Behind the Shot … with Brent Bielmann
A rare look behind the curtain on the mysterious workings of one of the world’s best surf photographers: Brent Bielmann.
The Taj Burrow Selector
The noble steed that is Taj Burrow has bowed out from the world tour. Post-Fiji TB moves on to the next phase in his extraordinary life. It’s sure to feature a lot of waves and fun as that’s Taj. Few surfers have entertained and pushed things forward as much as Taj.
From the early days of his awesome profile video series, back in the glory days of VHS video tapes (ask your folks, they were like vinyl but with movies on) TB has been at the forefront of performance surfing and showcasing it innovative ways. With that in mind here’s a pile of Taj moments to lose yourselves in…
Peaky Blinders
Rhys Barfield fills his boots at Lakeys…
Chippa Takes The Nixon Surf Challenge in Ireland…
The 2016 edition of the Nixon Surf Challenge – in association with Monster Energy, Reef, Lomography and Jam Traction – wrapped after an unforgettable five days exploring the untamed beauty that is the west coast of Ireland.
After coming so close to getting the nod from his fellow surfers in Iceland four years ago, free surfer Chippa Wilson (AUS) claimed a maiden Nixon Surf Challenge title. Speaking after a trip-ending visit to the iconic Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Chippa said: “This is what it’s all about. To get that recognition from your peers after the best part of a week exploring the country and chasing waves feels more satisfying and fulfilling than any heat victory. What a trip!”
Five days earlier, Fergal Smith (IRL), Ireland’s first pro surfer, founder of Moy Hill Community Garden and Growing Farm and current Green Party candidate, welcomed everyone to his hometown of Lahinch in County Clare. There he invited his fellow surfers to get stuck in on the farm and share in the harvest.
“I was really happy Nixon chose to come to Ireland,” said Fergal. “It meant a lot having the guys here. I don’t get to see them as much as I used to since I made my decision to stop flying. We didn’t have loads of waves, but I really enjoyed showing them around, and we got to do a few other fun things. Getting everyone in the garden was amazing – I never thought I would see Sancho roll up his sleeves like that!”
From there, the Nixon Surf Challenge headed to the mythical Cliffs of Moher where everyone boarded a sailing boat for the day for a spot of dolphin spotting. With legendary big wave spot Aileen’s not exactly firing on command, it was time to hit the road in search of some much-needed waves during what turned out to be one of the warmest early summer weeks on record.
It was in and around the small, picturesque fishing town of Dingle in County Kerry – located on the southwest tip of Ireland – that the surfers got to satisfy their ever-present craving for waves. Blowing lightly offshore over crystal-clear emerald waters, the conditions served up heaps of fun bowls, lefts and rights and ramps for the likes of Charly Martin (GLP) and Chippa to air off. Marlon Lipke (POR/GER) put on a show with powerful combo carves, while Benjamin Sanches (FRA) tucked into a handful of fleeting barrels.
Despite being pushed all the way, particularly by Marc Lacomare (FRA) and Charly, it was clear that Chippa had earned his moment in the spotlight come the end of the trip. Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY), winner of the 2015 edition in Hainan, commented: “Chippa has that knack of making the impossible look effortless. He’s so technical, so good in the air, and his style is right up there – hats off to Chippa, nobody deserves it more.”
Henning Erlandsen, Nixon Surf Challenge event director rounded it all off, saying: “The beautiful thing about Ireland is its unpredictability – you never know which Ireland you’re going to score when you go there. That element of unpredictability lies at the core of the Nixon Surf Challenge, and the tropical weather combined with those unique surf spots and culture will live long in the memory of everyone lucky enough to experience this year’s adventure. Who knows where we’ll go next…”
#NixonSurfChallenge on Instagram
Attending surfers:
Chippa WILSON (AUS) – Benjamin SANCHIS (FRA) – Eric REBIERE (CNY) – Marlon LIPKE (POR/GER) – Marc LACOMARE (FRA) – Jonathan GONZALEZ (CNY) – Gony ZUBIZARRETA (SPA) – Fergal SMITH (IRE) – Roberto D’AMICO (ITA) – Charly MARTIN (GLP) – Kepa ACERO (SPA) – William ALIOTTI (FRA)
For more information about the Nixon Surf Challenge: Nixon.com/surf-challenge
Nightmares at Shipsterns – June 16
Not to be out done by Ours, Shipsterns goes huge and dishes out nightmares…
Gabriel Medina Takes Fiji!
Gabriel Medina (BRA), 2014 WSL Champion, claimed an emphatic victory today at the Fiji Pro, besting current Jeep WSL FrontrunnerMatt Wilkinson (AUS) in solid 10-to-12 foot (3 – 3.5 metre) surf at the world-renowned Cloudbreak.
Stop No. 5 of 11 on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour, the Fiji Pro, culminated in dramatic fashion today with the remaining members of the world’s best surfers battling one another in the largest surf of the year.
Following a slow start, with both Finalists finding themselves out of position in the building swell, Medina struck with two back-to-back scores for impeccably-navigated tube rides, posting a 7.33 and a 8.27 to place Wilkinson into a combination situation. The Australian was unable to find a rhythm in the challenging conditions and Medina posted his first elite tour win since last October.
“It feels amazing and I am so stoked,” Medina said. “I just want to thank God and my family. That was a crazy week. We have been waiting for these waves and they finally came through. They were big and we got so many sets on the head. We got a lot of barrels and it was a sick event. I am just so happy.”
Today’s victory rockets the Brazilian to second on the WSL Jeep Leaderboard heading into the back half of the season.
“I am really tired right now, but I was saving my energy for the Final because I knew it would be tough,” continued Medina. “Wilko (Matt Wilkinson) has been surfing amazing since the first event and I do not know who can stop this guy. This is his third final of the year and I am really happy to make this final against him.”
Today’s second place finish strengthens Wilkinson’s lead on the WSL Jeep Rankings and the Australian will retain the Leaders’ Jersey heading into the J-Bay Open with a commanding 32,500 points. The Fiji Pro marks Wilkinson’s third Finals appearance in 2016, after his back-to-back wins on the Gold Coast and at Bells Beach.
“I am really stoked with second,” Wilkinson said. “If I came here knowing I would get a second, I would have been absolutely frothing. That Final was just so tough. It was disappointing not to get a big barrel when there were some to be had out there, but I just had twenty sets on the head and one barrel that I got caught in. Gabriel (Medina) was unbelievable out there. It is halfway through the year and I could not have dreamed of a better start. Everyone is obviously going to be coming for me, so it is definitely not time to let off on the accelerator. I am going to go into J-Bay as focused and ready as I can.”
Adrian Buchan (AUS) defeated three-time WSL Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) in the Quarterfinals before being eliminated by Wilkinson in the Semifinals. Buchan’s 3rd place finish is his best result in 2016 and his first Semifinal berth since Jeffreys Bay in 2015. Buchan was previously in 15th place on the Jeep Leaderboard and will now move to 7th.
“I’m pretty gutted right now,” Buchan said. “I spent the whole heat duck diving washed through sets. I fought back with that 7.8 midway through the heat and I just couldn’t get deep enough on that 4.1. I spent the last six minutes dodging wash-throughs again. That was frustrating, but you can’t get mad at the ocean. I’ve been pretty in rhythm all event and that heat I was completely out of rhythm. It was amazing to surf a heat against Matt (Wilkinson), but it just hurts when you are in rhythm and you have a heat like that.”
Fanning’s Quarterfinal berth earns him a fifth-place finish and sees him move to 16th place on the Jeep Leaderboard.
“It’s been an incredible event,” Fanning said. “Celebrating Taj’s final CT appearance, having a birthday, ending in pumping surf and just having a great time has made it a really special event. I appreciate all the support I’ve had throughout the window and will see everyone in Jeffreys Bay.”
Today’s Semifinal berth for Kelly Slater (USA) marks a great result for the 11-time WSL Champion, and his first Semifinal since Jeffreys Bay in 2015, after his worst ever start on the Championship Tour. During the match-up, Slater exchanged strong opening rides with Media, but the Brazilian got the edge with an excellent 8.40 over Slater’s 6.50. As sets rolled in, Medina continued to increase his lead with a 6.27. In the dying minutes of the heat, one last opportunity came through for Slater, but Medina utilized his priority to block the four-time event winner. En route to the Semifinal, Slater unleashed incredible performances including a near perfect 19.77, the highest heat total of the event. Slater will leave Fiji with a 3rd place finish and move up to 26th place on the Jeep Leaderboard.
“I am happy because I surfed well in this contest,” Slater said. “I feel like I finally got the computer working in my brain again, but I caught a couple of viruses in that heat. I probably got a little ahead of myself. I might have gotten a little too excited from the last heat and a couple of heats before that. You just have to focus on the job at hand. Gabriel (Medina) picked it right and played the heat the right way. I had my chances and made three or four mistakes. I am looking forward to J-Bay.”
Slater previously dispatched Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) in the Quarterfinals with an excellent 18.70 two-wave heat total.
John John Florence (HAW) battled eventual runner-up Wilkinson in Quarterfinal 4 but wasn’t able to take down the Australian and takes home a 5th place finish. Florence secured a solid 6.50 on his opening ride, but Wilkinson quickly captured the lead with a 7.73 and 6.90. Florence, with a 10.93 heat score, was not able to close the 8.13 point gap against Wilkinson. Florence remains in third place on the Jeep Rankings.
“The waves are really good right now and I just did not pick the best waves,” Florence said. “I had that one at the end but I was a couple feet too deep. This result is not too bad, it is still a keeper and it’s only halfway through the year. I am pretty excited for J-Bay. All in all, I am pretty stoked. I had some really great waves in Fiji.”
Adriano de Souza (BRA) was dispatched by Medina in the opening Quarterfinal. Medina locked in multiple maneuvers to earn a 6.33 to take control. De Souza battled with a 5.83, but could not find a strong enough back-up score to defeat Medina. Medina scored a 4.53 to gain a 2.03 point lead to eliminate the reigning World Champion from the event. De Souza will walk away with a 5th place finish and 5th on the Jeep Rankings.
“It was a tough day out there for me,” De Souza said. “I got so many waves on my head and a broken board. Gabriel (Medina) has so many skills and he is so smart and picked the right waves. Right at the end one wave came through. Needing a 5, I tried to get deeper and then that cost me to not make it through the last wave. I am just happy to be in the Quarters, as it is a good result when looking at the full year. Now I am focusing on J-Bay. Before that I will stay here another week and get more barrels.”
The next stop on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour will be the J-Bay Open in South Africa from July 6 – 17, 2016.
For more information, check out WorldSurfLeague.com
Fiji Pro Final Results:
1 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.60
2 – Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 6.34
Fiji Pro Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.67 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 12.03
SF 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.33 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.00
Fiji Pro Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.86 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 8.83
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.70 def. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 9.40
QF 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.60 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.40
QF 4: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.63 def. John John Florence (HAW) 10.93
WSL Jeep Leaderboard Top 5 (after Fiji Pro):
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Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 32,500 pts
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Gabriel Medina (BRA) 24,000 pts
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John John Florence (HAW) 23,900 pts
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Italo Ferreira (BRA) 20,500 pts
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Adriano de Souza (BRA) 20,400 pts
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