by The Editors on May 19, 2011
Andy Irons‘ family requested today (Thursday, May 19, 2011) that the toxicology results from Andy’s autopsy, which were supposed to be released tomorrow (May 20, 2011) be delayed another 30 days. The request has been honored, according to a story on KITV.com.
In December, a Texas judge granted a request from Irons’ wife to delay releasing the report for six months. That order expires Friday. . . A judge granted another family request Thursday that the report be released first to Irons’ wife, who would have 30 days to review the report with her experts.
Each time the results are delayed we feel that the story gets even more tragic than it already is. If that is possible. Irons was found dead in his Dallas, Texas hotel room on November 2, 2010 while traveling home to Hawaii after competing in the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico. The new date for the public release of the toxicology report is June 20, 2011. For more details check the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
[Link: Honolulu Star Advertiser, Khon2.com and KITV.com]
by The Editors on May 19, 2011
Aside from waves at were all over the place at the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio today, Round 3 was what message boards were built for. From the first heat when Taj Burrow turned past a barrel hogging Cory Lopez, to Bobby Martinez backside airing past Kelly Slater’s barrel, and Josh Kerr boosting past Jordy Smith it was the day of fallen favorites and derogatory discussions about the venue, the scoring, and the waves.
Comments on the event website’s heats on demand were especially telling. Of the Burrow vs. Lopez heat one commenter said:
“Bullshit! Lopez’s tube rides are worth more than Burrows turns…”
One industry head we spoke to today didn’t like the results of the Matinez vs. Slater heat much, either:
I can’t believe Bobby’s no turn, one air scored better than Kelly’s long barrel,” he said. “Bobby was clearly over-scored and Kelly underscored.”
But the comment that most perfectly reflected what many have been thinking all week was posted by Andy Bragwin:
Barrels vs turns aside, why are the world’s best surfers competing for half a million dollars in prizes and the WCT trophy in three-foot, onshore slop? Why are we debating scores on two turn waves? Brazil is not a world class surf destination. South America has many world class waves, just not in Brazil. Sure the big crowds enable the big money, but it’s making the sport look pretty boring.
And, it’s hard to argue with that. For the official word, and results, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 19, 2011
A man needs only a few things to make his way in the world: a nice shirt, a good haircut, and a stylish pair of shades. Warren Smith seems to have that all covered now that he’s signed on with Raen.
“RAEN is fucking rad,” Warren unabashedly stated. “I’m an excited little human to have RAEN protect my eyeballs and support my creative passions outside of surfing. Everything from RAEN’s product design, elegant brand aesthetic, to their support of amazing artists and jazzy surfers has me feeling very proud. I look forward to working on a whole range of creative shit with them!”
Sounds like a perfect fit all the way around. Follow the jump for the official word. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 18, 2011
Don’t mean to harsh on the rest of the hard charging ASP Elite Tour professionals in the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio, but all we really cared about today was whether Jordy Smith, Joel “Police Escort” Parkinson, Bobby Martinez, and CJ Hobgood would make it through their Round 2 heats because we’re “that kind” of surf fan. Guess what? They did.
Jordy slipped through even though he wasn’t all that stoked on his performance.
“I don’t know what was going on, usually I kind of go out there and let loose and I was nursing everything,” Smith said. “I was surfing really careful because I didn’t want to blow the waves I got but I ended up blowing them anyway. I’m happy that I made the heat though.”
For the full results and tomorrow’s Round 3 heat match-ups, follow the jump. And remember, show starts at 3:30 AM PST (6:30 EST). [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 17, 2011
After days of waiting, the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio finally shuffled through Round 1 in what the ASP described as “consistently changing conditions” (whatever that means). Kelly Slater’s fans can rejoice in the comfort that he; one, is still in it, and two, snapped in the highest score of the day with a 9.0 (pictured above) to win his heat against Julian Wilson and Brazilian Peterson Crisanto.
“That 9 felt good,” Slater said. “I went down to grab my jersey and there was some confusion. By the time I got out, the heat had already started and Julian got that first one. It wasn’t a good start. I knew there were going to be some good ones and I just had to be patient. That one good wave actually let me bottom turn and hit the lip, most of the waves were soft and had a lot of horizontals.”
The only other real news from the day was that Patrick Gudauskas edged Jordy Smith by .06 in Heat 5, and Taylor Knox stuffed Joel Parkinson 15.03 to 8.34 in Heat 12 to sending two of the world’s best surfers into the second round. Maybe the practice will help keep them lose.
It would also appear that the contest will continue tomorrow May 18, 2011. We’ve just got to figure out a way to get up in time to watch it. Sometimes 4 AM is just too early. Follow the jump for the full results. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 16, 2011
See those ominous clouds? Feel that whipping wind blowing straight onshore at Barra da Tijuca? That’s why after five days of waiting the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio has yet to run even one men’s heat.
“Unfortunately we’ve got bad winds are definitely not running today,” Richie Porta, ASP International Head Judge said. “The good news is we’ve got swell on the rise and conditions have been forecasted to improve and we’re looking to get things started tomorrow.”
Stay tuned tomorrow morning (May 17, 2011) at 3 AM PST (7 AM local) to see if the guys will finally get in the water. Afterall, there are only six days left in the waiting period. Follow the jump for the official word from the ASP. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 15, 2011
With a win over Sally Fitzgibbons, Carissa Moore took the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio (her third elite tour win of the season), solidified her lead in the rankings and helped end four-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore’s hopes of a fifth consecutive title.
“I just went out there and had fun and to me there was no pressure in the Final,” Moore said. “I was just stoked to be in the Final regardless of how I finished. Obviously I’m happy that I won. The girls really didn’t go on those lefts, but they worked out for me today.”
Gilmore got past Laura Enerver in the quarterfinals, but in the semis Fitzgibbons put her away 13.16 to 9.23.
“It was tough work out there,” Gilmore said. “Sally (Fitzgibbons) got a couple and I had some opportunities. I only needed a six and was too deep on that wave that came in at the end. Sally’s in the zone right now.” . . .“I’m going through so many emotions right now, it’s hard,” Gilmore said. “It’s been a pretty good year and Sally and Carissa (Moore) have been on fire. It’s good for the sport and good for me. I really don’t know what to say.”
Follow the jump for the full results. [click to continue…]
by The Editors on May 14, 2011
It’s nice to see that not much has changed when it comes to the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association Surf Summit in Los Cabos, Baja, Mexico. At their 14th Annual event held May 11-14, 2011, it appears that the usual industry suspects, drank, surfed, and sat in air-conditioned meetings rooms just as they have for the last 13 years. Click here for the official party photos with little or no commentary whatsoever. Come to think of it, that’s probably all you need to know. Can’t wait for next year.
by The Editors on May 13, 2011
Surfer Adrian Bronson, 37, was in shallow water on May 13, 2011 “near the Harvard Drive beach approach in Ormond Beach, Floride when he felt a nip in his calf.
He sustained minor puncture wounds and didn’t go to the hospital, Marris said. After surfing, he went to work, she said. . . This is the second shark bite incident off Volusia County beaches this year, she said.
Volusia County sharks better hurry up if they want to hold onto their title as the “shark bite capital of the world.” Two this year? Someone is slacking.
[Link: Orlando Sentinel]
by The Editors on May 12, 2011
Yes, Tyler Wright (pictured above) slayed Courtney Conlogue and Claire Bevilacqua in Round 1 Heat 1 of the 2011 Billabong Pro Rio and after a few falls Stephanie Gilmore finally got back into world champion form in the two to three-foot surf, but it was Alana Blanchard’s bronzed, bouncing buns bobbing between breaks that had the Internet buzzing.
“After watching Alana’s heat this am, I am fried,” said one fan. “My gosh. When in Rio do as the Rios do.”
Even the webcast camera operators seemed to find it hard to keep the coverage in the PG rated zone whenever Alana was in the water. They were constantly panning away, or zooming in on the back of her head while Alana was paddling out.
For her part, Alana looked pretty comfortable in her tiny Rip Curl Alana’s Closet bikini. After a third place finish in Round 1 behind Sofia Mulanovich and Coco Ho, she turned it up in Round 2 and soundly trounced Jessi Miley-Dyer 13.10 to 8.70.
The rest of the women’s Round 1 and 2 heats went pretty much as expected with the top seeds doing what they do. For the official word from the ASP, including not one word about Alana Blanchard, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
Andy Irons‘ family requested today (Thursday, May 19, 2011) that the toxicology results from Andy’s autopsy, which were supposed to be released tomorrow (May 20, 2011) be delayed another 30 days. The request has been honored, according to a story on KITV.com.
