New kite surf world record. Australia wins big at ISA Games. Santa Cruz’s surf makes $

New world record: Kite surfer hits 1,587 feet!

Jake Scrace, a kite surfer from Worthing, UK, just set a Guinness World Record for the highest-ever “tow up” kite surf jump—soaring 1,587 feet (487 meters) into the air over the Isle of Wight. He was towed by a paramotor piloted by Chey Anich, then glided back down to the water. The stunt took months of planning, involved 30+ crew members, and beat the previous record by more than 600 feet.

Scrace called it “the biggest challenge I’ve ever taken on” and said the feeling up there was pure freedom.

PS: This isn’t his first wild ride—back in 2009, he jumped over Worthing Pier during a storm. These kite surfers are cray!

‍♂️ 19-year old Dane Henry leads Australia to team gold at ISA World Surfing Games

The final day of the 2025 ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador delivered a historic win for Australia, led by “he’s so hot right now” Dane Henry. The 19-year-old won men’s gold with a stunning 18.17 heat total, becoming the first surfer since Tom Curren in 1982 to win the ISA crown while still holding the junior world championship title.

Dane’s incredible performance, punctuated by an 8.67 aerial rotation and a 9.50 on a long right (how do they measure these again?), helped Australia land the team gold, their first in 14 years. Teammate Morgan Cibilic added a bronze in the men’s final, while Sally Fitzgibbons secured bronze in the women’s division—her sixth ISA medal.

On the women’s side, Spain’s Janire Gonzalez-Etxabarri made history with her nation’s first-ever ISA World Surfing Games gold, beating Yolanda Hopkins (Portugal), Fitzgibbons (Australia), and Arena Rodriguez (Peru).

With standouts from France, Portugal, and Peru rounding out the podium, the 2025 Games proved once again that the future of surfing is global—and more exciting than ever.

Santa Cruz surf economy is worth HOW much?!

According to a new study by Save The Waves Coalition, surfing brings a ridiculous $194.7 million per year to the Santa Cruz economy. That’s thanks to nearly 800,000 surf visits annually—yep, almost a million wave-chasers waxing up and paddling out. Of that total, about $44.5 million comes from out-of-town surf trips, while locals fuel the remaining $150.2 million through board repairs, wetsuits, lattes, and whatever else keeps the stoke alive.

But the study isn’t just economic cheerleading. It also warns that sea level rise is already putting beloved surf breaks at risk. As water levels creep up, “surfable hours” are expected to drop—dramatically. At 1 foot of sea level rise, every surf spot in the study will be affected. At 3 feet, more than half could be lost or significantly altered.

The researchers call for coastal adaptation policies that recognize surf breaks as cultural and economic assets worth protecting. Bonus points for making sure access stays equitable too—especially for communities historically excluded from surf spaces.Read the full report at savethewaves.org.

Author: The Wipeout Weekly team