Surf News, 6 May, 2012 : Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – The world’s best surfers are descending on Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro for the next stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour season, the Billabong Rio Pro, to be held from May 9 – 20, 2012.

Event No. 3 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Billabong Rio Pro will recommence this season’s exciting race for the ASP World Title following impressive wins by Taj Burrow (AUS), 33, and Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, at Snapper Rocks and Bells Beach respectively. In addition to the dominant Australians and, of course, reigning 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 40, the public’s eye will be firmly fixed upon the performance of the seven-man-strong Brazilian contingent.

Above: Travis Grant (black 87), Jamie Mitchell (center 346), Travis Grant (right in green) were the men to beat. Photo: Bernie Baker.

HONOLULU - (May 5, 2012) -- Australian Travis Grant mastered a brand new stand-up paddle race format today to win the elite "Survivor SUP" race of the Quiksilver Waterman Collection Waikiki Paddle Festival. Grant finished ahead of Danny Ching (Redondo Beach, California), and the designer of today's course, Jamie Mitchell (Australia), who were second and third respectively. Grant won $2,000 for the result. The women's division was a clear upset with a win by California's Gillian Gibree (San Diego) over Hawaii pair Jenny Kalmbach and Candice Appleby respectively. Gibree won $1,500.

Gabriel Medina takes out darkhorse Glenn Hall in the final
Young Brazilian Pockets $40,000 Cash, Most Valuable Trophy in Surfing & 6,500 ASP World Ranking Points

Surf News, 5 May, 2012 : Gabriel Medina (BRA), 18, has taken out the ASP PRIME Nike Lowers Pro, defeating veteran campaigner Glenn Hall (IRL), 30, in two-to-four foot waves at Lower Trestles. Medina got the best of an opening exchange against Hall and held the lead throughout the heat’s entirety, marking him as the second consecutive Brazilian to win the Nike Lowers Pro following Miguel Pupo’s (BRA), 20, win in 2011.

Garrett McNamara has officially surfed the biggest wave ever. The Guinness World Records have confirmed that McNamara has ridden a 78-foot wave (23,7 metres) in Nazaré, Portugal, to dethrone Mike Parsons and his wave at Cortes Bank.

The announcement was made during the 2012 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards and confirms what SurferToday.com has reported in November 2011, right after the incredible stunt in the Nazaré Canyon.

The Portuguese wave was not immediately seen as the biggest ever to be surfed. Several international sources, magazines and personal lobbies were at stake and it was clear that Europe and its waves were under heavy fire. Justice has been done.

photo: JP Van Swae. Nathan Fletcher and Garret McNamara, 2011/12's BIG-WAVE Surfing Kings.

The house was packed at The Grove in Anaheim Nathan Fletcher humbly accepted his XXL Award for Ride of the Year for his historic wave at Teahupoo. Towed into it by Makua Rothman in August 2011.

"When you catch a wave like this they don't give you public speaking lessons," stammered Fletcher, searching his pocket for his "notes."

"Nathan should win because anybody that can survive what he did deserves Ride of the Year," claimed Garrett McNamara who was also in contention for the award and earlier in the night won top prize for a world record 78-foot wave (12' less than the original estimate) he was towed into off the coast of Portugal on Nov. 1, 2011.

Pic: Shane Dorian, Hollow Trees Mentawais Islands 1999 © Art Brewer

Surf News, 4 May, 2012 : - - New York -- School of Visual Arts (SVA) presents 'Art Brewer: Surf Evolution,' a retrospective celebrating the work of legendary surf photographer Art Brewer, who has spent four decades documenting and shaping surf culture around the globe. The exhibition is presented by the Arts Abroad Program at SVA, where Art Brewer teaches a course in Action Surf Photography in Rincon, Puerto Rico. 'Art Brewer: Surf Evolution' will be on view at the SVA Gallery, 209 East 23 Street, New York City, from June 8 – 30, 2012.

Peter Mel was officially awarded the Big Wave World Tour Title in Newport Beach, CA on Sunday, April 29th 2012. The ceremony was held aboard the Eternity, a 140ft luxury yacht, and featured music by local band The Barnwell Shift. Approximately 150 people were in attendance including, 2x ASP Champ Tom Carroll, 10x Molokai to Oahu Paddle Champ Jamie Mitchell, Dana Rohrabacher, U.S. Representative for the California 46th Congressional District andGuest of honor, Dick Brewer, who was acknowledged for his lifetime achievement of big wave surfboard design.

Gabriel Medina surfed a near-perfect event.

Surf News, 5 May, 2012 :Lower Trestles -- The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Prime Nike Lowers Pro returned to the fabled California pointbreak of Lower Trestles for the third consecutive day and saw young Brazilian talent Gabriel Medina (BRA), 18, lead his fellow ASP World Championship Tour competitors in posting the day’s top scores.

Gabriel Medina unveiled his progressive wizardry on the lefthand ramps of Lowers launching the highest scores of Nike Lowers Pro competition. The high-flying Brazilian took top honors, winning his Round of 48 heat and went on to take the day’s highest single-wave score of 9.87 for a huge air-reverse while surfing a near-perfect heat of 19.53 out of 20 in his Round of 24 bout.

Note: 1st heat likely to start 5-6am Saturday HI time.

Surf News, 2 May, 2012 : - - Lower Trestles -- The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) PRIME Nike Lowers Pro returned to the high-performance pointbreak of Lower Trestles in San Clemente, California in two-to-four foot waves today. In an event often dominated by aerials, today’s action saw power-surfers earn the day’s top scores amidst standout performances from an array of international competitors.

Taylor Knox (Carlsbad, CA), 40, has infamously struggled with wave-starved heats at Lower Trestles over the years and his Round 2 heat at the Nike Lowers Pro proved to be no different. In the dying minutes of the heat, a flurry of waves graced the Lowers lineup and Knox wasted little time, carving up the highest single-wave score of the day with his signature arcing turns of 9.57 out of 10 en route to his Round 2 victory.

Ocean and waves have a very positive impact in the emotional health of human beings. The European Centre for Environment and Human Health has studied over 2,750 participants and has concluded that a simple walk along the beach or coastal area is enough to boost positive feelings.

Scientists found that all outdoor locations were associated with good vibes, but visits to the coast were most beneficial and visits to urban parks least beneficial.

This finding remained when the researchers took account of factors like people’s age, how far they had travelled, the presence of others and the activity they undertook.