Surf Ranch Classic

Surf Ranch Classic

Honolua Blomfield (HAW) and Edouard Delpero (FRA) claimed respective victories at the Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic in beautiful form. The prevailing winds seen on Day 1 gave way to clean conditions throughout Finals Day as Blomfield and Delpero put on a show to secure big wins. This result gives both victors 10,000 valuable points toward the rankings and their hunt for a 2020/21’ World Title. 

An impeccable showcase in the Final from eventual winner Blomfield stunned everyone in attendance with a Perfect 10 on her first left. The 22-year-old’s amazing style throughout the wave and ability to ride switch deep in the barrel to finish it off left fellow finalists Soleil Errico (USA), Avalon Gall (USA), and Alice Lemoigne (FRA) needing a near-perfect ride to catch her. 

“This means a lot and it’s one of my favorite wins so far in my career,” expressed Blomfield. “I want to thank Soleil (Errico) for pushing me to pull out all the stops and do what I had to do to win. I’m just so happy to win this event and having so much fun. I’d love to get another World Title but it’s going to be tough with everyone competing so I’ll give it my all.” 
The Oahu, Hawaii, competitor slowly built her foundation throughout the day, notching near-excellent rides in each of her heats to keep her Final campaign alive. A marathon day, including six waves, tested the two-time WSL Longboard Champion but her grace under pressure paved the way to a massive win heading into the final event of the season.

Delpero claimed his fourth-career WSL win on a longboard in stunning fashion – overcoming a heavy-hitting Final including reigning WSL Longboard Champion Justin Quintal (USA), style icon Harrison Roach (AUS), and Longboard Tour veteran Kai Sallas (HAW). The Frenchman earned an excellent 8.33 to begin his Final campaign on the right and backed it up immediately with another impressive 7.67 – finding one of the deeper barrels on the lefthander in the event.

“It’s been super hard work and I’m fully enjoying this victory,” said Delpero. “Congratulations to all the surfers that pushed me to surf that wave at my best. There was definitely a lot of coaching coming from these tents as we had a lot of support. This is great and just so thankful for all of this. I can’t wait to get to Malibu and give my everything at that event and hopefully I can get another big win there if I can keep this momentum.”

Delpero claimed his fourth-career WSL win on a longboard in stunning fashion – overcoming a heavy-hitting Final including reigning WSL Longboard Champion Justin Quintal (USA), style icon Harrison Roach (AUS), and Longboard Tour veteran Kai Sallas (HAW). The Frenchman earned an excellent 8.33 to begin his Final campaign on the right and backed it up immediately with another impressive 7.67 – finding one of the deeper barrels on the lefthander in the event.

“It’s been super hard work and I’m fully enjoying this victory,” said Delpero. “Congratulations to all the surfers that pushed me to surf that wave at my best. There was definitely a lot of coaching coming from these tents as we had a lot of support. This is great and just so thankful for all of this. I can’t wait to get to Malibu and give my everything at that event and hopefully I can get another big win there if I can keep this momentum.”

“I feel really good about my result here and Honolua (Blomfield) held her own out there and did what she needed to do,” said Errico. “I highly respect her for that under pressure. Now I’ll just take this at a good time and try to win Malibu. I’m thankful I live in Malibu, and I know that wave really well so I’m stoked there’s a WSL event there to try and get a World Title.”

Australian talent Roach made a big statement with this runner-up finish and 8,000 points to his name heading in to the final event of the season ranked No. 2. Roach’s jaw-dropping, near-perfect 9.33 put him into the Top 4 with ease just behind Quintal and started his Final with a solid 7.50 on the left to start – but couldn’t find the 8.50 he needed as the last left ran away from him.

“I’m so happy to make it this far and be in those top sort of point ranges,” said Roach. “It’s important in these big events if you want to win a World Title and I certainly want to do that. I would’ve loved to win but I guess I peaked a bit early. Malibu’s a dream wave. Another perfect, long right and it’s great to go into the event with a lot of momentum. All things to be happy about.”

Great finishes from Lemoigne, Gall, Quintal, and Sallas garnered them equal third finishes after powering through a massive day of competition.

Now, these competitors prepare for the conclusion to their 2020/21’ season at the Jeep Malibu Classic presented by Havainas beginning October 3 – 13.

Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic Final Women’s Results:
1. Honolua Blomfield (HAW) 18.50
2. Soleil Errico (USA) 16.47
3. Alice Lemoigne (FRA) 13.10
4. Avalon Gall (USA) 12.34

Cuervo Surf Ranch Classic Final Men’s Results:
1. Edouard Delpero (FRA) 16.00
2. Harrison Roach (AUS) 14.30
3. Kai Sallas (HAW) 10.76
4. Justin Quintal (USA) 8.67

Born Pacific

Born Pacific

At only 7 years old, a few household chores allowed young Pete to ditch his bodyboard and buy his first surfboard. Back in the days wetsuits didn’t do a great job and so he could only surf in the summer.

Then this little guy from Tofino, British Columbia grew up and evolved at an international level. He may find himself wearing boardshorts and surf the most beautiful waves in the world, he is always happy to come home. Addicted to the feeling of gliding on a wave, you’ll always find him in the water whether it rains or snows.

Pete is the ultimate cold-water surfer.

Surfer: PETE DEVRIES
Young pete: ASHER DEVRIES
Cinematography / Edit : NATE LAVERTY
Additional filming: JEREMY KORESKI / MARCUS PALADINO / DREW AUSTIN

Welcome to the Rip Curl team

Welcome to the Rip Curl team

Rip Curl Europe is thrilled to announce that the sensational young French surfer Justin Becret is joining its Team!

Justin, who grew up in Seignosse in the Landes department, was just 8 years old when he first started riding the powerful waves generated by the rough bottom of the local beach breaks. At an early age, he developed a passion for competition, travel and big wave surfing, making memorable free surf memories on awesome waves such as Mullaghmore, Jaws and Pipeline.

“It’s with great pleasure that I will join Rip Curl which headquarters have been close to my home in the South Ouest of France. I grew up watching the brand sharing some great values like performance, best technology and consistency, values that I also share. To be part of this amazing Team gives me that extra kick to go out and achieve my goal, be part of the World Tour as soon as possible, and I want to thank Rip Curl for trusting me with this project,” explains Justin Becret with enthusiasm.

The young French surfer has already shown great maturity in his approach to competitions (#3 at the World Junior Championship in 2019, several times French Champion and European Junior #3). He’s a determined competitor with a highly convincing technical background, combined with a mental attitude as solid as a heavy barrel at Les Casernes, his favourite spot. Justin is prepared to do what it takes to achieve his goals: he follows an intense physical training programme and frequently tries out innovative coaching methods with his mentor, Richard “Dog” Marsh, who was himself world #8 in 1992.

“It’s excellent news that Justin is joining the Rip Curl Team. He’s a talented surfer with great potential. We are pursuing and will continue to pursue our policy of promoting surfing by supporting athletes and events. With Justin, Kyllian Guerin and Teresa Bonvalot, we have a complementary, competitive team at European level, a team that embodies the values of our brand,” explains Mathieu Lefin, President – Rip Curl Europe.

Everyone at Rip Curl is eager to welcome Justin Becret to the Rip Curl Team and share his Search with him!

Late Dust Bowls

Late Dust Bowls

Jonathan Gubbins has been called the most-barreled person in the world, he spends more time in the tube than most London commuters. Check out his mind bending edit he roars through The Grower…

Blu Longboard Classic

Blu Longboard Classic

From the four corners of the Kingdom they came, chisel-jawed, keen of sight, fleet of foot with waxing hand primed and ready for battle. To be fair, that’s a slight exaggeration but there were a couple of Scots who now live in Cornwall, at least one Welshman who goes to the gym and a whole mob of troublemakers from North Devon. Some of whom didn’t need corrective eyewear. Oh, and the Cornish from the WEST west. But more on that later.

Anyway, the time had finally, FINALLY come for the first gathering of the BLU family following a couple of barren years that most of us will be happy to see consigned to the history books – a new start in a new year and a NEW venue. A beautiful venue. One of the jewels of West Cornwall. Porthmeor Beach, St Ives! The onsite facilities provided by Saints Boardriders made the whole deal that much sweeter.

The forecast had been on the ‘vertically challenged’ side in Cornwall with monotonous regularity for a while, and it took two swings at this one to get the contest under way. Even the reserve date didn’t look promising, and it took a brave decision by the committee to call the event on. They were repaid for their ridiculous optimism with just the faintest whisperings of a swell that, against literally all the odds, made the weekend not only contestable but astonishingly good fun.

Saturday morning saw most of the car parks within a mile radius stuffed full of vans, single fins, groms, beards, floppy hats, single fins, more groms, single fins etc. Some familiar faces, some not so familiar and some from way back when. All were welcome, all were keen to surf. The tide eventually drained out far enough for the long, long lines of swell to start spilling over into surfable waves and the biggest entry Single Fin division for many a year hit the water. Without any wasteful hyperbole, the amount of nose-riding that followed in the next few hours was so vast that even the hint of a turn was greeted with confused delirium. I have never seen so many toes over so many noses. By the quarter final stage it became clear that Day 2 was going to be a blinder. Standouts in the early rounds were goofy-legend-from-way-out-west Mikey Lay, Welsh wizard Elliot Dudley, Sam ‘Blimey He’s Erudite’ Bleakley, Ashley ‘The Comeback Kid’ Braunton and the three mega-groms Arthur Randell, Lukas ‘Oh no, he longboards as well’ Skinner and Ted Pearson, who made the most of their substantial weight advantage.

With recently crowned Boardmasters and English Nationals Champion Emily Currie in the Women’s Open, it would have been reasonable to assume the result was only going one way. In a proper ‘hold my coat’ moment, up stepped Izzy Henshall to take the highest heat score in both the quarter and semi-finals. Game on? Sadly not. Due to a commitment elsewhere for Emily on Sunday and an abortive attempt to run the final in the dying light and rising tide on Day 1, destiny this time was firmly with Izzy. Her strong and smooth performance in the final put her firmly ahead of Sam Sunshine and Amelia Hewitson who were separated by the wafer thin margin of 0.1 points.

Unsurprisingly, in the junior divisions Arthur and Lukas claimed the lion’s share of the honours, with Arthur taking the U16s and Lukas the U18 Boys thanks to an almost supernatural ability to find super-long noserides that served up 5s and 10s like they were in a going-out-of-business sale.
The U18 Girls division was short on entries, but definitely not on surfing talent. Izzy Henshall, Sylvie Puddiphatt and Eleanor Hewlett made a great contest of it in what turned out to be some of the weakest swell of the day. It was Izzy, with her super smooth goofy skills who prevailed by 0.34 points

The Masters and Grandmasters divisions, usually the well-attended stalwarts of the BLU, were also noticeably light on entries, with the Grandmasters being a straight final. Again, definitely no lack of talent with the seemingly ageless Sam Bleakley taking the Masters and Adam Chell victorious in the Grandmasters over timeless Robocop-of-a-man Colin Bright.
In conclusion, great to be back, amazing surfing, good weather, great location, great people and just enough swell to make a cracking weekend of it.

Results
Men’s Open
1st Michael Lay
2nd Elliot Dudley
3rd Evan Rogers
4th Lukas Skinner

Women’s Open
1st Izzy Henshall
2nd Sam Sunshine
3rd Amelia Hewitson
4th Emily Currie

Masters
1st Sam Bleakley
2nd Adam Chell
3rd Adrian Napper
4th Stephen Burley

Grandmasters
1st Adam Chell
2nd Colin Bright
3rd Ray Lee
4th Vikki Burley

U16 Cadets
1st Arthur Randell
2nd Lukas Skinner
3rd Teddy Nicholls
4th Sydney Randell

U18 Boys
1st Lukas Skinner
2nd Arthur Randell
3rd Ted Pearson
4th Sydney Randell

U18 Girls
1st Izzy Henshall
2nd Sylvie Puddiphatt
3rd Eleanor Hewlett

Single Fin
1st Mike Lay
2nd Elliot Dudley
3rd Sam Bleakley
4th Ashley Braunton