For better or worse the 2011 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is kicking off today with the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa. Currently, the waves are rolling in at two feet, but the surf is set to build through the day and deliver enough waves to finish the contest in three days. Overall, however, it’s looking like one of the worst years ever.
“In the 29-year history of running the Vans Triple Crown, we’ve never gone this far without running one competitive day,” says Randy Rarick, Executive Director of the Series. “But we knew it was possible, given it’s a La Nina year. We saw a similar pattern last year, but this year La Nina is more strengthened. This is precisely why we have a 12-day window. Without it, the event would not have been able to start.”
Kelly Slater may be moving forward with his circular wave pool idea, but the Kelly Slater Wave Company has hit a flat spell when it comes to protecting its intellectual property thanks to an extremely similar patented registered by Greg Webber andWebber Wave Poosl, according to a Stu Nettle story on Swellnet.com.au.
Since applying for a patent in 2008 Kelly Slater and his business partner, Adam Fincham, have twice been rejected because their wave pool infringes upon Greg Webber’s design. In both of their attempts – first in 2008 then again this year – the response from examiners at the US Patent Office has been identical: the design submitted by the Kelly Slater Wave Company is “unpatentable over Webber.” It is too similar to Greg Webber’s design for a patent to be granted.
Click the link for all the shore breaking details.
Planning on taking 2012 off to jet set around the world with the Association of Surfing Professionals? Well, now you’ll know when and where to fly and what hotels to book. With no Rip Curl Pro Search event in 2012 there won’t even be any surprises.
Here’s how it goes:
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast – Australia (February 25 – March 7, 2012) Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach – Australia (April 3 – 14, 2012) Billabong Rio Pro – Brazil (May 9 – 20, 2012) Volcom Pro Fiji – Fiji (June 3 – 16, 2012) Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay – South Africa (July 11 – 22, 2012) Billabong Pro Teahupoo – Tahiti (August 16 – 27, 2012) Quiksilver Pro New York – USA (September 2 – 14, 2012) Hurley Pro at Trestles – USA (September 15 – 23, 2012) Quiksilver Pro France – France (September 26 – October 6, 2012) Rip Curl Pro Portugal – Portugal (October 7 – 17, 2012) Billabong Pipe Masters – Hawaii (December 8 – 20, 2012)
For more details (including dates for the Women’s tour and ASP Prime events, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
On Saturday vandals “hose” painted “GO HOME” across the entire storefront, getting paint all over the newly conditioned brick, metal and glass.
The store had only been officially open for 24 hours. It would appear that some of the locals aren’t exactly down with the publicly traded surf clothing company putting a store in their neighborhood.
“When I heard Oakley was focused on launching more women’s active and swimwear products, I knew it was something I wanted to be apart of,” said Erica. “As a professional surfer I need to make sure I stay fit and train hard. I want to do this everyday in high performance, quality and stylish products. That’s why I chose Oakley.”
Sounds like a bit of a sponsor upgrade for the WQS surfer and Weekly Grind host. She will join snowboarder Maddy Schaffrick on the Oakley women’s squad. Follow the jump for all the details. [click to continue…]
After having a rough time on London’s AIM the ill-named surf clothing brand Hot Tuna is reportedly being sold again, according to a story on Reuters.
“That (the sale) would leave the Plc (public limited company) as a cash shell unencumbered by the brand,” Executive Chairman Francis Ball told Reuters by telephone. . . Ball would leave the company along with Chief Executive Geoff O’Connell and Brand Director Oscar Verden, the company said in a statement on Monday.
The public company formed around the brand will of course continue on (under a different name) because that’s how shells work.. Isn’t it sad when brands continue to stumble on long after they’re dead, isn’t it?
The Association of Surfing Professionals will introduce drug testing at contests from next year, according to board member Randy Rarick. . . “It’s been a long time coming,” he told The Australian yesterday.
Hopefully, this means all remaining ASP officials, employees and judges will be tested as well, right? It would only be fair.
We were all pretty amused by the whole Kelly Slater 11th World Title double-up. And people did tend to pile on in making fun of Association of Surfing Professionals CEO Brodie Carr, however, we didn’t expect him to quit over it. That’s what he has done.
It is my duty to accept responsibility for the recent calculation error that resulted in the premature crowning of Kelly Slater’s 11th ASP World Title,” Brodie Carr said. “The determination of the ASP World Title is the most important moment in professional surfing. Ultimately, the responsibility for every activity within ASP lies with me. Therefore, I have elected to resign my position as CEO.”
Way to fall on your own sword, Brodie. We’re guessing Mr. Carr has something else up his sleeve as well. Follow the jump for the official word from the ASP.
Garrett McNamara is being credited with what is reportedly “the biggest wave ever ridden” at allegedly 90 feet, according to a story on Drift Surfing.
The three were surfing in Praia do Norte off the coast of Nazaré, Portugal. McNamara has been spending quite some time here once he discovered the magic of the spot. The coast of Nazaré is home to one of the only deep water canyons that runs all the way to shore. He has been working with the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute to understand how the waves reach such an abnormal height.
While this is obviously a huge wave and McNamara is a charger of amazing prowess we do have one question: how much smaller are the rulers used to measure big wave surfing going to get?
Gabriel Medina, 17, kicked the canes out from under some of the oldest guys on the ASP tour on Monday, November 7, 2011 at the Rip Curl Pro Search San Francisco. He took Kelly Slater in the Quarterfinals, knocked out Taylor Knox in the Semifinals, and dominated Joel Parkinson in the Finals in front of a beach filled with NorCal surf fans. When the youngest Brazilian was done there wasn’t a tour vet left standing.
“This has been incredible,” Medina said. “This is my second World Tour win and it has been great. I’m having fun on the Tour. I don’t know what I did out there, I just try to go big and it was great to have a final with Parko (Joel Parkinson). He is one of my favorite surfers.”
