SOMEWHERE, Porta Del Sol/Puerto Rico (Wednesday, November 3, 2010) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), Rip Curl and surfers unanimously decided to cancel competition at the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico today out of respect for yesterday’s unexpected passing of surfing icon and current ASP World Tour competitor Andy Irons (HAW), 32.

Irons, a three-time ASP World Champion, withdrew from competition citing illness and was en route back home to Kauai, Hawaii yesterday when he passed away. The loss of one of professional surfing’s greatest icons has sent shockwaves through the international sporting community.

A paddle out memorial service was held on-site in Porta Del Sol, attended by the world’s best surfers and hundreds of admirers.

Reactions from those in attendance:

Kelly Slater (USA), 38, nine-time ASP World Champion:

“We had a nice paddle out for Andy,’ Slater said. “It was a huge a group of people that got together – a couple hundred people paddled out. Obviously everyone is very somber and it’s just devastating news for everyone.”

“Everyone had their own connection with Andy on so many different levels,” Slater said. “He was a classic guy. Although he and I butted heads a lot a few years ago, I have so many good memories of Andy and we have become pretty good friends since. Generally, we just sit around and don’t even talk about surfing. We just have dinner and talk.”

“We’re just baffled that he’s gone.”

“It was nice for everyone to be together to have a chance to talk about him, about our memories: a little laugh, a little cry,” Slater said. “We just want to send some positive thoughts out to his family – to his wife, to his brother, and to his child that is coming next month. We’re all just thinking about that.

“You know, Andy was a pretty dynamic guy,” Slater said. “He could be fierce in the water, the nicest guy on land – anything in-between. There were just so many sides to Andy. I’m going to have a million different memories of AI.”

“A few weeks ago I had a friend going over to Kauai to see Andy, and I said send him a message: When Andy surfs angry he smashes people and tell him to come to PR angry, focus that energy and use it,” Slater said. “So my friend called him and said he told AI the message and AI said he’s ready and I was so looking forward to see him surf this week. Just to see him.”

“There aren’t words to describe,” Slater said. “Unfortunately I’ve been through this with friends. There’s nothing that can make it better. You just have to feel it and process all those memories.”

“Andy was an absolutely gifted individual,” Slater said. “I’m lucky to have known him and had the times we had together. I feel blessed that we worked through the differences we had and I was able to learn what I’m made of because of Andy. We enjoyed many quiet times together with our girls in the last year and I got to know a happy, funny, innocent kid who was happy to live every second with the people he loved. I’m so sad.”

“My thoughts are with Bruce and Lyndie and their parents and all of his many friends around the world,” Slater said. “It’s a huge and far too premature loss for all of us. He was the most intense competitor I’ve ever known and one of the most sensitive people. He had so much life left in him and it hurts to think about. We look forward to his memory living on with our memories of him and his child on the way. There are a lot of uncles awaiting his arrival. I really miss Andy. He had a really good heart.”

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, reigning four-time ASP Women’s World Champion:

“It’s a really sad day and I think everyone is still in shock,” Gilmore said. “It’s crazy how the world works in mysterious ways. Luckily we’re all here together.
All the girls were down here. We all did the paddle out and to remember Andy.”

“We didn’t see the guys that often on Tour, but Andy in particular is one of the most beautiful human-beings,” Gilmore said. “Such an incredible competitor, but always so gentle and so kind. Always gave you the time of day. No matter where you were or how busy he was, he’d stop and say hi and ask how you were going. He’s going to be really really missed by everyone.”

“I think everyone admires him so much and he’ll never be forgotten.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, reigning ASP World Champion:

“It was good having the paddle-out, getting everyone together,” Fanning said. “We’re a surfing family. We all look out for each other. Just for us to paddle out and show our respects to Andy, to his family, to all his friends on Kauai and Hawaii – it’s good. We are all hurting right now and we’re just wanting to pay our respects.”

“Andy was incredible,” Fanning said. “I think he was a person that always wore his heart on his sleeve. He didn’t try to impress anyone. He was just all about what he wanted to do. He was an amazing competitor; he was an amazing friend. And also, he was a brother. I haven’t just lost a friend, I’ve lost my brother here. It’s hard to take.”

C.J. Hobgood (USA), 31, current ASP World No. 14:

“All the surfers are here today and we were able to paddle out together,” Hobgood said. “Imagine taking all of the emotion in your body and putting it into one pot; it was so crazy out there. One second I just felt so mad, and then the next second I was just so happy.”

“The biggest thing was that the whole [WT] family was together and we were able to paddle out as one and show our love for another brother,” Hobgood said. “There are no words to say how we all feel, but in time there will be.”

“I think that the biggest thing is that we’re thankful for so much,” Hobgood said. “I’m thankful to be a surfer because we are family and I’m thankful to be a part of Andy’s family. I’ve traveled with him since I was 12 years old. Just the person that he was, it made me a better person. It made everyone around him a better person.”

“I’m thankful for so many great, wonderful years,” Hobgood said. “I think every surfer here today is just thankful that they could be here for Andy and show their respect for him, because we all understand that you can’t ever know when your time is up. So it’s comforting to know that all the other surfers would be there for you.”

Following the service, ASP, Rip Curl and the surfers opted to postpone the recommencement of the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico until Friday, November 5, 2010.

“Out of respect for the passing of Andy Irons yesterday, the ASP, event organizers and the surfers have all decided to postpone the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico until Friday,” Renato Hickel, ASP World Tour Manager, said. “This is a terrible loss for the ASP family and one we’ll be working through for many years to come. We need time to grieve and we will return on Friday.”

“We called an official lay day today in memory of Andy Irons and also to give the ASP professional surfers the space they needed to clear their heads, get their arms around each other and just take it all in,” Neil Ridgway, Rip Curl Global Marketing & Advertising Chairman, said. “On the event side, we feel that the best thing to do is to continue to prepare to run the Rip Curl Pro Search the best we can.We want to give these guys the type of event environment that they’re used to, because at some stage we believe that they will want to return to what they know best and that is pro surfing and that is winning heats and this time in honour of Andy Irons.”

Event organizers will reconvene Friday morning at 7am for a possible 7:30am start.

When competition resumes, up first will be Taj Burrow (AUS), 32, up against rookie Dusty Payne (HAW), 21.

Highlights from the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico will be available via http://live.ripcurl.com

The Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico will be televised LIVE in Australia on FUEL TV. For more information, check out www.foxsports.com.au/fueltv

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH PUERTO RICO ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1:Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (USA)
Heat 2:C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 3:Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 4:Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 5:Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Bobby Martinez (USA)
Heat 6:Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Dylan Graves (PRI)
Heat 7:Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 8:Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 9:Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10:Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Dan Ross (AUS)
Heat 11:Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 12:Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)

Ends

ASSOCIATION OF SURFING PROFESSIONALS (ASP) MEDIA
ASP International Media Manager
Dave Prodan
email: dave@aspworldtour.com
USAmobile: +1 949 678 0987
AUS mobile: +61 (0) 400 455 228

TV NEWS FEEDS
Many McKinnon
email: mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com

Digital Photographs:
High-resolution digital images for newspapers and Internet sites are available via the ASP Digital Images Department – please contact kirstin@aspworldtour.com

________________________________________
About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard 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 and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

Three-time ASP World surfing champion, Andy Irons, 32, from Hawaii, passed away yesterday en-route from Puerto Rico to his home on Kauai from complications due to illness, thought to be Dengue fever.

Irons, whose failure to appear for his Round 1 heat in the Rip Curl Search event in Puerto Rico caused consternation on Saturday, withdrew from the event on Sunday, citing an illness he had contracted at the previous stop on the ASP World Tour in Portugal.

He checked into a hotel in Dallas, Texas, on Monday and was found dead in his room by hotel staff the next morning.

Renowned for his incredible ability in all types of surf, but particularly in big, hollow waves such as those in Hawaii and Tahiti, Irons began his career on the elite ASP World Tour in 1998 and went on to collect 20 elite tour victories, four Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing titles, three consecutive ASP World titles (2002-2004) and changed the sport forever with his unparalleled approach to surfing.
 
Well known in South Africa for his titanic tussles at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay with local wildcard Sean Holmes, Irons’ victory there in 2004 and his part in one of the most dramatic finals in ASP World Tour history with nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) in 2005 are part of surfing folklore.

Back in the competitive mix after taking a one year sabbatical from the ASP World Tour in 2009, Irons won Stop No. 5 of 10 at Teahupoo in Tahiti, one of his favourite waves, in August. He also featured in numerous films and videos, including Blue Horizon and Trilogy, and his passing will be mourned by the entire global surfing community.

Irons is survived by his wife Lyndie Dupuis, who is due to give birth to their first child, a boy, next month.

Official Irons Family Statement:
The world of surfing mourns an incredibly sad loss today with the news that Hawaii’s Andy Irons has died. Andy was a beloved husband, and a true champion.
 
Irons, 32, withdrew from a professional surfing event in Puerto Rico last weekend due to illness, and passed away during a layover en-route to his home in Kauai, Hawaii. He had reportedly been battling with Dengue Fever, a viral disease.
 
At this time the family thanks his friends and fans for their support, and asks that the community respect its privacy. The family also asks to not be contacted so their focus can remain on one another during this time of profound loss.
 
Ends

Issued on behalf of:

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

About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard 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 and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

Billabong team rider Dale Staples put himself firmly into contention for the 2010 ASP World Junior title with a sensational runner-up finish in the Oakley ASP Pro Junior in Bali, the first of two events that will culminate in the crowning of undisputed world’s best junior surfer in Sydney, Australia in January.

The 19 year-old from St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape had a stunning run through the 48 man field of the world’s best 20-and-under surfers before ending up just short in the final against today’s winner, Australian Jack Freestone.

Coming into the event seeded No.30, Staples opened slowly with a second place finish behind No. 3 seed Granger Larsen (HAW), but got his game plan spot on thereafter with victories over Enrique Ariitu (PYF) and compatriot Chad du Toit (Durban) before exacting revenge on Larsen in their Round 4 duel.

Staples got his charge to the final underway with a comprehensive quarterfinal victory over No. 14 seed Evan Thompson (USA) this morning, sealing his semifinal berth with a near-perfect 9.73 out of 10 ride that left the American comb’ed with five minutes remaining.

The South African then had to come back from a combo situation himself in the semi clash against No. 8 seed Mitch Crews (AUS). Needing to improve both his counting scores with 15 minutes left on the clock, Staples produced a 7.50 and then followed that up with another phenomenal ride of 9.33 that left the Aussie looking for 8.34 points when the siren sounded.

As the swell dropped off and the tide went out, Freestone posted a 9,57 on the first ride of the final and despite Staples having the opportunity to clinch the win on a set wave late in the heat, he was clipped as he exited the barrel and the Aussie claimed victory.

“I was just really stoked to be out there and get a good result,” said Staples. “I’m happy to beat some of the best junior surfers in the world – anyone could have been in that final.”

Staples admitted that he was anxious heading into the later stages of the finale.

“I was really nervous,” he said. “I was waiting for a set wave all final. But it didn’t come until the end. I was hoping the last one would open up but it didn’t.”

Staples pocketed US $5 000 (approx. R35 000) and a priceless 8 000 ranking points for his runner-up finish and goes into the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships at North Narrabeen in Sydney in January full of confidence.

With victories in the Billabong Pro Junior on the KZN Dolphin Coast in April and the VonZipper Wild Card Shoot Out at Jeffreys Bay in July, followed by his stellar wildcard performances in outstanding overhead surf at Supertubes against the world’s top professional surfers in the Billabong Pro, Staples will be looking to emulate current ASP World No. 2 Jordy Smith (Durban) and become the second South African to clinch the ASP World Junior title in Australia in three months time.

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR FINAL RESULT:

Jack Freestone (AUS) 13.84 def. Dale Staples (ZAF) 8.44

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR SEMIFINAL RESULTS:

SF1: Jack Freestone (AUS) 12.84 def. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 11.83

SF2: Dale Staples (ZAF) 16.83 def. Mitch Crews (AUS) 15.33

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:

QF 1: Jack Freestone (AUS) 14.10 def. Nat Young (USA) 13.57

QF 2: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 13.83 def. Conner Coffin (USA) 11.76

QF 3: Mitch Crews (AUS) 18.23 def. Kiron Jabour (HAW) 17.86

QF 4: Dale Staples (ZAF) 18.06 def. Evan Thompson (USA)

Ends

Issued on behalf of:

Billabong South Africa
Contact: Brendon Kegel
Telephone: +27 (0) 42 200 2747
Email: brendon.kegel@billabong.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

South Africa’s Dale Staples has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Oakley ASP World Pro Junior in Bali, defeating the No. 3 seed Granger Larsen from Hawaii in their Round 4 heat held in epic two metre barreling waves at Keramas in Bali earlier today.

Staples, 19, from St Francis Bay continued his momentum from yesterday when he posted the highest single ride (9.80 out of 10) and combined two wave heat tally (16.63 out of 20) of the day while dispatching compatriot Chad du Toit (Berea, Durban) in their Round 3 match up.

In today’s outstanding conditions Staples posted a heat tally of 16.07 to oust Larsen and become the last of the seven ASP Africa members still in contention in the event after Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) was eliminated in his Round 4 clash by Caio Ibelli (BRA).

The event is the first of two on the inaugural ASP World Pro Junior Tour which will crown the ASP World Junior Champion in Sydney, Australia in January.

All the action can be followed LIVE at http://oakleyprojunior.com starting at approximately 2am South African time daily.

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR ROUND 4 RESULTS (MEN’S):

Heat 1:Nat Young (USA) 18.96 def. Tyler Newton (HAW) 15.50
Heat 2: Jack Freestone (AUS) 18.47 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.24
Heat 3: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 15.40 def. Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 9.17
Heat 4: Conner Coffin (USA) 18.26 def. Krystian Kymerson (BRA) 2.83
Heat 5: Mitch Crews (AUS) 11.66 def. Charles Martin (GLP) 6.97
Heat 6: Kiron Jabour (HAW) 18.16 def. Alex Smith (HAW) 16.70
Heat 7: Dale Staples (ZAF) 16.07 def. Granger Larsen (HAW) 15.46
Heat 8: Evan Thompson (USA) 13.50 def. Davey Cathels (AUS) 10.47

OAKLEY ASP WORLD PRO JUNIOR QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS (MEN’S):

QF 1: Nat Young (USA) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)
QF 2: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Conner Coffin (USA)
QF 3: Mitch Crews (AUS) vs. Kiron Jabour (HAW)
QF 4: Dale Staples (ZAF) vs. Evan Thompson (USA)

Digital Photographs:
High-resolution digital images for newspapers and Internet sites are available via the ASP Digital Images Department please contact kirstin@aspworldtour.com

Issued on behalf of:

ASP Africa
Contact: Colin Fitch – Operations Manager
Tel: 021 534 5738
Email: colin@aspafrica.com

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 recognized world governing body of professional surfing and has been crowning surfing’s undisputed World Champions since 1976. The ASP sanctions and crowns World Champions for the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, ASP World Junior Tour, ASP World Longboard 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 and other media platforms. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.

The country’s top pro junior surfers (20-and-under) will be vying for coveted invitations to compete in the inaugural ASP World Junior Tour when the Billabong Pro Junior event is run at Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape from 1-4 September.

The event is the fourth and final contest on the 2010 ASP Africa Pro Junior Series and the top four surfers in the yearend rankings will be awarded the sought after invitations to take on their peers from around the globe in the quest to be crowned the ASP World Junior Champion in Sydney, Australia in January 2011.

Billabong team rider Shaun Joubert has already clinched the ASP Africa Pro Junior title for 2010 thanks to victories in two of the first three events of the season and the 19 year-old from Mossel Bay is now focused on improving his position on the ASP World Rankings.

Joubert will not be competing at Victoria Bay, leaving Billabong teammate Dale Staples (St Francis Bay), the winner of the Billabong Pro Junior event on KZN’s Dolphin Coast in April, in the box seat for one of the remaining three invitations.

Staples, a previous winner at Vic Bay, has been in stellar form recently, winning the VonZipper Super Heat to earn a wildcard into the ASP World Tour Billabong Pro J-Bay event where he posted impressive performances against superstars Taj Burrow and Bede Durbidge in the opening rounds.

Chad du Toit (Berea, Durban) and Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga) currently occupy the third and fourth positions in the rankings with Matt Bromley (Kommetjie) just outside the cutoff point. With each surfer’s best three results counting towards the yearend ranking, Devin Lane (Umhlanga), Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) and Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie) are also within striking range of snagging a top-four spot with victory in the season-ending event.

Along with the prized rankings points, the ASP Grade-1 Billabong Pro Junior Vic Bay offers a prize-pool of US $5 000 (approx. R37 500) of which $2 000 goes to the winner.

The Billabong Junior Series also sees the country’s top Under 16, U14 and U12 boys and the Pro Junior (U20) girls in action competing for prize-money and ratings points that count toward the annual Surfing South Africa Pro Surf Tour (PST) titles.

ASP qualifying series campaigner Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) along with Dolphin Coast event winner and Vic Bay local Bianca Buitendag (George) are the standouts for the girls’ title. But this well traveled duo will need all their international experience to stave off the challenges from Tanika Hoffman (Kommetjie) and Billabong team riders Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) and rising star Emma Smith (Jeffreys Bay).

Billabong’s Steven Sawyer (Jeffreys Bay), who reached the last four in both Pro Junior and U16 divisions in April, and Benji Brand (Kommetjie), winner of the U16’s on the Dolphin Coast and also a favourite in the U14 division, head a highly competitive field in the U16 boys division.

They will do battle with Dylan Lightfoot (J-Bay), Diran Zakarian (Melkbosstrand), Jarred Veldhuis (Kommetjie), Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh) and Mikey Venter (Warner Beach), amongst a host of other emerging rippers.

Kommetjie friends and rivals Benji Brand and Max Armstrong will go head to head with Slade Prestwich, Matt McGillivray (Port Elizabeth), Steffen Burrows (Strand) and Shane Sykes (Salt Rock) in the U14 division while Jordan Maree (Kalk Bay), Ethan Fletcher (Kommetjie), Adin Masencamp (Strand), Donovan Wichmann (Marina Da Gama) and brothers Jake and Max Elkington from Cape Town look the pick of the U12’s.

Billabong Junior Series events also feature a spectacular VonZipper Air Show where the surfer successfully completing the most innovative aerial manoeuvre pockets the winner-takes-all R2 000 prize-purse

Images, results and news from the event will be available daily at www.billabong.com.

The Pro Surf Tour (PST) events in the Billabong Junior Series are sanctioned by Surfing South Africa (SSA), the national controlling body for the sport, while the internationally rated Pro Junior men’s event is sanctioned by ASP Africa, the regional office for ASP International.

Entries for the Billabong Pro Junior Vic Bay have officially closed but there is still space for late entries. To enter go to www.aspafrica.com. Entries for the PST events close 14 days before the scheduled dates. Entries can be made at www.billabong.com/girls/za/entries/enter.php for the Pro Junior girls and the U16, U14 and U12 boys’ divisions.

The series is proudly supported by Von Zipper, Kustom and Nixon and fueled by Monster Energy.

\ends

Issued on behalf of:

Brendon Kegel – Media and Communications
Billabong South Africa
Tel: 042 200 2747
Fax: 042 293 2478
Cell: 083 799 0110
Email: brendon.kegel@billabong.co.za

Compiled & Issued by:

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

COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Wednesday, April 14, 2010) – With two of 10 events on the 2010 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour completed, the dynamic transitions instituted this season are beginning to take shape. The unified system, dubbed the “ASP World Rankings”, will soon be in full swing and is explained here by ASP Tour Manager Al Hunt.

In 2010, ASP has made changes to the way the male surfers qualify for and gain ranking points towards the ASP World Title.

The ASP World Tour and ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) are no more as such, being combined in terms of rankings under the umbrella “ASP World Tour” banner, and distinguished through the “ASP World Title Race” and the “ASP World Rankings”.

The ASP World Title Race consists initially of 45 surfers fighting it out for points to decide the undisputed ASP World Champion. These 45 surfers all compete in the first five events of the year (Gold Coast, Bells Beach, Brazil, J-Bay and Tahiti) and then the Top 32 seeds move on into the second half of the year from Hurley Pro at Trestles to the Billabong Pro at Pipeline.

The surfer with the most points from just the ASP World Title Race events will be crowned the 2010 ASP Men’s World Champion. This will also be the system for every year to come in deciding the ASP World Champion.

In addition to the ASP World Title events, the ASP World Tour will encompass the former ASP WQS, running events from ASP 1-Star through 6-Star to PRIME as it was previously.

This will allow ASP to have a continual rankings based on a surfers best 8 results, which will be used to select and seed surfers into the ASP World Title events plus ASP 1- 6 Star and PRIME events.

After 12 months, previously counting best 8 events are replaced by current events. This means that a surfer may have been counting his result from the Quiksilver Pro in February all year until it gets replaced the following year by the surfer’s next best 8th result. You CANNOT count events for more than 12 months and once the same event has run the previous points are replaced by the new points even if they are worth less.

2010 will also be a transition year with a couple of minor differences to what it will be instituted from 2011 onwards.

The differences are that the ASP Men’s World Title 32 seeded surfers for 2011 will be the 2010 Top 22 plus the next 10 based on the ASP World Tour Rankings as of end of the Billabong Pipeline Pro in December, along with two wild cards selected by ASP.

During 2011, there will be changes to the ASP World Title Race selected surfers, with the Top 32 from the ASP World Tour Rankings being selected after a yet to be determined number of events.

If ASP decides to have two, three or four changeovers, it would work like this:

Say ASP decides to have three changeover dates during the year, then after the third event, the previous Top 32 would be replaced by the current Top 32 on the ASP World Rankings. These 32 may still be the same or they could be slightly different with a handful or more new faces. No one knows the exact number, but for sure, any newcomer if they have great results can break into the ASP World Title Race events at any time and not have to slave on the previous WQS for at least one year. Fast tracking those that are good enough is what it is all about.

To summarize, in 2010 things are pretty similar to previous years with the exception of adding the ASP World Title event points to a new ASP World Tour Rankings using all previous WQS events.

From 2011 onwards, this new ASP World Ranking will decide who gets to compete in the ASP World Title events and eventually decide the ASP World Champion. These ASP World Rankings also decide the selection order and seeding for all men’s events from ASP World Title through PRIME to 1-Star.

ASP is excited about these changes and look forward to them until such time a better format comes about and you can rest assured ASP will change when that time comes to remain at the forefront of progressive thinking.

Your’s In Surfing
Al Hunt
ASP Tour Manager

Q & A

Who can win the 2010 ASP World Title?

Anyone of the ASP Top 45 surfers that were invited at the start of the 2010 season. The one with the most points at the end of the year is the undisputed ASP World Champion.

Will there be any changes to ASP World Title invited surfers during the year?

The Top 45 will be cut back to 32 at the end of the 5th event. These 32 are the highest 32 seeds on the ASP World Title Rankings.

Will ASP World Tour surfers be able to break into the ASP World Title events during 2010?

No, only during 2011 tour will there be changeover periods. The number of changeover periods is yet to be decided.

What happened to the ASP WQS?

The WQS has been replaced by a Star and PRIME events. Events range in progressive importance from 1-Star through 6-Star to PRIME.

What events can be used to count towards rankings?

The best 8 of all 10 ASP World Title events count towards the ASP World Title Rankings and best 8 of all 10 ASP World Title plus all 1-6 Star and PRIME count towards the ASP World Rankings.

Do ASP World Title event seed replacements and wildcards get to use their results towards their ASP World Rankings?

ASP World Title replacement seeds can use the results, but wildcards cannot.

Who will contest the ASP World Title events in 2011?

The Top 22 from the end of 2010 ASP World Title Rankings will automatically start the 2011 year as ASP World Title event seeds. These 22, along with the Top 10 from the ASP World Tour Rankings (combined World Title and 1-6 Star and PRIME results) plus two ASP wildcards will start the 2011 year.

Why have an ASP World Tour Ranking?

The ASP World Tour Ranking after the first 12 months will be used to decide who makes the cut into the ASP World Title events, decide the seeding order for all events plus who gets into 1-6 Star and PRIME events. If any event is oversubscribed as of the closing date, then the ASP World Tour Rankings are used to decide who gets into the event, along with a few exceptions like defending champions, event wildcards and ASP World Junior wildcards if applicable.

When do ASP World Tour events get replaced?

The best 8 ASP World Tour event results are replaced when a surfer betters their 8th lowest score or an event becomes more than 12 months old. No results can be used for more than 12 months.

ends

——————————————————————————–

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 via the ASP Digital Images Department – please contact kirstin@aspworldtour.com

Issued on behalf of:

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

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.

COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Friday, February 26, 2010) – South Africa’s Rosanne Hodge clinched the Most Improved Female Surfer award as the world’s best surfers assembled at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Queensland, Australia on Thursday evening for the ASP World Champions’ Crowning, a gala event and the premiere evening in professional surfing.

Hodge qualified for her fourth consecutive season on the ASP Women’s World Tour by finishing 2009 ranked No. 9, the first time the 22 year-old East Londoner has earned a place in the world’s top 10.

Taking top honours for the evening were Gold Coast duo Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, being officially crowned ASP World Champion and ASP Women’s World Champion respectively.

Kelly Slater (USA), 38, former nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, was present to graciously present Fanning with his ASP World Title trophy.

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, and Silvana Lima (BRA), 25, were honored as 2009 ASP World Runner-Up and ASP Women’s World Runner-Up respectively, and both gave heartfelt speeches, acknowledging the progression of the sport and the dynamic changes that will be activated this season.

Harley Ingleby (AUS), 26, secured his inaugural ASP World Longboard Title while Jennifer Smith (USA), 23, attained her second ASP Women’s World Longboard Title.

Maxime Huscenot (REU), 17, and Laura Enever (AUS), 18, were honored as ASP World Junior Champions, and usher in the next generation of sporting super talents.

Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, and Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 22, received ASP Most Improved Awards, while Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 24, and Coco Ho (HAW), 18, were awarded ASP Rookie of the Year titles.

Ho was honoured a second time, taking out the 2009 ASP Women’s World Qualifying Series (WQS), while Dan Ross (AUS), 27, was honoured at the 2009 ASP WQS No. 1.

Kieren Perrow (AUS), 33, current ASP World No. 13, was honoured with the ASP Peter Whitaker Award (named after the late ASP CEO) for his immeasurable contribution to the sport of surfing. Perrow was an integral voice in the enhancements to the 2010 ASP World Tour.

Layne Beachley (AUS), 37, former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion, was honoured with ASP Life Membership last night, and despite not being able to attend, kindly provided a video acceptance from Vancouver where she is attending the Winter Olympics.

The world’s best surfers will kick off the 2010 tour this week at Snapper Rocks for the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover and the Roxy Pro.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

ASP World Champion: Mick Fanning (AUS)
ASP Women’s World Champion: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
ASP World Longboard Champion: Harley Ingleby (AUS)
ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion: Jennifer Smith (AUS)
ASP World Junior Champion: Maxime Huscenot (REU)
ASP Women’s World Junior Champion: Laura Enever (AUS)ASP World Runner-Up: Joel Parkinson (AUS)
ASP Women’s World Runner-Up: Silvana Lima (BRA)
ASP World Tour Most Improved: Dane Reynolds (USA)
ASP Women’s World Tour Most Improved: Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)
ASP World Tour Rookie of the Year: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)
ASP Women’s World Tour Rookie of the Year: Coco Ho (HAW)ASP WQS No. 1: Dan Ross (AUS)
ASP Women’s WQS No. 1: Coco Ho (AUS)
ASP Peter Whitaker Award: Kieren Perrow (AUS)
ASP Life Membership: Layne Beachley (AUS)

Ends

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 via the ASP Digital Images Department – please contact kirstin@aspworldtour.com
________________________________________

Issued on behalf of:

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

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.

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.

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: Bianca Buitendag shows the form that earned her 4^th place and R2 400 at the Oakley Pro Junior in France on the weekend Photo: Aquashot / ASP Europe

SA girls surf into Pro Junior finals in France and USA

Redman, Palmboom and Bortoletto advance to Round 2 at Lacanau

ASP Africa Pro Junior titles to be decided at Victoria Bay in September

South Africans Bianca Buitendag and Nikita Robb posted stellar performances to reach the finals of ASP Pro Junior girls events in France and the USA respectively on the weekend.

Buitendag, 15, from Victoria Bay was one of the standouts in the Grade 2 Oakley Pro Junior at Lacanau, on the Bay of Biscay coast of France, taking on and defeating the cream of Europe’s 20-and-under female surfers in small 0.6 to one metre waves to reach the final four in the 40-strong field.

A lack of waves in the final, and an amazing last three minute performance that saw ASP World Pro Junior champion Pauline Ado (FRA) vault from fourth to first with two excellent rides, resulted in Buitendag, described as the ‘South African wunderkind’ in event media releases, finishing fourth overall with prize-money of R2 400.

Tanika Hoffman (Kommetjie), the only other SA surfer in the event, eventually lost out in the quarterfinals after starting strongly in the first two rounds, ending equal ninth overall.

Meanwhile in the Pacific Ocean, East London’s Nikita Robb cruised through a talented line-up of American and Hawaiian competitors to finish fourth in the Grade 4 Supergirl Pro Junior at Oceanside in California.

Referred to as the ‘international sensation from South Africa’, Robb, 20, from East London battled to find waves with scoring potential in the tiny 0.3 to 0.6 metre windswept waves for the final and ended behind winner Courtney Conlogue (USA), Malia Manuel (HAW) and Sage Erickson (USA), collecting prize-money of R13 000.

Robb is currently ranked No. 13 on the ASP Women’s World Qualifying Series (WQS), the highest of the SA contingent and narrowly ahead of fellow East Londoner Rosanne Hodge who is No. 14. With just two WQS events remaining on the 2009 schedule for women, a 5-Star in Rio de Janeiro starting on 7 October and a 6-Star at Haleiwa in Hawaii in November (still listed as Tentative), the ratings tallies are extremely close and the pair are still in with a chance of reaching the top six in the yearend rankings and automatically qualifying for the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour.

ASP Women’s WQS Rankings

(After event No. 7 of 9)

1          Moore,Carissa          HAW   7980
2          Ho,Coco                     HAW   7740
3          Bevilacqua,Claire     AUS    6800
4          Miley-Dyer,Jessi       AUS    6420
5          Woods,Rebecca       AUS    6345

South Africans (Top 5) 

13        Robb,Nikita                ZAF     5650
14        Hodge,Rosanne        ZAF     5620
35        Buitendag,Bianca     ZAF     3520
37        Chudleigh,Tarryn       ZAF     3380
53        Smith,Tammy Lee     ZAF     2430

Redman, Palmboom and Bortoletto advance to Round 2 at Lacanau

Daniel Redman (Durban), Rudy Palmboom Jnr. (Bluff) and Antonio Bortoletto (Durban), all put their small-wave abilities to good use at Lacanau in France to advance to Round 2 of the 6-Star rated, R1.1 million Sooruz Lacanau Pro, Europe’s longest running professional surfing tournament.

The 0.6 to occasional one metre waves and light onshore winds produced conditions that were ideal for aerial manoeuvres with several near-perfect scores recorded as the competitors boosted themselves above the lip.

Chad du Toit (Durban) was SA’s only Round 1 casualty, while Durbanites David Weare, Travis Logie and Brandon Jackson were seeded directly into Round 2. The event runs until Sunday and all the action can followed live on the internet at http://sooruzlacanaupro09.com

ASP Africa Pro Junior titles to be decided at Victoria Bay in September

The 2009 ASP Africa titles for Pro Junior men and women will be decided at the Billabong Junior Series event at Victoria Bay in the Southern Cape from 23-26 September which features a Grade 2, R80 000 event for men and a Grade 1, R20 000 event for women.

The results will also determine the four men and one woman who will receive coveted invitations to represent ASP Africa at the annual Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Sydney, Australia at the beginning of January 2010.

The men’s ratings after three events are led by Casey Grant (Scottburgh), winner of the first Billabong Pro Junior in his hometown at Easter. He is followed by the consistent Chad du Toit (Durban), Kyle Lane (Umhlanga), winner of the Quiksilver Pro Junior in Durban in April, Brendon Gibbens (Kommetjie) and Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay), who won the Oakley Pro Junior at Port Alfred in May.

Fifteen-year-old Sarah Baum (Athlone Park) heads the women’s ratings after one event ahead of Kirsty Delport (Durban) with Heidi Palmboom (Bluff) and Tanika Hoffman (Kommetjie) tied third.

Those surfers wanting to compete in the Billabong Pro Junior events at Vic Bay are advised that the closing date for entries is next Tuesday, 25 August, after which seeding privileges will be forfeited and a late entry fee will be charged.

ASP Africa Pro Junior men’s ratings (After event No. 3 of 4)

1          Grant, Casey             Scottburgh                 3190
2          Du Toit, Chad            Durban                       2920
3          Lane, Kyle                  Umhlanga Rocks       2710
4          Gibbons, Brendon     Cape Town                2690
5          Joubert, Shaun          Mossel Bay                2600
6          Bromley, Matthew     Cape Town                2230
6          Strachan, Klee           Warner Beach           2230
8          Staples, Dale             Cape St Francis        2115
9          MacNicol, Haydn       Scottburgh                 2110
10        Leppan, Chris            Umhlanga Rocks       2000

ASP Africa Pro Junior women’s ratings (After event No. 1 of 2)

1          Baum, Sarah             Durban           1000
2          Delport, Kirsty            Durban           850
3          Palmboom, Heidi      Bluff                 730
3          Hoffman, Tanika        Cape Town    730
5          McGregor, Laurie      East London  610
5          Zoetmulder, Faye      East London  610
5          Rautenbach, Chantelle         Melkbosstrand           610
5          McGregor, Alive        East London  610

For further 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.