TODAY'S SWELLWATCH: THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

Surfing News on GrindTV

John John Florence Wins First WCT Event at Billabong Rio Pro

JOHN JOHN FLORENCE WINS FIRST WCT EVENT AT BILLABONG RIO PRO

19 Year Old Hawaiian Wins in Brazil

The finals of the Rio Pro saw some impressive performances from the stacked field. But the most convincing display of surfing came from the least seasoned competitor-- rookie John John Florence, who won his first WCT final today at age 19.

As predicted earlier this month by the absent Kelly Slater, it was only a matter of time before Florence bagged his first contest victory. Now, having won in the heaviest of waves at the Volcom Pipeline Pro in January, and in the smallest of.. More >

In This Story: John John Florence, Joel Parkinson, ASP World Tour

World's Best River Wave?

WORLD'S BEST RIVER WAVE?

Endless tubes in Zambezi river-wave, clip by Agape

River surfing is nothing new. But as with the ocean, not all river-waves are created equal. The wave in this clip is possibly the world's best freshwater wave, nestled deep in Africa's Zambezi river.

The featured surfer, Andrew Mathews, is a river-rafting guide who spends his year traveling the world, kayaking and surfing. This particular spot only breaks for a week or two when the water level is just right. Mathews has been rafting there for the past two years, and this season.. More >
Teahupoo and the Swell Seen Around the World

TEAHUPOO AND THE SWELL SEEN AROUND THE WORLD

A short film chronicles the Tahiti Mega-Swell

When Billabong rented a high-speed Phantom camera for the 2011 Billabong Pro in Tahiti, they hoped for slow-mo shots of the world's top 32 surfers at Teahupoo. However, they ended up with far more than they bargained for.

With camera crews, a webcast audience, and the pro-surf circus in place for the event, a perfect storm appeared on the charts. The swell was so massive that organizers deemed it too dangerous for the event, which rarely happens in competitive surfing.
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Salina Cruz Standoff

SALINA CRUZ STANDOFF

the story behind the surf-media ban in Southern Oaxaca, Mexico

For decades a few lucky ex-pats have been steadily trickling south from nearby Puerto Escondido to a quiet fishing village in Oaxaca, understandably tight-lipped about the hidden perfection stacked up along a set of sand-bottom points. Then, in 2006, a Rip Curl Search event scored what has been called the best contest-surf ever seen, and overnight the whispers and murmurs began. The secret was out, and surfers flooded the area, treading the fine line between exposure and exploitation with.. More >
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THE GREEN ROOM BLOG

Counting Sharks with the 'Chum Cam'

A team of scientists, led by the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University, used video cameras to count Caribbean reef..... More >

A Shark's Fin May be as Deadly as his Bite

Sharks are among the most threatened of marine species worldwide due to unsustainable overfishing. They are primarily killed for their fins to fuel..... More >

The Shark Skin Advantage

Streamlined sharks are legendary for their effortless swimming. George Lauder from Harvard University explains that the fish have long inspired..... More >

Shark Deaths Hit 20-year High

Shark attacks in the U.S. declined in 2011, but worldwide fatalities reached a two-decade high, according to the University of Florida's..... More >

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