…Just back from another amazing day on the water! We had perfect weather for our Paddleboard costume parade around Destin Harbor. We visited the Destin Fishing Rodeo crowd watching the weigh ins and then took a trip under the East Pass bridge. As we approached Crab Island, we were treated to a pod of dolphins playing in the glow of the sunset. And, like all that was not enough, a squadron of old war birds put on an aerial acrobatic show just over our heads. Those who stuck around for dinner were treated to a fireworks show from the Destin jetty! Amazing, this is quite a paradise we have the good fortune to live in. Happy Halloween everybody! Enjoy this short video of some of the Surf Spooktacular event:
Posts under ‘Adventure Info’
Stand Up Paddle Fun Day
Who:
YOLO Board, WAVE 102.1 & Scully’s on the Bayou
What:
YOLO Board Winter Stand-Up Paddle Series Kick Off Event
When:
Sunday, October 26th at 1:00 pm (race starts at 1:30 pm)
Where:
Scully’s on the Bayou
200 Eglin Pkwy NE
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
For directions, visit www.scullysonthebayou.com.
Details:
NO ENTRY FEE! Please call 850.622.5760 to sign up your team! Divisions for the race event include: 4 person co-ed adults, 13-18 youth open, 12-under, individual shootout, short distance and buoy course. Prizes for division winners! Open demo after races.
See you there!
Steve’s Hurricane Ike Surf Pics
It took me a little while to get my pictures together from the Hurricane Ike trip. Below is a gallery of pictures I shot at a not-so-frequently surfed spot in the Panhandle of Florida (location withheld). The pictures are from Saturday, 9/13. The surf on Friday was big. Saturday was fun at select spots. On Sunday there were some nice longboard waves on the outside sandbars. As is the case with most hurricane swells, you can usually find fun surf in your comfort zone at some point during the swell.
YOLO Stand Up Paddle Race #5 Report
Well, last night we enjoyed the final race of the YOLOboard Stand-up Paddle Board Race Series. And what a beautiful race it was! We could not have asked for better weather as the air was noticeably cooler and the Gulf was emerald green and smooth as a lake. The venue at Seaside was just right for this finale of races and Bud & Alley’s restaurant provided a fitting beach-side lounge for the slide show and awards presentation.
The racing was again competitive. In the Ladies division YOLO came into the race with a 9 point lead over Walton Wahines in the overall standings and three of the ladies teams were within 4 points of each other. For this race it would be Team YOLO-litas claiming the prize for first! They were followed by the Waterbabes, then YOLO, Walton Wahines and Kitty Hawk Kites.
The overall Ladies Championship goes to the YOLO women. Second place, the song I just can’t get out of my head…YOLO-lita’s! They are followed by Walton Wahines, Kitty Hawk Kites and Waterbabes. Way to go Ladies!
For the Men it has been and was again, a nailbiter! Teams Aqua and YOLO have been working hard at eachother through out the series. Aqua has placed first 4 times and second once. YOLO just the opposite with 4 second place finishes and one first. The points difference between the two teams coming into the race was only 4 points. Behind these two powerhouses in the series has been a consistent RYNO team with 4 third place finishes. Destin Health, Sunset Beach Services and Surfrider have been swapping middle of the pack honors and arrived with only three points separating the three teams.
The Men’s race was fairly evenly paced with RYNO leading the pack until the final seconds as Gary Wise delivered a Knock out punch, catching a roller for a wave ride to the finish line. If not for that wave he would not have been able to catch RYNO, the race was all but finished. We know our lifeguards have a keen eye for surf conditions, rip currents, and sandbars, but this one takes the cake. Talking with Gary afterward, he says he had spied that roller earlier and actually decided to take a wider path coming down the last leg in hopes of catching one in. Great job Gary and congratulations to all the competitors!
The spectacular finish threw the points standings into a mess with Team Aqua and Team YOLO coming out even for overall first place honors. We’ll be firing up the chainsaw to split the trophy unless a custody arrangement can be made. Team RYNO broke their streak of thirds for second place in the race but remains third in the overall final standings. Rounding out the overall was another tie. This time an equal fourth place to Surfrider and Sunset Beach Services. Fifth was Destin Health and Fitness. Sixth an absent this race Team ROV . And, Kitty Hawk Kites and Amavida Coffee tie for 7th.
This paddleboard race series has been such a success, I’m certain the next series will bring more competitors and a whole lot of fun. Speaking of which, we have several fun events in the works so check back for event postings.
Next Friday evening at Gulf Place we will have another “Waterman’s Gathering”. Again we’ll show home surf footage on the big screen and feel free to bring your own clips or slideshow in DVD format. It’s a casual, family friendly event so bring a soccer ball for the kids to play while you kick back with us and relax!
Also, start getting your costume ready for the “13th Annual Surf Spooktacular” Stand-up and Surfing Halloween costume contest! (date and time T.B.A.)!
Man Rides Out Hurricane Ike In Glass House… Gets Shacked!
Steve and I traveled to a remote Florida panhandle spot for Hurricane Ike surf. Below is some video I shot. There were lots of broken boards and at least one guy left the beach with a new neck brace. The surfer in this video is Mike Paulzak of Ft. Walton Beach. I spoke with him today. He says he just stayed with it until getting clocked pretty hard at the closeout, he then paddled out to catch a couple more with a head full of adrenaline. Nice ride Mike!
Pink Flamingo In Destin
Hurricane Ike blew this pink flamingo off course. We are doing some research to see if anyone has seen one in Destin previously. Blue Mountain Surf, co-founder Mike Sturdivant, captured this video during a surf check at the East Pass.
Yikes! It’s Ike
Hurricane Ike sent some excellent surf our way and a pink flamingo (video)! The video below gives you a taste of what Ike brought as the swell was building late Wednesday in Blue Mountain Beach. We’ll have more video from the clean-up days coming soon! Mike
Hurricane Gustav Surf
The Destin, Florida area had a lot of great surf from Hurricane Gustav. The swell hit late in the day on August, 31, 2008, peaked the next day at double overhead, and was solid overhead for the next morning. Below are pictures from the surf sessions. We have decided to not mention the names of the places to keep the locals happy and to not ruin the adventure for everyone. [Photo Credits: Steve Combs, Bob Cross; Surfer: John Cross]
Island Trip for Hurricane Gustav
[DISCLAIMER: No clients were on this trip so we did things a little differently. No one got hurt during this adventure trip, and overall everyone had a good time. Those are the important things.]
On Sunday, August 31, 2008 a group of seven of us (3 guys; 4 ladies) tried to surf an island (name withheld)in Florida for some Hurricane Gustav waves.
The main surf break in the area when the surf gets this big had over 100 surfers there, so we thought a nearby pass break. The warning sign posted at the boat landing across from the island gave lots of different warnings regarding alligators, sharks, currents, and ended with “No Rescue Possible.” (pic) No joke.
We only had one boat, so part of our group paid another boat to drop them off at the surf break in the pass at Crooked Island about 4 miles away. The plan was for the rest of the group to follow behind in our boat. The motor would not start on our boat, and we didn’t have any way to contact the first group. I called my brother who happened to be in Mexico Beach for the weekend. He agreed to pick up the first group in his boat via the Gulf of Mexico route and take them back to his marina through the pass at Mexico Beach. The first group later drove back to the boat landing to make another attempt at reaching the island.
Being without a boat, we decided to paddle straight across to the island and hike to the surf. Part of the group went right, instead of left, around a swamp and were not able to make it to the surf. They had to backtrack to the car. The three of us that went left (including me) made it across the island and surfed until it got dark. The surf was head high and building fast but it was getting dark. We walked back the beach route and one person hitched a ride to the car and returned for the group.
One of the cars broke down on the dirt road leading back to the group at the beach. Somehow we were able to get a tow truck on a holiday weekend to come help us in the middle of the woods.
Crazy times.
YOLO Stand Up Paddle Race #4 Report
Once again, we had magnificent weather for the race last night. The wind was light providing smooth waters across the Destin Harbor. Competitors paddled against a swift outgoing tide from the harbor to the East Pass bridge and then were helped by the same current for their return trip. Times were fast with most competitors making the turn marker in about two minutes and returning in about a minute and a half. Team Yololitas finished strong for the victory in the first heat. In the men’s heat, Aqua Surf Shop prevailed and now sits atop the overall series standings. The fifth and final race of the series will be September 18th at Seaside. This last race will be held in the Gulf waters. This should up the ante and provide an opportunity for the teams with wave experience to shine. The last race will be wrapped up with a reception and awards party at Bud and Allie’s. See you there!
YOLO Stand Up Paddle Race #3 Report
The YOLO Board Stand Up Paddle Board Race Series continued last night with another great race. Watercolors provided a beautiful setting. The boat house and dock made water entry and transition staging a breeze. Excellent racing was complemented by another spectacular sunset and full moon rising.
Also rising was the level of competition. All of the competitors are looking more polished as we work our way through the series. Heat one action included all the ladies teams and the jr. lifeguards. Several teams had last minute recruiting going on along the docks as a few team members were unable to attend. This found the Jr. Lifeguard team supplemented with two first time racing adults Allison and Phil. Kitty Hawk Kites also found a last minute recruit. Thanks for answering the call to fill in! The heat one results were:
1–Yolo Ladies
2–Jr. Lifeguards
3–Walton Wahines
4–Yololitas
5–Waterbabes
6–Kitty Hawk Kites
Heat two included all the Men’s teams. The racing started off with a bang as all the teams took off fast. One team broke out in front and kept it up for a commanding finish. Team Aqua came across the line at 15:34, a comfortable 30 seconds ahead of Yolo Men. Third place went to Team RYNO. At 16:20, Team Surfrider (also now known as “team we weren’t last”) just edged out Sunset Beach Services, only one second separated the two teams. The racing was rounded out by team Amavida at 18:06 and Team Kitty Hawk Kites at 18:37. It should be noted that Kitty Hawk kites recruited three of their four members on the docks just before the event. Thanks again to the folks that were willing to jump in!
1–Aqua
2–Yolo
3–RYNO
4–Surfrider
5–Sunset Beach Services
6–Amavida
7–Kitty Hawk Kites
Stand Up Paddle Race #3
It’s time to stand up once again for the Yolo Board Paddle board race series.
CALLING ALL WATERMEN AND RACE SPECTATORS!
The four-member teams will compete in three heats as race paddlers vie for the champion title “YOLO Board Cup Series” to be awarded after the final race in September. One time race entry fee is $150 per team. Free signature race series t-shirts for each team member. YOLO boards will be provided for use at each racevevent. Additional race divisions will include individual men’s, individual women’s and parent/child to name a few. Come out and support our local beach community and be a part of the fastest growing recreational water sport in the world!
For event details including race locations, visit www.yoloboard.com or contact Madra McDonald at 850.376.7386 or madra@M-PublicRelations.com. All events are free and open to the public.
July 17 • July 31 • August 14 • August 28 • September 18
Download the flyer here (.pdf).
Race # 3 is scheduled for this Thursday in Watercolors, just off hwy. 30-A.
The map is here. Racers will gather near the boathouse and marina prior to the 6:00 start time. See you there!
Photos: Stand Up For Our Oceans Race #1
Click the picture below to see the gallery.
You can read about the event here and the results here.
Photo Credits: Madra (www.M-PublicRelations.com)
Race day.
Stand Up For Our Oceans Race Report #1
Wow! What a great turnout for the race! Thanks to everyone who participated and helped to put on the event. We’ll post results, photos, and some video here real soon. Unfortunately, our power has been out in here in Blue Mountain this evening. So the uploading will have to wait until tomorrow… after the beach clean-up…9:00 am at the Majestic / Surfside public access. See you there! –Mike
A photo gallery for the race is here.
Shots from the morning beach clean-up are here.
Photo Credits: Madra (www.M-PublicRelations.com)
Photo Tours
The Florida Gulf Coast is a photographers dream setting! With incredible sunsets and sunrises reflecting over the water, we can guide you to the best vantages for a full days photo hounding. Of course, there are plenty of beach shots… we can also steer you to magnificent oaks, unspoiled dunes, wildlife teeming wetlands, local history, and culture.
Porpoise in Mexico Beach
My brother and I were heading out of Mexico Beach, Florida for a fishing trip when this porpoise came in for a closer look.
Stand Up Paddle Surfing
Stand up paddle surfing or SUP has become increasingly popular on the Gulf Coast. If you feel like going for a paddle, Blue Mountain Surf can provide the SUP. Cover miles when the seas are calm. You don’t need surf for this activity… although waves will make your adventure more challenging! Use our Contact page to schedule a trip.
Stand up paddle surfing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Stand up paddle surfing, or SUP, is a surface water sport, a variant of surfing where the surfer uses a paddle to move through the water while standing on a surfboard. Stand up paddle surfing is derived from its Polynesian roots. The Hawaiian translation is Ku Hoe Heʻe Nalu; to stand, to paddle, to surf, a wave.
History
The popularity of the modern sport of SUP has its origination in the Hawaiian Islands.[1] In the early 1960s the Beach Boys of Waikiki would stand on their long boards and paddle out with outrigger paddles to take pictures of the tourists learning to surf. This is where the term “Beach Boy Surfing” originates, another name for Stand Up Paddle Surfing. In the early 2000s Hawaiian surfers such as Dave Kalama, Brian Keaulana, Archie Kalepa and Laird Hamilton started SUP as an alternative way to train while the surf was down. As the years went on they found themselves entering events such as the Moloka’i to O’ahu Paddleboard Race and Mākaha’s Big Board Surfing Classic. Now you can find Stand Up Paddle Surfers in many of the Outrigger and Paddleboard races as participants within their own division.
One difference between the modern idea of surfing and SUP is that the latter does not need a wave. In SUP, one can paddle on the open ocean, in harbors, on lakes, rivers or any large body of water. One of the advantages of Stand Up Paddle Surfing is the angle of visibility. Because of the standing height over the water one can see both deeper into the water and further across the surface of the water, allowing better visualization of features others lower above the water may not be able to see, whether it is the marine life in the harbors, lakes and coves or the incoming swells of the ocean marching on the horizon.
References: 1.^ Catherine Lo (August/September 2007). Get Up and Blow. Hana Hou! Vol 10, No. 4.
This article is a copy of the Wikipedia article “Stand up paddle surfing” as it existed at 20:59 GMT, 14 February 2008 (History) and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License Version 1.2, or any later version.
Hurricane Surf
If there is a swell hitting the East Coast or the Gulf then there’s a good chance we’re already figuring out how to be in the right spot! Let Blue Mountain Surf do the storm tracking, route planning, and late night driving. We can plans trips for beginners or advanced surfers.
John Cross / Destin, FL / Hurricane Dean (2007)
Steve Combs / Carolina Beach, NC / Hurricane Noel (2007)
Steve Combs / Destin, FL / Tropical Storm Barry (2007)
Unknown Surfer / Panama City Beach, FL / Hurricane Wilma (2005)
Unknown Surfer / Shell Island, FL / Hurricane Katrina (2005)
