Meet the Waterman of Tahiti

Red Bull December 31,2019
Surfer Matt Poole takes part in The Waterman: an all-round ocean based competition in Tahiti, French Polynesia.
At Teahupo'o, one of the craziest waves in the surfing community, there is yet another competition that takes place: an all-round ocean based race, Waterman Tahiti.
The Waterman Tahiti Tour is THE standard against which all other “waterman” competitions are measured. Stand up paddle (SUP), open water swimming, prone paddleboard, body surf and lifesaving highlight the versatility and endurance of the athletes. Each year, they train to be able to meet the different challenges and exceed their personal limits. The Waterman Tahiti Tour is a championship measured in points amassed over 5 stages.

Hercules Swell in Europe Unleashes Entries for 2014 Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - (January 8, 2014) - One of the most famous storms in modern history has impacted Europe with massive waves, creating spectacular still and video images in the process. Much of the continent experienced out-of-control conditions, causing coastal damage and wreaking havoc from Gibraltar to Scotland, but a few surfers did capitalize on the opportunity to ride the waves the historic swell provided.

 The Facebook page for the Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards served as a kind of real-time diary for the waves produced by Hercules over the last few days, starting with analysis of the storm forecast and observations of record-level winds and seas, to a gallery of the first maniacal waves crashing to shore, and finally to the best moments of actual surfing on top of the might of Hercules. The best of those action images are now entries in the 2014 Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards presented by Pacifico which acknowledge the greatest rides from around the world throughout the year - as long as they were captured on camera.

The first image to be sent in to the Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards of the Hercules swell as it hit the Azores islands out in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday. photo: Antonio Araujo.

Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau Invitees Announced : ASP World Tour – The Association of Surfing Professionals

HONOLULU, Hawaii (Tuesday, November 5, 2013) - The 29th annual Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, the original one-day big wave invitational surfing event that requires waves measuring in excess of 20 feet, is excited to announce the list of 2013/14 Invitees and Alternates. The holding period for the event begins on December 1, 2013, and concludes on February 28, 2014. The official Opening Ceremony with the Aikau Family will be held on Thursday, December 5th, 3pm, at Waimea Bay.

Aaron Gold at home at Waimea Bay.

After opening the selection process up to peer polling for another year, there has been much movement on the Alternate list, but only one newcomer to the Invitee list: the North Shore’s own Aaron Gold, 31. A dedicated father, quiet charger and shaper of his own big wave ‘guns’, Gold is precisely the kind of surfer who Eddie would have hand-picked.

Surfing photos hailed at the 2013 Red Bull Illume

Surfing photos hailed at the 2013 Red Bull Illume: Zakary Noyle, Morgan Massen and Chris Burkard won the Sequence, Lifestyle and Spirit categories, between 28,257 shots submitted by 6,417 photographers.

Photo; Zakary Noyle

SUP Man, SUP Woman & SUP Grom Awards Begin! | SUP Connect

SAN DIEGO, California -·The 2013 Supconnect SUP Man, SUP Woman and SUP Grom of the Year Awards is here! ·It's time to vote for the person whom you think deserves this coveted title!

This year there is only one round!  Thirty people have been pre-selected by Supconnect in each of the three categories for SUP Man, SUP Woman and SUP Grom.  However, anyone can nominate someone who is not already a part of the original 30 and upon review / approval by Supconnect, may be added to the awards contest.

2013-14 Invited Competitors Announced! | Mavericks Invitational

Season Opens on November 1, 2013
Mavericks Invitational© presented by GoPro has released the official list of competitors and alternates for the 2013-14 season.

On just 24 hours notice this winter season, 24 big-wave surfers will make the trek to Half Moon Bay, California, to test their skill and vie for the title of Champion of the Mavericks Invitational.

Competitors will face the dangerous elements of the frigid northern California waters in search of the perfect ride on massive waves.

This year’s list of nominees was determined by committee of five comprising Mavericks pioneer Jeff Clark, Big Wave World Tour founder Gary Linden, three-time Mavericks champion Darryl Virostko, and respected big wave surfers Greg Long and Shawn Dollar. The list of nominees was sent to last year’s competitors and alternates, who then voted for their top picks.

Video - The world's first surf contest on a tidal bore / Surfer Today

The world's first surf contest on a tidal bore: The Qiantang River is the most unusual wave in the world for a surfing contest. Yet, the Red Bull Qiantang Shoot Out is ready to ride the brown waters of Hangzhou.

Nautica USLA National Lifeguard Championships Returns To Southern California

Manhattan Beach, California: The Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association will have “home-beach advantage” as they look to extend their 26-year winning streak during the Nautica United States Lifesaving Association National Lifeguard Championships taking place in Manhattan Beach, California, Aug. 7-10.

The L.A. County Lifeguard Association has won 39 times in the 43-year history of the event, which attracts more than 1,000 lifeguards and junior lifeguards from across the country competing for individual and team honors.

The team earned the Large Chapter Team title last year with 630 points marking the 26th consecutive year they have walked off with top honors. Monmouth County, N.J., took second place with 613.5 points.

“This is the granddaddy of all lifeguard competitions bringing the best of the best from across the country,” said Ed Zebrowski, Competition Committee Chair for the USLA. “It’s a fun-filled three days of action with competition and sponsor booths at one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.”  More; Nautica USLA National Lifeguard Championships Returns To Southern California

Top Seeds Advance Among Upsets at ASP 6-Star Ford Supergirl Pro : ASP World Tour

OCEANSIDE, California/USA (Saturday, August 3, 2013) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star Ford Supergirl Pro returned to building two-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at Oceanside Pier today, with several ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) surfers dominating their heats despite a shock elimination from current ASP World No. 1 Carissa Moore (HAW), 20.

Malia Manuel (HAW), 19, took out two heat wins today with a hard-fought effort despite the day’s tricky conditions while earning the event’s highest scores. The Hawaiian belted a single-wave score of 9.60, finishing with a combined effort of a 17.60 heat total in the final minutes of her Round of 24 campaign.

“This morning I came down early and had a practice surf and as the tide was filling in my first heat got really slow,” Manuel said. “I had to wait 15 minutes to get my second score and I just had to trust my instincts. This Round of 24 heat was fun, there were a lot more flurries of waves with lots of peaks and I like a little wind. I got some fun waves.”

Is he coming back? Michael Phelps vague about Olympic future

Barcelona, Spain - (AP) -- When Michael Phelps walked away from swimming after the London Olympics, he was adamant about one thing: His career was over.
Now, it sounds like he's not so sure.

Former Olympic and world swimming champion Michael Phelps of the US attends the unveiling of a mosaic installed in his honour at the FINA Swimming World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, July 28, 2013 .

(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

While saying he's never been happier with his life -- and certainly doesn't miss the grind of what it took to become the winningest athlete in Olympic history -- Phelps left the door open to change his mind before the 2016 Rio Games.

"I don't know what's going to happen in the future," Phelps said Monday. "I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow."

In Barcelona for the world swimming championships, Phelps spoke to The Associated Press and other international media organizations in a series of one-on-one interviews set up by his sponsor, Speedo. When asked by the AP, yes or no, whether he'll compete at the next Olympics, Phelps coyly said he hasn't planned that far ahead in his life.

Men’s ASP Prime and Women’s WCT Scheduled for Vans US Open of Surfing Today : ASP World Tour

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Tuesday, July 23, 2013) – The Vans US Open of Surfing is ON for the fourth consecutive day, with Round 1 of the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour (WCT) and Rounds 1 and 2 of the men’s Prime event scheduled to take to the water in clean two-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at South Huntington Beach Pier.

Defending event champion Lakey Peterson (USA), 18, will surf in Heat 6 Round 1 of the

Vans US Open of Surfing today.

Stop No. 6 of 8 on the ASP Women’s WCT, the Vans US Open of Surfing will play a vital role in deciding the 2013 Women’s World Champion. In addition, the Men’s Prime event represents the fourth of eight of its kind globally, attracting the world’s best in search of points towards their respective WCT qualification campaigns and the coveted US$100,000 prize purse.

“We’ve got another full day of competition scheduled today,” Brian Robbins, ASP North America Tour Manager said. “We’ll complete Men’s Round 1 first and will follow with Round 1 of the Women’s, completing the day with the opening Round 2 Men’s Prime action.”

Watch the action LIVE via http://www.usopenofsurfing.com/surf/

Luna Rossa Challenge scores third point / America’s Cup

Update: 1230
Luna Rossa Challenge has collected its third point of the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America’s Cup Challenger Series, after its scheduled opponent, Artemis Racing, was disqualified by the umpires. Luna Rossa was on the upwind leg when the word came from the umpires. The Italian AC72 recorded a top speed of 38.37 knots on the first reach leg of the course.

Tomorrow, Luna Rossa Challenge is scheduled to race Emirates Team New Zealand with the start set for 12:15 pm PT.

ASP Women’s World Title Race Heats Up Entering Vans US Open of Surfing : ASP World Tour

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Thursday, July 18, 2013) – The world’s best female surfers are set to descend upon Huntington Beach Pier for the prestigious Vans US Open of Surfing and the only American ASP Women’s WCT event will play a vital role in deciding this year’s title.
Stop No. 6 of 8 on the ASP Women’s WCT, the Vans US Open of Surfing will not only represent a vital role in the ASP World Title Race, but is also crucial in women’s requalification campaigns for 2014.

Carissa Moore (HAW), 20, current ASP Women’s World No. 2, will be out to take poll position on the women’s

ASP World Title race at the Vans US Open of Surfing.

Tyler Wright (AUS), 19, current frontrunner in the race for the ASP Women’s World Title, will be out to further her lead over the field with a strong result in Huntington Beach. The talented natural-footer admitted that the external elements of the Vans US Open of Surfing including the crowd, action sports festival and consistently changing conditions make the Vans US Open of Surfing one of the most unique and challenging stops of the year.

Surfers named for the Mavericks Invitational 2013/2014

The elite list of surfers for the Mavericks Invitational 2013/2014 has been announced.

The waiting period for the Mavericks Invitational 2013/2014 kicks off on November 1st, 2013 and runs through March 31, 2014.

On just 24 hours notice this winter season, 24 big-wave surfers will fly to Half Moon Bay, California, to test their skills and vie for the title of champion of the Mavericks Invitational.

From Alex Martins to Zach Wormhoudt, the group of big wave surfers that will challenge Mavericks is outstanding and it was carefully picked by Jeff Clark, Gary Linden, Darryl Virostko, Greg Long and Shawn Dollar.  Read more; Surfers named for the Mavericks Invitational 2013/2014: 

Hawaii: Official Athlete Start List Announced for Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships

The Molokai-2-Oahu Paddleboard World Championships (M2O), presented by Kona Longboard Island Lager annually crowns world champions in the two disciplines of traditional (prone) and stand up paddleboarding (SUP). The endurance challenge represents the pinnacle achievement for paddlers around the world, looking to test their abilities in the sport. Race weekend updates and race day coverage will be fed to Facebook and Twitter at hash tag #M2O. Official start list can be found at Molokai2Oahu.com.

The 17th annual M2O on Sunday, July 28, 2013 is poised to display the most competitive race in the men’s SUP division that the event has ever experienced. The women’s SUP field features a record number of talented veterans who are capable of pushing the limits and delivering a close race.

Men’s defending champion Connor Baxter from the island of Maui returns this year after setting a course record of 4 hours, 13 minutes, 26 seconds in 2012. In addition to his speed on an unlimited SUP board, Baxter also holds the record as the youngest male champion in race history, claiming his first victory at 16. Now 18, Baxter will be tested by another young gun also from Maui, 20-year-old Kai Lenny.

Quarterfinalists Decided at ASP 6-Star Reef Pro El Salvador | ASP North America

PUNTA ROCA, La Libertad/El Salvador (Saturday, July 13, 2013) – The ASP 6-Star Reef Pro El Salvador returned to improved three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at Punta Roca following yesterday’s lay-day, completing both Rounds 4 and 5 to decide the event’s Quarterfinalists.

Josh Kerr (AUS), 28, advanced to the Quarterfinals of the Reef Pro El Salvador

while taking the day’s high single-wave score.

The Reef Pro El Salvador represents one of only three ASP 6-Star events on the 2013 men’s ASP Qualifying Series, playing a vital role in surfer’s qualification campaigns for the 2014 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT).

Josh Kerr (AUS), 28, top seed at the Reef Pro El Salvador and current ASP World No. 9, was deadly in his morning heat, snatching the day’s high score of 9.33 for a deep forehand tube combined with a variety of frontside turns. Kerr would go on to secure a berth in the Quarterfinals, but the Australian was forced to put in a hard-fought effort against Costa Rican up-and-comer Carlos Munoz (CRI), 20, in their Round of 16 clash.

Pumping Swell and World Class Talent Set to Deliver at Reef Pro El Salvador | ASP North America

PUNTA ROCA, La Libertad/El Salvador (Monday, July 8, 2013) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star Reef Pro El Salvador is scheduled to commence tomorrow at the world-class righthand pointbreak of Punta Roca and with solid swell forecast throughout the entirety of the waiting period, this year’s event is set to deliver an action packed week of competition.

Stop No. 4 of 6 on the men’s ASP North America Series, the Reef Pro El Salvador represents the third consecutive year of competition at Punta Roca on the regional calendar. Beginning as ASP 3 and 4 Star events, this year’s Reef Pro El Salvador has elevated to 6-Star status, attracting several of the world’s best surfers, including six ASP WCT campaigners.

Italo Ferreira Leads Day 3 of Surf Open Acapulco | ASP North America

PLAYA REVOLCADERO, Acapulco/Mexico (Thursday, July 4, 2013) – Day three of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Surf Open Acapulco presented by Vans saw top seeds take to the water in challenging two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Playa Revolcadero while early-round standouts battled the event’s top seeds.

Brazilian Italo Ferreira posted high scores for the second consecutive day at the Surf Open Acapulco.

Italo Ferreira (BRA), 18, who earned the day’s high-tallies yesterday, returned to form in Round 3, punting the top scores of Surf Open Acapulco competition compliments of his impressive aerial game. Ferreira continued to utilize the lefthand ramps of Playa Revolcadero, this time taking a 9.47 and 9.07 for two fully-committed frontside airs.

“It was a competitive heat because there were a lot of good guys in that round,” Ferreira said. “The waves are kind of small and short and at the beginning I was kind of nervous. I didn’t really get good waves to start but began to feel a little more confident and made those big airs.”

Top Seeds Surf Today at Surf Open Acapulco | ASP North America

PLAYA REVOLCADERO, Acapulco/Mexico (Thursday, July 4, 2013) – Top seeds are set to surf in Round 3 of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Surf Open Acapulco presented by Vans, with clean one-to-three foot (1 metre) waves on offer at Playa Revolcadero.

San Clemente’s Jeremy Carter will surf in Heat 10 of Round 3 today.

Stop No. 3 of 6 on the men’s ASP North America calendar, the Surf Open Acapulco has seen some standout performances from the first two rounds and the event’s top seeds are sure to deliver an exciting day of competition.

Supergirl Pro attracts 96 pro surfers to Oceanside Pier / Surfer Today

The Ford Supergirl Pro is the only 6-Star Prime Women's surf contest in North America and will be held at the Oceanside Pier, between August 2nd-4th.

The largest female surfing event in the world will attract 96 of the world's top female pros, including Bethany Hamilton, Alana Blanchard, Sage Erickson, Laura Enever, Coco Ho, Malia Manuel and more.

The Ford Supergirl Pro is part of the Supergirl Jam Series, an all-girls action sports competition and lifestyle series developed as a celebration of female empowerment.

In the last seven years, the event has attracted top female athletes in skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding, as well as a variety of girl-power activities.

The event supports several eco-awareness and women's organizations, such as the Surfrider Foundation, Girls Inc and Boarding 4 Breast Cancer.