Vail Reports Continued Decline in Visitors, Revenue This Ski Season
Vail Resorts reported a sharp drop in skier visits this season, down 14.9% year‑over‑year, with lift revenue falling 5.6% and ski‑school, dining, and retail revenues each slipping double digits. The Rockies experienced the steepest decline, a 25% plunge in visitation, as record‑warm temperatures and minimal snowfall plagued the western U.S. ski market. Vail’s CEO Rob Katz warned that the challenging weather will push the company’s reported EBITDA for fiscal 2026 toward the low end of its guidance range. The data continue a multi‑month downward trend that analysts link to an unprecedented drought in the snow‑dependent resort sector.
30 Minutes at Cape Solander That Will Blow Your Booties Off
Tim Bonython released a three‑minute video capturing Cape Solander’s most chaotic big‑wave session, featuring elite surfers Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca, Lucas Fink, Dylan Longbottom and others. The footage shows massive backwash explosions, slab waves folding on themselves, and a brutal wipeout...
John John Florence Calls Cloudbreak ‘Best Wave In The World’ in New Edit
John John Florence released a new mini‑documentary on his YouTube channel, declaring Fiji’s Cloudbreak the "best wave in the world." The edit blends surf footage, local Q&A, and behind‑the‑scenes moments from Florence’s boat, highlighting the wave’s power and the community...
Shark Deterrent Surfboard Fins Currently Being Developed by Australian Research Team
University of Wollongong’s Surf Flex Lab is developing “smart composite” surfboard fins that embed miniaturized sensors, electromagnetic emitters and illumination to deter shark attacks. The project, partially funded by the Australian Composites Manufacturing CRC, aims to match the flex and...
Jamie O’Brien Compares Cheapest Man-Made Waves With the Most Expensive
Professional surfer Jamie O’Brien staged a side‑by‑side comparison of surf experiences, first riding a DIY “tarp wave” in San Clemente that costs about $100 to assemble, then heading to Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch where a single mechanically generated wave can...
Cruise Ship Passenger Jumps Overboard Hours After Another Died on Same Trip
A Carnival Splendor cruise off Queensland saw two tragic incidents within hours. A 67‑year‑old Tasmanian woman died during a snorkeling excursion on Moreton Island, and later a male passenger jumped overboard from the ship’s safety rail. Carnival Cruise Line confirmed...
For Jacob Willcox, the Remedy for Missing Out on the Championship Tour Was a Trip to Fiji
Jacob Willcox entered 2026 with a strong Challenger Series win, positioning himself for a return to the World Surf League Championship Tour. Inconsistent results and an ankle injury saw his ranking slip from 10th to 12th after a 49th‑place finish...
Surf Videographer Peter King Drops New Pipeline Doc
Veteran surf videographer Peter King has released *Pipeline: A Peter King Film*, a documentary shot throughout the 2024‑25 North Shore winter season. The film features a star‑studded lineup including Kelly Slater, John John Florence and rising local talent, while also...
Foiling This French Tidal Bore Looks Like the Most Fun a Person Can Possibly Have on a Board
Adam Bennetts, a world‑renowned foil surfer, tackled France’s Le Mascaret tidal bore on the Garonne River. By riding a hydrofoil board, he captured the bore’s under‑surface energy and rode the wave for an extended, almost endless session. The feat showcases how...
A Shark Island Slab Session Featuring the Legendary Kipp Caddy
Kipp Caddy has launched the first episode of his new "Slab Sessions" series, filming an hour‑long heavy‑wave session at Sydney’s infamous Shark Island. A narrow tidal window on a Monday morning delivered the perfect slab conditions before the tide fell,...
Koa Smith and Friends Got Their Fill of Tubes at a Private Oaxacan Sand Bar
Koa Smith hired a local guide service to unlock a private, gated point break on Oaxaca’s coast, joining fellow surfers Nathan Zoller and Max Beach for a rare session. The team navigated a rough, branch‑laden road that even blew out...
Jamie O’Brien Takes on the Crowd at Snapper Rocks on a 4’11” Soft-Top
Jamie O'Brien, the YouTube‑famous surfer, rode a 4’11” Mini Blade soft‑top at the notoriously crowded Snapper Rocks during a family trip to the Gold Coast. He used the high‑profile session to showcase his new soft‑top line, drawing attention from locals...
April Storm Helps Arizona Ski Resort Re-Open
Arizona Snowbowl extended its season into mid‑April after an unexpected April storm delivered fresh snow. The resort, which had planned to close on April 12, reopened for two additional days (April 14‑15) thanks to the late snowfall. Snowfall totals reached about 150...
Kai Lenny Makes Backflips on a SUP Foil Look Easy
Kai Lenny stunned viewers by executing a backflip on a SUP foil at Guardrails, Maui, in his latest YouTube video. The Hawaiian waterman used a nine‑liter Super K foil board with foot straps, demonstrating effortless control on modest surf. Lenny’s...
Latest NOAA Report Says 61% Chance of El Niño by July
NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center announced that the lingering La Niña has ended, placing the Pacific in an ENSO‑neutral state since February. The agency now projects a 61 percent probability that an El Niño will develop by July 2026 and persist through the end...