Monday, January 31, 2011

HEALTH INFORMATION: SURFER SINUSITIS









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     As a physician I have the responsibility of sharing some health information that will inform you of some medical conditions that are common in our surfing population. Do you remember having a long surf session and that night on a date with your girlfriend you had sudden episode of a considerable ammount of sea water draining out of your nostrils in a very love sharing moment!
     This is not an anomaly or coincidence, this water came from small skull cavities that are called as the paranasal sinuses. As you duck dive sea water enter this cavities,some drain  and some stays in.
     Sinusitis is defined as inflamation of the mucus linning of the sinuses. This inflamation cause increased production of mucus that will plug a natural draining orifice inside the sinuses called ostium. When this are blocked bacteria start to grow causing some clasic symptoms: marked pressure located in the area of sinus involved, fever, tender eye movments, sorethroat, post nasal drip and dry cough.
     The problem is that due to water pollution and high quantity of bacteria, this condition can become very dangerous. There are multiple cases in which surfers has suffered meningitis and encephalitis (brain infections) due to colonization of antibiotic resistant bacteria or fecal bacterias on infected waters. Cases are documented after river floods that drain high quantities of bacteria to the ocean and also areas of poor sewage management.
     We have to be aware of this serious condition and know the symptoms to be treated promptly. Remember to wait at least 24 hours after heavy rain or flodding to go surfing, get informed about water quality evaluations in your area, previous mentioned physical symptoms associated with progressive headache, nausea and vomits. Prompt treatment will avoid complications!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

JOEL TUDOR DUCT TAPE INVITATIONAL 2011



THE ALTERNATIVE SURF CULTURE
    
     The Duct Tape Invitational was celebrated in Santa Cruz California at Steamer Lane. As you know this mean cold water. By the way, a strange enviroment for us, the tropical brothers. This is a very unique contest in which the best longboarders reunite as a tribute for the joy of sliding and obviously a not such a substancial monetary purse. One of the rules is a baseline 15 pound longboard and no power cord allowed. I admire this tribe because they represent the soul of surfing and the real joy of wave sliding with an impotant detail of sharing a good time in the water with friends. This year Alex Knost won the contest and show how to surf a log. Enjoy a video highlight of the event!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

TECHNOLOGY SOMETIMES KILL THE ESSENCE



THE ALTERNATIVE SURF CULTURE    

     Technology by definition make our life simple. But there are some things in life that when you use technology will interfere with the essence of our interaction with nature. This does not mean that I am against technology but some details should be left as it is.
     The wave jet is a device that you can integrate in the bottom of the surfboard to produce propulsion. May substitute the jet ski for water life saving procedures or tow surfing in a near future but the paddling is an important part of our sport and our cardiovascular health. See the video and be free of making comments!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

"Joel Tudor"



THE ALTERNATIVE SURF CULTURE

      In surfing there are some chracters that define what soul surfing really is. Joel Tudor is one of those that live the surfing lifestyle to the limit, without thinking about profits or sponsors, only enjoying what nature give us. Is very interesting that his sliding vehicles reflect a past era but his habilities to ride different equipment is amazing. Long boards and mid size surfboards are diffcult to ride and master, but for him are just a passion. I think that the beauty of this sport are the sensations that us experiment in the ocean and the direct exposure to the energy of this enviroment. Your mind is empty during the act of sliding and we all recharge our " Chi" (the internal energy) improving our quality of life. Watch this video and enjoy the ride!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

THE JOURNEY JUST STARTED

Enjoying a Puertorrican Sunset

THE ALTERNATIVE SURF CULTURE

     This just started as a way to liberate my spirit of daily earthly pressures and internalize the joy that all we have for the energy of nature. Today I am just writing to thank your support and your precious time that all spent in our cybernetic culture space. At this moment we overpassed the 1000th blog hits in such a short time . Be free to express yourself in this site which will be the focus in our inner expression and sensations that surfing give us. Thank you all again to be part of THE ALTERNATIVE CULTURE family. "Gracias a todos desde la isla de el encanto, Puerto Rico".

Respectfully,

Pancho Machuca


Tuesday, January 18, 2011

THE SECOND EVOLUTION OF THE FISH



THE ALTERNATIVE SURF CULTURE

     The fish model have evolved since his reapperance, in to a blending of modern designs with baseline outline. The bottom now with array of single to a double barrel concaves between fins has set a standard. In my case due to an average hability, combined with the downhill fitness of age, the fish is the Holy Grail. This mutant combination has become a quiver standard and even a fish composed quiver, wich is my case. Very easy to catch waves, very stable and finaly with a quad fin arrangement which gives the speed punch that many of us need.
     Mike Hynson with combination of Sean Mattison has fusion the perfect blend with a awsome result. Now Mattison has started, what I call the second evolution, directing this outline to the next performance level with the Von Sol surfboards. Is very interesting the variety of his designs which cover a vast variety of wave conditions and styles. The importance of their contribution is mantaining a basic structure and the essence of the Lis fish. Is interesting to observe this new contours and try this shapes in your bag of surf experiences.

Monday, January 17, 2011

THE WATERMAN



THE ALTERNATIVE SURF CULTURE

Sometimes there's no words to describe a talent. I think that people who discover and grow their habilities to a superb level are blessed by God. This video define this concept to the maximum expression. In my opinion Naish is the epitome of a Waterman. Are you ready to see this Video?

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Soul Surfing = Mark Richards



THE ALTERNATIVE SURF CULTURE

After a morning Stand Up Paddle Board session I was thinking about the evolution of surfing up to this moment. Inmediately an MR logo image came to mi mind. I remmember in late 70's to early 80's the dominant figure of Mr. Mark Richards.His unique style and his surfboard shaping habilities on the refinement of the twin fin. This is a tribute this legend: Mark Richards.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

DEREK HYND, A MAN FROM ANOTHER WORLD!



THE ALTERNATIVE SURF CULTURE

Kelly Slater one day said that Hynd surf habilities peaked at 23. See this finless pick sensation and I will tell you that the King was completely wrong.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

NO WORDS.....SIMPLY CARIBBEAN NATURE EXPRESSIONS



















                                
THE ALTERNATIVE SURF CULTURE