On April 30, 2009, Scott Tapley was paddling at Soquel Cove, Santa Cruz. It was 10:00 AM and he had been on the water about 45 minutes. Air and water temperatures were estimated in the mid-50s Fahrenheit. The sky was clear and the ocean glassy with about four feet of water visibility. There were numerous birds in the area as well as two pinnipeds.

Tapley reported: “I was paddling from the Cement Ship to Pleasure Point and back. On the return trip, I was on a line between Pleasure Point and the Cement Ship, in Soquel Cove, about one mile from the Cement Ship and about a mile or less from Pot Belly Beach. The shark was swimming directly at me when I first saw it. At first I thought it might be an Orca, so I paused to let it get closer. When it was about 20 or 30 feet in front of me, the shark turned off about 45 degrees and I could see it better. It was a large gray shark, maybe 15+ feet, with 18–20 inches of dorsal fin exposed above surface. It was swimming slowly before submerging. It appeared to roll on its side briefly before submerging. It seemed to be coming right toward me and then veered off. I paddled hard for land looking back a few times but didn’t see it again.”

Please report any shark sighting, encounter, or attack to the Shark Research Committee.   

Related posts:

1. Shark Attack in Santa Cruz on Thursday, November 5, 2009
2. Shark Encounter at Linda Mar (Pacifica) on Wednesday, September 2, 2009
3. Shark Attack at San Onofre on Saturday, July 11, 2009

Big Stick’s Tandem Team of Luis Mejia and Asia Carpenter, proudly sponsored by SurfTech, will be riding a 12-ft. SurfTech Tuflite designed by Micky Munoz.

To help finance the team’s participation, Big Stick will be holding a fundraising Noseriding Clinic on Sat., Aug. 4th in Santa Cruz at 38th Ave/Dirt Farm, beginning at 7:30 A. M.

There will be several instructors, including CJ Nelson. Through on-beach instruction, demonstrations, in-water coaching, and videotaping, you will learn how to:

• Set up for a noseride
• Cross step
• Hang 5
• Hang 10
• Backpedal

The requested donation for the Noseriding Clinic is $15.

Related posts:

1. BSSA Competition Clinic in Aptos on Saturday, February 23, 2008
2. BSSA Gathering of the Tribes Scrimmage and Holiday Party in Santa Cruz on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007
3. Santa Cruz Surfing Club Inducts New Members in 2007

STEAMER LANE ATTRACTS TOP SURFERS FOR THE 2006 O’NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC PRESENTED BY JEEP AND THE OAKLEY PRO JUNIOR

Men’s Four-Star World Qualifying Series Event Concludes the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series

Santa Cruz, Calif., October 2, 2006 – Premier surf professionals from all over the globe will converge on Santa Cruz, Calif. to compete in the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), four-star O’Neill Cold Water Classic Presented by Jeep. Santa Cruz’s legendary Steamer Lane will host the World Qualifying Series (WQS) event October 17-22, 2006. One hundred-sixty of the world’s most talented surfers will compete for the $75,000 prize purse in the final WQS event on the U.S. mainland. Touted as Northern California’s premier surfing event, the O’Neill Cold Water Classic will run in conjunction with the Grade 2 Oakley Pro Junior ASP North American Championships with an elite field of 48 competitors vying for part of a $10,000 prize purse.

Since its inception in 1987, the O’Neill Cold Water Classic has been center stage for some of the world’s best surfing talent. The cold, rugged conditions, arena-like setting and local pride surrounding the famous Steamer Lane break is stuff that legend is made of. Previous winners include Santa Cruz locals Kieran Horn and Adam Replogle, legends such as Martin Potter and Tom Curren, World Championship Tour (WCT) stand-outs Joel Parkinson, Taylor Knox, and the 2005 O’Neill Cold Water Classic Champion Bobby Martinez.

Event organizers have secured permits at Waddell Creek, located 30 minutes north of Steamer Lane, for use as an alternative contest location to ensure the contest will run should conditions fall short at Steamer Lane. “The O’Neill Cold Water Classic is a critical contest for American surfers looking to earn WQS points towards their year end rating before heading off to Brazil and Hawaii for the last few events on tour. With so few events on the North American tour it’s important we provide an opportunity for the surfers looking to get closer to the WCT,” says Mark Prefontaine, O’Neill marketing manager. “When the swell cooperates, Steamer Lane is a consistent near-perfect wave, but that’s not always the case – so a back-up plan is very important.”

Top local surfers will have the opportunity to compete in a trials round with the hopes of securing a berth into the event. A limited field will compete for one of four coveted slots into the WQS Men’s round of 160. The Local’s Trial round is sure to be exciting with the incredible amount of surfing talent and passionate fans in Santa Cruz.

The Cold Water Classic is the final stop of the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series Presented by Jeep. Resulting from a fourth place finish at the NB Pro presented by Jeep, Dustin Cuizon (Ewa Beach, HAW), currently rated 19th on the WQS, lost the opportunity to win $33,333 and ignited a points race for the Trifecta year end points rating bonus among its top rated competitors. Cuizon’s strong performances at the first two events of the Series has allowed him to maintain his position as the Macy’s California Trifecta point leader with Nate Yeomans (San Clemente, CA) and Nathaniel Curran (Oxnard, CA) trailing close behind. All three will compete in hopes of winning the 2006 Trifecta bonus purse. The Trifecta, in association with Action Sports Group (ASG) and the ASP, will award the overall points-winner a bonus of $10,000, a second-place bonus of $3,500 and a third-place bonus of $1,500, now that no single competitor has the opportunity to win all three events for the $33,333. The Trifecta was formed in 2005 as part of a three-year plan to strengthen surfing in America by uniting the Body Glove Surfbout presented by Adio, the Newport Pro presented by Jeep and the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Presented by Jeep under one banner. The Oakley Pro Junior ASP North American Championships at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Presented by Jeep is the final opportunity for North America’s elite junior competitors to advance to the Billabong Junior World Championships in Sydney Australia. The competition will be fierce as junior competitors chase points towards securing one of four ASP North America seeds into the World Championships. The small field of 48 and competitive draw will ensure an exciting and dramatic finish to the 2006 season.

For the first time in the events history fans will be able to catch all the excitement and drama of this year’s contest with streaming video and live scoring starting October 17th at www.oneill.com.

On Sunday October 22, Amp’d Mobile will broadcast the semi-final and final rounds of the O’Neill Cold Water Classic presented by Jeep and the Oakley Pro Junior live to Amp’d Mobile phones. Please visit www.ampd.com for more information.

Once again FUEL TV, the action sports lifestyle network, will telecast the O’Neill Coldwater Classic for dates and air times visit www.fuel.tv. The O’Neill Cold Water Classic is also supported by Oakley, Coors, Plantronics, Pentax, Surfer Magazine, Surfing Magazine,and ASP North America. Check out the O’Neill Cold Water Classic and all of the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series surf breaks at www.WaveWatch.com. For more information on the Macy’s Trifecta Surf Series visit www.catrifecta06.asglive.com.

Media Contact:
Michelle Prescott
SnL Communications
www.snlc.net

Related posts:

1. Bobby Martinez Wins The 2005 O’Neill Cold Water Classic, Presented by Jeep Brand
2. National Paddle for Clean Water in Santa Cruz on Saturday, September 9, 2006
3. Billabong’s Free As A Dog- A True Dog’s Tale Surf Movie Shows on Saturday, May 6, 2006 in SF and Sunday, May 7, 2006 in Santa Cruz

Bill Macdonald of Algalita Marine Research Foundation in Long Beach will outline the effects of plastics on the marine environment as well as global water quality concerns. And Pelagic Shark Research Foundation’s Executive Director Sean Van Sommeran will demonstrate water sampling techniques used by Blue Water Task Force volunteers. Additionally, Sean will review the Santa Cruz chapter’s storm drain stenciling procedures and program goals.

For more information, visit www/surfridersantacruz.org.

Related posts:

1. O’Neill Cold Water Classic in Santa Cruz from October 17-22, 2006
2. Shark Attack in Santa Cruz on Thursday, November 5, 2009
3. Shark Encounter in Santa Cruz on Thursday, April 30, 2009

We had so much fun last year that we’re hosting another one! Come out for Zuna Surf & Stefanie Phillips’ second annual Surf Swap Meet—Santa Cruz on Saturday, July 22, 2006, at Paradise Surf Shop’s PARKING LOT, from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M.

It’s that time again to clean out your garage and buy, sell, and trade surf gear. Score great deals on samples, new & used surfboards, wetsuits & accessories, plus surf art, music, apparel, and more. Test drive surfboards by Cobalt and check out Danny Hess’s sleek surfboards made from sustainable harvested wood. Also enjoy food and drink, plus live music from Santa Cruz’n Two.

ADMISSION:
*FREE* for buyers & browsers;
$3 for individual sellers;
$25 for commercial sellers and 10′ x10′ booths (businesses, artists, shapers, etc.).

Sellers can pre-register online to avoid lines (space is first come, first serve, so arrive early!); forms & info also available at Paradise.
Proceeds help support Surfrider’s Santa Cruz Chapter.

For more info, registration, and merchandise preview, visit www.zunasurf.com/surfswapSC.

Contact info:
415-990-1606 Monica
510-407-0038 Stefanie

P.S. Can’t make this one?
The Surf Swap Meet—Pacifica is on Sunday, August 27, 2006.
Check www.zunasurf.com for more info.

Related posts:

1. First Annual Surf Swap Meet in Santa Cruz on Saturday, July 9th, 2005
2. Surf Swap Meet in Pacifica on Sunday, August 27, 2006 from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M.
3. Surf Gear Swap Meet in Pacifica on Sunday, October 21, 2007