OBX Visitors Bureau launches campaign to keep beaches open

OBX Visitors Bureau CEO and Managing Director Carolyn McCormick tells Surf Biz News that 650 people showed up in Hatteras Island for a presentation on the lawsuit by environmentalists to close much of the Outer Banks to vehicles, which is scheduled for hearing on April 4. See earlier post. Ms. McCormick spoke briefly about the importance of Hatteras and Ocracoke Island to all, and will also be speaking at another gathering scheduled for April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills.

Surf Biz News asked Ms. McCormick about a recent ad campaign launched by the visitors bureau in support of free access to Outer Banks beaches.



SBN: Why did you produce the spot?

CM: The spot was designed to build awareness in Northeastern North Carolina and in the Outer Banks about the importance of our beaches. We have always believed and encouraged a balance between the environment and the people. We know jobs and the environment are not mutually exclusive, and strongly feel that free, open and reasonable access to our beaches and sounds is what makes this dynamic chain of islands so magical, and enjoyable for every man, women and child.

SBN: Other than the TV commercial, what is the Visitor's Bureau doing to build support

CM: The ad is a spinoff the internet and print campaign, and is a local message designed to reinforce how the economy and the environment need each other. And the heritage of the good people who live here and bring vacation dreams to millions of people each year is important too. Our current tourism campaign is "Welcome to my Outer Banks." It uses real people that live here doing what they do: fishing, cooking, painting, birding, telling the history and just talking.

SBN: Is there an agency handling, or are you doing this in house?

CM: We do all our creative and buys except for internet advertising in house. I wrote, directed and produced the ad, which features local people and visitors, and original music by Yessian Music.

SBN: Where and when is the ad scheduled to run?

CM: The spot was produced in one day and began running in Dare County On March 25 and will run through April 6. We have added Raleigh, Elizabeth City and Edenton, Currituck and Camden County, mostly Northeastern North Carolina starting April 1 through April 5.

SBN: How much is the campaign costing?

The production was $1,150, and the TV buy was $22,000.

Malibu surf shop owner, stuntman, pyro expert, model, champion sailor...now councilman?

Read the L.A. Times syndicated story about the quintessential under-achiever, Zuma Jay Surf Shop owner Jefferson "Jay" Wagner.

At 54, Wagner has been a hobo, Hollywood stuntman, pyrotechnician, weapons expert, Marlboro man, champion sailor, model for Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic, reserve sheriff's deputy, lover of several supermodels and actresses, surf instructor to Britney Spears, author of a book on surf wax [on Pablo's Book club list!!], owner of six acres of shaded canyon land just off Pacific Coast Highway and a man whose life story hasbeen optioned by Universal Studios. Now he is running for City Council in Malibu -- because he is angry.

For a fun show, click on "The Man" link in Zuma Jay's web site. Also, Surfer's Village has an interview with Wagner and some good pix of Jay, like this one of him rinsing off after fighting the Malibu fires.

(Photos: Top: L.A. Times. Bottom: Bill Parr.)

Save Trestles - East Coast version

Surfers, fishermen, and off-roaders are among those who will gather at 6:30 tonight at Fessenden Center in Buxton, NC to discuss the threat to vehicle access on Outer Banks beaches.

Last Fall, the National Audubon Society, the Defenders of Wildlife and the Southern Environmental Law Center filed suit in Federal District Court to limit or ban access to many areas of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Irene Nolan, editor of the Island Free Press explains:

[The] lawsuit challenges the National Park Service’s interim plan to protect threatened and vulnerable species of shorebirds that nest on the seashore. The groups contend that the plan does not go far enough to protect the birds, which include the threatened piping plovers, as well as black skimmers, American oystercatchers, and gull-billed and common terns.

The request for the preliminary injunction, filed Feb. 20, asks that [U.S. District Judge Terrence] Boyle replace the interim plan with more restrictive measures until after the lawsuit is settled. Specifically, the plaintiffs are asking Boyle to stop ORV use year-round at the most environmentally sensitive areas of the seashore – Bodie Island spit, Cape Point and part of the South Beach, Hatteras Inlet, and the north and south points of Ocracoke. These are also the areas that are most popular for recreation, especially fishing.

If you've ever surfed the Outer Banks, you know that the beauty of it is being able to cruise for miles until you find the perfect break--which would be impossible on foot.

Because the Outer Banks is subject to such heavy storm activity, including hurricanes and Nor'easters, the sand bars are continually shifting. The break you enjoyed last fall may have turned to crap this spring, and there is a new sand bar a mile or two up the beach that's pumpin'.

A U.S. District Court hearing is set for April 4.

Latest on Dane Williams death

Shop-Eat-Surf has the latest on the investigation of the death of Huntington Beach surfer and Hurley marketing intern Dane Williams. Read the post here.

(Hurley photo.)

Archy documentary to premiere April 10

The world premiere for Archy, a documentary film about 80s/90s surf legend Matt "Archy" Archbold, is scheduled for Thursday, April 10 at the Lido Theater in Newport Beach, CA.


A national tour of the film, hosted by Director Bill Ballard, set to follow starting in Hermosa Beach on April 18, and the film will be available in both domestic and international surf shops in mid-June.

Here's the tour schedule:

WORLD PREMIERE
April 10 Newport Beach, CA Lido Theater

WEST COAST TOUR
April 18 - Hermosa Beach, CA - Hermosa Beach Theater
April 22 - San Luis Obispo, CA - Fremont Theater
April 24 - Santa Barbara, CA - Arlington Theater
April 29 - San Francisco, CA - Balboa Theater
May 1 - Santa Cruz, CA - Rio Theater
May 7 - Santa Monica, CA - Santa Monica 4-Plex
May 8 - Laguna Beach, CA - South Coast Cinema
May 14 - San Diego, CA - MCASD
May 15 & 16 - Encinitas, CA - La Paloma

EAST COAST TOUR

To be announced.

Check out the web site and the My Space page.

More on Playboy bunny boards

Although the OC Register story about Wallin Surfboards' line of Playboy bunny boards got hoots from OC surfers, Wallin may be tapping into a growing international market for surfboards as a branding tool rather than a piece of athletic equipment.

This trend is especially hot in Japan, according to the blog galleriejapan:

As a branding tool Japanese phone, electronics, car & clothing companies will offer these branded boards as competition prizes and showroom displays...Surfing in Japan is a minor sport, but the surf culture is strong, a surfboard would not be something an average consumer would go out and purchase, but certainly something they would like to win and display at home.

Poverty no barrier for team of South African groms

I found this story about a team of determined groms from a South African township more than a little inspiring.

THEY may ride battered old surfboards and have little contest savvy, but this has not stopped a talented group of young Port St. Johns surfers from making waves at the South African Grommit Games in Port Elizabeth at the weekend.

With hardly enough money to fix surfboard dings – let alone buy the latest surf fashions or travel hundreds of kilometres around the coast to compete – five of the youngsters from the Surf Clinic got through to the semi-finals after surfing just a handful of contests.

Read more here.

NSSA Champ Doheny Joins the Vans Lineup

Vans announced the signing of 15-year-0ld NSSA champ Andrew Doheny. Here is the press release:

Andrew Doheny Joins the Vans Lineup

March 24, 2008

PRESS RELEASE--Vans is excited to announce the signing of local surf phenom Andrew Doheny to the Vans Surf team. Though only 15 years-old, Doheny has been a dominant force in the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) for years, with 84 NSSA wins and 16 titles already under his belt, including the 2007 NSSA Open Juniors Champ title. Over a short period of time Doheny also snagged six Western Championships and four national runner-up titles, quickly establishing him as one of the sport's most talented amateurs.

Born and raised in Newport Beach , CA , Doheny has been surfing since the age of 5, honing his skills at Newport 's popular 54th Street , where he still surfs every day. Though Doheny just recently officially jumped on board, his relationship with Vans and other local Vans Surf team riders goes back a few years

"We're proud to have Andrew officially join us," said Vans Surf Marketing Manager Scott Sisamis. "He's an amazing surfer and we already felt like he was part of the team."

"I'm stoked to be a part of the Vans family and a hippie like all the other Vans guys," said Doheny.

With a busy 2008 schedule that includes the Vans Pier Classic presented by Jack's Surfboards, March 26-30 at the Huntington Beach Pier, and Team USA competitions, Doheny is certainly one to watch and this kid is just getting warmed up.

Andrews's sponsors, in addition to Vans, include Volcom, HSS, Creatures, Freestyle and Sexwax.

Vans supports and promotes surfing through a full line of surf footwear and apparel, events such as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing(TM) and through sponsorship of many of the world's top surfers such as Joel Tudor, Timmy Reyes, Karina Petroni and Nathan Fletcher.

(NSSA photo.)

Blank icon Harold Walker joins Ice-9 Foam Works

Harold Walker, who some thought was in a position to be "Grubby" Clark's successor in the blank industry after Clark Foam closed its doors in 2005, will now help an Orange County foam company improve on foams that he formulated at his famous shop for over nearly half a century.

Recently Walker shut down Walker Foam in Wilmington, CA and headed down the 22 Freeway to join up with foam innovator Ice-9 Foam Works in the City of Orange, where he aims to help the company develop new products for the high-performance surfboard market.

Walker says Ice-9 has contracted with him to supply and consult on production of the Walker Foam blank formulas, including Walker's oiginal formula, new formula, colored foam formula, and the high density foam formula.

“I have great respect for Walker’s contributions to surfing,” said Ice-9 founder Jon Stillman. "The way I see it, by marrying Harold's incredible experience and knowledge with our updated processing and engineering, we can create the ultimate shaper’s foam."

Ice-9 says it plans to implement chemical industry best practices and engineering controls to ensure that the production of the more hazardous formula, known as TDI foam, poses no threat to shapers, surfers, or its employees. Environmental concerns were a factor in the demise of Clark Foam.