Plastic we can support- Jack Hughes print with YCN exhibit as part of their gallery space at 2012′s Pick Me Up.

The aftermath of Hurricane Sandy is still affecting many across the Northeast. While in the process of rebuilding, locals from Rockaway Beach, New York can find peace and community in the surf.

It seems like now (Internet communities excluded) few people in the local surf community are talking—actually talking—about Sandy. Are we all suddenly ADD, like parents and doctors seem to think, engrossed by the latest wave to roll beneath us? Or are we just over Sandy? Moved on? Ready for the next storm to blow in and sweep us off our feet?

Maybe we’re quietly relishing in the post-celebratory gluttony of such a good thing, the realization of it all returning, setting in.

Or maybe we’re just being respectful. As much as the memories of gaping bullet-train tubes (for four consecutive days!) glistens in perfect detail in my mind, so do the images of an eerie, Atlantis-looking Casino Pier, a Long Beach too like the historical-fiction bastard child of Tornado Alley aftermath and ‘60s Race Riots. It looks like Katrina; by that, everyone knows I mean New Orleans.

New Jersey local, and figurehead of northeast surf milieus, Sam Hammer had some pretty harsh things to say about Sandy. And, why not? She broke his, and many a, heart. He perhaps feels cheated on by the ocean, the elements, while we in South Florida feel like we’ve had the best long weekend of lovin’ on some exotic, once-in-a-life-time vacation.

Two weeks later, I’m still talking. I’m going to keep talking, because what I witnessed was amazing. But, I’m keeping it modest, keeping it real. Next time it could be our town on fire, our parks and piers and historical landmarks gnarled and sunk. And I’m keeping good faith in the communities. New York knows better than almost anywhere about how to rebuild. They will. New Jersey will. North Carolina will. You can help by clicking here, or you can keep talking. No one will blame you; money’s tight and talk is cheap.

Sandy’s sending massive bombs to our coast. It’s well overhead to double overhead high NNE ground swell. Kinda clean with WNW winds 25-30mph that will continue through the weekend, and start tapering off the start of the week. See Forecast.

Spencer Sterling and Warren Smith in Alabama hanging out with there good friend Isaac.

Pixels and Polaroids is a series of images by Jherin Miller and Black Box Pixels, created combining pseudo-Polaroid photography and retro 80s era video game graphics. The concept was to blend these two elements into one world where pixelated characters live through the eye of a Polaroid camera. Cool.

For his new Disassembly series, artist Todd McLellan created an incredible collection of photographs documenting the deconstruction of everyday items, like this typewriter. Fascinating and might just start us on a destructive rampage. For further wonder and amazement to lead you into the weekend, you should watch this time-lapse video of Todd at work.

The US Surfing Federation is amped to conduct this year’s Florida Surfing Championships in Jacksonville Beach in the fall. The contest will be held October 4th-7th. Nestled between the start of winter swell activity and the dying (but still very much alive) weeks of hurricane season, contest organizers and participants alike are optimistic for good conditions in and out of the water.

Set to be held in the left and right peaks at Jax Beach Pier, the Florida Surfing Championship is an open contest, but you gotta act quickly; entry forms have to be in by September 1st and slots are based on rankings as of that date. Submit the entry form after September 1st and not all is lost, but your slot will be subject to availability.

But this year, the hype out of the water might just trump that of in the water. Organizers are reaching out across the demographics to appeal to all interests and ages. Sound too family-fun for you? Well, let your kid burn out his sugar rush in the GromZone while you and your lovely other put back a few cold ones in the beer garden and chow down on some tasty grub from the Food Truck Expo. [Disclaimer: Refraction Mag and the Florida Surfing do not condone permanent or temporary abandonment of children to sip suds... however appealing it sounds.] There’s also a skate ramp, eco village, surf art show, and the highlight of this year’s contest: a live concert by The Wailers.

For contest registration and general information go to floridasurfing.org or ussurfingchampionships.com, or shoot an e-mail to info@floridasurfing.org.

Later.

]]> http://www.refractionmag.com/florida-surf-championship-ready-to-be-underway/feed/ 0