Billabong ASP World Jnr Champs nailed with solid surf

BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS SLAMMED BY SOLID SURF

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 January, 2008 : - - Sydney Australia – An increase in swell to two and a half meters saw junior surfers face not only the possibility of elimination but also, raging currents and an exhausting paddle out, on Day 2 of the Billabong World Junior Championships, at Sydney’s North Narrabeen beach, today.

Former ASP World Junior Champion and current World No. 28 Adriano de Souza (BRA) set the tone with the day’s highest scoring heat, his intimate knowledge of the ASP World Tour format, earning him a 14.00 (out of a possible 20.00) heat total and a spot in Round 3.

De Souza’s return to North Narrabeen for the fourth consecutive year is indicative of the calibre of surfer the event attracts. His competitors at North Narrabeen this week, likely to be his rivals on the Men’s ASP World Tour in the years to come.

“It’s good to see all the guys ripping, they smoked me in the first round,” De Souza admitted. “I’m here because these are the best juniors in the world and they’re my age. It’s my dream to win at Narrabeen again and to earn the same number of titles as Joel Parkinson (the only two time winner of this event).”

UM Surfboards signs US Pro Jnr Champ Adam Wickwire

Team News

UM Surfboards Signs 2007 US Pro Junior Champ Adam Wickwire

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 3 January, 2008 : - - San Diego, Ca - UM Surfboards is pleased to announce the addition of Adam Wickwire to its Professional Team. The young Floridian has been on quite a winning steak as of late, but this is no surprise to those in the know.

So, yes, he is the new US Pro Junior Champ, and his clothing and wetsuit sponsor, Rip Curl, have been flying him all over the world just so he can style on perfect waves for their cameras. Not to mention, as of this moment, he's over in Australia competing in the World Junior Championships. Overall Adam is stepping into his ripper boots and they are fitting well.

“What a great way to start 2008”, says Mark Teperson, UM CEO. “We are extremely excited and very fortunate to partner with Adam who has so much potential and talent, and be a part of this next phase in his career as he transitions over into the WQS, helping the brand achieve not only the domestic, but also the international recognition it deserves.”


"Everything is working for me now," says Adam. "I started getting boards from UM a few months ago and we've come up with a design that really fits my style. The waves I surf in Florida are quick and punchy; the board Mike and I have come up with can turn on a dime but it also flies over the flat sections--a great combination for beach breaks and most of the spots I'll be surfing on the WQS."

Look out for Adam’s pro model which will be available in the Spring of 2008.

About UM Surfboards Inc -- Originally founded by shaper Michael Walter more than 20 years ago, UM Surfboards has moved from Michael’s backyard into a top of the line factory in the valley of Oceanside, California, filled with numerous shaping rooms and its own dedicated glassing department.

With Michael designing and shaping surfboards of the highest level of quality and integrity, the UM following has grown over the years and continues to do so exponentially. UM Surfboards Inc forms part of the UM Designs Group of Companies.

www.umdesigns.com

"Winning the Triple Crown has been a dream of mine for a long, long time and I've always felt like proving yourself in Hawaii is right up there with winning the World Title,” Durbidge said. “It's a great thing for surfing that the locals let us come here and enjoy these waves and that the sponsors put up the prize money for us to really come away well here."

Durbidge’s year end rating is World No. 5. He scored one of the highest single wave scores of the event, 9.50 out of 10.00, to run away with an unassailable lead in the Final.

“Yeah, there weren't too many waves coming through during the final and all four of us were pretty clumped together,” Durbdige said. “The other three kind of paddled each other out of position and I ended up being in the spot. The wave had a really good wall on it and I was able to get a few pretty good turns in. I guess the judges liked it and I got the score. It really put everyone else on the ropes out there."

Morrison finished inside the Top 10 at World No. 9 with his 2nd place result at the Billabong Pipeline Masters.

"I don't think any of us expected that Pipe would go down like this when we packed our bags for Hawaii,” Morrison said. “It really did end up being more of a maneuver event rather than a barrel-riding event, and I was stoked to make it through to my first final of the year. Congratulations to Bede - he was absolutely ripping all day."

The ASP World Tour will now break until February TK when the 2008 tour kicks off on the Gold Coast of Australia. For more details visit the media center on www.aspworldtour.com.

Billabong Pipeline Masters Final Results:
1, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 16.67,
2, Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.00,
3, Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 9.60,
4, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 7.43

Billabong Pipeline Masters Quarterfinal Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50 def. CJ Hobgood (USA) 13.73
Heat 2: Dean Morrison (AUS) 11.00 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.50
Heat 3: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 9.10 def. Chris Ward (USA) 8.70
Heat 4: Bede Durbidge (AUS) def. Taj Burrow (AUS)

Billabong Pipeline Masters Round 5 Results:
Heat 1: CJ Hobgood (USA) 12.26 def. TJ Barron (HAW) 10.50
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.00 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 9.00
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.83 Ian Walsh (HAW) 7.40
Heat 4: Dean Morrison (AUS) 13.10 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.44
Heat 5: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 14.93 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 6.26
Heat 6: Chris Ward (USA) 12.33 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 11.50
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.90 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 12.17
Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) def. Fred Patacchia (HAW)

Billabong Pipeline Masters Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: TJ Barron (HAW) 10.87 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 9.67
Heat 2: CJ Hobgood (USA) 13.00 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 11.17
Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.40 def. Laurie Towner (AUS) 1.33
Heat 4: Luke Stedman (AUS) 13.00 def. Cory Lopez (USA) 9.43
Heat 5: Ian Walsh (HAW) 11.67 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.30
Heat 6: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.50 def. Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 8.87
Heat 7: Dean Morrison (AUS) 12.10 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 9.00
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.34 def. Troy Brooks (AUS) 6.46
Heat 9: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 12.67 def. Bernardo Miranda (BRA) 11.17
Heat 10: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 10.73 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 10.17
Heat 11: Chris Ward (USA) 12.90 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 9.67
Heat 12: Kelly Slater (USA) 10.50 def. Mikala Jones (HAW) 5.80
Heat 13: Neco Padaratz (BRA) 11.33 def. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 10.20
Heat 14: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.00 def. Gavin Beschen (USA) 4.70
Heat 15: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.50 def. Gabe Kling (USA) 8.27
Heat 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.67 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 11.16

Foster’s ASP World Tour Final Top 27
1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 8136 points
2. Taj Burrow (AUS) 7104 points
3. Kelly Slater (USA) 6516 points
4. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 6432 points
5. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 5774 points
6. Andy Irons (HAW) 5151 points
7. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 4938 points
8. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 4770 points
9. Dean Morrison (AUS) 4690 points
10.Bobby Martinez (USA) 4582 points
11. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 4580 points
12. Kai Otton (AUS) 4563 points
13. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 4493 points
14. Taylor Knox (USA) 4309 points
15. Damien Hobgood (USA) 4274 points
16. Luke Stedman (AUS) 4177 points
17. Michael Campbell (AUS) 3987 points
17. Chris Ward (USA) 3987 points
19. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 3982 points
19. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 3982 points
21. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 3934 points
22. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 3797 points
23. Frederick Patacchia (HAW) 3675 points
24. Bruce Irons (HAW) 3660 points
24. Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 3660 points
26. Daniel Wills (AUS) 3617 points
27. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 3612 points

Visit the Foster’s ASP World Tour ratings page on www.aspworldtour.com to check the final 2007 ratings for the entire Top 45.

For more information please visit www.aspworldtour.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com.

All of the action of this year's Billabong Pipeline Masters is at www.billabongpro.com .