FLORIANOPOLIS, Santa Catarina (Wednesday, July 8, 2009) – International surfers ripped into the second day of ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star Maresia Surf International at Mole Beach. In clean waves of two feet (0.5 metre) and a beatiful sunny day in Florianopolis. The Australian crew commanded the show and surpassed the record of Brazilian Diego Rosa from the first day.

Australian Adam Melling, who hasalready assumed the second place in ASP WQS ratings, had a spectacular debut in the first heat of the Round 96. He received a 9.17 points (out a possible of 10) in a excellent wave and a 7.67 score to finish with 16.84 points (out a possible of 20), the best presentation so far in two days of competition. The Australian surfers won nine of the 18 heats held today in the capital of Santa Catarina State.

“I feel pretty good,” Melling said. “I found good waves, especially my high score (9.17 out of 10). This is my first time here at Mole, and seems like to be a pretty fun beachbreak. I’d like to do well here and try to get back on top, my goal for this year is win the ASP WQS Tour and be on the ASP World Tour next year”.

In the second heat of the Round 96 of the Maresia Surf International, the only Hawaiian in the contest Dusty Payne, won his heat against Brazilians Alejo Muniz (4th), Beto Mariano (2nd) and the surfer from Puerto Rico Brian Toth (3rd).

read full story at ASP

From July 16 to August 28, 2009, the SFMOMA Artists Gallery will present the exhibition Pipeline: Art, Surfing, and the Ocean Environment. The exhibition examines the influence of surf culture on Bay Area artists and will feature paintings, sculptures, photographs, installations, film, and mixed media works alongside custom surfboards by Jeff Clark, one of the most noteworthy big wave surfers.

Artists in the exhibition include Doug Acton, Anthony Bacigalupo, Jo Ann Biagini, Leo Bersamina, Charlie Callahan, George Corzine, Peter Shepard Cole, Keone Downing, Jessica Dunne, Jack Y. Ford Collection, Colin Gift, Dale Hope/Kahala, Terry Hoff, Max Lawrence, Ian MacLean, Reuben Margolin, Serena Mitnik-Miller, Linny Morris, Adrienne Keahi Pao, Frank Quirarte, Don Ross, and Charles Valoroso.

Surfing was popularized by Olympic swimmer and Hawaiian waterman Duke Kahanamoku in the early part of the 20th century. It spread to the United States, catching on first in California, and reached new heights in the 1960s, when surfing as a phenomenon became a nexus between youth culture and expressions of personal freedom. In recent years, California surfers have become an important arm of the environmental movement, raising awareness about the condition of the shoreline and ocean.

When: July 16–August 28, 2009.

Gallery hours: 11:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Tues.–Sat.

Where: SFMOMA Artists Gallery, Building A, Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA 94123

Opening reception: Thurs., July 16, 5:30–7:30 p.m. featuring the music of The Eldorados, a four-piece surf band that includes Stu Brandt, Mark Scardello, Jeff Moon and Scott Culbertson.

Admission: Free

read more at global surf news

AUSTRALIA’S top young surfers stepped up today in the Billabong Occy Grom Comp at Duranbah Beach, setting the scene for an action packed final day.

The much anticipated semi-finals of the U/12 Boys division delivered some outstanding individual performances, lead by Jeames Young (Yamba/Nth Coast NSW) and Kai Hing (Wurtulla/Sunshine Coast), who both convincingly won their respective semi-finals.

Young’s smooth, powerful backhand style saw him capture victory over highly rated Western Australian surfer Jack Robinson, who also advanced through to tomorrow’s final in second place.

However, the biggest surprise of the day was in semi-final two of the U/12 Boys, where Kai Hing (Sunshine Coast) convincingly defeated Californian wonder-kid Kanoa Igarashi….

Tomorrow’s final day will be huge, beginning with round two heats of the U/16 Boys before running into the finals of all the divisions throughout the afternoon. Surfing Queensland event hotline, 07 3030 6388, will be updated each day by 6:30am with exact event details.

The Billabong Occy Grom Comp is made possible through the support of Billabong, Sony, Virgin Blue, VW, Surfing Queensland and Mark Occhilupo.
]The events official website with heat draws, photos and news also updated daily – www.surfingqueensland.com.au

story from surfingqueensland.com.au