CINQ JOURS et DOUZE SURFEURS en IRLANDE
Cette année, le Nixon Surf Challenge a jeté l’ancre sur la côte émeraude du 30 mai au 05 juin 2016. Pour ce trip un peu particulier, les très célèbres Charly Martin, William Aliotti, Marc Lacomare et leurs compatriotes se sont laissés séduire par la culture locale en commençant par la ferme de Fergal Smith à Lahinch (Irlande). Depuis deux ans, lassé des voyages en avion et de la pollution qu’ils engendrent, le surfeur ne participait plus aux challenges (cf. Hotdogger #2). Alors c’est Nixon qui est venu à lui. Les surfeurs pro ont participé à cultiver son jardin (!) avant de prendre la route des falaises de Moher et débarquer dans le village de Dingle. Et même si Fergal Smith était en terrain archi-connu, c’est le bien nommé Chippa Wilson qui a lui "a chipé" le titre. La règle est originale : ce sont les surfeurs eux-mêmes qui désignent le gagnant du Surf Challenge. Ce qui donne à la fois un côté amical mais aussi une reconnaissance inédite à cette compétition. Qui de mieux placé qu’un surfeur pour en juger un autre ? Finalement, le Nixon Surf Challenge c’est ce trip entre amis à la recherche de destinations inconnues et toujours en quête d’offrir un surf des plus insolites et originaux.
In association with Monster Energy, Reef, Lomography and Jam Traction.
A surf contest like no other, the Nixon Surf Challenge brings together a dozen of the best surfers from Europe and further afield for five days of immersive surf exploration. Turning its back on well-known surfing hotspots, the event adopts a flexible mobile format, giving the surfers the best possible chance of scoring quality waves. In the end, the riders decide themselves who deserves the win based on Nixon’s distinct method of team voting.
Created more than 10 years ago, the event was originally hold in the Basque beach town of San Sebastian. Fast forward a few years later and the Nixon Surf Challenge migrated to more remote, lesser known surf spots in Lofoten (Norway), Iceland, Kamtchatka (Russia), Hainan (China) and this year in Ireland (May 30 - June 5, 2016) where the crew met up with Irish Surfer Fergal Smith who welcomed everyone to his hometown of Lahinch.
As the current Green Party candidate for County Clare, Fergal has chosen to switch his focus in life from chasing waves around the world to environmental conservation and responsibility, and a more sustainable and simple way of life. “In some ways, I feel a bit guilty about the fact I’ve stopped going on the Nixon Surf Challenge in recent years. It’s not because I don’t want to – they’re probably some of the best trips I’ve ever been on – but it’s just not been possible since I made my decision not to fly by plane anymore.” said Fergal.
After a week on the road – driving south from Lahinch all the way down to the small, picturesque fishing town of Dingle in County Kerry – Australia's Chippa Wilson was able to claim his maiden Nixon Surf Challenge after coming so close to getting the nod from his fellow surfers in Iceland back in 2013.
Widely recognized as one of the world’s best free surfers, Chippa doesn’t usually surf in competitions. “To me, this event is about getting the team together and going to a spot that’s pretty much on your dream list,” added Chippa. “And when we’re there – waves or no waves – we’re going to have a good time. The Nixon Surf Challenge is a special type of competition, because it doesn’t really feel like one at all.”
Find out more:
http://www.nixon.com/surf-challenge
http://www.instagram.com/nixon_europe
http://www.facebook.com/nixon
http://twitter.com/nixon_europe
Directed by Alex Laurel
Filmed by Alex Laurel, Laurent Pujol, Benjamin Durand and Benjamin Wu-Tiu-Yen
Edited by Gustavo Imigrante
Music:
Wages of Sin - "Bible and a Gun"
Tampa Red - "Seminole Blues"