Here Come Da Judge!

Submitted by Solsty Kismet

Want to know how you are being judged when you are in a competition? Just curious how it all works? Let's take the mystery out of it!

Come to Judging 101 for surfers on Wednesday, August 2. Two classes will be held:  11:a.m. and 6:p.m. at Bluff Cove.

No reservations needed, just show up.  Open to everyone, competitive surfer or not. :)

Hope to see you all there!

(this is an informational class, not official judge training)
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SurfWatch Fashion Focus: Shiny Shabby

Submitted by Valerie Lavender

There's more to the Second Life (SL) surf scene than the wave.  Beaches are full of dudes and babes checking each other out and checking out the latest in beach fashion.  Stay tuned for Valerie's regular series on SurfWatch Beach Fashion.








Hi Beach Babes!
I found this short/top set at one of my favorite sales events called "Shiny Shabby".  Shiny Shabby is at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Shiny%20Shabby/141/186/21  - You still have lots of time to visit as this round does not end until August 15.
Name of Short Set:  !EE Fit Mesh shorts with top v2 with HUD
Anklet:  Apple May Designs - Garden Anklet
Model:  Valerie Lavender
Location: Kona Beach and Surfing
Hair:  DeLa - "Lacey" in Blondes
Head:  CATWA AnnaGrey
Appliers:  Dee Tale Z Appliers Catwa Head Face Gaby Mixed Type
Body:  Maitreya Lara 3.5
Shape:  Custom by Nash





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The Legends Series: Interview 2 Years Later: Pova Rustamova (Originally Posted 5/6/2010)

Within the pages of SurfWatch is the rich history of Second Life (SL) surfing from the mouths of the surfers that created or developed or promoted or excelled in this virtual sport over the years.  We were lucky enough to get a follow-up interview with Pova Rustamova two years after his original 2008 interview.  It gives us a great perspective on how much can change in SL surfing in just two years.  Enjoy these interviews and the perspective from these surf legends as SurfWatch continues "The Legends Series".


submitted by Abel Halderman

Abel Halderman recently caught up with Pova Rustamova on behalf of SurfWatch to follow up with the 2008 Second Life Second Life Surfing Association (SLSA) champion, SLSA Hall of Fame member, and the Australian Surfing Association (ASA) marshall, who recently came back to SL after a break (editors note: see Interview: Pova Rustamova, June 24, 2008 by Tauri Tigerpaw)

Abel Halderman: First of all, welcome back to SL surfing, bro! You make me remember the old times. How do you remember them?
Pova Rustamova: I miss them mostly. I was fresh to SL and was messing with my first sims and (laughs) the community came and gave me some great tips. In fact Thor (author's note:  Thor Bishop, a supporter to SL surfing; died in 2007) was instrumental in how I developed my first sim and then in me joining the SLSA. I met Desne (Aabye) and Thor, and they got me on the water. (Laughs) My first practice board was pink. But what I know is, it was all about family back then.

AH:  How is it different now?
PR: Well, lately its been getting back to some cameraderie. But for a while it seemed to get a little political, get segmented.  At one point, and it’s what kept me surfing, is I decided not to worry about it all, just surf and have fun. If I did well, great. If I didn’t, then great, I could go party quicker. And it's kept it fresh for the most part.

AH: Many people remember you as an SLSA champion in 2008. What did the championship mean to you?
PR: I had a good year that year and it was fun. I'm a competitor so I was pushing myself to stay on top, trying to develop a nice style, and one of the old timers told me one day it's not about all the tricks and jumps. It’s about the ride - you have to paint the wave. So since then, I have just been trying to paint my board all over its canvas.

AH: I remember people always said you had the best style. I tried to beat you. I didn't succeed.
PR: Awww, you ain’t so bad, buddy. You’re one that I had to worry about every time out.

AH: Only if you crashed :-)
PR: I also remember that season as being a really, really hard one to complete. Havoc4 rolled in in the back half of that season and really did cause some havoc (editors note:  see Interview:  Sidewinder Linden, April 24, 1008, by Tauri Tigerpaw).  Everyone was having to learn how to surf all over again.

AH:  That's true. Everybody had problems at first. Now back to the present. What do you think of the current SL surfing, especially the competitions? Is it still fun?
PR: Yes, for the most part it is, but the comps have gotten so long that that makes it a bit less enjoyable. No one has six to eight hours to devote to surfing. Just too many things to interfere, SL and Real Life (RL). I hate to say it, but that’s why I personally haven’t competed much in the past year and a half. I couldn’t commit to a full day. I hated that several times I made it to finals but pressures of RL took me away, and I couldn’t even finish. But since I have been back, I think there is a small interest in trying to get it back to where things are fun with reasonable times to complete a tournament.

AH: What ways do you see to reach that? I know you're full of ideas.
PR: Well, micro tournaments, for one.

AH:  Like mini-comps once offered by the SLSA and Vibrations Surf Alliance (VSA)?
PR: There are some grassroots organizations out there trying new things. And more or less putting on a two to three hour surfing party on the weekends, or you can break down the quarters and respect some time zone issues. Now granted for the finals that can’t be done to accommodate everyone, but we can surely break it down.

AH: Yes. There were people unhappy about having comps in times good only for American surfers. But now, there is the ASA (Australian Surfing Association).
PR: Yep.

AH: You were a marshall in their last competition.
PR: Yes, I was.

AH: You rocked, man.
PR: (laughs)  I did my best. Hope I kept it running. Only seemed to be a couple glitches, but we move through them with good speed.

AH: Three hours, that's what it’s taken.
PR: Yep.

AH: As for the number of surfers, not bad at all!
PR: It was a fair showing. The big thing I seemed to notice as it was on a homestead sim is that the format didn’t tax the sim too much. I didn’t have or didn’t hear many complaints about lag as such. Also, it seemed to have more surfers get in full runs, no bellying, so it made the judging really tough. Close scores all around, proof being that we had a three way tie for 3rd. We ran four surfers per heat, three waves per each, and only had one issue pop up that we allowed a surfer redo because of a failed wave. And we know what caused it: another avi crashed on the sim while that surfer was on the wave, and it cause enough disturbance that the surfer fell right through the wave. It basically collapsed on her. So in the head judge's eyes, and more or less a consensus, we decided to allow a make up run. But besides that, it ran really smoothly.

AH: That's true. Another thing: for years there've been questions about teams and how they should work and participate in the SL surfing. What do you think?
PR: Oh, like individual teams like, say, Tsunami, Wave Riders, Misfits and so on?

AH: Yes.
PR: Well, I think of a team concept as more of a family concept as it started in the beginning. People joined a surf community primarily to get to surf the spots that had waves.  A lot that are gone now. But they became their homes. Then there were some competitions thought up, more on an individual basis. So we were having some friendly comps and awarding trophies and developed a points system to determine a champ. The individual teams were more of a cheering section of which the Misfits were the loudest in my opinion. Big Dawg and crew could hoot it up.

AH: “Go hard or go home!”.
PR: Yep, GO HARD OR GO HOME! But now this is were it got sticky. We all tried to bring teams into the fray and develop a way to boost or reward a team. And some individual I think saw the teams as a threat to the individual championship: if one team had more people on the board and more judges and such there was gonna be some bias, and it got political. I think a lot of feelings got hurt and egos bent. There seemed to be a lot of static in the SLSA. That’s when I told myself, I’m just a surfer out to have fun. So I love the teams as a cheer group, and you can have some bragging rights if your team members win some torphies or do well in them, but just cheer.

AH: They often practice together and try to reach their common goal: do as well as possible in team ladder.
PR: Yep. But as things are set up it competitions are for individuals and always will be.

AH: Surfing is an individual sport, so doing well as a team takes it back to teams being like families - supporting each other.
PR: Yep. And a way to pass on knowledge, support them youngsters that wanna surf, bring them into the family with a party.

AH: I see it as a huge part of team's activity. At least it's like that on my team (Tsunami)
PR: Teach them up, down, right, left, page up, page down, and let them beat your butt in the next competition.

AH: Okay, now let me ask you this, because many people are interested…
PR: Hides under the table waiting…

AH: Are you going to compete?
PR: Yes!!! I will compete again. And it will be in one of these smaller comps first. As I said, my commitments of time have changed, and I love to party.

AH: What would you say to a person who just started surfing?
PR: Just ride. Get a feel for the waves and, as I said, paint your picture. Don’t worry about beating your keyboard to death to do a flip or curl. Just move up and down the wave and get lost in it. Then go party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We always have to keep the relationships going and that will keep the community alive. People search out cameraderie, and I think we have one of the best atmospheres there is in SL in the surf community. Everyone loves everyone, for the most part.

AH: Champ, thank you for the chat.
PR: You're welcome. Now grab a board and shut up and ride, as my buddy, Doxx Drake, always says.
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Surfin' Safari Final Day: Bluff Cove

Submitted by Solsty Kismet

"The final day of camping brings a new level of excitement for the SLurfers. They feel at home on the sands of Bluff Cove but reflect fondly on the waves they've conquered over the past week. Gia Villano, still smelling of soot from her fire dance last night, dips herself in the cold ocean before climbing on her board and paddling out with Harmony Sandalphon and Shi Carter close behind."





http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bluff%20Cove/130/173/21
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Nash's Fluffy SSi Class at Chi

Photos submitted by Nash Laville




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Surfin' Safari Day 5

Submitted by Solsty Kismet

The surfari van broke down, but that didn't stop the surfers from grabbing their boards and dragging them to the shoreline.  Undeterred, they hit the waves at their new location with the same enthusiasm of day one.



There's plenty to see and plenty to do at Cape Sans Blas Beach. Come have a campfire chat and hit the waves at your leisure.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vintage%20Style/146/126/21

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Conversations with Nash: Kristen Wrydan

Submitted by Nash Laville

Nash LaVille, Second Life Surfing Association (SLSA) Director and long-time soul surfer, shares his enlightening, interesting and sometimes hilarious conversations in Second Life (SL). This post he visits with Kristen Wryden, inducted into the SLSA twice as back to back season runner-up in 2014. "I was looking forward to talking about many things, and she did not disappoint."





Nash Laville: ^^ Hi, Kristen. Would you like to join me at Bundy?
Kristen Wrydan: Hi.
 Nash Laville: How are you?
Kristen Wrydan: Feel great. I did lots of my hobbies tonight and stuff. I have been sorta vacant here except for my family.  Special forces.

Nash Laville: Maybe it's part of being blonde?
Kristen Wrydan:  Ok, lol.

Nash Laville: Ahhhhhhhh, hobbies.
Kristen Wrydan: I have interests I enjoy doing in my normal life.

Nash Laville: You have a normal life?
Kristen Wrydan:  Spying, lol, and espionage. I like collecting stamps.

Nash Laville: Ah, what is your favorite tweezer???
Kristen Wrydan: Stamps. I use, lol, tweezers, hinges, to paste them on page, lol. I feel tranquil and content. Relaxes me to do my interests.

Nash Laville: This is supposed to be a surf conversation.
Kristen Wrydan:  Ok. I first surfed in Honolulu.  There were different size waves from very small to, of course, the big ones. I had an instructor, and he just said, "Get on board when wave comes. I will push you and you paddle.  Then stand. Easy."

Nash Laville: Nuttin to it, at least the first time. Now, to STAY standing is the trick.
Kristen Wrydan: Since in Long Island, New York, I surfed a few times on the east side.  Yes, standing then to turn (cut) is a challenge for me and to cut in back . I was able on a long board to get one foot for a hang 5.

Nash Laville:  My shoulders dislocate when I paddle.
Kristen Wrydan: I would help that like we did in martial arts, use Vasaline to protect the friction and forces for sparring and surfing. So I am responsible to free associate, lol, since you are semi-conversable.  Smiles.  Ok.

Nash Laville: (In best Marlon Brando impression) "get the butter". Let's see what this place has. There is a place at the end in a tree where the wave starts I've always wanted to see.  I feel like a judge sitting here
Kristen Wrydan: Are you a judge?

Nash Laville: No.
Kristen Wryden: Did you get sleep?

Nash Laville: Yes.
Kristen Wrydan: Sweet.

Nash Laville: I ate.
Kristen Wrydan: Did your diet include all the foods in the pyramid?

Nash Laville: Did you hear? They found some primo camel jerky in the pyramids.
Kristen Wrydan: So the camel get barbecued?  Or actually cured.

Nash Laville: Smoked.
Kristen Wrydan: Yes, smoked.

Nash Laville: With salts. Cured.
Kristen Wrydan: Would be a delicacy.

Nash Laville: Wrapped in mummy cloth? It is! It's the best. Especially the top of the hump.
Kristen Wrydan: My dad smoked camel cigs long time ago.

 Nash Laville: I rest my case. Have you ever judged?
Kristen Wrydan: No.

Nash Laville: Me either, though I have been accused of it.
Kristen Wrydan: I would need to surf in a SLSA comp before I would get in judge school.

Nash Laville: I believe you.
Kristen Wrydan: It's a precious great privilege to have the selection to do. Judge.

Nash Laville: Dig. Just hard to get trained.
Kristen Wrydan: Camera work is required as well as being totally impartial.

Nash Laville: So from what I see now...your take off/ popup / entrance...the first moment into the  wave must really account for a lot.
Kristen Wrydan: And quick eyes and attentive patience with experience as surfer, too.

Nash Laville: I've been practicing
Kristen Wrydan: Great!!

Nash Laville:  But still I keep bellying.
Kristen Wrydan: Remember Nash, the first wave is usually a conservative ride. The last two get it on.

Nash Laville: Dig.  Usually I'll prefer just to sit one out and observe the second one.
Kristen Wrydan: There may a rather vast gulf between soul surfing and comp surfing so experience in comps is required at first to strike big and for judging. First of all, the sim may have a lot of lag due to population, and spikes.

Nash Laville: I got spikes.
Kristen Wrydan: I'm sure you rode in comp before.

Nash Laville: Yeah A fun comp.
Kristen Wrydan: Maybe in the da Chi days?

Nash Laville: Like, 2012. It was for the Montego Fun Comp, it says. I got a trophy.
KrisWryden: OK.  I have been in four comps that didn't SLSA count. I made finals in two.

Nash Laville: Wow.
Kristen Wrydan: Once was at HP5 Crab Island actually.

Nash Laville: Aha, on the Teahupo'o.
Kristen Wrydan: Colleen wanted me there. Yes, I could tear that up today if Leo's (Leogarto Burt) sim was there.  I practiced for almost a year at Crab Island.

Nash Laville: I can rez one for you.
Kristen Wrydan: I have one.

Nash Laville: Let's rezz them BOTH!  I feel like surfing.
Kristen Wrydan:  Ok, I will need to change clothes...or walk like an angel.

Nash Laville: The angel walk sounds nice. Would you like a Chicklet?
Kristen Wrydan: I have Alkloids, ty.

Nash Laville: )
Kristen Wrydan: Oops.  TMI.

Nash Laville: Ahaha. Do you like surf flicks?
Kristen Wrydan: I never watch them. I sometinmes post them on Facebook.

Nash Laville: Woah.
Kristen Wrydan: I get attention when I do (giggles).

Nash Laville: I need to check that out...but you have never watched them? Only post?  Takes a swig of beer.  I just crank up the sunshine.........see the ocean spray a lil....... everything beautiful and bam.....hit  it and carve.
Kristen Wrydan: Flying is hard now since I went to big jetliners.

Nash Laville: But you get more air. What music have you been listening to?
Kristen Wrydan: 21 pilots. Ok, let's surf.  I will change and join you.

Nash Laville: Thank you.
Kristen Wrydan: TY for evening. Word peace.
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Second Life Surfing Association Awards Ceremony and Board of Directors

Photos courtesy Nash Laville

It was tres elegance for the Second Life Surfing Association (SLSA) awards event last Saturday with those attending asked to dress formal and everyone dresssed to a "T".  Check out www.surfslsa.org for details.


Awards ceremony

Current Sitting SLSA Board of Directors
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Surfin' Safari Day 4

Submitted by Solsty Kismet

Another night of driving brings the SLurfers to their next destination. They feel their exhaustion melt away as they begin to unpack camp and check out the latest waves. Shagwong Cove offers a variety of waves, breaking in different spots. Today will be another incredible day of fun, relaxation and surfing!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Amagansett/98/254/21





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SurfWatch Fashion Focus: Tres Chic

Submitted by Valerie Lavender



There's more to the Second Life (SL) surf scene than the wave.  Beaches are full of dudes and babes checking each other out and checking out the latest in beach fashion.  Stay tuned for Valerie's regular series on SurfWatch Beach Fashion.





Hi Beach Babes!



I found this sizzling red hot bikini at the event called "Tres Chic".  It is located at set at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nika/148/141/21 - You still have time to visit as this Tres Chic round does not end until August 10th.  The events are very busy this time of year with all of the summer releases!



Name of Bikini:  ARSNL:  Laced Up Top in Red & ARSNL:Laced Up Bottom in Red - Fatpack and/or other colors available.
Shoes:  in red; MVD Tied Up Shoe Leather - fatpack and/or other colors available.
Model:  Valerie Lavender
Location: Solace Dreams (owned by Second Life Surfing Association)

Hair:  DeLa - "Lacey" in Blondes
Head:  CATWA AnnaGrey
Appliers:  Dee Tale Z Appliers Catwa Head Face Gaby Mixed Type
Body:  Maitreya Lara 3.5
Shape:  Custom by Nash


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Surf Camp HP5 Continues at the Home of Surfing and the SLSA - Solace Dreams

Submitted by Opal Rivers




The HP5 class at the Home of Surfing in SL and the SLSA, Solace Dreams was a full house on a brilliant day for surfing.  With the lag under control the surfers took to the waves to learn a new board and work on their form.
Bodhi Lowtide in the mist


Mick Lunasea showing how it's done

The After Party at Duffy's (Hummingbird Point)

JT Castaneda and Shilow working the wave



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Day 3 on Safari - Lazy Daze Surf Beach

With the sun slowly setting, surfers catch those last waves in the last rays and prepare to snuggle around the fire, fluffing up the sleeping bags for another night under the stars.












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