon, one of the best righthander waves in the world. I don’t paddle out because I have to meet pro surfer Mary Osborne just down the road, but I take stock of the state of synthetics on the shore. Among the rocks, I see what I have come to expect: tons of plastic debris, everywhere I look.

Mary was born and raised in Ventura and though she travels a lot, she always seems to come back. Ventura is home and it’s the small town feel of it that Mary both likes and despises. She can’t go anywhere without seeing someone she knows which is both a blessing and a curse. What keeps her here is family and an amazing array of really good waves. But over time, she’s watched the area change dramatically, seeing more and more garbage on the beaches, and more pollution in general. As a Patagonia Ambassador, Mary travels quite a bit and has seen first-hand how plastic has begun to dominate beaches worldwide: From Indonesia to Taiwan to Mexico, she says, the beaches are trashed. “People always say, ‘You’re so lucky to be able to visit all these tropical paradises,’" she tells me, "and yes, I feel fortunate, but then I’m like—really, they’re not actually that pretty anymore.”

This sentiment strikes a chord. We talk about the good old times when plastic wasn’t everywhere, and about how we might be the last generation to remember beaches the way we all like them: pristine. She tells me a story about a recent trip the the Bahamas. Tourist destinations like the Bahamas have a dirty secret: They hide their plastic pollution. “I road a bike around the island and the tourist areas are all clean like the postcards, but once you get away from them, you see the garbage. Plastic garbage everywhere and all you smell is burning plastic. I don't blame the locals for burning it because what else are they going to do with it? It's not like they have a system for dealing with so much plastic." Mary has made sincere efforts to curb her consumption of single use plastics and adds, “The solution to plastic in the ocean starts at home.”

Down the road in Encinitas, I meet up with another pro-surfer, the writer Jennifer Flannigan. Jennifer grew up in Florida, but has lived in Southern California for five years now. In both places, she’s seen all manner of plastic debris on her home beaches. Like Mary, Jennifer travels for surf photo shoots and has witnessed plastic garbage all over the world. But here, just south of the famous surf break Swami’s, Jennifer shows me a spot where she found the most disgusting plastic object yet—put it this way, it’s something plastic and it’s for personal use in private.

Though plastic pollution is something she sees everywhere, she admits that she’s no expert on the subject. I tell her that few people actually are and that’s the reason I’m doing what I’m doing: traveling the coast of the United States and Canada to share my stories of sailing to the center of the ocean and finding the same types plastic garbage out their that litter the beaches here. I hope some the high-profile people I meet along the way will spread the word, too.

I show her two samples taken by the 5 Gyres Project from the Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. I like showing people the samples; they always produce a strong reaction and I like to speculate on what’s going on in their heads as they consider these little volumes of sea water taken thousands of miles from land. As she studies the vile I can see the wheels spin in her head. Jennifer is an eloquent speaker and when she articulates a thought she considers what she’s going to say before she says it. Especially when it matters. Her look is one of disbelief and quiet rage as she holds the sample, watching the colorful flecks of plastic spin—a gyre sample looks like a vulgar snow globe.

“The increased individualism and the modern constructs of the globalized society we live in creates more and more consumption and depletes our natural resources for things like packaging," Jennifer says. "Take Japan; everything in Japan is single-use, prepackaged—and it’s this garbage that ends up on the beaches there.” But despite the daunting scale of the plastic pollution problem, Jennifer remains hopeful.

You can hear from her directly in the following video and stay tuned for the next stop on the Beaches, People, and Plastic tour, where we link up with CEO of The Surfrider Foundation, Jim Moriarty.

Trap Door Sun interview

http://www.trapdoorsun.com/sports/mary-osborne-elegant-gliding.aspx

The Elegant Gliding

An Interview with Mary Osborne



It’s hard to find a picture of Mary Osborne where she’s not smiling ear to ear. Maybe it’s because she just got done with a great surf session or maybe it’s because she’s living her dreams. Probably, it’s a bit of both. Mary is that bright person in your life that sees life through the lens of their passion. That person who is always looking for the next ray of sunshine, the next adventure to unfold.

If you don’t have that kind of person in your life, then you need to get one. We suggest Mary be one of them. Her energy is contagious and her will is unbreakable. She will have success and she will have fun getting it. There’s always another wave, always another sunrise for Mary. Get to know her.

TDS: How has pursuing your dreams challenged and changed you?

OSBORNE: Pursuing my dreams shaped me entirely. I have learned so much about life and other cultures through surfing and traveling. Every adventure opens my eyes to new things. I am extremely grateful for what I have and don’t have. The challenges and risks I take have only made me a stronger, more educated and all around a better person. We all live on this planet together.

TDS: You dropped out of college to pursue surfing. Tell us about that decision?

OSBORNE: It wasn’t an easy decision for my family. My father and mother graduated from UCLA. My three older brothers all have college degrees. I didn’t enjoy school. I finished two years of college, received my A.A. degree, attempted UCSB (University of California Santa Barbara) and then dropped out.

I really wanted to try professional surfing. I dreamed of traveling the world and seeing other cultures. I was working late hours at night in restaurants, going to school fulltime while trying to juggle professional surfing. I was not focused; I was unhappy during classes and needed to make a change for myself.

I told my parents I was dropping out and they gave me two months to figure “it” out before they cut me off their dime. A week later I got a phone call to go film the MTV Surf Girls show for two months. I decided to go for it, try to pursue my dreams and see what happens.



Seven years later, I am still doing what I love (knock on wood). I have been very fortunate in all that I have done so far in life. I often think about going back to college—I can guarantee I will be much more interested in the classes I decide to take. Well, if I choose to.

TDS: Why longboard?

OSBORNE: I started out riding shorter boards then slowly started riding bigger boards. I realized I liked the way longboarding looked and felt. It was graceful, elegant, and I enjoyed the way the gliding felt under my feet when riding a wave. When I first started surfing I only rode bigger, heavy—more traditional longboards.

I eventually started traveling and quickly realized I had to learn to ride everything. Now I ride shortboards, fun boards, single-fin, twin-fin, tri-fin longboards, basically anything I can get my hands on.

TDS: You are competitive by nature. Originally you got into surfing because you wanted to be better than the boys. Now, as an adult, what is the most compelling aspect of the sport: competition, community, and spiritual/mental aspect?

OSBORNE: I used to love to compete. I wanted to be the best and as a teen I competed for many years. As I got older my competitive side started to slowly diminish. I don’t seem to get as much out of winning or losing anymore. Sometimes (yet very rarely) I still surprise myself while in a contest, when the horn blows I get jitters in my stomach and get that rush of adrenaline that turns me back into a competitor. I don’t think you really ever lose the feeling of being a competitor. It’s amazing to win and its even better to be humbled.

Now days, I just love the joy of surfing. It’s far more spiritual for me. I enjoy those gorgeous sunrises, beautiful sunsets, and fantastic memorable rides. I have met so many amazing people through the ocean. Being near or in the ocean clears my mind of the everyday distractions. It keeps me healthy, young, adventurous and, most importantly, thankful. I try to never take my time in the water for granted.

TDS: Describe your personality using only oceanic-surf terms.

OSBORNE: Flowing, mellow—this is tough. (laughs)

TDS: Former TDS interviewee Chris Malloy said, “Surfing has become Hollywood.” Do you agree with this statement?

OSBORNE: Yes, surfing has gone Hollywood. From a business standpoint it can be good. Mainstream can mean bringing in higher sales, a broader marketing audience and so on. For true surfers, it can be total nightmare. Crowds, kooks, wannabees and all that. Everyone wants to walk, talk, act and look like a surfer. It’s kind of funny. Lots of celebrities are now into surfing. It’s the new “hot” thing to do. I personally think the hype is kind of over by now. From another standpoint, surfing is amazing. You really can’t blame them for trying it right?

TDS: As a girl, how did surfing shape you? How can it shape younger girls growing up?

OSBORNE: I started surfing when I was about 15 years old. It’s that point in a teenagers life when you start to notice boys and drugs, and you begin to grow into an adult. I used surfing as an outlet for many things. The best part was that it kept me on track. I quickly fell in love with surfing, so the things that can easily interfere with a teenager’s life and get them off track never did for me.

I was motivated to become a better surfer. I loved everything the ocean embodied and how it made me feel when I was in and near it. The ocean gave me a sense of confidence, independence and adventure. I played a lot of team sports, like volleyball and basketball—I was even a cheerleader.

But the of biggest allure of surfing was the independence—the one-on-one of the sport. No one was ever telling me what to do in the water. If I felt like riding a wave, I could. If I felt like not riding a wave I could do that as well. There were no coaches or parents in the lineup. The only people yelling at me were maybe my three older brothers; that helped me become a better surfer.

For young girls it’s an amazing sport. The amount of courage and confidence that is gained just off catching one wave is truly amazing. I teach surfing to a lot of young girls (as well as adult women) and it’s truly amazing to see their attitude and confidence significantly increase after riding their very first wave.

As I continue to grow as a woman, surfing plays a huge part in my life, my outlook and beliefs. I continue to be shaped by what I do in the water. Surfing not only makes me a more confident woman, it makes me a stronger person.

TDS: What is the number one thing that builds a person’s confidence?

OSBORNE: There are so many elements in life that build a person’s confidence. For me, it’s when I overcome a challenge or succeed when taking a risk. I’ve found that believing in my ability allows me to gain more mental toughness—which is key to succeeding on the waves and in life.

TDS: You’ve said that when surfing, “You can stop, take a deep breath and pay attention to the moment. You’re alone with your thoughts, focusing on the elements.” Do you think that people in our culture have forgotten how to be quiet and focus on beautiful things in life?

OSBORNE: Our society is so caught up with the everyday chaos that it can be very hard to stop and take a breath. It’s almost as if many of us have forgotten how to do so. We live in a face-paced environment with technology that is ever changing. It can be very hard to put down the cell phone, take time off work or go completely off the grid on a vacation.

It doesn’t matter how you do it, but I think it’s truly important for a person’s soul, mind and body to stop, take a breath and appreciate life. Sometimes slowing down just a small amount during the frenzy can be rewarding.

TDS: You have travelled the world and seen amazing places and met countless people. What one thing is constant everywhere you go?

OSBORNE: We are all living under the same stars. It may be different time zones and completely foreign cultures but when it comes down to it we are all looking at the exact same stars. (Yes, there are some places where you can see more stars than others.)

TDS: What continues to amaze you every time you see it?

OSBORNE: So many things! I am easily amazed! Perfect waves in warm water. Islanders waving hello and goodbye as I peer at them from a dingy offshore. Foreign children with huge grins and innocent eyes. Remote islands with small villages on them. A beautiful sunset and sunrise. Snow falling. Kangaroos. A successful, happy marriage. Falling in love. History. Birth. Life. Death.

Raised by Solimar Beach in Ventura, Calif., Mary Osborne picked up her first board at the age of 14. Mary is a classic triple threat. Most widely known for winning the longboard division of MTV’s “Surf Girls,” the pro surfer and surf model is also making her mark as a host and personality. Mary began promoting herself as a surf competitor while working with pro surfer and photographer David Pu’u to create beautiful modeling and surf images. The combination paid off when Mary became the first woman to grace the cover of The Surfer’s Path (a popular European Surf magazine). In 2003, she was nominated for a Teen Choice Award as “Best Female Athlete,” and was named the first “Action Girl of the Year” by Action Girl, Inc. Mary is also a surf ambassador for Patagonia.

www.MaryOsborneSurf.com

Ocean Minders: An Interview with Pro Surfers Mary Osborne and Jennifer Flannigan

http://www.good.is/post/ocean-minders-an-interview-with-pro-surfers-mary-osborne-and-jennifer-flannigan/

Great article by Stiv Wilson

Sacred Craft last weekend in Ventura

The talented Rob Havassy and I. If you havent read or purchased his new book Surf Stories, I highly recommend it. It is a beautiful collection of stories and artwork from the surf community.
Wayne Rich, one of my favorite shapers.....
KP, Cooperfish and Yater....got to love them all.

This last weekend was the Sacred Craft in Ventura. What a fabulous event with so many talented people. I highly recommend going to the next one. I managed to grab a few pix with some of my favorite people....

Punta Sayulita Surf Contest this weekend

I am writing this from LAX airport while I wait to take off to Mexico. Can't wait to be in warm fun surf again. Should be a fun charity event!!!

Deep Magazine photo shoots

Last week I was asked to model in DEEP Magazine's upcoming swimsuit feature. The entire shoot was done underwater in the Body Glove dive pool in LA. Quite a fun shoot, felt like a prune afterwards, but I heard the photos look amazing. Keep your eyes out for it on stands in May.

Winter Update

It has been a incredible 2010 winter and it's far from over. Hot weather, cold weather, snowfall, rainfall, and non-stop swells has kept me unbelievably busy. I haven't written a blog in quite sometime, which means there has been so many great events to share with the world. So here it goes...

December 2009:

I spent 10 days on a boat in the northern atolls of Fiji. Our crew consisted of Holly Beck, Jennifer Flannigan, Kaley Swift, Chandler Parr, three photographers, and a very friendly Fijian boat crew upon the gorgeous Tui Tai. Pictures and articles will be running nationally and internationally soon. Keep your eyes peeled.

January:

Great start to a new exciting year! 2010 here I come! I have been non-stop ever since the new year. I recently moved into a new office downtown Ventura where I run my surfing business, Mary Osborne Inc., and Solymar Tan. I am learning how to become organized. It's amazing what you can do when your in the country for more than two weeks.

Mid January- Scored perfect surf all over Ventura County and flew to Orlando, Florida for theSurf EXPO Trade show. I met with head people at Panama Jack, Maui Jim and a few other companies. Below are a few pictures from my friend Seth de Roulet @ Rincon. If your a surfer, well, I don't have to elaborate much. The surf has been incredible this winter. I been logging some serious miles on my Element searching for uncrowded surf as well as filming a lot with my friend Dave Nash.

On the plane heading East

My friend at Bing Surfboards

Surf pics by Seth D. @ Rincon

End January: I was invited down to Cabo, Mexico to teach my friend and owner of Her Energy drink how to surf. Unlike in California, the water was perfectly warm and weather very bronzable. Our surf sesson at Cabo Surf Hotel didn't last long because Brett managed to find a rock covered in sea urchins. His poor little feet. Thank goodness there is tequila in Mexico. Check this video for more: http://www.go211.com/u/maryosborne/videos/20591

February:

It is the month of red, flowers, chocolates and love. That's right, Valentine's Day has arrived for 2010. I personally have never had a big Valentine's Day nor do I honestly care if it is a good day or bad day. This year I surfed all morning by myself and it was fabulous. A few days prior I threw a big party in my office and Solymar Tan (my crazy fun side business) was rocking and rolling. Thursday February 11 was a fabulous and fun "Ladies Night" gathering. This evening consisted of 70 plus women consuming everything they possibly could like spray tanning, waxing, hair blow dries, Vodka Infusion martinis, food by the Greek restaurant, live music by Jimmy Z, three various jewelry companies, and much much more fun women's necessities. The best part was that we gave %10 of sales to Free Wheelchair Mission (the organization is in Haiti right now). Check out this video if you can manage the shakiness of my tiny video camera....

Not only did I host a big party the week of Valentine's day, but I managed to host a video for Haas Automation in Oxnard. My friend Dave Nash got me the gig as their host for the "how to videos." It definitely wasn't a easy job, considering the tech savvy language I had to learn... thank god for editing! Here are a few pix from the shoot.

Pix 1: Behind scenes

Pix 2: Dave n I

I also did a shoot for Season's catering and pretended I was a wife. Pretty fun dressing up as a bride!

This week I have been filming every morning, working on proposals, negotiating contracts and involved in several fun meetings. It basically has been non-stop, but I am loving every moment.

Just as things were slowing down, I found myself in the city of Corona at Fender guitars headquarters. The crew from the "Surf Cruise Cup" which consisted of Jesse Billauer, Jonathan Blake Salazar and Robert Crancer all met up for a afternoon of fun. I never knew how much work went into making a guitar. One of the most random things I saw at Fender was that they used HAAS machines...strange small workd right?I have a entirely new love for music.

That is it for now... ENJOY!!! Hope to see you all in the water soon.............