After six months on the sidelines following a horrific fin cut to his foot, Joel Parkinson won the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa on Oahu’s North Shore. It’s been a tough up and down season for Parko, with the injury, the birth of a son and then the death of Andy Irons. The entire surfing community has got to be stoked to see Parko back and in such great form.

Here’s the official ASP press release:
HALEIWA, Oahu, Hawaii – (Nov. 21, 2010) — Australia’s Joel Parkinson (Gold Coast, QLD) made a brilliant return to the pro surfing stage after six months on the sidelines with injury, winning the Reef Hawaiian Pro today to take the lead in the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series. Parkinson, 29, is the two-time defending champion of this Hawaiian series that is the final stage of the ASP World Tour. It was an emotional day for the Australian who has experienced the highs and lows of life en-route to today’s win: The birth of his son last month, the death of close friend Andy Irons two weeks ago, and debilitating injury that forced him off tour.
This week Parkinson has been in devastating form, posting the only perfect 10 of the event and the highest heat total of the competition in his opening round. His form has been on-point and on-rail for the duration and easily deserving of the $20,000 winner’s purse.
“It has been a pretty up and down year emotionally,” said Parkinson. “I cut my foot and I was out of action for six months, I didn’t surf for three months and I didn’t compete for six months. Then I had a baby son so we had some joy, and then Andy (Irons) passed. It’s been one of those years with one good thing then one bad thing. The year is almost over, we’ll get through it and I’m trying to make amends with all good things that can happen from here to December.
“Riding a wave is always one of those things that, no matter what happens in or around your life, you can still ride a wave and forget everything.
“Considering that the last few years I didn’t make a final here, to actually get a win and go to Sunset, which is one of my strengths and Pipe, where I’ve done well, it’s definitely a good start to the Triple Crown.”
Runner-up in the final was Joel Centeio (Hawaii, $10,000), the defending champion coming into the event. Third was Julian Wilson (Sunshine Coast, QLD, $5,100); and fourth was Heath Joske (Coffs Harbour, $4,900). The highest placed Brazilian surfer was Alejo Muniz (=13th); the top US surfer was Huntington Beach’s Brett Simpson (CA =13th); and the top European was Maxime Huscenot (France, =25th).
For Wilson and Joske, this was their first 6-star Prime rated final and the pair are now in the running for the JN Automotive Rookie of the Vans Triple Crown award – for the top newcomer to the series.
The 30-minute final was a relatively wave-starved affair with a total of only 11 waves ridden. Conditions over the past week of competition have ranged from double-overhead to head-high today.

The Rip Curl Pro Search event of 2010 will never be forgotten. Just a few days after the tragic passing of surf icon Andy Irons, Kelly Slater won his 10th ASP World Title and then later in the day won the event itself. The display of surfing that Kelly put on only emphasized his class and quality, beating Adriano de Souza in the Quarter Finals before the Brazilian had even ridden a wave.

Slater then took care of Taj Burrow in the Semi Final and Bede Durbidge in the Final with a 10.00 and an 8.77. Here’s the official ASP release with Final day highlights at the end:

SOMEWHERE, Porta Del Sol/Puerto Rico (Friday, November 5, 2010) – Kelly Slater (USA), 38, has made sporting history today, claiming an unprecedented 10th ASP World Title at Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico.

With his advancement out of the Quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Search Puerto Rico over Adriano de Souza (BRA), 23, Slater amassed enough points to move out of reach remaining contender Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, and collect the 2010 ASP World Title, culminating a 20-year effort.

“I don’t know, it just happened,” Slater said. “If you look at the heat, Adriano (De Souza) passed one up and let me have it and that was a good wave and that was pretty much it a few minutes into the heat. I just want to send my condolences to Irons family. It’s been a week of extremes for me. If it wasn’t for Andy (Irons) there is no way I’d be here in this position right now. I don’t really know what else to say, I’m a little overwhelmed right now. I want to dedicate this to Andy and to my family.”

Andy Irons (HAW), 32, former three-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World Tour competitor, tragically passed away last Tuesday in transit back home from Puerto Rico. The iconic Hawaiian’s unexpected passing has been a devastating blow to the international sporting community.

“I had the 3rd at Teahupoo and Jordy got the 17th, at the time I really wanted to win that event and pull into the lead, but having Andy (Irons) win that contest was really special,” Slater said. “I surfed a last heat with him this year and to get past everybody at Trestles, I know the level is pretty much going through the roof every year. The stuff that Dane (Reynolds) and Jordy (Smith) pull off at every event, everyone is trying to catch on and their strike rate is so high, their consistency is so high. When I got into the lead after Trestles, I didn’t really feel that confident going into France. It was a wave-catching contest at first, but then it got big and I thought ‘this is my zone, this is where I do well and this is what I love.’ The points all started coming together just right for me. To get past Jordy (Smith) in the Final in Portugal, I knew something special was happening.”

“I decided to go for 10 (ASP World Titles) when a friend asked me if I’d decided to win 10 yet after a few contests into this year,” Slater said. “I told him ‘yeah, okay.’ That was right before Brazil. At that point I knew I could do it, but Taj (Burrow) looked good to start the year, but to me it looked like Jordy (Smith) was the guy early on. Mick (Fanning) had a lot of ninths and he knows he’s not going to win a title with ninths. Besides Jordy’s 17th, his worst result was the Quarters, so I knew there was no room for error. These last five events have really come together. I don’t really know how it came together the way it did.”

Slater, who spent a large portion of his youth in Puerto Rico, had a huge support crew of family and friends on hand to witness the incredible feat as well as the support of the tens of thousands in attendance on the beach.

“It’s nice to win this in Puerto Rico with my friends and family here,” Slater said. “I haven’t been surfing here on this part of the island since ’88 and I used to come here a lot. This was like a second home to me. It was like my little Hawaii. I used to come here in the winter and I have a lot of good friends from here. It’s the closest event ever to my home, so it feels like home.”

The waiting period for the Rip Curl Pro Search is due to start on Saturday with Kelly Slater firmly in the driving seat for another ASP world title. If he goes ahead and wins #10 then the debate about his place among the worlds greatest ever athletes will surely intensify.

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.

As long as the waves play along and the guys get some decent conditions we can sit back and watch history being made, which is not something you can say very often.

Of course, Slater isn’t the only surfer in Puerto Rico with the chance of making history. Stephanie Gilmore is leading the points race for the women’s world title and is going for an unprecedented 4th title in a row. If she finishes 3rd or better and Sally Fitzgibbons fails to win then Gilmore gets #4.

Maybe a few late night webcast viewings from here in the UK and can’t wait for it all to get started.

TEAHUPOO, Taiarapu/Tahiti (Friday, September 3, 2010) – Andy Irons (HAW), 32, past three-time ASP World Champion, has won the Billabong Pro Tahiti, besting C.J. Hobgood (USA), 31, in an explosive Final clash in three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) waves at Teahupoo.

The fifth stop on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti culminated in climactic fashion today, on the final day of the waiting period.

The emphatic victory marks Irons’ 20th at the elite level of competition, and the Hawaiian was emotional when regarding his first win in over three years (won Rip Curl Pro Search Chile 2007).

“I did it!” Irons exclaimed. “I surf because I have to put my jersey on some time. I took a lot of losses, but I put in the hard work too. I dedicate this win 100% to my wife, Lindy, she is everything to me and without her, I’d be nothing. I really, really like competing because I love to win and I feel on top of the world today. I surf because I love to win. I love this feeling.”

Irons, who bested reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, lethal rookie Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 24, and past nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 38, en route to the Final, opened up with a massive, freefall wipeout before utilizing his unparalleled backhand tube-riding skills to net a 14.67 out of a possible 20 and collect the win.

“He (Hobgood) paddled me inside and caught the first wave,” Irons said. “The next wave was better and I just fell out of the sky. I thought my board was going to break. It has two buckles on it already. I just went after it out there. C.J. is so dangerous here. I knew he would be getting tens or twos, and I was lucky it was twos today.”

With today’s victory, Irons moves from No. 18 to No. 7 on the ASP World Title Race rankings, a monumental feat that sees the powerful Hawaiian well inside the ASP Top 10.

“I feel like I’m back,” Irons said. “I have to thank ASP for giving me the wildcard back here. My whole dream was to come back and just win one contest, and I’ve done that now. I want more. And to win at Teahupoo, it’s my favourite wave in the world. It’s a very special win.

Hobgood, one of the premiere tuberiders in the world, was unable to find his way out of multiple barrels in the Final bout against Irons and was reflective in terms Runner-Up finish in Tahiti.

“I had good waves that I could have got the score on and I tried a little harder than I had to,” Hobgood said. “My highest score was only an 8 through every heat leading up to this one and I hadn’t had a breakout performance. No one to blame but myself. I’m stoked all the same though. After the heat, I told Andy ‘there’s a lot of people pulling for you, including myself.’ It’s emotional and you take what you can from it.”

Today’s finish at the Billabong Pro Tahiti vaults the past ASP World Champion (2001) from No. 22 to No. 15 in the hunt for the 2010 ASP World Title heading into the next tour stop in Southern California.

“I’ve been in four finals out here and I don’t remember the years I got second,” Hobgood said. “Still, it’s a huge result for me, and I had the opportunity out there. I finally got the monkey off my back this season and I hope I can build on this moving forward.”

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 22, posted the best result of his young career, finishing Equal 3rd at the Billabong Pro Tahiti before going down to Hobgood in the Semifinals. The result jumps the young natural-footer from 24th to 19th on the ASP World Title Race rankings, an excellent position heading into Lower Trestles and home to Europe.

“I had priority the last five minutes and a set came that was my chance, but it wasn’t the wave I needed,” Flores said. “The barrel was really small inside. C.J. (Hobgood) is an excellent surfer and he’s very smart. He surfed a smart heat. Still though, it’s great for me, and I’m excited for the next event.”

Kelly Slater (USA), 38, past nine-time ASP World Champion, looked the form surfer of the day, scoring the event’s first and only Perfect 10 in the Quarterfinals for an incredible freefall layback barrel.

“It’s been a while (since getting a 10),” Slater said. “That was probably the best wave of the day. I looked at the first one, and I was surprised Ace (Adrian Buchan) went on the first one. The second one usually sucks out more and is more hollow. I was a little bit far back when I was paddling, and when I turned around to go, the wind was pushing me back. So I really had to overcompensate once I got to the bottom and finally set my edge. It was a good one though.”

Despite the Semifinal loss to Irons, Slater moves from 3rd to 2nd on the ASP World Title Race rankings, a mere 250 points behind frontrunner Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22.

“I’m up there pretty close,” Slater said. “Going all the way to J-Bay and getting 17th makes me wish I had stayed home. You lose confidence and waste time on planes. That’s the way it goes – you have good events and bad events. This one has been pretty good though. The waves haven’t been good, but we’ve seen a lot of cool things. We’ve seen the young guys really step up and we’ve seen Andy (Irons) come back and put one together.”

Highlights from the Billabong Pro Tahiti will be available via http://www.billabongpro.com/tahiti10/

The next stop on the 2010 ASP World Tour will be the Hurley Pro Trestles in Southern California from September 12 – 18, 2010.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

After days of sitting around waiting for the swell to come in, the Billabong Pro Tahiti is now through Round 2 and well into Round 3. Upsets, tight heats and the cut off were the main topics of conversation at the end of the day. Having eliminated Taj Burrow in Round 2, Manoa Drollet went and dumped World #1 Jordy Smith out of the competition in Round 3.

“He (Smith) was sitting on priority and he only needed a small wave at one point,” Drollet said. “He waited forever and he didn’t catch anything. I have a good knowledge here. I’ve been doing water patrol so I’ve been watching the event and analyzing the guys’ strategies a lot. I managed to get scores and get back in the lead there towards the end. I was expecting Jordy (Smith) to come back with a 9 at anytime.”

Despite the loss, Smith remained gracious in defeat and positive as he transitions to the next event in California.

“It was pretty tough out there,” Smith said. “Wave-starved a bit and difficult to find the right one. I got an average one in the beginning and the cut my hand on the reef. Some heats go like that. You live and learn, and I’m looking forward to the next one at Trestles.”

And in the next heat Kelly Slater pulled out a squeaker against Heiarii Williams, winning by a slim 0.09! The win moves Slater up to #2 in the ASP World Rankings.

The end of Day 9 also led to the dropping of 12 surfers from the WCT, as tour slims down to just 34 surfers … the Top 32 plus 2 wildcards. The guys dropped so far are Drew Courtney (AUS), Neco Padaratz (BRA), Tanner Gudauskas (USA), Mick Campbell (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS),  Tom Whitaker (AUS),  Kekoa Bacalso (HAW),  Blake Thornton (AUS),  Dean Morrison (AUS),  Jay Thompson (AUS),  Nate Yeomans (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS).

With the Billabong Pro Tahiti about to get under way in Teahupoo in a few hours, we thought it would be a good idea to enjoy a little recap from last year’s event, won by Bobby Martinez. Should keep you going until the webcast goes live:

(Billabong Pro, Teahupo’o, Tahiti): Mother Nature has flicked the switch at Tahiti’s famed surf break, Teahupo’o, turning on a magical day of surfing for contestants in the Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials. Invitees from more than 10 nations battled it out in solid eight-to-ten foot waves one Day 1, hoping for one of just two wildcard spots into the upcoming Billabong Pro, Tahiti (Aug 23rd – Sept 3rd).

Laurie Towner (NSW, AUS) was the day’s top scorer, his two-wave combined heat score of 16.97 seeing the natural foot advance comfortably ahead of Shimpei Hirogushi (JAP) on 9.93, and forcing the elimination of Sion Miloski (HAW) and Dale Staples (ZAF).

Towner took a horrifying wipeout during practice yesterday, yet despite the worst fears of onlookers, surfaced unscathed to regather himself and register today’s impressive effort.

Kamalei Alexander (HAW) was another standout on Day 1. The Hawaiian showed he was in perfect synch with the Teahupo’o lineup, easily winning both his Round 1 and Round 2 heats with an absolutely committed display of backhand tube riding. Onlookers erupted when Alexander emerged from one of the most critical tube rides of the day, skimming past support boats and fans as they cheered him on.

Anthony Walsh (NSW, AUS) registered the event’s first perfect-10 point ride with just ten seconds remaining in his Round 2 clash versus Hawaii’s Hank Gaskell (HAW) and locals Tuhiti HAUMANI and David DANDOIS (PFY). The score catapulted Walsh from last place to first in the dying moments and secured the Australian a place in Round 3.

Not all competitors were so fortunate, many suffering the wrath of Teahupo’o has they unsuccessfully attempted to negotiate the hi-speed tubes. Among those to be eliminated today were Billy Kempur (HAW), Ryan Hipwood (Gold Coast, AUS), Makua Rothman (HAW) and Nick Vasicek (AUS).

With the excellent surf expected to continue, organisers are confident of crowning the Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials wildcards tomorrow (Tuesday Aug 17 – Tahiti time).

The Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trails waiting period is 16th – 19th August and decides the remaining two wildcard spots into the upcoming Billabong Pro, Tahiti, stop 5 of 10 on the 2010 ASP Men’s World Tour. The Billabong Pro, Tahiti waiting period begins August 23rd and runs to Sept 3rd, with just four full days of competition required to crown a champion. Local hero Manoa Drollet, a two-time Air Tahiti Nui trials winner, is the recipient of the third Billabong Pro, Tahiti wildcard and has already been allocated a main event seed.

Start of the Billabong Pro out in Tahiti is less than two weeks away and we’re already getting pumped at the prospect of seeing the world’s top surfers tackle Teahupoo. Here’s Webisode 2, featuring a preview of the trials for you:

Billabong Pro Tahiti – Webisode 2, The Trials from Billabong on Vimeo.

“Teahupo’o” (pron: chee-yow-po) has been considered among the world’s most intimidating surf spots since its ‘outing’ a little over a decade ago. Male professional surfers have withdrawn from the competition in fear for their lives. In 2006 a decision was made that the women’s ASP event would be scrapped from the schedule all together and just a handful of surfing’s chargers are considered true Teahupo’o specialists.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Sunday, August 8, 2010) – Local favorite Brett Simpson (Huntington Beach, CA), 25, defeated current Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World No. 1 Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, to clinch his second consecutive title in front of his home crowd at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) PRIME US Open of Surfing presented by Hurley and Nike 6.0 to clinch the highly sought after $100,000 check at South Huntington Beach Pier in two-to-four foot (1 metre) surf.

Simpson, who marched to a dream victory in front of his home crowd last year, surfed consistently throughout the event’s entirety to charge to a nearly unimaginable repeat performance to take his second consecutive US Open of Surfing title and mass of ratings points on offer towards his ASP World Ranking.

“Last year barely sank in and now I won this year,” Simpson said. “It’s so hard to mentally imagine it all over again because you have to stay consistent and surf so many heats. Luckily I zoned everything out and tried not to worry about the points or the money and that’s when I have competed the best. To be at home with so many friends and family, I’ve enjoyed it so much. To win out here two years in a row is unimaginable. ”

Simpson, who is currently competing on his rookie year on the ASP Dream Tour, jumped out to a quick start in his matchup against the South African juggernaut in the Final and built momentum throughout the heat, leaving Smith looking for a near-perfect score in the final moments of the ASP Dream Tour campaigner’s bout.

“Jordy (Smith) has been getting quick starts, so I tried to go out there and get a decent start,” Simpson said. “I got a five, and it was a low scoring heat, but all the waves I caught I maximized. Jordy had that one wave, where if he pulled that air it could have been a different ballgame. That’s the risk you take to be rewarded and with the level these days, that’s where it’s at. I kind of stayed conservative and built my scores, but either way, a win is a win.”

Simpson, who defeated reigning two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, to win his 2009 US Open of Surfing title, rose to the challenge once again this year, topping a marquee list of surfers including nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach ,FL), 38, former ASP World Tour surfer Nathaniel Curran (Oxnard, CA), 26, ASP Dream Tour rookie Adam Melling (AUS), 25, and Australian standout Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, before defeating Smith in the Final.

“It’s amazing to beat those guys,” Simpson said. “I guess this is my best chance to compete against those guys and I know the wave really well and I just go out there and stay confident. I know which waves score the best and that’s all you can do against those guys.”

Smith, who posted the highest scores of the day in the Quarterfinals, ousted dangerous ASP Pro Junior surfer Miguel Pupo (BRA), 18, in the Quarterfinals and reigning two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, in the Semifinals, but was unable to find a rhythm against Simpson and placed second overall.

“It wasn’t exactly J-Bay, it’s Huntington, it’s never going to be perfect,” Smith said. “You’ve got to kind of adapt to everything and Brett (Simpson) did that the best. It’s a big event and Brett has done it again, congratulations to him.”

Smith has been on an absolute tear throughout the 2010 ASP season and has been a consistent finalist in several events. Although Smith was hungry to clinch the US Open of Surfing title, he was pleased with the result and the ASP PRIME points.

“It’s still a good result,” Smith said. “We’ll see how the year goes from here. I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch. I am having a pretty good year. I’m just relaxing and feeling confident.”

US Open of Surfing Men’s Final Results:
1 – Brett Simpson (USA) 13.97
2 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.33

US Open of Surfing Men’s Semifinals Results:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.00 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.80
Heat 2: Brett Simpson (USA) 13.37 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 13.33

US Open of Surfing Men’s Quarterfinals Results:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.66 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 16.10
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.26 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 16.07
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.94 def. Granger Larsen (HAW) 7.43
Heat 4: Brett Simpson (USA) 10.14 def. Nathaniel Curran (USA) 9.74

A full 10 weeks after the last WCT event in Brazil, the Billabong Pro J-Bay certainly didn’t disappoint. With Parko unable to surf the event due to his sliced ankle and then Kelly Slater & Mick Fanning falling in earlier heats, it was left to South African home grown talent Jordy Smith to beat the rest and take his first WCT title, winning at home and on Nelson Mandela’s 92nd birthday no less.

Having waited so long to see the top guys surfing again it felt like 4 days of action just wasn’t enough, so we’re looking forward to Teahupoo in 5 weeks time! Enjoy the final day’s highlights, with the full ASP press release after the clip:

Read more »