First Place - Men's Long Board Competition

I took first place this past weekend at Ocean Isle Beach surfing Sonburst contest. Beautiful day for surfing. Lots of friends out and, well what can I say, nice trophy. ;)

Learn to surf on your vacation here at Sunset Beach

Hello from Sunset Beach. I'm taking reservations for this summer. Please give me a call and let us discuss what you would like to accomplish during your stay. Looking forward to meeting you.

Tom Allen

Oh, and I couldn't resist posting just one picture of me:

Shore Birds

see next post

IMPORTANT Please Read and Help Protect Shore Birds - I'm not asking for money

The East end of Sunset Beach has, for years, been blocked off during bird breeding season, April to August/September. This year the owners are demanding that we no long post signs to warn people of nesting birds. There are not enough nasty thoughts to express their stupid demand but be that as it may, the signs will be removed, by the same volunteers that put them up.

The East end is a very unique nesting area. Shore birds need the open landscape to see predictors. They do not nest in the duns, too easy for predators to sneak up on birds.

Please do walk on tidal areas only. 
Please do not allow your dog to walk into that area.

That's all we ask, just some little help to save nesting shore birds.

If you have any questions, please email me at
BlindDogSurfboards@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Tom

Rip Currents At Our Local Beaches

This year, four people died from rip currents at Brunswick beaches. Rip currents are not new, just that it can catch people off guard. Here is a short video to help explain what they are and what to do. 

Tom 

Woody Love

Rick just got his 9'10" woody long board. Looks good on top his '29 Ford Woody. Love his roof racks.

 

Rip Current Rescue

Yesterday,  I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time to rescued a little kid who was headed out to sea in a rip current. No one saw what was happening. I was about 100 feet from the kid and paddled like hell to reach him. He grab him, pulled him up on my surfboard and swam along side to shore.  I was giving a surf lesson at 13th. Street, Sunset Beach.

Rip tides can be seen or not. Best to not venture out too far unless the surf is really flat. The surf conditions were deceiving today. Waves were about 2 to maybe 3 foot, nothing big. But the incoming tide and increasing wave size, along with wind conditions, along with very shallow sand bars combined to create a deadly current.

Just because you do not see a rip, if you're feeling current trying to move you down the beach, that is enough warning to not go out too far.  

Wood is Good

Listen to reason - don't swim when there are rip tides.

On-shore wind for three weeks and it continues this and next week. Wind pushes water onto a beach that has to let water flow back out. Rip tides are nasty physics lessons. Amazing how some people just do not read signs posted or think they are better than others. To venture into our surf under todays conditions is just plain dumb.

http://www.wbtw.com/story/22757038/1-dead-4-hurt-after-rip-currents-hit-sunset-beach-and-ocean-isle

Tom

Rip Currents, Nasty water

Even experience surfers and swimmers can get caught unaware of this deadly current. Even in small surf conditions a rip current can happen. Here is a rather good photo of what one looks like. Always swim 90 degrees of a rip or don't fight it. The current will dissipate as it gets further from shore. People get in trouble when the panic and try to swim against he current. Even the strong can tire quickly.

RIP CURRENT: Stay safe while at the beach this summer! This could save your life. Do you know what a rip current looks like? We have probably all seen them and weren't aware of the danger. When you see waves and then a small section of "flat" waves in between, that's a rip current. The water is moving in the opposite direction. Stay clear of these areas!! This is NOT a calm place to hang out with small children. PLEASE SHARE

Thanks Grouper Hole for posting this information

Tom
 

Keep Butts Off NC Beaches

Most of you who read this are guests to our local beaches. Of all the beaches in NC, especially Brunswick County, Sunset Beach is the cleanest we have seen. Many of us surfers take pride in keeping it clean and Sunset Beach's maintenance crew does an awesome job, all pick up trash, to keep SB clean.

If you can spare a few minutes and help keep Wrightsville Beach butt free, please send the below message to our state government. Yes, it's not about Sunset Beach but our plan has been to follow Wrightsville Beach, which now looks a tad bit more difficult.

Surfrider Cape Fear Chapter needs your support. For all you locals, please cut and paste the address list below and either craft your own letter (click here to see Cape Fear Chapter's website for this issue)  In short:  Wrightsville Beach NC imposed a ban on smoking on their beaches. Now NC state government wants to over rule local authority and remove that self-imposed ban.

You can cut and paste the address list to make it easier to send this letter of concern to our state representatives.

Thanks for your support,
Tom Allen

 "Tommy.Tucker@ncleg.net" ; "Jim.Davis@ncleg.net" ; "Trudy.Wade@ncleg.net" ; "Tamara.Barringer@ncleg.net" ; "tan.Bingham@ncleg.net" ; "Don.Davis@ncleg.net" ; "Thom.Goolsby@ncleg.net" ; "Fletcher.Hartsell@ncleg.net" ; "Brent.Jackson@ncleg.net" ; "Ellie.Kinnaird@ncleg.net" ; "Gene.McLaurin@ncleg.net" ; "Martin.Nesbitt@ncleg.net" ; "Louis.Pate@ncleg.net" ; "Jeff.Tarte@ncleg.net" ; "Michael.Walters@ncleg.net"

Subject: Ban on Smoking at NC beaches

I respect the rights of citizens and local governments in determining how they want to regulate their communities. SB 703 is designed to overturn a referendum voted in place by a strong majority of the citizens of Wrightsville Beach and limit the authority of municipal governments throughout the state.  I feel that this bill goes a long way in taking the power out of the voter’s hands and places it squarely in the hands of government.  This bill, as it is written, would also remove the rights of our community colleges to be able to effectively govern their campuses.  In my opinion, this would be a step backward in the democratic process we hold so firm.  As it stands, this bill is a clear example of special interest groups and lobbyists trying to trump the will of the public.
As our elected official, I ask that you please stand strong in helping to promote clean and healthy communities and OPPOSE SB 703.

We pickup trash constantly. Most disheartening is cigarette butts. They do not degrade and pose health risk to fish and wildlife.

Sincerely and thank you for taking time to help our community.

CPR Certified

Last week I became CPR certified through American Red Cross and American Heart Association.  Hopefully I will never have to put this training into practice but I feel much better about having successfully completed their program.

  

Update July 2012

July has been a fun month so far.  We started the month with Pam and Jeanne from Northern Virginia.  They enjoyed their lesson and Pam will be returning in August for round two. 

Andre came from New Orleans last weekend.  She is a school teacher and runs a nonprofit organization for inter-city kids that teaches them about health and exercise.  Her dad videoed her lesson and she will be using it as a teaching tool.  We are very honored to be a part a small part of her educational program. 

The Walter family is in town from Ontario.  teaching three people at one time was a challenge but was worth it when you see those smiles.
Aidan is a skateboarder and picked up surfing quickly.  Dad and Samantha were soon standing up too.  Looking forward to surfing with them again before they leave.

 

Summer 2012

Water temperature is 76 degrees and heading towards wonderful 85 degrees in few weeks. Thank goodness for tropical wax formulas that keep us 'glued' to our boards.

I have lesson bookings planned and just want to let you know that weekends are all day/times available. Week days would be afternoon sessions. Please, if you have any questions about learning how to surf, give me a call or email. 

Tom

(910) 508 3645   SurfingWithTom@gmail.com

Think safety when you visit Sunset Beach

Every summer we see people swimming in surf conditions only Dolphins would venture into. People think they know waves and water conditions but that is there first mistake. Second is just going into rough surf and expecting to believe they will be all right. We have seen parents letting their kids just go out past where they could be rescued. At Sunset Beach, there are no lifeguards and do not expect help from anyone.

Think you know about rips currents, well spend 4.32 minutes and learn again.

Surfing lessons this summer coming to an end?

We still have many good days ahead with warm water until November here at Sunset Beach. If you're arriving on Saturday, good way to get a week started is to get wet.

Tom

Surfing Lessons - Sunset Beach , Ocean Isle Beach

910-508-3645

Tom Allen has been surfing for...well at least 30 years. This summer has been busy, seems folks are coming from Gulf states out to our beach. Give him a call if you want to spend some quality time learning to surf. Young and old, no problem.

Short video of Sunset Beach Surf Club at Tubbs inlet. Tom is the last rider. BTW...Nice long ride.

Call Tom at: 910-508-3645

_______________________________

August 11, 2010

Tom and Dan

This week, I brought my family to Sunset Beach for our annual week at the beach. For years, I had been telling my son Duncan that "when he was big enough" we would take surfing lessons.

This year, he turned 9, and had been swimming competitively all summer, so I figured this was the year. One call to Tom Allen was all I needed to do. Thanks to Tom, Duncan has a new sport and a new skill. Tom's patience and hard work over four separate lessons really paid off. Throughout the lessons, I knew Duncan was having fun and, more importantly, was always safe. My pride in my son for trying something new is matched only by his sense of accomplishment. He has really had a great week, and is looking forward to surfing again at the nearest opportunity.

Without Tom's efforts, this wouldn't have been possible. This was the best $25 per hour I have ever spent, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Good luck with the surfboards. I will refer everyone I can to Blind Dog and Tom Allen. Please feel free to use this letter on your website if it would help. I've also attached four pictures for you.

Thanks again.

John Burns

Raleigh, NC

Pricing: 
We provide boards = $35 per person per hour
you provide boards= $25 per person per hour
 Most lessons are given at Sunset Beach around 6th Street  but I'm flexible.