The Coca-Cola Indonesian Surfing Championship Pro Tour 2009 was officially launched on the sands of the world famous Kuta Beach in Bali on Saturday afternoon in front of the Hard Rock Hotel just before sunset, complete with Balinese gamelan music and dancers, speeches, giveaways, and s live music performance, announcing the start of this exciting competitive surfing season.

The season’s first pro event will be the Rusty “Rumble in Da Jungle” 6-star contest at Bangsal Beach in Sanur, starting off on April 26th with a waiting period of 3 weeks with which to allow the contest to be run in only the best waves, creating the most exciting event for both the surfers and the spectators, with a prize purse of 35 million Rupiah at stake.

Six more pro events will be held in locations throughout Indonesia including West Java, Sumbawa, Rote, and of course Bali. Please check www.isctour.com for details on the schedule and to follow the tour as it travels to these exciting surf spots.

The Saturday afternoon launch event was attended by local and national media, members of the surf industry, surfers, staff and management of Coca-Cola Bottling Indonesia and the ISC, and of course the tourists and beach workers that crowd the sands of Kuta Beach each day in front of the Hard Rock Hotel Bali.

After the beautiful Balinese dancers had entertained the audience, Bruce Waterfield from Coca-Cola Bottling Indonesia headquarters in Jakarta gave a welcoming speech in which he explained, “Coca-Cola Bottling Indonesia’s sponsorship is an extension of our CSR program happening around Bali. We have been working with local authorities and NGO’s to clean up Bali’s beaches and improve environmental awareness through education. The ISC, surfing and surfers are users of the beaches in a place where surfing has such a global focus…..so we’re very keen to work with ISC, the governing body of surfing in Indonesia, as they provide an organized platform for the surfers to develop their skills and have great future.”

After a big round of applause, he added, “This is CCBI’s second year supporting the ISC. The large value of our sponsorship represents our commitment to provide all Indonesian surfers an opportunity to develop themselves, the sport and lifestyle of surfing, and an opportunity to shine on the world stage.”

The second day of the Estoril Quiksilver Pro 2009 saw some spectacular action take place at Guincho, back-up beach of the ASP WQS 6-Star event, with three foot (one meter) greeting top seeds for their start of their Portuguese campaign. The international field of contestants displayed a variety of classic and progressive surfing throughout today's twenty heats with most of the favourites finding their way out of Round 2 and secure their spot in the last 48-man pack.

Dominating by far proceddings today was 19-year-old Brazilian wunderkind Alejo Muniz (BRA) with impressive levels of surfing combining solid classic re-entries with flying maneuvers in the tricky fast-breaking waves of Guincho. Muniz, who has been rising on the international surfing stage for a couple of years now since he won the Under-16 Quiksilver King of the Groms event in France, clearly expressed his building confidence besting ASP Dream Tour Michael Picon (Capbreton, FRA), 29, with an explosive 18.60 point heat result (out of a possible 20) to advance through to Round 3 and secure the event's highest result thus far.

"I just tried to enjoy myself and have fun out there because I knew it would be a tough heat," Muniz said. "Surfing against Michael (Picon) who is an ASP Top 45 member was not going to be easy so I had nothing to lose and just let my surfing speak for me. I was a little b it nervous before paddling out but I got those good waves and I am stoked to make it through today." 

Muniz, who netted 9.00 and 9.60 point rides in twenty minutes, left the water with one minute remaining only, confident with his performance knowing he was guaranteed to move forward in the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star competition. Muniz, with his run today, leads all statistics with both best single wave and heat scores before the event reaches its business end where big scores will be expected.

"It gives good confidence to win a heat like that and especially against good surfers," Muniz said. "I don't have any specific goal here and I am hoping to go as far as possible but there isn't any pressure as I am not focusing on the WQS yet. I just want to better my seeding and get points for next year."

Fellow Quiksilver team riders Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) and Joan Duru (FRA) came-up with equivalent surfing, the 19-year-old Frenchman keeping-up his last-couple-of-weeks excellent form to post a 9.50 point ride (out of a possible 10) and remain confident towards his target. Duru, who ended up with a promising 14.93 point heat score in Heat 11, will now face outsiders Tinguinha Lima (BRA), Estoril B! Pro Junior runner-up Joaquim Guichard (DNK) and Madison Williams (AUS).

"I am pretty happy with that first run today and it is definitely a relief to get out of Round 2 with a big score," Duru said. "I was pretty relaxed but was not feeling too comfortable on my board and fell quite a few times. I was surfing the board I had in the ASP WQS 4-Star Protest Vendee Pro and things went well so I am happy."

Duru, who made the Quarterfinals of the ASP Grade-2 Estoril B! Pro Junior last Sunday, is targeting a qualification for next year's ASP World Tour and will be aiming at a big result this week in the Estoril Quiksilver Pro 2009.

"I entered the Pro Junior event to get used to the waves and got through a few heats so I am happy with that event," Duru said. "However, my main goal is to qualify for the Dream Tour this year and I am definitely focused on the major events of the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) to achieve my goal."

The Estoril Quiksilver Pro 2009, an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Men’s rated event, kicked-off today in Portugal with Round 1 and four heats of Round 2 being held in consistent wind-blown three to four foot (1 to 1.2 meter) waves at Guincho, back-up venue of the 2009 edition running until Sunday, April 26, 2009. The first day of competition witnessed world class action with ASP World Tour rookies Tim Boal (FRA) and Marlon Lipke (DEU) and Portuguese favourite Tiago Pires (PRT) taking control of proceedings with style.

Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA), 25, who had to surf in Round 1 due to entering late in the event, came-up with impressive carves and vertical committed maneuvers to easily lead and win Heat 10 against outsiders Dillon Perillo (USA), Nuno Telmo (PRT) and Ricardo Lange (DEU). Boal, who is currently rated No. 24 in the world, was surfing his first ASP WQS of the year and looked very comfortable during the 25-minute battle scoring an excellent 17.27 point result (out of a possible 20), enough to join fellow top seeds in Round 2 tomorrow.

“The waves were fun and I felt pretty relaxed out there,” Boal said. “The wind didn’t affect the conditions too much and things went pretty well for me. I broke my leash halfway through the heat but still managed to get a second good ride so I am pretty happy with that start.”

Boal, who has been travelling through Australia and Tahiti for a couple of months since the start of the ASP World Tour in February, decided to drive down to Portugal and enter the ASP WQS 6-Star event a few days ago only.

“I needed to test a few new boards and the weather and waves in France were not that good,” Boal said. “I saw there were some available spots in the event and now I am here so hopefully I can get a result before heading back to Trestles next week then Tahiti for the ASP World Tour.”

Boal will meet with Californian big wave legend Peter Mel (USA), France’s rising star Vincent Duvignac (FRA) and Dale Lovelock (AUS).

Dream Tour surfers’ domination was confirmed by fellow rookie Marlon Lipke (Faro, PRT), 24, the German surfer netting a 16.23 point score (out of a possible 20) finishing his run with an 8.50 point ride (out of a possible 10) to secure his Round 2 ticket. Lipke, who has had a tough start for his rookie season with two last-place results in Australia, unleashed his powerful attack to get out of Round 1 and get on with his Estoril Quiksilver Pro campaign.

“The waves were definitely contestable and we surfed at a good time of the day with the right tide,” Lipke said. “It was a good day and there had been lots of good scores before my heat so I was relaxed and just looked for the better waves. It’s a great feeling to surf in an event in Portugal after all that travel in the past two months.”

Lipke, who will travel to California next week and join Boal and the rest of the European Dream Tour contingent in Tahiti after that, is a former winner in the Estoril Quiksilver Pro (2007) and will be looking to better his equal 5th place finish from last year this week.

“I have no pressure and I really enjoying the bit of time in Portugal while I can,” Lipke said. “I am surfing here with nothing to lose and I am having a good time surfing a WQS event with this state of mind. Compared to last year when every heat could make a difference, it is really pleasant to paddle out here relaxed with absolutely no pressure.”

The ultimate global board sports security and insurance product Surfboard Tracker launches state of the art new web system 2009 designed with manufacturers, retailers and consumers in mind.  Surfboard Tracker founded 2006 has quietly been building in the back ground of diversity. Will aid surfers of all levels.
 
Andrew Smith the company founder owner developed the SBT product and service after having his complete quiver stolen in Hossegor France three years ago.

Since, SBT has captured the interest of many.

Surfboard Tracker has teamed up with global insurance partner Cassidy Davis.

Cassidy Davis prides itself on providing a broad range of insurance products along with cutting-edge solutions in an ever changing dynamic market place.

As a Lloyd’s insurer Cassidy Davis are licensed to underwrite business in a number of territories globally.

Their security is underpinned by the impressive security rating assigned to Lloyd’s. The surfboard tracker system and Cassidy's are building to develop through-out the extreme board sports industry appealing to Surfboard, SUP, Kite, Wind, Wake, Bike and Snowboards producers for quality products.

The company, SBT has ambitions to load SBT into all board and extreme sports related products.

The system distinctly highlights quality boards from cheaper ranges.

Customers purchasing a board with SBT can be sure of knowing when and where a product was made.

Retailers can access the SBT system to demonstrate to consumers the quality materials used in a product before being sold detailing blank type, fin systems, dimensions etc...

Cheaper imports, fakes or licensed abused boards will automatically be singled out, helping consumers to understand quality products from a rash of cheaper end products.

Xcel is proud to present the inaugural Xcel Supertubes Showdown, a speciality event to take place on the waves of the fabled Supertubes, Jeffrey's Bay.

The event will be an invite-only event, with 16 local and Supers experts invited to surf in the event, competing for a first-place prize of an entry into the Von Zipper Wildcard Trials. The Von Zipper Wildcard Trials yield 3 slots into the main event of the Billabong Pro Jeffrey's Bay World Tour event.

The event will be head judged by the experienced Mike Ginsberg, with the assistance of local surfers. The premise of this event is simple: the best surfer advances through his heat. The event will consist of four four-man heats, with one surfer advancing from each heat to make up a four-man final. Heats will be 45 minutes long and the final will run for an hour. Surf requirements to run the event are simply a good swell and an offshore wind - all that's needed at one of the best right-hand pointbreaks in the world.

Invitees will consist of local surfers, and other surfers from the immediate environs who have spent time surfing Supers and have proven to have an affinity with the wave. They will include the likes of Warren Dean, Stanley Badger, Craig Els and Ryan Payne, amongst others. The list of invited surfers, as well as alternates, will be released shortly.

Local surfer Warren Dean was one of the first to be included into the event. Warren, who came third in the Billabong Challenge in 1995 behind Kelly Slater and Marc Occhilupo at Supers, feels that it's great for the locals to also get a chance. "This looks like it is going to be a great event," said Warren. "I would be over the moon to be able to get into a World Tour event and surf against the top 44. I've started training for it already, so I am taking it pretty seriously."

Warren proved to the world that local surfers can get a wave like Supertubes so wired that they can beat the best in the world. The highlight of the event was undoubtedly when Warren got four excellent tubes on one wave at Supers. Still, he admits that it's not only about reliving his heyday. "It's also a really positive thing that there are a few of the youngsters invited as well," added Warren. "These guys are the ones who want to compete on the WQS and then hopefully the World Tour, so they can really benefit from an event like this as well."

Marc Lacomare (Hossegor, FRA), 18, claimed the ASP Grade-2 Estoril B! Pro Junior today at Guincho, back-up venue of the 2009 edition where consistent wind-blown three to five foot (1 to 1.5 meter) waves were breaking for the final day of competition. Lacomare, who came out on top of four consecutive battles to take top honours on the final day, defeated Joachim Guichard (DNK), 18, in a thirty-minute decider to clinch 1500 ratings’ points and take the lead of the 2009 ASP European Junior ratings.

Marc Lacomare, who was coming straight from an equal 3rd finish in the ASP WQS 4-Star event in France, used his building confidence with great tactics throughout the three-day competition, the French wunderkind finishing his victorious run with the highest wave score of the event, an impressive 9.67 point ride during his Semifinal, a good indicator of Lacomare’s current form.

“To win that event is another great step and I am really happy to take the win today,” Lacomare said. “The waves were hard, the wind was so strong and it wasn’t easy out there so I am definitely happy with that 8.17 ride I got. I injured one of my ankles a bit before coming here and I felt a small pain during the event but I was able to push my surfing and get big scores.”

Lacomare, who confirms his excellent form with this win, will now compete in the ASP WQS 6-Star Estoril Quiksilver Pro event starting Tuesday, April 21, on Estoril’s surf coast.

“I’ve been on a good roll for the last couple of weeks and I feel really good before starting in the WQS event coming-up,” Lacomare said. “Getting two results in a row definitely helps my confidence and I hope I can keep that good karma going next week. I am so stoked right now and enjoying the surf a lot.”

Estoril B! Pro Junior runner-up Joachim Guichard (DNK), 18, was left in need of an 8.67 ride to catch-up with Lacomare’s 13.50 point overall heat score and could not find any good scoring potential wave to reach his target and win the event. Guichard, who had to defeat his twin brother Luka in Semifinal No. 1 to advance through to his first ever ASP Pro Junior final, goes home with 1290 ratings’ points giving him a solid base to start with for his 2009 ASP European Junior Top 10 campaign.

“Marc (Lacomare) got that 8.17 right at the start and kept the lead all the way through to the end of the final,” Guichard said. “It is an excellent result for me, my best ever, and I am happy with that runner-up finish. I will now build on this to try and reach the Top 10 at the end of the year before going on the ASP WQS and take my chance.”
Guichard, whose finish rockets him to No. 2 on the regional ratings, will take part in the upcoming Estoril Quiksilver Pro as well where he will be an outsider to count with when he paddles out against some the world’s best surfers.

French young gun from Bidart David Leboulsh (FRA), 18, suffered Lacomare’s unstoppable form and finished equal 3rd in Semifinal No. 2, still his best result to date and very promising towards his comeback on tour. Leboulsh, despite an average 7.26 point heat score due to his lefthanders’ choice, will definitely be much awaited when the tour recommences next July.

Australian surfer Gavin Coleman today (Friday 17th April) defended his World Kneeboard Champion beating three fellow Australians in the Open Men’s Final of the 2009 ISA World Kneeboard Surfing Titles.  Coleman led the Australians to seven of the eleven titles over the six day event.  Taranaki surfer Hamish Christophers took a crowd pleasing victory in the Pro Junior Division with a barnstorming display of surfing to notch up New Zealand’s third title.

The 2009 ISA World Kneeboard Surfing Titles have been taking place at Opunake since the 11th April and today’s action took place at Arawhata Road for the sixth day in a row.  Today the conditions were once again excellent with a new 1.5m swell hitting the Taranaki coastline with offshore winds prevailing all day.

Coleman, a standout through the event finished in style scoring 15.07 out of a possible 20 points to win the final.

“I got one early and got a good smaller wave after that” commented a quietly spoken Coleman.  “I felt both waves were good scorers so I knew I could wait for a big one at the end of the final if I needed to, in the end I didn’t even need to do that.”

Coleman got off to a great start in the final posting successive wave scores of 7.50 and 7.57 while the other three surfers only had one good scoring ride each.  The pressure told on the other surfers with two of them getting tangled up in an interference late in the heat.

“I was out the back when I got that last small one, I was last in the pecking order so went for the small one instead of waiting for a bigger set wave and it paid off because that big set came through and broke out beyond the other surfers and then they started hassling and the interference got called.  I am stoked I wasn’t part of that”.

It is Coleman’s second title after winning his first at the 2007 World Titles held at Santa Cruz, California, USA.  “Rewarding, really rewarding to win it again” said a reflective Coleman.

However, despite the amazing win today, for Coleman a third title is too far in the distance to give too much thought.  “Gee, I wasn’t even going to go for number two.  I will see how it goes, I don’t even know what is happening in my life at the moment so we will see where I am at in 2011 in regard to going for a third straight title.

Placing second in the final was Simon Farrer (Aust) who scored the finals highest scoring ride – 8.17 out of a possible 10.  Farrer was one of the two surfers caught in the interference when he and Albert Munoz took the same wave.  Farrer was forced into going for the wave in the search for a good second score to catch Coleman.  The wave in question only led to a small score for Farrer leaving him in second place.

Finishing in third place today was Baden Smith (Aust) scoring 12.27 in the final.  Smith, a double finalist chose to ride the lefthanders for much of the heat but they ultimately did not offer up the scoring potential of the rights.

Placing fourth as a result of the interference was Albert Munoz who was in the hunt for the title up until the time he interfered with Farrer.

The gladiators of big wave surfing took center stage in California last night for the ninth annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.
 
Regarded as the Oscars of big wave surfing, the XXL awards recognize the biggest and ugliest waves ridden over the past twelve months as judged by a global panel of 250 surf industry, former pros and big wave specialists.  Over 2000 people packed the Grove Theatre in Anaheim to witness mind-blowing rides from Chile, Europe, South Africa, Australia, Mexico, California and French Polynesia. 
 
Californian big wave surfer Greg Long, 26, took top honors at the gala ceremony and was handed $50,000 for winning the Ride Of The Year Category.  Long’s entry came from a ride he conquered during the Red Bull Big Wave Africa event on July 26th 2008 at Dungeons, a renowned high surf location off Cape Town.
 
Of all the entries in the Ride Of The Year Category, Long’s was the only wave ridden without the assistance of a PWC (Jet-Ski).  Paddling into a monster Dungeons peak and banking off the bottom into a huge tube ride, Long walked a fine line between glory and the punishing of a lifetime, before being spat out into the channel.
 
“I am glad to have won this as a paddle in wave and without a PWC, because most recognized big wave surfers will tell you this is the most difficult of the two,” said Long.  “To catch a wave on your own power is an unbelievable feeling.”
 
The San Clemente local finished ahead of Ryan Hipwood (Gold Coast), James Holmer-Cross (Tasmania), Garrett McNamara (Hawaii) and Brian Conley (San Diego, CA) to take his fifth XXL award.  He has now claimed the Ride Of The Year Category (08/09), the Biggest Wave Award (06/07), The Monster Paddle Award (07/08) and two Best Over All Performance Awards (07/08 & 03/04) further proving himself as one of the most dedicated big wave riders on the planet.
 
“I am feeling great, it’s my fifth time and now it’s the big one,” said Long.  “That is what is so amazing about this event, it brings everyone together at the end of the year.
 
“When we are out there riding waves, this is the last thing on our mind, we are out there because we love it.”
 
In a daily double for the State of California, San Diego resident Derek Dunfee took out the coveted Monster Paddle Award.  Ridden during the giant session at Mavericks on November 30th 2008, which produced three of the five rides in the same category, Dunfee used perfect positioning to complete a classic big wave ride.  He edged out Grant “Twiggy” Baker (ZAF), fellow Californian Nathan Fletcher, South African James Taylor and European charger Axi Muniain (Basque County – Northern Spain).
 
“That day was the best day of my life and I wasn’t sure if I was getting nominated,” said Dunfee. “I am 26 and I feel pretty honored to win and be up here with guys I have been looking up to all my life.
I want to continue to work my way up and this could be a true turning point to the next stage of my big wave surfing career.”

The gladiators of big wave surfing took center stage in California last night for the ninth annual Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.
 
Regarded as the Oscars of big wave surfing, the XXL awards recognize the biggest and ugliest waves ridden over the past twelve months as judged by a global panel of 250 surf industry, former pros and big wave specialists.  Over 2000 people packed the Grove Theatre in Anaheim to witness mind-blowing rides from Chile, Europe, South Africa, Australia, Mexico, California and French Polynesia. 
 
Californian big wave surfer Greg Long, 26, took top honors at the gala ceremony and was handed $50,000 for winning the Ride Of The Year Category.  Long’s entry came from a ride he conquered during the Red Bull Big Wave Africa event on July 26th 2008 at Dungeons, a renowned high surf location off Cape Town.
 
Of all the entries in the Ride Of The Year Category, Long’s was the only wave ridden without the assistance of a PWC (Jet-Ski).  Paddling into a monster Dungeons peak and banking off the bottom into a huge tube ride, Long walked a fine line between glory and the punishing of a lifetime, before being spat out into the channel.
 
“I am glad to have won this as a paddle in wave and without a PWC, because most recognized big wave surfers will tell you this is the most difficult of the two,” said Long.  “To catch a wave on your own power is an unbelievable feeling.”
 
The San Clemente local finished ahead of Ryan Hipwood (Gold Coast), James Holmer-Cross (Tasmania), Garrett McNamara (Hawaii) and Brian Conley (San Diego, CA) to take his fifth XXL award.  He has now claimed the Ride Of The Year Category (08/09), the Biggest Wave Award (06/07), The Monster Paddle Award (07/08) and two Best Over All Performance Awards (07/08 & 03/04) further proving himself as one of the most dedicated big wave riders on the planet.
 
“I am feeling great, it’s my fifth time and now it’s the big one,” said Long.  “That is what is so amazing about this event, it brings everyone together at the end of the year.
 
“When we are out there riding waves, this is the last thing on our mind, we are out there because we love it.”
 
In a daily double for the State of California, San Diego resident Derek Dunfee took out the coveted Monster Paddle Award.  Ridden during the giant session at Mavericks on November 30th 2008, which produced three of the five rides in the same category, Dunfee used perfect positioning to complete a classic big wave ride.  He edged out Grant “Twiggy” Baker (ZAF), fellow Californian Nathan Fletcher, South African James Taylor and European charger Axi Muniain (Basque County – Northern Spain).
 
“That day was the best day of my life and I wasn’t sure if I was getting nominated,” said Dunfee. “I am 26 and I feel pretty honored to win and be up here with guys I have been looking up to all my life.
I want to continue to work my way up and this could be a true turning point to the next stage of my big wave surfing career.”

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 27, has claimed the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Snickers, defeating fellow Finalist Adam Robertson (AUS), 26, trials winner and event wildcard, in pumping six-foot (2 metre) conditions at Bells Beach.

The second stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach enjoyed pristine conditions for the business end of competition, with capacity crowds turning up to watch the current ASP World No. 1 battle the local Victorian in a historic Final.

Today’s victory marks the second time Parkinson has hoisted the bell (the first being in 2004), and the reputation and acclaim associated with the iconic event is something every surfer dreams of.

"Winning at home is probably the most special win you can have but this is the most special trophy you can have,” Parkinson said. “There is not another trophy in surfing that holds the prestige and honor list that this has. To be back on the trophy again and to hold it for a year is going to be amazing.”

Parkinson’s win today makes it two for two thus far on the 2009 ASP World Tour ratings, cementing the stylish natural-footer’s place atop the ratings in the hunt for the ASP World Title.

“I took confidence from home and now from here I’ll take more,” Parkinson said. “People can get caught up in the whole world title race, but I always said I wanted start the year with some results – I just never thought I would start this well. There are a lot of really hungry, angry surfers that are behind me and will come out so strong in the next events. I’m just showing up to the next event with my same game plan and taking things step by step. I’ve said since the Gold Coast that the World Title is a marathon, not a sprint. There are still eight events.”

While Robertson opened up strong, it was Parkinson’s forehand flair and precision that saw the Gold Coaster net an impressive 17.40 out of a possible 20 heat total for the win.

“Robbo (Adam Robertson) and I were having a great time out there,” Parkinson said. “We were talking about what it takes to win and having a wonderful Final. I have to really pay Robbo a huge compliment because of his effort out here. For a wildcard and coming through the trials, he surfed so many heats, (I think nine) and what’s he accomplished is just so admirable.”

Robertson’s effort at the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will go down in history, as the young natural-footer’s runner-up finish is the highest ever by a Victorian at the prestigious competition.

“I guess I just got on a roll in the heat against Bede (Durbidge) and the waves were really good and they suited me,” Robertson said. “I just had to roll with it and I am really happy with the result.”

Throughout the course of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Robertson went toe-to-toe with the world’s best surfers, eliminating Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, Tom Whitaker (AUS), 29, Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, among others in the process. Despite not having a major sponsor, Robertson’s nine-heat effort proved to all that he’s capable of world-class surfing.