Surf Stock Festival: 29th – 30th August 2008

At last the weather is set to be good at the weekend down here in Cornwall! This is all good as it’s that time of year again; Surfstock’s back in town! If you have never heard of Surf stock you must have had your head in the sand for the last few years. Surfstock is the best weekend festival here in Cornwall and its going to be bigger and better than last year. Also it is the first festival in the country this year which is going to see a weekend of sunny weather.

The festival has loads to offer such as camping, top music from loads of artists, visuals, things to do and most importantly a good crowd and a beautiful location. The festival is located just outside St Agnes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Not many UK festivals overlook the ocean now! Even Howard Marks is there!

If you’re looking for a good weekend and a good festival look no further Surfstock is here.

Information: Website with full line up and more information http://www.surfstock.co.uk/

Favorites Dominate on Day 1 of the Rip Curl Pro Junior Mademoiselle

SEIGNOSSE, France (Tuesday, August 26, 2008) – The ASP Grade-2 Rip Curl Pro Junior Mademoiselle got underway today at the world famous beachbreak of Les Bourdaines with Round 1 and 2 being completed in good quality four foot (1.2 meter) waves and under beating sun.

With all favorites not surfing in Round 1, unknown surfers and locals were able to enjoy their time out before big names started firing.

Bruna Schmitz (BRA), 18, current No.6 on the ASP WQS ratings, was the best performer of the day posting an excellent 18.50 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) including solid 9.50 and 9.00 points ride (out of a possible 10).

“I feel very relaxed,” Schmitz said. ” The surfing conditions are very good and it is sunny and warm. I took many waves but two were pretty good and I am stoked to score that big.”

Schmitz got through two rounds today dominating all her opponents en route to Quartefinals. Schmitz, who has had an excellent year among the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Women’s World Qualifying Series (WQS), has no pressure.

” I don’t have any specific goals,” Schimitz said. ” I am in Seignosse to spend some time with my boyfriend who lives here and I have decided to enter this competition just for fun.”

Schmitz will now face experienced under-21 surfers Laetitia Sudre (FRA), Marie Dejean (FRA) and Leticia Canales Bilbao (EUK) in Quarterfinal No. 4 tomorrow morning and could create some serious upsets when competition resumes.

Alizée Arnaud (FRA) 18, current regional leader, was in good form today as well defeating Marjolaine Ado (FRA), Idoia Meabe (EUK) and Ana Morau (FRA) in Round 2. Arnaud secured her Quarterfinal ticket posting a solid 7.75 point ride (out of a possible 10) and will go for an unprecedent third consecutive event win tomorrow.

” I am stoked,” Arnaud said. ” I had two sets to secure enough points to take the lead then I tried many maneuvres and it was a lot of fun.”

Arnaud who has won two events this year, including the ASP Grade-2 Kana Miss Cup in Hourtin, France and the ASP Grade-2 Billabong Pro Junior in Ericeira, Portugal, is in top form and feels confident.

” I was critically ill at the beginning of the year and it has given me a real boost to surf my best in competitions,” Arnaud said. I would really like to win the event and get the wildcard for the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle.”

Arnaud is currently leading the regional ratings and will go for her maiden regional championship this year.

Pauline Ado (FRA), 17, won Heat 5 scoring a good 14.25 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) but was not very satisfied with her today’s performance.

“I did not surf my best”, Ado said. ” I did not take the best waves and show what I can really do. I hope I will improve my surfing. Swell predictions are looking good for tomorrow so it’s going to be fun.”

Ado, ranked No. 2 in the ASP Junior ratings, who got back-to-back excellent results in France – a win at Lacanau and a runner-up finish at Hourtin – is another of the regional favorites to be in good form.

“I want to keep the pressure away so I just take one heat at a time” Ado said. “I will try to go as far as possible and give my best to qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships in Australia.”

All 16 competitors will meet at 9.30 AM (GMT+2)  tomorrow, Wednesday, August 27, and the Rip Curl Pro Junior champion will be crowned by the afternoon.

Sullivan Leads Favorites in Perfect Rip Curl Pro Barrels in France

SEIGNOSSE, France (Thursday, August 21, 2008) Top seeds were greeted with perfect four foot (1.2 meter) barrels and off-shore winds when Round 2 resumed today, Les Bourdaines delivering some of the best conditions of the summer for Day 4 of the Rip Curl Pro pres. by Sprite. The worlds best qualifiers came up with several top performances all day long and the level got one step further as fourty-eight men only remain in contention for the coveted crown.

Jarrad Sullivan (AUS), 24, flew the Australian flag leading the contingent with the result of the day posting an impressive 18.87 point heat tally (out of a possible 20) in the opening battle of Day 4 to advance ahead of Aritz Aranburu (EUK).

It was really as good as I thought it would be and I am stoked to have my heat early, Sullivan said. I had a slow start and I was just hoping for the bomb to come to me. I got lucky and I made that barrel.

Sullivan, who was supposed to surf yesterday before the event was called off, was very satisfied with the call.

We were close to paddling out yesterday but when you see that kind of conditions, I am stoked I surfed this morning, Sullivan said. I hope we can get similar waves when I paddle back out tomorrow, and it seems like the forecast is pretty good.

The high tide conditions kept firing classic French South West coast tubes and lauching ramps giving Round 2 competitors a great opportunity to push the level to its best. From progressive surfers Brett Simpson (USA) and Kirk Flintoff (AUS) delivering airs and vertical maneuvers to best tube rider of the day Shaun Gossmann (AUS), crowds and competitors enjoyed a perfect morning.

Shaun Cansdell (AUS), former ASP World Tour member and Rip Curl Pro defending champion, was much expected for his start in the 2008 edition and lost no time to make his intentions clear coming up with an excellent 17.33 point heat result (out of a possible 20). Cansdell, who had to face the outgoing tide changing conditions, caught four waves only during the 25-minute decider finishing with a 9.50 point ride.

I am stoked I got through that heat, Cansdell said. Compared to this morning it was a whole different story but the outside sand bank is good as well and I just waited for the few better waves.

Cansdell, who spent a couple of years among the ASP Top 45, is chasing a requalification for the Dreamtour and will be a serious contender for a second consecutive crown this year.

The European contingent was not left behind on this classic surfing day. Marlon Lipke (DEU) and Tim Boal (FRA), both rated No. 14 on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings, advanced today with good performances.

Lipke, who placed equal 5th in the Rip Curl Boardmasters earlier this month, unleashed in Heat 3 defeating ASP World Tour surfer Ben Dunn (AUS) and besting fellow European and ASP Top 45 rookie Tiago Pires (PRT).

I am stoked to be able to surf these conditions, Lipke said. I got a good start in the heat and I was just ready to go for the better waves. Ben (Dunn) and Tiago (Pires) are already on the ASP World Tour and I had nothing to lose so I just used every option to make this one.

Lipke, who used smart tactics to trap Dunn and push him to comit an interference on an excellent wave, showed great determination to finish ahead of heat favorites in a tricky heat.

I was not going to let anything go and I paddled out to win and give my best, Lipke said. Everyone is hungry for points and you have to stay focused and hold fermly to your goal. I am stoked I made it with Tiago (Pires). The guys on the World Tour are an example and things have been changing fast on the European stage.

Lipke, who stands as a potential ASP Top 45 qualifier for 2009, has had a good summer thus far with a 9th in the US Open of Surfing, a 5th in Japan and a 5th in Newquay, will be looking to get back on track after his Round 1 elimination in Lacanau.

Aritz Aranburu (EUK), Miky Picon (FRA) and reigning ASP European Junior champion Romain Cloitre (REU) were among those advancing today as well, flying the European flag in front of a cheering crowd.

Nathan Hedge (AUS), former ASP Top 45 contender and Rip Curl team rider, pleased his sponsors securing one of the ten best heat scores of the event so far after winning Heat 15 ahead of former ASP World Champion Sunny Garcia (HAW).

I was pretty pumped and ready to go big during that heat, Hedge said. I have been here for five days already and I was really looking forward to getting things underway. I am focused badly on requalifying and I am going to put everything into it.

Hedge, who came to the Rip Curl Pro rated No. 35, is chasing a strong result to keep any Dreamtour requalification hopes alive.

It is still a long way to go before we know who will make it through to the world tour, Hedge said. I am just trying to surf as good as I can and I thank everyone who believes in me.

Round 3 of the Rip Curl Pro pres. by Sprite will resule at 7.30 AM tomorrow and twenty heats are scheduled. The ASP WQS 6-Star Prime is getting closer to its business end and Man-on-man battles will start from Round 5.

The SAS Drawing boards fund raiser is all set for 22nd October 2008, they have support from a number of up & coming artists as well as more well known individuals (included Sir Paul McCartney).

The collection itself includes 14 surfboards selected for their small environmental impact, weight for weight these are stronger than the traditional surf board.

The fundraiser runs as part of Bonhams world-renowned Vision 21 auction, so if you’d like to take a look at some of these in the flesh or get yourself a nice piece of surf related art head to Bonhams’ Knightsbridge salerooms on 22nd of October.

SAS will be provided more information soon on their microsite here