Video From The Vault - Bob Hall Pier 9-3-10
Welcome to another Time Warp Tuesday!
Today's video was shot EXACTLY three years ago today in Texas at the infamous Bob Hall Pier in Corpus Christi.
Enjoy!!!
TIME WARP TUESDAY - TEXAS SURF 9-3-10
Showing posts with label Adventure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adventure. Show all posts
LABOR DAY WEEKEND - END OF A SEASON
 |
| Photo - HSA |
The End of Summer is Here
Labor Day Weekend is upon us; the traditional North American weekend that, for all intents and purposes, signifies the end of summer.
While the calendar may say otherwise, for most school children, parents, and vacationers the season is done.
The long weekend is the last opportunity for many to enjoy one last day at the beach, one last weekend camping, or some other adventure before the fall season will be upon us.
While Fall and Winter have their own grandiose adventure opportunities such as skiing, snowboarding, winter hikes and such, it is Summer that has always allowed many of us the most joy.
So as we say goodbye to a spectacular season, HSA asks everyone to do something fun this weekend... do something challenging... give yourself a reason to say that you enjoyed the summer...
In fact, it could be a perfect opportunity to take us up on the HSA Challenge... either way, leave a reply to this post, or hit us up on our Facebook page and tell us what you did with your Labor Day Weekend.
As we here at Human Spirit of Adventure are quite fond of saying, "What Will You Do???"
WARRIOR WOUNDS...
 |
| Photo: HSA |
Warrior Wounds - Post your Pics
Warrior wounds... we all get them. To an adventurer, its just part of the lifestyle. Cuts, bruises, blisters, and broken bones, while painful at the time, eventually remind us of the things we've done and the places we've been. Scars serve as a trophy for pushing ourselves to go farther and higher.
I got this one while sending a little boulder in one of the city parks on Padre Island. It seems someone had fun breaking beer bottles at the top of the boulder...
HSA would love to see pics of your warrior wounds!
Post pics of your wounds on our Facebook Page and tell us how you got them... It's not adventure without a little blood!
www.facebook.com/Humanspiritofadventure
What Will You Do???
TIME WARP TUESDAY - HURRICANE IKE
Video From The Vault: Aftermath (Hurricane Ike 2008)
Today's Time warp Tuesday takes us back to 2008 and Hurricane Ike.
This video from HSA predecessor Texas Surf TV, shows some Texas waves and the destruction left along the coast by that massive storm.
Watch and Enjoy!!!
Aftermath from Sirfur Productions on Vimeo.
TIPS AND TRICKS: FOOT CARE FOR ADVENTURERS
 |
| Photo Courtesy: takealonghike.com |
Take Care of Your Feet
There is no tool or equipment more essential to an adventurer than their feet. If your feet are not healthy, it rips the fun out of any adventure.
No matter the sport, if you hike, ski, swim, bike, surf, or anything else, your feet are essential to achieving your goals.
When I was going through Army basic training at Ft. Benning GA and the first 20 mile road march was coming up, the Drill Sergeants gave us all plenty of good advice about preventing and managing blisters. They suggested keeping our feet clean and dry, wearing two pairs of socks, using mole skin on the hot spots, changing socks during the march, and finally (believe it or not) wear pantie hose. Yes, pantie hose.
Naturally, a bunch of testosterone-filled, infantry trainees were going to have no part of wearing pantie hose... till the second road march came along. As it turned out, pantie hose help considerably in preventing blisters and also improve circulation to the legs.
These days however, technology has much improved socks, boots, and other things that will help prevent blisters on your feet, but certain needs still must be addressed... like proper fitting footwear and keeping your feet clean and dry.
BMC out of the UK has a great article on their website about help with foot care on the trail.
Their article explains some of the painful details about friction blisters, risk factors, prevention, treatment, complications, and more...
Check it out at the link HERE... Warning: Graphic pics ahead
Take care of your feet adventurers... they are an essential resource!
ROAD TRIP: SOUTH PADRE WRAP UP
 |
| Photo: HSA |
Road Trip Wrap Up: South Padre Island
As mentioned in our earlier post, we found ourselves on a road trip to South Padre Island for a little fun and adventure. It was a nice getaway.
We set out on Friday around noon on the 3 hour drive to our destination. When we arrived we were greeted by the beautiful blue water of SPI's end of the Laguna Madre. Traffic wasn't too bad as we crossed the Queen Isabella Causeway and ventured into town to check in at the hotel.
The room was not quite ready when we arrived so we stopped in at a local B&G for a cocktail and chips with salsa while we waited. The weather was hot and breezy with the taste of excitement in the air.
After checking in, we cruised around town seeing the sights and eventually made our way to Isla Blanca Park for a little beach time and a healthy swim. Afterward we returned to the hotel for showers and proceeded to dinner at Louie's Backyard. We were seated at a perfect table to view the regular Friday night fireworks display, which was fairly impressive. We enjoyed the outdoor dining atmosphere and ate our fill on the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet.
I highly recommend Louie's if you are ever in South Padre.
I highly recommend Louie's if you are ever in South Padre.
After dinner and a few more drinks, we went back to the hotel to rest up for the next day.
Afterward we made our way back to Isla Blanca for a day at the beach. The original plan had called for surfing, but the tropical disturbance that had been brewing in the Yucatan had fizzled by Saturday morning and the waves were not to be had. So we made up for it with a day of relaxing on the beach, drinking Sangria, and enjoying the beautiful blue waters of the southern Gulf of Mexico.
Sunday morning called for us to pack our bags for it was the last day there. But not all adventure was lost. After breakfast we boarded a catamaran and set off into Laguna Bay for a snorkeling adventure.
The bay had amazing clarity and we were able to enjoy the abundance of sea life. See a couple of screen grabs below...
It was a great trip for a weekend getaway. I lead an island lifestyle regularly, but it was great to get away from my regular beaches for a bit. Adventure is around every corner... all you have to do is look!
  |
| Photo: HSA |
ROAD TRIP: SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
 |
| Courtesy - Mexicotime.net |
Time to Hit the Road...
I love a good road trip! Hitting the road to a destination that will bring fun and adventure is a part of the human spirit.
The road calls us. It beckons us. Indeed it is etched in our spirit just as it is etched into the landscape.
This weekend a road trip will lead me to South Padre Island for a weekend of fun and adventure on the white sandy beaches of South Texas. Adventure awaits with a decent surf forecast, blue waters for snorkeling, and maybe even parasailing if the opportunity presents itself.
Will update later with pics and a wrap up of the trip...
Mahalo!
TIME WARP TUESDAY: VIDEO FROM THE VAULT - Liners 2010
Video From The Vault: Liners - 2010
It is time for Time Warp Tuesday... this is where we at HSA do a throwback kind of thing and post up something from past adventures.
Never heard of it?
That's because this is our first time...
Today we are posting a video from HSA's forerunner, Texas Surf TV. This video is appropriately titled "Liners". It features a fun little bit of surf... Texas style! Filmed at Packery Channel in Corpus Christi TX during the Spring of 2010.
ENJOY!
ENJOY!
Liners from Sirfur Productions on Vimeo.
TAKE THE HSA CHALLENGE: What Will You Do???
Take the HSA Challenge!!!
What is the HSA Challenge you ask? Well, simply put, We here at Human Spirit of Adventure challenge our blog readers, our Facebook followers, and indeed the world, to put a little adventure into your lives. All too often people are bound to their desks, chained to their cell phones, or glued to the TV. Many of those people say to themselves, "If I only had the time I would do ______." Yet, for some reason, they never do.
In comes the HSA Challenge...
We challenge you, our readers and fans, to add some adventure to your lives and document it for the world to see. Here is the concept...
Pics do not have to be professional quality... they can be shot with a cell phone in the crappiest conditions. Vids don't have to be professionally shot or edited... this is NOT an editing contest.
This is about human beings breaking away from self-imposed bondage and servitude by injecting fun and adventure into their lives. It's about rekindling that spark down deep within all of us. It's about showing the world that the human spirit is still alive.
I hope that you will all join us in this endeavor...
In comes the HSA Challenge...
We challenge you, our readers and fans, to add some adventure to your lives and document it for the world to see. Here is the concept...
- Pick at least one day each week to do something adventurous
- Document the adventure with photos or video
- Share the adventure with us on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Humanspiritofadventure)
- And (most important of all)... HAVE FUN
Pics do not have to be professional quality... they can be shot with a cell phone in the crappiest conditions. Vids don't have to be professionally shot or edited... this is NOT an editing contest.
This is about human beings breaking away from self-imposed bondage and servitude by injecting fun and adventure into their lives. It's about rekindling that spark down deep within all of us. It's about showing the world that the human spirit is still alive.
I hope that you will all join us in this endeavor...
VIDEO: "LIFE RECLAIMED" Trailer 1
HSA Trailer1B from Sirfur Productions on Vimeo.
GET EARLY PREVIEW OF "LIFE RECLAIMED" TRAILER
GET EARLY PREVIEW OF "LIFE RECLAIMED" TRAILER
The first trailer for the HSA adventure documentary "Life Reclaimed" drops on August 1, 2013.
HSA is offering an early preview of the trailer and it's easy to get.
All you have to do is go to our Facebook Page, "Like" us, and send a message requesting to see it... we will send you a link to view it.
That's all there is to it folks. So hit us up and we'll hook you up!
Mahalo!
HSA DOCUMENTARY TRAILER TO BE RELEASED...
HSA Documentary Trailer to be released August 1...
HSA is happy to announce that we will be releasing the first trailer of our adventure documentary on August 1, 2013.
Although filming is still ongoing, we thought we would release a little teaser for you soon.
No plot spoilers though...
Stay tuned to our blog and Facebook page for chances to get an early viewing.
INTERVIEW: 10 QUESTIONS WITH IGW FOUNDER MIKE COOK
 |
| International GoPro Weekend Founder Mike Cook |
Interview - IGW Founder Mike Cook
Today marks the release of Trailer #2 of the upcoming IGW2013 movie. International GoPro Weekend movies have become a great benchmark in adventure films and we here at Human Spirit of Adventure are fortunate enough to score an interview with IGW's founder Mike Cook.
Mike is an adventurer/filmmaker out of Colorado who we at HSA consider ourselves lucky enough to have developed a friendship with over the last several months... Read the interview and see the new trailer below...
- Tell us, what is the IGW? In a nutshell, IGW is an annual 3-day event where GoPro fanatics from around the world capture something with their camera during this 72 hour window. They then submit their footage and I make a movie that shares our concurrent experiences from this one weekend… International GoPro Weekend. IGW is the most central event of our community, the GoWorld GoPro Project. Our community is here to have fun together, all while sharing our stories with the world using GoPro cameras. IGW is one of those avenues.
- What inspired the IGW? In 1986 David Elliot Cohen made a book called “A Day in the Life of America.” The theme: photographers, professional and amateur, all take a photograph on the same day. He then complied the photos and made a book showing what was going on in America on this one day. It was a really simple premise, but it always struck me as powerful. That, and well, I’m actually in one of the pictures. My older sister submitted a photo that made the final cut. I decided to borrow this theme, only using GoPro cameras. As for this theme of sharing concurrent experiences during a specified duration of time, it has gone on for a while. In 2011 Ridley Scott, YouTube, and National Geographic made an online movie called, “Life in a Day”, that had this same theme, but using video. “Life in a Day”, hmmmmm, I wonder where they got that name and idea?
- When is the IGW2013 film set to debut? July 15, 2103
- What was the response to the first IGW film? The response was really good. Better than I had imagined. From what I remember within a few days of posting it, it had several hundred views, both on Vimeo and YouTube. It racked up a few hundred more in the months that followed, and close to 1,700 combined views once promotion for IGW2013 started. I think since IGW2012 was the first go around, the viewing audience was specific to contributors, and maybe 2 or 3 degrees of separation beyond that. The movie was upwards of 40 minutes. So the fact that many viewers were willing to dedicate that amount of time to an internet video said a lot. It was also during this time that the GWGP Project and IGW started to snowball, something that surprised me and had not planned for. Much of that snowball effect had to do with the release of the IGW2012 Official Trailer and, of course, the final film. Non-participants who had seen those two videos started inquiring, asking how they could get involved and when the next IGW would take place. The release of the final film was supposed be the end of the journey for the GWGP Project. Instead, it was just the beginning.
- How has IGW grown since its inception? IGW (and its community, the GoWorld GoPro Project) are only 18 months old, and in that short time both have grown substantially. For IGW2012 I think I had about 38 contributors from 12 countries… This year I had 127 contributors from around 30 countries (I haven’t done a final country count yet). The numbers tripled. Also, when promoting the actual IGW2013 weekend I didn't have to reach out to people individually, asking them if they wanted to take part. GoPro was “liking” the promo videos on YouTube, henceforth 1,000's of people were viewing them and discovering what I was doing. That was definitely not the case for IGW2012. For that one I had to send a lot of messages to GoPro enthusiasts on Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, etc… it was a lot of work. Also, in that short 18 months GWGP Project videos have been viewed over 100,000 times, we have over 1,100 fans on FB, and over 200 contributors from 40 countries submitting content. And now, because of demand for participation I've initiated other GoPro “projects” such as Far Side Project and GoPanoramic (also, keep your eyes pealed for Through Our Eyes and IGS Montage.) The Project has also caught the eye of GoPro. I've been in contact with them about supporting our community. As you might already know, they hooked up a bunch of awesome stuff to give out to the fans of the Project.
- How did you get into making adventure films? I've been fond of video editing for over 10 years… long before I ever knew I’d become a video editor. I always thought it would be cool to make skiing films of my buddies and me. But back then the appropriate technology was only accessible to people who could afford it, and things like social networking/media were nonexistent. Thanks to the explosion of digital technology, hardware and software that once would have cost tens of thousands of dollars is now only a few 100. And with platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, you can easily make your content available to the masses.
- Who are your influences as a filmmaker? I’m fanatical about Stanley Kubrick, Oliver Stone, Christopher Nolan, Seb Montaz, and the Cohen Brother. Quentin Tarantino is up there, too, as is my sister Katie Cook. However, I've never really noticed if my videos have trace elements of any of these fine people. Maybe more so in the Far Side Project videos? Those videos have creative editing techniques as well we emotional overtones that are intended to be heavy, powerful, and sometimes unsettling. Actually, come to think of it, Seb Montaz has been a direct influence with some of my videos, specifically with musical flavor. Seb directed "Flight of the Frenchies" which was this visually stunning documentary about some French BASE jumpers. I watched that movie several times for inspiration while editing the IGW2012 movie.
- Who is your favorite professional adventurer? Luke Hively. You may not have heard of him yet, but you will… trust me. Luke has contributed to the Project in the past. He’s an aspiring BASE jumper, jumping with his team DBC (Dallas BASE Crew). Because of the Project, I developed a relationship with him and have even gotten to meet him in person. On all levels, Luke’s one of the most grounded, insightful, and inspiring people I've ever met. He’s got a lot to offer, both as an athlete and as a human being. I really hope to see him on top of the game, and soon. (If you want to see him and his team in action, check out “Lucid Dreams 2” on YouTube. It will drop your jaw. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0OEblw70OA).
- What do you personally like to do for adventure? Skiing, snowboarding, telemarking, biking, hiking, a little skydiving, and the occasional beer or five.
- Would you like to give any shout outs? Absolutely. First off…Sébastien Barrier. He was originally a contributor to the Project, but soon teamed up with me to take on all of the editing for IGW2013 (which there was a lot). To all the people who are a part of the GoWorld GoPro Project community, past, present, and future… THANK YOU. You really don’t know how much your enthusiasm means to me. Also, to the people who said they've been inspired by the Project… the pleasure’s mine. Just remember to pay that inspiration forward. An FYI, I enjoy communicating with the fans more than anything else. Please don’t hesitate to drop a line. It may take a few days for a reply, but I always reply. I would also like to give a shout out to all of the people who have inspired me as well as helped me navigate the difficult times. Lastly, I want to thank GoPro for their continuing support and for hooking up the gear to give out to the fans! GoWorld, GoWild, GoPro!!!
DESTINATION: ADVENTURE - Recap
 |
| Photo: HSA |
HSA Expedition Recap
Our adventure to the Oklahoma outback was exciting, fun, beautiful, and at times, quite grueling.
We started off leaving our home in Corpus Christi at about 2:00PM on Friday June 14 and drove straight on through to our destination in the Arbuckle Mountains.
We arrived at approximately 1:00AM and slept for a few hours in the jeep waiting for first light to set up our camp. As the first signs of light began to glow, just before the yellow ball peeked it's head above the horizon, we sat up our base camp and prepared for a long hike to the waterfall.
After several hours of hiking we reached our destination. There we found a beautiful 77' waterfall with an inviting natural swimming hole. As it was extremely hot out, I took a dip in the hole while 2 of my companions waded in the shallow stream created by the overflow.
After the swim, we ate lunch and began the trek back to base camp... all the while capturing footage for the HSA documentary. The hike back to camp was equally grueling. Once we were back, we sparked the fire and began cooking our dinner before laying our weary heads to rest.
The following morning, I sat out on an extreme hike to find the source of the creek that eventually lead to the waterfall. It was an arduous journey, full of rugged and steep cliffs, rocky ledges, and thick overgrowth that I had to climb and bushwhack my way through. The end result was worth the 3 day round trip as I was left with a sense of accomplishment, blessed with beautiful scenery, and the euphoria that can only come with being at one with nature.
On the 5th day, it was time to restock supplies and recharge the electronics. Shooting footage for a documentary deep in the middle of nowhere poses certain challenges, like hiking certain areas 2 or 3 times in order to place cameras, get the proper footage and angles. Afterward a break was much needed With my Dad living in Oklahoma, it was a natural choice to rest at his house before embarking upon the second part of the adventure.
READ MORE (and see photos) AFTER THE JUMP...
Phase 2 had us planning for boating, fishing, snorkeling, and various other water sports at Lake Eufaula. Lady Luck would only be with us up to a point however, as the recent heavy storm activity and rain run off filled the lake with Oklahoma's famous red clay.
There was no visibility for snorkeling and the runoff affected the fishing as well. We were still able to catch a couple of good blue cats and enjoy leisurely boat rides along the lake.
After 2 days at the lake, we returned to my dads house to rest up for the long drive back to Corpus.
It was a great adventure. One that left me craving more. As I drove down the highway Monday morning on my way to work in my coffin of glass and steel, I realized how much I miss being in the wild and at one with nature... it hasn't even been a week since my return... gotta get back out there... soon!
 |
| Base Camp - Photo: HSA |
 |
| My son and daughter at base camp - Photo: HSA |
 |
| Me at the falls - Photo: HSA |
 |
| My Companions at the Falls - Photo: HSA |
 |
| Base Camp at Nightfall - Photo HSA |
 |
| Chilling on the Boat - Photo: HSA |
 |
| Catch of the Week - Photo: HSA |
 |
| Another good fish - Photo: HSA |
DESTINATION: ADVENTURE - Update
 |
| Photo: Human Spirit of Adventure |
Thus far we have hiked miles and miles of rugged terrain, done 4 river crossings, and been bitten by every bug known to mankind. Tomorrow we should reach our final destination and enjoy the serenity and watersport action of Lake Eufaula.
We will have a full journey update upon our return, so stay tuned...
DESTINATION: ADVENTURE... 5 DAYS AWAY
5 Days and Counting...
In five days, we here at HSA will set of on a week long adventure. An adventure that will encompass multiple adventure sports.
On the agenda is miles and miles of rugged backpacking, hiking, climbing, cave exploration, and freshwater snorkeling... topped off with rivers, waterfalls and spectacular views.
This adventure will be filmed on GoPro cameras as part of HSA's upcoming documentary tentatively titled "Life: Reclaimed"
We are gearing up and beginning the final week of preparation for this adventure. We will try to post some photo's along the way on our Facebook page and have a full blown recap right here on the blog upon our return.
See you then!
MICK LORD AND SON TO RUN BRITAIN'S MOUNTAIN MARATHON...
 |
| Mick Lord and son Jack |
HSA Blogger Mick Lord and Son Jack to Run Britain's Original Mountain Marathon
Featured Guest Blogger Mick Lord returns... this time Mick and his son Jack will take on England's Original Mountain Marathon.
Here is Mick's take...
This is (by us) being looked at as an entry level multi-day Mountain Marathon as Jack who is 15 (nearly 16) has never run one, it is seen as an entry level because we don't have to carry all our gear with us there will be a static over night camp, we just have to carry the essentials, water, food, spare clothes and waterproofs.
We have entered the short course, this is 5 hrs Saturday and 4 hrs Sunday to visit as many check points as possible during that time, this is a step up for Jack as the longest race he has taken part in before has been 3 hrs so we will need to conserve some energy, and get our eating and drinking right.
I will send a short write up after the event to let you know how we get on."
Here is a link to the OMM... http://theomm.com/event-series/omm-lite
Get ON it Mick... We look forward to your write up after the event!
POLL: BEAR vs LES... YOU DECIDE
 |
| Image courtesy: thelulznews |
Poll: Bear Grylls or Les Stroud
For several years now, there has been an ongoing, sometimes heated debate about televisions ultimate survivalist. Is it Bear, or is it Les? This debate is not without merits on both sides, and will go on as long as either of them has any significance in today's modern TV era.
The only way to truly end the debate would be to drop them both, buck-naked, together into an extreme situation, with no cameras, no water, nor anything else, and see who makes it back alive. Even still, if either is the survivalist we all think them to be, they would quite likely band together and return with both alive.
You've all heard the arguments... you've all heard the rhetoric... You all have your opinions. So for the sake of doing it one more time, who do YOU think is better?
Vote in the poll below, then leave your comments, but please keep them clean.
VIDEO: FREE-DIVING IN THE CAVES OF OAHU...
Free-diving in Oahu's North Shore
Cave diving has always produced amazing imagery in photo's and video.
The light plays beautiful games with the shadows and colors to create something that always feels surreal... maybe even alien... to the eyes of the viewer.
Below is a video shot by Makai Creative that definitely gives us a wonder view of the underwater world of Hawaii's North Shore.
You've seen the North Shore is many a surf video, now experience it's splendor and beauty from below...
The Ocean Is My Playground: Cave Diving from Makai Creative on Vimeo.
HSA's FACEBOOK GRAB BAG GIVE AWAY...
Help Us Reach 250 Likes on Facebook...
Did you know that Human Spirit of Adventure has a Facebook page?
HSA is trying to reach a goal of 250 "Likes" by August 1.
If we reach this milestone, HSA will give away a grab bag of goodies to one of the 250 fans. The fan will be chosen at random.
"What's in the grab bag..." you ask?
We keep adding things to it all of the time, but currently we have included such things as a surfboard key-chain a couple of bars of surf wax, a bunch of different stickers, a koozie, and a flashlight... there will be much more accumulated before the August 1 deadline.
Will you be the lucky winner? The only way to have a chance is to "Like" our Facebook page.
Get ON it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
