Happy days watching swells* to global saviour. Been a busy weekend!
You have probably all seen the news now – over 100 countries thrown into crisis by a ransomeware hack, NHS Trusts shutting down computer systems. Global telecommunications businesses are hit, Russian banks, you name it. It was carnage, an unprecedented cyber apocalypse. Well a 22-year old surfer from North Devon solved a problem the KGB, FBI and the rest of the world couldn’t.
We aren’t going name him, save for his Twitter handle of @MalWareTech, as it would add to his current woes of journalists camping out in his garden, tracking down friends and such. The man is busy trying save the world!
The only details you need for now is that he loves surfing, pizza (media making massive deal about this so I dare say he’s got a free table for life at Pizza Express? Huh?) and judging by his tweets he’s pretty funny.
For those surfers GCSEs etc it’s also interesting to note he is also self taught “I’m not a graduate,” he told one reporter. “I had planned to go to university but ended up getting offered a job in security a year prior, so I took it. I’m completely self-taught so in hindsight university would probably not have been worth the time or money.”
None of his friends actually knew what he did for a living/hobby.
So hats off to @MalWareTech . Hopefully someone will throw him a surf trip and some gear as reward. Going to be interesting to see where his life goes from here…
We shall leave you with some funny tweets describing his developing situation…
*The original twitter shot was RT from Luke Gartside
After dropping a teaser earlier in the week here’s the new Wavegarden concept unveiled. 1000 waves an hour is the claim. Which, and this is the key for wave pools actually being feasible, means they can up the punter/wave count to a level which current models have struggled with. Looks interesting for sure. Especially if you live in Bristol, London or Edinburgh…
HERE’S THE OFFICIAL BLURB:
Imagine a surf spot far from the ocean, with a variety of amazing “peaks” where surfers can safely catch as many waves as they can handle. This vision is now a reality thanks to the Cove, a new generation surf facility which generates up to 1000 high-quality waves per hour, from mellow knee-high rides to powerful barrels reaching up to 2.4m.
In October 2016 we built a demo model at our R&D center in Spain that measures just 50m x 80m, proving that it’s possible to make a great surf spot in a small space. The Cove is designed to be economically profitable as a stand-alone facility, and can be up-scaled to produce left and right hand waves of just about any height and length.
“The high wave frequency of the Cove enables a high user capacity, which is essential for surfers wanting to catch lots of waves as well as for developers seeking to establish a sound business model,” explains Wavegarden’s Founder and CEO, Josema Odriozola. “The versatility of our technology means we can alter wave height, shape and power in an instant to match the experience level of all surfers. Also, wave frequency can be adjusted to cater precisely for the number of surfers in the water.”
Twenty of the world’s best surfers and coaches, along with numerous juniors and debutants, tested the Wavegarden Cove. “It has really, really exceeded any expectations I had, or thought were possible, for a man-made wave,” said Andy King, a surf coach for the Australian Institute of Sport. “There is different waves, more like the real ocean”, said Sebastian Zietz, pro surfer from Hawaii. “It’s the kind of barrel you dream of getting. I got 30, 60, 120 waves, maybe more… and I got barreled on everyone.”
The length of ride invariably depends on the Cove’s dimensions, but on average the wave-riding experience lasts between 15 and 20 seconds, which is considerably longer than at most popular ocean breaks. Much longer rides are possible in larger facilities.
The machinery of the Cove is modular, eschewing complicated hydraulic or pneumatic systems in favor of a smart and simple electro-mechanical design. Consequently, very little energy is lost in the transmission of forces, which keeps running costs at a minimum and makes the Cove the most energy-efficient technology on the market today.
With two Wavegarden facilities already open to the public (Surf Snowdonia in Wales and NLand in Texas) and with the construction of Cove projects starting soon in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Barcelona, Madrid, Costa del Sol, Edinburgh, Bristol, London, New York, Miami, Santiago and Marrakesh, this evolution epitomizes the Wavegarden ideology of sharing the exhilarating experience of surfing perfect waves with everyone, everywhere.
Patagonia global surf activist Dave Rastovich travels to Sri Lanka to learn more about where his boardshorts come from, who actually makes them and how Fair Trade helps them. Of course he finds a few waves along the way.
By ensuring safe working conditions and paying workers a direct premium for every product made, Fair Trade is an important first step to better the garment industry. It’s also a powerful tool to create new connections between members of the human family—and to acknowledge that every member of our family deserves to be treated with respect.
Hugo Prins, 11 years old from Seignosse France was lucky enough to change his hooded 53 Rip Curl Flashbomb, his gloves and boots for a pair of boardshorts during a number of trips over the last 6 months. Searching perfect waves took him to some of the most beautiful places on our planet.
Images were shot by Didier Piter Surfcoaching, Geni Larosa, photographer on the MV Addiction and Benjamin & Jean-Marc Boyer.
The Welsh National champs tool place over the weekend at Fresh West. Jay Quinn took out the Open event. Jay was 2013 NZ champ and 2001 world junior champion (smashing Bede Durbridge in the final.) Jay has Welsh heritage.
Jo Dennison won her fifth womens title. Seth Morris won both the under 18s and under 16 titles. Raise Gaskill won the Longboard open. Womens Longboard Champ is Hazel Illett.
Jay Quinn demonstrated why he’s a former World Junior Champion with a typically polished performance at the Billabong MiPost Welsh Nationals. Surfing at Freshwater West for the first time, Quinn soon got to grips with the ever changing line up with clean and stylish surfing throughout. Jay saved his best surfing for the final, with an inverted backside air reverse that shut the door on an outstanding performance by Rhys Poulton who’d made an exceptional start to the Open final. Quinn who’d been enjoying time with his Welsh relatives prior to the event, was delighted to arrive in Pembroke to a clean 3 to 4ft swell which ended a lengthy flat spell. Within moments of the 25 minute final Poulton smashed a left to earn an 8.5, which he backed up quickly with a 5.5. Fellow finalists Adam Jenkins and Stephen Phillips had shown throughout the event they weren’t to be ignored, but struggled to match the early pace, the pair soon finding themselves chasing huge scores. Quinn soon dropped an 8 point left, thanks to some good old fashioned square off the bottom, vertical off the top backhand whacks. He quickly switched from old school to new school, pulling a backside air 180 to score an 8.7, that left Swansea’s Poulton chasing a near perfect score that never came. The Open final concluded 3 days of action held at Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire, once again blessed with great waves and fantastic surfing.
In the Women’s Open Jo Dennison was equally convincing, her power and precision perfected over two years of training at the Wave Garden of Surf Snowdonia ensured she regained the title she was unable to defend last year. Whilst her duck diving may have been a little rusty her surfing was far from it. Her speed and attack was too much for Emily Williams, Niamh Mathias and Ffion Hughes to match on this occasion. The judges score cards recording excellent scores of 9’s and 8’s. Take note all you competition surfers, wave pool training works!
Seth Morris also enjoyed a superb weekend as he was crowned U18 and U16 champion. It wasn’t easy for Seth as he faced strong opposition from Cieran Hughes, Jo Morris and Jack Mathias. However young Seth found himself in great rhythm with his stylish eye catching surfing and quick fitting turns ensuring he left the beach with two titles.
Ffion Hughes demonstrated her class in the Under 18 girls, dropping a 9-point backhand right within moments of the Final’s start. Niamh Mathias fought hard to catch her up, but Ffion soon shut the door with another high scoring ride that now leaves her the undoubted queen of girls surfing in Wales.
Ejay Cogger successfully defended his Under 14 title with another solid performance, the ever improving Cogger surely one to watch in the coming years, reigned again despite spirited performances from fellow young rippers Rudder Rava, Eli Perrin Davies and Luke Barfield.
Eli Perrin Davies became Under 12 boys champion, the Ogmore youngster has been turning heads with his surfing for sometime and now has his first Welsh title. Eli is hoping for a strong future in Welsh surfing. His boundless energy, enthusiasm for surfing and a family that holds three generations of surfers, should stand him in good stead!
Anna Jenkins was awarded the best young girls performer after seeing off the challenge of older sister Mia and friend Isabelle Vaughan. All the girls were competing for the first time at the Nationals.
Mark Vaughan completed a double in the Masters and Grand Masters thanks to the extra weight in his turns. In the Kahuna and Grand Kahuna Jamie Bateman and Colin Bright confirmed their titles in convincing fashion. Bateman’s surfing is still on par with the best of the Open, the lines he draws are clean and stylish with a front side wrap that’s the envy of his peers. Brighty meanwhile, must have like, 4 trillion trophies by now; if ever there’s a national gold shortage, Colin’s your man with the reserves!
Raife Gaskell and Hazel Ilett once again defended their Longboard titles impressively, a mix of modern and old school logging ensured they left the beach with plenty of goodies courtesy of Billabong and yet more trophies to place in the cabinet. These two are a firm fixture on the Welsh Nationals podium and show no sign of going anywhere soon!
Jack Mathias was awarded the Paul Ryder award by local ripper and all round nice guy Harry Cromwell. Jack has been representing Pembrokeshire for some time on the contest scene. He’s a determined competitor and richly deserved this great honour.
Billabong Mi Post Welsh nationals results
Open
1 Jay Quin
2 Rhys Poulton
3 Adam Jenkins
4 Stephen Phillips
Women
1 Joanne Denison
2 Emily Williams
3 Niamh Matthias
4 Ffion Hughes
Under 18
1 Seth Morris
2 Cieran Hughes
3 Jo Morris
4 Jack Mathias
U12
1 – Eli Perrin Davies
2 – Sol Williams
3 – Thomas Khan
4 – Blake Jones
U14
1 – Ejay Cogger
2 – Rudder Rava
3 – Eli Perrin Davies
4 – Luke Barfield
U16
1 – Seth Morris
2 – Jo Morris
3 – Jack Mathias
4 – Rudder Rava
U18 Boys
1 – Seth Morris
2 – Cieran Hughes
3 – Jo Morris
4 – Jack Mathias
5 – Rhys Evans
