James Murdock – Oaxaca
Murdock made his annual sojourn deep in Mexico last month, this time conveniently coinciding with the IBA Zicatela Pro. Over the years James has become at home in the land of Pedro, Espuma Loca, mezcal, and some of the best beachbreak waves in the world. James finished equal 5th overall in the trials, which guaranteed him a spot in the main event with the top competitive riders in the world. An historic contest followed, with Jeff Hubbard taking the win after James bowed out in Round 3 of the main event.

This year James teamed up with fellow North Shore transplant James Dawson. Tons of media was collected between the two with a full writeup coming soon to this site. In the meantime here’s a few pieces that have been leaked on the net since the comp. From the looks of it plenty of ETs were terrorized with pterodactyl late night buzz on reincarnations, a Tom Selleck stache, and full jungle building demos amidst other drunken carnage.

More: 2010 story, pics, and video

Cale Moore – Central Coast
Cale checking in with a couple shots from the Central Coast: “It’s been an extremely dismal summer for waves up this way. Every swell has coincided perfectly with bad winds. Definitely looking forward to fall.”

More: Cale Interview, Killmore Chronicles

Willie Richerson – Bali
Willie just got back from his 3 week retreat to Bali, scoring plenty of swell while meandering in the South Pacific. From his last few days: “At Desert Point saw some of the best waves of my life. Seriously. Got a few scraps, hard with fifty people out and forty that rip….. enjoying myself and taking it all in. Taking this incredible Bali energy straight back home!”

More: Camel in Indo

Adam Terpening – Chile
Adam’s still down in Chile but now living the sober life on an Andes vegetable farm as his adventure has taken an interesting turn:

“The experience is going great but has taken a whole new direction…I dropped studying (formally) at the University of La Serena in June because of the student strike that has been happening for the last 3 months. The strike is still going strong and the cultural contrast between university systems and students has been a big eye opener.

However, thanks to some amazing serendipity I found a job on an organic/permaculture farm in the Valle de Elqui. I’m currently living here with the owners and more people are planning to travel here to work and help expand the vision they have for this land.

The owners, John and Veronica, are awesome people and are very at one with nature. The place is nestled in a canyon with fresh spring water. I work 5-6 days a week doing various things. I’m learning tons about organic gardening and permaculture. It has opened my eyes up to amazing things leaving me looking at the world in a whole new way (again). Also, on this farm it’s prohibited to smoke or drink, so sobriety and vegetarianism are in the mix as well.

I’ve been lucky to find some waves on the weekends while visiting friends in La Serena. I’m a bit of shocker to the country folk here. Being a blond haired gringo carrying a boogie board on a dirt road at 6000 ft. in the Andes will leave a few of the locals a bit dumbfounded, hahah.

I hope to send more photos soon. I have a visa until the end of February of 2012 but we’ll see how things keep going here on the farm.”

Last Minute Update from Adam:
“Recently returned from a trip to the Atacama. Scored sick waves, found some cool culture and left some flesh on the reef in trade for 5 stitches as a souvenir. Full story and more photos to come.”

Pismo Groms – Colima
Sandy Sphincter and a couple other Pismo groms recently visited mainland Mex. Plenty of beer was consumed and plenty of pictures of the elusive Brown Kid were snapped when not getting tubed.

More: 2009 frames, story, and vid

The live webcast was on today as trialists at the Zicatela Pro scrapped it out to make the main event. Murdock advanced into the Quarters where all he needed was to advance through the heat to make the main event as the top 8 trialists were guaranteed spots. Things were looking bleak for Murdock’s campaign deep into the heat but he was able to pull off a 9.25 on a deep righthand barrel with 2 minutes remaining in the heat. When the dust settled and the buzzer sounded Murdock had won and got a spot in the GSS event. His quote in the ensuing interview with IBA top dog Terry Mckenna said it all: “I love it down here. Might move down here and marry a Oaxacan one day.” (Just be careful of the he-she’s down there Murder!) James ended with an equal 5th placing with his first main event heat likely starting manana. The forecast shows the swell settling down a bit for the week before ramping up again around Friday. We’ll see what the contest organizers decide. Stay tuned at IBAWORLDTOUR.com for further updates and recaps.

To stay amped for Mexico, check out our updates from last year’s contest and our latest edit from a trip we took down to Mainland Mexico in 2009:

After spending a week out on the Bukit peninsula I am back in Legian and headed out to visit an orphanage tomorrow. Got some super fun waves over the past week, primarily riding Bingin with a couple sessions at Uluwatu and Impossibles. Bingin is a DK dream with hollow racers and a few turn sections. My first session I picked off a couple of bowlers and scrapped a decent set that lined up for a long barrel. The crowd factor ranges from intensely crowded with donkeys to intensely crowded with locals and donkeys. When the locals are not out the waves come fairly freely as the shifting currents keep the inexperienced wave rider from sitting on the peak. I got a few good shots from Made who sits at the local warung (hostel) right in front of the spot and snaps sequences of just about every wave. My second to last session there he got a solid sequence of a backdoor barrel but I couldn’t bring myself to pay for pictures of a head high barrel sequence so I have just the view to show for my efforts.

Out at Uluwatu I surfed three sessions and got one mind bending barrel. A set came through and I took off a bit late and ducked into a fun overhead coverup then pumped down the line to backdoor an inside section that spit me out just in time to exit via the infamous doggydoor. I rode that one all the way to the beach. Two photographers got a couple shots but the crappy lighting just didn’t do it justice. My last Ulu session was jelly fish central, and the mild stings left a rash that I am still itching two days later. Besides riding waves I have been spear fishing with a guy from SD with worthless home made spears, and snorkeling a bunch.

On the cultural scene I have been overwhelmed with the smiling nature of the Balinese people. They are quick to smile and lend a hand. I enjoyed a bowl of a broth based soup called bakso one afternoon while two local women made prayer offering baskets for an upcoming once every six months ceremony. The ceremony is attended by the entire family in their traditional outfits. They head out to the Uluwatu temple and sit for a twenty minute ceremony that is meant to help unite the family. Thousands of families attend from all over Bali over the two days. The temple itself is a popular tourist destination and the monkeys there are out of hand! They steal anything they can from glasses to flip flops. Then they are bribed with candy or fruit to get the stuff back if they feel like it. The fat males have the system down. I was walking with a French girl when her sandal was ripped right off her foot. The young local boy was paid 10000 rupiah ($1.25) to retrieve the sandal with a candy bar still in the wrapper. I then watched as a Japanese man tried in vein to get his expensive glasses back. No piece of candy was getting those shiny lenses, and the monkey quickly bit off the nose pieces and twisted the glasses to oblivion. The place is a single mans paradise with girls from about every corner of the globe. The warm breezes and dramatic settings make the pheromones flow freely, not to mention what a few Bintangs and shots of Arak will do to loosen up the vibe.

So I am off to visit an orphanage where I will deliver clothing and some cash for a Pismo local who helps run the place. If you would like to donate check out Give Jewelry on Facebook and help them feed the kids. From there I plan to stay a day in Caangu for some heavy beachy and a day in Ubud for some hillside rice paddy frolicking. Transport to G-land is on the 30th and if my money holds out and the swell materializes I will hopefully get some shots worth dropping some coin for. In the meantime I am relaxing next to the pool here in Legian and hoping this mild ear ache doesn’t get worse…

Selamat malan (good night) from Bali,

Wonka

Before retiring back to Boonville for the remainder of summer, Hellmore made a vow to return to Hotel California, a place where dreams are made and dark secrets are revealed. Taras hosted a bbq/tasting at the HC compound with plenty of mid-to-upper-90’s on the Parker scale being passed around freely. The hipstered Orange County attendees were transfixed on the purply goods and Darren’s iPod beats from the get go.

Things were going smoothly up until the Alban Vineyards private stock kicked a nerve with the host. A convoluted story about his out-of-body Romulan experience was quickly followed by the Wes Box chandeliering episode one winter out at OB. “Where the fuck is Erica Schneekloth?,” Taras interrupted himself shortly after, demanding a first listening of his DJ Ukranian Cellphone recording session from some months ago.

Darren dialed it up. Maybe it was the Avila Valley Syrah. Or maybe it was the OJ Simpson Kush. Either way, Taras seemed completely paralyzed by the sound emanating from the speakers. Luckily one of his oversized brows was quivering just enough to prevent the Orange County kids from performing CPR. Taras’ lady came to the rescue shortly after a complaint from one of her divorced friends called for some Top 40. The music abruptly ended, Taras came to, and with midnight quickly approaching, it was time to hit the Saloon.

The Element was showing increasing signs of ill health between late morning Pismo checks and late evening Los Alamos runs. The Dancing Heart Bread from the Flat was taking its toll on Heinous Chanus’ once sculpted physique from his quickly fading polo glory days. And with the recent ugly collapse of AG! and the Twigs intertwining on the horizon, the Giant was in a bit of a funk. Not even that fresh bottle of Copain syrah or the 6’er of seasonal Firestone IPA clanking around in his backseat could wipe the reality of it all away. Gettin’ old sure ain’t easy round these parts, especially when you’re a regular footer in the midst of such a goofy town. Sometimes though, the worst is what you need to bring out the best. A busted rail and a foot injury? Pile it on top as well. This was going to be a session with nothing to lose. This was Chaney’s last stand.

It would only take an hour for Chaney to right himself, finding a groove amongst the shifty lineup out at Black Joe’s on that overcast December morning. He showed up late and left early but bagged more clips than all the others combined. The following vid lays out the evidence from that particular morning along with a few other sessions that were filmed two winters back. It was part of a 12 day stint I had along the Central Coast that witnessed fairly typical Pismo conditions: a few promising moments amongst a rather depressing period of surf. Nevertheless, its always a good time to catch up with old friends, share a few sessions, bust out the video camera and, for someone in Chaney’s position, turn your luck around in a single hour.

Now a year and a half past and instead of the beach, Chaney found himself stepping up to the plate at a church in front of all his closest family and friends. He would pull through again and the media was there tenfold this time to back him. We returned for an extended weekend to celebrate, taking a detour at the Toobs factory and topping it off with Suicide Joe’s 21st in DTSLO for the finale. Good times and congrats to the Chanuses.

Dr. Brum putting the finishing touches on another Toobs creation.

The shaping bay at Toobs.

Pat loves handling big rods while on the job.

Stamp-happy roldy.

The bride and groom.

You stick your half thumb in, you stick your half thumb out. You stick your half thumb in and you shake it all about!

Chaney salivating.

Confessions of a mormon all night at Table 19.

Virginia, Louie, and Brett found this cute little Guido to pose with!

The boogie crew on hand.

Nasty, Lofty, Suicide, Santo, and a bunch of booze.