Mission WOW
I’m fresh back from Mission WOW (Women of winter/wheels/waves) down in Curio Bay (think way down south, South Island, New Zealand), and my enthusiasm for surfing has been sparked up! Never before in my decade of haphazard surfing experience have I been surfing with a pack of girls. If two others were out there along with me, it was a good day. I’m fairly cautious by nature so being out there with the boys wasn’t really my thing, I need people to go out with at my own pace. The concept of the Mission WOW events – now in the third year running – is to get together a bunch of like minded women with a thirst for adventure. WOW’s taken to the surf, the mountains, and the biketracks. Experience or none, it doesn’t matter; the idea is to have a good time, push your limits, and share your particular brand of knowledge with other women.
When you live in New Zealand, particularly in the south of the South Island, you can’t complain about a lack of surf. There’s plenty of very worthwhile surf breaks scattered around the lower half of the South Island. Forget all those sun kissed images of bronzed lasses in bikinis riding waves though; here it’s full wetsuits, all year long. There’s something about cold water that makes getting amonst it just a little more angst inducing; as do a bunch of obviously very experienced guys, and no girls waiting in the line up. Although to be fair, often you’d be out on your own with a colony of seals, which presents a whole other set of psychological challenges! So surfing around here can be a little intimidating, especially to the female novice, a rare species in the deep south.
With this in mind Jo Guest, the Mission WOW maestro, organised an all girl surf trip away to the Catlins. No experience necessary, gear and lessons provided by the very able Tomo of Catlins Surf School; food and accommodation sorted by the WOW team. All we needed to worry about was showing up vaguely on time for our roady south.
And what a weekend we had! Our itinerary was roughly as follows; yoga, eat amazing food, surf till you can’t lift your arms, your feet are numb and your lips blue, eat amazing food, surf more if you can, eat more (did I mention the amazing food?). This was interspersed with some quality social time. And then there were the wildlife encounters; Hector’s dolphins out in the surf with us, Sammy the sea lion, and at dusk we had the privilige of watching the endangered Hoihoi penguins return from fishing.
Conditions on Saturday were perfect for learners and those of us with a little more experience. Everyone had a ride that day, even those self-confessed “terrified” novices. The whooping and laughing going on throughout the day suggest that in future I may not be so lonely out in the surf.
Unfortunately the last day of our trip the conditions were less co-operative; the ocean was putting on a fairly sizeable display of potentially bone crushing, confidence zapping wave force. We decided to give it a miss, leave it on a high note. Besides, there were warm scones to be eaten, and plenty of ridiculous photos that needed taking of us relishing the gale force winds on top of the cliffs.
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED IN SURFING LIFE’S OAKLEY BIG WAVE AWARDS
Biggest Slab Finalist Ryan Hipwood. Pic. Shannon-Stent
Australia’s most prestigious huge-surf challenge is once again up for grabs, along with $35,000 in prizemoney, as the finalists have been announced in Surfing Life’s Oakley Big Wave Awards.
Huge, crazy rides have been thrown into the mix from renowned big-wave chargers like current Biggest Wave champ Mark Mathews, former Awardee Marti Paradisis, and Queensland legends Jamie Mitchell and Ryan Hipwood. But these well-known watermen are facing stiff opposition from underground hell-men like Chris Shanahan, Ben Rufus, perennial West Australian Damien Warr, and a man who goes solely by the name of Camel!
Jamie Mitchell, 10 time conqueror of the Oahu-Molokai paddleboard race and one of the world’s top mega-surf hunters, secured his monster Paddle-In entry at the infamous Cow Bombie, usually only tackled with jetski assistance, ‘Usually the left-hander out there is the only paddleable wave, but that day I through caution to the wind and paddled into one of the rights and after that it all just came together. My big wave, the one that has made the finals, felt exponentially bigger than my other waves that day. It was such a perfect day, everyone was going for it!’
This year’s finalists have been decided through a world-first surfer poll in which every surfer who’s ever registered for an Award entry was asked to vote for the top few rides in each of the three divisions: Biggest Wave, Biggest Slab, and Biggest Paddle-in Ride.
“We felt the surfers themselves were the best judges of each other’s performances,” explained event co-ordinator Nick Carroll. “They know these wild surf zones better than anyone else and they have a clear view of the challenge involved. We were stoked with the way they responded! They’ve come up with an epic group of finalists, that’s for sure.”
Biggest Wave, Biggest Slab, and Biggest Paddle-In rides are now in the hands of the finalist judges – an elite international panel of big wave maestros – and they’ll be stretched to pick the winners out of an unprecedented range of entries.
A number of impressive sessions in a year of consistent swell has seen a colossal total of 80 entries, far above and beyond any of the year’s previous, which have now been whittled down to 13 entries between 12 surfers across the 3 categories.
The Awards, now in their 10th year, have come to highlight a side of surfing that’s way beyond both the recreational mainstream and the professional competitive arena – a zone where seemingly normal people take seemingly outlandish risks, with seemingly little concern for fame or renown.
Surfing Life’s Oakley Big Wave Awards will be presented at a super, spectacular, celebrity-studded evening at Simmer on the Bay, Dawes Point, Sydney on February 8th, 2012.
All finalists can be viewed at www.bigwaveawards.com.au.
Tyler Hollmer Cross. Pic. Andrew Chisholm
15-FOOT PIPELINE PERFECTION FOR VOLCOM PIPE PRO TODAY. WATCH LIVE.
LIVE BROADCAST: www.volcom.com/pipepro
HONOLULU – (Jan. 31, 2012) — Hawaii’s infamous Banzai Pipeline is cranking out huge, tubing waves this-morning right on time for the top seeds of the $130,000 Volcom Pipe Pro to enter the fray. Among those competing today are defending Volcom champion John John Florence (Hawaii); Australia’s Josh Kerr; Balaram Stack (NY); and Alex Gray (CA, pictured below).
Above: Alex Gray (CA), surfing today with multiple gashes to his leg after an accident on the outer reefs yesterday. Photo: Volcom/Bielmann
Gray was unbelievable in the opening heat of competition this-morning, despite surfing with stitches in his right calf and a gash to his hamstring. Gray was surfing the gigantic waves of the outer reefs yesterday after the Volcom Pipe Pro was called off, and was hit by his surfboard. A fin broke off in his leg and saw him wind up in the hospital last night. It was impossible to tell how much pain he was in based on the way he surfed.
A complete report and television highlight reel will be distributed at the end of today’s action.
Remembering Sarah Burke
Sarah Burke would light up a room when she walked into it. Actually more than that, she lit up an entire sport, and was bound to light up the world in the forthcoming Olympics, before she succumbed to spine injuries sustained while training in Park City on January 10. She passed away yesterday. The world lost an amazing skier and a superstar human being.
I had the amazing opportunity to know and work with Sarah over the course of a decade. During that time I, along with so many others, had the insanely good fortune to watch her change the face of women’s skiing and simultaneously watch her inspire all those around her. The image gallery above is the tip of an iceberg of images I was able to capture of/with Sarah. This tribute isn’t her best work, or mine. It isn’t meant to be. It’s rather a humble historical look back – in some cases looking back more than 10 years – at her first Freeskier skiing cover, her first Smith Goggle ad, her practicing runs at the X-Games, and that amazing smile. Working with her was pure joy. And she will be missed dearly. RIP.
My manager, Christopher Jerard, knew her even better than I did, as he was the publisher of Freeskier and Snowboard Magazine for many years before coming to work at CJinc. Jerard and I got the news of her passing while we were together yesterday. He wrote these words below about Sarah that I think we can all live by. The theme is ‘step up’. Step up to the challenges in your life. Step up for your friends, step up because it’s human to do so….
For my friend Sarah Burke – January 19, 2012
“Step up.”
I met Sarah when she was 16 years old shortly after I joined the staff of the brand new Freeskier magazine. She was already the “it” girl in freeskiing. Actually, in 1999 she was really the only girl in freeskiing. She was incredibly talented and fearless. And there was always that ever-present smile. She was shy early on -but before you knew it she was giving the editors at our magazine shots in the arm, still with that same great smile, and challenging us to get the shot, ski another run, or just have more fun. Her passion for skiing was evidenced by her athletic success – and her passion for life came through like the sun. She was a light for all of us. Just one of those people that is universally loved. For all of those who knew her only through the movies and photos – she was exactly as she seemed. Simply one of the best people you’ll ever meet. Pure love.
It’s impossible to deny, that by the time she was 20, she went from being a cute kid, to being simply drop-dead gorgeous. Suddenly she graduated from profiles in the ski industry standards Freeskier and Powder to being in Maxim, People and one FHM’s sexiest athletes alive. But she played it all off as no big deal with a humbleness rarely found at her level of success – an elegance and grace that was unique to her. And yet, even with all the beauty and the elegance, she was one of the toughest people Ive ever met. She once put me in a head lock. And I am not ashamed to admit I could not break out of it. And I tried. Hard. I think that memory would make her smile.
She could play with the boys. That is for sure. She had to for a lot of years in order to open up the sport for the women behind her. Her will and determination on and off the hill in this regard are legendary. Sarah was an innovator and a leader for women in skiing. Even as Sarah was an inspiration to so many people – but she was especially important for women athletes. She did more for the progression of woman’s freeskiing than any other single person – period. She was a founder of the Association of Freeskiing Professionals and was instrumental in helping to push the disciplines of skiing she loved, halfpipe and slopestyle skiing, into the Olympics for 2014. That will be a lasting part of her legacy forever.
She pushed her sport, her profession, to the next level. And even as she had to fight for women to be considered in competition with the men, when she took her hits, she always smiled through the bruise and the bang. Both on and off the hill. In 14 years of working with Sarah – I never saw her without a smile and a good word. Not once. Ever. No matter what. That smile on the podium, holding the X Games Gold four times? That was the same smile she would give 2 months later if you ran into her on the street in passing. So radiantly genuine.
Sarah will always be around us.Trennon Paynter, her coach and good friend to both Sarah and her husband Rory, sent a message out on twitter yesterday: “She’s in every snowflake, every ray of sunshine, every breeze. More than ever, now and always, #IBelieveInSarah.” She will always be there to remind us to “step up” and be better. No matter if it’s out skiing, at work, at the gym or remembering to smile and give your friend a hug. Do not hold back. Life is simply to precious and too much of a gift. Step up. Its such a powerful idea.
It was a dear friend of mine, Matt Harvey, the longtime Editor of Freeskier magazine, who reminded me of this playful challenge to step up that Sarah so often conveyed to her fans and those around her – with such obvious joy.
The news of Sarah’s passing hit in the middle of the work day and Matt was onstage hosting a Freeskier magazine sponsored event. He was a very close and personal friend of Sarah’s. To be in public and hurting, gutted with loss, was painful. But he remembered her words, “Step up.” She would tell him this, no matter if she was standing next to him on the hill taunting him to try a jump or rail slide or pushing him to go talk to the girl across the bar later that night – she was always nudging those around her to be better. And she led by example. So when it hurt and he wanted to hide – he smiled and remembered Sarah. He dug deep and stepped up. That’s what Sarah did when organizers told her that girls didn’t have a spot in competition and that’s what she did when she was battered from falls and that’s what she did when there was a line of little girls who wanted an autograph…hours after the last competition run of the day.
Sarah always stepped up. Always.
And that’s what we’re going to do to remember her. Step Up. Thanks Sarah. We will. And we’ll remember you’re smile when we do.
ASP World No. 2 Sally Fitzgibbons Confident of Overcoming Injury Ahead of Roxy Pro
COOLANGATTA, Queensland/AUS (January 24, 2012) – ASP Women’s World No.2 Sally Fitzgibbons remains confident she will be fully fit by the start of the Roxy Pro presented by Land Rover at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast on 25th February despite carrying several injuries.
Fitzgibbons was on the Gold Coast this week nursing a fractured wrist and strapping along her left leg.
The 21-year-old Australian from Gerroa in NSW fell awkwardly on the reef while surfing Cloudbreak in Fiji before Christmas, and knee and foot injuries were sustained during training.
“I guess leading into the new season I do look a little battered and bruised, it’s unfortunate but injuries are part of the game,” said Fitzgibbons, who finished third at last year’s Roxy Pro.
“There isn’t much time left but I’m very confident of recovering in the next week or so and I will have a good few weeks lead-up into the first event.
“I just fell on the reef surfing at Cloudbreak and fractured my wrist and the knee is basically sustained injuries from training. It was just through finding that balance of how hard to push it in the pre-season as you want to build that great base and unfortunately I tipped over the edge but I’m still learning.
“It was unfortunately just before Christmas when I fell on the reef so I’ve had a whole summer of sweating and training out of the water, but I suppose it is good to be relaxed and resting and then have a good few hard weeks to build back up.”
Fitzgibbons’ off-season wasn’t all about setbacks, however, taking the chance to experience several new activities including plunging to new depths.
“I learned how to snowboard and Red Bull took us on a free diving course over in Hawaii,” she said. “It was a surf survival specific program that elite free divers formulated with big-wave riders.
“We had a go and it is amazing the things you can do when you learn about the physiology of holding your breath and been in those panic situations. To be able to hold your breath for about four minutes 40 seconds was amazing and going to the depths we did.”
After two runners-up finishes in the past two years, Fitzgibbons feels ready to break through for her maiden World Title, but is preparing for a massive challenge not only from the established front-runners but a bunch of determined rookies.
“I feel like I’m gaining more strength and becoming more comfortable on tour and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards as I have so much I want to improve on this year,” she said.
“Obviously Carissa (Moore) being the reigning World Champion and Steph (Gilmore) as four-time World Champion will always be there, but I think this year there will be a major push from the new rookies.
“I love starting the new year at the Roxy Pro at Snapper. It is one of those events that I’ve always wanted to win. There is something about the vibe… it has a great atmosphere with the people on the rock, it feels like a little amphitheater and what better wave to start the year off than Snapper.”
Fitzgibbons is also happy to embrace the Association of Surfing Professional’s new Anti-Doping Policy, which will be activated for the first time this year.
“The new doping laws are great for surfing to be recognised alongside other mainstream sports,” she said. “I’ve been part of anti-doping programs from an early age of about 15 or 16 through athletics and other sports so anything to keep the sport clean and fair is a positive and to show the public that it’s a c lean and healthy sport.”
Both the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro events will be webcast live on QuiksilverPro.com.au, RoxyPro.com.au, Youtube, Facebook and the Quiksilver iPhone app as well as exclusively telecast on Fuel TV. For all the action, interaction, heat alerts, competitions and the latest information visit QuiksilverPro.com.au or roxypro.com.au.
The 2012 Quiksilver and Roxy Pro presented by Land Rover is supported by Events Queensland, Corona, Telstra, Schick Hydro, Peters Drumstick, Red Bull, Olympus Cameras, Vegemite SurfGroms, Lipton Ice Tea, Sharpie, Surfing World magazine, Coastalwatch, Gold Coast Airport, Gold Coast City Council, Connecting Southern Gold Coast, World Safaris and Fuel TV.
Important Details:
2012 Quiksilver and Roxy Pro presented by Land Rover is scheduled for 25th February – 7th March and will be webcast live on QuiksilverPro.com.au, roxypro.com.au, Youtube, Facebook and the Quiksilver iPhone app as well as exclusively telecast on Fuel TV
The Moskova Trials will be held on Friday, 24th February with the winner to join surfing’s elite in the main event.
The waiting period for the contest starts on 25th February. A decision on whether or not to run the contest is made on the day after assessing the conditions. The same goes for each day in the waiting period. Surfing action normally gets underway by 8am
Get more info at quiksilverpro.com.au or roxypro.com.au
Caio Ibelli & Leila Hurst crowned World Junior champs
Hurst and Ibelli © ASP / Kirstin
Billabong World Junior Surfing Championships
Event 3 of 3, ASP World Jnr Tour
Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, Australia
21 – 29 January 2012
Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos etc | Slideshow | Joliphotos
Ibelli And Hurst Claim ASP World Junior Titles At The Billabong World Junior Championships
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 28 January, 2012 : – - Burleigh Heads – Caio Ibelli (BRA) and Leila Hurst (HAW) have claimed the Men’s and Women’s ASP World Junior Titles at the Billabong World Junior Championships today. The pair join a prestigious list of former ASP World Junior Champions, including: Adriano De Souza (BRA), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Andy Irons (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS). Wade Carmichael (AUS) and Alessa Quizon (HAW) were also amongst the winners today, taking out the third and final event of the ASP World Junior Title Series, the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.
The Men’s ASP World Junior Title race saw all the frontrunners bow out early today with Jack Freestone (AUS) eliminated by Medi Veminardi (REU) and Ian Gouveia (BRA) taken out by Wade Carmichael (AUS) in the Quarterfinals. Carmichael had a sensational outing at Burleigh Heads this week, gaining entry into the event with a win at the Von Zipper trials and then sticking it to the world’s best junior surfers with a win at the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships.
Another frontrunner, Garrett Parkes (AUS), needed to advance out of today’s Quarterfinals to clinch the 2011 ASP World Junior Title, but was halted by South American sensation Filipe Toledo (BRA). Parkes’s ousting in the Quarterfinals resulted in a tie with Caio Ibelli (BRA) for the top spot on the ASP World Junior Title rankings, requiring a “Surf-Off” to determine the champion.
Caio Ibelli (BRA) started the Surf-Off with a couple of minor scores, it was clear that he was going for something big. Garret Parkes (AUS) on the other hand started chipping away at the lead, posting some scores in the good range to give him an early lead. Ibelli found a wave that linked up and unleashed some solid carves and a massive air-reverse to score an 8.67 (out of a possible 10), to swing momentum his way and take the lead. Parkes had a last minute chance to claim the prestigious ASP World Junior title, needing a 7.58 (out of a possible 10), but fell less than a point short after he too landed a nice air-reverse.
Garrett Parkes © ASP / KIrstin
“I’m so stoked to bring the ASP World Junior Title back to Brazil!” Ibelli said. “I feel so amazing now! I didn’t know I had another opportunity to win, I just found out this morning. I want to thank my family, my friends and Oakley for their support. Garrett (Parkes) is a good surfer and he’s at home in Australia so I knew I had to do my best.”
Garrett Parkes, who missed out on qualifying for the ASP World Junior Tour in 2010, finished his junior career on a high at number 2 in the world. Parkes now has been given a priority seeding into the ASP Star and Prime events to help his chances of Qualifying for the elite ASP World Tour.
“I’m pretty devastated because I put a lot of hard work in,” Parkes said. “I gave it all I could, I tried my best and I still lost. The Surf-Off was great, it gave me a second chance, but I didn’t capitalise on it. It’s better than doing a count back because this way it comes down to surfing.”
Wade Carmichael (AUS) and Nathan Carvalho (HAW) were perfectly matched and put on an exciting Final at the Billabong World Junior Championships that won’t soon be forgotten. As the clock was counting down the final seconds, Carmichael was left needing a mid-range score, he took off on a smaller wave and blasted one of the biggest fins-free turns of the event. The siren went and both surfers were floating in the lineup waiting for the scores to be announced. Carmichael only caught 2 waves in the 30 minute final, but that’s all it took for him to claim an epic come-from-behind victory.
Wade Carmichael © ASP / Kirstin
“I’m over the moon right now, this is the best day of my life!” Carmichael said. “I’ve been training for this for the last few months, I wanted to have a big year and this is unbelievable. I wasn’t nervous that whole heat, even though I was sitting waiting for that second wave for a long time. But I was really nervous and freaking out after the heat while I was waiting for the score to be announced. Then they said I won and it was the best feeling.”
Leila Hurst (HAW) was one of three surfers in the running for the ASP Women’s World Junior Title this morning, but was the last one standing after front-runner Joanne Defay (FRA) lost her Quarterfinal clash. Then Philippa Anderson (AUS) bowed out of the race when she finished runner-up in the event, as she needed to win the final to claim the crown.
“I never want to be in that position again,” Hurst said. “Watching a final and having no control over if I won the ASP World Title or if I lost. I was feeling so much pressure. I’m losing my mind right now, I never thought I had a chance to win this. I’ve only just started to do well in contests again after a run of bad results, so I had low self-esteem coming into this event. It’s feel great to see what winning feels like again.”
Leila Hurst & Alessa Quizon © ASP / Kirstin
Alessa Quizon (HAW) handed the ASP World Junior Title to fellow Hawaiian when she defeated the last contender in the Final of the Billabong World Junior Championships. Quizon had been a standout performer all event, using her vertical backhand snaps to build up some big scores in each round, punctuating her performance with a solid 7.50 (out of a possible 10) in the final to win the event.
“I feel really happy, this is the best result I’ve had in a long time,” Quizon said. “I’m so happy that Leila (Hurst) won the ASP World Junior Title. A Hawaiian gets to take the title home, I’m really stoked for her!”
The top four surfers on the ASP World Junior Ratings get priority seeding into all ASP Prime and Star event in 2012.
1. Caio Ibelli (BRA)
2. Garrett Parkes (AUS)
3. Davey Cathels (AUS)
4. Jack Freestone (AUS)
Medi Veminardi © ASP / KIrstin
2011 ASP WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPION SURF-OFF RESULTS:
Caio Ibelli (BRA) 14.74 def. Garrett Parkes (AUS) 14.00
BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST MEN’S FINAL RESULTS:
Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.17 def. Nathan Carvalho (HAW) 10.63
BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST MEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.84 def Medi Veminardi (REU) 8.66
SF 2: Nathan Carvalho (HAW) 16.50 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.26
BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST MEN’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Medi Veminardi (REU) 12.00 def. Jack Freestone (AUS) 11.50
QF 2: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 14.27 def. Ian Gouveia (BRA) 7.00
QF 3: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.74 def. Garrett Parkes (AUS) 14.44
QF 4: Nathan Carvalho (HAW) 12.13 def. Dean Bowen (AUS) 9.60
BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST WOMEN’S FINAL RESULT:
Alessa Quizon (HAW) 13.67 def. Philippa Anderson (AUS) 8.67
BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST WOMEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Philippa Anderson (AUS) 15.10 def. Nage Melamed (HAW) 9.34
SF 2: Alessa Quizon (HAW) 13.80 def. Leila Hurst (HAW) 6.94
BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST WOMEN’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Philippa Anderson (AUS) 13,07 def. Sarah Mason (NZL) 10.83
QF 2: Nage Melamed (HAW) 15.00 def. Joanne Defay (FRA) 12.67
QF 3: Leila Hurst (HAW) 15.67 def. Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 14.76
QF 4: Alessa Quizon (HAW) 10.83 def. Sarah Baum (ZAF) 8.97
South African Sarah Baum strong at the WJSCs
Sarah Baum © ASP
Team Updates
Sarah Baum into quarters with another top score at Billabong World Junior Surfing Championships
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 January, 2012 : – - Sarah Baum stormed into the quarterfinals of the Billabong World Junior Surfing Championships at Burleigh Heads in Australia this morning, posting the highest heat total of the day to dispatch highly rated Frenchwoman Maud Le Car from the event.
Competing in stormy one metre conditions, Baum, who turned 18 yesterday, opened her account with an excellent 8.77 point ride that included two massive manoeuvres. While Le Car caught eight rides with a best score of 4.50, Baum waited patiently for 15 minutes before sending her opponent into comboland and needing to improve on both her rides with an 8.17 at the five minute mark.
Baum has now recorded three of the top six single ride scores in the women’s event, including a near-perfect 9.93 out a possible10 in her Round 1 heat, the highest score of the entire event to date. She also holds the events highest heat total – 18.53 out of 20 – and her powerful backhand surfing and canny heat strategies make her one of the favourites to clinch the women’s event title.
Compatriot Bianca Buitendag (George), the defending Billabong Women’s World Championships champion, surfed brilliantly in defence of her crown, but was eliminated by Nage Melamed (HAW) in the dying moments of their Round 3 clash.
Buitendag posted scores of 7.0 and 6.8, leaving Melamed needing a massive 8.33. With just five minutes remaining the Hawaiian stroked into the wave of the day and executed a series of radical manoeuvres to earn 9.80 from the judges and progress to the quarters.
Baum is now the sole South African remaining in the event and she comes up against Alessa Quizon (HAW) when women’s conpetition resumes.
Beyrick de Vries (Umhlanga), SA’s last hope in the men’s event, was ousted by Brazilian Felipe Toledo whose multiple high-flying aerial manoeuvres left de Vries combo’d and out of the event in equal 9th place overall with earnings of US $1 550 (approx. R12 000)
A call will be made at 7.30am local time tomorrow (11.30pm Friday SA time) to decide on whether to get the competition underway. The Billabong World Junior Championships Gold Coast runs until 29 January and all the action will be webcast live via billabongpro.com. For more information, log onto aspworldtour.com
BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST WOMEN’S ROUND 3 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Philippa Anderson (AUS) 9.43 def. Quincy Davis (USA) 4.23
HEAT 2: Sarah Mason (NZL) 13. 57 def. Ellie-Jean Coffey (AUS) 11.67
HEAT 3: Nage Melamed (HAW) 15.63 def. Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 14.16
HEAT 4: Joanne Defay (FRA) 10.16 def. Holly-Sue Coffey (AUS) 5.96
HEAT 5: Leila Hurst (HAW) 12.17 def. Eden Putland (AUS) 11.33
HEAT 6: Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 10.67 def. Nao Omura (JPN) 10.57
HEAT 7: Sarah Baum (ZAF) 16.94 def. Maud Le Car (FRA) 7.83
HEAT 8: Alessa Quizon (HAW) 12.90 def. Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 11.93
BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS GOLD COAST MEN’S ROUND 4 RESULTS:
HEAT 1: Medi Veminardi (REU) 12.50 def. Mateia Hiquily (PYF) 7.67
HEAT 2: Jack Freestone (AUS) 10.20 def. Arashi Kato (JPN) 10.13
HEAT 3: Ian Gouveia (BRA) 10.90 def. Conner Coffin (USA) 5.77
HEAT 4: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.50 def. Vasco Riberio (PRT) 6.33
HEAT 5: Garrett Parkes (AUS) 14.43 def. Kaito Ohashi (JPN) 6.60
HEAT 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 17.30 def. Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 10.44
HEAT 7: Nathan Carvalho (HAW) 12,77 def. Evan Thompson (USA) 8.43
HEAT 8: Dean Bowen (AUS) 10.20 def. Soli Bailey (AUS) 10.07
SeaHawaii Womens Pro at Pipeline
Women Set to Tango With The Tube
Tatiana Weston Webb 2011
March 1, 2012 is going to be the kick-off for the holding period of the SeaHawaii Womens Pro at Pipeline.
The Women are set to tango with the tube at Pipe. This year the contest is going to be as special as ever because it is the only Womens Professional surf contest this winter season on the North Shore. Look for the SeaHawaii Womens Pro at Pipeline to showcase many local surfers as well as Women surfers from all over the world that are willing and able to charge Pipeline. This event will be a one star Women’s short board, ASP, Association of Surfing Professionals, as well as a USBA, United States Bodyboarding Association, rated contest.
There is also a longboard expression session added to the mix.
Banzai Pipeline is a surf break off of Ehukai Beach Park located on the North Shore of Oahu. It is considered to be one of the most dangerous waves in the world. Because of the strong, sometimes massive size waves that are breaking over a shallow reef, it requires not only knowledge of the wave and skillful talent but also a little luck of the draw. This is the only Pro event on the North Shore this season and the Women are stoked to be participating. ” Women don’t really have much chances to prove them selves”, said Kauai’s defending champion Tatiana Weston Webb. ” This event provides that for us. Women think of it as a really big opportunity to be exposed and show their talent!”
Defending Champion body boarder Karla Costa Taylor said,” This event is my favorite, I feel an extra ease going into it, it’s weird…an excitement with joy at the same time. You can never be too comfortable, it is never easy, it is always always a challenge and I love challenges. I hope all the girls have a blast surfing “Queen Pipeline”.
The SeaHawaii Women’s Pro contest is in it’s 23rd year. The event started out as a bodyboarding contest, but has expanded to running three separate divisions including bodyboard, longboard, and shortboard. This year’s holding period will be from March 1-15, with the shortboard division coming to a close by the 9th. Other plans are in the works. Contest organizers are considering adding Mens and Women’s Jr. events durning the three days of competition. ” I would be excited to add the Jr. contests as Hawaii needs more competitions for our young surfers”, said Betty Depolito, Contest Director. ” All of our surfers need more rated contest to be competitive on the World Tour, this would really help in that arena. I am happy to say that these events incorporate the community contingent as well into an International gathering of athletes.”
Shannon “O”, Shannon O’Connell, has designed this years artwork. Shannon had an early love for the ocean, the colorful tide pools and vivid sunsets. She was Raised in Laguna Beach, California…a beach town with a great history in the arts, and a well established art community.
In 2000 Shannon move to Makaha Beach, Oahu. She had 2 bags and a skateboard packed. Shannon recalls that day would change her life. “I flew in at night, when I woke up the next day I heard different birds and roosters too. I remember the plumeria and salt water scent on the air that day. The first beach I went to was Cabanas, the water was so many shades of green & blue. I knew right then that I never wanted to leave Hawaii. Learning to surf has made my art come full circle. When you’re surfing you “paint” with your board on each wave and no two are alike.”
Find Shannon on
http://www.shannonoarts.com
Check the official web site for more information at
www.pipegirls.com
www.usbatour.com
www.aspworldtour.com
www.seahawaii.com
www.shannonoarts.com
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