The Surf Blog Spot

Wow! Believe it or not, but Andy Irons will not surf on the 2009 ASP World Surfing Tour.  Andy has decided to take the surfing tour year off.  He wants to chase swells, take surf trips with friends and re-focus on his life and relationships.

Andy has been on the ASP World Tour for 12 years and it looks like he needs a rest from the grueling tour.  He has won 3 ASP World Titles and won multiple surfing events.  He might enter a few select 2009 events as a wild-card and will have an automatic place on the 2010 ASP World Tour.  Andy will not have to requalify on the WQS Tour.

Last year Andy’s brother, Bruce Irons, annouced his retirment from the ASP World Tour.  Although Bruce retired, I think Andy will be back for the 2010 ASP World Tour. 

Read the Andy Irons interview about his 2009 ASP disappearance

The Top 45 surfers on the 2009 ASP World Tour have been decided with surfers rated 1-27 on the 2008 ASP World Tour ratings automatically re-qualifying for the 2009 tour. Bede Durbidge (AUS) finished runner-up to the World Title holder, Kelly Slater, who won it back in October.  We will have to wait and see if Slater comes back for a 10th ASP World Title.  I bet he does.  What do you think?

World Surfers Numbered 1-10 respectively:

Kelly Slater (USA), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Taj Burrow (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Mick Fanning (AUS), Bobby Martinez (USA) Jeremy Flores (FRA).

World Surfers Numbered 11-27 respectively:

Luke Stedman (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Andy Irons (HAW), Chris Ward (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), Tim Reyes (USA), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Bruce Irons (HAW), Mikael Picon (FRA), Dane Reynolds (USA), Taylor Knox (USA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Heitor Alves (BRA), Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Ben Dunn (AUS).

Top 15 ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) surfers in ranked order:

Nathaniel Curran (USA), Chris Davidson (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF), Gabe Kling (USA), Jihad Khodr (BRA), David Weare (ZAF), Josh Kerr (AUS), Nic Muscroft (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Greg Emslie (ZAF),  Tim Boal (FRA), Dustin Barca (HAW) Tiago Pires (PRT), Phillip MacDonald (AUS) and Drew Courtney (AUS).

3 2009 tour wildcards, as decided by the ASP in conjunction with the surfer’s union:

Injury applicants Dean Morrison (AUS) and Aritz Aranburu (EUK) and WQS NO. 16 Marlon Lipke (DEU).

Complete 2008 standings and event list for the entire 2008 ASP World Surfing Tour

Nathaniel Curran: Rowland/ASP Covered Images

Nathaniel Curran (USA) defeated Tim Boal (FRA) at the 2008 Honda US Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill and also moved into the ASP WQS ratings lead.  His first place finish came in 1-3 foot surf at the Huntington Beach pier.  Nathaniel managed to score a combined two-wave score of 11.66 vs. Boal’s 10.70.  The best two-wave score out of 20 possible points determines the combined wave score.

Taylor Jensen, from San Clemente, CA, claimed the O’Neill U.S. Open of Longboarding presented by Honda title.  He beat out three other competitors, Noah Shimabukuro, Oceanside, CA, Ned Snow, North Shore, HI and Tony Silvagni, Kerry Beach, NC,  to win his second US Open title.

Orange County local boy, Tanner Gudauskas, took the O’Neill US Open Pro Junior presented by Honda title.

Men’s final results:

GO211 LIVE featuring the Men’s Honda US Open of Surfing presented by O’Neill:
1 – Nathaniel Curran (USA)
2 – Tim Boal (FRA)

O’Neill US Open Pro Junior presented by Honda Results:
1 – Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
2 – Julian Wilson (AUS)
3 – Chris Salisbury (AUS)
4 – Nat Young (USA)

O’Neill US Open of Longboarding presented by Honda Results:
1 – Taylor Jensen (USA)
2 – Tony Silvagni (USA)
3 – Ned Snow (HAW)
4 – Noah Shimabukuro (USA)

Go to the official US Open of Surfing Website to see other winners

The 2008 US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach, CA has started and the men’s second round is complete.  Today, July 23, will feature the women’s Round of 60, 48, and 24.  Thursday will feature the men’s Round of 96: Heat 1-20 and the Boost Mobile Pro Shoot Out Heats 1 and 2.  This weekend is the grand finale featuring the men’s and women’s surfing final, specialty events, interactive festival village and the first ever Corona Stand-Up Paddle Surf Challenge. 

For complete coverage and times go to US Open of Surfing Event Schedule.

While visiting the GO211 US Open of Surfing contest, make sure you stop by the Festival Village and check out the IPEVO and ROCKSTAR Energy Drinks booth.  Enter your best surfing injury at the Festival Village booth or on The Surf Blog Spot if you want to WIN a free PoV webcam and a free USB Skype phone.

The 15^th annual US Open of Surfing competition kicks off today in Huntington Beach, CA, and runs through Sunday, July 27. As one of the world’s biggest surfing and action sports beach festivals, the US Open of Surfing is North America’s only 6-star ASP WQS contest and attracts crowds of more than 400,000.

Helping to kick off the event, we have one of IPEVO’s prize packs to give away to our readers.  IPEVO, a designer of devices to enhance the Internet experience, will be at the US Open of Surfing’s Vendor Village hosting a ‘Scar Search’ contest along with ROCKSTAR Energy Drink. The two companies will be taking pictures of the most impressive scars, as well as showing off their latest products.  Check out a map of the US Open of Surfing Vendor Village.

 Enter the sweepstakes now:

1. Tell us all about your worst surfing related injury

2. How it happened?

3. Most importantly – how it hasn’t kept you from getting back on the board!

Enter your story in the comments section below for a chance to win an IPEVO PoV Web Camera and FR-33.1 USB Handset for Skype. The winner with the best injury story will be selected on Friday, August 1, so get your entry in soon.

More GO211 US Open of Surfing Info

Any questions please contact The Surf Blog Spot:

info@surfblogspot.com

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

2007 US Open Final Results:

1 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.60
2 – Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.17

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)

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