"A few beers" deep at the New Your Surf Film Festival, TranWorld SURF's Chris Cote hijacks yet another interview, totally sabotaging these kooks. A kook sandwich if you will...

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Padang, Sumatra is the jump off point for surfers visiting the Mentawais.

A day after an earthquake struck near American Samoa another trembler sent residents scrambling for shelter in this town that is used as a jumping off point for surfers going to the Mentawais. Anthony Marcotti from Kandui Resort reported to us that everything was okay in the Mentawais, but that Padang was a disaster.”It’s pouring rain, there’s no power, it’s middle of the night, and there’s a lot of confusion. Hotels have been destroyed and we’re just very concerned for everyone’s safety,” he said after talking via skype to his partner Jordan who somehow had an internet connection. Here’s what CNN reported on it:

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) — A major earthquake in Indonesia killed at least 75 people Wednesday, according to a Red Cross disaster report, citing an official report from the country’s vice president.

Thousands may be trapped by collapsed buildings and houses, said Rustam Pakaya, the head of Ministry of Health’s crisis center.

It struck at around 5 p.m. local time, about 33 miles (53 kilometers) from Padang, the capital city of West Sumatra. Padang is home to more than 800,000 people.

The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.6, according to the U.S Geological Survey, caused widespread power and phone outages, making it difficult for authorities and aid organizations to evaluate damage

Marc Lacomare. Photo courtesy Oakley/Hennings

(Foothill Ranch, Calif., Sept. 29, 2009) – Four wildcards have been announced for the second annual Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge in Bali, Indonesia, October 7-17, 2009. The final showdown event, the culmination of a six-event international qualifying series, offers the richest prize purse for junior men, $75,000 total and $20,000 for first place. A small field of 18 of the world’s best juniors will compete in a man-on-man World Tour-style format over four days of competition during a 10-day holding period.

After qualifying stops in Australia, U.S.A, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Japan and France where the top two finishers qualified, 12 men earned spots into the Bali Final. Oakley announced four wildcards this week who will also get the chance to compete: France’s Marc Lacomare (who placed second last year), Clay Marzo (HAW), Granger Larsen (HAW) and Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA). To round out the field of 18, two additional wildcards, one who will be decided at a local Bali trial, will be announced.

“Expectations are high for the second annual Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge,” says Ronny Nelson, Oakley Sports Marketing Manager. “Last year, our line-up was insane and conditions were epic. This year’s roster, including the wildcards, is as good as its gets for a global 20-and-under contest. We are excited to get to Bali and watch the world’s best juniors surf a world-class wave.”

Joining the four wildcards, the 12 qualifiers include:

AUSTRALIA
1.    Sam Wrench (AUS)*
2.    Billy Stairmand (NZL)*

USA
1.    Kai Barger (HAW)
2.    Davey Cathels (AUS)

SOUTH AFRICA
1.    Shaun Joubert (ZAF)
2.    Brendon Gibbens (ZAF)

BRAZIL
1.    Alejo Muniz (BRA)
2.    Jesse Mendes (BRA)

JAPAN
1.    Dillon Perillo (USA)
2.    Kato Arashi (JPN)

FRANCE
1.    Charly Martin (FRA)
2.    Wiggolly Dantas (BRA)

Now in its second year, the Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge Qualifying Series began traversing the globe back in February at North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia (Feb. 3-7). The remaining five qualifying stops landed at Lower Trestles, San Clemente, Calif. (April 28-May 2), Port Alfred, ECP, South Africa (May 1-3), Etapa Itajai, Brazil (May 19-24), Shidashita Point, Chiba, Japan (Aug. 7-9), and Grand Plage, Lacanau, Gironde, France (Aug. 13-17).

The Oakley Pro Junior Global Challenge is a unique specialty series launched by Oakley in 2008 to give young surfers the opportunity to compete at some of the best surfing locales around the world. After a hugely successful inaugural year, the 2009 series acquired international momentum and qualifying became a main priority for many of the world’s top juniors.

For more information log onto oakleyprojunior.com.

*The two original Australia Qualifiers, Owen Wright, currently No. 2 on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS), and Jadson Andre, currently No. 3 on the ASP WQS, pulled out of the event in order to pursue WQS points.

Now don’t get me wrong, the surfing, editing, and overall presentation of Modern Collective is out of this world, but one thing bugs me: the over dramatic piano tune that seems to be the intro for every flick that passes through the Poor Specimen editing bay. But hey, if that’s the only knock on these ripping hipsters then it’s probably worth the price when it comes out in early November.

Synopsis:

The future is now: A collective of six surfers set out on a voyage to alter one’s perception of modern day surfing.
Forget pre-dawn charging. Forget golden lighting. Forget glassy waters. They ignore perfect point breaks in favor of chunky onshore wedges. This is about high performance, state of the art, modern as hell.. Onshore=keepers,
Follow these vogue individuals and obtain a candid look at what a session is actually like with the world’s best. The future has already happened you will just be watching the replay.

Starring Dane Reynolds, Dion Agius, Yadin Nicol, Mitch Coleborn, Dusty Payne and Jordy Smith.

Directed By Kai Neville
Produced by: Poor Specimen Productions
Available from Koastal Media: November 10, 2009
US tour starts: October 29, 2009

Del Mar, Ca. (SEPTEMBER 30, 2009) - Anticipation is running high for the 3rd Annual Sacred Craft Consumer Surf Expo. Hundreds of the world’s greatest shapers and surfboard designers will converge at the cultural melting point that is the Sacred Craft Surf Expo on October 10th & 11th.

Each and every year the Sacred Craft Expo features a tribute to a master surfboard craftsman in the form of a shape-off competition. This year five shapers: Pat Rawson, Gary Linden, Dennis Murphy, Ricky Carroll, and Reno Abellira (all legends in their own right), will replicate a classic Dick Brewer design. The Brewer design chosen epitomizes the radical changes that took place during the shortboard revolution and the masterwork of the man many consider the most influential shaper ever — Richard Brewer.

Rob Machado Golf Experience with New Era

New Era Cap Brings The Gold Club To The Golf Course

Irvine, CA (September 30, 2009) – New Era Cap, the worlds premier headwear manufacturer, brought The Gold Club to the south of the border themed 8th Annual Rob Machado Golf Experience.

The Gold Club hit the Lomas Santa Fe Golf Course as New Era took over the 10th Hole and transformed the green into a Mexican Fiesta VIP lounge for the 8th Annual Rob Machado Experience. The famous Gold Club with a fiesta twist brought a south of the border themed atmosphere to the golf course and catered to athletes, celebrities and VIP’s. Additionally, guests found the latest New Era {x} Hurley collection which included a preview to the new HC39THIRTY stretch fit cap.

About New Era Cap
Since 1920, New Era Cap Company, with its global headquarters in Buffalo, New York; is the world’s premier headwear brand with products that transcend time, culture, sport and fashion. New Era is the exclusive manufacturer and marketer of the official on-field cap worn by every Major League Baseball team and their Minor League affiliates and maintaining agreements with other licensed entities. Some of the Company’s core markets include Children, Fan, Suburban, Women and Fashion/Lifestyle and the most recently added Action Sports Business Unit. The Action Sports Business Unit was established in 2004 and was relocated to Orange County California in June of 2006. The move to Southern California solidified New Era’s presence in the action sports industry and further communicated its commitment to the action sports market.

Rip Curl International Presents Rubber Soul 2

Check out and upgrade your iPhone or iPod with a download of Rubber Soul II at www.ripcurl.com now.

Costa Mesa, CA (September 28, 2009): Rip Curl International has released its latest high performance surf film, Rubber Soul 2, and will be distributing it digitally through a downloadable and preview option on ripcurl.com.

The film features Rip Curl’s leading surfers, including Mick Fanning, Owen Wright, Taylor Knox, Matt Wilkinson, Ricky Basnett, Stuey Kennedy, and Steph Gilmore, showing up and blowing up at a host of coldwater waves around the world.

“This film aims to showcase our team putting the bread and butter of our brand, our wetsuits, to the test in waves all over the world,” said Dylan Slater, Rip Curl USA marketing director. “The film pays homage to what has been our brand’s catalyst, but it’s still about progressive surfing. Owen Wright shows why he is becoming regarded as the next big thing in surfing.”

Rip Curl started as a wetsuit company in the 1960s and quickly revolutionized the market with a host of unique designs and technologies. The years since have been both colorful and influential, with Rip Curl’s designers managing to stay at the forefront of wetsuit innovation.

The brand’s most recent conquest was the release of the Rip Curl H-Bomb - the world’s first power-heated wetsuit, currently nominated for SIMA’s “Wetsuit of the Year”. The H-Bomb enables users to keep warm via heating elements lining the back of the wetsuit. The heating elements are powered by two lithium Ion batteries, and the elements are strategically placed to warm the user’s core, which in turn allows the body to keep warm blood flowing to the user’s extremities.

“Wetsuits will be a part of Rip Curl life forever and we’re more than happy to send our surfers and cameraman on The Search to cold locations,” said Neil Ridgway, Rip Curl Group Advertising & Marketing Chairman. “The original Rubber Soul film was all about surfing in wetsuits and this release is just the start of what we’ve got planned!”

With an eclectic cast consisting of Reef McIntosh, Dede Suryana, Brian Conley, Dave Rastovich and Chris Del Moro, perfectly huge Indonesian surf, groovy soundtrack, and narrated by legendary oddball Tom Morey (I thought he went by the symbol “Y” ala the artist formerly known as Prince?) Lost Prophets-Search For The Collective looks like a good little surf flick. Check the synopsis below…

Synopsis:
Lost Prophets-search for the collective is an adventure documentary that follows nine surfers in different aspects of life; from a renegade canyon dweller to devout West Javanese Muslim the film delves into different aspects of surfing; all the while centered around the Indonesia surf escape.
Some people live life asleep, only dreaming their awake. Amongst the unstoppable trend of surf globalization there are certain individuals who have found a way of waking up. Lost Prophets the film portrays a vivid picture of lives intertwined by adventure, balance, dedication and connection; bridging generations. Travel the world with the lost prophets as their stories unfold during some of the best Indian Ocean waves documented in the past decade.

For more info go to www.lostprophetsthefilm.com

It’s not often a beautiful golf course like the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club gets overrun with a bunch of surfer/golfer types wearing costumes and teeing off with baseball bats and tennis rackets, but on Monday September 28 Rob Machado hosted his Sixth Annual Golf Experience and as usual it was tons of fun. Now in it’s sixth year, the event is a benefit for the Rob Machado Foundation and the Cardiff Education Fund which promotes environmental education for kids. Since this year’s theme was “fiesta,” many of the participants took on their own version of what that meant as you’ll see in the photos, but all in all, Rob succeeded in another amazing event that was too much fun for all.—Aaron Checkwood

Master of ceremonies Rob Machado. Photo: Checky

Nobody ever said the boys on the ASP World Tour keep it clean…or keep their clothes on. In a time honored Aussie tradition, Dean “Dingo” Morrison recently decided to race through the streets of Hossegor sans clothes to celebrate Mick Fanning’s win at the Quiksilver Pro France. I may or may not have found this racy little clip on accident but that’s not the point. The point is, Dingo is more of a man than me…and not afraid to put his manhood on public display. I didn’t post the video (something about pornography rules although TransWorld SURF’s Casey Koteen told me male frontal nudity is only single X rated whereas if it was flacid it’s be XX…anyway I don’t know how he knows this) so click HERE of you wanna see a naked Dingo courtesy of Josh Kerr’s “Kerrazy Times” video blog.

Dean Morrison putting the D in Dingo.

Tsunami Alert Ordered For Hawaiian Islands After Quake Near American Samoa

According to a report on the LA Times, a tsunami alert has been put into place for the Hawaiian Islands, and other Pacific Ocean islands including New Zealand, and New Guinea after a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck near American Samoa today. Apparently the West Coast of America isn’t in any danger of a tsunami…

The "Transparentsea" crew: Dave Rastovich (left) and Chris Del Moro (right) will sail and surf from Byron Bay to Bondi Beach, a voyage of over 700 kilometers. Photo: Dawe/Billabong

Transparentsea: A Modern Journey With Ancient Creatures

Professional Surfer Dave Rastovich And Friends Initiate A Bold Environmental Awareness Campaign

(Monday, 14th September, Australia): Professional free-surfer and environmental campaigner David Rastovich will attempt an epic 700km ocean paddle from Byron Bay to Bondi Beach this October.

The journey aims to follow the annual migration south of humpback whales and their calves while raising awareness of the need to protect the majestic mammals and the world’s ocean environments.

Twenty nine year-old Rastovich (Brunswick Heads, AUS) is using the paddle to extend his personal environmental journey which in 2006 saw him co-found the “Surfers for Cetaceans” movement and in July this year saw him granted one of just 200 invitations to attend former US Vice President Al Gore’s The Climate Project - Asia-Pacific Summit.

Rasta and Del Moro will be sailing these awesome single-seat sea kayaks. Photo: Dawe/Billabong

On October 1st “Rasta”, accompanied by world-class water photographer Hilton Dawe (Byron Bay, AUS) and a videographer who will help chronicle the event, will step from the sands of Main Beach, Byron Bay and begin the journey in single-seat sea kayaks.

Joining them will be Chris Del Moro (Los Angeles, USA) a respected free surfer, activist, artist and co-director of Surfers for Cetaceans.

Assisted only by the wind and waves, Rasta and his cohorts will paddle the entire distance aiming to reach Bondi by November 5th. Each afternoon they will paddle to the nearest beach, rest overnight, engage with local communities and—conditions permitting—take advantage of the local surf.

The primary intention of the journey is to draw attention to the plight of the migrating whales that ultimately are destined for the chilly waters of the Southern Ocean and the inevitable visits by Japanese whaling fleets.

In addition, the team will record and highlight other areas of environmental concern including the effects of the commercial fishing industry on marine mammals and fish stocks; run-off issues to do with agricultural, domestic and industrial human activities; the state of rivers and estuaries; and where necessary they will also initiate beach clean-ups.

It is a well-intentioned odyssey that, at worst, is certain to be an incredible test of endurance but will also, quite possibly, double as the surf-trip-of-a-lifetime.

“What excites me the most is being able to combine the high-risk elements of surfing and sailing and the notion of endurance and pushing your body,” said Rastovich. “I’m eager to bring those elements together with environmental awareness initiatives.

“Our intentions are that, after 36 days and 700 kilometers, we’ll have helped educate a lot of people on the beauty and majesty of the whales, plus the impact we all have on what is such an amazing stretch of coastline and in what ways we might all implement positive change.”

An additional kayak will be made available to a small roster of like-minded invited guests - individuals who share the mission’s sense of purpose and who are able to help bolster public awareness.

Participants already scheduled to take part include eight-time Molokai-to-Oahu paddling champion Jamie Mitchell, former world #5, pro surfer Matt Hoy, and professional surf commentator, editor and musician Adam ‘Vaughan’ Blakey.

“Our intentions are to reach Bondi and celebrate the completion of our voyage with Captain Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society,” said Rastovich.

“We expect to be crossing paths with the Sea Shepherd crew on the journey as they take their ship, the Steve Irwin, to Perth where they will launch their next campaign to save our whales in Antarctica. The same whales we will be paddling alongside.”

The official Transparentsea launch will take place on Thursday, October 1st at Main Beach, Byron Bay. Here, members of the Aboriginal Bundjalung tribe will don traditional dress and perform a farewell ceremony. Following the ceremony, the kayakers will paddle out to meet the whales and begin their long voyage south to Sydney.

The iconic sights of Byron Bay’s lighthouse and lush surrounds of Cape Bryon will provide the ideal backdrop for media on hand to capture the start of this epic adventure. More information will be distributed closer to the launch date.

A website will be set-up outlining the mission, including information on equipment, intended routes, photos and video for media, and a daily blog. More details to follow.

“Transparentsea” a Modern Voyage with Ancient Creatures, is being made possible with the support of Billabong, Coastal Watch, Surfing World Magazine, the Surfrider Foundation and Surfers for Cetaceans.

Bede Durbidge and friend. Photo courtesy Xcel.

“Perfect for Flat Days” - Xcel’s Bede Durbidge on becoming PADI Certified Diver
Full Interview at xcelwetsuits.com

HALEIWA, OAHU, HAWAII - SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 - ASP World Tour surfer Bede Durbidge is now a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certified diver, having recently completed the PADI Open Water course with Sundive Dive Centre in the waters of Byron Bay, Australia.

“You’ve definitely got to try [diving] and get certified,” said Durbidge after completing the course. “It’s a whole other world down there - you won’t be disappointed.”

Durbidge made time between World Tour stops to hook up with PADI on his home turf and earn his PADI certification. Now making his fifth ‘CT appearance, Durbidge - a world-class rider who counts a Triple Crown championship among his many accolades - was naturally drawn to the diving world, as a lifelong surfer passionate and excited about being in the water.

“Surfing and diving have one really special thing in common,” continued Durbidge. “Whether you’re down underwater, or on top surfing, you’re only thinking in the moment … you have no distractions, it just clears your mind of everything so you can enjoy the experience.”

“Plus, it’s perfect for flat days when there are no waves.”

To read the full interview with Durbidge on his PADI certification course, visit www.xcelwetsuits.com.

About PADI
PADI is the world’s leading scuba diving training organization offering a wide range of scuba certification courses, including convenient out-of-water online instruction via its eLearning Web program. For more about PADI, visit www.padi.com.

About Xcel
Founded in 1982, Xcel International, Inc. (Xcel) is a global wetsuit brand distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. Headquartered on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Xcel’s core wetsuit business focuses on the cutting edge of material and design development. Xcel’s primary markets include surf, dive, wakeboard, paddle, and sun (UV protection). In addition to its North Shore office, Xcel has retail locations on Oahu, Kauai, and Maui; and a warehouse/repair facility in California.

To learn more about Xcel, please visit www.xcelwetsuits.com.

Rip Curl’s Mick Fanning Makes It Back-To-Back ASP Dream Tour Victories

A mere 7 days after claiming the Hurley Pro Trestles championship and a cool $105k, RC’s Mick Fanning carried that mojo across the Atlantic to scalp the 2009 Quik Pro France, another $40k of cash money, and more importantly a massive leap in points towards current ratings leader Joel Parkinson.

With 3 ASP Dream Tour events remaining, including the Rip Curl Pro Search (Oct. 19-31), Mick lurks a mere 146 points behind Parko with a massive amount of momentum and optimism as he heads down the home stretch, while pursuing his 2nd career ASP World Title.

“It’s back on,” Fanning said. “Everyone thought Joel (Parkinson) was going to run away with it and it’s unfortunate for him that he fell out early, but I’ve put in a lot of work to get these last two wins and I’m just psyched on heading into the rest of the season.”

Amidst hundreds of surf-obsessed fans, Fanning belted the life out of two consecutive waves near the start of the final to combo opponent Bede Durbidge, and cap a phenomenal two weeks of surfing for the 28-year old Gold Coast native.

The ASP World Tour now heads to Spain for the Billabong Pro Mundaka, set to commence from October 5-17, before finishing up the European leg at the Rip Curl Pro Search in Peniche, Portugal.

Stay tuned to ripcurl.com for all the 411 on Mick’s late ASP World Title run.

Opening Day: Pipeline Opens Her Womb For The Boys

We all saw it coming… Over a week in advance for anyone who knows how to turn on a computer and clickety-clack their way to Internet surf forecast site; Typhoon “won-ton-chewy” was steamrolling it’s way across the Pacific. Hawaii was the “deer-in-the-headlights” for the aftermath of a category 4 Super Typhoon, which meant BIG waves coming from an extreme westerly direction, without all the heavy weather chewing things up.

On September 25th, the Banzai woke the North Shore from summer slumber with frightening 12 foot BOMBS! I’m out of the water with an ankle injury, so I was the only one of my friends who wasn’t surfing perfect, sunny Pipeline this last Friday. Some people who can’t participate in an activity won’t watch but I’m not one of those—watching Pipeline break is the best show in the world! I sat in the shade on Jamie O’Brien’s porch and watched ‘The Pipeline Show” all day while elevating my ankle. Friday wasn’t a rerun of any day at Pipeline last year. Instead, it was big, raw, and ledgy. Early season Pipeline is notoriously dangerous due to the clamping lips and bouncy backwash, but most of the sand that causes this had been swept away overnight. Pipeline still had the wobbles though, and daredevils were paying the price for being careless or hasty.

Sion Milosky in a very bad spot...Photo: Noyle/SPL

Aside from being one of Pipelines most dedicated chargers, Sion Milosky (above) is nothing short of a fu-king maniac! I watched in horror as he charged over the ledge of a 12-foot First Reef BEAST, tippy toe down the apex of the peak, lose his edge at the bottom, then face plant and skid into the flats while the whole ocean heaved over and dumped thousands of gallons of water onto him. The wave was a straight widow maker out of your worst nightmare! I almost called 911 before he came up from that violent beating. After floating about listlessly for a while, Sion came in, caught a ride with North Shore lifeguard Rick Williams on the ATV back up the beach, and paddled back out! Balls…

Sion Milosky manned up after that hideous wipeout and paddled back out for this bomb. Photo: Noyle/SPL

Sean Moody’s board theory of going shorter and thicker wasn’t working as he ate shit on three late drops in a row. Mind you he still got a couple barrels before that, but Pipeline was definitely not a fan of his board choice.

Aside from the occasional second reef bomber bulldozing over the crowd, and the chaotic spills due to guys trying to push their limits, there were quite a few gems that heaved through, and it seemed like if you were patient, you could get a shack or two. Derek Ho, Gavin Beschen, Ikaika Kalama, and Jonah Morgan were “on a good one” as they say, and had the best rolls going. Regulars like Mark Healey, Jamie Sterling, Kalani Chapman, and Kawai Lindo threaded a few, while Mike Stewart packed a meaty Second Reefer and was blown out of the barrel on his sponge to show everyone how it’s done, and to start his winter on a high note as well.

North Shore local Kawai Lindo. Photo: Noyle/SPL

Let’s hope and pray that Friday was a glimpse of what’s to come for the rest of the Hawaiian winter!—Flynn Novak

About the author: Flynn Novak is a 26-year old professional surfer born and raised on the North Shore of Oahu and second-generation surf scribe. His father, Walt Novak, was a regular contributor to numerous surf publications in the 80s and wrote the hilarious “The Haole Substitute” novel. One of the most progressive and hardest-charging surfers on the North Shore, Flynn will be providing us with a weekly update from the epicenter of surfing all winter long. Look for his “Coconut Wireless” reports every Tuesday right here on transworldsurf.com and magicseaweed.com.

Surfrider Foundation 25th Anniversary Gala

WHAT: In celebration of their 25th anniversary, the Surfrider Foundation will host a star-studded gala on Friday, October 9, 2009.  During the event, which is hosted by Mark Hoppus, The Surfrider Foundation will present Incubus, Pearl Jam and David Chokachi with the Keepers of the Coast award, which is bestowed upon celebrities who have made significant contributions in helping the Foundation fulfill its mission. A special performance by musical super group Camp Freddy will close out the evening.

Additionally, the event will feature a live auction, showcasing one-of-a-kind art by some of the world’s most revered contemporary artists, including Raymond Pettibon, Shepard Fairey and Thomas Campbell. Each of these artists created a commissioned piece depicting the world’s most recognized (and in some cases threatened) surf breaks.

WHO: Tickets will be available to the general public, and will go on sale September 1.

WHEN: Friday, October 9, 2009
Live Art Auction:  5:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Event:  7:00 PM – 11:30 PM

WHERE: California Science Center’s Wallis Annenberg Building
700 Exposition Park Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90037

ABOUT THE SURFRIDER FOUNDATION
Founded in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation has grown from a handful of surfers in Malibu, CA to a worldwide organization with over 50,000 members and 90 grassroots chapters.  With several hundred coastal victories under its belt, the Surfrider foundation has become the world’s leading non-governmental organization dedicated to the protection of our planet’s oceans, waves and beaches.

Ocean & Earth's Golden Ticket Promotion winner.

Ocean & Earth Announces First Golden Ticket Winner

Costa Mesa, CA, Wednesday, September 21, 2009 – 18 year old Long Beach resident Chris Fitzsimmons was the first of the lucky six grand prize winners to find discover an Ocean and Earth grand prize golden ticket behind the traction pad he recently bought.

Tucked away amongst the other O&E grips stacked up at Surfside, CA’s famous Katin Super Store Surf Shop Fitzsimmons was making a regular purchase of the new Anthony Walsh pro model traction pad when he noticed the golden ticket peeking out from behind the packaging. “I was so stoked”, said Fitzsimmons. “At first I didn’t know what it was, then when I read what I’d just won I freaked out!”.

The Golden Ticket promotion which includes hundreds of winners including six grand prize winners who will receive $500 worth of Ocean and Earth product and more than 199 others who will win free leashes.

In the spirit of Charlie and the Chocolate factory, Ocean and Earth will be hiding Golden Tickets behind the trademark tailpads distributed throughout North America. O&E prides itself on strong relationships with dealers and customers and believes that this promotion provides a whimsical approach to marketing in these uncertain times.

“It’s about having fun,” Matt Patterson, Marketing Director stated. “Our sales Manager Mike Vavak is always dreaming up classic ideas like this, so we decided to put this one into action. We are all fans of the classic movie and we love the idea of stoking out our customers and consumers at the same time.”

The promotion is open-ended and designed to inspire Ocean and Earth loyalists and newcomers to the brand alike. Ocean and Earth can be found at core surf retailers everywhere. Or, check www.oceanearth.com

Parrish Byrne. Photo: Photo courtesy Surfing Australia

Parrish Byrne Claims Victory at ASP WQS 4-Star Billabong Tsurigasaki Pro

ICHINOMIYA, Chiba (Sunday, September 27, 2009) - The 2009 ASP WQS 4-Star Billabong Tsurigasaki Pro recommenced this morning for the final day at Tsurugasaki Beach with the Quarterfinals kicking things off this morning.

The local weather at Tsurigasaki Beach, Ichinomiya was fair this morning. The surf conditions were two-to-four feet (1 to 1.5 metre) with onshore winds. Event director Toshiyuki Tanaka called this morning at 8am to get the final day’s action underway.

Two Japanese, one Hawaiian, and one Australian: Parrish Byrne (AUS), Izuki Tanaka (JPN), Teppei Tajima (JPN), and Joel Centeio (HAW) made it to the Semifinals.

In Semifinal 1, Byrne overcame Tanaka to move to the Final. In Semifinal 2, Tajima overcomes Centeio to move to Final.

Teppei Tajima held the lead for the majority of the Final with Parrish Byrne. With only a few minutes remaining, Byrne fights back strong with an excellent 9.33 to take the lead over Tajima. Tajima strikes hard back with an excellent 9.00, but not enough to take the lead once again. With a total point of 16.83 to 16.50 for Tajima, Parrish Byrne of Australia is crowned the 2009 Billabong Tsurigasaki Pro Champion.

ASP WQS 4-STAR™BILLABONG TSURIGASAKI PRO FINAL RESULTS:

1 -Parrish Byrne (AUS) $12000 1500 points
2 - Teppei Tajima (JPN) $5000 1313 points
3 - Izuki Tanaka (JPN) $3400 1125 points
4 - Joel Centeio (HAW) $3400 1125 points

Multiple World Paddling Champion Jamie Mitchell with a close encounter of the mammal kind. Photo: Liam O'Brien/Jason Muir

A Whale Of An Encounter For World Champion Paddleboarder

Northern NSW; September 22nd: Eight-time World Paddleboarding champion Jamie Mitchell (Gold Coast) had a close encounter with a migrating humpback whale today while filming off the Northern NSW coast for his new television project “Living in Liquid”.

The big wave surfer, who won the 32-mile Molokai to Oahu paddle race in Hawaii last month admitted to being a bit shocked when the pod of whales started surfacing so close to his paddleboard.

“At first it was kind of scary because they are just so big,” said Mitchell.

“But after a while, the whales were just happy to swim right up to me, I think they were checking me out especially the one that surfaced right in front of me.”

Scientists predict that up to 13,000 humpbacks make the journey along the eastern seaboard each year.

“They have amazing control in the water, so I relaxed and enjoyed the experience. I have a even greater respect for them now, they are so cool,” added Mitchell.

Mitchell’s televsion project, “Living In Liquid” follows his amazing life as he challenges himself against the world’s oceans - to date he has ridden 60 foot waves off the coast of California and is hoping to better that. He will also attempt to dive without oxygen to 100 foot, then get washed out to sea and stand up paddleboard a 50-foot wave.

For more information on Jamie Mitchell and the “Living In Liquid” Project go www.jamie-mitchell.com

The Third Stop Of The Nixon WTA Is Headed For Mundaka, Spain October 5-17, 2009

ENCINITAS, CA- The countdown for the third stop of the Nixon WTA (Winner-Take’s-All) is now underway and will take place during the Billabong Pro in Mundaka, Spain. From trials to finals surfers will compete for the Longest Tube at this picturesque beach in hopes of winning a custom Nixon 51-30 watch valued at over $10,000.

“We’re back at the birthplace of the Nixon WTA and we’re looking forward to this years event,” stated Nixon’s Director of European Marketing, Henning Erlandsen. “The level of competition that goes on between all of the surfers for this watch is all in good fun, but when it comes down to it, everyone seems to be quite serious about winning it. It’s anyone’s game from trials to finals!”

Each WTA watch features a Swiss Made chronograph with day and custom color date, a titanium carbide coated case and band with rotating bezel and countdown timer, sapphire crystal, a custom-engraved caseback commemorating the event and custom set diamonds and rubies in the face and bezel.

Nixon's Winner Take All Longest Tube Contest

Previous Nixon WTA Mundaka Winners for Longest Tube include:
2008- Royden Bryson
2007- Bobby Martinez

Video content of each of the WTA stops and winners will be available to view on billabongpro.com

About the WTA
The Nixon WTA is a winner-takes-all event which awards custom, limited edition Nixon timepieces at four stops along the ASP World Tour. The four WTA challenges include: heaviest wave in Teahupoo, Tahiti, in May; highest heat score at Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa, in July; the longest tube in Mundaka, Euskadi, in October; and the overall Triple Crown winner on the North Shore of Oahu in December.

About Nixon
Founded in 1997 in Encinitas, CA, Nixon is the premium watch and accessories brand for the youth lifestyle market. Focused on making the little stuff better, Nixon began with a small line of team-designed, custom-built watches sold exclusively in specialty boardsport and fashion retailers. Currently distributed in over 40 countries, Nixon’s product range has grown to include select men’s and women’s softgoods, leather goods and custom headphones. For more information, please visit: NixonNow.com

Sterling Spencer

Sterling Spencer Joins The Verizon Wireless Action Sports Team

See Sterling in Still Filthy testing the Water Resistant Verizon Wireless Casio Boulder.  Sterling joins a growing group on athletes working with Verizon Wireless such as fellow Billabong Rider, Donavon Frankenreiter!

For more info on the Verizon Wireless Action Sports Team visit www.VerizonInsider.com/Athletes

Check out the Water Resistant Line-up from Casio at: http://www.casiogzone.com/

Kelly Slater at the Quiksilver Pro France. Photo: ASP/Getty Images

Slater Takes Fifth At Quiksilver Pro France, Climbs ASP World Tour Ratings

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Monday, September 28, 2009) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour completed the seventh of 10 stops on this year’s Dream Tour and reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach, FL), 27, led the American Charge alongside Bobby Martinez (Santa Barbara, CA), 27, with both surfers earning fifth place finishes while 2007 ASP World Champ Mick Fanning (Tweed Heads, AUS), 27, marched to his second consecutive event win.

Slater turned heads in his opening round heats taking his Round 1 win by storm before narrowly defeating dangerous Quiksilver Pro wildcard Joan Duru in Round 3. Slater battled back in dramatic fashion to advance out of Round 3 after Duru blasted a near-flawless 9.17 out of 10 in the opening minutes their bout with a buzzer beating wave that was crucial in his fifth place result at the Quiksilver Pro France.

“I opened up with a pretty good wave but turned around to see Joan (Duru) bang out his 9.17,” Slater said. “As I was paddling out, I knew I was working the math out in my head as to what I’d have to do to come back. My board seemed to work out perfectly for those conditions – I’d never ridden it before, but it’s a similar template to one I’d been riding, a light, little epoxy. Joan didn’t ever really find a backup score and I was able to grab a good one right at the end there. Pretty happy to come back there.”

Slater, who started his 2009 season in uncharacteristically sluggish form, has slowly climbed back up the ASP Dream Tour ratings and now finds himself rated No. 5 overall and is back in contention for an unprecedented 10th ASP World Title, but the talented Floridian knows that catching current ratings leader Joel Parkinson (Coolangatta, AUS), 28, will be no easy task.

“I don’t really smell blood yet,” Slater said. “I think I’m still in the forest trying to find him (Parkinson).”

Dane Reynolds (Ventura, CA), 24, steamrolled his way through the opening Rounds of the Quiksilver Pro France, capitalizing on his success in the previous events as a momentum-builder while smashing some of the event’s top scores on the way to a 9th place finish overall. Reynolds opted for some unusual equipment in his early round heats to negotiate the tricky French beach-break conditions and his Round 4 finish at the Quiksilver Pro stamps him at No. 11 on the ASP World Tour after the first of three European events on this year’s calendar.

“The waves were pretty bad and I couldn’t take it too serious on a shortboard,” Dane said. “The waves were still really fun though. It’s not flat and there were still some good sections to get speed on and get some airs. I had fun out there. I am riding an MTF (Merrick Twin Fin). It’s just a copy of one of Rob Machado’s old ones. It felt good today in these waves, with two big side-fins and one smaller one in the middle. I was scared to ride this board because it was catching rail yesterday, but it was going pretty good today. I just figured that I’d have a lot more fun on this thing.”

Reynolds’ ninth place result did not come easily however, as he was nearly sent to elimination Round 2 at the beginning of the event when fellow Ventura native and friend Nathaniel Curran (Oxnard, CA), 24, dominated the opening round heat, before Reynolds found the wave needed in the final seconds of their match, capitalizing on a crisp righthander to take out the heat victory.

“I knew that wave was going to offer up a score for me and all I had to do was surf it as best I can,” Reynolds said. “It had a good wall on it and I was able to do a few turns. It’s too bad for Nathaniel (Curran) as he was surfing really, really well, but I’m sure he’ll do well in his Round 2 heat.”

The European leg of the ASP World Tour will continue with the Billabong Pro Mundaka, which holds a waiting period from October 5-17, 2009.

For event information log on to www.billabongpro.com

For Quiksilver Pro France highlights log on to www.quiksilverlive.com

For ASP information check out www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org

Opening Day at Pipeline in September? You bet! When Super Typhoon Choi-Wan churned up the Pacific, Pipeline roared to life in all of it’s ferocity making Friday the 25th the best opening day in years at surfing’s most hallowed ground. All photos Zak Noyle/SPL

Ikaika Kalama sll smiles on Opening Day at Pipeline. Photo: Zak Noyle/SPL

While it wasn’t the throttling French barrels everyone on tour has come to love, Mick Fanning will take a win in two-foot beach break conditions. His second ASP World Tour victory in a row, Fanning now sits only 146 points behind his hometown homey and current tour leader Joel Parkinson.

Physically drained after surfing four heats on the final day of the event Fanning saved his best for last, “It’s two back-to-back events where I have had to surf four heats on the final day to get the win and it takes a lot out of you. The conditions were deteriorating and I was fortunate to get those scores on the board early on,” he told the ASP after beating fellow Aussie Bede Durbidge.

With three events left; the Billabong Pro Mundaka, The Rip Curl Pro Search at Supertubes, and the Billabong Pipeline Masters remaining, the 2009 ASP World Title is now officially up for grabs.

Here’s how I see it breaking down: Mick will do better than Parko at Mundaka, Parko will kick ass at slabby Supertubes, and it’ll all come down to one final superheat being held in treacherous Second Reef Pipeline…what happens there is anyone’s guess.—JC

How do you see this thing playing out? Let us know in the comment box below!

ASP Press Release: Quiksilver Pro France presented by Orange
Stop No. 7 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour
Southwest Coast, France
September 23 – October 4, 2009

Mick Fanning Claims Back-to-Back ASP Dream Tour Events, Takes Quik Pro France

Mick Fanning wins the 2009 Quiksilver Pro France. Photo: jackenglish.com

SEIGNOSSE, France (Sunday, September 27, 2009) – Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, has just claimed his second consecutive ASP Dream Tour event, taking out the 2009 Quiksilver Pro France presented by Orange over fellow Finalist Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, in punchy one-to-three foot (0.5 – 1 metre) waves at Les Bourdaines.

Event No. 7 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France opted to utilize today’s swell to complete the event given the dismal surf forecast for the remainder of the waiting period. Despite today’s challenging conditions, the world’s best surfers executed well, blending their rapid-fire approach with progressive fin-free and aerial surfing.

Fanning continued to build momentum through the final day of competition before erupting in the Final with a flurry of excellent scoring rides, a 7.83, an 8.83 and a 7.33 in the opening half of the competition. “I was really fortunate to get those couple of good ones at the start because I really ran out of gas there at the end,” Fanning said. “It’s two back-to-back events where I have had to surf four heats on the final day to get the win and it takes a lot out of you. The conditions were deteriorating and I was fortunate to get those scores on the board early on.”

Today’s victory marks the second in a row for Fanning, having proven victorious in Southern California last week. The win further cements Fanning in second position on the 2009 ASP World Tour ratings, cutting the distance between himself and frontrunner Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, from 936 points (pre-France) to a scant 146 points heading into Spain.

“It’s back on,” Fanning said. “Everyone though Joel (Parkinson) was going to run away with it and it’s unfortunate for him that he fell out early, but I’ve put in a lot of work to get these last two wins and I’m just psyched on heading into the rest of the season.”

Durbidge was in excellent form throughout the final day of competition, eliminating a rampaging Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, compatriot Ben Dunn (AUS), 23, and lethal local Patrick Beven (FRA), 31, en route to the Final. Although surfing well, the big Australian couldn’t overcome Fanning’s speed in the trying conditions.

“I felt good and fit as but I was trying to push my turns too hard on a couple of waves and I was caught in the bump a lot so I guess that’s the difference from the other heats today,” Durbidge said. “The conditions were a bit bumpier and I couldn’t get any clean sections out there. It feels good to be in the Final though, it’s the best I’ve done this year and coming from a 3rd at Trestles, it is pretty good.”"

Durbidge’s Runner-Up finish rockets him from 7th to 4th on the 2009 ASP World Tour ratings, placing him in solid position heading into the remainder of the year.

“That’s good news (ratings jump) but my goal is just to finish the year off good and be in a good position to start next year,” Durbidge said. “I would like to finish the year inside the Top 5 for sure so I hope to keep things rolling.”

Tiago Pires (PRT), 29, ASP Dream Tour sophomore, halted what many considered to be the juggernaut of the event when he eliminated reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, in the Quarterfinals of the Quiksilver Pro France.

“I’m over the moon right now,” Pires said. “Kelly (Slater) is my favorite surfer and I have so much respect for him. I knew I had to wait for the bigger waves to get the scores to beat him. I’ve had a really tough year, but have been training very hard for this and I’m so happy to get through.” While the Floridian opened up with some fluid-yet-explosive surfing on his backhand to amass a daunting 17.43 out of a possible 20 heat total, it was Pires who would answer back with a 9.57 followed by a 8.13 to take the heat.

“After I put up that first big score, I was still needing another really big one so I knew I had to wait,” Pires said. “Kelly (Slater) likes to stay busy and he keeps getting scores all the time, but I still had to wait for a good one. I had been watching all day and I knew there would be sets so when it came, I just put everything I had into it.

Although Pires would eventually go down to Fanning in the Semifinals, his Equal 3rd place finish sees him bolt from 33rd to 23rd on the ASP World Tour ratings.

“I couldn’t have asked to a better start to these next events in France,” Pires said. “I’ve worked very hard and I am hoping to turn things around during the European leg. I feel comfortable here – it feels like home and I believe I can put up some very good results.”

Patrick Beven (FRA), 31, who gained entry into the event through the Moskova Trials, had a banner run at the Quiksilver Pro France, eliminating current ASP World No. 1, Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, as well as ASP Dream Tour stalwarts Dean Morrison (AUS), 28, and Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, before falling to Durbidge in the Semifinals.
“Bede (Durbidge) is a great surfer and he pushed me in a couple of average waves,” Beven said. “I was feeling really tired in that heat, I didn’t eat today and focused so hard on each of my heats. I was a bit confused out in the line-up and I didn’t catch the good ones. I was a little stressed halfway the heat and I didn’t surf as good as in my previous heats.”

Supported by thousands of spectators throughout the final day of competition, the giant-killer Beven put on a show using smart heat tactics and razor-sharp backhand turns to prove a standout in the Les Bourdaines beach beaks.
“The crowds pushed big time in that event,” Beven said. “They were behind me and it felt so good when the crowds cheered after my waves. It is a big part of my result today and I hope I can keep that confidence for the next events on the ASP WQS. I am stoked to get the chance to show my surf and beat some of the world’s best surfers. That run today is pretty unbelievable.”

The hunt for the 2009 ASP World Title has become even more interesting with the early elimination of frontrunner Parkinson and the win from Fanning. They’ll battle other top seeds C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, Durbidge and Slater as the ASP Dream Tour continues the European leg.

Next stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour will be the Billabong Pro Mundaka from October 5 – 17, 2009.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Quiksilver Pro France Final Results:

1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.66
2 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.87

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.76 def. Patrick Beven (FRA) 12.90
SF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.43 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 12.33

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.70 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 13.60
QF 2: Patrick Beven (FRA) 14.86 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 14.00
QF 3: Tiago Pires (PRT) 17.70 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 17.43
QF 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.00 Taj Burrow def. (AUS) 12.33

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.33 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 12.40
Heat 2: Ben Dunn (AUS) 13.83 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.37
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 11.43 vs. Taylor Knox (USA) 10.30
Heat 4: Patrick Beven (FRA) 14.10 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.67
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.23 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.33
Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.83 def. Tim Boal (FRA) 9.36
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.40 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.00
Heat 8: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.74 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 10.40

CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 (After Quiksilver Pro France):
1 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5896 points
2 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 5750 points
3 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 4872 points
4 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 4792 points
5 – Kelly Slater (USA) 4638 points
6 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 4573 points
7 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 4417 points
8 – Damien Hobgood (USA) 4384 points
9 – Bobby Martinez (USA) 4314 points
10 – Taylor Knox (USA) 4216 points

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

While Atlantic Northeast winds howled overnight on Friday and throughout the day on Saturday, the cloudy Outer Banks’ skies were vaguely reminiscent of 2008’s ESA Easterns. Especially since the two most coveted titles of Easterns—Junior Mens and Junior Womens—were successfully defended by their 2008 champions.

North Carolina good ol’ boy Nick Rupp is emblematic of the ESA’s approach of cultivating talented groms into East Coast champions. “This is one of the most prestigious titles on the East Coast and I’m really happy to win it, especially two times,” the repeat champ stated. “I remember looking up to Eric Taylor, Zach Humphreys, Rob Kelly, and all the kids who have won it before and wanting to do just as good as them.”

Coming into this year’s Easterns Nick was easily the favorite to repeat, but a cockiness about this never once came out during the week. His backhand attack on the final day exuded just the right amount of confidence needed to be a two-time East Coast champ. His Brunswick County-bred Southern accented victory speech did even more to prove that he is the definition of an East Coast champion. And for being this, he was also named the 2010 Allstar team captain. “Pat gave me the responsibility to help the younger kids and teach them about contests. I’m really looking forward to that.”

The other repeater this year was Keenan Lineback. There’s not a girl her age on the East Coast who is more precise in her ability to win a heat. In a stacked final with stormy lefts running down the beach, Keenan didn’t catch a wave till about halfway through the heat. But it did not hinder her pursuit of defending—she merely took advantage of a walled left when it came her way and grabbed a stranglehold from then on out.

Owen Moffett, also a Carolinian, took himself the desirable Open Shortboard title this year. His heat was a bit different then those finals on Saturday though, as Open Shortboard finishes earlier in the week but holds off on the announcement of the results until the end of the week. He snagged a big title though either way and got something he has worked hard for his entire ESA career.

And finally, another Carolinian whose young ESA career has been fruitful to date, took the Boys title home. Cam Richards’ surfing is polished, well executed, and got better with every heat throughout the entire week. Though his fellow finalist Corey Howell gave him a decent run for the title. After Saturday’s teeing off final, it’s obvious that these two will be battling it out for East Coast titles for years to come, ultimately making each one better.

These four champions showed that the Carolinas are a gigantic force to be reckoned with in the ESA. East Coast champions are made on days like Saturday when dealing with adversity can potentially ruin game plans. Being flexible when thrown nasty storm surf after almost a week of clean, fun surf and then taking charge is what each of the 2009 ESA Easterns champs did. And with repeats in the two biggest divisions, it’s no surprise that Nick Rupp and Keenan Lineback have learned a thing or two about how to become and continue to be an East Coast champion.—Ryan Brower

TransWorld SURF would like to thank the Eastern Surfing Association and all involved for putting on another incredible week of Easterns and for the Outer Banks once again providing us with good ol’ times. Stay tuned to transworldsurf.com for more on the 2010 Allstar team and check out SurfESA.org for more info.

Menehunes
Ages: M/F, 11 and Under
1. Luke Gordon NSC-1
2. Luke Marks CFL-1
3. Stevie Pitman NSC-2
4. Jesse Gregory NFL-3

Boys
Ages: 12-14
1. Cam Richards NSC-1+AS
2. Corey Howell CFL-1+AS
3. Nathan Behl TCFL-1
4. Jake McGuire NFL-1

Junior Mens
Ages: 15-17
1. Nick Rupp SNC+AS
2. Christian Miller PBFL-2+AS
3. Hector Santamaria PRC-2
4. Dylan Kowalski SNC-3+AS

Mens
Ages: 18-24
1. David Holloway NFL
2. Juan Carlos Gerena PRC-
3. Jeffrey Barden TCFL-4
4. Bryce Humphrey VA-1

Masters
Ages: 25-34
1. Jeff Anthony NY-1
2. Shawn Clark NSC
3. Jesse McCrery SNC-1
4. David Mansor SNJ-1

Senior Mens
Ages: 35-44
1. Jason Motes NFL-1+AS
2. Pat Emery CNJ-1
3. Daniel Sacchi SNC-1
4. Rodrigo Miranda SAFL

Grandmasters
Ages: 45-54
1. Jesse Fernandez OBNC-4
2. Mitch Kaufmann NFL-2
3. Bill Whatley NCFL-6
4. Joe Grottola SNJ-1

Legends
Ages: 55-64
1. Bill Willem CNJ-1
2. David Sledge CNC-2+SA
3. Bobby Holland VA-1+AS
4. Tom Leonik SNJ-1

Grand Legends
Ages: M/F, 65 and Over
1. Paul Eaton CFL-1
2. Bryant Hungerford DMV-1
3. Tom McClaren SNJ-1
4. Kitty Pechet SNE-1
5. Chum McCranels PBFL-1

Girls
Ages: 14 and Under
1. Nikki Viesins CFL-1+AS
2. Darsha Pigford SNC-1
3. Emily Ruppert CFL-2
4. Ciera Cunningham NFL-1

Junior Womens
Ages: 15-17
1. Keenan Lineback NSC
2. Jasset Umbel TCFL-3
3. Savannah Bradley CFL-1+AS
4. Kayla Durden NFL-3

Womens
Ages: 18-29
1. Mallory Turner NFL
2. Maria Kuzmovich NCFL-2
3. Jessie Carnes NFL-3+AS
4. Teale Bechenbach NFL-4

Ladies
Ages: 30 and Over
1. Mindy Fitzpatrick CNC-1+AS
2. Ana Barend SNE-1+AS
3. Kate Whatley NCFL-1
4. Terry Green NSC-1

Menehune Longboard
Ages: M/F, 14 and Under
1. Patrick Nichols PBFL-1
2. Daniel Glenn CNC-1
3. Sam Duggan CFL-2
4. Steven McLean CFL-1

Junior Longboard
Ages: 15-17
1. Tommy Evans CFL-1
2. Bradley Rose SNC-1
3. Michael Agnew VA-1
4. Zach Tomlinson SNJ-2

Mens Longboard
Ages: 18-29
1. Ty Miller NFL-1
2. Chris Makibbin DMV-1
3. Kevin DeWald SNJ-5
4. Thomas Capps CNC-3

Masters Longboard
Ages: 30-49
1. Kai Dilling SSC-1
2. Jason Motes NFL-2
3. Scott Holmes NFL-4
4. Mitch Kaufmann NFL-3

Legends Longboard
Ages: 50 and Over
1. Jesse Fernandez OBNC-4
2. Bill Whatley NCFL-3
3. Rick Anson SSC-2
4. David Sledge CNC-2

Womens Longboard
Ages: 29 and Under
1. Kate Easton VA-2
2. Mallory Turner NFL-1
3. Chelsea Gresham NFL+AS
4. Chandler VonCannon SNC-1

Ladies Longboard
Ages: 30 and Over
1. Jo Pickett SNC-2
2. Ana Barend SNE-1
3. Beth Schub CNC-2
4. Nathalie Glenn CNC-3

Menehune Bodyboard
Ages: M/F, 14 and Under
1. Zach Greaser SNJ-1
2. Morgan Taylor Leavel OBNC-2
3. Cyrus Lewis OBNC-3

Open Bodyboard
Ages: M/F, All Ages
1. Jorge Colomer PRC
2. John Heyman NY-1
3. Matt Landon DMV-1
4. Morgan Taylor Leavel OBNC-3

Open Shortboard
Ages: M/F, All Ages
1. Owen Moffett SNC-1
2. Alex Fawess NY-5
3. Jose Tavares PRC-5
4. Evan Barton SNC-3

ESA All-Star Tag Team
Ages: M/F, All Ages
1. SNC
2. TCFL
3. SNJ
4. NCFL
5. CFL

East Cost Hall of Fame
Ages: Invitational M/F, All Ages
1. Peter Pan SNE
2. Chummer McCraniels PBFL

Oh how things can change at a moment’s notice. Only weeks ago Joel Parkinson was sitting in a comfy spot in the ratings lead, with everyone claiming the world title race almost over. But now with Joel’s second 17th in a row, this time coming at the hands of Patrick Beven, the door is wide open for the likes of Mick, CJ, Kelly, and others to make things interesting again.

Speaking of interesting again, Dane Reynolds seems to have packed his recent success in his bags to Europe. Over the last three contests he’s appearing to fully come into his own as a competitive surfer and is continuing to be a top performer every time he enters the water. And it’s only a matter of time till he gets his first win. But Bede Durbidge will be looking for some payback from the whooping Dane gave him in the quarters at Lowers.

Other top standouts of the day were Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, and Bobby Martinez. Look out, because we’ve definitely got ourselves a title race on tap.

OFFICIAL ASP PRESS RELEASE

SEIGNOSSE, France (Saturday, September 26, 2009) – The Quiksilver Pro France presented by Orange completed an action-packed Round 3 today, and despite the smaller one-to-three foot (0.5 – 1 metre) waves on offer at Les Bourdaines, the world’s best surfers flew electric in front of a capacity crowd on the beach.

Event No. 7 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France ran in unexpectedly clean conditions today, and proved to be one of the most exciting days of competition so far this season, with massive scores and big upsets seemingly on call throughout the round.

Patrick Beven (FRA), 31, who earned his seed into the event through the Moskova Trials, caused the upset of the Quiksilver Pro France thus far, eliminating current ASP World No. 1 Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, in Round 3 of competition. The Round 3 chess match saw the lead flip back-and-forth until the dying moments when Beven exploded on a set lefthander to secure a 6.87 out of a possible 10 and the win.

“It’s the kind of lefthanders I like surfing and it was a good heat,” Beven said. “I am stoked right now. I am fighting for France and the Euroforce. I haven’t qualified for the ASP World Tour yet, but I am showing I can surf and do well in this event. I am over the moon right now.”

A local to the South of France, Beven enjoyed the support of the hundreds of spectators at the water’s edge today, as they supported the hometown hero in his thwarting of the current ASP World No. 1.

“It’s great to get that kind of heat wins in front such a huge supporting crowd, and to beat the world No. 1 is even better,” Beven said. “Seeing everyone get together behind us French and European surfers and that’s what the Euroforce is all about. A big thanks to all people putting the event up, it’s a great time every year for all of us.”

Beven will face Dean Morrison (AUS), 28, in Round 4 of the Quiksilver Pro France.

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, surfed immediately following Parkinson’s elimination, with many assuming the Floridian would immediately capitalize on the opportunity to gain some ground on the ASP World Tour ratings. However, it was his opponent, wildcard and current ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) No. 7, Joan Duru (FRA), 20, that opened up the heat with an incredible 9.17 out of a possible 10.

Despite being on the ropes from the outset, Slater patiently built momentum throughout the heat, and in the face of Duru failing to secure a solid backup wave, netted an impressive 8.90 out of a possible 10 in the last minutes to take the win and advance through to Round 4.

“I opened up with a pretty good wave but turned around to see Joan (Duru) bang out his 9.17,” Slater said. “As I was paddling out, I knew I was working the math out in my head as to what I’d have to do to come back. My board seemed to work out perfectly for those conditions – I’d never ridden it before, but it’s a similar template to one I’d been riding, a light, little epoxy. Joan didn’t ever really find a backup score and I was able to grab a good one right at the end there. Pretty happy to come back there.”

With the elimination of ASP ratings’ frontrunner, the opportunity to gain ground exists for a number of ASP Top seeds, Slater amongst them. Despite the Parkinson’s stumble, the Floridian remains cautious when calculating his 2009 ASP World Title chances.

“I don’t really smell blood yet,” Slater said. “I think I’m still in the forest trying to find him (Parkinson).”

Slater will take on lethal 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Michel Bourez (PYF), 23, when Quiksilver Pro France competition resumes.

In addition to the ASP World Title drama that went down on Day 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France, some of the best surfing of the event was d by some of the sport’s most progressive characters.

Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, current ASP World No. 11, proved the form surfer of the day, blending explosive aerials with searing carves to net the highest heat total of the event, an 18.27 out of a possible 20. Bucking the traditional thruster model, Reynolds opted for a shorter, wider board with big side fins and a small trailer fin. The result was revelatory.

“The waves were pretty bad and I couldn’t take it too serious on a shortboard,” Dane said. “The waves were still really fun though. It’s not flat and there were still some good sections to get speed on and get some airs. I had fun out there. I am riding an MTF (Merrick Twin Fin). It’s just a copy of one of Rob Machado’s old ones. It felt good today in these waves, with two big side-fins and one smaller one in the middle. I was scared to ride this board because it was catching rail yesterday, but it was going pretty good today. I just figured that I’d have a lot more fun on this thing.”

Riding high following an equal 3rd place finish in South Africa and a runner-up finish last week in Southern California, Reynolds is proving to be one of the most dangerous surfers on tour.

“I like it here in France,” Reynolds said. “The waves can be really similar to home and punchy and fun. We haven’t had too many waves though so hopefully it picks up.”

Reynolds will face Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, in the opening heat of Round 4 when competition recommences.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. for a possible 8:15 a.m. start.

Highlights from today’s Quiksilver Pro France will be available at www.quiksilverprofrance.com

The Quiksilver Pro France pres. by Orange will host the world’s best surfers from September 23 to October 4, 2009.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com.

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.50 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 12.03
Heat 2: Dane Reynolds (USA) 18.27 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 11.00
Heat 3: Ben Dunn (AUS) 14.57 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.13
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.50 def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 12.80
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) 16.50 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 9.74
Heat 6: Taylor Knox (USA) 13.17 def. Dustin Barca (HAW) 12.70
Heat 7: Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.57 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 12.80
Heat 8: Patrick Beven (FRA) 14.87 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.07
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.73 def. Joan Duru (FRA) 13.57
Heat 10: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.57 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 9.76
Heat 11: Tiago Pires (PRT) 16.43 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.83
Heat 12: Tim Boal (FRA) 15.43 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 14.67
Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.54 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.06
Heat 14: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.34 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 12.50
Heat 15: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.17 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 10.16
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 11.67 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 11.47

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 2: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 4: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Patrick Beven (FRA)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 8: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Weather on the Outer Banks can change at the drop of a hat. One minute it’s a gorgeous September day, the next Northeast winds are knocking over sponsor tents on the beach. The swell dropped a bit for Friday’s action, but more waves are generating themselves in the Atlantic as we speak.

2008’s Junior Mens’ champ Nick Rupp secured himself an opportunity to repeat this year by winning his semifinal heat today in the last 20 seconds. “One of the other guys had just gotten one that connected all the way to the beach, and I saw another one of those come through and it just kept going for me,” Nick recalled about the crumbly left that he went to town on.

But Nick will have his work cut out for him if he wants to keep that title—Dylan Kowalski, Hector Santamaria, and Christian Miller will be looking to dethrone him Saturday afternoon.

The Boys semifinalists are determined, and the two stacked heats will be kicking off Saturday’s final day of competition at 7:00 a.m. as they vie for a finals appearance. Things will be wrapping in all other divisions as well on Saturday, and with the wind kicking around pretty well right now there should be a bit more surf on tap to finish things—though it may be a bit stormy and chunky. But hey, Easterns is all about being able to deal with adversity and making the best of things.—Ryan Brower

Check out SurfESA.org for a full schedule and stay tuned to transworldsurf.com for the exclusive wrap-up and photos from the final day.

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To enter the TransWorld SURF Model Search email your photos to transworldsurf@gmail.com. Please include name, age, hometown, and a bit of information about yourself. You must be 18 to enter. Monthly winners will receive a free swimsuit from B Swim and sunglasses from Spy Optics and be in the running for the ultimate title of Miss TransWorld SURF!

Model Search: September Week 3

OFFICIAL ASP PRESS RELEASE

SEIGNOSSE, France (Friday, September 25, 2009) – The Quiksilver Pro France presented by Orange, Event No. 7 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, has been called off for the day, following the completion of Round 2.

With only small, two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf on offer today at Les Bourdaines, only three heats were completed today, with event organizers opting to hold for better conditions in the coming days.

Ben Dunn (AUS), 23, current ASP World No. 26, surfed one of the strangest heats of the Quiksilver Pro France thus far. His opponent, Chris Ward (USA), 30, who had already missed his Round 1 heat due to scheduling confusion, overslept this morning and failed to show up until 15 minutes into the 30 minute heat.

“Well, it definitely plays with your head,” Dunn said. “Wardo missed his Round 1 heat and I thought he was going to show up for today’s heat because I saw him yesterday, but he said he overslept or something. It was still pretty even when he arrived though as I couldn’t get any waves.”

With half the heat remaining, Dunn would ignite, seamlessly blending high-speed floaters and rapid-fire turns on his backhand to amass the day’s highest heat total, a 14.50 out of a possible 20.

“I wanted to get some scores on the board before Chris (Ward) turned up, but there just weren’t any waves,” Dunn said. “He made a couple mistakes and went right and I was able to put a few scores on the board. It’s an important event for me in terms of ratings and I’m stoked to get through to Round 3.”

Dunn will face Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 27, in Round 3 when competition resumes.

Roy Powers (HAW), 28, current ASP World No. 26, faced O’Neill teammate and fellow ASP World No. 26, Tim Reyes (USA), 27, in a tightly-fought Round 2 heat today, just edging the Californian out, 11.93 to 11.16.

“It’s pretty weird that we both ride for the same company and are rated the same and met in Round 2,” Powers said. “I don’t know what the odds of that are. It’s too bad for Tim (Reyes) as I know he’s having a tough year, but it’s an important result for me and I’ll take the win. Timmy looked like he was trying to pack in more maneuvers on his waves and I was focusing on adding more power and throwing more spray and I guess it worked out.”

Powers will next battle Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, in Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France when competition resumes.

Heitor Alves (BRA), 26, current ASP World No. 24, dominated the opening heat of the day, deftly navigating the lumpy beach break peaks to eliminate Jay Thompson (AUS), 26, from Quiksilver Pro France competition.

“I am so happy to make that heat, I am looking to make a good result here and I am stoked things went well this morning,” Alves said. “I was looking for the lefthanders which I like surfing and I got the better ones. Today’s conditions are better with less current so it’s all good. I thank all my family and girlfriend for the great support.”

Alves will take on Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, in Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 9am to assess conditions for a possible Round 3 start.

When competition resumes, up first will Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, up against 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Nic Muscroft (AUS), 27, in Heat 1 of Round 3.

Highlights from today’s Quiksilver Pro France will be available at www.quiksilverprofrance.com

Downloadable media from today’s event available at the following FTP address:

www.quiksilver-press.com
Login: pressroom
Password: quiksilverpress

The Quiksilver Pro France pres. by Orange will host the world’s best surfers from September 23 to October 4, 2009.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE REMAINING ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 14: Heitor Alves (BRA) 13.06 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 11.93
Heat 15: Roy Powers (USA) 11.93 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 11.16
Heat 16: Ben Dunn (AUS) 14.50 def. Chris Ward (USA) 3.60

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 2: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 3: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 6: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW)
Heat 7: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Patrick Beven (FRA)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 14: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 15: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)

An Evening with a World-Class Waterman Presented by Kaenon Polarized

Thursday, October 1, 7 pm

Come hear Jamie Mitchell share his insights and most memorable moments, including winning his eighth Moloka’i to O’ahu Paddleboard Race. See photos and video of his many adventures around the globe paddleboarding, tow-in surfing, big-wave surfing, and big-wave stand up paddleboarding.

This outdoor screening event is free. Kaenon will be giving away two pairs of polarized shades, & the audience will be able to “Voice Their Choice” by helping determine which three local enviro groups should get $5,000 from Patagonia. See kaenon.com and patagonia.com/cardiff for more.

Check this YouTube link for a sneak peak of what to expect:
youtube.com/watch?v=HWYOGMO5oVo

Click here for directions to the Patagonia Cardiff store:
patagonia.com/web/us/patagonia.go?assetid=5172

Ya’ll better be paying attention, because the bread-and-butter divisions at the 2009 ESA Easterns are plugging along. Quarterfinalists for the coveted Junior Mens division have been determined, and will be getting back in the water in the morning. The boys division is also heating up quickly, as there are already some early top East Coast match-ups.

Check out SurfESA.org for the full schedule, and stay tuned to transworldsurf.com for all the action from Hatteras.

Day 2 from France only saw the running of nine heats, but still some solid action going down in the water. Kai Otton stomped Nathaniel Curran, Arritz Aranburu handled Frenchman Jeremy Flores, Bobby Martinez took care of Drew Courtney, and Greg Emslie made an appearance and took down defending event champion, Adrian ‘Ace’ Buchan. Check out all the photos below and stay tuned to transworldsurf.com for the latest from France.

OFFICIAL ASP PRESS RELASE

SEIGNOSSE, France (Thursday, September 24, 2009) – The Quiksilver Pro France presented by Orange, Event No. 7 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, got back in motion today at the event’s main venue of Les Bourdaines in consistent-but-testing five-foot (1.5 metre) waves.

Battling against elements with strong currents coming into the equation, Round 2 competitors put on a show of strategic game plans and athletic ss, holding their line-up positions and taking off on fast-breaking five-to-six foot wave faces to grab their Round 3 tickets.

With most top seeds getting the job done in various ways, from solid scores to tight heat results, surprise came with the eliminations of highly-touted competitors Jeremy Flores (FRA), 21, and defending champion Adrian Buchan (AUS), 27, losing to Aritz Aranburu (EUK), 23, and ASP Dream Tour veteran Greg Emslie (ZAF), 32, respectively, creating the biggest upsets of the day.

Emslie eliminated Buchan in the dying minutes of their exchange, netting a solid 8.00 point score to stamp his authority and get away with the win. Emslie, ASP World No. 33, was able to catch-up with Buchan’s early lead using his experience and patience to wait for a good opportunity and rush to victory.

“It’s super challenging out there and I knew that we’d be getting 4s and 5s and it would come down to whoever got that one smoker,” Emslie said. “That wave came to me right at the end of the heat and was able to stand-up for me really well. I was stoked when I heard the score.”

Emslie, a former runner-up in the Quiksilver Pro France (2007), has not had any stellar results on tour this year, the South African sitting on four 17th places and a couple of 33rds, and will be looking to get through another few rounds to get back into the ASP Top 27, the re-qualifying group for next year’s ASP World Tour.

“For sure, I was definitely thinking about Ace winning here last year,” Emslie said. “I was also thinking about when I was in the Final the last time I came here to so that gave me a bit of confidence. I’m currently sitting 33rd right now, but Europe is a great place for you to bang out a few good results and if you can remain consistent, you can really make some ground up.”

Aranburu caused the other major upset of the day by eliminating current ASP World Tour No. 19, Flores, in Heat 8, and advancing through to Round 3 for the second time this year. Aranburu, who tamed the fast lefthanders of Les Bourdaines using his powerful and vertical backhand attack, led the exchange from start to finish to defeat national surf star Flores, peaking with a 7.50 point ride en route to victory.

“I was warming up my legs before the heat because I knew I would need them strong for the heat,” Aranburu said. “There are some heavy sections out there and you have to complete your maneuvers to get the bigger scores.”

Aranburu, who has finished a disappointing 33rd in all ASP World Tour events but one this year (in Tahiti where he reached the Semifinals), gave himself a bit of air today his result guaranteeing an equal 17th place finish at least in the Quiksilver Pro France. The only Basque surfer to ever qualify for the ASP World Tour, Aranburu’s backhand talent will be a threat to any of his upcoming opponents in the event.

“I knew Jeremy (Flores) would be really tough in these conditions,” Aranburu said. “Although he’s hurt a little bit, he’s still very dangerous out here. It’s an important part of the year for me. I have had only 33rds and one 3rd so I think 3 isn’t necessarily my lucky number. I’m happy to advance through to Round 3 and hopefully I can keep going.”

Kai Otton (AUS), 28, current ASP World No. 16, was another of today’s standouts, the renowned goofy-footer putting on a solid performance to oust ASP Dream Tour rookie Nathaniel Curran (California, USA), 25. Otton, who chose the inside lefthanders to show his ss to the ASP judging panel, surfed twelve waves throughout the 30-minute heat finding his rhythm despite the strong current washing down the beach.

“I just tried to keep busy, it is a tricky rip and there is a lot of water moving around and obviously I didn’t want to paddle against it and would rather catch waves. So that’s what I did, kept catching waves.”

Posting a convincing 14.26 point score to Curran’s low 5.17 point combination of two scores, Otton stuck to his game plan and will surf in Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France.

“Obviously I didn’t start very well this year but I feel I am in form now and surfing pretty good,” Otton said. “I had a good result at Jeffreys Bay and got through a few rounds at Trestles so it would be good to keep it going here. I love France and there’s some swell so it’s looking good.”

Event officials will re-assess conditions and make a call tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. for a possible 8 a.m. start.

First out will be Heitor Alves (BRA), 26, up against Jay Thompson (AUS), 26, when Round 2 of the Quiksilver Pro France resumes.

Highlights from today’s Quiksilver Pro France will be available at quiksilverprofrance.com.

The Quiksilver Pro France will host the world’s best surfers from September 23 to October 4, 2009.

For more information, log onto aspworldtour.com.

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE REMAINING ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) 13.34 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 10.37
Heat 6: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 9.84 def. David Weare (ZAF) 9.50
Heat 7: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 9.84 vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA) 6.13
Heat 8: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 14.50 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.23
Heat 9: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.26 def. Nathaniel Curran (USA) 5.17
Heat 10: Mick Campbell (AUS) 12.17 def. Michael Picon (FRA) 11.57
Heat 11: Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.33 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.33
Heat 12: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 12.33 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.83
Heat 13: Dean Morrison (AUS) 10.50 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 10.17

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE REMAINING ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 14: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 15: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Roy Powers (USA)
Heat 16: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Chris Ward (USA)

The Quiksilver Pro France began Wednesday kicking off the critical European leg of the 2009 ASP World Tour. The news of the event: CJ Hobgood has had his entire European leg quiver stolen (see photo in gallery), Kelly Slater had to be woken up for his heat today, Dane Reynolds went ballistic, Julian Wilson asserted himself as a contender, and 2009 World Title contender Adriano De Souza was surprisingly knocked out of the event. Kinda weird about Kelly, eh? Contest organizers, however, waited for the 9-Time World Champion to get his beauty sleep… Check below for results and look for more exclusive Euro gold to come from our guy Jack English as things start to unfold…

Adriano De Souza gets bounced from the 2009 Quiksilver Pro France. Video courtesy ASP World Tour.

ASP PRESS RELEASE

SEIGNOSSE, France (Wednesday, September 23, 2009) – Round 1 and the opening four heats of Round 2 of the Quiksilver Pro France got underway today with the world’s best surfers detonating in punchy three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) peaks at Les Bourdaines beachbreak.

Event No. 7 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France was treated to some fantastic surfing throughout the opening day of the waiting period, with the world’s best surfers letting loose in the playful beachbreaks while the event wildcards stamped their authority as real contenders amongst the ASP Top 45.

Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, current ASP World No. 11, is coming hot off the heals of his best results on the ASP Dream Tour, a 3rd in South Africa and a 2nd in Southern California, and continued to push the limits of high-performance surfing today at the Quiksilver Pro France.

Opening with a blistering 8.83 out of a possible 10 with some rapid-fire forehand surfing, Reynolds then fell behind fellow Venturan Nathaniel Curran (USA), 24, who posted an impressive heat total of a total 15.40 out of a possible 20. Needing a score in the dying minutes, Reynolds detonated another roping righthander for grab and 8.50 and the advancement to Round 3.

“I knew that wave was going to offer up a score for me and all I had to do was surf it as best I can,” Reynolds said. “It had a good wall on it and I was able to do a few turns. It’s too bad for Nathaniel (Curran) as he was surfing really, really well, but I’m sure he’ll do well in his Round 2 heat.”

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, current ASP World No. 1, suffered his first setback in an otherwise near-flawless season last event, finishing 17th in Southern California. While the media speculated that a quasi-serious ankle injury was the culprit in Parkinson’s poor showing, the Australian showed no signs of injury today.

“Everyone has been talking about it (ankle injury) but I haven’t really noticed it,” Parkinson said. “It feels fine today and I feel like I have full movement. Obviously, I didn’t have the result I wanted at the last event, but everyone has a bad one and hopefully I’ve gotten mine out of the way already.”

With extreme tide fluctuations wreaking havoc upon the consistency of the Les Bourdaines lineup, Parkinson effortless posted excellent scores with both backhand and forehand ripping.

“It’s pretty tricky out there but there are definitely some pretty fun ones coming through,” Parkinson said. “It can be tricky with the tide changes. The waves looked really fun this morning, but as the tide’s ped, some of the good ones are breaking inside and the others are breaking out the back. Looking forward to a few days off now and excited to get back out there.”

Julian Wilson (AUS), 20, led the wildcard charge at today’s Quiksilver Pro France, besting veteran compatriots Bede Durbdige (AUS), 26, and Dean Morrison (AUS), 28, in Round 1 of competition.

“I’ve done a few of these events as a wildcard before and the approach of ‘just go for broke’ has kind of gone out the window now. I look at these heats as opportunities to establish myself and good training against these guys. I hope to be up at this level of competition in one to two years and this is great experience.”

Joining Wilson in posting Round 1 heat wins today were fellow wildcards Joan Duru (FRA), 20, and Patrick Beven (FRA), 31.

The afternoon saw some electric surfing as Round 2 moved through the opening four heats, and some big names avoided elimination at the Quiksilver Pro France.

Following the close Round 2 victory of former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 2, Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, another former ASP World Champion in C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, survived one of the most exciting heats of the year.

The current ASP World No. 3, who had all nine of his surfboards stolen his first night in France, was comboed by wildcard Alain Riou (PYF), 26, before snapping another surfboard in the powerful Les Bourdaines shorebreak. Grabbing a spare board he had never surfed before, Hobgood returned to the lineup where he proceeded to tube-ride his way out of the combination situation and to a Round 2 victory.

Cj Hobgood Ripped Off! Photo: jackenglish.com

“We all have a breaking point and a lot of things went through my mind and I was just wondering how much worse it could get,” Hobgood said. “I was comboed, my board was broken and I know my back-up one is not even that good. If the ocean didn’t turn on I would have had a nervous breakdown (Laughs). But whatever, I am happy to get through that heat.”

Upsets continued through the final heat of the day with journeyman campaigner Phillip MacDonald (AUS), 30, taking down current ASP World No. 3 Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22, in Round 2 of the Quiksilver Pro France. The powerful Australian man-handled the running lefthanders on his backhand, posting an impressive 16.90 out of a possible 20.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 7:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.

When competition resumes, up first will be Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, up against 2009 ASP World Tour rookie Drew Courtney (AUS), 30.

Highlights from today’s Quiksilver Pro France will be available at quiksilverprofrance.com.

The Quiksilver Pro France will host the world’s best surfers from September 23 to October 4, 2009.

For more information, log onto aspworldtour.com.

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Taylor Knox (USA) 12.67, David Weare (ZAF) 9.10, Chris Ward (USA) N/S
Heat 2: Nic Muscroft (AUS) 11.67, Ben Dunn (AUS) 11.00, Bobby Martinez (USA) 10.60
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.50, Timmy Reyes (USA) 6.10, Drew Courtney (AUS) 5.83
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.67, Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 10.16, Heitor Alves (BRA) 7.80
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.20, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.10, Marlon Lipke (DEU) 7.14
Heat 6: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.33, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 8.67, Dean Morrison (AUS) 8.53
Heat 7: Joan Duru (FRA) 11.37, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.10, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.03
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.44, Kai Otton (AUS) 10.40, Gabriel Villaran (PER) 7.33
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.53, Alain Riou (PYF) 11.67, Mick Campbell (AUS) 7.26
Heat 10: Patrick Beven (FRA) 11.83, Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.54, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 10.97
Heat 11: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.74, Roy Powers (HAW) 9.00, Jihad Khodr (BRA) 7.50
Heat 12: Chris Davidson (AUS) 13.74, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 11.17, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 7.17
Heat 13: Dane Reynolds (USA) 17.33, Nathaniel Curran (USA) 15.60, Jay Thompson (AUS) 6.56
Heat 14: Tim Boal (FRA) 11.30, Michael Picon (FRA) 10.66, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 9.60
Heat 15: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.17, Dayyan Neve (AUS) 11.87, Tiago Pires (PRT) 7.00
Heat 16: Dustin Barca (HAW) 10.77, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 9.34, Greg Emslie (ZAF) 4.63

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.83 def. Gabriel Villaran (PER) 6.30
Heat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.17 def. Alain Riou (PYF) 14.83
Heat 3: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.33 def. Marlon Lipke (DEU) 10.17
Heat 4: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 16.90 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.13

QUIKSILVER PRO TRESTLES REMAINING ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 6: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 7: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 9: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 10: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 11: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 13: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 14: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 15: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Roy Powers (USA)
Heat 16: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Chris Ward (USA)

Photographer Yassine “Yazzy” Ouhilal loves the cold. Norway, check. Russia, check. The Artic, check.

The above video features Frenchman Romain Laulhe and Californian Pat Millin exploring the frozen tundra and icy surf of the Artic.

Looks like a ton of fun, but what would it take for you to jump into that cold, cold water?

The lone Kiwi on the World Tour, Paige Hareb. Photo courtesy ASP/Scholtz

TARANAKI, New Zealand (Monday, September 21, 2009) – The ASP Women’s World Tour will be getting a boost next season with the addition of New Zealand’s Taranaki region as a dream tour venue.

The Taranaki Women’s Surf Festival will host the world’s best female surfers from April 14 – 18, 2010 along Taranaki’s Surf Highway 45, with mobile venue options including famed locations such as Fitzroy Beach, Rocky Point, Stent Road and Opunake.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be adding New Zealand to the ASP Women’s World Tour schedule,” Brodie Carr, ASP Intl CEO, said. “The region is ripe with world class waves and it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talents of our outstanding female athletes.”

Paige Hareb (NZL), 19, 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie and current ASP World No. 3, is New Zealand’s first female ambassador at surfing’s elite level of competition, and the addition of another ASP Dream Tour event in her backyard could prove advantageous to the young goofy-footer’s bid for an ASP Women’s World Title.

“I’m pretty happy about the ASP Women’s World Tour coming to my home town in New Zealand next year,” Hareb said. “I know a lot of the girls have never been before and have wanted to come here for a long time. The surf is really consistent around that time of the year so I can’t wait to show the girls what my coast has to offer. It’s going to be pretty exciting!”

The addition of New Zealand to the ASP Women’s World Tour in 2010 is the latest in a string of successes for professional women’s surfing, having recently confirmed the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach event for November this year and with the 2010 season shaping up to be one of its’ best ever.

“This is the first ever World Tour event to be held in New Zealand making this a historic step for both professional surfing and sports in the country,” Brooke Farris, ASP Women’s World Tour Manager, said. “It’s fantastic to see the people of New Zealand putting all their support behind tour rookie Paige Hareb. It will be very exciting to see Paige bring the tour to her local town and perform in front of the masses.”

New Zealand’s Taranaki, for their part, are ecstatic to host the world’s best female surfers next season. In addition to adding an ASP Women’s World Tour event to the 2010 schedule, Taranaki will also host an ASP Grade-3 Girl’s Pro Junior, boasting the richest prize purse on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Girl’s Series, AUD $8,000.

“Surfing sits at the heart of Taranaki’s innovation and culture,” Stuart Trundle, Chief Executive of Venture Taranaki Trust, said. “We’re stoked that Taranaki has been ed as the venue to host the New Zealand leg of the ASP Dream Tour next year. This event gives us the opportunity to showcase our world-class athletes, the legendary point breaks they call home, and the innovative surf industry that’s grown here.”

The next stop on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour will be the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic at Sydney’s Northern Beaches from September 30 through October 5, 2009.

For more information, log onto aspworldtour.com.

Day three of the 42nd annual ESA Championships—affectionately called “The Easterns” ‘round these parts—was held today (despite a midday rainstorm of epic proportions) at Lighthouse Jetty on the Outer Banks in waist to chest high and rippable surf. The adult divisions wrapped up today and as usual, Floridian surfers were the standouts. While New Hampshire legend Peter Pan claims that it’s because they’re used to surfing crappy waves, I’m of the belief that it’s because they just plain rip! Check the results of all the adult divisions below…

Anyway, the kids are all geared up to start their ESA title hunts tomorrow and with conditions predicted to be on the fun side, we’re looking forward to a heavy dose of shredding from “The Best Of The East”. Go get ‘em kids, the world is watching! To check the schedule and more info, go to SurfESA.org.—Justin Cote

2009 EASTERNS ADULT AWARDS

Ladies Longboard
1st Place  JO PICKETT        SNC
2nd Place  ANA BAREND                 SNE
3rd Place   BETH SCHUB                  CNC
4th Place   NATHALIE GLENN         CNC

Mens Longboard
1st Place   TY MILLER                        NFL
2nd Place  CHRIS  MAKIBBAN          DMV
3rd Place   KEVIN DEWALD               SNJ
4th Place   THOMAS CAPPS               CNC

Masters Longboard
1st Place   KAI DILLING                     SSC
2nd Place  JASON MOTES           NFL
3rd Place  SCOTT HOLMES                   NFL
4th Place  MITCH KAUFMAN       NFL

Legends Longboard
1st Place   JESSE FERNANDEZ       OBNC
2nd Place  BILL WHATLEY            NCFL
3rd Place   RICK ANSON            SSC
4th Place   DAVID SLEDGE                 CNC

Women
1st Place   MALLORY TURNER           NFL
2nd Place  Maria Kuzmovich                  NCFL
3rd Place   JESSIE CARNES                  NFL
4th Place   TEALE BECHENBACH       NFL

Ladies
1st Place   MINDY FITZPATRICK        CNC
2nd Place  ANA BAREND                     SNE
3rd Place   KATE  WHATLEY               NCFL
4th Place   TERRY  GREEN                    NSC

Masters
1st Place   JEFF ANTHONY                    NY
2nd Place  SHAWN CLARK                   NSC
3rd Place   JESSE McCRERY                  SSC
4th Place   DAVID MANSOR                  SNJ

Senior Men
1st Place   JASON MOTES                      NFL
2nd Place  PAT EMERY                            CNJ
3rd Place   DANIEL SACCHI                    SNC
4th Place   RODRIGO MIRANDA            SAFL

Grandmasters
1st Place   JESSE FERNANDEZ                OBNC
2nd Place  MITCH KAUFMAN                  NFL
3rd Place   JOE GROTTOLA                      SNJ
4th Place   BILL WHATLEY                      NCFL

Legends
1st Place   BILL WILLEM                           CNJ
2nd Place  DAVID SLEDGE                        CNC
3rd Place   BOBBY HOLLAND                    VA
4th Place   TOM LEONIK                             SNJ

Grand Legends
1st Place   PAUL EATON                             CFL
2nd Place  Bryant Hungerford                       DMV
3rd Place   TOM McCLAREN                       SNJ
4th Place   KITTY PECHET                           SNE
5th Place   CHUM  McCRANELS                 PBFL

Men
1st Place   DAVID HOLLOWAY                  NFL
2nd Place  JUAN CARLOS GERENA           PRC
3rd Place   JEFFREY BARDEN                    PCFL
4th Place   BRYCE HUMPHREY                   VA

The big ESA adult family. Photo: Bielmann/SPL

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Mick Fanning puts the screws to Dane Reynolds to win the biggest first place check in surfing.

Earlier this summer Mick Fanning made the finals at the U.S. Open, and had a sniff at winning the largest first place prizemoney in surfing history, but he couldn’t close the deal. So it was only fitting that today, with Hurley adding five grand on top of that historic 100k, Mick Fanning would be the one to get the check.

Going up against an in-form Dane Reynolds (who had the two highest wave scores of the event), Fanning put on a contest surfing clinic in the final. It was a tricky 30 minutes of surfing, with a long lull kicking things off. Despite the lull Mick found a medium sized right and blasted a few vicious top turns for a 7.83. And then cruelly, it went flat again.

Finally a flurry of waves stacked up, and Dane logged a tenuous five, falling on the end of it. Then somehow he scrambled on to three more waves within a minute and a half but fell on two of them and only the third would end up as a keeper. In earlier heats he’d appeared sure-footed and deliberate, but in the final it seemed he just couldn’t find his rhythm. He later said he was cramping up before the final and was actually hooked up to an I.V. for some quick hydration.

A few minutes later another row of lines peaked up, and both surfers were able to catch a wave, then race back out and get another one at the end of the set. On his two Dane racked up an unimpressive 1.1 and a 5.77. Meanwhile, Fanning had ripped the gills off of his for an 8.5, and then a 8.9. That would leave Reynolds deep in combo-land. With just more than five minutes left, all the tail wafts and air reverse 360s in the world couldn’t get him out of the hole.

Still, it was good for the best result of his young World Tour career. With his third place finish at J-Bay, just before Lowers, Reynolds now sits just one spot outside of the top ten. “It was a good time,” Reynolds said. “You can’t win your first final, can you?”

In addition to winning the record breaking $105,000, the victory also shot Fanning up to second in the World Tour rankings. He’s now 936 points behind fellow Coolie kid Joel Parkinson, heading into the European leg of the tour.

And what of Kelly Slater and his quest for the record tenth world title? Slater got third today, quietly continuing is campaign. Although he’s still mathematically in the title hunt at sixth place, he’ll have to be near perfect from here on out, and Parko will have to get some 17ths or worse. Luckily for us and European Slater fans, he’s said that he will be heading over to the Euro leg of the tour.—Casey Koteen

Mick Fanning wins the highest prize purse in the history of surfing. Photo: English

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.40
2 – Dane Reynolds (USA) 13.10

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Dane Reynolds (USA) 16.77 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.23
SF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.26 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 10.74

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.83 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.50
QF 2: Dane Reynolds (USA) 18.20 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 12.50
QF 3: Kelly Slater (AUS) 13.84 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 8.17
QF 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.50 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.00

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.67 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 5.83
Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.50 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.00
Heat 3: Taylor Knox (USA) 9.50 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 3.67
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) 13.60 def. Rob Machado (USA) 10.94
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.83 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.50
Heat 6: Heitor Alves (BRA) 14.16 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.27
Heat 7: Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.83 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.96
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.63 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 10.43

CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 RATINGS:
1 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5486 points
2 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 4550 points
3 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 4348 points
4 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 4272 points
5 – Damien Hobgood (USA) 3974 points
6 – Kelly Slater (USA) 3906 points
7 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 3760 points
8 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 3685 points
9 – Taylor Knox (USA) 3616 points
10 – Bobby Martinez (USA) 3582 points

Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22, current ASP World No. 3, will take on Australian aerial maestro Josh Kerr (AUS), 25, in Heat 2 of Round 4. Photo courtesy ASP/Rowland

LOWER TRESTLES, California (Saturday, September 19, 2009) – The Hurley Pro Trestles, Event No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, is in the water with the final day of competition commencing in clean three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) waves at Lower Trestles.

“We’re going to start at 8am this morning with Round 4 and we’ll be running all the way through the Finals this afternoon,” Pat O’Connell, Hurley Pro Trestles Contest Director, said. “We’ve got some fun waves on offer this morning and we’re hoping it will build throughout the afternoon. We will have a champion today.”

History will be made today as the richest prize purse in surfing, US $105,000, will be awarded to the victor of the Hurley Pro Trestles.

Up first this morning will be former event winner Bede Durbdige (AUS), 26, up against compatriot Kai Otton (AUS), 29, in Heat 1 of Round 4.

The Hurley Pro Trestles will be web LIVE via hurley.com/hurleypro/.

A LIVE HD showing of the Hurley Pro Trestles will be available via fuel.tv.

For more information, log onto aspworldtour.com.

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 3: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Steph Gilmore. Photo courtesy SurferPoll.com/Ellis

Steph Gilmore, Alana Blanchard and Mick Fanning star at surfing’s night of nights…
Surfing’s night of nights - the Surfer Poll & Video Awards - was held in Southern California this week, honouring the sport’s best surfers, photographers, film makers and industry folk alike.

The Rip Curl crew were there in force, shining on stage, on the red carpet and in the award list.

Reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore finally got her just-deserves and was awarded with the Best Female Surfer award for 2009.

Steph beat out perennial Surfer Poll Women’s Champion Sofia Mulanovich in second, Carissa Moore in third, Coco Ho in fourth and Rip Curl’s Alana Blanchard in fifth.

Alana Blanchard. Photo courtesy SurferPoll.com/Ellis

As well as finishing fifth in the Best Female Surfer, Alana earned deserved props for her sexy look on the night, causing snapped necks left and right from everyone in the building (and watching the live webcast).

Mick Fanning. Photo courtesy SurferPoll.com/Ellis

2007 ASP Men’s World Champ Mick Fanning was also on hand to pick up another Surfer Poll award, finishing fourth in the voting for Best Male Surfer.

Mick finished second in the 2008 Surfer Poll Awards, but considering the recent form of Kelly Slater and Joel Parkinson (who finished first and second respecitively) was very happy with his result.

Ian Battrick. Photo: Tim Nunn

St.Agnes, North Cornwall, UK – September 19th: “There’s been lots of earthquakes, which is scary as we’re right on a fault line out here, not a great place to be so close to sea level, we’re hoping the quakes settle soon as we’re expecting a crazy swells and with a bit of luck 10-20 second barrels at Nokandui,” said Ian Battrick, Finisterre Ambassador.

The Mentawaii islands have held a strong draw to travelling surfers thanks to their tropical water and picture perfect reef passes, yet as Finisterre ambassador Ian Battrick has been finding out they also lie over a ‘hot spot’ for tectonic activity, with the area showing some major earthquakes in the last couple of weeks. On a diet of rice and fish and constant earthquake alert, Battrick has been putting some quality time in, product testing Finisterre gear to the fullest and waiting for one of the heaviest and fastest lefts in the world; Kandui, or the more aptly named ‘Nokandui’ to work.

Tom Kay, Finisterre’s Founder, was at a loss for words, when he saw the video Battrick sent over of him riding out a huge ten-second barrel. “This guy continues to put himself and our product, in some heavy situations, inspiring stuff to think we were a part of it.”  “Just watch the guy paddling out through the channel, he pulls up to get a better view and throw his hands up in celebration, think that says it all”, said marketing director Ernest Capbert.

For more information on Ian Battrick’s adventures and a video of the ten-second barrel, head over to Finisterre’s blog at finisterreuk.com/thepost.

Finisterre is a small and exclusive brand located on the cliffs of Northern Cornwall, pioneering in the areas of sustainability and technical apparel for the surfer.

finisterreuk.com

From www.joelparko.com…

Said Parko, "When I left the beach it was probably the angriest I’ve ever been after losing a heat."

Okay, second at Surfer Poll.

Well, I got fourth last year, so it was a step in the right direction. I hadn’t given it any thought until a few days before. I thought I might be lucky to scrape into the top five, so getting a second was a surprise. I was the first non-American, the first non-Kelly. He seems to win it most years. The guy is so huge over here in the States it’s no surprise he keeps winning it. But I was almost happier about Still Filthy winning Movie of the Year than me finishing second, because I worked really hard on that. I got the last section so I felt like a big part of the movie. That was a win in itself. That was pretty rewarding.

What were your thoughts paddling out against Machado?

I fully thought, the way Trestles breaks, that in a half hour heat it always throws up a bomb wave at some time, and whoever has priority when it comes through usually wins. Well a bomb did come through and Rob got it, but luckily for me he didn’t really connect with it so well. It wasn’t even in his top two. When he stood up on that wave I went, “Okay, I’m in trouble,” but luckily for me he only tagged a five or something out of if. I was behind, but all the way through I was thinking I’d get my shot at pegging him back. Then when that last second wave came through I thought really had a chance. And when I took off on that wave on the hooter I thought, okay, this is it. I was only chasing a 5.77 or something. I got up, heard the hooter with a second to spare, and fully thought I’d got it. But with the delay between the hooter and the lineup, a two second delay or something, I was a second too late I suppose. I fully thought I’d got it in the water, but got to the beach and found out I hadn’t. Lucky I didn’t claim it, hey?

What was your initial reaction?

I was walking up the beach when I heard the last wave didn’t count. I was blowing up, going, “That’s bullshit!” But I just didn’t allow for the two-second delay. They reckon they’re going to look at the situation. It’s happened before with Kelly at Bells before. And if you thought I blew up, you shoulda seen him!

It’s just about the only close call that’s gone against you all year. Were you waiting for it to happen?

I’ve had enough of those things in my career; it’s just like water off a duck’s back. It’s sport. I’ve had so many close calls go my way this year, had a few get out of jail cards this year, it was due. At the Quikky with Davo, stuff like that, you’ve got to give and take, and it was a close call and I’m totally fine with it. I’d just rather channel my energy somewhere better than being bitter about that.

If Parko stood up a split second earlier on this wave you wouldn't be reading this interview...

You seemed okay later on…

When I got home I was really angry. When I left the beach it was probably the angriest I’ve ever been after losing a heat. It took me a couple of hours but I rang a mate at home who put a bit of light on the subject, and I hung up laughing. It put it all in a better light. I thought of all the good calls I’ve had.

Go to www.joelparko.com for the full interview…

With transworldsurf.com about to head back East for the ESA Eastern’s, we’re getting psyched for some sandbar barrels with some help from the bros at Ergo. Not only are we getting excited about the possibility of getting some fun surf, there’s also a big welcoming party for everyone that will be hosted by the fine folks atReal Watersports in the town of Waves Thursday night from 6-10 where the film Patience will be screened and a pig will be eaten Hawaiian style. Thank to Bryan Elkus for the photos! Check the flyer below for party details and come party with us!

Ransom Surf Wax
September 18, 2009
Carlsbad, California

RANSOM surfwax is proud to announce its selection as the “Official Surf Wax” of the 2010 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships.  The 8th Edition of the International Surfing Association’s annual event will be held at the famous Piha beach in Auckland, New Zealand, January 20 - 28. The prestigious event will showcase National Teams from many of the ISA’s 55 member countries - among them Australia, Brazil, Tahiti, France, South Africa and the United States – who will compete to be crowned World Junior Champion Nation as well as individual champions in three divisions, Boys Under 18, Boys Under 16 and Girls Under 18.

For more information on the ISA and the Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championships, visit www.isasurf.org.

ABOUT RANSOM: Our wax is a unique blend of ingredients including soy, bees, and tree resins.  RANSOM is made by surfers for surfers and has one goal:  To keep your feet stuck on your board.  RANSOM is proud to support the top junior surfers in the world on their quest for the ISA podium.  Visit www.ransomwax.com.

Vision-Challenged? Capture Your Action For The “You Gotta See This” Video Contest; $5,000 Goes To Best Video That Puts Need For Ilasik Into Focus

SANTA ANA, CA - For those motivated to move on to better vision without the hassle of prescription glasses, the company bringing you the iLASIK® Procedure is launching the “You Gotta See This” video contest (www.gottaseethisnow.com) for a chance at $5,000, or roughly the price of the procedure. The iLASIK Procedure is the world’s most modern form of LASIK surgery where two lasers, instead of one, are used to deliver the most advanced and personalized vision correction available today.

Prescription lenses are supposed to bring life into focus, but for those active in the surf, on snow, in the dirt, or on the street, they can be a make-or-break element. Corrective lenses can break or fall off at inopportune times and are not ideal under helmets or goggles. The high-impact, high-risk nature of action sports makes laser vision correction an attractive option.

The premise of the “You Gotta See This” video contest is simple: Life is better with clearer vision. The crew at the company that brings you the iLASIK Procedure wants you to show the world how better vision could improve your life. If you’ve already had the iLASIK Procedure, capture how clear vision has made your life better.

To enter the contest, create a video up to 90 seconds in length and submit your video to www.gottaseethisnow.com. The video can be of anything you want but must be applicable to one of three categories:

* “My prescription lenses are getting in the way of my good time.”
* “My favorite sport or activity would be so much cooler with better vision.”
* “You should see life after the iLASIK Procedure.”

The contest encourages contestants to get creative with their entries. Have some slam footage lying around from your last snowboard trip? Throw it in there. Ever walk up to someone in a bar, thinking they’re someone totally different? Tell us about it! Just keep it PG-13.

The 12-week contest runs through December 10, 2009 (11:59 p.m. P.T.). Winners will be chosen on January 10, 2010. Entries will be judged on overall creativity, association with the topic of better vision and votes received from the general public. One Grand Prize winner will win $5,000, the approximate market value for the iLASIK Procedure. Three First Prize winners, one from each category, will win an HDTV package valued at $2,500 a piece. Three Second Prize winners, one from each category, will win the Flip UltraHD™ camcorder, a $199.99 value. Official rules and more details on the contest are available online at www.gottaseethisnow.com/pages/ilasik/rules. Connect with us on Facebook.

About iLASIK:

The iLASIK Procedure’s advanced technology and safety have gotten the nod from both NASA and the U.S. Military, and is allowed to be used to treat their sharpshooters, fighter pilots and astronauts.

For more information about iLASIK, visit www.iLASIK.com. To view the social media version of this press release, visit http://pitch.pe/25033.

Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) can only be performed by a trained physician and is specified for reduction or elimination of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism as indicated within the product labeling. Laser refractive surgery is contraindicated for patients: a) with collagen vascular, autoimmune, or immunodeficiency diseases; b) who are pregnant or nursing women; c) with signs of keratoconus or abnormal corneal topography; d) who are taking one or both of the following medications: Isotretinoin (Accutane) and Amiodarone hydrochloride (Cordarone). Potential side effects to laser refractive surgery may include glare, dry eye, as well as other visual anomalies. LASIK requires the use of a microkeratome that cuts a flap on the surface of the cornea, potential side effects may include flap related complications. Consult with your eye care professional and Patient Information Booklet regarding the potential risks and benefits for laser refractive surgery, results may vary for each individual patient.

Restricted Device: U.S. Federal Law restricts this device to sale, distribution, and use by or on the order of a physician or other licensed eye care practitioner. U.S. Federal Law restricts the use of this device to practitioners who have been trained in its calibration and operation and who have experience in the surgical treatment and management of refractive errors.

Tommy Tant Memorial Classic October 10-11 in Flagler Beach, Florida

10th Annual Tommy Tant Memorial Classic Oct. 10-11 In Flagler Beach, Florida

It’s time to grab your board, book your flight, and clear your calendar for the Tenth Annual Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Classic! This year’s contest will be held October 10-11, 2009 in Flagler Beach, Florida. It promises to be a big weekend of surfing, art, food, and family… as we celebrate the life of Tommy and the community he loved so much.

Event proceeds fund the Tommy Tant Memorial Scholarship Fund, helping local students attend college, and the Flagler County Resource Center, providing food to children and families in need in Flagler County.

Click HERE for more info!

With a little combo swell in the water yesterday (remind me again why the Hurley Pro Trestles didn’t run?) we bailed work in order to “create content” and test out some new gadgets we had laying around the office, namely a cell phone-sized Vado HD video camera and a GoPro waterproof video/still camera. We met up with Dane Reynolds, Rob Machado (who threw down some “locals only” vibe), Julian Wilson, and super grom Ian Gentil. The usual “Lot Lizard” suspects were there too, dudes like Blair Marlin, Paul Roach and Johnny Seaside. Anyway, the waves were really fun, the water was warm, and a bit of ripping went down. Hope you enjoy the entertaining yet headache-inducing video (what’s up with the Vado cam shaking so bad?) and let it be known I blew it with the GoPro ‘cuz I had it on photo mode instead of video most of the time. Either way it was  good time and hopefully some of you out there got some fun surf.—JC

Check Jack English’s photos below…

Pacific Surf Gallery

San Diego photographer Rob Gilley’s grand re-opening this Saturday night (9/20) in the Cardiff square next to Seaside Market. The gallery will be teaming with Gilley’s photos, plus art works by various artists like Chris Del Moro and more. Finger foods and drinks will go down extra nice when you’re vibing to the vinyl spinning’s of DJ extraordinaire, Rashi.

“Chill and Ride” is THE wakeboard festival in Freistett / Germany! http://chillandride.de

Cam&Cut: Wolfgang Gäbler (aka Gogo6969) http://gogo6969.com / http://karlsruhe.eins.de

Music: http://jamendo.com
Shearer - Pirates - http://shearer.de
Professor Kliq - Bust This Bust That

Amateur Men: 1. Siggi Pranke / 2. Sven Assmuth / 3. Tobias Volpon

Wakesurf: 1. Jürg Röthlisberger / 2. Korina Smyrek / 3. Sepp Ascherl

Pro Women: 1. Elke Venken / 2. Pete Reißmann / 3. Kerstin Kleinenbrands

Pro Men: 1. Yann Calvez / 2. Lucas Langlois / 3. David Vervenne

Equipment:

Sony PMW-EX1
Manfrotto 190MF3/701RC2
Steadystick
Final Cut Pro
Magic Bullet Looks
Apple Mac Pro

The Last Secret Spot On Earth with Bruce Irons, Benji Weatherley (pictured), Jay Davies, Garut Widiarta, Marlon Gerber, and Rizal Tanjung.

As seen in the newest issue of TransWorld SURF, in late July we sent an all-star cast of rippers to one of the world’s last secret spots somewhere out in the Indian Ocean. Suffice to say, with a cover of Bruce and a big feature, they scored big time. Team leader and tube maestro Rizal Tanjung is tight-lipped about this spot. We begged him for a half hour straight to drop a hint and he just laughed: “You come to Bali and I’ll take you there—but I’m going to blindfold you on the way.” Enjoy and good luck trying to find it…

Cote’s Cube gambling edition with Oahu’s Keanu Asing and Creed McTaggart from Margaret River in West Oz. With a couple sick clips under their belt in Billabong’s new movie, Still Filthy, the boys came in with their chests puffed out a bit. Well we took care of that swagger with a quick ass-whipping on the K1 Racing track next door to TransWorld HQ’s, but, at the end of the day, these two have the last laugh as they’re some of the best young kids in the world and we’re just a couple office barns. Burn. Check their slideshow below…

Mick Fanning will face Kieren Perrow in Round 4 when the Hurley Pro resumes.

LOWER TRESTLES, California (Thursday, September 17, 2009) – The Hurley Pro Trestles, Event No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, has been called off today, with inconsistent two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf on offer this morning.

Five days into the waiting period, the Hurley Pro Trestles has already enjoyed a solid three of competition, and with one full day of competition remaining, event organizers are looking to finish in the best conditions possible.

“We’re off today but I’m really hoping to see an increase in swell tomorrow,” Pat O’Connell, Hurley Pro Contest Director, said. “We have one full day of competition remaining with Round 4 through the Finals, but I’m hoping to run Round 4 tomorrow and the Quarters through the Finals on Saturday.”

Surfline, official forecaster of the Hurley Pro Trestles, is calling for some southwest energy to fill in throughout the next couple of days.

When the event recommences, up first will be former event winner Bede Durbdige (AUS), 26, up against compatriot Kai Otton (AUS), 29.

Highlights from past days’ Hurley Pro Trestles will be available via hurley.com/hurleypro/.

A LIVE HD showing of the Hurley Pro Trestles will be available via fuel.tv.

Downloadable media is available at hurley.com/downloads/hurleypro.

For more information, log onto aspworldtour.com.

HURLEY PRO TERSTLES ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 3: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Results from the 2nd Annual Canggu Surf Club (CSC) Surf contest held a couple weeks ago at Bali’s premier beach break.

Under 15

1. Jun

2.Moi

3. Jeren

4. Pandu

Under 18

1. Sodox

2. Karbit

3. Gawat

4. Klemping

Open Division:

1. Cupus

2. Suta

3. Kerix

4. Mer

Big thanks to all the sponsors including Rip Curl, Matuse, The Beach Store, The Beach House, SUP Bali, Luke Stuper, www.homeinbali.com, Perfect Swell and more!

Current ASP World Tour points leader Joel “Parko” Parkinson comments on getting back into the water after a recent ankle injury sustained while training in Bali and looks forward to his Hurley Pro Trestles heat against Rob Machado…which he ended up losing. No worries mate, get ‘em in France!

For more Parko go to joelparko.com

Surfboards In The Sand

PT Invites You To HB For Rip Curl’s “Surfboards In The Sand” This Saturday The 19th

How many surfboards can we get in the sand on Saturday is the challenge, in an effort to raise awareness for our environmental issues in our surf whilst benefiting the ongoing efforts of the Surfrider Foundation and The Orange County Coast Keepers.

On-site registration begins with the “Dawn Patrol” at 6.30am, through 10.00am. and that will be followed by a historic photo of the inaugural Rip Curl’s “Surfboards in the Sand” scheduled to take place between 10.00am and 11.00am including an aerial shot from a helicopter.

You can register online at surfboardsinthesand.com for $10.00 until the end of the day Thursday the 17th, or on the beach for $20.00 on Saturday, which gets you a commemorative Rip Curl T-Shirt, subscription to TransWorld SURF and a wristband that will get you discounts on Main Street all day long.

Registrants will join surf legends, champions and celebrities including the first women’s champion at the pier Linda Benson, the current Hurley US Open champions at the pier Brett Simpson and Courtney Conlogue and three-time World Champion Tom Curren.

The event is proving to be a mini-reunion for the Eighties cult classic Hollywood surf movie “North Shore” with cast members Gregory Harrison (Chandler), Matt Adler (Rick Kane), Nia Peeples (Kiani) and John Philbin (Turtle) all attending and will be joined by actress Tanna Frederick who recently starred in Henry Jaglom’s “Irene in Time”.

In addition, there will live music in the outdoor auditorium from noon until three.

Come out and support these great causes and enjoy a fun day at the beach.

For more info email surfboards@surfcityusa attention Nicole.

Carlsbad, CA-TransWorld SURF, the leader in surf media, announced today it has joined with Huntington Beach, California to sponsor an “Epic Day” in surfing history.

The event, called the Rip Curl “Surfboards In The Sand,” will take place on September 19, 2009 next to the Huntington Beach Pier. The purpose of the event is to honor surfing and to raise awareness and funding for protecting the coastal environment.

Proceeds from the event will be used to provide funding to Orange County Coastkeeper and The Surfrider Foundation Huntington Beach Chapter.

“TransWorld SURF is really excited to be apart of such a historic day for Huntington Beach and the surrounding surfing communities,” says Charlie Anderson Publisher of TransWorld SURF. “As surfers, we all care so much about the environment and all share a deep concern for protecting our waves. This is a great opportunity for TransWorld to get involved and give back a little.”

As part of its contribution to the cause, TransWorld SURF will include a 1-year subscription valued at $14.95 to everyone who preregisters for the event by September 10. Preregistration costs just $10.

Attendees will enjoy a truly epic day in surfing including free live entertainment, special deals from
participating merchants and sponsors, and the opportunity to appear in a historical and potentially record-setting group photograph that will appear in TransWorld SURF and other publications.

Those who cannot attend can still support the cause by purchasing a Rip Curl Surf Boards In The Sand T-shirt
online.

“We are so pleased to have TransWorld SURF as a partner in this worthy cause,” says Donna Mulgrew, Vice President and COO of the Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau. “TransWorld SURF and Huntington Beach are both icons in surfing and we are both devoted to protecting the oceans we love.”

Attendees who want to take advantage of the free Rip Curl T-shirt offer MUST pre-register online by September 10. Registrations received after September 10 will cost $20 and T-shirt supplies will be limited.

Register online at SurfboardsInTheSand.com.

Meet Rip Curl’s Pro team including Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore, Tom Curren, Kekoa Bacalso, Ben Dunn, and Taylor Knox Thursday at the Rip Curl Surf Center in San Clemente, CA.

While known more for it's shredable peaks, apparently Ponto is a hotbed for human smuggling as well. Adam Wickwire. Photo: Checky.

Ponto Used As Human Smuggling Drop Off Point

I wonder what the make it to getting caught ratio is with these human smuggling operations? The thought of 23 people (who probably don’t swim well) wading onto the beach at 2am is kinda sketchy…

As reported on www3.signonsandiego.com/stories

CARLSBAD — A search for immigrants believed to have disembarked from an abandoned boat early Wednesday morning led to the discovery of another boat and the arrests of 23 people.

Border Patrol agents and sheriff’s deputies were searching the area near Ponto Beach after discovering the suspected smuggling boat onshore about 2:30 a.m., said Coast Guard Petty Officer Henry Dunphy.

No one was found on land, but officials did find another boat at 4 a.m. about eight miles offshore and a little farther south, Dunphy said.

Twenty-three people aboard the panga were apprehended and turned over to the Border Patrol, Dunphy said.

Ponto beach was the drop-off point for another group of suspected illegal immigrants in August.

Twenty-three Mexican nationals were apprehended as they waded onshore after being dropped off, Border Patrol officials said.

Hurley Pro Trestles
Stop No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour
Lower Trestles, California USA
September 13 – 19, 2009

Tahiti's Michel Bourez. Photo: ASP/Getty

Hurley Pro Trestles
Stop No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour
Lower Trestles, California USA
September 13 – 19, 2009

Lay Day Called For Hurley Pro Trestles

LOWER TRESTLES, California (Wednesday, September 16, 2009) – The Hurley Pro Trestles, Stop No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, has been called off today, with only small, inconsistent surf on offer at Lower Trestles this morning.

With three days remaining in the waiting period after today, and only one full day of competition left to run, the Hurley Pro Trestles will look run the world’s best surfers in the best possible conditions on offer.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.

Surfline, official forecaster of the Hurley Pro Trestles, is calling for today’s combination swell to dissipate throughout the next couple of days before tracking some southwest energy later in the week.

When the event recommences, up first will be former event winner Bede Durbdige (AUS), 26, up against compatriot Kai Otton (AUS), 29.

Highlights from past days’ Hurley Pro Trestles will be available via www.hurley.com/hurleypro/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Hurley Pro Trestles Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 3: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Nathaniel Curran Giveaway. Photo: Dorsey/Stryker

After his best finish on the World Tour yet (at J-Bay), Nathaniel Curran is feeling generous—he went ahead and gave us a huge prize package for you to win! This hefty giveaway includes a massive box of gear from Alpinestars; five pairs of Cobian sandals; Famous tractions pads, leash, and wax; and a Nathaniel-used Channel Islands board!

Nathaniel Gear 1

Nathaniel Gear 2

All you have to do to win is tell us why you think Nathaniel should be the ASP World Tour’s Rookie of the Year. Enter below in the comments, and make sure to register for the site so we can contact the winner.

Platinum Recording Singer-Songwriter Named Official Supporter For The Organization

San Clemente, CA (September 16, 2009) – The Surfrider Foundation announced today that platinum singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat has partnered with the organization as an official supporter. As supporter, Colbie will be working to promote the organization and increase awareness about the importance of marine protected areas.  This week when Caillat kicks off her BREAKTHROUGH TOUR in support of her #l album of the same name, the Surfrider Foundation will be represented at concerts in selected cities.

“We are extremely excited to be working with Colbie,” says Matt McClain, Surfrider Foundation’s Director of Marketing and Communications.  “We are looking forward to working with her so that she can share her passion and enthusiasm for marine life and environments with her fans.”

Growing up in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Colbie’s relationship began with the beach the moment she was born.  Throughout her childhood, and to this day, Colbie and her family vacation on Kauai; walking the pristine beaches and enjoying the ocean.   The beach is a place she retreats to when writing, and the salt water, cool breeze and grainy sand beneath her feet makes her feel at home. That sense of ease and nature underlies the mellow laid-back songs that have made her one of today’s most popular recording artists.

“The ocean has played such an important role in my life and musical career, it is disheartening to know that the health of some of our most gorgeous beaches and beautiful waves is at risk,” Caillat warns.  “Only five minutes from where I was born, the Surfrider Beach in Malibu is one of the most polluted in the country.  By joining up with the Surfrider Foundation, I’m able to make a difference and help protect our coastlines for future generations.”

Colbie’s sophomore album Breakthrough, the follow-up to her multi-platinum debut Coco, debuted at #l last month.   Her first single, “Fallin’ For You,” with a hilarious Malloy Bros-directed video, was filmed on the beach North of Malibu,

Colbie’s nationwide BREAKTHROUGH TOUR will kick off on Thursday, September 17 at the Anaheim House of Blues, and conclude October 23 at the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas.  For a complete list of tour dates, see below or visit colbiecaillat.com.

About Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches.  Now in its 25th year, the Surfrider Foundation has grown from a small group of dedicated surfers in Malibu, California to a global movement made up of over 50,000 members and 90 chapters worldwide. For more information visit us at surfrider.org.

Colbie Caillat BREAKTHROUGH TOUR
9/15/2009 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
9/16/2009 – House of Blues – Anaheim, CA
9/17/2009 – House of Blues – Anaheim, CA
9/18/2009 – Tempe Beach Park – Tempe, AZ
9/19/2009 – Warnors Center for the Performing Arts – Fresno, CA
9/21/2009 – Knitting Factory Concert House – Boise, ID
9/22/2009 – Knitting Factory Concert House – Spokane, WA
9/23/2009 – Showbox Sodo – Seattle, WA
9/25/2009 – Grand Sierra Resort Theatre – Reno, NV
9/26/2009 – Discovery Park – Sacramento, CA
9/27/2009 – Golden Gate Park – San Francisco, CA
9/29/2009 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
9/30/2009 – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
10/2/2009 – In The Venue – Salt Lake City, UT
10/3/2009 – Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO
10/5/2009 – Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI
10/6/2009 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
10/7/2009 – Riviera Theatre – Chicago, IL
10/9/2009 – Royal Oak Music Theatre – Royal Oak, MI
10/10/2009 – Kool Haus – Toronto, ON
10/11/2009 – Orpheum Theatre – Boston, MA
10/13/2009 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
10/14/2009 – Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA
10/16/2009 – Roseland Ballroom – New York, NY
10/17/2009 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
10/19/2009 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA
10/20/2009 – House of Blues – Lake Buena Vista, FL
10/22/2009 – Stubb’s BBQ/Waller Creek Amphitheater – Austin, TX
10/23/2009 – Palladium Ballroom – Dallas, TX
10/24/2009 – The Clarion at Brazosport College – Lake Jackson, TX
10/26/2009 – Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ
10/27/2009 – House of Blues – West Hollywood, CA
10/28/2009 – House of Blues – West Hollywood, CA

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Poor me. On magazine deadline and locked into my little cubicle, I watched day three of the Hurley Pro Trestles just like a million other people—on a computer screen. It’s kinda like watching a football game from home though—you get instant replays, color commentary (Brock Little’s dry humor is pretty entertaining), no sunburn, and for Trestles, no 1/2 mile walk to the beach. Just me writing off the world’s best surfers and my little computer friend. I even managed to get some work done, too.

Out of the remaining surfers, obviously Kelly Slater is a favorite pick to win the $105,000 (Hurley threw in 5 more G’s to make the prize purse bigger than the US Open), but you shouldn’t count out the Hobgood’s—they’re both looking dangerous. I’d like to see Dane Reynolds get his competitive act on par with his free-surfing too—he’s so good and fun to watch it’s sickening. As for my darkhorse pick, keep and eye on Brazil’s Heitor Alves; he surfs lightning fast and has a really neat backside, perfectly suited for the long rights of Lowers.

Anyway, it sounds like the Hurley Pro Trestles will resume Saturday, but we’ll see, there’s south swell in the water right now, if it was my call I’d have the boys ready to go on a minutes notice.—JC

ASP World Title Race Heats Up As Hurley Pro Trestles Blitzes Round 3

Tahiti's Michel Bourez. Photo: jackenglish.com

LOWER TRESTLES, California (Tuesday, September 15, 2009) – The Hurley Pro Trestles, Event No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, saw the completion of Round 3 today as the world’s best surfers ran rampant over the improved conditions, exhibiting some of the most dynamic surfing of the season as well shaking up the ASP World Title race.

Rob Machado (USA), 36, former ASP World No. 2 and wildcard in the Hurley Pro Trestles, caused the upset of the event, eliminating current ASP frontrunner Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, from competition. In a somewhat wave-starved affair, Machado tactfully asserted his dominance at the break, scoring two average waves in the opening exchanges and holding on to hand the Australian his worst result of the season.

Rob Machado. Photo: jackenglish.com

“The last thing I thought was that I would beat Parko (Joel Parkinson) with a couple of five point scores,” Machado said. “I thought those would be warm-up waves and that we would get a set and were going to post some scores and it just never happened. I’m obviously stoked. Parko is always one of the guys that I’m looking at, he’s one of my favorite surfers to watch and he’s obviously on a roll this year and killing it.”

Speculation abounds over the physical condition of Parkinson, who suffered an ankle injury while training in Bali in August, but the Australian has exhibited on-point surfing throughout the event, only falling to lack of waves in California. Regardless of the reason, Parkinson’s equal 17th today remains an uncharacteristic stumble in an otherwise flawless season, and opens the 2009 ASP World Title race up a bit more.

“I know he suffered a little ankle injury a little while ago and I don’t know if that had something to do with it – it might have been an issue,” Machado said. “If anything now, it’s going to fire him up. It’s been a long break since Jeffreys Bay and there’s a big string of events coming up in Europe, so I don’t know, maybe it will tighten up the race. It’s more exciting for me when I’m at home watching for the rest of the year.”

Kelly Slater. Photo: jackenglish.com

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and defending event winner, wasted no time in capitalizing on Parkinson’s elimination as he dominated the very next heat with calculated abandon, dissecting the rippable lefts and rights to advance through to Round 4.

“You definitely think about it (Parkinson’s elimination) – it’s impossible not to – but you can’t let it change the way you approach the heat,” Slater said. “You still have to go out there and win. That goes for the world title as well, I pretty much have to win everything from here out to put myself back in this thing.”

While Slater proved victorious in his Round 3 heat today, it wasn’t without difficulty. The Floridian’s opponent, wildcard Brett Simpson (USA), 24, is considered one of the most dangerous surfers on the planet and Slater treated the heat with caution.

“It was good to have a heat with him (Simpson),” Slater said. “Sometimes, for me, it’s harder to have a heat against a guy like Brett than someone like Parko (Parkinson) because you don’t know what to expect and you don’t get to see him all of the time. With a guy like Parko, you know he’s going to go out there and drop a couple of eights most of the time, so you know what the level is. In that heat, I felt as though if I got the biggest waves I could win the heat, because they were the best.”

A favorite at virtually every event on the ASP Dream Tour, Slater has proven particularly lethal at Lower Trestles over the course of his storied career, claiming the event in 2005, 2007 and 2008 and is on track for a fourth elite ASP World Tour event win here in 2009.

“I’ve been surfing Trestles since I was 12 and I love it here,” Slater said. “This was the spot I really wanted to surf when I was a kid and I won my first professional contest here. It’s been great to me over the years. It’s nice because it’s not so much a wave catching contest than it is a wave riding contest. You’re able to really do your thing either frontside or backside.”

Slater will face former ASP World Junior Champion and 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 24, when Hurley Pro competition resumes.

Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, current ASP World No. 20, continued to unleash his progressive approach to surfing one of the world’s most high-performance waves, punting a massive forehand air-reverse on the way to his heat victory while showing the rest of the world’s best surfers that he is a force to be reckoned with as the Hurley Pro Trestles approaches the latter rounds.

“It was actually a really bad wave so I just went for a big air because I knew they’d (the judges) would give me a big score for that,” Reynolds said. “I was lucky to make it and then I tried to milk the inside. In terms of equipment, you definitely want something fast and skatey and something you’re used to because with those long lulls and you don’t want to be surprised once you get a wave Unfortunately our heat didn’t have a lot of waves and I just made the most with what I got.”

Reynolds will take on wildcard Machado in Round 4 of the Hurley Pro Trestles.

Michel Bourez (PYF), 23, current ASP World No. 25, continued the rookie onslaught at the Hurley Pro Trestles, taking down veteran Dean Morrison (AUS), 28, with an impressive 16.10 out of a possible 20.

“That was great,” Bourez said. “A couple of lefts came through, so I’m really happy about it. I was expecting to go left out there. I was watching it earlier and I saw the judges were scoring the left, so I figured that was the option right there. I got one left and had some strong turns on it, so I was really happy about it.”

Bourez will face former ASP World Champion (2001) and current ASP World No. 2, C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, when Hurley Pro Trestles competition resumes.

Surfline, official forecaster of the Hurley Pro Trestles, is calling for today’s combination swell to dissipate throughout the next couple of days before tracking some southwest energy later in the week.

When the event recommences, up first will be former event winner Bede Durbdige (AUS), 26, up against compatriot Kai Otton (AUS), 29.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Hurley Pro Trestles Remaining Round 3 Results:
Heat 7: Dane Reynolds (USA) 13.33 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 12.94
Heat 8: Rob Machado (USA) 11.27 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.73
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.83 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 9.24
Heat 10: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.50 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 10.46
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) 15.10 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.73
Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA) 15.77 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.50
Heat 13: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.50 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 10.93
Heat 14: Michel Bourez (PYF) 16.10 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 11.60
Heat 15: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.74 def. Michael Picon (FRA) 10.33
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.84 def. Tim Boal (FRA) 13.44

Hurley Pro Trestles Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 3: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

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Celebrity Surfers Raise $5,000 for Beach and Coastal Protection

San Clemente, CA (September 14, 2009) – Despite marginal surfing conditions, celebrity surfers participating in the Surfrider Foundation’s 4th Annual Celebrity Expression Session, sponsored by the Malibu Surfing Association and Barefoot Wine, still raised over $5,000 to help the Surfrider Foundation continue its efforts towards protecting our world’s oceans, waves and beaches.

Thanks to the Malibu Surfing Association, an eclectic mix of celebrities from film, television and music were able to enjoy a rare treat - an empty First Point at Malibu’s famed Surfrider Beach. Participating athletes included Jason Mraz, Sal Masekela, Chris Shiflett of the Foo Fighters, actors David Chokachi, Eric Balfour, and Leonor Varela, musician and composer Peter DiStefano from Porno For Pyros, Martyn LeNoble, and Jane’s Addiction’s bassist Eric Avery.

For each wave the celebrities caught, Barefoot Wine was to donate $50 dollars to the Surfrider Foundation. However in response to the surfing conditions, which dropped considerably during the heat, Barefoot Wine came back and raised the donation amount to $100 per wave.

Here’s what the surfers had to say about the Celebrity Expression Session and the importance of keeping our oceans, waves and beaches clean and healthy:

“The Surfrider Foundation Celebrity Expression Session is a great way for celebrities who are also surfers and supporters of the Surfrider Foundation to directly give back,” said actor and Surfrider Foundation Keeper of the Coast recipient David Chokachi. “The more waves we catch, the more money we raise for the Foundation. At the end of the day, it is really cool to be surrounded by people who care about the coast, and who support the cause.”

“You don’t have to live near the ocean for it to have an impact on you,” said singer/songwriter Jason Mraz. “And, you don’t have to live near the ocean for you to have an impact on it.”

“Surfrider Foundation are the good guys in the fight, so I have their back,” said Eric Avery, bassist for Jane’s Addiction.

“Today was a great day for surfing,” said Matt McClain, Surfrider Foundation’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “Thanks to the celebrities from film, music and television, we raised over $5,000 for the continued protection and preservation of our coastlines.”

The Surfrider Foundation would like to thank the Malibu Surfing Association, Barefoot Wine and TransWorld SURF for helping make this year’s Celebrity Expression Session possible.

About Surfrider Foundation
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Now in its 25th year, the Surfrider Foundation has grown from a small group of dedicated surfers in Malibu, California to a global movement made up of over 50,000 members and 90 chapters worldwide. For more information visit us at www.surfrider.org

2008 Miss TransWorld SURF Heather Rose asks the questions everyone else is afraid to ask, like “What does your penis say?”, calls Ry Craike the wrong name “Ryan! Ryan!” when interviewing him, and swears like a sailor as she interviews people at the Ry Craike movie premier last weekend in San Diego. It doesn’t matter—we love her all the same. This should probably come with some kind of parental warning, so yeah, you’re warned, there’s some graphic shit in here…thanks Heather!

After beating Dayyan Neve in a tough heat, Josh Kerr turns the camera onto his peers for some hard-hitting questions…thanks Kerrsy.

“No, mine’s not the biggest…” says Jordy Smith. “Try Dino over there…”

The Second Annual Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle Of The Paddle October 3 & 4 At Doheny State Beach

Come celebrate the modern West Coast waterman’s lifestyle at the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez’s Battle of the Paddle, a stand-up paddle festival and exposition with a series of races and demonstrations that offer ocean athletes of all ages and skill levels the chance to experience this exciting new sport.

Staged at Dana Point’s historic Doheny State Beach, the Battle of the Paddle is more than an ordinary paddle race. For the sport’s elite paddlers it presents the greatest championship styled SUP race featuring an offshore course that tests not only endurance but also the open-ocean and surfing skills of the world’s best watermen and women. Not to mention a cash purse of over $25,000.

On Saturday October 3rd in the Elite Race, invited competitors on stock (12’6”) SUP boards, will complete multiple laps on a circuit that will include paddling through the surf and beaching their equipment for a short sand run around a course flag.   Last year’s Elite Race champions were Chick Patterson of Dana Point, CA and Jenny Kalmbach of the Big Island on Hawaii

In addition on Saturday (Oct. 3) will be the hugely popular Open Age-Group Race open to everyone no matter what type of SUP craft you prefer to paddle.  Last year’s Open Age-Group Race had the largest SUP field ever assembled and this year’s race is promising to be even bigger and will include a new festive costume division.

Sunday October 4th the SUP Distance Race will be open to all SUP craft categories (12’6” stock, 14 ft. and unlimited) and racers will paddle a scenic ten mile course from Doheny State Beach to San Clemente Pier and back.  Additionally, there will also be an exciting SUP Surf Relay Race for prize money to close the Battle.

This year Hawaiian organizations Na Kama Kai and Kanalu will be on site shaping ancient style surfboards and providing cultural education and ocean awareness programs.  The Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association will be organizing kid’s activities throughout the weekend.

At the SUP Expo you’ll meet the world’s best shapers and manufacturers, check out their latest board designs and paddle innovations and be able to purchase these goods at steep discounts.  Naturally there will be demo boards and paddles of all shapes and sizes available for those who want to perfect their stroke or even try SUP for the first time.

Everyone who enters The Battle of the Paddle will receive a free pair of Rainbow Sandals, event tee and lunch. There will also be a special awards luau and aloha concert hosted by the Hawaiian San Onofre Surf Club on Saturday evening October 3 featuring Titus Kinimaka and Ekolu Kalama. Event proceeds will go to the Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association.

Whether you’re racing for the prize or just getting started, The Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez’s Battle of the Paddle is the perfect way to immerse yourself in the rich tradition of Southern California’s original surf lifestyle, and the dynamic new surf/paddle discipline known as stand-up paddling.

Joe Suarez, Middles. Photo courtesy Chad Oakley/APSPR

The 16th edition of the APSPR “Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit is ready to kick off at Middles where the best surfers from the region will prove their talent as they surf for the honor, the money and their aspirations for the title. The event will take place October 3 & 4, at Middles Beach, near Isabela town and will feature $15,000 in prize money, with $10,000 going to the Men and $5,000 for the Women. Coppertone Sunscreen Company will be awarding a $500 prize for “Best Performance” to a surfer in both the Mens and Womens divisions.

Since 2001, Corona Extra has sponsored fifteen events, two or three each year, which comprise the annual points race. The 2008 APSPR Champion was Carlos Cabrero, 33, of San Juan P.R. The Middles event of the 2008 circuit was won by Isabela local Dylan Graves, 23 who captured a last-second victory in a thrilling two man Final against Cabrero.

Ariel Engstrom, Middles 2008. Photo courtesy Osiris/APSPR

On the Female side, the Corona Extra Pro Circuit again features women’s competition. The top five of 2008 were Anastasia Ashley, Lilac Alvarado, Liselie Gonzales, Connie Arias, of Florida, and Amy Murphree, P.R. All are expected to be competing at Middles.

“In addition to the cream of Puerto Rico’s surfers, we have become accustomed to welcoming visiting athletes from all over the East Coast of the US, California, the Caribbean and as far away as Hawaii”, said Viviannee Vega, Executive Director of APSPR. This year organizers are also granting seeds to four mainland surfers, based on their placing in the New Smyrna Beach, Florida Pro, which took place in April.

“Contestants wishing to enter and secure their entry need to go to the APSPR website as soon as possible. or visit Hang Loose Surf Shop, Playa Jobos, Puerto Rico. For more info contact us at apspr.net or call 787-872-2490 Tuesday’s through Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. local time.

Entries should be paid by Sept. 23. After Sept. 23 a late entry fee will be charged. Last day to receive entries is Sept 26.
The “Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit” is proudly brought to you by:
Corona Extra, Corona Light Alfa Rock, WAPA, Primera Hora, Direct TV, Jose Cuervo, Right Guard, Surfers Village, Hang Loose Surf Shop, Werner Vega Surfboards and Coppertone.

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Hurley Pro Trestles Day two photo gallery

Hurley Pro Trestles day two video highlights

Josh Kerr Wows As Hurley Pro Trestles Moves Into Elimination Rounds

LOWER TRESTLES, California (Monday, September 14, 2009) – The Hurley Pro Trestles re-ignited today with the elimination rounds of competition running in pulsing three-to-four foot (1 metre) surf at Lower Trestles.

Stop No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hurley Pro Trestles awoke to cleaner conditions today, but inconsistency would create a minefield of challenges for the world’s best surfers. Despite the difficulties, the ASP Top 45 put on an incredible show, posting some of the highest scores of the event.

Josh Kerr. Photo: jackenglish.com

Josh Kerr (AUS), 25, current ASP World No. 25, stunned spectators today with his diverse repertoire of progressive surfing, blending rotation aerials with power hacks to net the highest heat total of the day, a 17.17 out of a possible 20, to defeat an in-form Dayyan Neve (AUS), 31, in Round 2 of competition.

“I’d been here the last couple of hours and in the heat before I saw that there were a few nice rights shaping up,” Kerr said. “There seemed to be a few in our heat. Dayyan (Neve) got a couple as well. That one wave wasn’t the biggest wave, but it looked like it was going to connect down the line and that’s exactly what it did. I raced down the line and popped a little air, came around, up and down, and it stayed wally for me and I gave it a little bang off of the end.”

Inverse to the high-flying action of the Round 2 heat, Kerr’s afternoon bout against compatriot Adrian Buchan (AUS), 26, was a wave-starved affair. Sitting quiet for the majority of the heat, Kerr would only advance in the dying moments, ending Buchan’s Hurley Pro Trestles run and advancing through to Round 4.

“I guess they’re both exciting because both heats came down to the wire, just in different ways,” Kerr said. “I had a good day though. I had a good heat earlier and got to sit around and get cold in the second one, but I still came through with the win. This year has been a bit slow for me so far, so it’d be good to get a good result here at Trestles. I’d like to get on a bit of a roll with this big leg we have coming up.”

Kerr will face current ASP World No. 3 Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22, in Round 4 of the Hurley Pro Trestles.

Kai Otton (AUS), 29, current ASP World No. 19, enjoyed a career first in yesterday’s Round 1, besting ASP ratings’ leader Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, and continued the momentum through today’s Round 3. In one of the more exciting heats of the afternoon, Otton flared electric on his backhand this afternoon, netting solid scores to take down a rampaging Jay Thompson (AUS), 25.

“I was actually a little bit shaky at the start of that heat,” Otton said. “I don’t really think I felt nervous, I just felt a bit tired. I had to calm myself down and luckily I picked off two good ones. I’m coming off of a good result in Jeffreys Bay, and if I can get through a few more heats here I’ll be feeling really good.”

Otton will take on former event winner Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, in Round 4 when competition resumes.

Day 2 of the Hurley Pro Trestles was not without upsets though. Highly-touted favorites Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, Jordy Smith (AUS), 21, and Chris Ward (USA), 30, were all bundled out in Round 2 of competition, garnering equal 33rds and shifting their attention to the European leg.

Surfline, official forecaster of the Hurley Pro Trestles, is calling for today’s fetch of Northwest swell to drop slightly today and are still tracking a south swell for later in the week.

When competition resumes, first up will be California wunderkind Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, against Ben Dunn (AUS), 23, in Heat 7 of Round 3.

Highlights from today’s Hurley Pro Trestles will be available via www.hurley.com/hurleypro/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.16 def. Kai Barger (HAW) 9.93
Heat 2: Rob Machado (USA) 15.16 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.00
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.84 def. Marlon Lipke (DEU) 11.33
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.40 def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 8.53
Heat 5: Luke Stedman (AUS) 12.70 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 11.00
Heat 6: Nic Muscroft (AUS) 13.24 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.16
Heat 7: Taylor Knox (USA) 12.93 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 12.83
Heat 8: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.50 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF)13.24
Heat 9: Greg Emslie (ZAF) WIN, Mick Campbell (AUS) Injured
Heat 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 11.56 def. Jihad Khodr (AUS) 8.90
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.50 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 11.60
Heat 12: Dean Morrison (AUS) 10.50 def. Nathaniel Curran (USA) 8.93
Heat 13: Roy Powers (HAW) 12.13 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 11.57
Heat 14: Jay Thompson (AUS) 16.26 def. Chris Ward (USA) 11.26
Heat 15: Josh Kerr (AUS) 17.17 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 15.23
Heat 16: Ben Dunn (AUS) 8.23 def Dustin Barca (HAW) 7.67

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.33 def. David Weare (ZAF) 12.83
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) 16.67 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 13.50
Heat 3 Josh Kerr (AUS) 8.23 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 7.76
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.07 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 12.26
Heat 5: Taylor Knox (USA) 13.17 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 9.77
Heat 6: Roy Powers (HAW) 13.06 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.00

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 7: Dane Reynolds (USA0 vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 13: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 14: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 15: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)

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Who knew that in this crappy economy a trade show could be so much fun? Hopefully you’ll enjoy the photo gallery as much as we did creating it. Featuring the Filthy Habits premier by Billabong and Electric’s Ry Craike movie premier parties.

Matt "Hoyo" Hoy with some fun looking company...Photo: Steindler

Surf Exercises DVD With Taylor Knox

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT AN EXERCISE CLIP FEATURING TAYLOR KNOX.

Costa Mesa, CA (September 14, 2009): Rip Curl’s Taylor Knox has teamed up with his longtime trainer, Paul Hiniker, and Koastal Media to release “Surf Exercises”, a DVD aimed to showcase the exact regemine that has earned him the street cred of being one of the fittest surfers on the ASP World Tour.

The workout regimine, demonstrated on Surf Exercises, targets balance as the center piece of advanced strength, speed, and rotational flexibility to not just inspire a more functional body but to make you surf better.

“These types of core strength routines shown in Surf Exercises are what I credit taking my surfing to another level,” stated Taylor shortly before this week’s event at Lower Trestles. “They’ve greatly helped the longevity of my career, and I think it’s incredibly beneficial to anyone trying to improve their surfing or their health in general.”

Surf Exercises will be available to purchase this September and will be distributed exclusively by Koastal Media: 800-4811-6468.

Willian Cardoso being carried after victory. Photo courtesy Aquashot/ASPEurope.com

PANTIN, Spain (Saturday, September 12, 2009) – Willian Cardoso (BRA), 23, won the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star Movistar Pantin Classic today in Galicia, North West of Spain, after defeating fellow finalist Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), 35, in clean off-shore two to three foot (0.5 to 1 meter) waves in a 100% Brazilian final. After another week of intense action and close exchanges, Cardoso was crowned twenty-second champion of the Movistar Pantin Classic for the second consecutive time wrapping-up his 2009 European summer lef atop the 120-man field of surfers from around the world, his second win this summer after the ASP WQS 6-Star Azores Islands Pro.

Cardoso, who dominated proceedings again through the final day of competition ousting other favorite Glenn Hall (IRL) in the Semifinals before defeating former ASP Top 45 surfer Dorneles in the final bout of the 2009 edition, stepped-up to deliver an impressive performance. Renowned for his powerful style and big-wave ss, Cardoso adapted to the fast-breaking smaller waves on offer to clinch a second win in three events moving up to No. 13 on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings.

“It’s unbelievable, that win is the best I could have imagined coming here,” Cardoso said. “It’s been a testing last couple of weeks for me, my father passed away and I stayed here because he would have wanted me to do so. This win is for him and I thank the massive support I’ve had from all my friends here and in Brazil. It’s just amazing to be the champion again here.”

Cardoso, who was sitting out of the Top 30 three weeks ago, showed he was to be counted with for next year’s ASP World Tour qualification race, leaving Pantin with 11151 points, a significant step for his ultimate goal. Powerful, fast and smart tactician, the 23-year-old wrapped-up an impressive European leg where his mental strength and determination left his opponent away from the title.

“The waves went from small to consistent, windy to clean, and I was always feeling well this week,” Cardoso said. “I have a special feeling with Pantin and with a second win in a row it’s gone even more solid. I am stoked to claim this one and can’t wait to be home with my family.”

Placing runner-up for his best result this year was Rodrigo Dornelles, the experienced competitor going to No. 20 on the international ratings keeping alive his hopes of re-qualification for the ASP World Tour. Dornelles, an example of endurance and patience for many, was able to best local favorite Zubizarreta in the Semifinals before leaving Cardoso get away with the title.

“It would have been good to win but making the final is already a great result and I am stoked to remain close to the leading pack on the ratings”, Dornelles said. “The waves were hard to get and Willian (Cardoso) was in rhythm during the final. I’ve seen a lot of new surfers come up these years and I believe Willian (Cardoso) is a great surfer whose style will suit the ASP Dream Tour quality waves very well. He’s a great representative for Brazil and a very professional athlete. He deserved to win today.”

Gony Zubizarreta (Vigo, ESP), 24, who was stopped in the Semifinals after a series of twelve consecutive wins since the event in Zarautz, left the water surrounded by massive crowds cheering the Spaniard for his run in the event at Pantin. Lacking a second good wave against Dornelles, Zubizarreta finished with a 14.50 point result to his opponent’s 14.90 score and netted another valuable 1500 ratings’ points that will push him further in the ratings.

“It was a very tricky battle with the conditions making it hard for both us,” Zubizarreta said. “Rodrigo (Dornelles) is super experienced and was smart during the heat. He was more patient than me and got that one big score in the ning. I think I surfed well, got a high seven pointer but I couldn’t get a second one. He deserved to make it and I am still pretty happy with my result.”

Being a true ambassador of the sport and famous here at Pantin, Zubizarreta needed half-an-hour to make it back from the water’s edge to the beach marshall, spectators and media chasing the 24-year-old star along the way.

“It’s pretty crazy but it’s great to have all this support,” Zubizarreta said. “It’s been unbelievable the last couple of weeks for me and I would never have thought it could go that good after the event in the Azores. It also shows how fast things can change ratings’ wise and I am going to keep training for the next events. It all comes down to the end of the year and it’s starting now for me with Brazil, Canada, Lanzarote and Hawaii coming-up. It’s a long way to go but a very exciting time ahead.”

Australian-Irish surfer Glenn Hall (IRL), 26, was not able to reach the final leaving the water with a third equal 3rd finish in five events, a good but frustrating finish for the ASP World Tour contender. Hall, who posted two of the best ten heat results of the event, showed once again how strong and progressive he was throughout the week, the light-weight competitors nicknamed Micro coming short of one good ride in the Semifinals.

“As I’ve said yesterday, it’s good to make the Semis but you never get a shot at the title and this is what I wanted today,” Hall said. “It’s a long way to go before the end of the year and things are close so I will keep working hard. Making the Top 15 at this stage is good, but remaining inside that same Top 15 after the tour finishes is a whole different story.”

Being the ninth of eleven events counting for this year’s ASP European WQS tour, the Movistar Pantin Classic saw Zubizarreta consolidate his second position behind front-runner Joan Duru (Ondres, FRA) who keeps on with a strong hold over the regional ratings before the tour wraps up in Lanzarote.

All results, photos and press releases of the ASP WQS 5-Star Movistar Pantin Classic are available at aspeurope.com.

MOVISTAR PANTIN CLASSIC FINAL
1 - Willian Cardoso (BRA) 16.33 pts
2 - Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 12.34 pts

MOVISTAR PANTIN CLASSIC SEMIFINALS
SF 1: Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 14.90 pts Def. Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 14.50 pts
SF 2: Willian Cardoso (BRA) 12.70 pts Def. Glenn Hall (IRL) 11.63 pts

ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) Ratings’ Top 15 after Movistar Pantin Classic
1 - Daniel Ross (AUS) 14975 pts
2 - Jadson Andre (BRA) 14663 pts
3 - Owen Wright (AUS) 13588 pts
4 - Adam Melling (AUS) 13026 pts
5 - Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 12588 pts
6 - Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 12150 pts
7 - Joan Duru (FRA) 12050 pts
8 - Brett Simpson (USA) 11863 pts
9 - Travis Logie (ZAF) 11851 pts
10 - Blake Thornton (AUS) 11763 pts
11 - Austin Ware (USA) 11575 pts
12 - Dusty Payne (HAW) 11425 pts
13 - Willian Cardoso (BRA) 11151 pts
14 - Luke Munro (AUS) 11139 pts
15 - Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 11125 pts

ASP European WQS Ratings’ Top 5 after Movistar Pantin Classic
1 - Joan Duru (FRA) 7165 pts
2 - Gonzalo Zubizarreta (ESP) 5673 pts
3 - Glenn Hall (IRL) 4935 pts
4 - Romain Cloitre (REU) 4152 pts
5 - Txaber Trojaola (EUK) 4028 pts

Taj Burrow snaps after losing to Hurley wildcard Rob Machado, Kelly Slater blitzes the lineup, and more action from day 1 of the 2009 Hurley Pro Trestles.

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Although the ASR San Diego trade show is a shell of it’s former self (remember when we all had hotel rooms and spent thousands in the name of “networking”?), all is not broken and companies still hire hot chicks to man the booths and roam the halls of the San Diego Convention center. With that said, the highlight of the bi-annual trade show is always the eye candy, lots and lots of it. And so you don’t have to sit at work all day checking out babes, we’ve narrowed it down to the top 15 in no particular order…enjoy!

Top 15 Girls Of ASR

Nathaniel Curran

Pictured: Nathaniel Curran (USA), 25, last year’s ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) Champ and current ASP World No. 33 on the ASP World Tour, will face Dean Morrison (AUS), 28, in Round 2 of the Hurley Pro Trestles today. Credit: © ASP/CI/Rowland Via Getty Images

LOWER TRESTLES, California (Monday, September 14, 2009) – The Hurley Pro Trestles, Event No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, will return to the cobblestone lineup of Lower Trestles today where the world’s best surfers will battle it out in the elimination Round 2 and possible part of Round 3.

“I’d like to run 18 heats again,” Pat O’Connell, Hurley Pro Trestles Contest Director said. “We have two swells running now. We have a little southwest and the leftover northwest, so it looks more like a typical day at Trestles today, so I think everybody is pretty stoked. I think everybody dealt with some pretty weird conditions yesterday and today is a lot better.”

Surfline, official forecasters of the Hurley Pro Trestles, is calling for today’s fetch of Northwest swell to drop slightly today and are still tracking a south swell for later in the week.

First up this morning will be former ASP World Champion (2001) C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, up against 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Marlon Lipke (DEU), 25, in Heat 3 of Round 2 at the Hurley Pro Trestles.

The Hurley Pro Trestles will be webcast LIVE available www.hurley.com/hurleypro/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.16 def. Kai Barger (HAW) 9.93
Heat 2: Rob Machado (USA) 15.16 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.00

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES REMAINING ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 6: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 7: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 9: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Jihad Khodr (AUS)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 12: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 13: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 14: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 15: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 16: Dustin Barca (HAW) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)

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ASP Write Up: New Faces Soar On Day 1 Of Hurley Pro Trestles, Slater On Target

LOWER TRESTLES, California (Sunday, September 13, 2009) – The world’s best surfers took to the water today for Round 1 of the Hurley Pro Trestles, and despite the presence of a challenging south wind, the ASP Top 45 lit up the three-to-four foot (1 metre) rights and lefts on offer at Lower Trestles.

Event No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hurley Pro Trestles saw the completion of Round 1 and the opening two heats of Round 2 today, with some major upsets as well as big scores going down in the challenging conditions.

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 8, wasted no time in reestablishing his dominance at the famed break, opening with a 9.00 and a 9.50 in the first five minutes of his Round 1 heat. Slater detonated on his forehand, blending lightning-fast fin throws with perfectly executed reverses in his relegating of Adrian Buchan (AUS), 26, and former ASP World No. 2 Rob Machado (USA), 36, to Round 2 of competition.

Kelly Slater. Photo: Steindler

“I think those two waves were probably two of the best that broke all day,” Slater said. “There haven’t been too many rights all day, but I was able to grab a couple of really good ones to start out. I didn’t think I was going to better a 9.00 out there so I came in and went for a board change to try something a little different towards the end of the heat.”

While several competitors struggled with the onshore/side shore wind today, Slater tapped into his Floridian roots in order to navigate today’s challenging conditions, acquiring the day’s high heat total (18.50 out of a possible 20) en route to his advancement to Round 3.

“Today is definitely more like Florida and less like California,” Slater said. “It can definitely be challenging and you have to change your approach to how you do maneuvers. I have some pretty good boards at the moment so that’s helping.”

Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, former event winner (2006) and current ASP World No. 11, was another strong performer this morning, utilizing an impressive backhand repertoire to best Californian Tim Reyes (USA), 27, and returning compatriot Luke Stedman (AUS), 33, in Round 1 of competition. While the well-built Australian hasn’t enjoyed the same success as last season yet, Durbidge looks to build on a strong showing in California.

“It’s always good to come back to Trestles,” Durbidge said. “I have so many good memories here and it’s always nice to come back. I love the wave; it’s just so fun to surf. It’s not Lowers at its best today, that’s for sure, but I’ve had heaps of surf like this before and I’m ready for anything. Hopefully we’ll get some good surf for the end of the waiting period.”

Aside from the dominance of Slater and Durbidge, the collective victory at today’s Hurley Pro Trestles came from the new faces on tour.

Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 24, former ASP World Junior Champion (2005) and current ASP World No. 17, led the 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookies today, scoring a major upset over current ASP World No. 2, C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, in Round 1 of the Hurley Pro Trestles.

“It’s definitely good for my confidence to beat a guy like C.J. (Hobgood),” Bacalso said. “I had a slow start to that heat and I was pretty nervous, to tell you the truth. I hadn’t surfed a heat in about a month and a half, and I’m sure everyone is in the same boat. I blew it on my first wave and saw guys riding waves out the back, and thought, ‘oh great, I’m going to get smoked,’ but I was able to come back.”

Michel Bourez (PYF), 23, another rookie on the 2009 ASP Dream Tour, bested an in-form Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, and veteran Greg Emslie (ZAF), 32, in their Round 1 bout, bashing the lefthanders with unmatched power on his backhand.

“The wind died down a little and I saw a few good lefts come in before my heat, so I thought that was the option,” Bourez said. “It ended up working out and I’m happy to get that first heat win.”

Brett Simpson (USA), 24, wildcard in the Hurley Pro Trestles, caused a big upset this afternoon, taking down perennial threat Taj Burrow (AUS), 31, and lethal Australian Dean Morrison, 28, in Round 1 of competition. Needing a score with the clock dying, Simpson hooked into a roping a lefthander, punctuating with an electric backhand reverse to the tune of a 7.07 out of a possible 10, taking the win and advancing directly to Round 3.

“That wave came out the back and I thought Dean (Morrison) was going to catch it,” Simpson said. “It looked really good and as I stood up, it ran and I knew I needed to do something big. I figured if I pulled it, I’d get a good score, and if not, it wasn’t like I was letting an amazing wave get away from me.”

Simpson, who took down the prestigious ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Hurley Pro Trestles last July and is hunting down a spot on next season’s elite ASP World Tour, is recovering from a bone chip in his ankle, but today’s performance spoke volumes about the young man’s tenacity.

“I’m feeling much better and I’m trying not to worry about it (the injury),” Simpson said. “The more you think about it, the more it messes with your head, so I’m just focusing on going out there and catching the best waves and surfing well. It felt good to win that heat because there were some big names out there. I knew Taj (Burrow) was always going to put up a good fight and Dean (Morrison) was going to sit and wait with his guns out there and wait for the bombs and he’s lethal. My goal was to stay busy and try some new-school maneuvers and try and get some scores. Psyched I got through and looking forward to having fun in the event.”

Burrow, currently ranked No. 4 on the ASP World Tour, would continue today’s run of bad luck, being eliminated from the Hurley Pro Trestles by the wildcard Machado in the final heat of the day.

Surfline, official forecasters of the Hurley Pro Trestles, is calling for today’s fetch of Northwest swell to drop slightly before tomorrow and are still tracking a south swell for later in the week.

Officials will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.

When competition resumes, up first will be former ASP World Champion (2001) C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, up against 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Marlon Lipke (DEU), 25, in Heat 3 of Round 2 at the Hurley Pro Trestles.

Highlights from today’s Hurley Pro Trestles will be available via www.hurley.com/hurleypro/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Hurley Pro Trestles Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Michael Picon (FRA) 13.67, Ben Dunn (AUS) 9.67, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 9.50
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) 7.27, Dustin Barca (HAW) 6.80, Drew Courtney (AUS) 5.43
Heat 3: David Weare (ZAF) 9.43, Bobby Martinez (USA) 8.64, Dayyan Neve (AUS) 7.10
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.83, Chris Ward (USA) 8.67, Nic Muscroft (AUS) 4.43
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.34, Tim Reyes (USA) 11.00, Luke Stedman (AUS) 7.97
Heat 6: Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.84, Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 11.47, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 6.16,
Heat 7: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 11.90, Marlon Lipke (DEU) 11.66, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 10.27
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) 12.83, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 9.83, Kai Barger (HAW) 7.83
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.50, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.00, Rob Machado (USA) 9.67
Heat 10: Brett Simpson (USA) 14.24, Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.34, Dean Morrison (AUS) 8.10
Heat 11: Chris Davidson (AUS) 13.96, Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.77, Taylor Knox (USA) 11.76
Heat 12: Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.67, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.87, Greg Emslie (ZAF) 11.14
Heat 13: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.97, Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.33, Jihad Khodr (BRA) 8.86
Heat 14: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.66, Jay Thompson (AUS) 11.47, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 8.87
Heat 15: Tim Boal (FRA) 14.10, Nathaniel Curran (USA) 12.83, Mick Campbell (AUS) 7.16
Heat 16: Heitor Alves (BRA) 14.57, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 11.44, Roy Powers (HAW) 4.17

Hurley Pro Trestles Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.16 def. Kai Barger (HAW) 9.93
Heat 2: Rob Machado (USA) 15.16 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.00

Hurley Pro Trestles Remaining Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 6: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 7: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 9: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Jihad Khodr (AUS)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 12: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 13: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 14: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 15: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 16: Dustin Barca (HAW) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)

Kerrazy Times episode #10 featuring ASP World Tour surfer Josh Kerr and Kiwi mates Jay Quinn and Matt Scorringe. Filmed in Bali, I was lucky enough to run into the guys while vacationing over there and what really struck me about Kerr’s surfing is that it always looks like he’s having lots of fun while surfing…and isn’t that the goal? Thanks for the clip Kerrzy!

Go to www.hurley.com/hurleypro/ to watch stop #6 of the 2009 ASP World Tour live!

LOWER TRESTLES, California (Sunday, September 13, 2009) – Round 1 of the Hurley Pro Trestles is on this morning with the world’s best surfers tackling the two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves on offer this morning at Lower Trestles.

Event No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hurley Pro Trestles will be running the tradition format, with all 48 competitors contesting Round 1 today.

“We’ve got some two-to-four foot waves today and plan on running as many heats as we can,” Pat O’Connell, Hurley Pro Trestles Contest Director, said. “Although we have some south-wind and the swell is out of the northwest, we’re really lucky to have waves since there is not much activity in the South Pacific. Today’s conditions are really consistent and there will be plenty of opportunity for surfers to get several waves in there heats.”

Forecasters for the Hurley Pro Trestles are calling for a small of Northwest swell in the next couple of days before a possible south swell later in the week.

The Hurley Pro Trestles is hosting the ASP 45 from September 13 – 19, 2009.

Up first this morning will be Tom Whitaker (AUS), 29, Ben Dunn (AUS), 23, and Michael Picon (FRA), 30, in Heat 1 Round 1 of the Hurley Pro Trestles.

The event will be web LIVE via www.hurley.com/hurleypro/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Ben Dunn (AUS), Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA), Dustin Barca (HAW), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Dayyan Neve (AUS), David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS), Chris Ward (USA), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Tim Reyes (USA), Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Dane Reynolds (USA), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Kai Barger (HAW)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 11: Taylor Knox (USA), Chris Davidson (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Michel Bourez (PYF), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 13: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Josh Kerr (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 14: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 15: Mick Campbell (AUS), Tim Boal (FRA), Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW)

Cote’s Cube goes mobile when we run into Maui’s Ian Walsh on the train en-route to ASR San Diego. Ian breaks down his recent travels to the East Coast for Hurricane Bill, his views on hurricane surf, and how he plans to Mexico and perhaps even jail.

Ian Walsh on Cote's Cube

The stage that has seen Bruce Springsteen, and now A Pleasant Surprise. Photo: Jerz

On the rain-soaked evening of September 11, 2009 New Jersey’s surf scene anxiously descended upon the stomping grounds of Bruce Springsteen’s Asbury Park to fill the historic Paramount Theater to the brim. The occasion was the world premiere of A Pleasant Surprise: a 16mm film delving into the pleasantries of New Jersey surfing.

The film is the product and labor of two longtime friends who have the eyes, ears, and touch of creativity: Kyle Pahlow and Nick Zegel. “Kyle and I grew up on the beach together, and in the water together,” the film’s creative director Zegel says. “I had a family camera and we used to shoot a lot of video in high school. The first time we wanted to shoot water footage I put my Sony TRV320 in a plastic bag and we kind of duct taped it super tight to the lens. We shot a couple hours of intense, super nerve wracking footage with my camera in the water.”

The two made the most of what was offered them, which wasn’t much. “I didn’t have a budget to travel, and as a first time filmmaker no one was going to give me that budget,” Kyle explains. “I wasn’t really in with the surfing industry, but I had a relationship with a few top pros from Long Beach Island [Ben McBrien, Randy Townsend, and Brendan Willem]. So I figured that was an okay place to start.”

As for assembling the rest of the Garden State’s top surf talent [Sam Hammer, Matt Keenan, the brothers Kelly, Andrew Gessler, et. al], Kyle took the only road he could: cold calling. As Kyle tells, “I knew Sam Hammer’s mom and dad own the Crab’s Claw Inn, so I cold called one day and got Sam’s mom on the phone. She answered and I was like, ‘Ahhh, hey, my name’s Kyle and I’m an independent film maker and I was wondering if I could get your son’s cellphone number?’ And she gave it to me.”

The rest just seemed to fall in place for the young duo. But that doesn’t mean it was easy: they edited film for over eight months, as editing film isn’t quite as easy as editing digital video is. So with the syndrome of the most precise and crisp video footage one can obtain that is plaguing all surf videos the world over, why the 16mm? “It’s a decision you make format wise based on your story,” Kyle explain. “We feel like our story fits film. We wanted to take a different approach all the way down to backgrounds being out of focus.”

The story is one that every surfer, New Jersey surfers more so, can relate to. We’ve all surfed clean waist-to-chest-high surf, and sometimes that surf can be the most fun. But don’t be fooled either, there are your classic Jersey bombs on those freezing winter days as well. Pair that with an incredible soundtrack that seems to make the tale flow even more, and it’s evident that Pahlow’s and Zegel’s hard work has paid off.

A Pleasant Surprise is not just about one surfer either—hell most of the time unless you’re that familiar with the style of all surfers involved, it’s tough to pick out their sections and even their voices. But it serves the greater purpose of telling the story of any true surfer: take what you are offered and make the most of it. And most times what the ocean offers you can pleasantly surprise you.—Ryan Brower

The historic Paramount Theater in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Photo: Jerz

A Pleasant Surprise from Kyle Pahlow on Vimeo.

The next showing of A Pleasant Surprise takes place at the New York Surf Film Festival on September 25th. Make sure to pick up your tickets. Head to APleasantSurpriseFilm.com for more about the film and to pick up a copy. And make sure to check out the music of Sean Bones, the band that opened up for the film.

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To enter the TransWorld SURF Model Search email your photos to transworldsurf@gmail.com. Please include name, age, hometown, and a bit of information about yourself. You must be 18 to enter. Monthly winners will receive a free swimsuit from B Swim and sunglasses from Spy Optics and be in the running for the ultimate title of Miss TransWorld SURF!

Who can blame a juvenile great white for wanting to have a little nibble on lovely Carlsbad, California resident Bethany Edmunds? Cote’s Cube does some serious investigative journalism with the recent shark attack victim, most notably, asking her if she was on her period when she got bit…

Bethany Edmunds. Some people will do anything to get on Cote's Cube...

Perhaps it was the neon green toes that attracted the juvenile great white...

Kelly Slater at Lower Trestles. Photo: ASP/Getty Images

Hurley Pro Trestles Readies For Onslaught By World’s Best Surfers

Hurley Pro Trestles
Stop No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour
Lower Trestles, California USA
September 13 – 19, 2009

LOWER TRESTLES, California (Thursday, September 10, 2009) – The Hurley Pro Trestles, Event No. 6 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, is just days from commencing and the Southern California air is electric with the arrival of the world’s best surfers at one of the world’s most high-performance waves.

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and defending event winner, came into the 2009 season surrounded by heavy expectations for an unprecedented 10th ASP World Title. However, a slow start to the year has prevented the Floridian from ascending to his usual place atop the rankings. Aside from an impressive victory in Brazil, Slater is holding three 17ths and a 9th, resulting in his present ASP World No. 8 rating.

“There’s a slight but distant possibility (for a 10th ASP World Title),” Slater said. “I’ve dedicated my year to a different direction than last year. It’s taxing to have that focus all year and I’m learning more about what it takes to win mentally and physically and with equipment. My goals are to surf better than I ever have and push others to do the same. I want people to leave the beach or shut off their computers not having wasted their time watching us. At the same time, when you’re not winning is a good time to see how different things appear around you. It’s been an interesting year for me.”

A threat at any and all venues on the ASP Dream Tour, Slater is certainly capable of rallying in the back half of the season, but standing in his way is runaway ratings’ leader Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28. Parkinson’s juggernaut season has seen him net three victories, a 3rd and a 9th en route to what could be his first ASP World Title.

“Joel (Parkinson) doesn’t seem as happy this year to many of us, but his priorities are clear,” Slater said. “I’ve felt like that some years that I’ve been really focused, and it’s easy for people to mistake that and what it is. This year is expansion for me and figuring out new directions to take what I can do.”

Ratings aside, Slater’s rapport with the cobblestone A-Frames of Lower Trestles is that of legend, and the defending event champion is easily one of the favorites at the upcoming Hurley Pro Trestles.

“It was the first wave I really got to surf when I came to California as a 12-year-old kid and I’ve always really loved it.” Slater said. “The wave has a great right and occasionally punchy left that could offer a barrel and good airs. It’s probably the most high-performance wave overall of the tour waves we surf. Rarely does a guy get lucky to win a heat there. Lots of surf history that has happened here and I’ve got a few good memories of my own, too. I love this event.”

Slater will take on Adrian Buchan (AUS), 26, and former ASP World No. 2 Rob Machado (USA), 36, in Round 1 of the Hurley Pro Trestles.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 7, has been blowing minds this season with his incendiary performances, but the excellent results the Australian has been accustomed to in years past have evaded him so far in 2009.

“It’s been a strange year for me because I honestly feel like I’m in great condition and surfing my best and my heat score average this year backs that up,” Fanning said. “I’ve had a few shocking heats for waves and I’ve come up against guys that have had the heats of their lives. I’m not making excuses though; Mother Nature is an obstacle everyone on tour has to overcome. I’m comfortable with how I’m surfing and I’m psyched to surf harder and faster for the rest of the year. I’m going to really enjoy this next half of the season.”

Heightening the prestige and excitement surrounding this season’s event is the winner’s prize purse increase from US$40k to US$100k, bringing the total purse to a historic US$400k. The added monetary incentive, combined with the high-performance nature of the wave at Lower Trestles, will only serve to provide a dynamic new element to this year’s event.

“I think that it is great that Hurley have come to the party with the extra prize money,” Fanning said. “Obviously Bob (Hurley) does it because he’s of the opinion the winners should be earning more and I totally agree. It’s added incentive for the surfers to get the win which probably results in more radical more committed surfing, but I think it generates a lot more hype and excitement for fans too. I know when I’m watching two athletes battle it out for a decent amount of money, I get a real buzz, it doesn’t matter what sport I’m watching.”

Fanning will take on local Chris Ward (USA), 30, and 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Nic Muscroft (AUS), 27, in Round 1 of the Hurley Pro Trestles.

Kai Barger (HAW), 19, reigning ASP World Junior Champion, will contest his first elite ASP World Tour event at the upcoming Hurley Pro Trestles, earning one of three wildcards, along with Machado and current ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) No. 8, Brett Simpson, 24.

“I always surf my best when everyone expects me to lose,” Barger said. “I’m the rookie – okay. But if it’s overhead rights on a south, look out.”

Barger will face the ratings’ leader Parkinson and Kai Otton (AUS), 29, in Round 1 when competition commences.

Surfline, official forecasters of the Hurley Pro Trestles, is calling for a small fetch of Northwest swell in the next couple of days before a possible south swell later in the week.

The Hurley Pro Trestles will host the ASP 45 from September 13 – 19, 2009.

The event will be webcast LIVE via www.hurley.com/hurleypro/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

HURLEY PRO TRESTLES ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Ben Dunn (AUS), Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA), Dustin Barca (HAW), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Dayyan Neve (AUS), David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS), Chris Ward (USA), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Tim Reyes (USA), Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Dane Reynolds (USA), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Kai Barger (HAW)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Rob Machado (USA)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 11: Taylor Knox (USA), Chris Davidson (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Michel Bourez (PYF), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 13: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Josh Kerr (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 14: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 15: Mick Campbell (AUS), Tim Boal (FRA), Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW)

Check out veteran ASP World Tour surfer Taylor Knox and his personal trainer Paul Hiniker on Cote’s Cube to promote their new video Surf Exercises. Make sure to check the end where Chris attempts an inverted push up with Taylor holding his legs…get ripped on Cote’s Cube!

Taylor Knox's Surf Exercises

Solana Beach, California – September 11th, 2009 – Rerip.com is pleased to announce its 3rd Annual “Future of Surfing” event will be held from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday, October 17th, 2009 at Fletcher Cove Park in Solana Beach, CA. Co hosted by the City of Solana Beach, Malama Composites, and Wade Koniakowsky, the event will benefit the Solana Beach Junior Lifeguard Program while highlighting evolving ideas and environmentally focused practices in the surf industry.

Attendees are invited to bring a used but rideable surfboard to donate, and their contribution will be redeemable on site for product such as for surf blanks, art, shoes, clothing, board accessories and other gear from event sponsors. Those looking to buy a board will be able to purchase the donated boards for great deals with all proceeds benefiting the Solana Beach Junior Lifeguard Program. Local musicians, shapers, artists, vendors and environmentally minded organizations help make the day a true community event. Their will also be a collection bin for recycling surfboards.

Meghan Dambacher, Rerip.com cofounder, is excited about the event’s growth and the community support. “Every year we are amazed by how generous our sponsors are with their time, product and money; how many people come out to donate and buy boards; and how the entire day has an incredible, positive vibe.”

About Rerip.com
Rerip.com is the leading online classifieds site for selling, buying, reusing and recycling action sports equipment. The aim of the company is to provide an opportunity for individuals to reuse and reride equipment, while promoting awareness for the need to reduce our collective footprint on the world.

Rerip.com understands the importance of having the best and most functional equipment, and we also understands the need to be ecologically responsible by sharing the resources that already exist. Whether providing the best venue for the purchase and sale of equipment, making available locations to drop off unwanted gear, or educating individuals about materials and construction, Rerip.com is helping facilitate the questions and solutions for end-of-life issures in the surfboard industry. They are the first venue available catering exclusively to the surfing, skating, sking, and snowboarding community.

Josh Kerr

As many of you know and have seen on the pages of transworldsurf.com, ASP World Tour surfer Josh Kerr and his filmer/editor/bro Matt make some mean ass videos. That said, the two are in town for the Hurley Pro at Lower Trestles and plan on doing some cool behind the scenes type of videos at the contest—the kind of access only the pros can get. That’s where you come in: Kerrsy needs some questions to ask the other guys on tour! Have you always wondered if Mick Fanning prefers blondes over brunettes? What Parko eats for breakfast? How many tattoos Bobby Martinez has? Now’ s your time! Leave your question along with your name and where your from in the comment box below…and make sure to tune in next week for episodes of Josh Kerr’s video blog “Kerrazy Times” to hear your question!

WHAT:
Life Rolls On Foundation will present its West Coast season finale of They Will Surf Again at La Jolla Shores Playa del Oro on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 9 a.m.  They Will Surf Again (TWSA) is an award-winning, quality of life program produced by Life Rolls On Foundation (LRO), which empowers quadriplegics and paraplegics with the opportunity to surf by using adaptive equipment.  More than 150 volunteers will support nearly 50 adaptive surfers at this event, where they will they push the bounds of possibility despite paralysis.

Six-year-old Ian McFarland, paralyzed after a car accident in 2008, which claimed the lives of his parents, will be among the surfers charging waves at They Will Surf Again.  McFarland, whose father taught him how to surf, will be cheered on by friends and family as he realizes his goal of surfing again since his injury.

Also participating in TWSA will be 2009 Ms. Wheelchair California Alyson Roth and LRO Ambassador Patrick Ivison.  “I’m excited to have They Will Surf Again in my hometown,” said Ivison.  “TWSA is more than a day of surfing.  It’s really a program about bringing together the community.”

Corporate partner Surf Diva will support They Will Surf Again-La Jolla by donating a percentage of sales at their retail store (2160 Avenida de la Play, La Jolla, CA) on Sept. 13 to Life Rolls On Foundation, while more than a dozen Surf Diva instructors, including founders & twin sisters, Izzy Tihanyi and Coco Tihanyi, will serve as volunteers at the event.

Participants will stay hydrated thanks to TWSA-La Jolla Official Water Sponsor Dasani. Surfers will also receive goodie bags courtesy of Famous Stars and Straps.  Event sponsors include Einstein Bagels, Embassy Suites San Diego-La Jolla, Huntington Beach Elks Lodge, Mimi’s Café, Starbucks Coffee, Surf Diva, and Vita Coco.  National program sponsors of They Will Surf Again are Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) and Global Surf Industries.

WHEN:
Sunday, September 13, 2009
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
*Media check-in begins at 9 a.m; pre-registration is required for surfers and volunteers.

WHERE:
La Jolla Shores Playa del Oro
Hwy 52 West to La Jolla Parkway and continue to the stoplight at the bottom of the hill. Turn right onto La Jolla Shores Road, left onto Avenida de la Playa, then right onto Camino del Oro. Parking lot will be on the left. No parking fee, but spaces are limited.

About Life Rolls On Foundation:
Founded in 1999, Life Rolls On Foundation (LRO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for young people affected by spinal cord injury and utilizes action sports as a platform to inspire infinite possibilities despite paralysis. Through quality of life programs, spinal cord injury awareness initiatives and direct outreach to individuals and their families at the onset of injury, Life Rolls On impacts the lives of more than 100,000 people each year.  LRO is one of the fastest growing, contemporary charitable organizations in the country and has been featured in national print, television and radio.

About Surf Diva:
Established in 1996 by twin sisters Izzy and Coco Tihanyi, Surf Diva has introduced thousands of women from all over the world to the sport and spirit of surfing and is internationally recognized as the world’s leading surf school.  With Izzy as the ‘Surf’ and Coco the ‘Diva’, the Surf Diva boutique opened its doors in 2004 and has been selling a variety of fashion forward and functional surf gear ever since.  Surf Diva also designs, markets, and sells its own line of apparel.  The line is enhanced by creative embellishments to catch the Diva’s true independent and adventurous spirit.

Life Rolls On Foundation

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With $100,000 on the line, the Hurley Pro has the full attention of the ASP World Tour surfers. Here’s a photo gallery from Wednesday Sept. 9th featuring some of the world’s best getting geared up for the biggest paycheck in World Championship Tour history…

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Somewhere between here and Bali lies a wave so perfect that it’s changed my whole perception of riding the barrel. I just recently got home from this place and suffice to say, I was blown away (and blown out of) the waves in the desert. A mission to get to and fickle as hell, it’s all worth it, especially once you figure out not to jump off when you think it’s unmakeable and hang on for the tube of your life. Seven second barrels? Easy. Try 20 seconds. Thanks to Budi and the boys for the hospitality!

Ocean and Earth

Sydney Australia September 9th, 2009 – Ocean & Earth International Pty Ltd are proud to announced further international expansion with the opening of a new Ocean & Earth store in Chile, with our distribution partner Surfers Paradise distribution.

We are very pleased to be associated with Surfers Paradise Distribution, a well-established business in Chile and renowned for the quality of service for the past 12 years to their retail partners, “stated Paul Munten Ocean & Earth International Chief Executive Officer.”

Surfers Paradise Distribution is a family owned and family run business. They are committed to supporting Chilean surfing and have been a trusted business since 1992 in Chile.

George Ordenes - President of Surfers Paradise Distribution stated that Ocean & Earth is the perfect partner for our business in Chile and has been a nature and perfect extension to our existing business with the opening of our new shop. We have been dealing with Ocean and Earth since 1992 and the first surf brand in Chile. The surf industry in Chile has grown in the past few years and my plan is to grow with the market stated George Ordenes.

Also attending the opening was Mr Crispin Conroy – Senior Trade Commissioner Latin America from the Australian Trade Commission. Mr Conroy stated the commercial relationship between Chile and Australia is a very dynamic one and it is diversity from the focus on mining to clean renewable energy and consumer products.

Chile and Australia have so much in common, great beaches and fantastic surf which are the key things. Ocean & Earth is a natural fit in Chile and it is fantastic to see George Ordenes - President from Surfers Paradise Distribution an ozzie of Chilean background lead Ocean & Earth’s Chilean strategy. It is great to work with George, Paul and the team at Ocean & Earth and Chile is just the start. The Peru and Brazil markets are next stated Mr Crispin Conroy.

Ocean and Earth’s brand globally has been built its reputation in the surf and snow markets for the last 30 years. Privately owned and also committed to quality and integrity just like Surfers Paradise Distribution in Chile.

Ocean & Earth is two years into a global expansion program and are also currently reviewing other offshore companies that have expressed interest in Ocean & Earths product lines Munten Stated “selecting the right distribution partner and one that fully understands the breadth of Ocean & Earths product lines is instrumental to us gaining further traction in the global market. We are very confident that our partnership with Surfers Paradise Distribution will help drive increased awareness and growth for Ocean & Earth in Chile.”

Ocean & Earth’s current Distributors/Licensees to 32 countries around the world and have experienced a significant growth across all Ocean & Earth product lines over the past 12 months, Ocean & Earth and our Distributors/Licensees are being met and exceeded,” stated Paul Munten.

Hurley Pro To Offer $100,000 First Place Prize; Record $400,000 Purse; Developing underworld storm expected to deliver a solid swell for latter rounds

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. – Hurley today announced a $100,000 first place prize and a global record $400,000 overall purse for the upcoming Hurley Pro, Sept. 13 to 19 at Lower Trestles.  The lone 2009 ASP World Tour event held on the U.S. Mainland features the world’s top 45 surfers (Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, C.J. Hobgood, etc.) and three wildcards (Brett Simpson, Rob Machado and World Junior Champion Kai Barger).  Extensive information and a live webcast are available at www.thehurleypro.com.

“We don’t do a lot of big surf events,” said Hurley Pro Contest Director Pat O’Connell, “but the ones we do, we want to make sure it’s the best experience possible for the athletes and fans.  Having this elevated prize purse adds to the excitement both on the beach and in the water, so it’s worth it for us.”

Keeping in step with the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing, which awarded $100,000 to a victorious Brett Simpson, the Hurley Pro will offer the largest first place and overall prize purse in ASP World Tour history; up from the standard $40,000 first prize and $340,000 overall purse.  Note: Bob Hurley upped last year’s Boost Mobile purse from $30,000 to $75,000 right before the finals ultimately won by Kelly Slater.  “Never have the stakes been so high at the world’s ultimate performance wave,” added O’Connell.

Mother Nature appears to be doing its part.  According to Surfline’s Sean Collins, “A developing storm right now off Antarctica looks hopeful so far to give us a swell in the head high plus range beginning to fill in Thursday afternoon and more solid by Friday and Saturday.  As a wildcard, the tropics are still pretty active and we can’t count out that option just yet.”

The $400,000 Hurley Pro is Hurley’s first as the sole sponsor of an ASP World Tour event.  Lined with cobblestones, Trestles is California’s premier point/reef break and a world-class showcase for high performance surfing.  The five day competition has been won by Slater three out of the past four years (’08, ’07 and ’05).  Although Parkinson has opened a sizeable lead in the 2009 World Title chase, nine time world and defending event champ Slater remains within striking distance and Trestles may well be his launching pad to a once unfathomable 10th title.

Located on the northwest corner of the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base on the border between San Diego and Orange County, Trestles has long been a pristine oasis in the middle of Southern California’s otherwise over-developed coastline.  The spot gets its name from a series of railroad trestles that span the marsh and wetlands at the mouth of San Mateo creek, just south of San Clemente.

Competition Window: The Hurley Pro will run a minimum of five days during the seven day window beginning on Sunday, September 13.  Contest Director Pat O’Connell will make the official call each morning at 7:30 a.m.

About Hurley
Founded in 1999, Hurley is an authentic “Microphone for Youth” brand rooted in surf, skate, art, music and beach cultures. Driven by creativity and freedom of expression, Hurley develops world-class products for guys, girls and kids, including sportswear, footwear, eyewear, accessories, loungewear, swimwear and wetsuits. A wholly owned, independently run subsidiary of Nike, Inc., Hurley’s corporate headquarters are located in Costa Mesa, CA, with international offices in Tokyo, Sydney, Barcelona and Bali. www.hurley.com www.hurley.com.

About ASP
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships.  The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts.  The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

Mick Fanning for your fantasy team? Could be expensive but you know he'll do well...

Fantasy Action Sports League Giving Out $2,000 In Cash And More For The Hurley Pro

After an extended break, professional surfing is ready to commence once again. The Hurley Pro at Trestles starts this weekend running September 13-19.

The World Title Race is in full swing as the Season enters the 2nd half. Joel Parkinson has a commanding lead, but World Title contenders CJ Hobgood, Adriano DeSouza and of course 9X World Champion Kelly Slater will be looking to cut into that lead with a good result at Trestles.

In addition, the Wildcards will be playing spoiler for the event when they come up against the Top Contenders in the early Rounds. Hurley has already announced the Wildcards for the event and they are: Rob Machado, Brett Simpson and Kai Barger. Watch for these guys to do some damage and they could be good value picks for FASL Teams.

Right now the early forecast has head high West swell on tap for the beginning of the waiting period. This may be accompanied with onshore wind, which combined are not the best conditions for Trestles, but still rippable. Stay tuned in on the forecast, as this could change several times before the contest actually starts.

As always, FASL continues to offer the best Prizes in Fantasy Surfing. For Trestles, and every surf event, we are offering $1,000 for First Place, with $2,000 Total Cash being offered to the top 8 finishers. In total, the top 25 finishers for the event win prizes. You can also sign up for our Season Game, where the Top 50 finishers win Prizes. We are giving away $10,000 Cash, with the Season Winner winning $5,000 Cash!

As if this wasn’t enough, …Lost is giving away a Surfboard, Billabong is giving away a Prize Pack and Xcel is giving away wetsuits. Sign up now to put yourself in the running for all Cash and Prizes.

Sign up Now at:www.fantasyactionsportsleague.com

Interactive Scorer
FASL Interactive Scorer will be available for Trestles. The Interactive Scorer takes score inputs punched in by users and displays a World Wide Average Score. After a surfer has completed his ride, you have 1 minute to type in and submit your score. Once submitted and after a minute has gone by, the Interactive Scorer will display the average of all scores submitted by the users. To use Interactive Scorer, go to: http://www.fantasyactionsportsleague.com/interactive-scorer.php

Free …Lost Surfboard to the highest Premium Team score of the Season
With 5 events to go there is plenty of time to get involved with the …Lost Surfboard Giveaway. Just sign up for either a Premium Event Game or Premium Season Game to automatically be eligible. You can win the free …Lost Surfboard by getting the highest score for any one of the scheduled 10 pro surf events in 2009. One …Lost Surfboard will be given away for the 2009 Season - to the Team with the single highest point total for one event. The current score to beat is 414.90. Good Luck!

Refer a Friend
Don’t forget we’re giving away Free Entries and 5 Xcel wetsuits for our “Refer a Friend” program. Get your friend to sign up for a Premium Game and you get a Free entry into a Premium Event Game yourself. You’ll also be in the running for 1 of 5 Xcel wetsuits that will be given away to the Users that get the most friends to sign up.

TO SEE EACH PRODUCT REVIEW CLICK THROUGH TO THE NEXT PAGES

Arkeg
Drink ‘n Game
$4,000

So let me get this straight—this is a stand up video arcade game that has over 69 games (including my personal favorite 720!) and it has a mini-keg hidden inside of it? Come on, did an angel from heaven infiltrate my wet dreams and create the best machine ever invented? I think so.

The Arkeg features a 24-inch 1080i LCD, is capable of getting geared up with Wi-Fi, DVD playback and karaoke, and the look of the machine is fully customizable. All I have to say is… “Sorry son, you won’t be going to college any time soon, daddy just spent $4000 dollars on a machine that will be replacing both you and your mother—now go get me a frosty mug—I’m about to play some Centipede.”—Chris Cote

drinkngame.com

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Add Comment posted 9/9/2009 11:00:15 AM |

ASP World Tour Surfer Timmy Reyes talks with TransWorld SURF’s Chris Cote about the “Rebel Tour”, preparing for the Hurley Pro at Lowers, swell chasing, and his recent adventures in Mexico.

Make sure to check out the clip below of Timmy ripping apart Puerto Escondido and points beyond…

[wp_youtube]ewaKHb59YIU[/wp_youtube]www.digitalwunderland.com Indo Filmed by: Aaron Lieber Edited by: Michael Spencer Taylor Rezzy attempts his own version of the “Rodeo Flip” and surfs through the 09

[wp_youtube]ewaKHb59YIU[/wp_youtube]www.digitalwunderland.com Indo Filmed by: Aaron Lieber Edited by: Michael Spencer Taylor Rezzy attempts his own version of the “Rodeo Flip” and surfs through the Mentawai’s 09

Ry Craike Movie Premier

Electric Visual Is Proud To Bring The US World Premier Of “There’s No I In Go Ry” Movie To The Bondi Bar In San Diego!

Date: Thursday September 10th, 2009
Location: Bondi Bar 333 5th Ave San Diego, Ca.
Media Coverage: Fuel TV Hosted by Chris Cote (Red Carpet Style)
Sponsors: ELECTRIC, Quiksilver, DC, SUPERbrand, Futures Fins, Rockstar Energy Drink, Creatures Of Leisure
Entertainment: Goons of Doom (Ozzie Wright’s Band), DJ Chris Cote, & Josh Hartley

Schedule
Doors Open at 6pm
Movie @ 8:30pm
Goons of Doom @ 9:30pm
Chris Cote @ 11pm
Josh Hartley @ 12:30-Close

Come join Ry to kick this movie off right!!

Mark Richards

Legendary surfer/shaper Mark Richards will be in California exhibiting at the Sacred Craft Show in Del Mar Oct. 10th and 11th. He will be doing a Southern Calif. Surf Shop Tour following the show. Mark will be available to discuss board models, shape designs, dimensions, etc. for those of you who are able to attend the show. There will also be boards on display for you to check out.

Mark is also doing a limited run of boards while he is in town.Get your custom orders in right away so that we can get the blanks ready for his arrival. All MR models will be available for custom shaping while he is in town. Here are a few favorites:

Also available is the Super Twin, 79 Single Fin and Mega Twin. Orders will be built on a first come first serve basis so don’t hesitate. Get those orders in now!

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me via e-mail rickhazard@sbcglobal.net or go to our website www.hotbatch.com  I can also be reached by phone at 949-683-4711. Hope to hear from you soon.

Hot Batch Dist. 1030 Calle Sombra  Unit D,  San Clemente,  CA.  92673
Ph: (949)-492-3079   Fx: (949)-492-2596
e-mail:  rickhazard@sbcglobal.net  website:  www.hotbatch.com

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Red Bull Rivals Comp: The South Shore Takes Down The North Shore At Sandy Beach

From www.redbullsurfing.com:

This past weekend the inaugural Red Bull Rivals took to the sunny and rippable peaks of Sandy Beach, and all told, the event was an amazing success. With over 3,000 people on hand to see the best surfers from the South Shore go head-to-head against the best surfers from the North Shore, it was the can’t-miss event of Labor Day weekend in Hawaii. And believe us—it didn’t disappoint.

Jamie O'Brien pops off during the Red Bull Rivals event at Sandy Beach. Photo: Zak Noyle/SPL

With the likes of Jamie O’Brien fronting the North Shore team, and young phenom Carissa Moore saddled up with the South Shore team, as well as ringers like Derek Ho and Kolea Fukumitsu adding a little extra power to the North and South the talent level was amazing. Besides Carissa’s amazing contribution, both Keanu Asing and Kekoa Cazimero blew doors all event long, and the definitely showed why they’re a couple of the brightest up-and-comers from Town.

For as much youthful talent as Town had, the North more than made up for in veteran experience, with guys like Kalani Robb, Sean Moody, Makua Rothman, and TJ Barron rounding out their roster. In fact, MVP honors went to the Country’s Mason Ho, who won sky diving lessons from the Red Bull Air Force for the effort.

South Shore rider Keanu Asing. Photo: Zak Noyle/SPL

But experience can only get you so far. Town’s froth factor was off the chart and the South Shore got out of the gates early. The North rallied back with a 13-4 run at one point, but in the final heat the South was able to pull it together, hold them off, and as they say, ride to victory. And with a judging panel comprised of Kai “Borg” Garcia, Dave Riddle, Brock Little and Jason Hackman, who was going to argue?

Initially the losing team was going to have to give the winning team their surfboards, but thanks to team captains Jason Shibata (South) and Kalani Robb (North), it was decided that whomever won would donate the boards to be auctioned off, and then use the money to donate to several local Oahu charities. That’s what you call Aloha in action.

All told, it was a hell of an event and not one that’s going to be forgotten anytime soon. The South may have won this round, but we have a feeling that’s not the last we’ve heard from the North Shore.

Red Bull Rivals MVP Winner
Mason Ho

TEAMS
South Shore
Kekoa Cazimero
Jason Shibata
Jun Jo
Nick Mita
Randall Paulson
Dustin Cuizon
Ezekiel Lau
Keanu Asing
Carissa Moore
Kolea Fukumitsu

North Shore
Jamie O’Brien
Kalani Robb
TJ Barron
Makua Rothman
Sean Moody
Solomon Ortiz
Mason Ho
Kalani David
Aleesa Quizon
Derek Ho

Those crazy Hobgood bros provide yet another comedy-filled webisode…this time they take on tow at surfing with the likes of Derek “Dynamite” Jones, Candy Maldachado, Matt Kechele, Kelly Slater and a few surprise guests.

For more of the Hobgood’s antics go to www.blog.thegoodss.com

Still Filthy

Billabong USA will host the world premiere of Still Filthy at the Hard Rock Café September 10th during the ASR Trade Show in downtown San Diego.

Tickets are on sale now and going fast!

Doors open at 8PM to view the most “off-the-map” surf sessions recorded starring all the hottest talent in the Billabong arsenal. Don’t miss this epic event!

For more info on the event and the movie www.filthyhabits.com

Surfrider Foundation Celebrity Expression Session Sponsored By The Malibu Surfing Association And Barefoot Wine

Surfrider Foundation

Saturday, September 12, 2009

WHAT:  The 4th Annual Surfrider Foundation Celebrity Expression Session, sponsored by the Malibu Surfing Association and Barefoot Wine, will bring celebrities together to raise awareness and funds for the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches.  Part of Malibu Surfing Association’s MSA Classic, the Celebrity Expression Session is a great opportunity to watch top-tier celebrities show off their surfing skills while demonstrating their commitment to coastal environmentalism.

On-site, media will be given the opportunity to interview the celebrity surfers about their participation in the event, as well as their involvement with the Surfrider Foundation.

The MSA Classic, presented by the Malibu Surfing Association, is the premiere contest in the Coalition of Surfing Clubs annual series.  This two-day event, was first held in 1962, and now has over 275 athletes representing elite surfing clubs from around the world.

WHO:  The Surfrider Foundation Celebrity Expression Session will feature celebrity surfers such as FLEA, JASON MRAZ, SAL MASEKELA, CHRIS SHIFLETT, ERIC BALFOUR, DAVID CHOKACHI, ERIC AVERY, PETER DISTEFANO, and MARTYN LENOBLE

The two-day MSA Classic will feature more than 275 athletes from California’s elite surfing clubs from around the world.

WHEN:  Saturday, September 12
Media Check-in- 10:00 AM
Celebrity Expression Session 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
MSA Classic – ALL DAY

Sunday, September 13
MSA Classic – ALL DAY

WHERE:  First Point, Surfrider Beach – Malibu Pier and Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA.

These are free events open to the public

For additional information or to rsvp, please contact Alexis Henry at ahenry@surfrider.org

Ozzie Wright and the Goons of Doom are coming to SoCal to make your ears bleed! Check ‘em out at one of these upcoming shows…

9/10/09 San Diego, CA –Spin/ASR/Wahoo’s party @ San Diego Concourse, 7:30pm
9/10/09 San Diego, CA – Electric ASR party @ Bondi Bar, 10:00pm set time
9/11/09 San Diego, CA – Volcom Booth during ASR convention, 4:00pm set time
9/12/09 Pomona, CA - The Glass House w/Aquabats
9/16/09 San Clemente, CA - O.C. Tavern
9/17/09 Los Angeles, CA - The Viper Room
9/18/09 Costa Mesa, CA - La Cave
9/19/09 Laguna Beach, CA – LS&S – 5:00 pm (all ages)
9/19/09 Laguna Beach, CA – Sandpiper (Dirty Bird) 10:00 pm

Click HERE for a free Goons Of Doom download!

Goons Of Doom

For more head to AirSpeed.us.

In the mid 1990s, surf movies were plagued by gay punk music, lame skits, and a stale, sectional format. The Tear Devils Trilogy attacked the mainstream with monsters, sharpshooters and heavy metal. And yes, that is TransWorld SURF’s Chris Cote in the beginning of the trailer. He’s grown up so much. Aren’t you going to take Ozzy Osbourne’s opinion of Tear Devils as the best surf movies of all time?

The New York Surf Film Festival has asked director Jesse Schluntz to screen a “best of” version of the Tear Devils Trilogy.

For more on the New York Surf Film Festival head to NYSurfFilm.com.

Tropical Storm Fred forms in the Atlantic Ocean

As reported by the Associated Press.

To stay on top of Tropical Storm Fred’s path, head to MagicSeaweed.com.

MIAMI — Forecasters say Tropical Storm Fred has formed in the Atlantic and is expected to strengthen over the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Linda far out in the Pacific Ocean didn’t gain in intensity Monday night.

According to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fred, the sixth named storm of the Atlantic season, had sustained winds at 40 mph (65 kph). It’s about 245 miles (390 km) south of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands. It moving west-northwest at about 15 mph (24 kph).

Linda’s winds were near 60 mph (55 kph). It was centered about 1,280 miles (2,060 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. It’s moving west near 7 mph (13 kph).

Gonzalo Zubizarreta. Photo courtesy Aquashot/ASPEurope.com

ZARAUTZ – Euskadi / Basque Country (Saturday, September 5, 2009) – Gonzalo Zubizarreta (ESP), 24, claimed the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star San Miguel Pro Zarautz pres. by Euskaltel today after besting runner-up Blake Thornton (AUS), 24, in three foot (one meter) waves. Zubizarreta, who pocketed valuable 2000 ratings’ points, finishes atop the 144-man field after four days of intense competition that saw local hero Aritz Aranburu (Zarautz, EUK) post the event’s best scores. The Spanish performer is guaranteed to jump into the coveted ASP WQS Top 20 and getting closer to the 10000 point mark.

Zubizarreta, who went through several tough heats throughout the four-day event besting Dion Atkinson (AUS), Patrick Gudauskas (USA) and Glenn Hall (IRL) en route to the final, had to surf four times today to claim the crown, his career best win that will significantly count for his ASP World Tour qualification campaign. Having scored the day’s best scores throughout his final run today, Zubizarreta was in unstoppable form in front of a cheering crowd that put all its passion to support the last European surfer in the event and push the 24-year-old man towards his best result ever.

“It’s a dream coming true right now, I can’t believe I have won that event,” Zubizarreta said. “Since I left the junior series I have been looking to make a final in a major event and I have finally won my first one ever so I couldn’t hope for anything better. I was feeling good this week and almost at home with the huge support and I was pretty relaxed in the final, just letting my surfing flow and it went right. I am just stoked.”

Zubizarreta, whose result today confirms the supremacy of Europeans in the San Miguel Pro Zarautz for the third consecutive year, was held by best friends and famous competitors Aritz Aranburu (EUK) and Hodei Collazo (EUK) up to the award presentation in front of a thousand people.

“Aritz (Aranburu) won it in 2007, Tim (Boal) in 2008, and now it’s my turn… I am stoked to see our generation do well and I hope Hodei (Collazo) is next on the list,” Zubizarreta said. “I’ve had a good year but that week was really good and my coach Sylvain has been supporting a lot so I am just over the moon. I don’t want to think of any ratings at this stage of the year but I know it will make a good difference and I hope things can keep going next week as I will be at home for the event.”

Runner-up for another excellent result this year after a couple of 5th in ASP WQS 6-Star Prime events and a win in the ASP WQS 4-Star event at Cape Town in South Africa, Blake Thornton (AUS), 24, came close to clinching a second title this year but was not able to catch-up with Zubizarreta’s performance. Thornton, who had to oust Nathan Yeomans (USA), Leigh Sedley (AUS) and Lincoln Taylor (AUS) on his way to the final today, did not deliver his best surfing in the final encounter leaving the best waves to Zubizarreta.

“I didn’t surf very well in the final and the conditions did not help me at all,” Thornton said. “It went pretty fat and I was looking for pockets and walling sections but I couldn’t find any and Gony (Zubizarreta) deserves the win. I am happy to get another big finish and pretty happy for Gony as well, with all the great support from the town.”

Thornton, who will go above the 10000 point mark on the ratings after his runner-up finish today, nets confidence for his ASP Top 45 campaign, an important asset for the upcoming months where things will get very tight.

“It’s been a good year and that final is another step towards the ultimate goal,” Thornton said. “I’ve had hard times trying to get rid of a couple of 800 point results and this final today is a comeback for me so I know that one big result in the next couple of months could give me that ticket for next year’s ASP World Tour so I will remain focused on every heat.”

Placing third in the San Miguel Pro Zarautz today were Nathan Yeomans (California, USA) and Glenn Hall (IRL), 27, both men failing to make the final of the ASP WQS 5-Star event despite displaying excellent surfing throughout the final day. Looking to better their overall ratings’ points’ total with their Zarautz campaign, both men reached their goal and leave Zarautz with a good confidence boost for the last part of the year.

Irish-Australian surfer Glenn Hall, ranked No. 21 on the international ratings before Zarautz, secured another good finish today by reaching the Semifinals to clinch 1500 points and go over the 10,000 points’ mark, a significant move in the race to the ASP World Tour. Hall, who had opened his European campaign with an equal 3rd at Newquay a month ago, stepped-up again today to make the final-four and moves to the next event confidently.

“You never want to lose but it’s a good result and I feel like I am surfing better than I have ever surfed so it’s good to get that 3rd,” Hall said. “I didn’t know that heat was thirty minutes and I left the water too early than had to go back out and wasn’t able to find that last ride. I am pretty happy to get a few more points for the ratings but the hardest part, more than making the Top 15 now, is to finish inside the Top 15 at the end of the year so it’s still a long way.”

Nathan Yeomans, 28, was a late entry in the event starting from Round 1 and making his way through six heats to eventually miss out on the final, still an excellent run for the ASP WQS No. 14 who will head back home after four weeks of intense competition across Europe. Yeomans, who lacked a good second score during his battle with Thornton in Semifinal No. 1, got close to the final losing with a 12.67 point result to Thornton’s 13.80 points’ total.

“It came down to a good back-up ride in that Semifinal and I guess that air-reverse 360 could have made a difference if I had landed it,” Yeomans said. “It feels great to get a few heats under my belt and get back into winning mode so I am happy with this result today especially after a few shockers in this summer. I’ve had a great time in Europe and mext for me is some time home for my sister’s wedding than head to Brazil for the WQS events.”

SAN MIGUEL PRO ZARAUTZ FINAL
1 - Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 12.73 pts
2 - Blake Thornton (AUS) 11.87 pts

SAN MIGUEL PRO ZARAUTZ SEMIFINALS
SF 1: Blake Thornton (AUS) 13.80 pts Def. Nathan Yeomans (USA) 12.67 pts
SF 2: Gony Zibizarreta (ESP) 13.83 pts Def. Glenn Hall (IRL) 13.20 pts

SAN MIGUEL PRO ZARAUTZ QUARTERFINALS
QF 1: Nathan Yeomans (USA) 16.23 pts Def. Leigh Sedley (AUS) 14.94 pts
QF 2: Blake Thornton (AUS) 15.17 pts Def. Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 11.50 pts
QF 3: Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 13.94 pts Def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.50 pts
QF 4: Glenn Hall (IRL) 11.50 pts Def. Luke Munro (AUS) 8.50 pts

Frontside reverse Oceanside 1st try.

TENERIFE, Canary Islands (Friday, September 4, 2009) – Marc Lacomare (Capbreton, FRA), 18, was crowned the 2009 ASP European Junior champion today after closest title contender Jatyr Berasaluce (Sopelana, EUK), 20, was eliminated from the ASP Grade-3 Santa Surf Pro Junior in the Canarian island of Tenerife. Leading the regional ratings since his recent win in the Rip Curl Pro Junior at Hossegor a couple of weeks ago, Lacomare sealed the deal today closing a great year of performance to claim his maiden regional title and get his ticket for this year’s ASP World Junior Championships (WJC) taking place at Narabeen in Australia next January.

“The title wasn’t done for me even if I was in the lead before Tenerife,” Lacomare said. “I was really focused on my heats and did not think about the title until it would be confirmed and I am just over the moon right now. I’ve had a long year competing on both ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) and Pro Junior events. I had an injury in June and July and I got back to competition to focus on the junior series, and it finishes perfectly with that title.”

Lacomare, who had a great year where he placed 3rd in the world at Narabeen before clinching the opening ASP Grade-2 B! Pro Junior in Portugal last April, was considered a favorite throughout the seven-event season that saw several exceptional battles take place including his duel with title contender Berasaluce in the Semifinals at Hossegor where Lacomare took a serious lead before the final contest at Tenerife. 

“Getting the ticket for Narabeen is really another great thing for me,” Lacomare said. “I did well last time with a 3rd but I am going to back there and try and better that result. The event is great and that wave really fits my surfing so I am looking forward to taking that opportunity again and go for a big result.” 

After coming close to the regional crown last year, Lacomare’s determination and talent gave him the keys to success in 2009, an exceptional year that saw the 18-year-old Capbreton resident come onto the frontline of professional surfing with an equal 3rd place finish in the ASP WQS 4-Star Protest Vendee Pro in France. 

“To win the regional title is great and it’s another step in my career,” Lacomare said. “I am not sure if I will be back to defend this crown next year as I am thinking of going full-time on the ASP World Qualifying Series. Narabeen will be very important for me and I am looking forward to wrapping-up my junior season well there.”

With another couple of days to go before the tour finishes in Tenerife, Lacomare will try and clinch a third event this year and from what he has shown so far, he’s got all skills to shine again in the consistent surf on offer thus far.

2009 ASP EUROPEAN JUNIOR BEST RESULTS

1st, ASP Grade-2 B! Pro Junior, Carcavelos - Portugal

3rd, ASP Grade-1 Vans Pro Junior, San Sebastian - Euskadi

1st, ASP Grade-3 Rip Curl Pro Junior, Hossegor/Seignosse – France

TBA, ASP Grade-3 Santa Surf Pro Junior, Los Realejos, Tenerife – Canary Islands

For more on Marc Lacomare, check out his profile at http://www.aspeurope.com/2008/profiles_show.php?id=61

How did this project come about and who was involved?

The third time we went to the Galapagos and were witnessing illegal long line fishing Jim Clark said somebody should do something about this and I said, “How about you and I?”�I’m the executive director of OPS and I started going around to marine mammal conferences to find out what the issues were.�Ric O’Barry was supposed to be a keynote speaker one evening in San Diego. Ric was the dolphin trainer who captured and trained the five female dolphins who collectively played the part of Flipper.�At the last minute, the sponsor of the event, SeaWorld, wouldn’t let him talk – I got curious and called up Ric and asked why.�He said he was going to talk about the captivity industry and the largest slaughter of dolphins on the planet and SeaWorld wouldn’t let him talk.�I had never heard of dolphin captures before and I asked who was doing anything about it.�He said right now it was only him and he was going the next week and he invited me along.

Do people ask how killing dolphins and whales is different from killing cows, chickens, pigs, fish, etc.? How do you respond?

I don’t eat things that walk, I stopped over 20 years ago after visiting a slaughter house.�I’m not militant on the issue – I feel it’s a personal choice.�However if my green beans had five thousand times more mercury than allowed by law, like dolphins can, I would hope somebody would speak up for me.  

 What did you tell the Japanese customs to get them to allow you into the country?

We reported all of our gear with a Carne – we put up a bond.�We took the helicopter apart so it was in 10 pieces spread over as many pieces of luggage.�Customs was only interested in filling out the forms, not trying to understand what was in the cases.

Where is this slaughter taking place? And is what’s happening there different from a cultural tradition of cetacean killing? �

I love their traditional argument – it makes it sound like these noble warriors are going of in war canoes and ceremonial robes to slay the ‘Monster Fish.’�That’s their name for whale in Japan, kujira, means ‘monster fish.’�They’re hunting down this free spirited wild animal, the dolphin, the only one known to routinely save the lives of humans and they call it a monster fish. �They’ve only been using fast diesel drive boats since 1933.�That’s the length of their tradition, seventy-six years – my mother is older than that.�In America we have a much longer tradition of slavery and not allowing women to vote.�The tradition argument falls apart when their tradition is harming thousands of unsuspecting Japanese consumers.�The dolphin hunters sell much of their dolphin meat as whale meat which can be thousands of times more toxic than Minke whale meat.�By those standards the Japanese government does have a long tradition of covering up mercury in seafood.�In the 1950’s in Minamata, Japan hundreds of thousands of people were killed and maimed and poisoned by mercury.�The Japanese Supreme Court found their own government complicit in conspiring to cover up those facts with Japan’s largest company, Chisso Minamata, and ordered them to pay restitution to the victims who were needlessly poisoned.  No amount of money can repay a family damaged from a loved one poisoned with mercury.�Mercury is the most toxic non-radioactive element in the world and it destroys the brain and nervous system of it’s victims.�For some reason mercury is particularly damaging to the brain of a fetus and young children.�The Taiji mayor and the dolphin hunters were giving toxic dolphin meat to school children while this movie was being made.�Ric’s organization Earth Island and my own OPS (Oceanic Preservation Society) had a hand in stopping that.�The Taiji mayor had hatched a plan where he was going to distribute dolphin meat to school systems all over Japan.�That looks like it was stopped as well because of the making of this movie.�There are about four drive fisheries in Japan that use underwater sound to drive dolphins into coves.�Taiji is the biggest, about twenty three hundred a year are killed there, we think it’s more because there is pretty good evidence the fisherman are underreporting what they catch – they also kill mothers and their calves which they are not supposed to do.�When you have a declining population of creatures that takes years to mature enough to have offspring and kill them off before they can replenish – it’s mismanagement.�But the Japanese government and the dolphin hunters are claiming that dolphins and whales are eating too many fish in the ocean – they actually put forth a proposal at the IWC formally making this accusation.�A friend from Greenpeace told me that blaming whales and dolphins for eating too many fish is like blaming woodpeckers for deforestation – it’s ridiculous – dolphins and whales have been around for tens of millions of years before us and things were fine until humans invented factory ships and industrialized fishing. 

What are the health dangers to humans who eat cetacean meat?

Dolphins and whales eat at the top of the food chain.�Because animals bioaccumulate toxins, meaning that they absorb the immortal toxins of all the animals consumed below them, they store toxins like PCB’s, mercury, lead and cadmium in their fat.�It’s impossible for a dolphin to eat anything else other than fish.�A human has the same problem if they eat only fish.�I did.�Through the making of this movie, interviewing doctors in Minamata studying the problem, I found out I had mercury poisoning.�I was a pescatarian, I ate primarily fish for protein.�I found out I had about forty parts per million (ppm) of mercury in my blood.�You should not have more than 1 ppm.�I was a mid-level Minamata victim.�I had to stop eating fish altogether to get my levels down.�What people don’t realize is that it’s not just dolphins and whales that are toxic, it’s everything we like to eat, tuna, swordfish, marlin, shark and tilefish.�Because of the dumping of pollution into the environment, especially from the burning of fossil fuels like coal which has lots of mercury in it, even small short-lived�fresh water fish are becoming toxic, walleye pike and bass.�There are 19 states now with health advisories in every body of water.�We interviewed Bobby Kennedy for a DVD extra on mercury and he said were now living in a science fiction nightmare.�It’s true, dolphins and whales are now swimming toxic dump sites.�It’s a tragic irony that the only wild animal throughout history to save humans is the dolphin and the only way we can save dolphins now is to prove that we made their environment so toxic that we cannot eat them. 

What was the scariest moment of the mission?

The scariest moment was when police came into the cove looking for us with flashlights.�There were three of us on a rock out in the middle of the cove and the freedivers were in the middle of the cove underwater. 

How did Dave Rastovich get involved with this project?

I made a vow to my wife that I would never go back to Taiji after getting run out of town by the chief of police there.�Then I ran into Dave at the IWC meeting in Anchorage, Alaska in 2007.�He was planning a mission into the cove where he would conduct a paddle-out ceremony.�He didn’t know the lay of the land and I thought he’s going to get so busted and maybe not come back with anything if he didn’t have some help from us.�So I got the team back together, the helicopter crew, the rock cams, underwater cameras, everything, full orchestra we called it. Of course now we can never go back, there are arrest warrants waiting for us if we do.�Trespassing and Conspiracy to Disrupt Commerce are the charges I’m told.�It’s important to remember that this was done in a Japanese National Park that’s a nature preserve.�The only thing that’s being preserved there is this crime against nature that happens every year from September 1st – March 30th.�Ric was on the ground last week with media, and plenty of Japanese media too.�For the first time in decades the Japanese press is picking up on the story.�They have never really done that before.�However their media does not pick up on the mercury story because they know they cannot win that argument. 

Where and when can we see the film? 

Go to www.TheCoveMovie.com to find a theater near you.

What’s the next step for people who want to be informed and who want to do something positive? 

See the movie and then go to www.TakePart.com and sign the petition – write a letter to the Japanese ambassador – eventually there will be a tipping point.

The Cove

Ian Gentil is My (and Andy Irons’) New Favorite Lil Shredder           

A few months ago Andy Irons told us that Ian Gentil is the best 13 year�old surfer he’s ever seen—and after watching this clip, it’s hard to argue that statement.

So, without further adieu … Ladies and gentlemen, your new favorite grommet, Ian Gentil.—Chris Cote

(Check out his website, too, the kid is on top of his game).

 http://www.iangentil.com/

Ian Gentil

This past weekend, surf teams battled it out for the coveted “Battle of the Brands” trophy. Team O’Neill, which included Luke Davis, Sage Erickson, Ian Crane, and Kanoa Igarishi, bested all the other brands to secure bragging rights till next year. TransWorld SURF’s team was looking to defend their 2008 Media Champion status, but fell just short to the Fuel TV team. To see more action click here.

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With the Red Bull Rivals event taking place this Saturday, September 5, the South Shore team held a practice session to gear up for the heated match. Make sure to stay tuned to transworldsurf.com for full coverage of the Red Bull Rivals event, Town (South Shore) vs. Country (North Shore) for Oahu’s bragging rights.

For more info head to redbullsurfing.com.

South Shore Oahu

August’s Model Search saw an entry from an FHM cover girl, but this month, well…um…the month’s far from over. Send in your best photos, preferably not taken from a 1.4 Megapixel camera phone.

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To enter the TransWorld SURF Model Search email your photos to transworldsurf@gmail.com. Please include name, age, hometown, and a bit of information about yourself. You must be 18 to enter. Monthly winners will receive a free swimsuit from B Swim and sunglasses from Spy Optics and be in the running for the ultimate title of Miss TransWorld SURF!

Model Search September

brett-burcher

Ocean and Earth team rider Brett Burcher headed home with the richest takings on the Pro Junior surfing circuit in his pocket. Burch scored himself a massive $10,000 after defeating Tahitian born Tamaroa McComb during the Red Bull Junior Surf Masters Final at Cronulla on the weekend.

This win marks the start of a comeback to competitive surfing for Burch who has been out of the water for some time with a busted leg

Burch has a never say die approach to competition that was witnessed during the pro junior in Bali earlier this year where he entered the water fifteen minutes late with no leggie, rubbing the sleep from his eyes to not only progress through but to also win the heat

Burch will be laughing all the way to the bank with this win (if he makes it in time).

Check out more news and photos at the comp website. And for more on Brett visit oceanearth.com.