A hunger to win.

In 4 words that’s how I’d describe Medina. His heat against Dane Reynolds was proof alone that he’s amongst the best in high performance and ‘new age’ surfing (if you can call it that). It’s exciting man, damn exciting and this year’s going to pan out to be one of the great seasons of surfing, especially now that the ASP has let go of their stupid mid-season rotation idea as part of the One World Ranking system.

Other pros need to wake up and start pulling their wetty wedges out of their arses.

For the final day’s action check the video below

It was taken at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, Teahupoo when the contest was stopped because the surf was too big to paddle into.

This in my mind is the most mind blowing display of surfing ever recorded. I’m yet still to see any better footage of surf this gnarly. Enjoy!

My thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones and friends.

There is a paddle out tomorrow 12 ‘o clock at Camps Bay (Saturday, 21 April 2012) in his name.

Catch some good ones up there bru…

The 20 year old Durbanite was crowned Miss Zag by Zigzag Surfing Magazine after a six-month online contest where entrants from across South Africa were invited to build up their own online portfolio on www.misszag.co.za. The public got to ‘vote’ for their favourites through facebook. A panel of judges from Boss Models and Zigzag then selected one winner, based on their portfolio of images, activity and public support.

“I feel really overwhelmed!” said Nicole on being told she had won. “SA’s sexiest beach babe, wow! It’s an amazing honour to be named Miss Zag.”

“We were blown away by the participation and entries we received for Miss Zag” said Will Bendix, editor of Zigzag. “It was by no means an easy choice for the judges in the end, but Nicole is a deserved winner and an amazing ambassador for our brand.”

Along with the coveted title, Nicole will appear on a reversible cover of the upcoming issue of Zigzag and a full swimwear shoot on www.zigzag.co.za. She also wins an all expenses paid holiday for two to Mozambique, a quiver of surfboards from legendary shaper Spider Murphy, and a wardrobe of clothes and swimwear from leading surf brands. Last but not least, the title secures Nicole a two year modelling contract with Boss Models and an all expenses paid trip to Europe or New York to shoot her portfolio.

Src: ZigZag

From Billabong suits: “The change in event status follows a broader review in which we are seeking to identify cost savings throughout the business. By retaining an event at Jeffreys Bay, it now provides two qualifying events back to back in the South African region. The move to an ASP 6-Star also opens the event up to South Africa’s aspiring pro surfers for the first time in 20 years and ensures continuity of the event for the local businesses in Jeffreys Bay.”

“We agreed as a Board that whilst very regrettable, the commercial realities are such that a pragmatic approach by ASP at this time seemed sensible,” Richard Grellman, ASP Executive Chairman, said. “Billabong have been long-time supporters of professional surfing and still sponsor three of the ten World Championship Tour events and we look forward to our deep relationship with them continuing.”

Hope we get to see the pros again in some or other format… sigh.

Daniel Redman - www.gregewingphoto.com

The Quiksilver Goodwave invitational is back by popular demand and will be one of the highlights on the Surfing South Africa event calendar for 2012. The Goodwave was one of the most anticipated events of the year but was postponed in 2011 leaving a gap for a solid, core surfing event in good waves. Quiksilver decided to bring the event back due to the popularity of the Goodwave.

“We are pumped to have the Goodwave back on this year, it’s an insane event to watch, it makes such a difference watching quality surfing in good waves as opposed to small, sub-standard conditions. There are minimal events on the calendar this year for non-traveling surfers so it gives South African surfers something to look forward to, let’s hope that the ocean produces the goods and we get to run it,” said Quiksilver’s Marketing Manager Dane Patterson.

Thirty-two of South Africa’s best surfers will be selected to compete for R25 000 in prize money on the single best day of surf between 1 March and 31 August. The aim of this unique event is to see South Africa’s finest surfers going all out in good, clean surf.

Durban’s New Pier, North Beach and the Bay of Plenty have been selected as the three possible venues, the venue will be determined by the swell size and quality of the sand banks on the day, the event has historically run close to cyclone season meaning it could go down in the first month of the waiting period this year. 4-man thirty-minute heats will give surfers ample time to impress the panel of judges who will be looking for skillful tube riding and big, powerful maneuvers. Jet-ski assistance will be on hand to get surfers swiftly back to the take off zone to enable the surfers to ride as many waves as possible.

The 32 surfers and 10 alternates will be selected by a panel of judges including Zigzag editor Will Bendix, surf journalist Craig Jarvis, World Tour surfer Travis Logie, ex-pro and ripper Simon Nicholson, Patrick Duff from DC Shoes as well as Dane Patterson from Quiksilver. The event is presented by Zigzag magazine who will also be involved in selecting the best day of surf using their swell.co.za “futurecam” forecasting system. Former winners of the event include: Llewellyn Whittaker, Simon Nicholson, Antonio Bortoletto, Warwick Wright and Shane Thorne.

“I am super stoked that Quiksilver have decided to put this world class event back on. I looked forward to every year when it was running and I think it is awesome for the sport, people drop everything to come down to watch and the competitors are equally fired up to surf pumping New Pier with only three other guys in the water,” said former winner Simon Nicholson about the re-introduction of the event.

The 32 selected surfers and 10 alternates will be announced on 1 March when the event waiting period begins. The Quiksilver Goodwave is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa and Red Bull will be providing the surfers with much needed energy. The event website, goodwave.co.za, goes live on 1 March where you will be able to sign up for alerts as to when the event runs. Content can also be found at facebook.com/quiksilver and Quiksilver_SA.

Src: Quiksilver South Africa / Olivia Jones Communications

Llandudno beach was packed to the brim and the who’s who of SA surfing popped in to support. Highlights was Potamus the surfing dog who almost ate one of Vudu’s boards (in fact I hope it wasn’t one of their boards) and of course Jordy Smith (leading SA surfer) , Roosta, Chad du Toit and more.

It was hot on the beach, and not just the sun, babes everywhere made for a happy beachbum…

Shoutout to Jacque Smit and John Wilkinson who kept me company.

Props goes to sponsors Vudu Surf, RVCA, Red Bull, theGoodLife, Hurricane, Backsberg, Indo Sole, Wet Sac, Reef Wetsuits, Mrs Palmers and once again to Kai for making this day possible. The best day to kick off a year full of surfing in Cape Town, ever!

theGoodLife video here:

And without further ado, check out the gallery below (there is a second set of photos, link at bottom!):

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Around the 30th I ventured to Still Bay, hoping to catch a swell that was looking better and better on WindGuru and truth behold, on New Year’s morning it was firing like I haven’t seen it in a long time. Solid 6-8ft corduroy lines were filling up the bay and I surfed for almost 6 hours. The next morning was more of the same being out for 3.5 hours, but the rips started coming over the reef and down the line, making paddling a hard fought battle. On the 3rd it was even more of the same, but the swell was jacking and I decided to skip to Betty’s Bay to try and catch the end of the swell.

Arriving at Betty’s the wind had turned and messed things up, but I could see the potential of some waves to be had. The local crew had it great from early morning, so I was excited to get into it on the dawn patrol the following morning. We surfed ourselves out the morning, and I managed to land on my board and break the fin box on my fish. I didn’t want to risk the long board, so paddled out the afternoon with a bodyboard. BEST DECISION EVER! We had it all time, and were frothing around the braai that evening in anticipation of the next morning’s dawny. Having bodyboarded for 17 years before turning to stand-up I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to do it anymore. Seems that was not to be a worry at all, just that my feet got chafed heavily by the flippers which I wasn’t used to.

What greeted us was perfection! We caught the second session of the day on camera for your viewing pleasure…

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Check out these wooden surf boards at www.wawawave.com and see the video below of the Alaia being ridden at Supertubes, Jeffrey’s Bay. The boards are made in Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa and their makers are as chilled as the riding style itself.

Somehow these are just beautiful to me, but I think the level of difficulty will be high on this specific board. They also have Paipo’s (hollow board with a single fin) and Handslides (these are SICK for bodysurfing!) Go check it out right now!  Can’t wait to get my grubby surfer webs on one…

www.wawawave.com