January 2008 Archives

Julian Wilson is quickly proving to not only to be one of the world’s most exciting fresh faces, but one of the most dynamic, and now he's part of the Red Bull family. Want some qualifications? Consider this: He beat Kelly Slater on the Gold Coast last year at the Quiksilver Pro, he won “Best Performance by a Male” at the 2007 SURFER Poll for his high-flying section in Young Guns 3, and his freshly made Sushi Roll and various inverts are upping the ante on above-the-lip surfing.

For the time being "Jules" is going to be spending his days doing battle on Australia's competitive junior circuit, as well as traversing the planet filming his part for Taylor Steele's follow-up to Campaign.

When it comes to the next generation, Julian Wilson is emerging as Australia’s brightest star, and taking into account all he’s accomplished, and the fact that even Calvin Klein is begging to put his mug on a billboard, he appears to be on the right path. All this and he still gives his mum a peck on the cheek before he paddles out to surf a heat.

San Clemente, California's Kolohe Andino is no means a stranger to the spotlight, which is pretty remarkable considering he's only 14 years old. But after winning pretty much everything a kid his age can, Kolohe's setting his sights on bringing a gold home to America. With the ISA Word Games coming to France this April, Kolohe's spent the last few months running soft sand, pumping out push-ups and surfing mock heats with his USA Surf Team bretheren. "It's been gnarly," he admits, "but then I think everybody's progressed and we've come together as a team, so that's good." The team, which has grown tight under the tutelage of new coach and former Pipe Master's winner Joey Buran, has one more training camp left in Huntington Beach, then they're off to the North Shore for a couple weeks of intensive wave-riding in February before finally storming the French shore. Stay tuned as Kolohe goes for the gold, or check out the USA Surf Team for all the dirt that's fit to post.

Current world champion Mick Fanning gave advice on overcoming challenges and achieving success to 19 of the world’s most talented junior surfers attending the invitation-only Red Bull WQS Selection Camp 08 at the Surfing Australia High Performance Centre in Casuarina, on the far north coast of NSW.

Fanning advised the surfers to follow their dreams. “You have every opportunity in the world”, he said. “You guys are all here because you are special talents”, added Fanning. “We are all behind you if you really want this; no-one can tell you what you can and can’t achieve”, he said. “You guys have all got the talent, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t make it”, he said. Fanning’s candid advice on mental and physical preparation that helped him get through his first year on the World Qualifying Series was much appreciated by the squad of young surfers including four Australians, from the US, France, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, many of who are looking to move up to the world qualifying tour this year.

Aussie surfer Clint Kimmins roared to victory over 2006 V8 Supercar champion Rick Kelly on the Gold Coast yesterday. Supported by 18 of the world’s most talented junior surfers from the US, France, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, South America and Australia and the Red Bull surf management team, Kimmins took the coveted gold trophy. UK Open Surf Champion Oliver Adams, whose parents were former champion racing drivers, took third place.
 
“I really enjoy watching V8 Supercars and having Rick there was great”, said Kimmins, who was stoked that he had beaten the champ. “Although he started last on the grid and I started first, I think with one more lap he would have gone straight past me”, said Kimmins.

Boards were abandoned this morning as 19 of the world’s most talented junior surfers from the US, France, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, South America and Australia took part in a ‘navy seal’ team building exercise at Kingscliff Beach as part of the invitation only 2008 Red Bull World Qualifying Series (WQS) Selection Camp.

“We were expecting blood, sweat and tears; we got the blood and sweat, but the team held strong on the tears”, said Camp Director and former WQS surfer Andy King. “It was 90 minutes of hell and they performed really well”, he said. “We evolved from a bunch of rugged individuals into a unified group where everyone took responsibility for the team”, he said.

Nineteen of the worlds most talented junior surfers from the US, France, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, South America and Australia rose before dawn today to undertake a grueling 90 minute trek up Mt Warning as part of their training at the invitation only 2008 Red Bull World Qualifying Series (WQS) Selection Camp.

The exclusive camp which invited 19 future world champions including four Australians, commenced yesterday at the Surfing Australia High Performance Centre in Casuarina, on the far north coast of NSW. 

There’s no disputing that the North Shore’s Jamie Sterling has a enjoyed a winter full of gigantic waves. The only hitch, until recently, none of the swells he chased were in Hawaii. Rather the West Coast has transformed into a legitimate destination for adrenaline junkies.

In early January, Sterling, along with former Red Bull Big Wave Africa winner Greg Long, Hawaiian compatriot Mark Healey, as well as several others, chased the same swell from Hawaii to Maverick’s, then to the formidable Ghost Tree just a few clicks down the coast, and finally ending up in Mexico at massive Todos Santos. But that was just the start of things to come.

With the permit for Da Hui Backdoor Shoot-Out running out and only good through the weekend, thankfully a flawless 6- to 8-foot west swell pumped across the Banzai reef on Saturday, Jan. 12. There was no question, the contest was on, which was a fortunate call for Jamie O’Brien, who, after the previous day’s heats sat in second place behind Bruce Irons.

“The most terrifying moment was when Bruce took the lead for the point total,” said Jamie. “I had to sleep on that one last night. I didn’t think the event would be on today so I figured I would be getting second. I had a hard time sleeping.”

“I really never thought of a world title coming into Hawaii,” said Sofia Mulanovich shortly after winning the Roxy Pro Hawaii at Sunset Beach and finding out that she had a very real chance at capturing her second world title. “I just wanted to have fun, surf wave by wave and have a good contest. Now it’s on, it’s so on.”

And with a world title on the line, Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich headed to Maui to square off against Australian rookie phenom Stephanie Gilmore. And while in the end it was Stephanie that realized her date with destiny, Mulanovich, who finished the year in the runner-up slot, proved that after five years on tour, after being named Rookie of the Year in 2003, and winning the title outright in 2004, she’s more vital to the sport of surfing today than ever before.

Consider her year: In July she was inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame in Huntington Beach. In September she won her third consecutive Surfer Poll Award. By October she’d helped pioneer and facilitate the Moncora Classic, the first WCT event ever held in Peru, which is even more impressive considering the event holds a two-year contract. She also found time to win both the Rip Curl Girls Festival, a WCT event held in Liencres, Spain, and the Roxy Pro Hawaii, as well as finish second in the ASP rankings.

For anybody else that would easily qualify as the best year of their life, for Sofia it seems to be becoming a bit routine. And as the 2007 World Championship Tour season has come to a close, one can only wait in anticipation to see what the girl who’s perpetually “so stoked” has in store for next year.