Was this the craziest pipeline collision ever? The drone view of that infamous wipe out is something else, they say it’s good to share but this is taking the p*ss right? You’ll be pleased to hear they hugged and made up post pipe cuddle.
Freedom Riders Foundation and Sentinel Ocean Alliance brings surf therapy and ocean education programme to the under-resourced communities and vulnerable children of Jeffreys Bay
A new surf therapy and ocean education programme has launched in the iconic surf village of Jeffreys Bay, South Africa. Local not-for-profit organisation (NPO) Freedom Riders Foundation have partnered with Cape Town-based NPO Sentinel Ocean Alliance (SOA), to establish the first child-friendly mental health programme in Jeffreys Bay through surf therapy. The aim of this programme is to make community-based mental health services accessible to vulnerable children from the under-resourced coastal communities of Jeffreys Bay.
Surf therapy is an innovative evidence-based programme developed by Waves For Change, that fuses the rush of surfing with mind-body therapy, for children and young people who are exposed to high levels of trauma, violence and adversity.
The Freedom Riders Surf Therapy Programme will focus on therapeutic and health outcomes, rather than sports performance – although the stoke of mastering a new and exciting physical activity like surfing contributes hugely to those well-being outcomes.
“There is a great need for a programme like this in Jeffreys Bay. The impact of Covid-19 in the community of Jeffreys Bay has been far-reaching. Not only has education been severely disrupted, but these kids are also battling other huge violations such as poverty, violence and loss of household livelihoods which have deepened the impact of the pandemic and created an even greater need for mental health support. The children of these communities need role models and mentors to look up to and we are hoping this programme will help them learn valuable life skills that is sadly not afforded to many of the kids from these areas”, says Cheron Kraak, founder of Jeffreys Bay Surf Alliance, and partner of the Freedom Riders Surf Therapy Programme.
The programme will provide children with access to caring adults and a supportive peer group, build a positive self-concept by independently mastering the difficult new tasks of surfing and meditation, and offer respite from the stress caused by the adversity they experience daily.
By including ocean education and awareness into the curriculum, the children will broaden their knowledge about the oceans, the threats they are facing as well as practical solutions to these problems. This will empower and enable the children to become ocean activists and community leaders.
Says SOA Founder and professional big wave surfer, Frank Solomon, “The sport of surfing has the ability to impact lives in a profound way. This surf therapy programme has been proven to help young people build positive relationships, learn to identify emotions, self-regulate and build a positive vision of their future and we are very excited to be involved.”
Since its founding in 1999, Freedom Riders Foundation (also known as Jeffreys Bay Surf Club), has implemented its surfing development programme to uplift the youth residing in the previously disadvantaged community of Pellsrus in Jeffreys Bay.
Says Freedom Riders Academy Programme Manager, Daniel Jeggels, “I am excited to take our programme to the next level by teaching ocean education and life skills through surfing to make a lasting contribution to the lives of the kids from my community.”
The NPO is also partnered with Sentinel Ocean Alliance, a Hout Bay-based NPO that has initiated a number of successful community programmes. These include the Parley Ocean School, which educates disadvantaged children about the ocean environment, the Hout Bay Surf Lifesaving Club, an employer of youths from the local community, and Turn the Tide, which teaches local kids how to swim.
For more info head to one of the links below
Photo: Al Mackinnon
An anonymous group of activists known as the Save Barbuda movement, in partnership with the Global Legal Action Network, have set up a campaign to stop the island of Barbuda being devastated by a massive, illegal building project for the super-rich.
Barbuda is a small, low-lying and arid island in the Caribbean. It contains critical ecosystems, unique flora and fauna, and a highly-mobile natural coastal barrier system that evolved over millions of years. To make sure people leave it alone, a large section of Barbuda has been declared a protected wetland area under an international treaty called the RAMSAR Convention. Barbuda also contains a world-class wave at Palmetto Point, a fragile system of sand dunes and mangrove ecosystem located on the southwest tip of the island.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma damaged or destroyed approximately 90% of structures on Barbuda. While the island was evacuated, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda – which operates from Antigua – pushed forward new laws permitting the takeover of vast areas of communally-held land on Barbuda, to sell to outside investors.
Photo: Al Mackinnon
The delicate nature of a place like this, and the fact that it is protected under an international agreement, would make you think that nobody in their right mind would try to build a 600-acre luxury housing complex for billionaires, complete with its own airport and golf course, right on top of Palmetto point. Well, you’d be wrong. Work has already started on such a project, and, apparently, several properties have already been sold. It is called Barbuda Ocean Club, and the company behind it is called Peace, Love and Happiness (PLH).
The construction will have dire consequences. It will destroy the ecosystem, with its unique flora and fauna. It will alter the coastal morphology, which could destabilise the rest of the island and jeopardise other human settlements. And, of course, it will threaten the surfing wave at Palmetto Point.
Apart from being an environmental and social crime, the project is illegal, because it is inside a Ramsar protected area. So please help to stop it by going to the links below:
Taylor Owen Mason is organising this fundraiser to benefit Surfers Against Sewage. The worlds first yoke half marathon raising funds for Surfers Against Sewage.
For his 3rd sports challenge he’s going to attempt to complete the worlds first strongman yoke carry 1/2 marathon covering the full 13.1 miles with a 60kg yoke frame on his shoulders (which is 83% of his body weight.)
“For my first challenge (The Pen-Y-Fan Tractor Tyre Push) I chose a charity dedicated towards researching mental health and developing treatments. For my second (The Mighty Hammerthon) I chose a non-profit organisation dedicated towards changing the social media and technological landscape that impacts the quality of our mental wellness daily. Now for my third challenge I want to focus on a positive and support something has been a source of happiness, peace, clarity and comfort for myself and millions of others – the ocean.”
“Surfing and spending time near (or in) the ocean has been a fountain of good mental health for centuries. It’s given us so much from being the very place of our origin to delivering a whole host of life and eco-system supporting properties but now we’re facing an ocean crisis. Our waters are being polluted with waste and sewage, big companies are continuing to harvest and expand operations of drilling for oil, populations of marine life and coral are being depleted and going extinct and yet on top of all that over 8 million tons of plastic is ending up in the ocean each year. That’s equivalent to the weight of 640,000 double decker London buses – that’s actually insane! The worst part is we don’t seem to be slowing down BUT it’s not too late to have a massive impact.”
“Surfers against sewage is on a mission to save our oceans, educate all who will listen and create a culture of ocean activists who are willing to fight for change – thriving ocean, thriving people. I’ve been passionate about surfers against sewage and a member for years but I want to do far more than just send a few pounds a month, that’s why I’ve chosen this incredible charity for the worlds first yoke carry 1/2 marathon!”
Hawaii’s Moana Jones Wong Defeats 5X World Champion Carissa Moore in Final, Jumps to World No. 1 on WSL Rankings.
Moana Jones Wong (HAW) made surfing history today by winning the Billabong Pro Pipeline in an all-Hawaiian Final against five-time World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW). The first-ever full women’s event on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) at the iconic North Shore break culminated in fantastic fashion with Wong’s statement-making victory.
“I can’t believe it, I’m just losing it right now,” Wong said. “This is the best moment of my life and I’m so baffled. I never thought I was ever going to accomplish this. Carissa Moore is my favorite surfer and my hero, I always wanted to have a Final at Pipeline with her.”
The 22-year-old local surfer that has committed her time to the Pipeline lineup has already proven herself at one of the most challenging waves in the world, and now has put the CT on alert with her performance in competition today. A five-time finalist on the Qualifying Series at Pipeline, she won the HIC Pipe Pro last December and stepped up her game against the world’s best athletes to claim her first CT win. She is the first wildcard to do so since two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) in 2010 just up the road at Sunset Beach.
In the Final, Wong picked up right where she left off with two back-to-back rides on Banzai Pipeline to post an early lead of 12 points. The crowds erupted every time the local hero got up to her feet and as she made every wave she paddled for in the opening half, the momentum seemed to be on her side. Another successful ride on at Pipeline pushed the requirement for Moore further up and the World Champion was against the ropes with 10 minutes remaining on the clock.
As time ran out, Wong got a final opportunity when she started super deep, counter-peak on a left, and got a clean exit for a 7.67 (out of a possible 10) and a victory lap on home turf as Moore (above) admitted defeat and congratulated her opponent. Now sitting as World No. 1, Wong will also receive a wildcard slot into the next stop on the 2022 Championship Tour, the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach, which opens next week.
Now a two-time runner-up at Pipeline, Moore added another stellar result on her resume to kick-start her defending campaign on the 2022 CT. Unable to find the exit door on a few big waves in the Final, Moore was humbled by the performance of her young opponent and gracious in defeat.
“I feel like I’m constantly learning,” Moore said. “Today was a little bit outside of my comfort zone, there was a lot of water moving and for me, it was just about putting in some more time with only another surfer out. Congratulations Moana, there’s no one more deserving, she’s put in years and years out here and you could tell she did a great job.”
Australia’s Wright (below) put up a great fight in the first Semifinal against Wong, locking into a Backdoor bomb for an 8.83, the best single score of their heat. However, the former World Champion failed to back up her main score and a priority mistake in the dying moments of the heat ended her run at the inaugural women’s Billabong Pro Pipeline in equal third place.
“It feels amazing to have this opportunity,” Wright said. “We’re in the pioneering stage, Moana is literally the best of us, she’s trained so hard out here and was always going to be the number one to beat. I was scared but by the end of the heat, you’re starting to figure out where your lines are. None of us have been out there when it’s this big and nowhere close to being in the position. Overall I’m absolutely thrilled, we do deserve to be out there and to have a position in the lineup and I think we’re really showing that right now and it’s really exciting for the future.”
In the second Semifinal, Lakey Peterson (USA) did not find any opportunities to score and fell short against Moore. But the perennial title contender posts a strong start to her 2022 campaign with an equal third place.
For highlights from the Billabong Pro Pipeline, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Final Results:
1 – Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 14.34
2 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 3.73
Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Semifinals Results:
HEAT 1: Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 14.00 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 9.76
HEAT 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 7.84 def. Lakey Peterson (USA) 1.26
11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) won the Billabong Pro Pipeline, the first stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2022 Championship Tour (CT), over local hero Seth Moniz (HAW) in pumping eight-to-twelve foot surf. With a near-perfect score of 18.77 (out of a possible 20) and on his 30th year surfing amongst the world’s best, Slater earned his 8th CT win at the world-renowned Banzai Pipeline, marking his 56th CT victory.
“I don’t even know what to say,” said Slater. “I was out there just telling myself to be in the moment, no matter how much tension there is. Just breathe. So I was just breathing, being in the moment. I thought Seth (Moniz) broke the combo because of the crowd and I said, ‘Just stay in the moment, soak it up.’ But I just savored this and this is the best win of my life.”
The exhaustion from two previous heats in demanding conditions felt palpable as both Slater and Moniz wiped out on their first few rides in the Final. Ten minutes in, the 49-year-old turned the heat up with an extra-long forehand barrel at Backdoor for a 9-point ride and a commanding early lead. While the Hawaiian’s attempts remained unsuccessful, Slater continued to build momentum with a 7.17 to put Moniz in a combination situation needing two scores to challenge him for the title. Far from contempt with a 16+ total, Slater found a third gem on Backdoor to improve his backup score to an 8.17.
With two minutes on the clock and while the heat result was all but final, both surfers locked into insane back-to-back 9+ points barrels at Backdoor and had the huge crowds erupting on the beach, putting a final exciting touch to an incredible week of high-performance surfing.
Earlier in the day, Slater won heats against Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) and Miguel Pupo (BRA) in dominating fashion. Igarashi had a 3-0 record against the now eight-time Pipeline event winner until their Quarterfinal bout. Unfortunately for Pupo, the heat began with an interference on him as Slater looked to go Backdoor and Pupo had his eyes on Pipeline, which was deemed a non-makeable wave.
In only his third season on the CT, Moniz continued to impress with a massive result, a runner-up finish on his home turf. A favorite when it comes to big, hollow waves, the Hawaiian was lifted by the support of huge crowds on the beach at Pipeline.
“We had a special moment before our Final and it was really special sharing a Final with him out there,” said Moniz. “Honestly, I felt like I was just out there watching him surf underneath me and every time he got a wave it was an eight or nine, and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, here we go.’ I took some beatings in the heat before and I was really tired and making some big mistakes, but it was an honor to surf against him.”
Despite falling short of a Pipeline title, Moniz earned a career-best CT result with a runner-up finish after dismantling two-time WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW) in the Quarterfinals. Moniz also had to overcome wildcard, former CT surfer, Caio Ibelli (BRA), who couldn’t keep pace with the proven Pipeline specialist.
Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Final Results:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 18.77
2 – Seth Moniz (HAW) 12.53
Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 9.76 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 8.58
HEAT 2: Seth Moniz (HAW) 13.50 def. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 6.33
