Nazare was 'working' on Christmas 2013 with giant waves but too much wind. Still I made some amazing photos...
Surfboard Bags And Packing For A Trip
To protect your surfboard you will need a board bag.
NOTE: For a longer boardbag guide with all the packing tips and tricks go to http://360guide.info/surfing/ultimate-surfboard-bag-guide-and-packing-instructions.html
Here is whats available on the market:
Sock or Stretch Cover - protects from wax, scratches, dust and UV light, not for traveling!
A thin everyday surfboard bag - has 5mm or less protection, can be used for everyday trips to the beach. Not for long travel / airlines.
A thick everyday surfboard bag - has 10mm of protective foam, good for travel and airlines.
then you have bags that hold more than one surfboard. They are all thick and good for travel. Here a re a few features too look for:
- how many surfboards does it fit
- with or without fins
- durable, heat-reflective reflective, and waterproof material
- extra pockets for the fins and wax
- comfortable carrying straps
- good zipper
- internal sheets for separating your boards
- internal straps that fix the boards together
- optional softracks included (or tie down straps).
Bag Size
Length
Some extra space is already calculated into the board bag size. Get a bag that is the same length as your surfboard.
Width
Check the width and the nose shape of the bag. A wide fish surfboard won't fit into a shortboard bag. That is why you will have different models for same length board bag: shortboard model, fish/funboard/hybrid model, longboard model.
Packing instructions
1. Fins - remove them, if they are glass-on put a finbox on them.
2. Protect the rails with insulation foam tube cut in half. Duct tape!
3. Bubble Wrap the board using the one with large bubbles.
4. Board Bag - put it in a board bag that just fits.
5. If you are packing more boards protect each one of them separately. Stack them so that the longest is at the bottom. Fix them together. Fill empty space with wetsuits and towels. No hard and sharp objects in thebag.
Types of surfboards for beginners
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This is list and a short explanation of all surfboard types and other wave riding vehicles that you can find out there. It is meant for beginners, but not all these boards are beginner boards. Also surfboard types evolve, change and blend from one into another so sometimes it is hard to pinpoint what a certain surfboard is. But this guide will give you a general idea.
NOTE: For more in depth look at surfboard types together with typical dimensions and intended use check this ultimate guide.
BEGINNERS: From the below mentioned surfboard types the best board for beginners is a mini malibu, second choice would be a hybrid. (If you go to surf school you will get a surfboard, but I wouldn't buy it as my first board.)
Shortboard - generally meant for performance surfing, not for beginners.
- Thruster - a surfboard with three fin setup is called a thruster
- Quad - a surfboard with four fin setup without a center fin is called a thruster
- Bonzer - a surfboard with 5 fin setup is called a thruster
Step Up Board - a board that you use when waves get bigger/stronger/hollower and your everyday shortboard is not enough.
Step Down Board - a board that you use when waves get smaller/weaker/mushier and your everyday shortboard is not enough. This can be a beginner board, but not for complete beginners.
Mini Gun / Semi Gun - a surfboard designed for bigger waves.
Gun - for seriously big waves.
Rhino Chaser - for the biggest of the seriously big waves.
Tow Board - when waves get to big surfers use a jet ski and a tow board to tow into waves.
Hybrid - a board that is between a shortboard and a longboard. Good for beginners and for any type of waves.
Egg - surfboard that looks an egg, a really short longboard. Good for small waves.
Fish - a split tail surfboard that looks like a fish. Good for small waves.
- Hybrid Fish - a modern type of fish.
- Lis Fish - the original fish design invented and shaped by Steve Lis.
Longboard (Mal) - long, wide and thick surfboard with round nose and lots of volume. Good for beginners but a bit clumsy because it's heavy.
Mini malibu -a shorter longboard, best surfboard for beginners.
Log - another name for a longboardboard.
Funboard - a common name for all hybrids, eggs, mini-mals... for boards that are wide and stable, have a rounder nose, wider tail, more thickness. Good for beginners.
Aerial Board - a light shortboard for busting airs. Usually people don't special boards for this...
Alaia - a thin, straight, round-nosed, square-tailed surfboard inspired by boards from ancient Hawaii.
Planing Hull and Mini Simmons - boards inspired by Robert Wilson “Bob” Simmons. Fast surfboards.
Softboard (Foamboard) and Softtop - 100% beginner boards, surf schools use them since they are soft an safe.
Surfmat - an inflatable mattress designed for riding waves.
Kneeboard - a board intended for riding on your knees.
Paipo Board - looks like a thin, lightweight boogie-board.
Bodyboard (Boogieboard) - soft short board that is ridden lying down or on one knee.
Skimboard - a wooden (fiberglass) board intended for skimming over the water surface.
Video: Philippines Surfing
These days my mind wanders back to the Philippines we visited last year. Places we visited were not harmed by the typhoon but it's still hard to see all the damage and horror. We had a really good time in Philippines and they are really nice people.
This is a video that I made from our trip. Hope you like it.
Surfboard designs
The last time I counted there were like..hm..30-40 different design ideas on http://360guide.info/surfing/surfboard-designs-and-art-ideas.html so if you are looking for inspiration or even for instructions on how to spray paint your board and on other painting and drawing tecniques check it out.
Bobby Martinez Claims Billabong Pro Tahiti Over Taj Burrow
TEAHUPOO, Tahiti (Tuesday, May 19, 2009) - Bobby Martinez (USA), 26, has taken out the Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui, defeating fellow Finalist Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, in clean three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) waves at Teahupoo.
Event No. 3 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti survived a marathon waiting period, culminating on the second-to-last available day in improving conditions that peaked for a climactic Final.
Martinez surfed a near-flawless heat, opening up with an impressive 8.73 out of a possible 10 before putting his opponent in a combination situation with a Houdini-esque 9.73 out of a possible 10. Netting the highest heat total of the event, an 18.46 out of a possible 20, Martinez claimed his second Billabong Pro Tahiti and fourth elite tour win, establishing himself as one of the premier tube-riders in the world.
�I feel great and a bit emotional,� Martinez said. �I feel wonderful. I waited for the good ones out there and just got lucky. There weren�t too many waves and I was lucky enough to get a couple of good ones and not fall. Things just seemed to work out for me today. I really don�t know what to say. It feels really special.�
The form surfer of the event, Martinez surfed the majority of his heats on borrowed equipment, having broken most of his surfboards early in the waiting period.
�I actually borrowed a board from Alain Riou (local Tahitian surfer),� Martinez said. �He rides Darren Handley shapes and the board was the same dimensions and pretty much the same board I ride. It was great to find that as yesterday, I was a bit skeptical about today in terms of the conditions and my equipment, but everything worked out perfectly.�
Martinez, who is without a major sponsor at the moment, has rocketed himself from 19th to 7th on the ASP World Tour ratings with today�s win, putting him in excellent position for the remainder of the year.
�I�m not thinking about money right now, but rather I�m thinking about the feelings I have,� Martinez said. �I didn�t start surfing to make money. I started for me, and to win today, you cannot put a price on the feelings I have. I�m really going to let it sink it and enjoy it. It�s a great result, but it�s a long year and anything can happen. Joel (Parkinson) has a great lead, and now that this event is over, my focus goes to the next one.�
Burrow�s efforts in the Final were nothing short of spectacular, collecting an 8.17, a 7.93 and a 7.33, but they were not enough to overtake the Martinez stranglehold on the event.
�I definitely had fun but it was tricky against Bobby (Martinez),� Burrow said. �He had a dream heat. The conditions looked pretty good for your forehand because the judges like seeing you pump on your forehand in the barrel. On your backhand, you just have to park it in the pit and you can�t do much, but Bobby did everything he had to out there and deserved the win. I still had a fun Final, but hard to enjoy out there because I was in a combination situation the whole time.�
Burrow now moves into the No. 2 position on the ASP World Tour ratings, setting the Western Australian up well as he eyes up the next events.
�I�ve had two keepers in terms of results and I�m hungry,� Burrow said. �I�m still kicking and I�m looking to win. The next few events, I feel really strong at and I�m going to do whatever it takes to win. I�m stoked to get a result at Teahupoo, I haven�t done well here in a few years so it sets me up really well for the rest of the year.�
Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 23, former ASP World No. 39, was the �Cinderella Story� at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. Having failed to advance through a heat in the opening two events of the season, the Basque Country�s first ever ASP World Tour competitor stormed past Californian sensation Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, former event winner Damien Hobgood (USA), 29, Australian veteran Tom Whitaker, 29, and reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, en route to a Semifinals berth.
"I�ve had a tough draw throughout the event, but that�s what has kept me motivated,� Aranburu said. �Coming up against the best guys out there, you need to lift your ability. Beating Kelly (Slater) for me is one of the biggest achievements I�ve ever had. I�ve been looking up to him for so long, and just being on tour with him is an honor. To beat him is a major achievement for me."
The career-best result was halted at the hands of eventual winner Martinez during one of the most exciting heats of the event. Despite coming up short to Martinez (15.23 to the Californian�s 17.17), Aranburu�s equal 3rd place finish boosts the European to 19th on the ASP World Tour ratings.
�Bobby (Martinez) is one of the best out there,� Aranburu said. �I had one good one, but he got two good ones, and that was it. It�s my best result ever and I am stoked. I have lots of confidence going into the next events. I just want to go home and train and try new boards for Brazil and J-Bay. The biggest thing for me is to know that if I can do it once, I can do it twice.�
Michael Campbell (AUS), 35, opened his final day affair with a close win over fellow ASP Dream Tour veteran Taylor Knox (USA), 38, in the Quarterfinals, but the goofy-footer�s precision forehand approach wasn�t enough to overtake a rampaging Burrow in the Semifinals.
�It felt like I was a bit out of rhythm in the Semifinal,� Campbell said. �I wasn�t able to capitalize on the waves I got and Taj (Burrow) posted a couple of really strong scores mid-heat that left me wanting.�
Although falling short of a Finals berth, the journeyman competitor�s equal 3rd place finish boosts him from 29th to 16th on the ASP World Tour ratings.
"This is going to do a lot for my cause,� Campbell said. �I�ve had average results this year and last year too, so a third is pretty special for me. All of the heats have been hard and sometimes the luck goes your way. I�ve had a bit of luck this time around, but I�ve also spent some time here and I know it pretty well. Stoked to get a result and looking forward to the next one."
Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, suffered an unfortunate Round 3 loss at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, but after two event wins to open the season up, the Gold Coaster remains the frontrunner on this year�s ASP World Tour ratings.
The next stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour will be the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil from June 27 to July 5, 2009.
Highlights from the Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui will be available via www.billabongpro.com
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS:
1 � Bobby Martinez (USA) 18.46
2 � Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.10
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.86 def. Michael Campbell (AUS) 10.00
SF 2: Bobby Martinez (USA) 17.17 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 15.23
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.33 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.06
QF 2: Mick Campbell (AUS) 12.84 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 10.17
QF 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 15.93 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.67
QF 4: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 11.66 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.66
REMAINING BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) 13.17 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 10.16
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.57 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.67
Heat 7: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 12.56 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 9.16
Heat 8: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 9.43 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 9.40
CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10:
1 � Joel Parkinson (AUS) 3000 points
2 � Taj Burrow (AUS) 2318 points
3 � Mick Fanning (AUS) 2208 points
4 � C.J. Hobgood (USA) 2196 points
5 � Adriano de Souza (BRA) 2174 points
6 � Jordy Smith (ZAF) 2076 points
7 � Bobby Martinez (USA) 2025 points
8 � Tom Whitaker (AUS) 1932 points
9 � Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 1886 points
10 � Kieren Perrow (AUS) 1742 points
10 � Taylor Knox (USA) 1742 points
10 � Damien Hobgood (USA) 1742 points
Event No. 3 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti survived a marathon waiting period, culminating on the second-to-last available day in improving conditions that peaked for a climactic Final.
Martinez surfed a near-flawless heat, opening up with an impressive 8.73 out of a possible 10 before putting his opponent in a combination situation with a Houdini-esque 9.73 out of a possible 10. Netting the highest heat total of the event, an 18.46 out of a possible 20, Martinez claimed his second Billabong Pro Tahiti and fourth elite tour win, establishing himself as one of the premier tube-riders in the world.
�I feel great and a bit emotional,� Martinez said. �I feel wonderful. I waited for the good ones out there and just got lucky. There weren�t too many waves and I was lucky enough to get a couple of good ones and not fall. Things just seemed to work out for me today. I really don�t know what to say. It feels really special.�
The form surfer of the event, Martinez surfed the majority of his heats on borrowed equipment, having broken most of his surfboards early in the waiting period.
�I actually borrowed a board from Alain Riou (local Tahitian surfer),� Martinez said. �He rides Darren Handley shapes and the board was the same dimensions and pretty much the same board I ride. It was great to find that as yesterday, I was a bit skeptical about today in terms of the conditions and my equipment, but everything worked out perfectly.�
Martinez, who is without a major sponsor at the moment, has rocketed himself from 19th to 7th on the ASP World Tour ratings with today�s win, putting him in excellent position for the remainder of the year.
�I�m not thinking about money right now, but rather I�m thinking about the feelings I have,� Martinez said. �I didn�t start surfing to make money. I started for me, and to win today, you cannot put a price on the feelings I have. I�m really going to let it sink it and enjoy it. It�s a great result, but it�s a long year and anything can happen. Joel (Parkinson) has a great lead, and now that this event is over, my focus goes to the next one.�
Burrow�s efforts in the Final were nothing short of spectacular, collecting an 8.17, a 7.93 and a 7.33, but they were not enough to overtake the Martinez stranglehold on the event.
�I definitely had fun but it was tricky against Bobby (Martinez),� Burrow said. �He had a dream heat. The conditions looked pretty good for your forehand because the judges like seeing you pump on your forehand in the barrel. On your backhand, you just have to park it in the pit and you can�t do much, but Bobby did everything he had to out there and deserved the win. I still had a fun Final, but hard to enjoy out there because I was in a combination situation the whole time.�
Burrow now moves into the No. 2 position on the ASP World Tour ratings, setting the Western Australian up well as he eyes up the next events.
�I�ve had two keepers in terms of results and I�m hungry,� Burrow said. �I�m still kicking and I�m looking to win. The next few events, I feel really strong at and I�m going to do whatever it takes to win. I�m stoked to get a result at Teahupoo, I haven�t done well here in a few years so it sets me up really well for the rest of the year.�
Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 23, former ASP World No. 39, was the �Cinderella Story� at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. Having failed to advance through a heat in the opening two events of the season, the Basque Country�s first ever ASP World Tour competitor stormed past Californian sensation Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, former event winner Damien Hobgood (USA), 29, Australian veteran Tom Whitaker, 29, and reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, en route to a Semifinals berth.
"I�ve had a tough draw throughout the event, but that�s what has kept me motivated,� Aranburu said. �Coming up against the best guys out there, you need to lift your ability. Beating Kelly (Slater) for me is one of the biggest achievements I�ve ever had. I�ve been looking up to him for so long, and just being on tour with him is an honor. To beat him is a major achievement for me."
The career-best result was halted at the hands of eventual winner Martinez during one of the most exciting heats of the event. Despite coming up short to Martinez (15.23 to the Californian�s 17.17), Aranburu�s equal 3rd place finish boosts the European to 19th on the ASP World Tour ratings.
�Bobby (Martinez) is one of the best out there,� Aranburu said. �I had one good one, but he got two good ones, and that was it. It�s my best result ever and I am stoked. I have lots of confidence going into the next events. I just want to go home and train and try new boards for Brazil and J-Bay. The biggest thing for me is to know that if I can do it once, I can do it twice.�
Michael Campbell (AUS), 35, opened his final day affair with a close win over fellow ASP Dream Tour veteran Taylor Knox (USA), 38, in the Quarterfinals, but the goofy-footer�s precision forehand approach wasn�t enough to overtake a rampaging Burrow in the Semifinals.
�It felt like I was a bit out of rhythm in the Semifinal,� Campbell said. �I wasn�t able to capitalize on the waves I got and Taj (Burrow) posted a couple of really strong scores mid-heat that left me wanting.�
Although falling short of a Finals berth, the journeyman competitor�s equal 3rd place finish boosts him from 29th to 16th on the ASP World Tour ratings.
"This is going to do a lot for my cause,� Campbell said. �I�ve had average results this year and last year too, so a third is pretty special for me. All of the heats have been hard and sometimes the luck goes your way. I�ve had a bit of luck this time around, but I�ve also spent some time here and I know it pretty well. Stoked to get a result and looking forward to the next one."
Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, suffered an unfortunate Round 3 loss at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, but after two event wins to open the season up, the Gold Coaster remains the frontrunner on this year�s ASP World Tour ratings.
The next stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour will be the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil from June 27 to July 5, 2009.
Highlights from the Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui will be available via www.billabongpro.com
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS:
1 � Bobby Martinez (USA) 18.46
2 � Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.10
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.86 def. Michael Campbell (AUS) 10.00
SF 2: Bobby Martinez (USA) 17.17 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 15.23
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.33 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.06
QF 2: Mick Campbell (AUS) 12.84 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 10.17
QF 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 15.93 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.67
QF 4: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 11.66 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.66
REMAINING BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) 13.17 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 10.16
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.57 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.67
Heat 7: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 12.56 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 9.16
Heat 8: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 9.43 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 9.40
CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10:
1 � Joel Parkinson (AUS) 3000 points
2 � Taj Burrow (AUS) 2318 points
3 � Mick Fanning (AUS) 2208 points
4 � C.J. Hobgood (USA) 2196 points
5 � Adriano de Souza (BRA) 2174 points
6 � Jordy Smith (ZAF) 2076 points
7 � Bobby Martinez (USA) 2025 points
8 � Tom Whitaker (AUS) 1932 points
9 � Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 1886 points
10 � Kieren Perrow (AUS) 1742 points
10 � Taylor Knox (USA) 1742 points
10 � Damien Hobgood (USA) 1742 points
Why wear a wetsuit in the first place?
Water is not mens natural environment and since we can not breathe underwater a jump into the sea is always also a bit of a jump into the unknown. Of course fear is not the reason to wear a wetsuit, there are many much better reasons, but a wetsuit will also give you some comfort.
So what are the main three reasons why should you wear a wetsuit? I will list them here and then we will take a look at each one of them in more depth. 1. Wetsuit will keep you warm. 2. Wetsuit will give you extra protection. 3. Wetsuit will improve your buoyancy.
1) Protection against hypothermia. There are times when water is so cold that no one in their sound mind would enter it without a wetsuit. So wetsuits are great because the allow us to surf, swim, dive etc.. in the sea at temperatures that we would normally not be able to. But it is not just about the really cold water. Since water is 25 times more heat-conducting than air you lose your body heat much faster when you are in the sea. So even in warmer weather and water you can get hypothermia if you stay in too long without a wetsuit.
How does the wetsuit keep you warm? A thin layer of water comes between your body and the wetsuit. Body heats it and the wetsuit prevents the heat from escaping further, hence you have an insulation layer. Because neoprene contains many bubbles the air in them also acts as great insulation. This of course only works if fresh cold water doesn't constantly flush your wetsuit. So your wetsuits should be tight fitting, snug. I suggest you also check this wetsuits guide. Actualley here are a few links that I suggest:
- the most comprehensive wetsuit guide on the web: http://www.wetsuitmegastore.com/wetsuit/58-wetsuits-guide.html
- water temperature guide and chart for wetsuits - http://www.wetsuitmegastore.com/wetsuit/6-wetsuit-temperature-guide-and-chart.html
- more wetsuit info - http://360guide.info/wetsuits.
2) Wetsuits as protection. I covered protection against cold but wetsuits also act as protection against physical damage. The soft, rubbery neoprene will dampen the blows if you hit a rock, coral or your own or somebody else's equipment. For instance in surfing really shallow reef, if you are not 100% confident that you will make it, wear a wetsuit and save some skin.
3) And finally there is buoyancy. I already mentioned that neoprene is full of air filled bubbles, so wearing a wetsuit will help you float better. Here I would like to warm you that before you take on any water sports you need to know how to swim - swim good! Wetsuit is not a life vest.
And this is why it is hard for me to imagine what the water sports world would be like without wetsuits.
So what are the main three reasons why should you wear a wetsuit? I will list them here and then we will take a look at each one of them in more depth. 1. Wetsuit will keep you warm. 2. Wetsuit will give you extra protection. 3. Wetsuit will improve your buoyancy.
1) Protection against hypothermia. There are times when water is so cold that no one in their sound mind would enter it without a wetsuit. So wetsuits are great because the allow us to surf, swim, dive etc.. in the sea at temperatures that we would normally not be able to. But it is not just about the really cold water. Since water is 25 times more heat-conducting than air you lose your body heat much faster when you are in the sea. So even in warmer weather and water you can get hypothermia if you stay in too long without a wetsuit.
How does the wetsuit keep you warm? A thin layer of water comes between your body and the wetsuit. Body heats it and the wetsuit prevents the heat from escaping further, hence you have an insulation layer. Because neoprene contains many bubbles the air in them also acts as great insulation. This of course only works if fresh cold water doesn't constantly flush your wetsuit. So your wetsuits should be tight fitting, snug. I suggest you also check this wetsuits guide. Actualley here are a few links that I suggest:
- the most comprehensive wetsuit guide on the web: http://www.wetsuitmegastore.com/wetsuit/58-wetsuits-guide.html
- water temperature guide and chart for wetsuits - http://www.wetsuitmegastore.com/wetsuit/6-wetsuit-temperature-guide-and-chart.html
- more wetsuit info - http://360guide.info/wetsuits.
2) Wetsuits as protection. I covered protection against cold but wetsuits also act as protection against physical damage. The soft, rubbery neoprene will dampen the blows if you hit a rock, coral or your own or somebody else's equipment. For instance in surfing really shallow reef, if you are not 100% confident that you will make it, wear a wetsuit and save some skin.
3) And finally there is buoyancy. I already mentioned that neoprene is full of air filled bubbles, so wearing a wetsuit will help you float better. Here I would like to warm you that before you take on any water sports you need to know how to swim - swim good! Wetsuit is not a life vest.
And this is why it is hard for me to imagine what the water sports world would be like without wetsuits.
Wetsuits used in Pro Surfing
We wanted to do a shorter post about the wetsuits that are used in pro surfing. Not all ASP WCT tour locations require pro surfers to wear a wetsuit. Some are really warm and surfers can only wear boardshorts. Performace wise - this is the best since no wetsuits means no restricitons for the surfers. On the other hand there are surf spots and world tour locations that require a full wetsuit, sometimes even a thicker on liek a 4/3 wetsuit.
So what kind of wetsuits do pro surfers wear?
First of all - they are basically the same wetsuits that you can buy in the surf shop. If they have special the very best of the very best shapers hand made input driven surfboard that you can not get your hands on even in your dreams (at least until the pro models comes out lol) the wetsuits are pretty much the ordinary stuff that is available on the shelves. Of course the op of the line model.
What do pro surfers look for in their wetsuits?
Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility! This is the first and the most important wetsuit feature. You know that wetsuits that are the most flexible are usually not the ones that last the longest. Since getting new wetsuits is not an issue for pro surfers :)... it's all about flexibility.
Flexibility of the wetsuit means how stretchy it is and how much does it hinder the surfer when he performs his maneuvers.
Wetsuit thickness and warmth only comes second. Of course most of the pro surfers are sponsored and among there sponsors are also wetsuit companies. So they wear and promote wetsuits from their sponsor. And they can also give feedback and input when it comes to development of new wetsuit models.
So what kind of wetsuits do pro surfers wear?
First of all - they are basically the same wetsuits that you can buy in the surf shop. If they have special the very best of the very best shapers hand made input driven surfboard that you can not get your hands on even in your dreams (at least until the pro models comes out lol) the wetsuits are pretty much the ordinary stuff that is available on the shelves. Of course the op of the line model.
What do pro surfers look for in their wetsuits?
Flexibility, flexibility, flexibility! This is the first and the most important wetsuit feature. You know that wetsuits that are the most flexible are usually not the ones that last the longest. Since getting new wetsuits is not an issue for pro surfers :)... it's all about flexibility.
Flexibility of the wetsuit means how stretchy it is and how much does it hinder the surfer when he performs his maneuvers.
Wetsuit thickness and warmth only comes second. Of course most of the pro surfers are sponsored and among there sponsors are also wetsuit companies. So they wear and promote wetsuits from their sponsor. And they can also give feedback and input when it comes to development of new wetsuit models.
Quiksilver Pro Opening Day
DURANBAH BEACH, Australia (Saturday, February 28, 2009) � The opening day of the 2009 ASP World Tour season got underway this morning, with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG completing Round 1 in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at the backup venue of Duranbah Beach.
Event No. 1 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast opted to mobilize from the primary site of Snapper Rocks to nearby Duranbah Beach this morning to take advantage of the increased wave heights on offer, and despite conditions being challenging at times, the world�s best surfers delivered an explosive opening day of competition.
Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning and nine-time ASP World Champion, took to experimenting with his equipment during Round 1, opting to ride an unconventional self-shaped, 5�4� round-tail quad en route to victory over Dayyan Neve (AUS), 30, and Daniel Wills (AUS), 33.
"I am surfing a little 5�4" - a board I made actually � a pretty drastic change to what I normally ride but the tail is very similar,� Slater said. �This is the step I wanted to take when I went [to shorter boards] last year from 6�1" to 5�10" and I thought I was kind of stopping there but we�ll see. 5�4" is too short and I might end up with a 5�6" or a 5�7"."
Historically candid about his intentions to compete full-time on the ASP World Tour, Slater has since committed to his interest in acquiring a 10th world crown, albeit with guarded apprehension.
"It looks good on paper but honestly I am not that consumed about it,� Slater said. �The only time I talk about is when people ask me. It�s just a nice round number, double digits, and it�s rare for people to get that in sports so it will be nice to make it."
Julian Wilson (AUS), 20, gained entry into the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast as a wildcard, and went on to cause one of the biggest upsets of the day, defeating current ASP World No. 2 Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, and Mikael Picon (FRA), 29, in Round 1 of competition.
"I had a little bit of pressure before that heat,� Wilson said. �I was anxious to get out there and get it done. But when I walked down before my heat, I saw my friends and family so I kind of relaxed and then went out there and got a couple of waves and made it. I haven�t made it passed the third round so I am really fired up to getting pass that round. I�ll probably get Kelly (Slater) in the third round so I�ll see what happens."
Riding a fluorescent pink surfboard to raise awareness about breast cancer, Wilson�s progressive approach saw him execute a number of technical aerials and fin-free maneuvers before breaking his equipment in half during the latter stages of the heat.
�I just didn�t want Bede to get another wave so I took and tried a big air, snapped my board on the landing,� Wilson said. �It�s okay because I have a backup, but that was a really good board.�
Damien Hobgood (USA), 29, current ASP World No. 5, punctuated an otherwise mediocre-scoring day of competition with some scintillating backhand exhibitions, netting the highest heat total of the day, a 17.50 out of a possible 20, to defeat ASP Dream Tour sophomore Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 23, and twin brother, former ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 5, C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, in Round 1 of competition.
�Obviously it was fun for me,� Hobgood said. �A lot of the waves came towards me, but C.J. and I were stoked because no one loses and it gives us a chance to loosen up a bit and not care as much. D�Bah is like Huntington where you paddle out there and it seems like all the waves are running away from you. I was lucky. I was in position for a lot of the sets.�
Once a perennial Top 10 finisher, Hobgood has seen recent seasons marred by injury. Now healthy and back to 100%, the Floridian goofy-footer will look to rebound in 2009.
�I haven�t been injured in a while so it feels really good,� Hobgood said. �I�ve been spending a lot of time in the water and on my boards. It�s good, I feel really comfortable.�
Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, took top honors for the 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookies today, netting the event�s highest single-wave score of a 9.33 out of a possible 10 to defeat Chris Davidson (AUS) and Kai Otton (AUS), 29.
�He [Chris Davidson] came out guns blazing,� Bacalso said. �I kept getting the first waves and he would get the second a smoke me on the exchange. I had my back against the fence and knew I had to bring out something special. I thought about Round 2 and did not want to be surfing in it, that�s everyone�s worst nightmare.�
Bacalso led fellow 2009 ASP World Tour rookies Tim Boal (FRA), 25, and Nic Muscroft (AUS), 26, in Round 1 victories. All surfers will advance directly to Round 3.
Jay Thompson (AUS), 25, caused another massive upset today, defeating heavily-touted local Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, and veteran power surfer Taylor Knox (USA), 37, in Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.
"Surfing at home in front of the local crowd is just amazing," Thompson said. "When you are a bit tired, you automatically get back out there with the support of the fans. It definitely makes a big difference."
An ASP Dream Tour rookie in 2008, Thompson failed to requalify for the ASP World Tour this season, but entered into the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast as an alternate for the injured Luke Stedman (AUS), 32, who is out with broken toes.
"The position of being the replacement surfer does take a lot of pressure off me,� Thompson said. �I had such a terrible year last year and had a few criticisms and a few injuries but you see a lot of rookies in that position and they fall off first year and they come back hungrier so that�s the path for me hopefully. If I don�t get in all the events, it still is experience for 2010 so that�s why I will take it. But if there is a chance to surf a lot of events, I am going to surf hard and requalify through the ASP World Tour."
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 6am to assess conditions for a possible 7am start.
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile will be webcast LIVE via www.quiksilverpro.com.au
The event will incorporate the Roxy Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile, the opening event of the 2009 ASP Women�s World Tour.
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.67, Dustin Barca 11.87, Dean Morrison (AUS) 9.70
Heat 2: Tiago Pires (PRT) 12.00, Bobby Martinez (USA) 12.00, Roy Powers (HAW) 7.27
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.83, Ben Dunn (AUS) 11.37, Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 8.76
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.80, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.00, Drew Courtney (AUS) 8.57
Heat 5: Heitor Alves (BRA) 13.67, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.30, Marlon Lipke (DEU) 10.27
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) 17.50, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.83, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 4.93
Heat 7: Jay Thompson (AUS) 13.67, Taylor Knox (USA) 12.67, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.00
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.17, Dayyan Neve (AUS) 11.00, Daniel Wills (AUS) 10.67
Heat 9: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.10, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.73, Mikael Picon (FRA) 9.06
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.50, Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.23, Corey Ziems (AUS) 8.80
Heat 11: Tim Boal (FRA) 15.84, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.94, Mick Campbell (AUS) 13.06
Heat 12: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 13.66, Nathaniel Curran (USA) 8.67, Chris Ward (USA) 8.50
Heat 13: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 17.33, Chris Davidson (AUS) 15.84, Kai Otton (AUS) 9.83
Heat 14: Nic Muscroft (AUS) 15.33, Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.90, Tim Reyes (USA) 9.57
Heat 15: Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.50, Gabe Kling (USA) 11.07, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.60
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.60, Jihad Khodr (BRA) 9.61, David Weare (ZAF) 9.34
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Daniel Wills (AUS)
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Corey Ziems (AUS)
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 4: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 6: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 7: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW)
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 9: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 11: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 12: Michael Picon (FRA) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 13: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 14: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 16: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Event No. 1 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast opted to mobilize from the primary site of Snapper Rocks to nearby Duranbah Beach this morning to take advantage of the increased wave heights on offer, and despite conditions being challenging at times, the world�s best surfers delivered an explosive opening day of competition.
Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning and nine-time ASP World Champion, took to experimenting with his equipment during Round 1, opting to ride an unconventional self-shaped, 5�4� round-tail quad en route to victory over Dayyan Neve (AUS), 30, and Daniel Wills (AUS), 33.
"I am surfing a little 5�4" - a board I made actually � a pretty drastic change to what I normally ride but the tail is very similar,� Slater said. �This is the step I wanted to take when I went [to shorter boards] last year from 6�1" to 5�10" and I thought I was kind of stopping there but we�ll see. 5�4" is too short and I might end up with a 5�6" or a 5�7"."
Historically candid about his intentions to compete full-time on the ASP World Tour, Slater has since committed to his interest in acquiring a 10th world crown, albeit with guarded apprehension.
"It looks good on paper but honestly I am not that consumed about it,� Slater said. �The only time I talk about is when people ask me. It�s just a nice round number, double digits, and it�s rare for people to get that in sports so it will be nice to make it."
Julian Wilson (AUS), 20, gained entry into the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast as a wildcard, and went on to cause one of the biggest upsets of the day, defeating current ASP World No. 2 Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, and Mikael Picon (FRA), 29, in Round 1 of competition.
"I had a little bit of pressure before that heat,� Wilson said. �I was anxious to get out there and get it done. But when I walked down before my heat, I saw my friends and family so I kind of relaxed and then went out there and got a couple of waves and made it. I haven�t made it passed the third round so I am really fired up to getting pass that round. I�ll probably get Kelly (Slater) in the third round so I�ll see what happens."
Riding a fluorescent pink surfboard to raise awareness about breast cancer, Wilson�s progressive approach saw him execute a number of technical aerials and fin-free maneuvers before breaking his equipment in half during the latter stages of the heat.
�I just didn�t want Bede to get another wave so I took and tried a big air, snapped my board on the landing,� Wilson said. �It�s okay because I have a backup, but that was a really good board.�
Damien Hobgood (USA), 29, current ASP World No. 5, punctuated an otherwise mediocre-scoring day of competition with some scintillating backhand exhibitions, netting the highest heat total of the day, a 17.50 out of a possible 20, to defeat ASP Dream Tour sophomore Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 23, and twin brother, former ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 5, C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, in Round 1 of competition.
�Obviously it was fun for me,� Hobgood said. �A lot of the waves came towards me, but C.J. and I were stoked because no one loses and it gives us a chance to loosen up a bit and not care as much. D�Bah is like Huntington where you paddle out there and it seems like all the waves are running away from you. I was lucky. I was in position for a lot of the sets.�
Once a perennial Top 10 finisher, Hobgood has seen recent seasons marred by injury. Now healthy and back to 100%, the Floridian goofy-footer will look to rebound in 2009.
�I haven�t been injured in a while so it feels really good,� Hobgood said. �I�ve been spending a lot of time in the water and on my boards. It�s good, I feel really comfortable.�
Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, took top honors for the 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookies today, netting the event�s highest single-wave score of a 9.33 out of a possible 10 to defeat Chris Davidson (AUS) and Kai Otton (AUS), 29.
�He [Chris Davidson] came out guns blazing,� Bacalso said. �I kept getting the first waves and he would get the second a smoke me on the exchange. I had my back against the fence and knew I had to bring out something special. I thought about Round 2 and did not want to be surfing in it, that�s everyone�s worst nightmare.�
Bacalso led fellow 2009 ASP World Tour rookies Tim Boal (FRA), 25, and Nic Muscroft (AUS), 26, in Round 1 victories. All surfers will advance directly to Round 3.
Jay Thompson (AUS), 25, caused another massive upset today, defeating heavily-touted local Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, and veteran power surfer Taylor Knox (USA), 37, in Round 1 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.
"Surfing at home in front of the local crowd is just amazing," Thompson said. "When you are a bit tired, you automatically get back out there with the support of the fans. It definitely makes a big difference."
An ASP Dream Tour rookie in 2008, Thompson failed to requalify for the ASP World Tour this season, but entered into the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast as an alternate for the injured Luke Stedman (AUS), 32, who is out with broken toes.
"The position of being the replacement surfer does take a lot of pressure off me,� Thompson said. �I had such a terrible year last year and had a few criticisms and a few injuries but you see a lot of rookies in that position and they fall off first year and they come back hungrier so that�s the path for me hopefully. If I don�t get in all the events, it still is experience for 2010 so that�s why I will take it. But if there is a chance to surf a lot of events, I am going to surf hard and requalify through the ASP World Tour."
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 6am to assess conditions for a possible 7am start.
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile will be webcast LIVE via www.quiksilverpro.com.au
The event will incorporate the Roxy Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile, the opening event of the 2009 ASP Women�s World Tour.
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.67, Dustin Barca 11.87, Dean Morrison (AUS) 9.70
Heat 2: Tiago Pires (PRT) 12.00, Bobby Martinez (USA) 12.00, Roy Powers (HAW) 7.27
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.83, Ben Dunn (AUS) 11.37, Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 8.76
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.80, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.00, Drew Courtney (AUS) 8.57
Heat 5: Heitor Alves (BRA) 13.67, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.30, Marlon Lipke (DEU) 10.27
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) 17.50, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.83, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 4.93
Heat 7: Jay Thompson (AUS) 13.67, Taylor Knox (USA) 12.67, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.00
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.17, Dayyan Neve (AUS) 11.00, Daniel Wills (AUS) 10.67
Heat 9: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.10, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.73, Mikael Picon (FRA) 9.06
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.50, Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.23, Corey Ziems (AUS) 8.80
Heat 11: Tim Boal (FRA) 15.84, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.94, Mick Campbell (AUS) 13.06
Heat 12: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 13.66, Nathaniel Curran (USA) 8.67, Chris Ward (USA) 8.50
Heat 13: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 17.33, Chris Davidson (AUS) 15.84, Kai Otton (AUS) 9.83
Heat 14: Nic Muscroft (AUS) 15.33, Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.90, Tim Reyes (USA) 9.57
Heat 15: Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.50, Gabe Kling (USA) 11.07, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.60
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.60, Jihad Khodr (BRA) 9.61, David Weare (ZAF) 9.34
QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Daniel Wills (AUS)
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Corey Ziems (AUS)
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 4: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 6: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 7: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW)
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 9: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 11: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 12: Michael Picon (FRA) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 13: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 14: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 16: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
2009 ASP World Tour of Surfing Schedule
2009 ASP World Tour Schedule:
Stop No. 1: Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Feb. 28 � Mar. 11, 2009)
Stop No. 2: Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Apr. 7 � 19, 2009)
Stop No. 3: Billabong Pro Teahupoo (May 9 � 20, 2009)
Stop No. 4: Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro (Jun. 27 � Jly. 5, 2009)
Stop No. 5: Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay (Jly. 9 � 19, 2009)
Stop No. 6: Hurley Pro Lower Trestles (Sept. 11 � 20, 2009)
Stop No. 7: Quiksilver Pro France (Sept. 23 � Oct. 4, 2009)
Stop No. 8: Billabong Pro Mundaka (Oct. 5 � 17, 2009)
Stop No. 9: Rip Curl Pro Search �Somewhere� (Oct. 19 � 28, 2009)
Stop No. 10: Billabong Pipeline Masters (Dec. 8 � 20, 2009)
Stop No. 1: Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Feb. 28 � Mar. 11, 2009)
Stop No. 2: Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Apr. 7 � 19, 2009)
Stop No. 3: Billabong Pro Teahupoo (May 9 � 20, 2009)
Stop No. 4: Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro (Jun. 27 � Jly. 5, 2009)
Stop No. 5: Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay (Jly. 9 � 19, 2009)
Stop No. 6: Hurley Pro Lower Trestles (Sept. 11 � 20, 2009)
Stop No. 7: Quiksilver Pro France (Sept. 23 � Oct. 4, 2009)
Stop No. 8: Billabong Pro Mundaka (Oct. 5 � 17, 2009)
Stop No. 9: Rip Curl Pro Search �Somewhere� (Oct. 19 � 28, 2009)
Stop No. 10: Billabong Pipeline Masters (Dec. 8 � 20, 2009)
2009 ASP World Tour wil start in one month
The 2009 ASP World Tour is set to commence in just over a month, and the ASP Top 45 is looking set and shaping up to be one of the most explosive the world has ever seen.
Nine-times ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 36, will be back to hunt down ASP World Title No. 10, but standing in his way will be the best of the best.
Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, and fellow top seeds Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, and C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, will lead the rest of the ASP Top 45 in their respective bids to put a stop to the Slater juggernaut.
The official withdrawals of the Irons brothers and the acceptance of replacement surfers are in place, and the 2009 ASP Top 45 are finally locked in.
Roy Powers (HAW), 27, will be replacing Bruce Irons (HAW), 29, who finished No. 20 on last season�s ASP World Tour but will be retiring from full-time competition in 2009. Despite the withdrawal from the Dream Tour, Irons will pursue wildcard entries into events.
Michael Campbell (AUS), 34, former ASP World No. 2, will replace former three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW), 30, on the 2009 ASP World Tour. Irons the elder will be taking 2009 to recuperate and has been awarded the ASP Wildcard for the 2010 ASP World Tour.
�Andy Irons requested and was granted an ASP Tour wildcard for 2010,� Wayne �Rabbit� Bartholomew, ASP President, said. �Andy cited personal reasons for not participating in the full tour in 2009, however he may participate in certain pet events as an event wildcard. All stakeholders, being the surfers, the Events Council and ASP Management, were supportive of Andy�s request, and the ASP Board of Directors ratified this arrangement officially.�
�Andy will be sorely missed in 2009 and we look forward to him contending again from 2010,� Bartholomew said. �Each year, three tour wildcards are issued, they are for injury, they are sometimes granted to next in line WQS and they are also granted to former ASP World Champions or someone held in high esteem.�
This year�s ASP Top 45 will see the addition of eight new faces in rookies Nathaniel Curran (USA), 24, Michel Bourez (PYF), 23, Nic Muscroft (AUS), 26, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, Tim Boal (FRA), 25, Dustin Barca (HAW), 26, Drew Courtney (AUS), 29, and Marlon Lipke (DEU), 24. Over 10 separate surfing nations will be represented in 2009, making this season�s ASP World Tour one of the most diverse on record
Replacements for the 2009 ASP World Tour will be Jay Thompson (AUS), 25, Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 23, Ben Bourgeois (USA), 28, and Yadin Nicol (AUS), 23, respectively.
Comprehensive athlete profiles for the ASP Top 45 are now available via www.aspworldtour.com
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast will kickstart the 2009 ASP World Tour at Snapper Rocks on Australia�s Gold Coast. The waiting period for the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast runs from February 28 through March 11, 2009.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
2009 ASP World Tour Schedule:
Stop No. 1: Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Feb. 28 � Mar. 11, 2009)
Stop No. 2: Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Apr. 7 � 19, 2009)
Stop No. 3: Billabong Pro Teahupoo (May 9 � 20, 2009)
Stop No. 4: Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro (Jun. 27 � Jly. 5, 2009)
Stop No. 5: Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay (Jly. 9 � 19, 2009)
Stop No. 6: Hurley Pro Lower Trestles (Sept. 11 � 20, 2009)
Stop No. 7: Quiksilver Pro France (Sept. 23 � Oct. 4, 2009)
Stop No. 8: Billabong Pro Mundaka (Oct. 5 � 17, 2009)
Stop No. 9: Rip Curl Pro Search �Somewhere� (Oct. 19 � 28, 2009)
Stop No. 10: Billabong Pipeline Masters (Dec. 8 � 20, 2009)
Nine-times ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 36, will be back to hunt down ASP World Title No. 10, but standing in his way will be the best of the best.
Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, and fellow top seeds Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, and C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, will lead the rest of the ASP Top 45 in their respective bids to put a stop to the Slater juggernaut.
The official withdrawals of the Irons brothers and the acceptance of replacement surfers are in place, and the 2009 ASP Top 45 are finally locked in.
Roy Powers (HAW), 27, will be replacing Bruce Irons (HAW), 29, who finished No. 20 on last season�s ASP World Tour but will be retiring from full-time competition in 2009. Despite the withdrawal from the Dream Tour, Irons will pursue wildcard entries into events.
Michael Campbell (AUS), 34, former ASP World No. 2, will replace former three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW), 30, on the 2009 ASP World Tour. Irons the elder will be taking 2009 to recuperate and has been awarded the ASP Wildcard for the 2010 ASP World Tour.
�Andy Irons requested and was granted an ASP Tour wildcard for 2010,� Wayne �Rabbit� Bartholomew, ASP President, said. �Andy cited personal reasons for not participating in the full tour in 2009, however he may participate in certain pet events as an event wildcard. All stakeholders, being the surfers, the Events Council and ASP Management, were supportive of Andy�s request, and the ASP Board of Directors ratified this arrangement officially.�
�Andy will be sorely missed in 2009 and we look forward to him contending again from 2010,� Bartholomew said. �Each year, three tour wildcards are issued, they are for injury, they are sometimes granted to next in line WQS and they are also granted to former ASP World Champions or someone held in high esteem.�
This year�s ASP Top 45 will see the addition of eight new faces in rookies Nathaniel Curran (USA), 24, Michel Bourez (PYF), 23, Nic Muscroft (AUS), 26, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, Tim Boal (FRA), 25, Dustin Barca (HAW), 26, Drew Courtney (AUS), 29, and Marlon Lipke (DEU), 24. Over 10 separate surfing nations will be represented in 2009, making this season�s ASP World Tour one of the most diverse on record
Replacements for the 2009 ASP World Tour will be Jay Thompson (AUS), 25, Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 23, Ben Bourgeois (USA), 28, and Yadin Nicol (AUS), 23, respectively.
Comprehensive athlete profiles for the ASP Top 45 are now available via www.aspworldtour.com
The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast will kickstart the 2009 ASP World Tour at Snapper Rocks on Australia�s Gold Coast. The waiting period for the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast runs from February 28 through March 11, 2009.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
2009 ASP World Tour Schedule:
Stop No. 1: Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (Feb. 28 � Mar. 11, 2009)
Stop No. 2: Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (Apr. 7 � 19, 2009)
Stop No. 3: Billabong Pro Teahupoo (May 9 � 20, 2009)
Stop No. 4: Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro (Jun. 27 � Jly. 5, 2009)
Stop No. 5: Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay (Jly. 9 � 19, 2009)
Stop No. 6: Hurley Pro Lower Trestles (Sept. 11 � 20, 2009)
Stop No. 7: Quiksilver Pro France (Sept. 23 � Oct. 4, 2009)
Stop No. 8: Billabong Pro Mundaka (Oct. 5 � 17, 2009)
Stop No. 9: Rip Curl Pro Search �Somewhere� (Oct. 19 � 28, 2009)
Stop No. 10: Billabong Pipeline Masters (Dec. 8 � 20, 2009)
2009 ASP Women's World Tour
The best female surfers in the world are locked in and the 2009 ASP Women�s World Tour looks to be one for the record books.
Eleven ASP Women�s World Titles will be represented over four competitors in reigning two-time ASP Women�s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, former seven-time ASP Women�s World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, 2004 ASP Women�s World Champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, and returning 2005 ASP Women�s World Champion and 2009 ASP Dream Tour wildcard Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25.
�After a three-tier process including surfer, ASP technical committee and ASP Board votes, Chelsea Hedges has been ed as the 2009 ASP Wildcard,� Brooke Farris, ASP Women�s World Tour Manager, said. �The former ASP Women�s World Champion will bring experience, a solid backhand attack and a baby to the 2009 ASP Dream Tour. After finishing 8th in 2007, Chelsea took a year off to give birth to her daughter Mieka. With her undeniable talent and past results, Hedges was a strong ion.�
Despite announcing 2008 as her last season as a full-time member of the ASP Women�s World Tour, Beachley will also return to competition for events.
�Announcing her retirement from full-time ASP World Tour competition last October, Layne Beachley will be using her ASP World No. 4 seed to surf at some of her favorite Dream Tour locations,� Farris said. �Hunting her 30th career win, I suspect we will see Layne surfing at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and her own event the Beachley Classic at Manly.�
In addition to the slew of returning champions, the 2009 ASP Women�s World Tour will also boast the arrival of a new guard in women�s surfing, led by 2008 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) Winner Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18.
�With five fresh new faces onboard, the line-up for the 2009 ASP Women�s World Tour is incredibly exciting,� Farris said. �It will be interesting to see how quickly the rookies adapt to life on the ASP Dream Tour and who will really try to shake two-time ASP Women�s World Champion Steph Gilmore off the podium.�
Fitzgibbons will be joined by fellow newcomers Bruna Schmitz (BRA), 18, Paige Hareb (NZL), 18, Alana Blanchard (HAW), 18, and Coco Ho (HAW), 17.
Next season�s ASP Women�s World Tour will be comprised of eight Australians, three Hawaiians, three Brazilians, one Peruvian, one South African and one New Zealander, and will take the ASP Top 17 to Australia, Brazil, Peru, �Somewhere� and Hawaii over eight events.
The Roxy Pro Gold Coast will kickstart the 2009 ASP Women�s World Tour at Snapper Rocks on Australia�s Gold Coast. The waiting period for the Roxy Pro Gold Coast runs from February 28 through March 11, 2009.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
2009 ASP Women�s World Tour Surfers:
1 � Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2 � Silvana Lima (BRA)
3 � Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
4 � Layne Beachley (AUS)
5 � Amee Donohoe (AUS)
6 � Samantha Cornish (AUS)
7 � Melanie Bartels (HAW)
8 � Rebecca Woods (AUS)
9 � Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
10 � Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
11 � Chelsea Hedges (AUS)*
12 � Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
13 � Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
14 � Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
15 � Paige Hareb (NZL)
16 � Alana Blanchard (HAW)
17 � Coco Ho (HAW)
* ASP Wildcard
2009 ASP Women�s World Tour Replacements:
1 � Megan Abubo (HAW)
2 � Laurina McGrath (AUS)
3 � Nicola Atherton (AUS)
2009 ASP Women�s World Tour Schedule:
Stop No. 1: Roxy Pro Gold Coast (Feb. 28 � Mar. 11, 2008)
Stop No. 2: Rip Curl Women�s Pro pres. by Ford New Fiesta (Apr. 8 � 13, 2008)
Stop No. 3: Billabong Girls Pro Rio (Dates to be Confirmed)
Stop No. 4: Beachley Classic (Dates to be Confirmed)
Stop No. 5: Movistar Mancora Peru Classic pres. by Rip Curl (Dates to be Confirmed)
Stop No. 6: Rip Curl Search Somewhere (Oct. 26 � 30, 2008)
Stop No. 7: Roxy Pro Sunset Beach (Nov. 25 � Dec. 6, 2008)*
Stop No. 8: Billabong Pro Maui (Dec. 8 � 20, 2008)
* Tentative
Eleven ASP Women�s World Titles will be represented over four competitors in reigning two-time ASP Women�s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, former seven-time ASP Women�s World Champion Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, 2004 ASP Women�s World Champion Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, and returning 2005 ASP Women�s World Champion and 2009 ASP Dream Tour wildcard Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25.
�After a three-tier process including surfer, ASP technical committee and ASP Board votes, Chelsea Hedges has been ed as the 2009 ASP Wildcard,� Brooke Farris, ASP Women�s World Tour Manager, said. �The former ASP Women�s World Champion will bring experience, a solid backhand attack and a baby to the 2009 ASP Dream Tour. After finishing 8th in 2007, Chelsea took a year off to give birth to her daughter Mieka. With her undeniable talent and past results, Hedges was a strong ion.�
Despite announcing 2008 as her last season as a full-time member of the ASP Women�s World Tour, Beachley will also return to competition for events.
�Announcing her retirement from full-time ASP World Tour competition last October, Layne Beachley will be using her ASP World No. 4 seed to surf at some of her favorite Dream Tour locations,� Farris said. �Hunting her 30th career win, I suspect we will see Layne surfing at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and her own event the Beachley Classic at Manly.�
In addition to the slew of returning champions, the 2009 ASP Women�s World Tour will also boast the arrival of a new guard in women�s surfing, led by 2008 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) Winner Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18.
�With five fresh new faces onboard, the line-up for the 2009 ASP Women�s World Tour is incredibly exciting,� Farris said. �It will be interesting to see how quickly the rookies adapt to life on the ASP Dream Tour and who will really try to shake two-time ASP Women�s World Champion Steph Gilmore off the podium.�
Fitzgibbons will be joined by fellow newcomers Bruna Schmitz (BRA), 18, Paige Hareb (NZL), 18, Alana Blanchard (HAW), 18, and Coco Ho (HAW), 17.
Next season�s ASP Women�s World Tour will be comprised of eight Australians, three Hawaiians, three Brazilians, one Peruvian, one South African and one New Zealander, and will take the ASP Top 17 to Australia, Brazil, Peru, �Somewhere� and Hawaii over eight events.
The Roxy Pro Gold Coast will kickstart the 2009 ASP Women�s World Tour at Snapper Rocks on Australia�s Gold Coast. The waiting period for the Roxy Pro Gold Coast runs from February 28 through March 11, 2009.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
2009 ASP Women�s World Tour Surfers:
1 � Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2 � Silvana Lima (BRA)
3 � Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
4 � Layne Beachley (AUS)
5 � Amee Donohoe (AUS)
6 � Samantha Cornish (AUS)
7 � Melanie Bartels (HAW)
8 � Rebecca Woods (AUS)
9 � Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
10 � Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
11 � Chelsea Hedges (AUS)*
12 � Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
13 � Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
14 � Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
15 � Paige Hareb (NZL)
16 � Alana Blanchard (HAW)
17 � Coco Ho (HAW)
* ASP Wildcard
2009 ASP Women�s World Tour Replacements:
1 � Megan Abubo (HAW)
2 � Laurina McGrath (AUS)
3 � Nicola Atherton (AUS)
2009 ASP Women�s World Tour Schedule:
Stop No. 1: Roxy Pro Gold Coast (Feb. 28 � Mar. 11, 2008)
Stop No. 2: Rip Curl Women�s Pro pres. by Ford New Fiesta (Apr. 8 � 13, 2008)
Stop No. 3: Billabong Girls Pro Rio (Dates to be Confirmed)
Stop No. 4: Beachley Classic (Dates to be Confirmed)
Stop No. 5: Movistar Mancora Peru Classic pres. by Rip Curl (Dates to be Confirmed)
Stop No. 6: Rip Curl Search Somewhere (Oct. 26 � 30, 2008)
Stop No. 7: Roxy Pro Sunset Beach (Nov. 25 � Dec. 6, 2008)*
Stop No. 8: Billabong Pro Maui (Dec. 8 � 20, 2008)
* Tentative
2009 ASP World Tour
Below is the current top 45 seed list and the ASP replacements for the 2009 ASP World Tour.
3 Taj Burrow (AUS)
4 Joel Parkinson (AUS)
5 C.J. Hobgood (USA)
6 Adrian Buchan (AUS)
7 Adriano de Souza (BRA)
8 Mick Fanning (AUS)
9 Bobby Martinez (USA)
10 Jeremy Flores (FRA)
11 Luke Stedman (AUS)
12 Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
13 Chris Ward (USA)
14 Kai Otton (AUS)
15 Tim Reyes (USA)
16 Tom Whitaker (AUS)
17 Kieren Perrow (AUS)
18 Dayyan Neve (AUS)
19 Mikael Picon (FRA)
20 Dane Reynolds (USA)
21 Taylor Knox (USA)
22 Damien Hobgood (USA)
23 Heitor Alves (BRA)
24 Jordy Smith (ZAF)
25 Ben Dunn (AUS)
26 Roy Powers (HAW)
27 Dean Morrison (AUS)
28 Mick Campbell (AUS)
29 Nathaniel Curran (USA)
30 Chris Davidson (AUS)
31 Michel Bourez (PYF)
32 Gabe Kling (USA)
33 Jihad Khodr (BRA)
34 David Weare (ZAF)
35 Josh Kerr (AUS)
36 Nic Muscroft (HAW)
37 Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
38 Greg Emslie (ZAF)
39 Tim Boal (FRA)
40 Dustin Barca (HAW)
41 Tiago Pires (POR)
42 Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
43 Drew Courtney (AUS)
44 Marlon Lipke (GER)
45 Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
2009 ASP World Tour Top 45 Seed List
1 Kelly Slater (USA)
2 Bede Durbidge (AUS)3 Taj Burrow (AUS)
4 Joel Parkinson (AUS)
5 C.J. Hobgood (USA)
6 Adrian Buchan (AUS)
7 Adriano de Souza (BRA)
8 Mick Fanning (AUS)
9 Bobby Martinez (USA)
10 Jeremy Flores (FRA)
11 Luke Stedman (AUS)
12 Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
13 Chris Ward (USA)
14 Kai Otton (AUS)
15 Tim Reyes (USA)
16 Tom Whitaker (AUS)
17 Kieren Perrow (AUS)
18 Dayyan Neve (AUS)
19 Mikael Picon (FRA)
20 Dane Reynolds (USA)
21 Taylor Knox (USA)
22 Damien Hobgood (USA)
23 Heitor Alves (BRA)
24 Jordy Smith (ZAF)
25 Ben Dunn (AUS)
26 Roy Powers (HAW)
27 Dean Morrison (AUS)
28 Mick Campbell (AUS)
29 Nathaniel Curran (USA)
30 Chris Davidson (AUS)
31 Michel Bourez (PYF)
32 Gabe Kling (USA)
33 Jihad Khodr (BRA)
34 David Weare (ZAF)
35 Josh Kerr (AUS)
36 Nic Muscroft (HAW)
37 Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
38 Greg Emslie (ZAF)
39 Tim Boal (FRA)
40 Dustin Barca (HAW)
41 Tiago Pires (POR)
42 Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
43 Drew Courtney (AUS)
44 Marlon Lipke (GER)
45 Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Lay Day on Day 1 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti Waiting Period
TEAHUPOO, Tahiti (Thursday, May 8, 2008) Today is the first of an 11-day waiting period for the Billabong Pro Tahiti but the ASP Top 45 and event wildcards will not paddle out for their Round 1 heats today. Contest Director Luke Egan eyed conditions all morning before opting to call things off for the day.
"We had a good look at it and we are opting not to run today, Egan said. I watched it for an hour last night and if it looked like that this morning then I was definitely going to run. Time is on our side with the waiting period so we are going to utilize it fully."
Conditions are forecasted to stay small over the next few days which is good news for at least one surfer defending champion Damien Hobgood (USA). Hobgood suffered an injury freesurfing at Teahupoo a few weeks ago and is still nursing a sore shoulder. The more time he has to heal increases the likelihood he will be able to compete.
Remarkably, its been years since each and every member of the Top 45 have been slated to surf an event injury, personal lives and travel issues often intervene. At this juncture, all elite tour surfers are seeded into the draw. Among them, after spending much of the past two years on the injury list himself, is Timmy Reyes (USA).
"Im definitely back at 100%, Reyes said. I just found my good surfing rhythm within Australia. I felt like I was surfing pretty good over there, I just had a couple of tough breaks but that is what happens when you surf against the worlds top surfers. Im just stoked to be back to 100%, if not better, and I cant wait for the contest to start. Im stoked to be here."
Reyes will meet 2007 ASP Rookie of the Year Jeremy Flores (FRA) and South Africas Travis Logie in Heat 4 of Round 1.
The surfers and event staff enjoyed a traditional Tahitian welcome complete with belly dancing and fire twirling last night. Todays activities will likely include kayaking, fishing, hiking and napping.
Another call on competition status will be made tomorrow, Friday, May 9, at 7am.
The Billabong Pro Tahiti will be webcast LIVE on www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com.
Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Dean Morrison (AUS), Luke Munro (AUS), Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Roy Powers (HAW), Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Tim Reyes (USA), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW), Ben Dunn (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Damien Hobgood (USA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Chris Ward (USA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Jamie OBrien (HAW)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Bruno Santos (BRA)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Michael Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Dane Reynolds (USA), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 16: Neco Padaratz (BRA), Bruce Irons (HAW), Daniel Wills (AUS)
"We had a good look at it and we are opting not to run today, Egan said. I watched it for an hour last night and if it looked like that this morning then I was definitely going to run. Time is on our side with the waiting period so we are going to utilize it fully."
Conditions are forecasted to stay small over the next few days which is good news for at least one surfer defending champion Damien Hobgood (USA). Hobgood suffered an injury freesurfing at Teahupoo a few weeks ago and is still nursing a sore shoulder. The more time he has to heal increases the likelihood he will be able to compete.
Remarkably, its been years since each and every member of the Top 45 have been slated to surf an event injury, personal lives and travel issues often intervene. At this juncture, all elite tour surfers are seeded into the draw. Among them, after spending much of the past two years on the injury list himself, is Timmy Reyes (USA).
"Im definitely back at 100%, Reyes said. I just found my good surfing rhythm within Australia. I felt like I was surfing pretty good over there, I just had a couple of tough breaks but that is what happens when you surf against the worlds top surfers. Im just stoked to be back to 100%, if not better, and I cant wait for the contest to start. Im stoked to be here."
Reyes will meet 2007 ASP Rookie of the Year Jeremy Flores (FRA) and South Africas Travis Logie in Heat 4 of Round 1.
The surfers and event staff enjoyed a traditional Tahitian welcome complete with belly dancing and fire twirling last night. Todays activities will likely include kayaking, fishing, hiking and napping.
Another call on competition status will be made tomorrow, Friday, May 9, at 7am.
The Billabong Pro Tahiti will be webcast LIVE on www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com.
Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Dean Morrison (AUS), Luke Munro (AUS), Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Roy Powers (HAW), Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Tim Reyes (USA), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW), Ben Dunn (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Damien Hobgood (USA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Chris Ward (USA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Jamie OBrien (HAW)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Bruno Santos (BRA)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Michael Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Dane Reynolds (USA), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 16: Neco Padaratz (BRA), Bruce Irons (HAW), Daniel Wills (AUS)
What's On Tour
Damien Hobgood Hurt
Damien Hobgood was heading into the South Pacific leg of the Dream Tour the defending champ of both the Billabong Pro Tahiti and the Globe Pro Fiji. Now he's not sure whether he'll be able to attend either event. Damo went over the falls freesurfing Teahupoo last week and fractured his shoulder. Several sources are saying he's out of Tahiti for sure, but according to ASP Tour Manager Renato Hickel, Damien is still in the draw and trying to make it - only time will tell. Get more details...
Boost it or Lose it!
Owen Wright was the wildcard who could at the Boost Mobile Surf Sho last weekend. Wright aired his way to victory over the world's best boosters... last year's winner Taj Burrow among them. The Boost Mobile Surf Sho is one of three specialty events on the '08 ASP roster. Check out the hightlights...
Al Hunt's Situation Room – Monday, April 21, 2008
In this week's WQS events local surfers grabbed both first places with South Africa's David Weare taking out the 6 Star Prime Quiksilver Pro in Durban and Frenchman Romain Laulhe the Vendee Surf Pro in France. The win for Weare makes it his 4th career WQS victory but this is for sure the highlight of his career winning a 6 Star Prime and 3000 points pushing him from 164th to 12th on the WQS ratings. For Romain it is his 1st WQS win so for sure he is also extremely happy plus has 1500 points to add to his ratings tally putting him up from 92nd to 44th. Get on the Hunt...
O'Neill Highland Open by Swatch The 6 Star PRIME
O'Neill Highland Open by Swatch will take to the chilly waters of Thurso, Scotland from April 23-30. The action starts tomorrow, but last year's winner, Nathan Hedge, was in the water early this morning acclimatizing to the water chill of the world's northernmost professional surfing contest. For Hedge and many of the 144 competitors arriving in Thurso from all around the world, cold water surfing at 59 degrees north is a radical departure from the norm. Watch them heat things up on the webcast... I am sure that spectators can stay warm if they buy some warm sports clothing online.
Earth Day Every Day
April 22nd might be Earth Day but every day is a good day to get Earthy. Whether you jump on board with the folks at www.surfrider.org, www.seashepherd.org or offset your footprint in your own way, this is just a little reminder to show Mother nature some love.
ROXY WOMENS SURFING FESTIVAL UNDERWAY AT PHILLIP ISLAND
PHILLIP ISLAND, AUSTRALIA (Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008) – The 2008 ASP Womens World Qualifying Series tour kicks off with a bang at Woolamai Beach, Phillip Island, in Southern Australia this morning, with the 6-Star ASP World Qualifying Series Roxy Pro Women's Surfing Festival.
Seventy-two surfers representing nine countries will take part in the highest rated event on the ASP Womens World Qualifying Series tour, which holds a prize money purse of US$ 35, 000 as well as valuable ASP ratings points.
Top seed for the event is ASP World No. 4 Samantha Cornish (AUS) who heads an esteemed line-up of top rated surfers, including World No. 6 Amee Donohoe (AUS), World No. 8 Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) and World No. 9 Rebecca Woods (AUS).
Great 1-meter waves are on offer at Woolamai Beach, which will see all six heats of Round 1 completed. Another call will be made at approximately 10.40 (local time) when organisers decide whether to continue through into Round 2 or send out one of the other divisions.
The Roxy Pro Womens Surfing Festival is the biggest surfing festivals of its kind, showcasing the world's finest boardriders across its seven divisions. The event includes a Pro Junior, Pro Longboard, 20-years-and-under Amateur Longboard and Amateur U18, U16 and U13 divisions.
The event runs from Jan. 21- 27, 2008 and has a 'mobile option' meaning surfers will compete in the best possible surf on offer at any of the surfing beaches around Phillip Island.
/ends
Roxy Pro Women's Surfing Festival 6-Star WQS Round 1 Match-ups:
Heat 1: Kirstie Jones (AUS) vs Jesica Dobson (AUS)
Heat 2: Coco Ho (HAW); Gabi Cope (HAW); Carly Bruce (AUS)
Heat 3: Bijou Busse (AUS); Charlotte Hand (AUS); Tarryn Chudleigh (ZAF)
Heat 4: Alana Blanchard (HAW); Dara Penfold (AUS); Jenny Boggis (AUS)
Heat 5: Wini Paul (NZL); Chelsea Williams (AUS); Faye Zoetmulder (ZAF)
Heat 6: Sayuri Hashimoto (JAP); Ashley Smith (AUS); Lyndsay Noyes (AUS)
FITZGIBBONS WINS 2007 ASP WORLD JUNIOR TITLE CROWN
SYDNEY, Australia (Monday, Jan. 7, 2008) – ASP Australasian Champion Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) may have been one of the smallest competitors in the Billabong World Junior Championships but her performances were by far the biggest; the diminutive was surfer crowned the 2007 ASP World Junior Champion, at Sydney's North Narrabeen Beach today.
Netting the four highest scoring waves and two highest scoring heat totals of the event; Fitzgibbons sunk her teeth into the Final, defeating New Zealand's Page Hareb with a 16.77 (out of a possible 20.00) total heat score to Hareb's 7.84.
"I just can't believe it," Fitzgibbons said sporting an enormous grin and holding a cheque for US$6500. "Everything worked out for me today, I guess it was supposed to happen but it hasn't sunk in yet."
Surfing through four rounds of competition, Fitzgibbons posted over a nine-point ride in every heat, including a 'perfect ten' against Laura Enever (AUS) in the Semifinals; making her the most deserved winner of the event.
"I had a tough 'Semi' against Laura, she put me in a pretty good situation and I needed a good score," Fitzgibbons said. "I thought if the wave comes, it comes but if not, she deserves a good win and I was just stoked to get through that one and was on a high for Final."
Fitzgibbons became the third straight Australian to win the Girls event, following in the footsteps of Jessi Miley-Dyer (2005) and Nicola Atherton (2006). She will now stand shoulder to shoulder with the 2007 elite Women's ASP World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS).
"I'd hoped the Aussies would stay on a good roll at this event," Fitzgibbons said. "Once I'd made the Final it was down to me; I was doing it for the Aussies and I ended up winning."
Hareb's performance marked the best of a Kiwi surfer in the history of this event, her runner-up result earning her US$3400.
"Sally and I had a bit of a paddle battle even before the heat started," Hareb explained. "We went real deep and that wasted a bit of time. Sally just got the waves and I couldn't get in rhythm with the ocean. It just wasn't my day."
Reaching the Semifinals, to finish equal third and take home US$750, were ASP International wildcard Laura Enever (AUS) and Courtney Conlogue (USA).
Pitted as a favourite to win the event, Enever, who hails from North Narrabeen, looked like she had Fitzgibbons beat; posting a near perfect 9.17 in their Semifinal match-up. But, a late drop and some superbly critical surfing from the new World Junior Champion, quickly dissolved Enever's hopes, Fitzgibbons scoring a 'perfect-10' to advance into the Final.
"Sally's such an awesome surfer, I had no doubt that she would be able to get a score like that because she'd been getting nines the whole contest," Enever said. "Even once I'd got my nine, I knew my work wasn't done. It ended up being pretty close so it's not like she smashed me or anything."
Conlogue found herself at the disposal of Hareb in their Semifinal match-up, the New Zealander racking up scores faster than Conologue could position herself, which ultimately cost her heat.
"I'm feeling pretty horrible." Conlogue said. "I really wanted to make the Finals, that was one of my goals but I slipped it and waited a little too long. Whoever wins out here today deserves it, everyone put on a great show."
The girls waited six long days to compete in the business end of competition, Sydney's North Narrabeen beach producing contestable one- to-two meter waves for the final day.
Fitzgibbons will join yesterday's Boy's World Junior champion Pablo Paulino (BRA) at the ASP Awards Banquet on the Gold Coast in February, where they will be awarded their 2007 ASP World Title trophies.
A total field of 48 junior men, 18 junior women plus four wildcards from eight surfing regions, featured in this year's Billabong ASP World
Junior Championships which saw excellent surf at North Narrabeen for all six days of the event.
The event will be broadcast live via the internet on www.billabongpro.com.
For more information log-on to www.aspworldtour.com
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships are supported by Panasonic, The Association of Surfing Professionals, Von Zipper, The Warringah Shire Council and Surfing NSW.
Billabong World Junior Championships Girls Final Results:
Heat: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.77 def Page Hareb (NZL) 7.84
Billabong World Junior Championships Girls Semifinal Results
Heat 1: Paige Hareb (NZL) 14.17 def Courtney Conlogue (USA) 11.74
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.83 def Laura Enever (AUS) 14.00
Billabong World Junior Championships Girls Quarterfinal Results:
Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.50 def Kirby Wright (AUS) 10.74
Heat 2: Paige Hareb (NZL) 13.53 def Nikita Robb (ZAF) 12.67
Heat 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 18.60 def Sage Erickson (USA) 13.34
Heat 4: Laura Enever (AUS) 15.50 def Coco Ho (HAW) 12.66
Billabong World Junior Championships Girls Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 10.50 def Leila Hurst (HAW) 5.67
Heat 2: Kirby Wright (AUS) 11.07 def Pauline Ado (FRA) 9.16
Heat 3: Paige Hareb (NZL) 11.00 def Marina Werneck 6.77
Heat 4: Nikita Robb (ZAF) 13.84 def Alessa Cuizon (HAW) 13.34
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.60 def Nao Oumaro (JPN) 8.00
Heat 6: Sage Erickson (USA) 14.83 def Lee Ann Curren (FRA) 6.23
Heat 7: Laura Enever (AUS) 15.40 def Airini Mason (NZL) 10.16
Heat 8: Coco Ho (HAW) 16.23 def Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 13.50
GIRLS ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPION TO BE DECIDED TODAY
SYDNEY, Australia (Monday, Jan. 7, 2008) – It's been a long wait for the girls competing in this year's Billabong ASP World Junior Championships but today, the remaining sixteen surfers will have their time to shine, at Sydney's North Narrabeen beach.
The just four rounds of competition remain which will see the 2007 ASP Girls World Junior Champion crowned at approximately 15h30.
Today's competition kicks off with Round 3 and will be followed by the Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals.
The winner of the 2007 Billabong ASP World Junior Championships will received US$3500 and will stand shoulder to shoulder with yesterday's Boy's winner Pablo Paulino (BRA) as the 2007 Billabong ASP World Junior Champions.
A total field of 48 junior men, 18 junior women plus four wildcards from eight surfing regions, featured in this year's Billabong ASP World Junior Championships which saw excellent surf at North Narrabeen for all six days of the event.
The event will be broadcast live via the internet on www.billabongpro.com.
For more information log-on to www.aspworldtour.com
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships are supported by Panasonic, The Association of Surfing Professionals, Von Zipper, The Warringah Shire Council and Surfing NSW.
Billabong World Junior Championships Girls Round 3 Match-ups:
Heat 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs Leila Hurst (HAW)
Heat 2: Pauline Ado (FRA) vs Kirby Wright (AUS)
Heat 3: Marina Werneck vs Paige Hareb (NZL)
Heat 4: Nikita Robb (ZAF) vs Alessa Cuizon (HAW)
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs Nao Oumaro (JPN)
Heat 6: Lee Ann Curren (FRA) vs Sage Erickson (USA)
Heat 7: Airini Mason (NZL) vs Laura Enever (AUS)
Heat 8: Bruna Schmitz (BRA) vs Coco Ho (HAW)
PABLO PAULINO WINS SECOND ASP WORLD JUNIOR TITLE
SYDNEY, Australia (Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008) – It's been three years since Pablo Paulino (BRA) has called himself World Junior Champion but at Sydney's North Narrabeen beach today, the 20-year-old surfer made sure he could again shoulder the honour, winning the 2007 edition of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.
Earning his spot into the main event as an ASP International wildcard, the 2004 ASP World Junior Champion blasted through the last of four rounds of competition, to defeat fellow ASP International Wildcard Hawaii's Tonino Benson; with a 15.00 total heat score (out of a possible 20.00) to Benson's 9.93.
"It's a dream come true to win at Narrabeen again," Paulino said equalling World No. 4 Joel Parkinson's two ASP World Junior Title record. "It was my dream to win it twice and this year was my last shot. I am so happy."
A standout from start to finish, Paulino revealed all the fire and flair of a Brazilian sportsman, putting on show-stopping performances right from the very first round.
"The new school style of surfing is where I feel most comfortable," Paulino explained. "I was doing aerial manoeuvres early in the event but I started to feel the pressure in the Final. I knew I would need the scores against Tonino, so I focussed on power carves instead and it was enough to see me through."
Paulino's achievement not only earned him US$6500 but also a top seed placement into every ASP World Qualifying Series event in 2008, where he hopes to qualify for the elite ASP Men's World Tour.
Runner-up Tonino Benson earned US$3400 and will join Paulino in the Round of 96 on the WQS this year.
Arguably the day's top performer, Benson posted the only perfect 10.00 point ride of the event, tucking into a deep barrel against Australian wildcard Owen Wright in the Quarterfinals. Unfortunately, the young Hawaii could not repeat this performance in the Final.
"I'm happy for Pablo, he's my friend and he deserved the win," Benson said. "I got out of rhythm in the Final and everything seemed to be going his way. I am happy to reach the Finals and just grateful to compete in these amazing waves."
The ocean certainly delivered for the final day of the Boys competition, serving up flawless 1.5- 2-meter waves at North Narrabeen beach today.
Finishing equal third and earning US$ 2,850 were Tanner Gudauskas (USA) and Chris Martin (GLP), both surfers unanimous standouts throughout the event but unlucky not to put it together in the Semifinals.
Semifinal Heat 1 saw a 'see-saw' battle between Benson and 19-year-old Gudauskas (USA), the two surfers raising the stakes on each exchanging ride. Benson ultimately earning him golden ticket into the Final.
"It's a bittersweet feeling," Gudauskas lamented. "You're super bummed that you lost on the one hand and on the other, you're stoked to make the Semi's. It's a good result for me, I learnt so much in every heat and I'll be back for a spot in the Final next year, for sure."
Semifinal Heat 2 just didn't go Chris Martins way. While Paulino pounced on each wave like a brazen predator would its prey, the Caribbean surfer couldn't seem to keep his feet on his board.
"It was a hard heat, I didn't choose the good ones, I lost my priority on bad waves and I kept falling,' Martin said, "but I'm pretty proud to represent my country and place high in this contest."
The Australian surfers suffered a disappointing finish, toppling at the hands of their international rivals with five equal fifth place finishes. Their consistency was however rewarded, the team emerging as the overall ratings leaders, ahead of Europe who finished in second and South America who took third on the point standings.
South African surfer Klee Strachan won the Panasonic Expression Session.
Round two of the Girls division was completed in the late afternoon, Leila Hurst (HAW), Nao Omura (JPN), Coco Ho (HAW) and Alessa Cuizon (HAW) advancing into Round 3.
The Girls division will be completed tomorrow.
A total field of 48 junior men, 18 junior women plus four wildcards from eight surfing regions feature in this year's Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.
The event will be broadcast live via the internet on www.billabongpro.com.
For more information log-on to www.aspworldtour.com
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships are supported by Panasonic, The Association of Surfing Professionals, Von Zipper, The Warringah Shire Council and Surfing NSW.
RESULTS:
Boys Final Results:
Pablo Paulino (BRA) 15.00 def Tonino Benson (HAW) 9.93
Boys Semifinal Results
Heat 1: Tonino Benson (HAW) 14.50 def Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 13.66
Heat 2: Pablo Paulino (BRA) 16.67 def Charles Martin (GLP) 8.67
Boys Quarterfinal Results:
Heat 1:Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 14.44 def Nicolau Van Rupp (DEU) 8.17
Heat 2: Tonino Benson (HAW) 14.17 def Owen Wright (AUS) 13.06
Heat 3: Pablo Paulino (BRA) 13.17 def Mitchell Coleborn (AUS) 13.00
Heat 4: Charles Martin (GLP) 15.83 def Beau Atchison (AUS) 6.54
Boys Round 4 Match-ups:
Heat 1: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.50 def Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) 8.00
Heat 2: Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU) 15.17 def Tatsuya Fukagawa (JPN) 5.00
Heat 3: Tonino Benson (HAW) 17.67 def Romain Cloitre (FRA) 7.37
Heat 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 12.57 def Brandon Jackson (ZAF) 9.00
Heat 5: Pablo Paulino (BRA) 12.24 def Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.67
Heat 6: Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 11.60 def Jayke Sharpe (AUS) 11.16
Heat 7: Beau Atchison (AUS) 8.66 def Josh Redman (ZAF) 6.90
Heat 8: Charles Martin (GLP) 15.77 def Chris Waring (USA) 9.17
Girls Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Leila Hurst (HAW) 10.33; Nao Omura (JPN) 9.07; Asako Mizuno (JPN) 3.50
Heat 2: Coco Ho (HAW) 16.50; Alessa Cuizon (HAW) 11.80; Tarryn Chudleigh (ZAF) 11.56
CORRECTION: AN ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPION WILL BE CROWNED TODAY
CORRECTION: South Africa has three surfers left in contention. Josh Redman (ZAF) is the third South African surfer, the press release below is the correct version. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
SYDNEY, Australia (Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008) – The Boys division of the 2007 edition of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships will reach completion today with a new ASP World Junior Boys Champion, crowned by sundown.
Excellent 1.5 to 2-meter waves are on offer at Sydney's North Narrabeen beach this morning; the day's action kicking off with the two remaining heats of the Round 1 of the Girls division, before Round 4 of the Boys division gets underway at 08h30 (local time).
Heats 1- 8 of Round 4 of the Boys division will be completed, with the Girls Round 2 and Boys Quarterfinals on standby thereafter.
Statistically the Australians have the strongest chance of capturing the 2007 ASP World Junior title with a total of five surfers still remaining in the competition. South Africa weigh in with three, the USA two, Europe two, Japan one, Hawaii one and Brazil just one surfer still left in contention.
A total field of 48 junior men, 18 junior women plus four wildcards from eight surfing regions feature in this year's Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.
The event will be broadcast live via the internet on www.billabongpro.com.
For more information log-on to www.aspworldtour.com
The Billabong ASP World Junior Championships are supported by Panasonic, The Association of Surfing Professionals, Von Zipper, The Warringah Shire Council and Surfing NSW.
Billabong World Junior Championship Girls Remaining Round 2 Match-ups:
Heat 5: Bruna Schitz (BRA); Sage Erickson (USA); Nao Omura (JPN)
Heat 6: Airini Mason (NZL); Lee Ann Curren (FRA); Leila Hurst (HAW)
Billabong World Junior Championships Boys Round 4 Match-ups:
Heat 1: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) vs Rudy Palmboom (ZAF)
Heat 2: Tatsuya Fukagawa (JPN) vs Nicolau Von Rupp (DEU)
Heat 3: Tonino Benson (HAW) vs Romain Cloitre (FRA)
Heat 4: Brandon Jackson (ZAF) vs Owen Wright (AUS)
Heat 5: Pablo Paulino (BRA) vs Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 6: Jayke Sharpe (AUS) vs Mitchel Coleborn (AUS)
Heat 7: Beau Atchison (AUS) vs Josh Redman (ZAF)
Heat 8: Charles Martin (GLP) vs Chris Waring (USA)
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