6 Best Places to Get Bitcoin

Bitcoin the latest craze that is hitting the world today and the craze seems to be growing despite skepticism due to its volatility. This has not stopped the bitcoin craze or rather the crytocurrency craze that is taking the world by storm.

Though due to it’s nature and being anonymous most of the time, there is always going to be people taking advantage of that. Therefore you and I really need a safe place where we can trade our bitcoins (or other cryptocurrencies). Depending on which country you are from some work very well and others do not.

I have handled bitcoin for few years tried out some and some did not work to well. I have also been looking into mining alternative bitcoins (which I will write about sometime later). Here are some places to buy and sell bitcoin which have been around for some time and have proven to be quite reliable during the years.

CEX.io

I have used CEX.io for few years and have found it really reliable. It has a 3 phase password which uses your password, confirmation from your computer and code which they send to your mobile. So I have not encountered any problems with CEX.io, it allows your to buy bitcoins on credit card but it also has some of the more latest cryptocurrency coins as well such as Litecoin, Ethereum, and Monero (they are still expanding their portfolio!).

Their fees arenot too bad, I think their deposit fees are still US$ 0 and their withdrawal fees are US$ 3.80. Their prices are in real time and are relatively close to the price that are on the current cryptocurrency capatalization.

You can apply with them over here to try them out.

Localbitcoins

Localbitcoins is highly recommended by me as this site allows you to buy/sell bitcoins with individuals like you and me. The prices sometimes differ from the market though if you want to do it face/face, via paypal or directly to your bank account Localbitcoins is the way to go.

They have a 3 phase password which includes a Captcha and written codes they send to you which you need to print out. They also have work via escrow system which withholds bitcoin or money until you can confirm the transaction is completed, but make sure that that their side is completed before finalizing and not to just listen to directions. Their surport is also really good and get back to you within 30mins or less.

I highly recommend Localbitcoins which you should try out here.

Kraken

Kraken is also rated as one of the best crytocurrency exchanger out there due to hit’s vast menu of cyrtocurrencies to buy/sell, including bitcoin, and used frequently in the Europe. Though the interface is not as friendly and 2-phase login still okay, Kraken is still a good bitcoin exchange service.

You can try out Kraken if you want over here.

Poloniex

Poloniex is one of the biggest cryotocurrency sites out there and is reported to be really safe by traders whom I have encountered. Though the issues regarding slow processing and support does worry me a bit it is still useful.

Still worth a try.

Coinbase

Coinbase is a good market trader for cyrptocurrencies and is used widely. Though it does not support a lot of countries and their menu of alternative currencies is limited, they have good support.  They give timely feedback on your trade and on how to fix problems.

Why not try Coinbase here.

Shapeshift.io

I have used Shapesift a few times for quick currency swaps. This is a really useful to have if you want to change your bitcoins quickly for other alternative cryptocurrencies. Though they do have a trade limit on how much coins you can trade and is best used for small amounts though if you are looking for quick exchange it is great to have.

Conclusion

There are many places that are selling and buying bitcoins out there but most are not as trustworthy as these. Before using such as service it is always best to check:

  • How long they have been established for.
  • Some reviews external reviews of the trade site.
  • Before a transaction make sure you are absolutely certain and complete it ASAP as bitcoin prices are volative.
  • You can also find great resources in the bitcoin forum bitcointalk or the reddit page on bitcoin.

Do you guys know of many more places to buy and sell bitcoins? Please let me know.

Freelancer.com Review: The Most Competitive Freelance Website

The are quite a few freelancing websites out there that you can try. As a person working from home it is always best to try a pick 2 good freelancing websites to work with in order to get the best coverage and to make some good extra income.

Freelancer.com is also a freelancing website that has been around since 2009. They are coved in 273 countries and the top 3 jobs listed are: IT & Software, Design & Media, and Writing Content. So if you have skills that are centered on these qualifications this is a good freelancing website to try.

Is Freelancer.com Good?

I have been reading fair bit of reviews lately that been indifferent lately to Freelancer.com. Either they are very bad reviews, though I suspect some are for marketing purposes or they are quite positive as people have made money out of them.

Though is Freelancer.com good? It is still not bad.

As mentioned the Freelancer.com has a good market reach and companies look for broad range of skills especially skills that allow you to work from home so it is great to use. Their use of escrow for payment and communication also makes it good for all freelancers to use to communicate with employers.

What might detract from Freelancer.com is the high competition within the website for some of the jobs. The best way to conteract that is to gain reputation on the site by your qualifactions or get reviews.

Personal Review of Freelancer.com

It is user friendly for both freelancers and employers that look to use the site. The communicaton tools used are also really nice, their app is able to time you and if you are communicating with another client it will change the time to on that specific client. I personally felt that was quite useful.

The payment security is worth noting as they work via escrow i.e money is only released after you have completed the project or a certain milestone.

Some clients were hard to get feedback from though that is more client side and it is best to check the clients use of the website from their profile before agreeing to take on the job.

What is Inside Freelancer.com

The dashboard itself is neat and does not feel cluttered which is nice for freelancing website as some make it hard to organize your jobs.

The website also tracks your location and provides you with jobs that are at your vicinity if you need it. Then it also provides you will a general menu to pinpoint what skills are suitable for you.

Payments are done via Skrill or Paypal but there is Express Withdrawals and Wire Tranafer too (only available in selected countries though).

The free membership offer you just enough ffor you to use to establish yourself and build something out of their freelancing services with 15 bids per month. Which on average 1/5 of your bids are approved depending on competition this should be enough to find some clients for you to try and work with.

You can check it out from this link to get a feel of it. 

How Can You Make Freelancer.com Work?

Here is some pointer on how to make Freelancer.com work:

  • The best way is to try it out on free membership first when you sign-up and to get a good understanding of how many jobs are a match.
  • Try to find reliable clients with some street credit on the profile. Also best to work within the website until you build some trust with them.
  • Also find jobs that you can complete even if there rates are initially low so that you can build a reputation for yourself on the website as well.
  • Above all always communicate with the client and make sure of what they want sometimes it might change during a project and lack of communication should make you wary of the client.

After thinking it through why not try it out? Just follow this link here.

What is the Pitfalls of Freelancer.com

This is where the harsh reviews come from. Sometimes it is best to remember tht the problem is not with the website but the client themselves and it is always good to use your own sense of judgement if you feel that something is fishy.

Best way to see if Freelancer.com is good for you is to try it out before drawing your conclusion. I mentioned some bad reviews but with some scrutiny some of them were basically out to seel their own product so always be on the lookout for that.

Conclusion

Again try finding the 2 best freelancing websites that suits you and your skills and work with them to build up your reputation. With its regional coverage, dashboard capabilities and security functions, I think Freelancer.com is a good freelancing website to try out and hopefully put some time into build your skills on.

Do you have any personal experieces you want to share about Freelancer.com? Please let me know your ideas on it.

 

 

 

 

6 Ways to Make Money From Home

 

We live in the world of the internet, there is no easier way to make money than online at the moment. Making money has never been easier than it is in this decade.

Though you are still not sure what to do?

It doesn’t technically need to be rocket science.

Where do I start? What do I do? What is the best fit for me? If you are a down on your luck grad students, single parent looking to make ends meat or just a retiree who is looking to make an extra buck or two, here are some ways to make money from home**.

 

Starting an Online Business by Blogging (Affiliate Marketing)

This is the fail safe way to make a steady stream of income. It is as easy as having internet and putting the time into really creating your own business. It is great for anyone who wants to get a steady income coming into their accounts and are ready to take the time to set it up initially.

Admittedly this is still working from home and needs effort to really get it going. Though this is the best way to make money online. Though where to learn the in’s and out’s of affiliate marketing is really important and getting an idea of SEO must be there on things to learn.

I have written few articles about that where you get a start from.

One felt particularly helpful was Wealthy Affiliate. I wrote about it in this article. 

Freelancing

This is also a great way to work from home if you have a specific skill that you are good at. If you are a translator, a web developer, a writer or just someone who wants to use your skills on the sidelines this is a great place to go to. The prices for freelancers online is not too bad the down side is that you will not get work frequently and might have to bid onn certain jobs.

Here are some reviews on freelancing sites that I tried.

Micro Jobs

This is almost similar to online freelancing but normally the user finds people to do some ordinary tasks that are quick to fulfill and reviewed. The feel is also exceptionally less though there still been people who make money out of it as well. Through this method it takes a lot of time to make a little sum of money and is best described as “beermoney”.

The most common ones are mTurk and Microworkers. If you want to see my experience and other instances of it you can check it out.

Paid Surveys

These are also in a similar vein to freelancing and micro-jobs though it is somewhere in between. Basically as the name suggest you are paid to do onlione surveys which large companies will use later as data.

There are quite a few out there the most prominent ones being Swagbucks, but you can take a look at ones that will pay out over here.

Homehosting

This is a great way to make money as well if you have a spare room in your home or some extra space you want to use. The money is also not too bad and the work you have to do is basically cleaning after they leave. .This is great for a person with a full-time job or student and wants to make an extra buck on the side without too much time comittment.

Cryptocurrency Mining & Trading

It became a huge trend and then it became a bubble, then it just stayed. Though bitcoin is showing signs of taking a downturn the other alternative crytocurrencies (such as Dogecoin, Monero or Ethereum) are still doing quite well. You can mine these on your phone, on your gaming computer or build your own miner. There is even cloud mining that is also a steasy stream of income though is affected by prices. Some also trade cryptocurrencies like forex and have made a huge amount of money (can check “bitcoin millionaires”) as it is so volatile.

There is some money to be made from that as well, so I looked into that to review few of the ways to make money from cryptocurrencies.

Honorable Mention: Making Money from Youtube

Some have made money from making viral videos and it is also a booming money-making idea. Though they have strong restrictions and you have to be extrovert for that. There are also other video sites that make money as well apart from Youtube.

Conclusion

There are many ways to make money online it is just picking the one that suits you the most. Selling stuff online, tutoring online or even publishing an ebook. The list is endless.

Do you have other ways to make money online? Any good suggestions for an honest bloke like me? What’s you secret? Feel free to comment on this as well.

**For all the naysayers out there, why not 10 or 12 or 30 ways to make money online. Its because some are almost the same. I find 6 is better as you can concentrate on just a few at a time and these are the best.

***If you find better ways I will expand on them.

 

 

 

10 Best Places to Go Surfing for Beginners

Finding the best place to start your surfing journey is likely the most important decision you might make to really settle into this sport. If you are looking into a good surf trip you wold like to catch as much waves as possible to hone your skills into the surfer you want to be. You would also want to increase your frequency in going out to the waves on best days and the gnarliest of days in order to gain insight into how you want to surf the waves. Here are few things to think of before planning out on goin go your surfing Mecca.

What You Should Look For in Best Place to Surf

As mentioned you would want to get the best out of a surfing destination before setting out on your adventure so planning ahead is really important. A few factors come into play when you start planning your surf destination and you should always, ALWAYS do a little homework. Remember these factors when you have set your mind to it:

  • Fun for the family – if you have to plan a surfing holiday try to keep your family in mind. Some of the best waves might not have the best weather. And you really want to make it a good lasting first impression. Remember the best surfer is the one having the most fun.
  • Best season to surf – some of waves are only good in a certain destination at a certain time of year, e.g Surfing in England is best done in the winter months of November/ December. Hawaii’s big wave surfing is done in November/ December so you might want to avoid that time if you are not experienced enough.
  • Local surfshops – where is the local surfshops in the area, what are their ratings like, some even provide accommodation, what surf lessons they offer, some even have their own style. So take some time to research the local surf shop or book ahead of time for the best experience.
  • Check the surfing forecast – their are some really reliable surfing forecasts out there, some even have a historical section so you can make comparisons. Try to take advantage of that.

Now that you got these to tick off on your checklist here’s some cool surfing destinations you can check out, that is highly recommended around the internet.

Want to be Psyched to Surf why not watch some cool movies on surfing .

10 Best Places to Start Your Surf Journey

Here’s some cool places to go surfing or learn to surf with the best start for beginners out there. When you read the list remember the factors mentioned above.

  1. Waikiki Hawaii USA – one of the origin of surfing. The whole vibe gives you the surfing vibe you need to hit waves. Coupled with large amout of surf shops with surf lessons. It offers a great place to start surfing.
  2. Byron Bay, Australia – mentioned as the one of the best surf towns, it has a laid back atmosphere for you to surf. The crowd is a bit large but at least if offers quite few surf shops for support which a beginner will need
  3. Nosara, Costa Rica – Costa Rica is quickly gaining suport as a up an coming surf destination. With is cheap prices and friendly locals you are bound to feel at ease. The gentle waves also give you the best start to your surfing.
  4. Tagzhout Morcocco -Tagzhout has always been a surfing area since the 1960’s, it has surf camp which offers the gear, lessons, boarding you will need. Besides it is Africa, a fun adventure for those who try.
  5. Surfers Bay, Barbados – great place to learn surfing all year round. The weather is warm so there is no need for a wetsuit and who does not like Carribean locals with their laid back culture?
  6. Legian Bali, Indonesia – Bali is a great tourist destination with good surf. Legian offers less crowds and easy-going atmosphere a beginner looks for. Surfers wander around offering surfing lessons as well.
  7. Newquay Cornwall, England – Newquay offers all sorts of beach breaks for surfers in varying difficulties which is good for a kook wanting more. The local entertainment is also nice for the whole family if you want an alternative.
  8. Cocao Beach, California USA – it is the place where world class surfer Kelly Slater grew up surfing, with its’ sandy beach breaks great for first-timers
  9. La Jolla Shores, California USA – has some gentle waves with lifeguards always keeping watch. You are joined surfing with some dolphins and seals, which is always fun.

    Surfing in Hossegor
  10. Hossegor, France – it has some of the world’s most desirable waves coupled with fun in France it gives you a good time to learn to surf.

These places are well known for their consistent surf and great local support. So always try to take advantage of that. Though are also some other cool places that are good that deserve a mention as well.

7 Honorable Mentions

So these are some surfing areas are also really good for beginners. For 1 reason or another I decided they still not as good but nonetheless are worth a try.

  • Kuta Beach, Bali Indonesia – one of the famous surfing beaches in Bali, offers the same as Legian but it does get crowded.
  • Muizenberg South Africa – one of the places in South Africa where you do not need to worry about sharks Muizenberg also has a fun surfing community. Also great gentle you will thoroughly enjoy it.
  • Surf Ranch, Lemoore California USA – Wavegarden bult by Kelly Slater it is aimed for surfers to get consistent waves. If offers an occasional surfing with Kelly Slater is worth a try.
  • Surf Snowdonia Wave Garden, Dolgarrog North Wales – a Wavegarden in the middle of Wales, the local pubs are good and they offer some pointers.
  • Weligama Sri Lanka – literally called Sandy Beach, it is palce where beginners go surfing. It does get crowded sometimes but why not migle with the fellow beginners.
  • Riyue Bay Hainan China – called the “Hawaii of China” it is starting gain popularity. With its varying and consistent waves, it is fun to go give it a try if you are planning going to China.
  • Wushi, Yilan Taiwan – lined with surfshops that are willing to help it offers a long line of sandy beach breaks and suppoort to get you started. It does get crowded, but nice if you are in and around the island of Taiwan.

I tried to incorporate all the up and coming areas that are slowly becoming new discovered places to surf. These places might not be as famous as their predecessors but they are really good with good waves and good support.

Proper Planning to Surf

Now when you get to the area before you start going to surf there are a few things you should do before hitting the waves. They will help you enjoy the surfing adventure a little more.

  • Ask the locals – ask the local surfshop owners and surfers what the wave is like or the surf lessons they provide. They will likely give you a few pointers that willl go a long way in your surfing.
  • Enjoy the local scenery – each place has it’s unique surf culture, try to mingle in the local bars, go shopping at the nearby places. Enjoy your time their especially with your family. A big part of a surfing expedition is taking it all in.
  • Be ever watchful – you do not have to go surf straight away try observing the waves from high tide to low tide. Is there any dangers? What is the rip current like? What are the waves like? Can you imagine yourself surfing them. #wavenomics.

Enjoy yourself even if you do not not catch many waves. Part of the fun of being a beginning surfer or kook is enjoying the learning curb. If best try to build on what you learnt trying to surf often in your local surfing if you have or doing surfing alternatives so the next time you go surfing you will be amazed by your progress. Technically surfing is like riding a bike you never really forget it.

Start Planning to Go Surf Now

There are some great places to go surfing if you do enough homework and research. So what are you waiting for? Try planning your surfing around the whole family, and alway remember the best surfer is the one who enjoys it the most.

Where are your favorite surfing area? Please drop a comment and let me know.

 

 

 

 

Bruce Brown, Creator of The Endless Summer, passes away

Bruce Brown, legend of surf films and the creator of one of the best surf films has passed away at the age of 80 on 10th December 2017. He will be well remembered for his filmography and the great contribution he gave surfers and aspiring surfers alike in tenure as a filmaker and founder of surf films. I want to write a story of how lived and not how he passed. Here goes the story of the late Bruce Brown.

Bruce Brown, Founder of Surf Films

His first work into filming started in mid 1950’s on a 8mm short film from Navy Submarine in Honolulu in Hawaii, afterwards he later returned to California. Dave Velzy, one of the earliest commercial surfboard shaper, saw potential in Bruce’s talent and flew him to Hawaii, but this time to do a full feature film called Slippery When Wet in 1957. It had more of a Jazzy underscore to the film on the adventures of few young surfers during the golden age of surf. What really made things outstanding was Bruce’s narration of the film which gave the film shape making enjoyable for all.

Later works included Surf Crazy (1959), Barefoot Adventure (1960), Surfing Hollow Days (1961) and Waterlogged (1962). Each similar in it’s message but unique in setting and a really good introduction to surfing and surfboards like. Those were the great golden days of surfing! Afterwards came his treasured masterpiece.

Bruce & The Endless Summer

The Endless Summer Theatrical release

How did The Endless Summer become the The Endless Summer. It was not easy. Bruce Brown, knew that if was to make a proper homage to Surfing he would need 2 years and US$ 50,000 in film budget to do it quoting him:

“I felt if I could take two years to make a film, maybe I could make something special”.

So Bruce toiled on, took all the best footages of his previous films and made the film Waterlogged. Bruce took pitched his plan to many big-shot Hollywood film distributors but they did not think he was “mainstream” enough.

Bruce began brainstorming again. He knew there were many films and he needed a special something to make it good. He premise would be two surfers Robert August and Mike Hynson would take advantage of winter time in the Northern Hemisphere and pursue the perfect wave during summer in the Southern Hemisphere. An idea that the surfer is always on a quest for the perfect waves. That is how The Endless Summer was born.

Afterwards when Bruce put in the work and completed the Endless Summer in 1966 and again pitched it to the Hollywood distributors by getting movie-goers in to watch at Wichita Kansas for 2 weeks screening and again they felt it was not good enough.

He again rented a theater in New York and held a screening at New York’s Kips Bay, this time it caught on. Cinema 5 took on the distribution rights for the film. Brown chose Cinema 5 as they were the only film distributors that would leave the poster and movie as is without alterations. That’s how we got the iconic poster of The Endless Summer.  From then on the film gained wide success grossing US$ 5million domestically and US$ 20 million worldwide. Praised by The New York Times, Robert Alden and Roger Ebert for it’s unique and humorous narration and storyline. This move was set for the times.

You can check out my review for The Endless Summer here.

Later Works

Later on in th 1970’s Bruce Brown worked on his other passion, which was dirt bikes. He produced another film called On Any Sunday with his co-producer and actor Steve McQueen. That full also garnered wide success and is regarded as the best motorcycle film of all times.

His later works would include On Any Sunday II (1981), Baja 1000 Classic (1991), and On Any Sunday: Revisited (2000). He also produced another sequel in 1994 with his son called The Endless Summer II. This film was also widely regarded not as much success as the first film but great revisitation nonetheless. Bruce at this stage would do a few short films for surfing sportswear or skateboarding companies such as The Wet Set or America’s Newest Sport.

Fun Fact Bruce Brown made a guest appearance as narrator in Spongebob Squarepants episode “SpongeBob SquarePants vs. The Big One”.

How He Lived, How He Passed

Bruce was never a guy who liked the busling cities. He would later semi-retire in the 1980s and move with his wife, Pat and 3 kids (Dana, Wade and Nancy) to remote ranch north of Santa Barbara. There Bruce did whe loved most surfing, riding motorcyles, build houses, restore cars and do the occasional rally racing with his wife. His quite living could be summed up in is words: “We try to stay upright as much as possible”.

He lived a fulfilling life watching his kids grow up and doing what he loved most. He passed away in his sleep at the age of 80.

Legacy

His legacy will keep on living before him. Brown is a 2009 inductee into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach, California and his film The Endless Summer in 2002 was selected preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

Cape St. Francis in South Africa became a famous surf spot thanks to The Endless Summer. Not to mention other treasured surf areas in Africa and around the world.

His narrations has always added color to stories he wove. Being humorous and friendly they would invite into his world and bring along for the ride. I myself was entranced by his story-telling in The Endless Summer that his re-stoked to keep on surfing. The film itself became more than a surf documentary for me as it made me want to do a good trip myself. I still sometimes watch it as it still helps me get pumped up for waves.

You can also send some condolences to twitter account Bruce Brown Films over here @brucebrownfilms.

Our condolences are with his family and we hope he knows that the surf community thanks him for all he has done.

 

 

 

 

About Author Nikita “Kits” King

This is me… another cool writer…

MY STORY GOES…

I’m an eclectic mix of cultures, languages (and some would say personalities).  I love travelling and adventure, trying new things and exploring new places.  I also love to explore new places in my mind, lost in the pages of a good book.  Although technically not a kook, as I haven’t tried surfing (yet), I have tried body boarding and that was hard enough!  I do love the sea though and enjoy snorkeling and scuba diving.

WHY I LIKE TO WRITE

I like to share my experiences and views, but just recently started online when encouraged to do so by a family member of mine.

WHAT AM I GONNA KEEP DOING

I personally like reading reviews and finding out about new things or trying suggestions that people have made.  So hopefully people will find some articles useful in this way too.

If you have any questions, or I can help in any way, just let me know in the comments below :-).

All the best,

Nikita “Kits” King

Wavestorm Surfboard & Variations – The Family Funboard

Surfboard: Wavestorm Surfboard 7″ / 8″
Price:  7″ – $274.99  or the 8″ $324.99
Best Place to Buy: Amazon.com
Measurements: 7’0” / 2134mm 22” / 558mm 3” / 76mm 70L 11.8lbs / 5.4kg
8’0” / 2440mm22.5” / 570mm3.25” / 80mm86L11.4lbs / 6kgs
Accesories:  Wavestorm Swivel PE leash Complimentary 15 day trial for Surfline Premium membership
My Ratings: 6 stars out of 10

General Intro Wavestorm Surfboard

This new design by Wavestorm takes the original classic design of the 8″ surfboard and adds something extra to give you better feel of surfing with your own board. It has 4mm EBS™- IXL Elastomer Barrier Skin which gives you some good traction on the board. It made with materials that give it vivid colors with some UV protection so your board does not erode over time if it is too long in the sun. It is also a light build made with Superior Grade EPS Core (Expanded Polystyrene) core with 3x epoxy set marine-ply stringers HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) High Impact Bottom or a foam board which gives you good floatation and manuerverability.

Personal Take Wavestorm Surboard

My take on the Wavestorm Surfboard it is a good surfboard for starting out on your quest of surfing. Most surfshops have it as it is great  for beginners board due to its flotation. I am surprised it weighs only 5.4kg or 6 kgs for th 8″ which means that the volume of  this board is really buoyant and fun to use; this also makes it safe as knocks and scratches will not hurt you or the surfboard. It is also fitted with 3 fins which is actually good as most second hand surfboards only sell you the main fin so it gives you the fun of edging around those waves with better manuerverability.

It is fun as your first surfboard as it gives you the works without you having to worry too much about getting more accesories and it is fun if you for the odd summer holiday that you want it for the beach. There is also a membership for 15 day premium membership to surfline which a surfing forecast forwhen you go out (though there are better surf forecasts out there). As it is still a foam board, it still not a staple of a real surfer but you could still keep it as a momento of your first stoke which will inevitably be on this board. It is great fun for the whole family as it a great board for learning the basics of surfing.

Overall Maneuverability

I like it that is light so that paddling is so much easier so you can overcome few small waves to get to the lineup, though their might be a tendency to flip off the surfboard if your center of gravity is off on the board. It is great that is has 3 fins attached as most people like 3 fins (even though 1 main fin does the duty) but it does give you more control of the board when you are moving around the waves. The surfboard itself seems to have a slight rocker/nose (for more info see surfboard article) so I really felt riding on the board I could not ride on the length of the waves. Here’s a video of the Wavestorm’s surf abilities:

Storage and Travel

This could actually go a built rack on your bicyle or motorcyle because of it’s lightweight material on it is quite compact. I think that this Wavestorm Surfboard can go on top your car (again best to your a towel or cover so just to make sure it does not cut your baord) or even inside your car because of it’s shape and also due to the material a soft bump will not damage your surfboard. It would be great to bring it travelling on family vacations especially in the summer and be great fun for the family as mentioned. The material of the surfbaord makes it light but also make sit vunerable to erosion from sunlight so I recommend that you keep the surfboard covered if left outside or best kept in cool shed when not in use.

Resell Value and Cost Effectiveness

As it is a soft top (or foam board) the resell value is not that good. Most surfers would probably be looking for an epoxy surfboard for long-term use, inevitably the Wavestorm does deteriorate over time as well. Though I have still seen Wavestorm’s sold for some value so could still try on Ebay or the classifieds. It is still cost effective as I think it s a fairly cheap surfboard and I recommend you using the Wavestorm surfboard for your first surf experience. Though I have seem most people get attached to the Wavestorm surfboard due to it’s family friendly design.

Where to Buy

For the US it is also great to buy from Amazon (can get the 8″ here) as it is the at the approximate price range and their is always a supply of it on Amazon as well. Though if there are any questions it is best to contact the nearest dealer with any details as well. You could aslo look into your local surfshop and see the price range though it should not differ too much from Amazon (so still best to buy in Amazon, really).  Surfboards also get redesigned often so please feel free to also give me heads up on anything new for Wavestorm as well.

Wavestorm 7”/ 8″ Surfboard, The Family Funboard

The overall feel of the Wavestorm surfboard is that it is a great family funboard. It is cost effective, easily manueverable, and overall safe for the whole family. When you are starting out on a surfboard I think it would be best to use a Wavestorm surfboard as you do not have to worry getting many accessories (surf wax, screw drivers to attach and unattach your fins, or surf pads) for your surfboard. This board technically has some great reviews from families going on vacation and most can really have fun on it. Though I still give it 6 out of 10 as it pales in comparison to Epoxy surfbaords like the NSP and as a soft top it does great but long term I would not stick with the surfboard.

So what are you waiting for? Go get the surfboard over here.

Have you used this board before or a variation of it? Please drop me some comments and let me know what you think of it.

 

Saudi Woman Shreds it in the Floodwaters of Jeddah

Have you seen anything like this now. This has been doing the rounds on the internet lately and it is oddly peculiar. The Saudi woman is attempting to do some ‘street surfing’ in the waters that came from recent floods of the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. I guess it is not surfing per say, as it is technically wake-boarding, but it just shows that even the woman are having a bit of fun in the once very male dominated country. It is especially is light-hearted coming from the social and political reforms that are hitting the country recently.

Where is the City of Jeddah

Jeddah (or Jedda/Jiddah as it is pronounced), is a city that is situated in the Hijaz Tihamah region on the coast of the Red Sea and is a major metropolitan area in Western Saudi Arabia. Jeddah is the 2nd largest city in Saudi Arabia after the country’s capital Riyadh, the largest city in the province of Makkah, largest port on the Red Sea, and the commercial capital of Saudi Arabia.

The city is also the gateway to Mecca, Islam’s most holiest city, in which practitioners of the Islamic faith have to a pilgrimage to at least once in their lifetime. Jeddah is also the gateway to the second most holiest site to Muslims, Medina as well.

Economically, with a population o 2.8 million inhabitants, the city has been making innovations in science & engineering and has been highly invested upon by the government attaining 4th in the 2009 Innovation Cities Index for the region of Africa – Middle East region. The city itself has also been making huge efforts in tourism making it ‘different’ from most Saudi cities and is also perceived as the ‘open’ city in Saudi Arabia.

So What’s Been Happening There?

Saudi Arabia, itself has been going through some politcal changes recently happening after the crown prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman been raising a crackdown on ‘corruption’ by his anti-corruption. Purportedly, the $100bn corruption inquiry held many businessmen, 38 goverment officials and 11 of the princes in the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, aka prison in a 5 star-hotel. This news has been making the rounds recently, which many sceptics feel mght be a power move by the Crown Prince.

Recently Jeddah, has been getting unstable rainfall for a few weeks which has been having the civil defense authorities in Saudi Arabia to handle a few emergencies. At the moment, there have been 2 casualties by electrocution and  around 2000 residents that have been affected by the recent floods. There have been a similar instance in 2009 in which the residents of the Red Sea City have been blaming  a mismanagement of funds therefore creating poor infrastructure and response from authorities. There were few casualties there as well.

There recent politcal changes have been making ripples in the country where economic and civil freedom might be improving with the recent news that woman are now allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Woman Shreds it Floodwaters

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With the recent happenings though, this has not discouraged a Saudi woman who decided to do a little wakeboarding and shredding it on the floodwaters. of Jeddah. One reporter says: “This woman making the best out of today’s floods in Jeddah” on her twitter account.

This has been making rounds in social media recently as it is particularly amazing with the recent disaster, geopolitical changes and recent reform of woman’s right in Saudi Arabia, especially for the right to Surf.  Of course, as a writer you do not think to see woman going street-surfing there as well.

There has been some controversies though that the video itself might actually be a guy.

With one guy saying: “That’s no woman alright. Its a male”.

“Yes. Taller than the average height for a woman,” agreed another one.

Well, the reader can decide.

What are the Waves Like in Saudi Arabia or Persian Gulf

Inconsistent waves and coastal development does make things difficult for a surfer in a region such as the Persian Gulf. Maybe the closest spot to surf being somewhere in Sunset Beach in UAE and the others being in Oman or Palestine.

Though who knows with the Saudi Arabian government pushing for reforms for their Vision 2030, that a Wave Ranch or artificial wave lagoon might be created in the near future.

One can only hope.

What’s Your Take

What’s your idea on the video? Do you think that it might be a man? Or might this woman be a future contender to do so surfing in the 2020 Olympics? Please feel free to write to me let me know your views.

Or if you really want to check the airfares there check it here.

Or you read about Bethany Hamilton shredding waves with a baby bump. 

 

 

Soul Surfer – The Surf Movie With Heart

Movie Spotlight: Soul Surfer
Best Place to Buy : Get Amazon Prime or the DVD on Ebay 
Runtime: 1hr 46min
My Rating: 8 out of 10

Personal Review

Soul Surfer is a beautiful film based on the true life events of surfer Bethany Hamilton.  Although not a surfer myself, this film made me want to try surfing. The peacefulness of sitting on a board enjoying the sea, and the amazing view while catching a wave was truly inspiring.  I watched it as it was on on web channel and came up as a recommendation based on another film I had previously watched.  It was nice to see Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid put in an appearance in the film as Bethany’s parents, as I an a fan of theirs and it was another draw for me to give the film a chance.  I was rewarded with a real feel-good-pick-me-up that made me feel like anything was possible if you work hard enough.  I didn’t know that it was based on a true story at the time, I only found that out at the end and it was a pleasant surprise.  The film shows how tragedy doesn’t end your dreams, it’s all about how you respond to the tragedy and overcome the odds.

Against- All-Odds Storyline

The story is based on the life of Bethany Hamilton (played by AnnaSophia Robb) who loves the sea and loves to surf.  The film is set in Hawaii, with all the beautiful scenery you would expect.  Bethany is a champion teenage surfer that has her life turned upside down by a shark attack.  The shark attack still gave me a fright even though I knew it was coming!  Surfing is difficult enough without having a disability, but the story of how she readjusts to her new circumstances and relearns everything to do with surfing, to the point of being able to compete again. During this journey she is also accompanied by her friends and parents, Cheri & Tomh Hamilton  (played by Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid, respectively).  Not only has she got to overcome her fears of getting into the water again, but she uses her own experience to help others that experienced a tragedy of a different kind, it shows how love triumphs over tragedy.

Feel of the Film

A real feel-good movie, which is safe for family viewing.  A film with beautiful scenery and a beautiful heart in its story.  Through experience Bethany learns about love, faith and family – giving the film a heartwarming setting.  There are some Christian elements to the film, but I feel it adds to the story rather than being off putting.  There is a bit of the “Hollywood cheese”, although I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a bit of feel-good cheese.

Fun Facts

Here’s some cool facts that I later found out about the film I think readers can look out for:

  • Apparently the shark attack scene was filmed in the same place that the actual shark attack happened.
  • The actual shark was 14 ft (or just over 4m) long tiger shark.
  • Some of the surfing scenes are actually done by Bethany herself and not the actress AnnaSophia.
  • Bethany is expecting her 2nd child.

Where Do I Watch It?

You could watch on Amazon Prime over here, or you could get the DVD for around the same price or less from here. Either way you should try and see how it inspired people everywhere.

If you are not the movie type you can also get her Autobiography, Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board from Amazon as well for around US$4.

Recommended for All

This film gets an 8 out of 10 from me.  It has a 7.1/10 from IMDB and most liked it on rotten tomatoes.  I felt inspired by the film, not only to try surfing but also to appreciate the things I do have and not take anything for granted.  Look out for cameos from Bethany Hamilton herself and her family in the film.  Bethany is in the scene in Thailand, carrying a box, as well as in some of the surfing scenes and her parents are in the church scene behind the acting parents Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid.  I think the film is definitely worth a watch, especially when you’re having a down day and would like a nice warm-fuzzy-feeling-inside film. Feel free to drop a comment on what you think of the film, if you interested which you can get her book on Amazon.

So what you waiting for? Go watch the film here.

Enjoy!

Legendary Surfer Gal Bethany Hamilton Pregnant & Still Shredding

The news is just in: Bethany Hamilton is shredding on the waves with a baby bump. That’s right, she is expecting her second baby in March next year.  Beth still does has not lost her touch and  has been caught during one of her sessions in Hawaii, 6 months into her pregnancy!

Who’s Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Meilani Hamilton-Dirks is a legendary surfer who survived a shark attack in 2003. Even though her left arm was completely taken off by the shark attack, she clawed her way back into professional surfing and became the stuff of legends again being successful in surf competitions. Her story Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board an autobiography in 2004 was later developed into a movie Soul Surfer. These I highly recommend for any surfer on the mend and anyone who wants to get stoked on waves.

Also Read: Review on Soul Surfer over here.

She met her husband Adam Dirks a Youth Minister in early 2012 and were later married on August 18,2013 in Kauai in front of 300 friends and family. She gave birth to her son, Tobias, in June 2015. The couple are pretty stoked to have their 2nd child announced in earlier in October.

Bethany Hamilton’s Competition Stats

Even after her shark attack she was able to successfully return to international professional surfing as soon as 2004 winning the NSSA Surf Competion. Here are her recent stats and placings in the last few competitions

  • 2016 Fiji Woman’s Pro Fiji – 3rd place
  • 2015 Swatch Woman’s Pro USA- 13th place
  • 2014 Surf ‘n’ Sea Pipeline Women’s Pro USA – 1st place
  • 2009 Billabong ASP World Junior Championship Australia – 2nd place
  • 2009 Rio Surf International in Rio de Janeiro – 3rd place

Some of her other cool accolades of note include:

  • ESPY Award (2004)
  • NSSA National Helping Kids Champion (2005)
    2nd place
  • ASP World Junior Championships (2008)

You can also check out the full gallery on TMZ over here.

Congradulations Bethany! Thanks for Inspiring Surfers, Everywhere.

More than thankful to share our joyous news!!! #babyinthere #babyonboard✨🎉❤️

A post shared by Bethany Hamilton (@bethanyhamilton) on

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