Beyond Boarders

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

The top ten male surfers on the Foster?s ASP World Tour Ratings after event 6 of 10, is as follows:

1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 5270


2. Kelly Slater (USA) 5040


3. Taj Burrow (AUS) 4511


4. Andy Irons (HAW) 4331


5. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 4029


6. Damien Hobgood (USA) 3824


7. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 3467


8. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 3462


9. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 3438


10. Dean Morrison (AUS) 3248

The surfing tour is moving on to event 7, Quiksilver Pro France, where they will enjoy the surf at Hossegor, France, from September 20 to 30, 2007. I reckon they will turn the surf red for local hero Jeremy Flores.

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, Jeremy Flores

Heat one of the Boost Mobile Pro, which is the 6th of 10 events on the 2007 ASP World Tour, is now underway at Lower Trestles, California, USA. The surf is small, but clean, with frequent one metre sets.

Watch live streaming video.

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, Boost Mobile Pro, California, Trestles, USA

The ASP Women's World Tour resumes tomorrow, at Santander, Spain, where the world's top female surfers will be contesting the Rip Curls Girls Festival.

This is stop four of seven competitions used to determine the world rankings. It has a waiting period through to September 9, 2007.

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, Rip Curls Girls Festival, Spain, women's

Samantha Cornish (AUS) has won her first ASP Women?s World Tour title since 2003, at the Billabong Girls Pro Itacaré.

Cornish defeated Brazilian sensation Silvana Lima (BRA) shooting her to World No. 2 on the ASP Women?s World Tour ratings.

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, Billabong Girls Pro, Brazil

After a blistering start to the 2007 Billabong Girls Pro Itacaré Brazil at Praia da Tiririca, which saw the girls enjoying a fun day of surfing in 1 m to 1.5 m waves and ASP ratings leader Chelsea Hedges (AUS) string together a pair of near perfect 9.00 rides, the World?s top 17 Women surfers have seen round two put on hold today because of disappointing surf.

The next call will be made at 09h00 local time, Wednesday 22 August, 2007 and you will be able to enjoy the action on live streaming video.

Labels: 2007, Billabong Girls Pro, Brazil, Chelsea Hedges, Praia da Tiririca

Australian Taj Burrow has beaten Kelly Slater (USA) to win the 2007 Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay. The victory is Burrow's second on the 2007 Foster's ASP World Tour and moves him to World No. 2 on the ASP ratings. Indeed, with their final place points, Slater and Burrows have blown the fight for the World crown wide open.
It is now halfway through the tour, Mick Fanning (AUS) still holds the number one spot with 4860 points but Taj Burrow moves up to second, just 524 points behind. Andy Irons (HAW) has 3921 points in position three, while Kelly Slater (USA) now sits threateningly on 3840 points, in fourth position; Joel Parkinson (AUS) is fifth in the rankings and starting to trail with 3804 points, having been stopped by Burrows in the quarter-finals.

Mick Fanning commented, "Taj surfed insanely the whole event." However, despite falling to Taj Burrow in the semis, Fanning's consistency remains unchallenged this year with three 3rds, a 1st and a 2nd.

The men's tour now enjoys a six week break before reconvening at Lower Trestles, California, USA, in September.

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, Billabong Pro, Jeffreys Bay, Taj Burrow

The 2007 ASP Women's World Longboard Championship in Biarritz, France, has been won by Jennifer Smith from Pacific Beach, California, USA, who was last years runner-up. She secured the title by defeating the phenomenal 15 year old French teenager Justine Dupont in a close fought final, acknowledging that it was her greater experience that won through.
"Justine is such a good surfer and has been getting really high scores throughout the whole event. She's only 15 and I have six years on her" said Smith. "She's not going anywhere. In six year's time, she is going to be absolutely annihilating it."


Dupont took out Chelsea Williams (AUS) in their semifinal and in the other semifinal Jennifer Smith defeated Janna Irons (HAW), cousin to surfing superstars Andy and Bruce.

Labels: 2007, ASP, Biarritz, France, Jennifer Smith, Justine Dupont, Women's World Longboard Championship

Competition has begun in the 2007 Roxy ASP Women's World Longboard Championship, at the beautiful French town of Biarritz.

Local hopes rest on four-time European longboard champion Claire Karabatsos (FRA), who is Biarritz born and bred. In last year?s event Karabatsos had a remarkable run, advancing through to the semifinals where she was defeated by the eventual winner Schuyler McFerran (USA).

The Championship incorporates a number of free public events, including concerts, art exhibitions, initiatives and workshops to celebrate the regions strong surfing culture.

Labels: 2007, Biarritz, France, surfing, women's, Women's World Longboard Championship

Stop No. 5 on the 2007 Foster's ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay gets underway tomorrow; the event waiting period is July 11-22.
If you cannot be there in person, you can join the hordes of spectators at the event by viewing on the live webcast. For those luck enough to be there, a three-day J-Bay Music Festival will keep them partying on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings,
12-14 July.

This could prove to be a vital competition for the title contenders Mick Fanning, Damien Hobgood, Andy Irons, Taj Burrow and Joel Parkinson but South Africans Ricky Basnett, Royden Bryson, Greg Emslie, Travis Logie and young Jordy Smith, currently rated second on the ASP World Qualifying Series, are all capable of spoiling their game plan.

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, Billabong Pro, J-Bay, Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

Well the finals of the 2007 Rip Curl Pro Search lived up to expectations. Twin brothers, Damien and CJ Hobgood, met for the third time in ASP tour semifinals and this time it was Damien who came out on top in a very close heat.

Bobby Martinez clinched a 10 point ride in his quarter-final against ratings leader Mick Fanning but it wasn't enough to secure a semi-final place and Mick went through to face Andy Irons, who continued his surge to defend his Pro Search title. Then, in a hard fought final against Damien Hobgood, Irons scored a late 9.17 to grab the globe-shaped trophy for a second year in succession, moving him to 3rd in the rankings behind Damien, who jumps to the number two slot.

Andy is actually in quite a strong position in the rankings because when calculating final points total, he will be allowed to drop his last place finish in the first event of the year.




The top five ASP World Tour rankings are currently:

1. Mick Fanning (AUS)


2. Damien Hobgood (USA)


3. Andy Irons (HAW)


4. Taj Burrow (AUS)


5. Joel Parkinson (AUS)

Kelly Slater (USA) comes in at number six, having had a disappointing start to the year with only one semi-final show.

The Foster?s 45 are now headed to JBay, South Africa, for event 5 of the Dream Tour.

Labels: 2007, Andy Irons, ASP World Tour, championship, Chile, Ex-Isla Alacran, Rip Curl Pro Search, surfing

Rip Curl Pro Search, Chile, is set for an exciting finish. Andy Irons (Haw)surged into the Semis, defeating Joel Parkinson (Aus) and their are some great matches in the remaining quarterfinals.
Bobby Martinez (USA) seems to relish these conditions and takes on an in-form Mick Fanning (AUS). Then the USA Hobgood twins, CJ and Damien, face Dean Morrison (AUS) and Bruno Santos (BRA), respectively. Which means that once again, they could be going head to head in the Semi-finals.

Whatever happens, Mick Fanning has increased his hold on the top spot of the ASP World Tour. While it doesn't look as if Kelly Slater is going to be adding to his World Title count this year, again taking an early flight home.

Labels: 2007, ASP, Chile, surfing, World Tour

Arica, Chile, is the location of the 2007 Rip Curl Pro Search, event four on the 2007 Foster?s ASP World Tour, which begins on June 20.

Andy Irons won the 2006 Search event held in the long, barreling, warm-water rights of La Jolla Mexico but the Chilean break of Ex-Isla Alacran is distinctly cold and as Irons notes,
"Defending the Search title is unique because you?re dealing with an entirely different element than the one you won the event in; the wave in Arica is the exact opposite of what we dealt with in La Jolla last year, so it levels the playing field for sure."

The cold-water Chilean break of Ex-Isla Alacran is a right and left-hand reef break, which is so similar to Hawaii's Banzai Pipeline that it is known as the 'South American Pipeline'.

Labels: 2007, Arica, ASP World Tour, Chile, Ex-Isla Alacran, Rip Curl Pro Search, surfing

Damien Hobgood from Satellite Beach, Florida, USA, defeated current ASP ratings leader Mick Fanning (Aus) by less than a point in the dying minute of a closely contested Billabong Pro final, to take his first win of the 2007 season.

The win moves Hobgood into third place on the Fosters ASP World Tour. It also set some personal daemons to rest, following the 2005 Billabong Pro Tahiti Final, when Damien was forced to retire after dislocating his shoulder.

Mick Fanning's second place increases his lead at the top of the ratings and he is followed in second place on the ratings by Taj Burrow. Kelly Slater and Andy Irons are back in positions six and seven, respectively.
Next stop on the tour is the Rip Curl Pro Chile, June 20 to July 1, 2007.

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, Billabong Pro Tahiti, Damien Hobgood

For the first time ever, an extension to an ASP International event waiting period has been granted. Waves today are only about half a metre or so, and with a swell forecast for Wednesday, it looks as if the seven remaining heats of the Billabong Pro Tahiti will be postponed until then.

Labels: 2007, ASP, ASP World Tour, Billabong Pro Tahiti

For most of the waiting period for the 2007 Billabong Pro Tahiti, at Teahupoo, the infamous 'Chopes' had decided to sleep, but it woke up yesterday to unleash a full day of surfing action and surprises.

French tour rookie Jeremy Flores, eliminated reigning and eight-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), who was uncharacteristically out of form.

Cory Lopez (USA) eliminated current equal Foster's ASP World Tour No. 1, Taj Burrow (AUS), by a mere 0.16 in what turned out to be the highest scoring heat of the day, 17.66.

And current world No. 3 Bede Durbidge (AUS) lost to rookie Kai Otton (AUS), in the rather inconsistent surf of the last heat of the day.

Having won through to the Quarterfinals, Mick Fanning (AUS), who came into the event sharing Burrow's World No. 1 rating, now stands to increase his ratings lead. Of the last eight competitors, current world No. 5 Joel Parkinson (AUS) is the highest ranking surfer behind Fanning.

An exciting final day is in prospect, beginning with an interesting Quarterfinal heat between travelling buddies, Joel Parkinson and Andy Irons.

Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) v. Andy Irons (HAW)
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) v. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) v. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 4: Cory Lopez (USA) v. Kai Otton (AUS)

Watch all the action live.

Labels: 2007, Billabong Pro, Tahiti

Phil Rajzman has made surfing history by becoming Brazil's first ever ASP World Champion.

Labels: 2007, Brazilian, France, Les Cavaliers, Phil Rajzman, World Longboard Champion

Excitement and surprises continue to be surfed up at Les Cavaliers, Anglet, France, in the Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship.

In round 3, Heat 1, 18 year old local wildcard Antoine Delpero (FRA) showed that youth could rise over experience when he defeated 41-year-old veteran Amaro Matos (BRA) in round three. Despite Matos being the in-form surfer, having scored the highest two-wave heat score the previous day, and tricky wave conditions, Delpero was able to find two open faced walls, performing a number of stylish maneuvers which allowed him to take the heat and advance into round four.

After an overnight stop, the next major surprise saw defending event champion, Josh Constable (AUS), being beaten by fellow Australian, 17-year-old whiz kid and youngest competitor in the event, Harrison Roach. It was a massive turn-up because the experienced and powerful Constable had been in devastating form, and Roach had entered the event on a wildcard ticket.

Then, in the very next heat, it was a similar scenario with trials wildcard Jackson Close, a young, powerful Australian, surfing far too strong for last year's runner up Ned Snow (HAW).

With two days remaining and 16 surfers left, organisers will aim to run Round 4 tomorrow before finishing the event on Sunday.

Labels: 2007, France, Les Cavaliers, Oxbow Pro, World Longboard Championship

The first round of the 2007 Oxbow World Pro Longboard Championship got underway this afternoon. Earlier, the four remaining wildcard spots were decided and they include 17 year old Harrison Roach from Australia; two of his compatriots, Jared Neal and Jackson Close, join him in the main event and the fourth place went to 18 year old, San Clemente, USA, surfer Troy Mothershead.

Each of the wildcards are surfing in an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International rated longboard main competition for the very first time and the winner of the event will be crowned the 2007 world longboard champion, so they can expect some stiff competition from seasoned pro surfers.

Labels: 2007, championship, longboard

Surfing legends and the world's hottest longboarders are descending on the famous beaches of les Cavaliers, la Barre and les Dunes, on the French, Basque Coast, for the Oxbow World Longboard Championship scheduled to start this Monday, Apr. 30, 2007, with a waiting period through to May 6, 2007.

The event will crown the ASP World Longboard Champion and Australian Josh Constable, will be there to defend the crown he won in the epic waves of Costa Rica last year, but local hopes will be with young Frenchman and Oxbow wildcard, Antoine Delpero. He has been based in the Basque coast for the last few years and is both an accomplished shortboarder, as well as a skillful longboarder. Having made a name for himself riding the huge waves of the Basque coast this winter, he clearly has the talent to cause some major upsets.

Labels: 2007, ASP, championship, France, longboard

It seems that at Snapper Rocks, Australia, the home advantage is a powerful factor; just like the women's ASP event, the first event of the 2007 men's ASP World Tour has gone to a local surfing hero. Mick Fanning (AUS) won the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Samsung at his home break of Snapper Rocks for the second time in three years.

Beating fellow local and unsponsored surfer Bede Durbidge (AUS) in barrelling 1.5 to 2 metre (5 to 6 foot ) waves, Fanning slotted himself into a series of deep barrels and executed some of his patented searing turns to emerge from the water victorious much to the delight of the 10,000 plus strong crowd.

Many of the top names were slow to show their form and rookies and wild cards played havoc in the Snapper Rocks surf, leaving many champion surfers in the lower half of the rankings table. Men's rankings after one event are:

1 Mick Fanning(AUS) 1200 points
2 Bede Durbidge(AUS) 1032 points
3 Kelly Slater(USA) 876 points
3 Taj Burrow(AUS) 876 points
5 Joel Parkinson(AUS) 732 points
5 Michael Campbell(AUS) 732 points

The Foster's ASP World Tour will now head south to the colder waters of Bells Beach for the Rip Curl Pro, which will kick off April 3, 2007.

Labels: 2007, ASP World Tour, Australia, Durbidge, Fanning, Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, result, Snapper Rocks, winner

2007 FOSTER'S ASP MEN'S WORLD TOUR SCHEDULE

February 27-March 10
Gold Coast,Qld-Australia Quiksilver Pro

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April 3-13
Bells Beach,Victoria-Australia Rip Curl Pro

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May 4-14
Teahupoo,Taiarapu-Tahiti Billabong Pro Teahupoo

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May 20-31
Tavarua/Namotu-Fiji Globe Pro Fiji

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June 20-July 1
Some where Rip Curl Pro Search

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July 11-22 Jeffreys Bay-South Africa Billabong Pro

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September 1-8
Japan TBA

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September 11-15
Trestles,California-USA Boost Mobile Pro of Surf presented by Hurley

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September 22-October 1
South West Coast-France Quiksilver Pro France

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October 2 or 3-14
Mundaka, Euskadi-Spain Billabong Pro

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October 29-November 7
Santa Catarina-Brazil Nova Schin Pro Brasil presented by Billabong

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December 8-20
Banzai Pipeline,Oahu-Hawaii Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters

Total prize money on the tour $3,360,000

WOMEN'S 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR SCHEDULE

February 27-Mar 10
Gold Coast,Queensland-Australia Roxy Pro

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April 3-8
Bells Beach,Victoria-Australia Rip Curl Pro

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April 21-26
Tavarua/Namotu-Fiji Roxy Pro

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August 20-27
Praia da Tiririca,Itacare,Bahia-Brazil Billabong Girls

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September 4-9
Santander,Liencres-Spain Rip Curl Girls Festival

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October 8-14
Northern Beaches,Sydney, NSW-Australia Havaianas Beachley Classic

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November 23-December 6
Sunset Beach,Oahu-Hawaii Roxy Pro

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December 8-20
Honolua Bay,Maui-Hawaii Billabong Pro

Total prize money on the tour $583,300

Labels: 2007, ASP, dates, locations, men's, schedule, surfing, tour, women's, world