The ‘AXL / DOH Pro, this year will be sponsored by Billabong, Santa Cruz, The Realm, Sanuk and Carve Eyewear  With the talent pool of surfers that now compete on the UK Pro Surf Tour the event promises to be bigger and better than previous years. It will be held 31st October to 1st November at Rest Bay Porthcawl. The 6th of 7 UK Pro Tour (UKPST) competitions being held this year.

This is the ninth year the tour has come to Wales, the third time at Porthcawl. Previous years the event has been held at Freshwater Beach in Pembrokeshire and prior to that it has been hosted at Langland Bay and Llanglennith Beach.  This venue offers a fantastic challenge for the surfers, who at this time of year will see some of the best swell coming in from the Atlantic Ocean.

It will attract the top surfers from all over the country including some top international competitors. These include 2008 champion, WQS / WCT Surfer Russell Winter (Newquay), 2008 Tour Champion Ruebin Pearce (S Africa) and the surfer who is pushing the boundaries of contemporary surfing in the UK, Reubyn Ash (Bude) plus many more. They will be joined by the best Welsh surfers around which include: Nathan Phillips (Llantwit), Nick Reid (Swansea) and top local surfer Greg Owen (former Welsh Champion).

Hoping to encourage the development of the sport in Wales the event will also include an Under 16 Boys division.  It will feature future stars of surfing from around the UK, but one of the favourites must be local surfer Max Tucker (Porthcawl) whose knowledge of conditions will give him the edge.

Dave Reed, Director of the UKPST states ”It is great to be going to Porthcawl, we know the venue can get great waves. I would like to thank local company Double Overhead and the surf brands they support for backing this event and securing its future in Porthcawl. At a time when the recession is biting hard it is extremely difficult to put your hand in your pocket, but they are coming forward to support a fantastic sport we all love” adding “There are many talented Welsh surfers that will now have the opportunity to compete at the highest level in Wales”.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada saw the event’s top seeds take to the water today in windy two-to-four foot (1 metre) surf and event organizers utilized the event’s mobile permit to land at North Chesterman’s beach today, completing the first 13 heats of Round 2.

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada is the fourth of five stops on the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series and the event’s ASP 6-Star status plays a crucial role in all surfers quests towards qualification for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour.

Nathan Yeomans (San Clemente, CA), 28, is currently sitting just outside of the qualification bubble for next year’s ASP World Tour and the Southern Californian’s hunger to find his way amongst the top 45 was obvious when he dominated his Round of 96 heat today. Yeomans unleashed a precise forehand attack on two sectiony lefthanders to bash the day’s highest heat total (a 17.10 out of 20) while advancing through to the Round of 48.

“For the first 10 minutes in that heat I really didn’t have any scores,” Yeomans said. “We’re pretty much down to the last quarter of the year for qualifying and I knew it was really important for me to make that heat. I’m just outside of the bubble and I was looking to start off strong, so I’m stoked.”

With four premier events remaining on the 2009 ASP WQS season, Yeomans is out to climb back into a firm spot within the top of the ASP WQS rankings to solidify his spot on next year’s ASP World Tour. The explosive goofy-footer has his sights set on a victory at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada as a jumpstart to the remainder of the year.

The final day of the Rip Curl Pro Search is underway with the Semifinals hitting the three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves on offer at Supertubos at 8:30am.

Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search experienced one of the most impressive days of competition yesterday with solid six-to-eight foot (2 – 3 metre) barrels for the world’s best to sink their teeth into. Today promises the same high drama to complete the competition this morning before the ASP Top 17 take to the water this afternoon.

“The surf has ped a bit this morning but we’ve got offshore winds and clean conditions and will be starting at 8:30am,” Damien Hardman, Rip Curl Pro Search Contest Director, said. “We’re expecting to finish the men’s competition this morning before heading into the women’s Round 1.”

Owen Wright (AUS), 19, wildcard in the Rip Curl Pro Search and current No. 3 on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), has been in electrifying form all event before suffering a horrific wipeout yesterday and rupturing his ear drum. While the Australian wunderkind has been cautioned to stay out of the water for a week, he is still a possibility to compete against current ASP World No. 1, Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, in Semifinal 2.

Solid six-to-eight foot (2 – 3 metre) barrels opened up Supertubos today as the Rip Curl Pro Search finally utilized its primary venue for some incendiary Round 3 and Quarterfinal action.

Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search had yet to run at Supertubos, but today’s death-defying conditions provided a dramatic forum for the world’s best surfers to showcase their talents, and played a pivotal role in the hunt for the 2009 ASP World Title.

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, current ASP World No. 2, found a sensational return to form today, besting Kai Otton (AUS), 29, in Round 3 before taking out a rampaging Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, in the Quarterfinals.

A standout leader throughout the opening half of the season, Parkinson stumbled with three consecutive Equal 17th place finishes in California, France and Spain before punctuating an already-stellar run in Portugal with today’s advancement to the Semifinals.

“I’m just living to keep my dream alive,” Parkinson said. “I don’t focus on the opponent. I still have two heats to go and two heats to win and then the job is done.”

While surfers in the Northern Hemisphere await the arrival of El Niño-fueled big winter waves, there has been no shortage of massive swells around the world in the last six months.  Just last week, Shipstern Bluff -- a notoriously shallow wave off the southern tip of Tasmania, Australia -- produced some of the most spectacular rides of the year and triggered numerous entries into the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.  Spawned by a massive storm in the Southern Ocean, the huge swell was challenged by a group of big wave chargers including Aussies Marti Paradisis and Karl Atkins, who used jet powered watercraft to tow into the towering walls of water.

Visiting surfer James Hick -- who hails from the unlikely hometown of Jersey, England -- accomplished some of the day's most heart-stopping rides.

The devilish Tasmanian surf session also featured its share of spectacular wipeouts.  Despite the bone-jarring impacts, there were no serious injuries.

Several successfully completed waves are now candidates for the Billabong XXL Ride of the Year Award and its US$50,000 first prize.  The tenth annual Billabong XXL Awards take place in California next April, honoring the biggest and best rides of the previous twelve months, anywhere in the world, based on the photographic evidence.

Other top rides to date include a huge paddle-in wave by Greg Long at Puerto Escondido, Mexico.  Long -- from San Clemente, California -- is no stranger to the XXL stage, having won the 2009 Ride of the Year Award last April.

Australian surfer Garrett Parkes (Byron Bay, NSW, Aus) has taken out the Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational in the Philippines today, beating Hawaiian Makua Rothman in a man-on-man final.

Cloud 9 didn’t quite turn on the epic conditions seen for the opening rounds of the unique, specialty event, with finalists having to mix innovative, new-school manoeuvres with aerials, on-rail carves and barrel rides in rising 3-4ft (1-1.5 metre) waves.

Parkes, who stitched up the Gold Coast’s Joel Nantes (Coolangatta) in the quarters before taking down local Carlito Nogalo in the semis, made the most of the smaller conditions to  bag two mid-range scores – a 5.50 and a 4.67- in the extended 35 minute final.

“It wasn’t exactly the real cloud 9, not many barrels,” said Parkes, who collected USD $7,500 for the win.

“But I made do with what I had. I managed to get through a few heats this morning and just keep it going through to the final. I’m stoked.”

Parkes, who was a standout throughout the entire event, said he wasn’t fazed entering the final after Rothman beat event favourite and former pipeline master Jamie O’Brien  in semi one.

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 6-Star O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada completed Round 1 competition today in windy two-to-four foot (1 metre) surf and the mobile event opted to run competition at North Chesterman’s beach in Tofino, which lies on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

The inaugural O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada has now narrowed the competitive field down from 144 to 96, with all surfers out to claim the valuable ratings points on offer at the ASP 6-Star event towards qualification for the 2010 ASP World Tour.

Wade Goodall (Sunshine Coast, AUS), 23, who is well-known for his innovative free surfing maneuvers and his success in the ASP Pro Junior ranks, crushed the event’s top scores in his opening heat at North Chesterman’s beach today, unleashing a brutal backhand attack on two lefthanders to take the opening round’s highest honors with a near-perfect single wave score of a 9.60 which was added to his previous score of an 8.17, securing the highest heat total of the event as well.

“It’s super junky and I just got a bit lucky,” Goodale said. “It’s pure luck if you get a good one. I just got two that opened up and allowed me to get a few good turns in and get a few good scores. Luckily I got them.”

Goodall has been preparing himself for the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Canada over the last few weeks while spending time in Northern California and his comfort in today’s windy, cold conditions paid off.

“I’ve been surfing the cold water over the last few weeks,” Goodall said. “I was up in Northern California for a bit and got used to the booties, so I’m feeling pretty comfortable.”

Round 3 of the Rip Curl Pro Search has been called on in pumping six-to-eight foot (2 – 3 metre) waves at the primary site of Supertubos.

Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search has ran competition at three backup venues (Lagido, Belgas and Molhe Leste), and today will see the first day of competition at the primary venue of Supertubos.

“We’ve woken up to another tough call this morning,” Damien Hardman, Rip Curl Pro Search Contest Director, said. “We’ve got a pretty good right up in the corner and solid six-to-eight foot (2 – 3 metre) surf out front. We’re hoping the waves are going to get better on the lower tide and the locals are telling us it is so we’re starting with Round 3 at 9:45am.”

Up first this morning is former ASP World Champion (2001), C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, battling Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, in Heat 1 of Round 3.

Surfline, official foreers for the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search, are calling for solid surf to maintain throughout the day.

Highlights from past days’ Rip Curl Pro Search are available via http://live.ripcurl.com

Both the Rip Curl Pro Search and the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search have been called off today due heavy fog and lack of visibility.

Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search has completed the opening two rounds of competition, and was prepared to Round 3 this morning before being called off due to fog. Event No. 4 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search began its waiting period today, but suffered the same fate at the ASP Top 45.

“It’s been very frustrating for us today,” Damien Hardman, Rip Curl Pro Search Contest Director, said. “The waves this morning were a bit tough and then they improved and the sun came out. We got ready to go and the fog came back in. What we don’t want to do is start the round and have to call it because of lack of visibility so we’re off for the day. Next call is 8am tomorrow at Supertubes.”

When men’s competition resumes, up first will be former ASP World Champion (2007), C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, battling Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, in Heat 1 of Round 3.

Surfline, official foreers for the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search, are calling surf to maintain throughout the day before a solid

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 8am tomorrow morning at Supertubes.

Rob Bain from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, a former Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour surfer, prominent through the 1980’s and early 90’s with four ASP world tour wins (IMB/Wollongong, Garden State Pro/New Jersey, Instinct Pro Ericeira Portugal and Coke Classic Narrabeen Australia) and a highest rating of 5th in 1990, suffered an horrific wipe just under two weeks ago  while surfing North Avalon on Sydney’s northern beaches, sustaining serious head, neck and back injuries – He almost died!

A serious injury to say the least, Bainy is back on the slow road to recovery and will be in a body and neck cast combo for a sometime.

ASP Australasia caught up with Bainy briefly to assess his recovery.

How's your recovery going?

My first appointment is 4 weeks from the accident and then they will assess how long I need to be in the body and neck cast. Anywhere from 6 to 12 weeks or more.

They said no surfing for 5 months but we will see how it progresses.

I have a fractured vertebrae in my neck and 5 in my thoracic spine.
I have compressed 3 discs also in my thoracic, as well as a broken rib.
My head is healing together, as I had scalped myself needing over 50 internal stitches and 50 external staples.