Surfing Highlights Package: Quiksilver King of the Groms – Gisborne

Kane Rowson wins Bog Works Big Wave Invitational

In a solid 2 metre swell and steady offshore winds today, New Plymouth surfer Kane Rowson won the inaugural Bog Works Big Wave Invitational.

Out of the field of 20 surfers who entered the surf competition, Rowson also won the prize for the Most Committed Take off, and The Biggest Wave, collecting a total of $2,500 in prize money.

 

The prize for the Deepest Tube went to Taranaki surfer, Bachelor Tipene who also took out second place overall behind Rowson. Meanwhile Taranaki surfer Jarred Hancox won third place.

With a swell size that peaked at up to triple overhead on the big sets, Surfing Taranaki’s executive officer Craig Williamson says the event created some surfing history.

“This is the first time Bog Works has been used as surf competition arena, and it’s the first time New Plymouth has been able to stage a surf competition on its downtown foreshore,” says Williamson. “It’s also the first time there has been a dedicated Big Wave competition in New Zealand for some time. A great crowd turned up to watch, and I’m sure more than a few office workers were following the event just by looking out their window!”

The $5,000 prize package was broken down into $2,000 for the winner, $1,000 for the runner up, $500 for third, $250 for the, fifth and sixth place getters, along with awards of $250 each for the Biggest Wave, Most Critical take-off and Best Tube Ride of the day.

If sponsorship funds allow, it is likely another Bog Works Big Wave Invitational will be staged again next year as part of the TSB Bank New Zealand Surf Festival.

Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards This Friday! Who Will Win?

Click HERE to see all the nominated entries on the BillabongXXL.com website

Click here to join in and “Like” the XXL at www.facebook.com/BillabongXXL
NEWPORT BEACH, CA – (April 30, 2012) – The 2012 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy will reach its peak moment as the winners are announced at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California this Friday, May 4. After a full year of action featuring many of the most spectacular waves ever documented, it all comes down to the final votes of the judges, and the big party to celebrate an epic year in surfing.

Five nominees were named last month in each of the event’s seven categories including Monster Tube, Monster Paddle, XXL Biggest Wave, Verizon Wipeout of the Year, Surfline Overall Performance, Billabong Girls Performance and the ultimate Ride of the Year Award. A handful of surfers are nominated in multiple categories including Hawaiians Garrett McNamara and Kohl Christensen and California surfers Greg Long and Nathan Fletcher. To view the video and photos of all the amazing nominated rides, see the BillabongXXL.com website.

Garrett McNamara (Haleiwa, Hawaii) is nominated in both Ride of the Year and XXL Biggest Wave categories for a huge peak challenged off the coast of Portugal in November which made worldwide headlines as surfers and non-surfers debated whether it was the biggest wave ever ridden.

“Three huge lumps appeared on the horizon, we picked the biggest one and Andrew Cotton towed me in,” recalls McNamara of his monster wave off the town of Nazaré. “I remember dropping and dropping, then punching it off the bottom and wanting to get up into the tube, but it just exploded and landed right on my shoulder and felt like a ton of bricks. I just focused on making it and somehow cruised out to the end. At that moment I didn’t have any idea that ride was going to get so much attention, all I was thinking was ‘put me deeper on the next one.’”

The determination as to the height of all five of this year’s Biggest Wave nominees — and whether any of them may usurp the current world record — will be decided this week by a panel of big wave surfing and photography experts who will precisely examine and measure the existing still and video images of each ride. The current Guinness World Record is held by Mike Parsons who rode a 77-foot wave at the Cortes Bank off California in 2008. Also in contention for the XXL Biggest Wave prize are Andrew Cotton (England), Ollie O’Flaherty (Ireland), Axi Muniain (Basque Country, Spain) and Damien Warr (Australia).

While McNamara’s feat has made him a global mainstream celebrity, at the opposite side of the spectrum is one of surfing’s most low-key yet universally respected big wave chargers, Nathan Fletcher (San Juan Capistrano, California). Fletcher is nominated for the Surfline Best Overall Performance Award, along with Monster Tube and Ride of the Year nods for a cartoonish cavern of a wave ridden at Teahupoo, Tahiti last August.
“I hadn’t been to Tahiti since 1998, when I got two perfect 10s in the Teahupoo contest which turned me into a pro surfer and changed my life forever,” said Fletcher of his history with the iconic wave in French Polynesia. “We saw this massive swell headed there and went for it, totally unprepared but stoked to go back. When I got that wave and it walled in front of me, it seemed like a giant skateboard half-pipe. I was looking UP at the boats in the channel and just thought, ‘I have got to make this wave, it’s not something a human could survive.’ Then the foam hit me, it was incredibly violent and I just went, ‘OK, it’s been great, I’ve had a great life but this is it.’ But just as violently I suddenly came to the surface, in one piece. I couldn’t believe I was still alive. Tahiti just changed my life again for the second time.”

Other top surfers with multiple nominations include Kohl Christensen (Haleiwa, Hawaii) who distinguished himself with numerous outstanding sessions from Fiji to Chile to Hawaii and Greg Long (San Clemente, California) who is nominated in the Ride of the Year category for a spectacular paddle-in barrel at Puerto Escondido, Mexico. Long, who has won a total of five XXL titles in his career, is contending for the Surfline Best Overall Performance crown as well.

And while the ceremony at the Grove is open to just 2,000 invited VIP guests, there are a pair of incredible giveaways that are available to the general public this week. These include two free tickets to Tahiti on Air Tahiti Nui and a state of the art waterproof backpack from Pelican Products. Both will be given away to lucky surfing fans in a matter of days – get all the details and sign up to win on the XXL Facebook page at http://www.Facebook.com/BillabongXXL.

The 12th Annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards show will be webcast this Friday evening on YouTube’s Network A, and will be broadcast as a one-hour program on FUEL TV on Sunday, May 20 at 3 P.M. PT.

The Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards are fueled by Monster Energy. Verizon Wireless is the official communications provider and XPERIA Sony Smartphone is the official cell phone supporter. Surfline.com is the exclusive surf forecast of the XXL and Contour the exclusive provider of point of view cameras. The event is sponsored by Air Tahiti Nui airlines, Surfing Magazine and Pelican Products.

Interview with Malia

Hawaiian natural-footer Malia Manuel, 17, has made a statement on her opening campaign on the ASP Women’s World Championship Tour, leading her rookie class as the first freshman to make a final while posting several top results in the first four events this year. In addition to her flare on the Top 17 stage, Manuel has done serious damage in Australia over the last three months, finishing runner-up in multiple ASP 6-Star events. ESPN caught up with the talented rookie to talk about her first impressions of the big leagues, and this… is their story…

She started the season with a third place at the Australian Open. Then it was a solid fifth in her maiden World Tour event. She followed that up by taking runner up at a pair of 6-stars, and fifth place at Bells. Last week, she made the finals of the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic. All season long, she’s been rolling right over the competition. And she was recently in the Wall Street Journal. So who is this girl?

It’s not like 18-year-old Malia Manuel is a new name to womens surfing. After all, she became the youngest shredder to ever win the US Open when she aced the circus at Huntington in 2008 (at 14-years-old.) Born into a Hawaiian family steeped in surfing tradition, she was on a board at age two.

And now, as a rookie, she currently sits in the No. six slot on the Womens Tour, just below 2011 World Champ Carissa Moore and just above another rookie phenom, Laura Enever. But how about the amount of times she’s come up against current World No. one Stephanie Gilmore? And she’s held her off at the Beachley Classic and Margaret River. The young upstarts are proving a point this year and we caught up with Malia Manuel on Kauai to get a better handle on this giant slayer.

ESPN: So that first leg of the tour must have been quite a blur for you?
Malia Manuel: Three months flew by in Australia. I’ve never been away from home that long so I was anticipating what it would be like. Doing seven events back to back to back was a challenge, but I managed to stay healthy and it all was worth it.

 

 

Bog Works Big Wave event scheduled for Tuesday, May 1.

It could be Mayday and Mayhem tomorrow as Surfing Taranaki’s Bog Works Big Wave Invitational 2012 is all go for Tuesday, May 1, in predicted 4 metre waves and light offshore winds.
 
With a $5000 prize purse, the big wave surfing event will be held at the legendary big wave break, Bog Works, on New Plymouth’s foreshore with a 10am start. The best viewing for spectators will be from along Woolcombe Tce (just east of Placemakers) or from the acclaimed Coastal Walkway below.
 
The line up of big wave contenders includes Paige Hareb, currently in between ASP World Tour events, as well as Daniel Keropa and a host of Taranaki and New Zealand big wave riders.
 
The Big Wave Invitational will run along the lines of other big wave competitions around the world, says Craig Williamson, Executive Officer of Surfing Taranaki.
 
“One of the most famous and long standing big wave competitions is Hawaii´s annual Eddie Aikau Memorial Competition,” says Craig.
 
“We have taken some inspiration from this event and hope to create our own little bit of magic right here in Taranaki for New Zealanders to take part in and enjoy. Taranaki often enjoys sizeable ground swells from the Southern Ocean from Autumn through till Spring enabling Bog Works to come into its own as a big wave break not for the faint-hearted.¨
 
The prize packages is broken down into $2,000 for the winner, $1,000 for the runner up, $500 for third, $250 for the, fifth and sixth place getters, along with awards of $250 each for the Biggest Wave, Most Critical take-off and Best Tube Ride of the day.
All competitors below are confirmed but still need to register with the Beach Marshall before 9am and be present for a competitors 9:15am meeting, with the view to get underway by 10am.
JAMIE (CHIP) ANDREWS
TYLER ANDERSON
JEREMY CURD
KANE ROWSON
BACHELOR TIPENE
JEREMY GRAINGER
GORDON MCBRIDE
JARROD HANCOX
CRAIG DINGLE
JASON MATHEWS
SIMON DEKEN
CONAN JAMES
SIMON MOULDMIKE BREWERELI SMITHPAIGE HAREBDAN KEREOPAPETE MALONEYCLINT REID

Surfers registered and on Standby are:
 
MARK PARTHMORE
MILES RATIMA
SAM HAWKE
DOUG YOUNG
BEN NOTTINGHAM
 
 

“Code Red” Full Movie – Surfing Goes Huge At Teahupoo Tahiti

Asian women’s surfing gets foothold with Cloud 9 comp

26 April, 2012 : – - General Luna, Siargao Island — This historic event will have the distinction of being both the first-ever Asian Surfing Championship event to be held in the Philippines and the first to receive the top Ultima rating for its PHP 300,000 (approximately $7,000 USD) prize purse in Women’s Division competition.

The top women surfers from Asian countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan as well as from Australia and of course a strong contingent from the Philippines will soon be chasing down the $2,500 USD first place prize money, ASC championship points, and the prestige that comes with winning such a premier event at the world class surfing destination of Cloud 9. Signed up to compete in the event is Roxy’s own Philippa Anderson from Australia.

Anderson has surfed and competed at Cloud 9 before, winning the contest in 2009, and when she heard about the event happening again this year she was instantly keen. “I’ve been surfing and training in Bali for the past week to get away from the early Australian winter back home,” she said, “So when Holly (Monkman) told me about the event and asked if I wanted to come I said yes straight away, as surfing there has always been one of my best memories. I’m really excited to see all the girls surf and to be part of the event again this year…I can’t wait!

Quiksilver-Roxy Marketing Executive for SEA Holly Monkman is delighted with the opportunity to both participate and attend the event, saying “We’re really excited to have Roxy be a part of this event as we know the beach culture in the Philippines is a huge part of everyone’s lifestyle here. Seeing a women’s event at such a prime surfing location is also not only a great opportunity for the surfers but it’s also a wonderful opportunity to showcase the ASC women’s tour to the surfing world. I’d love to see more professional women’s events at waves like Cloud 9, so we are really proud to be a part of this year’s event and to help the growth of women’s surfing in the Philippines.”

The Philippine Surfing Federation is equally excited to gain such great support for the competition and the sport of surfing in the Philippines, according to Secretary General Zeny Pallugna. “This is the 5th time we are holding the competition, but in the past two years it didn’t happen due to budget constraints and a change in the local leadership. Thanks to Mayor Jaime Rusillon, Governor Sol Matugas and Congressman Francisco Matugas of Surigao del Norte who revived it this year. This is indeed a major breakthrough in the surfing industry in the Philippines as this is the first-ever ASC sanctioned Ultima event held in the Philippines and we are happy to have Roxy and Primer Group of Companies came in as our sponsors,” she explained.

“The Primer Group of Companies as the distributor of Roxy is proud to announce Roxy as the presenting sponsor of this year’s Siargao Women’s International Surfing Cup, Quiksilver/Roxy/DC Brand Manager Dino Gilladoga added. He further said that “we are excited to be part of this huge event in Siargao, the surfing capital of the Philippines, as this signals the beginning of Roxy’s aggressive plan for supporting and growing the women’s surfing scene here in the Philippines. Events like these are truly the venue for local talent development, where our local girls get to compete side by side with international surfers, which will be very valuable for their growth. Hopefully one day we will have athletes surfing at the standard of Sally Fitzgibbons and Stephanie Gilmore.”

Organized by the Philippine Surfing Federation and the Municipality of General Luna, the Roxy Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup is supported by the House of Representatives, Province of Surigao Del Norte, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Philippine Department of Tourism, Smart Communications, Primer Group of Companies, Rockstar Energy Drink, Nature Spring, Sagana Resort. San Miguel Corporation and Thirty Six-O Media.

The Roxy Siargao International Women’s Surfing Cup will take place over a 4-day period at Cloud 9 on Siargao Island, arguably the most well-known surf destination in the Philippines, known for its perfectly barreling right hand wave that has captured the hearts and minds of the surfing world. Great waves, white sand beaches, clear blue water, tall palm trees and the laid back island life has made Siargao Island one of most popular surf destinations for traveling surfers, and with a the variety of accommodations and restaurants fronting the Cloud 9 break it makes for an incredible venue for an international surfing competition.

Other highlights of this summer event include the national Siargao Women’s Beach Volleyball Open (May 3-6), 14th Siargao National Surfing Cup (Men’s Division / May 5-9), nightly entertainment with San Miguel Corporation, Bikini Fashion Show and all Celebrity Basketball exhibition games (May 9) which will be held from May 1 to 9 in Siargao Island.

For more information and to register for the competition, please contact the Secretary General of Philippine Surfing Federation Zeny Pallugna at +639296721508/ zenpallugna @ yahoo.com.ph or Tour Manager of Asian Surfing Championships Michaela Partin at +6281805584486 / marketing@isctour.com

www.roxy.com

Ella Williams shines for Team New Zealand at WJSC

19 April, 2012 : – - Overnight, Ella Williams of Whangamata charged her way through to the final six surfers in the qualifying rounds of the Under 18 Girls Division at the 2012 DaKine ISA World Junior Surfing Championship being held at Playa Venao, Panama. The Rip Curl New Zealand Junior Surfing Team member progressed through two rounds on a tough day of surfing that saw five of her team mates eliminated from the event in solid 1.5m – 2.0m waves.

Five New Zealand surfers will head into the final three days of the event as divisions are narrowed down to the final 30 surfers in each division, a third of the original 303 surfers from 31 countries. New Zealand is currently sitting in tenth place with Peru being the only nation who has all surfers remaining in the event. Peru is joined by four nations at the top of the table – Australia, Hawaii, USA and France.

In Williams’ final heat of the day she found herself sitting in fourth position with five minutes remaining and a single scoring ride of 1.17. With the action intensifying, the two leading Hawaiian surfers opted to team up on the Australian surfer to prevent her from progressing. However it was Williams that paddled into a perfect right-hander which she then proceeded to belt all the way to the beach for the highest scoring ride of the heat – 7.77 points out of a possible 10. The score was enough elevate Williams into second place before she paddled back out to get another scoring ride and end with a 10.50 point heat total.

“I was just paddling around trying to look for a wave because time was ticking by and I had to get something and I found that one and it was a goodie” commented Williams on her game changing wave. Williams still has a lot of work to do to make the final but if she can progress through the qualifying rounds without getting relegated to the repecharge, she is only two heats away from the grand final.

“Yeah it’s pretty cool I’m so happy to make it this far, now I just have to keep going” Williams said. “It was fun conditions I have worked so hard to get here and now it’s paying off.”

Also progressing in the Under 18 Girls Division was Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gis) who faced two of her own do-or-die heats in the repecharge rounds. Martin – Fitzharris used her four years of experience at the event to navigate her way through the two heats progressing from the third round in second place behind Keisha Eyre (POR) with a 6.17 point heat score.

“Yeah today was a big day for me, stoked to have made both heats” said a relieved Martin – Fitzharris. “Because the surf was so unpredictable my plan was to sit in a bit and just get a couple of waves where I got at least one turn in. Tomorrow I could have up to three heats so I’m just going to take it one heat at a time and work on getting the best waves.”

In the third round, Jasmine Smith (Gis) was ousted out of the event by her Japanese and Peruvian opponents. Smith, a first time competitor at international level and with three years of eligibility left at the event, placed 37th overall.

Earlier in the day Alethea Lock (Chch) succumbed to her opponents from Australia and Brazil finishing third in her second round matchup and 49th overall. Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha) was the second of two Kiwis in the qualifying rounds but he could not emulate the success of Williams and finished fourth in his heat to surfers from France, Hawaii and South Africa.

Paerata – Reid will now contest the repecharge rounds where his opponents have yet to be confirmed. His next match up will take place late on day six. Also surfing in the Under 16 Boys Division was Korbin Hutchings (Gis) who was contesting the repecharge rounds. Hutchings failed to progress past the third round finishing third in his heat behind surfers from Peru and Barbados. Hutchings finished the event placed 33rd.

With three surfers left in the fourth round of the repecharge heats of the Under 18 Boys Division, the round got off to a flyer with Mackenzie Christie (BOP) placing second in the first heat behind South African Slade Prestwich.

“The waves were quiet a bit bigger today than other days so with the repercharge heats being only 15 minutes you had to work pretty hard to get the waves. My heat was close and I only got a pretty small score. I wasn’t on the best waves so was only able to do around two turns each wave. At the end of the heat I was in first but the other three were waiting on scores. I was catching a wave in when they read out the scores and I thought I had been passed but was so stoked to hear I had only dropped back to second and was still in the comp” explained Christie of how the final stages of his heat unfolded.

Christie will have a big day ahead on day six with up to three rounds of heats if results go his way. “Yeah, real stoked at how I’m going, I think I’ve done alright considering it’s my first international comp” said a happy Christie.

While purposely not focussing on his opponents prior to his heats, Christie will indeed front up to the toughest heat of Round 5 when he takes on two Australian surfers and an American but he hopes his strategy of getting quick scores and sitting on the others will pay off again.

After Christie progressed, the focus turned to Tane Wallis (Piha) and Ben Poulter (Rag) in their heats. Unfortunately a loss by Wallis was closely followed by Poulter also exiting the event. Wallis finished his heat in fourth place and 41st overall while Poulter finished third in a heat where 0.31 points separated first from fourth, Poulter missing progression by 0.04. Poulter finished the event in 33rd place.

The swell is expected to build further tomorrow (Saturday NZT) and ease for the final two days of the event. Please see below for New Zealand results from day five of the 2012 DaKine ISA World Junior Surfing Championship presented by Billabong.

Under 18 Boys Repecharge Round 3
Heat 5 1 Carlos Zapata (PER), 2 Tane Wallis (NZL), Andre Faria (POR), 4 Joshua Burke (BAR)
Heat 7 1 Ben Poulter (NZL), 2 Joao Marco Maffini (ITA), 3 Isaiah Moniz (HAW), 3 Mario Vega (GUA)

Under 18 Boys Repecharge Round 4
Heat 1 1 Slade Prestwich (RSA), 2 Mackenzie Christie (NZL), 3 Miguel Blanco (POR), 4 Will Davey (UK)
Heat 6 1 Michael Rodrigues (BRA), 2 Naxto Gonzalez (SPN), 3 Elijay Guy (CRI), 4 Tane Wallis (NZL)
Heat 7 1 Yan Daberkow (BRA), 2 Andy Criere (FRA), 3 Ben Poulter (NZL), Jason Mora (CRI)

Under 18 Girls Qualifying Round 3
Heat 3 1 Miluska Tello (PER), 2 Ella Williams (NZL), 3 Ana Morau (FRA), Mauarii Maro (TAH)

Under 18 Girls Qualifying Round 4
Heat 3 1 Tatiana Weston – Webb (HAW), 2 Ella Williams (NZL), 3 Keely Andrew (AUS), 4 Dax McGill (HAW)

Under 18 Girls Repecharge Round 2
Heat 3 1 Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (NZL), 2 Belu Quispe (PER), 3 Cindy Lone (GUA), 4 Mascha Trietsch (GER)
Heat 6 1 Kirsten Ogden (AUS), 2 Jasmine Smith (NZL), 3 Pamela Verboonen (Mex), Tamara Futch (CRI)
Heat 8 1 Bronte MaCaulay (AUS), 2 Karol Ribeiro (BRA), 3 Alethea Lock (NZL), 4 Camila Meana URU)

Under 18 Girls Repecharge Round 3
Heat 1 1 Keshia Eyre (POR) , 2 Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (NZL), 3 Marion Philippe (TAH), 4 Vrinda Rodrigues (VEN)
Heat 31 Reika Noro (JPN), 2 Melanie Giunta (PER), 3 Jasmine Smith (NZL), 4 Karol Ribeiro (BRA)

Under 16 Boys Qualifying Round 4
Heat 1 1 Nomme Mignot (FRA), 2 Kalani David (HAW), 3 Max Armstrong (RSA), 4 Elliot Paerata – Reid (NZL)

Under 16 Boys Repecharge Round 3
Heat 4 1 Lucca Messinas (PER), 2 Dane Mackie (BAR), 3 Korbin Hutchings (NZL), Guilherme Fonseca (POR)

Team Standings
1 Peru – 7770
2 Australia – 7770
3 Hawaii – 7770
4 USA – 7770
5 France – 7770
6 Brazil – 7340
7 Japan – 7280
8 South Africa – 6870
9 Portugal – 6250
10 New Zealand – 5860

« Previous Page — Next Page »