British surfer Marcus Hutchins, also known as Malwaretech, has admitted two charges relating to writing malware.
IN May 2017 Hutchins stopped a malware virus WannaCry virus that hit more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries and threw the world into crisis with a ransomeware hack. NHS Trusts computer systems were shut down, Global telecommunications businesses are hit, Russian banks, you name it. It was carnage, an unprecedented cyber apocalypse.
In August 2017 he was arrested by the FBI who alleged he helped write and sell another ransomware “Kronus’.
“As you may be aware, I’ve pleaded guilty to two charges related to writing malware in the years prior to my career in security. I regret these actions and accept full responsibility for my mistakes. Having grown up, I’ve since been using the same skills that I misused several years ago for constructive purposes. I will continue to devote my time to keeping people safe from malware attacks.”
Sultans was unreal for last years Champions Trophy. Kerrsy slotted. Photo Alfie England
It’s that time of year again when Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa surf crowd commences the countdown to the world’s most luxurious surfing event, which will take place from August 5 to 12, 2019.
2018’s champion Josh Kerr and WSL Air show commissioner has confirmed he will defend his title at the 9th annual Four Seasons Maldives Surfing Champions Trophy.
2018’s exclusive invitational event was an epic tightly fought affair with epic displays from each of the riders before Kerr took the victory in a Grand Finale matchup against Alejo Muniz.
This could be you with Four Seasons surfers package. Photo Alfie England
A surf competition like no other, the Surfing Champions Trophy determines a surfer’s heat time based on their age, and tests skill across three different divisions: single-fin, twin-fin, and triple-fin thruster, challenging its elite line-up of six former world champions to perfect a variety of disciplines to take the top spot.
Speaking after last year’s triumph, Kerr said, “Last year was such an incredible event to be involved with. I never thought I’d get so barrelled here in the Maldives! The concept of this event is really cool; to test surfer’s depth of talent across craft from different eras in surfing is awesome. I can’t wait to return to the Maldives and share this experience with a new group of contestants. Oh and my family are super excited to come back to Kuda Huraa, they absolutely love it there.”
At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa he’ll be battling it out for serious inner-circle surfing kudos and USD 25,000 prize winnings, while enjoying all the spoils of one of the Maldives’ best loved resorts, which plays host to the event, competitors, judges and TropicSurf partners, plus a packed house of lucky Kuda Huraa guests.
The Champions Trophy is pretty special experience for surfers as not only do you get to watch the action from a super yacht and hang out with legends, you also get to surf the waves and get treated like royalty in the resort.
Event Co-ordinator Mark Winson of Tropicsurf said, “This is an awesome experience for anyone passionate about competitive surfing, with a chance to see a unique world-class competition while enjoying the modern luxury of Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa. A true test of surfing skill and adaptability, you can definitely expect some surprises as our diverse line-up of contestants take to the waves.”
Four Seasons Resort offer a tournament-specific surf package, Surfing Champions Trophy 2019, which includes: 10 per cent off Bed & Breakfast rates; daily breakfast; VIP event passes (held on board the Maldives’ ultimate surf cruiser, Four Seasons Explorer); a nightly cocktail hour with the Championship pro competitors; Surf Lagoon Lessons for two (option for advanced surfers to upgrade to Ocean Transition classes); complimentary daily surf reports with the latest conditions and event updates; daily yoga sessions; use of stand-up paddleboards and a 60-minute massage at the Island Spa.
If you want to spoil yourself, watch great comp, surf and stay at the world’s most luxurious surfing event book online here, email [email protected] or call + 960 66 00 888.
Under grey skies and bumpy, contestable surf, the Junior Pro Espinho crowned two new champions today as Rachel Presti and Justin Becret took the titles.
In the men’s draw France’s Becret and Afonso Antunes were the in-form surfers throughout the entire event. Fortunately they made their runs through opposite sides of the draw to meet in a dramatic final.
During the fledgling days of European professional surfing, Afonso Antunes’ father Joao Antunes won the event here at Espinho. In that final in 1992 the elder Antunes ousted British surfer Spencer Hargraves to claim the win. Today, Afonso wanted to join his old man as a victor at Praia de Baia.
The France vs. Portugal final saw the two regularfoots battle in the set rights off the jetty. Both surfers started the heat with radical, but conservative surfing, trading the lead back and forth. Then Justin Becret threw caution to the wind with a giant air-reverse in the worst part of the wave possible, landing in the flats and somehow sticking it for a 9.67.
Hot on the Frenchman’s heels, Antunes threw one of the smoothest, highest airs of the event but failed to land it. A short time later he secured a 7.67 for a single-maneuver air to get him out of combo land. In the dying seconds Afonso tossed up an air for a 6.66 which was not enough to overcome Becret’s calculated wizardry.
“Last year I came really really close to the European title, and then lost it in the last event,” said Becret. “So I have a knot in my throat since losing it like that. So I hope this year I can realise my dreams and do what I set out to do.”
The crowd favourite throughout the event and the only surfer to earn a 10 this year at Espinho, Antunes is looking forward to the European Junior Tour.
“My plans for this year are to have fun and have a chance to hang out with friends and make some new friends. And now with this result I’m gonna focus on winning a title at the end of the year.”
Women’s semifinal number 1 was a seesaw battle between powerful regularfoot Rachel Presti and lanky goofyfoot Ainhoa Leiceaga. Presti’s approach fit the bumpy rights and she produced some solid turns for the highest heat total of the women’s semis, a 12.27.
“My strategy was to get a good one right off the bat and then back it up real fast with another one,” said the German surfer by way of Florida. “But I took a really bad wave at first and my plan didn’t go as it was supposed to so I was just trying to catch a couple waves under priority and get a good score.”
Her strategy paid off with a 7.00 rewarded for powerful hook. “At the end I wanted to get a big set and do a big turn and that’s what I did. It worked for me.”
A heavy rip developed in the lineup when Ellie Turner and Carolina Santos battled for semifinal 2. The British and Portuguese surfers tossed the lead back and forth in a low-scoring affair.
“It was really hard to get good waves,” said Turner. “I tried to stay in a bit and just get a couple mid-range scores and just about managed it but it was super tough conditions and really hard to get the good waves.”
Scores mounted in the women’s final compared to the earlier girls’ heats. Turner worked her crisp snap through two solid waves while Presti’s powerful carve boosted her postings. The UK surfer took the lead early with a 6.0s for a series of quick turns. Then Presti turned on her torque and secured the next two scores, a 5.93 and a 6.23. On Ellie’s last ride she needed a 6.14, but only managed a 5.57, handing the victory to Presti.
Presti said she was super stoked with the win, but doesn’t plan on competing in all the European Pro Junior events.
“I’m hoping to win a couple QS events and finish Top 20 on the QS. I just want to practice and get experience and get my confidence up and get in the routine of doing heats. Just like anything, the more practice the better.”
In celebration of 50 years of surfing, Rip Curl is pleased to announce the release of Mad Steez x Rip Curl, a collaborative range of wetsuits, boardshorts and men’s apparel that brings Rip Curl’s brand value of “irreverence” to the front and centre.
With a rare vision impairment in his left eye, large-scale mural artist Mark Paul Deren, aka “Mad Steez”, sees the world through a different lens, and uses bright colours and large, sweeping strokes to bring his paintings to life in a way unlike any other artist.
“Before he was an artist, Mad Steez was a surfer,” says James Taylor, Rip Curl’s Group Creative Director. “We wanted to collaborate with him because as an artist he shares our company values and a love of surfing, but also has the ability to bring something different to the brand.
“For the first time in company history we’ve allowed our iconic logos – The Search, the Wetsuit Logo and our corporate logo – to be modified. We gave Mad Steez freedom to truly collaborate with the brand, and we are very happy with the result.”
Mad Steez, an unlikely candidate to become a surfer, grew up in the suburbs of Washington DC. “I remember being 12 years old and my mom would go and buy Rip Curl t-shirts for me from my local surf shop,” says Steez. “Rip Curl was this really strange connection for me… having those t-shirts made me realise that I wanted to be a surfer.
“Many years later I found myself in Bali – just there to go surfing – and that trip was actually what catalysed my painting. This collaboration is a synergy of my two worlds, painting and art, and I think we have made some really rad stuff.”
The range includes a small selection of carefully designed wetsuits, boardshorts and men’s apparel, and it is available as of April 15 around the globe.
To celebrate the release, Mad Steez will be travelling to the 2019 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and will be painting a large-scale mural on the front of the Rip Curl Torquay store. This mural will be Steez’s interpretation of an iconic Bells lineup, with the inclusion of some of surfing’s greatest World Champions – 3x World Champion Mick Fanning, 2x World Champion Gabriel Medina and 2x World Champion Tyler Wright.
Steez will be painting throughout the Rip Curl Pro waiting period, and encourages fans, media and those passing through come view the mural in progress. You will find him painting at the Rip Curl Torquay store from April 18 – April 22.
As this is truly a global collaboration, Mad Steez will be spending the rest of the year painting murals in other major Rip Curl regions around the world. For the weekend of May 4th, you will find Mad Steez painting the side of Rip Curl by Hansen’s in Swamis, California. Following the USA, look out for Steez somewhere in Europe…
The Mad Steez x Rip Curl collaborative range is now for sale online at Ripcurl.com and in Rip Curl stores around the globe.
Vans are about to introduce their first-ever Vans performance surf boots. Their new surf booties come in two variations, Mid and Hi, for both warm and cold-water conditions.
Vans say the Surf Boot Mid and Surf Boot Hi are ‘designed 100% with performance and function in mind, emphasizing feature benefits such as grip, skin-tight fit and climate versatility. Everything Vans knows about skateboarding, like Vans’ original waffle grip and board feel, has been reimagined in a surf bootie design to elevate your surfing in all conditions. Vans’ surf booties are so grippy, you’ll want to wear them all the time, even in warm water! Every inch and stitch have been crafted for comfort and performance—Off The Wall and into the water.’
“The Surf Boot Mid is a functional warm-water bootie, with a perforated neoprene upper with ports in the sidewall to allow for optimal water flow, regulate temperatures and prevent water build-up. The Surf Boot Mid’s second skin feel provides a seamless fit between you and your board. Featuring engineered, Vans Surf rubber formula and a sipped outsole to provide unconditional grip extended over the sides, the Surf Boot Mid offers unmatched control and boardfeel.”
“The Surf Boot Hifeatures a liquid rubber-dipped upper for consistent warmth and resilient seams, plus Vans Surf rubber formula and a sipped outsole for ultimate grip, engineered heel pull designed for durability and a high neoprene ankle height to keep out water.”
Vans will release the Surf Boot and the Surf Trunk at select accounts worldwide on April 13, 2019.
