Mary McCaslin's Roundup
Feb 17, 2005
How many people have blown off work
over the years and taken to the waves after hearing the weekday morning Surf
Report on KPIG? And who could forget the ugliest Hawiian shirt contest at the
Fat Fry music festivals? And what does one have in common with the other?
Answer: the Surf Dawg, aka Stephen Davies.
Early mornings Monday through Friday
the Surf Dawg could be heard on KPIG forcasting the wave and weather conditions
for the day, often encouraging employed surfers to skip work when conditions
were especially farovable. Other times, when the weather was bad, he suggested
that they go to work and even work overtime to make up for stolen hours at the
beach.
Stephen was born in Virginia in 1956
and is one of eight children. The family moved to California in 1961 and he
started surfing at a young age. Eventually he took up the mandolin, studying
with Mike McKinley of Harmony Grits. He later became a member of a band called White Surfer Trash, who played
the Monterey Bay area during the 1990s.
It became a tradition at the Fat
Frys to hold an ugliest Hawiian shirt contest. This immensely popular
competition was hosted by the Surf Dawg and
filled time needed to load equipment
on and off the stage between performances. His standard "street
clothes" attire has always
included a Hawiian shirt and he was a natural on stage.
Even the Surf Dawg had a real job.
He worked for the County of Santa Cruz for almost 20 years as a computer
networker. Then life threw him a curve and he developed melanoma, a
particularly difficult form of cancer to treat and cure, brought on by years of
sun exposure. Stephen now strongly encourages people to take precautions to
protect their skin from the sun - a difficult proposition for those who spend
hours in the water waiting for the next wave.
For some time he has been undergoing
treatment and has not been able to work or do the KPIG weekday morning surf
report. Zoof, the Girl in the Curl, has been filling in for him on the air
waves. The hope is that he will soon return to both kinds of waves.
This Saturday, February 19th, a Surf
Dawg Get Well Fundraiser will take place at the Brookdale Lodge on Hwy 9. It
kicks off at noon and runs until midnight There is a $10 donation at the door,
with additional donations strongly encouraged. An all-star lineup of bands and
performers will take the stage, some of whom include Harmony Grits, KPIG's
Ralphy Boy, Jedd, the Sibling Bros., Marty Atkinson, the Earl Bros., Regina
Bartlett & Gail Cruise and many more.
There will also be a raffle and
silent auction with many outstanding prizes, ranging from tours on the
Chardonnay, music store gift certificates, CDs, tee shirts, pieces of art,
festival tickets, handmade basketry, massage therapy and any number of other
goods and services. One of the large prizes is a 3 night stay in a Tahoe condo.
Winners need not be present.
For information you can call Eric
Burman at (831) 335-3662, or just show up at the Brookdale Lodge anytime from
noon on this Saturday.
Anyone who has ever been ill for a
period of time knows that no amount of insurance covers everything. Day to day
expenses do not stop because of illness. And sometimes the most important thing
of all is the love and support of friends and community.
As Stephen says, "There is
great turmoil under the heavens...and the situation is excellent." - just
a tip from the Surf Dawg.
Contact
Mary McCaslin at roundup@marymccaslin.com
IF
YOU GO: What - Surf Dawg Get Well Fundraiser
Where - the Brookdale Lodge, Hwy 9
When - Sat., Feb. 19 , Noon to Midnight
Info - (831) 335-3662