When Fergal Smith dropped in on a monster barrel two miles off the coast of Perth in Western Australia, he little realised he was also dropping in on a monster of another kind. For as he powered down the face of the 20-plus-foot wave, lurking there just a few feet from him was a 500-pound Great White Shark. Smith didn’t even realise how close he had come to an encounter with one of the ocean’s deadliest predators … Details & Pictures
Local veteran leads by example over new school
CONDITIONS: Six-to eight-foot surf rolled through Sunset’s wide-open playing field for a host of young guns and seasoned Hawaiian vets. Being in the right spot proved key as Padaca nabbed seven waves while his fellow three finalists totaled five waves between them.
HIGHLIGHTS: Padaca and his Progressive Surfing business partner Pancho Sullivan “schooled” while  … Details
It was lights, camera and action for the world’s greatest junior event for under 18 year old surfers, with the 2010 edition of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship getting underway in New Zealand.
After a moving opening ceremony full of traditional New Zealand culture in Auckland’s Mission Bay yesterday, contest organizers opted to run the opening rounds of the Under 18 (Podium 2) and Under 16 (Podium 1) boy’s heats in rising 4 ft (1-1.2m) beach break conditions … Details
Mark Healey, Dave Wassel, Reef McIntosh, Sion Milosky, and more lunatic big wave riders tackle an unnamed outer reef on the North Shore of Oahu. A giant, barreling left that breaks way out to sea, this spot is not for the faint of heart…
For more Mark Healey updates from the North Shore go to www.themountainandwave.com