Going, arriving and here in Puerto Escondido

My parents helped me pack and get all my stuff ready for my 8 week adventure. My dad and I always try and guess how much my bags will weigh and he won (like always). I usually get a flight directly to Puerto Escondido but there was some miss communication with my sponsors in between all my traveling. I was pretty bummed but then I realized "Hey I am going to Mainland Mexico for six weeks! Why the heck are you complaining!!" Sometimes you just have to remind yourself about all the things you are blessed with and it can change your mindset very quickly. I reminded myself of the most recent before I left like how my sister in law made me cupcakes, getting to go bodyboard on my new boards with my brother Jason and getting to hang out with miss Kylie Cay!

I had a crazy adventure on the way here! I almost got robbed at the bus station in Oaxaca when I was using the pay phone. This guy ran up and stole my hat. Right when I was like "Hey my hat!!" I remembered a story pro bodyboarder and world traveler Brandon Foster told me about theft and always hold on to your stuff. I did exactly that and his friend came up to me yelling and wanting me to give him my stuff. I was pretty scared but still said "No way!" and right when the guy was gonna snap this restaurant owner came out and KNOCKED HIM OUT!! It was crazy!! The owner gave me four tacos for the road and walked me back to the bus station to hang out with the security guards before my 10 hour bus ride. I am so glad to be here and will start the adventure with the Petroni familia


This makes things all better

Airport

One of the workers, the food was great

My friend for 10 hours...the BUS

The Petroni family (minus the madre) They watch footage all day to help their surfing

Tawin and his poster

Cheap transportation

Avocadoes

Local juice from a bag

(I can't put the best shots up because I have to send them to the mags and my sponsors but here is something to look at)

Funny face


Chad Stickney let me use his housing and I got this shot! Stoked!

Leaving to Mexico for 6 weeks and Sponsor stuff

I am leaving to Mainland Mexico for six weeks which I am really looking forward to! I will be with my friend Chad Stickney who is also a photographer and videographer. Keep checking the site for updates on the trip and pray I get there safely!

I would watch this on repeat when I would be at Alternative Surf

I also just re-signed with my board sponsor Wave Rebel for another year! Really happy and can not wait to see there new 2010 stuff. Big new's on it's way probably December I can share!

Wave Rebel

The guys at RXYM gave me a sweet bonus from my Mexico win and for my upcoming travels! How cool is that! Check out their site and support a company that supports BODYBOARDING!!

My team manager Matt Byzak hooked it up! Thanks guys

I also just signed with Spider Energy drinks. They have a lot of plans for 2010 with me and are really stoked on everything I am doing. I will write more about that later!

One year with Spider!!

It actually taste good!

Spider!!!!

The back label

Traveling up North for a mini Expedition segment

I got to go on a bodyboard trip up to Nor Cal on the 10th to the 16th with my coach Jacob Reeves and the talented video guru James Prola documented the trip for a mini Bodyboard Expedition video! I got to surf a lot of different waves, hang out with some of funny local guys, get a lot of advice from Jacob, along with having him critique the footage and see what I can do better (there is A LOT!! lol) Of course we all had loads of fun and I even managed to stay on top of all my homework! All in all it was such a good time and I encourage anybody to go on crazy adventures, and keep progressing in whatever it is you love to do!

All the frame grabs below were provided by James Prola and BBX
Below are all shots of me

Invert

Jimmy getting some cool angels

Riding

Rollo

Right Barrels

Seaweed, kelp and a small wave

Happy my Bodyglove suit kept me warm!

Jacob and I chasing the wildlife

Empty one! So sick

Me getting my homework done and jacob reviewing the footage to see what I can improve and work on

Jacob killing it

Coach sick drop!

Mr. Reeves enjoying some time with Mr. Barrel

Below are some shots that I took with my camera

Happy

The cottage we stayed in for the week



Studying

Crazy!

Hi Friend

Jim

Getting all artsy

LATER!

TJ WIN!! and Videos

This weekend was awesome! I got to compete in the first annual Surfing en el Border bodyboard contest in Plaza Monumental, Playas de Tijuana. The waves were 2-3ft and the competition level was high. There was some money on the line and everybody was hungry for it. I wounded up winning the event and going home $1,000 richer! I had a blast hanging out with my friends! I just got word from my board sponsor Wave Rebel that I will be going to Puerto Escondido September 22nd to October 29th to film with my friend Chad Stickney and to get some photos. From there I will be going to Puerto Rico October 29th to November 12th to compete in a contest and meet up with Joe Grodzen to shoot video and get photos! Looking forward to these trips! I also leave tommorow night on a secret trip so check back for an update on that!


Here are some photos I took while at the event



Chris O connor

Mike



An important guy, but I forgot what he did

I threw my hat out and he caught it!

Manny Vargas

Competitors area

Bull ring

Interview

Playa

Set up

Shorts

Policia

Bout to get lifted!!! Thanks Joe and Chris!!


Interview

Money break down

Matty always had a good time!

Grodzen

Car ride

These next photos were taken by Manny Vargas from www.Ffattrips.com




Jeff Bragg won the DK division and got 2nd in the open pro! He had a good day!

The guys from the Expedition Series just uploaded two videos of me from previous trips! There Mexico contest is going on so check out there SITE! Get siked and vote who you think surfed the best

Small waves, Contest, and BBX result

The waves have gone real small. I have still been getting in the water every day and training a lot. I got an e-mail the other day asking how I stay motivated to surf bad waves especially when I travel to so many places and get good waves. It was a great question and it is because I LOVE being in water! I also have been watching all of the world tour events and some of the venues did not have the best waves. As professional athletes theses bodyboarders did incredible things on such gutless bad waves. I want to be ready for anything, big or small and that is why I am constantly practicing.


I got to pick what board to use this weekend for my contest!

Spraying

Reverse

Surfing average waves can be fun when you have a positive friend that likes to be in the water as much as you! Thank Jared!

My suitcase for work aka my board bag
All the shots were taken by my friend Alex. Check out some of his stuff on his site or his myspace.


I leave tonight to San Diego to meet with a few friends to go to Mexico for a bodyboarding contest at Playas de Tijuana ( by the bull ring ) in Tijuana Baja California. The top nine riders will be getting some money. First place has a $1,500 check! Really excited for this event! Click HERE to go to the contest website!

I got the results for the Bodyboard Expedition contest in Ventura the other day. I took second place behind my friend and RXYM and Alternative Surf team mate BOBBY KITHCART! He killed it and I am stoked on his win! I got more votes but he got a .1 more start vote and that is what they count, the star vote. I am really pumped for their next event I get to do!I won the Baja event in 2007 now Bobby won the Ventura event in 2008! Be ready to watch the mainland one coming out soon! We both didn't participate in it but it should be some really amazing stuff!!

Watch my section here

BBX Ventura champs!

Close one!

Waves at home, new board, back to being small

The waves last week were so fun! I only surfed one spot but two times a day. A lot of good days and long sessions. I clocked in 30 hours in the water!!!

Alternative Surf owner Ron Dog shot this of me!




All photos above were taken by my friend Eric Stonich!! Visit his website by clicking HERE


I got a few new boards made which I am really really happy about. I took a lot of my friends advice that I got while in Australia and narrowed by boards a bit and I feel like my surfing has improved A LOT! The waves have not been that good since I have gotten them but here is a session the very next day with my friend Jon D and Nick Arant. Nicks girlfriend for a year and a half alread shot the photos! Thanks Taylor!!

Nick and I hahaha




I really want to start practicing DK more and more these days since Ray has been getting me psyched on it!


I have been watching a lot of the Tension bodyboarding videos lately

Jon does some of the cleanest reverses and surf's this spot the most out of anyone I know. As you can tell all that practice is paying off. Clean reverse!