Dean Petty hangs five at the 2010 Why Can't We All Just Get A Longboard Contest at Martinique Beach on Saturday. Petty went on to win the men's dvision while Cape Breton's Michelle Richards won the women's division.

Despite a grim forecast, the surf gods showed pity on Nova Scotia and delivered ideal conditions for the inaugural Why Can’t We All Just Get A Longboard Contest at Martinique Beach on Saturday.

Light offshore breezes combined with small but clean longboard waves to supply plenty of stoke for the 25 or so contestants who participated in the contest.

And in a Nova Scotia rarity, the water was so warm most contestants left their wetsuits on the beach and surfed comfortably in boardshorts and bikinis.

In the men’s division, Dean Petty took top honours, followed by Justin Huston and Brian Villeneuve. On the women’s side, Cape Breton’s Michelle Richards captured first followed by Jill Manos and Sylvie Julien (aged 14).

Sam Julien, aged 10, competed in the men’s division and was awarded a trophy for the youngest competitor in the contest.

The contest was graciously sponsored by Quiksilver/Roxy, Happy Dudes Surf Emporium, and the Surfing Association of Nova Scotia (SANS).

The contest was graciously sponsored by QuiksilverRoxy, Happy Dudes Surf Emporium, Steve-O-Reno’s (coffee), and the Surfing Association of Nova Scotia (SANS).

Special thanks to all volunteers and judges who took part including Rob, Vic, Marcelle, Maya, Corey and John.

It’s that time of year again for the Point Michaud Surf Classic. The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29.
This is a fun surf contest, free for any surf student of the summer surf program at Point Michaud Beach. Registration is also open to non-students for a fee of $10. This includes entry into all divisions and activities.

All events will run on Saturday and include divisions in Surf Open: Women’s, Men’s, Junior Girls, Junior Boys, Kids and Masters.

Other divisions will include kayak surf, skim board, body surf expression session (team), body board, stand-up paddle, open longboard, open shortboard and surfboard team relay.

Saturday’s Schedule:

• 9 a.m. – Set up
• 10 a.m. – Registration
• 10:30 a.m. – Group Photo
• 11 a.m. – Start of divisions. Order will depend on which divisions are ready to go at that time. We are flexible so if you have to leave early we will get your divisions under way first). Each division is completed after the 20-minute heat. It is also the final so every one will enter the water at the same time in that particular division. Other ongoing activities include beach volleyball, BBQ and lifeguard demonstrations.
• Around 4 or 5 p.m. – Awards Ceremony
• Evening – Surf party at 391 Shore Road, Lower L’ardoise. Camp-out or stay in the 130-year old surf house. BBQ will be available, so pick up your food and beverages at the L’ardoise General and Liquor Store one-minute away. Musical guests to be announced.

Sunday’s Schedule:

This is a flexible day. We will either run some of the divisions again just for fun or have a fun beach day to enjoy the surf. Surf tent, volleyball nets and BBQ will be available to use.

The forecast is calling for bigger waves this day so if Chapel Cove in L’ardoise is breaking, we may have an expression session there.

Contact Michelle Richards/Point Michaud surf report line at (902) 227-1230 for more info or to leave a message.

Check out our new website at SurfPointMichaud.com or our Facebook group at
Surf Point Michaud.

To all potential prize sponsors:

This event is a success every year because of your generous prize donations and volunteer efforts by our community. If you have any prizes big or small you would like to donate for the 7th Annual Point Michaud Surf Classic it will be greatly appreciated.

All prize sponsors names will appear on the certificates handed out to the participants. All prizes will remain on display in the prize tent until award time.

Thanks again and see you at the beach,

Michelle Richards

Click image to see poster

No aggro, no drama, only good karma.

The first ever “Why Can’t We All Just Get A Longboard” Contest will take place on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at Martinique Beach.

The contest is being presented by Happy Dudes Surf Emporium and the Surfing Association of Nova Scotia (SANS) and sponsored by Quicksilver/Roxy.

The contest will feature men’s and women’s divisions and possibly a masters’ division. Those who would like to participate can sign up at Martinique Beach at 9 a.m. on the day of the contest. Cost to enter is $20.

Following the contest, there will be a barbecue at the Happy Dudes Martinique location.

“We expect to see a lot of people from past summers. They’ve been waiting all year to get back out and ride the waves. They will be bringing family members and friends to share their excitement and love of the activity,” says head surf instructor Michelle Richards.

The surf program has grown immensely every year since it’s start in 2002. This year will be no exception. With the increase popularity of Point Michaud beach the Richmond County Council past the motion to have life guard service in place for the summer; $15,000 has been funded to build a lifeguard station and operated this lifeguard service.

There will now be designated surf and swim zones. Point Michaud has 3km of usable beach for surfing and swimming. The majority of the people enter the water in front of the parking lot area. Only this area will be sectioned and designating accordingly.

“This will be a good thing,” says Richards. “We really don’t want swimmers getting run over and hit by the surfboards. The boards have large fins on the bottom, which people forget about. Surfboards also have up to 20 feet of reach from the surfer when control is lost.

“Swimmers can now go in the safer swim zone if they choose to be supervised by a trained lifeguard. They also have the option of the remaining long section of sand beach.”

The lifeguards for oceans need more training then other lifeguards. The county has hired three lifeguards, whom have been on duty since July 1. This date also coincided with the start of the surf program.

For anyone wishing to participate in the surf program offered, lessons are 1.5 hours and include a wetsuit, board and surf instructor. The registration fee is $35 for each person. Alternatively, individuals can sign up for a package of four lessons at $100.

For those just looking for surf gear they can rent a wetsuit and surfboard for $15 an hour or one of these items at $10 per hour.

The Department of Natural Resources constructed a 12 x 20 wood platform in addition to the Life Guard Station for this summer. The platform is located at the end of the parking lot beside the boardwalk, showers and change rooms. This is where all surf registrations will be received.

It is advised to call the Surf Report line (902) 227-1230 before driving to the beach. Classes will run everyday from July 1 to August 31 but are cancelled on days of extreme wind, lightning and/or heavy rain. .

“If the message says tell your boss you need the day off because you have surf fever, that means the surf is pumping and you better get to the beach,” says Richards.

Joining Richards this year will be returning surf instructors Matt O’brien and Christopher Oake. Also helping in the surf tent will be Nicole Boudreau.

The program has lowered it’s age to anyone five years of age or older.

“I’ve really master the technique for getting small children to ride waves,” says Richards. “I ride on the back of the board with them. If they are progressing then I let go of the board once they are balanced. I’m close by if they do fall and will scoop them up quickly to place them back on the board.”

Point Michaud is one of the best spots to learn how to surf in Nova Scotia. Because of the shallow sandy bottom that rolls with sandbar after sand bar it produces mellow waves and provides ideal and consistent waves for everyone.

Michelle Richards is a professional surf instructor. In addition to running the surf program for eight summers at Point Michaud with the Richmond County Recreation Department, she has been surf instructing in Sayulita, Mexico during the winter season for the past four years.

“I am fortunate to guide a lot of surf trips when in Mexico. I take people to unique beautiful places to learn how to surf. Many places we travel to by boat, as you can not drive right to them.”

Richards was a big winner in Sayulita this year winning the local Sayulita Surf Contest in women’s longboard. She also placed third in a Pro Event hosted by Punta Sayulita.

“Those contests were exciting. It was a great way to end my season in Mexico before returning home. The large trophy was a bit tricky to pack.”

Point Michaud will also host a surf contest the last weekend of August. The two-day event will be the 7th Annual Point Michaud Surf Classic for 2010. It is a fun event that encourages everyone to participate.

Divisions are offered in everything from skim, body and surf boarding to kayak and body surfing. Saturday night the rock band Double Overhead will entertain with a rock show.

“We are happy that Double Overhead will be performing for their third time at the surf classic. They truly do rock,” says Richards.

The band is quickly becoming one of the most popular bands of Richmond and Inverness County on Cape Breton Island.

Band vocalist and guitar player John Kennedy is one of the original surfers of Point Michaud and still loves to hit the beach for some waves. You can find a photo of him and his family surfing online at in the Cape Breton’s Heritage Coast Visitor’s Guide. The Guide has lots of other activities and events happening in the area.

“We have been very fortunate to have the Richmond County Department of Recreation, Tourism and Culture support the Summer Surf Program at Point Michaud Beach. We now have many surf enthusiast in the area because of it,” says Richards. “See you at the beach.”

The 2010 Billabong September Storm Surf Classic contest will take place September 4-6, 2010. If conditions are not suitable, the event will be postponed until the following weekend. Here are the following categories for the contest:

• Boys Under 16 (can’t be older than 15 on Jan 01, 2010)
• Boys Under 18 (can’t be older the 17 on Jan 01, 2010)
• Girls Under 18 (can’t be older the 17 on Jan 01, 2010)
• Men’s Amateur Short board
• Women’s Short board
• Groms 10 and under fun surf
• Open Pro

There will be a maximum of 20 spots for Open Pro, which will have a prize purse of $2,500. There will be a maximum of 80 spots for non-pro divisions.

Registration: Open from Aug. 1-Aug. 14, 2010. You can register and any of the below surf shops:

• Dacane Surf Shop
• Entity Boardshop
• If Only Surf Shop
• Kannon Beach Surf Shop
• Rossignol Surf Shop
• Out of town people can sign up by sending an email to canadiansurfing@yahoo.com

Cost is $25 for all classes, except for Open Pro which is $50.

Heats will be posted after registration closes on Aug. 14 on www.surfns.com

One Life Surfari, Nova Scotia’s annual women’s surf competition, takes place on Saturday, August 14, 2010 at Lawrencetown Beach.

This year’s competition, organized by the One Life Surf School, will be coupled with the Surfing Association of Nova Scotia’s (SANS) Costume Expression Session.

The One Life competition will include three categories: shortboard (under 7-foot boards), longboard and junior (under18). The cost to register is $20 for one category, and $10 for each additional category. This contest counts as a points qualifier for 2011 ISA World Surfing Games.

The SANS Costume Expression Session is open to teams of teams of three to four surfers (guys and/or gals). The cost to register for the expression session is $10.

An after party will be announced.

If surf conditions are poor, the back-up date for the competition is Sunday, August 15.

Register by emailing janine@onelifesurf.com, call 880-7873 (SURF) or stop in at Kannon Beach Surf Shop!

Sponsors for the event include Billabong, Kannon Beach Surf Shop, One Life Surf and SANS.

The Surf Art Project which is taking place at Camp Brunswick in East Chezzetcook from July 23-31.

Ten teenagers from the Eastern Shore are getting a crash course in all things surfing during a nine-day youth camp which is taking place at Camp Brunswick in East Chezzetcook.

The camp, called the Surf Art Project, is being supported by local surf artists and surfers, who are mentoring teens ages 14 to 19 as they learn to shape and sand their own boards, design the art which will decorate their board, and learn to surf.

Led by expert shaper Brent Seamone, local surfer/educator Juel Maerz and HRM Recreation instructor Jenny Thornhill, the program was designed by the Nova Scotia Sea School, an organization devoted to promoting Maritime seafaring traditions and values to young people.

Now in its second year, the goal of the Surf Art Project is to provide youth with a life-changing opportunity to work as a team and push their personal limits as they build something beautiful and functional with their own hands.

Another goal is to inspire community development while focusing on creative art and recreation.

With the generous support of The 4Cs Community Arts Foundation and local partner HRM Recreation, the program utilizes the talents of local surf culture including the Quiksilver Surfschool, One Life Surf School, Burnside Fiberglass Marine Supply, Fist Fulla Fives, the Surfing Association of Nova Scotia (SANS) and numerous volunteer artists, shapers, surfers and youth alumni from the 2009 program.

“This is an amazing opportunity for participants. They not only get to build their own surfboard, but they are building great memories and relationships that will last a lifetime!” said Doug Murphy, Community Recreation Coordinator for HRM.

“They say Nova Scotia is Canada’s Atlantic Playground, and this program introduces the ocean as a whole new place for youth to play, right in their own backyards!”

This year, the Nova Scotia Sea School and its partners have incorporated new creative elements into the program including video/photo documentation, zines, and surfboard art.

Surf art by Daina Deblette Scarola

The closing reception of Beaches and Blossoms art exhibition takes place this Saturday, July 24 from 6-8 p.m. at the Seaforth Community Hall, 6060 Highway 207, Seaforth, Nova Scotia.

The exhibition, part of the the Seaforth Local Art Series, features artworks by Daina Deblette Scarola, who will be present at the reception. Original artwork, Giclee prints and art cards will be available for sale.

The event is public event and children are welcome.

Created by four Nova Scotian surfers, the CSFF will be a celebration of surf films and Canadian surf culture. The three-day event will include screenings, presentations and receptions.

“When I hear about a surf film screening in town, I get excited,” says Keith Maddison, CSFF co-founder. “Everyone shows up and is stoked to be there. So we wanted to create an event around surf films in our community.”

Renown surf photographer and filmmaker Yassine Ouhilal is also a co-founder of the festival.

“Surfing in Nova Scotia has been around here since the Sixties and with the CSFF, we will honor that heritage by showcasing classic films as well as exciting new releases,” says Ouhilal.

Included in the CSFF will be a competition for Canadians to create short 10-minute surf films with the best ones premiering at the festival.

“We want the community to be involved,” says Walter Forsyth, another CSFF founder, “and what better way to participate than to make a film.”

Deadline for submissions is September 3. For complete details, check out the recently-launched CSFF website.

The Canadian Surf Film Festival is also partnering with the Surfing Association of Nova Scotia (SANS) and the Coastal Access Committee to help raise awareness of their efforts.

“We would like to see the local surf culture to continue evolving in positive ways and we think an annual festival can contribute to this,” says Maddison. “Plus, if the ocean is flat, it’s the next best thing.”

In addition to festival details, the CSFF website includes a forum for surfers and surf culture enthusiasts to discuss surf films and culture and to promote their own surf art. It will be updated frequently in the coming months.

For more information, sponsorship, volunteer or competition details please email: info@canadiansurffilmfestival.com