Kirra Goes Psycho – Jack Robinson

Kirra Goes Psycho – Jack Robinson

Surfing Kirra during the historic Cyclone Alfred swell. Easily some of the best Kirra I’ve ever surfed—one for the history books. Kirra’s wild from the beach, but from the lineup, it’s a whole different beast! Seeing those things spit and knowing someone’s deep inside is next level. When it all lines up, the Gold Coast of Australia can provide some of the most perfect waves in the world. This will be a day to remember! Let me know what you guys think and please like and subscribe! More videos coming soon.

Rileys Rundown…

Rileys Rundown…

Riley’s is one of the craziest waves in the world, breaks over super shallow slab of rock and a lot of days it’s not surfable. Whether is be the tide , wind or swell directions it takes a lot for these big clean days to happen so to score one like this is super epic .

Surfers: Noah Lane and Conor Maguire
Towed by: @conormaguire
Filmed by: ​⁠‪@conorflanagan1529‬
@diegoblaestro

The Surfer – Locals Only Trailer

The Surfer – Locals Only Trailer

In the psychological thriller directed by Lorcan Finnegan, a man (Nicolas Cage) returns to the idyllic beach of his childhood to surf with his son. But his desire to hit the waves is thwarted by a group of locals whose mantra is “don’t live here, don’t surf here.” Humiliated and angry, the man is drawn into a conflict that keeps rising in concert with the punishing heat of the summer and pushes him to his breaking point.

Is this a cult classic in the making? See for yourself, no one does bat sh*t crazy like Nic Cage.

Riptide – Mark ‘Jock’ Jones

Riptide – Mark ‘Jock’ Jones

Riptide is the latest documentary offering from South Wales-based production company, Fine Rolling Media. Directed by Kristian Kane and Lewis Carter, Riptide tells the story of Welsh surfer Mark ‘Jock’ Jones, as his surf-dominated life is upended by a catastrophic Myeloma blood cancer diagnosis.

The film follows Jock over a five-year period as he’s forced into isolation, away from his surfing obsession and his family. Jock channels the energy that would usually be focused on surfing into a mega ‘virtual paddle’ challenge to raise money for charity and send ripples of hope into a community suffering with their own issues.

The result is a film about compassion, the power of surfing on mental and physical well-being, and finding out what truly matters in life.
Riptide has recently held two sold-out premiere events and is currently under consideration from major TV outlets and streamers. We caught up with the film’s directors Kris and Lewis to find out how what started as a short surf film ended up as an emotional rollercoaster feature film, and then spoke to Jock about how the making of the film helped him and what he thinks its legacy could be.

Carve: Let’s start there. How did this journey begin for you guys, and did you expect it to take five years to make?
Kris: The short answer is no. I knew Jock—he was my P.E. teacher in school back when I was a right little toad. So, we didn’t get on, to be honest. But over the years I’d see Jock in the sea, and I always respected him as a surfer. So, when I saw that he was posting about his diagnosis and his charity challenge, I said to Lew, we need to reach out and try and boost his story somehow.
Lewis: I think it took us all of five minutes to realise we had the makings of a documentary on our hands. As most people know, going through cancer and everything that comes with that in terms of chemo and stem-cell transplants… it’s not normal to be doing a gruelling virtual paddle of the entire coastline in your downtime. But, as the film reveals, Jock is not normal. And that’s what we love about him.

Carve: So, what is the virtual paddle? And that’s not the only challenge he took on over the five years, is it?
Kris: It all started when he went in for a stem cell transplant—which involves total isolation. Kinda like in COVID, but ten times worse as you’re stuck in a poky hospital
room. Anyway, he took in this little hand peddle bike thing to keep himself occupied and one of the nurses suggested he do a challenge for charity.
Lewis: Yeah, the hand bike looks like someone’s chopped the peddles off a bike and stolen the rest—it’s a funny-looking thing. Kinda like something you’d see being flogged on a late-night TV shopping channel. But it was the perfect device to allow Jock to track a ‘virtual paddle’ of the Welsh coastline. He documented his progress online and the response from the surf community was mind-blowing.
Kris: And from there the challenges just escalated. Without spoiling too much in the film, he even ends up running the London marathon while on aggressive chemo.
Lewis: What started out as a way of blocking out the thought of cancer, the thought of not surfing, and raising a bit of money for charity escalated into a real online movement. He describes it as ‘sweating the chemo out.’ And in the film, you can literally see him battling the cancer at times while on this paddle bike. It’s like he’s physically pushing against it.

Carve: You mention that he was, obviously, not able to surf through large parts of his ordeal, that must have been agonising for someone as obsessed with surfing as Jock is?
Kris: At the beginning of the film, you can clearly see it’s affecting him. Even just not being able to be in the sea is a real struggle for him. His connection to water and the ocean is probably deeper than we’re able to articulate. It goes beyond surfing. Surfing is just the means of expressing it.
Lewis: He describes the sea as his ‘comfort blanket’. He literally pulls the water over him, and it allows him to feel safe and supported when the cancer is getting on top of him. As filmmakers, it was a dream of metaphor to be able to play with visually and narratively. Kris is right when he says, it’s hard to describe just how much the sea means to him. But when you see him surfing in pivotal moments in the film… it expresses everything we can’t put into words. It’s dreamlike in a way.

Carve: That’s a good way of putting it, and you can tell when watching the film that a lot of thought was put into how surfing is portrayed.
Kris: Absolutely, you can’t make a film about the power of surfing and not get the surfing right. We used a lot of cinematography tricks to make the surfing relevant to the Jock’s emotional journey. We used underwater housing to get into that feeling of the sea as a comfort blanket, and as a surfer myself, I just knew exactly how to capture these moments in ways that would make sense to surfers.
Lewis: We love the surfing scenes. The cinematography was a massive part, but we also spent hours talking to Jock about what surfing means to him to try and pin the surfing moments in the film to key moments of his journey. It took years to get right, but the end result was worth it.

Carve: The scenes at The Wave are incredible also. Did you always plan to film those pivotal scenes there?
Kris: We took Jock to The Wave early in the process. We filmed a bit, but it was more about giving him a great day out. When we learned more about the ethos behind The Wave and spoke to the founder, Nick Hounsfield, we knew we needed a big scene at The Wave and to interview Nick for the film about beliefs about the benefits of Blue Health.
Lewis: Nick’s philosophy on the positive effects of water and natural spaces on both physical and mental health overlapped massively with Jock’s description of how the water had helped him over the years. Nick spoke after the last cinema screening we had in Cardiff. It was incredible to hear his story and how it complimented Jock’s. We also learned that both of their sons are currently studying in Swansea Uni. Small world.

Carve: Jock’s family play a key role in the story, don’t they?
Kris: The relationship he has with his wife and kids was just as important to get right as the surfing. Jock will tell you himself, back in the day surfing was often a distraction from family and a means of escape, but after going through the cancer journey it became something far more positive.
Lewis: It’s a real character arc and one we were keen to articulate to the best of our ability. Surfing goes from being a means of escapism to a means of connecting with family and a time to reflect on just what is important and to understand why and who he’s battling to stay alive for.

Carve: The audience reactions from the two screenings have been incredible. Emotional is too weak a word, really. How do you plan to get this in front of more people?
Kris: The response has been crazy. We’re surprised, but in some ways not surprised to see just how many people connect with Jock’s story after spending five years making this with him. The challenge now is getting the story out to wider audiences. We made this off our own back and it’s not always easy to go from successful screenings to getting things picked up by a TV channel, but we’re happy to say that we’ve had multiple people reach out to us after seeing the audience response and the impact online.
Lewis: We feel that it can have a huge reach given a little help. It’s a film that obviously appeals to surfers, but also to anyone who’s been touched by cancer, or just enjoys a really in-depth human-interest story. It’s not a sad cancer film. The film really does reflect Jock’s personality. It’s funny, it’s honest, it’s moving, and we’d love to talk to anyone who thinks they can help us get it out there to the masses.

The lads are look for distribution partners to get the message out to a wider audience. If you are interested email Kristian here | Fine Rolling Media

@fine_rolling_media

Carve The Performers – Beau Betteridge

Carve The Performers – Beau Betteridge

Beau Betteridge has been on a tear lately so we thought he’d be well worthy to kick off our new series ‘The Performers’ highlighting the skills of British and Irish rippers. And we were not disappointed when he produced this sick clip! Check it out!

Filmers:
Beaus mum
@lasurfpics
@meanwhile___surf

Simmers, Ferreira, Surf Abu Dhabi Pro Winners

Simmers, Ferreira, Surf Abu Dhabi Pro Winners

Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Italo Ferreira (BRA) won the inaugural Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, Stop No. 2 on the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). The reigning World Champion, Simmers, defeated Molly Picklum (AUS), while 2019 World Champion Ferreira claimed victory over Rio Waida (INA). With their wins, Simmers and Ferreira both leave the UAE placed No. 1 in the world.

Enabled by the machinations of the Kelly Slater Wave Company (KWSC) technology, clean three-foot lines of swell reeled through the Surf Abu Dhabi arena. Though small elements of wind came into effect at different points of the day, the mostly neutral canvas provided near equal opportunity for the remaining eight men and eight women to push through the pressure in hopes of claiming the historic wins.

Simmers Back to World No. 1 with Victory in Abu Dhabi

Still only at the start of her third season on Tour, Caity Simmers (USA) appeared in her ninth Final and earned her seventh CT victory. Barely a week ago, the defending World Champion placed runner-up at Stop No. 1 of the 2025 CT season, the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI, and already sits with a strong lead in the rankings.

The style and commitment of the 19-year-old’s surfing within the pressured environment of the pool was a sight to behold, reaching a pinnacle in her Semifinal match against Gabriela Bryan (HAW). The contrasting styles of the raw aggression of Bryan and the smooth flow of Simmers pushed the boundaries of performance in the Surf Abu Dhabi basin in completely different ways. Simmers earned the highest single-wave score of the event, a 9.57, after opening the wave with a winding roundhouse cutback that set a completely unique line. But the Final against Molly Picklum (AUS) was where the most tense drama played out.

“I feel like when me and Molly are out there we just laugh at each other. It’s pretty fun,” Simmers said. “The most pressure you’re going to feel is when you’re in a wave pool waiting for your wave, and you know exactly what you need, and you know you’re going to get the opportunity to get it, but you don’t know if you’re actually going to like, it’s pretty much you got to just use skill. It’s not luck, like it usually is where you’re like, ‘Well the ocean could send me this wave.’ It’s like the pool is going to send you this wave and you gotta get the score. And so I think that’s what makes it very special for me.”

In a repeat of their most recent match-up in the Semifinals of the opening event of the season, Simmers and Picklum raised the performance levels. The Australian had a decent opening but left plenty of opportunity after going incomplete on her second wave. As with the rest of her match-ups on Finals Day, Simmers started exceptionally strong and set a high bar. Picklum improved on both of her second waves putting the requirement back on Simmers to do the same. Going for broke, the Californian ripped through a phenomenal right but fell early, leaving it to the very last wave. A completed backhand blitz from Simmers left the two standing in the shallows, waiting for the score that ultimately landed in Simmers’ favor.

“All I can think of is really just how thankful I am, honestly,” Simmers said. “I’m thankful for surfing, for just being able to ride waves. It’s like the funnest thing ever, I really enjoy it. And I’m thankful for Molly because she makes me surf my best, and I feel like we both do that to each other, so that’s always fun. And yeah, I’m thankful for my friends and my family and all the love I got around me.”

Runner-up Finish for Australia’s Picklum After Defeating Fierro and Brooks

Picklum (above) moved through the event with a renewed sense of joy that saw her perform rock solid in every heat, taking strong wins over rookie challengers Erin Brooks (CAN) and Vahine Fierro (FRA) in the Quarterfinals and Semifinals, respectively. Having won Stop No. 2 for the past two seasons, the 22-year-old is familiar with having a strong start to her campaign and will head to Portugal as World No. 2.

“Watching everyone rip this way fully to pieces was really special,” Picklum said. “It’s so different to anything I’ve ever seen in my life. I was so happy to have my boyfriend here and just share that moment and really enjoy the food, the karaoke, the people, the vibes.”

Ferreira Claims 10th CT Win, Boosts to No. 1 Ahead of Portugal

Since turning around his 2024 season with a victory at the Tahiti Pro, Italo Ferreira (BRA) has remained a force to be reckoned with. After being in danger of the Mid-season Cut, the 30-year-old placed runner-up to the World Title for the second time by season’s end and is carrying that energy straight into 2025. A Semifinal finish at Pipeline and the victory today see the 2019 World Champion reunited with the Yellow Leaders Jersey after a long absence. Having placed runner-up in the 2023 Surf Ranch Pro, today’s victory in the same KSWC technology felt like a big personal victory for the Brazilian.

“Wow, I was super excited,” Ferreira said. “I woke up today and I was like watching, moving, like, preparing my mind for those runs. In a wave pool it’s always super exciting when I have a wave or have a chance to perform. You’re always going harder and bigger and that’s what I did, you know. I was so glad to have those moments and have all my team behind.”

Ferreira’s 10th CT win seemed inevitable throughout Finals Day. In a repeat of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Gold Medal Match, Ferreira, the Gold Medalist, took a dominant Quarterfinal win over Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), the Silver Medalist. Jack Robinson (AUS) brought a stronger challenge in the Semifinals, but Ferreira seemed unflappable, powering through every run with higher and higher scores, building to a 17.37. His speed and attack through the lip earned high numbers on nearly every wave, and it only took his first two waves of four to leave Rio Waida (INA) in an impossible situation in the Final.

Waida Returns to Podium, Inches Towards Top 5

Proclaiming from early in the event that he would appear in the Final, an extremely confident Waida never felt like that statement would be challenged, even when coming up against event standouts, Jackson Bunch (HAW) and Ethan Ewing (AUS). After appearing in his first Final in the last regular-season event of 2024, where he also defeated Ewing in the Semifinals, the 25-year-old Indonesian has now made two Finals out of his three most recent events and is hungrier than ever to claim the first CT victory for his nation. Waida’s result sees him sitting at World No. 6, as he continues to increase his standing on the CT.

“I feel like happy and sad, you know,” Waida said. “Of course I was stoked that I made the Final but at the same time I was like, ‘Damn it, I lost.’ I’m happy the fire is there. I wasn’t satisfied, so I feel like I will go back home and train harder for Portugal. I’m excited and I’m happy to be here. Abu Dhabi is so beautiful and everyone’s welcoming and stuff, so I’m just blessed.”

Fierro and Robinson Shine at Surf Abu Dhabi, Fall Short in Semifinals

Vahine Fierro (FRA) was the first woman to post an excellent score in the event, earning an 8.00 in the Quarterfinals to defeat Caroline Marks (USA). After two match-ups on the CT, the 2017 World Junior Champion, remains undefeated against Marks, the 2023 World Champion. Fierro’s stylish backhand bottom turn into the barrel provided a critical point of difference and allowed for extra depth and time behind the curtain. Combined with a sharp attack to the lip, Fierro, who is primarily known for her forehand barrel expertise in waves of consequence, was able to showcase her broad versatility and was rewarded accordingly.

Over the course of the competition, Jack Robinson (AUS) continued to put past experiences at CT wave pool events in the rearview. The 27-year-old’s last-place finishes in his two Surf Ranch Pro appearances faded further after his Quarterfinal defeat of event standout Yago Dora (BRA). It was the sixth time Dora and Robinson had met head-to-head in the past two years, many of those critical heats for one or the other. The Australian furthered his lead in a rivalry heightened by the fact that Dora’s father, Leandro, is Robinson’s coach.

For highlights from Finals Day at the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Surf Abu Dhabi Pro Women’s Final Results:
1 – Caitlin Simmers (USA) 16.10
2 – Molly Picklum (AUS) 15.70

Surf Abu Dhabi Pro Men’s Final Results:
1 – Italo Ferreira (BRA) 17.27
2 – Rio Waida (INA) 14.50

Surf Abu Dhabi Pro Women’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Molly Picklum (AUS) 13.77 DEF. Vahine Fierro (FRA) 10.53
HEAT 2: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 15.14 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 14.53

Surf Abu Dhabi Pro Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Rio Waida (INA) 15.93 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 15.70
HEAT 2: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 17.37 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 15.03

Surf Abu Dhabi Pro Women’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Molly Picklum (AUS) 14.50 DEF. Erin Brooks (CAN) 13.03
HEAT 2: Vahine Fierro (FRA) 14.27 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 10.73
HEAT 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 14.73 DEF. Bella Kenworthy (USA) 11.73
HEAT 4: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 12.34 DEF. Sawyer Lindblad (USA) 11.54

Surf Abu Dhabi Pro Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.50 DEF. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.20
HEAT 2: Rio Waida (INA) 14.90 DEF. Jackson Bunch (HAW) 11.67
HEAT 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.80 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 13.30
HEAT 4: Jack Robinson (AUS) 13.83 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 13.20