Beachbum Beachblog

Despite several delays in the beginning, the 2009 Jeffrey’s Bay Billabong Pro champion was crowned today.

28-year old Australian Joel Parkinson surfed away with the honours in 1 – 1.5 metre surf, beating American Damien Hobgood.

After the beginning of the championship was delayed due to disappointing surf, conditions improved to such an extent that the event – the fifth of ten on the on the ASP World Tour – is already being called one of the finest in history.

Reports Girl Racer: “Parkinson wasted no time in the 40-minute Final, smashing an excellent 9.47 out of a possible 10 on his opening wave. The wave exhibited the Australian’s unparalleled mastery of the Jeffrey’s Bay lineup, a symphony of beautiful forehand arcs and committed barrel riding, taking off from “Boneyards” section at the top of the point and riding well over 200 metres to the eruption of crowds on the beach.”

This is the second Jeffrey’s Bay Billabong Pro victory for Joel. The first time he won the event was ten years ago in 1999.

The next stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour will be the Hurley Pro Trestles in Southern California from September 13 – 19, 2009.

For more information about today’s Billabong Pro final, visit the official website.

Tags: Damien Hobgood, Jeffrey's Bay Billabong Pro, Joel Parkinson, Surfing South Africa
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Renowned for its iconic waves, Jeffreys Bay is undisputedly considered to be the Mecca of South African surfing.

So it’s a bit ironic that small surf was the cause for a lay day being called at the Billabong Pro surfing championship. The event, the fifth of ten on the 2009 ASP World Tour, has been delayed until tomorrow morning – when conditions will be reassessed – due to this morning’s small two-to-three (one metre) waves.

According to Mike Parsons, Billabong Pro Contest Director, the swell models they’ve been tracking have moved a bit south, with improving swell models giving them an optimistic outlook that they’ll have bigger waves as early as tomorrow.

Yesterday, at the completion of the VonZipper Trials, local Devyn Matthews won his heat, earning himself a wildcard berth into the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay. Other South Africans who also received wildcards are Shaun Holmes and Ryan Payne.

Once the conditions improve, the first round match-ups look as follows:

Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Tim Boal (FRA), Michael Picon (FRA)

Heat 2: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Jay Thompson (AUS), Nathaniel Curran (USA)

Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS), Nic Muscroft (AUS)

Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Phillip MacDonald (AUS)

Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dean Morrison (AUS), Marlon Lipke (DEU)

Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Chris Ward (USA), TBA

Heat 7: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Dustin Barca (HAW), TBA

Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), TBA

Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tim Reyes (USA), TBA

Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA), Dayyan Neve (AUS), TBA

Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA), Heitor Alves (BRA), Greg Emslie (ZAF)

Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Chris Davidson (AUS), David Weare (ZAF)

Heat 13: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK), Michel Bourez (PYF)

Heat 14: Taylor Knox (USA), Jihad Khodr (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW)

Heat 15: Mick Campbell (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT), Ben Dunn (AUS)

Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Dane Reynolds (USA), Drew Courtney (AUS)

Tags: 2009 ASP World Tour, Adriano de Souza, Aritz Aranburu, Bede Durbidge, Ben Dunn, Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, Bobby Martinez, C.J. Hobgood, Chris Davidson, Chris Ward, Damien Hobgood, Dane Reynolds, David Weare, Dayyan Neve, Dean Morrison, Devyn Matthews, Drew Courtney, Dustin Barca, Frederick Patacchia, Greg Emslie, Heitor Alves, Jay Thompson, Jeremy Flores, Jihad Khodr, Joel Parkinson, Jordy Smith, Josh Kerr, Kai Otton, Kekoa Bacalso, Kelly Slater, Kieren Perrow, Marlon Lipke, Michael Picon, Michel Bourez, Mick Fanning, Mike Parsons, Nathaniel Curran, Nic Muscroft, Nick Campbell, Phillip MacDonald, Roy Powers, Ryan Payne, Shaun Holmes, Surfing South Africa, Taj Burrow, Taylor Knox, Tiago Pires, Tim Boal, Tim Reyes, Tom Whitaker
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South African surfer Jordy Smith continued his run in the Rip Curls Bells Beach Pro presented by Snickers in Victoria, Australia, yesterday when he defeated Damien Hobgood of the USA in waves described as “inconsistent but near perfect two metre[s]” to advance to the third round of this second stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour.

Despite seven lay days since his dominant performance in Round 1 and despite a minor back complaint, the 21-year old Durbanite managed to record scores of 7.50 and 5.50 to beat Hobgood.

“I think there were only three sets all heat and luckily I got two of them,” Smith said after only riding a total of three waves in the 30 minute heat. “I feel lucky to get through to the next round. When I woke up this morning it looked really good and I’m sure throughout the day the waves are just going to get better.”

In the third round, Smith will be pitted against giant-killer and wildcard, 19-year old Australian Owen Wright. Wright caused a huge upset when he beat nine-time ASP World Champion and defending Rip Curl Pro Champion, Kelly Slater. Wright handed the American surfing legend his second successive 17th place finish and increased the pressure on Slater’s bid for an unprecedented 10th world title.

Smith’s fellow Durbanite, David Weare – who is the only other South African still in the event after Greg Emslie from East London was eliminated in Round 1 – has yet to complete his Round 2 heat against Hawaiian Frederick Patacchia.

The Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford New Fiesta was completed on Sunday with Silvana Lima from Brazil claiming her maiden ASP Women’s World Tour crown by beating reigning two-times ASP Women’s World Champion, Australian Stephanie Gilmore, in the final.

South Africa’s Rosanne Hodge placed ninth in the event after she was ousted by Sofia Mulanovich from Peru in Round 3.

Well done, guys and gal!

Tags: Australia, Damien Hobgood, David Weare, Ford New Fiesta, Frederick Patacchia, Greg Emslie, Jordy Smith, Kelly Slater, Owen Wright, Rip Curl Women's Pro Bells Beach, Rip Curls Bells Beach Pro, Rosanne Hodge, Silvana Lima, Snickers, Sofia Mulanovich, South African surfers, Stephanie Gilmore
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Jordy Smith has beaten Damien Hobgood to win the first ever O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series event at Bluff Reef in Marrawah, Tasmania, Australia.

Battling 8-foot swells and offshore winds, the two surfers skillfully displayed why they are at the top of the World Tour surfing ranks.

“It was good to get a win,” said Jordy. “It’s been a while. Damo’s been ripping this whole event. I looked up to him as a kid, so it’s great to be out there with one of your heroes.”

Despite Damien’s impressive second place performance, he admitted that he struggled. “I had needed to step it up. I just didn’t do it. It was hard for me. Sometimes I was really hanging on with my toes so hard. It’s a bit more bumpy out there than it looks for sure.”

On his way to the top, Jordy knocked out phenomenal talent like Australian Owen Wilson and Brazilian Jadson Andre.

Well done, Jordy! Our South African hearts are swelling with pride!

Tags: Damien Hobgood, Jadson Andre, Jordy Smith, Marrawah, O'Neill Cold Water Classic Series, Owen Wilson, South African surfers, surfing, Tasmania
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