Keep the Waves All to Yourself at Secret, Exotic Surfing Spots

 

Tired of shredding the crowded waters where you live? Try these under-the-radar global locales, recommended by our experts, for  ...more

National Surfing Reserve

 

With a surfing history dating back to the 1920s, when the sport was still in its infancy, Phillip Island has long been a Victorian favourite of grommets (beginners) and seasoned board riders alike. Declared a National Surfing Reserve in recognition of its quality surf breaks and pristine environment, Phillip Island offers four sites along its coast: Cape Woolamai, Smiths Beach, Summerland and Cat Bay.

Boasting big wave conditions, left and right breaks, as well as plenty of small, consistent waves that are suitable for learners the island's beaches are home to a vibrant local surfing community of all ages and skill levels. So hit the water and learn new skills, get in some practice, or test your mettle out in the big swells.

Woolamai
A favourite of locals and visiting surfers, Woolamai has a number of quality beach breaks stretching from Magic Lands to Forrest Caves and ...more

Christian Surfers run Jesus Surf Classic double header

 

IT was a busy weekend for Christian Surfers UK as they spread themselves across two West Country locations for short and longboard versions of the Jesus Surf Classic.
The second half of the 22nd shortboard Classic ran at Croyde on Saturday, while the longboarders were in action at Polzeath.
Having run the junior divisions at ...more

Inaugural Carolina Surf Film Festival brings surfing to the big screen

 

Get stoked, Charleston. The first annual Carolina Surf Film Festival is going down Oct. 16-18 at the Brickhouse Party Plantation (1575 Folly Road) on James Island. The first-of-its-kind event in South Carolina features a variety of surfing-themed features and short films from around the world, including two from Charleston. The three-day fest will also include local artists, music, and food and beer vendors. Recently, City Paper caught up with organizers Chuck Gainey, Chad Davis, and Bo Edmunds to get the inside scoop on their upcoming event.

City Paper: What inspired you to create the Carolina Surf Film Festival?

Carolina Surf Film Fest: Last year, Chad attended the inaugural Florida Surf Film Festival and came back with the idea that we should host a surf film festival in Charleston. We've surfed together for over 20 years, and during that time, we've come to trust each other's instincts. We knew Chad was onto something good, so we signed on immediately. From the beginning, we wanted to celebrate the lifestyle and culture of the sport, while engaging local artists and businesses. We also wanted to honor the ...more

Dunbar surf brings Phoebe Strachan Scotland cap

 

The image is of sun-kissed sands and tropical palms, beach crammed with bronzed bodies and laid-back surfer dudes with sun bleached hair, eyes fixed for the next big breaker.

Teeth chattering on the shore at Belhaven Bay, desperately trying to change into a wetsuit in a freezing car park, then chucking yourself to the mercy of the North Sea, perhaps sounds a little less enticing.

For world-class surfer Phoebe Strachan however, the bitter cold of the East Lothian coast has been the perfect training ground.

Along with years of high level competition not on the crest of a wave, but at Highland dance contests where she perfected her balance and poise, Phoebe’s unusual approach to conquering the supercool sport appears to have paid off.

For she has just been selected as one of only two women in Scotland’s six-strong international surf squad, now preparing to ...more

Urban Outfitters nibbles on Luv Surf line

 

Many small apparel makers dream of getting carried by a big retailer.

Mission Beach-based Luv Surf Apparel, the latest rising star in serial entrepreneur Gina Champion-Cain's portfolio, will soon realize that dream. Champion-Cain brought the House of Blues to San Diego in 2005, owns The Patio restaurants, is building her own hospitality brand and now manages a fashion label.

Urban Outfitters next spring will sell three tops from the whimsical women's clothing and accessories brand in its new Without Walls collection for outdoors enthusiasts, available in nine stores from Costa Mesa to Cambridge, Mass. The news comes just weeks after the brand's announcement that its entire Be Free collection will be carried at independently run surf shop ...more

See Gisele Bündchen Surf in the New Chanel No. 5 Film

 

Chanel No. 5 spokeswoman Gisele Bündchen rides the waves this fall in the 

 perfume campaign’s new short film, ‘The One That I Want,’ 

directed by Baz Luhrmann. 

It’s a collaboration between the world’s highest-paid model (Gisele earned $47 million last year) 

and one of Hollywood’s most talented directors, 

for the bestselling iconic 1921 fragrance. What’s not to love?

The film will be released on October 15, though on October 13, 

Chanel released two photos of the model with a surfboard and

 a 15-second teaser (below) to enjoy in the meantime. 

We see Gisele riding the waves in a Chanel wetsuit with a Chanel surfboard, 

Gisele with big wavy hair in two different sparkly, bold dresses, 

and Gisele prancing through a damp and dark New York alleyway. 

It’s still unclear how these scenes will mesh in the ...more

Teens who surf really well do jumps and turns in Sumbawa!

Billabong took their Bloodlines program to Lakey Peak, Sumbawa recently 

and it was like peering into a very bright future.  

The third of three development trips that’ve also featured stints in Tahiti and Hawaii,

 Bloodlines is all about making young surfers even better. 

We’re in good hands, here.

You can’t help but wonder where these guys will be in five years.

 The world tour? A Kai Neville trip? Their local bakery? 

Regardless, these guys feed off each other in the water now, 

there’s no squabbling or jealousy or things you might expect from usual groms. 

They get pumped to watch each other surf.

more @ stabmag.com

October ushers in day after day of fun surf and perfect conditions in California

Mostly, no one likes to hear "we told you so." It's petty. Unless of course, it's something you actually wanted to be told.

Like, say for example we nominate California for October's Best Bet -- which we did last week -- and the Golden State goes ahead and exceeds everyone's expectations with a muiltple-day golden tubefest before the first week of the month is out. Then, it's like, "thanks! Can you tell us again? More, please."

It's no secret that October is probably the best month to be a regular surfer on the West Coast, for all kinds of reasons. Locally great weather. Water still warm. Kids back in school. Pros and aspiring pros in Europe. Fun, but not death-defying swells from at least three sources -- South Pacific, North Pacific and hurricanes off Baja. Etc.

So it's not exactly a surprise that October kicked off with a bang, but it certainly wasn't unwelcome, either. We asked Surfline forecast Kevin Wallis all ...more

Highest tides of year could bring rough surf to N.S. coast

 

Some of the highest tides of the year, coupled with steady onshore south and 

southeast winds, have prompted Environment Canada to issue a 

special weather statement for a large stretch of the Nova Scotia coast.

“The combination of the higher than normal tides as well as the winds may

 produce higher than normal coastal water ...more

Alana Rene Blanchard

 

Alana Rene Blanchard (born March 5, 1990)

 is an American professional surfer and occasional bikini model.

Alana surfs on the ASP World Tour.

Alana is involved in designing Rip Curl bikinis.

She is best friends with fellow surfer Bethany Hamilton,

 and was present when Hamilton suffered the shark attack that cost her an arm.

She was played by actress Lorraine Nicholson in the 2011 film Soul Surfer.

Alana currentl has her own show, Surfer Girl, by Network A,

which follows her life in Kauai as a professional surfer and model.

*The information copied  from wikipedia.org

SURF’S UP IN THE SEA ... AND ALSO A CHINESE RIVER

The Red Bull Qiantang Surfing Shootout is the first international river surfing competition. 

Surfing in a river is quite different from surfing in the sea. 

The height and the speed of river waves are not as high but a 

tidal bore can run for more than 10 kilometers. 

It requires good jet ski driving skills for surfers to chase

 the tidal bore and find a wave to surf. 

The Qiantang River has the world’s largest tidal bore, 

which reaches its peak on Aug 18 of the lunar calendar 

and be up to nine meters in height. 

The final of the surfing shootout this year fell on Sept 12, the peak day for the tidal bore. 

The tradition of riding waves on the Qiantang River dates back to the

 Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), when literary works of that era described wave riders.

 Modern surfing wasn’t introduced to China until the 1980s and 1990s, 

 when some Chinese studying in Hawaii and California returned to the motherland having 

picked up the sport, according to Bao Xuping, CEO of Surfing China, 

the organizer of the Shootout. 

There are quite a number of surfing clubs in Hainan and Shenzhen. 

The annual surfing shootout in the ...more

Gilmore has chance to wrap up surf title

Three of the four women's world surfing title contenders won their opening heats at the penultimate event in Portugal on Thursday.

Stephanie Gilmore was the only member of the quartet forced into the repechage second round after finishing runner-up to fellow Australian Laura Enever 14 points to 13.37 in round one.

Rankings leader Sally Fitzgibbons won her heat with 15.57, No.2 Tyler Wright, the winner in France last week, turned in the day's best score of 15.96 and fourth-ranked defending world champion Carissa Moore of Hawaii scored 13.54.

"It's a really nice feeling to start the day with ...more

A Surf Dream Come True

 

After making the long drive from Las Vegas to Southern California, a calendar mix up almost prevented nine-year-old Connor Schriever from surfing Malibu’s pristine waves. But thanks to quick thinking by organizers with the Mauli Ola Foundation, the young cystic fibrosis patient experienced something most beginning surfers only dream of — a one-on-one surf lesson with a local legend. 

“He said it was better than going to Disneyland,” said Allen Sarlo, the “keeper of Malibu” who stepped in on Saturday, Sept. 20 to give Connor a private surf lesson at Surfrider Beach.

Schriever and his family hit the road the week of Sept. 15, planning a few days of fun, including a visit to Disneyland and California Adventure. The week would culminate with a Surf Experience Day in Malibu for Connor and other cystic fibrosis patients. 

Cystic fibrosis causes a heavy mucus buildup in the lungs, and saline/saltwater treatments help break up the buildup. For patients like Connor, getting to play in the ocean is a natural treatment for something he spends nearly three hours treating every day. 

According to his mother, Connor wakes up 90 minutes before his ...more

Kelly Slater: Surf dude turns eco-warrior

The most successful board rider in the history of the professional circuit, he has seen up close the impact the human race has had on the planet's oceans during his illustrious career.

"This world is a scary place right now for the future of our children and their children and the next few generations," the 42-year-old tells CNN's Human to Hero series.

"Business is getting in the way of environmentalism and health, and at some point that's going to have to change.

"People really all have to figure out what's the most important thing, and that's water and food and air and, you know, the health of this planet."

The American points to the world's ever-increasing population as ...more

New Zealand's deadly surf spots

 

The big wave that grabbed young Jack Dixon off the Mt Maunganui shoreline is considered highly unusual, but some parts of the country are more prone to such freaks of nature.

Waves at some beaches, including Napier's Marine Pde, as well as at some rocky fishing spots and some river mouths are known to be treacherous.

Sometimes people washed into the raging sea are rescued, but often help arrives too late. Some of those grabbed by the sea are never found. 

Some big-wave incidents from the past decade or so include:

❏ December 28, 2013 - A Wellington woman in her 40s was moderately injured after being washed off rocks by a rogue wave at Castlepoint, Wairarapa. Bystanders and family members rushed to her aid and rescued her from the surge. 

❏ July 14, 2013 - Mario Openshaw, 29, of Whangarei, was swept off rocks while fishing at The Gap, near Taiharuru, northeast of Whangarei. His body was ...more

Vacationer catches shark while surf fishing

 

...a man vacationing in Emerald Isle was surf fishing when he caught the shark Tuesday. The man let the shark go after the photos were taken.

The man also caught a sting ray and let it go as well ...more

A video to save surfers from themselves

QS Men and Women Head to Iticare for Mahalo Surf Eco Festival

The tropical setting at Praia da Tiririca, located in city of Itacare, Brazil, will host the ASP 4-Star Mahalo Surf Eco Festival pres. by Skol from October 27 to November 1, 2014. Home to one of the longest-standing sites for professional surf competitions in Brazil, Itacare will gather some of the best surfers on the Qualification Series (QS) who are hungry for an opportunity to move up in the rankings.

In addition to men’s competition, the 2014 Mahalo Surf Eco Festival will witness competition from the ASP Women’s QS for the first time. Altogether, the Mahalo Surf Eco Festival will distribute over U$125,000 in prize money and ...more

Surf City Surf Dog Competition

 

Dedicated to surf loving canines, the 6th Annual Surf City Surf Dog Competition took place this weekend in Huntington Beach, California.  

Surfer Dog Tillman rides a wave in the Large division during the 6th Annual Surf Dog competition at Huntington Beach, California on September 28, 2014.

A Surfer Dog rides a wave in the small dog division during the 6th Annual Surf Dog competition at Huntington Beach, California on September 28, 2014.  

A dog runs down the beach to compete in the 6th Annual Surf City surf dog contest in Huntington Beach, California ...more( +32 photos)

Wright blows surfing world title race open

Tyler Wright has blown the women's surfing world title race wide open with victory in France, ensuring an all-Australian three-way battle for the championship.

Five-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons had been locked in what looked to be a two-horse world title race, but their failure to advance past the quarter-finals at the Roxy Pro France in Hossegor opened the door for Wright.

The 20-year-old surged into contention with a crushing victory on Sunday, which lifted her to second on the rankings behind Fitzgibbon and dropped Gilmore to third with just two events remaining.

"I feel like I've been surfing well all year but have had some tough luck in my heats," Wright said.

"That said, I've managed to fly a little bit under the radar and keep myself in the race.

"It's so tight up there at the top of the ratings so it should be a great finish to the year."

The battle will now go down to the wire, with the world champion not to be determined until the finale in Hawaii in November, which follows next month's event in Portugal.

Fitzgibbon, who along with Wright is ...more

Filmmakers take on waves, and the scourge of hipster-ism

 

Can a hipster be cured?

Andrew Gesler of Ocean City and Margate’s Alex DePhillipo have weighed in on the question with a new film, which premiered this summer, and the prognosis isn’t good.

It’s called “Death 2 Hipsters,” and it’s a surf movie comedy.

Being cool, and the attended marketing of whatever coolness is, seems to be taking over surfing, said Gesler in a recent interview. Major fashion companies are reaching into surf culture.

The folks who put together the local surf movie “Dark Fall” wanted to try something new, a surf satire.

“The main part is Andrew turning into a hipster,” said DePhillipo in a phone interview from Florida, where the two were filming this week.  “It’s sort of treated like a disease, like drugs or alcohol. He needs to find his way back into surfing.”

The trailer and more details are at death2hipsters.com, along with a suggestion that anyone who may be offended stop wearing their sister’s pants and mixing techno music.

“From the creators of ‘Dark Fall,’ and films you’ve ...more

Quarterfinalists decided on Day 2 of Siargao Int'l Surfing Cup

 

SIARGAO ISLAND, Philippines (UPDATED) – Quarterfinalists were decided after Rounds 2 and 3 were completed in pulsing 3- to 4-foot Cloud 9 at the Siargao International Surfing Cup in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte, on Saturday, September 27.

The expected increase in swell provided the international contestants with plenty of opportunities to pull into the world-renowned Cloud 9 barrels, as well as boosting airs and smashing big turns, with the Siargao crew clearly showing their local advantage in the face of the international contestants.

Out of the 8 quarterfinalists, 6 are ...more