"I always thought that the day would come where we would see a huge huge swell with clean offshore winds.
Since I remember looking at weather and storm maps Ive never ever seen a forecast of conditions like this and Mother Nature delivered some of the craziest cleanest waves ever seen at Nazaré.
A day for the history books, swells like this happen very few times in a lifetime. So happy to witness this day and see everyone back to shore safe." - Nic Von Rupp
Action shot: @leopoldocastro
Nazare went huge yesterday and North Devons Andrew Cotton was in the right spot at the right time to score one the of the biggest waves of the day. It is possibly one of, if not the biggest wave ever ridden. The jury is out at the moment as photos and video are examined.
Cotty took a calculated approach to the swell aiming to scoring one of the waves of the sessions, which paid dividends. Tow partner Garrett McNamara whipped him in and he was immediately asking the question "Biggest wave ever ridden?”
It is an epic achievement for Cotty, who just re-signed to Salt Rock, after coming back from several injuries courtesy of the the beast.
Portrait: Leo Francis/Red Bull Content Pool
David and Goliath, pah, I think Conor Maguire and Mullaghmore just knocked that one straight out of the park in Ireland. Almost breaking the interent in doing so, helluvah big. We salute you Conor and your support team and crew, well done all, and we've not even started on Cottys epic feat at Nazaré.
In his own words Conor said.
"Yesterday morning was wild. I saw our little magic bay do some mesmerising shit that I never thought imaginable. Chaos met beauty in an unimaginable way.
I can’t begin to describe how grateful I am to all of you guys for the positive response and support, including the hundreds of lovely messages. It’s been overwhelming.
Saying thank you to everyone involved in yesterday’s antics seems like an underrated response to their efforts. The organisation and safety put in place for the biggest swell to hit Ireland (reading 29 meters on the m6 buoy off Ireland) was impeccable.
@finn_mullen, you’re my guardian angle. He was the safety coordinator for the swell and I couldn’t have asked for a more appropriate guy for the job. With some crazy experience behind him, including a few ground-breaking windsurfing waves at Mullaghmore, it seemed appropriate.
From informing the coastguard of our plans, organising a paramedic and ambulance to 4 four rescue skis driven by my closest friends to spotters on the cliff who were lifelong friends to thorough safety briefings the night before and the day of (including adherence to Covid-19 regs), it couldn’t have been a safer and better reason to push myself at a wave I’ve grown obsessed with over the years. I honestly can’t put into words how thankful I am. I owe everyone a few stout when the pubs reopen.
Photos: Conor Flanagan / Red Bull Content Pool
Since it was unveiled in 2008, the wave at Skelton Bay has become part of every surfer's lexicon, a synonym for never-ending sand bottomed tubes. But unlike Pipeline, G-Land, or [insert your preferred iconic world class wave here], the two-kilometre-long left on the edge of the Namib Desert is in a constant state of flux. If satellite imagery is anything to go by, the wave we know today didn’t even exist 30 years ago.
Mirage is a 15-minute documentary that traces the genesis of the Namibian sandspit and how it became one of the most sought after waves on the planet, as told by pioneering locals and some of the best tube riders in the world.
But before you put it on the top of your post-pandemic bucket list, perhaps take heed of Koa Smith’s veiled advice from the film: “People think oh, easy, Skeleton Bay. I’m going to go get the barrel of my life. But then they show up here and realise it’s more like Teahupoo on sand.”
26 waves from home showcasing JJF’s hack jobs and freakish tweaks
Vans have selected The Wave Project as a partner for their 2020 Checkerboard Day and are donating $100,000 to the charity here in the UK! This support will directly support more children across the UK by giving them more opportunities to access surf therapy.
To combat rising mental health concerns due to global isolation, Vans donates $1M to 10 global charities and unites the Vans Family around a shared mission of mental health and well-being. Vans, the original action sports brand and advocate for creative expression, announced today the second-annual Vans Checkerboard Day to be held on Thursday, November 19, 2020. As a global initiative established to champion the power of creative expression, following a period of global isolation, this year’s Checkerboard Day will focus specifically on the vital role creativity plays in helping individuals and communities address mental health and well-being around the world.
“We’ve spent much of the year apart. And it's been tough. But despite the isolation, both physically and psychologically, we are and always will be a Vans Family, forever connected by creativity,” says Doug Palladini, Vans Global Brand President. “A recent study by Complex showed that in the U.S. alone, half of today’s youth are more stressed and anxious now than before COVID-19 started. Through the power of creativity, our mission for Vans Checkerboard Day 2020 will be to show that smaller acts of expression can make a big impact on our personal and collective well-being.” - Doug Palladini, Vans Global Brand President.
Vans will support 10 charities from around the world whose shared purpose is to use programs focused on creativity as resources for coping with the stressors that impact mental health and well-being, by donating a collective $1 million. Each will receive $100,000 USD from The Vans Checkerboard Fund at Tides Foundation or via a direct donation from Vans to use towards their organization’s mission to improve the mental health and well-being of youth across the globe through creativity. This year’s recipients are: Campaign Against Living Miserably, The Wave Project, The Ben Raemers Foundation, Get Lit-Words Ignite, The Skatepark Project, Arte Por La Vida, Social Skate, Singapore Association for Mental Health, Buku Jalanan Chow Kit and World of Art Brut Culture.
Leading up to November 19, Vans will rally global fans to participate in a variety of digital brand initiatives focused on uplifting and driving awareness for the power of creative self-expression as a resource for mental health and well-being. This will include the #VansCheckerboardDay TikTok Challenge and the opportunity to hear directly from global brand ambassadors such as Tony Hawk, Anderson .Paak, Yaya Zahir and others about how their own forms of creative self-expression have helped them.
On top of the $1 million of support by Vans, fans across the globe will also have the ability to support the 10 regional charities by helping to raise additional donations. They can do so by purchasing a limited-edition Vans Checkerboard Day t-shirt or pair of Authentics designed by renowned artist and Vans brand ambassador Geoff McFetridge and 100 percent of proceeds for each product sold will be donated to The Vans Checkerboard Fund at Tides Foundation. Fans will also be able to donate loyalty points via the Vans Family app in exchange for a monetary donation.
Fans can continue to visit Vans.eu/checkerboardday for more updates
