Episode 7 of Andrew Cottons Bounce Back, season 2!
After a strike mission to Ireland and scoring some great waves, Cotty came back to Nazaré with an injury, but managed to recover and surf some of the biggest waves he has ever caught at Nazaré!
Prescription, the latest instalment from gifted lensman Sam Breeze featuring Seb Smart.
The pair journeyed hours to a mystical place that they had only heard about in myths and legend. The temperature in February exceeded our expectations, sunlight and little wind allowed Sebastian Smart to wear only a wetsuit and boots. The sensory advantage that this allowed helped with navigation through shallow grinding wave tunnels.
Although some of the local folk deemed Sebastian insane for riding a 5’10 in tall surf with no gloves or hood in the depths of winter, Sebastian felt more than ok. Other times he rode a 7’8 widow maker, a long steed with a large centre fin, and two tiny sides. This proved to work better for the Scottish winter seas. The gloves and hood were forgotten, they stayed unused in the boot of a hire car parked usually out of sight.Sam would often set up his filming station close to the ocean. It was there he could get close footage of the waves and feel connected to the water even though he was on land. Waves often smashed up the rocks, meaning Sam would have to run to safety, and in some cases, climb..
Although the jaunt to this magical land was such a mission, the actual window to wave-ride was extremely small, for the wind and swell was so unpredictable. Conditions would often spiral out of control, leaving no chance for any man to tame. However, the small window which the universe had provided was the perfect antidote. And so, this 2 minute and 56 second video clip was manifested. Photography / Film / Edit : Sam Breeze Words : Mijellan pharos
Filmmaker Ryan Moss takes us inside the firing lines during the first proper Pipe swell of the season. The Northern Hemisphere winter is without doubt the most exiting time on the surfing calendar. Whether it’s crazy swells broadsiding Nazaré in Portugal, the twin world title showdowns taking place on Maui and Oahu, or the sheer lunacy of the Big Wave World Tour event at Jaws, one thing that’s never lacking is powerful surf and the most prestigious wave on the planet is still Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
Surf boots have not changed much in the last 30 years. But two men, Jamie Meiselman and Tyler Callaway, have come up with a unique concept using a Thermo-Form sole to create custom fit boots.
Jamie and Tyler grew up surfing in freezing winters in the northeastern United States so they knew that booties were the key to cold water performance surfing. Fit, weight, durability and warmth all being critical factors. They wondered if they could find a material and a construction that would do everything better?
“Boots are literally the link between your board and your body. Any movement you make must go straight through your boots. If we could optimise this connection, we could change the game performance in cold water.”
The pair decided to redesign the slipper from the sole. Instead of sticking rubber layers and straps on a neoprene sock, they started with an injection moulded seamless sole. This sole is made from an exclusive thermoforming material that weighs nearly half of the weight and is twice as durable as neoprene. All you do is heat up the material using warm water, and put your foot in. Then just like custom ski / snowboard boots the Solite slippers mould to your feet giving a precise fit that moves with your foot.
The Thermo-Form sole is also completely hydrophobic on the outside and antibacterial on the inside. So, your boots remain light, warm and do not smell bad after a few sessions. The material does not degrade like neoprene and the surface is abrasion / cut resistant and the seamless sole means that leaking boots are a thing of the past.
For more info hit up soliteboots.eu or in Europe email: [email protected]
From the ‘Then & Now’ series, this bad boy features everyones favourite laid back Gold Coast ripper, Joel Parkinson.
What lies beneath? Well in this case it’s a juvenile Gray Whale just cruising through the line up. Check out this sublime footage when mama nature throws her beauty into the mix.
