Bolt surfing Costa Rica – More Action

Txaber Trojaola flying over Pavones as a start.
More two days of “Pura Vida”
After finally arriving at Rancho Burica at night, really close to Pavones, we still managed to feel that we were close to paradise, and we also had a really great reception, with a fabulous meal. We woke up surrounded by the sound of waterfalls, beautiful flowers and a huge flora diversity.
Now we realized why the locals were considered the happiest people in the world.
It was time to start surfing Pavones, a really long left so fun to surf. We spent the days surfing, shooting, eating, exercising, and sleeping beneath the palm trees.
At night all the riders want to check the photos, the footage and the rest of time with some drinks and party to relax.
French team rider Léa Mengual

Rory “The Dog” always surrounded by his worldwide friends
Also amazing is the fauna in here. We already saw parrots, iguanas, monkeys, crocodiles, and so many others.
The nearest village is Punta Banco, where you only have a school, a church and a mini-supermarket, but who needs more when you’re enjoying this natural born paradise and such fun waves.
The best photos are still to come, hided in Ricardo Bravo’s camera.
Justin “Bridou” Delanne, our french team rider was for sure one of the most active team riders

Pekel riding the Palm Tree. Below Gege Brasset (left) and Txaber Trojaola


Pekel, the portuguese team rider


The nature is the queen in Costa Rica. Even in shops you must be aware of that.


Surf is not everything. Another way of riding waves.

Lightning Bolt surfing in Costa Rica – the first pictures

The first session in Playa Hermosa
These are really out of the box pictures from Costa Rica, and only from the first two days of this Lightning Bolt Surftrip, that just started this week.
Some of our european team riders are now surfing the South Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, and they are staying right close to Pavones, one of the best surf spots of the country.
The big Bolt crew headed by the Pipeline Master Rory Russell is:
From Portugal: Nuande “Silva” Pekel, Miguel Ximenez and Joana Machado
From France: Gege Brasset, Justin Delanne and Léa Mengual
From Spain: The basque rider Txaber Trojaola
We are still waiting to receive the best photos, and as you can see, we believe there’s some swell to be ripped.
Close to a huge crater in Volcan Poas

One of the best hosting friends you can have – The Crocodile
They were trying to visit the crater, and their confidence was huge…
After 8 hours of driving, almost reaching Rancho Burica.

A classic of any surftrip – Txaber Trojaola hard working
Rory “The Dog” Russell with the surfshop owner Chuck Erwig
And also working hard for his fans

Miguel Ximenez, the portuguese team Rider facing the foam wall.
For now that’s all, but stay tunned as the best is still to come.
ALOHA

Burritos del Mar – Dans le tube Mexicain

Après 1 mois de voyage en solo, 10 jours à Hawaii et 3 semaines en Californie, nous nous retrouvons a L.A. Tim arrive de Tahiti et Makina du Pays Basque.
Nous voila partis direction Mexico.
Premier stop, le nord du pays, entre le cocotier 28 et le cactus 432. Viennent alors les retrouvailles avec l’équipe : Tonio, Geoff, Adri, Bastien, Romain, Anne-Cécile, Coline et en guest Parpain et Greg.
Notre plus gros rassemblement de Français de ces 3 derniers mois.
Au programme: quelques jeux entre potes, surf et  "barrels" le matin, torta de pollo à midi,  jeu de carte «No me fodech», rigolade et "cagoama familiar" pour finir la journée.
Résumé: les potes, des barrels et du fun, la vie au jour le jour sans stress!!!
Après 3 semaines posées là, Tim, Makina et moi prenons le bus pour le sud. 4h de route le long de la côte pacifique à traverser des kilomètres de plage et beachbreaks quasi vierges pour arriver au village de la Ticla.
Rencontre improbable et inattendue de Hans et Isabelle de retour dans ce pays. Une belle retrouvaille pleine de vérité et de simplicité pour nous trois.
Niveau surf, le manque de houle sur ce spot imposa un "search" sur la côte.
Tim et Makina connaissent un «secret spot» plus exposé à la houle. Ainsi, nous voila dans la benne du taxi avec planches, couvertures, coussins et provisions pour 4 jours de camping à la belle étoile. Secret spot on ne peut divulguer le nom de cette vague "powerful".
La vague est puissante et rapide, nous avons installé un campement de hamac avec notre stock d’avocats, de tostadas, de sauce pimentée et la pleine lune pour nous bercer autour du feu…qu’un mot à dire: MAGIQUE!!!!
Après ces moments hors du temps, nous décidons d’entamer un road trip jusqu’à Puerto Escondido. Par chance, nous rencontrons Matt, un californien passant l’hiver au Mexique dans son 4x4 aménagé, qui lui aussi, descendait à Puerto. il nous embarquait alors pour l’aventure. Comme je persiste à croire que le hasard n’existe pas et qu’il n’y as que des coïncidences, cette rencontre en était la preuve et le voyage fabuleux.
Les planches sur le toit, Makina dans la cabine arrière, un hollandais recueillit avec nous, le chien sur la banquette, nous voila en route pour Nexpa. Une semaine au top avec un crew soudé et déterminé…Panoramix, Asterix, Obelix, makina et moi le koala, nous sommes prêts à vivre tout ce qui viendra à nous. Jah Knows!!!Jah Knows!!! Comme le son dans la voiture, réglé au maximum et à répétition dans le truck. Nous faisons étape à Zihuatanejo et Acapulco avant d’atteindre notre destination finale: Puerto Escondido dans une ambiance festive et survoltée.
Tous curieux et impatients de surfer le Pipe mexicain, l’excitation est palpable chez chacun d’entre nous, mais c’est une autre réalité que nous découvrons…
Un spot surpeuplé, des vagues qui ferment énormément, une surf city au Mexique décalé du reste du pays. Une ambiance très différente de ce que nous avons vécu ces dernières semaines…
Le choix est fait, nous partons à "Barra de la Cruz" pour nos derniers jours de voyage et retrouvons cette authenticité mexicaine, "cabanas" à 50 pesos, "tortas de camaron" délicieuses, et gens accueillants; même si le spot est très prisé depuis le WCT Rip Curl, une ambiance plus tranquille est palpable.
Nous terminons ainsi notre voyage de 2mois au Mexique avec la satisfaction d’avoir vécu des moments formidables, intenses, et d’avoir bien "cruiser" dans ce pays merveilleux.

Israel Rocha, new team rider

The first photo that he sent us. With two good friends…
photo: Giovanna Marcondes
As we are now preparing our reentry in Brazil, we are stoked to announce new brazilian team rider, Israel Rocha.
Israel Rocha is 26 anos, started surfing 14 years ago and he lives in the south of Brazil, Florianópolis, really close to one of the best surf spots in the area, Praia do Santinho. That’s the spot where they have most of the local contest and even WQS and Pro Junior events.
His surf style is classic and he likes manoeuvres like tail slides, snaps, off the lips and smooth cut backs. He’s not a new school fan. “I like to enjoy all the wave line and do it till the end”
He defines himself as a very peaceful guy, as he loves nature and also he’s a fan of yoga, running and football.
Right now Israel is on a surftrip in South Africa till 7-June, and his main anchors will be Plettenberg Bay, on the first month, and then the famous Jeffreys Bay till the end of the trip.
His first impressions about the trip are mainly about the fauna “Although almost everybody talks about the huge fauna diversity in South Africa, I am really surprised with the harmony that I found between the nature and people”, says him.
Yesterday, when he was surfing perfect waves in “Loockout Point”, Plettenberg Bay, he saw about 40 or 50 dolphins.
But right after he got really scared, as he saw a giant black shadow below him in the water. He thought it was a white shark, very common there, but then he saw there were two big ray fish. When he got back home, he met lots of monkeys.
Soon we will publish more photos and stories about his surftrip.

Surftrip to Bali – Hadrien and Léa Mengual

On February it was time for Hadrien Ballion and Léa Mengual, our youngest french team riders, to spend one month exploring Bali. The surfers from Bordeaux just loved the trip.
 
Léa Mengual, our new french team rider adapted really fast to indonesian waves
 
Hadrien was very focused making the best fans

“This surftrip was incredible. 1 month in the sun, warm water and all time good waves. Never less than 3 feet. We were 5 friends, there were good vibes. We didn’t stay at one place. We visited all the island (the waterfalls, the inner land, rice fields etc). But we stayed a lot of time in Uluwatu for this perfect left. The people from Bali are really friendly and peaceful. The nightlife in Kuta was great too. A really nice experience and I want to be there again” by Hadrien Ballion
 

Hawaii – More Surf

 Pedro Soares presenting his board in Hawaii – Vertical mode.

The best thing of surfing in Hawaii, is that you always find a great spot even if the wind is bad on most spots. That day we had to go to Puena Point, where they film Lost series and one of the few spots with good conditions.
 Gege Brasset, our french team rider always with beautiful carves.

 David Raimundo, the portuguese team rider was one of the most enthusiastic, when the “surf” was about to begin.

Jord Fortmann directly from the Orange country (Holland) on a very deep bottom turn.

Again Jeremy “Gege” Brasset very concentrated at work


Pedro Soares, the portuguese team rider, showed his best surf in his first trip to Hawaii

 
Jord Fortmann (left) and Nicolas Pinot (right) on the rocks to start again

 
Gege Brasset explaining live how to draw the line

Hawaii-Return to the Source-First Day

Finally we had time to post the first day photos. As the waves are so good, we still didn’t have time to spend in the internet. Soon, the first surf shots. Today, the team is surfing at Sunset Beach that is 15-20 feet.
THE CREW Left to right clockwise: Nicolas Pinot, Joshua Paskowitz, Paulo Couto, Kara Smith, Dominique, Jord Fortmann, Gege Brasset, Txaber Trojaola, David Raimundo, Dustin Franks, Alexandre “MadXano” Ferreira.
THE HOUSE
 THE PARTY
 Left to right clockwise: Margarida, Maria João, Nicolas Pinot, Paulo Machado, Jonathan Paskowitz, Dustin Franks, Nick Walker, Kara, Eric

FIRST SPOT-HYKILAY
 
SECOND SPOT-PIPELINE
 

Jeje Brasset surfing around the Pacific Ocean

Jeje Brasset, our french team rider is now on his dreamed surftrip. He’s travelling five months to surf the best spots in the Pacific. Fuckin lucky guy. He leaves us his first impressions:
" I am in a five month free surftrip around Pacific Ocean with two of my best friends, going first to Indonesia. We already have been to G-land and Lakey Peak in Sumbawa, scoring pumping wave without crowd.

 In a few weeks we are going to Australia to catch up with two of our best friends, Antoine Cardonnet and Thibault Dussarat.
After Oz we will fly all the way to Tahiti and spend one month in this paradise island, then we'll go to California and will cruise down to Mexico. 
I will then end this trip in Hawaii with the Bolt Team.

We all three had a strong working time this summer to go on this adventure, it’s a dream coming true, we are living what we have deep inside since we first jumped on a surfboard, going for a half year trip with your best friend; remember endless summer, it’s our time now, we are living it!!!

So the crew, I am with Tim and Makina, easiest and funniest friends I can travel with,
Tim is 23 nice looking gentleman, with his moustache, always spreading love to everybody everywhere he is going. Also he is a really famous french longboarder, number five last year at the World Longboard Tour, and he is improving his shortboard attack on indonesian waves with my boards. 

It’s so good to see him ripping the waves like this and enjoying all those feelings.

Makina is 23, strong and clever guy, he is the engineer, that’s why we call him the Machine, he is surfing better and better everyday, never afraid of how high are the waves or how shallow is the reef under his feet. Always going and always frontside, he loves trying new things,he loves spicy food but really really spicy.
So all together we have been to G-Land, Sumbawa and Bali, have spent great time with locals, have ridden fantastic waves and had times that we will never forget!!!
It’s just the beginning of our trip, buts its already an incredible journey that we are living together!!!"

Notre french  ambassadeur  Jeremy Brasset est parti avec son pote Timothée Creignoux rider les plus beaux spots de la planète.
Une halte en Indonésie (un mois quand même) et quelques tubes sur Uluwatu, ensuite nos compères se rendent en Australie afin de rencontrer Thibault Dussarat et Antoine Cardonnet. Quel programme en perspective ?
Thématique Vintage pour ce séjour Australien. Avec sa board shapée par Graham Smith (notre shaper officiel avec Craig Hollingsworth et Rory Russell), ils vont  certainement se la jouer remake de « Freeride » sur la balançoire, Jouer au cricket, ou encore course de Kangourous….
Il s’en suivra une session  « Tahitian dream » pour quelques semaines, puis La Californie. Enfin une session Photos Shooting à Hawaii est prévu au quartier général Lightning Bolt en direct de chez Rory Russell.
D’ici là nous aurons d’autres news en direct des frenchies…

Pedro Soares takes Carcavelos Surf school to Maldives

Headed by team rider Pedro Soares, the Carcavelos surf school in Portugal, joined some of its athletes and some others guest surfers to surf one week in Maldives.
Despite the rain during almost all days, their expectations were held as they managed to surf very consistent spots like Chickens, Jails and Cokes.

Pedro Soares flying in Jails, as if he was in a rodeo
photo: Francisco Rivotti
Pedro Soares spreading the ocean in Cokes
photo: Francisco Rivotti
Pedro Soares very vertical in Chickens
photo: Francisco Rivotti
The team at their home,the Ensis Bounty
photo: Francisco Rivotti

Bolt Magazine – The third issue – Printed and online version

The third Bolt Magazine issue is now ready and already flying to reach all the surfshops in Europe where we sell our products.
In this issue we highlight our team riders surftrip to Nicaragua, where they surfed the big waves of Iguana beach and Popoyo in the pacific coast.
Also great are the Autumn-Winter pictures, taken in the southwest coast of Portugal (Costa Vicentina) and in one of the best portuguese surf spots, Guincho, close to Lisbon.

In California we interviewed Dustin Franks, the charimastic soul surfer and songwriter and now our ambassador in USA.
We still got time to hear some stories of Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, the famous American surfer who follows a very unconventional, even polemic for some, way of living, and in Portugal we were lucky to photograph the charming Rita Andrade.
Don’t miss also the new french team rider profile, Jeremy “Jeje” Brasset and lots of other news that are describing the Bolt track in the last semester.
This issue is free and will be available in all the shops that sell Lightning Bolt products.
If you are not able to get the printed version, don’t worry.

You also can read it or download it. Just click here

We hope you enjoy it.