In this episode of Happily Stoked Sebastian Zietz and Friends hit South Africa during the WSL stop of J-BAY, kicking it off with a week of rippable conditions before an epic swell hits and lines up the world class walls of Jeffrey’s Bay.
In the section segment of the clip Seabass, John John and Shaun Thomson enjoy the comp only running 5 heats on the Final Day and surf there brains out making the most of the epic conditions before, between and after heats on the best day of the trip by far.
On April 19, in the closing days of the WSL event at Bells, big wave prodigy Russell Bierke got totalled 2km off shore, in 18-foot surf. Knocked unconscious by his board he was saved by the quick actions of his buddies and a fast drive back to shore on a sled. By A Thread is an epic edit of Russ’s first day back in the water after coming out of intensive care. It’s obvious by how hard he surfs and how deep he gets that the accident hasn’t dampened his will to charge.
It was 15-18 on the outer wedge off Bells and Russ and his buddies, with a days worth of roaring pits, called last wave. Russ remembers paddling for the second wave of a set then he’s blank after that. He briefly recalls the moments back on shore, with an oxygen mask on his face and puking liters of salt water.
Story goes, as told by his buddy Ben and Kelly Slater who was also out, that Russ pulled in, got pitted but didn’t come out of the end section. Russ had had his chin drilled through the 5 layers of 6-ounce glass of his 9’8”, leaving a hole that Russ would later describe as looking like someone had taken a baseball bat to his ride and knocked Russ out cold, tethered to the world above the water only by his leash.
He was down there for two waves before Ryan Hipwood saw his board tombstoning and called in his buddy Ben to haul him out. Luckily, a local had a jetski and sled out there, which Ben hauled him onto and with Hippo driving and Kelly holding Russ on the sled hammered it back to the harbour.
After a few days on a ventilator in intensive care with lungs full of water Russ was back out but it would be a few weeks before he was in the water again. By a Thread records his first day back in the water on a bombie far out to sea. Fast and heavy with vert drops it was the sort of baptism of fire that suits Russ and a good medicine to blow away any jitters left from the accident. “This sort of thing can happen in any size conditions,” said Russ of the accident. “I just need to take it as a freak accident”.
Taking backhand drops, his trailing hand locked on the rail and his knee dropped to stall. Soon after he was nailing a medley of beastly lefthanders. It’s official, Russ is back and raring for a second pop at Red Bull Cape Fear.
Check out Russell Bierke’s first day back in the water after an 18-footer drove his chin through 5 layers of 6-ounce glass and nearly totalled him. Russ is back and going deeper and steeper than ever in this edit, By A Thread! “This sort of thing can happen in any size conditions,” said Russ. “I just need to take it as a freak accident”.
Check out Russ Bierke’s first day back in the water after his near death bail in By a Thread. Smashed through 5 layers of 6-ounce glass on his 9’8”, Russ was pulled out the water unconscious and ended up in intensive care with lungs full of water. By The Thread’s medley of elevator drops, backside barrels, and heavy slabs proves that he’s back, with the Red Bull Cape Fear in his sights.
Globally reowned lifestyle brand Quiksilver and sister brand Roxy are excited to announce they’ll be partnering the widely renowned Surf & Music Festival, Boardmasters for 2017. They’ll be bringing even more stoke to the South West by merging their surf heritage with contemporary radness and outdoor festival vibes!
Quiksilver has been bringing the stoke since 1969, supporting all boardriders and world-class athletes across a global playground; from the sea to the mountains. Joining forces with Boardmasters aligns with Quiksilver’s surf roots but emphasises the brands grittier edge – beach parties, influential music and having a rad time with friends. Quiksilver’s ‘Originals’ collection has been developed into a contemporary range with attitude, to take you from day to night. Quiksilver will be retailing a range of kit on site at Fistral beach so attendees will be able to pick up some new festival threads. Open from 10am – 7pm everyday!
Roxy has grown up! The first and exclusively female global action sports brand, has been empowering female pioneers since 1990 and continues to do so with their popular #ROXYFITNESS lifestyle; aspirational yet inclusive. This year the global #ROXYFITNESS tour will be stopping at Boardmasters for a weekend of sea-view yoga sessions alongside the brands’ inspiring ambassadors, the multi-talented Justine Mauvin and Lee Anne Curren. Festival attendees will be able to grab their morning zen at ‘The View’ stage against it’s calming backdrop and all participants will get a free Roxy towel. Crowds will be able to hang out with the team in Boardmasters Wellbeing area at Watergate Bay in a custom tepee, and browse their way through the latest collection.
“We’re super stoked to be supporting Boardmasters. The festival’s attendees embrace everything that these rejuvenated brands stand for from fun waves, epic live music to morning yoga sessions. It’s the perfect alignment!
Edward Martin
Marketing Manager for Quiksilver & Roxy UK + Ireland
In between music acts, attendees should head down to Fistral beach to watch the Men’s Quiksilver Open and Women’s Roxy Open surf competitions in Cornwall’s surfing captial. Being part of the World Surf League (WSL) qualifying series guarantees an array of travelling international surfers as well as the best British surfers, all looking to qualify for the World Championship Tour – catch Roxy UK rider Emily Currie in the line-up too!
While there have been great advances in new eco friendly neoprenes for wetsuits, and great recycling projects we have a massive problem; we are still dumping too much neoprene into landfill.
Ask any surfer how many wetsuits they have. Most will say they have two. Then ask how many old wetsuits they have; most have four or five all sat unwanted, in a cupboard, spare room or garage waiting for the day they go to landfill.
It isn’t good enough, and we – surfers, brands and manufacturers need to address the problem.
In a new initiative #WetsuitsFromWetsuits Finisterre in partnership with Exeter University’s centre of excellence for Materials Reengineering – are offering a full-time job for a Wetsuit Recycler in support of the brand’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Whilst there are initiatives that exist around the down-cycling of old wetsuits, yoga mats and beer koozies fall short of producing a real solution. The neoprene is non biodegradable and will still end up in landfill at some point in its lifetime.
The new programme will look into cutting edge material science to try to find solutions to try and bring an industrial sale change.
“There have been some great advances in eco wetsuits and the search for alternatives to petroleum based neoprene, but the real elephant in the room for the watersports industry is what to do with a wetsuit at the end of its functional life.” says Tom Kay, Finisterre founder
“It’s a massive, global problem that we need to address; in this day and age there has to be a solution, and this is what we’re committed to finding. In the UK alone, surfers are replacing their suits on average every two years, with no real idea what to do with their old suits.”
This is equivalent to more than thirty of London’s double decker buses worth of wetsuits being discarded every year. That’s 380 tonnes of non-biodegradable chemical-based waste, each and every year.
In a bid to address this, Finisterre are recruiting a full-time Wetsuit Recycler. Supported by Professor Oana Ghita from Exeter University, and with the potential to bring positive change on a massive scale, the position is open to anybody; the ultimate aim being to make wetsuits from wetsuits.
“This is a genuinely pioneering positon and success is not guaranteed. We are looking for somebody with an inquisitive mind who can challenge the status quo, whilst being supported by a leading scientific institution. It’s a very exciting opportunity, bringing together innovation and sustainability, with the aim of addressing a huge environmental problem.”
It is full time two year contract with over £50,000 being invested. With an initial challenge to make wetsuit from wetsuits the main target is to find a solution and join the dots to make a closed loop system addressing the currently huge environmental issue of what to do with wetsuits at their end of their functional life.
The aim is to develop a fully recycled and recyclable wetsuit, investigating options for materials, manufacturing and recycling processes, carrying out in depth materials and industry analysis, developing new testing techniques and investigating remanufacturing and circular economy concepts.
Want in? More info here
The Position
Materials Scientist | Wetsuit Recycling
Together, Finisterre and Exeter University are recruiting a Materials Scientist to support the work of University Professor Oana Ghita, and Finisterre, specifically focussing on the recycling of wetsuits. This is a full-time fixed-term 2 year Knowledge Transfer Partnership, with the ultimate goal being to ‘make wetsuits from wetsuits’. It requires a new way of looking at the manufacture of wetsuits and will contribute to a closed loop process, thereby addressing the currently huge environmental issue of what to do with wetsuits at their end of their functional life.
Working within the Finisterre team and under the guidance of leading materials Professor Oana Ghita, the aim is to develop a fully recycled and recyclable wetsuit, investigating options for materials, manufacturing and recycling processes, carrying out in depth materials and industry analysis, developing new testing techniques and investigating remanufacturing and circular economy concepts. The post is based in St. Agnes, Cornwall within Finisterre’s Workshop.
This exciting role will shape the future of wetsuit design and the successful applicant will need to be passionate and committed with a willingness to challenge the status quo. The position will give you the chance to develop a wide skill base covering design, manufacturing, product development and its commercial application. It is an exciting opportunity bridging the gap between research and business at the frontline of materials research within the surfing industry, working in a brand that is known for its innovative approach to product design.
Application closing date: 17/08/2017
To find out more and apply visit
Finisterre.com/wetsuits-from-wetsuits
WORLD CLASS SURFERS CONFIRMED FOR UK’S LARGEST INTERNATIONAL SURF COMPETITION
EDOUARD DELPERO ⬥ TOM BUTLER ⬥ LUKE DILLON ⬥ ⬥ LUCY CAMPBELL ⬥ JOBE HARRISS ⬥ STANLEY NORMAN ⬥ ALAN STOKES ⬥ LEE ANN CURREN ⬥ JUSTINE DUPONT ⬥ PEONY KNIGHT ⬥ EMILIEN FLEURY ⬥ ADAM GRIFFITHS ⬥ ANTOINE DELPERO ⬥ BEN SKINNER ⬥ EMILY CURRIE ⬥
AND MORE CONFIRMED TO COMPETE
Boardmasters and the World Surf League (WSL) have once again confirmed a competitor line up of the highest-calibre for Boardmasters 2017 including the Quiksilver Men’s, Roxy Women’s Qualifying Series (QS1000) and the Jeep WSL Men’s and Women’s Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS1,000). These exhilarating events take place at the UK’s surf mecca, Fistral Beach, Cornwall from Wednesday 9 – Sunday 13 August.
As stop #29 on the WSL international qualifying series tour the cream of the crop, elite athletes will cascade upon Fistral Beach reaffirming Boardmasters as the UK’s premier Surf Competition. Record numbers of fans, family and friends are expected to watch all the sporting action unfold. Boardmasters Fistral Beach site is open to the public, there is no ticket necessary so festivalgoers and locals are free to come down and take in all the competition has to offer. Don’t miss out on this chance to catch world-class surfing up close at one of Britain’s most exceptional beaches.
Boardmasters is delighted to welcome back Angelo Bonomelli, who nearly took the coveted Boardmasters title last year in the Quiksilver Men’s Open. Huge home names and visiting international stars will battle it out for the top spot, the formidable Edouard Delpero will be laying it on the line, as well as exciting wildcard entries from Boardmasters AmbassadorLuke Dillon who’s consistently impressed at the prestigious competition. The bright rising star Jobe Harriss and highly decoratedbig wave rider Tom Butler will be looking to push UK surfing to the highest level, as well as the fearless young newcomer Stanley Norman.
Moving over to the exceedingly competitive Roxy Women’s Open category, the UK’s top female pros are set to give fans a thrilling battle out on the waves as Boardmasters confirms entries from UK #1 ranked Peony Knight and Boardmasters Ambassador Lucy Campbell. Renownedtop French rider Justine Dupont will be looking to capitalise on her incredible agility and skill, while Lee Ann Curren will be on double duty, competing at the highest level as well as performing at the legendary Day Sessions on Fistral Beach.
The Jeep Men’s Longboard category will see reigning champion Edouard Delpero return to Fistral Beach defending his outstanding 2016 win. The French favourite showed sublime poise and exceptional skill narrowly beating his brother and then world #1 Antoine Delpero for the title. Antoine has lost no momentum and is bound to light up the competition with electric performances. The category is set to be tightly contested with Cornish local heroes and world class competitors Ben Skinner and Adam Griffiths making their bid for the title.
Boardmasters is stoked to welcome back Alice Lemoigne after two back to back wins in the Jeep Women’s Longboard (LQS1000) division. Hot on her heels will be 2016 runner up Rachael Tilly looking to triumph and craft-master Justine Dupont battling it out for the top spot.British prospects Emily Currie and Fistral Beach’s own Jenny Briant will also be vying for the all-important win.
Boardmasters International Surf Competition 2016 Champions were: Men’s Open - Shane Campbell (AUS) Women’s Open - Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) Men’s Longboard - Edouard Delpero (FRA) Women’s Longboard - Alice Lemoigne (REU)
Inspired by the freedom, adventure and creativity of surfing and music, Boardmasters was born in 1981. Expect parties that run late into the night and a beautiful beach to recuperate on during the day. The 5-day event is situated across two stunning locations in Cornwall - the surfing mecca of the UK, Fistral Beach, where world class International Surf Competitions take place, and arguably the most stunning location in the country to watch live music, Watergate Bay. Last year the grassroots surf and music festival welcomed over 150,000 festival goers to sunny Cornwall. Book your tickets now! Website link.
Ticket Information:
Watergate Bay tickets on sale NOW
Boardmasters operates a tiered ticket system with price bands for tickets changing over time. Book tickets now to guarantee the best price!
All tickets on sale now (Charger ticket includes bus pass, parking, VIP camping, Beach Session gigs, After Parties, Boardmasters t-shirt and tote bag)
In this amazingly shot clip Basque hell-men Natxo Gonzalez & Indar Unanue (@indar) travel to Ireland to face the coldest, darkest and thickest waves of their lives.
Starring Natxo Gonzalez, Indar Unanue, Patrick Wilson, Tom Lowe, Will Skudin and Conor Maquire
Additional footage by Chris McClean and Clem McInerney.
