Rob Machado has launched his first photography exhibition at Encinitas, California’s Bliss 101.
“I’ve been interested in photography for years, always taking photos on my surfing trips, but one of my favorite places to shoot is my hometown area in North County,” says Machado. “Because Bliss 101 supports local artists and the community, it’s a great fit to launch the exhibit of the images I’ve taken throughout the years.”
Nice to see Machado branching out. And the photos look good.
Thanks to an “injured heel” Kelly Slater, the World Champion and current number one in the ASP World Championship Tour points race, has announced that the will not be able to surf the Billabong Rio Pro.
“I injured the inside of my left heel in Java and then re-opened it again the following week at Cloudbreak,” Slater said. “It became infected and I flew to Australia to get it treated and stitched in hopes of making it to Rio, if not for Round 1, at least for Round 2. I’ve been in the water since getting it stitched and while I can go straight, I can’t do turns at all right now so I’ll have to pull out of Rio. It’s unfortunate, but I’m just going to focus on healing up as soon as possible right now. Good luck to all the competitors in Brazil and I’ll be watching online.”
Slater’s absence will make the ratings race that much more interesting rolling into the Volcom Fiji Pro on June 3, 2012. The Billabong Rio Pro waiting period starts tomorrow (May 9, 2012). Follow the jump for the official word from the ASP. [click to continue…]
The two biggest points of discussion following the 2012 Nike Lowers Pro finals were Gabriel Medina’s air reverses (many surfers don’t like them) and how unknown Glenn Hall is. The first topic will probably remain in discussion until well after Medina wins his first world championship, but the second seems to have sorted itself out after we all saw Hall move past defending champ Miguel Pupo in the round of 96, Freddy Patacchia in the Round of 16, Jeremy Flores in the quarters, and 2 John Florence in the semi-finals. Yet, even Hall seemed a little surprised by his good fortune:
“It’s Lowers, it can turn on or off at any time in the day,” Hall said. “You kind of have to be on to it and luck has to go your way as well,” Hall said. “I had a few lucky heats earlier in the event and that heat was funny with Gabriel. I thought we were going to have an interference in the beginning and they didn’t call it, but it’s all good though. He surfed well and he won.”
For his part Medina was focused and flawless. Rarely falling and almost always following his airs up with a full mix of turns, Medina was functionally unstoppable in his ride to the solid gold spike.
“This is a very special win and it has been a long week,” Medina said. “I’m going to Brazil now with more confidence and this has been great. . . “I love Trestles so much. “It’s just such a good wave and it’s one of my favorites, I just don’t even have words to explain how I’m feeling right now. I’m stoked.”
The Billabong XXL Awards are the culmination of a year-long event window in which the bravest surfers chase the world’s biggest waves, in search of the event’s coveted Ride Of The Year award. Other categories include XXL Biggest Wave, Monster Tube, Monster Paddle, Verizon Wipeout Of The Year, Surfline Overall Performance and Billabong Girls Performance.
Nathan Fletcher ran away with the big award, Greg Noll showed the crowd (and worldwide Internet audience) his enormous, striped ass and The Foo Fighters played a secret show. Click play to watch it yourself, or follow the jump for complete results, photos, and more. [click to continue…]
It was a big day down at Trestles today as the Nike Lowers Pro marched through just short of the quarter finals in somewhat inconsistent two-to-four foot surf. The highlights of the day had to be in the round of 16 with Gabriel Medina over Brett Simpson, 2 John Florence over Cory Lopez, and Dane Reynolds (above with an after the buzzer stalefish attempt) downing Granger Larsen in an aerial showdown.
“I’ve been feeling really sketchy this event and been having unsuccessful free-surfs,” Reynolds said. “I was feeling better in that one. I had been riding a different board in every heat and I rode this one this morning and just stuck with it.”
The School of Visual Arts in New York City is presenting a showing of Art Brewer’s photos in a showing titled Art Brewer: Surf Evolution.
Often described as “the court painter” for the world’s surfing elite, Art Brewer is known for his mastery of the numerous technical and physical challenges involved in surf photography and the strikingly expressive quality of his images, which some have described as “portals to a vastly improved universe.” Filmmaker C.R. Stecyk (Dogtown and Z-Boys) explains in his essay accompanying the exhibition, “Art has thoroughly examined the sport of surf riding with an unparalleled sensitive ferocity…an underlying introspection is seamlessly incorporated into his works via a technical mastery which comes across as easy and elegant.”
The show runs June 8 – 20, 2012 with an opening reception on June 14, 2012 at 6 PM. Follow the jump for the official word or click to read the same thing on Surfline.com. [click to continue…]
Yep. Gabe Medina got up in the air and do those reverses again. Got ’em on lock. Mark Occhilupo won his round of 48 heat and helped send Michel Bourez packing, but he came in second in his no losers round of 24 heat, so he’s still in it (and at his age). For more details on day three of the 2012 Nike Lowers Pro, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Just a reminder: On May 5, 2012 (yes, it’s Cinco de Mayo) Laguna Beach, California’s AR4T Gallery will host an opening reception for Ben Brough’s new solo show, Lights Out Beach City.
Lights Out Beach City expands on the highly vagrant work imagined by Brough over fourteen years using space, color, cartooning, collage, and painting techniques. Screeching imagery of food, music, coastal living, cinema, sex and landscapes in styles and mediums selected to clash by intention.
Big wave titan Nathan Fletcher has apparently “earned a seat” at the Jagermeister shot slamming table according to this new commercial..
“Jägermeister has always been consumed socially. This product was originally developed for, and dedicated to, hunters that have deep connections to their craft and each other. The “Stronger Bond” campaign triggers stories of this kinship and bonding from the brand’s deep history and highlights that bond amongst this exceptional group of men,” says Michael Volke, Member, Executive Board, Mast-Jägermeister SE.
Because there’s nothing active, hard charging men love more than drinking. Together. As men, man.
The official press release mentions in the headline that there were some “shock upsets” on day one of the 2012 Nike Lowers Pro. The “shocks” they were talking about were another interference call on Julian Wilson (a repeat from last year), Glen Hall taking out defending champ Miguel Pupo, and Nike’s biggest disappointment, Kolohe Andino falling to Evan Geiselman and Tim Reyes in Round 1.
By why focus on the losers in the headline? Sure, we’re bummed we’re not going to see more of Julian Wilson and Kolohe surfing Lowers, but “shocked?” Not really. We’re just glad 2 John Florence and Gabriel Medina were out destroying the place, and we’re looking forward to more of that.
