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Green Alert for Jaws Big Wave Championships.

PE’AHI, Maui, Hawaii/USA (Tuesday, December 10, 2019) - Today, the World Surf League (WSL) issued a Green Alert for the cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships to run on Thursday, December 12, 2019. The world’s best big wave surfers are now in transit to Pe’ahi, Maui, Hawaii to defy nature and challenge themselves in waves forecast to be in the 35-to-50-foot range on the face. All the action will be broadcast LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app.

The cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships is the world’s premier paddle-only big wave event, taking place at the famed Pe’ahi surf break on the north shore of Maui, Hawaii. Rich with the sport’s history of innovation and progression, the contest brings the world’s elite male and female athletes together at the ultimate proving ground to compete for the coveted Championship.

History-making performances have solidified Jaws' reputation as the pinnacle for big-wave surfing over the past decade. Jaws has hosted some of the biggest waves ever witnessed in competition, and winning this event sets the standard for the sport.

In the men's division, 24 competitors are divided into four heats of six surfers for the first round. Heats are generally 45 minutes and surfers may catch as many waves as they wish with a panel of five judges scoring each ride on a scale of 1 to 10. Each competitor's two best waves are counted, with their best wave score doubled. The three highest-scoring surfers advance to the semifinals, which run in the same format, and the top three from the Semifinals advance to the Final.

The women's division runs in a similar format with 10 competitors participating in two five-surfer Semifinals with the top three surfers in each heat advancing to the Final.

Due to safety and environmental concerns, there is no location available for on-site spectating for the cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships. Fans are invited to watch the event on the WorldSurfLeague.com that will feature close-in angles, slow-motion replays, and analysis. For those on Maui, the event's official viewing party will be held at Paia Surf Club at 65 Hana Highway, Paia, HI 96779 (808-579-3333).

Surfline Forecast for the cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships
Solid NW swell should build in and be strongest for the morning hours on Thursday at Jaws, gradually fading over the afternoon. Model guidance has been fairly consistent in showing a 13-15’ deepwater swell off Maui with swell period of 17-18 seconds Thursday morning from the NW (310-330 degrees, with peak energy around 325 degrees). Direction is favorable – enough north so that shadowing shouldn’t be an issue but enough west that we should see some great barrels on the West Bowl.

Surf size is expected to be in the 35-45’ range on the face through the morning hours, with the bigger sets to 50’ (20-25’ Hawaiian on sets). There is still a bit of uncertainty on exact wind conditions with a front potentially stalled near Kauai on Thursday but E to ENE trades appears to be the likeliest scenario and current model guidance would suggest speed in the 15-18 knot range.

The storm that will create this swell is just starting to pull together north of Japan now and should intensify quickly in the next 24-36 hours.

cbdMD Jaws Big Wave Championships Competitor List:
Women’s Division
Paige Alms (HAW)
Justine Dupont (FRA)
Emily Erickson (HAW)
Raquel Heckert (BRA)
Keala Kennelly (HAW)
Andrea Moller (BRA)
Felicity Palmateer (AUS)
Bianca Valenti (USA)
Wildcard 1 TBD
Wildcard 2 TBD

Men’s Division
Grant Baker (ZAF)
Alex Botelho (PRT)
Russell Bierke (AUS)
Lucas Chianca (BRA)
Trevor Carlson (HAW)
Nathan Florence (HAW)
Natxo Gonzalez (EUK)
Greg Long (USA)
Mark Healey (HAW)
Billy Kemper (HAW)
Kai Lenny (HAW)
Albee Layer (HAW)
Tyler Larronde (HAW)
Nic Lamb (USA)
Tom Lowe (GBR)
Torrey Meister (HAW)
Jamie Mitchell (AUS)
Jojo Roper (USA)
Koa Rothman (HAW)
Makuakai Rothman (HAW)
Nic von Rupp (PRT)
Ian Walsh (HAW)
Wildcard 1 TBD
Wildcard 2 TBD

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Photos: Hallman

Front seat action at OTW with Nathan Florence

Experience the paddle out, pull in and get worked at OTW, all from the comfort of your chair whilst having a brew and noshing on a biscuit. Now we wouldn't advise that you spend your entire life as a spectator, living through the lens of social media, but avoiding getting battered into the reef has it's plus sides. Hop on board with the POV and Nathan Florence, enjoy.

The Soldiers of stoke hit Shark Cove

When they found Ben Gravy on the North Shore he was surfing a place most people like to stay away from. Mason tried to think of a polite way to tell him he didn't want to surf that spot but Ben talked him into it. One of the most fun days ever.

Quintal claims World Title, Skindog through the quarters at 2019 Taiwan Open of Surfing

THE LEFT, TAITUNG / TPE (Friday, December 6, 2019) - Florida’s Justin Quintal (USA) has claimed his maiden WSL World Longboard Championship at the 2019 Taiwan Open of Surfing in pumping three-to-four foot surf at ‘The Left’ in Taitiung. With a number of his closest opponents dropping out of the draw earlier in the day, all Quintal needed to do was win his Round 3 heat against Josh Constable (AUS) which he did comfortably, gifting the 29-year-old the highlight of his career.

“I’m feeling so good – this is definitely the coolest accomplishment of my life,” Quintal said. “The last few days I’ve kind of been holding my breath because I wasn’t really sure if it was going to happen and the conditions have just been getting crazier and crazier, so I’m so stoked to finally see this thing through and get it done. It feels amazing.”

Quintal won two of the first three stops of the revamped 2019 WSL Longboard Tour to set himself up for a strong tilt at the title coming to Taiwan. Although Justin has an incredible competitive record, namely 10 Vans Duct Tape Invitational titles, winning the 2019 World Longboard Championship in his first full year of competing in WSL events is the clear highlight of his surfing career.

“The duct tapes have all been so special and at times have felt like world titles, but this is the top tier so I’m really proud to call my myself the World Champ – I can tell my kids one day that their pop was the world champ.”

Being a goofy-footer, Quintal was thrilled to have the opportunity to compete for his title at The Left in Taitung, with today being arguably the best of the entire 2019 Longboard Tour.

“We’ve all invested a lot of our time and energy and everything into this all year so to get to the end of the season in amazing waves like this means so much to us. These types of venues are what the sport needs at this level, so this is pretty special. This wave is just amazing and to have the contest here is so unreal. It’s one of the coolest setups I’ve ever seen. Taiwan has been so fun, it’s a beautiful country with a beautiful culture.”

Once Men’s Round 3 was wrapped the focus shifted to the Women’s World Longboard Title where there are three competitors with a shot at taking the win. Rachael Tilly (USA) and Honolua Blomfield (HAW) are both looking for the second title while current rankings leader Chloe Calmon (BRA) is in the hunt for her first. All three progressed into the Quarterfinals with Calmon and Tilly posting the highest heat totals of the entire event, each scoring a two-wave total of 15.33. All surfers were extremely excited to have their season culminate in such epic surf at the Left.

“The wind is pretty crazy now, but the waves are so perfect,” Calmon said. “This is such an amazing opportunity for the longboarders to move to this location and finish the year off at such a great location. I have been surfing at this spot all week with all of the other competitors so to come out here with only one other surfer out was so good. I’m looking forward to continuing tomorrow and seeing how far I can go towards the final.”

With one day left in the event window and more incredible surf expected at ‘The Left’, competition is expected to get underway at 8:00 a.m. local time as the event looks to crown its winner’s along with the 2019 Women’s World Longboard Champion.

The Taiwan Open World Longboard Championship runs from December 1 - 7. For more information and to watch all of the action from the Taiwan Open of Surfing, head to www.worldsurfleauge.com or download the free WSL App.

Taiwan Open World Longboard Championships Men's Round 3 Results:
HEAT 1: Harrison Roach (AUS) 12.50 DEF. Cole Robbins (USA) 9.16
HEAT 2: Taylor Jensen (USA) 14.74 DEF. Taka Inoue (JPN) 9.10
HEAT 3: Ben Skinner (GBR) 11.10 DEF. Kaniela Stewart (HAW) 6.86
HEAT 4: Lucas Garrido Lecca (PER) 11.27 DEF. Steven Sawyer (ZAF) 9.97
HEAT 5: Kai Sallas (HAW) 13.73 DEF. Kevin Skvarna (USA) 12.83
HEAT 6: Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA) 15.30 DEF. Edouard Delpero (FRA) 13.46
HEAT 7: Justin Quintal (USA) 14.14 DEF. Josh Constable (AUS) 11.34
HEAT 8: Tony Silvagni (USA) 11.27 DEF. Phil Rajzman (BRA) 9.90

Taiwan Open World Longboard Championships Women's Round 3 Results:
HEAT 1: Lindsay Steinriede (USA) 11.56 DEF. Zoe Grospiron (FRA) 6.90
HEAT 2: Tully White (AUS) 10.00 DEF. Soleil Errico (USA) 8.93
HEAT 3: Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA) 10.90 DEF. Kirra Seale (HAW) 8.40
HEAT 4: Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 11.40 DEF. Natsumi Taoka (JPN) 8.60
HEAT 5: Chloe Calmon (BRA) 15.33 DEF. Ophelie Ah-Kouen (REU) 8.96
HEAT 6: Emily Lethbridge (AUS) 8.83 DEF. Hiroka Yoshikawa (JPN) 6.33
HEAT 7: Rachael Tilly (USA) 15.33 DEF. Kelis Kaleopaa (HAW) 9.86
HEAT 8: Alice Lemoigne (FRA) 10.73 DEF. Sally Cohen (HAW) 7.96

Taiwan Open World Longboard Championships Women's Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Harrison Roach (AUS) vs. Taylor Jensen (USA)
HEAT 2: Ben Skinner (GBR) vs. Lucas Garrido Lecca (PER)
HEAT 3: Kai Sallas (HAW) vs. Rodrigo Sphaier (BRA)
HEAT 4: Justin Quintal (USA) vs. Tony Silvagni (USA)

Taiwan Open World Longboard Championships Women's Quarterfinal Matchups:
HEAT 1: Lindsay Steinriede (USA) vs. Tully White (AUS)
HEAT 2: Kaitlin Mikkelsen (USA) vs. Honolua Blomfield (HAW)
HEAT 3: Chloe Calmon (BRA) vs. Emily Lethbridge (AUS)
HEAT 4: Rachael Tilly (USA) vs. Alice Lemoigne (FRA)

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Boy knocked off surfboard by shark

Grom, Chandler Moore, 7, was out surfing with his dad, Shaun at New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, Florida with a GoPro attached to his board.

The footage that his dad sent out via social media shows Chandler surfing and the shark rudely dropping in. Moore's dad said "something like a fish" jumped out of the water and scared him.

If you check out the frame grab of the moment Chanler falls you can see the animal is clearly a small shark drop in, damn kook.

Sperm whale dies with 100kg of plastics and litter in stomach

Phots c/0 SMASS

A sperm whale has died with after stranding itself on a beach on the Isle of Harris was found to have 100ks of fishing nets, rope, bags and plastic cups in in stomach.

Locals found the whale on Seilebost beach. The Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme dissected the whale to try and find the cause of death.

“Just on our way back from a stunning (it was on Luskentyre beach), fascinating, briefly alarming (it sort of exploded) and shameful (there was a load of marine debris in its stomach) sperm whale necropsy on Harris this weekend. This case was a subadult male which live stranded and died on sandbanks on Thursday morning- by the time we got to it had been dead for 48 hours and pretty much most of the guts blew out of the side when we stuck a knife in it. Animals this size are so well insulated that even though the temperature outside barely got above freezing, they don’t cool down and hence decompose incredibly quickly.

Not a great sight.

In this whale’s stomach was approximately 100kg of marine debris- a whole range of plastic including sections of net, bundles of rope, plastic cups, bags, gloves, packing straps and tubing. All this material was in a huge ball in the stomach and some of it it looked like it had been there for some time. The animal wasn’t in particularly poor condition, and whilst it is certainly plausible that this amount of debris was a factor in its live stranding, we actually couldn’t find evidence that this had impacted or obstructed the intestines. This amount of plastic in the stomach is nonetheless horrific, must have compromised digestion, and serves to demonstrate, yet again, the hazards that marine litter and lost or discarded fishing gear can cause to marine life. It is also perhaps a good example that this is a global issue caused by a whole host of human activities. This whale had debris in its stomach which seemed to have originated from both the land and fishing sectors, and could have been swallowed at any point between Norway and the Azores. We are looking in more detail to see if we can work out quite why this animal ended up with so much of it in its stomach.

Netting removed from the whale.

As a place to do a necropsy, you can’t get much better than a crisp sunny day on Luskentyre – it’s quite simply an utterly beautiful part of the world. It is worth therefore giving particular thanks to members of the coastguard and the Western Isles council disposal team who helped us necropsy and then bury the whale, and therefore return the beach to its pristine glory. Surrounded by fragile dune ecosystems, there was no option to move a 20 tonne animal elsewhere, towing out to sea wasn’t an option so it needed to be buried on site. This was completed as light fell yesterday, so hopefully, if you go to the beach today, there should be almost no evidence that there was a large sperm whale necropsy undertaken there this weekend.