Surf Blog

Grand prizes await monster riders

Written by Steph Pomphrey at 15:59 on March 24th, 2008 Comment on this post »

11th April sees the 8th annual Billabong XXL Awards in Anaheim, CA, in what is widely regarded as the most competitive year yet. No surprise given the increased coverage the sport seems to generate, as well as the burgeoning participation numbers.

You can catch all the runners and riders at the Awards site (plus Live webcast), and no doubt one of the leading contenders in the Biggest Wave Award is Grant Baker at Cortes Bank, seen above. Banzai!

Skindog demands respect on big waves

Written by Steph Pomphrey at 11:38 on March 14th, 2008 Comment on this post »

Traditional paddle-in surfing is the mark of respect on big waves, despite the obvious risks involved. "If you want respect you have to dig deep and prove that you can paddle into a big one on your own when its heavy," so says Ken 'Skindog' Collins. When you factor in the environmental aspect of not having a jetski involved, its not hard to understand the reasoning.

Continue reading this blog post »

Shark eats anti-shark device

Written by Rob Longworth at 23:16 on March 4th, 2008 Comment on this post »

What a crackin' idea, a device that sticks onto your surfboard to ward away sharks at lunchtime. The theory is all there, but on testing it failed, and it did so in somewhat astonishingly spectacular fashion, it was eaten by a great white! Continue reading this blog post »

Billabong XXL goes Irish via Cortes Bank

Written by Steph Pomphrey at 22:19 on February 21st, 2008 Comments (2)

In no way does this photo do it justice, but this is Vincent Lartizen of Hossegor giving notice of his entry into the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards. To see Belharra Reef in its true, jaw-dropping proportions go to the Biggest Wave section on the Awards website. Continue reading this blog post »

Mavericks Surf Contest delivers

Written by Steph Pomphrey at 12:36 on January 31st, 2008 Comment on this post »

Earlier this month Jeff Clark made the call and the chosen few had 24 hours to reach Half Moon Bay, California, to contest one of the leading big-wave, paddle-in competitions in the calendar: Mavericks Surf Contest 2007/2008. Continue reading this blog post »

Check out Surf Nation by Alex Wade

Written by Huck HQ at 19:06 on January 8th, 2008 Comments (1)

Alex Wade’s a friend, surfer, media lawyer – and a boxer. I’ve never seen him throwing punches, but if he’s as good at kicking ass as he is at writing, Lord have mercy on whoever’s stuck in a ring with him.

Anyway, Alex has a site, Surf Nation, which discusses the cultural idiosyncrasies of wave riding and beach life. Updated daily by the man himself, the blog's an exciting locus for surf democracy to flourish.

Pay him a visit on www.timesonline.typepad.com/surf_nation.