The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan will be the first Olympic games to feature skateboarding (street and park) and surfing according to an announcement today (August 3, 2016) from the International Olympic Committee.
Professional skateboarder and ISF athlete representative, Neal Hendrix, said: “I’m excited to be the athlete representative on the Tokyo 2020 Skateboarding Commission. It is really important to me that skateboarding culture is fairly represented and protected on this global stage, and I hope skateboarders worldwide will be proud of the show that the best male and female skateboarders in the world are going to put on in Tokyo in 2020.”
International Surfing Association President Fernando Aguerre, who once said he would fight for surfing’s inclusion in the Olympics even if it meant waiting until every current IOC official had died of old age, was understanably ecstatic:
“After decades of hard work and dedication we are absolutely thrilled that Surfing will officially join the Olympic Sports Program at Tokyo 2020. Our Olympic dream has now become a reality and on behalf of the entire Surfing family I would like to express our sincere thanks to the IOC and Tokyo 2020 for their pioneering vision in making this historic decision possible.
Other sports added in the announcement include baseball/softball, and sport climbing. For the official words from both the ISF and the ISA please follow the jump. More details as the arrive.
The Vans US Open of Surfing, the world’s largest action sports festival, wrapped up on July 31, 2016 in Huntington Beach, California with Tatiana Weston-Webb and Filipe Toledo winning the women’s and men’s event in three to five foot surf at the Huntington Beach Pier.
Weston-Webb claimed her first elite Championship Tour victory today by taking out Malia Manuel (HAW) in a tough Final at Huntington Beach. The win sees earned her 10,000 points and advanced her two places to 4th on the Jeep Leaderboard. . . “To be honest, I had a tough week last week because I lost out in the first round of the Supergirl Pro QS event,” said Weston-Webb. “I just wanted to get my confidence back up. I knew I had a tough draw here in Huntington, especially going against Courtney (Conlogue). She is at her home court and she is so amazing out here. After beating Courtney I got a lot of confidence. I had to surf the Final against my fellow Kauian Malia (Manuel) and she has been ripping all event.”
Toledo was equally happy about his QS win.
“I had an amazing week and this win is for all my family, friends, and fans that support me so much,” Toledo added after his celebration. “Competing against Ethan (Ewing) in that final was so crazy, he absolutely rips and know he’s poised with for a big year with his Ballito result and this runner-up. This wave is one that I’m super comfortable in, growing up on beach breaks like this my whole life and now living down the road it just feels like home to me.”
For the official word from the content company that produced this surfing event please follow the jump.
The International Surfing Association will host 2016 Stance ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship in La Jolla, California, for the second consecutive year, December 8-11, 2016. The confirmation of the second edition of the event highlights the ISA’s commitment to the development of Adaptive Surfing worldwide.
For the official word from the ISA, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
It’s nice to see that the corporate surf film has not killed the genre off entirely and that Orange County dereliction remains entertaining. . . even after all these years.
The biggest beach party in the world is kicking off this week at the Huntington Beach Pier with stop six of the women’s championship tour with with Round 1 of the Vans US Open of Surfing.
“The men’s QS Round 1 will run at 7:30 a.m. this morning and then we will run the women’s Round 1 at 11:30 a.m.,” said WSL Deputy Commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer. “It is a beautiful day in Huntington Beach and the waves are looking fun. We are excited to see the opening rounds kick off. Best of luck to all the competitors.”
If you’re interested in watching the guys and girls surf live, please click here. For the official word from the Vans US Open of Surfing including all the details, please follow the jump.
Coco Ho blasted past Malia Manuel in the finals of the 2016 Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro at the Ocenside Pier on Sunday, July 24, 2016 to claim her third Supergirl title.
“It’s all a whirlwind!” said Ho, whose win earned her a third iconic Supergirl cape, and her first since the contest became a QS6000. “I’ve never really been labeled as consistent and to be able to prove that wrong with a third win is my biggest milestone.”
Laura Enever finished in third. For the official word from the Paul Mitchell Supergirl Pro, please follow the jump.
The Artists Republic in Laguna Beach, California is pleased to showcase a solo exhibit by surf artist Andy Davis on Saturday evening July 23, 2016.
Andy Davis has made a successful career through his highly recognizable surf inspired art for over twenty years now. His work has been shown in galleries all over the world as well as translating over to clothing design. His trademark surf art has had a cult following since the 90’s and he continues to produce new works out of his studio in Encinitas, CA. Andy says of his work; “[it has] evolved by years and years of being influenced and inspired by things that make me happy. A big part of that is the lifestyle revolving around the ocean.”
The opening party begins at 6 PM. Artists Republic is located at 1175 S. Coast Hwy
in Laguna Beach, CA. If yo missed the opening, please stop by and check out his show during gallery hours, Thurs-Sat 12-6, Sunday 11-5. For more info on Andy, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Few know what it’s like to survive a shark attack, but Mick Fanning lived through it last year at Jefferys Bay. That’s why it’s all the more amazing that he was not only able to make the final this year (against 2 John Florence), but able to put all those thoughts of being hit by a shark behind him and focus on the task at hand. We don’t think we’ve ever seen anything more gnarly.
“It’s definitely a very different feeling this win,” said Fanning. “There was a real emotional build up coming back here this year. That Semifinal with Julian was really special and it was wonderful to have a heat with him again. Definitely some emotions went into it paddling out and it was just really special having a surf with him out there and both of us come in safe. I’m stoked that I got to come back and right the wrongs that happened last year. I’ve done that now so I can move on.”
We can say this — we’ve never, ever been more stoked for the three-time world champ than we were today. For the official word from the entertainment business that produced the stage that allowed Mick Fanning to perform, please follow the jump.
Shane Jones was out surfing Huntington Beach, California’s Dog Beach yesterday (June 14, 2016) when he cut out of a wave and started paddling back out only to find a body floating in the water, according to a story in the Orange County Register.
Jones, a Garden Grove surfer and maker of Jonesea wetsuits, jumped into action when he saw the body. . . He paddled up to him and tapped the man’s head three times, each time with no response. Jones, who was a junior lifeguard growing up, said his instincts kicked in to get the man to shore. . . “I grabbed him and started charging toward the surfline,” he said. “He was lifeless. I saw his eyes, they were glazed over and blue. I had to get him to shore.”
Easier thought than done seeing as the man weighed close to 300 pounds. Eventually, Jones got the man to shore with some help. Authorities still have no idea who the man is. For the details, please click the link. And yes, we’ll be spooked every time we paddle back out for weeks.
In 2007, the International Surfing Association (ISA) launched a unique, global Scholarship Program that offers financial assistance to young, aspiring surfers from around the world as a way to further their education while encouraging and building their surfing careers. . . To date, the ISA has awarded more than USD $228,500 in scholarships to further the education and surfing careers of 267 surfers from over 40 countries. Thanks in part to the ISA funding, many scholarship winners have gone on to compete at national and international Surfing competitions.
To be a part of the ISA’s surfing education revolution please click the link.
The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan will be the first Olympic games to feature skateboarding (street and park) and surfing according to an announcement today (August 3, 2016) from the International Olympic Committee.
