Category Archives: Creative Energy

Ron Croci Book is Bodacious!

Posted on by under Creative Energy, Lifestyle

The Illustrated Atlas of Surfing History

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Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

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Famed surf artist Ron Croci is a multimedia artist with over 40 years of commercial and fine art experience whose paintings are in galleries around the world.

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Ever since meeting Ron a few years ago at the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel have been big fans.

 

A true waterman, Croci’s love of surfing and diving comes through in all of his paintings, which are energetic blends of color and movement.

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So, when Croci told SurfWriter Girls that his new book, The Illustrated Atlas of Surfing History (written by Joel Smith and Illustrated by Croci), was out, we were excited to see his latest creation.

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For the Illustrated Atlas, Smith (a documentary filmmaker and TV writer-producer)) and Croci speculate on just how far back surfing goes. To before the early Polynesians.

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To ancient Egypt and Syria 10,000 years ago. Or maybe even to the Stone Age.

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With each page in the book, Croci’s illustrations vividly bring the history of surfing to life.

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Croci, who got his start in advertising and film, helped design over 200 ads for the likes of 7-Up, Swatch watches, and Quiksilver’s Roxy division and worked on the design teams for close to 50 films from The Blues Brothers to Planet of the Apes and Ghostbusters. He’s also been in high demand as a book illustrator.

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When it comes to using a pencil, brush or stylus, there isn’t anything Croci can’t do!

The Illustrated Atlas of Surfing History shows just how talented Ron Croci is… taking you right into the barrel of the waves.

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Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

 

Ahoy, Pirates!

Posted on by under Creative Energy

Pirates Steal the Show in Pan

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Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

With Pan, the prequel to Peter Pan, showing up on movie screens now much attention is on Peter, the eternal boy child who “won’t grow up.” At the same time, though, the spotlight is shining on pirates…especially the most famous of them all, Captain Hook.

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Hook on Pirate Ship

This got SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel thinking about what it must have been like in those swashbuckling days of adventure on the high seas.

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From the 16th to the 19th centuries pirates were the scourge of sailing ships across the Atlantic from Europe and Africa to the Caribbean.

At any moment a ship flying the black, skull and crossbones Jolly Roger flag might appear, ready to capture a vessel and plunder its bounty.

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With names and appearances that could strike fear in opponents, some pirates, like England’s Sir Francis Drake and Sir John Hawkins, traversed the seas for king and country, bringing the spoils of battle back to their homelands…and were knighted for their exploits.

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Sir Francis Drake stamp

Other pirates, like the notorious Blackbeard, flew under their own flags and kept their treasures for themselves.

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There were even women pirates – Anne Bonny and Mary Read – who went against the conventions of the day, disguised themselves as men and joined a pirate crew in 1718.

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As Spain, Portugal, England and France all were fighting for dominance of the Atlantic trade routes and the lands of the New World, it was an ongoing battle with cannons, muskets, swords and daggers at the ready.

Pirate Ship in battle

Ship battle

Some pirate ships even made their way around the tip of South America and up the Pacific to California’s Monterey Presidio in 1818.

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The lure of adventure and untold riches was strong. But, much of the pirate treasure ended up in Davy Jones locker, sunk to the bottom of the ocean as ships fell victim to cannon fire, rough seas, hurricanes, and more.

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Now, beneath the surface of the water, who knows what spoils hidden in the deep are waiting to be found?

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SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti are channeling our inner-pirate now and searching for treasures with a genuine pirate map

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Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

 

 

 

 

Huntington Beach Welcomes Surfers to 2014 US Open

Posted on by under Creative Energy, Events

US Open of Surfing is Off the Wall

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

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Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

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Action footwear and apparel brand Vans is front and center again for this year’s US Open of Surfing (USOS) in Huntington Beach (July 26 – August 3).

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Taking in the sights by the pier, SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel could see that event sponsor Vans is focused on making sure that everyone can share the stoke…especially the community and families.

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Along with the viewing stands, giant skate bowl, sponsors’ village and on-site Vans retail store, there are areas set aside for family movie nights and activities.

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Vans Skateboard

Vans BMX

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In its second year hosting the USOS Vans is eager to create an environment that lets everyone experience the beach excitement first-hand. Doug Palladini, Vans Vice President and General Manager of the Americas, said “We look forward to bringing world-class competition across surfing, skateboarding and BMX to SoCal, the epicenter of action sports.”

This year’s USOS is particularly special because it coincides with Surf City’s 100 Years of Surfing anniversary commemorating the first time that the HB Pier was surfed – by Hawaiian surfer George Freeth – in 1914.

DSC03881AA pivotal point on the men’s and women’s pro surfing tours, the USOS always attracts the world’s top surfers and this year is no different. Last year’s winners Alejo Muniz and Carissa Moore are back…

Open 2013 Champsalong with surfing great Kelly Slater (11-time ASP World Surfing Champion) and local favorite Brett Simpson, who’s won the USOS twice.

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BrettOther top surfers in the men’s lineup include: Jordy Smith, Julian Wilson, Kai Otton, Nat Young, Josh Kerr and C.J. Hobgood. Among the women competitors are: Sally Fitzgibbons, Stephanie Gilmore, and Tyler Wright.

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During the week 500,000 people are expected to come out to watch the competitions and join in the festivities. The Open not only generates a lot of enthusiasm for surfing, but adds over $20 million to the OC economy.

DSC03997Mingling with the crowds, SurfWriter Girls ran into beach locals and tourists, families enjoying the beach atmosphere…

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and teens – lots of them! – hanging out with friends.

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Just North of the HB Pier SurfWriter Girls saw Surfrider Foundation volunteers manning the Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter’s booth giving out information about its environmental programs and organizing beach clean-ups.

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Fiat was back again with its dune buggy-sized 500L – introducing a concept car inspired by Vans.

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Fiat Vans Concept car

The hair stylists from Paul Mitchell had their scissors ready.

DSC03998Pacifico beer, G-Shock, Ion Cameras, Xbox, and Red Bull and were all drawing crowds.

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DSC04047On a warm California day it was nice to indulge in cool treats…

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DSC03989All in all, it was another laid-back day in paradise…at the US Open of Surfing.

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Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

SurfWriter Girls

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