Howzit North Shore! Lots of Hollywood action on the North Shore these days with the filming of several TV series at the same time including “North Shore”, “Hawaii” and “Rocky Point “. Also in the works is the made for TV Movie called “Lost’ ‘ about a jet plane crash and it’s survivors as they fend for themselves on a remote tropical island somewhere. It has been filming on the beach out by Dillingham Field all summer. It’s fun to watch these productions as they come out on TV and in the theatres. “The Big Bounce” with Owen Wilson and Morgan Freeman and “5 0 First Dates” with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore were both films chock full of North Shore scenery. Plus its always a kick to see how these films depict Hawaii and it’s cultural ways. Sometimes accurately and sometimes not so! Lots of local extras, but not that many locals get principal roles. Jason Momoa has been hamming it up quite a bit as the playboy bartender at the ‘The Grand Waimea Resort’ on the “North Shore” TV series. Jason still manages to get out and about in the Honolulu night life too! I wonder when that guy has a chance to catch up on his sleep? I think those must have been stunt-doubles doing the remarkable kite-surfing for him in a recent episode. They sure were ripping it up!

Bethany Hamilton, the young surfer girl who lost her arm in a shark attack last year on Kauai ’s North Shore has been making a remarkable comeback lately. She is surfing. She is competing. She’s developed an incredible career lately. You can check out her amazing progress at www.bethanyhamilton.com, and you can also give financial support to her cause there. Bethany has been on TV all over the world. She recently surfed in a wave-making pool at the Kalahari Waterpark in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin... as part of the “ 2004 Flowrider Summer Series” competition. She is a nationally ranked amateur surfing sensation. At 14, Bethany Hamilton has become a household word world-wide and an inspiration to athletes and many others young and old whether they are handicapped or not.

The Association of Professional Towsurfers (with a website at www.Protowsurfers.org) “has recently committed to the sanctioning of two top level tow-in surfing events for the 2004-2005 season. The APT is dedicated to sanctioning and promoting world class competitions, dissemination of safety and technical information to athletes and technical direction to event organizers.” (APT Quote) The first APT sanctioned event is the 2004-2005 International Towsurfer Awards whose main categories include the “Biggest Tow-Wave” and the “Biggest Tow-Barrel “. This is a contest in which “surfers and photographers will travel the globe in search of the biggest waves to be surfed, photographed for proof and judged by a panel of expert big wave judges.” (APT Quote) The 2nd APT sanctioned event for 2004-2005 is the “If It Can’t Kill You, It Ain’t Extreme” Surfing Challenge which will take place in Chile between Aug. 17th and Sept. 1st, 2004. Garrett McNamara and Ikaika Kalama of Hawaii, the creators of this specialty tow-in contest and Eric Akiskalian of APT made the decision to join forces and make this an official APT sanctioned tow-in event. Teams from Hawaii, California, Brazil, Tahiti and Chile will compete in waves that Garrett calls “some of the most perfect he has ever experienced.” (APT Quote) Awards will be given for the Mad Dog (Sickest Ride), Best Barrel, Biggest Wave, Best Air and 100% Nuts Award (for the worst wipe-out). “For this event the surfers make the rules and do the judging, while the Chilean Government hosts all the teams and puts up the prize money. No politics, just surfers uniting to have a good time at what they love doing.” (APT Quote)

On Sunday, August 1st, Taj Burrow of Australia won the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing Men’s Pro presented by O’ Neill at the Bank of the West Beach Games in Huntington Beach, California in front of a record crowd of 100,000 spectators. Trent Munro of Australia took 2nd. Corey Lopez, USA, got 3rd and Fred Pattachia of Hawaii was 4th. Also part of the games was the “Lost Pro Junior “ which was won by Adriano Souza of Brazil, Hawaiians Dustin Cuizon and Kekoa Bacalso got 2nd and 3rd respectively and Jean Da Silva of Brazil got 4th. The Honda Women’s Pro was also part of the games and was won by Chelsea Georgeson of Australia. Sofia Mulanovich of Peru took 2nd. Australia’s Melanie Redmann-Carr got 3rd and Jaqueline Silva of Brazil got 4th.

The O’ Neill U.S. Open of Longboarding was won by Brendan White of the U.S., 2nd went to Colin McPhillips of the U.S., 3rd was Mathew Moir of South Africa and 4th was Josh Constable of Australia. Also included in the Games was an expression session called “They Will Surf Again” presented by the Life Rolls On Foundation and Spinal Cord Injury Research. Quadruplegic Jesse Billauer demonstrated amazing resolve for the crowds as a PWC towed him out to the waves where he was aided in catching them laying down on a custom Al Merrick surfboard by pro surfer and friend Rob Machado. Aloha... Ace Cool!