Simon Williams aka Swilly is hosting a charity event to raise funds for the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve.
Taking place on Thursday 17th March 2016 at Rainbow Bay Surf Life Saving Club from 6:30pm, we will be be raising money for this fantastic cause with live music featuring superstar guests, door prizes and auction items.
The main items for auction are 10 autographed premium aluminium prints of world famous surfers Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Stephanie Gilmore, Rasta, Bede Durbidge, Dingo plus other legend pro-surfers. Bids are now open for these prints on the silent auction website www.galabid.com/swilly and will be displayed at the Rainbow Bay
Surf Club from the 1st of March.
This event also coincides with the launch of Simons new website and online store swilly.com.au which makes his prints available for sale online for the first time in his career.
The Northcore’s latest product launch adds a little fun into a functional mix, it’s called the Grass Changing Mat.
This heavy duty water resistant polyester changing mat has been lined with 6mm of artificial grass which acts as a barrier to cold or hard ground when getting changed outdoors. The bag folds out into a flat 1m diameter changing mat for standing on while changing, with pull up drawstrings to cinch the mat together to create a bag with handles for storing and carrying your wet kit and neatly packing it away. The artificial grass can be kept clean of sand etc with a simple brush down after use and the whole changing mat can hand washed with wetsuit shampoo and hung out to dry.
Northcore founder said of the new grass mat “The time of year we get the most swell on the North Sea is also the time when the beach and car parks tend to freeze up so a little extra protection beneath the feet when getting changed seemed like a good idea! The grass mat is a fun product but there are very practical reasons for adding the artificial grass layer. The thickness of the grass mat means that your feet don’t chill when standing on it plus its a substantial barrier against sharp stones and cold ground when changing. It’s also a year round product as the artificial grass layer is perfect for wiping feet clean of sand, so less sand in shoes and in the car!”
Large numbers of surfers, swimmers and water sports enthusiasts suffer from ear problems associated with excessive exposure to the elements. Ear infections and the dreaded “surfers ear” is a condition on the rise with increasing numbers seeking medical attention and ear surgery.
SurfEars 2.0® is a revolutionary new product developed by a team of professional product designers and dedicated surfers from Sweden. SurfEars recognised that the critical difference between SurfEars and other earplug products is they not only protect ears from water, cold air, and contaminants but also maximize sound and subsequent balance essential for most water and board sports. Many of the earplugs on the market today block out sound, therefore large numbers of surfers choose to go without plugs. SurfEars was designed to keep the water out but also let the sound in, to enable users to stay connected to the environment.
HOW IT WORKS:
SurfEars are designed with an acoustic mesh that can be found in high end audio applications, blocking out water and protecting the ear while allowing the maximum amount of sound to enter the ear canal. The mesh is connected to a plastic core designed to replicate the natural resonance frequency of the ear and boosting acoustic performance. Independent tests show that SurfEars have close to zero acoustic loss in the frequency range of human speech.
Surf Ears have been redesigned so you’ll be able to hear even better. Inverting the fixation between gel and core, we’ve managed to increase the area of the sound channel by 72%, while the triangular shape of the opening has increased surface area by 32%. The result is noticeably improved hearing.
NOTABLE IMPROVEMENTS:
• SurfEars 2.0 comes with an optional leash, adjustable to fit snugly around your neck. No more lost plugs, period.
• Studying the anatomy of the outer ear we’ve managed to increase the number of contact points, ensuring even better fixation.
• There’s also a new and improved hydrophobic coating, HY+, which increases water repellency even further, ensuring that your plugs stay unclogged longer.
• SurfEars 2.0 features a redesigned sealing gel which improves water seal, fit and comfort. Shorter intrusion depth to accommodate for people with severe surfer’s ear.
The release of SurfEars 2.0 coincides with the recent signing of 2 x World Champion Tom Carroll as its Global Ambassador.
“Finally after a long painful period of avoidance my left ear was surgically cleared of exostosis (surfer’s ear). “Surf Ears” couldn’t have come at a better time in my life. THANK YOU!!”
News in from the WSL: Mick will do Snapper and Bells and then take the year off. After last year’s happenings it’s no surprise. Enjoy the time off champ. Come back firing in 2017…
Press release from WSL:
Mick Fanning (AUS), 3x WSL Champion and 2015 World Runner-Up, today announced that he is viewing 2016 as a ‘personal year’ in which he will take time off from full-time competition.
The Australian sporting icon endured an intense 2015 in which he was thrust into the international spotlight following an on-air battle with a Great White Shark during July’s J-Bay Open. Despite the incident, Fanning rallied to battle for the WSL Title throughout the back half of the season, pushing the race to the final event of the year. Suffering the tragic and unexpected loss of older brother Peter during the event window, Fanning’s performance at Pipeline was emotionally charged, but ultimately short of the world surfing crown.
“Last year was definitely intense – what happened at J-Bay, being in a title race and the unfortunate passing of my brother,” Fanning said. “There was so much build up with everything happening. I got to a point at the end of the year where I felt empty. I didn’t feel like I had much to give back.”
“This year, I’m going to take some time off and have a bit of a personal year,” Fanning continued. “Just to regroup and re-stoke the fire. At this stage, I’m going to compete at Snapper and I’m going to compete at Bells and then I’m going to take some time off from there. They (Snapper and Bells) are two events that I love and I’d go crazy if I were sitting at home and couldn’t go surf Snapper. Bells is like a second home as well. From then on, I feel like I have to take some time away from the tour to get out of that sort of zone to see where my head is at.”
The decision to surf in select events in 2016 came after lengthy discussion with family, friends, sponsors and the WSL.
“When I first came to this decision, I rang up Kieren (Perrow) and Paul Speaker and gave them an idea of what I was thinking and seeing if it was okay with them,” Fanning said. “Between those two and the whole WSL being supportive, it’s been really incredible. Even last year, with all the things happening, they were the first people that would reach out to support and make sure everything was okay. I’m really thankful that they’re giving me this opportunity to be selective with events and see where I’m at.”
“I’ve been fortunate enough to work with a lot of accomplished people across a variety of mediums and Mick Fanning is certainly one of the most inspiring,” Paul Speaker, WSL CEO, said. “His class and character, even in the face of multiple scenarios that would undo most people, are tremendous. He is a truly special person and we’re here to support him in whatever way we can.”
The shark incident at Jeffreys Bay in July became a top international news story, vaulting Fanning into a level of public recognition never before seen in the sport. While his 2016 season remains in flux, Fanning has indicated plans to return to Jeffreys Bay this year.
“I want to go back to J-Bay,” Fanning said. “I feel like there’s something there that I want to go and face. I want to make sure that I scratch that off the list. I think the main thing will be that first surf. I probably won’t be getting up at dark and getting out there before the sun gets up anymore. I think it’s more about jumping in and surfing once or twice and then I’ll be fine. It’s the same thing as when I came back and surfed Snapper for the first time. You’re a little bit wary and it’s in the back of your mind, but you get to a point where you start to feel comfortable again. If I go and do that event, there are going to be a lot of eyes on me. A lot of people will be seeing what reaction I’ll have. I don’t think I’ll be paddling out early for heats, but I think after a surf or two, I’ll feel fine.”
A 15-year veteran of the elite WSL Championship Tour, Fanning has amassed an impressive 21 event wins and three world titles.
“Mick Fanning is one of the most committed and inspiring figures our sport has been fortunate enough to have,” Kieren Perrow, WSL Commissioner, said. “He’s been up front and open about his feelings following the 2015 season and the Commissioner’s Office wholeheartedly supports him taking time for himself this year. We look forward to seeing him at the opening event on the Gold Coast and at select events throughout the year.”
The 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour will commence with the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro Gold Coast from March 10 – 21, 2016.
For more information, log onto WorldSurfLeague.com
The event saw Europe’s best and most exciting surfing talents come together for a celebration of surfing on the remote African island.
The event had eight days to find European champions from a field of 10 boys and 8 girls all under 16 years old. The champions of France, Spain, UK, Portugal, Italy and a special guest from Morocco were pitched together for a battle of the nations, with the winners earning a place at the World Finals in Hawaï next month.
The event was held over three days on the right hand point break of Punta Preta with a shifting peak and rock lined set up with 4 – 6 feet waves peeling across the bay. With the strong off shore trade winds relentlessly blowing, the swell stayed true and the competitors battled out with incredible bravery and passion.
The event showcased the emerging talents from all nations with stellar performances from all. Especially Italian Mattia Miggliorini and British surfer Elli Turner who progressed to the finals in true underdog fashion. Ultimately the well rounded and progressive surfing by the French duo Juliette Brice and Mathis Crozon separated them from the rest of the field and the European titles were awarded to them along with the tickets to the world finals.
The closing of the event draws to an end the European search and gives organisers a chance to reflect on an incredible and successful series of events. Rip Curl would like to thank all who have been a part of it, especially the team from Cape Verde and the local surfers for helping and sharing their beautiful island.
Rip Curl continue their global search for the best junior surfers in 2016 and kick off in France in the coming weeks with the first event from February 27th to 28th in Martinique (French Indies).
