Aaron Jackson update

Riley's first solo wave

2008-03-01T04:45:00.000-08:00

Ok it was only for a couple seconds but Riley can claim it!! Surfed on his own at 15 months!
Pumped!

2008-03-01T04:11:00.000-08:00

Wow, back in NZ after doing Christmas and some winter surf time in NS. Good to be out of the cold especially for Riley who was couped up without friends out at Ltown. I still miss home like every good maritimer but its hard to argue with being here. Very kid friendly, Ashela digs it (big bonus points!!) and the surf is super fun and pretty regular. I wish Kyra dog was here too but luckily she's hanging with Ian in Hali, so we're pretty lucky there.- Thanks again Ian!!

2008-03-01T03:28:00.000-08:00

Some pics of me at Raglan. Thanks for shooting Ashela! Also the cloud is a big storm front pushing down from the north in front of the beach house. I love the feeling just before a rain.

Life of Riley

2008-03-01T02:14:00.000-08:00

2008-03-01T01:52:00.000-08:00

New Zealand

2007-11-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

Just a glimpse at Raglan and the tunnel is actually on the End of the world Highway ... actually The Forgotten World Highway. A great driving error if you ever end up going through this tunnel. 150 kms takes almost 4 hours. very very very twisted road with nothing but sheep to laugh you into the darkness while you feel you'll never see civilization again!!! so dramatic I know.. cool experience though.

2007-11-22T23:17:00.000-08:00

Here are the pics
Pulled up to Stent Rd going off with noone around! sweet! That's the set that made me suit up. Water 18C

Taranaki intro

2007-11-22T23:08:00.000-08:00

Just scoping out NZ. Some quick drive by shots to get started. Waves are on! Tomorrow should be sweet! Rad place, super nice people. Now I need to hit the road and check out a couple other towns and the country side. No wonder they filmed The lord of the rings here!

Funky us

2007-11-18T18:54:00.001-08:00

I know , no blogs for a while... due to our slow ass internet connection in Lawrencetown. sick waves though. Here's one. more coming soon.
AJ

Riley and surf

2007-08-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a few cute shots of Riley.. Certainly shows his happy go lucky personality. one shot of
Ian longboarding on a funky swell day at the point. And of course, Ashela with her new stick com'n in from the same day Ian was out. Riley has already started taking the odd step on his own! crazy, we think he may start walking in his eight month? who knows. He's pretty active though and loves to laugh alot and grab our laptop computer screens and pull them down.

Beach time

2007-07-15T18:06:00.001-07:00

Jolene, Aaron, Arlo, Mave & Finn joined us with Ian at the beach for a surf and sand eating session on Friday. Stoked we didn't have to pump Riley's stomache!

Beach bums

2007-07-15T18:01:00.000-07:00

Another day at the beach

road trip

2007-07-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

More road trip pics from Saturday

Weekend road trip

2007-07-08T18:41:00.000-07:00

Well we got into a road trip on the weekend, scouting out property and surf as usual. Two fun things chase no matter how elusive. We scored on the surf end of things and had a nice shoulder high left to ourselves amidst some pretty sweet scenery. Riley was hating the drive home, maybe because his mom got busted for speeding or because of Kyra's bad breath. No one will ever know but we got home in time for Ashela to surf Lawrencetown and for Riley to get a sleep on.

Riley

2007-07-04T12:44:00.000-07:00

The moods of Riley

2007-06-14T18:35:00.000-07:00

Here's our pad for the next while at Lawrencetown Beach. Just happens to be Glen Werth's place ( a guy I know from high school) We're hoping to stay here until we get our place built in Seaforth. Could be a while but being able to walk to the beach here is cool with us.

Kaua'i memories

2007-05-28T15:44:00.000-07:00

A few last pics from Kaua"i
Here's Flo at Mike and Jenny's place given'er on the guitar.
Flo provided heaps of musical entertainment for our jams over there with the violin, mandelin, hawaiian slide guitar, udu, bongo, harp you name it! Can't wait to see you again Flo!

Beach pardy

2007-05-28T13:27:00.001-07:00

Here we go! More pics from da weekend.

Beach party #1

2007-05-28T04:50:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately the best weather arrived here while Ashela and Riley were visiting the fam in TO.
Fortunately it wasn't wasted but it's never the same without my little posse around. Here's at least a preview of some of the good times to come in Seaforth. More to come as soon as I get them.

More Seaforth

2007-05-25T08:42:00.000-07:00

With a couple machettes and Kyra's help, Ian and I just bush wacked our way down the middle of the property to the water. Pretty cool and some perfect hammock trees and killer camp sites until we get the tiki party cabin built by the water.

More Property shots

2007-05-15T04:30:00.000-07:00

Some Riley and property photos. This is down on the beach/lake front of the property.

The road back home is good.

2007-05-14T04:03:00.000-07:00

Well we're finallly home after flying from Kaua'i to Vancouver (Deb&Riley pic) to Raleigh (biz meeting) and then to Halifax.
Stoked to hook up with the fam, friends and Kyra dog. No matter where you travel,Halifax is such a great place to come home to. Now if only I could stop dreaming about not being able to pack all my gear into my allowable bags and being late at the same time for the plane!

Sustainable living in NS

2007-04-30T10:44:00.000-07:00

Well, Just so you know, Ashela and I just bought the site for our new home in Nova Scotia.
It's near Halifax but in the country with heaps of surf near by so we're stoked. Here is a view that we have from the top of the property down to the waterfront where the property ends. I've always dreamt of having a place close to here as a kid when we all got into surfing. Now it's finally a reality even though back then it was way cheaper!!
Anyway, enjoy the view and maybe you'll be a guest there some day. The shack on it isn't quite liveable but we'll fix'er up and then add our own little place with the goal of creating (as much as possible) a sustainable living scenario there for power, food etc. Should be a fun project!

Good times

2007-04-22T12:22:00.000-07:00

Matt Mays, a well known musician in Canada and surfing friend of many in NS came out to hang with us and write music for my next Canadian surf film. So far we got a couple killer tracks done and lots of good jam sessions with Mike and local Hawaiian musician, Flo. It took a few Pipeline porters to get the job done but it was worth it.
Also here's Mike and Mason with the Jujitsu attack pose, Riley getting a bath from mom and me on the beach

Another day at the beach

2007-04-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Ashela getting some wave action in between working from 3am to whenever! Riley not looking too concerned as long as there's boob near by.

surf'n Riley

2007-04-22T11:39:00.000-07:00

Riley on his first out of body surf experience - out of Ashela's body anyway.

Hanalei update

2007-04-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

Riley on the beach. Only one more week of Kaua'i paradise and then we're back to NS paradise.
Also here's some shots of Jenny and her sister (Riley's newest girlfriend).
Not sure how we'll replace beach walks and the surf to put Riley to sleep with?

Chill'n

2007-03-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

Well here we are! One of our little Gecko friends too laying down the law and order in the insect world. I think my favorite passtime is watching them hunt for flies.

Shots from the archives

2007-03-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

A last blast from NS & Newf last fall.
Nico represents!

Riley's new God Parents

2007-03-07T19:28:00.000-08:00

Well it's official! Deb and Luke Petersen, our superduper, most excellent, cool, rad and funky best friends as well as the only ones responsible enough to be considered for the job are now Riley's God parents. Congrats on your new God son! You're now part of the fam!!

Boat trip 2

2007-03-06T12:40:00.000-08:00

more boat trip pics

Boat trip

2007-03-06T12:12:00.000-08:00

Bruno took Mike Stewart, Eli (from Oahu) and myself for a cool trip around the coast yesturday. Some sick beach break, phenomenal scenery, wildlife and pure stoke.

Pre-Kaua'i pic

2007-02-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

Catherine and Ashela in Lynn Valley Park, Vancouver just before we left for Kaua'i. Thanks to Catherine for putting us up for a couple weeks! Stoked.

Surf check

2007-02-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

Riley checking the surf and then chill'n for a cold one. Turns out he only had a 9'6 gun while everyone else had 11ft plus so there's no way he'd be paddling in that day. Maybe we'll hit the beach break in the afternoon.
AJ

Kaua'i exploring

2007-02-14T11:57:00.000-08:00

Description below

Southwest Kaua'i

2007-02-14T11:37:00.000-08:00

Yesturday on my B-Day Ashela, Riley and I took a rip across the island to the southwest side where we found some great waves (too bad I didn't bring my board!), a tank that either got blown up during some military excercise or who knows what, a bunch of sugar cane fields (owned by the famous Robinson family who also own the forbidden island near by) and a bunch of corn fields. This is also really close to the Waimea Canon and the start of the Napali trail. The terrain here is pretty flat and way dryer than the side we're on. It gets about a 1/4 or less of the rain that the east side gets.

More recent pics

2007-02-13T10:58:00.000-08:00

Well, Kaua'i is good. Riley getting in mode.
Today's my b-day and Ashela's was on the 10th last Saturday.
We're going to check out the Napali coast by heli in the next day or so.
supa cool. It's where they filmed Jurrasic Park and King Kong among other movies.

Family & travel

2007-02-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

More pics from my house check up in Tofino. Full moon over Kennedy Lake, Sepp getting a mini head dip.
Riley's cousin Owen looking very mischevious.
Riley and me biking around Hanalei. That's how Riley helps me do surf checks. You sure get alot more smiles from people biking around like that. Top shot, Ashela on a cloudy morning surf check across the street.

Travell'n and visiting

2007-02-12T10:51:00.000-08:00

Here's some of Riley visiting with Grandma and then with Grandpa during his first Christmas.
There's me ?? A sweet barrel on Vargas Island when I went back to Tofino for a few days. Sepp took me out in our old jet ski.
And of course Ashela hanging with Riley.

Family catch up time

2007-02-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

1) Ian meeting Riley for the first time.
2) Paul, Stacey, Leland & Sierra in Seattle as we passed through for a visit on the way to Kaua'i .. too short a visit thats for sure.
3) My cousins and Riley - Jason, Jordan and Luke .. good to see you guys! -Stellarton, NS
4) Riley on the left and his new cousin Ben on the right in Windsor, Ont @ Lenisa and Derek's

Riley and Surf

2007-01-21T12:39:00.000-08:00

Riley and surf pics.
From last week.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

2006-12-23T10:47:00.000-08:00

Well our first family portrait right here. It was about -5C with a wind chill of -10 or so. Hence the unprofessional family self portrait. Kind a fun albeit rushed and at least we're on the beach. We wish you all the best and a great 2007 too!
Love Riley, Ashela, Kyra and Aaron

White Point Lodge

2006-12-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we stayed at White Point on the South Shore. So chill there. The surf was small but surfable on a longboard or fish.

cousins

2006-12-12T14:25:00.000-08:00

Ashela"s sisters came over the other day wth Ben (Riley's 3rd cousin) Ben is on the left, Riley on the right.
Lenissa, Ben and Ginelle are now back home.

Riley again

2006-12-12T14:08:00.000-08:00

Riley at about 5 days old.

Welcome to the world Riley! (Part 2)

2006-12-06T11:59:00.000-08:00

Some more pics of Riley's arrival. The little teddy in Ashela's hand is what I gave her to envision Riley during her painful Labour time. Those were some pretty tough hours. Whoever does the natural child birth thing... wow is all I can say. Now Riley has that little Teddy as envisioned. Ashela called it Bill in the middle of labour so I guess that's it's name!

Welcome to the world Riley!

2006-12-06T11:25:00.000-08:00

At 7:08pm on December 4th, 2006 Riley Alexander Jackson was born. At 7:09 photographed! ha ha .
Torturing his mom for a couple days labour and finally a C-section (he's grounded for that) he came out weighing 8 pounds and 2 ounces. We both couldn't believe it. Healthy and comes included with all fingers and toes! Now all I can do is stare at the little bugger and take photos of him all day. Ashela is doing fine but it'll be a while before she's back to fighting form. In fact she asked the doc yesturday about when she could surf again and she told her at least six weeks! ouch! Looks like she might actually be able to skip the 6mm and go straight to the bikini cause by then we'll be well on the way to Kuai for 4 months. Gotta start Riley's surf training program on the north shore this winter so he's ready for pipe masters next year.

2006-11-26T16:44:00.000-08:00

More waves, more fun, finally lefts lefts lefts!
I need more lefts in my life.
Just another session in da maritimes

East Coast Surf

2006-11-17T06:34:00.000-08:00

Low res files but click on em to see a bigger low res file.

More East Coast Surf

2006-11-17T05:55:00.000-08:00

Just a few more shots including Mysto surfer dude who would most likely enjoy remaining nameless.
AJ

East Coast Surf

2006-11-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

Here's a few pics of Nico and of Newfoundland.
These were taken on old slide film with my old Nikon camera. I kind a like the old grainy film look vs the new digital cams but today I just got a new Canon D5 Digital SLR so we'll see what happens next!!

Bliss St. Halifax

2006-11-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

Say no more.

Lobster cook out

2006-11-14T10:36:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Justin (from Maine) we had a little lobster cook out on Conrad's beach a few weeks back. Good times and cool how he set up a pit with hot rocks to burry the lobster in and cook it for a few hours. While hunting for our lobster Ashela and I got side tracked talking to a Tuna fisherman who had just sliced up this 600lbs tuna - check out the head on that thing!

Mushroom Hunter

2006-10-31T06:12:00.000-08:00

Rex just sent me this photo of him from BC from this fall season of mushroom picking.
For those not in the know Rex is the Mushroom Hunter on my TV channels in Tofino. He comes up from Costa Rica after the winter is over and dissappears into the BC forests among the underworld society of mushroom pickers.
Those lucky enough to know him would appreciate this photo.

Ashela surfing

2006-10-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here she is -- defianty a surfer pregnant or not!
-5 months pregnant at this point-

Riley At 34 weeks in the womb

2006-10-11T09:58:00.001-07:00

Here's some 3D pics of Riley at 34 weeks into Ashela's pregnancy
and ...... It's a Boy! Very active little bugger and we think pretty damn cute!
All fingers and toes are accounted for so it's looking good for a heathy baby.

Uncle Phil

2006-10-06T12:45:00.000-07:00

My unce Phil
layed up in a halo and wheelchair but still with
high spirits and 100% recovery to look forward to
Go Phil!

Home in Halifax

2006-10-06T11:47:00.000-07:00

Some pics from setting up here in Haifax
Phone pics:
1 Ashela touring Point Pleasant park with Cosmo
2 Chef at your father's mustuche blowing his mind
3 View from the B&B we stayed in for a coupe weeks at lawrencetown Beach
4 Pete blowing his mind with lines lines lines

5mm2

2006-09-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

Here's sme recent video frame grabs from Nova Scotia
of Peter Devries More to come of Nico and the gang
This video will appear in my next Canadian surf film - 5MM II

Random friend shots

2006-09-03T10:41:00.000-07:00

Random friend shots
Toby Murphy and Rex Garcia
Eoin Finn & Incia
Eoin
Jen & Doogie
Taryn & dogs

Beach mom

2006-09-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

Here's Ashela about a month or so ago on a Long Beach sunset stroll.
Sporting a 5 month bump.

Ashela

2006-08-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple pics of Ashela up close from this past winter in Tofino for those of you who have not met her yet. She'll kill me for putting these up for sure but I think they're cool shots. What do I know.

Surfing & Camping2

2006-08-28T17:17:00.000-07:00

More pics of last weekend.
Ashela ripping with Riley in her belly at about 6 months ish. Don't worry she was taking it easy and has almost resigned to not surfing any more until Riley is born.

Surfing & Camping

2006-08-28T17:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a few pics from this past weekend on yet another boat trip up north. This time with Noah Cohen, Dave Bird, Ashela, me and the dogs. Didn't quite get the swell we were hoping for but we were stoked just the same.

Paul's BDay2

2006-08-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

A couple more pics from Paul's Bday

Paul's BDay

2006-08-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

Ian and I managed to get down to Paul and Stacey's the other day for Paul's birthday and to hang with the fam. Good to catch up and hit the river for a little chill time.

Project Riley

2006-08-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

Well I'd be a looser if I also didn't publish the biggest story in my life right now which of course is that my mega hot and super cool girlfriend (gotta get the bonus points where I can) and I are having a baby this year. This ultrasound is at about 51/2 months. Stoked! Picture of Ashela to come when approved by Ashela!

In the Barrel

2006-08-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

Well, Here's the start of my blog. Mainly just a repository of stuff so I can let my peeps in on what I'm up to if they get bored and wonder... hey, what ever happened to that Aaron guy? I'll start it off by saying hi to everyone and that I know I suck at keeping in touch most of the time but that doesn't mean I don't miss you and hope to catch up someday soon. Here's me surfing a couple weeks ago in BC and a shot of my first Tyee size fish I caught the same week.