It's not always nice to be a pro (continuation)

because you have to surf waves like this

Photo: ASP / Covered Image

Photo: ASP / Covered Image

... and actually should win heats in this kind of surf.

So sit back, fasten your seat belt and get ready for the Chopes-contest - and be happy that you're not a top pro.

... but it can be nice to be a pro

Some days ago I described why it's not always nice to be a surf pro.
But today when doing some research about Kelly Slater I found a really good reason to become a pro.
It's because people like this

and this

attend your birthday party.

Found on http://socialitelife.celebuzz.com/2007/02/15/kelly_slater_turns_35.php

So train hard!

We are conservative

You are a surfer? Then you are some what conservative.
Why?
It's not only because you don't need no high tech to pursue your favourite activity, no, it's mainly because surfing is one of the oldest known kind of sports.
You become aware of how old it really is, if you check out what Wikipedia knows about our passion.
None of the mostly boring sports we are bothered with every day on tv has an approximate tradition like surfing.

It's not always nice to be a pro

While most European surfers just removed their hoods, gloves and booties, many of the pros have to enter the freezing cold waters at the O'Neill Highland Open in Scotland.


I think if someone wants to become a pro surfer he doesn't really dream of surfing in icy waters suspicious near to the arctic circle.
But it's a 6 star - so there are lots of points to gain.

support your environment

Some major surf brand initiated Project Blue, a program to protect our oceans, waves and beaches.
When purchasing exclusive Project Blue gear, a portion of the proceeds fund coastline protection initiatives worlwide.

Tuberiding filmed with surfer/board-mounted cam

Check this Travis Potter support video containig authentic views from inside the tube made possible with a surfer/board-mounted cam.


More surfing videos on SurferMag.com

Members of Soulsurfers collect for surfers of Gaza

When watching this TV footage about surfers at Gaza, members of Soulsurfers spontaneously decided to contribute for the blokes over there.
That was the result.

Respect!

New shirt

Check out our new summer shirt "The Discreet" in our shop.
Ultra light, fair manufactured discreet summer shirt.

Travis Potter suffers from a potentially deadly strain of malaria

Travis Potter from California, long time Indonesian explorer and discoverer of several epic breaks, contracted a potentially deadly strain of cerebral malaria.
Due to the usual lack of health insurance he might be dependent on financial support.
Check back for news about his situation.
Donations are already being accepted (info below).

VIA PAYPAL:
spiritwindranch@msn.com
VIA SNAIL MAIL:
Travis Potter Malaria Relief Fund
59512 Hop Patch Spring Road
Mountain Center CA 92561

Marlon Lipke eliminates Jordy Smith at his homebreak

Nice anecdote from the contest scene:
German power-surfer Marlon Lipke eliminated super-kid Jordy Smith at his homebreak in Durban from the local 6 Star-Contest.
With his win he didn't only collect many points for his WQS-Campaign - he also massively raised his international reputation.
This should have caused a little upset at the dudes at Quik. They kicked Marlon out of their team only some weeks ago - and now he gains all the publicity for his new sponsor Hurley - ironically at a Quiksilver-contest.
Well - malicious joy sometimes is the best joy!

Mundaka contest NOT cancelled!

Despite earlier reports the Billabong Pro Mundaka takes place like scheduled from 9/29/2008 - 10/12/08.
Hopefully organizers and surfers will be blessed with better conditions than in the last two years so that the discussions about removing this contest from the tour-schedule definitively stop.
By the way - other epic venues like Teahupoo or Pipeline didn't really deliver neither last year.

Marlon Lipke signs with Hurley

After loosing his main sponsor Quiksilver some weeks ago, German/Portugese top-surfer Marlon Lipke has signed with Hurley Europe.
After suffering form several injuries in the past, now fully recovered Lipke is rated as one of the European surfers most likely to qualify for the ASP World Tour.