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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

We have a plush FCS Poncho towel to make changing in public places cozy and easy to give away to a lucky reader.

www.hydrosurf.co.nz
For your chance to win email us at curlcompetition@gmail.com

Also from our friends at Hydrosurf we have a FCS Chamois Poncho to giveaway.

www.hydrosurf.co.nz
To enter the draw email us at curlcompetition@gmail.com

Sunday, January 22, 2012

2012 Hyundai National Surfing Champion Billy Stairmand throwing the tail during the final of the Open Men’s Division of the 2012 Hyundai National Surfing Championships held at Piha. PHOTOCPL

Billy Stairmand (Raglan) stormed to his second victory claiming national title after a near flawless performance in the final of the Open Men’s Division at the 2012 Hyundai National Surfing Championships held at Piha Beach, Auckland today (Saturday 21st January).

Stairmand surfed to a 17.10 point heat total using his impeccable backhand surfing on the lefthanders of Piha Bar.

The young 22 year old surfer is ranked 79th in the world and New Zealand’s third highest ranked surfer internationally. He is one of but a few in the world that managed to claim a victory over 11 times world champion Kelly Slater in 2011.

Today Stairmand notched up several excellent scores in quick succession in the final, his two highest, 8.90 and 8.20 point rides.

He won his first national title in 2010 at Gisborne in a similar fashion after getting a massive lead on his opponents and never relenting.

“It is good to start the year winning a national title, I am going overseas soon so it is good for my confidence and everything like that but yeah, at the moment, a national title, I can’t believe it at the moment” said Stairmand.

Despite the ease of the win, Stairmand remained focussed on what he was doing and keeping to a game plan. “Every heat is hard, I just wanted to catch the best waves out there, I saw some on the bar and wanted to get them and it paid off.”

It was a big decision for Stairmand to surf up the beach. He and fellow finalist Chris Malone (Gis) were the first surfers of the day to do so. However, with the outgoing tide and building swell, the strategy paid off handsomely.

“I had seen people getting one or two turns down the beach but I knew if I could get a runner on the bar it would be better than that. I started with a six and then it went from there. I was going wave for wave with Chris and I knew Timmy was down the beach but I was feeling confident after the first wave and yeah it all just happened.”

Above: Open Men’s podium  – PHOTOCPL

35 year old Chris Malone (Gis) finished runner up in the final scoring 9.5 out of 20 points requiring a combination of waves to challenge Stairmand for the win.

Despite the distance between himself and Stairmand he was still stoked to make the final. “It shows me that I have still got it and still can do it” said a more than happy Malone.

“There was no way I was going down the end in those closeouts, I headed for the bar, looked around and Billy was following me. I suppose it was a good decision as the waves were peeling but Billy is world class and those waves were perfect for him” finished Malone.

Mount Maunganui surfer Tim O’Connor placed third in the final. He surfed the whole 25 minutes on his own at the north end of the beach where every other surfer had competed during the day but the waves simply did not cooperate.

“Yeah that is the risk you take, you always hear stories of guys going down the beach and winning and it could have paid off, I saw waves before the final but that is the way it panned out unfortunately.”

O’Connor considered joining the other two surfers at the south end of the beach but opted to stay put.

“It was small where they were and big where I was, if I got two turns on one wave it would have been an eight or more. I mean I have even seen waves since I came in but I just didn’t get them in the final.”

O’Connor was one of the standouts of the event and was confident in his surfing despite scoring only 9.0 points in the final. “I am definitely stoked with the result, I am bummed a bit at the moment but overall it is a good result. I have been surfing well for the last two months and I think it showed at this event, not in the final but that’s how it goes.”

Matt Hewitt (Mnt) was supposed to be the fourth surfer in the final but had to travel to Australia to compete in the final World Pro Junior event today. In a twist of fate his heat in Australia was contested at the exact same time as the final here and he won his heat against surfers from Brazil and Australia.

Thandi Durham – Tipene (Taranaki) claimed her first Open Women’s Division title in style today posting a 5.40 on her last wave to jump from third to first in the dying seconds of the final.

“This is one of my biggest goals that I have ever achieved” said Durham – Tipene.

Above: Open Women’s podium  – PHOTOCPL

“I have been living at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast and seeing the likes of Mick Fanning, Tyler Wright, all the best surfers, surfing everyday, it is pretty hard not to improve over there” she said obviously happy to get her last wave and show how much she has improved.

Durham – Tipene’s husband Bachelor won the Peter Byers award for the most outstanding performance at the event. He was awarded the prize for exceptional surfing throughout the whole week. “I am stoked for Bach my husband as well. Winning the Peter Byers ‘Most Outstanding Performance’ award is pretty special. He was bummed he didn’t pick up a title but I know he will be gunning for it next year.” she added.

Placing second in the final was Mischa Davis (Piha) who led for over 20 minutes but came up short on the final hooter. Davis scored 8.60 to Durham – Tipene’s 9.43. The two oldest of the finalists fended off the challenge of the younger girls with Ella Williams (WGM) finishing in third and Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gis) finishing fourth.

Tane Wallis won the Under 18 Boys Division in the challenging low tide conditions. After Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha) opened the final with a 7.0 point ride, Wallis came back into contention with rides of 7.83 and 6.03 to control the final. Wallis then went to work protecting his lead first watching over Paerata – Reid then Ben Poulter (Rag) after he came back in to contention late in the final. Paerata – Reid eventually finished the final in second place ahead of Dune Kennings (WGM) in third and Ben Poulter (Rag) in fourth.

Ella Williams (WGM) claimed the Under 18 Girls Division over long time rival Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gis). Williams posted a 9.83 point heat total bettering that of Martin – Fitzharris on 8.57. Bianca Sansom (Albany) placed third in the final ahead of her sister Gabriela Sansom.

It was Gabriela Sansom (Albany) that sealed the Under 16 Girls Division win early on in the final after one scoring ride of 8.0 points. Despite only getting a back up wave of 1.70 points, her 9.70 point heat total was enough to claim the victory over Jasmine Smith (Gis) who ended the final with a 9.20 point heat total. Claudia Fraser (Piha) finished in third place ahead of Dayna Story (Gis) in fourth.

Dune Kennings (WGM) defended his Under 16 Boys title surfing to a big 16.33 point heat total. It was a long running right hander that Kennings capitalised on scoring an 8.83 point ride with a series of turns and an air reverse to finish. Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha) fought back with a strong 7.67 point ride to bridge the gap but the lead was simply too big for the fickle conditions. Australian based Korbin Hutchings, formerly of Gisborne, pushed his way into third place thanks to his last 6.10 point ride with McKenzie Bowden (WGM) in fourth.

Northland surfer Manu Scott – Arrieta (Sandy Bay) defended his Under 14 Boys title by the closest margin of the day – 0.03 points after a mammoth tussle with Kehu Butler (Mnt). Scott – Arrieta held the lead for much of the final but it was a late 6.60 point ride that pushed him ahead of Butler who finished in second place scoring. Isaac Kettle (Tara) was also in the hunt for the title after scoring a 6.23 point ride but never found a good second ride. Waihi Beach surfer Taine Craig – Ranga placed fourth in the final.

Thomas Kibblewhite (Rodney) was one of four surfers to defend their title at the event, Kibblewhite taking back-to-back wins in the Men’s Longboard Division. Kibblewhite outclassed his opponents with the third highest heat score of the entire day – 16.73 points out of 20. A near perfect 9.07 point ride after he already held a strong lead, put the result beyond doubt and left all his competitions requiring a combination of waves to catch up. It was the veteran Michael Fitzharris (Gis) who feared the best to place second in a division he has previously won six times. 2009 champion Daniel Procter (Gis) placed third in the final with Ben Poulter in fourth.

Anna Jolly (Piha) secured one of four titles for the local Piha surfers in the Women’s Longboard Division scoring 12.17 points. Alexis Poulter (Rag) fought hard to catch up but finished in second place ahead of Mischa Davis (Piha) in third and Belinda Goodwin (Rag) in fourth.

Shayne Baxter (Chch) took the sole South Island title holding off Daniel Kereopa (Rag) to win the Stand Up Paddleboard Division. Baxter won the first ever national title in the division when it was contested at Piha in 2009. Kereopa was the defending champion. Kereopa had a final dig at the title today but needing a 6.88 point ride on his last wave, came to the shore to the sound of a 6.50 point ride being called out and finishing in second place. Whangamata surfers Lynden Kennings and Karl Aarsen rounded out the final in third and fourth place respectively.

Jay Quinn (Gis) managed to secure a title at the event despite it not being in the Open Men’s Division as he would have preferred. Quinn easily put claim to the Over 28 Men’s Division scoring 17.43 in the final thanks to a 9.43 point ride for the cleanest air reverse of the event. Winner of the Peter Byers Most Outstanding Performance Award, Bachelor Tipene (Tara) placed second in the final ahead of AJ Matthews (Auck) in third and Josh Thickpenny (Dun) in fourth.

Ben Kennings defended his title in the Over 35 Men’s Division after riding just the two waves in his heat to score 15.10 points. Cale Tolley (Mnt) held the lead for much of the final after posting a 7.83 point ride on his first ride but Kennings fought back with an 8.60 on his second scoring ride to jump into the lead. Tolley ended the final in second place ahead of double finalist Rick Lasch (Piha) in third and Scott Casey (Auck) in fourth.

Double finalist Michael Fitzharris (Gis) went one better than his runner up placing in the Longboard Division by winning the Over 40 Men’s Division. Like many of the senior men’s divisions, the hunt for the title was a low scoring affair and Fitzharris managed to edge past event stand out Rick Lasch (Piha) by 0.63 points, Lasch finishing in second place ahead of Deane Hishon (Rag) in third and Mike Mulcahy (Piha) in fourth.

Geoff Hutchison (Rag) took one of three titles back to Raglan after winning the Over 45 Men’s Division. Gaining his second title, Hutchison defeated David Mann (Auck) by only 0.24 points with Phil Wallis (Piha) in third and Kelvin Louie (Piha) in fourth.

Local Piha surfer Garry Pike claimed his first ever national title in the Over 50 Men’s Division to the cheers of his staunch support crew. It was a tight low scoring battle but Pike posted 9.60 to win the final over Jeremy Hughes (Rag) in second place, Phillip Griffin (Mnt) in third and Mike Sansom (Albany) in fourth.

New Zealand’s most successful surfer at this event, Gisborne’s John Gisby notched up yet another title in the Over 55 Men’s Division. After being a late entry in the event, Gisby went about his work winning heats and in the final he easily outpointed his opponents scoring 13.43 for the win. Gisby now has 32 titles to his name stretching as far back as 1984 in the Over 30 Men’s Division. Placing second today was Tairua surfer Barry McCulloch scoring 9.53 who edged out Mike Trainer (Auck) in third with David Storck (Auck) in fourth.

The oldest surfers in the event got their final completed early in the morning with 1975 Open Men’s National Champion Benny Hutchings (Aus/Gis) making a successful return to competition winning the Over 60 Men’s Division. Hutchings who makes up one of several family combinations competing at the event scored 9.0 points to win the final over Hamish Divett (Auck) who snuck passed Ken Nicholson (Auck) on a countback, Nicholson placing third ahead of Clive Barron (Piha) in fourth.

The sole bodyboard division contested was for the women with young local Maiya Thompson winning the final scoring 7.97 points to beat Marguerite Vujich (Nap) in second, Chelsea Pike (Piha) in third and Seagh Keisenberg (Piha) in fourth.

Please see below for final results from the 2012 Hyundai National Surfing Championships completed at Piha Beach, Auckland today (Saturday 21st January).

Open Men’s Division

Billy Stairmand (Rag), 17.1, 1, Chris Malone (Gis), 9.5, 2, Tim O’Connor (Mnt), 9, 3, Matt Hewitt (Mnt), NS, 4

Open Women’s

Thandi Durham – Tipene (Tara), 9.43, 1, Mischa Davis (Auck), 8.6, 2, Ella Williams (Whmata), 8.37, 3, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 5.73, 4

Under 18 Men’s Division

Tane Wallis (Piha), 13.87, 1, Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 12.07, 2, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 11.13, 3, Ben Poulter (Rag), 10.8, 4

Under 16 Boys Division

Dune Kennings (Whmata), 16.33, 1, Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha), 13.6, 2, Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 12.53, 3, McKenzie Bowden (Whmata), 11.33, 4

Under 14 Boys Division

Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 11.97, 1, Kehu Butler (Arataki), 11.93, 2, Isaac Kettle (Tara), 9.8, 3, Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch), 6.23, 4

Under 18 Girls Division

Ella Williams (Whmata), 9.83, 1, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 8.57, 2, Bianca Sansom (Auck), 6.47, 3, Gabriella Sansom (Auck), 3.8, 4

Under 16 Girls Division

Gabriella Sansom (Auck), 9.7, 1, Jasmine Smith (Gis), 9.2, 2, Claudia Fraser (Auck), 5.33, 3, Dayna Story (Gis), 4.7, 4

Men’s Longboard

Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 16.73, 1, Michael Fitzharris (Gis), 12.57, 2, Daniel Proctor (Gis), 10.3, 3, Ben Poulter, 10.27, 4

Longboard Women’s

Anna Jolly (Piha), 12.17, 1, Alexis Poulter (Rag), 10.47, 2, Mischa Davis (Oratia), 10.4, 3, Belinda Goodwin (Mnt), 3.63, 4

Stand Up Paddleboards

Shayne Baxter (ChCh), 14, 1, Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 13.63, 2, Lynden Kennings (Whgmata), 9.1, 3, Karlos Aarsen (Whmata), 7.6, 4

Seniors Over 28′s

Jay Quinn (Gis), 17.43, 1, Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 12.27, 2, AJ Matthews (Whmata), 7.6, 3, Josh Thickpenny (Dun), 5.47, 4

Masters Over 35′s

Ben Kennings (Wmata), 15.1, 1, Cale Tolley (Mnt), 11.23, 2, Rick Lasch (Auck), 10, 3, Scott Casey (Auck), 5.5, 4

Veterans Over 40′s

Michael Fitzharris (Gis), 8.7, 1, Rick Lasch (Auck), 8.03, 2, Deane Hishon (Rag), 5.87, 3, Mike Mulcahy (Auck), 3.45, 4

Grand Masters Over 45′s

Geoff Hutchison (Rag), 9.57, 1, David Mann (Auck), 9.33, 2, Phil Wallis (Piha), 6.83, 3, Kelvin Louie (Piha), 4.93, 4

Legends Over 50′s

Garry Pike (Piha), 9.6, 1, Jeremy Hughes (Rag), 8.17, 2, Phillip Griffin (Mnt), 8, 3, Mike Sansom (Auck), 5.83, 4

Fossils Over 55′s

John Gisby (Gis), 13.43, 1, Barry McCulloch (Tau), 9.53, 2, Mike Trainer (Auck), 9.03, 3, David Storck (Auck), 7.07, 4

Kahunas Over 60′s

Ben Hutchings (Gis), 9, 1, Hamish Divett (Auck), 7.23, 2, Ken Nicolson (Auck), 7.23, 3, Clive Barron (Piha), 2.6, 4

Women’s Bodyboards

Maiya Thompson (Piha), 7.97, 1, Marguerite Vujich (Napier), 7.67, 2, Chelsea Pike (Piha), 3.1, 3, Seagh Keisenberg (Piha), 1.63, 4