The long-awaited Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2024 officially kicked this week as the Indian Ocean finally delivered the perfect swell conditions to run. With a solid 4-6 foot swell out of the southwest, contest director Nick Chong gave the green light to start the event.

Spectators and participants were treated to some amazing performances in Men’s Round 1, featuring well-known names Mason Ho, Joel Parkinson, and Mikey February. The Icons heats added to the excitement, with surfing legend Jim Banks, Balaram Stack, and the father-son duo Joel and Tosh Tudor. The competition is indeed off to a stellar start, showcasing some amazing tube riding at Bali’s legendary Padang Padang.

The day kicked off with the Icons Heat, featuring surf legends such as Rizal Tandjung, Jim Banks, and other superstars, along with Hawaii’s Moana Jones Wong. Wong, a two-time Pipe Master, made a powerful statement during her first-ever surf at Padang Padang by expertly threading a set wave barrel, proving she is a force to be reckoned with. Jim Banks, who pioneered surfing in Bali back in 1975, stole the show with his stylish tube riding and classic trim line surfing. Reflecting on his performance, Jim shared, “I shaped a twin fin board for Padang ages ago, and Nick Chong finally gave me the chance to ride it. It turned out really well, and I had great fun in the heat.”

The main heat kicked off at 1 pm Bali time, with two-time Rip Curl Cup champion Made “Bol” Adi Putra setting the tone right from the start. On his very first wave, Adi Putra posted in an impressive 8.33 with a double barrel, proving he’s still a formidable contender and a threat to become the first-ever three-time champion. In the second heat of the day, Mason Ho and Noa Deane delivered a masterclass in technical tube riding, threading some long backside barrels that propelled them to the top of the leaderboard, taking first and second place, respectively.

Despite the slow swell buildup in the previous days, the official forecast from Swell Net nailed the call, delivering perfect 4-6 foot waves for Men’s Round 1, allowing the surfers to showcase their talents on Bali’s best wave. “This is the funnest contest ever!!” Hawaiian royalty Mason Ho exclaimed after his heat. “Flawless tubes into celebrations in the channel—how good!”

As the day progressed and the tide began to drop, the conditions at Padang Padang only improved, with hollow end sections starting to form. 2012 world champion Joel Parkinson took full advantage, donning his competition rash vest at Padang Padang for the first time since the 2008 Rip Curl Search Event. “One of the best heats I ever had on tour was out at Padang Padang,” Parkinson shared, “I’m amped to have the opportunity to surf here with a rashie on again.” Parkinson showcased his experience and skill by locking in the second-best single wave score of the day, a flawless double tube that earned him an impressive 8.83 (out of a possible 10 points).

The excitement continued into the second Icons Heat, where Balaram Stack delivered a stunning performance that highlighted the true beauty of Padang Padang. His on-point tube riding was so exceptional that it earned him a perfect 10 from the judges. Nathan White, one of the head judges, commented, “That was mental; that is what I call great tube riding. He deserved a 10. Even though it was a non-round heat, it’s still a 10.”

As the energy continues to build, anticipation is high for Round 2, where all competitors will have another chance to showcase their skills. This year, Rip Curl has introduced a new non-elimination format, allowing each surfer to take their two best rides from all their heats. At the end of Round 2, the format aims to give athletes the opportunity to truly demonstrate their abilities, with the top four surfers having the highest combined scores advancing to the final.

For detailed heat results, click this link and check the leaderboard to see who scored the highest points of the day.

Full highlights of Round 1 action coming soon, stay tuned to ripcurl.com for all event updates.

It’s clear that this contest is showcasing the best tube riding Bali—and perhaps even the world—has to offer. Stay tuned for the next call and updates.

New edit just dropped by Vissla, Googles by Darcy Ward featuring the aqua talents of Toby Mossop and Louie Hynd as they venture through Indo. Featuring Liam O’Brien, Matthew McGillivray and Voltaire Sora to the band of merry pranksters.

Music By:
@leshiv9823
Zooid
Brian Stewart
The Ruminaters

Additional Footage:
Tom Jennings
Mallmic
Dave Fox
Jackson Jones

Surfing England is thrilled to announce that we will be continuing our 2024 English National championships, with The Stable English National Longboard Surfing championships, partnered with the BLU.

For surfers aspiring to compete for Team England, the results of the National surfing Championship divisions may be used towards selections for future competitions.

With such incredible longboard surfing talent in England, we know this event will be the biggest yet! The amount of established champions and emerging Longboard talent in England is unfathomable; we look forward to providing the contest platform for our incredible athletes.

Surfing England is running this event in collaboration with the British Longboard Union, but please note entries are only open for English Nationals.

Special Thanks:
The Stable: Our headline partner, and supporters of the English and British surfing community for many years.

Spectators Welcome:
Spectators are warmly welcomed throughout the whole weekend. Come along, soak up the action, and mingle with the country’s best established longboarding surf talent. Join us at Fistral Beach for an unforgettable weekend of surfing and celebration!

Thank you to our fantastic headline partner The Stable . And to our brilliant partners Caravan and Motorhome Club, korev lager, The Wave, dryrobe, Muscle Food, Decathlon UK, Saltrock, Clarke Willmott, Vospers.

For all event enquiries please contact: [email protected]

For all club membership enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

What took you so long?

Five years later and Surfer magazine are back in print, and we are stoked. It’s been too long.

In an age of quick clicks and pretty meaningless likes print still resonates and displays the awesome surf photography better than any other medium. As Kelly explains in Surfer mags post he still remembers his first mention in a mag.

“You try to get your first picture in the magazine, your first ad, your first full page. Try to get a spread or a poster or a cover. “It was such a thing to aspire to in surfing as a young guy coming up. I was so excited when I saw my name in there for the first time. It was an ESA result…second place, Central Florida. It made me feel like I was achieving something. You’re trying to do this little thing in your little town, and you get recognised around the world in the magazine you love.”

Likes last a day, print lasts forever.

Jake Howard of Surfer writes

“A huge thank you to Kelly, Carissa, Caity, and all the other surfers, writers, photographers, editors and creative folks that made this issue what it is. And thank you to all of the advertisers in the magazine. The surf industry is at a crossroads, and we’re honoured to be arm in arm with everyone making a rad surf magazine, celebrating our heroes and inspiring everyone to get out there and just go surfing—whatever that means to you.”

The US needed a print magazine. The creators, culture and industry needed a print magazine, and to see Surfer rising again, is pretty cool.

Good luck!

The new issue of SURFER will officially go on sale on August 23, 2024. Copies will be available online, as well as a fine retailers throughout the United States. More here