a Home exchange with no money transaction.
This community is made for surfers who want to travel and explore new destinations, in an affordable way. You will be able to share a real and authentic experience with locals.
Only one rule: no money transaction between members.
More than swapping your house or hosting an unknown person, this concept gives the opportunity to be part of a local community of surfers with their culture and their knowledge of the environment. A local surfer is the best guide ever, if you want to discover at best the local surf spots around.
Swap & Surf is an online platform which offers a multitude of solutions, wherever you need to go around the world. It became a sort of contagious move between digital surfers which gives a strong and large community sharing the same values all together.
Whatever your surf level or type of surftrip, you will find here what best fits your desires: alone or with your mates, your boyfriend/girlfriend, your family members…
The choice is varied with over 60 countries, therefore you can find what you need: Alaska, California, India, France, Australia…
You can choose between a famous surfing spot, crowded and well-known place, or a complete remote destination, where waves are almost untouched. The diversity of waves is endless so are the opportunities provided by Swap & Surf.
Travelling by being part of this community is a priceless advantage what no one else could offer, like standard hotels. What it means to be at the right place at the right time to enjoy the best conditions if you are looking for performance, or to be aware of dangers if you surf with your kids.
We support 100% this concept coming from the South-West of France (Bask country), alongside Surfrider Foundation Europe and Eurosima. We encourage you to check out their website. Be part of a worldwide community of surfers.
Partager une voiture pour partager une passion, le tout en un clic.
Finally, outdoor enthusiasts, like surfers, skiers or snowboarders, have their own ride-sharing community. Co-Rider connects drivers and passengers willing to travel together between natural playgrounds and share the cost of the journey.
The concept is very simple: find a ride, share your journey and even more.
The main idea here is to be part of a community with same values of sharing, what gathering people from all over the country in pursuit of the same goal.
This concept offers 3 main ideas. First, they offer an opportunity to gather a community of outdoor enthusiasts, with one objective: share a car to share a passion, all in one click. Secondly, they want to reduce costs and make easier logistical organization. By using this service, you will be able to ride more often and for cheaper. Moreover, you can make new friends on your way and enjoy perfect days.
Finally, they preserve the environment by reducing the number of cars on the road therefore CO2 emissions and the air pollution. As outdoor enthusiasts, it’s our duty to protect and respect our playgrounds to keep those places as untouched as possible. We need to find a right balance between pleasing ourselves and protecting this wild environment.
These mountains, beaches or streets give us so much pleasure and freedom, that we have to respect them at least in return, by doing all what we can at our level, even a little gesture.
If you are a surfer living far away from your favorite spot, you can share a ride and even more, share your experience with others like you, share some tips about surfboards or weather conditions, share your passion and meet new friends.
If you are a mountain biker, a kite-surfer or whoever in search of slide feelings, you can find others riders as crazy as you, the more the merrier!
Are you feeling like the call of the wild is getting closer?
You can register on their website by being part of the community or you can support them by being part of their project.
Co-rider is growing in France right now and might develop in others european countries soon. Keep an eye out for them.
This concept deserves all our attention and help, however we can, let’s be all together.
This film of 24 minutes is amazing for several reasons. That’s about surfing waves of the northernmost region of Europe, in Russia, and more precisely near the old military base of Murmansk. With some fascinating images of former Soviet Union, abandoned shacks under the snow, photographical flights over cold arctic landscapes and surfing not far from ice floe. This film deserves to be seen,you must watch it.
Only few ones have tried surfing at this latitude, even fewer have tried it in Russia. A no man’s land with untouched waves due to extreme conditions which give a hostile land with a pure beauty what has preserved its toughness and authenticity. Colors, lights, texture seem different.
Danger is a common word for those surfers, they use to flirt with their own limits of survival. This arctic area doesn’t allow everyone or even every surfers to gain access to this place. Only a few of them, very well trained to these conditions with a high level of surfing, will be capable of riding these remote and freezing waves among sharp rocks and wild animals.
The best time for it is at low tides, therefor they have to observe weather conditions more than any other places. You don’t have a second chance here to do it right because of these tough and wild nature’s rules.
The movie has been shot during one year at different locations in the Murmansk region. The camera crew has filmed different seasons, conditions and moods of those sites, what result one of the best surfing film lately.
Video Go Pro avec Aaron Chase
This is all what we like. Some action sport mixed with an amazing destination, beautiful landscapes, authentic wildlife and local’s experience.
Action sport is made for living this kind of adventure, these two wheels can take you anywhere you want to enjoy the most unique experience.
Freestyle MBX champion Aaron Chase grabs his bike and a couple of friends to reach the famous Machu Picchu. Through steep trails near the cliff’s edge, they will draw their own path to get a new view of the ancient landmark and the epic Peruvian landscape.
This adventure is more than a mountain biking trip. They will discover the wilderness of this country, through very tiny trails and breathtaking mountain’s view. However, you need a very advanced level to ride over there as trails are not made for mountain biking but rather for hiking. Some sections are quite hazardous.
They will get close to the wildlife, as much as you would dream of. They don’t speak much spanish, except saying « ola » but it doesn’t matter, they will manage to meet locals in their village and share unique moments with kids. They learn to know each other by observing and laughing together. Thanks to these two wheels, they get the ability to access those secret sites just by bike.
To sum up, they will share great experiences all together and live an epic adventure that they can only remember for ever.
Watch the video below: Some adrenaline rush and real moments with priceless life-lessons what adventure can teach you.
High Sierra Mud
Have you ever wanted an adventure but were not sure how or too busy to plan the logistics?
Wilderness Collective operates all-inclusive adventure trips. Since 2012, they have been hosting outdoor expeditions. Their packages include weekend off-road motorcycling through California’s sequoia, horseback riding in the Sierra Nevada and snowmobiling in Alaska, with all the equipment, gears and catering. For example, you can get a 3 days of off-road riding through beautiful mountains of USA and camping into the wild. They will look after everything during 300 miles, you will ride between huge trees and rivers. This is the ultimate trip in terms of remote riding, incredible landscape all within one weekend.
Let’s imagine:
Reaching places that cars couldn’t,
Get into the wildness and quietness,
Spending real time with real people,
Enjoying what nature brings on your path,
Riding off-road to have more fun and sensations,
Breaking down and starting again,
Pushing out your limits for good,
Camping anywhere and everywhere you can,
Go away from your routine and meet new people through an amazing motorcycle adventure.
Check out their full adventure package.
El Sendero Luminoso, Mexico
If you are scared of heights, do not watch this video!
Alex Honnold is an American rock climber best known for his free solo ascents of big walls. He has broken a number of speed records, most notably the only known solo climb of the Yosemite Triple crown, an 18-hour 50 minute link up of Mount Watkins, The Nose, and the Regular Northwest Face of Half Dome.
This guy is completely mad. On January 15, 2014, Alex Honnold free-climbs « The Shining path » (called El Sendero Luminoso) in El Portrero Chico, Mexico in a little over 3 hours. The climb rises 2,500 feet to the summit of El Toro.
It could be the most difficult rope-less climb in history. His passion could lead to death but nothing stop him. From a small hole to another one, he wants to free-climb this mountain rope-less. What better way to feel free and wild with mother nature?
He has to follow nature rhythm and using wind direction. The least mistake could be fatal. He is at one with nature!
How can he feel so comfortable and look so relaxed right there? We think that he’s very talented and passionate. Do you envy him to be as free as a bird? Well, you know what to do now.
He is the author of Alone on the Wall, a collaboration with David Roberts that details his climbing exploits, if you want to know more about him.
Watch this video now and see, once you realize that he’s actually rope-less climbing… we guarantee you goose bumps.
Video / Camp4collective production / North Face
Ishtar X Tussilago by Maceo Frost
Ishtar X Tussilago is a short film by Maceo Frost starring Downhill Longboarding in the epic mountains of Norway with very talented skater girls: Ishtar Bäcklund, Caroline Boström, Kim Hansson, Sammy Hasselberg et Sander Hasselberg.
Combined with an epic soundtrack from Swedish rock band (Tussilago), the film is an overview into the deep feeling of believing in yourself and living one’s greatest dreams.
Downhill Longboarding has evolved from skateboarding and is using the skateboard, or longboard for that matter, in its own unique way. It is the fastest, most exciting and probably most dangerous out of all longboard types, as you skate down on an open road. The stand up downhill longboarding is spreading widely in the last years and becoming more and more popular. If you compare the average speed of downhill longboarding to other extreme board sports like surfing, snowboarding, or skateboarding, you will see that downhill longboarding is by far faster than any of them. Moreover, another important difference need to be noticed because they ride on hard, rough, painful asphalt as opposed to water or snow.
Ishtar Bäcklund is a freelance artist from Sweden, with a big passion for downhill skateboarding and art. She’s living on the road, traveling, drawing and skating around the world.
You can see them hurtling down a Norwegian Mountain right in the middle of beautiful wild landscapes. But it’s more than simply riding a longboard, this film highlight an amazing human adventure.
Choose your main of transport, your destination and follow your dreams like those badass!
29 June 2015 / Films suggestions / Mountain biking / Trailer
unReal is for those of us who escape. A film that celebrates breaking free from the confines of reality and venturing into a boundless world.
This place isn’t remote or hard to find, and yet many never see it. Here, glacial walls transform into mountain bike trails, rain and snow aren't the only elements to fall from the sky and thousand pound mammals become riding partners. Breathtaking visuals conjure feelings of awe and pure joy; feelings that only those of us who venture outside can truly understand.
This film is dedicated to you - the dreamers, the rule-breakers, the ones who never grow up, the ones who know the secret - the ones who know the way into the unReal world.
unReal is co-produced by Teton Gravity Research and Anthill Films. Written, directed and edited by Anthill Films. Presented by Sony in association with Shimano and Trek. Additional support for the film is provided by the Whistler Mountain Bike Park and PinkBike.com.
Starring: Brandon Semenuk, Brett Rheeder, Cam McCaul, Graham Agassiz, Steve Smith, Tom van Steenbergen and Thomas Vanderham, with Brook MacDonald, Finn Iles, Ian Morrison, James Doerfling, Matty Miles and friends.
World Tour started June 18th - Get your tickets now! You don't want to miss this!
Top 10 of sexiest surfer girls you never seen before / Alana Blanchard, surfer girls, photos
Sorry gentlemen (and ladies maybe), it’s a trap, you won’t see any sexy surfer girls here!
Instead we want to ask you one question: why do we have to show their arse when we speak about them? Why are they in close relationship with the duty to be sexy? We are speaking about a sport here, right?
It might be boring to you and we probably lost your attention when you discovered the reality of this article. Hopefully, some of you will read the next few lines and share their thoughts.
Don’t you think they are talented enough today to speak more about their performance, their style and their values…
In the last years, most of them have proven they have the guts to surf bigger and bigger waves. They proved what they deserve. We think it’s time to give them our full respect for what they do and not what they look like.
It’s such a shame to see some of the best surfer girls showing the wrong example to the future generation.
Who is the offender? Everyone has a part of responsibility. Surfer girls need to manage their career, evolve their surf and earn enough money through their sponsors. But they need to think before involving themselves in any advertising campaign. They need to think about the whole thing and not only the money or views on youtube they can get with a hot ad. They might be able to decree their own rules today thanks to their market share growing.
Obviously, we know that’s the business, though some of them, as Alana Blanchard has more followers than any pro surfers on WCT. Don’t you think they could use this power for something else? At least, giving a better message of their passion? Be smart and use the system in your favour.
On the other hand, mainstream media have a big part of responsibility…for sure! We can understand that’s all part of their work and the audience is right there.
For this article, we did a Google search of “best female surfers” returned results like “10 Hottest Girls in Pro Surfing, “Alana Blanchard and the 30 Hottest Female Surfers in Bikinis »…what else to say! I think you understood our message.
Last year, a 13 year-old girl wrote a letter to major surf mag « Tracks » and she brought up some pretty complicated issues surrounding women and their representation in the scene. Here is a sample of her letter:
« I clicked on your web page titled ‘Girls’ hoping I might find some women surfers and what they were up to, but it entered into pages and pages of semi-naked, non-surfing girls [...] These images create a culture in which boys, men and even girls reading your magazine will think that all girls are valued for is their appearance ». « I urge you to give much more coverage to the exciting women surfers out there, not just scantily clad women [...] This change would only bring good. »
Well, out of the mouths of babes and sucklings comes the truth! Shall we take this heroic act as a warning? Who will be the first one to set up a new deal? Let’s see and hope the best is yet to come…it’s up to you!
VALLEY UPRISING, a documentary about the epic history of climbing in Yosemite National Park and the counterculture roots of outdoor sports [Kampes Nomads - Film's suggestion]
Yosemite National Park may be more closely associated with family holidays than careless abandon these days, but it wasn’t always that way.
Based in the state of California, it has been designated a World Heritage Site in 1984. It is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, giant sequoia groves, and biological diversity. Almost 95% of the park is designated wilderness and it was central to the development of the national park idea.
The park has long inspired people who prefer a life on the fringe of society—Jack Kerouac, John Muir, and an entire generation of beatniks and madmen who gave up one idea of the American Dream (home, yard, kids) for another: rock climbing slabs of granite that had never been touched before.
« Valley Uprising » is a documentary about Yosemite’s rock climbing revolution through archival photography, vintage movie footage, and interviews with Yosemite legends like Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard and American free climber Dean Potter. This movie dives into the story of Yosemite’s counterculture of dumpster divers and van dwellers who pushed the limits of climbing. They tell the story of the bold men and women who broke with convention and redefined the limits of human possibility in America's legendary national park.
Climbing has evolved from a dirtbagger’s domain to a serious competitive sport in a single generation, due in part to the advent of the climbing gym.
Yosemite with a robust climbing culture where so many athletes cut their teeth, is dying off due to increased law enforcement and changing times.
Restrictions on climbing in Yosemite were put in place after some of climbers in the ’60s and ’70s tarnished the landscape with the wild parties they began to be known for. Climbers are still drawn to the park, due in part to its prestige as the birthplace of American rock climbing.
Photo courtesy of Werner Braun and Sender Films/“Valley Uprising”
18 June 2015/surfing event, art, hippie community, Kampesnomads in Australia
We went to the 2014 Byron Bay Surf Festival, focuses on the creative culture within surfing. We enjoyed a 3-day fusion of "Surf Culture", featuring surf art, photography, live music, films, history, workshops, literature, markets, design, craft, innovation, presentations, sustainability, youth art, swap-meet, surfing and lifestyle.
We believe Byron Bay is the perfect venue to showcase all that is unique and attractive about surfing, drawing from the rich local and national surfing heritage. When you spend time over there, you can feel something special and unique in the atmosphere thanks to a creative energy with a global surfing community and a non-competitive context. Simplicity, naturalness,joy, sharing are the key words of this hippie community.
We discovered new and original products in the surfing industry, with surprising shapes of surfboards. All the good vibes are going from one to another tipi. A market who feed an open-mind and an endless curiosity.
The last day, people go into the water just to have fun and sharing waves all together. Whatever your level, your age, your sexe, your board (longboard, shortboard, finless...) only one thing matters here, the passion of surfing.
But unfortunately, BBSF won't be going ahead this year. After four successful event years and the recent Surf Culture Award recognition by Surfing Australia, the decision was not easy but obvious because of a lack of major sponsor.
We hope that the surfer's community will call up any investors for the next edition. For 2016 festival updates – keep an eye on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM.
15 June 2015 / Surfing, remote destinations, uncrowded, secret spots, Kampesnomads, Chris Burkard Photography
Did you plan anything for your next trip? While the summer is getting closer and the beaches getting busier, we are wondering what you would prefer? To wait, joining the queue and fighting the crowds to catch the perfect wave. Or enjoying all sorts of waves all on your own? Check out these ten remote surfing spots, where the journey to the wave promises to be as epic as the ride on it. But you will have to find more info by yourself, sorry we wouldn’t share all our secrets as we want to keep them longer. Wild, remote, and often cold-water destinations don’t fit the standard mold, would you be ready…?
1/ ALASKA
A majority of the year, this inhospitable island chain is plagued by bad weather, but when the conditions come together, it’s nature’s masterpiece.
2/ CHILE
The goofyfooter's paradise, despite a very short surfing history, has been increasingly in the international spotlight these last few years for its consistency, infinity of spots, huge, perfect waves.
3/ ICELAND
Open to swells from every direction, with numerous set-ups which can produce world class waves, catching these spots working can be tricky. Cold is obviously an issue as is very limited light in the prolific winter season. During the summer light is no problem but tricky winds and a lack of swell can be, though you have time to wait for spots to light-up.
4/ INDIA
There are waves in India all year round averaging 3 to 5 feet but the season for big waves [8 feet plus] is May through September. Sometimes the conditions are fantastic, super glassy and offshore winds.
5/ JAPAN
Four big islands and 3 300 smaller islands just in the Pacific…Yes , Japan is an underrated country for surfing. Typhoons season sends beautiful swells from June until October. The real problem in Japan is that life is very expensive.
6/ NICARAGUA
Nicaragua has been called “the next Costa Rica,” so it’s no surprise that heaps of wave-hungry expats bought land there when neighboring Costa started to become a bit oversaturated.
7/ CARRIBEAN
Despite how fickle this area can be, there seem to be countless setups that offer the stereotypical perfect wave. The warm, blue water mixed with only a handful of guys out makes surfing this wave seem as if you are cheating the system.
8/ NORWAY
With snow-covered mountain peaks greeting perfect waves below, this is one of the most dramatic landscapes you can encountered. But your challenge will be surfing through blizzards and freezing temperatures.
9/ MEXICO
Don't travel alone and don't be flashy with your new Nixon. The Mexican surf potentiel is enormous. Surf is possible all the year with the best season from June to September, but some beaches start to be crowded.
10/ RUSSIA
Before getting in the cold waters of Russia, sip a small shot of Russian vodka and you're ready to dive into a unique surfing experience. Yes, the largest country in the world has great waves on offer.
Action sports Movie / Trailer / The Search for Freedom / Kampes Nomads
Probably the best action sports movie of the year, THE SEARCH FOR FREEDOM is the story of a cultural revolution fueled by the human desire to live in the moment and do what makes you feel the most alive. They discover how an electrifying new world came about through pure energy and imagination and the infinite possibilities of self-expression available to anyone willing to drop in. This documentary is a visceral, visual experience told through the eyes some of the brightest pioneers, legends, visionaries and champions of surfing, snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, mountain biking and more.
This revolution has been televised, but the film explores the human stories behind this movement that has spilled into primetime. Ski film Godfather Warren Miller explains that, “The basic instinct of a human being is his search for freedom.” The film explores how living in the moment and doing what makes you feel most alive can be key to that freedom. On the surface, The Search for Freedom might appear to be about sports, or chasing thrills, but it is about so much more. It’s about feeling that pull of nature and wanting to go deeper into that element, that ocean.
Many claim that the freedom experienced when you are riding a moving wave, becoming part of that wave for an instant, is impossible to shake. It’s a state of grace. And it’s the same whether you’re sliding on snow, skateboarding on concrete, or mountain biking through a rainforest.
Veteran surf publisher Steve Pezman taps into the source: “The wave is forming in front of you, the wave is over your head, your wake is disappearing, your footprints are washed from the beach. There’s no material production from having done it. There’s no depletion. There’s no creation. It’s just an aesthetic instant.” That aesthetic instant is the real subject of The Search for Freedom.
05 June 2015/Supernatural outdoor sports and music festival
Natural Games is an outdoor sports and musci festival who take place every year in Millau (France) at the end of June.
This event gather every year the best climbers, kayakers, paragliders and mountain bikers for a unique show in the heart of Aveyron. An authentic place part of the world heritage where music and sports competition come together. 50% pros, 50% amateurs : over 80 000 people were present last year, with four days of sport contest, demo, introduction for beginners and free tests.
ENDURO MTB / ENDURO SERIES OFFICIAL
Enduro mountain bike is inspired by motorcycle enduro. The course overall has a downward profile, usually on single-track paths and consists of specials timed, with individual start, and non-timed links, to be done on a bike. The specials are relatively long and natural raids, i.e. with no elements added or made artificially, as is often the case in the downhill. The enduro is a discipline which requires an excellent technique to go quickly downhill, but also a good physical condition for relaunches and uphill sections. Enduro is practised with a full-suspension mountain bike, with a range between 140 and 160 mm.
During the Natural Games, the international contest presents 5 specials stage on natural site. Bonus for 2015, there are three new specials stage and an event which becomes officially ENDURO SERIES (stage of the French Cup). Be ready !
