The Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure presented by Jack’s returns to the Huntington Beach Pier for two days, June 28-29, immediately following the NSSA Nationals, June 23-27. The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade 4 event is the highest rated Men’s Pro Junior in North America on the 2009 schedule.

“Nike 6.0 is honored to bring Pier Pressure back to Huntington, providing a great platform for the world’s top youth surfers to compete.” said Jason Kenworthy, Nike 6.0 Surf Mentor. “This generation is progressing surfing daily, and we are looking forward to seeing some more next level competition at this year’s Pier Pressure.”

As an ASP Grade 4, the Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure presented by Jack’s boasts more ratings points than any other Men’s Pro Junior in the nation this year and provides a crucial venue for North American surfers looking to qualify for the ASP World Junior Championships. Combined with an ample prize purse of $20,000, the event is sure to draw a who’s who of under 20 year old talent from around the globe.

Last year, the first year of the Grade 4 rating, drew a bevy of standout international talent including Julian Wilson (AUS) who won the title, dominating the event with wins in every heat he surfed in from Round 1. Fellow Aussies, Stuart Kennedy and Chris Salisbury, finished in second and third, respectively. Lone American in the Final, Andrew Doheny (Newport Beach, CA), finished a respectable fourth, holding his own against the Australian onslaught. Another solid Australian contingency looks to be returning again for 2009.

A first-place finish at the Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure earns $3,500 and 1,500 points, which is equivalent to winning three ASP Grade 2 events. As indicative of just how crucial a solid finish is in a Grade 4 event, Doheny rocketed from 15th to fourth on the ASP Pro Junior North America ratings after finishing fourth at the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro. He ended the season in third overall on the ratings and was one of only six American men to represent the nation at the 2008 ASP World Junior Championships in Narrabeen, Australia.

Hosted by industry icons Dave Stanfield, Peter Mel and Pat O’Connell a LIVE webcast at www.nike6pierpressure.com will feature a high-quality stream filmed with HD cameras, complete daily surfing action, blow-by-blow live scoring, on-air giveaways, and drop ins by special surprise guests.

The Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure presented by Jack’s appreciates support from sponsors Nike 6.0, Jack’s Surfboards, Hurley, Red Bull, Surfer Magazine, Surfing Magazine and sWaveWatch.com.

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The second leg of the 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms series will take place in the idyllic setting of Mossel Bay this coming weekend (13 and 14 June) and will see a contingent of South Africa’s top junior surfers descending on the small town to contest the event. Over the years the Quiksilver King of the Groms has become a major force in unearthing South Africa’s blossoming surfing talent and will have R22,000 in prize money up for grabs at this weekend’s event.

In the premier under 16 division the focus will be on 2008 Champion Michael February (Cape Town). February started off his 2009 campaign to defend his title on a great note by winning the first event of the series in his home waters of Kommetjie and will be going all out to make it two in a row. But 2008 Mossel Bay winner and runner-up in the first leg of the 2009 series, Davey Brand (Cape Town), will be a strong contender for the R3,500 first place cheque. Other names to watch out for include Davey van Zyl (Durban), Steven Sawyers (Jeffreys Bay), Dane Staples (St Francis Bay) and 13 year old upstart Slade Prestwich (Scottburgh).

The Under 20 division will be an even more competitive affair with the list of entrants including some of South African surfing’s future stars. Leading the local charge will be Mossel Bay’s Shaun Joubert who is a member of the South African Junior surfing team and one of the most respected junior competitors in the country. Having won last year’s Mossel Bay edition of the Quiksilver King of the Groms, Joubert will again be surfing in his backyard and will draw on all his local knowledge in his drive to take home the title.

The 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms has been a revelation so far, with 16 year old Umhlanga surfer Beyrick de Vries taking the Under 20 title at the first leg of the year to put himself on top of the series rankings. De Vries will undoubtedly be more focussed than ever and hungry to repeat his performance at Long Beach. Fellow Umhlanga surfer Chris Leppan placed second to de Vries in Kommetjie and will be hoping to improve on this result and pocket the R5,000 winners cheque. Other surfers that will be vying for the title include 2007 Under 16 champion Dale Staples (St Francis Bay), 2008 Under 20 winner and fellow Seal Point local Nick Godfrey, and 2009 Quiksilver Pro Junior winner Kyle Lane (Umhlanga).

Kommetjie’s Brendon Gibbens has become a major force to be reckoned with following his inclusion in Surfer Magazine’s 2008 Hot 100 Top Junior Surfers in the world, while Casey Grant (Scottburgh), 2009 SA Under 20 Champion Shaun Dennis ( Durban ) and Matt Bromley (Kommetjie) will all be serious threats.

As in the past, the 2009 series will consist of three events. The first was held in fantastic conditions in Cape Town on 14 and 15 March, the second will be this coming weekend (13 and 14 June) in Mossel Bay , with the final event taking place at Southbroom on the KZN south coast on the weekend of 15 and 16 August. The overall winner of the 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms Under 16 division will be flown with a chaperone to France for the world King of the Groms final which will be held in conjunction with the 2009 Quiksilver Pro France WCT contest. The under 20 series winner will receive a return air ticket to Hawaii – surfing’s most hallowed proving grounds – for the 2009 winter season.

An exciting aspect of each event will be the Virgin Mobile Expression Session which will allow the entrants to take to the water to compete for R2000 in prize money as they push each other to pull off the most radical maneuver during the 30 minute session. Each leg of the 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms will be supported by Red Bull who will provide energy centres to keep the competitors operating at peak performance levels.

The Quiksilver King of the Groms is presented by Virgin Mobile in association with Resolution, and is sanctioned by Surfing South Africa. Entry forms can be obtained by logging on to www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za.

Quik Facts:
What: The 2009 Quiksilver King of the Groms.
Where: Cape Town (Kommetjie region) 14 & 15 March, Mossel Bay 13 & 14 June, Southbroom 15 & 16 August.
Who: South Africa ‘s top U16 and U20 surfers. The defending champions are Nick Godfrey (U20) from St Francis Bay and Michael February (U16) of Kommetjie, Cape Town.
Sponsors: Quiksilver, Virgin Mobile, Resolution, MXit, Supersport, Surfing South Africa and Red Bull.
Prizes: Total Prize money per event is R22, 000. The U16 series winner will be flown with a chaperone to France for the KOTG finals which are held in conjunction with the 2009 Quiksilver Pro France WCT. The U20 series winner will receive a return air ticket to Hawaii . The Virgin Mobile Expression Session will offer a further R2,000 to the surfer that pulls off the most radical move during the 30 minute session.

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Disabled List: Luke Stedman Injury Update

COOLANGATTA, Queensland (Wednesday, June 3, 2009) – The world’s best surfers, the gents of the ASP Top 45 and the ladies of the ASP Top 17, make their collective livings by pitting themselves against the elements. Forever pushing the boundaries of high-performance athleticism as well as risking life and limb in some of the most exotic locations on the planet, our surfers are not impervious to injury. Australian style master Luke Stedman, 32, had a banner year in 2008, finishing an impressive 11th on the prestigious ASP World Tour and looking poised to make a dent in 2009. In fact, since his return to the ASP Dream Tour in 2005, the Sydney-sider has improved each season (36th, 25th, 16th and 11th respectively), with a good chance of a Top 10 finish this year. However, a late season injury in Hawaii has put Stedman on the disabled list thus far in 2009, and only recently has the journeyman campaigner been making rehabilitation progress. ASP caught up with Stedman to get the scoop on what happened, how he’s coping and what lies ahead. This…is our story…

ASP International: Hey Luke, hope you’re well. Could you please provide us with a bit of background on how you were injured? When? Where? The specific diagnosis?

Luke Stedman: This injury has been a recurring one for me. It’s happened both times in Hawaii while surfing. This recent time I did it has been way more serious and painful, but I initially thought I could do a similar rehab to last time to get back to 100%. Unfortunately, I was wrong. After five weeks of pretty intensive physio and rehab, I got an MRI scan because I wasn’t healing and felt there was a more serious underlying problem. So I spoke with Dr. Warren Kramer (the surgeon that did Richie Lovett’s prosthetic leg). He assessed the injury and spoke with a colleague of his, Dr. Smith – an orthopedic surgeon, and both agreed that without going under the knife, the injury would never heal and keep breaking down like an old car. So my surgery was to treat a plantar plate disruption with the medial sesamoid proximally displaced. This is the bone under your foot that connects to your big toe.

ASP: What has the rehabilitation process been like? Where have you been recovering? Specific exercises? Current health level?

L.S.: I have only been able to start rehab last week because of the surgery. I have been in an air boot for the last two months, which is such a pain as I feel like I’m a Stormtrooper, but it keeps my foot fully protected. I saw Chris Prosser last week (ASP pyhsio) and he set me up with some exercises. My trainer Jan Carton has also set me up with a program. I have a million different exercises, but it’s not anything I’m not used to. I’m super rested and so amped to get back in the water. I really had to stop doing everything so I have all this energy now and just want to get back in the water ASAP. This has been, by far, the longest time I have ever spent out of the water.

ASP: When not rehabbing, how have you been spending your time?

L.S.: I’ve been watching so many movies – haha. I have to keep my foot elevated as much as possible and the boot just makes you not want to walk around. I have been eating heaps, but I still can’t put on weight – haha.

ASP: Have you been watching the events via web this season? What are your general impressions of the surfing, the rookies and the ASP World Title race thus far in 2009? What do you think of the new ASP format?

L.S.: To tell you the truth, I can’t watch the events. I get really frustrated that I’m not there and it gets me in a little bit of a bad mood. I had such a good year last season so I really wanted to build on that. I decided that while I’m out, I would really take a break from the tour and just work on getting myself back on track. I now feel really rested and super pumped. I know that when I come back I’ll be 100% and want to surf as well as I can again.

ASP: When do you expect to return to competition? Have you been surfing yet? How has it felt?

L.S.: I hope to be in the water in about three weeks. I can start to paddleboard hopefully in two weeks. I can’t wait to just ride a wave. I hope I can still do it – haha.

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