» SURFBOARDS.COM » SKATEBOARDS.COM	POSTED: Wednesday, January 31, 2007 4:06 PM Mormaii Costão Pro Kicks Off with Good Waves FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil (Tuesday 30 January 2007) - On the first day of Mormaii Costao Pro surfers were blessed with good waves and clear sky at Florianopolis as it kicked off at 8:30 am. The event reached its limit of competitors, 192 from 17 different nations battling for the 2500 points. Among the nations in the event Brazil is the most represented, while United States is the second, and it’s the American Shea Lopez won the opening heat of the Mormaii Costao Pro. The third WQS event of 2007 is due to finish on Sunday starting everyday at 8:00 am local time. In a Battle Brazil against South Africa in the sixth heat of the day, South African Damien Fahrenfort had an astonishing performance scoring 7,33 and 6,67 in his two best waves. “I managed to get a few good rides early in the heat, but I wasn’t so happy about what I did then I tried to find some waves that wouldn’t close out to improve my scores. The waves here are a bit stormy, but if you get a good one, you can manage to get a good score” said Damien Fahrenfort, who represents the second largest contingent tied with the Aussies with 16 surfers. “We have four South Africans in the WCT this year, and I hope that next year we can have at least six. Jordy Smith is really blasting it out there and has won almost everything he competed, Ricky Basnett has also shown great performances which means that we are on the right path. Besides that, in South Africa we are lucky to get good sponsors with is very important. Well, now I just hope that conditions stay solid because I’m a big and heavy surfer, and my odds of winning increase as the waves get bigger” said Fahrenfort. In the race for a second round berth, Brazilian from Ceara Adilton Mariano came first in his heat against David Richards (South African) and Philipe Glayzer (Brazil) who came in third. The crowd showed up today went wild when local surfers Ricardo Wendhausen and Thiago Bianchini sent home the Americans Dane Johnson e Jesse Heilman. “I took me quite some time to catch a wave, but then i found a really good right. I still needed a second good score but they were closing out a lot and I really struggled until I came closer to the inside and I was able to find one in the end. They gave me a 4, just enough to advance to the next round. I couldn’t loose in my first heat at home to foreign surfer” said Thiago, 20 one of the upcoming surfers along with Ricardo Wendhausen, 18 who left the heat without knowing whether he went through to the next round or not, because he couldn’t hear the scores. “Man! I’m so happy to advance along with Thiago. I only knew that I had a good start, but I didn’t know the score I got. Before competing I tried to analyze the conditions from a dune and I found a spot where the bigger ones were breaking. They I seat out there waiting for a good one and it came. And I’m pleased to start off with a win”, said Wendhausen who went through to compete against two other foreigners in the second round, the Portuguese Justin Mujica and TJ Barron along with his fellow competitor Leandro Moulin, who clinched his place in the second round with a second place in a heat won by American Anthony Petruso with over Clinton Gravett (South Africa) finishing third. “It’s really tough out there to find the right waves and I couldn’t hear a word they were saying. I found out I went through now that you told me” confessed Anthony Petruso who complained about the onshore winds that kept on blowing hard on Tuesday making the 4-5 waves a bit messy on the first day of the Mormaii Costao Pro. “I just hope that in the next round the winds don’t blow like today, and hopefully I’ll get a good result in this event” completed Petruso. The Mormaii Costao Pro is the 20th WQS event promotes by FECASURF (Federation of Surfing of Santa Catarina). Among those events, only one of them didn’t take place in Florianopolis. And only last year “the best beach resort of Brazil” managed to bring a WQS event to the northern part of the Island in Florianopolis. The most times the title stayed with a Brazilian surfer, who have won a total of ten events. Neco Padaratz (Mormaii team member) is the only surfer from Santa Catarina with a title. The Aussies took five, the French, took three titles with two of them claimed by French-Brazilian Patrick Beven who defends his title this year. With one title we have Shane Dorian from Hawaii completing the Champions’ Gallery. The MORMAII COSTÃO PRO is brought by MG2 Projects along with the FECASURF (Federation of Surfing of Santa Catarina), the event is sponsored by Mormaii, Costao do Santinho Resort & Spa and the Government of Santa Catarina. The event is also supported by the City of Florianopolis Administration, UNIVALI and officially published by Radio Atlantida, Sportv and Fluir Magazine. The event is broadcasted by website www.globoesporte.com from today all the way until Sunday, and by Sportv between 10:00 and 12:00 am on Saturday and Sunday. The winner of the Mormaii Costao Pro will earn US$ 125.000. All the results and furtehr information about the event can be seen on www.aspsouthamerica.com.br   POSTED: Rip Curl surfers brave freezing conditions in the Arctic Circle to test new power heated wetsuit in amazing secret waves The surfing world turns its attention to Hawaii’s North Shore in November and December for the close of the professional season and the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters, but at the same time this year Florida native Adam Wickwire and Hawaiian Elise Garrigue headed away from the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean on a secret product-testing mission in the icy, unexplored oceans of the Arctic Circle. Wickwire and Garrigue spent eight days searching for waves in the freezing North Atlantic Ocean, testing Rip Curl’s new “H-Bomb” power heated wetsuits. The H-Bomb is the world’s first power heated wetsuit, designed to keep a surfer super-warm (despite the chilly temperature of the water they’re surfing in) by positioning two fibre-heating elements, which conduct electricity that generate heat and warm the blood. The H-Bomb underwent enormous levels of testing during its production stage, but even the science labs couldn’t simulate the conditions that the Rip Curl Search team faced in the Arctic. The air temperature averaged between –5 to –10 degrees Celsius (23 to 14 degrees Fahrenheit) during the trip, with wind chill temperatures reaching as low as –20C (-4F). The water temperature was measured as low as –1C (30F) during the surf sessions, which equalled perfect conditions for the H-Bomb… “It was so cold, it’s kind of hard to explain how crazy the trip was,” said Wickwire. “It was so cold that when we went surfing we couldn’t even get changed into our wetsuits outside – we’d have to get changed in the car and then sit there until the H-Bomb started to heat up. Once the rubber heated up it was easy to get into the water with our hood, booties and gloves though.” “The cold wasn’t even a factor when we were surfing, because the wetsuits are that good. The only time you felt the water is when you got flushed and that actually helped because the water circulated around the wetsuit and helped distribute the heat. It was just like surfing in normal water.” “It was the most amazing adventure,” added Garrigue, who spends the year travelling the world with Rip Curl’s Search team. “I have never been to a place that cold, but it was so beautiful. The waves were awesome and the H-Bomb wetsuits allowed us to surf in places people have never been able to experience before.”   POSTED: Thursday, December 07, 2006 4:02 PM SurfAid announces staff changes and Christmas Holiday Appeal for new program! Piha, New Zealand Friday 8 December, 2006 Humanitarian aid organisation, SurfAid International, announced today a major program initiative and a change of senior staff. After guiding the organisation since its inception six years ago, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and co-founder Andrew Griffiths is leaving to pursue other interests. While officially departing, Griffiths will remain a key advisor and is already volunteering to guide and assist several new programs. "SurfAid and the Mentawai people are in my heart forever," Griffiths said. "It's been a tremendous challenge and ultimately a very fulfilling experience to have contributed towards creating a platform from which people can express their compassion for humanity in a structured and sustainable manner. "To be moving on from my role as CEO and be able to look around and see such an amazing team and donors able to take SurfAid to the next level is very inspiring." SurfAid co-founder and Medical Director, Dr Dave Jenkins, said: "While it is sad to see my friend Andrew move on, it is apparent that he is changing roles to enable his pursuit of other interests and perhaps a more balanced life. "Over the years I have been closest to Andrew's incredible spirit and determination and, without his resilience and talent, SurfAid would still be a small, largely part-time, volunteer organisation helping only a few villages. "After Andrew's years of hard work, SurfAid is now servicing a population of more than 100,000 people in impoverished surfing locations in the remote islands off Sumatra, Indonesia, and we are making a real difference to their health." SurfAid is also pleased to announce the appointment of Carl Steinfort as COO (Chief Operating Officer). Steinfort, an accountant with a track record of project management, is a former professional AFL (Australian Football League) footballer who represented the Geelong and Collingwood clubs. Also joining the team as Communications Director is Kirk Willcox, a long-time surf industry executive and former editor of Australia's Tracks magazine. SurfAid USA Marketing and Communications Director Lou Niles has been promoted to Managing Director of the US operations, and Vivienne Hill has been appointed Development Manager for SurfAid New Zealand. SurfAid also announced today that, in partnership with the Mentawai Health Department and UNICEF (United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund), they will begin a major program to control malaria in all 203 villages in the Mentawai Islands and then strive to eradicate it by 2015. SurfAid was the first organisation to run formal scientific trials of malaria control in the region in two pilot villages, which extended to 22 villages. The trials showed that a major reduction in malaria transmission is possible utilising new, long lasting insecticide nets and community-wide malaria education. SurfAid has also launched a Christmas Holiday appeal to raise money for this new program. Donations can be made via SurfAid's website at www.surfaidinternational.org For further information, please contact: Kirk Willcox SurfAid International Communications Director Phone: +64 9 812 9005 Email: kirk@surfaidinternational.org About SurfAid International The mission of SurfAid International, a non-profit humanitarian aid organization, is to improve the health of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing. In response to the December 26, 2004, Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami disaster, SurfAid also conducted emergency medical relief programs in North and West Sumatra, and Aceh, Indonesia. SurfAid is incorporated in the USA, Australia and New Zealand with the program base in Padang, West Sumatra.   POSTED: Thursday, July 13, 2006 10:07 AM ERIC GEISELMAN WINS INAUGURAL FEAR AT THE PIER PRO JUNIOR After a weekend spent in Huntington watching some of the world’s best 20-and-under surfers, spectators were treated to a sizzling final on the south side of the pier, from which Eric Geiselman emerged as the first ever Fear at the Pier champion. In consistent waist-to-chest high surf that lasted throughout the weekend, Geiselman advanced through a field of 80 competitors to claim the win. Sweetening his victory was a $2,500 check for first place as well as 500 points towards qualification for the 2007 Billabong World Junior Championships, which will be held in Australia next spring. “I’m so stoked right now,” said Geiselman, whose win today marked his fifth Pro Junior Finals appearance in as many entries, and third win of the season. “Australia is always in the back of my mind, so I am thinking about it, but right now I’m trying not to stress. I’m just trying to have fun and surf and stay relaxed.” Immediately following the Semis, the Sobe No Fear Air Show hit the water, and Chris Waring emerged as the victor from that match up with a huge backside loft that garnered a 9.0 and $1000.   POSTED: Monday, July 10, 2006 12:38 PM X-Games 12, 2006 in Puerto Escondido Mexico: Day 2 I thought that yesterday was perfect. I guess I can be wrong from time to time, because today seemed to be even more perfect then yesterday... if that's even possible. There was 4 to 6 foot perfection hitting the sandbars ofPuerto Escondido with sunny skies. X-Games 12 couldn't have asked for anything more! I was astonished with the level of surfing I witnessed. It was a grudge match between the West Coast and the East Coast with Sal Masekela, Gabrielle and I giving the crowd and the ESPN TV crew a blow-by-blow of the action. This Game started as a barrel riding competition and ended up as a competition of who can fly through the air higher and who can smash the lip harder. After all was said and done the west coast ended up triumphant, winning their first gold medal in X-Games history. Ending the East Coast 3-year winning streak. Poncho Sullivan got the highest score of this Game with a 9.5 winning him MVP (most valuable player) for the West Coast. Timmy Reyes won best maneuver for an unbelievable cut back into the barrel. I felt that this cutty to disappearing act was rightfully rewarded. It was nuts! If you want to catch this unbelievable Game on TV tune into the X-Games 12 live coverage on ABC Sports Sunday August 6th or check your local listings.   POSTED: Thursday, July 06, 2006 12:47 PM X-Games 12 The Game 2006 in Puerto Escondido Mexico Journal by Omar Etcheverry Day one: What a beautiful day it is here in Puerto Escondido “The Infamous Mexican Pipeline”. With perfect 4 to 6 foot waves it’s a picture perfect day to kick things off here at Surfing X-Games 12. They decided to have a locals only Game competition today. Giving the locals a chance to show off their amazing surfing talent. It was team Mayan’s against the Azteckaz’s. It was great to see the enthusiasms from all the local surfers along with the local crowd. The Azteckaz’s ended up crushing the Mayan’s with such standouts as Oscar Moncada scoring an 8.0 in the second half.   POSTED: 2006 Xcel Pro presented by No Fear Press Release Xcel Wetsuits is proud to announce the 2006 Xcel Pro presented by No Fear will be upgraded to a 4-Star Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series event with $75,000 in prize money. The State of Hawaii and SoBe drinks are back as associate sponsors and Transworld Surf magazine will be the official contest magazine. The 23rd annual Xcel Pro presented by No Fear will again be held at Hawaii's Sunset Beach and serves as the prime opportunity for Hawaii's best surfing amateurs, aspiring pros and seasoned pros to rip it up at one of the world's best venues. Competitors from around the world and Hawaii compete with the hope of following in the footsteps of past Xcel Pro winners such as three-time world champion Andy Irons. With valuable ASP ratings points for world tour qualification at stake close to the end of the competition year the 2006 Xcel Pro presented by No Fear will be one of the most exciting events of the North Shore surf season. About XCEL WETSUITS Established in 1982 in Hawaii on Oahu's North Shore, XCEL is a worldwide wetsuit brand that is distributed throughout the U.S. and in 16 countries. XCEL's markets include surfing, diving, wake boarding and sun protection. For more information please go to excelwetsuits.com About No Fear Established in 1990, No Fear is a leading manufacturer of action sports lifestyle branded products. Distribution base includes 40 company owned retail stores and over 2000 wholesale accounts. For more information visit nofearsurf.com   POSTED: Wednesday, June 07, 2006 4:38 PM Omar Etcheverry in Japan June,2006: entry 4 Day 9 the final day of the Op Chiba Pro: Sun wakes us up for the final day of the Op Chiba Pro contest. Waves are still small and windy, but the sunshine make for a better contest. In an amazing coincidence after last weeks WQS/Junior double win by Benn Dunn in Japan, Hideyoshi Tanaka from Japan has done the same this week in the Op Chiba Pro. Hideyoshi again defeated three Aussie finalists to take the title. It was a sunny day with small 2 feet beach break waves. Five of the last eight competitors were Japanese showing how strong they are becoming on the WQS tour.   POSTED: Monday, June 05, 2006 3:16 PM Omar Etcheverry in Japan June,2006: entry 3 Day 7 second day of Op Chiba pro: Unfortunately the surf has dropped with conditions ranging from one to two feet today. The wind/high and low tides are also affecting heats drastically. The low tide was at 2:00pm today making the mid day heats very inconsistent. With the surf forecast calling for bigger surf on Sunday, competitors just have to survive the forecasted small surf tomorrow. They've managed to power through the rounds of 96 and 64 today incase the waves get even smaller tomorrow. Day 8 third day of Op Chiba Pro: I'm disappointed to report that the waves have gotten even worse! Strong on shore winds and a decreasing swell made for more difficult conditions. They made a smart decision to run the pro junior today. Giving the small, young, and eager groms a chance to tare up the bad conditions. It was an internationally packed pro junior with surfers all the way from Australia. Tomorrow is the final day of the contest and they're forecasting bigger surf with less wind. I hope!