Kahuna Kupuna benefit surf contest has record turnout

 

The 15th annual Kahuna Kupuna Benefit surf contest, a fundraiser for Pacifica's Environmental Family, was held Saturday July 19, at Linda Mar Beach in very surfable two- to three- foot waves with occasional four-foot sets.

As an extra bonus to go along with the balmy, humid weather, the ocean temperature was a relatively warm 58 degrees and the wind didn't get too frisky in the afternoon. What the waves lacked in size, they made up for in quality.
Contestants had the choice of a nice left or right breaking wave in front of the north parking lot along the beach just north of Taco Bell. A record turn-out of over 90 contestants competed and ranged in age from 9 to 82. The crowd of spectators peaked at an estimated 200 by early afternoon.
The Kupuna is the only amateur surf contest in the world specifically designed for older surfers age 40 and over and features age divisions: Junior Kupuna Division for men and women surfers age 40 to 49 and then in five-year increments starting at age 50 and going up to age 80 plus. These age ranges are quite different from the standard 15-year or...more

International Surf festival celebrates 53 years

 

Thousands of spectators and athletes of all ages and skill levels will converge on the sands of local beaches this weekend for the 53rd Annual International Surf Festival water and sand competitions.

In the 1950s, the cities of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach hosted separate beach festivals. In 1962, the cities decided to join forces with Los Angeles County to create the International Surf Festival. Today, the event is presented by the three beach city chambers of commerce, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Department of Beaches, and BeachSport.org.

Lifeguard competitions highlight the weekend long festival. Competitions for the public include swimming, paddling, surfing, bodysurfing, sand runs and volleyball.

“The longevity of the Surf Festival is attributable to the lifeguard base,” event coordinator Rob McGowan said. “The lifeguard competition and the ...more

Surf history stokes the generations

 

The son & grandchildren of a man who donated a rare 1960s surfboard to the Museum of British Surfing had a surprising reunion with it yesterday afternoon.
Jonathan Hilder used to ride the board as a kid in the 1970s, but didn’t recognise his dad Frank’s ‘Bill Bailey Malibu Surf-Board’ as it used to be covered from head to toe in white yacht paint. It went through a painstaking conservation process with museum volunteers to ...more

Kelly Slater will not compete in 2014 U.S. Open of Surfing

 

Surf superstar Kelly Slater has pulled out of the U.S. Open of Surfing, underway in Huntington Beach, because of an injury.
“Slater has recently re-aggravated an old shoulder injury, forcing him to withdraw from this week’s U.S. Open in hopes of resting up for the Billabong Pro Teahupo’o,” Assn. of Surfing Professionals spokesman Dave Prodan told the Los Angeles Times.
Slater, who was set to appear later this week at the event, was replaced by Hawaiian Gavin Gillette in the 12th heat of the first round, according to the U.S. Open website. The Inertia reported earlier Monday on the pullout, which has led to speculation on social media about the cause of the injury.
On Sunday, Slater posted a video of ...more

Surfing the Arctic doesn't mean you necessary will do it ... on snow !

If you've always wanted to plan a surf trip but just haven't gotten around to it, allow us to speed up the process.
Behold Arctic surfing -- yes, it's real and yes, regular folk can do it as easily as the pros.
The professional Arctic surfing community is addicted to the icy waters in Norway and Iceland. Surfers routinely hike over boulder-covered snow fields to brave 35-degree waters wearing nothing more than a wetsuit five millimeters thick.
It might sound rough, but the whole experience is ...more

Let's go surfing now ... in Madagascar, newest member of global surf association

The California-based International Surfing Association says the island nation in the Indian Ocean has become its 86th member as part of a drive to promote the sport in Africa.
In a statement, the world surfing body says ...more

Surf’s Up!

Brazil Ecojourneys and GaySurfers host South America’s only LGBT surf camp.

Last October, Brazil Ecojourneys, owned and operated by life partners Marta Dalla Chiesa and Lesley Cushing, has launched the first edition of this LGBT surf camp in collaboration with GaySurfers.net. The inaugural event was a success, with participants flying in from Canada, the U.S. and Argentina.             While more destinations in the world become accepting of LGBT travelers, and more athletes and role models come out, there is still a lack of LGBT-friendly outdoor and soft adventure travel. Homophobia and sexism is especially rampant in the world of surfing, and Thomas Castets, founder of GaySurfers.net, tackled the subject recently in his award-winning documentary Out in the Line-Up. Wanting to improve the ...more