Meet Glen Horn

Meet Glen Horn

A secret spot in Baja California, hundreds of miles from civilization. A old milk van converted into the perfect surfing mobile. A 67-year old man, at the peak of his physical fitness and in line with mother nature every step of the way. "The Bull" is the story of San Diego surfing legend Glen Horn and his journey to an unconventional lifestyle.

Winner- "Best Picture" Short Film Category- Carolina Surf Film Festival
Winner- "Best Documentary" Short Film Category- Florida Surf Film Festival
Winner- "Audience Award"- Portuguese Surf Film Festival
Winner- "Filmmaker Award, Audience Appreciation" - Save the Waves Film Festival Tour

Director: Eric Ebner
Written by: Eric Ebner
Starring: Glen Horn
Editor: Eric Ebner
Music: Small Houses
Cinematography: Eric Ebner
Aerial Cinematography: HV Adventure

British and Irish Surfers Ready for Action

British and Irish Surfers Ready for Action

British and Irish Surfers head to Morocco for the final European WSL event of the QS Season. 

The stakes are at an all time high as the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 2025/2026 season draws to a close for the Europe and Africa regions. 

With a competition window from March 22-29 at the iconic Anchor Point, The Pro Taghazout Bay event will be split between the famous right hand point break of Anchor Point and the Trestles like peak of Anza.

There’s more pressure on the British athletes for this competition, as the Pro Taghazout Bay will be their QS season finale, crowning the regional champions and deciding the region’s Challenger Series qualifiers. The top seven men and top four women will qualify for the 2026 Challenger Series.

Lukas Skinner and Stan Norman currently sit in spots 12 and 24 respectively while on the women’s side Alys Barton enters in the top seed round ranked 12. All three as well as those below them need a solid result to shake things up but with 4000 points on the line, expect and hope for some big advances from the British and Irish crews. 

Joel Gray gives us a run down on the competing surfers and gets an insight into their state of mind heading into the event. 

Patrick Langdon-Dark

Wales’ Patrick Langdon-Dark has come close to qualifying in the previous years’ and has some experience of those bigger events as a wildcard. This winter he’s had a different approach to his preparation and is coming in full of homegrown Welsh stoke. 

“It’s the first winter that I’ve really stayed at home and it coincided with a lot of really good waves. I also went back to riding John Purton (Welsh Shaper) boards after riding a lot of international shapes the last few years. Trying those other boards was good but it’s felt like the best thing I’ve done in a while working with a shaper I know. Working with someone full time can really improve your boards and your surfing. I’ve been working hard on my surfing, not with a coach or anything just seeing how I can do it while working in the family business and keeping up a good regular gym pattern. It’s been a super good winter for waves and Im really looking forward to the event.”

Stanley Norman

Bude shredder Stanley Norman jumped on the plane feeling buoyed by a strong result back in Pantin earlier in the season and a personal best end of season ranking well within reach. 

“Im looking forward to getting the rashy back on and putting some scores on the board. My goal is to not take this all too seriously as I’ve learnt that is when I do my best. One heat at a time but hit finals day and then see where I am in the rankings. Im looking forward to the comp and enjoying the time with the people I’m staying with in Morocco (Pat and Lukas) and having a sick time really.”

Alys Barton

Alys leads the female contingent of Brits is within striking range of qualifying. 

“Ive just touched down and the waves are looking incredible and the energy here is unreal. I’ve been training hard and I feel more than ready to take on Morocco. I’m in such a great headspace right now and Im so happy with my surfing, enjoying every moment and ready to win. I know I need a strong result but I’m incredibly determined. Seeing so many of the girls I compete with and have beaten, qualify for the tour just reminds me that I can do this too.” 

Belle Betteridge

North Devon’s Belle Betteridge’s instagram is worth a look to see how much scoring she’s done this winter. When not at home this winter she’s spent some time training in Sri Lanka as well as a secret right hand point that could come in handy. 

“I’m really just hoping we get some good swell to surf Anchors with no one out! I’ve been surfing a right hand point most of the winter so I’m just excited to get a chance to surf one with a competition rashvest on.”

Charlotte Mulley

Australian-based British shredder Charlotte is making her first trip to Morocco. 

“Im looking forward to exploring this place, surfing some different waves, enjoy the culture and eat lots of Tagine! This winter Ive been working on consistency and while my goal is obviously to win, I also really want to enjoy the process and just surf my best.”

Heath Gillespie

Newquay-based Junior Heath Gillespie threw his name into the hat late and just jumped on the plane to Morocco. 

“I saw there was a couple spots open and so I put in a late entry. I’m just really trying to gain as much comp experience as possible. Hopefully I can make a few heats and take down some big names in the process.”

Kaja Millward

Kaja is another junior who has stepped up this year. 

“I had a last minute change of mind after a 17th at the Junior QS in Morocco in November. I have no expectations for this event other than make the most of the opportunity and hopefully surf Anchor Point  with only three other people. I’d be stoked to make a heat or two.” 

Tom and Rory Murphy

There’s been a huge push in competitive surfing numbers in Ireland recently and at this event it’s brothers Tom and Rory Murphy who are representing. 

“I’ve done all the Junior and QS events that I can this last year,” says Tom. “My whole plan was to really prepare my surfing for the Morocco event. It’s actually been the best winter ever for the slabs over here so I’ve pretty much just been getting barrelled - I’ve actually not had the practice that I wanted for turns. Its been super fun but not the preparation I wanted but Im looking forward to giving it a go. It’s great representing Ireland. There’s been a massive jump since covid in performance with all the juniors. We have a great peer group and there’s also been lots of pro’s over this winter that really helps the level too. Also Gearoid Mcdaid - whenever he’s in water I’m just taking notes - having someone like him was a huge stepping stone as he’s proved it’s possible to make it to the top coming from Ireland.”    

Lukas Skinner

With another QS win at Fistral this year, Lukas has proved that he can get big results across the line and he starts on the highest seeded round. 

“Its going to be a great event. There’s loads of Brits in it which is really cool and everyone is looking really strong and we’re all fired up. I’m staying here with Pat and Stan and the vibes are really good. After a little spell training back at home it’s great to get into some thinner rubber.  There’s definitely been some Challenger Series chats and that’s my goal to qualify for the Challenger Series and hopefully we can all make some heats and that will kind of come with that.”

Follow the action here

Photos WSL/Pouillot

Watch: Lost in Central

Watch: Lost in Central

A Film by Jordy Liackman and Cooper Puttergill.

Two surfers. Four countries. A borrowed camera and a $500 budget. That’s the backbone of Lost in Central, a new surf film documenting three months on the road across Central America in search of waves — and whatever came with them.

Following on from their previous project African Surfari, the filmmakers flew straight from South Africa to Mexico with little more than a loose plan and the determination to make something better than the last film. What followed was a raw, unpredictable journey through Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua — built on long days waiting for waves, chaotic travel, and a crew that slowly formed out of strangers met along the way.

Below, the filmmakers explain the story behind Lost in Central in their own words.

Lost in Central came from three months on the road through Central America chasing waves with no crew, no real budget and no safety net. After finishing African Surfari in South Africa, we flew straight to Mexico knowing we had set ourselves a serious task. We had no structure, no roadmap and no filter. Just a vision to make something better than the last one and figure it out as we went.

From day one it was raw. Everything was filmed between the two of us. One surfing, one filming. Then straight back to the beach to swap. Hour after hour. Some days the waves were only good for a short window which meant sitting on the sand all day just to bank a couple of clips. After pouring most of our money into South Africa and that edit, we arrived in Mexico low on funds.

Our film budget was five hundred dollars thanks to Mambo. We had a borrowed camera and a tripod. That was it.

There were days we walked off the beach with nothing. Long days in the sun grinding for a single turn or barrel. But the grind became the story. The people we met along the way made this film possible. Through fun waves and cheap Coronas we built a crew without meaning to. Locals, travellers and complete strangers would see us filming and offer to take shifts behind the lens.

We would spend half an hour teaching someone how to zoom, how to frame a wave and how to pick us out in a crowded lineup. The next minute they were locked in, filming for hours.

Josh Hartge and Josh Knight put in serious hours. Some days our only way of saying thanks was shouting them a five dollar dinner from a local tuck shop. It was not much, but it was what we had.

By the end there were days where ten of us would be posted up under palm trees. Boards everywhere, someone surfing, someone filming, someone laughing in the sand. It felt like a travelling crew that formed out of nothing. Without those people Lost in Central does not exist.

The travel was a grind in itself. Chicken buses that were meant to take four hours turned into fourteen. Boards tied to taxi roofs with skimp rope. Border crossings where we had no idea if we were going to get through. Money exchanges that went wrong. Taxi drivers trying to double the fare in the middle of nowhere.

It was chaos. It was uncomfortable. It was real. And it made every wave feel earned.

In Guatemala we ditched the boards and climbed Acatenango, one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It had been high on the bucket list. We reached basecamp and watched smoke roll from the crater. That night the talk around camp was that the summit might be too dangerous the next morning.

At three in the morning we woke to howling wind and freezing conditions. The guides were sceptical. We said if there was any chance we were going.

Headtorches on, barely able to see a few steps ahead, legs cramping, struggling to breathe. Full survival mode. After hours of pushing we made it to the top.

No lava. No sunrise. No view at all.

Just fog and wind.

It was not what we imagined. But it hit harder than any view could have. Not every mission comes with a reward. Sometimes showing up is the point.

By the time we reached Nicaragua we were over being limited by public transport. We found a tiny cheap two wheel drive car. It was small, battered and swayed in the wind with fifteen boards strapped to the roof. We drove it everywhere.

Every checkpoint we were pulled by police trying to pin us for something. We blew a tyre in the middle of nowhere. The key barely worked. The battery was shot. Most days we would lock ourselves out, break back in and set off a siren that would not stop screaming until we smashed the unlock button enough times for it to calm down.

It became known as the car that would not shut up.

At The Boom we had two options. Walk through a mosquito infested track or drive ten minutes along soft sand in a two wheel drive. We drove it.

Our theory was that zero point six metres on the tide was the magic number. If we hit the beach before that, the sand was hard enough to make it. To get off we had to wait seven hours for the tide to come back.

We got bogged more times than we can count. One day we buried it so deep the chassis was resting on sand. We had snapped boards under the tires for traction and tried for three hours in the midday heat.

Eventually four of the lads rode down on their motos and helped lift the car out. It was chaos and it was hilarious.

That little car became part of the story.

Then there was the part that changed the tone completely. We were scoring world class waves in places where many locals did not have the access or money to surf. Kids lined the roads but none were in the water. It sat heavy with us.

So in Nicaragua we went into a local village with a board and met a group of kids frothing to try it. With almost no shared language we walked down to the ocean together and paddled out. Hand signals, wipeouts, smiles and pure stoke.

For a moment nothing else mattered.

We finished the trip by gifting them the board. It felt like the right way to close the loop.

Lost in Central is not polished. It is not backed by a big crew. It is two twenty two year olds filming each other across four countries, grinding through chaos, relying on strangers, swapping shifts in and out of the water and figuring it out as we went.

It is world class waves mixed with border stress, volcano missions with no payoff and a screaming hire car that refused to die.

It was messy.
It was underfunded.
It was hard.

But it was real.

And that is why it matters.

In Conversation with Gary Knights

In Conversation with Gary Knights

As part of Carve Collective, we are catching up with surfers, shapers, photographers and all round local legends across the UK and Ireland.

Making our way along the coast, we catch up with Bournemouth photographer Gary Knights to talk surf, photography and life behind the lens. Known for capturing the energy of the UK surf scene, Gary has spent years documenting sessions, surfers and the culture that surrounds them.

Give us the basics - who are you, where are you based, and what’s your lane?

My name is Gary Knights, I’m from Christchurch on the South Coast of Dorset. Currently living in Southbourne, a suburb of Bournemouth. I’m a heating engineer, surfer, surf photographer, occasional writer and also enjoy nature photography mainly underwater whilst free diving.

What does a normal week look like for you right now?

My weeks recently have been filled mainly with work, winter is always a busy time for me as its heating season so missing surf is unfortunately inevitable but with spring looming the nights and mornings are getting drawn out and I feel like I’m able to look at weather charts again without getting the hump.If there’s no surf I do try and get out mega early in the mornings looking for some of my favourite species to photograph if the weather is good, the few hours either side of dawn and sunrise are always amazing and I love nothing better than hiking through the amazing countryside with just a camera and no one around, the best thing… its all before my 9-5 starts.

What keeps you hooked on surfing at this stage?

I do still love surfing and always have since my first introduction to it whilst on a family holiday in Freshwater West in Wales aged 11, the weather was blowing a hoolly, raining and I remember battling against the horrendous winds in just a pair of shorts and king polystyrene board tucked under the arm I can still remember it flexing so badly in the wind I was just waiting for a board ending snapping noise!

After a few days of some impressive belly rides and some of the worst chest and rib rashes known to mankind it soon led to the next phase… a shopping trip with my Dad down to the local surf shop to find a “proper” second hand surfboard, leash and amazing smelling block of wax, and that was it …I was hooked for life! The feeling never left and its shaped my life in so many ways on the journey that is surfing.

I think the thing that keeps me hooked is everything that comes with surfing… friends, travel, nature, (some of the most amazing wildlife experiences I’ve ever had have happened whilst surfing) being out in ever changing environments, both weather and waves, often challenging and other times just quiet a serene, I do also love board design and trying different surf crafts keeps things fresh and most importantly fun!

What are you working on or trying to improve?

I still like to keep fit for surfing a I have always been trying to improve generally. I like good waves but my motivation has dropped a bit over the last few years for below average waves, which living on the South Coast doesn’t help. Bournemouth has really suffered recently surf wise, crowds, sand banks in winter being washed away and pollution have really put me off so that’s hit my mo-jo a bit so I think that’s something I need to improve. Ssaying that I also feel pretty content too and know if it's good I will still get some waves.

What or who has been inspiring you lately?

Just recently I saw Russ Winter absolutely smashing a couple of heats against full time professionals out in Barbados, Russ has always had the bulldog spirit within and has had some pretty challenging times over the years after being one of the most successful European surfers ever.

Seeing what he has achieved fitness wise this year and surfing that well in that contest at the age 50 is inspiring. I also get inspired by people who go after their dreams and create a lifestyle or job that can mean living outside the norm.

Just wanted to give a massive shout out for one such person that has always lived like this… Cam Treble. In July Cam broke his spine in a paragliding accident and was told he would never walk again, the following is just a small excerpt from from one of his recent FB posts “I’m in a wheelchair now. But I’m still here. Still breathing. Still fighting. And more determined than ever live fully and with purpose. Everyday, I choose resilience over regret, growth over grief, and power over pain. This isn’t the end, far from it. Its a new chapter. Maybe even a whole book.” Cam Treble.

Now thats inspiring! That’s it in a nutshell.

What are your plans for the future, near or far?

I really want to try a find some blue fin tuna this coming summer season down in Cornwall and try
and get some good underwater shots of them. Tuna are back in the UK with a bang now, in recent
years mainly in the South West and also here in the English Channel.

Generally I want to get more free diving in this summer and also try and get away later in the year
to somewhere with some bigger fauna, although I saw humpback whales in Australia a few years
ago I still would like to get somewhere like Tonga to see them and get some dream photos looking
into their eyes, that’s definitely on my bucket list.

Surfing wise I hope to get to France again later this summer. Ive never had a bad trip down there,
food, wine, surf…every time I’m back I always think to myself “why have I left it so long”

Shout out one local spot, person, or brand that deserves more love.

Just wanted to shout out the Boyz at FOAMLIFE a local to Bournemouth surf brand with some incredible comfortable flip flops with a commitment to sustainability and eco-concious products. The brand is going from strength to strength and now available worldwide. Timo and Karl havedone such an amazing job.

Any closing remarks?

A BIG thank you to you guys Guys!… CARVE magazine… still in print and keeping the stoke alive. Its still great to be able to have shots and stories printed and thanks for your support over the years.

Keep up to date with Gary's work:

www.instagram.com/gary_knights/

Training for Surfing

Training for Surfing

Do you need to train for surfing?

Surfing might look effortless from the beach, but anyone who spends time in the water knows how demanding it really is. Long paddles, explosive take-offs, heavy wipeouts and repeated turns all place serious stress on the body. At the higher-performance end especially, surfing requires far more than just technique—it demands strength, power, endurance and resilience.

For years, training specifically for surfing carried a certain stigma, as if working out somehow went against the laid-back culture of the sport. But that mindset is shifting. As surfing continues to evolve, more surfers are recognising it for what it truly is: a high-performance sport that rewards physical preparation.

Even if you’re not chasing airs or competing on tour, improving your fitness can make a huge difference to how you feel in the water—longer sessions, stronger paddling and more control on the wave face. With that in mind, we asked Cornwall-based coaches Sam and Rob from Surf Performance Systems to break down the physical demands of surfing and share a workout designed to help surfers of any level get stronger, fitter and more capable in the water.

We’re Sam and Rob of Surf Performance Systems. From our own dedicated coaching facility here in Cornwall, we’ve been in the trenches since 2011, helping people get stronger, fitter, and more resilient. As surfers with a deep passion for the ocean, we set out to solve a problem: the fitness information available to most surfers is often fluffy and fails to address the true athletic demands of the sport.

Our experience is incredibly broad. We’ve coached a vast range of individuals, from professional surfers and top-tier competitive athletes to the dedicated “weekend warriors” trying to make the most of their time in the water. We’ve worked with people who simply want to look and feel better in their daily lives, and everyone in between. This has given us a unique, real-world insight into what it takes to improve human performance.

To ensure our methods were of the highest calibre, we spent years earning certifications, culminating in our UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA) accreditation in 2015. This isn’t just a piece of paper; it’s a guarantee that our approach is held to the highest standard. Surfing is a demanding sport, and it’s time surfers had access to the same quality of training as any other serious athlete.

The Demands: Surfing is Not a Laid-Back Sport
The culture is relaxed; the physical reality is not. A proper needs analysis reveals that surfing is an intermittent, high-intensity sport with demands similar to rugby or football. To improve, you must train for what the sport actually requires.

 

  • Conditioning: A session involves constant paddling (aerobic endurance) and short, explosive bursts of power for catching waves and performing maneuvers (anaerobic power). You need both a powerful engine and effective afterburners.

  • Upper Body Strength & Endurance: Paddling places immense, repetitive strain on the shoulders, back, and arms. Without targeted strength, this leads directly to overuse injuries.

  • Lower Body Strength & Power: Wave riding is driven by the legs. Powerful turns require significant strength to pressurise the board’s rail. Aerials demand explosive power to launch and the strength to absorb high-impact landings.
  • Speed & Rate of Force Development (RFD): Surfing is fast. The pop-up, a critical turn, or a sprint paddle—these are all over in a fraction of a second. This isn’t just about being strong; it’s about how quickly you can produce that strength. This is a trainable skill, honing the brain-to-muscle connection to be as rapid and efficient as possible.

  • Mobility: Efficient paddling requires mobile shoulders. Powerful, rotational turns depend on mobile hips and a flexible upper back. Stiffness in these areas forces compensation, often leading to lower back pain.

  • Core Strength & Stability: Your core is the critical link for transferring strength from your lower body to your upper body (and vice-versa). A weak or unstable core leaks energy, reducing the power of your turns and paddle strokes. Core strength provides the stability needed to perform on an unstable surface.

Once you map the sport’s demands to an individual’s needs, you see clear parallels with other sports. The power of a sprinter, the rotational strength of a tennis player, the endurance of a rower—we can apply these proven principles to surfing.

The Blueprint: A Proper Training Session
Every session must be structured for maximum effect. We start with a RAMP warm-up—a non-negotiable component to prepare the body and embed skill work.

1. Raise: Elevate heart rate and core temperature (e.g., bike, rower).
2. Activate: Switch on key muscle groups for the session—glutes, back, shoulders, and core.
3. Mobilise: Move key joints through their full range of motion, focusing on ankles, hips, and the thoracic spine.
4. Prime (Potentiate): Fire up the nervous system with explosive movements like jumps and hops, preparing the body for power output.

Main Workout: Building The Athlete
This session uses supersets and tri-sets to build strength and power efficiently.

Part A: Explosive Power (3 sets)

• A1: Box Jump (5 reps) - Builds explosive power and safe landing mechanics.
• A2: Pogos (20 reps) - Trains rapid force production.
(Rest 60-90s between sets)

Part B: Foundational Strength (4 sets)

• B1: Trap Bar Deadlift (10 reps) - Develops powerful lower body strength.
• B2: Dumbbell Chest Press (10 reps) - Builds upper body pressing strength for shoulder health and balance.
(Rest 60-90s between sets)

Part C: Surf-Specific Strength & Stability (3 sets)

• C1: Rear Foot Elevated Split Squat (8-10 reps/leg) - Builds single-leg strength, crucial for turns.
• C2: Pull-Up (As Many Reps As Possible) - The primary builder for paddling power.
• C3: Pallof Press (10 reps/side) - Develops core stability to resist rotation.
(Rest 90s between sets)

Conditioning: Building the Engine on Land
Surfing uses your fitness; it doesn’t effectively build it. Use flat days for dedicated conditioning work. Do these on separate days from your strength session.

1. Aerobic Session (The Endurance Engine)

• What: 30-60 minutes of steady-state cardio (run, row, bike).
• Intensity: RPE 6-7/10. You should be able to hold a conversation.
• Why: Builds stamina for longer sessions and faster recovery.

2. Anaerobic Session (The Turbo-Boost)

• What: High-intensity intervals. Example: 30 seconds all-out work, 90 seconds active recovery. Repeat 8-10 times.
• Intensity: RPE 9-10/10 during the work period.
• Why: Increases your capacity for repeated, high-power efforts like sprint paddling and explosive turns.

This framework is not just for elite athletes. The principles and the workout itself are scalable to any level. The journey is what matters, and everyone starts somewhere:

• If you are new to training: Your focus is singular: master the movements. Concentrate on your form and control with lighter loads. Your goal is to build a solid foundation, and you can increase the weight and intensity over time as you become more confident.
• If you are an experienced lifter: You will challenge yourself differently. Your focus will be on maximising output—jumping higher, moving faster, and lifting heavier loads. You will push the intensity on the conditioning sessions and aim for more reps on the bodyweight exercises.

Regardless of your starting point, the goal is the same: to build a stronger, faster, and more resilient version of yourself. This structured approach will not only elevate your performance in the water but will also build a body that is better prepared to handle the demands of the sport for years to come.