If you haven’t noticed, Alex performed a little cyber surgery on the site for the new year ahead. We’re still working out a couple of bugs and we are in the process of adding a few more features, but have a look around for the time being. We’ve got plenty to come with blogs from Adam, Darren, and James to go along with a whole sheet of Etcetera goodies baking in the oven. Check out our first batch of empties here.

Adam arrived back on familiar soil recently just in time for some wintertime Cali action. Check what BGA tapped into last winter courtesy of JD Woosley here. Also, you’ll have to scope out Spain’s departing gift to BGA in Llanes. Speaking of Cali wintertime action, we’ve had a string of fun swells over the past month or so. Check the pics Camel sent us a while back from maxing SF here, here, and here. Look for some of the goodies the CC offered up shortly to come. Although the Isles have been in a bit of a slump since the Pipe Masters, Murder sent word of some classic early season North Shore days all documented by budding photographer Anna Riedel. Frank Robles got a taste of the action recently with a 10 day stint at Casa de 2Gloc. Things are looking up again with a rejuvenated jet stream and Roldan touching down to the North Shore in a few days time. He’ll be shacking up with James for nearly a month so look for updates and action to come.

A couple anecdotes we’ve forgotten to mention:
– Another sponger, Todd Glaser, recently won the Follow the Light memorial award (also check his blog)
– Willie’s gone berserk
– Urination
– Dug recently made a pilgrimage (via New Mexico and a Steven Seagal photo op) to the East Coast and is now residing there
– Ben Player Project looks stupid good
– New Lore Line out now

Link of the Week: Trent Mitchell Photography.

After powering their way through the Australia premieres, Mike Stewart and Scott Carter have arrived on familiar soil with a triple-headed California premiere monster over the next three nights for their film FIRE. Go out and support two of the biggest legends of our sport with dates and ticket info as follows:

Thursday, December 11th, Long Beach: Tickets
Friday, December 12th, Dana Point: Tickets
Saturday, December 13th, Santa Barbara: Tickets

Click on “Tickets” for more details on times and locations. All proceeds from Long Beach showing to benefit Ron Ziebel’s recent back injury recovery costs. Mike and Scotty should be at each show with a brief Q&A session after the film. If you order tickets online please bring a valid photo ID. DVDs and Posters will be for sale at the event.

Trailer
Mike Stewart Interview
Surfline Press
NF OZ Press
Movement Mag Press

If a cat has nine lives, Wilbur’s got at least 28. That’s one for each and every year that he’s now successfully ducked. He’d been dancing with the devil for at least 27 of ‘em when he recently signed over the farm and went cold turkey on us. Well, that’s not quite dead-in-the-freezer cold, ‘cuz we all know he’ll never lay off the sauce. But after tic-tac-toeing his way across life’s age-old trinity of career job, marriage, and baby in a two-month span (not necessarily in the conventional order), we now find Mark in the most unimaginable role. That’s a role that involves diapers, a wedding ring, and daily meetings with French Canadians from Blackberry.

Most of us remember Mark best when at his worst. High-centered and blurry in a scummy Oceanside parking lot after a raucous No Friends premiere. Haunting around SDSU like the corpse of Green Goblin post Red Dawg sharpie exhibition. Eating shit off the stage at the Option awards before an impossibly incoherent victory speech. Reigning supreme at the Cabo Freakfest Century Club with a massive black eye to boot. Attempting to run from gun-wielding MP’s after getting caught sneaking on to surf a California military base. The list goes on. If you have dreamt it, Mark has lived it. From SD to SF to his return to the Central Coast. From living with 4 others in a one bedroom shanty on El Cajon Blvd to squirting out marbles as an adopted Robles on Mentone Ave. From the Tempo to the Blazer to the Sprint. From straight gangster to Straight Edge to straight whiskey. It’s all been part of the Wilbur legacy, a legacy deeply embedded in the Central Coast bodyboarding scene.

As spongers we’ll remember Mark to a slightly different tune. His carefree lifestyle instilled a sense of confidence into a group of Pismo Beach degenerates numbed by the white plague. He encouraged aspiring groms who needed that extra push. He forged ahead on his own and bridged a path from childhood mentors (Stoker, Warthen, Hamilton) and industry connections (No Friends/Vortex/Esteem/Aleeda/NMD/LMNOP) to the local bodyboarding youth. He brought creativity and a fresh face to bodyboarding’s antiquated image with his imaginative ability in art and design. Most of all he brought a spark with his magnetic personality that exuded his enthusiasm for the sport. The reckless confidence Mark carried was infectious and inspired our crew to push boundaries abroad while always remaining loyal to our home.

So don’t let the brass, the Huggies and the Canadians fool you. He endured some lows. But he knew even better how to embrace the highs. And after everything that’s happened he’s still right here. He’s not done yet. Wilbur is still inside there shaking around. Still amped on Lore. Still amped on Rookies. Still amped as fuck to surf. Still loving music. Still loving art. Still loving life.

(Check the pics and Adam’s piece on his wedding here and some bonus pics revolving around other events in Mr. Miller’s hectic past couple months here.)

Link of the Week: The tour is winding down and things are heating up. The 1st 4 rounds are done and GT, Uri, BP, and PLC all have a shot at the title. Stay tuned with the live feed and look for Tamega and Player to clash right off the bat in the round 7 heat draw.