After a day of massive “code red” 20-foot Teahupoo waves yesterday (August 27, 2011) that were too big to paddle, the Billabong Pro Tahiti is back on for round three in some of the best waves of the 2011 tour. Matt Wilkinson just landed a perfect 10 in the first heat of the day!
Follow the jump for all the info including heat line ups. Do not miss this!
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Tom Gregg, a California surfer who suffered a “deep gash” on his right leg while surfing in France in 2009 filed suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, August 24, 2011, against Channel Islands Surfboards claiming:
“The surfboard, fins and their component parts were unsafe for their intended use. . . Gregg’s attorney, Jeffrey Karpel, said the fins are so sharp some surfers cover them with protective sleeves. Gregg was not aware of that before the injury, Karpel said.
According to the story Channel Island’s GM Scott Anderson says this is the first liability claim that he has heard of. While this kind of injury is no surprise to surfers or companies like SurfCo Hawaii (makers of Pro Teck fins), it does seem a little like Gregg is blaming his equipment. It will be interesting to see how Burton lawyers proceed with this one.
[Link: LA Times]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Kolohe Andino double-finaled today (Friday, August 25, 2011) winning the men’s ASP 4-Star Coastal Edge presents Vans Pro presented by Rockstar and Skullcandy and finishing fourth in the Vans Pro Junior.
Follow the jump for the official word from the ASP.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
On Saturday and Sunday, August 27-28, 2011 the Fifth Annual Malibu Invitational returns for a fifth consecutive year to Surfrider Beach and the Malibu Inn.
The Malibu Invitational has established itself as an end of summer institution bringing together great surfers for good causes: “The contest began as a benefit for Lyon Herron,” said contest organizer Skylar Peak, “a local grom who was suffering from a rare disease, and needed both financial and spiritual support.”
This year, in addition to helping out Lyon Herron, money raised will also to to support THERAsurf and Babette Ho, wife of Jeff Ho. For more information, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Tim van Heerden, a 49-year-old surfer from Plettenberg Bay, South Africa died from injuries after he was attacked by what may have been a great white shark, according to a story on Bloomberg.
Van Heerden was surfing off Lookout Beach near the Keurbooms river mouth and was with a large group of surfers, Craig Lambinon, a spokesman for the National Sea Rescue Institute, said in an interview on his mobile phone. Van Heerden appears to have been bitten in the groin area and the femoral artery may have been severed, Lambinon said, adding that an autopsy will be performed.
According to a story in the Sun UK, Heerden saw the shark coming in and was able to shout a warning to other surfers in the area. “But he couldn’t save himself as the beast attacked, first biting him at the top of the leg, then pulling him underwater before biting him again.”
Our thoughts are with Heerden’s family and friends.
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
Russell Surfboard’s founder Robert “Russell” Brown has died at Hoag Hospital, according to a story in the Orange County Register. He was 63.
Brown has been shaping boards since 1967, and still to this day his shop near the Newport Pier is reminiscent of an old-school surf shop – not taken over by the latest surf clothing brands or accessories – but simply surfboards, lining every inch of the walls.
According to photographer Tom Cozad, Russell was found dead on Saturday, August 20, 2011:
“No other surfboard manufacturer has had a grip on the Newport surf culture as long, or as strong, as Bobby “Russell” Brown and his Russell Surfboards has. The older Blackies crew can be found cruising on his boards. The younger Upper Jetties crew can be found flying around on them. And the Underground Point and School Yards crews can be found pulling into pits throughout the world on them. No one person has transcended the vast array of Newport surf crews over the years like Russell has.
Our thoughts are with Brown’s family and friends.
[Link: OC Register]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
We’ve always wondered who actualy shopped at the Melrose Burton/Channel Islands store. Now, thanks to a story on Faded Youth Blog, we know. It’s Brody Jenner and Avril Lavigne. And, if statistics tell us anything at all they’re walking out with two new Dane Reynolds Dumpster Divers.
[Link: Faded Youth]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
The first round of the Billabong Pro Tahiti gave ASP surfers a little warning shot of how big Teahupoo could be during the finals at the end of the week. Most of the favorites made it through the first round, aside from ASP points leader Joel Parkinson who was sent to round two by CJ Hobgood in heat 8.
“The wind got good which allows you to push it a little further up the point and the waves turned on,” Hobgood said. “I’d like to take a little bit of credit, but the ocean did a lot of work out there. Joel (Parkinson) had a wave that could have been a 10 if he had come out so they’re definitely out there.”
Kelly Slater saved his win for the last two minutes of the heat when, as he has done so many times before, he took off, stall, got covered and got exactly what he needed to the lead in heat 6 from Dan Ross and local wildcard Heiari Williams.
“I wanted to get the deep south ones,” Slater said. “I’d seen enough of those ones in the earlier heats to think they were out there. I got a few small ones that didn’t work out. I was a bit greedy and trying to stay in the barrel a bit longer than I should have. Rossy (Dan Ross) got pushed up the point and I was fortunate to bag a wide one and that made the difference.”
For the rest of the official ASP details, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
In financials reported today (August 19, 2011) by Billabong it appears that the company’s profits are down 18 percent from the year previous, according to a story in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Billabong said it had been hurt in the year just ended by the strong Australian dollar and a weak retail environment. . . Billabong reported annual profit of $119.139 million in the year to June 30, down 18.4 per cent from the prior year. . . Revenue was 13.5 per cent higher, however, at $1.688 billion. . . Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) were down 16.2 per cent in constant currency terms, and down 24.3 per cent in reported terms, Billabong said in a statement on Friday.
Apparently, the current financial storm isn’t over just yet.
[Link: Sydney Morning Herald]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
It would appear that Quiksilver isn’t the only one getting ready for surfing NYC. According to TMZ, Lady Gaga has been training with some surf instructors in Mex and doing pretty well riding those little Mexican monsters. She’s apparently on the right track, baby.
Click the link for the full gallery.
[Link: TMZ] [click to continue…]
{ Comments on this entry are closed }
