Today's surf clothes can be traced to 19th century missionary work, with a major PR boost courtesy of the King himself.

Here’s a little something about surf clothes we bet you didn’t know – and it all starts with the ubiquitous Hawaiian shirt. Oh, yes – that thing. You cringed when your dad wore it in public and imitated Elvis Presley in all his ukulele-playing glory. But you borrowed it every year that your middle school declared a “Tacky Tourist” dress-up day. For decades, the Hawaiian shirt was something of a surf culture uniform. And like the modern-day surf culture itself, it has roots in a rebellion of sorts.

It begins sometime during the early 19th century when western missionaries showed up and decided it best to clothe the heretofore scantily-clad natives. Fast forward to the 1930s. By now, the Hawaiian natives are indeed restless in their plain, solid-colored, missionary-provided garb and begin to produce brightly colored and patterned wear that better reflects their vibrant natural surroundings. The close of the second World War brought the beginnings of Hawaii’s renown as a tourist destination. Faster planes allowed for easier travel and the former U.S. territory became a state in 1959.

Around this time, fashion designer Alfred Shaheen founded a line of “aloha shirts” that revolutionized Hawaii’s post-war garment industry. Then came Elvis. And Frank Sinatra. And a string of other celebrities who donned the aloha shirt and helped solidify it as a surf culture standard imitated by beach dwellers and land lubbers nationwide before “Hawaii Five-O” ever hit the airwaves in 1968.

Today’s surf clothes pay homage to original aloha shirts with vivid colors and patterns inspired by the lush natural surroundings of Hawaii, the undisputed birthplace of American surfing. Designs have changed to reflect modern styles and functions. But that aloha spirit that marks the brotherhood and sisterhood of those living the salt life remains.

For surf clothes in today’s hottest styles, SaltLife.com is your go-to source. Men’s and women’s surf clothes including surfing t-shirts, surfing tank-tops, board shorts plus hats, visors and other accessories are made with the highest-quality materials and feature the coolest exclusive designs. Shop online today and get a head start on the holiday shopping season. And if this blog inspires you to spend part of your weekend on the couch with a DVD copy of “Blue Hawaii,” we won’t tell anyone.

Yeah, we know – leaving the beach behind and going back to school kinda sucks. But you can take that hot beach look with you with big discounts on all Salt Life beachwear – even items already on clearance. For a limited time, you’ll get 20% off your total order of great looking Salt Life Beachwear when you shop online. Now, THAT’s math you can dig.

The SaltLife.com “SCHOOLDAZE” discount applies to men’s, women’ s and kids’ beachwear including surfing, fishing and diving t-shirts, tank tops, long sleeve tees and more. You know that fall cool snap is coming, so you may as well stock up on fleece-lined, zip-up hoodies and a beanie hat or two. Your arms and ears will thank you.

Headed to school in a new ride? Get a Salt Life license plate or decal to let all those chumps waiting in line behind you for a parking spot know you’re a Salt Lifer. They’re on sale too. In fact, just about everything except our exclusive Guy Beard-designed Salt Life jewelry gets the 20% SCHOOLDAZE discount. (But lots of our jewelry is on sale anyway, so be sure to browse our selection of sterling silver and stainless steel pendants, earrings and bracelets.) To take advantage, simply shop ’til you drop, then enter the word “SCHOOLDAZE” (not case sensitive) in the coupon code box and click “Apply.” You’ll see the 20% – that’s a full fifth of your total, for all you non-math majors – immediately lopped off your total.

The SCHOOLDAZE sale ends soon and some items are while-they-last, so shop fast and spend well, Salt Lifers.

Did you don your favorite fishing clothes and head out to the AT&T Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament in Jacksonville, FL this past weekend? If so, you were among the thousands who helped further local marine conservation efforts.

Jacksonville Marine Charities, Inc., the organization that hosts the annual tournament, is a 501(c)3 charity based near Salt Life’s hometown Jacksonville Beach. For nearly two decades, the tournament has attracted hundreds of anglers and thousands of spectators annually to the Jim King Park and Boat Ramp at Sisters Creek. The tournament’s annual economic impact is upwards of $12 million and all proceeds benefit marine conservation, preservation of fishing habitats and marine science education initiatives. Projects supported by Kingfish Tournament proceeds include college scholarships for students studying marine science and oceanography; marine science research projects at Jacksonville University; implementation of “Boater 101″ courses in public and private high schools, encouraging environmental awareness, boating safety and marine industry career choices; numerous artificial reef projects; and the Safe Harbor Maritime Academy (fka Safe Harbor Boys Home), which provides shelter and education for troubled teen boys and those who have lost a parent.

The tournament is something salt lifers all along the coast look forward to every year, both for the good that the charity does and, of course, for the tough angling action. Each competition’s rock star winner is the angler who reels in the single biggest kingfish. This year, that winner was Capt. Russell Stuart who landed a 45.75-pounder on his boat dubbed “Seafood Kitchen.” The other crowd favorite each year is the winner of the Junior Angler Tournament. Twelve-year-old Cody Powers took this year’s title with a 36.95-pound catch.

During the tournament, we saw lots of locals and visitors alike wearing Salt Life fishing clothes while supporting a mission that is important not just in our hometown, but to fishermen and marine conservation-minded people all along America’s coastline. If you haven’t already, check out our line of comfortable and stylish fishing clothes and start practicing now for next year’s Kingfish Tournament.

The annual AT&T Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament benefits marine science research, marine conservation and marine education initiatives.

While all of America is clearly upset about the devastation of the Gulf waters and wildlife, those most affected are the ones who live the salt life every day – commercial fishermen and boaters who make their living on the tides; professional surfers and those who are simply passionate about life on the waves; and of course, the marine animals and birds disabled and/or dying by the thousands. In the most affected areas, enjoying the beach life may well be a distant memory for months, even years. And while many beaches remain open, tourism and health officials are cautioning locals and tourists to be on the wary of potential dangers.

In many Gulf region areas, surfers continue to suit up and paddle out, despite the sight of uniformed BP oil spill cleanup crew members picking tar balls out of the sands, wildlife workers capturing oil-soaked birds and sea turtles, and U.S. Coast Guard boats and helicopters trolling the waters. Many surfers have reported chemical burns, skin rashes and heavy irritation. Other common risks salt lifers face are respiratory problems induced by odors and fumes given off by oil and toxic oil dispersants. Nasal irritation and nausea are affecting beach-goers too, especially those with seasonal allergies, sensitivity to pollen or asthma. Long-term, petroleum contamination (whether by touching, ingesting or inhaling) can cause cancer and neurological conditions.

To minimize risks while you continue to live the salt life in the Gulf Region, the Florida Department of Health offer a few tips:

- Avoid wading, swimming, surfing skiing or using personal water craft in oil-affected areas;
- If your skin comes in contact with an oil product, quickly wash it with grease-cutting liquid dishwashing detergent and water;
- Avoid contact with oil and oily materials spotted in the water or on the beach. Note that items such as tar balls may be buried beneath the sand, so be careful digging your feet into the sand and closely watch children digging holes and building sand castles (in fact, young children age five and younger should be kept from affected areas altogether);
- Do not collect tar balls or other items for souvenirs;
- Do not pick up oil product to throw in the trash. Instead, notify local officials. Only trained community workers are authorized to remove and dispose of oil product from beaches;
- Avoid contact with dead or dying fish or other aquatic life that may be impacted by the oil. If you see an animal in distress, call (866) 557-1401;
- Do not boat or paddle through oil slicks or sheens and exercise caution when hoisting boat anchors from waters that may be affected;
- Young children (five and younger), pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems and pets should not visit oil-affected areas.

Video: The Surf on Pensacola Beach Boils like Acid

Here’s a fun story we here at Salt Life just couldn’t pass up – surfing crocodiles. For real, you ask? Apparently so, according to a team of scientists (that once included the late Steve Irwin aka “The Crocodile Hunter”) in Australia. Using sonar devices, scientists learned that the saltwater or estuarine crocodile (that’s “Crocodylus porosus” for you brainiac types out there) gets around from island to island by riding the South Pacific waves.

This 15.8-foot-long male estuarine crocodile outfitted with a sonar device showed scientists that crocs are surfing pros. Photo copyright: Australia Zoo.

Working from northeastern Australia’s Kennedy River with support from the Australia Zoo and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, the scientists originally set out to study the crocodiles’ territorial habits and see how they divvied up land among themselves. To that end, they tagged 27 adult seawater crocodiles with sonar transmitters and set up 20 underwater receivers along a 39-mile-long stretch of the river. These transmitters tracked the crocodiles’ every move for more than a year and the story they told scientists came as quite a surprise. Like a Lindsay Lohan ankle bracelet, the sonar transmitters showed that the crocodiles were a long, long way from where they were expected to be.

Turns out, these crocodiles were regularly traveling more than 30 miles from their home to the mouth of the Kennedy River and out to sea by literally surfing the waves. Dubbed “salties,” the crocs showed an inherent surfing know-how. They always set out on their surfing trips within an hour of the tide changing and turning out to sea. If the tide turned against them, they would head to the nearest river bank or dive to the river bottom to wait it out.

The crazy thing about it all is that these ginormous reptiles that can grow to more than 23 feet long and weigh more than 2,200 pounds, are notoriously bad swimmers. So learning that crocodiles are surfing pros helps put to rest the long-pondered mystery as to how they were able to populate so many South Pacific islands despite the huge stretches of water between them. Now you know – crocs really do live the Salt Life. Pretty cool, huh?

Slather on the sunscreen, don your favorite Salt Life beachwear and hit the sands for a full roster of fun events that celebrate living the salt life and do a little good for the community too. At Salt Life, we’re about much more than designing and selling beachwear and accessories. We’re about promoting a love for the ocean and beach environments, healthy and active lifestyles and camaraderie among beach dwellers. After all, our founders and staff are avid salt lifers themselves, spending hours on and in the Atlantic waters as surfers, divers, boaters and fishermen. The beaches area hosts dozens of great events each year, but the ones below are among our favorites.

26th Annual Wavematers Surf Contest, May 1-2, 8 am-5 pm
This annual fundraising surf contest benefits local youth and environmental charities. Meet on the beachfront just south of the Jacksonville Beach Pier.

Life Rolls On: They Will Surf Again Surf Classic, May 22, 9 am-1 pm
This event raises funds and awareness for LRO, a division of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation that utilizes action sports to inspire and engage young people affected by spinal cord injuries. Meet on the beach just north of the Lifeguard Station.

Never Quit Beach Fest, June 5, 7:45 am-5 pm
The festival features a 5-mile run/walk and surf contest and other features designed to help educate the community on avoiding brain bleeds, stroke and heart disease through healthy life choices, and to encourage survivors to live life to the fullest.  The Never Quit Tour was founded in honor of Gerard Petroni, father of Karina Petroni, a local girl and one of the world’s top female professional surfers. Meet on the beach at 6th Avenue North.

Liberty Celebration & Fireworks, July 4, 4 pm-9 pm
Meet at the Sea Walk Pavilion for an afternoon and evening of music, food, fun and fireworks to celebrate Independence Day.

Annual Sisters of the Sea Surf Classic, September 11, 8 am
This women-only surf contest benefits Bosom Buddies, a program of the Women’s Center of Jacksonville that supports women affected by breast cancer. Meet on the south side of the Jacksonville Beach Pier.

EPIC Fall Classic Surf Contest, October 9-10, 8 am-4 pm
This annual surf contest is produced by EPIC Surf Ministries, a faith-based organization that performs local and international missions work including helping to build homes for the poor. Meet on the south side of the Jacksonville Beach Pier.

Right Whale Festival, November 20, 10 am-4 pm
This festival features children’s activities, live music a beach clean-up and other activities designed to inform and inspire families about right whales, their habitat and conservation needs. It celebrates the beginning of the right whale calving season and the Georgia/Florida coast as only known calving grounds of the North Atlantic right whale.

For information on these and other Beaches events visit the official Jacksonville Beach website. And be sure to visit Saltlife.com to see all the newest and hottest beachwear around.

Didn’t get enough of the beautiful new models who will don Salt Life surfing clothes in catalogs, calendars and at promotional events nationwide? Well then, this blog’s for you. The 2010 Salt Life Girls were chosen at the 7th Annual Surfing the Blues event in partnership with the Florida Surfing Association. April 11’s inaugural Salt Life Model Search featured 28 lovely ladies picked from dozens of entrants. Finalists were chosen for their photogenic qualities and their definitions of the “salt life” as it relates to their own lives.

Two winners were chosen; Chrissy Hubbard from the 18- to 28-year-old category and Jhannell Kurnellas from the 19- to 40-year-old category. Rounding out the top dozen new Salt Life Girls are Brandi Leaf, Dominique Storelli, Haley Watson, Heather Perez, Jessica Thomas, Julie Black, Kayla Whidden, Kristen Edwards, Lexi Rae Glista and Rachel Stanley. Each finalist modeled swimwear and Salt Life surfing clothes, showing off not only their fit physiques but their fun personalities and on-stage confidence.

Look for Chrissy and Jhannell donning Salt Life surfing clothes and swimsuits on the front and back covers of the 2011 Salt Life Calendar, in the Salt Life merchandise catalog on our website and at promotional events (along with the other top 10 finalists) including trade shows and in-store promotions at Gander, West Marine, Dicks Sporting Goods and other licensed Salt Life surf clothing sellers.

The inaugural Salt Life Model Search proved such a success that we plan to continue annually as part of the Surfing the Blues Surf Contest and George’s Music Springing the Blues Festival. If you’re living the salt life and think you have what it takes to be a Salt Life Girl, be sure to watch our website for details as next year’s event approaches.

Photos courtesy of Ecliptic Visuals.
eclipticvisuals.com

Ah, Spring Break – the perfect excuse to get your shop on and stock your closet and suitcases with new beach apparel, surfing clothes and fishing clothing. Salt Life has all you need to make sure you look hot while you’re trying to stay cool.

Beach apparel sporting our signature Salt Life logo has become a familiar sight among the sands all along the East Coast and beyond. The ladies turn lots of heads in our spaghetti strap tops, tank tops and fitted t-shirts in an array of colors and designs. Our seahorse spaghetti strap top and Aloha palm tree t-shirts are favorites. Our men’s beach apparel includes dozens of T-shirt and board short designs. Little ones are covered too. Kids’ short-sleeve T-shirts and tiny pink or blue onesies with the Salt Life logo get them started early in sporting the salt life look.

Our surfing clothes include t-shirts, board shorts and stylish rash guards for both men and women. They’re made with top-quality materials to holdup against the saltwater, sun and wear-and-tear that a surfboard can dish out. Accessorize your surfing clothes with matching hats, visors and sunglass straps.

Whatever you’re angling for this Spring Break, Salt Life fishing clothing has something that’s sure to hook you. Our sketch and graphic t-shirts feature sailfish, dolphin, redfish, marlin, wahoo, even lobster. Some feature frame-worthy artist’s sketches. Others, like our popular tribal designs, feature graphics with an artistic pop.

Of course, Spring Break means tossing back a few with good friends. Keep your beverage cool with Salt Life koozies for both cans and bottles. Just be sure to designate a driver, whether you’re on land or the water. And if you’re spending Spring Break on the Northeast Florida coast, stop by the new Salt Life Food Shack in Jacksonville Beach to say “hello,” enjoy a  great meal, cold drinks and a good time with friends.

Spring is just around the corner, and Salt Life has all new springtime beach apparel, diving apparel, surf clothing and fishing clothing both online and in stores nationwide. New in ladies’ beach apparel is our pink short-sleeve hibiscus signature t-shirt with foil accents and our ocean blue white t-shirt with a hibiscus and scroll design in shades of blue. Wear either one with our sterling silver hibiscus necklace and earrings for a beautifully accented look. Our hibiscus jewelry is expertly designed and crafted by Guy Beard, considered among the nation’s top makers of jewelry for the mariner and the beach lover. Beard’s exclusive Salt Life jewelry line is made to stand up to the abuse that the salty water and air can mete out on a piece of jewelry and look beautiful for years.

Locals living in the Northeast Florida area where Salt Life’s headquarter is located will love our new pier t-shirts, part of our fishing clothing line, that feature the Jacksonville Beach Pier (informally known as the Jax Beach Pier) across the front with the famous Salt Life logo across the back. Dozens of saltwater anglers cast their lines from the end of this local landmark. The current structure replaces the original historic pier built in 1959 and was demolished in 2001 after being weakened by several hurricanes. These come in black or white. Our diving apparel offers several new pieces as well, including the popular “got nitrox?” diving t-shirts in long-sleeve and short-sleeve versions featuring a green and yellow diving flag and skull.

Many of our springtime beach apparel, diving apparel, surf clothing and fishing clothing selections are eligible for free shipping throughout the continental United States when you buy online. Or check our interactive map to find a Salt Life retailer in your state. If you order online and choose standard delivery you’ll likely get your products in the mail within seven to 10 business days following credit card authorization and verification. Express orders are shipped out the next day and typically arrive the following day. Express shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, rural routes and remote locations may take two to three business days.

Get ready for spring with a new look from Salt Life’s wide selection of beach apparel, diving apparel, fishing clothes and surf clothes!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and you know the salt life lover in your life is expecting something nice. Don’t disappoint – pick up a beautiful piece from our exclusive Salt Life Jewelry line designed by Guy Beard today. Favorites are our sea turtle pendants, sea turtle earrings, sea turtle dog tags, hibiscus pendants, hibiscus earrings and hibiscus dog tags.

A longtime salt lifer himself, Guy Beard is known throughout the jewelry industry as one of the top makers of mariner’s jewelry. He’s an avid blue water sailor, diver and angler who has combined his love of the ocean with his experience as an expert goldsmith to develop special patented jewelry making processes that ensure your Salt Life jewelry pieces look great and last forever.

For her, our Salt Life Jewelry sea turtle and hibiscus flower pieces are a surefire way to put a smile on her face. For him, our line of laser-etched dog tags with skulls and crossed poles or spear guns, seafarer’s compass or Salt Life logo make for a gift he’ll love to show off almost as much as he loves to show you off in your cute bikini and Salt Life tank top.

Don’t let Valentine’s Day sneak up and dunk you like a huge wave you never saw coming. Browse our website and find a great piece of Salt Life Jewelry, surfing apparel, fishing apparel or accessory today. And don’t forget dinner plans. The Salt Life Food Shack is now open – perfect place for a casual-but-romantic Valentine’s Day lunch or dinner.