Get ready for the 2008 Honda US Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill
Huntington Beach Pier and the US Open of Surfing (Go211.com)
Go211Live, Honda, and O’Neill have all teamed up for the 15th year of the US Open of Surfing taking place at Huntington Beach, CA. The Go211Live sponsored event will be held July 18-27, 2008 and will provide a live webcast of the US Open of Surfing. I went to this event in 2005 and it was well worth it!! There are plenty of non-surfing events taking place all around the beach. Go check it out this summer!!
The 2008 US Open of Surfing details:
Men’s 6 Star WQS Event #22
Women’s 6 Star WQS Event #22
Grade 2 Men’s ASP Junior Event
Huntington Beach, California
The US Open of Surfing features the best pro surfers on the ASP World Tour, matched up against amateur rippers from around the world. The USA surfers have held the US Open title for the past three years, but look for some of the Brazilian riders to take the podium at the US Open this year. Check out this year’s event schedule and event information.
Surfing will not be the only action sport happening during July 18-27. Along with surfing in the USOS Surf Stadium, there will be 12-acres of non-stop action sports activities. Look for the bmx competition, skateboarding in the 13-foot deep”Soul Bowl,” freestyle motocross air show, super-girl surf/skate/ snow jam, and a HUGE surf village featuring many surf industry products. Go to the action sports festival information.
View of the US Open of Surfing surf village and competition area (Go211.com)
I found this cool 1 minute video clip of Kelly Slater and his on-screen buddy, Jack Nicholson. Remember Kelly Slater and his on-screen days? Do NBC and “Baywatch” ring a bell? Remember David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon, Pamela Anderson as C.J. Parker (who doesn’t?), Carmen Electra as Lani McKenzie, and Kelly Slater as Jimmy Slade?
Some of the famous Baywatch cast members
Well, Jimmy Slade made appearances in season 3 and recurring appearances in season 4. He had some pretty romantic scenes with the full-time Baywatch cast members on and off screen.
Take a look at the video below and see which celebrity is rubbing elbows with Jack Nicholson. Look closely around the 23-24 second mark in the video. Looks like the court-side superstar gave the Los Angeles Lakers some luck and the ended up pulling off a game 5 win. Too bad Jimmy Slade could not make the trek to the Boston TD Banknorth Garden and rub off some of his World Championship know-how for game 6. The Boston Celtics ended up winning the 2008 NBA World Championship in 6 games. That win gave the Celtics their 17th NBA title.
The paparazzi and some enraged Malibu surfers battled it out this past weekend. While Matthew McConaughey and Southern California beach goers tried to beat the heat, so did the elusive paparazzi and their photo wielding cameras. Videographers and photographers trying to get that perfect photo of Matthew McConaughey hanging-ten turned into a full on beach brawl. Dozens of Malibu locals confronted the paparazzi, when they refused to leave the beach. The whole encounter was caught on tape and some of the photographers were assaulted in the ensuing melee. One of the photographers got a beat down like the Rick Kane beat down of the Hui surfer in“North Shore.”
“They don’t want you here,” a surfer yelled at a photographer just before the brawl broke out. “Nobody wants you here.” The paparazzi were tyring to do their job, when the surfers took the situation into their hands. Literally!! The verbal altercation sparked a volley of skirmishes on Saturday and followed up by another encounter on Sunday. Here are some TMZ videos of the weekend brawl. Scroll down on the video player to see the action.
Today is the best day in the world to go surfing. Do not bother calling in sick to work or worry about ditching your summer school class. Make sure you tell your boss or professor that June 20, 2008 is International Surfing Day!! You do not need a doctor’s note or say your dog ate your homework. All you need is your surfboard and some waves. Grab your friends and celebrate this international day-off-of-everything. Go get some waves!!
When surfers think of Waimea Bay, they imagine deep, heavy, extra large pounding surf. This is true during the winter months on the North Shore. But, sometimes people visit Waimea Bay for a picturesque vacation spot. This is evident during the summer months.
Whether you are travelling to Waimea Bay during the winter or summer months, make sure you stop by the most famous bay. Waimea Bay, also known as Waimea Bay Beach Park, is located on the North Shore of O’ahu and the local translation of Waimea means “Red Water.” The water picks up a reddish tint due to the iron oxide found in the volcanic soil that flows down from the mountains by the Waimea River. When the surf is calm during the summer months and surfers are getting surfing fever, they might pray to the rain god. The rain god might listen and deliver a promising deluge up in the Waimea Valley Mountains. After the heavy rains, a huge mass of water from the Waimea River starts to form and needs an exit strategy. Sometimes this is not so easy. Sometimes the Waimea Bay beach acts as a natural barrier inhibiting the “Red Water” flow. When the natural dam can not take anymore pressure, it gives way to a wonderful natural standing wave. This is where Bruce Irons and other aficionados take time away from their busy work schedules and let loose.
The most recent ASP World Tour rankings and total points for each surfer are now available. These new rankings are based on the last completed ASP event at the Globe Pro Fiji. Kelly Slater has won 3 out of the last 4 events and is in a strong position to win his 9th ASP World Tour Championship. Who will catch Slater this year? Catch Slater if you can. That is what the ASP should call this years tour!
Top 10 ASP World Tour Rankings After 4 Events:
Kelly Slater (USA) 4010 points
Joel Parkinson (AUS) 3072 points
Bede Durbidge (AUS) 3050 points
Adriano de Souza (BRA) 2808 points
Taj Burrow (AUS) 2762 points
C.J. Hobgood (USA) 2728 points
Mick Fanning (AUS) 2721 points
Andy Irons (HAW) 2606 points
Adrian Buchan (AUS) 2474 points
Bobby Martinez (USA) 2428 points
Single Event Ratings Explained:
1st place win= 1200 points
2nd place win= 1032 points
3rd place win= 876 points
5th place win= 732 points
9th place win= 600 points
17th place win= 410 points
33rd place win= 225 points
Injured (INJ)= 225 points
Year end ASP tour point total comprised of best 9 of 11 results
The next ASP event takes place July 10-20 at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
The Los Angeles Lakers were not the only show in town during the 2008 NBA Finals. The Staples Center was host to the Lakers vs. Celtics for 3 home games, plus many of your favorite Hollywood stars. Not just the normal court-side stars like Jack Nicholson, Will Smith, or Andy Garcia showed up for the Lakers’ home games. Another Hollywood star/ professional surfer you might know decided to take some time off of surfing and check out Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.
Take a look at your eight-time ASP World Champion, Kelly Slater, and the Lakers VIP pre-party photo shoot. I wonder if he sat next to Pam? Photos of the home game onlookers.
The California Surf Museum will be part of the “Summer of Sports” at the San Diego County Fair this year. The 2008 San Diego County fair kicks off this Saturday, June 14. The fair runs from June 14th – July 6th. During this time The California Surf Museum will unveil its latest exhibit “San Diego Surfs,” which includes a variety of significant area surfboards from past to present, photos and stories.
The fair has designated Saturday, June 14, as “Surf Day,” and be sure to check out the special surfing presentations in the theme exhibit hall. The reggae band, Steel Pulse, will also be performing on the official Surf Day.
The San Diego County Fair is the largest annual event in San Diego County and the fifth largest fair in the United States, drawing more than 1.2 million visitors each year. Gates open daily at 10 a.m.; exhibits close at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Fun Zone closes at approximately midnight. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for ages 6-12 and 62 and older, and free for ages 5 and younger.
Next time you are surfing in Africa and get cut off, you better check twice and make sure it is not one of the surfing hippos catching waves in Africa’s Loango National Park.
A Loango surfing hippo
Loango National Park is located on the west coast of Gabon. Africa is hoping Loango National Park will become the next ecotourism capital. This unspoiled location is part jungle, having the most intact expanses of rain forests left in Africa, part swamp and it sports 60 miles of Atlantic Coastline with plenty of waves for everyone. It has one of the greatest concentrations of undisturbed wildlife anywhere in Africa. Whales stop over to mate; giant sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs; elephants saunter along the beach and the most remarkable attraction are the hippos playing in the surf!
The African surfing hippo
Catching a wave is a new sport to the African River Horse (aka hippo) as they are not particularly fond of sea water. But with many being displaced by human development or when young bulls are “voted out of the herd” they will hang ten if it is the closest water source. So, be forewarned, if you are planning a surfing safari to Gabon’s Loango National Park you might find yourself sharing your wave with a SEEKOEI (pronounced SEA COW) as they are called in the Afrikaans language.
By the way, if you are big fan of the CBS reality show, “Survivor,” be sure to tune in for this year’s Season 17 as it all takes place in Gabon, Africa!!! The season is appropriately named “Survivor: Gabon – Earth’s Last Eden.” Plus, Season 17 will be the first year Survivor filmed in HD! Imagine the bug bites and the surrounding landscape in High-Definition. Hopefully the cast or crew do not steal any of the local’s waves. The video below could be a lost local.
For anyone who does not know about the underground concept of a flash mob, look no further than a sidewalk surfing flash mob *Listen to the music in the background.* I hope none of them “wipe-out.” A flash mob is when a large group of people suddenly gather in a public place (train station, department store, or college campus), act out a ridiculous event or action for a short amount of time, and then quickly disperse before the general public realizes they just witnessed a “Flash Mob!”
Apparently, the world’s largest flash mob took place on March 22, 2008 and was dubbed the “Worldwide Pillow Fight Day.” Over 25 cities around the world participated and reports indicate that over 5,000 New York City Flash Mob Pillow Fighters joined in the fun. The NYC flash mob group broke an older record held by a London Silent Disco flash mob.
The 2008 Arnette Pro Junior will take place June 7-June 8 at 56th Street in Newport Beach. School is out for summer and hopefully there will be some solid south swell rolling into town. The competition starts June 7 (Saturday) and concludes with the finals on June 8 (Sunday). Go check it out this weekend!
The 8-time world champion has claimed another crown by defeating C.J. Hobgood in the Globe Pro Fiji final. I thought Slater might lose a close one in the finals, but he held true to form and rounded out the contest by winning in windy 6-foot Cloudbreak. Slater is the only ASP Top 45 surfer to win an ASP event in 2008. Slater has won 3 out of 4 events so far and remains number one on the ASP World Tour.
Kelly Slater’s win at Cloudbreak has extended his ASP ratings lead with Joel Parkinson (AUS) and Bede Durbidge (AUS) maintaining their World No. 2 and No. 3 spots behind Slater. C.J. Hobgood is 0-2 versus Slater in the Globe Pro Fiji and after losing to Slater has positioned him for another record breaking ninth ASP World Champion. Slater already holds the record with 8 ASP World Titles and looks like he might add another one.
The anticipated swell at the 2008 Globe Pro Fiji finally arrived and delivered decent waves to Cloudbreak. The waves were not smooth and hollowing winds made Round 4 very challenging. Kelly, Taj, Bede, Bobby, Mick, C.J., Joel, and Adriano all advance to the Quarterfinals.
The last heat of the day ended up being the up-setter. The Brazilian, Adriano de Souza, finished off Frederick Patacchia of Hawaii. In Heat 4, Kelly Slater solidified his place in the quarters by beating Damien Hobgood.
Since Fiji is 19 hours ahead of California and 22 hours ahead of Florida, the Quarterfinals will take place Tuesday morning, local Fijian time. Event directors are saying that the Globe Pro Fiji will finish Tuesday and event organizers are aiming for a 7am start. An official surf call will be made, Tuesday, 6:30am local Fijian time.
QF1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS)
QF2: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
QF3: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. CJ Hobgood (USA)
QF4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Watch QF3: Defending 2007 ASP World Champion vs. Former 2001 ASP World Champion
My Prediction: Kelly Slater will win his quarterfinal against Booby Martinez, win the semi-final, and then lose a close one in the finals
The Globe Pro Fiji and the remaining ASP surfers are stuck in another lay day. Competition is still OFF for the fifth consecutive day today, but contest directors are giving indications that Round 4 of the Globe Pro Fiji may resume at Cloudbreak tomorrow, Monday, June 2, 2008.
One interesting note on this year’s Globe Pro Fiji is that the event sponsor, Globe, is promoting their Globe FIRST Environmental carbon neutral program. This means that Globe will give back to the Mother Earth for all the gasoline used in the boats and jet-skis, all the electricity used while on Tavarua, and the other natural resources used. Globe will plant 1,500 trees, or about 6 acres, in a Nicaraguan forest.
