O’Neill Rookie Rippers MVPs crowned

O’Neill Rookie Rippers MVPs crowned

16 of the best Groms across Europe joined O’Neill Rookie Rippers last October at The Wave in Bristol, UK. A unique opportunity to be coached by some of the best athletes in the world.

In this edition, Johanne Defay and Jordy Smith each drafted a team of Groms to go head to head in challenges crafted by world-class surf coaches, Philippe Malvaux and Ben Skinner.

Out of the water, Groms received training, video analysis of their sessions, mindset advice and lots of Q&A time with the Pros. The jam-packed weekend allowed the team to build stronger relationships with our distributors, the local core surf community and the future of surfing.

Team Johanne took the cake for most points won and two lucky Groms were crowned MVP. Next year they will be sponsored riders of Team O’Neill.

The aim of the O’Neill hosted event was to inspire, challenge and empower the next generation of surfers, as well as to strengthen the relationship between O’Neill and the local surf community.

The Rookies were divided into two teams, led by world-class surfers Johanne Defay and Jordy Smith. The teams competed in various challenges designed by Philippe Malvaux, one of the most respected surf coaches in the industry and O’Neill team rider Ben Skinner, a13-time British Longboard Champion and a two-time European Longboard Champion, as well as a renowned shaper and owner of Skindog Surfboards.

During the challenges the rookies received valuable feedback and tips from the coaches and the pros, as well as video analysis of their sessions. They learned how to improve their technique, strategy, and mindset, as well as how to have fun and enjoy surfing.
Out of the water, the Rookies had the chance to interact with Defay and Smith, who shared their stories, insights, and advice on how to pursue a career in surfing.

In the end Team Johanne took the the win and two rookies were being crowned MVP.
Women’s MVP: Belle Betteridge (United Kingdom)
Men’s MVP: Samuele Agliani (Canary Islands/Spain)

The MVPs were awarded a one-year sponsorship deal with O’Neill. They will also join the O’Neill team of riders, which includes some of the most talented and influential surfers in the world.

O’Neill Rookie Rippers was a unique experience for the rookies, who not only improved their surfing skills, but also made new friends and memories. O’Neill is proud to support the future of surfing and the Rookie Rippers’ plans for 2024 are in the works and will be released on oneill.com soon.

Filmed by Sam Light and James Symmonds. Edited by Sam Light

ISA World Para Surfing Championship

ISA World Para Surfing Championship

• Two-time World Champion Alana Nichols (USA) scores perfect 10, earns highest heat total in ISA para surfing history

• Pierrot Gagliano (FRA) tops Men’s Vision Impairment 2 leaderboard, secures first medal

• First ever heat win for Tash Davies (ENG) garners Semifinal berth with teammate Hannah Dines

Picture-perfect, three-to-four foot peaks and ‘Santa Ana’ offshore winds allowed for history-defining performances today in Surf City USA. Finalists were determined in multiple classifications, while the completion of qualifying rounds in most other divisions resulted in numerous eliminations, including those of multiple-time World Champions Matt Formston (AUS) and Jesse Billauer (USA).

Alana Nichols (USA above) returned to competition in incredible form when the Women’s Sit classification hit the water. The Paralympic and para surfing gold medalist opened with a 9.40 on her first wave of the event, but that was just the start. Late in the heat Nichols pulled into a freight-train of a barrel, her first ever in the ocean, to collect a perfect 10 and the highest heat total in ISA para surfing history, 19.40.

“I honestly wasn’t expecting it to barrel over me,” Nichols said. “I thought it was going to break behind me, and when it did, it was just like, ‘This is happening!’ I don’t know if I have the words yet for that, but it was so sick.

“To set that heat record is pretty phenomenal,” Nichols continued. “I just feel like I had the perfect conditions all around. I can’t tell you how proud I am of the women that I get to surf with and against, because to be a woman with a disability that loves to charge, that’s a rare combination.”

After a tough Round 1 heat, defending champion Camilo Abdula (POR) replaced both of his scores in Men’s Stand 1, Round 2 to gain progression into the Semifinals. Five-time gold medalist Felipe Kizu Lima (BRA) topped the leaderboard in Men’s Sit to secure yet another medal, as did two-time defending champion in Women’s Vision Impairment 1, Marta Paço (POR).

Australia’s Joel Taylor (above) collected the highest single wave score and heat total of the day for the men. Two critical turns on a speedy left earned him a 9.83, adding to a 7.67 for a 17.50 total. The former professional bodyboarder, who was rendered paraplegic due to an accident at Pipeline in 2001, has taken up para surfing within the past year after 21 years out of the water.

“It didn’t work on a bodyboard as a paraplegic,” Taylor said. “It just didn’t have the speed, and I like going fast. So I got on a board that works and I’m really loving it, really enjoying it.”

Pierrot Gagliano (FRA, above) tops Men’s Visual Impairment 2 leaderboard, secures first medal

After narrowly missing out on the final in his WPSC debut in 2022, Pierrot Gagliano (FRA) was relieved to secure first place on the leaderboard in the Men’s Vision Impairment 2 classification and guarantee himself a medal. The 23-year-old has been enjoying every minute of his time in Huntington Beach.

“It was really disappointing for me last year,” Gagliano said. “I was not able to get any good waves. Since we’re here, we’re scoring really good waves every day, so I’m stoked.”

An emotional Aaron Paulk (HAW) was also happy to make the final to represent his hometown of Lahaina, Maui and secure another medal. Two-time defending champion Roy Calderon (CRC) and 2022 silver medalist Jack Jackson (AUS) will join Paulk and Gagliano in the Vision Impairment 2 Final.

First ever heat win for Tash Davies (ENG above) garners Semifinal berth with teammate Hannah Dines (below)

Inspired to begin surfing in 2019 after seeing footage online of para surfers with a similar disability to her, Tash Davies (ENG) was instantly hooked and attended her first WPSC in 2020. Today the 32-year-old earned her first ever heat win, and was thrilled to progress to the Prone 1 Semifinals with teammate Hannah Dines.

“It felt really good,” Davies said. “We just, like, passed each other, she was coming out of her heat and I was getting ready to go in my heat and we had a little celebration in passing. It’s great to have both of us in the Semifinals, it’s brilliant for Team England.”

Competition will continue tomorrow at Southside Huntington Beach Pier at 7:00am PST.

Cracked Record: Noah Waggy

Cracked Record: Noah Waggy

There was a feeling of coldness this winter I wasn’t used to in California. The kind that seeps into your bones. This feeling was all too common this year. Plagued by a strong La Niña winter we experienced one of the coldest and stormiest winters I have ever endured in California. Waggy and I hunted endlessly for corners amidst the storm. This is what we found. – @jonahsaffran

Make or break?

Make or break?

Laura’s wave start to finish.

Fair play to anyone charging big Jaws, or outer reefs, but the quest for ‘big wave records’ and some sort of validity in measuring them has also sparked discussion on whether the waves were actually made. Case one is the mens world record in which Aaron Gold paddles huge Jaws but gets caught by the white water. Case two yesterdays world record by Laura Enever.

Both rides have brought a lot of supporting comments, but the main question is not whether they travelled down the face, but if they rode it out. For example if that was you, would you claim it as ridden? Or would you get out thinking ‘if only’… If it were a snowboard or skate trick would the judges count as ridden out?

Fair points?

Gold makes a huge and very long drop at Jaws before being engulfed.

A WSL spokesperson said “Laura’s wave was reviewed and she was deemed to have been in control of her board for all of the critical parts of the wave. Aaron Gold’s world record paddle wave is similar.”

Lauras huge paddle wave.

If a record is to stand the test of time it has or be recognised by the community and thus deserves discussion, so… What do you think?

Laura Enever Riding Mountains

Laura Enever Riding Mountains

The World Surf League (WSL) announces that Laura Enever (AUS) has set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the Largest wave surfed paddle-in (female). The WSL officially analyzed, measured, and verified Enever’s 2023 record-breaking ride at 43.6 feet (13.3 meters) as part of the WSL Big Wave Record Chase, making it the biggest wave ever paddled into by a woman. 

Enever, who is 31 years old and from North Narrabeen, Australia, successfully surfed a wave measuring 43.6 feet (13.3 meters) from trough to crest at Outer Reef, the big-wave break on the North Shore of Oahu, on January 22, 2023. 

“I knew it was big when I paddled into it, and then when I took off, I looked down, and I knew it was definitely the biggest wave I’ve ever caught,” said Enever. “I knew it was the wave of my life, the whole way it all came together and the way I committed, backed myself, told myself to go, and trusted I could do it. The ride was such a breakthrough for me and a moment that will be special and monumental in my surf career. To get awarded this months later is really cool, I can’t believe it.

“I would never be in this position if it wasn’t for all the big wave surfers who have come before me and paved the way, especially the really brave, courageous females who have always inspired me and made me feel like I could get out there and give it a crack. So, thank you to all the amazing women. I’m just constantly in awe. Andrea Moller held this record before me, and it’s an honor to hold that record and keep pushing big wave surfing. And I know that the next girls, the next generation of female big wave surfers, are going to do the same.”

Enever’s record bettered Andrea Moller’s previous record by just one foot, which was caught on January 16, 2016, at Pe’ahi, Maui. Moller, an internationally recognized waterwomen, pioneer of big wave surfing, and respected paramedic, held the record for seven years. She was the first woman to paddle into a wave at Pe’ahi, the first woman to catch a wave in the prestigious Eddie Aikau big wave contest, and an advocate for equality and progression in big wave surfing. 

Enever’s World Record adds to an already stellar surfing career. She was the ISA Junior World Champion and Triple Crown Rookie of the Year in 2008, and World Junior Champion in 2009. In 2011, Enever qualified for the WSL Championship Tour, where she competed for seven years, consistently finishing in the Top 10. She has gone on to compete in WSL Big Wave events and push the limits of big wave surfing.

“Huge congratulations to Laura for this incredible achievement,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Chief of Sport. “Laura is fearless, committed, and a real inspiration, and I’m so proud to celebrate her. These World Records really allow us to shine the spotlight on athletes like Laura who are pushing the boundaries of Big Wave surfing.”  

Enever was awarded the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ certificate in her hometown of Narrabeen in New South Wales, Australia, where she celebrated the accomplishment with her family and friends. 

“I’ve worked my whole life to be a professional surfer and to be on the World Tour,” continued Enever. “I was there, and I gave that up for this pull and urge to surf big waves. I was just thinking I just wanted to go do this for me, and to be here today and to have a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the biggest paddle, I can’t believe it.”

About the Measurement Process 

The WSL Science Team, led by Michal Pieszk, Senior Research and Development Engineer of the Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC), collaborated on the analysis of the largest waves ridden in the Paddle-In category during the 2022/23 WSL Big Wave Record Chase season. The team used a range of wave-measuring techniques using video footage, detailed information about the site, the location of the videographers and location of the wave, to determine the wave height 

Several frames from the video footage were extracted and geometrically corrected based on camera positions and angles. Using known objects such as jet skis and actual measurements of Enever’s body geometry, it was possible to calibrate the images for conversion from pixels to feet. The location of the trough and crest of the wave was determined from analysis of the video from two different angles.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.