Vitor Oliveira

It is the world's largest island (that isn't a continent). Welcome to Greenland, a territory where nearly 80 percent of its surface is blanketed by an enormous ice sheet. Greenland spans over 2.16 million square kilometers, making it the largest island on Earth. Impressive. Nevertheless, for obvious reasons, it is home to only around 56,500 people, one of the least densely populated places on the planet. Also, the northernmost point of Greenland is just 1,030 miles (1,660 kilometers) away from the North Pole. Here, everything is extreme. If the entire Greenland ice sheet were to melt, global sea levels would potentially rise by around 23 feet (roughly 7 meters). Most residents live in small coastal towns, with Nuuk, the capital, home to roughly one-third of the total population. The island's name, Greenland (in Greenlandic, Kalaallit nunaat), is credited to Erik the Red, a Norse explorer who reportedly chose the name to attract settlers. Although much of the land i...

A legal storm is brewing between California surf icon Matt Biolos and global pop superstar Lady Gaga, centering on a single word: Mayhem. Lost Surfboards, Biolos' decades-old surf brand, has slapped Gaga with a $100 million lawsuit, claiming she copied their signature logo for her new album and merchandise. The clash is igniting surf media, mainstream media, and celebrity media, and neither side is backing down. Biolos, nicknamed "Mayhem" since high school, first sketched the logo in 1986 for his punk band. By 1987, it appeared on surfboards, evolving into a globally recognized symbol for his brand, ...Lost Surfboards. The company, officially registered in 1991, now sells boards and apparel in over 30 countries and backs elite World Surf League (WSL) athletes like Griffin Colapinto and Caroline Marks. Over the years, the logo has grown to represent not only surfboards but also a wide range of surf-related gear and apparel sold around the globe. Similar If Not Ind...

It's a matter of preference and a great way to put different body muscles at work. Longboard surfers love knee-paddling. Here's how to do it right. Paddling a surfboard while lying on your stomach is by far the most popular form of moving around in the surf. However, it is not the sole option. Knee paddling is a quite common technique among the longboard surfing community, especially if the board is not too narrow. Although it requires a little more balance, it is quite easy and comes with quite a few interesting advantages. One of them is that a kneeling position is many times better for taking off in a wave due to the faster starts achieved. "Because knee-paddling is more effective on a long, stable, buoyant surfboard, it was virtually forgotten after the late-1960s shortboard revolution when the average board length dropped from 10 feet to less than seven feet," underlines surf historian Matt Warshaw, author of "The Encyclopedia of Surfing" and ...

SwellSpot is an alternative player in wave pool manufacturing. Led by CEO Walter Bennett, the company introduced an artificial surf system that delivers a traveling and paddle-in wave experience. SwellSpot's design caters to everyone - from beginners to professional surfers - with a focus on authentic, natural rides and engaging entertainment for onlookers. The company's plunger wave generation technology is at the heart of its system. Unlike traditional and more widely used pneumatic, hydraulic, or plow systems, SwellSpot uses a mechanical plunger-driven design. The patented plunger modules pull back and then push forward into the water. It resembles a blend of Australia's Surf Lakes and Japan's La Reyes Shonan synthetic wave technologies with the pool design of Wavegarden . The movement, powered by a hydraulic actuator system and bell cranks, releases stored energy to create waves with minimal energy consumption.  Each module is controlled by a programmable...

In a dramatic twist in the Olympic surfing stage, USA Surfing and U.S. Ski & Snowboard have found themselves at odds over who should govern the sport in the United States. USA Surfing, the longtime face of U.S. surfing, is pushing to regain its status as the National Governing Body (NGB) for Olympic surfing under the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). The bid comes on the heels of a turbulent past. USA Surfing lost its NGB certification in 2021 following audits that uncovered serious financial and governance issues. The organization's board chose to step away from its role to avoid lengthy legal conflicts as the 2024 Paris Olympics at Teahupoo loomed. Now, USA Surfing claims it has addressed those issues and is ready to lead U.S. Olympic surfing once again. However, in a surprising move, U.S. Ski & Snowboard - an organization with a strong winter sports pedigree but no history in managing surfing - has also thrown its hat in the ring. Their application ...

Out in the high surf, fast communication can mean the difference between life and death. When a lifeguard rushes into the water to save someone from drowning , every second counts and clear signals ensure the rescue goes smoothly. While radios and whistles could help, hand signals remain the most reliable way for lifeguards to communicate - especially when waves break, wind roars, and distance makes shouting impossible. As surfers, you are often the first to spot trouble and, in many cases, the first to assist . Knowing these international lifeguard hand signals can help you work alongside lifeguards in emergencies, making rescues safer and more effective. You could be guiding someone in distress toward help, relaying a lifeguard's message from the lineup, or assisting in a rescue. So, understanding these signals could save a life. According to the World Health Organization, around 300,000 people die by drowning. In 2022, Hawaii lifeguards rescued 2,682 people and performe...

Waves are the children of the wind. But how far can we exactly predict the size of a wave or ocean swell based on a given wind scenario? Oceanography , meteorology , and physics are three key sciences that pretty much help us explain the wave phenomenon. The intertwined knowledge provided by these specific scientific studies improves, among many other useful things, the quality of surf forecasts . How big? How long? How powerful? How perfect? The questions that many surfers and water people pose now have quite accurate answers thanks to the iterative work of the scientific community. In 1974, William G. Van Dorn, a Chicago-born oceanographer from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, published a book that would become a reference in the field: "Oceanography and Seamanship." Before the release of the book, Van Dorn studied tsunamis for two decades and was involved in the US nuclear testing program in the South Pacific, including the hydrogen bomb test at Enewetak A...

On March 15, 2025, history was made at Cronulla Beach, Australia, as 1,027 people paddled out to form a massive circle in the ocean. The World's Biggest Paddle Out event was led by former professional surfer and mental health advocate Blakey Johnston. The gathering aimed to raise awareness and funds for youth mental health programs. The previous official world record for the largest paddle out was set in 2017 when 511 people linked arms in Huntington Beach, California. A larger attempt of nearly 650 surfers was made in Port Macquarie in 2023, but it did not meet the requirements for an official record. To claim the title, participants at Cronulla had to form an unbroken circle and hold it for at least 60 seconds. Ultimately, they more than doubled the existing record. A Cause That Matters Johnston, who surfed for 40 hours straight in 2023 to raise funds for mental health, once again dedicated his efforts to an important cause. The paddle out was organized to support Find...

The quad surfboard fin setup is one of the least popular configurations. So, what makes it unique? And how and when should it be used? The quad fin setup blends features from both twin-fin and thruster setups. It enhances speed, increases drive, and improves control in various wave conditions. Initially popularized in the early 1980s, the design has evolved over time, finding favor among surfers looking for a balance of maneuverability and stability. Origins and Evolution Australian pro surfer Glen Winton introduced the quad fin setup in 1982. At the time, the thruster was becoming the dominant fin configuration, but the four-fin offered an alternative by reworking the twin-fin design. The goal was to maintain the speed and looseness of a twin-fin while adding more stability and control. Despite some initial success, the design was largely abandoned by the mid-1980s, as surfers found it challenging in medium and larger waves. The quad saw a resurgence in the 1990s, first wi...

When a surfer and a musician think of waves, two very different images might come to mind. One is the rolling, ever-changing motion of the ocean's surface, and the other is the invisible ripples of pressure that carry sound from a speaker to our ears. Although both types of waves share the basic concept of energy moving through a medium, their nature and behavior are shaped by distinct physical processes. But let's make it easier. Imagine a surfer riding an ocean wave. The energy from the wind creates a wave that carries the surfer forward, even though the water beneath him is mostly moving in circular patterns. Now, picture a drum beating in a quiet room. The sound wave that results compresses and expands the air in front of the drum, carrying the musical note to your ear in a direct, linear motion. These examples show how the same basic idea - energy traveling through a medium - can be realized in different ways. In the ocean, gravity and the fluid dynamics of water...

Puerto Escondido, Mexico, has been selected as the 14th World Surfing Reserve by the Save The Waves Coalition. The official dedication is planned for early 2026, recognizing the area's world-class waves and ecological significance. The reserve spans over 6.2 miles (10 kilometers) of coastline and includes eight distinct waves. Among these are Playa Zicatela , famed for its powerful barrels and nicknamed the "Mexican Pipeline," and Punta Colorada, known for its long rides. These waves attract surfers globally, from beginners to professionals. Beyond surfing, the region supports rich biodiversity. Environmental Importance Its beaches serve as nesting grounds for three sea turtle species: Olive Ridley, Black, and critically endangered Leatherback. Nearby mangrove forests at Punta Colorada and Laguna de Chacahua National Park - a protected wetland - provide habitats for iguanas, crocodiles, and other wildlife. These ecosystems also help filter water, prevent floods,...

In the days of Artificial intelligence (AI), coding has become accessible to virtually anyone. If you have an idea for a game, you can execute it and make it playable quickly. The concept of "vibe coding" is an AI-assisted programming approach where individuals, even those without extensive coding experience, can create functional software by providing high-level instructions to AI tools. Do you want to develop your own surfing game? Write a good set of prompts and queries and ask "the machine" to do it. If you're more into classic programming, you can try to blend your coder skills with the support and quick responses generated by AI. In the 2010s and 2020, several surfing video games have tried to conquer the market and the hearts of real-life surfers. However, most of them were solo attempts, demos, and part-time projects by passionate developers. A Game With a Retro Look Apart from the WSL-backed "True Surf," there hasn't really been ...

The Coriolis effect occurs when the Earth's rotation causes moving things - such as winds and ocean currents - to curve instead of moving in a straight line. Does it sound strange? Here's a visual example using the spinning carousel. Imagine you're sitting on a merry-go-round (carousel) spinning counterclockwise. Now, you try to roll a ball straight across to a friend sitting across from you. What happens? To you (on the spinning carousel), the ball curves to the right instead of going straight. But if someone were watching from above (not on the carousel), they would see that the ball actually moved in a straight line, but the carousel moved underneath it. How This Relates to Earth The Earth spins like a giant merry-go-round we've seen above, from west to east, at around 1,000 miles per hour (1,600 kilometers per hour) at the equator.  Thanks to the Coriolis force, objects moving long distances, like winds and ocean currents, appear to curve instead of going ...

In 1972, Judge Robert Gardner wrote a book called "The Art of Body Surfing." Based on his account, we reviewed the events that helped shape the history of bodysurfing. Board surfing had a well-documented moment of historical recognition - the day in February 1778 when Captain Cook sailed into Hawaiian waters and reported seeing a man who "appeared to be flying over the water." Bodysurfing, however, lacks such chronicling. It emerged quietly, without official acknowledgment. Yet, centuries ago, someone standing in waist-deep water on a continental shelf likely pushed off into a wave, face down and hands outstretched, experiencing the exhilaration of being carried to shore. Word must have spread: "Have you heard about Crazy Og? Rides waves to the beach." Others followed, and bodysurfing was born. Soon, someone, tired of scraping their knuckles on the rocks, realized they could ride with their head up and arms at their sides, refining the technique. ...

Angling your take-off is a key skill that sets up your ride and helps you build speed, control, and smooth transitions. It means choosing the right angle as you catch the wave so that you can generate speed, avoid nose-diving, and smoothly enter your first turn. Instead of coming in straight on, you start to point your head, chest, and board toward your intended line of travel. In other words, it's the process of positioning your body and surfboard at a slight diagonal as you transition from paddling to riding the wave. It can also work as a shortcut to riding down the line when the wave is too steep, and the bottom turn is not an option. The early adjustment allows you to: Avoid a Wipeout: If the wave is collapsing fast and you need a late take-off , angling might be the only option available; Generate Speed: The angled entry helps trim the board on the wave's face, redirecting water flow to build momentum; Set Up Your Maneuver: A proper angle gives you a head sta...