SANS is seeking assistance in organizing and running its summer and fall contests, and has posted two $2,000 contracts to complete the work. If you think you have the skills to pay the bills, check-out the project descriptions and apply!
CAC member Sean Kelly taunts a pile of trash collected during the Cow Bay Clean-up.
Busted lobster traps, mattresses, chunks of metal and about 15 bags full of trash were collected during the Coastal Access Committee’s annual Cow Bay Beach Clean-up last Sunday.
About 24 volunteers, both surfers and local residents, participated in the event, according to Iaian Archibald, chair of the Coastal Access Committee.
The area covered in the clean-up stretched from Silver Sands Beach (a.k.a. the Moose) to Rainbow Haven Beach.
Until recently, a summer trip to the beach in Nova Scotia was a bit of a tease.
While sitting and sweating on the sand, you could look at the beautiful blue Atlantic waters, but you couldn’t really dive in unless you were interested in feeling the effects of hypothermia.
Thanks to advances in wetsuit technology, it’s now possible to jump in and enjoy water sports like surfing on Canada’s Ocean Playground.
“Surfing is great for people of all ages, shapes and sizes,” says Nova Scotia surf instructor Michelle Richards. “Surfing will help increase your physical fitness, balance and the size of your smile. It also helps reduce stress levels.”
Richards and her surf crew are gearing up for their annual Summer Surf Program at Point Michaud Beach on Cape Breton Island. Read More…
The following letter was written by John Fluke, President of the Canadian Surfing Association (CSA):
Due to economic conditions, the Canadian Surfing Association will not be sending a team to the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games in Costa Rica this July and August.
Over the past five years, Canada has fielded a team at both the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Championship and the ISA World Surfing Games.
Financial sponsorship from Mazda has been used to help offset the cost of sending the best Canadian surfers to these games.
Prior to Mazda’s involvement, Canada would send a team not based on the best surfers but who could afford to go. However, with Mazda’s sponsorship over the last few years, Canada has been able to send the best. This has paid off with Canada moving from the mid 30’s in international ranking to the low 20’s.
Unfortunately, Mazda has been forced to pull its sponsorship due to the worldwide economic meltdown.
We at the CSA hope this is only a small setback and we are working on finding other corporate sponsors for 2010.
John Fluke
CSA President
The Coastal Access Committee (CAC) will be hosting a beach clean-up effort at Cow Bay on Sunday, June 14.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All surfers are encouraged to participate.
The CAC will be hosting further beach clean-ups later in the summer. Dates to be determined.
Local residents say surfers are driving too fast on the road to Martinique Beach.
Like an addict looking for his next fix, the anticipation of getting to the beach and getting wet can be pretty intense for a surfer. Unfortunately, that anticipation can lead to bad behaviour, especially behind the wheel of a car.
A couple of weeks ago, the problem of surfers speeding on the East Petpeswick Road on their way to Martinique Beach was brought up at the Annual General Meeting of the Musquodoboit Harbour Residents and Ratepayers Association (MHR&RA).
“I don’t feel safe walking on the road anymore because of the surfers,” said one resident of East Petpeswick.
Upon making the comment, eyes immediately turned to MHR&RA vice chair Colin Cameron. A well known community activist, Cameron is long time local surfer at Martinique Beach.
“At that moment, I was truly embarrassed to call myself a surfer,” said Cameron. “I have been an active participant in protecting the reputation of the surfers of Martinique within this community for 31 years. Read More…
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A capacity crowd of more than 200 revellers were in attendance at the Seahorse Tavern in Halifax last Friday for Surf Jam.
The benefit concert for the Surfriders Association of Nova Scotia SANS) featured performances by Andrew Hunter and the Gatherers (pictured), Maddison Avenue and Ukulele Mike.
More than $1,700 was raised and about 80 people became SANS members.
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Surfers and guitars seem to go hand in hand these days…then again, maybe they always have.
Andrew Hunter and Keith Maddison, front men for two successful East Coast bands, are both passionate Nova Scotia surfers.
Hunter is the lead vocalist and guitarist of a high-energy three-piece alternative rock band called Andrew Hunter and Gatherers, which has been touring across Canada in recent months.
Maddison is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for a band called Maddison Avenue, a well-known five-member country rock ‘n roll band based in Halifax.
Hunter and Maddison will be leading their respective bands at a benefit concert called Surf Jam hosted by the Surfriders Association of Nova Scotia (SANS) on May 1 at the Seahorse Tavern in Halifax.
Opening the show will be Ukulele Mike, a Cole Harbour native who has been playing the ukulele since he was 10. An award-winning musician, Mike has played in Hawaii, the home of the Ukulele, and has made numerous TV appearances. Read More…
SANS Co-President Justin Huston
Halifax surfer Justin Huston has officially accepted the position of SANS Co-President.
Huston was offered the position after former President Pat Bannister stepped down in March as a result of increased work demands.
When he’s not surfing, Huston works with the province’s department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Also joining the SANS board is Chartered Accountant Duncan Allan, who has officially accepted the position of Treasurer.
A recent report from the Ecology Action Centre (EAC) is urging decision-makers to act now to protect Nova Scotia’s troubled beaches.
The report, titled “On the Front Lines: Strategies for Healthy Beaches in Nova Scotia,” outlines seven bold beach management goals for the province, along with clear recommendations to help reach them.
The goals are as follows:
1. Nova Scotia’s beaches and coastal systems are protected by strong, enforceable laws.
2. Beaches of Nova Scotia have room to respond to coastal change.
3. Diverse wildlife and vegetation communities thrive on Nova Scotia’s beach systems.
4. Nova Scotians continue to responsibly access public beaches
5. Nova Scotia’s communities are directly involved in beach management
6. Relevant beach management information is available and widely used.
7. Leaders work together to protect and promote beach health.
The EAC report calls for a forceful new approach to beach management that considers the whole ecosystem.
It recommends immediate action such as modernizing the Beaches Act, hiring more beach specialists at the Department of Natural Resources, and creating a beach research and advisory network.
To read the comprehensive 12-page report, click here.
