Category: events

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SURFING MADE POSSIBLE IN AFGHANISTAN

Joy can change the world, and spreading the joy of surfing to Afghanistan is a risk worth taking. Please help us make that happen with Kickstarter!

“In a country that has been crippled by war for the last 40 years every human’s right to the pursuit of happiness is easily forgotten. I can’t explain how much fun surfing can be. I want to bring this joy, that I love so much myself, to my home country.”  Afridun Amu, Wave Riders Association of Afghanistan President and Founder .

Afridun Amu loves surfing but Afghanistan has no ocean. In an effort to share the joy of surfing with his home country, Afri established the Wave Riders Association of Afghanistan (WRAA) in 2012. Since then WRAA has hosted the first Afghan National Surf Competition in Portugal and joined the International Surf Association World Games. Afri has spent much of his life searching the world’s coastlines for surf spots but in June 2018 Afri and a team of river surfers traveled to his home country, landlocked Afghanistan, with just the same goal.

Afri joined the three other surfers in the expedition coming from Germany and Canada.  Since their return the crew of surfers has started a film and currently looking for support on their Kickstarter page to be able to share their story with the world.

“All I wanted to do was travel to a new place and find some waves but surfing those waters opened the eyes of those kids to the possibility of surfing in their home. Seeing surfing in movies and magazines is all I had access to as a kid but from the moment I saw someone on a surfboard I knew I wanted that in my life no matter what it took to make it happen. It felt incredible to now be the one to give that gift.”  Jacob Kelly Quinlan, Canadian River Surfer and Expeditioner.

Are the positive vibes of surfing, even if we are land locked, something we take for granted? Lets help bring the joy of surfing to Afghanistan; where people are in desperate need of peace and relief.

View the the Kickstarter and contribute to the project if you feel so led!

A special thank you to our Community Leader Jacob Kelly Quinlan for helping to make this project a reality.

Keep the Stoke Alive!

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Ottawa River Surf Jam

On Saturday April 22nd, 2017 Ottawa’s only local Surf shop, Surf Side @Surfsideottawa will be hosting the Second Ever Ottawa River Surf Jam at the Bate Island Standing Wave (The Wall)!

Last year a dedicated member of Surf Side, Alex Copp @Coppdis organized the inaugural Ottawa River Surf Jam last April, 2016. There was between 20-25 (Male and Female) Land Locked Surfers from across Eastern Canada, who braved the frigid temperatures and cool winds to compete at Bate Island.

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The event was a great success with over 150 excited spectators enjoying the sunny display of Slashes, Ollies and even a 360 by local legend Dave Crichton @Davecrichton. Another local big name River Surfer took home the Prize for Most Stoked Surfer, John Rathwell @Searchingforsero. After qualifying for finals, Dave (Crichton) ended up winning Best Trick with his 360 and also landed First Place for Best Overall Surfer, which also resulted in him walking away with a brand new Odysea Skipper provided by rad guys at Catch Surf!

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Kelsey Chiappa @kchiappa, another well-known name in Canadian Water Sports Community placed first in the Women’s category, which landed her in the Top 5 Surfers of the Event. All contestants were awarded a Goodie bag full of fun surprises and the Top 5 Surfers were handed some tasty hydration units from White Water Brewery. We were extremely lucky to have so many great surf brands backing the event last year as well as the kind people at David’s Tea for keeping the contestants and bystanders warm with complimentary hot beverages! For more photos from the 2016 Event

This year we are grateful to once again have a handful of like-minded brands supporting the growth of the Ottawa River Surfing Community! Here’s a list of confirmed sponsors who donated some awesome prizing for The Second Annual Ottawa River Surf Jam: White Water Brewery, Vissla, Surf Ontario, @Land_Locked_Surfing and North Board Distribution (FCS, Gorilla Grip, SexWax & Xcel Wetsuits. Surf Side will also be grilling up some Hot Dogs and Hamburgers for the Surfers, while we would appreciate it if spectators could bring a non-perishable food item (to Donate to the less-fortunate) in exchange for a hot dog or burger.

The water levels are high and Mother Nature’s appearing to be cooperating with our plans thus far! If you are in the Ottawa Valley this weekend make sure to get suited up, grab your board and head out to Bate Island, mingle with the local River Surfing Community and watch the regions top-notch River Surfers rip up The Wall!

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For more information on the Second Annual Ottawa River Surf Jam check out the Facebook Event Page or contact surfsidesteven@gmail.com

To order your own CANADA LAND LOCKED SURFING T-SHIRT Click here Or if you you’re in Ottawa check out Surf Side, They have a limited number of T’s!

KEEP THE STOKE ALIVE!

Ashley Fraser of the Ottawa Citizen took the Photos of Alex Copp Judging1, Dave Crichton Surfing2 and Bate Island4. Josh Brose took the Photo of John Rathwell Surfing3

 

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Arizona Wakesurf Open 2016

Bring it on! This is the first time we will be partnering with The 2016 Arizona Wakesurf Open and we cannot thank you enough for making this a reality. It’s incredible to watch our community grow by the day and without you, none of this would be possible! Our goal in partnering with this competition is to start local by supporting Arizona Land locked Surfers in our back yard. At the event we will have our very own tent, apparel, and awesome people to talk to about what inland surfers are up too all over the world. We hope this to be the first of many events, across the country, we partner with to help the community grow. Hope to see you at Tempe Town Lake, AZ on May 5th.

Tempe Town Lake, AZ

This years competition is a World Wakesurf Series qualifier and is organized by Action Ride Co. The official towboat of The Arizona Wakesurf Open is the 2016 Nautique G23. Other sponsors include Sullivan Motor Company, Liquid Force, and Nautique. Divisions Include: Juniors, Amateurs, Outlaw, Pro- MEN & WOMEN

For more event information check out The Arizona Wakesurf Open event page.

Tempe Town Lake, AZ
Tempe Town Lake, AZ