18 seconds period, straight south swell, high-tide in the morning, very raw, almost out of control sets. That’s what I’m talking about, hell yes. They do say if you don’t go, you wont know, click into the highlights from 6 hours of footage of this epic Nias session.
Enjoy this recap – thanks for watching!
Filmed by Iyan Wau @niassurfphotos and Arturo @arturo.p.r.15
@surfrawfiles
The final curtain fell on this year’s Boardmasters as the one and only Florence + The Machine graced the main stage for a dazzling, ethereal headline performance. One of Boardmasters most unforgettable sets of all time brought the festival to a truly sensational close. Boardmasters’ home of Watergate Bay welcomed tens of thousands of adoring fans who gathered for a line up comprising internationally-acclaimed artists, and so much more to be discovered beyond the music.
Florence + The Machine’s headline set was nothing short of euphoric. Florence graced the stage, seemingly floating as she sang along with the crowd to hits including You’ve Got The Love, Dog Days Are Over and Shake It Out. Building up anticipation before the headline act was Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy who belted out his catalogue of powerful, emotive tracks which have catapulted him to #1 album territory. Tion Wayne, Sofi Tukker, Caity Baiser (who also surprised festival goers with a surprise set at The Cove), and Black Honey amongst others made sure the main stage kept the vibes riding high from start to finish.
Land Of Saints enticed fans with a huge line up including Jockstrap, Squid, Connie Constance, Shygirl, rounded off into the evening and early hours with Four Tet and Joy (Anonymous). Unleashed was the home of high octane dance, d’n’b and more with a stellar mix of acts from Bru-C and Tom Zanetti, to Riton and Charlie Hedges to name a few. Fans kept their dancing shoes on at The Point with DJs including Charlie Boon, Sally C and Sarah Story spinning lively tracks, as well as Paul Woolford going b2b with Danny Howard to make sure the bangers continued into the early hours. The View, looking out onto the sea, played out an eclectic mix of new music, rising stars and much more with VC Pines, Caravaña Sun, Aine Deane and tonnes more keeping fans entertained.
Plus, there was drum’n’bass playing out at The Dockyard and DB90 and late night revelry at The Submarine and 80s cheese and light up dance floors at the Transatlantic Lounge. The Green Team continued on their daily beach cleans, doing their bit alongside festival goers to make strong efforts towards its continued sustainability goals. Beach cleans took place at Porth Beach, Watergate Bay, Great Western and Fistral Beach.
The Qualifying Series (QS) 1,000 Animal Pro and Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) 1,000 Reef Longboard Pro crowned their 2023 winners in three-to-five foot surf at Fistral beach to wrap the surfing events at Boardmasters. In a battle of epic proportions with British rising star Alys Barton (GBR), the reigning European Champion Yolanda Hopkins (POR) managed to fend off her opponent to claim the first-ever three-peat at the Animal Pro. Kai Odriozola (ESP) and Ido Arkin (ISR) fought in a wave-starved heat and tried to milk every opportunity. Eventually it was the basque surfer Odriozola who found the best scoring opportunity in the tricky lineup. The young San Sebastian surfer appeared in his second Final of a QS and this time managed to convert for a first win on the professional tour at only 17 years old.
The former runner-up in the world, Alice Lemoigne (FRA) continued to demonstrate her superiority in the Cornish waters as she absolutely dominated the Reef Longboard Pro women’s Final. The Reunion Island native became the first surfer to claim five victories at Boardmasters, but only briefly enjoyed the standalone record as she was joined in the last heat of the day by Edouard Delpero who equaled the feat. French surfer from Biarritz, Edouard Delpero (FRA) also managed to claim a fifth win on the Cornish coast, defeating compatriot Martin Coret (REU) as well as Jon Garmendia (ESP) and Ignacio Pignataro (URY) in the event’s Final. In a friendly battle with his own brother for the most wins on tour, Edouard went one better than Antoine, both surfers having won four times before at Fistral. This marks Edouard’s 12th professional win to date.
Yesterday, all camping festival goers are heading home and the post-event clean up operation will begin right away. Boardmasters encourages all camping attendees to take home their tents and Leave Only Footprints. Boardmasters’ team of volunteers, supervisors, charity partners and in-house team will be on site to clear the site once festival goers have left. The clean up operation is a robust and thorough process, with the main aim to leave Boardmasters’ beautiful Newquay home at Watergate Bay in pristine condition. Campsites nearest to Watergate Bay road will be prioritised first. The fields will be clear by the end of the week. Help the Homeless will be salvaging any quality tents that are left behind to help those in need.
It’s certainly been a Boardmasters for the ages. Boardmasters will be back next year, with details to be announced very soon. For more information and to sign up for the 2024 presale for exclusive 24 hour ticket access, visit boardmasters.com.
Mason Ho arrives back in Indonesia and heads to his beloved Desert Point. This time he brings along young North Shore phenom Luke Swanson. They meet up with a few rippers, under lords and sensei’s along the way.
Thank you to all Desert Point Locals!
Surfers: Mason Ho, Luke Swanson, Adam Crawford, Ozzie Wrong, Kekoa Bacalso, Tosh Tudor, Pablo, Roberson brothers, Special Ed, Super KK & Keito Mastuoka.
Rip Curl has officially announced the 16 men and 8 women surfers invited to compete in the 20-Year Anniversary of the Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang.
The announcement was made on Sunday at the Opening Ceremony, held at Padang Padang Beach in front of a crowd of several hundred fans gathered from all over the world to join in blessing the event with good waves, a safe competition, and officially christen the start of the holding period (Aug. 1st-31st) to the one-of-a-kind tube-riding invitational.
Among the international invitees this year are defending champion Clay Marzo (HAW), WCT legend Taj Burrow (AUS), Kolohe Andino (USA) Mason Ho (HAW), and 15-year-old surfing prodigy Dylan Wilcoxen (USA). Indonesia will be represented by 2x Rip Curl Cup Champion Mega Semadhi, 2x champion Bol Adi Putra, and 2014 champion Garut Widiarta, among others.
Among the elite female tube-riders invited to the first-ever Women’s Rip Curl Cup at Padang Padang are Erin Brooks (CAN), who last year claimed third place in the men’s division, as well as Sierra Kerr (AUS) and Sky Brown (ENG, below).
Two-time Rip Curl Cup Champion and pride of Balinese surfing, Mega Semadhi, said he’s looking forward to a rematch with the big names, and surfing alongside Indonesia’s up-and-coming female chargers as they give it their all out at Padang Padang in the heaviest conditions of the year.
“Padang Padang is one of the most amazing waves in Indonesia and the Rip Curl Cup is for the best of the best out there,” Semadhi said. “If you want the opportunity to surf out there for the Rip Curl Cup, you have to be able to perform with the best. And I think these women are up to the challenge.”
All eyes are now focused on a powerful Indian Ocean swell that is forecast to reach Bali this week. Contest directors are monitoring the swell closely, with a potential contest run day of Friday, Aug. 4th looking increasingly likely. Stay tuned to ripcurl.com for the latest event status updates.
The 2023 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang will be webcast LIVE to the world at ripcurl.com and at worldsurfleague.com. Fans can also visit the Rip Curl website to check the official event swell forecast, real-time contest status, and video updates from Bali.
Following is the complete lineup of 24 surfers invited to the 2023 Rip Curl Cup:
INTERNATIONAL SURFERS:
Kolohe Andino (USA)
Miguel Blanco (PRT)
Taj Burrow (AUS)
Nathan Hedge (AUS)
Mason Ho (HAW)
Clay Marzo (HAW) *Defending Champion*
Koa Smith (HAW)
Dylan Wilcoxen (USA)
INDONESIAN SURFERS:
Made “Bol” Adi Putra
Mega Artana
Mustofa Jeksen
Raditya Rondi
Mega Semadhi
Tommy Sobry
Agus “Dag Dag” Sumertayasa
Garut Widiarta
WOMEN SURFERS:
Erin Brooks (CAN)
Lidia Kato (IND)
Ziggy Mackenzie (AUS)
Jasmine Studer (IND)
Sierra Kerr (AUS)
Kailani Johnson (IND)
Sky Brown (ENG)
Taina Izquierdo (IND)
At the Watergate Bay site you can fill your boots with the biggest names in music, but there is also a lot to explore out-and-about in Newquay, a town known worldwide for its sandy beaches and surf scene.
It does get busy but there is plenty for all as festival-goers descend on the town to enjoy the trendy cafe scene, foodie favourite restaurants, booming nightlife and stunning beaches.
Here are some of our favourite places to hit up during your Boardmasters extravaganza …
The town’s food scene is thriving with restaurants to suit all tastes, from day to night, eat in or take away, beach to town-centre. However there isn’t a main street which hosts all the restaurants in one place, they are instead spread out across town. So rather than wandering, we recommend checking them out online first and then heading straight to the place of choice.
Sushea:
Fresh Australian style sushi, and Asian fusion dishes such as bao buns, gyozas and poke bowls. Located on Fore Street.
The Stable:
A small chain specialising in delicious sourdough pizza and pints. Located on the iconic Fistral Beach with mega beach and surf views.
Great Western Surf Cafe:
Gourmet burgers, loaded fries, vegan dishes, buddha bowls, tacos and more. Smack bang on Great Western beach.
Secret Garden:
Artisan pizzas, organic wine, cocktails, local Cornish beers, gins and ciders as well as the best view in town, overlooking Great Western beach.
Gilmores:
Modern Mexican grub such as delicious tacos, burritos and nachos. Seriously yummy plus there’s an onsite mini golf! On Tower Road.
Trendy independent cafes have been popping-up left, right and centre in Newquay over the last few years, and we’re here for it! Top coffee, the yummiest of cakes and some very cool, Bali-esque interiors.
Milk:
Located in the heart of Newquay, Jam Jar specialise in great coffee, organic teas, superfood smoothies, healthy breakfast bowls, freshly baked cakes and bagels.
Nalu Coffee House:
A small coffee house with very chilled vibes serving healthy bowls, delicious wraps and smoothies. Gorgeous interior with major Canggu vibes. Cliff Road.
Sprout Health Foods:
A health food shop and cafe offering ethically sourced food, coffee and goods. The vegan healthy treats are delectable and the courtyard a hidden oasis. Tucked off Bank Street.
Box & Barber:
An award-winning independent coffeehouse serving artisan coffee, fresh foods, cakes, açai bowls, smoothies and more. An ideal pre and post-surf stop off located on Fore Street.
Pavilion Bakery:
Situated directly above the harbour on Fore Street Pavilion serves English and Sri Lankan brunch with freshly baked goods and speciality coffee. A great option to grab a beach picnic from.
The Roasting Room Coffee:
A speciality coffee shop and roastery located on Bank Street overlooking Towan Beach. One for the big coffee lovers as grounded specialises in sourcing and serving many different coffees, all single origins.
Basket:
Serving your daily fix of Monmouth coffee, homemade cakes, breakfast and lunches. Vegan banana loaf, granola bowls, Roti boxes, ciabattas, nasi goreng and more. Tower Road.
As the country’s most famous surf spot, it’s no surprise that there are one-or-two pretty cool surf shops in Newquay. Now these are just a few of the clothing and apparel stores but there are plenty of surfboard shops if you are after the full set-up.
The Beach Boutique & Carve.shop:
Ok so not actually a physical store in the town but make sure you get online pre-Boardmasters to get all your festival and beachwear clothing and accessories as it’s a treasure chest of beach essentials.
MMW at Revolver:
This achingly hip homeware, clothing and jewellery shop sells everything from hand shaped surfboards and stunning Native American blankets to limited edition Japanese Aloha shirts. Not for those on budget! Fore Street.
Surfing Life:
One of the largest surf shops in town with a massive selection of wetsuits, surfboards and clothing from the top surf-brands … Roxy, VANS, Volcom, Billabong, Teva, Reef and more. Fore Street.
Slide & Glide:
If you’re here for the surf then Slide & Glide have got you covered with their selection of surfboards, SUP-boards, leashes and wetsuits. Avqailablek to buy or to hire. On Fore Street.
Surf scene aside, Newquay is also pretty well known for a lively night out. From cocktail bars to large night clubs, there are plenty of bars and nightclubs to suit a wide range of party-goers. Although the bars a little spread out, the main nightclubs are all pretty close to each other so you can easily bounce from club to club to find your scene.
Tom Thumb:
Newquay’s premium independent cocktail bar with over 120 bottles of hand chosen spirits to choose from. The cocktail menu is epic and the interior is very stylish. Located on East Street, start here before heading further into town.
The Dead Famous:
A rock inspired, L.A. style liquor-fuelled late lounge with epic live entertainment, hard liquor and great cocktails. Head over to Beach Road to party hard here.
Whiskers:
The beating heart of the live music scene in Newquay, bringing you incredible live music events, bangin’ DJ nights and an excellent full bar. Expect cool AF tunes and fun party vibes. Gover Lane.
Rebellion Roast House:
Located on Cliff Road, this roast house and ‘Moonshine Bar’ serves up burgers, ribs and brisket alongside an array of cocktails from a Cornish Moonshine Mojito to a Moonshine Mary.
Sailors Newquay:
A 1600+ capacity nightclub hosting busy club nights every weekend. Located on Fore Street with a decked terrace and bay views.
Berties Nightclub:
If you want to dance the night away to the biggest club classics then head to Berties. Lazers, LED lighting, foam parties, 3 club rooms, VIP area – it has the lot!
Although a lot of energy will be spent dancing away at the festival itself, if you want to get away for a few hours to spend time in the sea and do something adrenalin filled then Newquay has a great selection of other watersports and actives on offer. For activities run by professional companies and instructors, check out the following …
Barefoot Coasteer:
Join this award wining coasteering company to jump, swim and club as you explore the beautiful Newquay coastline. Three-hour sessions which take place on Towan Head, a short walk from the Fistral Beach base.
Newquay Activity Centre:
Located on Fore Street a short walk from both Towan and Fistral beach, this activity centre offers surfing, coasteering, stand up paddle boarding, bodyboarding, kayaking and much more. Individual hire, come as a group or sign up as a group.
Newquay has an abundance of golden beaches and on a sunny day the sea is as turquoise and clear as the oceans of Barbados. Once you’ve grabbed some food from town, head to the following for the full beach-bum experience.
Fistral Beach:
Newquay’s iconic beach and home to the surf comp side of Boardmasters. Long sandy beach with the most consistent and best surf. Surf hire available from Fistral Beach Surf School.
Towan Beach:
This is a popular and often busy beach, right in the centre of town and next to the harbour. Identifiable by the island and house linked up to the mainland by a suspension bridge. Surfboard hire available from Towan Surf Hire.
Great Western Beach:
Access from behind Great Western Hotel and at low tide this beach joins with Towan and Tolcarne to create one super beach. Good surf spot with a great cafe on the beach. On beach surfboard rental available from Great Western Beach.
Tolcarne:
A crescent shaped bay surrounded by cliff front. Soft sand, a good swimming spot and plenty of amenities on site. The beach shop rents out bodyboards and surfboards.
Porth Beach:
If you haven’t got the energy to make it to Newquay town then just down the road from Watergate Bay is Porth beach where you can enjoy a swim and an icecream. No surfing here but plenty of sand to flop down on with a book.
