DURBAN (Thursday 3 June 2010) – Safari Surfboards team riders starred in the 2010 South African Surfing Championships completed at St Mikes on the KZN South Coast on the weekend, winning four of the eight individual titles, finishing runner-up in two divisions and reaching the finals in another two.

Former ASP World Tour campaigner Greg Emslie, SA’s highest earning pro surfer with more than US $600 000 in prize-money, clinched his second SA Open Men’s Title and, along with runner-up and fellow East Londoner, Devyn Mattheys, helped the Border provincial surfing team to secure the prestigious Presidents Cup.

In the Open Women, reigning ISA World Masters Champion and Port Shepstone local Heather Clark showed she is well on the way to a full recovery after her horrific car accident last year by capturing her umpteenth national crown, while rising star Tanika Hoffman (Kommetjie) surfed her way into the final where she placed fourth overall.

Former ASP World Pro Am champion David Malherbe from Coffee Bay was another who contributed to Border’s team victory by winning the Kahunas (over 45) division where Durban’s Murray Niven came in third.

The peerless Chris Knutsen, a four-time SA Men’s Open champion in his heyday and the reigning ISA World Grand Kahunas (over 50) champion, maintained his unbeaten record since SA Masters events were introduced to the local surfing calendar back in 2007 by clinching his fourth consecutive national title. And for the second year in a row Grantley Read from Zululand finished runner-up in the Grand Kahunas.

“What a fantastic performance by all the Safari Surfboards team riders in the SA Champs,” said legendary surfboard shaper Spider Murphy. “Congratulations to all the guys and girls who participated in the event and particularly those who created history by winning national titles.”

“It’s a pleasure working with such talented surfers and really gratifying to contribute to their success at SA’s longest running event.”

Safari Surfboards was established in 1963 and are the exclusive providers of Spider Murphy’s shapes. Contact boards@safarisurf.com for more information.

/ends

Photo: Julie de Vries

Issued on behalf of:

Lonnie Tiegs
Safari Surf Co
E:  lonnie@SafariSurfCo.com
Compiled & Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications

PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel:              +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax:             +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile:         +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email:           lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Thursday, December 10, 2009) – Round 1 of the Billabong Pipeline Masters, Event No. 10 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, commenced today in clean six-to-ten foot (2 – 3 metre) waves at the Banzai Pipeline.

The third and final event in the Vans Triple Crown (an ASP Specialty Series), the Billabong Pipeline Masters plays host to two dramatic story arcs: the showdown for the 2009 ASP World Title and the requalification race for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour. Amidst the world’s best surfers exists a spattering of Pipeline specialists, making the competition field particularly challenging to navigate.

Michael Picon (FRA), 30, current ASP World No. 39, is in need of an impressive result in the final event of the year to secure his position amongst the world’s elite in 2010. Today, the Frenchman put the rest of the draw on notice, first eliminating wildcard Manoa Drollet (PYF) before posting the highest heat total of the event, a 19.76 out of a possible 20, for a brilliant backhand tube-riding approach to take out Josh Kerr (AUS), 25, in the final heat of the day.

“That was the best heat of my life,” Picon said. “I was just trying to build momentum and I feel like all of the training I’ve done is paying off. It’s great to have this heat at Pipeline and in Hawaii. Today was all about the rights. We all knew that. I was going for the right too. I figured I’d go for the death, whatever.”

To vault himself ahead the current qualification cutoff point, Picon will have to finish third or better at the Billabong Pipeline Masters, but the calculated Frenchman remains calm heading into the remainder of the event.

“I’m trying not to think about it,” Picon said. “I’m just thinking about having a good heat and having a good contest here because it’s always been a dream for me to do well at Pipeline. I’m just really confident after that heat.”

John John Florence (HAW), 16, the Billabong Pipeline Masters’ youngest competitor, was a tour du force in his Round 1 heat, posting an impressive 17.20 out of a possible 20, to defeat fellow Hawaiian wildcard Danny Fuller (HAW), 27.

“With four guys out at Pipe I was going crazy and just trying to get every wave I could,” Florence said. “Yesterday was big and messy and today’s conditions have really cleaned up. This morning was fun, but this afternoon’s wind has made it really good. Growing up here, I really looked up to all the local guys for inspiration and advice out here. To be competing in the Pipe Masters is an honor and I hope I have the opportunity to surf through a few more rounds.”

Florence will take on current ASP World No. 27, Heitor Alves (BRA), 27, in Heat 12 of Round 2 when competition resumes.

Andy Irons (HAW), 31, former three-time ASP World Champion and former four-time Pipe Master Champion, showed a return to form today recovering from an early heat double-interference collision with opponent Marcus Hickman (HAW), 30, and rallying with a dominant performance in the Backdoor righthanders. Although on sabbatical from full-time competition this season, Irons’ return to the ASP World Tour in 2010 has been highly-anticipated by the surfing world.

“I’ve decided to be on the world tour next year and just being in a jersey is a good warm-up for it,” Irons said. “I definitely feel like I’m in a better position going into next season after taking this year off.”

Irons will take on current ASP World No. 25, Drew Courtney (AUS), 30, in Heat 16 of Round 2 when the Billabong Pipeline Masters recommences.

Andy wasn’t the only Irons to make a dent in today’s competition as younger brother and former ASP World Tour campaigner, Bruce Irons (HAW), 30, took down lethal Californian Tim Reyes (USA), 27, in Round 2 of competition.

Torrey Meister (HAW), 21, wildcard into the Billabong Pipeline Masters, was the first alternate called to action when Sunny Garcia (HAW), 39, failed to show for his Round 1 heat. Despite arriving late to the lineup, Meister put in an inspired performance in both the Backdoor rights and the Pipeline lefts to net a 16.83 out of a possible 20 to overtake Nic Muscroft (AUS), 27.

“I don’t know what happened,” Meister said. “I expected Sunny (Garcia) to turn up and I was sitting on the beach getting tired watching the waves. It was firing and I couldn’t get too antsy because I didn’t know if I was going to get into the event, but I’m happy that I did. I guess it’s kind of an advantage to get in this way, because I didn’t have time to get nervous before my heat.”

Meister will face current ASP World No. 16, Kai Otton (AUS), 29, in the first heat when competition resumes.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.

The Billabong Pipeline Masters will be webcast LIVE via www.billabongpro.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
High-res image available for complimentary download at: (Copy/Paste URL)
http://64.78.18.131/aspnewsphotos/bbgpipe09/aibbgpiper109(cestari).jpg

BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS ROUND 1 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Gavin Gillette (HAW) 15.50 def. Jihad Khodr (BRA) 11.33
Heat 2: Gabe Kling (USA) 11.17 def. Kalani Chapman (HAW) 10.17
Heat 3: Andy Irons (HAW) 12.42 def. Marcus Hickman (HAW) 10.17
Heat 4: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 13.17 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 12.96
Heat 5: Liam McNamara (HAW) 7.67 def. Nathaniel Curran (USA) 7.34
Heat 6: Hank Gaskell (HAW) 12.00 def. David Weare (ZAF) 8.73
Heat 7: Bruce Irons (HAW) 12.34 def. Reef McIntosh (HAW) 11.66
Heat 8: Torrey Meister (HAW) 16.83 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 8.90
Heat 9: Michael Picon (FRA) 10.50 def. Manoa Drollet (PYF) 9.93
Heat 10: Shane Dorian (HAW) 16.67 def. Kamalei Alexander (HAW) 7.73
Heat 11: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 13.43 def. Jonah Morgan (HAW) 6.84
Heat 12: Flynn Novak (HAW) 16.40 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 12.34
Heat 13: Sion Miloski (HAW) 17.00 def. Dustin Barca (HAW) 14.03
Heat 14: John John Florence (HAW) 17.20 def. Danny Fuller (HAW) 11.33
Heat 15: Mason Ho (HAW) 15.83 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 9.50
Heat 16: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 12.66 def. Jamie O’Brien (HAW) 10.33

BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Liam McNamara (HAW) 7.94 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 6.83
Heat 2: Roy Powers (HAW) 10.26 def. Gabe Kling (USA) 10.06
Heat 3: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 10.40 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 3.83
Heat 4: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.00 def. Mason Ho (HAW) 10.67
Heat 5: Bruce Irons (HAW) 15.67 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 13.93
Heat 6: Shane Dorian (HAW) 11.17 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 8.33
Heat 7: Michael Picon (FRA) 19.76 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 16.73

REMAINING BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Torrey Meister (HAW)
Heat 9: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Sion Milosky (HAW)
Heat 10: Chris Ward (USA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Flynn Novak (HAW)
Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. John John Florence (HAW)
Heat 13: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Gavin Gillette (HAW)
Heat 14: Tim Boal (FRA) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 15: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Hank Gaskell (HAW)
Heat 16: Drew Courtney (AUS) Andy Irons (HAW)

BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 4: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. TBA
Heat 6: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 7: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. TBA
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 11: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. TBA
Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 14: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 15: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 16: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. TBA

——————————————————————————–

Visit the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com for news, images, transcribed athlete interviews and more.

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Media
Dave Prodan
email: dave@aspworldtour.com
USA mobile: +1 949 678 0987
AUS mobile: +61 (0) 400 455 228

Digital Photographs:
High-resolution digital images for newspapers and Internet sites are available through ASP’s photography distributution partner Getty Images. To register for access, log onto http://corporate.gettyimages.com/marketing/editorial_frontdoor/ASP/index.html

——————————————————————————–

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.

——————————————————————————–

Association of Surfing Professionals
72-80 Marine Parade
Coolangatta, QLD 4225
Australia

Hodge , 22, qualified for her fourth consecutive year on the Dream Tour when she finished No. 10 on the yearend ASP Women’s World Tour rankings after the completion of the Billabong Pro Maui in Hawaii yesterday. The East Londoner, ranked No. 9 going into the final event, spent an anxious 24 hours awaiting the outcome when she was eliminated in Round 3.

Rebecca Woods (AUS) overtook her in the ratings by advancing to the quarterfinals, but the balance of the lower ranked opponents were eliminated and Hodge clinched the last automatic re-qualification spot and a place amongst the world’s best competitive female surfers for yet another year.

Robb, 20, also from East London, has been waiting for confirmation of her spot among the elite of women’s surfing since the final event on the 2009 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) in Ro de Janeiro in October. A fifth place in that event saw her jump to No. 9 on the yearend WQS rankings where the top six qualify for the top-tier World Tour.

However, three of the girls ranked in the WQS top six were also competing on the World Tour and could double-qualify if they stayed in the top 10 on the Dream Tour, with their WQS spots then going to the girls ranked Nos. 7, 8 and 9. Coco Ho (HAW) and Paige Hareb (NZL) were comfortably placed on the World Tour rankings and Robb’s fate lay in the performance of Rebecca Woods (AUS) in the final event.

Robb’s heart must have sunk into her heels when Woods was relegated to a cutthroat, sudden-death Round 2 heat after placing third in her opening match-up in Maui. And even more so when Woods appeared to be struggling in the Round 2 encounter. But Woods rallied and snatched second place by a miniscule 0.20 of a point and then went on to defeat former ASP World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS) in Round 3, cementing her No. 9 ranking and enabling Robb to take her place in the highest flight in 2010.

“I couldn’t be more stoked,” Robb said of her qualification. “I’ve had a really long time thinking about what will happen if I qualify or if I didn’t, but you can never really comprehend the happiness of when you get that phone call saying ‘Well done, you have just qualified for the 2010 WCT’.”

“Where too from here? Preparation, getting good boards, training and last but not least enjoying surfing and living my dream! It’s funny, at the start of the year I was working in gardens trying to get enough money to follow the WQS. Now, at the end of the year, I’ve achieved something I’ve wanted for so long. So I guess I’m really excited about next year and I have a feeling 2010 is going to be a good year for me.”

Robb becomes only the third South African female surfer to reach the highest echelons of the women’s world surfing after Heather Clark (Port Shepstone) and good friend and fellow East Londoner Rosanne Hodge. Next year will be her first outside the Pro Junior (U20) ranks where she secured a number of international event victories and accolades and a string of national titles.

2010 ASP Women’s World Tour Qualifiers

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Silvana Lima (BRA)
Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
Coco Ho (HAW)
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Chelsea Hedges (AUS)
Paige Hareb (NZL)
Rebecca Woods (AUS)
Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Carissa Moore (HAW)
Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
Nikita Robb (ZAF)
ASP wildcard to be decided
For more on Nikita see www.nikitarobb.co.za

For more information on both of South Africa’s two highest rated female surfers see www.aspafrica.com

ends

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa

Contact:            Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel:                   021 534 5738
Email:               aspafrica@mweb.co.za

Compiled & Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications

PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel:              +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax:             +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile:         +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email:           lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

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.

HONOLUA BAY, Maui/Hawaii (Wednesday, December 9, 2009) – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, took out the final stop on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour today, the Billabong Pro Maui, in clean four-to-six foot (1.5 metre) conditions at the iconic pointbreak of Honolua Bay over Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 26, clinching her third consecutive Billabong Pro Maui title after three years of competition at the premier event. Gilmore wrapped up her dominating season amongst the Top 17 by claiming her second consecutive Vans Triple Crown title today as well.

Gilmore capped the year off in appropriate form after claiming her third ASP Women’s World Title at the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, when she advanced over Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, in the Semifinals, en route to defending her flawless record at the Billabong Pro Maui while claiming the prized Hawaiian specialty series and the beefed up $25,000 prize purse supplied by Vans.

“Once again, Maui has just been incredible and to win this event three times in a row is just awesome,” Gilmore said. “I couldn’t have been happier with the way things have gone today. Winning the Vans Triple Crown is definitely up there with winning the World Title and it’s definitely one of the biggest accolades of surfing professionally. I can’t believe it’s all happening again, it’s awesome.”

Gilmore absolutely dominated the day’s proceedings, blitzing the highest heat total of the entire 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour season by surfing a near-perfect heat of 19.67 out of 20 to usurp Samantha Cornish (AUS), 29, in her Quarterfinals heat before topping Fitzgibbons and Mulanovich en route to her second ASP Women’s World Tour win of 2009.

“I guess it’s a little surprising,” Gilmore said. “I would have thought that the highest heat total would have gone down yesterday with all of the barrels. Today there are still some rippable waves out there, but I don’t know. I just went surfing.”

Mulanovich campaigned through a lengthy day of competition, topping Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 23, Australian veteran Rebecca Woods (AUS), 25, and ASP Women’s World No. 2 Silvana Lima (BRA), 25, but was unable to top Gilmore for the victory and claimed a runner-up finish at the final event of the year to finish her season ASP Women’s World No. 3.

“It’s been a great day,” Mulanovich said. “Congratulations to Steph (Gilmore). She’s a champ and a hero to all of us and thanks to the sponsors of the event and my family and friends. It’s been a great event.”

Fitzgibbons navigated the Honolua Bay lineup with poise and maturity beyond her years and posted some amazing scores before falling in her Semifinals bout against Gilmore, but clinched an impressive heat victory over Coco Ho (HAW), 18, in the Quarterfinals on the way to her third place finish.

“I always love surfing heats with Coco (Ho),” Fitzgibbons said. “She always pushes my level up and I usually have my best heats with her. She’s also a really great friend. I wish there were more waves so we could have dueled a little bit more. She surfed amazing this year and my hat goes off to her.”

Lima, who smashed one of two perfect 10-point rides during the Billabong Pro Maui with amazing barrel riding in yesterday’s action, was in stellar form for the final day of competition, but was overtaken by former Peruvian ASP Women’s World Champion, Mulanovich, in the dying minutes of their Semifinals heat, taking a third place finish to wrap up her year while finishing ASP Women’s World No. 2 for 2009.

“The waves were a lot smaller than yesterday, but it was still good,” Lima said. “Sometimes the heats were slow, but the conditions were still great.”

For Billabong Pro Maui highlights, videos, photos and more log on to www.triplecrownofsurfing.com or www.billabongpro.com

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines Final:

1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 18.00
2 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.17

Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines Semifinals Results:

Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.03 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.94
Heat 2: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.83 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.70

Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines Quarterfinals Results:

Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.83 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 15.83
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 19.67 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 7.26
Heat 3: Silvana Lima 16.70 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 7.20
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.77 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 6.50

Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines Round 3 Result:

Heat 8: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 9.50 def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 8.17

Final 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings

1. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2. Silvana Lima (BRA)
3. Sofia Mulanovich (PER)
4. Coco Ho (HAW)
5. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
6. Melanie Bartels (HAW)
7. Chelsea Hedges (AUS)
8. Paige Hareb (NZL)
9. Rebecca Woods (AUS)
10. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
11. Samantha Cornish (AUS)
12. Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
13. Alana Blanchard (HAW)
14. Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
15. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
16. Amee Donohoe (AUS)
17. Megan Abubo (HAW)
18. Layne Beachley (AUS)

——————————————————————————–

Visit the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com for news, images, transcribed athlete interviews and more.

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Media
Dave Prodan
email: dave@aspworldtour.com
USA mobile: +1 949 678 0987

AUS mobile: +61 (0) 400 455 228

Bobby Shadley
email: bobby@aspworldtour.com
USA mobile: +1 949 290 9135

Billabong Pro Maui Media
email: mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com
USA mobile: +1 808 214 7805

Digital Photographs:
High-resolution digital images for newspapers and Internet sites are available through ASP’s photography distributution partner Getty Images. To register for access, log onto http://corporate.gettyimages.com/marketing/editorial_frontdoor/ASP/index.html

——————————————————————————–

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. 

——————————————————————————–

Association of Surfing Professionals
72-80 Marine Parade
Coolangatta, QLD 4225
Australia

WAIMEA BAY, Oahu/Hawaii (Tuesday, December 8, 2009) – After 25 years with most of those spent waiting, Waimea Bay delivered an event of legendary proportions today at the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, Fueled by Monster Energy. It was 25 years to the day since the first “Eddie” was held and waves of up to 50 feet poured in to Oahu’s North Shore as if on cue.

With younger brother Clyde still in the lineup, at age 60, joined by the contemporary top guns of big wave riding, a packed arena celebrated every gutsy ride in brilliant sunshine befitting of a tribute to local hero Eddie Aikau.

When all was said and done, it was California’s Greg Long, 26, (California) who made a late charge in the final heat of the day to claim the $55,000 winner’s purse. Long committed to an unbelievable never-say-die attack, securing all four of his top scores – several of them death-defying and one of them a perfect 100-point ride, in macking 40- to 50-foot waves. It was the high point of his career to-date – pretty incredible given that he only rode Waimea for the first time this week.

“I’m so happy just to be here, invited into the biggest event of big waves in the world with all my heroes, I’m so excited,” said Long.

“It’s a dream come true for me. Riding big waves is my passion and I’ve been following The Eddie since I knew exactly what it was, I was probably 12-years-old just getting into surfing. Since then, I’ve had every single poster from Brock Little to Bruce Irons on my wall. I look to those guys for inspiration and to be standing up here with Sunny (Garcia) and Kelly Slater is a dream come true for me. I never would have thought that this is my first year surfing the event and to come away with a victory is really a childhood dream become real.

“I’m still standing here in awe and I want to go check the scores to make sure someone isn’t going to come here and take this away.

“It really is about the wave and celebrating the ocean. It’s what we do: go out there and ride big waves. The respect and camaraderie in the lineup you don’t find in too many places in the world, and this event really encapsulates everything that’s great about surfing: the friendships you make in the water and looking out for one another.”

Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker became the first South African to compete in the legendary big wave event and rode the first wave of the day in Heat 1. The Durbanite went on to finish 15th overall.

The Monster Drop Award, for the most hellacious-but-successful takeoff of the contest, went to Chile’s Ramon Navarro, who also finished fifth overall. This is his first time as an invitee into the event. Navarro’s winning wave was one of the last of the competition; a huge, seemingly endless drop on his backhand, followed by a detonation of whitewater that he emerged from and then stuck with all the way to the beach. He earned a perfect 100 points.

Navarro first came in 2004 to surf Waimea with an invitation from good friend and fellow contestant today, Kohl Christensen. He baked empanadas and sold them to pay his rent and learn the ropes. Today was pay day. Navarro won $10,000 for the Monster Drop Award, and $2,000 for fifth place. It was a great result for someone who almost didn’t surf today after his pregnant wife was accidentally injured on the beach.

“This is a dream for me,” said Navarro. “I want to say thank you to Kohl Christensen, Dusty Middleton and all the crew because those are the guys that invited me here and taught me how to surf The Bay. I appreciate everything from these guys.”

Nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (Florida, USA), who won here back in January of 2002, placed second after leading the score board from the second heat of the day. Long turned the tables on him in the final hour of competition. All Slater could do was look on in as much disbelief as the frenzied crowd who were at that point ready to celebrate with anyone. Slater earned $10,000. Third was Hawaii’s Sunny Garcia, earning $3,000. Fourth was defending Eddie champion Bruce Irons (Kauai), $3,000.

Navarro’s buddy Christensen can lay claim to the most devastating wipeout of the day that remains burned in every mind here today. He also posted several solid scores, but a wipeout like his is as unforgettable as a win.

The call to wait for today and the ensuing result was mind-boggling, especially since many were questioning not running yesterday in 40-foot surf. By afternoon, all concerned were stunned that 79-year-old contest director and big wave icon George Downing had kept his cool so well and timed it perfectly for a second peak in swell energy. The past 48 hours of massive surf is the largest sustained episode to hit the Hawaiian Islands in 40 years.

From the moment the event was declared “on” at dawn, to the final gut-wrenching wipeouts that came with the peaking swell of afternoon, the air was filled with salt spray and adrenaline. Not a square foot of sand or lava rock was empty as a capacity crowd of over 50,000 packed the natural amphitheater of Waimea Bay to experience the pairing of Mother Nature and the men who ride her mountainous surf.

The insane wipeouts that dropped like dominoes, the hairball air drops and perfect scores, the 28 surfers of the event who put their lives on the line in honor of Aikau today – it all made for the greatest day of the Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau’s history.

Waimea Bay’s best known big-wave rider and first life-guard, Eddie Aikau, was smiling down on his successors today. Along with the surfers, he would have admired Hawaiian Water Patrol for keeping the lineup and the surfers safe all day yesterday and today. There is no greater collection of guardian angels of the sea than the lifeguards of the North Shore.

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, Fueled by Monster Energy, is the only ASP sanctioned big wave event in the world.

Quiksilver In Memory Of Eddie Aikau
Results
1 Greg Long (California)
2 Kelly Slater (Florida)
3 Sunny Garcia (Hawaii)
4 Bruce Irons (Hawaii)
5 Ramon Navarro (Chile) * Monster Drop Award
6 Ross Clarke-Jones (Australia)
7 Jamie O’Brien (Hawaii)
8 Mark Healey (Hawaii)
9 Garret McNamara (Hawaii)
10 Noah Johnson (Hawaii)
11 Shane Dorian (Hawaii)
12 Makuakai Rothman (Hawaii)
13 Reef McIntosh (Hawaii)
14 Andy Irons (Hawaii)
15 Grant Baker (South Africa)
16 Carlos Burle (Brazil)
17 Kohl Christensen (Hawaii)
18 Kala Alexander (Hawaii)
19 Peter Mel (USA)
20 Takayuki Wakita (Japan)
21 Ibon Amatriain (Spain)
22 Clyde Aikau (Hawaii)
23 Keone Downing (Hawaii)
24 Mike Ho (Hawaii)
25 Darryl ‘Flea’ Virostko (USA)
26 Brian Keaulana (Hawaii)
27 Rusty Keaulana (Hawaii)
28 Pancho Sullivan (Hawaii)

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Ends

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: aspafrica@mweb.co.za

Compiled & Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax: +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

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.

Tuesday 8 December 2009 – South Africa’s Travis Logie has qualified for the 2010 ASP World Tour, professional surfing’s highest level of competition, after a gruelling campaign that saw him finish No. 13 in the yearend ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) rankings.

Logie, who spent four years amongst the world’s top 45 ranked surfers before dropping of the Dream Tour at the end of 2008, went into the final two WQS events in Hawaii ranked No. 11 and needing to advance through one heat to ensure his spot in the Top 15.

Elimination in his opening heats in both events left the 30-year-old Durbanite waiting on the sidelines as first Tanner Gudauskas (USA) and then Dusty Payne (HAW) overtook him. But the rest of his closest rivals were ousted in the subsequent rounds at Sunset Beach and Logie secured a well deserved place back at competitive surfing’s top table.

“I’m really stoked that all the hard work, training and travelling has paid off,” Logie said, shortly after arriving back in South Africa. “I’m really excited to be back on the tour for what will be my fifth year.”

Logie’s commitment to re-qualifying saw him compete in 21 of the 41 events on the 2009 WQS, the highest number by a South African and a total matched by only four of the nearly 1 000 other WQS members worldwide. He clinched a confidence-boosting victory in a 2-Star rated event in Australia early in the campaign before netting his biggest points haul in his home town when he placed 5th in the 6-Star Prime rated Quiksilver Pro Durban in April.

ASP World Tour title contenders Joel Parkinson and fellow Australian Mick Fanning along with Hawaiians Sunny Garcia and Dusty Payne fought out the final of the 6-Star rated O’Neill World Cup of Surfing in tricky 3 – 4 metre waves at Sunset Beach. Garcia, the 40-year-old veteran chasing a record 7th Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, opened his account with an incredible tube ride than earned him 9.47 points out of a possible 10 but could not find a second high scoring ride.

Parkinson clinched victory with rides of 7.0 and 6.17, matching Hawaiian legend Michael Ho’s record of three wins in the World Cup, and rocketed into the lead in the Triple Crown ratings, which he won last year. Garcia held on for second place in the event, which earned him a wildcard into the Billabong Pipeline Masters, with Fanning third and Payne a distant fourth.

Damien Fahrenfort posted the best results by a South African in the event, winning his opening encounter and then recording the highest heat total of Day 3, and the sixth highest total of the entire event – 16.27 out of 20 – before being ousted in the Round of 64.

Brandon Jackson went into the Hawaiian leg rated No. 15 on the WQS and in contention for an ASP World Tour spot. Like Logie, Jackson could not advance out of his first heats at Haleiwa and Sunset and dropped to No. 24 in the yearend rankings, which will give the 22-year-old from Durban North excellent seeding for the WQS contests in the first six months of 2010.

Royden Bryson (Cape Town) advanced through one heat at Haleiwa and none at Sunset to end the year ranked No. 36. Fahrenfort came in at No. 67 and Rudy Palmboom (Bluff), who won both his opening match-ups in Hawaii but was then eliminated in the Round of 96, closed his 2009 campaign rated No. 81.

Warwick Wright (Durban) was the highest ranked of the Saffas who did not compete in Hawaii at No. 81, followed by Antonio Bortoletto (Durban) at No. 87 and Daniel Redman (Umdloti) just outside the top 100 at No. 105

O’Neill World Cup of Surfing (Event No. 41 of 41)
Sunset Beach, Hawaii
Results:
Final:
1. Joel Parkinson (AUS) – $20,000 – 3,500 points
2. Sunny Garcia (HAW) – $10,000 – 3,063 points
3. Mick Fanning (AUS) – $5,100 – 2,625 points
4. Dusty Payne (HAW) – $4,900 – 2,494 points

ASP World Qualifying Series
2009 Yearend Rankings

1 Ross,Daniel AUS 15744
2 Gudauskas,Patrick USA 14876
3 Andre,Jadson BRA 14813
4 Melling,Adam AUS 14638
5 Wright,Owen AUS 14338
6 Munro,Luke AUS 13713
7 Thompson,Jay AUS 13638
8 Yeomans,Nathan USA 13419
9 Payne,Dusty HAW 13194
10 Simpson,Brett USA 13150
11 Wilkinson,Matt AUS 12850
12 Gudauskas,Tanner USA 12569
13 Logie,Travis ZAF 12344
14 Polo,Marco BRA 12331
15 Thornton,Blake AUS 12325

South Africans (in the top 150)

24 Jackson,Brandon ZAF 11431
36 Bryson,Royden ZAF 10213
67 Fahrenfort,Damien ZAF 8222
74 Palmboom,Rudy ZAF 7875
81 Wright,Warwick ZAF 7550
87 Bortoletto,Antonio ZAF 7101
105 Redman,Daniel ZAF 6451
125 Smith,Jordy ZAF 5644
130 Basnett,Ricky ZAF 5551
147 Richards,David ZAF 5246

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Billabong Pipeline Masters
Stop No. 10 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour
Pipeline, Oahu/Hawaii
December 8 – 20, 2009

Fanning and Parkinson face off at Pipeline for 2009 ASP World Title

After nine events on the 2009 ASP Dream Tour, the race for the ASP World Title will culminate in a showdown between two lifelong friends at the final event of the season, the Billabong Pipeline Masters, which will also decide the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, from December 8 – 20, 2009.

Mick Fanning, 28, former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 1, will face Gold Coast stable mate and current ASP World No. 2, Joel Parkinson, 28, in the hunt for the 2009 ASP World Title as the two battle a minefield of the world’s best surfers and Pipe specialists at the Billabong Pipeline Masters.

While the rest of the Top 45 fight for ratings points and prize-money and the 16 Pipeline specialists battle for prestige, only Fanning and Parkinson can win the 2009 ASP World title, with Parko having to finish two places ahead to overtake the current No. 1.

Jordy Smith, the current ASP No. 10, has been seeded into Round 3 of the event and will be going all-out to improve his yearend ranking. A top 8 finish in the ratings will see the 21-year-old Durbanite guaranteed of preferential seeding for the entire 2010 season while a top 5 place will earn significant performance bonuses from his sponsors.

Greg Emslie, rated No. 31 and just 137 points shy of the No. 27 spot that will automatically qualify for the 2010 Dream Tour, starts in Round 2. The East London based veteran campaigner needs to advance to Round 3 to have any chance of an incredible 10th year in the top fight, while progressing to the last 16 will probably ensure him of a spot.

David Weare occupies the No. 41 position and still has a mathematical chance of requalifying. But the Durbanite starts in Round 1 against Pipe standout Hank Gaskell, who won the Xcel Pro at Sunset Beach last month, and Weare faces the daunting task of having to place first or second at Pipeline to move into the Top 27 in the rankings.

All the action from the Billabong Pipeline Masters can be followed live at www.billabongpro.com starting at 8pm (SA time) daily.

The massive swell currently pounding the North Shore of Oahu has scoured all the sand off the Pipeline Reef which should produce epic waves for the event. While the waiting period starts today and runs until 20 December, it is unlikely that the event will get underway before the swell starts to drop on Thursday.

See www.aspafrica.com for more details on the Billabong Pipeline Masters, including the draw for the first three rounds.

++++++++++++++++

Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines
Stop No. 7 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour
Honolua Bay, Maui/Hawaii
December 8 – 20, 2009

Rosanne Hodge in contention to requalify for 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour

The Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines will kick off the event’s 13 day waiting period tomorrow and the globe’s finest 17 competitive female surfers will take on Maui’s famed righthand pointbreak of Honolua Bay to do battle for the Vans Triple Crown title as well as the valuable ratings points towards requalification for the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour.

Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) has already clinched an unprecedented third straight ASP Women’s World Title in just her third year on the tour and Hawaiian teenager Alana Blanchard leads the Triple Crown ratings.

South African eyes will be focused on Rosanne Hodge, 22, from East London who is currently ranked No. 9 and needs to finish in the Top 10 on the yearend leaderboard to requalify for a fourth successive year on the ASP Women’s World Tour.

Hodge has finished third and fifth in her last two years in this event and needs to stave off the challenge of the eight girls currently ranked behind her to remain at the highest level of women’s surfing.

Attention will also be on the performances of Coco Ho (HAW), Paige Hareb (NZL) and Rebecca Woods (AUS). If that trio all end in the Top 10 in the yearend rankings, then South Africa’s Nikita Robb, who finished the year ranked No. 9 of the Women’s WQS, will qualify for her first year on the ASP Women’s World Tour, potentially giving SA two representatives on the Women’s Dream Tour for the first time since it was introduced in 1992.

All the action can be followed live at www.billabongpro.com/maui09/ and the waiting period runs from today until 20 December.

++++++++++++++

Quiksilver Eddie Aikau set to run as MAMMOTH waves hit Hawaii

The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau, fueled by Monster Energy, the only big wave contest to be sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), is set to run at Waimea Bay in Hawaii today as mammoth waves in the 8-13 metre range (25-40 foot) batter the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii.

Featuring 28 selected invitees, including South Africa’s Grant ‘Twiggy’ Baker, and 26 alternates, all drawn from amongst the world’s best big wave chargers, the ‘Eddie’ honours the memory of legendary Hawaiian surfer and lifeguard Eddie Aikau.

The event is on standby to start at 7pm (SA time) tonight and further details, including a live webcast of the action, profiles of the athletes, history of the event and much more can be found at http://live.quiksilver.com/2009/eddie/

Ends

Photo courtesy Quiksilver

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: aspafrica@mweb.co.za

Compiled & Distributed by:

Life’s a Beach Communications
PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel: +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax: +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile: +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email: lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

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.

Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer Tour hits beaches countrywide in December

The Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer Tour hits the beaches of South Africa again this December, bringing its patented formula of fun in the sun, the healthy outdoor lifestyle, plenty of activities and heaps of give-aways and prizes to coastal towns in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern and Western Cape.

The 12-day, eight-stop tour starts in Ballito on 12 December with the Billabong surf team-riders and brand ambassadors traveling the length of the coastline introducing girls of all ages to the fun-loving lifestyle that includes learn-to-surf lessons, creative workshops, Yoga sessions and other energising activities.

Well known TV personality Marius Roberts will be presenting the beach activities as the tour also visits the premier holiday destinations of Umhlanga, Margate, Port Elizabeth, Plett, Mossel Bay, Big Bay and Camps Bay.

“The Girls Get Out There Summer tour is simply about having fun on the beach,” says Billabong Girls marketing manager Tara Hossack. “Billabong Girls is all about getting the girls out of the malls and onto the beaches to experience laughing, playfulness, family and friends … all set against a backdrop of sun, sand and surf!”

The activities on the Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer Tour are all absolutely free and girls countrywide are invited to bring their friends and family to the beach to enjoy the lifestyle, meet and mingle with SA’s surf stars and participate in the action.

The Neutrogena Surf School offers learn-to-surf lessons every hour, on the hour, using fully accredited surf instructors and all the necessary equipment at each stop on the tour. Sign up at the Neutrogena gazebo on a first-come, first-served basis and all participants’ names will be entered into the lucky draws for Neutrogena product hampers.

Bevcan are driving the message that cans are cooler, lighter, stronger and less dangerous than glass on our beaches! Come and have fun on their giant inflatable slide and enter their competition to stand a chance of winning a specially designed surfboard at each event!

Seventeen Magazine is focusing on all the things girls just love and have their portable photo booth where they will make you feel like a cover model! And there will be a creative area set up where girls can express their imaginative, original and artistic talents with paints on canvas or with beading.

Meet our Billabong Girl Surf Team and our Billabong brand ambassadors as they hit the beach to get you on film enjoying yourselves – all the fun and best moments will be uploaded onto Billabong.com, Facebook and YouTube and you may even get to see yourself on Vuzu TV (DSTV Channel 123).

The Billabong Girls Get out There Summer Tour is coordinated by Magnetic Events and proudly supported by Neutrogena, Bevcan, Seventeen, FNB, Vuzu, Sony, Von Zipper, Kustom and Nixon.

Watch out for the customised Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer Tour bus in these towns:

Saturday 12th – Willard Beach, Ballito (10am – 3pm)
Sunday 13th – Main Beach, Umhlanga (10am-3pm)
Monday 14th – Main Beach, Margate (10am-3pm)
Wednesday 16th – Hobie Beach, Port Elizabeth (10am-3pm)
Thursday 17th – Beacon Isle Main Beach, Plettenberg Bay (10am-3pm)
Saturday 19th – Dias Beach, Mossel Bay
Monday 21st – Big Bay, Bloubergstrand, Cape Town (10am-3pm)
Tuesday 22nd – Camps Bay, Cape Town (10am-3pm)

/ends

Girls countrywide are invited to enjoy the natural fun-loving lifestyle when the Billabong Girls Get Out There Summer Tour visits the beaches of SA this December

Issued on behalf of:

Billabong South Africa

Tel:                   042 200 2600
Fax:                  042 293 2478
Email:               tara.hossack@billabong.co.za

Compiled & Issued by:

Life’s a Beach Communications

PO Box 48272, Kommetjie 7976, South Africa
Tel:              +27 (0) 21 783 4965
Fax:             +27 (0) 86 684 6250
Mobile:         +27 (0) 82 423 1964
Email:           lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

HONOLUA BAY, Maui/Hawaii (Monday, December 7, 2009) – With a massive swell expected to tackle the Hawaiian Islands, the Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines will kick off the event’s 13 day waiting period tomorrow and the globe’s finest 17 competitive female surfers will post up at Maui’s famed righthand pointbreak of Honolua Bay to do battle for the Vans Triple Crown title as well as the valuable ratings points towards requalification for the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour.

Alana Blanchard (HAW), 19, has been on a hot streak throughout the Vans Triple Crown series, taking out the Vans Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa before taking fourth place at the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach. The impressive back-to-back results posted by the ASP Women’s World Tour rookie currently see her atop the Vans Triple Crown series and Blanchard will need to stay consistent at the upcoming Billabong Pro Maui to take out the prestigious series.

“I don’t really feel any pressure even though it would be amazing to win,” Blanchard said. “I don’t have any expectations, I’m just going to go out there and have fun.”

Blanchard has more riding on the Billabong Pro Maui than just the Vans Triple Crown title, and is also in need of another impressive result to requalify for the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour.”

“It’s important for me to do well at this event, but I try not to think about it,” Blanchard said. “If worse comes to worse I’ll just do the ‘QS again. This was my first year on tour and I’ve learned a lot from it.”

Coco Ho (HAW), 18, current ASP Women’s World No. 3, has had a sensational season while competing in her rookie year amongst the international field that make up the ASP Women’s World Tour. The talented regular-footer has been the only rookie thus far to claim an event victory in 2009 and is hoping she can end her season with another solid result on Maui.

“I’m super stoked with my year so far,” Ho said. “Coming on tour with four other amazing rookies is definitely what fired me up. I will need to really step it up in this last event because Sally is right on my tail for Rookie of the Year.”

Ho, who hails from an impressive bloodline of champion Hawaiian surfers, is still relatively new to Honolua’s reeling right-handers, but is looking forward to capitalizing on the solid forecasted swell which is expected to produce solid waves for the upcoming Billabong Pro Maui.

“I’m actually really new to Honolua,” Ho said. “Before this last swell, I’ve had not surfed it bigger than three feet. So, with all of the predicted swell, things should be really exciting! It’s an amazing wave with lots of opportunity and to get out there with two other girls is going to be a dream.”

The Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines holds a waiting period from December 8 through 20, 2009. Event information can be found via www.triplecrownofsurfing.com or www.billabongpro.com/maui09/

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

High-res image available for complimentary download at: (Copy/Paste URL)
http://64.78.18.131/aspnewsphotos/bbgmaui09/chbbgmauipre09(scholtz).jpg

BILLABONG PRO MAUI ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Paige Hareb (NZL), Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
Heat 2: Coco Ho (HAW), Samantha Cornish (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), TBA
Heat 4: Silvana Lima (BRA), Rebecca Woods (AUS), TBA
Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), Megan Abubo (HAW)
Heat 6: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Melanie Bartels (HAW), Alana Blanchard (HAW)

——————————————————————————–

Visit the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com for news, images, transcribed athlete interviews and more.

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Media
Dave Prodan
email: dave@aspworldtour.com
USA mobile: +1 949 678 0987
AUS mobile: +61 (0) 400 455 228
Event Media
Billabong
Mandy McKinnon
Email: mandy.mckinnon@gmail.com

Digital Photographs:
High-resolution digital images for newspapers and Internet sites are available through ASP’s photography distributution partner Getty Images. To register for access, log onto http://corporate.gettyimages.com/marketing/editorial_frontdoor/ASP/index.html

——————————————————————————–

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. 

——————————————————————————–

PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Sunday, December 6, 2009) – After nine events on the 2009 ASP Dream Tour, the race for the ASP World Title will culminate in a showdown between two lifelong friends at the final event of the season, the Billabong Pipeline Masters from December 8 – 20, 2009.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 1, will face Gold Coast stable mate and current ASP World No. 2, Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, in the hunt for the 2009 ASP World Title as the two battle a minefield of the world’s best surfers and Pipe specialists at the Billabong Pipeline Masters.

“It’s been a few years since the ASP Title has come down to Pipe and I’m really stoked that it’s between myself and Joel (Parkinson),” Fanning said. “I guess it’s like a dream come true coming down to Pipeline and I’m really excited. There isn’t going to be any sand on the reef and hopefully we get a couple of really good days.”

Although Parkinson mounted an impressive assault throughout the first half of the year, an ankle injury sustained while training in Bali saw the Australian’s lead dwindle before being overtaken by Fanning, who has won three of the last four events.

“I’ve built up momentum throughout the back half of the year starting at Trestles, and I’m in the lead,” Fanning said. “I guess all of the pressure is on Joel now because he needs to get a third. I’m just concentrating on myself and am going to try and make as many heats as possible and make it as hard as possible for him.”

If Fanning’s incendiary performances this season are any indication, the lightning-fast natural-footer will be a force to be reckoned with heading into the final event, but Pipeline’s elusive and at-times dangerous nature will ultimately decide the victor.

“I guess surfing Pipeline is like meeting a really big guy in a dark alley and sometimes you escape and sometimes you can’t,” Fanning said. “It’s intimidating. Everyone’s on the beach watching and you’ve got to go.”

Although Fanning possesses a solid ratings’ lead, Parkinson remains collected heading into the final bout of the year, and will draw upon his preternatural affinity with the wave at Pipeline to put forth his best effort.

“It’s definitely exciting to see the ASP title come down to Pipe,” Parkinson said. “Mick (Fanning) was in form all throughout Sunset and I feel like I’m in form as well and it’s going to be a great match-up. Pipeline is one of the most awesome waves ever. It’s close to the beach. It’s a natural amphitheatre and it’s only 50 yards out and you’re surfing a wave that could kill you, so it’s pretty exciting.”

In addition to hunting down his inaugural ASP World Title, Parkinson is also out to defend his Vans Triple Crown Title – a feat made easier with an emphatic win at Sunset Beach yesterday.

“I’m excited to defend my Vans Triple Crown title,” Parkinson said. “After losing Haleiwa in the Quarterfinals, I thought I’d have to win Sunset and my focus wasn’t 100 percent on the Triple Crown anymore, it was more on Pipe, but now that I’ve won Sunset I’d love to win the Vans Triple Crown again.”

The scenarios for the 2009 ASP World Title heading into the Billabong Pipeline Masters are as follows:

- Fanning finishes 33rd through a 9th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 3rd or better to overtake.
- Fanning finishes 5th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 2nd or better to overtake.
- Fanning finishes 3rd at Pipeline, Parkinson needs win the event to overtake.
- If Fanning finishes 2nd or better at Pipeline, he will clinch the 2009 ASP World Title.

Surfline, official forecasters for the Vans Triple Crown, are projecting for the current fetch of 20-25 foot surf to build through tomorrow before declining over the next several days.

Event organizers will convene tomorrow at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.

The Billabong Pipeline Masters will be webcast LIVE via www.billabongpro.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
High-res image available for complimentary download at: (Copy/Paste URL)
http://64.78.18.131/aspnewsphotos/bbgpipe09/mfjpasp09(cestari)big.jpg

BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Jihad Khodr (BRA) vs. Gavin Gillette (HAW)
Heat 2: Gabe Kling (USA) vs. Kalani Chapman (HAW)
Heat 3: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Marcus Hickman (HAW)
Heat 4: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 5: Nathaniel Curran (USA) vs. Liam McNamara (HAW)
Heat 6: David Weare (ZAF) vs. Hank Gaskell (HAW)
Heat 7: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs. Reed McIntosh (HAW)
Heat 8: Nic Muscroft (AUS) vs. Sunny Garcia (HAW)
Heat 9: Michael Picon (FRA) vs. Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 10: Shane Dorian (HAW) vs. Kamalei Alexander (HAW)
Heat 11: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Jonah Morgan (HAW)
Heat 12: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Flynn Novak (HAW)
Heat 13: Dustin Barca (HAW) vs. Sion Miloski (HAW)
Heat 14: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Danny Fuller (HAW)
Heat 15: Jay Thompson (AUS) vs. Mason Ho (HAW)
Heat 16: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) vs. Jamie O’Brien (HAW)

BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 2: Roy Powers (HAW) vs. TBA
Heat 3: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs. TBA
Heat 4: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. TBA
Heat 5: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. TBA
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 9: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 10: Chris Ward (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. TBA
Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. TBA
Heat 13: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 14: Tim Boal (FRA) vs. TBA
Heat 15: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 16: Drew Courtney (AUS) vs. TBA

BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 4: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. TBA
Heat 6: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 7: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. TBA
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 11: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. TBA
Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 14: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA
Heat 15: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. TBA
Heat 16: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. TBA

——————————————————————————–

Visit the Press Room on www.aspworldtour.com for news, images, transcribed athlete interviews and more.

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Media
Dave Prodan
email: dave@aspworldtour.com
USA mobile: +1 949 678 0987
AUS mobile: +61 (0) 400 455 228

Digital Photographs:
High-resolution digital images for newspapers and Internet sites are available through ASP’s photography distributution partner Getty Images. To register for access, log onto http://corporate.gettyimages.com/marketing/editorial_frontdoor/ASP/index.html

——————————————————————————–

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. 

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SUNSET BEACH, Oahu/Hawaii (Saturday, November 28, 2009) – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, claimed her third consecutive ASP Women’s World Title on Saturday, making history as the only surfer ever to win the prestigious crown each year she has contested it at the elite ASP World Tour level (men’s or women’s).

Winning the crown was somewhat unexpected as today’s competition began with six surfers in contention for the 2009 ASP Women’s World Title. With each heat advancement and the narrowing of the field at the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, Event No. 6 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the irrepressible Gilmore navigated her way to her third ASP Dream Tour Title.

“It’s surreal to win for a third time,” Gilmore said. “It’s amazing! I woke up this morning and knew it was going to be a good day. The waves were building and you sort of get that fuzzy feeling throughout the day. I really don’t even know what to think about it. I just want to thank everyone for the support that I’ve had throughout the whole year.”

Gilmore, who was focused on preparing for the Final at the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, had remained intentionally aloof to the ASP Women’s World Title possibilities on the final day of competition, and was surprised when informed she had clinched the historic crown.

“I didn’t even know it was happening,” Gilmore said. “I was preparing for the Final and gearing up and then to know I had won, my head was a bit light. To go to Honolua and not have to worry about the title going into the event is just so relaxing.”

The phenomenal natural-footer went on to finish 3rd in the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, solidifying another sterling result on this season’s ASP Dream Tour, further cementing her position as the most dominant female surfer in the world.

“I’m starting to feel more comfortable on the Women’s World Tour and go into events differently,” Gilmore said. “You get to know the breaks and it’s still my third year and I love traveling and competing and it’s such a special thing to get paid to do. I’m looking forward to next year and seeing different conditions and different waves on tour, I think there might be a couple of new stops, so yeah, I’m looking forward to having good heats and good waves.”

Gilmore’s 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour Results:

Win at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast
Runner-Up at the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach
Runner-Up at the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic
Equal 5th Place Finish at the Rip Curl Pro Search
Runner-Up at the Movistar Peru Classic
3rd at the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach
TBD at the upcoming Billabong Pro Maui 

While the ASP Women’s World Title has already been decided, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (an ASP Specialty Series) rages on with the final event of the year, the Billabong Pro Maui running at Honolua Bay from December 8 – 20, 2009.

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Carissa Moore Wins the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, Hawaii

Carissa Moore (HAW), 17, won the sixth of seven stops on the ASP Women’s World Tour today, the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, over fellow finalists Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 19, freshly crowned three-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, and Vans Triple Crown ratings’ leader Alana Blanchard (HAW), 19, to claim her first ASP Women’s World Tour event victory.

Moore, who entered the Gidget Pro via a Trials’ victory, stamped her authority on ASP Women’s World Tour competition when she surfed with amazing poise and maturity throughout the event’s entirety to eventually win on her home Island of Oahu.

“It’s such an honour,” Moore said. “I’m speechless right now. I never thought that I would make the Final in this event. All of the girls were surfing so well and congratulations to Steph (Gilmore) for winning the World Title.”

Moore is no stranger to ASP Women’s World Tour competition despite her young age, and had previously reached the final at a Roxy Pro Gold Coast event in 2007 when she earned a runner-up finish to Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 26. Having entered previous ASP Women’s World Tour events in the past as a wildcard, the young Hawaiian looked comfortable in the heightened level of competition.

“It definitely helps having other World Tour experience under my belt,” Moore said. “I also know surfing on the North Shore is always going to be challenging and the girls surf at such a sick level and each heat is a clean slate.”

Fitzgibbons nabbed her first Final appearance of her rookie year on tour and absolutely dominated her bouts, posting the event’s highest scores including the only perfect 10-point ride of Gidget Pro competition in the Semifinals to earn her maiden Final berth and finished runner-up to Moore.

“I was really happy to get that wave,” Fitzgibbons said. It was tricky. “There were not that many waves in that heat and I was happy to get the score and move on through to Final.”

Gilmore, who clinched her third consecutive ASP Women’s World Title just minutes before paddling out for the Final, was in amazing form throughout the event’s entirety and claimed a third place finish overall.

“There were some legitimate bombs coming in out there,” Gilmore said. “I was on a 7’0” (surfboard) all day and just stayed on the North Peak and I knew Carissa has been training with Pancho, so I figured I’d follow her around a little bit.”

Blanchard, who is currently leading the Vans Triple Crown ratings, continued to flare throughout Gidget Pro competition and wrapped up a fourth place finish. Her final appearance was no easy task, as she defeated ASP Women’s World No. 2 Silvana Lima (BRA), 25, crushing Lima’s hopes of an ASP Women’s World Title while significantly helping her own chances of requalification for the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour.

“I feel bad that I knocked out Silvana (Lima), but there’s also a lot on the line for me,” Blanchard said. “If I don’t do well at the end of the year I’ll get knocked off of the tour for next year. This is my best result of the year, so I’m happy.”

GIDGET PRO SUNSET BEACH FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.24
2 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.07
3 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.17
4 – Alana Blanchard (HAW) 11.17

GIDGET PRO SUNSET BEACH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:

SF 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.40, Carissa Moore (HAW) 11.34, Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 10.33, Melanie Bartels (HAW) 5.64

SF 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 17.17, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 13.83, Malia Manuel (HAW) 8.90, Coco Ho (HAW) 1.10

ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR RATINGS (After Gidget Pro Sunset Beach):

1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 5521 pts
2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 4548 pts
3 – Coco Ho (HAW) 4117 pts
4 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 4071 pts
5 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 3792 pts
6 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 3595 pts
7 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 3333 pts
8 – Paige Hareb (NZL) 2886 pts
9 – Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 2604 pts
10 – Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 2509 pts
11 – Alana Blanchard (HAW) 2490 pts
12 – Rebecca Woods (AUS) 2431 pts
13 – Samantha Cornish (AUS) 2388
14 – Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 2010 pts
15 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 1656 pts
16 – Amee Donohoe (AUS) 1638 pts
17 – Megan Abubo (HAW) 1440

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Rosanne Hodge remains in Top 10 for final event

South Africa’s Rosanne Hodge,22, will go into the final event on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui at Honolua Bay, Hawaii, ranked No. 9 and well placed to re-qualify for a fourth consecutive year at the elite level of women’s competition.

Hodge was bundled out of the Gidget Pro at Sunset Beach in last place following two low scoring heats, but SA’s sole representative on the Women’s Dream Tour will be hoping that she can maintain her record at the Honolua Bay event where she has posted her best results for the past two years – a 3rd place finish in 2007 and 5th last year.

Hodge has finished No. 12 in the yearend rankings the past two years, re-qualifying due to retirements in her first year and via her ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) ranking last year. This year she finished outside the WQS qualification spots and needs to retain her position in the top 10 on the World Tour in order to qualify for another year at women’s surfing top table.

The Billabong Pro Maui has waiting period that runs from 8-20 December.

Ends

Pictured: Carissa Moore, 17, from Hawaii, won the Gidget Pro, Stop No. 6 of 7 on the ASP Women’s World Tour in solid 2-3 metre waves at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, on Saturday.

Photo: ASP / CI / Cestari via Getty Images

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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.