There is something profoundly wrong when, in the 21st century, a surf competition is cut short due to water pollution from a sewage spill. This actually happened, not in Africa, Latin America, or Asia, but in the heart of England, in Porthtowan, Cornwall. It seems like the more we're told progress and development are underway by politicians and company executives, the worse our quality of life is. So, how can a surfing event featuring 140 athletes be suddenly suspended while the contest is underway? "Our 2025 English Interclub Surfing Championships had to be canceled today, whilst surfers were in the water," noted Hannah Brand, operations manager at Surfing England, the national governing body for the sport in the country. "We were informed by lifeguards that the beach was being red-flagged due to a sewage discharge." "In response, we immediately called off the contest and asked all surfers to leave the water, as the health and safety of our competitors is para

What should the role of high-profile professional surfers be when it comes to their presence on social media and the messages they convey to millions of fans and the general public? Where do you draw the line between what to say and what not to say? Are there topics that should be addressed more than others? Which things should and shouldn't be addressed? How relevant are the opinions of pro surfers on politics, religion, and health? Is there an optimal balance of common sense, fairness, and moderation when you're an influential personality with a voice that echoes across the world? I admit to having more questions and doubts than answers and solutions. However, the exercise of reflection is never too much, so here we go. From Beach Bum to a Role Model Sport Long are the days when surfers were among the pariahs of society. The image of the blonde and tanned beach bum surfer that the media and Hollywood helped build is nearly deconstructed. Nowadays, surfing enjoys a respectable reputat

Soccer, basketball, and tennis players have them before their clashes, so why should surfers embrace them too? Discover some of the most common and surprising pre-surf rituals and superstitions. Humans are creatures of habit. The coffee in the morning, right after a satisfying breakfast, is just one of them. Routines keep us confident and comfortable. They provide a sort of delusional safety net for the day (or night) ahead of us. In high-performance sports, every thin layer of confidence has an impact on performance and success. It could be the slightest thing, from slapping your own face, looking up to the sky and murmuring a few words, or just warming up vigorously. It could be a religious or spiritual tic, or even an absolutely mundane practice. Repeat behaviour can either be a habit or a superstition. Or both. And when they become a routine or ritual, we avoid the risk of not performing them. The mind has mysterious ways, indeed. Professional or recreational surfers are exposed to

A 59-year-old man faces two felony charges for allegedly using his stand-up paddleboard (SUP) paddle to attack a woman surfer. What started as a mellow summer morning surf at Morro Strand State Beach ended with felony charges. On Saturday, August 23, around 10:45 am, California State Parks rangers rushed to the lineup south of the Morro Strand entrance after a 911 call reported a violent altercation in the water. Witnesses say the clash began over wave priority and escalated into a brutal attack. The suspect, Andrew Eric Gustafson of Morro Bay, was out on his stand-up paddleboard when a woman surfer dropped into a wave ahead of him. According to witnesses, Gustafson paddled hard toward her, struck her from behind, then turned his SUP paddle into a weapon. A Coward Attack Surfers in the water reported that Gustafson screamed at the woman, hit her with his paddle, and rammed her with his board. He then allegedly climbed onto her surfboard, grabbed her by the hair, and forced her underwat