BALANCE of CULTURE

Surfing DPRK

North Korea is now more mainstreamed than ever, thanks to its new leader Kim Jong-un as well as a steady trickle of high-profile Western visits the past few months. Not everybody interested in the mysterious country has development or policy in mind, however…so of course it's inevitable that North Korea's coastlines would eventually command attention from surfers. 

Certain locations in Asia have long been coveted surf spots--the Mentawais, Cloud 9 and Pasta Point, to name a few--but many of these spots are now known for their crowds as much as they're known for their waves. Perhaps one day the DPRK will function as an open member of society, but until then surfers will just have to gaze at these pristine, empty waters from afar.  

To Protect and Surf in Shenzhen

Water issues, both resource-based and purely territorial, garner plenty of attention in China (and Asia overall) right now. This recruiting advertisement for the Shenzhen police seems to reflect local maritime tensions, such as spats with Vietnam's fishing industry as well as the ongoing conflict in the East China Sea.

Fresh Water Facts

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Riding the Biggest Wave in History

According to new footage, North Shore surfer Garrett McNamara may have broken his own previous Guinness world record by riding a reported 100-foot wave yesterday in Nazare, Portugal:

 

Hidden Aquifers around Africa

Hidden water reserves were recently discovered and mapped across the African continent. Lying thousands of miles beneath the terrain, these untouched aquifers could be critical paths to new approaches regarding climate change and food production (click image for high-res version):

Related research: quantitative maps of groundwater around Africa and climate change in Africa.

Surfing at China's Hainan Island

Surfing continues to grow in China, thanks to Hainan Island's temperate climate and ideal waters. Although many Chinese citizens aren't completely familiar with the sport, surfing is swiftly expanding throughout the country as both young men and women are finally beginning to take advantage of their attractive coastlines. 

This is only a win-win for everybody. Surfers tend to be really in tuned with the world's water issues for obvious reasons, so hopefully this new generation of surfers in China will propel more environmental education and pollution awareness in their country. 

Otelo Burning: Zulu Surfing

Some amazing images from Otelo Burning, a 2011 film about a group of young boys in apartheid South Africa. After growing up afraid of the waves, they soon end up using surfing as an escape from their oppressive lives in their township. The main character Otelo possesses a unique talent for surfing which leads to an exciting new lifestyle, which is interrupted by a family tragedy. His life changes parallel to Nelson Mandela's, whose release from 27 years in prison coincides with Otelo's personal crossroad. The film is in Zulu with subtitles. 

Spinner dolphins overworked from tourists

These dolphins are tired of being overworked for tourists…literally. In Hawaii, the high number of island visitors who have their hearts set on meeting the "dogs of the sea" are having a negative impact on the health of these spinner dolphins by preventing them from getting much needed rest and sleep. Scientists have created maps which show that only 21 out of 99 bays off the main Hawaiian islands were "suitable habitats for resting dolphins." 

Interacting with spinner dolphins is highly popular all over the world, not just in Hawaii. I can't help but wonder how overworked dolphins are in less regulated parts of the world. I've never wanted to "ride" a dolphin as I've always viewed it as partaking in a lame circus-like activity couched in "family fun." This recent study has definitely convinced me that sequestering these wild creatures into the very profitable (yet often archaic) tourism world is something that will be remembered with disbelief and shame in a hundred years. 

Windward Blue

Humpback Whales Closeup in California

Amazing photos of feeding humpback whales were just captured by photographer Bill Bouton around Port San Louis, near San Luis Obispo, California. Apparently this very rare frenzy continued for nearly an hour, stoking out everyone out on the water that day. So gorgeous!