We’ll start with an update on Surfrider’s Rise Above Plastics campaign, with the goal of reducing single-use plastics from our oceans. After that, the guest speaker will be film maker Grant Eads screening Mother Wants Her Beauty Back, a short film about the ongoing Long Beach Breakwater campaign.

For more information check out www.lbsurfrider.org or call 562-252-6173.

After completing a recent study in Florida, Dr. Robert S. Kirsner of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine said,  “Just because you have darker skin pigmentation, whether you’re Hispanic or black, does not make you immune to skin cancer.”.

Dr. Kirsner says there needs to be better awareness among non-white patients, and their doctors, that dark skin doesn’t mean immunity to melanoma. People of any color should watch for skin growths that meet any of these criteria:: asymmetrical; irregular, nicked or notched borders; multiple colors; the size of a pencil eraser or larger; or growths that are evolving or changing.

And regardless of whether you have light or dark skin, Kirsner said it’s best to follow “sun-smart” behaviors like seeking out shade, covering up, wearing rash guards and other UV protective clothing along with avoiding the midday sun, and wearing sunscreen.

Californian Cori Schumacher has won the 2010 Roxy ASP Women’s World Longboard Championships in Biarritz, France.

Schumacher defeated fellow Californian Kaitlin Maguir  in clean two-to-three foot waves in a 100% American heat at the world famous La Côte des Basques.

Cori lived up to her reputation and ruled the action during the finals day scoring the event’s highest single-wave and heat scores respectively a 9.25 and 17.25 points.

“It feels so good right now,” freshly crowned Schumacher said. “It was like six minutes to the end and feelings just all washed over me and I was tingling. It’s such an amazing feeling to win. I had some pressure though when I paddled into a wave and left Kaitlin (Maguire) on her own because she can pull a world championship out of her hat anytime.”

Coming out on top of a series of intense exchanges in a well-fought final after eliminating two former world champions in the Quarterfinals (Jennifer Smith) and the Semifinals (Joy Monahan), Schumacher’s solid 13.15 score to Maguire’s 9.80 confirmed her domination over the weekend, her smart heat tactics and strategy giving her the final shot at the title.

“I took a gamble to paddle into that last wave and hoped for the conditions to slow down as it had been doing the last three days,” Schumacher said. “It paid up, the gamble went well!”

Congrats Cori!!!

The marathon surf session began at noon on Saturday, 6/19,  went the through the entire night and ended at Noon on International Surfing Day, (Sunday 6/20). Teams had to put a surfer in the water every hour under the flood lights at the Huntington Beach Pier.

Team Billabong emerged as the first champions of SURF 24 in “Surf City” Huntington Beach, raising $50,000 for PSOS.

This Saturday, June 12th, is the Santa Monica Pier Paddle Board Race. They’re expecting up to 250 paddle contestants and will also host a dory competition and a paddle gear exhibition all to benefit Heal the Bay.

The races will start and finish on the sand adjacent to the Santa Monica pier with the courses running north and south in the heart of the Santa Monica Bay. Both the stand up paddle and prone paddle races feature 5.5 mile and 1 mile courses.

Registration starts at 8am with the first race at 9:30am.

For more info see the Heal the Bay website: http://www.healthebay.org/events/special/2010_06_12_SMPaddleBoardRace.asp

Of course don’t forget to outfit yourself in one of our stylish pair of boardshorts as well as protect your skin with a rash guard shirt or KoreDry UV shirt.

Summer is finally here and guys, it’s time to get yourself outfitted in some stylin’ men’s board shorts!

This week you can get an extra discount on our already low priced Gray Hibiscus flowered swim shorts for men by using coupon code MENS-BOARD-SHORTS when you checkout from now until June 5th.

While your shopping at Buy Board Shorts for yourself you can also pick up some womens swim shorts along with boy and girls swim shorts so you can outfit your entire family from our selection of low priced boardshorts.

We here at Buy Board Shorts know that many states are having to cut back on services but California’s state parks have taken an especially bad beating from Governor Schwarzenegger this past year, with many parks being forced to close along with parking and camping fees shooting sky high!

The California State Parks Association is holding an event this holiday weekend called ‘Stand Up for State Parks’.

Their idea is that the best way to show support for California’s state parks is to go out and visit them! The event will also raise awareness to the fiscal problems the state parks are facing and generate public action for the protection and funding of California’s state parks.

What better time to Stand Up For State Parks than the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day weekend.

Participation in this event is fun and easy – and can help make a big difference! All you need to do is visit a state park, and then share your experience!

Of course we always advocate wearing a pair of our boardshorts along with a UV protecting shirt such as a rash guard or KoreDry shirt, along with environmentally friendly sunscreen while you’re outside enjoying a hike or swim at your favorite state park. 

A group called Matter of Trust is collaborating with thousands of salons along with groomers, wool farmers, individuals and pet owners throughout the US and abroad, to  donate their  clippings to soak up oil spills. They also accept fur and other “natural fibers” waste wool, alpaca fleece, horse hair, feathers, etc.

You can find out more about this unique program here: http://www.matteroftrust.org/programs/hairmatsinfo.html

Emphasis should be placed on an engaging, entertaining, and informative message on why the breakwater should be removed and waves restored to the shores of Long Beach. Winning submissions will be posted at LBSurfrider.org, YouTube, and screened at the Art Theater in Long Beach on June 19, 2010. $2000 in prizes!

For more info see their website: http://lbsurfrider.org/contest/index.html

That’s why we were thrilled to learn about a project that the 1st graders at Jefferson Elementary School, (Carlsbad, CA), recently completed…

Seems the kids were inspired by a presentation made to them by San Diego Surfrider RAP activist Heather Benson, then guided  by their teacher Arlene Gnade, and local “gARTbage” artist, Teresa Espaniola to spend over 5 months collecting plastic garbage from nearby beaches to create a giant “whale” they named Lil’ Gray.

You can see photos and read about their experiences on their blog.