Professional GB surfer Emily Currie, who wants to compete in Tokyo, and Hannah Bristow, lifestyle surfer and YouTuber, discuss whether the Olympics is actually a good thing for the sport.
Listen to them, and let us know what you think in the comments section below…
Wall to wall sunshine and consistent dream like waves? That’s what contest organisers order, and so very rarely get, so this weekends Rip Curl GromSearch at Croyde Bay in North Devon, in association with Goldcoast Oceanfest and organised by Surfing England, was one to remember.
The event saw 94 entries across the 6 boys and girls junior divisions of under 16, 14 and 12’s and with 16+ hours of competitive surfing to complete the day one of two was a packed out day of heats, matched by the sell-out music festival running alongside. Conditions on day one varied from 3ft glassy low tide a-frames, to slightly onshore high tide peelers, and as one of the most consistent summer swells to date rolled in the juniors took full advantage. The judges were impressed by the speed, power and flow of the surfers as they battled against their peers to earn their spots in the next round, some moving on and others disappointingly exiting. The competition was fierce but the free surf areas were a hive of friendship and froth, as the surfer’s trialled the Rip Curl SearchGPS watches and attempted to rack up the highest speed on a wave. As day one drew to a close, the festival ignited and thousands of festival goers left the beach and enjoyed the entertainment.
Day two was a scorcher, the surfers were at the business end of the event and had their eyes on the prize. The swell defied the forecast and actually got bigger as the tide pushed up, holding the light winds and providing a spectacle at the high tide for the 4000+ beach goers who witness some brilliant surfing from all divisions. The heat intensified, challenging surfers and staff to manage the unfamiliar tropical like conditions. So by the time the finals had all been signed sealed and delivered the surfers eagerly awaited their final placings, the heat passed the 30degree mark and presentations were made tricky by the sand being too hot to stand on, but nothing would stop the champions lifting their prize. All champions were then swept up and taken into the festival to celebrate their wins in front of a few thousand happy festival goers.
The results are as follows and a final congratulations to all the finalists and winners. Surfing England and Rip Curl would like to thank all the staff and the supporters for a brilliant weekend and also all the sponsors that make this event possible: Citroën, Smith, FCS & Gorilla. Attention now turns to the next and final event of the UK Grom Search at Watergate Bay on August 19th & 20th.
Under 12 Girls
1- Lauren Sandland
2 – Tegan Blackford …
3 – Georgia Thomason
4 – Eva Blackford
Under 12 Boys
1 – Gabe Llewellyn
2 – Fynn Gillespie
3 – Tom Hook
4 – Arthur Randell
Under 14 Girls
1 – Bonita Whitelock
2 – Lauren Sandland
3 – Claudia Cosgrove
4 – Asha Sykes
Under 14 Boys
1 – Alex Townsend
2 – Bertie Norman
3 – Sam Hearn
When I paddled for that wave, I never thought that could happen.
We had been surfing Mundaka with much more dangerous conditions for weeks. January 2nd was a smaller day and it was very slow, but there were a few perfect waves.
I jumped in the water and waited about an hour until a wave of about four feet arrived. It was a bomb, a shaky wave, but not much different from the thousands of waves I’ve caught there in the last 25 years.
I got a lot of speed because the section was growing, entered the tube and suddenly the foam ball took the board off my feet as if it made me trip. I remembering being sent flying to the bottom and suddenly feeling a strong blow to the head. I do not remember much more. It was like when you turn off the television. My head went out.
Seconds later, I woke up under the water. I tried to give several strokes to reach the surface and breathe, but I realized that my arms and legs did not respond. I literally thought I was going to drown. Luckily, I was wearing a very thick suit and floated to the surface. I lost control again and lost my sight. I was blind and could barely move my body. I cannot believe how close I was to death.
Fortunately, a friend was very close and saw me floating. Iñigo, along with other friends like Gaizka, Eukeni, Natxo and Nando saved my life. They pushed me to the edge and called an ambulance. I gradually regained my sight and mobility. The moment I got ashore, I thought it was over. I was taken straight to the hospital.
When I arrived at the hospital, I was very sore but very quiet. I had an MRI and when the doctor entered the room, he had a somber face. I did not know how bad the news could be. He did some sensitivity tests on my arms and feet and fortunately, I could move decently well.
He then told me that I had two broken cervicals, a cervical displacement and a broken back. He told me it was a miracle I was not in a wheelchair.
I burst into tears and ever since that moment, I have been giving thanks to life every single day.
I had surgery a week later and luckily everything went well.
It’s only been 5 months since I had surgery and I’m nearly back to 100% surfing. I am planning to go to Africa soon and keep doing solo expeditions.
Sustaining an injury like this is difficult. But at the same time, it was the most beautiful and enriching experience I have ever lived. Being in the hospital and having friends and family visit you is something unique. You feel like you’re about to die, but you’re surrounded by people who believe the world is better when you’re here. Humanly it is a fascinating experience and you learn to value friendship and value every moment.
I have always said that you have to enjoy life, but after having an experience like that, I say it more forcefully. As soon as I get better, I will not stop traveling and fulfilling my dreams.
For rehabilitation, I would advise anyone who suffers an injury like this to be passionate and have patience, to not lose hope. Enthusiasm is an engine in life.
I have been happy to think that I will return to Mundaka and that soon I will be paddling into same wave with which I had the accident. I dream of getting into that tube again.
___
The infamous Smart Parking Night Surf Event and second stop on the UK Surf Tour took place at Fistral Beach on the 16th-17th June. The competition was greeted by rolling 3-5ft waves and blazing sunshine for the both days, revellers and surfers alike basked in the glorioThe Night Surf is one of the few night time surf events around the globe and sees the UKs top surfers battle it out under light up shores. With nothing but ocean light up each surfer battles it out in floodlit arena to be championed champion of the Smart Parking Night Surf.
Day one of the competition saw crowds gather at Fistral Beach the preliminary rounds of the Fistral beach U18s Boys, U18 Girls, Mens Open and the Stable Women’s Open. The level of surfing continued to be of an extremely high, with notable performances from Ellie Turner in the female divisions and Jay Quinn from the Mens open.
Day two saw the semi-finals and finals take place with tenacious surfing from the competing surfers, each surfer fought tooth and nail for their desired scores but for some that wasnt enough. Semi final heat with Reubyn Ash, Russell Winter, Jay Quinn and Miles Lee Hargraves was arguably the most exciting of the whole competition as Jay and Rueben went head to head, wave to wave trying to out surf one other, big turns and an impressive aerial favoured dominated this heat.
We were blessed with scorching sun through the finals with not a single cloud in the sky, the shoreline and Fistral Beach Bar was near capacity with people, all watching the surfing and enjoying Korev Lager. As the sun set an orange glow covered the horizon, the anticipation filled the air and finally the finals headed into the water.
Once the competition came to a close it was time for the presentation where the champions were crowned, fresh out of the water. After a few congratulatory speeches and thank you to our sponsors Smart Parking, Fistral Beach, Fistral Beach Bar, The Stable, Fistral, Korev Lager and The Surfing Sumo the delightful display of pyrotechnics took place. As the nights sky was painted a variety of colours from the fireworks it was hard to not see this event as a complete success.
We want to extend a huge thank you to the sponsors of this event, without whom this wouldnt be possible.
Results:
Smart Parking Mens Open
1st Jobe Harris
2nd Liam Turner
3rd Reubyn Ash
4th Jay Quinn
Fistral beach U18 Boys
1st Patrick Langdon Dark
2nd Liam Murray Strout
3rd Alex Ashen
4th Kit Innes
The Stable Ladies Open
1st Ellie Turner
2nd Emilie Currie
3rd Lucy Campbell
4th Emily Williams
U18 Girls
1st Ellie Turner
2nd Mischa Maguire
3rd Tilly Theobald
4th Jess Knight
In just a few weeks the surfing world’s attention will turn to the Indonesian island of Bali when the Rip Curl Cup returns to the storied lefthand barrels of Padang Padang. The opening ceremony kicks off the action to surfing’s premier renegade contest on July 9.
With a non-stop barrage of swell lighting up Indonesia’s world-class reefs this May and early June, it appears the Indian Ocean is kicking things into high gear just in time for the year’s most anticipated barrel-riding showdown.
“We’ve had more big swells in the first two months of this season than we had all last year,” local Bali surfer and 2014 Rip Curl Cup Champion Garut Widiarta said. “It feels like Padang has been breaking non-stop. Hopefully this means we’re in for a special swell at Padang for the Rip Curl Cup this year.”
For the second year in a row the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be a WSL sanctioned event, bringing all the drama and unsurpassed action of the “Ultimate Tuberiding Contest” to a massive global audience.
“It’s always an exciting time of year when the Rip Curl Cup holding period opens,” WSL Australia/Oceania Regional Manager Will Hayden-Smith said. “I know a lot of people keep an eye on the Indonesia swell charts waiting for it to be called on. It’s an exciting event that sees Indonesia’s best take on some international tube riding specialists. I can’t wait to see Padang Padang fire up and put on a show. Thanks to the Rip Curl crew in Indonesia for all of their work making this prestigious event happen.”
While the WSL sanctioning is befitting of Indonesia’s most prestigious and historic surf contest, Rip Curl Southeast Asia Marketing Manager James Hendy says the formula for the Rip Curl Cup, regarded as having the highest wave standards in pro surfing, will remain unchanged.
“We are thrilled to once again have the WSL’s support and expertise in showcasing the best tuberiding show of the year to an ever-growing global audience, but the roots of the Rip Curl Cup remain the same,” Hendy said. “Only the most respected tuberiders in the world will receive an invitation to compete for The Cup, and the contest doesn’t run until the barrels at Padang Padang are all-time.”
The holding period for the 2017 Rip Curl Cup runs from July 10 to August 10, a full month during the peak of Indonesia’s prime swell season, providing the event with the best odds of scoring the cavernous jade barrels the Balinese Pipeline is world-famous for.
As a WSL “specialty event,” entry to the Rip Curl Cup is not based on qualification points or current WSL rankings. Ability, reputation, and track record at the heaviest, most hollow waves around the globe are the sole criteria for an invitation.
Over its 14-year run, the Rip Curl Cup has seen some of the finest tube masters of the modern era compete in the spitting barrels of Padang Padang, including John Florence, Bruce Irons, Jamie O’Brien, Chris Ward, Anthony Walsh and Jack Robinson. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s top surfers like Rizal Tandjung, Garut Widiarta, Lee Wilson and two-time and reigning Rip Curl Cup Champion Mega Semadhi have consistently proven they can compete with the best in the world on their home turf.
The complete 2017 Rip Curl Cup surfer lineup will be released to the world on June 26.
“Last year only one of the four surfers in the final was from Indonesia, but he was the Champion,” Widiarta said, referring to fellow Balinese surfer Mega Semadhi. “When I won in 2014, it was me versus my cousin in an all-Indonesian final. As Indonesian surfers, we know we have a special opportunity to compete against some of the best tube masters in the world. We know the whole world will be watching. And we know we can win.”
In one of the most entertaining and unforeseen, finals of the year, Matt Wilkinson has taken the win at the Outerknown Fiji Pro over rookie Connor O’Leary.
It was a stunning day in tropical paradise, with 6 – 8 foot sets rolling through the reef at Cloudbreak – the sun was shining, the action was non-stop – and the result was almost fairy-tale-esque.
“We’ve had such an awesome week,” Wilko said, dripping in salt and excitement after the final horn blew. “It obviously started with some pumping waves, then we had some lay days – and if you’re going to have lay days, this is the place to do it! All the Aussies stay on Namotu and have such a good time, and now, this result! I’m so stoked!”
And so he should be. At the start of the event, Wilko was sitting fifth on the Jeep Leaderboard and was a whopping 8000 points behind yellow jersey leader John Florence – a leap that was almost unfathomable for one event.
Yet when John was knocked early and bowed out with a 13th (along with all the other World Title contenders) Wilko saw an opportunity and ran with it. Throughout each day of competition he was slated as one of, if not the most, in-form surfer at Cloudbreak. And with the help of his coach Glenn “Micro” Hall, he didn’t falter once.
“I actually forgot about the old yellow jersey change, but… it’s BACK! And I know there’s a long time to go in the season, but it definitely feels awesome picking up momentum, instead of having a bunch of people saying, ‘Ooh, you’ve got the yellow jersey to lose!’ Now I’ve got it to KEEP.”
Wilko had to put up a tough fight both throughout the event and in the final heat to get to where he is now. Earlier in the event Connor had no trouble taking down heavy-hitters like Joel Parkinson and 11x World Champion Kelly Slater, and he wasn’t about to give Wilko an easy ride through to becoming Champion.
It was turn-for-turn, barrel-for-barrel, wave-for-wave, first-to-second and then back again for the entire 35-minute final – and it wasn’t until the last four minutes that Wilko was able to snag the lead and, as the ocean went silent, keep it for good.
“Now, well… now I guess it’s time to go drink some beer!” Wilko says, almost laughing as he bends over from exhaustion, a huge grin on his face. “What else do you do when you win the OK Fiji Pro!?”
Congratulations on the win, Wilko… now go enjoy that yellow jersey! And the beer…
