February 8, 2009 at 8:15 pm | Spongercity Contests News
wtf ?! Pro surfer Jamie O’Brien scores a seed in IBA grand slam event at pipe. This is what we just read on the IBA website.
Sounds weird. Sounds good but surprising… we’re not sure what to think about this one. Is this a desperate attempt to get more media coverage during the pipe comp ? or is this a cool way to try to bridge the gap between bbers and surfers ? Jamie O knows how to surf pipe better then anyone and will definitely get barrelled there on a boogieboard but why chose Jamie O for this seed instead of some hi-profile bber ? Will Jamie O prove that bbing is way easier then stand up surfing ? or will bbers prove that bbing is just as technical and hard as standup surfing if Jamie doesnt make it thru his heat ? It’s really hard to tell but we’ll wait and see. Exciting stuff… but very surprising.
Here’s the press release from the IBA about this:
In one of the most extraordinary twists in modern Pro surfing, Pipeline local Jamie O’Brien has been granted a start in the seeded rounds of the Turbo Bodyboards Pipeline Pro.
This is the first event on the International Bodyboarding Association Men’s World Tour for 2009 and carries a Grand Slam status as well as double points towards the championship.
International General Manager of the IBA Terry McKenna says that O’Brien started his surfing career on a bodyboard as a kid before making the transition to fibreglass.
“Apparently Jamie was into it when he was younger and still feels keen enough about it to have a start in the event. Word on the street is that he can still hold his rail in and ride deep in the barrel at Pipe, so it will be amazing to watch ” said McKenna.
“Jamie is one of the most innovative surfers in the world and an astounding waterman so I would not put it past him to blow some minds at his home break.”
“I can only imagine that this will be one of the most highly anticipated heats of the year and watched by everyone in the surfing community. It’s a bold move and a first for the IBA ” said McKenna.
Jamie O’Brien had a different sort of sandpit to play in as a child. His backyard was Pipeline and no one knows this break better than him. This is supported by the fact that he was the youngest surfer to ever win the Pipeline Masters ASP event and recently won the backdoor shootout.
O’Brien will be seeded into the rounds 33-80 in a field of 144.
The waiting period begins on Feb 17th and continues till Feb 27th with the best three days being used for competition.
The event is being webcast at www.ibaworldtour.com/live More info www.ibaworldtour.com
Media enquiries terry@ibaworldtour.com
February 6, 2009 at 12:29 am | Spongercity Contests, Industry, Magazines, Moving Pictures News
There’s a siiiiiick little Pipeline video clip on the Rookies Site (Pipe from Feb 2008) right now. You gotta watch this !
While we’re talking about pipe make sure you also check the IBA site and get ready for the TURBO Pipeline pro action starting on the 16th of Feb. 2009 ! Yewwww. There’s a little video clip presenting the event on the IBA home page so check it out.
Issue 15 of Crysis Bodyboard Mag is now available. Features include an interview with Micah McMullin, Hurricane Force from the East Coast, Chaos in Cabo, Nic Lugo profile, Road Warriors in South Africa, a 2009 Calendar and tons more. Subscribers, look for yours in the mailbox within a few days and others can pick them up at your favorite retail location soon. Rumor has it Manny Vargas and the crew will be at the Trade Show with boxes of em’!
Last but not least: we got an email from Ben at EBB presenting the impressive 2009 team riders from EBB and VOID Wetsuits. Check out the EBB Blog here to check all the riders and and peep the Void site for more info about the suits and the Void team if you havent checked it already.
February 3, 2009 at 8:36 pm | Spongercity Boards Tests, Tests News
Early 2009…time for more board tests ! We just tested the VS Rawlins Model – PE + stringer – crescent tail – size 41 – Test conditions: in 12 to 14°C waters. (about 53 to 57°F). Shorey waves from 3 to 5 feet, glassy and hollow. One of the best sessions we’ve had for board tests so far !
Read more about the board in this test.
Read the rest of this entry »
February 2, 2009 at 8:42 pm | Spongercity General, Industry News
Some links from Europe this week:
- Incinerate Productions in Portugal has a new site and video to watch here: http://www.incinerateproductions.pt.to/
- Portugal also has a new messageboard here: http://www.bodyboard.pt
- Check French site Lanitzprod.fr for some cool pictures from Bali documenting the VS-NMD trip from May 08 featuring PLC, Winny, Benny, Max Arent etc.
- Amaury Lavernhe now rides for Licious Board Shop in France.
January 22, 2009 at 3:56 pm | Spongercity Wallpapers News
It’s time for new wallpapers ! Say hello to our first wallpaper collaboration project !
The SPONGERCITY™ x VS™Boards Wallpaper Co-Lab
We’ve included 10 different sizes for all computer screens, from 1920px wide to 800px wide, and have a choice between WIDE or 4:3 size resolution. Check at the bottom of the list the iPhone / iPodTouch special size. We designed it taking into account the iPhone interface to make sure the wallpaper is gonna look sick and won’t mess with the rest of the iPhone user interface like Time/Date and Unlock buttons.
Choose a screen resolution and download for it for FREE right now:
Choose a screen resolution:
January 21, 2009 at 7:57 am | Spongercity Industry, Magazines, Photography News
UNITE just launched their new website for 2009 and dropped us a line: “New website coming soon, yeah right! Okay, we admit it, our new website took a while longer to launch than we had expected. Who can blame us though? It is Summer after all and there are a million and one more fun things to do right now than slave away in the heat in front of a computer.
All excuses aside, we’re stoked to finally have the new site online for your viewing pleasure. Take a look around www.unite4fun.com – you’ll find a comprehensive guide to our new Summer 2008 Product range and a Dealer Locator so that you can track down your local Authorised Unite Dealer. Plus, there’s information about our 2009 Bodyboard Team as well as everything you need to know about the Company and more.
But that’s not all. Along with regular news updates from Unite HQ, we will also be adding Team profiles and interviews, Podcasts, and much more in the near future. Also, our Summer 2008 range is available now at all Authorised Unite Dealers across Australia. Check it out in store or download the Summer 2008 Catalogue here.
The entire Unite Bodyboard Team will be on The Rock throughout February for the Hawaiian late season and first stop on the 2009 IBA World Tour, the Turbo Pipeline Pro. Stay tuned to unite4fun.com for all the breaking news, session reports, and hijinks directly from the North Shore.
Thank you for your patience and continued support, all the best for 2009!”
Other than that Phil Gallagher has a DLUX sale going on here. “Only 200 copies left and well its time to move them so i can start on the next project ASAP. I have reduced the price to a cool $50 bucks +shipping. As a kicker i will sign everyone of those books by my own little cripple hand. Act fast while the books are still in stock”.
MOVEMENT Mag has announced the winners of the Future Trading project thing:
1-CHARLIE WARD, TAS – 15,247
2-LIAM TOMKINS, NSW – 13,785
3-NICK RUBESAAME, QLD – 12,289
4-ALEX HALSEY, WA – 12,252
5-THORPE WALUEW, QLD – 8,973
Reserves:
6-CHASE O’LEARY, NSW – 7,765
7-CHARLIE HOLT, NSW – 6,891
January 15, 2009 at 10:04 am | Spongercity Industry, Moving Pictures News
Turbosurfdesigns just launched their new website, announcing at the time time that their latest recrut is none other than Andre Botha ! Andre also has a new website to share: Dreboy.com. It’s Andre’s Blog/Site, made with a Wordpress theme called “Element”. Nice look and feel.
The IBA also has a new site by the way. First event of the year is the Turbo Bodyboards Pipeline Pro. Go there and read more about it.
Last but not least, we spotted this cool teaser on the web for the upcoming ZION Dvd called FLUX. What is Zion ? Here’s the answer: “We’re a wetsuit company concerned with all things style texture and function. We’ve recently collaborated with Riptide to bring you a dreamy piece of video art, laced with tech zion kid heat and edgy beats”.
January 8, 2009 at 7:43 pm | Spongercity Moving Pictures News
Is Chris White coming with an eleventh Tension video one day ? Maybe…
Here’s what photographer Phil Gallagher says: “Its all just up in the air at the moment but Chris White is considering making Tension 11. Yeah you heard it hear first people and he is thinking about making it all in Peru with the original cast members from his early movies. My sources in WA have been pretty tight lipped about it but if your anywhere near EBB in Perth between 10 am and 5pm this friday Whitey is working in store so go and ask him about it”.
That would be sick !
Update: This happens to be a rumour. Looks like the DVD will not happen. Too bad. We’d have loved it ! hehe
January 7, 2009 at 6:41 pm | Spongercity Podcasts News
Today the Waldron Bros. released the Pierre Louis Costes section of the NMDtv podcast. Sick episode of course with PLC smoking Canggu, Keramas and Padang in Bali – May08 while on trip with the VS and NMD Team. Open iTunes and refresh your Waldron podcast to watch teh new episode (this is if you’re a subscriber). If you havent subscribed yet, then open iTunes Store and search for the Waldrons Boom! Podcast or get detailed info here: www.waldronbros.com/boom.html
For the geeks out there willing to get their hands on the actual feed for this podcast, it’s here: XML feed for the Waldrons Podcast
Alright and now don’t close iTunes yet, there’s a new podcast available now: the Limited Edition Podcast (with NOMAD mainly) and the Nomad riders. They’ve released 6 episodes so far, like teasers for ROAM, THE ROAD, ROAM II and so on…
To subscribe to this podcast click here. (this link will open iTunes).
January 7, 2009 at 12:38 pm | Spongercity Industry News
We just got some news regarding 2009 contracts, brands, riders and stuff. Here’s a quick recap if you wanna keep up-to-date with the current industry gossips:
Jeff Hubbard is now riding for 662Mob Bodyboard shop. “662 Bodyboard Shop proudly announces Hawaiian bodyboarder Jeff Hubbard to their team. Hubbard is the most recognized bodyboarder in the world who constantly pushes the boundaries of the sport” Read more on Jeff Hubbard’s blog.
Nomad just re-signed Glen Thurston and Matt Lackey. The two join compatriot Chris James as the 3 core and founding members of Nomad’s F.S.D. (Free Surf Division).
Remember when we talked about Brandon Foster’s new Road Warrior Tours project ? Well here’s a sick commercial for Road Warrior Tours, edited, filmed and produced by renowned surf film editor Ralph Sanchez. Bruman says “Get your mom, friends and enemies to watch. Hope you enjoy”.
Log on Roadwarriortours.com/ for more info and to go on trip with the Bruman Foster !
Some news from the MOVEMENT Mag grom trip: FUTURE TRADING. Movement Mag is taking some groms on a trip and will have you voting on youtube for who’s going. Just go on the FUTURE TRADING youtube channel and vote for the kids you digg the most. There’s 14 clips available so far. Science Bodyboards sent us an email saying Science has three riders vying to get on this Movement Mag grom trip, there’s Charles ward (click on his name to watch his video) and there’s Alex Halsey and Davis Blackwell on there as well. Vote 5 for the ones you like the most and hopefully the kiddos will be sent with Movement Mag on the trip ! We’ll let you know who we vote for later, we havent had the time to watch all vids so far. Vids editing looks good and that Future Trading logo is nice too. Arty people at Movement Mag ay !
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