ATTENTION: ISA Members, please forward this Newsletter to all of your members, circulate also in any surf related website of your organization, and/or any entity affiliated with your organization. Thank you.

CONTENTS

TAHITI ISA WORLD KNEEBOARD OPT HORUE 2004

June 28 – July 10, Papara, Tahiti
The Organizing Committee, the Federation Tahitienne de Surf and the Popoti Surf Club welcome kneeboarders from around the world to the city of Papara for the 2004 Tahiti ISA World Kneeboard Horue. 
This is a great opportunity for athletes from different nations and cultural backgrounds to join together, develop their skills and have an experience of a lifetime in Tahiti.   

Competitors may enter the Tahiti ISA World Kneeboard Championships as an individual or as a team.  
Entry Fees and Entry Forms: Due June 1s t to Popoti Surf Club.  
Entry Fee: $75US per each competitor.  

To download Entry Forms and for event details, please visit: http://www.horue.pf/popoti2004.htm 



EVENT SCHEDULE
*Subject to change

June 23 – 27            -Arrival days, Intended arrival is required for teams and individual competitors
June 27         AM:     -Event meetings: The contest coordinator in conjunction with the contest                                director will hold the meeting prior to the first day of contest, June 28th.  All                               competitors are requested to attend.
                PM:     -15h00 Official Opening Ceremony.  Folkloric dance show, live concert with                              local modern artists, cocktails of "Bienvenue"
June 28         AM:     -Competitors meeting / Judges meeting
                        -FIRST DAY OF CONTEST
June 29         AM:     -HALF DAY CONTEST, start 8h00 to 12h00
                PM:     -PARADE in Papeete for the Polynesian autonomy day celebration – free                           transportation.
June 30 – July 8                -CONTEST DAYS
July 9          AM:     -GRAND FINAL all categories
                PM:     -19h00 AWARD CEREMONY and AWARD BANQUET
July 10                 -Closing ceremony, garden party at the City Hall
                        -Live Concert Reggae on the beach
July 10 – 12            -Departure days – free transportation.
        
Email Christophe Holozet, Event Organizer at qch.Tahiti@netcourrier.com or Lindsay Nelson at the ISA Head Office at lindsay@isasurf.org for further details.

December 2 – 14, 2004, Papenoo, Tahiti

The ISA is pleased to announce that the 2^nd Edition of the ISA World Junior Surfing Championships is scheduled to take place in Tahiti this December. The ISA confirms receipt of the deposit and agreement from the Tahitian NGB. Important details about the event, deadlines, payments and accommodations will be sent to NGBs within the next month.

Please contact Lindsay Nelson at ISA Headquarters should you have any questions, lindsay@isasurf.org

*An ISA Sanctioned Event

The ISA Calendar is available on the ISA website. Click here.

FEDERACION ESPANOLA DE SURF
New Address:

c/ Rafel Alverti nº 13 c.p. 
15008 A Coruña 
Spain


For the full and updated list of the ISA National Governing Bodies, please go to the ISA website, www.isasurf.org, or simply click here.  Please inform the ISA Headquarters (lindsay@isasurf.org) if there are any updates to your NGB contact information. Thank you.

4. ON THE OLYMPIC FRONT

WADA has requested that each ISA NGB know what travel plans its athletes have for the month of July because WADA will be conducting out of competition testing. This is mostly for Sports included on the official Programme, but since surfing is a recognized sport, the ISA, and all of its NGBs come under this umbrella of WADA and therefore; out of competition testing.

WADA wants to know the exact addresses and exactly where the NGB athletes (those that participated in the last WSG in Ecuador), will be in the month of July 2004.

As part of the WADA code that the ISA has signed, out of competition testing is a part of the code and can be conducted at any given time.

The ISA kindly requests each NGB to submit information and contacts to the ISA for each competitor from the WSG 2004 in Ecuador. For the NGBs that did not participate in the WSG 2004, please send a list of athletes from the last WSG that your national team participated in, along with their addresses and travel plans for the month of July 2004. For those NGBs who have never participated, please send the ISA a list from your last national series.
The ISA would really appreciate this information by no later than Thursday, June 10^th to be able to send it in. Please send it to Maile Aguerre at the following email: maile@isasurf.org
 

Mahalo for your cooperation.

New IOC Recognition Procedure

In October 2003, the International Olympic Committee contacted each International Sport Federation (including the ISA), regarding the IOC’s new recognition procedure and requirements initiated earlier in the 2003 year. As requested by the IOC, the ISA submitted a thorough and detailed report on its activities. An analysis of the data and criteria of all Federations enabled the IOC Executive Board to make several types of decisions, taking into account the specific circumstances and status of each federation.

On May 19^th, the ISA Head Office received confirmation from the IOC that after review of the report and questionnaire submitted, the ISA remains compliant with all the current criteria. This enables the IOC Executive Board to propose to the IOC Session (which will convene in August 2004) to confirm ISA’s status as a Recognized Federation.

The ISA was granted outright recognition in September 1997.

Part of the IOC’s new criteria for recognition is conducting a review every four years. This will allow for a periodic evaluation of the status of every International Federation.

Should you have any further questions, please contact Maile Aguerre at maile@isasurf.org

International Olympic Committee’s World Conference on Women and Sport

March 7 – 9, 2004, Marrakech, Morocco

On behalf of the ISA, Maile H. Aguerre, ISA Vice President, attended the International Olympic Committee’s World Conference on Women and Sport in Marrakech, Morocco before her travel to Ecuador for the World Surfing Games. Under the overall theme, "New Strategies, New Commitments," the conference analyzed progress made in the field of women’s advancement at all levels in sport generally, and in the Olympic Movement in particular. The Conference also outlined priority issues still facing women in sport and addressed relevant strategies and policy guidelines to meet these challenges in the years to come.

IOC President Jacques Rogge, commented on the fact that there were only 8 International Federations out of all the IF’s, (on the Programme and Recognized) which had complied with the IOC’s requirement of having 20% of Executive Positions in the hands of women. The ISA is very proud to announce that the ISA is one of those 8 IF’s.

For more information, please contact Maile Aguerre at maile@isasurf.org
 
 

BRCostal Synergy with Global Garbage

On May 15, 2004 a partnership was drafted between project Local Beach – Global Garbage and Adventure at Brazil Costal (ABC) of the Coastal Waters Management Diffusion. With the subject of solid marine debris as the oceanographers’ expertise, the opportunity could not be better due to the VII Ecological Sailing Race of the Navy School, which BRCostal promotes on board of the boat assigned by the Brazilian Navy.
 
 

The ecological sailing race deals with competing teams collecting garbage from the water at Guanabara Bay. Teams are composed of members of the navy school and students from many universities in Rio. The team that collects the most garbage wins. Two leaders of the initiative, Isaac and Ana Cláudia will show how to weigh the garbage collected by the BRCostal team, the basic methodology used by Local Beach - Global Garbage to identify the origins of the many categories of sea garbage. Also, they will explain all the issues involved in the treatment or lack of treatment of the garbage thrown into the sea.
 
 

This methodology was developed in 2001 by Fabiano Barretto, founder of ID Garbage - Program for the Identification of the Sources of Marine Debris at Costa dos Coqueiros, Bahia. The garbage collected at high seas is usually taken by sea currents that are able of bringing any floating object from the proximities of the African Coast to that precise point at the Brazilian Coast, the North of Bahia, a fact that is so impressive that Fabiano started to get supporters from many parts of Brazil and the world. You can learn more about the evolution of the project at www.globalgarbage.org.

Fabiano currently lives in Germany where he shows pictures of sea garbage and has operational support for exhibitions in other countries. In Brazil he works with a research team, Isaac and Ana Claudia, to make the implementation possible and to communicate Local Beach - Global Garbage in as many places of the Brazilian Coast as possible. Fabiano was also present at the ISA World Surfing Games in Salinas, Ecuador in March to promote this cause.

Submitted by Fabiano Barreto, fabianobarretto@globalgarbage.org

More information can be found at http://www.luispeaze.com/abc/ex_det.asp?id=42 (Portuguese only) or at www.globalgarbage.org.
 
 

PANAMA OP LATIN PRO – Event #5

May 28 – 30, 2004 at Playa Venao, Panama

This is a 6-Star tournament with the competing categories: Open, Bodyboard, Junior, Longboard & Ladies

Beach Venao is a beach break. The waves are well formed, even though the bay is small. The average size of waves is 1 to 2 meters with the water temperature about 24 - 28 C.

ALAS looks forward to welcoming the athletes to this event.

News excerpt from the ALAS e-mail news bulletin, boletin@alastour.com

For information about this event, e-mail: Ruben Garcia, President of the Asociacion Panamena de Surf at apsradical@hotmail.com

For information on ALAS’ Latin Pro Tour, as well as the latest results and news, please visit www.alastour.com

EUROPEAN TOUR OF BODYBOARD – CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2004
July 2 – 4, Casablanca, Morocco
August 20 – 22, Portugal
August 25 – 29, Sintra, Portugal
September 3 – 5, Ferrol, Spain

September 9 – 11, Mimizan, France
September 16 – 18, Lacanau, France
Waiting Period November 7 – December 5, Oeiras, Portugal
Calendar submitted by Rui Felix at afelix@mail.telepac.pt; www.eurosurfing.org

II CIRCUITO BRASILEIRA DE SURF

April 20 – 26, Rio Araguari, Municipal district of Macapá, Amapá

Ending during the new moon of April was the third and final stage of the Second Brazilian Circuit of Surf in "Pororoca", Rio Araguari, City of Macapá, Amapá. The longest wave of the world came into sight with a height of two meters, making Adilton Mariano the champion of the stage and of the circuit, followed by the native of Parana, Serginho Laus (T&C, HB Sunglasses, Pro-Lite, Goofy, Surfline, Quiosque Natureza and Academia Sport Batel).  After having some hard times last year, when he fractured his fifth vertebrae, Laus returned to the "Pororoca of Araguari" for a special reunion. "I admit that I was afraid before even observing her ("the pororoca")! The noise came one hour before the phenomenon started. All I could think about was what happened last year, but in the end everything went well! " States the native of Parana with nine seasons of experience with the more fearsome fluvial Amazonian phenomenon.
 

There is nothing more special than to compete against the current world record holder of the "Pororoca" (34 minutes and 10 seconds). Adilton Mariano was already predicted to be the champion of the Second Brazilian Circuit of Surf (2004) in the "Pororoca" before competing with Laus. In the most anticipated match of the event, Laus went into the heat with confidence from his victory in the semifinal. However, in the last minutes of the grand finale, Laus experienced interference from the waves of the boats and was pushed behind the wave of fresh water that only appears once a day, thus making way for the victory by one point (8 to 9) by the Ceará native.

Rescue of the porpoise - On the last day of competition, athletes and staff of the event helped save a couple of porpoises that were stuck in a shallow bank of mud in the exit of the boat ramp of the "Pororoca Hotel of Araguari." "We couldn’t leave them there thrashing in the shallow…", and then the captain Márcio had the good idea to try to calm them. At the end everyone was helping the porpoises to get back to the river.

Shipwrecks - During the last stage of the Second Brazilian Circuit of Surf in the "Pororoca" in the Araguari River, two shipwrecks happened when the motorboats breakdown. With experience of years in the "Pororoca", both captains knew how to deal with the situation reducing the risk and guaranteeing the rescue of the motorboats without anybody getting hurt.
 

Terror and panic - In the third day of the expedition, CNN’s staffs and a German company were stuck in the middle of Araraguari River, few moments before the "Pororoca" appear destroying everything that would be in front of them. Luckily, a single engine airplane from the government of Amapá felt the danger in the air and it flew over the area. Coincidently, the pilot saw all staff (panicking). Afterwards the pilot wrote two notes, put then inside a plastic bottle and through them near the "Pororoca Hotel of Araguari" where all athletes, organizers and other staffs were accommodated. Observing the airplane flights, a fireman saw the bottle falling in the river and went to find out what was going on. The team headed to the river to proceed with the rescue.
 

Between adventures and disputes, the Second Brazilian Circuit of Surf in the "Pororoca" arrived to its end with the exceptional support of the Amapá governor, Waldez Góesfrom, Olimpio Guarany, Detur (Department of Tourism) and every team of pilots and logistics.

Final placement of the third and last stage of the Second Brazilian Circuit of Surf in the "Pororoca"

1^st - Adilton Mariano (CE)

2^nd - Serginho Laus (PR)

3^rd - Sérgio Roberto (SHOVEL)

4^th - Stanley Gomes (AP)

Report and results submitted by Conferderacao Brasileira de Surf, cbsurf@terra.com.br

ROBERTO VALERIO CUP

In 2003, CBS created the Roberto Valerio Cup for the Brazilian Amateur Circuit in honor of Roberto Valerio, who was the biggest supporter of amateur surfing in Brazil. (Mr. Valerio was also the major sponsor of the WSG in Rio in 1994).

The trophy rotates going to the winning team. The Brazilian Team that wins 3 times gets to keep it.

The Taka Roberto Valerio will take place in 2004 with 4 competitions:

The 1^st one will be from the 5^th through the 7^th of March in the Northeast

And the last will be from the 30^th of October through the 1^st of November in Ilha do Mel.

Calendar submitted by Juca de Barros, CBS cbsurf@terra.com.br

For more information, please visit the CBS Website: www.cbsurf.com.br

FIJI SURFING ASSOCIATION - CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June 12, FSA Club Competition (Venue to be announced)

June 26, Olympic Day Fun Run (Venue to be announced)

August 25 – 26, Fiji Games Surfing Competition (Venue to be announced)

Calendar submitted by Brian McDonald, FSA b.mcdonald@cqufic.ac.fj

Surfing becomes an official High School sport in Hawaii

Excerpt from CNN.com, posted Friday, May 21, 2004

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2004 - JAMAICA SURFING ASSOCIATION

June 12, Forth National Open, Zoo Surfing Beach Harbour View, East Kingston

June 26, Fifth National Open, Copa Surfing Beach, Cable Hut Beach, 8 Miles Bull Bay St. Andrew

July 10, National Junior Championships Event #1, Cable Hut Beach, 8 Miles Bull Bay St. Andrew

July 17, National Junior Championships Event #2, Long Bay Portland

Calendar submitted by Billy Wilmot, jasurfas@hotmail.com

ASSAULT WOMEN’S AIRFORCE

May 1, 2004, Mount Maunganui

Lisa Hurunui (Gisborne) took the honors by over 3 whole points at the Assault Women’s Air force. With a mix of vertical re-entries, laybacks and snaps it was obvious what international exposure has done for Hurunui’s surfing. When asked about her win, Hurunui commented: "It’s just great to be here with the girls and see their amazing development. The surf was not that great, but it’s the sort of event that is just that bit special and gives us the chance to showcase our best surfing."

Current Female National Champ, Airini Mason (Gisborne) placed second by a narrow margin of less than one point, with her combination of speed and impressive bottom turns. SNZ Women’s Pro Series leader, Hester Sutherland Stacey (Mnt) placed third, a reward for her excellent wave knowledge and manoeuvre control.
 
 

Participants in the Bay of Plenty Women’s Boardriders’ Club Junior Grom Training Camp also held this weekend, wagged class for a couple of hours to shelter in the tent with competitors, watch the surfing, and rub shoulders with sport champs Georgina Matthews (skate), Kendall Brown (snowboard) and Mihi Wells (bodyboarding). Much of that will shortly be seen on upcoming television programmes on Maori TV and XSTV.
 
 

The 2004 competitor profile featured Lisa Hurunui (Gisborne), Mischa Davis (Piha), Jessica Welch (Gisborne), Hester Sutherland-Stacey (Mt Maunganui), Kendall Brown (Mt Maunganui), Michelle Langdon (Mount Maunganui), Ella Willis (Mt Maunganui), Airini Mason (Gisborne), Jessica Santorik (Raglan), Clare Thomson (Gisborne) and Laura Rishworth (Ohope).
 
 

The judges were focused on precision surfing, working hard to award those crucial points from the likes of Hurunui, Mason, Sutherland Stacey and more. Kendall Brown picked up an awesome wave count during her second heat, skimming into consecutive waves in very trying and fickle conditions. Davis and Thomson looked great on their many take offs, but the conditions and deep inshore channels won over them completing their intended "tricks". Novice wild card Laura Rishworth also impressed the judges with her speed and extension, certainly a surfer to watch for in the immediate future. Ella Willis, recently returned to the contest scene, also clocked up a good wave count and once again proved the consistency of her surfing.
 
 

Glenn Bright of Assault Surf Shop, commented: "These girls are great and put up solid a performance today. Because of the conditions, many of the attempted big manoeuvres failed to connect at the end, with the fuller tide hampering "landings". But we were impressed with what we saw today."

The event happens all over again next year, first weekend of May 2005, for the country’s top 11 female surfers and one wild card.

Report submitted by Ben Kennings, SNZ ben.kennings@surfingnz.co.nz

SNZ LONGBOARD SERIES – RAY DALTON/BOARDROOM GISBORNE LONGBOARD CLASSIC

May 1 – 2, Makarori, Gisborne

The Old Guard Michael Fitzharris (Gis) took out the last circuit event ‘The Ray Dalton Boardroom Gisborne Longboard Classic.’ But it was Phil Morris of Auckland whose tremendous performances over the Longboard Series that secured him the SNZ Longboard Series for 2004.
 
 

The young Aucklander flew back from his new job in Rarotonga especially to compete. The Open Division was a three-way battle that went down to the line. In clean, summery 1.0m high wave conditions, Sunday’s final was a local derby with Phil Morris knocked out in the semis. It was left to Michael Fitzharris, Kelly Ryan, Sam Johnson all of Gisborne and Brendon Young of Hawkes Bay to battle out the final. The lead seesawed through out the 25 minute final with all surfers battling hard. In the end the all round attack of Michael Fitzharris secured the win over rival Kelly Ryan, Sam Johnson 3^rd and Brendon Young 4^th.
 
 

Standout surfing was produced over the weekend from the juniors The final saw Daniel Proctor (Gisborne), up against Mount’s Erreur! Signet non défini., Matt Cockayne (Mang) and Gisborne’s Jamie Hunt Porter. With local knowledge and good wave selection Proctor dominated the final. Ant McColl tried to catch the Gisborne flyer but to no avail finishing second. The minor placings went to Matt Cockayne and Jamie Hunt Porter in third and fourth respectively.
 
 

The Women’s Division saw another battle emerge between newcomer Auckland’s Shelly Jones and circuit leader Nicky Murden of Mount Maunganui. It was Nicky Murden whose patience waiting for the longer breaking lefthanders paid off. British longboarder Cecillia Phillips finished 3^rd and Cheryl Lowe in 4^th place.
 
 

The popular Over 40’s division saw legend Brendon Young again winning, this being his 3^rd title win of the 2004 Series. Mickey T placed second, Mount’s Phil Griffin 3^rd and Tommy Swan in 4^th place.

The Over 50’s was a straight five man final. It was the cunning and local knowledge of Chris Ransley and Kevin Croskery which saw them 1^st and 2^nd respectively. Steve Teague of Taranaki came in placing 3^rd, Neil Lewelleyn H-Bay 4^th and Christchurch’s Kevin Murdoch 5^th after incurring an interference call.

The Old Mal division was a lively affair. With three surfers vying for the Series crown. Showing a full repertoire of traditional moves Guy Rencher (Waihi Beach) took 1^st place over Auckland’s Paul Mant. Taranaki’s Craig Davies placed 3^rd with Kerry Hunt (Mount) in 4^th place.
 
 

For full list of results and/or series placings, please email Nicky Murden, nickeye@ihug.co.nz.

Report submitted by Ben Kennings, SNZ

FUSION CAPITAL CHALLENGE

May 8 – 9, Wellington Region

Taranaki surfers Simon Deken and Blanton Smith won their respective divisions in the Fusion Surf and Skate Capital Surfing Challenge held at Castle Point.

In perfect 1.5m (3-4ft) waves, it was Simon Deken who stood out the entire weekend continuing his excellent form into the final of the Open Men’s Division for the win. In a close tussle that swung several times it was Deken’s last scoring ride of 8.50 that secured the win over Ben Kennings (WGM) who had held the lead through much of the final. Jeremy Evans (HBay) placed third and Morehu Roberts (Rag) placed fourth.

In the Reefside Under 18 Men’s Division, Blanton Smith (Tara) made a late charge to win the final scoring a total heat score of 13.85. Both Dean Amess (WGM) and Morehu Roberts held the lead at certain stages throughout the final but had to settle for second and third respectively with heat scores of 12.4 and 12.35. Both surfers secured their highest scoring rides on their last waves of the heat. Coming in fourth place was Ethan Atkinson (Wgtn) with a total heat score of 8.80.
 
 

The event was a huge success for the Wellington Surfriders Club who ran the contest from start to finish. Great support from the Wellington Region surfers was the key to such a successful event. The unbelievable support from the Wellington surf industry bodes well for another event in 2005. No doubt further events will build on the solid platform that has been put in place.
 

Report submitted by Ben Kennings, SNZ

RUSTY GROMFEST – AUSTRALIA

July 9 – 12, 2004, Lennox Heads – Ballina, NSW Australia

The New Zealand Grommet Surf Team was announced May 7^th. The 14-person team will be touring Australia primarily to contest the Rusty Gromfest. The Rusty Gromfest is the biggest and most prestigious surf event held for surfers under the age of 16. New Zealand has sent a team to the event for the past three years. The 14 person New Zealand Team has been selected after a rigorous event filled four months in New Zealand.

Under 16 Boys: Richard Christie, Tim O’Connor, Jason Hayes and Kierin Van Der Helder

Under 16 Girls: Mischa Davis, Jessica Welch, Daisy Thomas and Wini Paul

Under 14 Boys: Ryan Hawker, Oliver Bone, Stefan White and Paco Divers

Under 14 Girls:  Airini Mason and Paige Hareb

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2004 – SURFING NEW ZEALAND
May 15 – 16, SNZ Level 1 Judging Course, Christchurch
Jun. 5 – 6, Kaikoura Cold Water Classic, Kaikoura
Jun. 28 – July 8, ISA World Kneeboard Surfing Championships, Tahiti
Jun. TBC, Lion Red Interclub Tag Team Challenge, TBC

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2004 – FEDERACAO PORTUGUESA DE SURF

May 28 – 31, 3^rd Coaching/Trainers Course, Level 2, FMH

Jun. 10 – 13, 3^rd Coaching /Trainers Course, Level 2, FMH

Jun. 26, Apprenticeship for Eurojunior 2004, Costa da Caparica

Jun. 26 – 27, 3^rd Coaching/Trainers Course, Level 3, FMH

Calendar submitted by the Federacao Portuguesa de Surf, fedsurf@mail.telepac.pt

2004 QUIKSILVER SOUTH AFRICAN SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS

May 2 – 9, Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape, South Africa

KwaZulu-Natal Surfriders Association franked their domination of SA surfing by recording a record breaking 4 343 point win over Border, with hosts Eastern Province placing third in the prestigious President’s Cup inter-provincial standings at the 2004 Quiksilver SA Surfing Championships that ended in Jeffreys Bay.  With at least one finalist in each of the eight individual age categories, as many as three in the open men, open women’s and the Masters finals, and four of the eight champions, the Durban based team’s supremacy was unchallenged.

In wind affected one to 1.6 meter (3-5 foot) waves at Supertubes, Travis Logie from KwaZulu-Natal became the 2004 SA surfing champion, his first national title, when he won a low scoring and tensely contested men’s open division over favorite and Supertubes maestro Sean Holmes from Southern Cape.

Try as they might, KZN’s Shane Thorne and Paul Canning could not find any waves with scoring potential in the final and finished 3^rd and 4^th respectively. Logie thanked everyone who had put the event together and then generously donated R5 000 of his R10 000 first place prize-money to the JP Andrews trust fund for the youngster who lost a leg in a shark attack at Muizenberg a month ago, adding to the more than R5 000 that had been collected during the event.

The women’s open division crowned a new champion for the first time in four years when Sacha Moller out surfed her KZN teammates Sarah Johnston and Tasha Mentasti with Zululand’s Bianca Bosman taking fourth place.

The future of SA surfing looks secure thanks a to strong showing by all four U20 boys finalists, any of whom could have lifted the winner’s trophy. In the most exciting final of the day, it was Keegan Nel (Bor) who added the U20 title to the U18 crown he already holds by absolutely shredding his final wave in the last minute of the 25 minute final, earning 9.0 points from a possible 10. KZN’s Ricky Basnett had two rides over seven points to claim second place while teammate Jordy Smith, the ISA world U16 champ, and local ripper Shaun Payne (EP) were just a couple of points further back in the third and fourth respectively.

The masters gold went to Ryan Ribbink whose well deserved win was just reward for an excellent week of surfing, with KZN also taking the silver and bronze medals that went to Clayton Nienaber and Mark Jackson while Border’s Wayne Monk was relegated to fourth place in the final.

The girl’s U20 title went to an ecstatic Rosanne Hodge from the Border team whose 8.33 and 6.50 point rides left closest rival Tammy-Lee Smith (KZN) requiring 8.18 for victory while third and fourth placed Nicole Annells (SN) and Jessica Matthews (KZN) needed a combination of two rides each.

Gary Maisch from Southern Natal was a popular winner of the grandmasters title with the diminutive goofy foot proving he has lost little of the skills he has demonstrated over the past quarter century. He left Rob Moore-Boyle (KZN), Mark Fine (WP) and Stephen Hair (SC), who finished in that order, trailing in his spray.

The 42 – 50 year old veterans division was dominated from start to finish by 1988 SA open champ Marc

Wright from KZN who not only won the gold but also took home the Quiksilver Super Surfer award usually reserved for an open division surfer. Wright left runner-up Chris Knutsen (Zulu), a former four-time SA open champ, fellow KZN team member Robin Bissett and Glen Milne (Zulu) needing near perfect scores for the victory.

The Supervets, all over 51 years age, put on a creditable display in arguably the best surf of the finals. Leonard Giles (SC) turned back the clock in a repeat performance of his 1984 open victory to claim gold ahead of Mike Larmont (KZN), defending champ Glen Bowles (EP) and Rob Head (KZN).

The 40^th annual edition of the SA national surfing championships were staged at Jeffreys Bay, home of Supertubes, one of the world’s best surf spots, for the first since 1986. Thanks to cooperation of the local residents, authorities and surfers the event was a major success. The 2005 Quiksilver SA surfing Championships will be staged in Durban.

For a full list of results, please email Life’s a Beach Communications, lifesabeach@mweb.co.za.

Report submitted by Life’s a Beach Communications.
 
 

2004 RIP CURL GROMSEARCH

May 22, St Michael’s on Sea on the KZN south coast

The famous ST Michaels on Sea point break on the KZN South Coast churned out solid 6 to 8 foot waves for the Rip Curl Gromsearch held St Michael’s On Sea, Saturday (May 22) as Jordy Smith (Durban), Kate Goldreich (Glenwood), Gareth Moys (Shelly Beach) and Ryan Klynsmith (Winkelspruit) won the Under 16 Boys, Under 16 girls, Under 14 and Under 12 finals respectively. Close on 60 surfers competed in this, the second event of 2004, and Mike Larmont, head of Rip Curl SA was really impressed with the fresh talent that was unearthed at the second stop of the popular Gromsearch tour.

 "In today’s event I thought that the new south coast talent we discovered in the under 12 and under 14 divisions showed great promise for the future. I was impressed by the way the under 14 surfers paddled out to the backline. I thought their maturity in dealing with that situation earned a great deal of respect," said the Rip Curl chief after the finals.

The under 16 final was a tightly contested showdown between Jordy Smith (Dbn) and Rudy Palmboom (Bluff) but in the end current ISA World Under16 Champion Smith produced two high scoring rides which were enough to push defending event champion Palmboom into second place. Chad du Toit (Dbn) came third ahead of Chris Leppan (Umhlanga). Kate Goldreich (Glenwood) won the under 16 girls’ final with a gutsy performance in the intimidating surf conditions beating Julia Morris (Scottburgh) into second spot and 11 year olds Sarah Baum (Athlone Park) and Heidi Palmboom (Bluff), who were third and fourth respectively. The under 14's raised the bar in their final by fearlessly paddling onto some of the most daunting waves of the day. Local boy, Gareth Moys (Shelly Beach) was a popular champion, especially as he was competing in his first final. Du Toit who was the top seed in the U14 division hung on to second place with another local surfer Kyle Whitaker (St Mikes) finishing third. Haydn Mc Nicol (Scottburgh) placed fourth. In the under 12 decider, Ryan Klynsmith (Winkelspruit) came out tops pushing U12 KZN team top seed, Devin Lane (Umhlanga) into second spot. Beyrick De Vries (Umhlanga) was third and Scott Lefevre (Glenwood) came fourth.

Originating in Australia four years ago, the Rip Curl Gromsearch is now held annually in Brazil, USA, France, Spain, New Zealand and Portugal and of course South Africa.

Report and results submitted by Robin de Kock, SSA rosadian@iafrica.com

RED BULL BIG WAVE AFRICA 2004 – Surfing South Africa (SSA) Specialty event

June 7 – 27, Dungeons, Hout Bay, Cape Town

Andrew Marr from Kommetjie in Cape Town who began his big wave surfing career at Waimea Bay in Hawaii and arguably now spends more time than anyone in the huge waves that batter the coastline of the Cape Peninsula, has been allocated the twelfth and final spot in the line-up for the 2004 Red Bull Big Wave Africa event that runs from June 7-27 at Hout Bay.
 
 

Marr takes the place of last year’s event runner-up John Whittle after the Durban charger notified the organisers of his withdrawal from the event due to personal circumstances. Marr joins a star-studded field of local and international big wave chargers that includes 2004 winner Greg Long, fellow Californian and three-time Mavericks winner Darryl ‘Flea’ Virostko, Brazilian star Carlos Burle and 2000 winner Sean Holmes from Wilderness in the Southern Cape.

Along with Virostko, the other newcomers to Red Bull BWA 2004 are Mexican Coco Nogales and New Zealander Doug Young who will be the international alternate. The giant Grant Washburn of Mavericks fame is back for his fourth crack at the title after missing last year’s edition while Hawaiian standout Jamie Sterling, a finalist last year, returns for the fourth consecutive year.

The challenge to surf the biggest ride-able waves on the coastline of Africa is based in Hout Bay on the Cape Peninsula and the competitors, along with the three alternates, wait for swells exceeding five metres in height at Dungeons, the open ocean reef under the towering cliffs of the Sentinel Mountain, during the 21 day holding period.

The life threatening nature of big wave surfing has led to the contest itself only being staged twice since it was initiated in 1999 – in near perfect 15 – 18 foot (5 – 6 metre) swells in 2000 when Holmes clinched victory and in similar size but incredibly hollow waves last year when Long dominated proceedings – ironically both occasions held on the day after the holding period ended!
 
 

However, the invitees challenge Dungeons every time it breaks and several wind-blown sessions that were unsuitable for the contest have produced rides on swells in the 20 foot plus (7-8 metres) range, creating wave faces the height of a four story building as they rear up and break, which have been hailed as the biggest waves ever surfed on the coastline of the continent.
 
 

A prize-pool totalling R125 000 is at stake, while the streamlined contest format geared to completing the contest in under four hours enables contest director Gary Linden (California) and his newly appointed assistant, local big wave surfing legend Jonathan Paarman from Hout Bay, to thoroughly check the often fickle conditions before giving the contest the go-ahead. The all important safety aspects of Red Bull BWA will again be coordinated by California based water safety expert Shawn Alladio and her Brazilian partner Marcelo Ulyssea on PWC’s. They will conduct refresher water safety courses for the local backup crew comprising Cape Town’s foremost big wave tow-in team of Glen Bee, Pierre du Plessis and Nico Johnsen along with the operators of the support vessels coordinated by Grant Spooner of Marine Scene.
 
 

Dr Duncan Laurenson, himself a surfer, and a pair of paramedics with state-of-the-art life-support systems are in the line-up at Dungeons on every day the break is surfed, backed up by an interim trauma unit and ambulance available at the event HQ in Hout Bay harbour, a 15-minute boat trip from the break.
 
 

Red Bull Big Wave Africa 2004 Competitors

Grant Baker (Durban) Carlos Burle (Brazil)

Mickey Duffus (Cape Town) Sean Holmes (Wilderness)

Greg Long (California) Andrew Marr (Cape Town)

Coco Nogales (Mexico) Jason Ribbink (Durban)

Jamie Sterling (Hawaii) Justin Strong (Cape Town)

Darryl ‘Flea’ Virostko (California) Grant Washburn (California

Alternates

International: Doug Young (New Zealand)

South African: David Smith (Cape Town), Richie Sills (Durban)
 
 

Information on the status of the event: www.rebullbwa.com

Report submitted by Life’s a Beach Communications

MR PRICE PRO

July 2 - 11, 2004, Durban, South Africa

For the fifth consecutive year, the Mr Price Pro, South Africa’s largest professional surfing competition, will anchor the Vodacom Beach Africa festival on North Beach, Durban from July 2-11. The multi-million Rand action-sports and music festival, sponsored by the Mr Price Group, attracts more than 300 world-class athletes from across the globe and features surfing, Freestyle Motocross (FMX) and a lineup of the country’s best live bands with all events open to the public, free of charge.
 

Mr Price Pro comprises South Africa’s highest-rated World Qualifying Series (WQS) surfing events for men and women with the six star rated men’s event that has attracted the likes of former six-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA), defending champion Neco Padaratz and more than 20 of his Brazilian compatriots, along with the top contenders from Australia, the USA, Europe, Asia and all of SA’s best surfers to compete for the R100 000 ($15 000) winner’s payout and the invaluable ratings points.
 
 

The four star rated Mr Price Pro women’s event has R140 000 ($20 000) at stake and features most of the world’s top 16 ranked competitors including the queen of SA surfing Heather Clark (Port Shepstone), a two-time bronze medalist and rated third in the world at the end of 2003, alongside defending champ Serena Brooke (Aus) and the South Americans Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) and Jacqueline Silva (Brz), the winners in 2002 and 2001 respectively.
 
 

"The Mr Price Pro is Durban’s quintessential action sports and lifestyle festival with its roots firmly placed in Surf City," says Clynton Lund, marketing manager for Mr Price.  "The tradition and heritage of this event dates back to the Sixties and the country’s first professional surfing event.  Over the past four years the Mr Price Pro has become the epicenter of the cross-pollination of world class surfing, action sports and music."
 
 

Set against the backdrop of the famed Golden Mile beaches of Durban, the city touted as South Africa’s playground, the Mr Price Pro women’s final (2pm Saturday July 10) and the men’s final (2pm Sunday July 11) bring the entire festival to a climax and will by followed by an SABC TV package that takes the action into millions of living rooms nationwide.
 
 

Report submitted by Life’s a Beach Communications

SURFING SOUTH AFRICA (SSA) – 2004 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Jun. 4 – 6, Masters Cup, St. Mikes

Jun. 11 – 13, Billabong Junior Series #4, Cape Town

Jun. 19 – 20, Rip Curl Gromsearch #4, Ballito

Jun. 26 – 27, Billabong I’m a Surfer Girl #2, Margate

Jun. 26 – 27, National Junior Team Trial, TBD

Jun. 7 – 27, Red Bull Big Wave Africa, Cape Town

Jun. 28 – 30, SA Students Championships, Seal Point

Calendar submitted by Life’s a Beach Communications

LOST EUROPEAN INTERCLUBS 2004
April 24 – 25, Wollacombe, North Devon.
The Lost European Interclub Championships 2004 were held 24th/25th April, in Woolacombe, North Devon, whilst the coast was blessed with the best surf AND sunshine it has seen all year. A large crowd basked in 21-degree sunshine on Saturday and Sunday whilst 3 –5 ft glassy surf peeled into the bay.
 With teams entering from England, Ireland, The Channel Islands, mainland Europe and even the Netherlands, the level of competition was fierce. With a relaxed yet competitive atmosphere on the contest site, all competitors agreed it was the perfect environment to push the limits of their surfing.

Hosted by the Woolacombe Boardriders Surf Club and sanctioned by the European Surfing Federation, this was the first time this event has been seen in mainland Britain. With Lost Enterprises as the main sponsors & additional support from Tribute Cornish Ale, Body Glove & Surfers World, the resources were available to lift the level of the competition to new heights.
 

The competition was a great success for Lost in all respects, with great fortune with the conditions and a fantastic atmosphere in the water. All of these elements helped to push the level of surfing amongst what were mostly, in essence, free surfers. Lastly, perhaps the greatest success for Lost was an outstanding performance from Lost team rider Neil Clifton, pulling everything out of the bag at the end to climb back to the top of the event, beating many surfers half his age along the way.

TEAM PLACINGS:
 1    CRCQLombos    3570pts    Portugal
 2    Croyde Surf Club A    3123pts    England
 3    Woolacombe Boardriders  Surf Club A    2615pts    England
 4    Welsh Coast    2433pts    Wales
 5    Croyde Surf Club B    2220pts    England
 6    Woolacombe Boardriders  Surf Club B    1883pts    England
 7    Jersey Surfing Club    1633pts    Channel Islands
 8    F.F. Surf Club    1500pts    Sweden

INDIVIDUAL PLACINGS:
1    Pedro Monteiro    CRCQLombos    1000pts
2    Neil Clifton    Woolacombe Boardriders  Surf Club A    860pts
3    Aecio Flávio    CRCQLombos    730pts
4    Adam Thornton    Croyde Surf Club A    670pts

Report submitted by Karen Walton, BSA karen@britsurf.co.uk

GOTCHA HOME NATIONS CHALLENGE
May 15 –16, Rest Bay, Porthcawl, Wales, UK

The first Gotcha Home Nations Challenge took place at Rest Bay, Porthcawl, Wales under glorious blue skies with increasing 2-foot surf. Hosted by the Welsh Surfing Federation, this was the first time junior teams from England and Wales have met head to head on Welsh turf.

At 10am the first heats of the day (Junior Longboard) were completed in small low tide surf. With those heats out the way contest director Lynda Keward made the call to put the event on hold until the tide began pushing in which would provide the much needed bigger surf.

With the sun beating down on Wales the beach was packed with people by noon, just in time to witness the surf increase with the incoming tide and see the event restart. The next heats got underway in 2-foot surf, with every set coming through a little bigger than the last.

After the contest was put on hold due to small surf, round one restarted with the Girls (under 18) leading into the Youth, Cadet and Junior heats. Round two repeated the format of the heats, with different heat draws ensuring that each surfer met different opponents. Bethan Mason (15) of Wales showed some impressive surfing during the girls heats

During the Youths (under 14) heats English team rider Aiden Wright showed some impressive surfing in the challenging conditions, and managed to get the highest overall score from his heats including the highest scoring wave with a solid 9.

From the Cadets (under 16) Newquay’s Tom Butler battled it out with Jayce Robinson (St Ives). Both surfers being English meant a high accumulation of team points was achieved, however there was still 1^st and 2^nd place for the teammates to compete for. Jayce showed some very stylish surfing throughout

Finally the Junior (under 18) heats were fiercely competed. Harry Cromwell (Wales) showed a high standard of surfing throughout, with progressive, well-linked maneuvers. He was awarded highest overall score and highest scoring wave of the division and event with an impressive 9.5. Harry later said, "I was stoked that the waves picked up, it got real fun."

The day finished with the English team lifting the HOME NATIONS cup for the first time. The Welsh team was reported saying that "next year will be a different story and they are already looking forward to the rematch on English turf."

FINAL SCORES

Division Wales England

Junior Longboard 550 450

Junior Girls 500 500

Youths 600 1400

Cadets 800 1200

Juniors 1050 950

GRAND TOTALS 3500 4500

The Gotcha Home Nations Challenge is designed to train and develop teams from the home nations so they are more able to compete on a European and International level.

GOTCHA would like to wish the English and Welsh junior teams the best of luck when they compete later this year at the European Junior Championships (1-10^th October, 2004) at Costa de Caparica in Portugal.

Report and results submitted by Karen Walton, BSA

FAT FACE NIGHT SURF EVENT 2004

June 25, 26 at Lusty Glaze, Newquay, Cornwall

Fat Face, the active lifestyle brand, kicks off the surf season with their action packed 2-day event, The Fat Face Night Surf. Voted the "best event on the BPSA UK tour" last year, it’s the 1st stop on the BPSA tour 2004. The dramatic setting is lit from surrounding cliffs and the North Atlantic swell should have the surf pumping. The pros will even be on hand to give you a surf lesson or some pointers if you’ve already mastered the art.

Onshore, there’s plenty to keep the crowds entertained, including live bands, BBQs and fireworks, all making for a chilled party vibe, or get active in the beach volleyball tournaments, on the death slide, traversing, climbing, abseiling….

Set in a natural amphitheatre on the North coast, the Fat Face nightsurf is one of the coolest weekends of the summer. True to our heritage and approach to life the event highlights our belief in investing in the grassroots of sport.

Freestyle Sunglasses will be giving an award of £250 for the best Floater during the event, Boomerang TV production will be filming the action for Sky TV to be broadcast later in the year, Wavelength will be following the action for a later issue and Bluestone will be posting information about the event on the BPSA Website www.bpsauktour.com.

For further information, contact Paula Fisher at paula.fisher@chasepr.co.uk

Report submitted by Dave Reed, BSA

Benefit for Surf Aid International

September 11, 2004, La Jolla, California

On September 11th, 2004, the second evening of the ASR (Action Sports Retailer) Tradeshow in San Diego, California, a fundraiser will be held to benefit Surf Aid International, a surfer's based charity focused on helping eradicate malaria and other illnesses from the Mentawai Islands, in Indonesia, one of the world's prime surfing areas.

This event is being organized by ISA President's brother, Santiago Aguerre and is a wonderful opportunity for you to contribute to a great cause.  Tickets go on sale June 15th, with only 300 available.

Surf Aid International's (SAI) overall mission is to promote health and social programs throughout the Mentawai Islands community and to encourage and coordinate the support of the global surfing community.

In the worst areas of the Mentawai Islands, 50% of children will die before end of five.

70% of families have lost at least one child, (PRA data - UNESCO, Yayasan Citra Mandiri 2000-2001).

Almost all childhood deaths are from preventable and treatable diseases such as measles, tetanus, malaria, and diarrhea.

At any one time up to 50% of Mentawai people carry the malaria parasite, which causes severe suffering and death.
The existing Mentawai health system is greatly under-resourced and has an urgent need for doctors, nurses, training, and medical supplies.
 
 

SAI Programs:

The SAI Mentawai Health Program currently consists of four individual projects that address the most pressing health needs of the Mentawai people. Each project has been designed with the help of international experts, is cost effective and culturally sensitive.
While implementing specific health projects over the medium term, the philosophy of SAI is to empower local communities to increasingly bring about their own improvements in health and quality of life. SAI will foster and facilitate input from local government and non-government organizations to achieve this goal.
 
 

For more information about Surf Aid International, please visit www.surfaidinternational.org.
 
 

Please do not hesitate to contact Lindsay Nelson at the ISA Headquarters should you have any questions, would like to purchase a ticket or make a donation.

Submitted by Lindsay Nelson, lindsy@isasurf.org
 
 

ATTENTION: ISA Members, please forward this Newsletter to all of your members, circulate also in any surf related website of your organization, and /or any entity affiliated with your organization. Thank you.