The Notes In Between

The Notes In Between

A day in the life of Laurie Towner and Torren Martyn as they share stories over a short fishing trip. An everyday conversation between a couple of mates where they take time to just enjoy the simple prospect of potentially catching a meal.

A short film by Ishka Folkwell – produced by needessentials

16th JESUS LONGBOARD CLASSIC – REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

16th JESUS LONGBOARD CLASSIC – REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

The entry portal to the very popular 16th Jesus Longboard Classic is now open and organiser Christian Surfers UK is very excited to be welcoming the longboard community to the event’s usual venue of Tubestation and using the beach at Polzeath.

This year we have continued with our earlier date in April after last year’s success, as it gives the potential of warmer weather whilst still having the potential of great surf.

Last year’s event was held in some great surf with quality longboarding throughout and an entry field approaching 90, and CSUK can’t wait to welcome the community back for another epic event.

The Jesus Longboard Classic is a great contest for both those who have not entered a competition before, as well as those seasoned contest surfers. The event has a well-deserved reputation for its friendly atmosphere and relaxed vibe, as well as the later rounds being highly competitive, with previous winners including surfers such as Emily Currie, and Ben Skinner.
The event features the following categories (age is calculated as on 1 January 2024):

Legends 60+

Grandmasters 50+

Masters 35+

Juniors Under 18

Men’s Open

Women’s Open

Due to the ongoing popularity of the event, entries are limited to two categories per entrant and early booking is strongly advised.

If you would like to enter please follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/jesus-longboard-classic-registration-categories-3171709

All entries include a free T-shirt and some hospitality at Tubestation during the course of the weekend. We are currently trialling out a new entry portal and so if you are entering a second category you will get your £3 reduction on the day.

Christian Surfers UK is very pleased that, although not forming part of their contest series, the event is being endorsed by the British Longboard Union (BLU). A big thank you to all the sponsors and supporters who have committed for this year: Cornwall Council, Tubestation, Finisterre, Christian Surfers UK, Era Adventures, George’s Surf School, Kosin, Ocean Frog, 10 Over Surf Shop and also a very big welcome to new sponsors Surf’s Up! and Wavehunters.

Chaos at Snapper

Chaos at Snapper

Getting a wave at Snapper at size is not easy. You have to negotiate the crowd, the shifting lineup and the drop, are all formidable in tier own right. Jesse Little takes you in the zone for a feel of the wipeouts and kegs!

English National Surfing Championships

English National Surfing Championships

2024 Caravan and Motorhome Club English National Surfing Championships – Under 14’s Under 12’s Girls/Boys, Senior (28+), Master (35+), Kahuna (45+) Shortboard, Open SUP and Under 18’s, Open Bodyboard and Under 18’s, Open Longboard and Under 18’s divisions Registration Opening soon

Get ready for fierce competition as we announce the registration details for the eagerly awaited 2024 Caravan and Motorhome Club English National Surfing Championships Part B!

Prepare to witness the ultimate showdown in the divisions of Shortboard for Under 14’s and Under 12’s Girls/Boys, Senior (28+), Master (35+), Kahuna (45+), Open SUP and Under 18’s, Open Bodyboard and Under 18’s, Open Longboard and Under 18’s divisions. Mark your calendars for May 4th – 6th at Watergate Bay, with backup dates on May 17th – 19th.

Join us in seizing this electrifying opportunity to show your skills and compete at the pinnacle of national surfing excellence. With a rich history of nurturing talent and embracing the vibrant surfing community, the English National Surfing Championships guarantee heart-pounding competition and unforgettable experiences.

Registration for these prestigious divisions is opening soon, offering athletes the chance to secure their spot in this thrilling competition. Surfers eager to make their mark can visit LiveHeats to register and during the event for the schedule and live scores.

Don’t miss this chance to be part of surfing history! You can be a part of an exhilarating journey towards glory at the English National Surfing Championships.

For more information head to our Website Event registration information for more info.

A further thank you to our fantastic headline partners Caravan and Motorhome Club and to our amazing partners korev Lager, The Wave, dryrobe, Muscle Food, Decathlon, Clarke Willmott, Vospers.
Thank you to Watergate Bay Hotel who will host us for the April English National Surfing Championship event. Thanks to CG Safety Cover for the Lifeguard Cover.

For all event enquiries, including partnership/sponsorship opportunities, please contact: [email protected]
For all membership enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Stephanie Gilmore X Rip Curl

Stephanie Gilmore X Rip Curl

Rip Curl has announced a groundbreaking signing with eight-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore.

Rip Curl, Torquay-born surfing company, has announced one of the biggest deals in Australian sport to date, signing eight-time world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore in a groundbreaking deal.

This multi-million dollar agreement marks a significant milestone in the surfing world, highlighting rip curl’s leadership in surf and its vision to be the ultimate surfing company.

Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Rip Curl Pro Portugal

Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Johanne Defay (FRA) have won the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Corona, Stop No. 3 on the 2024 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), over Ethan Ewing (AUS) and Tyler Wright (AUS) respectively in the finals, held in four-to-six foot surf in an exciting fifth day of action in Portugal.

Competition resumed at dawn with the men’s Quarters and women’s Semis before taking a break over the lowest part of the tide. The event was called back ON with the building swell on the incoming tide and the day culminated with the event finals held before capacity-crowds at the iconic praia de Supertubos.

Colapinto Finds Super Tubes, Wins Second Supertubos Title
“It was weird, I started off strong and then Ethan and I were just trading off mistakes back and forth,” Colapinto said. “Then I found that first barrel and when I went for the turn I almost fell, was on both my knees and somehow made it back to my feet, and that switched the momentum. And then I got down the beach for that 9 and finished it off with a barrel.”

Griffin Colapinto (USA) had a brilliant start in the Final, finding two good scores right away while Ethan Ewing (AUS) was scouring the lineup for opportunities. The Australian fought back midway through with two backhand turns on a meaty left and came right back in the fight. Colapinto then found a great barrel on a rare right and packed a solid closeout turn to post an excellent 8.27 (out of a possible 10) and solidify his lead.
The Californian put the final nail in his opponent’s coffin with an insane barrel on his backhand this time for a near-perfect 9.67 and his second win at Supertubos, his career-fourth.

“It was really nice watching Crosby surf his heats. I was so invested in what he was doing that I felt like I was surfing twice as many heats,” Colapinto added. “I had a hip surgery in the off season and it took me almost three months to get back in the water. I put so much effort in and I thought it would pay off right away but in Hawaii I got two 9th. Sometimes you just have to trust it, now I have a win so I’m psyched.”
The 2022 winner in Peniche, Colapinto was unstoppable on finals day, taking out Joan Duru (FRA) and Gabriel Medina (BRA) on his way to the Final before putting on a barrel riding clinic for the win. Last year’s World No.3 has now taken over the rankings and will wear yellow heading to Australia, having secured his spot among the best for the back half of the season.

Defay’s Backhand Comes Clutch for Win No.6 and First in Europe
“It’s overwhelming,” Defay (above) said. “Waves changed and the swell arrived for sure, I think we both had similar strategies and maybe we both had boards a little bit small for these waves. I focused on the lefts obviously and was looking for two turns but in the end one was enough.”

Waves got scarce in the women’s Final and tested the nerves of two of the most experienced surfers in the field. Johanne Defay (FRA) was first to put a couple of decent scores on the board, applying pressure on her opponent Tyler Wright (AUS) as time slowly dripped away.

Both surfers focused on the lefts and at that game the French surfer from Reunion Island had the upper hand, applying her polished backhand turns in the right sections like she has done countless times to win big events. As time continued to slip away, the Australian was unable to find an open wall to work her magic and Defay claimed the win.

This marks Defay’s sixth career CT win, her first on European soil, and moved her into second place on the rankings ahead of the Australian leg. It also signals her official return to 100% form after a difficult season last year, plagued by an injury early on.

“Last year was fun and weird at the same time,” Defay added. “I really enjoyed my time at home even if I was injured, it was kind of a break that I deserved too. Coming back to contests it was hard to find my feet again and my fire but I worked hard and just wanted to show my injury didn’t take me out completely. ”

Prior to today, Defay had never made it past the Quarters at Supertubos, but as lefts started pumping in the middle of the beach, the powerful regular foot reveled and dominated once again. With a solid start in Hawaii and back-to-back Quarterfinals, Defay’s win today puts her right on the heels of World No.1 Molly Picklum (AUS) in the rankings.

Ewing Claims Runner-Up, Ties Florence in Rankings No.2 Spot
Last year’s runner-up in the world, Ethan Ewing (AUS above) posted his best result to date in Portugal but couldn’t quite convert all the way for a third CT win. He still showcased some of the event’s finest surfing to dispatch two ferocious goofies, Italo Ferreira (BRA) and Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) on his way to the Final.

“It was super cool to surf the Final with Griffin, we’re really good friends,” Ewing said. “We haven’t had that many man-on-man heats together but they’re always super fun. When I came to Portugal I was really unhappy with my surfing but just to kind of pull through that and the cold water and the long travel was great.”

The Australian has also officially made the Mid-season Cut with this result and before heading home to Australia. Ewing and Colapinto had previously eliminated Crosby Colapinto (USA) and Gabriel Medina (BRA) respectively in their Semifinal matchups.

Two-Time World Champion Wright Back to Winning Form
After her worst season start since qualifying full time in 2011, two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS, above) has put two third-round exits in her rearview mirror and found her pace in Portugal to reach the Final. 

“It’s amazing, I feel like this has been a really key point for my year,” Wright stated. “It’s taken me a while to figure out some of the different changes that I’ve had going on. I’m really excited to be in Portugal, honestly, this is me and my wife’s favorite event all year, so thank you Portugal for having us, I really enjoyed myself.”

Open about health issues and the changes she has made to continue to progress in her career and life, Wright has definitely found her form again and will be a threat as she heads to Bells Beach where she is the back-to-back defending event winner.

Defay and Wright had previously eliminated Lakey Peterson (USA) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) respectively in their Semifinal matchups.

Medina’s Rampage Halted in Semis, World Champion is Back
After an Opening Round poor performance, three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) found his groove again and started to build momentum at an event he’s extremely familiar with and has the full support of the local crowds. The Brazilian went on an absolute rampage through the rounds, posting 16.60, 17.16 and 18.00 heat totals (out of a possible 20) on his way to the Semis.

Despite a last-minute good effort, Medina came up just short against Colapinto in their Semis bout but this result has propelled him into 15th place on the rankings with a ton of momentum and confidence.

To catch up on all news and highlights from the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Corona as well as replay key heats and moments, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Men’s Final Results:
HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 17.94 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 11.13

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Women’s Final Results:

HEAT 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) 10.83 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 5.50 

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Men’s Semifinals Results:

HEAT 1: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 13.00 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 10.97

HEAT 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 15.50 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.94

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Women’s Semifinals Results:

HEAT 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.36 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 11.30

HEAT 2: Johanne Defay (FRA) 14.54 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.93

MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal Men’s Quarterfinals Results:

HEAT 1: Crosby Colapinto (USA) 12.27 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 9.00

HEAT 2: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 14.17 DEF. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 7.67

HEAT 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.00 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 14.13

HEAT 4: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.43 DEF. Joan Duru (FRA) 7.46

Next Stop: Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach