‘Ultimate Surfer’ Announced

‘Ultimate Surfer’ Announced

Is this a really good idea, or a really bad idea, decide for yourselves after reading the following below. Reality TV surfing competition, hmmmmmm, how much soul is involved in that, apart from maybe selling it.

ABC announced the network pickup of new competition series “Ultimate Surfer.” The eight-episode series will gather some of the world’s greatest up-and-coming surfers to train and live together as they battle it out at the World Surf League’s (WSL) state-of-the-art Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California, powered by Kelly Slater’s man-made wave technology, in the hope of competing amongst the best athletes in the world’s fastest-growing sport. Production will begin in 2020 and an airdate will be announced later this season. Slater will serve as on-air talent and special correspondent for the show.

Alliances and rivalries will be front and centre in “Ultimate Surfer” as men and women compete in individual and team challenges focused on specific surfing disciplines. Weekly eliminations will leave two men and two women as finalists who will vie for the male and female titles of the Ultimate Surfer and the opportunity to compete on the WSL World Tour, the pinnacle of professional surfing. Slater’s remarkable, one-of-a-kind, man-made wave – the most even playing field for measuring surf mastery – is at the heart of the series.

“In addition to being a globally recognised sport, surfing is also a lifestyle; and ‘Ultimate Surfer’ will give viewers a uniquely personal look at what goes into becoming a world-class champion. We’re ecstatic about the opportunity to utilise Kelly’s world-class surf facility and his expertise in showcasing these incredibly talented on-the-rise athletes,” said Rob Mills, senior vice president, Alternative Series, Specials and Late Night, ABC Entertainment.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity for two surfers (one man, one woman) to win an opportunity to compete against the best surfers in the world on the WSL Tour,”said Slater, who will be the lead consultant for the series. “This will put some of the best up-and-comers against each other in a more direct way to see who stands above the rest, and Surf Ranch is obviously a great venue to use for ‘Ultimate Surfer.’ I’m excited to watch how they step up to the challenge.”

The series comes out of the multi-platform co-development partnership between Pilgrim Media Group and WSL Studios, announced earlier this year.

“Ultimate Surfer” is produced by Lionsgate’s Pilgrim Media Group and WSL Studios. Pilgrim CEO and President Craig Piligian, WSL Studios President of Content and Media Erik Logan, and UFC President Dana White serve as executive producers. Surfers interested in being a contestant on the show must be 21 or older and can apply at UltimateSurferCasting.com, where more details are available..

URBNSURF show off the Southern Hemi’s first Wavegarden

URBNSURF show off the Southern Hemi’s first Wavegarden

The setup. Photo Stu Gibson

Just as the opening season froth on Bristol is settling and the daily crew of punters slide into west country waves the next Wavegarden Cove to open is showing its colours in Melbourne. A bunch of heavy hitters have been testing the wave with decent pits and air sections on offer.

PRESS RELEASE: The First Wavegarden® Cove in the Southern Hemisphere Soon to Open in Melbourne, Australia

Perfect waves have been ridden by a select group of Victorian and Australian pro surfers for the first time at URBNSURF Melbourne, just minutes from Melbourne Airport’s terminals.

Mitch Crews at Urbn Surf. Photo Ted Grambeau

Melbourne’s newest surf destination, scheduled to open in January 2020, rivals some of the best breaks on the planet and is set to progress the sport of surfing at an unprecedented rate by providing a perfect training facility for elite athletes and easy access to newcomers.

The centerpiece of this innovative surfing facility is the two-and-a half-hectare Wavegarden Cove surfing lagoon, capable of producing a great variety of ocean-like waves from gentle, knee-high waves for beginners, through to steep, barreling waves designed for advanced and elite surfers.

Xavier Huxtable. Photo Adam Gibson.

Wavegarden’s team of innovators is currently preparing and fine-tuning the full “wave menu” at URBNSURF Melbourne. Given Australia’s renowned surf culture, with more than 2.5 million active participants, they are particularly focused on broadening the spectrum of waves that will be on offer, including those designed for experts.

Kai Otton. Photo Ted Grambeau.

The fiercest type on the wave menu, coined ‘The Beast’, was tested earlier this week by former world champion Joel Parkinson who exited the water, saying “It’s a challenging barrel and you need to be on your game to make it out”.

Luke Hynd. Photo Stu Gibson.

The waist to head high ‘Turn Waves’ unfurl in perfect order on both sides of the central pier in the lagoon, allowing surfers to trim and carve along the face, while those more experienced are able to perform up to six aggressive top to bottom maneuvers.

Nikki Van Dijk. Photo Adam Gibson.

New to the diverse wave menu is the aerial waves, dubbed “The Ramp”, which boasts a steep face to generate speed followed by a critical ramp section to assist progressive surfers to project into the air. Recognized as one of the world’s leading air specialists, test pilot Dion Agius has been helping Wavegarden technicians to design the perfect air section at URBNSURF Melbourne. “It has the potential to be amazing, we just need to refine a couple of details”, said Dion, after several hours in the water.

Nikki Van Dijk. Photo Adam Gibson.

Josema Odriozola, Wavegarden’s founder and CEO, is very happy with the overall facility stating, “Working hand-in-hand with URBNBSURF over the past few years has been very productive and together we have been able to create almost the perfect surf beach environment with a vast range of consistent and quality waves for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy.”

Photo Adam Gibson.

With two facilities in operation, URBNSURF Melbourne set to open in January 2020, and three other surf parks under construction, Wavegarden is the world’s leading wave-making system boasting the highest user capacities, an authentic surf experience in crystal clear water and a very energy efficient and noise-free machinery.

Xavier Huxtable. Photo Adam Gibson.

Mitch Crews. Photo Adam Gibson.

Surfing officially better than scoring a FA Cup goal. Best MOTD interview ever.

Surfing officially better than scoring a FA Cup goal. Best MOTD interview ever.

Hats off to Chichester City and former Newport striker Scott Jones for the best BBC Match of the Day interview ever admitting that surfing beats scoring in the FA Cup everyday…As we all knew already…

‘Pro surfer, adventurer. river expeditioner and environmentalist’, Scott formerly from the Isle of Wight, was interviewed while celebrating a FA Cup second round draw away at either National League 1’s Tranmere or Wycombe Wanderers.

Scott even threw in a “Whapah’ for good measure.

£70 million of coke washed up on French beaches

£70 million of coke washed up on French beaches

Over 1,000 kilos of coke worth over £70 million has washed up on France beaches and the French public prosecutor has said over 100k’s of coke are washing up each day!

Cocaine has been washing up the beaches of France stretching from Nantes to as far south as the resort town of Biarritz, including Capbreton and Le Porge.

Over 1,00 kilos of 83% pure coke has been recovered so far. A major police and customs operations is under way with beach closures, helicopter searches and surveillance along 125 miles of coast.

Two people out walking discovered two packages on the beach at Arcachon, south-west of Bordeaux, on Friday containing 3kg of cocaine. On Monday a 17 year old was caught trying to take 5k’s off the beach at Lacanau. There are also report from La Rochelle and north of Arcachon, but all techs acorns 500 km’s of coast are affected..

The coke is so pure Philippe Astruc, the Rennes public prosecutor, said it is a health hazard.
“It’s a very pure product that must not be consumed in this form because there is a very high risk of overdose,” he told France 2 TV. “There is absolutely an immediate health risk.”

These have been several similar incidents over the years on the same coast, usually after large storms and high strength north westerly winds…

JAY QUINN & ELLIE TURNER WIN SURFACED PRO SURF EVENT

JAY QUINN & ELLIE TURNER WIN SURFACED PRO SURF EVENT

A stormy October Saturday saw Newquay’s Jay Quinn, Welsh, British and European Champion, win and retain the Surfaced Pro title, defeating UKPSA Pro Surf Tour title contenders. Runner up went to Swansea’s Patrick Langdon-Dark who clinched the UKPSA Men’s Tour title with his second place. Third and fourth went to the new stars in British surfing Stanley Norman and Seth Morris.

In the Women’s Division Ellie Turner turned up the heat and battled it out with Peony Knight. The lead went back and forth but eventually claimed by Ellie. She had to win to take the tour title. Third place went to last year tour champion Emily Currie. Fourth Lauren Sandland.
Seth Morris stole the show in the Under 18 Boys. Making the final of the Open Men’s, spending more than three hours competing in cold stormy conditions. Second went to Noah Capps, in doing so taking the UKPSA U18 Boys tour title. Third was Max Hudson and fourth Stanley Norman.

Unfortunately due to deteriorating conditions the Under 18 Girls final was cancelled, deemed too dangerous. The UKPSA Under 18 Girls Tour title was then tied between Lauren Sandland and Belle Betteridge but on a count-back Belle took the trophy.

Dave Reed Tour Director commented “The event was one of the most challenging we have ever put on. Postponed from May, then September, now run in extreme surf and weather. However, this did not blunt the performances of the surfers as we saw spectacular surfing and worthy winners crowned. I would like to thank Watergate Bay, Extreme Academy, Christian Surfers for their sponsorship along with Korev, Boardmasters Foundation, Fistral Beach, without them we would not have an event”. Adding “Would also like to thank Sumo Media for providing events live to the world free through online streaming.”

We are now looking forward to 2020, which promises to be a very big year for Global surfing.

For further information go to  ukprosurf.com