Surf Maroc are launching an exclusive girls-only week at the amazing Surf Maroc beachside villa in Taghazout, Morocco, this winter.
Renowned as one of the finest surf destinations in the world, this surf camp will provide an indulgent girls-only week of radiant sunshine, perfect warm water waves, bespoke surf coaching from the pro’s, an invigorating and revitalizing yoga session each day, tranquil massage and delicious, healthy food.
The camp runs from 23rd Nov - 3rd Dec and we can’t think of a nicer way to escape the chilly weather and dark mornings!
Big Friday surf trips take all the stress out of organising your surf weekend. If you fancy escaping the city and nipping off to one of your favourite surf destinations on a Friday afternoon, simply give the guys at Big Friday a shout and they’ll do all the hard work.
On every trip they have group and private tuition available for all levels of surf ability - from complete beginners through to experienced wave riders. Check out this latest gem from their Autumn calendar and book your spot quick!
Big Friday Morocco - 12th to 19th November 2008
Join us for our week long Autumn surf adventure to Morocco! We’ll be checking the waves from the terrace of our beachfront Villa in Taghazoute and taking you to the best breaks every day to suit the conditions and your ability. Rob Barber, head coach at the English Surfing Federation will be on hand with instruction tailored to your ability, from beginner to seasoned surfer.
More info here.
Errant will be heading to the warm shores of Cantabria, Northern Spain for a blend of tailored surf coaching and Pilates this winter. The team will include Pilates star Amy Swanson and top UK female pro-surfer Celine Gerhart, who will be on hand throughout the week to offer expert hints and tips.
The team will take you to some of the best beach breaks the area has to offer, creating a tailor-made coaching plan for each surfer over the week, using the latest coaching techniques and equipment. Then after a hard day soaking up the sunshine and fine-tuning your skills, you will have the opportunity to try out some Pilates to firm up those core stabilisers, stretch tight muscles, focus your mind and get your blood pumping. Evenings will be spent chilling out by the beach or exploring stunning city of Santander for a spot of shopping, food and nightlife.
Accommodation will be provided in the luxury La Hosteria surf lodge on the stunning coastline of Cantabria, Spain. Located a mere 400m from the long sandy bay of Somo and only 15 minutes from the chic city of Santander, there is always somewhere to explore. La Hosteria sleeps 12 people in four big rooms, all of which are en-suite with TV’s and iPod docking stations. Built into the typical Spanish building is the surf school, surf bar and a big communal living space.
The camp costs £549 and will kick off on November 2nd 2008. Spaces are limited, and are based on a first come, first served basis so book your spot now!
The cost inclues:
* Return airport transfers from Santander
* Theory surf lessons, including oceanography, surf history and more.
* Accommodation in guesthouse
* Big healthy breakfast each day
* Packed lunch for the beach
* Three course evening meal, each night except cooks night off
* Pilate lessons everyday
* Tailored surf coaching from female pro-surfer Celine Gehret
* Video surf coaching
* Flight emissions offset
What better excuse to escape the cool waters of the UK, soak up the sun and hone your surfing skills, while taking some time to chill and make some like-minded mates. We can’t think of a better antidote to a long cold winter!
‘Bomb It’ is definitely our movie if the month, and you lucky lot now have the chance to catch this amazing movie on the big screen.
Bomb It seeks to tell the backstory of graffiti from a truly global perspective. And in doing so, it gives a personal voice to those oft forgotten people behind the tags that adorn so many of the planet’s public spaces.
Screenings are scheduled on four continents over the next couple of months, so catch it on the big screen while you can.
On Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October, 2008, head up to Tynemouth, near Newcastle, to experience the latest extreme sports festival.
The Tynemouth coastline will prepare to host some of the best BMX, skateboarding, surfing and winter sports action for one action-packed weekend, at the first ever Xperience 08 extreme sports festival.
With the emphasis on experience, visitors can get inspired by some of the world’s best riders and then enjoy the opportunity to get involved.
Events will include the North East Open of the British Professional Surf Association UK Pro Surf Tour, where international surfing champions will test the waters of Tynemouth, catching some of the best waves in the UK. There will also be an arena featuring impressive BMX, skateboard and snowboarding demos.
Head along to sample some surfing taster sessions, skate and BMX tuition from the top pros, and also the opportunity to go snow tubing, plus local bands and DJs will be on hand to provide the soundtrack to the weekend.
Big Friday surf trips take all the stress out of organising your surf weekend. If you fancy escaping the city and nipping off to one of your favourite surf destinations on a Friday afternoon, simply give the guys at Big Friday a shout and they’ll do all the hard work.
On every trip they have group and private tuition available for all levels of surf ability - from complete beginners through to experienced wave riders. Check out this latest gem from their Autumn calendar and book your spot quick!
Long Surf Weekend Spain - 23rd to 27th October 2008
Escape the onset of winter with a long weekend surfing in North Spain! Just a 2 hr flight and a twenty minute drive and you will be hitting the Spanish surf with us. Our trips include airport transfers, full board and accommodation with optional extras including surf tuition and yoga. These long weekends are great for all abilities from beginners to experienced surfers. Come on your own, with your partner or some mates.
More info here.
This year Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has secured the support of an illustrious cast of established and up-and-coming artists for a key campaign fundraiser: ‘Drawing Boards – Cutting Edge Surfboard Art for Surfers Against Sewage’.
Some of the UK’s most celebrated artists have generously given up their time to design unique works of art on some of the most environmentally friendly surfboards currently available in the UK.
Whether you are interested in urban art, inspired by graphic design, want to get your hands on Paul McCartney’s artistry or a collect the work of the original Young British Artists, this auction holds something for you.
The collection includes unique urban artworks from emerging artists including Nick Walker, Beejoir, Pure Evil, Eine and Mau Mau, as well as pieces from established names such as Tracey Emin, Gavin Turk, Jonathan Yeo, Conrad Shawcross and Annie Kevans.
The 14 unique eco-surfboard artworks will be auctioned as part of Bonhams Vision 21 auction on 22nd October 2008. Hope you’ve been saving up…
Evans Cycles has launched a new ride series touring the UK throughout this summer. The Evans Cycles Ride It! events are a series of organised road and off-road rides that are designed to take the hassle out of your weekend riding. The rides are non-competitive with an emphasis on riding with other riders, riding in new areas and sampling some different road and off-road routes around the UK.
The series will be stopping twice a month at different venues throughout the UK, so there’s always a ride close by as well as rides further afield, allowing you to vary your riding. Every ride has 3 or 4 pre-marked routes designed for all standards of riders from wobbly begginers to experienced cyclists.
“It’s all about getting people to use their bikes more often” says Event Manager Dean Stacey. “What we do is take the hassle out of getting out on your bike – we research the trails, mark out the courses, plot it on a map and provide support throughout the day. All you need to do is turn up and ride!”
Saturday is the off-road ride, taking in local bridleways and byways to offer between 12 and 35 miles of riding depending on the route you take. Sunday is the road ride, a scenic ride on the UK’s back roads and country lanes. Distances range from 15 miles all the way up to 90 miles for those looking for more of a challenge. All routes are carefully planned to allow you to sample the best riding in the area.
Every ride includes: pre-marked routes for all abilities, free Memory Map OS map for each rider, free SIS energy food & drink and mechanical service.
Adult entry is £10 per rider. Entries can be purchased on the Evans Cycles website and are also taken on the day (subject to a £2.50 surcharge)
Dates and Locations:
Nottingham: October 4th & 5th, Oaklands Centre, Warsop, NG20 0JE
West London: October 18th & 19th, Venue TBC
The 2008 British Snowboard and Freeski Tour is preparing to bring some summer shredding to a city near you this summer.
Competition registration is now live. To book your spot to compete, go to the British Snow Tour website. Registration is open to all ages and abilities and offers each competitor the chance to gain prestigious TTR World ranking points…
British Snow Tour dates for your diaries:
Indoor Events:
4th October 2008 – SNO!zone, Glasgow, Trespass British Snowboard/Skiercross Championships
This year, sponsors Quiksilver, Animal and Trespass are back onboard, each taking a title discipline: Quiksilver Big Air, Animal Slopestyle and Trespass Snowboard & Skiercross Championships, with footwear partner ‘Cushe’ supporting the soles of top shredders throughout the tour, along with official retail partners, TSA and Ellis Brigham.
Free product testing will also be on offer at all stops, with a full range of snowboard and ski gear from K2, Ride, DC Snowboards and LINE availablre for you to get your grubby hands on and take for a no-holds-barred test drive. The demos are completely free and will take place on the Saturday of each tour event: 5-8pm on Dryslopes and 7-10pm on Indoor Slopes.
The British Snow Tour isn’t all about competition, it also comprises a schools tour which visits two schools in each of the six event regions, spreading the word about skiing and snowboarding and offering free introductory lessons. James Thorne, Paddy Graham, Becky Hammond, and Matt Walder make up the pro teaching team this year, with additional local riders joining them along the way.
Big Friday surf trips take all the stress out of organising your surf weekend. If you fancy escaping the city and nipping off to one of your favourite surf destinations on a Friday afternoon, simply give the guys at Big Friday a shout and they’ll do all the hard work.
On every trip they have group and private tuition available for all levels of surf ability - from complete beginners through to experienced wave riders. Check out this latest gem from their Autumn calendar and book your spot quick!
Girls Surf Weekend with Oakley - 3rd to 5th October 2008
The last Oakley GIrls Surf Weekend of the summer season! A great introduction to surfing in a friendly fun environment. Big Friday’s girls surf weekends in Cornwall head to a spa hotel right by the beach in Newquay, Cornwall. Daily surf tuition is combined with yoga, spa pampering and fabulous Oakley surf goody bags for everyone! Come on your own or with some friends and hit the waves with other like minded girls!
More info here.
Expect high-performance surfing from the world’s best as Bobby Martinez goes for the hat-trick at the beautifully located lefthanders of Mundaka, Spain.
Taking place from 29 September until 12 October, the Billabong Pro Mundaka is event 9 of 11 on the ASP World Tour, meaning competition will be fierce as the world’s best wave riders edge closer to the top podium spot and bulging prize purse.
Merrell are hosting the ultimate weekend of escapism, ‘The Mendip Escape’. The event will be taking place on the 27-28th September in the idyllic setting of Langford Court in the picturesque hills of the Mendips.
Competitors, friends and families of all ages are invited to join Merrell for a fun-packed weekend of outdoor activities with the option to take part in a cycling and running duathlon, and walking challenges over the course of the weekend. The weekend’s activities are diverse ensuring that people of all ages and abilities will be able to take part and enjoy the weekend in the beautiful surroundings. Winding down on Saturday night all can enjoy a wonderful evening of al-fresco dining complete with hog roast and evening entertainment.
All attendees will be welcomed into the picturesque garden and grounds of Langford Court where they will be greeted by the Merrell tipi village and invited to pitch their dwellings for the weekend. Or, for the full tipi experience, competitors can book overnight accommodation in one of several tipis!
Those wanting to take on a challenge can enter the Duathlon (8km run – 15km cycle) or Run (8km) on Saturday, then on the Sunday there will be a choice of two adventure walks - an 8km Rabbit Ramble, or for the hardier entrants the 15km Goat Route.
Dust off your bikini and boardies, because this summer Roxy is once again holding a series of Surf Days throughout the UK and Ireland.
It’s the perfect opportunity for girls of all ages to come and try surfing or fine-tune your surfing skills with hints and tips from pro UK Roxy Surfers. Whatever your level: beginner, intermediate or advanced, you’ll have a great time!
You will get the chance to go surfing, get advice from the UK’s top female surfers including Candice O’Donnell, Sophie Hellyer, Holly Donnelly, Amy-May Garvey and Sarah Bentley, and indulge in a spot of well-deserved lunch. Tickets are £25, which includes a goodie bag worth over £40, including limited edition Roxy T-shirt, stickers, body products and much more… Plus, prizes of Roxy bikinis, books and signed Lisa Andersen posters will also be given out at each day.
Here’s the remaining event on this year’s schedule:
Quiksilver Surf School, Newquay: 27-28 Sept
This year’s New York Surf Film Festival will be taking place from 26-28th September 2008. The weekend will showcase the best in international independent surf film and is a great opportunity for filmmakers who are exploring the diversity of surfing to present their work to a larger audience.
Over three days, the New York Surf Film Festival will host a series of screenings of independent short and feature films, cult classics, and world premieres from established surf filmmakers. Film screenings will cover all categories, from documentaries and travel logs, to animation, biographies and comedies.
In between screenings, there will be a surf history lecture series, Q&A sessions to quiz filmmakers and notable surfers, panel discussions, and meet & greets. There will also be a Surf Art Gallery where budding artists can showcase their work for the duration of the weekend.
The 2008 British Longboard Union (BLU) Series Final, in conjunction with Oxbow, will take place from 26 -27th September 2008. The UK’s best longboarders will be donning their wetsuits and waxing their boards for two exciting stages of action…
Friday 26th September - Pre-Qualifier
The final pre-qualifier will be open to seniors, masters, juniors and ladies, who will compete in their respective divisions. The top ten seniors from the Open division, and top five from the Masters, Juniors and Ladies divisions, will then qualify for Saturday’s final.
Saturday 27th September – The BLU Final
The final will consist of sixteen competitors in the Open division and eight each in the Masters’, Juniors’ and Ladies divisions. Finalists will be comprised of a number of qualifiers from Friday 26th September and other qualifiers from previous BLU rounds.
The BLU series tests surfer’s capabilities across different beaches, at four different times of year, to find the Oxbow BLU Champion. Through this challenge, the BLU series has been a focal point in national longboard surfing since 1996. This year will be no exception with the event’s 12th anniversary and an increase in prize money, this year’s title is set to be the most hotly-contested yet.
Entry forms can be downloaded from the Oxbow website.
Event number 8 of 11 on the ASP World Tour will be sorting out the men from the boys on the South West coast of France as the Quiksilver Pro hits Hossegor from September 19-28th.
The main contest break of La Nord in Hossegor has been known to toss up a 10-12-foot face or two when autumn swells arrive. Extremely tidal, the soft sand beaches of the region offer the world’s best the perfect canvass for progressive surfing and reckless abandon. We can’t wait!
After a successful Helly Hansen Adventure Series in 2007, organisers TrailPlus have added two additional venues to the 2008 line-up.
The five one-day races can be entered individually or as a series. Blending physical challenge and teamwork, they are designed for teams of three, who must stay together throughout the race (no ditching your super-slow or exceptionally speedy team mates!). Each adventure race features a three-way mix of trail running (10k), challenging mountain biking (25k) and canoeing on flat water in an inflatable kayak (1.5k). The fastest teams are likely to compete the course in under three hours, with most coming in within five hours and a and a few crawling across the finish line in seven hours.
2008 dates and venues are:
o Sunday 21 September: Cannock Chase, Staffordshire
o Sunday 19 October: Longmoor Camp, Hampshire
o Sunday 7th December: Hawley, Nr Camberley, Surrey
o Sunday 1 February 2009: Pirbright, Surrey
o Early spring 2009: Cumbria – location TBC
The order of activities is revealed on the day, and disciplines may be split, plus competitors will face a few testing challenges thrown in between circuits. However, the route is marked, so navigation skills are not necessary.
The team entry price is £135 per event and there will be team prizes for race winners and for pole position in the overall series.
Check out the Helly Hansen website to get your application in, and to splash out on some swanky new kit for your training.
The 2008 British Snowboard and Freeski Tour is preparing to bring some summer shredding to a city near you this summer.
Competition registration is now live. To book your spot to compete, go to the British Snow Tour website. Registration is open to all ages and abilities and offers each competitor the chance to gain prestigious TTR World ranking points…
British Snow Tour dates for your diaries:
Indoor Events:
20th September 2008 – SNO!zone, Castleford, Animal British Slopestyle Championships
27th September 2008 – SNO!zone, Milton Keynes, Quiksilver British Big Air Championships
4th October 2008 – SNO!zone, Glasgow, Trespass British Snowboard/Skiercross Championships
This year, sponsors Quiksilver, Animal and Trespass are back onboard, each taking a title discipline: Quiksilver Big Air, Animal Slopestyle and Trespass Snowboard & Skiercross Championships, with footwear partner ‘Cushe’ supporting the soles of top shredders throughout the tour, along with official retail partners, TSA and Ellis Brigham.
Free product testing will also be on offer at all stops, with a full range of snowboard and ski gear from K2, Ride, DC Snowboards and LINE availablre for you to get your grubby hands on and take for a no-holds-barred test drive. The demos are completely free and will take place on the Saturday of each tour event: 5-8pm on Dryslopes and 7-10pm on Indoor Slopes.
The British Snow Tour isn’t all about competition, it also comprises a schools tour which visits two schools in each of the six event regions, spreading the word about skiing and snowboarding and offering free introductory lessons. James Thorne, Paddy Graham, Becky Hammond, and Matt Walder make up the pro teaching team this year, with additional local riders joining them along the way.
Girlie Camps have just launched their surf camp schedule with some unmissable upcoming dates this September.
The week-long camps will be taking place in Biarritz and Hossegor and include transfers from the airport, accommodation in mobile homes just 3 km outside Biarritz, breakfast and dinner, all essential kit hire, six days of surf school with the best surf teachers in the area, stretching and Yoga sessions, and of course some chilling out and partying after a tough day in the surf!
Best of all, if you book before the 1st August, you can reserve your spot for the special price of 850 Euros.
Here’s the schedule:
Surf Camps, Bidart
7-13 September
13-20 September
Surfcamps, Hossegor
5-12 September - Ladies-only camp
12-19 September - Ladies-only camp
19-26 September
Top kite flyers from across the globe will be heading for Margate Main Sands on September 20 and 21 for the Big Sky International Kite Festival from 10am – 5pm.
Now in its second year, the event is expected to attract thousands of enthusiasts who can take advantage of workshops, stalls and other attractions alongside the scheduled arena activities.
An exclusive guest list of invited flyers from the UK, Holland, Belgium, Spain, France, New Zealand, Thailand and Malaysia will be flying giant inflatables, soft kites and single line kites in a daily line-up that includes aerial ballet displays, stunts, competitions and club displays.
Among the highlights are...
Spanish duo Pedro and Esteban Gonzales with soft, inflatable kites such as suns and devils.
World-renowned kite-maker Peter Lynn from New Zealand – famous for his range of soft kites including cats, trilobites and manta rays.
The French three-man kite team The Crazy Drivers and their aerial ballets with four line revolution kites.
Belgium’s innovative kite designer Jos Valcke with a range that features anything from jesters to flowers.
The Air Heads – a unique five-man stunt team from the UK demonstrating air dynamic kites along with Chinese dragon kites, long paper and silk kites with the heads of dragons.
UK kite club the Avon Kite Fliers with their popular giant Roly the whale.
Flying cats, aerial ballet, kite jesters and Roly the whale? We’ll be there with bells on!
Beachbombing promises another fun fuelled event as it lands on the shores of Ibiza in September for almost a week of perfect partying.
The team behind Snowbombing are turning their hand to summer, with the launch of Beachbombing - a memorable musical holiday for more discerning road-trippers.
From 17th-21st September, the hedonist’s holiday camp in the sun promises fancy dress poolside antics, beach and boat parties, exclusive gigs and live music from the likes of Freestylers, Cuban Brothers, Basement Jaxx, Groove Armada and many more…
To celebrate a summer of women kicking ass in sport, Nikewomen are set to host an exclusive exhibition at Niketown, London. The exhibition of artwork and athletes is part of Nike’s ‘Here I Am’ campaign, inspiring women to fall in love with the buzz of being a sportswoman.
The exhibition is fuelled by the launch of Nikewomen’s ‘Here I Am’ Athlete Book which pays tribute to 22 young international female athletes. Every chapter is a unique visual interpretation of each athlete’s journey, highlighting the confidence and strength they have gained through sports.
The ground floor of Niketown will present graphic, artistic and photographic imagery from the Athlete Book, taking visitors on an inspiring, quirky and humorous journey through each sportswoman’s life, emphasising her goals, ambitions and personal style. The exhibition includes diverse athletes including tennis star Maria Sharapova, Olympic Heptathlete Kelly Sotherton and record breaking England striker Lianne Sanderson.
The exhibition will run from 1st-31st September, 2008, coinciding with the perfect opportunity to welcome home some of the female Beijing Olympic athletes.
For the fourth year, the Wake Girls Session wakeboard and wakeskate camp is heading to France from September 13-14th. Taking place at the Condrieu cable ski, 30 minutes South of Lyon, the camp is open to wave-riding girls of all levels, with the only aim being to have fun on the water.
The 90 Euro fee for the camp includes five hours of riding each day, plus accommodation, food and a party with BBQ in the evening. The camp is suitable for beginners who want to give wakeboarding a try, but for the more experienced there will also be special advanced groups to teach you how to master sliders and kickers.
Your riding will be filmed and you’ll receive a daily debrief to help you progress even more, plus lots of surprises and mini-events will make this one of the most memorable weekends of 2008… if only for the face-planting memories!
Evans Cycles has launched a new ride series touring the UK throughout this summer. The Evans Cycles Ride It! events are a series of organised road and off-road rides that are designed to take the hassle out of your weekend riding. The rides are non-competitive with an emphasis on riding with other riders, riding in new areas and sampling some different road and off-road routes around the UK.
The series will be stopping twice a month at different venues throughout the UK, so there’s always a ride close by as well as rides further afield, allowing you to vary your riding. Every ride has 3 or 4 pre-marked routes designed for all standards of riders from wobbly begginers to experienced cyclists.
“It’s all about getting people to use their bikes more often” says Event Manager Dean Stacey. “What we do is take the hassle out of getting out on your bike – we research the trails, mark out the courses, plot it on a map and provide support throughout the day. All you need to do is turn up and ride!”
Saturday is the off-road ride, taking in local bridleways and byways to offer between 12 and 35 miles of riding depending on the route you take. Sunday is the road ride, a scenic ride on the UK’s back roads and country lanes. Distances range from 15 miles all the way up to 90 miles for those looking for more of a challenge. All routes are carefully planned to allow you to sample the best riding in the area.
Every ride includes: pre-marked routes for all abilities, free Memory Map OS map for each rider, free SIS energy food & drink and mechanical service.
Adult entry is £10 per rider. Entries can be purchased on the Evans Cycles website and are also taken on the day (subject to a £2.50 surcharge)
Dates and Locations:
North London: September 13th & 14th, Chancellor’s School, Hatfield, AL9 7BN
Bristol: September 20th & 21st, Venue TBC
Nottingham: October 4th & 5th, Oaklands Centre, Warsop, NG20 0JE
West London: October 18th & 19th, Venue TBC
Back for the tenth year at the lovely Sandbanks beach in Poole, the Animal Windfest promises lots of surprises for this year’s event…
From 12-14th September, the south coast’s biggest action sports festival offers windsurfing, kitesurfin, SUP, wakeboarding, skateboard mini ramp, competitions with fabulous freebies, volleyball and parties - all with free entry for the public!
Plus, budding windsurfers or kitesurfers can compete with the pro’s and learn from them too – they’ll help with technique, style and approach.
Do you want to eat well, move well, feel well? Well, an AdventureYogi Holiday could be just the thing for you. The trips have have been created to put all the best bits in life into one holiday experience with balancing yoga for body & mind, exhilarating adventure sports, a fabulous choice of holistic treatments and delicious vitality foods. Plus, those responsible folks at Adventure Yogi support the local communities where they travel.
From 6-13th September, Adventure Yogi will be hitting Sardinia, Italy, for a week of kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, diving, chilling and enjoying the unspoilt beaches. Secure your spot now!
‘Bomb It’ is definitely our movie if the month, and you lucky lot now have the chance to catch this amazing movie on the big screen.
Bomb It seeks to tell the backstory of graffiti from a truly global perspective. And in doing so, it gives a personal voice to those oft forgotten people behind the tags that adorn so many of the planet’s public spaces.
Screenings are scheduled on four continents over the next couple of months, so catch it on the big screen while you can.
September 2008
Date TBD: Nuart Festival, Stavanger, Norway
12-21st: DOCKANEMA Film Festival –Maputo, Mozambique
Date TBD: DVD Signing at Globe GCS in Pomona
October 2008
16th: Walker Art Center Minneapolis, Minnesota
26-30th: Barcelona Premiere, Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona
Check out the latest issue of Cooler for our insightful interview with director Jon Reiss to get the behind-the-scenes low-down.
Whether you’re a top-notch wave rider or a spluttering beginner, book yourself in for the Les Ettes & Girlie Surf Camp this summer!
Taking place throughout July, August and September in Hossegor, France, the camps include surf lessons for all levels, with hints and tips from pro Roxy riders, plus the provision of surfboards, wetsuits and any additional kit.
You’ll be provided with meals and accommodation in mobile homes by the ocean, plus an exciting programme of post-surf activities including spa sessions, yoga, BBQs, classic surf film screenings, skateboarding, and - of course - parties. All attendees will also recieve a fab goody bag packed with treats.
The camps are open to girls aged 16+. To book your spot, head over to the Girlie Camps website.
The UK Skateboarding Association National Championships will be taking place on the 6th-7th September with a tidy £10,000 in prize money up for grabs.
The National Championships will be held at Adrenaline Alley in Corby, Northamptonshire. The skatepark boasts a re-built street course specifically for this event, a fun and fast hipped bowl and, of course, the finest vert ramp in the country.
The street event will be open to 100 invited UK British skaters with representatives from all the top UK teams. Invited skaters include Danny Wainwright, Andy Scott, Neil Smith, Chris Oliver, Mike Wright, Ben Grove, Kris Vile - offering a unique chance to see the UK’s best skateboarders under one roof.
Evening entertainment will include live bands, best trick throw outs and a bowl jam.
Tickets will be available in advance from Adrenaline Alley priced £16 for the weekend in advance or £10 per day on the door. Capacity at the venue is fairly limited so buy in advance to be sure of a spot.
Girlie Camps have bagged Torah Bright to offer up her expertise on their latest girls-only day on Saturday 6th September.
The event will be taking place at Snowworld Zoetermeer indoor slope in Holland from 2pm. Expect two hours of uninterrupted riding with expert coaching, yoga, goodies from Roxy, live DJs and more!
The snow may have dried up, but the Nikita crew are keeping themselves busy by organising a Nikita Surf Trip this summer.
The Czech Nikita girls will be heading over to France to host a series of workshops. Whether you want to try surfing for the first time or improve your skills, the Surf Trip is open to all ages and abilities and promises lots of sun, sand and socialising.
The trip includes surf lessons in small groups with professional instructors, evening video coaching, a course about the ocean, surf history and surfing rules while riding the waves, plus evening activities, parties and a wellness program. Based in Hossegor, there will also be loads of travelling around the coast, from Henday to Seignosse, visiting local surf spots and meeting with pro surfers along the way. You can also get to experience some indo boarding, tour a surf factory and take part in a fun contest for beginners.
Participants will stay in beach bungalows in the centre of the surf town Hossegor, 50 km from Biarritz and close to the Spanish border. There will be four weeks of surf trips this year, two in June and two in September:
Dates
13–22 June 2008
20–29 June 2008
29 August – 7 September 2008
5–14 September 2008
The cost is 500 Euros, which includes return transport from Prague to Hossegor, accommodation, travel along the coast, trips to Biarritz, coaching, video coaching, rental equipment, indo boarding… and pretty much everything except food!
There are only 20 spots per camp, so to book your spot.
Expect the usual heady mix of beers and bands on the sunny Isle of Wight for this year’s Bestival, taking place from 5-7 September at Robin Hill Country Park.
Acts we’re excited about include Amy Winehouse, Underworld, My Bloody Valentine, Lykke Li and Sam Sparro, plus a whole heap of other musical treats in the line-up.
This year, Bestival is celebrating it’s 5th Birthday, so there’s a fancy dress theme of ‘30,000 Freaks Under The Sea’ - don your mermaid, squid, shark or deep-sea diver suit and get in on the action!
In addition to the musical shennanigans, there’ll be The Retreat (for a bit of chill out time), Bestivalley (a green arts and crafts zone), the Bestival Bugle (the on-site daily newspaper), the legendary Inflatable Church, a Solar Powered Cinema, and much more… Expect a blissful weekend of music and fun.
Want to grab a ticket? (Frankly, you’d be mad not to). Head to the Bestival website.
Those eco-friendly folks at howies are famed for using their business to try and change the things that they care about, hence why they voluntarily pay an ‘Earth Tax’ on each product they make. This year, these Earth Tax funds will be used to fund a series of lectures to help give people the tools to help them change the things they care about.
The Do lectures will be all about getting a handful of speakers together at Fforest Farm in Cardigan, West Wales from 4th - 8th September in the hope that they may inspire you to do something!
howies will supply some great accommodation for free, in a great setting at Fforest Farm and cook you some nice local food. They’ll also get a couple of their favourite bands down, and - fingers crossed - they’ve put in a request for some sunshine too!
There are only 75 spots, with the lucky chosen people receiving free accommodation and good local food - all you’ll need to pay for is your travel costs. If you are interested in attending, please write a handwritten letter telling us why and what you hope to DO. Send it for the attention of Alison to howies, Bath House Road, Cardigan, West Wales SA43 1JY.
For those who are not picked, howies will be building a website where they will upload every talk for those who can’t attend.
From 1-5 September, the top male and female shredders from all over the world will be descending upon Perisher Blue to battle it out for the halfpipe and slopestyle crownage.
The second stop on the 2008-2009 Burton Global Open Series, the Aussie Open is an open event, which means anyone can enter!
The women’s field is looking strong with competitors such as Olympic gold medalist Hannah Teter (USA) and women’s 07/08 Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour Champion and back-to-back X-Games slopestyle gold medalist Jamie Anderson (USA). Jamie currently leads both TTR and BGOS women’s rankings after her first place halfpipe and slopestyle finishes at the New Zealand Open earlier this month.
Competition gets underway on Tuesday, September 2nd with the men’s and women’s halfpipe qualifiers. On Wednesday, September 3rd, the action moves to Perisher’s slopestyle course for the qualifiers. All eyes will be on the halfpipe on Thursday, September 4th for semi-finals and finals when the world’s best will fight it out for the Open title and a share of the $50,000 prize purse. On Friday, September 5th the event wraps up with slopestyle finals.
The legendary Animal Bike Tour returns for 2008, with 40 stops lined up at this summer’s top sports events.
For it’s seventh year, the Bike Tour has raised the bar again, with the ‘08 rig offering a more skate park feel with a new ramp set up, ¼ pipe and rail combo’s, where world class riders Martyn Ashton and Sam Pilgrim will be performing freestyle bike demos and laying down some massive moves.
Martyn Ashton says: “The new rig is awesome, almost all the kit has moved up in height, as well as in technical difficulty. The riding around the arena is now far more fluid and viewing is improved, 2008 looks set to be another great year.”
There will be plenty of opportunities to win some very special tour gear at each stop. Check out the full schedule for an event near you.
Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe has launched the Nike+ Human Race at Wembley Stadium.
Set to be the world’s largest one day running event, the Nike+ Human Race, to be held on 31st August, will see up to one million runners across the globe competing in a 10k race. GB team captain, Paula Radcliffe, will be leading 30,000 Brits as they ‘Run for Britain’ against 25 different global cities.
London runners will start the race from inside England’s most iconic sporting venue, Wembley Stadium, following a live music concert headlined by a top artist. Those who live outside London can represent their country via the Nike+ website by taking part in the ‘Virtual Race’. Runners can simply use Nike+ iPod or SportBand to track their kilometres on race day and then download their run on the Nike+ site to have their results officially counted as part of the race.
To be part of the GB team, you can register for the race from 2nd June via the Nike+ website. A proportion of the registration fee will be donated to one of four charities: UNHCR, Livestrong, WWF and Fairbridge.
Can’t get a spot in the UK race? Well, lucky for you there are a whole host of Nike+ Human race cities to choose from, including: Austin, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Rome, Warsaw, Melbourne, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Lima, México City, Quito, São Paulo and Vancouver.
Whether you’re a top-notch wave rider or a spluttering beginner, book yourself in for the Les Ettes & Girlie Surf Camp this summer!
Taking place throughout July and September in Hossegor, France, the camps include surf lessons for all levels, with hints and tips from pro Roxy riders, plus the provision of surfboards, wetsuits and any additional kit.
You’ll be provided with meals and accommodation in mobile homes by the ocean, plus an exciting programme of post-surf activities including spa sessions, yoga, BBQs, classic surf film screenings, skateboarding, and - of course - parties. All attendees will also recieve a fab goody bag packed with treats.
The camps are open to girls aged 16+. To book your spot, head over to the Girlie Camps website.
Start Soma are offering limited-edition prints from some of their favorite artists in the world, and this month you’ll be able to get your hands on a limited edition print by one of our favourite artists, Casey O’Connell.
The first set of Casey O’Connell prints will be of this gorgeous artwork entitled ‘When Freckles Collide’.
There will be one limited edition run of 10 large prints (40 x 24 inches), and 150 small prints (20 x 12 inches) - all signed and numbered by Casey.
10% of both limited edition print runs will be set aside for donation to charitable fund-raisers.
The first Casey O’Connell print will go on sale via the Start Soma website on August 30th, 2008. To add your name to the pre-sale list for this first limited edition, now.
From 28th August until 1st September, Europe’s best female riders will battle it out in event number three of the ASP Women’s World Tour at Hossegor, France.
Former World Champ Sofia Mulanovich overcame fellow Peruvian Silvana Lima to win the 2007 crown, and she’s sure to try and secure the title again with a hefty $85,000 prize purse at stake!
See the amazing work of Jeff Divine at the Crane Kalman Gallery, Brighton. The exhibition, entitled ‘Jeff Divine: Surfing’s Golden Age – The Seventies Kodachromes’ runs until 31st August.
Growing up in La Jolla, Jeff Divine began taking pictures of fellow surfers in his hometown during the 1960s and got to know the original alternative sport before the mainstream media blew it into the commercial kingdom it has now come to be.
His images capture the decade of Hippies, long hair, Mexican wedding shirts and bell-bottoms. Santana, The Dead, Steppenwolf and the Stones were on the stereo, hallucinogenic drugs and free love were everywhere and Vietnam had left an entire generation of disillusioned youth. And for those surfers making (or non-making) a life for themselves on the swells on the North Shore, that culture was apparent, but with one distinguishing factor: their prized possessions were their garage-made surfboards all lined up in the side yard. That was what mattered most.
According to Divine, “It was all about the karma you had, that and going with the flow. We really believed that when the surf was on that’s what it was all about: good vibes actually caused good waves to happen. I surfed first and then shot photos. As things got more serious, I shot first and surfed later.” Photographing the second generation of surfers, Divine impressively captures the feeling of being on the beach during its most creative era and at the inception of a subculture too large and photogenic to stay down long.
This summer season, there’s no need to suffer in stilettos on a night out. Those kind folks at Clarks Originals have re-invented their classic retro sports shoe with a metallic twist.
The result? The Street Party shoe - using hi-tech materials for optimum comfort and fabulous shiny fabrics for bags of style.
Dust off your bikini and boardies, because this summer Roxy is once again holding a series of Surf Days throughout the UK and Ireland.
It’s the perfect opportunity for girls of all ages to come and try surfing or fine-tune your surfing skills with hints and tips from pro UK Roxy Surfers. Whatever your level: beginner, intermediate or advanced, you’ll have a great time!
You will get the chance to go surfing, get advice from the UK’s top female surfers including Candice O’Donnell, Sophie Hellyer, Holly Donnelly, Amy-May Garvey and Sarah Bentley, and indulge in a spot of well-deserved lunch. Tickets are £25, which includes a goodie bag worth over £40, including limited edition Roxy T-shirt, stickers, body products and much more… Plus, prizes of Roxy bikinis, books and signed Lisa Andersen posters will also be given out at each day.
Here’s the schedule:
Jersey Surf School, St Ouens, Jersey: 9-10 August
Troggs Surf School, Portrush, Northern Ireland: 23-24 August
Quiksilver Surf School, Newquay: 30-31 August & 27-28 Sept
If you were wondering what to do over the August Bank Holiday, fret no more. Simply grab your bikini, get your surfboard and head to the beach for the ASA Girls Only days.
During the day, you’ll be able to learn to surf or sharpen up your skills, and get top tips from the Animal Surf Team. Top riders including Welsh wonder Gwen Spurlock, Irish icon and big wave surfer Easkey Britton, and kitesurf queen Kirsty Jones will be on hand with helpful hints throughout the day. The inspirational trio and can’t wait to fill you in on their adventures surfing around the world and to get you up and riding this summer.
The ASA Girls Only days are being held on Saturday 23rd August in Newquay and Sunday 24th August in Polzeath, North Cornwall. Each day includes: a surf lesson with all equipment, a healthy lunch, yoga stretching and a gorgeous Animal goodie bag. Book your spot now!
The original small-capacity, non-corporate, independent music and arts festival pitches it’s collective tent in Northamptonshire from 22-25th August.
Shambala is a wild, creative, low-profile, green and family friendly festival. In a world of ‘boutique events’, Shambala queitly cultivates its down-to-earth mix of creativity, the unexpected, warm atmospheres and quality entertainment.
There are lots of treats on the agenda, including: cinemas; stacks of workshops, dance, crafts, circus performances, talks, a sauna, cafes, a massive site art, a lovely crowd and a lot of suprises!
Plus, Shambala is a responsible event: recycling almost all waste, investing in compost loos, using solar, wind & biodiesel, and carefully selecting traders and suppliers.
Set on a beautiful country estate (ssshhh), the campsites are open on Thursday 21st from 2pm.
Hundreds of snowboarders have been flocking to The Remarkables in New Zealand to celebrate the opening of Burton’s newest location - The Stash. Over 20 of Burton’s regional and international riders, including Keegan Valaika, Mikell Bang, Robett Hollis, Nick Brown, Juliane Bray and Shelly Gotlieb, came out to christen The Stash alongside the shredding public at the grand opening event at the end of July.
Greeting riders at the entrance to The Stash are two giant stone Keas, a parrot indigenous to the region and notorious for wreaking havoc. A variety of potential lines lie beyond, including features such as rock wall-rides, log jibs, cliff drops and even a jibbable stone hut. The park is unlike any other out there, stashed high in the mountains above the tree line.
“The Stash in New Zealand paves the way for a new style of Stash that plays off of the rock and stone landscape,” said Jeff Boliba, Global Resort Director at Burton. “The unique features and layout will stoke out riders from around the globe. No two runs on The Stash are the same, every time you drop in you get a completely new riding experience.”
The Stash at The Remarkables is only the third run of its kind worldwide and the first in the Southern Hemisphere. The Stash can also be found in Avoriaz, France and Northstar-at-Tahoe, USA.
If you need an excuse for a trip stateside, get yourself over to Louise Moore’s wakeboard camp in Clermont, Florida.
The Louise Moore wakeboard camp is based on Lake Minihaha where the best wakeboarders and wakeskaters in the world ride. Jenna McAvoy will be heading over to the states in September to run the school with Louise, so expect some expert tuition and top tips from the pros.
The camp has luxurious accommodation, hot tub, access to 13 lakes, fully loaded Master craft X-1, the choice of pro coaching, free ride and slider sessions at the OWC cable park. Check out the camp website to book your spot!
We love a bit of culture here at Cooler, and news of the new Fashion V Sport exhibition, set to launch at the V&A Museum in London on 5th August, has got us even more excited than usual.
The exhibition explores the creative connections between the two worlds of fashion and sport. Recent developments have seen an increasing number of collaborations and hybrids, from fashion designers producing collections with sportswear brands to sports personalities heading fashion campaigns or even designing their own collections. Fashion V Sport will reveal the complexities and tensions between the two industries.
Sportswear has become an essential part of the modern wardrobe. Trainers and tracksuits are often more readily worn than suits, and high performance textiles developed for competitors are now being integrated into high-end fashion. Fashion V Sport examines the way that sports styles are adapted to make fashion statements, both on the street and through high fashion, and how sports and fashion products are consumed, customised and worn.
The exhibition will run until the 4th January, 2009, from 10am until 5.30pm each day, with late opening until 9.30pm on Fridays.
One of the world’s top mountain bike festivals, Kokanee Crankworx guarantees to get you off your seat from 9th-17th August.
This year they’ve popped two new events on the agenda to boost the excitement quota: Best Trick and Giant Slalom. Whether ripping down A-Line alongside industry pros like Dave Watson, Wade Simmons and Gareth Dyer or watching the Slopestyle event from the comfort of the GLC patio, expect nine action-packed days featuring some of the sport’s most fearless and talented athletes.
Three days of folk music, home-brewed cider and all-round hippy goodness will be taking place at Glanusk Park in the Brecon Beacons between the 15th and 17th August.
Super Furry Animals, Spiritualized, Iron and Wine, The National, The Cave Singers, Lightspeed Champion, Badly Drawn Boy and a bundle of other top music acts will be taking to the main stage over the course of the long weekend.
There’ll also be the Folkey Dokey arena with more bands taking to the stage inside a fairy-tale circus tent, the Rumpus Room for late-night DJ sets, the Green Field solar-powered milk float stage, a children’s area for the ankle-biters, a healing area for some chill out time, plus the usual blend of food, beer and bonfires.
Allez-Oop Promotions presents Grassroots - a festival of music, surf & ecological living for SurfAid International.
Taking place on Saturday 23rd August at The Green Hut, St Ouens Bay, there will be live music from headline act Xavier Rudd, supported by Justin Thorne and Ben Howard.
In addition to the tunes, there’s plenty more on the schedule including: beach clean, the Grassroots Village, surf lessons with Atlantic Waves, the Laneez Surf Contest, the Mourant Zero Waste Station, a SurfAid charity auction, Little Green Rock Skate Art Contest and the Gallery Silent Disco, plus yum refreshments from the Simply Cola & Bundaberg Beach Bar, delicious fresh food, smoothies, BBQ… and plenty more!
The arena opens at 12pm, with the concert scheduled to kick off from 5.30pm.
Tickets are now on sale at the following locations: Laneez Surf Shop, The Royal Yacht Hotel, Mangetout and Jersey Tourism. If they’re not handy, pop on to Ticketline to grab your ticket.
Fringe is back with music, theatre, comedy and dance in major venues all over the city running from the 8th to the 31st of August.
Now at the grand old age of 61, the Edinburgh festival has become an institution in the arts world - check out the action-packed programme and be thoroughly spoilt for choice.
Oh, and expect to get knocked over by a juggler and/or unicyclist at least once.
The legendary Animal Bike Tour returns for 2008, with 40 stops lined up at this summer’s top sports events.
For it’s seventh year, the Bike Tour has raised the bar again, with the ‘08 rig offering a more skate park feel with a new ramp set up, ¼ pipe and rail combo’s, where world class riders Martyn Ashton and Sam Pilgrim will be performing freestyle bike demos and laying down some massive moves.
Martyn Ashton says: “The new rig is awesome, almost all the kit has moved up in height, as well as in technical difficulty. The riding around the arena is now far more fluid and viewing is improved, 2008 looks set to be another great year.”
There will be plenty of opportunities to win some very special tour gear at each stop. Check out the full schedule for an event near you.
Evans Cycles has launched a new ride series touring the UK throughout this summer. The Evans Cycles Ride It! events are a series of organised road and off-road rides that are designed to take the hassle out of your weekend riding. The rides are non-competitive with an emphasis on riding with other riders, riding in new areas and sampling some different road and off-road routes around the UK.
The series will be stopping twice a month at different venues throughout the UK, so there’s always a ride close by as well as rides further afield, allowing you to vary your riding. Every ride has 3 or 4 pre-marked routes designed for all standards of riders from wobbly begginers to experienced cyclists.
“It’s all about getting people to use their bikes more often” says Event Manager Dean Stacey. “What we do is take the hassle out of getting out on your bike – we research the trails, mark out the courses, plot it on a map and provide support throughout the day. All you need to do is turn up and ride!”
Saturday is the off-road ride, taking in local bridleways and byways to offer between 12 and 35 miles of riding depending on the route you take. Sunday is the road ride, a scenic ride on the UK’s back roads and country lanes. Distances range from 15 miles all the way up to 90 miles for those looking for more of a challenge. All routes are carefully planned to allow you to sample the best riding in the area.
Every ride includes: pre-marked routes for all abilities, free Memory Map OS map for each rider, free SIS energy food & drink and mechanical service.
Adult entry is £10 per rider. Entries can be purchased on the Evans Cycles website and are also taken on the day (subject to a £2.50 surcharge)
Dates and Locations:
Hayfield Manchester: August 9th & 10th, Venue TBC
Oxted, North Downs: August 30th & 31st, Hazelwood School, Oxted, RH8 0QU
North London: September 13th & 14th, Chancellor’s School, Hatfield, AL9 7BN
Bristol: September 20th & 21st, Venue TBC
Nottingham: October 4th & 5th, Oaklands Centre, Warsop, NG20 0JE
West London: October 18th & 19th, Venue TBC
The countdown to Europe’s biggest surf, skate and music festival has officially begun. The Rip Curl Boardmasters will return to Newquay for a 27th year from 4-10 August 2008 for its biggest event to date and an epic week of world-class action sports and music.
This year’s events include a fierce 5* Men’s World Qualifying Series (WQS) surf contest, the UK leg of the Rip Curl Girls Go Surfing Tour, Vans Summer Session Vert skate and Eastpak Miniramp contests. Alongside the sporting action will be the Boardmasters trade village and Foster’s Beach Bar showcasing five nights of live music at Fistral beach.
Over August 8th and 9th, 35 international music acts will play across two live stages which have been previously graced by the likes of Razorlight, Feeder, ASH, Newton Faulkner, Paolo Nutini and The Ting Tings. Organisers have announced that UK dance maestros Groove Armada have been confirmed to headline on Friday 08th August. Keep tuned to the RipCurl Boardmasters website for updates on the line-up.
Tickets are £29.99/day and £54.99/weekend on sale now from Ticketweb or on 0844 77 1000.
British cable wakeboard team riders Liu Batchelor and Steph Caller are organising a girl’s cable wakeboard tour of the UK - the first female specific event of this kind.
The tour will be kicking off at Princes Club in London on Thursday 7th August, where the girls will be camping that night. Friday 8th August will be spent riding at Wake MK and will include the WAGS coaching clinic in aid of Cancer Research. The girls will then complete the tour on Saturday 9th August at Sheffield Cable Ski, where there will also be the end of tour party.
The aim of the tour is to get as many girls (of all levels) out on the water, riding together and having a laugh! Everyone (female!!) is welcome to join the tour at either single or multiple stops and the cost of riding will be at normal rates for each cable (although possible discounts may be available).
It will be a great opportunity to meet other girls involved in the sport and get tips from some of the best female riders in the UK. What are you waiting for? Sign up now!
Following on from the successful launch of the Vans Summer Sessions in 2007, the six-stop tour is back this year to entertain you over the coming months at key action sport and music festivals. It consists of a combination of skate vert comps, BMX and Skate mini-ramp sessions as well as the VANS Rococo Wakeboard Rail Tour which all come together to create a not-to-be-missed experience.
The Vans Roccoco Rail Tour is a head-to-head competition that takes place on the Vans pool gap construction, which consists of a top pool and a winch system that launches the riders forward towards two straight down rails and a gap rail, where they can show off their trick skills. The construction holds 200,000 gallons of water and truly is a spectacular event to watch.
Featuring top UK and European athletes, you can still check out all the action from the Vans Team at the following events:
4-10 August: Boardmasters, Newquay - $20,000 Vert Skate Comp and Mini-ramp Demo
9-10 August: Unleashed Music Festival, Newquay - Vans Roccoco Rail Jam
Rip Curl Girls Tour presented by Renault in association with Relentless energy drink is a unique tour of the best surf spots in the UK.
After six years, the Rip Curl Girls Tour has introduced over 20,000 girls to surfing. This year it makes a welcome return to the four hottest beaches in the UK for the 2008 Rip Curl Girls Tour.
Four British Surf Association surf schools will be running the ‘Learn to Surf’ lessons, supported by their accredited, qualified and insured professional coaches, plus Rip Curl riders including Kathleen Spears (UK), Elise Garrigue (France) and others…
The Rip Curl Girls Tour caters for ladies of all ages and surfing abilities, so grab a board and get in the water! After catching waves, there will be plenty of activities to keep you busy, including Capoeira lessons, BBQ’s, live music and beach parties.
Lessons cost £25.00 for 2-hour lesson with a free goodie bag. During the Rip Curl Pro Boardmasters, a special event price of £15 per girl will be on offer.
Dates & Locations:
28th & 29th June: Fistral Beach, Newquay and Croyde Bay, North Devon
5th & 6th July: Bournemouth Beach, Dorset and Llangennith, South West Wales
4-10th August: Fistral Beach, Newquay during the Rip Curl Pro Boardmasters
The Bloom Festival will be landing in Seven Springs, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
Keep it lo-fi at this small, grass-roots festival, where tents and tunes will be offered up in abundance.
This is the third Bloom Festival and it seems they have fine-tuned their formula: they aim to create a festival that is easy to navigate (no 20 mile hikes! no hour long queues!), super-friendly and safe, is packed with tonnes of fun and nonsense and has the very best gourmet food, cocktails, facilities - and of course top notch music and entertainment.
A little bit of magic. A weekend you will never forget.
The Red Bull Air Race returns to London for the second time on 2nd and 3rd August. This spectacular event will be taking over Canary Wharf with over 50,000 people expected to flock down to the Thames to see the sporting action!
The Red Bull Air Race World Series features the world’s best pilots in a motor sports competition based on speed, precision and skill. Using the fastest, most agile and lightweight racing planes, pilots navigate a low-level aerial race track made up of air-filled pylons, reaching speeds of 370 kilometres per hour while withstanding forces of up to 12 gs.
If the recent launch in the Isle of Wight is anything to go by, we’re expecting big things. Check out the footage…
The world’s best female surfers will return to tackle the waves of Cascais on Portugal’s Estoril Coast from 31st July to 3rd August. This 6-Star tournament is one of the biggest events in the European surfing calendar, so expect to see some high-calibre surfing from Europe’s best female wave-riders who will be vying for coveted ratings points and chunk of the $35,000 prize pot.
The Billabong Girls Cascais Pro Women’s Surfing Championship is set to coincide with the Billabong Girls Cascais Festival. So in addition to top-notch pro surfing, spectators can enjoy some time in and out of the waves with free surf lessons, hip-hop dancing, pilates and a Billabong fashion show.
This year, organisers are also coordinating a Guiness World Record attempt to get the highest number surfers in one wave. Sign up to help them out!
Billabong Girls Days 08: A Celebration of Women’s Surfing
The Billabong Girls an entirely free event is open to beginners and advanced female surfers, aged between 10 and 30. The weekend ensures a fantastic opportunity to discover surfing. Here’s the action-packed schedule…
Each day will start with a yoga session, the perfect warm-up before the surf. There will be two surf sessions each day, where participants can either learn to surf or improve their technique. The girls will be divided into groups according to their skills and will receive tutoring from professional teachers as well as Billabong Pro surfers Léa Brassy and Alana Brennan.
In between the two sessions, the girls will be given tips on how to pick their equipment, choose a wave, how to behave in the water and surf safety. To complement the learning, the girls will watch surfing videos and have the opportunity to talk to pro surfers about their recent surf trip to Tahiti in May 2008. (All boards and wetsuits will be provided by Billabong.)
The Billabong Girls Days also aim to raise awareness of environmental matters. Pro-rider and Surfrider Foundation members will hold workshops and conferences to raise awareness about the environment and there will be a special nutrition workshop showing how to feel good in mind and body through living a healthy lifestyle. Then, as the day comes to an end, a hip hop dance class will kick off the evening.
Registration
You can register online at the Billabong Girls Days website before July 1st, 2008. It’s a first come, first served event so only the first 150 girls will be able to register.
Date and Location
The Billabong Girls Days European tour has just one stop remaining!
Cascais, PORTUGAL – Guincho Beach - Wednesday July 30th until Saturday August 2nd.
The Surfrider Foundation has been selected as one of a small group of non-profit organizations handpicked by Jack Johnson to participate in his 2008 world tour and help launch his All At Once campaign.
The campaign, which includes a new online community, seeks to redefine the typical concert experience by allowing fans to meet face-to-face with local and national non-profits, learn about environmental actions they can take, and enter to win a chance to watch Jack’s performance from the stage in return for taking environmental action in the All At Once Village Green Passport.
“I can’t think of a better reason to put on a concert than to bring people together to create positive change,” said Johnson. “With this year’s tour we are bringing together all of our resources All At Once to give back to each community that we visit.”
Surfrider Foundation is taking advantage of the opportunity to roll out its new ‘Rise Above Plastics’ campaign, which seeks to educate people on the detrimental impacts that plastics have on marine environments.
“Jack and his wife Kim have been tremendously supportive of our efforts over the years,” says Surfrider Foundation CEO Jim Moriarty. “We are incredibly honored to be partnered with them now, as they work to make an even more profound impact in cultivating the culture of global activism.”
Check out the All At Once website for tour dates and locations.
The legendary Animal Bike Tour returns for 2008, with 40 stops lined up at this summer’s top sports events.
For it’s seventh year, the Bike Tour has raised the bar again, with the ‘08 rig offering a more skate park feel with a new ramp set up, ¼ pipe and rail combo’s, where world class riders Martyn Ashton and Sam Pilgrim will be performing freestyle bike demos and laying down some massive moves.
Martyn Ashton says: “The new rig is awesome, almost all the kit has moved up in height, as well as in technical difficulty. The riding around the arena is now far more fluid and viewing is improved, 2008 looks set to be another great year.”
There will be plenty of opportunities to win some very special tour gear at each stop. Check out the full schedule for an event near you.
The UK’s beach music and surfing event, the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival, will return to Watergate Bay on Saturday 26th July with an even bigger and better event to raise funds for Surf Relief UK. Organisers hope to raise significant funds for the Surf Relief ‘Surfable’ project, which provides subsidised surfing lessons for disabled and disadvantaged young people.
The Jamie Oliver restaurant Fifteen Cornwall will be jointly hosting a fundraising charity dinner and auction on the evening of Friday 25th July. There’ll be a swanky six-course tasting menu for the evening. Following dinner, guests will be able to bid in a money-can’t-buy auction, with all proceeds going to Surf Relief.
The festival kicks off at 2pm on Saturday 26th July, triggering a packed programme of beach action, pro surfing and live music. For the first time, Watergate Bay will host a round of the British Pro Surf Tour competition, with many of the country’s top pro surfers competing in five divisions.
The world’s first BMX dirt slopestyle contest is back!
Red Bull have announced the much-anticipated Red Bull Empire of Dirt event will be back in 2008. The event will be held on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th July, on a farm near Newton Abbot, Devon, England.
Red Bull Empire of Dirt, the world’s first BMX dirt slopestyle contest, is the brainchild of UK rider Kye Forte and Red Bull, and combines influences from each of the BMX styles.
Last year, the innovative - and downright scary - course took more than a month to build and featured a huge dirt superpipe, ridiculous twin wall rides, a 300-metre steep slope as well as incorporating doubles, berms, wooden obstacles and rails. The course, which swallowed thousands of tons of dirt, sent shockwaves through the BMX world, and attracted a veritable who’s-who of international riders - including Brian Foster, Gary Young and Corey Bohen.
Unfortunately, organisers were forced to cancel the event on the day, after unusually heavy rain damaged the course beyond repair. In an overwhelming show of support, all riders vowed to return in 2008 to do justice to the monster course.
“The freakish summer weather put us down, but not out, last year,” says Empire creator and top UK rider Kye Forte. “It’s only going to make everyone more keen to show the world what Red Bull Empire of Dirt is all about.”
Stay tuned for course design, official website, rider list, and event info….
If you can’t make it to the UK Wakestock events, and have a bit of spare cash to splash, head over to Canada’s very own Wakestock, to be held from 24-27 July in Toronto.
Featuring four days of boarding and bands, here’s what’s on offer at Canada’s biggest action sports and music festival…
OVER 25 BANDS: One of biggest music festivals of the summer featuring METRIC • GZA & RZA Of WU TANG CLAN • HOT WATER MUSIC • SILVERSTEIN • CAVELERA CONSPIRACY • DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN • THROWDOWN • CLASSIFIED • DRAGONETTE • LIGHTS • WE ARE SCIENTISTS • REBEL EMERGENCY • AGE OF DAZE • KATHLEEN TURNER OVERDRIVE • DEAD AND DIVINE • FAREWELL TO FREEWAY • CRASH PARALLEL• SHAWN HEWITT and many more…
WORLD’S PREMIER WAKEBOARD EVENT: WWA World Series, Billabong Pro Railslide, Oakley Launch Pool, Malibu Pro Expression Session, Billabong Pro Wakeskate, Malibu Amateur Championship.
TORONTO’S BIGGEST SKATEBOARD EVENT: Island Of The Ams Contest, Pro Demos, RGX Skatepark – bring your skateboard, Milk Mini Ramp.
PRO FREESTYLE MOTO-X: Canada’s premier freestyle moto-x showcase featuring the world’s top pro jumpers.
SHOPPING – CANADIAN ACTION SPORTS EXPO and MARKETPLACE: Incredible deals on the latest surfwear, streetwear, eyewear, skate shoes and action sports gear from the leading brands and retailers.
BUD LIGHT BEER GARDEN & AFTER-PARTIES: The party of the summer!
The 2008 British Longboarding Championships will be kicking off from 23-24 July in St Ouens, Jersey.
Categories include Open Longboard, Junior Longboard (for under 18s), Women’s Longboard, Senior Longboard (for over 28s), Masters Longboard (for over 35s) and Veterans Longboard (for over 45s). The Open Division will be offering £1000 in prize money for the best wave rider.
From 18-27 July, the US Open of Surfing will hit Huntington Beach, California, USA with a 6-star stop on the Women’s Surfing WQS.
With a rich history dating back to 1959, the Honda US Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill boasts North America’s only six-star World Qualifying Series (WQS)-rated men’s and women’s events. Offering a bundle of qualifying points, plus cash prizes totaling $200,000, there’s set to be fierce competition, as this event is critical to American surfers aspiring to reach the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) elite World Tours.
Divisions include men’s, women’s, junior contests and longboarding with an impressive line-up of surfers including C.J. Hobgood, Stephanie Gilmore, Junior Pro Champ Tonino Benson, US Longboard champ Colin McPhillips plus surf stars such as Jeremy Flores, Taylor Knox, Sofia Mulanovich, Karina Petroni, Sally Fitzgibbons, Joel Tudor, and Dodger Kremel.
We all need a bit more Zen in our lives. If you fancy seven uninterrupted days of chill-out time, the new Zen week in La Plagne could be right up your street.
Set in the charming traditional village of Montchavin-Les Coches, the Zen week is designed to help you achieve total well-being and relaxation. With massages, Tai Ji Quan, ‘Do-In’, along with aqua aerobics, singing and creative arts, can you think of a better place to be from 21-25 July?
You can enjoy daily relaxing self-help massage therapy, combining the principles of Shiatsu and Acupressure with stretches, exercises, breathing and meditation techniques. It’s a traditional preventative treatment used by the Chinese to maintain health, boost the immune system and even slow the ageing process!
You will also be integrated into rustic village life by feeding the sheep, goats and ewes and tasting the local produce. A proper rustic week in the mountains - aah, we can almost smell the fresh air!
The US Mountain Bike National Championships will be taking place from 16-20 July, 2008.
This monster mountain biking competition will be taking place at Mount Snow, Vermont, which has been the home to UCI and USA cycling events for almost 20 years. As such, it’s pretty positive they’ll be providing a killer track to test the best in a series of downhill, slalom and cross country events.
The Zoo York AM Getting Paid international amateur skate contest will be kicking off from 18-20 July, 2008, in Montreal, Canada.
The Zoo York Institute, in association with Monster Energy, Fallen Footwear, Underworld Skateshop, and SBC Media, is proud to announce that from July 18-20, 2008, the fourth installment of Zoo York’s AM Getting Paid contest will be held at South Parc Skatepark in Montréal, Canada (Quebec). Widely recognized as one of today’s most prestigious international skateboarding competitions for amateurs only, this year’s contest carries a hefty prize purse of $10,000 USD.
Registration is now open with only 150 spots available, so get your entry form in quick! Plus, the first 100 pre-registered riders will receive a Dakine backpack.
If you’d love to pop along but can’t quite stump up the funds for a plane ticket to Canada, Dose are offering one lucky skater and a friend the chance to win a free trip to Zoo York’s AM Getting Paid 2008 in Montréal. The exclusive prize package includes two round-trip tickets to Montréal, three nights in a hotel, two VIP passes to the event, gear from Zoo York, and a special AM Getting Paid prize pack. Click here to enter online.
Volcom Stone and SpoTlight productions will be hosting the third annual AmsterDamnAm contest from July 18-20, 2008.
Europe’s premiere amateur street skateboarding contest, AmsterDamnAm 2008 returns to Amsterdam Skatepark on July 18, 19 and 20 with an overall purse of 15,000 Euros. In addition to the tidy prize fund, the first and second placed skaters will also win plane tickets to Tampa Am 2009 in Tampa, Florida, USA, where they will be seeded directly into the semi-finals.
The schedule is as follows:
July 18, arrival day, BBQ at either the Marnix bowl or Amsterdam Skatepark’s new mini-ramp set up (depending on the weather).
July 19, Street qualifiers / Volcom Entertainment presents ASG live at the Bitterzoet Club. Doors open at 9pm.
July 20, Street semifinals, finals, and best trick.
Skatepark opens at 10:30 each morning.
100 skaters maximum will be able to take part so pre-register now by .
Dust off your bikini and boardies, because this summer Roxy is once again holding a series of Surf Days throughout the UK and Ireland.
It’s the perfect opportunity for girls of all ages to come and try surfing or fine-tune your surfing skills with hints and tips from pro UK Roxy Surfers. Whatever your level: beginner, intermediate or advanced, you’ll have a great time!
You will get the chance to go surfing, get advice from the UK’s top female surfers including Candice O’Donnell, Sophie Hellyer, Holly Donnelly, Amy-May Garvey and Sarah Bentley, and indulge in a spot of well-deserved lunch. Tickets are £25, which includes a goodie bag worth over £40, including limited edition Roxy T-shirt, stickers, body products and much more… Plus, prizes of Roxy bikinis, books and signed Lisa Andersen posters will also be given out at each day.
Here’s the schedule:
Surfing Experience, Porthcawl, Wales: 19-20 July
Troggs Surf School, Portrush, Northern Ireland: 26-27 July & 23-24 August
Jersey Surf School, St Ouens, Jersey: 9-10 August
Quiksilver Surf School, Newquay: 30-31 August & 27-28 Sept
What: Three Exhibition
Where: The LCB Surf Store, 121 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 7DG / 0207 739 3839
When: 25th June - 14th August 2008
The LCB surf shop in London’s Brick Lane will be host to an exhibition of travel surf photography by three female photographers this July.
Friends of Cooler, photographers Lucia Griggi, Kate Czuczman and Mel Enright met via the British surfing scene. They bonded through their love of travelling and surfing and have now decided to collaborate on an exhibition that showcases their individual approaches to documenting global surf culture.
With each photographer having a distinctive style and approach to the same ‘surf’ subject matter, the exhibition will show how a shared experience, in some cases in the same location, can result in individual, contrasting work by using different photographic styles.
Lucia is one of a small handful of women in the world to have broken through the male dominated ranks of surf photographers and she is the only female photographer in the UK whose work regularly appears in the core surf magazines, including Cooler magazine. A regular on the surf circuit for the last seven years, she admits that: “Surfing has inspired me to photograph. I love the people and the ocean.” Lucia brings these two aspects together in series of photographs, which capture different facets of the surfing lifestyle. The exhibition will also feature some of Lucia’s images laminated onto surfboards and other objects.
Travels with her surf travel company Big Friday took Kate to surfing destinations from South West England to Hawaii. Along the way she picked up an insatiable thirst for ‘old school’ cameras and different film formats. Kate’s analogue line-up includes a Rolleicord, lomo LCA, Holga, and her favourite Polaroid sx-70. Inspired by the bold colour contrasts of the midday sun through to expired lazy hues from the golden hour, Kate’s images are each unique glimpses of a surfing lifestyle.
Mel started documenting her travels on a six-month surfing sabbatical five years ago. The trip resulted in her first exhibition ‘Horizon’s of Blue and Gold’ in London in 2006. Shooting on digital, Nikon D70, Mel is interested in the powerful natural beauty of the surfing sea, landscape and people; the play of light, bold colour and pattern. Mel’s work is a contrast of romantic and contemporary images and has been published in a whole host of top mags.
All the photographers wanted to give something back to the environments which have provided such beautiful source material, so a percentage of sales will be donated back to the Kokua Foundation, a non-profit organisation that supports environmental education in the schools and communities of Hawai’i. The Kokua Foundation is based on the North Shore of Oah’u; a surfing mecca that all three photographers have visited and been inspired by.
The Our Camp crew will be heading to Les2Alpes from 13-20th July 2008 for their Girls-Only Freestyle Snowboard Camp.
The camp includes a week of expert coaching, lift pass, accommodation, brekkie and dinner, so the only extra you’ll need to foot the bill for is the flight.
The 2008 British Snowboard and Freeski Tour is preparing to bring some summer shredding to a city near you this summer.
Competition registration is now live. To book your spot to compete, go to the British Snow Tour website. Registration is open to all ages and abilities and offers each competitor the chance to gain prestigious TTR World ranking points…
British Snow Tour dates for your diaries:
Dryslope Events:
19th & 20th July 2008 – Norfolk, Trespass British Snowboard/Skiercross Championships
Indoor Events:
20th September 2008 – SNO!zone, Castleford, Animal British Slopestyle Championships
27th September 2008 – SNO!zone, Milton Keynes, Quiksilver British Big Air Championships
4th October 2008 – SNO!zone, Glasgow, Trespass British Snowboard/Skiercross Championships
This year, sponsors Quiksilver, Animal and Trespass are back onboard, each taking a title discipline: Quiksilver Big Air, Animal Slopestyle and Trespass Snowboard & Skiercross Championships, with footwear partner ‘Cushe’ supporting the soles of top shredders throughout the tour, along with official retail partners, TSA and Ellis Brigham.
Free product testing will also be on offer at all stops, with a full range of snowboard and ski gear from K2, Ride, DC Snowboards and LINE availablre for you to get your grubby hands on and take for a no-holds-barred test drive. The demos are completely free and will take place on the Saturday of each tour event: 5-8pm on Dryslopes and 7-10pm on Indoor Slopes.
The British Snow Tour isn’t all about competition, it also comprises a schools tour which visits two schools in each of the six event regions, spreading the word about skiing and snowboarding and offering free introductory lessons. James Thorne, Paddy Graham, Becky Hammond, and Matt Walder make up the pro teaching team this year, with additional local riders joining them along the way.
Evans Cycles has launched a new ride series touring the UK throughout this summer. The Evans Cycles Ride It! events are a series of organised road and off-road rides that are designed to take the hassle out of your weekend riding. The rides are non-competitive with an emphasis on riding with other riders, riding in new areas and sampling some different road and off-road routes around the UK.
The series will be stopping twice a month at different venues throughout the UK, so there’s always a ride close by as well as rides further afield, allowing you to vary your riding. Every ride has 3 or 4 pre-marked routes designed for all standards of riders from wobbly begginers to experienced cyclists.
“It’s all about getting people to use their bikes more often” says Event Manager Dean Stacey. “What we do is take the hassle out of getting out on your bike – we research the trails, mark out the courses, plot it on a map and provide support throughout the day. All you need to do is turn up and ride!”
Saturday is the off-road ride, taking in local bridleways and byways to offer between 12 and 35 miles of riding depending on the route you take. Sunday is the road ride, a scenic ride on the UK’s back roads and country lanes. Distances range from 15 miles all the way up to 90 miles for those looking for more of a challenge. All routes are carefully planned to allow you to sample the best riding in the area.
Every ride includes: pre-marked routes for all abilities, free Memory Map OS map for each rider, free SIS energy food & drink and mechanical service.
Adult entry is £10 per rider. Entries can be purchased on the Evans Cycles website and are also taken on the day (subject to a £2.50 surcharge)
Dates and Locations:
Thirsk, North York Moors: July 12th & 13th, Sutton Bank Visitor Centre, Thirsk, YO7 2EH
Stokenchurch, Chilterns: July 26th & 27th, Stokenchurch Primary School, HP14 3RN
Hayfield Manchester: August 9th & 10th, Venue TBC
Oxted, North Downs: August 30th & 31st, Hazelwood School, Oxted, RH8 0QU
North London: September 13th & 14th, Chancellor’s School, Hatfield, AL9 7BN
Bristol: September 20th & 21st, Venue TBC
Nottingham: October 4th & 5th, Oaklands Centre, Warsop, NG20 0JE
West London: October 18th & 19th, Venue TBC
Billabong Girls Days 08: A Celebration of Women’s Surfing
The Billabong Girls an entirely free event is open to beginners and advanced female surfers, aged between 10 and 30. The weekend ensures a fantastic opportunity to discover surfing. Here’s the action-packed schedule…
Each day will start with a yoga session, the perfect warm-up before the surf. There will be two surf sessions each day, where participants can either learn to surf or improve their technique. The girls will be divided into groups according to their skills and will receive tutoring from professional teachers as well as Billabong Pro surfers Léa Brassy and Alana Brennan.
In between the two sessions, the girls will be given tips on how to pick their equipment, choose a wave, how to behave in the water and surf safety. To complement the learning, the girls will watch surfing videos and have the opportunity to talk to pro surfers about their recent surf trip to Tahiti in May 2008. (All boards and wetsuits will be provided by Billabong.)
The Billabong Girls Days also aim to raise awareness of environmental matters. Pro-rider and Surfrider Foundation members will hold workshops and conferences to raise awareness about the environment and there will be a special nutrition workshop showing how to feel good in mind and body through living a healthy lifestyle. Then, as the day comes to an end, a hip hop dance class will kick off the evening.
Registration
You can register online at the Billabong Girls Days website before July 1st, 2008. It’s a first come, first served event so only the first 150 girls will be able to register.
Dates and Locations
The Billabong Girls Days European tour will be visiting the following spots…
Woolacombe (Devon), UK – Main Beach - Saturday July 12th & Sunday July 13th.
Cascais, PORTUGAL – Guincho Beach - Wednesday July 30th until Saturday August 2nd.
Following on from the successful launch of the Vans Summer Sessions in 2007, the six-stop tour is back this year to entertain you over the coming months at key action sport and music festivals. It consists of a combination of skate vert comps, BMX and Skate mini-ramp sessions as well as the VANS Rococo Wakeboard Rail Tour which all come together to create a not-to-be-missed experience.
The Vans Roccoco Rail Tour is a head-to-head competition that takes place on the Vans pool gap construction, which consists of a top pool and a winch system that launches the riders forward towards two straight down rails and a gap rail, where they can show off their trick skills. The construction holds 200,000 gallons of water and truly is a spectacular event to watch.
Featuring top UK and European athletes, you can still check out all the action from the Vans Team at the following events:
11-13 July: T in the Park, Balado, Scotland - Mini-ramp Skate and BMX Demo
4-10 August: Boardmasters, Newquay - $20,000 Vert Skate Comp and Mini-ramp Demo
9-10 August: Unleashed Music Festival, Newquay - Vans Roccoco Rail Jam
Been a bit lazy with your recyling? Got a size-11 carbon footprint? Then ease your eco-conscience by making a BLUE Pledge!
The BLUE Climate and Oceans Project have launched a project to encourage people to make a BLUE Pledge – a simple promise made online to change just one extra thing in your life to make a difference to the world’s climate and oceans.
Since kicking off on World Oceans Day, the project has spurred hundreds of people into making eco promises, including the BLUE project’s sporting ambassadors, including the world’s best kite surfers, free divers, and polar explorers.
All you have to do is come up with a new and original idea to make a difference to the environment, then log on to The BLUE Project’s website to make your promise. From ‘using a water filter instead of buying bottled mineral water’ to ‘recycling your old beauty product bottles’, or by ‘using biodegradable surf wax’, BLUE Pledges are simple small promises that combined throughout the world will change things for the better.
Remember to be creative, as The BLUE Project will be taking all their pledges to the House of Commons at the end of the month to
