Save the Waves Festival in SF - Nov 12, 2010The upcoming Save The Waves Film Festival on November 12 in San Francisco features an inspiring program of new films, live music, a celebrated new mural at Ocean Beach by surfer activist Chris Del Moro, and an art exhibit by festival poster artist Mike Houston of Cannonball Press.

The film festival and celebration kicks off at the historic Victoria Theatre with live music by local San Francisco superstars My Peoples (formerly Kapakahi), an art exhibit on theatre walls, and a party fundraiser to benefit Save The Waves Coalition. Two new feature films and a handful of epic short films about surfing, the environment and coastal adventures will close out the evening.

Renowned woodcut print artist Mike Houston, hailing from Cannonball Press in Brooklyn, creates gorgeous, rich, black and white art from relief cuts and screen prints on an antique 1938 Vandercook letterpress printer. His artwork will be exhibited in the Victoria Theatre during Save The Waves Film Festival and will also be projected digitally onto the wide screen during the evening s live musical performances.

Local documentary filmmaker and journalist Sachi Cunningham will be presented with the festival s 2010 Awesomest Filmmaker Award. Sachi s new short film, an exciting journalistic meditation on last year s historic big wave season at Mavericks, will also premiere at the festival. Other filmmakers and activists will receive special surprise awards for their work in coastal activism through film.

This film festival and fundraiser is one night only, with doors opening at 7pm on Friday, November 12 at the Victoria Theatre in San Francisco. Films will screen at 8pm sharp. Please arrive early for best choice of seating as it fills up quickly. This event is 21 and over and a cash bar will be open for service.

Save The Waves Film Festival is presented by Clif Bar, Honolua and Jim Beam.

Zola Acai, My Peoples, Ocean Vodka, 21st Amendment Brewery, Peligrosoand Patagonia also generously support Save The Waves Film Festival.

Tickets are on sale now: http://www.savethewaves.org/filmfestival

Crikey!

The victim - not in the water.

A nature guide, leading a group of tourists on a dolphin swim-along in Western Australia was attacked by what is believed to be Great White. The victim, 19-year-old Elyse Frankcom, was leading the group of swimmers when the shark came up from below and chomped on her thigh. As it did so, the shark passed by a fellow swimmer, a man, who grabbed the shark's tail, which caused it to let go. The shark then swam off.

The shocked victim began to plunge downward, so the man swam down to her and pulled her to the surface and the safety of a nearby boat. The woman was brought to a hospital in Perth and had a tooth removed from her buttocks. Talk about a love bite.

For the full story go here.

Sharks seem to be everywhere lately as a body boarder was killed near Santa Barbara less than two weeks ago and a scuba diver was attacked just last week off the coast of Maine.

Mongo Man is here. Watch this trailer from the creator of MachoTailDrop and be amazed by high-tech special effects, J-Pop, Ray Mysterioso-inspired costumes and Godzilla worthy animation. Blessed art thou Mongo Man.

MONGO-MAN from ZOSIMOS PICTURES on Vimeo.

By way of Boardistan

Mikey and Kazu still with the big B.

Fifteen years ago on two different continents, local reps from Burton Snowboards spotted Japanese rider Kazuhiro Kokubo and Canadian rider Mikey Rencz at just about the same time, and started flowing them product. Fast-forward to today, where both riders are now internationally acclaimed and both are still with Burton, after just re-signing head-to-toe contracts.

"When my recent contract with Burton was up, I had a lot of choices as far as sponsors go," said Kazu. "But I wanted to stay with Burton because they are so dedicated to snowboarding and their team riders, along with making the best product and supporting the sport. All of these things are very important to me."

Kazu's name is virtually synonymous with style in the snowboard world, and this along with his explosive amplitude have made him a crowd favorite at home and abroad. He has been stacking results since the start, beginning with a Nippon Open win at 15 years old and a 2nd in the Burton Global Open series in 2008. A two-time Olympian, Kazu earned a podium spot at almost every event he entered last season. He also made history when he became the first Japanese rider to take home the Burton US Open 2010 halfpipe title, with a run that included his signature chicken wing McTwist and three count 'em, three 1080s. Kazu has also gained fans from North America to the Far East with fluid segments in six Standard flicks, two Burton movies and three guest appearances in production company Seven Samurai's films.

Kazu's teammate Mikey Rencz also has earned a long list of accolades. The 2004 film Promo Copy was his breakout performance, but he stepped up to another level in 2006, earning the ender in Whiteout's Wear it Well. Since then he has grown into one of the biggest names in Canadian snowboarding with standout parts in Transworld's Get Real and the 8-Mile movie YO!, a production for a grassroots company Mikey co-founded. He elevated his profile even more in 2010 as he landed on the covers of both Snowboarder and Snowboard Canada.

"Burton has been there for me since the beginning, and I wouldn't be where I am today without their backing," said Mikey. "I have a lot of respect for Jake and the company as a whole because of how much they do for snowboarding and how much they involve riders in making the best product out there. I wouldn't want to ride for anyone else."

Burton is proud to have been supporting Kazu and Mikey since the beginning, and their snowboard careers speak for themselves.

Check out all of Kazu and Mikey's career highlights in their timelines at www.burton.com/kazu and www.burton.com/mikey

Skiers jumping and jibbing in Mammoth...

Who's the next park and pipe superstar? There's a good chance they're in this episode. These very best shots from the Jib Academy Euro final in Sweden and the global final in Mammoth, California. Oh ya... and watch Bobby Brown get served in one of the funniest shots of the year!