After Record Snowfall, Banff Announces Summer Reopening In June and July
Banff Sunshine Village will close its 2025‑26 ski season on May 18 after recording an unprecedented 1,000 cm (≈400 in) of snowfall, far above its 600 cm average. The resort plans to pause operations for several weeks and then reopen in late June for a limited summer skiing window that runs into July. The summer offering will use the Strawberry Express lift and possibly another chair, providing primarily beginner‑friendly terrain. Officials describe the experience as “slushy summer skiing” with the novelty of July skiing in the Canadian Rockies.
Natxo Gonzalez and Crew Find Empty Waves Somewhere in Africa
European surf pros Natxo Gonzalez, Miguel Blanco and Kepa Acero traveled to an unnamed African island, dubbed the “Red Island,” and filmed a series of completely empty line‑ups. Their mini‑movie, “Surfing the Red Island,” shows flawless lefts, rights, tubes and...
Rob Machado Getting Super Cruisey on His 6’8″ Xtra Cado
Rob Machado has teamed with Firewire to launch the 6’8″ Xtra Cado, a mid‑length surfboard designed for casual riders. Machado describes the board as a hybrid—long enough for smooth, drawn‑out turns yet agile enough for everyday surf. The release taps...
Jordy Smith and Nate Florence Did a Mentawai Strike Mission
Red Bull’s surf squad sent two of its top athletes, Jord Smith and Nate Florence, on a short‑term surf expedition to Indonesia’s Mentawai Islands. The duo filmed a high‑octane YouTube collaboration that showcases barrels, aerial maneuvers and the raw power of the...
Colorado Court Hears Case of Man Who Sued Vail Resorts After Signing Two Liability Waivers
A Texas skier sued Vail Resorts after being struck by a snowmobile employee at Breckenridge in 2020, despite having signed two Epic Pass liability waivers—one in 2020 and another in 2022. The Colorado Supreme Court heard oral arguments on whether...
Mysterious Green Lights Over Hawaiian Evening Sky Are Baffling Astronomers
Residents of Kona, Hawaii captured faint green lights in the night sky on two consecutive evenings, initially resembling an aurora borealis. Analysis by local astronomers showed geomagnetic activity was too low (K‑index 3‑4) to generate a true aurora, and other...
Pennsylvania Resort Sets Historic Mark With Skiing in May for First Time Ever
Pennsylvania’s Camelback Resort will open its slopes on May 1, marking the first time the ski area has offered skiing in May. The resort, which traditionally closes by early April, broke its previous latest opening record of April 9 set in 1963....
El Niño Conditions Could Arrive as Early as May, Says WMO
The World Meteorological Organization’s latest Global Seasonal Update says El Niño could begin as early as May 2026, with a formal declaration possible by July. Climate models from multiple agencies now converge on a high‑confidence outlook, though the spring predictability barrier...
Palisades Tahoe Will Push Out Closing Date Thanks to April Storms
Palisades Tahoe, the last open ski resort in Lake Tahoe, will extend its season into May after an 11‑inch snowfall this week, bringing April’s total to 81 inches. The resort had planned an April closure following a dry, warm March,...
Brian Head, Breckenridge Announce Extra Days After Ending Seasons
The 2025‑26 ski season saw unusually warm weather and low snowfall across the Western United States, prompting early closures at many resorts. A sudden mid‑April storm delivered fresh snow, leading Breckenridge in Colorado to reopen on April 25 with a free‑lunch...
Conditions to Improve Just in Time for Final Day of Margaret River Championship Tour Window
The World Surf League’s Margaret River Pro is set for a decisive final day on Sunday, April 26, as offshore winds are forecast to bring 6‑8 foot southwest swells in the morning. A shift to blustery south‑southwest winds in the...
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,...
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...
Nate Florence Breaks Down His Whole Quiver and Explains How He Chooses a Surfboard
Nate Florence, a pro‑surfer famed for big‑wave barrels, recently broke down his entire quiver in a detailed video. He explains how each board—from a high‑performance shorty for steep reef breaks to a fuller fish for softer conditions—matches specific wave characteristics....
Alabama Launches Shark Alert System Named After Teen Who Lost Hand, Leg in Attack
Alabama's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources launched the Lulu Gribbin Shark Alert System, sending text warnings to beachgoers in Baldwin and Mobile counties when a confirmed shark attack or credible threat occurs. The system mirrors AMBER Alert protocols and...
A Japanese Denim Brand Gave the Vans Authentic a Jika-Tabi Makeover
Japanese denim specialist FDMTL has teamed with Vans to reimagine the Authentic sneaker as a split‑toe Jika‑Tabi. The capsule showcases FDMTL’s signature indigo patchwork and layered denim tones, echoing the traditional Japanese boro aesthetic. A white‑upper version adds a more...
Ben Gravy Was Detained for Surfing Over an International Border
Australian surfer Ben Gravy attempted his 27th country by surfing from the Dominican Republic directly into Haiti, bypassing passport control. He rode an A‑frame river‑mouth break that straddles the border, was detained by Haitian authorities, and later escorted back to...
Rob Machado Has a New Mid-Length Surfboard: The Xtra Cado
Pro surfer Rob Machado has launched a new mid‑length surfboard called the Xtra Cado. The board is essentially a stretched version of his best‑selling Machadocado, featuring extra foam, a rounded nose and a thin squash tail. Designed for average surfers,...
Natxo Gonzalez Explains What It Took to Get the Wave of a Lifetime at Mullaghmore
On December 22, Natxo Gonzalez rode what he describes as the best wave of his life at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland. The swell featured massive, long‑period rollers that broke into heavy, hollow barrels, despite low tide and safety concerns. After months...
Here’s Why Anat Lelior Has Given Israeli Surfers a Much-Needed Morale Boost
Anat Lelior became the first Israeli to earn a spot on the World Surf League Championship Tour after a dramatic finish at the Newcastle Surfest. She entered the Morocco Challenger event under a neutral “World” flag due to safety concerns...
Industry Insiders Explain How AI Is Impacting Graphic Design in the Snowboarding World
Snowboard brands YES and Ride have publicly incorporated generative AI into this season's graphics, blending prompts with in‑house artistry to create hybrid designs. YES released a satirical Greats series while also offering a fully human‑crafted counterpart, and Ride produced over...
Luke Cederman Has a Solution for Surfers Who Drop In
New Zealand surf comedian Luke Cederman unveiled the "Surf Solo 2.0," an air‑horn device designed to signal wave ownership and curb drop‑ins at crowded breaks. The gadget repurposes automotive‑grade technology to emit a short, audible cue, replacing profanity with a...
California’s Largest Ski Resort Will Close a Full Month Early
California’s Palisades Tahoe, the state’s largest ski resort, announced it will close by late April instead of the planned Memorial Day. The decision follows a snowpack that is only about 30% of its historical average for the end of March,...
Lucas Fink and a Few Wild Rides Skimboarding Giant Nazaré
Lucas Fink, a five‑time world skimboarding champion, has taken a sabbatical from competition to chase giant waves at Portugal’s Nazaré using a flat, finless skimboard. He became the first athlete to ride Nazaré’s 20‑meter faces on such a board, a...
Watch Adam Bennetts Foil Surfing Through a Dreamscape
Australian waterman Adam Bennetts has turned his YouTube channel into a showcase for foil surfing, posting a serene video of himself gliding on a foil board near shore. After abandoning traditional surfboards six years ago, Bennetts now rides foils exclusively,...
Nate Florence Went to Puerto Escondido to Ride the First South Swell of the Season
Nate Florence swiftly booked a trip to Puerto Escondido after forecasts showed the season's first south swell. The Mexican surf town, recently named a World Surfing Reserve, offers some of the planet's most challenging, tube‑filled waves. Florence, a veteran of the...
Puerto Escondido Dedicated as 14th World Surfing Reserve
Puerto Escondido has been officially dedicated as the 14th World Surfing Reserve, a designation by the Save The Waves Coalition. The six‑mile protected zone spans iconic breaks such as Zicatela, Punta Colorada, and Carrizalillo. The reserve aims to safeguard the...
WSL Says It Reached 80 Million People in 2025
The World Surf League (WSL) announced that its 2025 season reached 80 million viewers across linear TV and digital platforms, according to Nielsen data. Fans logged 20.3 million viewing hours, a 19% rise from the prior year, with an average...
Family Sues California Ski Resort Over Hot Chocolate Burn
A California family has filed a lawsuit against Heavenly Mountain Resort, alleging that a server handed their five‑year‑old daughter a lidless hot chocolate that scalded her chest and abdomen. The Burns family claims the beverage was "excessively and unnecessarily hot,"...
Albee Layer Surfs What Might Be Maui’s Most Dangerous Slab
Albee Layer, a renowned big‑wave surfer, recently rode one of Maui’s most treacherous slab waves, captured in a viral Tucker Wooding video. The steep, hollow face—often deemed unsurfable—draws a niche group of elite surfers including Steve Roberson, Ramon Rode and...
Gerry Lopez Designed a Board for Assisted Hydrofoil Surfing
Legendary surfer Gerry Lopez has partnered with North Action Sports (NSP) to launch the Pelican, a lightweight foilboard built for the Foil Drive electric‑assist system. The board features a rounded, forgiving shape and a subtle nose vee that promotes quick...
Snowboarder Makes DIY Tow Rope Out of Riding Lawn Mower
A Winnipeg snowboarder transformed a rusted riding mower into a homemade tow rope, creating a DIY lift capable of pulling three riders up a slope. He sourced the mower on Facebook Marketplace, rewired it, added an extra tire groove and...
Why a Surfer Spent 4 Months in ICE Detention for Wandering Onto the Wrong Beach
Surfer Hagop Chirinian was detained for four months after unintentionally crossing the Camp Pendleton border, prompting ICE involvement. Although he held a work permit and complied with check‑ins, he was held without a formal hearing, leading a federal judge to...
Saudi Arabia’s Adrena Wave Pool, Through the Eyes of a Canadian Surf Photographer
A Canadian surf photographer traveled to Saudi Arabia to film marketing content for Endless Surf’s new wave pool at the Adrena park. The facility uses filtered Red Sea saltwater and offers fully customizable wave settings, from slab sections to air...
Grand Canyon Official Says Fire Damage Will Make Trails Dangerous for Years
The Dragon Bravo wildfire scorched 145,000 acres of the Grand Canyon's North Rim last summer, destroying over 70 structures and depositing five to six feet of rock, ash, and dirt on the North Kaibab Trail. Trail Supervisor Adam Gibson warns...