Surphang Magazine Issue 32
Proudly presents
The Pro Show
BUTLER'S BALI
The Buoyant Bajan! Sykes sets his Sights High! Champ Chats
A Hawaiian Hopeful!
FUTURE THIRTY TWO Can Medina Make It?
Surphang Magazine
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'The future is always beginning now.' Who knows what the future holds? Did Kolohe Andino know five years ago he'd one day be on the World Tour of Professional Surfers? It's that uncertainty which makes life exciting to live and for today's upcoming surfers makes every dream of achieving the same as Kolohe a goal they can live for. So in this issue we've been dusting off our crystal ball and looking into the future to see who could be the next wave of rookies surging towards that dream tour. It's all hypothetical of course but we think we're pretty good with our calls here at SURPHANG. After all isn't a certain Mr Medina at the top of the Tour ratings at the moment? Check back on that one! But for now, buckle up as we're heading back to the future!
Kolohe Andino keeps a close eye on what the future has in store! Photo: Jordan Anast SM - 02
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Surphang Magazine
Magazine Editor: Stuart Gaston Contributing Photographers: Jean-Marc Amoyal, Jordan Anast, Sergio Arretxea, Bianca Asher, Chad Bolth, Alan Burke, Douglas Cominski, Oliver Emsallem, Rommel Gonzales, Steve Maloney, Warwick Martin, Kody McGregor, Shutter Pat, Dean Vincent, and Chuck@Surf-Shot.com Staff Photographer: Stuart Gaston
Send any photographic submissions for future issues of the magazine to: surphangmagazine@ymail.com
Cover Shot: We love this issue's cover of Josh Burke so much, we had to run it full size alongside too! Photo: Alan Burke
Josh Burke looking as buoyant as ever! Photo: Alan Burke
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This Issue's Features
The Pro Show Champ Chats Surphalosophy
The Buoyant Bajan! Following his father's footsteps, Josh Burke, already Barbados' most successful junior surfer, has a huge future ahead of him!
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A Hawaiian Hopeful!
Sykes sets his Sights High!
Last year's NSSA National Open Often overlooked, South Africa Junior Champion and ASP North is also home to some high flying America Pro Junior Champion, we surfers – Shane Sykes is one just had to chat with Seth Moniz! with his sights set very high!
ThisIssue
BUTLER'S BALI
FUTURE THIRTY TWO
Every upcoming surfer should Who's got what it takes? Here's our do a trip to Bali. New Zealand's look into the crystal ball to predict next big thing, Kehu Butler did 32 upcoming surfers who we think and he shares all with us here! have got what it takes for the Tour!
Can Medina Make It? Last year, he took a moment off the Tour to become ASP World Junior Champion. Could Medina make it the real deal this year?
A backside barrel for Josh Burke! Photo: Alan Burke SM - 06
Welcome to
The Pro Show The Buoyant Bajan! Photos: Alan Burke; Words: Stu Gaston
07 - SM Josh Burke bobs up over the lip! Photo: Alan Burke
Josh Burke really does have surfing running through his veins! A descendant of a family who have lived and breathed watersports for decades, even with a beach in Barbados named after them, Josh is already following in his father's footsteps with multiple championship titles to his name! Coming from such a strong family tradition with the full support of his father, surely Josh will soon fulfil his dream and become part of the elite World Tour! We recently checked in with Josh to catch up and see how he's going on that competitive journey.
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The Buoyant Bajan!
09 - SM Josh Burke takes on a Teahupoo blue room! Photo: Courtesy of Billabong US
The Pro Show It's been a year since we last spoke to you then Josh and you've been as busy as ever! First of all then, tell us about your travels. You're just back from another trip, this time to Tahiti, so how was that? What were the highlights? Tahiti was awesome, I had so much fun there! The highlight was when I first saw Teahupoo... it was so dreamy and perfect, I couldn't believe I was actually there and looking at it pumping. I dived straight into a big set and broke a brand-new board in the first half hour, I still don't know where the nose is!
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The Buoyant Bajan!
11 - SM Josh Burke getting barreled in Hawaii! Photo: Alan Burke
The Pro Show Before that, you'd been to Hawaii where we spoke to you briefly about surfing Off The Wall, but tell us more about the whole experience. What's it like travelling to and surfing at the spiritual home of wave riding? The North Shore is and will always be the mecca of the surfing world. If you want to make it as an elite professional surfer, you have to be there during their winter season and perform well. I have been for three seasons now since I was 13 yrs old. I always look forward to the challenge. This past season I competed in the ASP North Shore Pro Junior at Sunset in what they were saying was the biggest surf ever for a junior event! I think they were right, it was massive! I got a few good ones and was pleased with my 17th place at my first ever event on the North Shore. And now you're a seasoned traveller, where and when was your best session? The most recent at Teahupoo in Tahiti, got some nice barrels one late afternoon. I also caught that over-head swell at Lowers a few weeks ago was really fun. On my 16th Birthday at Off The Wall last year I had an awesome session and again this year in January on an oil glass 8ft day.
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The Buoyant Bajan!
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Josh grabbing some air time at South Point! Photo: Alan Burke
The Pro Show Now you seem to spend more time away than you do back home in Barbados, though you were back for a few months earlier in the year. How was it surfing back home then? Barbados always has waves so I'm surfing everyday. If Soupbowl has light wind, that's my first choice. However I surf South Point/ Silver Sands and Long Beach most days as it's a close walking distance, just one mile from my house so its very convenient.
So where's your all time favourite spot back there that you hope will be cranking? Definitely Soupbowl, but I can't wait to catch Box X Box really good. I have surfed it a few times now. My dad first took me out there when I was about 8yrs old and he tells me today that it was only 6ft but it felt 15ft to me! I took a set on the head and got worked, he actually grabbed my leash and hauled me up but all was good!
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The Buoyant Bajan!
15 - SM Josh Burke back home in Barbados! Photo: Alan Burke
The Pro Show Now Barbados seems to be producing a lot of good upcoming surfers at the moment. What is it about the area that makes it so good for nurturing talent? Well first of all Barbados has ridable waves daily and every kind of wave you can think of, from learner waves (my Dad says it's the best place in the world to learn to surf) to advanced, even expert waves, so you can practice and grow your ability relatively easily. Besides all the natural resource of waves, we have a very small but seriously vibrant surf community... it's very competitive! Also my dad and a few parents started the Barbados Junior surfing club in 2007 to focus on just junior surfers and for about three or four years Barbados had a surf contest what seemed like every weekend! So really practice makes perfect and I think we are now seeing the results!
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The Buoyant Bajan!
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Josh Burke bashing the lip at Lowers! Photo: Alan Burke
The Pro Show Of course recently you've spent a lot of your summer in what must seem like your second home - California, where you must head back quite often for the competitive season each year. So how does the surf there compare to what you're used to back home in Barbados? Yes I have been spending a lot of time there this past summer, I was there for 6 weeks. I love California though, it's obviously way colder so you have to put on a wetsuit every session instead of just board shorts which I naturally prefer and it's a lot more crowded, but there are some really good waves there like Lowers which I have been mostly surfing.
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The Buoyant Bajan!
19 - SM Josh Burke bang on time! Photo: Alan Burke
The Pro Show Over in California then, with plenty of beaches to choose from, where for you is the best spot, the one that can deliver that solid surf? My favourite spot so far is Lowers but I've seen video of Rincon and dream about surfing it really soon. I usually stay in the Newport Beach area and enjoy surfing the jetties between 48th & 52nd Streets.
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The Buoyant Bajan!
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Josh Burke punting high at Hungtington! Photo: Alan Burke
The Pro Show And how does the level of surfing talent there compare to back home? The talent pool in California is much deeper obviously as the population is much greater. Barbados only has a population of 280,000 of which most cannot swim, my Dad says its approx 80%! The few surfers we have are really good and a select few have a chance of making it as a professional surfer.
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The Buoyant Bajan!
23 - SM Josh Burke's been pointing in the right direction! Photo: Alan Burke
The Pro Show
Now you've had a pretty impressive surfing career so far yourself! Since we last spoke to you a year ago, what have been your highlights of the past 12 months? Starting from the top of the year, competing at Sunset in very large surf was definitely a highlight. In the ASP Pro Junior in Cocoa Beach, I got to the Quarter-finals, then I took a quick trip to Virginia beach to compete and do ambassador appearances for Billabong. I won the Open Mens and got 4th in the Mens Pro. My Billabong Hunt family there makes me feel so at home, I felt blessed and in NSSA Carribean Conference I won every Open Mens Qualifer. Next at NSSA Nationals, I made the finals in the Explorer Juniors, Explorer Mens and Quarter-finals in the Open Mens. Competing at the US Open was a great experience and doing signings for my sponsors Billabong, Reef and Von Zipper on Main Street was great fun & a highlight for sure, so many different types of people and fun in their own way. Having said all that, without a doubt the high light of the year so far was the Billabong Bloodlines trip to Tahiti! Every aspect of the trip was great and the crew were the best group... was a pleasure traveling with all those guys!!
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The Buoyant Bajan!
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Josh Burke busy punting! Photo: Alan Burke
The Pro Show So you're heading off to the East Coast again soon, with the East Coast Surfing Championships and the Vans and Fins Pro Juniors coming up, so what are your goals for the rest of this year? Yeh, I'm writing this from my shaper Rich Price's house in Florida where I am right now to collect some new boards and spend some quality time with him. My goal for the year is to win two ASP Pro Juniors and qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships. I am entered in the Mens WQS in Virginia,OBX and Belmar,NJ to try and get some points and hopefully good results to get some points under my belt.
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The Buoyant Bajan!
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Josh Burke busting out some more magic material! Photo: Alan Burke
The Pro Show Competitons aside, what about the freesurfing game? You've already featured in Billabong's Youthless movie but you've also posted some impressive edits of your own, like your recent 'Leftz Fa Dayz'. So have you plans for upping your own online profile, releasing some more fresh material this summer? For sure, my dad does nearly all of my filming, I then edit the clips, so they are all home made. So I'm going to be putting out another edit soon! I'm always working on one to be honest.
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The Buoyant Bajan!
29 - SM Josh Burke charging back home in Barbados! Photo: Alan Burke
The Pro Show Now, you're part of a very strong upcoming Billabong team so when you all get together, like recently in Tahiti, do you find you push each other's surfing? We push each others surfing for sure and being with the team is always fun! Finally then what about your future? Is your goal to one day be on the Tour or are you going to carve out your own destiny and be known for your free surfing?‎ I love competitive surfing so yes my goal is to make the ASP WCT tour one day!!
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Champ Chats A Hawaiian Hopeful! Photos: Chuck@Surf-Shot.com; Words: Stu Gaston
31 - SM Seth Moniz making the most of some Californian surf! Photo: Chuck@Surf-Shot.com
Seth Moniz earnt himself not one but two Championship titles last year – ASP North American Pro Junior and NSSA Nationals Open Junior. So Seth definitely looks to be a big hope for Hawaiian success in the years to come. We caught up with him for a chat between the US Open in California and jetting off to Tahiti to be part of the trials for the Billabong Pro!
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A Hawaiian Hopeful!
33 - SM Seth Moniz seeking out an airborne opportunity! Photo: Courtesy of Billabong US
CHAMP CHATS
Name: Seth Moniz Age: 16 Years surfing: 11 Where you live: Honolulu, Hawaii Sponsors: Billabong, Tokoro Surf Boards, Dragon, Dakine, DVS, Vertral Local break/s: Kewalo Basin Favourite surfer? All the boys Favourite place to surf? Backdoor (when it's uncrowded) Favourite surf movie? Done Favourite surf trick? Barrel Favourite board? 5'9 SFx shaped by Tokoro Surf Boards
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A Hawaiian Hopeful!
35 - SM Seth Moniz setting up with a backhand bottom turn! Photo: Chuck@Surf-Shot.com
CHAMP CHATS
What first got you into surfing? My parents would take my siblings and I to the beach ever since I was in diapers. So eventually I started going into the water and surfing. When and how did you become sponsored? Billabong sponsored my whole family when I was 7. I have 3 older brothers and 1 sister. Basically we were representing them as just a fun surfing family. We didn't take competitions serious at the time but soon started competing in the NSSA series.
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A Hawaiian Hopeful!
37 - SM Seth Moniz whacking one through the lip! Photo: Chuck@Surf-Shot.com
CHAMP CHATS
Who in surfing inspires you most? Probably all my siblings. They have always been so supporting and made me a better surfer. What do you prefer then, free surfing or competitions and why? Both are great! But winning a contest is the best feeling ever. I couldn't go a month with out doing one.
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A Hawaiian Hopeful!
39 - SM Seth Moniz owning some air time! Photo: Chuck@Surf-Shot.com
CHAMP CHATS Now the past few years have seen you performing consistently well at all levels, having been ASP North American Pro Junior Champion last year as well as also winning the North Shore Surf Shop Pipe Pro Junior earlier this year. So talk us through those contests and the highs and lows that lead to you earning your championship title. Winning both the North America Junior ratings and Pipeline Pro Junior was a dream for me. I had a really consistent year when I won the ratings, I had a couple second places and semifinal finishes. For that being my first full year of doing the Junior series I couldn't be any happier. When I went into the Pipe contest, I was pretty nervous as the past two years I lost first round. But after having a great first heat my confidence built up and I felt like I could win it.
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A Hawaiian Hopeful!
41 - SM Seth Moniz setting up with another big bottom turn! Photo: Chuck@Surf-Shot.com
CHAMP CHATS
You had to overcome some solid surfing from your contenders to take that win. How do you rate your surfing peers over in Hawaii at the moment? Everyone in that event could have won. It just came down to who took the best waves. Some of the best under 20 year old barrel riders were in that event. I was lucky to find a good rhythm in every heat that just kept on going to the final. And you've also done really well in the NSSA contests, having been the NSSA Nationals Open Junior Champion last year too. Tell us more about how that competiton went then. That year was a amazing for me. I also got second in the Open Men's division and won the Andy Irons performance award. To finally get a win was the best feeling ever!
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A Hawaiian Hopeful!
43 - SM Seth Moniz making the most of another lip bash! Photo: Chuck@Surf-Shot.com
CHAMP CHATS
Now you've had various wins and championship titles, so what goes down as your best victory to date? Probably winning the Pipe pro Jr. That wave is so prestigious and to win a contest out there was definitely one of my goals. So now you're a champ then, what's next? What are your goals for the rest of this year? Just to keep my past success going and try to improve on my surfing. And what about training? How do you keep on top of fitness and keep on pushing your surfing? I don't train too hard just a little to keep my body in form. I believe surfing is the best training!
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A Hawaiian Hopeful!
45 - SM Seth Moniz in the green room! Photo: Courtesy of Billabong US
CHAMP CHATS
So you're from Hawaii, with some of the best spots in the world on your doorstep. But when and where has your best surf session ever been then? I've had a crazy session in the Mentawai's with my three brothers, Dad and four friends. We scored a perfect right and left slab 6-8 feet with just us out. And what's the worst wipeout of your life so far? I've had so many but one really stood out. I whipped around on a 10 foot back washy wave at Pipe and jumped over the falls. The wave was so violent but luckily I never hit the reef.
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A Hawaiian Hopeful!
47 - SM Seth Moniz seeking out the barrels! Photo: Courtesy of Billabong US
CHAMP CHATS You've obviously travelled to and surfed some amazing spots around the world! So where's left? Where do you still want to travel to and surf? I really want to go to South Africa. There's so many amazing waves over there. I'd say it has some of the best waves in the world.
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A Hawaiian Hopeful!
49 - SM Seth Moniz searching for more lips to hit! Photo: Chuck@Surf-Shot.com
CHAMP CHATS Finally, where do you see yourself in five to ten years time? That's hard to think of! But my goal is to make the World Tour.
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Surphalosophy
Sykes sets his Sights High! Photos: Dean Vincent; Words: Stu Gaston
51 - SM Shane Sykes soaring high! Photo: Dean Vincent
surphalosophy
South African surfers often get overlooked in the big scheme of things – even Jordy Smith hasn't won an event for over a year now. But perhaps the tide is turning as a whole new surge of upcoming South African surfers are coming to the fore with Shane Sykes certainly one of the leaders of the pack. With numerous wins to his name and a high ASP Pro Junior ranking, we caught up with Shane to talk about how high he's setting his sights for the future!
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Sykes sets his Sights High!
53 - SM Shane Sykes pointing in the right direction! Photo: Dean Vincent
surphalosophy
Name: Shane Sykes Age: 17 Nickname: Shano Years surfing: 7 Where you live: Salt Rock, Durban, South Africa Sponsors: Quiksilver, Vans, Clayton Surfboards, Skullcandy, Futures, Creatures of Leisure Local break/s: Mostly Ballito area Favourite surfer? Noa Deane Favourite place to surf? Sultans, Maldives Favourite surf movie? Seen Unseen, Dane Reynolds Favourite surf trick? Slob straight air Favourite board? Clayton Supernova , 5'5
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Sykes sets his Sights High!
55 - SM Shane Sykes grabbing some air time! Photo: Dean Vincent
surphalosophy What first got you into surfing? When I was 8, we moved from a farm to our family's beach cottage and right in front of the house there is an A-frame reef slab sort of wave that ran into a sand bank and until I was only 10, I got my first surfboard and went for lessons from then on. How big a part does surfing play in your life? Well I'm not really interested in anything else than surfing but I do have to keep in mind the school part of it. I only have one year left so I'll do my best with that and get it over with then I'll start the QS full time. My life revolves around what the waves are doing and all the other elements that goes with surfing.
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Sykes sets his Sights High!
57 - SM Shane Sykes setting to work on the lip! Photo: Dean Vincent
surphalosophy When and how did you become sponsored? When I was 12, legendary SA surfer Greg Swart was working for Quiksilver at that time and him and his family moved to Salt Rock where he saw me and my brother surfing and in the next month I had been hooked up. I am now best friends with his son. Who in surfing inspires you most? Dane Reynolds What do you prefer then, free surfing or competitions and why? I'd love to take the free surfing route but that is a huge risk because your sponsors might not agree and you have to know the right people. It's a whole other industry. In saying that, I do enjoy the competitive vibe and really want to be a World Champ.
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Sykes sets his Sights High!
59 - SM Shane Sykes sighting a landing! Photo: Dean Vincent
surphalosophy Now the past few years have seen you performing consistently well at all levels, with some great results so far this year, even earning yourself a wildcard into the ASP Prime Mr Price Pro Ballito event. So talk us through those contests and the highs and lows that lead to your results. Well yeah getting that wildcard was a huge goal ticked off not only this year but for my whole surfing career! I have earned points that will help me get into a few events if I maintain them. I have had a couple ups and downs too but I've learnt from every mistake made.
I imagine you have to overcome some solid surfing from your contenders. How do you rate your surfing peers in South Africa at the moment then? The level in SA isn't low but it's not that close to countries such as Australia and US either, they just have so many more surfers. But South Africans struggle to travel as much as other guys in their age groups from other countries, and many of us just want to show the world that we are actually good enough. There are a couple of us that often have match ups that are really quite intense such as Matt McGillivray, Slade Prestwich, Max Armstrong and Dylan Lightfoot.
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Sykes sets his Sights High!
61 - SM Shane Sykes setting those fins free! Photo: Dean Vincent
surphalosophy You've been surfing against these guys most of your competitive life. There must be different levels of camaraderie or rivalry in the ranks. How does this affect the way you surf in a heat? Yeah for sure there is some heavy rivalry but out the water we are all great friends. I don't really care who it is when it comes to the heat, I just catch my 2 best waves and try make the heat in the end. So which of them did you least want to be drawn up against in a heat and why? Slade and Dylan because they are older than me which means they have a bit more experience and Dylan can get out to back line in about 1 minute after a wave then you get Slade who I just love to watch and shreds haha.
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Sykes sets his Sights High!
63 - SM Shane Sykes sunset surf time! Photo: Dean Vincent
surphalosophy Now you've had various great results recently, so what's your goal now for this year? Well there are a few more junior events in SA this year but planning a trip to P-Pass towards the end of this year followed by Hawaii. What about training then? How do you keep on top of fitness and keep on pushing your surfing? I will do my usual warm ups and stretches etc. try eating healthy though for me I just eat whatever is edible haha.
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Sykes sets his Sights High!
65 - SM Shane Sykes enjoying a big offshore set! Photo: Dean Vincent
surphalosophy
So you're from Salt Rock near Durban and have no doubt surfed some epic breaks over in South Africa. How do those classic spots compare to others you've surfed around the world? In winter the waves are unbeatable because in the morning it's 6ft light offshore and by the afternoon it's onshore so you get barrels in the morning and do huge punts in the arvo, that's my routine in winter. Waves like the Maldives and Madagascar are reef breaks so most waves are the same, you can predict every section which is cool but does get boring, I like peaky waves, offering more variety of manoeuvres. But seriously home is the place to be in winter. And where else around the world have you been lucky enough to surf so far? I scored in Maldives and Madagascar this past July and scored waves in Mozambique earlier this year.
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Sykes sets his Sights High!
67 - SM Shane Sykes setting the bar high! Photo: Dean Vincent
surphalosophy So when and where has your best surf session been then? Sultans in the Maldives and Tinley Manor back home during a winter swell. And what's the worst wipeout of your life so far? Last year in Cape Town the wind was blowing hard offshore and I got to the end of a wave where it was about to close out so I jumped off and my board followed me as I got sucked over the falls and that's where my face met the upper half of my rail. I came up with blood instantly coming from around my eye. I didn't really know where because the water was so cold I couldn't feel anything, I just saw blood. I got out and just went straight to the car park to look in someone's car side mirror and my eye had already swollen up, I looked Chinese haha. Other than that I can't recall.
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Sykes sets his Sights High!
69 - SM Shane Sykes with his sights set nice and high! Photo: Dean Vincent
surphalosophy You've obviously travelled to and surfed some amazing spots around the world! So where's left? Where do you still want to travel to and surf? I want to surf Pipe, P-Pass, Mentawais and Donkey Bay, those are my four main spots I want to surf pretty soon, in the next year or so. Finally then, what about your future? Where do you see yourself In about five to ten years time? Well hopefully on the tour but even 5 years is long time away, many things could happen before that but yeah the main goal is to be a World Champ in the next 10 years.
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BUTLER'S BALI Photos: Chad Bolth; Words: Stu Gaston
71 - SM Kehu Butler in a Bali barrel! Photo: Chad Bolth
surphangaway
The world is brimming full with amazing places to surf and certainly
any self respecting upcoming surfer would probably want to have Bali as one
they can say they've been to! With his first trip there now well and truly under his
belt, New Zealand's top Junior surfer, Kehu Butler shares his experience of
surfing in Bali for the first time.
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BUTLER'S BALI
73 - SM Kehu Butler loving the Bali barrels! Photo: Chad Bolth
surphangaway After having an awesome time at the Occy Grom Comp and Skull Candy Oz Grom
Comp in Australia, coming 3 rd and 1 st , it was an awesome reward to travel to Bali
for the first time for the rest of my school holidays. We landed at the new airport
and I had butterflies as soon as the heat hit me. A quick taxi to our hotel in Padang
on a beautiful sun filled afternoon and we were all set for an awesome trip. We took
our first look at the set up in Padang in a postcard sunset and it was magic. Halfway
across the world and who do we see on the rock taking photos but our
photographer mate from NZ Chad "Bro" Bolth. He told us Keramas would
be pumping tomorrow and that's all we needed to know. The session at Keramas
was probably one of the best we had. Arriving at 6 am and in the dark, we were
the first ones out and scored heavy 5 to 6 feet barrels as well as taking some poundings with reef tatoos to prove it. With the wind up by midday, we gapped it
back to Bingin where we scored some super fun head height barrels. The set
up there was so beautiful and after tip toe-ing over the reef for what seemed to
be an hour we were locked into some perfectly green cylinders. It was crowded
but we were having so much fun that the locals were calling me and my mate Kaya into some good ones.
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BUTLER'S BALI
75 - SM Kehu Butler setting up with a Bali bottom turn! Photo: Chad Bolth
surphangaway The next day it was off to Uluwatu where we caught up with dads mate Tai Budha Graham who said Temples would
be firing. We ended up at Uluwatu and racetracks though, as we had had enough of donating our skin to the reefs.
Paddling through the caves and scoring 4 foot perfection was good enough for us. With a change of venue we shot
down to our new hotel AQ/VA in Padma which is owned by a Kiwi guy from the same little town we're from. With our
gears in the hotel and a 10 minute walk through countless hagglers and ant trail motorbikes, we hit the water at
Padma beach to a super fun rip bowl. We had three days of good surf on the full tides and awesome company with
my mate Rio Waida and his Padma and halfway Kuta Beach crew of rippers. They were so much fun to play
and surf with and I can't wait to see them again.
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BUTLER'S BALI
77 - SM Kehu Butler having fun in Bali! Photo: Chad Bolth
surphangaway
We surfed Cangu the next day where we met up with another friend we made, Kin and we
surfed some fun little peaks and wedges. When the surf got too full, me and the boys surfed the backwash right in front of the restaurants. It was super fun! Dad said the
one who rode the backwash the longest got a banana smoothie. I won but never saw that banana smoothie, thanks dad.
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BUTLER'S BALI
79 - SM Kehu Butler grabbing some air time in Bali! Photo: Chad Bolth
surphangaway On our last day we said goodbye to all our friends we made at Kuta
and Padma and Kin our tour guide took us back to Bingin for our
morning sesh which was firing again. He said Padang would be
good and as its full tide the reef would be safer and it won't be
crowded. He was right and we got some good uncrowded waves. As the tide got lower there were some awesome barrels and some
challenging sections. By the afternoon there were a few
people but it was absolutely firing, I got the heaviest barrel
there and the spit hurt my back. The locals were awesome to
watch too, this was the best session of the trip....until my last
wave ... A small inside barrel took my over the falls and dragged me
over the reef like a cheese grater. I paddled in to my mate Kin, who
was grinning with a lime in one hand and Chinese medicine in
the other. On goes the lime and in comes the pain to the delight of my mates. It was an awesome finish to our trip, great waves,
lifelong mates with a fresh scar to take home and exaggerate
about. Terimakasi Bali, see you next year, yewww!!!!!!
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FUTURE THIRTY TWO Words: Stu Gaston; Photos: Various
81 - SM Jack Robinson taking on Teahupoo! Photo: Oliver Emsallem
HotShots
Here at SURPHANG, we've interviewed a lot of top upcoming surfers over the past two and a half years and nearly every single one of them always finishes by saying in the future they want to be on the World Tour. No surprises there then! But we thought it was time to see who might have what it takes to actually go that distance. So what does it take to get on Tour? Well first of all, you've got to be a good competition surfer, good enough to win events or if not, at least do consistently very well! For in this game, points means rankings! And of course it's that all important ranking that's going to propel those lucky top ten up among the elite 22 at the end of each year! And that gives us our ASP Top 32 plus two wildcards. With that in mind, we've put together our own FUTURE THIRTY TWO – 32 upcoming surfers who have either already gone and won an ASP Pro Junior event or come pretty close and so have put themselves well up on the ASP Pro Junior rankings. Based on that performance, we believe they could indeed have what it takes to one day make it onto The ASP World Tour!
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Cam Richards
83 - SM Cam Richards cruising down the line! Photo: Chuck@Surf-Shot.com
HotShots Cam Richards won the Ron Jon Vans Junior Pro earlier this year. He also came a very close second to Matt Banting in the Vans US Open Junior Pro. Cam currently also sits second on the ASP North America Pro Junior rankings.
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Cooper Chapman
85 - SM Cooper Chapman grabs some air time! Photo: Warwick Martin
HotShots Cooper Chapman won the Hunter Business Boardriders Pro Junior earlier this year. He's currently second on the ASP Australasia rankings.
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Deivid Silva
87 - SM Deivid Silva soaring over the lip! Photo: Stu Gaston
HotShots Although only 10th on the ASP South America Pro Junior rankings last year, winning the Red Nose Pro Junior should set Deivid Silva in much better stead this year!
SM - 88
Diego Mignot
89 - SM Diego Mignot mid flight in Ecuador! Photo: Rommel Gonzales
HotShots A win at the 2013 Sopelana Pro Junior took Diego Mignot to 7th on the ASP Europe Pro Junior rankings, so he'll be looking to build on that success again in the near future!
SM - 90
Diran Zakarian
91 - SM Diran Zakarian launching off his backhand! Photo: Bianca Asher
HotShots
Winning last year's Quiksilver Pro Junior in Durban saw Diran Zakarian rise to be one of South Africa's top upcoming surfers. He's currently sitting in second on this year's ASP Africa Pro Junior rankings.
SM - 92
Dylan Lightfoot
93 - SM Dylan Lightfoot in the green room! Photo: Kody McGregor
HotShots
Dylan Lightfoot won the first event in this year's ASP Billabong Junior Series and is only lieing third in the ASP Africa Pro Junior rankings owing to pursuing his success in the WQS events.
SM - 94
Gaspard Larsonneur
95 - SM Gaspard Larsonneur getting to grips with a Lacanau lefthander! Photo: Stu Gaston
HotShots Having made the final of the Espinho Surf Destination Pro Junior back in June, it's only a matter of time before Gaspard Larsonneur, currently 5th on the ASP Europe Pro Junior rankings, wins his first Pro Junior event.
SM - 96
Hiroto Arai
97 - SM Hiroto Arai gets in some rail work! Photo: Stu Gaston
HotShots Hiroto Arai ended 2013 joint second on the ASP Japan Pro Junior rankings. He's still sitting second in the rankings this year too!
SM - 98
Hiroto Oohara
99 - SM Hiroto Oohara hits the air! Photo: Catherine Gregory
HotShots
Hiroto Oohara also ended 2013 joint second on the ASP Japan Pro Junior rankings. He's now already pursuing a very successful QS career currently sitting in the top 100!
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Jack Duggan
101 - SM Jack Duggan digs into the lip! Photo: Warwick Martin
HotShots Jack Duggan was 3rd on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior rankings last year and will look to build on that this year!
SM - 102
Jack Robinson
103 - SM Jack Robinson taking on Teahupoo! Photo: Oliver Emsallem
HotShots
Jack Robinson won the prestigious North Shore Surf Shop Pro Junior earlier this year. More recently he's been showing the Tour surfers themselves how it's done at Chopes!
SM - 104
Jacob Willcox
105 - SM Jacob Willcox takes it tail high in Hawaii! Photo: Scott Ellwood
HotShots Jacob Willcox has won not one but two Pro Juniors this year which places him second on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior rankings.
SM - 106
Jake Marshall
107 - SM Jake Marshall makes the most of fun summer surf! Photo: Chuck@Surf-Shot.com
HotShots A second place finish in the Sprite Soup Bowl Junior Pro at the end of last year has set Jake Marshall in a strong 5th position on the ASP North America rankings this year!
SM - 108
Jordan Lawler
109 - SM Jordan Lawler laying into a righthander! Photo: Michael Kellerman
HotShots Last year, Jordan Lawler won the Be The Influence Surf Pro Junior leaving him 6th on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior rankings. He'll be looking to up that in the future!
SM - 110
Josh Moniz
111 - SM
Josh Moniz making the most of that section! Photo: Rommel Gonzales
HotShots Winning last year's Vans Pro Junior in Virginia earnt Josh Moniz 3rd place on the ASP North America Pro Junior rankings. So far this year he's in 7th position and will be looking to up that in the events still to come!
SM - 112
Kalani David
113 - SM
Kalani David kicking out! Photo: Shutter Pat
HotShots Kalani David won last year's North Shore Surf Shop Pro Junior which left him in 4th place on the ASP North America Pro Junior rankings. So far this year, he's made it to 10th position and so will be looking to build on that in this season's remaining events.
SM - 114
Kanoa Igarashi
115 - SM
Kanoa Igarashi kicks out his fins! Photo: Shutter Pat
HotShots
Kanoa Igarashi made it to 3rd in the Hunter Business Boardriders Pro Junior in Newcastle, Australia earlier this year and 2nd in the Burton Toyota Pro Junior the year before. He may not yet have a win under his belt, but with a current ranking of 89th on the WQS, he's one to watch in the future!
SM - 116
Kelly Norris
117 - SM
Kelly Norris grabbing some air time on the Sunshine Coast! Photo: Steve Maloney @ SunnyCoastKlips
HotShots Kelly Norris won this year's Carve Pro Junior in Sydney and so lies in 4th position on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior rankings.
SM - 118
Leo Fioravanti
119 - SM
Leo Fioravanti firing in Ecuador! Photo: Rommel Gonzales
HotShots
Leonardo Fioravanti won last year's Gran Canaria Santa Pro Junior earning him the title of ASP European Pro Junior Champion. Although he's only currently in 10th position on the ASP Europe Pro Junior rankings this year, he's just earnt a 2nd place finish in the WQS Sooruz Lacanau Pro so his future is looking very promising indeed!
SM - 120
Luan Wood
121 - SM Luan Wood well above the lip! Photo: Douglas Cominski
HotShots As well as being the current Under 18 ISA World Junior Champion, Luan Wood also won the Doo Australia Pro Junior Lobitos in Peru last year, making him the ASP South America Pro Junior Champion. He'll be looking to equal that success this year!
SM - 122
Mateia Hiquily
123 - SM Mateia Hiquily having fun at Teahupoo! Photo: Oliver Emsallem
HotShots
Last year, Mateia Hiquily won the Surf Rias Baixas Pro Junior in Spain and this year, back home, the Tahiti Nui Pro Junior. With a 2nd place finish on the ASP Europe Pro Junior rankings last year, he'll be looking to improve his current 8th position so far this year in the events still to come!
SM - 124
Matt Banting
125 - SM Matt Banting bashing a French lip in Lacanau! Photo: Stu Gaston
HotShots Even though he's been focusing on the WQS events for a few years now, Matt Banting returned to the Pro Junior stage recently, winning the ASP Vans US Open Junior Pro. That aside, he's currently ranked 1st on the QS – enough said really! Top 32 it is then!
SM - 126
Miguel Tudela
127 - SM Miguel Tudela takes to the air! Photo: Stu Gaston
HotShots Miguel Tudela has made the finals of three Pro Junior events so far this year, finishing second in two of them! It's only a matter of time before he takes the win and edges even further up from his current 3rd position on the ASP North America Pro Junior rankings!
SM - 128
Mitch Parkinson
129 - SM Mitch Parkinson pushes his tail out! Photo: Stu Gaston
HotShots Last year, Mitch Parkinson placed 2nd on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior rankings after two finals place finishes. Surely he'll be expected to follow in the family footsteps!
SM - 130
Natxo Gonzalez
131 - SM Natxo Gonzalez tucking into the green room! Photo: Sergio Arretxea @ FotoSertx.com
HotShots Natxo Gonzalez won last year's Airwalk Lacanau Pro Junior and thanks to some finals finishes is already in 2nd place on the ASP Europe Pro Junior rankings this year. With the remaining contest still to come, Natxo will be looking for a good result!
SM - 132
Nomme Mignot
133 - SM Nomme Mignot nailing the air game! Photo: Rommel Gonzales
HotShots Nomme Mignot won last year's Gijon Pro Junior, ending up 4th on the ASP Europe Pro Junior rankings. A previous European Under 16 Junior Champion, Nomme will be looking for more wins in the years still to come!
SM - 134
Parker Coffin
135 - SM Parker Coffin kicks out that tail! Photo: Stu Gaston
HotShots Parker Coffin won the Sprite Soup Bowl Junior Pro at the end of last year and came 2nd in the Ron Jon Vans Pro Junior earlier this year. Coupled together, the two have placed him 1st on the ASP North America Pro Junior rankings so far this year!
SM - 136
Seth Moniz
137 - SM
Seth Moniz hitting that lip! Photo: Chuck@Surf-Shot.com
HotShots Last year's ASP North America Pro Junior Champion with two second place finishes, Seth Moniz started this year winning the North Shore Surf Shop Pipe Pro Junior. He'll be looking to take his current 4th place ranking back to the heights of last year!
SM - 138
Soli Bailey
139 - SM Soli Bailey's backhand aerial antics! Photo: Stu Gaston
HotShots
Soli Bailey won the first Pro Junior of this year, the Piping Hot Surf Festival in Torquay, Australia. That and his following results now place him 1st on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior rankings!
SM - 140
Tim Bisso
141 - SM Tim Bisso and a big tailslide! Photo: Rommel Gonzales
HotShots Current French Junior Champion Tim Bisso won the Sopelana Pro Junior this summer which has boosted him into joint second on the ASP Europe Pro Junior rankings!
SM - 142
Tom Cloarec
143 - SM Tom Cloarec carving! Photo: Stu Gaston
HotShots Winning last year's Sooruz Royan Atlantique Pro Junior left Tom Cloarec in 6th position on the ASP Europe Pro Junior rankings. And having just won the Lacanau Pro Junior now places him in a comfortable 4th this year!
SM - 144
Vasco Ribeiro
145 - SM Vasco Ribeiro working on his air game! Photo: Stu Gaston
HotShots Vasco Ribeiro has been very near the top of the ASP Europe Pro Junior rankings for a good few years now. However an early win in this year's season at the Espinho Surf Destination Pro Junior sees him currently sitting in a very confident 1st position!
SM - 146
Can Medina Make It? Words: Stu Gaston; Photos: Jordan Anast & Jean-Marc Amoyal
147 - SM Gabriel Medina, master of the air game! Photo: Jordan Anast
TheGoss
Just under a year ago, Gabriel Medina took time off the World Tour to compete, controversially maybe, in the ASP World Juniors. He won of course. Now almost a year later, he's sitting at the top of the ASP Men's World Tour rankings. So the question is can he make it? Can he actually become ASP Men's World Champion in just four months time?
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Can Medina Make It?
149 - SM Gabriel Medina grabbing more air time! Photo: Jordan Anast
TheGoss
Well putting aside what might happen in Tahiti, the next event on Tour is of course the Hurley Pro at Trestles. Now we all know that Medina is no stranger to winning events at the infamous Trestles. So if he can pull off the right result there then his hopes of taking the Tour stand in check!
SM - 150
Can Medina Make It?
151 - SM Gabriel Medina – will he make the grab? Photo: Jean-Marc Amoyal
TheGoss
Then of course, the Tour heads over for its stint in Europe, first off in France. Go back three years and the rookie Medina won his maiden Tour event at the Quiksilver Pro France. And last year he made it to second, losing out to Mick Fanning. So if he can find favour at the classic French break once more, then his Championship hopes stay alive!
SM - 152
Can Medina Make It?
153 - SM Gabriel Medina – of course he made it! Photo: Jean-Marc Amoyal
TheGoss
So there's every chance that, based on previous form, he could indeed take two of the four remaining Tour events. If he can grab those two wins, what are his chances in the other two events? Well he only just lost out to Julian Wilson in the Portugal event two years ago so perhaps he could do one better this time round.
SM - 154
Can Medina Make It?
155 - SM Gabriel Medina moving in the right direction! Photo: Jean-Marc Amoyal
TheGoss
So far, things are looking quite positive. But the big question comes to those big barrel contests. We all know that Medina has the aerial game mastered and so with the right conditions, he can use his skills above the waves to take a heat. But when it comes down to getting tubed, sometimes Medina can be beaten by the better man such as last year's Billabong Pipe Masters where John John Florence took him out in just Round Three.
SM - 156
Can Medina Make It?
157 - SM Gabriel Medina going for the big one! Photo: Jean-Marc Amoyal
TheGoss
That said, Medina's been mastering his barrel game of late, the best evidence of this being his second win of this year in Fiji. So with that in mind, we return to Tahiti and what could be in the next few days. Who knows but maybe, just maybe Medina might actually surprise us all, After all he only narrowly missed out in advancing to Round 4 last year, beaten by just point 54, something he had no intention of repeating this time around, winning his Round 3 heat against in form Nathan Hedge with a convincing 18.80. So watch this space. Back to the question then, can Medina make it? Well it certainly looks like it! We could well be seeing this young man as ASP Men's World Champion by the end of the year!
SM - 158
Surphang Magazine
159 - SM Matt Banting making the most of a sunset surf! Photo: Warwick Martin
NextIssue So here's to the future! Who knows what it might bring! But here's hoping for plenty more of this and plenty more of these – see you in the next SURPHANG!
SM - 160
Thanks for reading the Thirty Second issue of
Surphang Magazine
Up, up and away... Shane Sykes aiming high! Photo: Dean Vincent