There’s been a ton between then and now, but the most recent was one of the scariest things that’s ever happened to me and hopefully ever will. It was two years ago, on December 3. A friend and I were out in surf that was over 100 feet—well over a 100 feet—and I had dived off on a wave that might as well have been 100 or 200. I don’t know—at that point I didn’t have my tape measure—but it demanded every bit of my experience and strength. I came up to the back of it, and my friend who was on the back of the wave grabbed me with the jet ski.

We proceeded to try to run away from the next wave and got run down from behind by one of the biggest waves that I have ever seen. It was definitely the biggest wave to ever run me down from behind.

More to read at Gizmodo…

Our very own Laird Hamilton was interviewed by the Gizmodo crew, talking about surfing, music and H2O Audio:

Laird Hamilton is as tech savvy as surfers get, using jet skis, kites and hydrofoils to have more fun on the waves. Here are his first experiences with waterproof music, and his discovery of H2O Audio earphones and iPod cases:

The thing about the water is that a lot of times you have other people out so having music to listen to is a way to block out people’s questions. Kidding aside, it’s one way to be in your own little world.

I use music in my regimen when it involves anything with long distances—if I’m doing a really long crossing, or something that’s going to take me a while, music is a good distraction. It’s a way to kinda let time go by.

]Gizmodo]

Yes, Dave Kalama will be up at Surf Monkey this Saturday and for a killer photo of Dave doing his SUP thing, check out this article in the San Diego Union Tribune.

Congrat Michael and team…  A great way to end the World Championship meet in Rome…

Michael Phelps and the U.S. 400-meter medley relay team closed the fastest meet in swimming history with an appropriate finish Sunday night – the 43rd world record.

Phelps earned his fifth gold medal of a world championships that showed he’s still got plenty of motivation, even after winning a record eight times at the Beijing Olympics.

Swimming the butterfly leg, Phelps helped the U.S. pull away from Germany and Australia to win in 3 minutes, 27.28 seconds. That easily broke the mark set by the Americans at last summer’s Olympics, 3:29.34.

[UniversalSports.com]

On Saturday, August 8th, H2O Audio will be hosting it’s first ever “Surf Monkey” event -  one day Run, Swim, Paddle event at Oceanside pier in Oceanside California.

Top athletes from all over, including our own Natalie Coughlin and waterman extraordinaire Dave Kalama will participate in a 5 kilometer beach run followed by a 1 mile open water swim topped off with an 8 mile paddleboard race to the finish.

All participants will receive a race t-shirt and sponsor goodies, post race refreshments, & entry into a drawing to win all kinds of great prizes.

Participants can choose to do any of the events as a single discipline or enter in the 3 event stage race to compete for the coveted King & Queen Monkey title.

For details and registration please visit http://multisports.com/surfmonkey

Michael Phelps snagged his third gold medal of the swimming World Championships, crediting his 4×200m freestyle relay teammates with delivering the goods in a world record-setting victory.Phelps, Ricky Berens, David Walters and Ryan Lochte clocked 6min 58.55sec to shave one-hundredth of a second off the previous record of 6:58.56 set by a similar US lineup – lacking only Walters – in winning Olympic gold in Beijing last August.

[Google News]