My Own Surfing Thread!

[Baz]

Another pic of Anne Doyle......

[Baz]

Mike Doyle and Nat Young....legends!

[Baz]

The Master....Gerry Lopez:

[Baz]

[Baz]

Still chargin'......

[Bill Douglas]

Cool matching combo of Gerry's.

All these surf pic's make me want to go out for a paddle, but no swell and onshore

[Baz]

In 1970 Rolf Aurness won the Surfing World Championship at Bells Beach and his father James Arness the Hollywood actor (he featured in the tv western drama 'Gunsmoke' as Marshall Matt Dillon) travelled with him to Victoria (Australia). The pair surfed at Bells in the lead up to the event. This footage from John Bennett's film Blue Cool shows James Arness surfing Bells on his Bing Foil.

[Baz]

John John..........

[Vipergrün]

I watched a good documentary a couple of nights ago called "Andy Irons: Kissed by God" Demons for sure. Sad loss. So talented.

[Baz]

New one - Rob Machado and Peru!!!

[Baz]

Waimea Bay today:

[Baz]

The master......

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Baz

In 1970 Rolf Aurness won the Surfing World Championship at Bells Beach and his father James Arness the Hollywood actor (he featured in the tv western drama 'Gunsmoke' as Marshall Matt Dillon) travelled with him to Victoria (Australia). The pair surfed at Bells in the lead up to the event. This footage from John Bennett's film Blue Cool shows James Arness surfing Bells on his Bing Foil.

Baz, this footage is amazing to me for a couple of reasons.

First, because James Arness was 6'7". Very unusual to see anyone that tall surf, a difficult to balance thing. Second, he was severely wounded in his leg during WWII. The leg bothered him for the rest of his life.

from Wikipedia:

Although Arness wanted to be a naval fighter pilot, he was concerned his poor eyesight would bar him. However, his 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) frame ended his chances because the limit for aviators was set at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m). He was drafted into the US Army and reported to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, in March 1943.[3] As a rifleman, he landed on Anzio Beachhead on January 22, 1944, with the 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. Arness - due to his height - was the first man to be ordered off his landing craft to determine the depth of the water; it came up to his waist.[3] He was severely wounded in his right leg during the Battle of Anzio,[5][6] and medically evacuated from Italy to the U.S., where he was sent to the 91st General Hospital in Clinton, Iowa. After undergoing several surgeries, he was honorably discharged from the Army on January 29, 1945.[7] However, his wounds continued to trouble him throughout the remainder of his life. In his latter years he suffered with chronic leg pain that often became acute, and was sometimes initiated when he was mounted on horses during his performances on Gunsmoke.[8][6] His military decorations included the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze battle stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.[8][9]

[Geary]

Yes, VERY cool .. I always wondered whether James was a surfer like his son. My best friend growing up was also 6'7" .. I finally suggested to Tim that he bend his knees, and his surfing improved tremendously.

[Baz]

James Arness is one of my heroes. I started watching the old Gunsmoke episodes a couple years ago and bar none Matt Dillon is unequivocally the best lawman ever to exist on the planet. Can't help but think the man playing the character isn't much different in integrity, humility, compassion and honesty. I was trippin' when I found that YT video of him surfing down under!

Meanwhile we are still getting fun surf here.....

[tevake]

That is some fun looking surf you have going there Baz.

I am also enjoying the old westerns, every since living in Az, deep in the old west. Maverick and Gunsmoke are favorites.
Fetus, Ken Curtis On Gunsmoke is one of the best characters in the bunch of them.

James Arness must have been quite the waterman, He had a sixty foot catamaran built in the 60s. It ended up in Hawaii working as a charter boat. I heard they had to take 15' off of the mast height to get certified for charter work.

Celebrate Sailing Catamaran Seasmoke's 50th Birthday

Cheers Richard

[Baz]

Originally Posted by tevake

That is some fun looking surf you have going there Baz.

I am also enjoying the old westerns, every since living in Az, deep in the old west. Maverick and Gunsmoke are favorites.
Fetus, Ken Curtis On Gunsmoke is one of the best characters in the bunch of them.

James Arness must have been quite the waterman, He had a sixty foot catamaran built in the 60s. It ended up in Hawaii working as a charter boat. I heard they had to take 15' off of the mast height to get certified for charter work.

Celebrate Sailing Catamaran Seasmoke's 50th Birthday

Cheers Richard

Thanks for the link to Seasmoke, Rich. Never knew about her. She's a pretty cat! Very cool that Arness gave her to the Sea Scouts.

Yeah those old westerns are great! Just finished watching an episode of "The Virginian" with Spock and Bones as guest stars. Now Bonanza is on with Khan guest starring! Some INSP programmer is obviously a Star Trek fan today...lol!

Waves are huge today and will be a for a few more days. Winter surf! But not as huge as what Hawaii has been getting!

I saw that Slats won another world title. Pretty dang amazing, huh?

Merry Christmas to you and yours, buddy! And to all my fellow wave warriors!

[tevake]

MELE KALIKIMAKA Baz, Geary, and all of the regulars here who keep this fun thread alive.

Cheers Richard

[Baz]

Originally Posted by tevake

MELE KALIKIMAKA Baz, Geary, and all of the regulars here who keep this fun thread alive.

Cheers Richard

Same to you and I agree, Rich!

Speaking of Rolf Arness.......

[Geary]

Mahalo, Richard .. Mele Kalikimaka from Hawaii to you guys, too !

Flying back to snow country on Christmas day, and I can't wait !
!!