LOBITOS, Piura/Peru (Monday, November 2, 2009) – The world’s best female surfers are heating up the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour as Event No. 5 of 7, the Movistar Peru Classic presented by Rip Curl, commences its waiting period tomorrow.

Hot off the heels of two impressive events in Sydney and Portugal, the ASP Top 17 have traversed the Atlantic and are preparing to do battle in Northern Peru’s long lefthanders. Into its third year as an ASP Women’s World Tour event, this year’s Movistar Peru Classic will endeavor to bring the world’s best women’s surfers to the fabled lefthander of Lobitos for the first time ever.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP Women’s World No. 1, will look to claim her third consecutive event win in Peru this season, the stylish natural-footer having been dominant in 2007 and 2008.

“I definitely feel its achievable (winning three years in a row),” Gilmore said. “It’s such a cool event to win, I can’t wait to get started.”

Last year’s Peru victory saw Gilmore vault ahead of former ASP Women’s World Champion (2004) Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 26, in the hunt for the 2008 ASP Women’s World Title, a lead she would not relinquish. While the Australian sits in the No. 1 spot on this year’s ASP Women’s World Tour ratings, she knows how crucial a result this season will be to stay ahead of current ASP Women’s World No. 2, Silvana Lima (BRA), 25.

“Obviously a win at this event would come with some very valuable ratings points,” Gilmore said. “I’ll take as many as I can get right now.”

Coco Ho (HAW), 18, 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie and current ASP Women’s World No. 3, scored her breakout result last week, claiming the Rip Curl Pro Search in Portugal over former ASP Women’s World Champion (2005) Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 26. Sitting at third on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings, Ho is a real contender in challenging Gilmore and Lima for the top spot, but remains focused on achieving ASP Rookie of the Year and the Top 5 rating.

“I am kind of focusing more on the close battle for the Rookie of the Year,” Ho said. I’m just trying to stay on top of my game and not let this victory blow up my head and then I start losing. I just want to stay focused – there is still a long road ahead. I would really like to be Rookie of the Year and to stay Top 5, that would be the year of my life. Sally (Fitzgibbons) and Paige (Hareb) have both been really consistent, but I would have to say Sal is my biggest competition. We are both regular footers and she always pushes me. I always want to go out and surf as well as she did and she does a good job of pumping me up.”

The Movistar Peru Classic presented by Rip Curl will host the ASP Top 17 from November 3 – 8, 2009.

The event will be webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.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/peru09/sgperu09(cestari).jpg

——————————————————————————–

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

 

South Africa’s Rosanne Hodge matched her career best result on the ASP Women’s World Tour by clinching third place in the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search event in Portugal yesterday.

Despite finishing third behind rookies Coco Ho (HAW) and Paige Hareb (NZL) in bumpy one metre waves at Belgas in Round 1 on Wednesday, the 22 year-old East Londoner revelled in the cleaner conditions at the same venue yesterday. Hodge started the final day of Stop No. 4 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour by winning her Round 2 encounter over Megan Abubo (HAW) and Rebecca Woods (AUS).

She then gained some revenge by ousting Hareb in Round 3 and followed that by squeaking past current ASP No. 5 Melanie Bartels (HAW) in the quarters before bowing out to former World champ and eventual event runner-up Chelsea Hedges (AUS) in the semis.

“I’m really very happy with my performance in Portugal,” Hodge said. “It’s been a very important competition for me with the WQS having already finished. I need some good results in the last four events and this event has given me a good start.”

The event was won by Ho, 18, who recorded her maiden World Tour victory by comboing  Hedges in the final to move from No. 5 to No. 3 on the ratings and into contention to clinch what would be an historic World Title in her home surf in December.

Hodge, in her third year as a full time campaigner at the highest level of women’s surfing, matched her previous best result achieved at the yearend event at Honolua Bay in Hawaii in 2007. This result moves her up one place in the rankings to No. 11 and a scant 7 points behind Jacqueline Silva (BRA) with three events to go before the top 10 ranked surfers automatically qualify for the World Tour the following year.

Hodge’s run in the event must have been watched with mixed feelings by close friend and fellow East Londoner Nikita Robb. Robb, 20, finished No. 9 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Qualifying Series (WQS) and will qualify for her maiden season on the World Tour provided Ho, Hareb and Wood retain their places in the top 10 in the 2009 rankings.

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Coco Ho (HAW) 15.83
2 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 9.37

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH SEMIFINALS RESULTS:

SF 1: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 11.17 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 5.10
SF 2: Coco Ho (HAW) 14.84 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 8.66

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:

QF 1: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 8.30 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 7.13
QF 2: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 12.16 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.73
QF 3: Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.67 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 9.34
QF 4: Coco Ho (HAW) 15.06 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 9.16

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 13.50 def. Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 7.90
Heat 2: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 9.74 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.67
Heat 3: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 17.70 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 12.40
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.83 def. Megan Abubo (HAW) 9.00
Heat 5: Silvana Lima (BRA) 13.40 def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 13.13
Heat 6: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 17.67 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 13.07
Heat 7: Coco Ho (HAW) 12.40 def. Amee Donohoe (AUS) 11.23
Heat 8: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.00 def. Alana Blanchard (HAW) 10.30

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 17.00, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 10.17, Pauline Ado (FRA) 8.23
Heat 2: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 10.66, Megan Abubo (HAW) 9.33, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 5.57

CURRENT ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR TOP 5 (After RC Pro Women’s Search):

1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 3793 points
2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 3636 points
3 – Coco Ho (HAW) 2923 points
4 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 2691 points
5 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 2535 points
11- Rosanne Hodge (East London) 1872 points

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Jordy Smith takes 5^th in Portugal; jumps to No. 10 on World Tour

Jordy Smith posted the second best result of his 2009 ASP World Tour campaign when he reached the quarterfinals to place fifth overall in the Rip Curl Pro Search, the penultimate event of the year, in gaping two to three metre barrelling waves at Supertubos in Perniche, Portugal, on Tuesday.

Smith, 21, in his second year on the ASP Dream Tour, had a semifinal spot wrenched from his grasp when current world No. 4 and eventual event runner-up Bede Durbidge, needing a near perfect 9.67 point ride with two minutes remaining, successfully negotiated his way through a 30 metre curtain of water to be awarded a perfect 10 points by the judges.

Nevertheless, Smith’s haul of US $9 000 (approx. R66 000) and 732 precious ratings points sees the Durbanite handily placed in No. 10 on the rankings going into the last event in Hawaii in December, where he will be competing at Pipeline for the first time.

East London’s Greg Emslie advanced past Aritz Aranburu (EUK) to Round 2 where he was ousted by current ASP No. 9 Damien Hobgood (USA) in a low scoring match-up. His 17^th place finish in Portugal sees Emslie sitting right on the re-qualification ‘bubble’ for the 2010 ASP World Tour going into Hawaii. The 31 year-old needs to repeat his 17^th place at Pipeline to have a chance of forcing his way into the top 27 who re-qualify.

David Weare (Durban) was ousted in Round 1 to post his fifth 33^rd place finish of the year and needs to finish first or second at Pipe to climb from his current rating of No. 41 into a re-qualifying position.

CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 (Following Rip Curl Pro Search):

1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 7140 points
2 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 6772 points
3 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 6148 points
4 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 6146 points
5 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 5748 points
6 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 5524 points
7 – Kelly Slater (USA) 5514 points
8 – Bobby Martinez (USA) 5421 points
9 – Damien Hobgood (USA) 5116 points
10 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 4828 points

South Africans

31 – Greg Emslie (ZAF) 3095 points
41 – David Weare (ZAF) 2540 points

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First round exits for Saffas as Ingelby clinches ASP World Longboard crown

Matthew Moir, (Tokai), Justin Bing (Noordhoek) and Dylan McLeod (Port Elizabeth), the trio of South Africans who competed in the second leg of the 2009 Oxbow World Longboard Tour at Pasta Point in the Maldives, were all eliminated in Round 1 of the 32-man event.

Two-time ISA World champion Moir was ousted by wildcard Remi Arauzo (FRA); Bing, the 2009 SA Open champ was no match for newly crowned ASP World Longboard champion Harley Ingelby (AUS) and 2008 SA champ McLeod tasted defeat at the hands of former multiple ASP World Longboard champ Colin McPhillips (USA).

The event enjoyed excellent 1 – 1.5 metre waves throughout, starting on Monday and culminating yesterday with Kai Sallas (HAW) taking victory over Ingleby in the final. The World Title was decided over two legs with Ingelby winning the first event in Japan earlier this year.

OXBOW WORLD LONGBOARD TOUR MALDIVES RESULTS

FINAL

1 – Kai Sallas (HAW) 15.65
2 – Harley Ingelby (AUS) 14.00

OXBOW ASP WORLD LONGBOARD TOUR MALDIVES SEMIFINALS

SF 1: Kai Sallas (HAW) 14.50 D Ned Snow (HAW) 13.45
SF 2: Harley Ingelby (AUS) 14.80 D Antoine Delpero (FRA) 14.35

ASP Final World Longboard 2009 Ratings

1 – Harley Ingelby (AUS)
2 – Kai Sallas (HAW)
3 – Antoine Delpero (FRA)
4 – Phil Rajzman (BRA)
5 – Bonga Perkins (HAW)

South Africans

15 – Matthew Moir (Tokai)
25 – Dylan McLeod (Port Elizabeth)
35 – Justin Bing (Noordhoek) – one event only.

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

Brandon Jackson last Saffa left in O‘Neill Coldwater Classic Canada

Brandon Jackson is the last South African in the 19 surfers still in contention for the 6-Star rated Oakley Cold Water Classic Canada currently being staged at Tofino on Vancouver Island.

Jackson, 22, from Durban North, came into the event No. 20 on the WQS and needing to finish higher than 25^th to improve his ranking and have the chance to qualify for the 2010 ASP World Tour amongst the Top 15 in the yearend WQS standings. He is already guaranteed of a minimum of 17^th place and will be fully focused on advancing further when he takes on Charley Martin (GLP) and Killian Garland (USA) with the top two in the heat progressing.

Rudy Palmboom (Bluff), 16 year-old Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) and current WQS No. 10 Travis Logie (Durban) all reached the last 48 in the event which is billed as the ‘coldest surfing contest in the world’. Canada is Stop No. 4 of five on the O’Neill Cold Water Classic series that has seen events in Tasmania, Scotland and Cape Town and concludes in Santa Cruz, California next month.

Capetonians Sean Holmes, Dave Richards and Damien Fahrenfort were all eliminated in the Round of 96.

See www.oneill.com/cwc/canada for more information and live scoring

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

For more information on the ASP Africa members, including profiles and rankings, visit 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
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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.

BELGAS, Peniche/Portugal (Thursday, October 29, 2009) – Coco Ho (HAW), 18, 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie, collected her inaugural victory on the ASP Women’s World Tour today, taking out the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search over former ASP Women’s World Champion (2005) Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 26, in punchy two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf at Belgas.

Event No. 4 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search saw some of the best conditions of the year at the backup venue of Belgas, and throughout the two days of competition, it was the youngster Ho who proved most adept at navigating the hollow beachbreak peaks.

Ho exercised excellent judgment in the Final, patiently waiting while her elder opponent kept herself busy. With conditions deteriorating, the young Hawaiian let loose with a barrage of backhand hits on the dumpy lefthanders, collecting a 7.50 and an 8.33 to combo Hedges and take the win.

“I knew Chelsea (Hedges) would be dangerous on the left after seeing her this morning getting those barrels,” Ho said. “This afternoon it turned into a more rippable wave and it was hard on the forehand, but I was lucky to get the waves I did.”

With this win, Ho moves from 5th to 3rd on the ASP Women’s World Tour rankings and announces herself as a major force heading into the final three events of the year.

“It feels so good to be on top,” Ho said. “I’m trying not to think about too much. I love my trophy. When I started the year, I set a goal to make Quarterfinals or better at every event in order finish Top 5 by the end of the year, and I’m doing my best to accomplish that.”

For Hedges, today’s return to form marks the first time the inspiring goofy-footer has seen a Finals’ berth since 2007, and moves her from 8th to 6th on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings. Her dominance in the earlier rounds of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search cannot be overlooked as she consistently dominated the playful pits of Belgas, even eliminating reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP Women’s World No. 1, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, in the Quarterfinals.

“It was close but no cigar,” Hedges said. “It feels good to be back on the podium. It’s my best result this year. I came into the event forgetting about world titles and just wanted to improve on my results. Coco (Ho) was ripping and she got the better waves out there this afternoon. I am happy with my 2nd and I will work on that from here.”

The former ASP Women’s World Champion took a sabbatical from competition in 2008 to give birth to a daughter, Meika, and was given the ASP Women’s World Tour wildcard to compete this season. Today’s Runner-Up finish is Hedges’s best of the season, and she’ll be a major threat in the final three events of the season.

“This year, I was kind of questioning my ability a bit at the first event with these young girls like Coco (Ho) and Sally (Fitzgibbons),” Hedges said. “They are surfing so good and it really pushes my surfing and makes me look at what I am doing. It felt really good to take out Steph (Gilmore). She is the best out there in my opinion, her surfing still has that little edge. I still feel that, come the end of the year, she is going to be the one to beat.”

Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 22, was the surprise juggernaut of the event, claiming three heats today before falling to eventual Runner-Up Hedges in the Semifinals. Despite missing out on a Final’s berth, Hodge took some major scalps in the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search and moved from 12th to 11th on 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour.

“I’m really very happy with my performance in Portugal,” Hodge said. “It’s been a very important competition for me with the WQS having already finished. I need some good results in the last four events and this event has given me a good start.”

Silvana Lima (BRA), 25, current ASP Women’s World No. 2, was in impressive form throughout the final day of competition, edging past Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 23, before dispatching of Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, in the Quarterfinals. Although failing to advance past eventual winner Ho, Lima’s Semifinal finish moved her even closer to Gilmore in the race for the 2009 ASP Women’s World Title.

“For sure I am happy with making the Semis here,” Lima said. “The conditions got pretty tough towards the end, but I’m happy with my result and looking forward to the next event. I saw Steph (Gilmore) lose to Chelsea (Hedges) but it doesn’t change the way I surf. I just surf my heat. Steph is an amazing surfer and competing against her this year is great. She is so powerful and it’s so good for surfing. This year I’m a lot more focused and I think that’s why I am doing better.”

The next stop on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour will be the Movistar Peru Classic presented by Rip Curl from November 3 through 8, 2009 at Lobitos in Northern Peru.

The ASP Top 17 will be traversing the Atlantic en route to South America in the next couple of days to contest the long, lefthand points of Peru.

Highlights from the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search will be available via http://live.ripcurl.com

Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search online media center is available at http://www.box.net/shared/o3avphdb6z
High-res image available for complimentary download at: (Copy/Paste URL)
http://64.78.18.131/aspnewsphotos/rcsearch09/chrcsearchvic09(cestari).jpg

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Coco Ho (HAW) 15.83
2 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 9.37

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH SEMIFINALS RESULTS:

SF 1: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 11.17 def. Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 5.10
SF 2: Coco Ho (HAW) 14.84 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 8.66

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:

QF 1: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 8.30 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 7.13
QF 2: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 12.16 def. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.73
QF 3: Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.67 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 9.34
QF 4: Coco Ho (HAW) 15.06 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 9.16

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 13.50 def. Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 7.90
Heat 2: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 9.74 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.67
Heat 3: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 17.70 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 12.40
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.83 def. Megan Abubo (HAW) 9.00
Heat 5: Silvana Lima (BRA) 13.40 def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 13.13
Heat 6: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 17.67 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 13.07
Heat 7: Coco Ho (HAW) 12.40 def. Amee Donohoe (AUS) 11.23
Heat 8: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 13.00 def. Alana Blanchard (HAW) 10.30

RIP CURL WOMEN’S PRO SEARCH ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 17.00, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 10.17, Pauline Ado (FRA) 8.23
Heat 2: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 10.66, Megan Abubo (HAW) 9.33, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 5.57

CURRENT ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR TOP 5 (After RC Pro Women’s Search):

1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 3793 points
2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 3636 points
3 – Coco Ho (HAW) 2923 points
4 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 2691 points
5 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 2535 points

——————————————————————————–

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

Rip Curl International Media Manager
Dane Sharp
AUS mobile: +61 439 300 391
email: dsharp@ripcurl.com.au

Rip Curl Europe
Men’s Event Media Manager
Marie Pascale Delanne
EUR mobile: +33 (0) 6 99 65 04 59
email: mdelanne@ripcurl-europe.com

Women’s Event Media Manager
Julie Pollet
EUR mobile: +33 (0) 6 99 92 24 21
email: jpollet@ripcurl-europe.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.

SUPERTUBOS, Peniche/Portugal (Wednesday, October 28, 2009) – Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 1, has claimed the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search at Supertubos in Portugal, defeating fellow finalist Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, and cementing his lead in the now two-horse race for the 2009 ASP World Title.

Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search ran a gamut of conditions and venues ranging from two-foot righthand wedges at Molhe Leste, four-foot offshore lefthanders at Lagido, punchy four-foot peaks at Belgas and death-defying six-to-eight foot barrels at Supertubos yesterday before culminating in a dramatic end to competition.

Jordy Smith (Durban), 21, fared best of the three South Africans in the event, placing fifth overall and climbing to No.10 on the rankings after narrowly losing out to eventual runner-up Bede Durbidge (AUS) in their quarterfinal match-up. Greg Emslie (East London) was eliminated by Damien Hobgood (USA) in Round 2 for a 17th place finish that sees him stay ranked No. 31, while David Weare (Durban) suffered a Round 1 defeat that has him going into the last event of the year at Pipeline in Hawaii in December ranked No. 41

Fanning, who won the inaugural Rip Curl Pro Search at Reunion Island (2005) and was a standout in yesterday’s massive barrels, readjusted to today’s smaller conditions and was dominant in his Final against Durbidge. With conditions deteriorating, Fanning lacerated the punchy wedges on his forehand to net a solid 6.67 and a 6.00 that would prove unbeatable for his opponent.

“Yesterday was one of the best days of competition I’ve ever seen and we all showed up today and had to adjust our frame of mind to deal with the drop in size and quality,” Fanning said. “I’ve been surfing conditions like this all summer at home so I knew what I had to do out there. I was able to pick off a couple of good scores at the start and then I basically had to sit on Bede (Durbidge) so he didn’t get any back on me.”

The Rip Curl Pro Search narrowed down the field of potential contenders for the 2009 ASP World Title from 10 to two throughout the course of the event, with the final event of the year at the Banzai Pipeline playing the decider.

“That’s what you always dream of as a kid (competing for an ASP World Title at Pipeline),” Fanning said. “I’m super pumped. I’m going to go home and relax for a couple of weeks and get ready for Pipe. Hopefully we get some big barrels like we did here and we have a real showdown.”

Durbidge, who now moves to ASP World No. 4 heading into the final event of the season, was a standout throughout the Rip Curl Pro Search, likening the conditions to his home break of North Stradbroke Island on Australia’s Gold Coast. The well-built natural-footer secured an impressive come-from-behind win in his Semifinal today before being stopped by Fanning in the Final.

“Definitely the top guys of the event were in the top four,” Durbidge said. “It was unfortunate that Owen (Wright) couldn’t be in his Semifinal. Mick (Fanning) has been in incredible form the past eight weeks and he’s on fire. The 10 that Joel (Parkinson) got yesterday was phenomenal, and in our heat this morning, he had me on the ropes until the end.”

The Runner-Up finish marks Durbidge’s second of the season (collecting his first in France), and is a welcome change in momentum from a tough start to 2009. A former winner at the Billabong Pipeline Masters (2007) as well as a former Vans Triple Crown Champion (2007), Durbidge will look to finish the year strong in Hawaii.

Owen Wright (AUS), 19, wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro Search and current No. 3 on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), was a standout in Portugal, eliminating 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 24, nine-time ASP World Champion, Kelly Slater (USA), 37, Californian new school leader Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, and current ASP World No. 9 Damien Hobgood (USA), 30, en route to his Semifinals berth against Fanning.

However, tragedy struck during his Quarterfinal win over Hobgood yesterday as the phenomenal goofy-footer suffered a horrific wipeout, rupturing his eardrum and injuring his neck. Although prepared to don a helmet this morning and take on the current ASP World No. 1, event physicians instructed the young Australian against competing.

”I had the injury checked out last night – there’s no real bone or structural damage,” Wright said. “I just feel it through the neck, shoulder, knee and my ear is a bit messed up. We did some tests this morning and we all decided it was better off me not competing as I don’t really have much range in my neck movement. But, it’s all good – it is all fixable. I will be getting worked on twice a day and I will take a bit of time to relax. I will still go to Hawaii and hopefully get some barrels. I love it there so hopefully we get a good season.”

Parkinson, who experienced what many considered to be an unbeatable start to the 2009 ASP Dream Tour season, witnessed his stranglehold on the ratings chipped away at following three, consecutive equal 17ths sustained in California, France and Spain. Despite missing out on a Final’s berth, Parkinson’s equal 3rd place finish is a welcome return to form.

“I am a little bit disappointed but overall I am pretty happy,” Parkinson said. “Third still keeps me up there and in contention for the title. I’m a little bit disappointed in myself, I made one error that changed the whole heat and they are the little things that you find hard sleeping on.”

The 2009 ASP World Title has now become a two-horse race between Fanning and Parkinson and will conclude at the final event of the season, the Billabong Pipeline Masters. The scenarios for the 2009 ASP World Title 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.
- Fanning finishes 2nd or better at Pipeline, he will clinch the 2009 ASP World Title.

Although the men’s event has concluded, the ASP Top 17 women will have their crack at the many waves of Portugal for the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search, event No. 4 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, which will commence this afternoon.

Surfline, official forecasters for the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search, are calling for the current surf to drop slightly over the next 24 hours before another swell is expected to hit the region.

Highlights from the Rip Curl Pro Search are available via http://live.ripcurl.com

Rip Curl Pro Search online media center is available at http://www.box.net/shared/o3avphdb6z

The Rip Curl Pro Search is partnered regionally by RTP, Eurosport, Fuel TV and ESPN Brazil, who will all be broadcasting live from Peniche throughout the event. For more information on these live television broadcasts, please visit http://live.ripcurl.com.

The next and final stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour will be the Billabong Pipeline Masters running on the North Shore of Hawaii from December 8 – 20, 2009.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.67
2 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.87

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:

SF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.60 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.27
SF 2: Wright Withdraws Due to Injury, Fanning Advances

CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 (Following Rip Curl Pro Search):

1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 7140 points
2 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 6772 points
3 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 6148 points
4 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 6146 points
5 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 5748 points
6 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 5524 points
7 – Kelly Slater (USA) 5514 points
8 – Bobby Martinez (USA) 5421 points
9 – Damien Hobgood (USA) 5116 points
10 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 4828 points

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

Jordy Smith into last 16 at penultimate ASP World Tour event in Portugal; Sean Holmes & Dave Richards advance to Round 2 in Canada; Trio of Saffas to battle for ASP World Longboard title in Maldives

Sunday 25 October 2009 – Jordy Smith advanced to Round 3 at the Rip Curl Pro Search event in Portugal, Stop No. 9 of 10 on the ASP World Tour, while the battle for the 2009 World Title will only be decided at the last event at Pipeline in Hawaii in December as current ASP No. 2 Joel Parkinson (AUS) also progressed.

Smith, 21, reached the last 16 for the sixth time in nine Dream Tour events this year with a comprehensive victory over Roy Powers on Saturday. Smith left the Hawaiian combo’ed and needing to improve on both his counting rides after posting scores of 7.67 and 8.17 out of 10 in the punchy 1 – 1.5 metre waves at the backup site of Belgas.

Rated No.12 going into Portugal, the Durbanite has now cemented his place in the top 16 on the yearend ratings in his second year on the ASP World Tour. This guarantees him preferential seeding for the opening events of 2010 when the new ASP one-world rating will be implemented and the number of surfers competing in World Tour contests will be cut from 48 to 36 at the halfway mark of the year.

Huge surf and tides washed away the contest infrastructure at the primary contest venue of Supertubos in Perniche before the first heat had been contested last week. Eventually starting at the third backup site of Molhe Leste on Thursday, Durbanite David Weare recorded his fifth 33rd place finish when he was ousted by Heitor Alves (BRA) in a low scoring Round 1 encounter.

Current No.31 Greg Emslie (East London) kept alive his hopes of ending the year amongst the top 27 on the rankings and re-qualifying for a 10th year at the highest level of competition surfing by defeating Basque campaigner Aritz Aranburu on Friday. But Emslie was eliminated by ASP No. 10 Damien Hobgood (USA) in Round 2 to post his seventh 17th place result this year and remains right on the re-qualification bubble going into the last event in Hawaii.

Meanwhile, in a major upset, nine-time and reigning ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) was eliminated from the 2009 title race when he was defeated by wildcard Owen Wright (AUS) for the second time this year.

Current No. 2 Joel Parkinson (AUS), who won three of the first five events of the year to establish a runaway ratings lead, snapped a run of three successive 17ths by overcoming wildcard Bruno Santos (BRA) to reach the last 16 which ensured that the title will only be decided at Pipeline even if ratings leader and compatriot Mick Fanning wins this event.

Fanning delivered a workmanlike performance to dispatch replacement surfer Pat Gudauskas (USA) and keep his challenge for a second title on track. World title contenders CJ Hobgood (USA), who takes on Jordy Smith in the first heat of Round 3, Adriano de Souza (BRA), Bede Durbidge and Taj Burrow (both Australia) will be hoping that Fanning finishes third or lower in this event to give them a mathematical chance of snatching the world title at Pipeline.

The waiting period for the Rip Curl Pro Search men’s event runs until Wednesday 28 October and live webcasts can be found at www.live.ripcurl.com

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 2: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 4: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Heat 5: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 6: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)

The waiting period for women’s Rip Curl Pro Search, Stop No. 4 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, starts today (Monday) and runs until Friday 30 October.

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

Sean Holmes & Dave Richards advance to Round 2 in Canada

Capetonians Sean Holmes and Dave Richards won their opening encounters to advance to Round 2 as organisers ran the first 19 heats in the 6-Star rated O’Neill Cold Water Classic on Vancouver Island, Canada, on Sunday.

Touted as the world’s coldest surfing contest, Stop No. 4 of 5 on the O’Neill Cold Water series started in one metre waves at Cox Bay and features seven SA contenders on the 2009 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), including Durbanites Travis Logie, currently ranked No. 10, and Brandon Jackson (No. 20).

Umhlanga teenager Beyrick de Vries will start his campaign in Heat 21 of Round 1 when the event resumes while Rudy Palmboom (Bluff) and former Capetonian Damien Fahrenfort (California) are seeded into Round 2 along with Logie and Jackson.

The event runs until Saturday 31 October and live scoring and further details can be found at www.coldwaterclassic.net

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

Trio of Saffas to battle for ASP World Longboard title in Maldives

Three of South Africa’s top longboard surfers are in the Maldives for the second leg of the Oxbow World Longboard Tour which will decide the 2009 ASP World Longboard Champion at the famous left-breaking wave of Pasta Point.

Two-time ISA world champion Matthew Moir, fellow Capetonian and reigning SA Open champion Justin Bing and former SA champ Dylan McLeod (Port Elizabeth) are amongst the 32 competitors in the world title decider which has a waiting period that runs from today (Monday) to Saturday 31 October.

The event can be followed live in the internet at www.oxbowpro.com/us/maldives

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

For more information on the ASP Africa members, including profiles and rankings, visit 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.

The fifth edition of the Reef Wetsuits South African Masters Championships will take place at Mossel Bay in the Southern Cape from Thursday October 15 to Sunday October 18.

This is the second time that local province Southern Cape have hosted the tournament which was held in Victoria Bay in 2007. The holding of this event in Mossel Bay marks a special occasion for Surfing South Africa as it  will be the first time in history that a national interprovincial surfing tournament will be held at this superb surf spot.

Over 100 surfers representing seven provinces will compete for individual honours in the six age divisions and all of them will be going all out to win the Interprovincial Team trophy which is determined by a combination of all the team member’s scores.

All but one of the 2008 individual champions will be back to defend the titles they won at Nahoon Reef in East London. There will be a new champion in the Over 30’s division which features Paul Procter and Philip Malherbe of Border, Craig Els of Southern KZN Graeme Field of WP, Llewellyn Whittaker of Southern Cape and Michael Moore of Boland.

Over 35 Champion Wayne Monk of Border will be hoping to make it three in a row but he will have his work cut out for him. Gary van Wieringen and Andrew Banks of Southern KZN, Carl Roux and Mike Frew of KZN, Robert Pollock of Southern Cape and WP’s Andrew Preen look to be his toughest opponents

2007 and 2008 Grandmasters champion David Malherbe and his brother, fellow SA Masters Team member Andre, as well as Border teammate Gareth Sepp look a formidable trio in the Over 40 age group.

Southern Cape surfer Steven Hair, who won the Over 45 Kahunas title in 2008, will need all his local knowledge if he hopes to retain his title against the likes of WP surfers David Stubbs and Glen Row, Border surfer and 2009 SA Team member Mike Brent, big wave legend Mickey Duffus of Boland and David Hansen of KZN in this tough division.

For Over 50 World and SA Champion Chris Knutsen of KZN this year’s tournament will mean another opportunity to add another title to his magnificent record. Knutsen won four SA Open Championship titles, the World Title in Peru in 2008 and has represented South Africa seven times. He is in a class of his own in this division although Brian Heathcote of Border and Grantly Read of KZN could surprise.

In the Veterans division the Over 55 2008 champion Dave Fish of Border also looks a good bet for a back to back title but Southern Cape legend Leonard Giles is in the division and eager to add another national title to the two he won in the 1980’s.

The Reef Wetsuits SA Masters Championships comprises six divisions, namely Senior Men (Over 30), Masters (Over 35), Grandmasters (Over 40), Kahunas (Over 45), Grand Kahunas (Over 50) and Veterans (Over 55).

The event crowns six individual champions and determines the top Provincial team. Each team members points will count towards the Provincial title, which was won by Southern KZN in 2005 and 2006 and by Border in 2007 and 2008.

Teams will gather at Mossel Bay yacht club for the Opening Function at 7pm today and the event will run from Thursday to Sunday October 18.

Each day’s results will be posted on www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za from Thursday.
/ends

Compiled by
Robin de Kock
General Manager
Surfing South Africa
surfingsouthafrica@gmail.com

Please contact Surfing South Africa on 0824541149 for all Media information

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
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Email:           lifesabeach@mweb.co.za

Pictured: Today ASP announced the future of the sport of surfing. Credit: © ASP/ CI/ SCHOLTZ via GETTY IMAGES

MUNDAKA, Euskadi/Spain (Saturday, October 10, 2009) – The October 2009 ASP Board of Directors meeting has completed, with all surfers, events and administration uniting to activate landmark improvements that make the ASP World Tour bigger and better for 2010 and beyond.

“On behalf of the Association of Surfing Professionals, I am pleased to reaffirm the commitment from both our surfers and events in progressing the sport in a unified and collaborative effort,” Brodie Carr, ASP International CEO, said. “We have just completed a period of intense discussion with the world’s best surfers and the world’s best events which culminated in the unanimous support of the ASP and the commitment to the continuation of crowning undisputed world champions, as we have done so for 30 years, for generations to come.”

First and foremost amongst the historic changes is the transformation to a one-world rating system and the trimming back of the ASP World Tour field. Beginning in 2010, the ASP will move from the current two-tier system to an all-inclusive one-world rating system where both ASP World Tour and ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) events will be used to determine a surfer’s rating.

Halfway through the 2010 season, the ASP World Tour field will be reduced from the current 45-man plus three wildcards system to a 32-man plus four wildcards field. The timing of this reduction in field is to allow everyone qualifying for next season’s Dream Tour ample opportunity to establish themselves in the Top 32.

“By trimming back the current Top 45 field as well as instituting the one-world rating system we ensure the ASP World Tour continues to be the most progressive and dynamic professional surfing tour on Earth,” Mick Fanning, ASP World Champion (2007) and Surfers’ Representative, said. “The ASP has been the home of the best surfers and the best waves for over 30 years and our commitment to instituting these changes is illustrative of our position at the forefront of surfing.”

Prize money at the ASP World Tour and ASP Women’s World Tour level is set for a substantial increase in 2010. Base prize money for the ASP World Tour events will increase from the current US$340,000 to US$400,000 in 2010, taking the total prize pool on 10 events from $3,400,000 to $4,000,000 per annum. On the ASP Women’s World Tour, total prize pool will increase from US$630,000 to $800,000 in 2010.

Along with the increase in event prize purse, an additional US$100,000 bonus will be awarded to the year-end ASP World Champion, as well as an additional US$30,000 bonus to the year-end ASP Women’s World Champion.

“The surfers and events continue to work together with ASP Management to create a world class sport,” Rip Curl’s Neil Ridgway, ASP Events’ Council Chairman, said. “There are over one thousand ranked surfers from juniors to pros chasing an ASP World Title, and tens of thousands behind them dreaming of winning one themselves. Our tours provide sporting, economic, social and environmental benefits to almost every continent on the planet. We uphold the career pathway and continue to nurture the millions of fans who follow their heroes on the ASP World Tours.”

In addition to the increase in prize money, the ASP will institute an increase in surfer benefits that include full insurance coverage as well as a pension plan.

The third major change to be activated in 2010 is the evolution of the ASP Board structure. Transitioning from the current 5-person (1 chairman, 2 event and 2 surfer) model, the new ASP Board Structure will consist of three independents, two events and two surfers – including a women’s representative.

“It’s fantastic that the women will become voting members of the ASP Board of Directors,” Jessi Miley-Dyer, ASP Women Surfers’ Representative, said. “The current board has done an incredible job in directing the tour and has been instrumental in providing career pathways and tours for both male and female surfers. Having a female representative on the board dovetails perfectly into the positive, global response we’re receiving on the ASP Women’s World Tour right now, and I look forward to seeing the benefits of such a shift in focus.”

“We remain open to enhancements to our tours that reflect our core principles,” Carr said. “Our primary focus is in doing what is best for professional surfing.”

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

——————————————————————————–

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

High-res image available for complimentary download at: (Copy/Paste URL)
http://64.78.18.131/aspnewsphotos/ed09/ASPBoard2009(scholtz).jpg

——————————————————————————–

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

 

Pictured: Reigning two-time SA U18 champion Matt Bromley will captain the Western Province team in the Reunion Island challenge on the Cape Peninsula this weekend. Photo courtesy Surfing SA

The Southern Peninsula of Cape Town will host a unique junior International surfing tournament this weekend between surfers from Reunion Island, Western Province, Boland, the 2010 South African Junior team and an Emerging South African Junior team.

The friendly international is part and parcel of a cultural and sporting exchange programme between Surfing South Africa and Reunion Island.

The South Africa juniors are headed up by 2009 ISA World Junior Championships bronze medalist Davey Brand and WP teammate and fellow Kommetjie local Mikey February, both of whom have four national caps as well as a host of national and international experience under their belts.

New caps Jarred Veldhuis of Kommetjie, recently crowned SA Under 16 Champion Diran Zakarian of Melkbosstrand, JBay stars Steven Sawyer and Dylan Lightfoot, Heidi Palmboom of the Bluff plus the experienced Dane Staples of St Francis Bay and super talented Sarah Baum of Durban should  dominate the individual heats and the all important tag team contest which will determine who wins the title. Team reserve Jacob Mellish will surf for the national juniors as a guest as top seed Beyrick de Vries left for the USA on Thursday.

The SA team has a powerful look but hosts Western Province have selected a team with plenty of local knowledge and could surprise. Captained by 2009 Under 18 SA Champion Matt Bromley, the WP side includes brilliant under 14 year-olds in Max Armstrong, Nic Notten and Ethan Pentz, plus star WP team mates Benji Brand, Daniel Wilson, Jordan Alexander and Papi Makinyane. National team trialists Holly Armstrong and Sabrina Scott are the two WP girls in the team.

The Boland team also looks strong and is out to prove a point. They beat Western Province by one point back in 2006 when the last event of this kind was held and are keen to maintain their record. Jeandre Blignaut, JP Olivier, Rigard Smit, Justin Torode, Leon Du Preez, Steffen Burrows and Dylan Wichmann along with Morag Steele and Roche Louwrens are the Boland lineup for this weekend.

Surfing South Africa’s Emerging SA Junior team will be led by Alice McGregor of Border who won the Under 18 national title at Nahoon Reef last Sunday. Fellow Border surfer and U18 finalist at Nahoon Reef, Jean Du Plessis, will also turn out for the Invitation side along with SSA Lotto scholarship winners Grant Arendse and Brandon Benjamin of WP and Qhamani Bam of EP. Southern Cape surfers Ruben Lamer and Vincent Withers have been called up after good performances in the recent SA Championships while Benjamin de Castro of Muizenberg and national junior trialist Emma Smith of EP is also in the team.

The group of eight Reunion surfers arrived in Cape Town late Thursday evening and will need some time to adapt to the freezing water temperature and the beach break conditions. Reunion is a volcanic Island in the middle of the Indian Ocean which is blessed with warm water and perfect point break surf. It is part of France and many members of the French surfing teams are drawn from Reunion.

Included in the eight are several age group champions and French junior team members who although experienced will be surfing in Cape Town for the first time.

The Reunion Island Challenge will take place over two days and all contestants and officials will gather at Long Beach in Kommetjie at 7.30am on both days to determine a venue. The venue will be available on the WP Info line from 8.30 on number 0822334001.

Surfing South Africa (SSA) is the recognized governing body for the sport in South Africa. SSA is a member of the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA).The Reunion Island Challenge is part and parcel of the SA Junior Team’s preparations for the 2010 ISA World Junior Championships in New Zealand in January and is a talent identification initiative that is part of SSA’s strategic plans.

The event is supported by funding from the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDTF)..

Ends

Compiled by
Robin de Kock
General Manager : Surfing South Africa
All media enquiries : 0824541149

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

 

DEE WHY, New South Wales (Sunday, October 4, 2009) – Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, won the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic this afternoon over reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP Women’s World No. 1 Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, in stormy three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) conditions at Dee Why in an action packed Final, marking back-to-back wins for the hungry Brazilian after claiming the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

Gilmore jumped out to an early lead in the sea-saw battle for the 2009 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic title, but Lima fought back throughout the heat, collecting a 7.77 and eventually securing the win with an 8.83 for a lengthy forehand barrel to post the highest heat total of the event, an impressive 16.60 out of 20, en route to her first victory at the event after three consecutive Final appearances.

“I can’t believe it,” Lima said. “I’ve been in the Final in this event three times and I finally won. I was feeling really confident. The waves here today were like the waves in Brazil and I’m always surfing in these conditions. The final was really good. Steph (Gilmore) got some good waves too and I was able to get two good ones.”

The back-to-back ASP Women’s World Tour wins secured by the hungry Brazilian have significantly tightened the ratings for this year’s ASP Women’s World Title and although Gilmore still holds on to the ratings lead, Lima is following closely in the No. 2 position.

“I’m definitely looking at the title, but it’s too early,” Lima said “There are still four contests left this year, so there is more work for everyone, but I feel so much more confident after my first win at Bells.”

Gilmore was in devastating form throughout the entire Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, blasting some of the event’s top scores with a committed forehand attack on the steep Dee Why right-handers, but was unable to top Lima in the Final.

“To come back after such a long break and still make the Final, I’m pretty happy with that,” Gilmore said. “Silvana (Lima) beat me at Bells and her confidence is through the roof at the moment, so my challenge is to step it up another level. I did it in the Semifinals, but maybe I peaked too early.”

Gilmore, who fell to Lima in the Final at the last stop on the ASP Women’s World Tour, knows claiming this year’s ASP Women’s World Title will be no easy task and is preparing for the next four stops scheduled on the 2009 calendar.

“It’s definitely game on,” Gilmore said. “There are four events left and everyone is really fired up and off to Portugal, Peru and Hawaii, so I can’t think of a better way to finish off the tour.”

Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 26, was also on fire throughout the entire event, topping 2005 ASP Women’s World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25, en route to her third place finish, but could not find a solid score in her Semifinal heat against eventual Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic winner, Lima.

“I couldn’t really find a rhythm in that last heat,” Mulanovich said. “I couldn’t land a turn, but it’s alright. I guess I was a bit nervous and the waves didn’t come my way, but it’s the same conditions for everyone. I’ll just look at where things went wrong and use that for next time.”

Mulanovich, who was the 2004 ASP Women’s World Champion, has now notched back-to-back third place results, leaving her in third overall on the ratings, but as a former champion, the Peruvian natural-footer knows she’ll need to win events this year if she is to claim another ASP Women’s World title.

“Silvana got me at Bells too,” Mulanovich said. “It’s the same result. A third-place is a good result and I need to work a little more on the mental side of things, but I know that, so that’s what I’m going to do. A third is good, but you need to win events to win the title. I’m still towards the top of the ratings and I’m just going to go from there.”

Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, was a standout performer throughout the event’s entirety, ousting an international field of competitors including Rebecca Woods (AUS), 25, and Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 22, on the way to her Semifinals berth. The talented Hawaiian struggled to find a solid score in her battle against Gilmore, bowing out of the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic with a third place finish.

“I just wasn’t in rhythm out there and I couldn’t find anything,” Bartels said. “It’s tough out there, but I’m stoked that I made the Semifinals, it’s a good result, but I just wanted to surf well, I wanted to put on a good performance and I don’t feel like I did that, but that’s how it goes.”

For Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic photos, results and highlights log on to www.beachleyclassic.com

Pictured: Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, won the commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic over Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, marking back-to-back ASP Women’s World Tour wins for the current ASP Women’s World No. 2.

The next stop on the ASP Women’s World Tour will be the Rip Curl Search in Peniche, Portugal, which holds a waiting period from October 26 through 30, 2009.

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

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Final:
1- Silvana Lima (BRA) 16.60
2- Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.67

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Semifinals Results:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.17 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 6.87
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA)10.60 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 5.40

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Quarterfinals Results:
Heat 1: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 6.35 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 5.97
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.54 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 8.80
Heat 3: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.57 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 9.00
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.86 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 8.10

ASP Women’s World Tour Ratings After Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic:
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 3241 points
2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 2880
3 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 2139
4 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 1983
5 – Coco Ho (HAW) 1723
6 – Rebecca Woods (AUS) 1711
7 – Paige Hareb (NZL) 1704
8 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 1519
8 – Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 1519
10 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 1512
11 – Samantha Cornish (AUS) 1308
12 – Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 1116
12 – Alana Blanchard (HAW) 1116
14 – Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 1110
15 – Amee Donohoe (AUS) 918
16 – Layne Beachley (AUS) 756
16 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 756

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

Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Media Contacts
Bobby Shadley
(714) 536-3500 Main
(949) 290-9135 Mobile
bobby@aspworldtour.com

Dave Prodan
International Media Manager
ASP International
(714) 536-3500 Main
(949) 678-0987 Mobile
dave@aspworldtour.com

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Media Contact:
Mandy McKinnon
TV. News Feed and Web Packs
+61(0) 417 07 9941 Mobile

Mikaeli Costello
Publicist
0 401 58 0685 Mobile
mikaelicostello@hotmail.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.

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

MUNDAKA, Euskadi (Friday, October 2, 2009) – With the first stop of the 2009 ASP Dream Tour’s European leg behind them, the world’s best surfers are heading south into Euskadi for the Billabong Pro Mundaka where some of the best sandbars in years provide the perfect setting for potentially some of the best waves ever.

Event No. 8 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Mundaka plays a pivotal part in the surfers’ seasons, with ASP Top 45 members scrounging for requalification points and the hunt for the 2009 ASP World Title still very much alive.

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, current ASP World No. 1 and last year’s event runner-up, reiterated the fact that if the appropriate swell comes, the current sandbar at Mundaka is poised to deliver some of the best waves in years.

“The sand looks incredible and if we get some waves here it’s going to be a really special event,” Parkinson said. “I love coming to Mundaka. The town is really cruisey and I’m able to slip right into the pace of things. I’ve always felt comfortable here and I’m looking forward to a good event.”

Despite seeming to run away with the ASP World Title after blitzing the first half of the 2009 season, Parkinson has stumbled in the last two events, collecting back-to-back equal 17^ths in California and France. Even with the slip in performance, the Australian still remains in the ASP World Tour ratings’ lead and will look to rebound at the famed lefthander.

“Everyone has a couple events where they don’t get the results they’re looking for,” Parkinson said. “I’m not thinking about the last two events. I’m only focused on the one in front of me. I love Mundaka when it’s on and I’m looking at putting in another good performance here this season.”

C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, defending Billabong Pro Mundaka winner and current ASP World No. 3, defeated Parkinson in a gun-slinging Final last year and is excited about the possibility of getting the break good this season.

“The sand looks really good and I heard there may be a swell coming next week which would be really exciting,” Hobgood said. “For me, I am just looking forward to having a normal event. I had a little bit shocker in France – I had my boards stolen, came back in a pretty exciting heat and then lost sooner than I would have hoped. I’m having an okay year, but I really want to win an event. I want a breakout event. Hopefully the magic is still here for me in Mundaka.”

In addition to proving pivotal in the hunt for the 2009 ASP World Title, the Billabong Pro Mundaka is also an important event for those looking to requalify for next year’s ASP Dream Tour.

Tiago Pires (PRT), 29, current ASP World No. 23, is coming off of his best result of the year, a 3^rd in France, where he halted a rampaging nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, in the Quarterfinals. Brimming with confidence and at ease in Europe, Pires will be a major threat at the upcoming Billabong Pro Mundaka.

“I was having a pretty hard year until the last event,” Pires said. “I think I moved up like 10 spots on the ratings and now I feel confident heading into the rest of the year. Everywhere in Europe feels like home and I love the wave at Mundaka. I am looking to continue my momentum through the next two events.”

The Billabong Pro Mundaka will host the world’s best surfers from October 5 through 17, 2009.

The event will be webcast LIVE via http://www.billabongpro.com/mundaka09/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

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