The Electric Beach Festival is looking good for this weekend.
Summery weather and surf are forecast for this weekend’s Electric Beach Festival.
Now in its third year, the festival has been spread over two days with music and a surfy vibe. Headline sponsor O’Neill will be bringing their tour bus and running a surf competition alongside the festival.
Previous acts include De La Soul and Soul II Soul, and this year sees a headline slot for hip hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash. Other acts confirmed include Zion Train, Sam and the Womp and Lloyd Yates.
Festival organiser Ben Hall from Live Music Connections said: “The festival has been in such strong demand that we thought we’d bump it up to a two day event and also provide camping facilities nearby.
“The festival will open at 1pm each day and continue until the sun sets. We’ll have about eight acts per day consisting of DJs, acoustic sets, and bands including Sam and The Womp.”
Cornish brewer Skinner’s is also making a special Electric Beach Ale for the event.
For more information and to buy tickets visit: electricbeachfestival.co.uk.
The O’Neill bus will be there too.
The bus carries a full Firewire demo fleet with 24 models for you to ride, a bus load of O’Neill wetsuits you can try PLUS there will also be pro coaching sessions for over 16s surfers, acoustic sessions, workshops, with onboard DJs and plenty of time in the water.
As well as the bus and live music the O’Neill Student Surf Masters is on with 30 clubs battling it out in this fun university surf contest with a difference. Info at http://icecreamsurf.co.uk
So get down to Watergate this weekend, there’s lots going on!
Protest take four of their best surfers, surf gear, an outstanding film crew, a van. Take the map, pin down and surf the best swells Europe has to offer. Whether it’s a remote, pristine location or a well-known spot; it’s the surf that counts.
Pin It is a video project about the best part of surfing: surfing.
The film crew will follow Protest riders on their ultimate road trip. You will feel the joy of freedom, the blissful moments of surfing, but also the struggles and inconveniences of a pro surfer’s life. By using the latest, state-of-the-art technologies, we will add a unique dimension to all our episodes.
Gabriel Medina reigned supreme and win the Fiji Pro, stop No. 5 of 11 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), in three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) surf at Cloudbreak. The win moves Medina back to the top of the ASP World Championship Tour Rankings after he defeated Hawaiians John John Florence and Freddy Patacchia as well as American Kolohe Andino on his way to the Final.
Gabriel Medina (BRA) won his second WCT event of the season, taking the win over 2013 Rookie of the Year Nat Young (USA) in a hard-fought final. The Brazilian got out of the gates first while Young waited 10 minutes before posting a score. Medina posted a near-perfect 9.87 for a series of barrel sections and sizzling snaps to extend his lead. Young fought back but Medina’s additional 8.53 left the American in need of two high scores for the win. Young was unable to break the combination, cementing Medina’s fourth career ASP WCT victory.
“It’s great to be back at the top of the ratings, it’s still early but I’m feeling good,” said Gabriel Medina. “I’ve never surfed at Jeffreys Bay before but I’m going home after this to prepare and I’ll be working hard. Nat (Young) is a great guy and that was a good Final against him. I was so nervous inside those barrels, I couldn’t see anything, but when I came out I was stoked. Thanks to the Namotu guys who were supporting me. Thanks to everyone in Fiji, I just love it here especially with a win.”
Nat Young (USA) posted his best result of the 2014 season today after finishing his third WCT Final as runner-up. He topped reigning three-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning on route to the Final but, despite being on excellent form throughout the competition, wasn’t able to find the scores he needed to surpass Medina for victory.
“Third final and third runner-up finish so that’s frustrating,” said Nat Young. “I felt good. My boards felt good and I waited for a good one to start the Final with. Unfortunately, I got a little out of rhythm and Gabriel (Medina) found waves with more opportunity. He’s been surfing really well so he was always going to be hard to beat, but I felt like I had it in me. Runner-up is a good finish, my best of the year, so hopefully it’s good for the momentum heading into J-Bay and Tahiti.”
Michel Bourez (PYF) was defeated in the first Semifinal by Nat Young (USA) and secures a third-place finish moving him to No. 2 in the rankings. Both surfers got on the board quickly grabbing average scores. The first major exchange unfolded just before the 15 minute mark, with the Tahitian taking 7.33 to Young’s 6.17. The Californian built momentum, navigating a technical tube ride finished with a big frontside carve for a 7.83 and the lead over Bourez with nine minutes remaining. Bourez waited patiently to find the wave needed to surpass Young, but was unable to top the Californian up-and-comer.
“I’m really disappointed with that because I made a mistake on my second to last wave,” said Michel Bourez. “Nat (Young) is one of the guys that I thought would get a good result out here. He’s amazing and he surfs so good and I’m super happy that he ended up making the Final. I’m so pleased that I made it to the Semifinals and got another good result.”
Kolohe Andino (USA) backed up his Billabong Rio Pro runner-up finish with an equal 3rd place in the Fiji Pro after facing eventual event winner Gabriel Medina (BRA) in the second Semifinal. Medina paddled deep and it paid off early as he nabbed a fast tube ride for an early lead. Andino answered back but with less than 10 minutes on the clock Medina found a quick tube for an excellent 9.07, leaving the American in an unattainable combination situation.
“It was a good event for me,” said Kolohe Andino. “Gabriel (Medina) kind of went nuts in our Semifinal and I needed better waves. That’s okay though, I’ve had two really good results back-to-back and I’m having a lot of fun. Next event is Jeffreys Bay and it hasn’t been a WCT event since I’ve been on tour so I’m really excited to surf it.”
The next stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour is the J Bay Open from July 10 – 21, 2014.
Semis decided;
Nat Young (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Kolohe Andino
Semifinalists were decided today at the Fiji Pro, stop No. 5 of 11 on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), in three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) surf at Cloudbreak. An action packed day of competition saw the field narrowed to just four of the world’s best surfers as the event ran through Rounds 3, 4 and 5 and the Quarterfinals. Top seeds went down as Round 5 saw Taj Burrow and Joel Parkinson eliminated from the Fiji Pro and the Quarterfinals ended with Mick Fanning and Kelly Slater being eliminated from competition.
Nat Young (USA) took on reigning three-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) for the second time today in Quarterfinal 1. Young kept busy throughout, picking off some medium sized waves to take the lead while Fanning waited until the 18-minute mark before posting any scores. The Californian extended his lead and Fanning tried to fight back, but was unable to the find the waves he needed. Young moves ahead to the Semifinals where he will face Michel Bourez (PYF).
“The goal is to win the Final but you’ve to take it heat-by-heat,” said Nat Young. “I’m stoked that I get to surf on the final day tomorrow in the Semifinals and I hope the waves will be fun.”
“Disappointing to go down before the Semifinals, but Nat (Young) has been in really impressive form all event,” said Mick Fanning. “I’ll take a Quarterfinals, but am really going to need to put some wins on the board soon to put myself back in the race. Jeffreys Bay next and I’m traditionally pretty strong through the back half of the season. Going to head home and work on the knee a bit before heading to South Africa. Thank you Fiji for another special year.”
Quarterfinal 2 saw one of the most anticipated heats of the day when 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) took on 2014 standout Michel Bourez (PYF). Bourez was the first to register a noteworthy score and back it up. Slater was left with low scores and swapped surfboards in the hopes of bridging the score gap. Last year’s Fiji Pro winner and current ASP World No. 1 was unable to find the scores needed and was eliminated with a 5th place finish. Bourez becomes only the fifth person ever to beat Slater in a man-on-man heat at Cloudbreak.
“Before I came here I was thinking that just to get to the Quarterfinals would be great,” said Michel Bourez. “I thought Kelly (Slater) would win and when I knew that I was going to surf against him I was really excited. To have a chance to surf against the best guy out here is a chance for me. It’s good to make the Semifinal, but to make the Final is even better. To win the Final is the goal and I’ve got two more heats to go.”
John John Florence (HAW) and Gabriel Medina (BRA) faced off in inconsistent conditions at Cloudbreak in the third Quarterfinal. The Hawaiian, who previously dispatched Taj Burrow in Round 5, got on the board first, connecting a series of backhand turns. Medina waited nearly 10 minutes to find his first ride but the Brazilian soon found his rhythm, adding a 7.37 to leave Florence searching for a score that never came. Medina secures himself a Semifinals berth where he will face American Kolohe Andino.
“I felt good and John John (Florence) is always a tough guy to beat,” said Gabriel Medina. “We’ve already had some good battles with each other and he’s one of my favorite surfers, so that felt good. It’s always good to be up there at the top of the ratings and this was a good result but I’m focused on my surfing and having fun.”
In one of the highest scoring heats of the day American Kolohe Andino took on Brazilian Adriano de Souza and the pair battled for a place in the Semifinals. Andino kept busy through the heat, taking 11 waves to de Souza’s four. His hard work paid off and Andino posted two nine-point rides leaving the Brazilian in need of a near-perfect 9.86 for the win. Despite taking down Joel Parkinson (AUS) in Round 5 de Souza couldn’t catch Andino and leaves the competition in equal 5th place while the American moves on to the Semifinals.
“Today was for sure the best I’ve ever surfed since I’ve been on Tour,” said Kolohe Andino. “I felt really calm which is good for me and I’m stoked. I’m still improving and my board change has really helped. I’m just taking it heat by heat and really enjoying myself out there so we’ll see what happens. I’m stoked that Nat (Young) is still in the draw because he’s my best friend on Tour.”
Fiji Pro Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.07 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 8.44
Heat 2: Nat Young (USA) 16.33 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 13.20
Heat 3: Michel Bourez (PYF) 18.70 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.57
Heat 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.70 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.43
Heat 5: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.16 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.93
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.33 def. Mitch Coleborn (AUS) 9.43
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.36 def. Glenn Hall (IRL) 9.60
Heat 8: John John Florence (HAW) 16.17 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 4.03
Heat 9: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.63 def. Freddy Patacchia Jr (HAW) 15.10
Heat 10: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 18.63 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.56
Heat 11: Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.07 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.60
Heat 12: Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.24 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 10.74
Fiji Pro Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Nat Young (USA) 13.83, Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.74, Michel Bourez (PYF) 6.13
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.00, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.77, Owen Wright (HAW)13.07
Heat 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.20, John John Florence (HAW) 10.93, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 9.83
Heat 4: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.27, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.14, Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.37
Fiji Pro Round 5 Results:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.90 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 14.86
Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.44 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 8.20
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW) 16.70 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.34
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.67 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.10
Fiji Pro Quarterfinal Results:
Quarterfinal 1: Nat Young (USA) 14.27 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 7.50
Quarterfinal 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.33 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 8.90
Quarterfinal 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.20 def. John John Florence (HAW) 6.34
Quarterfinal 4: Kolohe Andino (USA) 18.36 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 11.93
Fiji Pro Semifinal Match-ups:
Semifinal 1: Nat Young (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Semifinal 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
This week is Rip Current Awareness week. As surfers we are forever pulling tourists, swimmers, and beginners out of the water where ever we are in the world. If we all share this video, then all non surfing friends and visitors may be educated and we could save lives and ourselves some time.
