Surfboard Bag .com » Surfing News

Surf Travel for the Traveling Surfer

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:50:26 +0000

Surfers and Traveling go hand in hand; unfortunately this is a major reason why surfers never have money! Surf Travel is EXPENSIVE! Wave riders need some assistance in this area; not to mention the local surf shops. Peaks and Barrels is planning to provide just that. They have recently created a website dedicated to Surf Travel (http://www.peaksandbarrels.com). It is still in the early stages of progression but when you go to their website it is easy to navigate and use. They also allow for registration so that you can stay updated on current Surf Travel News. If you are like me and hate to give away your email for fear of being spammed, Peaks and Barrels has many ways to provide updates. They are connected to all of the social sites like facebook and twitter.

What I thought was really cool is that they are constantly tweeting out coupons for local surf shops. What makes this service unique is that surf shops can use Peaks and Barrels to release their coupons and surfing deals. Instead of following all of the shops in your area you can also follow peaks and barrels and you will get all surf deals even if you’re traveling to a destination break; very cool feature! After you grab your coupon from the PNB website or Twitter, visit their Surf Travel Map which is very easy to use and makes traveling a much simpler experience. The map contains the well-known surf breaks and the local surf shops. Right now they are expanding the map to feature only the things that surfers need; food, surf, and sleep.

It is very comforting knowing that by going to PeaksandBarrels.com I can line up a surfboard that I want to surf during my trip at a local surf shop, and I can avoid a $300 board bag airline charge. (By the way, when using Peaks and Barrels to organize your trip just mention peaks and barrels and they will totally take care of you!!!) Peaks and Barrels had really jumped into the 21st century of surfing by finding their niche, identifying a problem and offering an innovative solution. They are essentially an extension of the local surf shop on the global level. Their goal is to bring surfers back to the local surf shops, especially the traveling surfer.

They have a surf team that is headed up by World #6 Amee Donohoe. She can be quoted as saying “I really feel like I am at home with Peaks and Barrels.” She told me that she had never heard of them before they had approached her. We asked her if PeaksandBarrels.com had any other plans besides the surf travel maps? She Smiled and replied “You will have to wait and see, but I can tell you this…It is exactly what the surfing world needs!”

You may have noticed they sell their own brand tee shirts as well. We don’t know who is behind the design of their apparel but they are doing a great job. Their shirts are fashionable and they have a great look! Peaks and Barrels is really attempting to make their mark on the surfing world and they are doing a fine job at it.

They are in the midst of developing some tools that the surf world has been waiting for all this time. The target audience of peaks and barrels are surfers. If you surf, and you travel; then you want to be Surfing Peaks and Barrels: Where Surfers GO!
In the past, typically, you have never been able to plan ahead when it comes to surfing. That is beginning to hurt the local surf shop because people are purchasing online or at the mega surf shop right when they arrive at their destination. Here is the problem with this, you just missed out on your opportunity to get a local board shaped by a local shaper designed specifically for the waves you came to surf. You will probably pay too much and received to little. We want to keep the small businesses above the water in the industry that many of us dream to be working in. PeaksandBarrels.com envisions a solution to some of these issues, and they are working to put the local surf shops back on the map for you, The Traveling Surfer. Go – Surf – Ride – Peaks and Barrels.

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BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:17:44 +0000

ESA Board of Directors votes to immediately withdraw from Surfing America

By: Nick McGregor/ Eastern Surf Magazine

Photos: A.J. Neste/Surfing America

Yet in a turn of events eerily similar to last year’s drama, ESA’s Board of Directors voted last week to immediately withdraw from Surfing America. Where NSSA left because of disputes over membership dues, age divisions, and judging standards, ESA’s departure has more to do with the recent implementation of Surfing America’s Prime Series on the East Coast.”It’s gone back probably a whole year,” said ESA Executive Director Debbie Hodges. “There’s been a lack of communication between Surfing America and the member organizations in regards to the Prime Series, not letting [us] control the series. And what National Governing Body of any sport competes against its own members?”

Mike Gerard, Executive Director of Surfing America, was on-site for Prime’s first East Coast event, held October 24th-25th in Montauk, NY, and refutes that statement. “We were very surprised [by ESA's withdrawal],” Gerard said. “There was a lot of dissent over the Prime Series, but prior to making the move, Prime’s been a topic of discussion at board meetings. And since Debbie sits on our Board of Directors, ESA has had plenty of opportunity to provide input and comment.”

But the ESA’s press release detailing their withdrawal states “the ESA had no input in the conception, creation, and execution of the Surfing America Prime events,” a belief that Hodges stands by. “The Executive Director of our National Governing Body came to the East Coast and picked spots [for the Prime Series] without even conferring with myself or the ESA competition director,” Hodges stressed. “It’s not a bruised ego, I just think it was very disrespectful for an NGB. It looked like they were going behind all of our backs — not just the ESA, but the other two organizations [NSSA and TGSA], as well.”

Lost amidst the ESA’s bombshell decision is that fact that TGSA’s own Board of Directors voted to withdraw from Surfing America earlier this year.

“We pulled out in August,” said Julie Doyle, President of TGSA. “I don’t want it to look like we’re following ESA, but we take ESA’s position on this matter. Surfing America should not be coming in and directly competing with their member organizations. We voted against the Prime series at the board meeting, so obviously our input was not considered.”

Gerard, who praised ESA-New York District Director Rick Anthony for his help with the Montauk event, intimated that several ESA board members were still supportive of Surfing America.

“What I’m hearing is that the [ESA Board of Directors'] vote was equally divided,” Gerard said. “I know there are some pretty passionate Surfing America supporters on the other side. The whole reason Prime came about was to try and raise the standard around the country so that four-man heats, ASP judging, and computer scoring becomes the norm for all kids.”

Hodges hopes that ESA surfers will still be able to compete in Prime Series events, which provide the only path to the SIMA Surfing America U.S.A. Championships and the PacSun U.S.A. Surf Team. “We encourage our members to surf Junior Pros, or the NSSA, or the TGSA, or the HSA. When NSSA left Surfing America [in 2008], their members were still allowed to compete, so I’m sure we will be given the same courtesy.”

Gerard isn’t adamant about that prospect. “I’m not sure — when NSSA pulled out, at the time they lost their rights to have slots in the U.S.A. Championships,” he said. “But I don’t make policy for Surfing America — I just serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, and the board voted 10-1 for Prime going to the East Coast. The Prime Series is all about outreach and providing more quality opportunities for more kids.”

Yet Doyle believes that a similar outcome could have been attained without the Prime Series’ implementation. “The NGB should be working with the organizations in a more supportive way, and should have had several program options to discuss instead of just one,” Doyle said. “Strenuous clinics are an example of one of those options. Surfing America should be growing organically in a tasteful way, gaining the faith and trust of its member organizations with consistency through the years.”

NSSA Executive Director Janice Aragon said her member organization will remain neutral on the latest development between ESA and Surfing America, and will continue to participate in Prime series events.

“The NSSA will maintain its membership with Surfing America and continue to feed its surfers into the Prime Series on both the East and West Coasts, as this is currently the only path to the U.S.A. Surf Team,” Aragon said. “The majority of surfers on the U.S.A. Surf Team are NSSA members, and we want to continue to provide our members with access to the Team, as it’s an important goal and achievement for many of our up-and-coming surfers.”

When asked whether she expects the ESA/ Surfing America split to be patched up in the future, Hodges expressed unease. “That’s a good question — under the current leadership, I don’t feel that would be attainable, because the leadership has not proven to be in the best interest of member organizations, but more in the best interest of Surfing America itself.”

Gerard finished by lamenting the break-up of what he hoped would be a “more perfect union” in American amateur surfing. “My philosophy is 2+2=7,” Gerard said. “If we can all work together and pool our resources, and ESA can be a participant, we can build the sport up and create the visibility that we need. We’re a National Governing Body, but we’re not so much governing or dictating — we just want to create systems that make things more organized so that everybody can benefit.”

Thank You Eastern Surf Magazine!!!

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Concerns About The Short-term Water Pollution Impacts!!

admin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:50:37 +0000

SAS Pleased As European Commission Takes UK To European Court Of Justice Over CSO’s

It is time to step up and clean the beach

SAS are pleased to hear the European Commission (EC) has decided to take the United Kingdom to the European Court of Justice over non-compliance with EU environment legislation. SAS has spent the summer highlighting the inadequacies of the UK’s sewerage system, specifically with Combine Sewage and Stormwater Overflow drains (CSOs), culminating in the hard-hitting Panorama program “Britain’s Dirty Beaches”. The EC is concerned that the urban waste water collecting systems and treatment facilities in London and Whitburn in North East England and have deemed them “inadequate and a threat to human health.”

SAS have highlighted time and again concerns over the short-term pollution impacts CSOs have on our coastline, and stressed the potential impacts to water users and especially waveriders who are more at risk as they immerse and ingest more than the average bather. Some of the health risks associated with using sewage polluted waters include Ecoli, Hepatitis A, Gastro Enteritis and much more.

Our rivers, seas, bathing waters and surf spots are suffering from short-term pollution incidents from CSOs. The sewerage system is being over powered by the volume of water after periods of rain. There are solutions that can take the pressure off the sewerage system without relying on CSOs or resulting in sewage backing up in our homes. They include improvements in the efficiency of the sewerage system and/or an increase in capacity at sewage treatment works. Local planners need to embrace and promote Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) that slowly release surface rainwater runoff. And we can all use water more responsibly, taking small steps like turning the tap off whilst brushing our teeth, which will in effect increase capacity at sewage treatment works reducing the risk of overflow.

European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said: “More attention needs to be paid to upgrading collecting systems to ensure full compliance with EU legislation on waste water treatment. Such investment will bring enormous benefits in terms of improving the quality of the environment.”

SAS Campaign Manager Andy Cummins says: “The EC are echoing SAS’s concerns over the frequency CSOs are used is discharge raw sewage and rain water rather than treating it in a sewage plant. This can be a serious threat to human health.”

http://www.sas.org.uk/campaign/index.php

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Surfing ‘Peaks and Barrels’ Is Announcing a New Internet Swell

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:57:38 +0000

For Immediate Release

Sept 30^th 2009

Surfing ‘Peaks and Barrels’ Is Announcing a New Internet Swell

New surfing website moving into an interactive way to plan your “surf.”

Surfing ‘Peaks and Barrels’ is taking the country by storm and is proving to be more than just your run-of-the-mill surf site. The wave has swelled and has become a Facebook favorite for surfers and beach lovers alike. P&B has been in the works since April ‘09 and is now launching the first version of it’s website, where it will offer popular gear, such as it’s “classic style” T-shirt.

PeaksandBarrels.com is thrilled to soon offer an interactive tool for surfers to plan surf sessions and get in touch with your local surfing community. In the meantime, Peaks and Barrels will have many other interesting promotions and products for fans to check out.

PeaksandBarrels.com is a supporter of non-profit organizations like SurfAid International, Saving the Waves, Saving the Firepits, and Surfrider foundation. Invite PeaksandBarrels.com to your event and let them assist in the fund raising and getting the word out.

Peaks and Barrels, it’s what you surf.

If you would like to learn more information visit http://PeaksandBarrels.com and enter your name & email, then click ‘Get Barreled‘.

Peaks and Barrels Set up for the Board Recycling Project.

Surfboard Recycling Project with VERB Media.

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Lima Defeats Gilmore to Win Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic

admin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:54:55 +0000

DEE WHY, New South Wales (Sunday, October 4, 2009) – Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, won the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic this afternoon over reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current ASP Women’s World No. 1 Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, in stormy three-to-five foot (1.5 metre) conditions at Dee Why in an action packed Final, marking back-to-back wins for the hungry Brazilian after claiming the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.Gilmore jumped out to an early lead in the sea-saw battle for the 2009 Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic title, but Lima fought back throughout the heat, collecting a 7.77 and eventually securing the win with an 8.83 for a lengthy forehand barrel to post the highest heat total of the event, an impressive 16.60 out of 20, en route to her first victory at the event after three consecutive Final appearances.

“I can’t believe it,” Lima said. “I’ve been in the Final in this event three times and I finally won. I was feeling really confident. The waves here today were like the waves in Brazil and I’m always surfing in these conditions. The final was really good. Steph (Gilmore) got some good waves too and I was able to get two good ones.”

The back-to-back ASP Women’s World Tour wins secured by the hungry Brazilian have significantly tightened the ratings for this year’s ASP Women’s World Title and although Gilmore still holds on to the ratings lead, Lima is following closely in the No. 2 position.

“I’m definitely looking at the title, but it’s too early,” Lima said “There are still four contests left this year, so there is more work for everyone, but I feel so much more confident after my first win at Bells.”

Gilmore was in devastating form throughout the entire Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, blasting some of the event’s top scores with a committed forehand attack on the steep Dee Why right-handers, but was unable to top Lima in the Final.

“To come back after such a long break and still make the Final, I’m pretty happy with that,” Gilmore said. “Silvana (Lima) beat me at Bells and her confidence is through the roof at the moment, so my challenge is to step it up another level. I did it in the Semifinals, but maybe I peaked too early.”

Gilmore, who fell to Lima in the Final at the last stop on the ASP Women’s World Tour, knows claiming this year’s ASP Women’s World Title will be no easy task and is preparing for the next four stops scheduled on the 2009 calendar.

“It’s definitely game on,” Gilmore said. “There are four events left and everyone is really fired up and off to Portugal, Peru and Hawaii, so I can’t think of a better way to finish off the tour.”

Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 26, was also on fire throughout the entire event, topping 2005 ASP Women’s World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25, en route to her third place finish, but could not find a solid score in her Semifinal heat against eventual Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic winner, Lima.

“I couldn’t really find a rhythm in that last heat,” Mulanovich said. “I couldn’t land a turn, but it’s alright. I guess I was a bit nervous and the waves didn’t come my way, but it’s the same conditions for everyone. I’ll just look at where things went wrong and use that for next time.”

Mulanovich, who was the 2004 ASP Women’s World Champion, has now notched back-to-back third place results, leaving her in third overall on the ratings, but as a former champion, the Peruvian natural-footer knows she’ll need to win events this year if she is to claim another ASP Women’s World title.

“Silvana got me at Bells too,” Mulanovich said. “It’s the same result. A third-place is a good result and I need to work a little more on the mental side of things, but I know that, so that’s what I’m going to do. A third is good, but you need to win events to win the title. I’m still towards the top of the ratings and I’m just going to go from there.”

Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, was a standout performer throughout the event’s entirety, ousting an international field of competitors including Rebecca Woods (AUS), 25, and Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 22, on the way to her Semifinals berth. The talented Hawaiian struggled to find a solid score in her battle against Gilmore, bowing out of the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic with a third place finish.

“I just wasn’t in rhythm out there and I couldn’t find anything,” Bartels said. “It’s tough out there, but I’m stoked that I made the Semifinals, it’s a good result, but I just wanted to surf well, I wanted to put on a good performance and I don’t feel like I did that, but that’s how it goes.”

The next stop on the ASP Women’s World Tour will be the Rip Curl Search in Peniche, Portugal, which holds a waiting period from October 26 through 30, 2009.

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Final:
1- Silvana Lima (BRA) 16.60
2- Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.67

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Semifinals Results:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.17 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 6.87
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA)10.60 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 5.40

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Quarterfinals Results:
Heat 1: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 6.35 def. Rebecca Woods (AUS) 5.97
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.54 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 8.80
Heat 3: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.57 def. Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 9.00
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 12.86 def. Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 8.10

ASP Women’s World Tour Ratings After Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic:
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 3241 points
2 – Silvana Lima (BRA) 2880
3 – Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 2139
4 – Melanie Bartels (HAW) 1983
5 – Coco Ho (HAW) 1723
6 – Rebecca Woods (AUS) 1711
7 – Paige Hareb (NZL) 1704
8 – Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 1519
8 – Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 1519
10 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 1512
11 – Samantha Cornish (AUS) 1308
12 – Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 1116
12 – Alana Blanchard (HAW) 1116
14 – Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 1110
15 – Amee Donohoe (AUS) 918
16 – Layne Beachley (AUS) 756
16 – Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 756

http://www.aspworldtour.com/2009/news_show.asp?rEvent=&rcode=13257

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Thousands Still Trapped by Earthquake

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 21:17:27 +0000

The moments after a sports hall roof collapsed at karate practice in Padang

Almost 3,000 people are still trapped under rubble following Wednesday’s powerful earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra, officials say.

Massive quake: A member of an Indonesian military rescue team walks through a collapsed building in Padang (Reuters: Singgalang-Muhammad Fitrah)

More than 1,000 people are known to have died and the chances of finding survivors are growing slimmer.

Rescue teams from several countries are heading to the Indonesian city of Padang in a last push to save lives.

Some were focused on a hotel where as many as eight people may still be alive, and where noises were heard.

As night fell, rescuers said they were close to a room where a seminar was being held when the quake struck.

Voices were heard from under the rubble earlier, and a newly-arrived Swiss rescue team said it had picked up frantic knocking sounds using sophisticated audio equipment.
AT THE SCENE

Rachel Harvey, BBC News, Padang
Darkness has fallen for the third time since the earthquake struck and once again powerful floodlights are trained on what remains of a large hotel.Twisted wreckage of cars and rubble are still piled high here and the rescuers say they now may be close to a room where it’s known a seminar was taking place on Wednesday evening. Several people are thought to be trapped inside that room and the rumour here tonight is that miraculously even at this late stage some people may have survived and there is a long queue of ambulances here waiting just in case. Shattered Padang tries to cope but an AFP reporter also described a stench hanging over the hotel, as bodies there began to decompose in the equatorial heat.

At least one survivor, a young woman, was pulled from under a collapsed school earlier in the day.

The rescue of Ratna Kurnia Sari on Friday was a boost to emergency workers who were enduring tough conditions as they scrambled to reach survivors in Padang.

At least one other young woman was reported to be trapped close to where the first rescue took place.

Although rescue efforts focused on Padang, aid workers and reporters said that in rural areas thousands more buildings had been destroyed and whole villages flattened.

“From the aerial assessments carried out yesterday, the feedback is, yes Padang city and environs are bad, but once you go outside into the surrounding rural areas, the situation is very seriously grave,” said International Red Cross coordinator Christine South, quoted by AFP news agency.

There was still no information for some areas including Mentawai Island, 57km from the coast, she added.

An AP reporter said parts of Pariaman district, to the north of Padang, had virtually no buildings left standing and had received no outside help.

Need for machinery

US President Barack Obama, who spent part of his childhood in Jakarta, called his Indonesian counterpart to offer condolences and help with the relief effort, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari has appealed for more foreign aid to help the rescue effort.

MAJOR INDONESIAN QUAKES
26 Dec 2004: Asian tsunami kills 170,000 in Indonesia alone
28 March 2005: About 1,300 killed after a magnitude 8.7 quake hits the coast of Sumatra
27 May 2006: Quake hits ancient city of Yogyakarta, killing 5,000
17 July 2006: A tsunami after a 7.7 magnitude quake in West Java province kills 550 people
30 Sept 2009: 7.6 magnitude quake near Sumatran city of Padang, thousands feared dead
1 Oct 2009: Second of two quakes near Padang, magnitude 6.8 – no damage or casualties reported

SurfAid has a Padang Earthquake Relief Appeal. People can donate through our website. We are in Emergency Response mode and currently assessing the coastal areas south of Padang. We are buying tents, tarpaulins, food, water, medical and sanitation su…pplies in Medan to ship down. We have five Indonesian staff still unaccounted for in Padang. Any support much appreciated. Cheers www.surfaidinternational.org

Padang’s race against time
Woman rescued from rubble
Eyewitness: Sumatra earthquake
UK rescue team flying to Indonesia

There were calls in particular for skilled rescuers with specialised equipment to penetrate the unstable rubble.

A team of British firefighters is due to arrive over the weekend.

In Australia, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said a plane carrying engineering and health teams was on its way to Indonesia, with a 44-strong rescue team due to arrive in Sumatra.

Other nations have also pledged aid to Indonesia, among them China ($500,000; £315,000), South Korea (43-strong rescue team and $500,000), and Germany ($1.5m).

The quake struck on Wednesday close to Padang, the capital of West Sumatra province, bringing scores of buildings crashing to the ground.

The main earthquake struck at 1716 local time (1016 GMT), some 85km (55 miles) under the sea, north-west of Padang, the US Geological Survey said.

A second quake of 6.8 struck close to Padang at 0852 local time (0152 GMT) on Thursday causing panic but no reports of casualties or damage.

Sumatra lies close to the geological fault line that triggered the 2004 Asian tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in a dozen countries.

Geologists have long warned that Padang – a city of 900,000 people – could one day be completely destroyed by an earthquake because of its location.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8287573.stm

Surfing Padang

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Bartels and Gilmore Lead Opening Day of Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:25:23 +0000

DEE WHY, New South Wales (Wednesday, September 30, 2009) – The opening day of the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic saw current ASP World No. 5 Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, and reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, lead the world’s best women’s surfers through Round 1 in two-to-three foot (1 metre) surf at Dee Why.

Gilmore stayed busy throughout her entire Round 1 heat today and emerged victorious in a tough battle over defending Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic champion Tyler Wright (AUS), 15, who eliminated Gilmore in Round 3 of last year’s competition, and 2005 ASP Women’s World Champion Chelsea Hedges (AUS), 25, to advance directly through to Round 3 with a solid 14.00 out of 20 heat total.

“I wasn’t really focusing on redemption over Wright, but it was more about shaking off the first heat nerves,” Gilmore said. “Chelsea (Hedges) and Tyler are a couple of my favorite surfers and Tyler did so well here last year, so I guess it felt good to come back with a win after a long break. It’s a bit disappointing that we’re not surfing at the point this morning, but it’s (Dee Why) a great wave and who knows what’s going to happen later in the week, maybe we’ll be up at the point for the Final, that’d be awesome.”

Although the talented regular-footer felt pressure entering the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic after a long mid-year break, Gilmore showed no sign of nerves and the poise shown by the defending ASP Women’s World Champion carried her directly through to Round 3.

“I think there is pressure after such a long break,” Gilmore said. “There’s sort of that safety net of Round 2, but I wanted to go out there and surf hard and my equipment is amazing at the moment and I’m stoked to be through to Round 3.”

Aside from the pressure of returning to contest mode after a long break, Gilmore also expressed the weight of entering an ASP Women’s World Tour event as the top seed.

“The pressure is always sort of there if you’re within the top five on the ratings, especially when you’re No. 1,” Gilmore said. “You’re expected to be fit and ready to go. I’m feeling fit and happy and I’m excited to be back in the action.”

Gilmore will have a Round 3 rematch against Wright when competition resumes.

Bartels surfed impressively throughout her entire opening round heat, but found her two best waves in the back half of her bout to claim the highest heat total of the day, an impressive 15.25 out of 20, while capitalizing on a rare barrel, leaving fellow competitors Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), 22, and Amee Donohe (AUS), 28, needing a combination of scores to top the Hawaiian standout.

“I’d been eyeing that little barrel out there,” Bartels said. “I was just waiting and that wave came to me and I was able to find that little barrel which gave me the good score. It’s been such a long time between events that I forgot I was surfing in a contest out there. I just tried to get a wave and surf.”

The explosive Hawaiian veteran started her year off strong with a runner up finish at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast before suffering a 17th place finish at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach. Bartels was elated to advance directly through to Round 3 at Dee Why and get the second half of her season off in the right direction.

“Bells is a very hard wave and it was really small when we surfed it, so it was tough for me,” Bartels said. “The waves out here are offshore and bigger than two-foot, so it’s perfect, I’m stoked.”

The Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic holds a waiting period from September 30 through October 5, 2009. Event officials will reconvene at Dee Why at 7am local time tomorrow to assess conditions for the potential start of Round 2 at 8am.

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Rebecca Woods (AUS) 10.45, Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 9.15, Layne Beachley (AUS) 8.25
Heat 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW) 15.25, Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 11.05, Amee Donohoe (AUS) 10.85
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.00, Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.40, Chelsea Hedges (AUS) 12.05
Heat 4: Silvana Lima (BRA) 8.60, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 8.60, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 4.70
Heat 5: Coco Ho (HAW) 10.65, Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.35, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 10.25
Heat 6: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 9.55, Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.85, Bruna Schmitz (BRA) 6.40

Upcoming Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Round 2 Heats:
Heat 1: Amee Donohoe (AUS), Layne Beachley (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Heat 2: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Bruna Schmitz (BRA), Alana Blanchard (HAW)

For additional ASP information log on to http://www.aspworldtour.com

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NY Surf Film Festival 2009

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:05:15 +0000

Surf City, at the Corner of Varick and Laight

By Tetsuhiko Endo

Brett Beyer NY Surf Festival

With last weekend’s Unsound Pro surf contest in Long Beach, Long Island; the second annual New York Surf Film Festival in TriBeCa, which ended last night; and the recent art opening of the female longboard pro Kassia Meador of California at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, the New York area has been crawling with the biggest names in surfing. A friend of Waves, the surf writer Tetsuhiko Endo, caught up with the film festival over the weekend.

Rob Machado, professional surfing’s ambassador of soul, was standing outside Tribeca Cinemas on Friday, waiting for the national premiere of his new movie, “The Drifter,’’ at the second annual New York Surf Film Festival.

The oddity of the location for his United States premiere — the theater is on the concrete corner of Varick and Laight Streets — was not lost on Mr. Machado, who can more regularly be found in Hawaii, Tahiti or Indonesia, where “The Drifter” takes place.

“There’s this crazy, underground surf scene here that no one seems to know about,” he said while waiting outside the theater for his film to begin. “And it makes it really cool to come to an event like this.”

In his narration of “The Drifter,’’ Mr. Machado says, “The surf world moves like a traveling circus.” Well, that circus came to town this weekend along with the festival, whose organizers were hoping to showcase the eclecticism of a spreading area surf scene that is increasingly drawing fascination from other parts.

A quick look around Tribeca Cinemas on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday underscored his point: The New York/New Jersey surfing scene showed up in force, from swaggering hipsters to suit-wearing bankers, to the Jersey boys in their flannel-shirt-and-baseball-hat uniforms. The rest of the crowd was a mélange of industry types from California, Aussie expats, a handful of Irish, the odd Basque, and even a couple of Ohio lake surfers. The filmmaker Andrew Kidman and local pros like Will Tant and Dean Randazzo blended in happily with local recreational surfers, including the fashion designer Cynthia Rowley .

“It doesn’t feel like a typical surf event,” the Australian filmmaker Stefan Hunt agreed. Mr. Hunt’s movie, “Surfing in 50 States,” was one of 18 featured over the weekend along with 13 shorts. “Usually, theses things are filled with the surfer dudes with bleached hair, the skinny girls in bikinis, and a bunch of surfing films that all look the same.”

Homogeneity is one of the things that the event’s founder, Tyler Breuer, who is also manager of the Sundown Surf Shop on Long Island, said he specifically tried to avoid. “I want the old guys I grew up surfing with in Long Beach, I want the grommets who are just interested in the shred flicks, I want the artists, and I want the people who don’t surf at all,” he said.

Sancho Rodriguez, the founder and organizer of the San Sebastián Surfilm Festibal, who was also in attendance, praised the mix of the crowd over the lip of his beer can. “New York is a strange place for a festival like this, but doing things that are slightly out of the ordinary is good for surfing,” he said. “We have to understand that our sport is growing and maturing, so the role of festivals like this is to convey the best parts of surfing to people that may not have been exposed to them.”

Ms. Rowley suggested that the surf world was ready for some distance from its traditional epicenter on the West Coast, and that New York seemed to be providing it.

“Californian surf culture has been a little mined,” she said, in that dismissive way that only fashion designers can fully evoke. “People are inherently interested in things that are alternative.”

When asked what she thought of the general surfing vibe in the room, she called it “aspiring to be non-aspirational,” and added: “New York surfers are a stylish bunch. In fashion, it’s got to be genuine to be cool, and this definitely feels genuine.”

Waves is an occasional City Room feature chronicling surfing in and around New York City, and the issues important to local surfers. Its author, Jim Rutenberg, is a Washington correspondent who grew up surfing in New Jersey and continues to surf regularly on Eastern Long Island. Ideas and comments are welcome at Wavesnyt@gmail.com.

Article at: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com

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Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Set to Start Tomorrow

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:05:50 +0000

DEE WHY, New South Wales (Monday, September 28, 2009) – After a lengthy break on the ASP Women’s World Tour, the third of seven stops will begin tomorrow with the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic which holds a waiting period from September 30 through October 5, 2009 at Dee Why in New South Wales.Layne Beachley (AUS), 37, who is a seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion, is set to battle the onslaught of hungry up and coming talent on this year’s Dream Tour. Although Beachley is only competing part-time on this year’s tour, the veteran campaigner’s valuable competitive experience makes her a threat in every heat.

“There has been a big break on tour so it is somewhat fitting for it all to get back underway with the richest prize-purse on offer,” Beachley said. “It’s wonderful to have support from Australia’s leading bank, the Commonwealth Bank, and I’m looking forward to a terrific start tomorrow.”

After standing on the leading front of competitive female surfing for nearly 20 years, Beachely is now blending her competitive spirit while working hard to continue to create a future for the sport by founding events like the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic.

“I really find myself in juxtaposition this time of year,” Beachley said. “Emotionally I am invested in staging a great event but also wanting to compete at the best of my ability. I’m really focused on running a wonderful event for the surfers, sponsors and fans.”

Paige Hareb (NZL), 19, is currently sitting in the No. 3 spot on the ASP Women’s World Tour and is the leading rookie after the first two events. The young New Zealand talent has been keeping busy after the lengthy break by competing on the ASP WQS while spending some of the down time at home.

“It’s been like one big holiday,” Hareb said. “I’ve still been doing the world qualifying series in between but had a three-week break in California and have also been at home a bit hitting the snow!”

Although Hareb exceeded her expectations in the first two events on the 2009 calendar, the young Kiwi is hoping the keep the ball rolling at this week’s Commonwealth Bank Beachley classic and is looking to climb to the top of the ASP Women’s World Tour ratings.

“To be honest I’m surprised,” Hareb said. “I’ll take it though and of course I’m going to try and stay there if not better it.”

There will be an official press conference Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 10:45am at Dee Why Surf Club. Surfers Layne Beachley, defending ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, and defending Commonwealth Beachley Classic Champion Tyler Wright (AUS), 15, will be attending.

For additional ASP information log on to
http://www.aspworldtour.com
http://www.beachleyclassic.com/

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Pavones In Danger!!!

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:02:29 +0000

By mbauer – September 23, 2009 – 09:05

Tuna Aquaculture Project Threatens Wave at Pavones, Costa Rica

Tuna excrement, red tides, algal blooms, and hydrogen sulfide are not the first things that come to mind when planning a surfing vacation to Costa Rica. But the country’s recent approval of a tuna farm project could contaminate coastal waters and dismantle one of the areas best preserved surfing destinations.

A proposed tuna farm project at the mouth of the Golfo Dulce, located along Costa Rica’s remote southern Pacific coast, threatens the area’s water quality and the overall pristine state of the wave at Pavones – considered to be one of the world’s longest lefts.

The company responsible for the tuna farm project, Granjas Atuneras de Golfito S.A. (GAGSA), selected this section of coastline because the area’s swift running currents would bring a consistent flow of clean water to the captive tuna. However, these same currents could sweep the massive quantities of fish excrement and food waste produced by the tuna right up to Pavones’ doorstep.
Costa Rica’s Constitutional Court suspended the project’s approval in 2007, sighting inconsistencies in GAGSA’s environmental impact study. A part of the suspension, the court ordered a detailed independent investigation be done on the superficial and deepwater currents to better understand where the tuna byproducts would end up. This study was to be undertaken before any future environmental viability approval would be issued by the Costa Rican Environmental Ministry. However, in May 2009 Costa Rica’s environmental minister, Jorge Rodríguez, reopened the case and approved the project’s environmental viability without performing the court-mandated study.If the project is allowed to proceed, there is a high probability that the unappetizing mix of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and methane – all chemicals found in tuna excrement and leftover decaying food products produced at other tuna farm projects around the world – would reach Pavones. If this were to happen, algal blooms, decreased dissolved oxygen amounts, and wide spread dinoflagellate occurrences resulting in red tides and widespread fish kills could contribute to the dismantling of the area’s aesthetic beauty, artisanal fisheries, vibrant ecotourism businesses, and surfing industry.

Local surfers and conservation groups are vociferously campaigning against the tuna farm project (see related articles below). They are urging the international surfing community to write letters to Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister’s assessor, Marissia Obando, reminding her how important surfing is to the country’s economy and how crucial it is to protect coastlines and marine areas for recreational and economic opportunities.

Pavones was recently nominated to Save The Waves’ World Surfing Reserves program – an initiative designed to proactively protect the greatest and most threatened surf breaks around the world – because of its world class wave and the local community’s dedication to conserving the area’s natural surroundings.To get involved in the campaign and urge the Costa Rican government to protect the wave at Pavones – please send a letter to:

Sra. Marissia Obando
Minister’s assessor, Ministry of Tourism San José, Costa Rica,
Email mailto: mobando@ict.go.cr
Copy email: mailto: info@pretoma.org

Sample Letter:

Dear Sra. Marissia Obando,

I am extremely concerned about the fate the wave at Pavones, one of the most pristine surfing destinations in Costa Rica. Please act now and work with the Environmental Ministry to revoke the environmental viability given to the tuna farm project planned for the mouth of the Golfo Dulce and comply with the Constitutional Court’s resolution 2007-06315 to perform an extensive study of the areas currents in order to determine the environmental impact of the project.

Thank you.
–For more information please contact Andy Bystrom at mailto: andy@pretoma.org or visit the following websites:

Costa Rican Conservation Network: http://costaricanconservationnetwork.wordpress.com/

Pretoma: http://www.pretoma.org/

Please EVERYONE this is your call to action TODAY!!!

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