Silver Linings

Silver Linings

This episodic journey covers the incredible highs and devastating lows Jordy experienced in his life over the past 18 months From entering fatherhood to scoring the best waves he’s seen at home, to facing a near career-ending injury forcing him to pull out of the Olympics, this series documents the rollercoaster ride Jordy has been on and the ‘Silver Linings’ that he encounters within his journey. “.

In Episode 1, Jordy finds himself locked down in Hawaii when the world begins to shut down. Fortunately, the forecast showed non-stop swells approaching the North Shore where Jordy spends the next 2 weeks scoring firing waves before being forced to board a repatriation flight back to South Africa.

Quiksilver and ROXY Junior Pro 40

Quiksilver and ROXY Junior Pro 40

European Junior Tour Culminates at Quiksilver and ROXY Junior Pro 40

• Top 64 Men and 32 Women Battle for European Junior Title
• Competition Held at Quiksilver & ROXY Pro France CS Venue
• Day 1 Underway, Big Day of Competition Ahead
• More at  WorldSurfLeague.com

The European Junior Qualifying Series (JQS) will culminate this week at Stop No.3, the Quiksilver and ROXY Junior Pro 40 held in Les Landes from October 13-15, 2021.

Competition will unfold at Culs Nus beach in Hossegor, chosen for the quality of the sandbanks currently, a site that will welcome some of the world’s best surfers in the upcoming Challenger Series event, the Quiksilver and ROXY Pro France. For the first time on European soil, Junior athletes (under 18 years old) will have a chance to compete and be judged by the same panel of international judges and on the very same wave as some of their idols.

The 2021 European JQS has been another transitional year due to COVID19 with only three events held this season. It started in June at the E.Leclerc Pont L’Abbé Junior Pro La Torche where Adur Amatriain (EUK) and Lucia Machado (CNY) took top honors.

Amatriain’s first-ever WSL victory would set him on an upward trajectory as the 17 year-old went on to win a QS1,000 event in Galicia, before winning again at the next junior event, the GADIS Junior Pro Ferrol, once again in Galicia.

The rising Basque star leads the Junior rankings with back-to-back wins and the regional title is his to lose as he enters the final week of Junior competition this season.

Machado, who placed equal third in Galicia, faces a different challenge. She’s tied in the lead with Janire Gonzalez Etxabarri (ESP), another rising talent who recently had her first taste of the Challenger Series in Portugal. The Spanish pair has a decent lead in the European junior title race but in the hunt are Portugal’s Gabriela Dinis and Francisca Veselko with a realistic shot at the top spot in the ever-changing and challenging conditions of the French beachbreaks.

These future stars will be joined by fresh new faces in the names of Tim Ehrhard (FRA) and Heimiti Fierro (PYF), who have received the Quiksilver and ROXY wildcards respectively.

Junior Divisions to Open for Challenger Series Show
The pathway designed by the World Surf League to take surfers from a young age all the way to the highest level of professional surfing will be clearer than ever this week, as surfers compete on the same stage, with the same judges, the same crowds, as some of the world’s best surfers the following days for the Quiksilver and ROXY Pro France.

ROXY will award their highest ranked athlete by the end of the junior, a wildcard into the main event. Gonzalez Etxabarri currently holds the position and will look to secure the invitation over the upcoming three days.

The competition is now underway in France as surfers launch their final campaign in clean two-to-three foot surf at Culs Nus. Conditions are expected to remain small and rippable over the next three days and the event winners should be decided over the next few days.

Shark Attacks Surfer

Shark Attacks Surfer

Surfers at a beach in Sonoma county, California, used a surfboard strap as a tourniquet to save a man whose right leg was bitten by a great white shark.

Eric Steinley was attacked as he surfed about 50 yards from shore at Salmon Creek beach last Sunday, but managed to alert others in the water.

The 38-year-old said he managed to punch the shark in the face to force it to release him, then was helped ashore by a stranger who used his board strap to tie the tourniquet.

Other surfers added a second tourniquet before using a longboard as a stretcher and taking Steinley to a helicopter pick-up point. He was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial hospital, where doctors performed two surgeries to save his leg.

Well done to all involved, shark attacks are rare, and sharks are not the enemy, let’s respect them from a distance.

Red Bull Big Wave Awards

Red Bull Big Wave Awards

Surf League (WSL) released the official list of nominees for the 2021 Red Bull Big Wave Awards. $350,000 in prize money will be awarded across four categories for men’s and women’s divisions: Ride of the Year, Biggest Paddle, Biggest Tow, and Performer of the Year. Winning photographers and videographers will also take home prize money.
This year’s nominees spanned the globe with surfers representing countries like Brazil, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, the United States, and France. The majority of the nominated rides come from the infamous big wave breaks of Nazaré in Portugal and Pe’ahi (a.k.a. “Jaws”) in Hawaii, USA, but this year’s shortlist also sees rides from Mavericks in Half Moon Bay, California, USA, Todos Santos in Mexico, and Mullaghmore Head in Ireland.

The winners will be announced during the 2021 Red Bull Big Wave Awards Show on October 29, 2021. The show will be streamed at WorldSurfLeague.com/redbullbigwaveawards and audiences will discover who will be taking home the prestigious awards from some of the wildest rides this year.

Ride of the Year
The Ride of the Year is awarded to the male and female surfers who demonstrate the most advanced and committed level of big wave surfing during a successful ride, as judged by available video footage. While raw size is taken into consideration, it is ultimately the level of performance that is rewarded.

Female Nominees
• Paige Alms at Todos Santos, Mexico on January 11, 2021.
• Michelle des Bouillons at Nazaré, Portugal on February 22, 2021.
• Justine Dupont at Nazaré, Portugal on January 16, 2021.
• Maya Gabeira at Nazaré, Portugal on February 5, 2021.
• Izzi Gomez at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
• Keala Kennelly at Himalayas, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.

Male Nominees
• Conor Maguire at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland on October 28, 2020.
• Grant Baker at Mavericks, California on December 11, 2020.
• Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
• Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
• Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
• Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
• Peter Mel at Mavericks, California on January 8, 2021.
• Billy Kemper at Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
• Eli Olson at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
• Vinicius dos Santos at Nazaré, Portugal on February 22, 2021.
• Kalani Chapman at Outer Reef Log Cabins, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
• Wilem Banks at Mavericks, California on December 8, 2020.

Biggest Paddle
The Biggest Paddle Award goes to the male and female surfers who paddle into, and successfully ride, the biggest wave of the year.

Female Nominees
• Bianca Valenti at Mavericks, California on January 12, 2021.
• Justine Dupont at Jaws, Hawaii on January 17, 2021.
• Keala Kennelly at Himalayas, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
• Justine Dupont at Mavericks, California on December 8, 2020.
• Paige Alms at Todos Santos, Mexico on January 11, 2021.
• Raquel Heckert at Jaws, Hawaii on January 17, 2021.

Male Nominees
• Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
• Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
• Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
• Kai Lenny at Mavericks, California on December 8, 2020.
• Peter Mel at Mavericks, California on December 8, 2020.
• Peter Mel at Mavericks, California on January 8, 2021.
• Grant Baker at Mavericks, California on December 11, 2020.
• Billy Kemper at Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
• Nathan Florence at Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
• Vinicius dos Santos at Nazaré, Portugal on February 22, 2021.
• Ian Walsh at Jaws, Hawaii on December 2, 2020.
• Wilem Banks at Mavericks, California on January 10, 2021.

This year’s nominees include big names like 2018 Big Wave World ChampionKeala Kennelly (HAW) and world-renowned Big Wave charger Justine Dupont (FRA).

Men’s nominees include three-time Big Wave World Surfing Champion Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker from South Africa and four-time Pe’ahi Challenge Champion Billy Kemper leading the charge with rides at Mavericks and Jaws, respectively.
Biggest Tow

The Biggest Tow Award goes to the male and female surfers who, by any means available, catch and ride the biggest wave of the year.

Female Nominees
• Maya Gabeira at Nazaré, Portugal on October 29, 2020.
• Maya Gabeira at Nazaré, Portugal on February 5, 2021.
• Justine Dupont at Mavericks, California on January 1, 2021.
• Justine Dupont at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
• Justine Dupont at Nazaré, Portugal on October 29, 2020.
• Michelle des Bouillons at Nazaré, Portugal on February 22, 2021.

Male Nominees
• Conor Maguire at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland on October 28, 2020.
• Kalani Chapman at Outer Reef Log Cabins, Hawaii on January 1, 2021.
• Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
• Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
• Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
• Ian Walsh at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
• Sebastian Steudtner at Nazaré, Portugal on October 29, 2020.
• Sebastian Steudtner at Nazaré, Portugal on October 29, 2020.
• Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca at Nazaré, Portugal on October 29, 2020.
• Makua Rothman at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
• Nathan Florence at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.
• Francisco Porcella at Jaws, Hawaii on January 16, 2021.

The Biggest Tow Award will be a battle between Justine Dupont (FRA), Maya Gabeira (BRA), and Michelle des Bouillons (FRA). Last year Dupont and Gabeira went head-to-head for a new World Record with the biggest wave ever ridden by a woman, with Gabeira edging out Dupont with a stellar ride at Nazaré. This year, Dupont’s nominations span three locations for the category, including Mavericks, Jaws, and Nazaré.
The men’s nominees include Conor Maguire’s (IRL) submission at Mullaghmore Head in Ireland, Kai Lenny (HAW), Sebastian Steudtner (GER),Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca (BRA), and Francisco Porcella (ITA) with rides Nazaré and Jaws.

Performer of the Year
The Performer of the Year Award acknowledges the top-performing male and female surfers over the course of the last 12 months based on every ride captured on video or still images.

Female Nominees
• Justine Dupont
• Keala Kennelly
• Maya Gabeira
• Paige Alms
• Michelle des Bouillons
• Raquel Heckert

Male Nominees
• Kai Lenny
• Peter Mel
• Conor Maguire
• Grant Baker
• Sebastian Steudtner
• Ian Walsh
• Nathan Florence
• Eli Olson
• Billy Kemper
• Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca
• Makua Rothman
• Vinicius dos Santos

Hosed Down Portugal

Hosed Down Portugal

Mason Ho makes his way North East across the globe to Europe. Ericeira Portugal to be exact. A small cool surf town with incredible seafood and waves.

Portugal is perfect to Search for waves because it’s so big! This day was special because it had fog early and not many people looking for waves. Mason came across this fun reef wave he never surfed before so he made his way out and caught some waves alone before the word got out.