Marvin Foster - Rest In Peace

Black Surfer, Marvin Foster, has transitioned.

Accordning to ESPN, "Foster burst onto the surf scene in 1980, joining the ASP World Tour and earning Rookie of the Year. As a goofy-footed surfer, Foster is widely credited as one of the first people to go left at Waimea Bay, a predominant right-breaking wave. He was one of the original invitees to the Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational."

Enjoying The Cove from the Front of the Board

JAMAICANS WIN SURF SCHOLARSHIPS

ARMANI GREEN & RONALD HASTINGS

WIN 2010 ISA SCHOLARSHIPS

Armani Green and Ronald Hastings, two of Jamaica’s junior surfers, are recipients of International Surfing Association Scholarships. The ISA announced the recipients of the 2010 ISA Individual Scholarship Program during the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in New Zealand. 

The ISA Scholarship Program has consistently grown since it first started in 2007 due to the generous funding from Billabong, The Quiksilver Foundation and Reef Redemption, and the continued support from ISA member nations.  

For 2010 the ISA has issued 25 scholarships to Under 18 junior surfers from 20 different countries. The ISA received 77 applications from 29 countries for this year’s program.  

ISA President, Fernando Aguerre said about this year's Scholarship Program: “I believe the ISA Scholarship Program is a huge step forward for the ISA to contribute to bettering the lives of junior surfers around the world.  Together, we are supporting the dreams and hopes of good students who are also good surfers.”

After careful review by the Scholarship Selection Committee, the ISA announced the following surfers as ISA Surfing Ambassadors. The recipients are inspirational human beings, great surfers and avid students who want to succeed in surfing and school.

The 2010 ISA Scholarship Recipients are:
Ana Martina Gainza – Argentina, Armani Green – Jamaica, Belko Contreras – Chile, Benjamin de Castro – Angola, Carlos Cervantes – Mexico, Cesar Reyes – Ecuador, Colby Stanley – Spain, Donghoon Kim – South Korea, Hussain Rasheed – Maldives, Ian Ross Schweden – Trinidad and Tobago, Jarred Veldhuis – South Africa, Jean Carlos Gonzales – Panama, Jean Carlos Mendez - Costa Rica, Juninho Urcia – Peru, Mahorahora McLeod – New Zealand, Mamadou Mbengue – Senegal, Marissa Shaw – United States, Miluska Tello – Peru, Naomi Kabayashi – Japan, Nicolas Bulla – Venezuela, Papi Makanyane – South Africa, Roger Vuuanza – Angola, Ronald Hastings – Jamaica, Tassy Swallow – Great Britain, Tobias Ortells – Argentina,

“We are very proud of Armani’s and Ronald’s achievements over the past 5 years” said JSA President Billy Wilmot. “They have matured into responsible and conscientious young men and are role models for young Jamaicans everywhere. 14 year old Armani has represented Jamaica in international competition Ecuador last year and 12 year old Ronald is one of the most improved juniors. They are focused and have conducted themselves admirably on all occasions. I am sure this scholarship will go a far way towards their personal, academic and athletic development.”

As ISA Individual Scholarship recipients, Armani and Ronald will serve as ambassadors of the ISA and the sport of surfing and will be involved in the ISA’s world wide promotional campaign associated with the program. The ISA supports athletes who are interested in bettering their surfing and education, but most importantly being an example and inspiration to other human beings. 

Armani Green

Ronald Hastings

(Photos courtesy of Jamaica Surfing Association)

Board Meeting of the Board

A few of the members of the BSA board got together today at El Porto for a session. While the conditions weren't epic, there was still enough out there for each member to get his or her fill of the waves before sitting down to breakfast to discuss BSA business.

President Rachal
Secretary Burton
VP Mills-Samuels

Black Folks at Venice Pier

out of shape

I took the 10'2 Black Fin today - I did not care that it was suppose to be 4-6 feet, I was going to P.B. and figure with the high tide the waves would be rolling.

Caught few on the outside but I after a 10 or so waves I was getting tried and lost my board on the last three six footers so I called a day, did not have the energy to swim.

I should have paddle out with a smaller board.

I am out shape, too much sutting aroud and eating resturant food.

That day was sooo fun!

Bajan surfer: Andre Simmons

    Barbados Surf

Andre is a 25 year surfer from Barbados looking to get involved in black surfing. He  use to surf min twice a week for years and now he surfs when he can. He is a teacher, and  worked for a summer as a surf instructor in San Diego. Now he is in the 415 area code.

Email Andre: anostra2002@yahoo.com

Buttons is a Brother!

Online surf magazine Liquid Salt recently did an interview with iconic Hawaiian surfer Buttons Kaluhiokalani. As a kid, I was always mystified by his 'fro. I didn't know Hawaiians had afros. I didn't think anyone other than black folks had afros. (I've since figured out that you find afros on people of every shape, size and color.)

Anyway, the interview answered the question I'd been wondering about for decades.

How is it you were able to pull off such rad­i­cal maneu­vers in your career?
I’ll tell you this: I am half-Black and half-Hawaiian. So I guess it was my genetics.

Aha!!! That explains it. Buttons is a brother!! Oh yeah, he's a bad %!@ surfer too!

More Board Meeting Photos

(Click on photos to see larger versions of the images.)

BSA Member: William Lamar

Will is also the owner of Planet Maple Boardshop located at 4657 W. Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA  90016 (323)930-2823.

BSA Member: Rick Blocker

 

Representing on Halloween

Rusty is the green Teletubbie!

Chris Dennis: Trinidad & Tobago local

Chris Dennis - Between Worlds - 2

“Chris Dennis - Between Worlds” is a documentary film by James O’Connor that explores the world of competitive surfing through the eyes of Chris Dennis - an extremely talented surfer born and raised in the Carribean island of Trinidad & Tobago. The film is due for release in 2010 but behind the scenes progress and updates can be tracked at http://www.jtography.com and http://www.surfcaribe.com

Photo Source:http://caribbeanwaterman.com/2009/04/chris-dennis-wins-again/

Down at Sano

A couple of Sun and Surf hungry members managed to make it down to Sano for a fun filled Saturday afternoon.

Surfing in San Diego

San Diego is in the House!

Join Us For A Community Gathering At The Beach

Time: 11a-10p | Date: 9.20.09 |
Location: Dockweiler Beach (11401 Vista Del Mar, West Imperial Hwy by LAX)
Lifeguard Tower: 153

BSA will be giving Free Surf Lessons!!!!!!!!!!!

NOTE!: Bring Your Own: Food, wood, for the fire pits, drinks, seats, blankets, music, drums, and other personal necessities

Rumor Has it Black Women Hate to Get Their Hair Wet

This Is What It's All About

This letter is from Boun Prasert; one of the participants at the Paddle Out. This is what the BSA is all about. Enjoy :-)

First, I want thank the Black Surfing Association for inviting Heal The Bay to participate in the beautiful ceremony on our previous Sunday morning. To part-take was a personal blessing! I was deeply moved by the unity and the love that brought everyone together! Surfers and non-surfers alike all shared in the same oneness of love!

Even though I never met Mr. Monte Valentin, I feel like I could relate to his passion for surf and his love for our oceans! I grew up miles and miles away from the beach on 125st and Normandie! Since I couldn’t surf the oceans, I surfed the streets on skateboards with the few friends in my area that actually skateboarded! In fifth grade I got a bike and it was all over! Like Mr. Valentin, I road my bike west until I hit golden sands and blue-green oceans! It didn’t matter what beach I ended up at, all that mattered was that I was there! I imagine Mr. Valentin hear the same calls from the oceans that I did as a child, received a similar sense of excitement and fulfillment at the end of his bike rides!

Again, thanks to the BSA and the Valentin family for having Heal The Bay and myself participate Sunday! Surfers and non-surfers alike all came together to shared in the same oneness of LOVE! It was a beautiful experience! I will always carry it close to my heart! As a son, a brother, a surfer and ocean lover!

Sincerely,

Boun Prasert

Monte Valentin Memorial Paddle Out

BSA's love for both a fellow waterman and the ocean were in full effect this morning at Bay Street.

Today we celebrated the life of Monte Valentin, the body surfer who died at The Wedge during the last big south swell in July. His family members commented that the paddle out helped them to understand why Monte was drawn to the water. The BSA did itself proud today.

We didn't know you personally, brother, but you will be dearly missed.