Start your Monday Funday off right with good vibes from your favorite soul-surfer Dononvan Frankenreiter! Enjoy the video of photos shot by Brian Bielmann with music from Donavan’s latest album, ’Glow’ and then get some free Billabong/Donovan stickers!

To win free stickers, tell us what is going to help motivate you to stay positive for 2011. 25 comments will be chosen at random to win free stickers packs. Winners notified via email. Ends December 13th 2010.

SHOP BILLABONG: KillerDana.com

Having introduced the motorcross boot in the early years of the sport, Alpinestars began it’s legacy of protection and true performance early on. Staying true to its roots our Brand of the Month, Alpinestars is doing their part to help the community as a whole. From outfiting health workers in Africa to helping orphans in Baja Mexico, Alpinestars is truly giving back to the community we love. Take a peek at a quick Q&A we had with the team.

Can you tell us a little bit about your partnership with Riders for Health?

In Africa, millions of people are suffering from easily-preventable diseases because health workers do not have the reliable transportation to reach them. By ensuring that health workers have access to vehicles that never breakdown, Riders for Health is making sure millions of people across Africa receive regular, reliable health care, often for the first time in their lives. Alpinestars promotes the protection of human life, and by outfitting these health workers in protective gear and supporting their mission, we feel confident that this will be achieved

Are there any significant projects you’d like to discuss that involved Riders for Health?

Alpinestars has been an avid supporter of the charity Riders for Health for several years.

Last year, Alpinestars partnered with the band Angels & Airwaves to offer a capsule line of t-shirts with motorcycle influenced designs. The three styles of tees represent an alliance between Alpinestars and Angels & Airwaves, in aid of the charity Riders for Health. Alpinestars worked closely with the band on these designs which convey their love for motorcycles and their support for Riders for Health. A portion of the proceeds from each t-shirt was donated to the charity.

In July 2009, Alpinestars was also an integral part of CELERITAS, an art show uniting motorcycle culture and art. Raising money and awareness for the Riders for Health organization, over seventeen world-class artists contributed beautiful works of art, using motorcycle helmets, Alpinestars’ suits and a Suzuki Hayabusa as canvases. Curated by Nip Tuck’s John Hensley and Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn, CELERITAS (Latin for speed) is was a show that communicated their passion for motorcycle culture as well as fine art and street art. Hahn and Hensley tapped the resources of world-class artists and motorcycle industry leaders to support the efforts of Riders for Health.

In addition to participating as a sponsor, Alpinestars worked in conjunction with artist Dr. Romanelli by providing technical motorcycle apparel as a canvas for his contribution to the show. Using an Alpinestars racing suit, gloves and boots as a template and Mad Max as inspiration, Dr. Romanelli has deconstructed and reinterpreted the motorcycle suit. Works of art themselves, the racing suits of Alpinestars’ own team riders will were also be on display, including those of leathers from Casey Stoner, Ben Spies, Nicky Hayden and Troy Corser.

What other philanthropic driven programs does Alpinestars support?

Alpinestars also works with Wahoo’s on their annual Baja Charity run. This event centers around the orphaned children of Ensenada, Baja, and includes a food/supply caravan and work teams providing manpower for maintenance projects at the orphanage. As the official apparel sponsor, Alpinestars provides clothing to the Rancho Milagro Children’s home, and outfits Wahoo’s Baja truck team on their ride down to Baja as well as outfitting the volunteers at the orphanage. Alpinestars also provides hats and tees to the Rancho Milagro Children’s Home in Ensenada, Mexico.

Big ups to everyone at Alpinestars for their efforts in giving back to our community we call Earth. It’s always a special treat to learn more about a company you already loved.

Shop Alpinestars: KillerDana.com

For our last Brand of the Month posting on RVCA we thought we’d showcase one of our favorite ANP artists Kelsey Brookes.

Kelsey Brookes was born in 1978. A formally trained scientist who spent years tracking viruses for the U.S. government, he now lives and works in San Diego as a painter. His art can be found broadly throughout the US and Europe and is represented internationally by the Lazarides gallery (London). Kelsey’s figurative paintings draw influence from Hindu and Buddhist deities, exotic animals and sex, as well as rustic American quilts.

Each figure is adorned with ghostly representations of the natural world…animals and plants that unfold from the body into the surrounding canvas. His chimeras are frozen with animalistic intensity in explosive and sometimes tortured positions. Kelsey blames this raw, anxious form of art on the U.S. University system which refuses to teach its scientists how to draw.

He abandoned biochemistry because, “I thought I was going to be there for a few months to make some money and get out of there. Four years later I was left wondering if I had become what I always despised – the funny guy at the water cooler, except not so funny. I was the confused, not so funny guy at the water cooler.” Science’s loss is art’s gain.

Kelsey’s work exhibits a strong and unique interplay with figure, abstract forms and text. Brookes’ work increases the sense of awe and wonder found in his signature style with a “loosening” of the figure – where once the female forms had sharply defined contours and rendered details, they are now symbolic canvases for his seemingly limitless constellation of brightly colored micro scenes and characters. The work presents a captivating aura – from a far the small characters, shapes and patterns read as a more or less abstract swirl of color. Up close, the faces and characters engage in all sorts of activity rewarding the careful viewer with a clear sense of joy.

Brookes has been featured in numerous pop culture and design publications such as GQ, Modern Painters, Paper, Nylon, Juxtapoz, Beautiful Decay, Dazed and Confused, Re:Up, and HUCK. The artist has also teamed up for illustration work with the likes of RVCA, VANS, and Insight 51. Brookes’ work is also embraced by the California surf-scene, something that devours his free time.

Check out more Kelsey Brookes art: www.kelseybrookes.com

Check out more RVCA ANP artists: www.rvca.com/anp

RVCA is not only one of the most creative and artistic brands in the industry, but they are also one of the most giving as well! From supporting the Venice Beach Basketball League, to donating to St. Jude, and supporting organizations like Surfaid, RVCA is doing it’s part to give back to the community! Please get to know the softer side of RVCA and check out some of their philanthropy programs.

The Venice Basketball League (VBL) is an amazing non-profit community organization that showcases the best talent in street-ball and also gives back to the kids through a youth program. RVCA is a proud supporter, and pimps everyone out in exclusive RVCA x VBL uniforms year after year.

VBL Kids: Building upon its tradition of unity and taking advantage of the family atmosphere of Venice Beach, The VBL founded The Kids Venice Basketball League (KVBL) in 2007, a non-profit collaborative committed to empowering the under-privileged children of Los Angeles with essential, healthy life and basketball skills. www.veniceball.com

Surfaid International: Last April RVCA participated in the 2010 Kick For Humanity (a benefit soccer tournament) with SurfAid International. They were able to raise money and awareness towards the alleviation of human suffering through community-based health programs with Surfaid.

Are there any specific social issues that RVCA holds near and dear to its heart?

Last week we had an opportunity to take a glorious tour through RVCA‘s headquarters in Costa Mesa, CA. There was no surprise that all the walls were lined with stunning works of art, and that the overall vibe of the offices were thought provoking and friendly. We bathed in the beauty of art, held a live scorpion, dropped in on the skate ramp, stepped foot in BJ Penn’s personal training center, and found a secret wall to wall carpeted jam room! We heart you RVCA!

What makes RVCA so special you might ask? Try taping into the their impressive roster of athletes (surf, skate, MMA, jujitsu basketball, baseball etc), artists, advocates, and philanthropy programs that they have to offer. They are most known for their Artisits Nework Program (ANP), which is a unique partnership that allows artists to donate a portion of the proceeds from their t-shirt sales to a charity of their choice.

Established to promote the genuine integrity of their subcultures while simultaneously giving back to the community, RVCA in essence is redefining the way the market views art and fashion as represented through the balance of opposites and how they coexist. From creating a quarterly ANP magazine, to housing a private training center (including an octagon) for BJ Penn, to establishing co-op partnerships like the RVCA x Cinelli bike relationship, RVCA is making it’s mark!

Here are some questions that were sent in via Killer Dana’s Facebook and Twitter:

1. Why is the company named RVCA?

The name is a word made up by PM Tenore to incorporate the idea of ‘the balance of opposites’ represented by the V and the A – nature/industry, art/commerce, water/oil.

2. When will Sharing Water be released (RVCA’s new surf movie)?

We don’t have an exact date yet, but look for more trailers soon and a completed project in Spring 11. Here is our first sneak peek at the movie >>Mexico: Donkeys & Dings

3. Are your VA Sport teams going to increase next year with more athletes?

We actually work with quite a few MLB, NFL, MLS and NBA players in addtion to 6 different BJJ World Champions that compete solely in Jui-Jitsu tournaments. We’ll be more active on the grass roots level, but no plans to add anyone on the level of BJ Penn and Vitor Belfort… Check out more info in our VA Sport Section >>www.va-sport.com

Big ups to everyone at RVCA HQ and stay tuned for next weeks Brand of the Month blog where we’ll talk more about RVCA and their philanthropy programs.

RVCA HQ Photo Gallery >>community.killerdana.com/photos/rvca-hq

Shop RVCA: KillerDana.com

Learn More: RVCA.com

Please welcome our Brand of the Month for October 2010: RVCA! The surf, skate, lifestyle brand prides itself as an original combination of art, music, fashion and a modern lifestyle. They are most known for their Artist’s Network Program (ANP) that showcases both renowned and relatively unknown artists. They are the Balance of Opposites.

RVCA is the brainchild of company Founder and Creative Director, PM Tenore. Transcending the boundaries of traditional action sports apparel, RVCA is a design-driven lifestyle brand free from passing trends. Appearing as a natural on the shelves of boutiques as on those of a local skate shop, RVCA is brought together by a group of likeminded individuals from various subcultures, a collaboration of sorts, a lifestyle within itself.

PM Tenore’s intention from the very beginning has been to create a platform for RVCA, which combines art, music, fashion and a modern lifestyle in an original way. At the forefront of this vision has been RVCA’s Artist Network Program (ANP) – a venture established to showcase the talents of accomplished as well as unknown artists who inspire our generation and push the boundaries of creative excellence.

Established to promote the genuine integrity of RVCA’s subcultures while simultaneously giving back to the community, RVCA in essence is redefining the way the market views art and fashion as represented through the balance of opposites and how they coexist: water, oil; air, land; destruction, industrialization; art, science; foreign, domestic; order, anarchy; past, present.

For RVCA, it is about today, tomorrow and life as the big picture. It is about inspiring our generation, providing something of substance and culture and above all doing it with integrity and as a united family, a close-knit community.

SHOP RVCA: KillerDana.com

Congratulations to Kory G. for winning our Hurley Pro Photo contest! He just won a $250.00 Hurley shopping spree. Our runner up for the contest who will win some random Hurley gear is Robert H. for this rad shot of Rob Machado!

Check out almost 200 more photos that were submitted into our Hurley Pro photo contest here >>community.killerdana.com/photos

“Ovarian Cancer affects the lives of thousands of people and we here at Power Balance are eager to assist in battling the disease”, said Power Balance’s Josh Rodarmel. “We are delighted to have our family of athletes, colleagues and supporters with us as we officially begin working together with OCRF to help raise awareness and money for this most worthy of causes.”

About Power Balance

Power Balance was originally created to give surfers and skateboarders greater balance and flexibility in their craft, but has since transcended the extreme sports world to more traditional sports such as football, baseball and basketball. Their wristbands and pendants can now be seen adorning the wrists of pro-athletes, celebrities and consumers alike. For more information, visit www.powerbalance.com or swing by our Dana Point Shop!

About OCRF

Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) is the largest private non-profit organization in the United States dedicated exclusively to funding ovarian cancer research. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecological cancers and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. There is no effective means of early detection and only 19% of cases are caught before the cancer has spread beyond the ovary to the pelvic region. Since 1998, OCRF has awarded almost $40 million in research grants to investigators developing innovative strategies for early detection; exploring the genetics that increase risk; identifying new and improved targets for treatments; and deciphering how and why ovarian cancer spreads and how to stop it. For more information visit www.ocrf.org

I just had 15 days of vacation. Read: 15 days of freedom; freedom to go wherever I want and to do whatever I want. No need to wake up at 6:30 in the morning, no need to rush and to worry about an endless to-do list; just the pleasure to take my time and start my day with my cup of hot chocolate, thinking: ”Ok, should I go surfing? Or kiting?” (and frankly, I don’t have enough of these days).

I wish I could tell you that I traveled to a great place and surfed epic waves that would make any surfer jealous. But I decided to stay home instead, and to go kiteboarding every single day. And I was lucky enough to have 15 days of wind. No jokes. My surfer friends don’t understand why I’m so much into kiteboarding… some of them even tell me with a grin that I’m “lost”, and that nothing will ever save me from this obsession. They’re probably right, since I only go surfing when the wind is down.

But I guess sometimes you can really have too much of a good thing: the combination of  wind, salt and sun burnt my eyes so badly, I had to stay out of the water for 3 days, with eyes so red and sore I could barely keep them open.

But I’m not going to write a whole blog about 15 days of kiteboarding. Showing you what it was like is, I think, a better idea.

The ever-smiling Torea. I’ve never seen this guy not smiling. Not even once. He is always keen to go kiteboarding and surfing, whatever the conditions. Torea is one of the guys doing the most impressive high jumps and getting the deepest, most perfect barrels. However, he’ll always tell you how great your tricks were and how good your last wave was, never talking about himself, but always making sure to give you some advice to help you out. A great guy with a big heart.

Fetia (meaning “star” in Tahitian) always hangs out on the beach, following her surfer/kiteboarder/windsurfer owner, Isa, wherever she goes. It’s always fun to have a puppy to play with between sessions.

That is where you’ll find me most of the time. This kiteboarding spot has flat water and waves, thus suiting every riding style.

We had a few days of rain. The good thing about it is that you always end up kiting with rainbows – magic moments that stay in your mind forever.

The local kids often come to the beach to look at the guys kiting. They stay there for a few minutes, yelling and laughing, then turn their heads and keep riding their bikes along the beach.

Sometimes I envy my friends because they’re incredibly good, and I’m not there yet. But it’s a great motivation… they are the ones who make me want to become better at my sport. I love them all.

Probably my favorite time of the day; when the wind goes down and everybody packs back in the sunset light, talking about the last few hours of fun. Usually, a few beers follow.

Sunset time = feel-good time

Wait, what is this doing here??? Home-made dark chocolate cupcakes were also part of my daily routine. Yes, my diet was on vacation too

-Vainui

Premiering this week in California, Taylor Steele’s latest and greatest project is called Castles In The Sky. Filmed in five countries over the course of three years, we’re expecting quite a show! Click HERE for California tour dates.

TransWorld SURF: How did you come up with the name Castles In The Sky?

Taylor Steele: I read it somewhere. The meaning behind it is “wanting something out of reach”. I thought it fit our mindset of wanting new experiences and waves.

Where was it filmed?

India, Iceland, Vietnam, Peru and Africa.

Where did you guys score the best surf?

In India at this wave that has only been surfed by the locals. A week before our arrival they scouted it for us since we were coming to hang with them. We were some of the first foreigners there. Incredible waves and offshore all day. All the camera crew got to surf empty waves when Rasta was tired, too. So fun.

Everyone knows that getting skunked is part of traveling for surf. What did you guys do when the surf was lacking?

We would cruise around and check out the place. It depended on where we were. In India we took a train across the north to check the sites. In Peru we went to Machu Pichu. Everywhere we went we had something to do.

Is the film broken into surfer sections or locations?

Locations. We chose surfers that fit each location and really wanted to go there. Rasta had been dreaming of visiting India for a while. Same with Peru for Rob [Machado] and Iceland for Dan Malloy.

In your eyes, who surfed the best during the making of the film?

Machado was on in Peru; Clay Marzo too. Rasta was also in the zone. Everyone had their sessions.

What was the funniest thing that happened in the making of the movie?

So many things happen on these trips it’s all a blur. I guess customs keeping my camera in the Sahara was funny looking back on it. It wasn’t funny at the time though. I ended up shooting with my photo camera and trying to make it work.

Why the Hollywood premiere? There’s no surf in Hollywood!

Haha! That’s why! They need some real surf movies there—not the Hollywood perception of surfing. The real reason is it’s a good excuse to go big in the city.

What’s next for the Sipping Jetstreams crew?

Rest… Yet there are some ideas for the next trip are starting to swirl.

Find more stories like this one at TransworldSurf.com