Check out this amazing back flip performed by Gabriel Madina.  Go back a few years and who would have dreamed that surfers would be performing back flips while surfing?.

Of course all the top Pro’s are in Hawaii at the moment which is where Gabriel Medina pulled off this spectacular back flip. Also check out the landing as well, if the back flip by Gabriel Medina wasn’t hard enough, he absolutely nails the landing!

Gabriel Madina Backflip – Check out the video

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Of course all the worlds best surfers are in Hawaii at the moment for the season ending Triple Crown.

Currently the 2012 World Mens ASP Title  is a 3 horse race between Joel Parkinson, Kelly Slater and Mick Fanning.

Read what need to happen for either Parkinson, Slater or Fanning to win the 2012 ASP World title at the season ending Pipeline Masters by clicking here.

Check out our Youtube Channel where we have the Gabriel Medina BackFlip video as well as other ripping surf videos.

View the final days results of the O”Neill Coldwater Classic 2012 below.

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Heading into the season finals event in Hawaii, the 2012 Billabong Pipe Masters, the results that followed at the O’Neill Cold Water Classic made the title equation that much more complicated. 

Joel Parkinson, the points leader heading into Stop 9 of 10, needed his rivals to stumble early in order to take the title. When Mick Fanning and John John Florence, world No. 3 and 4 respectively, were eliminated in Round 2, Parko’s ideal was becoming a reality.

It turned out however that after Kelly Slater was eliminated in the Round 4 by Adriana de Souza.  However Slater was able to close in on Parkinson 2012 ASP Mens World Title lead as he was able to still drop his worst points of the year so far.

View the Mens ASP World Title standings after the 2012 O’Neill Coldwater Classic below:

O’NEILL COLDWATER CLASSIC FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.10
2 – Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 12.70

O’NEILL COLDWATER CLASSIC SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.57 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 12.40
SF 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 17.73 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.10

O’NEILL COLDWATER CLASSIC QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.83 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 8.60
QF 2: Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.83 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.00

O’NEILL COLDWATER CLASSIC ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.16 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 6.70
Heat 2: Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.50 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 8.90
Heat 3: Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.00 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 8.00
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.50 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 9.40

The 2012 ASP Mens World Surfing Title is still up for grabs heading into the Billabong Pipe Masters at the legendary Pipeline in Hawaii

CURRENT ASP WCT TOP 5 (After O’Neill Coldwater Classic):
1. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 53,900 pts
2. Kelly Slater (USA) 50,700 pts
3. Mick Fanning (AUS) 47,000 pts
4. John John Florence (HAW) 44,350 pts
5. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 42,350 pts

Heading into the final event of the year, three surfers remain mathematically in contention for the 2012 ASP World Title: Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, Kelly Slater (AUS), 40, and Mick Fanning (AUS), 31.

Softboards

Softboards:  This time the Dubai wave pool looks a little bit more crowded…on the shore anyway.

Softboards: share your surfing experiences with us here at Soft Boards, we’d love to here about them.

No Crowds!!!

I’m sure Dubai has the resources to come up with a much larger scale wave pool for surfing as well.

I’d give this thing a crack everyday of the week.

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Ever surfed in a wave pool before, be sure to share your experience here with us all at Soft Boards.

His name is Brandon Mychal Smith, and he has alot of energy, as you’ll see.  If you can put Brandon’s energy aside, Mary Osborne gives a great basic beginners guide to surfing on.

Love how Brandon has selected Malibu to learn how to surf, couldn’t have selected a more crowded location yeah.

Anyways, worth a look if not for the entertainment value.

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If you know of any other great How To Surf Instructional videos out their, be sure to share the link here with everyone at Softboards.

2012 Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia. Friday 6th April, 2012- The second event of the ASP World Chamionship

2012 Rip Curl Bells Beach Pro Winner Mick Fanning

Tour, the 2012 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach contest has been claimed by the 2011 runner up, Mick Fanning.

The final which saw Mick go up against 11 time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater in three to five foot offshore conditions at Bells Beach will go down as one of the all time classic Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach finals.

Both Fanning and Slater went blow for blow in this highest of surfing quality final.  Mick Fanning was first to post a 9pt ride then a back up 8.7 which put Kelly Slater into a combo situation.  Slater then returned fire with what would have to be the best aerial maneuver ever completed during an ASP contest.  The result earned Slater a perfect 10 and placing the pressure back onto Mick Fanning.
Kelly Slater then backed up his perfect 10 point ride with a an 8.07 placing him in the lead for the first time during this classic Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach final.

Video – 2012 Rip Curl Bells Beach Pro

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However, Slater only held the lead for a fleeting moment as Mick Fanning hooked into a wave that he through his deep carving turns into, which sent him back into the lead.

Slater then rode a smaller wave that hooked up all the way to beach.  He needed an 8.80pt ride to retake the lead and after completing his 360 in the shore break, thought he had done enough.  The judges had a different opinion and only gave Slater another 8.07 for that ride.  Kelly Slater obviously didn’t agree with given his body language out the back in the line up.

Mick Fanning then help on to win, and was a very popular result for the Aussie with the crowd.

After securing the 2012 Rip Curl Bells Beach Pro Fanning stated “I’m so pumped, Kelly (Slater) did that Hail Mary for the 10 and I thought, ‘oh, here we go.’ I just caught waves and I’m stoked it all paid off. I’m really at a loss for words and I’m just pumped. It doesn’t get any sweeter. The crowd’s been amazing with the whole amphitheater and the history that comes with it. I always picture this event and have had some seconds over the years, so to get this one, I’m so pumped…..It doesn’t seem strange that it’s taken so long to win another one when you’ve got guys like Joel (Parkinson), Jordy (Smith) and Kelly (Slater) on tour and I usually come up just a bit short. Usually against Joel, but I got him today!”

Slater who seemed very annoyed at the end of this all time classic Bells Beach final said “I was moving around trying to get active and I was just finding my feet,” Slater said. “I knew Mick (Fanning) was going to be real patient. I knew he got that start and then I tried to talk to him and he put his serious head on and pissed me off, so I thought I’d throw a big rotator on him and it wasn’t enough. That was pretty exciting for me. Even when he had the 9 and 8-something, I had a feeling I was in it. I felt like something good was going to come my way and it started to. I had one more chance and that was about it. I knew it was going to be a bit of a struggle with the waves out there, with the long intervals and long lulls, but that’s just the way it goes.”

Like all classic battles, there needs to be controversy, and the 2012 Rip Curl Bells Beach Pro certainly has that.

View more of the 2012 Bells Beach Rip Curl Pro at the our Youtube Soft Boards channel or the Rip Curl Channel

Final Results of the 2012 Rip Curl Bells Beach Pro

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.80
2 – Kelly Slater (USA) 18.07

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.10 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 7.83
SF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.83 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.43

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.06 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 13.66
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.97 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 16.10
QF 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.00 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 10.27
QF 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.63 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.63

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.93 def. John John Florence (HAW) 14.00
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 17.40 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.36
Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.27 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 12.90
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.27 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.04

CURRENT ASP TOP 3 (After Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach):
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 13,200 pts
2. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12,000 pts
3. Taj Burrow (AUS) 11,750 pts
3. Mick Fanning (AUS) 11,750 pts

Soft Boards

The famed Tahiti surf break, Teahupoo, has produced some of the most epic waves the ASP has ever seen for any event with the Billabong Pro Teahupoo tow in session to go down in the surfing records books as one of the most insane sessions ever surfed.

Watch this video created by the team at Billabong which shows the Billabong Pro Teahupoo tow in session.  You won’t believe it is humanly possible to surf on these slabs of water.  Absolutely insane!!!

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After several lay days the Billabong Pro Teahupoo organisers have been waiting on this swell to hit the Teahupoo reef.  On Sunday the 27th of August, 2011, the Billabong Pro Teahupoo event was once again given a lay day.  However the some of the worlds best and most experienced big wave tow in surfers were there to take on these insane conditions.

Also, most people wouldn’t relise that these waves are breaking over the razer sharp Teahupoo reef which is only a few feet under these 25+ foot waves.

If you would like to see exactly what the reef looks like and just how shallow it really is then take alook at theis video produced and made by the legendary surf film maker Jack McCoy.  Then imagine these moving monsters breaking above it!!!

Blue Sway by Jack McCoy filmed at Tahiti Teahupoo

These guys need more recognition than what they get!!!

The Billabong Pro Teahupoo will go down in the surfing history books, that is a given.

Make sure to stay up to date with the Billabong Pro event by visiting the Billabong Pro Teahupoo website where you can get a live stream.

If you haven’t already you can also follow us here at Softboards by heading over to our Facebook or our Twitter

The Billabong Pro Teahupoo Tow In Session was a classic, stay up to date with all th latest surfing news here at Soft Boards

Blue Sway – Created and Produced by Jack McCoy and Paul McCartney

Over 20 years ago legendary Beatles front man Sir Paul McCartney wrote Blue Sway.  Only recently McCartney sought the legendary surf film maker photographer Jack McCoy to come up with some ideas for a film clip that would fit in with the smooth tunes of Blue Sway.

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Fortunate for Paul McCartney, McCoy had just finished filming some of the most ingenious and truly unique way of filming waves and surfers riding waves that have and probably will ever be filmed.

Jack McCoy wanted a way to film underwater from the back of the wave, “backstage” as likes to call it, but also to keep up with the wave, much the same way the dolphins surf along waves.

Blue Sway – Jack McCoy was in luck!

Jack was also in luck, and sort the services a good friend, Todd Bennett.  Bennett, a West Australian surfer who introduced Jack McCoy to mini under water submarines, or Sea Hawks as they are known.  Jack McCoy then spent a year in Tahiti learning to use the Sea Hawk in the dangerous impact zone of some of the most infamous surf breaks that break along razor sharp shallow reefs.  He then fitted his cameras to the front and went about capturing some of the most spectacular underwater surf photography to date.

Jack states that shooting the images with the mini sub was risky but produced with out a shadow of doubt some of the most breath taking surf images that has ever been captured on film.

A friend of Jack McCoy’s, Chris Thomas, who happened to be a music producer, visited Jack in Sydney over a year ago.  Jack then showed Thomas a surfing sequence he had put together using one of Paul McCartney’s songs from The Fireman album.  McCoy used some of the images he had taken using the mini sub. Thomas was absolutely blown away by what he witnessed.

Upon returning to the United Kingdom, Thomas, who was a friend of Sir Paul McCartney, gave McCartney a copy of the sequence.

Paul McCartney was “blown away” by Jack McCoy’s photography – Blue Sway.

Blue Sway

It was fair to say that McCartney was also blown away by what Jack McCoy was able to produce.  McCartney then thought that McCoys unique film mastery would be an ideal suit for his music, Blue Sway.

Jack McCoy was then contacted with the idea to create a music video for Blue Sway.  McCoy then spent the best part of the next 6 weeks putting the Blue Sway music video together.  He was also working on on his own surf video, ‘A Deeper Shade Of Blue”

McCoy used the images that he had shot in Tahiti at the world famous surfing spot “Teahupoo”.  What you see in the now released version of Blue Sway was all shot at Teahupoo.

Upon finishing the Blue Sway music video, it was sent to Paul McCartney who then went on to say, “When I saw Jack McCoy’s underwater surfing footage put to the soundtrack of “Blue Sway” I was blown away”

With the absolute genius of Jack McCoy and Paul McCartney combined in Blue Sway, it was inevitable that Blue Sway would end up winning a host of awards.  One of the awards that Blue Sway has notched up was at the NYC BE Film short Festival.

I know you will watch Blue Sway again it is really that good.  Do your friends a favor as well and tell them about it…Blue Sway by Jack McCoy and Sir Paul McCartney.

Classic Bells Rip Curl Pro Final

The 2011 Easter Bells Rip Curls Pro final was contested by 2 time World Surfing Champ, Mick Fanning and the best surfer to have never won an ASP World Surfing title, Joel Parkinson.

It was contested in consistent six to eight foot classic Bells Beach conditions with surfing of the highest quality by both Fanning and Parkinson.

Joel Parkinson or Parko as he is known sealed the 2011 Rip Curl Bells Easter 50th Anniversary with a perfect 10 on his final wave.  Parkinson used his priority to take the wave from Fanning who had just caught it prior to Parko.  Fanning was already in a combo meaning he still needed 2 high scoring waves to better Parkinson’s best two wave score.

Bells Rip Curl Pro Final Fanning vs Parkinson

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This years Bells Rip Curl Pro has special meaning as it is the 50th year the competition has been run at the iconic Bells Beach.  And mother nature certainly didn’t let the event down offering up almost perfect conditions for the entire Bell Rip Curl Pro run over the Easter long weekend.

The worlds top male and female surfers performed to a very high and entertaining standard the entire event which was capped off by both Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning in the mens final.

An expression session was run prior to the mens final which saw past Bells surfing champions, which included Simon Anderson, Tom Curren, Martin Potter, Damien Hardman and of course Kelly Slater who was knocked out in the quarter final of this years Bells Rip Curl Pro.  He did however pull off an incredible 360 air reverse on an 8 foot Bells Beach bowl that brought the huge crowd to its feet.

To view more of the Bells Rip Curl Pro make sure you visit Rip Curls official website where they have all the heats and finals for you to view.

Make sure to like us on our Soft Boards Facebook Fan Page and stay up to date with everything Surfing here at Soft Boards

The Billabong Big Wave Contest Awards will be held on the 29th April, 2011, and for the first time ever will be broadcast on Fuel TV the following Sunday.

The nominees are as follows:

Micheal Brennan for his unforgettable air inside a Shipstern Bluff beast in the cold waters of Tasmania.

Danilo Couto who paddles unassisted into a Jaws monster in Hawaii

Mark Healey on a Sunset outer reef monster.

Benjamin Sanchis at Maullaghmore Head in Ireland.

David Scard for a Classic Cloudbreak Express monster barrel.

Early bundits are predicting Couto is the hands down favorite forthe Billabong Big Wave Awards 2011 for his paddle into the huge Jaws monster.

All the nominees for the Billabong Big Wave Contest 2011 will walk away with $5,000 for being nominated with the winner taking home $50,000US and the use of a Toyota 2012 Tacoma truck for a year. Plus, more importantly the prestige of riding the best as voted by there peers, the best XXL wave of 2010/2011

Who will win the Billabong Big Wave Awards 2011

Well as we stated, the early favorite is Couto but surely all the contenders are still in with a chance of taking out the Billabong big wave awards 2011.

Make sure you visit http://www.BillabongXXL.com to stay up to date or return here to Soft Boards where we will be posting all the latest news to do with the Billabong Big Wave Awards 2011.

2011 Quiksilver Pro Australia – Highlights

As the 2011 Quiksilver Pro Australia wound up at Snapper Rocks in less than ideal conditions, there was a ton of highlights from an event that used up most of its lay days waiting for mother nature to cooperate.

All the notable ASP kings were at their best, Kelly Salter, Taj Burrows, Tiago Pires, Joel Parkinson to name a few.

Biggest Surprise of the 2011 Quiksilver Pro Australia…

The big surprise was the elimination of Gold Coast and Snapper Rocks local  Mick Fanning.

The 2011 ASP Tour opener at Snapper Rocks was a big success however with Quiksilver turning it on with One HD live coverage.  Although mother nature didn’t completely cooperate, all in all it could be regarded as a big boost for world surfing which will hopefully pave the way for future live coverage of surfing events.

Here is some Quiksilver Pro Snapper Rocks round one highlights:

Although there were many highlights, it is far to say that the level of surfing gets higher and higher.

Final Day Highlights of the 2011 Quiksilver Pro Australia

Check out the final day’s action of the 2011 Quiksilver Pro Australia that saw Kelly Slater rein supreme again.

The ASP World Tour moves south to the iconic Bells Beach competition held over Easter.

Stay tuned to Soft Boards dot net where we will keep you up to date with everything surfing – 2011 Quiksilver Pro Australia.

Beginning live from the 26th February, 2011, until 9th March, 2011, Australian viewers will be to watch the Quiksilver Pro live on One HD.

This will be an Australian first for free to air television with the Quiksilver Pro live on One HD and also the Roxy Pro.

The Quiksilver Pro which is run at the southern end of the Gold Coast in Queensland at Snapper Rocks, is the first stop on the 2011 ASP Men’s World Tour.

All the men’s top surfer’s which include 10 time world surfing champ Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson who grew up riding Snapper Rocks and also Mick Fanning, will contest the Quiksilver Pro.

Screening of the Quiksilver Pro live on One HD will begin at 10 am on the 26th February and will also include the Women’s Roxy Pro.

The Roxy Pro, sponsored by Land Rover, will also include one of the most exciting field of women’s surfers to ever contest a ASP women’s tour event.  Current four time womens world surfing champ, Stephanie Gilmore, who only recently signed a lucrative 5 year deal with Quiksilver will spear head the Roxy Pro. Read about Stephanie Gilmores record 5 yr contract here.

Watch the Roxy Pro & Quiksilver Pro Live on One HD

Not only will you be able to watch the Quiksilver Pro live on One HD, but One HD has also signed on for the right to screen The Quiksilver Pro New York in September and The Quiksilver Pro France which gets under way in October, 2011.  The Quiksilver Pro New York which will be contested at Long Beach will be the first ASP World Tour pro surfing competition to be held on the East Coast of the United States.

General Manager of One HD Sport went onto to say – “To be broadcasting a surfing event of this calibre on ONE HD is a real coup and enables surfing fans, for the first time, to watch all the action live on free to air television.”

Quiksilver has made some massive deals as of late with none bigger than the signing of Stephanie Gilmore to a multi million dollar 5 year deal which will see Gilmore head the Roxy brand.

President of Quiksilver Asia Pacific, Greg Healy stated, “Quiksilver is delighted that the Quiksilver and Roxy Pro are going live on free to air television in Australia for the first time in the history of the ASP World Championship Tour.”

Screening times for the Quiksilver Pro Live on ONE HD

The Quiksilver Pro live on ONE HD will go to air at 10am on Saturday 26th February, 2011.  The womens Roxy Pro will also screen from that time also.

So for those lucky aussie’s who are into their surfing stay tuned to ONE HD and watch the Quiksilver Pro live on ONE HD.

Soft boards dot net – Tiago Pires team Chilli rider has signed a long term deal with Quiksilver for 10 years.  Tiago who will be in his fourth season as an ASP surfer signed the deal with the surf  industry powerhouse where he had this to say:  “It’s official.  I’m part of the Quiksilver family from today and on for the next ten years…”

Tiago made his debut back when he was a grommet surfing for Quiksilver and this new contract sees him return to the Quiksilver family.  A leading figure of the Portuguese surfing scene, the charismatic ASP surfer has produced a string of highlights with none more memorable than his triumph over Kelly Slater in Bali during 2008 season.  By rejoining Quiky he is now reaquainted with the iconic surfing brand that supported him when he first joined the professional ranks.

Tiago Pires Signs With Quiksilver

Tiago’s decision to sign this 10 year deal with Quiksilver was as a result of his close relationship with now fellow Quiksilver team mates, Miky Picon, Jeremy Flores and Aritz Aranburu. These guys have traveled and trained together and between them have been a large influence in the development of the professional European surfing scene.

Tiago Pires, being the first Portuguese surfer to qualify for the now slimmed down ASP World Tour which boasts the top 34 mens surfing elite, will have added inspiration joining the Quiksilver team that already has Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds and Jeremy Flores in its stable.

At the age of 30, Tiago has had a hugely successful career during his four years surfing against the worlds top surfers, having achieved 4 tour victories and produced some outstanding performances. We at Soft Boards dot net wish the charismatic “Portuguese Tiger” all the very best for the future.

Tiago Pires signs 10yr Deal with Quiksilver

Soft Boards dot net

If surfing Jaws of Maui isn’t dangerous enough then try night surfing at Jaws – Big wave rider Mark Visser has entered the History of Surfing. The pro surfer has surfed 30-40 foot waves in a night ride off the shore of Maui, Hawaii. It’s not the apocalypse, it’s surfing breaking its own frontiers.

The 28-year old Australian used a special surfboard with built-in LED lights, engineered by NASA for submarine lighting. The red light ensured that the helicopters and jet skiers were able to spot where Visser was riding each wave.

This is the first time a surfer tries to ride big waves in the dark. Mark prepared this project for two years. “It is the most exciting thing I have ever done. It wasn’t until I saw the pictures I realized how big it was”, said the intrepid surfer.

Mark has hit the waters at 2am, in complete gloomy conditions. To watch how he surfed his night waves. It looks like he’s a surfer from the future, with jet-powered fins. How crazy is that?

Riding huge black waves isn’t easy and Visser got the helping hand of the tow-in jet skis. “Riding in complete darkness meant I had to go off feeling. I had to zone out from how you normally ride and just be part of the wave. I am so pumped to achieve something that no one thought possible and that I was told that it couldn’t be done.”

Mark Visser is planning a full length documentary named “The Night Rider”, to be broadcasted late 2011, early 2012. In the past, Visser is known for riding big waves and placing in the Top 10 of events like the APT Tow-In Tour, the Nelscott Reef Big Wave Contest and the Oakley ASL Big Wave Awards.

Night Surfing at Jaws video to come shortly

Soft Boards dot net

Julian Wilson

Soft Boards dot net 

Australian prodigy Julian Wilson pulled away from the warm, nurturing embrace of Quiksilver for a brief stay on the homepage of Nike 6.0.
The homepage featured a Q & A with Wilson, and an image of him surfing with a 6.0 logo on his board. However, a mere 45 minutes after the ASP reported on the story, Nike 6.0 removed Wilson from its website altogether. What does this mean?
Although it seemed like someone jumped the gun on adding Julian to the Nike 6.0 homepage, subsequent announcements and press releases confirmed that Wilson is walking away from Quik in a new pair of Nikes. 

The deal — hands down one of the biggest surfing’s ever seen — is a 5-year agreement worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,000,000 a year, and will see Wilson garbed in Nike 6.0 apparel, footwear and wetsuits. 

Julian was later quoted regarding his move from Quiksilver to Nike 6.0, “I’m really excited about the move,” said Julian Wilson from his home on Australia’s Sunshine Coast. “With where I’m at in my career right now, it seemed like the right time to make a transition and an excellent opportunity! Nike has been pushing the direction of the sport of late and I’m really eager to be part of that movement.” 

Nike has been sniffing around the surf industry for sometime with rumours of taking over major surf industry stalwarts. In 2009 Nike 6.0 added Kolohe Andino and Carissa Moore to their stable, and most recently upped the respective deals of 2009 World Junior Champ Kai Barger and 2011 Women’s ASP World Tour rookie Laura Enever. They’ve also committed a wealth of resources to the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro, the Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing and the Hurley Lowers Pro. Hurley is of course owned by the Nike machine, but Wilson’s deal, simply put, it’s a whole new level. Undoubtedly it will raise the bar for top tier surf contracts in the future. 

Soft Boards dot net

Breaking News: Stephanie Gilmore, 4 time ASP Womens World Surfing Champion has just signed  five-year endorsement agreement. Under terms of the agreement Stephanie will ride for the Quiksilver team and has become a Quiksilver brand ambassador, joining a diverse and talented group which includes 13 other female artists, musicians, photographers, philanthropists and fashion designers representing Quiksilver’s lines for women. As a brand ambassador Stephanie Gilmore will contribute to marketing initiatives and activities through her considerable creative talents. The addition of Stephanie to the Quiksilver ambassador program also coincides with the debut of Quiksilver’s new global girls line, targeting 18-24 year old young females, set to launch in February 2011.

“I have had exceptional support throughout my career and I am excited to have this bright opportunity with the respected team at Quiksilver,” says Gilmore. “I am looking forward to pushing myself to new levels and feel this is a move which will help me stay inspired while competing at the highest level as a professional surfer on the ASP Women’s World Tour. It’s thrilling to be a part of an innovative and globally respected brand like Quiksilver.  Its rich history and creative direction are well aligned with my personal ambitions.”

22-year-old Stephanie Gilmore, who was born and raised in NSW Australia has already become one of the most accomplished surfers in the world. She has won the ASP World Title in each of the last four years, was the youngest ASP Women’s World Champion (2007) and has 17 ASP Women’s World Tour victories. She will compete in the first event of the 2011 ASP season at next month’s Roxy Pro on Australia’s Gold Coast, February 26-March 9.

In addition to Quiksilver, her sponsors include Cole Clark Guitars, Ford and DHD Surfboards. She plays both acoustic and electric guitar, including a Cole Clark lap slide and a vintage Fender Strat, and she documents her world travels with a Hassleblad 501c medium format camera.

Stephanie Gilmore’s philanthropic work includes Australia’s youth-focused Black Dog Foundation; and she is a sponsor for two children in Kenya and Ethiopia. This Sunday, January 9th, Stephanie will be part of Channel 9 Australia’s telethon to raise money for Australia’s devastated areas affected by the floods.

Stephanie will continue to hone her talents and pursue her passions as she joins the Quiksilver family and will creatively contribute to and be involved in marketing efforts for the brand’s new collection. Designed for young women with a coastal mindset and an independent spirit, the new Quiksilver collection is built on an understated aesthetic with its primary focus on quality fabrics, fits and finishes. This feminine interpretation of the Quiksilver brand has resulted in a beautiful collection that is authentic to Quiksilver’s roots while at the same time introducing a unique, feminine perspective to the action sports apparel industry. The debut season of the collection perfectly blends coastal casual lived-in, loved-in designs with airy feminine details and superior hand-feel.

This is a major signing for the Quiksilver brand who now have Kelly Slater, the undesputed best male surfer of all time and now Stephanie Gilmore who is fast becoming one of womens best ever.

2010 brought Kelly Slaters 10th world surfing title plus Steph Gilmore’s 4th world surfing title  have placed Quiksilver in a market leading position.

For more information about the Quiksilver women’s (division), please visit: quiksilver.com.

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World Surfing Champ Stephanie Gilmore, during a terrifying home invasion at her surfside apartment in Tweed Heads has been bashed with an iron bar which resulted in her being admitted to hospital suffering serious injuries.

The home invasion happened about 9pm on Monday night. The current Bells Beach champ suffered a broken wrist and cuts as she defended herself from the offender.  Stephanie was released from hospital yesterday.

A man wielding a metal pole allegedly struck Gilmore twice before fleeing on a pushbike.

The man later allegedly returned to Gilmore’s apartment block where he was seen by friends and neighbours who then performed a citizens’ arrest.

The attack puts Gilmore’s chances of claiming back to back Rip Curl Pro titles in limbo as she faces an uphill battle to be ready for the Easter weekend tournament.

Gilmore said her injuries would mean six weeks “out of the water”, but vowed the attack would not stop her preparation for the 2011 ASP tour.

“Hopefully, I’m on the way to recovery,” she said outside her Hill St unit yesterday afternoon.

“It’s just a little scratch on the head and a fractured wrist.

“Thank you to my family and friends and everyone who supported me. I am happy everyone is OK.

“I’ll have to work on other things but it won’t hurt my confidence.”

Marine Cole, a spokeswoman for Gilmore’s major sponsor Rip Curl, earlier said the champion was in shock.
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“She’s a bit shook up, as you would be,” Ms Cole said.

ASP Australasia’s media manager Steve Robertson said Gilmore’s broken wrist would affect the champion’s chances of claiming her third Rip Curl Pro.

“I don’t know how bad the broken wrist is, but for any surfer a broken wrist is a terrible injury to have,” he said.

“When you take off on a wave all your energy goes into your wrist. It is a vigorous and strenuous movement in your wrist to get on the wave and jump to your feet.

“A wrist injury for a surfer is very similar to a footballer having a knee injury.”

Mr Robertson said Gilmore would more than likely line up at the March tournament, but would be in doubt for the Quicksilver Pro on the Gold Coast in late February.

“She will no doubt be looking at all her options, but I’d be very confident that she will line up at Bells,” he said.

“We are pretty much in January now, and the first major tournament is in late February, so I would say that at this stage it would be doubtful that she would surf at the Gold Coast.

“There have been surfers in the past who have surfed with waterproof casts, so that could be an option.”

Mr Robertson predicted Gilmore would bounce back from the attack and would do everything in her power to win her fifth straight ASP world title.

He said that competition from other talented up and coming surfers could also thwart Gilmore’s chances of lifting up the Bell for a second time in a row.

“The sport has never been so strong; there is lots of emerging talent. While Steph is still young, they are three or four years younger and they are right on her tail.

“I imagine she will bounce back. She is the most naturally talented and gifted surfer there has ever been.”

Gilmore’s alleged attacker was charged with numerous offences including wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Police said he was refused bail in Tweed Heads Magistrates’ Court yesterday, and will re-appear via video link from Grafton Correctional Centre on January 10.

We at Soft Boards dot net  wish Stephanie Gilmore a speedy recovery!!!

They felt the need as has every other member of the world surfing fraternity to put together their best pics and vids of Andy’s greatest moments.  Surfing Magazine has put together a last-minute-run of commemorative covers dedicated to Andy, which is due out shortly.

Also worth watching is their trailer for the Feb issue, these guys know how to put together great Surfing clips and music.  Here at Soft Boards we enjoy surfing the web looking and researching the top guys to see what they’re reporting and what the surfing world is up to. 

Enjoy Surfing Magazines trailer and be sure to visit their website by clicking on the link below.

February Issue 2011 Surfing Magazine from SURFING Magazine on Vimeo.

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Joel Parkinson (AUS), 29, was another to stand atop the Billabong Pipe Masters podium, clinching his third, consecutive Vans Triple Crown title to conclude the 2010 ASP World Tour season.

Flores, who was in need of a solid 8.60 single-wave score in the dying moments, clawed his way back into the Final against Perrow and threaded the needle on a beautiful righthand barrel to earn a 9.37. Making history as the first European to ever win the Billabong Pipe Masters in the event’s 40 year history, Flores punctuated his season with his career-best result.

“This is such a dream,” Flores said. “I’ve been coming to Hawaii for so long and this is my favorite place in the world, the waves, the people, everything. I just knew I couldn’t give up in the Final even though I was behind. It’s the Pipe Masters and it’s everything. I’m so stoked.”

Flores’ impressive showing in the Final wasn’t his only come-from-behind win of the day, as the young Frenchman also topped reigning 10-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 38, in the dying minutes of their Semifinals match-up, marking a significant turnaround in the young Frenchman’s career.

“I’m so stoked to be here and to have made this result,” Flores said. “I’ve been surfing a lot again in all conditions, small or big and I kind of lost that at the start of the year. I think that’s what has helped my rhythm. I’ve just been surfing three times a day no matter what the conditions are and I think that’s the biggest thing that changed this year for me. I just feel like I’ve found my rhythm again.”

Flores Finished at No. 9 on the ASP World Tour Rankings for 2010.

Australian surfing talent Julian Wilson has long been regarded as one of World surfing’s next big things.  Julian, from the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, has more than proved himself worthy of this tag by dominating some of surfing’s biggest names and also featuring some absolutely mind blowing video footage. 

Julian, Quiksilver team rider and stars in Red Bulls, Scratching The Surface” with some stunning surfing shot in the most idealic locations.  Wilson gets to officially prove and live up to his ability as an ASP World Tour surfer on the 2011 calendar.  Read more about Julian at his site – Julian Wilson 

Watch this clip from Scratching The Surface – Part 1

Scratching The Surface – Part 2

It’s going to be great watching Julian progress and watch how he handles the presures of the ASP tour.

We wish him all the best!!!

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Team Chilli rider, Tiago Pires, drawing some nice smooth style in this surf video.  Currently waiting for the Pipe Masters to get underway which was again put on hold as the northerly swell direction just isn’t hitting the Pipe reef.  Most other North Shore spots are being given 8 – 10 foot swell, however it just isn’t lining up well enough at this stage to get the Pipe Masters underway.

Tiago Pires from Chilli on Vimeo.

Tiago has some smooth style don’t you think???

Chilli Surfboards

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Kelly Slater wins historic 10th ASP World Title in style with a 10pt barrel:

Kelly Slater gets mobbed wherever he goes, but as soon as he hit the beach after clinching his quarterfinal heat against Adriano de Souza and wrapping up his historic 10th ASP World Title, Slater was enguled by surf fans, media and even competitors. Naturally he was overcome with tears after relising what he has managed to achieve that no other surfer has ever, and is likely never to achieve again. Slater commented in his post heat interview stating, “I want to dedicate this to Andy [Irons], and my family. I don’t know what to say, it just kind of hit me right now,” and then couldn’t talk for about five seconds after that, just completely overcome with emotion. It was the culmination of a lifetime of competitive surfing, a lifetime of goals and dreams. For a few seconds he was speechless, unguarded, you could see the moment washing over him.

Kelly wasted little time in asserting his dominance in the quarters by backdooring a barrel for earning himself a 9 and  followed that up with a longer double barrel for a 9.87 that makes Taj’s 10 in the previous heat look like a quick in-out. Kelly then followed that up with a clean, no-grab 360 air reverse. Five minutes into the heat Kelly has 18.87 points, while Adriano had yet to catch a wave. Slater played it perfectly, the heat was done after Kelly’s first two waves. 10.

And this is how he got to his 10 ASP World Surfing Titles:

1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2005, 2008 and yes 2010.   Yes 10 in total

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Slater dedicated his 10th world ASP title to Andy Irons stating openly “If it wasn’t for Andy I wouldn’t even be in this position.” – Soft Boards dot net.

Welcome to Soft Boards dot net.  We are currently in the process of stock piling our selection of soft surfboards and our aim is to provide one of the best soft board selections available for the beginning surfer through to the experienced long boarder.
Stay Tuned our SoftBoard selection isn’t that far away!!!.

Welcome to Soft Boards dot net.  We are currently in the process of stock piling our selection of soft surfboards and our aim is to provide one of the best soft board selections available for the beginning surfer through to the experienced long boarder.
Stay Tuned our SoftBoard selection isn’t that far away!!!.