Mark Healey |
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Mark Healey is immune to fear. He free dives as a hobby. He is the kind of guy who needs no dare. It’s exactly this combination of tenacity and fearlessness that makes him one of the world’s most electrifying big wave riders. Growing up on the North Shore gave Healey the chance to learn the intricacies of the island’s most infamous breaks, both above and below the surface. His comfort level at Pipe, Waimea and Sunset means he’s not afraid to experiment. And when he charges even bigger waves elsewhere—Jaws, Todos, Teahupoo, Puerto, Tasmania, Cortes Bank—his expertise as a waterman serves him well. He can stay in the moment and in control no matter how big it gets, a reflection of a lifetime spent learning how.
Some have deemed Healey the next Laird Hamilton, but a better comparison might be Healey’s favorite movie star, Steve McQueen: a guy who lived hard and liked to go fast. But really, Healey defies comparison. This Pipeline aficionado is driven but humble, reckless but smart: a guy who laughs in the face of danger as much as his own folly. |
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Greg Long |
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Sponsors: Billabong, Xcel Wetsuits, Von Zipper, Ocean Minded
Years Pro: 8Greg was born and raised in San Clemente, California where he grew up on the beach. His father, Steve,
was the lifeguard supervisor for the San Clemente and San Onofre State Parks and consequently Greg was
introduced to the water and surfing at a very young age. Along the way he met local Big Wave hero Jon
Walla who took Greg under his wing and introduced him to the world of big wave surfing.
He is currently the winingest surfer at the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave awards with a total of 8 nominations and 4 awards. He won “performer of the year” in 2005 and 2008, Biggest Paddle-in wave in 2008, and Biggest Wave of the Year in 2007 with a 65 foot behemoth caught down off the southern cape of Africa at a break called Dungeons.
In 2003 at the age of 19 he won the Red Bull Big Wave Africa, the second longest running big wave paddle event in the world. That win
earned him an invite the following year to the Mavericks Surf Contest where he placed second in 2005, and won the event in 2008. In 2008 he also earned an official invitation to the “Eddie Aikau” Big wave invitation held at Waimea Bay Hawaii. Renowned as the most prestigious big wave event of all time, Greg has become one of only two surfers in the world to be invited to all three major big wave paddle events.
He is currently involved with a number of environmental organizations including Surfrider, Save the Waves, Wildcoast and The San Onofre Foundation. He also dedicates his time to giving motivation talks and presentations to schools and community groups. He uses his stories and life lessons as a vehicle to encourage others to follow their dreams, challenge themselves to live a healthy lifestyle, and contribute to the well being of their community. |
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Serginho Lans |
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During the phase of the new Moon in mid-May, Parana-born surfer Serginho Laus led another expedition to the Amazon on the Araguari river in the amazonian state of Amapa jungle to surf the longest river wave on the planet, known as the 'Pororoca'. Laus holds two surfing world records including the phenomenal mark of surfing the
pororoca wave for an incredible 10.1 kms (6.3 miles) over a period of 33.15 minutes, non-stop.
Near the mouth of the Atlantic Ocean on May 18, 2007, on the Araguari river in the amazonian state of Amapa, Laus was dropping across the face of the mighty wave, some 10kms (six miles) inland as it continued to grow, at exactly 8:26a.m. local time (11:26GMT). Once again surfing in the right place at the right time, Laus was photographed and filmed as he dropped across the wave, which was
traveling at about 27mph inland through the jungle. Minimal estimates show the wave to be over four meters tall, or approximately 12 feet high.
Since 'pororoca' surfing began in Brazil just ten years ago in 1997, Laus has everything he will need to prove that he indeed caught and surfed the world's biggest river wave, through the spectacular forest beauty of Brazil's Amazon region.
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Rusty Long |
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Sponsors: Op, Astrodeck, Kaysen Surfboards, Ocean Minded, Sector 9
Date of Birth: 8/16/81
Home Town: San Clemente, CA
Three Words That Describe You: Calm, Curious, Weird
Biggest Accomplishment(s): Being able to live the best lifestyle on earth, and successfully riding some crazy waves in the heavy water world
Motivation: Motivation comes from good waves, beautiful places, words of wisdom, healthy living, constant learning, a good
espresso, good music for the moment, curiosity
Likes: Big Barrels, Clean Oceans, Clean Air, Clean Living, Plants, Good Food, Good Wine, Good Beer, Teas and Coffee,
Traveling, Dancing, Quality time with friends, Yoga, Cooking, Positive People, Eastern Philosophy, and Back Gammon.
The waves are the substance of Rusty’s dreams-waves normal people have no desire to surf, waves that easily inflict mental
and physical wounds. Rusty finds joy in the lunacy, and with each uncanny barrel at Puerto Escondido, blind drop at Todos, or
broken board at an urchin-infested slab reef, Rusty’s dreams of health and a desire to live for the moment have become real.
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