ISA Confirms Sporting Exclusions for Russia

ISA Confirms Sporting Exclusions for Russia

Full statement from The International Surfing Association below.

At an extraordinary meeting on February 28th, the ISA Executive Committee decided to impose strict sporting exclusions on athletes and officials from Russia. These measures are the result of the ISA’s strong condemnation of the Russian government’s invasion of Ukraine and the terrible and unprovoked military assault on the Ukrainian people.

In line with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) recommendations, the ISA’s sanctions mean no athletes and officials from Russia will be invited to participate or attend ISA events until further notice.
This action follows an earlier confirmation that the ISA will not consider staging any ISA events in Russia for the foreseeable future.

The global surfing community is shocked and appalled by the awful act of aggression by Russia and Belarus’ role to facilitate their invasion of Ukraine. We are unequivocal in our views on this crisis and we stand in full solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. This is a human tragedy that requires us all to take a strong stance and send a message that such violence will not tolerated nor forgotten.

The ISA’s decisions serve to ensure the safety of the public, athletes and officials, and protect the integrity of our competitions. We remain in contact with the Ukrainian Surfing Federation to offer support to the Ukrainian surf community and we hope peace is restored as quickly as possible.

If you wish to help the Ukrainians then donate to some of the organisations who are providing assistance. Cash is the fastest way to help people in dire need but be careful you dontate to a reputable organisation. Here's are some of the organisations who have set up appeals;

UN Refugee Agency

Red Cross Ukraine Appeal

Oxfam Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Alex Lopez

Alex Lopez

Another Case Study where we take a deeper dive into the lives of the shapers we work with here at Daydream Surf Shop. In this episode, we get a sneak peek into the life and shaping career of Alex Lopez, one of the most down to earth and humble shapers we've ever had the pleasure of getting to know.

You might've noticed Alex's last name, Lopez, and yes he's the son of Mr. Pipeline himself, one of Daydream's favourite surfers, and surf history's most stylish, zen charger: Gerry Lopez. Alex is the last person that would bring up this relationship, it's as if he'd rather people not know that so that he can earn his own stripes as a surfer and shaper. Needless to say, Alex has carved out his own unique path in a way that's pretty unique.

Although he grew up on Maui, Alex moved to Oregon when was young and became infatuated with snowboarding. Snowboarding was (and still is) an outlet for enjoying nature; although Alex picked up a couple snowboarding sponsors and worked a little for Volcom along the way. He had always dabbled with surfing but it wasn't until he met his girlfriend, Leah Dawson that his surfing and shaping career really began to take off. Leah has her own incredible story as a professional surfer, activist, and entrepreneur... needless to say, she definitely deserves an entire Case Study episode of her own. Alex has been shaping her boards for over five years and during this time he's been able to hone in on specific models that she's helped refine to allow her to surf with the freedom that reflects her individualistic style. This constant conversation and empirical analysis revolving around refining his surfboard designs is what has accelerated his career into the projection that it's seeing today. Having a "team rider" that's also your partner is great but it really kicks it up a notch when that person shreds every board under the sun from big wave single fins on the North Shore of Oahu to logging micro waves here in Southern California and everything in between.

Alex and Leah now live in Oceanside, CA where Alex is surfing and shaping on a daily basis. You'll catch him with a pretty rad crowd of open minded and talented shredder-shapers such as Ryan Burch who's surfing Rocky Point on one of Alex's boards in the open part of this Case Study. Again, Alex is the last person to drop names like this as he flies under the radar with his ultra chill attitude. One thing that he can't hide is his ability to shape some incredible boards and we are so jazzed to be working with him.

MEO Pro Portugal

MEO Pro Portugal

The World’s best surfers are making their way to Portugal for the MEO Pro Portugal presented by Rip Curl, the third stop of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). The waiting period opens on March 3 and runs through March 13, 2022.

The 2022 CT season is off to an epic start after completing the first two stops on Hawaii's North Shore of Oahu. Surf fans witnessed the return-to-form of the 11-time World Champion, Kelly Slater (USA), who claimed his career’s 56th victory in fantastic fashion at the Billabong Pro Pipeline. The women kicked off the season by making history with the first full CT competition at Pipeline, which was won by local wildcard Moana Jones Wong (HAW).

The second stop of the CT, the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach presented by SHISEIDO, confirmed a changing of the guard with major upsets affecting the world’s best and a crop of fresh talent making their mark on the Championship Tour. Brisa Hennessy (CRI) and Barron Mamiya (HAW above) won the competition and currently lead the WSL Rankings.

Now all eyes turn to the Peniche Peninsula in Portugal for Stop No. 3 as surfers embark on a new adventure. The thumping barrels of Supertubos have welcomed the CT since 2009 but for the first time, the event will happen in winter. Cold water and the full power of the North Atlantic ocean are in store for a dramatic change of scenery after a month in Hawaii.

MEO Pro Portugal Wildcards and Replacement Surfers
Barron Mamiya (HAW) sits at World No. 1 after his win at the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach presented by SHISEIDO and was selected as WSL Event Replacement for the MEO Pro Portugal presented by Rip Curl following the withdraw of three-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA).
Yago Dora (BRA) continues his recovery from his injury ahead of the season and will be replaced by WSL Injury Replacement, Matthew McGillivray (ZAF). Liam O'Brien (AUS) and Carlos Munoz (CRI) sustained injuries at Pipeline and continue their recoveries. They will be replaced by World No. 4 Caio Ibelli (BRA) and the highest placed Portuguese surfer on the Challenger Series, Vasco Ribeiro, respectively. Afonso Antunes (PRT) and Justin Becret (FRA) will also join the men's draw as the event wildcards.

Bronte Macaulay (AUS) will continue surfing as the WSL Injury Replacement for Caroline Marks (USA), who has withdrawn from the MEO Pro Portugal presented by Rip Curl due to medical reasons. Tia Blanco (USA) is joining the women's draw as the event wildcard after winning The Ultimate Surfer competition last summer. 

Rip Curl Onboard as Presenting Partner of MEO Pro Portugal
Today, the World Surf League (WSL) and Rip Curl announced an extended partnership, with the iconic Australian surf brand coming on board as the presenting partner of the MEO Pro Portugal, the third stop on the 2022 CT. The news comes just weeks after the WSL announced that the Rip Curl WSL Finals would return to Lower Trestles in California this September for the 2022 CT season, serving as a reminder of the brand's commitment to surfing at all levels. 

“Rip Curl is one of the most significant supporters of men's and women's professional surfing, and we’re very happy to expand our partnership with them beyond the iconic Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and Rip Curl WSL Finals,” said Cherie Cohen, Chief Revenue Officer. “By coming in as the presenting partner of the MEO Pro Portugal in Europe, as well as two of the most prestigious Challenger Series events in Australia, Rip Curl joins the WSL in solidifying its commitment to the future of the sport throughout all levels of competition worldwide. We look forward to collaborating for years to come.”

By signing on as the presenting partner of the MEO Pro Portugal, Rip Curl will continue their strong connection with the waves of Supertubos in Peniche, a place where the brand took its iconic ‘Search’ Event back in 2009. 

Pressure Builds in Portugal at Halfway Mark Before Mid-Season Cut
The 2022 Championship Tour season introduces a mid-season cut after the first five events, reducing the men and women fields down to 24 and 12, respectively. With two events down and three remaining before the cut takes place, pressure is starting to build for surfers who had a rough start in Hawaii.

The current rankings show multiple athletes in trouble early on, like last year’s World No. 4 Morgan Cibilic (AUS) and his compatriot Owen Wright (AUS), or seven-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and former runner-up in the World Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), all currently sitting outside the cut line.

With events like G-Land, El Salvador, Brazil, J-Bay and Tahiti in the second half of the season, the battles in Portugal will be fierce to climb up the leaderboard and hopefully secure an all-important spot above the cut line.

Rip Curl GromSearch Brings Young Stars to Portugal
Prior to the main show, Peniche will also host the European Final of the Rip Curl GromSearch. 27 surfers from all over Europe will battle in Under-16, Under-14, and Under-12 categories, both boys and girls for the titles. The Rip Curl GromSearch is a real hotbed of young talent, having uncovered future World Champions such as Gilmore, Medina, and many more.

The event will happen on February 28 and March 1, on a location to be decided on the day depending on conditions.

Watch LIVE
The holding period for the MEO Pro Portugal presented by Rip Curl runs from March 3 to March 13, 2022. The competition will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and WSL’s YouTube channel, as well as the free WSL app.

Welsh Wedge

Welsh Wedge

The UK took a battering by storms Franklin and Eunice recently, bringing some sizeable waves along with them. This wedge beach-break was working nicely, with a good crew of surfers and bodyboarders taking it on. The wind was super strong all morning, but at least it was blowing in the right direction. Patrick Langdon-Dark, Logan Nicol and Luke Dillon were amongst the crew threading that day.

New England’s Best Kept Secret

New England’s Best Kept Secret

Meet New England’s dedicated surfers returning to the icy waters off the shores of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island year-round.

The 30-minute film is an ode to everyday New Englanders—moms, dads, doctors, movers, financial planners, lawyers, immigrants, soldiers—who share a love of being in the ocean no matter how cold or how small the waves are.

New England isn’t typically associated with spectacular scenes of sea smoke and fuchsia winter sunrises. Director Greg Shea says he grew up a stone’s throw from the ocean in Massachusetts, but never saw sights like this until capturing them in “Winter Surfing.” Filming took place at beaches across Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island as a powerful nor-easter blanketed the region in snowfall as high as two feet.

“Winter Surfing” explores the magnetic pull that draws surfers to the Atlantic Ocean and the sense of community they find there. Among the surfers featured in the film is Pam Chevez, a multidisciplinary designer, artist and surfer from Mexico City who moved to Westbrook, ME five years ago. Chevez co-founded Maine Women Surf, a collective of surfer women who empower each other and diversify the cold water surf scene.