MEN ON AT SUNSET BEACH; LAY DAY FOR ROXY PRO HAWAII

SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Thursday, Nov. 29, 2006) – The Roxy Pro Hawaii shares a contest window with the O'neill World Cup of Surfing – a 6-star men's World Qualifying Series (WQS) event. The men will take to the six foot (two metre) Sunset Beach surf this morning; the women will not surf today.

"There's some size out there but due to sloppy conditions we've called the Roxy Pro Hawaii off today," Triple Crown executive director Randy Rarick said. "The swell is supposed to hold and we're expecting the winds to swing to a more northeasterly tradewind flow, so tomorrow looks promising for the women."

Just three rounds of the Roxy Pro Hawaii remain and the event can be wrapped up in three and half hours of competition. Another call on Roxy Pro Hawaii competition status will be made tomorrow morning at 7am.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com to watch the men LIVE!

Round Three Roxy Pro Hawaii Match-ups: (1st and 2nd advance to Semifinals; 3rd and 4th Eliminated)
Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Megan Abubo (HAW), Keala Kennelly (HAW)
Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Heat 3: Layne Beachley (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Heather Clark (ZAF)
Heat 4: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Serena Brooke (AUS)

SMALL STORMY CONDITIONS SEE ROXY PRO HAWAII OFF AGAIN AT SUNSET BEACH

SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006) – Small, stormy conditions at Sunset Beach will translate into another day off for the world's best women surfers. The Roxy Pro Hawaii will not run today, Nov. 29,2006.

Only a half day of competition is needed to wrap up the Roxy Pro Hawaii, the second to last event on the ASP Women's World Tour and stop No. 2 on the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series. Sofia Mulanovich (PER), currently leads the Triple Crown of Surfing standings. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Tais Almeida (BRA) sit second and third respectively.

Another call on competition status will be made tomorrow at 7am.

Past Women's VANS Triple Crown of Surfing Champions (all but 2002 winner Neridah Falconer are competing in the 2006 series):
2005 Chelsea Georgeson (AUS)
2004 Chelsea Georgeson (AUS)
2003 Keala Kennelly (HAW)
2002 Neridah Falconer (AUS)
2001 Event Not Held
2000 Heather Clark (ZAF)
1999 Trudy Todd (AUS)
1998 Layne Beachley (AUS)
1997 Layne Beachley (AUS)

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Round Three Roxy Pro Hawaii Match-ups: (1st and 2nd advance to Semifinals; 3rd and 4th Eliminated)
Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Megan Abubo (HAW), Keala Kennelly (HAW)
Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Heat 3: Layne Beachley (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Heather Clark (ZAF)
Heat 4: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Serena Brooke (AUS)

ROXY PRO HAWAII OFF AGAIN AT SUNSET BEACH

SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2006) – The Roxy Pro Hawaii can be wrapped up in just three and a half hours of competition. With eight more days in the event waiting period, event officials will wait for conditions superior to those on offer today, Nov. 28, 2006, before sending the world's best women surfers out at Sunset.

When competition does resume, six-time ASP World Champion Layne Beachley could be mere hours away from clinching her 7th world title. Check out the scenarios below. Another call on competition status will be made at 7am tomorrow, Nov. 29, 2006.

ASP Women's World Tour World Title Possibilities for the Roxy Pro Hawaii

If Layne Beachley gets 1st at Sunset:
She becomes the 2006 ASP Women's World Tour Champion if Melanie Redman-Carr loses before the final heat.
Melanie Redman-Carr needs a 4th place or better to stay in contention (ie. – she must make the final).
Chelsea Georgeson would be out of contention.

If Layne Beachley gets 2nd at Sunset:
Melanie Redman-Carr needs a 7th place or better to stay in contention (ie. – she has to make the semis).
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 1st place to stay in contention.

If Layne Beachley gets 3rd at Sunset:
Melanie Redman-Carr remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 4th place or better to stay in contention.

If Layne Beachley gets 4th at Sunset:
Melanie Redman-Carr remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 5th place or better to stay in contention.

If Layne Beachley gets 5th at Sunset:
Melanie Redman-Carr remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 7th place or better to stay in contention.

If Layne Beachley gets 7th at Sunset:
Melanie Redman-Carr remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson remains in contention with a 17th place or better.

If Melanie Redman-Carr gets 1st at Sunset:
Layne Beachley remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 4th place or better to stay in contention.

If Melanie Redman-Carr gets 2nd at Sunset:
Layne Beachley remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 7th place or better to stay in contention.

If Melanie Redman-Carr gets 3rd at Sunset:
Layne Beachley remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson remains in contention with a 17th place or better.

If Chelsea Georgeson gets 1st at Sunset:
Both Layne Beachley and Melanie Redman-Carr remain in contention.

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Round Three Roxy Pro Hawaii Match-ups: (1st and 2nd advance to Semifinals; 3rd and 4th Eliminated)
Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Megan Abubo (HAW), Keala Kennelly (HAW)
Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Heat 3: Layne Beachley (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Heather Clark (ZAF)
Heat 4: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Serena Brooke (AUS)

ROXY PRO HAWAII AWAITING NEW SWELL - NO SUNSET BEACH SURFING TODAY

SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Monday, Nov. 27, 2006) –Lack of swell has seen the Roxy Pro Hawaii called off again today, Nov. 27, 2006, but when competition resumes at Sunset Beach, Megan Abubo (HAW) will be one of the first back in the lineup.

The Oahu local has drawn Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jacqueline Silva (BRA) and Keala Kennelly (HAW) in Heat 1 of Round 3 – a top two finish in that heat will earn the current world No. 9 a Semifinal berth.

"I'm feeling really confident," Abubo said. "I'm happy with my surfing right now and happy to be at home. "There's something about putting my foot in the water at home; I always feel a little bit better. I'm not even thinking about the ratings really, I'm just thinking about doing well at my sponsor's event and doing well at home."

Abubo may not be thinking about the ratings, but sitting just one spot above the ASP Women's World Tour requalification cutoff, she's certainly aware that she needs to surf well at Sunset to cement her spot amongst next year's elite. Considering Abubo lives within walking distance of the contest break, a solid result here is certainly attainable.

Surf reports indicate that there may be a possible increase in swell this evening and that competition could recommence tomorrow. An official call on competition status will be made at 7am tomorrow, Nov. 28, 2006.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com to watch it LIVE!

Round Three Roxy Pro Hawaii Match-ups: (1st and 2nd advance to Semifinals; 3rd and 4th Eliminated)
Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Megan Abubo (HAW), Keala Kennelly (HAW)
Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Heat 3: Layne Beachley (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Heather Clark (ZAF)
Heat 4: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Serena Brooke (AUS)

NO ROXY PRO HAWAII SURFING AT SUNSET BEACH TODAY

SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006) – Despite the four to five foot (one and a half metre) and clean conditions on offer at Sunset Beach this morning, the Roxy Pro Hawaii has been called off for the day. Rounds one and two of the Roxy Pro Hawaii ran yesterday, but a forecasted drop in swell has prompted event officials to wait for more consistent conditions before running the remainder of the event.

Only three rounds remain before the 2006 Roxy Pro Hawaii champion is crowned – Round 3, the Semifinals and Final. The Quarterfinal round customary to ASP Women's World Tour competition is absent in Hawaii because Rounds 3 and above feature four-woman heats instead of the usual two-girl format. Hawaiian law mandates that man-on-man heats with only two surfers in the water does not take full advantage of the abundance of waves on offer here, thus heats in Hawaii always feature three or more surfers.

Another call on competition status will be made at 7am tomorrow, Nov. 27, 2006.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com to watch it LIVE!

Round Three Roxy Pro Hawaii Match-ups: (1st and 2nd advance to Semifinals; 3rd and 4th Eliminated)
Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Megan Abubo (HAW), Keala Kennelly (HAW)
Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Heat 3: Layne Beachley (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Heather Clark (ZAF)
Heat 4: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Serena Brooke (AUS)

GILMORE AND BARTELS ROCK ROUND ONE OF THE ROXY PRO HAWAII

SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006) – Roxy Pro Hawaii wildcards Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Melanie Bartels (HAW) outsurfed the ASP Women's World Tour staples at Sunset Beach today.

Scoring the event's seven highest single wave scores and top four heat totals, Gilmore and Bartels placed 1st and 2nd respectively in the Roxy Pro Trials to earn their main event berths this morning. Riding that momentum into Round 1 of the Roxy Pro, the duo posted several 8.0 and 9.0 point rides (out of a possible 10 points) to advance straight to Round 3.

Gilmore's 18.10 out 20.00, the highest heat total of the day, saw her blast past Sunset specialty-surfers Layne Beachley (AUS) and Rochelle Ballard (HAW), both of whom posted 11.17, with ease.

"It's my first time here so it was pretty nerve-wracking to draw a heat with the two most dominate girls at Sunset in the history of women's surfing," Gilmore said. "I went out there trying to have some fun and trying to catch anything that came my way. I was just doing my thing and I guess the judges liked what I was doing."

Gilmore and Bartels surfed the testing break twice in the trials before paddling out a third time for Round 1 of the Roxy Pro Hawaii. Neither showed signs of fatigue.

"The paddle out is kind of long and you have a lot of time to think about things on the way out, so it can be physically and mentally draining, but once you get out there and see a few sets coming it gets your heart pumping and you're not tired anymore," Gilmore said.

Gilmore, who has won two ASP Women's World Tour events as a wildcard, the most recent of which being the Havaianas Beachley Classic in October, is no stranger to the wildcard routine. Both she and Bartels recently qualified for the 2007 elite tour via the World Qualifying Series (WQS).

"I think the wildcard position is probably the best," Gilmore said. "There's no weight on your shoulders so you can relax. This event is coming down to the wire for a lot of girls who are trying to qualify to stay on tour and Mel [Bartels] and I have already qualified so we're safe. I think that's why we're performing better."

Bartels surfed on the ASP Women's World Tour in 2004 and 2005 before narrowly missing requalification last year. Bartels garnered a Roxy Pro trials invitation for her performance last week's Op Pro Hawaii, the first jewel in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, after Pauline Ado (FRA) failed to show up in Hawaii.

"You know what I'm stoked on?" Bartels said. "I'm stoked I got a place in the trials. I wasn't originally in the trials but I think it happened for a reason and that I was supposed to be in the main event. I'm on a good roll right now and I just hope I'm still surfing well when we run the contest next."

A local Hawaiian, Bartels credited having her loved ones on the beach for her exceptional surfing today.
"I'm really stoked that my family came, all of my family, for the first time," Bartels said. "Today was a day they could all make it down and I'm so stoked just to see them and to show them how I surf in this type of event. Far out, it's such a good feeling and it's giving me the momentum to want to do well here in Hawaii."

The Roxy Pro Hawaii is the second of three events that compose the Van's Triple Crown of Surfing – a Hawaiian big wave surfing series. The first event, the Op Pro Haleiwa, was won by Sofia Mulanovich (PER). Mulanovich's Round 1 win today will see her maintain her current Triple Crown lead – though she maintains that she's not dwelling on the details.

"I'm trying not to think about the Triple Crown too much," Mulanovich said. "It's better for me that way. If I win it that would be great, if not, it's still great just to be surfing in Hawaii."

Losing her Round 1 heat but redeeming herself in Round 2 was current world No. 1 Layne Beachley. Beachley could clinch her seventh world title at Sunset Beach should she win the event with world No. 2 Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) bowing out before the finals.

"In my Round 1 heat I had the opportunity to catch some really good waves and I didn't go so I was kind of lacking confidence in my positioning and I wasn't committed enough," Beachley said. "And then in Round 2 I was committed but my timing was out so it's just been one of those really off days. Luckily I scraped through and an inch is as good as a mile so I'll take it and I hopefully I can improve on it in the next day or so when we compete again."

Another call on competition status will be made tomorrow morning at 7am.

Visit the media center at www.aspworldtour.com for transcribed athlete interviews and complimentary digital imagery.

Round 2 Roxy Pro Hawaii Results: (1st and 2nd advance to Round Three; 3rd is eliminated)
Heat 1: Layne Beachley (AUS) 7.17, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 6.17, Julia Christian (USA) 2.67
Heat 2: Heather Clark (ZAF) 9.07, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 7.43, Trudy Todd (AUS) 7.10

Round 1 Roxy Pro Hawaii Results: (1st and 2nd advance to Round Three; 3rd surfs Round Two)
Heat 1: Megan Abubo (HAW) 10.83, Samantha Cornish (AUS) 9.07, Trudy Todd (AUS) 5.67
Heat 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.86, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 10.83, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 0.00
Heat 3: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 17.43, Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) 12.00, Julia Christian (USA) 6.10
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 18.00, Rochelle Ballard (HAW) 11.17, Layne Beachley (AUS) 11.17
Heat 5: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 12.00, Serena Brooke (AUS) 9.27, Heather Clark (ZAF) 7.27
Heat 6: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 8.16, Keala Kennelly (HAW) 7.73, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 6.60

ROXY PRO HAWAII ALL GO FOR ACTION AT SUNSET BEACH

SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006) – The Roxy Pro Hawaii, the second to last event on the 2006 ASP Women's World Tour, will commence at Sunset Beach around 10:10am today.

Held in conjunction with the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing (a men's 6-star World Qualifying Series event), the Roxy Pro Hawaii will hit the four to six foot (one half to two metre) surf once round one of the men's event is completed this morning.

A 12-woman field will contest the three-heat Roxy Pro trials first. Two main event berths are on offer and Carissa Moore (HAW), Rosie Hodge (ZAF), Jennifer Useldinger (USA), Jennifer Quam (HAW), Malia Manuel (HAW), Alana Blanchard (HAW), Leila Hearst (HAW), Coco Ho (HAW), Melanie Bartels (HAW), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Tais Almeida (BRA) and Laurina McGrath (AUS) will go head to head to earn them.

Rounds 1 and 2 of the main event will immediately follow the trials. The 3rd place surfer from each of the six Round 1 heats will contest Round 2. The surfers finishing 3rd in Round 2 will be eliminated. Two surfers will be eliminated today.

The Roxy Pro Hawaii is stop two on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) currently leads the series after winning the OP Pro Hawaii in Haleiwa last week. Mulanovich will meet Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) and Jacqueline Silva (BRA) in Heat 2 of Round 1.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com to watch it LIVE!

Round One Roxy Pro Hawaii Match-ups: (1st and 2nd advance to Round Three; 3rd surfs Round Two)
Heat 1: Megan Abubo (HAW), Samantha Cornish (AUS), Trudy Todd
Heat 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
Heat 3: Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), Julia Christian (USA), Wildcard (TBD)
Heat 4: Layne Beachley (AUS), Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Wildcard (TBD)
Heat 5: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Heather Clark (ZAF), Serena Brooke (AUS)
Heat 6: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Keala Kennelly (HAW)

ROXY PRO HAWAII ON HOLD AT SUNSET BEACH

SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Friday, Nov. 24, 2006) – The official waiting period for the Roxy Pro Hawaii, the second to last event on the 2006 ASP Women's World Tour, begins today and runs through Dec. 6, 2006. Though there are waves on offer, no Roxy Pro Hawaii action will unfold today.

Unlike most ASP Women's World Tour contests, the majority of which are standalone tournaments, the Roxy Pro Hawaii shares a contest window with a 6-star men's World Qualifying Series (WQS) event – the O'neill World Cup of Surfing. The men will take to the six foot (two metre) Sunset Beach surf this morning.

Both events are the second stop in a three part series known as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Once the women's competition does commence, The Roxy Pro Hawaii will kick off with a 12-girl trials event to nominate both the event wildcard and an injury replacement surfer for world No. 7, Silvana Lima (BRA). Lima has withdrawn from the Hawaiian leg of the tour after suffering a knee injury.

The surfers featured in the Roxy Pro Hawaii trials will include Carissa Moore (HAW), Rosie Hodge (ZAF), Jennifer Useldinger (USA), Jennifer Quam (HAW), Malia Manuel (HAW), Alana Blanchard (HAW), Leila Hearst (HAW), Coco Ho (HAW), Melanie Bartles (HAW), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Tais Almeida (BRA) and Laurina McGrath (AUS).

Several of the trialists are already accustomed to surfing with the world's best. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), who has already won two ASP Women's World Tour events as a wildcard, cemented her spot on next year's elite tour with a No. 2 finish on the women's WQS which wrapped up last week in Haleiwa, Hawaii. Melanie Bartels, who surfed on the ASP Women's World Tour in 2004 and 2005, also requalified for 2007 and will be eager to get in some extra practice with a main event berth at Sunset. Laurina McGrath is also a previous elite tour surfer.

The top six surfers on the WQS join the top 10 finishers on the ASP Women's World Tour and one wildcard to make up next year's elite tour. Because three of the top six surfers who have qualified on the WQS are elite tour competitors also qualifying on the ASP Women's World Tour, it's possible that girls sitting as low as 9th place on the WQS may qualify by default. Roxy Pro trialist Rosie Hodge (ZAF) currently occupies that 9th place spot.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com for updates.

Round One Roxy Pro Hawaii Match-ups: (1st and 2nd advance to Round Three; 3rd surfs Round Two)
Heat 1: Megan Abubo (HAW), Samantha Cornish (AUS), Trudy Todd
Heat 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
Heat 3: Chelsea Georgeson (AUS), Julia Christian (USA), Wildcard (TBD)
Heat 4: Layne Beachley (AUS), Rochelle Ballard (HAW), Wildcard (TBD)
Heat 5: Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS), Heather Clark (ZAF), Serena Brooke (AUS)
Heat 6: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Keala Kennelly (HAW)

BEACHLEY POISED TO WIN 7TH WORLD TITLE AT ROXY PRO HAWAII SUNSET BEACH

SUNSET BEACH, Hawaii (Monday, Nov. 20, 2006) –Chelsea Georgeson (AUS) may be the defending Roxy Pro Hawaii, Vans Triple Crown of Surf and ASP Women's World Champion, but it's former six-time world champ Layne Beachey (AUS) sitting squarely in the driver's seat heading into Sunset Beach this Friday.

Beachley, who has posted multiple victories at Sunset Beach, Oahu, has the potential to clinch her 7th world title at the Roxy Pro Hawaii. The second to last event on the ASP Women's World Tour, the Roxy Pro Hawaii will enjoy a November 24 to December 6 waiting period, prime dates for big Hawaiian surf.

"I've had a lot of success at Sunset, so I'm feeling pretty confident," Beachley said. "They actually call me Miss. Sunset because I've won five out of the last seven events there. To wrap up my seventh world title there would be amazing."

Back at the meaty break of Sunset Beach after being held in nearby Halewia for the past five years, the Roxy Pro Hawaii will feature 16 of the world's Top 17 female surfers, a wildcard and an injury replacement surfer to fill the shoes of rookie Silvana Lima (BRA) who is suffering a knee injury. Each will be eager to showcase their repertoires in the critically powerful right hander.

World No. 2 Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) won the 6-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) event held at Sunset Beach last year. She will want to post a similarly impressive result in 2006 if she hopes to keep her title dreams alive heading into the final ASP Women's World Tour event in Maui this December. Only Redman-Carr, Beachley and Georgeson remain in contention for the 2006 crown. Only Beachley can clinch at Sunset.*

Sofia Mulanovich (PER) has taken an early lead in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing ratings, a series which awards an additional $10,000 to the top performing female surfer over three events - the already completed Op Pro Hawaii, a 6-star WQS and the Roxy Pro Hawaii and Billabong Pro Maui, both ASP Women's World Tour events.

Mulanovich won the Op Pro Hawaii at Haleiwa last week – a victory which saw her catapult to 5th on the WQS, thus earning her automatic requalification onto the elite ASP Women's World Tour in 2007 (the Top 6 surfers on the WQS earn spots on next year's elite tour). She is currently qualifying on both tours.

Several surfers accustomed to easy requalification via the ASP Women's World Tour will need results in the upcoming Hawaiian events to maintain their elite tour status; Hawaiian heavy-hitters Rochelle Ballard, Keala Kennelly and among them.

Logon to www.aspworldtour.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com to watch it all LIVE!

*ASP Women's World Tour World Title Possibilities for the Roxy Pro Hawaii

If Layne Beachley gets 1st at Sunset:
She becomes the 2006 ASP Women's World Tour Champion if Melanie Redman-Carr loses before the final heat.
Melanie Redman-Carr needs a 4th place or better to stay in contention (ie. – she must make the final).
Chelsea Georgeson would be out of contention.

If Layne Beachley gets 2nd at Sunset:
Melanie Redman-Carr needs a 7th place or better to stay in contention (ie. – she has to make the semis).
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 1st place to stay in contention.

If Layne Beachley gets 3rd at Sunset:
Melanie Redman-Carr remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 4th place or better to stay in contention.

If Layne Beachley gets 4th at Sunset:
Melanie Redman-Carr remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 5th place or better to stay in contention.

If Layne Beachley gets 5th at Sunset:
Melanie Redman-Carr remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 7th place or better to stay in contention.

If Layne Beachley gets 7th at Sunset:
Melanie Redman-Carr remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson remains in contention with a 17th place or better.

If Melanie Redman-Carr gets 1st at Sunset:
Layne Beachley remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 4th place or better to stay in contention.

If Melanie Redman-Carr gets 2nd at Sunset:
Layne Beachley remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson needs a 7th place or better to stay in contention.

If Melanie Redman-Carr gets 3rd at Sunset:
Layne Beachley remains in contention with a 17th place or better.
Chelsea Georgeson remains in contention with a 17th place or better.

If Chelsea Georgeson gets 1st at Sunset:
Both Layne Beachley and Melanie Redman-Carr remain in contention.

Past Women's VANS Triple Crown of Surfing Champions (all but 2002 winner Neridah Falconer are competing in the 2006 series)

2005 Chelsea Georgeson (AUS)
2004 Chelsea Georgeson (AUS)
2003 Keala Kennelly (HAW)
2002 Neridah Falconer (AUS)
2001 Event Not Held
2000 Heather Clark (ZAF)
1999 Trudy Todd (AUS)
1998 Layne Beachley (AUS)
1997 Layne Beachley (AUS)

MICK FANNING WINS NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL; MOVES TO WORLD NO. 2

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006) – Australian Mick Fanning has rocketed to world No. 2 on the Foster's ASP World Tour ratings with an emphatic win at the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong today.

Making good on the adage ‘third time’s a charm’ in his third Brazilian final in five years, Fanning easily dismissed any threat brought by defending champion Damien Hobgood (USA).

"I rocked up this morning and it looked exactly like it did one of the years I got second so I felt really confident,” Fanning said. “I've already had two seconds in Brazil and I didn’t want another one so I went out there and tried to give it my all and it paid off."

Held in large and wind affected six foot (two metre) waves in Imbituba, Brazil, the Nova Schin Festival final was a largely one-sided affair. Favoring the rights and posting the highest heat total of the event (18.77 out of 20.00) Fanning caught nine waves to Hobgood’s five. With a 9.5 and 9.27 (out of a possible 10) in his scoreline, Hobgood was left needing a combination of scores to defend his title.

"We couldn't really hear out there and I just wanted to keep in rhythm with the sets,” Fanning said. “I knew if you get caught, it just washes you in and you get flustered so I just kept trying to catch waves. I felt really relaxed and everything just seemed to feel really, really good. I got two waves that were pretty good so I'm stoked."

The win is Fanning's second for the year and his No. 2 rating bitter sweet after bowing out of the world title race won by Kelly Slater (USA) who claimed the crown in Spain last month. Earning his first 2006 victory at the Billabong Pro JBay in July, his result today is another chapter in what has been a late season fairytale for Fanning.

“I’m letting it happen instead of trying to make it happen,” Fanning said. “Every time I paddle out now I feel so much more relaxed. Three finals and two fifths out of the last five events is pretty good.”

His Nova Schin Festival first sees Fanning jump three spots from 5th to runner-up on the Foster’s ASP World Tour ratings – he finished last year in 3rd.

"Every year I've been on the Foster's ASP World Tour, I've placed one better the next year,” Fanning said. Hopefully this year I finish second and then next year I get that first."

Hobgood, who beat his twin brother CJ Hobgood (USA) in the quarters and Fred Patacchia (HAW) in the semis en route to the final, posted two 9.5s over the course of the contest. He would have had to post two more in the final if he wanted to defend his title today.

"Mick has been the in-form surfer pretty much the whole event, he was just better out there,” Hobgood said. “I knew Mick could go on pretty much any right and turn it into a score and that I was going to have to wait for the cleaner ones because it was harder on my backside to negotiate the bump. I had a couple of good waves and I had the opportunity, but all I did was a couple of ok turns and then a couple of bad ones. It was there but I just think he was the better surfer."

Pattachia climbed 10 spots from 24th to 14th with his semifinal showing and is now assured of a 2007 Foster’s ASP World Tour berth.

“I came here with a goal and that goal was to be in requalification mode going into Hawaii,” Pattachia said. “I came here and accomplished that. A third is my second best result this year. I’ll probably been in the teens (on the Foster’s ASP World Tour ratings) now and hopefully I can get another good result at Pipe and jump up even further."

Philip Macdonald (AUS) posted his best result of 2006 today. The third place finish bumped him up one spot on the ratings – he now sits in 12th.

“It’s my best result of the year,” Macdonald said. “I just wanted to make the semis and get a result. The conditions are really hard out there and I got a bit unlucky. I felt like I gave it my best shot and that’s all you can do."

Darren O’Rafferty (AUS), Greg Emslie (ZAF) and Bobby Martinez (USA) round out the surfers who contested the chaotic six foot surf at Imbituba today. Losing in the quarterfinals, they will leave Brazil with equal fifth placings.

Nova Schin Festival Final Results: (1st wins the event; 2nd finishes runner-up)
Final: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.77 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.10

Nova Schin Festival Semifinal Results: (1st advances to Final; 2nd finishes equal 3rd)
Semifinal 1: Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.00 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.67
Semifinal 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.50 def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 14.00

Nova Schin Festival Quarterfinal Results: (1st advances to Semifinals, 2nd finishes equal 5th)
Quarterfinal 1: Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.33 def. CJ Hobgood (USA) 13.00
Quarterfinal 2: Fred Patacchia (HAW) 15.50 def. Darren O'Rafferty (AUS) 11.67
Quarterfinal 3: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 12.10 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 8.90
Quarterfinal 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.00 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 6.67

Foster’s ASP World Tour Ratings after Event #10, the Nova Schin Festival pres. by Billabong
1. Kelly Slater 7824
2. Mick Fanning 6638
3. Taj Burrow 6480
4. Bobby Martinez 6350
5. Andy Irons 6348
6. Joel Parkinson 6240
7. Damien Hobgood 5774
8. Tom Whitaker 5138
9. Taylor Knox 4880
10. Dean Morrison 4856

NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL TO WRAP UP IN IMBITUBA TODAY

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006) – The Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong is currently underway in six to eight foot plus (two to three metre) waves at the main event site in Imbituba this morning.

The large swell was a welcome sight with event officials utilizing the entire 10-day waiting period and taking the event mobile to Rosa Beach yesterday. Today is the final day of the Nova Schin Festival contest window.

The remaining seven heats of competition – the quarterfinals, semifinals and final – will be run in 30-minute intervals today. A small break between the semifinals and final will see the Nova Schin Festival champion crowned early this afternoon.

Quarterfinal match-ups:
Quarterfinal 1: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. CJ Hobgood (USA)
Quarterfinal 2: Darren O'Rafferty (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Quarterfinal 3: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Quarterfinal 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)

HOBGOODS HIGH SCORE AT THE NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL; WILL MEET IN QUARTERS

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006) – The Hobgood brothers took the Nova Schin Festival’s relocation to Rosa Beach in stride today. Top scoring in the punchy three to five foot (one to one half metre) waves on offer just north of Imbituba, the twins soared through Round Four and will now feature in Quarterfinal No. 1 tomorrow.

Damien, the defending Nova Schin Festival champ and CJ, who won the Foster’s ASP World Title in 2001, will go man-on-man for only second time in their Foster’s ASP World Tour careers. The 27-year old Top 10 staples, who met in elite tour competition for the first and last time in the 2004 Quiksilver Pro Japan Quarterfinals, are beyond stoked about the ‘bro-down.’

“It’s going to be fun,” CJ Hobgood said. “[Damien] is going to be looking to get me back because I got one on him in Japan. It’s the end of the year and there’s not crazy pressure here so I’m looking forward to it –he’s going to be super bummed if I beat him again though. Anytime anyone asks if we’ve ever had a man-on-man heat together he huffs and says, ‘Yea, one time, but I didn’t catch a wave in the heat.”

Damien earned a 9.5 (out of a possible 10 points) for a relentless series of vertical hacks to claim today’s highest wave score and a heat win over Cory Lopez (USA). Second only to Joel Parkinson’s 9.73 earned in Round Three, Damien’s wave was at once an assurance that taking the event mobile was a smart move.

“I saw the set coming from the corner and it looked like a pretty good wave but I couldn’t tell how good it was,” Damien Hobgood said. “The thing just ended up lining up all the way through, but I think the thing that really made that wave was that at the end I had this left coming back at me and I was able to bank of it. I was stoked.”

CJ earned the second highest wave score of the day, a 9.00, to remove Parkinson from Nova Schin Festival contention the heat after.

“Going up against Joel is never an easy task,” CJ Hobgood said. “Joel’s been getting 9.0s every heat and I’ve been fortunate enough to get a couple of 9.0s in a few of my heats so I had to tell myself, ‘Hey, I can go out there and get those scores and put some pressure on him,’ and that’s what I did.”

Current world No. 6 Bobby Martinez, who often travels with the Hobgoods, earned another last minute victory today. This time, Bede Durbidge (AUS) was his victim.
“I thought I was a little too deep so I paddled a little bit towards Bede and that set came and I got one of the last waves of the set,” Martinez said. “Then they said the scores wrong and I was wondering what was going to happen, I didn't know what to think. There were two minutes left and it looked like waves were coming. A wave came and Bede got a 5.0 and it didn't have as much wall as the other waves or else he would have got the score so I got lucky.”

Martinez, a Foster’s ASP World Tour rookie, has earned the nickname the ‘Smiling Assassin’ for regularly relegating guys to the losers round with a humble grin on his face.

With two wins and two dead lasts in his scoreline, a victory over Mick Fanning (AUS) tomorrow will see Martinez replace a 33rd place with a 3rd or better. Because all those above him on the ratings, including Taj Burrow who lost to Greg Emslie (ZAF) today, bowed out earlier than him in the event, eliminating Fanning will see Martinez jump to world No. 2.

“It’s going to be hard with Mick, he’s definitely one of my favorite surfers,” Martinez said. “I love watching him surf, he always has so much energy – it’s going to be hard. Everywhere he goes he’s always looking good and out here again he’s looking good. It’s going to be difficult, but hopefully we get waves and then we’ll just see how it goes.”

Also earning a Quarterfinal berth and ending injury replacement surfer Odirlei Coutinho’s (BRA) upset-spree was Hawaiian Fred Patacchia. Surfing a broken board for most of the heat, Pattachia was surprised, but very pleased to advance.

"I wouldn’t say I was the heavy favorite going into that heat,” Pattachia said. “[Coutinho] had the crowd behind him and he just took out Andy (Irons) and Bruce (Irons), so he’s been taking out a bunch of Hawaiians lately. I just wanted to get the right waves out there. I buckled my board about halfway through the heat and I didn’t have an extra board on the beach so I had no choice but to ride it. I was lucky it didn’t break totally in two because I would have been screwed and would have lost the heat.”

With a guaranteed 5th or better leaving Brazil, Pattachia joins lower seeded Round Four winners Greg Emslie (ZAF), Darren O’Rafferty (AUS) and Phil Macdonald (AUS) in their relief that they are now in much better situations to requalify for next year’s elite tour.

“I’m stoked I came to Brazil,” said Pattachia. “I’m not going to win the Foster’s ASP World Tour right now and I’m not going to fall off either so this is all gravy; this is all fun for me. I’m just happy to go into Hawaii with a clear mind and not have to worry about requalifying."

The Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Final will run tomorrow, the last day of the Nova Schin Festival waiting period. A competition call will be made at 7am local time.

Round Four Match-Ups: (1st advances to the Quarterfinals; 2nd finishes equal 9th)
Heat 1: Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.67 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 8.17
Heat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.00 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 8.00
Heat 3: Darren O'Rafferty (AUS) 13.97 def. Peterson Rosa (BRA) 13.10
Heat 4: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.27 def. Odirlei Coutinho (BRA) 12.33
Heat 5: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 13.87 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.67
Heat 6: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 12.90 def.Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.34
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.33 def. Trent Munro (AUS) 7.50
Heat 8: Bobby Martinez (USA) 13.80 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.33

ROUND FOUR OF THE NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL MOVES TO ROSA BEACH

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006) – Strong southerly winds wreaking havoc at Imbituba Beach are creating idyllic conditions at a neighboring break in Rosa Beach today. Event officials are in the process of readying the event site so that Round Four of the Nova Schin Festival can commence there at roughly 2:00 this afternoon.

Several Foster's ASP World Tour surfers are staying in Rosa Beach, which is 25-minutes north of Imbituba, and are consequently familiar with the wave. When morning reports indicated that conditions at Rosa were far superior to those at Imbituba, contest director Xande Fontes activated the move.

With only today and tomorrow to run the remaining 15 heats of the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong, officials are hoping to run the whole of Round Four (eight heats) this afternoon so that the Quarters, Semis and event Final can be run in 'cherry-picked' conditions tomorrow.

Every effort to ensure the LIVE webcast of Round Four up and running as soon as possible will be made. Heat by heat updates, images and athlete interviews will be posted on www.aspworldtour.com as soon as the mobile contest venue is fitted with an internet connection.

Round Four Match-Ups: (1st advances to the Quarterfinals; 2nd finishes equal 9th)
Heat 1: Damien Hobgood(USA) vs. Cory Lopez (USA)
Heat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA)vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Heat 3: Darren O'Rafferty (AUS) vs. Peterson Rosa (BRA)
Heat 4: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Odirlei Coutinho (BRA)
Heat 5: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 6: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Trent Munro (AUS)
Heat 8: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)

IRONS OUSTED BY ORDILEI COUNTINHO; TOP RATED AUSSIES MAKE THEIR MOVE

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Monday, Nov. 6, 2006) – Most Foster's ASP World Tour surfers maintain a healthy fear of meeting an Irons brother in competition. Replacement surfer Ordilei Coutinho (BRA) is either ill informed or intrepidly confident.

Coutinho, who earned his Nova Schin Festival berth courtesy of Mark Occhilupo's (AUS) last minute withdrawal, dispatched of three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW) in their Round Three heat at Imbituba Beach today. He disposed of Andy's younger brother Bruce in a similarly fearless fashion the round prior.

"I know this beach and I know the wave because I've competed in lots of Brazilian contests here," the Brazilian National Runner-Up said. "But Andy (Irons) is such a good surfer and Bruce's maneuvers are of such a high caliber, I can't believe I beat them! This contest has been like a dream come true for me."

Despite missing Round One due to the last-minute nature of his Nova Schin Festival invite, Coutinho has been on fire since setting foot in Imbituba. The heavily backed Brazilian made and claimed an impressive aerial maneuver to secure his 15.17 to 10.83 win over Irons today.

"I made a reentry air at the end," Coutinho said. "The air was so hard because the wind took my board at the end. I had to grab it with my hand and slide my foot off the end but I made the air – it was difficult but I'm so happy."

Joel Parkinson capped off his 9.73, the highest scoring wave of the Nova Schin Festival so far, with similarly progressive flair.

"That was just the wave I was looking for," Parkinson said. "One with a little bit of wall and a little bit of lip and not too fast because you can't get too much speed out there. It stood up for about three sections and then it raced off and I got some speed and did a little air. It was kind of the wave I was looking for out there and I'm pretty happy I found it."

The elimination of the elder Irons has now opened the door for Parkinson, Taj Burrow (AUS) and Mick Fanning (AUS), each of whom are through to round four, to make ground on the Foster's ASP World Tour runner-up race.

Burrow's victory over Jihad Kohdr (BRA) which took place the heat after Irons' elimination, will see the Australian overtake the current world No. 2 in the ratings.

"I knew the Brazilians would be hard to beat," Burrow said. "I know both those guys (Coutinho and Khodr) surf really good. Jihad (Khodr) surfed really well in his round one heat - I watched that one. I wasn't going to take him lightly. I knew Andy (Irons) was going to have a pretty tough one too. It gives me a chance to move up the ratings possibly a little. I know it's really close between me and Andy (Irons) and Joel (Parkinson) and Mick (Fanning) so whatever happens, happens. It's really tricky conditions and a lot of luck going down."

Fanning got lucky with a last minute wave in his heat against Toby Martin (AUS).

"Toby started out strong - he had those two 6s and I was just playing catch up," Fanning said. "I couldn't find a wave the whole time and then that last one popped up. I did a first turn that was alright and then I thought I'd just surf the rest of it. As I went for my second turn, the wave disappeared on me and I just held on and went for it towards the end. Lucky for me I got the score - I was really surprised."

Nipping at Burrow, Parkinson and Fanning's heels is world No. 6 Bobby Martinez (USA). The American ended Marcelo Nunes run late in the day and will surf Round Four when competition reconvenes. With two 2006 event wins and momentum on his side, Martinez may well find himself in another final tomorrow or Wednesday.

Another call on competition status will be made tomorrow morning at 7:30.

Nova Schin Festival Round Three Results: (1st advances to Round Four, 2nd finishes equal 17th)
Heat 1: Damien Hobgood(USA)12.83 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 5.10
Heat 2: Cory Lopez (USA) 13.50 def. Jake Paterson (AUS) 9.87
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.34 def. Michael Lowe (AUS) 8.67
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.23 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 13.50
Heat 5: Darren O'Rafferty (AUS) 13.16 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 10.44
Heat 6: Peterson Rosa (BRA) 14.00 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 10.60
Heat 7: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 16.83 def. Adriano De Souza (BRA) 6.16
Heat 8: Odirlei Coutinho (BRA) 15.17 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 10.83
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.00 def. Jihad Khodr (BRA) 5.67
Heat 10: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 11.10 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.07
Heat 11: Tom Whitaker (AUS) def. Troy Brooks (AUS)
Heat 12: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 14.16 def. Nathan Hedge (AUS) 11.50
Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.27 def. Toby Martin (AUS) 12.50
Heat 14: Trent Munro (AUS) 14.50 def. Victor Ribas (BRA)12.26
Heat 15: Bobby Martinez (USA) 12.00 def. Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 10.40
Heat 16: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.36 def. Chris Ward (USA) 9.67

NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL ROUND THREE GETS WET

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Monday, Nov. 6, 2006) – Gale force gusts and sheets of rain will not stop Foster's ASP World Tour surfers from paddling out at Imbituba this morning.

Round Three of the Nova Schin Restival presented by Billabong has commenced in wild and wooly three foot (one metre) surf.

With only three days left in the event waiting period and two full days of surfing to complete, event organizers have decided to take advantage of the increased wave size despite the weather. There is a chance the swell will subside tomorrow, but Wednesday looks promising.

Logon and watch it all live on www.aspworldtour.com.

Nova Schin Festival Round Three Match-ups: (1st advances to Quarterfinals, 2nd finishes equal 17th)
Heat 1: Damien Hobgood (USA) versus Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 2: Cory Lopez (USA) versus Jake Paterson (AUS)
Heat 3: C.J Hobgood (USA) versus Michael Lowe (AUS)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) versus Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) versus Darren O'Rafferty (USA)
Heat 6: Taylor Knox (USA) versus Peterson Rosa (BRA)
Heat 7: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) versus Adriano De Souza (BRA)
Heat 8: Andy Irons (HAW) versus Odirlei Coutinho (BRA)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) versus Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 10: Travis Logie (ZAF) versus Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 11: Tom Whitaker (AUS) versus Troy Brooks (AUS)
Heat 12: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) versus Nathan Hedge (AUS)
Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) versus Toby Martin (AUS)
Heat 14: Trent Munro (AUS) versus Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 15: Bobby Martinez (USA) versus Marcelo Nunes (BRA)
Heat 16: Bede Durbidge (AUS) versus Chris Ward (USA)

PRESSURE MOUNTS IN ROUND TWO OF THE NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL BRAZIL

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006) –Several surfers accustomed to a comfortable amount of success on the Foster's ASP World Tour were elated to simply advance out of Round Two at the Nova Schin Festival today.

Former world champion CJ Hobgood (USA), 2005 world No. 6 Trent Munro (AUS), perennial Top 16 surfer Jake Paterson (AUS) and 2005 Rookie of the Year Fred Patacchia (HAW) were among the surfers under uncharacteristic pressure to perform in the tricky three foot (one metre) waves in Imbituba.

With only the Nova Schin Festival Brazil and the Pipeline Masters left to produce points, surfers sitting below the No. 27 on the Foster's ASP World Tour will have to requalify via the World Qualifying Series (WQS) or receive one of three ASP appointed wildcards if they hope to surf amongst the elite next year. Each of the aforementioned surfers needed to make their heats today to keep requalification hopes alive.

"It's definitely an uncomfortable spot to be in," Patacchia, rated 24th, said. "There are a few of us who are on the bubble, in the bubble and outside the bubble right now – guys like CJ Hobgood who just made his heat, Mick Lowe who's in the 17th round already, Trent (Munro) and Victor (Ribas). Everyone is trying to do well out here, trying to be consistent and trying to seal the deal rather than going into Hawaii being nervous and knowing that you're going to need a result."

Patacchia beat Pedro Henrique (BRA) who, like Yuri Sodre (BRA), Paulo Moura (BRA), David Weare (ZAF) Roy Powers (HAW) and Adrian Buchan (AUS) who also lost today, will be hard pressed to requalify via their Foster's ASP World Tour ratings.

CJ Hobgood is currently rated 22nd and was ecstatic to beat Buchan and post the day's highest single wave score (a 9.00 out of a possible 10.00 points) to advance to Round Three. The 2001 World Champion was emotional with relief.

"I don't think that heat could have been anymore of a nail-biter for me," Hobgood said. "I was behind and there weren't many good waves out there. This wave came in and it looked clean and I had priority so I just kind of gambled and took it. It looked like I was going to get a couple of good turns on it but then it just lined up the whole way; I didn't do anything crazy on it but I just rode it and it was a good wave for out there."

Hobgood finished in the Top 10 last year but has struggled to make it out of the early rounds in recent events.

"I haven't really made a heat since Mexico and I'm on the cusp of having to make heats to requalify – people don't realize that," Hobgood said. "People are probably like 'Whatever man, you won a heat,' but for me, it's been a long four months just getting back on track. I've never been in this situation and I'm just so stoked to make that heat; I would have been on suicide watch had I lost!"

Twenty-eighth rated Munro who beat Weare despite making a few tactical errors, was vocal that he's struggled to reinstate the stellar form that saw him at the top of the ratings all of last year.

"I'm in a position where I have to step up my form," Munro said. "I haven't reached any level of performance like I did last year or would have liked to have this year. Let's just hope I can build on a good performance here and step it up."

Paterson stepped it up to beat Powers in their Round Two duel and will now meet Picon in Round Three. Sitting in 30th, a result in Brazil is imperative for the tour veteran.

"I think I'm out of the [requalification] danger zone," Paterson joked. "I think I'm the guy who's trying to attack the guys who are in the danger zone and grab their spot. I had nothing to lose out there really. The waves are really trying and I was pretty lucky with my priority. I was kind of in sync and Roy was out of sync. I got a good start and he had to play catch up."

Toby Martin (AUS), Miky Picon (FRA) and Chris Ward (USA) also advanced today.

Brazil's big hope in rookie Adriano de Souza, received a Round Two bye when Jarrad Howse (AUS) was forced to withdrawal from the event due to a back injury incurred during a freesurf yesterday.

Rated 38th, Howse was in desperate need of a strong result in order to push himself into the Top 27 and secure a berth on the 2007 tour. Already en route back home to Australia it will be a race against the clock for Howse who needs to be fighting fit for the next World Qualifying Series (WQS) event which begins in Hawaii on November 12th.

A call on Round Three will be made tomorrow morning at 7am.

Nova Schin Festival Round Two Results: (1st advances to Round Three, 2nd finishes equal 33rd)
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.80 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 12.57
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50 def. Pedro Norberto (BRA) 8.33
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.87 def. Jean da Silva (BRA) 13.00
Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 13.83 def. Renato Galvao (BRA) 13.67
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.57 def. Bernardo Pigmeu (BRA) 10.66
Heat 6: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 9.33
Heat 7: Odirlei Coutinho (BRA) 13.33 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 9.66
Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.50 def. Yuri Sodre (BRA) 11.34
Heat 9: CJ Hobgood (USA) 14.50 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.00
Heat 10: Toby Martin (AUS) 13.07 def. Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 12.73
Heat 11: Trent Munro (AUS) 12.00 def. David Weare (ZAF) 11.00
Heat 12: Fred Patacchia (HAW) 13.60 def. Pedro Henrique (BRA) 9.43
Heat 13: Adriano de Souza (BRA) moves to Round Three; Jarrad Howse (AUS) Injury Withdrawal
Heat 14: Miky Picon (FRA) 15.67 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 9.83
Heat 15: Jake Paterson (AUS) 13.67 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 12.00
Heat 16: Chris Ward (USA) 10.00 def. Paulo Moura (BRA) 6.40

ROUND TWO OF THE NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL TO RESTART THIS MORNING

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006) – After a four and a half day recess, Round Two of the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong will resume in two to four foot (half to one and a half metre) surf in Imbituba, Brazil this morning.

Heats one through seven were completed on Tuesday, Oct. 31 with all but one of the Top 45 surfers advancing over their Brazilian wildcard counterparts. Heats eight through 16 will commence at 10:30am.

Receiving a Round Two bye today is Adriano de Souza (BRA). De Souza was slated to meet Australian Jarrad Howse in heat 13, but after injuring his back in a freesurf yesterday, Howse has withdrawn from competition.

Conditions will be assessed at the end of Round Two and a call on whether to progress into Round Three will be made.

Nova Schin Festival Round Two Results: (1st advances to Round Three, 2nd finishes equal 33rd)
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.80 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 12.57
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50 def. Pedro Norberto (BRA) 8.33
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.87 def. Jean da Silva (BRA) 13.00
Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 13.83 def. Renato Galvao (BRA) 13.67
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.57 def. Bernardo Pigmeu (BRA) 10.66
Heat 6: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 9.33
Heat 7: Odirlei Coutinho (BRA) 13.33 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 9.66

Nova Schin Festival Round Two match-ups remaining: (1st advances to Round Three; 2nd finishes equal 33rd)
Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Yuri Sodre (BRA)
Heat 9: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 10: Shaun Cansdell (AUS) vs. Toby Martin (AUS)
Heat 11: Trent Munro (AUS) vs. David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 12: Fred Patacchia (HAW) vs. Pedro Henrique (BRA)
Heat 13: Adriano de Souza (BRA) moves to Round Three; Jarrad Howse (AUS) Injured
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 15: Jake Paterson (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 16: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Paulo Moura (BRA)

NO NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL TODAY; LIKELY RECOMMENCEMENT TOMORROW

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006) –With swell on the horizon and less than stellar conditions on offer at Imbituba Beach this morning, the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong has been put on hold again today.

It has been several days since the first seven heats of Round Two were run, but with four days left in the 10-day waiting period and only two and a half days worth of competition remaining, contest officials are confident that waves suitable to showcase the world's best will materialize soon.

Yesterday, a two-heat Foster's Expression Session was run and won by Taj Burrow (AUS) and Jean da Silva (BRA) who earned US$1000 each for their aerial maneuvers and Raoni Montiero (BRA) and Neco Padaratz (BRA) who took home the same amount of cash for the best 'slash' of their respective heats.

It's likely that competition will resume tomorrow, but an official call will be made at Imbituba Beach at 7:30 tomorrow morning.

Nova Schin Festival Round Two Results: (1st advances to Round Three, 2nd finishes equal 33rd)
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.80 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 12.57
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50 def. Pedro Norberto (BRA) 8.33
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.87 def. Jean da Silva (BRA) 13.00
Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 13.83 def. Renato Galvao (BRA) 13.67
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.57 def. Bernardo Pigmeu (BRA) 10.66
Heat 6: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 9.33
Heat 7: Odirlei Coutinho (BRA) 13.33 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 9.66

Nova Schin Festival Round Two match-ups remaining: (1st advances to Round Three; 2nd finishes equal 33rd)
Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Yuri Sodre (BRA)
Heat 9: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 10: Shaun Cansdell (AUS) vs. Toby Martin (AUS)
Heat 11: Trent Munro (AUS) vs. David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 12: Fred Patacchia (HAW) vs. Pedro Henrique (BRA)
Heat 13: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Jarrad Howse (AUS)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 15: Jake Paterson (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 16: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Paulo Moura (BRA)

THREE-YEAR ASP WORLD MASTERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP ANNOUNCED IN BRAZIL

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Friday, Nov. 3, 2006) – ASP President Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew and Brazilian surfing legend Flavio Padaratz are pleased to announce that a three-year deal securing the highly anticipated return of the ASP World Masters' Championship was recently signed in Imbituba, Brazil.

The historic multi-year Masters' license, which will see the legendary event run in Brazil under Padaratz's guiding hand, will commence in 2007 and run through 2009.

"The guys will all be super stoked; Brazil will be another great reunion," Bartholomew said. "People will be blown away by the level of surfing; these guys are still ripping. I was surfing with Shaun Tomson at JBay last year and he was still dominating. I see Michael Ho carving Sunset, Tom Curren and Tom Carroll are still world class, and MR [Mark Richards] is still MR."

Though the dates and venue have yet to be confirmed, it is envisioned that the event will run in different locations annually in an effort to highlight Brazil's assorted surf destinations and allow fans of all ages and regions access to the sport's superstars.

Eligibility for the ASP World Masters' Championship is based on career ASP ratings, with seeding points distributed according to year-end rankings over a surfer's professional career. A World Title is worth 10 seeding points, a Top 5 world ranking is worth five points and so on down the scale.

"The seeding is designed to favor professional surfers who had long successful careers on the ASP World Tour and whose contribution to the sport is acknowledged," ASP CEO Brodie Carr said.

The 2007 World Masters' Championship will see the sport's legends congregate to compete under the ASP umbrella for the first time since 2003. It will also mark the seventh time the Masters' Championship will be held.

"When the first Masters was staged in Fiji in 1997, there was only one division and it was open to surfers age 35 and older who met the criteria," Bartholomew said. "In 1998, however, it was split into two divisions. In 2007 the Masters division will showcase surfers ranging in age from 35 to 45 while the Grand Masters features surfers 46 and older."

Sixteen surfers will contest each division. The Top 14 competitors are decided by the ASP career seeding list with the additional two slots allocated to the host nation. Local surfers will be selected using the same criteria used to pick the Top 14 or via a trials round in the event that local surfers don't fit the aforementioned criteria.

The Masters will showcase everyone from 70's superstars to eligible Masters still competing on the Foster's Men's World Tour, such as Mark Occhilupo. A host of World Champions will qualify to compete including Masters Tom Curren, Tom Carroll, Martin Potter, Damien Hardman, Derek Ho and Barton Lynch and Grand Masters Mark Richards, Shaun Tomson, Rabbit Bartholomew and Peter Townend.

The Brazilian fans will have plenty to cheer about with local legends Flavio Padaratz and Fabio Gouveia eligible to compete, while defending champions Gary Elkerton (Masters) and Rabbit Bartholomew (Grand Masters) will be putting their titles on the line in punchy Brazilian beach breaks.

Additional information regarding the competition will be distributed as details are secured,

ASP WORLD MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP FAST FACTS

Divisions:
In 2007 divisions will be split into the Masters (ages 35-45) and the Grand Masters (age 45+). The Grand Masters, which in 2001 saw the age eligibility amended to Over 45, is now on its way to the envisioned final resting place of Over 50. The age will move to Over 46 in 2007, Over 47 in '08 and so on until Over 50 is reached in 2011.

Location:
The ASP World Master's Championship will be held in various locations in Brazil in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Competitors:
There will be 16 competitors in both the Masters and Grand Masters divisions for a total of 32 world class competitors 35-years of age and older. Many of the competitors will be former ASP World Champions.

Past Event Locations and Winners:

1997 ASP World's Masters' Championship
Location: Cloudbreak, Fiji
Winner: Terry Richardson (AUS)

1998 ASP World's Masters' Championship
Location: Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Masters Winner: Joey Buran (USA)
Grand Masters Winner: Buzzy Kerrbox (HAW)

1999 ASP World's Masters' Championship
Location: Les Cavalliers, France
Masters Winner: Cheyne Horan (AUS)
Grand Masters Winner: Rabbit Bartholomew (AUS)

2000 ASP World's Masters' Championship
Location: Lafitenia, France
Masters Winner: Gary Elkerton (AUS)
Grand Masters Winner: Michael Ho (HAW)

2001 ASP World's Masters' Championship
Location: Bundoran, Ireland
Masters Winner: Gary Elkerton (AUS)
Grand Masters Winner: Mark Richards (AUS)

2003 ASP World's Masters' Championship
Location: Makaha, Hawaii
Masters Winner: Gary Elkerton (AUS)
Grand Masters Winner: Rabbit Bartholomew (AUS)

NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL OFF; FOSTER EXPRESSION SESSION TO RUN AT 1PM

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Friday, Nov. 3, 2006) – The remainder of Round Two of the Nova Schin Festival will not run today, but a Foster's Expression Session will take to the water at 1pm to entertain capacity crowds that have gathered at Imbituba Beach to watch the world's best surfers in action.

"We know that there is a swell coming on Sunday and we are expecting bigger waves so we will not run the main event today," contest director Flavio Padaratz said. "We are choosing to run the Foster's Expression Session so that we can take advantage of a sunny day and the holiday crowds to show the people on the beach the progressive maneuvers surfers are doing now."

Half of Round Two was completed on Tuesday, but with the world title wrapped up and several surfer's careers on the line if they don't advance from the first elimination round, event officials are seeking conditions superior to those on offer before continuing competition.

Surfers rated 27th and higher after their best eight of 11 results are tabulated earn berths on 2007's elite tour. The remaining spots go to the top 15 rated surfers on the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and three ASP appointed wildcards.

Because the Nova Schin Festival is the second to last event on the 2006 Foster's ASP World Tour and several of the surfers sitting low on the ratings have no WQS results to fall back on, strong results in Brazil in Hawaii are imperative if they want to surf amongst the elite next year.

Another call on competition status will be made at 7:00 tomorrow morning.

Nova Schin Festival Round Two Results: (1st advances to Round Three, 2nd finishes equal 33rd)
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.80 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 12.57
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50 def. Pedro Norberto (BRA) 8.33
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.87 def. Jean da Silva (BRA) 13.00
Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 13.83 def. Renato Galvao (BRA) 13.67
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.57 def. Bernardo Pigmeu (BRA) 10.66
Heat 6: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 9.33
Heat 7: Odirlei Coutinho (BRA) 13.33 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 9.66

Nova Schin Festival Round Two match-ups remaining: (1st advances to Round Three; 2nd finishes equal 33rd)
Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Yuri Sodre (BRA)
Heat 9: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 10: Shaun Cansdell (AUS) vs. Toby Martin (AUS)
Heat 11: Trent Munro (AUS) vs. David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 12: Fred Patacchia (HAW) vs. Pedro Henrique (BRA)
Heat 13: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Jarrad Howse (AUS)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 15: Jake Paterson (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 16: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Paulo Moura (BRA)

NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL ON HOLD AT IMBITUBA

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Thursday, November 2, 2006) – Despite monitoring conditions at Imbituba Beach until 11:30am, event officials have decided to call off competition for the Nova Schin Festival today, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006.

Half of Round Two was completed on Tuesday, but with a number of the surfers yet to surf the second round sitting perilously low on the Foster's ASP World Tour ratings, event officials are seeking conditions superior to those on offer before continuing competition.

Surfers rated 27th and higher after their best eight* of 11 results are tabulated earn berths on 2007's elite tour. The remaining spots go to the top 15 rated surfers on the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and three wildcards as deemed by the surfer's themselves.

Because the Nova Schin Festival is the second to last event on the 2006 Foster's ASP World Tour and several of the surfers sitting low on the ratings have no WQS results to fall back on, strong results in Brazil in Hawaii are imperative if they want to surf amongst the elite next year.

Another call on competition status will be made at 7:00 tomorrow morning.

Nova Schin Festival Round Two Results: (1st advances to Round Three, 2nd finishes equal 33rd)
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.80 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 12.57
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50 def. Pedro Norberto (BRA) 8.33
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.87 def. Jean da Silva (BRA) 13.00
Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 13.83 def. Renato Galvao (BRA) 13.67
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.57 def. Bernardo Pigmeu (BRA) 10.66
Heat 6: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 9.33
Heat 7: Odirlei Coutinho (BRA) 13.33 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 9.66

Nova Schin Festival Round Two match-ups remaining: (1st advances to Round Three; 2nd finishes equal 33rd)
Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Yuri Sodre (BRA)
Heat 9: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 10: Shaun Cansdell (AUS) vs. Toby Martin (AUS)
Heat 11: Trent Munro (AUS) vs. David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 12: Fred Patacchia (HAW) vs. Pedro Henrique (BRA)
Heat 13: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Jarrad Howse (AUS)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 15: Jake Paterson (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 16: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Paulo Moura (BRA)

*Correction to yesterday's release: According to the ASP rule book, if a Foster's ASP Men's World Tour event is cancelled during the course of the year, like the 2006 Quiksilver Pro Japan was, the ASP's Technical Committee meets to decide whether to ammend the number of throwaway results per the rule book (which states that nine event results are counted if there are 11 events on tour that year) or to keep the original number of throwaways as per the beginning of the year. This year, as decided by the Tech Committee in conjunction with the surfers, the original number of three throwaways was chosen, so eight out of 11 results will count toward a surfer's final rating. The top 15 WQS surfers, not 16 as reported yesterday, earn spots on the elite Foster's Men's World Tour.

NO NOVA SCHIN FESTIVAL ACTION TO UNFOLD TODAY

IMBITUBA, Brazil (Wednesday, November 1, 2006) – Uncontestable surf at Imbituba Beach has prompted event officials to call off competition today, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006.

Half of Round Two was run yesterday before a dying swell saw conditions deteriorate to the point that Head Judge Perry Hatchett questioned a surfer's ability to catch two good scoring waves within a 30-minute heat.

With a number of the surfers yet to surf Round Two sitting perilously low on the Foster's ASP World Tour ratings with only two events left in the 2006 season, Hatchett thought it best that the remainder of Round Two be run in better conditions.

Surfers rated 27th and higher after their best nine of 11 results are tabulated earn berths on 2007's elite tour. The remaining spots go to the top 16 rated surfers on the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and three ASP appointed wildcards.

Several surfers sitting low on the Foster's ASP World Tour ratings, have no WQS results to fall back on and will lose their elite tour status without strong results in Brazil in Hawaii.

Another call on competition status will be made tomorrow morning.

Nova Schin Festival Round Two Results: (1st advances to Round Three, 2nd finishes equal 33rd)
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.80 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 12.57
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50 def. Pedro Norberto (BRA) 8.33
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.87 def. Jean da Silva (BRA) 13.00
Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 13.83 def. Renato Galvao (BRA) 13.67
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.57 def. Bernardo Pigmeu (BRA) 10.66
Heat 6: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 9.33
Heat 7: Odirlei Coutinho (BRA) 13.33 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 9.66

Nova Schin Festival Round Two match-ups remaining: (1st advances to Round Three; 2nd finishes equal 33rd)
Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Yuri Sodre (BRA)
Heat 9: CJ Hobgood (USA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 10: Shaun Cansdell (AUS) vs. Toby Martin (AUS)
Heat 11: Trent Munro (AUS) vs. David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 12: Fred Patacchia (HAW) vs. Pedro Henrique (BRA)
Heat 13: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Jarrad Howse (AUS)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 15: Jake Paterson (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 16: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Paulo Moura (BRA)