Red Bull Surfing : News

Julian Wilson wins Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:42:41 -0600

Julian Wilson proved to be the form surfer of the day, claiming victory at the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-4 Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure presented by Jack's Surfboards, in improved two-to-three foot peaky conditions over Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head AUS), Chris Salisbury (Newport, AUS) and Andrew Doheny (Newport Beach, CA).

Wilson wasted no time in the final, acquiring two solid scores in the opening minutes to put his fellow finalists on the ropes. His performance topped off a flawless run of competition, which saw him win every heat he surfed in from Round 1.

"This win feels really good," Wilson said. "I've never had a good result here, and I thought if I came here and did this event it would be good experience for the US Open, and it's worked out well that I came here early. I'm pumped for the US Open, and I can't wait for it."

Wilson was a standout throughout the event's entirety, winning a total of seven heats over the stack of international talent. The young Australian posted the event's highest total heat score of a near perfect 18.35 out of possible 20 points in his Quarterfinal heat against current ASP North American Pro Junior Series ratings leader Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA),

Hawaiian standout Kai Barger (Haiku, HI) and San Diegan Brent Reilly

(Carlsbad, CA).

"The waves have gotten a lot better," Wilson said. "I think there's still a bit of tide on it, but it's really clean, and there are more fun peaks, and not so many closeouts, and it's not too hard to get a score out here today."

Red Bull Rising: Tales From Friday the 13th

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:31:22 -0600

It was time to clear out. "Let's go free surfing, let's go find some waves, that's as good as it gets in surfing," frothed Kauai's Gavin Gillette, and he was spot on. Competition wise everything may have not gone exactly to plan, but with the swell switch seemingly stuck on "four-foot and pumping," and with foam fringed coral reefs sluicing in every direction, it was time to find some waves and unleash some free surfing action.

Aboard the Teate, we set sail for north, away from the tropical resorts with their aqua marine bays and blinding white beaches and up to a few hidden waves in the northern atolls. A couple of hours later, we motored into a large channel and almost screwed our collective necks, frantically looking between a perfect reeling left, and a spitting hollow right on either side of the channel.

Red Bull Rider's Cup: And the Winner Is...

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:59:01 -0600

See photos of the carnage here...

The flames of rivalries were stoked, lines were drawn in the sand (only to be erased by the high tide), and it came down to brother against brother (sort of) at the 2008 Red Bull Riders Cup National Championships. Held on the cobblestone point at Trestles known simply as "Church" (a fitting name for any western shoot-out), the swell poured through all weekend long, giving opportunity to the best high school surf squads from around the country to test both their mettle and manhood. But come finals time, crosstown rivals San Clemente High and Carlsbad High would be the only two standing.

Red Bull Rising: Full Moon Fever

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:18:24 -0600

“I was so in the zone, just getting right into my surfing, that it wasn’t till I duckdived and saw the bright stars through the roof of the wave that I remembered that it was the middle of the night.” And so Julian Wilson, the 19-year-old wunderkid from Queensland, Australia, talked through a full-moon session last night at Pasta Point. Julian competed in the Sri Lankan Airways Pro over here, and, although not an athlete on Red Bull Rising, he decided to spend the week on board and try and soak up as much information and inspiration from the WQS high performance program as he could.

Red Bull Rising: Live From The Maldives

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:17:38 -0600

Story By Ben Mondy

“I’m going to sleep well tonight,” Michel Bourez is sitting on top of a Dhoni, a traditional Maldivian boat, and the transport equivalent of a truck in these parts. “I’ve tried to just two hours a day surfing, but I must have done at least four hours today, the surf was too good.”

We were chugging along a glassy Indian Ocean on the roof of the Dhoni, under a molten pink tinged sky, five minutes before dusk, heading back to the Teate, a sweet boat, Maldives Red Bull Rising HQ and our home for the week.

It had been another epic freesurfing session, as Michel was joined by Tim Boal, Clint Kimmins and Gavin Gillette, in a tune up session for their heats in the Sri Lankan Airways Pro, a six star WQS event being held in the turquoise waters, tropical heat and ruler edged reefs of the Maldives.

So you wanna be a surf star? Red Bull Rising Begins Now!

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:39:45 -0600

Last January 19 of the world’s leading junior surfers were invited to the Red Bull WQS Selection Camp held in Australia. After an intensive selection phase only four made the cut into Red Bull Rising, Red Bull's high performance program. The surfers that made this unique elite athlete surfing development team were Brazilian Wiggolly Dantas, the Hawaiian Gavin Gilette, Clint Kimmins from Australia and Frenchman Tim Boal. The fifth surfer, Michel Bourez from Tahiti was nominated through a wild card due to his outstanding talent.

CRISANTO Claims Silver At ISA WORLD JUNIOR SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:53:29 -0600

Story By Cassio Cortes
Brazilian Peterson Crisanto defeated Tahitian Tamaroa McComb twice during the ISA World Junior Surfing Championship’s Under 16 competition on his way to the grand final, but unfortunately for the Red Bull athlete, the Tahitian picked up his top form in the final heat, and won in a very tight final.
Tamaroa began with an 8.10 that slotted him into first place. Peterson scored a lesser 6.20. A few minutes later, the Tahitian scored a near-perfect 9.10 after having executed a huge off-the-lip, followed by five big maneuvers that took him all the way to the beach. Not to be defeated, the Brazilian then scored a high but insufficient 7.54, which left him searching for a very difficult 9.66.
Crisanto very nearly got the score when he pulled off two stylish roundhouse cutbacks, a tailslide 360 and two off-the-lips onto the sand, which gave the Brazilian a 9.62, just 0.04 below what he required. With this score, he needed precisely 7.92, which unfortunately he never quite found. Still, it was a career-best result for Crisanto.
Boys Under 16 ISA World Junior Championships Results
Gold: Tamaroa McComb (TAH)
Silver: Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
Bronze: Matty Costa (HAW)
Copper: Ian Fontaine (FRA)

OPERATION HEALTHY VETERANS: Operation Amped Storms the Beaches of Zuma

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:44:13 -0600

Story Courtesy Jamie Sterling

“There haven’t been this many soldiers flailing in the surf since the invasion of Normandy.” The veteran looked a lot like Sergeant Rock. He was big and tough and had a giant tattoo on his back and when you looked up from the tattoo you couldn’t help but see a giant, jagged canyon of a scar that started at the base of his neck, went straight up the back of his shaved skull and then branched off to the left. There was a bad story behind that scar, but the veteran was trying to leave that story behind.

Field Set For Red Bull Riders Cup National Shoot-Out

Fri, 30 May 2008 12:55:55 -0600

Carlsbad High beat defending Red Bull Riders Cup National Champions San Dieguito Academy in an overtime thriller today at Seaside Reef. In a competitive game both teams had great overall strategy and teamwork. Most valuable player Brent Reilly scored a 7 in the final minutes of the third period tying the score and sending the game into overtime.

Graduation Day: Red Bull Night School Concludes With Resounding Success

Thu, 29 May 2008 15:50:12 -0600

Check out some Postcards From Nantucket...and don't forget to take a peek at the Ultra-Super-Fantastic-Mega Red Bull Night School gallery while you're at it.

Story By EXPN.com's Jon Coen

Several of the best aerialists from North Carolina to Massachusetts stepped off the gangway leading to a cobblestone street, lined with charming storefronts and blossoming cherry trees. The surfers may have looked out of place among Nantucket's old-money crowd with pink collars and tiny dogs (some in strollers), but this was actually the perfect destination. They were met in the parking lot, and shuttled off to a remote beach on the south side of the Island. There they found a tow-at surfer’s paradise—a pair of isolated cedar-shaked houses, a beach with four Red Bull jet-skis just waiting to be launched, and the kind of solitude to master the art of towing without disrupting another surfer for miles.

10 Years In The Making, Dungeons Welcomes Red Bull Big Wave Africa Home

Wed, 28 May 2008 09:35:56 -0600

After a nine-year on-off relationship, Red Bull BWA and Dungeons are about to embark on their celebratory ten-year anniversary in true big wave style. Having grown into one of the world's longest running and most respected big wave paddle-in competitions, the event has kept its ardent followers in awe for years, and plans on making year ten the best yet - providing Neptune steps up to the plate as he already has with the recent solid, clean early Winter swells.

For Julian Wilson, One Good Turn Deserves Another

Tue, 27 May 2008 19:00:39 -0600

The young new-school talent of Julian Wilson prevailed in the third edition of The O’Neill Mission. The edited video he put together of his highlights of the week to be judged, featured endless aerials, 360s, and even included a new-school rap soundtrack.

“I’m so blown away right now,” Julian said. “It’s been such a good week. We have made the best out of all the conditions we faced in France. I want to thank O’Neill for putting on such a good event.”

RIDER CUP UPDATE: SAN CLEMENTE HIGH WINS IN HUNTINGTON

Tue, 27 May 2008 13:32:41 -0600

Heavy storms brought the final day of Red Bull Riders Cup in Huntington Beach, California. Huntington Beach High School was strong again this season and proved the team to beat but San Clemente High came on strong becoming this years regional champions.

In the final game it was San Clemente High taking on last years regional champs, Huntington Beach High School. With coaching help from WQS #1 Pat Gudauskas and brothers Dane and Tanner, San Clemente High opened the first period with unbelievable surfing and team work. Returning champions, Huntington Beach High School were determined to defend their regional title with coaching help from WQS #5 Brett Simpson.

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Thu, 22 May 2008 20:54:04 -0600

After a blistering performance at the 2008 NSSA Western Championships, an event in which he won both the Open Men's and Junior division in classic south swell conditions at the famed Huntington Beach, Kolohe "Brother" Andino is now setting his sights on the international arena. Departing today, along with the rest of the USA Surf Team, for the 2008 Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Hossegor, France, Brother's already proven to be a key player on the squad, and if his recent results are any indication of things to come, the rest of the world better check themselves. The dynamic 15-year-old already has more national titles than his mantle can hold, but bringing home the gold for America would be especially sweet. "It would cool to win a gold medal," he remarked at the team's send-off luncheon earlier this week. "It's one thing to win for yourself, it's another represent your country and be part of a team. This might be the best team America's had in a long time, and I'm proud just to be part of it." Stay tuned, the contest gets underway on May 24th, we'll keep you updated.

After Hours At Red Bull Night School

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:23:01 -0600

We had a crazy weekend here in Nantucket as Red Bull Night School keeps on keepin' on. The last weekend before all the tourists come starting Memorial day. The boys ripped it up on land and sea. The ocean was the playground during the day and The Chicken Box was the playground at night. There was a bit of business though. The business of getting some air and not letting the relentless winds get the boys down. Funny how you look out at windblown crap and finally motivate to go out to only find you definitely come in with a smile. The crew made the best of it. Mike Paugh and Adam Coates from Zapstix Surf Shop made it out do some Victory at Sea towing and killed it. Raven Lundy and Lucas made the journey back south and Andrew Gesler and Jamie Moran stepped in.

Check out the shots.