In what can only be called a catastrophe 1,100 badly mutilated bodies of dolphins have been washed up on the French coast since January.
“There’s never been a number this high,” said Willy Daubin, a member of La Rochelle University’s National Center for Scientific Research. “Already in three months, we have beaten last year’s record, which was up from 2017 and even that was the highest in 40 years.”
Autopsies carried out on the dolphins this year at La Rochelle University show extreme levels of mutilation. Daubin said 90 percent of the fatalities resulted from the dolphins being accidentally captured in industrial fishing nets. ( fishermen cut body parts off the dead dolphins to save the nets.)
Acoustic repellent devices are in place in 26 two-vessel trawlers off the Bay of Biscay, but campaigners claim they are often switched off as fishermen think they also scare fish. They also claim they create intolerable noise pollution for all mammals and fish in the ocean.
Lamya Essemlali, President of Sea Shepherd France cited scientists who predict that the current rates of fishing will likely drive the dolphin population to extinction.
“The spotlight has been put on the trawlers that fish for sea bass …, which is a scandal. But they were not the only ones responsible,” she said.
She suggested that aggressive hake fishing, which was given the green light three years ago after a long ban, was a major factor. The spike in dolphin deaths also began three years ago.
Trawlers are facing unprecedented demand for low-cost fish, which has made fishing for catches like sea bass and hake a vital operation for those in the trade.
Last year, Bank of England governor Mark Carney told Sky News that oceans around the world were facing a “market failure” that risks triggering the extinction of fish species.
Cleary another indication of the human impact on the environment is at present unsustainable. An impact that will eventually rebound on it’s instigators.
The latest episode drop of #GameOfKook features Irish shredder Gearoid McDaid taking on Australia’s Louie Hynd in the less than stellar conditions of Newquay, England during the WSL Boardmasters QS event.
Some late season action recently struck the North Shore awakening monster Waimea and bringing the big guns into action . Check out Koa’s drop at around 5:00, if you’re gonna go, go, commitment is key. Hit play.
Surfers have various routines depending on their situation in life. An elite few have a day which most of us can’t imagine. Days loaded with pressure, tension, joy and misery. Otherwise known as being a CT surfer…
Photos: Alan van Gysen
Frederico… I wake up early in the morning and have a little stretch and a roll. Then breakfast with Dog before coming to the contest site before the call. I like to have a quick surf before they call it on or off or on hold. Then play with it and see what they are going to do. My free surfs I’m just trying to prepare on the banks, get to know them and increase my knowledge on where to sit. Especially this year as in Portugal as the banks weren’t so good. It’s imperative to be on the good ones as there are not that many good ones in a heat. If I have a big gap before my heat, I will try to go home and relax a little bit and always come back and try to have a little surf before my heat.
Richard ‘Dog’ Marsh, Fred’s coach Frederico’s normal day is pretty much up at 6 am in the dark. Roll and little activation and for breakfast just a light bite. Down at the event site about 15 minutes before first light. We then wait for the sun to come up and then he’ll surf and try to find some intel on the bank. How it’s breaking, maybe a board change and prepare some more. In the free surfs around the comp we don’t do any specific heat drills or anything like that. It’s normally really crowded, and so it’s just an opportunity to see what the waves are doing. We try to put zero pressure on that first surf. The real job is done before that first surf. It’s just about trying to get into a rhythm and understanding the conditions. If there’s a big gap, Fred will go back home and chill. Watches a load of Netflix and drifts off. Trying to relax away from the spotlight and the pressure a little. Non-surf stuff. There’s a lot of attention on Fred in Portugal obviously, and this is a massive event, but pressure is only a realisation of the situation that you are in. And if you’ve done everything you can to prepare for that situation, then you shouldn’t feel that pressure. You are ready to go. Once we’re into a game day, he’s ready to go, and it’s just about connecting the dots.
Written by Mark ‘Egor’ Harris. Filmed & edited by Nick Lloyd.
“My first ever surf trip abroad was to a secret spot in Morocco when I was 12 years old. I was looked after by Quiksilver and they invited me to a training camp to one of the best waves and at the time best-kept secrets in surfing. An incredible right-hand freight train point break which breaks over sand covered rocks and needs a really big swell in the Atlantic to start pumping perfect tubes down the point.
“That first trip was a huge eye-opener for a 12-year-old grommet from Fistral beach and also slightly daunting to surf solid heavy grinding tubes for the first time. I remember watching the best surfers in the world including Hawaiian legend Jeff Hakman, Tom Carroll and the best of Europe charging these heavy tubes and I was on the shoulder of the waves ….. jaw side open taking it all in but without the skill, experience or courage to really surf the waves.
“So 24 Years on in March 2017 the moons aligned, a huge winter swell was in the Atlantic and I was back to visit this incredible wave in Morocco with two very good friends. Unfortunately, our boards and wetsuits did not make it on the plane to Morocco with us and we luckily had to borrow equipment from a surf camp. The next day was perfect, big grinding tubes and with the odds against us, we paddled on our borrowed, unfamiliar equipment try and score a dream wave. After figuring out the line-up and the new equipment I suddenly found myself in the perfect spot for a large set wave …… my heart was pounding. I took off and the borrowed 6’6 board felt nice under my feet and I started to weave through one of the longest most perfect tubes of my life which fell amazing! I rode a wave exactly like how I saw my heroes riding them 24 years before at the Quiksilver training camp.
One ridiculous Moroccan drainer!
Then in mid-February this year another huge Atlantic swell roared in sending a great looking swell down to Morocco. I booked a last minute flight to meet the swell which lasted four days at the best wave in Morocco. This time my boards arrived with me on the plane and I had new designs to test out on the long perfect walls. It was a really nice week long surf trip to Africa!”
The Jesus Longboard Classic has for many years been a significant event in the UK longboard surfing calendar, but unfortunately due to too much surf, or lack of surf, the 2018 event had to be postponed twice. However, the organising team decided that there was a real enthusiasm to re-run the event early in the new year to kick-off the competition season for the longboard community, hence the new date of 23rd and 24th March 2019. Everybody involved had a really fun weekend and with around 80 entries in six categories, it was a busy one for the organisers Christian Surfers UK and their host partners Tubestation in Polzeath.
The event is part of the Jesus Surf Series which Christian Surfers UK has been running for 27 years as a way of serving the surfing community and which, due to its popularity, was split into two contests (the Jesus Longboard Classic and the Jesus Surf Classic) in order to provide a focus and additional capacity and which has proved extremely popular with all concerned. Saturday morning dawned with three foot waves, breakfast and hospitality for all involved at Tubestation and by around 9am heats got underway and carried through till 5:20pm. Surfing on the first day is always a mix of those who take it pretty seriously and those who perhaps have entered the event for the first time as they have heard how welcoming everybody is.
After around 20 heats on the first day, the semi-finals draw was set up for Sunday and the contestants in the Open Men’s and Women’s finals already known. One highlight of the Open Men’s semi-final was Ben Howey and Elliot Dudley going head-to-head, with both scoring over 16 points; on this occasion Elliott Dudley just pipped Ben, but all was set for a great final day. From day one of this event the Surfers Blessing has always been a key focus; a reflective 20 minutes organised by the Tubestation team giving people the opportunity to start Sunday thinking about various things. This year the focus was ‘community’, the importance of it and of being there for people; no better illustrated than by the longboarding community and the role of Tubestation in the area.
With ten heats remaining on the last day the surfing continued to improve and at around 1.30pm the presentations took place. In a packed Tubestation speeches were heard, trophies, cheques and prizes handed out, thanks given and all involved agreed it was a fantastic weekend and a good decision to persevere.
Regarding the winners some of the highlights were : Wales’ Colin Bright appearing in three finals including the Legends division (60+) beating brother Gwyn and the rest of the Welsh contingent. Arthur Randell taking out the U18s division and very generously donating his first prize of an Indo Board to the Tubestation for their future use; top bloke. Fantastic surfing in both the 35+ (Masters) and 50+ (Grandmasters) with Sam Bleakley taking the younger title and Mark Goodright the senior title. Both the Men’s and Women’s finals were really exciting affairs with Emily Currie beating Beth Leighfield to retain her title from the previous event, and in a very, very close tussle Ben Howey just pipped James Parry to the championship by 0.1 point, retaining his title !!
This event could not be run without some great partners and sponsors and this year our sponsors included Nineplus, Finisterre, Old Guys Rule, Bird Sunglasses and Indo Board. A huge thanks goes to Era Adventures for water cover, Beagle Media for the video edit that will be with us soon, BLU and Hotdoggers for ongoing support and photographer, Andy Holter. Final thanks of course go to the amazing staff at Tubestation and all the volunteers from Christian Surfers UK who give their time freely for the weekend, and God for providing waves and indeed sunshine on finals day.
Christian Surfers UK events continue throughout the summer including the 25th anniversary National Gathering June 21st – 23rd, the 27th Jesus Surf Classic at Croyde in September (14th & 15th) and the 12th Jesus Longboard Classic October 12th & 13th.
For more details of the work of Christian Surfers UK log on to christiansurfers.co.uk and for more details and pictures of the event via the links on our Facebook pages, Christian Surfers UK and Jesus Surf Series CSUK
RESULTS
LEGENDS 60+
1: Colin Bright 2: Gwyn Bright 3: Chris Taylor 4: Peter Cosier 5: Ray Samson
JUNIOR (U18)
1: Arthur Randell 2: Barnaby Innes 3:Esmee Gregorius 4: Dylan Cummings
GRANDMASTERS 50+
1: Mark Goodnight 2: Steve Harrison 3: Colin Bright 4: Steve Broad
MASTERS 35+
1: Sam Bleakley 2: Colin Bright 3: Owen Stoneman 4: Damien Hookeron
