China build wave pool

China build wave pool

The Chinese have just built a $4 million wave pool in China’s Henan Province. A recently aired news piece and video show a pool reminiscent of Kellys pool ( minus some groundworks) which, let’s face it was reminiscent of the Spanish Wavegarden in many respects – plough wave pool tech.

The Chinese government are making big investments in surfing lining up for the Olympics as they did with gymnastics and snow sports. China is investing billions of dollars into new ski resorts, skating rinks, and athletics programs to help it win big in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The country wants to build 800 ski resorts and 650 skating rinks by 2022, when it will host the next Winter Games. They have even hand picked 22 athletes from other sports paid them to swapped sports to try ski jumping with the aim of making Beijing 2022 and sent them to Norway to train from scratch.

If they see opportunities in surf could we see Chinese surfers on the WSL? Could just be a matter of time.

Spoons: A Santa Barbara Story

Spoons: A Santa Barbara Story

Spoons: A Santa Barbara Story is an exploration of how one of the most significant corners of the world produced, and continues to produce, some of the most talented surfers and innovators. Deeper than all is a story of craftsmanship, work ethic, renegades and tradition, a film that goes beyond the time spent in the ocean to define how one spends a lifetime. 

Lewis Hamilton & The Wave Ranch

Lewis Hamilton & The Wave Ranch

We’ve seen the instagram posts, now watch the edit of Lewis Hamilton pitted at the Surf Ranch with Kelly Slater, Kai Lenny and Dusty Payne. It’s a hard life hey Lewis.

Weird Waves Season 1: The Severn Bore UK

Weird Waves Season 1: The Severn Bore UK

How long is long? On this episode of Weird Waves, Dylan Graves intends to find out. The plan is to meet up with Guinness World Record holder for longest ride on the Severn River, Steve King. Where does Steve find time to surf in between writing critically acclaimed novels? Find out in this latest instalment of WEIRD… Waves

Cornwall’s 24 hour 3 day festival

Cornwall’s 24 hour 3 day festival

The Cornwall based event kicks off the festival season with cliff top views, hot tub disco and 24hr license

In an overcrowded peloton of festivals in the UK and Europe, The Masked Ball stands out for its cliff tops views out to sea, multiple micro venues and 24 hour license all starting at £90. Taking place from from 3-5 May 2019, the festival now enters its 12th year and returns with another party for the ages. The intimate 3000 capacity themed electronic festival is populated by dressed-to-excess “ballers” and takes places just outside the Cornish fishing village of Porthleven. The event has an open door policy with admission meaning ticket holders are welcome in and out to go and sample the local pubs and restaurants a short walk away. Acts announced include Psychemagik, Body Hammer, Dave Harvey, Felix Dickinson, Telephones, Francis Inferno Orchestra, DJ Format and more with Surf Lessons, stand up paddleboarding, Hot tub disco and Yoga just being a number of extras that make this event special. The Masked Ball is essentially a giant themed party in a wonderful location, with festival-goers expected to dress up and look just as good as those on stage. For more information see HERE.

Atmosphere, variety and personality are everything at this immersive, multi-level party kingdom that for one weekend each year turns the cliffs above Porthleven into a hotbed of masked shenanigans. Besides a fine lineup of DJs and live acts playing in a network of small “microvenues” (as opposed to huge stages) Ballers have an almost endless choice of fun daytime and nighttime activities to choose from. Surfing lessons are available to wash the hangover away, while those seeking to stay dry(er), stand up paddle boarding will give attendees a rare view of the festival from the sea. Beyond numerous activities they’ll be a hot tub disco which replaces the conventional dance floor with hot, bubblying tubs of joy alongside yoga and more.

As for the music, the lineup is stuffed with good time dance music of every stripe from the UK and beyond. Among the home standouts are edit kings Psychemagik, Scott Fraser and Joe Hart’s revered and long-running Body Hammer, a showcase of Andy Bainbridge & Chris stoker’s brilliant Not An Animal label, Scotland’s endlessly talented Austin Ato (previously known as Drums of Death), and industry veteran Felix Dickinson, who counts DJ Harvey, Optimo and Andrew Weatherall among his fans. The international artists are just as impressive, with the “saviour of Australian dance music” Francis Inferno Orchestra, Norwegian house don Telephones and Japan’s rising star Powder all dropping in.

Kelvin Batt, Director of Masked Ball Limited says “For me, the Masked Ball is a proper party in a unique location, nothing more, nothing less. The event began as a party by friends for friends, and we’re proud to say we cut the ledges that the tents sit on out of the cliff ourselves, I think that attitude really shines through today. We’re lucky the crowd makes it, everyones there for one reason: to have a good time, You wont see anybody videoing or track ID-ing despite the talent on offer, and I think we’re quite unique/lucky for a dance event in that respect.”

Masked Ball Limited are an independent Cornish events company run by a small group of friends. They run events in the local area, using local people, businesses and contractors. Over the last eleven years, the various stages have been graced with world-class acts and underground DJs alike, including Phil Hartnoll (Orbital), Bonobo, Andrew Weatherall, Norman Jay MBE, Nightmares on Wax, Craig Richards, Portishead’s Andy Smith, Hot Chip, Optimo, Daniele Baldelli, Live at Robert Johnson’s ATA and Horse Meat Disco to name only a few.

For more info and tickets hit up the link here.