Hi everyone! Happy 2012! It's been a whirlwind of projects, events, trips, and overall life for me these past few months. I'm a strong believer in not only working hard, but playing hard, too. So, often times, I'm out and about on what I like to call a "workcation". The good, the bad, and the ugly. Gotta get it all done, right? So, anyway, I apologize if it seemed as if I slipped off the face of the earth. As many of you already know by now, Hawaii was a huge success as far as getting together the old and the new vanguard of the Wave Warriors. It was great! Though there were some people who plumb forgot about the get-together (Derek Ho and Gavin Beschen!) or were too sick to attend (Shane Beschen) or didn't even know they were invited (Dusty Payne), and others who, unfortunately, weren't on the North Shore to take part of it (Archy ...

Christian, Greyson and I will be taking off for Europe soon. We'll be traveling with Julian Schnabel, surfing, going to various events, getting some good culture in us, working on some art. Just making the best out of a great opportunity for pretty much the whole month of September. [caption id="attachment_1447" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Julian and Greyson during some down time in New York."][/caption] [caption id="attachment_1448" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Summer in New York 2011"][/caption]

When we weren't shuttling around from one event to another ("Flip Flops and Popsicles" art presentation at the Tripoli Gallery, and the Hamptons International Film Festival showing of "Savage Beast" and "Supernatural"), our down time was spent hanging out with Julian Schnabel at his palatial Manhattan digs. While I loved checking out the breathtaking view of the Empire State Building from Julian's living room, and watching Courtney Love dance (per my request) and strum her guitar at Julian's outdoor art studio, after an intense day of skateboarding, Christian and Greyson enjoyed beating down the summer heat by lounging around and swimming in the Schnabel family pool. Or maybe I should clarify. Greyson so much didn't lounge around and swim; He ran and leaped into thin air, literally making a lasting impression with his photogenic splashes. Look at him. He's having the time of his life! [caption id="attachment_1413" align="alignnone" width="401" caption="Ready to launch."]...

[caption id="attachment_1368" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Flip Flops and Popsicles"][/caption] Press Release The Tripoli Gallery invites you to the opening reception of Flip Flops and Popsicles, a group exhibition featuring Eric Cahan, Herbie Fletcher, Eric Freeman, Morgan Pearse, Emmett Shine, Gordon Stevenson, and Darius Yektai. Opening reception for the artists is Saturday, July 2nd, from 5pm to 8pm at the Tripoli Gallery of Contemorary Art, 30 Jobs Lane, Southampton, NY 11968

Quiksilver recently flew out Christian and I to New York for a promotional kick-off and VIP book party. The book is a collaboration by Jamie Brisick and Mike Moir and is entitled, "The Eighties At Echo Beach". It features a colorful cast of characters (including Christian tearing it up as a grom) with, what else?... Astrodeck on their boards, all along that stretch of water and sand popularized in Newport. The book has imagery that can be described as nothing but full-on '80s attitude and glam, in and out of the water. While we were in New York, I got to demonstrate on how to apply Astrodeck. Check out that Pottz Front Foot pad! Haven't seen one of those in awhile, huh? And look at the boards, too. How's that for New Wave retro? Pretty cool, right? I don't care how long I've been doing this and how many times I've applied ...