We wanted to give you an update on Tyler Gunter, Atwater’s 10 year old
ripper from Newport Beach, CA. He just won the NHHS Analog Contest last
month in both the Elementary and Middle School divisions. He has been on a
tear lately in Southwest NSSA Open Mini grom and Open Boys Divisions.
He Qualified for NSSA West Coast Championships Regionals in both divisions
which is This Weekend.
Heat times below:
SATURDAY, MAY 22 3 OPEN MINI-GROMS QUARTERFINALS @ 15 MIN EA 8:40-9:25
5 OPEN BOYS RND ONE HEATS @ 15 MIN EA 12:20-1:35
So once again Mr Jimmy Kimmel has brought on some of the Atwater family to perform in front of Millions of TV viewers. The Kimmel show went off with out a hitch last night as the Heads came out with their good Pal Rome.
While in Chile I was given the opportunity to help the people in Chile who’s lives were interrupted from the huge 8.8 earthquake and Tsunami that hit in Feb. I joined Save the waves foundation down in the city of Constitution. This town was severely damaged. The whole town was a mess. It looked way worse then what we were seeing on the news back in the states. Quiksilver and Cliff bar sent clothes and energy bars down to Chile and we distributed them to school kids, The red cross, and the police. It was nice to see the people still smiling after what they all are going thru. My hearts go out the People of Chile.
We even scored some good waves down near the city of Constitution. Small but fun little waves.
Aloha Jamie
Fisherman family in Pichilemu
A family of fishermen in Pichilemu who lost their boat and motor here with Philip Muller.
Boat motors in repair
The improvised repair bay in Pichilemu with the broken motors from the tsunami. Photo by Philip Muller
2 months without working
It has been 2 months that this fisherman is without work because he lost his motor. Hopefully a new one will arrive soon.Photo by Philip Muller
Scholarships in Pichilemu
One of the scholarships of a 1.000 USD given to the Student Center of the Pichilemu college for them to help their fellow students in need. Photo by Philip Muller
The boat and motor repair team
These 3 fishermen who also worked as laminators are repairing the boats with fiber glass, and the 4th on the right is the mechanic repairing the motors. Photo by Philip Muller
The motor mechanic from Duao
This mechanic from Duao now living and working in Pichilemu has been repairing motors like mad altough he lost his whole business and tools to the tsunami. Photo by Philip Muller
Diego Medina in big Lobos
Diego Medina tubing a big one at Lobos during the waiting period of the Ceremonial on the 4th of May. Photo by Philip Muller
Jamie dropping in at Lobos
Jamie who is here for the waiting period of the Ceremonial in Lobos decided to join the help with Save The Waves here in Chile Photo by Philip Muller
Ramon in Constitucion
Ramon Navarro surfing down South in the worst hit city by the tsunami, Constitucion. Chile has still it’s beautiful perfect left tubes at least. Photo by Philip Muller
Ramon in another perfect green room.
Ramon Navarro surfing down South in the worst hit city by the tsunami, Constitucion. Chile has still it’s beautiful perfect left tubes at least. Photo by Philip Muller
Diego Medina in Constitucion
Diego Medina crossing the beach and wreckage left at the Puerto, still a lot of cleening needs to be done. Photo by Philip Muller
STW relief team meet up in Constitucion
The STW team went down to Constitucion and Curanipe to bring in supplies and clothes. From l. to r.: Pato Mekis (coordinator for Santiago), Pocha (coordinator for Constitucion), Leo Acevedo, Diego Medina, Ramon Navarro and Jamie Sterling after a quick surf. Photo by Philip Muller
Small waves but a big cause
Jamie Sterling ripping a small wave in Constitucion Photo by Philip Muller
Leo Acevedo in Constitucion
Leo surfing in front of the Muelle in Constitucion. The pier was cut off from land following the tsunami and is still not repaired. Photo by Philip Muller
Jamie Sterling in Constitucion
Jamie coming out of the water in Constitucion and crossing all the debris the tsunami left after it’s passage. Photo by Philip Muller
Jamie Sterling in Constitucion
Jamie in front of more wreckage, he says it is a lot worse than what he imagined. Photo by Philip Muller
STW gives out Clif bars in Constitucion
Jamie, Ramon and Diego giving out Clif Bars at a school in Constitucion at the end of classes. Photo by Philip Muller
STW gives out Quiksilver, Roxy and DC clothing
Ramon giving out the clothes sent for the people of Chile in a school in Constitucion. Quiksilver, Roxy and DC sent in a container full of clothes for the victims of Chile’s coastal areas. Photo by Philip Muller
Checking out the clothes given by STW
The students checking out the clothing given out,nearly the whole school was sporting those hats when we left. Photo by Philip Muller
People living in an emergency camp above Constitucion
We visited an emergency camp above Constitucion where 41 families live in these wooden “sheds”, we left them clothes and Clif bars Photo by Philip Muller
The hospital in Constitucion receives Clif bars
We gave out Clif bars to the hospital of Constitucion who due to the emergency has installed an extra emergency tent hospital in it’s courtyard. These Clif bars will be good for the staff (of which these 2 nurses) working their long shifts. Photo by Philip Muller
Main police station of Constitucion
We also left lots of Clif Bars to the local police force who also work a lot of 10-12 hour shifts helping the people out. Photo by Philip Muller
Diego Medina in Constitucion
A final quick session after a good day of work at a secret spot in Constitucion. Diego Medina and his classic roudhouse. Photo by Philip Muller
Ramon Navarro in Constitucion, last session
Ramon taking a couple of last waves before driving 3 hours to Pichilemu back to his wife and newly born son. Photo by Philip Muller
Diego Medina, end of the day
Not sure if he’s smiling because of the surf or the sensation of helping others leaves you. Photo by Philip Muller
Jamie Sterling, sunset in Constitucion
Jamie enjoying the sunset and the surf before the long drive home. Photo by Philip Muller
A smaller grade south was on tap last week, and in the week prior a harsh west wind had blown, piling sand up against the west jetty. I arrived both Thursday and Friday morning at sunrise. It’s always nice to look back at Newport Beach and over to Corona del Mar before the sun has peaked up over the multi-million dollar houses in Newport Coast. A harbor patrol boat was putting along through the bay, and some rowers from the NBAC were heading out through the entrance. Both morning’s were far from serene though. A big mound of sand sat right in the take off zone, and with a slight south wind bump to it, it was far from perfect wedge. My face met the sand more than I had wanted it too. I caught a couple of good closeouts with nice throaty views, but for the most part I achieved nothing more than a couple of tasty doughnuts. The only one I came close to making from the peak ended with me losing it half way down the face, and lying on my back helplessly as the thick lip folded over me(See surfline sequence). I left the beach defeated.
Now that black ball is in effect I didnt have another opportunity to surf it that day, but around 2 I grabbed my fins and decided to go for a body surf session before work. The swell was at its peak, and there were some lips detonating right on shore. I ran out with two fins hoping that I could achieve some sort of cardio/wipeout training out of it. After an hour I had lost one of my fins and garnered a rasberry wound on my forehead. I’ve heard guys like Flynn Novak talk about how bodysurfing shorebreak is good training for learning to wipeout safely. If that makes sense? It does to me though because the next day I hucked myself over on a couple waves that didn’t want me, and found myself feeling more comfortable in my falls. That is to say that I was eyeing my crash landing a little more, and having a bit of fun with it. So it goes, you win some and you lose some. Looks like theres another swell on the way so we’ll see what mood we’re dealt this time….
Its my 7th time to Chile. I guess you could say Im a fan of the cold water Indonesia, as I like to call it. Why do I call it that? Well, Its waves are 80% lefts and yes its cold and chilly. Chile is one the places where I can find every type of wave that there is to surf. Slabs, point breaks, beach breaks, reefs, almost waves i.e. like if we could only blow that one rock up it would be rideable. Not only does the variety of waves allude me, but the minimal crowds and consistency of the coastline is a main ingredient. Oh yea me being a goofy foot and be surrounded by endless lefts with practically no one out is a dream situation. On top of all that the culture, the friends I have here, and the food. Its all good!
I’m based in Pichilemu right now. I’m staying in my friend Diego Medina’s guest cabana w/my girlfriend Sheila. It sits on the beach in front of Punta de lobos. Punta de lobos is one of Chile’s premier big wave spots. Its a left hand point break. It can hold waves as big as 7 meters= 25 ft+.
My main purpose here in Chile is to compete in the Quiksilver ceremonial Punta De Lobos big wave invitational. We are in the middle of the 2 month waiting period. Event organizers want to wait for a 5-7 meter =15-25 ft swell. It will be my first time competing at this surf spot. I thought it was a good idea to come down here early and practice at Lobos. I’ve also been surfing some other amazing waves in the local area.
Diego Medina has been a great host. I’ve been able to tag along with him and get the inside scoop of where to surf as well as where to eat etc. I have 31 more days in Chile. I’m sure there will be some adventures to write about along with some cool point of view photos that my girlfriend and Ill be taking.
