Check out Drift Magazine
While the influences of Australia and North America played a key role in preaching the gospel of wave riding to Europe, it is only in the last 10 years that European surfing has grown to the point that it now boasts its own collective of individuals, talented in their chosen fields of surf writing, photography, film, music and art. Although this group has had no trouble finding its own voice, it has traditionally been marginalised by surf media. This is where Drift comes into play, stitching together this unique and diverse set of European wave riders and embracing Europe’s new movement, which can no longer be called a counter-culture. Drift’s readers are the new surf culture in European waters.
Go to: http://www.driftsurfing.eu/ and check this awesome online mag!!
Mick Fanning Claims 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search, Solidifies ASP Title Race Lead
Round 2 is finished at Belgas
With clean three-to-four foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves pulsing through the second backup venue of Belgas this morning, the Rip Curl Pro Search completed the remaining three heats of Round 2 before calling competition off for the day. Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search had intentions of pushing through Round 3 today, but as conditions slowed following a hold after Round 2, event organizers opted to postpone further competition this morning. Despite only running three heats, the day’s action and drama remained high, as the final 16 surfers were decided. Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22, current ASP World No. 3, kept his ASP World Title hopes alive this morning, eliminating good friend and compatriot Jihad Khodr (BRA), 25, in Round 2 of competition. “They were tough conditions out there, Jihad is a great competitor so I was very careful of him and I am really happy to move through to the next round and keep my title hopes alive. I have never got through to Round 2 at a Rip Curl Pro Search event so I am really happy about that, hopefully I can keep it going. I am just having fun, it is the first time I have the chance to get the title but I am still young, so there is not really any pressure.” Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 27, current ASP World No. 15, was the standout of the morning, netting a 15.17 out of a possible 20 in his elimination of Ben Dunn (AUS), 23, in the opening heat today’s competition. “It is a fun wave out there,” Patacchia said. “We have over-head surf, it is the best surf we have had on the European leg by far.” Patacchia will face former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 1, Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, in Round 3 of the Rip Curl Pro Search. “I surfed against Mick (Fanning) in Mundaka as well,” Patacchia said. “I know he is on his world title campaign and it is tough going against the guys when they are your friends because you want to see them win the title, but we are all here to win so I will give it my all and for sure try to beat him.” Tim Reyes (USA), 27, current ASP World No. 35, is in need of a major result in the last two events of the year to push himself into the requalification zone for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour. Feeling confident on his equipment, Reyes vaulted himself past current ASP World No. 11, Kieren Perrow (AUS), 32, in Round 2 of competition. “My boards are feeling really good,” Reyes said. “I have been on and off four boards because of all the different set ups here in Peniche. I am feeling pretty confident right now." For the first time in history, the world’s best female surfers will join the ASP Top 45 with the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search commencing their respective waiting period tomorrow and running through October 30, 2009. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour rookie and current ASP Women’s World No. 10, is keen to get back into the contest singlet again and excited about the potential for another solid wave event on the ASP Women’s World Tour. “It's really exciting for the women to be included at the Rip Curl Pro Search,” Fitzgibbons said. “With the event only being relatively new to the tour for the men, it seems a great opportunity to get our foot in the door and we hope to have it a part of our tour for years to come. Having the possibility of having bigger waves on offer this week will be a welcomed challenge. Supertubes and the surrounding breaks all offer great waves. I'm really looking forward to getting under way hopefully in the next few days.” Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 7:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start. When competition resumes, up first will be former ASP World Champion (2001), C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, battling Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, in Heat 1 of Round 3.
Day 4 Highlights - 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search Portugal
Tow-In Session Mick and Knox - 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search
Rip Curl Pro Search is on!
Stop No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search ran the opening eight heats of Round 1 yesterday at the third backup venue of Molhe Leste, but with more favorable winds for the other side of the peninsula projected for the day, event organizers have opted for the reeling lefthanders of Lagido in hopes of running as many heats as possible. “We have much more favorable conditions on offer today but the winds were looking a bit onshore at Supertubes and much cleaner at the backup venue of Lagido,” Damien Hardman, Rip Curl Pro Search Contest Director, said. “It’s high tide right now and we’re still seeing some good waves come through and we expect it to improve as the tide drops out.” Up first this morning is Dean Morrison (AUS), 28, against Justin Mujica (PRT), 32, in Heat 9 of Round 1. Surfline, official forecasters for the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search, are calling the current Northwest swell to maintain throughout the next couple of days before a WNW swell fills in for the weekend.
Big Wednesday!!
Day 1 is a Lay Day at The Rip Curl Pro Peniche, Portuagal
Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search has yet to decide whether to run the traditional or new competition format, and will gauge conditions on offer before making a decision.
“We’re expecting plenty of swell this week and don’t want to send the guys out in less-than-ideal conditions. We’ll be back tomorrow morning at 8am for a possible 8:30am start."
Surfline, official foreers for the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search, are calling for the shoulder-high surf to dissipate throughout the day before a major Northwest swells filling in tomorrow afternoon and into Wednesday and Thursday. Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8am for a possible 8:30am start.
Go to: http://live.ripcurl.com/ for all the action!
Wildcards decided & Men's Draw confirmed for Rip Curl Pro Search
The Rip Curl Pro Search is set to commence tomorrow (Monday) with solid waves forecast for the world’s best surfers to sink their teeth into. The third and final event of the 2009 European leg for the ASP Top 45, the Rip Curl Pro Search provides a crucial setting for a possible ASP World Title clinching as well as numerous battles for Dream Tour requalification. Tiago Pires (PRT), 29, current ASP World No. 23 and Portugal’s first-ever qualifier for the prestigious ASP World Tour, salvaged a difficult season with an Equal 3rd in France to vault himself up the ratings and within the requalification bubble. Now at home in Portugal, Pires will look to further solidify his rating heading into the final event of the year. “Competing in an ASP World Tour event in Portugal is something I have always dreamed of,” Pires said. “Now that I have the opportunity to do this in front of my friends and family, I am very grateful. The wave at Supertubos is a beachbreak barrel and I don’t think local knowledge will have a big advantage out there. The guys on tour are the best in the world and every heat is a challenge.” Pires will face Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, and Nathaniel Curran (USA), 25, in Round 1 of the Rip Curl Pro Search (traditional format). Owen Wright (AUS), 19, wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro Search and current No. 3 on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), was a standout in April’s Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, defeating reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, and ASP Dream Tour standout Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, as a wildcard. Since then, the phenomenal goofy-footer has gone on to secure his spot amongst the world’s best for 2010 and will use his wildcard in Peniche to measure himself against this year’s ASP Top 45. “It’s a massive honor to be selected, amongst the many incredible riders on the Rip Curl team, to compete in this event,” Wright said. “At the beginning of the year, I put my head down and really worked hard at achieving my goal of qualifying for the Dream Tour and now that I’ve done it, it feels amazing. I really see this as an opportunity to get some practice in against the world’s best before being a part of the tour next year.” Wright will take on Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, and Chris Davidson (AUS), 33, in the opening round of the Rip Curl Pro Search (traditional format). Joining Wright as wildcards into the Rip Curl Pro Search will be Justin Mujica (PRT), 32, winner of today’s TMN trials, Bruno Santos (BRA), 26, winner of the 2008 Billabong Pro Teahupoo as a wildcard, and David Luis (PRT), 29, replacing injured ASP Top 45 member Jeremy Flores (FRA), 21. For the first time in history, the world’s best female surfers will join the ASP Top 45 with the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search running later in the waiting period. Event No. 4 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search promises to deliver an exciting new dynamic into professional women’s surfing, and the current crop of ASP Top 17 are preparing for battle. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP World No. 1, is ecstatic about the opportunity to compete in her first “Search” event and views it as a vital step forward to the progression of women’s surfing. “It’s fantastic that Rip Curl have added the women to the ‘Search’ event this year,” Gilmore said. “Supertubos really has the potential to be a world class wave for us girls and I think that’s something that’s been lacking since we lost venues like Tahiti and Fiji. It will be great if we can get some solid waves to see what this new generation of girls can do.” Eyeing her third, consecutive ASP Women’s World Title, Gilmore is locked in a brutal battle for this season’s crown against Silvana Lima (BRA), 24. Lima has won the previous two events, bringing her within 361 points of Gilmore, and is looking dangerous heading into the back half of the season. “It definitely pushes my surfing and it’s what I need to stay competitively interested,” Gilmore said. “I think Silvana (Lima) has figured out the winning formula for her and she’s definitely someone on tour who is innovative and able to get big scores. I’m excited for the back half of the season and am happy to get back in the singlet.” Gilmore will take on veteran Amee Donohoe (AUS), 28, and reigning ASP Women’s World Junior Champion Pauline Ado (FRA), 18, in the opening round of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search. Surfline, official forecasters for the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search, are calling for clean swell conditions on the opening day of the waiting period before tracking a sizeable swell indicating solid overhead waves for the primary venue of Supertubes as well as three-to-four times overhead for the backup locations of Balgas. Event organizers will convene tomorrow morning at 7:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start. Event organizers will also make a call on which competitive format they’ll run, deciding between the traditional format and the elimination man-on-man format.
Final Heat Chris Davidson and Adriano De Souza - 2009 Billabong Pro Mundaka
Adriano de Souza wins the 2009 Billabong Pro Mundaka
SOPELANA, Euskadi/Spain (Tuesday, October 13, 2009) – Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22, claimed his inaugural ASP World Tour win today, taking out the Billabong Pro Mundaka, eliminating fellow Finalist Chris Davidson (AUS), 33, in punchy two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at the backup venue of Sopelana.Stop No. 8 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Mundaka experienced an array of conditions for the event, from clean surf on the opening day at Mundaka to a lengthy seven-day wait before a marathon 24-heat session yesterday, culminating into today’s dramatic finale.De Souza, who had previously experienced in the ASP World Junior Championships (winning in 2003) and on the ASP World Qualifying Series winning in 2005), was rapt with his inaugural ASP World Tour victory.“I don’t have words to express how happy I am right now,” De Souza said. “I have been working so hard for this ever since winning the ASP World Junior Championships and the ASP WQS. To finally win here in Mundaka, where the culture is so rich and the people love surfing so much, is an incredible thing. This is the most special day of my life.”The young Brazilian dominated the crumbling lefthander of Sopelana, racking up an insurmountable 16.40 out of a possible 20 to overtake his Australian opponent, resulting in his history-making win as the first South American to take out the prestigious event win.“The conditions have been hard for this event but we surfed the best waves that were available to us,” De Souza said. “Davo (Chris Davidson) is such a strong surfer and he has been going after a win for so long. When he beat C.J. (Hobgood) in the Semifinals, I knew it was going to be a battle. I was able to get the better waves today and that’s why I won.”The victory rockets De Souza into a solid 3rd place on the 2009 ASP World Tour ratings, putting him within striking distance for a shot at the ASP World Title.“I’m not thinking about the world title right now,” De Souza said. “I am just enjoying my win. This is the biggest win of my career and have a lot of confidence heading into the next events.”Davidson, who’s storied career amongst the world’s best surfers has seen him qualifying and falling off tour multiple times, secured his best ever result today with his Runner-Up finish at the Billabong Pro Mundaka.“Everything has felt special at this event for some reason,” Davidson said. “Everything has clicked and I’ve felt confident in every heat. Couldn’t find the waves in the Final, but congrats to Adriano (de Souza) – it’s a truly deserving win.”The win vaults Davidson into 20th position on the 2009 ASP World Tour ratings, well within the requalification cutoff for 2010.“It was a really crucial event for me in terms of the ratings,” Davidson said. “I was on the bubble heading into this event and knew I needed to pull something out of the bag. I’m frothing for the next event and the rest of the year.”C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, former ASP World Champion (2001), matched his best result today, finishing equal 3rd and solidifying his position at 4th on the ASP World Tour ratings.“I’m really stoked for Davo (Chris Davidson), but it’s disappointing at the same time,” Hobgood said. “I’m happy that I matched my best result this season, but was hoping for better. I felt like I prepared well and surfed conditions similar to this most of the week, but in the end, I couldn’t edge into the Final.”Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion, was in stunning form throughout the event despite nursing an Ilio-tibial band strain in his knee, only losing to eventual winner De Souza in a tightly fought Semifinal bout.“The knee felt okay today,” Slater said. “It was sore walking downhill but felt okay out in the lineup. I guess I’m still in contention (for the ASP World Title), but we’ll see how it pans out.”The race for the 2009 ASP World Title is far from over and the world’s best surfers will battle it out in the remaining two events.Highlights from the Billabong Pro Mundaka will be available via http://www.billabongpro.com/mundaka09/Next stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour will be the Rip Curl Pro Search in Peniche, Portugal from 19 – 28, 2009.For more information, log onto http://www.aspworldtour.com/
Dangerous Brian Comes to Surfside to try the New Xcel Infiniti 5mm X-Zip!
Billabong Pro Mundaka on today!
Xcel Winter Suits and accessories now available at Surfside!
- Xcel 5mm Infiniti X-Zip 2 - £254.99
Features: BAMBOO LINING, four way stretch and superior heat insulation. 100% Ultra-stretch, ultra-soft X Zip 2 system: short horizontal front zipper on outer flap, seal with pull cord barrel lock, ultra-stretch inner step in yoke Durable, water repellent
QuikDry SUPERLITE Neoprene Ultra-stretch side neck panels
THERMOBARRIER Ultra-stretch texture skin upper front, back chest
THERMOBARRIER Ultra-stretch lower body Ultra-stretch FUSION SEAMS throughout suit Ultra-stretch PRESSURE BONDED taped seams in lower body No hooks or loops to damage Neoprene Double-glued and blindstitched zipper flaps, glued zipper, key pocket Reinforced outer edge of inner neck
Double glued seams, no sewing on inside of lower body Durable, contoured DuraFlex knee panels Pre-bent arms, knees Safety snap for zipper FUSION SEAL at the Ankle and wrist Colour: The pictures of the new suits are for illustration purposes, the suits will be black.