Brighton is one of the few bone fide surf / skate cites in the UK. With strong roots in the north of both surf and skate in the UK the area has produced some great British surfers. Cliff Cox, a former English and British masters champ, learned to surf there, runs a surf school there and has helped out many of the cities groms. Robbie Mayo has produced a film about Cliffs life in an area that while is a long way from Huntingdon Beach, has quite a few similarities.
A group of south coast surfers are paddling 26 miles to raise money for the humanitarian effort in Ukraine this weekend.
If you can’t make it donate here
“After the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 Feb 2022, the humanitarian disaster that we have witnessed has shocked us to the very core. UK-Med are doing some exceptional work in Ukraine trying to get critical supplies to hospitals, and on the borders giving critical care to refugees in exceptionally harsh conditions.
As a group of surfers from Bournemouth we decided that we should use the arms at our disposal and paddle against Putin’s despicable crimes against humanity to help UK-Med in their endeavours.
We will be paddling a marathon (26 miles) on surfboards from Kimmeridge Bay to Bournemouth Pier in Dorset…in 8degree water…in 5mm wetsuits.
If you are able to support us in this fundraising effort that would be amazing – either by a donation or coming out to join us at the finish line of Bournemouth Pier (approx 1800 Sun 3 Apr).
Any local surfers are very welcome to join us at any point on the last leg of the paddle from Sandbanks to the Pier. We will be publishing our route and times that we will be passing local land marks shortly 🙂
Thanks for your time…in the words of the heroes of Snake Island:
Putin, Go F&*$ YOURSELF
Created in Torquay, Australia, in 1999, the Rip Curl GromSearch is a competition exclusively for young surfers, boys and girls, under the age of 16 with its own unique character. It is held in various regions of the world at the same time: Brazil, Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, New Zealand, USA and Europe, leading to an International Final which traditionally takes place “Somewhere” in spring. The Rip Curl GromSearch is a real hotbed of young talent, having uncovered future World Champions such as Stephanie Gilmore (7 times World Champion and current world #1 in women’s surfing), the Brazilian prodigy and WSL 2014 & 2018 World Champion Gabriel Medina, and many others.
For the 2022 edition, French, English, Spanish and Portuguese Groms will go through their National events to qualify for the European Final.
The under-16, under 14 and under 12 male and female winners from those countries will battle to qualified for the European Final at the beautiful Taghazout Bay in Morocco early 2023.
The European Final will take place in January/February 2023 where the 30 qualified Groms will battle to earn 2 tickets to the international final at Bells Beach Australia in Spring 2023. There also will be 6 wildcards to win through an online event starting in September 2022. Stay tuned! So, no matter what, this season again, all the European young surfers will have a chance to qualify to the European GromSearch Final and defend their country! This 22th edition will also stress the importance of environmentally responsible behaviour . Eco friendly actions, games and beach clean-up will be organised on each stops.
Water fountains will be available for everyone to refill their own reusable bottle thanks to our partner Hydroflask and will help the development of good habits. Recycling bins will be provided on all the events and the organisers will ensure that the ground rules of responsible behaviour are respected in each country during all the events. COME AND ENJOY OUR GROMSEARCH VILLAGE WITH SOME GREAT ACTION OUT AND IN THE WATER ! Apart from the incredible action in the water, each GromSearch stop will offer an array of fun and interactive experiences on the beach thanks to our wonderful partners! You will also meet our Rip Curl Team Riders, they will come to watch the action on the competition and will be available to share some special tips of their own with all the young competitors.
RIP CURL GROMSEARCH Partners :
• FCS
• Greenbush
• Citroen
• Hydroflask
• Smith
• Ocean 52
• Fédération Française de Surf
• FPS
• Surfing England
• Federacion Cantabra de Surf
• Federacion Galega de Surf.
EUROPEAN 2022 RIP CURL GROMSEARCH SCHEDULE: Portugal 12th and 13th of April 2022 at Costa da Caparica 18th and 19th of June 2022 at Porto UK 9th and 10th of April 2022 at Fistral Beach, Newquay 11th and 12th of June at Croyde bay, Devon Spain 22nd, 23rd and 24th of April 2022 at Playa de Razo, Galicia 3rd, 4th, and 5th of June 2022 at Somo, Cantabria France 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th of July 2022 at Seignosse 20th, 21st and 22nd of August 2022 at Anglet
New data released by the Environment Agency, today, shows that water companies were responsible for pouring sewage into river, lakes, estuaries and our seas a disgusting 372,500 times in 2021.
That’s an eye watering 2.6 million hours of sewage flowing into some of our most treasured ecosystems, where wildlife should be free to flourish and where we love to surf, swim and play.
This is ecological vandalism at a shameless scale. And so goes another day in the total shit show of the UK water industry.
FED UP? SIGN THE SAS PETITION HERE
Shockingly,
50% of sewage overflows pumped out sewage over 40 times.
One in five sewage overflows spewed out sewage over 60 times per year.
At this rate, an Environment Agency (EA) investigation should be triggered. But we know that the EA has had its budgets slashed and are unable to enforce properly. Allowing the water industry to ‘self-monitor’ is simply allowing them to keep pumping out pollution while pocketing the dirty profits.
A culture of contempt for the environment
The new data shows the extent of the sewage pollution scandal and shines an ever-brighter spotlight on the complete contempt the water industry has for the environment.
At the end of last year, we saw the launch one of the largest investigations the EA has ever launched, looking into over 2,000 water treatment works for illegally discharging sewage. And, as we speak, United Utilities are fighting the water industry’s dirty battle in the courts.
Can you believe that they’re trying to make it even harder for NGOs, campaigners and people like you and me to hold water companies to account? They’re looking to close the door on legal challenges against water companies for dumping untreated sewage into waterways. But campaigners are fighting back.
And to top it all off, a few days ago, Liv Garfield, CEO of Severn Trent, was quoted in The Telegraph saying that water companies haven’t done more to end sewage pollution ‘because it was not on their customers’ priority list’ and that the issue had not risen to public consciousness until 2020.
It was subsequently revealed that the issue of sewage pollution and protecting the environment was high up on Severn Trent customer priority lists years ago, as indicated in their very own surveys back in 2017. They are out of touch with the public and their own intelligence. We’re pretty sure that customers haven’t been calling for eye-watering water company pay and profits but this has never stopped them.
Commenting on the EA data release, Hugo Tagholm, CEO at Surfers Against Sewage says:
Water companies have been pumping untreated sewage into our waterways for millions of hours, and yet water company bosses have the gall to say tackling this “wasn’t on our customers’ priority list”. We’re pretty sure that customers haven’t been calling for eye-watering profits and salaries for water company executives but this never stopped them. These ill-gotten gains must be taken out of the pockets of industry fat cats and invested in protecting and restoring our rivers, and ending rampant sewage pollution. Water companies don’t have the right to ruin our wild blue spaces. Not now. Not ever.”
“Across the UK, people are demanding an end to sewage pollution and will be coming together in mass protest on 23rd April – we urge everyone who cares for our rivers and seas to join us in telling the profiteering polluters of the water industry just what we think of them.”
On the 23rd April, thousands of water lovers will be taking to the streets across the country, marching in 11 protests against 11 of the major water companies. The proud British public, raising their voice for people and planet and demanding water companies ACT NOW to end sewage pollution.
Pacific Dreams 2 is the sequel to the popular surfing film Pacific Dreams. The surf film showcases the best surfing clips from 2018-2021 seasons.
Filmed/Edited by Jeff Chavolla
Surfers: Dane Reynolds, Bobby Martinez, Dillon Perrillo, Kilian Garland, Adam Lambert, Tommy Mckeown, Cory Arrambide, Trevor Gordon, Yadin Nicol, Dimitri Poulos, Jabe Swierkocki, Javi Moreno, Jake Kelley, Josiah Amico, Brett Simpson, Micky Clarke, Tristen Simon, Pat Ecker
A fire at Jay Surfboards HQ in Midlothian, Scotland over the weekend has devastated a long time shaper and spurred the local surf community to try and help get his factory and life back.
“Jay has been a prominent figure in the Scottish surf community for many years. He was Scotland’s first professional shaper, a true master of his craft and a respected friend and community member. “ says Sam Howard
“His workshop and shaping bay was a place of beauty, full of tools, surfboards, art, wetsuits, custom orders and boards under repair. Jay has lost his business, lifelong work and many irreplaceable items he has collected over the years.
“Jay has had a massive input into developing the sport in Scotland and has brought surfboards and happiness to many of us in the community. He has also supported talented surfers with boards and has given guidance and support to many.
“A small group of Jay’s friends have come together to help him build something even more beautiful. Please support with any amount you can to help create a new start for Jay and others who lost possessions in the fire. Let’s bring Jay Surfboards back bigger and better than before. Let’s bring back hand-shaped surfboards to Scotland.”
“Many possessions can’t be replaced with money, but our financial support is a good place to start.”
If you wish to donate a GoFundMe page has been set up here.
Jay in happier times
