surfing

The ocean near Santa Cruz, California, offers some fantastic surfing, especially for experienced surfers. These men are carrying longboards; with their extra length and a rounded nose, these are designed more to be stable and to float well than to be manoeuvrable.

In 2008, she began competing full-time in the Association of Surfing Professionals' World Series. In her first competition against the world's best women surfers, she finished third. The loss of an arm to a shark is just part of life, she says.

It is among the top 10 most livable cities in the world says The Economist. Spotlight's Janina Schneider-Eicke, who spent a year studying in Australia, shares her photos and impressions of the most spectacular city in the land down under.

Byron Bay's beaches stretch along the northern coast of New South Wales. Most of them offer great surfing. Here, where the Coral Sea meets the Tasman Sea, Cape Byron extends into the Pacific Ocean and offers stunning views of the Border Ranges.

They love their computers, mobile phones and video games down under. "Given the average Australian is only awake for around 112 hours a week, it's surprising just how many of those waking hours are dedicated to media consumption," says Tony Marlow.

From Calgary to Montreal, from jazz to curling, Canada is a place where nature, city, culture and sport meet.