Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Sean Collins: Surfline.com founder dies of a heart attack

Sean Collins, founder of surfline.com, has died

Sean Collins, a hall of fame surfer whose online company revolutionized the way surfers tracked waves, has died at the age of 59.

Collins, the founder, president and chief forecaster of Surfline.com, suffered a heart attack while playing tennis Monday in Orange County and died at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian shortly afterward.

Surfer magazine named Collins one of the 25 most influential surfers of the century in 1999, and he was inducted into the Surfers' Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach in 2008. But he attained equal fame, if not greater, as an entrepreneur, the Huntington Beach Independent reported.

In 1995, Collins founded Surfline.com, a website that features free surf reports from around the country. The Huntington Beach-based company became an essential online destination not only for surfers but for lifeguards, the National Weather Service and even branches of the military, who used it to predict ocean conditions.

"Sean's many accomplishments in surf science and forecasting made him one of the most influential surfers of our time," the company declared in a statement. "Surfline's entire staff -- as well as countless surfers worldwide -- are in a state of shock at the news."
Surfline installed live webcams at seaside locations around the world to provide online viewers with a real-time look at conditions. In an interview with the Independent earlier this year, Collins said he initially created the site because he personally wanted to know where the best waves were, but it quickly became apparent that he wasn't the only interested party.

"Most young people today have grown up in the Internet age," Collins said. "They don't realize what it was like in the '70s and '80s. Before we had Surfline, it was really like the Dark Ages. It was hard to find data to forecast storms, let alone swells. Basically, you had to rely on satellite information and usually half the satellites were down."

A Southern California native and Seal Beach resident, Collins began surfing at the age of 8. After graduating from Wilson High School in Long Beach, he attended Long Beach City College and worked as a professional photographer, waiter and bartender.

Along the way, he developed a passion to complement his surfing: poring through the National Weather Service library and studying faxes from around the world to predict swells. In 1984, he joined a fledgling company called Surfline, which offered surf forecasts by phone, then left to start a rival company called Wavetrak.

Collins bought out Surfline in 1990 and, five years later, launched its online version. According to the website, nearly 1.5 million people visit it every month.

Aaron Pai, the owner of Huntington Surf & Sport, said Collins had a revolutionary effect on the surfing world.

"He was a great person, a great family man and a great friend of ours," he said. "We're truly going to miss him. He changed the way surfers chased waves over the last few decades and really influenced a whole entire generation of surfers on being able to track swells and plan their work schedules and holidays and trips."

Collins is survived by his wife, Daren, and sons, Tyler and A.J.

Monday, December 26, 2011

The best waterproof surf cameras in the world

Waterproof surf cameras have become part of the surfer's gear and equipment. In the last decade, digital photo and video cameras have been improved and upgraded to fit the wave riding needs. Today, it's easy to capture the essence of surfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing and bodyboarding, right in the center of the action.
Waterproof surf cameras provide a great legacy for surfers. Riders can now review their position on the surfboard, can fine-tune their surf tricks and correct future positions and wave decisions.
Digital cameras for water sports have special features and must meet a handful of surf requirements. Portability, wearability, quality of the images and videos, weight and digital compatibility are the most important things you must confirm before buying a digital surf camera.
There are more options that you might imagine. Filming and photographing waves and surfing is more than just mounting a small camera on a surfboard and clicking the record button. As your enthusiasm in water surf capture grows, you might think of better professional immersive water cameras.
The GoPro HD Hero2 Surf Edition is one the best waterproof digital surf cameras for capturing yourself. You can mount the camera on your surfboard or carry it in your chest and helmet. Its full 170ยบ wide angle 1080p video and 11 megapixel photos will do the rest. Great to impress girls and surf rivals.
SeaLife DC1200 is a great waterproof camera for those who would love to kick off a surf career as a surf photographer. This underwater digital camera offers 12-megapixel results and vibrant colors to make photos you will never forget. It was depth tested to 200 ft and has a great flash option.
The FLIR Thermal Night Vision Camera is for futurists of surf photography. With this surf gem, you can capture high quality maritime surf sessions, in total darkness. It requires no light at all.
The Nikon CoolPix AW100 is waterproof and shockproof camera prepared for all water battles. The quality of the glass lens allows three shots in one second and Full HD (1080p) movies. The Aqua Vu Micro is the size of a smartphone and automatically turns two invisible infrared lights on and off depending on light conditions. A small and versatile option for surfers.
The Intova IC14 is ideal for capturing fast moving subjects underwater. It offers waterproof protection to 180 feet/54 meters 52 mm lens barrel for additional filters and accessories. The Pentax Optio WG-1 is more than just a waterproof camera. It also offers a GPS functionality for positional data recording of the exact places where the photo was taken. With a 14 megapixel sensor and 5x optical zoom, it delivers stunning results in the line-up.
For more information visit:

Surfboard Size Chart


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You have finally decided to buy yourself a new or your first surfboard.
The problem is: what size? what shape? A shortboard, a funboard, a longboard or even a SUP?

First of all, you have to choose the board based on your weight and your level of experience.
Of course, height and objectives are also relevant but you should focus on the above issues.

Now, check the following table. It is a surfboard size chart.
If you would like to convert Kg to Lbs, please note that 1kg is equal to 2,2 lbs.
SHORTBOARD

Shortboard

Beginner
Intermediate
Your Weight
45 - 63 kg
63 - 72 kg
72 - 81 kg
81 - 90 kg
+ 90 kg
Your Board
6' 2" - 6' 4"
6' 4" - 6' 8"
6' 6" - 6' 10"
6' 10" - 7' 4"
+ 7' 4"
Your Weight
45 - 63 kg
63 - 72 kg
72 - 81 kg
81 - 90 kg
+ 90 kg
Your Board
6' 0" - 6' 4"
6' 2" - 6' 6"
6' 4" - 6' 8"
6' 8" - 7' 2"
7' 2" +

FISH
Fish Surfboard

Beginner
Intermediate
Your Weight
45 - 63 kg
63 - 72 kg
72 - 81 kg
81 - 90 kg
+ 90 kg
Your Board
6' 1" - 6' 4"
6' 3" - 6' 8"
6' 5" - 6' 10"
6' 9" - 7' 4"
+ 7' 8"
Your Weight
45 - 63 kg
63 - 72 kg
72 - 81 kg
81 - 90 kg
+ 90 kg
Your Board
5' 10" - 6' 2"
5' 10" - 6' 2"
6' 4" - 6' 7"
6' 8" - 7' 2"
7' 6" - 8'

FUNBOARD / MALIBU
EVOLUTION
Funboard
Beginner
Intermediate
Your Weight
45 - 63 kg
63 - 72 kg
72 - 81 kg
81 - 90 kg
+ 90 kg
Your Board
7' 2" - 7' 4"
7' 4" - 7' 6"
7' 6" - 7' 8"
7' 8"
+ 7' 8"
Your Weight
45 - 63 kg
63 - 72 kg
72 - 81 kg
81 - 90 kg
+ 90 kg
Your Board
7' 0 – 7' 2"
7' 2 – 7' 4"
7' 6"
7' 7"
7' 8"

LONGBOARD
Longboard

Beginner
Intermediate
Your Weight
45 - 63 kg
63 - 72 kg
72 - 81 kg
81 - 90 kg
+ 90 kg
Your Board
9' 2'' – 9' 4''
9' 4'' – 9' 6''
9' 6'' – 9' 8''
9' 8'' - 10'
+ 10'0
Your Weight
45 - 63 kg
63 - 72 kg
72 - 81 kg
81 - 90 kg
+ 90 kg
Your Board
9' 0 – 9' 2''
9' 0 – 9' 2''
9' 4 – 9' 6''
9' 4 – 9' 6''
10' 0''

SUP
Stand Up Paddleboard

Beginner
Intermediate
Your Weight
45 - 63 kg
63 - 72 kg
72 - 81 kg
81 - 90 kg
+ 90 kg
Your Board
10' 0'' – 10' 8''
10' 0'' – 10' 8''
11' 3'' – 12''
11' 8'' – 12''
11' 11'' - 12'
Your Weight
45 - 63 kg
63 - 72 kg
72 - 81 kg
81 - 90 kg
+ 90 kg
Your Board
10' 0'' – 10' 6''
10' 0'' – 10' 6''
11' 0'' – 11' 6''
11' 0'' – 11' 6''
11' 11'' - 12'
Enjoy and respect everyone!