Paddle-out for Davey Kitagawa

The surfing community at Blackies joined together in a tribute to friend and fellow surfer Davey Kitagawa on April 5th. More than 100 surfers came out on this beautiful Sunday morning at 9 a.m., some with their families, to bid a final farewell, to 'Little Davey,' who passed away unexpectedly just days before at the age of 43. Included in the gathering was Davey's brother (non-surfer), mother and other relatives, who were overwhelmed by the number of surfers touched by his death.

The surfers gathered on the beach with their surfboards but with the numbers swelling to over 100, it was an impossibility to get all of them in one shot. This shot is one that was compiled from several and is still incomplete!

The surfers paddled just north of Newport Pier, gathering into what's known as a 'paddle out' ceremony where, in the midst of the ceremony, a baby seal hopped aboard Davey's red surfboard.

The celebration concluded with refreshments set up in large tents on the beach. We'll miss you, Davey.

Pictures…from 2008!

Thursday, June 5th, saw some clean and fun surf. The weather's been fine these past few weeks and the surf's been good. The combination = fun in the sun. Bill's been out surfing and not shooting pics. Sorry to all you whiners! Surf wins over shooting any day of the week.

Ford runs a hang-10 clinic for the tourists

Tom Cozad takes a break from photo work

Amy sets up a nose-ride

Amy N. and Crystal…getting ready to R-I-P!

Amy N. cuts backside

All smiles…Ashley has her new Dano…

and takes it out for a test

Bob demos a floater

'How to trim,' by Cathy

Crystal bottom turns

Gliding the 11-footer…Dano

Davey K. slices back

Firefighter John off-the-pier

Jim leans on the rail

Judy eyes the waves…then…

goes left!

George enters the slalom course

Nice drop-knee, cut-back by Jason

Jeff counter-rotates his cut-back

Karin heads out…

…then, works the face

Rick C. –great wave/bad focus

Richard D. cuts-back hard

A classic left by Richard D.

Rick I. on a fine right

Taylor slashes off-the-lip

Taylor hangs 5

Vanessa pulls out

Is this our future? Tanker wars for waves—

Jeff and Bob call it a day.

All in all, it was a sweet, sunny, small surf day for the locals
at the Newport Pier.

Spring Break 2008

Easter came as a break from school for some; it was trip time for others, casual surf, or just fun in the sun for the rest.

First, we have the college kids…

Beth takes a break from her doctoral studies to show some moves

Kyle comes down from grad school at UCSB to show his short board and…long board skills


Ben is home from college in Montecito to nose-ride the pier

Then, the regulars…

Jim goes for the casual look while


Brandon goes for the extra casual look and,


Ashley closes out casually with a feminine twist


James cruises right


Matt has a relaxed style


Randy is dressed for the Arctic


Demonstrating his tip skill is Jeff


Taylor hangs 5


John glides right


David rides the nose toward the pier


Amy sets up back side


With his 'new eyes,' Bart sees Peter's best ride of the day


Alex & Tanner discuss the hot new shapes

The wait for clean water

Whenever it rains, the ocean water is just not one that a surfer wants to be in. Truly. Bacteria levels rise as do other 'things' that we just won't go into here.
Instead, let's focus on…

Bob and Rick watch Gina and Cindy look for quarters for the meter

Barry, Chris, & Stan 'talk story'

Cindy chats it up with Dave and Paul R.

Stan checks out Barry's 'cheap wheels'

Now check out Barry's wheels! Whoa, dude!

The local politicker, Pooch, is out collecting initiative signatures

Dangerwoman aka Kim gives a tourist a surf lesson

Where else can you ski or snowboard then surf all in the same day?