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Javier Jimenez, From Sayulita, Places Third At The 2014 Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race

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Translation: Heido Sundstrom

The Paddleboard (SUP) has really taken off around the world and, in Mexico, there’s no exception. The town of Sayulita (in the state of Nayarit) has been the spot where top athletes and the elite of this sport have excelled. Many of them have also participated in international events, demonstrating that Mexico has talent. 

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Last year, Mexico ranked third overall in the SUP World Games, organized by the ISA. This year, they placed sixth overall for teams, maintaining their place amongst the top ten countries in the world. 

Javier “Bicho” Jimenez and Fernando Stalla recently participated in the Santa Monica Pier Paddleboard Race, with Jimenez placing third out of 115 competitors. Planeta Surf caught up with him and shared a few words...

PS: Does the Santa Monica event belong to a world league or tour?

Javier Jimenez: No, but it seemed like it because there were several competitors that were present at the world championships and a few who were Top-10 finalists.

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PS: Tell us about your major wipeout last year?

JJ: The wipeout was unique because nobody had ever seen anything like it in a race and, personally, I’ve never had anything like that happen before either. It’s a lot different when you’re surfing in a race because it’s very hectic and you suffer more below the water. [Laughs]

PS: I see that Fernando Stalla also participated in the event, was it a team competition or individual races?

JJ: The race itself was individual but we’re always supporting each other as a team in everything. 

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PS: Tell us about your race, when did you see the chance of winning and what were your emotions?

JJ: During almost the entire race, there was a group of about ten people that maintained the lead and in the last ten minutes, we separated into a group of the top three. Then, in the last 200 meters, the first two competitors caught a wave and I fell behind by about ten seconds, but it was a very intense race that gave me the opportunity to measure my level against some of the best in the world.

PS: How long have you been practicing this sport?

JJ: Professionally for about two years but I’ve been practicing this sport for four years.

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PS: In general, how do you prepare for a competition?

JJ: Training is the main thing, plus nutrition and always doing the best you can.

PS: What do you feel like your strength is? Which competition?

JJ: Honestly, I feel very strong in the long-distance races that are six miles or more.

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PS: Why do you think Sayulita has some of the best paddleboarders in the country?

JJ: Sayulita has some of the best because that’s where this sport exploded in Mexico. Thanks to Punta Sayulita who started doing annual contests and bringing the best in the world, which gave us the opportunity to see their level and compete against them. 

 

PS: How many ISA world championships have you participated in?

JJ: I’ve been to two out of the three world championships that they’ve put on. 

PS: Tell us about the 2013 ISA world championship where you received the bronze medal...

JJ: For that competition, we really had a unified and positive team and with the help of each teammate, we won the bronze medal, making Mexico one of the top three countries in the world and bringing the first medal from an ISA world championship back to our country.   

PS: What were your experiences with the 2014 ISA world championship?

JJ: Well, honestly it was a really interesting world championship and all of the teams raised their level and were very strong. It was also interesting to race on a lake for the first time.

PS: Do you have any support from sponsors to help with competitions?

JJ: Yes, a big thanks to Punta Sayulita, Rogue Revolucion del Sueño and OX Endurance Waikiki for their support. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to do all the traveling that I do.

PS: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

JJ: I’d like to thank my family and friends that have always supported me and to Planeta Surf for thinking of me. Also, to the Mexican paddleboarders that are truly some of the best in the world. 

Long-distance Race:

Place Name Time City Place
1 Mitchell,Jamie 58:56.6 M Costa Mesa CA
2 Kosterlitz,Chase 59:02.3 M San Diego CA
3 Jimenez,Javier 59:08.2 M Sayulita NAY
4 Becker,Matt 59:36.5 M Santa Barbara CA
5 Rose,Brennan 1:00:24.7    
6 First,Max 1:00:33.2    
7 Stalla, Fernando 1:01:27.4 Sayulita NAY
8 Freitas,Mo 1:01:54.4    
9 Smith,Canon 1:02:33.0    
10 Fielder,Chance 1:03:10.0    

Santa Mónica Pier Paddle: SUP Cross Results

1st: Mo Freitas (0:02:37)

2nd: Matt Becker (0:02:48)

3rd: Brennan Rose (0:02:49)

4th: Javier Jimenez (0:02:54)

5th: Fernando Stalla (0:03:00)

6th: Dave Boehne (0:03:13)

Todos Santos Bay, Mexico Named A World Surfing Reserve

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Translation: Heido Sundstrom

After celebrating International Surfing Day, the party continues this June 21st, 2014 at Playa San Miguel in a historic event in which the beach will officially be named a World Surfing Reserve, becoming the sixth protected beach in the world to discourage the illogical and predatory interests in beaches that have excellent waves for surfing. 

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The majority of Mexico’s coastline battles with problems like the privatization of our public beaches, which limits or denies access to that which belongs to all Mexicans. Senators and Lawyers create and approve laws that allow foreigners to purchase land along the coasts of our country and the lack of studies on the environmental impact, coupled with corruption, create developments that threaten the ecosystem and cause loss and decay of excellent waves that attract tourists from over the world.

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In addition to preserving our waves, the ecological environment is protected and paves the way for sustainable development. With this declaration, the Todos Santos Bay will be the second beach in Latin America to receive this distinction and support by international organizations, World Surfing Reserves and the Save the Waves Coalition. 

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The island of Todos Santos and other important surf breaks in Ensenada like: Salsipuedes, San Miguel, Stacks and Tres Emes, will also be protected under the declaration and by meeting all the basic requirements (consistent, world-class waves and roots in the surfing culture), Ensenada will be considered the birthplace of surfing in Mexico.

Representatives of the Surf-Ens, Costa Salvaje and Pronatura associations, reported in the official declaration that the event will be attended by Gary Linden, surfboard shaper and founder of the Big Wave World Tour, the delegate of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT, for its initials in Spanish) and surfers, Carlos Hernandez and Paula Pijoan.

Fernando Marvan of the Surf-Ens group reported that, in celebration of this historic event, various cultural and recreational activities will be held.

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ITINERARY

Event will take place Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 3:00 pm at Playa San Miguel in Ensenada, Baja California Norte.

You're invited to swim and paddle with us at 3:00 pm in a massive “paddle out”, plus participate in the creation of a collective mural and the building of rock sculptures.

At 4:00 pm, enjoy Native dances and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque made my local artists from the Faculty of Arts of the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California.

From 6:00 pm – 12:00 am there will be a Kraken restaurant party with live music, food, beer and wine of the area, scheduled reviews and a photo exhibition of local waves and coastlines.

Todos Santos Bay received approval as a World Surfing Reserve in January of 2013, for its wave quality and consistency, unique environmental characteristics, surf culture, history and the support of the community. Organizations in Ensenada like SURF-ENS, ONG Mexicana, Pronatura and COSTASALVAJE have been deeply involved in the planning and ongoing management of the Reserve.

 

 

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The proposed state park will protect six hectares of critical watersheds in the San Miguel river basin, as well as the sand and rocks that create the San Miguel surf spot.

The World Surfing Reserves (WSR) proactively identifies, designates and preserves outstanding waves and surf zones and their surrounding environments worldwide. Visit the links below to learn more: 

 www.savethewaves.org      www.worldsurfingreserves.org

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Surf Community Project For All

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Translation: Heido Sundstrom

In various parts of Mexico, there’s a program that has begun working with boys and girls to promote youth surfing, both as a fun activity as well as a sport for their health and physical and mental development, with everyone working in and for their community. Little by little, this project is bearing fruit and today there are several juniors in pro-am competitions.

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When did this project start?

It began over three years ago.

How did the idea come about?

After seeing the absence of kids in the surfing selection for Baja California in the children and youth categories and the lack of young surfers in general.

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Who came up with the idea?

Carlos Luna is the owner of the Locales MX surf school and he felt that a program was needed that would reach all children and also focus on the taking care of the ocean.

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What does the program consist of?

Offering free surf classes every Saturday during summer and giving out paper bags colored by the kids themselves with messages about taking care of the beach.

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What’s the next step? 

The kids with more advanced skills are invited to become part of the Local Surf Team and we support them so that they can continue practicing year-round by taking them to surf at different beaches. The only requirement is that that have to be enrolled in school and maintain a minimum GPA of 7.5.  

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Who supports or finances this program?

Recently, a local lawyer named Laura Torres approached us to offer her support and purchased equipment for us. The state government has also supported us but much of it is absorbed by the Surf Locales School, which provides the use of their equipment, which affects the overall lifetime of their equipment but with a low impact. The philosophy and spirit of social support is more important than that. 

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What is the overall goal of the program?

To make sure that the kids who are now catching waves can help other kids their age to enroll and become involved in the program.

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Who else is supporting the program?

We are currently working closely with an organization called AMORH.AC, which is an organization that supports us with psychological therapies to get kids more involved as a team and develop the social sense of helping other children who are just starting out in the program. 

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How many children are in the program?

Nearly twenty kids are currently enrolled, with twenty more about to join. We’re hoping to stay with ten new kids that will join towards the end of summer.

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Here's How You Shatter a World Record in Style

record

Endless Ride, Ep. 6

The big day for breaking the record for the longest wave ever ridden on a windsurf board has finally arrived. In Chicama Peru, the longest wave in the world, The swell is big, the winds are right, and everyone is in place: cameras, boats, and official witnesses. Now it's up to the brothers, Camille and Tom Juban to find the wave that might give either of them the world record. See what goes into this crazy attempt and witness the wave that makes windsurfing history.

8 episode of Fergal Smith´s Growing now live

grown

In episode 8 we find Fergal heading over to the west coast to surf the epic left-handers he grew up with, before he meets up with his old mate and sustainable builder Willie Mac. 

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