Introduction

wELcoMe to kOOks, tHe wEBsiTe!

Here you will find a random smattering of the wacky ramblings of a totally mad bunch of EAST KOAST SURFERS. We have been surfing anywhere from 30 days to 30 years, and kollectively we have surfed all over the Eastern seaboard from Boston to Brazil, and all over the world from Texas to Tavarua.

Here are a kouple examples: "I have to make a confession to all my fellow k00ks... When I crest the dunes and catch my first glimpse of well formed 4-5 ft swells, I lose all control. My hands start to tremble and my legs start to shake and the rumblings work up my spine until my whole body starts to quake. I can barely get that leash around my ankle before I'm sprinting to the line-up through jellyfish, seaweed, grommets, shoe-bees, benny's, bodyboarders, ... I see my first peak just moments in front of me, turn, call off the guys next to me, pop-up and I'm trimmin', cuttin' and weavin' down the line . . . Yahoo! Thank you. BG"

" How do you recognize a fellow Kook in the water? There are some obvious clues like dropping in, pearling and unique and/or vintage wetsuit design (Christina), however, I still get the feeling that I've paddled right past some of you Kooks without a glimmer of recognition.
I was going to propose some really complicated secret handshake, or a modified shaka sign (hold out thumb, pinkie AND index finger, with the thumb pointing skyward, so that the gesture resembles a capital K), but Brendan came up with a simpler solution. When he spots a suspected Kook, Brendan simply asks, "Do you know KevinO?" Besides the inherent subtlety, I like the thinly vieled reference to AA, which is apt since we're all suffering from the same affliction. So here's a toast to the kOOks.
-Barney

If after reading these you still want to join our little group please notify the owner of our email list at kooksanon@geocities.com.

However, please keep in mind that you will be joining a very select group of surfers with real experiences, real jobs, real responsibilities, real counter-cultural backgrounds, and real wild-glinting eyeballs in crazed looks on their faces when its offshore and overhead. It helps alot to know someone who is already a member so they can nominate you, but if you dare to apply you better have the credentials and the stoke to cut through our rigorous FNG hazing protocol. Kurrently we have around 70 members.

This is our original charter as approved by the 17 original members listed here: "BigJ", Lex "Maniac", BrianU, Dave "The Wave", David "The Minister", Surfboard Bob, Doug "The Mad Scot", Scott "The Halfman", Holger "The Horrible", JohnW, KC "Fabeas indulcet famas", Kiko "The Brain", KevinO, LeeF, MichaelM, PhilS, and RayH.

Your names have been selected in a totally non-random fashion from among all the people on my email rosters based upon my general instincts for people with the dedication and talent to survive as surfers in the adult world. This is a semi-selective mail list, and not open to the general pubic world (if you get my drift). However, the list is open to all whose names/email addresses are selectively added by other members of the list upon their personal reference, given that they conform to the general profile noted above. Remember, this is a somewhat exclusive group, but select surfers of all abilities are welcome, given that they come on personal reference from another member.

History

Kooks Anonymous was formed in 1967 by someone whose name I fail to remember, but whomever it was deserves all the credit. The most important point is that we can now claim thirty years of support for surf addicts who can't surf all the time. If you haven't gathered it by now, the purpose of our group is to provide semi-confidential and non-commercialized surf forecasts for the Eastern/Atlantic Coast of the USA. Collectively we cover the eastern seaboard from Maine to the Gulf Coast of FL and LA, with a particularly heavy concentration around the New York Metro area (where I do most of my surfing). The goals of our organization are to provide accurate surf forecasts and reports, to facilitate small gatherings of friends to surf, to make sophisticated environmental science, public relations and law to prevent the further desecration of mother ocean at the hands of industry and government, and to provide fellow members with a 12-step program of surf-sobriety if this torture is absolutely required by family-, work-, or rehab-related absences from the saline solution that is Atlantis (not necessarily in that order). There are no dues or official meetings or any other bothersome details like budgets or newsletters or even common courtesy.

Did I forget to mention that sick humor is greatly appreciated?

With best regards and fondest hopes for totally tubular sessions:
-KevinO