La Grav dishes up barrels and beatings at Quik and Roxy Pro

La Grav dishes up barrels and beatings at Quik and Roxy Pro

HOSSEGOR, FRANCE – OCTOBER 5: Kolohe Andino of the United States advances to Round 3 of the 2019 Quiksilver Pro France after winning Heat 1 of Round 2 at La Graviere on October 5, 2019 in Hossegor, France. (Photo by Laurent Masurel/WSL via Getty Images)

 

https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/423562/barrel-hunters-go-excellent-in-elimination-round

The Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro France, stop No. 8 and 9 on the women and men’s 2019 World Surf League (WSL) CT respectively, also continued earlier today with the completion of the Elimination Rounds. The event moved back to the main structure opposite the banks of La Nord and La Graviere and surfers took on powerful, hollow waves right on the sand just meters away from the fans who screamed and cheered them on loudly.

World No. 4 Kolohe Andino (USA) was the first surfer to lock into the powerful barrels of La Graviere this morning, scoring a 6.33 on his best effort to advance in first out of the elimination round and join Soli Bailey (AUS) in Round 3. Young French surfer Marco Mignot (FRA) got his fair share of tube time as well as he took the second qualifying spot, eliminating Jadson Andre (BRA) in equal 33rd who had to come in after he suffered a heavy wipeout.

HOSSEGOR, FRANCE – OCTOBER 5: Wade Carmichael of Australia advances to Round 3 of the 2019 Quiksilver Pro France after placing second in Heat 4 of Round 2 at La Graviere on October 5, 2019 in Hossegor, France. (Photo by Laurent Masurel/WSL via Getty Images)

But the lineup really started to deliver for the second heat, in which local wildcard Marc Lacomare (FRA) posted a near-perfect 9.10 for a long and deep barrel on a solid left as he advanced into Round 3 alongside compatriot Michel Bourez (FRA), eliminating Sebastian Zietz (HAW) in the process.

“So much emotions today I’m super happy,” said Lacomare. “Conditions were really tricky and even though local knowledge may have helped, you really had to be lucky to be in the right spot out there. Getting a wildcard to compete against the best in the world at home is an incredible gift. I did well last time so hopefully I can repeat that and I hope the waves keep getting better and better.”

Soli Bailey (AUS) showcased his incredible barrel riding skills in the following heat as he slid right under the lip at take-off and navigated two long sections in the tube to post an excellent 8.17 for the win. The Australian rookie on the Championship Tour hasn’t made it out of Round 3 all season but the conditions in France could offer a turning point for the former winner of the Volcom Pipe Pro.

“This morning I was free surfing out there and it was super hard to find the right waves,” said Bailey. “I was jumping up and down this morning at the chance to surf La Graviere. Growing up as a kid watching this event, this is a dream, these are the sort of waves that I love surfing. It was a pleasure to surf out there, definitely tricky but I was stoked to find that one.”

HOSSEGOR, FRANCE – OCTOBER 5: Jadson Andre of Brazil is eliminated from the 2019 Quiksilver Pro France with an equal 33rd finish after placing third in Heat 1 of Round 2 at La Graviere on October 5, 2019 in Hossegor, France. (Photo by Laurent Masurel/WSL via Getty Images)

Conner Coffin (USA) pulled a miracle make on a late-entry backhand barrel to post his own 9.10 in the final men’s Elimination Round heat. The Californian lost control of his fins at takeoff, sliding dangerously down the face of the wave but somehow managed to get a line, build speed inside the tube and exit with the spit down the line.

“I’ve had a few great heats this season that I ended up losing and it’s nice to have that one go my way,” said Coffin. “I broke my magic board just paddling out for my heat and I thought wow here comes another shocker, but luckily I got that 9. There are so many waves out there but it’s tough to be in position.”

https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/423564/day-2-post-show-gilmore-exits-early-in-hossegor

The first major upset of the event happened in the opening women’s Elimination Round heat when 7X World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) was eliminated by Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) and Paige Hareb (NZL). The Australian had not lost before the Quarterfinals all season and this result in the Roxy Pro France could unfortunately count her out of the World Title race for 2019.

“That was my first heat in solid La Graviere and it was a little nerve-wracking sort of new territory,” said Gilmore. “It’s nice to see the girls being pushed in these new areas, we have to perform in all sorts of conditions, unfortunately I couldn’t do that today. It was a tough heat, I got smashed a few times, broke my board and cut my hand. It’s definitely a bad result for me and you can’t win world titles with those.”

Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) took out the second Elimination Round and advanced alongside Silvana Lima (BRA), dispatching Bronte Macaulay (AUS) in equal 17th place in an event she reached the Semifinals last season.

Competition has been called off tomorrow, Sunday, October 6, and the next call will be on Monday, October 7. Event organizers will assess the conditions and decide the day’s competition schedule.

And Two If By Sea

And Two If By Sea

It’s 2001 – not long after the Twin Towers tragedy of 9/11. CJ Hobgood is leaving the water and is immediately swamped by a reeling flock of groms, eagerly seeking soggy autographs. I’m standing on the beach in Biarritz, the sun is shining, reflecting off the Stars and Stripes emblazoned on the bottom of CJ’s Rusty board. The European leg of the ASP World Tour has been cancelled, but CJ and his twin brother Damien are here – competing in the WQS Biarritz Pro – representing – showing the drive that would become legendary. CJ would take the world crown that year – and for me, when it came to Cloudbreak, Te’ahupoo or Pipe – ‘The Hobgoods’ would always be the first names down in my Fantasy Surfer team. And there it is – the two elements. The Hobgoods – a collective noun – and the fact that twins from the fickle surf state of Florida have risen to become two of the hardest chargers in the modern era.

But’s that’s only part of the story. In advance of the highly anticipated UK premiere of the feature documentary And Two If By Sea at the 9th Annual London Surf / Film Festival x Vans on the 9th October (TICKETS HERE), CARVE caught up with former world champion CJ Hobgood and the film’s director Justin Purser to find out more about the project. For this is a film that lifts the lid on the twin’s fierce sibling rivalry, fuelling a constant struggle to out surf and out-perform each other in the line-up, driving them to numerous event victories – and ultimately a world crown. While the need to establishing their own identities may have powered their careers, it ultimately ripped their personal and peripheral relationships apart. Six years in the making, this is an open and frank cinematic tale of adventure, destiny and family that lifts the lid on the pressures of life in the white heat of competitive surfing.

CARVE: How long have you known CJ and Damien? How did you come to be at the helm of the project?
JUSTIN: I’ve known CJ and Damien for over half their lifetime (and mine). We all grew up in the small barrier island town of Satellite Beach Florida. I had moved out to Los Angeles to direct music videos and commercials and was looking to do something in long form. I wanted to tell a story. I went to a screening of a Venus and Serena Williams documentary and their relationship reminded me a lot of CJ & Damien’s. Both were pairs of sibling professional athletes performing at the highest level on the highest stage of their sports and using their sibling rivalry and also their closeness to fuel their careers.

CARVE: How did the three of you decide that now was the time to make the film?
CJ: We were retiring and we felt there would be healing for us, so regardless if anyone saw it or enjoyed it, we knew it would be helpful for me and Damo. We always held back with the struggles that were going on because while you’re competing I always felt like people didn’t want to hear and you don’t want to show weaknesses to your opponents .

CARVE: Like all great documentaries there’s a lot of honesty in the movie – how did you decide what went into the film and what was left out for privacy? Who decided on the boundaries?
CJ: I just put it out there. Justin asked the questions, I was going for the healing in my own life. Justin had to figure out the stories he wanted to highlight.
JUSTIN: It wasn’t necessarily about what we couldn’t say, it was more about what’s important to tell, the story and to be honest. We were all in agreement that a fluff piece wasn’t going to do anyone any good. Human struggle is something we all deal with and we all go through. We all make mistakes in life, no matter who you are or what you do for a living. So if you leave that out of a film, it doesn’t resonate with an audience. The hero’s journey is never one of constant triumph.

CARVE: For all the rivalry, were you and Damien able to put arguments and defeats behind you easily – or where there losses that stung, that were stewed over for a long time?
CJ: It stung. That’s a full learning process that you never fully grasp when being competitive at this level, even though we all try. Just being from Florida, our upbringing and having the other twin, you could never take yourself or any situation too seriously. We ragged on the other about everything.

CARVE: Did you set out with a documentary style in mind ie VO lead? Or did it evolve into that? The person voicing a film brings a lot to the energy to the flow – how did you decide on who would VO the film?
JUSTIN: I always have loved narration in films. The old Disney films always was something I kept referencing throughout the process. A storyteller who’s not just a voice who delivers a few facts from time to time, but someone who is also a character in the film. In literature and cinema it’s called an “unreliable narrator.” Mark Twain was one, Forrest Gump was one. That’s what I wanted. I wasn’t sure who that would be, but when Daniel Tosh tweeted about CJ getting a 10 in his heat in Tahiti, I thought ‘He could be perfect. A comedian who’s hit TV show is basically him being an unreliable narrator.’ Plus he was a fan and it was organic to the story.

CARVE: I came away from the film with a feeling that the Tour will be a lot poorer for the absence of two of surfing’s great characters – something that was probably not fully appreciated by the wider surfing world at the time. What do you hope people take away from the film?
JUSTIN: The first thing I want the audience to leave with was ‘That was fun.’ I feel so many documentaries leave you feeling heavy. I want And Two If By Sea to be the opposite. For those from the world of surfing, I want them to see that CJ & Damien were as real as they are. They worked hard, did their job, and pushed each other beyond what one could achieve alone, but that great success and great achievement always comes with a price. No matter what that is in life.
CJ: My hope would be they’re inspired to tell others about their shortcomings and watch the love that is returned when exposing those areas. We all long to be fully exposed and fully loved, that’s the freedom every human craves.

9th Annual London Surf / Film Festival x VANS  is hosted 9 – 12  October 2019 at the iconic Regent St 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 2019 >> HERE.

Tickets are on sale now via the Regent Street Cinema  >> HERE

Seeding Rounds Complete on Exciting Opening Day of Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro France

Seeding Rounds Complete on Exciting Opening Day of Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro France

Pictured: Gabriel Medina (BRA) put on a spectacular show above the lip. Credit: WSL/ Masurel

The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro France launched today in quality three-to-five foot surf at the backup venue of Les Culs Nus. The competition ran through the opening round of both the men’s and women’s fields and showcased high-performance surfing at its finest with rail game and airs on display all day.

Stop No. 8 and 9 on the women and men’s 2019 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour respectively, the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro France carry both World Title and Olympic qualification implications. As expected in Southwest France, surfers had to adapt to a multitude of conditions as the peaks moved around sandbanks through high and low tides and offshore to onshore winds.

Pictured: Italo Ferreira (BRA) put together a strong effort on the rail to advance into Round 3. Credit: WSL/ Poullenot

Reigning two-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) stamped his authority on the Seeding Round in France with an impressive display in the air to dispatch Michael Rodrigues (BRA) and wildcard Marco Mignot (FRA). Coming off a win in Lemoore, Medina showed no sign of slowing down, catching 19 waves in his heat. On his best two rides, he launched into his signature, inverted-forehand rotations and landed clean for two solid scores and the win.

“It feels good to be back in France, surfing a rippable left and getting through that first heat,” said Medina. “We’ve had a really busy last few weeks with so many events but I feel fit and I’ve got a great board under my feet. It looks like conditions are going to be fun for this event.”

Filipe Toledo (BRA) and Italo Ferreira (BRA) also advanced in first position into Round 3 as the three Brasilians are locked in a battle for the two qualifying spots into the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. World No. 2 Toledo however had to come in a little after halfway through his heat as his back injury sustained at the Freshwater Pro a little over a week ago came back to haunt him in his heat.

“It’s a bummer especially after doing some work for a whole week with no pain,” said Toledo. “After a freesurf yesterday I woke up this morning a little sore but I went out and tried my best in the heat. Unfortunately on my first wave I felt more pain, so I’m going to go see the doctors and see what’s going on.”

Owen Wright (AUS) claimed the round’s highest single score of 8.17 for a combination of three big backhand turns, his compatriot and defending event winner Julian Wilson (AUS) scrapped through a low scoring affair and 11X World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) opened with a bang to advance into the Round of 16 after a two-year absence from the Hossegor lineup.
In the final heat of the day, local favorite Jeremy Flores (FRA) managed to turn his heat around in the dying moments to skip the elimination round, unfortunately sending compatriot Michel Bourez (FRA) in last position.
French wildcard Jorgann Couzinet (FRA, pictured above) managed to get his first CT heat win over World No. 3 Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Sebastian Zietz (HAW) this morning as well.
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) made a flamboyant return to competition with a Round 1 win over World No. 4 Kolohe Andino (USA) and Yago Dora (BRA). While Andino and Dora took their act to the air on the rights for their best counting score, Fioravanti who knows the lineups around Hossegor as well as anyone, opted for the lefts that really stood up on the bank and offered vertical sections. The Italian built a solid 14.40 total to take the win into Round 2, Dora and Andino both with an excellent 8+ score had to settle for second and third respectively.

Pictured: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) couldn’t find enough sections to lay her powerful turns and will surf in the elimination round when the event resumes. Credit: WSL/ Masurel

World No. 3 Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) got her campaign underway in the punchy little lefts and rights of Culs Nus to take the opening heat of the Seeding Round and move on to the Round of 16. The Australian played the patient approach, only riding four waves in her 30-minute encounter with Brisa Hennessy (HAW) and Paige Hareb (NZL) and made her scores count with a best ride of 6.50.

“It’s a fun little puzzle you can’t really hear your scores out there and it’s just you and the ocean,” said Fitzgibbons. “All the girls are ripping so it great to get away with the win in this one and I’m happy I got a couple of waves.”

Things got a little tougher for the current Jeep Leaderboard No. 2 Lakey Peterson (USA) who faced off with last year’s event runner-up Macy Callaghan (AUS) and Bronte Macaulay (AUS) but the American managed to squeeze through in second position and avoided the treacherous Elimination Round.
Keely Andrew (AUS) got a come-from-behind victory in Heat 4, courtesy of a good 3-turn combo on her backhand for a 7.33. The Australian upset the 7X World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and local favorite Johanne Defay(FRA), as the pair fought for second place. Eventually, it was Defay who skipped the Elimination Round and Gilmore will surf it for the first time since Bells Beach last season.

Pictured: Vahine Fierro (PYF) showed strong potential in her opening heat in Hossegor. Credit: WSL/ Masurel

Roxy wildcard and former World Junior Champion Vahine Fierro (PYF) posted her first-ever CT heat win over the 3X WSL Champion and current Yellow Jeep Leader jersey Carissa Moore (HAW) in only her second time performing at the elite level. The surfer from Tahiti has been turning heads as a standout at Teahupoo and is out to gain experience against the best in the world this week.

Quiksilver Pro France Elimination Round (Round 2) Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA)
HEAT 2: Michel Bourez (FRA) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Marc Lacomare (FRA)
HEAT 3: Deivid Silva (BRA) vs. Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Soli Bailey (AUS)
HEAT 4: Wade Carmichael (AUS) vs. Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Ricardo Christie (NZL)

Quiksilver Pro France Seeding Round (Round 1) Results:
HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.50 DEF. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 11.90, Soli Bailey (AUS) 8.07
HEAT 2: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 11.94 DEF. Frederico Morais (PRT) 10.10, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 9.60
HEAT 3: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 14.40 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 14.33, Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.00
HEAT 4: Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) 12.67 DEF. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.66, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 9.26
HEAT 5: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 12.63 DEF. Joan Duru (FRA) 10.60, Marc Lacomare (FRA) 9.74
HEAT 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.40 DEF. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 11.87, Marco Mignot (FRA) 11.04
HEAT 7: Owen Wright (AUS) 15.10 DEF. Willian Cardoso (BRA) 13.34, Ricardo Christie (NZL) 7.94
HEAT 8: Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.44 DEF. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 9.57, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.47
HEAT 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.84 DEF. Jesse Mendes (BRA) 11.67, Conner Coffin (USA) 9.94
HEAT 10: Seth Moniz (HAW) 12.24 DEF. Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 10.50, Wade Carmichael (AUS) 10.13
HEAT 11: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 13.84 DEF. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 11.67, Deivid Silva (BRA) 11.67
HEAT 12: Jack Freestone (AUS) 11.77 DEF. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 9.10, Michel Bourez (FRA) 8.90

Roxy Pro France Elimination Round (Round 2) Matchups:
HEAT 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) vs. Paige Hareb (NZL)
HEAT 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)

Roxy Pro France Seeding Round (Round 1) Results:
HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 10.93 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 9.70, Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.17
HEAT 2: Macy Callaghan (AUS) 11.10 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 10.43, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 9.90
HEAT 3: Vahine Fierro (FRA) 10.64 DEF. Carissa Moore (HAW) 10.00, Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 8.34
HEAT 4: Keely Andrew (AUS) 12.20 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 11.96, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.80
HEAT 5: Caroline Marks (USA) 13.50 DEF. Coco Ho (HAW) 11.73, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 9.70
HEAT 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.10 DEF. Malia Manuel (HAW) 11.50, Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.47

A Corner of the Earth

A Corner of the Earth

Shot during the past winter in Arctic and North Atlantic waters, this sumptuously filmed tale focuses on Australian surfer Fraser Dovell’s transition from the hard grind of the WSL Qualifying series to letting go of the dream and ‘getting a real job’.

Along with filmmaker Spencer Frost and photographer Guy Williment, he embarks on one last journey, to a far Corner of the Earth, to search for hollow slabs and reeling points in the wild beauty and treacherous solitude of the Arctic. Battling extremes of weather and close encounters with the majesty of nature, Fraser comes to a new appreciation of just what it means to be a surfer.

In advance of the highly anticipated world premiere of A Corner of the Earth at the 9th Annual London Surf / Film Festival on the 1Oth October (TICKETS HERE), CARVE caught up with filmmaker Spencer Frost to find out more about his project.

CARVE: Tell us about your filmmaking background and how this project came about?
SPENCER: I’ve been making films since I was a mini grom – it all started taking turns as filming each other surf – trying to make sponsor tapes, you know how it is, the full grom froth! But for a full time job I’d say it’s coming on 6 years now. I slowly started getting approached by people to make smaller business videos and now I’ve been lucky enough for work for Red Bull Media House, BBC Earth, BMW Motorad, Corona, The North Face and heaps of surf companies. This project sparked from a crazy desire Guy and myself had for years to go and explore and document the places shown in the film – cold water surf trips always seemed so appealing to me.  And I think visually they’re actually quite appealing to a lot of your everyday people watching from the safety of their couch as well, because it’s such a foreign concept for most people and way too far out of their comfort zones to even consider it. We asked around all the kind of profile surfers that we knew and Fraser jumped onboard with the project. We really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

CARVE: How long have you known Fraser? Being a QS surfer is a hard slog – but giving up on the Tour dream must have been difficult. Was there a precipitation point that lead Fraser to make that call?
I’ve known Fraser for maybe close to 10 years now, we grew up in the same town surfing together – I’m a bit older than he is, but I remember him being such a talented grom and it wasn’t long after he was blowing up winning a few Aussie titles. I think the tour just got a bit much for Fras. I’ve seen so many friends chase that dream for ages and it can really take its toll. A lot of it I think comes down to luck – when you’re an amazing surfer but its 1ft and there’s only 1 set in a heat it’s really anyone’s game – and after you emptied your bank account trying to get there I can see how it might give the boys a bit of stress.

CARVE: What was it that drew you guys to the cold north?
I’m still not entirely sure. Whenever I saw photos or films from up in the Arctic my mind was blown. After watching a few other cold water travel films Guy and myself made the plan to try to venture up there somehow – and that’s where the inspiration for the project started I think.  Snow covered mountains, icebergs and northern lights made it a pretty radical place to go on a surf trip, but that was the angle we were going for.
We approached a few surfers and companies initially and no one as really too keen, we’d never done a project like this and also never travelled to anywhere in the world nearly as wild as this.

CARVE: Some films really romanticise the freezing surf experience – and while your film shows it in a beautiful light, it also shows the other side – the painful mind numbing cold. Did the trip turn out as you expected? What were the high points and were there any low points?

We definitely didn’t want to try sell a dream, but also not over dramatise it either. More just tell the honest truth about how it was, how we were feeling at the time. As much as you fantasise about running through snow fields to surf pumping point breaks surrounded by mountains with not a single person in sight – in reality it’s actually pretty gnarly, physically painful and can get really dangerous really quickly if you’re not careful. But in saying that, if this trip inspires some people to run as far away from their comfort zones as they can then I think we did our job.

There were so many things to take into account travelling to the Arctic in the middle of winter – stuff a bunch of guys coming from Australia really weren’t prepared for – like there was only 4-5 hours of light (on the sunny days). A lot of the roads and access to the waves were shut permanently due to too much snow, the weather can change in seconds and if you’re not careful it can get down to -20 degrees and 100km winds with no warning. These times made for some of the most testing, but also the best stories and memories we have of the whole trip. But you’ll have to watch the film to find out some more ha, ha.

In hindsight and looking back on the trip almost nothing we had organised went to plan. But I truly think we got so lucky on so many occasions (and really unlucky a lot as well). At the end of the day we somehow reached our overall goal and ended up making a full length film and a photo book, which we honestly didn’t think we were going to pull off numerous times on the trip.

9th Annual London Surf / Film Festival x VANS  is hosted 9th – 12th  October 2019 at the iconic Regent St 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 2019 >> HERE.

Tickets are on sale now via the Regent Street Cinema  >> HERE

Could Bournemouth get it’s own version of the Snapper Superbank? A new proposal says “Yes…”

Could Bournemouth get it’s own version of the Snapper Superbank? A new proposal says “Yes…”


Could Hengistbury Head, Christchurch, UK (left) be turned into a super bank with a little tinkering of a groyne?

While everyone looks at wave pools to increase the number of waves one man has been looking at solving coastal erosion and providing Bournemouth with it’s own Superbank.


Potential! Imagine lines wrapping down this mid winter on a big south west swell…

Local legend Guy Penwarden has submitted proposals to adjust the length and angle of the dysfunctional Hengistbury Head (HH) Long Groyne (LG), just outside of Christchurch, Bournemouth, to help protect the foreshore from coastal erosion and… produce a super bank on the south coast of the UK.


Pre groyne sand and mini peelers. Looks like two points to us!

“The groyne was constructed between 1937–1939 in order to counteract the west to east longshore drift and erosion, however the eastern aspect has suffered “a considerable loss of beach material” and “increased the threat of a breach of Christchurch Harbour”. As a result, five new Rock Groynes were built in the 1990s to counteract the effects of the lack of sand reaching the eastern aspect beach (by way of longshore drift) where it is needed.” says Guy

You can see where he is coming from… Groynes almost mapping the way…

What he is proposing is that the local government change the geometry/size of the groyne to trap more sand, protecting the harbour and as a side creating a super bank. This could then designated as a surfing reserve, to boost surfing based tourism throughout the year.

Just take away that groyne and …

Crazy idea? Maybe not. The Superbank works and there a plenty of other natural sand points that have very similar set ups.

Imsouane twinned with Christchurch

“HH would be an ideal location for surfers for several reasons; if the shape and orientation of the LG were changed to allow more swell around HH into Christchurch Bay adjacent to the five new groynes / Mudeford Spit sandbar it would not only build up the beach where it is needed but create an ideal ‘point break’ type wave for the surf community, surfable on all tides and sheltered from the predominant south westerly winds which make the waves choppy and bad for surfing. The HH headland is approximately 100ft high and would shelter the waves from wind impact from SW-NW.”

Guy has already engaged with the Coastal Marine Applied Research (CMAR) of Plymouth University who are experts in this field and have produced an initial proposal outlining the details with a draft quotation, along with consulting surfers.

As he points out “Due to the shortening of Boscombe Pier and the failure of the reef project – along with beach replenishment and dredging – all of which have had a negative impact on surfing. We are now faced with a situation where we have more and more surfers and less places to surf…. It would also be the most consistent wave in Poole Bay e.g. surfable on more days per year, even on small summer wind swells.

Sound good? You can view the whole proposal here.