Vans Surf x Mami Wata

Vans Surf x Mami Wata

Vans Surf is proud to announce its latest head-to-toe collection with African surf lifestyle brand Mami Wata, which draws inspiration from African surf culture, key historical and cultural events, and the power and positivity of surfing. The collection leads with Vans Authentic VR3 SF and a curated assortment of additional footwear styles, apparel, and accessories.

Founded in 2017, Mami Wata is translated in West African Pidgin English as “Mama Water” or Mother Ocean. Based out of Cape Town, the brand is focused on furthering manufacturing diversity and surf development in Africa and supporting world-leading African surf therapy organizations Waves for Change and Surfers Not Street Children. Mami Wata’s mission is to offer a different narrative of surfing and Africa to the world and to educate and share the positive effects of surfing with everyone. This season, Vans partners with Mami Wata to deliver a collection founded on these principles and inspired by important cultural moments in Africa’s history.

From Zaire’s “Rumble in the Jungle” in 1974 and Nigeria’s “Festac ‘77” to other iconic local music festivals, this new head to toe collection takes the bold and graphic imagery of these cultural events and adds a modern Vans twist, tying back to Vans’ heritage Checkerboard prints. Vans Authentic VR3 in Mami Wata Cream is the hero of the collection andfollows Vans’ strict materials guidelines with one or a combination of regenerative, responsibly sourced, renewable, and recycled materials making up at least 30% of the product.

The upper features leather (Vans leather products support responsible manufacturing via the Leather Working Group) and organic cotton on the Style 36 Decon VR3 SF and Sk8-Hi 138 Decon VR3 SF, respectively. The outsole across all footwear features Vans’ all-new VR3Waffle™ rubber compound. All the rubber used to make this outsole (60% of the compound) is regeneratively grown natural rubber sourced from farms utilizing agricultural practices intended to promote biodiversity, enhance water cycles, improve soil health, and/or sequester carbon. The brand-new VR3Cush™ drop-in footbed uses 25 percent biobased EVA foam partially derived from plants.

Along with the Mami Wata Authentic VR3 SF, the new collection also features a Style 36 Decon VR3 SF and the Sk8-Hi 138 Decon VR3 SF, both in Mami Wata Cream.

By utilizing bold graphic details in contrast to a micro-Checkerboard, inspired by hand-woven fabrics popular throughout Africa, this collection pays homage to the past while giving a vibrant nod to the future generations that will live and define African surf culture. The new apparel features a Mami Wata Pullover, short sleeve tees, woven shirt, boardshorts, and a hat.

The Vans x Mami Wata Collection will be available globally beginning February 16, 2023 at Vans Surf retail locations and Vans.eu/surf.

Highlights Day 1 I Billabong Pro Pipeline 2023

Highlights Day 1 I Billabong Pro Pipeline 2023

Opening day of the 2023 CT season provided moments of excellence, elation, and elimination with World Champions clashing, CT returners flourishing, plus rookies staking their claim.

Standout Performances and Early Eliminations Start the Billabong Pro Pipeline 

• João Chianca Earns First Excellent Score of the 2023 WSL CT Season
• World Champs Debut in Remarkable Form, While Elimination Round Narrows the Field  
• Hawaiians Ezekiel Lau, Seth Moniz, and Barron Mamiya Straight to the Round of 32
• More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

The Billabong Pro Pipeline kicked off the start of the World Surf League (WSL) 2023 Men’s Championship Tour (CT) today in clean four-to-six-foot swell at the world-renowned Banzai Pipeline. Men’s Opening Round witnessed standout performances from João Chianca (BRA), Ezekiel Lau (HAW), Jordy Smith (RSA), and Gabriel Medina (BRA) and more.  

The highest-scoring wave of the event so far, an 8.50 (out of possible 10), went to second-year competitor Chianca during the men’s Opening Round, Heat 2. The Opening Round also saw former World Champions find success while rookies struggled under pressure. The full day of competition finished with the men’s Elimination Round narrowing the field to 32 surfers. 

The next call will be today, Thursday, February 2, at 7:45 a.m. HST for a possible 8:00 a.m. start.

João Chianca (above) Earns First Excellent Score of 2023 CT Season

Chianca started his 2023 season in fantastic form, earning the first excellent score of the event and season, a 8.50. Chianca earned a notable 9th-place finish at last year’s Billabong Pro Pipeline before falling off the Tour following the Mid-season Cut. Chianca successfully fought his way back to the CT through the Challenger Series and is now looking for redemption in his second season. 

“I’m in a pretty good headspace,” said Chianca. “It was a super important and emotional year last year for me realizing this is where I want to be for the rest of my career. That wave gave me déjà vu from last season because my first wave from last year was an 8.43 and this was even better. I was pretty excited to surf Backdoor, and Pipeline is just my happy place, so I’m stoked.”

World Champions Debut in Remarkable Form

Reigning World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA, above), started his season in solid form, winning his opening match against Australia’s Jackson Baker and Hawaii’s Joshua Moniz. Toledo moves straight in the Round of 32, while Moniz fell to elimination in Heat 1 of Elimination Round 2. 

Defending event winner and 11-time World Champion, Kelly Slater (USA) advanced to the Round of 16 in second place after a close battle for first with Caio Ibelli (BRA). Ibelli ultimately took the win with a 5.77. Slater won this event last year, days before his 50th birthday, and hopes to win again this year now at age 50. He will surf again against Yago Dora (BRA) when the men’s Round of 32 commences. 

“This week I’ve been in a funk and haven’t really felt too in-sync with any of my surfs, so I’m just trying to shake that a little bit,” said Slater. “That heat I didn’t feel here or there, I actually had priority when Caio got his good one and I let him go thinking the next one would be better and it just didn’t come together as I thought.”

The highly anticipated showdown of former event winners and World Champions John John Florence (HAW) and Medina (above) went down in the last heat of the men’s Opening Round. Medina missed this event last year but has found himself in the Finals multiple times in past years. For Florence, Pipeline is in his backyard and is one of the waves he is most comfortable in. 

Florence got off to a quick start, notching a 3.67 on a quick backside barrel. Medina opened with a disappearing act on a Backdoor barrel, earning a near-excellent 7.67. Florence answered back with a Backdoor barrel of his own, finishing the wave off with two solid maneuvers to pocket a 6.33. Florence controlled a majority of the heat, but it was Medina who ultimately took the win in the final minutes. They will both surf again in the Round of 32. 

“It’s amazing to be back in Hawaii, this is a really special place for me,” said Medina. “It’s given me so many good memories and hopefully the waves get a little better for the next round, but I’m happy with the win. That [Backdoor] wave was a long one, I saw it going all the way to the Off the Wall channel so I gave it a go.” 

Hawaiians Ezekiel Lau, Seth Moniz, and Barron Mamiya Straight to the Round of 32

Ezekiel Lau (HAW, above) got things started for the Hawaiian contingent in Heat 4. With just less than two minutes left, he found a Backdoor cavern, earning a 7.17 and the heat win. 2022 Billabong Pro Pipeline runner-up Seth Moniz (HAW) found early success here again, winning his Opening Round matchup against former World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) and event wildcard Imaikalani deVault (HAW). Event wildcard Barron Mamiya (HAW) also made it through his opening round, advancing straight to the Round of 32. 

“My strategy was to go right, but then I ended up getting that left right off the start so that’s how it goes sometimes,” said Moniz. “You just have to adapt to the conditions. I’m pretty confident out here, but to come up against Italo [Ferriera] and Imai [deVault] in the first round is pretty nuts.”

Also skipping the Elimination Round are former Final 5 competitors Ethan Ewing (AUS) and Robinson. They are joined by Griffin Colapinto (USA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Jordy Smith (RSA), and CT rookie Rio Waida (INA), who all move directly on to the Round of 32.

Elimination Round Narrows the Field

Former Final 5 competitor Kanoa Igarashi (JPN, above) found redemption in the first heat of the Elimination Round after failing to find a score of substance in the Opening Round. He advanced to the Round of 32 alongside Michael Rodrigues (BRA), eliminating event wildcard Joshua Moniz (HAW).

Fellow event wildcard deVault suffered a similar fate in Elimination Round, Heat 1. In one of the upsets of the day, tour veteran Jadson Andre (BRA) was eliminated by rookie Ian Gentil (HAW) and Kolohe Andino (USA). Andre was sent to the Elimination Round after suffering an interference on Jack Robinson (AUS) in his Opening Round.

More available at WorldSurfLeague.com. 

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Opening Round Results: 
HEAT 1: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.50 DEF. Nat Young (USA) 10.17, Ian Gentil (HAW) 6.94
HEAT 2: Joao Chianca (BRA) 12.83 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 10.70, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 1.00
HEAT 3: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 6.20 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 6.06, Kolohe Andino (USA) 4.30
HEAT 4: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 8.54 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 8.50, Jadson Andre (BRA) 0.23
HEAT 5: Seth Moniz (HAW) 8.50 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 5.20, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 2.04
HEAT 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 6.00 DEF. Jackson Baker (AUS) 5.93, Joshua Moniz (HAW) 1.50
HEAT 7: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 9.84 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 9.33, Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 9.10
HEAT 8: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.44 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 8.60, Carlos Munoz (CRC) 0.50
HEAT 9: Jordy Smith (RSA) 10.66 DEF. Connor O’Leary (AUS) 9.27, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 1.96
HEAT 10: Rio Waida (INA) 9.16 DEF. Samuel Pupo (BRA) 6.50, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 6.46
HEAT 11: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 9.57 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 7.90, Yago Dora (BRA) 2.13
HEAT 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.84 DEF. John John Florence (HAW) 10.00, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 1.60

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 11.03 DEF. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 9.03, Joshua Moniz (HAW) 8.87
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) 13.43 DEF. Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 8.27, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 4.33
HEAT 3: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 7.60 DEF. Carlos Munoz (CRC) 7.14, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 6.93
HEAT 4: Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.43 DEF. Ian Gentil (HAW) 8.13, Jadson Andre (BRA) 4.87

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Round of 32 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)
HEAT 2: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Nat Young (USA)
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
HEAT 4: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Jackson Baker (AUS)
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS)
HEAT 6: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW)
HEAT 7: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
HEAT 8: Samuel Pupo (BRA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
HEAT 9: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Carlos Munoz (CRC)
HEAT 10: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
HEAT 11: Connor O’Leary (AUS) vs. Rio Waida (INA)
HEAT 12: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)
HEAT 13: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
HEAT 14: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Jake Marshall (USA)
HEAT 15: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
HEAT 16: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Maxime Huscenot (FRA)

Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Opening Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Teresa Bonvalot (POR)
HEAT 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)
HEAT 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS) vs. Moana Jones Wong (HAW)
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 5: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Caitlin Simmers (USA)
HEAT 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Molly Picklum (AUS)

Ten!

Ten!

With no specific order, enjoy the best 10 waves ridden this year in Indonesia (in front of my lens).
Locations: Nias – Lagundri Bay, Bali – Uluwatu, Lombok – Desertpoint and Mentawai Islands – Rifles – Ebay – Kandui!
Thank You for watching my videos in 2022! – @surfrawfiles

Silver Linings | Episode 11

Silver Linings | Episode 11

For Jordy Smith, 2022 brought new levels of growth and an even deeper love for surfing. Balancing family, his career, and staying true to himself is at the forefront of his life and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. Catch up with Jordy and keep your eye on him as we settle into 2023 because there’s plenty more where this came from.

In his own words below.

There’s no such thing as an off season when the tour ends, the focus just shifts to hunting tubes. After a bad year on tour I needed to get some good waves to get my froth back. We put some miles on the cab and hit the coast with my friends and family. In the finals episode of Silver Linings we lose the rash guard and find some rare gems on the South African coast.  

Absent Without Leave, NZ

Absent Without Leave, NZ

Follow the ragtag Roark crew as they get lost and discover all of New Zealand’s South Island. Scoring some of the best swell seen in decades, they brave the winter freeze camping out in old Defenders, chasing waves in bush planes, and having one helluva time while they’re at it. God I miss NZ, take me back.

Starring:
Harrison Roach
Nate Zoller ( @natezoller )
Parker Coffin
Jeff Johnson

Filmed & Directed by Fin Woods

Music By:
Arthur Ahbez
No Cigar
Mild Orange
Daffodils
Marlins Dreaming
Aston Martini
Sam Charlesworth
Garageland

Mason Ho 2022 Highlights

Mason Ho 2022 Highlights

I love watching Mason Ho surf, in fact I probably love him, not in a weird stalker way, well, maybe a bit. The sultan of fun was on a tear in 2022, hit play for half an hour of pits punts and hacks, and a lesson in how to keep the fun in surfing.