Surfers battled through stormy two-to-four foot (1metre) conditions at North Chesterman’s beach to decide the quarterfinalists for the inaugural Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada today.

The ASP6-Star event held in Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia plays a crucial role in surfers’ chances of qualification for the 2010 ASP World Tour due to the bountiful ratings points on offer at the premier event.

Glenn Hall (IRE), 27, who was a standout in yesterday’s action, continued to dominate the Canadian beachbreak today when he claimed the day’s highest scores. Hall blasted a near-perfect 9.50 out of 10 en route to smashing the highest heat total of the event, an amazing 18.10 out of 20.

“I really enjoyed the waves I had,” Hall said. “I had fun. That 9.5 was actually an inside wave and I wasn’t going to take it, but I was able to get two good turns and got the score.”

Hall, who is currently sitting in the No. 14 position on the ASP WQS is in a critical position on The Grind and is looking to solidify his spot within the top 15 on the ratings. The lightning-fast goofy-footer’s goal was originally to make the Quarterfinals entering the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada and now that he’s met his goal Hall is looking to continue his campaign to help his cause on The Grind.

“I’m happy to have made the Quarterfinals, but I don’t want to stop now,” Hall said. “I’m just trying to stay focused and I’d like to keep moving on.”

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada stormed through the Round of 48 before completing the first five heats of Round 4 and saw Glen Hall (IRE), 27, and Cory Lopez (Dana Point, CA), 32, lead their competitors into the Round of 16 while local surfer Peter Devries (Tofino, BC), 26, convincingly continued through to the Round of 16.

Lopez, who is famous for his massive aerial maneuvers, took to the air in his Round of 24 heat to claim the day’s highest single-wave score of a 9.50 with a huge backside air. As the competition began to heat up in the latter rounds, Lopez knew he needed a big score to advance though his heat and the critical maneuver allowed him to claim the heat win.

“I knew both of those guys (T.J. Barron and Gony Zubizarreta) started with a few big scores, so I knew I needed something big,” Lopez said. “I had the wave and I knew it only offered one maneuver and it was kind of barreling and when I hit it I thought ‘oh no, it’s barreling’ but it gave me just enough to pull it, but I was fortunate to make it through that heat.”

Lopez’s relaxed approach to competition has seen the veteran contest surfer blast some major results on The Grind this year and after a lengthy career on the ASP Dream Tour, Lopez still enjoys competition.

“I’m pretty lucky because O’Neill doesn’t put too much pressure on me to do events,” Lopez said. “I still really want to do well, but there’s no pressure. I’m enjoying competition more now. There’s less pressure and it’s more fun. I’d love to be back on the World Tour at spots like Teahupoo and Pipeline, that’s what I live for. Maybe one day, you never know.”

Coco Ho (HAW), 18, 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie, collected her inaugural victory on the ASP Women’s World Tour today, taking out the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search over former ASP Women’s World Champion (2005) Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 26, in punchy two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf at Belgas.

Event No. 4 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search saw some of the best conditions of the year at the backup venue of Belgas, and throughout the two days of competition, it was the youngster Ho who proved most adept at navigating the hollow beachbreak peaks.

Ho exercised excellent judgment in the Final, patiently waiting while her elder opponent kept herself busy. With conditions deteriorating, the young Hawaiian let loose with a barrage of backhand hits on the dumpy lefthanders, collecting a 7.50 and an 8.33 to combo Hedges and take the win.

“I knew Chelsea (Hedges) would be dangerous on the left after seeing her this morning getting those barrels,” Ho said. “This afternoon it turned into a more rippable wave and it was hard on the forehand, but I was lucky to get the waves I did.”

With this win, Ho moves from 5th to 3rd on the ASP Women’s World Tour rankings and announces herself as a major force heading into the final three events of the year.

On just 24 hours notice between November 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010, 24 of the world’s best big-wave surfers will be summoned to Half Moon Bay, home of Mavericks, one of the most majestic and infamous surf breaks on Earth.  There, they will test their individual skills and vie to be crowned champion of the 2009/2010 Mavericks Surf Contest® Presented by Sony Ericsson.  Competitors will face the dangerous elements of the frigid northern California waters in search of the perfect ride on waves reaching heights of 30 to 40 feet or more.

“The 24” make the call.  And according to Mavericks CEO Keir J. Beadling, this contest seasons adds a new and exciting element:  “This season we’re embarking on a new chapter, as the Mavericks competitors will choose the day.  Once potentially contestable conditions are identified, ‘the 24’ will vote and determine whether to pull the trigger.  If they say ‘go,’ we go, and that’s exactly the way it should be at Mavericks.”   Commented longtime Mavericks surfer and Contest competitor Kenny “Skindog” Collins, “This Mavericks Contest combined with this season’s El Niño is going to be historic!”

El Niño in-play.  Official Surf Forecaster Mark Sponsler of Stormsurf.com says there is good reason to be hopeful:  “The El Niño season, which has already begun, should bring a higher number of storms moving from the International Dateline into the Gulf of Alaska than in years previous. Those storms should have the potential to push larger and more consistent surf down the Pacific Coast into California. It's likely there will be several good opportunities to hold the contest between now and March 31 when the contest window closes.”

Once the contestants receive the green light alert, they have just 24 hours to arrive for the event.  The international roster of invited surfers consists of, in alphabetical order: Matt Ambrose, Ben Andrews, Grant Baker, Ion Banner, Chris Bertish, Carlos Burle, Kenny Collins, Shane Desmond, Nathan Fletcher, Brock Little, Greg Long, Josh Loya, Peter Mel, Shawn Rhodes, Ryan Seelbach, Evan Slater, Tyler Smith, Jamie Sterling, Anthony Tashnick, Darryl Virostko, Grant Washburn, Dave Wassell, Tim West, Zach Wormhoudt.

The Swamis Surf Club launched a global petition against professional surf contests at Swami's Beach, Encinitas, California, USA.

Here's what they have to say:

"It has come to our attention that a professional womens longboard contest is being proposed for Swamis. We think it is a bad idea, sets a bad precedent, and is unneeded, unwanted, and unsafe.

There are plenty of other locations county wide including Cardiff, Oceanside, LJ Shores and Ocean Beach where contests are run. There has never been a contest at Swamis (well one way back in '67). The Swamis Surf Club makes sure they never run their contest at Swamis. Why? Because Swamis locals and visitors alike do not want one.

A pro surfing contest does nothing for community surfers, does not benefit the city of Encinitas local surfers or make sense for the aesthetic and vibe of the wonderfully peaceful Self Realization Fellowship.
What is the upside? A promoter makes some money, and the City of Encinitas promotes tourism. Please sign the petition below to STOP SURFING CONTESTS AT SWAMIS - FOR GODS SAKE - IS NOTHING SACRED?"

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Oxbow World Longboard Tour Maldives event today crowned two champions – Harley Ingeby (Australia) as the 2009 ASP World Longboard Champion and Kai Sallas (Hawaii) as the inaugural Oxbow Maldives event champion.

Sallas (Oahu, Hawaii) won the event, surfing clean three feet (1 metre) surf at Pasta Point, defeating Australasia’s Harley Ingelby in a high-scoring Final that saw Sallas take the win with a combined two-wave tally of 15.65 to Ingelby on 14.00.

Ingeby’s second placing in today’s final event on the two-event 2009 ASP World Longboard Tour secured him the ASP World Longboard Title.

“I’m so stoked to win this event,” Sallas said. “The waves have been super fun all week and to beat Harley in the final capped off a perfect week for me. “I started well with 7.65 on my first ride and felt confident that I could back that ride up and take the win, Ingelby came at me hard in the final few minutes but my best ride was my final one and it’s great to win and actually beat the current world champion as well!”

Competition returned to Cox Bay for the fourth day of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada and surfers took to the water in good four-to-five foot (1.5 metre) waves at the nation’s first professional surfing event. The improved conditions allowed for an exciting day of action with some big scores on the fourth day of competition.

Nat Young (Santa Cruz, CA), 18, grabbed the highest single wave score of the event, a 9.77 out of 10, with jaw-ping backside surfing on a long Tofino righthander. Despite posting the near perfect score, the Santa Cruz talent was nearly eliminated from the action packed heat with all surfers blasting amazing scores throughout the hard-fought battle and Young eventually advanced in second behind Kevin Sullivan (Lahaina, HI), 22.

“That was a pretty gnarly heat,” Young said. “I got that one (the 9.77) and I thought I had it wrapped up, I thought ‘alright, I made that heat.’ Then Kevin (Sullivan) and Dion (Atkinson) both got two good waves. I couldn’t see their waves, but I heard the scores were nines and that I had been pushed to third, I was so frustrated. I couldn’t believe that I could get that good of a score and not make the heat.”

Round 1 of the Rip Curl Women’s Search was completed today in clean-yet-shifty three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at the backup venue of Belgas.

Event No. 4 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search commenced immediately following the completion of the Rip Curl Pro Search (won by Mick Fanning (AUS), 28) this morning at Supertubos, but event organizers opted to hunt down the best possible conditions on offer at midday, setting on the offshore, punchy peaks of Belgas.

Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, current ASP Women’s World No. 4, took to reeling Belgas walls with style, punch and bite, securing the highest-scoring wave of the day, an 8.00 out of a possible 10, for blasting a roping left with some sharp hits on her backhand. Her heat total (also the highest of the day) of a 13.17 out of a possible 20 was enough to edge past opponents Samantha Cornish (AUS), 29, and Alana Blanchard (HAW), 19.

"It’s always good to find some place different to surf and to have the Rip Curl Search Pro and you don’t know where it will be, it is really good,” Bartels said. “I’ve been looking forward to this event all year. I am just happy to get a good start on the first day of competition."

High drama in the Maldives today as several ASP World Longboard World Title contenders were knocked out while others advanced through Round 2 of the ASP Oxbow World Longboard Tour event in Maldives, completed in good 1.25 meter (3 to 4 feet) surf.

Defending ASP World Longboard Champion, Bonga Perkins (HAW), saw his title defence disappear as a rampaging Ben Skinner (UK) out-manoeuvred and out-surfed the champ.

“Bonga (Perkins) is a legend of our sport and I have absolute respect for the guy but I went in confident of winning today,” Skinner said. “I have defeated him recently and out here I feel really well suited to this wave so I knew I could do it. With five minutes remaining, Bonga required a 7.25 to defeat me and while I held priority for the next wave I knew Bonga could score a 9 point ride easily, I simply focused on holding my position and making certain if a great wave came I was on it and not Bonga – It was the longest 5 minutes of my life and fortunately I won!”

Current ASP World Longboard Tour ratings’ leader Harley Ingelby kept his 2009 ASP World Longboard Title hopes firmly alive today, taking a solid win over fellow Australian Jared Neal.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 1, has claimed the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search at Supertubos in Portugal, defeating fellow Finalist Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, and cementing his lead in the now two-horse race for the 2009 ASP World Title.

Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search ran a gamut of conditions and venues ranging from two-foot righthand wedges at Molhe Leste, four-foot offshore lefthanders at Lagido, punchy four-foot peaks at Belgas and death-defying six-to-eight foot barrels at Supertubos yesterday before culminating a dramatic end to competition.

Fanning, who won the inaugural Rip Curl Pro Search at Reunion Island (2005) and was a standout in yesterday’s massive barrels, readjusted to today’s smaller conditions and was dominant in his Final against Durbidge. With conditions deteriorating, Fanning lacerated the punchy wedges on his forehand to net a solid 6.67 and a 6.00 that would prove unbeatable for his opponent.