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
When Miguel Ximenez arrived to Maldives, his friends told that he thought he was a plane. He actually wanted to change his surname to Boeing 777. Check for yourself, Miguel warming up the engines in Chickes.
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 first two days of competition were just perfect for all Lightning Bolt team riders running Eurosurf 2009.
Despite the tough conditions with small waves, Alexandre Ferreira and Miguel Ximenez (surf open contest) already advanced two rounds and probably they are today running the third round. Also in the surf senior contest, David Raimundo made the best score of the first round heats, as he got a 15,67 leaving behind John McCarthy and Erwin Duin. In the surf ladies contest, our youngest team rider there, made it to the second round also with the first place in the first round. Stay tuned at http://www.eurosurfing.org/eurosurf/Alexandre "Xaninho" Ferreira placed first both in round 1 and round 2 heats photo: David Ferguson
After the last 6 stars in Lacanau, the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) caravan is on its way for the first ever ASP sanctioned event to run in the Azores archipelago, three hours off the Portuguese coast in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, on Sao Miguel Island. A beautiful island completely surrounded by unexplored green fields. This ASP WQS 6-Star rated event is starting today and running till Sunday, August 30, 2009. The show brings also some of the WCT stars like Tiago Pires or Aritz Aranburu. Being the seventh of eleven events counting for this year's ASP WQS European Series, the Azores Islands Pro will host an international field of competitors, with 144 athletes answering the call for the premiere. As the year keeps going and the international ratings' race is heating up, the ASP WQS Top 15 will be looking for valuable points counting for their ASP World Tour qualifying campaign. Miguel Ximenez, our Portuguese team rider, will be running the round of 144 in the heat#20 and he’ll face Erice Rebiere (Fra), Nat Young (USA) and Robertson Gonçalves (Prt). Current regional No. 1 and international No. 10 Joan Duru (Ondres, FRA), will be much awaited for his start in the event that could give the 19-year-old surfer another precious result for his ASP Top 45 dream to come tru. Duru, who has had an excellent year, leads the European contingent on the international stage at this stage and is in good position to join fellow European stars on next year's ASP Dream Tour.
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star Relentless Boardmasters in association with Vans will kick-off today at Newquay in England, one of the United Kingdom’s most renowned surf cities, for another edition of the prestigious contest that has seen some of the world’s best surfers raise its coveted trophy for over twenty years now.
Scheduled at the start of the month of August and opening a series of five consecutive events that will run through mid-september, the Relentless Boardmasters promises to showcase surfing’s finest World Qualifying Series (WQS) athletes with current ASP WQS ratings’ leader Daniel Ross (AUS) leading the assault.
Our team rider Miguel Ximenez from Portugal will start in the heat 17 of the first round (round of 96). In his heat, it’s only confirmed till now João Guedes (PRT).
Between 9 and 12 July, the 18th WQS event (4th European) will take place in Cordoama beach in Algarve, Portugal. Miguel Ximenez and Alexandre Ferreira are the team riders in charge to carry Lightning Bolt to a good result. We hope that they can show their real surf level and can improve their last results.
Click in the promo image to visit the event’s official website
After the trailer, nothing better than the first movie clip of the surftrip to Morocco. To remind you, we leave you a short description of this mission: In this mission, Lightning Team riders will fight morrocan best waves. An authentic espionage adventure that isn’t as fictional as the counter terrorist unit in the 24 tv series. Our Jack Bauer, the team captain is David Raimundo, but the other unit elements are crucial to discover the best waves to surf in this African surf paradise. Starring: David Raimundo, Miguel Ximenez, Joana Machado, Maria Abecasis, José Ferreira, Nuande Pekel, Miguel Blanco, João Kopke Running Time: 25 minutes
With the first stop on the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series successfully concluded in a remote corner of Tasmania, it’s now up to the other end of the earth for the Cold Water Classic Scotland. Staying true to its ethos of scouring the globe for the remote locations holding world-class waves, the Cold Water Classic Series is hosting the northernmost event in professional surfing in a choice of barreling fast reef breaks and powerful beachbreaks. The second CWC event, a 6-star World Qualifying Series (WQS), will start 29-April till 6-May. The Lightning Bolt team rider Miguel Ximenez is ready to surf with his kilt to go through some tough heats. Miguel please don’t take your scotch bottle to the heats. We know it’s very tempting, but you can always wait for the night parties. God Bless the moustache surf man. Swell charts indicate an awesome start to the Cold Water Classic in Scotland. Stay tunned at the official event website
The Protest Vendée Pro, an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 4-Star Men's event, will start April 6 at La Sauzaie on the West coast of France kicking off the 2009 ASP European Tour. La Sauzaie, one of the best reefs of France renowned to deliver some consistent and hollow waves when the surf reaches the three to four foot (1 to 1.2 meter) range, will welcome some of the world’s best surfers competing for the valuable 1500 ratings' points and US$ 85 000 prizepurse on offer.
Lightning Bolt Team Riders, both portuguese Alexandre Ferreira and Miguel Ximenez will try to improve their last season’s result.Stay tunned at http://www.aspeurope.com/
WHERE? Cascais, Portugal and all over the world wherever the best surf spots are
WHY? New Lightning Bolt Team Rider
WHAT? Pro Surfer competing on the World Qualifying Series
Portugal’s most prominent surfer may well be WCT rookie Tiago Pires (Saca), but we’re proud to welcome one of the most promising riders in the country onto the Lightning Bolt Team, Miguel Ximenez.Competing on the WQS tour for the second year at only 22 years old, Ximenez already has some great achievements in his short career. He was National under-18 champion, European under-18 runner up, National under-20 champion and also won the men’s category at the Eurosurf 2005. Besides that, Ximenez was two-time champion for the National team in the World Surfing Games in 2005 and 2007.
We caught up with him in Cascais, his hometown, and asked him some questions after a freezing day surfing: Please don’t tell us that you’ve surfed since you were three…… Not really. The first time I grabbed a surfboard and stepped into the water I was 10 years old and it was at Guincho. It didn’t go very well… but at that time I didn’t have my own surfboard. My first board was a gift from my father when I was twelve. I used to go to the beach a lot with my friends and they all surfed, that helped me to carry on! And you realised early on that you weren’t surfing just for the lifestyle and to meet girls… I began competing when I was a kid… I used to read many surf magazines and always dreamt of being in one of them one day. It only happened at the age of 19, when I won the Eurosurf. As I developed my surfing in national competitions, I started thinking of going international, and when I was 20 I decided to dedicate 100% of my time to surfing. I was admitted to the Communication course at university but I gave up and went surfing! What do you like the most at the contests? I enjoy pushing my limits further and beating the tougher adversaries. And when you’re not «working»? I like to keep on having fun free surfing! Beside, when I’m at home and I’m not surfing, I like being with my friends. Though, these last two years my life revolves only around surf. Who are your surf prophets? There are a couple of people I really admire… Saca (Tiago Pires) and Kelly Slater. I admire the fact that they combine together work, dedication and talent. We already know that you spent most of your time travelling and you surely have a thousand favourite spots, but can you vote for just one? Guincho Beach. I’ve always lived just around the corner and I love it! Of all you’ve done, can you choose one surf trip that has a special meaning for you? I loved the surf trip to Australia, but Indonesia was also a place that I will never forget, as it was my first journey. Where would you like to go now? Recently I did one of my dream surf trips. I went to Peru with the Lightning Bolt team. It is still not a known destination for Europeans. The north of Peru, in the region of Mancora, Chicama and Pacasamayo, has fabulous surf spots with very long consistent lefts. Though we didn’t catch waves at their maximum potential, we could get the feeling! Sponsors are essential for you to keep on surfing. This year you’ll be sponsored by Lightning Bolt. How did it happen? The proposal came through David Raimundo, the Lightning Bolt Europe team leader and a very good friend of mine. I weighed up the pros and cons and decided I had a lot to win by joining the brand and I’m really happy now. What about your biggest ambition… I’d like to win this year’s National Open and to achieve good results at a world level. Life motto? With hard work, you can make it! How do you see yourself in twenty years form now? I imagine myself married with kids, with a stable life and surfing. I don’t know whether I’ll have a future surfing at a professional level, but I’ll definitely be surfing.
