#26 US Open Surfing

After reviving my DW-9500 US Open Surfing model (see intermezzo #10), it's been on my wrist for quite some time.

Here's a nice matching music video to accompany your reading.
Actually, I know these models for a long time, but I didn't know anything about the background. I had seen them on eBay auctions in Germany a lot, but the winning prices always were much higher than for other G-Shock's.In the winter of 2000/2001 I went with Eva and my newborn son Bram to Antwerp. Near the Groenplaats (Green Place) there was a jeweler with a lot of G-Shock models in his shop window. One of them was an aqua (sea-green) version of this model. I quick calculation learned me it was pretty un-affordable for me around that time (probably around BEF5500 = ± f300.- - f320.- which is now about €140 - €150).
It took until September 2006 before I this model, which was released in 1998. Actually it's not easy to find out more about this model. My luck is that all DW-9500 models (including the BPM & Beat models) were released in 1998.
I also am not sure about the available color variations, but I'm sure there were this yellow model, an aqua green, a white and a light blue model (thanks Lee172!). I also think there was an orange model. Since I can't find this model on G-Shock Perfect Search, I think the US Open models were only released in Europe and the US.
Although on the outside the DW-9500US looks like a normal G-Shock model, it is equipped with a temperature sensor. The big eye on top top right of the display shows the current temperature, in ºC (inner ring) and also in ºF (outer ring). The two curved lines left from the eye shows the seconds and 10 seconds.
The watch has also a recorder on board to follow temperature trends. Actually I do not know what to think about a termometer on a watch. The case temperature is affected by the body temperature, which is far from a constant. Since this watch is designed for surfing, it might get submerged. If the case and straps are wet, the watch will, due to evaporation, cool off. Not the ideal circumstances for accurate readings.
The DW-9500US models can be considered as special versions of the X-Treme DW-9500XS models. The DW-9500US has a great cloth strap. It's very comfortable and the open structure of the cloth allows the strap to dry pretty fast when wet.
As you can see on the photo of a similar strap model above, you can bend the long end of the strap back under a second metal keeper.
On the strap there is a nice patch with the US Open Surfing logo, which also returns in the EL backlight.
A strong point of this module is that it has a 24 hours Countdown Timer. Most G-Lide and X-Treme surfing models only have a 60 minute (surfing-) timer. A 24 hour Stopwatch and 5 alarms makes this a pretty complete watch.
So what's US Open of Surfing all about? It is an annual event, which takes place on Hungington Beach, Ca, also known as Surf City.
It started in 1959 with the West Coast Surfing Championships (WCSC). After a decade of silence clothing brand Ocean Pacific picked up the thread by organizing the OP Pro in 1982. Riots in 1986 meant a downfall on the OP Pro event.
Since 1994 Huntington Beach organizes the US Open of Surfing, an idea that thinks in the line of golf and tennis. It's now one of the biggest Surf events of the world, turning Huntington Beach during the events into the "Surfing Capital of the world". Not only surfing is featured during the 9 - 10 days event. Action sports like BMX, Skateboarding and Freestyle Motocross, fashion shows and life music makes this a big happening.
Casio is one of the sponsors of the event, but also sponsors pro surfurs. In 2008 Casio signed Gabe Kling, while this year Erica Hosseini is sponsored for one year and will be the surfing ambassador for both G-Shock and Baby-G.
Last year Casio released during the event in July a special US Open GLX-5600 model. In 2007 a special grey/white DW-6900 model was released. I hope the same thing will happen this year. T
his years US Open will be held from July18 to 26. I would say, keep your eyes open around that time for news on new models at Casio G-Shock or maybe even better Riley's My G-Shock.

Intermezzo #10: Battery Change in a DW-9500 Thermometer

For taking photo's for a 50 Gs feature it is of course important that the G-Shock is working. We are getting in a warmer period here, a time for more sunny watches. The US Open DW-9500 is a nice model to wear on the beach, but first I had to revive it.
That's my last plum saké. What will be hidden under that rubber shock absorber?
Hmmm, actually it looks like a standard '90's G-Shock module, though this module has somewhere a thermometer sensor hidden.It's the first time I noticed this relative big (and clear) warning not to turn over the watch. You can clearly see the alarm spring that will fall out when turned over. Also a good view of the battery lock. The battery is hold in a fortress, but the lock can easily be opened by putting a sharp tooth tweezer or another sharp object (like a needle) between the two plastich notches.
After replacing the battery (if available, use plastic tweezers) and closing the lock it's time to reset the watch. Put your tweezers for about two or three seconds with one side on the AC contact, whith the other side on the back of the battery (positive side).
Modules can be very stuborn. This one went easily, but yesterday I was changing a battery on a GL-150 [2463]. I almost gave it up. I think I resetted the watch 6 to 8 times before it finally revived.

I tested the thermometer on this DW-9500. It seems to work OK to me. It must have been warmed up a bit in my hands, while I was changing the battery and also my desk lamp is pretty hot.

The final test is always check the alarm sound and the EL light. Yep, it all works.

Intermezzo #9: Poste Restante Precious Hearts.

I took a lot of photo's of my Precious heart selection 2006 model on the beach, before I wrote last weeks article. Unfortunately my article went a little bit another way. Here are the pics I made and didn't use in the post.

#25 My Precious Heart

Often I take photo's before I write for 50Gs. So did I for this article. It's more than a week ago. That night I was finishing the DW-5200C article (G #22), but suddenly I had inspiration for the next (I didn't know I would write the MIB article in between yet). Well, somehow the story went 180 degrees in the opposite direction. All the beach photo's I made ended up in the recycle bin. They were great, cheerful and colorful, but somehow did not match the story. Next morning (Sunday a week ago) I made a new series of photo's. I thought this was a long article, but I didn't realize I made 97 photo's. well, that's a great pool to choose from. Here's an article coming to you, straight from my heart...
Normally I do not give much about gold. My mother gave me a gold necklace from Indonesia, which is great (I should wear it more often), but except for some plugs in my studio, I don't own precious metals. The gold chain has a small Chinese pendant. It brings luck and good health when worn close to your heart.
This Precious Heart selection 2006 model caught my eye as soon as it was announced on the Japanese G-Shock website.
As soon as they were on the market I ordered one. When I opened the box it was love at first sight. From a Precious Heart to my weak wooden heart.
This G-Shock is not an expensive model, so as soon as I had some spare money, I ordered a second one from a friend of me in Singapore.One of the nicest photo's I made were for one of my first posts on my Japanese weblog "G-Shock Sjors". It was raining, pretty hard actually. My old neighbors had a black car, so I lend the roof for this photo. A weeping Precious Heart.
ELEKTRO KARDIOGRAMM MINIMUM MAXIMUM

I recently read a very good book ("A Man and his Bicycle") with cycling columns, by Wilfried de Jong (sports journalist, television host and theater maker). One of the most catching stories is about the "Tour of Flanders" that passes a small town called "Munkzwalm". If you think "those people in the Netherlands and Flanders create pretty weird names" you can take it from me. Munkzwalm is also a very strange name for Dutch people.
This small village has about three houses and a bar. Once a year Munkzwalm is the center of the (cycling) world. People gather from all over Belgium, France and the Netherlands in the small bar, waiting for the cyclists to pass through the village. For about two hours the bar is crowded.
People, who haven't seen each other for a year talk and drink a beer together. They have all a good time. In the background the television plays the cycle course. Suddenly, the peloton is near. Everyone goes outside. Waving, cheering to the pedaling heroes. Some with flags with the name of their hero. In less than 20 seconds the train of titans pass. The peloton doesn't wait for no one. A few cyclists can't keep up the murdering tempo and pass Munkzwalm one or two minutes later as the village slowly gets deserted. Soon Munkzwalm will be only three houses and a bar again. At the end of the street is a little chapel. The little statue of Maria shows a little tear in her left eye. It rolls over her Sacre Coeur.
(After reading this story I never will forget this little village. Maybe I even will try to visit this village, as I also once saw the mysterious island Filfla through a plane window, after reading a book by Boudewijn Buch. "The Man and his Bicycle" opens with a story about the author climbing the Mont Ventoux, where in the mysterious misty forest he meets the legendary Tommy Simpson (1937 - 1967). I think my heart skipped a beat.

Filfla

Tour de France 1951. The rider in the maillot jaune, Wim van Est (1923 - 2003), dives during the descent 50 meter from a cliff on the Col d' Aubisque. Legendary commercial slogans of his sponsor after this incident: "50 meters I fell, my heart stopped beating. It was my Pontiac that kept pace"(translated from Dutch) and "His heart briefly stopped beating, but his Pontiac kept ticking".
Where am I... Oh yeah Precious Heart. I must be day dreaming, which is pretty much impossible now. It's over 1:00 am, I'm lying in bed, listening to Minimum- Maximum by Kraftwerk on my iPod. "I program my home computer - Beam myself into the Future". My Pacemaker for this article.
The Precious Heart Selection series were introduced in 2002. The series got successes in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. The models are or stainless steel models or white resin with gold accents. I hope Casio prolongs this series in the future.
The main idea after this series is that you give it to someone who is very precious to you. Else then the Lovers Collection, a Precious Heart can also be given to a good friend. I didn't buy this watch with this intention. I simply fell in love with it.
The 2006 models were both DW-6900XLV models. This is the white/gold model, the other model has black lettering, a black G button and a negative display. Personally I find the white and black a little too much contrasting, though the gold digits look very good.
The straps and bezel are pretty unique. The bezel translucent, but with a matte finish. The case is visible through the resin. These clear bezels are sometimes called "Skeleton models", though I think a mechanic watch enthusiast thinks about different watches with this name. The straps are pretty unique. These are composed with two white translucent resins with different light densities, brought together during the molding. This gives a marmer effect. A similar technique is used with the straps of the Jam'in Color series.
Well, the functions of the DW-6900 and it's 1289 module are very basic. Alarm, Stopwatch and a Countdown Timer (24 hr). Actually the basic needs for sporty persons. The coolest feature is the very clear green backlight.
You might have noticed the little "star icon" above the seconds in the display. It shows the Flash function is toggled on. It can be toggled on and of by pressing the bottom right button for 2 seconds. As the Flash function is toggled on, the EL will flash shortly when an alarm sounds.

I paid around $80 for my Precious Hearts and I think it's worth all the money. The DW-6900/DW-069 models have always been my favorite basic models, but the very clear gold display, marmered straps and green EL backlight add a lot of extra zest.
This article is dedicated to philosopher and cyclist Pedro Horillo ("It's only a few thousands of a second. Still enough time to think about why you are falling, how you will touch ground, where your fall will end and how you will stand up"). I wish him a speedy recovery.