Braw- a short surf film from the north of Scotland

Braw- a short surf film from the north of Scotland

Craig Mclachlan is Scottish and British Junior Surfing Champ and a local at Thurso. He’s spent most the winter getting kegged…

“This winter I got the best barrels from sunny crisp cold days through to dark days before the blizzards.’ says Craig

‘The water gets down to 5 degrees in the Thurso lineup due to the melt waters coming off the mountains but with the right equipment you’re still pretty sweet in the keg. During the harsh winter conditions it was Malcolm Anderson who captured the incredible waves on footage and braved to stand on the reef for so long.

‘The fired up backing track was from a young band based in Scotland called The Zebecks. The song is called ‘Living’./

Supported by Dark North, Skindog Surfboards, Tens sunglasses and Figure Creative.

Occy Style Eras

Occy Style Eras

His unique approach to riding a wave has arguably inspired more “cover bands” than any other surfer in modern times, Occy claims he’s always evolving. “The best style to me,” he says, “is no style at all.”

Mark Occhilupo’s influence on surfing – especially for the legions of goofyfoots who came after him – is immeasurable. That said, he remains on his own personal style journey, from brash young upstart in the early ’80s to the surf-as-you-feel flow-master he is today.

As part of Billabong’s Five Decades celebration, they walk through some definitive eras in his surfing and get his take on them now:

00:00 – Phase 1: The Early Years
“After looking over the footage from this time, my arms are actually all over the place. It wasn’t until Gordon brought me up to the Gold Coast when I really learned how to smooth out my style.” – Mark Occhilupo

00:52 – Phase 2: Occy V. Curren
“It wasn’t until I saw Tom Curren come. I really loved the way he surfed and wanted to surf like that.” – Mark Occhilupo

01:50 – Phase 3: Set Free
“I surfed perfect waves, which made me fall in love with surfing again.” – Mark Occhilupo

02:22 – Phase 4: Unbeatable
“All that time filming with Jack in those perfect waves got me in prime form for the Dream Tour. I was actually practicing for those events years before I ever knew I was going to get to them.” – Mark Occhilupo

03:22 – Phase 5: Forever Fired Up
“These are the twilight years, the really good years. Every session is a blessing, and that’s what keeps me psyched.” – Mark Occhilupo

Sprynga – Reubyn Ash

Sprynga – Reubyn Ash

Sprynga – A single-session Spring surf edit with Reubyn Ash as he tears into some North Cornish nuggets.

Edited by Adam Norris of Offshores Photo.

Shot by Adam Norris. @offshoresphoto/

Music ‘Flipper’ by Soara
Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

• Current World No. 1 Molly Picklum Makes the Mid-season Cut
• Fitzgibbons, Igarashi, and Gilmore Put on Excellent Performances Under Pressure of Being Cut
• Colapinto, Florence, and Marks Dominate Competition in Opening Round 
• Men’s Wildcards Owen Wright and Xavier Huxtable Thrive 
• More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Presented by Bonsoy, Stop No. 4 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2023 Championship Tour (CT), commenced today with Winki Pop providing the world’s best surfers with rippable, three-to-four foot surf to open the prestigious event. The full day of competition saw the completion of the men’s and women’s Opening Rounds with lots of big scores posted. 

The stress of the looming Mid-season Cut proved to push some competitors to find success while others fell to the pressure. Current World No. 1 Molly Picklum (AUS) became the first woman to make the Mid-season Cut with her Opening Round win. Tour veteran Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), and Final 5 competitor Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) thrived, winning their Opening Round matchups in excellent form, while 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA above) and Brisa Hennessy (CRC) were sent to the Elimination Round.

Current World No. 1 Molly Picklum Makes the Mid-season Cut
Current World No. 1, Molly Picklum (AUS) secured herself a spot in the second half of the season by winning her Opening Round heat against Macy Callaghan (AUS) and Johanne Defay (FRA). Callaghan started the match strong, earning a 7.17 (out of possible 10) with a critical finishing maneuver. But, Picklum quickly answered back with several explosive turns to earn an excellent 8.00. As time wound down, Tour veteran Defay struggled to find a rhythm and was sent to the Elimination Round. In just her sophomore year on Tour, Picklum is getting closer to a shot at her maiden World Title.

“There’s always first-heat nerves, but Winki was providing, and it was just a matter of completing your rides to get the big scores and I’m super happy to open with an excellent score,” said Picklum. “It’s unfortunate to get cut, I’ve been there and I don’t want to do it again so I’m super happy to have made the cut. Final 5, let’s do this!”

Five-time World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) is currently sitting right below Picklum on the rankings and is eager to get the yellow Leader jersey back. She notched an important heat win in her Opening Round matchup against Lakey Peterson (USA) and event wildcard Kobie Enright (AUS).

Colapinto, Florence (above), and Marks Dominate Competition in Opening Round
California’s Griffin Colapinto (USA) looked right at home on the long rights of Winki Pop, posting a near-excellent two-wave total of 15.66 (out of a possible 20) in Heat 2 of the Opening Round. Colapinto’s scoreline included an 8.33 for a massive full-rotation air reverse. His performance was too much for his opponents Maxime Husenot (FRA) and Seth Moniz (HAW), to overcome. Currently sitting at fifth on the world rankings, Colapinto is eyeing a spot in the Rip Curl WSL Finals and a shot at a maiden World Title later this year.

“That was super fun, the waves were really similar to some spots at home in California, so I felt right at home,” Colapinto said. “There was a light sea breeze which helped with the airs, and I’m stoked to make it through with my friend Seth (Moniz). Obviously, the main focus this week is to win the event, but I’m also enjoying time with my friends and having fun. I’m really enjoying all aspects of my time on Tour this year, competition and downtime. I’m just making the most of all of it.”

The last heat of the men’s Opening Round was one of the most action-packed of the day. An in-form John John Florence (HAW) controlled the heat, displacing buckets of water with his signature power turns. Fellow Hawaiian Barron Mamiya and injury replacement Morgan Cibilic (AUS) posted solid scores, but they weren’t enough to catch Florence. As time wound down, Florence posted the second-highest heat total of the men’s Opening Round, an excellent 16.26 (out of a possible 20).

Floridian powerhouse Caroline Marks (USA, above) stamped her authority on the field, posting a massive two-wave total of 15.83 for her trademark backside attack. Competing at Bells for the first time since 2019, Marks dominated her matchup with Isabella Nichols (AUS) and fellow goofy-footer Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA). Marks has finished equal third in her last two appearances at Bells and hopes to improve on that result this year. Nichols also progressed into the Round of 16 with an impressive performance at Winki Pop, while Weston-Webb was sent to the Elimination Round.
“It feels really nice to get such a good start at this event,” Marks said. I’m really happy to be back at Bells Beach and just  Australia in general. It’s been a few years since my last trip, so I’m  grateful to be here. I have a really good relationship with this wave; some of my favourite surfers have won this event like Mark Occhilupo. I’m definitely drawing some inspiration from him.”

Men’s Wildcards Owen Wright and Xavier Huxtable Thrive
Aussie surfing legend Owen Wright (above) got his last CT event off to a great start, claiming the heat win over reigning World Champion and Bells Winner Filipe Toledo (BRA) and 2023 CT Rookie Ian Gentil (HAW). Wright looked in good rhythm with the long walls of Winki, combining pure lines with fins-free finishes to narrowly edge out his competitors and progress into the Round of 32.

“That felt great to get a heat win straight off the bat,” Wright said. “I’ve had a bit of time out of the jersey but I felt like I just slipped back into competition mode nicely and felt confident, which was good. I’m just so happy to get a win early in my final event. I think in the past at this event I’ve fallen in the Quarterfinals or around there so I’m hoping to surf with less pressure on myself this year and see what I can do as a wildcard.
Another wildcard who was turning heads on Day 1 was Trials winner Xavier Huxtable (AUS) who progressed through his heat in second place behind rankings leader Jack Robinson (AUS). Robinson was unstoppable, throwing multiple airs to comfortably win the heat, leaving Torquay local Huxable to take second over 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA). Slater will have to battle it out in the Elimination Round when competition resumes.

The next call will be made tomorrow morning at 7:15 a.m. AEST for a possible 7:35 a.m. AEST start.

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.50 DEF. Nat Young (USA) 11.43, Carlos Munoz (CRC) 8.54
HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 15.66 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 11.03, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 10.37
HEAT 3: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 13.27 DEF. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.94, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 10.34
HEAT 4: Dylan Moffat (AUS) 12.33 DEF. Joao Chianca (BRA) 11.67, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 10.84
HEAT 5: Owen Wright (AUS) 12.84 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 11.24, Ian Gentil (HAW) 10.36
HEAT 6: Jack Robinson (AUS) 12.56 DEF. Xavier Huxtable (AUS) 11.50, Kelly Slater (USA) 9.60
HEAT 7: Kolohe Andino (USA) 11.64 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 10.80, Connor O’Leary (AUS) 10.00
HEAT 8: Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 14.47 DEF. Jordy Smith (RSA) 12.47, Callum Robson (AUS) 11.93
HEAT 9: Jackson Baker (AUS) 13.00 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 11.37, Rio Waida (INA) 10.60
HEAT 10: Yago Dora (BRA) 13.83 DEF. Samuel Pupo (BRA) 13.67, Jake Marshall (USA) 10.00
HEAT 11: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 16.40 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.00, Liam O’Brien (AUS) 12.43
HEAT 12: John John Florence (HAW) 16.26 DEF. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 12.17, Barron Mamiya (HAW) 12.10

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Opening Round Results:
HEAT 1: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 13.07 DEF. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) 11.93, Caitlin Simmers (USA) 11.24
HEAT 2: Molly Picklum (AUS) 13.73 DEF. Macy Callaghan (AUS) 13.50, Johanne Defay (FRA) 13.16
HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.33 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 13.66, Kobie Enright (AUS) 12.57
HEAT 4: Caroline Marks (USA) 15.83 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 13.04, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 9.40
HEAT 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.57 DEF. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 13.73, Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.17
HEAT 6: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.16 DEF. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.06, Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 11.50

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Men’s Elimination Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS) vs. Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
HEAT 2: Rio Waida (INA) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Maxime Huscenot (FRA)
HEAT 3: Connor O’Leary (AUS) vs. Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Carlos Munoz (CRC)
HEAT 4: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW) vs. Jake Marshall (USA)

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Women’s Elimination Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Kobie Enright (AUS)
HEAT 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA)

More available at WorldSurfLeague.com.

Women attacked by two men in Balinese surf rage incident

Women attacked by two men in Balinese surf rage incident

In possibly the most pathetic incidents in surfing we have ever seen two men have have attacked two women after one of the men dropped in on a wave in a session in Bali.


In the incident all caught on film, Sara Taylor is dropped in on by a man, who is guided off the wave.

Then the mans friend paddles up to her and punches her in the back of the head.


The two men then confront Sarah in the lineup. T


The situation further escalates on the beach when Sarah and her filmer are confronted by the assailant, and then by both men.

There is simply no excuse for this sort of behaviour.

Hopefully the Indonesian authorities take the matter in hand

Hopalong Disability Surf Taster Day in North Wales!

Hopalong Disability Surf Taster Day in North Wales!

World surfing champion Llywelyn ‘Sponge’ Williams is running an open surf day for anyone with a disability that would love to get in the water and learn to surf in a safe environment.


The day will run at Porth Neigwl (Hells Mouth), North Wales with the amazing support of @surfability_uk who are coming up for the day with all their adapted boards to make sure everyone gets to surf comfortably!

The date will be 29th or the 30th of April depending on surf and weather conditions!

Participation is free but a donation would be much appreciated to cover costs needed to make it a success and safe.

If you would like to take part email Llywelyn , or message him on Insta or facebook Fb- Llywelyn Sponge Williams


Lew says “I want to thank all the volunteers we have had on this day in the past and would really appreciate if you could come down and give us a hand to make sure it all goes super smoothly once again.

“Please message me if you or know of anyone with a disability that would love to get in the water! Who knows you may love it and join our team one day for the @isasurfing world championships to Represent Wales !!”

“If you would like to donate to help cover costs of the day also send me a message , this will cover food drinks , costs of travel and accommodation for Surfability and hopefully a disabled toilet for us down on the beach.”