It’s the New Year and if there was any more reason to get out into the water then here it is….
Santa Cruz surfer and trickster Zoltan Torkos claims to have pulled the first two kickflips ever pulled on a surfboard.
While there is no doubt that the man-with-the-magicians-name did indeed do a kickflip, the questions is: Did he ride it out well enough to claim it?
Either way, it’s as close as we’ve see so Zoltan definitely deserves some props!
You decide……
Ricardo Wendhausen made a claim in 2009 and here’s his attempt
So looks like 2011 could see even more skate moves coming across into the surfing world – keep your eyes peeled on your local beach for some radical moves!
It has been a bit of a crazy week in the world of surfing.
First off, the ASP World Tour hit Puerto Rico and Steph Gilmore was crowned both World Champ and Rip Curl Search Champ Today – what an achievement.
Andy Irons
But then within the space of 24 hours the surfing world was turned upside down with the unexpected death of 3 x World Champion Andy Irons.
The Legend that is Andy Irons
We are still finding it hard to belive that such a talented surfer can pass away so young. There are lots of tributes out there on the web and we would like to add our own condolences to his family and friends in this painful time – and let you guys know our thoughts are with you. Rest in peace, AI, and thank you.
The massive memorial paddle-out in Puerto Rico was a fitting way to give Andy the best send-off from all of his ASP Surfing Tour buddies.
Andy Irons Memorial Paddle Out
Billabong have released a tribute clip for Andy Irons. There’s not much to say about this… The clip is amazing but it’s definitely sad to watch.
They don’t call her ”Happy” Gilmore without a reason. But less than 48 hours after claiming her fourth consecutive ASP women’s world surfing title, Stephanie Gilmore’s celebrations turned to devastation. Her remarkable feat in Puerto Rico, aged just 22, was overshadowed by the tragic news that three-time world champion Andy Irons had been found dead in a Dallas hotel room.
Steph Gilmore - new World Champion
Steph Gilmore broke two world records to become the Women’s ASP World Tour champion for the fourth time in Puerto Rico today.
Not only is the 22-year-old Australian the only woman to have won the World Tour four times consecutively but she is also the only surfer (male or female) to have a perfect record in the professional surfing world, winning every event since her rookie season – an achievement not even Kelly Slater can compete with.
Steph battled it out against Carrisa Moore in the Rip Curl Search final and commented:-
“I actually dreamed this one up last night,” Gilmore said. “Maybe I’m still dreaming. It’s been a monumental day for me. I mean, the best mindset to have in your heats is to be relaxed and calm, and after winning the title in the Quarters, I just felt really calm. So it worked out well and I think I actually surfed better after it was done and dusted.”
In challenging afternoon conditions, it was Steph who drew blood early on, locking in a near-perfect 9.80 out of a perfect 10 for a searing forehand assault on a rare clean righthander.
“I was just really fortunate that that wave cleaned up for me to do some damage on,” Gilmore said. “Even afterwards, I just couldn’t find a solid backup. Carissa (Moore) has been ripping all event long and she’s so dangerous. I was honored to be in the Final with her and to win it, just makes everything that much bigger.”
Suggest you grab a cup of coffee, sit back, relax and watch this 14 minute video clip that shows Dane Reynolds, Julian Wilson, Jeremy Flores and Kelly Slater in Quiksilver’s Cypher Vision Short Film.
Filmed to coincide with the new Quicksilver Cypher Vision Wetsuit, the film was shot at 1000 frames a second with a revolutionary camera that had never been used to shoot surfing or film in the ocean.
You will be amazed at the high definition footage and super slo-mo sequences of the world’s best surfers.
See every drop of spray, their boards flexing when they land big airs, their body contortions, and the unique lines they draw on every wave. It’s high performance surfing as never seen before.
In collaboration with Timeslice Films, Rip Curl took on an ambitious bullet-time campaign shoot in Malaysia’s Sunway Lagoon Wavepool with lead surfers Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Owen Wright and Matt Wilkinson.
Mick Fanning in the Pool
The revolutionary campaign captures surfing in a way never seen before, with the final visuals baring more resemblance to a fight scene from the famous Matrix movies than a promotional surfing video.
The two-day rental of Sunway Lagoon Wavepool allowed Rip Curl and Timeslice to operate in a more stable environment than the open ocean offers. The Rip Curl surfers were repeatedly towed into the machine-controlled waves by Jetski and their operational space was determined by the 52-camera rig, several Apple computers, and external hard drives set up in the pool.
Unfortunately, the image above doesn’t do the video clip and justics – as you miss the true depth of field. So check out the Advert in the video clip below – it is absolutely awesome.
Yep — such a wild experience. It’s so bizarre surfing in a swimming pool.
How are the waves generated?
There are these big tanks behind the back wall that hold heaps of water and they pump the water out of the tanks simultaneously and that creates the wave.
Were they able to generate more power by increasing the depth of water so there was more volume and push in the waves?
They can increase the size and that determines where the wave will break. At a medium size, it hits the best part of the pool and stands up most, and offers the most power. If it’s bigger, they crumble a little further out. It takes a little getting used to, but once you know the personality of the pool it’s the most predictable wave of your life. It doesn’t really break with any power though.
So Rip Curl and Timeslice teamed up to capture your every move in 3D. Was it shocking seeing your style from angles you’d never seen before?
Those scenes from “The Matrix” blew everyone away when they first came out, so to see something like that of myself surfing in general is wild. It didn’t really reveal anything, style-wise, because I’ve seen myself from most angles. It was just crazy to see all those angles in one shot.
Right now I’m done over-analyzing technique and style in surfing. I’m just enjoying riding waves and following my instincts.
–Mick Fanning
We’re usually limited to one angle at a time through cameras and video, but with this technology you were able to view more than one angle at a time of your surfing. How does this benefit you?
The benefits are in the viewing. I wasn’t looking at technique or anything like that when I saw the footage. I was just psyching on seeing it all come together for the first time.
The footage is a world first in surfing. Did Rip Curl take the modelling, simulation and measurement from the imagery and study the biomechanics of your style?
It’s definitely some of the coolest vision I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure it’s more than just incredible footage at this stage, though. I’m not sure if anyone is using the clips to breakdown style and technique.
So you haven’t reviewed the footage from a training perspective, but what are some of the things you learned from a three dimensional perspective?
That I pull some awful heads when I take to the air. Ha!
Cameras all set up ready to capture the action
What did you think when you saw yourself from the front, then the behind on the same maneuver?
It’s just a mind-blowing unique visual the first time you see it and that’s what I took from it. Now that you mention it, though, I probably could go back and look at the footage, and break it down, then take a closer look at what’s going on there with technique and style.
However, in saying that, it’s not a real wave and you probably adjust your technique to compensate for that, so I’m not making any changes after seeing the footage.
Do you think the 3D modelling will benefit your performance with aerials?
I don’t know. All practice helps but I don’t think you can take what you’re doing on an artificial wave and apply it to the ocean where there mores power and elements to take into consideration.
What about rotating in general — shifting your weight, the position of your arms and stuff? I’ve always been pretty comfortable with rotation; it’s height I’m always looking to get more of.
Sports science is big business these days. Is it a direction you want to take your training to optimise your technique and reduce in injury? I go through phases with it. It’s always there in my head but at the moment it’s kind of at the back of my mind. Right now I’m done over-analyzing technique and style in surfing. I’m just enjoying riding waves and following my instincts.
Oakley is proud to announce Jordy Smith as the latest addition to their Eyewear team. Jordy, who has been leading the world tour race for much of the year and is currently second on the ratings, signed the deal yesterday.
Jordy's massive judo air at Teahupo'o
Jordy has been having a stellar run on the World Tour and his future as a world champion looks assured. In South Africa alone he won the Mr Price Pro event in Durban as well as emphatically winning the Billabong Pro World Tour event in Jeffrey’s Bay.
Seth Hulley, the Oakley Action Sports Manager in South Africa, was the person who put the sponsorship agreement with Jordy in place.
“After a somewhat lengthy negotiation we at Oakley are very happy to have signed Jordy to a multi-year contract for eyewear,” said Hulley just minutes after the deal was inked. “This year Jordy has taken surfing to a new level and we think that it’s great havng one of the best surfers on the planet in the best eyewear brand.”
Jordy will join a very powerful Oakley global athlete team and will be prominent in their global marketing campaigns.
“Jordy will continue to spread our Oakley lens technology story globally, said Hulley, “Welcome to the Oakley team, Jordy.”
For more information or to keep in touch with Jordy you can join the Oakley Facebook Fan Page or you can follow Jordy and the rest of the Oakley international athletes on the www.oakley.com website.
We are always getting asked “where can I find some great surfing wallpaer” to brighten up my PC?
Well we have done a bit of a reccy around the web and pulled together a list of favourite resources. We don’t want to steal anyone’s thunder – and it is only right that the photographers get their due credits – but we have included our top 10 Surfing photos.
Surfing Magazine Wallpapers
Surfing Magazine have just launched the October edition and this months shots are particularly sweet.
Surfing Walls has an awesome collection of wallpapers that could easily while away an hour or so on a Friday afternoon (wink wink!). Beach babes, surfing contests and some magazine shots to keep you amused.
The Quiksilver British Surf Championships set for August Bank Holiday weekend
Fistral Beach, Newquay, UK
28 – 29 August 2010
Quiksilver British Surfing Championships at Newquay
Quiksilver are proud to present the Quiksilver British Surf Championships this year at Fistral Beach, Newquay.
The event will be held over the Bank Holiday weekend from Saturday 28th to Sunday 29th August 2010 where the best surfers across Britain including Russell Winter (former European champion), Alan Stokes (UK Tour Champion), Toby Donachie (former British champion) and current British junior champ Luke Dillon , will be competing to win titles in the British Men’s Open.
Gibson Les Paul Studio Guitar Trophy
As well as the title of Quiksilver British Surf Champion, up for grabs is an exclusive Gibson Les Paul Studio Guitar that has been donated as the trophy by brand partners Gibson Guitar.
In other titles Lee Bartlett, Spencer Hargraves and Greg Owen will be amongst those competing for the British Masters Title. Gaby Rowe and Beth Mason will be amongst the female surfers challenging Sarah Beardmore for her current women’s title in the Roxy Women’s Open. Alongside the surf champs the SUP British Title will also be presented.
Live iPhone Streaming Results
This will be the first time that a British Surf Contest will be streamed live to the iphone over a cellular network. So you catch all the live action at www.tiger24.com or on your iphone at www.tiger24.com/iphonelive.
During the 2 day contest DC will be throwing a couple of expression Sessions into the mix with a total prize purse of £500 cash and DC goodies up for grabs.
Edward Martin, DC UK Marketing said:
“We are excited to get the opportunity to be involved with and help support such a prestigious UK surfing event as the Quiksilver British Championships. We are looking forward to working with Quiksilver and the BSA in highlighting the UK talent and to continue to assist and develop the UK surfing scene to be one of the strong forces in Europe.”
This year, Quiksilver’s presence down on Fistral Beach will be joined by Roxy, Gibson, DC, and Monster Energy Drinks.
DC & Monster Energy will be keeping the crowds entertained between heats with demos on the Monster Energy skate ramp. Demo-ing for the weekend will be DC, Monster Energy, and Quiksilver Pro Skaters including Pete King, Sam Bosworth, Dan Mc Dermott, Sam Pulley, and John Bell.
After the success of Quiksessions during Quiksilver’s surf contest last year, Gibson Guitar & Quiksilver are searching again for local bands to play live at the Gibson Tour Bus & Quiksessions Stage during the Quiksilver British Surf Championships at Fistral Beach.
All local bands and solo artists can win the chance to play live on Fistral Beach on both Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August. We’re looking for up to 6 bands and the best performance over the weekend will win £1000 of Quiksilver product. Local Bands should call 0207 436 6800 to register (selected bands will be contacted 5 days before the event).
Quiksilver, Monster Energy, and DC will also be hosting the after parties at the Fistral Beach Bar with live rock bands plus a screening of the Quiksilver 09 Eddie Aikau movie, presented by Monster.
