O’Neill Psycho 2 Wetsuit and Mutant/Mod Boot Series Nominated for Best Wetsuit and Accessory of the Year SANTA CRUZ (April 3, 2008) The Psycho 2 wetsuit by O’Neill has been nominated by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association as the best wetsuit. The Image Awards gives the surf industry the opportunity to recognize fellow surf industry companies for their outstanding contributions to the industry.The goal of the SIMA Image Awards is to identify the surf industry’s most influential companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry over the past year.As the original wetsuit brand, O’Neill has been influencing the surf industry since its infancy but it is still rewarding for O’Neill to see the brand’s efforts recognized. “The product is at the heart of what we were about in the beginning and what we continue to be about today so it is satisfying to see the Psycho 2 and the Mutant Boot series be nominated in their product divisions,” stated Bert Aram buru, O’Neill Wetsuit Director of Sales and Marketing. The Psycho 2 full suit has been the premier cold-water wetsuit on the market for the last half decade, but O’Neill exceeded consumer’s expectations again b y further im proving the Psycho 2 in 2007. O’Neill made improvements to its patented ZEN Zip; a closure that was already the most sought after and imitated entry system on the market. T he Z.E.N. Zip was reprogrammed with performance upgrades including the new Deconstructed Barrier, a Bassline Drain Hole, and a Seam less Shoulder design for flexibility and comfort in key paddle zones. Add the new Firewall X-type with X foam, completely new D-tox Knee padz, and the Psycho 2 continues to be the ultimate cold-water wetsuit.

O’Neill’s commitment to Cold Water gear was also recognized with a nomination for Accessory of the Year for its Mutant/Mod boot series. Committed to designing the best perform ing boots available O’Neill took the Mutant boot series to the next level in 2007 by introducing the 6/5/4internal split toe, and Women MOD versions to accompany the 3mmAbout O’Neill: O’Neill, the original Californian surf, snow and lifestyle brand, was founded in 1952 when a young man named Jack O’Neill took his unstoppable passion for surfing and used it to beat Mother Nature at her own game. Pioneering the world’s first neoprene wetsuit, Jack had successfully found a way to extend his surf session s in the bone-chilling breaks of Northern California. He opened up the garage doors to his first surf shop in Santa Cruz soon after. While many things have changed since those humble beginnings, Jack’s initial vision of producing functional and innovative boardriding products continues to lie at the core of everything the company does. O’Neill’s set of core values –innovation in style and technology – has seen the brand devote itself wholeheartedly to the evolution of action sports. From the first ever neoprene wetsuit and surf leash, to the world’s first stitch less board shorts and range of ground breaking wearable electronics, O’Neill’s spirit of innovation will always drive the company forwards. Today, O’Neill can be found the world over. In touch with its rich heritage and the universal stoke of board riding culture, O’Neill will always be committed to progressing that evolution and growing its reputation as one of the world’s leading youth lifestyle brands.

We Care about the Fjord Country

Just 7 days until the Rip Curl Team leaves for the Lofoten Islands.

Tom Curren (USA), Pablo Gutierrez (SP), Jayce Robinson (UK), Elise Garrigue (FR) and the 2 winners of the RipCurl.TV competition are taking off for 3 weeks, to the most beautiful spot in Norway; the Lofoten Islands.

The Team, guided by chief Searcher, Arnaud Decarne have a busy schedule ahead of them; they are on a mission to discover the most stunning places these wild islands have to offer. The 6 surfers will spend 5 days in the Oslo area and do some snowboarding with the legendary Terje Haakonsen, before taking off to the Lofoten Islands to discover the remarkable waves of Norway.

A surf trip that Rocks
For Rip Curl, being accompanied by Tom Curren, means to leave with a guitar under the arm, combining a surf trip with the sweet sounds of a concert being played in the middle of the fjords. On this occasion, Tom Curren and his band, Tom Curren & Friends, will perform 2 exclusive concerts: Sunday 6th April at the Fugazi in Oslo with the participation of the bands Paperboys and Surferosa, and Saturday 19th April in Svolvaer. All benefits from the show will be donated to WWF Norway for their environmental protection scheme in the Lofoten Islands.

For the preservation of the Lofoten Islands
Rip Curl presents this nature-oriented event in partnership with the World Wildlife Fund. Rip Curl Europe is among the 10 “strategic partners” of WWF and has created the label Rip Curl Planet that is a label for environmentally friendly products and events. During the “Search” in the Lofoten Islands, the Team will be joined by WWF’s Marine conservation officer Nina Jensen who will show them all the environmental programs that are carried out.
Watch it exclusively on Eurosport 2
Eurosport 2, the New Generation Sports Channel, has since 2005 confirmed its status as the European Surfing Channel, being the first European television channel to broadcast LIVE surfing competitions, like the Rip Curl Pro Hossegor for 2 years.

Charles-Antoine Moulin, Deputy Director programme Production Eurosport2/EurosportNews, says, “We are delighted to offer innovative surfing content from the stunning surroundings of the Lofoten Islands. Eurosport 2 aims to go beyond the sporting event and give viewer fans the chance to discover and experience sports in new and exciting ways. We are delighted to partner with Rip Curl to present this exceptional surf experience in one of the most naturally beautiful sites in the world.”

Eurosport offers surf and nature fans the possibility to join the adventurous Rip Curl “Search” team on this incredible expedition. Surf and nature enthusiasts can follow the hottest event of the season including breathtaking images and world-class surfing, with daily 3’ short format programmes aired on Eurosport 2 every evening at 19:55 pm, and with video highlights online on Eurosport.com, eurosport.se, eurosport.fr, eurosport.sohu.cn, eurosport.yahoo.com and uk.eurosport.yahoo.com.

The 6 surfers are off to explore unknown surf spots in the Lofoten Islands, an adventure that we can share with them live on RipCurl.TV

Check out the start of the adventure from 10th April
More info
Tom Curren & Friends :
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=162684298
Paperboys :
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=115525430
Surferosa :
http://www.myspace.com/surferosa

Kelly Slater (USA) has today claimed the Rip Curl Pro presented by Snickers and rung the bell for the third time. After launching a huge air to earn a last minute score and beat Bede Durbidge (AUS) in the final, Slater has further asserted that he is one of the best surfers on earth.

“It feels awesome; it feels really good, ” Slater said. “The Bell is arguably the best trophy you can win in surfing. I do have a couple, but to get there and have the chance and get a third one feels really good. I’ve just joined my good friend Sunny (Garcia) with three, and I think MR (Mark Richards) and MP (Michael Peterson) have four or five – those guys are crazy.”

Slater trailed Durbidge for the first 27 minutes of the 30-minute affair. Surfing his fourth heat of the day, the 8X ASP World Champion was tired and had all but given up.

“I thought Bede had me,” Slater said. “I wasn’t trying to worry too much or stress – I was happy just to be in the Final – but before the heat I heard Rabbit (ASP President) say something about going up to Rincon so I thought I would sneak up there to see what I could find.”
What he found was a ramp from which to launch a daring double-grab aerial. He was awarded an 8.83 (out of 10.00) for the massive maneuver and took the lead.

“I was really surprised Bede (Durbidge) let me paddle up to Rincon by myself,” Slater said. “I thought that when I looked back, he would be 10 yards behind me, but when I looked back, he was still in the Bowl. Then that wave came that let me do that big air.”

Slater retains the World No. 1 rating and fellow finalist Durbidge has moved to World No. 2 with the result.

“There are murmurs of Bede being a world title contender and I would say he’s up to that challenge,” Slater said.

Durbidge was disappointed with the loss but his performance at Bells Beach has positioned him as a clear contender.

“It’s pretty frustrating, but he’s the champ and freakish things happen to him,” Durbidge said of Slater. “I saw him paddle up to Rincon and I just let him go. He just got one and went pretty freakish, did a big air, rode it all the way through and got the score.”

Durbidge’s final berth today was the fourth of his four-year career. He finished World No. 5 last year after winning the last event of the year in Hawaii and started 2008 with a semifinal showing.

“I’ve just been getting through heats and I’ve been going all the way to the end so it’s been going pretty good for me,” Durbidge said.

Durbidge eliminated California’s Bobby Martinez (USA) in a one sided semifinal affair today.

“I would have liked to keep on going but Bede stopped me in my tracks, Martinez said. “He deserved it he’s surfing good. I kind of got wave starved and was never really in it. If you are not on the good waves you’ve got a good chance of losing just because everyone surfs so good. Like I’ve said over and over again, anyone can beat anybody.”

Taj Burrow (AUS) was also bummed out after his semifinal loss to Slater.

“It was pretty frustrating to lose like that,” Burrow said. “I just couldn’t get a wave, it was really choppy out there. It was pretty hard to pick a wave, I don’t even know if there were any decent ones out there. Kelly had the right approach taking a lot of waves and maybe one of them would form together but I was trying to wait for that one and I couldn’t really find a clean face.”

Burrow was runner-up to the World Title in 2007 and hopes to be a contender this year too.

“Third is a keeper for sure,” Burrow said. “I was hoping to make a bit more ground on the guys at the top but I am stoked to be there mixing it up with them. It’s just all about the next one.”

Dane Reynolds (USA) fell to Burrow in the Quarterfinals but still leaves the event with his best result in an ASP World Tour event. Sitting equal 11th, Reynolds is the highest rated rookie on tour and his performance in the Rip Curl Pro did not go unnoticed.

“I think Dane might arguably the best surfer in the world right now,” Slater said. Just everything from barrels to airs to carves, he’s really got the whole bag of tricks and power and everything. He’s so well rounded, and I think that’s got us all pretty fired up.”

The Rip Curl Pro is presented by Snickers and webcast LIVE via www.ripcurl.com

Final Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.63 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 15.16

Semi-finales Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.50 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 4.50
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.33 def. Taj Burrow (BRA) 7.96

1/4 finale Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.00 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.33
Heat 2: Bobby Martinez (USA) 17.33 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 10.67
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.33 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 10.67
Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.34 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 2.80

Rating after Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach – No. 2 de l’ASP World Tour
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 2400 points
2. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 1908 points
3. Mick Fanning (AUS) 1764 points
4. Taj Burrow (AUS) 1476 points
4. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 1476 points
6. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 1464 points
6. Andy Irons (HAW) 1464 points
8. Bobby Martinez (USA) 1286 points
9. Kai Otton (AUS) 1200 points
9. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 1200 points

SAS (Surfers Against Sewage) campaigners and over 60 volunteers turned up to Porthtowan on Saturday the 23rd of February to give the beach a spring clean. It was really shocking what the winter seas have deposited on the beach and in just 2 hours we collected more than 150kg of litter.The vast majority of this 152.2kg of litter was plastic. Plastics float and the predominant South Westerly winds push the litter onto our beaches all year round. However, over winter, stronger winds can bring in more litter and also big storms can churn up litter from the seabed. This is made worse with the high number of shipping accidents that have occurred this winter resulting in cargo being lost overboard. Plastics, and other types of marine litter are not only unsightly but can cause the death of dolphins, whales, turtles and other marine animals and injury humans.

Volunteers found hundreds of cotton bud sticks on the beach, these are plastic and, as with all sanitary related debris, is a good sign that water quality might not be great. So please remember to support SAS’s Think Before You Flush campaign, don’t use the toilet as a wet.

From the 152.2kg of litter collected, we separated all the identifiable litter and we’re sending it back to the manufacture. This is part of SAS’s ongoing Return To Offender campaign calling on the manufacturers to increase their anti litter message and reduce their packaging or at least look at introducing lower impact packaging.

Andy Cummins, SAS Campaign Officer: We were blown away with the amount of people who turned up to clean the beach in the middle of February. It just goes to show how many people out there really care for our beaches. SAS owes everyone who turned up a huge thank you! Unfortunately, even with over 60 volunteers we could take all the litter of the beach, that would have taken us weeks. But we should all be very proud of the 152kg we did pick up.

SAS would also like to thank the Blue Bar who provided free coffees and hot chocolates to everyone who took part and Freakfish Surf Shop who donated £80 of prizes.

Easter arrives early in 2008 and the world’s longest running and most prestigious surfing event – the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach – has also moved its dates forward to March 18-29.

The Rip Curl Pro is Stop 2 of 11 on the 2008 ASP Men’s World Tour and Stop 2 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour.2007 ASP World Champion Mick Fanning

Professional surfing’s elite competitors will be onsite to compete for this year’s Bell trophies, including current ASP World Champions Mick Fanning (Gold Coast, Australia) and Stephanie Gilmore (Gold Coast, Australia).

Fanning won the 2001 Rip Curl Pro and Gilmore will return to Australia’s Surf Coast as the defending Rip Curl Women’s Pro champion after defeating Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) in the final last year.

“I’m really excited to get back to Bells Beach this year,” said 20-year-old Gilmore. “The Rip Curl Pro is really prestigious and it was a honour to win last year. To have my name on that Bell trophy, with all of those surfing legends is great. It’s a huge honour!”

“The Rip Curl Pro started it all,” adds 26-year-old Fanning. “Everyone that has won a Bell has gone on to do something pretty huge in surfing. The champions list is pretty much the who’s who of professional surfing.”

Sharing the spotlight with the world’s best male and female surfers this year will be a host of Australia’s best young musicians, set to crank up the volume on the Bells Beach Music Stage on Easter Saturday and Sunday.

Adelaide rockers Wolf & Cub, Melbourne funk band Dé Jah Groove and famed AC/DC coverband ACCA/DACCA will headline the festival, with a host of other local artists also playing onsite at Bells over the two days.

Bells Beach is one of the world’s most awesome natural amphitheatres to watch high performance surfing and with two reigning Australian world champions, event organisers expect record crowds for Easter this year.

For those unable to visit Australia’s Great Ocean Road for the event, Rip Curl will be broadcasting the entire Rip Curl Pro live via internet webcast. The webcast will be streamed full screen on ripcurl.com by Vividas.

Mark Ochillupo, otherwise known as OCCY bowed out of professional surfing at last years Pipeline Masters. Occy was a well known surfer who is still sponsored by wetsuit and surf clothing company billabong. Occy made a successful career in the 1980’s battling the likes of Rip Curl sponsored Tom Curren. It was in the 1990’s which saw Occy make a comback which gave him more credibility as a all time great of the surfing world.

Kelly Slater wins the Quiksilver Pro

Eight times World Champion Kelly Slater has once again proven he is the man to beat by winning the Quiksilver Pro on Australia’s Gold Coast. Kelly defeated the reigning World Champion Mick Fanning in the final that produced high scoring rides and an impressive display of modern day performance surfing.  Kelly’s equipment played a major role in capturing the win. In a move that proved to be advantageous Kelly rode a board slightly shorter and wider than his normal 6’1 shortboard. Complimented by his signature K2.1 fins, the set up proved to be a winning combination.Showing no signs of slowing down Kelly looked in complete control producing effortless speed and some spectacular maneuvers on the high performance waves of Snapper Rocks.  “My boards were going really well throughout the event. I was riding an Al Merrick Flyer with my K2.1 set up; the combo was perfect for the waves on offer. I had the speed and drive when I needed it, and instantaneous response in the tight sections”.  

While most of the focus and attention was on Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow and Joel Parkinson, Kelly steadily made his way to the final. Along the way he was forced to produce some explosive performances as he came up against fellow teammates Adriano De Souza and Jeremy Flores. Each match-up was a close and high scoring affair with all surfers pushing themselves to the limit. FCS Brand Ambassador Richie Lovett was on hand at the event and remarked, “It was amazing to watch, Kelly was producing so much speed and he simply attacked every section on every wave he rode.He looked explosive and fast and that’s what the judges want to see”. The win marks yet another milestone for Kelly who has never won the Quicksilver Pro while the event has run at Snapper Rocks.  “I’ve never won the Quicksilver Pro while it’s been at Snapper Rocks, I won a few years back when it was at Duranbar but I’ve always wanted to win it here. It’s been in the back of my mind for a while so the win is pretty satisfying”. Kelly has placed himself firmly in the box seat to challenge for World Title number 9. With 35 WCT event wins under his belt and nothing more to prove he now has everyone guessing if he will turn up to the next event at Bells Beach.