ET has the largest selection of …Ashland Skateboards in Southern California. Stop in and check out one of our many models and make sure to introduce yourself to the staff- Daniel Del (manager-I hear the best surfer in SB) Steve Sharkenrider (manager- the skate collector), Mike (Just LB), Ian (Jr legend to Del), Kevin (the Worm, if he’s not fishing), DC (snowboard tech), Evan, Nick, Shannon and the rest of the crew.

Check out the E.T. Skateboard Camp for groms ages 4 to 12 on weekdays during the summer and on the weekends in the winter at the Hermosa Beach Skate Park (located at Pier ave. and Ardmore ave).

With so much happening in the Beach Cities on the Fourth of July, the city of Manhattan Beach astutely saves its booming celebration for the holiday season.

The result is a spectacular spectacle of fireworks off the pier that bring out the entire community. Many people arrive by foot, taking a leisurely stroll down the Strand or streets to arrive at the pier where they set up blankets and beach chairs.

There is a snow park for the little one’s that opens at 4:00 PM. Santa arrives around the same time. Live Music begins at 5:00 PM and the fireworks begin around 6:30.

This is one of the best fireworks displays, anywhere or anytime, in the entire country.

It can be chilly (by Manhattan Beach standards) so visitors are advised to dress to fit the occasion. While shorts and sandals work for most of the year, such wardrobe is not advisable for this evening. This is a magical wintertime event that you will remember for the rest of your life. Don’t miss it.

This week I was invited over to the corporate headquarters of TOMS Shoes in Santa Monica to check out their funky shoe line and learn more about their progressive business model. Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS Shoes on a simple premise: With every pair of shoes purchased TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Using the purchasing power of individuals to benefit the greater good is what TOMS is all about.

In 2006 an American traveler Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need.  Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends, and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by caring TOMS customers.

Since their beginning, TOMS has given over 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need through their One for One model. TOMS plans to give another 300,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world for 2009. The Friends of Toms Shoe Drop Tours allow TOMS supporters and enthusiasts to be part of their movement. Their latest shoe drop was at The Indigo Skate Camp in a remote village outside of Durban, South Africa where children not only learn to skate, but learn mathematics, geography, and the idea that with self-discipline anything can be earned or achieved (not to mention keeping them out of trouble in a very dangerous part of the world).

Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot, whether at play, doing chores or just getting around, these children are at risk. Walking is often the primary mode of transportation in developing countries. Children can walk for miles to get food, water, shelter and medical help. Wearing shoes literally enables them to walk distances that aren’t possible barefoot.  Wearing shoes prevents feet from getting cuts and sores on unsafe roads and from contaminated soil. Not only are these injuries painful, they are also dangerous when wounds become infected. The leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted parasites which penetrate the skin through open sores. Wearing shoes can prevent this and the risk of amputation.

Many times children can’t attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don’t have shoes, they don’t go to school. If they don’t receive an education, they don’t have the opportunity to realize their potential.

Their is one simple solutions…SHOES. Of the planets six billion people, four billion live in conditions inconceivable to many. TOMS encourages us to take a step towards a better tomorrow. Learn more about what TOMS is doing to help cure the foot disease Podoconiosis through the Mossy Foot Project.

Paddle Out in Jeff’s honor on Sunday, August 30th at 9:30am, Ehukai Beach Park, North Shore, Oahu

One of my father’s high school friends and a legendary ocean waterman has passed away. Jeff Johnson died Monday in Oahu with his family nearby. Jeff is the father of Pete Johnson and Jack Johnson of music fame. Jeff grew up surfing in Manhattan Beach and graduated from Mira Costa. Jeff was one of the original south bay guys to have settled on the north shore after finishing school (Cal Berkeley) and never left. He built a successful contracting business and raised his family along the waters he loved and helped protect. He and his wife Patti, also from Costa, embraced aloha spirit and have hosted many paddlers and surfers over many years, they always made you feel welcome.

This year’s Catalina Classic paddleboard race will be dedicated to Jeff’s memory. The race will coincide with the paddle out for him on the north shore.

Matt Smart
Outside All Day

Join thousands who come out to Redondo Beach in September to enjoy fresh Maine lobsters, great music, and activities for the whole family at the 14th Annual Redondo Beach Lobster Festival, presented by the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau and Dive N’ Surf and Body Glove Sept. 25, 26 & 27, 2009.

The Annual Dive N’ Surf Redondo Beach Lobster Festival is the premier lobster festival of the South Bay! Held in beautiful Redondo Beach at the Seaside Lagoon, right next to the Pacific Ocean.  The Lobster Festival offers fresh Maine lobsters, live music, professional wakeboarding demonstrations, great beachwear fashion shows, a free children’s area and activities for the whole family.  Don’t miss out on this annual event!

Hermosa Beach has been home to the AVP since 1984 and is one the biggest and most anticipated events of the year.  For three days, the area in and around Pier Ave. (Map & Directions), is alive with action and bars are packed to capacity. By the time the sand settles, more than 50,000 people visit, spending the days enjoying the beach, the sunshine, and a seaside sport at its best.  In other words, it’s pure Southern California.

The play starts Thursday and runs through the men’s final on Sunday. Tip: For the semis and especially the men’s and women’s semifinals on the main stadium court, get a seat an hour before the matches start. The play starts Thursday and runs through the men’s final on Sunday.

In 2008, the AVP charged $20 for entrance to courts 1, 2 and stadium court, and $40 for a reserved ticket. That was for each day, including Friday. Yes, tickets for seats on the sand in California! Outer courts were still free, but obviously most major matches were placed on the paid courts. This is a major change from the days when all the action was free, which seemed to best fit this beach volleyball community. As a result, many people passed up the sand scene and instead filled up the bars along the Pier. Nearly all had lines by 2 p.m.  Tickets

The best viewing for volleyball is Friday when even the top pros are playing on outer courts and getting right up to the action is as easy as throwing down a beach towel. Bring snacks and lunch (drinks in plastic cups!) and make a day of it.

Saturday, the matches move to the main grandstand court in the afternoon. Finding a seat can be difficult late in the day. Sunday, the women’’s final, followed by the men’s final, are always packed so savvy fans get a seat early. Southern Californians really do enjoy their beach volleyball.  If you can’t make it to SoCal for the weekend or want to follow the rest of the tour chec out the NBC Sports AVP TV Schedule.

The X Games, the premier action sports event in the world, will be held July 30 through August 2, 2009 in Los Angeles, California featuring more than 200 of the best action sports athletes in the world.

The X Games features athletes from across the globe competing for medals and prize money in skateboarding, motocross, BMX and rally car racing.  Practice and elimination for the events will be held July 28-39, 2009. X Games 15 will be covered live on ABC and ESPN.  The event has been held in Los Angeles for six years, and will remain in the city through at least 2009.

ESPN warns that dates and times are subject to change, so visit the official X Games schedule for additional information, other sports and latest updates.

Note that the events held at the Staples Center are restricted to Thursday and Friday only and the venue is open from 4PM to 8PM, with tickets being sold at $20.

At the Home Depot Center, the contests expand throughout the four days and the venue is open from 10AM to 6PM on Thursday and Friday, 10AM to 7PM on Saturday and 10AM to 4 PM on Sunday. Admission is free on Thursday and tickets for the remaining days range from $10 to $20.

Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or at the venues.  See below for the calendar of skateboarding competitions.

July 31-August 2, three of southern California’s finest beaches (Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo) come alive with more than 3,000 fit competitors and over 100,000 spectators. America’s best beach athletes compete in a series of volleyball matches, beach runs, swimming races and, of course, surfing competitions.

The International Surf Festival is an annual three day event with the 6 person Volleyball Tournament as the highlight and center-piece.  Below is the schedule of events.  Come be a part by competing or just showing up.  This is a party that lasts all weekend.  A can’t miss for beach city residents, and worth any drive just to check it out!

Friday, July 31
7:00 p.m. LA County Lifeguard Championships — Manhattan Beach Pier,  U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter & L.A. County Lifeguard Rescue Demo, 6-Lifeguard Run Relay, Lifeguard Events, Bud Stevenson Intracrew Medley Relay.

Saturday, August 1
6:45 a.m. International Bodysurfing Championship — Manhattan Beach Pier. Information (310) 545-4825 / $25.00 by 7/30, $35.00 on Sand.

7:00 a.m. Surfing Championships — Hermosa Beach  Pier (South Side). Information (310) 614-9996.

8:00 a.m. The Torrance Sand Soccer Association is proud to present the 4th Annual Sand Soccer Challenge. August 1-2,  at Torrance Beach.

8:00 a.m. Dick Fitzgerald Two-Mile Beach Run — Hermosa Beach Pier. Information,  $20, with T-shirt guaranteed, if registered by July 20.

9:00 a.m. Charlie Saikley Volleyball Tournament — Manhattan Beach Pier 6-Man / 6-Woman / $595.00 per Team by 7/21.  Information: (310) 802-5413 *Applications will be accepted beginning June 1^st.

7:00 p.m. So Calif. Lifeguard Championships Events — Manhattan Beach Pier, U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter & Los Angeles County Lifeguard Demo, Lifeguard Events / Junior Lifeguard Taplin / Lifeguard Beach Flags, Judge Taplin Three-Mile Lifeguard Medley Relay.

Sunday, August 2
7:30 a.m. Velzy-Stevens Pier-to-Pier Paddleboard Championship — Manhattan Beach Pier, South Side. Information (310) 379-4751.

8:00 a.m. Sand Soccer - Torrance Beach Continues.

9:00 a.m. Volleyball Tournament — Manhattan Beach Pier. Final rounds of 6-Man / 6-Woman.

9:00 a.m. Dwight Crum Pier-To-Pier Swim — Hermosa Pier to Manhattan Pier, no Race Day entries, Contestants must pre-qualify. Information: (310) 372-7189. $35.00 pre-register only.

9:30 a.m. Lifeguard Dory Race — Hermosa Pier (8:30am check-in).

1:00 p.m. South Bay Youth Swims and Paddles — Hermosa Beach Pier.

The US Open of Surfing is one of the premier California beach sporting events, drawing an estimated 1 million visitors to a week long sports fest comprised of surfing competitions, skateboard, FMX and BMX bike demos, fashion shows, and the popular, annual Festival Surfers Village.  The Schedule is posted on-line and events begin daily at 8am July 18 through July 26 on the South side of Huntington Beach Pier (317 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, CA).

This event attracts the largest crowds to the beach that the location can handle. Parking and walking from miles around, the beaches are simply swamped with people on the closing days of this 6 star world qualifying series surfing event. While the star rating of the HB event is under scrutiny, merely from the fact that the waves typically are small and even flat, the power of the crowd alone makes it necessary to maintain the rank of this surfing competition, one of many around the globe, for importance to the 9-day surfing and beach games event that draws nearly a million people.  Sand madness might well describe this exciting beach vibe. But the crowds aren’t wild. They are simply packed…people and skin wall-to-wall.

This is another SoCal can’t miss event, that you have to attend to see for yourself!

Culture, tradition and socializing come together like waves to the sand at the annual Manhattan Beach Open AVP pro beach volleyball tournament July 16-19. Talk about a beach party!

AVP stands for the Association of Volleyball Professionals, but this tournament has been around long before there was such an organization. It is such a part of this Southern California surfside city that people turn out by the thousands, sitting on towels, in beach chairs or just on the sand cheering on the pros of the game they play on these same courts the rest of the year. In fact, the sport was born on this very beach.

General Admission tickets are free!  But, you can purchase reserve seats here.

Don’t miss this event.  Parking is hard to come by so I suggest parking in Hermosa Beach, or El Segundo and riding your skateboard down the strand.  See you there!