GWM Sydney Surf Pro

GWM Sydney Surf Pro

• Women’s Semifinalists and Men’s Quarterfinalists Decided
• Indonesia’s Rio Waida Raises the Bar at Manly
• Fresh Faces Lock into Women’s Semifinals
• More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

The GWM Sydney Surf Pro presented by Rip Curl, the second stop of the 2022 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series (CS), has continued at Manly Beach today with some of the best conditions of the entire event for the early heats of the day with Manly delivering super clean two-to-three foot waves which provided the perfect canvas for some of the best performances of the event. Before conditions deteriorated in the early afternoon, the event saw the completion of the men’s Round of 16 as well as the women’s Quarterfinals.

Waida and Rodrigues Raise the Bar in Heat of the Event
Rio Waida (IDN above) and Michael Rodrigues (BRA) have been standouts all week at the GWM Sydney Surf Pro, both posting some of the highest scores of the event and both displaying incredible power, finesse and progression in their surfing. The pair looked destined for Finals Day until they matched up with each other in the Round of 16. In the best conditions of the day, Rodrigues got the ball rolling, posting an 8.17 on his opening wave, then backing it up with a 9.50 shortly after. With his back firmly against the wall, Waida needed something special if he was going to lock in a Quarterfinal berth here in Manly, and special is what he got, posting a 9.00 and an 8.80 on back-to-back rides, to take the lead and the heat win. Both surfer’s set a massive standard of backhand surfing, both going upside down in the critical section to post the top two heat totals of the event so far, in the same heat, with the Indonesian getting the nod.

“I’m really happy to win through to the Quarterfinals,” Waida said. “When I saw the waves this morning, really clean and well shaped, I was confident I can win because I know I can score well in good waves. I’ll rest now and cheer on my fellow Indonesian Ketut Agus who surfs later today and I’ll be ready for finals day tomorrow.”

Continuing the trend set by Waida and Rodrigues (above) in the heat prior, North Narrabeen local Jordy Lawler (AUS) and San Clemente’s Jett Schilling (USA) put on an incredible back and forth battle in their Round of 16 clash this morning. As Manly continued to dish-up incredible conditions, both surfers took to the air, each posting excellent single wave scores to ensure the battle would go down to the wire. Although Lawler landed one of the biggest aerials of the event, he fell short of raking the win, meaning he will need to wait another year before he can look for another win here at Manly. Schilling on the other hand has progressed into the Quarterfinals where he will take on good friend and fellow San Clementeian Kade Matson (USA), who is also assured a career best result here at Manly.

"I knew that would be a high scoring heat and that's how it played out - Jordy is a great surfer,” Schilling said. “The waves are really good and hopefully for tomorrow's finals day we get it this good again. This is definitely my best result so I'm stoked right now. I just want to keep it going.”

Women’s Semifinalists Decided at GWM Sydney Surf Pro
With the women’s Quarterfinals being run today at Manly, there are now only four competitors left in the draw who have a chance of hoisting the Harbor Bridge Trophy, and three of them have never won a major event in their careers. With Nikki van Dijk (AUS, above) claiming a win here in 2016, it will be up to Sophie McCulloch (AUS), Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) or Keala Tomoda-Bannert (HAW) to take a maiden CS win here at Manly tomorrow.

While Bonvalot and Tomoda-Bannert have been posting some of the most impressive totals of the event, it was McCulloch who took the biggest win today, eliminating event favourite and current rankings leader Caitlin Simmers (USA) in their Quarterfinal matchup. Although Simmer’s took an epic win over fellow Californian Kirra Pinkerton (USA) in their Round of 16 heat where both competitors scored excellent heat totals, she was unable to repeat the dose against McCulloch who looked sharp on her backhand on her way to the heat win in deteriorating conditions.

“Semifinals is always better than Quarterfinals so I’m super happy with that win,” McCulloch said. “Caity (Simmers, above)) has been on fire so it was always going to be a tough heat and it definitely was a grindy one. At the end of the day I just want to give my best effort and I feel like I did that today. I have made a couple of errors that I’d like to clean up come Finals Day but either way I’m stoked to be in the semis.”

Former Championship Tour Surfers Onto Finals Day
A handful of former CT competitors who are looking to requalify to the Championship Tour continued their run at Manly today with the likes of Deivid Silva (BRA, above), Ryan Callinan (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Imaikalani deVault (HAW) and Nikki van Dijk (AUS) all progressing through their heats. Van Dijk was the standout of this group, posting an excellent two-wave combination of 16.97 to overcome Californian up and comer Alyssa Spencer (USA) in the Quarterfinals. Van dijk is through to the Semifinals as she eyes off a second title here at Manly.

“Despite the rain and wind the waves were good out there and it was great to get through and make the Simi’s,” van Dijk said. “Alyssa is a really good surfer and I was nervous going into that heat, especially after she opened the heat with an excellent 8 point ride, but I stuck to my plans, chose the right waves and managed to take the win.”

The 2022 GWM Sydney Surf Pro presented by Rip Curl Challenger Series and WSL Longboard Tour events will run at Manly Beach through May 24, 2022. For more information, please visist WorldSurfLeauge.com or check the free WSL App.

Top kit for you next #vanlife surf trip

Top kit for you next #vanlife surf trip

Products for you to make your next #vanlife surf trip easier.


Dry Bag Pro Wetsuit Bag

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Whether you own a surfing wetsuit, swimming wetsuit or drysuit The Dry Bag is the best product to protect, store and collect water from your wetsuit acting as a wetsuit bag and carry solution. It is a great outdoor gear bag that protects, stores and dries your wet gear. Protect your house / car / van from damp. Hang your wetsuit, drysuit or wet gear anywhere!

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Northcore Hook Up Hanger

A silicone rubber coated magnet designed to allow hanging of wetsuits from on flat metal surfaces – cars and vans.

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Rip Curl Surf Series Changing Mat

Car park gravel destroys wetsuits. This tough, waterproof changing mat folds out into a flat 1.2m diameter circle, designed for standing on whilst getting changed.

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Rip Curl Packable Search Microfibre Beach Towel

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Island Tribe SPF50 Clear Gel Sun Stick 30G

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Surf Series 50L Black Bucket Bag by Rip Curl

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Vans Destruct Mid Mte-1 Shoes

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Shadows

Shadows

Looking for inspiration for your rail and barrel game? Look no further, how about four of Britain's best in an overhead left. Reubyn and Joss Ash, Barnaby Cox and Miles Lee-Hargreaves sliding through the South West.

Tom Butler and the search for Cornwalls ‘Wildest Wave’

Tom Butler and the search for Cornwalls ‘Wildest Wave’

Bit of treat tonight on the telly box and on BBC IPlayer, Tom Butler towed by Adam Griffiths take on The Stones, a mythical bombie out the back of Godrevy in Cornwall.

As you know Tom has ridden some of the largest waves in the world - Mully, Nazare etc but he’s been home this winter being a dad, setting up his Coastal Crusader business getting the odd Cribber sesh, but a photo of a wave, and the lure of Zorbas (another mythical bombie off Crantock) set him off in search of big waves off the Cornish coast last winter.

The trouble these waves are fickle and it wasn't a banner year for huge pumping swells and offshores so Tom spent most the winter waiting. Then finally, in February his chance came and he headed out to the Stones with Bearman, a large safety team of paramedics, safety boats and back up jet skis. When they arrive it looked like the mission will fail. But as the tide turned something magical happens and The Stones switches on. 

The Stones Reef is a notorious reef, two miles off St Ives that has claimed the lives of many mariners. It is eerie, a bell on a buoy rings out, there are huge currents, it feels sharky and some big creatures (Porbeagles) lurk beneath. A few surfers have been out there before, but it is It isn't recommended without the right crew, training and equipment.

We caught up with Tom to ask him about the filming and the mission.

What made you Pick the Stones?
Because of Covid and having my boy I decided to put more effort into organising things at home one the last two years with Coastal Crusaders. But one day in 2020 we had a big day at Cribbar and Zorbas and other reefs was going off, and I thought about doing a big wave project a bit closer to home. So I was looking at that and then Bearman sent me a shot of the Stones. So I put a project together to target Zorbas, The Stones or another wave in North Cornwall. Luckily Mike Cunliffe from Big Wave TV was interested so we pitched the idea and got the TV deal. Which was great because you need some funding to get the proper back up to go out to these outer reefs - skis etc. We got that signed off in November 21, and then it was waiting for the right conditions. Each reef needs different winds, swell and tides and it wast a great winter for big waves. MY number one choice was Zorbas, but it didn’t happen, but eventually in February we got the swell we were after for The Stones and the crew launched from St Ives at 6am and it was on.
We we got there it wasn’t that great and I actually thought we had blown it, but as the tide pushed the left started to break so we were on and Bearman towed me into a couple bombs.

Good job you have big back up crew. I mean this is probably the first time you have actually had the proper backing to do this!
Yeah I've never rolled with that much support, and it was really nice to have that kind of professional back up for paramedics, lifeguard, safety boat, back up ski. And you need it if anything goes wrong You have to be self supporting. It's no use going out thinking you just call a lifeboat, that would be selfish. And if anything goes wrong, like serious injury you need a ski and boat to get you back in without making the situation or your injury worse. All these waves are a way offshore by some way so if you have a head injury or spinal the last thing you want is be laying on your mates jet ski fanging in over chop for half an hour.

And what's the wave like?
Well we thought it was a right but when he tide is right it is actually a left that peels off the back of the rocks towards Portreath type thing. It wraps north. It was a bit frustrating because the swell wasn't ideal, and we hadn't had a lot of them, but we got in the water at six am and there wasn't lot going on. But as the tide start push in it peaked up for 45 minutes and we have six waves come through and one was way bigger than the others. But Bearman put me right in the spot.

Have you got plans for the other spots?
Love to continue to surf these waves, Zorbas absolutely. But you need the right crew to back you up and conditions are so fickle. But there are couple of spots with potential.

If anyone is reading this and fancies paddling out from Hayle what would you say to them?
I probably wouldn’t, no don't do it. You don't want to be calling the lifeguards or lifeboat to your mess up. You have to have the right training and crew to be able to deal with worst case scenario out there and not put it on other people to come and get you. We had two spare skis with two lifeguard and paramedic trained experienced surfers and medical kit out there, a safety boat, I am fully lifeguard and first aid trained, I've surfed big waves for 17 years (I went to Hawaii when I was 16), been water safety for big events so we were fully covered.

I don't think people realise what goes in to proper big wave surfing these days.
No, you have to know how to use a ski properly, know rescue and first aid techniques and how to respond to to life threatening situations because they happened very quickly and you have to be on it. Especially out at places like that.

Cornwalls Wildest Wave is on  20th May 7.30pm on BBC1 (8PM Wales)  and then on catch up and iPlayer here.

GWM Sydney Surf Pro

GWM Sydney Surf Pro

• Mixed Results For Former CT Stars at Sydney Surf Pro
• International Upstarts Find Form at Manly
• Northern Beaches Locals Give Fans Something to Cheer About
• More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

The GWM Sydney Surf Pro presented by Rip Curl, the second stop of the 2022 World Surf League (WSL) Challenger Series (CS), saw excellent conditions at Manly Beach today with groomed two-to-three foot waves running across perfect sandbanks. Large crowds on the beach enjoyed sunshine and a high performance day of competition with the first 19 heats of the men’s Round of 96 being run.

Mixed Results For Former CT Competitors on the Challenger Series
Mixed results today for former CT standout surfers and Australia Olympian’s Owen Wright (AUS, above) and Julian Wilson (AUS). While Wilson was able to take a confidence boosting win in his heat, Wright was unfortunately relegated to third position late in his heat and eliminated from the event. A former winner here at Manly, Wilson looked in good touch, even surfing on the board he competed on at the Tokyo Games last year with.

“These waves on the Challenger Series are good and I’m enjoying getting back into competition,” Wilson said. “Surfing four man heats is definitely a change to what I was used to and you really have to be hungry in the water to get the best waves and be prepared to fight for those waves but I’m becoming more familiar with the format and the waves here at Manly and feel like I can keep improving on my scores.”

Another former CT competitor who looked in good touch within his opening heat at Manly was Brazilian representative Alejo Muniz (BRA, above). Muniz, another former winner here at Manly, has only just returned to the water after sustaining an injury whilst surfing earlier this year and has worked hard to get back for the CS season. The hard work looks to have paid off with the super fast natural footer taking a solid heat win to progress into the Round of 48.

“I’m coming off an injury I sustained in Argentina a few months ago but I’m getting better quickly and no matter what I’ll do my best regardless,” said Muniz. ‘It’s good to be competing here with my brother, we train together and advise each other before heats and it helps - I’ll be here on the beach for him later today for his heat as well and hopefully the waves remain good.”

Other former CT competitors that found success on Day 1 of competition included Ryan Callinan (AUS) Willian Cardoso (BRA) who progressed whilst the likes of Jesse Mendes (BRA), Adrian Buchan (AUS) and Frederico Morais (PRT) where unable to move past the opening round in Sydney.

Kiwi Competitors Fly Flag ‘Across The Ditch’ on Day 1 of Competition
Kiwi duo Billy Stairmand (NZL) and Te Kehukehu Butler (NZL) surfed in back-to-back heats today at Manly and both progressed into the Round of 48 with Stairmand taking a commanding victory in his Round of 96 matchup. Hailing from the long left point of Raglan, Stairmand is known for his razor-sharp backhand attack and it showed in the running lefts on offer at Manly Beach today.

“I had a great start in that heat, my competitors made mistakes with waves while I was able to pick off a great left and get a solid score and the heat played out well from there” said Stairmand. ‘I’m really enjoying the Challenger Series - traveling the world and I love competing so this is a good life, especially when I’m winning heats and surfing good quality lefts here is ideal because I’m from Raglan and surf lefts all the time - It’s suits me for sure.”

South African Competitors Impress on Day 1 of CS Event at Manly
South African surfers Joshe Faulkner (ZAF, above) and Adin Masencamp (ZAF) both posted opening round heat wins today with Faulkner particularly impressive with a lively display of progressive surfing in his win over Cody Young (Haw). The pair will progress into the Round of 48 while their countryman Eli Beukes (ZAF) will unfortunately leave Manly with a first round loss.

“I’m super stoked to take that win,” Faulkner said. “The last event on the Gold Coast I was eliminated by just one one hundredth of a point and that was disappointing so to win today makes me feel a lot better. There’s three Sth Africans in the field, two of us have already won our heat today and hopefully Slade Prestwich can also win later today - We’ve traveled a long way to be here but it feels good right now.”

Dylan Moffat and Jordy Lawler Do Local Crowd Proud on Northern Beaches
The day's opening heat featured local competitor Dylan Moffat (AUS, above) and a solid crowd of supporters who made sure they were on the beach early getting behind the North Narrabeen youngster. Moffat didn’t let them down, opening the heat with a decent 5.67 ride and shortly after posting a near excellent 7.33 to control the heat throughout and take a relatively comfortable win over highly rated Hawaiian Ezekiel Lau (HAW) who took the second advancing spot in their four man heat.

The local supporters were treated to another winning performance by highly fancied Northern Beaches resident Jordy Lawler (AUS) who opened his heat with an impressive air-reverse giving him control of the heat and the win over Hawaiian Brodi Sale (HAW). Lawler is a past winner of this event and has been on the cusp of Championship Tour (CT) qualification over the past 12 months and appears well focused and prepared for the 2022 Challenger Series.

“It was good to pull that air reverse early in the heat and get a good score - It set me up straight away to focus on a back up score so it was an easy win in the end,” Lawler said. “I live just around the corner and having won here in 2019 it feels good to be here surfing again with a lot of local support. I’ve learnt a lot surfing against the world’s best in the past year and I just want to apply what I’ve learnt to the task and qualify for the CT 2023.”

Local wildcards George Pittar (AUS) and Saxon Reber (AUS) put on a great performance in front of their home crowds but were unable to find their way into progressing positions at Manly Beach.

The 2022 GWM Sydney Surf Pro presented by Rip Curl Challenger Series and WSL Longboard Tour events will run at Manly Beach through May 24, 2022. For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeauge.com

Desmond

Desmond

It's the year 2022, Range Rovers out number Willzy-like souped up cars 10 to 1, there’s a Netflix series called byron baes, botox is in, affordable housing is out. The surf is more crowded than the boxing day test with Warney flipping a few, fires rage and floods engulf us but one thing will always stay the same: Rex Hunt is still a Desmond.

A local fast paced and electric surf film starring Soli Bailey, Kieren Perrow, Kyuss King, Garret Parkes, Joel Paxton, Zak Skyring, Duke Wrencher, Jhamil "Nuke" Coorey, Nick Colbey, Cash Cow, Piney Jyoti Walker, Torren Martyn, Finn Crisp, Hobbit, Brick, Crab, Tom Donny etc.

In loving memory of Ben King

Desmond - A byron bay surf film by Nick Colbey
Edit: Nick Colbey
Filmed: Milo Inglis, Nick Colbey, Grigs
Water: Nick Colbey, Grigs