Latest news with #WarrenSmith
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Why animal rights activists are trying to force the NRL's biggest team to change their name and DUMP their game-day mascot
Animal rights activists have sensationally called for Brisbane - the NRL 's biggest team - to immediately change their name and also dump their long-serving game-day mascot, Buck the horse. Representatives from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), believe a better name is the Brisbane Boomerangs, as it acknowledges the club's Indigenous talent dating back to 1988 as well as being a commitment to equality. PETA also hold that view the name Broncos 'glorifies rodeos' and they would be better suited with a human mascot decked out in club colours. 'Unlike real horses, the human inside the Buck costume can consent to running around a field in front of screaming fans, and no one is sitting on their back,' Senior Campaigns Advisor to PETA Australia, Mimi Bekhechi said. 'Aside from the odd dry cleaning, Buck the costumed character doesn't need anywhere near the level of care a real horse does. 'Removing the 'real' Buck from the field is the best 'conversion' the Broncos could make.' Representatives from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), believe a better name is the Brisbane Boomerangs, as it acknowledges the club's Indigenous talent dating back to 1988 (pictured, star prop Payne Haas) Meanwhile, respected footy commentator Warren Smith has called for the likes of Kobe Hetherington and Jordan Riki to take their games to a new level - and fast. 'Other than Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, I think they are just missing running metres,' the Fox League identity said. 'Jordan Riki has been much quieter than in seasons with Kobe Hetherington in that 13 role, they seem to lack a bit of punch at times through the middle.' Smith does feel Ezra Mam will be a welcome inclusion in the halves after serving his nine-game NRL suspension as Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt are too similar players in his eyes. Earlier this week, Broncos legend Gorden Tallis stated on NRL 360 Carrigan 'isn't big enough' to be playing prop, preferring he plays at lock. On Sunday, Michael Maguire's men - who have lost four of their past five games - take on the Dragons at Suncorp Stadium. Another defeat will see Brisbane drop out of the top eight - the last thing they need at Red Hill with the Origin period looming.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How a Novelty Surf Spot Inspired America's Newest Wave Pool
The Gulf Coast of the United States is a beautiful, although surf-starved, region of the country. The waves are inconsistent, the swell windows are scarce – still, there's a healthy population of surfers, who foam at the mouth anytime a hurricane funnels its way into Alabama, Florida, and beyond. One of those surfers, who grew up surfing the fickle gulf side of Florida, was Warren Smith. And so, he had to get creative…mainly by traveling elsewhere to score waves. But, in his later years, and post-professional surf career, Smith has a new driving force: bringing a wave pool to his frothy hometown of Panama City Beach, Florida. And he's doing it a bit differently than others in the space. First, the pool was inspired by a real, although boat-powered, novelty surf spot – more on that below – and second, Smith is hell-bent on preserving some core surf culture with the project, rather than simply being a big-money investment opportunity. 'Growing up on the Gulf Coast,' said Smith, 'we always had to travel to get waves. So, a lightbulb went off in my head. It was perfect for this. I wasn't trying to build a rich person's playground; I was actually trying to solve a problem.' Thus, Shell Point Surf Club was born. And with the project getting unanimous approval from the local city council, the wheels are turning, the plans are being prepared, and the waves (hopefully) will be pumping summer of 2027. To hear more about the project, we hit up Smith. Read on for more. Tell us about the project, your role, and how it all came to be. I was in the industry for, whatever, like 25 years. The first half was professional surfing, and the second half was working behind the scenes with brands and photography and creative direction. We started our own brands with Welcome Rivers and Former. Then, somewhere along the way, I got the crazy idea to try and build a surf park, and it's actually working now. So, I moved back here [to Panama City Beach, Florida] five years ago to be with my girlfriend Lindsey, and rip into it and see this baby through. We were working our asses off with Welcome Rivers, I was sleeping on top of the clothes. And shooting a lot of photography for brands – that's how we were getting by. Then, I went to Waco about seven years ago. I'd surfed a few of the other pools. I went with Dion [Agius] to the Dubai pool [Wadi Adventure], and Typhoon Lagoon…they were pretty novelty. So, I didn't know the level that pools had gotten to. But when I got to Waco, I lost my mind. It was like full-on first surf trip to Costa Rica type of fun. It was unreal. We had the pool for like 12 hours, and I think I surfed for 11. Growing up on the Gulf Coast, we always had to travel to get waves. So, a lightbulb went off in my head. I was like, 'How do I get one of these in my hometown?' It was perfect for this. I wasn't trying to build a rich person's playground; I was actually trying to solve a problem. I don't wanna bag on my hometown too much, because there's a beautiful beach culture. But we don't get much waves. So, after Waco, I came home, called my good friend and partner on the project, Cole Davis, and got right to work. I thought I'd be, like, the middle man…but fast-forward four or five years, and we've got an amazing team. So, how does Blair, his video with the boat wake, and all that tie into the project? The inspiration for the entire project was based off this island here, called Shell Island. It's this pristine, untouched, white sand, emerald green water, beautiful island. The idea was to recreate the perfect beach day…like walking across the sand dunes, and scoring epic waves with your buds. There's the Olympic training, the workout rooms, and all those aspects…that's all totally rad. I see the use for these pools with stuff like that. But what was more the vision for me was creating that perfect beach day, and one that's there every day. For me, the vision was to create a bit of surf culture, rather than a real estate development. So, I thought, 'Shit…Shell Island is a perfect representation of what we're going for.' And I called up Blair, who's actually an investor in the project, and Alex Knost, and Justin Quintal. There are no waves there at all, so we had to have this boat drive back and forth, and we created this perfect wave that I didn't even know we could do. I think the boat guys have been surfing this wave for a few years now, because they knew what they were doing. We ended up having to shelve the footage for two years, just with the process of getting things sorted with the pool. So, we held onto the footage until the announcement. It's an eclectic crew…not typically who you'd imagine as 'wave pool enthusiasts.' But how'd you get surfers like this stoked on a man-made wave project? I think it just speaks to the point that these pools are an absolute blast. Some people in the surf community are salty about them [pools] not being as 'core' as they could be…but if you put someone like myself in there, I think it adds to that. The more we're involved, the better. There's a little more experience added that replicates what we grew up doing. That's important for these things. You can kinda tell when these parks are real estate developments, and there aren't surfers involved. If you remove the culture, and what we as surfers have dedicated our lives to doing, you can tell. You can also tell when a surfer is involved, and it feels more culturally responsible. That's what I'm trying to do. And having Blair, Justin, and Al as friends of the project, it's perfect. Whether or not we birth an Olympic athlete, or a mom from Atlanta who's stoked on surfing, that's all rad to me. What made you go with Endless Surf? I looked at all the tech, and they all have great uses for what you're trying to do. For us, here, being a public play, not a private one, it made sense. You can have a ton of people in the pool; you can have a beginner wave in the front, and an expert wave out the back. You can house all that – the tourism, the locals, the visitors, the core surfers – and have them all surf at the same time. Every project is different, but it made sense for this course, I had to test out the product, so I went out to o2Surftown pool in Munich, Germany, and I had so much fun. It's so versatile – it can break in the middle and go both ways; it can break all along the wall. It has all the technology to make the best waves a pool can make, then it has the capability to make a one-foot roller for beginners, and longboarders, and Malibu-style waves. You can be doing airs out the back, then like 20 kids on the inside learning to surf with instructors. When's the pool expected to open? We're looking at summer, 2027. But maybe don't mark that in your calendar just yet. As I've learned through the rollercoaster of getting here, it's been a journey in itself. I can't even imagine what kind of ride I'm in for with the construction. But there's a lot of people much smarter than me who are in position to make this happen. That's the goal, opening by summer of 2027.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
America's First-Ever Endless Surf Wave Pool Is Coming Soon
One day, maybe five years from now, you think surfers will declare allegiance to the various brands of wave pools? Like how folks do with booze and cigarettes. Will there be Wavegarden diehards, Kelly Slater Wave Company loyalists, Endless Surf enthusiasts, and so on? It's possible. Me? I'm a Marlboro man. Well, there won't be a shortage of different artificial surf spots to sample, as the modern-day wave pool revolution is absolutely booming. The latest, at least stateside? The Point Surf Park, powered by Endless Surf, has broken ground in Florida, with hopes of opening its doors sometime in 2026. Located just inland from the famed Sebastian Inlet, in the town of Fellsmere, Florida, The Point Surf Park will feature Endless Surf's ES36 technology. The pool will produce waves up to overhead size, offer rides up to 19 seconds long, supply a sundry of different wave options, catering to all skill levels of surfer. And all that will go down simultaneously – high performance peaks on the outside, knee-high rollers for the beginners on the inside. Per Luiz de Araujo, founder behind The Point Surf Park: "Our vision has always been to create a haven for surfers, by surfers. Partnering with Endless Surf to leverage their next-generation technology to bring Florida's surf park dreams to life was a no-brainer. We're so stoked to offer a space where Florida's surfing community can come together and experience waves like never before."In other Florida wave pool news, The Point won't be alone in making artificial waves in the Citrus State in the near future. As we reported last week, Warren Smith's baby, Shell Point Surf Club, is getting underway on the gulf coast of the state as well. That one, too, will feature Endless Surf tech. So, the question is: PerfectSwell or Endless Surf? Budweiser or Coors? Pick your poison.
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Group of ‘missing' Broncos players called out in brutal truth bomb
Reece Walsh's injury and Michael Maguire's hard-nosed coaching style are the least of the Broncos' worries, according to several footy commentators. Brisbane takes on the Dragons on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium as the Broncos aim to get their season back on track heading into the State of Origin period, where they will be without several players. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Fox League commentator Warren Smith told Brisbane's forward pack has not been firing on all cylinders, highlighting Kobe Hetherington, Jordan Riki and Brendan Piakura as players that need to lift. 'Other than Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, I think they're just missing running metres from the rest,' Smith said. 'Players like Jordan Riki for mine has been you know much quieter than he has been in seasons past — there doesn't seem to be a lot happening for him on that right-hand side of the field. 'It's still sort of in between Brendan Piakura and Xavier Willison as far as the other side, on the left edge. 'And Kobe Hetherington isn't known as a 'metres man' as Carrigan was in that 13 role, they seem to lack a bit of punch at times through the middle other than the big two (Haas and Carrigan). 'They're missing a bit of spark as well. I think Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt are very similar players, it doesn't take a great footy brain to work that out. 'I think they are maybe too similar together if they are to be a premiership threat, especially without Reese Walsh floating around the back for either of them on those sweep plays and to be the option out the back.' Mam has been named to make his return from suspension this weekend at five-eighth in place of Hunt, who injured his hamstring in last week's narrow loss to the Rabbitohs. 'Walsh coming back might change things, but I think Ezra Mam's inclusion is probably timely,' Smith added. 'No matter what you think about his suspension and how long it should have been, he's available and they were always going to pick him pretty quickly once he was available. 'I think they just need that bit of spark, that bit of X-factor that he provides. 'You know Ben Hunt obviously can't run with Ezra Mam, he's nowhere near as quick as Ezra Mann and probably doesn't have the line breaking ability that Ezra Mam does at this stage of his career. 'So I think with Mam back, it'll certainly add something to their attack and likewise when Walsh returns. 'But I think they are still just missing a bit of grunt in the middle as far as run metres. We know if you win the run metres tally week in, week out, you'll win about 70 to 75 per cent of those games.' Payne Haas has cemented his status as one of the best props in the NRL, but the rest of the Broncos pack is yet to fire in season 2025. Carrigan told ahead of Magic Round he wasn't quite satisfied with his own. 'Personally, I know I'm capable of a lot more,' said Carrigan, who has switched from lock to prop this season. 'Just trying to find the balance and consistency for how we all work together as a pack consistently. It's just a week-on-week thing. I want to keep getting better. Broncos legend Gorden Tallis said on NRL 360 on Tuesday Carrigan 'isn't big enough' to be playing prop, preferring he plays at lock. Premiership winning Bronco Corey Parker also believes Brisbane's pack needs to step up a level and not rely as much on Haas and Carrigan. 'Patty and Payne are so good at what they do but I want to see them making fewer hit-ups and running some decoys,' Parker said, per Code Sports. 'There's no doubt they are great players. Any team would want Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan. But I don't want to see them doing 20 hit ups each every game, every week. 'The Broncos pack needs more variety. Can you imagine an opposition defence if they had to face Payne, for example, running a decoy? 'I'd like to see Payne and Patty running as decoys every now and then that will put the defence in two minds.' 'They are lacking in the finer details at the moment. The Broncos don't need to reinvent the wheel, but they need to be more diligent in those finer smaller areas of the game. 'If that means Payne and Patty doing four less runs each and running some decoys, then that's what they need to do. 'There's no doubt they are still getting used to his coaching but they are 10 rounds in now. 'The year they made the grand final, Jordan Riki was the best kick chaser in the comp. 'I want to see Brisbane players doing smaller things like leading the kick chase down the field. The things that show the commitment of a team. 'I don't see the guys on the same page at the moment.' 'When the Broncos are up and rolling, they look like the only team that can stop the (Melbourne) Storm,' veteran journalist Andrew Webster told NRL 360 on Tuesday. Speaking to Broncos halfback Adam Reynolds said his side needs to find consistency if they are to improve after starting the season with five wins and five losses. 'Obviously, the results have been a bit mixed up and down, but that's one the joys of rugby league,' said Reynolds, speaking in his capacity as ambassador and investor in Australian underwear brand Step One. 'It's a constant battle to try and achieve that consistency and something that we're trying to achieve. It is a long season and there's going to be plenty of opportunities to get it right. 'Every week is important, the competition is so tight, we just need to make sure that we continue trying our best to get better each and every day and working hard at training. 'Obviously you can do the little things right and still not get the results but in time nothing will change. We've just got to stick by one another, believe in the system that the coaches put in place and just go after it.' 'We know we're capable of playing good football. 'It's just about getting out there and doing it. And that's what we're chasing. We're trying to turn up every day with a good mentality to get better. 'I don't see why we can't propel ourselves back to the top.' Reynolds is out of contract at season's end and his strong form could see a handful of role players leave the Broncos in a salary cap squeeze. 'The manager's working with that in the background,' Reynolds said of his contract situation. 'I'm not too worried about it. I know there's been a lot of talk and whatnot, but for me, I'm just trying to focus on my footy and get the wins for the Broncos.'
