Rip Curl presents Coca-Cola Saquarema Pro

ASP 6 Star WQS Mens event
Itauna, Saquarema Brazil
14 – 19 July 2009

6 Star Rip Curl presents Coca-Cola Saquarema Pro launches in July

Saquarema is back on the sports scene in 2009 with the Rip Curl presents Coca-Cola Saquarema Pro 2009. From July 14th to 19th, the ‘surf´s Maracana’ will be the stage for a 6 Star stop on the WQS. The event will be held at Itauna Beach.

The best athletes of the world will compete for U$ 145.000 in prizes, besides of 2.500 points in the ranking. Among the 196 athletes registered for the competition, are Brazilian Raoni Monteiro and Pedro Henrique, both local surfers, Bruno Santos and Marco Polo Soares, besides of Simao Romao, winner of the last stop in Rio de Janeiro, realized in October of 2008, at Arpoador…

Also, Jadson Andre, best Brazilian surfer in the access division’s ranking, moreover some international stars as the Australian Owen Wright, ranked third in the WQS and the surfer who eliminated no less than Kelly Slater at Bell Beach, the Hawaiian Dusty Payne, American Cory Lopez, a former top WCT, Nate Yeomans, Eric Geiselman, and the Gudauskas brothers (Dane, Patrick and Tanner), among others.

Rio presents Coca-Cola Saquarema Pro 2009 is supported by Rio’s State Government, Saquarema’s City Hall, Unimed Araruama, Saquarema’s Surf Association and Rio de Janeiro’s Surf Federation – FESERJ.

“It is a pride for everybody involved in the project organizing this event in Saquarema. It is a city with a strong relation with surf and internationally known for the quality of its waves and for the several athletes formed. We are sure about good waves and high level competition”, says Sergio Lindemman, from Adding Sports, responsible by surf’s return to Saquarema, who wants to keep the event in the international calendar.

“It is a serious event, pretty important for our State, and our goal it is to keep, at least for the next years, the event in the international surf’s schedule”, added.

Felipe Silveira, Rip Curl’s president in Brazil, talks about his expectations about the event: “We are very proud by being involved in such a big event, in a place with great waves, that was, inclusively, stage for a WCT stop. Itauna Beach receives huge waving in this period of the year, presenting one of the best “beach breaks” of Brazil and that is why we expect a surf show for this event”.

Besides of the sports’ programming, the organization will also promote extra activities to entertain the public, including the event’s party that will happen at Saturday’s night, with a great star’s show to be confirmed.

Kewalo Basin was firing on all cylinders all day, surf banging in the 3 to 6 foot range.  The best Junior surfers took on the strong currents, grinding perfect barrels and the more than occasional close outs to put on one of the best shows ever. It was a display of high preformance surfing all the way as perfect conditions prevailed all day.  Maui’s Albee Layer, who turns 18 tomorrow the 9th, laid it down heavy in the man on man final heat against Kauai’s Kaimana Jaquias to win the prestigious contest. Consistent radical turns and a 10 point tube ride sealed the deal. “The ten point ride I had priority for and it was too perfect to blow it”, said Layer. “The final was nice cause I don’t get to surf heats that long a lot. It got a little less consistent but I got lucky and got a couple good ones in the beginning and calmed down. The money helps to stay on a roll.” Layer won much needed points for his campaign towards making the ASP World Jr.Championship invite list and a cool $2,000.00.

Kauai’s Kaimana Jaquias gave it his best shot, just falling short in the final.

“The strategy was to keep him from getting the good ones but he found the great one”, explained Jaquias. ” The current was strong and it was tiring. The man on man format was new to me but this is the closet you get to the pros, this was important.” Jaquias won $900.00 for his efforts.

Stand outs included Granger Larsen, Maui and Billy Kemper, Maui who were equal 3rd overall, winning $550.00.

Quarter man on man results: Heat 1) Kaimana Jaquias 1st, Kaito Kino 2nd Q2) Billy Kemper 1st, Matt Meola 2nd, Q3) Granger Larson 1st, Kekoa Cazimero (injured) 2nd, Q4) Albee Layer 1st, Tanner Hendrickson 2nd, $250.00. Kekoa Cazimero suffered a muscle injury and did not surf the quarter round.

For full heat sheets email Faith at asphi@hawaii.rr.com.

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The Surfing South Africa (SSA) Board of Director’s have ratified the selection of the South African Surfing Team which will compete in the 2009 International Surfing Association (ISA) World Surfing Games at Playa Hermosa near San Jose, Costa Rica in August.

The South African Team’s preparations, training and attendance at the ISA World Surfing Games will be supported by a R400,000 grant from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF). Since 2004 the NLDTF have supported all the South African teams which have competed in ISA World Junior Championships, ISA World Surfing Games and ISA World Masters Championships.

The 2009 South African Surfing Team consists of four Men, two Women, two male Longboarders, three coaches and a manager.

The Men’s team comprises three new caps in Brandon Jackson (Durban), Rudy Palmboom (Bluff) and Damien Fahrenfort (Durban), who are the highest ranked available South Africans on the ASP World Qualifying Series ratings. All three have represented South Africa at ISA World Junior Championship level.

The fourth member of the team is 2008 SA Team captain Ryan Payne (Cape St Francis) who qualified for the team after winning the trials held during the South African Championships ten days ago. Llewellyn Whittaker (Mossel Bay) is the non-travelling reserve.

The Women team members are Rosanne Hodge, South Africa’s only representative on the ASP Women’s World Tour, and fellow East London surfer Nikita Robb, who is currently ranked 10th on the ASP World Qualifying Series.

Hodge last competed in the ISA World Games in 2006 where she won a bronze medal for South Africa. This is the first World Games selection for Robb, who has represented South Africa at the ISA World Junior Championships four times. Tarryn Chudleigh (Kommetjie) is the non-travelling reserve.

The two Longboarders who will travel to Costa Rica are current South African Longboard champion Justin Bing (Noordhoek) and his runner up Michael Hill (Cape St Francis) who both earn their first caps.

Mike Sheppard has been appointed Team Manager and he will be supported by legendary Head Coach Graham Hynes, Deputy Coach Ant Brodowicz and Assistant/Technical coach Kevin Olsen.

Sheppard was the Manager of the 2008 SA Team, Hynes has been coaching surfers and national surfing teams since the early 1970’s, Brodowicz coached the 2007 and 2008 SA Masters Teams which won the ISA World Masters Championships and Olsen was one of the coaches of the 2002 and 2004 South African teams and the coach of the 2008 SA Team at the ISA World Games in Portugal last year.

Cyril Nel (East London) has been appointed by the ISA as one of two Head Judges for the event and Sandile Mqadi has been included on the international judging panel.

Surfing South Africa is recognised by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) and the International Surfing Association (ISA) as the official governing body for the sport of surfriding in South Africa.

Six provincial organisations and three national associations are affiliated to Surfing South Africa which coordinates and manages all aspects of surfriding from grass roots level through to the selection of National teams.

2009 SOUTH AFRICAN SURFING TEAM

MEN
BRANDON JACKSON (KZN)
RUDY PALMBOOM (KZN)
DAMIEN FAHRENFORT (KZN)
RYAN PAYNE (EP)
Non-travelling reserve
LLEWELLYN WHITTAKER (BOLAND)

WOMEN
ROSANNE HODGE (BORDER)
NIKITA ROBB (BORDER)
Non-travelling reserve
TARRYN CHUDLEIGH (WP)

LONGBOARDERS
JUSTIN BING (WP)
MICHAEL HILL (EP)
Non-travelling reserve
DYLAN MCCLEOD (EP)

MANAGEMENT
MIKE SHEPPARD (MANAGER)
GRAHAM HYNES (HEAD COACH)
ANT BRODOWICZ (DEPUTY COACH)
KEVIN OLSEN (ASSISTANT COACH)

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