Rotorhead's Waterblog

How To Start the New Year

2012-01-11T21:22:00.001-10:00

1. A clean bill of health: My CT scan, which is now an annual event, was all clear. My labs were great with a CEA <0.3 (essentially below the detection limit). The wise old sage of oncology at Tripler wrapped up my visit by saying simply “you’re in great shape!”. 2. The New Year’s surf tradition improbably hit it’s 3rd anniversary at my windward spot, which is unusual as it takes calm/Kona

Fresh Fish

2011-12-28T22:57:00.001-10:00

Some new Gyotaku. The Kala is going under glass on one of my surfboards, thus it’s a little light in color – it will darken once in the board. The moano is a bit cartoonish, but it’s just practice. Pictures of the real fish below the prints. Roi chasing a menpachi. The roi print came out really nice; looks almost 3-dimensional up close: Moano: Kala (unicornfish):

Where’s the Konas?

2011-12-23T19:38:00.001-10:00

With the winter surf comes the crowds – particularly from mid-November through mid-January, for the Triple Crown and the other big contests. I generally avoid the North Shore during this time, with the payoff that when the Kona winds fire up I can enjoy some of my “off-the-map” spots relatively uncrowded (if not all alone). So, when the surf season finally kicked up, I waited…and am still

Winter South Swell

2011-12-05T19:04:00.001-10:00

Once or twice a winter, an out-of-season south swell hits. This year it really lined up well, arriving on a Friday, when the Vans World Cup was going on up at Sunset Beach. So while the focus was in the country, we scored some nice surf in town. Friday was nice – good size and lining up nice. The finless board was nearly out of control…I drank a few gallons of seawater. My buddy from Okinawa was

Fall Sessions

2011-11-04T21:50:00.001-10:00

Nothing special here, which is the beauty of it. Rainbows, offshore winds, beautiful skies, clear water and good friends – these are the things I don’t take for granted. They make even the most mundane of sessions truly memorable.

Finless Fun

2011-10-01T09:55:00.001-10:00

This just in, riding finless is hard. Check my surfboard blog to get the scoop on this new design.

Re-enlistment at 10,000 Feet

2011-09-10T15:20:00.001-10:00

I encourage all the sailors to take advantage of the historic locations on the island when it’s time for re-enlistment. I’ve done them at the UTAH and ARIZONA memorials, at the BATTLESHIP MISSOURI museum, at the Pacific Aviation Museum, even at the Pacific Fleet Boathouse. This one, however, was completely new for me. We took a small plane from Dillingham Field (itself a historic site from WW2)

Fall Surf

2011-09-09T17:54:00.001-10:00

The girls are progressing. My oldest is on her own, paddling out closer to the outside and catching waves by herself. This is the “power curve” stage, where every time you go out you get better and better. It’s exciting to see, especially when I can paddle out with her. My youngest is an animal, starting right up on her shortboard or charging tandem-style with her friend. She definitely has the

3 years of Surviving

2011-09-02T21:37:00.001-10:00

This September marks the third anniversary of the conclusion of my cancer treatment. It’s significant in that the traditional cancer survival statistics deal with 5-year survival rates. It’s certainly possible to have a recurrence past the 5-year mark, but by and large if one can get through year 5 without a recurrence then the odds of survival improve considerably. I’ve posted about the odds

Best Contest EVERRRRRR!!!!

2011-08-30T17:30:00.001-10:00

The Billabong Pro Tahiti just wrapped up on Sunday. It was broadcast live here in Hawaii on digital cable, as well as being webcast worldwide. I was able to watch much of the event either live or via the evening replays. It went off in pristine conditions, from the trials down to the final. On saturday it was too big to surf, so the tow teams took over and Billabong broadcast that session – well

Catherine On her Game

2011-08-03T21:05:00.003-10:00

Catherine's new board suits her just fine. She's got the touch for sure.

Weekend Swell

2011-07-18T10:55:00.000-10:00

A nice south swell came in on Friday and persisted through the weekend. I got on it Friday morning as it was rising, although without my camera. Here is a session from Sunday when it had come down quite a bit - still fun though, and was totally burnt afterward!

Your 2011 Women’s World Champ

2011-07-16T08:16:00.001-10:00

Hawaii’s own Carissa Moore.

Summer Videos

2011-07-13T08:25:00.001-10:00

I'm working on the video from our trip to the mainland. Until then... Ain't nothin' wrong with summer... Nohu Session from rotorhead guy on Vimeo. Summer Spearing from rotorhead guy on Vimeo. 3 Boards, 1 Morning from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.

2011 North Shore Swim Series #1: Sunset to Pipe

2011-07-04T09:41:00.002-10:00

This year’s first swim of the season was a record-setter, with nearly 800 people taking part. It was a typical summer morning on the North Shore, with small surf and beautiful conditions. The course was identical to last year, taking us out around Kammieland, and then slowly working inshore towards Ehukai. My goal for this year was a 10% improvement in time, and I felt like I was really

New Gyotaku

2011-06-05T22:05:00.002-10:00

Now that the last batch of boards are complete, I can start up on my prints. Here’s the first ones:

May Videos

2011-06-04T07:43:00.002-10:00

Some new vids of May surf action. Auntie Sue visit/kids’ surf at Kalaeloa: Boogie boarding clear waters at P-Rock: A little south swell action:

More Gyotaku

2011-05-27T10:29:00.002-10:00

My two finished prints: Uhu head: To’au:

Gyotaku Class

2011-05-25T21:04:00.002-10:00

I had the pleasure of attending a two-session class at the Waikiki aquarium. The subject was the technique and art of gyotaku – “fish printing”. This is a popular form of fishing art where the actual fish is inked like a big stamp, and an impression made upon paper. The artist then paints in the colors and details such as the eye. Obviously none of us were going to be experts in two evenings.

Halfway Point

2011-04-23T07:49:00.004-10:00

Five years is the standard for being considered “in remission”. Recurrences are most likely to occur in that time; get past the five year mark and the odds of a recurrence drop dramatically. I’m at the halfway point myself and feel confident about making the 5-year mark. I read an article today on a comedy site that brought back some good memories. By “good” I really mean “bad”, “horrible” or “

More Wind

2011-03-27T18:31:00.002-10:00

The last week, bookended by the windsurfing session in the last post and this one, has been the windiest week in quite some time – so much so that my gear is not able to handle. My “small board”, 125L and a 6.5 sail, is usually underpowered except in the gusts. This session I was overpowered, in the lulls I was properly powered. I must say it was fun – always better to have just a little more

Spring is Here!

2011-03-18T08:34:00.002-10:00

And the trades are blowing. Busted out the sailboard and knocked the rust of my technique (and it was rusty). Solid conditions and great weather – hopefully this is a sign of things to come!

Underwater Fun

2011-03-14T21:18:00.002-10:00

Still waiting for a day when the visibility is pristine…but I’ll take what I can get. Very few fish around – not sure if that has anything to do with the tsunami earlier in the week – but still managed to shoot a few, and my partner was sniping away with the 3-prong. Also, check the end of the video- we came upon a turtle grove where 7 big greenies were just hanging out. Decided against the big

A Wonderful Time of the Year

2011-03-13T21:32:00.002-10:00

The crowds are gone from the North shore, while the swells continue to roll in. Meanwhile, the NWS has this to say: “A favorable pattern for Hawaii surf production has set up to the E to SE of New Zealand, suggesting the latter half of March to see the start of the new south swell season. “ Awwwww yeah. Add to that the return of the trades, and it’s all good.

First Gyotaku

2011-03-04T16:32:00.002-10:00

Gyotaku – or “fish printing” – is an artistic alternative to having a fish mounted, and is popular in the islands. I started really simple-a black-and-white Manini. Long way to go, but not bad for a first try. Check out Fishing for Art to see what a real pro can do.

Update: March 2011

2011-03-03T19:59:00.002-10:00

Recall from this post that one of my goals was to finish the Great Aloha Run (GAR) in less than 1:15. The run was on Feb. 21 (President's Day) and I'm happy to say I reached my goal. It was an even bigger crowd than the Honolulu Marathon, and almost completely composed of folks from the island (recall that the marathon appeared to be largely Japanese tourists). I worked my way up to the front of

Big Board Fun

2011-02-17T07:48:00.002-10:00

Sometimes it's just about having the most fun.

Meanwhile, in Hawaii

2011-02-05T06:38:00.002-10:00

I don’t mean to rub it in, but I do have the news on basically all day at work. Thus I hear constantly, and see the images, of winter on the mainland – the 2011 “snowpocalypse”. I’ve lived through these; climbed overhead snowbanks to reach the street, delivered my newspapers on foot because there was no way my bike was an option, felt the burning sting of approaching frostbite. I thought of all

A Good Day

2011-01-30T08:51:00.002-10:00

Not great – the visibility was less than I’d like, and as a result of a nagging cold my bottom time was about half what it normally is.All things considered though – warm water, calm seas, and some decent fish.

Some New Videos

2011-01-22T08:34:00.003-10:00

Starting the year out right - New Year's Day surf: The benefits of working 10 minutes from the break - pre-work sessions: After backing up all my 2010 video, I compiled all the edited surf footage into a single DVD. I ended up with over two and a half hours of video! I felt it really needed a trailer, as it’s my first real “movie” in a long time. So, here it is: Island Dreams promo video

Insanity

2011-01-13T08:28:00.000-10:00

From the Honolulu Star Advertiser article today: -------------------------------------------------- Thieves recently stole thousands of dollars worth of tools and equipment that are used to teach Hawaii children the art of building koa canoes and making their own canoe paddles at Heeia State Park."I hope that whoever took it feels real bad," said Alana Burrows, a board member and founder of the

Monday Music

2011-01-10T18:15:00.002-10:00

It’s been a while since I posted one of these. Prompted by “musical differences” between myself and fellow blogger Peconic Puffin, I am revising the series. It all started when Puffin and I got into it over “The Windsurfing Movie 1”. We both agreed that the final sequence – featuring Josh Angulo winning the Cabo Verde wave event in some of the best contest surf ever – was one of the best action

Goals for 2011

2010-12-30T12:25:00.001-10:00

Great Aloha Run finish in 1:15 or less 3 Sprint Triathlons - North Shore, Tradewind, one other Xterra Triathlon at Kualoa Two half-marathons, sub-2 hour Complete North shore Swim Series with at least 10% improvement over 2010 Honolulu Marathon in 4:30 More Surfing More Windsurfing More water time with the kids More outer reefs More diving - Shoot a big omilu or ulua More video and pictures of it

Movie Review: TWM2 (and, thoughts on surf flicks in general)

2010-12-28T18:51:00.002-10:00

Under the tree this year Santa brought me a copy of “The Windsurfing Movie 2”, the sequel to the original TWM. The first one (“The Windsurfing Movie”, or TWM1) was essentially touted as “The Best Sports Movie Ever Made”, so you can imagine my disappointment when I discovered it was basically just adequate surf p0rn. Allow me to explain: Surf flicks come in a few basic varieties. First off we

Merry Christmas Everyone!

2010-12-24T08:52:00.002-10:00

A little retrospective of the video sessions of 2010. Surfing – the gift that keeps on giving. Enjoy!

Winter South

2010-12-18T07:31:00.002-10:00

One of my favorite treats-the rare out-of-season South swell in December. I’ve actually been surfing quite a bit this week, including some North Shore time, but when the south hit we went and had a blast. Winter South from rotorhead guy on Vimeo. I should get my results back next week from my semi-annual scan. I’m not too worried about it. This will be the last semi-annual; after this we go to

26.2 in 5:07

2010-12-12T16:01:00.002-10:00

I completed my goal of finishing the Honolulu marathon, or as I call it, the Tokyo Marathon sponsored by Hawaii. When I showed up at Ala Moana park around 4 AM, it might as well have been in Japan (other than the tropical weather in December) The clear sky was welcome after the days of hard rain that preceded race morning. I staked out a patch of grass, threw down a towel and relaxed. After a

Consolation Prize

2010-12-09T22:09:00.002-10:00

The biggest north swell of the season was arriving Tuesday night, and with it came a Kona low that shut down the tradewinds. I was frothing at the mouth – this meant I could pick from the dozens of spots I’ve reconn’d over the last few years and have a shot at something special. I tried to corral a partner for a dawn session Wednesday, but had no takers. I decided to take the stars-and-stripes

The Boardpocalypse is Here! Or, Craftsmanship is Dead…Long Live Crafstmanship!!!

2010-12-01T22:49:00.002-10:00

I bought my first new surfboard in 1984. I had saved up my tips from bussing tables at Pattigeorge’s Italian Restaurant, and Mom took me down to the local surf shop. Walking in, I moved past the racks of “surf clothes” and all the other accoutrement that the surf industry pimps in order to commercialize the experience. I walked to the back – to the room filled on all sides with surfboards.

Winter Wipeouts

2010-11-30T10:50:00.001-10:00

I have yet to surf a really good-sized swell this winter. I've gotten a few overhead days but nothing really challenging - largely due to my focus on marathon training (less than two weeks to go, thank goodness). However the zoo is in full swing up in the North Shore, and at the halfway point here are some of the best wipeouts: Pipe-outs (

Gear Review: Kodak PlaySport Camera

2010-11-22T15:32:00.002-10:00

For about a year I’ve been looking for a Flip-type HD mini-camcorder that I could use in the water. A few months ago my daughter won a “Flip Mino HD”, and I was really impressed with the quality of it. Obviously it’s not waterproof, so it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I had done my homework, read the customer reviews and looked at the features of the current crop of waterproof cameras and knew

Ahh, Winter…

2010-11-17T19:33:00.002-10:00

The North Pacific is doing it’s thing. Along with that, the trades have died and the winds are light and variable…meaning those with the knowledge, motivation and skills can pick and choose from a plethora of wide-open breaks, away from the zoo that is the North Shore proper. I chose one of the more common ones…but it was still darn nice. Clean, chest-to-head high, 4 guys out all talking and

Happy Veteran’s Day!

2010-11-11T09:51:00.002-10:00

To all active duty, retired and ex-military, have a great one and thanks!

Highs and Lows

2010-11-09T21:00:00.002-10:00

I’m not a huge fan of professional surfing as an “industry”. The whole concept of “branding” and the dominance of the marketing involved is a bit upsetting. The houses that front the big breaks on the North Shore are now known as “the Quiksilver house”, “the Volcom house”, etc. They used to be folks’ homes. Heck, I stayed at the wall house at Off The Wall back in the 80’s. Now it’s all company

Finally, Some Wind

2010-10-29T11:00:00.001-10:00

Last winter we had an epic, all-time El-Nino season. Big swell after big swell rolled through, the Eddie went, the zoo came and left the North Shore and we had consistent waves through the spring. The South Shore season started out with a good stretch of windy days, followed by a nice swell that hit some of the outer reefs. This was an auspicious sign for what would surely be a summer season

T-46 days

2010-10-26T12:51:00.001-10:00

I got my 15 mile run in this week with no "bonking". Properly fueled, under overcast skies with good trades made it easy. Could have done 20 but saving that...next week's long run will be 18, then 20, then 22 before I start the taper 3 weeks before the big day. I went kayak fishing on Sunday and shot a nice palani that I grilled up for lunch. The visibility was not good and the video reflects

Marathon Training: T-52 days

2010-10-21T10:44:00.001-10:00

As I march towards the goal of completing the 26.2, I've had some ups and downs. The good news is I feel conditioning and technique have both improved far beyond what I thought I was capable of. I still don't have any expectations beyond "finish the race", but a time in the 4.5 hour realm is about what I'm pacing at on my long runs. I've had to change up my "speed runs" (shorter runs where one

Family Board Session

2010-10-16T08:48:00.002-10:00

Everybody rides the family board. The HD Gopro is out of commision so the board camera shots are with the old version. Surf Day Oct 2010 from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.

Vacation Finex

2010-10-11T19:37:00.002-10:00

I’m not going to pontificate or spout the usual literary diarrhea. I wrote a long post about this, then deleted it. I’m trying to say: Take the time to take care of yourself. I’ve just finished taking some time off, purely for my own enjoyment, mental health and physical wellness. It’s been great, and I recommend it to everyone. And now, my kids. Catherine: Angelyne:

Vacation Update

2010-09-29T17:14:00.002-10:00

My decision to use my “use or lose” leave before the end of the fiscal year has really paid off. When anywhere else in the world has a run of surf like Oahu has had over the last two weeks, it gets noticed by the surfing world. Meanwhile, here on Oahu, we’ve had two decent south swells and a third solid one. We’ve also had two advisory-level north swells, the second of which is combining with

Kaneohe Bay 9/27

2010-09-27T20:59:00.002-10:00

The rare and elusive conditions came together – tide, wind (or total lack of it) and swell (although smaller than I’d hoped for). I paddled around the reefs, picking and choosing all to myself. K-Bay session from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.

More South Shore

2010-09-22T16:59:00.002-10:00

I checked the windward side at dawn today but it was cold, windy as heck and small. Came home and decided to go south to see if the upcoming swell was arriving yet. The sets were few and far between but definitely trending up.

Town 9/15

2010-09-16T06:16:00.002-10:00

Nice south swell today. I was able to lure an old squadron mate out of his office for a session at an outer reef. It was real nice – a bit windy, but good size, long rides and challenging take-offs. Unfortunately my GoPro camera fogged up almost immediately after we got in the water, so nothing great for visuals: Late Summer South from rotorhead guy on Vimeo. I guess the “Add to Cart” button

My Favorite Time Of Year

2010-09-12T16:13:00.005-10:00

I love the fall. Baseball enters the hunt for October (even though the Sox are out). College football, where playoff hopes are decided every week. Pro ball in HD. HS football in HD for that matter. Basically football every day except Tuesday, Wednesday and some Thursdays. These are a few of my favorite things.But...Consider:(From National Weather Service, Hawaii) : "Smaller surf is expected

Windward Half-Marathon

2010-09-12T15:44:00.003-10:00

I ran my first half-marathon today. My goal was to finish in the 2:00 - 2:15 area. I ended up finishing just over 2, officially 2:01:50. It's a good thing because:- I ran it as a training run - keeping the same pace the first mile as the last- I kept an easy, but decent pace (9:18/mi)- I had no aches, pains, cramps or other issues.My strategy was pretty simple: Eat well for two days prior; get a

20,000

2010-09-02T17:08:00.002-10:00

As I reach the two-year point following treatment, I’ve had over 20,000 visitors to the blog over it’s existence. While this isn’t much – the typical “viral video” gets more hits in one hour – I like to think that a good portion of folks reading come here from some of the cancer-related forums I’m active on, or perhaps from an internet search of terms like “surviving colon cancer” or “living

Tradewind Triathlon

2010-08-17T21:14:00.002-10:00

Going back to my old stomping grounds was good. I was back in the dark, walking down the flight line. The grey shapes lined the ramp, their rotors silhouetted against the pre-dawn glow. The hangar doors were cracked allowing a sharp beam of light out on to the tarmac. Silence, with the exception of the click-clicking of my bike’s back wheel. I wasn’t on my way out to a pre-flight, something I had

North Shore Swim Series #4: Pipe to Waimea

2010-08-08T15:28:00.002-10:00

The final swim in the series was a 2.3 mile jaunt from Ehukai (pipeline) to Waimea bay. I knew this one was going to be a long haul, so I trained to simply maintain a comfortable stroke for about 90 minutes. I had plans to get in a couple of pool sessions, do some running and rest up starting the Thursday prior. Life interfered with my training plan – in a good way – that prevented me from really

More Summer Surf

2010-07-28T08:41:00.002-10:00

Nice vid of a dawn patrol under a full moon. Full Moon at Dawn from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.

North Shore Swim Series #2: Waimea Bay

2010-07-10T22:33:00.003-10:00

**UPDATE: More video below including TV coverage. I did better than the last race. Now I just feel slow. What a difference two weeks make. I spent more time in the pool, working sprints and trying to develop a more efficient stroke. I ate better and rested up two days prior to the race, and ensured I had a full nights’ rest prior to the race. The course was as good as an open-water course gets:

Races, Races, Races...

2010-07-07T16:52:00.001-10:00

Afer the Sunset-to-Pipe swim I had a busy week. Every two years, Third Fleet hosts a multi-national military exercise in the Hawaiian operating area, known as "RIMPAC". It lasts an entire month and is very involved. Before the exercise starts, all the ships and units get together in Pearl for a week of sports events. This year we had a bunch of teams from FACSFAC participating, including the

North Shore Swim Series #1: Sunset to Pipe

2010-06-27T09:27:00.002-10:00

Once again I found myself alone in the dark at the ocean’s edge. Where was everyone? The beach at Sunset was nearly empty. A pair of kayak fishermen were rigging up before going out. A few paddleboarders were heading to the break. Other than that – an empty lot. I recalled how at the triathlon I showed up plenty early to find there was almost no space left for my bike. I sat in the car, listening

Waikiki Surf

2010-06-21T11:20:00.004-10:00

We had our annual Waikiki trip last week and by all measures it was a success. In particular, we took out the new board that we all helped build and rode it for the first time. It was the perfect place to do so, in the shadow of Diamond Head.The Biofoam board: Testing from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.

New In The Shop

2010-06-03T21:30:00.002-10:00

If you haven't seen it, check it out: The Biofoam Board

Tri Hard (or not so hard)

2010-05-30T21:55:00.002-10:00

This morning, I found myself walking with my bicycle down a dark road lined with cars. I had a bag containing running gear and shoes. The sound of music got louder as I approached the beach park and seemed unusual in the pre-dawn haze. Many other people were arriving; bikes strapped to cars and in the back of trucks. I had arrived. Two years ago, in the middle of post-surgical chemotherapy,

Another One Crosses the River

2010-05-23T13:28:00.005-10:00

It's been quite a while since I've posted here. I've been real busy on many fronts - work and home. The usual end-of-the-school-year activities, preparation for a busy summer at work, and tending to some personal issues all have taken up my time to the point where I haven't been able to take the time for some proper critical thinking and "pen to paper".I'll have some material soon - I promise.

Getting Old(er)

2010-04-25T20:14:00.002-10:00

A couple of events happened recently that caused me to consider aging and how it’s changed me. I don’t feel old. I exercise, keep up with my kids, and try to stay at least somewhat relevant regarding the world in general. It appears the inevitable is occurring.The first revelation came last month. It actually occurred over a period of two months. I traveled to the mainland three times (twice on

Customer Service WIN

2010-04-19T22:10:00.003-10:00

Those of you who have read my blog before know of my addiction to the GoPro series of digital cameras. In January I upgraded to the new HD model, which was a quantum leap from their previous model. However, I began to notice spots on the images which did not go away when I cleaned the lens or the housing (a good example is at the beginning of this video). I contacted their customer service and

Monday Music

2010-04-11T20:55:00.001-10:00

It's been a while since I posted a "Monday Music". Some things get better with age; the band "Heart" and this song is one of them. Enjoy.

Alaia Barrel

2010-04-08T16:23:00.003-10:00

I have to share this one. It's an example of what is possible, even with ancient equipment.

Thriving

2010-04-06T21:10:00.002-10:00

My oncologist at Tripler is affectionately known as “Gramps”. He’s an active-duty colonel who has been in the service since Moses was a private. They may have actually went to boot camp together – I’ll have to ask him. He has enrolled me in a Stanford University study on cancer survivors, entitled “Cancer: Surviving and Thriving”. This is a topic in which I consider myself somewhat an authority –

Proper

2010-04-02T20:34:00.004-10:00

I learned a few things after my disaster on wednesday:1. 30 gusting to 40 is no joke.2. A 40-kt gust WILL get under a 125 liter board, pick it up, and send it downwind.3. Old sails are really junk. In the development of windsurfing sails, they reached a point where they essentially became airplane wings. The problem is that an airplane wing is fairly rigid and unforgiving - which is fine when

The Windy Season

2010-04-01T14:35:00.004-10:00

The windy season has arrived with a venegance. It started last week with a nice easy 15-20, just right for a tune-up session with the Kona longboard. Then it kicked up a notch earlier this week, consistently around 20-22 kts, perfect for the Tabou Rocket. Then it went crazy. Two of the fence panels in my back yard were blown down, as was a papaya tree. Some folks lost their roofs, power lines

Summer Surf Begins

2010-03-28T20:27:00.003-10:00

It's going to be an epic summer - much like it was an epic winter. There was a big south swell while I was gone to Florida; a smaller swell hit over the weekend. I took the opportunity to test out the 720P/60FPS slow-mo mode of the the GoPro. A remarkable little gadget to be sure. Also last summer's board (the "Super Sting") works fantastic. PLus it's the beginning of the windy season, and I've

Back from Vacation

2010-03-25T22:51:00.002-10:00

We took a fine family vacation to Florida and stayed with the folks for a week or so. While there, we were able to hit Busch Gardens (excellent) and Disneyworld (crowded). I’ve got several hundred photos and dozens of videos, all of which I’m working on. I did manage to quickly stitch together some footage taken with my GoPro camera while on some of the rides: Roller Coasters from rotorhead guy

New Look

2010-03-01T18:26:00.002-10:00

I think I've got the new commenting system working...the old one just stopped working as the company no longer supports it - but there is no easy way to remove it from the coding; thus there may be some issues. I've already lost all the old comments (although I was able to download them to a file - so I still have a record of comments, the old one's just don't show up anymore).Try out the new

Commenting System Down

2010-02-24T20:43:00.004-10:00

Haloscan is no longer supporting the "comments" portion of this blog. As such I've moved to another system, with the loss of all my old comments (yes, Haloscan did not provide a way to keep the old comments...you get what you pay for I guess).The new system doesn't work. Until further notice, you can't leave me a comment, so use my e-mail (on the sidebar) if you want to leave me something.Here is

Trandem

2010-02-22T19:46:00.004-10:00

...means three to a board. Just a fantastic day with the girls and the dads, enjoying the beach and having a great time. Just another day in Hawaii.Trandem from rotorhead guy on Vimeo.

Health update FEB 10

2010-02-08T09:40:00.004-10:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything of substance. I've been having some significant fitness issues stemming from a bulging disc in my lower back. I injured it in the most benign manner, hurrying down some steps and jumping down the last few. I had x-rays and an MRI done, got electro-stimulated and had an "adjustment". Fortunately it's not bad, and I'm pain-free now. I was concerned - any

New Gear

2010-01-23T21:55:00.004-10:00

The piece of gear I’ve gotten the most use out of over the last year was the GoPro Hero waterproof sports camera. About 80% of my videos from 2009 were shot using that little gem. It’s a great camera, but it definitely has it’s limitations. It uses up loads of AAA batteries, it has poor exposure control, and the video is not as sharp as could be. These factors were all overshadowed by the ease of

For the Frozen Family

2010-01-23T21:13:00.003-10:00

“Don’t you miss the changing of the seasons?” “Do you miss the snow?” “Don’t you get tired of it being summer all the time?” “Don’t you miss the changing of the leaves?” Brothers and sisters, honestly, I don’t. I know this has been a brutal winter across the mainland, and I hope that you all are getting by without any major crises. Here are a few images that I hope will keep you warm (all

A Winter to Remember

2010-01-14T17:28:00.004-10:00

It has been big.El Nino years are typified by more warning-level swells in Hawaii. This year has easily been the biggest, most consistent winter I've ever seen here. It has been big-beyond the normal definition of "big" and into the realm of the ridiculous - swell after swell. The Eddie ran in December, and was followed by a train of massive swells that have lit up Waimea, Peahi, King's Reef on

Weekend Dawn Patrol

2010-01-09T18:36:00.001-10:00

Pre-Dawn Patrol

2010-01-08T19:47:00.005-10:00

The good news is that staring next week, the sunrise will get earlier each day.The bad news is that in order to get a session in prior to work at this time of year one must surf by and large in the dark of the pre-dawn. Such are the outrageous slings and arrows of life. I will endeavor to persevere.Th little Gopro camera does not handle the darkness well, thus the grainy video.

Score, BIG score, score again

2010-01-04T15:14:00.005-10:00

As I found myself in the morning meetings with little written on my pad and the plan of the day well in effect, I decided to use some of my military leave (which had accumulated into the triple digits). The New Year's holiday was coming up, and the winds were scheduled to be light and southerly for the foreseeable future.Having been scope-locked on stand-up paddle surfing I decided to return to

Music Monday

2009-12-26T21:42:00.003-10:00

Steve Vai once again surrounds himself with virtuosos and manages to pull it all together for (another) mind-blowing performance. I saw the whole show on TV - just awesome.

Christmas Eve Dawn Patrol Gift

2009-12-24T15:27:00.004-10:00

I got my present early - no wind, perfect tide and a playful little swell out on the bay. Merry Christmas indeed!I watched "Water Man", which is a surf flick that I'd recommend to anyone (it's on Netflix as well). It's your basic "bunch of guys on a surf trip in Indonesia" flick, but really does a good job exploring the characters. Plus, it has Gerry Lopez, who was in "Conan the Barbarian".Laird

Big Wednesday Redux

2009-12-16T20:46:00.001-10:00

It’s funny how a movie can awaken something that one had forgotten for decades. When I was a teenager, before DVDs and when VCRs were still a rarity, we craved any footage of surfing. We’d watch those ridiculous 60’s surf comedies just to see the few moments of surfing that were interspersed with the inane dialog. When “Endless Summer” was played on one of the networks, it was a big deal. It was

Which reminds me...

2009-12-16T06:59:00.001-10:00

I had my 1 year post-treament scan two weeks ago. All clear!

Busy Times

2009-12-12T08:50:00.004-10:00

For the last few weeks I've been absorbed in my new assignment on Ford Island- so much so that I've neglected my blog. Writing is therapy for me, and has been cathartic at times.I've actually been preparing a long post - a story, actually, concerning some past history that has been dredged up thanks to recent contact with two of my high school friends who have recently goten in touch with me.

Music Monday

2009-12-02T20:41:00.003-10:00

On a Thursday, just because.Say what you want about him. He's a multiple-grammy winning comedic performer, who also happens to be a polka virtuoso on the accordian. Ladies and Gentlemen, "Weird" Al Yankovic, on "The Late Show with Johnny Carson", 1985.Polka Party in 2000:

Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T07:45:00.003-10:00

It's Thanksgiving again, and our ohana will be celebrating with the traditional Thanksgiving pizza (from scratch). My plan for using peppers from our garden has been thwarted as our peppers are what I refer to as "weapons grade". I have been pointed in the right direction as with what to do with them (make a nice spicy sriracha "rooster" sauce). In the meanwhile, a short reflection on the day.I

Overpowered

2009-11-17T07:06:00.003-10:00

Loaded up my gear in the morning thinking a breezy 15-20 kt day. By the time I got to the water later in the afternoon it was 25 gusting to 35...rigged up anyway, way overpowered, sailed for a while and got stuck upwind. Had to drift downwind to get back to the launch. Crazy.

Veteran's Day 2009

2009-11-11T10:18:00.003-10:00

A little something from back when I was cool...

Fall Sail

2009-11-07T13:21:00.002-10:00

The wind finally came up, although it was marginal at best.Nothing like a $7 exchange haircut...

What Have We Learned?

2009-11-05T19:48:00.005-10:00

With the support of my family, I was able to turn what was initially a very frightening situation into something entirely positive. If you only knew me through this blog, you would probably assume I've always been one of those people who is overwhelmingly, sickeningly positive about everything 24 hours a day. In reality, I was quite a cynical person (although a happy one). Amazingly, this

New Site

2009-11-04T21:52:00.003-10:00

I've moved all my real-time surf forecasting tools to a new site:www.surfinhawaii.blogspot.comI've set it up to be maintenance-free. All the things there are linked to real-time updates. Surfers, use and enjoy.

Quickie

2009-10-22T13:28:00.002-10:00

Managed to get a few waves and some turtle vid prior to full-on strep.Notice the huge viral growth on the turtle. No one seems to know why turtles get these-but it's a common site.

Transformation

2009-10-22T11:31:00.004-10:00

Not only does October mark my chemo anniversary, it is also my birth month-and thus the month when I make my annual trek to the Flight Surgeon. Prior to cancer, my flight surgeon was the only doctor I'd ever see. They specialize in aviation medicine and are considered part of a squadron's wardroom even though they themselves are not pilots. If not for the foresight and proactivity of my flight

Rotorhead's Waterblog

How To Start the New Year

Fresh Fish

Where’s the Konas?

Winter South Swell

Fall Sessions

Finless Fun

Re-enlistment at 10,000 Feet

Fall Surf

3 years of Surviving

Best Contest EVERRRRRR!!!!

Catherine On her Game

Weekend Swell

Your 2011 Women’s World Champ

Summer Videos

2011 North Shore Swim Series #1: Sunset to Pipe

New Gyotaku

May Videos

More Gyotaku

Gyotaku Class

Halfway Point

More Wind

Spring is Here!

Underwater Fun

A Wonderful Time of the Year

First Gyotaku

Update: March 2011

Big Board Fun

Meanwhile, in Hawaii

A Good Day

Some New Videos

Insanity

Monday Music

Goals for 2011

Movie Review: TWM2 (and, thoughts on surf flicks in general)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Winter South

26.2 in 5:07

Consolation Prize

The Boardpocalypse is Here! Or, Craftsmanship is Dead…Long Live Crafstmanship!!!

Winter Wipeouts

Gear Review: Kodak PlaySport Camera

Ahh, Winter…

Happy Veteran’s Day!

Highs and Lows

Finally, Some Wind

T-46 days

Marathon Training: T-52 days

Family Board Session

Vacation Finex

Vacation Update

Kaneohe Bay 9/27

More South Shore

Town 9/15

My Favorite Time Of Year

Windward Half-Marathon

20,000

Tradewind Triathlon

North Shore Swim Series #4: Pipe to Waimea

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North Shore Swim Series #1: Sunset to Pipe

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New In The Shop

Tri Hard (or not so hard)

Another One Crosses the River

More Video

Getting Old(er)

Customer Service WIN

Monday Music

Alaia Barrel

Thriving

Proper

The Windy Season

Summer Surf Begins

Back from Vacation

New Look

Commenting System Down

Trandem