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November 2006 Issue
Ventura's 17-year-old Cory Arrambide vs. Kelly Slater
By Katie McLean
Taking giant steps in surfing, 17-year-old Cory Arrambide recently switched from Robert's to Channel Islands, dominated local contests, and took his first trip to Europe to shoot with Billabong. It was in Europe that Arrambide took another big step when entering the Billabong Pro Mundaka against none other than Kelly Slater.
Despite the rainy weather while shooting with Billabong in France, Arrambide was enjoying the “good waves here and there” and was “stoked to see a totally different world.” Meanwhile, Troy Brooks was still hurt from a couple weeks back at Hossegor where he re-injured his knee. Brooks had to give up his wild card spot, which drafted first alternate Cory Arrambide into heat 1 of round 2. Arrambide “got the call the night before, packed up the car”, called his dad who was stoked, and headed to Bakio, Spain.
It was not until a couple of hours before his heat that Arrambide found out that he was competing against soon to be 8x World Champion, Slater. “I knew I was screwed, but I was still stoked,” said Arrambide. Trying to physc out his opponent, Slater showed up ten minutes before his heat to learn that he was competing against a 17-year-old WCT virgin. “He’s less than half my age. It’s kind of funny,” said Slater. “I was thinking about when I was 17 I surfed against Barton Lynch who was the world champion that year and I came really close to beating him. It was pretty exciting. I don’t think I’ve seen Arrambide surf yet, but I hear he’s really good.”
In the water, goofy foot Arrambide ripped up the lefts and got barreled by the 7 footers, but was just as happy to talk and surf with Kelly Slater. Arrambide held his ground well until a tube closed out on him, snapping his board in half. While Arrambide was assisted by the jet ski and brought a board from Taj Burrow's quiver, Kelly took advantage of Arrambide's absence. With only five minutes remaining when Arrambide got back into the line up, his few final waves were not enough to take out Slater. The heat ended 15.17 to 5.27.
The loss was of little consequence to Cory Arrambide. He was simply stoked about the whole experience. Now back home in Ventura, Arrambide is looking forward to a possible month-long trip to Hawaii in November to surf and shoot. He hopes to “do good in the last year at nationals and do good in the WQS.” With such progress, Arrambide proves to have an impressive future in surfing.
Wavelengths
By Michael Kew
Pismo Power
Blue Edge photographer Chris Burkard Wins Prestigious Award
Chris Burkard, Blue Edge’s very own two-time cover-shooter, was the lucky recipient of the first annual Follow the Light Foundation $5,000 grant bestowed in the name of iconic surf photographer Larry “Flame” Moore, who departed last year following a three-year battle with brain cancer.
Pismo’s Burkard, 20, was one of several noted finalists for the grant. His winning images were judged in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., on October 10 by surf photography heavyweights including Aaron Chang, Jeff Divine, Art Brewer, and Steve Wilkings.
“I’m just so stoked,” Burkard said. “It means a lot to receive this award in the spirit of Flame, and I feel very lucky to have this to be able to help my photography to progress.”
With the cash, Burkard intends to launch into a book documentary project about the California coast, an idea he hatched with his friend Eric Soderquist.
Burkard entered the contest at the behest of TransWorld Surf Photo Editor Pete Taras.
“Chris is just an ultra passionate kid,” Taras said. “He eats, breathes, and sleeps photography—I don’t think I have ever met anyone so passionate about photography as him. Him winning the Flame award seems like a perfect fit, because he really shines and glows of the Flame spirit.”
Follow the Light (www.followthelightfoundation.org) is a non-profit group created by Moore’s wife, Candy, Chang, and Surfing magazine publisher Ross Garrett.
“Through his work at Surfing magazine, Larry literally gave three decades of surfing their ‘look,’” says the Foundation’s Web site. “Today, honoring Larry’s request, we have established the Follow the Light Foundation (FTL), an organization that will help finance the dreams of surf photographers, pushing the sport and its lensmen forward.”
Burkard began shooting surf photos about a year ago. His first official “surf photo” session was with Central Coast legend Van Curaza at Avila Beach.
As a grom, Burkard realized he was an artist, but wasn’t sure which medium he wanted to pursue.
“In high school I tried every different kind of art, like painting and sculpture,” he said. “I was looking for a medium that I would really be able to express myself in the right way. I fell upon photography though just wanting to shoot my friends, and it sort of stuck. That was when I started seeing photography as more than just a hobby.”
From June through September, under the auspices of Taras, Burkard served in the TransWorld Surf trenches, learning the tricks of the trade, and, having no “home” in SoCal, found himself driving back and forth weekly between Arroyo Grande and Oceanside, five hours each way, sleeping in rest stops, parking lots, eating fast food, and changing the oil in his truck four times.
“Pete really taught me a lot, like how to shoot artistically for publication,” Burkard said. “I learned a lot from being around all the editors, but I’ve always been influenced and inspired by Flame. Thanks, Flame—we miss you.”
Check out Burkard’s Web site: www.burkardphoto.com
Posted November 2006 Blue Edge Magazine. All rights reserved.
