Surfing: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Features

Back in 2018, a sandy-haired grom from Durban won the Boys U14 division at the WSL Junior Series event in Ballito, South Africa. Seven years later, Luke Thompson again found himself atop the podium by navigating the shifty, dumbing beachbreak at the 2025 Ballito Pro Challenger Series event.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 6

Sneaker Wave Sweeps Beachgoers into Rocks in Spain (Video)

A handful of beachgoers in Spain, simply minding their own business, were caught up in a literal whirlwind when a rogue wave smashed along the shore, sending people flailing across the sand and into some nearby rocks.

Michael Ho News / SURFER / July 6

Mason Ho Gets Harry Bryant On New Mayhems, Takes Him to the Infamous Rock Garden

As discussed in the latest print edition of SURFER Magazine (on newsstands now), Harry Bryant has no problem jumping on any type/shape/length of equipment to enjoy time in the water.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 5

Insane Rip Current Hits Newport Beach, Over 350 Rescued (Video)

With a healthy south-southwest swell percolating in the water ahead of the fourth of July weekend, coupled with the masses of beachgoers heading to the water to celebrate the holiday, lifeguards were on high alert.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 5

Babacar Thiaw: From Fisherman’s Son to Head of Surfrider Senegal

There are two types of mariners in this world: Those who force their children into the family business and those who give them a choice, but implore them to do anything but.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 5

Sumatran Score: Aussie Stylists Take On The Telos Islands

As an aging freelance surf creative, seeing out the creeping shadows of my post-mag-making career, I’ve been lucky to connect with a great crew out in Sumatra’s Telo Islands who are putting together a deluxe little resort – help ’em out with their branding, comms and what have you.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 4

The Subtle Nuances of Building a Top-Notch Noserider

As someone with shortboards and thrusters taking up most of my quiver, I’m guilty of longboard prejudice. I assumed all 8-foot-plus boards were made from one template.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 4

How to Surf (and Survive) the Las Vegas Vibes of Waikiki

I dinged Isaiah Moniz’s surfboard. A gorgeous twin-fin, not much bigger than five-foot, with a psychedelic design of turquoise, orange, green, and aquamarine hues, all swirling in a kaleidoscopic fresco.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 4

Never Tried Foiling? Here's Everything You Need To Know

The hydrofoil revolution has been ongoing for some time now, so much so that it is hardly a revolution anymore. Foiling is just here, and it is not going anywhere, especially as more people are open to experimenting with how to make the most out of the ocean and all sorts of conditions.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 3

'It Was A Miracle', How Surfing Helped A Boy Learn To Walk

For the last 34 years Francisco Araña (Cisco) has been sharing the stoke of surfing with anyone that comes his way via his Escola Radical Surfe (Radical Surf School) in Santos, Brazil.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 3

Rare Tidal Wave Cloud Creates Panic in Portugal (Video)

A viral video has been bopping around, with scenes like a disaster movie, as beachgoers in Portugal begin to flee the beach when an ominous, tsunami-like cloud begins to crash over the sand.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 3

Tsunami Drones Deployed at Surf Beach in Japan

In 2011, Japan was rocked by a 9.0 undersea earthquake and resulting tsunami. It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan, and the waves it generated spanned up to 30-feet high before making landfall.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 2

Beloved Los Angeles Surfer, Artist Tragically Dies

The peninsular community of Palos Verdes, south of Los Angeles proper, and others far and wide across the surfing world, are mourning the death of Zen Del Rio.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 2

Iconic Surfer, Inventor Doc Scott Honored in Santa Cruz (Photos)

The clouds parted, and the sun peeked out. Perfect timing for a celebration of life, honoring Bob “Doc” Scott, a legendary Santa Cruz surfer and inventor, who was memorialized on Monday with a traditional paddle-out at Lighthouse Point.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 1

Albee Layer Savors Jaws Swell Bender In ‘Less Than Easy’

“I am anything but satisfied with the surfing I’ve done here in my lifetime,” Albee Layer concludes at the end of his recent work, “Less Than Easy”. “I’m not even close to being done with what I want to do.” Albee’s got one helluva motor.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 1

Filipe Toledo Unloads In Freesurfing Highlight Reel (Video)

Filipe Toledo, the two-time WSL world champion, just dropped nearly 20 minutes of unseen freesurfing footage from his year off the Championship Tour in 2024.

Rob Machado News / SURFER / July 1

Inside Rob Machado's $250,000 'Rogue Wave' Sprinter Van

In the opening segment of Pat Stacy’s 2022 film The Color of Winter, featuring Rob Machado and the waves of North County San Diego, we get an inside look at Rob’s famous 1978 Dodge van, affectionately known as "The Creeper".

Surfing News / SURFER / July 1

Surfing In Ghana? Yes, Meet The Krokobite Beach Super Hero

It was two months ago when a photographer by the name of Nico Therin reached out to me with stunning photos from Ghana, of the surf scene at Kokrobite Beach, just 25km outside of the capital of Accra.

Surfing News / SURFER / July 1

The Wave of Your Life's a Matter of Perspective

Is there a single ride that's seared in your synapses? One wave to rule them all? An epic barrel perhaps? A solitary score at sunset? Or maybe that magic moment with your family all racing shoreward together?

Surfing News / SURFER / July 1

Man Who Helped 9-Year-Old Shark Attack Victim Arrested by ICE

A man who rushed into the water to help rescue a nine-year-old shark attack victim has been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Luis Alvarez, 31, was driving in the early hours of the morning on June 14th in Collier County, Florida when he was pulled over for not having his headlights on.

Surfing News / SURFER / June 30

Watch: The Dizzying Swatch Nines Surf Highlight Reel

One of the many things that stood out from the 2025 Swatch Nines Surf event was how skilled and efficient the filmers, photographers and editors were. It’s a three-day event in late June in Waco, Texas.