Monster swell hits in the Hossegor region. We are relieved following these past two storms that the sand bank hasn’t been destroyed, on the contrary it is perfectly in place witnessing this XXL session last Saturday. – Enjoy.
🏄 Vincent Duvignac, Paul Prezat, Floris Figues, Louis Poupi, Jeff Lartigue, Scalp, Remi Cordier, Paul Duvignau, François Elharrar, Leo Etienne, Kyllian Guerin, William Aliotti, Enzo Cavallini,
🎥 @ripitup.fr
Drone: @waved.surf
“Waiting through gale force winds, darkness, blizzards, white outs and snow makes it all the more special when eventually the magic happens.” says Ian Battrick, and he would know about it.
Batty spends months of his life sleeping in his car or van, living on porridge oats, on freezing cold Nordic adventures, check out his Artic adventures below, Batty is indeed a classic. @ianbattrick @lunasurf
An arctic adventure with surfing nomad and underground ripper Ian Battrick. Batty is about as hardcore as they come, global solo surf traveller and super stoked, this edit was mainly self-filmed over time, using a GoPro or camera just left on a tripod. With over 20 years experience of surfing the Arctic, Batty will do anything for a strike mission as this edit shows…
Thank you for the additional clips from:
Vilhjálmur Ólafsson
Mike Cochran
Baptiste Hardoy
Ben Weiland (Dane’s waves)
Steve Lewis
Elli Thor
Haukur Arara Gunnarsson
Nath turns up on an Azorean island minus boards, but the locals help him out and he scores what wa a threatened wave, saved by the actions of ‘Save Acores Waves’
16 of the best Groms across Europe joined O’Neill Rookie Rippers last October at The Wave in Bristol, UK. A unique opportunity to be coached by some of the best athletes in the world.
In this edition, Johanne Defay and Jordy Smith each drafted a team of Groms to go head to head in challenges crafted by world-class surf coaches, Philippe Malvaux and Ben Skinner.
Out of the water, Groms received training, video analysis of their sessions, mindset advice and lots of Q&A time with the Pros. The jam-packed weekend allowed the team to build stronger relationships with our distributors, the local core surf community and the future of surfing.
Team Johanne took the cake for most points won and two lucky Groms were crowned MVP. Next year they will be sponsored riders of Team O’Neill.
The aim of the O’Neill hosted event was to inspire, challenge and empower the next generation of surfers, as well as to strengthen the relationship between O’Neill and the local surf community.
The Rookies were divided into two teams, led by world-class surfers Johanne Defay and Jordy Smith. The teams competed in various challenges designed by Philippe Malvaux, one of the most respected surf coaches in the industry and O’Neill team rider Ben Skinner, a13-time British Longboard Champion and a two-time European Longboard Champion, as well as a renowned shaper and owner of Skindog Surfboards.
During the challenges the rookies received valuable feedback and tips from the coaches and the pros, as well as video analysis of their sessions. They learned how to improve their technique, strategy, and mindset, as well as how to have fun and enjoy surfing.
Out of the water, the Rookies had the chance to interact with Defay and Smith, who shared their stories, insights, and advice on how to pursue a career in surfing.
In the end Team Johanne took the the win and two rookies were being crowned MVP.
Women’s MVP: Belle Betteridge (United Kingdom)
Men’s MVP: Samuele Agliani (Canary Islands/Spain)
The MVPs were awarded a one-year sponsorship deal with O’Neill. They will also join the O’Neill team of riders, which includes some of the most talented and influential surfers in the world.
O’Neill Rookie Rippers was a unique experience for the rookies, who not only improved their surfing skills, but also made new friends and memories. O’Neill is proud to support the future of surfing and the Rookie Rippers’ plans for 2024 are in the works and will be released on oneill.com soon.
Filmed by Sam Light and James Symmonds. Edited by Sam Light
• Two-time World Champion Alana Nichols (USA) scores perfect 10, earns highest heat total in ISA para surfing history
• Pierrot Gagliano (FRA) tops Men’s Vision Impairment 2 leaderboard, secures first medal
• First ever heat win for Tash Davies (ENG) garners Semifinal berth with teammate Hannah Dines
Picture-perfect, three-to-four foot peaks and ‘Santa Ana’ offshore winds allowed for history-defining performances today in Surf City USA. Finalists were determined in multiple classifications, while the completion of qualifying rounds in most other divisions resulted in numerous eliminations, including those of multiple-time World Champions Matt Formston (AUS) and Jesse Billauer (USA).
Alana Nichols (USA above) returned to competition in incredible form when the Women’s Sit classification hit the water. The Paralympic and para surfing gold medalist opened with a 9.40 on her first wave of the event, but that was just the start. Late in the heat Nichols pulled into a freight-train of a barrel, her first ever in the ocean, to collect a perfect 10 and the highest heat total in ISA para surfing history, 19.40.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting it to barrel over me,” Nichols said. “I thought it was going to break behind me, and when it did, it was just like, ‘This is happening!’ I don’t know if I have the words yet for that, but it was so sick.
“To set that heat record is pretty phenomenal,” Nichols continued. “I just feel like I had the perfect conditions all around. I can’t tell you how proud I am of the women that I get to surf with and against, because to be a woman with a disability that loves to charge, that’s a rare combination.”
After a tough Round 1 heat, defending champion Camilo Abdula (POR) replaced both of his scores in Men’s Stand 1, Round 2 to gain progression into the Semifinals. Five-time gold medalist Felipe Kizu Lima (BRA) topped the leaderboard in Men’s Sit to secure yet another medal, as did two-time defending champion in Women’s Vision Impairment 1, Marta Paço (POR).
Australia’s Joel Taylor (above) collected the highest single wave score and heat total of the day for the men. Two critical turns on a speedy left earned him a 9.83, adding to a 7.67 for a 17.50 total. The former professional bodyboarder, who was rendered paraplegic due to an accident at Pipeline in 2001, has taken up para surfing within the past year after 21 years out of the water.
“It didn’t work on a bodyboard as a paraplegic,” Taylor said. “It just didn’t have the speed, and I like going fast. So I got on a board that works and I’m really loving it, really enjoying it.”
Pierrot Gagliano (FRA, above) tops Men’s Visual Impairment 2 leaderboard, secures first medal
After narrowly missing out on the final in his WPSC debut in 2022, Pierrot Gagliano (FRA) was relieved to secure first place on the leaderboard in the Men’s Vision Impairment 2 classification and guarantee himself a medal. The 23-year-old has been enjoying every minute of his time in Huntington Beach.
“It was really disappointing for me last year,” Gagliano said. “I was not able to get any good waves. Since we’re here, we’re scoring really good waves every day, so I’m stoked.”
An emotional Aaron Paulk (HAW) was also happy to make the final to represent his hometown of Lahaina, Maui and secure another medal. Two-time defending champion Roy Calderon (CRC) and 2022 silver medalist Jack Jackson (AUS) will join Paulk and Gagliano in the Vision Impairment 2 Final.
First ever heat win for Tash Davies (ENG above) garners Semifinal berth with teammate Hannah Dines (below)
Inspired to begin surfing in 2019 after seeing footage online of para surfers with a similar disability to her, Tash Davies (ENG) was instantly hooked and attended her first WPSC in 2020. Today the 32-year-old earned her first ever heat win, and was thrilled to progress to the Prone 1 Semifinals with teammate Hannah Dines.
“It felt really good,” Davies said. “We just, like, passed each other, she was coming out of her heat and I was getting ready to go in my heat and we had a little celebration in passing. It’s great to have both of us in the Semifinals, it’s brilliant for Team England.”
Competition will continue tomorrow at Southside Huntington Beach Pier at 7:00am PST.
