Check out this new clip of John John Florence, directed by filmmaker Blake Kueny and filmed by Erik Knutson, which shows John John’s Gold Coast Australian run during the QuikSilver Pro Gold Coast 2013 before he busted his ankle.

This latest video, titled “Free to Roam” shows John John Florence absolutely shredding it and killing those waves in his most recent journey from air to injury.

The video, which is set against the song “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons, features some pretty ripping moves by John John and some slick skating moves by buddies Greyson Fletcher and Aussie ripper Jack Fardell (current Australian champion bowl).

At 3:00 we all get to see the moment when John John fractured his ankle during the expression session of the first stage of the WCT this year. He had won their Round 1 and battery and was a few hours from facing Adam Melling in Round 3 when the accident pulled him out of the Tour indefinitely.

Enjoy the clip and get well soon, John John. We’re missing you on the tour.

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If you’ve ever visited Hawaii, you’ve no doubt seen the famous hand gesture and heard the greeting “shaka, brah!” A shaka sign – the cool pinky and thumb salute – is the ultimate symbol of aloha and goes back to the roots of Hawaiian culture.

Commonly known to mean “hang loose” or “right on,” the shaka is a constant reminder that in Hawaii, it is not the norm to worry or rush. The shaka sign represents the embodiment of “island style.” Made famous as a surfer’s hand gesture, it signals that everything is alright.

The shaka sign was first popularized among locals in Hawaii through its use by surfers in the 1960s. Surfers from Hawaii started saluting fellow riders and friends with the shaka, and so when the surf culture grew and spread through California and America, it caught on and eventually expanded into Europe, Oceania, Asia, and Africa, and has remained a salutation of friendship from then on. Even presidents of the USA send shakas, and the global community gets it!

In Hawaii, the shaka is a simple yet powerful way to remind people to look out for each other on the islands and strive to spread aloha day in and day out. It embodies the Hawaiian principle of malama i kekahi i kekahi, – take care of one, take care of all. The sign is used wherever and whenever you want to spread a little aloha. Aloha in the Hawaiian language can mean love, hello, goodbye, affection, regards, fondness and compassion.

So, go ahead and give your shaka a shake. It consists of extending the thumb and smallest finger while holding the three middle fingers curled, and raising the hand in salutation while presenting the back; the hand may be rotated back and forth for emphasis.

Sending a shaka to all of you! Translate it as you feel: “Hi,” “See You,” “Thank You,” “All Right,” “Peace,” “Goodbye,” or “Chill Out.” Continue reading →

The world’s largest gathering of over-35 surfers is going on right now. From April 6-14, the world’s best Masters Surfers (over-35 years old) are gathering in Ecuador to compete in the ISA World Masters Surfing Championship (WMSC) in the high-performance right point break of Montañita. Over 20 countries and 150 men and women surfers are in Ecuador’s surf capital and warm beaches of the South American country.

The International Surfing Association hosts contests through the year in various categories of surf – including juniors, SUP, and longboarding divisions. The ISA, established in 1964, is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing authority for surfing, but the sport has yet to make its breakthrough at the official Olympic Games.

The ISA World Masters Surfing Championship is a team competition with individual age divisions. The divisions include Men’s Masters (over 35), Grand Masters (over 40), Kahunas (over 45) and Grand Kahunas (over 50), and Women’s Masters (over 35).

Some key athletes to watch include 2012 ISA World Masters Surfing Championship Gold Medalist Magnum Martinez (VEN), who is back to defend his title, and Hawaii’s Mike Latronic, who scored day 3’s highest total heat score.

Check out the live webcast of the entire championship on www.isawmsc.com.
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We stumbled across this beautiful blog, Studded Hearts, compiled and written by Yenny, a student based in Melbourne, Australia. We love the outtakes from the Billabong Summer 2013 shoot she recently posted featuring model Zippy Seven and shot by photographer Zoey Grossman.

Check out what she says about the Billabong shoot:
“Super stoked to share these beautiful outtakes from the latest Billabong Summer shoot! I love the work of everyone who worked on this shoot and have previously featured their stuff so I hope you enjoy it too. Gah why did Summer have to be so short…”

Sorry Yenny. I know summer is over for you guys, but for us, it’s right around the corner and we’re ready!

You can check out more gorgeous photos from Yenny’s blog at http://www.studded-hearts.com/.
And get prepared with your summer gear here, including new Roxy bikinis we just got in stock here: http://beckersurf.com/gals/clothing/swimwear/

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SURFER Magazine has compiled the Hot 100 for 2013, the definitive ranking of the best young surfers on the planet. The special bonus issue, which accompanies the May issue, includes the full list of the world’s best under-21 surfers, along with photos, interviews, profiles, and more. And for the second year running, SURFER has also produced a full-length Hot 100 Movie to accompany the issue.

The Hot 100 issue recognizes the top 60 under-21 boys, the top 20 under-21 girls, and the top 20 groms (14 and under). This year, John Florence and Carissa Moore earned the highest spots on their respective lists.

“The Hot 100’s reach and importance are dwarfed by the incredible talent that makes up the list. Surfing’s future is in very capable hands,” says SURFER Editor Brendon Thomas.

The issue is now available on newsstands through the end of April. And don’t forget to check out the 25-minute Hot 100 Movie made up of the year’s best footage from the surf world’s top up-and-comers, which is available now at Surfermag.com.

The flick features everyone from John Florence and Carissa Moore to Gabriel Medina, Jack Robinson, Luke Davis, Tyler Wright, and more surfing at locations all over the globe.
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