| Jamie Sterling Signs with GFH Skateboards
After months of talks, GFH Boards announces today that they have signed one of the worlds top big wave riders, Jamie Sterling. Sterling from Hawaii; is considered one of the most fearless chargers in the world, surfing some of the largest waves ever record. GFH President and Founder Garrett Hurley and Surf Team Manager Tim Hoover have been looking for strong representation in Hawaii and Jamie Sterling is certainly a top find. Sterling will join Tyler Fox as another GFH team rider that charges the worlds largest waves.
With a podium finish this last weekend at Mavericks Surf Contest, Sterling continues to be known for his character and his fearlessness.
Career highlights:
* Eddie Aikau Invitee '07
* Mavericks Invitee '07
* Monster Energy Pipeline Pro Invitee '07
* Pipe Masters Invitee '06
* 3rd Place Mavericks Jan '08
* 4th Place Red Bull Big Wave Africa '06
* 1st Place Maestro de Gringo Peru
* 2nd Place Big Buoy Surf Challenge
* Billabong XXL Best Overall Performance '06
* Billabong Most Committed Deep Throat Award '06
* 12th Place Eddie Aikau '02
* 4th Place Hansens Pipeline Pro '03
* 6th Place Red Bull Big Wave Africa '03
* 10th Place Eddie Aikau '01 .
Ireland's Donegal Bay is a 'must surf' spot
Metallica Pete is standing in the cold gray froth of the beach at Bundoran, like a latter-day St. Patrick, trying to bring the gospel of surfing to the people of Ireland. All around him, squadrons of wetsuit-clad teenagers flip and flop their bulky beginner boards in the knee-slapping shore break at Bundoran's pebbly beach at the foot of a ferris-wheel-and-candy shop coastal resort town on Donegal Bay. It takes some imagination to place the scene in the realm of Hawaii's Pipeline or Australia's Surfers Paradise, but the bay in the northeastern corner of Ireland is one of the surfing hot spots of Europe. Except, of course, that it is turn-your-ears pink frigid out on these breakers. ''It's not that bad,'' says Andrew Hughes, an instructor working with Metallica Pete (Pete actually looks more mid-1970s David Lee Roth to my eye).
Perfect Teahupo'o greets Day Two of the Air Tahiti Nui/Von Zipper ...
Watch live coverage at billabongpro.com.
Full coverage of Trials Day One.
A decrease in swell overnight resulted in perfect 2m conditions for the second day of the Air Tahiti Nui/Von Zipper trials at Teahupoo, as competitors rode the pristine ‘Chopes' barrels in hope of securing a wildcard into the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Stakes were raised and pressure intensified as top seeded third round surfers submitted their bid for a slot in the Billabong Pro for 2005. Today's surfing saw the culmination of the second and third round. The fourth round scheduled for tomorrow conditions pending will feature eight half hour man on man heats.
Gold Coast surfer Dylan Longbottom came from behind in the dying minutes of his top seeded third round heat, to earn a position in the remaining 16.
Hapuna Beach leads the state in spinal-cord injuries
For years, Sandy Beach's unforgiving shore break has been known for broken necks and backs. But the popular Oahu bodysurfing spot ranks only third among Hawaii beaches that saw the most spinal cord injuries in a six-year period ending in 2006. Topping the list is Hapuna Beach on the Big Island, with 11 cases, followed by Waikiki, which had eight, according to data compiled by the Queen's Medical Center since 2001. Sandy's had seven incidents during that time. Spinal cord injuries at Hawaii beaches have been rising, to 17 cases in 2006 from eight in 2001, figures show. It peaked in 2005, when 22 people damaged their spines while in the water. While Waikiki's runner-up placing can be largely attributed to its 6.6 million visitors, Hapuna has all the qualities of a dangerous spot -- inviting medium-size waves breaking above a shallow, hard bottom.
Surfing's oldest pro hangs up wetsuit after 25 years
After 25 years of professional surfing, Mark Occhilupo has retired at the age of 41.
Occhilupo first burst onto the pro surfing scene back in 1983 at the young age of 17. Brash and cocky but with the surfing ability to back it up, Occhilupo was a media sensation. Being one of Australia's best surfers, Occhilupo not only influenced the surfing world but also represented the nation he proudly came from.
Before his retirement he was the oldest surfer still competing. "Occy's" surfing career lasted 25 years, making his surfing career professional surfing's longest. Occhilupo came into professional surfing a champion and exits a champion.
Any long and successful career is going to have its share of good times, bad times, victories and defeats, Occhilupo's included.
You Must Read This
And then there comes the thick, low rattle of the drums, and through wreaths of dust and smoke I see the line of high bonnets, the row of brown faces, the swing and toss of the long, red plumes amid the sloping lines of steel. And there rides Ney with his red head, and Lefebvre with his bulldog jaw, and Lannes with his Gascon swagger; and then amidst the gleam of brass and the flaunting feathers I catch a glimpse of him, the man with the pale smile, the rounded shoulders, and the far-off eyes. There is an end of my sleep, my friends, for up I spring from my chair, with a cracked voice calling and a silly hand outstretched, so that Madame Titaux has one more laugh at the old fellow who lives among the shadows. Although I was a full Chief of Brigade when the wars came to an end, and had every hope of soon being made a General of Division, it is still rather to my earlier days that I turn when I wish to talk of the glories and the trials of a soldier's life.
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