Monday's often have a way of humbling us. It's the start of a new week, and things don't always go our way. I don't mean to pile on if you're having one of those days, but this video is just too great not to share. It features a six-year old surfer by the name of Quincy Symonds, aka "the Flying Squirrel." Quincy started surfing at the age of four, and now looks like a natural. In fact, she's probably better than most of us watching this short film about her adventures. This just might be the cutest thing you see all week. Enjoy!
A small surfer makes big waves from ABC Open on Vimeo.
Showing posts with label Surfing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Surfing. Show all posts
Outside Magazine Presents the 2018 Bucket List
There are numerous amazing adventures that were selected to be a part of this list, all chosen by travel experts who contribute to Outside. Their suggestions include everything from staying in eco-friendly cabins in New Zealand to going Gorilla spotting in Uganda. The list includes options to hike, bike, paddle, and surf in some of the most breathtaking places in the world. There are options to go fishing, camping, and commune with nature, and there is even one trip that will send you off to a completely unknown destination.
Of course, I won't spoil everything that Outside recommends, as discovering what suggestions made the cut is part of the fun. Needless to say, pretty much every type of traveler will find something intriguing here, with some completely new options that you may not have even considered before.
All of the entires on the bucket list include a paragraph that describes why this is an amazing excursion. There is also information on how to do the individual trips that offers links to a tour provider and a price. Some of the itineraries are very affordable, while others will require a bit larger budget, but all of them are very approachable.
Check out the entire 2018 Outside Bucket List here.
Outside Presents 8 Adventurers Who Changed the World
As you can imagine, the list is filled with distinguished and very worthy outdoor athletes, some of which have become household names. There are also several whose exploits we cover regularly here at The Adventure Blog as well, including the likes of Jimmy Chin, Alex Honnold, and Jeb Corliss. Beyond that, I won't say too much about who else earned a spot on Outside's list, but it is safe to say that there are some true legends here.
Narrowing down the list of iconic adventurers to just 8 couldn't have been easy. Personally, I can think of at least a half-dozen other men and women I would have put on here in addition to the ones that are named. But, it is safe to say that these athletes have certainly had an impact on the world of outdoor adventure, breaking new ground in their various fields of endeavor while also pushing boundaries in ways that we may not have ever considered before.
To read the entire article and find out who made the list – and why – click here.
Outside Picks the Most Innovative Gear of 2017 (So Far!)
You'll find a little of everything on this list, ranging from gear for skiers and cyclists to runners and surfers too. Some of the gear that earns a spot on Outside's "most innovative" run down include Columbia's OutDry Ex Eco Jacket, which is almost entirely of recycled materials, and Altra's Torin IQ running shoes, which has embedded sensors to track all kinds of data about our running styles. There is even a smartwatch from Samsung on the list, as well as a versatile backpack from The North Face.
Were I picking my most innovative gear of the year, I would probably add a few more gadgets to the list. For instance, recently I've been testing the Gnarbox, which is a mobile editing station for photos and video, that was built for the backcountry. It's a pretty handy device for those of us who live on the road quite a lot. I've also been impressed with some of the high-tech lanterns that have come out of the outdoor industry as well, many of which not only provide light for the campsite, but do a host of other things too.
To check out the rest of Outside's most innovative list, click here.
Video: Pro Surfer Skis Giant Waves in Hawaii
Yes, you read that headline right. This video takes us out to Hawaii where we find pro surfer Chuck Patterson taking on the notoriously large waves at Pe'ahi aka "Jaws." Rather than riding his surfboard, he instead chooses to ski Jaws instead, complete with boots, poles, and the works. Surprisingly, this goes fairly well, although I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone. Wild stuff for sure.
Video: Under an Arctic Sky - Surfing Iceland in Winter
When you think of great surf spots, Iceland is not a place that typically comes to mind. But, when a team of adventurers – led by photographer Chris Burkard and filmmaker Ben Weiland – traveled to that beautiful and wild country, they discovered that there was indeed some terrific waves to ride along the north coast. This was especially true when one of the most brutal storms of the past 25 years made landfall there, creating a surreal environment for an arctic adventure. As you'll see in this video, they got everything they were looking for, and more.
Under An Arctic Sky - Official Trailer #1 from Chris Burkard on Vimeo.
Video: The Maui Boys Take the Onewheel for a Spin
The Onewheel is one of the coolest gadgets I've seen in awhile. It is a high-tech, self-balancing, single-wheeled skateboard of sorts that is controlled by leaning forward and backward, or side to side. Fast and fun, the Onewheel is a joy to ride. In this video, you'll get to see a group of pro-surfers – Dege O'Connell, Albee Layer, Tanner Hendrickson, Kai Barger and Hank Gaskell – put the Onewheel through its paces. The clip is less than a minute in length, but it gives you an idea of what the device is like. It isn't too late to get Santa to put one under your tree this year.
The Maui Boys from Onewheel HQ on Vimeo.
Video: Surfing the Arctic Ocean in Siberia
I don't cover surfing often here on The Adventure Blog, but I couldn't resist sharing this video, which takes us to Siberia where a group of adventurous surfers attempt to catch a wave in the frigid Arctic Ocean. The clip was shot over the course of a year near Murmansk, Russia, with the ocean showing the different sides of its character throughout the season. The dedication and commitment to this endeavor is admirable to say the least. The images captured here are astounding as well. I hope you enjoy.
SURF IN SIBERIA ARCTIC OCEAN 5 from Kokorev Konstantin on Vimeo.
Video: Seal Joins Surfers for Some Fun!
This is a surfing video even I couldn't resist posting. It features surfers Matt Stanley and Andrew Flounders, who decided to catch some waves recently, when they were joined by a curious and playful seal pup. The seal hung out with the guys for more than an hour, and even tried to follow them into shore when it was time to go. Fortunately, Matt had his trusty GoPro camera connected to his board, and caught all of the fun. Check it out below.
Video: People Are Awesome 2013 - 2014
It has been awhile since we've had a new "People Are Awesome" video but it was worth the wait. The clip below is five minutes of awesome people doing awesome things. There are some great shots of men and women skiing, biking, surfing, climbing and more. As we get closer to the end of the year, it is a good reminder that life is short and we should live it to the fullest.
Video: The Last Frontier - Surfing Alaska
Alaska isn't the typical destination one thinks of when they want to go surfing. Still, that's exactly where Damien Castera went in this beautiful short film. He spent two months on his own there, hiking and surfing along the coast, while fishing for his food and staying in remote campsites. The video is a fantastic mix of surfing and adventure, something that you don't necessarily see all that often. Wonderful stuff.
Damien’s Adventure – The Last Frontier from O'Neill on Vimeo.
Video: Journey To Bear Island
There aren't many expeditions that you can go on that allow you to ski, snowboard, climb and surf, but that is exactly what the Wegge brothers got when they visited remote Bear Island off the Svalbard coast. The video below is a teaser for an upcoming film of their adventure, which judging from these two minutes of footage looks like it was filled will all kinds of interesting activities.
Thanks to my friends at the Adventure Journal for sharing this one.
BEAR ISLAND TEASER from weggebros on Vimeo.
Thanks to my friends at the Adventure Journal for sharing this one.
Surfer May Have Ridden Biggest Wave Ever
Surfing isn't a topic I cover a lot here on the Adventure Blog, but this story is definitely worth mentioning. On Monday, Brazilian surfer Carlos Burle is believed to have set a new record for the largest wave ever ridden. He caught the massive 100 ft (30.5 meter) wave off the coast of Nazare, Portugal, a place that is known for it's giant swells. While the height hasn't been confirmed or made official yet, it is believed to be bigger than the previous record held by Garrett McNamara by more than 22 feet. The video below was shot while Burle was out on his board being chased by the giant wall of water. Definitely some impressive surfing and a scary sight.
Video: Charlie Don't Surf, But Bigfoot Does!
It seems Bigfoot sightings are at an all time high. Not only was he recently spotted taking a nap in the woods but he was also surfing at Pismo Beach in California. What's a thrill seeking Sasquatch to do when he finds himself wanting to ride some waves? Why grab a board (and apparently a GoPro camera!) and hit the water!
Video: Drone Captures Awesome Surf Footage
It wasn't all that long ago that drones seemed like something out of a science fiction movie. Now they're common place and even average people can own one for personal use. We've seen them becoming increasingly popular with adventure filmmakers, who can now attach a lightweight GoPro camera and capture ariel footage of just about anything. Case in point, check out the beautiful and mesmerizing footage that was shot from a small drone at Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. The video simply looks amazing and I'm happy that photographers now have these tools at their disposal. Great stuff!
Aerial footage of surfers at Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz (DJI Phantom) from Eric Cheng on Vimeo.
Video: People Are Awesome! (2012 Edition)
Looking for a video that features eight minutes of people doing amazing, crazy and down right wild things? Then look no further than the compilation vid below. It features numerous clips of men and women surfing, skiing, climbing, jumping and doing oh-so much more. It'll definitely be an interesting source of entertainment and will probably make you drop your jaw in awe at least once or twice.
Nat Geo's Ultimate Adventure Bucket List
Some of the epic adventures include surfer Maya Gabeira traveling to Alaska to ride big waves off the coast of that state. If that doesn't get your adrenaline flowing that perhaps Dean Potter's account of Free climbing the Eiger in Switzerland or Trip Jenning's paddle down the Pandi River in Papua New Guinea is more your speed. For polar explorer Borge Ousland the dream trip was a solo expedition to the North Pole and for climber Cory Richards it was a trek to the top of Gasherbrum II in Pakistan.
Each of the Dream Trip listings also includes a bio of each of the Adventurers as well as their pick for a single piece of gear that they take with them on their expeditions. Those gear items include everything from GoPro cameras to sunglasses and backpacks and so much more. I found the gear picks to be particularly interesting as it gives you some insight into what these daring men and women value while they're out on the their adventures.
Now obviously these dream trips are beyond the means for many of us, but they can also serve as a source of inspiration. For instance, you may not be ready to try to take on an 8000 meter Himalayan peak, but perhaps Kilimanjaro is the mountaineering adventure you crave. Similarly, you may not have the means to go hiking trails in Iceland, but there are probably some excellent backpacking trails within driving distance that might prove interesting as well. The point is, we can all gain inspiration from this "bucket list" even if we don't have the opportunity to do the same journeys ourselves.
Playing with small waves
Alex complains about feeling rusty now again but I think he's doing fine being a person who only surfs once or twice a year. Can't wait to find some bigger waves though so he gets the proper exercise he's been waiting for. Pacific on the mind of course but we're also thinking of dropping by Barbados one of these days, it's just a 100 m sail away. If they'd also have a surf school there for me that'd be even better as I def need a more patient/calm teacher than what I've dealt with thus far, and someone I don't have to fight about the same board with :/
National Geographic Announces 2013 Adventurers Of The Year
Probably the biggest name on the list is skydiver Felix Baumgartner who recently garnered headlines around the globe for his record breaking jump from the edge of space. He's joined by the likes of climber David Lama, who made history on Cerro Torre earlier this year, and kayaker Steve Fisher, who led a team down the biggest rapids in the world on the Congo River. Others include ultrarunner Lizzy Hawker, snowboarder Jeremy Jones and explorer Mike Libecki, amongst others.
As they have for the past few years, Nat Geo is also asking the public to weigh in with their thoughts on who is the adventurer of the year by voting for the People's Choice winner. Votes are being compiled from November 1st through January 16, 2013, with the winner being announced in February. Judging from the choices, I think I can probably go out on a limb and pick the winner of this category right now. (Hint: It'll probably be the Man Who Fell To Earth)
In the interest of full disclosure, I should note that I've been lucky enough to have the Nat Geo team ask my opinion on who the Adventurers of the Year should be over the past few years. While the 2013 winners are all people I respect and admire, I can't help but think that some of these were selected for their commercial appeal. I can think of a number of people who did more adventurous things this past year, and believe me I submitted them, but they didn't earn a spot on the list. Of course they can't all be given this prestigious honor, but there are definitely a few names that I expected to be on there that didn't make the cut.
Still, I want to offer a hearty congratulations to the winners. Well done all around.
Video: Surfer Rides Largest Wave Ever
I don't cover much in the world of surfing, but this video is well worth sharing. It captures pro surfer Garrett McNamara riding a 90 foot tall wave off the coast of Portugal. It is believed that this is a new record for the largest wave ever ridden, and the video helps to give us a true sense of the scale of the thing. Hint: It's enormous.