A star studded line-up of international and local surf stars will be in Port Elizabeth on Friday evening (16 July) for an autograph signing session at the Surf Centre store in Walmer Park.

Surf fans in the Friendly City can meet and mingle with several of the world’s top 45 ranked surfers who are visiting Jeffreys Bay for the Billabong Pro J-Bay as team riders from multinational apparel and accessories brands Hurley, Oakley and O’Neill sign autographs and memorabilia.

Attending the signing session will be:

O’NEILL

Current World No.2 Jordy Smith (Durban) along with Bobby Martinez (USA)

HURLEY

Adrian ‘Ace’ Buchan (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA) and PE local Donavan Zoetmulder

OAKLEY

Brazilians Adriano de Souza and Jadson Andre, Australians Tom Whittaker and Adam Melling and South Africans Greg Emslie and Shaun Joubert

The function, which starts at 6pm, also provides Eastern Province Surfing with the opportunity to raise funds for their Junior surfing team, The awesome prizes up for grabs in the raffle include:

O’Neill Psycho 3/2 Wetsuit
Hurley Wetsuit & Accessories
Oakley Fuelcell Sunglasses

For more information contact:

Dave Lipschitz at Surf Centre
C:        082 322 1150
E:        surf@agnet.co.za

Ends

The top four seeds in the Billabong Pro J-Bay 2010 progressed directly to Round 3 after winning their opening encounters in what will go down as one of the best opening days of competition at Jeffreys Bay with pumping 2 to 2.5 metre waves peeling down the internationally acclaimed point at Supertubes.

Current World No. 1 and 9 x ASP World Champ Kelly Slater (USA), 2007 event winner Taj Burrow (AUS), reigning ASP World Champ Mick Fanning (AUS) and South Africa’s Jordy Smith took full advantage of the pristine conditions to produce a master-class in high performance surfing, carving powerful top to bottom turn combinations and ducking into and emerging from deep tubes.

It was Fanning who was the top scorer on the day, posting rides of 8.83 and 7.87 (out of 10) to amass a total of 16.70 (out of 20) and leave his opponents, wildcard Sean Holmes (Cape Town) and Roy Powers (HAW), in a combination situation where they could not overtake Fanning with one ride and needed to improve on both their best two scores.

“This year, you have to take every heat seriously,” Fanning said. “There are so many threats and even the rookies can do damage. I feel like I’ve been surfing well all year and I’m just focusing on every heat, and hopefully that takes me to a solid result.”

Bobby Martinez (USA), ranked No. 6 coming into the event, racked up the second best heat total of 16.37 and led the charge of the goofy-foot surfers (those riding with their right foot in front) who included Round 1 heat winners Frederick Patacchia (HAW) and Australians Adrian ‘Ace’ Buchan and the highly impressive rookie Owen Wright who fully justified the hype surrounding his debut on the ASP Dream Tour with phenomenal tube-riding and beyond vertical backhand turns.

The day got underway with local Jeffreys Bay standout Dale Staples clinching the coveted third and final wildcard by winning the VonZipper Superheat, defeating fellow St Francis Bay surfer Ryan Payne and international stars Heath Joske (AUS), who narrowly missed out on the opportunity to take on the world’s best surfers by finishing second, and fourth placed Keanu Asing (HAW).

Former 3 x ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW) recorded a heat-winning performance in his first heat at Supertubes for two years after taking a sabbatical in 2009 and Dane Reynolds (USA) produced his trademark mind-blowing progressive manoeuvres while rookie ASP World Tour campaigners Nate Yeomans (USA) and Matt Wilkinson (AUS), both goofy-footers, were deserving Round 1 heat winners.

“J-Bay is a special place for me,” Irons said. “I’ve had some of the best results of my career here and I’ve also had some of the hardest losses. To come back here after taking last year off and to get such amazing surf for Day 1 is a great feeling.”

It was not a good day for the wildcards though with Staples, Holmes and ASP Africa Pro Junior Champion Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) losing out to Burrow, Fanning and Slater respectively. Joubert and Staples were then eliminated from Africa’s most prestigious surfing event when they lost to Adriano de Souza (BRA) and Bede Durbidge (AUS) in the first two heats of Round 2 ,which were run at the end of today’s action The pair finished equal 33rd overall in the US $400 000 (approx R3 Million) event with earnings of $5 500 each.

The first heat when competition resumes pits wildcard Sean Holmes against current World No. 4 Jadson Andre (BRA), the winner of the last ASP World Tour event in his home country. The Capetonian has cut a swathe through the tops seeds in the Billabong Pro J-Bay on several occasions in the past, including twice reaching the quarterfinals, and will be confident of progressing to Round 3 again this year.

The call on when to resume competition will be made by contest director Mike Parsons at 7am on Friday. The prediction by Surfline, the official surf forecasters for the Billabong Pro J-Bay, is that dropping, but very contestable, surf will prevail on Friday along with favorable conditions.

All the action from the opening day of the Billabong Pro J-Bay can be viewed at www.billabongpro.com and also on your mobile phone at www.asptogo.com or download the iPhone application ASP ToGo from www.apple/iphone/ . Live and highlights footage is available on the channels of Fuel TV.

The 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay has a waiting period that runs from 15-25 July and is proudly supported by Eastern Cape Tourism, Virgin Atlantic, Monster Energy, Vida e Caffe, Corona and Tavcor

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Adam Melling (AUS) 12.17, Taylor Knox (USA) 10.80, Luke Munro (AUS) 10.17
Heat 2: Andy Irons (HAW) 14.77, Jay Thompson (AUS) 10.56, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.24
Heat 3: Nate Yeomans (USA) 15.83, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.74, Luke Stedman (AUS) 11.43
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) 15.30, Marco Polo (BRA) 12.97, Daniel Ross (AUS) 12.10
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) 16.43, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.37, Blake Thornton (AUS) 7.60
Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) 15.23, Tim Reyes (USA) 13.27, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.07
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.37, Joan Duru (FRA) 11.90, Tom Whitaker (USA) 10.57
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.93, Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.40, Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 12.37
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.20, Dale Staples (ZAF) 13.34, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 9.83
Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.70, Sean Holmes (ZAF) 10.27, Roy Powers (HAW) 8.33
Heat 11: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 13.60, Neco Padaratz (BRA) 9.60, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.17
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.60, Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.34, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.27
Heat 13: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.53, Dean Morrison (AUS) 11.76, Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.43
Heat 14: Chris Davidson (AUS) 15.17, Mick Campbell (AUS) 12.86, Brett Simpson (USA) 11.63
Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.87, Ben Dunn (AUS) 11.50, Dusty Payne (HAW) 10.77
Heat 16: Owen Wright (AUS) 15.56, Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.93, Drew Courtney (AUS) 7.73

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.70 def. Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 9.44
Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 16.17 def. Dale Staples (ZAF) 14.67

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Remaining Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 3: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Sean Holmes (ZAF)
Heat 4: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 5: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 6: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Blake Thornton (AUS)
Heat 7: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 8: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 9: Roy Powers (HAW) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 10: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 12: Daniel Ross (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 13: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 14: Luke Munro (AUS) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 15: Pat Gudauskas (USA) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 16: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)

ENDS

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and issued by:

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

Contest director Mike Parsons had no hesitation in getting the Billabong Pro J-Bay 2010 underway at 7.30am this morning as the predicted 2 to 2.5 metre swells poured down the revered Supertubes point in Jeffreys Bay at first light, setting the scene for an epic opening day of competition featuring the world’s best surfers in event No. 4 of 10 on the ASP World Tour.

First up was the VonZipper Superheat, where rising junior star Dale Staples (St Francis Bay) defeated fellow and J-Bay local Ryan Payne and international Billabong team riders Keanu Asing (HAW) and Heath Joske (AUS) to win the coveted third and final wildcard directly into the main event.

Heat 1 of Round 1 in the Billabong Pro J-Bay 2010, featuring ASP Dream Tour stalwart and current World No. 16 Taylor Knox who takes on Australians Luke Munro and Adam Melling, is now in progress.

Round 1 winners progress directly to Round 3 while the second and third placed competitors are reseeded into the cutthroat, man-on-man Round 2 heats from which the winner advances to Round 3 and the loser is eliminated from the event in equal 33rd place.

Top seeds Kelly Slater (USA), Taj Burrow (AUS), Mick Fanning (AUS) and South Africa’s Jordy Smith come up in Heats 7 to 10 and organisers expect to finish all 16 heats in the opening round today.

All the action at the Billabong Pro J-Bay 2010 can be followed as it happens via the webcasts at www.billabongpro.com which provides half-a-dozen camera angles, expert commentary in English and Portuguese, real-time scoring, slow motion replays and video on demand facilities that enable you to go back and watch every wave surfed in the event, alongside a plethora of background information, event previews, images and interactive competitions.

This content is also available live on your mobile phone at www.asptogo.com or download the iPhone application ASP ToGo from www.apple/itunes

Live television coverage is provided on the Fuel TV channels of Top TV in South Africa and in Australia (available to FOXTEL and AUSTAR subscribers), Portugal, Poland, Germany and France! Highlights specials will be screened in Australia, USA, Brazil!

The status of the event can be accessed via the event Hotline – 0860 11 2010 – which is updated twice daily at 8am and 1pm.

The 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay has a waiting period that runs from 15-25 July and is proudly supported by Eastern Cape Tourism, Virgin Atlantic, Monster Energy, Vida e Caffe, Corona and Tavcor

Ends

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and issued by:

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

The Billabong Pro J-Bay is expected to get underway in the fabled waves of Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay on Thursday morning (15 July) with forecasts of solid two metre plus surf and favourable weather conditions. Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour presents a wide range of options on how to follow all the action as the world’s top ranked surfers go to work at the planet’s premier high performance point break between now and 25 July.

Nothing beats the atmosphere of being there and first prize goes to those fortunate enough to be on the beach or the dunes in the superb natural amphitheatre that overlooks the 300 metre rock-lined point at Supers, listening to the expert commentary, real-time scoring and cheering as the competitors carve their way down the liquid runway.

But even those unable to smell the sweet scent of Aloes will be able to catch every moment of the action portrayed as it happens via the internet, mobile phones and for the first time via live television on the Fuel TV channel. The coverage features half-a-dozen camera angles, live scoring, commentary from some of the sport’s foremost experts (with whom you can interact via email), along with interviews, action replays and video-on-demand services that enable you to go back and replay every wave surfed.

The comprehensive website at www.billabongpro.com already carries plenty of background information and when the contest is running the live webcasts come with English commentary by the likes of Ronnie Blakey, Luke Egan, Joe Turpel and former ASP World Champ Mark Occhilupo while Claus Kaiser and Ze Paulo bring it all to you in Portuguese.

Once again the legendary Greg ‘GT’ Tomlinson will be handling the roving Mic, conducting impromptu interviews and providing behind-the-scenes snippets.

And all that content is also available everywhere there is mobile phone signal! Simply log onto www.asptogo.com from your 3G or WAP enabled phone, or sign up for the ASP IPhone application “ASP ToGo” at www.apple/itunes to access all the action live from Jeffreys Bay

For those who prefer watching the world’s best surfers shredding in the comfort of their living room, the Fuel TV channels in North and South America, Australia, select countries in Europe and on Top TV in Southern Africa will be carrying live television coverage of the 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay! Check your TV schedules for broadcast details.

Likewise for those with access to the SuperSport channels where there will daily 10 – 15 minute package of the day’s highlights broadcast at 10pm each evening, while SABC TV provides excellent coverage in their News and Sports Highlights packages after every day of action.

Many radio stations in SA will carry up-to-the-minute reports on the state of affairs in Jeffreys Bay and there are literally dozens of websites providing reports, images, podcasts and video footage that is uploaded shortly after it occurs.

And you will be able to catch up on the previous day’s action in print with images and in-depth analysis of the state-of-play produced by the more than 100 A-list surfing and mainstream media personnel accredited at the event to service the daily and weekly newspapers and the glossy magazines globally.

So wherever you are, join the tens of thousands of fans worldwide who will have their eyes firmly fixed on the Southern tip of Africa while the 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay plays out in the phenomenal waves of Supertubes at Jeffreys Bay.

The 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay has a waiting period that runs from 15-25 July and is proudly supported by Eastern Cape Tourism, Virgin Atlantic, Monster Energy, Vida e Caffe, Corona and Tavcor

Ends

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and issued by:

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

Kelly Slater (USA) will be the top seed for the US $400 000 Billabong Pro J-Bay when the world’s best surfers take to the waves of Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay on Thursday for Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the global series of events that determines surfing’s annual world champion.

The draw for Africa’s only ASP World Tour event, revised following the withdrawal of 2009 event winner Joel Parkinson, who suffered an horrendous cut to his right foot while practicing in Australia on Friday, and 2009 semifinalist and fellow Australian Kai Otton (neck injury), was announced yesterday with Slater followed in the seeding by previous Billabong Pro J-Bay winners Taj Burrow (2007) and reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (2002 & 2007), both from Australia.

SA surfing super-star Jordy Smith is the No. 4 seed, the highest seeding for a South African since the event became a top-tier ASP World Tour event in 1996. The 22 year-old Durbanite and current World No. 2, who has spent more surfing at Jeffreys Bay than any of the other top contenders, has the opportunity to become the first from this country to head the ASP World Title Race Rankings if he finishes ahead of Slater in the event.

Brazil’s highest ranked campaigner, Adriano de Souza, is the No. 5 seed and then come Bobby Martinez, the top rated goofy-foot (rides with right-foot in front); progressive wizard and fellow American Dane Reynolds; regular top-5 stalwart Bede Durbidge (AUS); rookie and winner of the last event in Brazil (USA), Jadson Andre, with Taylor Knox (USA), in his 17th season at the highest level of competition surfing, rounding out the top 10.

Excitement is mounting for the event as Surfline, the official surf forecasters for the Billabong Pro J-Bay, predict ideal 2 to 2.5 metre waves with bigger sets and favourable weather conditions at Supertubes for Thursday (15 July), the opening of the 11-day waiting period that runs until Sunday 25 July. Contest director Mike Parsons (USA) will be keen to get the event underway and then pick the best conditions for the approximately four days of competition required to crown the 2010 champion.

In addition to the prestige and US $50 000 (approx. R375 000) winner’s paycheque, this year’s event has several sub-plots that will raise the interest levels and increase the tension factor for all the competitors.

Slater, the current World No. 1 after winning Stop No. 2 at Bells Beach and finishing runner-up in Brazil, is bidding for an unprecedented 10th ASP World Title. The 38 year-old Floridian, acknowledged as the best competitive surfer of all time, already holds a string of records including the youngest (20 in 1992) and oldest (36 in 2008) ASP World Champion, has won the most events and prize-money and is the only surfer to have his name etched on the Billabong Pro J-Bay perpetual trophy four times (1996, 2003, 2005 & 2008).

Smith, who in his third year amongst surfing’s elite reached his first final at the opening event of 2010, defeating Slater and Reynolds on his way to a runner-up finish at Snapper Rocks, will be focused on winning his first ASP World Tour event, becoming the first South African since 1996 to reach the final at J-Bay and to topping the ASP World Title Race rankngs.

The huge pressure on every competitor brought about by the cut in the ASP World Tour field from the current 45 to just 32 after the next event, the Billabong Pro Tahiti in August, means every heat at J-Bay will be fiercely contested as especially those near or outside the cutoff point scramble for ratings points to ensure the their participation in the last five events before the ASP World Champion is crowned in Hawaii in December.

This scenario includes Travis Logie (Durban), the only other South African amongst the top 45, who leapfrogged into the No. 30 spot following his 9th place in Brazil after a pair of 33rd finishes in the first two events of the season. Logie is right on the cusp of qualification but still has work to do at Jeffreys Bay to retain or improve his position and claim a spot for the second half of the year.

Two more locals, Sean Holmes (Cape Town) and Shaun Joubert (Mossel Bay) have been allocated wildcards directly into the main event and there is every chance that a fifth South African will claim the third and final wildcard. This will go to the winner of the VonZipper Superheat, run immediately before the first heat of the Billabong Pro J-Bay and features Ryan Payne, winner of the locals only Xcel Pro Showdown at Supertubes and red-hot junior Dale Staples, both from St Francis Bay, who are pitted against international stars and Billabong team riders Heath Joske (AUS) and Keanu Asing (HAW).

The Billabong Pro J-Bay is South Africa’s only ‘green’ surfing event and the organisers will again be implementing a comprehensive set of initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of the event and raise awareness of climate change, its effects and how everyone can contribute to mitigate these.

All the action during the event will be webcast LIVE at www.billabongpro.com with commentary in English and Portuguese. The official event website features plenty of additional content including a series of Webisodes covering the event, its top contenders, the wildcards and the greening initiatives to be implemented, along with news, photos, video-on-demand highlights of every wave ridden and interactive competitions.

The 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay is proudly supported by Eastern Cape Tourism, Virgin Atlantic, Monster Energy, Vida e Caffe, Corona and Tavcor

2010 BILLABONG PRO J-BAY
Draw for Round One
Heat 1: Taylor Knox (USA) , Luke Munro (AUS) , Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 2: Jadson Andre (BRA) , Andy Irons (HAW) , Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 3: Bede Durbidge (AUS) , Luke Stedman (AUS) , Nate Yeomans (USA)
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) , Daniel Ross (AUS) , Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) , Jeremy Flores (FRA) , Blake Thornton (AUS)
Heat 6: Adriano De Souza (BRA) , Tiago Pires (PRT) , Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) , Tom Whitaker (AUS) , Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) , Damien Hobgood (USA) , Wildcard 3
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) , Kieren Perrow (AUS) , Wildcard 2
Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS) , Roy Powers (HAW) , Wildcard 1
Heat 11: C.J. Hobgood (USA) , Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) , Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) , Patrick Gudauskas (USA) , Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 13: Michel Bourez (PYF) , Dean Morrison (AUS) , Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 14: Chris Davidson (AUS) , Mick Campbell (AUS) , Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) , Ben Dunn (AUS) , Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 16: Owen Wright (AUS) , Travis Logie (ZAF) , Drew Courtney (AUS)

\ends

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and issued by:

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

Defending event champion and Billabong surfer, Joel Parkinson (29, Gold Coast, Qld AUS), has officially pulled out of next week’s Billabong Pro at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, after badly slicing his foot while surfing at Snapper Rocks today.

“I just pulled into a barrel and been taken out by the foamball, and pretty well straight away I’ve felt the board hit me,” says Joel, the current world number 8. “I knew immediately it was a pretty serious cut. I didn’t want to look at it when I came in because I knew it wouldn’t be good.”

Joel was helped up the beach to a waiting ambulance by good friend and three-time world champion, Andy Irons (Kauai, HI) who had been surfing with him.

The cut is on the underside of Joel’s right foot, just in front of his heel.

Due to fly out for South Africa, the injury will not have time to heal and as such Joel has made the decision to miss the Jeffreys Bay event, where he is the defending champion.

“It’s one of my favourite events, so I’m obviously disappointed that I won’t be there this year. After having such a long break I was really looking forward to competing again and really looking forward to just surfing J-Bay.”

While Joel will miss J-Bay, there is a six-week break until the following event, the Billabong Pro in Tahiti starting on August 23, and there are no doubts that he’ll be ready for it.

“In a way I was lucky it happened now and not later in the year when the events are all back-to-back. At least I have the time now to get it right and get ready for Tahiti.”

The 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay is proudly supported by Eastern Cape Tourism, Virgin Atlantic, Monster Energy, Vida e Caffe, Corona and Tavcor.

A selection of the most iconic moments of the past quarter-century at the Billabong Pro J-Bay are showcased in Webisode 7 on www.billabongpro.com, the official website of Africa’s premier surfing event.

Defending event champion Joel Parkinson, South African surfing super star Jordy Smith, ‘uber-wildcard’ Sean Holmes and a host of fresh-faced rising stars and grizzled local veterans share their favourite moments while the world’s best surfers perform on the revered 300 metre liquid runway known as Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay.

Relive the phenomenal waves of last year; the dramatic last-second, title-winning ride in 2005; Parko’s shark story; the elation of hearing the crowd react to a 10 point ride and a variety of other happenings that are indelibly etched into the folklore of one of the planet’s marquee annual surf gatherings.

The 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay starts on Thursday 15 July with a waiting period that runs until Sunday 25 July. It is stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the series of events that determines the annual ASP World Surfing Champion. The field comprises the world’s top 45 ranked professional surfers along with three wildcards.

The www.billabongpro.com website features heaps of content including background information, news, photos and videos and will provide LIVE coverage of all the action during the event using multiple camera angles, slow motion replays, real-time scoring, commentary in English and Portuguese, email messages to the commentators, interactive competitions and video-on-demand highlights of every wave ridden.

The 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay is proudly supported by Eastern Cape Tourism, Virgin Atlantic, Monster Energy, Vida e Caffe, Corona and Tavcor

\ends

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and issued by:

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

The coveted third wildcard into the 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay will be allocated to the winner of the VonZipper Superheat, a four-man encounter at Supertubes to be run just prior to the first heat of the main event.

The two South Africans in the VZ Superheat – Jeffreys Bay locals Ryan Payne and Dale Staples – are featured in Webisode 6 now available for viewing on www.billabongpro.com, the official website of Africa’s most prestigious and lucrative surfing event.

Payne earned his right to a slot in the VonZipper Superheat, and a crack at the prized wildcard, by winning the locals-only Xcel Pro Showdown at Supertubes in pumping surf in May, proving his undisputed dominance of the break for the second successive year. The 27 year-old from nearby St Francis Bay is super excited about being given the chance to match his talent against the world’s best surfers at what he calls ‘300 metres of the greatest right-hand point break you can get’.

Staples, 19, and also from St Francis Bay, is one of the leaders of the pack of red-hot South African Pro Junior surfers currently making their mark on local and international surfing. With a repertoire of powerful turns and superior tube-riding skills, Staples’ surfing is tailor-made for Supers and he explains how amped he is to be in the event.

The two South Africans will take on emerging international stars and Billabong team riders Heath Joske (AUS) and Keanu Asing (HAW) in the VZ Superheat with just the winner awarded the final wildcard to take on one of the top three seeds in the 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay!

The www.billabongpro.com website features heaps of content including background information, news, photos and videos and will provide LIVE coverage of all the action during the event using multiple camera angles, slow motion replays, real-time scoring, commentary in English and Portuguese, email messages to the commentators, interactive competitions and video-on-demand highlights of previous heats.

The Billabong Pro J-Bay is scheduled for 15-25 July 2010 at the internationally renowned Supertubes surf break in Jeffreys Bay. The event is stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the series of events that determines the annual ASP World Surfing Champion, and the field comprises the world’s top 45 ranked professional surfers along with three wildcards.

The 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay is proudly supported by Eastern Cape Tourism, Virgin Atlantic, Monster Energy, Vida e Caffe, Corona and Tavcor

\ends

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and issued by:

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

Four South African surfers are guaranteed a spot in the 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay which starts next week when what is being touted as the greatest group of surfing talent ever assembled takes on the internationally renowned waves of Supertubes at Jeffreys Bay in Stop No. 4 of 10 on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour.

Jordy Smith, in his third year on the Dream Tour, comes into the event ranked No. 2 on the ASP World Title Race Rankings after reaching his first final on Australia’s Gold Coast and backed that up with consecutive 5th place finishes at Bells Beach and in Brazil. The 22 year-old Durbanite, who ended 2009 ranked No. 11, is seeded fourth behind nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 2009 ASP No. 2 Taj Burrow (AUS) and reigning two-time ASP World Champ Mick Fanning (AUS), all of whom are previous Billabong Pro J-Bay winners.

Fellow Durbanite Travis Logie, 31, is in the form of his life and full of confidence after overcoming Burrow in Brazil on his way to his season best result of 9th. In his fifth season at the highest level of competitive surfing, the goofy-foot with lightening fast reflexes will be doing his utmost at Jeffreys Bay to improve his current ranking of No. 30 and ensure his continued participation in the 2010 ASP World Title Race when the field is cut from 45 to 32 after the next event in Tahiti in August.

The news that again Sean Holmes has been allocated one of the three wildcards directly into the main event will raise the anxiety levels of the world’s best surfers following the stellar performances that have seen the Capetonian cut a swathe through the top seeds on numerous occasions, including twice reaching the quarterfinals of the Billabong Pro J-Bay. Having grown up in Wilderness, a short two hour drive from Jeffreys Bay, and then lived in the Mecca of SA surfing for a number of years, Holmes has clocked more time in the surf at Supertubes than anyone else in the event and is looking to take his giant-killing act all the way to the podium.

Rising star Shaun Joubert, the ASP Africa Pro Junior Champion, gets his first start as a wildcard into Africa’s most prestigious and lucrative surfing event and the well-travelled 19 year-old from Mossel Bay is frothing at the opportunity to test his mettle against the world’s best in waves he is well acquainted with. The importance of receiving the wildcard is not lost on Joubert who is aware that Australian Joel Parkinson competed in his first ASP World Tour event as an 18 year-old wildcard in the 1999 Billabong Pro J-Bay and went on to win the event, kick-starting a highly successful pro surfing career.

The third and final wildcard could well go to another South African as it will be allocated the winner of the VonZipper Superheat, a four-man encounter that will be run immediately before the first heat of the main event. The protagonists include Jeffreys Bay locals Ryan Payne and Dale Staples, both from nearby St Francis Bay, and emerging international stars and Billabong team riders Heath Joske (AUS) and Keanu Asing (HAW).

The Billabong Pro J-Bay is scheduled for 15-25 July 2010, an 11-day waiting period that enables the organisers to run the approximately four days of competition required to determine the 2010 champion in the best possible conditions at Supertubes. The field for the event comprises the world’s top 45 ranked professional surfers along with three wildcards.

All the action during the event will be webcast LIVE at www.billabongpro.com with commentary in English and Portuguese. The official event website features plenty of additional content including Webisodes covering the event, its top contenders, the wildcards and the greening initiatives to be implemented, along with news, photos, video-on-demand highlights of previous heats and interactive competitions.

The 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay is proudly supported by Eastern Cape Tourism, Virgin Atlantic, Monster Energy, Vida e Caffe, Corona and Tavcor

2010 BILLABONG PRO J-BAY
Draw for Round One
Heat 1: Jadson Andre (BRA) , Luke Stedman (AUS) , Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) , Daniel Ross (AUS) , Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 3: Dane Reynolds (USA) , Jeremy Flores (FRA) , Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 4: Bobby Martinez (USA) , Tiago Pires (PRT) , Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 5: Adriano De Souza (BRA) , Tom Whitaker (AUS) , Nate Yeomans (USA)
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS) , Roy Powers (HAW) , Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) , Kieren Perrow (AUS) , Blake Thornton (AUS)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) , Owen Wright (AUS) , Wildcard 3
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) , Damien Hobgood (USA) , Wildcard 2
Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS) , Kai Otton (AUS) , Wildcard 1
Heat 11: Taylor Knox (USA) , Andy Irons (HAW) , Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 12: C.J. Hobgood (USA) , Luke Munro (AUS) , Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 13: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) , Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) , Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 14: Michel Bourez (PYF) , Patrick Gudauskas (USA) , Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 15: Chris Davidson (AUS) , Dean Morrison (AUS) , Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 16: Adrian Buchan (AUS) , Mick Campbell (AUS) , Ben Dunn (AUS)

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Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and issued by:

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

The threat posed by the wildcards in the 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay is showcased as Sean Holmes and Shaun Joubert give their perspective of taking on the world’s best surfers in the world’s best waves in Webisode 5, now on www.billabongpro.com, the official website of Africa’s most prestigious and lucrative surfing event.

Holmes’ reputation as an ‘uber-wildcard’ is well justified after a series of stellar performances in the event, including eliminating a number of ASP World Title contenders, and he explains his mindset, his joy in surfing at Supertubes and the equipment he will be using while attempting to go all the way this year.

Joubert is the reigning ASP Africa Pro Junior Champion and the well-travelled 19 year-old tells us just how special it is to compete against the world’s top surfers as he goes into the biggest contest of his burgeoning career at a wave that he knows so well.

The latest Webisode is the fifth in a series that includes an overview of the Billabong Pro J-Bay, the thoughts of South African surfing superstar Jordy Smith, former three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons’ take on the event and the ‘greening’ initiatives being implemented to highlight awareness of climate change and minimize the environmental impact.

The www.billabongpro.com website features heaps of content including background information, news, photos and videos and will provide LIVE coverage of all the action during the event using multiple camera angles, slow motion replays, real-time scoring, commentary in English and Portuguese, email messages to the commentators, interactive competitions and video-on-demand highlights of previous heats.

The Billabong Pro J-Bay is scheduled for 15-25 July 2010 at the internationally renowned Supertubes surf break in Jeffreys Bay. The event is stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the series of events that determines the annual ASP World Surfing Champion, and the field comprises the world’s top 45 ranked professional surfers along with three wildcards.

The 2010 Billabong Pro J-Bay is proudly supported by Eastern Cape Tourism, Virgin Atlantic, Monster Energy, Vida e Caffe, Corona and Tavcor

\ends

Issued on behalf of:

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

Compiled and issued by:

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