Billabong Pro: Lay Day For Day 1

E365 -- Yesterday was the first of an 11-day waiting period for the Billabong Pro Tahiti but the ASP Top 45 and event wildcards did not paddle out for their Round 1 heats. Contest Director Luke Egan eyed conditions all morning before opting to call things off for the day.

"We had a good look at it and we are opting not to run today,” Egan said. “I watched it for an hour last night and if it looked like that this morning then I was definitely going to run. Time is on our side with the waiting period so we are going to utilize it fully."

Conditions are forecasted to stay small over the next few days which is good news for at least one surfer— defending champion Damien Hobgood (USA). Hobgood suffered an injury freesurfing at Teahupoo a few weeks ago and is still nursing a sore shoulder. The more time he has to heal increases the likelihood he will be able to compete.

Remarkably, it’s been years since each and every member of the Top 45 have been slated to surf an event – injury, personal lives and travel issues often intervene. At this juncture, all elite tour surfers are seeded into the draw. Among them, after spending much of the past two years on the injury list himself, is Timmy Reyes (USA).

"I’m definitely back at 100%,” Reyes said. “I just found my good surfing rhythm within Australia. I felt like I was surfing pretty good over there, I just had a couple of tough breaks but that is what happens when you surf against the world’s top surfers. I’m just stoked to be back to 100%, if not better, and I can’t wait for the contest to start. I’m stoked to be here."

Reyes will meet 2007 ASP Rookie of the Year Jeremy Flores (FRA) and South Africa’s Travis Logie in Heat 4 of Round 1.

The surfers and event staff enjoyed a traditional Tahitian welcome complete with belly dancing and fire twirling last night. Today’s activities will likely include kayaking, fishing, hiking and napping.

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 1 Match-Ups:

Heat 1: Dean Morrison (AUS), Luke Munro (AUS), Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Roy Powers (HAW), Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Tim Reyes (USA), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW), Ben Dunn (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Damien Hobgood (USA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Chris Ward (USA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Jamie O’Brien (HAW)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Bruno Santos (BRA)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Michael Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Dane Reynolds (USA), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 16: Neco Padaratz (BRA), Bruce Irons (HAW), Daniel Wills (AUS)

Own A Piece Of BMX History

E365 -- A BMX ramp that once stood outside of Stephen Murray's home is going to be put up for auction soon.

The house where the ramp stands was put up for sale shortly after Murray's accident, and thought the dirt trails will all be leveled, the new owners have allowed some time for the ramp to be moved.

Here's the full message from Kimarie Hunt:

Sadly some of the best dirt trails in Riverside, Ca will soon be leveled and a mere memory. Though we could sit around for days discussing the details of the crazy Jams held there & the caliber of riders that have visited. Driving down Sunrise Hill Road will not be the same, when passing the yard that one displayed very prominent Full Ramp that once belonged to Stephen Murray. Just after Stephen’s accident the property was put up for sale. The new owners, have agreed to allow us time to have the ramp removed and or relocated.

The decision has been made to hold an auction. Though specifics, have not yet been finalized, a press release will be sent out within the next couple of weeks with all information. If you have ideas as to where you would like to see the ramp used or you are interested in the purchase of this piece of BMX History, please use the contact information provided below.

Kimarie Hunt
Cell: (714) 580-7736
Fax: (714) 849-2756
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Brazil To Host 2008 ASP World Masters

E365 -- For the first time in five years, the ASP World Masters Championships will assemble some of the most legendary names in professional surfing to Rio de Janeiro’s Barra de Tijuca from June 30 through July 6, 2008 to crown the 2008 ASP World Masters and ASP World Grand Masters Champions.

The Rio Masters will feature two divisions in the ASP Masters (surfers aged over 35) and the ASP Grand Masters (surfers aged over 47). The top 14 in each division are invited directly off of ASP career ratings (points being accrued by winning ASP World Titles, Top 5 World rankings, Top 10 World rankings and time spent on the ASP World Tour).

“To look at this list of names, I find it just a staggering congregation of talent,” Brodie Carr, ASP CEO, said. “This field is well representative of the pioneers of our sport, and those who have seen these living legends surf recently will attest that they haven’t lost a step at all. They’re all still ripping and so hungry to get back in the competition singlet. It’s very exciting to have the ASP World Masters Championships back on the schedule in 2008 and I feel like this season’s event will be one of the year’s highlights.”

Confirmed athletes to this season’s Rio Masters include former ASP World Champions Mark Occhilupo (AUS), Shaun Tomson (ZAF), Peter Townend (AUS), Rabbit Bartholomew (AUS), Tom Curren (USA), Damien Hardmen (AUS), Martin Potter (ZAF) and Derek Ho (HAW) as well as former ASP World Masters Champions Gary Elkerton (AUS), Michael Ho (HAW), Cheyne Horan (AUS) and Terry Richardson (AUS). Other confirmed athletes include Brad Gerlach (USA), Rob Bain (AUS), Dave Macaulay (AUS), Hans Hedemann (HAW), Buzzy Kerbox (HAW), Simon Anderson (AUS) and Ian Cairns (AUS).

Tomson, who claimed the ASP World Title in 1977, is eager to return to the competitive scene and looks forward to rejoining his fellow surfers in the idyllic beachbreaks of Barra de Tijuca in Brazil.

“Wonderful to have the Masters back on again,” Tomson said. “I’ll be there with bells on and definitely looking forward to seeing the guys again and having a great event in Rio.”

The 2008 Rio Masters will be the first of a three-year license for Brazil, and this year’s event will stand alone in terms of Masters events, crowning both the ASP World Masters Champion and ASP World Grand Masters Champion. ye

“It’s with a great enthusiasm that ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) together with Pepper Comunicação Integrada has the pleasure to announce the ASP World Masters Championship 2008,” Pepper’s Paulo Costa Jr. said. “After five-year absence, the event returns to the world competition scene through the partnership between the greatest surfing entity on the planet and one of the most important agencies of communication and marketing in Brazil.”

“This effective teamwork certainly promises to be a success, bringing the icons of surf, such as Tom Curren, Shaun Tomson, Rabbit Bartholomew, Martin Potter, Gary Elkerton, Damien Hardman, Brad Gerlach, Peter Townend, Cheyne Horan, among others, back in a real meeting of champions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,” Costa Jr. continued. “In addition to having the surfers who have influenced generations over the years, the event will proudly gather music, art, life style and environmental actions together into an unforgettable surf festival between June 30 and July 6.”

Billabong Pro Tahiti All Set To Go

E365 -- After what everyone is calling the best trials event on record, things have slowed down at the end of the road over the past couple of days

The swell has been hovering in the 3-4ft range, the winds have stayed true offshore and the sun has been shining, making it easy to slip into the idyllic Tahitian lifestyle of surfing, eating fish and sneaky afternoon naps.

Most of the trials surfers have fled the scene, bar Jamie O’Brien and Bruno Santos, who will take their place in the main event after their trials triumph.

The top 45 are drifting in and the only thing on their mind is, “Will it get as big as the trials?” Early swell forecasts indicate a slow start to the waiting period but things can change very quickly in the South Pacific.

The champ Fanning is here. Parko is here. Taj is kicking around and a big group of the Aussies came in last night. Defending champion Damien Hobgood hasn’t withdrawn from the event despite fracturing his shoulder at Teahupoo two weeks ago and will give himself every opportunity to mend before round one kicks off.

Learn New Tricks Without The Pain

E365 -- The Camp of Champions and Burton Snowboards have introduced a great new accessory for intermediate snowboarders looking to improve, or even experienced boarders looking to push the limits - the Mega Bag by BAGJUMP.

Designed by Austrian pro snowboarders Martin Rasinger and Jocki Koeffler in cooperation with Hollywood stuntmen, the Mega Bag is an Academy Award winning Precision Stunt Airbag.

Designed to envelope the rider, even on off-center hits, it enhances the safety of landings from up to 200 feet. Using a unique Chamber & Air Release Safety System, riders can try any trick without worrying about bad landings. In other words, campers will learn bigger tricks faster and safer than before.

Mega Bag isn't designed for beginners; it's for intermediate to advanced/pro riders looking to step it up without getting worked.

Sounds good to us.

Lacondeguy Wins Qashqai Challenge In Madrid

E365 -- It was an amazing day at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the home of Real Madrid. Nissan’s course design team built the best Qashqai course yet and the riding was absolutely through the roof.

he Nissan Qashqai Challenge Series is really coming into it’s own, the courses are getting better and better, the judging panel is working very well together and the live time results are quick and accurate on the venue’s flat screens. With beautiful weather, a local DJ spinning smooth euro beats throughout the competition, and live local hip-hop show, it was a great day in the heart of Madrid.

In the finals, Andreu Lacondeguy blew everyone away and scored the highest score of the day with a Superman back flip, into a 360 on the step up, to turn-down on the step down, to a huge extended superman, followed by a clean 360 tailwhip to pedals. Greg Watts was close with a suicide back flip to barspin, into a no-footed cancan on the step up, barspin on the step down, superman seat-grab, into a truck driver to reverse bar spin. Benny Korthaus pulled of the biggest 360-tables of the day and a couple perfect 360-whips, Kyle Strait had his double whips dialled, and Amir Kabbani showed off also rode incredibly well rounding out the top five.

The competition for the final 5 qualifying slots in Munich and London was incredibly tight. Mitchell Chubey, Bartek Obukowicz, Alex Reveles, Tyler McCaul and Andi Wittman can prepare themselves for the big battle urban freeride, which starts next weekend in Germany.

The young riders in contention were riding smart and putting together amazing runs. The organisers were so impressed with the level of riding in Milan and Madrid that they decided to collaborate with the judges and award 5 additional wildcard slots to bump the final rider line-up from 25 to 30 riders at the next two Nissan Qashqai Challenge events. The riders are Martin Soederstroem (winner of Milan’s qualifying), Marius Hoppensack (10th in Milan), Andrew Taylor, Geoff Gulevich and Cameron Zink who are showed all a solid performance in Madrid.