Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach 2013 Preview

Mick Fanning may have won in 2012, but it was "that air" by Kelly Slater in the final we all remember. (Photo:ASP)

52 Years of iconic contest surfing starts up again tomorrow with the start of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach. Stop 2 of the World Tour gets underway in small conditions with the forecasters calling epic conditions for the Easter Weekend, just in time for droves of fans to line the point at Bells.

That man Kelly Slater is in the number 1 slot once again, with Joel Parkinson breathing down his neck. Mick Fanning as defending champion will also be a major threat and after watching his turns at Snapper, you best believe that if Bells is big, Jordy Smith will be taking names! Dust Payne has just come off a win at Margaret River and that confidence may well see his best result on tour happening at Bells. Julian Wilson was also in that final and will be feeling good. Dark horses in my opinion will be Kohole Andino and Philipe Toledo.

Anything can happen at Bells though, so look forward to an exiting event!

Cape Bodyboarders Light Up - Movie Teaser 2013

Markus Phitides charging the hole at his Cape home Break. (Photo: Seth Phitides)

The local Bodyboard crew have been having one of the best summers in living memory in Cape Town.   Even with the sub zero water and large predators at hand, it is hard not to love our cold water wonderland when huge tubes are on offer weekly. The waves have been so good from Llandudno to the Tand, that the boys have put together a new 2013 video, so check out the teaser...

IBA GoPro Pipeline Challenge 2013 Teaser

After the huge disappointment of hearing that the current economic downturn had caused the Pipeline Challenge to be cancelled due to no sponsorship, it was a great relief to find out that thanks to the social media campaign by the Bodyboarders, GoPro have signed on to save the event. So lock and load your internet and get ready for the most iconic event on the IBA Calendar, its gonna be huge! (Well done GoPro!) Frothing to see Jared and Spex cane the competition.

Volcom Pipeline Pro 2013 - Starts Sunday

The contest season on the ASP World Tour starts with a bang at Pipeline for the 2013 Volcom Pipe Pro. The 5 Star event always brings drama and great action to the start of the year and you can bet that 2012 winner John John Florence will be looking to defend his title! The usual suspects of North Shore chargers and World Tour stars will battle it out for honors, though I am most excited to see how the Saffa boys go. (Well, that's hoping some of them get in...)

Winter XGames 2013 Aspen, Starts Today

Its that time already folks! Aspen is full to the hilt with the best winter X athletes on the planet ready to kick it up and take down the Winter XGames Gold. Here in SA we can watch on ESPN, so make sure you don't miss out starting tonight at 22:00.

Big calls for this year are seeing a Triple Cork in the snowboard comps and a double backflip in the Snowmobile jumps! I am frothing!

Schedule:

Maverick's Invitational 2013 is Green Light

Past winner, Grant "Twig" Baker, will be charging for the Saffers at Mavericks.

A long range perfect swell is charging towards California and the organizers of the Maverick's Invitational have called the event on for Sunday, January 20th. Surfline, the official forecaster reckon the swell may have some lulls, but will be big and perfect when they come through the peak at Mavs. South Africa has 2 previous winners in Twig and defending champion, Chris Bertish, who won in 2010, the last time the event was run. Frank Solomon is on the alternate list after spending time in California the last few seasons. Great to see legend, Jeff Clarke, back in charge and running his contest again!

You can watch the live webcast HERE - Mavericks Invitational

Moto Defined by DC - Teaser

DC have to have one of the best team rosters of any brand in Moto. So it was inevitable that at some point they would put all that talent to good use and release a Motorcross video, featuring Supercross, FMX and free riding. The movie drops on January 15th 2013. Just watch the teaser and start frothing, taking careful note of the names appearing in the video...

Red Bull presents Jaws Paddle Competition

Welcome to the next limit in Big Wave Surfing. Red Bull, together with team rider, Ian Walsh, present the Jaws Paddle Contest. This contest will help to significantly push the boundaries in paddling giant waves. Thus far only a few invites have been released, among them our very own, Grant "Twig" Baker. A big uproar started brewing in South Africa as Chris Bertish has not, as yet, been invited, but he was the first person to paddle into waves at Jaws and is a winner at Mavericks. We cant speculate, but perhaps his invite is in the mail.

The event will run a waiting period over the whole Hawaiian Winter and will require clean 30-50ft Faces to run. They have also confirmed they will not run on the same day as the Eddie if this clash becomes reality.  21 Surfers will be invited.

Invited so far are host Ian Walsh, Twig, Greg Long, Dave Wassel, John John Florence (Yes please), Jeff Rowley and Kala Alexander. Most of these guys being proven chargers out in the Jaws Lineup. One thing is for sure, you dont want to miss this one. Follow the event at Red Bull USA.

Bones Brigade the Autobiography - The start of modern Skateboarding

The most eagerly anticipated doccy since "Dogtown and Z-Boys" is finally here. Made by Stacey Peralta, the same director, the movie spans a decade when a crew of young skaters changed the face of the sport. The movie is available on Itunes and if you are lucky like myself and a few others, you get to watch the SA premier at the Labia this Friday.

When six teenage boys came together as a skateboarding team in the 1980s, they reinvented not only their chosen sport but themselves too - as they evolved from insecure outsiders to the most influential athletes in the field.


Skate Skateboarding "Trailer (promotion)" "Tony Hawk (Skateboarder)" " Stacy Peralta" DCoscarelli "Tony Alva" "steve caballero" "tony hawk's pro skate" movieclips "movie clips" movieclipstrailers "new trailers" "trailers HD" hd trailers movieclipsDOTcom
"indie film" "indie film trailers" "sundance film festival" "cool movies" "rodney mullen"

Insane Proximity Flying with Jokke Sommer

Guys like Jokke are taking Proximity Flying to new levels of insanity! (Photo: Red Bull Content Pool)

Jokke Sommer's Wingsuit, original series teaser: Every new episode of this coming original series will take you in a new amazing spot / speed-flying over beautiful and incredible mountain landscapes around the globe.

Jokke explains his feeling and thoughts while flying with his Wingsuit. Jokke is a Norwegian athlete, specializing in Wingsuit flying, base-jumping and speed riding.

30th Edition of the Pipeline Challenge is go for 2013

There have been some crazy moments over the years at the Pipeline Challenge. Some of the biggest days ever surfed out there, South Africans charging and winning and of course some gruesome wipeouts. Next year sees the 30th edition of this iconic Bodyboard event and of course SA kingpin, Sacha Specker defending his DK title.

O'Neill Cold Water Classic Preview - Santa Cruz returns to the World Tour

Jordy Smith needs a win and a change of fortune. He has won at Steamer lane before, could this be his moment? (Photo:Miller)

The penultimate event of the World Tour and we welcome back that cold water haven, Santa Cruz. Steamer Lane has produced some legends over the years, specifically in the new school air movement and one of its leaders, Ratboy Collins has a wild card. The other wildcard was won by Nat Young on his backhand and this is a good time to mention that this is one right hand point where the Goofy Footers often trump the naturals!

The last 3 contests were won by two Goofy Footers, Miguel Pupo and Matt Wilko as well as our very own power house, Jordy Smith. The wave has a big shoulder and runs through a couple of Bowl Sections that suit surfers on their backhand. While the natural footers really have to force their turns and keep super tight to the pocket, the Goofys can drive off of the bottom and go vertical into the narrow window for snaps. This is really going to suit surfers like Pupo, Wilko and Travis Logie. Hell, if the surf stays below 5ft, Travis could just cane this contest, the wave is built for his backhand. Gabriel Medina , on his current form, is going to open a can of whoop ass on the wave at Steamer Lane!

In the World title hunt Joel Parkinson needs to win. If Mick, Kelly and John  John don't make semis and Joel wins, the title is done. John John, like Jordy, knows the wave well after coming here for years as an O'Neill team rider. Mick and Joel should have few problems at the Lane, but Kelly, it should be noted, has only ever surfed one event here and got knocked out in the first round. Makes for interesting choices on Fantasy Surfer...

SANTA CRUZ, California/USA (Wednesday, October 31, 2012) – The world’s best surfers have arrived in Santa Cruz, California for the penultimate event of the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) season, the O’Neill Coldwater Classic at the iconic Steamer Lane. A staple of the ASP’s qualifying circuit, the O’Neill Coldwater Classic has been sanctioned at the elite level of competition this season, celebrating the brand’s 60th anniversary of operations. The event will play a crucial role in both the 2012 ASP World Title Race and the requalification campaigns of the world’s best surfers and could commence as early as tomorrow.
Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, current No. 3 on the ASP WCT rankings, has two victories under his belt this season, but suffered two relatively early exits over his European campaign. After recharging his batteries at home following the last event Portugal, the polished natural-footer is out to rebound his ASP World Title hopes at the O’Neill Coldwater Classic. “I like to sneak under the radar, but the last couple of events haven’t been the greatest for me,” Fanning said. “It was great to go home and readjust and refocus. I have a new quiver of boards and I’m excited to be here.” Fanning’s appearance at this year’s event marks his first return to Santa Cruz in over a decade and the two-time ASP World Champion (2007, 2009) is excited to take on the challenges brought on by Steamer Lane’s ever-changing conditions. “I think it’s great having this event on the schedule this year,” Fanning said. “The past few years, we’ve had The Search event and you go to new places and it’s great to have a new wave every time and learn the spot as you go through the rounds. This event has been around for a long time, but personally, I haven’t been here since 2000. It’s great to be back and every surfer will be learning, so it’s going to be exciting.” Fanning will face Kieren Perrow (AUS), 35, and Dusty Payne (HAW), 23, in Round 1 of competition.
John John Florence (HAW), 20, current ASP WCT No. 4, has extensive experience in the Steamer Lane lineup despite being one of the youngest competitors in the event. Despite his history with the venue, Florence made it a point to arrive early and reacquaint himself with the break. “To prepare for this contest I arrive a few days early to get used to the cold water,” Florence said. “I’ve been coming here since I was pretty little to surf in the event and Santa Cruz is a cool place. Every year that I come here is a new learning curve for me and that’s why I came here a few days early to get used to it again. To be able to come here and watch everyone adapt to the colder water, and the Lane, it’s not an easy wave to surf, so it’s fun to watch everyone surf it.” Florence has drawn Heitor Alves (BRA), 30, and Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 26, in the opening round of competition.
Miguel Pupo (BRA), 20, winner of last year’s ASP Prime rated O’Neill Coldwater Classic, returns to Steamer Lane as a Sophomore among the world’s best surfers and is ready to defend his title against his fellow ASP WCT competitors. “It’s just great to be back,” Pupo said. “I love this place. Last year was a pretty challenging contest because we had a couple of days at Steamer Lane and a couple of days at Waddell Creek. I’m happy to be back in the water with my booties on.” Pupo admitted that the younger surfers may have more recent experience at Steamer Lane via the ASP Prime rated event of the past, but the top level of competition on the ASP WCT will level the playing field. “I think it’s good because I’ve been coming here the last four years and the young guys have as well because of the Prime,” Pupo said. “We kind of have that advantage, but the veterans have surfed here in the past too. Steamer Lane is a tricky wave and they probably know what to expect. Realistically, it’s the top 34 guys in the world, they surf every wave well, so I think it’s even.” Pupo will face Owen Wright (AUS), 22, and Yadin Nicol (AUS), 26, in Round 1 of competition.
Nat Young (USA), 21, was electric in today’s local trials, stringing together a series of impeccable backhand performances to earn his berth in the main event, marking his first appearance in an ASP WCT. “I knew it was going to be tough in the local trials,” Young said. “We have so many good surfers up here and everyone is capable of doing well and getting big scores. It was a long day and I’m really stoked. I’m against Kelly (Slater), so to be able to surf against my hero at my home break in my first WCT, it’s pretty special.” Young joins Jason Collins (USA), 38, as the two wildcards into the O’Neill Coldwater Classic.
Event organizers will convene tomorrow at 7:15am to assess conditions for a possible 7:45am start. Surfline, official forecasters for the O’Neill Coldwater Classic, have called for: Fun size WNW swell is on track for the first day of the waiting period, Thursday the 1st, although morning wind conditions look problematic before improving over the afternoon. A slightly larger WNW swell is lining up for the afternoon of the 4th through the 6th along with favorable conditions, if the storm behaves as forecast in the next few days.
When competition commences, up first will be Julian Wilson (AUS), 23, Alejo Muniz (BRA), 22, and Taylor Knox (USA), 41, in the opening heat of Round 1.

The O’Neill Coldwater Classic will be webcast LIVE via www.oneill.com/cwc/ 

Rip Curl Pro Portugal 2012 - Preview

Adriano is always dangerous and will be up in Heat 1 of Round 1. (Photo: ASP)

After the crazy mutant tubes in France, we need to prepare for more of the same in Portugal for the Rip Curl Pro. Supertubos is a wave that can deliver insane tubes and great punt opportunities on the smaller days. Just check the videos to see the wide variety of wave on offer at one beachbreak.

With 2 wins on the trot, Kelly Slater is definitely back in the Title hunt and he will be pretty confident going to Supertubos. Joel Parkinson is the number 1 surfer on the ratings, but he knows Kelly is breathing down his neck and after losing in the semis to Kelly in France, he may fold. Mick Fanning has done well at this event in the past and needs a solid result to put his campaign back together after a horrid result in France. Mick was looking so good all year, but wave choice let him down at the last event.

John John and Julian Wilson are my dark horses along with the Frenchman, Jeremy Flores. Jordy Smith has been ripping, but sometimes the luck is not with you. That's been his year in 2012! It will only take one win to change everything, so here is hoping both the judges and that fickle bitch, luck, go his way in Portugal.

Quiksilver Pro France 2012 Preview

Here is hoping Jordy Smith canes it in France after being ripped at Trestles! (Photo: QuikPro/ASP)

The Quiksilver Pro starts today with the trials in some pretty heavy looking French beachbreak. After a manic week at Trestles, Kelly Slater has shaken the title race up and while Mick Fanning is still in the lead, he will be feeling Kelly breathing down his neck. Joel Parkinson and John John Florence are in the top 4 and both of these guys can cane the beachies in France. They were in the Brazil final with John John winning and if the swell stays small to medium, they could quite easily be in this final. Keep a beady eye on the Brazza, Adriano da Souza, sitting in 5th on the rankings and looking solid at Trestles.

My dark horses are Dane Reynolds, who has been awarded a wild card, and would probably love to win the contest doing the most outrageous surfing possible. But, my big call has to be Jordy Smith. he was totally ripped off in California and he knows it. I am hoping to see a hungry and merciless giant in the water in France. Jordy needs to take his surfing to the line and cane every wave he surfs. The French beachbreaks are very similar to the waves he grew up on and the man is just to good not to start winning more contests. I think France could be it.

Captain Kais World on www.2ov.fm - The Wright Side of Wrong with I am Wok

With the premier of Wok's first foray into cinema this evening in Cape Town, I had him on the radio show on Monday eve. Things got a little wild when Wok groupies invaded the studio high on vino and Rox from the Roxy Surf School and the Armstrongs, Ian and Max, could only raise their eyebrows.

If you wanna come see the premier this eve, here is the link - Wright Side of Wrong Premier CT

Download or listen to the Podcast HERE

Watch the teaser for the movie...

EKATERINA ITS THE WRIGHT SIDE OF WRONG from Peter Hamblin on Vimeo.

Jordy Smith's "Bending Colors" Film Teaser

That's right good people, the eagerly awaited first film from, Mr Jordy Smith is about to drop and I have a little teaser to wet your appetite. I have seen some of the sections and this movie is going to blow your minds with some of the biggest airs, pits and turns seen in surfing. In the meantime enjoy the teaser...

Maloof Money Cup South Africa 2012 - Teaser

Ok skate fans, it is time to to get excited once again as some of the world's best skaters head for our shores. Well, actually they head far away from our shores to the a great big hole in the countryside, the small town of Kimberley. The Maloof Money Cup runs from the 28-30 September at the Maloof Skate Plaza and you can get ready for the best street, Vert and Mini-mega Ramp action ever seen in South Africa. To start getting you guys amped, here are our 3 edits from last year's event. The skating was unbelievable and the party was pure unhinged manic! Remember to follow Maloof SA on Twitter and of course our favorite action sports event company, Old School Productions, for all the latest news. I will have a great competition for you guys next week.

Tickets - Computicket

For more information on the competition here is the official press release: The Maloof Money Cup will return to Kimberley in the Northern Cape Province for its second edition from 28 – 30 September 2012. Considered to be the world’s premier showcase for professional and amateur skateboarding, the Maloof Money Cup SA world skateboarding championships is also tagged as the richest event of its kind with a prize purse of R4, 000, 000!!! The three-day event will be hosted at the Kimberley Maloof Skate Plaza in Kimberly and will feature some of the top skateboarders from around the world on the magnificent street and vert sections of the world class state-of-the-art course. Top professional contenders as well as South African amateurs will battle it out for the word champion titles in the various disciplines. According to Joe Maloof, founder of Maloof Skateboarding and owner of The Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, they are delighted to return to South Africa. “We were absolutely overwhelmed by the positive reaction from the South African public during the first event in 2011. The government and people of the Northern Cape Province embraced the concept and we were amazed by the incredible hospitality. We were especially proud of the reception we received from the local skateboarding community and the wonderful natural talent and enthusiasm expressed by skateboarders across the country. This year’s world championships, the biggest skateboarding contest in the world, promises to be bigger and better than ever and we can’t wait to return to sunny South Africa,” mentioned Joe Maloof. The 2011 Maloof Money Cup was the first time that the event left American shores and proved to be the biggest sporting event ever to be hosted in the Northern Cape. The capital of Kimberley was literally invaded as thousands of spectators and skateboarding enthusiasts descended on the town for the contest. The event made a significant economic impact on the regional economy as accommodation facilities, restaurants and tourism attractions were filled to capacity. Following the unprecedented success of the inaugural event, Maloof Skateboarding this week announced that they have extended their contract with the Northern Cape as hosts of this exhilarating event to five years. This will arguably transform Kimberley into the skateboarding capital of the world as professional skateboarders have proclaimed the state-of-the-art skate plaza as the best of its kind in the world. Hosting the Maloof Money Cup formed a crucial part in the repositioning of the Northern Cape Province as the prime destination for adventure and extreme sports in the country, but also gave the provincial government the opportunity to engage with the youth of the province. “The 2011 Maloof Money Cup was undoubtedly a huge success in terms of global media exposure and economic benefit to the province, but the impact we had on the youth of our province was unbelievable. The Maloof Money Cup presented to them a lifestyle alternative that is accessible and affordable and could be the catalyst for huge socio-economic changes,” stated John Block, Northern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism. During the run-up to the event, the provincial government will continue to take the message of skateboarding to the streets with the Skateboarding for Hope community outreach programme. In addition, skateboarding road tours and public qualifier events will be hosted across the country to identify budding skateboarding talent. Three Pro Tours will feature some of the top riders in the world and will help in creating awareness of skateboarding as one of the fastest growing sports in the world amongst local communities.

The Friday Mix - Surf, Snow and Wake videos heading your way.

Dieter doing what he does best, blow minds on Noisiavision.

This week I bring you 3 action sports videos that are going to make you very happy. First up is Wake Skate and the new movie called, Noisiavision. The new movie is available for download online HERE and features our very own Saffer charger, Dieter Humpsch. The movie looks insane.

Next up is Kai Neville's new surf film, Dear Suburbia, available next month on Itunes. It features the top young surfers on the planet in various wild and exotic places. Edited with Kai's usual unique style, this will be a must have if you want to watch the leaders in modern surfing. Interesting though, that Jordy is not in this one...

Lastly, DC brings us the Torstein Horgmo documentary, Horgasm, a Love Story. Torstein is one of the top snowboarders on the planet and this will be very high on my download list come October. Enjoy the teasers and have great weekend.

NOISIA VISION Teaser from NOISIA VISION.tv on Vimeo.

Dear Suburbia: Trailer from Kai Neville Studio on Vimeo.

HORGASM - A LOVE STORY - TRAILER from torstein horgmo on Vimeo.

Quiksnow Preview 2012

That's right kiddies, the most mayhem filled weekend of the year is upon us! Snow, altitude sickness, boarding, airs, rails, booze and crazy antics are on the way for Quiksnow 2012. Since 2005 this event has ruled the roost as the most fun Action Sports event of the year. judging by the pictures i have been seeing of the Park at Afriski, this is going to be a stellar year, with all of the top SA riders attending, some crazy new junior riders and of course the usual mix of international chargers that make the trip out to the Southern Tip of Africa. I will be there to bring you all the mayhem first hand!

In the meantime enjoy the teaser for this year, which I just made!

Street League 2012 Teaser

The biggest skate tour dedicated to street skating returns in 2012 thanks to DC and Monster. The world's best street skaters battle it out to be the boss of the league! One can only hope and pray that this eventually comes to SA, like the Maloof. (We also need to hope that ESPN decides to broadcast these comps in SA.)

Street League Skateboarding has announced the 2012 schedule for the DC Pro Tour fueled by Monster Energy with stops in Kansas City, MO; Ontario, California; Glendale, Arizona; and Newark, NJ.. Tickets for the 2012 season will go on sale April 2nd at www.streetleague.com. The series will be available live on ESPN2, ESPN3, Street League's official facebook page, and distributed to over 198 countries via the ESPN Family of Channels.