Big Wave Grand Prix Debuts in Nazaré: Surfing’s New Frontier
Nazaré, renowned for its monstrous waves, becomes the epicenter of big-wave surfing with the inaugural Big Wave Grand Prix in 2023. This new competition, pioneered by surfers Eric Rebiere and Joana Andrade, marks a paradigm shift in how surfing events are structured.
The Big Wave Grand Prix introduces an innovative “entertainment award system” that evaluates surfers based not only on their performance in the water but also on their relationship with nature and the local community. This surfer-owned and operated platform aims to engage the community and visitors alike, tracking the season’s performances and celebrating surfers who contribute significantly beyond their surfing prowess.
Featuring a diverse lineup including Eric Rebiere, Joana Andrade, Kalani Lattanzi, Michelle des Bouillons, Lucas Fink, Michaela Fregonese, Nic Lamb, Hermine Bonvallet, Rodrigo Koxa, Polly Ralda, and Tony Laureano, the Big Wave Grand Prix ensures equal opportunities and compensation regardless of gender. The competition spans three months, activating when waves reach or exceed an impressive 20 feet (6 meters).
This debut event promises thrilling spectacles and a fresh approach to celebrating surfing’s bravest athletes and their profound impact on Nazaré’s vibrant coastal community.
Source: https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/big-wave-surfing-grand-prix-debuts-in-nazar%C3%A9
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Surf Parks: Balancing Ambition with Authenticity
The surf park industry’s rapid expansion reflects boundless ambitions, often promoting record-breaking dimensions in locations like South Korea, Florida, and Abu Dhabi. However, this pursuit of extravagance raises concerns about environmental impact and societal authenticity.
Promotional efforts frequently highlight the sheer scale and technological prowess of these parks, offering controlled surfing experiences previously only found in nature. Yet, this commodification of surfing, once a free-spirited activity, risks diluting its intrinsic value and disconnecting participants from authentic coastal environments.
Moreover, these artificial surf destinations can inadvertently create social bubbles, isolating visitors from local communities and natural landscapes. As the industry grows, striking a balance between innovation and preserving the genuine spirit of surfing becomes crucial for sustainable tourism practices.
Source: https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/the-boundless-ambitions-of-the-surf-park-industry
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Elevating Surf Safety: URBNSURF and Simba Action Sports Partnership Expands in Sydney
URBNSURF Group and Simba Action Sports have announced an extended partnership aimed at enhancing surf safety at URBNSURF Sydney. Following a successful collaboration at URBNSURF Melbourne, where Simba Action Sports provided state-of-the-art water sports helmets, this expansion underscores URBNSURF’s dedication to prioritizing guest safety and experience.
James Miles, Head of Sales & Partnerships at URBNSURF Group, emphasized the importance of safety in their operations: “Safety is paramount in our operations, and Simba Action Sports have consistently delivered premium quality helmets that align with our mission to create the safest possible environment.”
Simba Action Sports’ helmets are celebrated for their innovative design, providing surfers with reliable protection while maintaining optimal hearing and performance. Madi Katz, Head of Marketing at Simba Action Sports, highlighted their commitment: “By providing guests with the highest quality helmets, we aim to empower them to push their limits while ensuring their safety in the water.”
This partnership not only enhances safety within URBNSURF facilities but also sets a new standard for surf parks worldwide, where innovation and safety work hand in hand to promote a culture of responsibility in the surfing community.
Learn more: https://www.adventurefilm.academy/
Australian Female Surfers Making Waves and Driving Change
Even without a clear view,the Australian female surfers cheer enthusiastically. With whoops and supportive hollers, they watch the surfer from the waist up: a glistening black wetsuit, soaked hair fluttering as she rides a nine-foot longboard.
Admiring a surfer isn’t new, but these aren’t teens on sandy towels watching from the beach. Instead, the rider is zooming away from them, heading towards shore. From their own boards, the swelling wave gradually conceals the surfer until only her head is visible. It’s unclear how her ride ends—perhaps a wobble and a splash, or a triumphant finish with fists pumping in victory. This is the perspective from the lineup, and this lineup is all women.
Riding a long, pine plank, Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku introduced the ancient Polynesian pastime of surfing to Australia’s shores in the summer of 1914/15. Aussies eagerly embraced it as part of an emerging beach culture that valued active men and decorative women. As the sport’s popularity grew, more riders competing for fewer waves led to an increasingly aggressive surf culture. Women largely faded from the scene, with only the most determined enduring decades of thin tolerance for ‘chicks and sticks’ (the ‘sticks’ referring to the boards) and overt misogyny, as depicted in the fictional 1979 novel “Puberty Blues” by Gabrielle Carey and Kathy Lette, and the eye-opening 2022 documentary “Girls Can’t Surf.”
There’s a direct line of inspiration from Duke’s century-old surfing exhibitions at Sydney’s Freshwater and Dee Why beaches to the women surfing near Mollymook, three hours south of Sydney. This legacy began with Isabel Letham, the 15-year-old “Freshie” local whom Duke pulled from a crowd of sightseers to demonstrate tandem riding. This act cemented Isabel’s place in Australia’s surfing history and started a chain of ‘If she can…’.
The next link in this chain is another former Freshwater local and the reason this group of eight women woke before dawn to squirm into wetsuits and paddle out: Pam Burridge, the 1990 world surfing champion and six-time runner-up. Pam is a recognizable figure to a generation of women who loved the ocean, even if they weren’t surfing themselves.
Source
https://www.womensweekly.com.au/news/real-life/australian-female-surfers/
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Paris Olympics: What you need to know to watch the surfing competition
Paris Olympics surfing competition roadmap:
Athletes take center stage
—Carissa Moore, United States: Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion has announced she will retire from elite competitive surfing after the Paris Olympics. Three years ago, she won the first women’s shortboard gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The 31-year-old Moore, who was born in Hawaii, is widely considered one of the greatest surfers of all time.
—Vahine Fierro, France: The Tahiti-born surfer will compete just 200 kilometers from her native French Polynesia. Fierro gave host France hope of a medal this year after winning the Tahitian Pro Tour called Teahupo’o last month.
—Filipe Toledo, Brazil: The two-time World Surf League champion qualified for this year’s Olympics, but after a poor performance in a competition, Toledo posted on social media that he would withdraw from the remainder of the Championship Tour season. He will step down in 2024. The good news is that Toledo’s manager confirmed to the Associated Press that the 29-year-old Brazilian surfer will compete in the Olympics.
—Jack Robinson, Australia: Robinson, winner of the 2023 World Surf League competition at Teahupo’o, is considered one of the best barrel surfers in the world. That may work in his favor, as the shaft is widely considered one of the heaviest barrels in the world.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-surfing-tahiti-paris-1f700d46e332532d79882d5e006e215b
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Surfing at Paris 2024 Olympics: A Complete Guide
Since its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games, surfing has captured the hearts of fans worldwide with its exhilarating displays of skill and athleticism. As anticipation builds for the Paris 2024 Olympics, here’s everything you need to know about this thrilling sport.
Surfing Schedule and Venue
The surfing events at Paris 2024 are scheduled from 27 July to 4 August. Athletes will converge at the iconic Teahupo’o in Tahiti, located approximately 9,800 miles from Paris. This legendary surf spot is renowned for its powerful waves, providing the perfect setting for the world’s top surfers to showcase their talents.
Medal events for both the men’s and women’s competitions are set for 31 July, although they could extend as late as 4 August depending on weather conditions and wave forecasts. This flexibility ensures that athletes have the best possible conditions for competition, enhancing the integrity and excitement of the event.
Great Britain’s Surfing Team
Great Britain’s surfing contingent is poised to make waves at the 2024 Paris Olympics. With a blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talents, the team is primed to compete at the highest level on the global stage. Keep an eye on these athletes as they vie for Olympic glory and proudly represent their country.
Scoring and Rules in Surfing
In surfing, competitors execute a series of maneuvers and tricks on waves, which are then evaluated by a panel of five judges. These judges assess the variety, type, and difficulty of the maneuvers, as well as the surfer’s speed, power, and flow—the seamless transitions between moves.
For the Olympics, athletes will predominantly ride shortboards, known for their agility and speed. Unlike longboards, shortboards are smaller in size, allowing surfers to perform dynamic maneuvers with precision and flair. Expect to see an impressive display of skill and creativity as athletes push the boundaries of what’s possible on these high-performance boards.
As anticipation builds for surfing’s return to the Olympic stage at Paris 2024, fans can look forward to witnessing some of the world’s top athletes compete in one of the most visually stunning and exciting events of the Games. Stay tuned for all the action and drama as surfers chase their Olympic dreams in Tahiti’s legendary waves.
Surf Lakes Unveils Fresh Designs for Queensland Wave Pool Precinct
Hot on the heels of Australia’s second wave pool opening, new designs for the eagerly awaited Surf Lakes precinct on Queensland’s Capricorn Coast have been unveiled. Approved in January 2022, the Surf Lakes project promises a unique wave pool experience different from the recently launched UrbnSurf facility in Sydney.
The Queensland site spans 90 hectares and will feature a variety of amenities, including up to 250 bedrooms, 100 camping or caravan sites, retail and food outlets, a skate park, and a scuba pool. The centerpiece of this development will be a commercially upgraded Surf Lake.
“The upgraded machine will mean a significant improvement in wave size (up to 2.6m face height) and length (up to 15-second rides), creating a playground of lefts, rights, reforms, and slabs for all ability levels,” the company stated.
In addition to its aesthetic enhancements, the new machine will be quieter than its prototype and capable of running on renewable electricity. The wave quality will also benefit from CFD-modeled enhancements to the bathymetry and a reinforced concrete lake bed, ensuring a robust and reliable surfing experience. A state-of-the-art, efficient water treatment system will be installed to maintain clean, clear water at all times.
The newly released renders depict accommodation nestled among bushland on the eastern side of the site, located between Rockhampton and Yeppoon, approximately an 8-hour drive north of Brisbane. The designs also showcase the style of retail and food and beverage outlets, along with landscaping around the lake itself.
While an opening date has yet to be announced, Surf Lakes has confirmed they are now seeking capital partners, with construction anticipated to begin this year.
This innovative development promises to enhance the surfing landscape in Australia, offering a diverse and exciting wave pool experience for surfers of all skill levels.
Source: https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/surf-lake-queensland-resort
Wavepools: The Future of Surfing Progression
“Nicolas Cage’s “The Surfer”: A Wild Ride at Cannes
Nicolas Cage’s latest film, “The Surfer,” has taken the Cannes Film Festival by storm, receiving an extraordinary six-minute standing ovation. Directed by Lorcan Finnegan, this movie pays homage to vintage Australian New Wave films and promises a wild, mind-bending adventure for viewers.
Among the sea of films showcased at Cannes, Cage’s performance in “The Surfer” stood out, reminiscent of his acclaimed work in “Mandy.” Variety reported Cage’s enthusiastic reception, with cheers erupting around the Palais as he acknowledged the audience with a beaming smile and a wave. Cage even took the microphone to deliver a line from the film in French, further delighting the crowd.
Described as a sly psychological thriller by The Hollywood Reporter, “The Surfer” unfolds largely on the beaches of Western Australia. Despite its outdoor setting, the film creates a palpable sense of claustrophobia, with frequent zooms into the protagonist’s twitchy eyes and surreal cinematography that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy.
Critics have praised Cage’s performance, noting that there’s no point in hiring him if the role doesn’t allow him to unleash his trademark wackadoodle energy. The Hollywood Reporter also lauds the film’s gripping storyline, which follows the unnamed surfer protagonist as he grapples with his inner demons against the backdrop of Western Australia’s coastline.
As anticipation builds for the release of “The Surfer,” audiences eagerly await the chance to experience Cage’s electrifying performance and Finnegan’s masterful direction. With its rave reviews and unforgettable moments, “The Surfer” is poised to make waves in the world of cinema, offering viewers a thrilling and unforgettable ride.
THERE GOES MY HERO
I grew up surfing in a place where it was pretty much standard to have the lineup all to yourself. Or, if you were lucky, you might have a couple of friends to trade waves with. (This was in California, by the way— South of San Francisco, if you can believe it). Granted, you were alone because you were surfing the foggiest, coldest, most depressing closeouts or the weirdest, boil-ridden reefs you could possibly imagine. Still, empty, albeit imperfect, breaks were the norm. But, occasionally, I’d paddle out, look down the mostly-deserted beach and see a mysterious, hooded regularfoot stylishly working over an empty peak. Every time I’d glance in his direction, there he’d be, making a psychotically late drop, flinging a big arc of spray skyward after a high-velocity turn, or tucking into a long, sand-sucking tube where I’d seen nothing but dribbly bullshit before. Then, poof, he’d be gone—a ghost vanished over the iceplant-studded dunes. I was fascinated.
There weren’t many world-class rippers in this area, so I presumed that each time I sat there slackjawed, watching a mysto surfer tear the bag out of the place, it was always the same mysto surfer. Indeed, I had to presume that, because I never actually met him. Or at least if I did—perhaps serving me a greasy basket of fish and chips as a waiter in one of the zillions of bayside seafood joints in my hometown, or maybe drawing my espresso shot as a barista, or lecturing one of my courses in college—I was never able to recognize him as the anonymous guy ripping down the beach. Come to think of it, that was actually the nickname my friends and I bestowed upon the unknown shredder: “Guy Ripping Down the Beach.”
That’s because the misfit stars seem within reach. We can, if we squint, imagine ourselves in their place.
Guy Ripping Down the Beach became something of a hero to me in my teens and early twenties. He was almost aggressively non-descript with his all-black suit and all-white board, actively trying to surf alone with nobody but me and the seals to witness his otherworldly shralping. He never stuck around the lot to hang out for some post-surf chat in the battered Volkswagen Eurovan he drove. GRDTB just showed up, punched his timecard, absolutely killed it for two hours, punched out, and left. So blue collar and workman-like was his approach, he may as well have paddled out with a battered Stanley thermos and a hardhat.
Now bear with me here while I connect two seemingly disparate dots, but I was thinking of GRDTB the other night after watching HBO’s “Ballers.” The episode I saw, from 2018, featured both Kelly Slater and Laird Hamilton as surfers at the top of the surf world relevance pyramid, with a sports marketing group (led by a character played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) desperate to keep the two most famous surfers on earth in their portfolio. In 2018, that duo was a strange choice as the most-beloved representatives of a typically youth-oriented corner of the sports world, considering Slater was 65 years old and Laird is an immortal Greek god who’s walked the earth for untold millennia. (I kid, I kid. Slater is actually only 51).
I started thinking about GRDTB because while it’s easy to see why Slater and Laird would be Hollywood’s favorite surfers, with landlubbing producers just assuming the two surfers with high mainstream appeal are also surf world heroes, I wondered how many hardcore surfers would put either of them in their list of favorite surfers. Even at Slater’s zenith, back in the early ‘00s, when he was undisputedly the best surfer to ever live, I liked watching him surf, but I never would have included Slater in a list of my top 20 favorite surfers. Laird makes my favorite coffee creamer, and is certainly my favorite motorized surfboard pitchman, but that’s about it. And I think it’s because Slater and Laird have always seemed invested in stardom. They’ve actively pursued it.
Surf culture, at least in California, has always had a pronounced neurotic streak, where surfers want to be noticed for their talent, but, at the same time, the coolest thing you can do is to look like you don’t care about being noticed. There are plenty of peacocks in our sport, and there always have been, but our most beloved icons—the surfers other surfers want to be like—are the ones who make surf stardom seem like an afterthought, like something they could just as easily do without, or something they aren’t even particularly comfortable with.
As opposed to the stars mainstream culture gravitates toward—the Slaters and Lairds of the world—hardcore surf culture values the misfits and the regular Joes and Jills over the overtly ambitious. That’s because the misfit stars seem within reach. We can, if we squint, imagine ourselves in their place. Or at least surfing with them.
When I imagine my ideal surf self—put myself in my hero’s place—it’s never been as an 11-time world champ starring in ridiculous TV shows. It’s always been the surfer quietly, anonymously, and, most importantly, humbly, ripping down the beach. Whoever they may have been.
By Justin Housman
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