Girl backflips. Boards fly free. Dolphins crash a comp. Wave pools rise East and West.

Welcome to a total hodgepodge of surf news this week Still, it’s mostly positive—just how we like it.

Sierra Kerr lands a backflip and surf history is made

Seventeen-year-old Sierra Kerr just pulled off one of the most jaw-dropping maneuvers in modern women’s surfing: a backflip. Yes, a full backflip—caught cleanly on camera, confirmed by the internet, and replayed on loop by just about everyone in surf media. The move, which took place in a remote slab in Western Australia, marks the first time a female surfer has been captured completing a proper backflip in the water.

If the surname sounds familiar, it should. Sierra is the daughter of former CT standout Josh Kerr, who’s known for his own aerial innovation. But this moment is all hers. While elite men have occasionally attempted and landed backflips in specialty contests, no woman has ever been documented doing so successfully—until now.

Flying with boards just got less painful

If you fly Alaska or Hawaiian that is. In what might be the most surfer-friendly airline update of the year, Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines just rolled out a new surfboard policy that actually makes sense. As the North Pacific swell season kicks off and traveling surfers start booking flights to Hawai’i, California, Mexico, and beyond, these two airlines have teamed up to make transporting boards less of a logistical and financial headache.

The new policy allows passengers to check multiple surfboards in a single bag (up to 10’5″ and 50 lbs) as standard checked luggage. That means no more special fees, no more weird exceptions, and no more surprise upcharges. If you’re flying on one of their regional jets (E175s), the max length drops to 9’7”—still plenty of room for your average quiver. Travelers who use the airlines’ branded credit cards and participate in the new Atmos™ Rewards program may get even more baggage perks, and Hawaiian residents flying interisland through their Huakaʻi program can check a board bag for free.

Rincon gets crashed by the real locals

Over the weekend, the Toes in the Cove longboard contest at Rincon was graced by some of the most stylish and cutest locals in California. Because an entire pod of dolphins paddled into the lineup during the event. It was spectacular, watch the video.

According to longtime locals, dolphin drop-ins are nothing new at Rincon. One viral wave a few years back featured dolphins, a surfer on a mat, and a few shortboarders sharing the ride. Andrew Buck, a local and the aforementioned surf mat rider, summed it up: dolphins love pointbreaks too.

The wave pool boom hits both coasts

The wave pool wars are officially heating up on both U.S. coasts. In Myrtle Beach, a massive surf resort has been proposed for a 28-acre site at Broadway at the Beach. The resort is backed by Twin Point Capital, Highgate, and South Street Partners and will center around a Wavegarden Cove lagoon. The complex will also include premium surf cabins, a lazy river, swimming pools, beach access, rooftop bars, and plenty of food and beverage options.

Meanwhile, Newport Beach has approved plans to replace part of a beloved golf course (by the locals) with a 15-acre surf park, complete with a surf lagoon, spa, and a three-story clubhouse. This decision was not without controversy. The new wave pool would carve out three of the course’s 18 holes, a putting green, and the driving range, leaving many locals wondering what will become of their affordable and accessible public golf facility.

But there’s more tension about the surf park’s location—directly under John Wayne Airport’s flight path—and questions about liability in the event of an aviation mishap. FAA officials have given the all-clear for construction, but local agencies remain cautious. We’ll just have to wait and see I guess.

Author: The Wipeout Weekly team