We’ve always loved the idea of lake surfing, but never have we seen it this big and this cold. Dylan Graves takes Vans Weird Waves on a trip to the heartland with guide Burton Hathaway and some of the most stoked surfers on the planet. Watch and be inspired.
[Link: Surfer Magazine]
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Cal Poly surfer Nick Wapner, 19, was surfing Tuesday morning (January 8, 2019) at Montaña de Oro State Park when a Great White Shark snuck up below him and gave him a chomp across his legs and surfboard, according to a story in the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
He didn’t even see a splash. . . “It all happened quickly, but I turned and saw that it had one of my legs in its mouth,” Wapner said. . . The shark bit down on the lower part of his legs around his ankles, and then up to his thighs. In a skirmish that he estimates lasted a few seconds — though his mind was racing and it’s hard to say exactly — Wapner kicked the shark hard in the head and wrangled himself free. . . The experienced surfer said he didn’t feel any pain initially as adrenaline shot through his body.
Wapner thinks the shark was in the 15 foot range. Luckily, Nick got away with only 50 stitches.
[Link: San Luis Obispo Tribune]
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You can’t say we’re not posting the latest surf news. Nope. We’re on this like Naegleria fowleri in a wave pool. Kelly Slater vs. Joel Tudor will never look this good. Even if they hold it at Nland.
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It’s going to be a right proper party seeing the freshly engaged Paul Fisher flicking his wrists for the huddled, middle-aged masses in Indio, California as Fisher plays night one of Coachella on April 12, 2019. Ya kidding?
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Surf Technicians, aka Surf Tech, has partnered with Pipeline legend Gerry Lopez to produce a line of Lopez classic surfboard shapes.
Gerry’s exploits at Pipeline and beyond have been well documented in both print and on the big screen which has made him one of the most recognizable surfers in the world. The winner of two Pipeline Masters as well as being one of the most influential style masters of the short board revolution, Gerry personifies the style and grace that only a true Icon can possess. This new collaboration brings the best of the Lopez heritage combined with Surf Technician’s modern construction techniques. The outcome results in a blast from the past and the performance needs of today. Each of the new model’s represents that classic Lopez style and feel.
For a look at the upcoming boards, please follow the jump.
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Yesterday, December 17, 2018, was a good day at Pipe. Not a epic day, but good enough for Gabriel Medina to prove beyond any doubt that this year he was the best performer in internet-streamed surfing productions and an absolute ruler at Pipeline.
“All my heroes have won this contest,” Medina said. “I’m stoked to be a part of everything here. Winning this event is a little different. I really wanted this one, and I worked really hard for this one so I’m so happy. That was a good final. Julian (Wilson) is the toughest competitor to go up against so I’m lucky I got two good waves. He won in a Final against me a few years ago and I got this one, so it feels good. I really appreciate everyone that came down to watch and I’m stoked to put on such a great show. I’m so happy to be part of history – I’ve put in a lot of work.”
In other news Jesse Mendes (BRA) won the VANS Triple Crown of Surfing title following Jordy Smith’s (ZAF) Semifinal loss to Medina. Mendes collected a fifth place at Haleiwa, a runner-up in Sunset and a 9th at the Billabong Pipe Masters. Mendes is only the second surfer from Brazil to claim the prestigious award after Medina in 2015.
Special thanks to the Vans Triple Crown for allowing us to watch this made-for-the-internet production without having to jump through any facebook and/or registration hoops. Kind of reminded us of the good old days there for a minute.
[Link: Vans Triple Crown]
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Nick Carroll, a writer who surfs well, gives his take on Dirk Ziff’s wave pond in a really, really long story on BeachGrit.com. Deja vu. As much as we love Nick, and cherish his contributions to surfing lit, we again didn’t read the entire story, however, we don’t think he mentioned William Finnegan nor The New Yorker magazine. He did however offer up an epic butter-em-up-then-poop-on-their-plate overview of the place in the last few paragraphs. Here it is:
You ride waves, but that’s it. . . And ultimately, this is dissatisfying. The WSL Surf Ranch is an ideal venue for major pro surfing competition. It’s an epic showcase for pros, and a theme park for good surfers. It’s almost impossibly original, and fun as hell. I’m flabbergasted by what Kelly has done up there at Lemoore; at some moments I think maybe it outdoes all his world championships. After all, people won world titles before him, and they continue to do so since; none, however have built anything like this. . . But as a surf experience, it just doesn’t hit the spot.
We’re assuming you can learn how Nick arrived at this conclusion by reading the entire piece.
[Link: BeachGrit via BoardRap]
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Surf photog Jack English has launched a new “style brand” with his 10-year-old daughter Eden. It’s called Sea of Seven. It goes a little like this:
Driven by unstoppable rhythms, Sea Of Seven is a divergent clash of art, sound and style. Inspired by authentic ocean living and creative surf lifestyles, Sea Of Seven designs custom posters, prints, apparel, décor and accessories featuring Jack English’s original surf photography.
For the official word from Sea of Seven, please follow the jump.
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William Finnegan, a surfer who writes well, gives his take on Dirk Ziff’s wave pond along with a recap of nearly everything wave pool related that has happened in the last four years in a really, really long story in the December 17, 2018 The New Yorker magazine. It starts out a little like this:
The first few hours I spent at the W.S.L. Surf Ranch, a wave pool built for surfing in the farmlands south of Fresno, California, were for me a blur. I was fine on arrival, hiking through a little forest of scaffolding, eucalyptus, and white tents with a publicist from the Kelly Slater Wave Company, which built and runs the place. The valley heat was fierce but dry. House music rode on a light northwest breeze.
Not really sure how the story finishes because we lost interest about three paragraphs in, but you might not. Give the link a click and see for yourself.
[Link: The New Yorker]
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Tim Cook, the man running what is often the world’s most valuable company (Apple, duh!) sent out a photo via Twitter from The Surfer’s Journal because the cover was shot on an iPhone by Zak Noyle.
Loving the cover of the latest @SurfersJournal — #shotoniphone. @ZakNoyle captures the artistry and the athleticism of surfing. Makes us want to catch a wave of our own! 🏄 https://t.co/K1AVbgeD34 pic.twitter.com/HX5QeN72vr
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 8, 2018
The point here being, all you need is a brand new iPhone and you too can shoot photos like this. Seriously, you’re only $1,100 away from a cover shot right now. Get on it. Happy Holidays.
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