As followers may know legendary British surf photog Ben Selway has been battling brain cancer for some years, unfortunately it has returned meaning more ops and treatment.
Obviously as bread winner for his fam his finances are going otbne hit this winter. To help him his mate Dan Fine is running three half marathons and has set up Crowdfunder that you can donate to.
Dan posted
” Anyone that’s met Ben has positive things to say about him and his reputation as a photographer is second to none.
Life was in full swing for this family until a brain tumour returned after eight years needing further treatment.
As a self employed photographer/small business owner Ben & Kelly are working hard to keep things together.
“I am running 3 half marathons, St Agnes, Truro and The Eden Project in August, September & October to raise some money for this awesome family.
“Finances are always hit hard in these horrible situations so let’s show the love!”
Ben told Carve
“You might be wondering why you haven’t seen any content from me – that’s because since we last spoke I’ve been battling with brain cancer again. It was picked up on routine MRI and started as a 3mm nodule and seemingly was kept at bay for a while but it started developing into a tumour which initially they kept monitoring. I was then delivered the news that I needed a biopsy to test for grade 4 meaning I wouldn’t be with us for much longer, fortunately it was still grade 3 and, while still aggressive, it means I could have 8-10 years to live (I hope to God more).
“I had craniotomy in April to remove it which left me with mild weakness down my right side, particularly in my right hand which is something I can live with. I was hoping that was it but I’ve been told to undergo a course of radiotherapy which I’m now going through as we speak. This is majorly shit because with the brain you can only have radiation only once as opposed to other areas of the body. So I feel as if I’ve used up a powerful weapon for when it returns.
“I’m due to undergo a course of chemo in October for seven months. Our friend, Dan, is running three half marathons to raise money for us to give us a chance to get through all of this uncertainty and the winter months.
“I’m gonna get through all of this in the end, I’ll make damn sure I will!”
Or 3000kms across South Africa in a Hilux with one working door.
Oh Cape Town! The traditional begin and end spot for any South African adventure, the last stop in Africa before Antarctica and what a fabulous stop it is! Where to begin! Effortlessly stylish. The most glorious of settings. An Atlantic coast for swell and wind, and an Indian ocean to sedate it. The most friendly of locals, all the conveniences of a capital city with the greenery and situation of the Garden of Africa. Incredibly multicultural, with a plethora of people, food, drinks, art and all the good times that that brings. The beaches, the waterfront, the gardens, the mountain and the center. Penguins, whales, baboons. A very questionable bar called Van Hunks. Oh cape town how you have it all and me. In terms of Cities, I can’t think of a better one.
It is here we meet Mikey Feb, a man who needs little introduction. The man over the past years who stole surfing’s collective heart. Equally stylish in and out of the water, M Feb as he is affectionately known has long been a friend of WT, and when the opportunity presented itself to spend some time in ZAF in celebration of Mikey and his new Vans capsule we were on the next flight.
Now South African swell chases in season are quite the affair, namely because there are too many, a true plethora of options to choose from. Leaving Cape Town in the rain, which short circuited the car’s central locking and left us with one operational door (read, inconvenient) we roped in AVG, Alan Van Gysen to guide our adventure, pointed the nose towards J Bay and the rest, as they say is History!
And 2 weeks later we’re back in Cape Town. What have we learnt? We’ve driven 3000 kms in a Hilux with one working door and returned it to the wrong airport, 16 hours away. We’ve learnt that honey badgers will chew off their own feet to escape bear traps and that wind forecasts will always shit themselves. We’ve learnt that Castle Lite is the best beer in the world and after 5 days of drinking them, they have screw tops. We’ve learnt that the techno scene in Cape Town is alive and well, and in a word, terrifying. We also learnt that Mikey Feb is a very nice bloke and quite good at surfing, and if you ever happen to be anywhere in Africa, AVG is your man and takes lovely photos.
As the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy (SCT) readies to launch for the eleventh time, event organisers are thrilled to add three final names to this year’s star-studded lineup.
Joining Brazilian world champion Adriano de Souza and Hawaiian super siblings Mason and Coco Ho at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa will be 2012 World Champion Joel Parkinson, Californian style master, Conner Coffin, and local wildcard and 2021 Maldives national champion Hood “Hoobs” Ahmed.
Parkinson first competed in the Surfing Champions Trophy in 2019 – where he reached the Grand Final head-to-head against Josh Kerr – and can’t wait to bring his family back to create more memories at Four Seasons Resort Kuda Huraa in 2023.
“My last time in the Surfing Champions Trophy was so much fun,” comments Parko. The surfing was amazing and I loved competing on all the different kinds of boards. I only hope I can drag my family away from all of the activities at Kuda Huraa for long enough to watch my heats!”
“Reconnecting with Adriano will be awesome, we spent so much time competing against each other at the highest level that I’m really looking forward to hanging out in a more relaxed setting, in paradise with our families. I’ve always loved Mason and Coco’s surfing and seeing them on single and twin fins is going to be insane. I can’t wait to come up against Conner again too. He’s a bit younger than me but we’ve been friends for a long time and now that we’re off tour we haven’t seen each other as much, so to have him in a heat at pumping Sultans will be very, very fun.”
“Parko is the man!” says 30-year-old natural footer Coffin, who competed on the championship tour for six years and finished fourth in the world in 2021. “His style is amazing, and even though I grew up in Santa Barbara, where Tom Curren is king, I always watched Joel’s surfing closely too. The last time we surfed against each other was at J-Bay the year that Joel retired, so it will be really fun to have some heats together again.”
“I travelled with Mason for years” says Coffin, “so to come up against him on a single fin would be insane! Obviously Coco rips too, and Adriano is a world champion so his record speaks for itself. He’s such a nice guy out of the water and I can’t wait to hang, it might be a different story in a jersey though! I’ve always seen the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy and thought it looked like a dream to compete in so I’m super appreciative that I’ve been invited. I can’t wait to soak up all the sights and see what the level of local surfing is like too.”
On that front, the event will also showcase the incredible wave-riding talents of local wildcard, Hood “Hoobs” Ahmed, in his first appearance at the Surfing Champions Trophy. “I’m a very happy, proud Maldivian,” says the 32-year-old goofyfooter and surf guide, who was the Maldivian national champion in 2021. “To compete in the Surfing Champions Trophy is a dream, one I never really thought would come true. Having the chance to represent my country in the biggest event in the Maldives is a huge honour for me and my family.”
“I’m really looking forward to surfing with Joel Parkinson, who has always been a favourite, as well as Mason Ho, whose surfing I find very inspiring. My good friend Hussain “Iboo” Areef competed last year and told me it was one of the best experiences of his life so I’m very excited to be involved, and can’t wait to welcome everyone to the Maldives in August!”
This year the Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy will run from 21-28 August at the surfer’s paradise of Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa. Surfers will square off in three divisions, riding single, twin and (thruster) tri fin surfboards before the two top ranked competitors surf off to hoist the Surfing Champions Trophy. Heat times are staggered by age and though vibes will be high at all times, with $25,000 in prize money up for grabs the surfers will be going hard in their heats from start to finish. Stay tuned for more updates from paradise as the excitement levels build leading into August.
To catch all the exhilarating action, surf fans can book the Surf & Spa package, available for the entire month of August.
The offer includes a session for two with expert Tropicsurf coaches, a two-for-one offer at The Island Spa, 15 percent off non-suite rooms, in-villa welcome refreshments, round-trip airport transfers, and daily buffet breakfast at Café Huraa. To reserve your stay in this surfer’s paradise, book online, email: [email protected] or call the central reservations department of Four Seasons Resorts Maldives at tel: (960) 66 00 888.
The final curtain fell on this year’s Boardmasters as the one and only Florence + The Machine graced the main stage for a dazzling, ethereal headline performance. One of Boardmasters most unforgettable sets of all time brought the festival to a truly sensational close. Boardmasters’ home of Watergate Bay welcomed tens of thousands of adoring fans who gathered for a line up comprising internationally-acclaimed artists, and so much more to be discovered beyond the music.
Florence + The Machine’s headline set was nothing short of euphoric. Florence graced the stage, seemingly floating as she sang along with the crowd to hits including You’ve Got The Love, Dog Days Are Over and Shake It Out. Building up anticipation before the headline act was Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy who belted out his catalogue of powerful, emotive tracks which have catapulted him to #1 album territory. Tion Wayne, Sofi Tukker, Caity Baiser (who also surprised festival goers with a surprise set at The Cove), and Black Honey amongst others made sure the main stage kept the vibes riding high from start to finish.
Land Of Saints enticed fans with a huge line up including Jockstrap, Squid, Connie Constance, Shygirl, rounded off into the evening and early hours with Four Tet and Joy (Anonymous). Unleashed was the home of high octane dance, d’n’b and more with a stellar mix of acts from Bru-C and Tom Zanetti, to Riton and Charlie Hedges to name a few. Fans kept their dancing shoes on at The Point with DJs including Charlie Boon, Sally C and Sarah Story spinning lively tracks, as well as Paul Woolford going b2b with Danny Howard to make sure the bangers continued into the early hours. The View, looking out onto the sea, played out an eclectic mix of new music, rising stars and much more with VC Pines, Caravaña Sun, Aine Deane and tonnes more keeping fans entertained.
Plus, there was drum’n’bass playing out at The Dockyard and DB90 and late night revelry at The Submarine and 80s cheese and light up dance floors at the Transatlantic Lounge. The Green Team continued on their daily beach cleans, doing their bit alongside festival goers to make strong efforts towards its continued sustainability goals. Beach cleans took place at Porth Beach, Watergate Bay, Great Western and Fistral Beach.
The Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 Animal Pro and Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1,000 Reef Longboard Pro crowned their 2023 winners in three-to-five foot surf at Fistral beach to wrap the surfing events at Boardmasters. In a battle of epic proportions with British rising star Alys Barton (GBR), the reigning European Champion Yolanda Hopkins (POR) managed to fend off her opponent to claim the first-ever three-peat at the Animal Pro. Kai Odriozola (ESP) and Ido Arkin (ISR) fought in a wave-starved heat and tried to milk every opportunity. Eventually it was the basque surfer Odriozola who found the best scoring opportunity in the tricky lineup. The young San Sebastian surfer appeared in his second Final of a QS and this time managed to convert for a first win on the professional tour at only 17 years old.
The former runner-up in the world, Alice Lemoigne (FRA) continued to demonstrate her superiority in the Cornish waters as she absolutely dominated the Reef Longboard Pro women’s Final. The Reunion Island native became the first surfer to claim five victories at Boardmasters, but only briefly enjoyed the standalone record as she was joined in the last heat of the day by Edouard Delpero who equaled the feat. French surfer from Biarritz, Edouard Delpero (FRA) also managed to claim a fifth win on the Cornish coast, defeating compatriot Martin Coret (REU) as well as Jon Garmendia (ESP) and Ignacio Pignataro (URY) in the event’s Final. In a friendly battle with his own brother for the most wins on tour, Edouard went one better than Antoine, both surfers having won four times before at Fistral. This marks Edouard’s 12th professional win to date.
Yesterday, all camping festival goers are heading home and the post-event clean up operation will begin right away. Boardmasters encourages all camping attendees to take home their tents and Leave Only Footprints. Boardmasters’ team of volunteers, supervisors, charity partners and in-house team will be on site to clear the site once festival goers have left. The clean up operation is a robust and thorough process, with the main aim to leave Boardmasters’ beautiful Newquay home at Watergate Bay in pristine condition. Campsites nearest to Watergate Bay road will be prioritised first. The fields will be clear by the end of the week. Help the Homeless will be salvaging any quality tents that are left behind to help those in need.
It’s certainly been a Boardmasters for the ages. Boardmasters will be back next year, with details to be announced very soon. For more information and to sign up for the 2024 presale for exclusive 24 hour ticket access, visit boardmasters.com.
Our favourite time year when we celebrate Britains and Irelands best photographers and their photos. You don't have to be pro, you don't have to have the best gear, you just have to have an eye for the moment. Every one is in with a chance and we will be running a full a gallery of the top contenders next issue. Lineups, action, portraits, show us what you got! Ever wanted your shots in print? Send them in! Know someone has super talented but a bit shy? Send their shots in! The closing date for entry is August 21st, 2023.
The Carve editorial team will select top 10-15 photos and a final winner. To Enter: Send a maximum of 5 low res photos to [email protected]
The finalists will have their shots printed in Carve and we will be picking the best photos to be printed in a full feature.
Have your cameras/shots at the ready, we can't wait to see your creative work.
Team Carve.
The deal:
Anyone can enter a shot as long as:
You’re a British or Irish photographer, although the location of photos does not matter.
You can supply us with your best action or lifestyle shots which have been taken in the last year and are unpublished.
Finalists will need to send original files, provide proof of ownership and date taken using the RAW file information. Uncropped full frame files with your colour corrected/edited version.
The photos will need to be printed A3 with no loss of quality, so please do not crop the image.
The closing date for entry is August 21st, 2023. The Carve editorial team will select top 10-15 photos and a final winner.
The prize bundle: dryrobe advance of the winner's choice worth £160 and a dry robe Compression Backpack worth £95, choice of: Rip Curl Journey Fleece Buclet Hat £34.99, Rip Curl Anti Series Journey Rip Crew £119.99, Rip Curl Wetty Crew Sock £19.99, Rip Curl Anti series shore break jacket £219.99, Rip Curl Cord surf bucket hat £34.99, Rip Curl icons of surf sock £19.99, three limited edition Carve X Town and Country Car seat covers for the runners up. Town & Country Covers townandcountrycovers.com+ more to come.
T+C’s Got to run these because law. - No cash alternatives to the prize. By entering you agree to allow Carve (Orca Publications) using your photo in the mag and online (You will be credited or tagged when we do). No one else will use your photo. We will contact those in the final selection directly. We can't answer all messages or emails so bear with us.
Filmed on a single day during the recent Summer swell madness, ‘Opener’ features some of the North Coast elite getting their El Nino reps in. Featuring Reubyn & Joss Ash, Miles Lee-Hargreaves & Barnaby Cox mixing it up with local regulars.
