hiya wa howa aswat

Miles Kauhaahaa has ridden Jaws in Drop-Knee mode, during one of the largest swells of the last 40 years in Maui, Hawaii.

Bodyboarders keep pushing their limits and exploring new frontiers. This time, Miles Kauhaahaa decided to ride Peahi, one of the fastest waves in the world, in Drop-Knee mode.

Apparently, nobody had done it before. Perhaps because nobody's crazy enough to drop into Jaws with a pair of bodyboard fins, in "praying" mode, alongside top surfers John John Florence, Ian Walsh, and many more.

Miles Kauhaahaa is a professional bodyboarder from Maui. He has been a frequent rider in the Pipeline Pro, and in 2013 he finished the IBA Drop-Knee World Tour in 9th place.

Watch Kauhaahaa riding Jaws in "Jack Stance", and chasing uncrowded waves with Damien Boone, in Molokai.

JAWS Winter 2014! Stoked I got to film this massive swell at Peahi Jaws! All footage was taken with Gopro Hero3+. Music: Zack Hemsey 'See What Ive Become'

What would you do if you were a surfer in a landlocked country? Would you create your own waves or would you travel every weekend to the nearest ocean?

Planet Earth has 48 landlocked countries. These sovereign states don't have a direct access to a classic oceanic coastline, and represent 11,4% of the world.

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country, despite having access to the Caspian Sea, the largest enclosed inland body of water on Earth. Here, only wind swells will produce a fair surf session, from time to time.
In the American continent, only two countries are truly landlocked. For Bolivia, it's a dramatic issue, as its border is only 180 kilometers away from the South Pacific Ocean.

Bolivia lost its coastline during the War of the Pacific (1879-1883). The consequences were never really accepted by the Bolivians. The country has been pressuring Chile for sovereign access to the sea, but with no practical consequences.

Former Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez, has supported the landlocked nation by declaring, one day, "I want to swim in Bolivian seas". But Bolivia is not alone. Paraguay also misses a spiritual connection to the salted waters.

Europe, the Old Continent, has several countries without direct access to open seas. Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, and Switzerland may not have oceanic surfing waves, but some of them managed to create unique river surfing communities, and wave riding federations.

In Africa, there are several landlocked countries, but two small nations were "unlucky", as they only miss the Indian Ocean for 100 kilometers. Meet Swaziland and Lesotho.

In the heart of Asia, there's only one country that hasn't been blessed by a proper coastline. If there are surfers in Laos, they have to travel 90 kilometers to the South China Sea, in order to find waves.
Finally, a word to one of the most isolated countries in the world. In Mongolia, it's tough to be a surfer. Ulaanbaatar, the country's capital, offers an annual average temperature of 0°C, making it the world's coldest capital city. Any waves out there? Apparently not.


For many landlocked countries, surfing is yet to be born. But with the advent of artificial waves, surf pools, and surf parks, surf shops will open everywhere. Even in countries that have never had the privilege to touch the sea.

Till my soul is full of longing,
For the secret of the sea,
And the heart of the great ocean
Sends a thrilling pulse through me.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Seaside and Fireside", 1850

United Kingdom, Ireland and Portugal will be hit by a large North Atlantic groundswell, between 1st-2nd February, 2014. "Storm Brigid", a sequel of the "Black Swell", is in the making.

The coastal regions of the Iberian Peninsula, England, Wales and Ireland, have issued weather warnings regarding a deep low-pressure system formed in the middle of the North Atlantic, and traveling to Europe in the first days of February, 2014.

Unlike Winter Storm Hercules, the new "Storm Brigid" is heading straight towards the Old Continent in a steady eastern track.

The British islands, and Southwest of Ireland in particular will be hit by 40-foot waves, while the Spanish region of Galicia and the North of Portugal prepare for 20-30 foot faces.

In the United Kingdom, the weather authorities are expecting an "apocalyptic" storm similar to the "Black Swell" of early January. Cornwall, the capital of British surfing, will be seriously affected by huge tides and gale force winds.


Surfers and citizens should stay away from coastal areas, such as lighthouses, piers, beaches and seaside boardwalks.

The act of riding waves is three thousand years old. The history of surfing is full of stories, documents, surfboards, photographs, videos and ancient craft. Let's open the door to the best surfing museums in the world.

The world has nearly twenty surfing museums open to the general public. From the mainland USA and Hawaii to Australia and Europe, the heritage of surfers is secured and protected against the power of time.
Surfing museums are usually set up by local councils, regional governments, mayors and surf historians as nonprofit organizations. Their activity is funded by ticket fees and private donations.

The California Surf Museum was established in 1986 by architect Stuart Resor. The space can be visited in Oceanside, and it is preserving surfing heritage with a collection of antique artifacts, trophies, boards, magazines and exhibitions.


The Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum was founded in 1988 by Natalie Kotsch. Discover the bust of Duke Kahanamoku and the paddleboard designed in 1935 by the surfing innovator Tom Blake.


The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum opened its doors in 1986. Located in the Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse, the space has a breathtaking view over Steamer Lane. It is one of the oldest surfing museums in the world. Get ready for incredible surf memorabilia.

The Santa Barbara Surf Museum was established in 1992. The Californian space displays unique surfboards by Swastica, Pacific Systems, Phil Edwards, George Greenough, Greg Noll and Velzy Jacobs. Discover unusual skateboards, musical instruments and vintage surf clothing.

The New Jersey Surf Museum was founded in 2010, and covers the origins of surfing in the region, back in 1912. The museum also explores the close connection of surfing to the environment and the science of waves. Discover a large collection of surfboards along with memorabilia, surf art and a Surf Simulator.

The Cocoa Beach Surf Museum was established in 1999. It engages the community in surfing culture through exhibits and educational events, as well as community outreach programs for all ages. The space preserves and documents the unique history and culture of East Coast surfing.


The Texas Surf Museum opened in 2005, at Corpus Christi. Although Texas is not usually known for its surfing roots, the space showcases hundreds of classic boards, replicas, surf shaping tools, and surf movies.

The Honolulu Surf Museum was founded in by James O'Mahoney and Jimmy Buffett. Get in touch with the gold ring worn by Captain James Cook during his exploration of Hawaii aboard the HMS Resolution, the original surfboard featured in "Apocalypse Now", iconic paintings and surf movie posters.

The Surfing Heritage & Culture Center is located in San Clemente. The museum aims to preserve, present and promote surfing's heritage for the appreciation and education of current and future generations. They claim to display the world's largest collection of historic surf images and surfboards.

The North Shore Surf and Cultural Museum was founded in the 1990s by Mark Fragale and John Moore. The space showcases a collection of antique surfboards, including the first motorized surfboard, first snowboard and old, hollow wooden boards.

The Museum of British Surfing was established in 2012 by Peter Robinson. Europe's one and only surf museum has what's believed to be the largest and most comprehensive public collection in the Old Continent - vintage surfboards, documentaries, rare photos, old surf books and art.

The Surf World Museum was founded in 1993 by Peter Troy, Vic Tantau and Alan Reid. Located in Torquay, Australia, it's the world's largest surf and beach culture museum and is home to the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame.

The Surf World Gold Coast was founded in the mid 1990s by Daryl Barnet. This surf museum located in Currumbin, Australia, houses fascinating exhibits and extensive displays of surfing memorabilia including surfboards, artwork, movie posters and historic photos.

Grant "Twiggy" Baker is well positioned to win the prestigious Big Wave World Tour 2013/2014 title.

The South African stuntman leads the competition with 2000 points, which means almost double the points of Ken "Skindog" Collins (1059 points).

"For me, I hope both contests go off! I have a good lead but if "Skinny" wins one or I do badly, straight away the title race is close. I need to remain very focused right now", says Baker.

Santa Cruz charger Nic Lamb sits in the third position (905 points) and Hawaii's Shane Dorian is fourth (810 points).

Two events were already run - the Punta Galea Challenge and the Mavericks Invitational. Big wave surfers will now ride two more stages - Nelscott Reef and Todos Santos - before a champion is crowned.
"I'm actually hoping to take it to the next level for the final two events of the season. The bigger boards I've been riding are perfect for clean open ocean big waves," adds Ken Collins.

Big Wave World Tour 2013/2014 after Mavericks Invitational:


1. Grant Baker, 2000.00
2. Ken Collins, 1059.38
3. Nic Lamb, 905.00
4. Shane Dorian, 810.00
5. Ryan Augenstein, 630.00
6. Greg Long, 629.38
6. Ramon Navarro, 629.38
8. Tyler Fox, 540.00
8. Adur Letamendia, 540.00
10. Jamie Mitchell, 429.38

The 12th Annual Surfing Arts, Science and Issues Conference will discuss why surfing will be cleaner, cooler and better, on the 15th February, at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

The future of surfing is not disposable. The debate promises to heat up the conference to be held in La Jolla, California.

Surfers are finding new ways to embed sustainability into the world of riding waves and these changes can have a wide-ranging effect to increase the general appeal of a sustainable lifestyle.

Surf companies, surfboard shapers, and world tour contest organizers are steadily integrating sustainability into their supply chain and competitions.

This transition is gathering momentum, just as the scientific evidence about the direct environmental threats from a rapidly changing climate to our ocean ecosystems are gaining wider recognition.

These threats are real and accelerating: coral reef ecosystems are threatened with extinction by mid-century, while sea level rise and shifting storm patterns are already changing the quality of waves at breaks around the world.

Surfers are finally changing the world and their world. The 12th Annual Surfing Arts, Science and Issues Conference will present the latest scientific research on how climate change impacts surfing, with a special lecture by Dr. Davey Kline on the future of coral reefs in a high-CO2 world with ocean acidification.


Other speakers and panelists include Kim Matsoukas, Mark Price, Dr. Jess Ponting, Jason Koons, Rob Falken, Jim Moriarty, Evan Marks, and Alex Carlson.

Drones are flying above the surf. You can see them, and you can hear them. Surfing drones are now part of the surfers' world and will be delivering spectacular footage for our personal archives.

Drones are the new helicopters. In the last two decades, surfers and wave riders in general had to pay for a helicopter for stunning aerial video and photo. Huge investments were made to capture the adrenaline levels of big wave surfers in spots like Jaws and Pipeline.

In fact, the aerial perspective changes the way we see surfing, but also the way we read waves. It was only a matter of time, until the fast-growing surf gadget industry invented a cheap alternative. Hollywood will like it, too.

The new surfing drones can be divided into two main categories. Those with a built-in camera and WiFi live transmission devices, and those with a special clip for GoPro cameras.

Surfing drones can be easily operated with remote controls and will deliver high quality videos and pictures from up above. They're also called quadcopters and unmanned aircraft systems.

The "DJI Phantom 2" is probably the best surfing drone in the world. It features a compact design, GoPro compatibility, built-in intelligent battery, a GPS auto-pilot and auto return-to-home and landing system. It can be yours for $869.

The "DJI Phantom 2 Vision" offers an integrated high-end camera that will allow you to take 10 megapixels still images, record video at 1080/30p or 1080/60i, with a field of view and aperture of 140° wide-angle f/2.8. A great pick for $1,199.

The "Parrot AR.Drone 2.0" can be controlled by Wi-Fi using a smartphone or tablet. It features a high definition camera with video recording facility, plus flight data sharing, a patented piloting mode, and an innovative pressure sensor for increased stability at any altitude. Yours for just $299.

The "Hubsan X4" is a compact quadcopter that will give you the versatility to perform expert takeoffs and vertical climbs. The aircraft offers two flight modes for beginners and advanced pilots. It is equipped with four LEDs for night flying, and instant video review on transmitter. Only $69.

The "UDI U818A" features a remote distance of up to 30 meters. The quadcopter provides a four-channel function for stable flying and easy operation, video camera and transmitter with LCD display. Yours for $89.

The fishing town of Peniche has unveiled a new big wave surf spot. Meet Papoa, a perfect, giant right-hander located between Supertubos and Baleal.

The wave is breaking in front of a large cliff. Surfers take a look. Is it possible to hit it during Winter Storm Hercules? Maybe tomorrow. Surfers wait 24 hours.

Papoa is an islet located in the Portuguese town of Peniche. The place is known for a long time because it is open to the most frequent Atlantic swells. Bodyboarders have ridden it; surfers have tasted its potential.
Supertubos, being the most famous of the surrounding waves, can't handle extra large surf. If you want to ride giants above the 10-foot mark, you must travel to Praia do Norte, in Nazaré.

The secret to big wave surfing in Papoa has been disclosed. A group of Portuguese and international big wave riders have met the beast during the "Black Swell", in early January, 2014.


António Silva, Ramon Laureano, Sérgio Cosme, Joana Andrade, Eric Rebiere, Everaldo Pato, David Langer, and Sebastien Steudtner gave it a go and filmed "Mission Papoa".

Garrett McNamara has teamed up with Mercedes-Benz to shape special surfboards for the waves of Praia do Norte, in Nazaré, Portugal.

Grey, black and futuristic. Garrett McNamara has unveiled new war equipment for the battle of big waves, at the Nazaré North Canyon
.
The "MBoard Project", a partnership between the Hawaiian big wave charger and the German automobile manufacturer, has produced a limited edition of four special surfboards.

Mercedes-Benz has named the surfboards "The Silver Arrow of the Seas". Mcnamara is anxious to test the planks in the so-called Storm Brigid, a giant swell that is expected to hit Europe between 1st-2nd February, 2014.
"The wind will be a bit strong on Saturday, but Sunday we might get a good swell, not with the best angle, but it might be surfable", explains McNamara.


"I am looking forward to testing the technology behind the boards, because when you're surfing the waves of Nazaré, you'll riding faster than ever. I am happy they've built boards for riding fast".

Getting from the mainland to Namotu is a journey in itself, from dodging flocks of weathered characters to the Kava, landing on Namotu Island is paradise.

Track - Warrior by Magic Wands
Filmed Edited & Produced by Owen Milne

It’s wet season in Bali, when the rains rinse the paradise island of its garbage, pushing it all out to sea. But then the onshore winds turn on and bring tons of trash back to the shore. It’s a cyclical event on the island, but today surfers and locals are saying it’s the worst it’s ever been.

“The sheer volume of plastic is unprecedented,” says SURFER photographer Jason Childs, who has lived in Bali for 20 years. “The scariest part is that it’s getting worse every year.”

The massive amount of detritus spans the island’s busiest beaches, including Ulus, Kuta, Semiyak, and Canggu. The waste is a mix of local trash and the refuse generated by Bali’s rapidly growing tourism industry. Over three million people visited Indonesia’s smallest province last year alone, up by more than 11 percent from the previous year. The island’s refuse collection and disposal services are not able to keep up with the volume of waste, so the debris is illegally dumped or pushed offsite. Out of sight, out of mind? Hardly. It all resurfaces on the sand all of those tourists come to enjoy.

Bali’s governor, I Made Mangku Pastika, brushed the issue off as a “natural phenomenon” since it happens every year. “This problem is not anyone’s fault, but is due to a natural phenomenon that routinely occurs,” he said recently, urging the hotels and restaurants to be more involved in the disposal and cleanups. Pastika is right not to point the finger at any single group, but his response is no more than a band-aid approach.

Young Balinese surfer Sonny Perrussel and his friends are calling for a more permanent solution. “It’s just disgusting and really sad,” Perrussel said. “It’s really bad for surfing because it smells and your skin gets oily.” Sick of surfing in the foul water, they started an online petition to ban the use, sale, and production of plastic bags on the island of Bali. Luckily, Governor Pastika promised the boys that if they obtained one million signatures, he would honor their plea.

Word has gotten out, and the petition has gained more than 20,000 signatures in the last few days. Currently, it has just over 38,000 names, still far from the million needed.

“It’s a really big, crazy amount of signatures we have to get,” Perussel said. “It’s a big challenge, but if we do it, it would change our world.”

Though the polyurethane problem is rooted in the province’s outdated infrastructure, the ban would be a major step in the right direction. If you’re feeling inclined to help, add your signature to the petition

A 47-year old bodyboarder has lost his life at Its Beach, Santa Cruz, Northern California.

James Zenk, from Mountain View, was catching waves in 12-foot surf when he was suddenly dashed against rocks near the Santa Cruz Lighthouse. The rider had previously declined help from Santa Cruz Fire rescuers on jet skis.

According to Battalion Chief Mike Venezio, "a huge set sucked him toward the toilet bowl". Two rescue swimmers dived in, but they immediately feared for their own lives as big waves kept hitting the rocks.
The bodyboarder got into trouble between Its Beach and Steamer Lane, in an area of strong currents and rough waters known as "toilet bowl". He was brought to Cowell Beach, given CPR, but he ended up passing away at the Dominican Hospital.

The death of James Zenk raised the question? Should the authorities have the authority to order people to leave a dangerous situation?


Learn more about rip currents.

Highlights from the 2014 Maverick's Invitational Big Wave Surfing Contest held on January 24th at Half Moon Bay, California. Some of the surfers include, Grant "Twiggy" Baker, Shane Dorian, Shawn Dollar, and Tyler Fox to name a few.

Camera and Edit by Paul Topp
Music: Between Being and Ego by Of the I

It’s OK to have an ‘Anything but 3’ policy and ride singles/bonzers/twinzers/Mystic Meg’s broomstick, but it’s not OK to think that anybody else gives a fuck. Photo: Nathan Smith

Some surf spots have those signs up with a funny cartoon about wave etiquette don’t they? But factories/surf shops don’t do the same for boards. Well, muddle on in uncoded, anarchic darkness no longer…

1. Inside the vehicle is always preferable over roof rack. Roof racks are the last resort, even if that means compromising safety/comfort/upholstery.

2. Respect cultural differences: In Europe, it’s never boards on roof rack fins forward, (apart from longboards). In California, it’s quite the opposite, ALWAYS fins up and forward on ALL boards. If you ever happen to attach a board to roof rack fins down in any part of the world, it’s OK for fellow surfers/secret police to flash you, pull you over and punch you in the face.

3. It’s OK to carry two to the beach, one under each arm, with girl/boy friend 3 paces behind like a pro, but bear in mind it’s also OK for anyone witnessing to think ‘What a cunt’.

4. Waxing the tail pad is OK if you’re not on one of the ASP tours, so long as you rip. If you’re not sure if you rip, you don’t. If you are sure that you rip, you don’t.

5. If you swap boards by your own suggestion, you have to let them swap back after one wave if they want. Conversely, if someone asks to swap with you but then immediately wants their own board back, it’s OK to say ‘one more’ but get at least three.

6. It’s preferable to use the Australian term ‘Chinese wax job’ in reference to unwittingly waxing the underside of a surfboard in transit rather than the ‘Irish wax job’, when on a surf trip to Ireland. If on a surf trip to China, use either.

7. You should always take beer upon collection of custom to the factory, to be shared among workers. If the spray isn’t exactly what you were after, it’s OK for that beer to be Grafenwalder from Lidl. Wine or whiskey specifically for the shaper can alienate glasser/sander/etc, which is never a good for future orders.

8. Despite the irrefutable truth of the statement, looking at the signature on the stringer of a friend’s new off-the-rack stock board and then announcing, ‘This isn’t an actual Merrick/JS/DHD/Rusty’ means you will forever be considered bad company.

9. Please don’t post your quiver’s dimensions on Facebook, particularly when it’s the ‘About to leave for Indo’ quiver post. No one cares. There must be someone famous that just died, can’t you RIP post them, instead?

10. It’s OK when someone asks ‘How big is that one?’ to not know, flip it over and read off the stringer, but don’t feel too smug about not knowing, like, ‘Oh I got so many’.

Furthermore, it’s OK to not know between six somethings (or five somethings), but
you should always know that it’s one or the other. Thus ”It’s a six….er… oh no wait, 5’11” is not acceptable

11. Borrowing a board from someone with the opposite stance and putting a massive front foot heel pressure ding is an offence. A pressure ding is still a ding. However, front foot heel pressure dinging a board ridden by someone with the same stance is fine… like, what were they expecting? You not to rip? Fill yer fucken boots.

12. It’s never OK to borrow one, ding it and then put it back in the rack without coming clean. Never.

13. When borrowing: if you ding it you fix it, if you break it buy it. End of.

14. The person whose car it is should be in charge of putting them in. He or she knows the lines or the angles. Never be afraid to ask for help.

15. Try to go through the rest of 2014 without saying ‘Mini Simmons’ ever, at all, even if you surf one every day. Thanks.

Laird and all surf Jaws for Point break 2

A group of Australian wave riders has announced the launch of the Recreational Surfing Association.

Tired of pro surfers and their impossible tricks in magazine covers? Jim Wilson and Andrew McKinnon believe that we should surf for fun and to protect the beach and surf amenity.

Having in mind that recreational surfers make up 95% of the surfing population, the new non-profit community organisation aims to see the 38-kilometer Gold Coast's coastal strip be declared a World Surfing Reserve, from South Straddie to Coolangatta.

"Today is an exciting day for participants from all walks of life and all ages, creed, race and colour, who engage in recreational surfing, in Australia and the world," says Jim Wilson, Chairman of Recreational Surfing Association.

"Recreational surfing includes all genders and ages who 'go to the beach' to surf for the fun of it, body surfing, shortboards, kneeboards, longboards, bodyboards, stand-up paddle boards, paddle boards, kayaks, surf ski's and all manner of surf craft available to them."

The voice for the recreational surfer and beach lovers will be driven by the social media network, and it replaces the former Save Our Southern Beaches Alliance (SOSBA), which fought for Kirra and its surf breaks.


"Our new organization will breathe new life into our wonderful lifestyle that has a huge demographic of the wide populace who just love surfing for the pure, simple fun of it," concludes Andrew McKinnon, Secretary of RSA.

Have you ever imagined yourself "surfing" a golf course? Meet the new GolfBoard.

Kelly Slater will definitely love it. The surfing champion from Florida, a passionate golf player himself, has a chance to carve the greens with an unique board.

The new gadget, a four-wheeled electric power vehicle, allows you to move between golf holes, with your golf club bag, while leaving behind less impact and damage comparing with standard golf carts.

The GolfBoard concept is very similar to Segway. You need only one free hand for the lightweight power controller. The difference is that this is a blend between a skateboard, a snowboard and a surfboard.
It features LED status indicators, power level adjustments, and increased throttle resolution for exceptional riding experience. If you're a surfer and golfer, then this is the ultimate gadget.

The GolfBoard can travel up to 36 holes between charges, depending on conditions such as rider weight, turf conditions and grade. The battery powerhouse is designed to give users confidence and is sized to carry a heavy rider (250+ pounds) over 18 holes on some of the longest and steepest courses in the world.


The GolfBoard can speed up to 19km/h (11mp/h), roughly the equivalent of a golf cart. The new sensation was created by Mike Radenbaugh, Star Faraon, Blayz Yampolsky and Paul Hodge it can be yours for $3500.

Laird Hamilton Helps Introduce the Golf Board

Welcome to Salzburg. In landlocked Austria, the fourth largest city has a surprise for visiting surfers. What would you do in a 10-foot (three meter) wide wave? One thing's for sure, you don't have to worry about swell forecasts.

It's probably the narrowest wave ride in the world, but at the same time it's an endless one. Even the FlowRider will pump wider waves. The thing is, at least there's something to ride, and you just can't imagine how well this static wave is ridden.

The Almkanal is the oldest canal system in Central Europe and dates back to the 8th century. It connects the Old Town (Altstadt) of Salzburg underground, and it is 11 miles (18 kilometers) long.

In some spots, the Almkanal sees the light of day. And those exactly are the areas chosen by a group of hardcore Austrian surf enthusiasts to train surfing skills.

Quick carves, tail slides, mini aerials, 360s, and wipeouts. The Salzburg river surfers have learned to enjoy short and endless waves, whether it's cold or warm.


How would you perform in this wave? No matter what people say, surfing has it soul. In the Almkanal of Salzburg, the spirit of the waves runs endlessly, just like the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Tom Felber Surfing - Almkanal 2014

The Volcom Pipe Pro 2014 will be surfed between January 26th and February 7th, at the Banzai Pipeline. Gentlemen, wax your surfboards.

There are 112 surfers ready to compete in the ASP 5-Star World Qualifying Series (WQS) event, which marks the grand debut of the new professional surfing season.

There's too much at stake, on the North Shore of Oahu. Valuable ratings points for a long 2014 campaign, and $130,000 USD in prize money. Glory takes its credit too.

The Volcom Pipe Pro is also an extra special event for the local Hawaiian competitors, being that it is a chance for non-World Tour surfers to gain entry into the prestigious Pipe Masters.


The top eight Hawaiian competitors in the Volcom Pipe Pro will be rewarded with local seeds into the 2014 event, which is part of the Triple Crown series and wraps up the tour for the year.

Volcom Pipe Pro 2014 - Official Trailer

Joel Parkinson almost drowned in one the first swells of the year, while surfing on the Tweed Coast, in Australia.

The 2012 ASP World Tour champion lived terrifying moments after being trapped underwater. Apparently, his surf leash became stuck on submerged rocks, and Parkinson couldn't get to the surface.
Fortunately, when the Australian was running out of oxygen, the leash pulled loose, and he was able to breathe up above.

"I couldn't get up. I only had about 10 seconds of air left. It scared the absolute bejesus out of me. I didn't think I was going to get back up. It was a close call. Finally the leash gave way", explains Parkinson.

The father of two children kept the scare a secret from his wife. "The only person I told was my dad". Parkinson did not reveal where he was surfing when the incident happened.

Grant Baker has conquered the iconic Mavericks Invitational 2013/2014, at Half Moon Bay, California.

Two wave hold-downs, air drops, scary wipeouts, four judges in the water, inflatable wetsuits and a solid swell blasting Pillar Point for hours. Welcome to the Mavericks Invitational 2013/2014.
The world's wildest big wave surf contest had regular and goofy-footers descending the gnarly giants. Here, the best ride is doubled, and immediately on the first heats of the morning surfers were feeling the pressure. Nerves of steel. You got them, or you don't.

The South African big wave surfer pulled a 10-point ride to steal the Mavericks Invitational 2013/2014 final from the hands of Ryan Augenstein, Tyler Fox, Greg Long, and Anthony Tashnick.
"I feel amazing. There's no feeling like it. Two of my favorite surfers were in the final: Shane Dorian and Greg Long and to beat those guys in a final is an amazing feeling. To win Mavericks... I did it 2006 and eight year later I'm older, slower, but I still have a beat in me," says Grant Baker.

The surfers' quiver didn't lie. Pintails for speed, thick 9'-to-10' surfboards, thrusters and quad fin setups. Mavericks is not a laboratory. Keep test drives for summer beach breaks.
Judges were looking for commitment in the biggest waves, positioning in the most critical part of the drop, and completed rides.
There were 45-foot faces unloading on the bowl. Add a long swell period, freezing cold, grey skies, and you know exactly what to expect from Mavericks.

In Round 1, the top three surfers of each heat would advance into the semifinals. Danilo Couto scored the most dangerous free fall of the event while Peter Mel showed off with control and confidence.

"That was nice. I rode an old board from last year. I brought too many surfboards, I've got to be honest. I think the waves are in the right size," underlined Mel, right after finishing second in the inaugural round. Unfortunately for him, he wouldn't make the final.

While Grant "Twiggy" Baker earned the highest score of Round 1 with a 10-point ride, Tyler Fox secured the first ticket to the final after winning semifinal number one.
Despite an hideous, spectacular wipeout, Shawn Dollar couldn't keep third place. Dorian, Baker and Long completed the final roster. Watch the full webcast below. The final starts at 2h07m37s.

Results of the Mavericks Invitational 2013/2014:
Final
Grant Baker, 29.33
Ryan Augenstein, 16.66
Tyler Fox, 12.66
Greg Long, 12.00
Anthony Tashnick, 0.00

Semifinal 1
Tyler Fox, 24.00
Anthony Tashnick, 23.49
Ryan Augenstein 22.50
Ken Collins, 17.83
Ryan Seelbach, 15,50
Peter Mel, 2.80

Semifinal 2
Zach Wormhoudt, 27.00
Greg Long, 24.99
Grant Baker, 24.21
Shawn Dollar, 20.49
Kohl Christensen, 3.02
Shane Dorian, 0.00

Mark Healey Caught Inside At Mavericks

Contest organizers for The Body Glove www.mavericksinvitational.com presented By GoPro, the Crown Jewel of the Xpreshon Big Wave World Tour have called the comp on in the face of a huge oncoming swell.
Mavericks Invitational Contest Director Jeff Clark stated, “This is going to be a powerful and memorable swell, and we are looking at waves upwards of 40 feet.” The first heat takes place at 8 a.m Cal time – 4pm UK time.

Mavericks Invitational invites 24 of the world’s leading big wave surfers to compete in a one-day competition, facing giant waves, frigid waters and a boneyard of rocks and reef more than 1/2 mile offshore. Event sponsors include Body Glove, GoPro, Xpreshon Big Wave World Tour, Clif Bar, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Red Bull, Oceano Hotel & Spa and Mavericks Surf Shop.

In addition to broadcast coverage, the entire contest will stream live on XBox and Windows 8 VIA Xpreshon and also via http://universalsports.com and mavericksinvitational.com.


For the first time ever, the event finals will air live on national television through Universal Sports Network. Television coverage begins at 1:30 pm PST. Universal Sports Network is available on the sports tiers of Time Warner Cable, Cox, Verizon FiOS, satellite providers DIRECTV and DISH and numerous regional cable and IPTV operators in markets across the country. Additionally, Mavericks Invitational will be available to all Venison Foist (Ch. 596) and DIRECTV (Ch. 625) customers during this month’s free preview windows.

Alex Martins is a Mavericks standout (4th in the Mavs contest last season), a competitor on the Big Wave World Tour, and the best ding repair man in San Francisco. On Monday, while getting in some Mavericks work, he got stuffed on a beast and took the worst beating of his life. It was bad enough to keep him from competing in the Mavericks event this Friday. Bummer.

So it’s winter. The golden time of British surfing. There’s a never ending low in the Atlantic and you will be needing a whole raft of excuses to get out of work/school/family commitments to you get your fix of saltwater gravy.

Here are some tried and tested excuses that should do the trick*. Remember that once you’ve dropped any of these you need to remember that you have and stick to the alibi. The key is to get day off without losing a day’s pay. With all excuse making to go surfing make sure you max the suncream on face/hands as you don’t want the farmer tan giving the game away.

Rum Bum
The classic. Hard to disprove and no boss or teacher wants your vomit-stained, bum-squirty face anywhere near them. Diarrhoea is, a twat to spell, but the key to days off at the drop of a hat. Food poisoning is always easy, just remember the dish at fault. The deeper into winter it gets you can bust out the relatively new ‘Winter Vomiting Bug’ which is basically a three day pass. Especially if you’re a medical or teaching professional. The other end of the bum spectrum is constipation. Equally good as excuses go. Get the hint across that you’re a ticking time bomb primed to messily go off and enjoy your day in the waves.

Got Bit
We’re kinda unlucky in comparison to the rest of the world when it comes to excuse worthy critters. There’s not a lot out there to make you spend a few days in bed ‘at home’ being ‘ill’. So there’s only one real contender: the Adder. Yup the one poisonous snake in the British Isles. A bite from one of these elusive buggers can lead to nausea, vomiting and dizziness and a day or so in hospital for observation. Just so you know. Or invent a decent, but not throat closing, allergy … Like horse fly bites or something.


Blame The Sea
Odds on your boss or teacher knows you surf. So use it to your advantage. Chat to them about the good work of SAS and all the nasties that live in the sea so you can take a few days for the inevitable ear/nose/throat/lung infection or gastroblaster that claim us all a few times a year. Not bad enough to the see the Doctor but believable enough to get you a few days brine time.

Playing Golf
Now this one is a bit more tricky. It needs you to have a client what surfs as well. So you can then ‘have a board meeting’ instead of murdering lots of small white balls. Best thing is you both get to surf and can still have a bit of a chinwag between sets. Hell maybe even do some work at the same time. Win/win.

Doctor’s Appointment
A trip to the Doctors or hospital for a ‘scan’ are always a good one. Everyone knows in today’s hard pressed NHS you can be there all day waiting to get seen. Keep your ailment vague, hint that it’s of a very personal nature, point to the downstairs department and make an awkward embarrassed face. This should see you out the door for a day for sure.

Funeral
The age old classic. A funeral in the family, or of a close friend, is a dead cert (sorry!) to get you a day or two off with no quibbles. Make sure it’s not someone that can be traced by the boss. So best not say it’s your wife or parent. As that could blow up in your face. Practice your ‘solemn face’ before letting the boss know you won’t be in the next day. Morally this is dodgy and only to be used once a year. There’s only so many people you can virtually kill off. This ain’t Eastenders after all.

Lady Problems
Girls you can bust out the ‘female issues’ card once a month at least. Any male boss will be too flustered to say anything when you ring in early doors to make your excuses. Best thing is there’s no come back. No doctor’s note. It’s bombproof. Best thing is with an easily flustered male boss you can make the ‘P’ in PMT mean ‘Pre’ or ‘Post’ he won’t argue.

Work From Home
Now this one is a bit more tricky but workable if you can catch up on the work you need to do at some point. But the whole point of free surf days is not making more work for yourself. Also tricky if anyone is emailing or ringing you when you’re in the sea. Unless you really want to get a waterproof case for your phone. On that front stay off social media if you’re excusing yourself from work. Don’t blow it.

Car Issues
Only workable if you live in the middle of nowhere with no public transport and no friends with cars. Best bet to go for ‘breaking down’ on way to work. This gives you the leeway to be ‘dealing with it’ all day with the nice Mr RAC man. Be sure to know what went wrong, something fixable but common like your carburettor falling off or the turbo injectors turning to cheese. A good one, that loses you man points, but does work is the good old: ‘I put petrol in me diesel car’, or vice versa.

Jury Duty
If it’s cooking for a week you could try this. Might need to falsify some paperwork but it’s totally doable. Only issue is if you really do get called up for jury duty then you’re toast. Prob won’t work if you’re in the legal profession. Or have already done it for reals. You’re not allowed to discuss the case so there’s no need to invent a complex back story.

The Pet
Dogs and cats get suddenly sick and need taking to the vet. Which can take all day. It’s just one of those things. Make sure you actually own a pet if you’re going to use this one. One easy way is to buy a realistic plastic tortoise and leave it in your garden. Just give it a kick to move it once a fortnight.
Baby
The ‘wife/girlfriend’ having a baby can be used to your advantage. It just takes some forward thinking to make sure the due date is at some point in winter. Then you can use ‘close calls’ and ‘false alarm’ hospital runs to score a few days in the water before the waters really do break. Face it, once the kid drops you ain’t going surfing ever again anyway.

Wedding
A wedding, preferably at the other end of the country, is a good way of wangling a day or two. No boss can get peeved with the sound of wedding bells. And it’s a real arse of a boss that docks you a few days for such happy times. It’s worth getting some stock wedding portraits done just for this excuse. If you know anyone good with Photoshop this might help; they can just slot your head on a pic from Mr Google.

Kids Ill
If you are lucky (or unlucky enough, depending on your point of view) to have kids they’re a motherlode of excuse gold. They need to go to the doctors frequently for inoculations and that. Then there are the days spent in A&E when they jam their head in a pan, railings or similar. They have mystery ailments all the time so use them to your advantage. Similarly it’s a stern boss that will get snippy about time off for your dear offspring. Like the pets one this kinda falls down if you don’t actually have children. It might involve some bribery on your children’s part if they ever actually meet the boss at a function. You best keep a list of all the afflictions they’ve had just in case. Best avoid, ‘Little Tommy lost his arm in the threshing machine on the farm’ or similar for this very reason. Also good for getting out early if the surf picks up unexpectedly.

Migraine
Always make sure everyone knows you are prone to migraines. It’s a get out of jail free card for a few days off each month. While the boss thinks you’re lying in a quiet, dark room you can be slotted in the green room.

Lightning
This has a one time use. The story goes you got hit by lightning while out hiking and spent two days unconscious in a field. Far fetched but believable. Maybe use some make-up to make appropriate ‘in and out’ burn marks. Remember never to use this twice. Odds of ‘actually’ getting hit are low so you should be fine.

Alien Abduction
You need a real hippy, or perhaps drunk, for a boss to pull this one off. Obv’s you can’t ring in advance for this but if you happen to miss a few days from work for the swell of the year you could try the ‘I was abducted by aliens’ routine. Make it convincing, work on your scenario with how the aliens looked, the interior of the their craft and just how worrisome the anal probe was. Kind of a last resort but worth a shot if you think you’re getting fired soon for being a useless surf bum anyhoose.


*If your boss surfs then you are completely and utterly stuffed. Unlucky buddy. Oh and don’t blame us when you get fired for using all of these back to back through the whole prime winter swell window.

Redondo Beach, CA (January 22, 2014) – The official green light has been posted and the Body Glove Mavericks Invitational presented by GoPro is scheduled to run this Friday, January the 24th. Tune to the RedBullTV.com for live streaming of the contest as well as NBC Sports, which will air the event final, live.

“The magic of Mavericks is just around the corner. After a solid flurry of solid surf to start the week off, The Mavericks invitational will complete the cycle and run on Friday,” states Gary Linden, Commissioner for Big Wave World Tour. “This highly anticipated event is sure to be worth the wait and fortunately we will all have the opportunity to be involved, live webcast all day long.”

This one-day, invitation-only surfing competition is held at the legendary Mavericks surf break, which is known as one of the world’s most dangerous breaks on earth, located in northern California just north of Half Moon Bay. The Mavericks Festival will run simultaneously giving fans the opportunity to gather together, enjoy the weather, music, and refreshments and watch the action streaming live on the JumboTrons.
The winner of the Body Glove Mavericks Invitational will receive a two and a half foot handcrafted bronzed statue titled the “Waterman” that immortalizes Body Glove founders, Bob and Bill Meistrell as LA County Lifeguards in the 50’s.

“We are extremely proud and excited to have the opportunity to present this years winner the Bronzed Waterman Memorial Trophy,” says Robbie Meistrell, Body Glove International CEO. “We feel that the trophy is fitting for the event since it was created to memorialize my father, uncle and all past, present, and future watermen around the world.”

“Our team is excited to be working with Universal and Red Bull, two industry giants, to deliver an unprecedented big wave event. The waves at Mavericks present one of the most spectacular canvases in the world, and this year we will be streaming the legendary competition with a monumental production,” says Jay Johnson, Executive Producer of Body Glove Mavericks Invitational. “The Body Glove team brings 60 years of surfing history and production expertise to the game and GoPro will ensure we capture more unique angles than ever before, and they will be infused directly into the live show.

“The waves are looking promising for Friday, swells are predicted to be between 30-40 feet,” says Rocky Raynor, Mavericks CEO and President. “The weather looks great and I think that we are going to have a great event.”

The Red Bull Signature Series TV show will air shortly after the event, giving everyone a chance to relive the greatest moments from the competition. Six weeks after the contest a one-hour program on the Red Bull signature series will air on NBC.

Invited Surfers
Ryan Augenstein
Grant “Twiggy” Baker
Chris Bertish
Carlos Burle
Ken “Skindog” Collins
Shawn Dollar
Shane Dorian
Nathan Fletcher
Mark Healey
Rusty Long
Greg Long
Alex Martins
Peter Mel
Ryan Seelbach
Jamie Sterling
Anthony Tashnick
Grant Washburn
Dave Wassel
Ben Wilkinson
Zach Wormhoundt
Tyler Fox
Collin Dwyer
Nic Lamb
Kohl Christensen

Alternates
Frank Solomon
Shane Desmond
Kelly Slater
Tyler Smith
Danilo Couto
Derek Dunfee

About Body Glove:
Founded in 1953, Body Glove is a leading, worldwide water sports brand specializing in wetsuits, swimwear, clothing, footwear, accessories, and technology accessories. The company sponsors one of the most respected surf and wakeboard teams in the industry with such powerhouse names as pro surfers Jamie O’Brien, Cheyne Magnusson, Anthony Walsh, Alex Gray, Zeke Lau and Guinness World Record Holder Garrett McNamara and wake boarders Rusty Malinoski, Harley Clifford, Bob Soven and Jeff McKee.

 Body Glove and Jean-Michel Cousteau and his Ocean Futures Society have formed a legendary alliance to help preserve and protect the ocean while providing ocean and diving geared equipment to water enthusiasts around the globe. Some of the proceeds from the sale of those products go directly to Ocean Futures Society. Through Reef Check, SIMA’s environmental fund, and the Surfrider Foundation, Body Glove also works to preserve the purity of the waters it loves. Body Glove products are sold in the U.S. by a network of independent retailers. Body Glove is also sold in approximately 50 countries internationally.

One is a beacon of country club civility, the other a pursuit once relegated to society’s fringes. Though the two sports make unlikely bedfellows, surfers love golf. It’s nothing new. Legendary watermen Mike Diffenderfer, Mike Hynson, and Miki Dora were avid golfers. Their passion has left a legacy among a new generation like Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Bruce Irons, and three quarters of the ASP World Tour. But what do these two seemingly antithetical sports have in common?

“I think both offer a similar challenge,” says Pebble Beach Pro-Am competitor, Kelly Slater. “You might just do something you’ve never done on the next shot or hole.”

“I think the reason they go hand in hand is the sheer independence of being on your own,” says Kahuku Golf Team alumnus and one-time caddy for Adam Scott, Benji Weatherly. “You’re in your own world when you golf, and you’re in your own world when you surf.”

Alpha-golfer Ross Williams has a more practical theory: time and convenience. “There are a lot of good golf courses where we’re surfing,” says Williams. “We’re always waiting for the waves to get better. Golf’s a great way to kill time.”

All explanations seem plausible. But the connection might be deeper, especially since the same man dominates both sports.

“The best golfer in surfing is the best surfer,” says Benji Weatherly. “He’s the most focused. Kelly can float through a whole round and not even know it happened. If we had a competition and everyone had to play with a single handicap, Kelly would win every time.”

But Kelly attributes his golf addiction to the bonds he’s forged on the course. “You can literally break down any barriers with the people you play with,” says Slater. “I’ve spent some of the greatest times of my life with friends on the course talking about life. And it’s for everyone…you or I could play against Tiger and have a shot. And although it’s not the same freedom and instincts of surfing and being in the ocean, it’s one of life’s great challenges.”

The latest hi-tech toy in the world of imaging is the drone. In essence a radio controlled multi-propped helicopter thing. Now there’s different levels of drone from the top of the line many thousand of pound units as used by Timmy Boydell here in Kernow and the £400 Phantom off Amazon which you can slap a GoPro on. Whichever system it is it’s allowing us that rare aerial view of the world that was previously limited to photographers ponying up the big cash to rent a helicopter. The plus side being the downdraft from a drone is negligible as opposed to a proper heli which really get on the surfers’ wicks.

Sitting here on the southern end of the Gold Coast, we’ve spent the past month gazing towards the horizon, longing to carouse on the side of sunsets, the West Coast. Y’see, it’s been pumping over there, and uh… less than, here.

Just to get a little taste, we rang up Taj to see what’s been on his cards since Hawaii, and what we can look forward to this season. As luck would have it, he’s got his eye on the prize. It’s Title time, baby!

Hey Taj, what’s up?
Nothing. Just about to go to the dentist.

Root canal?
No way!

Phew. How’s your off-season been?
It’s been really good. I got back from Hawaii about December 20^th and have been at home settling in ever since, hanging out with family and friends. Been eating a bunch of food and have had some good nights out and a bunch of good surf. It’s been a really packed with swell over here, it hasn’t been under about 4ft since I’ve been back. It’s been a great summer, with waves right out the front of my house.
It was a really successful season and today I’m just starting to get my life back on track… get my emails done and organize for the next year, or this year I guess it is. Sure comes around quickly.

What’s on deck for next year?

I’m really looking forward to next year. I spoke to my trainer Johnny Gannon, my trainer, the other day and we were just talking about how we don’t want to go through the New Year putting in a half-assed effort. I want to really prepare myself and have a good crack at winning the World Title, because I mean, because I can. That opportunity won’t stick around forever. We’re gonna get down to it and start training. I’m scared, but you know. He works me hard but is smart about it, nothing too hectic.

ur staff photographer, Shieldsy, also spent some quality time with Taj this season in Hawaii.

Doing anything different?

I have a couple minor things going on but nothing really to report on. I’m just gonna be serious about it. Have fun, of course, but be really serious at the same time.

Speaking of fun, what’d you get up to for New Years?
Quite a few people around here really like to party, basically all my friends. So every New Years I’ve always thrown some sort of pool party at my house, but it’s always definitely a bit stressful. You’re always worried about how much damage is going to get done and, like I said, my friends can get pretty wild. So I was a bit nervous coming into this year about what was gonna happen, and no one else was really keen to throw a party. But then, fortunately for me, my nextdoor neighbors said, ‘Yeah! We’ll have a party!’ Couldn’t have been better. So yeah, I basically went round there and made a mess of their house then came down to a clean house. It was pretty nice.

Any trips planned before the season starts?
I’ve had a few opportunities, but nothing yet. There’s one I always do, I always take my dad on a trip somewhere in the South Pacific and I don’t know if I’m going to fit it in this year. If a swell pops up, I might go for a few days. But I think I’m just gonna sit put and train for the time being.

And that's a wrap, folks!

Shaun White has been confirmed in two snowboarding events, at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, in Russia. The famous snow rider is also a regular surfer, but when he was only seven, a frightening wipeout almost changed everything.

Snowboarding is gaining momentum. Unlike surfing, the winter board sport has been building its own space in the Olympic movement. In the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, snowboarders will compete in five events: parallel giant slalom, parallel slalom, snowboard cross, half-pipe and slopestyle.

Shaun White, 27, is perhaps one of the most popular snowboarders in the world. He stole two Olympic gold medals, and holds the X-Games record for gold medals and highest overall medal count.

His impressive career has always had a dual path. Skateboarding pushed snowboarding, and vice-versa. With the helping hand of Tony Hawk, White's outstanding skills in the board sports arena never stopped collecting titles, awards and accolades.

The mountain man, the challenger of the snowy slopes, the "Flying Tomato" has a special interest in surfing. After buying a $3.85 million dream house in Encinitas, California, Shaun White is sometimes spotted duck diving his long red hair under the local white waters.
Interestingly, Shaun White was supposed to be a pro surfer. He's named Shaun after the South African surfing legend Shaun Tomson. White's father wanted him to be a surfer, but a frightening experience, when he was only 7, kept him out of the waves.

"The day I actually first surfed, my dad got me a hard board and I'll never forget because it had the Tasmanian devil on the front", reveals White.

"They sent me down a giant wave, and I just got tumbled immediately; came up for air, couldn't get it, tumbled again, got tumbled, swirled again. I came up, finally got air, and right as I did the board hit me in the face".

"I'm bleeding, and I'm sitting there like, 'I hate you. I'm never doing this again. This isn’t going down anymore".

Although his wave riding talent is not enough for a future pro surfing career, the truth is Shaun White has been influencing surfing and surfers with his snowboarding/skateboarding creativity.

Back to back double corks (snowboarding), frontside heelflip 540 body varial, and a cab 7 melon grab (skateboarding) are a few examples of how the San Diego extreme sportsman has been pushing surfers to the new frontiers.


Surfers will be taking notes of Shaun White's air assaults during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, between 7th-23rd February, in the Russian icy landscapes.

GoPro: Shaun White Backyard Surf Sessions