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Thursday, September 15, 2016
Summer in September
We made it past Labor Day in the U.S.A and we're solidly into a crazy election season. Summer is still going the Northern Hemisphere, and some excellent swells are starting to show up after a fairly slow August. Hurricanes have been hitting the east coast. and the South Pacific swells are continuing to filter into the west coast. Hurricane Hermine brought some amazing barrels to New York. As you'll read below, the closed beaches earned folks some surfing tickets!
On the science front, the effects ocean warming is being studied by scientists worldwide. We've talked about the risks due to sea level rise on coastal communities in the past here, but the warming trends are having some other particularly nasty effects. National Geographic has a great article on further reaching effects with some incredible photography below.
Like the great banner photo above? We're working closely with Wetfeet Photography to develop some great new WaveClocks. Check out Bryan's great photography through Instagram and his Facebook page. Our Etsy site features new great WaveClocks with Wetfeet artwork on the face. Be sure to keep following for upcoming shows with WaveClocks and Wetfeet Photography artwork!
Dark Patrol
Dawn patrol has become a way of life for many surfers to avoid crowds, get a surf in before work, and many other reasons. While most surfers log full moon sessions, the Inertia explores the next trends in "Dark Patrol".
Hurricane Hermine Fires and Fines
Hurricane Hermine hammered the northeast with some amazing clean swell. There were barrels galore, but also surfers getting tickets for having too much fun!
The REAL Changes
The news often looks at the obvious face of climate change with sea level rise. However, some of the ecosystem changes that are accelerating at the scary face of climate change.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Strange Waves and High Energy!
It's pretty clear that the ocean is FULL of energy. Enough to easily power the world without any need for fossil fuels. The challenge? Capturing that energy and getting it to our houses. There's a good summary article about the latest efforts below. Wild places with waves? That's not news, but there are a few unusual locales you might want to add to your "must travel" list. Everything from Iran to the kitchen sink is listed in the article below. More serious news is that a refinery fire happened last weekend in Nicaragua. The potential for releasing oil and by products to the ocean is high and a lesson for future caution.
Other big news is that we are working on significant electronic and design improvements to the WaveClock! While we can't offer the specifics yet ... think wave direction and wind speed. Stay tuned and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest info. We'll let you know here first! Enjoy the last of summer and we hope you're getting out for a last blast of vacation fun.
Tidal bores? Yeah we've heard it and seen it, but downtown Munich looks to have a little fun in store. There truly are still crazy locations to surf. Think about surfing in Iran or North Korea. Where else can you really travel off the map. This little piece in the Independent has some fun info.
Blue is the new green for wave energy
Wave energy is the clean energy unicorn that ocean engineers have been searching out for years. The Department of Energy has gotten serious about making it happen by funding a new test facility. This article at Salon gives a good overview.
Refinery Fire in Nicaragua
We've come a long way in the past hundred years in reducing coastal pollution. Unfortunately accidents still happen that can spell disaster at local beaches and surf spots. Let's hopethis refinery fire in Nicaragua gets under control quickly!
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Surfing to the Olympics
The summer Olympics are underway in Rio with some amazing events in the pool. Who can watch the high dive and not be amazed at the precision with which they throw themselves to the water!? It is certainly an inspiration to many of us to keep pushing forward into being a balanced and fit person for our endeavors. In the exciting news this week, SURFING will be in the 2020 Olympics in Japan (article below). I can't wait to see how they structure the competition. One of the new wave parks for perfect repeatable waves?
Other big news is that Scotland is continuing to move forward with a massive Tidal Power project (below). Renewable energy from the ocean is a unicorn that we all want to see the world catch!
Here in Santa Cruz we are working on new designs of the WaveClock. We've teamed up with Bryan at Wet Feet Photography to transfer some fantastic photography to the WaveClocks. They're looking great and will be up on our ETSY store soon. Stay tuned and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest info. We'll let you know here first!
Surfing in the Olympics! This is a moment that highlights the final transition of surfing from an underground sport in the early 20th century to a full fledged global phenomenon in the 21st century. The Olympic committee will be evaluating skateboarding as well for inclusion. For better or worse, surfing is officially worldwide mainstream.
The WaveClock is your gateway to the ocean. The WaveClock queries real-time oceanographic databases to find the wave and tide at your spot. The hardware is linked to a free app and programs to your WiFi to give you an accurate view what’s happening out there.
Energy from the Tides The Scottish have been a leader in marine renewable energy development. They are continuing to drive forward with planning a large tidal energy deployment. These deployments could be a great signal for the future. See the article for more information,
Thursday, July 21, 2016
What is the WaveClock?
Video post demonstrating the WaveClock in action. For more information head on over to our Website and our ETSY store to find your own WaveClock!
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
How to Survive the Summer!
You're finally getting some time off, relaxing long weekends to enjoy the sun and water, and all is well! It might feel as if everyone within a thousand miles has also come to join you. There's nothing like summer beach time and surfing to experience the best in crowds. Corky Carroll, one of the wisest surfers out there, has some words of advice on how to look past the crowds and relax and enjoy no matter what. Also, there's a big effort underway in New Zealand to save a surf spot from development. And speaking of surf, this winter was full of spectacular big wave surfing. We couldn't resist sharing a clip of the ten most harrowing wipeouts that make you wonder how anyone comes up again!
As you know, the WaveClock is your gateway to the ocean. The WaveClock queries real-time oceanographic databases to find the wave and tide at your spot. You can always check out the app by downloading from our website, but you need your hardware version to keep you updated at a glance. To get you setup, we are offering FREE SHIPPING this week using the code catchawaveat our Etsy store. Drop into that as soon as possible!
Happy and safe July to everyone! The WaveClock Team
While your WaveClock can help you spot the swells not predicted by the forecasters, crowds can still happen. Corky Carroll offers some wisdom from his decades of surfing. Instead of getting frustrated, aggravated, and having a bad session, you can learn how to mentally prepare. Check it out here.
The El Nino this winter brought some unprecedented surf for big wave spots around the world. But with those incredible waves come some mighty payments. In this amazingcompilation, Kiwi filmmaker and editor Guy Mac puts together quite possibly the most intense one minute of surfing you’ve ever seen.
Dredging Waves Away? Surfers near Wellington Harbor in New Zealand are facing changes at their local spot by a dredging project to allow larger vessels into the Harbor. Overall, it looks like the dredging will decrease the wave energy entering the area thereby decreasing the number of surfable days. Read about it HERE!
Friday, June 24, 2016
Excellent Weekend for Seeing Your Waves!
As you've heard from us by now, the Pleasure Point Street Fair is this weekend on Saturday from 11 am to 5 pm. Come by and visit us for free goodies, AMAZING DEALS on WaveClocks, and the fun of the street fair. For those of you not able to join us in Santa Cruz, we will have a big post street fair sale on ETSY so you can get your great deal and we'll throw some goodies in the box for you.
Enjoy your first weekend of summer. Go outside and play!!!
For those of you unable to make the street fair, we'll have a follow up sale on our ETSY site. We'll be announcing the special via our Newsletter, our Twitter feed, and on Facebook. Be sure to follow us below.
We're teaming up with our friends at Wet Feet Photography to get some of Bryan's great photos on special edition WaveClocks. Come by the street fair to check them out in person. Check out Wet Feet Photography!
Summer arrives today for the northern hemisphere with the solstice, the longest day of the year. Even though it's on a Monday, a day when many of us are stuck starting our work week, the early light and long evenings provide plenty of time for us to get our and play. So your orders for the day are ... GET OUT AND PLAY.
On top of the wonder of summer it is also International Surfing Day. Started in conjunction with Surfrider, it is a day to celebrate the surfing life and sustainability in the use of ocean resources. Check out what's going on here are the Surfrider Website. Above all, try to take some time today to reflect on how you relate to the ocean and what you can do to help with the study, preservation, and healthy enjoyment of what it has to offer everyone.
We're gearing up for the Street Fair coming on Saturday. Another great local celebration of Summer. Please stay tuned for specials and deals on your WaveClock either on ETSY or in person at the Pleasure Point Street Fair!
