August has seen some really amazing surf action over at the Billabong Pro J-Bay and at Teahupoo, Tahiti... the ASP’s championship tour is seriously heating up. September is going to continue the steam train momentum as stops 6 and 7 of the dreamtour take place, and Europe holds the main events on the WQS. It’s time to either get on a plane to the action or hunker down with some internet viewing time.
Event: Quiksilver Pro NewYork
Location: Long Island,New York, USA
Rating: WCT
Dates: 4th - 15th September
Prize money: $1,000,000
Last year’s winner: Event didn’t exist last year
Event: Hurley Pro
Location: Trestles,California, USA
Rating: WCT
Dates: 18th - 24th September
Prize money: $425,000
Last year’s winner: Kelly Slater (USA)
Event: Billabong Azores Island Pro
Location: Sao Miguel, Portugal
Rating: Prime
Dates: 27th September - 2nd October
Prize money: $250,000
Last year’s winner: Event cancelled due to lack of waves
Event: Billabong Surf Eco Festival
Location: Praia do SESC, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Rating: 2*
Dates: 1st - 3rd September
Prize money: $25,000
Last year’s winner: Santiago Muniz (BRA) (Junior version)
Event: Cabreiroa Pantin Classic Pro
Location: Pantin, Spain
Rating: 5*
Dates: 13th - 18th September
Prize money: $120,000
Last year’s winner: Billy Stairmand (NZL)
Event: Islas Canarias Ocean and Earth Pro by Gran Canaria
Location: Confital,Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
Rating: 2*
Dates: 21st - 25th September
Prize money: $25,000
Last year’s winner: Tim Boal (FRA)
Event: Cabreiroa Pantin Classic Pro
Location: Pantin, Spain
Rating: 6*
Dates: 15th - 18th September
Prize money: $35,000
Last year’s winner: Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Event: Billabong Women's Azores Island Pro
Location: Sao Miguel, Portugal
Rating: 6*
Dates: 26th - 29th September
Prize money: $35,000
Last year’s winner: Laura Enever (AUS)
During the month of July most of the surfing world was focusing its attention on the Billabong Pro J-Bay in South Africa. The elite surfers were battling it out in the ASP dreamtour contest, world rating points were being won and lost, and prize money was being fort over. Everything was running smoothly, even the waves. However, there was a significant absence in the line up... namely Kelly Slater the x10 world champion. So where was Slater?
There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to do what they have to do, despite of everyone else’s opinions. In Slater’s case it seems as though missing the chance to do really well in J-Bay was the right decision, as Slater chose to go to Fiji in search of some incredible waves.
So whilst most of us were dreaming of our
surf holidays this summer, there was some incredible surfing going about to take place. On the 10th-12th July, ‘Cloudbreak’ the perfect lefthand reef break lit up with some considerable size. The Fijian beast of a wave saw curling barrel after barrel push through and for those surfers who’d chosen to risk life, limb and ego, it was some of the best waves on the planet. ASP contest vs free surfing in the tropics? Tropics win.
Here’s a little glimpse of just how good the surf was with big wave surfer Ryan Hipwood (AUS) charging it on a Cloudbreak bomb.
It’s the start of another working week and what better way to start than to watch some of the funniest wipeouts. So take a break from working, sit back with a cup of coffee and have a giggle, and think of how you would never wipe out like this on your
surf holiday...
- 1. Funny or just plain mean at the Eddie Aikau Memorial Contest:
- 2. Teahupoo teaching Raimana a lesson:
- 3. Everyone loves the flowrider:
- 4. Ultimate jetski wipeout:
- 5. Hawaii on a good day by Brian Bielmann:
- 6. Insane bodyboarding backwash:
- 7. Shipstern’s Bluff keeping surfers in check:
- 8. The Classic sideways maneuvre:
- 9. Mexican spice at Puerto Escondido:
- 10. Jet ski’s aren’t always a good idea...
The Billabong Pro Tahiti is about to start its waiting period for the 5 stop of the ASP’s world championship tour over on the idyllic island of Tahiti. The top 34 surfers in the world have made their way across oceans to be part of the legendary event that looks set to deliver some Pacific ‘size’ when it comes to the waves.
Running from 20th to 31st August, the stakes are high for this years event. Billabong’s contest is the mid year cut off for the ASP’s rotation. This means that surfers need to have enough points to remain within the top 32 surfers in the world, not just be within the World Championship Tour to requalify for the remaining 6 events of the year.
The Billabong Pro Tahiti is always run at the incredibly dangerous wave of Teahupoo. The wave is renowned for its extreme left hand barrels as it pushes a deluge of water onto the knife sharp coral just a few feet beneath the surface. The change from deep ocean level to shallow reef causes a near perfect barrel to form, one that has an excess of power and hence is one of the most dangerous in the world. People have lost their lives at Teahupoo, and many a surfer has suffered an array of reef cuts- fondly known as ‘reef tattoos’.
This year will be bittersweet for many at the event, as Tahiti is a reminder of who is sharply missing from the tour. The late Andy Irons won this contest last year, and it was looking like this was only the beginning of his resurgence on the tour. He dominated in last year’s contest, showing everyone how to ride the infamous Tahitian wave of Teahupoo, making riding the foamball out of the barrel look effortless. There will be many surfers wanting to win at Teahupoo, especially to commemorate the loss of their friend.
Tahiti invites some of the best big barrel riding surfers to do very well in its waters, so the contest title may go to one of the former winners such as Damien and CJ Hobgood (USA), Bruno Santos (BRA) or Bobby Martinez (USA). However, x10 world champion Kelly Slater (USA) is back in the game fresh from his win at the US Open, so he is a definite contender. Keep an eye out for the ASP’s top ranked surfers though, as Joel Parkinson (AUS) is currently leading the field, and Jordy Smith (ZAF) is close on his heels, and they are both hungry for that first world tour title.
Every year the best surfers, skaters, and bmx riders descend on the Cornish town of Newquay to compete in the largest surf music festival in the UK: the
Relentless Boardmasters.
Running from 10th to 14th August, the Boardmasters was celebrating its 30th anniversary so in true party fashion it was boosted from a 5* to a 6* status with the ASP’s World Qualifying Series (WQS) for the surfers. The stakes were high, so the event was always set to be a good one...
On Sunday 14th August French Reunion surfer Romain Cloitre claimed his first WQS win in the 3-4ft waves at Fistral Beach. After 5 days of competition, over 100 surfers battling it out for the much needed points and prize money, Cloitre smoothly took the title by defeating Australian Mitch Coleborn. Cloitre managed to amass a score of 14.77 out of a possible 20, clinching the deal as Coleborn put together a total of 9.36.
Both Cloitre and Coleborn’s surfing in the building swell at Newquay’s infamous Fistral Beach gave an example of what can be done in the smaller Atlantic waves. Regardless of the size of the waves, the onlooking crowds witnessed a steady stream of aerials, carves and cutbacks, that had the groms and newbie surfers inspired to get out in the waves.
This year the ASP’s shortboarding contest was joined by a 3* Longboarding competition for the men, and a 6* Longboarding contest for the women. A very happy Antoine Delpero from France defeated local favourite Ben Skinner in the challenging conditions to win 17.50 points to Skinner’s 16.74. Whereas the women’s division saw American Jennifer Smith defeat Australian Georgia Young 16.77 to 10.77.
Running alongside the surf contests were BMX and skateboarding competitions held on their own half pipes. Showing the talents of local and international athletes in either sport, the riders were keen to get a cut of the £11,000 prize purse for the skaters, and £3000 for the BMXers.
The Boardmasters itself was split between 2 locations: Fistral Beach by day, and Watergate Bay by night for the music festival. Headliners this year included Fatboyslim and the Klaxons on the Main Stage, and DJ Yoda and The Qemists in the Energy Sessions area. With around 100 acts performing, the event was attended by 1000s, and set the scene for many more years to come.
