Two weeks. Nearly 1000 entries. And so many air reverses.
With the high-profile final to be held at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch, kids from around the world entered the 2018 #YGSurfContest with high hopes and chlorine dreams. So, how did Quiksilver choose who moves on to the next round? Their judges — Kanoa Igarashi and Leonardo Fioravanti — picked four kids each.
Kanoa went with Sammy Pupo, Kian Martin, Callum Robson and Noah Beschen. Leonardo Fioravanti chose Mateus Herdy, Jett Schilling, Marco Mignot and Justin Becret. The eight of them wave six different flags — Brazil, USA, Hawaii, France, Australia and Sweden.
In the second stage you get your say. Only four of them will make it to the final at the Surf Ranch. And the public will decide who it’s going to be.
Here’s how it works:
From June 25 – July 2, we’ll be dedicating a day to each of the semifinalists on our Instagram story. Each dedicated post will feature a poll, which will enable you to vote to send a Young Gun to the final. (Note: the poll will feature two options, but both options will count as a “yes” vote — there is no such thing as a “no” vote in this contest.) After every Young Gun has been featured, the three with the highest number of votes will go to the Ranch along with a fourth wildcard selected by Leo and Kanoa.
Jay Davies (AUS)
Jack Freestone (AUS)
Mason Ho (HAW)
Damien Hobgood (USA)
Gearoid McDaid (IRL)
WAIT… WHAT?!
Yes, I missed it first time too…
One of Irelands favourite surfing sons is off to a premier league surfing event. It is huge news in the Emerald isle and everyone who knows G Man, or not, is super stoked for him…
G Man is pretty well known in the UK and Eire, likeable young chap from Sligo, accomplished tube rider spending much time in slabbing pits from Bundoran to County Clare, a=wtia few runners in between. He is, I think it is fair to say, Irelands best performance surfer, and he recently grabbed rope to face the big stuff with Conor Maguire.
Better get a few words from the man of the moment..
So you are the first Irish man to be picked for a world class tuberiding event. The most important questions is… Going from an Irish summer, how are you going to deal with the sun?
Ha ha ya it’s going to be pretty tough over there for me not to get sun burnt. I will have plenty of sun cream packed! Been a pretty fun summer over here for waves but still gonna be pretty nice to surf over there be a bit better!
How did you find out you were invited and what were your initial thoughts?
I was kind of talking to Rip Curl about it for the last couple of months but when I found out I was so frothing. I’ve always wanted to get into this comp. It’s a perfect left, my favourite thing ha ha. So ya, I am pretty excited to go to Bali next week and it’ll hopefully be pumping!
The lads at home are obviously all freaking out? You get a lot of support hey..
Ya everyone over here is super happy for me / pretty jealous. Ha ha. I’ve a big support from everyone here when I go to comps which is super nice. I’m always getting messages about heats makes me feel good to be Irish.
So how do you feel when you read the list and it basically goes.. “Damien Hobgood, Gearoid, Bruno Santos… That’s some call there…
The invite list is next level. I kinda read it and feel like my name doesn’t fit. I mean all these huge names and me! But hopefully i can prove myself over here and get some sick ones and show everyone what I can do
Have you screen grabbed the invite list and printed out? You should…
Ha ha Not yet but ya I probably will could be the biggest thing I’ll ever do!
What’s the plan now? Do you wait for a swell and then book your flight or do you jump on a plane right away and camp out in Indo?
I’m actually going next Thursday. I’m going to be there for the whole waiting period which is sick. So psyched to go chill in Bali, surf everyday in boardies and have a good time while waiting for hopefully and epic swell!
RIP CURL CUP PADANG PADANG 2018 EVENT SCHEDULE:
Event Waiting Period
July 1st – 31st
Rip Curl Planet Beach Cleanup
Friday, June 29th at 8 AM, Padang Padang Beach, Bali
Opening Ceremony
Sunday, July 1st at 3 PM, Padang Padang Beach, Bali
1. Meet the surfers
2. Press conference
3. Traditional Balinese Kecak Dance
Keramas delivered. Uluwatu did not disappoint. And now the world’s best surfers return to Bali’s world-class waves for the third time in 2018 for the highly anticipated Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang.
Surf fans around the world are counting down the days as the WSL and Rip Curl prepares to bring this one-of-a-kind invitational tuberiding event to a global audience for a third straight year.
Sixteen of the world’s top tube masters – eight of Indonesia’s finest and eight of the world’s best barrel riders – are ready to take over the show from the CT’s Top 34. And there is no greater show on surf than when the Indian Ocean delivers at Padang Padang.
“The Rip Curl Cup is always such an epic time of year here in Bali,” said James Hendy, Rip Curl SEA’s Marketing Manager. “The waves are firing, the vibes are high and the competition is bigger and better than ever.”
“WSL are extremely excited for this year’s Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang,” said Will Hayden-Smith, WSL Australia/Oceania Regional Manager. “There’s something really special about events like the Rip Curl Cup that only run when mother nature produces that one special day of waves, and we see who is at their best when the ocean is at its best. We will get to see a crop of the best tuberiders from around the globe take on Indonesia’s finest at one of the world’s most mystical waves.”
With less than two weeks before the start of the event holding period, Rip Curl has officially announced the 16 surfers invited to compete in the Rip Curl Cup 2018, set to run on the best day of waves at Padang Padang between July 1st – 31st.
Among the world’s best barrel riders preparing to push the limits of tuberiding in pursuit of the prestigious title are former WCT performers turned barrel hunters Jack Freestone (AUS) and Damien Hobgood (USA), as well as Tube Tour kamikazes like Mason Ho (HAW), Jay Davies (AUS) and Jack Robinson (AUS). Among the national surfing heroes representing Indonesia are defending Rip Curl Cup Champion Mega Semadhi, Indonesian surfing ambassador and 2014 Rip Curl Cup Champion Garut Widiarta, and two-time Indonesian Champion Lee Wilson.
According to James Hendy, an invite to compete in the Rip Curl Cup isn’t about tour points, big-name sponsorships, or number of followers on social media. The sole criteria to get a shot at the Cup is performing at the highest level on the heaviest swells of the year at the planet’s most hollow waves.
“You have to have a proven track record in world-class tubes and waves of consequence, whether it be in boots and a 6mm wetsuit or in boardshorts at a mysto Indo reef,” Hendy went on to say. “That means fans get to see renegade tube masters like Mason Ho, Jack Robinson, Jay Davies and Damo Hobgood face off against the underground legends that own their local slab on the best day of the year.”
Following are the 16 surfers invited to compete for the 2018 Rip Curl Cup:
International Surfers:
Jay Davies (AUS)
Jack Freestone (AUS)
Mason Ho (HAW)
Damien Hobgood (USA)
Gearoid McDaid (IRL)
Bruno Santos (BRA)
Jack Robinson (AUS)
Jacob Willcox (AUS)
Indonesian Surfers:
Bol Adi Putra
Mega Artana
Mustofa Jeksen
Alik Rudiarta
Mega Semadhi
Agus “Blacky” Setiawan
Garut Widiarta
Lee Wilson
RIP CURL CUP PADANG PADANG 2018 EVENT SCHEDULE:
Event Waiting Period
July 1st – 31st
Rip Curl Planet Beach Cleanup
Friday, June 29th at 8 AM, Padang Padang Beach, Bali
Opening Ceremony
Sunday, July 1st at 3 PM, Padang Padang Beach, Bali
1. Meet the surfers
2. Press conference
3. Traditional Balinese Kecak Dance
Official Rip Curl Cup Party
Friday, July 27th
Live performance by special guest at Ulu Cliff House
The Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2018 is sponsored by: GoPro, BINTANG, ALBENS CIDER, S RESORT HIDDEN VALLEY, ULUWATU CLIFF HOUSE and official internet provider by BIZNET.
“I’ve only been shooting with Coby for a year and he’s gotten way better in that time. Coby is pushing himself more, surfing with Chippa Wilson and Dion Agius and doing trips really elevated his level of surfing. He’s probably the most motivated guy I shoot with” – Dan Scott.
Swansea’s only independent cinema, Cinema & Co., have announced a drive-in outdoor screening taking place at sunset on 21st July, 2018 at Rhossili Bay carpark on the Gower peninsula.
The event will be the first of its kind in South Wales and will feature the Welsh premiere of Andy Irons: Kissed by God, a documentary about American pro surfer Andy Irons.
The evening will showcase surf culture and champion local independent businesses. There will be Welsh craft beer, street food, surf-wear, board makers and a unique opportunity for local filmmakers and surf photographers to exhibit their work.
The event is an opportunity to fundraise for the National Trust and Surfability UK, and to show the positive impact of surfing for everyone involved.
Anna Redfern, owner of Cinema & Co. said: “I’m really excited to be hosting such a unique cinematic experience in such a picturesque setting, and to be able to raise money for two worth while causes at the same time”, Anna said.
Ben Clifford, Director of Surfability UK CIC, said: “The drive in Cinema will be a fundraiser for Surfability UK CIC to help us provide surfing experiences for disabled people in our community.
“Andy Irons was an amazing athlete. He had a radical life which shone through in his surfing.
“He had no first gear – just flat out all the time. It was great to watch but a hard thing to sustain and I’m really excited to see the film about his life and couldn’t think of a better place to watch it than Rhossili”, Ben Clifford said.
General Manager of Mid & South East Wales National Trust, Paul Boland said: “We are really pleased to help Cinema & Co. with this screening. The National Trust land at Rhossili must be one of the best backdrops for a surfing film”, Paul Boland said.
Tickets start from £14 per person which allows you entry to the venue, admission to the screening of ‘Andy Irons: Kissed By God’ and a wide range of entertainment.
Do you like surfing, five star resorts, travel and surf coaching? If so this is for you. Tropic Surf are a fantastic team that run luxury surf coaching in five star plus resorts.
They are recruiting customer-serviced couples who can attend their annual training and assessment intake at Four Seasons Kuda Huraa Maldives this September. This is exciting concept allows couples to create their own destiny and enjoy many of the lifestyle and financial benefits that a Tropicsurf career can offer.
This could be your coffee break…
Currently boasting a team of more than forty surf guides and coaches, Team Turtle is on the hunt for more high calibre, self-starting surfers to live the dream at one of their many idyllic five-star locations. Think Cloudbreak at Six Senses Fiji Resort, Zippers at One&Only Palmilla, Occy’s Left at Nihiwatu Sumba, Sultans at Gili Lankanfushi, Witches Rock at Four Seasons Costa Rica. You get the drill. Some of the necessary personal criteria include:
– Extensive surf coaching experience for at least one person in the couple
– Physical strength and fitness incorporating an ability to complete lifeguarding qualifications and handle oneself in larger surf
– Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, self starting capabilities, humbleness, business acumen, passion across a diverse range of surfing pursuits
– A proven ability to work away from home for extended periods, an eagerness to serve others, and a love of surfing.
Please note that it is not a requirement for couples to both be surfers. Whilst it is advantageous, typically the non-surfing applicant must demonstrate good administration skills and outstanding customer assistance commensurate with a five-star service environment.
Interested? Send a written expression of interest, and surfing stills or video to [email protected]
