It's ONLY 12 grand!

Those of you that know about my 20 year obsession with rare and historic snowboards and my storage space full of vintage sleds will understand why I am fascinated with this item, currently listed on ebay for a mere $12,000.00. This is not the first time I've seen a rare board listed in this price range, but this is the first time I think the product will actually fetch it. Because this thing is rare AND nearly perfect. Tune in on New Years Day and see what price is ultimately paid for this treasure so classic that JBC himself might be bidding on it.

It's another tequila sunrise...

  
  
Sometimes the planets align, and sometimes worlds collide. Last night happened to be the Las Olas surf crew holiday party, so we orbited town square until we arrived at the grand opening of SFTs new Tequila Bar. Featuring colonial art and over a hundred different brands of Mexico's favorite recreational beverage, it's a beautiful little spot to sip Clase Azul Ultra at $120 (dollars, not pesos) a shot. Oh, wait... recession. Right. Well, lets try Ultra's more reasonable little brother, Clase Azul Reposado, still slightly spicy and delicious, and only $12 a shot. Highlights included FREE tequila, mariachis, free tequila, fireworks, free tequila, proprietor Alberto breaking a bottle on the wall to christen the place, more free tequila, and uh... what? "Hey, we should get something to eat. Soon." 

Icing on the cake

After a full season stacked with victories, and a beyond-record 9th World Championship Title in October, Kelly Slater punctuated his year with yet another win today, at the Pipeline Masters—the most prestigious event in professional surfing, and the last WCT stop of 2008. The door has been slammed shut. Again.

There will be those who say it's getting old (surf journalists, bored of writing the same story over and over). There will be those who say he's an overachiever (other competitors). And there will be those that say pro surfing isn't fun anymore (Irons). But the fact is that WCT surfing has never been more exciting, and being a witness to the miracle season of Slater in '08 is a special thing. What could possibly be better than a record 6th Pipe victory on the heels of a 9th World Title and all the prize money that goes with it? Um... how 'bout Gerry Lopez builds the trophy/surfboard and hands it to you, personally? Yeah, that would be it.

"It's a major award"

    

I'm one of those people that doesn't win contests. Probably has a lot to do with never entering any contests. But a few months ago I was flipping through an issue of Surfing Magazine, and decided to respond to their 'Theme Issue Challenge'... basically, choose the editorial theme for an upcoming issue. I was more interested in pretending to be a surf magazine editor than I was in the prize itself—a surfboard.

I suggested the 'Secrets' issue... secret surf spots, performance secrets from the pros, secret travel tips, etc. And today I was informed by Managing Editor Travis Ferre that I won. They are going to run the Secrets issue. What do I win? Apparently, one of Josh Kerr's custom Rusty surfboards. I don't know what I will do with a potato chip of a board, but I'll worry about that later.