BARRA DA TIJUCA, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Monday, May 14, 2012) – After a four-day break from competition, the Billabong Rio Pro launched back to action at the primary venue of Barra da Tijuca as world’s best surfers did battle in challenging four-to-six foot (1.5 – 2 metre) barrels at the primary venue.

FOX Pro Surfer Bede Durbidge (AUS) has moved into Round 3 after a convincing win over Fred Pattachia (USA).
Into super tough conditions, Bede had only been in the water for less than 5 minutes when a perfect 4-6 foot right hand barrel showed up.
Bede was right in the spot and took full advantage, getting nice and deep and impressing the judges. bede was awarded a an 8.00 ride, putting all the pressure back on Pattachia.

Bede then found a small back up wave of a 4.00 only a handful of minutes later, this had Freddie P in a combination situation.
Pattachia never recovered only managing a combined score of 2.64. Bede now moves into round 3 where he comes up against great mate and fellow Aussie Mick Fanning (AUS).

Fellow stable mate Damien Hobgood was not so lucky in his round 2 heat against good mate and fellow American Pat Gudauskas.
Very limited waves and scoring opportunities were few and far between. “I just couldnt find the right waves and the ones that did come my way were just terrible” Hobgood said.

Damien will now look forward to one of his all time favourite waves in the next event of the year in Fiji.

Check out the highlights from day 6 in Rio.

ARPOADOR, Rio de Janeiro/Brazil (Wednesday, May 9, 2012) – The 2012 Billabong Rio Pro, Stop No. 3 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, kicked off competition at the secondary venue of Arpoador this morning and the event’s top seeds dominated the clean two-to-four foot (1.5 metre) lefthanders on offer for Round 1.

Fox Pro Surfer Bede Durbidge (AUS) was first cab off the rank in heat 1 against fellow Aussie Josh Kerr (AUS) and Brazilian local Jadson Andre (BRA).
It was a close battle with Kerr, going wave for wave with Josh just coming out on top by less than .6 of a point.
Bede will move into the second round where he will face Fred Patacchia (USA)

Fellow FOX Surfer Damien Hobgood (USA) had a tough first round heat against an inform and Bells champ Mick Fanning (AUS) and Travis Logie (ZAF).
Damo put in a great performance catching the first 3 waves of the heat but just couldn’t contain Fanning.
Hobgood moves in to round 2 where he will face good mate and fellow American Pat Gudauskas (USA).

Catch all the action live @ Check it out live here for the webcast
or alternatively on FUEL TV.

2012 Rip Curl International GromSearch Final
Dylan Lightfoot and Tatiana Wetson-Webb are the 2012 Rip Curl International GromSearch Champions
April 7, 2012 – Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia.

After an epic day of big storm surf waves at Bells Beach and progressive surfing performances by a crop of the world’s best young surfers, Dylan Lightfoot (17, South Africa) and Tatiana Wetson-Webb (15, Kauai, Hawaii) emerged victorious at the Rip Curl International GromSearch.

In the Boys Final, Lightfoot scored an 8.5 and an 8.43 on two impressive rides which saw him tear apart the burly Bells waves on offer. Brazil’s Filipe Toledo was nipping at his heels the entire Final. After demolishing his third wave for a 9.33, Toledo nearly caught a potentially heat-winning wave in the dying seconds, but came up less than a point short with a 6.73 score. Cameron Richards (USA) finished third, with a total heat score of 13.00, and Tommy Boucaut (AUS) took fourth with 8.93.

“This is definitely one of the biggest victories of my life,” Lightfoot said after being sprayed down with Red Bull by his fellow competitors on the winner’s podium. “It was very tough out there today. The waves were very powerful and looked a lot better from the beach.”

With his victory, Lightfoot earned a wildcard into the 2012 Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang Invitational, one of the surfing world’s most prestigious invitational events. He will face a field of the world’s best tube riders when the event takes place at Bali’s iconic left barrel later this year (July 15-Aug 26).

“I still can’t believe I’m going to surf in the Padang Cup,” said Lightfoot, who was competing in his first-ever International GromSearch event. “I’m really excited for that. It still doesn’t seem real.”

In the Girls Final, Wetson-Webb sealed victory on her final wave of the heat, scoring a 8.33 for a series of powerful turns on a ride all the way through the Bowl and to the beach. Wetson-Webb finished with 14.00, followed by Ella Williams (New Zealand) in second with 12.23, Stephania Single (AUS) in third place with 11.33, and Leticia Canales (Spain) in fourth place with 7.00.

“Bells is definitely a wave you have to adjust your surfing to, but it’s really fun when you get the right one,” said Wetson-Webb, who was surfing at Victoria’s famous point break for the first time. “I was a little nervous before the Final, but I talked to Steph (Gilmore) and Sally Fitzgibbons before the Final and they just told me that if I kept surfing like I had all week that I would be fine.”

The boys and girls Finals of the 2012 Rip Curl International GromSearch were held following the Final of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro presented by Ford Fiesta, won by Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons.

Current ASP World Tour surfer and former Rip Curl International GromSearch Champion Gabriel Medina was on hand to present this year’s finalists with their trophies.

The Rip Curl GromSearch series is an International Series for male and female surfers aged 16 years and under. Over 2,000 groms compete in the series worldwide and it all comes down to the final 8 competitors representing their country at the International final.

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Wednesday, April 4, 2012) – Pumping three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves are steaming through Rincon and the Bells Bowl this morning, prompting event organizers to recommence with the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger at 7:15am.

Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour season, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach completed the opening nine heats of Round 1 yesterday and will look to finish Rounds 1 and 2 today and potentially Round 2 of the women’s event, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta.

“Conditions are significantly bigger and cleaner this morning and the men will start at 7:15am,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge, said. “We’re looking at completing Round 1 and Round 2 of the men’s event and have put the women’s Round 2 on standby for later this afternoon.”

Fox Pro Surfer Damien Hobgood is through to Round 3 after a strong performance this morning in amazing conditions at Bells Beach, Victoria in his Round 1 heat. Fellow stable mate Bede Durbidge was sent into the elimination Round 2 and faced a tough task in rookie sensation Kolohe Andino. Bede displayed flawless power surfing through the bowl sections at Bells to take the win and move into Round 3.

Coastalwatch Plus, official forecasters for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, are calling for a succession of strong WSW groundswells emanating from this activity are inbound across the region – peaking early today, followed by a second building in later Thursday and holding good size early Friday.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Keanu Asing’s tactics of careful wave selection proved to be vital in the Vans Pro Junior Final. The Oahu native opened his campaign with a 7-point ride and maintained the lead throughout the heat’s entirety despite a late-heat charge from Andrew Doheny (Newport Beach, CA), 19, who finished in second. “I can’t even explain how I feel,” Asing said. “I feel like I’ve worked really hard and this stuff is right up my alley. I’m really exhausted and lost for words right now with this win. To start off with a solid score like that is huge, it’s a lot of weight off of your shoulders. Instead of playing catch up, you’re looking to replace scores and it allowed me to select better waves. To get a good lead like that was real crucial.”

Asing, a standout on the ASP Pro Junior Series, is now in excellent position to qualify for the ASP World Junior Tour compliments of the Vans Pro Junior’s ASP 4-Star status. “It’s a big weight off of my back to get this one out of the way and get a win with this being a 4-Star,” Asing said. “Winning a junior with this many points is huge for my rating and crucial for the ASP World Juniors.”

RANGIROA, French Polynesia (Thursday, March 29, 2012) – One of the most highly anticipated events on the ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series is about to get underway, the 5-Star rated Rangiroa Pro Junior March 30 – April 4. This is the second biggest surfing event in all of French Polynesia, and a true test of the surfer’s prowess as they get tested in the challenging and powerful waves Rangiroa has to offer.

Dane Jordan ASP Australasia General Manager is excited about the up and coming event and that the young surfers in attendance will improve their surfing vastly by surfing at this world-class destination.

“The waves at Rangiroa are amazing,” Jordan said. “We are excited to be able to offer our young surfers the chance to go and compete at a tropical reef break. Competing at this event will give the surfers experience surfing a wave different to what they’re used to and they can use this experience to further their surfing careers. We appreciate the support of the people of Rangiroa and all the sponsors who make this event possible.”

Check out all the action from the Rangiora Pro Junior 2012.

BELLS BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Wednesday, March 28, 2012) – The outlook for the start of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, including the trials to be held on the Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd of April, is now looking nothing short of excellent. The forecast broadly hinges on an active storm track affecting the far southern Indian Ocean through to Western Australian longitudes over the next week to ten days.

This activity was already underway following a large, complex extratropical low intensifying over the far south-western Indian Ocean on Wednesday. The system sets up an extensive area of zonal gales spanning the furthest reaches of our long range swell window; the head of the fetch elongating beneath the Kerguelen Islands on Thursday.

This system extends further eastward and gradually weakens as the head of the fetch approaches Western Australian longitudes later Friday. A couple of long range SW pulses arising from this source are due to make landfall across Victorian coasts on Sunday and early to mid next week. At this stage the bulk of a first SW pulse is projected to fill in across the region at an inconsistent two to three feet on Sunday.

This underlying energy is superseded by a larger round of WSW swell inbound across the region over the weekend; arising from a cut off low intensifying over the Great Australian Bight on Friday and Saturday. There’s good consensus among key global models indicating the low will establish gale force WSW fetch within much closer range of the Victorian coast over this time frame.

Although the deepwater WSW swell is likely to be significantly larger than the aforementioned long range SW groundswell the storm’s position over the Bight initially places it inside the far northern periphery of our swell window; sending WSW swell our way at an acute angle of 250 degrees on Saturday.

This westerly bias in direction coupled with relatively short periods of 10 to 12 seconds is likely to heavily dilute its impact on the Surf Coast, ensuring the longer range SW groundswell will be the dominant energy across the region on Saturday at one to three feet.

Strong WSW pulse peaks on Sunday morning
However, it now appears the cut off low will carry a compact belt of WSW gales towards the Victorian coast on Saturday, setting up a respectable pulse in WSW groundswell overnight. The bulk of it is projected to peak into the early hours of Sunday – potentially topping out at four to six feet at Bells and Winki before easing back into the three to five foot range during the day – this will be reviewed as the storm develops.

By the weekend we’re more likely to see a far more dynamic synoptic pattern affecting our long range swell window. Latest model runs are now picking up a strong low developing within the broader storm track as it approaches Western Australian longitude on Saturday. The system sets up a gale to storm force WSW wind surge that acts upon an already highly energetic sea state.

This system is still forecast to further deepen into a large, intense low pressure system exhibiting a central pressure of around 950 hPa as it moves slowly beneath Western Australia on Sunday aiming a broad area of predominantly westerly gales our way; an extensive fetch spanning the entire Great Australian Bight on Saturday and Sunday.

This continues to hint at a strong round of WSW groundswell inbound across Victorian coasts on Tuesday. Although surf potential for Bells and Winki likely to be constrained by a strong westerly bias in swell direction. Never the less, potential for a large WSW swell exhibiting peak intervals of 15 to 17 seconds may be sufficient to generate three to four foot plus sets for the start of the main round on Tuesday.

The storm track is projected to remain highly active across our swell window as a blocking high centred downstream, just east of New Zealand, halts the eastward progression of the aforementioned low over the Bight. Long range models push the low southward beneath the Bight on Monday as a new stronger low sets up beneath Western Australia. There are now indications another fast moving low will merge with the first low to form a very large, intense low pressure complex occupying a vast area of the Southern Ocean beneath WA and the Bight on Monday. This holds good potential for a larger episode topping out at larger four to eight feet on Wednesday/ Thursday before winding back into the three to four foot range into Friday 6th/ Saturday 7th. Again, keep in mind it’s still far too early to accurately anticipate the behavior of the larger low pressure complex developing early to mid next week, so this remains speculative for the time being.

Saturday 31st March
WSW swell around 1 – 3ft early with potential for an increase towards 2 to 4ft during the late afternoon. WIND: Early WNW 15 to 25 knots tending W/SW 10 to 20 knots.

Sunday 1st April
WSW swell. Potential for 4 to 6ft early, easing to 3 – 5ft during the day. WIND: Light SW to SE 5 to 15 knots.

Monday 2nd April
Combination of inconsistent, long range SW groundswell and WSW swell 3 – 4ft Bells and Winki, potentially rebuilding to 4 – 6ft during the afternoon. WIND: NNE 5 to 15 knots shifting W during the afternoon.

Tuesday 3rd April
WSW groundswell, 5 – 6ft Bells and Winki Pop. WIND: WNW 5 to 10 knots, tending WSW during the afternoon.

Wednesday 4th April
WSW groundswell, speculatively 6 to 8ft Bells and Winki Pop.

Thursday 5th April
WSW groundswell speculatively 4 – 6ft at Bells and Winki Pop.

Friday 6th April
SW groundswell speculatively 3 – 4ft at Bells and Winki Pop.

Forecast brought to you by official meteorologists for the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Coastalwatch Plus.

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will be webcast LIVE via RipCurl.com

“SURFING THE WILD EAST”
On September 26 2011, the Blickinsfreie team together with professional surfers Ian Walsh, Gary Saavedra and Perth Standlick went on a three-week adventure through the Caucasus Eurasia with a mission to surf the Black Sea as well as Caspian Sea just north of Baku, Azerbaijan. Fusing the intentions to expose new surf territory with a fever for adventure and foreign land, our mission was to deliver a compelling story to an audience of core surf enthusiasts on a global level.

It all started when a group of us discovered a surf scene along the Black Sea in Bulgaria. Local surfers shared their idea of searching along the Black Sea for uncharted surf territory and together we formed an international crew of surfers to write, film and photograph our travels as we discover and explore the Wild East.

And as we began to map out our trip, we brainstormed for ideas on a possible route. We found surf spots in both the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, and our goal was to complete a 3000km journey to Baku, Azerbaijan, where we can surf and document waves never before shown.