Take two waves and call me in the morning: International Surf Therapy Organization brings ocean healing into the mainstream

by Ryan McDonald Carly Rogers was told there was “no way” she would be able to pull it off. Jamie Marshall was told, “I don’t know what you’re going to do here.” And Joel Pilgrim was told that he was “just a surfer who wants to get paid to go surfing.” The last one wasn’t […]
Finally waves in the South Bay? It’s true. A fun surf swell hit in early September

Please excuse us for getting so excited but it’s been a while since we’ve seen waves over waist high here in the South Bay. The South Bay surf community had something to dust off their surfboards for, waist to occasionally over head waves. Surfers include: Luca Luhrsen, Alex Fry, Chris Wells, Colin Weinberg, Luke Petty […]
The Kids Are Alright: South Bay’s Bob Bain puts on the Teen Choice Awards amid a changing media landscape
by Ryan McDonald More than a decade ago, Bob Bain was in his former office when his production partner popped in and asked Bain if he would like to watch a band performing in a room down the hall. The group had an energy, a buzz that suggested big things might be on the horizon. […]
Free wristbands for Teen Choice Awards in Hermosa Beach fetching hundreds online
by Ryan McDonald Massive demand for passes to Sunday’s Teen Choice Awards in Hermosa Beach has created a thriving secondary market for wristbands that were given out for free to local residents Thursday morning. Distribution of the free tickets was supposed to begin at 11 a.m. Thursday on the lawn east of the Hermosa Community […]
The Kids Are Alright: Hermosa Beach hosts the Teen Choice Awards amid a changing media landscape

By Ryan McDonald More than a decade ago, Manhattan Beach resident Bob Bain was in his former office when his production partner popped in and asked Bain if he would like to watch a band performing in a room down the hall. The group had an energy, a buzz that suggested big things might be […]
Class in session: Complex ‘Seminar’ opens at Hermosa Beach’s Second Story Theater this weekend

By Ryan McDonald You can throw a kid in detention, but the reluctant adult learner is the real troublemaker. Those under 16, after all, don’t have much say about showing up for class. It’s later, as learning becomes a matter of greater choice and greater expense, that we start to wonder why we should listen […]
Density Bonus: Can the South Bay learn to love more housing?

Second of two parts by Ryan McDonald In the past year, South Bay residents have appeared at City Council meetings and invoked “density” as reason for concern over, among many other things, outdoor dining, commercial truck delivery schedules, and a proposed slackline park on the beach. None of these would have increased the number of […]
Remember the Alamo? Controversial state legislation forces hard look at South Bay housing

First of two parts By Ryan McDonald Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand keeps a well-worn piece of paper in his pocket. He pulls it out and unfolds it when he talks about housing, which, these days, is often. On the paper is a long, hand-written list of pending state legislation that would change the balance […]
Surf League, Boardridersrecognize surfer scholars
by Kevin Cody The South Bay Scholastic Surfing Association (SBSSA) celebrated what many believe was the best winter surf season in over a decade with an awards presentation last Friday evening at the Hermosa Beach Community Center. The high school surf league includes 12 schools, from San Pedro to Santa Monica. Mira Costa High finished […]
Sounds of Change: Manhattan Beach’s Don Jung captures music and events of the late ’60s

Manhattan Beach resident Don Jung’s book ‘Rockin’ Through Troubled Waters’ recounts his times in the late ‘60s music scene
Lost photos show Black Flag’s history

by Ryan McDonald Forty years ago, some dithering about the release of an EP from four kids in Hermosa Beach laid the foundation for alternative music. The band behind the songs, Panic, had a short run before they eventually become Black Flag. A bit more of that brief history has come to light recently […]
Another Big Surf Swell Hits The South Bay (video)

In this episode of Swell Stories we follow another big swell which hit the South Bay a few days after our last “Swell Stories” episode. We’re pretty happy with the winter so far! Surfers include Matt Mohagen, Chad Parks, Damien Fahrenfort and others.
Swell Stories: A happy beginning of the New Year for South Bay Surfers (video)

In this episode we feature a swell which hit the South Bay January 6th bringing in overhead plus sized barrels. LA surfers were given a nice start to the New Year! Surfers include Damien Fahrenfort, Pat Webber, Andre Anorga, Conor Beatty, Chris Wells and others.