Noah Hill, emerged from the world of professional surfing, and swiftly carved a name for himself with his remarkable agility and fearless approach to throaty waves. A flair for innovation and a relentless pursuit to full send at any given oppurtunity have cemented him and his a-game fully, hit the ink and give some love to the goofy-footers out there.
Save The Waves Coalition has launched a new phase of its ongoing campaign to protect the iconic Oaxacan point break, Punta Conejo: a proposal for a 3500+ acre protected area.
The proposed Punta Conejo Protected Area will preserve and safeguard over 3,500 acres of land, 6.5 miles of coastline including 3 surf breaks (Punta Conejo, Punta Chivo and Punta Escondida), and 1,277 acres of mangrove forest. Preserving this surf ecosystem would also conserve habitat for over 40 species of bird and 4 species of turtle, several of which are endangered.
In pursuing this designation, Save The Waves and their local partners are advocating the first-ever coastal “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna” in Oaxaca.
“Everything we have been working for in this campaign is coming to a turning point. What we can do here, together, is preserve not only the amazing wave that is Punta Conejo, but everything around it. It’s the unique intersection of the surf ecosystem that we believe is worth protecting,” said Nik Strong-Cvetich, CEO of Save The Waves.
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Punta Conejo is a renowned surf break along the coastline of Southern Oaxaca and has been at risk from multiple threats, including the construction of an industrial port project.
In 2019, Save The Waves teamed up with Reservas de Surf Mexico, A.C., Wildcoast, and Union de Surfistas y Salvavidas de Salina Cruz, A.C. to find alternative solutions to the port project that would have a lower impact on the surf ecosystem and the local economies that depend on it.
Together, they launched an international petition to raise awareness and garnered over 290,000 signatures of support.
Over the past four years, Save The Waves has hosted over 25 community workshops and meetings across 4 villages in the area of Salina Cruz to find the solution that would save Punta Conejo and the surrounding area.
“After a long but rewarding journey, joint efforts have resulted in the communities voting and advocating for the establishment of a coastal conservation area that includes wetlands, mangrove forests, beaches, surf breaks, and coastal dunes,” said Mara Arroyo, Conservation
Program Manager at Save The Waves. “By uniting local partners, our coalition aims to safeguard these ecosystems.”
Now, Save The Waves Coalition and local partners are proposing legitimate and legal protection for not only the wave at Punta Conejo, but the surrounding coastal area in the first-ever coastal “Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna ” in Oaxaca.
“An urgent decision must be made to protect the site from commodification and deforestation to guarantee the ecological services on which its inhabitants depend. The protection of wetlands and mangroves is an issue of national importance to fight against climate change and water scarcity,” said Efraín Olachea, Environmental Lawyer and STW coordinator of the campaign.
Save The Waves is once again reopening the petition for signatures, noting that international petitions such as this can go a long way in public awareness and even leverage in legislation.
“I want to see Punta Conejo protected because it is a wonder of surfing, not only in Mexico but in the entire world. It must be preserved and protected so that it can be enjoyed by all human beings forever,” said Uriel Camacho, one of the local leaders and longtime Conejo defender.
“We should all sign the petition since it is everyone’s responsibility to protect and keep safe these types of wonders that nature has given us. By signing you help make the world better”
To support the proposal to create a protected area for Punta Conejo and lend your voice to the campaign, sign the petition here.
Learn more about the #SalvemosPuntaConejo campaign here.
This swell chase takes the award for one of the best paddle sessions I’ve EVER filmed. Ask Nathan Florence, Billy Kemper, Jo Jo Roper, Benji Brand, Soli Bailey & the Coffin brothers. Cloudbreak was at its absolute dreamy best. Having arrived back into Sydney on the Monday after five months in Europe to catching an early flight out the following morning to Fiji.
Two days later on Thursday the 7th of March this edit shows how historic this day was. Enjoy.
North Devons Laura Crane is on a mission.
Join her as she shares the challenges and triumphs of professional sport and what lead her to want to tackle the world’s biggest waves.
“It’s not just about surfing, it’s about breaking free and finding the courage to be yourself.”
The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Corona, Stop No. 3 on the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), has been called back ON and could potentially crown its 2024 winners later today, in clean, three-to-four foot surf at Supertubos.
The women’s Quarterfinals will hit the lineup first at 7:03 a.m and be followed by the men’s Quarters. Both men and women’s Semifinals and Finals are on standby for a potential later start. Event officials will monitor conditions as waves have decreased in size overnight.
In both fields the World No.1 has failed to make Finals Day and this promises big shifts in the rankings before the Tour moves down-under for the next two CT stops at Bells Beach and Margaret River. Massive points are up-for-grabs today in Portugal for those fighting to keep their spot among the world’s best ahead of the Mid-season Cut.
Watch it all go down LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Women’s Quarterfinals Matchups:
HEAT 1: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS)
HEAT 2: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
HEAT 3: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
HEAT 4: Luana Silva (BRA) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA)
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Men’s Quarterfinals Matchups:
HEAT 1: Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA)
HEAT 2: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
HEAT 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
HEAT 4: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Joan Duru (FRA)
3x World Surfing Champion Tom Curren, Ireland’s cold surf warrior Gearoid McDaid, and Argentinian national hero Leandro Usuna take on Ireland’s coastline in Search of adventure, camaraderie, and connection with the local community.
Documented by Wasted Talent’s keen eye and brought to life with Rip Curl’s Search spirit, the clip is shot on location in the raw, verdant landscapes of Ireland. ‘FÁILTE’, which means “welcome” in Irish, is not just a greeting but an exploration of cultural connections, shared passions, and the spirit of welcoming the surf community into the fold.
Tricky forecasts, fun sessions in thick wetsuits, and epic gigs that only a place like McIntyre’s Saloon in Ballyshannon can host.
We caught up with Tom, Gearoid & Leandro to chat about the trip…
Gearoid McDaid
Gearoid, as the local legend, what spot were you most amped to show the guys?
I was pretty amped on showing the guys all the waves to be honest, there’s a lot of waves that are so amazing that no one ever knows about. Everyone always sees Mully and Aileens in Ireland but it was a super cool trip to be able to show the guys all the other waves we have on offer.
How did it feel to have surf royalty like Tom Curren join the Irish lineup?
It was definitely a surreal feeling having Tom in the water. It was pretty funny. Usually it’s the groms frothing over the pros being over, messaging me trying to find out where we were surfing, but having Tom on the trip, it was all the older boys that were super frothing on Tom being in the water and trying to find out where we were gonna be surfing.
What’s one thing about the Irish surf community that you think surprised Tom and Leandro?
I think just how welcoming and nice the whole Irish surf community is. It’s not like anywhere in the world. I don’t think everyone is always super nice and there’s very rarely any anger in the water, everyone gets waves and everyone shows respect to each other. People are frothing to surf no matter what, howling winds, rain or snow there’s always people in the water. It’s pretty sick how dedicated everyone is.
Leandro Usuna
Leandro, coming from Argentina, what was the biggest culture shock you experienced on the Irish coast?
The coast of Ireland is a giant country that ends in the sea, with its impressive, phosphorescent greenery. That impressed me a lot.
Then, the culture is very European, but it also has a mix of countryside.
In Argentina, it’s very lively, but there are many buildings, castles, it’s very old.
What impressed me the most was the culture, the history of Ireland, and how beautiful the landscape is, with those mountains, some of the biggest mountains in the world, the largest cliffs in the world, with that phosphorescent green next to that impressive sea and obviously the waves.
How did the warmth of the Irish people compare to the chill of their waters?
There was so much energy, and it made me feel a bit like I was at home in that sense. I felt like I was with many Latins, same as us Argentinians. It made me feel like they were just more Latins, because they are too friendly, too good-natured.
And well, they also make you feel very happy in the water. In the water, they respect you a lot. Seeing you in the water, surfing the waves with them, enjoying that place.
Putting that energy into putting on your suit and being far away from the world, surfing those waves in the middle of nowhere. With that cold, they make you feel very respected, they make you feel very much a part of them, part of the community. The truth is, I felt as if the Irish were my brothers.
How does it feel to go on The Search with Tom Curren?
It was something very special and something I will never forget. It was a unique trip that will never be repeated. Hopefully, it can be repeated somewhere else, but Ireland with Tom Curren, I don’t think that will happen again.
But the truth is I had an incredible time and I want to thank Rip Curl very much. I want to thank Tom Curren, Borja, and everyone who made this trip possible. We had a blast.
Tom Curren
Tom, after two decades, how’d it feel to surf in Ireland again?
Ireland looks about the same, although the surfing community has grown, and there is a lot of amazing surfing going on.
What was your most memorable moment during this Irish surfari?
Most memorable moment for me this time was getting to jam with Johnny Gallagher, and a couple of fun surf sessions with Gearoid, Lele and Frank!
