Sydney Lads Hit Heavy Shipsterns

Check out the new edit on surfing Tasmania’s Shipstern’s Bluff for the first time with Sydney’s Dunsmore Brothers, linking up with local legends Danny Griffiths and Mikey Brennan

Team Japan wins at ISA Vissla World Junior Champs

  • Japan's Keanu Kamiyama earns Boys U-18 Gold to boost Japan to overall Team Gold
  • USA earns Silver, Australia Bronze, Hawaii Copper
  • Rachel Presti's Girls U-18 Gold is first in history for Germany
  • 13-year-old Caitlin Simmers earns Girls U-16 Gold
  • Australia's Grayson Hinrichs earns Boys U-18 Gold

Keanu Kamiyama

Team Japan made junior surfing history and earned their first-ever Team Gold Medal at the 2018 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship presented by Visit Huntington Beach.

Led by the individual Gold Medal performance by Boys U-18 competitor Keanu Kamiyama and four additional individual medals, Team Japan pushed ahead of Silver Medal Team USA to take the Junior Team World Title by a margin of 132 points.

Japan's first-ever Junior Gold Medal performance comes shortly after a historic first Gold Medal for Team Japan in the World Surfing Games that took place in September in Tahara, Japan.

The exceptional performances by Team Japan across both open and junior divisions is a testimony to the extraordinary growth of Surfing in Japan since the sport's inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Team Japan's Gold Medal depended on the Boys U-18 final heat of the day featuring two Japanese athletes, Keanu Kamiyama and Joh Azuchi, and USA's Cole Houshmand. Kamiyama and Azuchi shined in a closely-surfed heat and took the Gold and Silver Medals to lead Japan to the Gold. Houshmand earned the Copper, resulting in Team USA falling to the Silver Medal position. Team Australia earned the Bronze Medal and Team Hawaii the Copper Medal.

Joh Azuchi (JPN) 

Cole Houshmand (JPN)

Australia's Grayson Hinrichs put on a show in the Boys U-18 Final. He jumped out to an early lead with a solid 7.5 and then waited until the dying minutes of the heat to earn his highest score of 8.6 to take the Gold Medal. USA's Kade Matson and Levi Slawson respectively earned the Silver and Bronze Medals. Japan's Riaru Ito finished with the Copper.

This is the best feeling of my life, I've never dreamed of this happening. It's the biggest boost of confidence to think that all the top surfers have won this event, and now I have done it too.

Grayson Hinrichs

Kade Matson (USA)

Levi Slawson (USA)

Germany’s Rachel Presti gave a standout performance throughout the whole event and earned the Gold in the Girls U-18 – the first-ever ISA medal for Germany across any discipline. Hawaii’s Keala Tomoda Bannertearned the top performance for Team Hawaii with the Silver Medal, followed by Japan’s Minami Nonaka with the Bronze. Summer Macedo’s efforts to earn her second ISA Junior Gold came to an end despite great performances in the event, earning the Copper Medal.

I am really happy to take it home for Germany, This first Gold for Germany means a lot. I want to encourage other people in Germany to surf and bring it to a global stage.

Rachel Presti

Keala Tomodo Bannert (HAW)

Minami Nonaka (JPN)

The Girls U-16 Grand Final kicked off with a bang as USA’s 13-year-old Caitlin Simmers posted the highest wave score of the day with 9.17. The Japanese duo Shino Matsuda and Sara Wakita were never able to catch Simmers after her blazing start, finishing with the Silver and Bronze Medals, respectively. Spain’s Lucía Machado earned the Copper.

It feels so good, Team USA is really supportive. It’s an honor to be a part of the team. This is my biggest win. Since Surfing is in the Olympics, that is a new goal for me to strive for.

Caitlin Simmers

Shino Matsuda (JPN)

Sara Wakita (JPN)

RESULTS

Team Ranking
Gold - Japan
Silver - USA
Bronze - Australia
Copper - Hawaii
5 - France
6 - Spain
7 - Brazil
8 - South Africa
9 - Germany
10 - Portugal

Girls U-16
Gold - Caitlin Simmers (USA)
Silver - Shino Matsuda (JPN)
Bronze - Sara Wakita (JPN)
Copper - Lucía Machado (ESP)

Boys U-16
Gold - Grayson Hinrichs (AUS)
Silver - Kade Matson (USA)
Bronze - Levi Slawson (USA)
Copper - Riaru Ito (JPN)

Girls U-18
Gold - Rachel Presti (GER)
Silver - Keala Tomoda Bannert (HAW)
Bronze - Minami Nonaka (JPN)
Copper - Summer Macedo (HAW)

Boys U-18
Gold - Keanu Kamiyama (JPN)
Silver - Joh Azuchi (JPN)
Bronze - Luke John Slijpen (RSA)
Copper - Cole Houshmand (USA)

Win a Vissla Seven Seas Winter Wetsuit

Based on the premise of less is more, Vissla has stripped away the irrelevant knick-knacks and designed a suit that does exactly what it’s supposed to do: provide warmth, flexibility and performance in the ocean.

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED

Perks: 4/3, super stretch limestone-based neoprene, sealed seams, quick dry lining, a tailored fit and a minimal bulkchest-zip closure system provides for a top of the line wetsuit at an affordable price. Additionally, dope-dyed yarn from Bluesign approved mills allows for a softer, anti-fade material that serves as an eco-friendly approach to neoprene.

The competition closes on Sunday 11th November and a winner will be contacted via email. Good luck.
For more on the 7 Seas Full Suit head to their website here.

Never Lose Hope · Aritz, Natxo and Kepa

A thrilling story, which begins in the search for the best waves in the world, and ends in one of the greatest experiences of their lives. Failure is the key to success.

Film and Edit by:
Jon Aspuru @jonbakio

Starring:
Natxo Gonzalez @natxogonzalez1
Kepa Acero @kepaacero
Aritz Aranburu @aritzaranburu

Mavericks Challenge Opening Ceremony

HALF MOON BAY, California/USA (Friday, October 26, 2018) - The World Surf League (WSL) is pleased to announce that the official competition window for the Big Wave Tour (BWT) Mavericks Challenge will open on November 1, 2018, and run through March 31, 2019. Following final permit approval and coordination with the governmental agencies involved with the production of the event, the WSL is excited for the opportunity to run the inaugural Mavericks Challenge, including the first-ever women’s competition at Mavericks.

“Mavericks is one of the best big wave locations in the world and we are excited to open the holding period on November 1,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, WSL CEO. “Mavericks undoubtedly adds a new level to our Big Wave Tour, and we have a great opportunity to bring this event to the international stage. Hosting the women’s event at Mavericks has always been a priority for us when we acquired the event, and this year, conditions permitting, we could see the women’s event run for the first time ever.”

“Having Mavericks as one of three stops on the Big Wave Tour is very special,” said Mike Parsons, WSL BWT Commissioner. “With the Mavericks window opening next week, we will closely monitor all swells throughout the holding period to be ready to call the competition on within 48 hours’ notice. Mavericks will test the best big wave surfers, both male and female, and we are committed to holding the event in the best conditions possible.”

“Having an event at Mavericks for women is monumentous,” said Bianca Valenti, 2018/2019 Mavericks Challenge invitee. “This is a moment that I am really excited for. You have to have the opportunity in order to perform, so I think this is just going to be the beginning of really amazing women’s big wave surfing. I am just ready to go for it and explore the realm of possibility while everyone is watching and I want to put on a good show.”

Two-time WSL Big Wave Champion Greg Long said, “When I heard that Mavericks was on Tour, I immediately thought that it was the missing piece of the big wave competitive puzzle we’ve been trying to put together for the last decade. We now have the best venues of anywhere in the world.”

Prior to the Mavericks Opening Ceremony, the WSL hosted a pioneering Big Wave Water Safety Training program with a special focus for competitors in the new women’s division. Conducted in collaboration with the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group, the curriculum featured advanced high surf risk management, rescue techniques, and resuscitation training to prepare competitors for the dangers of the Mavericks break. The Hawaii-based instructors included world-class surf rescue experts Brian Keaulana, Danilo Couto, Kohl Christesen, and Andrea Moller.

The 2018/2019 Big Wave Tour hosts three events: the Nazaré Challenge, the Jaws Challenge, and the Mavericks Challenge. Starting November 1, all holding periods will be open and the world’s best big wave surfers will await conditions that will produce waves in the 30-to-60-foot range. Once the decision is made to run the event, a “Green Alert” is issued and competitors will have 48 hours’ notice to be ready to compete.

 

2018/2019 Mavericks Challenge Competitors

Women’s Invitees: Paige Alms, Keala Kennelly, Justine Dupont, Bianca Valenti, Maya Gabeira, Sarah Gerhardt, Emily Erickson, Andrea Moller, Jamilah Star, One wildcard to be selected on Green Alert
Women’s Alternates: Wrenna Delgado, Laura Enever, Felicity Palmateer, Raquel Heckert, Easkey Britton, Silvia Nabuco

Men’s Invitees: Billy Kemper, Kai Lenny, Ian Walsh, Makuakai Rothman, Lucas Chianca, Jamie Mitchell, Tom Lowe, Alex Botelho, Greg Long, Natxo Gonzalez, Will Skudin, Grant Baker, Nathan Florence, Jojo Roper, Russell Bierke, Travis Payne, Patrick Shaughnessy, Matt Becker, Anthony Tashnick, Jason Stark, Hunter Murison , Peter Mel, Nic Lamb, One wildcard to be selected on Green Alert
Men’s Alternates: Ryan Hipwood, Tyler Fox, Luca Padua, Ryan Seelbach, Colin Dwyer, Ben Andrews, Kyle Thiermann

Once called on, the WSL Big Wave Tour events will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the WSL’s Facebook page. Also check local listings for coverage from the WSL's broadcast partners.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.