Archive for the ‘CHECK IT’ Category

Posted on: February 22nd, 2012 | Written by | No Comments

Win It Wednesday: Iron and Resin

Swell customers demanded more Iron and Resin, so we’re hooking up a package that any beach-going biker would burn rubber for.  Iron and Resin quickly became a SWELL favorite for their hybrid approach to street and sand.

Born in Ventura Ca, their hand forged clothing line glorifies the grit and grease that has become absent in today’s mass produced world.

The Win It Wednesday Prize Pack includes: The Chief Quiver tee, the Scrambler trucker hat, and bikers bandana. Each I&R products comes with a unique feature like their tees, which include a custom shop rag. Trust us, everyone can use a shop rag. Get this package worth over $60 by following the steps below.

Here’s a secret to help you “hog” this week’s prize pack.
1. Keep an eye out for the Tuesday Teaser on SWELL’s Youtube channel. This way you can start thinking of clever taglines to post on our wall which increases your chances to win.
2. Become a fan of SWELL.
3. When we announce it, sign up on the said link.
4. Refer friends to sign up. For ever referred friend that sign up, you get 5 extra entries for yourself.
5. Tell us why you should win (odd humor encouraged)
6. If you don’t win, don’t worry. SWELL gives out freebies all the time, including a $25 giftcard for our “Fan of the Week” so keep those witty comments coming.


See the whole line of Iron & Resin products at SWELL

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in CHECK IT | No Comments »
Posted on: February 16th, 2012 | Written by | 1 Comment

Surfer’s Eye -Don’t Let Ptertyiums Happen To You

While it may appear that most surfers are self-prescribing themselves with glaucoma medicine, many watermen suffer from what we call “Surfer’s Eye”.  Doctors call this red tissue that creeps across the whites of people’s eyes a “Ptertyium” and while non-cancerous,  it causes major threats to your vision and other complications.

Causes: Sustained exposure to UV rays without eye protection is the primary cause of an overgrown conjunctiva. Surfers, skiers, fishermen and others in highly reflective environments have increased proneness to suffer from the symptoms of Surfer’s Eye. Combining other elements like wind, dryness and dust can accelerate the growth of a Ptertygium in a single day.

surfers eye

A friend of SWELL went wake-boarding on a dry, windy day without sunglasses, and woke up the next morning with a growth that would eventually require surgical removal.

Symptoms: Aside from cops and coworkers thinking that you get stoned all day, Surfer’s Eye causes chronic irritation and soreness of the eyes. Some  surfers describe the foreign feeling of that eye growth as similar to the discomfort of an old contact lens or grains of sand in the eye.

The serious threat to your vision comes when the growth progresses into the cornea of you eye, and the excess tissue start to impair your vision. Then comes the fun part…

Treatment: Ptertyium surgery isn’t your 20 minute lasik. Patients must endure hours of scalpels and razors shaving their eyes while wide awake.  The recovery is just as painful since doctors graft a different part of your eye and sew where they cut, creating two wounds.  Don’t expect to be surfing for weeks after this medievel torture.

Scared straight yet? Good, because nipping a Ptertyium the bud isn’t quite so easy. When the first signs of the excess tissue makes contact with your eyelid, it constantly creates friction and irritation causing a dry red state prone to infection. To prevent this, use artificial tears (not Visine)  to always keep your eyes well lubricated.

vonzipper_polarized

Your first line of defense should always be a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Most importantly polarized shades shield your eyes from ultra violet rays, wind and abrasive airborne particles. Thankfully sunglasses technology recently improved tremendously, creating  thin, light weight glass lenses that block 99.9% of glare and maintain superior clarity.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in CHECK IT, SURF | 1 Comment »
Posted on: February 14th, 2012 | Written by | No Comments

Costa Rica Surf Trip: Part 1Planning my girls surf trip to the School of the World, Costa Rica

The winter has me wanting to take a trip to somewhere tropical! Okay, I shouldn’t complain since I live in Orange County where it’s 75 degrees year round, but I’d love to go somewhere remote with black sand beaches, rainforests, and ocean water that you can surf without wearing a wetsuit. Costa Rica was the perfect solution to my checklist, but how do I even begin planning my Costa Rican all girls surf trip? Enter School of the World, a unique combination of boutique hotel, surf camp, language school, photography workshop, and yoga retreat. Since travelers visit here from all over the world, it’d be a great way to meet some new and interesting people as well.

SOTW is ran by my friends Zach McDuffie and Natazha Aiken McDuffie (Natazha is an international model and Zach is the founder School of the World and a learning vacation expert). They both were so passionate about Costa Rica, and provided me with such great tips of places to go and things to do, I knew instantly this was where I wanted to stay. Zach and Natazha are experts on traveling. They run a blog popular blog about learning vacations, The Learning Experience,  and are developing a travel show about the best vacation schools, workshops, retreats, and fantasy camps in the world. Get a glimpse into what it’s all about in the video below…

Learning Experience Trailer from Z McDuffie on Vimeo

So I will be spending my vacation in Costa Rica for one week, chronicling my time there and of course providing you with style tips and fashion must haves for your next tropical vacation.

Want to win a stay at the School of the World?
ENTER HERE!

 

Read Part 2 Here

Posted in CHECK IT, SURF | No Comments »
Posted on: February 13th, 2012 | Written by | 1 Comment

Best Surf Bags: The Wet Dry Bag – All Sport, All Purpose Cargo – Surf Essentials Volume 1

In this Surf Essentials series we’ll give you the must have products in surf. Our first chapter will describe a bag that every surfer should own: The wet-dry bag.

Why a Wet Dry Bag?

One of the most crucial elements to any surf trek is a legit wet/dry bag or backpack. A long walk back to your car is bad enough and it sucks even more when you’re covered in the urine-filled drippings from your suit. A good wet dry bag will store your wetter, keep you dry, and help you lug all the necessities to and from the beach.

Besides surfing, a wet/dry bag can serve a number of other purposes as well. Since sealed, watertight seams are standard in most all bags you can keep your dry items dry or your wet items from seeping out and into the upholstery of your car. Fill your bag with ice and use it as a makeshift cooler, load with squid and bait and hose it out after fishing, or leave it rolled up on the beach without having to worry about the high tide soaking your phone or wallet.

Finding the Right Bag:

Fortunately for all you dollar menu connoisseurs out there, wet dry bags aren’t all expensive. They come in at a variety of different styles and prices ranging from the super gooch to the most wallet friendly of options. With that said, a solid wet dry bag is definitely worth the investment and the more expensive bags tend to offer better amenities that will let you roll up to the beach in style with all your bases covered.

<-Click here to check out all of our Wet Dry Bags->

HERE ARE THREE BAGS, AT THREE DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS, THAT ARE WORTHY OF MENTION:

1) Section wet dry bag. $130.

Dakine set out to make the best surf bag and, with the Section Wet/Dry Pack, they did just that. This bag’s got it all: A wax pocket, fleece lined sunglass/ipod pockets, waterproof zip pockets, an insulated cooler compartment, plush back & shoulder padding, a retractable bottle opener, and best of all a voluminous waterproof wetsuit compartment that cinches down when not in use. This backpack is perfect for surf trips large and small and is backed by Dakine’s Lifetime Warranty.
<-Click Here to check out a video of all the Section Wet Dry Pack's Features->
<-Click Here to check out the Section Wet Dry Pack->

2) Billabong Leap Frog Wet Sack. $69.50.

Billabong Leap Frog Wet Dry Back Pack

Coming in just under seventy bucks, the Leap Frog Wet Sack from Billabong is sick. This 100% waterproof roll top bag is great for boat trips or anywhere else you need to keep your gear dry and your belongings safe. This bag includes an extra, removable waterproof pocket area at front that’s great for electronics, fins or all your other accessories you want keep dry. The extra large main cargo compartment features super durable, water tight seams and enough space to store nearly 3 fullsuits inside. Get this if you are looking for a rugged, fully waterproof bag at a great price.
<-Click here to Check out the Billabong Leap Frog Wet Sack->

3) Creatures Wetsuit Bag. $20.

Creatures Wet Dry Bag

At a little over the price of 2 burritos this wet dry sack will turn any existing back pack into an inexpensive wet/dry bag option. It’s narrow design fits a single wetsuit and booties and then easily packs away into most backpacks or into the back of your truck. If you are light on cash then this bag is what you need to get the job done.
<-Click Here to check out the Creatures Wetsuit Bag->

Check back for Vol 2 Where We’ll list the Top Ten items to Keep inside Your Surf Bag.

Posted in CHECK IT, GEAR | 1 Comment »