My kid is getting into surfing and I don't want to be an overbearing dad, how do I share the stoke without ruining it for them? - Surf Stoked Dad
Don't be critic, you're not a contest judge. Let them enjoy the fun of being in the ocean and progress at their own speed. Some kids are more competitive than others and they'll push themselves by setting personal goals or comparing their surfing skills to those of their peers. Others may just be stoked cruising at their own pace and prefer a more casual approach. Don't make it a competition, let them dictate the pace, just sit back and enjoy the process. Before long you'll know exactly how much involvement is going to be the right amount, whether you're just the ride to the beach or surfing occasional sessions together. Listen to what they say and hear beneath the words, and you'll foster the environment for them to love surfing in whatever way they choose.

I'm thinking about making a huge life change-new career, new location, maybe chasing waves full-time. How do I know if it's the right move? - SurfLife 4 Ever
As you didn't say what you're doing at present, I don't know how far a stretch it would be for you to just quit and chase waves. I do know there isn't the sponsorship dollars there has been in the past and that "surfing" as a lifestyle isn't free. So, if your current job has given you the financial security to chase waves, or has put you in a position to have the necessary contacts to make the travel, lodging and equipment possible, I say Go for lt.

My crew is all about partying after a surf, but I'm trying to clean up my act. How do I stick to my guns and not seem like a light weight? - Livin Clean
A question many young face in all walks of life, but it seems very common amongst extreme athletes. The common denominator being an enthusiast of the "rush" seems to have sway in all the decision-making choices. It starts out with the seemingly harmless expression of "partying" but can escalate rapidly into an avalanche of bad choices. If you're already referring to yourself in the terms of "cleaning up my act" may I suggest you try it for a month. Make different plans for after surf. You'll probably have to do it with other people, but it's cool, your friends will continue the party without you. They may mention you a few times in the beginning of your absence but then they'll move on and you will too. If after a month of living clean, I doubt you'll think it's time to return to the party cycle and the friends who never left it and probably never will, but at least you'll give yourself the chance to make a clear decision rather than be caught on the merrygo-round the spins faster and more out of control with every passing year.

My body isn't bouncing back from surf sessions like it used to. Any tips for staying in the water longer without feeling wrecked the next day? - Surfer by Day
Well, I wish like everyone else there was a magic youth bullet that allowed us to play forever. But aside from that, I've watched so many of my surf heroes age and some certainly do it more gracefully than others. The ones that seem to keep charging, although perhaps a bit more circumspectly, eat clean, stretch, practice deep breathing, balance training, cardio and rest, those are the skills they all incorporate in one modality or another and they're making the difference between enjoying an active fun filled life and the sedentary lifestyle that seems prevalent in so many. So go outside, dance, laugh and enjoy yourself.

My surf buddy and I started a business together, but we're now butting heads more than catching waves. How do we keep the stoke alive without sinking the business? - Surf Biz Wizard
Perhaps the best way to answer is to start with my own experience of running the family surf business, Astrodeck, for years I've thought a lot about the different challenges that being in a family business brings to the table and the sometimes unique, but specific problems that owning a "surf company" entails.

Unlike you and your buddy, Herb and I both don't surf, so when the surf was good Herb would be on it and I'd handle everything that kept the company afloat. Had we both surfed and had to close the doors we wouldn't have made it for more than four decades. Another factor that may be hindering your ability to stay "surf Stoked" is when you both go surfing together it's no longer the carefree time it was before you went into business together, now, the business and the day to day hassle of running it, is sitting in the line up between you two. Makes for a completely different surf vibe. It seems time you split up the business responsibilities and surf sessions to keep the Flow.

“There’s a ‘ruthless predator’ in the ocean that harpoons its prey,” foments the ever-trusted BBC’s Wildlife Magazine, relishing in suspenseful delivery that “It’s not a shark, a squid, or even an ambush predator like the venomous stonefish but a type of predatory plankton called Polykrikos kofoidii.”

Sharks, squid, and stonefish, scuttle aside. This little yet well-appendaged plankton wheels and deals under the cover of night aided only by its own built-in flickering glow, harpooning the toxic algae that fuels Southern California’s red tides and swallowing them whole.

Marine biologists at the University of California San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography recently collected water samples from beneath Scripps Pier in La Jolla, and while investigating the peculiar, full-body bioluminescence of P. kofoidii, discovered their consumption of the species mostly associated with red-tide algal blooms, Lingulaulax polyedra, might suggest something.

The details might get a bit granular for the average reader (and scribe) of this page—P. kofoidii also flashes a dimmer light than most other bioluminescent plankton—but the benefits of the presence of these nearly microscopic critters are obvious and immeasurable.

“We are still investigating why and how this organism uses such an unusual setup and whether this trait is found in other understudied dinoflagellates,” says a co-author of the recently published study on the findings (in Journal of Phycology), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) postdoctoral researcher Brittany Sprecher.

Getting a grip on this newly defined degree of bioluminescence “could lead to a better understanding of marine ecosystems, as well as the evolution, chemistry and potential functions of bioluminescence,” Sprecher adds.

“In terms of applications,” posits Scripps marine biologist and co-author Dimitri Deheyn, “could P. kofoidii be used to help manage toxic algal blooms that are known to devastate coastal economies? It’s possible that growing large cultures could point to future solutions.”

On the one hand, this sounds like a b-rate sci-fi horror flick. On the other, every day a red tide is kept at bay is another day on the surf calendar.

Onward and upward with the sciences.

This month, Atlantic Park Surf officially kicked off its 2026 Next Wave program, a season-long initiative providing free swim and surf lessons to local youth at Virginia Beach's groundbreaking wave pool. The project is supported by Adidas and VIRGINIA, the creative platform spearheaded by Williams, who has become one of the driving forces behind the city's transformation into an emerging surf destination.

Held at Atlantic Park Surf—the home of North America's first Wavegarden Cove surf lagoon—the program welcomed more than 100 participants between the ages of eight and 18. Students from Virginia Beach Public Schools, YELLOWHAB, and the Atlantis Apartments community took part in a full day of water safety instruction, swimming lessons, and beginner surf sessions.

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The idea is simple: remove barriers and get more kids in the water.

Participants received life jackets, wetsuits, surfboards, sunscreen, and coaching from experienced instructors, including Atlantic Park Surf's Jason Borte and swim instructor Shaun Anderson. The surf lessons took place on the lagoon's beginner-friendly "Waikiki" setting, offering a controlled environment where first-timers can learn without the unpredictability of the ocean.

"Our team and our partners are committed to leveraging the water as a means to improve health and well-being, promote connection and community and build confident and resilient leaders," said Atlantic Park Surf General Manager Nate Stevens. "There's nothing more fun than riding waves with friends and the feeling of being part of a larger community."

The initiative reflects a larger vision that Williams has championed since becoming involved with the Atlantic Park development. While many wave pools focus on tourism, luxury experiences, or high-performance training, Next Wave is designed to create access.

The program launched in 2025 and quickly earned recognition from the surf industry, winning Surf Park Central's Progression in Democratization & Accessibility Award.

For Williams, it's another investment in his hometown. For Virginia Beach's next generation of surfers, it could be the start of something much bigger than a single wave.

Check out the Next Wave project here.

The project is built on years of shared experiences between Lizard King, Bryan Herman, and Dennis Martin. From countless tours across the globe with Baker and Deathwish Skateboards to years spent pushing skateboarding forward together, the collaboration reflects an authentic connection that extends far beyond product.

The Lizard King B1 Slip-On combines the timeless silhouette of the B1 with premium materials selected specifically for skateboarding performance and everyday wear. The upper features high-abrasion suede paired with custom embossed iguana-pattern detailing, creating a unique texture inspired by King's unmistakable identity and style.

Additional custom touches include original Lizard King artwork featured on the footbed and an embroidered LK logo placed on the heel, giving the shoe personal details that honor his legacy and contribution to skateboarding culture.

"This project is about friendship, history, and the experiences we've shared skateboarding over the years," said Dennis Martin, Founder of HØURS IS YOURS

Built with the same commitment to quality that defines every HØURS IS YOURS release, the Lizard King B1 Slip-On is produced in limited quantities and designed to bridge skateboarding heritage with elevated craftsmanship.

The Lizard King B1 Slip-On will be available beginning 6.6.26 exclusively through HØURS IS YOURS and select retailers.

For more information, visit www.hoursisyours.com. About HØURS IS YOURS

💻🛹 Don't miss another headline from TransWorld SKATEboarding! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more quality skate content. 🛹💻

I've been going back and forth between the two options on the same trails to really find the differences between these two extremes, and they're noticeable, making each one much better suited to a particular riding style.

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The Schwalbe radial tires have a recommended retail price of over $100 USD, but can be found on sale for less; even at that sale price, they are still more expensive than the Vee Tire Co. radials at full price ($84.99). But Schwalbe also has a much more recognizable name in the industry and likely a bit more tech that goes into their tires, not to mention more options in terms of compound, tread pattern, and, as far as I can tell, a more dramatic casing compared to the typical bias or diagonal casing tires, and even a more dramatic casing compared to other radial casing tires on the market. And this is honestly pretty noticeable on the trail, especially in the trail casing.

Schwalbe Radial Magic Mary and Albert

• Weight
  MagicMary ~1,410g
  Albert: ~1,310g
• Compound: Ultra Soft / Soft
• 72 TPI
• MSRP: $108 / $103 USD

When comparing the two, it’s clear that the Schwalbe tires are a bit more progressive with their take on radial casing, whereas the Vee Tire Co. options aren’t quite as dramatic with their take on a new casing structure. The Vee Tires feel much closer to a bias-ply casing, but with a little more damping and flexibility thanks to the brand's development of this new radial casing. As with all radial MTB tires, Vee Tire Co. says adding about 5 PSI to your normal pressure is the ticket to a smoother ride.

I have spent a lot of time on the Schwalbe Albert Trail radials, and recently more time on the Magic Mary and Albert Gravity, which has been an overall more enjoyable experience than with the trail-casing radials. I feel like the added support structure of the gravity casing mutes the vagueness of the radial casing, offering a bit more robustness to the contact patch and cornering capability. With the trail-casing radials, there is a bit too much lateral forgiveness, which can make cornering on hard-packed trails feel kind of squirmy and unpredictable if you’re not familiar with how they feel. I’ve found that with the more durable gravity casing this feeling is more subdued, but still present at times.

Where the Schwalbes really shine is in looser, loamier conditions and on more chunky rocks where the tire can really deform and hug the trail or adapt to the conditions, but although the radial tech is being marketed as a huge advancement in tire tech, I still find myself preferring a bias-ply tire for most situations thanks to the supportive feeling and predictable ride qualities.

Vee Tire Co. RADcore Attack FSX

• Weight: ~1495g (29x2.5)
• Compound: Full40 (42a rubber)
• 72 TPI
• MSRP: $84.99 USD

Now let's look at the Vee Tire Co. RADcore tires. Although the casing isn’t as extreme as the Schwalbe equivalents, they strike a nice middle ground between diagonal and radial casings, and they cost a few coins less. The direct comparison isn’t super easy because Vee Tire Co. doesn't really have the same variation, but they’re close enough to draw some connections. The Vee Tire Co. Attack FSX is the faster rolling tread pattern, and in the Full40 compound, it’s a pretty soft rubber, albeit not as supple as the ultra-soft Schwalbe compounds, but that does mean it will last a little longer. 

I’ve been running the Attack FSX front and rear, and although I did have some back and forth with the pressures to get them feeling ideal, they mostly felt really similar to a bias-ply tire; that was until I found a sweet spot in the pressure for what I have been riding. Originally, I had them far too high within the recommended 35-50 psi range and have since settled on a pressure that is just at the minimum, at 35 psi front and 37 psi in the rear, and I might even dare to go a little lower since I’m still not seeing the signs of folding or burping.

The Attack FSX is definitely a fast-rolling tire, but with the implementation of the RADcore and the softer Full40 Compound, they still feel abundantly grippy in corners, with a predictable and, most importantly, consistent breakaway point. The sidewall feels supportive, and the tread pattern is certainly familiar, which makes it easy to compare to other non-radial tires on the market, but I’ve also been spending a lot of time on the non-radial version of the Attack FSX in the same Full40 compound and I can confidently say that forking over the few extra dollars is well worth it for the benefits seen in the new RADcore options.

It does take some getting used to the feeling of a radial tire, and they aren’t perfect for every rider, but if you want a more damped and supple feeling tire and aren’t hitting high-speed, hard packed corners with the intention of ripping the tire from the rim, and instead want more grip and control on steep tech, the radial fad is well worth entertaining, and the Vee Tire Co. radials make that a much less expensive thing to explore.

There are other, more affordable options for radial-curious riders, and e*thirteen has its Grappler Radial tires, which retail for just under $80 USD, making them the most affordable choice, but I haven’t tested these just yet. I also don’t have the best experience with e*thirteen tires, but they do come in at a hard-to-argue-with price.

Overall, I think Schwalbe has the top step of the radial MTB tire podium, as they offer the most drastic change from a bias-ply tire, with increased grip and comfort in lower-speed situations or on more technical terrain. The Vee Tire Co. and Specialized options are a little more familiar-feeling and offer a less dramatic deviation from the more familiar diagonal casing most riders are used to, and I think they are an excellent option for those looking for a happy medium between bias-ply and radial.

Vee Tire Co. Radial Vs. Schwalbe Radial: Which Should You Choose?

Want a more supportive, fast-rolling radial tire, and a familiar-feeling tire that still offers the benefits of radial? Go with the Vee Tire Co. Attack RADcore options.

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Want a more supple, grippier radial tire that offers the true radial-tire experience? Go with the Schwalbe offerings.

After the floods of this spring, Hawai'i could use the love. If you've been surf-deprived, so could you. Honestly, do you even need more of a reason than the forecast? I hope not.

Given the run of swell, if you go for it, you may just get your best surf shot ever. Especially if you hit up Tommy Pierucki, he shoots Queens on the regular and is always making magic with his camera. He's on Instagram at @tommypierucki. Say that I sent you and just ask nicely.

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If you've got a friend in town who doesn't mind you on the couch, then you're golden. If you're looking for a rec on where to stay (that will also keep your partner happy), read on.

Where to Stay: The ROMER House

When I rolled into Waikiki this spring, I stayed at the ROMER House — a boutique property tucked off Kūhiō Avenue, a short walk from the sand. It wasn't on my radar before I arrived, and now I'm going to have a hard time staying anywhere else on the south shore.

If you're booking now, the Romer Reset is the move — 20% off premium rooms, a $50 dining credit at 855-Aloha, late checkout at 1 PM, and the resort fee waived. Two-night minimum. Otherwise, rates start at $209 a night. For the quality, and location, that's a tough offer to beat.

The location is the main draw. You're not on the beach, so it won't break the bank, but you're only a few minutes' walk from Queens, a short cruise from the bowls at Ala Moana, and within good distance of basically everything else in town — Chinatown's bar scene, the hip spots downtown, and plenty of beautiful spots to take in the sunset. All made easy by the free cruiser bikes ROMER hands out to guests. Grab one in the morning, point it wherever, and you've solved the parking problem that is notorious for missions in town. I left the car in the garage until I checked out.

And the cruisers aren't the only gift. Through partnerships with Beach Candy Waikiki and Queens Arbor, ROMER can hook you up with beach gear, umbrellas, and loungers — as the Aussies say, 'too easy'.

The on-site food and drink program is batting above its class for a hotel this size. 855-Aloha is the kitchen — a modern take on nostalgic Hawai'i favorites, leaning local with island growers and fresh fish. I ate there four times and loved every bite. The Lei Stand handles the cocktail side — and it's worth knowing it made its name as a popular Honolulu bar before it opened the location inside the hotel. Meaning it's not a hotel bar trying to feel like a real one. It's a real bar that happens to be in a hotel. I had a hard time not stopping in on the way back to my room each evening.

The Backyard — ROMER's pool and cabana deck — is also worth mention. It's the kind of space that makes you actually want to spend a midday hour there rather than fleeing to the beach for a quick dip. Helps that ROMER is adults-only — no shrieking, no splash wars, no kids running past your towel toward the deep end. Just lounging. Read a book. Have a drink. Take a nap. Reset. There's also a steady drip of complimentary programming for guests — Thursday-evening Hula Happy Hour, Friday-morning yoga.

One night, I caught a comedy show at Hawaiian Brian's and then hit Chinatown afterwards for a stop at the EP Bar — where the cocktails hit like magic and the thousands of records lining the walls make you reminisce about the golden days of music. The scene itself was exactly what I like, not too hectic and far from dead. Doesn't hurt that I was talking story with Sky Allen from Dark Seas, we had our fair share of laughs. I made it home relatively early because the surf was beckoning, and the goal was to get to Queens before the rest of town woke up.

All in all, there are plenty of options in town, but ROMER hit the spot. Affordable, stylish, comfortbale and well-run options in town are few and far between. They're not trying to sell you on the mega-tourist version of Hawai'i. It's just a dope hotel in the middle of one of the great surf cities on earth. The lobby is filled with stunning images by Arto Saari, and the vibe — from the rooms to the pool to the bar — is the kind I don't mind staying in for a while.

No passport needed. Flights are reasonable. The waves are world-class. Pack light. Bring some good foam and be ready to score. The cruiser is waiting in the lobby, and the wave is breaking down the street.

In a world where ski experience is built so much on the hype a brand creates around a product, Fischer wanted to try something else: design a ski that speaks for itself. The idea was to create a freeride ski for advanced to expert skiers that would just do its job, without having to "explain" how it worked or was built—just click in and have a great time.

They arrived like any other new ski, in a plain cardboard box, wrapped in plastic, unceremoniously dropped by UPS in front of my garage. Instead of a spec sheet or hang tag, there was literally no information affixed on the plain white topsheets. In fact, the usual info printed on the topsheet graphics was actually crossed out, only increasing the mystique around the ski.

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2026 Fischer Nothing Specs

• Size skied: 186 cm
• Lengths available: 176cm, 186cm, 196cm
• Sidecut: 143mm – 112mm – 134mm
• Radius: 22m (186cm)
• Profile: directionalrocker
• Weight: 2120g (186cm)
• Price: $899

Shape, Flex and Construction

Of course, once I had the ski in hand, it wasn't that hard to deduce the actual specs of the ski. Keeping in line with Fischer's intentions, I skied them for a few days before looking into what the shape and construction was all about. It's something I honestly wish that I could do for all skis I test, but then I would be ignoring a lot of emails and be doing a bad job as Gear Editor. I applaud Fischer for keeping all that info under wraps and I think it's a really cool way to market something.

At first glance, the Nothing looks remarkably similar to the Fischer Ranger 116, the brand's current offering as a freeride powder ski. There's the directional shape, squared off tips, kicked up tail, and visible metal inlay under the topsheet. However, there's a few subtle differences that give the Nothing a very unique character.

The Nothing's tip shape is a little less tapered than on the big Ranger, and the tail is much more twin-tippy. Underfoot, the 112mm waist is a little narrower than the Ranger, though the turn radius is quite a bit longer (22m vs. 19). The metal layer (presumably Titanal...Fischer wouldn't tell me) also extends closer to the tip and tail, adding damping and some rigidity to the Nothing. Overall, it's stiff but not 2x4-stiff, with the back half feeling quite a bit stiffer than the front.

A cool thing to note is the fact that the Nothing comes in a 196cm length–that might the longest production freeride ski on the market right now. Tall guys and girls, take note.

On-Snow Performance

I spent the majority of my time testing the Fischer Nothing at Grand Targhee, with a few days at JHMR and in the backcountry around both resorts. The ski was mounted with a pair of the new Atomic Shift 16 MNC, and I mostly rode it with my pair of pin-toe modded Atomic Remedy 130 boots. Conditions ran the gamut from scary firm refrozen BS to slushy spring snow, with a few very deep powder days in between.

On first impression, the heavy weight, stiff hand flex, and long turn radius had me thinking these would be absolute hogs to drag around the mountain and would want nothing to do with terrain that didn't resemble big-mountain movie lines. While it certainly excelled in that setting, I was truly impressed at how it handled everyday skiing in the resort—something that skis of this caliber tend to have trouble stooping down to.

The Nothing is without a doubt a very powerful ski, but it doesn't have as much of a barrier to entry than some competitors. Even with the 22m turn radius and stiff, powerful construction, the balanced swing weight and somewhat more centered mount point makes the Nothing feel very pivoty and drifty, making it easy to throw sideways and scrub speed in tight situations—not to mention tossing cheeky shifties off every sidehit. I particularly liked this in steep and technical terrain like Targhee's Bobcat or Reliable or JHMR's Alta Chutes, where a run will include everything from drifty, high speed turns to quick pivots, slashes, and direction changes to piece together a line through rocks, trees, and other obstacles.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of this ski however, is its stability at speed and the way it smooths out variable snow conditions like they simply don't exist. I comfortably hit the biggest and most technical airs I did all season on these skis, dropping into unknown (to me) terrain several times without any hesitation. I tend to pick and and choose my airtime these days...these knees aren't getting any younger...but I kept surprising myself with how these just invited me to point them off a cliff with no qualms, knowing that the stiff tails and super-damp ride would help keep me on my feet even after a big impact.

In pure powder, these are also an absolute hoot, providing plenty of float and offering a nice surfy feel. Meanwhile, on firmer snow, the metal layer, long turn radius, and less tapered tip give these a super-powerful GS-ey character that will make ex-racers smile.

Comparisons

Three current skis come to mind that feel very similar to the Nothing. First would the current Salomon QST Blank. The shape of the Nothing looks and feels very similar, offering a combination of hard-charging fun and slower-speed maneuverability. However, the added metal layer in the Nothing gives it more powerful top-end performance.

This might be going out on a limb a bit, but another comparison I'd like to make is to the 4FRNT Hoji, which shares really similar soft-snow performance characteristics. While the Hoji is a fully reverse-camber design, the sidecut shape and stiffness make these similarly drifty and fun in soft or even chalky snow.

Finally, perhaps the most similar ski—also a new one for 2026/27—is the Armada Antimatter 114. At first glance, the spear-shaped tip of the Antimatter might make it look like a very different ski, but it's the skis' back halves and metal-layer construction that have me drawing the comparison. Both feature a shaped titanal sheet and a pronounced twin-tip tail shape, and strike a balance between aggressive, planted high-speed power and poppy, energetic handling. Unsurprisingly, the Armada might be better suited for a more freestyle-oriented skier looking for something that can butter and press a little better, while the Fischer would make a more traditional, perhaps race-trained, skier happier.

What type of skier is the Fischer Nothing best for? 

With the release of the Nothing, Fischer set out to create an "experimental freeride ski." I'd say that the experiment was resounding success, creating one of the most powerful, yet extremely fun big skis in recent years. This one reminds me of older hard-charging directional "fat" skis like Atomic Automatic 117, or the 4FRNT Kye 110–meant for skiing fast and showing off to your friends both in and out of the resort.

For good reason, ski design—particularly on the powder and freeride end of the spectrum—has become more "inclusive" in recent years, meaning that the performance envelope has shifted a little closer to the easier-to-ski end of the spectrum. That has sometimes come at the expense of top-end performance. The Nothing is a refreshing change from that, offering a ski that will make even the hardest-charging skiers happy, with enough weight, stiffness, and oomph to encourage the dumbest ideas on the mountain.

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This past winter around Banff was a big one. 

Lake Louise, another mountain in the neighborhood, set a new overall snowfall record. Sunshine Village had one of its highest precipitation seasons on record. Mt. Norquay cracked its top ten snowiest winters on record. 

Given how many other resorts out West dealt with warm weather and thin snowpacks, the pattern up north marked a surprising contrast—and served as a reminder that western North America is a big place. At least one region is bound to buck the overall trend. 

If you missed out, don’t fret. In 2022, Sunshine Village resurrected the tradition of offering a few days of summer skiing when possible. 

Unsurprisingly, this season fits the bill. A quick cruise through the resort’s webcams shows surprisingly consistent coverage. That aligns with the numbers shared on Sunshine’s website. On the upper mountain, around five feet of snow is still on the ground.

The ingredients, clearly, are there for a little more skiing. So, Sunshine’s doing just that. The resort plans to reopen on June 20 and stay through July 5, with skiing off the Strawberry Express lift. You can stay posted by following Sunshine’s Instagram page. 

Beyond Sunshine Village, though, opportunities to ski and ride chairlifts this month are melting fast. 

Mammoth Mountain, California, just sent off its season on June 7. Timberline Lodge, Oregon, is, as usual, still in the game with its signature mix of freestyle action, slush, and Mt. Hood views. Beartooth Basin, on the Wyoming-Montana border, plans to reopen on June 12, pending lift repairs.

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

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The race will take place on what Deer Valley's Senior Director of Mountain Operations, Garrett Lang, called the National Championship Series trail, which winds down from Bald Eagle Mountain to Snow Park Lodge. Admission to the event is free for spectators, and viewing zones for the course will be accessible on foot. Silver Lake Express and Homestake will both operate for public access to the bike park throughout the event.

The US Open stands out with its unique Open Class Pro/Amateur format, which allows up-and-comers to compete with the best riders in the country for an $80,000 cash purse. Previously, the US Open was held at Killington, Vermont.

Deer Valley's bike park has returned to full capacity after operating on a limited footprint during last summer's expansion. For the second year, Deer Valley has also teamed up with Solitude Mountain to offer the Wasatch Gravity Pass, which provides access to both resorts' bike parks.

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

For the send-off, Mammoth ran three lifts, the Broadway Express, Face Lift Express, and Chair 23. The last one, Chair 23, takes the resort beyond the thin strips of snow often associated with spring or summer skiing. Depending on the year, it can offer steeps and off-trail action, two things that get harder and harder to find as the ski season winds down.

Mammoth staying open this late isn’t unusual, exactly. After snowier winters, it has kept the lifts spinning into July or even August. 

But given the tough and warm weather western mountains dealt with, lift-served skiing in June this year takes on a different, more alluring quality. Even Arapahoe Basin, Colorado, a late-season stalwart, couldn’t make it beyond May this season.

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With Mammoth closed, only a few more opportunities for lift-served skiing remain this month.

Beartooth Basin, the summer-only ski area on the Wyoming-Montana border, opened May 25 and plans to reopen on June 12, pending lift repairs. Timberline Lodge in Oregon, home to summer camps and terrain parks, is still kicking. If you don’t mind walking uphill, Copper Mountain, Colorado, has a hike-to terrain park. 

And up in Canada, Banff Sunshine Village is planning a June 20 reopening and is still getting snow after a winter that defied all expectations. 

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

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The National Park Service will release additional information as it becomes available and appropriate to share.

POWDER extends our deepest condolences to Pendry's family and friends, the entire Denali climbing community, and all those affected by the tragedy.

Watch: Copper Summer Hike Park Flyby

Copper has preserved a significant amount of snow to create the summer hike park, as evidenced by the thick mound of snow protruding from the dirt, and skiers are showing up to make the most of it.

From the quick video above, we can see that the Summer Hike Park features at least one jump, a small hip, and multiple rails and tubes. It's not big per se, but it's more than enough to scratch a snow sliding itch or to keep working on your park progression.

Check Copper Mountain's website and social media channels for updates on the Summer Hike Park operation.

The tremor rattled off the coast of Mindanao in the morning. As of Tuesday, reports indicate at least 32 people have died and more than 200 have been injured following the disaster. Most fatalities were linked to collapsed buildings, falling debris, and quake-related damage, though tsunami flooding was also reported in several coastal areas.

In the minutes that followed, tsunami waves began surging into coastal communities across the region. Videos circulating online showed seawater rushing inland, smashing waterfront areas and flooding low-lying areas. One clip captured what appeared to be a wall of water crashing into the shoreline, while another showed a strange sideways-moving surge sweeping through a harbor. Rather than resembling traditional breaking waves, the tsunami arrived as rapidly rising water and powerful currents pushing inland.

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The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned that waves as high as 3 meters (roughly 10 feet) were possible along some Philippine coastlines, prompting evacuations throughout the region.

According to Philippine authorities, tsunami waves that reached shore generally measured around 1 meter (3 feet), though some locations recorded higher surges approaching 1.4 meters (4.6 feet).

"We advise people to evacuate to higher grounds or go further inland," Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Teresito Bacolcol warned residents as the tsunami threat unfolded.

Here's another look at the tsunami waves produced by Monday's quake:

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For surfers and ocean enthusiasts, the footage serves as a reminder that tsunami waves often look very different from normal surf. Rather than pitching beachbreaks or reeling pointbreaks, they frequently arrive as fast-moving walls of water, surging currents, and rapidly rising sea levels capable of sweeping away cars, boats, and buildings.

The disaster also reignited discussion about the Philippines' place within the Pacific "Ring of Fire," one of the most seismically active regions on Earth. The country experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity, and recent seismic events throughout the Pacific have fueled speculation about larger events still to come. Scientists caution, however, that earthquakes cannot currently be predicted, and each event is largely independent of the next.

Is this an indication that the “Big One” is imminent? Stay vigilant.

With ocean temperatures rising and forecasters watching the development of El Niño in the Pacific, marine scientists are warning that warmer water could bring an increase in some of the ocean's most notorious residents—including juvenile great white sharks.

"We predict it's going to be a very sharky summer," said Dr. Chris Lowe, director of the California State University Long Beach Shark Lab, in recent weeks and months. But there's something else, attracted by the warmer waters, that will be lurking beneath as well.

The warning comes as sightings of juvenile great white sharks are already increasing along Southern California beaches. In recent years, warming ocean temperatures and persistent marine heat waves—often referred to as "The Blob"—have created ideal habitat for young sharks, allowing them to expand farther north and remain in local waters longer than they historically have.

But according to Lowe, sharks may not be the biggest concern for beachgoers.

"The other thing about El Niño is that sharks aren't the only ones that like them, stingrays do," Lowe explained. "Rays for days."

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uEwfUY8mzmU

That might sound harmless compared to a shark, but surfers know otherwise.

Every summer, Southern California beaches report hundreds of stingray injuries. The barbed tails of round stingrays can deliver a painful sting that many victims describe as feeling like stepping on a hot knife. Warm-water years often lead to increased stingray populations in shallow coastal areas, exactly where surfers, swimmers, and beachgoers enter and exit the ocean.

Fortunately, there's a simple defense.

Veteran surfers and lifeguards swear by the "stingray shuffle"—a technique that involves sliding your feet across the sand instead of taking normal steps when walking through shallow water. The movement alerts buried stingrays to your presence and gives them a chance to swim away before contact occurs.

For surfers, the prospect of warmer water, cleaner conditions, and more consistent swell often makes El Niño years something to celebrate.

But as ocean temperatures continue to climb, this summer's lineup may include more than just good waves. From juvenile great whites cruising the shoreline to stingrays hiding beneath the sand, California's marine life appears ready to take advantage of the changing conditions, too.

Keep those eyes peeled, and those feet shufflin'.

But then came 2026. With the announcements of the return of the greatest of all time, Stephanie Gilmore, and momentarily retired five-time World Champion and Olympic gold medallist Carissa Moore, the questions bounced around: “How will they hold up against this new generation?” Many answered that question with some doubt - the new generation were too good; they had changed surfing a lot in the last two years. Add to the mix French phenom Zebrowski, who many predicted would arrive on tour and dominate, and it seemed like the clash of generations wouldn’t be so much of a clash and more of the young taking their mantle from the old.

After four events, the intergenerational confluence has gone somewhere more or less unexpected. What wasn’t accounted for by the pundits was the ability of surfers to lift at any age. Being a prodigy is no guarantee of competitive success. Often, in the hype around the newcomers, there is a momentary overlooking of the depth of talent that exists on the women’s tour.

The new guard did something incredible in the last few years - they pushed the old guard into new performance territory and now appear to be paying the price. Zebrowski is yet to progress out of Round 2. Brooks sits 15th on the rankings, and the last three events have been won by the veterans - Lakey Peterson in Margaret River, Gilmore on the Gold Coast, and Carissa Moore in New Zealand. It’s harder than ever to do what Steph Gilmore did in 2007: come on tour as a rookie and surf in ways never seen before, dominate. Especially when Steph Gilmore herself still stands in your way.

The first half of 2026 has felt like a momentary return to the 2010s, with Gilmore and Moore going blow for blow and Peterson appearing on the horizon with a searing forehand hack. These veterans with decades of experience are not about to hand over the reins without a fight. Hell, even Sally Fitzgibbons has made some heats as she figures out how to take her multiyear Challenger Series-winning form back into the CT arena.

The young guns have lifted the game; there is no doubt about it. They’ve forced the spotlight on women’s surfing with big personalities and even bigger turns. Women’s surfing has been irreversibly changed with the arrival of this new generation, but that doesn’t mean the vets can’t rise to the moment. Erin Brooks was born the same year Gilmore won her first World Title (2007), and Tya Zebrowski was born the same year Carissa Moore won her first (2011), which brings a beautiful dimension to the battle of the generations. All in all, it’s great for the sport and great for the fans, who have the opportunity to watch history being written in real time.

Underneath the power and weight on offer from the Avinox M2S motor and new battery, the bike felt like just that: a bike. I rode it primarily in a super detuned assist mode and didn’t hate pedaling it without any assist (crazy, I know). So when the new crop of Avinox motors started dropping, and Amflow put the M2S inside the new PX Carbon, I was curious to see if the soul of what makes an eMTB still feel somewhat like a mountain bike remained. After only a couple of rides on the new PX Carbon Pro, I’m left with some things to ponder, and a whole lot more to discover and reflect on. 

This is my first impression and feelings on the PX Carbon Pro; for all the details on the new bikes from Amflow, head over to this article.

Initial Thoughts

Maybe I’m getting older and turning back into one of those “eMTBs aren’t all that they’re made up to be” type of riders, but the Amflow PX Carbon seemed to be lacking a bit of the sparkle that the PL Carbon had. At least that was my thinking at the beginning of testing, and all it took was a little tinkering to get the bike feeling less like an eMTB and more like a MeMTB. Despite the bike feeling pretty good, there’s still something about it that feels a little strange, and I wish I could put my finger on it.

Looking past the mystery, the PX Carbon Pro is definitely a really great offering on paper. For USD $10,199, you get a build kit that makes sense. Magura Gustav brakes, Fox Factory Suspension (36 & Float X), and Amflow carbon wheels with Schwalbe Radial tires. I would love to see more eMTBs come with a 38 or Zeb as standard, because I just know there’s going to be another creaky CSU in this bike's future.

The most noticeable change in the new PX Carbon is the increased geo adjustability. While the PL Carbon had one flip-chip for wheel-size changes, the PX now has 4 chainstay positions thanks to two sets of chips. There’s also a chip in the yoke, and a pair of headset cups to fine-tune the headtube angle. It seems that Amflow has been paying attention to what the majority of the industry is doing and is now offering more adjustment for the better.

Necessary Changes

Out of the box, I made a few tweaks to the bike because the trend toward a short stack and not enough dropper seems to carry over from the PL Carbon. I swapped to some 50mm-rise OneUp Components Carbon bars, cut to 760mm, and a 240mm OneUp Components dropper. Other than that, the bike is very well specced, and I immediately noticed that Amflow decided to go with Gravity casing tires for this build - something that every eMTB should get.

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A few weird aspects of the unboxing were the omission of tubeless valves and the inclusion of Schwalbe Clik valve cores. Seems like a weird decision, but thankfully I have valves-a-plenty. The PX Pro also comes with a headlight installed out of the box, which is strange to me, but removing it was easy and does require pulling the screen out of the top tube. I also pulled the steering block out of the headset assembly. Not sure why they have that since the fork clears the frame as do the bars.

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On the bars, the Magura Gustav Pro levers have some interesting posts for shifter and dropper lever mounting, both of which developed some rattle early on that keeps coming back. Thankfully, Amflow includes more traditional mounts in the accessory box.

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Early Ride Impressions

I have ridden the bike at both chainstay-length extremes, and with the pre-installed chip in the chainstays, the length is 438mm; flipping the chip pushes that number to 451mm. While the 451mm chainstays are very stable-feeling, they do make the bike much more planted and precise in corners, which is nice if you’re going for all-out speed. I like to play around a little more, and found that the 438mm chainstays make the bike feel a little more alive if you like to hop around.

I have yet to mess with the headset positions and the flip-chip in the shock yoke, but it’s nice to see all the options available now, even if there is a massive number of configuration options, and I will certainly be exploring them in continued testing, and thankfully, they are pretty straightforward to change and understand with the info included in the PX Maintenance Manual.

After a bit of tinkering to get the large frame to fit my 6’2” body, I set the tire and suspension pressures, and the bike really started to feel more soulful. I ended up going back and forth with the pressures on the Schwalbe radial tires and dropping pressure in the fork and shock - it’s always surprising how a few PSI here and there can drastically change the way a bike handles. Overall, the PX feels quite similar to the PL, but the few geo changes and mullet wheel configuration really make the bike feel a bit more refined, and it’s clear how much Amflow has learned from their first swing at a bike.

Motor, Battery, and Charging

I don’t have a ton of time on the PX Pro, but over the course of my few rides and just under 80 miles on varied terrain, I’ve got a hint at what the bike is all about aside from just the 150nm of torque and 1500 peak watts that the M2S is able to unleash. Climbing is obviously impressive; descending is what you might expect from a 160/150mm trail bike, and the overall UI in the app and on the display is dialed.

The obvious talking point with the Amflow PX Pro is the M2S motor, and it’s damn powerful, especially when you’re faced with steeper pitches - that’s when the power and torque really shine. It’s a personal shuttle system, and really smacks you in the mouth with the get-up-and-go that it puts out. Thankfully, you can still tune each assist mode, and as you might know, I went all the way down with the eco mode and left trail and turbo as-is. I usually turn the assist off or set it to Eco when descending because I don’t like any surprises on the way down.

Charging is also pretty dang quick for this new 700Wh battery, and at under 20% state of charge, the time to 100% is under 2 hours. I was also surprised at how much ride time I could get out of the smaller battery - with my first jaunt on the PX being 30+ miles, 4,600" of elevation, and mostly in Trail mode with 18% state of charge upon my return home. In fact, I haven't gone on a ride less than 25 miles and under 4,000" of elevation on this bike and felt like I was nervous about running low on juice. Even with mixed use of Turbo and Trail modes throughout. Pretty, pretty cool.

In Summary

All things considered, the Amflow PX Carbon Pro is a hell of a bike, and even if there is a little something-something that I can’t quite put my finger on, the more I ride it, the more the bike is beginning to make sense - even if I can’t help but struggle with the guilt of riding an eMTB or the internal conflict that arise from all the power it puts out. 

I’m looking forward to spending more time on this bike, and I’m really hoping that I’ll be able to find the words to describe the feelings that this bike evokes - stay tuned for the long-term review.

Salomon/Atomic Shift 2.0 16 MN

Long has the Shift binding enticed folks who want one binding to do it all. However, previous versions of the Shift had a few issues that seemed inescapable—broken heel pieces, pre-releases, and brake issues when skinning. That is, until Salomon & Atomic released a new version this winter, replacing some of the old Shift's plastic parts with metal and promising a burlier, more functional binding and higher DIN settings.

Our Gear Editor Max spent a chunk of time on the new version of the binding and was pleasantly surprised by it. While the new Shift is still a bit of a niche product, to see Salomon and Atomic take an old product's issues and take actionable steps to improve something that could be the Holy Grail of hybrid bindings is pretty darn cool.

Fischer Nothing

Maybe putting a ski we don't actually know anything about on this list is a polarizing choice. It's not like I can say "the dimensions of this ski are so unique" because that's still sort of a secret. But that's kind of the coolest part.

Fischer's new ski was released with no product details and a blank top sheet, with the intention that a ski's specs shouldn't influence how we think it skis, but rather that the experience of skiing it should fully dictate each person's opinion. In a day and age when the market is saturated with options and marketing telling us why one ski is better than the rest, it's a refreshing approach that earns it a spot on this list. Keep an eye out soon for more on the skis. Wink wink.

Raide Research TourTech Bibs

Raide Research technically released their TourTech bibs in 2024, but I just got around to testing them this season.

These bibs are undoubtedly super feature-rich, with bits and pieces that make them more high-tech than other bibs. However, the technology that truly stood out to me above anything else was that the women's version actually fit a female body well. Wild.

Somehow, in 2026, it's still really hard to find ski pants or bibs that fit our legs and waists, accommodate ski boots, and are functional. Yet, Raide Research's bibs knock it out of the park. The beacon leashes in both thigh pockets, the laser-cut mesh upper panel, the power-strap thread-through gaiter, and the durable yet breathable fabric are just a bonus.

Salomon S/Pro Alpha BOA 130

These days, many ski boots look like science experiments. With all the BOAs and buckles and combinations and flexes, it's a wonder 130 flex boots in a 22.5 are so few and far between. I digress.

The folks over at Salomon were busy updating more than just the Shift binding; they also made some notable tweaks to the S/Pro Alpha BOA 130 boot for 2026/27. For one, instead of putting the BOA on the lower part of the boot, where many other boots have used it, they only put a BOA on the upper cuff, in part to avoid the "shearing" effect it's had on other boots.

Second, they've eliminated a pivot point on the cuff and instead opted to bolt the upper cuff to the lower boot with something they're calling the PowerLink, which has a pretty drastic effect on how the boot skis. For now, it still only comes in 24.5 and larger, but it feels like a step in the right direction for boot technology advancements that don't just involve putting BOAs anywhere you can think of.

Armada Antimatter 114

Armada's new freeride ski, born from Max Palm's brain, is one of the more unique freeride skis to come out lately. It's also a bit of a departure from the brand's previous skis and is generally just a wild design, hence the inclusion of the Armada Antimatter on this list.

It's one of the Armada skis to use a metal laminate layer inside—Armada calls it "SpeedMetal." Those are glued to the poplar core to keep things damp at speed, but without taking that root, playful, Armada DNA out of the ski. The Antimatter also has a twin-tipped rocker shape that utilizes a multi-radius rocker in the tip to provide more stability than your average rockered, powder ski. In short, it might be one you have to ski to really understand the full effect of, but trust us that it's pretty cool.

Editor's Note:Hey, Matt here. The Armada Antimatter 114 is one of the best skis I've ever tested. The hype is real.

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Look familiar? To most skiers on the western side of Mississippi, it probably does. Beyond that, I won’t throw the book of stats at you: last winter was rough and tumble. Most of us are hoping to forget it.

But bad snow, as evidenced by Parkin’s line, can also be a chance to get creative. Skis, despite how they’re marketed, slide on a remarkable number of surfaces, including everything from sand to escalators. 

Now, I’m not necessarily advocating for dirt skiing, at least not on the professional level showcased here. We can’t all risk a blown edge or a core shot by riding over gravel. More importantly, I’d fear for my ligaments trying to push through the compression at the end of the video. Knees, after all, are a bit harder to replace than skis.

Still, I was reminded of all the times I decided to go skiing anyway when the snow sucked. 

Rather than heading to the tried-and-true haunts, the lack of powder encouraged craftiness. Once, years ago, on a day that could’ve been forgettable, my friends and I found ourselves crowded into a tiny drainpipe, yelling at each other as our skis got stuck under the ice. Different adventures have, yes, also involved skiing dirt.

None fit the usual definition of a “good” ski day. “Fun,” in the moment, was often out of reach. Yet, here I am, more than a decade later, reminiscing fondly about those moments. It goes to show that skiing is as entertaining as you make it. 

Although I’m sure I’m not alone in hoping that next winter doesn’t involve too many chances to stretch the definition of what “skiing” means. Those of us who got skunked out West could use the clarity of a no-BS powder day. Fingers crossed.

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

The first major South Pacific swell of the season has officially reached Mexico's famed "Mexican Pipeline," transforming Playa Zicatela into a war zone of towering barrels, brutal hold-downs, and some of the heaviest surf seen (so far) this season. The same swell that ignited Teahupo'o in Tahiti before marching through Hawaii has now arrived in Mexico, and the footage coming out of Puerto Escondido has been nothing short of spectacular.

Among those in the lineup was Nathan Florence, who documented the experience in his latest vlog. Florence went full survival mode during the strike mission—a fitting assessment for a day when simply making it back to the lineup felt like an accomplishment.

Puerto isn't called the Mexican Pipeline for nothing.

In his video, Florence battles relentless cleanup sets, heavy paddle-outs, and the kind of detonating beachbreak barrels that have made Zicatela one of the most feared waves on Earth. Previous sessions from the trip showed him getting repeatedly rag-dolled on the inside, describing the punishment as taking countless waves on the head and leaving him "brain-dead" after hours of survival surfing.

According to longtime Puerto Escondido photographer and local expert Edwin Morales, the swell was pushing into the 20-foot range, producing "perfect peaks" and "heavy tubes" as some of the world's best big-wave surfers descended on town. Nathan and Ivan Florence, Greg Long, Tom Lowe, and a host of local chargers were among those hunting the biggest barrels.

And then there was Tom Lowe.

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The British big-wave specialist's latest ride from the swell has already entered the conversation for ride of the year. Lowe somehow threaded an enormous Zicatela cavern, disappearing behind a curtain of spray before emerging from one of the most intimidating barrels seen all season.

What's next? This may just be the beginning.

Forecasters are tracking additional South Pacific storms lining up behind this opening pulse. More swell is expected to hit Tahiti, Hawaii, Mexico, and eventually California over the coming weeks.

Summer has officially arrived in the Pacific—and Puerto Escondido just reminded everyone why it's one of the most gorgeous, yet terrifying, waves on the planet.

A 35-year-old spearfisherman was killed Saturday after being attacked by a shark believed to be a great white near Michaelmas Island, off the coast of Albany. The victim was diving with family members when the attack occurred shortly before noon local time, according to Western Australia Police. Authorities said he was brought back to shore by boat, where paramedics worked for more than two hours to save him, but he could not be revived.

Officials believe the shark was approximately 4.5 meters (about 14.7 feet) long. Western Australia's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development later issued a warning advising ocean users to exercise extreme caution in the area and comply with any beach closures.

The attack has sent shockwaves through Australia's surf and diving communities, particularly because it comes on the heels of another fatal shark incident in the same region.

Just three weeks ago, 38-year-old spearfisher Steven Mattaboni was killed by a suspected great white shark while diving near Rottnest Island, off Perth. Friends witnessed the attack, which authorities described as horrific. The shark involved was estimated to be around 13 feet long.

The latest fatality marks Australia's third deadly shark attack in roughly four weeks, an unusually high number in a country that averages about three fatal shark attacks per year. Experts note that spearfishing can increase the risk of encounters because struggling fish and blood in the water can attract large predators.

Commercial fisherman Gregory Sharp told Australian media that larger sharks are commonly seen this time of year as they follow seasonal salmon and sardine migrations along the coast. "We do see an increase in larger sharks this time of the year," he said.

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WA Premier Roger Cook was “deeply saddened” by the incident. He added:

“This is a tragedy and my thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends, as well as the first responders. I know members of the local community will wrap their arms around them, and I urge those who are impacted to reach out for support.”

For surfers, divers, and fishermen along Western Australia's rugged coastline, the incident is a sobering reminder of the ocean's unpredictability. The waters surrounding Albany are renowned for their beauty and abundant marine life—but they are also part of one of the world's most active habitats for great white sharks.

Authorities are continuing their investigation, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

Pacifica Municipal Pier—an icon that has stood against decades of storms, swell events, and pounding surf—has been closed indefinitely after city engineers discovered a growing crack in the structure's concrete walkway. Officials say the damage is severe enough that parts of the pier are separating, raising concerns about its long-term future.

According to the City of Pacifica, inspectors observed "cracking, separation, and displacement of the concrete walkway and structural elements near the Pier abutment." Officials immediately shut down public access, stating that the pier "will remain closed until it can be determined that the facility is safe for public use."

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Photos released by the city show a dramatic fracture running across the structure near shore. Local reports indicate the crack has continued to widen, with visible separation developing between portions of the pier and the surrounding concrete.

The culprit appears to be the same force that has shaped—and battered—the California coastline for millennia: waves.

The 1,100-foot-long pier sits directly exposed to the open Pacific, where winter storms and long-period swells routinely unleash tremendous energy. Pacifica's shoreline is no stranger to powerful surf, and recent wave activity is believed to have contributed to the latest structural failure.

The damage has already claimed one casualty. Chit Chat Cafe, the beloved waterfront eatery perched atop the pier, announced that it has been forced to close and may ultimately face demolition. Owners told customers they were evacuated immediately after the crack was discovered and are uncertain whether the building can be saved.

The timing couldn't be worse.

A fresh pulse of South Pacific energy is expected to impact portions of the West Coast later this week, adding more wave energy to an already stressed shoreline. While the swell is expected to produce excellent surf at many California breaks, residents in Pacifica will be watching for a different reason.

After surviving more than 50 years on the edge of the continent, the future of Pacifica Pier now hangs in the balance—and the ocean isn't done knocking on the door.

The decommissioning of the $368m system that is already in place will begin two decades ahead of its initially proposed 30-year tenure, according to a rather curt statement from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The OOI’s instruments are both moored and in motion (underwater gliders), all continuously gathering real-time data, including everything from open-ocean chemistry to shifting of currents—no small matter of concern at this given juncture. Built for the long haul, they are hyper robust, designed to handle pressure and salinity at depth beyond the abilities of most ocean instruments.

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And now they shall be plucked—to the detriment of the surfing community, to be sure, but also to maritime traffic and coastal- and coastal-adjacent populations (roughly 129 million, or 40 percent of all U.S. citizens, per NOAA).

The equipment to be sent back to terra firma will be recovered from the Irminger Sea, Station Papa, Endurance and Pioneer Arrays, and though technically underway, the swiftness of the operation is “subject to ship scheduling and other operational constraints. All recovered equipment,” the press release from the NSF adds, “will be retained by the operating institution pending further guidance from NSF.” In other words, it will likely sit dormant until, with any luck, another administration will call for its worthy service.

The OOI Regional Cabled Array or RCA, the U.S.’s first ocean observatory to span a tectonic plate, will, at least “for the foreseeable future,” remain in place. That system provides real-time data and facilitates two-way communication from 140-plus instruments along the seafloor and across the (~560-mile-wide) Juan de Fuca plate.

“We encourage the community to use the ten-plus years of OOI data by including it in proposals, publications, presentations, and conversations with colleagues. Continued engagement demonstrates the scientific impact and wide-ranging applications enabled by the OOI and its data, underscoring its importance as a resource for the oceanographic community.”

Being part and parcel of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission’s Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), the removal of the OOI gear stings the critical ocean-research efforts of the globe at large.

Wherever your spirit falls on the spectrum of kabuki theater that suffices for current affairs, a loss of pioneering ocean-data gathering is, surely, a loss for one and all.

In early November, the flakes were already flying. All the snow allowed Sunshine to get a head start on the second of the month, notching its earliest opening date in about four decades. The conditions were such that Kendra Scurfield’s son perhaps got too comfortable with living every skier’s fantasy. 

“On one of the days that there wasn’t powder, he's like, ‘Mom, what's wrong with the snow? Why don't we have powder today?’” Scurfield, the vice president of marketing, brand, and communications at Sunshine, said. “He's smart, a five-year-old who thinks powder is the best snow.”

December proved particularly fruitful. Matt Wilson, Sunshine’s lead forecaster, told me that during a stretch that month, weather models called for 2 or 3 centimeters each day. Instead, refreshes of up to 15 centimeters—or about six inches—kept hitting. 

By the end of December, Sunshine proudly announced that 105 inches of snow had fallen, making it the fifth snowiest December on record. Only three days in December didn’t see any snowfall, noted Wilson.

“That really set us up for success for the rest of the winter,” he said.

Sunshine's season snowfall record was set in 2012, when roughly 411 inches fell. This winter didn’t quite surpass that mark, but Wilson explained it did rank among the top three seasons for precipitation, showing how wet it got. Only two other winters—1985-86 and 1995-96—saw a higher snow water equivalency, a measure of moisture content in the snowpack. As of early June, about five feet of snow remained on Sunshine’s upper mountain.

Just up the road, Lake Louise also added an entry to the history books. The resort managed a new overall best of 370 inches, said its director of marketing and sales, Emmett McPartlin. The mountain had an early opening of its own, too. Richardson’s Ridge, a new lift in Lake Louise’s back bowls, debuted three months ahead of schedule, thanks to the snow.

“It was quite a few operational things, and along with the snow, that really aligned to make it a bit of a charmed season,” said McPartlin, adding that more terrain for advanced skiers is coming to Richardson's Ridge in the future.

Asked about how the snowy season came to be, Alysa Pederson, a meteorologist with the Meteorological Service of Canada, highlighted the jet stream, a fast-moving river of air that moves from west to east, acting like a storm highway. This “fire hose of moisture,” as she called it, often pointed towards Canada.

According to Pederson, one—but not the only—factor that led to that was La Niña, the climate pattern that can influence winter weather.

“What La Niña means, and typically means for Western North America, is that we get what we call ridging in the States and into southern BC,” she explained. “That's where that jet stream is a little bit further north than it normally is.”

Another quirk was the temperatures. Around Banff, they spent much of the winter above normal. And warmer air, generally speaking, carries moisture better, which can mean more snow if the freezing levels don’t climb too high. So, as the jet stream came in, Pederson said, the storms “had a little bit more oomph to them.”

The state of affairs left skiers in other parts of the West, myself included, gazing up north with a mix of admiration and confusion. How could it be so rough here but so great there? Some didn't just watch from afar. Many Americans acted and headed for snowier terrain, resulting in a 50% annual increase in visitation to Banff’s ski resorts from its southerly neighbors. 

“We definitely saw an influx of people from elsewhere that was stronger than other years,” said McPartlin. But this wasn't an opportunity to gloat while some mountains struggled. “Seeing other resorts in the West going through a low snow year, that's not something we enjoy, right?” he continued. “Low snow years of that scale, it's bad for the industry as a whole.”

Banff’s unusual, attention-grabbing season officially came to a close last month. But for Sunshine, the show isn’t over quite yet. In 2022, the resort revived the 1990s tradition of reopening for summer skiing when the snow piles up. 

While the resort is now closed for maintenance, it’ll once again welcome skiers on June 20. The plan, for now, is to spin the Strawberry Express lift until July 5, but there may be more terrain, depending on how the conditions fare. 

“We really made it a conscious effort to start thinking that summer skiing could be a reality if weather permitted,” said Scurfield. “We go into our season knowing that it's a possibility if the stars align.”

This season, they did.

The snow conditions, a documented (and quite frankly, obvious) factor in how many skiers show up at resorts each winter, were good in New Hampshire.

“Early-season snowfall and consistently favorable snowmaking temperatures in the Northeast during peak snowmaking periods allowed New Hampshire ski areas to establish a deep, resilient base of snow that supported exceptional conditions throughout the winter,” said Ski NH president Jessyca Keeler, in a release. 

She also highlighted investments in snowmaking, grooming, lifts, and amenities made by Ski NH’s member resorts.

Those investments, Keeler continued, “helped drive the increased skier visits we observed.”

New Hampshire also saw one of skiing’s most unique stories this winter. Black Mountain, after being bought by multi-pass sellers the Indy Pass in 2024, went on a historic run, staying open later than it ever has until May 17, outlasting resorts far beyond New Hampshire (Black Mountain isn’t a member of Ski NH).

Overall, it was a marked contrast to some western states like Colorado, where hot weather and little snow stymied visitation. Colorado Ski Country USA recently announced that this past winter, skier visits dropped to 10.5 million from the previous season’s total of 13.9 million.

Still, CSCUSA’s president and CEO, Melanie Mills, highlighted the upshot of the tough Coloradoan season in a release, saying it “revealed the experience, dedication, and grit of Colorado’s resorts and the teams behind them.”

CSCUSA also noted that the warmer weather, shorter lift lines, and well-groomed terrain drew newcomers and helped beginners build confidence. 

Nationwide, skier visits fell about 9%, further reflecting the West-to-East divide. 

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

Team riders Una Farrar, Dick Rizzo, and Willow Voges Fernandes each reinterpreted a Vans classic through their own lens, blending personal style with technical innovation. Expanding beyond the Era WafflecupTM, the Fall 2026 collection highlights the Half Cab and Old Skool—two of Vans’ most enduring icons—updated with Vans’ most advanced outsole technology to date.

Each style features WafflecupTM construction for balanced support and boardfeel, PopCushTM insoles for impact protection without sacrificing feel, SickStickTM gum rubber for next-level grip, and DuraCapTM reinforcement for durability where it matters most. The Fall 2026 lineup features Una Farrar (Half Cab WafflecupTM), Dick Rizzo (Half Cab WafflecupTM), and Willow Voges Fernandes (Old Skool WafflecupTM), each reimagining their favorite skate classic with the Wafflecup. Every design incorporates unique details and personal touches, bringing added personality and athlete-driven authenticity to the
collection.

Peep a clip of Rizzo:

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Steve Fletch and Mitch Hartman always upload quality pod, so we were really looking forward to this episode.

And if you've noticed on our IG, Fletch does video commentary over TWS videos via the original VHS tapes. He did one for Marc's Modus Operandi part last week, and had recently done one for MJ's part in our very first official video, Uno.

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Peep his latest upload, all about the Nike SB Air Force Ones that are hitting shops now. Support you local if you're so inclined to rock a pair. And if you haven't seen the Creased video they put out...dude.

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Other stats highlight the challenge ski resort operators faced, according to CSCUSA.  

All visitor segments—in-state, out-of-state, and international—declined. So did the length of the ski season, which fell from the 20-year average of 144 days to 129 days. Snowfall was well below average for every month of the winter, CSCUSA noted.

The numbers don’t come as a surprise following the National Ski Areas Association's preliminary assessment of the 2025-26 season, which was released in early May. Nationwide, skier visits dipped to 52.6 million from 61.5 million the previous year.

Those results, NSAA president and CEO Michael Reitzell said in a release, demonstrated clearly “how dependent our industry remains on regional weather patterns.”

“Challenging conditions across much of the West—including a slow start, rain events, and record March warmth—significantly impacted visitation throughout the season,” he continued.

The story of this past winter wasn’t a monolith, though.

The Northeast and the Southeast both tallied their second-best seasons of the past decade, visitation-wise, according to the NSAA. Many mountains there had a rip-roaring start with ample snow. And, in Pennsylvania, Camelback Resort stayed open far later than normal, setting a new closing date record of May 5. 

Despite the drop-off out West, Melanie Mills, president and CEO of CSCUSA, said this past winter “revealed the experience, dedication, and grit of Colorado's resorts and the teams behind them.”

“Their work supports mountain economies, keeps people connected to the mountains, and sustains the experience that generations of Coloradans and visitors come here to share,” she added. “Skier visits are an important metric, but they are far from the only measure of the health of our industry.”

On a positive note, the group’s release noted that warmer weather brought newer skiers to the slopes, with shorter lift lines and well-groomed, approachable terrain helping beginners build confidence. 

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

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If anything, these annual mountain cleanups are a great reminder that dropping one small thing off the lift can really add up.

Anecdotally, you also never know what could find its way back to you. In the early days of the iPhone, my older brother lost his out of his pocket while skiing and thought it was forever lost. One full summer season passed, another winter passed, and the following summer, a woman hiking on the mountain found his phone, plugged it in, and found his contact info.

She mailed the phone back to him, and while it had seen better days, it still worked. At that point, it had long been replaced, but it's still wild to think how long that phone sat on the mountain before someone found it.

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

Days after veteran San Francisco surfer Sandro Ricardo Britz died following a medical emergency in the water, friends and fellow surfers continue to mourn the loss of a man many considered part of the fabric of Ocean Beach itself. Britz, 55, was rescued from the surf on May 28th after lifeguards and fellow surfers spotted him in distress during a rare late-spring swell that had transformed the notoriously challenging beachbreak into a turbulent maze of double-overhead waves and powerful currents.

While the official cause of death has not yet been released, reports have indicated investigators were examining whether a medical event, including possible cardiac arrest, may have occurred before Britz became unresponsive in the water. Lifeguards found him unconscious and not breathing before rushing him to shore and transporting him to a local hospital, where he later died.

For those who knew him, however, the headlines don't tell the full story.

In a heartfelt tribute, close friend and fellow surfer B Sobral remembered Britz not simply as an accomplished surfer, but as a constant presence in the Ocean Beach community. The two shared countless sessions over the years, forging the kind of friendship that only comes from battling cold water, heavy currents, and shifting sandbars together.

Ocean Beach is not an easy wave. Widely regarded as one of California's most dangerous and unpredictable surf spots, it demands commitment and experience. Friends described Britz as a longtime Ocean Beach regular—a surfer who understood the lineup's moods and dangers better than most.

The loss has resonated far beyond the beach.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Britz's wife, Michele, helping cover funeral expenses and living costs in the wake of the tragedy. The fundraiser describes Britz as a "beloved" member of the community whose impact stretched well beyond surfing.

As friends continue sharing memories and tributes, one theme keeps emerging: Sandro wasn't just another surfer in the lineup. He was part of what made Ocean Beach feel like home.

Support the GoFundMe here.

Rest in peace, Sandro.

One of the wildest moments came not from a surfer, but from an outrigger canoe crew in Honolulu. A viral video making the rounds online shows a canoe catching a few waves at Castle’s before getting caught inside. That’s when things go sideways – quite literally.

The boat gets launched, paddlers are scattered into the whitewater, and the entire scene unfolds in dramatic fashion as the swell surges toward shore.

For longtime Hawaii watermen, however, the sight isn't entirely out of place.

Outrigger canoe surfing has deep roots in Hawaiian culture. Long before the modern era of surfing, Hawaiians used canoes to travel, fish, and even ride waves. And now, today, experienced crews regularly surf canoes on open-ocean swells, though wipeouts remain part of the game when conditions get serious.

And serious they were.

The same swell that flipped canoes and flooded portions of the Big Island also lit up Oahu's South Shore. The National Weather Service issued a High Surf Advisory, calling for surf in the 10-to-14-foot range along south-facing shores as a long-period south-southwest swell peaked across the islands.

At Ala Moana Bowls, North Shore local Koa Rothman made the trek across the island, and paddled out into some of the biggest waves so far this season. His latest vlog – “I could’ve died,” he titled – showcases thick walls, heavy sections, and crowded lineups as surfers welcomed the official start of the South Pacific season at the South Shore hotspot.

The swell's arrival follows its first stop in Tahiti, where Teahupo'o roared to life with practically perfect conditions. Check out the highlights here, here, and here.

Back on Hawaii, amidst the swell, there was also a bit of heightened caution on Oahu's South Shore. Just days ago, a 38-year-old surfer was seriously injured in a shark encounter near Cromwell's Beach. Ocean Safety officials later reported aggressive shark activity in the area, including two sharks estimated at eight feet long near the Ala Moana Bowls lineup. Warning signs were subsequently posted along portions of the South Shore.

The good news for surfers is that the season is only getting started.

More South Pacific swell is already lining up, with additional pulses expected to reach Tahiti, Hawaii, and eventually California in the coming days and weeks.

Stay tuned for more, both glory and carnage.

This means, you either stick around home and make those summer swells work for you – after all a summer at home, under an unseasonal swell, can feel like magic. Or, you get out there. For the more travel-orientated surfer, it is probably time to plan a trip anyway, to make the most of the season in some remote surf zone.

There's the usual suspects of where to go in June. You can check them in the story below. But for those seeking somewhere quieter this month, here's a few other options.

Scotland: Isle Of Lewis

Yeah, I know. Just spent some time talking about escaping the northern hemisphere summer. But, hear me out! The Isle of Lewis is located at the northern tip of the UK. Summer storms can still track northwards and squeeze underneath Iceland, sending swell this way. The island is also stunning, and packed with rich Scottish history – including a 5,000-year-old stone circle. It's a bit of a wild card option, but watch for swells that track from Newfoundland over to the Old Continent. Go for the swell and then stay to soak up a quintessentialy Scottish experience (I'm not a travel agent, promise).

Angola: Africa's Wave-Rich Nation

Way back when, writer Craig Jarvis posed an interesting question; Is Africa Surfing's Last Great Frontier? It makes sense, some of the best discoveries in surfing have came out of the continent. While Angola is no stranger to surf travel – it is often missed off travel lists for a variety of reasons; travel costs are high, infrastructure is low and there's a whole heap of logistical nunace. The reality is, Angola is home to a reeling, left hand pointbreak which can be fed and powered by deep Southern Atlantic swells. Given the southern hemisphere's in the swell season in June, or coming into it, Angola's a prime place to be. Watch for swells spinning up under South America and track they're progress as they fan out over the Atlantic. These can make a bee-line for Angola and set off this wonderful surf zone.

Mozambique: You've Seen Spots Here More Than You Think

I don't mean to wink, wink, nudge, nudge – but you have. Mozambique is generally an untapped surf frontier – and June is right at the start of its surf season. Sandwiched between Madagascar, Mozambique picks up swell from the Southern Atlantic Ocean. It could be possible to theoretically surf the same swell from Mozambique to Indonesia, if you had the logistical chops to get that going. There's also the fact Mozambique's coastline is about 2,500 kilometers. That's a whole lot of beach to explore. Would advise to stick to the southern part of the country though, there are resorts down that way and established wildlife parks, which are generally safe for tourists. The northern part, around the Cabo Delgado province, can pose a bit of a risk.

Banyak Islands: The Other Option For Indonesia

Oh the Banyaks. A glorious island chain wedged between Nias and Simeulue, off the western coast of Sumatra. The Banyak islands can be uncrowded compared to Indo's more well-known counterparts. Going in June is right in the heart of the swell season for the archipelago. Peak season runs from April to October, this is when the Indian Ocean produces the most consistent swells. There's more than a few world-class, consistent left hand reefbreaks in the Banyaks. There is also a famous right-hand point called Treasure Island. This is a throttling, potential back-breaker of a wave with an incredible amount of barrel sections. It doesn't get any easier too, because Cobras, a Teahupo'o-esque left hander, is nearby too. Go if you want to push yourself in remote Indonesia.

The Falklands: The Adventurous Option

If you want the more extreme option for surfing in June, this is right up there. The Falklands are a pioneering cold-water wild ride from start to finish. The islands are in the South Atlantic's swell path, meaning June is a wonderful time to go, given it's in the swell window. Do not expect an easy time though. The water temperature sits at an average of 42-to-44 degrees F, which means, you're going to want a robust 5mm wetsuit, or 6mm for that matter, with a hood, gloves and booties – and enough filled thermos' to knock the chill off post session. What you get in the Falklands though is stunning scenery and a true connection to the outdoors – that statement's kind of underplaying it. Don't expect to surf alone, the wildlife has been known to be inquisitive and it's often you'll share the line-up with dolphins, orcas and even a penguin now and again – there's about a million of them on the islands in the summer. As for the surf; expect to find mostly beach breaks more than anything else. In fact, one of the main beaches is called Surf Bay, which is right outside the capital city of Stanley. It's a crescent-shaped bay on the eastern flank of the island, able to soak up passing swells.

They just launched their REAL. EPIC. global content series, and they’re putting a $4,000 USD Adventure Fund on the line for the rider who can capture the true, unfiltered vibe of the ride.

Quad Lock is deliberately steering away from AI-generated slop. They want to see the actual ride - the pre-dawn climbs, the bad line choice, the weekend trail sessions with the buddies and the dogs, or that ideal summer trip. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a mountain bike, a gravel bike, or a motorcycle; they just want raw, authentic moments exactly as they happened.

How to Enter

The contest is open globally and runs from June 2 to July 31, 2026. Entering is dead simple:

• Capture your ride: Grab photos or videos of your most epic cycling or moto adventures.
• Write the story: In 100 words or less, tell them what riding actually means to you.
• Submit: Drop your entry over at quadlockcase.net/real-epic.

The Community Call

Once the July 31 deadline hits, you won't have to worry about a boardroom of corporate suits picking a winner. Instead, the finalists will be put up for a vote by the riding community on Instagram Stories, with the final winner announced in August 2026.

As Jacinta Priest, Quad Lock’s Senior Social Media Manager, puts it:

"Opening the series up, putting $4,000 USD on the line, and letting the community crown the winner felt like the most honest way to celebrate the riders, adventurers, and explorers who make this brand what it is."

If you've got a clip or a photo that captures the real reason you throw a leg over a bike, it's time to dig it out.

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Over the past 24 hours, according to its snow report, Perisher has received about 4 inches of snow. The weeklong total is larger, coming in at a respectable eight inches or so. 

It’s not just Mother Nature that’s hard at work. In a recent snow report, Perisher said 77 of its snowguns had been firing since the early morning, “helping to complement the natural snowfall and build the best possible start to the season.”

At Perisher, that start is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, when the resort plans to kick things off with the Front Valley conveyor. Perisher also advised skiers that, thanks to good snowmaking conditions, they should stay tuned for more updates.

Over at Falls Creek, the situation is also looking rosy. 

“20cm of snowfall across Falls Creek today, transforming the village into a true winter wonderland,” the resort said on social media. “The best part? Temperatures are staying low, setting us up for another great night of snowmaking.”

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The early-season momentum comes amid word of a building El Niño, which can spell warm and dry conditions across Australia. That, of course, may not be good news for the country’s ski resorts, although El Niño doesn’t guarantee outcomes; it just tilts the odds. 

Regardless, for now, the focus is on the snow. Fingers crossed it sticks around. 

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

A last-minute ACL tear called her chance at Olympic gold into question, but Vonn chose to compete anyway. Her bid on the Italian downhill course was cut short, though, as Vonn crashed hard, seriously injuring her lower body (Vonn has said her ACL wasn’t responsible for the crash—instead, she clipped a gate). 

Reappearing in the start gate post-retirement also made Vonn a sensible fit for another Stifel award: best comeback.

Among the freeskiing men, Mac Forehand, who took Olympic silver in Big Air, earned the best athlete title. That category’s comeback award went to Hunter Hess, who dealt with a long list of injuries as he competed in Olympic halfpipe.

“This season was marked by outstanding performances across all of our teams and that success would not be possible without the dedication of the athletes, coaches and staff working behind the scenes every day,” said Patty. “We’re grateful to Stifel for continuing to celebrate and support the people who make these achievements possible.”

Here’s a look at the full list of awardees.

Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team 

• Athlete of the Year: Lindsey Vonn, Ryan Cochran-Siegle
• Rookie of the Year: Elisabeth Bocock, Jevin Palmquist
• Most Improved: Mary Bocock, Kyle Negomir
• Best Comeback: Lindsey Vonn, Erik Arvidsson
• Coach of the Year: Kip Spangler 

Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team

• Athlete of the Year: Jessie Diggins, Ben Ogden
• Rookie of the Year: Sammy Smith, Murphy Kimball
• Most Improved: Kendall Kramer, Zak Ketterson
• Best Comeback: Novie McCabe, Ben Ogden
• Coach of the Year: Matt Whitcomb

Stifel U.S. Freeski Team

• Athlete of the Year: Grace Henderson, Mac Forehand
• Best Comeback: Rell Harwood, Hunter Hess
• Most Improved: Avery Krumme, Konnor Ralph
• Rookie of the Year: Avery Krumme, Henry Townshend
• Coach of the Year: Ryan Wyble

Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team - aerials

• Athlete of the Year: Chris Lillis
• Rookie of the Year: Kyra Dossa
• Most Improved: Connor Curran
• Best Comeback: Winter Vinecki
• Coach of the Year: Walter Crijanovschi

Stifel U.S. Freestyle Ski Team - moguls

• Athlete of the Year: Olivia Giaccio
• Rookie of the Year: Abby McLarnon
• Most Improved: Landon Wendler
• Best Comeback: Liz Lemley
• Coach of the Year: Bryon Wilson

Stifel U.S. Nordic Combined Team 

• Athlete of the Year: Alexa Brabec, Niklas Malacinski
• Best Comeback: Tara Geraghty-Moats, Erik Lynch
• Most Improved: Alexa Brabec, Niklas Malacinski
• Coach of the Year: Emil Vilhelmsen

Stifel U.S. Para Alpine Ski Team

• Athlete of the Year: Patrick Halgren
• Rookie of the Year: Meg Gustafson
• Most Improved: Anna Soens

Stifel U.S. Ski Jumping Team 

• Athlete of the Year: Annika Belshaw, Kevin Bickner
• Best Comeback: Josie Johnson, Kevin Bickner
• Most Improved: Sandra Sproch, Jason Colby
• Rookie of the Year: Josie Johnson, Jason Colby
• Coach of the Year: Karl Vegard Andersen

They'll be gone in days. They always are. Which is exactly why I'm writing about them — and maybe not for the reason you'd guess. The boards themselves are only part of the story. The economy around them, and how he's built his brand, is the bigger picture.

Over the years, I've become increasingly fascinated by the lineage of shapers running from San Diego to the North Shore and beyond — the legends (Skip, McTavish, Owl Chapman) and the younger crew shaping some of the best "alternative" blades in the world today (Ryan Burch, Ryan Lovelace, Ellis Ericson). The work coming out of these guys is jaw-dropping. And most of it happens without much recognition from surf media.

How the "Burch Economy" Works

There's no real way to measure how many people are out there obsessing over any one shaper. Burch is the one I've watched closest — it's easy when you live in North County. The numbers are striking. His hand-shaped gliders can top $3,000. I'm not mad at it, quite the contrary, I think it's great (if I only had an extra $3k, I would've ordered one yesterday). Like any artisanal hand-made craft, only so many can be made. Boards last a few minutes online before disappearing. At his pop-ups (mostly limited to CA so far), most never make it to the internet at all. Due to scheduling conflicts, I've missed his three San Diego pop-ups over the past year. One friend said, "Dude, it's wild. Line out the door and down the block. If you pick up a board, you better be ready to buy it. Once you put it down, it's gone."

While he's unique in many ways, he's not the only shaper to become very in-demand. Every few years a new shaper or label gets white-hot. The trick is keeping it sustained. That's partially why I find Burch interesting. His scale is growing, his demand keeps growing, driven in part by insane customs like the batch that just landed in NY. For years after Psychic Vibrations, his boards only got harder to get. The Lam Line is his answer to that growth: machine-cut blanks finished by a close crew of friends who know his designs intimately, sold for almost half the price of a hand-shape. This helps more people get a Burch in their hands. Which, due to their incredible performance, means more repeat customers. More Burches in the water means more conversations. More conversations means more conversions. Not overnight, but eventually. Slow and steady. The cycle keeps turning. Most surfers still don't even know the lam-line exists unless they're really paying attention. The "plan" is loose. The goal is clear — success without selling out.

How Ryan Burch Built His Brand Without Forcing It

Plenty of shapers have burned bright and faded. Burch keeps doing his thing, and people keep showing up. There's substance behind the hype. His designs are far out —and he keeps making new ones — and they actually work. He surfs them himself at a level even elite surfers can envy. His marketing approach is far from being part of some strategic brand-building playbook or master class. It's beyond all that. Why? It's authentic af.

The Unreal Planing edit was gold for both those who love his surfing and those who nerd out on the designs; the recent Mason Ho clips on a custom asym was a match made in freesurfing heaven. Despite having tons of material, there is no content calendar. His approach is inconsistent and somehow perfect. His IG is mostly re-posts of phenomenal friends like Bryce Young, Steph Gilmore, Mikey Wright, Caity Simmers, Lungi Slabb, and his fellow shaper-cousin-hammer, Kobe Hughes — and none of it feels like marketing. Burch doesn't like Instagram, he doesn't do DMs — and that works. Low-key persona, high-key support. Worthy of celebration.

I've kept my eye on OfferUp long enough to meet some of the local score-lords of the Burch economy — fellow SD-area collectors. As soon as a new one hits the market: alert, inquiry, investigation, negotiation. I recently bought a Squit for $400. It was unsigned, otherwise it would have been $800+, but the shape is unmistakable. Then there's the Japanese contingent, like TK Chas on IG, who has more Burches than anyone aside from maybe Burch himself. In Indo, Burch boards have left their mark on every marquee wave from Uluwatu to G-Land. In Australia, his crew of friends and ambassadors fly the Burch flag high whenever they hit the lip with one underfoot. Down in Chile, he has roots going back to Psychic Migrations — a recent trip revealed new boards for the obsessives keeping score.

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Which brings us back to New York. Burch has done residencies and shop visits there for years, building a loyal East Coast following. The batch at Adam Mar is about to turn on some new heads and re-engage some old ones. Back on the West Coast, word has it that there's another San Diego pop up coming soon. Don't sleep on it.

With the first major South Pacific swell of the season lighting up Tahiti, followed by Hawaii this week, powerful lines marched into south-facing shores. Along the Kona coast of the Big Island, waves exploded over seawalls, flooded roadways, and turned normally placid shorelines into a spectacle of raw ocean energy.

Local officials issued a High Surf Advisory as surf climbed into the 10-to-14-foot range along exposed south shores, just below warning levels. The swell was large enough to force the cancelation of events, close several beach parks, and even alter cruise ship schedules. But most dramatically, one rogue wave slammed a seawall:

Big Island Now described the scene as "jaw-dropping," while videos from Kailua-Kona showed towering waves detonating against seawalls and washing over pedestrians and vehicles along Ali‘i Drive.

For surfers, however, the swell represented something else entirely: the unofficial start of the South Pacific season.

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Just days earlier, the same pulse roared through Tahiti, awakening Teahupo'o with its first truly significant swell of the Southern Hemisphere season. Local chargers, including Tahitian standout Matahi Drollet, were among those charging flawless, heavy barrels as the swell made its first landfall in the Pacific's premier proving ground.

And it’s only just beginning.

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According to Surfline forecasters, the South Pacific is gearing up again with a system generating seas exceeding 50 feet as it continues to track across the ocean, creating the long-period energy now reaching tropical coastlines throughout the Pacific. That energy will translate into powerful surf from Tahiti to Hawaii and beyond.

"This swell has a good shot to be the largest Southern Hemisphere swell of the season and one of the biggest in last decade," Surfline noted.

More swell is expected to reach Tahiti in the coming days before continuing on toward Hawaii and eventually California, where Southern California's south-facing breaks should receive another healthy dose of long-period energy.

After a long Northern Hemisphere winter, the Southern Hemisphere has officially opened for business.

And if this first swell was any indication, summer could be a memorable one.

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The opening ceremony for the World Cup takes place on June 11, 2026, in Mexico, with another immediately following on June 12, in Vancouver, BC, and in Los Angeles, California. Vancouver will host their first match of the World Cup on June 18, 2026, between Canada and Qatar. Vancouver will host another match between Canada and Switzerland on June 24, 2026. 

Fans visiting Grouse Mountain this summer who wear team jerseys the day before home matches on the 18th and 24th will receive 15% off Mountain Admission tickets for activities like scenic gondola rides, the Grouse Gravity Coaster, and more.

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

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Ranrapalca has several standard climbing routes, including one on the east ridge that's rated D, difficile, by the IFAS grading system. The peak was first climbed in June of 1939 by four German mountaineers. In contrast, the line skied by Manners and Malcangi travels over far more exposed, steep, glaciated terrain than the east ridge route.

In the days since their descent of Acceso Momentáneo, Manners and Malcangi also skied Artesonraju in the Corillera Blanca range. Artesonraju is recognizable to many as the mountain in the Paramount Pictures logo.

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

Fresh off the release of their Anark park bike, Mondraker is going deeper into the core with the KAOZ, a 26-inch, single-speed DJ bike. The complete build is $2,599 USD, and the frameset is $849 USD.

Learn more at Mondraker.com

The KAOZ uses a 6061 T6 Stealth Alloy EVO frame with hydroformed tubing engineered to handle the brutal compression forces of a hard-packed take-off and short landing.

• The Head Tube Window: That distinct cutout behind the head tube isn't just for show. It functions as a structural stiffness link, cutting out frame twist so your steering stays laser-accurate when pulling up hard on steep transitions.
• Split-Forged BB Shell: At the bottom bracket, Mondraker used a unique two-piece forged shell. By eliminating the harsh welds where the chainstays meet the BB, they’ve created a seamless junction that drastically improves lateral stiffness and fatigue resistance. It's basically built-in insurance for when you inevitably case a massive double.

No Work, All Play

A proper dirt jumper needs to be dead simple, and the KAOZ keeps things beautifully uncomplicated:

• Whip and Spin Ready: The rear brake hose comes extra-long straight from the factory, giving you plenty of slack for barspins and whips right out of the box.
• Smart Sliding Dropouts: The rear dropouts feature an integrated brake mount and an oversized tensioner dial. When you pull the wheel back to tension your chain, the brake caliper slides with it—perfect alignment every time without messing up your geometry.
• Silent Core Routing: Internal cable routing can be a rattling nightmare on hard landings, but Mondraker’s Silent Core tech keeps everything dead quiet.
• Strictly Single Speed: Purists rejoice—there are no derailleur provisions or extra cable ports here.

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The Build Sheet & Sizing

You can grab the KAOZ as a complete build in "Superblack" or as a standalone 2.435 kg frameset. The complete bike is a ready-to-shred setup hitting the scales at 11.2 kg (Size M):

• Fork: RockShox Pike DJ (100mm travel).
• Rolling Stock: ASTM 5-rated DT Swiss D 1900 Classic Single Speed wheels wrapped in 26" x 2.3" Maxxis DTH rubber.
• Stop & Go: 4-piston SRAM DB8 rear brake (160mm rotor) and SRAM Truvativ Descendant 165mm cranks.

Sizing is intentionally kept straightforward, with just two options: Medium (415mm reach / 1057mm wheelbase) and Large (440mm reach / 1082mm wheelbase). Both share ultra-snappy 385mm chainstays, meaning it’ll manual on a dime regardless of the frame size you choose.

It’s not the only superlative on the table. The proposal also includes a new gondola linking The Remarkables’ current base area to a new one at the bottom of Doolans Basin. The proposed gondola is set to be New Zealand’s longest, spanning 2.7 kilometers.

The proposed slopes, according to The Remarkables, include terrain for every kind of skier, with a new learning area and “more to explore for advanced riders pushing their limits.”

Doolans Basin is also higher and south-facing, meaning the resort expects it’ll hold snow well and, in an apparent nod to warming global temperatures, help ensure “more resilient seasons as weather patterns change.”

“It is also a smarter way to grow,” The Remarkables wrote. “Rather than asking the existing trails and lifts to do more, Doolans opens up a new part of the mountain, lifting the experience across the whole ski area.”

The resort noted that the expansion plans, which were several years in the making, involved expert input and were designed to minimize impact where possible, with construction kept consolidated, sensitive ecological habitats protected, and water management planned.

The application, The Remarkables said, was lodged via the fast-track consenting process in May 2026. If it gets approved, work is set to begin in November 2026, with winter operations continuing normally. The resort anticipates construction taking about four years, and is eyeing gondola construction as the first step.

“You will not be dropping into Doolans just yet, but this is a major step forward and an exciting glimpse of what could be coming,” The Remarkables wrote.

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

I’ve been digging into the specs of the newly refined Oiz, and Orbea has made it crystal clear: this is a race bike. But aside from some aesthetic and construction updates, the geo hasn’t really changed much. We’re looking at a few mm here and there. The Oiz is still an XC race bike, and not trying to be anything else.

Details

• 120mm travel, 120mm or 130mm fork
• Two carbon frame options: OMX & OMR
• 29" wheels
• 66.8° head angle
• 76.6° seat angle
• 430 mm chainstays
• MSRP: $4,189 - $12,127 USD
• Frame Weight: ~1,700 grams (with shock and hardware)

By stripping away the superfluous, Orbea got the top-tier OMX carbon frame down to ~1700g. They achieved this partly through a pivotless rear triangle, relying on flex-stays to reduce weight and maintenance while boosting lateral rigidity. Combine that with their "Powerspine" frame structure and up-sized bearings, and you have a chassis that should be pretty damn stiff. For those who don't want to empty their savings, Orbea is also offering the Oiz in a slightly heavier OMR carbon layup, but the alloy options are gone. 

Geometry and Suspension

Orbea paired that 120mm of race-tuned suspension with staunchly XC-focused geometry, but Orbea says you can put a 130mm fork on it if you so desire. A slightly slacker head angle for stability, a marginally steeper seat tube, and 2mm shorter chainstays. See what I mean when I say a few mm here and there? They’ve also used a lower stack height with their in-house cockpit and a low-stack headset.

On the suspension side, Orbea baked in a high level of anti-squat. The result is a slightly regressive initial curve that resists pedal bob, meaning you can leave the shock open and still accelerate without feeling like you're pedaling through sand.

The cockpit integration here is clean, but at what cost? Orbea’s patented I-line routes the shock lockout internally in the sleekest, most direct way, but that means going through the headset, which doesn’t seem to be as detested in XC as it is in other segments of the sport. It all hooks up to their Squidlock remote - a little lever system that manages both your three-position shock lockout and your dropper post without you ever having to unwrap your thumb from the bar.

Throw in Oquo wheels with custom hub bodies designed to maximize power transfer, and the ability to fully customize your paint job and spec through Orbea’s MyO program, and the Oiz is a pretty tempting offering for those looking to dive deep into the custom vibe, or not spend five figures on an XC bike.

Bottom line? If your idea of a good time is tasting blood on the climbs and getting the most out of every pedal stroke, the Orbea Oiz might be worth a very close look.

The OMR builds start at $4,189 USD and cap at $7,717 USD for GX AXS, which is impressive. The lighter OMX frame build options start at $8,048 USD and top out at $12,127 USD for full SRAM XX SL and Fox Factory.

Explore the new Oiz at Orbea.com and play around with the MyO configuration program.

According to Pacific Grove officials, authorities temporarily closed the popular beach this week after a mature gray whale carcass washed ashore near the point. The closure was issued out of an abundance of caution, not because of the whale itself, but because of what it could attract.

"Marine mammal carcasses can attract sharks, particularly larger predatory species," Pacific Grove police said in a public advisory announcing the closure. Officials described shark activity as the primary reason for restricting access to the area.

The concern is understandable.

Monterey Bay has long been home to white sharks, and whale carcasses are known to draw them from considerable distances. While sharks often scavenge dead whales rather than hunt them directly, feeding activity around a carcass can increase the likelihood of shark encounters near shore.

The closure comes less than a year after one of the most devastating shark incidents in recent California history.

In December 2025, 55-year-old swimmer Erica Fox disappeared while swimming with friends off Lovers Point. Witnesses reported seeing a large splash and possible shark activity in the water. Days later, her body was recovered on a beach in Santa Cruz County. A coroner ultimately ruled her death was caused by "sharp and blunt force injuries and submersion in water due to a shark attack."

Fox was a respected member of the local open-water swimming community and co-founder of the Kelp Krawlers swim group. Her death sent shockwaves through Monterey Bay and prompted widespread discussions about ocean safety in an area already known for occasional shark encounters.

For now, authorities are monitoring the whale carcass and evaluating conditions around Lovers Point. The closure is expected to remain in place until officials determine the area is safe for the public.

For surfers, swimmers, and anyone who spends time in the waters of Monterey Bay, the scene serves as a stark reminder that nature can change the equation in an instant.

Photos by Blair Alley

Tommy Sandoval recently took what must have been a hellacious slam. You won't want to hear about this next part, but he tore his urethra and then some, "This wasn’t your everyday slam, I ended up severing my urethra and severely damaging my whole lower area (testicles, perineum, and anus). I have a catheter in my abdomen for the next 3 months until my urethra can be surgically repaired. After surgery I will still have another month or two of recovery before I’m even close to enjoying riding my board again, " said Tommy on his IG.

The mother of all sacks! Jeez!

Here's a note from Tommy's wife Bri: "Our family is going through an incredibly difficult time after my husband, Tommy was involved in a serious skateboarding accident. He tore his urethra in half and has severe damage to his testicles that require ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, surgery and a long recovery period. Unfortunately, his doctors have advised that he will be unable to return to work for most of the rest of this year if not the whole year.

This sudden loss of income has created a tremendous financial strain. Between medical expenses, rehab costs, household bills, and daily living expenses, we are facing challenges we never expected.

We are asking for help from our friends, family, and community during this time. Any donation, no matter the amount, will go directly toward supporting his recovery and helping our family cover essential expenses while he is unable to work.

If you're unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would mean so much to us and help us reach others who may be able to support our family. If you have already donated in another form thank you so much!!! We appreciate your kindness, generosity, and prayers as we focus on Tommy’s healing and getting through this difficult chapter together.

With gratitude,

Bri"

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Godspeed Tommy!

Cal Fire, Mammoth Yosemite Airport, and Mammoth Lakes partnered to secure the helicopter.

"The support provided by Mammoth Yosemite Airport and the Town of Mammoth Lakes has been instrumental in bringing this resource to the Eastern Sierra," said Cal Fire officials in the release. "This partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to protecting residents, visitors, critical infrastructure, and the region's natural resources."

Among skiers, Mammoth Lakes is best known for its accompanying ski resort, Mammoth Mountain. This year, the late-season hotspot plans to stay open until June 7 after a few season extensions, offering slushy turns under the sun. That makes Mammoth Mountain one of the only places on the continent still open for lift-served skiing.

But like many other mountain destinations, the Mammoth Lakes community is also no stranger to fire. Last fall, the Pack Fire torched nearly 2,000 acres in Mono County, destroying several structures and prompting an emergency declaration from the governor’s office. 

Elsewhere across the West, fires have threatened or burned through well-known ski resorts in recent years. In August 2025, the Rock Fire cut close to Idaho’s Tamarack Resort. And back in 2021, the Caldor Fire infamously affected 1,600 of Sierra-at-Tahoe’s 2,000 acres.

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

In Glenwood Canyon, not far from Sunlight Mountain Resort, the plan includes replacing guardrails and paving on deteriorated sections of I-70. 

Further west, the plan aims to improve the I-70 interchanges at the towns of Silt and New Castle. 

“These improvements will be scaled based on available budget and may incorporate enhancements to I-70 ramps, as well as signing and striping updates,” the draft plan reads. 

The plan also eyes continued funding for improvements to West Vail Pass. That area of I-70 has already seen work on new auxiliary lanes, wildlife fencing and underpasses, and advanced avalanche mitigation systems via a project slated to reach “substantial completion” in December 2026. Vail Mountain and Copper Mountain stand on either side.

All told, the plan includes more than 250 projects across Colorado, with the aim of fixing roads, improving safety, and “sustainably” increasing transportation choice, according to a release shared by CDOT.

Folded into those goals is $60 million in funding to grow and maintain Bustang's fleet, a transit service that takes passengers all around Colorado, including from Denver to ski resorts like Breckenridge, Loveland, and Copper Mountain. 

The release noted, too, that passenger rail projects are “key initiatives” in the plan. Earlier this year, Coloradans voted on a name for a future Front Range rail passenger service, deciding on the Colorado Connector, or CoCo. 

“This 10-Year Plan is part of our firm commitment to a safer, more connected future for every Coloradan,“ said CDOT executive director Shoshana Lew in the release. “This plan was developed through countless conversations with Colorado residents, local elected officials, technical experts and many others dedicated to improving Colorado’s roads.”

The most recent storm, which developed over the past several days, was even stronger. This system whipped up wind speeds up to 50-60+ knots and seas in excess of 40-50+ feet, numbers you don't see all that often. Note, this energy is better aimed at the Americas overall, due to the storm's orientation and position (see image below). As a result, the countries from Mexico through Central and South America will receive one of the biggest swells that I can remember in a long time.

While the Americas will be the primary beneficiary, Tahiti is still expected to see a solid run of surf, with Hawaii also receiving sizable waves from this expansive swell event. And it doesn't look to stop there.

Read below for a quick outlook for a few regions ...

TAHITI: Plenty of swell, but wind hit-or-miss

Long period South swell (185-175°) builds in Thursday the 4th and tops out by the late afternoon into the evening, then holds up strong into Friday the 5th. Solid double to triple overhead sets rolling in by the back-half of Thursday and continuing through Friday, occasional larger sets.

The waves will be coming in from further up the reef and sweeping down, given the steeper south angle. So not quite as square as the most recent SW-SSW swell. Meanwhile, conditions won't be ideal with moderate onshores wind expected.

Further out? A more mid-range swell is looking to move in by Monday the 8th, possibly with OK easterly trades. Then watching for potentially an XL to XXL size pulse for around June 11th-12th (see image below). Still far out, but forecast models suggest unfavorable wind for this one. Stay tuned.

HAWAII: Looking good now through mid-month

Today's solid SSW swell will slowly ease over the back-half of the week. Then watch for a new, fun-size S-SSE swell (180-170°) to move in over Sunday the 7th into Monday the 8th and Tuesday the 9th -- standouts hitting head high to overhead and with ENE trades. After that, watching for a possible bigger/solid SSW pulse to move in for around June 14th-16th+ (see image above).

AMERICAS: Solid but watching tropics near-term

There will be no shortage of Southern Hemisphere swell energy through the middle of the month, with a steady run of surf expected across many coastlines. However, surfers should keep a close eye on the tropics off Southern Mexico and Central America, where conditions are becoming increasingly favorable for tropical cyclone development over the next few days. Should a storm form, local winds, weather, and surf conditions could be impacted at breaks nearest to the system.

Meanwhile, as highlighted in the first swell graphic above, a powerful SSW swell is on track to arrive Monday and Tuesday, June 8-9. This long-period swell will produce overhead surf at many exposed breaks, while standout spots can expect double- to triple-overhead waves during the peak of this event. Select big-wave locations will see even larger sets, making this one of the more significant Southern Hemisphere swells of the season.

According to the Honolulu Police Department, three juvenile suspects have been arrested in connection with the violent North Shore assault that left lifeguard Kekoa Tamale and a 15-year-old boy hospitalized with serious injuries. The arrests were announced this week as investigators continue to piece together what happened during the shocking incident at Waiale’e Beach, better known to locals as "Dead Man's Curve."

SURFER previously reported that Tamale, a 23-year-old North Shore lifeguard, stepped in after witnessing a large group allegedly attacking the teenager. Now, graphic videos from the scene are circulating in conjunction with the investigation.

"They drag this 15-year-old out of the car," Tamale said after the assault. "It was a mix of men and high schoolers, but pretty big guys, and they were holding him down."

Tamale said he intervened because nobody else would.

"Everyone was either filming, laughing, or ran, so no one was helping this boy and if I didn't do anything, he would've died," he said.

According to police, both Tamale and the teen suffered significant injuries during the attack. They were hospitalized. Investigators also allege the victims were restrained and prevented from leaving, leading to the kidnapping-related offenses of the case.

Warning: graphic footage from the incident below.

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See the statement from the Honolulu PD here.

Police said one 17-year-old and two 14-year-olds were arrested on June 2 in connection with the case. The investigation remains active, and authorities have indicated that additional arrests are anticipated. Charges will be forwarded to prosecutors for review.

The attack sparked outrage throughout Hawaii after videos circulated online showing portions of the assault. Tamale later revealed he suffered a fractured eye socket requiring surgery, a broken hand, and a concussion. The teenage victim also had serious injuries.

In the aftermath, supporters launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover medical expenses and recovery costs for both victims.

For many in Hawaii's surf community, the arrests represent an important first step. But with police expecting additional suspects to be identified, the case is far from over.

Support the GoFundMe account here.

Enter this new chapter—Freddy and Wheeler Antabanez get deep in an old, abandoned theater. Find out what they found in the video above and the longform story.

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