Blame it on the economy (like I do everything else) but one thing I’ve noticed on the North Shore this year is the increase in the number of gatherings based around the cooking of meats, yes, the BBQ is taking center stage (just behind the stellar surf that is) this season on the rock. The smell of kalbi ribs, teriyaki chicken, steaks, hot dogs, and hamburgers wafts through the narrow little alleyways and drifts into the lineup while the pinging of beer bottles opening rings long after the food is gone.

In just last four days, the TWS crew has been to five BBQs and not one stop at a restaurant. And we’re not the only ones, the dudes from Surfer Mgazine have come up with a quite brilliant idea; the North Shore BBQ Challenge. I don’t think they’ve got that cool of name for it (you can use that for free Ricky) but their plan is simple; tell a team house you’re gonna come over to taste test teir BBQ skills and post the winner after you’ve hit every team house on the North Shore. Like I said, pretty brilliant. I have one to one up them though: The beer an girlfriend challenge. It goes like this, whoever has the hottest chicks and thw most ice cold beer wins. Perhaps we’ll kick it off at the Volcom house tonight…

Bobby from Jack’s Surfboards (left) with the tastiest (and biggest) batch of seafood paella ever. This was from last night at the Body Glove house on Sunset Point.

Up in smoke at Jamie O’Brien’s place…

Careful with that weiner Alex…