Clay Marzo + Mason Ho X Desert Point
Two of the most stylish free surfers in the world, Mason Ho and Clay Marzo score Deserts along with two super stoked groms, 13 year old All Day Dylan and KK.
Pumping Portugal
Ericeira is the first European World Surfing Reserve for well more than one reason. If seven waves are identified as making up the Reserve, there are at least a dozen more worth riding spread around these seven jewels. For this second episode of Portugal Back-to-Back, Nic Von Rupp teams up with Portuguese World Tour rider, Frederico “Kikas” Morais, and a bunch of other European surfing aces, to tackle some point-break bombs during a perfect session at Coxos, before paying a visit to the charming fishing village that in recent years has become the surfing epicentre of the old continent.
ISA World Surfing Games Delivers Olympic Slots
ISA World Surfing Games Delivers Olympic Slots for USA woman and Japanese man
Kirra Pinkerton (USA) claims gold medal, confirmed Olympic slot for one woman from Team USA
Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) wins first gold medal, confirmed Olympic slot for one Japanese man
USA wins first team gold medal since 2009, Australia win silver, Portugal bronze, France copper
Women’s medalists: Kirra Pinkerton (Gold), Pauline Ado (Silver), Sally Fitzgibbons (Bronze), Daniella Rosas (Copper)
Men’s medalists: Kanoa Igarashi (Gold), Rio Waida (Silver), Jackson Baker (Bronze), Guilherme Fonseca (Copper)
Team USA – WSG Gold Medalist Photo: ISA / Pablo Franco
Huntington Beach, USA – September 24th 2022
There couldn’t have been a more dramatic finish to this year’s ISA World Surfing Games (WSG). Olympic hopes rested on the shoulders of many different surfers representing different nations still in contention for a guaranteed slot for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Team USA took hits to their men’s team with both remaining surfers, Kolohe Andino and Nat Young, eliminated prior to the Final. Gabriela Bryan and Zoe McDougall also had great showings in the women’s draw, but USA’s only remaining surfer was Kirra Pinkerton, who needed to win in order to claim the Olympic slot for an American woman.
The incredible power of Pinkerton’s backhand is what gave her the title of 2018 WSL World Junior Champion and it was precisely what took her to her biggest victory yet, a WSG gold medal.
The veteran experience of Pauline Ado (FRA) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), who have each won multiple prior ISA WSG medals, seemed unstoppable through prior repechage heats, and Ado held the lead for much of the Final. But Pinkerton finished strong, with a phenomenal performance that had massive Olympic implications. Kirra could barely find words to describe how excited she was.
“I’m incredibly happy right now. I don’t even know what to say, this whole week has been really cool,” she said. “Every heat has been almost impossible. The fact that it all came together at the end, I’m just in complete awe right now.”
Pinkerton also took Team USA to the top of the podium in the overall teams rankings, the first time USA have won the teams gold medal since 2009.
Kirra Pinkerton – Team USA. Photo: ISA / Pablo Franco
Throughout this year’s WSG, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) breezed through with the comfort and confidence of champion, surfing with ease and flow, easily dominating every heat surfed. The Huntington Beach local used smooth air reverses to guarantee Japan an Olympic slot for a male surfer.
Rio Waida (IND), battled hard in the Final, surfing in his fourteenth heat of the event, after falling into the repechage in Round 1. Ultimately however, it was a one man show and Igarashi easily controlled his destiny, with Jackson Baker(AUS) and Guilherme Fonseca (POR) left in the dust, along with Waida.
Buoyed by solid performances from teammates Shun Murukami and Keanu Kamiyama, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medalist and two-time ISA WSG silver medalist was ecstatic to go one step further and fulfill the hopes of his nation.
“That was definitely really special,” Igarashi said. “Obviously an individual win is great but to know that I secured the spot for Japan in the Olympics coming up, wow, that’s such a special feeling. Whether I go or whether one of my teammates goes, just knowing that there will be someone there representing, that means a lot.”
Kanoa Igarashi – Japan. Photo: ISA / Pablo Franco
ISA President Fernando Aguerre said:
“The Olympic wave is truly rolling strong after an historic event in Huntington Beach. USA and Japan can now look forward to competing in the mind-blowing waves of Teahupo’o as a part of Paris 2024.
“It has been so special to have this incredible event take place in the location of the very first World Surfing Games at the start of the long surfing paddle to the Olympics in 1996.”
Final Rankings by Gender (for Olympic Qualification)
Women
USA – 1880
Australia – 1815
France – 1735
Portugal – 1538
Canada – 1280
Men
Japan – 1835
USA – 1555
Indonesia – 1532
Brazil – 1450
Australia – 1435
Open Women’s Division
Gold – Kirra Pinkerton
Silver – Pauline Ado
Bronze – Sally Fitzgibbons
Copper – Daniella Rosas
Open Men’s Division
Gold – Kanoa Igarashi
Silver – Rio Waida
Bronze – Jackson Baker
Copper – Guilherme Fonseca
Overall Teams Rankings
Gold – USA – 3435
Silver – Australia – 3250
Bronze – Portugal – 2928
Copper – France – 2988
Aloha Cup Final Results
Gold – France
Silver – USA
Bronze – Argentina
Copper – Portugal
Chris Davidson RIP
Former pro-surfer Chris Davidson sadly passed away this weekend in Australia after an alleged altercation. Devastating news for those that knew him, our thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time.
Gravity
GRAVITY is our newest project, a surf film that highlights a memorable run of waves over the 2021/22 winter on the North Shore. The film features my brothers @Nathan Florence and Ivan, and myself, with a soundtrack headlined by @Ozzy Osbourne and @Paul Cauthen. Proceeds from the film will support Junior Lifeguard programs around O’ahu. – JJF
Top tips to beat the inbetweener conundrum
Woody New slotted. Photo Alfie England
So here we go, change of the seasons and all that. After a long and hot summer the wear systems about to change and the UK and Ireland look like they are about to be smashed with an early northerly air flow meaning warm water but a drop in air temps and windchill.
If you are stuck between suits this isn’t ideal and leads to the old dilemma of keeping in the old 3/2 or going in the winter suit early. But there are few options to maximise the usage of your kit and your £. So I thought I’d run through a few so you can prepare, because winter IS coming.
Get next summer 3/2 early
If your current 3/2 is on its last legs, and irreparable and winter suit is fine, but too hot for now it’s probably worth digging into the end of summer sales and getting your ’next summer’ 3/2 early. Bonus warmth for this autumn, saves you cash in the sale, preserves your winter suit. There are some proper bargains out there a the moment. Check them out.
Get your winter suit early
If your current 3/2 and winter suit are on their last last legs and you were going to buy a new suit of armour anyway, get in there. You can either buy the new releases (check them out here) or again dig into the end of summer sales. You can then either repair or use your old winter suit now.
Go the polypro or neoprene vest or shorts
If you are not in the position to throw out loads of cash right now check out a poly pro or neoprene vest.
Water temps aren’t going drop or a little while yet, but the wind temps will, so a poly pro vest will keep your core warm.
If your bits are getting rinsed because of blown crotch seals – the most common place suits go – you are sitting there getting cold water shock, check out some of the thermal shorts. Then come in neoprene or poly pro and they really work. Shed loads of choice out there from £20. All the major wetty brands do them.
Repair
I’ve been surfing and looking at wetties a long time now and I am still blown away by the skills of wetsuit repairers and the really low costs associated with them. Repairs are startlingly cost effective think £18 for a zip replacement, replacement crotch panels from £22.
More here
Subscriptions
Latest Issue
Digital Version
