Cancelled flights, mercurial kilojoules, nonsensical board charges and a Laird sighting at the airport. The rise and fall of Genevieve. Asher Pacey chases a protean hurricane swell through his beloved Baja, California. SUN MOON LIGHT SUN documents three days of surfing, three boards and one very good run of waves: the Sunstone, the Moonstone and the Light Bender.
Cornwall's biggest port town is arguing about mud. On 20 August, Cornwall Council's strategic planning committee considers the £150 million Falmouth Docks redevelopment, the largest scheme the town has seen in eighty years. The plans would deepen the harbour so far larger vessels, cruise ships among them, can come alongside. Getting there means dredging roughly 643,000 cubic metres of sediment out of the Fal Estuary and disposing of most of it at sea.
The proposed dredge area covers around 232,500 square metres of seabed, roughly 23 hectares, and twenty-one sediment cores have been analysed across it. Cornwall Wildlife Trust reports that mercury, lead, zinc, copper and tributyl tin turned up in three quarters of those cores, at concentrations it believes could rule the material out for tipping offshore. Dan Barrios-O'Neill, the Trust's head of marine conservation, argues the survey is simply too coarse to separate contaminated ground from clean ground with any confidence. A century and a half of ship repair and naval use leaves things in the mud. The Trust has lodged a holding objection asking for more evidence, and has stated it does not oppose the redevelopment itself.
The lower estuary forms part of the Fal and Helford Special Area of Conservation, one of the most significant marine protected areas on the Cornish coast. The seabed there holds maerl, a slow-growing calcified seaweed that builds loose gravel-like beds over thousands of years. Maerl in the Fal Estuary acts as a nursery for scallops, crabs and other commercial stocks, which is why Cornwall's fishing fleet has a direct stake in the outcome. Seagrass and the native oyster fishery occupy the same water.
The Stop the Dredge campaign, which opposes the plans in their current form, has more than ninety members. Organiser Eve Godfrey-Styles has described a membership running from students through to business owners and fishermen, drawn together by what the dredge might do to how they make a living. Marine filmmaker Giosue Reale, who dives around Falmouth regularly, has put the same worry in personal terms, weighing what all that time in the water might mean for him alongside what it means for the creatures he films.
The port and dock operators say the dredge is essential. Miles Carden, chief executive of Falmouth Harbour, notes that dredging here is nothing new, since the harbour was kept deep that way for centuries before the recent gap, and that ships have grown to the point where the water has to follow if Cornwall's marine economy is going to keep them. Balaena, which owns the site, says any work would be carried out under strict environmental controls. Drystan Jones, its director of port development, has said the intention is to modernise the docks carefully, with the town rather than around it, and to leave behind skilled work across several industries.
The scheme is broader than cruise tourism. There is a new area for assembling floating offshore wind turbines, roughly twice the freight capacity the docks handle now, and a projected £13 million a year for the local economy. Earlier versions of the plan, going back over a decade, were argued on a figure of 800 jobs.
A £20 million dredge was blocked in 2011 over the maerl beds. A six-month trial followed, with a surface layer of maerl lifted, put back and then monitored, after which harbour authorities said the bed had recovered inside 44 weeks. Critics countered that the trial covered a tiny footprint next to the real thing, and that nobody had resolved where all the spoil ends up once it disperses.
Much of the current scheme is going through the government's fast track planning system, with the Marine Management Organisation acting as the single lead environmental regulator rather than several bodies working in parallel. The MMO says it recognises the environmental concerns raised. Questions about who polices what ends up in coastal water are not confined to Falmouth, as Surfers Against Sewage set out in Dirty Business. More than 130 people attended a public meeting at Pendennis Community Centre.
Both sides want a working port. The disagreement is over whether the evidence gathered so far is good enough to proceed on. There is probably a middle ground, but maybe the environment isn't worth gambling with.
The marine licence application is MLA/2025/00157 with the MMO and the planning application is PA25/01598 with Cornwall Council. Both are public.
Read next: the Port of Tyne nurdle spill
More mutants and ridiculous acts of courage with the world’s best going all-in for a pumping Day 3 at the Outerknown Tahiti Pro Presented by I-SEA.
Griffin Colapinto stole the show with the performance of the 2026 CT season, disappearing behind a massive Teahupo’o curtain for the event’s first Perfect 10 before backing it up with a 9.60. Colapinto’s near-perfect 19.60 heat total marked the highest of the 2026 Championship Tour and sent a warning shot to the field heading into Round 3.
But the GOAT wasn’t going to let Colapinto have all the glory. In an all-time rematch of the 2014 Tahiti Pro Final, Kelly Slater and Gabriel Medina renewed their rivalry at one of their favorite proving grounds. Slater went hands-free on a critical drop to post a 9.73 before immediately backing it up with a 9.33 for a staggering 19.06 heat total. Medina fought back with an excellent 8.43, but the 11x World Champion delivered another Teahupo’o masterclass to eliminate the 3x World Champ.
World No. 1 Leonardo Fioravanti wasn’t safe from the Day 3 carnage either. Good friend and 2024 event Semifinalist Ramzi Boukhiam came alive with back-to-back scores, including an excellent 8.17, to post a 15.67 heat total and send the Yellow Leader Jersey packing.
Joao Chianca added a 9.50 of his own, while Jack Robinson and Callum Robson pushed into the excellent range as pumping Teahupo’o continued to reward those willing to put everything on the line.
Round 2 is officially in the books, the Round 3 matchups are set, and after a day of perfection, upsets, and GOAT heroics, the bar has never been higher at The End of the Road.
Next call, Tuesday, August 11.
Sam Piter (FRA, above) and Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK, above) were crowned the winners of the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) YETI Pro QS 4,000. Piter and Etxabarri held their nerve in tense Final heats after two marathon days of competition, overcoming a strong competitive field in very challenging conditions. Collecting their 4,000 points, Piter and Etxabarri have both jumped to the top of the European QS rankings.
After completing the men’s and women’s finals, the Boardmasters Longboard Pro Presented by YETI got started and ran through multiple rounds to narrow down the field to the Semifinals.
Photos: WSL/Masurel
Sam Piter Denies Lukas Skinner A Third Title In Dramatic Finish
It was a dramatic end to the YETI Pro QS 4,000 men’s final, with Sam Piter (FRA, above) denying local favourite Lukas Skinner (GBR) his third consecutive Boardmasters title. It was a see-saw battle between Skinner and Piter, but a last minute air reverse from Piter was all it took to secure his first-ever Boardmasters title. It’s the biggest win of his career, marking his first QS 4,000 title and his first time back on the top step of the podium since Lacanau last year.
"I'm super happy," said Piter. "It was a challenging forecast for this event. I'm glad we got through it in two days, it was a lot of surfing and I'm a little tired, but I'm stoked I came out on top. We were training a lot in small waves before this, pushing each other.
Skinner (above) burst out the gates in the Final to post the first numbers on the board, and he held the lead from the get-go. Piter fought back and found a good ramp to take to the air, earning a 6.50 to start challenging Skinner, who had to claw his way back to the top. It wasn’t until the final few minutes when the 22-year-old Piter eyed out another section for an air reverse, but this time a bit more technical and cleaner.
The tension was palpable on the beach as everyone waited for the scores to come in, and the judges rewarded Piter with a 6.67 to take the win, and deny Skinner his third Boardmasters title. Francisco Ordonhas (POR) finished third, while Sean Gunning (ESP) had to settle for fourth.
Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (above) Adds Name To Winners Circle at Boardmasters
Coming into the event as one of the favourites after her runner-up finis h here in 2025, Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) finally added her name to the esteemed list of winners at Boardmasters. Last year Etxabarri was defeated by her sister, Annette, and now she can add another Boardmasters trophy to their cabinet. The 21-year-old jumped to the top of the QS rankings with this win, strengthening her chances to keep fighting on the Challenger Series for another season.
"I'm really happy with this win, because I just came from the US Open of Surfing with a first round loss, so I'm super happy to start the QS season like this," said Etxabarri. "I'm happy to be back in Newquay. I just try to live day by day and remind myself a loss means nothing, there are other things to focus on like trying to have fun, enjoy the process, enjoing working with a team, enjoy the moment. I'm really grateful to take the win this year."
Etxabarri had a good battle with Clemence Schorsch (FRA, above) in the Final, and it became a game of strategy and priority to be on the right waves. Schorsch hammered an oncoming section with power and letting her fins go free, she scored the best wave of the heat. Etxabarri fought back with a combination of snappy turns and power carves in the small conditions, taking the win in the end with a total of 12.10 (out of a possible 20). An unfortunate priority interference in the final seconds saw Schorsch demoted to fourth place, with Nahia Milhau (FRA) finishing runner-up and Sol Borelli (ESP) in third.
The season is heating up with two International QS 6,000 competitions coming up at the end of the month. The ABANCA Pantin Classic Galicia Pro and the Norte Surf Fest will run back-to-back from August 25-30, and September 1-6, while the Pro Razo QS 2,000 in October 15-18 will be the last event for this year.
Boardmasters Longboard Pro Presented By YETI Sets Up For Semifinals
The Boardmasters Longboard Pro Presented by YETI got underway Thursday afternoon after wrapping up the YETI Pro finals. Double banks were used to complete the opening rounds, before switching back to single peak for the Quarterfinals and determining the Semifinalists.
Thilde Rasmussen (DEN) surfed a smart heat to take the win over defending event winner Ginger Caimi (ITA) in the first women’s Quarterfinals. Rasmussen found some long noserides to put together a 12.27 total, earning a spot in the Semifinals and the stoke on her face said it all.
“I’m incredibly happy,” said Rasmussen. “It feels good to be back on track, I had some shocker results in the last few competitions. I had to have some deep conversations with the people I love, my coach, my boyfriend, just to get some perspective again and that really helped. If I can get to the Final, I’ll jump to the moon!”
Five-time Boardmasters winner Alice Lemoigne (FRA) found some of the biggest waves out the back, connecting the sections for long rides and comfortably taking the win to book her spot in the Semifinals. Lemoigne has dominated Fistral Beach in the past, and has surfed here in all kinds of conditions.
Britain’s Emily Currie and Lola Bleakley also advanced to the Semifinals alongside Canelle Lebreton (FRA), Maya Glasenapp (FRA) and Mia Ramakers (BEL).
Multiple Boardmasters winner Edouard Delpero (FRA) continued to forge ahead at Fistral Beach, securing his spot in the Semifinals with a win over Max Jamet (FRA). Delpero is currently leading the rankings with his win at the GADIS Longboard Pro Ferrol in June.
Cornwall’s own Adam Griffiths was stoked to make it to the Quarterfinals. He found the best ride of the heat in the final minute to secure the win over António Dantas (POR) and advance to the Semifinals.
“I haven’t surfed for a while because we haven’t had waves, so it felt good to get back out there,” said Griffiths. “I got my daughter and all her little fans on the beach, the cheer squad. It’s so nice to win a heat at our local beach, so hopefully I can keep it going.”
Unfortunately Newquay local Ben Skinner (GBR) was eliminated in the Quarterfinals at the hands of Nicolás Andrade (ESP) and Louis Marchiset (FRA).
The YETI Pro QS 4,000 and Boardmasters Longboard Pro 1,000 presented by YETI will take place from August 5-9, 2026 at Fistral Beach, Newquay.
Boardmasters Open 2026 is proudly supported by YETI, with media partners Carve and SurfGirl.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
In this new episode of the PEOPLE OF SURFING series, Laure Mayer travels to West Africa — a land of fishermen and powerful waves where the ocean has shaped life for generations. Between ancestral tradition and a new generation of surfers claiming the lineup as their own, she meets a community defined by courage, pride and freedom in the face of the Atlantic. Joined by her friend and surf adventurer Kepa Acero, Laure dives into the stories, mindset and way of life that define West African surfing through shared sessions and powerful encounters. Beyond the waves, this episode is about people, culture and connection.
This is PEOPLE OF SURFING.
As the European summer heats up, so does the competition ramp up for the World Surf League (WSL) Europe contingent with the next stop on the Qualifying Series (QS) and Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) this week. All attention now shifts to the iconic Boardmasters festival at Fistral Beach, Cornwall from August 5-9, 2026 for the YETI Pro QS 4,000 and Boardmasters Longboard Pro presented by YETI.
YETI Pro QS 4,000 To Host 96 Men, 54 Women from 18 Countries
With YETI coming onboard as presenting partner, the QS received a well-deserved upgrade to a QS 4,000 competition, recognising the value and role this competition plays on the international surfing calendar. A field of 96 men and 54 women from 18 different countries will compete in the YETI Pro QS 4,000, the second stop of the WSL Europe QS season for 2026/2027.
Local favourite Lukas Skinner (GBR, above) will have his sights set on a third consecutive title in front of his home crowd, which will be a remarkable feat, but there’s no underestimating the depth of competition. Challenger Series contenders Guilherme Ribeiro (POR), Ido Hagag (WRL), Yago Dominguez (EUK) and Sean Gunning (ESP) have been getting in some important reps in the water at the first Challenger Series events last month.
Boardmasters Longboard Pro To Crown European Champions
The Boardmasters Longboard Pro presented by YETI will crown the European longboard champions for the season. Multiple European champion and Newquay-based Ben Skinner (GBR) will be contesting for the longboard title in his home town after coming so close with a third place finish in 2025. The 41-year-old surfer-shaper has been on a roll this year where he won the La Union International Pro in January, and backed it up with a runner-up result in Ferrol in June.
Eduoard Delpero (FRA, above) and Ginger Caimi (ITA, below) are leading the rankings after taking out the win at the GADIS Longboard Pro Ferrol. Caimi is also the defending event winner at Boardmasters, and will surely look to add another title next to her name.
As always, it’s a small but mighty field of competitors, with the likes of Antonio Dantas (POR), Jon Garmendia Gonzalez (ESP), Raony Portilla (FRA), Alice Lemoigne (FRA), Emily Currie (GBR) and Beth Leighfield (GBR) all lining up at this iconic event.
The Boardmasters festival is a five day celebration of music, surf, skate, wellness, food and art on the Cornish coast. For more information, visit boardmasters.com
Boardmasters Open 2026 is proudly supported by YETI, with media partners Carve and SurfGirl.
Watch Live
The Boardmasters Open 2026 will be broadcast live from August 7-9 on WorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL App and WSL YouTube.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
