Keanu Asing (Ewa Beach, HI), 16, won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-4 Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure presented by Jack’s Surfboards at South Huntington Beach Pier this afternoon over fellow finalists Dillon Perillo (Malibu, CA), 19, Evan Thompson (Jacksonville Beach, FL), 17, and Chase Wilson (Newport Beach, CA), 18.

The Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure is the only ASP Grade-4 event on the 2009 calendar, making the premier contest an integral stop in all surfers’ campaigns in their quest for qualification for the ASP World Junior Championships. All regional surfers are out to compile their top four results this year in hopes to finish within the top three on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series to earn their shot at an ASP World Junior Title.

Asing battled through the tough conditions on offer at South Huntington Beach Pier this afternoon, blasting strong outside turns on the set-waves and managed to work his way through the infamous reform, finishing each wave with strong maneuvers.

“There weren’t too many waves, but I just tried to wait my turn and get the best waves I could,” Asing said. “Luckily it worked out.”

Asing, who was a finalist at the ASP Grade-3 Arnette Pro Junior last month, earned his first ASP Pro Junior victory of the year, cementing him as the top Hawaiian in the regional ratings.

AskMen.com has published an article that takes a look at 10 female surfers that have made a splash, so to speak, in the world of surfing.

You can discover it HERE.

The life of a surfer isn’t just about bleached blond hair and overusing the word “dude.” While the stereotypical surfer is laid back, the extreme sport of surfing includes riding some dangerously big waves at high speeds.

The male surfers have generally performed better on the tides, but it’s the females that have attracted more eyes to the sport. After all, what red-blooded male doesn’t like to watch sexy female surfers prep on the beach and get wet in her bikini?

In what can only be described as perfect 4'-6' J-Bay, Ryan Payne outpointed Warren Dean in a dramatic and incredibly close final of the inaugural Xcel Supertubes Showdown.

Joining Payne and runner-up Dean in the 4-man final were consummate barrel rider Deon Lategan and stylemaster Stan Badger. The long, smooth tuberiding style of Badger helped him advance into the final, but left him short in the last 45 minutes. Lategan started off strong and fast, with some big hooks and long barrels, but the last 20 minutes belonged to Payne and Dean going wave-for-wave.

Towards the end it seemed impossible to separate the two, but a perfect 10-point ride saw Payne edge out the experienced Dean, taking the Supertubes crown and the wildcard into the Von Zipper trials.

"It's the best contest I have ever competed in," said a stoked Payne. "To have Supers as good as it was with just your mates in the water - we were all winners! I just got lucky and ended up with the contest win as well."

"It was an amazing event," said Mike Ginsberg when the dust had settled after the final. "Warren Dean surfed well, but after Ryan's tube on his last wave he was the clear-cut winner."

Michael February (Kommetjie) and Sabrina Scott (Glencairn) claimed the U16 Boys and U16 Girls titles respectively at the 2009 Rip Curl GromSearch, held in perfect 3-4 foot waves and offshore winds at Long Beach, Kommetjie on Saturday and Sunday (June 27 & 28).

The Under 16 Boys Final featured all four members of the South African Junior team that competed in the ISA World Junior championships in Ecuador earlier this year and lived up to its billing as the premier division of the contest.

Fittingly, the result of the U16 Boys final was in the balance going into the final seconds of the heat but in the end  it was a determined Mikey February who claimed victory over fellow Kommetjie surfer Davey Brand with the last wave of the event.

Robin de Kock, General Manager  of Surfing South Africa said that “the conditions were perfect for all of the surfers”. Luckily, the storms that had been smashing the Cape the previous week had disappeared and with the swell dropping to a contestable 3 - 4 feet combined with  light offshores de Kock said that “we saw some really high heat scores throughout the event”.
 
The Rip Curl GromSearch is an national event, with the winner of the Boys Under 16 division winning an all-expenses paid trip to the Rip Curl Pro Surf & Music Festival at Bells Beach next April. February, the South African representative, will be competing in the Rip Curl GromSearch International Finals against the best young surfers from countries such as Argentina, Australia, France, the United States, Brazil, Indonesia, and New Zealand.

In the U16 Girls final Sabrina Scott posted her best ever victory since winning the SSA Academy Cup a few years ago beating Cara Mac Donald another up and coming young surfer from East London.

The elimination Round 2 of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro was completed today, with the world’s best surfers tearing into the four-to-six foot (2 metre) waves on offer at Praia Vila.

Event No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro enjoyed sunnier weather and marginally better manageable ocean conditions for Round 2, allowing for some electrifying performances.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, former ASP World Junior Champion (2006) and current ASP World No. 6, was devastating this morning during his Round 2 bout against Ben Bourgeois (USA), 30. Building momentum throughout the heat, Smith exploded with the day’s highest single-wave score of a 9.00 out of a possible 10 for a barrage of fully committed power turns on his forehand.

“It’s still pretty tough out there and it’s difficult to find a spot to line up,” Smith said. “There are some pretty good waves coming through the bowl though and if you can get on them, you can open up a bit. I just got lucky with my wave ion and was able to put up a couple of scores.”

Long-touted as one of the most progressive surfers on the planet, Smith struggled during his rookie season on the ASP Dream Tour, finishing 26th in 2008. Since then, the South African has re-ignited through the opening events this year, collecting two ninths and a third en route to his current ASP World No. 6 rating.

The elimination Round 2 of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro was completed today, with the world’s best surfers tearing into the four-to-six foot (2 metre) waves on offer at Praia Vila.

Event No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro enjoyed sunnier weather and marginally better manageable ocean conditions for Round 2, allowing for some electrifying performances.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, former ASP World Junior Champion (2006) and current ASP World No. 6, was devastating this morning during his Round 2 bout against Ben Bourgeois (USA), 30. Building momentum throughout the heat, Smith exploded with the day’s highest single-wave score of a 9.00 out of a possible 10 for a barrage of fully committed power turns on his forehand.

“It’s still pretty tough out there and it’s difficult to find a spot to line up,” Smith said. “There are some pretty good waves coming through the bowl though and if you can get on them, you can open up a bit. I just got lucky with my wave ion and was able to put up a couple of scores.”

Long-touted as one of the most progressive surfers on the planet, Smith struggled during his rookie season on the ASP Dream Tour, finishing 26th in 2008. Since then, the South African has re-ignited through the opening events this year, collecting two ninths and a third en route to his current ASP World No. 6 rating.

Day 2 of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro, Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, has awoken to another morning of clean four-to-six foot (2 metre) waves on offer at Praia Vila, prompting event organizers to call the elimination Round 2 on starting at 8am.

“We have similar conditions to yesterday in terms of swell but the sun is shining and the conditions are projected to be a bit cleaner today,” Perry Hatchett, ASP Head Judge said. “We’ll be starting Round 2 at 8am and looking to complete the round by day’s end.”

Yesterday’s Round 1 saw current ASP World Tour ratings’ frontrunners Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, and Taj Burrow (AUS), 31, all smash their way to victories as well as upsets by Tim Reyes (USA), 27, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 23, and Chris Davidson (AUS), 32.

Kelly Slater (USA), 37, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 25, was relegated to the elimination Round 2 yesterday by the Californian Reyes. After three consecutive 17th place finishes this season, Slater will look to get past wildcard Bernardo Miranda (BRA) in today’s Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro Round 2 action.

When Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro competition recommences, first up will be former ASP World Champion (2001) and current ASP World No. 4 C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, battling wildcard Guilherme Ferreira (BRA) in Heat 1 of Round 2.

“Over the past several years, it has been obvious that my vision and priorities are not in line with those of Mavericks Surf Ventures. I have had in the past, and continue to have, strong differences of opinion with the present CEO and Board about the direction, image and priorities of the company and the contest.

“The press release issued by Mavericks Surf Ventures this week stating that I ‘stepped down’ and I am ‘passing the torch to the next generation’ is wrong. The reality is that I was ousted as Contest Director by the current CEO.

“I must also note that, while the company’s news release states that this year’s contest will be held to celebrate ‘the 35th anniversary of Jeff Clark’s first session at the now world-famous break,’ the 35th anniversary is actually next season, in 2010-11. I will not allow the company to use my accomplishment as a marketing tactic.

“Effective today, I have resigned from the Board of Directors of Mavericks Surf Ventures.

“My vision for the Mavericks Surf Contest has been unwavering: it is about the family of big wave surfers, the spirit of the ocean, and this amazing wave. I never wanted that to be compromised for the sake of money or marketing opportunities. I think that focus is obvious to anyone who knows me or who has seen my priorities over the years.

“Mavericks has been an integral part of my personal and professional life for more than 30 years, and I hope that it continues to be a part of both in the future.

The 2009 Surfers’ Hall of Fame induction ceremony pays tribute to three generations of waterman, all of whom have made an indelible mark on the sport, industry and culture of surfing.  This year’s eclectic class features a Pipeline Masters champion and Quiksilver USA co-founder (Jeff Hakman), a documentary film director and early pioneer of surf films (Bruce Brown) and the co-star of Endless Summer II and former World Tour standout (Pat O’Connell).

The 12th annual Surfers’ Hall of Fame ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 24 in front of Huntington Surf & Sport (corner of PCH and Main).

“I am super stoked on this year’s Inductees into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame: Jeff Hakman, Bruce Brown and Pat O’Connell,” said Surfers’ Hall of Fame founder, Aaron Pai.  “Each of them has had a major influence on our Sport of Surfing.  Each of them has created moments in surfing history that we all will remember in years to come; whether it be Jeff Hakman surfing Sunset Beach, Bruce Brown showing us some of the best waves in the world for the first time or Pat O’Connell surfing all over the globe in the movie Endless Summer II.”

Annually, tens of thousands of visitors to Huntington Beach’s downtown area literally walk in the footsteps of surfing superstars and legends from several eras including Laird Hamilton, Mike Doyle, Jack O’Neill, Robert August, Greg Noll, Jericho Poppler, Kelly Slater, Lisa Andersen, Martin Potter, Al Merrick, Shaun Tomson and Rob Machado who are already immortalized in cement. 

The French Surfing Federation has announced that two of their best surfers, ASP World Tour top 45, Jeremy Flores and Mikael Picon will join their team during the upcoming Billabong ISA World Surfing Games taking place in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, from August 1 - 8.

By acquiring two of the best surfers in the world, France has set the standard for the rest of the international field. Will other surfing power nations follow suit? Are we going to see Kelly Slater, Bobby Martínez, CJ Hobgood and Dane Reynolds support the USA? Will we see Joel Parkinson, Taj Burrow, Mick Fanning and Bede Durbidge defending Australia? Will Andy Irons, Bruce Irons, Fred Patacchia and Kekoa Bacalso join Team Hawaii? Can Adriano de Souza, Heitor Alves, Jihad Kohdr and Jadson André help Brazil repeat their 2000 win?  

The announcement of Flores and Picon to the French National Team, made by Patrick Flores, coach of the French team and Jeremy’s father, is a strong statement indicating the serious attempt France is mounting to finally achieve the Gold Medal in Team Standings. Over the last decade, France has always placed in the top ten at the ISA World Surfing Games: 4th in 2008 at Costa de Caparica, Portugal, 6th in 2006 at Huntington Beach, USA, 7th in 2004 at Salinas, Ecuador, 4th in 2002 at Durban, South Africa, 5th in 2000 at Maracaípe, Brazil, 5th in 1998 at Carcavelos, Portugal and 6th in 1996 at Huntington Beach, USA.

This year they’re looking forward to more than Copper Medal results as obtained in Portugal and South Africa.  Surf stars like Jeremy Flores and Micky Picon significantly help their chances.