Girl Surfing

Summer is in full swing so what better time to head to the beach and try surfing? If you’ve never tried it, surfing can be a bit intimidating. But fear not, we have all the tips you need to get  started.

The Basics

Learning to surf is not as scary or hard core as you may think.  It does, however, require patience so don’t be disappointed if you’re not riding  your board upright by the end of the first session.  In fact, until you become competent, you might just walk your board out, turn it round to face shore, climb on, paddle like mad when a wave approaches and enjoy the ride lying down.

We’ve all seen pro surfers riding massive breaks and barrels but you don’t need really big waves to enjoy surfing. If you have a longboard (exactly as it sounds – a longer, more buoyant board) you can surf in waves as small as a foot high.  Most surf schools use longboards for beginners, often with a foam surface to help avoid injury.

If you’re just starting out, it’s usually easier to learn to surf a beach break – meaning the waves break as they approach the beach – as opposed to a reef break (like in Hawaii) where the waves break where they hit the reef. A beach break is generally less intimidating and you don’t have to paddle your board out as far.

Catching a Wave

The truth is you’re never going to learn to surf by reading a tutorial.  You just have to get out there and try it.  But the feeling you get when you catch your first wave will be one you will remember forever.

Basically, here’s what you’re going to try to do:  As a wave approaches, turn the nose of your board toward the beach, lay down and begin paddling.

As you feel the wave lift you and your board, paddle as hard as you can and lean your weight forward. The natural tendency is to lean back to keep the nose from going under water, but that will only slow your momentum and make it more difficult to catch the wave.

Lean forward but raise your chest so that your weight is just above the center of the board. You’re going to want to begin standing just as you feel the pull of the wave.

Presumably, you’ll first practice standing on your board on dry land. Lie on  your surfboard on the sand  (remove your fins to avoid damage) and do a basic push-up quickly. Once your arms are at full extension, pull both knees toward your stomach and hop to your feet. Do this repeatedly to program your subconscious to be ready for what you will do in the water. Whether you stand with your right foot or left foot forward will establish your membership into a long standing rivalry between regular foot and goofy foot surfers.

So once on the water, you’re going to paddle for a wave, and just as you feel the momentum of the surfboard flow faster than your paddling speed, you are ready to hop up on your surfboard.

1.  With your hands firmly grasping each rail, push up quickly.

2.  Simultaneously, extend your arms completely and pull your knees quickly up to your chest. Be sure to keep your weight centered with just a little slant forward.

3.  Place your feet firmly on your board, one foot near the tail and one foot

4.  Don’t stand up completely erect. Keep a low center of gravity by crouching down and focusing your weight on the midpoint of the surfboard. Balancing on a surfboard is no different than balancing on a skateboard or even a bicycle. Just keep your arms out and your eyes looking forward (remember: your surfboard will always follow your eyes and head, so focus on forward motion.

Master standing up and riding the wave in and then you can practice wave-riding and all the fun stuff that goes along with the next level of surfing.

Surf Etiquette

Once you do learn to actually ride a wave, surf etiquette is essential. The first and most basic rule of surfing is that the surfer who gets to his/her feet first and is closest to the whitewater  has priority and theoretically owns the wave.

So, if you don’t want to be an outcast or a target for aggression, never drop in on another surfer.  Taking off in front of that surfer is a serious breach of surfing’s most coveted rule.

Camps & Clinics

If you’re looking for a camp, class or clinic to help get you started, check out our database.

Lingo

Oh, and before you head out,  make sure you know how to talk the talk.

Air
getting airborne

Bail
to abandon a board; jump off

Barrel
space inside a breaking wave between the lip and face; a surfer may be completely hidden from view during a barrel ride. See tube.

Bashing
body surfing

Beach Break
waves breaking over a sand bottom

Break
when a wave passes from deep to shallow water the crest or top part of the wave tumbles or “breaks” down the face of the wave

Bodyboard
boogie board

Booger
a bodyboarder

Bump
a swell created by the wind

Carve
technique where surfer slices up a wave using her board like a large knife

Curl
term used to describe the concave face of the wave just before breaking

Da Kine Wave
killer wave, Hawaiian-style

Drop
the initial part of a ride when a surfer slides down the face of the wave.

Dropping in
catching a wave that is already occupied

Falls
the pitching lip of the wave

Fluff
spray off the lip

Gnarly
awesome and intimidating

Grom or Grommet
young surfer

Ground Swell
wave formed over vast distances, well formed and powerful

Hang Ten
longboard maneuver where the surfer hangs ten toes of both feet over the front the board

Hodad
beginner or non-surfer

Leash
a line attaching the board to the rider

Lip
part of a wave that pitches out from the top as the wave begins to break

Log or Stick
slang for surf board

Longboard
usually over 9′ in length; easier to paddle and get into waves but difficult to maneuver

Noodle
exhausted, overall condition or specific as in noodle armed

Paipoboard
Hawaiian wooden bodyboard

Pearl
wipeout where the nose or front of the surfboard goes under the water (from pearl diving)

Pit
the hollowest portion of a breaking wave

Pitch
the act of the lip throwing out in front of the wave

Point Break
wave formed in reaction to a land form

Rail
side edge of a board

Reef Break
wave formed over an underwater reef or rock

Scabbed
getting damaged by a reef or rock

Set
series of waves

Shaper
person who planes and sands a blank to the desired shape

Shortboard
ranging in length from 5′ to 7′;used for high-performance contest-style surfing.

Shred
advanced, high-energy surfing with ability to execute rapid repeated turns

Snake
paddling around behind someone who is in position and stealing their wave.

Stuffed
getting driven under the water by a wave coming down on you

Tail
rear 12 inches of a surfboard

Thrashed
when a wave lays a beating on you

Tube
the cone shaped hole created inside a wave

Vertical
turn straight up the wave

Waffling
rapidly working the board back and forth

Wahine
girl surfer

Wax
used on deck of boards for traction

Wipe Out
a particularly spectacular fall

There’s a reason Costa Rica is called “The Rich Coast” and the real appeal of this tiny, Central American nation is the miles and miles of beautiful beach. Add to that the ease of travel, variety of flora and fauna, and abundant accommodation and it’s easy to understand why Costa Rica is a favorite with gringos looking for adventure.

Surfing

Costa Rica has the best year-round surf in the land, with the north coast and Caribbean side breaking in the dry season, and the south coast in the wet. Somewhere along the coast, you’ll find every kind of wave for every kind of surfer. Though the supply of uncrowded waves has been drastically reduced in recent years, there are still plenty of low-population lineups around.

Schools and camps at nearly every beach cater to surfers of all ages and abilities. Along the popular Guanacaste coast you’ll find Tamarindo’s Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, Samara Beach Surf School and Safari Surf School in Nosara.

The closest breaks to the capitol city of San Jose can be found near Jaco and Playa Hermosa. There, check out Vista Guapa Surf Camp, Del Mar Girls Surf Camp or Third World Surf Camp.

Along the south coast, Playa Dominical offers good surf and Pavones has a legendary left point break that can deliver rides almost 3/4 mile long on a good swell. Surf options here include Domincal Surf School and Venus Surf Adventures

Pretty Tough Tip: Many of these schools and camps offer all-girls sessions so inquire if, and when, these special sessions take place.

Horseback Riding

Ride into primary rainforest or along the beach, learn about exotic and medicinal plants, and swim at private beaches or a pristine pool fed by a waterfall. Horseback riding is popular all around the country but particulary in the Monte Verde Cloud Forest, around Lake Arenal and along the coast.

Near Manual Antonio Park, we rode with Los Tucanes Tours and enjoyed a three-hour ride along well-groomed trails deep into the mountainous rainforest. We forded numerous streams, spotted toucans overhead and finally arrived at a natural pool fed by the waterfalls of Quebrada Arroyo. Upon our return, we were treated to a typical Costa Rican meal at a newly constructed homestead topping off an exquisite day.

Pretty Tough Tip: If you’re an experienced rider, let the stable where you’ll be riding know well in advance so they can match you with an appropriate animal.

River Rafting

Costa Rica offers some of the finest whitewater rafting and kayaking rivers. These rivers plunge through spectacularly beautiful, largely unexplored tropical wilderness. Whether an expert or beginner, nature lover or thrill seeker, rafting enthusiast or active kayaker, there is an unforgettable experience awaiting you.

The Pacuare River’s 32 miles of Class III-IV whitewater weave through the densest section of Costa Rica’s rainforest making it one of the top five rafting rivers in the world for its scenery and rapids. Other rivers popular with paddlers include the Rio Sarapiqui, Rio Sevegre, and Rio Reventazón which curves eastward through the narrow country, rolling toward the Caribbean Sea.

We chose a trip down the Naranjo River near Manual Antonio. Normally a Class III / IV challenge, during the dry season the Naranjo is suitable for paddlers of all levels. The river drops from the mountains above Quepos, though a beautiful jungle gorge and takes you on a ride to sea level passing nearby farmlands and palm plantations. The guides were a lot of fun as they steered us through rapids with names like “La Pinata” and “Gringo Eater.”

For those looking for the most difficult and challenging rapids in the country, Rio Chirrip� is it. Flowing down from the second highest mountain in all of Central America, Rio Chirrip� is a difficult class five and runnable only at the height of the rainy season.

There are many reputable outfitters including Iguana Tours and Rio Tropicales.

Sea Kayaking

With 635 miles of shoreline along the Pacific coast and 132 miles on the Caribbean, and both oceans fed by literally hundreds of rivers, Costa Rica offers unequaled opportunity to enjoy sea kayaking. There are also numerous estuary tours providing up close views of mangrove forests and wildlife. Most river outfitters also offer kayak tours.

Pretty Tough Tip: Watch out for crocs, especially in the estuaries.

Soccer

Soccer (or futbol) is a passion for the Costa Rican people and the most popular sports pastime among youths and adults. Even towns of 200 people have a soccer field in the central plaza. During the season, you can catch the National Team (men’s and women’s) playing tournaments. Off season, just go to any beach and you’ll find a pick-up game. Ask if you can play and chances are you’ll make some new “amigos.”

Wind Surfing

The Lake Arenal area of Costa Rica is a paradise for windsurfers. The northwest corner of the lake has some of the most constant highwind windsurfing and the area is considered one of the top five windsurfing sites in the world . Warm water, predictably high winds, and moderate temperatures all add to the appeal. Check out the Tilawa Marina & Windsurf Center or TicoWind to take advantage of this once in a lifetime experience.

Pretty Tough Tip: The area is also great for mountain biking. The Rock River Lodge is a great base from which to explore.

More Pretty Tough Tips

• If you’re going to rent a car, try one of the local companies (e.g. Tricolor or Advantage). Rates can be much better than those offered by the big guys but be sure you get a written quote in advance. Also check their insurance requirements and check with your credit card company before traveling to see if you’re covered. When you return the car, get a signed statement verifying there was no damage.
• Paved roads are relatively well-maintained but there are many gravel and dirt roads filled with pot-holes that can make driving slow. Don’t be surprised if it takes two hours to drive 60 kms.
• Surf guest houses abound. Many offer packages with surf lessons, meals, etc. In addition to the many camps and schools marketed as surf vacations, check out these options as well.
• Sunscreen, sunscreen and more sunscreen. Don’t ruin your vacation with a sunburn or worse.
• Bug repellent, bug repellent and more bug repellent. Mosquitos are plentiful. For sand and black flies try Avon Skin So Soft.

(3/1/09 – j. schonberger)

The Taranaki Women’s Surf Festival will host the world’s best female surfers from April 14 – 18, 2010 along Taranaki’s Surf Highway 45, with mobile venue options including famed locations such as Fitzroy Beach, Rocky Point, Stent Road and Opunake.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be adding New Zealand to the ASP Women’s World Tour schedule,” Brodie Carr, ASP Intl CEO, said. “The region is ripe with world class waves and it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talents of our outstanding female athletes.”

Paige Hareb (NZL), 19, 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie and current ASP World No. 3, is New Zealand’s first female ambassador at surfing’s elite level of competition, and the addition of another ASP Dream Tour event in her backyard could prove advantageous to the young goofy-footer’s bid for an ASP Women’s World Title.

“I’m pretty happy about the ASP Women’s World Tour coming to my home town in New Zealand next year,” Hareb said. “I know a lot of the girls have never been before and have wanted to come here for a long time. The surf is really consistent around that time of the year so I can’t wait to show the girls what my coast has to offer. It’s going to be pretty exciting!”

The addition of New Zealand to the ASP Women’s World Tour in 2010 is the latest in a string of successes for professional women’s surfing, having recently confirmed the Gidget Pro Sunset Beach event for November this year and with the 2010 season shaping up to be one of its’ best ever.

“This is the first ever World Tour event to be held in New Zealand making this a historic step for both professional surfing and sports in the country,” Brooke Farris, ASP Women’s World Tour Manager, said. “It’s fantastic to see the people of New Zealand putting all their support behind tour rookie Paige Hareb. It will be very exciting to see Paige bring the tour to her local town and perform in front of the masses.”

New Zealand’s Taranaki, for their part, are ecstatic to host the world’s best female surfers next season. In addition to adding an ASP Women’s World Tour event to the 2010 schedule, Taranaki will also host an ASP Grade-3 Girl’s Pro Junior, boasting the richest prize purse on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior Girl’s Series, AUD $8,000.

“Surfing sits at the heart of Taranaki’s innovation and culture,” Stuart Trundle, Chief Executive of Venture Taranaki Trust, said. “We’re stoked that Taranaki has been selected as the venue to host the New Zealand leg of the ASP Dream Tour next year. This event gives us the opportunity to showcase our world-class athletes, the legendary point breaks they call home, and the innovative surf industry that’s grown here.”

The next stop on the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour will be the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic at Sydney’s Northern Beaches from September 30 through October 5, 2009.

For more information, log onto

www.aspworldtour.com

Boasting a $15,000 total prize purse, the 2^nd Annual Supergirl Pro Junior is the first event in this year’s Supergirl Jam, the action sports industry’s only large-scale, all-female competition and lifestyle events designed to promote female empowerment, strength and independence.

Conlogue, who recently won this year’s U.S. Open of Surfing women’s event and a USA team and individual gold medal in the International Surfing Association’s World Surfing Games, battled Malia Manuel (Kauai, HI), Sage Erickson (Ojai, CA) and Nikita Robb (East London, South Africa) for the Supergirl title.  Manuel, Erickson and Robb placed second, third and fourth, respectively.

“Last year I took fourth in this event and saw Coco Ho take home the Supergirl cape when she won it,” said Conlogue.  “I really wanted the win—and to take home the cape to be this year’s Supergirl champion.  It’s an honor to win an event like this that focuses on, and supports, the girls.”

Competing in smaller surf conditions than day one of the event weekend, the finals got started with a bang.  Conlogue grabbed the highest score of the final out of the gate, when she posted a 7.50 on her opening wave.  Manuel answered with her second and third waves, posting a 5.75 and 6.65 to take the lead.  With Manuel in the lead, Conlogue hunted the horizon for an answer, but fell short until her fifth wave, when she posted a 5.40.  With only minutes remaining in the final, Conlogue continued to catch waves while employing a defensive strategy to Manuel by shadowing her in the line-up.  As the clock ticked down, Conlogue hung on to win by a nail-biting half point.

“I knew it was going to be a battle with Courtney right to the end—and it was.  We were both fighting hard for the win,” said Manuel. “This is my first time competing in the Supergirl Pro Junior and I’m happy with the result.”

Final Results—Supergirl Pro Junior 2009

1) Courtney Conlogue 12.90 points

2) Malia Manuel 12.40 points

3) Sage Erickson 8.15 points

4) Nikita Robb 6.45 points

Supergirl Pro Junior

The action-packed, preliminary rounds of the 2nd Annual Supergirl Pro Junior surfing contest, the first stop of the 2009 Supergirl Jam action sports series, yielded four finalists who bested the waves and the competitive skills of their 16 fellow contestants to advance to the finals on Sunday, August 16.

Courtney Conlogue (Santa Ana, CA), Sage Erickson (Ojai, CA), Malia Manuel (Kauai, HI) and Nikita Robb (East London, South Africa) will return to Oceanside Beach Pier in Southern California tomorrow afternoon in pursuit of the $15,000 prize purse and the honor of taking their place atop the 2009 ASP junior rankings.

The Supergirl Pro Junior, an ASP sanctioned Grade-4 surfing contest, recognizes the sport’s top female athletes who are 20-and-under.

Conlogue, who recently won this year’s U.S. Open of Surfing women’s event and was the USA gold medalist in the International Surfing Association’s World Surfing Games, remained strong in the competition with the day-high score of 9.0, advancing her to the finals. “I was incredibly stoked when I heard I got a 9.0 from the judges,” said Conlogue. “This is the next generation of competitors, and Supergirl’s support has been amazing.”

Powering the waves, Erickson earned a 7.75 and a 7.25 to secure her spot in the finals. “I am excited to be in the finals, but it will be a tough competition against Courtney,” said Erickson. “I caught myself clapping for her when I was watching her heat. Competing against her will push us both to do well.”

Also securing a berth in the finals is Manuel, with her assortment of strong tail turns and speed. “It feels awesome to be out there,” added Manuel. “I hope the waves hold up for tomorrow.”

Nikita Robb once again proved that her strong surf style scores well with the judges, receiving marks to place her in the finals. “The competition was tough today,” said Robb. “I felt I had to bring it to the table if I wanted to make the finals. Events like this push the girls.”

The Supergirl Jam, the action sports industry’s only large-scale, all-female competition and lifestyle festival, is designed to promote female empowerment, strength and independence.

(via press release)

Heidi Klum Lego mosaic

Turns out today is SEA LIFE™ Aquarium’s first birthday and LEGOLAND® celebrated with a ceremony unveiling the Celebrity Mosaic Project to benefit Surfrider Foundation. Ocean-themed LEGO® mosaics designed and built by some of today’s hottest celebrities are on display at the Resort and listed online for auction at www.charitybuzz.com now through Sept. 9.

In addition to Klum, celebrity participants include Al Pacino, Brooke Shields, Jamie Lee Curtis, Mark Hoppus, Molly Shannon; Peter Facinelli, Thomas Gibson, Tom DeLonge and Tony Hawk. More mosaics will be added to the project.

More than 30 children from Kids for Peace were special guests at the unveiling ceremony where the staff of SEA LIFE Aquarium was presented with a LEGO birthday cake and recognized by General Manager Peter Ronchetti for a year of hard work and dedication. Alexis Henry also spoke on behalf of Surfrider Foundation.

“This partnership with SEA LIFE is a perfect fit,” said Henry about the synergy between the two organizations. “They are engaging children and showing them that no matter how old you are, you can do something to protect your oceans and coastlines.”

“Our goal here at SEA LIFE is to educate children in a fun way, inspiring them to care for our oceans,” said Peter Ronchetti, General Manager of LEGOLAND California Resort. “It is with that in mind that we decided to team up with Surfrider Foundation for the Celebrity Mosaic Project – they have been dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for 25 years!”

The Surfrider Foundation is one of the world’s largest non-profit organizations dedicated to the protection and preservation of our oceans, waves and beaches. Now in its 25th year, the Foundation continues to carry out initiatives for clean water, free and open access, and the preservation of coastlines through its global grassroots networks made up of all types of ocean lovers.

Mosaics vary in theme from a mermaid created by Heidi Klum (pictured) to a fish on a skateboard by Tony Hawk, a smiling sting ray by Thomas Gibson and a kissy-faced blowfish by Jamie Lee Curtis. Most of the celebrities recruited their children to help in the design and creation of their mosaics.

In addition to the Celebrity Mosaic Project, SEA LIFE is hosting a special Surfrider Foundation Weekend August 15 and 16 featuring a Surfrider Foundation-inspired craft for kids; a Surfrider Foundation education booth and a ticket offer for Surfrider Foundation Members. For more information, visit www.surfrider.org or www.sealifeus.com.

After winning the US Open last month, SoCal phenom Conlogue is showing more than a flash of stardom. The high school junior began surfing nearby Trestles at age six and has consistently improved every year since.

From the opening heats of this year’s Games at Playa Hermosa, Team USA appeared committed and focused as they competed against 34 other teams for a spot on the podium. On the final day of competition, USA stood firm and was able to place five of their eight team members into the three finals, hence becoming the team to beat.

Dubbed the Dream Team, every rider surfed spectacularly with Tony Silvagni taking fourth in the Longboard and Corey Lopez finishing a close second to Jeremy Flores in the Men’s.

The USA hasn’t won a gold since 1996 so count on the other teams coming back with a vengeance in 2010.

FINAL Team Results:
GOLD – United States – 14910 points
SILVER – France – 13280 points
BRONZE – Australia – 10996 points
COPPER – Hawaii – 10856 points

INDIVIDUAL FINAL RESULTS
Open Men
Gold: Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Silver: Cory Lopez (USA)
Bronze: Gabriel VIllarán (PER)
Copper: Ben Bourgeois (USA)

Open Women
Gold: Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Silver: Rosanne Hodge (RSA)
Copper: Sage Erickson (USA)
Bronze: Pauline Ado (FRA)

Longboard
Gold: Antoine Delpero (FRA)
Silver: Harley Ingleby (AUS)
Copper: Ben Skinner (GBR)
Bronze: Tony Silvagni (USA)

MOVIES

CHOICE MOVIE: ACTION ADVENTURE
X-Men Origins: Wolverine

CHOICE MOVIE: DRAMA
Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE: ROMANCE
Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE: BROMANTIC COMEDY
Marley & Me

CHOICE MOVIE: COMEDY
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

CHOICE MOVIE: HORROR/THRILLER
Friday the 13th

CHOICE MOVIE: MUSIC/DANCE
High School Musical 3: Senior Year

CHOICE MOVIE ACTOR: DRAMA
Robert Pattinson, Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE ACTRESS: DRAMA
Kristen Stewart, Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE ACTOR: ACTION ADVENTURE
Hugh Jackman, X-Men Origins: Wolverine”

CHOICE MOVIE ACTRESS: ACTION ADVENTURE
Jordana Brewster, Fast & Furious

CHOICE MOVIE ACTOR: COMEDY
Zac Efron, 17 Again

CHOICE MOVIE ACTRESS: COMEDY
Anne Hathaway, Bride Wars

CHOICE MOVIE ACTRESS: MUSIC/DANCE
Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie

CHOICE MOVIE ACTOR: MUSIC/DANCE
Zac Efron, High School Musical 3: Senior Year

CHOICE MOVIE: VILLIAN
Cam Gigandet, Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE: FRESH FACE FEMALE
Ashley Greene, Twilight

CHOICE MOVIE: FRESH FACE MALE
Taylor Lautner, Twilight

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE: DRAMA
My Sister’s Keeper

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE: COMEDY
Up

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE: ROMANCE
The Proposal

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE: ACTION ADVENTURE
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE STAR: MALE
Shia LaBeouf, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

CHOICE SUMMER MOVIE STAR: FEMALE
Megan Fox, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen

CHOICE MOVIE HISSY FIT
Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana: The Movie

TELEVISION

CHOICE TV SHOW: DRAMA
Gossip Girl

CHOICE TV SHOW: ACTION ADVENTURE
Heroes

CHOICE TV SHOW: COMEDY
Hannah Montana

CHOICE TV: ANIMATED SHOW
SpongeBob SquarePants

CHOICE TV: REALITY
The Hills

CHOICE TV: REALITY MUSIC COMPETITION
American Idol

CHOICE TV ACTOR: DRAMA
Chace Crawford, Gossip Girl

CHOICE TV ACTRESS: DRAMA
Leighton Meester, Gossip Girl

CHOICE TV ACTOR: ACTION ADVENTURE
Tom Welling, Smallville

CHOICE TV ACTRESS: ACTION ADVENTURE
Hayden Panettiere, Heroes

CHOICE TV ACTOR: COMEDY
Jonas Brothers, JONAS

CHOICE TV ACTRESS: COMEDY
Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana

CHOICE TV: PERSONALITY
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol / E! News

CHOICE TV: BREAKOUT SHOW
JONAS

CHOICE TV: BREAKOUT STAR FEMALE
Demi Lovato, Sonny With a Chance

CHOICE TV: BREAKOUT STAR MALE
Frankie Jonas, JONAS

CHOICE TV: MALE REALITY/VARIETY STAR
Adam Lambert, American Idol

CHOICE TV: FEMALE REALITY/VARIETY STAR
Lauren Conrad, The Hills

CHOICE TV: VILLAIN
Ed Westwick, Gossip Girl

CHOICE FAB-U-LOUS!
Miss Jay, America’s Next Top Model

CHOICE TV: SIDEKICK
Emily Osment, Hannah Montana

CHOICE TV: LATE NIGHT SHOW
Chelsea Lately

CHOICE TV: PARENTAL UNIT
Billy Ray Cyrus, Hannah Montana

MUSIC

CHOICE MUSIC: SINGLE
Miley Cyrus, “The Climb”

CHOICE HOOKUP
Lady Gaga feat. Colby O’Donis, “Just Dance”

CHOICE MUSIC: MALE ARTIST
Jason Mraz

CHOICE MUSIC: FEMALE ARTIST
Taylor Swift

CHOICE MUSIC: R&B ARTIST
Beyonce

CHOICE MUSIC: BREAKOUT GROUP
Paramore

CHOICE MUSIC: BREAKOUT ARTIST

CHOICE MUSIC: LOVE SONG
David Archuleta, “Crush”

CHOICE MUSIC: R&B TRACK
Beyonce, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”

CHOICE MUSIC: RAP/HIP HOP TRACK
The Black Eyed Peas, “Boom Boom Pow”

CHOICE MUSIC: ROCK TRACK
Paramore, “Decore”

CHOICE MUSIC: ALBUM (MALE ARTIST)
Jason Mraz, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things

CHOICE MUSIC: ALBUM (FEMALE ARTIST)
Taylor Swift, Fearless

CHOICE MUSIC: ALBUM (GROUP)
Jonas Brothers, Lines, Vines and Trying Times

CHOICE MUSIC: SOUNDTRACK
Twilight

CHOICE MUSIC: TOUR
Demi Lovato / David Archuleta

SPORTS

CHOICE MALE ATHLETE
David Beckham

CHOICE FEMALE ATHLETE
Shawn Johnson

CHOICE ACTION SPORTS MALE
Ryan Sheckler

CHOICE ACTION SPORTS FEMALE
Stephanie Gilmore

OTHER

ULTIMATE CHOICE AWARD
Britney Spears

CHOICE MALE HOTTIE
Robert Pattinson

CHOICE FEMALE HOTTIE
Megan Fox

CHOICE RED CARPET ICON FEMALE
Selena Gomez

CHOICE RED CARPET FASHION ICON MALE
Jonas Brothers

CHOICE WEB STAR
Fred

CHOICE COMEDIAN
George Lopez

CHOICE CELEBRITY ACTIVIST
Hayden Panettiere

CHOICE CELEBRITY PET
Bo Obama

CHOICE VIDEO GAME
Rock Band 2

CHOICE CELEBRITY BABY
Honor Marie Warren

Local girl Courtney Conlogue, 15, of Santa Ana, California won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Hurley U.S. Open today over defending event champion Malia Manuel (Wailua, HI), also 15, who claimed the U.S. Open Nike 6.0 Pro Junior, in a high-scoring Final in six-to-eight foot (2 metre) surf today at South Huntington Beach Pier.

Conlogue won the hard-fought battle over the young Hawaiian with huge backside blasts on the steep lefthanders in the Final to log a 9.00 and an 8.17 in her score line, placing the defending champion in a combination situation. Each of the impressive scores earned by the Huntington Beach local were awarded with one single maneuver, allowing her to take out her first major ASP WQS victory.

“I’m pretty much speechless,” Conlogue said. “Malia (Manuel), she’s an amazing surfer and to win that heat was to die for. I want to thank Malia for putting on a good Final with me. I’m so stoked to have had that Final with her. I was just going out there and having fun and that’s what I’ve been doing this whole contest and it ended up working out. I’m going to try and carry that throughout all of my contests this year.”

The young American’s victory today solidifies her as a threat to the rest of the world’s finest competitive surfing talent and continues to establish the explosive regular-footer as a frontrunner in the women’s progressive surfing movement. After completing her educational goals, Conlogue expects to set her sights on the Women’s ASP World tour.

“I’ve got to finish school first, but definitely the ASP World Tour is coming soon enough,” Conlogue said.

Malia Manuel put on a banner performance throughout the entire Hurley U.S. Open, and claimed the U.S. Open Nike 6.0 Pro Junior en route to her runner-up ASP WQS finish. Manuel’s Final berth was no easy feat, as she defeated reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (Tweed Heads, AUS), 21, in the women’s main event.

“I’m so over the moon even to make it to the final day,” Manuel said. “It was great out there. Courtney is an amazing athlete and she was the deserving heat winner.”

Manuel took out her U.S. Open Nike 6.0 Pro Junior title in dramatic fashion when she nabbed a last-minute wave to overtake the win over Sage Erickson (Ojai, CA), 18, who finished in second, defeating fellow finalists Cannelle Bulard (REU), who finished in third and current ASP World Tour rookie Coco Ho (Sunset Beach, HI), 18, who finished fourth.

“I’m glad I had the Pro Junior to fall back on,” Manuel said. “Surfing against Coco (Ho) was great and Sage (Erickson) almost had it in the bag and some miraculous wave came and I got to pick it up and got a score. I’m just happy to be here today and surf in both finals.”

The young regular-footer is now ready to start gaining more ASP WQS experience to eventually make a push towards qualification for the ASP Women’s World Tour.

“I think it’s time to put my foot through the door and do a couple of WQS events,” Manuel said. “I’m in no rush, I’m only 15, so I’m just going to get some experience going on and hope for the best and hopefully in a couple of years I’ll be doing what Coco (Ho) and Steph (Gilmore) are doing right now.”

Women’s Hurley U.S. Open Final Results:
1 – Courtney Conlogue (USA) 17.17
2 – Malia Manuel (HAW) 12.67

Women’s Hurley U.S. Open Semifinals Results:
Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) 11,17 def Laura Enever (AUS) 6.27
Heat 2: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 11.33 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 7.47

If it’s July, it’s time to pull out the board shorts and head down to the HB Pier. The nine-day event, known as the U.S. Open of Surfing, returns to Huntington Beach (“Surf City, USA”) July 18 to 26, 2009. This is the mother of North American action sports events; the Vegas of surfing with over 500,000 spectators, a host of entertainment stages, peripheral activities and tribes of hardcore fans who pack the sand to watch the competition.

The pier’s been the site of the extravaganza for 50 years now, starting with West Coast Surfing Championships (WCSC) and evolving to today. When the first comp took place in 1959 it quickly became the biggest surfing event in the country – if not the world. HB local Jack Haley won the first event while the legendary Linda Benson took women’s. And it marked the beginning of a long tradition of competitive drama along the 300-yard stretch known as the “South Side.”

In 1960, the women’s division was added to the Championships. Last year 14-year-old Malia Manuel became the youngest finalist ever at the US Open. Runner-up Coco Ho, 17, made it an all-Hawaiian final and a major statement that there’s a new generation in town.

This summer, Hurley takes the U.S. Open of Surfing to a new level, infusing a youthful attitude, elite athletes, fashion and music—all against the backdrop of 50 years of competitive surfing. The “Walk of Champions” pays tribute to this storied history with a special walkway dedicated to the “50 years at the pier” celebration. This will include a timeline with key dates and happenings, along with photos and a list of all the former champions.

The U.S. Open of Surfing boasts North America’s only six-star World Qualifying Series-rated men’s and women’s competitions, longboarding and men’s and women’s junior disciplines. As work crews snap together the last bleachers, and put the finishing touches on the nearby Tiki village, this year’s event promises to be as big and bad as ever.

Technically, the US Open is an all-access event. Just about anyone can get in, but the truth is that because of its high ratings on the circuit, a lot of Big Names surf this contest. It may not be Pipeline or Trestles but the world’s best show up.

Many of the world’s best female surfers are barely getting their driver’s licenses. Carissa Moore, last year’s champ Malia Manuel, Coco Ho, Sally Fitzgibbons…the list goes on. Which is why this year’s Girls Nike 6.0 Pro Junior will pack in all the drama and performance level of a major world tour event.

Halfway through the grueling season, 3000 points up for grabs and $4500 for first place in the women’s division. But most important, it’s that launch pad into the Bigs. Win here, and you’re on your way.

Nevermind that the hype doesn’t always match the waves. Summer in Huntington can mean mediocre surf near the famed pier. Sometimes it’s a surfers ability to perform in sub-par conditions that divides the groms from the pros. Maintaining speed, pulling tricks and destroying mid-sized waves takes real talent.

Whatever the conditions, the event has enough sideshows to keep it interesting. BMX bikers drop into a 13 foot deep kidney-shaped pool, FMX demos take place, DJs and live bands crank loud music, and dozens of sponsor tents promote new products to the massive crowds.

With all the local and international talent, anything can and does happen at this comp. The next superstar might easily emerge from the pack to become part of the U.S. Open’s  colorful and coveted history. So if you’re in SoCal at the end of the month, be sure to make it down. Should be fun.

The latest issue of Vanity Fair (July 2009) wants you to meet the newest female stars of surfing.

The VF spread, featuring Alana Blanchard, Sally Fitzgibbons, Sofia Mulanovich and a bevy of other surfers (promoting next month’s US Open of Surfing) show that fifty years after Gidget stirred up waves in the male-dominated surfing world, a new set of young women in their teens and 20s are revolutionizing the sport, from the beaches of Montauk to Australia.

Back in April, New York photog Michael Halsband, who specializes in artists, musicians and surfers, traveled to California’s Newport Beach to shoot the coolest surfer girls.

In addition to Blanchard and Fitzgibbons you can see Sierra Partridge, Leila Hurst, Blanchard, Malia Manuel, Coco Ho, Laura Enever, Sage Erickson, Quincy Davis, Courtney Conlogue and Hailey Partridge in the magazine.

There are a bunch of photos online (including outtakes from the shoot)  and some video below. Be sure to pick up theVanity Fair issue and if you’re near Huntington Beach, California July 18 – 26, the US Open of Surfing plays center stage to one of the top stops on the ASP Tour. Put in on your calendar and don’t miss a minute of the fun.

Gabeira first took to a surfboard as an escape from her own teenage rebellion, but now she is breaking as many taboos and preconceptions as she is surfing breakers. She gave up a privileged life in Brazil to chase a dream: to surf the world’s biggest waves. From Hawaii to South Africa, Gabeira is doing exactly that, riding one wall of water after another.

Five years after leaving Rio de Janeiro, the 22-year-old is a star on and off the water. After winning a third consecutive surfing “Oscar” for best female this spring, she has just done a photo-shoot for Italy’s Vanity Fair and recently appeared on a popular Brazilian variety TV show that generates audiences of up to 80 million viewers.

Hailed as a pioneer for female athletes, Gabeira has become a role model for young women who are following her into the sport.

“It’s changing already,” she told the Observer. “The girls on tour are surfing so good and they are young and beautiful. Being a surfer and feminine at the same time is becoming more normal now.”

Dubbed the belíssima surfista by local media, Gabeira is a striking departure from the  footballers who are Brazil’s traditional sporting idols. The daughter of a fashion designer mother and political dissident father, her struggle as she was growing up was not against poverty and racism but the trauma of her parents’ divorce and an unwillingness to conform. When she was 14, a boyfriend introduced her to surfing and she was hooked (though far from a natural).

After finishing school, Gabeira moved to Hawaii to pursue her passion. In between working as a waitress and learning English, she borrowed boards and hit the waves at Waimea Bay.

Underneath her feminine veneer is a young woman driven to pursue a rush that few of us will ever know, punishing her body and testing her resolve as she breaks into a macho and fiercely-territorial boy’s club. She gradually took on bigger and bigger swells, eventually taking on the monster waves that only a few daredevils risk.

“I thought it would be so cool to have a girl who could do it, just like the boys,” she says. “I thought it was an impressive sport, and so radical and intense, and it took so much dedication. And I thought if I ever saw a girl doing it, I’d be impressed… Right now, I can’t even visualise that that girl is me.”

Big-wave surfing has been around since the late 1950s, when a handful of surfers first paddled into 6m waves on Oahu’s mythical North Shore in Hawaii. Legends such as Greg Noll paved the way for the discipline’s biggest names, from Ken Bradshaw to Laird Hamilton. Massive breaks and barrels, like Maverick’s in California, Teahupoo in Tahiti or Dungeons in South Africa, are sacred to the surfing community. For a great look at big wave surfing watch Riding Giants (Special Edition), an outstanding documentary about surf culture.

From the 1990s a handful of women such as Layne Beachley, Rochelle Ballard, Keala Kennelly and Sarah Gerhardt (the first women to surf Mavericks) started taking on big waves. Gabeira followed their lead, and then went further. “No one had ever seen a woman take off on waves as big or dangerous as Maya,” said Bruce Jenkins, author of the surfing bible North Shore Chronicles.

Her wipeouts have become famous. One spectacular tumble at Teahupo’o, a deadly reef break in Tahiti, was the most impressive ever witnessed in female surfing, Jenkins said. “This brought her considerable notoriety in a man’s world. There are some great, well-paid, well-travelled surfers who would never take off on that and other waves.”

This spring she won her third straight Billabong XXL Girls’ Best Overall Performance Award. “She has continually pushed the boundaries of female big wave surfing,” the judges said.

Why aren’t there more female big wave surfers? A disparity in prize money may not help. Greg Long, who won top honors as “rider of the year”, was handed $50,000. As “best girl”, Gabeira received $5,000.

Gabeira has more of a chance to push big-wave surfing into the mainstream than perhaps anyone else. It’s a prospect both exhilarating and exhausting to the 22-year-old, who still struggles to fathom how she went from travelling the world’s surf meccas on borrowed money and clothes to assuming the mantle of professional women’s big-wave pioneer.

Keep making waves, girl!

For more info on Gabeira, check out this interview on sponsor Red Bull’s site.

(info from  Red Bulletin magazine, the Observer)

You aren’t going to want to miss it this summer. Check out this trailer and start planning your next surf trip….

Fitzgibbons defeated fellow finalist and other rising wunderkid and ASP Top 17 surfer Coco Ho (Oahu, HAW), 17, with both surfers scoring near perfect rides as Bufuriera’s beachbreak was delivering clean three to four foot waves. Fitzgibbons came out blazing in the final locking-in four excellent scores before Ho managed to answer back with a near perfect 9.80 point wave. Meanwhile, Fitzgibbons was quick to respond and net a 9.85 pointer and take the win.

“It’s great to be back on the podium and definitely it has been some time between drinks,” Fitzgibbons said. “I surfed a lot of heats before the final and paddled out quite relaxed and sat wide. I saw the tide starting to drain out and thought there were two peaks. I was lucky when the first one came wide and I got it.”

Fitzgibbons, who is a rookie on this year’s ASP Women’s World Tour, leaves Portugal with a solid back-up result in case she ends up needing to requalify through the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) at the end of this year. So far, Fitzgibbons remains well in position to fullfil expectations from the international surfing scene which considers the young woman a future ASP World title contender.

“It was great to surf with my friend Sally (Fitzgibbons) in the final,” Ho said. “We had really fun waves, we were talking and having a good time. Sally started with three great waves and it took me a while to get a good one. Then I got my 9.80 pointer but Sally came straight back and bettered it with a 9.85 wave.”

Final
Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 18.60 pts Def. Coco Ho (HAW) 16.90 pts

Semifinals
Heat 1: Coco Ho (HAW) 18.0 pts Def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 11.00 pts
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons 16.50 pts (AUS) Def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 10.20 pts

December 2, 2008

Ripping through the three-to-five foot waves  Gilmore defeated fellow finalists Silvana Lima , Jessi Miley-Dyer,  and Nicola Atherton.

Event No. 7 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Roxy Pro proved the most decisive event of year, seeing shock eliminations on the final day before Gilmore soared to victory to claim the 2008 ASP Women’s World Title.

After winning her first Championship at just 19 – the first ever surfer to win such an accolade in their rookie year – Gilmore made it two-for-two by beating overall points leaders Sofia Mulanovich, Silvana Lima and Layne Beachley to win the most prestigious prize in women’s surfing once again.

 ROXY PRO SUNSET FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.83
2 – Silvana Lima (PER) 14.16
3 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 9.00
4 – Nicola Atherton (AUS) 6.46

ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR RATINGS:
Following Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 6348 points
2 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 5233 points
3 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 5138 points
4 – Layne Beachley (AUS) 5006 points

Check the official report from the ASP website:

November 24, 2008

Seems that Moore, who just dropped her longtime sponsor Roxy and signed a huge sponsorship deal with Nike and Red Bull, is making history on all fronts.

Moore won her way through every round of the competition from the preliminary trials heat that awarded one wildcard spot into the event. She now leads the 2008 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series ratings.

Three teenagers and a 36-year-old, 7-time world champion featured in the 30-minute final. Moore won, multiple world champ Layne Beachley (Australia) was second, 17-year-old Laura Enever (Australia) was third, and North Shore local Coco Ho, 17, was fourth.

While Moore’s rise to the win came with calm, sure-footedness, there was no shortage of drama around her to help pave the road to victory.

First came the fourth place elimination of reigning world champion Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) in quarter final one.

Next came the quarter final defeat of Alana Blanchard (Hawaii), who was hoping for a final finish today to guarantee her qualification onto the 2009 ASP women’s World Tour.

In the final, 17-year-old Coco Ho was at the center of drama. A win here would have guaranteed Ho a start on the 2009 elite World Tour, but after finding herself in fourth for most of the heat, her focus shifted to securing the win for Moore. With less than a minute remaining, Beachley was in need of little more than six points to steal the win from Moore. Ho took off, dropping in on Beachley, popping an air above her head and effectively shutting down Layne’s scoring potential in a classic case of schoolgirl tactics.

While it will never be known if Layne would have earned the score she needed to win, its indisputable that Moore earned the victory on the merits of her surfing alone.

As the final ASP women’s World Qualifying Series (WQS) event of the year, all eyes will now shift to the next two stops on the Vans Triple Crown to determine the final lineup for the 2009 women’s ASP World Tour: the Roxy Pro (Nov.24-Dec.6) and the Billabong Pro Maui (Dec. 8-20).

In addition to being the second of three stops on the 2008 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, this week’s Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach carries the added weight of potentially crowning the 2008 ASP Women’s World Champion.  Will Aussie Stephanie Gilmore, 20, reigning ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 1 on the ASP Women’s World Tour successfully defend her title?

November 18, 2008

Recently split from her longtime sponsor Roxy, the Hawaiian teen has signed two major deals – one with Red Bull and the other with Nike 6.0. 

According to Surfing Magazine,

All said and done, the 16-year-old Punahou junior will likely be enjoying one of the most lucrative contracts in female pro surfing history (estimated to be in the range of three-quarters of a million dollars by one anonymous source). “Carissa’s new agreements have for the first time ever shattered the glass ceiling of surfing sponsorship, opening up new and never heard of before possibilities for other surfers to eventually emulate,” says [agent Bryan] Taylor.

Moore is apparently also close to making a deal with a major department store – kind of like the deal snowboarder Shaun White made earlier this year to “design” a fashion line for Target.

And as a “head to toe” Nike rider, Moore will likely be marketed not just in the surf world, but in some of their more mainstream campaigns as well joining the likes of well-known Nike athletes Tiger Woods, Maria Sharapova and LeBron James.

After eight years with Roxy, Moore’s split from the sponsor who’s been with her since the beginning is truly the end of an era. It seems a bittersweet transition but it’s great that Nike and Red Bull are stepping up to the plate with women’s surfing and Moore seems a great choice to represent the sport.

To other brands looking for the TNBT – there’s a whole new generation of super groms stealing the show.

November 10, 2008

Luckily Transworld Surf has compiled a list of the top 10 surf colleges in America. They describe what makes a great surf school and what to look for when choosing a one. Obviously location is important but good to look at academics, life experience and costs as well.

The top 10 list includes obvious choices like the University of California – Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and San Diego campuses along with Pepperdine (Malibu), University of Hawaii (Manoa), Flager College (St. Augustine, Florida) and University of North Carolina in Wilmington. For the hearty, the list also includes schools in Rhode Island and New Jersey.

If you’re looking for a school with stoke – you’ll definitely want to check out the list.

At the same time, you might want to also surf for scholarships. College money has been offered to surfers in the past by the Wrightsville Beach Longboard Association and the Duke Kahanamoku Foundation.

Also check out the Surfrider Foundation Thomas Pratte Memorial Scholarship for students with an interest in coastal environmental science, such as oceanography, marine affairs, environmental sciences, public policy, community planning and natural resources.

Other scholarships with a connection to surfing include:

• TJ Stockdale Memorial Scholarship sponsored by the Jersey Shore Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.
• East Coast Surfing Scholarship by the Buddy Pelletier Surfing Foundation.
• National Scholastic Surfing Association.
• Joshua Dean Hall Scholarship. Three $500 scholarships for high school seniors at Huntington Beach High School who are members of the HBHS Surfing Team.
• Eastern Surfing Association Marsh Scholarship. $8,000 scholarship. May 15 deadline.

Good luck and good surf…

November 6, 2008

With three total wins on tour this season, Gilmore now is in the driver’s seat going to Hawaii where the final two tour events will take place.

“Now that I’m ahead, I feel great,” she said after the contest.  “But I know there are still two more events and a lot can happen. I excited for Hawaii and am looking forward to a great end of the year.”

Peruvian powerhouse Sofia Mulanovich, who was leading the overall rankings going into the contest, slipped to No. 2 after getting knocked out in the quarter-finals.  She is still in the running for her second world title but with just two events left in the 2008 ASP Women’s six-stop World Tour, she’ll have to win both to remain a contender for the crown.

For more about the contest, visit the official contest site and read on for the press release from the day’s action.

Gilmore Wins Back-to-Back Titles in Peru to Regain ASP Ratings Lead

PISCINA, Peru (Tuesday, November 4, 2008) – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, reigning ASP Women’s World Champion and defending event champion, collected her second consecutive win in Peru today, defeating Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, to claim the Movistar Classic Mancora Peru presented by Rip Curl as well as the ratings lead on the ASP Women’s World Tour.

Event No. 6 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Movistar Classic Mancora Peru pres. by Rip Curl relocated from the primary venue in Mancora this morning to Piscina, an hour and a half south, where swell was running in the three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) range.

After building momentum throughout the day, Gilmore peaked in the Final, posting the highest heat total of the event, a 16.10 out of a possible 20, with brilliant flair and power on her backhand, to claim her second consecutive event title in Peru.

“I am so stoked right now,” Gilmore said. “I love coming to Peru. The waves are always really fun and the people are so passionate about their surfing. I came here confident that I could get a result and to come out on top is just fantastic.”

After stumbling with an equal 9th at the last ASP Women’s World Tour event in Sydney, Gilmore’s win today sees the young natural-footer back on top of the ASP Women’s World Tour ratings and on course to defend her ASP Women’s World Title.

“I think Sydney was good for me in that it motivated me to refocus on my primary goal which is to win another ASP Women’s World Tour,” Gilmore said. “Now that I’m ahead, I feel great, but I know there are still two more events and a lot can happen. I excited for Hawaii and am looking forward to a great end of the year.”

Lima, current No. 4 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, was in brilliant form all day, even netting an 7.70 out of a possible 10 in the Final, but it wasn’t enough to stop a rampaging Gilmore.

“I am very happy with my performance today,” Lima said. “I felt like I was surfing well and that my equipment was working really good. It is a shame that I couldn’t win in the Final, but I am happy with my result.”

Today’s runner-up finish marks Lima’s second in two events (she finished runner-up at the last event in Sydney), and the progressive natural-footer rockets up to 4th on the ASP Women’s World Tour.

“I really want to win an event one of these days, but Steph (Gilmore) was ripping,” Lima said. “I am still very happy with my result and my place in the ratings. I don’t know what Hawaii will hold for me, but I am looking forward to the events.”

Rebecca Woods (AUS), 24, current No. 7 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, scored the upset of the day, defeating former ratings leader and event favorite Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, in the Quarterfinals.

“Sofia (Mulanovich) is an incredible surfer and we were surfing at Lobitos this morning and she was surfing amazing, even with an injured foot,” Woods said. “Fortunately I got a couple of good ones off the bat and was able to maintain the lead. It’s a great win for me and my first Semifinals of the year so I’m stoked.”

Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 3 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, opened up her Semifinal heat with a blistering 9.00 out of a possible 10, but was unable to halt the assault of eventual winner Gilmore.

“It’s frustrating when you open up the heat with a good wave and can’t back it up,” Beachley said. “I guess I am frustrated a bit more because I lost to Steph (Gilmore) and I had her and let her get away from me. It’s really frustrating.”

While it appears that Gilmore and Mulanovich are running away with the race for the ASP Women’s World Title, Beachley is still motivated to perform in Hawaii.

“I excited to get to Hawaii and I hope we get Sunset at 20 feet and Honolua at 15 feet,” Beachley said. “Hawaii is my old stomping ground and it’s where I feel like I’ve cemented a place for myself and I’m motivated by the desire to win and I’m looking forward to the winter.”

Highlights from the Movistar Classic Mancora Peru pres. by Rip Curl are accessible via MOVISTAR CLASSIC MANCORA PERU PRES. BY RIP CURL

The next stop on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour is the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, Hawaii from November 24 – December 6, 2008.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Movistar Classic Mancora Peru pres by Rip Curl Final Results:
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.10
2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 14.70

Movistar Classic Mancora Peru pres by Rip Curl Semifinal Results:
SF 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) 13.73 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 13.16
SF 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.60 def. Layne Beachley (AUS) 15.23

Movistar Classic Mancora Peru pres by Rip Curl Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) 13.83 def. Karina Petroni (USA) 8.83
QF 2: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 11.50 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 9.83
QF 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.00 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 11.87
QF 4: Layne Beachley (AUS) 12.94 def. Samantha Cornish (AUS) 10.17

Current ASP Women’s World Tour Ratings: Following Event No. 6 of 8
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 5148
2 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 4963
3 – Layne Beachley (AUS) 4454
4 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 4166
5 – Amee Donohoe (AUS) 3691
6 – Samantha Cornish (AUS) 3612
7 – Rebecca Woods (AUS) 3050
8 – Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 3038
9 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 2628
10 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 2544
11 – Julia De La Rosa (PER) 2474
12 – Karina Petroni (USA) 2244
13 – Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 2232
14 – Megan Abubo (HAW) 2064
15 – Nicola Atherton (AUS) 1836
16 – Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 1692
17 – Serena Brooke (AUS) 1656
18 – Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 912*
* First replacement on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour

October 24, 2008

The first event of the college surf season got off to a great start last weekend. The swell at Blacks Beach, La Jolla California was about 1-3 feet with fun peaks, and the weather was perfect.

The National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA), the organization that creates competitive experiences for young surfers, runs more than 80 NSSA events nationwide culminating with the annual National Championships.

This season, a new format seeded the college’s A Teams and forced the final 10 teams to battle out the last five remaining spots in the main event. The new format was well received by coaches because the teams were no longer worried about “knocking off” their own teammates. The event one was a “nail biter” until the very last heat.

Even though the surf was a little inconsistant that didn’t stop the college surfers from ripping!  In the women’s division, Hawaii native Lipoa Kahaleuahi from UCSB A Team was the girl to beat setting the pace early in round one posting a combined two wave score of 12.5 (6.5, 6.0) with a combination of blasts off the lip and roundhouse cutbacks.

Lipoa wasn’t tested until the last part of the final by Darlene Connolly of Mira Costa Red Team.

Lipoa excelled gaining an early lead with a backhand smash earning a 5.83 and a roundhouse followed by a re-entry posting a 4.83. In the second part of the heat Darlene would make it close by receiving a 5.5 for a slash off the top followed by a re-entry and later add a 4.0. Time however ran out on Darlene and Lipoa would win final number one.

Here are the results from Event #1:

COLLEGE TEAM POINTS
1. SDSU A 137
2. Pt. Loma A 136
3. Mira Costa Red 132.5
4. UCSB A 103
5. CSUSM A 101

COLLEGE WOMENS
1. Lipoa Kahaleuahi-UCSB A
2. Darlene Connolly-Mira Costa Red
3. Lilly Howard-UCSB A
4. Chelsea Rauhut-UCSD A
5. Sunshine Makarow-CSUSM B
6. Allie Brown-SDSU A

The season runs from Sept. to June. Next college event is Nov. 8-9 at San Fernando Pl. in San Diego. Check out the Southwest schedule here.