Tag: california

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Lockdown chat with Jordy Smith, Travis Logie & Wok – #TheLockdown Ep4

The Podcast

The 3 Amigos in Lockdown

I was not sure what to expect when I chatted with Travis Logie about getting the three best buds on the same podcast during lockdown, but needless to say it was an epic chat. These 3 grew up together in Durban and now live in California and Hawaii. Jordy Smith has become one of the best surfers on the planet, Travis has ended his Pro surf career and become the WSL Commissioner and Warwick Wok Wright was never really a pro, though he beat a few, but now a successful interior designer and married in Hawaii.

A Special Chat

Wok’s Mom called me up after the premier and told me how special it was to get the three together and talking. A sentiment shared by the boys at the end of our talk – it went on for just over an hour – and the stories, flashbacks and laughs were real. It was incredible to get some real insight to their relationships, how they met and of course their time together on the tour.

Groms Listen up!

On a more serious note, the gents serve up some real, hard advice for aspiring SA surfers with big dreams of qualifying. These three, yes even Wok, made some serious damage on the QS and their stories and and advise should be heeded.

Hawaii the best place to be in lockdown!

This was the common consensus during the chat and checking out Jordy’s Instagram account will leave you in no doubt. Wok has adopted a flock of ducks and is practicing for being a daddy.

I hope you enjoyed the show and please remember to subscribe to the Youtube Channel – HERE

Huge thank you to Monster Energy for the support!

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#Doonies2 presented by Dirt Shark & Monster Energy

Bikes, buggies, trucks and even snowmobiles are joined by the Monster Girls and the Monster Energy team for mayhem in the sand. What a great way to start the New Year!

Bringing a collection of the most outrageous Monster Energy machinery – The Doonies journeyed back to the Glamis Sand Dunes of California to wreak havoc and go bigger then imaginable #DOONIES2

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Fox SurferCross 2015 – Dylan Lightfoot and Bilko take the win in California

We used to have this event in South Africa and it was pretty dam cool. So stoked a South African took the win in the US version recently. Dylan Lightfoot made the semi finals at the Vans US Open and then took it a little further with his team mate, Fmx wildman, Bilko, to take the win at SurferCross.

Every year some of the best motocross and surf athletes gather together for Surfercross. This year marked the 15th consecutive year for Surfercross, with a heavy combination of Pro and Industry riders alike. In the pro class, each pro surfer was randomly paired with a pro mx rider, while the industry class was a random mix of desk jockeys. We took over the MX track at Milestone the first day, then hit the surf at Trail 6 in San Clemente the following day. Surfercross is just about the perfect amount of dirt and surf. This event brings together some of the most talented athletes across two industries, into one very unique contest.

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Jordy Smith ready for 2015 World Title Assault

He has been the Golden Boy of South African surfers for years and many ask the question, why has he not won a World Title yet? There are plenty of questions and answers on this subject, but I am only going to go into why this could be the year of Jordy Smith.

In 2014 he had a reasonable start and then somewhat of a bad run, including nearly drowning at Teahupoo when being nailed by the biggest set of the day. That all turned around though at Trestles, where we once again were treated to the site of an indomitable Mr Smith. In that performance the World was reminded again of how good this guy surfs and why he is known as the Power Broker.

Going into 2015, Jordy is settled in California, married life seems to be agreeing with him and the right hand points of Southern California certainly lend themselves to his style of surfing. Every time we see an interview or a social media post, it is of a happy and very content looking man and this will be ringing the alarm bells for the other surfers on tour. Why? Because a happy and relaxed Jordy Smith, is a very, very dangerous competitor!

With Snapper Rocks starting tomorrow and the Gold Coast having enjoyed a stellar warm up for the event, you can be sure that not one of the surfers at the Quiksilver Pro are going to want to see Jordy warming up before their heats. The wave is made for his fast and hard approach and he has perfected his tube riding over the last few seasons in Mozambique. If Jordy wins Snapper, you can be sure he will carry that momentum into Margaret River and Bells Beach (Both venues he has done well at before and could easily win.) My call, if he makes semis or higher, World Surf League watch out!

But don’t just take my word on it, watch the video below to see how he has been spending his time in California warming up for the start of the year. Pretty dam mental surfing!

Last year the Brazilians finally got their first World Champion, now it’s time for South Africa. Good Luck Jordy! You have a nation behind you!

Working Class from Jordy Smith on Vimeo.

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Top 5 Web Surf Videos of 2014

With the Surfer Poll having just gone down and most sites picking their highlights for the year, I thought I would give you guys my picks for the best web surf videos over this year. There have been some absolute bangers, some that follow the old music and surf formula and the newer arty ones that mix and match between old french people smoking and John John busting. My criteria is simple, good music, great editing and surfing that gets me pumped to go session!

Before I get into the Top 5, one video worth watching in number 6 is this one, Clay on Clay by Surfing Mag. Unleashing Clay Marzo and Matt Meola on West Oz was a great idea. Maybe a little to many left handers, but the surfing and footage are insane.

Clay is Clay from SURFING Magazine on Vimeo.

Number 5 – LNF: Diamond of the Desert
With the focus on just the one spot, this video still inspires and fills with a sense of wonder. Having one of the longest tube sequences ever filmed also helps, with Koa Smith the standout.

LNF: Diamond of the Desert from LastNameFirst.tv on Vimeo.

Number 4 – Enjoy
John John Florence and filmer, Blake Kueny, have made some memorable web videos. This one definitely went arty on us, but the surfing footage and the feeling of being in France created by Blake definitely got me amped to go surf and eat baguettes.

Enjoy from John John Florence on Vimeo.

Number 3 – The Getaway
Jordy Smith has been having a banger year and he backed it up with this sweet video shot in Mozambique. Huge gaffs, big punts and long tubes in paradise make this video a keeper.

Jordy Smith: The Getaway from O'Neill on Vimeo.

Number 2 – Cheese 2
Noa Deane has just found himself in the cuck after some rather bad behaviour at the Surfer Poll Awards, but he still won the AI award and this video won best web video. There is a reason why, he rips and the video is shot so well with insane tunes. I almost made it number 1.

Noa Deane | Cheese II from Rusty Brasil on Vimeo.

Number 1 – Dirty Dozen
Pumping track, huge moves and of course Mr Dane Reynolds. This is everything you need in a surf short and its simplicity is the winning factor. Short, sharp and to the point, make this video my winner for 2014. These are twelve of my best clips of Dane Reynolds. Filmed in Sumbawa, Japan, Hawaii, and California from 2011 – 2013, for various Marine Layer Productions projects such as Excerpt, LOADED, and Kai Neville’s Dear Suburbia.

Dane’s Dirty Dozen in High Definition from mini blanchard on Vimeo.

So thats my web surf video choices for 2014. Let me know your thoughts and if I missed any good ones?

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Crazy First Day at the Hurley Pro Trestles

In what was to become a day of upsets, with both Kelly Slater and Gabriel Medina losing to the wildcards, it was Jordy Smith and Owen Wright who put on clinics, in how to score big at Trestles. The waves were great, but there did seem to0 be a bit of a wobble and it claimed many a rail! Round 2 is as stacked as we have ever seen it with Kelly, Gabs, Taj, Kolohe, Kerr and Julian Wilson all in the round. Should make for some explosive surfing come day 2.

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Free Surf Film – Vans Presents, Get-N-Classic Vol 3

We all love free! Vans were one of the first brands in surf to realize the power of organic, viral distribution for marketing when they started putting out free films a few years back. Everyone loves a free surf flick to amp up too! So enjoy this one…

Vans embarks on an incredible journey of global surf exploration and progressive surfing in Get-N Classic, Vol. 3, starring a multi-talented cast of the world’s best surfers ever assembled under one banner. Filmed on location in Hawaii, California, Scotland, Peru, Australia, Mexico, Indonesia and the Caribbean, Get-N Classic, Vol. 3 reveals history in the making, featuring breathtaking destinations and phenomenal once in a lifetime waves. With a variety of talent exemplified by multiple generations of surfers including Nathan Fletcher, Joel Tudor, Dane Reynolds, the Gudauskas’ brothers, Nathan Florence, Leila Hurst and more, the third installment of Vans’ Get-N Classic series provides a unique documentarian perspective of the Vans Surf team and their exclusive surf discoveries from around the world.

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Hurley Pro Trestles Preview 2013

Roll right up the Circus is about to start! Trestles has to be one of the best platforms on the planet for Pro Surfing and its also at the crux of the turning point for the year on the ratings. You just know their are going to be huge performances, massive upsets and incredible shockers from the judges… Yip, I said it. Trestles has also seen some of the worst decisions by the judging panel in recent World Tour history. Remember that heat between Jordy Smith and Joel Parkinson? Jordy was pretty diplomatic about it, but the surf fans were not!

Talking about Joel and Jordy, these 2 guys have to be the high on the list of favorites for the win. Both surf the long peeling right handers like magicians and both are focussed on Kelly Slater and the World Title. If Jordy is surfing like he has been in the free surfs leading up to the event though, I don’t think anyone will beat him (The judges also have the spectre of “That” result in the back of their minds which may work to Jordy’s advantage.) Kelly Slater is the man in the number 1 vest though and no mere mortal will unseat the king at the venue where he has pretty much made his name! He was showing chinks at Teahupoo though and he may finally be feeling his age…

Julian Wilson has found his rhythm again and will definitely be a good call for Trestles on your Fantasy team. Just check the photo above and realise how dangerous he can be out there. Also expect to see the Brazzas make a firm statement at Trestles. Medina, Pupo, Da Souza, Muniz and the young gun, Felipe Toledo will all be danger men at Trestles. These guys have the punts, they have previous wins at the cobblestone point and right now they need results!

My dark horse call for Trestles, Michel Bourez. He just fell short at Keramas and will be just as devastating on the right walls at Trestles! The Spartan could seriously upset the cart. Oh and lets not forget Mick Fanning and John John Florence. So good luck picking your team people, this one is wide open and if the waves deliver we could see some of the best surfing seen in competition. Think John John’s air in Bali and the ultimate dark horse, Dane Reynolds’ turn at Haleiwa last year! I am amped…

Wow, Dane is back. I am giddy with excitement.