Surfportugal Awards- Maria Abecasis crowned the best surfer of the year

During the annual party of SurPortugal (the surf mag), this year in Peniche, Maria Abecasis was crowned the best portuguese surfer of the year.
This time, the juries were all the internauts that voted in the poll, and Maria got more votes than Francisca Santos, Ana Sarmento, Joana Rocha and Francisca Sousa.
This year she improved so much her surf technique and that explains how she got three finals in this year’s national surf tour.
In this party, we highlight the presence of the ex team rider and surf icon Rabbit Bartholomew, that came to Portugal to watch the Rip Curl Pro Search.
Congratulations Maaariiia. Keep on moving.

Maria Abecasis surfing in Nicaragua, the last Lightning Bolt surftrip
photos: Ricardo Bravo

Surfer Magazine Covers - Special Edition tees

For the Style Masters line, Lightning Bolt has recently launched a special edition of tees and longsleeves using vintage Surfer magazine covers.
This special edition is a tribute to some of the greatest Lightning Bolt surfers that made this brand a legend in the 70’s, namely the founder Gerry Lopez and Mark Richards.

Surfer magazine is one of the oldest and biggest surfing magazines in the world, published around Dana Point and San Clemente, California.
“The magazine was founded by John Severson in 1960 as a program to accompany his yearly surf films. Severson's photography, art and sense of humor set the pace for the future of Surfer, which quickly grew to be a reflection of the sport and culture, as well as a sounding board for surfers and environmental activists. Today it is recognized as the premier surfing publication.” In wikipedia.

The “Surfer” model uses a cover originally issued on May 1979, featuring Pipeline master and Lightning Bolt founder, Gerry Lopez, riding the tube with his charismatic gun.

This design is available in t-shirt (white or black) and longsleeve.

The “Toon” model presents a Surfer magazine cover originally issued on December 1982, featuring a graphic illustration of a Mark Richard’s action shot, the Lightning Bolt team rider and four times world champion (1979-1982). This memorable fold-out cover tries to capture the atmosphere of the pro surfing tour.

This t-shirt is available in yellow (buttercup), orange (red clay) and brown (Java).

Fancy Dressed surfers at the Retro Board Challenge

Last weekend saw yet another hugely successful charity Retro Board Challenge take place in East Wittering, with 50 fancy dressed surfers competing and hundreds of spectators watching on the beach.
The A1Surf.com Retro Board Challenge in association with Wittering Surf Shop was held in small waves and sunshine, with a record turn-out of competitors. Despite the small conditions, the surfers literally threw themselves into the spirit of the event, taking to the water on 9ft swell boards which allowed some new school moves you won’t even see on the ASP Dream Tour, including the ‘Ninja Chop’ , ‘the Cartwheel’ and the ‘Gun Show’.

A weird and wonderful collection of fancy dress costumes were on display during the day, including Bart Simpson, a scarecrow, Pamela Anderson, James Bond and even Laird Hamilton.

The final was hotly competed on the rising tide, with some of the best waves of the day being ridden right to the beach in front of the huge crowd of spectators. The finalists were the Silver Surfer (Olly Smith), the Ninja (Cliff Cox), Elton John (Peter Engelfield) and a Soldier (Matt Reed). In the end it was the Silver Surfer who was triumphant, with the Ninja in second place, Elton John in third and the Soldier taking the fourth spot. A groms comp was also run, with local groms from the Witterings and Brighton competing in fancy dress also, which was won by Kieran Munroe.
The event raised hundreds of pounds which is donated to the RNLI Selsey Lifeboat Station and Surfers Against Sewage.
And this year saw the day rounded off with a ‘retro party’, held at the nearby Shore Inn in a huge marquee. Brighton band Cover Note played an awesome three hour set and a Hawaiian Buffet kept everyone in the party mood. David Somerville from A1Surf.com said: “We were so pleased with this year’s event and stoked to have raised this money for the charities. “Although the surf was small, the guys proved that surf competitions can be a lot of fun. “I would like to thanks everyone who made it such a special day, in particular our sponsors – Lightning Bolt, Xcel Wetsuits, Ocean & Earth, Chilled Turtle, Santa Cruz – and also Shore Surf Club for their fantastic judges, beach marshals and tabulators.” Nick Cheshire from Wittering Surf Shop said: “Each year people are starting to realise that this event isn’t about the waves, but about getting the surfing community together, having fun and having a party.

“This year a lot of the original Witterings surf crew entered the comp and it was the first time they had surfed together since the 70’s.”
For more information about A1Surf.com please contact David Somerville on 01273 837733 or email david@a1surf.com.

Team riders chase the last wildcard for the Rip Curl Pro Search

Next Sunday, 18th October, sixteen portuguese surfers will dispute the trials to the last entry in Rip Curl Pro Search, Supertubos, Peniche. Among them, there are three Lightning Bolt team riders: Alexandre “Xaninho” Ferreira, Miguel Ximenez and the team manager David Raimundo.
The other surfers they will face are: David Luis, Edgar Nozes, Nuno Silva, António Ribeiro, João Guedes, Vasco Ribeiro, Frederico Morais, César Rosa, Acácio Grandela, Ruben Gonzalez, Justin Mujica, Eduardo Fernandes and João Antunes. The trials will happen during the morning, starting in the quarter-finals and with four men heats. This is a great opportunity for our Portuguese team riders, as they can show their talent all over the world. Check this blog to keep upadated.

The super hiper mega powerful Alexandre Ferreira
David Raimundo, the team manager surfing in Nicaragua
Miguel Ximenez waiting for the tube, Nicaragua

The Buntabout contest, powered by Lightning Bolt

When it comes to the purest roots of what surfing is all about, nothing sums it up better than an event that has been held for the last 30 years in St Agnes on Cornwall's west coast. Organised by local board manufacturer Best Ever's Steve Bunt and daughter Nicola, The Buntabout brings together the local surfing community across generations with boys and girls as young as eight up to the grand veterans in their fifties.

This year's event was once again blessed with a beautiful sunny day and highly contestable surf at Chapel Porth for the Ladies, Longboard, Masters and Open divisions. The junior divisions had competed the weekend before at Trevaunance Cove, but Contest Director Minnow Green had made the right call in holding off the Seniors in hope of better conditions. Standouts of the day were under 18 winner Morgan Elston that went on to take 3rd place in the Open with a convincing display of powerful moves, and Paul 'Gib' Dye proved that he's lost none of his flair in winning the Masters. In the Open final European Longboard Champion Ben Skinner went down a few board sizes and showed his versatility with a repertoire of fast fluid surfing, but it was not quite good enough and the judges decision went with last year's winner Robin Kent, surfing the wave he knows inside out.Open Winner Robin Kent
Dritwood Spars Barstaff with their new tees
On Sunday evening the Driftwood Spars Hotel was packed full for the prize giving celebrations, concluding what was once again a most memorable occassion. Not only was it a great event, but once again money was raised for the Precious Lives Appeal.Lightning Bolt is proud to be associated with The Buntabout and supported them in supplying the prizes for the Masters Division. Watch out for Gibby (right side) in his new Polar Fleece Jacket.

Retro Board Challenge returns

The A1Surf.com Retro Challenge in association with Wittering Surf Shop is back for another year on Saturday 10th October at East Wittering.

This legendary charity surf competition will see 50 invited surfers take on each other in a battle to be crowned ‘The Retro Board Challenge Champion’. The two main differences from a usual surf comp is that the surfers have to use retro surfboards (from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s) which are given to them at random before each heat, and they have to wear fancy dress!
As well as bringing together the south coast surfing community for a chilled-out surf competition, the event will also raise money for the local Selsey RNLI Lifeboat Station and Surfers Against Sewage.
And this year’s event will see the fun continue into the evening with a charity ‘Retro Party’ at the nearby Shore Inn. The party will see live bands, dancing and more inside a large marquee. Tickets cost just £5 in advance from Wittering Surf Shop. There will be no tickets on the door.
David Somerville, from A1Surf.com said: “The reaction to last year’s event was amazing so we just had to do it again.
“We’re keen to bring together local surfers in a comp that’s all about fun and also helps raise money for two really worthy charities. We hope people come down to watch the comp then join us to party in the evening. Last year we raised over £500 for charity and we are hoping to do even more this time.”
“Nick Cheshire, from Wittering Surf Shop said: “I’ve been collecting retro surfboards for years now and for too long they have been kept in storage.
“This contest is an excellent excuse to get them out, dust them off and wax them up. It’s great to see people enjoying surfing them…. and in fancy dress too!”.
Lightning Bolt will be there represented by our agent in UK, Brian Hart, and he will offer some gifts for sure.
Don’t miss it
More info, visit the event’s schedule on Facebook.
An image from last year's edition

Vintage Surfboards Exhibition – Lège Cap Ferret

For those old surfboards lovers, or those who want to find out more about the history and culture of surf culture, or even just for those that want to meet old friends, we suggest you a vintage surfboards exhibition in Lège-Cap-Ferret next Saturday (3rd October) in the Surf Experience atelier.

Longboards from the sixties, singles, mini-guns, twins from the seventies, and some thrusters from the eighties are just some of the relics.

Pour les passionnés de vieilles planches, ou ceux qui voudraient découvrir un peu plus l'histoire et la culture surf et faire des rencontres conviviales, nous vous invitons à cette première journée "planches vintages" le 3 octobre, à partir de 14h à l'atelier Surf Experience sur Lège Cap Ferret.
Longboards des années 60, singles, mini-guns et twins des années 70, et quelque thrusters obscurs du début des années 80, il y aura de quoi vous intéresser!

One Lightning Bolt single fin swallow tail