Beyond Boarders

This year is whipping though at an incredible pace and the first two events of both the men's and women's tours are already done and dusted.
In event one for the girls, the 2008 Roxy Pro Gold Coast, last year's world runner-up Sofia Mulanovich (PER) beat Samantha Cornish (AUS) at Australia's Snapper Rocks. However, just a few days late, in the final of the Rip Curl Women's Pro at Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia, reigning ASP Women's World Champion, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) came from behind with five minutes remaining to defeat Sofia, claiming her second consecutive Rip Curl Women's Pro title and jumping from 9th to 2nd in the tour ratings. A mere 600 points behind leader Sofia Mulanovich.

The 2008 ASP Women's World Tour now takes a breather until July, when the top 17 female surfers will do battle again in Brazil.

The guy's tour opened in sensational style with eight-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) beating reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) at his home break of Snapper Rocks. This put Kelly in the number one slot of the ratings for the first time since claiming his last ASP World Crown in 2006. Proving that the win was not a fluke, he then proceeded to take the Rip Curl Pro at Bells beach. Launching a huge air, he earned a last minute score and beat Bede Durbidge (AUS) in the final. 36-year old Slater, has now claimed his 36th event win and rung surfing's bell for the third time but even more significantly, has cemented his position as the world's number one surfer.
The next event on the men's ASP World Tour will take place in Teahupoo, Tahiti from May 8-18, 2008.

Labels: 2008, ASP World Tour, Australia, Bells Beach, Kelly Slater, men's, Snapper Rocks, Sofia Mulanovich, women's

The Australian Gold Coast is the first stop for the men and women on the respective 2008 Association of Surf Professionals (ASP) world tours.
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast and the Roxy Pro Gold Coast will be running in conjunction, with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast starting its waiting period this Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008.

Reigning men's ASP World Champion and defending Quiksilver Pro Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), is ready again to do battle with 44 of the best surfers in the world and on the Women's Dream Tour, reigning ASP Women?s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) is equally focussed as she takes on 16 of the best female surfers, beginning in her home waves.

Both the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast and the Roxy Pro Gold Coast will be webcast LIVE and Beyond Boarders will publish regular tour reports and pictures. Subscribe to Beyond Boarders now (see bottom of page) and get free email alerts each time a new post is published.

Labels: ASP World Tour, Australia, Mick Fanning, Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, Roxy Pro Gold Coast, Stephanie Gilmore

After an early strong showing by the Australians on their home ground, it was Brazilian Pablo Paulino who won through at Sydney?s North Narrabeen beach to be crowned the men's World Junior Surfing Champion for a second time and Tonino Benson (Hawaii) who came in as runner-up.

Pablo exhibited the fire and flair so characteristic of Brazilian sportsmen, putting on show-stopping performances right from the very first round and the 2004 ASP World Junior Champion, then blasted through the final to defeat Tonino with a 15.00 total heat score (out of a possible 20.00), thereby equalling World No. 4 Joel Parkinson's two ASP World Junior Title record.

Arguably, Benson was the day's top performer and he posted the only perfect 10.00 point ride of the event, tucking into a deep barrel against Australian wildcard Owen Wright in the Quarterfinals. Unfortunately, the young Hawaiian was defeated tactically in the final and was not given the waves to repeat this performance, only managing a 9.93.

Labels: 2007, 2008, Australia, Junior World Champion, North Narrabeen, surfing, Sydney

The title race was not resolved until the final event of the tour but Rookie Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) claimed the 2007 ASP Women's World Tour, as other contenders for the title fell in the third round of the 2007 Billabong Pro Maui. She then went on to celebrate her victory by claiming the Billabong Pro Maui Championship, defeating defending champion Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS). Her win, in small one metre waves at Honolua Bay, marks her fourth win of the 2007 season.

The final ratings on the 2007 ASP Women's World Tour are:

1. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)


2. Sofia Mulanovich (PER)


3. Silvana Lima (BRA)


4. Samantha Cornish (AUS)


5. Layne Beachley (AUS)


6. Amee Donohoe (AUS)


7. Chelsea Hedges (AUS)


8. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)


9. Rebecca Woods (AUS)


10. Melanie Bartels (HAW)


11. Jacqueline Silva (BRA)


12. Megan Abubo (HAW)


13. Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS)


14. Karina Petroni (USA)


15. Serena Brooke (AUS)


16. Nicola Atherton (AUS)

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, champion, Hawaii, Maui, Stephanie Gilmore, surfing, women's

The girls are battling it out at Sunset Beach, Hawaii, for the Roxy Pro Hawaii, stop No. 7 of 8 on the ASP Women's World Tour and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) can clinch the 2007 world title if she wins the event while Silvana Lima (BRA) finishes 3rd or lower.

Only seven heats of surfing, including the final, remain for the Roxy Pro Hawaii, and the next call on surf status will be made tomorrow morning, Thursday, November 29, 2007. It therefore looks as if the circus could be packing up tomorrow afternoon and Steph Gilmore could be crowned world champion.

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, Hawaii, Roxy Pro Hawaii, Silvana Lima, Stephanie Gilmore, women's

Australian Mick Fanning, clinched his maiden Foster's ASP World Title today. Fanning was in the water and about to surf a semifinal heat against childhood friend Joel Parkinson (AUS), when his only remaining title threat, Taj Burrow (AUS), was eliminated by Tom Whitaker (AUS).

It was a day for the Australians and after realizing his lifelong dream, Fanning surfed a signature heat to beat Parkinson 18.70 to 12.84 in Semifinal 1 before defending his Brazilian title by beating rookie Kai Otton (AUS) in the final to win the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil.

Americans Kelly Slater and Andy Irons have monopolized the World Title for the last five years but Mick's win today breaks the run and makes him the first Australian to clinch a men's ASP World Title since Mark 'Occy' Occhilupo in 1999.

Full report and pictures to follow.

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, Australia, champion, Mick Fanning, surfing

Bobby Martinez (USA) has achieved a sensational victory in the 2007 Billabong Pro Mundaka, beating Foster's ASP World No. 3 Taj Burrow (AUS) in a close fought final. The win makes Martinez the first surfer in the history of the Billabong Pro Mundaka to post back to back victories at Spain's reeling lefthander. The win also leaps the 'smiling assassin' to 6th on the ASP World Tour ratings.

Since only eight of 10 events are factored into the Foster's ASP World Tour ratings at the end of the year and Burrow is now able to drop a 33rd and a 17th place result with only two events left to run, if he wins the next event in Brazil or places one spot ahead of current ratings leader Mick Fanning (AUS), the World Title will be decided at the ASP season finale, the Pipeline, Hawaii.

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, Bobby Martinez, championship, Mick Fanning, Mundaka, Spain, surfing, Taj Burrow