The ASP WQS Tour hit the midway point following the completion of the Mr. Price Pro, which was held in Durban, South Africa last week. Australia’s Chris Davidson pulled out the big victory with a win over the crowd-favorite, South African Travis Logie. “I’m stoked I made the final and beat the local boy,” Davidson said. “It was tough for Travis surfing little right-handers on his backside so it definitely favored me. I’ve got tens here in the past, but I was the underdog out there today, so it felt good to come home with the win.”

The win puts Davidson at 7th on the WQS standings as the tour gets set to begin the business end of the year with the upcoming U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach on July 18-27. Patrick Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA) nabbed a 3rd in Durban and now finds himself once again atop the ‘QS rankings. It’s still early, but with the strong result and subsequent rise in the standings, Gudauskas is looking like a solid bet to end up with a spot on the 2009 Dream Tour. “I’ve never done well in Durban so to get a third today is a great result for me,” Gudauskas said. “I’m really excited to be back at No. 1, it’s a very long season so I just want to continue bettering my results.”

World champion Sunny Garcia’s quest to return to the WCT next year continues on. He has made no secret of his strong desire to make another run on the ‘CT, and with his current 8th place standing the powerful Hawaiian is in a strong position to finish in the top 15 and do exactly that. He has had quite a bit of success at Huntington Beach and is undoubtedly looking forward to the opportunity of solidifying his position with a solid result at the nation’s only ASP WQS 6-Star event.

Current WQS Standings after the 6-Star Mr Price Pro:

1. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 9119
2. David Weare (ZAF) 8688
3. Hizunome Bettero (BRA) 8650
4. Nathaniel Curran (USA) 8600
5. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 8363
6. Drew Courtney (AUS) 8356
7. Chris Davidson (AUS) 8332
8. Sunny Garcia (HAW) 8162
9. Nathan Yeomans (USA) 8100
10. Austin Ware (USA) 7838

Top 10 ASP World Tour Rankings After 4 Events:

1. Kelly Slater (USA) 4010 points
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 3072 points
3. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 3050 points
4. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 2808 points
5. Taj Burrow (AUS) 2762 points
6. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 2728 points
7. Mick Fanning (AUS) 2721 points
8. Andy Irons (HAW) 2606 points
9. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 2474 points
10. Bobby Martinez (USA) 2428 points

Although the fight to keep the highly controversial 241 Toll Road extension has been going for years and has at times seemed endless, those who oppose the project don’t appear to be backing off any time soon.

Last week the Secretary of Commerce announced that a public hearing regarding the proposed extension is to take place July 25 at the Bren Center on the campus of UC Irvine. This comes on the heels of what was a major victory for Trestles, San Onofre State Park, and all those who oppose the development of the proposed toll road when the California Coastal Commission voted 8-2 against the project. This hearing marks the next battle between the Transportation Corridor Authority and opponents over the continuation of the road, which would essentially lead to the closure of the popular campgrounds at San Onofre State Park as well as putting surrounding breaks, including Trestles, at great risk.

For those who have yet to see it, there was a beautiful section done covering the Trestles battle in the most recent Teton Gravity Research film - Out There. It illustrated the importance of keeping this stretch of coast as is and covered why this is such a vital battle for us to become involved in. Over 3,000 strong showed at Wyland Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds to let there voices be heard. This time around there are hopes for an even larger showing. “We are looking forward to the Department of Commerce hearing,” says Mark Rauscher, Assistant Environmental Director for the Surfrider Foundation. “The Department of Commerce has already heard from the experts, now it is time for them to hear directly from the public how the TCA’s proposed alignment for the Foothill-South Toll Road is fundamentally flawed.”

The Surfrider Foundation has been at the forefront of this battle from the beginning. They, along with other groups opposing the Toll Road extension, will be running busses to transport supporters to and from the hearing.

This is truly a battle of epic proportions. It may very well set a precedent for years to come and for that reason is so important to become involved in. If you would like to check out more information you can check out savetrestles.org or surfrider.org.

Part of a recent conversation I overheard before heading out on the always adventurous dirt roads of Nicaragua to paddle out…

Surfer 1- How long have you been surfing?
Surfer 2- Oh, about two years.
Surfer 1- Oh right on, are you good?
Surfer 2- Well, I don´t know, but I have fun doing it!

It´s funny sometimes how we want to define being ‘good’ in surfing, especially when compared to the way being ‘good is defined in other sports. I guess maybe its just part of man’s competitive nature to want to put themselves against others to see where they stand that leads us to wanting to know just how ‘good’ we are. But was surfing really meant for that? Surfing is so unique in the sense that every single wave is different. To define ‘good’ is something that a surfer can probably only do for themselves. The above surfer was right on when responding to the question on how good she was. It’s all about the fun!

It could’ve been while witnessing our new friends, the unbelievably gracious locals, pulling in Mahi Mahi from the shores of one of the most breathtakingly beautiful beaches while using only a hand line. Or perhaps it was following a day of a seemingly endless session of 3-5 ft. surf aided by the undying offshore winds that this part of the country is blessed with (all the while being serenaded by the resident Howler Monkeys). In fact, in the short time that I have been here, there is an already limitless amount of moments that I could choose from to pinpoint the moment when Nicaragua officially opened up her arms and welcomed us.

For an indefinite period of time the 5ones Surf section will be produced from the vibrant city of San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. Needless to say, the 5ones team couldn’t be more excited about this new venture. The city of San Juan Del Sur is truly the ultimate surfers melting pot. On any given day you will run into people from Brazil, Argentina, Hawaii, Italy, France, Peru, Australia and so many others….All who have come experience the perfect Nica surf, most of which is aided by the infinite offshores. Speaking with surfers from all over the world brings a truly unique perspective on not only the sport of surfing, but also the issues that matter most to the surfing community.

We will be taking the perspectives of all who speak the universal language of surf and combining them with the 5ones take in hopes of bringing an even more distinct and fresh look into what it is that makes a surfers world go round. As always we welcome feedback, commentary, shared knowledge, and for those who are willing and able, a visit to us here in Nicaragua to experience some of what she has to offer.

The second edition of Billabong’s Freewave Challenge is set to kick off on the continental U.S. on June 20th. As summer officially kicks off, so does the follow-up to the inaugural virtual surf contest put on by Billabong this past winter in Hawaii. You gotta think surfers who are looking forward to entering their clips are praying that Jamie O’Brien has no plans to make his way over from the islands to take part in this edition of the Freewave Challenge. O’Brien took both 1st and 2nd in the Best Performance Ride category, while Huntington Beach’s Timmy Reyes easily brought home the Best Tube Ride honors with a Backdoor shack that many called one of the North Shore’s best waves of the winter.

With the growing success of the Freewave Challenge concept as a showcase for the best surfing outside of typical surf contests, the event has evolved and added new categories. Video clips may be uploaded and entered in five different categories: Monster Maneuver, Small Fries (16 and Under surfers), Best Barrel, Heartbreaker (Female Performance) and the Longest Ride. A total of $40,000 in prize money will be awarded to the surfers and videographers with the most progressive and popular rides. Surfers and vidographers have until Sept. 22 to get their entries entered before the judging process begins.

This new style of format for a surf competition is exciting in that the door truly is opened for any surfer that wants to enter. Jamie O’ and Timmy Reyes were highly deserving of their wins in the Hawaii version of the event, but how rad would it be to see some unknown surfer step up and take a win in the mainland version of the Freewave Challenge? With the best of the best being on the North Shore for the winter, it made it unlikely for anyone to come out of the dark to pull it off. The pool of contestants is sure to be quite a bit larger and the door wide open for any surfer on the continent to make a name for himself in this version of the Billabong Freewave Challenge.

Summer is set to start. If you feel like you have what it takes and want to make some extra cash just for doing what you love, be sure to check out the rules and regs for the Challenge and get set to capture your best stuff.

With the onslaught of jaw-dropping footage coming from what many call one of Australia’s heaviest and gnarliest waves over recent months, Shipsterns Bluff has now firmly placed itself among upper echelon of big-wave locations in the world.

It’s not like surfing’s version of the tasmanian devil just recently started breaking, it’s just that until recent years it’s remote location and the desire of locals to keep it a secret have kept it as a relative unknown amongst the other well-known heavy waves around the world. Michael Brennan’s air drop into the pit of a classic Shipsterns bomb placed 5th in this year’s Billabong XXL Big Wave Awards and sealed Shipsterns Bluff’s spot as a destination for those seeking to put it all on the line by charging the biggest and most dangerous waves the world has to offer.

For the average surfer like myself, there is nothing about surfing that wave that appeals to me. It would chew up a surfer of my skill level and spit me out with the greatest of ease. With that being said I am completely fascinated by the footage that continues to emerge from this snarly point break located off of Southern Tasmania. Taylor Steele’s Trilogy has a clip of Joel Parkinson getting unleashed on by Shipsterns Bluff that puts it’s lack of respect for even the world’s most talented surfers on display for all to see.

It’s always bittersweet to see a relatively unknown spot be put on display by the surfing world. It’s a dilemma in surfing that we face each time an unknown is brought to light. Those who have ridden there for years are undoubtedly frustrated by the eventual crowds that follow. However, Shipsterns Bluff appears to be vicious enough to take it upon itself to weed out those who simply just don’t belong.

Surfer Magazine has reported that Dean Morrison suffered a serious injury while surfing in West Oz. Dean was surfing and being photographed at the Western Australia break Mufflers when he came up out of the water following a fall screaming for help. He initially thought he had broken his back. The location of the break and lack of phone reception made it difficult to receive immediate medical attention. Paramedics arrived after an hour and a half, treated him, and took him to the hospital.

Luckily there appears to be no serious damage to his spinal cord or any broken bones, just a gaping hole in his back that is sure to be painful for the days to come. Initial reports are that he will be back on his feet in 2-3 weeks.

Following an impressive 9th place 2007 finish on the ASP standings, Morrison had high hopes for 2008. He is currently sitting at 17th with a mixed bag of results so far in 2008.

We wish Dean the best and hope for a speedy recovery.

With so much going against us as we fight against the demise of our environment, it’s both motivating and inspiring to watch natural leaders rise up and open paths for those who are new to this battle. The massive success of Jack Johnson’s annual Kokua Festival has led to a partnership with Surfrider Foundation as one of a select group of non-profit organizations chosen by Jack to participate in his 2008 world tour and help launch his All At Once campaign.

The All At Once campaign and online community take a page out of the Kokua Festival by bridging the gap between Jack’s fans and local, as well as national, organizations who make saving the environment their life’s work. Surfrider CEO Jim Moriarty has coined the term “on-ramp” when describing methods to get the average joe like many of us onboard and passionate about doing what we can to help. Creating these on-ramps is what the All At Once campaign is all about. The A.A.O. campaign puts concert-goers face to face with these organizations in order to provide steps of environmental actions they can take, both large and small. Once the show is over, the online community will ensure the work will continue by providing a network for those who are already involved to stay connected with those just getting their feet wet.

“I can’t think of a better reason to put on a concert than to bring people together to create positive change,” said Johnson. “With this year’s tour we are bringing together all of our resources All At Once to give back to each community that we visit.”

Jack’s continued efforts to aid in this cause are remarkable and open up the door for so many who otherwise may not know where to start. This partnership with Surfrider is ideal and goes to show that the surfing community as a whole are leading the way when it comes to cultivating the culture of global activism.

If you’re searching for an on-ramp, the All At Once campaign is a perfect way to get onboard.

“A local is just a dirtbag who can’t get his shit together to travel” - Owl Chapman

This world we live in is continually becoming smaller and is as accessible as ever before. The waves that fill our dreams night after night are becoming more reachable for any with the will and drive to go out and make riding them a reality. For those who seek to chase swells and surf at breaks that will leave you in awe and with a smile for months to come this is truly a golden age to live.

With surf travel becoming so much easier for us than for those in years past, there really is no reason why we shouldn’t be studying up on our dream-wave and making the necessary arrangements for your trip of a lifetime to happen. As you get ready to chase swells and ride in foreign lands you may want to check out a few helpful hints that will make your next adventure a memorable and positive one, not just for yourself but also for the people whose land and cities will serve as hosts for your future journey…

1. “Don’t Drink the Water.” - I pulled a title off of one of my favorite Dave Matthews songs for this one. Depending on your choice of location, the tap water may leave you ripping on the porcelain throne instead of in the ocean. Study up and ask questions about water quality and more than likely just stick to the bottled stuff.

2. Immerse Yourself in the Culture - There is so very much to learn from wherever it is you decide to go. Who knows when you’ll find yourself there again so soak it all in, appreciate it, go beyond the ocean to see what treasures it may hold.

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