Monday 29th June (Burleigh Heads, QLD) AUSTRALIA’S best 16 year and under surfers along with a few outstanding internationals are heading to the Gold Coast for the annual Billabong Occy Grom Comp which begins this Saturday July 4th.

Named after Australia’s greatest ever grommet Mark Occhilupo and now in its sixth year, the Billabong Occy Grom Comp is recognised internationally as a premier event for aspiring young surfers aiming to become the next generation “Occy” of Australian surfing.

“I love seeing all Australia’s young , talented and super enthusiastic surfers participating in my grom event,” said the events name sake Mark Occhilupo.

“There are so many exciting youngsters appearing from every surfing region around Australia and it’s great to bring them together here for an enormous week of quality competitive surfing combined with a lot of fun free surfing, – I’m looking forward to checking out our future talents and I’m sure they’ll be ripping!”

Mark will be active throughout the event beginning on the opening day this coming Saturday with a formal beach signing session between 12 and 1pm.

Read more at Surfing Australia

IMBITUBA, Santa Catarina (Monday, June 29, 2009) – After two full day’s of competition which saw the world’s best surfers whittled down to the remaining 32, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro has called a lay day this morning with offshore winds but a projected in swell on offer at Praia Vila today.

Event No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro plays a crucial role in both the ASP World Title race and the requalification campaigns of the world’s best surfers for the world’s most elite tour.

“The surf has ped a bit today and we have a very stiff offshore wind this morning making things difficult,” Perry Hatchett, ASP Head Judge, said. “The surfers opted not to compete today and since we’ve completed half the competition in the opening two days of the waiting period, we feel that we have time to wait for more optimal conditions.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7:30am to assess conditions for a possible Round 3 8am start.

When Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro competition recommences, first up will be defending event champ Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, up against ASP Dream Tour rookie Michel Bourez (PYF), 23.

HANG LOOSE SANTA CATARINA PRO ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW)
Heat 7: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Nathaniel Curran (USA)
Heat 10: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 11: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)
Heat 13: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 14: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 15: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 16: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Chris Ward (USA)

original story from ASP

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Sunday, June 28, 2009) – The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) North America Pro Junior Series kicked off the ASP Grade-4 Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure presented by Jack’s Surfboards in peaky two-foot (1 metre) conditions at South Huntington Beach Pier and saw a barrage of up-and-coming talent battle for the heightened points available at the premier event.

The Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure’s ASP Grade-4 status makes the event the most critical stop on all surfers’ campaigns in qualification for the ASP World Junior Championships held in Narrabeen, Australia. All surfers on the ASP North American Pro Junior Series are looking to compile their best four results throughout the year in an attempt to finish within the top three on the ratings to earn their spot in the coveted event.

Kolohe Andino (San Clemente, CA), 15, convincingly won two heats today over the tough international competition at the Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure despite the drastic change in conditions from his low-tide morning heat to his high tide afternoon heat which had a gusty north wind. Andino’s combined heat totals of 16.50 and 15.40, both out of 20, saw him advance into the Round of 32 where he will face the event’s top seeds.

“I’m stoked to have two good heats out here,” Andino said. “Each heat gets harder and even though the conditions are worse overall, when you get a good one, I think they’re actually better. They’re bigger and fuller on the higher tide and this morning it was pretty dead on the low tide.”

The young San Clemente standout is hoping he can carry his early round momentum through to the Round of 32, where he has struggled to advance in the past.

read more at ASP