GOOD STUFF FOR 2006

Getting away from all the politics and war stuff …

Surf
Seems like 2005 is going out with a bang. Lots of big surf on the West Coast and it looks as if the East Coast is going to get some pretty nice swells before the year calls it quits. For those of you with cable television try and keep an eye on the Encore-Drama channel: they’ve been playing “Riding Giants” which is an excellent look at the big wave riding scene. It features a bunch of my early surf heroes — including the man who started it all: Da Bull, Greg Noll. Some awesome waves and top riders past to present.

Speaking of the West Coast
I’m hoping to head back out to the Oregon/Washington border at the end of February and check back in to the Coast Guard’s surf school. Plus I’ve got a very neat lead on a new motorcycle being built out thataway. It’s a grand prix style bike … all-American and well capitalized and should make quite a stir when it track debuts — it’s appeared in the motorcycle press several times and has everyone drooling in anticipation.

Boat Shows
We’re in the thick of boat show season: the New York show is 12/31 to 1/08, the Miami show is 2/16-2/19. I’ll be at both. Should also be doing a story on a rescue/tactical ops/RIB program after the Miami show … that has the potential to be very neat.

New Water Sport
River boarding. You take a skimboard/wakeboard sort of board, attach it to a bungee and let the river current stretch the bungee out. Then it’s stand and surf up river. The inventors have been working it out the past year-plus on some Western rivers and should be coming East this year. Yes, I’ve been in contact with them. I don’t think it’ll work on the Peconic or Carmens (!) but I bet it would at Shinnecock Inlet or the Ponquogue Bridge. We’ll see. Gotta get it on the Upper Hudson for spring melt-off.

Thinking of Tying The Knot?
Here’s the ultimate engagement gig, better than flashing her name (or your betrothal request) on the big board during the Superbowl. Go pick out the diamond — in the rough — and follow it through the cutting and setting process and while she’s waiting for you to go to bended knee, go hunting for an elk or bear skin coat to go along with the glitter. All on one trip. Sound neat? I’ll tell you all about it when I get back from the Northwest Territories. (And, no, I’m not getting married — I don’t think the ever-patient-LA would okay that even for literary purposes.)

For Sale
By the way. Anybody looking for dive gear? I’ve got a bunch of odds and ends for sale … including a Northern Divers pro drysuit. E-mail me here if you’re interested. Also have some climbing gear for sale — rock and ice.