Month: December 2022

“Beginning to Run Out of Air”: American Surfing Icon Suffered a Two-Wave Hold-Down on One of the Most Deadly Waves in the World in 2010

On: By: Jeffrey Green

The sport of surfing is regarded widely for its commendable surfing prompts. But, at the same time surfing is infamous for taking its athletes down into the infinity of the ocean. For instance, in 1994, legendary big-wave surfer, Mark Foo fell prey to the ocean and drowned in its expanse. Likewise, in 2010, the American big-wave surfer, Shane Dorian was about to lose his life in a harrowing wipeout, but fortunately, was rescued. And, owing to his close call with death, Dorian devised a tool that aids in surfing safety.

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The Mavericks wave is one of the most ferocious waves that one can surf. To surf Mavericks, one needs to undergo a rigorous training regime. This includes breathing exercises since it is difficult to hold one’s breath in, for a long time under a big wave. But now, the world of surfing has an aid that provides safety to big-wave surfers. And for that, all brownie points go to the 50-year-old surfer, Shane Dorian, who invented the safety jacket following his own terrifying encounter. Let’s uncover the story behind Dorian’s invention.

Shane Dorian’s near-death wipeout inspired him to invent a surfing safety aid

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In an interview with Men’s Journal, the 50-year-old, Hawaiian surfer shared every nook and cranny of his vicious encounter with death while surfing Mavericks in California. Recalling the episode, Dorian stated, “That wipeout is still the heaviest surf experience I have had”.

Shane further added details to the incident by saying, “I was already beginning to run out of air when the second wave hit me”. The surfer thought he was definitely “going to drown”. However, he was rescued as he resurfaced from the depths.

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His escape from the clutches of the ocean inspired him to invent an inflatable life jacket in order to improve surfing safety. Evidently, he didn’t want anyone else to suffer the same way that he did. 

How does Dorian’s life Jacket work?

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Shane designed the surfing suits by keeping in mind a general idea of aircraft life jackets. Dorian’s wetsuit contains a CO2 cartridge that helps a surfer to blow air in the jacket underwater. This helps surfers to easily come back to the surface.

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Shane’s life-threatening incident might have shaken him to the core but his positive outlook towards his adversity proved to be a boon for the world of surfing. Interestingly, Dorian has surfed more dangerous waves after the Mavericks, including the Billabong Pipeline wave. What do you think about his winning drive? Give us your thoughts in the comment section below.

Watch This Story: Kelly Slater’s IG following Shows He Still Follows Supermodel Ex Girlfriend Gisele Bundchen As Well As Former Hubby Tom Brady

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Historic ‘Iron Riders’ Military Bicycle Unit to Join Rose Parade – Pasadena Now

On: By: Jeffrey Green
Left: Buffalo Soldier re-enactors Bobby McDonald, Ron Jones and C.F. Brown pay homage to a small group of soldiers from the 25th infantry regiment known as the Iron Riders. [The American Legion] Right: To avoid thick mud and soft sand, the soldiers also walked their bikes along railroad tracks in actual 1897 event. [National Archives]

The New Buffalo Soldiers are participating at this year’s Rose Parade in Pasadena. Riding bicycles, Buffalo Soldiers reenactors, in full uniform, will lead the horseback entry at the upcoming parade.

The group, organized in 1992 as a historical interpretation group, represents the 10th Regiment, Company H of the United States (U.S.) Cavalry. 

Riding donated Spalding bicycles, the Buffalo Soldiers left Fort Missoula, Montana on June 14, 1897,  embarking on a 1,900-mile odyssey to St. Louis, Missouri.

During their 41-day journey, the Black infantrymen had averaged nearly 56 miles per day over the most primitive roads imaginable. 

They  pedaled up mountains, through forests, over deserts and snow, and across rivers. 

This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Buffalo Soldier Bicycle Corps’ epic 1,900-mile bicycle ride.

According to the Tournament of Roses’ website, the group’s goal is to portray accurate historical recreation of the history and the lives of the Buffalo Soldiers, officially known as the 25th Infantry Regiment Bicycle Corps – who participated in the U.S. Army during the post-Civil War period.

Joining the group in the equestrian category are 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment (Fort Hood, Texas), Alameda County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse (Livermore, California), Blue Shadows Mounted Drill Team (Lake View Terrace, California), Budweiser Clydesdales (St. Louis, Missouri), CA State Guard 26th Mounted Operations Detachment (Long Beach, California), International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association (Birmingham, Alabama), Los Hermanos Banuelos (Altadena, California) and Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers (Citrus Heights, California). 

Ramona, California’s Official State Outdoor Play Presented by the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre (Hemet, California), Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Unit (Nuevo, California), Scripps Miramar Ranch (San Diego, California), Spirit of the West Riders (Arcadia, California), The New Buffalo Soldiers (Shadow Hills, California), The Valley Hunt Club (Pasadena, California), The Norco Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team (Norco, California) and United States Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard (Barstow, California) will also be marching at the 2023 Rose Parade. 

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SamTrans grants funds for bikeways

On: By: Jeffrey Green

At its final meeting of 2022, the San Mateo County Transportation Authority Board of Directors allocated $980,000 to construct a segment of bike and pedestrian pathways connecting the Naomi Patridge Trail on the east side of Cabrillo Highway to the Midcoast multimodal trail currently under construction by the county.

The award to the coast is one of 25 projects approved by SamTrans to improve bicycle and pedestrian access and safety throughout the county.

More than $21 million generated by the Measure W half-cent sales tax will

fund the projects. The measure that was passed by voters in 2018 generates funding for transportation projects. Half of the income produced by the

tax, about $40 million per year, is managed by SamTrans for transit operations.

The new Coastside segment will extend the eastside path from its current terminus near the entrance to Rocket Farms at Roosevelt Boulevard north to Mirada Road. When the city and county segments are completed, a bike path separated from the highway will run continuously from downtown Half Moon Bay to Pillar Point Harbor. To make that journey cyclists must cross the highway twice using signaled intersections at Ruisseau Francais Avenue and at Coronado Street

As part of a long-range plan to improve transportation on the coast, the county hopes to continue the path beyond its current eastside end point at Coronado Street, eventually reaching Montara. Until then, cyclists who want to avoid the highway can navigate northward from the harbor on routes such as Airport Street.

The grants also include $583,504 to the city of Pacifica for improvements and extensions of bike paths on Palmetto and Esplanade avenues as well as a marked connection between the two streets on West Avalon Drive. The improvements will include replacing faded lane striping with path markings that meet current standards for shared roadways. 

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1 night in coastal paradise: Why The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is worth a points splurge – The Points Guy

On: By: Jeffrey Green

I’ve read that The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay in Northern California is a bucket list redemption for points and miles enthusiasts — but compared to all of the incredible resorts around the world, I truthfully thought people must have been exaggerating.

As someone who lives in California’s Bay Area, I have a habit of forgetting that I live in one of the most beautiful regions in the world and took for granted that The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay was only about a one-hour drive from my home, giving me an excuse to go see if it lived up to the hype for myself.

From Ritz-Carltons to Four Seasons and Waldorf Astorias, there is a certain level of expectation when staying at a luxury property — and mine was high. But I have to say, my short, one-night stay at the seaside resort this past fall was magical from the moment we turned the corner onto the property.

Here’s a quick take on what I loved about The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay and why you should consider a visit.

Location, location, location

ASHLEY ONADELE/THE POINTS GUY

Half Moon Bay is a short 30-minute drive south of San Francisco International Airport (SFO). It is home to Sam’s Chowder House, a popular seaside seafood restaurant, and legendary surfing since waves are known to get as tall as 6 feet in the waters off the coast of Half Moon Bay. We certainly weren’t in the city to surf, though we did stop at Sam’s Chowder House for takeout on the beach before heading home on our way out of town.

There’s a lot to gush over at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay itself, but the view of the Northern California coast has to be at the top of the list. The drive to the hotel from our home in the East Bay included a short drive on the legendary Highway 1 — luckily on the non-stomach-turning portion. The hotel is about a 10-minute drive from the highway, set just past a residential area on the coast’s edge.

Related: How I spent $0 using points and miles on an epic Highway 1 road trip

The hotel

As you pull up to the hotel, there is a required stop before entering the grounds where someone checks your name for a reservation before allowing you to drive to the front entrance. A valet was graciously waiting to help us with our luggage, ask if we’d been to the property before and wish us well during our stay.

The hotel lobby actually took my breath away the first time I saw it. Past the tall glass doors of the hotel’s entrance, we were greeted by a crystal chandelier surrounded by autumn-colored flowers and greenery adorning the ceiling. Below, a compass motif on the hardwood floor was an ode to the nearby coast.

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Beyond the entrance sits The Conservatory, the hotel’s more casual restaurant and bar. Further inside is Navio, the Ritz-Carlton’s fine dining restaurant, but more on that later.

ASHLEY ONADELE/THE POINTS GUY

In the next area, right in front of the check-in counter, was a much less elaborate space with coffered ceilings and modern carpeting. At the counter, we were told that our room had been upgraded from a deluxe room to a coastal-view guest room, thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status. Our room wasn’t ready yet, so we dropped off our luggage and headed outside to have lunch at The Ocean Terrace overlooking the water. When our room was ready, they called my cellphone and offered us a glass of wine that we could take up with us.

After checking in to our room and before our dinner reservation, we took advantage of the free time to walk along the coastal trail that wraps around the hotel’s golf course. The path includes a pedestrian bridge over the water that leads to a public-access beach. Luckily for us, the sky was clear and we watched the crashing waves of the Pacific Ocean from high above.

Beyond the beautiful views, some of the amenities at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay include a spa, tennis courts, gas fire pits overlooking the ocean and a bagpiper who plays every day at sunset.

The room

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ASHLEY ONADELE/THE POINTS GUY

I redeemed 95,500 Marriott Bonvoy points for our one-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay — and it was well worth the splurge. Our original deluxe room overlooking the golf course would have otherwise cost $1,200 for the night and our upgraded room with views of the coast certainly would have cost more.

The cool silver-and-white walls were another nod to the coastal location, without feeling overdone, and the wooden nightstand and entryway furniture brought needed warmth to the room. The marble bathroom was large and featured a separate shower and soaking tub with Diptyque Philosykos bath products. A bathrobe was hung between the door and tub, and slippers could be found inside the closet.

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ASHLEY ONADELE/THE POINTS GUY

The focal point of the room however was easily the view of the ocean. We crowded the chairs around the window and sipped our wine while discussing whatever it is parents talk about when their kids aren’t with them. It was peaceful and beautiful, and we couldn’t hear a peep from anyone walking by outside of the window.

The restaurant

We decided to take advantage of the great award availability and splurge on dinner at Navio, the hotel’s fine dining restaurant where we had a choice between a three-course prix fixe menu or the chef’s tasting menu. We decided on the prix fixe ($155 per person) but added the Kaluga caviar starter from the chef’s tasting menu instead of the cheese starter.

ASHLEY ONADELE/THE POINTS GUY

The Kaluga caviar was served inside a small white pumpkin and layered on top of creme fraiche and pepitas with toasted brioche bread. For my first course, I enjoyed a salad with fresh tomatoes, persimmon and Maine lobster, while my husband had the duck consomme. For our main dish, we shared a savory black cod with Florentine broccolini and cuttlefish pasta and the Colorado lamb rack with eggplant puree.

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ASHLEY ONADELE/THE POINTS GUY

Dessert was a light chocolate tart with espresso and Vietnamese coffee. The meal and the service were divine.

Bottom line

The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay is in fact worth a spot on every points and miles enthusiast’s bucket list. It is just a 30-minute drive from San Francisco International Airport and a perfect location for locals looking for a relaxing staycation.

From the gorgeous coastal views to the delicious food and comfortable, well-appointed guest rooms, I can’t recommend a stay at this hotel enough to anyone — especially those contemplating if the splurge of Bonvoy points is worth it or not. Trust me, it is.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Maverick’s Was Really Good on December 28th

On: By: Alexander Haro

The Inertia

When Maverick’s winds up, it throws a hell of a pitch. And when it does, you can be sure that Powerlines Productions is going to be there to catch the action. On December 28, that action was real, and there were a whole pile of Maverick’s surfers there to push their limits.

Pete Mel was there, as you’d expect, and it’s likely he was thinking often about what was likely the best wave he’s ever ridden. It was a wave so good it changed surfing.

“[There] are those singular rides that in their sheer outrageousness have transcended the realm of possibility, instead setting a new standard for what was even imaginable,” Sam George wrote about that wave. “Picture Laird Hamilton’s Millennium Wave at Teahupoʻo, for example, or Koa Smith’s 27-second barrel at Skeleton Bay. Both rides represented more than just the next step in the evolution of surfing performance, but throughout their fleeting seconds (though not so fleeting in Smith’s case) signaled a total paradigm shift, each a point of departure from what was to what now is. The unimaginable suddenly becoming imaginable.”

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Yeah, it’s likely difficult for Pete to surf Maverick’s without thinking about that wave. But we’re sure glad that he is, because after it, it’s got to be hard feel anything quite as good. Pete wasn’t the only out there, and the whole crew put on quite the show.

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San Mateo County Residents Listed Among SMC Death Notices Dec. 20-26

San Mateo County Residents Listed Among SMC Death Notices Dec. 20-26
On: By: Jeffrey Green

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — The San Mateo County Coroner’s Office sends death notices weekly from the region. We’ve aggregated below names and hometowns of individuals who passed between Dec. 20 and Dec. 26.

The names account for those who were reported deceased to the coroner’s office — typically those who died in San Mateo County at a hospital, nursing home or residence. They do not include hospice patients.

If you would like to submit a free obituary for publication on Patch, email [email protected]

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DEC. 26:

Susan Prieto, 78, Redwood City

Michael Leinwohl, 74, Redwood City

Matilda Garrett, 95, San Mateo

Cheungkeng Woo, 91, San Francisco

Brigid Bellone, 81, Hayward

——–

DEC. 25:

Walter Russell, 82, Burlingame

Roger Casterline, 91, Redwood City

Nidia Barrados, 83, South San Francisco

Robinson Elbon, 87, Redwood City

Yousef Yousef, 89, Daly City

Phillip Harris, 69, Daly City

Gayle Rebish, 75, San Francisco

———

DEC. 24:

Renee Vaughn, 63, Menlo Park

Stephen Day, 50, East Palo Alto

Gloriadel Coltart, 80, San Mateo

Godofrejo Martinez Munguia, 54, San Francisco

———

DEC. 23:

Ruben Lopez, 53, South San Francisco

Allen Harney, 75, No city listed.

Nancy Lee, 74, San Bruno

Joseph Maroun, 81, No city listed.

Thomas Baldwin, 63, Daly City

Michael Borja, 66, No city listed.

Lino Carrara, 85, No city listed.

Grigoriy Vilenskiy, 80, Daly City

Francisco Prado, 87, No city listed.

———–

DEC. 22:

Oliver Hyatt, 19, South San Francisco

Donald Barbour, 62, San Carlos

Abdel Ismail, 88, Redwood City

Lloyd Zimpel, 93, Daly City

Lester Wilson, 80, Daly City

———

DEC. 21:

Charles Jas, 69, Redwood City

Jiahao Guo, 25, San Mateo

Jim Cooper, 72, Daly City

Margaret McVey, 84, No city listed.

——–

DEC. 20:

Chen Ho, 82, San Bruno

Harry Eberhardt, 91, East Palo Alto

Edwin Almengor, 79, San Francisco

Stephan Lobner, 83, No city listed.

Tony Ha, 27, San Leandro

Mario Sorto, 60, Hyattsville

———

ALSO SEE FROM PAST WEEKS:

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Penrose selected as HMB mayor

On: By: Jeffrey Green

▸ Government body: Half Moon Bay City Council

▸ Time and date: 7 p.m., Dec. 20

▸ Members present: Debbie Ruddock, Deborah Penrose, Robert Brownstone, Joaquin Jimenez, Harvey Rarback. 

▸ Staff present: City Manager Matthew Chidester, City Clerk Jessica Blair, City Attorney Catherine Engberg, Administrative Services Director Lisa Lopez Rossi, Communications Project Manager Colleen Lettire. 

▸ Oaths of office: Councilmembers Ruddock, Brownstone and Penrose were all sworn into office by U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier. Speier attended the remote meeting to show her support for the $2 million allocated to the Highway 1 Frenchmans Creek bike and pedestrian improvements her office helped secure. 

▸ Mayor Penrose: Shortly after, Ruddock made her outgoing remarks and thanked the city staff profusely for putting in long hours while reorganizing the city’s workplace. The council then selected Vice Mayor Penrose to be mayor and Councilmember Jimenez to be vice mayor in 2023. 

▸ State of the city: Ruddock highlighted a few of the city government’s accomplishments in 2022. Among them were the redistricting process based on 2020 Census data, the launch of the CARES program in March, hiring a new housing coordinator and progressing on the proposed farmworker housing site on Kelly Avenue. She said the city’s ADU ordinance, adopted in May, is intended to increase multigenerational housing. The city also got new funding to renovate Carter Park and developed its Smith Field Master Plan. 

On the environmental front, the city produced the Miramontes Point Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Fiscal Impact Study to analyze continuing erosion near the Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. It also implemented its Building Electrification Ordinance that requires all new construction to be electric and phases out gas appliances by capping fuel lines by 2045. 

▸ Quote of the day: “We don’t work for a company or private firm. We work for citizens who live in our community. We’re public servants. I don’t think we should forget for a minute who we work for,” outgoing Mayor Debbie Ruddock remarked to council members, noting the value of their work on behalf of local residents. 

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HMB Shakespeare Co. seeks temporary venue

On: By: Jeffrey Green

Home stage affected by construction delays

By April Seager

Since producing “As You Like It” in 2019, the Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Co. has been forced to cancel three consecutive seasons. Hampered first by the pandemic, the theater company has more recently been navigating around the construction delays in Carter Park, which has served as the Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Co.’s home venue since 2013.

“We feel a close relationship with the city of Half Moon Bay because they allowed us to adopt Carter Park,” said Lee Ellis, co-founder and board member of Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Co. “The purpose was for us to lead the way for other performing arts to use Carter Park as a performance venue.”

Heather McAvoy, president of the Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Co., said board members of the organization are planning to attend the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, provided they can secure a spot on the agenda.

“The goal would just be to help the City Council be aware of our situation and our interest in doing whatever we can to facilitate getting Carter Park back online or finding an alternative venue for us,” said McAvoy.

In the meantime, a search for a temporary venue on the Coastside is already underway.

“We’re not really sure what the delays are in Carter Park or what the plan is right now, so that’s why we’re looking for alternate venues,” said Debbie Lynn Carriger, artistic director for the Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Co. “We don’t want to go another year without producing a show.”

The company’s requirements for a venue include a basic electrical supply, an ample backstage area and a secure storage space for props, costumes and set pieces between performances. Audience capacity should be between 50 and 100 people. Location is key. 

“It can’t be down a one-way road that is going to be hard to find,” she said. “Ideally, it would be close to a main road, but not on the main road, so that we’re not getting that kind of noise.”

So far, Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Co.’s search for a temporary venue has been difficult. “We are struggling to find an outdoor performance space or even an indoor one,” said Carriger.

Carriger invited members of the community to contact her with ideas. “They can reach out to us,” she said. “What if someone has a barn that we can use? We don’t know what’s out there.”

Ultimately, Half Moon Bay Shakespeare Co. hopes to return to Carter Park. 

“We’ve had a great partnership with the city,” said McAvoy. “Half Moon Bay Shakespeare has adopted Carter Park in the past and worked to help maintain it. We want to work with the city to activate the park and make sure that it could be a successful venue, not only for Half Moon Bay Shakespeare, but the whole community.” 

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“Took a Long Time in My Brain to Come Back”: Big Wave Surfing Star Unearthed the Horrors of a Deadly Accident on the World’s Creepiest Wave in 2016

On: By: Jeffrey Green

Surfing, although is emerging as a widely accepted sport, however, the life-threatening dangers hold many people to refrain from engaging in the sport. The world has witnessed some of the deadliest wipeouts in recent years. The fierce force of the waves has taken the lives of many emerging surfing stars. Even the sports legends have also felt the cruel nature of the waves and had many fatal encounters of drowning or slipping in the waves. And Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira is no different, as she has also seen death very closely due to the wipeout.

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In 2016, Maya went surfing on the beaches of Nazaré, Portugal. But what happened afterward, shook the entire surfing community. 

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Maya Gabeira almost drowned due to a wipeout

The four-time Billabong surf champion was struck by gigantic waves while surfing. According to a report by Men’s Journal, the 35-year-old broke her ankle during the wipeout. Gabeira lost her balance and got trapped in the midst of a 70-foot-tall wave at Nazare beach. Her lifejacket came off from the impact, which worsened the situation for the rescuers.

Brazilian surfer lost consciousness after the fierce impact and couldn’t maintain her balance. The fast-flowing waves dragging her inside were making things worse for her. The big wave surfer was near the shore, but she wasn’t able to overcome the intensity of the waves. 

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Her surfing companion Carlos Burle tried multiple times to pull her to the shore. He failed a few times but eventually managed to get her out of the water. Burle immediately gave her CPR, and then she was hospitalized soon. “I was throwing up. I mean, it took a long time in my brain to come back,” Gabeira told Stabmag.com after gaining consciousness. 

The creepiest waves for a reason

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Nazaré in Portugal has been one of the most talked-about places for surfers. The waves of this region are considered to be very challenging. The waves have given a tough time to other surfing superstars like Garrett McNamara, Shane Dorian, and many more. Dorian revealed a tragic incident when the wave once snatched a little gal and her grandaddy straight off the beach.

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Maya was aware of the precarious nature of the waves and was preparing for a long time before stepping into the waters. She, along with her tow partner, Carlos Burle, spent two weeks of intense training before taking on the giant waves. But sometimes being ready isn’t enough as one cannot challenge the limits of mother nature.

WATCH THIS STORY: A huge shock for surfing fans before vans pipeline from Kelly Slater and John John Florence 

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