Highlights Day 1 I Billabong Pro Pipeline 2023

Highlights Day 1 I Billabong Pro Pipeline 2023

Opening day of the 2023 CT season provided moments of excellence, elation, and elimination with World Champions clashing, CT returners flourishing, plus rookies staking their claim.

Standout Performances and Early Eliminations Start the Billabong Pro Pipeline 

• João Chianca Earns First Excellent Score of the 2023 WSL CT Season
• World Champs Debut in Remarkable Form, While Elimination Round Narrows the Field  
• Hawaiians Ezekiel Lau, Seth Moniz, and Barron Mamiya Straight to the Round of 32
• More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

The Billabong Pro Pipeline kicked off the start of the World Surf League (WSL) 2023 Men’s Championship Tour (CT) today in clean four-to-six-foot swell at the world-renowned Banzai Pipeline. Men’s Opening Round witnessed standout performances from João Chianca (BRA), Ezekiel Lau (HAW), Jordy Smith (RSA), and Gabriel Medina (BRA) and more.  

The highest-scoring wave of the event so far, an 8.50 (out of possible 10), went to second-year competitor Chianca during the men’s Opening Round, Heat 2. The Opening Round also saw former World Champions find success while rookies struggled under pressure. The full day of competition finished with the men's Elimination Round narrowing the field to 32 surfers. 

The next call will be today, Thursday, February 2, at 7:45 a.m. HST for a possible 8:00 a.m. start.

João Chianca (above) Earns First Excellent Score of 2023 CT Season

Chianca started his 2023 season in fantastic form, earning the first excellent score of the event and season, a 8.50. Chianca earned a notable 9th-place finish at last year’s Billabong Pro Pipeline before falling off the Tour following the Mid-season Cut. Chianca successfully fought his way back to the CT through the Challenger Series and is now looking for redemption in his second season. 

“I'm in a pretty good headspace,” said Chianca. “It was a super important and emotional year last year for me realizing this is where I want to be for the rest of my career. That wave gave me déjà vu from last season because my first wave from last year was an 8.43 and this was even better. I was pretty excited to surf Backdoor, and Pipeline is just my happy place, so I'm stoked.”

World Champions Debut in Remarkable Form

Reigning World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA, above), started his season in solid form, winning his opening match against Australia’s Jackson Baker and Hawaii’s Joshua Moniz. Toledo moves straight in the Round of 32, while Moniz fell to elimination in Heat 1 of Elimination Round 2. 

Defending event winner and 11-time World Champion, Kelly Slater (USA) advanced to the Round of 16 in second place after a close battle for first with Caio Ibelli (BRA). Ibelli ultimately took the win with a 5.77. Slater won this event last year, days before his 50th birthday, and hopes to win again this year now at age 50. He will surf again against Yago Dora (BRA) when the men’s Round of 32 commences. 

“This week I’ve been in a funk and haven’t really felt too in-sync with any of my surfs, so I’m just trying to shake that a little bit,” said Slater. “That heat I didn’t feel here or there, I actually had priority when Caio got his good one and I let him go thinking the next one would be better and it just didn’t come together as I thought.”

The highly anticipated showdown of former event winners and World Champions John John Florence (HAW) and Medina (above) went down in the last heat of the men’s Opening Round. Medina missed this event last year but has found himself in the Finals multiple times in past years. For Florence, Pipeline is in his backyard and is one of the waves he is most comfortable in. 

Florence got off to a quick start, notching a 3.67 on a quick backside barrel. Medina opened with a disappearing act on a Backdoor barrel, earning a near-excellent 7.67. Florence answered back with a Backdoor barrel of his own, finishing the wave off with two solid maneuvers to pocket a 6.33. Florence controlled a majority of the heat, but it was Medina who ultimately took the win in the final minutes. They will both surf again in the Round of 32. 

“It’s amazing to be back in Hawaii, this is a really special place for me,” said Medina. “It’s given me so many good memories and hopefully the waves get a little better for the next round, but I’m happy with the win. That [Backdoor] wave was a long one, I saw it going all the way to the Off the Wall channel so I gave it a go.” 

Hawaiians Ezekiel Lau, Seth Moniz, and Barron Mamiya Straight to the Round of 32

Ezekiel Lau (HAW, above) got things started for the Hawaiian contingent in Heat 4. With just less than two minutes left, he found a Backdoor cavern, earning a 7.17 and the heat win. 2022 Billabong Pro Pipeline runner-up Seth Moniz (HAW) found early success here again, winning his Opening Round matchup against former World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) and event wildcard Imaikalani deVault (HAW). Event wildcard Barron Mamiya (HAW) also made it through his opening round, advancing straight to the Round of 32. 

“My strategy was to go right, but then I ended up getting that left right off the start so that’s how it goes sometimes,” said Moniz. “You just have to adapt to the conditions. I’m pretty confident out here, but to come up against Italo [Ferriera] and Imai [deVault] in the first round is pretty nuts.”

Also skipping the Elimination Round are former Final 5 competitors Ethan Ewing (AUS) and Robinson. They are joined by Griffin Colapinto (USA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Jordy Smith (RSA), and CT rookie Rio Waida (INA), who all move directly on to the Round of 32.

Elimination Round Narrows the Field

Former Final 5 competitor Kanoa Igarashi (JPN, above) found redemption in the first heat of the Elimination Round after failing to find a score of substance in the Opening Round. He advanced to the Round of 32 alongside Michael Rodrigues (BRA), eliminating event wildcard Joshua Moniz (HAW).

Fellow event wildcard deVault suffered a similar fate in Elimination Round, Heat 1. In one of the upsets of the day, tour veteran Jadson Andre (BRA) was eliminated by rookie Ian Gentil (HAW) and Kolohe Andino (USA). Andre was sent to the Elimination Round after suffering an interference on Jack Robinson (AUS) in his Opening Round.

More available at WorldSurfLeague.com. 

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men's Opening Round Results: 
HEAT 1: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.50 DEF. Nat Young (USA) 10.17, Ian Gentil (HAW) 6.94
HEAT 2: Joao Chianca (BRA) 12.83 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 10.70, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 1.00
HEAT 3: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 6.20 DEF. Liam O'Brien (AUS) 6.06, Kolohe Andino (USA) 4.30
HEAT 4: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 8.54 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 8.50, Jadson Andre (BRA) 0.23
HEAT 5: Seth Moniz (HAW) 8.50 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 5.20, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 2.04
HEAT 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 6.00 DEF. Jackson Baker (AUS) 5.93, Joshua Moniz (HAW) 1.50
HEAT 7: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 9.84 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 9.33, Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 9.10
HEAT 8: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.44 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 8.60, Carlos Munoz (CRC) 0.50
HEAT 9: Jordy Smith (RSA) 10.66 DEF. Connor O'Leary (AUS) 9.27, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 1.96
HEAT 10: Rio Waida (INA) 9.16 DEF. Samuel Pupo (BRA) 6.50, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 6.46
HEAT 11: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 9.57 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 7.90, Yago Dora (BRA) 2.13
HEAT 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.84 DEF. John John Florence (HAW) 10.00, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 1.60

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men's Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 11.03 DEF. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 9.03, Joshua Moniz (HAW) 8.87
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) 13.43 DEF. Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 8.27, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 4.33
HEAT 3: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 7.60 DEF. Carlos Munoz (CRC) 7.14, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 6.93
HEAT 4: Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.43 DEF. Ian Gentil (HAW) 8.13, Jadson Andre (BRA) 4.87

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men's Round of 32 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)
HEAT 2: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Nat Young (USA)
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
HEAT 4: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Jackson Baker (AUS)
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Liam O'Brien (AUS)
HEAT 6: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW)
HEAT 7: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
HEAT 8: Samuel Pupo (BRA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
HEAT 9: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Carlos Munoz (CRC)
HEAT 10: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
HEAT 11: Connor O'Leary (AUS) vs. Rio Waida (INA)
HEAT 12: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)
HEAT 13: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
HEAT 14: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Jake Marshall (USA)
HEAT 15: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
HEAT 16: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Maxime Huscenot (FRA)

Billabong Pro Pipeline Women's Opening Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Teresa Bonvalot (POR)
HEAT 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)
HEAT 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS) vs. Moana Jones Wong (HAW)
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 5: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Caitlin Simmers (USA)
HEAT 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Molly Picklum (AUS)

Ten!

Ten!

With no specific order, enjoy the best 10 waves ridden this year in Indonesia (in front of my lens).
Locations: Nias - Lagundri Bay, Bali - Uluwatu, Lombok - Desertpoint and Mentawai Islands - Rifles - Ebay - Kandui!
Thank You for watching my videos in 2022! - @surfrawfiles

Surfing England

Surfing England

The 2022 event season was pretty epic – we were stoked to see a thriving surf community and busy contest calendar, with an array of comps being delivered by Surfing England, and our friends at British Longboard Union and Christian Surfers. 2023 is well underway and we have some exciting news and updates for the year ahead…

This year our headline event season will kick off with the infamous Rip Curl Grom Search, a high energy event for the groms, with places at stake for a European Final.

A major work area for us currently is the introduction and training judges in priority. We recognise this an important development area as we level up our contests. With 2023 the launch year, we are aiming to run priority for the men’s and women’s open’s, which will run in April, as a separate, single peak event, to our larger English Nationals.

For 2023, we are supporting the British Longboard Union and their longboard events, and for this year English longboard titles are on hold. The BLU have been working hard over the last few years to develop their events and run a fantastic series. Read more about this here. It is also worth noting the Boardmasters Longboard Pro is currently showing as tentative on the WSL website, for 11-13th August at Fistral, one to have on the calendar.

We will launch bodyboard divisions this year, to showcase the English bodyboarding scene, who are currently underrepresented on the English events scene.

As we move into Autumn, we will deliver a thriving Adaptive surfing event, back at the beach at request of the surfers as currently the World Champs are a beach-based contest. The Interclubs competition will also be a lively event this Autumn! We are still working on location/dates for this – stay tuned!

2023 RIP CURL GROM SEARCH
Dates: 18th – 19th March
Location: Fistral Beach, Newquay
Divisions: Under 12 girls and boys, Under 14 girls and boys, Under 16 girls and boys.
Backup date/location: 1st – 2nd April, Fistral Beach, Newquay.
More info here.

2023 CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME CLUB ENGLISH NATIONAL SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Dates: 15th – 16th April
Location: Fistral Beach, Newquay
Divisions: Men’s and Women’s Open’s
Backup date/location: 29th – 30th April, Fistral Beach, Newquay

2023 CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME CLUB ENGLISH NATIONAL SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Dates: 12th – 14th May
Location: Watergate Bay, Cornwall
Divisions: SHORTBOARD: U12 boys and girls, U14 boys and girls, U16 boys and girls, U18 boys and girls, men’s and women’s seniors (28+), masters (35+), kahunas (45+). BODYBOARD: Women’s and Men’s Open, U18 girls and boys.
Backup date/location: 9th – 11th June, Watergate Bay, Cornwall

2023 ENGLISH ADAPTIVE/PARA SURFING OPEN
Dates: 7th – 8th September
Location: Croyde Bay, Devon
Divisions: TBC

2023 KOREV LAGER ENGLISH INTERCLUB SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Dates: TBC

Click Here for more info
Silver Linings | Episode 11

Silver Linings | Episode 11

For Jordy Smith, 2022 brought new levels of growth and an even deeper love for surfing. Balancing family, his career, and staying true to himself is at the forefront of his life and he's showing no signs of slowing down. Catch up with Jordy and keep your eye on him as we settle into 2023 because there's plenty more where this came from.

In his own words below.

There’s no such thing as an off season when the tour ends, the focus just shifts to hunting tubes. After a bad year on tour I needed to get some good waves to get my froth back. We put some miles on the cab and hit the coast with my friends and family. In the finals episode of Silver Linings we lose the rash guard and find some rare gems on the South African coast.  

RNLI on the lookout for new beach lifesavers

RNLI on the lookout for new beach lifesavers

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is on the hunt for new lifeguards to launch their lifesaving careers on some of the UK’s most popular beaches.

Recruitment for this season’s lifeguard team has started nationally in preparation for keeping the nation’s beachgoers safe this summer and two current lifeguards and passionate surfers have told how the sport goes ‘hand in hand’ with beach lifesaving.

Former professional surfer Arron Evans is now a senior lifeguard at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, and has been lifeguarding with the charity for over a decade.

Arron said: ‘As a surfer, lifeguarding is the perfect gig – the two things go hand in hand. There are a lot of transferable skills, you’re in the ocean environment all the time and it helps you keep your surf fitness up.

‘You’re working with a bunch of likeminded people who tend to be your mates, and then you get the reward when you help someone out; you get that sense of achievement and you feel you’re doing something good.’

The charity’s lifeguards not only rescue those in difficulty in the water, they also provide vital beach first-aid and safety advice to ensure visitors can return home safely. In 2021, RNLI lifeguards responded to more than 18,000 incidents, helping nearly 41,000 people in need and saving 112 lives.

One of those lives was saved by a team of lifeguards at Mawgan Porth Beach, Cornwall, including passionate surfer Theresa Morokutti, after a man walking in the shallows near the shore was caught in a powerful rip current and pulled out to sea.

In rough seas, Theresa drove a rescue watercraft – the lifeguards' version of a jet ski – out to the casualty and, just managing to cling to the sled on the back, took the man back to safety. ‘When we all reached the beach safely, I felt relief, adrenaline, absolute satisfaction and pure happiness,’ said Theresa.

Originally from Austria, Theresa started working as an RNLI lifeguard seven years ago.

She said: ‘When I was offered a job as a lifeguard, I tried it and fell in love with it. Straight away I felt like this is the perfect job for me, I love working in a team, being on the beach and in the sea.

‘I then realised that this job is a lot more than just that. It is so rewarding being able to keep people safe in the sea, give lifesaving advice, perform rescues and give first aid to those in need of help.’

Successful applicants will receive world-class lifesaving training, enjoy good rates of pay, the possibility of flexible working patterns and develop valuable skills for a future career.

Lee Fisher, Lifeguard Experience Manager said: ‘Beach lifeguarding is a great opportunity and a very rewarding role that changes lives – including your own – all while enjoying the beach as your office.

‘Our lifeguards range from teenagers all the way up to lifesavers in their 70s, as long as you meet the fitness requirements and you are over school leaving age, there could be a role for you.

‘The job also has great paths for progression - we have lifeguards who have been working for the RNLI for years, both on the beach and as part of our support teams, and the skills you gain can make an ideal first step towards many careers. It’s a great opportunity whether you want a rewarding summer job or to pursue a career in lifesaving.’

Find out more about becoming a lifeguard here

MORE INFO
Absent Without Leave, NZ

Absent Without Leave, NZ

Follow the ragtag Roark crew as they get lost and discover all of New Zealand's South Island. Scoring some of the best swell seen in decades, they brave the winter freeze camping out in old Defenders, chasing waves in bush planes, and having one helluva time while they're at it. God I miss NZ, take me back.

Starring:
Harrison Roach
Nate Zoller ( @natezoller )
Parker Coffin
Jeff Johnson

Filmed & Directed by Fin Woods

Music By:
Arthur Ahbez
No Cigar
Mild Orange
Daffodils
Marlins Dreaming
Aston Martini
Sam Charlesworth
Garageland