Jordy Smith warms up for Snapper in Mozambique

Jordy Smith using his power game on a poor Mozambique Wave.

Mozambique

With the whole world watching as Mozambique deals with tragedy after a massive cyclone, we are reminded by this video what an incredible place it is. The surf spot Jordy Smith surfs in this video in right where the tragedy has struck and if you want to help, please go here and support the beautiful people of Mozambique – Help the Children

Jordy Smith looks good!

It has to be said, Jordy Smith looks ready for an assault on the world title this year. With the first event of the year around the corner, at a wave that looks very similar to this one, it could be a great start to the year.

Snapper Rocks suits the big guy’s surfing. With a solid rail game, good tube riding and of course those mental airs, I am sure he features in most people’s Fantasy picks.

Watch the Video

So without further ado, watch Jordy Smith annihilate long, tropical walls of blue bliss in Mozambique. Not many surfers I would rather watch…

Insane Urban MTB POV – Red Bull Valparaiso Cerro Abajo

Every year footage comes out of this insane Mountain Bike event, as nutters on 2 wheels throw themselves down the narrow city streets of this 3rd World enclave. Each year I think, well I have seen it before, how nuts can it be? Well the answer is, it still blows my mind each year. How these guys don’t write themselves off is anyone’s guess. Enjoy the madness once again as the Red Bull Valparaiso Cerro Abajo gives us another year and another incredible MTB POV…

Once again, the hills of Valparaiso tested the gnarliest urban DH mountain bikers with an insanely technical DH course through Chilean streets. Take a point-of-view look at what it’s like to charge through one of the sketchiest urban MTB courses in the world.

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.

Tom Curren talks Style, Competitive Surfing and Jbay

The man is a legend! He redefined performance at Supertubes on his first wave ever at the point and when he paddled out for his ASP Heritage heat against Occy, he showed the World once again how good he is. Arcing turns, drawn out bottom turns and a perfect ten tube ride. It was a huge privilege to get to interview the man who inspired me to surf Jbay as a grom. His thoughts on surfing Jbay and what he thinks of Owen Wright, Matt Wilko, Joel Parkinson and of course Mick Fanning may just change your views on these surfers. So sit back, relax and listen to the master…

(Photo: Billy Ackerman – https://www.facebook.com/billy.ackerman)

The Calm Before the Storm – Jbay Open Final Day Preview

It seems pretty calm on the beach at Supertubes. The sun is out, there are small perfect waves flaring down the point and there is a sense of anticipation building as the forecasted swell should arrive for Saturday. Take a look at what went down in Round 4 and I preview the 3 guys, Taj Burrow, CJ Hobgood and Freddy Patacchia, that should be super deadly if the waves go 8-10ft.

Upsets, Tears and Goofy Footed Domination at the Jbay Pro Day 3

Just look at the bemused smile on CJ Hobgood’s face after knocking out the favorite, Jordy Smith. CJ must have been wondering how he did it, but I can tell you how, he stuck to the gameplan. Jordy wanted to impress his home crowd so much he tried too hard and ultimately it hurt him. Going for the massive layback snap and going down, all he had to do was 3 more average turns and he would have got the middling 6 points he was after. The crowd sighed in disbelief and CJ was left smiling on the beach wondering how he pulled off such an incredible win against the odds.

Another Goofy who put it to the odds was in form surfer, Matt Wilko, not only beating Kelly Slater in their Round 3 match up, but putting the King in combo land. I don’t think many people called that one. Josh Kerr, Taj Burrows, Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson stuck to the Jbay script and dominated their encounters. One more upset was on the cards though, as Alejo Muniz took out World Number 2, Michel Bourez.

There was great surfing and we are now ready for Round 5 and the final day of surfing. Hopefully the swell forecasted for the weekend arrives.

Timmy Reyes wins the Mr Price Pro 2014

The man stayed cool and calm, with a big grin on his face the whole week! He surfed with style and power and never lost his head. Staying with the local crew in Ballito, Tim Reyes had the crowd support on the final day and it helped him win the event. Matt Wilko will be feeling like he let it slip from his grasp. He was electric through Friday and most of the final day, but just could not find a 2nd wave, after getting a 9.2.

The event produced incredible surfing and one just needs to watch the highlights videos from all the days to realise that the level of surfing on the Qualifying circuit has exploded. We now move on to the Jbay Open and I cannot wait to get there.

PRIZE WINNER WITH HURRICANE SURF
Congratulations to Martin Hartslief from PE, who was the first person to put Timmy Reyes as their favorite for the win. He wins R3000 surf accessories pack from Hurricane Surf. I will have another comp for Jbay.

First ever Bike Flip in Competition – Red Bull XFighters Madrid

After a slow start to the season, defending Red Bull X-Fighters Champion Thomas Pagès of France came back at Las Ventas in Madrid tonight ­– with fury. To defeat the most spectacular display of tricks ever seen in the World Tour, the Frenchman had to make history, and he did, pulling off the first Bike Flip in competition.
MADRID (Spain) – Tom Pagès is a hot and cold kind of rider, and tonight he had to be downright “caliente” to claim first place at Red Bull X-Fighters’ 13th consecutive tour stop in Madrid. In what was definitely the most progressive battle in the history of the world’s most prestigious freestyle motocross event series, Pagès was the best of the best, locking the top of the podium with the Bike Flip everyone’s been waiting for.

Second- and third-place finishers Josh Sheehan of Australia and Levi Sherwood of New Zealand were spectacular as well, delivering performances that would have won just about any other competition. Sheehan soared with rarely seen double-backflips three times that evening, and Sherwood introduced his new Rowedova Flip with his usual perfection. And all three of the riders had to carry off the risky tricks in heat after heat to make it to the finals.
The atmosphere was electric in the sold-out Las Ventas bullring, with 23,000 fans a screaming sea of white and red in attire that marked the beginning of the famed San Fermín festival, known for the running of the bulls. Pagès tossed his gear into the audience, and Sheehan even threw himself into the crowd before a fireworks display ended the evening. As the riders clutched their trophies, Pagès said, “I’m so happy. The runs here were loaded with special moves that made it like a best trick competition where every trick could have been the best.”

With Sherwood, the 2012 overall champion, having won the first two events of the 2014 season, a comeback by 2013 world tour champ Pagès makes it anyone’s title to claim. And it’s far too soon to count out Sheehan, who has two second-place finishes under his belt. The fireworks will continue in Munich, Germany on 19 July – where for the first time in FMX history – the full track will be floating on a lake.
Final Results Madrid: 1. Thomas Pagès (FRA), 2. Josh Sheehan (AUS), 3. Levi Sherwood (NZL), 4. Dany Torres (ESP), 5. Taka Higashino (JPN), 6. Maikel Melero (ESP), 7. Clinton Moore (AUS), 8. Mat Rebeaud (SUI), 9. Rob Adelberg (AUS), 10. Libor Podmol (CZE), 11. Rémi Bizouard (FRA), 12. David Rinaldo (FRA).
World Tour Standings: 1. Sherwood 200 points, 2. Sheehan 160, 3. Pagès 145, 4. Torres 130, 5. Bizouard 95, 6. Adelberg 90, 7. Higashino 70, 8. Rebeaud 70, 9. Melero 60, 10. Jones (USA) 55
Pictures: Joerg Mitter, Daniel Grund, Flo Hagena