Surf Academy has a handful of copies of this beautifully done surfy+travel photography book Sipping Jetstreams by Dustin Humphrey and one has your name on it! Tag a friend on their instagram post and 10 winners will be picked by 6pm on 9/20.

From the markets and souks of Marrakech in Morocco to the blue of the Atlantic in Barbados, from Japan to Cuba, Italy, Hong Kong, and Egypt, Sipping Jetstreams is a photographic journey of discovery and adventure. This two-year odyssey focuses not just on the surfing but the places and faces of each destination.

Small waves on this Saturday morning, but here's a few photos anyways of those that were out there. These photos are by Six12 Media.









There's some more photos from this morning, all full size and in high-resolution, in the complete Topanga - Saturday 9-16-2017 Gallery.

No wind, but small waves, and just a couple people out in the water. Here's a couple photos from mid-morning, nothing. These photos are by Six12 Media.








There's a couple more photos, all full size and in high-resolution, in the complete Ocean Park - Saturday 9-16-2017 Gallery.

Smaller sized waves than predicted, but fun nonetheless. These photos are by Six12 Media.











There's a lot more photos from this morning, all full size and in high-resolution, in the complete Topanga - Friday 9-15-2017 Gallery.

After a quiet last couple weeks, the East Pacific tropics have stirred in the last 24 hours. We have three features that we're watching this afternoon: Tropical Depression 15, well to the southwest of Cabo; Tropical Storm Max, moving onshore near Acapulco; and Tropical Storm Norma, which is a couple hundred miles south of Cabo.

TD 15 and Tropical Storm Max do not look like swell makers (outside of some very localized swell and weather around Acapulco), with better swell potential from Norma for southern Baja and northern Mexico in the next few days. There is even some SoCal swell potential in the long term.

For the time being will base the swell forecast on the official track of Norma from the National Hurricane Center, which takes Norma on a slow northerly track over the next couple days while strengthening. Landfall in Southern Baja is possible late this weekend or early next week. Under this scenario, strong southerly swell will build over the weekend (with moderate SE swell on Friday). There is potential for heavy wind and rain later in the weekend through early next week.

Southern California swell potential looks minimal based on the current forecast track from the National Hurricane center, as Norma would never enter our swell window. However, as was aforementioned, there is considerable uncertainty on Norma's track beyond 48 hours and at least one of our more trusted models does indicate that Norma could move into our swell window early next week. So we're not ready to totally write off Norma just yet.

Modest NW/ Swell Blend; Tropics Heating Up

The EPAC tropics are firing up again.

Modest NW windswell/Minor S swell for NorCal through weekend
Small S swell/minor NW windswell blend for SoCal
Morning offers the lightest winds each day
EPAC Tropics are heating up; resulting swell still uncertain

This year, Surfrider LA is taking Coastal Cleanup Day to our elected officials here in LA County to demand action on the scourge of polystyrene and expanded polystyrene (AKA Styrofoam) waste polluting our oceans, beaches, and waves.

Join Surfrider LA along with the 5 Gyres Institute, Break Free From Plastic, and the Plastic Pollution Coalition on Saturday September 16th where we'll be cleaning up the beach and assembling kits full of polluted polystyrene foam to send to LA County Board of Supervisors and members of the LA City Council. They've been talking about adopting bans on polystyrene for years and it's time for them to take action.

Coastal Cleanup Day
Saturday September 16th
Venice Beach, North Pier
9am - 12pm

Southern California is home to hundreds of fantastic beach breaks, point breaks, and jetty breaks. Depending on the swell angle and wind conditions, you'll always find a wave that suits your needs.

From Malibu to Venice to the Mexico border, there's a lot of peaks to be explored and ridden. Quiksilver shot a boardrider's video guide to do SoCal right. So, pack your gear, and get on the surf trip of a lifetime.

Mikey Wright, Kanoa Igarashi, Zeke Lau, Leonardo Fioravanti, Jesse Mendes, Connor O’Leary, Koa Rothman, Kade Matson, Ramzi Boukhiam, Jeremy Flores, and Freddy Patacchia will guide you through the sunny coastline.

For the first time in three years, the SurfAid Cup Malibu names a new Champion! Team Becker took home the Cup after an incredible show of sportsmanship by Firewire Team Captain, Mark Price.

At the end of the final, both teams finished with an impressive score of 381.5. Contest Director Harold “Uncle” Reid facilitated three recounts and the scores remained the same. Contest rules state that in the event of a tie, the team fundraising totals will be the determining factor. Firewire raised over $13,000, but in true aloha spirit, unanimously forfeited the title.

Asked about what led to this honorable decision, Mark had this to say, “After 40 waves ridden by Team Firewire and Team Becker during the event, we were tied. There was only one thing to do – concede the 2017 Title to Becker. After watching Allen Sarlo, their designated Pro rider, decimate his 2 waves at the start of the Final and the rest of their team adding points left and right, we were stoked to hand over the trophy. Although we caught up to tie them, they are worthy champions indeed. However, don’t rest of your laurels guys, 2018 is just around the corner!”

This was Team Becker’s first year surfing in the competition. Team Captain, Mitch Taylor put together an impressive roster that included Evan Caples, Yves Bright, Eddie Pieper, and Allen Sarlo. Mitch was stoked to take home the win and said it was an amazing experience for his entire team. “This is the most fun surf competition we’ve ever done and it’s for such a great cause. All of the competitors were there to make a difference and the camaraderie was incredible – especially from Mark Price and the Firewire team.”

12 teams worked together to raise an astonishing $156,000 for SurfAid’s Mother and Child Health Programs. SurfAid Founder, Dr. Dave Jenkins team took home the Fundraising Cup by raising $35,500 along with teammates Chris Pollock, David Hertz, and Zach Weisberg. Funds raised will go directly towards ensuring SurfAid partner communities have access to clean water & sanitation, basic healthcare, and improved nutrition. Each of these factors have been proven to reduce maternal and child mortality rates by as much as 70%.
Dr. Dave had this to say about the event, “Funds raised through the SurfAid Cup directly translate to transformational change in our communities. SurfAid’s hand up – not a hand out philosophy is built to ensure lasting sustainability in our communities. Days like today show that surfers can make a real difference and save the lives of mums and babies in places they love to surf.”

Members of the top surfing and fundraising teams took home custom skate trophies thanks to event partner, Aluminiati Skateboards. A limited edition SurfAid collab board can be purchased online to support the event.
Minimal wind and a small south swell set up good contest conditions. Long lulls added to the importance of strategy and in the end, mother ocean came through with surf that was fun and contestable. The final heat scores included the legendary 381.5 tied score of Team Becker and Team Firewire, followed by an impressive second place win of 349.0 by the Malibu Mayors, a third place win of 305 to the Latigroms (with team captain Diego Didden taking home the Wild Card Honor for his impressive helicopter in the qualifying round), fourth place finish of 299.5 by Gesner’s Goons and rounding out the finals was Indoteak Design with 288.5.

Adding to the fun in the early heats were Team Sasquatch, The Seagulls who embodied their team name by catching their waves in a seagull mask, The “B” team, Malaria Sucks, One Big Family, and Dr. Dave’s Team.

2017 event partners included Malibu Surfing Association, Firewire, Aluminiati Skateboards, Duke’s Malibu, Sticky Bumps Wax, 805 Beer, Pacifico Beer, Dr. Karl and Tia Luber, The Ragen Family, and Blue Sea Apparel. Event photography captured by Grey Lockwood, Nikki Brooks, and Tim Horton.

SurfAid Cup Malibu Photo Gallery