Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast

Milestone: Fred Patacchia surfs 150th Dream Tour heat

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 February, 2010 : - - In heat 15 today, Fred Patacchia surfed in his 150th Dream Tour heat in his 6th year on tour. He went down to rookie Owen Wright in a great heat, but at the end of the day, he will probably want to forget heat number 150.

Fred has had a great career to date, 54 events... 150 heats... 69 wins... 46% win ratio... (17 finals) 9 quarters... 6 semis... 2 finals... 0 wins Fred’s best season was in 2008 when he finished 12th.

The two things about Freddy that really stick in my mind are his two 2nd placings and those events. In 2006 he posted a 19.60 in round 4 in Tahiti and went on to lose to first time winner Bobby Martinez in a first class final 16.26 to 16.07. And in 2008 he posted a 19.50 in round 4 in Indo to go out to another first time winner Bruce Irons in a one sided final.

Good luck Fred I hope there is another 150 to come…

Congrats go out to Bubble Gum team member Kanoa Igarashi on signing his new deal with Quiksilver. Good things ahead!!

2-year-old holds NSSA record for most wins in one season

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 10 February, 2010 : - - Quiksilver announced today the newest member of its world-class surf team--12-year-old Kanoa Igarashi--putting him among the ranks of surfing's elite. Amid the sea of young athletes trying to break into the pro surfing circuit, Igarashi stands out as the most promising that any have seen in a long time. And with an eye for talent and a roster of the world's best surfers, no one has been monitoring the influx of talent as closely as Quiksilver.

"Quiksilver is really excited to have Kanoa join the team," says Chad Wells, Quiksilver's Surf Team Manager. "He is a phenomenal athlete at such a young age and has a solid foundation of both air and rail surfing. Kanoa shows true signs of a world class athlete and his competitive record speaks for itself."

Among his competitive achievements, Igarashi holds the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) all-time record for 30 wins in one season- an impressive accomplishment for someone of his age. Through his driving spirit, Igarashi has consistently built an ambitious range of skill, tricks and maneuvers--leaving seasoned pros in awe of his talent.

"I'm really excited about my future and how Quiksilver is going to help me reach my goals," said Igarashi. "It's a dream come true."

Igarashi was born in Santa Monica, CA, to Japanese parents who taught him to surf at just three years old. He speaks fluent English and Japanese and currently resides in Quiksilver's home base of Huntington Beach, CA.

Citing his favorite spot as Snapper Rocks on Australia's Gold Coast, Igarashi is looking forward to traveling there at the end of the month to attend and watch the rest of the Quiksilver surf team as they compete in the Quiksilver Pro Australia, the first stop on the 2010 ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) Men's World Championship Tour.

Aussies Anthony Walsh & Mark Mathews 2nd & 3rd, Fuller 4th

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 1 February, 2010 : - - Pipeline -- Prayers, plundered surfboards and Pipeline perfection were the order of the final day of the Volcom Pipeline Pro, and local boy Jamie O'Brien avoided the drama to walk away with the win. O'Brien, 26, clinched his third Pipeline Pro title today to take home $16,000 and 2,000 ASP World Qualifying Series ratings points. Surf for the final day was in the range of 10-15-foot wave face heights.

Australian pair Anthony Walsh and Mark Mathews were second and third respectively in the final, both breaking surfboards and forced to swim to the beach during the 45-minute bout. Fourth place was Hawaii's Danny Fuller, who posted the day's only perfect 10 during his semi-final heat but was unable to exit several deep tubes in the final that might have scored the same.

Two high scores - 8.77 and 8.23 - sealed the deal for O'Brien, giving him a two-wave total of 17.0 out of a maximum 20.

The highest scoring ride in the final actually belonged to Mathews, who was runner-up to O'Brien here at this same event back in 2007. Despite a horrible start to the heat, Mathews regrouped on a backup board and ended up splitting a peak with O'Brien on the best wave of the final. Mathews opted for the Backdoor, O'Brien took Pipe. Mathews' was a super deep and long barrel, while O'Brien's looked bigger but didn't travel as far.

Mathews was right back in the game with a 9.57 after that, but never managed to secure the second score he needed of 7.43, counting a 4.57 in its place. "I thought I had a good wave and then I heard his score!" said Jamie, of the near-perfect score Mathews got going right on the wave they split.

"I love Pipeline. I kind of talk to it out there. You might think I'm crazy, but I just started praying it was going to go flat in the end, and Mark looks and me and says, 'I bet you're praying that it's going flat', and I was like, yeah! (Laughs.)

"Mark was in the running. I've surfed with him out here before, he's a great surfer, he was ripping. But it's kind of funny, every time you think you have it, you don't have it. I didn't think I had it even with 10 seconds (to go).

Event Site Link

Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship January 28, 2010 Piha Beach, New Zealand

Aussie have done it again - they have clinched their fifth stragiht teams title. They did by way of winning the Under 18 Girls (Tyler Wright) Under 16 Boys (Matt Banting) and Jordi Watson placing runner up in the Under 18 Boys. Braizil take out the Under 18 Boys Division with an astonishing performance from the whizz kid himself Gabriel Medina.

Final Results:

Under 18 Boys Final 1, 19.90, Gabriel Medina, BRA 2, 14.92, Jordin Watson, AUS 3, 14.90, Tamaroa McComb, TAH 4, 12.96, Beyrick de Vries, ZAF

Under 18 Girls Final 1, 16.00, Tyler Wright, AUS 2, 12.74, Alessa Quizon, HAW 3, 9.72, Sarah Baum, ZAF 4, 9.66, Lakey Peterson, USA

Under 16 Boys Final 1, 15.90, Matt Banting, AUS 2, 11.60, Jake Halstead, USA 3, 10.40, Koa Smith, HAW 4, 10.24, Hiroti Arai, JPN

Team USA enjoyed a strong day in the Under 16 Boys with Kolohe Andino, Parker Coffin, Trevor Thorton and Jake Halstead all scoring wins.

San Clemente star Andino, who is competing in his fifth Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship event got busy in the improving conditions, netting both the event's highest individual wave score (9.00) and two-wave combined total (15.75) to advance through to round three ahead of Australian Creed McTaggart (Margaret River). With South Africa's Dylan Lightfoot and Tahiti's Massin O'Neil finishing the heat in third and fourth respectively.

Post heat, Andino said he felt lucky to get his 9-point ride. “I just lucked into that wave,” he said. “Creed McTaggart kind of paddled wide and I just hung where I was. The wave doubled up and I got two good turns in.” Andino added that he was pleased with USA's performance today. “Team USA had a really good day,” he said. “We won all of our heats to go through to the qualifying round. We'll just keep trucking along.”

New Zealand ace Ben Poulter (Raglan) continued his hot run of form, downing no.1 seed Matt Banting (Port Macquarie) to storm into round three of the under 16 boys. “I'm really stoked,” said Poulter. “It was so good to take down the top seed.” It wasn't too bad out there. It was 4-5ft, maybe a little bigger on the sets. But if you got the right wave you could take it right to the beach.”

But it wasn't all smiles today, with repercharge one of the Under 18 Boys division being completed this afternoon. Third and fourth from each heat were eliminated from the prestigious event.

Surfers who were lucky to survive this afternoon included the United Kingdom trio of Alex Baker, Nathan Elms and Matt Chapman, along with Sebastian Correa (Peru), Sidney Grimares (Brazil), Charles Teiki (Tahiti) and Jose Ferreira (Portugal), who all recorded repercharge one wins. All the top seeded nations were able to stay with all their surfers alive in competition.

Contest organizers are highly likely to run round one and two of the U/18 Girls division on the main podium tomorrow, with repercharge one and two of the U/16 Boys and repechage two of the U/18 Boys on podium two.

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Pro pad designs by Clay Marzo, Ry Craike, Dusty Payne, Taj Burrow and current world champion Mick Fanning.

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Mick Fanning claims second ASP World Title at Pipeline

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 December, 2009 : - - Pipeline, North Shiore, Hawaii -- Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, has been crowned the 2009 ASP World Champion, following a stunning performance at the Banzai Pipeline today.

Heading into the final stop of the 2009 ASP World Tour season, Fanning held the ASP ratings’ lead over fellow Gold Coast surfer Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, and with Parkinson’s Round 3 exit in today’s Billabong Pipe Masters at the hands of wildcard Gavin Gillette (HAW), 23, Fanning secured his second ASP World Title.

“I’m just a bit overwhelmed right now and I don’t quite know what to say,” Fanning said. “It was hard out there. I was trying to get ready for my heat and then Gavin (Gillette) got that one score as I was paddling out and, I don’t know, I just sort of slowed down.”

For the first time since 2003, the ASP World Title came down to the final event of the season at the Billabong Pipe Masters. “This title is way more fun,” Fanning said. “I was much more relaxed for this one – besides the last few days, I was really nervous.” The 2009 ASP World Tour season will go down in history as one of the most dramatic, with Parkinson winning three of the first five events before Fanning rallied in the latter half of the season to overtake his good friend.

“I knew I was surfing well,” Fanning said. “It was just a matter of getting that result. I knew it was going to turn around sooner or later. I don’t know, it’s weird the way the world works.”

Fanning’s 2009 ASP World Tour results are as follows:

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast: Equal 3rd Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: Equal 5th Billabong Pro Teahupoo: Equal 9th Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro: Equal 5th Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay: Equal 17th Hurley Pro Trestles: WINNER Quiksilver Pro France: WINNER Billabong Pro Mundaka: Equal 9th Rip Curl Pro Search: WINNER Billabong Pipeline Masters: Equal 9th In the end, and reminiscent of Fanning’s 2007 ASP World Title (clinched in Brazil), the lightning-fast natural-footer was in the water with Parkinson (in between heats) as the scene unfolded. The two lifelong friends embraced, exchanged words and paddled in separate directions.

“We just sort of sat there and hugged and chatted about what’s happened over the last few days and how nervous we both were,” Fanning said. “It was hard to watch what happened to him this year. He had such a stranglehold on the tour and then he had that ankle injury, so as a friend it was hard to watch that. If I wasn’t in the race I would have been gunning for Joel for sure.”

For securing the 2009 ASP World Title, Fanning has also been awarded and extra $50,000 from the Vans Triple Threat bonus package.

While the 2009 ASP World Title has been decided, the 2009 ASP World Tour season is far from over with one more day of competition remaining at the Billabong Pipe Masters. Following his clinching of the 2009 ASP World Title, Fanning fell to Dean Morrison (AUS), 28, in the opening heat of Round 4.

San Clemente's Greg Long, who has emerged in recent years as the world's premier big-wave surfer, added another major accomplishment to his resume by winning the prestigious Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest Tuesday at Waimea Bay on Oahu's North Shore.

With enormous waves pumping in from the north, Long survived a nearly sheer drop down one of the larger set waves late in the event's final heat. Judges scored the ride a perfect 100, which helped propel Long past Kelly Slater, who had led through most of the daylong competition.

The mountainous wave, with a face exceeding 40 feet, exploded at Long's heels and a towering wall of whitewater swept over him like a horizontal avalanche. He received the score on the heaviness factor and the potential consequences if he did not make the drop.

"I'm humbled just to be in this event," Long said afterward of a competition that honors a legendary North Shore waterman and is held only on years when truly epic conditions exist.

Long, a regular standout in the yearlong Billabong XXL Big-Wave Awards, caught another wave as the heat drew to a close, for a lesser score, but it was enough to give him a 10-point lead over Slater in the best-four-scores format.

Waimea was at its earth-shaking best, with the swell holding most of the day and pulsing even larger toward the end of the competition, which featured literally dozens of remarkable rides, but also breath-taking wipeouts, broken boards and the world's elite big-wave surfers thrilling crowd of thousands by charging all the way into the 15-foot shore break.

This marks only the eighth time in 25 years the Aikau contest was held. Slater, who has an unprecedented nine ASP World Tour titles, won the Aikau event in 2002. Bruce Irons, who finished fourth Tuesday, was the defending champion after winning in 2004. Sunny Garcia, a former world champion, was third.

Go Here to get the drifter movie!!

Costa Mesa, CA (November 12, 2009): With a tidy collection of the US of A's finest talent congregating for the pinnacle of the 2009 Rip Curl GromSearch fueled by H20 Overdrive this Saturday, November 14, at the wave-saturated shores of Salt Creek, Dana Point; the world will be able to take witness this spectacle through the live webcast on ripcurl.com.

$2500 prize purse, all expenses-paid sojourns to Australia, and the irreplaceable sentiment of bragging rights and street cred are for the taking this weekend, with a vast confirmation of paparazzi-level media. Super talents such as Koa Smith, Kanoa Igarashi, Jacob Halstead, and more will be be prepared for valiant battle.

This one-day event will kick off at 7:30 am tack sharp, with the live webcast commencing simultaneously. Immediately after the finals, an after-awards catered party and slideshow will light up Rip Curl Surf Center San Clemente with tunes compliments of DJ Phishphonics.

All info on the Rip Curl GromSearch National Final can be found at ripcurl.com/gromsearch

Get free R.O.B. (Robs Organik Blend) wax at these showing of his new movie, see you there!!

SAN DIEGO @ La Paloma Theater 11/4/09 Shows at 7PM and 9PM Rep/retail marketer- Ryan Managan and Nick Kovack ( 760.717.7383 and 619.417.0715

LOS ANGELES @ Montalbán Theater 11/5/09 Doors open at 8pm Rep/retail marketer Matt Singley and Ian Calderon ( 310.748.7196 and 949.212.1031

FLORIDA @ Coconuts on the Beach 11/7/09 Premiere will be announced soon Rep/retail marketer ( Ian Soto and Cara Edwards ( 321.591.0840 and 407.616.3204

NORTH CAROLINA @ Blockade Runner Beach Resort 11/9/09 Doors open at 7pm Rep/retail marketer ( Noah Snyder 252.255.0702

VIRGINIA BEACH @ Contemporary Art Center of Virginia 11/11/09 Shows 7pm and 9pm Rep/retail marketer (Mark Zabelski 805. 252.6227

New Jersey @ Algonquin Theater 11/12/09 Doors open 7pm
Rep/retail marketer ( Mike Friehofer and Mark Zabelski 609.703.8525 and 805. 252.6227

SANTA BARBARA @ Victoria Hall Theater 11/15/09 Doors open at 7pm Rep/retail marketer Zach Hartley 310.748.7196 or Ian Calderon 310.748.7196

SAN FRANCISCO @ Victoria Theater 11/16/09 Doors open at 7pm Rep/retail marketer Zach Hartley 310.748.7196

SANTA CRUZ @ Del Mar Theater 11/17/09 Doors open at 7pm Rep/retail marketer Zach Hartley 310.748.7196

SAN LUIS OBISPO @ Fremont Theater 11/18/09 Doors open at 7pm Rep/retail marketer Zach Hartley 310.748.7196

LAGUNA BEACH @ South Coast Theater 11/19/09 Doors open at 7pm Rep/retail marketer Chelsea Boudreau 714.240.1313

Industry News

Bubble Gum and Rob Machado Roll Out New Organik Wax Blend

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 15 October, 2009 : - - The recent Rob Machado Surf Experience and Green Expo held in September at Seaside Reef in Cardiff provided the inspiration for Rob’s Organik Blend (ROB), a new ocean-friendly biodegradable wax developed by Bubble Gum Surf Wax.

“We had been experimenting with a few different organic ingredients,” said Bubble Gum co-founder, Britt Galland. “So when a Green Expo was added to this year’s Rob Machado Surf Experience, we thought it would a perfect opportunity to step up our efforts and introduce an organic wax blend to our local surf community.”

Rob has been the most visible and respected supporter for Bubble Gum Surf Wax since the brand was re-introduced in 2005. “To honor that relationship, as well as Rob’s dedication to protecting our oceans and environment, we’re proud to have his name and likeness associated with our first organic blended surf wax,” Galland added. “A percentage of sales generated by Rob’s Organik Blend will be donated to The Rob Machado Foundation which supports several educational and environmental organizations.”

According to Galland, even the packaging for ROB is all about being green. The label consists of recycled brown paper that bears the Responsible Forestry logo. Taking the green theme even further, it’s printed with soy based ink — on presses powered by clean Wind-generated energy.

Rob’s Organik Blend will gain wide exposure during the premier showings of Machado’s new film, The Drifter. Warner Bros. has ordered 3,000 bars of ROB to hand out at select movie premier venues this fall.

To complement their new organic wax blend, Bubble Gum will soon introduce an all-natural surf wax remover. Bubble Gum Wax Remover is a special formulation of food grade citrus byproducts that effectively removes residual surf wax, adhesive, and tar – with absolutely no toxic chemicals. The new wax remover, which will be available for purchase in November at Bubble Gum’s online store, features a convenient spray bottle and has a pleasant, natural lemon-citrus scent.

For information, or new dealer inquires, contact Randy Taylor at (619) 300-8263 or via email at bubblegumsurfwax@yahoo.com To keep tabs on Bubble Gum and their sponsored riders, or to drop into their online store, visit bubblegumsurfwax.com.

WHAT: Sacred Craft Surf Expo WHO: Surfers, Shapers, Designers, Craftsman, Manufacturers, General Public WHEN: October 10th & 11th Saturday and Sunday WHERE: Del Mar Fairgrounds Wyland Hall WHY: Because people who love surfboards drive our culture, sport and lifestyle TIME: Saturday10am-6pm; Sunday 10am - 4pm HOW: $5 - Kids under 18 free - everyone entered into free surfboard drawing

DEL MAR, CA., (September 18, 2009)— An all-star lineup of shapers, craftsman, designers & manufacturers will take over San Diego for the third annual Del Mar Sacred Craft Surf Expo at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th.

The stellar list includes, but is not limited to, Bing Copeland, Peter St. Pierre, Mark Richards, John Cherry, Rusty Preisendorfer, Brian Hilbers, Matt Calvani, Reno Abellira, Pat Rawson, Joe Baguess, Firewire, John Kies, Gary Linden, Daniel Thompson, SurfTech, Robert August, Gary Hanel, Axxe Wetsuits, Tim Bessell, Stu Kenson, Quiksilver, Dennis Murphy, Bruce Jones, and Ricky Carroll. Of course this years' Tribute to the Masters Shape-off honoree, Dick Brewer (who will be celebrating his 73rd birthday) will also be in attendance.

The complete list of over 100 shapers and exhibitors is listed on the website at http://www.sacredcraftexpo.com/exhibitors.html.

Sacred Craft Surf Expo 2009 has something for everyone from board demo's to seminars to artwork to music. One of this years' main attraction is the Vintage Surfboard Antique Road Show event, taking place on Saturday October 10th from 10am - 1pm.

"We are urging surfers to dig through their garages, their storage space, and their backyards for collectable surfboards and magazines that they think may hold some real value," explained expo director Scott Bass. "Anything special and unique from say, 1985 or so and earlier, especially if it is in good shape, probably has value above and beyond normal used-board pricing. Our expert appraisers can determine a estimated value."

Special events are being planned around and during the Sacred Craft Expo weekend. First off, make sure to get down to 15th St. for the TransWorld SURF Sacred Craft Magical Morning Board Demo, just down the street from the expo. The general surfing public is invited to 15th St. reef in Del Mar on Saturday October 10th from 7am - 10am. Come on down and try out boards and wetsuits from Sacred Craft exhibitors.

The Sacred Craft Surf Expo opens its doors immediately following the TransWorld SURF Sacred Craft Magical Morning Board Demo.

You will want to be at the expo early! The first 100 attendees in the door will be put in a special "early bird" drawing for a brand new Firewire fish surfboard. Great odds! And no wonder, just a few doors down from the DM racetrack!

Musicians will play on the outdoors stage all weekend long. Various groups are scheduled including Australian longboard champion Beau Young, Miles Kinney & Tower 7, a YardBirds cover band; the acoustic stylings of Kevin White; and Future Fins brand ambassador Phil 'Boo' Stubbs.

On Saturday Oct 10, make sure to stay around and check out a special SACRED CRAFT premier screening of the new Australian documentary film "SEARCHING FOR MICHAEL PETERSON".

A special invite-only VIP birthday reception for Tribute to the Masters Shape-off honoree Dick Brewer is being planned for October 3rd at Wade Koniakowsky's Ocean Art Gallery. More information to be revealed as it becomes available.

In addition to all of this, Sacred Craft seminars run all weekend long at the Sacred Craft Surf Expo. On the docket are Drew Brophy's inspirational slide show and spray paint demonstration; an epoxy laminating demonstration by Dave Daum; UCSD's Stephanie Moyerman discusses feminine physique and surfboard design for women; Lee Vanderhurst professes on surfboard design 101 during "The Idiot's Guide to Surfboard Design". A Multi-media and hands-on guide to the basics in surfboard design from outline to rocker, how to measure it and what it does. Know how your surfboard should work before you catch your first wave; UCSD's Benjamin Thomson talks about natural frequency (recoil rate) of a surfboard and why it is important to you!; Whitney Guild will present Turn Up The Volume! and discuss the importance of knowing the volume of each of the surfboards in your quiver. VOLUME is rarely discussed, but is an important single number that can be used to describe each of your boards; and the Groundswell Society discusses apex predators and their role in surfboard design. A complete schedule will be available shortly.

Mark Richards Coming to U.S.A. for Sacred Craft Show September 8, 2009 PRESS RELEASE

Mark Richards will be in California exhibiting at the Sacred Craft Show in Del Mar Oct. 10th and 11th. He will be doing a Southern Calif. Surf Shop Tour following the show. Mark will be available to discuss board models, shape designs, dimensions, etc. for those of you who are able to attend the show. There will also be boards on display for you to check out.

Mark is also doing a limited run of boards while he is in town.Get your custom orders in right away so that we can get the blanks ready for his arrival. All MR models will be available for custom shaping while he is in town. Here are a few favorites:

Retro '80 Retro '78 Retro Quad
Flying Fish Mega Quad

Also available is the Super Twin, 79 Single Fin and Mega Twin. Orders will be built on a first come first serve basis so don't hesitate. Get those orders in now!

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me via e-mail rickhazard@sbcglobal.net or go to our website www.hotbatch.com I can also be reached by phone at 949-683-4711. Hope to hear from you soon.