Shaping surfboards is a science. The best surfboard models in the world are a result of multiple experimentation methodologies and fine-tuning practices. In the last 10 years, computers have been working with shapers to improve the final performance of surfboards.

Fortunately, now everyone can design a rough surfboard model and produce the plank of their dreams. BoardCAD is the ultimate open source CAD/CAM system for surfboards. This free software helps you with the surfboard design process, by allowing the amateur shaper to define all its parameters.

Width, height, thickness, tail and rail types, channels, color, rocker and fin box position. It's up to you. With BoardCAD you may produce the perfect surfboard for your level of experience and for a specific type of wave and surf spot.

Anthony Ruffo has been sentenced to two years in Santa Cruz County Jail, two years in a sheriff's custody program and one year of mandatory supervision. The 48-year-old surfer from Santa Cruz will only serve one year in County Jail, after he pleaded no contest, last December, to possession, consumption and selling of methamphetamine.

Darryl "Flea" Virotsko, Ken "Skindog" Collins and Rocky Romano, who is producing the Ruffo's biopic, have all attended the court where Judge Paul Marigonda took the final decision.

In the last 11 months, Anthony Ruffo has been treating himself at the Clean Mind Healthy Planet Treatment Center, in New York. At the same time, the Santa Cruz surfer has spoken at schools and juvenile detention centers about the consequences of hard drug use.

"I want to make it clear that I understand and take full responsibility for my actions. Being a middleman in a drug deal is the same as being a drug dealer and I take full responsibility for that," said Ruffo. "I want to take this moment to apologize to my family, to my friends and the surfing community and the community of Santa Cruz."

Kelly Slater is not sure if he is going to run a full-time surf job at the 2012 ASP World Tour. Or perhaps those are his well-known mind games. Isn't "12" a nice number?

"There have been years when this approach has been a little frustrating but it’s also sort of a wildcard way of deciding," Slater said. "I've had good success on the Goldy and this year should be fun again. I can't wait to be there. I'm undecided as to whether I'll apply full-time. That's probably no secret. I'll go by feel and whatever feels right internally, I'll stick with that."

At least, we know what he feels for the upcoming Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, to be surfed from February 25 through March 7, in Australia. Slater wants to win it, again, just like he did it in 2006, 2008 and 2011.

Kelly Slater is 40 years old, but opponents might expect the same old Floridian. "I have a few nagging injuries but overall I'm pretty good. I hurt my ribs pretty badly a couple weeks back but they should be okay by Snapper time. I do feel a little bit of issue there, but I'm planning on being healthier and stronger in the coming years".

Ant McColl has claimed the fourth stage of the 2012 Hyundai Tour, at Tay Street, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. The surfer from Mount Maunganui surfed the best one-metre waves on offer, in offshore wind conditions.

"Yeah super stoked, I have been doing this for ten years and have never won anything in the Open so for it to happen today in front of a home crowd I am over the moon", an almost rattled McColl exclaimed.

McColl blocked Matt Cockayne from taking his first title of the Hyundai Tour, while current ratings leader Thomas Kibblewhite had to settle for third.

McColl started the final with a flurry of waves surfing away from the other three competitors using his local knowledge to full effect scoring a 7.67 on his first ride and 7.10 on his second.

The 2012 Australian Open of Surfing has reached its climax with the victories of Matt Banting and Sally Fitzgibbons, in the final waves of comepetition, at Manly Beach.

Thousands of surf fans gathered for the last heats of the inaugural Aussie event and they were treated to an exciting show with close back-and-forth battles, powerful turns and big airs as the world's best surfers fought for the prestigious crown.

"This has been the best week of my life!" Banting said. "I'm so happy, this is the best feeling I've ever had! I'm shaking so much I can hardly talk. Evan (Gieselman) is a really good surfer, he was blowing up for the whole final, I was really scared. I was just lucky to start off well with a couple of good waves. I just want to thanks my Dad and Mum for supporting me, I love them!"

Matt Banting went back-to-back at the Australian Open of Surfing after claiming the Pro Junior division title yesterday and today winning the blue ribbon ASP 6-Star division. Banting battled hard in the Final against American Evan Gieselman, with both surfers going for broke in the small, but fun surf. Watch the final highlights, here.

More than 140 surfers will be battling for gold in the first edition of the ISA World StandUp Paddle (SUP) and Paddleboard Championship, which takes on the beaches of Miraflores, Lima, Peru.

The home to the famous Waikiki Surf Club and the cradle of modern Peruvian surfing is a great venue and will certainly be the perfect stage for a beatiful wave competition.

"StandUp Paddle surfing and racing are truly global sports and the ISA wants to support them with this yearly competition. The event also includes Paddleboarding, a classic discipline practiced by paddling prone over a board", said ISA President, Fernando Aguerre.

The ISA World SUP and Paddleboard Championship is surfed in an Olympic-style model. Teams compete for medals and the honor of representing their countries. Each SUPer defends his flag.

The European surfing regions of North Devon (England), Donegal (Ireland) and West Brittany (France) have developed an innovative project of surf economics evaluation. The "Trisurf" study reached relevant conclusions that may be applied to many world coastal cities, villages and towns.

The North Devon report concludes that each surfer spends £1,240 annually, in the region. It was established that there are approximately 42,000 people who surf in northern Devon, each year.

This gives a total annual economic value of surfing in northern Devon of £52.1 million, which means 72% of the total northern Devon coastal tourism economy. In terms of employment, this would be 1,470 jobs through direct and induced effects.

Surf researchers have also identified a large number of business opportunities, in order to expand the surfing market. Tourist accomodation, surf-shops, surf events, restaurants and surf-related craft can be boosted by surf growth in the region.

Surfin' Steven is a crazy dude. The almost blonde, almost Aussie, but above all almost surfer has headed to the busy streets of London, the capital of Englad, to teach British citizens how to ride waves.

The result is hilarious. Surfin' Steven and his funny attitude towards others has conquered the heart of young ladies, anonymous lads, middle-aged gentlemen and even policewomen. Watch his surf stunt in Oxford Street, here.

Despite the low temperatures of London, his orange boardshort-only style was enough to conquer everyone. Surfin' Steven kicked off his adventure catching an impossible wave at the famous red telephone box.

British people are known for their sense of humour and Surfin' Steven confirmed it. Two young ladies accepted the challenge and learned how to surf in the double-decker bus and out in the street.

"The good waves are this way or this way? Where's the beach? I want to go surfing in London", he tells Londoners. Meanwhile, Surfin' Steven has already hit the Seine River and the Val Thorens ski resort. Surfing is his goal, no matter where he is.

Ray Collins has taken the winning photograph of the 2012 Nikon Surf Photo of the Year. Collins has captured Mark Mathews in a strange close-out curtain available at a dangerous wave.

The winner of the prestigious trophy was announced at the Australian Surfing Awards, held at Manly. Ray Collins had four photographs in the shortlist.

The 20 finalists, chosen by Nikon, included snappers Bill Morris, Brad Masters, Peter Joli Wilson, John Respondek, Troy Simpson, Ray Collins, Russell Ord, Luke Shadbolt, Simon Williams, Mark Onorati, Andy Chiz, Andrew Shield and Jon Wright.

"Surfing for Change: J Bay Nuclear Plant" is a new short movie exploring the dangers of a planned nuclear power plant in the pristine shores of Jeffrey's Bay, South Africa. Watch it here.

SurferToday.com had already reported the early studies, here. This time, youth environmental activist, pro-surfer and filmmaker Kyle Thiermann calls attention to the potential for environmental disaster if Eskom, South Africa’s national power company, locates the nuclear plant in the waters of one of the most famous surfing destinations in the world.

The documentary features renowned environmental leader Van Jones, 11-time Surfing World champion Kelly Slater, Foster Gamble and local surfing activists. Everybody remembers what happened in the wake of the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown.

Today, surfing in Fukushima is the memory of a dream. There were stunning right-handers being ridden right in front of the nuclear station, every day, and in many other secret spots around the facility.