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In a world first these two legends just passed their Level 1 Surf Coach Award

Louis and Aiden

In a world first these two legends just passed their Level 1 Surf Coach Award

Louis and Aiden have Autism, learning disabilities as well as other complexities and the ISA have confirmed this is a world first for anyone to have completed their Level 1 surf coach award with such complex learning needs and physical challenges. They have been coached by Tom Butler since he set up Coastal Crusaders CIC in 2019.

“We are stoked with Louis and Aidens progress and achievements and to look back at this time and know we have worked with over 80 Cornish youngsters. We delivering a range of ocean sports to motivate and inspire our local beneficiaries. A big part of what we do at the company is to help engrain more self-esteem and confidence through guided sports and positive feedback, while improving mental and physical health through all of our activities, and two provide education for the youngsters to better understand the ocean and how to remain safe in the ocean and offer some guidance on how best to protect the environment the sports are delivered within. We all know Green and Blue spaces are so important for our Mental Health, all-round vision and we are having amazing results with the youngsters we are working with.”

If you’ve been around Newquay you ave probably seen Tom coaching on the beach with Louis and Aiden.

“Our CIC was contracted through the local authority to deliver for both Louis and Aiden their health and education plan. With the different disabilities and conditions both the young men have, they receive some funding, to help better prepare them for adult life. Tom B has been surf coaching with both men for a number of years previous to this education and training being delivered. Upon consultation with their families and Louis and Aiden themselves we had the idea of having a go at their Isa Surfing Level 1 surf coaching award.

Due to national lockdowns and a pandemic at times Tom was teaching the theory to the guys through two PVC plastic sheets, a face mask, and a visor, so the year definitely had it’s challenges. Tom continues to say,

“Being totally honest, getting out of the house and continuing with this course and routine was really important to my own mental health. It dawned on me half way through the year, that this may be a world first if we can gain this qualification. We are thrilled that the ISA have recognized this massive achievement and hope it inspires more people who have disabilities to get out there and push for qualifications that can open up many more exciting and rewarding opportunities for work and rewarding life experiences.”

Vicky Coxhead, Aidens mum said “I am so immensely proud of Aiden’s achievement. Sport is Aiden’s passion and purpose in life and he is now able to support others like him to experience the freedom of the ocean. Aiden is an incredible role model and is proof that disability or neurodivergence does not stop you from living your very best life.”

Suzanne Sutton Lousies mum said
“It’s hard to put into words how much Tom Butler and Coastal Crusaders have given to Louis and in turn, to us as a family. What they have all achieved over the past year is incredible. To watch Louis and Aiden gain in self worth and belief and as a result, achieve what they have is priceless. Tom and all involved, have given them a purpose & a future by telling them “You can. ” For that we will always be grateful.

Barrie Hall, the ISA course assessor said
“It has been a pleasure and great experience working with Aiden, Louis and Tom from Coastal Crusaders. I am stoked that I have been able to facilitate the ISA / Surfing England level 1 coach course for these guys.

“In my 25 years as a surf coach trainer/assessor, I have never worked with students with such special learning needs. We adapted the programme with a bespoke approach that worked for them, whilst still maintaining standards and the required teaching /learning and assessment process. I am so pleased that these two guys have passed the course and will now go forward to do their practical training hours with supervision from Tom at Coastal Crusaders. This will be a fantastic opportunity for Aiden and Louis to improve their lives and contribute to others learning to surf.”

Polysun

When Jack Coleman says he has new project, the automatic response is ‘Can I see it?’ Even if he says “It’s kind of based around here with not any real big names it…” my interest is immediately peaked. Because if Jack Coleman tells you he has just finished a 5 year passion project about an underground ripper, you can’t not be itching to see it – because everything Coleman makes is overflowing with passion.

POLYSUN centres around Jack’s friend Joey Bookout, a surf shop employee with a unique style and extensive quiver. “I really love watching him surf,” explains Jack. “He rides anything and everything – often repurposing boards that he finds something he likes in.” One minute Joey is getting barrelled on a Kneelo, the next he’s ripping up a point break on a twinnie, then he’s speeding through the line-up on a surfmat – all with style for miles.

Another distinctive Coleman signature is a killer soundtrack – and POLYSUN is no different. Set to Relatively Clean Rivers’s self-titled 1975 album – the cords and vocals propelling the film along, overflowing with soulful harmonies. “Overall, the album almost gives the impression of documenting the dying embers of a band of hippies who’ve found refuge in one of the last safe places for souls of such a mindset, clinging to their credo as their species awaits oncoming extinction,” says Coleman. “The band never cracked the mainstream but yeah, I thought it had a great feel to it as the driving force of sound for POLYSUN.”

As legendary surf scribe Jamie Brisick says “POLYSUN follows Joey’s unique lines—in the water and out. Joey works at a surf shop, and shapes here and there, and seems to always have a bit of resin on his hands as he rides all manner of surf craft in all manner of conditions. You never quite know what he’s going to do next —and, it seems, neither does Joey. It’s all improv. As the surfing world becomes increasingly homogenized, Joey flies the flag for individuality. POLYSUN carries no message—in fact it kicks against the very notion of messages—but if it did it’d go something like: ‘Dance like no one’s around.’”

10th Annual London Surf / Film Festival x VANS is hosted 2nd to 4th December at the iconic Genesis Cinema, presenting a carefully curated line up of the very best films from across the globe that represent the pinnacle of contemporary surfing right now! Accompanied by Q+A’s and ‘Audiences with…’ some of the world’s most exciting surfers and creatives it’s a celebration of the cream of cinematic surf culture

Check out the full line up for 2021 >> HERE.

Tickets are on sale now via the Genesis Cinema >> HERE

Nazaré

Always dreamt about riding a huge barrel at Nazaré. It’s that one frontier that hasn’t been cracked properly at Nazaré. Everything came together on this day, 15-20ft perfect condition and I finally got what I was looking for a big barrel on a 10’4 board.

Very happy to have had this last few days surfing with great people by my side as well.

Hope you enjoy this back to winter in Portugal episode! - Nic Von Rupp

Showdown for the Crown Begins

The 2021 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, on the fabled North Shore of O‘ahu, Hawaii, will go down right here with the world’s best surfers competing via digital video submissions.

• 3 iconic waves.
• 2 clips from each.
• 1 champion.

Mens and Womens winner for each break and overall Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Champion.

HALE‘IWA
Hawaiian Pro, Hale‘iwa Ali‘i Beach Park

SUNSET
World Cup of Surfing, Sunset Beach

PIPELINE
Pipe Masters, Pipeline / Backdoor

Registration Is Open:
NOVEMBER 15
* December 15 is the last day to register

Event Window:
DECEMBER 21– JANUARY 21

Click Here for more info.

Jordy Smith in “Silver Linings’ EP 3

“I thought it would be a great time for us to spend some time in J-Bay.” – Jordy Smith.
Jeffreys Bay is a special place that Jordy has always kept close, as it is the wave that helped develop his effortless power surfing and wise knack for reading one of the best and fastest waves on earth. In Episode 3, Jordy heads to J-Bay just in time for a series of swells at his beloved South African point break. As expected, Jordy puts his patented power and flow on display at pumping J-Bay.

‘Silver Linings’ is a series starring Jordy Smith. The episodic journey covers the incredible highs and devastating lows Jordy experienced in his life over the past 18 months. From entering fatherhood to scoring the best waves he’s seen at home, to facing a near career-ending injury forcing him to pull out of the Olympics, this series documents the rollercoaster ride Jordy has been on and the ‘Silver Linings’ that he encounters within his journey.

Rip Curl Pro Search Taghazout

The World Surf League is stoked to announce the confirmation of the 2022 Rip Curl Pro Search Taghazout Bay. This exciting Qualifying Series (QS) event will come back after a successful first edition in early 2020 before the global pandemic put a halt to surfing events worldwide.
“We’re thrilled to return to Morocco and finally bring the event back to Taghazout Bay,” Cheyne Bradburn, Events & Marketing Manager, WSL Europe said. “The first edition was incredible, and we were all disappointed about not running it in 2021. The event will now step-up to another level with the arrival of Rip Curl, which confirms the potential of this event and rewards the work done locally to make it happen in 2020. The Rip Curl Pro Search Taghazout Bay is not only a major international surf contest, but also a great way to promote this world-class surf destination.”

"When we first discussed getting involved with the QS event in Anglet, we stated we were keen to sponsor one or more events elsewhere,” Mathieu Lefin, President of Rip Curl Europe stated. “We wanted to see pro surfing back in our region and we felt QS events needed our support, so we said we’d sponsor the QS event in Taghazout Bay too. We want this event in Morocco to reflect the spirit of ‘The Search’ following on from when we did ‘The Search’ events in Reunion Island, Mexico, Chile, Bali, USA and more recently Rottnest Island in Australia. We are stoked to sponsor the Rip Curl Pro Search Taghazout Baywhich will be an important stop for the European and African QS legs in 2022."

Though not a first-time location per say, Taghazout is still a fresh new addition to the Qualifying Series, counting for both the European and African tours, bringing the best surfers from both continents to the world class waves of Anchor Point.

When the event ran last year, conditions allowed competition to run at Anza first, a backup location that proved epic as well with super rippable waves and countless excellent numbers. But as soon as the first proper swell manifested on the charts, the anticipation was too much to take as surfers eyed competing on the world class rights of Anchor Point, a perfect, long and powerful wave. It proved just as dreamy as expected with two incredible days of competition that ultimately crowned California’s Nat Young as the event winner.

The waiting period from February 21-27, 2022 is ideal for swell and winds and could hopefully see the whole event unfold in classic Anchor Point conditions. This time around, everybody will be able to enjoy watching all the action as the event will be webcast LIVE around the world, through all of the WSL’s platforms.

“I’m beyond happy to have this event again right at home where everything started for me,” Ramzi Boukhiam, pro surfer and Taghazout local stated. “This is clearly the best time of year to be there waves-wise. All the surfers were super stoked to discover the region, the locals and the culture and pretty vocal about it post event. Of course for me the result was a little disappointing so I’m happy to get another shot. Things are moving in the right direction in Morocco with more and more events throughout the country and more and more surfers into it, which is a great sign for the future. I am very proud to represent Morocco at the highest level and I’ll continue to do so no matter what.”

Thanks to Boukhiam’s many successes throughout the world, the next generation of talent from Morocco has already started making their mark on various tours from the Juniors to the QS and undoubtedly more will follow as the sport’s popularity continues to grow.

The second edition of the Pro Taghazout Bay is supported by the Royal Moroccan Federation of Surfing, a partner of the World Surf League since the inaugural Pro Casablanca in 2015.

“We are happily involved again in support of this important event that gives Moroccan surfers an opportunity to hone their skills against some of the world’s best surfers,” Mohamed Kadmiri, the federation president stated. “This new edition comes at an important time where Moroccan surfers both male and female get more and more interested in professional surfing. Through national, international and Olympic events, the federation’s clear goal is to nurture a new generation of surfers with high potential.”

“Taghazout Bay is delighted to welcome the second edition of what is considered a prestigious stop on the Qualifying Series,” Laïla Bensouda, Deputy General Manager of Taghazout Bay stated. “This will shine more light on the surf spots and the region in general at a global level, especially with the action going LIVE for everyone to witness. We will also offer visitors unique experiences with a focus on sustainability.”

The 2021-22 Qualifying Series started in August and will wrap on April 10, 2022 just in time to qualify the best surfers from the QS around the world for the exciting new 8-stop Challenger Series. In Europe, surfers can count on up to six events, two of which have already happened. Israel, Morocco and two events in mainland Portugal remain. For African surfers, up to five events are on the cards with locations in South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Morocco.

Prior to the main show, Taghazout will also host the European Final of the Rip Curl GromSearch. 36 surfers from all over the Old Continent will battle in Under-16, Under-14 and Under-12 categories, both boys and girls for the titles. The Rip Curl GromSearch is a real hotbed of young talent, having uncovered future World Champions such as 7x World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 2x World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) and many more.

Due to the continued evolution with COVID-19 and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of athletes, fans, staff and the local communities, all events and dates are subject to change.

The 2022 Rip Curl Pro Pro Search Taghazout Bay is scheduled from February 21-27, 2022, at Anchor Point, Taghazout Bay / Morocco. For all results, photos, video highlights and press releases, log on to worldsurfleague.com.

The Rip Curl Pro Search Taghazout Bay is supported by Rip Curl, Taghazout Bay, the Moroccan Royal Federation of Surfing, the Region Souss-Massa and Fairmont Taghazout Bay among others.

Photos: WSL/Masurel