Looking back through the View From a Blue Moon archives, John John’s film guys found this session of John, Bruce, and Koa from 2013 filmed entirely underwater.
Music Credit Waves by Bahamas
Cinematography: @parallelsea / Erik Knutson
You might have seen this trip in the mag back in the summer. Then the film appeared, just for a weekend, and vanished again. Thankfully you can now dive in to Mick and Mase scoring hard in Indo.
Get yourself a comfy seat and watch "Red Monkey, Full Moon."
Sometimes it’s good to look back to see how far you’ve come, with John John out due to injury he's got time to reflect on his journey so far, but it's not over yet, see you in 2020 John John.
Featuring highlight moments from the films they have put out over the years. Titles include Done, Begin Again, Again & Again, Enjoy, View From a Blue Moon, Twelve & Space. Hit play and pull in with one of the best.
Ruben Brinsmead In his own words, “I don't have social media, I live right near Snapper Rocks but never surf there, I've never surfed a comp in my life (outside of boardriders - it’s an Aussie thing), never had a sticker on my board, I've never drank, never done drugs, and I love God. And despite all this, I somehow have mates, haha!
Legend, Ruben we salute you.
Two weeks spent in Krui, South Sumatra, surfing Amy's, Honeysmacks, and Ujong Bocur. Hit play.
While a summer flat spell has kept most surfers in Spain and Southwest France out of the water, Basque surfer Aritz Aranburu was fortunate enough to unleash some of his powerful trademark hacks in between countless barrels at Wavegarden's demo center in the Basque mountainside.
Just last week reporters from El País - one of Spain's most prominent newspapers - visited Wavegarden HQ's on a content gathering mission for a video they are making about Wavegarden. Their crew of photographers & cameramen were keen to see how the local hero would perform on the waves at his local surfspot... and they weren't disappointed. "I just love riding the barrel and it's great to get so many in one session", said Aritz.
A test pilot since 2009, Aritz has witnessed the full evolution of the company. "I still get surprised every time I surf here. The team at Wavegarden really listen to the feedback provided by the surfers and we can see the results; the technology just keeps getting better."
Padang Padang, Bali, Indonesia (Tuesday, July 23, 2019): Benji Brand received a personal invitation from Mick Fanning to compete in the 2019 Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang. And on the best day of the year thus far at The Balinese Pipeline, Brand did not disappoint.
In grinding six-to-eight foot Padang Padang barrels, the rapidly ascending 23-year-old South African who cut his teeth growing up on the North Shore of Oahu, topped a field of 16 of the world’s best tube riders with an electric all-day performance to claim the Cup.
“I was so surprised when I heard that Mick had invited me to compete in this event,” said Brand. “I’ve watched so many of my heroes compete out here in past years. To be recognized by them is the best prize. The all-day Padang barrels with only a couple friends out doesn’t hurt too.”
With under four minutes remaining in the Final, Brand was sitting in second place behind Clay Marzo (HAW) and needing an 8.84. Brand clawed to the bottom of the thickest wave of the day and sealed the deal with a double spitter across the reef for a 9.67. In the end, Brand was hoisted to victory in front of a raucous crowd, followed by Marzo in second place, former WSL World No. 1 Matt Wilkinson (AUS) in third place, and the lone local Indonesian surfer to reach the Final, Raditya Rondi (IDN), in fourth.
It was validation for Brand, who may have still been an underground name to some surfing fans, but not to three-time WSL World Champion Mick Fanning, who was given the honor of inviting the four surfers he most wanted to see compete in the Ultimate Tuberiding Contest.
“Benji is a kid who is an incredible tube rider,” Fanning said when he announced his selection of Brand. “I’d love to see him at Padang taking it to the boys.”
Taking it to the boys is exactly what Brand did. On his run to the title, Brand scored countless amazingly deep tubes, including a 9.67 and 9.50, the two highest wave scores on the day. At the outset, Brand and Marzo looked like the surfers to beat in the event. Brand dominated the morning heats, winning both his Round 1 and 2 heats and posting the highest combined heat total of the opening two rounds. Marzo meanwhile put together a spectacular performance, capping off multiple deep frontside drainers, including an insane layback in which he did a full horizontal limbo lean on his back foot, pointed up to the sky, and somehow emerged from a deep the spitting inside bowl, amazing the massive crowd on hand at Padang Padang and watching on the webcast.
“This was my second time surfing in the Rip Curl Cup at Padang,” Marzo said, who also reached the Finals in 2016 and place fourth. “I don’t do contests, but I always hope I can get an invitation to return to this event. I can’t tell you how much fun we all had out there today.”
It certainly was another epic showcase for the Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang, including eight incredible barrel rides scoring in the excellent 9-point range. It was an iconic performance by the brotherhood of the world’s elite barrel riders – a brotherhood Benji Brand is now undoubtedly a member of.
“Today was a dream come true,” Brand said, after being chaired up the beach by his good friends from his adopted North Shore home. “The swell was still pumping on dark. Let’s do it again tomorrow!”
2019 Rip Curl Cup Final Results:
1. Benji Brand (ZAF) 17.94
2. Clay Marzo (HAW) 17.10
3. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 16.16
4. Raditya Rondi (IND) 12.17
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.
