Round 2 of the SFNC Regional Titles was run over the weekend. Heaps of Le-Ba groms entered. Results below.
Under 18's
Nik Hoskin 2nd
Tom Snellgrove 5th
Dane Mathews 7th
Under 16's
Michael Wright 2nd
Dan Hosking 9th
Under 14's
Zac Wightman 2nd
Jake Snellgrove 3rd
Rhys Tatum 7th
Zac Condon 9th
Luke Condon 13th
Well done grommets. Entry forms for the third round are available now. Click on the "Entry Forms" button above.
The Billabong Pro Santa Catarina, the third round in the World Title Race, will take place from April 23rd to May 2nd in Imbituba, Santa Catarina. Adam Melling and Owen Wright are there chasing the big points. Good luck fellahs.
BILLABONG SANTA CATARINA PRO ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 15: Chris Davidson (AUS), Owen Wright (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)
UPDATE APRIL 25th
Owen Wright had a solid win in round 1 and moved straight into round 3. Adam Melling lost another close one and will surf against Chris Davidson in Ht 9.
Photos Kirstin / ASP
UPDATE APRIL 26th
Mello went down to Davo by 0.8 points in round 2 and is out of the event. Bugger.
UPDATE APRIL 28th
Despite nursing a knee injury Owen caused an upset eliminating Bede Durbidge in Round 3.
“I’m rapt to make it into the fourth round. Starting the year with two 16ths is tough, and my knee didn’t feel 100% before the comp so I wasn’t even sure if I would compete. It’s felt good though, but still not where I want it to be. Bede is an amazing surfer and every year he competes here, he gets the best waves. Fortunately, I was able to get in a rhythm out there and there wasn’t anything left for him.”
Owen surfs against Jeremy Flores in Ht 6 of round 4.
UPDATE APRIL 29th
Owen had a huge win over Jeremy Flores with a heat total of 13.60 (6.5, 7.1 ). He then went on to eliminate Taylor Knox in quarter final 3 highlighted by a 7.17 ride with 1:30 on the clock.
In the semi final Owen secured his career best result today, finishing equal 3rd , putting himself in excellent position to make the Top 32 cut-off at this season’s midway point.
“I’m rapt with my result here in Brazil. The tide really filled in and it became challenging to find them out there. Kelly can pretty much do anything and he was able to stay busy during that Semi. I’m stoked with 3rd and it definitely helps with the seeding heading into these next two events. I’ve never been to J-Bay before but I’m frothing to get there.”
Congratulations Owen from the Le-Ba boys.
A 42 year old debate that still rages across the Pacific has been re-ignited with the release of the Australian feature film Going Vertical. Will one of the surfing world’s biggest questions finally be answered? Which country is really responsible for the shortboard revolution?
At the centre of this debate are two men, now in their ‘60s: Bob McTavish and American Dick Brewer. Which of these men was truly responsible for kicking off this surfing revolution during the tumultuous 1967 ‘summer of love’ that turned the sport around the world, literally, upside down?
Was the pioneer, as legend has it, Dick, who lead the way to shortboard commercialism in the United States, or was it the brainchild of Bob and a few of his mates such as Nat Young and George Greenough?
Over the last four decades, dozens of books, movies and magazine articles have presented differing views of this most important moment in surfing history. Did Australia lead the way? Is the claim true? Not according to a groundswell of opinion that’s erupted recently in the United States, reigniting the debate.
Filmed in Australia, Hawaii and California, and featuring extraordinary archival footage of surf legends of the past four decades as well as the hottest surfers of today, GOING VERTICAL, for the first time, tells both sides of this compelling and fascinating story.
GOING VERTICAL is narrated by ex Le-Ba member Simon Baker, produced by Robert Raymond (Schindler’s List, Somebody’s Sweetheart, Lust in the Dust) and directed by one of Australia’s best-known and highly regarded film-makers, two-time Academy-Award nominee David Bradbury (Frontline, The Battle for Byron, Public Enemy Number One, Chile: Hasta Cuando).
Set to a powerful 5.1 surround soundtrack including new surf music sensation The Break (featuring members of Midnight Oil and Violent Femmes), plus tracks by Pearl Jam, Powderfinger, Spoon and Boards of Canada and iconic artists from the summer of love including Manfred Man, Russell Morris and Thunderclap Newman, GOING VERTICAL is the story of a pivotal era of our time, of a revolution and the outrageous characters who made it happen.
Going vertical screens at Ballina Fair Cinema SATURDAY 17TH APRIL 5.45PM, SUNDAY 18TH APRIL 5.45PM
The O’Neill Cold Water Classic heads to Scotland running April 13th - 19th. This is the event that Lord Melling took out last year, kick starting his push onto the WCT.
Following one of the coldest European winters on record, and with recent blizzards and snowfall up in the northeast of Scotland, this is going to be one of the most grueling O’Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland events on record.
The 6-Star ASP event in Thurso follows an epic start to the Series in Tasmania where Stu Kennedy came good in 6ft perfect conditions, winning the most southern event in professional surfing.
Anthony Walsh is also in the event trying to capitalize on his early season efforts. Good luck fellahs.
UPDATE April 13
Ant Walsh had a win and moves into the round of 96 Ht1.
“It’s really fun actually. There’s a little rip bank and when the right one comes through it’s quite hittable but just a lot of wetsuit for me to get used to but if you get the right one it’s really fun.”
“It says 3 degrees.At least there’s no wind and the sun is out. It’s not actually too bad as long as you have all the right gear on, so it’s pretty warm really.”
“I prefer the bigger waves but this is good fun. It if stays this size it will be good but there is a swell coming and as well the wind and the rain so just have to see what happens.”
Walshy is up next in Ht 1 and Stuey surfs in Ht 20 of round 2
UPDATE April 15
Layday today.
UPDATE April 17
Ant Walsh went down by 0.27 in the round of 96. Stuey had a good win and followed that up with a 2nd in the round of 48. He surfs next in Ht 8 Rd of 24.
“It was difficult out there because I didn’t get the good ones so I had to work hard on the smaller ones that I got so stoked to get through. My second best result in a 6-star.”
"It would be good to get two wins but you can’t win them all so that’s the other thing I have to look at.”
UPDATE April 18
Stu fought his way to a transfer spot in the round of 32. He completely demolished Linclon Taylor in round 5. In the quarters Stu went down by half a point and finished in 5th overall. This result gives Stuey another 1266 points and pushes him closer to qualification. Good on ya mate.
You can also watch LIVE below as well as highlight vids. Just click on 'menu' bottom right
The 35th Annual Byron Easter Classic is running over the Easter weekend at Broken Head. Heaps of Le-Ba crew are up there chasing a result. Updates to follow during the weekend. Good luck fellahs.
UPDATE April 4
Congratulations Marcus Aboody winner of the 2010 Byron Easter Classic.
Marcus has looked the goods over many years at this event but this time he ticked all the boxes.
Brains came from behind late in the final to win over former WQS surfer Yerin Brown, ex top 44 pro surfer Danny Wills and WQS ripper James Wood .
Marcus has been fairly quiet in the contest scene lately but this win against such a quality field has shot him back into prominence in the competitive arena.
Woody scored the best wave award with a 10-point ride and also took out the best tube award.
OPEN MEN
1ST MARCUS ABOODY (16.97)
2ND YERIN BROWN (16.30)
3RD DANNY WILLS (12.83)
4TH JAMES WOOD (6.50)
MASTERS (OVER 40 YEARS)
1ST CHRIS HOMER
2ND SCOTT MYERS
3RD STEVE KEARNEY
4TH SCOTT WHITBY
CADETS (UNDER 16 YEARS)
1ST TOMMY BOUCAT
2ND JAMES YOUNG
3RD SAM PONCINI
4TH DANIEL HOSKING
