New School

Submitted by Mick Lunasea

JT (Castenea) was pissing on about his skinh.  He was not in-world, afk (away from keyboard), he makes me belly laugh.  The main fire in front of the factory to me is the crossroads of Second Life (SL) surfing. As I sat with Rob (Robin Mapp) in '07 at Surf City, I sit today with JT watching SL pass by.  We've seen it all.  Then Barbie found us.

Connie (Countess DeCosta) has had a free surf class every Friday 6:pm-ish for years. Connie and I were decorating the surf school building one day at One Love Beach, and she asks if I want to be an instructor.  I say sure. She decides to makes up online surf instructor signs.  Me, the cranky old surf factory proprietor, says, "Let's charge, maybe go shopping or pay toward tier, heheh".  Connie, in her sexy way, says, ''Nooh, Mick, a fee, noo''. "DO IT", I insisted. I say, "We are surfing escorts.  We charge escort rates L$500 30 minutes."  We never forced it, ok? Connie blew off the fee but, hey, why not?  I'm a pirate.

Seated next to the campfire smoldering of garbage strumming my guitar, I see the incoming cloud. Real Deal tiara. Annette surf movie hair, bling etc.  I'm waiting for Ken. From now on, I'm requiring pre reqs. For instruction, watch Endless Summer twice. Come in a swim or birthday suit. We are surfbums.  Why us?  Why?  You're kidding, right?  Come on, who's alt?  The crazy name choice, atlasshrugged? WTF is that, the paint brand guy? She points to my sign. ''Is that your fee?" With no hesitation, "Yes, ma'am, it is."  I'm thinking she's crazy when 500Linny pop into my thank you box. I'm a shocked and embarrassed surf hobo. Usally people pop in, hop on a surfboad and go. If asked, we tell 'em, ''Arrow keys, like walking.  Hang around, you learn more."

Teddy Bear wants to learn every surfboard used in SLSA competitions (5), every contest location, every nuance, understand any and all procedures related to the SLSA surfing contest, period. Teddy wants to be a pro surf champion.

Photo courtesy JT Castena

We chat.  She's smart, funny cute.  I tease, flirt. She's all business. She's a sponge.  Now I'm back in surf school learning, viewing her documentation, SL power point meetings, diagrams, notes, notations, statistics that were overwhelming in a good way. That was just after the 1st lesson, I swear to huey.

With her infectious youth, engergy and good nature she has inspired us.  JT and Connie jumped in sharing their years of SL surf instruction. Almost 30+ yrs of SL surf experience has been dropped on her. She has survived SL family squabbles, drama, pain, sorrow and joy. Teddy has taken it in stride practicing every morning and night fully focused on one goal.

I'm 10 yrs going on 11 as a pro rider.  I think Teddy is the most devoted pro surfer I have ever met. She's not shy surfing using full power mode, peddle to the metal baby, great to watch.  All I know for certain is Teddy, Figger (Arun), Curshaw (MacTagairt) and me as a team were 3rd Season 1, 2017, and 1st now in Season 2, 2017, a first for Surfcrazy.  Thanks, kids.

Team Surfcrazy thanks all bronze and silver sponsors, staff, security, marshals, judges, event coordinators, riders, SLSA directors and members. Best of luck to all in the HP5 Pro. Anything's possible.  Enjoy.


Oh yeah, leave the tiara at home.

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