Atlantic Current: The Ocean Issue - Sept/Oct 2023

ISSUE 64

EVENTS SEPT/OCT 2023

SEPTEMBER

1

LIVE @ GRANDVIEW: DJ KRUZE CONTROL @ Grandview Public Market – WPB (every Friday @ 7pm)

BOYNTON BEACH FREE MONTHLY CONCERT SERIES @ Centennial Park (5pm)

ADONIS OF GUAVATRON (4PM) + EAST HARBOR @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9pm)

BUMBLEFEST 7 @ Respectables – WPB (6pm)

OLD TOWN UNTAPPED SUMMER SIZZLE @ Bailey Contemporary Arts – Pompano (6-10pm)

2-3

16TH ANNUAL PALM BEACH MARINE FLEA MARKET & BOAT SALE @ SoFlo Fairgrounds

2

FAU FOOTBALL VS MONMOUTH @ FAU Stadium (6pm)

FUNKIN GRATEFUL @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9pm)

THE PETTY HEARTS—TOM PETTY TRIBUTE AND TOUCH & GO— TRIBUTE TO THE CARS @ Revolution Live – Ft. Lauderdale

16TH ANNUAL WEST PALM BEACH SEAFOOD FESTIVAL @ SoFlo Fairgrounds (starts at 9am)

TROPICAL HEAT WAVE MUSIC FESTIVAL @ Mathews Brewing Co. - Lake Worth

3

SLIGHTLY STOOPID + SUBLIME WITH ROME W/ SPECIAL GUESTS ATMOSPHERE, THE MOVEMENT @ iThink Financial Amp – WPB

ROGUE THEORY @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (4pm)

BEN CHILDS @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (4pm)

6

FAT SPLIFFS @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9pm)

OPEN MIC @ Civil Society Brewing – WPB (6:30pm)

7

CLEMATIS BY NIGHT @ Downtown WPB Waterfront

HOT LEGS—THE TINA TURNER TRIBUTE @ Funky Biscuit – Boca (7pm)

8

NESTOR TORRES @ Arts Garage – Delray (8pm)

MOUTH TAPE (4PM) + TRU PHONIC (9PM) @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9pm)

SAMANTHA RUSSELL BAND @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (6pm)

NOISE POLLUTION—THE ACDC EXPERIENCE BENEFITING THE CMT RESEARCH FOUNDATION @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca (6pm)

9

FAU FOOTBALL VS OHIO @ FAU Stadium – 6pm

UPROOT HOOTENANNY @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9pm)

PEACE OF WOODSTOCK @ Arts Garage – Delray (8pm)

SUNSET MARKET @ Stormhouse Brewing – NPB (6-9pm)

THE FLYERS @ Fish Depot Boynton

SONS OF A TRADESMAN @ Mathews Brewing Co. - Lake Worth

10

HOMEGROWN SINNERS

@ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (4pm)

BRYAN SMITH (GIRLFRIEND MATERIAL)

@ Mathews Brewing Co. – Lake Worth (3pm every Sunday)

THE MISSION (UK), CHAMELEONS & THEATER OF HATE @ Respectables – WPB (7pm)

11

JAZZ MONDAY W/ NEIL BACHER AND FRIENDS @ Northwood Art & Music Warehouse WPB

13

NYF @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9pm)

14

SWEET FLEET-A TRIBUTE TO FLEETWOOD MAC @ Boca Black Box (8pm)

INDIGO DREAMERS @ Maxi’s Lineup – Jupiter (7pm)

CRAZY FINGERS @ Fish Depot – Boynton

15

AFTERIMAGE @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca (8:30pm)

GUNS N ROSES @ Hardrock – Hollywood

UPROOT HOOTENANNY @ Irishman – Boca (8:30pm)

THE LIVESAYS “A TRIBUTE TO ASBURY PARK) @ Funky Biscuit – Boca (9pm)

16

3 DOORS DOWN @ Mizner Park Amp – Boca

TWISTED LOVE TATTOO RELEASE PARTY W/ 21 TO BURN @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (8pm)

FLORIDA GATOR GAME @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (7pm)

YACHT ROCK RETURNS @ Arts Garage – Delray (8pm)

SPRED-THE-DUB @ Mathews Brewing Co. - Lake Worth

17

BIG CITY DUO @ Banana Boat – Boynton (2pm)

20

VIRGINIA MAN @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9pm)

DRIFTING ROOTS & RISING LION @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca (8pm)

21

THE EXPANDING MAN—AN ORIGINAL TRIBUTE TO STEELY DAN @ Funky Biscuit – Boca (7pm)

22-23

BLUES BEATLES @ Arts Garage – Delray (8pm both evenings)

22

UPROOT HOOTENANNY @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (6pm)

LIL BABY @ FLA Arena – Sunrise

LOW GROUND (4PM) + SOULJAM (9PM) @ Guanabanas Jupiter

STILL ALIVE (PEARL JAM TRIBUTE) @ Mathews Brewing Co. - Lake Worth

23

ELECTRIC PIQUETTE (4PM) + CORTADITO (9PM) @ Guanabanas – Jupiter

BRETT YOUNG @ Pompano Beach Amphitheater (8pm)

FLORIDA GATOR GAME @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (7pm)

TOPPERMOST BEATLES TRIBUTE @ Boca Black Box (8pm)

THE SMOKIN’ ACES @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca

TOUCH & GO (THE CARS TRIBUTE) @ Mathews Brewing Co. - Lake Worth

24

JERRY LEEMAN (SOLO) @ Fish Depot – Boynton

LEAFY GREENS @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (4pm)

25

TERROR, VEIN, DOMAIN & XCELERATE @ Respectables – WPB

T’S EXPRESS JAZZ FUSION @ Northwood Art & Music Warehouse – WPB

26

INVENT ANIMATE, VOID OF VISION, THROWN, & AVIANA @ Respectables – WPB (7pm)

27

JOEY CALDERAIO & LOT 49 @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca(8:30pm)

MORE BETTER BAND @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9pm)

29

ERIC CHURCH @ iThink Financial Amp – WPB

INDIGO DREAMERS @ The Dancing Crane – PBG (6pm)

PROGJECT @ Funky Biscuit – Boca (shows at 6 & 9pm)

30

REGGAE FORCE ALBUM RELEASE PARTY @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9pm)

DASTOBERFEST FEAT. TAKING BACK SUNDAY @ Abacoa Town Center – Jupiter (4-10pm)

METALUCIOUS (80S ROCK TRIBUTE) @ Mathews Brewing Co. - Lake Worth

OCTOBER

1

WPB GREEN MARKET @ Clematis (9am)

ADAM JASON @ Banana Boat – Boynton (2pm)

3

COMEDY OPEN MIC @ Arts Garage – Delray (8pm)

4 BAND OF HORSES @ Revolution Live – Ft. Lauderdale

VERN DAYSEL & THE BURNING BREEZE @ Guanabanas Jupiter

5 CLEMATIS BY NIGHT @ Downtown WPB Waterfront (6pm)

6 OUTLAW MUSIC FESTIVAL @ iThink Financial Amp feat Willie Nelson, The Avett Brothers, Gov’t Mule, and more – WPB

PUMP @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (6pm)

R & R (R&B & REGGAE) FRIDAYS @ Bamboo Room – Lake Worth (7pm)

7

FAU FOOTBALL VS TULSA @ FAU Stadium

ZACH NUGENT’S DEAD SET—HELL IN A BUCKET FALL TOUR @ Funky Biscuit – Boca (7pm)

THE WHEELAND BROTHERS @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (9pm)

FACE VALUE: A TRIBUTE TO PHIL COLLINS @ Boca Black Box (9pm)

OKTOBERFEST PARTY @ Mathews Brewing Co. - Lake Worth

8

HOMEGROWN SINNERS @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (4pm)

UNEARTH & REVOCATION @ Respectables – WPB (6pm)

THE CLASSIC TALES OF YES TOUR @ Pompano Beach Amphitheater (7:30)

10

ALL ARTS OPEN MIC @ Arts Garage – Delray (8pm)

13

MICAH SCOTT (4PM) + ROW JOMAH (9PM) @ Guanabanas – Jupiter

BEAST IN BLACK & DANCE WITH THE DEAD @ Respectables – WPB (7pm)

TULUCCI & FRIENDS @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (6pm)

SPIDER CHERRY @ Fish Depot Boynton

13-15

AMERICAN-GERMAN CLUB OF THE PALM BEACHES 49TH ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST - Lantana

14

SONGS OF THE SOUTH—A TRIBUE TO ALABAMA @ Boca Black Box (7pm)

UPROOT HOOTENANNY @ Biergarten – Boca (12:30pm)

FLORIDA GATOR GAME @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (time TBD)

THE CRAVENS @ Northwood Art & Music Warehouse – WPB

ZZ TOP EXPERIENCE W/ FLAVOR TRAIN BAND @ Mathews Brewing Co. - Lake Worth

15

SIERRA LANE @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (4pm)

19

AN EXCLUSIVE NIGHT W/ FAU FINAL FOUR BASKETBALL TEAM @ The Studio @ Mizner Park – Boca

CRAZY FINGERS @ Fish Depot – Boynton (7:30)

20

MIKE PINTO MISCHIEF NIGHT TOUR @ Guanabanas – Jupiter (8pm)

BRANDON “TAZ” NIEDARAUER FEAT. BRAD MILLER & THOMAS PRIDGEN @ Crazy Uncle Mikes – Boca

JAY VALOR @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (6pm)

LIVING DEAD GIRL, THE SCREAM QUEENS & SNAKE HEALER @ Respectables – WPB (9pm)

20-21

NICOLE HENRY

@ Arts Garage – Delray (8pm both evenings)

20-22

AMERICAN-GERMAN CLUB OF THE PALM BEACHES 49TH

ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST – Lantana

21

FAU FOOTBALL VS UTSA @ FAU Stadium

THE BEACH BOYS @ Pompano Beach Amphitheater

BARK BACK BENEFIT FESTIVAL 8 “EL OCHO”

@ Bryant Park Amp feat. Brett Staska & the Souvenirs, Billy Doom Is Dead, Fuakata!, Uproot Hootenanny, The Petty Hearts, Nirvana Tribute, and more – Lake Worth (noon-10pm)

NOUVEAUX HONKIES (4PM) + JUKE (9PM) @ Guanabanas – Jupiter

JEFF SCOTT SOTO & JASON BIELER @ Funky Biscuit – Boca (7pm)

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND TRIBUTE @ Mathews Brewing Co. - Lake Worth

22

CHICAGO TRANSIT CANADA (CHICAGO TRIBUTE) @ Arts Garage – Delray (7pm)

BUDDY GUY @ Pompano Beach Amphitheater

UPROOT HOOTENANNY @ Sticky Bun – Deerfield (10am)

25-29

FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW (visit www.flibs.com for locations)

26-27

LET’S GROOVE TONIGHT—EARTH WIND & FIRE TRIBUTE BAND @ Funky Biscuit – Boca (Thu. 6 &9pm, Fri. 9pm)

27

JUTT BAND @ Old Key Lime House – Lantana (6pm)

DUBBLE JAMES (4PM) + TASTY VIBRATIONS (9PM) @ Guanabanas – Jupiter

KAT RIGGINS & HER BLUES REVIVAL @ Arts Garage – Delray (8pm)

ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY @ Mathews Brewing Co. - Lake Worth

28

THE ORDINARY BOYS & NEW DAWN FADES @ Respectables – WPB (9pm)

WISHBONE ASH (“ARGUS LIVE”) @ Funky Biscuit Boca

ZACH JONES (4PM) + FIREWATER TENT REVIVAL (9PM) @ Guanabanas – Jupiter

UPROOT HOOTENANNY @ Deck 84 – Delray (2pm)

SOUTHERN BLOOD (SOUTHERN ROCK TRIBUTE) @ Mathews Brewing Co. - Lake Worth

Visit the website for Halloween events

PUBLISHER

Dustin Wright

EDITOR

Darien Davies

MANAGING EDITOR

Ava Bourbeau

DESIGN

Richard Vergez

WRITERS

Ava Bourbeau

Darien Davies

Jessica Tzikas

Rachel Levy

EVENTS

Danny Wright

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ben Hicks

Dustin Wright

Ava Bourbeau

CONTRIBUTED PHOTOGRAPHY

Bajío Sunglasses

Gwen Le Tutour

Justin Broderick

Kelly Field

Maddie Jaymes

Jessica Garcia

Nothing Negative Co.

Phoebe Fitz

ADVERTISING

561-449-2263

info@theatlanticcurrent.com

THE COVER

THANKS

…to our advertisers who make this local mag you’re about to enjoy both possible and free. As you’ll notice, we’ve worked hard over the years to curate our sponsorships with businesses we know you’ll enjoy. They’ve become an integral part of our mag being one cohesive piece and we can’t thank them enough.

Please support us by supporting them.

Copyright 2023 by the Atlantic Current LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The Atlantic Current is a registered trademark of The Atlantic Current LLC.

Photo: Phoebe Fitz

MATHEWS BREWING CO. SCRATCH KITCHEN

Coming soon to Lake Worth Beach

125 S Dixie Highway

Directly behind the brewery

D N AMI. E E R O

why and how they’re so positive, and really, why their days are just so packed with fun, fun, fun. If you have, then you know exactly who I’m talking about. If you haven’t, meet Damien.

PHOTO BY GWEN LE TUTOUR

A Colorado native and South Florida transplant, Damien LeRoy lives, breathes and eats the outdoors. He and his brother were up for any adventure; rock climbing, motocross, cliff jumping anything that could draw blood. He grew up in a family of skiers; his dad was a pioneer of free-style skiing and was even a stunt man for James Bond during ski scenes. Damien basically went from crawling to walking to skiing, or maybe even skiing before walking. But soon, he’d leave the ice for the ocean.

He spent his summers ski training in Mount Hood, Ore., occasionally taking breaks to visit Hood River. That’s where he first encountered kitesurfing and was immediately taken by the sport. But it would be some time before that chapter unfolded. His skiing career had taken off, but his injuries from the sport were also increasing. After multiple knee surgeries, he decided he needed to get out of the cold to heal. “So, no better place to rehab than flying to the tropical paradise of South Florida,” he said.

Living in Naples he encountered kitesurfing again. “One day I was walking on the beach and saw a kite, hobbled over, met an incredibly kind human, Eric Foht, and weeks after I dove in headfirst and decided this was my new challenge in life,” Damien said.

And, yes, he does make this incredible challenge sound easy. But that’s because flying on his feet comes naturally to him. It’s no wonder that a couple years later in 2011, he found himself Kiteboarding World Champion.

“I had the upper hand because skiing is such a dedicated, driven, and structured professional sport and kitesurfing was brand new. A little bit of dedication, training, and hard work from what I learned in ski racing helped me climb to the top faster than most,” Damien said.

He spent years competing around the world, earning titles and accomplishing daring feats. That guy who jumped the Juno Beach Pier while kitesurfing? Yeah, that was Damien.

Then his story took a turn.

PHOTO BY GWEN LE TUTOUR

IN PHOTO, WIFE ALEX LEROY, DAUGHTER AVA, AND DAMIEN LEROY

PHOTO BY GWEN LE TUTOUR

IN PHOTO, AVA DAMIEN AND ALEX

To this day I always strive for my best, even if it’s just putting a diaper on my toddler now.

In 2016, he plummeted 150 feet to the ground into a mangrove thicket when his motorized paraglider failed as he flew over Juno Beach Pier. He suffered a punctured left lung, and fractured two ribs, his left leg, his pelvis, his back and his tailbone.

But it wasn’t all bad news.

“I was given a second chance in life…that led me to St. Mary’s Trauma Center where I met my wife,” Damien said. “She was one of my nurses and I would do it all over again for the opportunity to meet her and start our family.”

Now, life is all about training, sharing the love for kitesurfing, and spending as much time as possible with his wife, Alex, and their 2-year-old daughter, Ava. He also loves to give back via his YouTube channel that he co-hosts with Gwen Le Tutour where they give advice and teach people how to enjoy not only kitesurfing, but also wingfoiling and efoiling. (If you’re not familiar with wingfoiling, it’s also known as wing surfing or winging, and is a wind propelled water sport that developed from kitesurfing, windsurfing and surfing. Efoiling is an electric-powered board equipped with a mast and wing.)

“If you ask my wife she would say, ‘he’s still not done [competitively kitesurfing] yet!’ But I would say that after being World Champion in 2011, my goal after that was always to train for whatever I was doing in life to see how I would stack up with anyone out

there, and to this day I always strive for my best, even if it’s just putting a diaper on my toddler now,” Damien said.

So much so, that as we speak, he and his family are traveling cross-country in a 24ft C-Class RV with customized toddler-proofing, saying that the experiences are worth the challenges and there are plenty of both.

“We wanted to show Ava the country and watch her learn and experience every new waterfall, hike, canyon, etc. that we could,” Damien said. “She has seen bears and moose, hiked up to waterfalls, paddled mountain lakes, picked wild berries, climbed into canyons, efoiled with mom, and we still have more to accomplish. [For] our next stop, we thought Alaska sounded pretty good but, like kitesurfing, maybe we will just follow the wind.”

@leroydamo

Sofia

Gamboa

She’s also secured sponsorships like Viking Surfboards, Playa Bowls, FCS, Tactical Athlete Nutrition, Island Water Sports and Roxy. “Ever since I was little, I would be dressed in all Roxy, and getting the news that they wanted me on their team was a significant milestone,” Sofia said.

Most people would agree the beaches of South America make for the vacation of a lifetime. For Sofia, however, it means another annual training session in her quest to become a world-renowned surfer; before she even hits her 20s, that is.

“My all-time favorite wave that I have ever surfed [is one of the] hidden gems of Peru: Playa Punta Rocas,” Sofia shared. “Peru is most famously known for being the land of the lefts, however, it has plenty of rights, too. I have had the opportunity to visit Peru yearly to train and advance my progression and big wave surfing skills.”

With her sights set on bigger and better waves, she’s currently training for the upcoming 2023 World Surf League (WSL) - Qualifying Series event in Oceanside, Calif., and five years down the line, she plans to be on the WSL Championship Tour with a World Title under her belt and a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

As fun as it might sound to be out on the waves all the time, will surely be the first to tell you it’s no easy feat to succeed competitive surfing.

“I train out of water with the famous endurance queen Victoria Burgess,” Sofia said. The CEO of Tactical Athlete Nutrition and world record holder for paddleboarding from Cuba to Key West, Burgess has proven to be an asset to Sofia’s fitness and training regimen.

“I have worked with her and her company for three years,” said, “and I train in the gym to make sure I have strength, endur ance and flexibility. She helps make sure that my body as well my nutrition are at 110%.”

Clearly no stranger to hard work, Sofia has certainly reaped benefits. Besides her array of awards and championship titles, she’s also in touch with those benefits less materialistic in nature.

“I love to surf because it is where I am happiest,” she said. “Whether it is teaching my little brother how to surf, having the best surf sessions with my dad, or traveling with my mom for contests, surfing has given me and my family so much joy, and has brought us to so many different countries.”

From South Florida to Peru, California, and beyond, Sofia is riding the wave of her success around the globe with no plan to pack it up any time soon. With the support of her family and great local and national companies, she certainly has the resources to go all the way.

On a Shoot with Ben Hicks

Meet Ben Hicks, an Emmy Award-winning local photographer, most commonly known for a unique subject – baby sea turtles. His work showcases the intricate beauty of these creatures while also supporting conservation efforts through awareness and donations of images. But, capturing these images is no simple task. It involves early mornings, patience, and a deep understanding of the sea turtle’s environment.

Follow along to experience a day (or morning, rather) in the life of Ben Hicks.

PHOTOS BY DUSTIN WRIGHT

PREPARATIONS

4:30 AM - Wake Up

“Typical day during the season, I try to get on the beach as early as I can see. That changes every single day, but if the sun rises at 6:30 a.m. I get up around 5 a.m., get to the beach around 5:30 a.m. if I’m going somewhere close. If I have to go to Palm Beach like I did today, I’ll have to wake up earlier. Most of my gear is ready. I have two bags. One backpack with the housing that currently has an r5 and a 24mm prime with a large dome port, also has fins, a mask, and a snorkel. The other backpack has an r3, 70-200, an 11-35 and extra batteries for both cameras. That’s about it. I don’t carry water, no shoes, typically no shirt. I often carry a hat with flaps on the side and maybe a buff for sun protection.”

5:30 AM - Arrive to the Beach

“Once I get to the beach, I’ll start walking. Usually it’s around two miles, which can be a lot with all of my gear. Sometimes I’ll stop three or four times to swim out, so it really drags out. I’m pretty exhausted after three to four hours of doing that.”

6:00 AM - The

Search Begins

“Sometimes I have tips on where the biologists will be. Other times I’m just walking on the beach to look for any signs of life. Which I don’t always like to promote, because sometimes people will go out looking and touch or interfere with hatchlings. A lot of times early in the season I’ll walk and see nothing. Which is actually pretty often. And that’s with all of the tips and experience I’ve had over the years. The beaches that I’m on, I am under that beach’s sea turtle monitoring permit. That’s also how I’m able to sell my footage.

Today, it probably took me about 30 minutes walking on the beach before I met up with a biologist. I usually communicate in advance and find out if they are excavating any nests and if they have seen any mothers. Today, the biologist excavated three nests and there were two hatchlings left.”

THE OPPORTUNITY

6:30 AM

“I shot one [turtle] on its way down and then grabbed my underwater housing. In that time, I lost it in the shore break – even after getting into the water with it. The second one I was able to capture in the water. But even after all that, I wasn’t really happy with the visibility. The big sargassum movement of seaweed is not good for what I do. It’s broken up into tiny little particles and reduces clarity. Also the rainy season reduces quality.

Let’s say I shoot 20,000 images over 30 days. I’ll usually get 10 images out of that. But, there could be a day when all of the elements come together and I could get 10 images in one shoot. But that doesn’t happen very often.”

REFLECTING

7:15 AM

“I’ll always donate the images to the people I’m working with. In my mind, I’m successful if I have the opportunity to shoot. In my mind, success is finding a hatchling.

One of the more difficult parts is that I’m swimming sideways next to the turtle to make sure I give them complete leeway. It would be much easier to get in front of the turtle to shoot. Swimming alongside sideways, making sure my camera is in focus and all of that reduces the chance of being successful.”

THE WALK BACK

7:30 AM

“Between now and 9 a.m. I’m out of the water and walking back to my truck. But I won’t stop there, I’ll just change modes. A lot of times I’ll go get my drone to fly and look around. Because I’m already there with all my gear, I might as well see what I can find.”

POST-PROCESSING

9:00 AM

“Often times I’m back at the studio to review the images by this time. I don’t do a lot of post processing. Sometimes I’ll need to add a little warmth because you lose a lot of the reds in the water. A lot of times hatchlings are swimming at the surface, so you really don’t need to correct a lot.”

33

PHOTO BY BEN HICKS

A DAY IN THE LIFE

A day in the life of Ben Hicks reveals the passion, commitment and respect needed to capture these unique moments in nature. The images are the platform he uses to spread awareness and contribute resources to sea turtles’ fragile existence in today’s world. This shoot was just a glimpse into the hours and effort that go into a single image.

benjhicks.com @benjhicks

SOUTH FLORIDA SURF FORECASTING WITH

JAMES WIELAND

When the Wave Breaks Here, Don’t be There

PHOTOS BY BEN HICKS

There are a few factors that go into crafting the perfect swell. If you’re an experienced surfer, you probably already have a grasp on what those factors are and can gloss over this science lesson. But, if you’re newer to the sport or hoping to take a peek into an experienced surfer/meteorologist’s mind, we’ve done the hard work of securing James Wieland for you. James is a WPTV Meteorologist, also known as the “Surf n’ Weatherman.” He shared with us his process and how he determines where and when a swell will hit based on the factors below.

WAVE MAKERS (WIND AND DURATION)

The main things I look for when forecasting the surf conditions in our area are, first, if there are any wave makers in our swell window. I look to see if there’s any strong winds over a decent sized area in the Atlantic that are pointed at us. This area is called “fetch” and it is the main ingredient to swell generation. The second ingredient is time, so that wind needs to blow over the water for a decent amount of time to build the waves up and produce a swell. Once I see a wave maker for us out there, I can figure out (using the model data) when the swell will hit.

SOUTH FLORIDA SWELL WINDOW

A swell window refers to the space where swell can be made and hit your beach. The South Florida swell window is rather small and gets smaller the farther you go south, thanks to the Bahamas blocking most of the swell energy, so only north swells make it down. The farther north you go in the state it opens up to east, and even southeast, swells from Central Florida and the Cape northward.

TIME OF YEAR

The fall, winter, and spring produce powerful low-pressure systems and even sometimes the edge of high pressure that will give us the fetch over a period of time in our swell window to send some swell our way. Since big winter lows don’t move off the coast in the summer, the summer is usually flat, aside from a stray hurricane that may get close enough to send some swell down here. The best location for that, though, is Central Florida northward since they are out of the Bahamas’ shadow for east and southeast swells.

LOCAL WEATHER PATTERNS

Once I know the days it will hit I can look at our local weather patterns for those days to see if the wind will be offshore producing clean waves, or onshore producing choppy waves, and maybe the timing of when the wind will turn. Finally, as the day gets closer, I look at the tides to try to decide the right spot to hit at the right time.

We also get a lot of wind chop, which is just onshore, windy, drifty, dumpy, not-so-pretty type waves, but we all love it, and it gives us time in the water between swells. For that I just look for 20kt or more wind with some east in it (NE-E-SE).

REFRACTION SWELLS

We also get a somewhat rare, not completely understood phenomenon that some people call a “refraction swell.” It only appears in South Florida (Palm Beach County southward) when we get a strong northwest or west wind after a frontal passage.

Nobody knows for sure how or why it happens as it’s not been scientifically studied thoroughly. We just know it happens most (not all) of the time with a strong northwest, west northwest, or even west wind over Florida and the Carolinas for at least 12 hours, like after a strong cold front. The difficulty is the swell is rather elusive, sometimes it appears at one break, while a couple miles down the road it’s flat, then the next county down it’s firing at one or two spots, then flat. Or sometimes Miami is head high, and Palm Beach doesn’t get it at all. Or it appears for a few hours then it’s gone. Tough to explain all those things happening all at once, and tough to forecast!

There are many theories behind the mechanics of the swell, but nothing is proven. The original thinking was and why it’s called ‘refraction’ swell is that the waves bend back or refract back toward the coast. This probably isn’t what’s happening as there are no reefs or shoals to refract the waves back a whole 90 to sometimes 180 degrees. I just go with that name still because it’s the most common name everyone understands and, frankly, we don’t have an exact explanation to call it something else.

Other theories involve the proximity of the Bahamas, or the swell bouncing off the Gulf Stream, since the Gulf Stream can be 6 feet or higher in the middle. If that were the case it would be a reflection swell, or rebound swell. Some people think there must be some fetch pointed south at us, but I’ve seen first-hand this to be false. I have many examples of weather maps I’ve kept over the years that show nothing but northwest wind, and it still happens.

I do have a theory that involves a few different processes that all come together to create the “magic,” as I call it. I doubt it’s just one magic thing, and probably a few things coming all together. I’ve been working on it for a couple years, gathering maps and data every winter. I plan on publishing it online hopefully before the year is up on wptv.com/surfing. I’ve done a talk or two at some events about it and it seemed to go over well. Again, it’s not fact, it’s just a few theories like the rest. We won’t know 100% what’s going on until someone can study it in detail by deploying many buoys and weather instruments all over the southeast and analyzing years of data that comes from it.

Even though we have many new tools and technology helping us, predicting the future is hard. The earth’s atmosphere is so complicated and dynamic that I don’t think we will ever get every little nuance to have a perfect forecast every time. But that’s the fun in it, too. I like to figure out how things work, and figuring out what’s going on, what may happen, and then seeing it happen…well, that’s a great feeling! It keeps me motivated. It’s kind of like winning the big game after putting in all the work, but, at the same time, busting a forecast is like getting beat (by Mother Nature), and nobody likes to lose a big game! The ocean is fascinating and I’ll always keep coming back for more.

@surfnweatherman

Van, Surf & Skate Expo 2023 Keeping the Stoke Alive

BY AVA BOURBEAU

PHOTOS BY NOTHING NEGATIVE CO.

Bill Unger walked into the Van, Surf & Skate Expo in 1979 with $5 for hotdogs and stickers. He left with a brand-new Fox surfboard and hotdogs and stickers.

He bought a $1 raffle ticket to win the surfboard (inflation isn’t so advanced that you could get a surfboard for $5 in 1979) and the implications of that day never left him. He reintroduced the event in 2019 after it’s fizzle in the ‘80s to keep the culture alive for the next generation. Young people have always been at the forefront of the surfing and skating movement (think Z-Boys) and Bill believes that fact remains.

This sentiment takes form in the kids skate camp taught by Locals Surf Shop owner Jimmy Moran, seminars of van build-outs to offer guidance, and giveaways by the headline sponsor, Ocean Magic Surf Shop. Ocean Magic Surf Shop owner, Flip Oliveira told Atlantic Current that the expo “Fosters, reignites, and maintains a love for board sports, health, and wellbeing in the community.

Stryker Hawk, a 16-year-old surfboard shaper who has an expo slot, is also an example of skills being passed down. He’s been building boards for three and a half years and surfing for longer. For Stryker, the pipeline from surfer to shaper seemed destined. “I always had an interest in design and building things so naturally when I started surfing and getting better and better, I wanted to start making my own boards and found that I really enjoyed it,” he said. Another inspiration to Stryker’s interest in shaping was Eric Rumaner. Eric, a former Jupiter local, is now shaping boards in San Clemente, Calif. a hub for board shaping and surf culture and is a great example of how passed down knowledge can influence the younger generations. The expo is an avenue for Stryker to exhibit that passed down knowledge.

Last year’s expo had a bout of history repeating itself because of it being reintroduced, and we love a good call back. The Van, Surf & Skate Expo 2022 winner Alex Buncy followed in his father’s footsteps by competing in the expo. We assumed that skateboarding wasn’t genetic, but the Buncys might give us a

run for our money. Alex’s father, Mark Buncy, competed at the inaugural Van, Surf, & Skate Expo. “My father told me how he competed this event back in the 70s, and how much of a rad event VSSE was… He highly encouraged me to come compete last year,” Alex said. Talk about full circle. Mark added, “I will be competing in the competition this year and I’m looking forward to showing all the young guns how it’s done.”

Of course, the Van, Surf & Skate Expo is also for the long-time members of the community: whether it’s supporting established local businesses or bringing awareness to non-profit organizations like the Wahine Warriors. The Wahine Warriors, founded by Kristina Cobia, uses surfing as a method of healing. The surf programs offer community in particular to female trauma survivors, veterans, and children in the foster system. Not only did Kristina buy her own children their first surfboards at the Van, Surf & Skate Expo, she also said walking in made her feel like a child full of excitement again. “Being at the expo helped make the sports come alive for their [her children] curious minds and now they get to start the journey that I’ve been on for over 20 years,” she said.

Mercado Custom Cruisers is a unique small business that can also be explored at the expo. Martin Mercado started his custom build bike company after working in the auto repair industry. His goal was to make bikes that replicated the appeal of vintage cars. Now, he gets to share his passion with the community that the Van, Surf & Skate Expo cultivates. Martin shared, “I love that it’s not a mainstream show and serves this great, different kind of community.”

This year’s Van, Surf & Skate Expo on Nov. 4 and 5 will accomplish much of the same as years past. Patrons can experience a slice of nomadic van life, watch blanks become surf boards, listen to live music, and witness (or compete in) the skating competition.

For more information on the Van, Surf & Skate Expo, DM on Instagram @vansurfskate_expo or email at: vsse.info@gmail.com.

PICTURED: STRYKER HAWK

PICTURED: JIMMY MORAN

PICTURED: STONY VIBEZ MUSIC

The Beach Bucket Foundation

BY JESSICA TZIKAS

Nothing puts a wrench in your beach day quite like being interrupted by garbage. Not only does litter on our beaches break our tranquility, it can also cause great harm to sea life, ruin habitats, and hurt the environment. Ensuring we keep our own spaces clean during a day at the beach is great, but unfortunately, it isn’t enough to keep our water litter free. Luckily, a few great organizations have been formed to help battle the pollution problem. One organization is the Beach Bucket Foundation, a local group that works to preserve our beaches and oceans. >>

MODEL: TASHA AND JADE TRINGALE

At the helm of the Beach Bucket Foundation is Andrew Abbott, who created the organization back in 2020. Andy was an avid diver and during his time getting re-certified, he found himself retrieving trash from the ocean. He was also spending time cleaning up the beaches while volunteering at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. After attending a beach cleanup with Surfrider Foundation at Carlin Park, Andy realized how much more litter could be collected simply by providing volunteers with a bucket. “We ended up picking up somewhere close to 200 pounds [of trash],” Andy said. “I wondered why we didn’t offer buckets at our beaches on a constant basis.”

Andy consulted with the county about his idea in 2019. After a pilot run with the buckets that was extremely well received, the county gave Andy the go ahead to install the stations in all the

The stations are self-serve, so it’s impossible to measure the amount of trash that the Foundation is responsible for collecting. But, The Nature Conservancy’s Blowing Rocks Preserve on Jupiter Island hopes to start collecting data using the buckets this year. These stats, along with the presence of the Box O’ Buckets® cleanup stations, can encourage participation while also promoting the ideal of a clean beach to locals and tourists alike. The cleanup stations can be found at beach entrance crossovers at both public local beaches and oceanfront communities.

Volunteers can check the online map to find a station, grab a bucket, and start helping the environment. But beyond simply picking up trash, the Beach Bucket Foundation also spreads awareness about the dangers of pollution to our environment. They offer the buckets to local businesses and organizations in each community they are located to sponsor, not only as a means of funding the Foundation, but also as a way for businesses to show their commitment to their community, environment, and

to create local buzz and a snowball effect of awareness.

“We as people need to be more respectful of our environment and need to be aware of the effects that littering pose,” Andy said. “Get involved however you can, participate in cleanups and legislative policy making, get involved with local organizations, and just make a difference and spread awareness wherever possible.”

beachbucketfoundation.org

@beachbucketfoundation

BAJÍO SUNGLASSES Florida Based Brand With An Ocean-Minded Approach

This New Smyrna company is gaining a reputation as the clearest fishing sunglasses on the market. We can vouch from testing them ourselves and you can test that theory at Blueline Surf & Paddle Co., but in the meantime, let us share some background into the brand and their values.

Founders Al Perkinson and Marguerite Meyer are building the brand against the current doing things their way. Going against the grain. Taking the high road, if you will. The privately-owned company assembles their product in the U.S., using sustainable materials and donating portions of profits to charities. And, of course, the sunglasses are crafted specifically to fit the needs of the niche they market to. As an angler himself— and after being CMO of Costa-Del-Mar Sunglasses for 12 years years Al knows his audience and has honed their product.

“When Marg and I decided to start Bajío, we made sure that the company’s mission aligned with our own personal passions. We wanted to make sure that we were inspired to go to work each day. We love saltwater fly fishing, and we have a special passion for getting young people out fishing and into conservation,” said Al.

The company is carbon neutral, and they support multiple conservation groups such as Captains For Clean Water and Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida. Both groups were created to bring awareness to coastal communities, keep lawmakers accountable and enact changes that will ensure cleaner water and sustainable habitats. Another of Bajío’s efforts occurs in Xcalak, Mexico where the beaches experience a large buildup of seaweed. Bajío funds the cleanup and transportation of the seaweed, which is later turned into fertilizer.

When it comes to the products themselves, Bajío has just as high of standards. The sunglass frames are made from castor plant, rather than nylon. The castor-based resin is biodegradable and stronger than nylon-based frames. The lenses are crafted with their patented LAPIS™ technology. This technology blocks 95% of bad blue light while retaining the blue light that adds to color and clarity all so you can spot more fish!

The styles are designed with the same intention and there’s a story in every pair. The Vega, named for Alejandro Vega Cruz or “Sandflea” the grandfather of fly fishing in the Yucatan, are a tightlined design that hugs your face and blocks any stray light trying to bypass. The Stiltsville, named for a flat known for

bonefishing, are crafted intentionally to go from behind the rod to in front of the bar. With vented nose pads, full-wrap frames and 21 color combinations to choose from, they’re a great staple for your fishing bag.

“We are a purpose-driven company, not a profit-driven company, so everything we do we look at its impact on our planet and the people around us,” said Al.

bajiosunglasses.com

@bajiosunglasses

VEGA

Glass $259, Poly $209

ELDORA

Glass $259, Poly $209

STILTSVILLE Glass $259, Poly $209

Glass $259, Poly $209

LOCAL BIKINI BRANDS Swim in Style

BY RACHEL LEVY

Between the warm feeling of the sun on your skin and the coolness of a dip in the water, a day at the beach is one that never fails to make a person feel good. Add to that experience some unique, eye-catching beachwear and you’ll quickly be looking just as good as you feel. Keep things local by purchasing from a South Florida-based swimwear company and you’ll find a whole world of captivating designs that go far beyond what big box stores are selling.

Check out our favorite local companies that are taking things up a notch when it comes to sun-inspired beachwear.

Jypsea Local

When founder Stefanie Holtzheuser says that her company Jypsea Local is all about local love, she means it.

“My local clients have been fans since day one and make up a large portion of our sales,” she shared. “I truly believe that in a world where everyone is doing the same thing, how you treat someone makes a huge difference. When you come in [to Jypsea Local], you get a personalized experience and I think that’s what a lot of locals remember. Kindness is everything.”

This message of universal love and kindness is felt in every aspect of this Fort Lauderdale business. Determined to empower women to embrace their femininity and love their bodies, Stefanie creates and shares captivating designs that celebrate the female body, and that she hopes makes her clients feel unstoppable.

3320A N.E. 32 St., Fort Lauderdale jypsealocal.com @jypseaswim

PHOTOS: JUSTIN BRODERICK MODEL: CLAUDIA DULGERIAN

MODEL: BRIANNA GARRETTE

PHOTO: KELLY FIELD

Mora Surf Boutique

Though Mora Surf Boutique in Deerfield Beach officially came to life in 2007, it was the result of a childhood the Tavola sisters spent surrounded by colorful, captivating patterns and fabrics. After learning how to create their own clothing, they eventually began creating a style of bikini they loved but rarely saw on the market.

“Our passion lies in crafting one-of-a-kind pieces that are inspired by many sources,” they shared. From vintage fashion magazines to personal travels and nature, this duo takes inspiration from the whole, beautiful world around them. “We strive to capture the essence of the sun seeker: a carefree, natural, and confident girl who radiates happiness and comfort in her own skin,” they said.

1626

S.E. Third Court, Deerfield Beach

moragirls.com

@mora_girls

MODEL: FRANCESCA CELLA

PHOTO: KELLY FIELD

MODEL: GABRIELA ARBEZU, PHOTOS: MADDIE JAYMES

Ola Feroz Swimwear

After becoming frustrated about the lack of quality and fit from other brands in the industry, Jessica Garcia took matters into her own hands and established Ola Feroz Swimwear in 2009. A selftaught designer, pattern-maker, and seamstress, Jessica has spent the last 14 years creating handmade suits that she describes as “feminine and functional for the avid salt water addict, yet sexy for the elite sunbather.”

The English translation of Ola Feroz is Fierce Wave and that energy is felt in the unique designs offered by the brand. Recently, the Summer 2023 collection was released and it’s a can’t-miss assortment of swimwear that screams summer in South Florida. Between the brightly colored, ‘70s-inspired Marea bikini design and the sleek Cumbia One Piece, there’s truly something for everybody.

805 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton olaferoz.com @olaferozswimwear

MODEL: LAUREN GROVE

PHOTOS: JESSICA GARCIA