Work In Progress – Hugo Prins

Work In Progress – Hugo Prins

Hugo Prins, 13 years old from Hossegor, France, surfing some fun waves between the beach breaks of Hossegor and the Perfect Swell in Waco, Texas.

Engrained – Brett Burcher

Engrained – Brett Burcher

 

Documented over 18 months, Engrained is the brainchild and passion project of cinematographer Darcy Ward and myself. Artistically captured, the 21-minute film is a visual feast tied together with underlying narration, with the aim of taking the viewer on a journey to each picturesque landscape as we slowly return home to familiar waters.  The concept for Engrained evolved off the back of Eye Sea, a short film Darcy and I created together in 2015.

Darcy and I have been good mates and worked closely together for five years and what began as a simple back and forth of ideas, eventually grew into something we set our minds too bringing alive. We began filming and let the ideas, narrative and locations naturally evolve and come together as we set about chasing the waves and experiences we wanted to pursue. 

Our main objective for the development of Engrained was to combine and portray our passions, Darcy’s ‘filmmaking’ and my ‘writing’, through our love for the ocean and all things that are engrained into it. We wanted to invite the audience to perhaps reflect on their relationship, or deeper understanding with or about the ocean, a particular location or anything at all they are passionate about. Writing the text for the narration instilled an emotional connection and doubled as a representation of the underlying beauty and appreciation we both have for the locations and experiences attached to each trip. 

The film was entirely planned, written, created and produced by Darcy and myself. The whole process of the movie took over 18 months, filming, sourcing the narrators, finding the perfect music and piecing it all together. The text for each section was written during or after every trip to try and capture the essence of what we had just experienced or were feeling at that particular moment.  We had financial support from my sponsors Ocean and Earth,  Globe and Brunotti, but the majority of what you see is self-funded. Once we had all the content and a shared vision for the film, Darcy packed up shop from Queensland and lived at my place on the south coast for six months. He had the creative eye to tie it all together seamlessly and the narrators and music we sourced just moulded to the visuals and feel of the movie so well.  

Engrained – it was more about taking the viewer on a symbolic journey and combining our favourite locations with our favourite surfers and bringing attention to the hidden depth that lies beyond the visuals. 

Locations visited in the film are Ireland, Scotland, Tasmania (Shipsterns), The Australian Outback and the East Coast of Aus. Featured surfers are Brett Burcher, Russ Bierke, Sean Mawson, Louie Hynd, Elliot Marshall, Paul Morgan, Nath Bartlett, Khy Hoole and Glen McDonald. 

Music By Woodes, Marrie Sioux, Bad Dreems, Sammy Smith, Bored Nothing. 

Contributing filmers- Darcy Ward- @darcywardvisuals, Talon Clemow- @onepalmedia, Lewis Arnold- @lasurfpics, Simon Punch- @simonpunchphoto, Vincent Schaap- @vincentschaap, Andrew Kaineder- @Kaineder, Simon Treweek- @treeksea, Ryan Craig- @chachfiles, Chris Zinon- @zinon_, Stu Gibson- @stugibson, Dave Fox- @foxinsocks

Brett at Shippies. Photo Talon Clemow.

Scottish slab. Photo Lewis Arnold.

Burch by Chris Zinon.

Image Darcy Ward.

Image Darcy Ward.

Image Darcy Ward.

Image Darcy Ward.

Image Darcy Ward.

Louie Hynd. Image Darcy Ward.

Russ Bierke by Andrew Kaineder.

Image Stu Gibson.

VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

Huntington Beach, California, USA, October 27, 2019 - After a special Opening Ceremony on Saturday, the world's best junior surfers from 44 nations kicked off the competition at the 2019 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship presented by Visit Huntington Beach.

All divisions took to the water, displaying their elite level of talent in challenging, wind-blown conditions on the south side of Huntington Beach Pier.

Team South Africa's Luke Thompson was the top performer of Sunday with the highest heat total and wave score among all divisions with two waves of 8.67 and 6.83 to total 15.50 in the Boys U-16.

Hawaii's Gabriela Bryan asserted herself as an early medal contender in the Girls U-18 Division, navigating the choppy conditions to earn the highest heat total of the day among the girls with 14.16.

Bryan's teammate, Savanna Stone, took the top-wave honors for the girls with a single score of 8 points.

Spain's duo of Iker Amatriain and Yago Dominguez were the standouts in the Boys U-18 Division, earning the top two heat totals in the division with 13.70 and 13.27, respectively.

Team Spain also excelled in the Girls U-16 Division, with Janire González earning the highest total with 8.77 points.

The past Gold Medalists in the event that took to the water all performed well. Japan's Keanu Kamiyama and Joh Azuchi, USA's Alyssa Spencer, and Germany's Rachel Presti all advanced into the second round of the Main Event.

USA's Girl's U-16 defending World Champion Caitlin Simmers will take to the water for the first time on Monday.

The two surfers that have a foot in the door to Tokyo 2020 with provisional qualification, Japan's Shino Matsuda and Peru's Daniella Rosas, both got their campaigns for their first ISA Junior Gold Medals off to a strong start with heat wins.

Thanks to the double elimination Repechage format, no surfers have been eliminated in the event. Athletes that lost in their Main Event heats today will get a second chance to advance when the Repehchage Rounds hit the water.

15-year-old Member of Team Panama and Vissla team rider, Isauro Elizondo, advanced in first place through his heat and spoke about his experience at the event.

"I've been competing in this event for five years now and it's always an honor to represent my country," said Elizondo.

"ISA does a great job with bringing everyone together in peace, surfers from all over the world.

"By being surrounded by so many countries and cultures, I have learned it's important to be respectful. You don't know what you have in common with other people or cultures, so it's important to show that respect."

13-year-old ISA Scholarship ambassador, Rachel Agüero from Costa Rica, expressed her excitement to compete in her first VISSLA ISA World Juniors.

"I am super happy to represent Costa Rica for my first time internationally. It's an honor and incredible to give it all for my country.

"I have already learned so much here in California, from how to improve my surfing to how to get along with people that don't speak the same language as you. We still try to communicate which is super cool.

"My goal is to do my best and give it 100% from the first heat to my last."

ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:

"It's great to see the world's best juniors back at it again this year in Huntington Beach.

"There are many familiar faces, including past Gold Medalists and even athletes that have qualified for Tokyo 2020, but there is a host of new athletes looking to succeed on the sport's highest stage.

"Hidden among the more than 300 surfers are future Olympians, World Champions, and legends of the sport. It's a treat to watch them develop and grow into the future generation of our sport."

The official Surfline forecast is calling for increased swell from the south and northwest on Monday, which combined with offshore conditions in the morning should make for an excellent canvass for the world's best juniors to perform.

The 2019 VISSLA ISA World Junior Surfing Championship is broadcast live until November 3 on isasurf.org. 

FORWARD, TO PAST.

FORWARD, TO PAST.

Forward, To Past. is a gorgeous short film shot by Dave Fox and edited by Dion Agius about Dion and Craig’s adventures through New Zealand while sessioning on the Holy Grail model. Artsy, groovy, with a poignant sense of pure-fun, Forward, To Past. is Dion Agius’s latest directorial project.

Introducing Luke Swanson!

Introducing Luke Swanson!

Introducing Rip Curl's latest explosive junior talent, Luke Swanson! Enjoy his debut video-edit featuring the high-flying sensation launching airs all over his home turf of Oahu's, North Shore. Luke's been groomed on the peaks of Rocky Point, which perfectly suit his mixed bag of talents above the lip and in the tube.