Surf News

Thursday, 23 May 2013 09:18

Surfing: all the mysteries of wave riding unveiled

The history of surfing is very rich. There are multiple facts and figures surrounding the evolution of wave riding, through time. Some are strange, others are deeply bizarre.

From the innovative surf gear to maritime science, surfing has been collecting stories, records and achievements. Did you know that...

1. The Hawaiian Islands are the most isolated archipelago on planet earth.
2. The windiest surf city in the world is Wellington, capital of New Zealand.
3. The tallest tsunami ever recorded so far is the 1958 Lituya Bay mega tsunami, which had a record height of 524 meters (1740 feet).
4. Polyurethane foam was created during the World War II as insulation for refrigerators and airplanes.
5. The first competition won by a thruster surfboard was the Bells Beach Classic, in 1981.
6. Mike Stewart was the first to surf Teahupoo in 1987.
7. Kelly Slater generally starts his day with hot water and lemon.
8. Swells were used by Polynesian navigators to maintain course when no other clues were available, like in foggy nights.
9. Tsunami waves can't be surfed because they're too fast and only made of whitewater.
10. Archimedes discovered the law of buoyancy that applies to the surfboard size charts.
11. Teahupoo, the world's heaviest wave, has claimed the lives of five surfers, since 2000.
12. Surfing has been considered the 20th most dangerous sport in the world.
13. A trained surfer can hold his breath for about four minutes, while the static apnea record holder does it for more than 11 minutes.
14. The highest tides in the world can be found in Canada, at the Bay of Fundy. Sometimes the difference between high and low tide is 16.3 meters (53.5 feet).
15. "Hawaiian Holiday" is he first animated short surf movie, released in 1937 by Walt Disney.
16. Mark Foo, the big wave surfer who lost his life at Mavericks, had a passion for martial arts.
17. Surf wax was first applied to a surfboard by Alfred Gallant Jr., a surfer from Los Angeles, in 1935, after observing the effect of liquid wax on the floors of his home.
18. There's a formula to calculate the number of waves you have surfed in your life.
19. Pat O'Neill, son of wetsuit inventor Jack O'Neill, is responsible for spreading the surf leash, in the early 1970s.
20 Tom Morey, inventor of modern bodyboarding, created the rolling skeg for surfboards.
21. Edward, Prince of Wales, surfed waves in Hawaii, back in 1920.
22. Phil Edwards is the first surfer of Pipeline.
23. Cymophobia is the fear of waves.
24. Agatha Christie, famous British crime writer, surfed waves in 1924.
25. The longest wave in the world is considered to be Chicama, in Chile, where Cristobal de Col pulled 34 maneuvers in one single ride.
26. Surfers only spend 8% of the time riding waves.
27. Three thousands hours of cold water surfing are enough to develop surfer's ear.
28. Shaka was a kids' sign communicate that the way was clear to jumped into trains because the security guard, who had lost three middle fingers, was inattentive.
29. The Hawaiian Scale and the Bascom Method are the most popular methods of measuring wave height.
30. Lance Armstrong has learned how to surf in Tenerife, Canary Islands.
31. Brian Wilson, the master behind The Beach Boy, was once arrested for failing to surf.
32. Injuries affect one in three surfers.

Have you got nice ideas for this list?
Send us your surf knowledge to editor [at] surfertoday.com

The surf earplugs that allow you to hear

Wednesday, 22 May 2013 17:07

Earplugs: protect from surfer's ear

The new Seals Balance Pro by EQ earplugs allow surfers to protect their ears and hear everything when wearing them.

When spring and summer start, everyone surfs more often. Also, all-year round surfers are more exposed to severe ear injuries, such as the surfer's ear (Exostosis) and swimmer's ear (Otitis).

This problem can be developed after 3000 hours of cold water surfing. Neoprene hoodies and ear plugs are the best way to avoid surgery.

Horseboarding is the modern version of chariot racing that promises to pump extreme hearts and classic horse lovers.

They say taking off is the hardest part. Please welcome the world of horseboarding, where horsepower is, in fact, the power output of a horse. Not a jet ski.

Horseboarding can be enjoyed both in the water of oceans and rivers and in countryside race tracks. If you live by the sea, grab a surfboard, kite board, wake board or skim board and prepare to speed up to the 40 miles per hour (40 km/h).

SURFING

Things you didn't know about surfing
23/05/2013

The history of surfing is very rich. There are multiple facts and figures surrounding the evolution of wave riding, through time. Some are strange, others are deeply bizarre.
From the innovative surf gear to maritime science, surfing has been collecting stories, records and achievements. Did you know that... 1. The Hawaiian Islands are the most isolated archipelago on planet earth.
2. The windiest surf city in the world is Wellington, capital of New Zealand.
3. The tallest tsunami ever record [ ... ]

The surf earplugs that allow you to hear
22/05/2013

The new Seals Balance Pro by EQ earplugs allow surfers to protect their ears and hear everything when wearing them.
When spring and summer start, everyone surfs more often. Also, all-year round surfers are more exposed to severe ear injuries, such as the surfer's ear (Exostosis) and swimmer's ear (Otitis). This problem can be developed after 3000 hours of cold water surfing. Neoprene hoodies and ear plugs are the best way to avoid surgery.

+ Surfing News

KITEBOARDING

"Kite Surfer" is the new wind riding game for iOS
22/05/2013

"Kite Surfer" is the latest kitesurfing game for iPhone and iPad.
Lemondo Entertainment has announced the release of its newest game, "Kite Surfer", an arcade kitesurfing game designed for both iPhone and iPad. "Kite Surfer" is an endless running game, in which players take control of a character by swiping on the display or tilting a mobile device.

Pudla Narapichit hailed Kiteboard Tour Asia 2012/2013 champion
21/05/2013

Pudla Narapichit and Doque Delos Santos have been crowned the Kiteboard Tour Asia 2012/2013 champions.
With 120 riders from 30 countries, the final and decisive Chinese stage once again broke all records, at Pingtan Island, also known as Haitan Island. The spot is regarded as China's windiest location - regular wind speeds of over 30 knots are recorded over the winter monsoon season and all of the island's old traditional style stone houses need to have rocks placed on top of their tiled roo [ ... ]

+ Kitesurfing News

WINDSURFING

Dieter van der Eyken dominates the 2013 Belgian Wave Windsurfing season
23/05/2013

Dieter van der Eyken is one step closer of being crowned the 2013 Belgian Wave Windsurfing champion.
Bredene, in the Belgian province of West Flanders, held an intense weekend of wave windsurfing action. On Friday, all sailors completed the single elimination of the competition, despite the medium size waves and light winds.

Delphine Cousin stands out in the 2013 French Windsurfing Championship
23/05/2013

Delphine Cousin is shining a light in the 2013 French Windsurfing Championship, with a victory in the second stage, held in Brest.
Despite the difficult conditions - three days of disoriented and gusty winds - sailors were able to complete two races. The organization worked hard to try to get more races, but even if the windsurfing fleet had spent many hours on the water every day, nothing could be done.

+ Windsurfing News

BODYBOARDING

The story and legends of bodyboarding in "Born to Boogie"
23/05/2013

"Born to Boogie: Legends of Bodyboarding" tells the story of the incredible sport of bodyboarding from 1971 to the modern days.
The pioneers, the champions and the underground chargers are all profiled, among them Tom Morey, Pat Caldwell, Ben Severson, Jay Reale, Mike Stewart, Michael 'Eppo' Eppelstun, Guilherme Tamega, Andre Botha, Ryan Hardy, Damian King, Ben Player, Jeff Hubbard, Mitch Rawlins and Pierre Louis Costes. "Born to Boogie: Legends of Bodyboarding" was written by the bodyboard [ ... ]

Nuno Azevedo sweeps fourth Luso Galaico Championship title
22/05/2013

Nuno Azevedo has conquered the bodyboarding division of the XV Luso Galaico Championship, a competition between Portuguese and Galician riders.
Up to 64 bodyboarders and surfers from the North of Portugal and the Spanish region of Galicia have competed at Cabedelo Beach and Arda Beach, in Viana do Castelo. With a mobile structure and a new live scoring system, the level of competition was high in the 2-4 foot waves on offer. Portuguese riders claimed four out of five titles at the XV Luso Ga [ ... ]

+ Bodyboarding News