Out of respect for the local surf culture, The Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2024 Trials gives local Indonesian surfers the opportunity to qualify for the main event. For these local surfers, it is the most anticipated competition of the year.

August 1st, the morning of the trials, dawned as most do at Padang Padang, with troubling looking conditions. But the more experienced surfers, reading the day, knew that the seasonal offshore winds were going to be grooming perfect 6 foot surf in no time. Giving this select group of locals perhaps the best waves for any trials competition in the world.

“This has to be the best of surfing in a contest I have ever been involved in,” Says Harrison Mann, Rip Curl Marketing Manager, “These trialists, both men and women, really showed up in absolute pumping waves at of the best waves in the world”.

Veterans dominated the day with former Cup Champion Garut Widiarta putting on a barrel-riding clinic with excellent scores every time he took off. And two-time former champion Made ‘Bol” Adi Putra proved he’s still a serious contender for a third title by scoring a 9.17 and a 9.33 to win the event. He positioned himself deeper than anyone and emerged clean from some of the biggest, hollowest waves of the day with style.

Next-generation challengers: Bronson Meydi, Westen Hirst, Varun Tandjung, and Made Joi all stepped up, challenging the old guard by posting excellent scores and proving that the future of Indonesian surfing is in good hands. Bronson qualified for the main event by scoring a 9.0 for the longest tube ride of the day with a very technical backside stalling technique all his own. And Bingin Beach local Tommy Sobry fired off heroics in the last moments of his heat with a double barrel on one of the biggest waves of the day. The wave came in at an 8.67 and qualified him into the main event. Keep an eye on all these locals in the main event as the live coverage will be looking directly into the barrel from the channel.

The women were fearless, of course. All childhood friends, they took on the 6-foot Padang Padang sets with verve, pulling into the dry end section time after time despite the tremendous punishment they were absorbing.

“As beautiful as Padang Padang looks, it’s still a very serious wave,” Mann continues, “and these women trialist’s really took it on. Today they announced a whole new era of gutsy female Indonesian performance”.

It was Taina Izquierdo who stood out in the end, surviving through the end-section time and again to take the win. And ISA world champion Ziggy Mackenzie knifed some very late take offs and pulled into some wild tubes to qualify for the main event as well.

“All in all an epic day of surfing in pumpung waves” Says Mann, “highlighting not only superb local performances, but also providing a preview for all the excitement to come when the main event gets underway”.

The Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang 2024 waiting period is the entire month of August, ensuring that this one day tournament will feature the best waves and the best surfing Indonesia has to offer.

And welcome to our journey through a wave and rock structure named ‘God’s Crack’ located in northern Japan. I was over in Japan shooting something else entirely when my friend I was cruising with, Keito Matsuoka, mentioned he had a weird wave for me… and low and behold, there was this wave breaking between a very narrow crack in between two rocks. From the beach it didn’t really look doable, so we decided to paddle out and have a look, but we all know what that means once you get out the back. Arigato – Dylan Graves

Kai McKenzie, 23, from Bonny Hills, was in the surf at North Shore Beach in Port Macquarie when he was attacked about 11am on Tuesday. He saw the shark approach and was able to fight it off but suffered a severed right leg.

Clinging to life, he was able to catch a wave back to the beach. A retired police officer used his dog’s lead as a tourniquet to stem the bleeding before the victim could be airlifted to hospital.

Kai is currently in John Hunter Hospital where he has had surgery and is in a stable condition. As you can imagine, the upcoming medical expenses for his recovery and rehabilitation is something no one would ever be prepared for. The funds raised will go in assisting Kai in every aspect of his recovery.

Please dig deep for this family to assist with Kai’s recovery and rehabilitation. I am a neighbour of The McKenzie’s. They are a local family with hearts of gold that would never expect or ask anything of anybody, so let’s give back and show them that they have the communities support in this. – Lauren Mac 

Lauren Mac, friend and neighbour of Kai McKenzie, has launched a GoFundMe to support the surfer, hit the link below to help if you can. Our thoughts go out to kai, his friends and family and all those affected during this difficult time.

Photo: NSW Police

Surfing has improved the lives of many people in Morocco but unfortunately there are also some negative implications hidden in the shadow of world famous waves.

Surf tourism can be good or bad, depending on how it is handled. Atlas collects testimonies of people sharing very diverse views on the matter. All opinions will help to increase the awareness of those like us, surfers and travellers, who fell in love with Morocco.

My third trip this year to Tahiti this season for what was the biggest swell of the year. And it did not disappoint, wait till you see the Kauli Vaast’s bomb. With Teahupo’o set to stage the Olympics, this big Thursday swell lived to up to all the hype and expectations. Both the tow and paddle a line-up was full of big names and energy.

Enjoy! – Tim Bonython

DESENSITISED, is my debut surf film. This documentary-style film follows my evolution from a fearless 13-year-old to a seasoned big-wave surfer. Centered around three iconic Australian breaks that have defined my career, it showcases my path into the world of big-wave surfing.

Thrown into the deep end as a young teen, gaining confidence with every wave. At 14, I took that confidence to one of the world’s most iconic surf spots in Australia, Shipstern Bluff. Normally, it’s an unwritten rule that you have to paddle the place before towing, but that first day, I was let off the hook as it was unpaddable, witnessing surfing legends like Marty Paradisis and Tyler Homer-Cross catching 20-foot waves. Fast forward a decade, and now find myself in a position chasing down those set waves.

DESENSITISED is a tribute to 10 years of trials, triumphs, and relentless dedication. Experience the highs and lows of my surf journey as I chase the ultimate ride and push myself to see what’s possible in the realm of big-wave surfing.

Of course, this is just the beginning. Follow along as I continue living The Search. – Kipp Caddy

Directed by: Kipp Caddy
Filmed: Cameron Staunton, Chris Bryan, Mark Bramley, Tim bonython
Edited: Cameron Staunton
Sound Design: Ahmed Natiq
Colour Grade: Tim Wreyford
Presented by: Rip Curl