Stephanie Gilmore X Rip Curl

Stephanie Gilmore X Rip Curl

Rip Curl has announced a groundbreaking signing with eight-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore.

Rip Curl, Torquay-born surfing company, has announced one of the biggest deals in Australian sport to date, signing eight-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore in a groundbreaking deal.

This multi-million dollar agreement marks a significant milestone in the surfing world, highlighting rip curl’s leadership in surf and its vision to be the ultimate surfing company.

Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Johanne Defay (FRA) have won the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Corona, Stop No. 3 on the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), over Ethan Ewing (AUS) and Tyler Wright (AUS) respectively in the finals, held in four-to-six foot surf in an exciting fifth day of action in Portugal.

Competition resumed at dawn with the men’s Quarters and women’s Semis before taking a break over the lowest part of the tide. The event was called back ON with the building swell on the incoming tide and the day culminated with the event finals held before capacity-crowds at the iconic praia de Supertubos.

Colapinto Finds Super Tubes, Wins Second Supertubos Title
“It was weird, I started off strong and then Ethan and I were just trading off mistakes back and forth,” Colapinto said. “Then I found that first barrel and when I went for the turn I almost fell, was on both my knees and somehow made it back to my feet, and that switched the momentum. And then I got down the beach for that 9 and finished it off with a barrel.”

Griffin Colapinto (USA) had a brilliant start in the Final, finding two good scores right away while Ethan Ewing (AUS) was scouring the lineup for opportunities. The Australian fought back midway through with two backhand turns on a meaty left and came right back in the fight. Colapinto then found a great barrel on a rare right and packed a solid closeout turn to post an excellent 8.27 (out of a possible 10) and solidify his lead.
The Californian put the final nail in his opponent’s coffin with an insane barrel on his backhand this time for a near-perfect 9.67 and his second win at Supertubos, his career-fourth.

“It was really nice watching Crosby surf his heats. I was so invested in what he was doing that I felt like I was surfing twice as many heats,” Colapinto added. “I had a hip surgery in the off season and it took me almost three months to get back in the water. I put so much effort in and I thought it would pay off right away but in Hawaii I got two 9th. Sometimes you just have to trust it, now I have a win so I’m psyched.”
The 2022 winner in Peniche, Colapinto was unstoppable on finals day, taking out Joan Duru (FRA) and Gabriel Medina (BRA) on his way to the Final before putting on a barrel riding clinic for the win. Last year’s World No.3 has now taken over the rankings and will wear yellow heading to Australia, having secured his spot among the best for the back half of the season.

Defay’s Backhand Comes Clutch for Win No.6 and First in Europe
“It’s overwhelming,” Defay (above) said. “Waves changed and the swell arrived for sure, I think we both had similar strategies and maybe we both had boards a little bit small for these waves. I focused on the lefts obviously and was looking for two turns but in the end one was enough.”

Waves got scarce in the women’s Final and tested the nerves of two of the most experienced surfers in the field. Johanne Defay (FRA) was first to put a couple of decent scores on the board, applying pressure on her opponent Tyler Wright (AUS) as time slowly dripped away.

Both surfers focused on the lefts and at that game the French surfer from Reunion Island had the upper hand, applying her polished backhand turns in the right sections like she has done countless times to win big events. As time continued to slip away, the Australian was unable to find an open wall to work her magic and Defay claimed the win.

This marks Defay’s sixth career CT win, her first on European soil, and moved her into second place on the rankings ahead of the Australian leg. It also signals her official return to 100% form after a difficult season last year, plagued by an injury early on.

“Last year was fun and weird at the same time,” Defay added. “I really enjoyed my time at home even if I was injured, it was kind of a break that I deserved too. Coming back to contests it was hard to find my feet again and my fire but I worked hard and just wanted to show my injury didn’t take me out completely. ”

Prior to today, Defay had never made it past the Quarters at Supertubos, but as lefts started pumping in the middle of the beach, the powerful regular foot reveled and dominated once again. With a solid start in Hawaii and back-to-back Quarterfinals, Defay’s win today puts her right on the heels of World No.1 Molly Picklum (AUS) in the rankings.

Ewing Claims Runner-Up, Ties Florence in Rankings No.2 Spot
Last year’s runner-up in the world, Ethan Ewing (AUS above) posted his best result to date in Portugal but couldn’t quite convert all the way for a third CT win. He still showcased some of the event’s finest surfing to dispatch two ferocious goofies, Italo Ferreira (BRA) and Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) on his way to the Final.

“It was super cool to surf the Final with Griffin, we’re really good friends,” Ewing said. “We haven’t had that many man-on-man heats together but they’re always super fun. When I came to Portugal I was really unhappy with my surfing but just to kind of pull through that and the cold water and the long travel was great.”

The Australian has also officially made the Mid-season Cut with this result and before heading home to Australia. Ewing and Colapinto had previously eliminated Crosby Colapinto (USA) and Gabriel Medina (BRA) respectively in their Semifinal matchups.

Two-Time World Champion Wright Back to Winning Form
After her worst season start since qualifying full time in 2011, two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS, above) has put two third-round exits in her rearview mirror and found her pace in Portugal to reach the Final. 

“It’s amazing, I feel like this has been a really key point for my year,” Wright stated. “It’s taken me a while to figure out some of the different changes that I’ve had going on. I’m really excited to be in Portugal, honestly, this is me and my wife’s favorite event all year, so thank you Portugal for having us, I really enjoyed myself.”

Open about health issues and the changes she has made to continue to progress in her career and life, Wright has definitely found her form again and will be a threat as she heads to Bells Beach where she is the back-to-back defending event winner.

Defay and Wright had previously eliminated Lakey Peterson (USA) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) respectively in their Semifinal matchups.

Medina’s Rampage Halted in Semis, World Champion is Back
After an Opening Round poor performance, three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) found his groove again and started to build momentum at an event he’s extremely familiar with and has the full support of the local crowds. The Brazilian went on an absolute rampage through the rounds, posting 16.60, 17.16 and 18.00 heat totals (out of a possible 20) on his way to the Semis.

Despite a last-minute good effort, Medina came up just short against Colapinto in their Semis bout but this result has propelled him into 15th place on the rankings with a ton of momentum and confidence.

To catch up on all news and highlights from the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Corona as well as replay key heats and moments, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Men’s Final Results:
HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 17.94 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 11.13

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Women’s Final Results:

HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) 10.83 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 5.50 

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Men’s Semifinals Results:

HEAT 1: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 13.00 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 10.97

HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 15.50 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.94

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Women’s Semifinals Results:

HEAT 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.36 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 11.30

HEAT 2: Johanne Defay (FRA) 14.54 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.93

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Men’s Quarterfinals Results:

HEAT 1: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 12.27 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 9.00

HEAT 2: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.17 DEF. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 7.67

HEAT 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.00 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 14.13

HEAT 4: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.43 DEF. Joan Duru (FRA) 7.46

Next Stop: Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach 

The GOAT Vs Kirra

The GOAT Vs Kirra

The Goat (Slater) paddled out at the Superbank on the day the swell sized and cleaned up, he made his way down to Kirra and minds were blown. This is 52 people, there are no excuses, go get some.

Rain & Shine

Rain & Shine

Ah, North Cornwall, with its rugged coastline and relentless waves, is a sanctuary for many surfers seeking a fix in the Atlantic wet stuff. This region, has more than its fair share of hidden corners and peaks, stunning landscapes, and a vibrant community of shredders, sit back and tap into the latest offering from Adam Norris featuring Joss Ash, Reubyn Ash, Will Bailey, Seth Morris and Max Hudson. 

Edit: @offshoresphoto

Stay Away: Noah Hill

Stay Away: Noah Hill

Noah Hill, emerged from the world of professional surfing, and swiftly carved a name for himself with his remarkable agility and fearless approach to throaty waves. A flair for innovation and a relentless pursuit to full send at any given oppurtunity have cemented him and his a-game fully, hit the ink and give some love to the goofy-footers out there.

Save Punta Conejo

Save Punta Conejo

Save The Waves Coalition has launched a new phase of its ongoing campaign to protect the iconic Oaxacan point break, Punta Conejo: a proposal for a 3500+ acre protected area.

The proposed Punta Conejo Protected Area will preserve and safeguard over 3,500 acres of land, 6.5 miles of coastline including 3 surf breaks (Punta Conejo, Punta Chivo and Punta Escondida), and 1,277 acres of mangrove forest. Preserving this surf ecosystem would also conserve habitat for over 40 species of bird and 4 species of turtle, several of which are endangered.

In pursuing this designation, Save The Waves and their local partners are advocating the first-ever coastal “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna” in Oaxaca.

“Everything we have been working for in this campaign is coming to a turning point. What we can do here, together, is preserve not only the amazing wave that is Punta Conejo, but everything around it. It’s the unique intersection of the surf ecosystem that we believe is worth protecting,” said Nik Strong-Cvetich, CEO of Save The Waves.

DCIM100MEDIADJI_0042.JPG

Punta Conejo is a renowned surf break along the coastline of Southern Oaxaca and has been at risk from multiple threats, including the construction of an industrial port project.

In 2019, Save The Waves teamed up with Reservas de Surf Mexico, A.C., Wildcoast, and Union de Surfistas y Salvavidas de Salina Cruz, A.C. to find alternative solutions to the port project that would have a lower impact on the surf ecosystem and the local economies that depend on it.
Together, they launched an international petition to raise awareness and garnered over 290,000 signatures of support.

Over the past four years, Save The Waves has hosted over 25 community workshops and meetings across 4 villages in the area of Salina Cruz to find the solution that would save Punta Conejo and the surrounding area.

“After a long but rewarding journey, joint efforts have resulted in the communities voting and advocating for the establishment of a coastal conservation area that includes wetlands, mangrove forests, beaches, surf breaks, and coastal dunes,” said Mara Arroyo, Conservation

Program Manager at Save The Waves. “By uniting local partners, our coalition aims to safeguard these ecosystems.”

Now, Save The Waves Coalition and local partners are proposing legitimate and legal protection for not only the wave at Punta Conejo, but the surrounding coastal area in the first-ever coastal “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna ” in Oaxaca.

“An urgent decision must be made to protect the site from commodification and deforestation to guarantee the ecological services on which its inhabitants depend. The protection of wetlands and mangroves is an issue of national importance to fight against climate change and water scarcity,” said Efraín Olachea, Environmental Lawyer and STW coordinator of the campaign.

Save The Waves is once again reopening the petition for signatures, noting that international petitions such as this can go a long way in public awareness and even leverage in legislation.

“I want to see Punta Conejo protected because it is a wonder of surfing, not only in Mexico but in the entire world. It must be preserved and protected so that it can be enjoyed by all human beings forever,” said Uriel Camacho, one of the local leaders and longtime Conejo defender.

“We should all sign the petition since it is everyone’s responsibility to protect and keep safe these types of wonders that nature has given us. By signing you help make the world better”

To support the proposal to create a protected area for Punta Conejo and lend your voice to the campaign, sign the petition here.

Learn more about the #SalvemosPuntaConejo campaign here.