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National Park Service Celebrates 100 Years

Posted on August 22, 2016 by SurfWriter Girls under Environment, Events

Eight Coastal Treasures to Discover!

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Join the party! America’s National Park Service is celebrating its centennial anniversary.

After decades of lobbying by passionate conservationists, including President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, for a special agency to oversee the country’s national parks and monuments, finally they succeeded.

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service, a new federal bureau in the Department of the Interior, to protect the 35 national parks and monuments that existed then and any future parks.

Thanks to the vision and pioneering work of nature lovers who saw the beauty and value in America’s undisturbed forests, mountains, valleys, deserts and coasts, these areas –

from Yellowstone and Yosemite to the Grand Canyon. Denali and the Everglades

– are now protected and preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Keep it for your children, your children’s children,
and for all who come after you. – Theodore Roosevelt

Today there are 58 national parks in all with California and Alaska – with eight parks each – having more parks than any other state.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel, who were both Girl Scouts, grew up camping and know how lucky we are in America to have so many national parks to explore and enjoy. What’s more, many of them are right on the beach! Each of the eight parks below offers a unique coastal experience that celebrates the world of nature.

Eight National Parks On the Coast

Redwood Forest National and State Park, North of San Francisco, combines the majesty of the giant Redwoods with 40 miles of pristine coastline.

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, near Malibu, is a breathtaking ocean retreat just a short drive from Los Angeles.

Channel Islands National Park, off the coast of Santa Barbara, CA, encompasses five islands that are home to many rare species of plants and animals and archaeological and cultural sites.

Olympic National Park, in Washington, has close to a million acres of beautiful vistas from glacier-topped Mt. Olympus and old-growth rain forests to over 70 miles of raw coastline.

Cape Cod National Park, Massachusetts, has over 40 miles of beaches, marshes and ponds. Observing its tranquility, Henry David Thoreau said, “A man may stand there and put all America behind him.”

Acadia National Park, Maine, a 47,000-mile getaway on a rugged coast, offers the chance to see moose, whales, and bears against a backdrop of deserted beaches and granite mountain peaks.

Haleakala National Park, Hawaii, on Maui, is considered a sacred spot and offers the opportunity to see glorious sunsets over the Haleakala volcanic crater.

Biscayne National Park, Florida, is an ocean enthusiast’s dream with turquoise waters, barrier islands and vibrant coral reefs to explore.

These coastal treasures – and America’s 50 other national parks – would be standouts on any Bucket List!

Whether you want to swim, surf, hike, walk, or just admire the view, there’s a park waiting for you to discover and to celebrate on this National Park Service Centennial.

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Vans US Open of Surfing 2016

Posted on July 25, 2016 by SurfWriter Girls under Events

Surfers Head to Surf City!

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Cowabunga! Vans US Open of Surfing is back in Huntington Beach (July 23-31) with 500,000 people hitting the sand and streets to watch the week-long surfing action.

Some of the largest cash prizes in the sport are at stake and the opportunity to accumulate ranking points on the surf tour.

Last year’s USOS champions Hiroto Ohhara from Japan and Johanne Defay from France will be trying for repeats. They were both underdogs when they staged their upset wins. But,that’s definitely not the case now.

Brazilians Felipe Toledo and Alejo Muniz – both former USOS champions – want to get back on the winners’ platform. Local favorite Courtney Conlogue from Santa Ana, who won the event in 2009, is eager for another shot at the crown, too. And, as the top ranked woman in the world, she is a strong contender.

Two-time champion (2009 & 2010), HB’s own Brett Simpson, is on the scene, too, and is a fan fav with supporters hoping he can three-peat.

With so many returning stars and up-and-coming surf athletes, there’s no telling who will take home the men’s and women’s champion trophies.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in style, Vans – the Off the Wall shoe company – has transformed this year’s Vans USOS into a festival of discovery with creative workshops,

classic games and interactive activities for all.

The event is about surfing and more. It has evolved into one of the premiere action and sports festivals in the world.

Kevin Bailey, VF and Vans Global Action Sports and Outdoor Brand President, says Vans has been “counting the days” until the event and is excited to be “once again in iconic Surf City, USA to celebrate the world’s greatest athletes in surf, skate, and BMX.”

In addition to putting the best men’s and women’s surfers on center stage, the USOS is also the setting for new inductees into the Surfing Walk of Fame (Thursday, July 28) and Surfers’ Hall of Fame (Friday, July 29).

Among the new inductees are sentimental favorites, brothers Ryan and Timmy Turner, whose family runs HB’s Sugar Shack restaurant on Main Street, and surfing pastor Rev. Blaine “Sumo” Sato.

And longboarding fans won’t want to miss the Vans Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational part of the Open (July 29 and 30) that has longboarders in the spotlight showcasing their best moves.

Skate and BMX enthusiasts can watch the world’s top skaters and riders compete in a custom-designed concrete bowl on the sand.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel are always amazed that there’s so much to see and that the Open is an event the whole community can enjoy. It’s a week to have fun at the beach, take a break and let yourself chill.

Hosted in partnership with the World Surf League and event owner and operator IMG, official sponsors of this year’s USOS include Vans, Samsung Galaxy, Jeep, Go Pro, AirBnB, Pacifico, Workday, Credit Karma, G-Shock, and LifeProof.

With so much going on,

it’s time to put on your sunscreen and head to Surf City!.

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Robbie Maddison’s Pipe Dream

Posted on April 15, 2016 by SurfWriter Girls under Events, Lifestyle

Catching a Wave With Robbie Maddison

Australian motorbike rider pulls off amazing stunt!

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

When the weather is great and it’s an awesome day, what are you going to do – ride a dirt bike or go surfing?

For Australian motorbike stunt rider Robbie “Maddo” Maddison the answer is “both.”

Maddo, the motorbike stunt double for James Bond actor Daniel Craig in the Bond movie Skyfall, spent two years preparing to live his pipe dream of surfing on a dirt bike.

This year he succeeded, partnering with DC shoes to turn his dream into a reality, surfing on his dirt bike in Tahiti.

Drawing stares and applause from amazed onlookers, Maddo’s stunt, immortalized in the Pipe Dream video by DC, has had more than 22 million views.

To see Maddo’s epic bike ride and an exclusive interview with him by Cristina Costea, take a look at this feature story SurfWriter Girls friends at BookSurfCamps.com shared with us. Just click on: Pipe Dream

Then hold on for the ride of a lifetime!

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Surfrider and Kohl’s Host Ohana Beach Day

Posted on April 11, 2016 by SurfWriter Girls under Events, Surfrider

Celebrating Family Hawaiian-Style

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

When the month of April is here SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel always look forward to Ohana Day – a festive, Hawaiian-style celebration that brings family and friends to the beach to relax and learn about the earth…especially the ocean.

To join in the fun, head out to Seal Beach on April 16. From 9 am – 1 pm the Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter is hosting an Ohana Family Beach Day at the Seal Beach Pier.

Co-hosted by Kohl’s department stores…

the event is expected to bring thousands of people to the beach…

to enjoy hands-on activities, marine biology instruction, lifeguard demos, surf /skate/body board lessons, music, raffle drawings, and more.

SurfWriter Girls learned that it was the spirit of Ohana – the belief that “we are all related to each other” – that emboldened the early Polynesian seafarers to make their long, migratory journeys in outrigger canoes to the Hawaiian Islands in 200 A.D.

Likening themselves to the shoots of the taro plant, which come from a common bulb (oha), the Polynesians felt that we are all connected – one family (Ohana) – and must work together, taking care of each other, and honoring the land that nurtures us all.

Surfrider volunteers will be on hand manning display booths, talking about ocean and coastal environmental programs and leading beach cleanups.

Businesses and organizations are sharing in the Ohana spirit, too, showcasing eco-friendly products and services and giving out samples.

In addition to bringing families and friends together for a fun day at the beach, Ohana Day is a chance to educate the next generation about the need to protect the earth’s resources. In the words of Tony Soriano, Surfrider H/SB Chapter Chairperson,

“Ohana is all about the kids…

and showing them how to respect others and the environment.”

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Sumo Sato Luau of Love Benefit April 9

Posted on March 30, 2016 by SurfWriter Girls under Events

Surfers Support OC Surfing Pastor

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Surfers around the world feel a connection to each other known as Ohana, the Hawaiian word for family. And, when one of them is in need, they come together – just as a family would do – to give their love and support.

That’s happening now in Orange County where surfers are joining forces to help Pastor Sumo Sato of the H2O Community Church in Huntington Beach and an official chaplain for the Huntington Beach lifeguards.

When word got out that Sato is battling colon cancer everyone wanted to get on board to help. Soon a Facebook page was up and running and people began coming up with ways to help pay for Sato’s medical bills.

The Sumo Sato Luau of Love, at Don the Beachcomber, Saturday, April 9 (12 – 5 pm) will enable the surfing community to raise funds and let Sato know how much he means to it

Along with financial donations, people are donating their time, efforts, skills, and more. Surf Artists Ricky Blake, Marene K. Downs, Matt Stanton Beard, Al Scholl, and others contributed artworks to be auctioned. So did photographer Diana Sullivan. And Dave Reynolds designed the event poster.

Surf industry members and local shops are donating merchandise. Rockin Fig Surf Headquarters on Main Street in HB is planning central for the event, providing a place to meet, drop off donations and get tickets.

So, mark your calendar and join in this tribute to a man who has always been ready to provide spiritual guidance – from sermons and counseling to officiating at paddle outs for fallen surfers, Blessing of the Waves ceremonies and Surfers’ Hall of Fame inductions.

The Luau includes a Hawaiian-style buffet, four no-host bars, live entertainment, hula dancing, silent and live auctions – in a family-friendly environment. For more information, go to Luau of Love on Facebook. Or contact Andrea Roberson: 657-706-9781 or ndr.roberson@gmail.com

Then get ready to share in the warmth of Ohana!

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Surf Artist Dave Reynolds Catches New Wave

Posted on June 24, 2015 by SurfWriter Girls under Events

Exhibit Maximizes the Minimal

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Minimalist surf/ocean artist Dave Reynolds is showcasing his latest works at the Minimal Surf 3 exhibit at the Forest & Ocean Gallery (480 Ocean Avenue) in Laguna Beach June 27 thru September 7.

Known for his depictions of surfers and deft brushstrokes and spare canvasses, Reynolds has taken his minimalist-style art to a new level with this exhibition of 3-D paintings that bring the viewer right into the piece.

SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel have been longtime fans of Reynolds, who also serves as the Exhibits Director for the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach.

Talking to him about his artistic concept, he explained, “My work tries to capture the surfer’s style using the least amount of brushstrokes or lines. Somehow, when your mind sees just the basic lines, it fills in the rest.”

Eager to hear about his new artworks, we stopped by the Forest & Ocean Gallery to get a preview of the exhibit. Taking a break from overseeing the installation, Reynolds discussed how his work has evolved.

“I never studied art,” Reynolds said, noting that he started out making surf trophies – something that he still does.

Then, later he began doing simple line drawings of surfers, including surfing champions Peter Townend and Miki Dora.

One thing led to another, and recently Reynolds decided he wanted to incorporate color into his works. He uses a variety of techniques for the backgrounds. “Sometimes I use sponges or an air brush to get interesting effects and I’ve been experimenting with different inks and paints.”

Along with this, the “lines” in many of Reynolds’ new works are actually cold-cast bronze pieces that he carefully puts in place on the paintings to form the figures he is making.

Reynolds calls these artworks his Bronze Series and told SurfWriter Girls “the bronze pieces are like puzzle pieces and you have to put them on the painting just so. It took awhile to get the technique down.”

Reynolds is also tapping into his inner Zen by adding Japanese haikus (17-syllable poems) and other types of short poems to some of his pieces. This gave him the opportunity to develop another talent – beautiful writing. “I did all the fancy calligraphy by hand,” says Reynolds.

When you’re at the exhibit be sure to look for Reynolds’ “Wavesliders,” too, which will be unveiled for the first time. These unique sculptures build on his earlier works (shown below) and enable him to explore new ways to communicate his artist’s vision. “I found out that I have a knack for sculpture.” Reynolds explained.

And, he has a new workshop assistant – Punkin – his orange-colored cat, who likes to watch as Reynolds crafts each piece.

It’s exciting to see an artist grow and change over time. Like the champion surfers he paints, it’s clear that Dave Reynolds is riding at the crest of an epic wave…with no end in sight.

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World Water Day 2015 Times Three

Posted on March 20, 2015 by SurfWriter Girls under Events

Time is Water

Written By SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

3 hours.

That’s how long it takes women and children in Africa to find and fetch water for their families’ daily needs.

Think how that time could be spent instead.

Caring for the family, going to school…

or even having fun.

To help make water available for everyone, SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel urge you to support World Water Day, March 22…

by conserving water and doing all that you can to reduce your Water Footprint – the amount of water you use each day for drinking, cooking, personal hygiene, household needs and more.

Sponsored by the United Nations, this year’s World Water Day focuses on Water and Sustainable Development.

Water is essential for all types of development – from growing food to generating electricity, creating industry and building communities.

Achieving sustainability won’t be easy, though. Currently less than 1% of the world’s water is suitable for drinking.

More than two billion people do not have access to safe drinking water or sanitation. And by 2025 more than three billion people – close to half the world’s population – could suffer from water shortages.

Far from being a regional problem, lack of water is a global problem that requires a global solution…starting with responsible water usage management that minimizes waste and pollution.

Every drop counts.

It’s not just the big things we do that make a difference. It’s all the little things. Like something as simple as taking a shower.

According to the non-profit Surfrider Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, a 10-minute shower can waste more than 40 gallons of water.

To demonstrate the value of each drop of water Surfrider is asking people to pledge to skip their shower on World Water Day. Surfrider CEO Dr. Chad Nelsen stated that the goal is to save 1 million gallons of water.

When it comes down to it, we’re all connected. The less time someone spends taking a shower, the less time someone else has to spend searching for water.

“A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men;

as sympathetic threads, our actions come back to us as effects.”

– Herman Melville, author, Moby Dick.

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A Silver and Gold New Year

Posted on January 7, 2015 by SurfWriter Girls under Events

Friendship – the Perfect Blendship for 2015

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other’s gold.

That popular campfire song of old is just as relevant now as we start the New Year.

To make 2015 a better year, SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel would like to see us all reach out the hand of friendship to the people we encounter in our everyday lives.

Putting aside differences and disagreements, now is the time to focus on the things that unite us and to celebrate our shared hopes and dreams.

As writers who are out in the community, SurfWriter Girls are fortunate to meet new people practically everywhere we go…at beach cleanups, talking to small business owners, at civic events, and more.

Along the way, many have become our friends, like Ocean Friendly Gardens expert Greg Goran…

Surfrider Foundation volunteers Alex and Norma Sellers…

Up, Up & Away Kites owners Melissa and Jason Natanson…

International Surfing Museum workers Cindy Cross and Dave Reynolds. The list goes on.

Think of your own list and all the people with whom you come into contact. How many potential new friends are waiting there? How many old friends are hoping to reconnect? You might be surprised.

If you’d like to find out, it’s easy. Just make the effort. As the saying goes, “To have a friend, you have to be a friend.”

Motivational speaker and author Dale Carnegie, once said, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”

While focusing on friends – both old and new – may not seem like such a big thing, President Woodrow Wilson felt differently. Recognizing the importance of friendship, he stated, “Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.”

SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti definitely agree. Sunny and her friend Cynthia Mejia Giudici have been friends since first grade, staying connected through marriages, divorces, births, deaths, and distance.

Patti and her friends from Culver City High School – Lynn, Linda, Barbara and Mickey – still get together every year for their annual CCHS Girls Thanksgiving Lunch.

True friendship is like a velvety rose bud that, when nurtured, develops into a thing of beauty. With friends you can share special moments that you delight in, enjoying the small, but important things, that occur and the interesting places where life takes you.

In the words of noted theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, “Friendship is the source of the greatest pleasures and without friends even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.”

So, if you want to make a positive difference in 2015 – in your own life and the lives of others – just open your heart and mind and reach out to someone, offering them the gift of friendship.

Now that all the holiday gifts have been unwrapped and put away, this is one more gift that can last a lifetime… turning from silver to gold.

Happy New Year!

Patti and Sunny

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Coffee Brewing in Seal Beach – Part II

Posted on November 26, 2014 by SurfWriter Girls under Events, Food

Thanksgiving is Pumpkin Spice Latte Time

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Old Town Seal Beach is the perfect place to stop and savor the crisp fall weather and indulge in a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

To usher in Thanksgiving and the holiday season, SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel always make a stop at Javatinis (148 Main Street) for its special PSL.

Located right in the middle of all the action on Main Street, Javatinis central location makes it an ideal spot to meet friends for coffee or to stop and take a break from shopping or work.

There are upholstered chairs up front, café tables along the side windows and counter seating in the back with bar stools.

Seal Beach locals hang out here and catch up on everything from the latest gossip and surf conditions to news and politics. On any given day, you never know who you will run into or what they will be talking about.

One of the first things you notice is the smell of the freshly roasted coffee beans. SurfWriter Girls learned that Javatinis roasts its own beans on-site every day.

So you can be sure that you’re getting the freshest cup of coffee possible. That’s why its PSLs are so good.

Javatinis also specializes in what it calls “Latte Art,” creating original designs in the coffee foam.

To go along with your coffee or latte, there is a variety of fresh baked goods to tempt you, including gluten-free options, breakfast sandwiches and gelato.

During the Christmas holiday season Javatinis makes ginger bread men, too, which are great to eat on the spot or take home to put in a stocking or use to decorate a gift package.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (347 Main Street), on the corner of Main Street and PCH, is hard to miss as you drive into Old Town Seal Beach.

A true sidewalk café, it has eye-catching, bright red umbrella tables and a street front location that’s ideal for watching people and cars go by while sipping a perfectly-brewed cup of coffee or tea.

As you walk inside, you immediately see an extensive assortment of premium beans and tea leaves from around the world displayed in clear wall units.

There is a broad selection of coffee bean choices from light and subtle to dark and distinctive, sourced from Latin America, East Africa and the Pacific…

and whole tea leaves gathered from plantations spanning the globe…Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Thailand, India, Kenya.

Picking out which coffee or tea you’re going to try is like taking a journey and certainly part of the fun.

There’s a full range of ice-blended drinks, too, in coffee and coffee-free versions.

So, when the weather is hot or you’re feeling adventurous, try the chocolate-cherry Black Forest, strawberry-banana Malibu Dream, Mucho Mango fru-tea or one of the other concoctions.

Then find a table where you can savor your CBTL creation and chill out.

And, for something to munch on, check out the pastries and other treats in the baked goods case – the muffins and bagels are huge. There’s bound to be something there that’s hard to resist.

SurfWriter Girls agree that Seal Beach locals and visitors are lucky to have so many different coffee houses to choose from.

With Bogart’s, The Crema Café, Javatini’s, and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, whether you just want to get a cup of coffee to go, feel like socializing, or are in the mood to relax, there’s something special brewing for you.

And that’s definitely something to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Patti and Sunny

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