August 18, 2008 - Surf ranged in the 2-5 foot range all weekend and proved that Hawaii is the place to have contests! Sunny skies, big smiles and big moves from all divisions were the standard all weekend.

Sunday started out with Pro longboarding and the show was on.  Radical off the lips and smooth nose riding in combination scored high. Early stand outs early were Candice Appleby and Crystal Dzigas, both local Queens Beach girls. Dzigas was going for the largest sets and pulling straight up tops turns and long nose rides on her longboard.

When Semis rolled around Jr. Women winner Carissa Moore worked through the burn in her legs to score big. Moore entered three divisions in marathon manner - after all Kewalos is her home training ground. After winning the ASP Women’s Jr Pro Saturday Moore won all three divisions she entered Sunday, a total sweep of shortboarding, longboarding and the first ever FLHI Girlz Trick competition. Alessa Quizon was not far behind in scoring, just short one turn on the inside.

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July, 26, 2008 - When we arrived at Huntington Beach for the women’s final event at the U.S. Open of Surfing, the place was packed. Not unusual for a Saturday in Surf City but something historic was taking place on the south side of the pier that made the day truly special.

Fourteen year old Malia Manuel defeated seventeen year old Coco Ho and the duo became the youngest finalists ever at the U.S. Open of Surfing.  In addition, both surfers hail from Hawaii, also a first for the final.

Manuel’s victory was surprising, even to her. She had never competed at the U.S. Open and never in a two-person heat. Manuel, who lives on the eastern side of Kauai, entered the event as a wild card because she had not competed in enough events this year to be seeded. She ended up as the youngest champion in ASP history.

When asked “What’s next?” after accepting her award, Manuel replied with excitment “10th grade!”

Manuel, who will turn 15 next month, claimed an early edge in the 30-minute final and made it stand up, winning with a best-two-wave score of 14.34 points. The wind kicked up in the finals and Ho struggled to find a groove in the deteriorating conditions finishing with a score of 7.90.

Ho’s father, Michael, and uncle, Derek, both legendary Hawaiian surfers, must have been proud. Even with her second-place finish, it was a day of accomplishments for the teenager, who also won the women’s junior championship making her the first competitor to be in both the women’s final and women’s junior final.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star event saw some incredible performances, but really none as impressive as the Hawaiian up and comers taking down some of the biggest names in professional surfing.

In an earlier quarterfinal, Manuel defeated defending U.S. Open Champion Sofia Mulanovich of Peru. Mulanovich, the 2004 world champion, had posted perfect tens in a prior heat. Ho then knocked off defending world champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia in a semifinal. In the other seminfinal, Manual posted a dominant heat win over current ASP WQS ratings leader Sally Fitzgibbons en route to becoming the youngest U.S. Open Winner ever. 

The youth movment is alive and well.

Results:Final:
1 – Malia Manuel (HAW) 14.342 – Coco Ho (HAW) 7.90
Semifinals Results (1st advances)
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 13.10 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.67 
Heat 2: Coco Ho (HAW) 10.83 def Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 6.83
Quarterfinals (1st advances)
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 15.83 def. Sofia Mulanovich (USA) 13.10
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 11.00 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 1.60
Heat 3: Coco Ho (HAW) 12.00 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 8.23
Heat 4: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.67 def. Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 9.17 

Filed under: Surfing by jane
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July 23, 2008 - Currently ranked number one in the world, Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich made a spectacular debut at this year’s Women’s Honda US Open of Surfing, which is being held this week in Surf City (aka Huntington Beach, California).

With a whopping 17.97 points in her first round, Mulanovich was ranked number one in her group and qualified for the next round of the competition, considered North America’s highest-rated qualifying event.

After being given 7.83 points on her first wave, the former world champ blew away the judges - two of which gave her a perfect 10 - with an amazing performance on her second wave.

The two perfect tens along with three other scores above 9.5 gave Mulanovich, who was inducted into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame last year, more than enough points to qualify for the next round.

Strong showings were also seen from Hawaiians Bethany Hamilton, Coco Ho, Megan Abudo and Melanie Bartels as well as Aussies Stephanie Gilmore, Samantha Cornish, and Sally Fitzgibbons.

Filed under: Surfing by maddy
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July 8, 2008 - With votes pouring in, the 36th SURFER Poll and Video Awards presented by Suzuki Automotive is shaping up to be another contentious battle to the finish. As of today, the official website at surferpoll.com is live and offers a plethora of background information to inspire voting. Readers can cast their ballot now through Aug. 15.

Before casting a vote, readers are encouraged to explore past winners, memorable moments, historical photos and videos, and hilarious past SURFER Poll Skits. The site offers a behind the scenes look at the SURFER Polls over the years and a chance for SURFER readers and fans to see what actually goes down at the annual Awards show, touted as the biggest night in surfing.

In addition to voting for the top 10 male and the top five female surfers, readers may also nominate the film they deem worthy of the coveted 2008 Video of the Year. Sofia Mulanovich was the top female surfer 2005 - 2007.

Not only will casting a ballot allow SURFER readers a chance to voice their opinion, but this year one lucky voter and four friends will receive a VIP pass to the 2008 SURFER Poll Awards Show held at The Grove of Anaheim on Sept. 9. The invite-only Awards show is always a who’s who of modern day surfing stars and legends, celebrities, action sports elite and industry insiders.

For those who don’t get the lucrative invite, not all is lost as the 2008 SURFER Poll and Video Awards will be webcast live at surferpoll.com and will air on FUEL TV on October 27 in the “Meet & Brotatoes” Monday night special block at 8pm ET/PT.

Special thanks to the sponsors of the 2008 SURFER Poll and Video Awards: Suzuki Automotive, FUEL TV, Red Bull, Boost Mobile, and Toña Beer.

www.surferpoll.com

Filed under: Contest, Surfing by jane
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July 1, 2008 - After five years as a regular fixture of the Summer X Games, surfing has been dropped as one of the featured events. This year’s X Games will host several new disciplines, including Women’s Moto X Racing, but surfing will not be included in the world’s most visible action sports gala.

Slated to go down at Puerto Escondido over a four-day waiting period this week - dates that overlap with the Billabong Pro J-Bay - the X Games surf competition apparently was unable to get the big WCT names they wanted. And by big names we mean Kelly (Slater), Andy and Bruce (Irons), Taj (Burrow),  Mick (Fanning), Dane (Reynolds), and Jordy (Smith).

No mention of the ladies, who were finally added to the event last year. The 2007 U.S. vs. the World format featured legendary surfers Lisa Andersen and Layne Beachley as opposing coaches. The former is a four-time world champion and the inspiration behind the Roxy brand. The latter is a seven-time champion from Australia.

Guess the move to the Mexican Pipeline in search of gnarlier waves, nor the addition of the ladies, was enough to save the event. 

Although surfing at X Games is definitely off for this year, it may be revisited next year. Stay tuned.

Filed under: News Bytes, Surfing, X Games by jane
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May 30, 2008   -  It’s been a short break, but the ladies of the ASP Women’s World Tour are fired up and frothing on the upcoming Billabong Girls Pro Rio (July 15-20, 2008). What’s On Tour caught up with some of the ladies to find out what they’ve been up to in the interim and to see how they’ve been gearing up for the showdown in Brazil.

SOFIA MULANOVICH (PER)

1 - SURF “I have been surfing at home in Peru for the last month. The waves had been fun and I went a weekend to surf Chicama where the waves were amazing. I have been having lots of fun surfing with my bros and friends.”

2 - EQUIPMENT “I have been riding pretty much all my boards, from my little groveller to my 6 channel pin. I have been loving my boards this year, I have been going to see Al Merrick more often and being trying new stuff.”

3 - DIET “I have been eating everything. I love peruvian food and it is impossible for me to be in a diet when I am home.”

4 - TRAINING “I have just been surfing lots and doing a bit of yoga and stretches.”

5 - BRAZIL “I have never competed in an ASP Women’s World Tour event held in Rio so i am super excited. I feel really good with my surfing and my boards this year so I am for sure looking for a good result there.”

(more…)

Filed under: Surfing by Pretty Tough
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May 8, 2008  - San Clemente - Ever needed a legitimate excuse to go surfing? Well, on June 20, 2008, you finally have it: International Surfing Day.

On June 20th, surfers from around the world will wax their surfboards and catch a wave in honor of International Surfing Day (ISD).   Established four years ago by the Surfrider Foundation and Surfing Magazine, International Surfing Day is the one day a year where surfers from around the globe come together to celebrate the sport of surfing and pitch in to give back to our world’s oceans, waves and beaches.

As is tradition, the Surfrider Foundation will commemorate the day by hosting various coastal clean-up and restoration events around the world.  However there will be a new twist this year in the form of special ISD “challenges” whereby the public will be able to compete for prizes by participating in a wide range of activities ranging from beach clean-ups, to filmmaking, to art contests.

International Surfing Day is sponsored by Monster Energy Drink, Pac Sun and Earthpack. For more information, including information on challenges and event locations, go to intlsurfingday.com

Filed under: Charity/Cause, Surfing by admin
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April 13, 2008 - Margaret River, WA - Surfing history was created on the final day of the Drug Aware Pro Margaret River presented by O’Neill, as a new champion was crowned at Surfers Point. Paige Hareb (New Zealand) created her own piece of history, sealing her maiden professional tour victory in style.

In the Women’s competition, 17-year-old Hareb defeated Rosanne Hodge (South Africa) in a truly international Final. Hareb, who was extremely impressive throughout the entire competition, dazzled the crowd with an exciting brand of progressive surfing - becoming the first New Zealander in history to win a major event on the ASP Tour. “I’m so stoked,” she said.  “I can’t believe I’ve won.”

In a very close affair, Hareb, with a cumulative total of 14.5 (out of a possible 20), was able to come from behind to take the title over Hodge, who scored a 13.57 (out of a possible 20). “I just tried to get off to a quick start and get the best waves I could to build my heat,” she said.

In addition to the US$4,000 first place prize, Hareb was awarded with 2,000 valuable WQS ratings points, boosting her fight for qualification on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour.

Final
Paige Hareb def. Rosanne Hodge
Semifinals
S1: Paige Hareb def. Rebecca Woods
S2: Rosanne Hodge def. Clair Bevilacqua

www.margaretriver.com
www.drugawarepro.com
 

Filed under: News Bytes, Surfing by jane
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April 5, 2008 - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS/Qld) continued her winning form by taking the Midori Pro in Newcastle today.

Gilmore defeated Australian young sensation Sally Fitzgibbons in the 30 minute final in their first match up at open professional level – Gilmore the current ASP World Women’s Champion and Fitzgibbons the ASP World Junior Champion.

Read more…

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Air
getting airborne

Bail
to abandon a board; jump off

Barrel
space inside a breaking wave between the lip and face; a surfer may be completely hidden from view during a barrel ride. See tube.

Bashing
body surfing

Beach Break
waves breaking over a sand bottom

Break
when a wave passes from deep to shallow water the crest or top part of the wave tumbles or “breaks” down the face of the wave

Bodyboard
boogie board

Booger
a bodyboarder

Bump
a swell created by the wind

(more…)

Filed under: 101-Basics, Lingo, Playbook, Surfing by admin
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