Italian young prodigy Leonardo Fioravanti won this week end the Ocean & Earth International Teenage Rampage Final, a competition gathering Australia's under 16 best groms. Quiksilver's wonderkid wowed crowds with his phenomenal surfing. Winning all three rounds in the lead up to the semis, Fioravanti seemed unstoppable, with Sam Bond knocked out in the semi's and Broulee event winner Matt King (Ulladulla) going down to Mikey Wright and Luke Hynd, the final was packed with talent.

At the age of 14, the youngest contender of his category appreciates his performance : "Surfing against Australia's best teenagers was awesome, these guys ripped out there all day and it came down to the last minute it was unreal. It's so good being in Australia, I love the culture and the people here in Cronulla have been so friendly, I've made some good friends here and would love to come back and surf again", said a super excited Fioravanti.

The Swiss Russian born snowboarding star won the final throwing a Cab 720, frontside crippler into back 1260 into front 1080 to cab 1080 all perfectly landed with an impressive amplitude and his tailor made smooth style. Despite an engaged second run, Vito could not overtake Iouri, declared the winner by the judges with a 96,75 points score out of 100. After his third place finish in Breckenridge last month, Iouri takes the lead of the Dew Tour Rankings with 182 points in front of Louie Vito, second with 180 points. With one week to go before the X Games, I-Pod looks in a terrific shape !

After he pulled out of The Quiksilver Pro and Peniche events, the surfer from Reunion Island was also forced to withdraw the Pipe Masters where he hoped to defend to defend his title.

He still achieved an impressive 13th in the World Ratings despite missing 3 events.

In spite of his intensive rehabilitation program, he traveled to Hawaii to honor his invitation and attend the opening of the Quiksilver In Memory Of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Event. He is the sole European entrant in the competition that will only run when the waves reach the required size.

On Christmas Eve, Jeremy took part in a trip to Morocco, which was organized by Quiksilver alongside Ramzi Boukhaim and Dimitri Ouvre, to see if his ankle had recovered. A solid swell hit Taghazout near Agadir, which allowed Jeremy and the boys to surf the famous spots of Killer, Anchors Point and the surrounding beaches.

Between Christmas and New Years Day there were some epic sessions at Graviere as well as Peniche and Ericeira in Portugal, where he surfed alongside Aritz Aranburu and Patrick Beven.

After returning to Hossegor, Jeremy Flores is preparing to travel to Hawaii this week in preparation for the start of the 2012 season, which begins with the Quiksilver Gold Coast event held during the 25thFeburay and the 7th March.

©Testemale

This international competition sanctioned by ISA Federation crowned Peru's Roxy Girl Sofia Mulanovich in the Open Women's division while DC surfer Marc Lacomare (France) grew on the 3rd step of Men's Final followed by Quiksilver's Nic Muscroft (Aus) for copper. The Australian was also rewarded with the Oz National Team, winner of the team contest ahead of the French selection.

Open Women Final
Gold – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) – 15.27
Silver – Sarah Baum (RSA) – 13.70
Bronze – Diana de Souza (BRA) – 12.60
Copper – Justine Dupont (FRA) – 10.76

Open Men Final
Gold – Heath Joske (AUS) – 17.50
Silver – Cory Lopez (USA) – 12.33
Bronze – Marc Lacomare (FRA) – 12.30
Copper – Nic Muscroft (AUS) – 4.13

Final ISA China Cup Team Rankings
1. Australia – 12,930
2. France – 11,658
3. USA – 10,690
4. Peru – 10,028
5. Brazil – 9,760
6. South Africa – 8,880
7. Argentina – 7,690
8. Venezuela – 7,460

From January 6 to 14, China will become the international surfing capital with the world's top surfers competing on their National Teams in the ISA China Cup followed by a second surfing competition, the Hainan Classic, an ASP Men's 4-Star contest. It will be the first time ever in the history of the country that surfing events of this magnitude take place.

More info and live coverage of the event on http://hainaninternationalsurfingfestival.com

With wind and snow issues in the morning, the contest had a rocky start. Hurricane Joachim created quite a stir, canceling Friday's training session and causing the organization to seal off the event site. The crew was challenged to prepare ideal conditions for today's competition, but as the winds calmed today the contest took off and presented some top notch snowboarding to the 6000 spectators.

“It's obviously super cool to win in your home country, the crowd went wild. It's both the first and last contest for me this season, as I will concentrate on filming. Therefore it couldn't have been a better day,” says favorite Elias Elhardt, who won the contest with his Frontside 360 Stalefish - Frontside Boardslide run for style, and  a Frontside 900 Melon - 270 Frontside Boardslide on his technical run. With these two runs combined, Elias had the highest score in the super final.

With another 5Star TTR Big Air contest wrapped up, Roope Tonteri is still solidly leading the TTR Big Air World Tour Ranking. German Ethan Morgan moved up into the Big Air second place. There were no changes in the Overall ranking results, Roope Tonteri is still ranked 3rd. Quiksilver rider Markku Koski (FIN) was ranked 9th, the Austrian talent Mathias Weissenbacher made it to rank 11, and team fellow Felix Georgii from Rettenberg/Germany took rank 22.

In anticipation of the World Snowboarding Championships from 10-19 of February in Oslo, Norway, riders have another few chances in the last days of 2011 to qualify for the Halfpipe and Slopestyle disciplines. 4Star Events US Revolution Tour and the Burton Pro-Test give opportunities in the USA. The O'Neill Evolution, from 2-8 January in Davos (SUI) features a 5Star Halfpipe and 6Star Big Air contest. The 6Star Big Air for men and women will count as a Slopestyle result for WSC qualification. The RedBull Nanshan Open in China is the next 5Star Slopestyle opportunity. WSF 1-3Star events also count for the TTR Points lists.

The riders line-up for the second round of “Relentless BIGAIR Stuttgart presented by Quiksilver” promises a competition on the highest level. The actual number one in TTR's world tour ranking, Finn Roope Tonteri, is taking part, as well as his fellow countrymen, sixth in the Olympics and Quiksilver team rider, Markku Koski. Also attending: Quiksilver team-mate and Austrian Master in Halfpipe & Slopestyle Mathias Weissenbacher, Janni Korpi, who managed to win “Relentless Freeze” last week in London, Swedes Nils Arvidsson and Kevin Backstrom, Mario Käppeli from Switzerland, and highly acclaimed crowd pleaser and last Relentless BIGAIR Stuttgart's second placed rider, Austrian Werni Stock.

For more information, go to: www.bigair-stuttgart.com

(photo: KevinMetallier)

Hosting The Tony Hawk & Friends Show in Mumbai gives Quiksilver a unique and sensational opportunity to celebrate the launch of the brand in India and the recent openings of the first 3 stores in the country in a 5 months period.

Tony's latest appearances with Quiksilver included his show in the majestic surroundings of the Grand Palais in Paris (nov 2009), the European Tour where the greatest skateboarder ever and his crew headlined four amazing performances in Berlin, Rome, Barcelona in front of 25 000 spectators (picture) and Brighton in 2010... Last September, Tony Hawk made a rare exhibition for the Quiksilver Pro New York opening with an unprecedented vert demo held in Manhattan. The Mumbai show promises to be one of the most spectacular and unusual of the Skateboarding Master.

Quiksilver is also thrilled to announce that English artist and producer/DJ Scott Nixon will be performing live during the Tony Hawk & Friends Show in Mumbai. The British deck star is a man of many talents. From his debut at London's superclub - Fabric back in November 05, he's now a regular on the scene playing at clubs nationwide, including Heaven, Ministry of Sound and a host of international festivals. Scott Nixon has been mixing before he first stood on a snowboard over 20 years ago. Being a pro-rider on the European snowboard scene for over 15 years opened up a huge freesport audience to his mixing talents and he's been a regular at massive surf & snowboard events for years, including the Freeze Festival takeover of Battersea Power Station and the Tony Hawk Show in Brighton.

If the Quiksilver team surfer goes through the event's Round 3, neither Owen Wright nor Adriano won't be able to catch him up anymore and Kelly Slater will get the 2011 crown, 20 years after his elite inception. His main contender for the title this year, Owen Wright, was just 1 year old, then.

With limited swell and unfavorable tides on several days of the O'Neill Cold Water Classic California waiting period, Tiago Pires had to perform at both the iconic pointbreak of Steamer Lane as well as the beachbreak of Waddell Creek in order to earn a top result.

Pires relied on impeccable wave selection as well as classic rail-to-rail power-surfing en route to his equal 3rd place finish, topping ASP World No. 6 Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, in his Semifinals bout, but was unable to surpass Pupo for the win.

“I'm stoked, with these kinds of conditions I didn't see myself in the final today and I was just really happy to be out there,” Pires said. “Miguel (Pupo) put on a show and I have to take my hat off to him. He's one of the best surfers in the world in these conditions and he deserves it. I'm stoked I got second and this result is going to help my result on the World Rankings so I'm really happy.”

More info on aspworldtour.com

Stop No. 8 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title season, the Quiksilver Pro France culminated today in exciting fashion as the next generation of ASP World Title contenders announced their intentions on the world stage.

Medina, in only second event as an ASP Top 34 member, cut a swathe through the world's best surfers, securing three of the top five highest single-wave scores of the event en route to his emotional win.

“This is the best feeling ever,” Medina said. “I beat some great guys on the way to Final and I'm very stoked now. I want to thank all my friends and family and god for their support. It has been an amazing week for me. Just two years ago, I was here competing in the King of the Groms and I won that event and now I'm here in the main event and I've won it. It doesn't seem real.”

Opening their final clash with a strong 7.83 for a full-rotation forehand aerial, Medina was put on the back foot by an in-form Wilson until the dying moments, when the young Brazilian blasted several high-risk maneuvers on a lengthy lefthander to secure a 9.17 and regain the lead.

“The start of the heat was slow and it was going high tide so it was a challenge,” Medina said. “It was a fun heat. It was a hard hat as well. Julian (Wilson) is an incredible surfer and I know he wanted to win very badly. I knew I needed a big score on that final wave and I had to throw everything I had to get it. I'm very happy right now.”

Wilson built momentum throughout the final day of competition, dispatching of the tour's heavy hitters and posting some impressive scores. The young Australian's Runner-Up finish today marks a career best and is indicative of his recent run of improvements amongst the world's elite (5th and the 3rd previously).

“Everything feels good and I'm very happy to be here on the podium,” Wilson said. “It's been a great event for me and congrats to Gabriel (Medina) for his incredible run here in France. I have so many amazing memories of watching this event as a kid, seeing Andy (Irons) and Kelly (Slater) go for it and to be in it now is a very special feeling. I'm hoping to improve in the coming events and looking forward to Portugal.”

Taylor Knox (USA), 40, posted his best result of the year today, finishing Equal 3rd and bolting from 32 to 21 on the ASP World Title rankings. Knox, who was in searing fashion throughout the event, eventually fell to the high-flying antics of Medina in the Semifinals.

“This is one of the best events I've had for a while but yeah I definitely ran into ‘Medina Airlines' there in the Semifinals,” Knox said. “It's a huge result for me and I felt like my surfing was really coming together. I have some really good boards right now and I'm hoping to keep the momentum up. We're looking at maybe getting some big barrels in Portugal next week so that will be exciting and we have a lot of interesting events to finish the year with.”

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, back in his first event since injury in Tahiti, exhibited an impressive return to form throughout the event, but was unable to overcome Wilson in their Semifinal clash.

“I'm really happy with a 3rd and it's a good result for me,” Smith said. “To be honest, I'm just happy to be back in the water. It feels great to be back and I just couldn't get into the right waves until the end of that Semifinal there. Julian (Wilson) got off to a good start and he's been ripping so I hope he posts a win here.”

Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 1, was ousted in today's Quarterfinals by an on-fire Medina. The iconic Floridian looked out of sorts in the shifting morning conditions as the young Brazilian dominated on both his forehand and backhand.

“Not much of a performance by me,” Slater said. “I guess he surfed well, I didn't really see much as I was just floating out the back. Unfortunately, I was out of synch the whole time and didn't really have a chance to battle it out with him.”

With the dust settled in the south of France, it has been determined that the 2011 ASP World Title cannot be decided at the next event in Portugal and will go to at least San Francisco.

Photo Credit: Cazenave

Event No. 8 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title series, the Quiksilver Pro France bore witness to some impressive surfing this afternoon with the Quarterfinalists being determined in picturesque conditions.

Taj Burrow (AUS), 33, current No. 6 on the ASP World Title rankings, blitzed his afternoon Round 4 heat today, comboing both Owen Wright (AUS), 21, and Damien Hobgood (USA), 32, with explosive surfing on his backhand and forehand.

“I did have fun in that heat,” Burrow said. “It went my way towards the end and I got some really nice rights and some good lefts too. I'm sure Owen (Wright) would have loved to have been on a couple of those lefts as they really lined up nicely. It felt great to post some good scores and hopefully the conditions remain fun and consistent for the rest of the event.”

Burrow will take on Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, in Quarterfinal 4.

Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion, continued his surgical dismantling of the La Graviere peaks today, generating unmatched speed and flow to claim his Round 4 victory and advance directly into the Quarterfinals.

“The waves are pretty fun out there and I have a good board under my feet,” Slater said. “I guess I'm comfortable out there. I've been coming to France for so many years that I'm used to the waves here and I know what to look for when it's changing.”

The current ASP World No. 1 was characteristically hesitant when probed about his 2011 ASP World Title campaign.

“Quarterfinals is another good result for me and a lot of the guys that were threatening have fallen out early in this event,” Slater said. “I haven't worked the numbers out, but they may be too far behind at this point. Owen (Wright) is obviously still in there and he's really strong at the remaining events so I wouldn't be surprised if it came down to the wire. There is still a lot that can happen.”

Slater will face Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17, when Quiksilver Pro France competition resumes. Medina advanced directly through Round 5 of competition after Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, withdrew from the event following an ankle injury sustained in Round 3.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, back in his first event since sustaining a rib injury in Tahiti, caused a major upset today, ousting current No. 2 Owen Wright (AUS), 21, from competition in Round 5 and shaking the 2011 ASP World Title race to its core.

“I had a great time out there,” Smith said. “I just approached it as a free surf. Obviously, Owen (Wright) is in the title race and he has a bit of pressure on him. My girlfriend actually gave me the best advice as I didn't have the best heat before. She said, ‘babe, if it ain't working, change it up.' That's what I did and it worked really well.”

Alejo Muniz (BRA), 21, and Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, continued their ASP Rookie of the Year battle, both battling through Rounds 4 and 5 and into the Quarterfinals.

Michel Bourez (PYF), 25, current No. 10 on the ASP World Title rankings, continued his solid run at La Graviere, posting an impressive 14.57 out of a possible 20 for powerfully dismantling the clean lefts and rights on offer this afternoon.

“This is a huge relief for me,” Bourez said. “It's my best result of the year so far. I started the season with five ninths in a row so I'm very happy to finally crack the Quarterfinals. I'm feeling healthy and strong and hopefully we continue to get fun waves for the rest of the competition.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8am to assess conditions for a possible 8:30am start.

When competition resumes, up first will be Michel Bourez (PYF), 25, and Taylor Knox (USA), 40, in Quarterfinal 1.

Highlights from the Quiksilver Pro France will be available via http://www.quiksilverlive.com

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 4 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Michel Bourez (PYF) 14.57, Taylor Knox (USA) 11.17, Jeremy Flores (FRA) N/S

Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.83, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.80, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 7.83

Heat 3: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.10, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.10, Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.03

Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.43, Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.13, Owen Wright (AUS) 11.10

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 5 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Taylor Knox (USA) 13.50 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.53
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) Advances Over Jeremy Flores (FRA) *Flores withdraws due to ankle injury sustained in Round 3 of competition.

Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.74 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 10.53

Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.16 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 9.86

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:

QF 1: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
QF 3: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

QF 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)

Event No. 8 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title season, the Quiksilver Pro France rampaged through 12 heats of competition today that saw a number of upsets as well as impressive performances by the event's top seeds. Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion, posted a convincing win over wildcard Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR), 17, in Round 3 of competition. The iconic Floridian was all business for his midday bout, closely analyzing the conditions and posting the highest heat total of the day, a 16.90 out of a possible 20, for an impressive display of backhand surfing. “I was nervous before the heat because there have been a few that have been slow and guys haven't been getting waves,” Slater said. “I started loosening up there at the end. With the tide changing, I was somewhat confident that the lefts would begin offering better scoring opportunities and that's where I got my two best waves.”

The past three events have seen the historic exchange between Slater and young Australian Owen Wright (AUS), 21. The two have made the last three, consecutive Finals (an ASP first) and have ignited one of the greatest ASP World Title races in recent years.

“I've always known Owen (Wright) to be building up and building up,” Slater said. “By the way people talk, I'm stoked to still be standing. These young guys are incredible. The stuff that Dane (Reynolds), Jordy (Smith), Julian (Wilson) and Owen do is amazing. When I was younger, I was always looking up to the older guys and now I'm looking to the younger guys to see what kind of lines they're taking.”

Wright wasted no time in the final heat of the day, smashing a 7.00 and an 8.17 in the opening minutes to dispatch of Tiago Pires (PRT), 31, and advance through to Round 4, setting up another thrilling chapter in the hunt for the 2011 ASP World Title.

Michel Bourez (PYF), 25, into his third season amongst the world's elite, dominated the morning righthanders with unmatched power on his forehand. The powerful Tahitian posted a 13.76 heat total in his Round 3 victory over Kieren Perrow (AUS), 34.

“The waves are very fun out there today,” Bourez said. “The bank is good and there are some really rippable rights coming through. I have a great board at the moment and I'm feeling strong. I've been doing a lot of stretching and just focusing on surfing better.”

Current No. 10 on the ASP World Title rankings, Bourez has had an impressive run this season, but has yet to crack Round 5 of an elite tour event – an oversight he hopes to remedy at the Quiksilver Pro France.

“Last year I finished 11th and this year my goal was to finish Top 10,” Bourez said. “I've had a pretty good year so far and my results are going pretty well right now. Hopefully I'm able to reach my goal by the end of the year.”

Bourez will face Taylor Knox (USA), 40, and Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, in Round 4 of competition.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, is back competing in his first event since a rib injury sidelined him in Tahiti in August. Today's Round 3 bout against Dane Reynolds (USA), 26, was one of the most anticipated of the events and the two progressive surfing stalwarts didn't disappoint. Smith opened up strong with two solid waves on his forehand and was able to stave off a late charge from Reynolds.

“There were a few waves out there but the tide got a little bit high so it was inconsistent,” Smith said. “I'm pretty stoked right now. There are some pretty good ramps and I think Dane (Reynolds) found one in the heat. I just tried to find some good waves and put in some good scores early. It was pretty relaxed out there, we've been surfing together all week so it was just another surf for us.”

Smith was sitting at No. 2 on the ASP World Title rankings prior to injury and is hesitant to commit to chasing the ASP World Title in 2011.

“A miracle would have to happen for me to get back in the race,” Smith said. “I'm not looking at the World Title right now as I've missed two events. Kelly (Slater) has a good chance at winning it at the moment. Owen (Wright) is right there too. The rest of us are all just looking to get back in the game.”

Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17, newcomer to the elite ASP Top 34 following September's midyear rotation, scored an impressive victory in the dying moments of his Round 3 bout with veteran Australian Bede Durbidge (AUS), 28. The young goofy-footer took to the air on his forehand to net a 7.73 out of a possible 10 in the final moments of the heat to advance through to Round 4 of competition – his best result to date.

“It was a very tough heat for me,” Medina said. “Bede (Durbidge) is an excellent surfer. I was only able to turn the heat in the last seconds. France is a special place for me. I won the ‘King of the Groms' event two years ago and now I'm in the main event. It's a great feeling. The waves and weather are great and I'm very stoked to have the support of my family here with me.”

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, posted a Round 3 victory over Kai Otton (AUS), 30, but reinjured his ankle before the heat was finished. Although current scheduled to compete in Round 4 of the Quiksilver Pro France, the young Frenchman's status is undetermined at this point.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, defending Quiksilver Pro France winner, was eliminated this morning in a low-scoring affair against teammate Knox in Round 3 of competition meaning a new winner will be crowned this year.

Taj Burrow (AUS), 33, punctuated the afternoon's action with some electric surfing on his backhand. The lightning-fast Western Australian ran riot on the inside bank lefthanders, pipping Travis Logie (ZAF), 32, with a final wave in the final moments.

“It was pretty intense there at the end,” Burrow said. “We were the first heat to go try down on that bank so we were the guinea pigs. Travis (Logie) was absolutely ripping too so it was really close. Stoked to get through and feel like I'm settling into France nicely and I think we have swell turning up in the next couple of days so I'm looking forward to it.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8am to assess conditions for a possible 8:30am start.

When competition resumes, up first will be Taylor Knox (USA), 40, Michel Bourez (PYF), 25, and Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, in Heat 1 of Round 4.

Between two calls, the public had the opportunity to watch at the Rugby World Cup game France vs UK on the Orange big screen, on the beach.

In the afternoon, the huge crowd had the chance to see the world's best surfers in action during the Moskova Expression Session. In the first heat, Kieren Perrow (AUS) took the best wave and Aritz Aranburu (EUK) the best move. In the second, Kelly Slater (USA) got the best wave and Gabriel Medina (BRA), the best maneuver.

Event organizers will reconvene at 8am tomorrow morning to assess conditions for a possible 8:30am start.

When competition recommences, up first will be Raoni Monteiro (BRA), 29, and Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19, in Heat 9 of Round 2.

Kelly Slater – Crédits : Sylvain Cazenave/ Quiksilver

Inclement winds have forced event organizers to call a lay day at the Quiksilver Pro France, but improved conditions are projected for the weekend.

Event No. 8 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title Series, the Quiksilver Pro France has completed Round 1 and the opening eight heats of Round 2 and will look to recommence as early as tomorrow.

“There's plenty of swell in the water but we have about a 20 knot cross shore wind that's cutting the lineup to pieces today,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge, said. “We've called competition off for the day and will be back tomorrow morning for a call at 8am.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8am to assess conditions for a possible 8:30am start.

When competition resumes, up first will be Raoni Monteiro (BRA), 29, and Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19, in Heat 9 of Round 2.

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE REMAINING ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 4: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.10 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.76

Heat 5: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.00 def. John John Florence (HAW) 11.86

Heat 6: Kai Otton (AUS) 12.60 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 12.13

Heat 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.43 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 7.60

Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.57 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 11.50

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE REMAINING ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 9: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)

Heat 10: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)

Heat 11: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)

Heat 12: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

LA GRAVIERE, Hossegor/France (Thursday, October 6, 2011) – The Quiksilver Pro France completed Heats 4 through 8 of Round 2 this morning in shifting four-to-six (1.5 – 2 metre) waves this morning before calling competition off for the day due to onshore winds.

Event No. 8 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France plays a vital role in both the hunt for the 2011 ASP World Title and the requalification campaigns of the world's best surfers, and has already bore witness to some major upsets in the opening days of competition.

Tiago Pires (PRT), 31, navigated this morning's tricky conditions to upset current No. 5 on the ASP World Title rankings, Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, in the opening heat of the morning.

“It's really hard out there this morning,” Pires said. “There are some really good ones, but the water is moving so much. It's challenging. I was fortunate to find a really good one that stayed open and I got a pretty decent barrel. Josh (Kerr) has been in really good form the last few events so I'm happy to get past him.”

Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17, newcomer to the elite ASP Top 34 following September's rotation, utilized his lethal backhand to take down Dusty Payne (HAW), 22, in Round 2 of competition.

“Dusty (Payne) is such a good surfer and can get the score at any moment,” Medina said. “The lineup is very shifty and it's very difficult to be in the correct spot. You just have to take off on waves and surf what you have. I'm very thankful to get through and hope the conditions clean up.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 8:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start. When competition resumes, up first will be Raoni Monteiro (BRA), 29, and Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19, in Heat 9 of Round 2.

Highlights and LIVE from the Quiksilver Pro France on www.quiksilverlive.com

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE REMAINING ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 4: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.10 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.76

Heat 5: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.00 def. John John Florence (HAW) 11.86

Heat 6: Kai Otton (AUS) 12.60 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 12.13

Heat 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.43 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 7.60

Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.57 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 11.50

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE REMAINING ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 9: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)

Heat 10: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)

Heat 11: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)

Heat 12: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Tiago Pires - Crédit : Eric Chauché

La Graviere delivered heaving 2 meters lefts and rights today for opening day of competition at the Quiksilver Pro France.

Event No. 8 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title season, the Quiksilver Pro France saw the world's best surfers do battle in the shifting beachbreaks of Southwest France, completing Round 1 and the opening three heats of Round 2 before day's end.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, two-time ASP World Champion (2007 and 2009) and defending Quiksilver Pro France winner, scored a sensational 9.37 out of a possible 10 for an incredible forehand barrel to take the victory in the dying moments of his Round 1 heat.

“It was a wild end to that heat,” Fanning said. “Brett (Simpson) surfed great. He started with an 8 and got a 7 to take the lead and he was really looking in form. He pushed me deep really deep at the end, but I saw the wave had double up and had to put the rocket boots on when I stood up. It had a great line and I was stoked to make it out.”

Fanning's combined wave total of an 18.20 out of a possible 20 marked the highest of the day, clearly announcing the defending champ's intentions for the European leg of the ASP World Title Series.

“You have to be able to adapt in France,” Fanning said. “The wave changes so much and shows you so many different faces. I have a great board now that Simon (Anderson) shaped for me and it felt really good out there. Looks like there will be waves throughout the waiting period and I'm looking forward to the next heat.”

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, returned to elite ASP World Title competition today, after missing two events due to a rib injury sustained during the Billabong Pro Tahiti. Although still suffering from soreness, the powerful South African muscled his way to a Round 1 victory.

“It's so good to be back,” Smith said. “I'm not 100% at the moment – about 75%. It still hurts to lie down on my board and paddle, but it's time for me to be back in the water. I want to be here and I'm happy to have come away with a win in my first heat back.”

Smith was ranked No. 2 in the world prior to injury, and although the injury may have sidelined a 2011 ASP World Title run, South Africa's favourite son is thankful to be back in the game.

“I'd love to give a big thanks to everyone around the world who was supporting me through that tough time,” Smith said. It's been the toughest thing in my life to go from being second in the world to having to watch those two events happen. I'm psyched to be back though and am working on staying positive.”

Michel Bourez (PYF), 25, current No. 10 on the ASP World Title rankings, posted a convincing Round 1 win today, threading glassy barrels and blasting serious turns to advance past South Americans Alejo Muniz (BRA), 21, and Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19.

“The waves were very fun in my heat today,” Bourez said. “France is like that. The waves can be bad one minute and good the next. I got in a good rhythm and I have a really good board. It feels great to get Round 1 win as I've had a couple of slow events. I'm hoping for a big result in France.”

Today's shifting conditions provided plenty of action for the world's best surfers today, but were, at times, challenging with the ever-shifting lineup.

Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion, survived a difficult heat this morning in a wave-starved Round 1 affair.

“It was a nightmare out there,” Slater said. “I wouldn't be surprised if they called it out there. The tide is really high. It was a bummer and not very competitive. That's the way France is sometimes though. Sometimes it's on, sometimes it's off.”

Also surviving a challenging Round 1 heat was current No. 2 on the ASP World Title rankings, Owen Wright (AUS), 21. Both Slater and Wright will re-launch their Quiksilver Pro France campaigns in Round 3 of competition.

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, current No. 3 on the ASP World Title rankings, suffered a shock elimination this afternoon at the hands of wildcard and trials winner Ramzi Boukhiam (MOR) in a wave-starved Round 2 heat.

Dane Reynolds (USA), 26, competing in his first ASP World Title event of the year, punctuated the afternoon's action with a come-from-behind victory over Adriano de Souza (BRA), 24. In need of a solid score at the business end of the bout, Reynolds tore the roof off a ledging lefthander with two powerful backhand turns, attaining a high 8-point ride and the heat win.

When competition resumes, up first will Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, against Tiago Pires (PRT), 31, in Heat 4 of Round 2.

Photo credit : Eric Chauché / Quiksilver

http://aspworldtour.com

Following his impressive performance in Teahupoo's massive waves this year, Jeremy got a spot (a first for a French surfer) for the prestigious big-wave surfing contest gathering the world's best chargers. Winner of the Pipe Masters, ranked world n°6 on the ASP World Ranking (after NY), the Frenchman now gets to a new dimension while entering the big wave surfers club.

The Eddie waiting period will start on Dec 1^st, 2011 till February 29^th, 2012. The event will be launched if waves reach a minimum of 20 feet (40 feet face). Since its inception in the winter 1984/1985, the contest has only been held 8 times. The Eddie was last held in December 2009 (and won by Californian Greg Long).

Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 13.67 Def. Santiago Muniz (ARG) 8.93

Cabreiroa Pantin Classic Pro Men's Semi-final Results

Heat 1: Santiago Muniz (ARG) 14.06 Def. Chris Friend (AUS) 9.07

Heat 2: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 16.84 Def. Glen Hall (IRL) 11.84

The Quiksilver Pro New York Final marked a rematch between the pair from the previous stop on the ASP World Title Series in Tahiti. But today belonged to Wright and the monumental nature of the moment was not lost on the New York crowd who passionately rooted on a kid they'd never heard of before this week.

Wright wasted no time in the Final, belting a 7.00, a 9.23, and an 8.00 in the opening minutes of the heat against Slater with a savage forehand attack on the clean left-hand walls. Slater never made it off the ropes, unable to tap back into the brilliance that blinded opponents Josh Kerr (Australia) and Taj Burrow (Australia) in his quarter- and semi-final heats – heats that were worthy of being finals in themselves.

As the clock counted down, Slater made one last push, throwing everything he had into a last ditch effort that ended in a broken board.

“Firstly all my friends and family came to mind,” said Wright. “I'm just as stoked as they are. It just overwhelmed me thinking of them.

“The conditions were perfect for me. I knew I'd do everything I could to get to the final with Kelly and I knew he'd be there anyway. Once I got the final I went, no, this is payback for last week! But I've watched Kelly my whole life. He's been a huge inspiration to me.

“I walked for six hours one day in the city just looking around. I've seen nothing like it before. I went to the top of the Empire State building and looked down and I was thinking Central Park was just some small park, but it's like central forest! It's the biggest thing I've ever seen. But that's just New York. Everything's huge. Huge prize money, hell trophy and perfect surf.”

Prior to the final, Slater was in deadly form. His ultimate loss was taken graciously and he seemed to revel in the opportunity to share the moment with Wright. It was 20 years ago that Slater stood in the place that Owen stands today. Wright was 1-year-old that year.

“Owen's first win – this is going to be a memory for his whole life and I'm stoked to be in that final with him. I'm a hundred per cent confident that he's going to at least one world title. He's basically still a rookie and in my opinion he's probably the most well-rounded guy on tour.

“I felt off from wave one. I took off on the first wave and just misread it.”

On his heat with Taj: “It's funny, because I get nervous until somebody gets a good ride and then I know what I need to do. I almost enjoy it more when somebody gets a big score because it brings you to a level. It opens the flood-gates for you.”

In his semi-final heat against Burrow, Slater was in need of a near-perfect ride in the dying minutes. Of course, he rose to the occasion like no-one else could, launching the event's only perfect 10-point ride with a gigantic frontside full-rotation slob grab on a closeout section. It was a hard defeat for Burrow, who had the crowd in his corner with a ballistic display of both tail-busting power turns and sky-scraper aerials.

“Even with my 9 and a 7.8, I still didn't feel safe because Kelly's capable of (a perfect 10) and he did it,” said Burrow. “He tried lots of wild airs and the wind wasn't cooperating with him… and I was like, I hope he doesn't stick one of these things. But sure enough, he gets a big wedge and I let him have it. It looked too big and dumpy. But he did the best air of his life! I don't know how he does it. It won't even do it justice explaining how freakish that actually is, what he just did. That's the best air he's ever done in his life and he did it when he needed, with a minute to go, and it had to be against me. It hurts. It's awful.”

Josh Kerr leaves New York as another sentimental favorite. He came here with no expectations, hot off a performance in Tahiti that marked his true arrival to the top ranks. Third place today solidifies him in the top 10 – now 6th in the world.

“It's a little frustrating…but maybe it was fate, because what happened with him and Taj was meant to be,” said Kerr. “That's good for our sport what just went down. I was stoked to see it. Still bummed on losing, but bitter sweet.

“Being in the big city and getting a big result, and getting good waves… there's a lot of people watching this. Having heats verse Kelly is obviously a good thing because people will wake up in the middle of the night to watch those.”

Alejo Muniz (BRA), 22, currently competing in his rookie year on the ASP World Title Series, was in impressive form throughout the entirety of Quiksilver Pro New York competition, but was unable to trump Wright in their Semifinals heat. Muniz's equal 3rd place finish marks his career-best result.

The world's best surfers took to the air boosting high-flying maneuvers that kept their audience highly entertained.

Wildcards BALARAM STACK and ASHER NOLAN both fell to their more experienced counterparts, as did Hawaii's KEANU ASING, who got a start in the event after the injury withdrawal of Dane Reynolds.

With several surfers on the bubble of re-qualification, it was an intense day on the water. The elimination of CORY LOPEZ (Florida, USA), GABE CLING (Florida, USA), and TRAVIS LOGIE (South Africa) ended their term on the ASP World Tour for 2011.  They are now relegated to the ASP star and prime events where they would need to re-qualify.

Standouts on the water included the day's top scorers ADRIANO DE SOUZA (Brazil) and TAJ BURROW (Australia). De Souza posted 17.93 out of 20 in Round 2, defeating Logie, then returned in Round 3 with an inspired performance against PAT GUDAUSKAS (California) to post 17.1. Like De Souza, Gudauskas had put on one of the best air shows today.

Burrow eliminated Adam Melling (Lennox Head, Australia) in Round 3 with a score of 17.1 and is through to Round 4.

Others with convincing wins today included MICK FANNING (Qld, Australia), BRETT SIMPSON (California), FRED PATACCHIA (Hawaii), and OWEN WRIGHT (NSW, Australia).

Competition will resume tomorrow as the surf continues to build at the hands of Hurricane Katia. Organizers expect waves of up to 8 feet with improving weather and winds.

(Photo - Credit : ASP / ROWLAND)

A traditional 6-man Hawaiian canoe draped in flowers was the focal point as Pu'u explained that in order to set a canoe into motion, it takes the cohesive efforts of all aboard. And that has been the saving grace of the Quiksilver Pro New York. Despite a direct hit from a hurricane and a seemingly impossible cleanup and rebuild, the event is alive and well because of the synergy that developed between local surfers, the Long Beach City community, the ASP World Tour and the global Quiksilver family.

Local wildcard Balaram Stack, who turned 20 today, received an enormous ovation when he was presented to the crowd. Stack will face the world champ Kelly Slater straight off the bat.

Slater spoke enthusiastically today about being on the East Coast to surf: "I like being on the East Coast, I sort of feel like I'm home. Even today on the beach the crowd just seemed so into it and there's nothing going on yet. Everyone's just cheering it on and I think there'll be an impressive crowd when Balaram paddles out because he got a pretty big welcome on the beach today. I've never surfed a world tour contest since I've been a pro on the East Coast."

With a solid Surfline forecast in hand, organizers anticipate an 8am start tomorrow with competition running four consecutive days to a Friday climax, when waves are expected to peak at eight feet.

Check www.quiksilverpro.com at 7am each day for the status of competition.

Nolan took out the final of today's trials event ahead of Hawaii's Keanu Asing, Australian Garrett Parkes, and Jeremy Johnston, from New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Waves were in the shoulder-high range and all four surfers traded waves for the full 25 minutes, much to the satisfaction of a hugely supportive Long Beach crowd of more than 20,000.

Nolan now joins local Long Beach wildcard Balaram Stack, who he is staying with this week, in the main event of the Quiksilver Pro New York. Nolan will be drawn against two-time world champion Mick Fanning (Australia) and Heitor Alves (Brazil) in his first round heat. Stack is drawn against 10-time world champion and current ASP World Tour ratings leader Kelly Slater (Florida), and Daniel Ross (Australia) in his first heat. The pair are guaranteed a minimum prize purse of $11,000 but will be aiming to work their way closer to the winner's $300,000 pay day.

"I knew it was going to be really difficult today because of the conditions," said Nolan after winning the final. "The 15 other surfers (in the trials) were really good surfers too. I was just taking it one heat at a time, I wasn't thinking about winning the wildcard.

"I'm excited to come to NY. I'm ready to hang out with my friends, surf, go to the city, have a good time, so it's really a win-win situation no matter what.

"I knew I could surf these waves. I've done well here before. I don't compete as much as I used to, but I know that I can do it. This is awesome."

Nolan has been a three-time finalist of the UnSound Pro, an annual rated event at Long Beach, so has plenty of experience at the break.

Main event competition could start as early as tomorrow, when a new swell will start filling in. The surf forecast looks very promising for four consecutive days of competition that could mean a final as early as Thursday.

Check www.quiksilverpro.com at 7am each day for the status of competition.

Click on the thumbnails to watch his top scoring rides and interview.

Quiksilver's Jérémy Florès was the standout surfer yesterday winning his round two heat against Heiarii William (who had a scary wipe out) and then his round three heat. Flores posted the day's highest two wave combined heat score of 18.63 out of a possible 20 in his big win over Cory Lopez (USA).

Flores goes to round four where he will face Australian surfers Josh Kerr and Kai Otten.

Tomorrow and Sunday, ASP Europe Pro Junior final event and crowning of the 2011 European Champion

French surfer NELSON CLOAREC, today, won the European final of the Quiksilver King of the Groms in 3 to 5 feet fun waves at Newquay's famous Fistral Beach.

Nelson Cloarec , 15, who's brother Tom (17) is also a great hope of french surfing, was born in Brittany, France but lives in Capbreton (South West of France).

The young french ripper who already has a National Champion title in 2009 and a European Champion title in 2010 under his belt, had won his ticket for Newquay's Euro Final thanks to his second place in the French qualifying stop in La Torche a few weeks ago.

In Newquay, the Frenchman ruled this second day of competition posting the event's highest best two waves (a 9,67 and a 9,17 ride in semi final). His domination upon Europe's best 16 and under surfers is awarded by a first King of the Groms win even if Euskadi's Natxo Gonzalez battled hard for the crown until the very last seconds of the heat. As he was leading the final, Natxo (15, coming from Plentzia near Bilbao) let Cloarec take a nice left awarded by a 7,23 score out of 10 and the victory.

None the less, both of them will fly to France to take part to the Quiksilver King of the Groms International final to be held during the Quiksilver Pro France (an ASP World Tour event) gathering the world's best surfers on the Landes coast. An extraordinary experience for these two groms.

Tomorrow, Saturday, at 7am, Europe's best junior surfers will hit the water to compete in the last and most crucial event of this year's European Junior circuit. Among the 80 surfers (under 21 division) participating in the event, tomorrow's surfing stars will fight for the 2011 European Junior Champion crown. Quiksilver's Portuguese team rider, Vasco Ribeiro is the current leader of the ASP European rankings for now but nothing is settled yet. With a victory comes 1000 points, meaning 6 other surfers can still claim the European title. Among them, Carribean surfers Dimitri Ouvré 2010 European Champion and William Aliotti, Medi Veminardi (Reunion Island), Portuguese Frederico Morais, France's PV Laborde and Ramzi Boukhiam (Morocco), winner of King of the Groms euro final in Zarautz in 2009. According to the swell forecast, le 2011 European Champion should be crowned in Newquay on Sunday.

ASP Europe Pro Junior final event and crowning of the European Champion (27-29 August)

The elite of junior european surfing has landed in Newquay, Cornwall to compete in the Quiksilver King of the Groms European Final and the final stop of the ASP Pro Junior circuit which will crown the best under 16 surfer on the first hand and the ASP Europe Junior Champion (under 21) on the other hand.

For the next 5 days, the famous and magnificent spot of Fistral Beach has become the European capital of junior surfing.

Today, Thursday 25th of august, the future of professional surfing representatives were the first to hit the water for the Quiksilver King of the Groms European Final's Round 1.

32 young surfers have qualified for the final in Newquay after participating in national qualification events for the past 4 months to earn their ticket for Cornwall.

The youngsters event's Round 1 was ruled by the Italian Quiksilver team rider Leonardo Fioravanti, winner of last year's KOTG European final in Zarautz and owner of a wildcard this year in Newquay.

The young prodigy achieved an exceptional combination of 2 waves (8,83 pts and 8,33 pts out of 10) to win his first heat with a final 17,16 score out of 20. From then on, Leo managed to post the event's best 3 scores. The 13 year old surfer born in Rome and now living in south west of France, is definitely the man to beat and does not hide his deep desire to get a second back to back win in the contest. In the 3^rd round, Leo again displayed strong maneuvers and powerful surfing to dominate his opponents. He won the heat with a solid 15,16 points score and gets through Round 4.

The other Round 3 winners are : Tim Bisso from Guadeloupe, Spanish surfer Marcelino Botin, Euskadi's Alex Iriondo, Frenchman Job Harris and Portuguese rider Joao Kopke.

Tomorrow, the Round 4 will start at 10am (local time) with:

Heat 1 : Tim Bisso (Gua), Leonardo Fioravanti (Ita), Natxo Gonzalez (Euk), Miguel Blanco (Port)

Heat 2 : Marcelino Botin (Spa), Job Harris (Fra), Nelson Cloarec (Fra), Will Davey (Can)

Heat 3 : Alex Iriondo (Euk), Joao Kopke (Port), Tomas Fernandez (Port), Aldric God (Fra)

QUIKSILVER PRO JUNIOR UK 4* (27-29 august)

From Saturday, the best under 21 european surfers will compete in the Quiksilver Pro Junior UK 4* (the only 4* event in Europe). The last of 7 events on the ASP Europe Junior Tour will crown the 2011 European Junior Champion. 80 young international surfers are expected at this event fighting for a share of the $20 000 prize money.

Quiksilver's Portuguese team rider, Vasco Ribeiro is the current leader of the ASP European rankings for now but nothing is settled yet. With a victory comes 1000 points, meaning more than 10 surfers can still claim the European title.

“My mentor, Richard Schmidt, came to Peru in the early 80's and he told me about this great big wave. I have dreamed about surfing Pico Alto. Today, I feel really proud to have won my first Big Wave World Tour event here in Peru”, said Peter Mel.

Final Results:

1. Peter Mel (USA)
2. Ben Wilkinson (Australia)
3. Felipe Cesarano (Brazil)
4. Joao De Macedo (Portugal)
5. Jamie Sterling (Hawaii)
6. Kodiak Semsch (Peru)

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California / USA (Sunday, August 7, 2011) – Reigning 10-Time ASP World Champion and Quiksilver rider Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach, FL), 39, has won the 2011 ASP PRIME Nike US Open of Surfing for the first time since 1996, defeating Yadin Nicol (AUS), 26, in a dominant final in two-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at the iconic Huntington Beach Pier.

Slater quickly asserted his dominance in the Final against Nicol when he launched a frontside air-reverse and solidified the ride on the reform to earn an 8.50 and backed the ride up with a 7.77 to put the Australian in an early combination-situation and controlled the heat throughout the entirety of the bout.

“I guess Yadin (Nicol) wanted me to win because he didn't catch any waves,” Slater said. “I was just really frustrated for him because he was sitting out the back waiting for the big sets and the big sets were close outs. The small ones he was just two far outside and I got them. I think what happened is I got the 8.50 to start and he was just going to be patient. If he got a good one he would have thrown a big rotator, but it just never came.”

Slater went on an absolute rampage on the final day of competition and fought his way back into a tough battle to overtake progressive Hawaiian Dusty Payne (Lahaina, HI), 22, by launching a hail-mary, no-grab backside 360 air. The massive punt garnered the highest single-wave score of Nike US Open of Surfing competition, 9.77 out of 10, as well as the highest heat-total of 17.94 out of 20.
“Dusty (Payne) had priority and he had gone on a couple of lefts that kind of fizzled out on him and he was probably thinking that left was going to do the same thing his other ones did,” Slater said. “It just let me get going on the face enough and I just tried to rotate as hard as I could and somehow the board stuck to my feet.”
Nicol fought hard throughout the entirety of the ASP PRIME competition, taking out dangerous South African Royden Bryson (ZAF), 28, and prodigious Californian Kolohe Andino (San Clemente, CA), 17, on the Final day of competition, but struggled to find a wave in the Final against Slater.

“Kelly started off strong with the 8.5 and I thought I'd wait for a good wave and I think I waited too long,” Nicol said. “At the start of this week I wouldn't have thought that I'd be in the Final with Kelly. I love it. Sometimes things work out and you make the Final and I'm stoked, I'm over the moon.”

Yadin, who was rated No. 36 entering the US Open of Surfing, now sits at 27th on the ASP World Rankings, moving him inside the coveted ASP Top 32 midyear cut for the halfway mark of the year, but with two events remaining on the ASP World Title Season, Nicol remained guarded in claiming his spot for the final elite events.
“There are still two World Tour events to go so it doesn't completely change my life just yet,” Nicol said. “It definitely helps the vibe though.”

US Open of Surfing Men's Final Result:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 16.27
2 – Yadin Nicol (AUS) 12.40
US Open of Surfing Men's Semifinals Results:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.94 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 14.90
SF 2: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 13.44 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 12.87

Wilson looked ominous heading into the final with his momentum and confidence growing with each heat appearance. Repeating his semi-final game plan, Wilson racked up two excellent scores in the opening minutes to place all the pressure on his opponent.

“I am so happy. To put in the hard yards for this one has been unreal. I have had a mediocre start to my year and I have been working so hard to make some heats. I came off four weeks in Brazil without a strong result and I went home to reassess and do a bit of training and got really motivated. I flew over here by myself with just the goal of winning and stayed focused so it worked out.”

Wilson left his best surfing for the final with an impressive mix of fins-out snaps, floaters and power rail-turns to further his lead with a near perfect 9.8 out of 10, the highest single-wave score of the event. To finish off, Wilson hooked into another bomb set to continue his dominance to claim a 9.57 and take the Quiksilver Pro Portugal 2011 title.

“I felt good right from the start when in my first heat of the contest I had a 9 and an 8 and I felt comfortable out there. I never went too much out of my comfort zone and just surfed strong and made sure I was winning heats because I wanted to win this event. I was going to do whatever it took to do it.”

“The waves have been fun all week,” continued Wilson. “I have been surprised at the waves we got because everyone was saying at this time of year it would be small. We have scored with waves, weather, the people are really supportive and you can tell they really love watching surfing. I think it's cool when they get right behind us.”

Gabriel Medina finished runner-up and added another great result to his already excellent season and continues on course to enter the elite ASP World Tour when the midyear cut takes place. Medina showed signs of repeating his recent PRIME victory in Brazil as he cruised through his quarter and semi-final with numerous excellent scores to take on the role as favourite. The backhand approach of Medina was sharp and fast on the long peeling right-handers with savage hooks in the most critical sections of the wave.

“I could not find a good one in the final but I am happy with this result. Julian got two 9's in the final and he surfed really well so congratulations to him. Now I head to my next event in a couple of weeks in Ballito, South Africa and I hope I can do well there like I have done here.”

Miguel Pupo (BRA) 19, in semi nº2, was unable to hold back a rampaging Julian Wilson who got off to a lightening quick start to rack up two excellent scoring rides and put the young Brazilian on the ropes. Despite answering back with a combination of backhand gouges to score 7.87 out of 10, Pupo was left needing a near perfect score to oust the Australian.

“It is a good result but I wanted to make the final. Julian (Wilson) had a quick start and then I was trying to get a good wave but it was bad luck for me. I caught a pretty good one but I fell on the second turn. You never know when the good wave is going to come and Julian did his job well. It is time now to think about the mistakes and go for the next contest.”

Pupo has added to his best results of the year to take one step close to qualifying for the elite ASP World Tour. The added points will edge Pupo higher on the rankings to distance him from the 32-man cut-off mark and place him securely amongst the world's best surfers.

“I was not feeling that good at the beginning of the comp and I was nervous because I needed a result here and now with a 3rd I am happy. My win in Trestles was a good result and a 3rd right now. A couple more results and I will be on the World Tour.”

John John Florence (HAW) finished equal 3rd to receive 4225 ranking points, almost double his previous best result in the last twelve months, to catapult him up the rankings ladder where he was sitting in a low 79th spot before the Quiksilver Pro Portugal.

Florence faced Medina in a classic semi-final clash between the two flamboyant surfers of the event after incredible displays by both athletes in their respective quarterfinal bouts. Florence, in quarterfinal nº2, earned a near perfect 9.70 out of 10 with a massive hack followed by a fins-out forehand reverse demonstrating that he is fully recovered from a back injury suffered earlier this year.

“I was hoping just to make a heat,” explained Florence of his objectives at the Quiksilver Pro Portugal. “I haven't made a heat in the last couple of contests so I am stoked to make it this far.

Definitely a lot more confidence after this contest and it would have been good to make the final but the semis is cool. It is a fun wave and stoked to be here in Portugal. Gabriel (Medina) is so amazing. He is such a good surfer and is a contest machine because he is in such good form and doing the same as he did last week in Brazil.”

Dion Atkinson (AUS) who suffered a knee injury in his final heat yesterday, placed equal 5th being ousted by Miguel Pupo in a close heat despite the injury. Being his second best result of 8 which count for the ASP World rankings, Atkinson currently in 45th position will move closer to the 32-man cut-off mark.

“I am pleased with the result but I almost didn't surf today because of my knee but I thought that I would give it a go. It is my back leg as well so I couldn't get and drive in my turns. I am going home now for a couple of weeks and will get it checked out.”

The ASP PRIME Quiksilver Pro Portugal offered massive points and attracted a selection of the World's finest competitors looking to qualify or maintain their position on the ASP World Tour. European surfers were also out to gain the added points on offer for the ASP European Men's Series.

The ASP PRIME Quiksilver Pro Portugal offers massive points and has attracted a selection of the World's finest competitors looking to qualify or maintain their position on the ASP World Tour. European surfers are also out to gain the added points on offer for the ASP European Men's Series.

Jay Quinn (Gisbourne, NZL) 27, ignited with an explosive display of controlled power surfing with intense forehand snaps and carves to claim a massive combined two-wave heat total of 18.10 to oust Quiksilver Pro Portugal defending champion Hodei Collazo (Zarautz,EUK) 27.

“I feel pretty good after that heat and just opened up with that 6 to get my feet on the board and then I just took it from there and it all fell into place. I was well positioned and Hodei (Collazo) was sitting a bit too wide so I ended up getting a couple of good ones.”

Quinn, a finalist earlier this year in the ASP 6-Star in Scotland, looked for the critical sections to perform his turns on one of his favourite boards that has already taken him to one final.

“I am on the same board I used in Scotland to get to the final so it is going good. There are a few more heats to go before I have to start thinking about finals. First I want to make the quarters and then take it from there.”

Caio Ibelli (Guaruja Sao Paulo, BRA) 17, destroyed a long right-hander with a mix of critical snaps and flowing rail turns in the opening minute of his heat to kick off with a 9.10 out of 10 one of the highest single scores of the day.

“I am so stoked that I found a really good wave in the first minute with a 9.10 ride. I tried to get a good one when the heat started and that happened for me. The waves are good and fun now and I want to keep going.”

Ibelli had to fight off an inform Alain Riou (PYF) 27, who answered back with an excellent 8.10 to leave him within striking distance of the young Brazilian. Riou threw down the challenge with his precise backhand attack however failed narrowly to peg back his opponent.

“I didn't listen too much to the scores,” explained Ibelli. “I heard my scores and then I went out to catch a backup wave and I got a 6 and then nothing after that but Alain (Riou) surfed very well and the pressure was on in the heat.”

Ibelli, who is sitting low on the ASP World rankings in position nº141, has secured his best result in an ASP PRIME event and will face fellow up-and-comer Miguel Pupo (BRA) 19, and Davey Cathels (AUS) 20, in the following round.

“In the PRIMES this is my best result for sure to make it to the No Loser round. Last year I got a 3rd place in a 6-Star and I want to do better than that here if possible.”

John John Florence (HAW) 17, pulled off a pair of savage hits in a relaxed display against Brandon Jackson (ZAF) to claim an 8.67 out of 10 and a combined two-wave heat total of 16.27 one of the highest of the day.

“I was super stoked and it was a good wave and I got lucky because you are sitting way up the point now and you can't tell which ones are going to close out or which ones are going to run through with a bit of a wall. Then when you do get a good one you have to ride it all the way in and then paddle all the way back out again. It is a fun right point and these are the best waves I have had in competition for a while.”

Jeremy Flores (FRA) 23, was pushed all the way by Andre Silva (BRA) 28, with the young Frenchman paddling into his final wave with only seconds remaining and needing a solid score. Flores kept his composure and laid down a combination of snaps and cutbacks finishing with a strong last turn to secure the required score.

“I was behind in the scores the whole heat so I was in second and I needed 6 points and in the last minute I got the wave. It was the only fun wave I got and I thought not to fall off and I got the score so I am happy to make it.”

Junior Faria (Sao Paulo, BRA) 24, currently nº56 on the ASP World rankings, is on a roll with another excellent result in the Quiksilver Pro Portugal to add to an already successful year for the power house natural footer. In a wave starved, low scoring, tactical clash against Heath Joske (Nambucca Heads, AUS) 22, Faria held a slim lead the entire matchup to eventually steer clear with an excellent 7.50 out of ten in the final moments.

“There is a long wait between sets and even when they come it is hard to know which ones are good so it was a matter of patience and looking for the right ones. This is my best year so far and I had a good contest at Trestles and Saquarema so for me it is about making heats and as last year was not a good year for me every heat is going to improve my ranking.

Pat Gudauskas (San Clemente, USA) 25, relied on a series of forehand snaps and carves on his opening ride to take control of a slow heat to oust Travis Logie (ZAF) 32.  Unable to hear scores due to the extreme low tide and wind, Gudauskas kept composed under the situation to find a solid backup ride towards the later end of the clash.

“I didn't hear until the very end what it was. I was trying to do the math based on what Travis (Logie) needed so I was a little stressed out. It is tricky as it is more north the swell and not so much from the west today so it is hard to pick the ones which are going to hit reef. Also the wind is a bit more onshore so it makes it all a little more challenging but still really good waves out there.”

The Quiksilver Pro Portugal will make a first-call at 09h00 tomorrow for a possible start shortly after to Round Four with Cory Lopez (USA) facing fellow Brazilians Gabriel Medina and Junior Faria.

Young was on fire as he attacked the main peak with a savage backhand attack that saw him in total sync with the ocean to consistently find the better waves of the 30-minute clash. After discarding several solid scoring waves, Young amassed a two-wave heat total of 16.97 out of 20 including a near perfect 9.10.

Young, whose heat total is the highest of the event, suddenly finds himself as the form surfer at the Quiksilver Pro Portugal with the added pressure that goes along with a display of such calibre. Young's backhand surfing was lightening fast with massive hacks in the pocket combined with speed and flow to complete the judging criteria to a tee.  “Hopefully I can do the same in the next heat the same as I did now. You can tell which ones have got the good walls and they are the ones you want so hopefully I can do it again in a couple more heats. Sometimes you get a high score in your heat and then there is a bit more pressure in the next one but big scores also give you confidence as well.”

Quiksilver Pro Portugal top seed Jeremy Flores (FRA) 23, current elite ASP World Tour ranked nº11, cruised to a comfortable win in his first-up appearance after opening his account with two consecutive high scoring waves after his heat had been placed on hold for over 4 hours due to the high tide.

“I just arrived last night so I got to have a free surf when I was supposed to surf before and I am stoked to get through that one to start. It is a really tricky wave because with high tide and low tide it is a completely different wave and it has all these sections so you want to make all these connections.”

Flores worked the long right-handers connecting rail-to-rail snaps and speed floaters to link through to the inside bowl. A recent illness was not evident as Flores powered all his turns to their maximum potential.
“I got a blood infection in Brazil and I was stuck there for 10 days and now I have just come back from a week at home on Reunion Island and I was stoked to be back home and see my family and my friends I hadn't seen in several years.”

Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17, recent PRIME event winner in Brazil, who is currently in nº27 position on the ASP World rankings and inside the 32-man cut-off point advanced through to Round Two after a slow start that eventually built momentum to finish his last wave with a series of backhand snaps to secure an 8.00 out of 10 and a combined heat total of 15.10.

“I feel good and it is good to get through that heat. With Jihad (Khodr) with me in the same heat was fun and I have learnt things off him because he was on the World Tour for a long time. I feel confident at the moment but I don't think too much about qualifying right now.”

Pat Gudauskas (San Clemente, USA) 25, managed to brush off a niggling neck injury to rack up a series of forehand gouges to secure an 8.50 out of 10, one of the highest single-wave scores of the day. Failing to find a solid backup score, Gudauskas placed second behind a fired up Tiago Camarao (BRA) eventual heat winner.

“I love this wave but I tweaked my neck a little before the heat,” explained Gudauskas. “I was stoked to be loose out there. The PRIMES and the WT events are all equally important to me at this stage so it is good to surf a lot of heats, have fun and make the most of it. Hopefully have some good performances which adds to your whole vibe and that would be my goal right now.”  

Austin Ware (USA) 30, up first in heat nº1, relied on his experience, wave selection and hard hitting forehand surf, to advance comfortably ahead of Dimitri Ouvre (BRB) 19, in a stacked heat which saw former ASP World champion (2001) C.J. Hobgood (USA) eliminated in fourth position.
Ouvre, an event wildcard at the Quiksilver Pro Portugal, snagged a peeling right-hander in the last part of the heat to lay down several critical snaps to claim a 6.90 and jump into second position. In a wave hungry encounter that saw a total of 36 waves ridden, Ouvre was ecstatic with his pass through to Round Two of competition.  “It is a dream for me to be in a heat with C.J. (Hobgood) and all the other goofy footers. I want to thank Quiksilver for the wildcard into this contest because it is important for my surfing and for my ranking next year.” “It was a tough heat at the beginning,” continued Ouvre. “I made a couple of mistakes because I was sitting out the back and I should have gone inside. After I caught an inside one and just expressed myself on the wave.”

Fellow event wildcard Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) also advanced through to the next round finishing runner-up behind Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) in a tight heat that saw Shaun Joubert (ZAF) and Brett Simpson (USA) finish 3rd and 4th respectively. Ribeiro current ASP Europe Junior rankings leader along with Ouvre who is following closely behind in 3rd  spot will both make the most of their opportunity to continue in the Quiksilver Pro Portugal in Round Two.

It ended up being Nick de Jonghe, Nick De Wannemaeker and our very own Achille Kindt. The organisation's great timing ensured the spectacle took place in improving conditions. Only killjoy was the upcoming current. Nevertheless,  the surfers did their thing.

Nick De Wannemaeker had beaten Matt in the first round, but couldn't repeat this in the final and ended up fourth. Nick de Jonghe couldn't beat the young talent either. His nice switch rides gave him third place.

Quiksilver's Achille did everything to keep the pressure up, but his aggressive backside off the lips and long noserides weren't enough to keep Matt from victory.

Only remark there was to make, was the absence of girls. So big up to  first and only girl Julie Lauwers and to all other girls we see ripping in the water, we hope to see your names appear on the participant list next edition!

Big up to Woody!!

The Tiago Pires Surf School is a project focussed on the young kids, looking for and amongst them, to form surfers for the future. The school also has a strong element of social work. This project was born from Tiago Pires's wish to actively stimulate a new generation of surfers in Portugal, sharing what he has been learning in his career at the surf's highest stages. “My goal is to make surf get to the largest possible number of people. To have this lifestyle is a privilege and I want to give young people the opportunity I also had to build my career. I want to give back what I got from this sport.”

At a social level, Tiago Pires Surf School will look to develop social support actions along with institutions of solidarity, to create and put into practice partnerships with other schools, promoting exchanges between them. Among the school's services, we highlight the development of skills (Extra Speed) and a course for kids and teenagers (Surf Bloom).

Tiago Pires Surf School will soon be on Facebook, so that everybody can check out all its novelties.

His mastering performance allows Matt Banting to grab the Sixth rank of the Australian ASP Pro Junior Series.

Anthony became second in the Big Air contest in the Seniors category, whereas Sebbe won in his Juniors category. They both did very well in their respective age category for Slopestyle as well, Anthony ended up third, Sebbe took the first place.

The boardercross wasn't taken too seriously, but Sebbe still managed to take the second place on an old school board and matching tight pants. He probably could have won if he had ridden his own board, but it was fun that he was after. This time it was Anthony who won in his category.

So big up for the Belgian Quiksilver Snowboard team!

We're also very proud to say that newest ROXY teamrider Loranne was the star of the recent Belgian Open in Les Deux Alpes. She won in categories Big Air and Slopestyle, which made the 13-year old the overall winner in the ladies' category.

Click here to see more pictures of the Belgian Open 2011

Dimitri Ouvré clamied in Spain his maiden Asp Pro Junior victory thanks to a fantastic wave, 15 minutes before the end of the heat. The Quiksilver rider achieved a fabulous air reverse followed by a forehand snap to snatch a near perfect 9.00 out of 10 and the win.

Ouvré jumps to nº1 position on the Asp European Men's Pro Junior rankings and now has his eyes set on a repeat performance at the upcoming Asp 3-Star Pro Junior in the Canary Islands.

His team mate Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 13, the youngest competitor in the Somo Pro Junior Cantabria Infinita, finished equal 7th claiming his best career result to date. The ever smiling natural-footer who turned heads with his clean flowing rail turns and competitive skills displayed in all his encounters.

« I saw the news on facebook this morning. We've been waiting for this since so many years. It's really nice for our sport. We are going to get more credibility. I'm so happy and excited. I'm stocked. »

Placing 5th at the Winter X Games Europe and US, 3rd at the Dew Tour, the young French prodigy has all the arguments to get his ticket for Russia to enter his first Olympic Games.

In the upcoming weeks, Toto who rides for Quiksilver since he's 9 ( !) will fly to Canada for this season's last contest and then come back to France to take his A level and get his driving licence.

http://kingpin.mpora.com/videos/10-tricks/10-tricks-pj-claeys.html

The format of the event was a fun jam session and the final saw ten riders take two runs, with hundreds of people cheering on in the sunny and slushy spring-time conditions. Mathieu Crepel took the victory in the freshly upgraded 4Star Poney Session. It was a treat for the spectators to see him competing in his home region, since he has taken a step back from the competitive snowboarding circuit, focusing on riding powder in the recent years. He was stoked after the event saying,  “It was awesome as usual. I had a perfect day with my good friends and the park was amazing! I rode every line of the slope, I tried new tricks and I landed a Cab Double Under, in the Perfect Jump. I'm stoked to finally get the Pony Title! This event really is worth it's 4 TTR stars and I'll be there for sure for the 10th anniversary next year! "  Mathieu's winning run included a half cab boardslide 270 out on the pole jam, a switch back 900 on the big air, a sweet frontside 1080.

Out of the many Swedish riders competing, it was Isak Björnström who grabbed the second place leaving JJ Roux (FRA) in third. This season has been a good one for Isak, as he has been competing at other European 4Star events, and getting up on the podium at each and every one of them. He took a first place at the 4Star Sony Ericsson Snowboard Fest in Slovakia and a second place at the 4Star Engadinsnow in Switzerland. With his second place at the Pony Session he moved up considerably in the Swatch TTR Tour Ranking. Even though the TTR Tour Champions have been crowned, there are several 1-4Star events coming up on the TTR Tour, where riders like Isak still have the opportunity to collect results in order to determine their Season-End Bonus Points, which will be carried over to the 2011/12 season.

For Iouri Podladtchikov, who didn't compete in Aspen this January due to an injury, this silver medal confirms that he can throw the biggest tricks and can step up when under pressure. The Moscow native incidentally said that this was his “best day of snowboarding this year”. Louie Vito takes Gold and Christian Haller completes the podium.

Unfortunately, Mathieu won't make the final this year. The Frenchman who had temporarily left the pipe to enjoy backcountry and freeriding for more than one month, probably had not enough trainings in his pocket to get out of the eliminations.

Watch on Canal+ Sport at www.winterxgameseurope.com

Iouri Podladchikov
Mathieu Crepel
Thomas Krief
Ulrik Badertsher
Eric Willett

X Fest, the winter X Games, open from 10am – 7pm
The big stage and the bars of Tignes will be hosting events and entertainments organized by X Games partners. Quiksilver and Roxy are opening the doors to its casino: blackjack, poker, roulette and betting on the final podium places… grow your initial stake and win big! Every evening from 6pm to 7pm, Carlsberg cocktails and DJ set with Deezer. Signing sessions with top athletes from the team at the Quiksilver/Roxy store in Val Claret on March 16th at 5pm and on the stand at the X Fest on Thursday March 17th at 5.30pm. Closing evening, Friday March 18th at the Le Couloir bar from 11pm, with team athletes in attendance. Just remember: what happens in Tignes, stays in Tignes!

More info at:

http://winterxgameseurope.canalplus.fr/
http://www.deezer.com/fr/winterxgames/

Bronze went to Ville who not only impressed with his flow but also with bs lipslide on down rail, tailslide fs 270 out on the gas pipe, backside nose tap on the quarter rail, fs boardslide on the down rail, sw back side 9 mute to fs 10 indy to bs 7 mute over the kicker line and 50-50 fs 1 out on the pipe.

The young finish Quiksilver rider has been impressing lots of people with his smooth style and large bag of tricks.

Ville will be making his way to the TTR Air and Style events where he will take part in the prestigious rookie challenge against the rest of the worlds top rookies.
Well done Ville and good luck in Innsbruck.

© Ducasse

“I have had exceptional support throughout my career and I am excited to have this bright opportunity with the respected team at Quiksilver,” says Gilmore. “I am looking forward to pushing myself to new levels and feel this is a move which will help me stay inspired while competing at the highest level as a professional surfer on the ASP Women's World Tour. It's thrilling to be a part of an innovative and globally respected brand like Quiksilver.  Its rich history and creative direction are well aligned with my personal ambitions.”

“We are very happy to welcome Stephanie to Quiksilver” says Bob McKnight, CEO of Quiksilver. “Her many accomplishments, at such a young age, are incredible. She is an inspirational role model for young women and a perfect fit for Quiksilver.”

22-year-old Stephanie, who was born and raised in NSW Australia has already become one of the most accomplished surfers in the world. She has won the ASP World Title in each of the last four years, was the youngest ASP Women's World Champion (2007) and has 17 ASP Women's World Tour victories. She will compete in the first event of the 2011 ASP season at next month's Roxy Pro on Australia's Gold Coast, February 26-March 9.

In addition to Quiksilver, her sponsors include Cole Clark Guitars, Ford, Sanitarium and DHD Surfboards. She plays both acoustic and electric guitar, including a Cole Clark lap slide and a vintage Fender Strat, and she documents her world travels with a Hassleblad 501c medium format camera.

Stephanie's philanthropic work includes Australia's youth-focused Black Dog Foundation; and she is a sponsor for two children in Kenya and Ethiopia. This Sunday, January 9th, Stephanie will be part of Channel 9 Australia's telethon to raise money for Australia's devastated areas affected by the floods.

Stephanie will continue to hone her talents and pursue her passions as she joins the Quiksilver family and will creatively contribute to and be involved in marketing efforts for the brand's new collection. Designed for young women with a coastal mindset and an independent spirit, the new Quiksilver collection is built on an understated aesthetic with its primary focus on quality fabrics, fits and finishes. This feminine interpretation of the Quiksilver brand has resulted in a beautiful collection that is authentic to Quiksilver's roots while at the same time introducing a unique, feminine perspective to the action sports apparel industry. The debut season of the collection perfectly blends coastal casual lived-in, loved-in designs with airy feminine details and superior hand-feel.

Congratulations Julian! Look for Julian to take on the world's best in the 2011 ASP World Tour, kicking of with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast!

The 28 prestigious invitees include last year's reigning champion Greg Long and 10 X World Champion and past winner of the 2002 Eddie event, Kelly Slater.  All are ready for the competition, which has a waiting period running from December 1^st through to February 28^th, 2011.

The event marks the global standard of big wave surfing and won't start unless the swell meets the minimum 20 feet (6.5m) size requirement.

In 25 years of its existence, the Eddie has only run 8 times, adding to the legendary prestige of this event.

http://quiksilver.com/eddie

The competition was eventually cancelled, but Victor Fernandez accumulated enough points (4167pts) to claim the PWA World Wave Title for 2010.  He placed ahead of rivals Ricardo Campello and Philip Koster.

“I'm really happy.  I worked really hard from the start on the PWA Tour and especially this year.  I expected a good run here, so it's a little disappointing.  The advantage when you lead from the start is that you never know what can happen and you'll always give it your best.  That's what I did and I feel I deserve this victory.”

This is the first World Title for the Andalusian, which confirms his progression, after previously finishing 6^th on the PWA Tour in 2009.  After taking the international crown, the Spaniard has already set out to defend his title.

“I'm going to continue training hard this winter and will make my second film ‘second life'.  I hope to discover some new spots and come back here (to Cape Verde) to progress some more.  Over the next few weeks I'll return home and celebrate with my family and friends.  I'll be coming back next year to defend my title.'

Member of Team Quiksilver, alongside Antoine Albeau, who is also 2010 World Champion in Slalom and Formula windsurfing, Victor Fernandez has now also sailed into the big time.

© Gille Calvet

RESULTS: REEF HAWAIIAN PRO

FINAL
1ST -  Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.00

2ND -  Joel Centeio (HAW) 7.04

3RD - Julian Wilson (AUS) 6.86

4TH - Heath  Joske (AUS) 3.14

SEMI-FINALS:
H1: Heath Joske (AUS) 13.00; Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.90; Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.56; Daniel Ross (AUS) 9.80

H2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.47; Joel Centeio (HAW) 10.17; Granger Larsen (HAW) 8.90; Adrian Buchan (AUS) 6.84

Kelly clinched the title after putting on an incredible tube riding display in his quarterfinal heat against Brazil's Adriano De Souza.

Congratulations Kelly on your incredible achievement!

Let the party begin!

Click here to see the winning moments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oPBIDWPtOs

“I feel relieved, honestly,” says Kelly. “It's been the most stressful title I've ever had, because it's sort of an unknown place and you know at my age people say ‘you shouldn't be doing this.' And all the young guys are getting better and it's a challenge to believe in yourself and not believe what other people tell you. I know how good Jordy, Dane, Mick, Taj and all those guys are, and it's a marathon, you know? It's not one wave, it's not one maneuver, it's not one contest. It's a year-long thing and I know how to focus and it came together and I'm just so relieved.”

“Kelly's 10^th World Title today will be remembered as one of the most important moments in surf history,” said Bob McKnight, CEO of Quiksilver. “We are honored and proud to have been there to witness and support him over his entire, incredible professional career. Congratulations Kelly!”

Channel Islands Surfboards Founder Al Merrick adds, "I'm just really proud of Kelly right now. Winning a tenth title is such an incredible feat; but being able to do it on a board that he designed himself is a wonderful accomplishment in itself."

Slater, 38, vaulted into the 2010 season points lead mid-way through this year's ASP World Tour title race when he won the Hurley Pro at Trestles (Calif.) in September, taking out 27-year-old Bede Durbidge in flawless 6-foot waves.  The win marked Kelly's 4^th career title at historic Trestles, the site of his first professional win twenty years earlier.

After Trestles, the ASP World Tour continued on to the Quiksilver Pro France at Les Culs Nus Beach, where Kelly took second place to the reigning ASP World Champion, 29-year-old Australian Mick Fanning. Kelly's runner-up finish further extended his 2010 tour points lead as he delivered his first perfect 10 score of the season with a ridiculous freefall drop into a barrel during the semifinals.

In mid-October, the tour continued on to Portugal for the Rip Curl Pro, an event that would play a vital role in determining the 2010 World Champion. Slater stormed to another 1^st place finish in Portugal, earning a career record 44^th Elite Tour victory during some of the highest-performance surfing the world has ever seen. Slater struck stealthily in the final round at epic Supertubos, locking in solid backhand waves in shifting conditions and staving off a late charge from 22-year-old current ASP World #2 South African Jordy Smith.

Kelly won his previous ASP World Championships in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2006 and 2008. His career victories also include 44 WCT wins and two ESPN X Games gold medals.

Official Statement: HONOLULU – (November 2, 2010) — The world of surfing mourns an incredibly sad loss today with the news that Hawaii's Andy Irons has died. Andy was a beloved husband, and a true champion. Irons, 32, withdrew from a professional surfing event in Puerto Rico last weekend due to illness and passed away during a layover en-route to his home in Kauai, Hawaii. He had reportedly been battling with dengue fever, a viral disease. At this time the family thanks his friends and fans for their support, and asks that the community respect its privacy. The family also asks to not be contacted so their focus can remain on one another during this time of profound loss.

Opening his account with an 8.50 out of ten and then backing it up with an 8.17, Collazo had his opponent in a combination situation early in the battle and looked to be on his way to a comfortable win. Zubizarreta had other ideas and answered back with an 8.90, to get back in the fight with five minutes remaining.

Without priority, Collazo had to watch on as Zubizarreta played his last card on his last wave in the final minute. Coming up short by the nearest of margins, a mere 0.20 of a point, the Quiksilver Pro Portugal 2010 title was in the grasp of an emotional Collazo.

“This is an amazing feeling and I can't describe how it feels to win an event like this. I have never gone further than the quarters, so to be in the final with my best friend and to win it is the best thing that has happened to me.”

Taking out World Tour campaigner, Jeremy Flores (FRA) in the quarter-finals, Collazo grew in confidence and knew that this was his moment.

“I have had so much support from all the people here and also from all the people at home. It is really special and I want to say thanks to all of them for their support. I have taken the whole event heat by heat and tried not to think about my opponents and just focus on my surfing and the work ahead to be done.”

In a somewhat different approach to such a major final, Collazo explains their pre-final preparations.

“It was a different final because we tossed a coin to see who would have the first wave. Normally you are really stressed and earlier there was a lot of pressure in the quarters and the semis but in the final we were talking and looking back to the beach amazed at all the people who had come down to watch us.”

Runner-up, Gony Zubizarreta was on a role this morning after eliminating ASP Dream Tour surfer and local favourite Tiago Pires (PRT) in the quarter-finals with another come from behind performance. Smashing out a 9.87, the highest single wave score of the event, Zubizarreta threatened to go all the way.

“The heat against Tiago was amazing. I managed to catch the bomb and get that score which got me back into the heat. For me it was an honour to be up against him at his home break and to win that heat was really special.”

In the final, Zubizarreta managed to claw his way back to create a dramatic final stage to the 40-minute clash. With no remorse, Zubizarreta was pleased with his ‘never say die' attitude.

“I didn't surf so well at the beginning and then I got that good one so I thought I was still able to get another one. The last wave came and I surfed the best I could but it was close. I think the judge's decision in the end was correct. It was close and I am very happy for Hodei.”

Leonardo Neves (Saquarema, BRA) 30, finished in equal third to achieve his best result in Europe this year. Coming up against an inform Hodei Collazo, the Brazilian made a crucial error losing priority and had to stand by and watch as the win escaped from his grasp.

“I ended up losing priority with a 5.00 point ride and I should have stayed out the back and waited a few minutes more because I had to watch the 8.00 point ride of Hodei. I think that wave marked the difference in the heat because it was a wave with more potential and that was the difference.”

More at home in more powerful conditions, Neves has concentrated on his small wave surfing and is starting to see results. Equipment changes as well as technical adjustments to his surfing are the reasons for this improvement.

“This has been a contest in small waves which has always been difficult for me. Bigger waves are a lot easier for me. So now I have a specific board for small waves that is going really well. Each time my results are getting better.”

Now moving on to further events to be held in the Canary Islands, Neves feels that his momentum is pushing him towards an even bigger result in the near future.

“I am having a good run at the moment with many quarter-final finishes and now a semi-final so let's hope a final is coming up soon for me in the next events in the Canary Islands.”

Marc Lacomare (Capbreton, FRA) 20, also finishing equal third, continued with his consistent results achieved throughout the entire year in Europe including a win at the 5-Star Newquay event. Having no luck in finding any rhythm and surfing on his backhand in the tricky conditions, Lacomare had to admit that some errors on his part cost him the victory.

“He (Zubizarreta) has been surfing amazing since the start of the contest so it was a tough heat. Maybe I made a couple of mistakes in that heat but I am still happy with a semi-final result.”

Remaining a clear leader on the ASP European Men's rankings and with two stops remaining on the circuit, Lacomare is looking strong to back up his 2009 ASP Europe Junior title.

“I am really happy with my year and hopefully I can take out the European title after the Canary events and if not I am just really happy with the results I have done this summer.”

Quiksilver Pro Portugal Final Result

Hodei Collazo (EUK) 16.67 Def. Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 16.47

Quiksilver Pro Portugal Semi-final Results

Heat 1: Hodei Collazo (EUK) 15.43 Def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 11.33

Heat 2: Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 10.17 Def. Marc Lacomare (FRA) 5.23

Quiksilver Pro Portugal Quarter-final Results

Heat 1: Hodei Collazo (EUK) 13.00 Def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.27

Heat 2: Leonardo Neves (BRA) 8.10 Def. Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 7.16

Heat 3: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 11.67 Def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 8.93

Heat 4: Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 16.90 Def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 15.84

The ASP 2007 European Champion and former ASP World Race contender (2008 and 2009) had already opened his 2010 ASP Star Series campaign with a win in Brazil earlier this year, during the ASP 6-star Maresia Surf International.

The Quiksilver Team surfer, Kelly Slater (USA) today earned his third win of the season in Peniche, Portugal (after wins at Bells Beach and Trestles) taking his ASP World Tour career victories to 44.  Surfing in the final against his biggest rival of the season and current World number two, Jordy Smith (South Africa), Kelly won a crucial battle. The 38 year-old Floridian 9 times World Champion, further widened the gap between him and the 22 year-old South African prodigy who now lies 9250 points behind Kelly Slater.

For Kelly, the possibility of a 10^th World Title becomes even more attainable and he can now mathematically seal the historic dream at the next event in Puerto Rico.  If he makes the semi-final in the Caribbean, the Floridian is assured to be the 2010 World Champion.  If Kelly finishes between 5^th and 9^th place, then Jordy Smith must make the final to deprive him of the title.  The last event of the year in Hawaii (December) would then be the decider.

Surfing at Supertubes, Kelly beat Damien Hobgood in the quarters, Chris Davidson in the semis and Jordy Smith in the final.  It was the 5th final of the year for Kelly Slater.  He won at Bells and Trestles, and finished second in the Brazil event and the Quiksilver Pro France in Hossegor.

After receiving a huge trophy on the podium, Kelly said, ‘Congratulations to Jordy.  He would obviously have liked a different result but he's an unbelievable surfer and him and Dane set the standard for all of us.  I'm trying to learn from them and just hang on.  These guys are the present so I'm glad to get this win over with.  I haven't had the greatest success in Portugal, I haven't won here before and finally I get one.'

Jeremy Flores also had a very successful performance in Portugal, finishing in 3^rd place for the second time this year.  His previous podium finish was in the hollow waves of Tahiti in August.

Winner of his first round heat against Dane Reynolds (USA) and Dean Morrison (Aus), the Reunion Island surfer eliminated Bobby Martinez in the 3^rd round and dominated the dangerously talented American Patrick Gudauskas and the South African Travis Logie in the 4^th round.  In the quarter finals, the Quiksilver team rider beat the young Australian prodigy Owen Wright before losing his semi-final encounter against world number 2, Jordy Smith.

‘I am a bit disappointed, but it's a good result for me, which helps my ranking,' said Jeremy.  ‘I'd have really liked to have beaten Jordy but I also know that everyone wants the dream final between Jordy and Kelly.  Even I can't wait to watch it!'

Asked what he thinks of Kelly, the young Frenchman added, ‘ I really admire Kelly who is an idol for me.  I've had the chance to share many trips with him thanks to Quiksilver.  He always gives great advice and has helped me a lot.  Yes he's a freak but he is also a great example to us all.'

This great result propels Jeremy up to 15th in the World Rankings.  Jeremy will stay in Portugal to take part in the Quiksilver Pro Portugal (ASP 6-Star Event) at Ericeira, which starts next Tuesday.  The Europeans will be there in force.  Alongside local hero Tiago Pires, will be Marc Lacomare, Miky Picon, Patrick Beven, Vasco Ribeiro, Charles Martin, Dimitri Ouvré, and Marlon Lipke etc.  Opposition for the home team will include some serious contenders such as Josh Kerr (Aus) and Brazilians Bernado Pigmeu and Jean da Silva.

Follow the Quiksilver Pro Portugal 19^th - 24^th October live on www.quiksilverlive.com

The next event of the ASP World Tour will be 30^th Oct – 10^th Nov 2010 in Puerto Rico.

The 10th world title perspective is becoming more and more concrete for the Floridian who now has 4500 points advance on his young and talented rival Jordy Smith even if the 2010 season is far from being ended with 4 events to run.

Equal third in Trestles (with Mick Fanning), California's Dane Reynolds is still in the 4th position but now gets closer and closer for the podium, becoming a constant threat for Australian Taj Burrow who now just has 250 points advance.

The world's elite surfers from men's professional surfing will land this week in France to compete in the Quiksilver Pro France, in world-class waves of Seignosse, Hossegor, Capbreton and Saint-Jean de Luz. The swell forecast is announcing a long swell for the beginning of the period and a possible early start of the contest. Quiksilver Pro France waiting period starts on Sept 25th till Oct 5th.

ASP World Title Race (after 5 events)
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 40,000 pts
2. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 35,500 pts
3. Taj Burrow (AUS) 30,500 pts
4. Dane Reynolds (USA) 30,250 pts
5. Mick Fanning (AUS) 29,500 pts

To relive the event from behind the scenes and follow Kelly Slater, don't miss Belly's blog at www.quiksilver.com (Quik TV section)

Meanwhile, after a hiccup in South Africa (17^th), Kelly Slater got right back on track for the 2010 World Championship. The Floridian is now just 250 points behind the current leader in the world rankings, South Africa's Jordy Smith. A semi-finalist in Teahupoo, Kelly Slater (who scored a perfect 10 in quarters), still as formidable as ever, knocked out Heiarii Williams (PYF) in the 3^rd round, Adam Melling (AUS) in the 4^th and finally Adrian Buchan (AUS) in the quarters, before going down to Andy Irons - who Slater had in fact already beaten in the first round.

Having arrived in Tahiti in 3^rd spot in the rankings, behind Jordy Smith and Taj Burrow, Kelly Slater leaves French Polynesia with a clear lead over the Australian, and just 250 points behind the young South African prodigy. His hopes of an incredible 10^th world title are still burning bright as ever. Slater can now enjoy the relatively pressure-free position of hunter chasing down the top spot, and it's looking good for him going into one of his favourite Tour events at Trestles, California.

The plaudits for the day's other big exploit go to Jérémy Florès. Having made a solid start to the season, the Frenchman was in blistering form in Tahiti. Hugely impressive in the freesurfing session, the Reunionese athlete produced an incisive and tactically astute performance from start to finish in Teahupoo.  After easing past Marco Polo (Br) and Bobby Martinez (USA) in the 1^st round, the Frenchman brushed aside first Luke Stedman (Aus) in the 3^rd, then formidable local wildcard Manoa Drollet (PYF) - who had knocked out Jordy Smith in the 1/8 finals - and finally another Team Quiksilver surfer, Fred Pattachia (Haw), in the quarters.

In the semis, Jérémy Florès was unable to get the better of master tactician and former World Champion CJ Hobgood, eventually going down by 12.93 pts to 15 pts for the American.

This excellent 3^rd place was one of the finest results of his career for the Frenchman, WQS World Champion in 2006 and Rookie of the Year in 2007 (his best ever being a final in Brazil against Bede Durbidge in 2008), and sees him jump into the World Top 20 (19^th). Free of the painful foot problems that ruined his season in 2009, Florès seems sharper than ever and still has time to fight his way up the rankings between now and December.

The next stage of the ASP World Tour will take place in Trestles, California, USA from September 12^th to 18^th, and will be followed by the QUIKSILVER PRO France, from September 25^th to October 5^th 2010.

To relive the event from behind the scenes and follow Kelly Slater and Jérémy Florès, don't miss Belly's blog at www.quiksilver.com (Quik TV section)

After a brilliant 2010 campain, Ramzi Boukhiam born in Agadir, Morrocco and settled in France, earned his first qualification for an ASP World Championship. He will be then 17 years old.

Finalist of the 3rd European Pro Junior event in Canaria Islands at the very beginning of august, and quarter finalist in Lacanau yesterday, the “pearl of the desert” will join the elite of junior surfing along with DC surfer Marc Lacomare and Maxime Huscenot, 2009 ASP Junior World Champion, invited as a wildcard.

The Quiksilver Team surfer from Reunion Island, Maxime Huscenot had caused majorupset last January when he became the first Frenchman to be crowned ASP Junior World Champion (Pauline Ado did the same in the girls category in 2008).

Marc  Lacomare, 20 years old and 2009 Junior European Champion, is also qualified for the ASP Junior World Championship as being the best European junior on WQS tour this year (he recently won the 5 star WQS event in Fistral Beach, UK).

For the  first time, the next edition of the ASP World Junior Surfing Championships will be held in two phases : in Bali on Keramas spot for October 2 to 13 and then Narrabeen, Australiafrom January 8 to 16 early 2011.

“I'm really proud of this film and grateful I had the opportunity to create something unique in surf filmmaking,” said Julian. “I wanted to make a film before I got sucked into full-time competition and demanding schedule that goes along with it. So instead of competing last year, I put my heart and soul into this project because I didn't know when I'd ever get the chance again.”

Directed by Matt Beauchesne at Irons Brothers Productions, “Scratching the Surface” documents the adventures of Julian, along with friends and fellow professionals Dane Reynolds, Taj Burrow, Dusty Payne, Mick Fanning and others as they spend a year hitting some of the world's most beautiful surf spots. Destinations include South Africa, Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, California, Hawaii, France, Spain and Brazil.  A large part of the film was also shot in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia on a boat trip with Dane, Dusty and Taj. “Scratching The Surface” also teamed Julian and Matt with Brain Farm Cinema, whose goal was to evolve the way surf films are made by utilizing helicopters and the Phantom camera, shooting entirely in HD, and incorporating an energetic and unique soundtrack.

“Our goal with this film was to be creative, have fun, and enjoy capturing what it is like to be Julian Wilson,” says Matt Beauchesne. “Julian has a bright and vibrant personality that we wanted to carry over into the film's overall feel. He is living every kid's dream and we wanted to shoot this film through his eyes.”

To get an early peek of this groundbreaking film, the “Scratching The Surface” trailer and webisodes can be viewed at www.quiksilver.com & www.julianwilson.com

The winners in each category get free entry to the 2011 World Heli Challenge. Snowboarders also get free entry to King of the Hill event in Alaska while Skiers receive the same for the return of the World Extreme Skiing Championships, also in Alaska. Congratulations to Travis Rice!

The Tony Hawk & Friends European Tour was a magnificent success in Brighton. After travelling the continent, Tony Hawk and his team Sandro Dias, Jesse Fritsch, Kevin Staab and Neil Hendrix, gave the ultimate performance to celebrate the end of the tour in front of a sell out crowd of 3,300 people on the famous Brighton sea front. Almost the same number again watched Hawk and the Birdhouse riders from behind the ramp on the promenade.

With a number of English friends, Tony Hawk was happy to return to the UK for the final leg of the European tour. During his time in Brighton, the legendary ramp rider and his Birdhouse team made an unexpected stop yesterday at the local skate park, causing huge excitement by surprising local skaters.

Tonight, Tony and friends wanted to finish the European tour on a high performance and therefore the lucky ticket holders that came to support the British skaters (Sam Bosworth, Sam Beckett, Andy Scott, Jussi Korhonen, Alex Halford), Tony Hawk, Birdhouse and the infamous rock group Maximo Park, were not disappointed.

Tony and friends gave the longest show of the tour with a multiple of magical combinations. Tony Hawk and Sandro Dias, with 10 and 5 X-Games medals respectively, performed a sublime 540° together. After the famous 900° in Barcelona, Tony then landed a 720° and 540° ollie on the biggest portable ramp in the UK, owned by Pete King.

Tony Hawk, the greatest skateboarder of all time, tonight made an astonishing performance in Europe's Skateboarding Mecca, Barcelona for the 3^rd stop of the Quiksilver Tony Hawk & Friends European Skateboarding Tour.

In front of more than 25 000 spectators massed on the magnificent Plaza del Mar beach in La Barceloneta, the 10 time X Games gold medallist, along with his friends Jessie Fritsch, Sandro Dias, Neil Hendrix and Kevin Staab and a couple of Birdhouse young riders, surpassed themselves to entertain the massive crowd packed up around Europe's biggest portable vert ramp especially built up for the show.

They all displayed their best manoeuvres : airs and liptricks in both old school and modern styles but the public went mad when the Birdman landed a perfect 900°. After some spectacular attempts, supported by the crowd chanting his name, Tony finally succeeded in nailing the two and a half rotation that he built his legend on.

“It's the biggest crowd I've ever skated for in my entire life” Tony Hawk confessed after the show.

The Tony Hawk European Skateboarding Tour is now heading to the UK for the last stop of the Tour in Brighton on July 21^st.

More information on http://quiksilverlive.com/tonyhawktour10

Australia's Julian Wilson has won today the 6 stars rated Association of Surfing Professionals Sri Lanka Airlines Pro in flawless 4 to 6 feet surf on an epic final day.

Wilson came into this event courtesy of a wild-card from the sponsor and throughout the event he dominated,  continually posting the day's highest scoring rides and took a deserved win over 19 year-old USA surfer Nat Young.

He controlled the final from start to finish and capitalised early by taking wave priority when Young took off on a poor opening wave.

By mid-final Julian Wilson had a solid lead and Young faulted slightly going for some gigantic floating re entry moves that never quite came off while Wilson  continued to build on his lead scoring a 7.4 ride late in the final which left Young chasing an outstanding 9 point ride to bridge the gap.

“I can't believe what an outstanding event this has been for me and all the surfers who have travelled here” said 22 year-old  Wilson after his win. “The waves have been outstanding everyday and in many ways they are similar to the point waves around Noosa where I live – but probably way more consistent."

“I'm back and over my injuries and seriously looking hard at the qualifying series – this result is ideal for me and I'll head to California for the US Open full of confidence.”

It was Wilson best ever performance at ASP level and both look ready to seriously challenge the highest ranks of surfing.

For rights free videos and photos please contact Steve Roberston at this address: steve@surfingaustralia.com or http://www.aspworldtour.com/2010/mediaform.asp

The 2010 European Youth Surfing Championships ended on Sunday 16th of May on Viana Do Castelo beach located in the north of Portugal.

The week started successfully for the Roxy Team thanks to Maud Lecar's win in the Ladies competition. The 17 year old Saint-Martin Island surfer took her first continental victory and brought Team France its first title of the week.

Sunday was the U-18 Men's final and this time a Quiksilver surfer, Dimitri Ouvré, took the European crown in the main event in front of local surfer Federico Morais (Por).

In the Under 16 category, another Quiksilver boy got the ISA Continental title. Vasco Ribeiro (Por) easily defeated french fellows Andy Criere, 2nd and Tom Cloarec, 4th. The Portugese surfer won the final heat with 17,33 points - almost 5 points ahead of Criere.

The excellent 3rd place of Italian Rookie, Leonardo Fioravanti in the Under 14 final (won by Frenchman Nelson Cloarec) is also a great result for Quiksilver Team, proud to have such a promising surfer in the family.

Skatetrip Berlin: http://www.vimeo.com/11043739

New episode of Gastation: http://www.vimeo.com/10668478

Who: Stephen Bell - aka "Belly" - is an Australian former pro surfer, who's now turned shaper, entrepreneur and Surf team manager for Quiksilver International. A charismatic figure from the world of surfing, Belly takes us behind the scenes of the ASP elite tour and follows the stars of the Tour.

When: Three episodes for each leg of the ASP World Tour, which consists of ten events in total (from March to December 2010). Two episodes will go online during each competition, with one at the end of each stage of the "Dream Tour". Latest one is posted on April 8 from Bells Beach with exclusive footage of Kelly Slater's foot injury.

How: Belly's blog is a quirky, distinctly Aussie surf magazine, where Internet users can see highlights from each stage of the World Tour, as well as behind the scenes sequences following Kelly Slater, Jérémy Florès and rest of the world's surfing elite.

Where: From Snapper Rocks (Australia), where the ASP World Tour kicked off in late February with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, and Bells Beach, which is currently hosting the 2^nd leg of the World Championships, to Hawaii, which provides the setting for the culmination of the Tour in December every year, Belly's blog will be taking us all over planet surf.

The schedule for the next stages of the ASP World Tour and upcoming episodes of Belly's blog is as follows: Santa Catarina (Brazil) from April 23^rd to May 2^nd, Jeffreys Bay (South Africa) from July 15^th to 25^th, Teahupoo (Tahiti) from August 23^rd to September 3^rd, Trestles (California, USA) from September 12^th to 21^st, Hossegor for the Quiksilver Pro France – sole French leg of the Tour - from September 25^th to October 5^th, Peniche (Portugal) from October 7^th to 18^th, Somewhere from October 30^th to November 10^th, Pipeline/ Ohahu (Hawaii) from December 8^th to 25^th.

Watch Belly's blog: http://quiksilver-europe.com/link/tv/searchVideos/Belly

His warm-up outing at the RedBull Linecatcher in Vars was rewarded with an immediate victory. And so on to the Freeride World Tour…. The skier from La Clusaz began in imperious fashion with a win in the first stage in Chamonix in late January, and followed that up with a 2nd place finish in the second leg of the Tour in early February (which was actually the postponed inaugural stage, originally due to take place in Sotchi but ultimately held in Chamonix). After finishing further down the scoreboard at Squaw Valley (in 17th), Candide arrived in Verbier occupying second place in the provisional rankings, and with plenty of work to do. Poor weather saw the event delayed, and Candide and the rest of the field were forced to wait until Sunday when the conditions improved. And so, this morning, Candide launched himself, for the very first time, from the Bec des Rosses, a dizzyingly high slope chosen as the starting point for the world's top freeriders to display their skills. With a smooth and controlled run, Candide bagged a third podium finish in four events, and gained the ultimate reward as he was crowned as the very best freerider on the planet, alongside fellow Frenchman Xavier De Le Rue, winner of the snowboard category.

From March 1st to March 31st 2010, Quiksilver and Roxy launch a Picture Contest on the theme “No Water Sucks” and invite the web users to post the pictures they will have taken or created, illustrating the lack of water.
 

Required quality to win: being creative and imaginative!
 
The winner will be the one who collects the more votes from web users through a simple one-click vote system.
2 checks of 1000€ to win for the winner: 1 for you, and 1 to support the project you will have chosen.
 

One posted picture = One planted tree
 
For each picture posted, Quiksilver and Roxy promise to plant a tree. All along the Green Campaign, Quiksilver and Roxy will donate 1€ to the water conservation association for each eco-product bought on their e-trade websites.

PLAY !!! 

SNAPPER ROCKS, Queensland/Australia (Friday, March 5, 2010) - Taj Burrow (AUS), 31 has taken out the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover over Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, in rippable two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Snapper Rocks.



The opening event of then 2010 ASP World Tour season, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast started the year off with a bang, bringing the greatest assemblage of surfing talent in history to one of the most iconic pointbreaks in the world, and the world's best surfers shattered high-performance barriers once again.



"I'm so so happy right now - it's the best feeling on Earth!" Burrow said. "It's unreal. I have a good group of friends with me and my parents are here supporting me. To have everyone cheering me on in the final is really really special."



While the young South African led throughout the first half of the 40-minute Final, it was Burrow who changed the tide with a mid-heat assault, racking up several solid scores in larger set waves amidst the deteriorating conditions.



"I didn't feel like I surfed my best in the Final," Burrow said. "I kind of just did what it took to win. I just waited for the best waves, did a couple nice turns - nothing too wild. I'd rather have taken Jordy's approach - catch lots of waves and just let loose. That's kind of my strategy normally, but it worked fine. Being a bit more patient and ive than usual definitely paid off. But I knew Jordy could unleash and get the big score any moment."



Burrow, who has secured victories in the previous two events entered (Pipeline in December and Burleigh Heads in February), has been in sensational form over the past three months, and will look to continue the momentum in 2010 as he hunts down his first ASP World Title.



"What can I say? I don't know," Burrow said. "I surprised myself really. Obviously, Pipe was the biggest event I could ever win. I was just overwhelmed. I felt like retiring after that event. I just couldn't believe it, and didn't think it could get any better. I guess I've taken the confidence from it and worked on some good boards. Burleigh Heads was a good warm-up. I felt good that there as well - there are fun little rights, and then here, I took a while to get rolling, but I just built up momentum. I felt great out there and here I am on the podium again - it just feels unbelievable."



Smith, who went on a giant-ing spree at the event, eliminating former nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 38, in yesterday's Round 4 before posting the best result of his young career.



"It's my first Final so I'm pretty stoked," Smith said. "It's unfortunate that the waves went kind of dead in our heat there, but we tried our best. It's been a great event though and I'm looking forward to the next one."



Long touted as one of the most dominant forces in the surfing world, Smith had yet to realize his potential in the competitive realm, but if this event's performance is any indication, the powerful natural-footer is a near-certain threat for an ASP World Title.



"I just feel a lot more comfortable with myself this season," Smith said. "I'm having a lot more fun with my surfing and everything seems to be coming together for me. I'm amped with a Runner-Up finish here and hope I can keep the momentum up for the rest of the season."



Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, looked the form surfer of the event yesterday, defeating defending event winner Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, with an impressive 19.20 out of a possible 20. However, the young Californian was unable to find a rhythm in today's challenging conditions, bowing out of the event with an Equal 3rd at the hands of Smith.



"I felt pretty good yesterday and it felt like my equipment was finally working," Reynolds said. "Even though the conditions weren't as good today, I thought I could catch an average wave and surf it well enough to get a good score, but that didn't happen. When the other guy gets a good roll going, it's hard to come back - or it is for me anyway."



With his penchant for churning out Earth-shattering performances and a good start to the year, several pundits are considering Reynolds as a legitimate ASP World Title contender, but the humble natural-footer has yet to commit such a goal.



"I've never been in this situation before so it's hard for me to say (in regards to motivation for the ASP World Title)," Reynolds said. "When you're a little kid, everyone always tells you that the ASP World Title is the goal, but there's only one each season and 45 guys going for it. It hasn't been a goal for me yet."



Bobby Martinez (USA), 27, matched his best result on the Gold Coast today, collecting an Equal 3rd (his first in 2006), but the sole goofy-footer in today's event was clearly upset about the deteriorated conditions.



"It's disappointing to finish when it's windy like this today," Martinez said. "We all want to surf when it's glassy, and I'm disappointed that we have to finish today. I did my best to mix it up out there, but it's very challenging out there on your backhand today."



Highlights from the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover can be found via www.quiksilverpro.com.au


The next stop on the 2010 ASP World Tour will be the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach from May 30 through April 10, 2010.


QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST FINAL RESULTS:


1 - Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.57


2 - Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.56



QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST SEMIFINAL RESULTS:


SF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.67 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 13.00


SF 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.30 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 8.96



ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 5 (After Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast):


1 - Taj Burrow (AUS) 10000 pts


2 - Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8000 pts


3 - Bobby Martinez (USA) 6500 pts


3 - Dane Reynolds (USA) 6500 pts


5 - Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5250 pts


5 - Bede Durbidge (AUS) 5250 pts


5 - Adriano de Souza (BRA) 5250 pts


5 - Kai Otton (AUS) 5250 pts


The opening event of the 2010 ASP World Tour season, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast has consolidated the greatest assemblage of surfing talent in history, and with one of the most iconic pointbreaks in the world firing throughout the day, the world's best put on an incendiary performance.



Bede Durbidge (AUS), 27, current ASP World No. 3, proved the form surfer of the day, posting a near-perfect 19.30 out of a possible 20, to dispatch of Luke Munro (AUS), 27, in their Round 3 bout. Durbidge blended deep tube rides with progressive forehand gaffs en route to his emphatic victory, even posting the day's highest single wave score of a 9.93 out of a possible 10.



"I just made that barrel and I just didn't even care what happened after that," Durbidge said. "I just went for it. On the ride back on the ski, I was thinking I probably should have finished that wave for the 10, but it's all good."


A former Runner-Up at the event, Durbidge is one of the most dangerous surfers at Snapper Rocks, and will look to post a strong result to open up his 2010 ASP World Tour campaign.



"All my family and friends and here and there's so much hype around this event, being the first of the year, I would love to win this event," Durbidge said. "It makes all the difference. There's a lot more energy for you, and waves come your way."



Durbidge will face current ASP World No. 14 Kieren Perrow (AUS), 33, in Round 4 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.



Kelly Slater (USA), 38, former nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, negotiated the varying afternoon conditions today, putting in a solid performance against 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 24, in Round 3.



"It's a tough call sitting super deep because you can take off too deep or get one that doesn't barrel and there are a lot of bumps," Slater said. "My first one looked pretty nice, but I couldn't come out and it went from a 10 to a 2, so it's a challenge out there."



Slater has drawn South African wunderkind Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, in Round 4 of competition.



Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, reigning two-time ASP World Champion, continued his searing form through Round 3 today, besting 2010 ASP World Tour rookie Brett Simpson (USA), 25, with an intimate rapport with the Snapper Rocks sand bank.



"It's pretty tricky out there," Fanning said. "It's high tide and I don't really it. I've seen a couple in the heat before with Dingo (Morrison) and Kai (Otton), and then Steds (Stedman) and Damo (Hobgood). I thought I could have sat a little bit deeper and I was lucky enough just to get two waves like a 6 and I got that good one (9.07). I just looked for waves that would allow two turns at the start."



Fanning will take on compatriot Kai Otton (AUS), 30, in Round 4 of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.



Adriano de Souza (BRA), 23, current ASP World No. 5, put on a clinic in the opening heat of the day, amassing a 16.10 out of a possible 20 to eliminate compatriot and travelling partner Jadson Andre (BRA), 19.


'I feel great to get through that heat and the waves are really fun," De Souza said. "It's hard surfing against Jadson (Andre). He's my roommate and team member and he's a really good surfer. He may be a rookie, but he's really smart and he's a dangerous surfer."



De Souza, who finished Runner-Up in the event last season, is enthusiastic about his prospects at the 2010 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, and is confident that a solid result at Snapper Rocks is possible.



"I would love to go one better this year and win on the Gold Coast," De Souza said. "I have been working really hard in the off season, training and with my boards, and I feel ready for 2010."



De Souza will face current ASP World No. 23 Adrian Buchan (AUS), 27, in the opening heat of Round 4 when competition resumes.



Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start.


QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 16.00 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.46

Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.10 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 13.70

Heat 3: Chris Davidson (AUS) 11.00 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 9.27

Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.84 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 6.67

Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) 14.16 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 11.26

Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.73 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 13.40

Heat 7: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.97 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.60

Heat 8: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.74 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 10.43

Heat 9: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.63 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 12.20

Heat 10: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.17 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.64

Heat 11: Daniel Ross (AUS) 13.54 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.00

Heat 12: Dane Reynolds (USA) 13.57 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.23

Heat 13: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 19.30 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 7.37

Heat 14: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.06 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 12.43

Heat 15: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.37 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 7.56

Heat 16: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.23 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.77



QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 4 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)

Heat 2: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS)

Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)

Heat 4: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)

Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)

Heat 6: Daniel Ross (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)

Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

Chamonix again provided the thrills of freeride, hosting the second stage of the Freeride Tour: the Nissan Russian Adventure by Swatch, initially planned to take place in Sochi/Russia, but moved to Chamonix for security reasons and difficult weather conditions. Only the men skiers and snowboarders took part of today’s contest, at the north east face of Aiguille Pourrie at the Flégère ski area. With an extremely high performance level, Candide Thovex finished second and Frenchmen Julien Lopez took victory.

The multiple X-Games medallist skier Candide Thovex is now at the top of the Freeride World Tour Ranking. Once again Candide showed us a very playful line, bouncing down the mountain. He took a more obvious line than Lopez and did not take the highest jumps but he was super fluid and executed all his airs with more speed and landed further down than the other competitors. In the end of the run he pulled off a perfect 360° (a complete rotation), taking about 20 metres of distance in the air, really spectacular!

Copyright: Nissan Freeride Chamonix Mont Blanc 2010 D Carlier

Against the beautiful backdrop of the Mont-Blanc, French Freestyle icon Candide Thovex took his first win in a Freeride World Tour event in Chamonix on 31st of January.

The 50 best freeriders on the planet put on an amazing performance in perfect weather conditions on the 500 metre “Pentes de l’Hôtel” face at the Brévent ski area in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, despite challenging snow conditions.

The most impressive run of the day was the clean victory of French freestyle legend Candide Thovex, debuting in freeride contests, announcing a promising future. After the last few days’ of snowfall the blue skies finally presented a dream like arena for the athletes and spectators of the Freeride de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. However, the snow conditions where tricky for the competitors. A lot of the fresh powder was taken down by the first riders and parts of the face exposed rock hard snow, and at times ice. Control was decisive.

Event winner was the famous French freestyler Candide Thovex’s first Freeride World Tour contest, and with his explosive run he secured a solid victory. Thovex chose a unique line down the face, literally flying through the course at full speed, stomping several solid cliff jumps, cheered on by the excited Chamonix spectator crowd. Swedish Kaj Zackrisson is one of the veterans on the tour, and a Chamonix local since 10 years.

“I couldn’t sleep very well last night as I wasn’t really sure of my line, and I felt a lot of pressure this morning. But I went up early and got a good vision of the course. I looked for good snow and a line I could enjoy. I spotted some nice Alaska-like spines with great snow! I chose not to do some tricks and to focus on fluidity. I wanted to come down safe and sound. It has been really cool and the atmosphere is great, which was very motivating at the start. I am really happy of the victory and to share the podium with my friend Tim Dutton who soon will be at his home town in Squaw Valley. I am really motivated for the coming events!” Candide Thovex said.

2 weeks after an amazing win at Reb Bull Linecatcher in Vars (Freestyle/freeride mix event), and several years after his last contests, Candide Thovex is definitely back to business. Watch out.



Huscenot, who received entry into the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships as an ASP International wildcard, wowed spectators and surfers alike today, besting an in-form Jadson Andre (BRA), 19, in the hard-fought Final to claim the ASP World Junior Title.



“This is the biggest day of my life and it’s absolutely unbelievable,” Huscenot said. “It feels like I just won a heat, not the ASP World Title – it’s incredible. Jadson (Andre) is an amazing surfer and the whole Brazilian team rips so hard. I cannot believe it is my day. I am at a loss for words.”



A relative unknown at the international level prior to this year’s showdown at North Narrabeen, Huscenot bested a bevy of the world’s hottest up-and-coming surfers to take the prestigious title and emphatically announce himself as a force on the world surfing stage. 



“I knew I was not a big name coming here,” Huscenot said. “Jadson was the best surfer, doing massive air reverses that I cannot even dream of doing. But I just surfed the best I could and I guess the judges appreciated it. I never dreamed I would be here. I was injured in October and couldn’t surf for a month. But I trained hard and got the wildcard here and once I made it past the fourth round, I knew it was going to be a good event for me. It feels amazing to be the first Frenchman to claim the ASP World Junior Title.”

Check the list of invitees here: quiksilver.com/eddie

Joan Duru, despite an equal 25th place that did not make the Frenchman better his overall regional ratings’ points total, claims his maiden regional title after an exceptional year of performances and results that puts him in position to qualify for next year’s ASP World Tour at this stage.

“It’s great to get the title after such a year,” Duru said. “I am super happy to add it to my career and hopefully things keep going the same way until the end of the year for me.”

Duru, who opened his spectacular season with a win at the ASP WQS 4-Star Protest Vendee Pro in April, peaked with his career best win in the ASP WQS 6-Star Sooruz Lacanau Pro becoming the second French ever to win a major event in France, twenty-seven years after Thierry Fernandez (Lacanau, FRA).

“It was amazing to win that event in front of the French crowds and with all my family and friends around,” Duru said. “It was a great moment for me and it was really special out there.”

Considered a world class surfer by many, Joan Duru not only made big impressions at all events in Europe but managed to secure a series of solid results that have rocket him to a promising No. 9 rank on the current ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings.

At 20 years of age only, the former ASP European Junior champion (2006) has been following the footsteps of European leading surfers Jeremy Flores (FRA) and Michael Picon (FRA) amongst others, the goofyfooter building a custom-made mix of explosive progressive maneuvers and massive powerhouse turns.

With two major events coming-up on the world famous North Shore of Oahu in the Hawaiian archipelago, Joan Duru will head next to Haleiwa and Sunset where he will try and seal the deal for next year’s ASP World Tour, his dream.

Since the ASP European WQS Tour ratings include all events sanctioned by ASP Europe from 1-Star to 6-Star Prime, every tour winner has been a qualifier for the Elite ASP Top 45 at the end of each season. Joan Duru is on his way…

2009 ASP EUROPEAN WQS BEST RESULTS
1st, ASP WQS 4-Star Protest Vendee Pro
9th, ASP WQS 6-Star Estoril Quiksilver Pro
3rd, ASP WQS 6-Star Prime O’Neill CWC Scotland by Swatch
5th, ASP WQS 5-Star Relentless Boardmasters
1st, ASP WQS 6-Star Sooruz Lacanau Pro
5th, ASP WQS 5-Star Movistar Ferrolterra Pantin Classic

Check the Interview on quiksilver-europe.com/tv

More info on quiksilverlive.com

SEIGNOSSE, France (Wednesday, September 23, 2009) – Round 1 and the opening four heats of Round 2 of the Quiksilver Pro France got underway today with the world's best surfers detonating in punchy three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) peaks at Les Bourdaines beachbreak.

Event No. 7 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France was treated to some fantastic surfing throughout the opening day of the waiting period, with the world's best surfers letting loose in the playful beachbreaks while the event wildcards stamped their authority as real contenders amongst the ASP Top 45.

Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, current ASP World No. 11, is coming hot off the heals of his best results on the ASP Dream Tour, a 3rd in South Africa and a 2nd in Southern California, and continued to push the limits of high-performance surfing today at the Quiksilver Pro France.

Opening with a blistering 8.83 out of a possible 10 with some rapid-fire forehand surfing, Reynolds then fell behind fellow Venturan Nathaniel Curran (USA), 24, who posted an impressive heat total of a total 15.40 out of a possible 20. Needing a score in the dying minutes, Reynolds detonated another roping righthander for grab and 8.50 and the advancement to Round 3.

"I knew that wave was going to offer up a score for me and all I had to do was surf it as best I can," Reynolds said. "It had a good wall on it and I was able to do a few turns. It's too bad for Nathaniel (Curran) as he was surfing really, really well, but I'm sure he'll do well in his Round 2 heat."

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, current ASP World No. 1, suffered his first setback in an otherwise near-flawless season last event, finishing 17th in Southern California. While the media speculated that a quasi-serious ankle injury was the culprit in Parkinson's poor showing, the Australian showed no signs of injury today.

"Everyone has been talking about it (ankle injury) but I haven't really noticed it," Parkinson said. "It feels fine today and I feel like I have full movement. Obviously, I didn't have the result I wanted at the last event, but everyone has a bad one and hopefully I've gotten mine out of the way already."

With extreme tide fluctuations wreaking havoc upon the consistency of the Les Bourdaines lineup, Parkinson effortless posted excellent scores with both backhand and forehand ripping.


"It's pretty tricky out there but there are definitely some pretty fun ones coming through," Parkinson said. "It can be tricky with the tide changes. The waves looked really fun this morning, but as the tide's dropped, some of the good ones are breaking inside and the others are breaking out the back. Looking forward to a few days off now and excited to get back out there."

Julian Wilson (AUS), 20, led the wildcard charge at today's Quiksilver Pro France, besting veteran compatriots Bede Durbdige (AUS), 26, and Dean Morrison (AUS), 28, inRound 1 of competition.

"I've done a few of these events as a wildcard before and the approach of ‘just go for broke' has kind of gone out the window now. I look at these heats as opportunities to establish myself and good training against these guys. I hope to be up at this level of competition in one to two years and this is great experience."

Joining Wilsonin posting Round 1 heat wins today were fellow wildcards Joan Duru (FRA), 20, and Patrick Beven (FRA), 31.

The afternoon saw some electric surfing as Round 2 moved through the opening four heats, and some big names avoided elimination at the Quiksilver Pro France.

Following the close Round 2 victory of former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 2, Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, another former ASP World Champion in C.J. Hobgood (USA), 30, survived one of the most exciting heats of the year.

The current ASP World No. 3, who had all nine of his surfboards stolen his first night in France, was comboed by wildcard Alain Riou (PYF), 26, before snapping another surfboard in the powerful Les Bourdaines shorebreak. Grabbing a spare board he had never surfed before, Hobgood returned to the lineup where he proceeded to tube-ride his way out of the combination situation and to a Round 2 victory.

"We all have a breaking point and a lot of things went through my mind and I was just wondering how much worse it could get," Hobgood said. "I was comboed, my board was broken and I know my back-up one is not even that good. If the ocean didn't turn on I would have had a nervous breakdown (Laughs). But whatever, I am happy to get through that heat."

Upsets continued through the final heat of the day with journeyman campaigner Phillip MacDonald (AUS), 30, taking down current ASP World No. 3 Adriano de Souza (BRA), 22, inRound 2 of the Quiksilver Pro France. The powerful Australian man-handled the running lefthanders on his backhand, posting an impressive 16.90 out of a possible 20.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 7:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.

Winning the trials, Alain Riou clinches his wildcard for Quiksilver Pro France, ASP World Tour 7th stop.

The Polynesian surfer, scoring a 15,40 during the final has secured his spot for the main event.

Next call, Wednesday, at 7.30AM

Round 1:

Heat 1: Taylor Knox (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 2: Bobby Martinez (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS), David Weare (ZAF)
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA), Tim Reyes (USA), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 4: Taj Burrow (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Michel Bourez (PYF), Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Marlon Lipke (DEU)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), TBA
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA), Mick Campbell (AUS), TBA
Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), TBA
Heat 11: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Chris Ward (USA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 12: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Roy Powers (HAW), Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 13: Dane Reynolds (USA), Chris Davidson (AUS), Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 14: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Jay Thompson (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 15: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Tim Boal (FRA), Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 16: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Dustin Barca (HAW)

Check it out LiveWebcast on quiksilverlive.com

Thanks to his qualification for the 1/4 finals of the Santa Surf Pro Junior, Marc Lacomare becomes ASP European Champion 2009. 

More info coming soon.

Surfing trhu to the final via the repercharges heats Flores was the form surfer of the event repeatdedly posting the highest heat scores of the entire comptetion . once qualifying into the Grand Final Flores dominated his 3 opponents with a combination score of  17.12 points , the 2 sufers of USA , Ben Bourgerois and Cory Lopez and the Preuvian Gabriel Villaran were left in need of a exceptional wave to over take the Frenchman .

This win for Flores put the French team into a second place on the overall title to team America
Flores Follows on the footsteps of  CJ Hobgood (USA) winner of the previous ISA games.

Credit Photo: Billy Watts

In the final, the Team Quiksilver surfer Ramzi Boukhiam outclassed his rivals with a score of 7.90 and 9.33. With a final total of 17.23 points (out of a possible 20), including one wave judged at 9.33 (out of 10), Ramzi produced the best series of the entire competition.

At the end of the day, at the spot in Zarautz (Euskadi) and for the final series of the event, the quality of the waves improved markedly. For the first few minutes of the final, Ramzi had some trouble perfecting his moves. But with iron patience, the one they call “Ramzouille” gradually gained in confidence and performed a string of rollers, floaters and cutbacks with increasing ease and a radical style. With seven minutes to go in the series, he confirmed his victory with a wave scored at 9.33 that unmistakeably marked the pinnacle of these two days of competition. The young Moroccan richly deserved his win, having remained unbeaten over the two days of surfing. “I’ve changed the way I approach my series, and now I’m more chilled, I don’t put myself under so much pressure. I try to have fun, just let go and it works!” explained the King of the Groms 2009.

His rivals did their utmost to outsurf him, but all in vain. This year, Ramzi was just too good. Tom Neushwanger and Ian Fontaine performed very solidly at the start of the series, but didn’t get the waves they needed to try and keep up with the leader.
In the repechage table, Portugal’s Fransisco Alves and France’s Pierre Rollet saw their hopes of making it through to the final of the main leaderboard slip away. Ian Fontaine and Tom Neushwanger were able to make the most of every one of their waves, giving their two pursuers little chance. The patience shown by Pierre Rollet, waiting for the right wave to arrive, was ultimately to no avail.
Following this final, World Top 45 surfer Aritz Aranburu and the King of the Groms riders performed an expression session for the spectators. For 30 dazzling minutes, all the surfers let their imagination run free, thrilling the big crowd gathered on the beach at Zarautz. Afterwards, Tahiti’s Kevin Bourez emerged victorious with an ollie pop.
Crowned by the competition sponsor Aritz Aranburu, Ramzi will have a major card to play in the International Final. The reward is a wildcard to compete in the trials for the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast 2010 and the Quiksilver Pro France 2010.
This evening from 10pm at the Place Munoa square in Zarautz, there will be a special DJ set with Mahara McKay. Later, at 11pm, France’s Joan Duru and Dimitri Ouvré will join Australian Craig Andreson to light up Zarautz for the Quiksilver Air-Show - a unique night-time surfing spectacle, that will see the riders towed out by jetskis, performing aerial moves.
Then at midnight, Helltrip are set to rock the living daylights of the Place Munoa!

King of the Groms final - results
1st: Ramzi Boukhiam (Fra)
2nd: Tom Neushwanger (Fra)
3th: Ian Fontaine (Fra)
4th: William Alliotti (Gua)

Check it out all episodes on www.quiksilver-europe.com

Broadcast schedule for the Euroforce World Tour 2008/2009:

Episode One – Review of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast 2008 - 21 February 2009
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast 2009 episode broadcast - 14 March 2009

Bells Beach (Aus) 2008 episode broadcast – 1 April 2009
Bells Beach (Aus) 2009 episode broadcast – 21 April 2009

Teahupoo, Taiarapu (Tah) 2008 episode broadcast – 2 May 2009
Teahupoo, Taiarapu (Tah) 2009 episode broadcast – 23 May 2009

Fiji 2008 episode broadcast – 20 June 2009

Santa Catarina (Bra) 2009 episode broadcast – 8 July 2009

Jeffreys Bay (RSA) 2008 episode broadcast – 2 July 2009
Jeffreys Bay (RSA) 2009 episode broadcast – 22 July 2009

Bali 2008 episode broadcast – 10 August 2009

Trestles (USA) 2008 episode broadcast – 6 September 2009
Trestles (USA) 2009 episode broadcast – 22 September 2009

Quiksilver Pro France 2008 episode broadcast – 16 September 2009
Quiksilver Pro France 2009 episode broadcast – 7 October 2009

Brazil 2008 episode broadcast – 12 October 2009

Mundaka (Euk/Spa) 2008 episode broadcast – 28 September 2009
Mundaka (Euk/Spa) 2009 episode broadcast – 20 October 2009

Somewhere 2009 episode broadcast – 1 November 2009

Hawaii 2008 episode broadcast – 21 November 2009
Hawaii 2009 episode broadcast – 23 December 2009

Credit photo: www.aspworldtour.com

Credit Photo : www.aspworldtour.com

This event showed that new generation is stronger than ever. The fourth place went to José Ferreira (16 years old) that reachs as Vasco his first Open final.

Justin Mujica, the venezuelan surfer living in Portugal for years, national champion in 1999, win the TMN pro final.
The waves had 0,5/1m, Justin was the best athlete from the beginning, showing a high surf level and good maneuvers.Alexandre Ferreira "Xaninho" was second, marking his return to the comp.


Final Results TMN Pro:

1st - Justin Mujica
2nd - Alexandre Ferreira
3rd - Vasco Ribeiro (Quiksilver)
4th - José Ferreira

Credit Photo: Hilleman / ASP

ESTORIL, Guincho, Portugal (Sunday, April 19, 2009) - 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.

"I am a bit disappointed because I did not show any good surf during that heat against Marc (Lacomare)," Leboulsh said. "I thought the lefthanders would give me some good potential to score but it kept closing out while Marc was ripping and I could not answer back."

Leboulsh, who started his career when he was fifteen, pulled back from the tour for the last couple of years focusing on school but the young man secures a strong result in the Estoril B! Pro Junior showing he is ready to get back with serious intentions.

"I had a couple of good results when I was younger on tour and I am definitely coming back in 2009," Leboulsh said. "It is one of my last years as a junior so I am aiming at the Top 5 on the ratings. That result is definitely a keeper so I'll go with it and I am looking forward to surfing again this summer."

Joachim Guichard's twin Luka (DNK) was stopped by his brother on his way to the final, Luka needing a second good wave to keep any hopes alive towards his first ASP Pro Junior final. Luka, who has been following closely his brother's progression in the last couple of years, was not able to find the better waves during the encounter and takes an equal 3rd finish for his 2009 ASP European Pro Junior campaign.

"The lefthanders were definitely harder with the strong wind blowing side-shore and I was not really in reach of the win," Luka Guichard said. "Joachim is more powerful surfer and that made the difference on the set waves when pushing the turns hard. I am stoked for him and that equal 3rd is a great start to the year."

Luka, whose best result before today was an equal 5th in the ASP Grade-1 Pro Junior event in Amado, Portugal last year, bettered his career best and secures a serious confidence boost before the 2009 tour gets back into business in July.

"This is my best finish ever and it is an excellent start for my last year as a junior," Luka Guichard said. "My brother and I are aiming at a Top 10 finish this year then take our chance on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) and see how things go."

News, photos, results and LIVE scoring are available through http://www.quiksilverlive.com

ESTORIL B! PRO JUNIOR RESULTS
Final
1st Marc Lacomare (FRA) 13.50 pts
2nd Joachim Guichard (DNK) 9.10 pts

Semifinals
Heat 1: Joachim Guichard (DNK) 12.67 pts Def. Luka Guichard (DNK) 8.70 pts
Heat 2: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 16.84 pts Def. David Leboulsh (FRA) 7.26 pts

Quarterfinals
Heat 1: Joachim Guichard (DNK) 10.40 pts Def. Marcos Sansegundo (EUK) 7.50 pts
Heat 2: Luka Guichard (DNK) 12.66 pts Def. Medi Veminardi (REU) 11.77 pts
Heat 3: David Leboulsh (FRA) 15.17 pts Def. Joan Duru (FRA) 13.16 pts
Heat 4: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 12.67 pts Def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.83 pts

2009 ASP EUROPEAN JUNIOR TOP 5
No. 1, Marc Lacomare (FRA)
No. 2, Joachim Guichard (DNK)
No. 3, Luka Guichard (DNK)
No. 3, David Leboulsh (FRA)
No. 5, Medi Veminardi (REU)

Results Final U18:

1. Dean Bowen (AUS) - 17.60 Pts

2. Miguel Pupo (BRA) - 15.06 Pts

3. Maxime Huscenot (FRA) - 13.28 Pts

4. Dylan Goodale (HAW) - 11.18

Credits Photos: Watts et Lobo

Credit photo: Narbe

QUIKSILVER PRO GOLD COAST ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 6: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.83 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 11.07
Heat 8: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.33 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 13.84

ROUND 4 UPCOMING MATCH-UP
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) Vs Jeremy Flores (FRA)

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast pres. by LG Mobile will be webcast LIVE via www.quiksilverpro.com.au 

Credit photo: ASP/Kirstin

ROUND 1, Results
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.67, Dustin Barca 11.87, Dean Morrison (AUS) 9.70
Heat 6: Damien Hobgood (USA) 17.50, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.83, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 4.93
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.17, Dayyan Neve (AUS) 11.00, Daniel Wills (AUS) 10.67
Heat 9: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.10, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.73, Miky Picon (FRA) 9.06

ROUND 2
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 12: Miky Picon (FRA) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 13: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)

In a high class final, Markku Koski grabbed Gold with 55.6 points being the third Finn to win a WCS title in this discipline after Risto Mattila (2003) and Antti Autti (2005) had done so before.

Former World Champion Mathieu Crepel from France finished seventh.

More info on http://www.fissnowboardworldcup.com

Fashion tips, cheeky gossips, travels around the world, mood notes, artistic windows, cooking corner... women's minds are now online!
Punchy, Spicy and Smart, the QSW blog is an open web space to let all the women talk free.

www.blog.quiksilver-women.com

The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau is the world's most prestigious big-wave surfing event and is the only big-wave surf contest sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), the governing body of professional surfing.

Scheduled to take place at the hallowed grounds of Waimea Bay, on the North Shore of Oahu, between December 1, 2008, and February 28, 2009, the event, otherwise known as "The Eddie", requires one day with a minimum of 20-foot surf (Hawaiian scale) in order to run.

Held in honor of the legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau, the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau gathers 28 of the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the world as polled by a comprehensive panel consisting of influential watermen, members of the surf industry, and internationally recognized surfing Associations.

The first memorial event for Aikau was held in 1984 at Sunset Beach, two miles north of Waimea Bay. It was won by local standout Denton Miyamura. Following the inaugural event, The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau moved to Waimea Bay, where it has remained ever since. 2008 marks the event's 24th anniversary; in only seven of those years have the waves been big enough and the conditions right to hold the contest.

In the realm of big-wave riding, the name Eddie Aikau commands as much respect as Waimea Bay itself. Aikau was the North Shore of Oahu's first lifeguard, watching over the Bay when he wasn't charging the biggest waves of the winter. Tragically, he lost his life in 1978, at the age of 33, during a re-creation of the Polynesian voyage between Hawaii and Tahiti. In huge seas, the voyaging canoe Hokule'a was capsized. Eddie paddled off in an attempt to reach help for his fellow crewmen. He was never seen again but his spirit and legacy live on.

The complete list of Invitees and Alternates for this year's event are listed below and available online at www.quiksilver.com/eddie. The website also includes photos and video from previous year's events, Invitee profiles and swell updates. Visitors can sign up to receive text updates for the "Official Contest Call" and watch online when the Bay calls the day.

Collectible limited-edition The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau merchandise, including boardshorts, t-shirts, hats, sandals and backpack, are also available in Quiksilver stores.  

Location: Waimea Bay, North Shore, Oahu, HAWAII

Opening Ceremony: Thursday, December 4, 2008. 3pm.

Event Holding Period: December 1, 2008 to February 28, 2009. To be held on one day when surf measures at least 20 feet (40 feet faces).

The Big-Wave Riders: 28 of the world's best big-wave riders, including defending champion Bruce Irons (Hawaii), nine-time world champion-elect Kelly Slater (Florida), and Aikau's younger brother and former champion Clyde Aikau. US$ 55,000 for first place.

1984 (held at Sunset Beach): Denton Miyamura (Hawaii)
1986: Clyde Aikau (Hawaii)
1990: Keone Downing (Hawaii)
1999: Noah Johnson (Hawaii)
2001: Ross Clarke-Jones (Australia)
2002: Kelly Slater (Florida)
2004: Bruce Irons (Hawaii)

After his career best result, a win at The Reef Hawaiian Pro, held at the notorious North Shore break of Haleiwa.  Michel now lies in second place on the WQS ratings.  Gaining essential points in the penultimate WQS event of the year, the Tahitian surfer is now in the safe zone for qualification for next years Dream Tour. 

Michel posted the highest heat score during the event, an 18.96 on his way to his victory.  The Tahitian surfer was overjoyed with the surf and felt right at home in the powerful North Shore conditions. "Everybody was getting barreled I was screaming my head off. It was so sick. I was having so much fun out there and that's what I call a good contest. It means a lot to just (qualify for) the ASP World Tour. I've been dreaming about this my whole life since I started to surf. I've been watching all the best surfers, like Kelly (Slater) and (Rob) Machado, all those guys. And, right now I can surf with them. It's a good opportunity for me and all the Tahitian surfers. I'm stoked for Tahiti." 

Michel has already made his mark in the big league of the ASP World tour.  Surfing as a wildcard in the Quiksilver Pro France event this year, Michel scalped many of the big names on his way to an impressive Quarter final result.  The young surfer turned a lot of heads and can enter the Dream Tour with confidence.  For one thing is certain, on the 2009 Tour, if the waves are ever big, powerful and hollow Michel is going to be one of the most exciting surfers to watch.  His victory in Haleiwa means he also leads The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Series, one of the most prestigous titles available in the surfing world.  He has nothing to lose going into the last events of the year, he is in form, confident and right at home.  Anyone who has seen him surf knows how dangerous he can be, so it will be no surprise to see him shine again before the year is out.

Ibon has begun the winter season with a bang, having already logged some great swells and been recognized for his efforts.  However, for Ibon the best and biggest is perhaps yet to come.  He is the highest rated European in the alternates list for the world's most prestigious big wave competition, The Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational In Memory Of Eddie Aikau.  The world famous contest will be held only when the waves meet the minimum 20ft requirement so Ibon will be checking charts for signs of a monster swell.  The location is the infamous Waimea Bay on Hawaii's North Shore, which is the true gladiator pit for big wave surfers and a long way from Ibon's home in the Basque Country.  Ibon will then be relying on invitees above him on the list not taking up their place but, if that happens, he will be ready.

To back up his credentials, Ibon also has an entry into the Billabong XXL Awards.  The XXL event runs for a year and the world's biggest waves are compared and judged.  Ibon has previously had entries after surfing Planeixa and Playa Gris in Northern Spain, but this year he has already upped the ante by scoring a wave called Schrodinger's Left.  The wave was a mutant looking, 20-foot monster!  Judging by Ibon's performance at Schrodinger's Left, if there is any chance for Ibon to impress at Waimea Bay this winter, you can be assured the Basque charger will be the first to go!

http://live.quiksilver.com/2008/eddie

Gabe Davies