INTERNATIONAL VERSION
JUNE
2017 | #23 Competition
Rio de Janeiro
Fanning Island
Hamburg
Antonio Ceballos
Hossegor and Donosti, everything about the two EURO Tour stops
SUP Trip around some of the most famous beaches in the world
A real adventure in the middle of the Pacific Ocean
SUP Urban Tourism in cities with rivers and channels
Lonely waves, emotions and creative surf photography
EDITORIAL
Being Water I think you know what I mean when I tell you that I am not the same person when I am far away from the ocean. Since a couple of years ago, and every time more, this magnetic liquid attracts me irremediably, and I don’t try to resist it. I want to be suspended, weightless among its particles, gliding through the water and watching how the rays of light travel, drawing
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lines into the depths. I want to caress the surface by surfing down the mountains of water, watching the seabed passing under my feet. I want to hear the corals and the whale songs, feel the turbulence and power of the waves that traveled miles by bending the surface of the oceans, before they find the shore to fall to pieces and disappear forever...
Jaime Andrés Castro
Sitting on my board I look to the coast, where time continues to pass. I just float, distracted by my thoughts, enchanted by the swinging. I see the smiles of my friends, followed by their faces, arriving in the lineup right after catching a wave. My joy is so big that I know that in the water is where I want to be, where I belong, where I am happy. Where I am myself.
I start to conceive the ocean as a whole with its own life, a whole in perfect harmony of which many of us already are or feel, in a way, part of it. Keep SUPING SUPING Magazine
Amanda Beenen, María Andrés
INDEX
14. 22. 32. 38. 46. 66. 84. COVER
Competition: EURO Tour Hossegor. Competition: EURO Tour Donosti. Hamburg city by SUP. The world famous beaches in Rio de Janeiro. Getting lost in the Pacific Ocean, Fanning Island. Paulina Herpel in Peniche. Art: Antonio Ceballos, creative surf photography. Manu Bouvet
Pierre Bouras
66 46 38 66 14 8
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Pierre Bouras
Manu Bouvet
STAFF
EDITORS
Emilio Galindo María Andrés PHOTOGRAPHERS
Euro Tour, Flash Bros, Phil Schereyer, Michael Fertig, Toby Bromwich, Pierre Bouras, Dan Petermann, Jairo Diaz, Antonio Ceballos, Manu Grafenauer. COLLABORATORS
Euro Tour, Connor Baxter, Fernando Ibarreta, Valentin Böckler, Colleen Carroll, Carine y Manu, Paulina Herpel, Antonio Ceballos. TO GET FEATURED
If you are interested in collaborating with SUPING Magazine you can send us your material and / or your proposals to our e-mail. WE ARE SUPPORTING
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SUPING Magazine is not responsible for the opinions, comments and ideologies of our collaborators. We believe in the free expression of each individual and we give the opportunity to express it, but we do not necessarily share those opinions. 10
Antonio Ceballos
MASPALOMAS · GRAN CANARIA INFO@2NDREEF.COM
Tú escuela de SUP
en las Islas Canarias Siam Park Foto : Gwe n Mar che / Lug ar:
COMPETITION... Hossegor Paddle Games
EURO Tour stop #4 Euro Tour, Connor Baxter
Gwen Marche, Georgia S Photography
The 4th stop of the EuroTour presented by F-One took place in Hossegor, France from May 27-28th. In its first edition the Hossegor Paddle Games saw unprecedented hype, as both Europeans & International competitors alike came to what turned out to be the most competitive race ever in Europe. The competition started on Saturday afternoon with the long distance event beginning at the Central beach with a finish in the Park Henry’s lake in Hossegor. The race was regarded as one of the most entertaining ones so far this season with a mix of waves, current and flat water that made it a very challenging 12km. Sonni Hönscheid (Starboard) and Connor Baxter (Starboard) claimed the overall wins. 14
Connor: ““The first day kicked off with a long distance race that started in the ocean but then finished in a flat water river.
The hardest part about this race was my board choice, whether to take my Starboard All-Star for going in and out of the surf and ocean or taking the Starboard Sprint for that final leg in the flat water.
Last minute I decided to take my chances out in the ocean with the flat water Sprint so that I had a fast and easy board for the finish - that I knew was going to be a sprint up the beach. We all lined up ready to go and as always I wanted to have a perfect start to get out of the mess with all the other paddlers. I was able to turn the first buoy in the top five - then I got up in the front to make sure no one could pull away.
a gap on the rest of the group. We made a quick left turn to head into the mouth of the river and Titou caught a few bumps to make a decent lead on me and at the same time I was able to put a small gap on Michael.
There were some small bumps, but not enough for me to pull away from everyone. I paced myself knowing that it was going to be a long race and I needed to have another gear for the end.
Heading up the river there were a few sections that were a bit swirly and one of those sections caught me off guard and took me out. I got swept backwards and Titou now had and even bigger gap. Once the river opened up and got super flat - that’s when Michael was able to catch up to me. We both looked at each other and knew what we had to do, so we started to pull hard for short bursts and slowly we closed the gap between Titou and us.
Once we rounded the upwind buoy Michael, Titou and I started to pull away and have
We had a breather, but quickly noticed two guys behind us closing the gap so we all three
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paddled next to each other and kept up a good pace. We turned the last buoy at the end of the river and started to head back to the finish line. Somehow Bruno closed the gap on us halfway back and then it was five of us sprinting to the finish line. I lined myself up so I had the best line and positioning for the final sprint to the beach and across the finish line. I made the first move and started sprinting pretty far out, but I knew I could hold these guys off. I felt like throwing up and my body was hurting, but I kept telling myself Never Give Up. So I didn’t let off the throttle and kept it in full blast all the way up the beach in first place. I was super stoked to come out on top for the distance race knowing that the surf race was the next day and I love the technical races in the waves. I went out for a big meal so that I
“I felt like throwing up and my body was hurting, but I kept telling myself Never Give Up. So I didn’t let off the throttle and kept it in full blast all the way up the beach in first place”.
“Al!”
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could refuel my body and then went straight to bed so I was rested up for the next day”. On Sunday morning the fog made an appearance, forcing the race officials to postpone the main Beach Race event but opening the door for amateur activities where spectators had a blast with the Dragon Red Paddle Co races. The 22’ boards were a sight to see on the waves. Finally in the afternoon the Beach Race started, and produced one of the most challenging courses to date on tour. Connor Baxter saluted again with a dominant performance and Olivia Piana (Starboard) put on a phenomenal effort to win the beach race and almost claim the overall however that would finally remain with Sonni Hönscheid. 20
Connor: “The next day started off with a bit of fog and we barely could even see the water from the beach. We had to wait for the fog to burn off and for the tide to be right so we didn’t start the race until 3:30 in the afternoon. It was a 2 1/2 lap course that went in and out through the surf. I got a perfect spot on the starting line and took some deep breaths before the horn blew. As soon as the horn went off I sprinted down the beach and hopped on my board. I sprinted super hard to get through the surf quickly and to get into clean water so I didn’t get piled up at the first buoy turn. I got to the first turn in fifth place but made sure to stay close to the top guys so when we started to head in with the waves I would catch the same ride as them.
“We turned the next buoy and I started to catch little bumps to pull up in the front. There was a super small wave that Michael, Titou and I were able to scratch onto”.
We had plenty of room to turn the inside buoy and power back out through the surf. It wasn’t until the end of our first lap back into the beach through the surf where Michael and I just barely got into a wave in front of Titou. This put us in first and second early on and then we just worked together to maintain our lead. I knew I would win the overall if I just played it safe and stayed with Michael. We did our second lap with a good hard pace and were in rhythm with the waves. Going into the last half lap we started paddling a little harder to make sure it was a sprint up the beach. Before the second to last buoy turn on the inside I snuck out on a little swell that gave
me a small lead. I took advantage of that lead and kept the hammer down to the last turn. I swung my board around and instantly started to hunt the waves down. Michael was right behind me and just barely missed a wave that I was able to jump on for my double bullet and the overall win!! I ran up the beach super stoked, but of course still keeping in mind the overall for the whole Euro Tour is still out for grabs”. The closing ceremony was next with the podiums and awards being handed at the beautiful event site in the Hossegor lake. Stay tuned as The EuroTour goes next to the Canary Islands, Finland and UK.
OVERALL MEN’S: 1. Connor Baxter 2. Michael Booth 3. Titouan Puyo
OVERALL WOMEN’S: 1. Sonni Hönscheid 2. Olivia Piana 3. Candice Appleby
COMPETITION... Donosti Euro Tour Euro Tour Stop #7 Fernando Ibarreta
EURO Tour
On the 17th and 18th of June, the seventh event of the calendar from the Euro-Tour SUP was held in Donostia-San Sebastian, where the spectacle offered by the best paddlers of the moment was simply amazing. On day one, Saturday, the action began with the elite’s and amateurs’ race where they were participating nearly 100 paddlers. In the stellar race rivalry was served, the points would be worth gold and the truth is that the competition did not disappoint anyone. The circuit was more than demanding: the start line was in La Concha beach, going offshore, returning from the Paseo Nuevo (slope of Mount Urgull) where the rebound of waves and rough sea as it was, made mischief to the 22
stability of the participants. Then going into the Urumea River, where a series of absolutely delicious waves were seen. Participants had a small break in the course of the River during 2 kilometers, but they did not know that the best was due to come, we don’t Know for them, but for sure it was for the spectators who were amazed about the mythical of Zurriola beach waves. After the titanic struggle with the waves,
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competitors went offshore towards Santa Clara Island and then return back to the Bay of La Concha. From the very beginning the favorites were giving the 100%, the group formed by Michael Booth, Connor Baxter, Bruno Hasulyo (great Hungarian), Tituan Puyo (previous winner), Trevor Tunnington and Mo Freitas, paddled compact. They arrived together at Zurriola waves, but in the double tack they had to do on the beach the commotion was mounted. Connor, Bruno, Trevor and Mo took the advantage with Michael getting close behind and Tituan was a bit laggard because of the difficulties he had on tracing across the waves. 26
But the Australian gritted his teeth and reached the group. The walk to the island gave him a big boost, nobody could do anything about it.
“Connor and Bruno tried to hunt him but the small and chunky Michael said goodbye, and knew how to keep a minute advantage to enter San Sebastian Bay in smell of crowds, as the best SUP athlete of the Cantabrian Sea“.
It seems that Connor chokes at Donosti, but it must be acknowledged that he made a super race as his friend Bruno did, we could not imagine that a Hungarian would manage that well in such conditions. Special mention to Tituan, who was left far behind in the turbulence of the Zurriola, and then made a spectacular crossing, reaching Trevor, the bravest of New Zealand, in the last few meters. Regarding the women division, the prediction was fulfilled and the French Olivia Piana did not disappoint, she won virtually from the starting line. Then, the battle for second was between the Spaniard Susak Molinero and the American Seychelle Hattingh. After a tight mutual
“Regarding the women division, the prediction was fulfilled and the French Olivia Piana did not disappoint, she won virtually from the starting line�.
marking, the scale tipped to the very pleasant Spaniard. Everybody without exception praised the course, where there was no breath or truce to different techniques of rowing, there was for all choices: tranquility (bay and river), bounce, rough seas and all kind of waves. There was good weather on the two days, with sunshine and little wind, but there was also a true sea, as people from the North like. On Sunday, the day was dedicated to the kids. They started their competition going to the island and return back, with all the stars that had shone the day before in the Bay, encouraging them and making fun with their board. 28
As the Spanish champion Pepe Oltra said, this race will become the SUP Behobia-San Sebastian and those who miss it will miss one of the most fun and demanding competition in the calendar. If you want to overcome a true competition, try the Donosti – Euro-Tour, you will be surprised, guaranteed!!
MEN’S RESULTS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Michael Booth Connor Baxter Bruno Hasulyo Titouan Puyo Trevor Tunnington
Long live to SUP!! WOMEN’S RESULTS: This competition is organized and produced by the C.D fortune, a club with over 100 years of history, organizing sporting events of all kinds, but recognized internationally by the pedestrian race Behobia-SS.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Olivia Piana Susak Molinero Seychelle Hattingh Susanne Lier Cyara Palenzuela
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Hamburg City Urban tourism by SUP Valentin Böckler
Flash Bros, Phil Schereyer, Michael Fertig
The young German filmmaker and professional windsurfer Valentin Vöckler shares his SUP adventure in beautiful Hamburg City, his hometown. We all know SUP is a unique way to explore the coast, but it is also becoming a great way to visit cities, and local business are also realizing about it, providing the tourism a place to rent boards and enjoy the town from a different angle. Read Valentin’s story and we are sure that for the next road trip upcountry you’ll put your inflatable board in your van. Me and my family moved to northern Germany when I was six years old and made my first steps into the watersports already. We live just next to Hamburg and the city is definitely to most beautiful city in whole Germany. With around 1.8million townsfolk, the second biggest harbor in the European Union and more than 2500 bridges it is totally diversified place. Through the whole city there are many rivers and water streams where you’ll find the perfect conditions to stand up paddle. Few years ago the SUP sport was getting 32
bigger and bigger in Germany, I was one of those guys who paddled the first local competitions and the SUP World Cup in Hamburg’s warehouse district. Everybody wanted to have this kind of long boards to stand up and paddle. I was working in a surf shop for four years and I totally realized that the SUP watersport was getting bigger and bigger in Hamburg. At this time I already had my first exploring tours through all the Hamburg streams and I realized that I had never saw the city from this kind of totally different point of view.
“First of all we started in the south of Hamburg, called Vierlande. This part of Hamburg is the countrified side of the city and all kind of gardeners, florists or farmers home point�.
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Now seven years later I made it back with SUP and friends to check if the city is still looking the same. First of all we started in the south of Hamburg, called Vierlande. This part of Hamburg is the countrified side of the city and all kind of gardeners, florists or farmers home point. When you are down there you don’t feel the city vibes, it’s totally off the beaten track, and it’s all in silence. You will find the Dover-Elbe, it is one side part of the bigger river Elbe. The Dover-Elbe is the best river to start a friendly silence exploring tour with friends in the nature of Hamburg. 36
With no crowded tracks or boats you will have a relaxed tour on windless waters, finished with a golden hour session at the surfshop Windsurfing-Hamburg at the Hohendeicher See. Up next we were heading more into the city called Berliner Tor in Hammerbrook.
“ Paddling super nice and lonely rivers you will find some stylish Houseboats and you can dock at Mc Donald’s McBoat drive through! “
In this rivers of Berliner Tor you can have some personal trainings with Sportalive Hamburg, they are great coaches for any kind of fitness on a Stand up Paddleboard. The last but biggest part of Hamburg are the rivers around the Hamburg Alster. Wherever you want to paddle, you can do it. In the northern part you will get into the Eppendorf district, these are the most crowded streams in the city. You will find a lot of stand up paddlers, normal paddlers and tourist boats on your tracks. Since I’m back on this waters, there are like three or four SUP stations just on the route up north. It’s crazy! You can see that the SUP sport is super engaged in Hamburg!
If you paddle to the east you will arrive into the Hamburg city park sea. It is a super beautiful route to going straight through all kind of Hamburg buildings and some river drive through coffees’. Back to the Hamburg Alster you will have the best view on Hamburg’s skyline. If you paddle all the way to the Binnenalster, that is the smaller part of the Alster, you are straight in the city. This is definitely one of the best views or feelings to see this city from the water. Hamburg is not a town to visit only from the streets. Rent a SUP from one of more than 10 rental stations and take a break from the loud city vibes. Go in the water and enjoy Hamburg from another point of view.
“The Dover-Elbe is the best river to start a friendly silence exploring tour with friends in the nature of Hamburg“.
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Brazil
Discovering Rio Colleen Carroll
Toby Bromwich
Mar, boas ondas, Samba, Caiprinha, Carnival, Copacabana, Ipanema; you don’t have to speak Portuguese to know where I’m talking about.
Brazil
Discovering Rio
Mar, boas ondas, Samba, Caiprinha, Carnival, Copacabana, Ipanema; you don’t have to speak Portuguese to know where I’m talking about. Rio de Janeiro is a bustling sun kissed city, bursting with culture, beautiful people and a deep sense of heritage. Lined with champagne coloured beaches and the deep Atlantic Ocean, it makes for an impressive and memorable trip. 40
Amidst the glamour of the city’s boulevards and beaches, there’s the impending sense of poverty that resonates through the sprawling favelas ruled by the underworld; but somehow it works, adding extra spirit to the overall experience. Arriving with nothing more than a Fly Air Inflatable and an iRig, it was time to explore the cosmopolitan city and its SUP potential. Heading straight to Copacabana beach, the first thing that catches your eye is the Portuguese wave patterned pavement that creates a 4km promenade. Known for attracting the local surf crew to the shallow rocky ledge that forms the northern point of the bay, the waves that unloads on
the outside links through to form a fun ride across the sandbars on the inside at high tides.
“Moving down from Copacabana and rounding the historic fort and scenic peninsula of Apoador, it’s the only place to watch the breath-taking sunset“.
Forming the northern tip of the famous Ipanema beach, you’re greeted by the buzzing beach and its social vibe. Beer is sold everywhere, along with the traditional cachaça, and there are people playing football and volleyball as far as the eye can see. At the forefront of beach culture are the sunworshippers and surfers who populate the beach each day, as it is not unheard of that the winter swell can bring barrelling beach breaks. Following the Atlantic Ocean inland via a canal that fringes Jardim de Alá, what one can only describe as Rio’s Central Park, we found Rodrigo de Freitas: a huge lake encapsulated by the city with a light sea breeze.
“Heading straight to Copacabana beach, the first thing that catches your eye is the Portuguese wave patterned pavement that creates a 4km promenade”.
“Embracing the flat water, we took advantage of the versatility of our set up for paddling, sailing, even yoga�.
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Having found a spot to transfer the SUP into a Windsurfer, we inflated the iRig and set sail to explore the parameters of the stunning surroundings.
“The ‘anyone welcome’ and ‘no-fuss’ ambience as a tourist in a big city was inviting and made you feel as though you were really living the Brazilian life”.
Embracing the flat water, we took advantage of the versatility of our set up for paddling, sailing, even yoga. From day to night, the street vibe never wavered and it wasn’t a case of where to eat or get a beer, but more which venue do we choose. Smoke filled the streets of blazing churrascarias – local name for bbq - filled with delicious local meats. The ‘anyone welcome’ and ‘no-fuss’
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ambience as a tourist in a big city was inviting and made you feel as though you were really living the Brazilian life. There’s no need to look for nightlife, it’s everywhere. Continuing on our adventure we took an hour’s ride down to another popular and much spoken about amongst wave enthusiasts - location, Barra de Tijuca. Although a different ambience of living, the endless beach is home to fun beach breaks and Prainha, a spot that sums up the Brazilian surf experience and has been the scene for many contests for decades. With such a reputation there was no surprise when our local host took us to a watersports hub, rental, restaurant and lifestyle venue.
Perched halfway down the Avenidas das Americas and Beach Boulevard, the beach was filled with fellow SUP riders, kiteboarders, and surfers.
“Following yet another sun-drenched, action packed day we headed to our accommodation, located just a stone’s throw away on the seafront“.
Having moved through the world’s most famous beaches, it became clear that through the high rise lifestyle of the rich in contrast with the energetic positivity of the poor, there’s an active lifestyle that the geographical layout only further enhances. There’s no doubt that Brazilians are furiously proud of where they are from and no matter where you choose to spend your time, you can pick and choose; from a dawn patrol, a breezy windsurf with the iRig, to an evening paddling down the coast, followed by great cuisine and a friendly welcome, there’s one thing for sure: Rio just keeps giving.
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Fanning Island Line of Life Carine Camboulives / Manu Bouvet
Pierre Bouras
The Line Islands are lost in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, between Hawaii and the equator. Legend counts that they hold many aquatic treasures. Only the Kwai, one of the last sail powered cargo ship, provides them with supplies, remaining their only connection with the rest of the world. Getting onboard is the only way for Carine and Manu to have a clear assessment about it.
Fanning Island Line of Life “One trip leads to another.” How many times have I checked this adage? A few years ago, carried by pleasant trade winds, we sailed through the lagoon of Fakarawa, in French Polynesia, on the Sauvage, our friends’ (Sophie and Didier) sailing boat. Those long and peaceful wireless trips are good opportunities for confidence and talking stories. I listen to Didier’s stories about his multiple crossings between the Antarctic and Alaska. 48
“That is quiet a good way!” I tell him. “And on the way, how many inaccessible islands abound in virgin waves?” “There is one indeed, it is part of the Line Islands and it would definitively deserve a stopover”, comments Didier with his usual impassible voice. “We have never been in this area, since it is too west from our route towards Alaska, but I heard about a French man, a kind of Robinson, who has been living there for years in complete autonomy. He even opened a guest house, but he does not see many people since the access is almost... impossible. That is a shame because it seems that there is a great wave in front of his place.”
Fast forward 2 years ago, at the sandy tip of Christmas islands, still in the Pacific, Shadé our 3-year-old daughter, finally accepts the idea of a nap under the tent, provided that she falls asleep with a freshly caught fish on her sides, (imagine the odor). For the first time of our trip, a little sail boat casts anchored behind the coral reef. A few minutes later, a tiny dinghy with 2 people aboard, heads for us. Alex, from Brazil, a full-time gipsy surfer and Marie, his French girlfriend, get off. They are not fresh as a daisy, after a challenging journey since We share the camp, as well as fruits, so rare here, since they come from Polynesia.
Alex is aiming at the Line Islands up north, especially at a perfect peeling wave in front of a so-called Bruno’s guest house, settled on an atoll off the grid. “It rings a bell! There must not be 25 islands of this type in the region.” I thought. Before living, Alex specifies: “There is the Kwai, a sail cargo that provides the islands from Honolulu, sometimes it embarks passengers, but don’t be a stickler for comfort and punctuality...” On the deck of the schooner Kwai I catch myself dreaming about a trip, the kind that seems outdated; not a trip that starts once on the spot, but one of these epic voyages where going from Point A to
“Alex is aiming at the Line Islands up north, especially at a perfect peeling wave in front of a socalled Bruno’s guest house, settled on an atoll off the grid”.
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“More than anywhere else, time seems totally abstract; trying to monitor it would be useless�.
Point B is the adventure in itself. The boat is obviously the best way to live such an experience. What to expect from an old sailing cargo that ventures where no one goes?
“The boat is obviously the best way to live such an experience. What to expect from an old sailing cargo that ventures where no one goes? �
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Pukapuka,Tabuaeran, Starbuck, Rakahanga, Teraina, Manihiki, Tauhunu, Tukao, Kiritimati, so many mysterious and exotic names for so many confettis sprinkled at the surface of the largest ocean on earth... Those atolls (coral reef shaped like rings encircling the lagoon.) make up the Line Islands. They stretch from 2350km south of the Hawaiian Islands.The Kwai supplies them in staple commodities, according to its trips, around every two months from Honolulu. Once there, they load the production of copra
(coconut flesh) and seaweeds (greatly prized by the cosmetic industry).
“But beyond a vital material assistance, agreeing embarking passengers between islands (often exceeding its capacity) the Kwai has become the guarantor of a social links in this area of the world”. Without it, almost never could the islanders meet again with their relatives or friends from another island.
There, no airline nor shipping service. The lack of electricity on most islands does not allow any communication. Sense of time on those islands could be illustrated by Salvador Dali’s melting clocks. More than anywhere else, time seems totally abstract; trying to monitor it would be useless. Such a timelessness feeling may have stimulated Bruno 30 years ago, to cast his watch at the same time his anchor, there. But we are not there yet. For now Carine, Shadé, Lou, Pierre (the photographer), Greg (the camera men) and I, are part of the group, just about a hundred passengers waiting to embark on the Kwai. We are crammed together under a roof
sheeting that protects badly against the equatorial sun at its zenith. The day before, I went in search of our tickets to make sure our seats were booked on board. There are many more candidates than seats. The arrival of the Kwai is a landmark event for each island and is eagerly waited; since nobody never knows when it will come back, even the cargo itself, it is better to book. The Kwai is supposed to drop us off on an atoll and come back to pick up us in 10 days… or god knows when So, what is better than a net hung on a crane to be hauled into the boat! The Kwai sets the tone: “Cargo is king”, which means that merchandise is comes first... unless passengers are regarded such as.
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“When we search for waves hidden in inaccessible spots, we often hope that the quality of our discovery will be equal to the difficulty to get there�.
Here we are, Carine, Shadé, Lou and I, taken in a huge net with large meshes, with 2 boards bags and 3 bags. The crane takes us above the pier, we go towards the right and are gently dropped off on the deck of the Kwai. There, a huge tarp is stretched out from one end of the deck to the other, as a large tent. We shelter under it during the trip with our 80 fellows travelers, lying tightly packed, pushing each other
“During the outward journey, the trade winds carry us, we should be there in 24 hours. On the other hand, it will be another story on the way back, facing the wind” - informs Yve the captain. 56
Needless to say, it is very hot under the tarp and there is no other place to seat. Quickly, everybody takes place and the dance of vomiting overboard (or not) starts.
“The rough sea, under a cooperating 20 knot-trade, shakes everybody”. Flat islands take their time to come out from the horizon, and my eyes, swollen by last night’s lack of sleep, won’t help. When I finally see a green stripe far away, I realize why green is the color of hope.It takes hours for the coconut forest to stand out.
“We enter the fluorescent lagoon by the only pass of the atoll. Unloading our bags takes a few hours and we are finally dropped on a little deck covered by a roof made of coconut branches”.
Bruno, who got informed about our arrival by coconut wireless, is waiting for us on the deck. His almost 70-year-old figure, muscular and thin as a rake, struggles to load our bags on the only trailer of the island.
“When I finally see a green stripe far away, I realize why green is the color of hope”.
Bruno, even though the only white man on the island, belongs here, you can tell right away
“Welcome! I don’t get to see visitors every day, especially that young!” he says with a large smile popping out of his huge beard. “In addition to that, you are bringing us the sun!” he adds, “El Niño (a meteorological phenomenon coming from the Pacific Ocean) has been affecting us for around a year; it is highly felt here: it’s been raining for months!
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You will see, the island is flooded in places, it has become difficult to get around even on foot.” he continues while half of his tractor’s wheels sinks into the mud! Here, naturally no paved road, no water nor electricity, except at Bruno’s. “A la Belle étoile” Here is the name of the little paradise built by Bruno, an itinerant wanderer of the southern seas and a disciple of Moitessier, the French sailor who quit the first solo around the world race while in first place and went straight on to Tahiti. It took him 25 years to finish it. “If I surfed, I would have never built my house”, he reveals when I asked him if he takes advantage of the wave briefly seen on arriving in the lagoon.
30 years-ago, shortly after arriving on the island, Bruno decided to build his nest in the heart of the dense tropical jungle, to open it to the very rare travelers passing by.
And soon he is off to the elementary school, with his spear-gun carrier hung at the carrier. “I am picking up some fish at the supermarket for lunch!” - he says with a burst of laughter.
For the last 30 years, Bruno has been given respectability to the media concept of sustainable development.
For our part, when we search for waves hidden in inaccessible spots, we often hope that the quality of our discovery will be equal to the difficulty to get there.
“Sometimes I look thru my own trashes.” he tells us with a malicious wanton way, while putting Agnes, his 3-year-old daughter in the little basket that miraculously holds, at the front of his ancient bike. ”Sometimes I remember throwing a wire or a rope that could be useful to fix a solar panel, a generator or other piping. Here, we endlessly recycle everything.”
Some sort of superstition.
“We know it is not true, however perseverance always wins and fortune favors the bold”.
That is why, observing the reef’s round curve in front of Bruno’s, on a small day, gives us a hint of the reward of hard work. Hard to be 100% sure, but its configuration is promising: easterly winds come off-shore on this coast lined with coconut forests, growing on a rough carpet of coral reefs. Perfectly exposed to south-west swells, the reef extending it, stretches until the pass where a strong current flows. The following evening, when the first head-high set peels over 200 meters without one single drop of water out of place, all the rigors of the journey disappear. The following 4 days are pure waves orgies. It is hard to look away when you have such a show, even when the sun burns your eyes and heat exhausts you. 60
“Pierre’s photos, wherever taken from water or hung at his harness along a coconut trunk or standing in the jungle are worth any description. They symbolize the cliché (without any play on words) of any surfer’s dream: an empty island with a perfect wave peeling in a multicolored landscape.”
This is one side of the trip. On the other, because of a stomach virus, Lou and Shadé had to go on a hunger strike whose claims were vague, while a benign cut on my left foot trebled in volume within 24 hours. Ill-omened long red stripes rose above my ankle towards my calf. Pierre joins me in the infirmary, witnessing his little cuts turning too red and giving him a pale complexion unworthy of the tropical sun. The rain water that we drink does not seem to help our bowel movements. Days go by, and less and less people have appetite at the delicious table of “La Belle Etoile”. Only Carine saves the honors with her famous good appetite and keeps eating for 6 people. Lying down on our misfortune
beds, with a sick stomach, we hear her accepting a plate full of veggie stuffed crabs, a few slices of grilled huru (from the breadfruit tree) with a zest of raw soja fish.
“We cannot waste those poor lobster claw hands”, she concludes with Bruno her partner in hearty appetite backed up by a good stomach. In the meantime, the Kwai unloaded its supplies in 2 days and loaded the copra in 24 hours. It did not take any stock of seaweed, whose sale a few months ago, provided most of the islands’ jobs and income. The Chinese buyer is not willing to buy anymore, he supposedly have found cheaper completion in south-east Asia. This is a plight
for the island where copra is not enough to compensate loss of earning. Consequently the barter system, used here for ages, is coming back and is more and more widely used. Tourism is a long gone memory since, the last flight to use the old airstrips built during the Pacific war, was in 1993. So even if for 23 years, authorities have been promising the locals to resume the flight, it is safer to rely on the Kwai. Such is our choice when we see it continue its journey towards Washington island promising to return in a week…or so.
“Unless the technical problems we noticed, require to divert towards Cook Islands. We
could fix them there but it would take time...” casually informs the captain. “Which means?” Carine asks with a suspicious look. “Well, we would not come back here before a while since we would skip the next trip, so that would mean... 4 or 5 months.” Naturally, hearing the news, the islanders or passengers of the Kwai don’t mind; their fatalism feeds on non-event of this caliber. As for us, the idea of being stuck here for an indefinite time triggers varied reactions.
“We should have taken a satellite phone”, says Carine before realizing at the same time that it would be useless, nobody would pick up us...
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“The following evening, when the first head-high set peels over 200 meters without one single drop of water out of place, all the rigors of the journey disappear�.
“I guess I am taking antibiotic”, I concluded, my tail between my legs (if I may say) at the view of my foot resisting all herbs or plants put on and eaten for the last few day. Pierre does not comment the news but his pale complexion suggests that a longer stay here would not be the best prescription. We don’t let Lou and Shadé know. Lou is not as healthy as usual, but she still catches waves while Shadé stays skinny. Bruno tries to reassure us: “Don’t worry, you will be surprised how resistant the human body is. Today we have trouble coping with the slightest uneasiness”. 64
“It is an odd feeling to find oneself on borrowed time on a remote island, cut off from the rest of the world. Is the absence of communication with the outside, cumulated with compulsory order of residence, generating this dizziness? Should we feel prisoners or contrary free in such a situation?”
Instinctively, the first feeling takes over. We are used to controlling everything, anticipating, thus shrinking our adaptability outside of our comfort zone. At that point, fatalism, mastered by the autochthones, start showing signs of life within us. Who knew? Effectively we can address the language barrier; if geographical isolation has its limits and if we can overcome the lack of comfort, what to say about the fatalists who have nothing to lose? It is impossible to feel it instinctively. It seems too remote, we may indeed ask ourselves if those people give less value to life. “We even wonder if they care about anything”.seems to comment the little voice we are not proud of. Then the same
little voice becomes schizophrenic: “I am here, what can I do about it? This trip lead me here to experience this situation, which looking closer, is not catastrophic. For once, I am not in control anymore and it feels good”.
comes screaming in the middle of my path: “Kwai! Kwai!”
So does freedom start here? When we stop having a hold over the events? I am not going to praise the overused let go, but I am sharing Bruno’s sentence: “Here, I understood that to be free you have to let go everything”.
It may sound weird, but I don’t feel anything special at the arrival of the Kwai. Nor relief nor excitement, no disappointment neither, but I am aware that this arrival takes away from us the chance to get to know each other deeper. Like Keserling says: “The shortest path towards oneself first leads around the world.” So a forced stay on a lost island would have helped…
One week later... Here I am walking back to “A la Belle Étoile”, under an intense rain, after an umpteenth session. I stride over pigs inevitably lying down in mud. When a kid
2 days later we leave thru the pass. 36 hours later, including some under 35 knot-winds and pouring rain, we make it to Christmas islands in a poor state. Carine fainted from
too much vomiting. Because Shadé still did not want to get out of her dad’s arms (who is the boss again?) I could not help her from falling head first on the deck! After recomposing ourselves with 15 hours of sleep and a good shower, I re-connect to the digital world. On the first page of the web site I am checking is another Syrian refugee drama, illustrated by a photo showing 50 of them, distraught faces and frantic looks, drifting on an overcrowded and unseaworthy boat. Lou slowly wakes up next to me, looks closely at the photo and says: “we were not so bad on the Kwai... those people look terrified”.
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Portugal Obrigado Peniche Paulina Herpel
Dan Petermann
Peniche Peninsula is the top spot for Surfers in Portugal. Even the WSL organizes an event here. The young German SUP rider Paulina Herpel and Valentin Illichmann looked at it from the SUP angle during five weeks. And it definitely was never boring!
in these conditions and gather some “home advantage” for the upcoming German SUP Wave Championship event taking place at the beach of Peniche. A good five weeks until the event is taking place here in Peniche. So I better step back on board!
I think we need to get used to the Atlantic and its powerful waves. This is the eye of the photographer, I’ve heard. Somehow it seems to me as if I was still dreaming. I could hardly imagine last night that we will get such good waves today. Fully packed at the Airport of Lisbon
Don´t get in touch with one of the thousands sea urchins that lurk on the reef below me. Air! Stay calm. Eventually the white water haunts me again and I quickly dive into the open.
“That was quite good. Next time maybe just a little bit closer to me?” Dan, our photographer shouts at me. Dan Petermann is not just a good friend of us, but also a stunning surf and travel photographer, so we are happy that he accompanies us on our trip. That’s why he immediately jumped into the water, even though we have only slept a few hours the night before.
One thing is for sure, the waves in Portugal definitely have some power. Not bad to train
So already on our first day here in Portugal we gathered really good wave pictures.
Portugal Obrigado Peniche
I feel the cold water running in the back of my wetsuit. Just put your feet up quickly and fold your hands over your head.
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I am hot in my winter jacket and my shoulders hurt from the heavy backpack. A T-Shirt would actually be enough, that´s how warm it is here. In November! Just four hours ago, I strolled through the icy winter in Hamburg. Now I am almost surprised by the lukewarm Portuguese “summer night”. Dan, who travelled with me, approaches me with a backpack and a
boardbag in his hand. He found Valentin. Vale drags and tugs his triple boardbag and a lot of luggage in our direction. I do not have very little baggage either, so this should be fun. A young man approaches us and unfolds his drug collection right in front of us, even though only 50 meters away armed policemen do their duty which does not seem to disturb him. However, we still have a bigger problem to solve before we can take the one hour drive to Peniche: How can we get it all the gear in a small rental car? We roll our overflowing luggage carts to the car. The game starts: Now we have to prove our Tetris skill. We have brought four Fanatic SUP boards, two Surfboards, two Fanatic iSUPs, three travel
“So already on our first day here in Portugal we gathered really good wave pictures. I think we need to get used to the Atlantic and its powerful waves. This is the eye of the photographer, I’ve heard. Somehow it seems to me as if I was still dreaming”.
“The sky is bright blue. Almost kitschy but very beautiful. We stay on the water until it is dark. And quite honestly, the first three weeks it looked like this almost every day�.
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bags and three huge backpacks. Any idea? Hobbits in Peniche The next morning I wake up and it smells like salt water, somehow also slightly musty. Our rental cottage is located on the small semiisland Baleal. It is more like a Hobbit cave, with its low ceilings and few windows and it ´s also a bit damp.
“But it is located in the first row right at the Atlantic and absolutely nothing blocks us the view from the terrace and the wide horizon”. 72
The best thing is, it takes just two minutes from “squeezing into the wetsuit” to reach the lineup, so we take the Hobbit cave for granted. We are starting the day with a healthy breakfast: Oatmeal, bananas, advocados and quite a lot of natas. Pastel de natas the most delicious dessert in Portugal, puff pastry cakes filled with vanilla pudding, simply heavenly and definitely the most important food we need after a good surf session at one of our “local beaches”. There are a few of them: To the right of the peninsula is the surfspot Lagid, a reefbreak which could actually be called a sea urchin nest.
We have looked at this at low tide and really, in every small pool of the reef these evil beasts are growing. This does not stop the surfers from surfing this clean, usually even hollow-breaking wave. Stand Up Paddlers however are not really welcomed on very good days. But that does not matter, let them have fun with the sea urchins - there are still enough other spots nearby. On both sides of the peninsula Baleal, the beach is separated by a road and very clean waves are running over the sandy beach, well suited for beginners. To the left of Lagid close to the rock and on the other side of the road looks similar.
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“Está saliendo todo a pedir de boca, la comida es buena, el surf también, y la vista es alucinante”.
The further you enter into the bay, the bigger and more powerful the waves become. However, quite often the current is quite strong.
“A very long, steep but not too big wave runs in the bay of Baleal. We just can´t get enough of it”.
Going a little further down the beach to the bay towards Peniche, you find the surfspot Middle of the Bay. To surf these waves you need a bit more experience because they run very fast and are much bigger than the waves right on the peninsula Baleal. Surf, Eat Sleep Repeat Stylemaster? Stubby? Or rather ProWave? I just can not decide - the conditions are so good that it would be fun with every board. A very long, steep but not too big wave runs in the bay of Baleal.
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We just can´t get enough of it. The sky is bright blue. Almost kitschy but very beautiful. We stay on the water until it is dark. And quite honestly, the first three weeks it looked like this almost every day. But you also have some other options: Lisbon is on Dan’s photo schedule as well. We are right under the huge bridge that connects the Alcântara district with the city of Almada. In the first moment I think that we have changed the continent, because the “Ponte 25 de Abril” of Lisbon is quite similar to the Golden Gate Bridge in California. Only that the river is a muddy-brown disgusting broth, which is stinking to all abundance, actually a bit like dead fish. Vale: “How do we get into the water?” And above all, “Where can we
paddle so that nothing happens to us?” He is right, this huge red suspension bridge crosses a powerful river with neat current.
“So just for fun I think I would not want to paddle here... Things you do for an impressive photo!” Dan makes his way to the right angle to get us on the iSUPs together with the huge bridge in order to get the shot. “Please?” I think Dan is trying to tell us something. We don´t understand a word, even if we paddle only 5 meters away from it. The ground is thundering over us, hourly about 6,000 cars
drive on top of us. The underlying railway is also not really silent. Nevertheless, it is quite an overwhelming feeling to paddle underneath such a huge construction. You suddenly feel very small. Timing is everything! Everything is perfect, food is good, the surf was ok and the view is the madness. Were not the craftsmen, who are repairing the ceiling. Including drilling and grinding. We can see how the spearfish comes out of the water. He’s got plenty of booty. A giant squid. This will be brought directly into the restaurant kitchen and maybe ends up directly on my plate. It just does not get any fresher.
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“Nevertheless, it is quite an overwhelming feeling to paddle underneath such a huge construction. You suddenly feel very small�.
Tuna toast or rather classic cheese and ham? The guys order toasts and are quite surprised with the big cheese drippy sandwiches they get. I rely on the octopus salad, after all, the most important ingredient has just hunted small fishes. Perfect choice, my dish looks really damn good and is also quite cheap. I think I have now two envious boys sitting in front of me eying at my food. We enjoy the sun and have a super cool view of the Praia de Santa Rita Bay, surrounded by bright green hills all round, and we were recommended to visit the coves in the Santa Cruz area Peniche is definitely one of the best surfing spots to learn in the area, but that also means that sometimes up to 100 surf students are hitting the lineup. 80
The conditions are looking perfect right now. We jumped quickly into our wetsuits and ran into the water. However after two good waves it´s already over. We should have been here one hour earlier. Because now the flood arrives and the beach is so steep, that a quite backwash arises.
If we have learned something today, it is: The greatest art of surfing is to be in the right place at the right time. And we just got a little bit lost today. But for lunch, our timing was perfect.
“I don’t like backwashes. No one likes it. Backwash is the water that rolls back from the beach, causing the waves to run on the beach. This is like a small jumping hill on the wave, not really cool”.
Air. Finally the white water haunts me again. The wave was not so bad, three fat turns, hopefully the judges reward me for it. I fight my way back on the board and try to paddle as fast as I can. Trying to escape from the next set.
Final Day
Right there comes the next possible wave I can take – I have to be quick as my heat is almost over. I paddle a semi circle to get into the wave and yes I got it.
I feel how my board gets faster and now it it´s better not to think anymore, just go for it.
“The wave breaks on my left, so I take it backside. The lip of the wave comes closer and closer and I try to get to the top. Now I have to position the paddle into the water and bend forward to complete my cutback and I’m back in the middle of the wave”.
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There is still time for a second turn. Done, now I’m already quite close to the beach. But to jump off would be not a good option, because the wave will tear me to the beach. I’d rather try a nice bottom turn and then shoot up just before the wave breaks. That was my wave of the day, I am flashed with all the adrenaline flowing through me.
So if training in the future always looks like our time here in Peniche, I’ll even become a “training fan”. We still can not speak Portuguese, but it is also difficult to speak the language – it sounds a bit like Russian, but we now know every spot around Peniche. And the possibilities this area is offering are huge.
“Paulina Herpel finished in first position!” This is a great conclusion from our time here in Portugal and Valentin has cut off with his sixth place really good as well. Unfortunately Dan already left, so he could not take any pictures of the event anymore. Vale: “Damn, I do not want to go back home, I’d rather stay here a bit longer and go Stand Up Paddling every day.
The whole coast section is dotted with clean waves and endless spots to get the Touring iSups out and explore the area. Obrigado Portugal for your delicious food, the nice people, good weather and especially for the super beautiful waves. We will miss you.
ART GALLERY
Jairo Díaz
Antonio Ceballos The majesty of surfing Antonio Ceballos is one of the best surf photographers of southern Spain. You can find him lying on the ground looking for a good angle, hidden among bushes composing original frames, enjoying photographing insects with the macro, looking for special face expressions and emotions in people in a social events or in the water getting washed by the waves with his camera on the housing. He is one of those photographers with those sparkles in the eyes while shooting. Antonio is passionate for what he does, playing with his cameras enjoying the possibilities, with that particular smile painted in his face that will, somehow, be present in his work. 84
SUPING Magazine
Antonio Ceballos
I was born on October 8th, 1978 in Cadiz, although I have always lived in El Puerto de Santa Maria. I’m currently working as a freelance photographer and I am a CPS Collaborator for Canon Spain. I’m also a Social Worker for an Alzheimer’s residence. From a very young age it was clear that I wanted to prepare myself as a fighter pilot ... it comes from my father, who also wanted to be a pilot, but due to an injury in one finger he couldn’t make it. That didn’t stop him from being a pilot for small planes, and he took me many times to fly along with him. As the years went by, I realized that I wasn’t meant to be a pilot and the military world was not my thing, haha.
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”One day, when my friends and I were still learning to surf, we saw a waterproof Kodak disposable camera in a photo shop. We didn’t even have to say a word! We bought it straight away! “
Surf in your life.
Surfing ... My whole life has always revolved around surfing. The first memory I have on the sea was a summer day on the tides of Santiago, playing around with my dad. When I was 9 I bought my first bodyboard, a yellow PAIPO that was bigger than me. At that time my friends and I had the same hobby, surfing. A neighbor, older than us, told us stories about surfing, and showed us the American magazines he got in the US military base in Rota. We knew these magazines by heart but we kept looking all the details over and over again.
if the waves were breaking against the breakwall of La Puntilla, if so, we could go and surf! We walked the 5km beach all the way to the spot, El Buzo. It was all pure excitement! We were standing on the body boards, like regular surfing. At night, after dinner, we shared our stories from the day and dreamed about the next day.
“At 10 years old I got my first surf board, shaped by a popular local shaper from Cadiz, Lengüita. I even had the chance to visit his shaping room and talk to him, I was so stoked! Mmm, the smell
Back then we could only surf in the summer. There were no wave forecasts, no internet or anything like that. Our webcam consisted in climbing to the roof of the neighbor and check 88
of the resin… good memories”.
Then, after getting my first ever wetsuit (a Camaro shorty), I started surfing also in wintertime! That was when I met the best local surfers, like Chinito, Pepote or Peralta… They were my idols! After few years of regular surfing, my friends and I started to bodyboard again. I was surfing so much, trying difficult maneuvers… I had the chance to visit amazing spots in South America, Portugal, Northern Spain and Maldives, but then I got injured and I had to stop it. The photograph. When I started I didn’t know anything about it, and I also didn’t know that it was going to be the beginning of something. One day, when my friends and I were still learning to surf, we saw a waterproof Kodak disposable camera in a photo shop. We didn’t even have to say a word! We bought it straight away!
We took turns taking photos from the water, just shooting and turning the little wheel to take the next photo. Imagine how excited we were before revealing the reel. Imagine the stories we lived just dreaming that we took a super photo… like those we saw in the American magazines, hahaha. After using around 35 disposable cameras, we got some nice ones! Haha. We used to decorate our school folders with our own photos to impress the girls… There were not so many surfers in our school and it was a good trick to attract girls, haha… but well, it was not that easy for me, since my friends looked all like models! Photography caught my attention since a very young age. The power to record memories or moments with my old video camera to revive them whenever I wanted, was something that fascinated me from the minute one.
” A neighbor, older than us, told us stories about surfing, and showed us the American magazines he got in the US military base in Rota. We knew these magazines by heart but we kept looking all the details over and over again”.
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”... Preparing the equipment before leaving home, stretching and focusing to enter the water knowing that you will be in danger, that you will be taking some risks... It’s pure adrenaline and it’s addictive. ”
“When I was 20 years old, I
Everything changed for me when I turned 24. I was playing with a kite on the beach and we used to try jumping using the kite… Then, encouraged by a friend to see who made the biggest jump (yes, we were young fools), I won the prize to the idiot of the year.
bought a video camera to film my friends surfing. As always, we took turns to film each other, which helped us to improve our surfing skills quite a lot”.
I remember the kite pulling up and my friend standing in the beach starting to be smaller and smaller. The kite took me about 10 meters height and I fell to the ground like a stone. I woke up in the hospital, where I was diagnosed with a sprain in the ankle. What I was not diagnosed, is that this hard fall would produce two hernias and three profusions in
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my lower back that got manifested after a few months, leaving me practically K.O. Unable to surf again. Not being able to play sports, I decided to buy my first SLR camera. I began to devour books about photography, read on the internet and added everything that fell into my hands. Soon, my camera became a further extension of my body. Since I couldn’t surf, and I was missing it so much, I started going to the beach to photograph my friends. I thought it could be a good way to continue being part of the surf world, my world. This is when I started taking photos of surf and water sports.
Little by little I’ve been improving my technique and creativity, and of course, my photo equipment.
“To this day I continue to learn and experiment, I consider myself just one of the many who are taking photos around. Your photography”.
I started with landscape photography and portraits. Then after, I wanted to do everything; night photography and long exposure, sports, animals and a long etc. Today I’m more into social photography (weddings), that allows me to live from photography and I actually love it, but when waves are firing, I’m always shooting surf action! To be frank, I would love to do just surf photography, but this is almost impossible in Spain. We do it because we love it, because we are passionate about what we do, but unfortunately we get a very little or no benefit from it. A few brands support us, but they do benefit
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from our work too. You upload some photos of riders to the social networks and they have thousands views. These riders are usually sponsored, and the brand of their board or their wetsuit are seen in the pic, so that has a positive impact for the brand... Although I am not the most indicated person to talk about this problem, since I am lucky to have the support of big brands like CANON, SOUL, ZERO SURFBOARD, DAKINE or LIIVE among others, but as I said before, here in Cadiz we have some amazing surf photographers who are not that lucky, and their job is absolutely professional. I have to mention some of them, like Jairo Díaz, Lucas Tozzi, Jim Kenen, Marco Mora, Lolo Picardo, Víctor Bilbao, Jorge Ibáñez, Carlos Vela o CiruPhoto.
Surf photography.
I am addicted to that surfer feeling... Looking at the forecast, getting nervous knowing a good swell is coming to town... Then you chat to that friend three or four days before the waves come, and you start to plan where the best conditions could be and at what time of the day... Discuss the doable maneuvers to photograph, based on the spot chosen... I love the excitment of the night before, knowing that in the morning can be epic... Preparing the equipment before leaving home, stretching and focusing to enter the water knowing that you will be in danger, that you will be taking some risks... It’s pure adrenaline and it’s addictive.
“There were not so many surfers in our school and it was a good trick to attract girls, haha… but well, it was not that easy for me, since my friends looked all like models! ”
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”At night, after dinner, we shared our stories from the day and dreamed about the next day”.
Lately, I’m focusing a little bit more on solitary waves, as I call them.
“To be frank, I would love to do just surf photography, but this is almost impossible in Spain. We do it because we love it, because we are passionate about what we do, but unfortunately we get a very little or no benefit from it”.
I look for a good frame with a good wave in the background... and if this happens on any of our local beaches in Cadiz, the reward is even bigger. The message in your photos.
Obviously, in social photography I focus on capturing emotions, feelings, etc. I want to look at the photo and that it tells me something, as if it was talking to me, transporting me somewhere else in this exact moment. Being part of it. For me, the best moment of my job is when we show the photos to a couple of
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newlyweds or a family, when they visualize it and their faces turn happy and excited. That moment of seeing them excited watching our work is priceless. I feel already paid. In surf/action photography I try to capture the majesty of the moment. Someone riding a good wave or barreling is always very shocking. It is similar when I capture photographs of solitary waves. At that particular moment everything fits. I’m calm, at peace, doing what I like the best. Call me romantic or pedantic but I’m in love with those moments.
Surf Trips.
“Being in the water with big waves, your water housing with the camera inside, and a pair of fins... Sometimes it is scary, but at the same time, it gives me peace. It’s as if I met my true
Once again I have to say that I’ve been blessed to be able to travel almost every year to the Maldives Islands, with Borja Romero from Zerosurfboards and a group of selected riders to photograph their surf trip. What can I tell you about Maldives? It was love at first sight. The waves, the place, its people, the color of the sea... Undoubtedly the best surfing photos I’ve taken.
human being and everything flows, everything seems to work perfectly”.
Once the plane lands, you forget about everything else. The inspiration for photography floods your sight. I like to be the first to get up in the boat before dawn, get a nice cup of coffee and watch the sunrise from the deck, listening to the same song
over and over again (“Aqueous Transmission” Incubus). Maldives it’s very appealing for photographing. Any shoot you take, capture all of its charm. I think anyone can shoot nice photos there!
Thank God, when I thought that everything was lost, I could get my mouth out of the water like a dog’s snout and breathe for one second.
“I told myself when I was stuck in the undertow: “Antonio, you’ve
I also had some bad experiences, like that trip where the conditions were on the limit. The waves were big and the current was so strong. I remember facing a set of 12 waves.
always wondered how your death
The first and the second I was able to overcome them without any problem, diving of course, but the third one took me, suddenly taking me towards the dangerous zone of the break...
I prayed in the water”.
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would be... well here it is”. This was the second time
The riders I accompanied on that trip and the ship’s own crew were on point, and quickly sent me a rescue. Another good trip that I remember was in Punta de Lobos (Chile). There I had the opportunity to meet Ramon Navarro, one of the top big wave riders in the world. I am not going to tell you the size of those waves… It’s one of the best known spots in the world of giant waves. Of course, I was seeing everything from land, with a cup of coffee, hahaha.
“It is similar when I capture photographs of solitary waves. At that particular moment everything fits. I’m calm, at peace, doing what I like the best”.
”In surf/action photography I try to capture the majesty of the moment.”
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With my two jobs and my two kids (which are my great passion and my best photography), I hardly have some spare time to sit down.
What are you up to now?
I currently teach sports photography courses in Spain, as a collaborator of CPS Canon España. For me, it’s like a dream that a brand as powerful as Canon is trusting on me, imagine how I feel! I can’t believe it. I try to do my best, since I was not lucky enough to receive much help when I started, so I treat anyone who asks for help as I wish they would have done with me. I think this is the way to do it. Also, as I told you at the beginning of the interview, I’m a Social Worker in an Alzheimer’s residence. It’s a work that I am passionate about, and actually I studied for it. 104
“Helping others without expecting anything in return should be the reason for all of us as human beings”.
I want to thank SUPING Magazine and all of the readers for this interview, since I am just one more of those guys with a camera in his hand. It was a pleasure, see you in the waves. Yes, just one more guy... that’s what he says! Just have a look to his photos! ;) www.antonioceballos.com Facebook: antonio.ceballosfotografia www.inversafotografia.com Facebook: Reverse Photography
In our next issue of
Let’s go to
Maui
All tips you need to make it happen María Andrés
Manu Grafenauer
What could I possibly tell you about Maui that you don’t already know? The paradisiacal cradle of surf culture, cast out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. A place that paradoxically, people think is just not a feasible destination. But I’m here to tell you, you should make it happen!
oceaninitiatives.org/ES/ # OcEanInitiatives
Paris 2016. CrĂŠdit photo : PalacePalace_. 642 016 778 RCS Nanterre.
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