ASP Dream Tour surfers worked overtime today as the Rip Curl Pro Portugal barreled through 21 heats of surfing today (October 17, 2011). The only heat that could be called upsets of the day were when John John Florence got by Ace Buchan in Round 2 Heat 6, when Fred Patacchia took out Jordy Smith 15.06 to 14.90 in Round 3 Heat 7 and finally when Bede Durbidge landed the perfect 10 barrel to send Mick Fanning home in Round 3 Heat 8.
Florence was having nothing but fun in the heaving barrels of Supertubos. “It’s unreal out there this morning,” Florence said. “It reminds me a lot of Backdoor and Pipe but with a sandy bottom. I was having so much fun. I just kept taking off on everything that came through.”
The contest will likely continue tomorrow morning with the last four heads of Round 3 where John John Florence will face Owen Wright in Heat 12. Follow the jump for the official word from the ASP. [click to continue…]
It may have taken until 1:15 PM local time, but the Rip Curl Pro Portugal finally got underway at Supertubos. Daniel Ross and Chris Davidson joined the favorites by winning in Round 1 forcing Taj Burrow and Jordy Smith to surf tomorrow in the rising swell. Joel Parkinson and Gabriel Madina tied for the day’s high score of 17.87.
“The conditions improved so much in the span of one heat when compared to the warm-up just before,” Parkinson said. “It was great and everyone was getting barrels and scores. I guess it just shows how quickly things can change out there.”
The National Park Service had initially told event planners that they would create an exception to a law banning such vessels from national parks as a safety precaution for surfers catching waves larger than 10 feet at the contest, which is slated for Nov. 1-11. . . But after further review, officials determined that the beach’s own personal watercraft-equipped lifeguards could provide adequate safety without bending the law.
Just one more reason this will be one of the more interesting events on the ASP Tour.
Rip Curl added 19 Victoria, Australia retail shops to its quiver with the purchase of Ozmosis, according to a story on Ragtrader.com.
Rip Curl Asia Pacific CEO Steven Kay said the company was looking forward to working with its new Melbourne-headquartered team. . . . “Melbourne is one of the great epicentres of youth culture and Victoria home to some of the best surfing, skiing and snowboarding in the country, and Rip Curl wants to provide its customers with better access to the lifestyle products they need. Ozmosis can really help us do that,” Kay said.
This means Rip Curl has added 34 Australian store fronts in the last year. Looks like they’re set on staying in the game.
The 50th Annual Bell Beach surf competition kicked off with the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach yesterday (April 19, 2011) in head-high surf. Round one of both the men’s and women’s events were run. Joel Parkinson had the highest heat score of the day, Kelly Slater put his head straight, and Stephanie Gilmore got right back on her world champion game.
“My first two years on tour I didn’t have great results on the Gold Coast,” Gilmore said. “I always bounced back at this event and then finished the year well, so hopefully I’ll do that again this year. The Gold Coast was a fine showing of what women’s surfing is up to now and everyone has to try and keep up. It really pushes me and I think anyone who wins an event from now on will be a very deserving winner because of that fact.”
The contest continues today in what is likely to be even larger surf beginning at 7:30 AM local (2:30 PM PST). Follow the jump for the official word from the ASP. [click to continue…]
Tonight (February 16, 2011) “smoking hot pro surfer” Alana Blanchard will be on Fuel TV’s The Daily Habit to apparently “catch up on bikinis and her upcoming return to the WCT,” according to Fuel TV.
We’ve never read anything about her “bikini work” before, but a quick look through Rip Curl bikini catalog brought us right up to speed. For Alana’s real fans we recommend the “full-screen” option.
So this is what everyone was tweeting about last night. Long-time Rip Curl surfer and four time Womens ASP World Champion Stephanie Gilmore has reportedly signed a five-year contract with Quiksilver (not Roxy, to be clear), according to a post on the Mountain and Wave.
Under terms of the agreement Stephanie will ride for the Quiksilver team and has become a Quiksilver brand ambassador, joining a diverse and talented group which includes 13 other female artists, musicians, photographers, philanthropists and fashion designers representing Quiksilver’s lines for women. “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.”
It really is the perfect match, especially if reports of Stephie being the $5 million woman are true.
Not be left out of the Billabong retail gobbling game Rip Curl has announced that it has just picked up 15 Perth-based retail stores according to a post on Ragtrader.com.au.
The Torquay-headquartered surf company revealed it has bought nine ‘Wave‘ surf stores, two ‘City Surf’ stores and four ‘Cite’ streetwear stores. . . Rip Curl Asia Pacific CEO Steven Kay said he hopes to build on Wave’s 25-year history, overseen thus far by Wave founders Chris and Vicki Prastidis. . . “Perth is the gateway to one of the great surfing and youth markets in Australia and Rip Curl want to put more effort into the region,” Kay said.
Independent action sports retailers are getting few and far between.
Kelly Slater didn’t stop with his 10th World Title. Nope. He rolled right on past Taj Burrow in the semi final. Then dominated Bede Durbidge in the final with a perfect 10 on 10 day at the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico.
Kelly seemed relived that this contest was over, but he was still as gracious as ever on the podium, even thanking the Puerto Rican fans in Español. “This is the only event close to my home,” Slater said. “When I was a kid growing up in Florida I spent a lot of time in Puerto Rico. I surfed a lot of contests at Jobos and Wilderness. So this is like my home away from home. We’re all surfing for Andy and we’re all feeling a special feeling in the water. I want to thank all of you for taking the moment of silence before the heat. And that crazy rainbow out of now where.”
We all have a November week to remember and it’s great that we can finish it off with all these good memories.
Full results and a word from the ASP after the jump.
ASP world number two Jordy Smith isn’t letting a little ankle injury keep him out of the hunt for his first world title as the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico waiting period opens tomorrow. But he has a pretty big wall to climb to get around Kelly Slater. Here’s the logic Jordy is facing:
For Slater to clinch his historic 10th ASP Crown at the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico, the following scenarios must occur:
– If Slater finishes Equal 3rd or better, he clinches the 2010 ASP World Title.
– If Slater finishes Equal 5th or Equal 9th, Smith must win the event to send the ASP World Title Race to Hawaii.
– If Slater finishes Equal 13th or Equal 25th, Smith must finish Equal 3rd or better to send the ASP World Title Race to Hawaii.
– Essentially, if Smith fails to finish higher than Equal 5th, Slater claims the 2010 ASP World Title.
Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, current ASP World No. 2, is the only surfer standing in the Floridian’s way, but the prodigious natural-footer is guarded when discussing his aspirations in Puerto Rico.
Talk about head trips and pressure. For the rest of the details and the round one draws follow the jump. [click to continue…]
