Alohasurf needs your support! In order to raise funds to keep the alohasurf.net site up and running, we will be offering alohasurf t-shirts from now until Monday, May 12th for only $10 plus shipping!! Shipping and handling is only $1.50 inside the US and you can pay via paypal, visa, mastercard, amex or discover. If you want to order a shirt, send me an email at tshirts@jpetermanconsulting.com and let me know how many, what size(s) you would like, how you would like to pay, and a phone number to reach you. Although I can now take credit cards, I would rather you not include them in your email to avoid any possibility of your info being compromised. Given that warning, if you would rather avoid the return phone call and feel comfortable sending your CC info in an email, you can, but I don't recommend it. If you do want to take that route, make sure you include your mailing address and that it is the same as the billing address on your card.

Act now because there is a limited supply of these sale priced shirts and once they are gone, they will go back up to $20.

Thanks for your support over the past ten years and hopefully with your continued support, we will be around for at least another ten.

Sincerely,
jPeterman

Pensacola Beach Surf Report for May 9, 2008 May 9, 2008 We have some surf, it is in the waist high range and looks like it will last all day. The wind isn't blowing too hard this morning, only in the 10 to 15 knot range out of the SW and we have buoy readings of 3.9 ft. with a S swell direction. Go surf it looks pretty fun. May 8, 2008 No surf yet, but hopefully we will see some by this afternoon. We have a high tide at noon and a low at midnight. The buoys are reading 2 ft. this morning with a ESE swell direction and a SSE wind blowing in the 15 knot range. The marine forecast is calling for S winds all day in the 15 to 20 knot range with the winds becoming SW tonight. Pray for some rideable surf. May 7, 2008 Another day of lake like conditions out here on the Gulf of Mexico. Looks like we could have some surf by tomorrow morning as the marine forecast is calling for SE winds tonight in the 15 to 20 knot range with seas building into the 2 to 4 ft. range. Till then go skate. May 6, 2008 Looks like a lake out here today. Hopefully we will see some surf by tommorrow, till then go skate and enjoy the beautiful weather outside. May 5, 2008 Happy Cinco de Mayo, the surf is flat. I hope you caught some of the surf yesterday. Well today is a great day for skating. I doesn't look like we are going to see any surf until maybe Wed. or Thur. May 4, 2008 There is still some surf left this morning in the waist to rib high range, but get out and catch some of this surf before it disapears. The marine forecast is calling for N winds all morning and then becoming SW, but then tomorrow and the next couple of days N winds, so this may be the last day of surf for a little bit. Go surf. May 3, 2008 We still have some good size surf, holding in the chest to head high range. The buoys are reading 5 ft. with a S swell direction and a strong SSE wind in the 20 knot range. The marine forecasts is calling for those same 20 knot winds out of the S and becoming SW throughout the day. So the surf is up all though it is a little choppy and windy, it will be up all day. Tomorrow look for the winds to go off shore out of the NW, could get real fun on Sun. Waterboyz will be having a Spring Sidewalk Sale today, come by and check out all the deals. May 2, 2008 Surf has built and is in the rib high range this morning and will be building all day as the winds are strong out of the SE in the 20 knot range and forecast to stay that way all day. The buoys are now reading in the 4 ft. range with a SE swell direction, so go surf. The surf will be building all day and will be a little on the choppy side, but you should be able to pick out some fun rides. We have a high tide at 8:20 am and a low at 6:15 pm. The Bra Boys movie will be opening up in 2 theaters today, the one on 9 mile & one in Gulf Breeze, check it out. We will have the DVD's in by the 15th. May 1, 2008 The surf is still real small this morning, but it is trying to build. The winds are just starting to crank out of the SE in the 15 to 20 knot range and the marine forecast is calling for SE winds in the 20 knot range through tomorrow night with the seas building into the 4 to 7 ft. range. Maybe we will have some surf by this afternoon. The tides are neap today so just a bunch of small changes in the tides, probably won't effect the surf much.

Just wanted to remind everyone to Go Surfing! The weather is perfect, I haven't heard any reports of jellies and the waves look pretty fun. One other quick note, please take a minute and check out this website. It will only take a minute and it might save a life. I guy I grew up with, surfed countless days with and watched become a star in the computer graphics and animation world is in need of a liver. With O+ blood type, finding a suitable match could take a little longer than Greg has. I am a firm believer in crazy luck; all things happen for a reason; divine intervention; and all of those terms used to explain why something really good happens againt all probability. So if you hear about someone whose tragedy may have the chance to bring life to someone else, take a second and ask a few questions...make a phone call...or visit the website at www.nailehead.com.

I remember when I was in my late teens and able to drive myself to the beach, my number one priority in life was to check the surf. I would be out in the middle of winter on waves so small that I would have to stand on the sand bar with my board and literally jump into a wave because they weren't powerful enough to pick me up from a paddle. I can't remember how many times I said to myself and others "man, I will never stop surfing". At some point, reality set in and life became about other things, mostly work. I have been self employed almost my entire adult life, so for me, life became about a bunch of work. Well, for those of you who have known me for all of these years, life hasn't just been about work, but somewhere along the way, surfing seemed to drop down my list of priorities and very nearly fell right off. Every once in a while though, I would manage to find my way to the beach with my board and revive that connection with the ocean.

On those days, the reason that I love the ocean and surfing is so vivid, it is hard to imagine that those feelings will ever fade. Then after endless work and endless responsibility I start to forget again. It's as if that part of me starts to wither like a plant that you have forgotten to water...for a really long time. At some point it seems like there is just no point because all there is on the surface is a dried up stem...no leaves, just a dry brown twig. What is so amazing about surfing is that part of you never dies. All it seems to take are a couple of waves and once again my mind is filled with visions of perfect waves, the smell of salt air and the sound of distant surf.

So, for all of those people that I grew up with, that I scraped together enough change to get over the bridge with (back when it was 35 cents), all of you that swore with me that we would never quit surfing....

Where Were Ya!?!?

I didn't see any of you slackers in the water during the last swell. About the only familiar face besides my brother (local surfing legend Brad Peterman) was Barret McClean and not only is he self employed, but he has a wife and four kids so none of you have any excuses! I know Sean Fell from waterboyz made it out because he called me from Navarre Beach with a surf report and that guy works harder than anyone I know.

Speaking of Waterboyz, if you live in the area, you have to check out the new shop. He took over the old Antique Mall just below the railroad tracks on Ninth Ave. It's just a block above Gregory St. so it is on the way to almost anywhere you might be going. He has completely remodeled the building and the place has an AIR CONDITIONED INDOOR SKATE PARK in the back! If nothing else, you have to check out the insane front door. It was designed and built by artist/architect Mike Nelms (you may have seen him on the Discover Channel series "Monster House") who flew in from Hawaii to tackle the project. The fact that Mike would travel half way around the world design and build a door for Waterboyz says alot about the company as well as its leader, Sean Fell. Sean has spent much of his life working to further the sports of surfing and skating in this area. He has sponsored countless contests, surf clinics and worked with schools and charities to expose kids from all over to the sports of surfing and skating. The new skate park provides a safe(and monitored) place for kids or kids at heart to cut loose without worrying about things like trespassing citations(or finding yourself broken and bleeding at the bottom of a concrete ditch in the middle of no where). So take a few minutes to stop in and let him know that we appreciate all he has done. If you don't live here, check out the website. I have heard from an inside source that a new and drastically improved website is in beta testing as we speak.

So back to the surf, Dean was good to us by offering a solid swell without the destruction and devastation that usually accompany hurricanes. I heard that Navarre Beach was maybe a little better wave wise but much better water wise. I was told that there was less seaweed and more importantly fewer jellyfish. After listening to everyone around me complain about how bad the jellyfish sucked, I made the stupid mistake of mentioning that I had not gotten stung. Within a minute or so, as I paddled for a wave, I pinned one of those squishy little monsters between my stomach and surfboard and was immediately alerted to its presence by that unique combination of sensations that can only be described as like being electrocuted by a hot poker. For reference purposes, neither Benedryl, HydroCortisone, nor Lanicane do jack to alleviate the burning sensation that persists for 12 or so hours after a sting. The one thing that did lessen the pain a little was the steep fast right I was able to smack to lip on as I exited to water. That and the wide eyed look from my six year old son when I showed him the large welt on my stomach. I could almost see myself battling the gigantic tentacles of the Kracken in his eyes as I told him the story. I think those looks could cure about anything.

Well, that about it for now. Work on the site continues, so stay tuned.

Hope to see you in the water,
jp

As promised, I have added a new cam as the default image on the site. In addition, there is now a new "Sunrise" loop that will be available each day as well as a "Horizen" loop. The Horizen loop is a special feature inspired by my friend John, the extraordinary sushi chef at Horizen Sushi. The feature is designed to give fisherman, divers and boaters a good look at the horizen to check out sea conditions. The location for this cam is provided by Paradise Beach Homes so if you get a chance, checkout their site and maybe send them a thank you. If you are from out of town and are looking for a place to stay here, they are one of the top management companies on Pensacola Beach and rent some really gorgeous waterfront homes including the one that this camera is mounted on. Some of these homes have been designed by renowned coastal architect, Julian Peterman, and have interiors designed by Sally Stanfield.

For a look at conditions to the west, check out cam2. It is located near Ft Morgan in Gulf Shores and is courtesy of my friends John and Karen Bobe at Sunset Properties. In addition to selling property, the also manage a bunch or really nice rental houses and condos in Ft Morgan/Gulf Shores Alabama which is a great place to get away from the crowds and relax.

I will be swapping out cam3 with a camera better suited for that location which is towards the eastern end of Pensacola Beach. I have to thank Bryon Kelly, a good friend that provided alot of the encouragement that was necessary for me to bring this project back to life. You can check out his site here. He manages and owns both short and long term rentals so if you need a longer term housing solution, if he can't help you, he could probably point you in the right direction.

While I'm thanking people, I also need to thank a couple of others that have been instrumental in reviving alohasurf.net. One of them is Bill Gibbons from Beach Ball Realty who has always been there to urge and encourage. Another one is my father, Julian Peterman (the renowned coastal architect mentioned above). His support and faith has never waivered. The final and most important of all of these is my wife, Sabrina. Thanks for being such an incredible bitch for all of these years. By comparison, you have made everything else in the world look so much brighter.

I am looking for an assistant or intern. The ideal candidate would be organizationally minded, have experience (or at least a significant interest) in web development/design and business development. An interest in outdoor activities, the beach and surfing, as well as doing promotional work for new businesses is a plus. The job entails assisting in the completion of the alohasurf website, it's dining, lodging and nitelife guides as well as working on other web based projects. Expect long hours and low pay to start but in a casual yet sometimes chaotic work environment. If this sounds attractive to you, I should probably be worried right from the start, but go ahead and send a resume anyway to jobs@alohasurf.net. If you don't have a formal resume handy, send me an email outlining why you think you would be the perfect assistant. Use the subject attn:jPeterman.

My goal with this site has always been to provide a really usable guide for the area. Not a guide so diluted with advertising that it's hard to find the content, and not a guide that only includes businesses that have paid to be a part of it....What good is that? The guides I am working on are really comprehensive and informative and take alot of time. The result though I am hoping will be well worth the wait. The site will also be receiving a face lift...or maybe a face replacement. I have toiled over the issue of whether to break away from the familiar format and do something completely new, or to try an maintain the familiar look and feel of the site, modifying the format enough to accomodate the new features. I have come to the conclusion that trying to stuff a bunch of new features into the current format would just look too much like a train wreck, so the result is going to be a completely new site. If you have any questions or comments, you can email me here.

Thanks for tuning in,
jp

If you haven't been here for a while, alot has changed. Hurricane Ivan devastated the beach in 2004 and even now, there are still signs of the destruction that took place. But as with previous hurricanes (Fredrick comes to mind) the beach is being built back better and stronger. Many of the old landmarks such as the Holiday Inn, Five Flags, and a big chunck of the Dunes are gone. Via Deluna, the two lane road to the east is being widened to four lanes with a median. There is new construction everywhere. Things are changing so fast that it is hard for me to keep up with, and I live here. It has been all of this change that has prompted me to move forward with this site, which will actually be changing names soon. You will still be able to access it via alohasurf.net, but you will be redirected to the new domain which I will release soon. Yes, we will be reviving the surf report, thanks to Sean at Waterboyz who will also be launching a new site in the very near future. I will be working with my friend John, the head sushi chef at Horizens, on the new dining guide so if you have any ideas, he works every day but monday...try the baked shrimp tempura while you are there...incredible.


Well, thats about all for right now but stay tuned, things are only going to get better.


see ya

jp

Thursday morning, April 10, Pensacola's finest sushi chef and one of my good friends, John Ma, took his own life. I don't think speculating on why would serve any purpose however, because it is such a sensless waste, I think it is important to keep an eye on those we call friends who may be trying to reach out for help. Keep in mind that people are not always good at or comfortable with asking for help so the signs may be subtle until you are looking at them in hindsight.

The memorial service is as follows:

John Ma Memorial Service
Date: Tuesday - April 15th, 2008
Time: 4 pm - 6 pm
Location: Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel
2276 Airport Blvd (by PJC & Cordova Mall)
Pensacola, FL 32504 " (850) 478-3292


Reception afterwards at Skopelo's.

I have some sad news to relay to the local surfing community. A while back I posted a message that Greg Nail was very ill and in need of a liver transplant. Unfortunately, all of our hopes and prayers were not enough to make that happen. He passed away on Wednesday morning (2/27/2008).

There will be a Paddle Out on Sunday east of Portafino past the S curves. Greg asked that everyone bring pictures/stories to share and flowers to toss into the ocean for him. Sean from the Waterboyz is having a cookout/bonfire afterwards. There will be another Paddle Out in San Diego in the next few weeks to scatter his ashes into the winds at Sunset Cliffs there as well.

There will be a Memorial Mass for Greg at 10:00 on Monday, March 3 at St Ann Catholic Church, Gulf Breeze, FL. It's my understanding that Sean Fell of Waterboyz in Pensacola is putting together a "Surfers Service" for Greg at 3:00 on Sunday at Pensacola Beach.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to Covenant Hospice, 2001 N. Palafox, Pensacola, FL 32501 or the William R. McMahon Organ Donation Educational Foundation, 4141 Cherry Laurel Dr, Pensacola, FL 32504 - or to your own favorite charity in Greg's name would be in keeping with his wishes.
At a later date a suitable memorial will be held in San Diego.

I find myself sitting here, staring at my computer screen...trying to assemble something profound to say about Greg's passing. Unfortunately, its a place I have found myself too often. And every time its about the same. Will anything you say bring back the one lost...no. Can you say anything to those closest to Greg to make them feel any better...probably not. Is there a lesson to be learned...something that might allow you to reconcile the loss in your own head...maybe, but nothing you really want to hear right now. I think that the words that we feel we must convey are for ourselves, a way to verbalize the loss that we feel...a somewhat feeble attempt to apply words to something that defies description. In short, I know that I can't say anything here to make anyone feel any better, other than maybe myself.

Greg, if you happen to be listening, I can't say I am sorry that I haven't seen you since you became ill...it leaves my memories of the beach and surfing and the crazy things we did when we were young pristine and intact. As a matter of fact, I can't even picture you without a smile on your face. We weren't the best of friends, but you were always friendly and that's something that I always respected you for. I remember surfing with you on many an afternoon after school and knowing you were there made the sometimes terrifying experience of surfing big swirling waves just before dark a little more bearable. Fortunately, I never had to test it, but I suspect that if I or any of our friends got into trouble, that you would probably be the one dragging us to shore. So thank you for that...and your friendship. I am glad to have known you.......


jPeterman