Coastal Dreams

Toxic Soup Of The Day

2008-12-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

It rained nearly 2 inches in San Diego yesterday and sure enough there were people surfing the beaches at PB drive this morning. One of them was an old friend of mine. I cannot for the life of me imagine why anyone would want to risk their health for crappy 2-3 foot beachbreak slop. Even if the surf was really good it would be foolhardy and not worth entering the water when the levels of bacteria are just so far off the chart.

The pathogens and coliforms and all the rest of the toxic soup in the water right now and for at least the next 3 days warrants severe restraint on even the most hardcore surf junkie. But don't take my word for it; just read the newspaper or go online and look. Open your eyes boy's and girls's its not going to go away or get any better until the we stop allowing our runoff to pour off the streets, into the gutters, to the storm drains and on to the beaches and into our bodies and those of our children and theirs and so on.

Is the status quo OK with you? Are you down with it Bro? Is that just the way it is so we have to deal with it? I don't think so! What about you?

Coming Soon To A Beach Near You

2008-10-18T10:27:00.000-07:00

Now that the we have come to end of another so-so and typically inconsistent summer surf season here in San Diego, our thoughts have turned to the images of big north swells emanating from the gulf of Alaska. While we all anxiously await that "opening day" of the season which is really somewhat of an arbitrary measure of conditions which really just adds up to a general consensus among the locals at every surf spot that it either meets the criteria or not. Usually, as time passes and it gets deeper into the season for the surf to be eligible for opening day status, the lower the standard gets for qualification. By remaining vigilant and personally checking the surf every day, we'll soon be in the thick of it; in more ways than one. For most of my friends and I it's opening day when Skippy gets one at Hairmo and takes it through the Point, off the side, and all the way into the cove to the beach. That is what constitutes the proverbial "Opening Day" in our neighborhood!

Opening day being just around the corner also means that we can all look forward to the rainy season, which for most of us means taking measures to avoid getting sick from bacteria from urban runoff pollution. Since we haven't had a significant amount of rainfall in nearly six months, the first time it rains over .25 of an inch it would be prudent to abstain from entering the ocean for at least 4-5 days to avoid waterborne bacteria. I hear it said quite often that since those of us who have been surfing X amount of years we have built up antibodies which make us less susceptible to infections. That is, unfortunately, a myth and a dangerous one to believe.. Even if you don't become sick within 72 hours after exposure you are still injesting toxins which may not show outward signs of illness for weeks, months, or even years later. If you do dodge a bullet be thankful that your antibodies are doing their job; this time.

The majority of toxins come from pollution from agriculture, construction, human waste,animal manure and nitrogen and phosphorus from lawns and gardens. In short, everything that is spilled or dumped on the street or in the gutters eventually gets washed into storm drains and into the ocean; we can't possibly imagine what this mixture of toxic soup becomes. These toxins commingle and become diseases that haven't even been identified let alone named.

We do know that some of the toxic viruses have catchy names like the norovirus- Norwalk, viral hepatitis A, bacteria such as E Coli, and the lovely protozoan parasite crytosporidium which will be pouring off the streets, into the gutter, on to the storm drain and coming soon to a beach near you.

It seems to me that here is an overall lack of public attention which is due to the oceans placid appearance. People look out at the ocean and on the surface everything looks fine. Below the surface it reveals a completely different reality. I think that the problems associated with runoff and beach closures due to waterborne bacteria trumps trash and ciggy butts on the beach. Not that plastics and trash and butts aren't problems that deserve our attention. I just feel that eduacting the public about the dangers that lie beneath the surface need to be addressed with more of a sense of urgency. To get a better idea of what the problems and solutions to the problems are, go to the LA Times website and search "Altered States". There was an article just published in the Washington Post titled "Risk Of Disease Rises With Ocean Temperature' It is imperative that you read this information if you plan on entering the ocean this winter, it just might save your life.

I hope you don't get the impression that I'm all doom and gloom. I'm looking forward to the winter surf as much as anyone; I just want everyone to be aware of the dangers that lurk in and around us during the coming rainy season. The problems I have just outlined really just scratch the surface of the issues. As ocean temperatures continue to rise water borne illnesses are only going to continue and the alarming numbers of beach closures will increase incrementally. Look around and you will find lots of information on the subject. A well informed and vigilant citizenry is one that will help make the cities do the right thing and help us solve the problems due to runoff.

Check it out. If any of you have any any information to pass along send it to me and I'll post your responses.

slainte,

TK

Tuesday Surf Report

2008-05-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

Greetings from San Diego!

The weather has improved greatly today although going in the water right now might be jumping the gun since the surf isn't really worth it anyway. That was the first rain in months and it was enough to post advisories at most county beaches; especially at the sloughs and Imperial Beach.

I had to have some basal cell stuff removed again last Friday so I am out of action until Thursday at least. Anybody out there?

San Diego Shark Attack

2008-04-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

Good Morning!

I'm pretty sure everyone in even the most remote outreaches of the planet have by now heard about the shark attack which occured yesterday near Fletcher cove in north San Diego county. While all shark attacks are unfortunate and ities are extremely rare, great white attacks are particularly vicious and usually end up as gruesome ities which was the case in yesterday's attack.

One of the most often asked questions I receive when people ask me about paddleboarding in the open ocean is "Aren't you afraid of sharks?" The answer I give is that actually, no I am not. I am aware of the fact that they are there but I greatly respect them and I realize that once I enter into the ocean I am entering a wilderness area over which we humans have to give up control of certain circumstances which may occur- first and foremost being the fact that it is possible (however remote) that we can be bitten or killed by a great white shark. If I let fear overcome me I would have to stop paddling and surfing and I cannot allow that to happen, the ocean gives me too much to let fear come into it.

This attack is the first documented attack on a human being in all of southern Ca. which extends from Pt. Conception south to the border of Mexico. Having said that the probability of anyone else being attacked is virtually nil. There are other mitigating factors to consider when you take into account the circumstances surrounding this attack. Also, the shark moves at approx. 4 knots so tracking in the murky depths with which it s is virtually impossible anyway. I heard that some numbskulls are seeking to find and destroy the shark which is based on ignorance, it is not the sharks fault and Jaws is just a book and a scary movie, it is not based in reality. Sharks just do not hunt humans.

Please note: I am not a scientist or shark expert but I have studied them and had some converstations with Dr. John McCosker Phd. from Scripps Institute of Oceanography and widely known as the foremost expert on shark behaviour. Dr. McCosker is also the creator of Shark Week on the Discovery channel and an advisor to the Coastal Dreams Progect.
The following may be pure conjecture and is only my opinion based on what I've been told so here goes:

The victim was swimming with a group of 9 people and he was the last person in the pack. He may have appeared to be the easiest target for a shark seeking a seal for feed. There was a distressed seal on the beach at the time of the attack and a lifeguard was keeping people a safe distance from the seal. This seal may have been with a group of seals that scattered when the shark approached them leaving only the wetsuited slow humans as the only alternative. Perhaps this may have been part of the circumstances. Also, they were swimming near a lagoon which feeds to the ocean. Dr. McCosker advises to never swim or surf near a creek, rivermouth,or any area where water streams to the ocean because predators such as great whites are attracted to the effluent which pours out of them. There has been a lot of bait feeding in the area lately which may have also contributed to the situation, I don't know, as I said this pure congecture and may even be folly on my part to try and understand what happened. Maybe it was just bad luck for the victim but whites never attack hphazardly, it was just hungry and was feeding. One thing I do know is that it is aways a mistake for a shark to attack a human, they our taste.

Anyone else have any thought on this? I feel terrible that this attack occured and my thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and his friends.

God Bless,

Tim

Coastal Calamity

2008-04-13T14:34:00.000-07:00

One California Day

2007-07-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

One California Day had it's premiere at El Segundo High last Saturday night. The movie is pretty incredible and features Skip doing his part to keep our local breaks clean.

Trailer

2007-05-18T22:34:00.000-07:00

Online Videos by Veoh.com

What Is Coastal Dreams

2007-03-15T21:44:00.000-07:00

Our goal is to produce a documentary film about the once in a lifetime adventure of the Coastal Dreams Paddling Expedition. “The ultimate goal in undertaking this demanding and potentially dangerous journey is to bridge the divide between popular culture, and the need to educate the general public about the environmental choices we are making as a society on a daily basis.”

Coastal Dreams will be a cutting-edge, high-energy surfing adventure with a powerful and timely message: our ocean is rapidly approaching what the scientific community refers to as “the tipping point,” the point at which mankind’s destructive imprint will become irreversible. For this reason, the Coastal Dreams Team (CDT) has embarked upon a quest to expose this global calamity to the world. The story follows a group of four brave and talented surfers as they battle Mother Nature and the powerful Pacific Ocean while paddling and surfing the entire length of the California coastline, from Humboldt Bay in Southern Oregon to Tijuana, Mexico in Baja California, an 1100 mile journey in total. This film will also dramatize concern for the environmental health of the California coastline in order to raise public awareness as to:

The deteriorating quality of our coastal waters
The harm sustained by fish and wildlife that inhabit these waters
The increasingly common ill-health effects experienced by humans who play in and live near these waters

Coastal Dreams – Making Waves by Riding Them

2007-01-28T07:33:00.000-08:00

Environmental Adventure Documentary

Timothy S. Kessler Project Director
tk@coastaldreams.org
(530) 386- 2449
www.coastaldreams.org
1820 Law St. San Diego CA 92109

Amy Williamson
Project Director/ Videographer
amyw@fluidmotionpictures.com
(858) 361-4755
www.fluidmotionpictures.com

Table of Contents

I. Objective: Page 3
II. Project Description: Page 3
III. Video Development Process Overview: Page 3
IV. Cutting Edge ‘Reality’ Movie Making: Page 4
V. The Coastal Dreams Team (CDT): Page 5
VI. The Expedition: Page 5
VII. Celebrities, Athletes, Surfers, Popular Music: Page 5
VIII. Bridging Popular culture and the Environment Page 6
IX. Experts, Education, Environmental Controversy: Page 6
X. Website and Press Promotion: Page 6
XI. Distributor/Sponsor Appeal: Page 7
XII. The Opportunity: Page 7
XIII. Biography

Tim Kessler Page 8
Kevin Eslinger Page 9
Jamie Mitchell Page 10
Justin Mitchell Page 11

XVI. Appendix page 12

I. Objective:

To produce a documentary film about the once in a lifetime adventure of the Coastal Dreams Paddling Expedition. “The ultimate goal in undertaking this demanding and potentially dangerous journey is to bridge the divide between popular culture, and the need to educate the general public about the environmental choices we are making as a society on a daily basis.” – Tim Kessler

II. Project Description:

Coastal Dreams will be a cutting-edge, high-energy surfing adventure with a powerful and timely message: our ocean is rapidly approaching what the scientific community refers to as “the tipping point,” the point at which mankind’s destructive imprint will become irreversible. For this reason, the Coastal Dreams Team (CDT) has embarked upon a quest to expose this global calamity to the world. The story follows a group of four brave and talented surfers as they battle Mother Nature and the powerful Pacific Ocean while paddling and surfing the entire length of the California coastline, from Humboldt Bay in Southern Oregon to Tijuana, Mexico in Baja California, an 1100 mile journey in total. This film will also dramatize concern for the environmental health of the California coastline in order to raise public awareness as to:

The deteriorating quality of our coastal waters
The harm sustained by fish and wildlife that inhabit these waters
The increasingly common ill-health effects experienced by humans who play in and live near these waters

III. Video Development Process Overview:

Phase One: Preparation

Campaign along the California coast in order to educate, network and receive contributions

Interview with local, regional, national and international media outlets

Conduct meetings with non-profit groups, celebrities, surf teams, professional surfers, schools, volunteers and anyone interested in supporting our cause

Perform informational seminars about the expedition and offer some examples of the crisis we are upon to bring public awareness and support of our project

Assemble a mobile land-based public relations team who will coordinate meetings with press and affiliates in conjunction with the arrival dates in each location

Develop lesson plans for educators to utilize in the classroom setting so that students can follow the expedition via the Coastal Dreams Web site.

Phase Two: Production

Document all phases of the expedition team from a support boat via water and land

Juxtapose beauty and destruction

Conduct extensive interviews

Document challenges, triumphs, fears, surfing, public opinions, questions, and concerns

Phase Three: Post Production

A complete story about the expedition will be assembled. The end result will be approximately a 60-minute movie for television/DVD release. Our sponsors will be highlighted via credits, banners, logos on our boat, equipment and clothing, plus, product placement within the feature.

Phase Four: Mastering and Distribution

We will use a distribution company for television and DVD sales. Currently interested parties include The Ocean Channel. The feature will also be pitched to the Discovery Channel, the National Geographic Channel, PBS, Fuel TV, the Travel Channel and HBO.

Production Timeline:

February 2007- Phase One begins
September- November 2007- Phase Two begins and completes
December 2007- Phase Three begins

IV. Cutting Edge ‘Reality’ Movie Making:

This film will be a trend-setting montage of an adventure expedition, surfing, music, science, education, nature and popular culture. By its very nature, this is reality movie making at its best – the cameras will be focused on the team day in and day out, capturing candid conversations, unexpected developments and unfolding drama over a period of at least two-months. The story promises to be fun for all ages and guarantees to occasionally shock the unsuspecting. However, in the end, this film will be nothing short of a testament to the power and dedication of the human spirit, as the team strives to overcome physical and personal obstacles in order to educate, enlighten, and ultimately make a difference to everyone who participates. At every opportunity, the film will show how anyone, in very simple ways, can become an active participant in keeping our beaches and oceans safe for future generations, and in the process, discover and live our own coastal dreams.

V. The Coastal Dreams Team (CDT):

The team consists of five dedicated and well-respected water enthusiasts:

Jamie Mitchell (current and 5-time World Paddleboard Champion)
Justin Mitchell (brother and biggest contender to Jaime, an internationally ranked paddler)
Tim Kessler (ocean activist and team leader)
Kevin “Tarzan” Eslinger (extreme waterman, elite long distance paddler and coach)
Skip Frye (legendary surfer, shaper, and environmental activist).

By the CDT exposing themselves to the natural and unnatural elements over the course of the expedition, they will act as both observers and, in effect, guinea pigs, exploring the real time damage being sustained by coastal eco-systems, wildlife, fish, and human beings, as a result of current social policies and lack of firsthand awareness. (Individual bios attached)

VI. The Expedition:

This is not simply a journey; it is a once in a lifetime adventure! Like modern day explorers, the CDT will find themselves charting new territory, paddling through the shark infested waters of the infamous Red Triangle, battling major offshore currents, facing giant swells, unrelenting winds, bone-chilling temperatures, and at times, blinding fogs. Not to be overshadowed by the obvious risk is the inherent reward of having two months to literally surf the days away. The team will take advantage of every point break, reef and sand bar they venture upon, including some of the world’s best surf spots such as Mavericks, Santa Cruz Steamer Lane, Morro Bay, The Ranch, Malibu Pier, Huntington Beach, Rincon, Dana Point, Trestles, Blacks, Windan’Sea and Big Rock.

VII. Celebrities, Athletes, Surfers, Popular Music:

Buoyed by an eclectic sound track, featuring popular rock, folk, rap, blues and jazz groups, the film will chronicle this expedition from start to finish, following our four heroes in search of the life-changing lessons for young and old alike. The team will be joined on various segments of their journey by well-know television and movie celebrities, professional big name surfers, athletes, journalists, and anyone else who paddles out to meet them along the way.

VIII. A Bridge between Popular Culture and Current Environmental Issues:

The film will have broader appeal than previous environmental films, because this film will be a combination of an adventure-filled expedition, in a ‘reality’ type setting, and
contain the allure of top named surfers and celebrities, the controversial coastal pollution issues, and educational insights as to how we can all make a difference. This film targets a global audience that will appeal to demographic segments including but not limited to teenagers, adults, athletes, parents, educators, and children alike.

IX. Experts, Education, Environmental Controversy:

Coastal Dreams includes points of view from prominent experts throughout the world: scientists, biologists, oceanographers, environmentalists, sustainable development advocates, coastal farmers, agricultural business organizations, politicians, Native Americans, fishermen, surfers, divers, and various other ocean enthusiasts. It will contrast the majestic natural beauty of the California coastline with the manmade cityscapes of California’s burgeoning urban areas and ever increasing population. The story will further relate the current statistics regarding sewage treatment and release procedures, the increasing amounts of toxins occurring in our coastal marine life, the significance of increasing methyl mercury levels in humans, the disappearance of coastal marshes and wetlands, the dumping of waste products in the open ocean, levels of bacteria measured near popular beaches, and opposing points of view by featuring interviews with corporate builders, developers, politicians and agricultural lobbyists.

X. Web site and Press Promotion:

A Web site will be launched and promoted prior to the beginning of the expedition. As the film follows the progress of the expedition team, the website will keep the general public abreast of new developments on a daily basis, including:

The results of daily testing of water samples for bacteria levels
Info on any visiting guest paddlers/surfers/celebrities
Updated photos
Podcasts/interviews that can be downloaded and emailed (film teasers)
Screensaver-quality photos
Links to information and tools
A live web cam

XI. Distributor/Sponsor Appeal:

A distributor is currently being sought for the film. Our goal is to find a distributor that will gear the release towards nationwide and possibly worldwide audiences. Another
goal is for the project to air at Sundance Film Festival. The growing worldwide concern for environmental issues is the key to the film’s ultimate cross-audience appeal.

Corporate advertising based upon green issues is appearing on an increasing basis, as the recently released An Inconvenient Truth (an environmental documentary) has become the highest grossing documentary film of all time! We have also seen worldwide appeal in surfing as seen in films such as Stacey Peralta’s Riding Giants and Dana Brown’s Step into Liquid, which were highly successful in theatres around the country as well as home DVD sales.

With that being said, there is a need for a cutting-edge film that bridges the gap between popular entertainment and the need for information on current environmental issues; and urban runoff pollution is a high profile issue that has been surrounded by controversy. Citizens around the country are becoming more involved in grass roots issues that relate to the health and well being of our communities; and whether these citizens live on the west coast or elsewhere in the United States, they feel a loss at the destruction of our coastal environments and the contamination of our beaches; they seek information as to what they can do to help, and our goal is to encourage the public to take a proactive role in coastal conservation, and ultimately, empower them with the motivation to make a difference.

XII. The Opportunity:

We encourage you to be a part of this once in a lifetime journey – to embrace this opportunity to stand up and speak the truth. We are currently accepting donations and applications for sponsorship.

For distribution or acquisition inquiries, please contact Tim Kessler at tk@coastaldreams.org

“The old story of man versus nature... historically, that is where we seek the thrill, but it is also where we find the answer. We are one in the same, man and nature, and until we respect that connection, there will be a battle that nobody wins.” - Tim Kessler

XIII. Biography

Tim Kessler

Coastal Dreams Creator/ Visionary

Project Director/ Team Paddler

Waterman/ Surfer

Started surfing at age 10, under the wings of Skip Frye
Member of the Windan’Sea Surf Club at age 13
Competitive paddleboarder
Environmental Activist
Former Commercial Fisherman
Writer

Kevin “Tarzan” Eslinger

Extreme Waterman

Competitive Swimmer

Renowned Paddleboarder

Open Water Coach

Avid Surfer

Competitive swimmer
from age 9- 20
Covina Aquatics & USC

Paddleboard

1st in the “Bay 2 Bay” on homemade board- 1997
1st in “San Clemente Triathlon” -2000
1st “Catalina Classic”- 2000
2nd (by 24sec) “Catalina Race”-2001

Finished “San Clemente Island Paddle” (70m-14h 10m)- Oct.28th, 2002
Paddled “Catalina Race” on 50-year old/50lb Peterson Kookbox Paddleboard-2005
Paddled “Santa Barbara Island Paddle to Ocean Beach (101 nautical miles)” 29hrs.,31min.-Sept. 23rd 2005

Jamie Mitchell

Waterman

Professional Paddleboarder

Lifeguard

Water-Patrolman

Tow-In Surfer

Sponsored by Quicksilver
Currently ranked #1 in international paddleboarding
Winner Molokai to Oahu (32 miles) Paddleboard Race- Hawaii
Winner Hennesey’s International Paddleboard Race (8 miles)- Hawaii
Winner Quiksilver Australian Open Paddleboard Race
Winner 20k Waterman’s Challenge-Australia
Member #1 ranked Outrigger Australia OC-6 Canoe Team
Winner Hennessey’s U.S. Paddleboarding Championships (11 miles)
Winner Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race (32 miles)

Justin Mitchell

Brother of Jamie Mitchell

Waterman

Professional Paddleboarder

International Competitive Paddleboard Racer

APPENDIX

Non-Profits

WildCoast

Surfrider Foundation

Coast Keeper

Heal the Ocean

Media

The Ocean Channel

The Swift Movement

Yousurftubes.com

Action Sports Group-Media

VIP’s

Jeff Bridges
Actor/Narrator- (Wish list)

Skip Frye
Legendary Surfer/ Shaper/ Environmentalist

Donna Frye
San Diego City Council Member/ Environmentalist

Dr. John McCosker
Director of the Academy of Sciences San Francisco
Scripps Institute
Oceanographic Institute

Glenn Henning
Co-Created Surfrider Foundation/ Groundswell Society/Rocket Scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Ryan Condor
High Fashion Designer

Mark Massara
Attorney/ Ocean Activist/ Director of Sierra Clubs “Great Coastal Places” Campaign

Elizabeth Pepin
Producer at KQED San Francisco/ Documentary Filmmaker

Himaya Sunscreen

Bird Rock Yoga

Bareback Grill

Professional Surfers

Brad Gerlach

Rob Machado

Allan Sarlo

Malloy Brothers