If it is your dream to skate with the best skateboarders in the world, head to North County San Diego, where on any given day you’ll be airing, grinding and skating right next to the X-Game pros. The Encinitas Ecke YMCA is home to many skate pros and boasts of great weather year round. So if you’re into name dropping to your buddies the best place to start is here.

At X-Games 15 familiar names dropped to the bottom, one broke his ankle and Paul Rodriguez snagged the top spot in the street course competition. With the temperatures soaring in the nineties, the stadium packed like sardines and virtually so shade, X-Game attendees were treated to grinding, flipping and perfect landings which ended with Rodriguez claiming all the marbles.

At the X-games last weekend, Adam Taylor of Encinitas pointed his skateboard down a 50- foot ramp and sailed over a huge gap only to touch down on the other side and pull more big air tricks. This X-Game crowd favorite event only draws a few brave souls out to risk severe injury; Taylor is one of those brave souls.

It was a North County San Diego Vert Final affair at the 15th X-Games on Saturday night. The promoters of the event could have saved themselves the money for the ramp and held the event at the Encinitas YMCA skate park home to the entire skating finalist group.

The epic battle came down to Pierre-Luc Gagnon (PLG) and Bucky Lasek. As the final jam season progressed, each continued to out do the other with rodeos, 540’s, 720’s and other big airs.

PLG eventually held out and took the gold medal home for the second year in a row. Lasek had to settle for a silver medal

The Firefighter Olympics includes more than thirty events ranging from baseball, soccer, rock climbing and of course surfing.  Beginning in the 1970’s and serving as a constructive outlet amongst a group of elite individuals and athletes that have an intense competitive nature. These adrenaline junkies come from throughout the state of California for this annual event. Only paid professional firefighters (active & retired) are given the opportunity to compete in the games.

San Diego – When one thinks about skateboarding, thoughts of tight pants, black t-shirts and thrashing come to mind. What one doesn’t expect to find is a girly-girl skating with her trademark helmet with pink bunny ears. That is exactly what you will find on any given day at the Encinitas YMCA skate park. Annika Vrklan is a 6-year-old girl who rocks at the park. “I love dropping in pools and I like learning new tricks,” the skater girl said. Getting to the stage of dropping in was fairly easy to this young up-and-comer who has been skating for about a year, according to her mom, Chris Vrklan.

When people think of Southern California surf culture, a picture of Huntington Beach is usually what comes to mind. Also known as “Surf City, USA,” it looks like a picture-perfect surfing scenario and is known for its rich surfing history as well as its great waves.
One of the many attractions found at this Southern California beach is the Surfing Walk of Fame. Started in 1994, this walk leads from Main Street all the way to the Pacific Highway and ending at California’s longest municipal pier.

San Diego – If you are looking for a new skateboard without the board – look no further than Freeline Sports Inc. This sideways skate sport was the brain child of Ryan Farrelly.
This new sport has recently taken off as seen at the Van’s Warp Tour. The company now sponsors riders and these riders as well as others get together at competitions around the country and world. The jest of the Freeline competitions includes trick platforms, downhill, flat land and skate ramps and bowls.

Pomona CA- Sprinkled amongst the musicians, punk music fans and Mohawks were a handful of skateboarding athletes. The kids were a part of the all-day Vans Warped Tour concert event held in Pomona , CA on June 26th.Headlining bands included old-school punkers Bad Religion, NOFX, Thrice and Less Than Jake.Littered across the infield of the race track were a number of stages that played many up-and-coming bands, booths selling various concert wares and plenty of junk-food stands.

Local surfer and Iraq war veteran, Brian Knoblock, is on a quest for waves as he pursues his dream to become the first recognized  combat veteran in action sports. An avid surfer since the age of seven and a strong believer in his faith, Knoblock resided in Orange County for most of his youth.

Kerby Brown described it as a “dark and evil wave, one that almost killed me”!

Stand-up paddle boarding is the fastest-growing ocean sport.  First-ever championship styled SUP race featuring an offshore course...

Maryhill was a blast!  We had competitors from all over the world...Canada, USA, Australia, South Africa, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany...

Kuta-Bali -- Indonesia’s hottest junior surfers will be joined by an international field of the world’s best junior’s for hi-fi surfing from June 18-22.

Raptureroll is the world's first mobile surf camp, trips begin in Northern Spain to Hossegor, France and back!

One of the most incredible newly discovered surf destinations, the Caroline Islands that is located in the Micronesia, is now on offer.

Host province Border have won the team title at the 2008 Reef Wetsuits SA Masters Championships which was completed Sunday (June 15 ) after four days of  competition held in excellent 4 - 6 foot waves at Nahoon Reef, East London.

Marine officials euthanize 30-foot-long sperm whale that stranded itself in shallow surf Tuesday on Mustang Island.