Alaïa Open Winter Cup

Alaïa Open Winter Cup

Pedro Menezes (Brazil) wins the Men’s Division in the inaugural Alaïa Open Winter Cup in Sion, Switzerland. Maud Le Car takes the Women’s Division.

Sion, Switzerland – The snow and rain stayed away for most of the day for the final heats of the Alaïa Open Winter Cup. Not exactly balmy, it was still a beautiful and fresh day for the finals at the Alaïa Bay wavepool facility. It was the first event of this magnitude to be held at the wavepool, and probably the first surf tournament to be held while it snowed.

It was top action all the way on finals day, as the surfers fought out some fierce battles to be in the cash and prizes. The finals day featured progressive surfing, some big aerial moves, and speed, power and flow scoring high from the judges. The surfers were in top form, and were not hindered at all by the cold conditions, paddling hard and surfing fast to advance through their heats.

Jamie Veselko was victorious in the super-competitive Kids Division, beating Alejo Valedi and Fransisco into minor positions. In the Junior Division, Kai Odrozola took the win from Hans Odriozola and Axel Domingues.

Jamie Veselko was victorious in the super-competitive Kids Division, beating Alejo Valedi and Fransisco into minor positions. In the Junior Division, Kai Odrozola took the win from Hans Odriozola and Axel Domingues.

The Ladies Division was dominated by an experienced Maud Le Car, who beat dynamic Nadja Erostarbe Beiser into second and Lucia Martino into third place.

The Men’s Division saw the Brazilian contingent rise up for the win, with power surfer and big wave charger Pedro Menezes taking the win from fellow Brazilian Franklin Serpa. Justin Becret had a great day on the opening day at Alaïa Bay but had to settle for third place in the finals.

The Alaïa Open Winter Cup was deemed a huge success, and surfers were stoked to be involved and to be competing in a surf event in Switzerland. From all accounts, it was an incredible experience, at one of the most unique surfing locations in the world.

First-time visitors to Alaïa Bay and those surfers who had never experienced a wave pool before were impressed by the wave’s power and perfection. It was also a first to be surfing in the snow for many competitors. The event was hardcore and all about the surfers, just as the event organisers had promised.

Alaïa Bay founder, Adam Bonvin, was also very stoked. “We at Alaïa Bay are happy that this inaugural event was such a success and that the surfers had a great time competing on the waves of Alaïa Bay,” said Bonvin. “Next year’s tournament will be bigger and better.”

Final Results

Kids
Jamie Veselko (Portugal)
Alejo Valedi (Canary Islands)
Francisco Santos (Portugal)
Kamiel Deraeve (Belgium

Juniors
Kai Odrozola (Spain)
Hans Odriozola (Spain)
Axel Dominguez (France)
Francisco Ordonhas (Portugal)

Ladies
1. Maud Le Car (France)
2. Nadja Erostarbe Geiser (Spain)
3. Lucia Martino de la Arena (Spain)
4. Eveline Hooft (Germany)

Men
1. Pedro Menezes (Brazil)
2. Franklin Serpa (Brazil)
3. Justin Becret (France)
4.Hans Odriozola (Basque Country)

The Alaïa Open Winter Cup, in partnership with the Swiss Surfing Association, is supported by Tudor, Boardriders Alaïa Bay, Quiksilver, Mastercraft, Nidecker Snowboards, Wavegarden, Realfly, Audacia Group, Alpine Helicopters, Toyota Switzerland and Red Bull.

Heat scores can be reviewed via LiveHeats Here:

All the event information can be found Here:

To see the Alaa Bay waves, check out the webcam Here:

Wedge Madness

Wedge Madness

This is Wedge anthology of all the RAW footage from 2021! Surfers, bodyboarders, skimboarders and bodysurfers all going for it at one of the most intriguing waves ever. This vid organised into chapters for the different months featuring The Wedge and Cylinders.

Arbor Skateboards launches new Greyson Fletcher pro models

Arbor Skateboards launches new Greyson Fletcher pro models

Arbor is proud to announce its first two pro models with Greyson Fletcher, with the release of Leave Blood. The new edit, filmed in Greyson’s studio, and at his local San Clemente Skatepark, highlights Greyson’s skills as both a skateboarder and an artist.

Arbor's mission is to reduce the impact that producing skateboards and snowboards has on the planet. For decades now, this effort has been shaped by both the athletes and artists the Brand works with. These distinct collaborators define performance, progression, message, light, and colour for the Brand, as it works to deliver sustainability year-in, and year-out.

Every once in a while, an individual comes into the Arbor family who excels at both art and skateboarding. Greyson is just such a person, and the Brand is stoked to highlight both his raw, powerful skateboarding and deeply personal art in this film. Those passions made these new models possible - the first ever Greyson Fletcher shapes to feature his artwork.  

Film / Edit: Nate Shute
Music: Andrés Segovia “Leyenda”
Photos: Cody Moyles

Follow @arborskateboards 
Follow @greyson_fletcher 

To learn more about the Greyson Pro Series, Click Here:

Following with JOB

Following with JOB

Jamie O'Brien has spent more time surfing Pipeline than the average person has spent watching television. Given that Pipe more-or-less is Jamie's living room this kinda makes sense. Kinda. Jamie has put the hard yards in at the North Shore's holy grail, and his reflexive surfing at the Banzai is a clear reflection of the hours he has spent in the water, a stone's throw from his balcony, or lanai, for anyone who's been to Hawaii.

Repetition can however bring boredom, and while most surfers might consider surfing a different wave or enjoying a well-earned lay day, Jamie has found the best way to tame the *tedium* of seven-outta-ten Pipeline lies in a few extra inches and a whole lot more foam... enter the soft-top!

In the latest instalment of Following, join Jamie as he test drives a few of his foamie favourites at Pipeline and beyond, fully proving that the man is capable of riding just about anything at one of the craziest waves on the planet. Sit back, get the popcorn going and enjoy the latest episode of Following.

Alaïa Open Winter Cup

Alaïa Open Winter Cup

Sion, Switzerland – Despite some minor global challenges, the Alaïa Open Winter Cup is happening this weekend, and the warm-up sessions start tomorrow, 3 December 2021. Surfers from all over Switzerland and various hubs worldwide have begun arriving at Alaïa Bay. The wave pool is steaming with all the red-hot talent warming up for the event.

The Alaïa Open Winter Cup is the first major event at Alaïa Bay, and there is US$75,000 up for grabs in prizes and cash for those surfers who excel in this event.

During the surfing event, Alaïa Bay is hosting the Saturday Evening Party. This party will be hosted by Lunarts, the makers of WooMoon and StoryTellers – with an eight-hour showcase direct from Ibiza.

Despite the party on Saturday night, the Alaïa Open Winter Cup is a hardcore surf event. The temperatures in Switzerland are fresh, and there is even a chance of snow on the final day. Current weather in Sion HERE.

The Alaïa Bay competition qualifications on Saturday 4 December will have a unique format, ideally suited to the workings of the wavepool. First, surfers get to choose their best option, be it a left or a right-breaking wave. Then, each surfer gets a one-hour session with others in which to showcase their skills. After that hour, top scores will be tallied.

At the end of the first day, the top riders will advance to the final day. The format for the finals day will be the standard competition format as per ISA rules. Contest Director is a Swiss-born surfer, Swiss Surfing Association's Dario Müller.

"We're very excited about the upcoming Alaïa Open," said Alaïa Bay founder Adam Bonvin. The 25-year-old Swiss surfer has been the driving force behind Alaïa Bay. It will be great to have the best Swiss surfers here, and we look forward to watching them surf. We are also very excited to see the international competitors competing at our wavepool. This event is all about the surfers."

All the event information can be found here:

To see some of the action, check out the webcam here:

For any queries go here: