Sunny Daze – Nic Von Rupp
Rolling with Nic Von Rupp through the secret sand points of Portugal, during the summer daze of golden haze.
First waves at Bristol… Believe…
So here it is…Pretty huh…
Commenting on the moment he watched waves break across the lake for the first time, Nick said:
“I can’t really put into words what it is like to see these perfect waves rolling down the fields at last. All I can say is a huge thank you to all the family, friends, Wave team, Wavegarden, funders and supporters that have backed us over the years and enabled our dream to become a reality. The opportunity to improve lives through these waves is enormous and it’s something we are really excited to share with everyone.”
The site has been shrouded in secrecy for the past couple of weeks whilst Wavegarden’s engineering team have been testing and fine-tuning the technology. The footage shows the waves without any surfers riding them and is the first look at what is in store for visitors. The testing will continue for the next couple of weeks, as The Wave team prepare for opening.
“It is incredible to see sets of 5, 10 and even 15 waves breaking and maintaining their quality”, said Wavegarden’s Founder and CEO Josema Odriozola, from the new Bristol surfing lake.
“We have been able to create an immense variety of waves. For instance, there is kind of a point break with long and easy Malibu style waves. And we have a range of high performance waves, some with easy tubes and others that are very challenging. This is a new phase of man-made waves whereby we have finally created a true surfing paradise that will bring enjoyment to newcomers, as well as lifelong surfers”.
The Wavegarden Cove technology provides up to 1,000 waves of varying sizes and shapes an hour – around a wave every 10 seconds. Heights start at 50cm and peak at 1.8m. Every aspect of the surfing experience, from perfect waves and supportive coaching, to tried and tested wetsuits and boards, has been designed to ensure that surfing really is fun for all.
The 200m surfing lake is at its heart, but The Wave is not just about surfing. It’s about sharing incredible experiences with anyone who wants to enjoy them, in a naturally healthy space. It’s about improving health and wellbeing, helping people feel like the best version of themselves and having a shedload of fun in the process! As well as the surfing lake, there will be wonderful food and drink, a surf shop, beautiful gardens, meadowland and woodland, peaceful hideaways and family-friendly camping.
Surfing is a rapidly growing sport and will be part of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The accessibility of surfing has been held back by geographical limitations: weather, swell conditions and tides. The Wave will be able to overcome all these issues to bring perfect surfing conditions for beginners, intermediates and advanced surfers. Its expert coaching team will be able to help everyone learn and improve. Furthermore, they will all be specially trained in teaching ‘adaptive surfing’ for those with a wide rangeof physical disabilities.
The Wave is located in a beautiful rural site on the edge of Bristol, close to the M5. It will be open year-round and a one-hour surf will cost £40-45 for an adult and £30-35 for a child, depending on the time of year and day of the week. A 1.5 hour surf session with coaching costs £55-60 for an adult and £45-50 for a child. All prices include everything you need, including a wetsuit, wetsuit boots and surfboards. There are dedicated areas of the lake for beginner, intermediate and advanced surfers.
To find out more about The Wave and to book tickets,visit www.thewave.com.
For more information about Wavegarden visit wavegarden.com.
BRIBIE ISLAND SURFER HAS CLOSE CALL WITH A SHARK
A Bribie Island surfer has survived a close call with a shark. Riley Brown didn’t know what had knocked him into the water, until he saw the large bite mark in his surfboard. It could have been a very different story if Riley was laying down.
‘Something come up underneath me and smoked the bottom of my board,’
MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal
PENICHE, Portugal (Thursday, October 17, 2019) – The MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the penultimate stop on the 2019 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), launched today in wind-affected three-to-five foot surf at Supertubos to complete the Seeding Rounds 1 of both the men’s and women’s divisions. Today marked the first time the elite Top 17 returned to the Peniche lineup since the event’s inception in 2010.
Events No. 9 and 10 on the Women’s and Men’s Championship Tour respectively, and the last stops before the big showdown in Hawaii, the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal carry implications in both the World Title race and qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
The current Jeep Frontrunner Gabriel Medina (BRA) dominated his Round 1 heat with a mix of high-performance surfing and technical tube ride. The two-time WSL Champion first launched into a huge air on a right and backed up his 8.17 (out of a possible 10) main score with a small but long barrel on his forehand this time to build a massive 14.67 total (out of a possible 20). Coming off one of his worst results ever in France, the Brasilian has a chance to redeem himself this week and even potentially seal the deal on a third World Title in Peniche.
“I knew it was going to be tough with waves all over the place,” said Medina. “So I just tried to catch a lot of them and I landed that one really good air and then just basically fought to find a backup. It’s funny it feels like I’ve been in that position (competing in Portugal with a chance to claim the world title) for ten years. I feel good, I know I need a big result here and I’m not focused on winning it here, I’m ready for Hawaii. I’m just focusing on myself, I really want to make some heats and just make it harder for the other guys.”
World No. 2 Filipe Toledo (BRA) was the first surfer to lead the way under the lip at Supertubos today, as he found a long and frothy backhand barrel punctuated by a big re-entry for a 7.17. The Brasilian completed his scoreboard with a two-turn combo on a right and easily advanced in first position. Diminished by a back injury sustained earlier this year at the Freshwater Pro, Toledo looked in fine form on opening day in Peniche but did mention surfing through the pain in his heat.
“It’s really tricky so if you get that one good wave right at the start it gives you so much confidence and helps build up through the heat,” said Toledo. “Then I focused on finding a few little waves to do one or two turns and it worked out. My back pain is still here and I haven’t surfed for the past four days or so, it comes and goes at the moment. It’s been lots of ups and downs, definitely not the European leg I was hoping for but I’m taking it easy and trying not to put too much pressure on myself.”
After a slow start to the morning, things heated up in Heat 3 with the Brasilian duo of Yago Dora (BRA) and Italo Ferreira (BRA) who locked in a battle for first place and eclipsed local pro Frederico Morais (PRT), who’ll have to surf in the Elimination Round 2. The world No. 4 Ferreira went above the lip on his best two scores, including an impressive backhand full rotation for a 7.17, but Dora answered with more traditional, powerful turns in the lip and outmatched his compatriot with a 13.56 total heat win.
“Sometimes you just have to improvise,” said Dora. “The waves were really hard out there, closing out fast and supper hollow and powerful so I tried to concentrate on one big move or two if I ever could. There are a lot of good waves around, the back up spot is super fun but hopefully Supertubos will turn on soon, the wind is supposed to switch around and go offshore.”
“It wasn’t bad for a start I was stoked to work my way into a rhythm even with the pre-comp nerves,” said Moore. “I’m happy to get rolling, win my heat and get on to the next round. I feel like there’s a lot of work to do (before claiming a potential world title), I’ve been watching this event for years and it’s so tricky anything can happen so I’m having realistic expectations that it will still end up in Maui. I’m just going to try my best and enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed all the previous events this year.”
Silvana Lima (BRA) advanced in second behind Moore. Rip Curl wildcard and former CT athlete Alana Blanchard (HAW) had the second-best score of the heat with a 6.47 but couldn’t find a backup and failed to advance. She will be facing tough competition in the Elimination Round 2 when the event resumes.
World No. 3 Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) came out on top of the women’s opening Seeding Round heat but the fireworks really started in the second matchup, with an amazing three-way battle between Macy Callaghan (AUS), Lakey Peterson (USA) and Nikki Van Dijk (AUS). While Peterson is locked in the World Title race in second position on the rankings, for Callaghan and Van Dijk a result in Peniche could turn their season around with potential requalification through the CT.
All three surfers decided to attack the lefts on their backhand and laid critical turns for good scores in the 6+ range, Callaghan leading the way with two good waves. Peterson seemed safe in the second advancing position until Van Dijk found a last-second opportunity and pulled a miracle comeback to force the world title contender into the Elimination Round 2.
“I’m really happy with that heat it’s always a nice way to start an event,” said Callaghan. “I love beach breaks so I felt very good and comfortable out there. I’m pretty much last so I don’t really have any pressure, you can only go up from there. I’m just having fun and trying to surf my best to show that I’m capable to be here and that I want to be here for a while.”
Kanoa Igarashi Joins Provisional Qualifiers for Tokyo 2020
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) has qualified through the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) to represent Japan at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Following Igarashi’s results at the Quiksilver Pro France, he is guaranteed to finish ahead of his closest rivals for qualification, Ricardo Christie (NZL) and Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), on the WSL Rankings and has earned his provisional place to compete in Tokyo.
“It is an honor to be able to represent Japan in the Olympics,” said Igarashi. “It has been a long year of worrying about qualifying and thinking about how everything will play out, but I am glad everything worked out. Now, I am looking forward to this new goal that I have next year. To win in Tokyo is a huge goal of mine. With this news today, I am one step closer to it. I am proud to be going to the Olympics and being able to be a part of a huge moment in our sport and for my country.”
Igarashi, 22 from Huntington Beach, CA, has been surfing since the age of three after his parents immigrated to the USA from Japan to give their son the best chance at becoming a pro surfer. Igarashi became a top-ranked amateur and qualified for the CT in 2015. At the age of 18, he was the youngest rookie on Tour in 2016 and collected more Round One wins than any surfer. He went on to claim his first CT win in Bali this year. Igarashi, who holds dual citizenship, is proudly representing Japan on the global stage.
Surfing will make its Olympic debut in Tokyo in 2020 and the 2019 WSL CT, the elite year-long tour that crowns the World Champions each season, will be an important qualification pathway for the world’s best surfers.
The next call for the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal will be tomorrow morning, October 18, at 8:00 a.m. WEST (GMT+1) for a possible 8:35 a.m. start at Supertubos.
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.
Born in the mountains, raised by waves – Quiksilver presents Shaka
Quiksilver proudly presents Shaka, Mathieu Crepel’s latest brainchild production in collaboration with Almo Films. Showcasing breathtaking visions of mountains and waves, “Shaka” follows the 4x World Champion snowboarder on his quest to surf some of the world’s most challenging breaks. The film takes you on a journey to the surfing world’s most iconic locations; Hawaii, Italy, Oregon, Indonesia, and around Mathieu’s home in the Southwest of France. “Shaka” follows surf and snowboard legends Koa & Eddie Rothman, Guillaume Nery, Kepa Acero, Gerry Lopez, Victor Daviet and Nathan Fletcher as they search for the ultimate high.
In less than 24 hours, the film is number one in the sales of documentaries on iTunes Stores.
Growing up riding both waves and powder, Mathieu Crepel has become one of the few athletes to excel in two of the most extreme disciplines in action sports. Retired from the contest circuit but still restless for adventure, the former Olympic contender decided to face one of the biggest challenges of his life: Surfing the notorious wave of Jaws, Hawaii.
Filmed over a period of two years, “Shaka” tells the story of Mathieu’s personal journey and deep connection with nature; Embodying the pursuit of the mountain and the wave that Quiksilver stands for in an unprecedented way.
ABOUT MATHIEU CREPEL
Mathieu Crépel (33) joined the Quiksilver team at just 10 years of age and quickly become the most decorated French snowboarder in history.
After four World Titles (2005, 2006 and 2007 x2), a silver X-Games medal, and two Olympics participations (2006 and 2010), Mathieu Crepel felt it was time to ditch his competition bib and seek out a new challenge which lead him to the most beautiful mountains and best surf breaks.
I want to share, to learn from my experience and to enrich those of other people. Surfing and snowboarding are vital for me, they allow me to be close to nature, and have taught me about how fragile it is. This is what motivates me to go on an adventure, far from my comfort zone, and to continuously challenge myself.
MORGAN LE FAUCHEUR
Morgan Le Faucheur is a former professional snowboarder, respected film producer and founder of the production company, ALMO Film.
Surfing on Fridays boosts our firm – Four-day working week!
You know that feeling of dread, the waves are pumping and you’re stuff in work smashing your head repeatedly on the desk thinking of what you’re missing out on. Well not the crew at Cardiff branding agency Cre8ion, according to the BBC this is how they are gonna roll.
Allowing staff to take Friday off every two weeks to “do sport, go surfing or read a book all day” has boosted employee performance, according to a company boss.
Cardiff branding agency Cre8ion said the move improved its creativity and staff retention
For six months, the nine-strong team at Cre8ion, which has offices in Cardiff and Bristol, has worked a two-week pattern where staff take the first Friday off entirely, then on the second they work on research and development and their own ideas, either in the office or wherever they want.
How does it work?
“Talk to most creative agencies, Friday afternoons are a bit of a write-off, so you’re only really losing a morning,” said chief executive Darrell Irwin.
As long as employees plan ahead and know their deadlines they do not “miss a beat”, he said.
“Having that extra space has helped them creatively. There are other industries that are similar, where they’re always thinking.
“It’s a passion… allow people to experiment, allow their passion to flourish.”
“Having that extra day back, allowing them to go and do sport, go surfing or read a book all day, that gives them that time back.
“And people can think ‘well it might not work in my industry’, so I challenge people: ‘Well if you can’t give a Friday off to all your workforce, why not have half the work force take Friday off and the other half take Monday off?’
“If you’re looking to retain millennials, these sorts of things are really important to them.”
He said the move could improve companies’ bottom line, but it takes a “leap of faith”.
Read more about on the BBC here
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