October 15th 2007

That is a wrap!

Thank you everyone for your help in making this season's episode a success. Although we didn't receive the conditions we were hoping for, we are happy with the what we did get out of the tropical season.

Thank you to all our sponsors that helped make the production possible this season!
Resin8 Surfboards
The Extreme Rooster
Green Eye Autos
Xcel Wetsuits
Alpinestars clothing
Headhunter Sunscreen
Veg Power
Komunity Project
Lara Bar
Steaz Energy Drinks
Rockstar Energy Drinks
Whole Foods

The Mission: Surf "Up the Coast" release date is December 15th.

We will be update the blog bi-monthly as details arise.

-Max

October 7th 2007

David Holloway
Sebastian Inlet report:
There are crucial times when Eddie Toy, self-proclaimed weather guru and wave hunter, puts out the call. In those moments I listen carefully; especially when we are hungry for overhead waves for the vid. And within the clear message off the phone call, came the direction to head South. The destination was a break Eddie is very familiar with. I listened, agreed and then put out the calls to the crew. The goal was to score Sebastian Inlet.
All were stoked at 7pm on Saturday but as the night wore on the inevitable late departure and non-answered am phone calls took effect. David Holloway, Steve Moore and photographer Jake Roth heeded the calls though; they jumped at the chance to take the 3 hour drive south to Sebastian Inlet with hope of scoring overhead surf. Once at S.I., we took a look at the conditions and knew we were going to score big!
Steve Moore

Dawn patrol tomorrow. Afternoon session will be up the coast somewhere...

Jax crew, eat your hearts out!

More to come!
Max

October 6th 2007

Jax crew is on fire! Peter Mendia and Shea Lopez have words with the Daytona blue. Wind swell kicks up waves to shootable heights.

David Holloway
Change of season, change of the guards.
With the lack of tropical storms producing anything worthy of coverage in the vid this year, I had one goal in mind as October approached, get this video done by any means necessary. Several mild set backs occurred within the ranks of the previous mission team. From injuries, schedule conflicts to theft of sponsored product, I realized it was time to shift my attention to other areas of Florida for talented surfers. Although I missed the session at Fort Pierce, from reasons previously mentioned, and the coverage of the ticket issue with Shea and Peter at Sunglow Pier, for the same reason above, I'm glad I bee lined it to Northern Florida to scout, organize several shoots and meet some new faces on Tuesday. I had no idea what was in store for the days ahead, I was just glad to be heading in a positive direction.
As I traveled to Jacksonville in the torrential rain and high winds, I contacted Resin8's Steve Moore and COS's Tiffany Layton and set up meeting places in their hometown of Atlantic Beach. As we conducted shoots, I quickly realized the pool of talent Jax showcases. The crew up here is solid! Some say the surfing regions of Florida go through cycles from year to year. One year, central Florida might command the attention, and other years it has been towns of south Florida that's been the focus, but if the last couple of days are any indication of the cycle of change, then I would have to say Northern Florida is setting up for the next stage of rippers.

Tiffany Layton

In addition to the surfing talent, there are a few standout photographers braving the elements and willing to rise and shoot at 5am, Jake Roth is that person. I have highlighted some of his shots, like the one at the top, and through out homepage slide show. I will be adding all the photos of the past Jax sessions and some of his other work in the Photographer's Gallery soon.

DON'T LIVE HERE, DON'T SURF HERE

Pete Mendia and Shea Lopez busted in the Sunshine State - for surfing

By: Marcus Sanders

All Photos: Jesse Wicker

October 4, 2007

After the worst summer and early fall in recent memory, when the surf finally started showing in Florida on Tuesday and Wednesday, local surfers were understandably frothing. None more than local pros Pete Mendia and Shea Lopez, who love scoring close to home, especially with such hectic travel schedules. MORE

Wind swell creates what the tropical season's storms didn't.
After a bleak tropical storm season in August and September, a 1200 mile long gradient set up just off the East Coast and whipped the seas into a frenzy. After it was said and done, we got two days to make it happen and we scored! From filming with the kite boarding crew of Extreme Kites to the rock-steady surf crew of Atlantic Beach and Jax, we've been getting the goods!

More to come...

Max

October 3rd, 2007

TM:S - Filming Day 4 - Dawn patrol

Tropical Outlook. Pleanty of activity...

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

SHOWER ACTIVITY WITH THE NON-TROPICAL AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE
EAST-CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO IS CURRENTLY LIMITED.  HOWEVER...THIS
SYSTEM HAS A WELL-DEFINED LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION AND COULD STILL
BECOME A TROPICAL OR SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION DURING THE NEXT DAY OR
TWO AS IT MOVES GENERALLY NORTHWESTWARD OR NORTHWARD AT ABOUT 10
MPH.  INTERESTS IN THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO COAST SHOULD
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM.

CLOUDINESS...SHOWERS...AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC
AND PORTIONS OF THE BAHAMAS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH AN ELONGATED AREA
OF LOW PRESSURE.  WHILE THIS ACTIVITY IS CURRENTLY DISORGANIZED...
UPPER-LEVEL WINDS APPEAR TO BE SOMEWHAT FAVORABLE FOR
DEVELOPMENT...AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM IN THIS AREA
DURING THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.  THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN A
SLOW WESTWARD MOTION ON THURSDAY.

AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE...ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE...IS
LOCATED ABOUT 1250 MILES EAST OF THE SOUTHERN WINDWARD ISLANDS.
ALTHOUGH THIS SYSTEM IS SHOWING SIGNS OF ORGANIZATION...UPPER-LEVEL
WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY BECOME LESS FAVORABLE FOR
DEVELOPMENT OVER THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.

THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL DEPRESSION MELISSA ARE LOCATED ABOUT 1300
MILES SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA.  THIS SYSTEM HAS BECOME LESS ORGANIZED
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS...AND SIGNIFICANT REDEVELOPMENT IS NOT
EXPECTED DUE TO STRONG UPPER-LEVEL WINDS.

More to come...

M

October 2nd 2007

We are underway with day 3 of shooting. With a break in the rain, we will continue to catch some Northern Florida surf action at a couple of spots. The seas are rough and the swell is sticking around through the evening and into the am.

Wednesday to Friday, we'll be keeping an eye on the development in the Gulf over the next 48 hours.

Stay tuned for more details...

M

September 30th 2007

30 days has September. 30 came and went and 3 showed promise. One took the goods and wasn't honest. Now October has 31. 1+1+1+1 makes four. There's always room for one more. Wind it blows and stirs the seas. Girls come and go and do nothing but tease. Will our storm come and add some ease. The Red and the Green lights make a glow. What will become of the show. You never know unless you go...

Matanzas Mission - Success!
Ft. Pierce Mission - Cancelled!
Mayport Poles Mission - Confirmed!

More to come...

M

The Mission: Surf "East Coast of Florida"

After waiting for over a month for the right tropical system to come along and move up the east coast of the United States, the storm has finally come to us. One of the strongest cold fronts of the season has pushed south into central Florida, bringing with it gusty winds to gale force. A large coast low pressure system is forecast to develop over the Bahamas on Sunday while Canadian high pressure continues to create a strong pressure gradient offshore the east coast. What this means is 1500 miles of 25 knot NE winds pointed directly towards the east coast of Florida. This long fetch of wind will create 10-12 foot swell peaking Monday and into Tuesday with strong NE winds up and down the east coast. The Mission team will be filming on location at Matanzas Inlet south of St. Augustine on Sunday. Then Sunday night the team drives south to Ft. Pierce in hopes of catching cleaner conditions for the surfers.

At this point it looks like NE winds will create choppy conditions along the east coast of Florida, so the Mission Team will be in search of a south jetty setup to block the wind. The south side of Ft. Pierce inlet has a good left that only breaks on large swells, and is sheltered from NE winds. Hopefully conditions will be right for the surfers to show their skills! The wind will finally diminish Tuesday night out of the SE, and with continuing swell the conditions could be cleaner for Wednesday and Thursday. We will update this forecast tomorrow and the situation develops.

September 29th 2007

We've been busy all day planning to capture some amazing footage for the next couple of days. The weather is going haywire and red tide is in the air. We have tropical storms forming off the African coast, Mexician coast and a NorthEaster is bearing down on the Southern States. Our main focus at the moment is the windswell generated from the Nor'Easter.

Here's what were looking at:

High pressure builds in over the NE US region Saturday before pushing offshore into the North Atlantic by the end of the weekend/early next week. This will set up building surf for the Mid Atlantic, Florida and Bahamas coasts with solid surf in the water early next week. This surf will continue into and through the middle of next week.

We've got a new group on stand by, some kite surfers will join the ranks and we're loaded up with a 16mm. It's victory at sea. This is the mission:surf. We're ready to go

One last thing, JB, you were bought cheap, sucka! You might think you got away with the shit you pulled but karma is a bitch. Everyone will know the kinda chump you are.

Out with the old, in with the new.

More to come...
M

September 26th 2007

We are crossing our fingers at the mission surf camp as we look towards Sunday. This could be the one we've been waiting for...

Tropical Report

The weather discussion for Karen this evening was exactly what I was hoping for. Often times with tropical systems, the actual wind field is so small, even with intense systems, that the swell produced just doesn’t ever get that big. That’s because the fetch that the wind blows over isn’t very long. Sometimes with large sheared systems like Karen, most of the wind is displaced to one side of the system, so the fetch can be larger, and even though the winds aren’t as intense, if they are moving towards land, the swell produced can be significantly bigger than a smaller more intense system. The shear is forecast to possibly intensify over the next few days, but the track has shifted more to the west, which is good news as it will pass closer to the east coast. The hurricane hunter investigating the system found tropical storm force winds over 100 miles from the center, which is impressive considering that it is only a tropical storm. If it continues to move in the direction of Cape Hatteras, then the virtual fetch will continue to increase, building the seas in that area more as the storm continues to move. If it stalls as some models are hinting, then there is potential for a long duration swell event, perfect for the Mission: Surf.

More to come...

M

Tropical Storm Karen

National Hurricane Center

All eyes are on Tropical Storm Karen as it developed overnight and continues to move WNW over the central tropical Atlantic. Karen is a large system, which typically develop more slowly than small ones. Large tropical systems are better for swell development because the wind field extends outward further from the center, giving the wind more fetch. The other positive with Karen is that it will be moving in the direction of the east coast of the U.S. over the next few days, pushing swell ahead of it and further increasing the fetch.

Forecasts are widely varied with this one, which means Karen could have a mind of her own and surprise everyone. She is expected to become a minimal hurricane before a series of upper level low pressure systems near the track limit development over the next few days. But if Karen decides to get her act together and becomes a major hurricane, all bets are off as the storm starts to control the upper level environment.

The other weather story is a cold front pushing into north Florida on Friday and yet another coastal low pressure system forming over the weekend, with strong high pressure again building into the NE U.S. This is forecast to provide increasing swell and strong winds for the east coast of Florida, and absorb the energy of the tropical wave now crossing the windward islands. Long-range models show the high pressure remaining entrenched, with Karen moving into the picture late in the forecast period. The pressure gradient between the 2 systems looks to produce a long duration swell event for the east coast, starting with Florida and gradually filtering up the entire east coast. We will keep you posted as the situation develops.

September 25th 2007

The 2nd day of Easterns had some upsets in the Master's heats. The Atlantic is showing promise with a series of storms. We head back to N. FLA to catch the remaining swell of TS Jerry.

Easterns Report
In choppy conditions, Rodrigo pulled the white jersey and paddeled into a tough heat consisting of the best surfers from the EC in heat 1 of day 2. Unfortunately, he could only pull off a 5th place finish and has to watch the final from the beach today.
Jimmy on the other hand, dominated his heat from the get go. With the conditions being vastly different from the day before, he had to come out of the gate strong and fast. He slashed his way to the first position with an opening wave of 6.8. From the first wave, he held off the rest of the contenders, from the likes of Jason Motes, for the remainder of the heat. Blue must be the lucky color! Jimmy advances to the finals which will be held at 7:00am this morning.


Tropical Report
As of 5:00 a.m. EDT T.D. 12 has become Tropical Storm Karen and is located at 10.4 north and 38.0 west, or about 1,565 miles east of the Windward Islands. Karen is moving west-northwest at 16 mph with this speed and direction of movement expected to continue for at least the next 24 hours. Maximum-sustained winds at near 40 mph and the central pressure is estimated to be 1005 mb, or 29.68 inches. Computer forecasts show this system moving west-northwest during the next several days over very warm water and low shear. So, there is a good chance this system could become a hurricane. Given the size of the cloud mass and the rich moisture surrounding the system, there is a concern this could become a very strong and powerful tropical system over time if shear does not become a problem Thursday or Friday. It is too early to be sure whether this will be a threat to the Lesser Antilles, but the most recent computer information suggests the system will track north to northeast of the Leeward Islands. But, again this is way too early to know if this is to be trusted.

We will be heading back to Florida mid day today to catch the remainder of the windswell created by TS Jerry.

More to come...

M

September 24th 2007

First day of Easterns was a blast. Waist to chest, glassy and sunny conditions prevailed. Rodrigo and Jimmy advance. Storms, storms and more storms...

The first day of surfing for the 40th year of Easterns was very fun. Everyone was in good spirits and happy to be sharing waist to chest high waves with glassy conditions. Mid day, the wind came on a little bit and started to chop the waves up a bit. The masters division got the best conditions of the day for sure.
After Rodrigo and Jimmy's heats, we went up to a spot beyond Avon but the wind had done it's damage and we heard the inevitable, "you should have been here yesterday" remark from a couple of people. We just laughed and loaded the rv to headed back to the house. The evening was filled with motorized skateboard rides, libations, laughter and a great bbq with friends.


Tropical Update JERRYAT 500 AM AST...0900Z...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM JERRY WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 38.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 45.4 WEST OR ABOUT 995 MILES...1605 KM...WEST OF THE AZORES.
JERRY IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH-NORTHEAST NEAR 15 MPH...24 KM/HR.
A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHEAST WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED IS
EXPECTED TODAY. ON THIS TRACK...JERRY WILL REMAIN FAR FROM LAND
AND PASS IN BETWEEN THE AZORES AND SOUTHEASTERN CANADA TODAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS ANTICIPATED TODAY...AND JERRY
IS FORECAST TO BE ABSORBED BY A LARGER NON-TROPICAL LOW PRESSURE
SYSTEM BY TUESDAY MORNING.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES...165 KM
FROM THE CENTER. ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1004 MB...29.65 INCHES.

Tropics Firing Up!

Wunderground Tropical Weather

After an inactive peak of hurricane season, the tropical Atlantic is firing up! 4 items of interest are capturing out attention at the current time. Sub-tropical Storm Jerry is spinning about 1430 miles east of Cape Hatteras. Although Jerry will likely be absorbed into the westerlies before it has a chance to become a hurricane, sub-tropical systems can create larger surf than tropical ones because of their larger wind field. 40 mph winds extend outward 110 miles from the center of Jerry, so there is a substantial fetch for swell production. This should keep the east coast in a consistent run of moderate fun central Atlantic ground swell until the next round of swell arrives.

In the Gulf of Mexico, a weak low pressure system moved across the Yucatan peninsula last night and has the potential for development as it moves slowly NW in the general direction of Texas. Another stronger tropical wave is approaching the windward islands, and is showing signs of organization. But the one to watch is a large well organized low pressure system that moved off Africa yesterday, and could become a tropical depression later tonight. It is forecast to move into the east coast swell window, where the upper level winds are more favorable for tropical development than this time last week. We will keep you posted for possible yellow light conditions by the middle of the upcoming week!

Sunday, September 23rd 2007

Good morning from the OBX of North Carolina! We are located in Hatteras for the 40th year of the ESA Easterns through Tuesday. We'll be parked at the lighthouse all day. Round one of the master's heats start today.



Tropical Report:
SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS FAR FROM LAND IN THE NORTH CENTRALATLANTIC...AT 500 AM AST...0900Z...THE CENTER OF SUBTROPICAL DEPRESSION ELEVENWAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 36.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 46.1 WEST OR ABOUT1060 MILES...1705 KM...WEST OF THE AZORES.THE DEPRESSION IS CURRENTLY STATIONARY...BUT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ASLOW MOTION TOWARD THE NORTH LATER TODAY...WITH AN INCREASE INFORWARD SPEED TONIGHT. ON THIS TRACK THE DEPRESSION WILL BE MOVINGOVER THE OPEN WATERS OF THE NORTH CENTRAL ATLANTIC...WELL TO THEWEST OF THE AZORES.

We'll be keeping an eye on this as it develops...

More to come throughout the day.

M

Thursday, September 20th 2007

Stay connected.

Here's how:

1. The live cam feed on the video page.

2. Shout out on the message board.

3. Leave comments on the video page.

We'll be updating and broadcasting as much as possible while in Hatteras, N.C.

Tropical Weather Statement:

04:00 pm EDT

A RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT INVESTIGATING THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE INTHE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO FOUND A BROAD CIRCULATION CENTERED ABOUT 115 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF ST. PETERSBURG FLORIDA. THE AIRCRAFTWILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE LOW THIS AFTERNOON...BUT THERE ARENO INDICATIONS YET THAT THE LOW HAS BEGUN TO ACQUIRE TROPICALCHARACTERISTICS. THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WITH THIS SYSTEM REMAINSLIMITED AND DISORGANIZED. HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIALTO BECOME A SUBTROPICAL OR TROPICAL CYCLONE OVER THE NEXT DAY OR SOAS IT MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD OVER THE WARM WATERS OF THE GULF OFMEXICO. ALL INTERESTS ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST SHOULD MONITORTHE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM.

We'll keep our eyes on this one. We might have to take a detour to the panhandle...

Stay tuned.

M

Wednesday, September 19th 2007

We are under the daily deluge of rain from the storm off our coast. We pick up more MF stickers and hats. We make final preparations for our trip to Hatteras. The 40th year of Easterns starts on Sunday.


A new batch of sticker are hot of the press. Make sure you hit us up for the limited release "crook" sticker at Easterns.

We will be heading to Hatteras for the 40th year of the ESA Easterns on Friday... Come by the Mission Films RV, we'll be having a daily bbq with brews and showing off some of our past vids and current clips of this year's tropical storms. Bring by some items to throw on the grill and kick back under the awnings. Look for the big white RV with the black MF logo on the side. See you there!

More updates soon...

M

September 17th 2007

Mid - Day Report - 2:59pm

Here are some video clips from the past couple of days.

Grenada St. beach ramp in Ormond Beach...
September 17th 2007 - 2:45pm


A short video clip from the BIG GIG skate ramp during the Surf Expo...
Saturday, September 15th 2007

Enjoy!

M

September 17th 2007

Back from the Surf Expo, a night of hard rain and we look toward the tropics scratching our heads wondering what's in store...

Surf Expo Report

We had a couple of fun days at the Orlando surf expo over the weekend. With nothing happening in the way of tropical development, we took the opportunity to hook up with friends, make new ones and get the word out on the mission: surf this year. I am sure of some great alliances to come from the following companies. Check out theire websites for more info...

Komunity Project - Scott, Thanks for the stomp pads and leashes!

Steaz Teas - Ron, Thanks for the drinks.

Ergophobia - Jeff, see you at Easterns. Congrats on the booth of the show!

Viking Surfboards - Maurico and crew, nice selection of boards. Sergio, see you in Jacksonville

Surftech - Jason and Duke, nice to meet you both. see you in Jacksonville

DaKine - Jake, let's hook it up...

ESM - Matt, looking forward to the write ups and hopefully the mission: surf article...

SkullCandy - Tom, holden it down and when the team comes around..
and

Electric - Matt, thanks fo the glasses wipe...

Rain, Rain...

Tropical Report

Long-range models are showing a hurricane forming in the Caribbean and moving up into S. Florida next week. This time of year we start looking into the Caribbean for possible development, and think about heading up to the Panhandle of Florida for surf...

We are still hoping and holding out for Ingrid...Come on girl!

More to come...

M

Saturday, September 15th 2007

The latest on the little Tropical Storm that could!

INGRID IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN A STRONGLY SHEARED ENVIRONMENT AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT 48 HOURS. THESE UPPER-LEVEL WINDS SHOULD INHIBIT ANY STRENGTHENING AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE DISSIPATION OF THE CYCLONE. HOWEVER...AFTER 3 DAYS OR SO THE SHEAR IS FORECAST TO RELAX AND IF INGRID SURVIVES THAT LONG SOME OF THE INTENSITY GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT RESTRENGTHENING COULD OCCUR.

Surf Expo report later at the hotel...

Saturday, September 15th 2007

What will happen to the strong storm known as Ingrid? Day 2 of the surf expo. We continue to wait it out in hot and humid Florida...

Tropical Report
...INGRID STRUGGLING WITH WIND SHEAR... more

Surf Expo
My belly is full of sushi and I'm looking for the party. I have a full day of activities tomorrow at the surf expo, now that all the repairs are done on the rv. Oh, there's the call...More reports tomorrow after the showing of Bra Boys and Tomorrow, Today...

More to come...

M

Friday, September 14th 2007

This just in...

From the forcast desk of Eddie Toy:
The story of the tropical Atlantic can be told through the water vapor imagery:
http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/tatl/loop-wv.html

Most of the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic is covered by strong upper-level westerly winds, which are shearing any tropical activity that tries to develop. Tropical Depression #8 is still struggling to become Tropical Storm Ingrid before strong upper level winds preclude further development. It will be interesting to see if it can hold together through this shear and move into a more favorable upper level environment later in the forecast period. Another strong tropical wave to the northeast of T.D. #8 is flaring up this evening, and it may have a chance of development if the upper level winds don’t rip it apart.

On another note, Hurricane Humberto was one of only 3 hurricanes in recorded history to go from a tropical depression to hurricane status in only 18 hours. Yesterday morning it was barely a swirl of clouds in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, and 24 hours later it had caused one fatality and knocked out power for over 100,000 homes. Oil prices soared to their highest price ever in U.S. markets due to the closure of oil refineries on the Gulf coast.

It looks like it will be at least another week before the Mission: Surf is ready to load up the RV and head north.

Stay tuned for more info...

September 13th 2007

I report from Orlando today. We keep our focus on the tropical waves coming off Africa. Surf Expo is this weekend and brace for mayhem.

Eddie will send a report in later this afternoon.


Catch up with us at the Xcel, AlpineStars, DaKine, Aaron Chang or Surfer Mag booths on Friday...

More updates later this evening...

M

September 12th 2007

Good morning. Here is the first of three updates scheduled for today.


This just in from the National Hurricane Center...
In the Atlantic
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOKNWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL530 AM EDT WED SEP 12 2007FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IS LOCATED ABOUT 1150 MILES EAST OF THEWINDWARD ISLANDS. THIS SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BECOME BETTERORGANIZED...AND CONDITIONS APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR A TROPICALDEPRESSION TO FORM LATER TODAY OR TONIGHT AS THE SYSTEM MOVES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AROUND 10 MPH.
In the Gulf
THE AREA OF LOW PRES IN THE NW GULF HAS BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED OVERNIGHT. AS OF 09Z...THE LOW WAS ANALYZED NEAR 27N95W 1008 MB...WHICH IS 2 MB LOWER THAN OBSERVED 3 HOURS EARLIER AT 06Z.

We'll keep our eyes on these throughout the day. Keep tuned

September 12th 2007

10:44 pm EST
This just in...


We are still closely monitoring this one...
Stay tuned. We will be updating this blog 3x daily...
M

September 11th 2007

I thwart danger while putting on the first decal of the trip. Lightning and metal ladders don't mix. RV is polished up and ready to roll...

Sick airbrush work courtesy of Art Wizard 2005!

Stay tuned...

M

September 10th 2007

We've made it through the height of hurricane season with out any major direct hits. We focus on the developments in and around 10 degrees N lat and 40 - 45 degrees W long...

9:00 AM reports

Here are Meteorologists Nicole Mitchell with the tropical storm update and Mark Mancuso with the storm watch update from the Weather Channel...

Tropical Storm Update with Nicole Mitchell

Storm Watch with Mark Mancuso

Mid Day Update
Double Feature!

Watch this!

Stay tuned for more info...

Max

Monday, September 10th 2007

A new week of anticipation. We keep our focus on 10 degrees latitude off the coast of Africa and the light is back on red.

Call to all Florida and Carolina surfers...Immediate Release 09.10.07
The Mission Films is setting up additional shooting schedules for surfers interested in appearing in our video - The Mission: Surf "Up the Coast". If you are interested in shooting on location at various surf spots during our next tropical storm activity period, contact us through our contact page located on the menu bar.
Please submit your name, location, age, 5 jpegs of action shots, a :45 sec - 1:00 reel of your surfing and your schedule of availability. One of our reps will be in touch with you to schedule a time and date.

Development in the Atlantic...

More updates soon...

M

September 8th 2007

This just in....Could this be the one?

We'll keep you posted

M

September 8th 2007

It's official, subtropical storm Gabrielle has formed in the Atlantic. Photographer Dwayne Fleming captures the team in Flagler County. We are please to announce two new sponsors for this year's episode...

Tropical Storm outlook

AT 800 AM AST...1200Z...THE CENTER OF SUBTROPICAL STORM GABRIELLE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 31.2 NORTH...LONGITUDE 73.8 WEST OR ABOUT280 MILES...450 KM...SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF CAPE LOOKOUT NORTH CAROLINA.THE STORM IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH. THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS WITH A GRADUAL DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED.MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 45 MPH...75 KM/HR...WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SLIGHT STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED AS GABRIELLE ACQUIRES MORE TROPICAL CHARACTERISTICS.

9.06 - 09.07 surf shots

We hit up some spots yesterday under the hot sun and with unrelentless on shore winds to score some nice sessions. The swell is predicted to peak this morning but we may get a little additional push through Sunday. Here are some pictures of the last couple of days by photographer, Dwayne Fleming. Check out his website for more shots here

Jimmy B., Haley Watson, Rob Fulmer

New Sponsor Report

We are happy to announce two additional sponsors to our growing list of contributors, Extreme Rooster and Resin 8 Surfboards. We will be contributing video to Extreme Rooster's website and featuring our team rider, Jimmy Blumenfeld. Jimmy is putting ink to his new contract deal with Extreme Rooster soon and we are very stoked to be joining forces with a motivated team at SportsRooster.com.

President of Resin8 Surfboards, David Gray will be stepping up to a banner sponsor position with a donation of a nice quiver of resin8 boards.

As always, stay tuned for more info...

Max

September 5th 2007

Storm development...10:17am est, the mission films.us website 2.0 launch 10:28am and other mission films news...

THE NON-TROPICAL LOW LOCATED ABOUT MIDWAY BETWEEN BERMUDA AND THENORTHEAST FLORIDA COAST HAS CHANGED LITTLE IN ORGANIZATION DURINGTHE PAST SEVERAL HOURS. UPPER-LEVEL WINDS ARE FORECAST TO BECOMEMORE FAVORABLE FOR THIS SYSTEM TO DEVELOP INTO A TROPICAL OR ASUBTROPICAL CYCLONE WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THIS LOW HAS BEENDRIFTING EASTWARD BUT IT SHOULD BEGIN TO MOVE ERRATICALLY DURINGTHE NEXT DAY OR SO. AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFTIS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THE SYSTEM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...IFNECESSARY.

Website Launch

The Mission Films 2.0 went active at 10:28am September 5th 2007.

The new site is chocked full of new additions and info...

-NEW homepage with slideshow and video

-NEW mission page with satellite info, up to date blog and google map of our location

- NEW team page with profiles and pictures

- NEW video page with most of our library videos from the past 4 years. Many more will be up soon.

- NEW gallery page with pictures of the past 4 years of the mission films

- DROP us a line through the contact page to subscribe to our weekly news letter

We're running on veg (have been for months)

Check out the whole conversion process in blog post http://www.themissionfilms.us/blog/2007/06/sunday-june-24th-2007.html

As always, stay tuned for more info...

M

September 4th 2007

Happy Birthday wishes to my lil' sis Darcy, Hybrid Tropical activity off the EC and Jimmy returns from Cocoa Beach...

Darcy Danielle Michaeline Foley

Happy Birthday Darcy! Another year of many wonderful memories! I love and miss you sis!


Hybrid Storm off the East Coast
We are currently monitoring a non-tropical low offshore of the Southeast US coast. This is expected to initially drift eastward and we will monitor this for signs of tropical or hybrid development. Satellite observations throughout the day on Tuesday 9/4 indicate that this low is becoming stronger and better organized and has the potential to send some solid swell to the East Coast over the next several days. Over the weekend, this system may affect the NC region but the exact track is still highly uncertain. Regardless everybody along the EC should closely monitor this system as any significant changes in expected intensity and track will alter the forecast outlook. Stay tuned to Surfline for all of the specific details and latest updates as we track this system.

Ahhh, the memories
Don't worry Jimmy B, sometimes the best prizes are the memories. Besides, you rip up ankle high waves better than anyone I know! Rock on!


We have our eyes on the prize in the Atlantic...Stay tuned for more updates.

M

September 2nd 2007

Hurricane Felix builds to cat. 4 status, Jimmy B advances at the NKF/Cocoa Beach surf comp and other related Mission Films news.

HURRICANE NEWS

...FELIX CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN...NOW A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE...
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR JAMAICA AND FOR GRAND CAYMAN. A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. more

NKF / COCOA BEACH COMP

NKF of Florida Launches Surf Festival Website
The NKF of Florida recently launched a new website to promote the 22nd Annual Cocoa Beach Surf Company/NKF of Florida Pro-Am Surf Festival. For more information
Pro Contest results:
Our team rider, Jimmy Blumenfeld has informed us from Cocoa Beach that he's advanced through his second heat and moves on to the final for Monday. Keep tuned here for the contest results...
UPCOMING SWELL
A decent 5 foot swell approaches for Friday

and we're getting the team together for a day out while we continue to look forward to our storm for the next episode "Up the Coast".

Stay tunde form more info...

Max

September 1st. 2007

Tropical Storm Felix churns and gains speed to hurricane force.

LATEST NHC ADVISORY:
FELIX CONTINUES MOVING WESTWARD...COULD BECOME A HURRICANE TONIGHT...A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OFARUBA...BONAIRE AND CURACAO. A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA
WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS...

THE MISSION: SURF
Now that September has begun, we are finalizing our plans for the next episode of The Mission: Surf - "Up the Coast" The team is ready and anxious for our storm to develop. Our website should be up tonight with all the data to keep you informed. Stay tuned to the site and blog for all breaking news...

Max

August 29, 2007 - Mission Surf Pre-Production

We are feverishly working away on pre-production for upcoming mission: surf episode. So much to do and we are quickly approaching the beginning of our production window for this year.

With August winding down, what will September provide?

We just checked in on the NHC status and this is what they had to say...

A TROPICAL WAVE LOCATED ABOUT 750 MILES EAST OF THE WINDWARD ISLANDS
IS PRODUCING SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS. THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE
CHANGE IN ORGANIZATION THIS EVENING. HOWEVER...UPPER-LEVEL WINDS
ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME MORE FAVORABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT OVER THE NEXT
DAY OR TWO AS THE SYSTEM MOVES WESTWARD AROUND 15 MPH.

DISORGANIZED CLOUDINESS AND SHOWERS EXTEND SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES
EAST AND NORTHEAST OF A NON-TROPICAL LOW CENTERED ABOUT 330 MILES
EAST OF JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF
DEVELOPMENT AT THIS TIME...UPPER-LEVEL WINDS COULD BECOME A LITTLE
MORE FAVORABLE FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION DURING THE NEXT DAY
OR TWO. AN AIR FORCE PLANE IS SCHEDULED TO INVESTIGATE THE SYSTEM
ON THURSDAY...IF NECESSARY. THE LOW IS EXPECTED TO DRIFT SOUTHWARD
OR SOUTHEASTWARD.

This is for Tuesday. Looks like fun. We'll keep you up to date on how it shapes up.


Stay tuned for more...

Max

August 27, 2007 - Hurricane Dean

PARTING SHOTS - HURRICANE DEAN
As the swell from Hurricane Dean draws to a close, we are focusing a bit more on our corresponding duties and less with getting shacked. Damn it!

The swell lasted well into Saturday evening and produced some memorable moments, like the one above featured on the bluesky surf shop website. Not sure who this surfer is but you can get an idea of how good it was in Central Florida over the last 6 days.

ESA COMP - St. Augustine #5
A few too many beers from the celebration at the annual lifeguard awards banquet led to bar hopping through Daytona and a late arrival to Saturday morning's event. I'm not sure how the night before was for Jimmy and Rob but Rodrigo was a bit reluctant to arrive on time and with good reason. Brazilians, they know how to party! He'll have to fill you in on the rest. I, with good reason, rolled in around noon. With my head still ringing with the sounds of cowgirls and country music, I hung out under the stormy skies, filmed the finals and recovered at my own pace. After the final rounds were tallied, this is how the results came in...
Open
2. Jimmy Blumenfeld
5. Rob Fulmer
Senior Men
1. Rodrigo Miranda

TROPICAL STORM UPDATE:
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE LOCATED
OVER THE FAR EASTERN ATLANTIC...ABOUT 850 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF
THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS...HAVE NOT BECOME ANY BETTER ORGANIZED
DURING THE LAST SEVERAL HOURS. HOWEVER...SOME SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF
THIS SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AT IT MOVES
WESTWARD AT 15 TO 20 MPH.

THE MISSION:
As we enter the final week of prep for our 4th episode of the mission: surf "up the coast", we reflect upon the last 3 years of missions and look forward to which storm will be our this year...
2004

2005

2006

2007


Stay tuned for more updates...

Max

August 22, 2007 - Ponce Inlet

We are back from a couple of days at Ponce Inlet. We are a bit sore, sun burnt and thinking back upon the last couple of days of swell created by Hurricane Dean.
As Dean made it's way over Jamaica and toward the East Coast of Mexico, we were enjoying fun size surf Monday and Tuesday.

We are looking forward to more fun surf on Thursday.


That's about it for now. Next little update on Friday.

Max

August 18, 2007 - Dean Hits Jamaica

Hurricane Dean Report:


- Jamaica residents stock up and move into shelters

- Cuba braces with a state of emergency

WE HOPE FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL THESE COUNTRIES' RESIDENTS.

Here's the latest...
NHC ADVISORY
NOAA SATELLITE IMAGES
NASA SPACE WALKERS VIEW HURRICANE DEAN
NATURAL DISASTER NEWS

MORE TO COME.

MAX