The life of an Irish tow surfing influencer may seem to be all lattes and biscotti, 4x4s and dry haired barrels on hot sunny days. But in reality you have to be prepared to bodysurf Mullaghmore upside down in the barrel…
Welcome to IG vs Reality Ep3 with Gearoid McDaid.
Produced & filmed
Clem Mc Inerney
Featuring
Darragh & Ruari Tivnan
David Dineen
Conor Maguire
Conor Flanagan
James Monaghan
Additional footage
Conor Flanagan
Music
VOW LOW « NOW WE’RE READY TO SPEND »
Jean- Christophe Couderc / Benoit Raymond
(p)&(c) Born Bad Records
Three-time Surfing World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) has been awarded the event wildcard for the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic presented by Corona, marking his first CT event since retiring in 2018. This year also celebrates 20 years since Fanning won his first CT event, also as a wildcard, at the 2001 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.
“I am excited to be back in a jersey,” said Fanning. “I haven’t really had a challenge in the last few years. I injured my knee in 2019 and then have been working towards getting a level of fitness and level of surfing that I was happy with. I’ve been training and working to get my knee back to one-hundred percent. I wanted to get my surfing back to a level that I was happy with, as well. I feel like I am getting there. I’ve been working pretty hard in the last few months just personally, and then having this goal to be ready for this event has definitely kickstarted a bit of fire in there.”
Prior to his retirement, Fanning spent 17 years competing on the elite CT. His illustrious tenure includes 22 Championship Tour victories and three World Titles, cementing him as one of the greatest surfers and sportsmen in history.
Fanning will be against reigning WSL Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) and CT rookie Morgan Cibilic (AUS) in men’s Seeding Round 1, Heat 6 when the competition gets underway. Ferreira, fresh off of a first-place finish, and Cibilic, with a career-best 3rd place, will bring their Newcastle momentum when they come up against the surfing icon.
Reef Heazlewood To Replace Kelly Slater at Narrabeen
Reef Heazlewood (AUS) has been awarded wildcard entry as the WSL Event Replacement. This will be the third CT start for the Sunshine Coast local, and an opportunity to once again showcase his skills on the elite stage. Heazlewood will aim to repeat his standout performance from the 2019 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast when he eliminated Julian Wilson (AUS) from the event.
Heazlewood will face CT veterans Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Adrian Buchan(AUS) in Heat 4.
“I’m so excited to receive a spot in the draw for the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic,” said Heazlewood. “There’s so much history at Narrabeen so it’s so cool to be able to participate now there is an event back. There are definitely a few locations I’d love to compete at and Narrabeen is at the top of that list. I’m really hoping for some big running lefts with barrels or ramps. I really hope that I can put on a show when I get out there.”
Local Heroes Laura Enever and Dylan Moffat Prepare for CT Start
Laura Enever (AUS), former CT competitor, will trade in her commentary microphone for a jersey at her home break event. Since falling off of the CT in 2017, the 29-year old has made moves in the big wave surfing scene and is now known to charge waves of consequence. With sizeable swell currently on offer at Narrabeen, Enever could upset the competition in her CT return. Enever will face current World No. 1 Carissa Moore (HAW) and compatriot Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) in Heat 3.
Dylan Moffat (AUS), Narrabeen local, will compete in his first CT event with the support of his home crowd. Moffat was awarded his wildcard spot through the North Narrabeen Boardriders Club as he is the highest-rated QS competitor in the club. The young Australian will face Brazilians Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Jadson Andre (BRA) in Heat 5.
Fanning was awarded the event wildcard through the event’s title partner, Rip Curl. Enever and Moffat were awarded wildcard entries for Narrabeen through the North Narrabeen Boardriders Club. Heazlewood was awarded wildcard entry as the WSL Event Replacement for 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater, who withdrew from the event due to an ongoing foot injury.
The event window for the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic pres. by Coronaopens April 16 and holds a competition window through April 26. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.
For fans wishing to attend the event in person, event entry will be first-come, first-serve starting at 7:00 a.m. AEST on each ‘on’ day of competition. The venue capacity will be limited to a maximum of 5,000 people at one time, adhering closely to NSW state government guidelines. This capacity could change each day due to beach size changing with tides and swell size.
The Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic pres. by Corona is proudly supported by our partners Rip Curl, Corona, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, Northern Beaches Council, Red Bull, Oakley, Hydro Flask, Harvey Norman, Bonsoy, Boost Mobile, Dometic Outdoor, Bond University, BF Goodrich, and Oakberry.
Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic Women’s Seeding Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Malia Manuel (HAW), Brisa Hennessy (CRI)
Heat 2: Caroline Marks (USA), Tyler Wright (AUS), Macy Callaghan (AUS)
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Johanne Defay (FRA), Sage Erickson (USA)
Heat 5: Lakey Peterson (USA), Isabella Nichols (AUS), Keely Andrew (AUS)
Heat 6: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Bronte Macaulay (AUS)
Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic Men’s Seeding Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Yago Dora (BRA), Connor O’Leary (AUS)
Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW), Frederico Morais (PRT), Alex Ribeiro (BRA)
Heat 3: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Mikey Wright (AUS)
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Reef Heazlewood (AUS)
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Jadson Andre (BRA), Dylan Moffat (AUS)
Heat 6: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Morgan Cibilic (AUS), Mick Fanning (AUS)
Heat 7: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Peterson Crisanto (BRA), Ethan Ewing (AUS)
Heat 8: Ryan Callinan (AUS), Michel Bourez (FRA), Leonardo Fioaravanti (ITA)
Heat 9: Owen Wright (AUS), Seth Moniz (HAW), Matthew McGillivray (ZAF)
Heat 10: Julian Wilson (AUS), Conner Coffin (USA), Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 11: Jack Freestone (AUS), Wade Carmichael (AUS), Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 12: Griffin Colapinto (USA), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Jack Robinson (AUS)
Tom Curren, Conner Coffin and Mason Ho on The Search as they wander the streets of San Francisco, instruments in one hand and surfboards in the other, chasing sneaky barrels in the cold Pacific waters of Northern California. From windy beachies to cliffside wedges, from Janis Joplin’s dreaming tree to Jimi Hendrix’sred house, Tom, Conner and Masonbusk their way through just about every corner of the foggy city.
Tom is band lead, Conner is guitarist, and Mason spends the week seeking to find his true musical calling.
Mikey February goes on a spiritual journey up and down the East and West coasts of South Africa in the first episode of Sonic Souvenirs, a new series of portraits exploring the interconnectedness of art, sound, and surfing, directed by Kai Neville.
Growing up in South Africa, Mikey’s style is the result of a harmonious blend of his natural environment including the ocean, art, music, and culture. In this first episode, Mikey embarks on a visually and sonically inspiring experience as he visits his childhood home of Cape Town and the smaller villages in the surrounding area, shedding a light on the diversity that exists within the region and how it influences the people, music and overall culture.
While Sonic Souvenirs was filmed during last year’s lockdown, forcing the crew to rethink traditional methods and for Kai to direct remotely from Australia, Mikey said they are amazed and excited to share the outcome,
“Our main goal was to be as inclusive as possible, trying to capture the pure sound and vision from what we experienced on the trips, and that’s exactly what the film gives you when you watch it. Music, culture, people, surfboards, and waves— it is the sum of all these things that make a trip unique and special.”
An overarching backdrop throughout the entire series, music continues to play a pivotal role in Mikey’s life and his surfing. In the first episode of Sonic Souvenirs, set to original music by South African musician Madala Kunene and friends, Mikey recounts how music became a driving force for him at a young age. He also addresses the joys and pressures of growing up so close to South Africa’s East Cape, one of surfing’s most renowned destinations, and how this has shaped his perspective and approach.
Mikey represents a new generation of surfing in Africa, receiving global attention for his seemingly effortless approach, as much as for the new path he blazes. Growing up with J-Bay just a quick plane ride away, Mikey shaped himself into one of the most stylish surfers today. He’s also been instrumental in Vans’ philanthropic initiative to inspire at-risk youth in South Africa through surfing in partnership with Waves for Change. As a result of that work, Mikey and his wife were inspired to found their own organization, JUJU, a non-profit dedicated to highlighting and supporting emerging surf sites in Africa.
From snow to sunshine the 2021 British nationals at Thurso had it all!
“The Scottish Surfing Federation we would like to congratulate the British Surfing Champions of 2021 Lucy Campbell ENG and Stan Norman ENG whom along with fellow podium finishers 2nd place Emily Currie ENG, 3rd place Ellie Turner ENG, 2nd place Luke Dillon ENG and 3rd place Harry Cromwell WAL will lead the 2021 British Surfing Team.
“We would also like to express a warm thank you to the team in Thurso who have done an outstanding job leading the event, our sponsors, our fellow home country federations (Channel Islands Surfing Federation, Surfing England and the Welsh Surfing Federation) and all whom have supported the safe execution of the British championships during these challenging times.
“What an outstanding event – we would like to wish all athletes and their support staff a safe homeward journey and as the SSF we look forward to supporting the full British Surfing Team, as they prepare for the World Surfing Games in El Salvador and beyond”.
Sponsored by VisitScotland, EventScotland, Weret Surf Watches and Impact Sports
NVR and friends score 8-10ft slabbing Cave, the most dangerous wave in Europe…
Cave is such a gnarly wave, the length, the thickness of the wave and obviously the reef how it just sticks ou right on the line of the wave. One bad move and your straight to the hospital.
“Everyone got some sick waves, Miguel Blanco, Kiron Jabour and OG Cave Local Antonio Silva.
So good to see Antonio getting the bombs as he’s been dedicated to this wave for the last 10year and has landed himself in hospital twice out here, one of them with a broken back.”
