As the surfing world starts focusing back onto Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay, the wildcards for the Billabong Pro J-Bay 2012 have been announced. The six talented surfers are as follows:

Dale Staples and Brandon Jackson have been chosen by ASP Africa, and they will be seeded into the round of 96. Brothers Ryan and Shaun Payne are the Billabong wildcards, and they too will be seeded into the round of 96. Jeffreys Bay Boardriders have chosen Kelvin Zehmke as their representative and he will receive a wildcard into the event, and the JBU Surf Club have chosen Dan Thornton as their wildcard surfer.

"I'm really stoked to get a wildcard into the round of 96," said Staples on hearing the news. "It looks like we're going to get some excellent waves for the beginning of the contest, so hopefully I can put my Supertubes experience to good use."

"Box packers, the guys whose pro career never worked out and ended up packing boxes in the warehouse of some surf company."

That's how it was put to me by an Australian friend. We'd been talking about what life after pro surfing means, and "box packer" was his term for those who had obtained some kind of noteworthiness while in their prime, but whose fate eventuated in less than glorious fashion.

Pro surfing's a tricky game. At its best it can put somebody in front of a global audience, hoisting trophies, being sprayed with champagne in that most Spicollian of dreams. But at its worst it's a destructive force, capable of leaving wrecked youth in its wake. And today, as surf companies look to locked-down bright, marketable talent at ever younger ages, that line is razor thin.

Alejo Muniz © ASP / Cestari / Mr Price

Mr Price Pro Ballito gets down to the business end

Surf News, 6 July  Ballito, KwaDukuza, South Africa -- Just sixteen men remain in this year’s ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito with the Brazilian surfers showing their force in powerful one-metre walls at Willard’s Beach. ASP World No. 20 Alejo Muniz (BRA), one of the latest breed of Brazilian surfers pushing the boundaries of performance surfing, splashed the scoreboard with the highest heat total of the day a 17.17 (out of 20.00).

“I had a really good heat, I was kinda slow and fell on a couple of good waves at the start but I enjoy those heats where you don’t stop paddling and you never give up,” Muniz said. “I like to come from behind in a heat but I was also pretty lucky to get those two waves.”

Arnette Paddles Back Into The Cash Pot Surf Series With New Stops, More Cash

Arnette is pumped to be bringing back their Cash Pot Surf Series in 2012. Now in its second year, Arnette’s regional Cash Pot Surf Series will feature eight, free-to-enter events, taking place in Hawaii this Saturday and throughout California, New Jersey, Florida and North Carolina.

Each event in the Cash Spot Surf Series has a limited amount of space available for competitors, given out on a first come, first serve basis. Cash Spot Surf Series events are beach entry only, so interested participants should plan on being at their local stop by 6:30 am the day of the event!

Surf movies are going arty. Globe's latest adventure in the short film hype features everything you wouldn't expect in a cinematographic story about surfing.

Call 10 Russian top models, add a yellow Lamborghini, mix up with the sands of the desert and get "Electric Blue Heaven", a conceptual surf film starring Dion Agius in the Al Ain Surf Park Wadi Adventure, famous artificial wave pool of the Middle East.

The plot is simple, yet fascinating. A green-eyed desert goddess arrives at the surf pool and makes waves for our invited surfer. In a matter of moments, perfect clean waves are pumping and the surfer takes the maximum pleasure out of them.

Mason Ho © Kelly Cestari / Mr Price

Locals progress at Mr Price Pro Ballito in clean, inconsistent surf
Surf News, 3 July, 2012 :  Ballito, KwaDukuza -- South African surfers asserted themselves against many of the world’s best with four out of five advancing through the Round of 96 at the ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito on Tuesday July 2, 2012. With clean, although at times inconsistent one-metre waves peeling through the Willards Beach lineup, positioning proved critical for surfers looking to advance on the opening day of competition.

Its a good way to have a great 4th of July! An action-packed SUP race, mouthwatering food, live music, spectacular fireworks and fun for the whole ohana! You don’t want to miss all the excitement at Turtle Bay Resort.

Doors 6p | Event 8p
$5 requested for charity

Venue: Surf the Bar GO HERE
Dave Wassel talks about his recent epic big wave session in Fiji, what’s involved in hunting down the biggest swells on the planet, and what’s to come this winter in Hawaii. What you may not know if you've never met or heard him is this: Dave's one of the funniest, wittiest characters in surfing today. He's got great insight and experience yet Mr Wassell has humility as he charges the G Narliest waves the world has to offer. This is a dont miss 'talk story' sesh.

Vanina Walsh surfed in the ASP Pro Women’s Longboard event in Waikiki (Hawaii) Roxy put on a super fun event for everybody. The amature event was free for all Wahine’s. You cant not smile listening to the stoke of all the youth. Confirmation that surfers are the luckiest people on the planet. (but then again we could be bias...)

It really makes a difference how your memories are captured. This video will be enjoyed for the rest of Mahina's life. Imagine her sharing this with her own Keiki someday. PROVEit llc is a video production company specialized in taking what you do where you want it to be...On film, because we know that at the end of the day you can talk about it all you want but you still have to PROVEit. Enjoy the vid and smile.