Newsletter join now Keep in touch with all the latest surf news, green scene and partner info by joining the Drift weekly update. SIGN UP NOW
What are we made of? Drift Magazine is made from ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) FSC Certified pulp and low VOC vegetable inks. Studio power by Ecotricity and delivery made using Biopower V100 waste oil.
04/05/2007:// British champion Ben Skinner was one wave short of winning a place in the last 16 of the Oxbow World Longboard Championships in France.
The Cornishman finished more than seven points adrift of Brazilian Carlos Bahia in round three at Les Cavaliers.
An eight-point wave from the World Surfing Games silver medallist was only backed up with a 3.75 score.
The South American racked up 15.10 points from his two waves to take the heat.
Earlier, there was a major surprise when the defending event champion Josh Constable was beaten by 17-year-old whiz kid Harrison Roach.
It was a massive upset as the more experienced and powerful Constable had been in devastating form.
“I was nipping at his heals at the recent Noosa Festival of Surfing event and he just pipped me at the post there, so it was so good to get him here at the big one,” said Roach.
“He’s a really good surfer, so you don’t want to give him a chance, so I put the hassle on him and gave him some pressure and I guess it worked.”
Harrison, not content with his incredible run all the way from the trials, now has his sights on the big prize.
“I can go all the way. I’m not here to make friends. I’m going for the number one spot,” said the confident youngster.
Harrison has been travelling and staying with another wildcard in the event Bryce Young, whose dad just happens to be the patron of the event and surfing legend Nat Young.
“I’ve been staying with Bryce and his parents,” said Roach. “It’s been really amazing having Nat around – this morning he gave us both a big pep talk, which was awesome.”
In the next heat it was a similar scenario with trials wildcard Jackson Close, a young, powerful Australian, surfing far too strong for last year’s runner up Ned Snow (HAW).
“I’m pretty happy right now, beating number two in the world is a big achievement,” said Close after his victory. “I’ve got nothing to lose, and with a world title up for grabs, you can’t afford to play it safe. You just have to go for it and try and stick it every time.”
Like his fellow giant killer Roach, Close’s thoughts have now turned to bigger and better things.
“That’s what I’m here for, you know, to win the thing,” Close said.
Former world champions Colin McPhillips, Bonga Perkins, Mathew Moir and world number three Harvey Ingleby all advanced to the next round.
McPhillips, who was in danger of missing the event after a knee injury only last week, scored an impressive 16.50 pts out of 20 in his heat and looks dangerous, especially considering the fall of some of his biggest competitors.
“Yeah that was a little bonus,” said McPhillips, referring to Constable and Snow’s elimination. “But it’s great to see. I mean I haven’t even heard, let alone seen, these guys before and yet here they are taking out the old guys. They are really shaking things up and it’s great for the sport.”
Bonga Perkins (HAW) the 1996 world champion also reflected on the upsets after his heat win against Dodger Kremel (USA).
“Well I suppose there are couple of big dogs that I don’t have to worry about now,” Perkins said, before adding a cautionary warning. “Still there are so many good surfers left in the competition and you can’t take anything for granted.”
The world ranked number three, Ingleby, agreed with the veteran Hawaiian, after his heat win over Bryce Young.
“I’m pretty sure everyone left in the event has their eyes on the prize,” Ingleby said. “But with these variable conditions and the incredible standard of surfing, I’ll just be taking it heat by heat.”
That just left the strong Brazilian contingent to provide the majority of the final 16 places left in the event. Surfers like Jeremias de Silva, Phil Rajzman, Carlos Bahia, Eduardo Bage and Danilo Rodrigo, all firm friends, are looking strong and determined. Such is their collective talent it’s hard not seeing one of these surfers making the final.
“We have always travelled and surfed together,” said Eduardo Bage, who took out his fellow countrymen Jonas Lima in heat 12. “While individually we all want to win, it is good to be together and support each other.”
[Carissa Moore (in yellow) receiving the winner's prize]
[The number of high-rated Australian surf competitions are set to increase]
[Pablo Gutierrez winner of the Superbock Pro]
Hawaiian Carissa Moore won the Roxy Pro Junior surfing in her first ever contest in France
ASP International has announce the inception of their fourth regional branch, ASP Australasia
Twenty-six-year-old Pablo Guitierrez took top honours in the Superbock Pro in Portugal after defeating fellow Portugeuse surfer Eduardo Fernandes in the final
Skype us
.jpg)
Surf art 
Surf environment