http://beach.freedomblogging.com The latest news on all things along the 42 miles of beach in Orange County, Calif. Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:31:28 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Surfline.com forecaster Jonathan Warren gives us a look at what the surf will be like this weekend: High pressure centered over the Eastern North Pacific will extend into Southern California over Wednesday through Saturday. As a result, look for calm to light/variable-to-light offshore wind in the mornings, before a light-moderate westerly ... http://beach.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/09/surfline-waves-on-the-way-for-the-weekend/21065/   It seems many of the world's best surfers are experimenting with their equipment more and more these days.  Some guys are making conservative changes with shorter, wider and thicker boards, while others like Channel Islands team riders Kelly Slater and Rob Machado are going pretty extreme. Just recently I came across a photo ... http://beach.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/09/rob-machados-latest-experiment/21053/ Two well-known surfers who could be found on any given day on the sands of Newport Beach passed away in recent days. Mike Marshall, longtime member of the Blackies Surf Club and shaper for Harbour Surfboards, passed away on Feb. 6 in his Costa Mesa home. He was 67. Marshall was among ... http://beach.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/08/saying-goodbye-to-two-blackies-locals/21035/   It's that time again where several amateur surfers from up and down the California coast will be taking over one Orange County surf spot for a couple of days.  The seventh stop of the 2009/2010 Western Surfing Association Gatorade Championship Tour is coming to Surf City this weekend. Some of the regular WSA standouts include: Huntington Beach Grom ... http://beach.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/08/wsa-event-in-hb-this-weekend/21025/ San Onofre State Park officials last week found a North American beaver at the river mouth of the San Mateo Creek near Trestles. According to State Parks officials, the animal was once a native species to the San Mateo Creek area, but were thought to be nearly extinct in the area. Officials speculate that the animal may be related to ... http://beach.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/07/rare-discovery-near-trestles/21017/ Greg Gladstone loved to be outdoors, especially in the ocean, where he felt most at home. It wasn't atypical that dolphins to swim near him, one time nearly knocking him off his board. "He just felt at home there," said his wife, Alex, wiping tears from her eyes. The 38-year-old Newport surfer who ... http://beach.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/06/newport-surfer-who-died-in-big-waves-remembered/21013/ Organizers have postponed the 23rd annual HB Longboard Crew Pier Paddle until next Saturday due to dangerous conditions. Club president Gary Sahagan wrote that high winds and rain put a damper on the event. It will be held at 10 a.m. next Saturday. For those who want to join the race, it is open ... http://beach.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/06/pier-paddle-postponed-due-to-weather/21005/ World-renowned photographer Aaron Chang has been a fixture in the surf scene for many years and in the next week will be unveiling some of his latest work in Surf City USA. "Liquid Lens" is a collaboration of Aaron Chang's most recent photos.  This will be his first ever showing in Orange County.  It all ... http://beach.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/06/aaron-chang-art-reception/20991/ My favorite beach pizza joint, Original Pizza in Newport Beach, is hosting a fund-raiser to raise money for the non-profit Giving it Back to Kids, which helps poor regions in Vietnam. If you're a surfer and looking for some grub after a Newport session, come grab a slice or whole pizza. The ... http://beach.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/05/20983/20983/ If you've been itching to get out and play in some of this ridiculous snow we've been having lately but need some gear, head over to Surfside Sports to check out their Snow-Wide Sale that kicks off today. Get 20 - 25 percent off on brands like Burton, Vans, Lib Tech, 686, ... http://beach.freedomblogging.com/2010/02/05/surfside-sports-holds-snow-blowout-sale/20975/