SBCSurf.com - News

Lost Surf Cup in Montreal

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:42:00 -0400

Epic Boardshop is proud to present the second edition of Montreal’s premier river surfing competition, the Lost Cup, on September 12th, 2010.

The Lost Cup is a river surfing contested hosted by Montreal's Epic Boardshop and surfboard maker Lost Surfboards from California.

This year again some big players in the surf industry (and some new smaller ones) will be present to help out with prizes for the different category winners of the day.

30 to 40 contestants this year will battle it out through 3 stages of judging, to see who will win the cup back from 2009 winner Jean-Louis St-Arnault who will unfortunately not be present this year due to his year off in Hossegor, France.

We are still taking registrations until Friday the 10th through this email: epicboardshop@yahoo.ca.

New this year: the contest will be streamed online live for everyone wanting to keep an eye out on their favourite Montreal surfers. A website has been created for the competition and will have info as it pours in, such as details on how to log on to watch the contest.

epicpresentsthelostcup.webs.com

Rip Curl's Tip 2 Tip: Chapter 1

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:11:00 -0400

"From Los Angeles to Denpasar, it takes around 30 hours of air travel endurance. Even worse, from Rio de Janeiro to Denpasar, you’re looking at 44 hours. If you’re lucky enough to be Australian, grueling ocean crossings and nearly 2 days of lost surf time aren’t an issue. But after the drive to the boat and the run out to sea, the reality is outer-Indo is still a journey for even its closest neighbors. This is the price tag hanging from every flawless wave and castaway landscape. A fee, however, that’s gladly paid."

For more from Chapter 1 of Rip Curl's Tip 2 Tip Expedition, click here.

OceanGybe Welcome Home Flotilla

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:45:00 -0400

After three years tripping around the world, the OceanGybe Expedition will be returning to Victoria tomorrow. There's a Welcome Home flotilla planned, scheduled to meet the Khulula out at Race Rocks and accompany the crew home to the Inner Harbour. Here's the release, and for more info check the event's Facebook page here.

"As you should know, the OceanGybe Expedition is in the final stage of circumnavigating the planet all the way back to the West Coast of Canada, where the idea was first dreamed. The crew has covered thousands of km's, seen hundreds of beaches and have quite a story to tell about the ocean's sad state. The next stage in their mission is to tell these stories and bring about change.

You have the opportunity to help them write the final chapter by showing your support for the expedition and its mission. How? First, join the crew for their final sail into Victoria Harbour to meet their waiting fans, supporters and the media.

The PLAN:

Meet up with the crew between Race Rocks and the Inner Harbour and sail, motor, paddle (or swim??) all the way in.

How many boats can come? NO LIMIT. The more that show the more the media will see, and therefore spread the gospel of the OceanGybe mission that much further.

Don't have a boat? Tell a friend with a boat about this opportunity to be a part of history and it should not be too hard to convince them to join in. OR, make a posting on this event page and meet a new friend to jump on board with.

WHEN? The tentative date of arrival is Friday, September 3rd. This date may be adjusted depending on their speed down the coast of Vancouver Island. Currently the crew sits in Winter Harbour about to set sail for the Brooks Peninsula.

Also, make sure you make a HUGE flag to fly behind your vessel welcoming the crew and making your statement.

For more info on the Expedition go to and join their group: http://www.facebook.com/OceanGybe or www.oceangybe.com.

The Ocean Gybe Expedition is proudly sponsored by:
The Surfrider Foundation
Sitka
Livity Outernational
Globe
And many more..."

Scratching the Surface Screenings

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:05:00 -0400

Quiksilver's new hi-fi surf flick, Scratching the Surface, will be screening this month in Halifax, Tofino and Victoria. We've seen it from start to finish, and it's super impressive—it's all shot in HD, and it features some otherworldly surfing from prog-surf savant Julian Wilson and a full cast of supporting characters. If you're around, don't miss out—the Halifax screening will also have some special guests from Quiksilver in attendance. The details are below—spread the word.

TOFINO:

Friday, September 10th

Shelter
601 Campbell St.
Free Entry
Prizes & Giveaways
Film Starts at 9 PM

VICTORIA:

Sunday, September 12th

A Surf Sunday Special Event
Canoe Brewpub
450 Swift St.
Free Entry & Outdoor Jumbo Screen
Prizes & Giveaways
Film Starts at 7 PM

HALIFAX:

Friday, September 24th

Tribeca Bistro Bar
1588 Granville St.
Free Entry
Prizes & Giveaways
Movie Starts at 9 PM
With Special Quiksilver Guests

Koreski in Finals of Red Bull Illume

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:04:00 -0400

Congratulations to our photo editor Jeremy Koreski for making the finals of the Red Bull Illume photography contest. His sequence of Peter Devries was selected as one of the Top 5 sequence submissions, and was named as one of the top 50 images after 22,764 images were submitted by 4,377 photographers from around the world. Huge congratulations also go to regular SBC Surf contributor Chris Burkard, whose shot of Peter Mendia in Chile was chosen as the contest's overall winner. The Red Bull Illume is "the world's premier action and adventure sports photography competition." To see the final selections, check the Red Bull Illume site here.

Win a Wetsuit from Body Glove

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:05:00 -0400

Winning a Limited Edition wetsuit from Body Glove? Sounds alright, huh? You're going to have to get witty, though. You'll also need to be a resident of the US—or have a friend down there who'll enter on your behalf. Here's the press release with further details:

Body Glove International has gone back to the lab and drawn upon its 50-plus years of wetsuit manufacturing and created what will be the best fullsuit you have ever owned. We took all the elements you have asked for and put it into this revolutionary new suit, now we want you to name it.

This wetsuit will truly change the way you look at wetsuits forever. Body Glove has used its expertise in wetsuit design, materials and technology that dates all the way back to 1953 to introduce the newest, most advanced wetsuit available today. We spent the last three years rigorously researching and developing new materials and pattern shapes. Our product developers and team athletes like Alex Gray and Mike Losness put these materials to the test and allowed us to develop the best wetsuit pattern, kneepads and zip entry design ever. It features a radical new blend of materials, new external liquid tape, redefined slant zip design, enhanced kneepad design, and new logos. This has lead Body Glove to the warmest, most flexible fullsuit available. Body Glove has redefined revolutionary with this new wetsuit.

Now we are letting you name this history-making suit, and if you name it, at www.bodyglove.com, you own it. Enter your name, email, wetsuit name, and a short reason why your name is the best. We will choose a winning name and the winner will receive one of the first 150 Limited Edition wetsuits hitting the market in the Fall of 2010. You can be a part of Body Glove history forever and score the best wetsuit ever made even before our team riders get their hands on one. The winner will be announced on the Body Glove Facebook page and Twitter in October.

Go to www.bodyglove.com/younameit to submit your wetsuit name and to read the official contest rules.

For more information on Body Glove products and athletes visit bodyglove.com.

About Body Glove

Founded in 1953, Body Glove is a leading, worldwide water sports brand specializing in wetsuits, swimwear, clothing, footwear, accessories, and technology accessories. The company sponsors one of the most respected surf and wakeboard teams in the industry with such powerhouse names as pro surfers Dusty Payne, Gabe Kling, Mike Losness, Alex Gray and Holly Beck and wake boarders Rusty Malinoski, Harley Clifford, Shelby Kantar and Jeff McKee. Through Reef Check, SIMA’s environmental fund, and the Surfrider Foundation, Body Glove works to preserve the purity of the waters it loves.

Moutinho Joins Power Balance

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:59:00 -0400

Christian Moutinho is a new member of Power Balance Canada's team of riders. A native of Brazil, Christian has been a Vancouver Island resident for the last five years. He is a talented surfer and loves surfing any kind of wave, from small Tofino beachbreak to slabs across Vancouver Island and throughout his world travels.

"We think that Christian is a great fit as someone to represent Power Balance in the surfing community of Vancouver Island and Canada," say the Northernites Syndicate, who distribute Power Balance. "Not only is he a great athlete, but is an avid user of Power Balance."

Moutinho is equally excited by the new partnership. He explains, "I think Power Balance is a great product. It gives me the extra edge I need when surfing very technical waves like Teahupoo in Tahiti or even the beachbreaks in Tofino. I feel totally grounded since I first tried it." He adds, "I always make sure I am wearing my Power Balance bracelet to take advantage of the best surfing I can possibly do. I am stoked to be representing the brand."

About Power Balance:

Power Balance is Performance Technology designed to work with your body's natural energy field. Founded by athletes, Power Balance is a favourite among elite athletes for whom balance, strength and flexibility are important. Power Balance is based on the idea of optimizing the body's natural energy flow, similar to concepts behind many Eastern philosophies. It uses hologram technology that is specifically designed to resonate with and respond to the natural energy field of the body.

About Northernites:

The Northernites Syndicate was founded in 2007 to create a launching pad for the producers of conscious, progressive and innovative lifestyle products, including Power Balance. They reach from coast to coast with the ability to supply all Canadians with the most cutting-edge, conscious lifestyle-enhancing products. More information about the company and its products can be found on its website at www.northernites.ca.

Countdown to the 2010 Billabong September Storm Surf Classic

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:36:00 -0400

September, if we're lucky, means plenty of tropical storms that track up the Atlantic coast and push lined-up swell towards the Nova Scotia points. It also means contest time on the East Coast, and the details are out now for the annual Billabong September Storm Surf Classic. Presented in association with the Canadian Surfing Association, SANS, Von Zipper and Channel Islands, the contest is slated for September 4th through 6th, with the month of September serving as the waiting period if needed. The prize purse for the Open Pro is $2500. For information about categories and registration, see the SANS site here. It's only a few weeks away, so let's hope this thing goes down in pumping swell—those Atlantic points can be a thing of beauty at this time of year.

Banana Sundae Contest in Montreal

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:54:00 -0400

Montreal's annual Banana Sundae river surfing contest runs this weekend, on Sunday, August 15. There are 20 spots available for a $10 entry fee, and winners will take home cash and goodies from sponsors Rusty, Rip Curl, KSF and Poplandz. For information or to register, you can contact Olivier Barrette at olivier_barrette@hotmail.com or Martin Guay at martguay@hotmail.com. Here's your chance for H67 bragging rights, with big respect if you show up in a suit like Vincent Vega above.

Canada Gets a Surf Film Festival

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 17:58:00 -0400

The 1st Annual Canadian Surf Film Festival will take place at the Empire Park Lane Cinemas in Halifax, N.S., from September 30th to October 2nd, 2010.

Created by four Nova Scotian surfers, the CSFF will be a celebration of surf films and Canadian surf culture. The three-day event will include screenings, presentations and receptions.

“When I hear about a surf film screening in town, I get excited,” says Keith Maddison, CSFF co-founder. “Everyone shows up and is stoked to be there. So we wanted to create an event around surf films in our community.”

Renowned surf photographer and filmmaker Yassine Ouhilal is also a co-founder of the festival.

“Surfing in Nova Scotia has been around here since the Sixties and with the CSFF, we will honor that heritage by showcasing classic films as well as exciting new releases,” says Ouhilal.

Included in the CSFF will be a competition for Canadians to create short 10-minute surf films, with the best ones premiering at the festival.

“We want the community to be involved,” says Walter Forsyth, another CSFF founder, “and what better way to participate than to make a film.”

Deadline for submissions is September 3rd. For complete details, check out the recently-launched CSFF website.

The CSFF is also partnering with the Surfing Association of Nova Scotia (SANS) and the Coastal Access Committee to help raise awareness of their efforts.

“We would like to see the local surf culture to continue evolving in positive ways and we think an annual festival can contribute to this,” says Maddison. “Plus, if the ocean is flat, it’s the next best thing.”

In addition to festival details, the CSFF includes a forum for surfers and surf culture enthusiasts to discuss surf films and culture and to promote their own surf art. It will be updated frequently in the coming months.

For more information, sponsorship, volunteer or competition details please email info@canadiansurffilmfestival.com.

Paddling Around Haida Gwaii

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:01:00 -0400

Eli Andersen set off paddling on his 16-foot self-made surfboard in choppy waters on the morning of July 23 to start an ambitious journey circumnavigating Graham Island, the largest island of Haida Gwaii. A crowd of well wishers formed on the beach in front of the Haida Heritage Centre that morning to witness the young man from Oregon start his adventure. He was blessed by the chanting of a Haida spirit song to give him luck and safe passage as well as a welcoming canoe song sung by some of the Haida people in attendance.

Located 100 km west of Prince Rupert in Northwest B.C., Graham Island has approximately 800 km of rugged coastline that Andersen will be paddling under the power of his two arms. Eli started his journey heading north up the east side of the island, with its inviting long sandy beaches and a few choice spots for some surfing fun along the way. The second half of his trip will take him down the rugged west coast, flanked by rocky shores looking out to the Pacific Ocean with the continental shelf dropping far down to the abyssal plain just off our coast line. Eli’s journey will be spectacular indeed.

This 29-year-old is not new to adventure, having paddled his surfboard along the entire Oregon Coast last summer, a trip that lasted 35 days. He enjoys the intimacy that this type of slow travelling breeds and said it “captured my imagination.” Though alone on the water, he enjoys the company the corridor offers two miles out from shore, with sea lions and other animals to accompany him.

Look for Eli and his packed surfboard coming around Bearskin Bay to Queen Charlotte sometime around September 10th.

Photo: Jenn Dolen

Win Tickets to The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D!

Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:28:00 -0400

If you're in the Montreal area, we have 5 pairs of tickets to the Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D to give away. It's playing at the IMAX TELUS Theatre at the Montreal Science Centre. Just email us at info@sbcsurf.com, tell us the name of Tahiti's most famous surf spot, and the first 5 correct answers get the tickets. Bonne chance!

PleinSurf's review of the film is here.

For the trailer, click here.

Castles in the Sky in Vancouver

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:20:00 -0400

The new Taylor Steele film, Castles in the Sky, premieres tonight in Vancouver. The venue is the Fifth Avenue Cinema, at 2110 Burrard St. Advance tickets are still available at Sitka Surfboards. Tickets will also be available at the door, provided it doesn't sell out before showtime. Should be a lovely night—see y'all there.

To see the trailer, click here.

Reigning Champ Collaborates with Wayne Levin and Kookbox

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:55:00 -0400

Reigning Champ is presenting a lineup of Wayne Levin's iconic black and white underwater photographic t-shirts. Levin's "Duck Dive" image was also selected by Reigning Champ to be laminated on to custom hand shaped surfboards by Kookbox Surfboards. This is a culmination of three brands that represent three different crafts coming together in partnership to present this special collaborative project.

For the Spring / Summer 2010 offering, Reigning Champ worked with Wayne Levin to produce a lineup of digitally printed t-shirts of his iconic black and white underwater photography. Mr. Levin allowed us to visit his cottage in Oahu to view and pick through a selection of his prints. We chose to digitally print the images on to our custom shirts to get the highest resolution and quality to best bring out Wayne's images. These printed shirts became the showcase pieces of our "vintage surf" inspired line for this season.

Having had the pleasure to also work on a co-branded series of sweatshirts with surfing legend Joel Tudor, Reigning Champ had a few surfboards custom crafted with Wayne Levin's iconic "Duck Dive" image glassed on by Joel's surfboard brand Kookbox. A true collaborative project of three representatives of handmade quality product in each of their respective crafts.

About Wayne Levin

Wayne Levin has spent a career photographing the eerie and mysterious underwater world. Working in black and white, he removes the surface illusions about the ocean and the assumptions about underwater photography.

Levin earned his B.F.A. from the San Francisco Art Institute and his M.F.A. from Pratt Institute in New York. His monograph, Through a Liquid Mirror (Editions Limited, 1998), received the Hawaii Book Publishers Association's award for Book of the Year. Levin received the Photographer's Fellowships from the Ohio Arts Council (1989); the National Endowment for the Arts (1984); and a Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, Individual Artists Fellowship (2006).

His photographs are widely exhibited and are in major public collections including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Museum of Photographic Art, San Diego; The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu; and the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

waynelevinimages.com

About Kookbox

Representing San Diego and New York, Kookbox surfboards is led by hall of fame surfer Joel Tudor. In an industry increasingly demanding high technology, high performance and high volume, Kookbox keeps to the traditional craft of high quality handmade surfboards. Their complete process of shaping, glassing, polishing to the application of laminated graphics are by hand. A part of a deep and rich lineage of California surfing, all of Joel's surfboards are hand shaped and glassed in California.

www.kookboxx.com

REIGNING CHAMP
a division of CYC Design Corp.
Superior Quality, Fit & Design
Hand Built in Canada
reigningchamp.com

More from the Rip Curl Stew

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:29:00 -0400

Here's more from the Rip Curl Stew. This report comes from the folks at Rip Curl Canada:

On June 5th and 6th, Tofino yet again was served up a massive dish of good times at Cox Bay as the Rip Curl Stew rolled in for the 4th annual competition and celebrations. With a packed beach, Monster Mash music under the Monster tent, and surprise VIP cameos by clear skies, decent rays, and the Surfrider Crew, the events went down, as the energy of The Rip Curl Stew reached new heights. The omens were good as a whale spouted and eagles dipped above the cross-stitching madness claimed by the mens pro final and Two competitors won placement in the Cold Water Classic: Peter Devries and Sepp Bruhwiler.

Says Christian Mountinho, Contest Director of the Stew, “Surfing conditions were great and in both days the heat schedule was planned to make sure each division had its best conditions. Riders were able to perform out there with the best waves and safety.”

Becky Ellis, the Event Coordinator, says something was in the air for Noah Cohen, Keegan Varney and Simon Bauer as these athletes were feeling the wrath of some sort of virus (Noah and Keegan had just gotten back from a trip to Indo with no time to recover before the Stew. Keegan had a horrible ear infection as well, but they both seemed to step up their game and make it pretty far in the competition.) These phenoms earned high-scale kudos for putting forth strong effort through the turmoil and still surfing.

It was a close battle during the Women’s Pro between Leah Oke and Tamarah Stephens, but Leah came out with some cleaner maneuvers through the finals. And when the stars came out, with local DJs Vinyl Ritchie, Small Town DJ, and Mat the Alien, party animals were spotted, zinc a-glowing, in various hot tubs and in several wolf packs between the bonfires, rows of cabins, Long Beach Lodge and the official Stew Party. All good.

The Surfrider Foundation Crew of Volunteers were in fine form during the various Stew events, demonstrating STEWardship for our revered beaches, and successfully raising a great amount of money, (thanks to generosity of sponsors, participants and the good-folk.) Says Haley Haggerstone of Vancouver Surfrider Chapter, “I do believe the evening was a huge success. We raised a substantial amount of money for the Vancouver and Vancouver Island Chapters of Surfrider Foundation. The silent auction tallied at $3600. Thanks to everyone for the support!"

A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO STEW SPONSORS:
This event is continuously possible only because of your support!

RIP CURL STEW SPONSORS INCLUDE: Monster Energy, Arbor, SBC Surf Magazine, Dose.ca, Free and Easy Traveler, Sitka, Long Beach Lodge, Barefoot Wine, Dakine, Spy, Lighthouse Brewery, Surfrider Foundation.

WHAT THE GOOD FOLKS HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE STEW:

“Another amazing time at the Rip Curl Stew. Sunshine, good waves, great times. Can't wait for next year.”

-Daryl Trinidad - Spy Canadian Marketing Manager

“Free & Easy Traveler is officially ‘Stewed’ after the Tofino weekend at the Rip Curl surf comp. The waves, the beach, the parties were all epic and we were extremely stoked to be part of the weekend. Looking forward to round 5 in 2011.”

-Rob Campbell - Free & Easy Traveler

"Rip Curl Stew 4, again topped last year. The support from Tofino locals, from brands and from the surf community was amazing. Add that to sunshine for 3 days and a pretty consistent June swell made this years Stew a weekend to remember. We are happy to support and can't wait for Stew 5. Thanks to Rip Curl and all the other people involved."

-Steve Thorp, SPY Optic

SEE YOU ALL FOR STEW 2011: Hi 5 EDITION!

For Further Information, Please Contact:
Rip Curl Canada
Becky Ellis
Rip Curl Stew Event Coordinator
bellis@ripcurl.com
604.731.9000

180 South Screens in Victoria

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:24:00 -0400

180 South, the new film from Patagonia and Chris Malloy, will be premiering outdoors on Sunday, June 13th at HtO in Victoria. It should be a super fun summer night, with live music from Mike Hann, Matt Lemay and Tyler Harvey and a beer and wine garden presented by Vancouver Island Brewery and Barefoot Wine. Patagonia Ambassadors Dan Malloy, Keith Malloy and Mary Osborne will be there, and your ticket gets you into a raffle to win one of Patagonia's R4 wetsuits. Tickets are $10 at HtO or $15 at the door, with all profits going to the Surfrider Foundation. The film is excellent and word is that the tickets are going fast, so if you're on the South Island make sure you swing by the shop and get yours ASAP. It's a 19+ event—don't forget to bring your ID.

For the 180 South trailer, click here.

For the HtO site, click here.

Rip Curl Stew Runs This Weekend

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:25:00 -0400

Yep, it's that time again. Though it hasn't been very summery lately, the annual Tofino summer surf fest happens this weekend at Cox Bay. Becky Ellis from Rip Curl Canada sent us the following release:

Now four years strong, the Rip Curl Stew is a two-day, judged surf contest held in the heart of Cox Bay, Tofino, BC. After four successful years, with 90 competitors and 750 visitors last year, and with the fever growing steadily, Rip Curl Canada and a team of eager sponsors are ready to serve up even more stew! Check out the live beach entertainment, surfboard and wetsuit demos, a skateboard ramp on the beach, and activities for kids. The contest will include 7 categories, including open categories for men, women and children, allowing surfers at all levels & ages to showcase their talent!

Post-event celebrations will be kickin’ it live into the night, with local DJs Vinyl Ritchie, Small Town DJ, and Mat the Alien, who will be performing his visual DJ set for the first time. With the estimated number of competitors in attendance being close to 100 this year, it is lining up to be an unforgettable weekend! Along with the opportunity for up & coming surfers to showcase their talent, some of the well-known athletes invited to compete include Peter Deveries, Leah Oke, Shannon Brown, Noah Cohen, Reid Jackson, Sepp & Raph Bruhwiler. Already we have more cash and prize money than any other surf contest in Canada or the Pacific Northwest! Along with free admission for spectators, Rip Curl & event sponsors will be giving out tons of great prizes all weekend! For the competitors, there will be $20,000 worth of cash and prizes along with prize packs filled with amazing goods. Oh, and the event theme? “Stew” will be readily available on the beach, by donation to feed the masses, with all proceeds going to non-profit, Surfrider foundation.

First Prize Mens: $5,000 First Prize Womens: $1,500

The competition is open to all ages and includes these categories:

Men's Pro -Open
Women's Pro -Open
Junior Boys -18 and under
Junior Girls -18 and under
Long Board - Open
Masters - 40 and over
Mixed Groms - 14 and under

RIP CURL STEW SPONSORS INCLUDE:

Monster Energy, Arbor, SBC Surf, Dose.ca, Sitka, Long Beach Lodge, Barefoot Wine, Dakine, Spy, Lighthouse Brewery, Free & Easy Traveler, Surfrider Foundation.

LOCAL ROOTS BEARING INTERNATIONAL FRUITS

Looking into the future Rip Curl feels strongly that this event will bring the surf culture of Vancouver Island’s past, back to life with a realistic goal; to continue to develop homegrown athletes into those who compete at a world-class level. If you haven’t heard Rip Curl is the first wetsuit company to bring to the market a power-heated wetsuit. This Wetsuit is called H-bomb and is available at HTO and Pacific Boarder.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Rip Curl Canada
Becky Ellis
Event Coordinator
bellis@ripcurl.com
604.731.9000

Want a Free Trip to Bali or Brazil?

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 12:50:00 -0400

Our friends at Beach Travellers are running a photo contest that could win you a free trip to Bali, Thailand, Costa Rica or Brazil. All you have to do is post photos on the company's Facebook fan page, and you've got a shot to win the Grand Prize or a monthly prize pack that includes Spy Optic shades, some Reef swag and $300 off a future Beach Travellers trip.

For more about the contest, click here.

For the main Beach Travellers site, click here.

Surf Sister's Summer Surf Camps

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 02:30:00 -0400

Surf Sister Surf School has announced the dates for its 2010 summer surf camps. Here's the press release with all the necessary information for hopeful surfettes:

"Billabong Girls Surf Camp is a weekend clinic with a three hour class each day for two days. Each day Surf Sister instructors will teach you everything you need to know to start surfing. We'll cover proper surfing technique, surfing etiquette, equipment and ocean safety. We leave lots of time each class to hit the surf and practice your new skills. Classes are for girls ages 12 and up. Billabong will be providing fantastic prizes for every participant. Everyone will get a free T-shirt and other goodies such as stickers, hats, purses, key chains, and much more."

Dates:

June 26-27
July 10-11
July 24-25
Aug 14-15
Aug 28-29
Sept 11-12

Location:

625 Campbell St.
Tofino, B.C. V0R 2Z0

Booking:

Online at www.surfsister.com, or call toll free 1-877-724-SURF.

About Surf Sister

Surf Sister was founded in 1999 to promote women's surfing in Tofino and worldwide. Surf Sister's goal is not to exclude men from our lessons, rather it's to make sure that women feel included when trying surfing in Tofino for the first time. Surf Sister introduces women (and men!) of all ages and abilities to the sport of surfing in a safe, fun, and supportive environment, and offers advanced technique classes too. We learn and play on beautiful beaches near Tofino, British Columbia—rated as some of the most spectacular in the world.

13 Barrels in 6 Minutes

Mon, 24 May 2010 13:16:00 -0400

The surf is slowing down a bit these days, but there's tons of good stuff on the Internets right now to keep your stoke alive. Here's one of them—a link that Raph Bruhwiler just sent us to this new video of him surfing some of the wilderness spots on the west coast of Vancouver Island. 13 barrels in 6 minutes, along with a bunch of other super-fun looking waves and some requisite wildlife shots. Also, bonus points for the Trooper soundtrack. You can't go wrong with Canadian classic rock, especially on May Two-Four.

Stew to Serve as Trials for CWC

Mon, 17 May 2010 13:43:00 -0400

The upcoming Rip Curl Stew in Tofino will be functioning as a trials event for this fall's O'Neill Cold Water Classic Canada. Here's how it breaks down, via CWC Canada Event Organizer Marc Fuller:

"The top 2 finishers in the Rip Curl Stew will receive entry into the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Canada main event, with all the remaining surfers being seeded according to their standings at the Stew. If the full field of 144 (142 + the top 2 surfers from the Stew) is not realized by the closing date, those seeded surfers from the Stew will gain entry into the O'Neill Cold Water Classic Canada according to their placing in the Stew."

Makes sense, right? Two from the Stew will be in for sure. If there end up being 10 spots open because only 132 international guys show up, the top 10 from the Stew all get seeded into the main event.

Rip Curl Sample Sale in Vancouver

Sun, 16 May 2010 23:18:00 -0400

If you're in Vancouver, Rip Curl is running a sample sale from May 18th to the 20th at the Rip Curl Head Office. The address is 1525 West 3rd. Here's the email we got about the event:

"It's time. The sun is out. Boardies, bikinis, shorts, dresses. Come down and check it out. Ridiculous prices, we need to sell the goods. We will have bigger sizing out for the phat kids, and tons of stock. This by far will be our best sale. Pass on the message."

Peter Devries on Innersection

Sun, 09 May 2010 16:23:00 -0400

Peter Devries and SBC Surf photo editor Jeremy Koreski have collaborated on a submission to Taylor Steele's innersection.tv project. The surfing in the resulting clip is absolutely insane. Click here to watch, comment and vote for Devries's inclusion in Innersection's final cut. Nice work, boys, you're doing the North Country proud.

Cath Bruhwiler in MX

Tue, 04 May 2010 16:54:00 -0400

Our friend Catherine Bruhwiler sent us this YouTube clip from her home-away-from-home in Mexico. Watching it this morning, we were having some acute wave envy for the point at 0:50. Thanks for the link, Cath!

Ocean Minded Launches New Site

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:02:00 -0400

Ocean Minded, Inc, a leading designer and manufacturer of ocean lifestyle footwear, apparel, and accessories, has announced the launch of their new company website, www.oceanminded.com.

As Ocean Minded continues to expand and reach out to different markets, the newly updated website was designed to represent the brand’s four pillars—quality, authenticity, responsibility, and community. To create this new look and feel, Ocean Minded worked closely with Rob Rhyne Multimedia to construct the website’s design and development. “I'm always proud to deliver a project the client is happy with, but to be able to do so for a company that's built around respect for the ocean and environment is more than I could ask for,” Rob Rhyne stated.

“The update and re-launch of our website has been a focus as we segue further into the outdoor and lifestyle markets,” said Andrew Palmer, Ocean Minded’s general manager. “We want to continue to engage with our partners and customers in an accessible, genuine way. We’re very pleased that the new Ocean Minded website is doing just that,” he said.

The easy-to-navigate site allows visitors the ability to browse new products, learn more about the brand’s ambassadors, explore environmental efforts, and stay informed with blog and twitter updates. With the site now featuring a store locator and downloadable media, getting involved in the Ocean Minded community has never been easier. Additionally, visitors are now able to sign up for an e-newsletter, which also allows them to be eligible to win free merchandise (see the website for official rules and details).

To view the new site please visit: www.oceanminded.com

For more information on Rob Rhyne Multimedia visit: www.biglike.com

Be Ocean Minded

That simple idea is the foundation of our company. Being ‘ocean minded’ and living an ‘ocean lifestyle’ begins with the inspiration and allure that the world’s oceans and beaches offer each one of us. The Ocean Minded™ brand enables an individual to identify, visualize, and embrace their personal beach and water-oriented passions in the course of their daily adventure.

Live. Protect. Respect.

We can no longer deny that our planet is rapidly becoming a crowded and polluted place. Ocean Minded believes we should utilize recycled and sustainable materials in our footwear, apparel, and accessories whenever possible, and we consistently strive to achieve this.

Additionally, we feel that as both a corporation, and a group of individuals, it is essential to Live, Protect, and Respect our environment. Since 1996, we have been organizing community beach clean-ups around the world, and educating our customers on the importance of leaving their chosen playgrounds in better condition than when they were found.

Our belief that everything eventually ends up in the ocean has led us to host additional clean-ups in the mountains, as well as on the banks of inland rivers and lakes.

These values are the cornerstones of our brand, and we invite you to Be Ocean Minded.

Day Five at the Cold Water Classic Scotland

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 12:02:00 -0400

Despite howling winds, pouring rain and freezing cold temperatures, it was the surf that took center stage on this fifth day of competition at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland.

The round of 48 concluded today in a solid 5 to 6 foot swell at Thurso East, and as the surfers emerged from the water they might have been feeling the chill, but their enthusiasm was warming.

“There’s a certain thrill in this,” said last year’s Cold Water Classic Series winner Blake Thornton who went through to the round of 24. “You expect this rain, cold, and all of it with Scotland,” he said. “And it’s worth it for the waves and for the experience.”

Worth it perhaps as well for the $50,000 that is on offer for the series winner. “I loved travelling to all these new places last year,” said Blake. “And of course to win the $50,000!”

Despite the challenging conditions on offer up here in the north of Scotland, the surfers at this stage of the competition were making the most of them, as the 6 Star ASP event gears up for the closing stages of competition.

The standout performance of the morning came from the Santa Cruz local Nat Young who in his first heat of the day in the round of 96 scored an 8.50 and 7.17 on waves that at first glance would not have appeared to offer scores like that.

“It’s definitely cold out there with the howling winds, but it can also be quite fun on some of the waves coming through,” said Nat.

The afternoon show came from New Zealander Jay Quinn who then managed to knock out Nat Young in the round of 48 with a huge combined score of 18.34.

“To be honest if there were conditions like this back home, I would not even get in the water,” said Jay. “But once you get out there, it’s not as bad as it looks.”

And he made it look much better than that with a 9.67 scoring wave, which included a massive air. “I wanted to get a back-up wave after my 8.67. And then suddenly I got a 9.67,” he said.

Also putting on a show for the local community – an impressively large number of which braved the elements to watch the spectacular display of surfing on their home break – was the young Hawaiian John John Florence.

“This is the coldest place I have ever been in my life,” said John John, shivering after his heat in the shelter of the local cowshed. “I don’t like surfing with a hood on at all but every time I go under water it gives me such a headache it’s so painful,” he said. “And if it actually snows tomorrow that is going to be interesting…”

As well as forecast snow, tomorrow also looks to bring an ease in conditions with lighter winds and hopefully the chance of some classic Thurso East.

For more, visit www.oneill.com/cwc.

Day Two of the Cold Water Classic Scotland

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 16:00:00 -0400

Scottish surfer Chris Noble today made history as the first local competitor to ever come through this first round of the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland in the freezing waters of the most northerly event in professional surfing.

Finishing top of his heat ahead of Brazilian surfer Ricardo Dos Santos, Chris was celebrating on the beach with a host of fans…and his Scottish flag.

“It’s only the first round,” he said. “But it feels like I won the event or something!” said Chris. “I think the difference this year was that there was no pressure on me,” he said. “I have a kid now, and we are expecting a second kid, so whereas surfing used to be the be-all-and-end-all for me, I now have different priorities so there is less pressure. I just get to go out there and have fun.”

And that he looked like he was doing, making the most of the 4-foot offshore clean conditions at Brims Ness. “I’ve surfed out here for about 10 years,” said Chris. “And even though I am used to the cold, I still have my earplugs in against the cold water and the wind.”

After a sunny warm start to the 6 Star ASP event yesterday, the 6.30 a.m. call for a 7.30 a.m. start this morning was a little bit more crisp as the skies clouded over and the temperature significantly dropped.

Among those feeling the cold up here is the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania winner Stuart Kennedy: “I didn’t mind the cold in Tassie,” said the Australian from Lennox Head. “Temperature-wise it’s paradise over there compared to here. This is freezing. I have a 5/4/3 wetsuit and two 4/3’s so I came prepared. In the water my body is ok, but my toes still get frozen even in my boots,” he said.

However having seen the surf up in these parts, he is willing to brave the cold. “I’ve seen footage of Thurso East and hopefully we will get that working while we are out here. It looks like home on a fun day.”

Despite his victory in Tasmania a few weeks ago Stuart has not been amped off his win. “It didn’t really feel like I won an event,” he said. “Straight from my win I got in the car, drove to Launceston airport in Tasmania, and got on the plane for Melbourne to go straight into Bells!”

The second day of competition here in Thurso, Scotland, saw the event finish the round of 128 in smaller but clean conditions at Brims Ness. “The swell dropped today – but it was luckily enough to finish off this round,” said contest director Matt Wilson.

“The forecast looks like it’s going to pick up tomorrow so we will probably be starting here at Brims again in the morning,” said Matt. “But if it holds good we should hopefully be surfing Thurso East in the afternoon.”

The next call will be at 7a.m. tomorrow morning, April 15.

WATCH THE O’NEILL CWC SCOTLAND LIVE AT www.oneill.com/cwc.

Day One of the Cold Water Classic Scotland

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:51:00 -0400

With the sun shining, a solid three to four foot swell at Brims Ness and light winds, this was no ordinary day at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland.

“As we say up here: don’t blink,” said event Amabssador Andy Bain. “These conditions can change so quickly – but it’s great while it’s here.”

It was an early start on the first day of this second stop on the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series in Thurso - the northernmost town on the British mainland.

With a 6.30 a.m. call, the surfers were in the water for the first heat of the round of 128 at 7.30 a.m. as the sun was still burning off the early morning mist.

“It’s a really beautiful area up here,” said Nicolaus Van Rupp, who cruised through top of his heat in this first round. “It’s my first time up here. But I am loving it. It’s so nice to have a different experience on the tour with the cold water. It makes for a different atmosphere – plus with the perfect slabs up here, it’s amazing.”

Whilst the conditions might have been peaceful, the atmosphere in the water was of course anything but with surfers battling for valuable points from this 6 Star ASP Event, as well as vital points on the O’Neill CWC Series rankings – for the chance to win $50,000 at the end of the Series in October.

“I always heard stories about Brims, with people snaking each other because the peak is so small,” said Nicolaus Van Rupp. “It’s really intense when you get out there, you are so close to each other, you are almost breathing up each other’s necks,” he said.

As the tide changed, and the perfection that can be seen at Brims diminished slightly, contest director Matt Wilson made the call to stop the round of 128 at heat 8.

“This is what we expected from today,” said Matt. “Clean 3 to 4 foot surf – a good way to get this event started this year.”

“It looks from the charts at the moment that we could be at Thurso East for a couple of days,’ said Matt. “It’s always good and reassuring to have Brims as a back up though especially as the swell that’s coming in looks like its bringing a bit of wild weather with it too.”

THE O’NEILL CWC SCOTLAND WILL BE SHOWN LIVE AT www.oneill.com/cwc.

Sitka Hosts Ladies Night for Women in Need

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:18:00 -0400

Sitka will host an evening to collect clothing and accessories for the Victoria chapter of Women in Need (WIN) on Wednesday, April 14th, from 7 – 10 p.m. at 538 Yates St. in Victoria. The event, coined ‘Ladies Night,’ is a girls-only event to bring females together to enjoy refreshments, entertainment, discounts and to collect donations for WIN. Girls who bring a donation for WIN will receive 30% off of Sitka clothing and 20% off of other brands of clothing. There will be games to win larger discounts and prizes for the largest donations. Wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be served with cheese from Hillary’s Cheese Company. SITKA, Insight and Arc Salon will provide prizes, and Annie Nolan will provide musical entertainment for the evening.

About SITKA

SITKA was born from the West Coast of Canada where the mighty Sitka Spruce calls home. Like the Sitka Spruce gravitates to the ocean and flourishes, so too does the SITKA brand. We are a brand of like-minded individuals that are inspired by the ocean and it’s surrounding environment. SITKA collaborates with artists, surfers, skaters and all those that share the same passions to produce an active lifestyle brand that is true to our roots. The majority of our garments are produced with organic cottons and a selection are produced with bamboo as sustainability and fair-practice are two of the cornerstones of our business beliefs.

About Women in Need

The Victoria Women in Need Community Cooperative is an enterprising, not-for-profit organization that meets social goals through business ventures. WIN is 100 percent self-funded. Revenues from our three WIN Resale Shops finance our operations and our good works. Surplus revenue is used to fulfill our goal of creating opportunities for women to become self-sufficient.

For more information, please contact:

Mel Greene – Director of Communications
mel@sitkasurfboards.com
250-385-7873

Slater Wins At Bells

Sun, 11 Apr 2010 21:37:00 -0400

Kelly Slater, 38, the former nine-time ASP World Champion, claimed his fourth Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by SNICKERS title over reigning two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning, 28, in clean three-to-four foot waves at the backup venue of Johanna Beach. Visit the the Quiksilver blog here for the full story.

Sepp Bruhwiler x 5'6" x 18 1/4"

Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:52:00 -0400

Here's a brand-new clip of Sepp Bruhwiler surfing near home on a slidey little 5'6".

For more, visit Sepp's YouTube channel here.

Stuart Kennedy Wins CWC Tasmania

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:11:00 -0400

In some of the best conditions this competition has seen so far, Stuart Kennedy took out the 2010 O’Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania in emphatic style with the highest combined heat total of the event.

“I guess I just got super confident towards the end,” said Stuart who was surfing in his first ever 6 Star ASP event final. “I was really nervous out there,” he said. “But I was almost crying when I got that 9.5”

The 20 year old from Lennox Head, Australia scored 18 points in the final heat to beat the sublime talent that is Wiggolly Dantas, and formally announce his arrival on surfing’s world stage.

“I’ve been training really hard recently,” said Stuart. “I guess I thought it was time to grow up and start trying to win.”

As well as doing just that and walking away with the $20,000 prize money, Stuart also picked up the Tasmanian Tiger trophy – a carved wooden sculpture that every surfer has been eying up over the week.

And to top it off, Stuart now sits in the in the lead on the Cold Water Classic Series in line for the $50,000 prize money for the series winner.

“I am definitely going to Scotland for the next event on the series,” said Stuart. “Then after that I will have to see where I am at.”

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series has a habit of producing epic conditions for the finals in every event in every corner of the world. And here in Tasmania was no exception. “It’s some sort of surfing utopia out there,” said surfer and commentator Sam Lamiroy.

Three meter swell, strong offshore winds and right handers peeling almost all the way to the beach from way out to sea provided the perfect platform for some of the most talented young surfers in the world to showcase their skills.

“The conditions out there are amazing.’ said Uruguayan Marco Giorgi, who yesterday defeated Jordy Smith, and this morning won an awesome quarterfinal against Royden Broyson before being knocked out by eventual winner, Stuart Kennedy, in the semis.

Whilst Giorgi is off to Bali and choosing to avoid the cold of Scotland; “I don’t like all the layers and hoods and everything,” he said, fellow semi finalist and World Tour Surfer Chris Davidson, has decided to enter to chase the cold wild conditions in the hope of winning the $50,000 prize money. “I am not afraid of the cold,” said Chris.

“It was so good to come over here as a warm up for Bells. There were just no waves in my semi final so I was a bit disappointed to not get to the final,” he said. “I really wanted that Tasmanian Tiger trophy. But now I am definitely going to try to enter Scotland and see if I can go for that $50,000,” he said.

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series now heads up to the northernmost event in professional surfing in Thurso, Scotland from April 13 – 19. And just off the back of one of the coldest and longest winters in Europe there is every possibility that this will be the coldest event in professional surfing as well.

For more photos and videos, visit www.oneill.com/cwc.

Day Four at the CWC Tasmania

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:58:00 -0400

In stark contrast to yesterday’s perfection, heavy rain, strong winds, and freezing temperatures reminded all involved that this is indeed the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series.

“I went to bed last night and looked up at the stars and thought today was going to be a good day,” said World Tour surfer Chris Davidson, who came top of his heat in the round of 48 this morning. “Then I was woken up at 5 am from the rain pouring down on my caravan as this huge squall came through.”

It was not the easiest day for the surfers with the conditions on offer, and to add to the ruggedness of this six star ASP event, they were forced completely back to basics when the rain came in horizontally to flood the judges tent.

As the squall came through soaking the computer system and flooding the judges area, it was deemed unsafe to use the computers, and the judges were forced back to pen and paper, not logging in the scores until the end of each heat in the one dry corner of the tent.

“Its sort of back to basics out there,” said Cory Lopez. “With no scores you just have to keep going for it on every wave,” he said. “I don’t think I really like it though. I like to know what’s going on.”

“Even at the end of a heat when we’re out of the water, we are all standing around without knowing who has gone through waiting for them to log the scores,” said Cory. “It is a strange feeling.”

“It’s what this series is all about,” said contest director Matt Wilson. “We go to these really wild remote places around the world and I guess this is what we have to expect as part of it.”

Whilst the conditions wreaked havoc on the competition site set up, the surfers were out in the water, making it look almost as rewarding as the near-perfect set up of yesterday as the final 24 were decided.

Among them was last year’s Cold Water Classic California runner up, Heath Joske, who came through top of his heat with a last minute high scoring wave.

“It’s actually not as bad as it looks out there,” said Heath. “After yesterday I wasn’t expecting this today. But that I guess that is just what you get in these places. But I enjoyed it!”

With receding winds and sun forecast on the horizon, all eyes are on the ever-changing forecasts of this region in the hope that calm is soon restored. Tomorrow will kick off with what is bound to be one of the heats of the event featuring World Tour surfer Jordy Smith, former World Tour surfer, the in-form Shaun Cansdell and the upcoming talent of Hawaiian Casey Brown.

The next call will be made tomorrow March 27, 2010 at 7.30am to start with the round of 24.

Watch the event LIVE at www.oneill.com/cwc.

Follow the action on www.facebook.com/oneill or twitter.com/oneillcwc.

The Ultimate Wave Tahiti Opens in Vancouver

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:58:00 -0400

The Ultimate Wave Tahiti, the new film starring Kelly Slater and Raimana van Bastolaer, starts its run tomorrow at the OMNIMAX Theatre in the Telus World of Science in Vancouver. For show times, click here. All those thick Teahupoo barrels on a 27-metre screen should be well worth the ticket price. For trailers and behind the scenes footage, be sure to check the film's website here.

(Presented by Quiksilver, Suzuki and Tourism Tahiti.)

Day Three at the CWC Tasmania

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:25:00 -0400

The northwest corner of Tasmania put on quite a show for this third day of competition at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania as the top seeds took to the water.

Starting at 8:30 a.m. and finishing at 6 p.m., this was a day of two to three meter waves, offshore winds, and as the morning fog cleared, even clear blue skies and sunshine. These were not typical Cold Water Classic conditions as the competition ploughed through the round of 96 and into the first four heats of the round of 48.

Among the surfers making the most of the conditions on offer was Bobby Martinez, straight off his third place finish on the Gold Coast just a few weeks ago.

“I don’t really think I’m running off confidence from that event,” said Bobby as he cruised into the round of 48. “You need a lot more than confidence to win this event. There are a lot of good surfers out there.”

“I love it out here,” he said of the remote Tasmanian location. “I came here with my wife straight from the Gold Coast and it’s so peaceful here, it’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders – so different to all the hustle and bustle of the other surf towns.”

Another surfer sharing that sentiment is Hawaiian Sunny Garcia in his second year out here in this corner of Tasmania for the 6-Star ASP event. Sunny made it through his heats in both the round of 96 and 48.

“I was lucky,” said Sunny. “I wasn’t surfing well this morning but I managed to get though. Then this afternoon I felt like I was surfing worse so I changed my board, but I still didn’t feel like it came together.”

“But I love being here,” he said. “It’s great staying at Audrey and Phil’s house and just being so remote. Everyone is so friendly and the place is amazing.”

Joining Bobby in the round of 48 which will start with heat 5 tomorrow morning, is Cory Lopez, Dayyan Neve, Gabriel Medina, Heath Joske, and Chris Ward among a host of talent.

However a few shock exits littered the competition today. In the round of 96, the 2009 O’Neill Cold Water Classic Champion and $50,000 prize money winner – Blake Thornton – was knocked out, along with Aritz Aranburu, Mark Mathews and Drew Courtney.

But one of the biggest shocks of the day came – once again – from John John Florence. But not in the way you would expect. After his perfect 10 yesterday John John finished third in his heat behind a massively in-form Shaun Cansdell and Uruguay’s Marco Giorgi.

Jordy Smith – the other standout from yesterday – did not however fall victim to the same fate. Instead, despite still battling the flu, he paddled out and impressed all on the beach with his powerful surfing as he cruised through his heat.

The next call will be made tomorrow March 26, 2010 at 7.30am to start with Heat 5 in the round of 48.

Watch the event LIVE at www.oneill.com/cwc.

Follow the action on www.facebook.com/oneill or twitter.com/oneillcwc.

Day Two at the CWC Tasmania

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:36:00 -0400

Defending O’Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania champion Jordy Smith got out of his sick bed and into the wild and cold Southern Ocean waters to up the ante in this 6-Star ASP event.

But not to be intimidated, 17-year-old John John Florence then took to the water, pulled out some of the most impressive surfing this competition has seen so far, and walked away with a perfect 10.

And this is only the second day of competition at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania.

“I couldn’t really get any waves out there to start with,” said John John. “Then I got this one and thought I really have to do something out there, so I did a few turns and an air and then another air.” He scored a 10. “It’s hard work out there though,” he said. “At times I could hardly breathe.”

With a cold and blocked sinuses, Jordy Smith in the first heat of the Round of 96 still managed to produce an awesome display of surfing, scoring a 9.17. Then with an air reverse from the South African, who is currently sitting second on the World Tour, he picked up an 8.0 to couple that. This is from a guy with a cold. Wait until he is back on full form.

“I feel awful right now,” said Jordy. “It’s all in my ears, nose and throat. I need to go to the doctor and get some antibiotics and lay low and try to get better,” he said. “But it’s great to come back here and try to win this event as the defending champ.”

Despite the challenging conditions in the 3-metre swell, there was plenty of entertainment in the surf today. And not all the excitement was limited to the afternoon’s round of 96.

Coming through the round of 144 and one to keep an eye on is World Junior Champion Maxime Huscenot. Maxime may be excelling in these wild raw conditions, but it’s not on his list of top five favourite places to surf in the world; “I’m from Reunion Island so I don’t really like the cold water,” he said. “I really want to go to all the O’Neill Cold Water Classic events, but I think maybe Scotland is too cold for me. I can’t imagine putting on a thick wetsuit like that with boots and a hood and everything.”

Former O’Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland winner Adam Robertson is another surfer to watch out for in this competition. The Australian excels in these conditions and today was no exception. “It’s definitely a bit challenging out there. But it’s good to actually have waves in these events so I am enjoying it!”

Conditions had eased slightly from yesterday allowing the competition to use its mobile format and head to the more exposed beach of Lighthouse.

That’s not to say that conditions were by any means easy. This is the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series after all, and the surfers were battling through 3meter swell with strong winds, to find some of the choice waves on offer.

However, the forecast shows that things are only going to get better. And possibly a lot better at that. “It is showing that everything is gradually easing from here,” said contest director, Matt Wilson. “And it’s also showing some rare winds coming in so I am taking advice from locals around here because there is the possibility they could make for some favourable conditions.”

The next call will be made tomorrow March 25, 2010 at 7.30am to start with Heat 7 in the round of 96.

Watch the event LIVE at www.oneill.com/cwc.

Follow the action at www.facebook.com/oneill or twitter.com/oneillcwc.

Cold Water Classic Kicks Off in Tasmania

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:41:00 -0400

Windy, wild conditions might have set the scene for the first day of the 2010 OʼNeill Cold Water Classic Series, but it was the surfing that took centre stage.

In the remote northwest corner of Tasmania, Australia, it was the likes of the Hawaiian John John Florence, Byron Bayʼs Jarrad Sullivan, and local trials winner Ben Richardson who shone through the grey rugged weather to light up this 6-Star ASP event – the OʼNeill Cold Water Classic Tasmania.

Ben Richardson came through top of the local trials and then followed that up by finishing first in his heat in the main eventʼs round of 144. “I came here hoping to get through one heat,” said Ben. “And I did, so I am pretty happy with that at the moment.”

As for the wild conditions on offer on this West Coast today, Ben said: “I usually coordinate it a bit better with the weather when I come over here from the East Coast where I live. But it probably helps a bit to have an understanding of these conditions.”

The first day of the OʼNeill Cold Water Classic Tasmania saw the competition kick off at Nettle Bay – a slightly more protected beach break on these wild shores. “The rugged conditions dictate we go in here,” said contest director Matt Wilson. “Itʼs just a bit more manageable and there is a bit more opportunity here than anywhere else.”

The wind and rain have deterred no one though. Mark Mathews returned to this coast of Tasmania for the first time since last yearʼs competition with plenty of enthusiasm. “I have been at home in Sydney for a few weeks with warm weather and small waves so itʼs good to get out here,” he said. “This comp is a good start to the whole series. No one has really got into winter yet – and this place definitely delivers that cold wild wintery feel.”

Among the surfers slightly wary of the wild element to the series, however, is the American, Eric Geiselman. Eric was at the Cold Water Classic Series California when he had a close escape after his board was “nudged” by a shark.

“Yeah. I try not to think about that too much,” said Eric who also went through top of his heat in this round of 144. “Itʼs pretty wild and remote out here. Hopefully I can just continue to surf through the comp and avoid one of those critters again!”

With the forecast showing the weather starting to settle, it should be the waves that the surfers can focus on over the coming days of competition.

The next call will be made tomorrow March 24, 2010 at 7.30am to start with Heat 15 in the round of 144.

Watch the event LIVE at www.oneill.com/cwc.

Follow the action on www.facebook.com/oneill or twitter.com/oneillcwc.

Boardsports Against Breast Cancer

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:28:00 -0400

On the evening of March 24th, Boardsports Against Breast Cancer kicks off at the Steam Whistle Brewery in Toronto. It's described as "a wicked night of awesome prizes and swag all in support of a worthy cause." The event will feature a silent auction from 9 pm to 11 pm as well as complimentary brewery tours and free food provided by Grindhouse. Funds raised are going to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Tickets are available for $25 at Boardsports at 2010 Yonge St., or online here. Leave your black tie at home and polish those skate shoes to walk the pink carpet and support the 23,000 women in Canada currently battling breast cancer.

For more information, visit the BABC site here.

For more about Boardsports, visit the shop site here.

Sitka Adds Wes Larsen to Surf Team

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:41:00 -0400

Sitka Surfboards has gone multinational, adding 22-year-old Hawaiian ripper Wes Larsen to their surf team. If you want to know more about the Maui native, there's an interview with him up on the Sitka site. He says he doesn't ever watch hockey, though. Understandable given where he's from, but now that he's riding for a Canadian company, he's really going to have to do something about that.

East Coast Surf Documentary on CBC

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:08:00 -0500

Eva Madden's documentary about winter surfing in Nova Scotia is screening across the country on CBC TV this Sunday. Her short film "Eastern Shore" was fantastic, so we're really looking forward to this one. It features a few of the stalwarts on the Nova Scotia surf scene, including Lesley Choyce, Nico Manos and Janine Strickland. Here's the rest of the info:

“WINTER WAVE RIDERS” - SURFING IN NOVA SCOTIA

CBC Television - Sunday March 14th at Noon - Across the Country

AND IF YOU DON'T GET CBC - You can watch the complete episode ONLINE as of MONDAY MARCH 15TH at cbc.ca/landandsea.

Hemmings House Pictures, in association with CBC Land and Sea, is proud to present the brand new episode “Winter Wave Riders.”

“Winter Wave Riders” explores Nova Scotia’s vibrant winter surfing community while profiling three local hardcore surfers braving the sub-zero Atlantic Ocean in pursuit of that perfect wave.

Featuring Nova Scotia’s first and only pro surfer Nico Manos; renowned Canadian author Lesley Choyce; and Janine Strickland, co-owner and surf instructor with Lawrencetown’s One Life Surf, “Winter Wave Riders” is full of wicked waves, awesome rides and icy beaches. Be sure to tune in nationwide for a rare inside look at this rapidly growing East Coast extreme sport full of colourful characters and stunning natural scenery.

A co-production between CBC Atlantic and Greg Hemmings of Hemmings House Pictures, “Winter Wave Riders” is directed by Eva Madden-Hagen and written by Eva Madden-Hagen and Drew Hagen. Reached for comment, director Eva Madden-Hagen says she’s thrilled to be bringing this project to CBC Television.

“I grew up watching Land & Sea in Newfoundland so I was really stoked for the opportunity to tell this story.” Madden adds “Winter surfing can be a real challenge to shoot too since you can’t really schedule the waves. But we were lucky to capture some great surf footage with Nico, Lesley and Janine, so visually this is going to be a really amazing episode”.

Executive Producer Greg Hemmings says he’s very excited to produce a surfing documentary featuring the East Coast surfing scene and its world class waves. “The waves here are stunning and in the winter the surf is as good as anything I’ve seen in Hawaii and California. It’s hard to get a bad shot.”

“Winter Wave Riders” will be broadcast on Sunday, March 14th, as part of CBC’s long running national program, Land & Sea, airing every Sunday at noon.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS CONTACT:

Greg Hemmings - Producer
Phone - 902-240-6785
Email - greg@hemmingshousepictures.com

Eva Madden-Hagen – Director
Email – evamadden@ns.sympatico.ca

Yazzy Art Show Opens Tonight in Halifax

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:35:00 -0500

While the debate about the causes for global warming rages on, Yassine Ouhilal’s Thawscapes collection is proof positive that warming is indeed taking place in the Arctic. On Friday, March 12, Ouhilal will opening his exhibit at Halifax’s Argyle Fine Art. On display will be a series of exquisite limited edition, pure pigment on watercolour prints along with select, unique edition pieces.

Ouhilal’s classically trained aesthetic has brought him worldwide success as a photographer with editorial work in dozens of publications. He has also received accolades for a recent short film titled Arctic Surf, a chronicle of an adventure of epic proportions in search of un-surfed waves in remote arctic regions.

Thawscapes explores Ouhilal’s deep interest in Arctic geology. The landscapes which appear in the collection are new, revealed for the first time by rapidly receding glaciers. Thawscapes is at once frightening for its bleak reality about our frail ecosystem and haunting in its capture of our earth’s shifting natural beauty.

“At first I was unaware of how quickly global warming was altering the arctic landscape. Now, with the second warmest year in a row on record, the changes are accelerating exponentially. Some of the glaciers I visited are disappearing at incredible rates and will be gone in our lifetime. Upon this realization, I experienced mixed feelings of awe at the beauty of these ancient glaciers last dance and sadness at the stark reality that in a very near future, my images will be the only testament of where these glaciers once stood.”

Please join us for the opening reception. Live music will be performed by Montreal's thisquietarmy. A short film will be presented during the opening.

About: Yassine Ouhilal has been published in Outside Magazine, The National Post, GQ, The Surfer’s Journal and countless other magazines in more than 30 countries. Commercial clients include the likes of Eddie Bauer, Quiksilver and more. His artwork resides in private and public collections in over a dozen countries. Join Yassine Ouhilal Photography on Facebook by clicking here.

Where: Argyle Fine Art
1869 Upper Water St.
Halifax, N.S.
904.425.9456
http://www.argylefa.com/

When: Friday, March 12th, 7:00-9:00pm

Sitka Spring Party in Vancouver

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:39:00 -0500

SITKA is pleased to announce the launch of their Spring 2010 clothing line on Thursday, March 11 at their Vancouver Flagship Store, located at 1864 West 4th Ave. A fashion show exhibiting the new clothing will begin at 9 pm, followed by live entertainment and a chance for guests to receive 30% off SITKA clothing for the evening. The Spruce Gallery, located in the back of the shop, will continue to display artwork by Kalin Thompson.

The theme of the collection is ‘Summer Camp’, and the party will be themed accordingly with camp décor, a grill for roasting marshmallows, a turf covered runway and musical guest Root System. Refreshments will be provided by Salt Spring Brewery and a variety of camp-themed snacks will be served.

The clothing line is the brainchild of the brother and sister design duo, Rene and Janelle Gauthier. The two have taken a blend of the softest bamboo and organic cotton fabrics and combined them with flattering silhouettes and graphics from several artists to create stylish yet functional pieces. The result is a diverse West Coast inspired line for men and women. The full collection is available at SITKA’s retail stores in Vancouver and Victoria, their online store and will be available at fine retailers across Canada soon, including the SITKA build-out located in Second Wave in North Vancouver.

About SITKA Surfboard Corp.

SITKA was born from the West Coast of Canada where the mighty Sitka Spruce calls home. Like the Sitka Spruce gravitates to the ocean and flourishes, so too does the SITKA brand. We are a brand of like-minded individuals that are inspired by the ocean and it’s surrounding environment. SITKA collaborates with artists, surfers, skaters and all those that share the same passions to produce an active lifestyle brand that is true to our roots. The majority of our garments are produced with organic cottons and a selection are produced with bamboo as sustainability and fair-practice are two of the cornerstones of our business beliefs.

For more information, please contact:
Mel Greene – Director of Communications
mel@sitkasurfboards.com
250-507-8483

O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series Returns for 2010

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:57:00 -0500

Following the resounding success of the inaugural Cold Water Classic Series blending adventure, exploration, surf and competition, the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series makes a much-anticipated return for 2010.

Last year saw the series push the boundaries of surfing in a way never seen before with five ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) events exploring spectacular surf spots throughout remote corners of the globe with the word’s best surfers competing for the prestige of winning the O’Neill CWC Series and the $50,000 prize money.

“It’s pretty much the next best thing to winning the ASP World Title,” says World Tour star Jordy Smith.

It’s not only the prize money and accolade, but the integration of exploration and adventure into surf competitions that the surfers themselves relish. “To bring that feeling of searching out waves with your friends into competition is amazing,” says Jordy Smith.

With each location on the series serving up some of the most challenging high quality waves on the tour last year, the CWC Series will once again return to the start in the wilds of Tasmania, Australia on March 23rd before heading to Scotland, South Africa, Canada and Santa Cruz, California.

“The inaugural year of the O’Neill Cold Water Classic threw up incredible waves in some of the most remote and wild locations you could ever imagine to travel let alone host a surf competition,” said O’Neill Global Event Manager Bernhard Ritzer. “These are locations where most of the professional surfers who spend their lives travelling around the world have never even been,” he said.

“And within each location the quality of waves was beyond anything we could have even wished for,” said Bernhard. “This year we want to delve deeper into each location. With the mobile event format we can discover more potential and share this globally with the live webcasts.”

O’Neill Coldwater Classic Tasmania: March 23 - 28, 2010

Starting in the northwest corner of Tasmania – Australia’s Island state - the series will commence with all the ingredients of an explorative surf trip as Jarrad Howse – last year’s CWC Series runner up discovered:

“Landing in Launceston I had that grommet like feeling I used to get when my dad would take us camping as kids - excited about exploring, surfing new waves and happy to be off the beaten track miles from the city and out of phone reception,” said Jarrad.

Exposed to the savage weather and the abundance of Southern Ocean swell, the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Tasmania encapsulates all that this series represents. In the isolated town of Marrawah, both uncrowded on land and sea, the world-class powerful reef and beach breaks are fully exploited with the mobile format of the event.

Jordy who plans to return to retain his title said: “Winning the event in Tasmania was cool. I’d never been there before, so it was good to experience their waves and culture. The waves I got in Tasmania were some of the best waves I had all year.”

And are the cold raw conditions in any way a deterrent? “Yes, yes and yes,” says Jordy. “But with amazing waves you can definitely deal with it.”

O’Neill Coldwater Classic Scotland: April 13 – 19, 2010

The cold is one of the defining features of this, the most northern event in professional surfing. Straight from Tasmania, the CWC Series heads to Thurso – the most northerly town on the British mainland. With the powerful reef breaks of Thurso East and Brims Ness, as well as a multitude of beach breaks available for the mobile format, the quality of the event is worth the endurance of the water temperatures which hover around 7 degrees celsius at this time.

O’Neill Coldwater Classic South Africa: July 26 – Aug 1, 2010

A South African winter in Cape Town awaits surfers on the next stop of the Series. Last year represented the first time in 25 years that an event had been held in the Cape Town area. It was also probably the last time that a storm of that scale blew into the area to create a perfect final to the event, and also reiterate its billing as the wildest event in professional surfing.

O’Neill Coldwater Classic Canada: October 9 - 15, 2010

Then it’s up to the northern hemisphere’s winter for the fourth stop on the series, on Vancouver Island, Canada. Better known for its snow than surf – and thus justifiably the coldest event in surfing - last year saw this series stop mark the first ever ASP sanctioned event in Canada. And in a fairytale ending it was local Tofino surfer, Peter Devries who won the competition.

O’Neill Coldwater Classic California: October 19 - 24, 2010

And finally to Santa Cruz, the birthplace of O’Neill and the home of founder and wetsuit inventor Jack O’Neill as well as the perfect point break of Steamer Lane. Santa Cruz plays host to the final stop on the tour where the series winner will be crowned in October and awarded the $50,000 prize money.

FACTS AND FIGURES:

FIVE events exploring the edges of the world over four continents.

FIVE challenging, quality waves all in extreme and not to mention cold conditions.

FIVE ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) events rugged and unique locations in the depths of nature.

WEBSITE

www.oneill.com/cwc

Including daily highlight shows, heats on demand, daily blogs and videos from Jarrad Howse and Sam Lamiroy

www.facebook.com/oneill

twitter.com/oneillcwc

LIVE WEBCAST

Tasmania(TBC), Scotland, Canada, California

www.oneill.com/cwc

O’Neill Coldwater Classic Tasmania

March 23 - 28, 2010

Marrawah, Northwest Tasmania / 40 Degrees South
6-Star World Qualifying Series, Mobile Surf Contest
Ambassador: Mark Mathews

2009 winner: Jordy Smith

O’Neill Coldwater Classic Scotland

April 13 – 19, 2010
Thurso, North Coast of Scotland / 59 Degrees North
6-Star World Qualifying Series, Mobile Surf Contest
Ambassadors: Sam Lamiroy & Andy Baine

2009 winner: Adam Melling

O’Neill Coldwater Classic South Africa

July 26 – Aug 1, 2010

Capetown, Western Cape Area
4-Star World Qualifying Series, Mobile Surf Contest
Ambassador: Jordy Smith

2009 winner: Blake Thornton

O’Neill Coldwater Classic Canada

October 9 - 15, 2010
Tofino, Vancouver Island / West Coast Of Canada
6-Star World Qualifying Series, Mobile Surf Contest
Ambassador: Noah Cohen

2009 winner: Peter Devries

O’Neill Coldwater Classic California

October 19 - 24, 2010
Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz
Prime 6-Star World Qualifying Series and Finals of CWC Series 2009
Ambassador: Jason ‘Ratboy’ Collins

2009 winner: Nate Yeomans

Ocean Minded Re-Signs Long Brothers

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:01:00 -0500

Ocean Minded is pleased to announce the re-signing of veteran Brand Ambassadors, Greg and Rusty Long, to a multi-year contract. The brothers, each known for their prowess in large surf and passion for adventure, have represented Ocean Minded for the last decade and have embraced the brand wholeheartedly.

“We are elated to continue our support of Greg and Rusty through 2012,” stated Bob Tanner, the company’s Director of Marketing. “The brothers have been an integral part of Ocean Minded since 2000 and have become role models for what Brand Ambassadors should be. They still take the time to lead local beach clean-ups, provide product and brand feedback, and continue to epitomize what it means to ‘be ocean minded’”, concluded Tanner.

Greg and Rusty recently worked with the Ocean Minded product team to develop the Long Brothers II signature sandal, which is part of the company’s Spring 2010 collection. Their new sandal features leather, hemp, an organic canvas strap, a recycled car tire outsole, and is currently available in stores as well as online.

“From the very beginning, I have stood by the product, environmental message, and amazing team of hard working individuals that have made Ocean Minded the successful brand that it is today,” said Greg, recent winner of ‘The Eddie’. “I am excited, grateful, and honored to continue my long-standing relationship with the brand, well into the future.”

“I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to continue representing the positive attributes of Ocean Minded - Quality, Authenticity, Community and Responsibility,” concluded Rusty.

In addition to the Long brothers, Ocean Minded also re-signed Raph Bruhwiler, Daniel Jones, Dean Randazzo, Kai Sallas, Mikey DeTemple, and Nico Manos as Surf Brand Ambassadors for 2010.

Be Ocean Minded

That simple idea is the foundation of our company. Being ‘ocean minded’ and living an ocean lifestyle begins with the inspiration and allure that the world’s oceans and beaches offer each one of us. The Ocean Minded brand enables an individual to identify, visualize, and embrace their personal beach and water-oriented passions in the course of their daily adventure.

Live. Protect. Respect.

We can no longer deny that our planet is rapidly becoming a crowded and polluted place. Ocean Minded believes we should utilize recycled and sustainable materials in our footwear, apparel, and accessories whenever possible, and we consistently strive to achieve this.

Additionally, we feel that as both a corporation, and a group of individuals, it is essential to Live, Protect, and Respect our environment. Since 1996, we have been organizing community beach clean-ups around the world, and educating our customers on the importance of leaving their chosen playgrounds in better condition than when they were found.

Our belief that everything eventually ends up in the ocean has led us to host additional clean-ups in the mountains, as well as on the banks of inland rivers and lakes.

These values are the cornerstones of our brand, and we invite you to Be Ocean Minded.

www.oceanminded.com

March Meetings for Surfrider Foundation

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:55:00 -0500

There's tons happening this month for the Vancouver and Vancouver Island chapters of the Surfrider Foundation. Here's a summary, starting with the Island. Thanks to the chapters for sending the info along.

SURFRIDER VANCOUVER ISLAND:

Just a little reminder about our monthly meeting this month. It is tomorrow night, March 2nd at the Fairlfield Community Center from 7-9pm. We meet out back in the portable. Feel free to bring some snacks to share.

Also, don't forget that there is a beach cleanup on Sunday at Point No Point from 11am -1pm.

Below is some information about the sale of WFP lands and an upcoming public meeting:

Last Chance to Protect the WFP Lands from Sooke to Jordan River

Wednesday, March 3
7pm - 9pm
SJ Willis Auditorium
923 Topaz Avenue (between Blanshard and Quadra)

Come out and help protect these lands.

On March 8 Western Forest Products is putting 5200 acres of private lands up for sale from Sooke to Jordan River on our Wild Coast. Let's help protect waterfront lands at Sandcut Beach all the way to the surfing beaches at Jordan River, the Sooke Potholes lands and other extensive forest lands and watersheds in the area. First Nations sacred sites are at risk from development.

The provincial government now has an opportunity to support UBC's proposal to purchase these lands as an educational and research forest. The CRD must be supported in their efforts to protect these lands.

Come have a say in the future of our coast.

Speakers include:
Chief Gordon Planes - T'Sou-ke First Nation
Arnie Campbell - Otter Point and Shirley Residents and Ratepayers Association
Terri Alcock - Shirley Education and Action Society
Calvin Sandborn - Legal Director, UVic Environmental Clinic
Vicky Husband - Spokesperson, Jordan River Steering Committee

For more information on the event contact:
Vicky Husband, Jordan River Steering Committee
250-478-0388
vickyhusband@gmail.com

SURFRIDER VANCOUVER:

March has arrived and that means the 2010 Winter Olympics are over, spring is fast approaching, and our beach cleanup season has officially arrived! Here is a list of the events coming up this month...please let us know if you are able to help out with any of these events!

Surfrider Foundation General Meeting
Date: Tuesday, March 2nd
Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: Sitka Surfboards Vancouver

The Surfrider Foundation Vancouver Chapter will be hosting our next general meeting on Tuesday, March 2nd from 7:00-8:30pm at Sitka Surfboards, located at 1864 West 4th Avenue.

At this meeting we will be recapping past events and discussing upcoming events including the Life 2 the Limit Fundraiser, March Madness Slopestyle Contest, Core Volunteer Training, March Beach Cleanup, and World Water Day. We will also be reviewing our 2010 Strategic Goals and Events Calendar. Our Rise Above Plastics campaign, along with our Snowrider Project and Respect the Beach programs will also be discussed.

There are tons of ways to get involved so come on out and have your voice heard. Everyone is welcome...our oceans, waves and beaches need your help!

Life 2 the Limit Surfrider Foundation Fundraiser
Date: Thursday, March 4th
Time: 7:00pm - 1:00am
Location: Nevermind Restaurant

The Surfrider Foundation Vancouver Chapter is organizing a fundraiser to help Lisa Duthie, of our Respect the Beach Committee, participate in the Life 2 the Limit selfless endurance challenge. Lisa was selected to participate in this month long survival challenge on an uninhabited island in the South Pacific, along with nine other international volunteers. During this challenge the participants will be traveling with nothing but a small 5L dry bag of survival tools, and will have to seek out their own food, water and shelter in order to survive. The entire challenge is a charity fundraiser, and through this challenge Lisa will be raising awareness and funds for the Surfrider Foundation Vancouver Chapter!

The Life 2 the Limit Surfrider Foundation Fundraiser is scheduled for Thursday, January 28th at Nevermind Restaurant located at 3293 West 4th Avenue. Tickets for the event are $10 and this includes admission, a drink and one free raffle ticket. Tickets are available for purchase at Sitka Surfboards (1864 West 4th Avenue), from Lisa Duthie 778-885-5255, or at the door.

March Mayhem Slopestyle Contest
Date: Saturday, March 6th
Time: 10:00-4:00pm (9:00am registration)
Location: Mount Seymour

Orage presents the March Mayhem Slopestyle Contest on Mount Seymour. This event is scheduled for Saturday, March 6th from 10:00-4:00pm. Registration will start at 9:00am, followed by a warm up from 10:00-11:00am, the competition will run from 11:00-3:00pm and the awards will follow immediately afterwards. There will be a spectator lounge with tents, a DJ, BBQ and mini skate ramp set up as well. The registration fee for this event will be $15 and this will include a Mount Seymour lift pass, membership to the Surfrider Foundation and a hot dog, chips and pop. All proceeds from this event will be going to Snowrider Project of the Surfrider Foundation!

Core Volunteer Training
Date: Monday, March 8th
Time: 7:00-9:00pm
Location: Sitka Surfboards

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans, waves and beaches for all people through conservation, activism, research and education.

Our work is facilitated through a global network of grassroots activist chapters made up of volunteers. Our volunteers come from all different walks of life - they're people just like you who are concerned about the health of our coasts and want to do something to help protect them.

The role of a Core Volunteer is to assist the chapter with various tasks. This often requires a high degree of independence in the volunteer. The key responsibilities of the Core Volunteer are to act as a Surfrider Foundation ambassador by helping to raise awareness about the mission; to help organize various events, campaigns, and programs; and to run events with complete autonomy and confidence.

The goal of this training session is to give you the tools you need to become a Core Volunteer! In this training session you will learn about the history of Surfrider Foundation, our grassroots network, chapter management/leadership, tabling tactics, fundraising and various campaigns/programs including Rise Above Plastics, Snowrider Project and Respect the Beach.

Please RSVP to vancouver@surfrider.org if you're interested in participating!

For our oceans, waves and beaches,

Surfrider Vancouver

Outside Names Tofino Top Surf Town

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:34:00 -0500

In its first annual Editors' Choice Awards, Outside Magazine has named Tofino as North America's top surf town. "The best surf town in North America is in Canada," the magazine says. "Who knew?" The story has been picked up by all sorts of newspapers today, with the Vancouver Sun, the Globe and Mail and the CBC all running stories about it. Seems surprising at first, considering the cold and lack of point surf, but it looks like the other factors won out: clean air (check), clean water (check), good food (check), funky places to stay (check), cool local culture (check), consistent waves (check), no sharks (check), crazy scenery (check), availability of good beer (check). Apparently Haleiwa doesn't count as part of North America, though. Or Puerto Escondido.

Launch Party for Sitka's Spring Line

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:58:00 -0500

The folks at Sitka are throwing a party night at Lucky Bar to celebrate the release of their Spring 2010 Collection. Here are the details:

"Our Spring 2010 Collection has arrived at the Victoria Flagship Store and we want to celebrate! So, we're throwing a party at lucky that will include a fashion show, Salt Spring Island Brewery drink specials and the long awaited return of the foosball table. Musical guest TBA. Join us for an evening of new clothes, music, partying and really really good looking people."

The action starts at 10:00 p.m., on Wednesday, March 3rd at Lucky Bar.

For more see Sitka Surfboards and Lucky Bar.

SBC Surf on Twitter

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

We're catching up with the times and are now posting updates on Twitter. Follow us here for news about the magazine, links and news about Canadian surfing, relevant news from the surf industry and other surf-related stuff that we like or think you might want to know about...

Sepp Bruhwiler on Surfline

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Click here to check out a new clip of Sepp Bruhwiler surfing some empty lefts on the north coast. How fun do those waves look? A few photos from that boat trip will also be in the upcoming issue of SBC Surf. For more, visit Sepp online at Westside Surf School.

Peru to Host 2010 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The perfect waves of Señoritas and Caballeros will see over 200 surfers as members of their National Surfing Teams compete for medals in one of the world’s greatest surfing events.

Billabong ISA World Surfing Games
Punta Hermosa, Lima, Peru
October 21 - 29, 2010

It’s official, the 2010 Billabong ISA World Surfing Games will be held in the perfect waves of Señoritas and Caballeros, Punta Hermosa, Peru, from October 21st until the 29th, 2010.

After reviewing the list of applying nations, the ISA considered Peru to be the perfect location for the 2010 edition of the event. ISA President, Fernando Aguerre stated: “Peru, the birthplace of Latin American surfing has some of the best waves in the world. After the successful ISA World Masters Surfing Championship in 2008, the ISA is looking forward to a great Billabong ISA World Surfing Games in 2010.”

Señoritas and Caballeros is a perfect setting for an ISA event as there are both perfect and consistent left and right pointbreaks that work at the same time and are close to each other. The breaks are located in the famous surfing town of Punta Hermosa, which also has the necessary infrastructure to hold an event of this magnitude.

The Peruvian Surfing Federation is accustomed to organizing world-class surfing events including a historic ISA World Masters Surfing Championship in 2008 that had perfect six-foot waves every single day. In addition, they organized a successful edition of the Pan American Surfing Games in 2006 and have hosted a stop for the ASP Women’s World Tour since 2007.

Karín Sierralta, Executive Director of the Peruvian Surfing Federation and ISA Vice President, showed his excitement after being notified that Peru won the bid by saying: “We are proud to be selected to host an ISA Open World Championship in Peru after 45 years. In 1965, Peru held the World Surfing Championship and the local Peruvian star, Felipe Pomar won the event, becoming an ISA World Champion. We’re looking forward to getting another title at home.”

For the second year in a row, leading surf wear brand Billabong will be the title sponsor of this enormous Olympic Style event. Paul Naude, Billabong USA President, commented: "Billabong's involvement in our inaugural ISA World Surfing Games in Costa Rica was an eye-opener. The talent, passion, camaraderie and team spirit was fantastic and refreshing in the modern era of competitive surfing. We are very excited about what the event in Peru will deliver."

The Billabong ISA World Surfing Games will see over 30 countries and over 200 surfers competing in the Open Men, Open Women and Longboard divisions.

The date and venue are set; now teams must start getting ready for one of the biggest events of our sport.

For more, see isasurf.org.