Freaks of Nature

Claudio Kirac Is Online

2010-09-06T22:39:00.000+01:00

Billabong Creative Director and international artist supremo Claudio Kirac has just put his extremely diverse portfolio online for all to see.

Check it out here CLAUDIOKIRAC.COM .

You will be inspired!

Freaks On Twitter

2010-08-26T19:16:00.000+01:00

FREAKS OF NATURE ON TWITTER

Magic+Voodoo

2010-06-15T23:08:00.000+01:00

Time for a shameless plug. One of our other projects - a clothing label called Magic+Voodoo - is now live on the internet. There's still a load more content to be added but there should be enough to keep you entertained - and don't forget to get your wallets out!

Follow the link below to check it out.

MAGICANDVOODOO.COM

Hand Drawn

2010-06-07T22:53:00.000+01:00

Quite like this hand drawn type from the Rip Curl site.

WWW.RIPCURL.COM

Money and Moustaches

2010-06-01T11:39:00.000+01:00

Von Zipper raise some money for breast cancer by combining moustaches and art.

So Smoooooth...

2010-05-25T22:19:00.002+01:00

He even makes it look effortless on tiny waves.

Nixon/LightWood

2010-05-19T00:25:00.003+01:00

As my sunglasses post builds speed offline, i shall drop this for all you gear lovers. NIXON have just added some fresh new styles to their collection. Some heavy contrasting wood/metal headphones & watches with some very luxurious undertones. This Lightwood collection will be hitting stores soon. dig deep.

sneak peak below. peace.

SAS Go Back to the Drawing Board

2010-05-11T21:41:00.000+01:00

Yet another great campaign by Surfers Against Sewage - auctioning surfboards featuring artwork from the likes of Paul McCartney, David Carson and Tracey Emin!

SAS.ORG.UK

Also, if you're looking to support the cause - why not visit their shop.
SAS.ORG.UK/SHOP

UKPSA

2010-05-11T09:12:00.001+01:00

The UK Professional Surf Tour will be at Saltburn beach for the first round of the UK Professional Surf Tour.

The best professional surfers in the UK will be in attendance to showcase their talents and compete to win the UK Professional Surfing Title.

This event will highlight the beach location at Saltburn and the surrounding area as one of the best surfing locations in the UK. With over one hundred of the best surfers competing for the title.

This is the first time ever that the UK Professional Surf Tour has visited Saltburn.

The action starts at 10 AM on Saturday 15th May and runs through till 4PM on Sunday. So get on down and view the action.

Vans X Joel Tudor

2010-05-09T19:42:00.009+01:00

Vans have always been open to teaming up with all sorts of people, they love the results of a good collab as much as we do! This Spring is no different as the guys&gals @ Vans introduce its their assortment of Joel Tudor-inspired products, the “Pod” collection.

Joel brought a beat-up duffle bag full of clothes collected from thrift stores and world travels to inspire his apparel collection. Using this random items and Joels affinity for all things beach culture, Vans developed the Joel “Pod” - which consists of a wet/dry duffle bag along with all the essential items needed for a surf trip. The sweet collection includes tank tops, tees, an organic cotton button down shirt, knit hoodies, recycled polyester boardshorts, military jacket, ties & signature surf shoes.

Check the shots below &

hit his section on the VANS site --------------->HERE!

Kirsten Prisk Photography

2010-05-05T22:38:00.000+01:00

Sweet photography from Cornwall based Kirsten Prisk.

KIRSTENPRISK.COM

Just when you thought you'd seen it all.....

2010-05-04T20:37:00.000+01:00

Cornish surfwear label Finisterre take to the waves with their newest team member.

Check out their site here:
FINISTERRE

Epic Fails

2010-04-16T09:18:00.001+01:00

Ever wondered how the pros make surfing look so easy, and never seem to fall?... nor me really!! but when they wipeout, they really wipeout.

Billabong actually recognize the craziest wipeouts and hand out awards for this! a slightly disconcerting award, like winning most improved player!!

Nevertheless, some great footage of some heavy, raw waves. Makes me breathless just watching this...

Surfing Mennie Waves

2010-04-12T21:57:00.000+01:00

Al Mennie is a pioneer of big wave surfing in the UK; often hunting down new and unridden giants off the coast of his native Ireland.

For those interested in finding out more he's just released an autobiography titled: Surfing Mennie Waves.

Al’s autobiography, Surfing Mennie Waves was released on March 24th, 2010. This is not a book written by an onlooker or a photographer giving their view and take on what they think is going on in the minds of the big wave riders. Nor is it a book fuelled by sponsorship incentives or magazine adverts. This is an ego free, honest and first hand account of Al Mennie’s life as a big wave surfer.

Check out the link below to view him in action.

ALMENNIE.COM

CoastalCampaign

2010-04-11T21:57:00.005+01:00

Some images below from a poster campaign for the Association & Surfrider Foundation, which aims to defend the preservation and sustainable coastal management. The idea behind the images is to show that what seems to be a small impact on the surface is a much bigger problem below. Clever i think you'll admit.

Good strong slogan thought up by agency Young & Rubicam

Photos by Ben Stockley.

OnePiece

2010-04-11T15:49:00.005+01:00

Summer is on its way apparently, and you need a good pair of summer daps to ponder about in .Vans have always been top of many peoples list for some slip on action in the sunny months. The latest selection out of the Vans Vault is the "One Piece"

Check the colourways below to see the unique construction, made from one piece with minimal stitching and tinkering. They come with some nice stitched accents and vulcanized soles.

In stores soon we hope...

Fantasy Surfer

2010-04-07T20:34:00.000+01:00

Forget Fantasy Football - this is the shit you want!

FANTASYSURFER.COM

StopMotion

2010-04-07T12:52:00.003+01:00

skateboarding/ but not as we know it.

Tilles Singer has been busy ripping up magazines/

here's a new piece of footage for us all:

Apparel Design Masterclass

2010-03-31T21:11:00.000+01:00

Joshua M. Smith, also known as Hydro74 is a freak - and I mean that in the nicest possible way! His talent for apparel design knows no bounds; something which nearly every major action sport brand going agrees with, as he's created stunning designs for them all.

So if you want a masterclass in apparel design head on over to:
HYDRO74.COM

The best surf film...Zen and Zero

2010-03-30T14:48:00.000+01:00

Zen and Zero

Californians are blessed with plenty of warm swell and classic breaks which I imagine kicks up some crowds, so the search for a quieter break is usually a nagging thought.

These 5 surfers are embarking on more than a search for waves. A search of surfing' philosophy and investigation into the myth of the surfer dude. The narrator offers up a poetically smooth dialogue that makes the mind tick.

By no means a new surf movie, Zen and Zero is the winner of the Santa cruz Film Festival 2006 Festivals Directors award.

Zen and Zero has it all, beautiful cinema photography, waves, art and culture. The true delight however, is that the central characters are not the worlds top surfers, but regular guys enjoying the delights of the sport.

SURFER MAGAZINE (October 2006) If you ever needed reassurance that the rebel heart of surfing is still beating strong under the slow strangulation of rampant mainstreaming, this film is for you. Zen and Zero is refreshingly free of gratuitous logo shots and forced sponsored-rider antics, proving that surfing is not so much about riding a wave as living on one. - Steve Barilotti

You tube it, steal it, remake it, do what you gotta do to watch this movie, it wont let you down.

BAG IT UP

2010-03-29T14:03:00.005+01:00

Traveling? Surfing? Snowboarding? Having somewhere to change and store your wet/dirty goods is always a pain . For people who want to shun the old tesco bag trick! look no further than GYST. These guys have made a waterproof bag with multi function written all over it, they made it look good too...

sweet threads & visuals

2010-03-29T13:31:00.008+01:00

Love it when the lesser known brands give the industry bigboys a prod every now & then.

LIGHTNING BOLT have recently thrown up a lovely look book of their up&coming workings. Go have a peek.

Surfers Village sum it up well here :

Lightning Bolt presents the new collection to face the hottest months of the year. Faithful to our signature 'A Pure Source', from surfers to surfers, both mens and womens collection express our core values: Style, Excellence and Fellowship. This year we present you three different lines: Style Masters, Red Label and Black Label.

All the photos were taken in their birthplace, the hawaiian North Shore, and also in California. Nick Walker was the camera boy in charge. The lookbook is already online at lightningbolt.eu.com

Style Masters
This retro line is based on the iconography of the brand’s golden period, the 70’s. It is characterised by a palette of warm and cool shades, used in gradients and inspired by the sunset colours. The fit is faithful to those times: slim and shortest boardshorts. Typical engineered stripes and original graphs from that period were taken up and given a vintage treatment.

The silhouette and the original graphs are combined with high quality materials and angular restructuring of some forms into an apparel line which merge the vintage and the urban naturally.

Black Label
In an urban-oriented line, we play with the duality of elements and sobriety is combined with experimental and fun spirit. In the colour palette, the sobriety of black, grey, brown, Bordeaux and white is lighted up by shades such as electric blue, purple, orange and green. The fit is slim.

Light jerseys and fleeces feature angular cuts, with inspiration in the logo morphology, with minimal stripes (sometimes featuring optical illusions), with graphics (handmade or glued), characterised by a strong experimental, amusing and a bit ironic character. Knitwear in ultra-thin wool contrast with heavy-weight knits; shirts are in high-quality cottons. Slim or regular fit denim are minimalist, in raw or a natural-used aspect.

Red Label
The Soul Line features the search of the ideal of collective, of tribe, of community. We went to the origins of the brand, back to a time when surfers were surfers (and rockers were rockers, nerds were nerds…) and we travelled to present times revisiting all the surf imaginary. The Men’s Collection gets its inspiration from their essence, their relaxed, cool and carefree style, then recycling their aesthetics and applying it to our present days.

Surfdome Sale

2010-03-20T19:47:00.002Z

Online surf/skate clothing retailer Surfdome have some bargains up for grabs in their clearance section. I just picked up a nice Billabong hoody for £20!

Check it out here:
SURFDOME.COM

Mick Fanning on a Skateboard?!?

2010-03-20T16:55:00.001Z

Various professional surfers including current World Champ Mick Fanning have taken to four wheels to help with their surfing.

The reason for this is because they are participating in Project Air - an initiative set up by Red Bull Surfing. The main purpose of Project Air is to aid surfers in improving their aerial acrobatics.

Follow the link below or watch the clip to find out more.
RED BULL SURFING

Seb Picaud

2010-03-18T22:35:00.002Z

Seb Picaud is a graphic designer who used to work for Rip Curl but now works freelance. He has a whole host of great graphic work on show here:

SEB PICAUD

Like Wearing Nothing?

2010-03-14T22:37:00.001Z

Not sure how true these claims from Rip Curl about their latest boardshort are, but the campaign advertising them is pretty cool.

Check it out here:
RIP CURL MIRAGE

If you like the blog....

2010-03-11T18:36:00.000Z

Ultimate Wave Tahiti

2010-03-08T21:35:00.000Z

Ultimate Wave Tahiti is set to be the surfing worlds first 3D film.

Featuring nine-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater, The Ultimate Wave follows a quest to find the perfect wave-riding experience. Filmed in Tahiti and among the islands of French Polynesia, the film showcases dramatic giant screen surfing action in a unique Pacific paradise.

For more info check out:

ULTIMATE WAVE TAHITI.COM

The Never Ending Wave!

2010-03-02T22:33:00.000Z

I always thought tidal bores were a bit lame...until now!!

2010 ASP World Tour - Place Your Bets

2010-03-01T20:00:00.001Z

So the 2010 ASP World Tour is underway....who's your bet for the title this year?

WORLD TOUR SCHEDULE

Mick again?

Roots of Quiksiver

2010-02-23T13:48:00.000Z

Searching through some old files I came across an article that had been saved. The article charters the birth of one of the biggest surfing brands Quiksilver. Beginning with a brief exploration of surfing foundations the article leads into how and why Quiksilver became what there are today.

A very informative and enjoyable article indeed.

http://www.masimes.co.uk/footer/quiksilver.htm

A Day In The Life Of T J barron

2010-02-22T22:14:00.000Z

A day in the life of Billabong ripper T J Barron—it's alright for some!

BILLABONG.COM/TJBARRON

Repeat After Me; I Am Free

2010-02-21T21:37:00.000Z

I can't find much info on the web about Insight51's new ad campaign 'Repeat After me; I Am free' apart from the fact that it comprises of two documentaries, one surf and one skate but judging by this clip it is going to rock just as much as the Dopamine campaigns did.

INSIGHT51.COM

Surf Feature: "REPEAT AFTER ME; I AM FREE" - A Fly On The Beast Documentary from Insight Clothing on Vimeo.

Lauren Taylor Design

2010-02-17T21:39:00.000Z

Lauren Taylor is a talented freelance Graphic Artist who specialises in girls and Juniors Surf apparel. Hailing from Hawaii but now residing in California she is an artist who likes to keep her roots close to the ocean. Her website features a whole host of great work for top brands such as Roxy and O'neill and is definitely worth checking out.

LAUREN TAYLOR DESIGN

Laura Austin Design

2010-02-13T11:10:00.000Z

Laura Austin is a photographer and graphic designer with huge talent who works at Quiksilver. She has also worked freelance for companies such as Burton and ESPN; not bad going for a 19 year old!

Check out more of her work here:
LAURA AUSTIN DESIGN

E.2K

2010-02-12T19:59:00.000Z

Interviews, insight and great surfing make E.2K a great watch. Although ten years old now E.2K is still one of my favourite surf movies of all time. Documenting the surf scene in Europe during the year 2000 E.2K really captures the spirit of European surfing; high quality beach break surfing and a laid back lifestyle. If you're interested in getting a taste of European surfing I strongly recommend E.2K.

magicseaweed.com

2010-02-11T18:50:00.000Z

With a comprehensive surf report for pretty much every major break in the world, an extensive community and photo gallery, a top-notch online store and a logo designed by the design legend that is David Carson, magicseaweed.com is the undisputed king of surf community and surf forecasting sites and a favourite of the Freaks Of Nature team.

MAGICSEAWEED.COM

Taj Burrow On Surfing And Life On Tour

2010-02-09T21:40:00.002Z

Sweet interview with Taj Burrow (by worldsport.tv) about being a professional surfer and life on tour. He's after a world title and is starting to take things more seriously which should make for some great viewing on the next tour.

WORLDSPORT.TV

Claudio Kirac

2010-01-28T19:36:00.001Z

Claudio Kirac is a creative concepts director at Billabong and all round creative powerhouse. I love his energy and passion for creativity, which I think is evident in his 2008 showreel shown below (I know it's a little out-of-date now, well a lot actually, but it still rocks). Take a look for yourself and see if you agree.

CLAUDIOKIRAC

Mick Fanning World Title Re-cap

2010-01-27T22:19:00.000Z

Mickfanning.com.au is full to the brim with interviews, photos and video clips from his successful 2009 world title campaign. So, if you are looking to get a glimpse of what it takes to win surfing word title, head on over to :

MICKFANNING.COM.AU

A wave with no name

2010-01-26T10:04:00.002Z

To hear the top pro surfers describe a wave as the best they've ever rode is unreal. Endless right hand barrels breaking exactly the same, warm waters, no crowds.

Seven films presents 'A fist full of barrels', located somewhere in mexico the movie churns out footage of the 'Rip Curl Search' leg of the ASP. The only criticism is that the un-named wave is so perfect that the footage becomes a little tedious. So exact is the wave that you feel you're watching a repeat of the first.

Nevertheless to see such a gem of a wave is stimulating.

Art Brewer

2010-01-20T12:24:00.000Z

Cool name, cool photos. Check out Art Brewer one of the worlds most renowned surf photographers.

http://www.artbrewer.com/

Emil Kozak x Kelly Slater

2010-01-19T17:53:00.001Z

I've been a fan on Emil Kozak's work for a long time. His bold, graphic style is so fresh and easy on the eye.

Working closely with Kelly Slater he came up with these board graphics for kelly's 2008 season surfboards. A keen surfer as well as a designer I imagine that this was a dream job for Emil.

EMIL KOZAK x KELLY SLATER

Billabong: Design For Humanity

2010-01-18T16:37:00.001Z

Design For Humanity is a charitable fashion event set-up by Billabong. Utilising the skills of their marketing, art and design teams Billabong host one event a year to raise money for charity. With live music, celebrities and a fashion show it seems like a great party and great way to raise money. I'm sure it doesn't do Billabongs brand image any harm either.

DESIGN FOR HUMANITY

Check out this great clip from last years event:

New house?

2010-01-13T09:30:00.000Z

Ever wondered where you would like to build your dream house, what it would look like, the view, the country?

It may not be everyones taste but Volcom have come close to a perfect house in probably one of the greatest surf spots on planet earth. Not close to the beach but on it!!!

Check this:

http://surferspath.mpora.com/movies/the-volcom-house-show

The Nixon Neverbeen

2010-01-13T08:50:00.000Z

Nixon have taken their support of the Billabong World Junior Championships to the next level by introducing the Neverbeen prize. The overall winner of the championships will win a $3,000 ceramic 51-30 watch (pictured below), which features 3 hand-made Swiss mechanics with date, automatic winding and a custom-engraved caseback. Nice!

Volcom: Stone Your Tv

2010-01-12T21:54:00.000Z

This is cool! It's Volcoms online tv channel.

STONE YOUR TV

The Surf Directory

2010-01-11T17:49:00.000Z

From beach guides to accommodation The Surf Directory covers all your needs for planning a surf trip in the UK.

THE SURF DIRECTORY

One California Day - Alex Knost & Tyler Warren

2010-01-06T18:08:00.001Z

Sweet clips from an awesome surf movie. Surf, passion and creativity. Enjoy!

ONE CALIFORNIA DAY

Gul Recore - Eco Wesuit

2010-01-05T17:18:00.001Z

The Recore wetsuit is the latest product from Guls Green Room project (an initiative set up to allow them to explore news ways to create high quality, low environmental impact products).

Made using a unique mix of recycled polyester, bamboo and solvent free lamination, the Recore is definitely a step in the right direction for wetsuit manufacturing (a process which I'm sure is not currently environmentally friendly) and an exciting prospect. I look forward to hearing more about it upon its release this summer.

GUL INTERNATIONAL

2010 schedule

2010-01-05T16:29:00.000Z

With Mick Fanning still suffering with a celebratory hangover, the ASP has released its tour schedule for 2010. So book your tickets and get involved.

http://www.aspworldtour.com/2009/pdf/aspschedule2010.pdf

Clay Marzo

2010-01-04T08:58:00.000Z

There's no better way to start the year than by enjoying this video clip of surfing super talent Clay Marzo.

Quiksilver Limited Collection

2009-12-23T18:05:00.000Z

If you're fed up with the bright colours that seem to be dominating mens surf fashion of late, why not check out Quiksilvers Limited Collection. It features some great looking threads that have more of a 'work wear' quality about them; the colours are more natural and prints and pattern are a lot simpler.

QUIKSILVER LIMITED COLLECTION

Good read

2009-12-21T11:16:00.000Z

If your looking for something to occupy your down time with some vintage eye candy then look no further than the Vans book 'Off the Wall'. Vans Off the Wall by Doug Palladini tells the story of the community of action sports legends, musicians, artists and trendsetters that helped to define laid back California style as we know it." Check it out - http://www.vans.com/vansbook/birth_1.html

//dane

2009-12-20T18:28:00.007Z

With twitter giving us an amazing insight into the lives and actions of many of the top surfers in the world -

//slater
//fanning
//kerr
//martinez
//dunn
//burrow
//boal
//perrow
//buchan
//parko
//curran
//neve
//campbell
//otton
//lipke
//garcia
//patacchia
//durbidge
//smith

- sometimes you want more. Something more creative. Dane Reynolds is slowly but surely blogging away under the MarineLayerProductions name. Being one of the most creative and progressive surfers on the planet, he obviously has bags of talent - Its good to see him venting it through different mediums..

Museum Of British Surfing

2009-12-17T10:52:00.001Z

The Museum Of British Surfing are in talks to create a permanent base for their collection of surfboards, memorabilia and literature close to the surf at Saunton Sands in North Devon.

I for one think this is a great idea and will be great for British surfing to have a permanent base to showcase its rich history.

“It has always been my dream to have the surf museum down on the beach - it's the natural home for it,” said founder Pete Robinson, who lives in Braunton. “Saunton is a fantastic surfing break and is probably the most accessible in the North Devon area so it is a perfect fit for us.”

The plan is to create an sustainable eco building that will be a carbon neutral operation. With an estimated 700,000 visitors to Saunton beach each year this project seems to be on track for success.

MUSEUM OF BRITISH SURFING

Well Done Mick

2009-12-13T10:58:00.000Z

Congratulations to Mick Fanning on winning the 2009 ASP World Tour.

More details here:
ASPWORLDTOUR.COM

Eddie Aikau Results

2009-12-09T09:23:00.000Z

The results are in, and by all accounts the surf was pumping and the surfing top-notch.
Congratulations to the winner, Greg Long who won the contest, which was held in 40ft+ surf!!!

Second went to Kelly Slater and third to Sunny Garcia. It's also worth mentioning that Eddie's brother Clyde was in the line-up at age 60—something which demands a huge amount of respect.

QUIKSILVER EDDIE AIKAU PAGE

thride

2009-12-07T10:53:00.002Z

The latest in interactive gaming allows skaters to ride a deck like a pro. Tony Hawks offers an amusing video ad on his website: http://www.tonyhawk.com/ . Will this take the joy out of the real deal or fail to take off?

Either way it offers an interesting alternative to current gaming ways and I'm sure it's a positive insight into what is to come. All we need now is for Kelly Slater to release a surfboard controller and we can surf our favorite spots around the globe with no crowds, perfect conditions and no hassles from airport baggage handlers.

See you in the rip.

EDDIE...

2009-12-06T12:04:00.005Z

Blogs & news sites all over the interweb are buzzing at the prospect of the most highly amped surf invitational running in the next few days..

The Eddie Aikau Memorial, sponsored by Quiksilver; is held at Waimea Bay on the island of Oahu. The competition has only run 7 times since 1985 - when Eddies brother Clyde won it - as the tournament only goes ahead with 20ft + swells on the forecast.

Eddie Aikau hit the scene in 1966, kicking off a relationship with Waimea that would become legendary - saving countless lives as the Bay's first official lifeguard and surfing for up to eight hours at a time without breaks, riding beautifully. - Quiksilver.com

With the swell forecast looking very promising the QUIK EddieAikau page will be going bonkers soon. Keep your eyes peeled.

Congratulations

2009-12-04T12:14:00.000Z

Congratulations to Alan Stokes for becoming the 2009 UK Surf Tour Champion.

UK SURF TOUR WEBSITE

Sidewalk Surfing

2009-12-03T10:57:00.001Z

Whilst surfing the vast entity that is the internet, I stumbled across a beauty of a vid featuring probably the most innovative skater ever. Check it out.

.CRAAAZY.

A Different Approach

2009-12-01T10:30:00.002Z

Forsenorse.com is a great blog about marketing. A stand out article for me is post they have written about surf ads taking a different approach. It's a short but sweet article that raises an interesting point; one which I have touched on before when writing about the Lost and Insight campaigns.

Basically, they highlight that surfs ads/brands could benefit from being a bit bolder and creative by breaking the mold of the typical action/product shot approach.

To view the article click the link below.

FORSENORSE.COM

Win Win Win

2009-11-30T13:45:00.000Z

Mpora.com is a great action sports site featuring a whole host of exciting content. What is particularly cool is their selection of competitions; easy to enter with some amazing prizes up for grabs. This site is definitely worth your time.

MPORA.COM

Win a signed Mick Fanning Swivel

2009-11-27T21:06:00.001Z

Fancy seeing Mick Fanning tearing it up on a board featuring your design?

Well if you do, get your creative hat on and head on over to basesurfboards.com for more details on how to be in with a chance.

Surf Hero Camera

2009-11-26T09:52:00.002Z

This looks pretty cool. It's a camera made by GoPro that clips on to the nose of your surfboard so you can film yourself surfing (56 minutes of TV resolution video with sound or 5 megapixel automatically for over an hour while you surf. Waterproof up to 100 feet/30 meters).

While the variety of shots you will get is limited, I think it's a great way to review your technique and also have a laugh at the funny faces you pull when making steep take-offs.

Click here to buy form surfline.com

GOPRO.COM

RVCA ANP

2009-11-16T19:09:00.000Z

The RVCA ANP (Artist Network Program) is an initiative set-up by RVCA to help them diversify and broaden their appeal. The ANP includes a whole host of artists, musicians and advocates that regularly hold exhibitions and produce a magazine called the ANP Quarterly.

ANPQuarterly is an arts magazine published by RVCA that focuses on a broader sense of art and community. The idea behind this endeavor is to make a magazine that will educate and inform openly and without the social or financial restrictions that plague many publications today. Our goal is not to focus on current events or “who’s hot” but rather to bring forward people and phenomena that deserve acknowledgment and coverage regardless of their place in time.

What this means to you and me is that there's a whole host of inspiring content to keep you entertained, so go check it out!

ANP Quarterly
RVCA

FREE x INSIGHT

2009-11-16T18:59:00.003Z

Some things in life really are free/ hit the link to watch :

a fly on the beast documentary from Insight clothing.

The September Project

2009-11-14T12:00:00.000Z

The September Project is a series of books made by a global community of creative types who surf. Each year the September Project team will head out to a different part of the globe and document their experience.

The ambition is to capture the beauty and the richness of not only riding waves in a particular area, but the diverse experience a surf trip entails. The idea is that each book will be infused with the essence of a time, a place and a surfing moment. We want to capture the incredible blessings surfers are bestowed by the ocean, and have chosen to do this in the permanent, tangible form of print.

The first destination for the project was the west coast of Ireland and the resulting book (art directed by A-Side Studio) documents the month long expedition in beautiful detail.

The trail seems to have run cold on further editions...but this book is still worth checking out.

September Project Blog

A-Side Studio - September Project

Malakye.com

2009-11-12T11:28:00.000Z

If you're based in the good ol' US of A this is the place to go if you're interested in getting a job in the action sport industry. Updated daily with new jobs, company profiles and tips on getting your foot in the door of a highly competitive job market.

malakye.com

Dream pads..

2009-11-11T00:00:00.003Z

The results of a collaboration between popular action sports labels and Southern Californias finest designers can be viewed in a truly enlightening way @ Casa Surf Project.

Dream pads indeed..

RAD

2009-11-10T23:16:00.005Z

Fed up of the big surf brands? Feel the need to shun the corporate logofest? Miss the old skool vibe of surf fashion?

If the grab below excites you..

...click yourself HERE!

Rip Curl Artist Of The Search

2009-11-10T16:58:00.000Z

Rip Curl Artist Of The Search is a relatively new initiative set-up by Rip Curl where a select group top artists design a range of surf or mountain wear for Rip Curl. All clothes produced are green products so the environmental impact is reduced which is always a plus. There is some great work on show, a particular favourite of mine is the work of Jon Burgerman.

RIP CURL

Boardsport Source article

2009-11-09T17:53:00.000Z

Just read a very interesting and in-depth article on surf fashion over at Boardsport Source. So, grab a cup of coffee and a piece of cake and enjoy:
Boardsport Source.

Money Money Money

2009-11-05T14:57:00.000Z

Current Number one Mick Fanning career earnings are $1,135,701. Along with long time high flyer Kelly Slater with a whom-ping $1,952,805 according to ASP website.

(http://www.aspworldtour.com/2009/ratings.asp?rRat=menwct ASP website)

However these figures are just a ripple in the pond with athletes like David Beckham pulling in a staggering 24.7 million annually. (ht tp://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/2296706/David-Beckham-is-worlds-highest-paid-player.html )

Roger Federer with a championship career earnings of 43.3 Million. (http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE49F9V420081016). But taking the title is Tiger woods with a belting total of 1 billion dollars.

(http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=4524640)

Compared to other top sports surfing prize kitty simply doesn't compare, but thats not to mention that these guys don't get carted around the world to surf the best waves and test the new products, so it definitely has its perks! Better than Dolly Parton's nine till five some would say.

Steve Gorrow

2009-11-04T08:21:00.000Z

Short but sweet video featuring Steve Gorrow—the guy behind the mad Insight art installation ad campaigns—talking about one of the shoots for these campaigns.

Modern Collective Teaser

2009-10-29T09:56:00.001Z

Things are hotting up on the Modern Collective front. Here's the latest teaser, featuring Jordy Smith.

POOR SPECIMEN
MODERN COLLECTIVE

Roxy x Cynthia Rowley (via Huck Magazine)

2009-10-28T08:47:00.000Z

Womens surf brand Roxy have teamed up with American fashion designer, Cynthia Rowley to bring some high end fashion to the boardwalk instead of the catwalk.

For more info check out Huck Magazines Blog:

HUCK BLOG

Keiron Lewis

2009-10-26T08:41:00.003Z

Keiron Lewis is a talented UK based creative who has a passion for beach life and surfing. Capturing great movement in his figurative work—his passion for surfing definitely shines through.

WWW.PINNIPEDSTUDIOS.COM

Ryan Tatar

2009-10-21T08:32:00.002+01:00

Ryan Tatar is a surf photographer with a difference. Shunning the high-tech gadgetry of modern photography, he uses old-school film cameras from the 60's and 70's and avoids editing his images in Photoshop. The results he gets are amazing, with his images having a very serene quality that really captures the essence of surfing.

RYANTATAR.COM

Seacouch

2009-10-19T07:50:00.002+01:00

Some great apparel and graphic design work for the likes of Saltrock and Gul International by Samantha Little/Seacouch. Definitely worth your time checking out her site.

SEACOUCH.COM

J.O.B

2009-10-17T12:31:00.003+01:00

I seem to be reading about him everywhere now. His twitter posts are slightly sporadic. But one thing is certain, he's pushing surfing forward in a gang of different ways. Jamie O'Brien has taken a few years off the 'Dream Tour' to concentrate on free surfing and progressive surfing. You only have to tap his name into YouTube to see some of his antics and aerials.

Over the past few years he seems to have built up a friendship with legendry film maker Vincent Laforet. This has resulted in some groundbreaking footage, again raising the bar in another area of the industry. Laforet has a style and knowledge of equipment like no other, this combined with J.O.B's ability and approach to surfing give an almighty end result.

First Look : Jamie O'Brien came to the online surface a few months back, you knew there was going to be more - but this is still visually aesthetic..

Who Is Job will be the final destination of all this amazing footage. This trailer has just landed on every watery blog in cyberspace. Sit back and have a peek into where surfing's heading. Enjoi..

Check him out @ J.O.B.com

SUP

2009-10-16T12:29:00.026+01:00

Long-boarders take some stick from the shorter boarded rider and vice versa, but wave skis take a lot of jip from everyone for the way they paddle in and out catching too many waves and struggling to make a turn look remotely cool.

So from a short boarders point of view combining these sports would be a complete nightmare! A wave ski that you lay on, paddle for waves then stand on creates a laughable image. As I suppose does the opposite—a stand up paddle board (SUP)—a surfboard you stand on and use a paddle to maneuver. The only advantage when surfing on a SUP is an increased view of the incoming sets.

Originating from Polynesia the SUP lost popularity as surfing developed into an energetic sport. You can see why, attempting turns, other more progressive moves and paddling back through the breaking waves would be difficult with a paddle in hand.

However, when the seas are flat and boredom sets in I can start to see the advantages of exploring the coastline on a SUP. The standing position giving a good vantage point to see more, the paddle showing its efficiency over the long distance and the large stable board allowing the rider to sit and rest comfortably.

Thinking Outside the Box

2009-10-09T10:06:00.002+01:00

I think it's fair to say that the marketing of surf brands is a little safe these days; with most brands going down the route of releasing adverts that show exotic locations, amazing surf photography and a little spicing up with textures and colours.

There's nothing wrong with these adverts as they are often visually stunning. However, for such a creative sport I think more brands should take a leaf out of the books of companies such as Insight with their mad underwater installations for their Dopamine campaigns and now Lost with "The Old...Lost Campaign" and be a bit more creative and dare to be different.

The fact that Lost have recently won a SIMA (Sports Industry Manufacturers Association) award for this campaign just goes to show that people applaud brands taking risks, having fun and thinking outside the box.

LOST ENTERPRISES
INSIGHT

Neon Wetsuits

2009-10-07T09:33:00.000+01:00

Wouldn't it be nice to get a wetsuit this winter that fitted perfectly. No ice cold flushes, no painful rashes on your neck or under arms and your own choice of colours/design. If this sounds like your cup of tea then I suggest you check out Neon Wetsuits—a bespoke wetsuit and clothing design company based in Cornwall.

NEON WETSUITS

Hilken Design

2009-10-06T14:43:00.001+01:00

Louise Hilken is a talented apparel designer who definitely deserves your attention. She has an impressive body of work for some of the biggest names in the UK surf industry.

HILKENDESIGN.COM

River Surfing

2009-10-05T10:26:00.011+01:00

One thing we are not short of in the UK is rain. When this delightful substance hits our land and gathers into our rivers an abundance of swells and stand still waves are created. Most famous of all is the Seven Bore (www.severn-bore.co.uk)(which is more tidal, but never-mind).

What interests me more are the stand still waves, such as Flosslande and Haus Der Kunst in Munich and the Colorado River at the Glenwood Whitewater Park, USA. When the water flows over a boulder or in some cases man-made objects that surfers have put in the river, a wave is created just behind it. It is advised that you wait a few days after heavy rain so that all debris is cleared. So when the swell drops, the wind picks up and the rain falls, go check out a river to see how it breaks.

Padang Earthquake Surfaid Appeal

2009-10-02T13:21:00.001+01:00

On 30th September a huge earthquake (7.6 on the Richter scale) hit Indonesia (one of the worlds most popular surf destinations).

Surfaid International have set-up an emergency appeal and would be extremely grateful for any donations.

For more info visit:
SURFAID WEBSITE

To Donate visit:
SURFAID DONATION

Jamie Bott Mentawai Trip

2009-10-02T12:15:00.004+01:00

Jamie Bott, photographic editor of DriftSurfing headed over to the Mentawai Islands in April, check out the gold he came back with..

The Collective

2009-10-02T08:11:00.004+01:00

Theres a lot of surf images out there, and a lot of shit. Every now & then i see images that are total inspiration /mindblowing /aesthetically pleasing on the eye. There is now a website dedicated to bringing the best of the best from the worlds four corners and showcasing it. The Collective has been set up by Stu Gibson, a Tasmanian photographer. A good one at that. His idea is to bring the the unpublished gold to the table, the hard work of the worlds best photographers that is cast away by the surf mags. Shots of the highest calibre from around the globe, many never seen before, get into it...

Drew Brophy Surfboard Art

2009-10-01T13:23:00.000+01:00

Drew Brophy is a master of his craft. His impressive portfolio of wildly imaginative and vividly coloured surfboard artwork is second to none and has even caught the eye of stars such as Vince Neil, Kid Rock and Eddie Vedder.

So, if you need to brighten up your day I definitely recommend:
DREWBROPHY.COM

Modern Collective

2009-10-01T09:58:00.000+01:00

Modern Collective is a film project by Kai Neville/Poor Specimen featuring six of the surfing worlds most innovative surfers (Dane Reynolds, Jordy Smith, Dion Agius, Dusty Payne, Mitch Coleborn and Yadin Nicol). Chasing swells all over the globe and blogging about their efforts on the way—a truly modern approach to building hype—Modern Collective is tipped to raise the bar of surf cinematography.

Their blog is definitely worth your time, so go check it out:

MODERN COLLECTIVE

Oakley XPY Pro-Junior at Fistral Review

2009-09-29T15:40:00.001+01:00

There's a great review of the Oakley XPY pro-junior competition that took place last weekend over at surfersvillage.com. I couldn't make it to the event myself but it sounds like it was a resounding success with great weather, quality waves and top-notch surfing.

Oakley XPY Junior winners : photo Annemarie Hughes

Winter 09 T-shirt Graphics

2009-09-29T09:47:00.002+01:00

With all the surf brands releasing their winter 09 collections recently I thought I'd take a look at the T-shirt graphics on show and pick out a few of my faves to share. Browsing through the media rich websites brought my laptop to meltdown so I had to cut my journey short. I don't have examples from Insight but I definitely recommend you check out their designs as they are top notch.

As you would expect there was an eclectic mix of designs from each company but I did notice that bold bright colours, pattern and collaged images were pretty popular—apart from with Saltrock who had stayed true to their house style.

Billabong:

Quiksilver:

Rip Curl:

Saltrock:

Volcom:

Population Overload

2009-09-28T14:59:00.010+01:00

Whilst in conversation with some non-surfer friends recently the topic of surfing arose. I mentioned Kelly Slater and was shocked by the following response, "Yea, I think I've heard of that Kelly Slater guy". Which made me ponder about the popularity of surfing in a sporting world. I'm no fan of tennis but I've heard of Pete Sampras; so why wouldn't they have heard of Kelly Slater? He has plenty of media coverage, dates supermodels and has his own computer game.

It seems surfing still remains an underground sport to some extent, however, you only have to look at your local break to see that it is in-fact a hobby on the rise—kind of. If the likes of Kelly Slater have only tingled on the minds of inner city folk then what chance has the sport got of gaining a spot in the top flight sports arena?

Perhaps as a sport it takes too much commitment for most people? As the winter months roll in, the temperatures drop and the crowds quickly subside leaving only the full-blown junkies looking for a liquid fix. Obviously,surf enthusiasts living in tropical climates continue to enjoy year round warmth, but in places like the UK the cold winter months often mean most surfers will be waiting till the water warms again before donning a slim fit suit and re-igniting their passion for surfing.

The top pro events are an exciting spectacle; tropical locations, perfect waves and the best surfers in the world tearing it up! However, mainstream media coverage is difficult when you are relying on fickle mother nature as your playing field and when you have to broadcast from remote tropical islands. Recent technological advancements mean those who are interested can watch the events live on the internet. Although a good start, it's not nearly enough to bring a sport to the masses.

A quick search in Google for top hobbies will return an interesting hit. Surfing of course is nowhere on the list, being beat by crazy other sports. Will surfing ever hit the mainstream, and ultimately clog the waters with Bic boarders? Is it even good for the sport to gain popularity with the masses?

Who knows?!...Who cares?! Rant over!

BillabongWallpaper

2009-09-26T09:28:00.006+01:00

some nice wallpapers to jazzup your desktop this weekend @ Billabong.

AI & a Rasta blastoff below...

The Drifter [interview]

2009-09-24T22:33:00.003+01:00

Rob on CNN..

AbstractAustralian

2009-09-24T21:33:00.005+01:00

Slightly random, minimal text, vivid imagery. simple..

AustralianBodySurf

Wavelength Winter Wetsuit Guide 09

2009-09-24T13:14:00.003+01:00

Winter is fast approaching and as anyone who surfs in Britain will know that means cold winds and even colder water. Luckily for us, Wavelength magazine have put together a comprehensive guide to all the latest winter wetsuit releases from all the major players in the world of wetsuit design.

Check it out here: WAVELENGTH WINTER WETSUIT GUIDE

Have a good winter wetsuit that you'd like to recommend? Let us know via the comments section.

SL8R

2009-09-23T23:14:00.004+01:00

With Kelly Slater looking in epic form in the QUIK Pro in France today, i think i should drop this-

Quiksilver have created a film that follows Slaters 2 year campaign that leads up to him tearing apart the competition on route to his 9th world title; respect the ability/commitment/dedication & self belief...