Tuesday afternoon the snow community was hit with the shocking news that one of their own had been seriously injured. Sarah Burke was training at a Monster Energy training camp in the Eagle Superpipe in Park City, Utah when she took a severe fall injuring her head. Witnesses say that Burke spun a 540, landed it at the bottom of the pipe, then "whip-lashed sideways" from her continued inertia. She was air-lifted from the site and taken to a hospital in Salt Lake City where she is currently in a coma.

News of Burke's injury percolated through the internet with a huge outpouring of love and support for the skier.

Freeskier Magazine's Nicole Birkhold, who is a close friend of Sarah's, commented that since isn't by Sarah's side, she's been "refreshing her twitter account every five minutes to stay up-to-date with Sarah's condition."

Twitter was the first place that many people found out about the accident and will definitely be the place news will break about her continued progress.

Sarah is known for her insurmountable strength and many are confident that she will recover from this terrible accident, though continued positive thoughts and energies are encouraged through this trying time.

Here's a collection of reactions and positive vibes from the snow community circulating on Twitter.

Trennon Paynter: Head Coach of Canadian Halfpipe team
@t_payn: Even while resting, her inner strength is clearly visible. Overcoming challenges is what she has always done best.

@TannerHall: SENDING ALL THE POSITIVE VIBES TO SARAH BURKE RIGHT NOW.

@Bushywayne Rory Bushfeild : Sarah's Husband in attempts to get to Sarah.
If there is any one at yvr with a private jet willing to fly me and Sarah's mom to salt lake please call me 4035193661

@Kellyclarkfdn: "Praying for healing and restoration @sarah_j_burke. Life in Jesus name."

@boardistan: Our thoughts are with skier Sarah Burke and her family after a Park City halfpipe slam put her in the hospital:

@susiefloros: Sending love your way @sarah_j_burke. Heal strong, you got this!

@thedewtour: Our thoughts are with Sarah Burke and her family today. We wish her a quick and full recovery.

@Ang_Vanvalin @sarah_j_burke You are strong, please pull through! We all love you and are thinking of you!

@MikeDski: I keep reminding myself that @sarah_j_burke is one of the toughest humans I've ever met. She'll be back! #gottabelieve

@Mariefranceroy: We love you @Sarah_j_burke. Sending you angels

@SpencerObrien:Hoping and praying for the best for @sarah_j_burke.

@seanpettit: wishing all the best in the recovery of @sarah_j_burke ! She be back On her feet in no time!

@seanpettit: Get @Bushywayne to @sarah_j_burke

@Level1: Sending all our love and positive vibes to @sarah_j_burke and @Bushywayne!

@skiingrogge: @Bushywayne @dtpowski and I are in SLC. Please hit us up if there's anything we can do. You and @sarah_j_burke are in our thoughts.

@louievito: I want everyone to send positive vibes and prayers to @sarah_j_burke...EVERYONE!!!!!

@jesscumming: @sarah_j_burke please be ok, thoughts going your way.

Photo: Powder Magazine

Surf-forecasting pioneer Sean Collins, whose influence on surfing might have been greater than that of even the sport's elite wave riders, died Monday after suffering a heart attack while playing tennis near his home in Seal Beach, Calif. He was 59 and is survived by his wife, Daren, and sons Tyler and A.J.

Collins, a passionate surfer and sailor who traveled extensively in pursuit of perfect waves, will be remembered for taking the guesswork out of when and where swells will arrive, but also for his humble personality.

Though Collins had no formal training as a meteorologist, his career took off after he launched Surfline.com in 1995, using an extensive network of weather buoys and computer models to predict the arrival and duration of ocean swells at destinations around the world.

The website, which contains surf reports and forecasting tools, as well as industry news reports, attracts more than 1 million viewers per month.

News of Collins untimely death, a day after Christmas, cast a pall over the global surf community.

Peter "PT" Townend, winner of the first ASP world surfing title in 1976, expressed his feelings on his Facebook wall: "TODAY we lost one surfing's most influential people. R.I.P. Sean Collins my mate!, you changed the way we went surfing!"

Kelly Slater, an 11-time world champion and arguably the most influential surfer of all time, Tweeted, "RIP Sean Collins. You've been a friend for over 25 yrs. Thanks for the memories, surf trips, and wave knowledge."

Surfer Magazine reported on its website: "Arguably one of the most influential surfers of his era, Collins reshaped the way surfers from across the world track swells and storms... Primarily self-taught, Collins was regarded as one of the most esteemed forecasters in the industry and regularly advised the World Tour on approaching swells and weather conditions."

The world's elite big-wave surfers developed close relationships with Collins, who helped them plan globe-trotting adventures in search of the largest waves. The surf media also relied largely on Collins' forecasting talents.

Allen Schaben, a Los Angeles Times photographer who got to know Collins over the years, posted on Facebook: "We photographers relied constantly on him and his crew to know when and where to get better shots. Sean has made a profound impact on the surfing community and will be greatly missed. May God's comfort, strength, peace and love surround his family during this time of loss."

Collins, whose Surfline headquarters is across the street from the Huntington Beach Pier, recently explained to the Orange County Register why he got into the wave-forecasting business:

"I founded the [Surfline] because I saw a need, but primarily because I wanted to follow my passions and wanted to control my own future. I believe the real secret of my success was to surround myself with really good people who could help to build our business. The personal payoff is the lifestyle of continuing to be able to chase great surf around the world while getting paid for it, and I couldn't do that without my great team of people."

Collins was named one of the "25 Most Influential Surfers of the Century" by Surfer magazine in the summer of 1999. In 2008 he was inducted into the Surfers Hall of Fame, forever stamped as one of the sport's legendary figures.

As for Surfline, it probably will remain successful because of the team Collins put in place. A report Tuesday on the website reads: "Sean's many accomplishments in surf science and forecasting made him one of the most influential surfers of all time. Surfline's entire staff--as well as countless surfers worldwide--are in a state of shock at the news."

Information regarding services for Collins is pending.

--Images of Sean Collins are courtesy of Surfline

Scuba divers on a holiday expedition at Shaw's Cove off Laguna Beach, Calif., enjoyed a unique perspective of a juvenile Pacific gray whale that approached the divers as they explored the ocean floor. The cetacean appears to have been curious about the bubble-blowing divers, who captured rare amateur video footage of a gray whale swimming freely beneath the surface (posted below).


About 20,000 Pacific gray whales, also referred to as California gray whales, migrate each fall and winter from Arctic feeding grounds to lagoons along Baja California, where calving and nursing occurs.

The migration supports a robust commercial whale-watching industry off Southern California and the day after Christmas traditionally marks the official beginning of the season. If you look closely at the footage you can see barnacles and lice--the telltale markings of a gray whale--on the young whale's head.

Some reports referred to the whale in the video as a baby or calf, but Southern California researcher Alisa Schulman-Janiger said it was more likely a juvenile, because of its size and extensive barnacle coverage, that is capable of caring for itself.

This may just be my terrible memory talking, but does this year's flow of North Shore video clips seem a lot stronger than years past? I feel like they just keep coming and coming and coming.

Mason Ho at home. Mason has got to be one of the most entertaining surfers to watch right now.


Northern Tip (mho) from rory pringle @ conceptblue on Vimeo.

Ehukai sandbar is possibly the funnest sandbar in existence. Just ask these guys.



Kelly Slater & John John Florence // Ehukai // December 14, 2011 from SURFING Magazine on Vimeo.

...Meanwhile over on Maui...


"Jaws" Paddle Sesh. 12/8/11 from Peahi Surf Media on Vimeo.

And in case all this John John talk has led you to forget about JOB this season...

By Chris Casula

BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. -- After four days of fierce competition, the 2011 Winter Dew Tour/Nike Open here wrapped up Sunday afternoon with the highly anticipated Freeski Slopestyle Finals. Beginning with Wednesday's qualifiers and continuing through Friday's semifinal, 80-plus podium seeking competitors were mercilessly reduced to a mere dozen by the start of Sunday's final proceedings.

Bobby Brown, Russ Henshaw and Alex Schlopy--last year's overall Cup point leaders--finally took to the pristine slopestyle course after several days of anxious waiting and watching. As Sunday's events played out, I couldn't help but wonder if the free trip to the finale ultimately proved to be as advantageous as it appeared at first glance.

Granted, not having to worry about having a fluke-ish off day in either the qualifier or the semifinal is a luxury--particularly when considering that those who make it to finals are guaranteed at least some points towards the overall Dew Tour Cup championship. However, what effect did not having the extra scored runs ultimately have on the riders?

Admittedly, this is speculation and a point only made with the benefit of hindsight, but consider what Russ Henshaw might have done differently had he known how is chosen run would sit with the judges. Would Russ, possibly disappointed with how he was scored, opt to switch up his run? Would another day and another two or four scored runs have allowed Alex Schlopy or Bobby Brown to work through any nerves they might have been battling on Sunday?

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