Big names topple at the Roxy Pro…

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The Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast, Stop No. 1 of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), continued today with the women’s Semifinalists decided in clean three-to-four foot (1 - 1.2 metre) waves. With the conditions holding up all day, event officials decided to run through Rounds 2, 3, and the Quarterfinals. Now only four surfers remain in contention for the 2018 Roxy Pro Gold Coast title.

Keely Andrew of Australia advanced into Round 3 after winning Heat 5 of Round 2 at the Roxy Pro, Gold Coast, 2018.

In what was undoubtedly the upset of the entire event, six-time Roxy Pro Gold Coast event winner Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) was taken down by fellow Queenslander Keely Andrew (AUS). Six-time WSL Champion Gilmore looked in good touch throughout the day but fell victim to a slow ocean in Quarterfinal 4 waiting with priority until the final minutes, only to find a midrange score. Needing to improve her situation in the dying seconds, Andrew took off on a smaller wave and got to work, tagging it all the way down the point to post a 6-point ride and progress into the Semifinals. Gilmore finishes her home event in a respectable Equal 5th position.

“I’m a bit shocked right now,” Andrew said. “Surfing out here against Steph [Gilmore] at her home break was incredible. The waves looked fun all day, but it slowed down a lot in our Quarterfinal. I was so nervous because she only needed a small score, and I only found out that I’d won when I got back to the surfer’s area. I’ve worked really hard in the offseason and it feels so good to know that the hard work has paid off.”

2017 Roxy Pro Gold Coast runner-up Lakey Peterson (USA) was in ominous form today. The Californian posted excellent scores all the way to the Quarterfinals where she eventually eliminated reigning WSL Champion and current World No. 1, Tyler Wright (AUS). Peterson’s trademark frontside arcs sent a shot over the bow of her fellow competitors as she hunts for her first CT Victory since 2012.

“It’s crazy -- it’s only two days into the season and I’m into the Semis,” Peterson said. “We’ve had perfect, quintessential Snapper today with long perfect waves and sunshine. Tyler [Wright] is a two-time World Champion for a reason and she’s someone I look up to, but I always feel like I surf my best against the best. The only option I had to beat her was for me to surf my best, so I couldn’t hold back. There was nothing I could do to change her surfing, so I just focused on mine and it worked out in the end.”

After an injury-plagued 2017 season, Hawaii’s Malia Manuel comes into 2018 with the aim of involving herself heavily in the World Title conversation from the start of the season. The stylish natural-footer has already achieved this with an amazing display at Snapper Rocks. Manuel’s best performance came in Quarterfinal 2 where she posted one of the highest heat totals of the event, a 15.83 (out of a possible 20), to overcome three-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW), who leaves in Equal 5th place.

“I’ve met Carissa [Moore] in the Quarters a couple of times here in the past and she’s beaten me every single time,” Manuel said. “I remember some of those matchups and they were a bit slow and hard to choose what waves to take, but today we had so many waves and this is exactly what you want from your first event of the year. This will be my first Semi at Snapper and it’s a great start to the year for me. Hopefully, I can use this momentum as it’s a long year ahead.”

Current World No. 3 Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) looked destined to end up in the Semifinals as she tore through the field at Snapper Rocks. In Quarterfinal 3, she had the tough task of challenging 2018 CT Rookie Caroline Marks (USA) -- who had been taking down the big names all day -- with an impressive display of backhand surfing. Marks’ run came to an end at the hands of Fitzgibbons who was on fire, posting the highest heat total of the entire event, a 16.57 (out of a possible 20).

“It feels so good to be out there on a dreamy day like this,” Fitzgibbons said. “The waves have this perfect shape to them. I was out there in my own world enjoying surfing and I’ve found myself in the Semis. It’s been an exciting day to watch. There’s been a lot of excellent surfing and fins being thrown and I really enjoy the progressive side of the sport. I’ve been having so much fun in my freesurfs, and I’ve been trying to bring some of that into my heat surfing.”

Although Marks was unable to overcome Fitzgibbons, she finishes her first CT event as a rookie in Equal 5th after taking down some of surfing's biggest names including Sage Erickson (USA), Silvana Lima (BRA), and Gilmore.

“I think a few years ago, I would have been star-struck and not sure of what to do out there,” Marks said. “But now, even though they’re my idols, I really want to beat them and go and out and perform and win. Today wasn’t my day, but I just need to focus on the positives.”

Macy Callaghan (AUS) will surf in the Quarters after losing Heat 1 of Round 3 of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast at Snapper Rocks, QLD, Australia.

Event officials will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30 a.m. AEST for a potential 7:00 a.m. start.

Surfline, WSL forecast partner, is calling for:

Mid period, mid size E swell from former Cyclone Hola will likely build in through Tuesday. Confidence is increasing that a new low/tropical cyclone will set up larger ENE to E swell Wed-Thu, easing slowly into and over the weekend as the swell direction shifts more ESE/SE. Long range guidance points to more mid size ESE/SE swell around the last couple days of the event window.

Malia Manuel of Hawaii advanced into Round 3 after winning Heat 1 of Round 2 at the Roxy Pro, Gold Coast, 2018.

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 12.06 def. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 8.10
Heat 2: Caroline Marks (USA) 12.33 def. Sage Erickson (USA) 11.16
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.17 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 10.40
Heat 4: Lakey Peterson (USA) 14.17 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 8.80
Heat 5: Keely Andrew (AUS) 15.33 def. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 9.50
Heat 6: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.76 def. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 11.27

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) 16.26, Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.76, Macy Callaghan (AUS) 8.64
Heat 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 13.96, Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.04, Coco Ho (HAW) 11.86
Heat 3: Caroline Marks (USA) 14.17, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 13.40, Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.76
Heat 4: Keely Andrew (AUS) 14.97, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.16, Johanne Defay (FRA) 13.53

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Quarterfinal Results:
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) 15.23 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.67
Heat 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) 15.83 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.60
Heat 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.57 def. Caroline Marks (USA) 13.77
Heat 4: Keely Andrew (AUS) 11.87 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 10.83

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Semifinal Matchups:
Heat 1: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Malia Manuel (HAW)
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Keely Andrew (AUS)

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Matchups:
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Mikey Wright (AUS)
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Heat 3: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Michael February (ZAF)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Ian Gouveia (BRA)
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 6: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
Heat 7: Frederico Morais (PRT) vs, Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Heat 8: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 9: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)
Heat 10: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Yago Dora (BRA)
Heat 11: Joan Duru (FRA) vs. Tomas Hermes (BRA)
Heat 12: Jesse Mendes (BRA) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS)

Tatiana Weston-Webb of Hawaii lost Heat 1 of Round 2 at the Roxy Pro, Gold Coast, 2018.

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Quik and Roxy Pros kick off

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The opening day of the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast, Stop No. 1 of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), kicked off the new season with unpredictable drama, as big upsets shook the opening rounds of competition.

The world's best surfers charged the three-to-five foot (1 - 1.5 metre) conditions and challenging current at Snapper Rocks to complete Round 1 and set the stage for the upcoming, nail-biting Round 2 elimination heats.

Gabriel Medina (BRA), 2014 WSL Champion, earned the last position in his heat against compatriot Italo Ferreira (BRA) and event wildcard Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) after a dramatic interference call in Round 1 Heat 5. Medina’s wave, which would have been an excellent-range score and potentially the heat winner, was disqualified due to the interference penalty on Fioravanti. Brazilian threat Ferreira was able to lock in a solid 7.33 (out of a possible 10) and 6.93 to take advantage of Medina’s setback and advance through to Round 3. Fioravanti and Medina will need to surf again in elimination Round 2 to avoid the dreaded last place result.

“That was a pretty crazy heat, but I just tried to do my job out there,” Ferreira said. “I’m really excited to start off with a heat win. I’ve been training really hard over the offseason and am feeling really confident. Last year was tough for me, so I really want to improve my seed and have a big season.”

2018 CT Rookie Griffin Colapinto (USA) upset the competition today by taking down current World No. 1 John John Florence (HAW) in Round 1 Heat 6. Today marked Florence’s first Round 1 loss since the 2016 MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, ending his run of 12-straight Round 1 CT wins. Colapinto escaped out of a challenging tube to earn the winning ride, a 7.67. Florence will be relegated to elimination Round 2 along with event wildcard Mikey Wright (AUS), who was not able to find the waves to challenge the rookie.

“I knew that Mikey [Wright] was going to paddle deep to get the inside, then John John [Florence] did too, luckily for me they both fell on their first waves and when mine came through it was a good one,” Colapinto said. “It feels really good to get the Round 1 win over those guys in my first event, but I’m trying not to hype it up. At the end of the day, it’s only Round 1 and I have goals of getting some big results this year so I don’t want to get ahead of myself.”

Owen Wright (AUS) is off to a strong start to defend his Quiksilver Pro event title after his win in the opening heat of Round 1 against Caio Ibelli (BRA) and Ezekiel Lau (HAW). Wright scoured the lineup to find the only two mid-range scores in the heat to advance straight through to Round 3.

“Because this is the first heat of the year and the first heat of the day, you build it up in your head,” said Wright. “But sometimes you end up just grinding the heat out, as the waves were not there. I am feeling great. Last year, my health was on the rise and I am taking the confidence from last year into this season. A win is a win, and I am happy to move through.”

2017 World No. 3 Julian Wilson (AUS) has had an up-and-down start to 2018 after injuring his shoulder in a motorbike accident in late January, then just over a week ago welcoming his first child into the world with his wife Ashley. The Sunshine Coaster started his 2018 competitive campaign with a Round 1 win over Joan Duru (FRA) and Ian Gouveia (BRA).

“I had my first surf since the injury only three days ago,” Wilson said. “It still hurts and I’ve got to dig deep to push through the pain, but I’ve got a great crew around me and I know it’s only going to get better. Being out of the water has reconnected me with my love of surfing and I’m in a good place. I drove down from the Sunshine Coast at 3:30 a.m. this morning, I’ve just had a baby girl, Olivia, and I wanted to spend as much time as possible with her and my wife Ashley. Luckily I won and now I can drive back up to see my girls. After an injury and focusing on having a baby, I’ve never come into to this event with no pressure and nothing to lose, which is a nice feeling, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of the week goes.”

Jordy Smith (ZAF), current World No. 4, put together a solid result to win his Round 1 heat against Americans Conner Coffin and Patrick Gudauskas. Smith, 2017 World Title contender, has made his intentions known that he is after a big result here at Snapper Rocks to kick off his 2018 Title campaign.

“I’m excited for a fresh start to the year,” Smith said. “This is such a great location to kick off the year, and although the waves are a little tough today, I’m excited to for the season ahead and want to keep motivating myself to surf and enjoy doing what I do. My major focus this year is a World Title. I’m going to keep knocking on that door but will just take it one event at a time.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), who announced his retirement from CT competition earlier this month, took a win in the last heat of the men’s opening round. Fanning faced off in a two-man heat against Brazilian rookie Jesse Mendes, after 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) did not paddle out due to injury. Fanning battled a wave-starved heat and a ripping current but was able to progress with a couple of mid-range scores. Slater’s absence places him into elimination Round 2, where he will come up against Keanu Asing (HAW).

“The crowd was incredible,” Fanning said “In years gone past, I might have tried to block it out, but sitting and surfing out there I really tried to soak it in. I just want to thank everyone for coming down. It would be awesome to win here, but I’m not aiming to win the event for myself. I want to go out and put on a show and perform as a way to thank my family, friends and fans for all the support for all these years.”

2012 WSL Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS) fell to fellow CT veteran Jeremy Flores (FRA) in Heat 9. Parkinson was on the cusp of advancing through but missed the win by just two points on his last attempt.

Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 2017 event runner-up and 2016 event winner, was relegated to elimination Round 2 today after losing to CT veteran Michel Bourez (PYF) and rookie Michael Rodrigues (BRA) in Heat 2. Bourez found two strong scores, a 6.17 and 7.00, to skip the next elimination round.

Unlike Colapinto, rookies Yago Dora (BRA), Willian Cardoso (BRA), Tomas Hermes (BRA), Wade Carmichael (AUS), Rodrigues, and Mendes were not able to win their Round 1 heats and will surf again in Round 2.

Following the men’s competition, the women completed Round 1 of the Roxy Pro where action continued with dramatic exchanges and heated competition to jumpstart the year.

Three-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) set the bar in her first heat of the year with the highest combined of the day, an excellent 16.16 (out of a possible 20). Toward the end of the heat, Moore and compatriot Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) had a close-encounter where Weston-Webb surfed the same wave just as Moore came out of a deep barrel by utilizing her priority. Unfortunately, Weston-Webb’s efforts only resulted in a 2-point ride whereas Moore captured an authoritative 8.83 and the win.

“I was keeping my expectations low as all day it has looked tough out there so I was really surprised to post an excellent heat total,” Moore said. “That barrel that I got was so open and hollow. I could see her [Tatiana Weston-Webb] paddling for it and knew I had to get out and then get out of the way. When I did come out, I didn’t know if they would score it so when they did I was stoked.”

In an unexpected turn of events, Macy Callaghan (AUS) -- injury replacement for Courtney Conlogue (USA) -- defeated six-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in Round 1 Heat 4. Callaghan’s performance not only earned her the ability to skip Round 2 but also enabled her to showcase what is to come in the next generation of surfers. 2017 Rookie of the Year Bronte Macaulay (AUS) did not find the scores against Callaghan either and will also surf again when competition gets back underway.

“Steph (Gilmore) is my biggest inspiration, so it was cool to come up against her, but I was definitely really nervous,” Callaghan said. “I really want to qualify for the Championship Tour full-time next year, so I have been training a lot and dialing in my boards, so I feel super prepared. It was a slow heat for waves, so I was really lucky to get that early one and post a solid score.”

Tyler Wright (AUS), defending WSL Champion, powered through her Round 1 heat to earn an early win over Malia Manuel (HAW) and event wildcard Bianca Buitendag (ZAF). The current World No. 1 first captured the lead with a 4.50 and locked in the win with a 5.67 backup ride.

“I don’t know if I missed all the good waves, but from where I was sitting it was really tricky out there,” Wright said. “My goals are basically the same: Win every heat, Final and World Title. It was my first real preseason working with my coach Glenn Hall and we worked on fitness, which helped out there because there was a lot of paddling. It’s good to start the year. Hopefully, I can find a few better scores in the next round.”

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), current World No. 3, blitzed through Heat 5 after gaining early control over Silvana Lima (BRA) and Paige Hareb (NZL). Fitzgibbons’ sharp surfing earned her two 6-point rides for her first heat win of the season. The Australian, who has yet to earn a win at Snapper Rocks, is ready to do battle in her next matchup.

Fresh of a recent Qualifying Series 6,000 event win in Newcastle, Hawaii’s Coco Ho (HAW) carried her form into her opening round heat on the Gold Coast, where she came up against Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) and Sage Erickson (USA). Ho was lucky to find a long, open Snapper wall to post a 6.00 point ride in a heat where quality waves were scarce. She ended the matchup with a total of 9.93 and progresses into Round 3.

Johanne Defay (FRA) will also advance to Round 3 after defeating 2017 event runner-up Lakey Peterson (USA) and 2018 CT Rookie Caroline Marks (USA). Defay narrowly edged out the Californian by 1.03 points to capture the first women’s heat win of the 2018 CT season. Peterson and Marks will be sent to elimination Round 2, where they will fight to stay in the draw.

Event officials will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30 a.m. AEST to make the next call for a potential 7:00 a.m. start.

Surfline, WSL forecast partner, is calling for:

SE tradeswell eases Monday with lighter wind expected. Mid period, mid size E swell from former Cyclone Hola will likely build in through Tuesday, with light wind possible in the morning. A separate low may set up larger ENE to E swell around Wed-Thu, although we’re lower confidence on the details at this point.

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 9.90, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 5.20, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 4.57
Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.17, Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 11.26, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.67
Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.66, Conner Coffin (USA) 10.10, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 7.64
Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.60, Joan Duru (FRA) 11.30, Ian Gouveia (BRA) 7.27
Heat 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.26, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 8.44, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 6.05
Heat 6: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.50, John John Florence (HAW) 7.50, Mikey Wright (AUS) 2.00
Heat 7: Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.63, Keanu Asing (HAW) 7.83, Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 5.60
Heat 8: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.30, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 8.67, Willian Cardoso (BRA) 8.07
Heat 9: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.24, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 9.94, Yago Dora (BRA) 6.86
Heat 10: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.56, Frederico Morais (PRT) 9.00, Tomas Hermes (BRA) 5.50
Heat 11: Connor O’Leary (AUS) 13.16, Wade Carmichael (AUS) 7.63, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 7.46
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.60, Jesse Mendes (BRA) 9.80, Kelly Slater (USA) 0.00

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast Round 2 Matchups:
Heat 1:John John Florence (HAW) vs. Mikey Wright (AUS)
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Heat 3: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Ian Gouveia (BRA)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
Heat 6: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 8: Frederico Morais (PRT) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)
Heat 9: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Yago Dora (BRA)
Heat 10: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Tomas Hermes (BRA)
Heat 11: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS)
Heat 12: Joan Duru (FRA) vs. Jesse Mendes (BRA)

Roxy Pro Gold Coast Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Johanne Defay (FRA) 12.53, Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.50, Caroline Marks (USA) 9.70
Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.16, Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 10.50, Keely Andrew (AUS) 9.87
Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.17, Malia Manuel (HAW) 8.60, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 7.90
Heat 4: Macy Callaghan (AUS) 11.84, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 6.50, Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 1.27
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.77, Paige Hareb (NZL) 8.93, Silvana Lima (BRA) 3.63
Heat 6: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Sage Erickson (USA), Coco

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Terrain

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‘TERRAIN’ is the first solo show from Jack Whitefield, a British-born photographer raised in St Ives,
Cornwall.

Whitefield’s work can be considered banal, so rooted in the everyday that it seems disconnected from our idea of reality. While Whitefield’s pictures were made using a film camera and traditional printing techniques, his approach to his subject matter is far from traditional. Inspired by The New Topographics, one cannot help but consider Whitefield an outsider to his subject matter.

‘A cracked window on to the American dream, put a wedge in the crack you might split the whole dream in half.’ Whitefield picks up on these fractures, the sound of broken glass sandwiched between tarmac and a stiletto. He is led there by the light that pours in between the cracks, the nature that always finds a way to retake control.
Crushed Cans. Crushed Dreams. If the prevailing atmosphere is of disillusion, then it is not without hope, with the end of a dream comes a renewed engagement with reality.

Golborne Gallery is open Thursday - Saturday, 11am - 6pm / Sunday 12 - 4pm Admission is free

For Further information, please contact [email protected]
Golborne Gallery
72 Golborne Road
London
W10 5PS
www.golbornegallery.com

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A Trip to the Savage Land

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Van tires roll off the pavement a few miles from the coast of mainland Mexico. Modern civilization has long been abandoned, as the search for a rumored beach break begins. The crew drives in on a black sandy trail, passing rundown houses, overgrown palms, and stone-faced Federales, making way through the landscape. They are eager and loose as the whisper of the waves grows closer, summoning a restless edge that calls for a more primal self.

Each day starts before sunrise. They drink instant coffee and put together daypacks for the two-mile trek towards the beach. Once the jet-skis are in the water, the sessions begin. Hollow, shore-breaking barrels continue as long as the sun is up, creating a platform for stylish and powerful surfing. Evenings are spent eating locally caught fish and drinking beer from beat-up glass bottles.

The need for a trip like this will never go away. Advocates find a fix in these desolate landscapes, feeding off of the raw energy and uncertain safety net that new territory brings. Perspective is gained in a simpler place, as the ongoing search for the Savageland carries on.

Visit trunks.rvca.com to view their latest Trunks collection.

Video by Blaine Suque, song: Built in Sun by G Night

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Newmibia..?!

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New Jersey has been a bit good recently. As has anywhere from Nova Scotia to the Caribbean that's been getting the energy from winter storm Riley. Not jealous. Nope. Not us. Not at all...

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Ten women that rock the surfing world

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OK so it ended up a bit more than ten, and there are lots more we could have added, but on International Womens day these strong independent women deserve a shout out.


Maya
No ego, great presence, funny, talkative... practically died twice surfing massive waves and went back for more...Surfs because she loves it.


Rochelle Ballard
I watched Rochelle fighting for womens rights on the beach at a ASP world tour event when they wanted to send the women in one foot slop, mainly because they were women. She absolutely gave it to the head judge. Womens surfing owes a lot to her and her crew. They cut a swathe through chauvinism, and she rode one of what is still one of the best barrels ever during a womens comp at Fiji.


Lauren Hill
Graceful, skillfull, outspoken, funny, surfer, feminist and mum.


The SurfGirl magazine team
Got to add the girls in the office... Well it’s either that or earache for the arvo... just joking...
Founded in 2002 to give women in surfing coverage and a voice SurfGirl is now 16 years old. In a male dominated world where a lot of fashion brands do not take woman in sport or their love of the lifestyle seriously, it has been and continues to be a fight, but the all women team at the magazine has developed a community of over 670,000 followers, and a magazine with a core of global subscribers and newsstand presence from the UK to USA, Australia, Portugal and beyond.

Paige Alms of Hawaii wins the women's 2017 wsl peahi challenge

All the women at the Pe'ahi challenge.
After the men had the best of the conditions and made big wave surfing history it was interesting to see how the women would fair... They did not disappoint. Equal places for women in the WSL Big Wave tour events please. It is 2018 after all...
Paige Alms, Keala, Justine Dupont, Bianca Valenti, Andrea Moller and Felicity Palmateer we salute you.

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