Ben Larg is poised to grasp the professional surfing career he had always dreamt of. But just days after signing contracts with Red Bull and O’Neill he is victim to an unprovoked assault, derailing his career. The 18-year-old Scottish big wave surfer faces injuries, failed surgeries and self-doubt as he navigates the road to adulthood and battles to regain his place in one of the world’s most deadly arena’s. More than an action sports documentary, this is a coming-of-age story, exploring themes of psychological recovery, the modern day pressures of social media and the persistence to achieve a dream when the odds are stacked against you.
Raised on an Isolated Scottish island with a population of 600, Ben did the unthinkable and became Scotland’s first professional surfer. This year he took it another step and became youngest surfer to compete the WSL Tow Surf Challenge. Not only that he secured third place over some of the best in the world.
We believe this is truly, a one of a kind surf documentary, with themes relatable to those within and outwith the surfing world. We discuss localism openly with input from top names Nic Von Rupp and Andrew Cotton and see the pressures of the action sports, paying respect to the grit of young athletes today.
Directed and Filmed by: Antoine Couturier & Samuel Howard
Produced by: Samuel Howard
Executive Producer: Beatrix Wood
Edited by: Antoine Couturier
Colour Grade: Max Ferguson Hook
Sound Design + Mix: Isobel Cope + Fin Mowat
Beyond the Island – Exclusive Preview Screenings 26th & 27th of April at Lost Shore Surf Resort
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 5 of the 2025 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), kicked off today with the completion of the women’s Opening Round. The Bells Bowl delivered super clean surf in the three-to-four-foot range before the high tide swallowed the surf, and only one heat into the men’s Opening Round, the competition was put on standby until tomorrow. Before the event was called off for the day, some iconic guests made their appearances in specialty heats as the beach filled with Easter Weekend fans. The next call will be tomorrow, Saturday, April 19, at 6:45 a.m. AEST for a possible 7:03 a.m. start.
Rip Curl has launched its most advanced surf and tide watch yet – the Search GPS3, with a reimagined Rip Curl Search GPS iOS app for Apple Watch.
“Whether you’re chasing perfect conditions or reliving your latest surf session, this next-gen surf tech gives surfers everything they need—right on their wrist. The Rip Curl Search GPS3 Watch offers advanced metrics like paddle count, wave speed, and distance travelled, alongside real-time surf conditions powered by the experts at Surfline.
“Since launching the first GPS surf and tide watch in 2014, Rip Curl has tracked over 25 million waves across 2,400 beaches globally, in 76 different countries.
“We’re stoked to finally launch the new Search GPS3 watch, packed with next-level surf and tide features,” said Michael Choma, Senior Designer of Product, Experience & Innovation at Rip Curl. “Now, with the Search GPS app available on Apple Watch, even more surfers can experience this groundbreaking technology and become part of a global surfing community.”
Designed for life in and out of the water, the Rip Curl Search GPS3 Watch is thinner, lighter, and more durable than previous models. It features a vibrant high-resolution colour display, added fitness tracking (including step count, calorie burn, and goal setting), an on-wrist logbook, and seamless phone syncing via the new Rip Curl Search GPS iOS app.
The Rip Curl Search GPS iOS app can now be downloaded on Apple Watch for the very first time, transforming it into an advanced surf tracking device. Apple Watch users can relive their sessions, compare statistics with friends, check out the pro’s latest surfs, and share their experiences on social media. With an estimated 1.7 million surfers owning Apple Watches, the new app is set to expand Rip Curl’s reach and connect with an entirely new community.
Additionally, the Rip Curl Search GPS iOS app offers a leaderboard-style competition called ‘Boss of the Break,’ where surfers can compete against others at their local surf spots. This feature is designed to foster friendly competition and a sense of community with others who surf the same break. Surfers can also create their own virtual leagues to compete against their friends all around the world.
With both free and premium subscription options available, surfers can choose the plan that best fits their needs. The Rip Curl Search GPS3 Watch is available for purchase at Rip Curl stores and online at www.ripcurl.com for $349.99 AUD as of April 18. The Search GPS iOS app is available to download now via the Apple App Store.
Filmmaker and narrator Uriel Jean Armel sets out to document what it means to live with purpose. Along the way, iconic surfers including Tom Carroll, who turned his struggle with addiction into a gift, and rising voices for activism and awareness through surfing like Koa Smith and Pacha Light share their own stories of transformation.
The first ever World Surf League (WSL) Pro Junior event is coming to the Northwest of Ireland in September 2025.
Bundoran, April 2025.
The Saltwater Festival is set to make history in Irish Surfing as it brings the first World Surf League (WSL) event to Northwest Ireland this September. The four-day competition will take place from 4–7 September 2025 in Bundoran.
Organised as part of Saltwater Festival, the high profile surf event will feature over 100 of the top under-21 male and female surfers from across Europe, competing in the European leg of the World Tour.
Entries for the competition will open on the World Surf League website from 9am this Thursday.
Grace Doyle
“This is huge for Irish surfing and recognition of the quality of surf, the talent emerging in Ireland and the importance of surfing along the Wild Atlantic Way” said Pete Craig one of the Organisers of the event.
The main competition will be held at the iconic wave “The Peak” in Bundoran, with Tullan Strand, and Strandhill designated as backup locations.
Rob Gunning World Surf League, Joan Crawford Failte Ireland, Daniel Browne and Pete Craig Saltwater Festival, Shane Smyth Donegal Tourism, Ryan Vail Saltwater Festival at the Iconic Surf spot The Peak in Bundoran which will host the first ever World Surf League Pro Junior event to be held in Ireland this September
The World Surf League (WSL) is renowned for organising and promoting professional surfing competitions worldwide. Now, Ireland’s coastline will serve as the next stage for young surfing talents, further strengthening the country’s reputation on the global surfing scene.
“WSL Europe are very excited to be part of this new project ! For the first time we will be taking our athletes to Ireland and the exceptional quality waves of Bundoran. Adding such a stop to our European Junior Series is a great plus for us and our members”, said Rob Gunning, The WSL Europe Tour Manager.
“The European Junior Pro Series is very important to the development of the future surfing stars of Ireland and Europe as a whole. I would like to thank the organizers, Failtes Ireland, Bundoran and all the event partners who have made this inaugural event possible. I am certain it will be a great show and a great platform to show the world the waves and surfing talent Ireland has to offer.’ added Gunning.
Josh Karbus
Over the weekend Strandhill will also see the “Expression Session” surf event for contestants from the World Surf League event to take on the top Irish Surfers creating a unique opportunity for Irish surfers to take on the professionals.
The same weekend will also see the European Surf Ski Championships held in Easkey Co Sligo with over 100 competitors from across Europe battling it out on another of the region’s iconic waves.
In Rossnowlagh, the Liquid Therapy Open Day will see Liquid Therapy, the award winning charity, welcoming surfers with special needs into the Atlantic waters, celebrating diversity and inclusivity in surfing.
“The stretch of coastline from Easkey to Strandhill and Bundoran to Rossnowlagh along the south of Donegal Bay is one of the best stretches of coast in the world for surfing. With Saltwater we want to celebrate and honour that and the unique Irish surf culture that has emerged”, said Pete.
Running alongside the WSL event, the Saltwater Festival will celebrate coastal life with a diverse lineup of beach sports events, food experiences, film screenings, and a music trail, offering an unforgettable experience for attendees.
Proudly supported by Fáilte Ireland, Donegal County Council, and the Wild Atlantic Way, Saltwater aims to be the heartbeat of this celebration, bringing the spirit of Ireland’s west coast to life in the country’s surfing capital.
SAS latest Water Quality Report reveals that sewage is being dumped into our rivers and seas on a scale that defies belief—and the people who should be stopping it are cashing in instead.
592,478 sewage dumps pouring into UK waterways for over 4.7 million hours.
£1.2 billion handed to water company shareholders while our health and planet pay the price.
2,487 pollution incidents in England—more than double the target set by the Environment Agency.
Over a quarter of adults in England are so fed up they’ve considered not paying their water bills.
While private water companies handed £1.2 billion to shareholders, they also dumped 4.7 million hours of sewage into our waterways in 2024. That’s 592,478 spills in just one year.
At the same time, water bills are rising, targets are being missed, and public trust is circling the drain. Over a quarter of adults in England are so fed up, they’ve considered not paying their water bills.
Pepoe are getting sick.
A fact know since the first SAS health surveys back inhere 1990
The SAS Safer Seas & Rivers Service App received 1,853 illness reports from water users in 2024 alone—that’s five people a day getting sick after entering polluted water.
331 people saw a doctor
79% were told their illness was caused by sewage
From gastro bugs to chest infections, even hospitalisations and heart surgery—the human cost is staggering.
The report uncovers
592,478 sewage dumps pouring into UK waterways for over 4.7 million hours.
£1.2 billion handed to water company shareholders while our health and planet pay the price.
2,487 pollution incidents in England—more than double the target set by the Environment Agency.
Over a quarter of adults in England are so fed up they’ve considered not paying their water bills.
