Hans Odriozola

Competition Final Day - 2022 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

The 18th edition of the event is set feature the best up-and-coming surfing talent, reaffirming the premier stature of the event as a leading pathway to world class and Olympic surfing.

Competition Day 6 - 2022 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

The 18th edition of the event is set feature the best up-and-coming surfing talent, reaffirming the premier stature of the event as a leading pathway to world class and Olympic surfing.

Competition Day 3 - 2022 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Junior Surfing Championship

The 18th edition of the event is set feature the best up-and-coming surfing talent, reaffirming the premier stature of the event as a leading pathway to world class and Olympic surfing.

Surfing Blindfolded at the Wavegarden Cove Wave Pool

In episode 7 of the EDP Surf For Tomorrow documentary series titled "More Than Surf," the athletes ride the Wavegarden blind and have their commitment tested in an intense four-day camp.

"I know they're kids and just having fun, but this project deserves full commitment," says narrator Shaun Tomson in the latest episode of the EDP Surf For Tomorrow series.

"Do the young surfers really want this?"

It's the big question asked of João Mendonça, Gabriela Dinis, Matias Canhoto, Hans and Kai Odriozola as they complete an intense four-day camp at the Wavegarden in the Basque Country in Spain.

Coach José Seabra is pushing the young Iberian surfers aged between 13 and 17 as they attempt to achieve their dream of one day making the Championship Tour.

"Through EDP's support, we have this incredible platform to train champions and improve as people and human beings," said Seabra.

"However, the truth is no matter how talented you are, no matter how good results you get, every day is a new day, and the surfers have to give 100 percent."

After some of the athletes fail to give their all or listen completely to the coach's instructions, Seabra decides to test the young athletes with an original training drill.

The surfers hit the Wavegarden blindfolded and surf the waves by feeling alone.

The innovative concept is followed by a video session watching CT surfers like Filipe Toledo surfing the Wavegarden.

Basque surf star Ruben Vitoria then joins in a competition as the young surfers aim to put the four days of physical training, surfing technique, and sports psychology drills into a final competitive session.

Following the intense camp, the surfers return to Ericeira, Portugal, and apply their newly honed skills back in the ocean.

With the final European Junior Series event coming up in Hossegor, France, it is the last chance for the athletes to train before the competitive season and the EDP Surf For Tomorrow series comes to its dramatic finale.

Fifteen-year-old Matias Canhoto is the standout back in the Atlantic Ocean and one who seems to have benefited the most from the Wavegarden camp.

Embarking on his first pro junior series, with the support of his parents, Seabra, and the EDP Surf For Tomorrow program, he has a bright future.

Yet already, he has learned one crucial lesson.

"I'm the one that has to do everything," says Canhoto.

"No one can do it for me. I will do what It ever it takes."

He seems to have answered Shaun Tomson's question.

Highlights from the Alaia Bay Winter Open 2021

Not only was the Alaia Open Winter Cup the first major international surfing contest ever held in landlocked Switzerland, it actually signaled a dramatic change in professional surfing. The standard of the competitive battles that unfolded were as good as anything seen in the ocean. Look forward to more action in the future.

The majestic Swiss Alps can now claim to be part of the history of surfing. Despite the water temperature reaching near freezing (3.5ºC/38.3F), 125 brave surfers from across the globe competed in the inaugural Alaïa Open Winter Cup in Sion, Switzerland.

And, much like the guarantee of perfect snow conditions in the nearby mountains, superior quality waves were assured thanks to Wavegarden´s world leading technology. Participants were quick to forget about the icy waters and focused on posting their best performances and highest scores possible.

This was one of the first major international competitions staged in the Wavegarden Cove, and the success was evident not only from the smiling surfers, but from the cheering crowds. Adam Bonvin, Alaia Bay´s founder, was equally content with the outcome, promising competitors a bigger and better event next year.

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High-Performance aerials at Alaïa Bay's ramp section

Wavegarden's air section has come a long way in the past 12 months. Check out our test pilots flying off these ramps in our newest Wavegarden Cove at @Alaïa.Bay in Switzerland

Alaia Bay Launch clip

ALAÏA BAY, SWITZERLAND - WAVEGARDEN'S FIFTH PUBLIC FACILITY Ahead of the official opening on May, 2021, a handful of the world’s best surfers tested out the waves at Alaïa Bay in the Swiss Alps. Hawaii’s Zeke Lau (Hawaii), Aritz Aranburu (Basque Country), Maud Le Car (France) and some other European pros surfed Wavegarden’s 20-wave menu under the snow-capped mountains, 500 metres above sea level. Alaïa Bay includes a whole new raft of new Wavegarden technology, including improved air and tuberiding sections, as well as Waikiki and Malibu waves which break in the reef areas for the beginners during exclusive sessions. Alaïa Bay will be the first commercial surf-focused wave pool in mainland Europe, and one of the world’s most unique surf destinations. Located in Sion, known as the most sun-blessed towns of Switzerland, it is already an international sports hub. Now surfing can be added to the world-class skiing, snowboarding, freeskiing, skateboarding, BMX, and mountain biking facilities that operate in the nearby winter and summer resorts. For more information, go to wavegarden.com, alaiabay.ch

Part 2 BL Blastoff Awards G B 12s

Aerial surfing at Wavegarden's Wave Park in South Korea

Wave Park, the world's largest artificial surf lagoon, has a long menu of different breaking waves.

The wave pool powered by Wavegarden's The Cove technology is also ready to fire off ripples that produce air sections.

The results are quite surprising. The aerial surfing section can be modified and fine-tuned to suit the level of the surfer.

Air specialist Jacob Szekely was one of the first to test the wave ramps. He hit the steepest and heaviest sections possible got what he was seeking.

Inspired by Szekely, Kai and Hans Odriozola practiced on the slightly softer version.

Wave Park is located on Turtle Island, Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.