Patagoniacs

BIG WAVE INVITATIONAL IN MEMORY OF EDDIE AIKAU

There it is, the Eddie Aikau contest has been launched. See the website here.
Let's hope that the waves will be there this year and the contest will be spectacular.

The list of lucky ones :

INVITEES: (first name alpha. order) ALTERNATES:

1. Andy Irons (Hawaii) 1. Darrick Doerner (Hawaii)
2. Brian Keaulana (Hawai) 2. Chava Greenlee (Hawaii) Aikau Pick
3. Brock Little (Hawaii) 3. Kalani Chapman (Hawaii)
4. Bruce Irons (Hawaii) 4. Pancho Sullivan (Hawaii)
5. Carlos Burle (Brazil) ** 5. Taylor Knox (California)
6. Clyde Aikau (Hawaii) 6. Reef McIntosh (Hawaii)
7. Darryl Virostko (California) 7. Tony Moniz (Hawaii)
8. Greg Long (California) 8. Garrett McNamara (Hawaii)
9. Ibon Amatriain (Spain) ** 9. Ross Williams (Hawaii)
10. Jamie O'Brien (Hawaii) 10. Dave Wassel (Hawaii)
11. Jamie Sterling (Hawaii) 11. Ian Walsh (Hawaii)
12. Keone Downing (Hawaii) 12. Braden Dias (Hawaii)
13. Jason Ribbink (South Africa) ** 13. Myles Padaca (Hawaii)
14. Kelly Slater (Florida) 14. Anthony Tashnick (California)
15. Makua Rothman (Hawaii) 15. Kala Alexander (Hawaii)
16. Mark Healey (Hawaii) 16. Keoni Watson (Hawaii)
17. Michael Ho (Hawaii) 17. Derek Ho (Hawaii)
18. Noah Johnson (Hawaii) 18. Tom Curren (California)
19. Paul Paterson (Australia) 19. Nathan Fletcher (California)
20. Peter Mel (California) 20. Danny Fuller (Hawaii)
21. Ross Clarke-Jones (Australia) 21. Dustin Barca (Hawaii)
22. Rusty Keaulana (Hawaii) 22. Koby Abberton (Australia)
23. Shane Dorian (Hawaii) 23. Laurie Towner (Australia)
24. Sunny Garcia (Hawaii) 24. Manoa Drollet (Tahiti)
25. Takayuki Wakita (Japan) ** HONORARY INVITEES:
26. Titus Kinimaka (Hawaii) Mark Foo (Hawaii)
27. Tom Carroll (Australia) Todd Chesser (Hawaii)
28. Tony Ray (Australia) Tiger Espere (Hawaii)
Jay Moriarity (California)

Just one thing I do not understand in this list : There is Mark Foo mentioned. As far as I know, unfortunately, Mark Foo died in Mavericks in 1994. But may be this is to honor his memory ? If someone has the answer to this, I would appreciate.

Luxury and green industry process

While I was attending the Moscow supreme Luxury conference, organized by the International Herald Tribune (yes, it's far from surfing in Hawaii or Climbing in Fontainebleau, I know), I noticed that there is a real concern about the environment and the production processes in the Luxury Industry.
It's really good to hear this, and also it's funny to see that Patagonia was really a pioneer in front of brands who have been created almost centuries ago, and so, in some ways, Patagonia may appear as a luxury brand, if we take this criteria into account :-) which may be surprising.
On one hand, it's really good to see that the planet protection is a concern for all these rich people, even if it's hard to say if it's a reality in their mind or only a way to be fashion.
On the other hand, there is a strong risk that these brands use the "green" label as a luxury criteria, and I am definitely puzzled by this, because, ethical and ecological questions are not for the happy-few and it should be a global reflexion at all the levels of societies.
Let's follow up all these ideas and words for the next conference, because Suzy Menkes mentioned several times the idea of having a stronger part about ethical fashion in the next event.
To be continued then ...

Note : if I was there, it was for the launch of a website dedicated to luxury stuff in Russia : www.leluxe.ru.

Auctions for a better planet : 1% auctions

If you are ready to buy a surfboard, the Jack Johnson's guitar, surf lessons, and in the same time, make a good move for the planet, then go there.

I think the one hour helicopter flight is not the best example in the list, because it does not look as a 100% green activity.
I prefer the "One Day Wilderness Survival Clinic with Adventure Out Owner Cliff Hodges"  or the "1% FTP Custom Longboard from Firewire Surfboards"

It's Christmas time, so make a gift, and go green.

Garrett Lisi : Theory of everything ... and surfer !

Seen in Le Monde, an article about Antony Garret Lisi and its "exceptionally simple theory of everything".
I will not enter the debate if it's wrong or right, and by the way I am far from being smart enough to tell if this theory is the answer to one of the latest questions asked by Einstein.
No, I will only point out that this guy is a surfer, and may be, the simplicity of surf and the pure feelings of waves, snow, helped him to figure out how to get a simple view of the world.
May be we can summarize the theory, very simply by :
Surfing is life, rest is detail ! :-)
For those who wants to know more about the theory, download the file and enjoy  !

An exceptionnaly simple theory of everything (pdf file)

Also available at Arxiv.org

WasH20 - Bio wash.

Haier launched a washing machine which does not use any detergent. See here

At first sight, it is a good idea, but here are some issues :

- A full washing cycle lasts 2h30 (a bit longer than the usual cycles with detergents)

- To perfume the clothes, the brand proposes special perfumes which chemical composition is not so green.

So, a good idea, but still some progress to be done to reach a full bio system.

VIDEO LAIRD HAMILTON - 60 minutes

Enjoy  and watch Laird on Yahoo.

Cyberwar in Russia for Women !

The leading website for women in Russia, www.womanjournal.ru, was attacked by hackers who launched a very well organized Denial of Service attack. This attack was very strong and unfortunately the site was unavailable for several hours in the past days.
If the attack was a simple attack, during one night and day, I would have think that this is mainly an isolated action of hackers who wanted to have fun. But, because the attack looked very professional, and is still not ended, I am not afraid to make the following assumptions :
- Competitor(s) wanted to attack the site. Just one week before the attack, the site www.webplanet.ru, published several articles about the new sites of Hachette in Russia, dedicated to women, and the articles pointed out that several strong competitors are entering the race to be the leader on the women's segment. How strange it is, isn't it ?
Personally I do believe that one competitor of  www.Womanjournal.ru is really wanted to take the leading position and want to shoot down the project. Such an attack costs a lot of money if you order it.