Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Set to Start Tomorrow

After a lengthy break on the ASP Women’s World Tour, the third of seven stops will begin tomorrow with the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic which holds a waiting period from September 30 through October 5, 2009 at Dee Why in New South Wales.

Layne Beachley (AUS), 37, who is a seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion, is set to battle the onslaught of hungry up-and-coming talent on this year’s Dream Tour. Although Beachley is only competing part-time on this year’s tour, the veteran campaigner’s valuable competitive experience makes her a threat in every heat.

“There has been a big break on tour so it is somewhat fitting for it all to get back underway with the richest prize-purse on offer,” Beachley said. “It’s wonderful to have support from Australia’s leading bank, the Commonwealth Bank, and I’m looking forward to a terrific start tomorrow.”

After standing on the leading front of competitive female surfing for nearly 20 years, Beachely is now blending her competitive spirit while working hard to continue to create a future for the sport by founding events like the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic.

“I really find myself in juxtaposition this time of year,” Beachley said. “Emotionally I am invested in staging a great event but also wanting to compete at the best of my ability. I’m really focused on running a wonderful event for the surfers, sponsors and fans.”

Paige Hareb (NZL), 19, is currently sitting in the No. 3 spot on the ASP Women’s World Tour and is the leading rookie after the first two events. The young New Zealand talent has been keeping busy after the lengthy break by competing on the ASP WQS while spending some of the down time at home.

“It’s been like one big holiday,” Hareb said. “I’ve still been doing the world qualifying series in between but had a three-week break in California and have also been at home a bit hitting the snow!”

Although Hareb exceeded her expectations in the first two events on the 2009 calendar, the young Kiwi is hoping the keep the ball rolling at this week’s Commonwealth Bank Beachley classic and is looking to climb to the top of the ASP Women’s World Tour ratings.

“To be honest I’m surprised,” Hareb said. “I’ll take it though and of course I’m going to try and stay there if not better it.”

There will be an official press conference Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 10:45am at Dee Why Surf Club. Surfers Layne Beachley, defending ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, and defending Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic Champion Tyler Wright (AUS), 15, will be attending.

For all of the LIVE Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic action log on to www.beachleyclassic.com

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

O’Neill’s Generation Next Hits the Runway September 25th

O’Neill Clothing, the original California surf, snow and youth lifestyle brand, today announced the 2nd Annual “Generation Next” fashion show in association with Teen Vogue, taking place on Friday, September 25th at 7:30pm at Seven Degrees in Laguna Beach, CA.

As part of a 6-month program based at O’Neill’s headquarters in Irvine, four girls from local Southern California high schools will have the opportunity to present their unique dress and handbag designs on the runway during an exciting evening featuring O’Neill’s Spring 2010 collection, music, live dance performances, prizes and more. Each Generation Next participant is competing for the ultimate award: a design internship at O’Neill, a $2,000 education scholarship, exposure in Teen Vogue, and an O’Neill wardrobe for the entire winning team. Using the text to vote concept popularized by favorite reality shows, the winner will be determined via students’ text messages. All money raised at the door will benefit Boarding for Breast Cancer, (www.b4bc.org), a non-profit, youth-focused education and fundraising foundation dedicated to increasing awareness about breast cancer, the importance of early detection, and the value of an active lifestyle.

Buzz has been building for O’Neill’s Generation Next fashion event with Teen Vogue since last year’s packed house and enthusiastic crowd. The program launched in February 2009, with hundreds of submissions from Teen Vogue’s “It Girls” vying to be mentored by O’Neill marketing and design executives, and have the opportunity to present their designs in front of friends, family, media and industry insiders. Initial submissions were narrowed down to ten girls and then four finalists were selected: Angela Urmanita from Rowland Heights, CA; Kari Filardo of Orange, CA; Lori Ke from Lakewood, CA; and Lauren Alvarez of La Palma, CA.

O’Neill’s Generation Next program was born out of a vision by the company to have interns included in the creative design process.

“We wanted to find and support aspiring young designers who are in our backyard,” said Shelley Sheppard, marketing director for O’Neill. “We took this group of high school students from the beginning to the end of the fashion design process. The runway show is the program’s finale, and a great way to showcase and applaud all of the hard work everyone put in over the last six months.”

The Generation Next experience provided each of the finalists with hands on access to learn everything from merchandising, apparel design, graphic design, manufacturing and marketing, to ultimately creating their own runway look with the help of a fashion mentor.

“We launched Generation Next to give our young audience a chance to share their inspirations and showcase their ideas, and allow us to learn from their insights firsthand,” added Toby Bost, CEO of O’Neill. “The program helps prepare young talent for a future in fashion and/or action sports, exposing them to a variety of elements by working side-by-side with O’Neill executives and influencing career opportunities early on.”

In addition to the mentorship and real-world experience working in a fast-paced, high-profile action sports company, each finalist was tasked with building a marketing and promotions team of fellow students to help generate buzz and excitement for the fashion show. Savvy students are employing Facebook and Twitter to spread the word, and all participants created t-shirts, flyers and stickers to distribute throughout their school. To ensure another full house, buses will be transporting students from each school to the event location. For those unable to attend the event, it will be broadcast LIVE online at www.oneill.com and www.facebook.com/oneill.

Last year’s Generation Next winner, Rebekka Schuman (San Clemente), won for “Nolita,” a white island-inspired dress accented with black leather gloves for a grungy twist. Schuman is currently enrolled in fashion design school in New York and will be attending the event to congratulate this year’s winner.

For more information, please visit www.oneill.com

MVP Books to Publish Legends of Surfing by Duke Boyd

In November, MVP Books will publish Legends of Surfing: The Greatest Surfriders from Duke Kahanamoku to Kelly Slater, a glorious celebration of surfing culture. Part exquisite picture book and travelogue of the best surfing spots on earth, part biography and reference guidebook, Legends of Surfing profiles one hundred great surfers, men and women, from throughout the world along with surfing writers, filmmakers, board builders and photographers. In life stories, and in exclusive interviews, notable surfers such as Wayne Bartholomew, Tom Curren, Andy and Bruce Irons, Duke Kahanamoku, Dave Kalama, Gerry Lopez, Rob Machado, Mark Occhilupo, and Kelly Slater give us a rare firsthand look at what it’s like to live to surf. Written by Duke Boyd, a legendary surfer himself and co-founder in 1962 of Hang Ten surf-wear, Legends of Surfing will be an essential book for anyone who surfs, dreams of surfing or just wants an inside look at the lives of surfing legends.

About the Author
Duke Boyd is himself a legend of surfing. He is a surfer, of course, but even better known as co-founder in 1962 of Hang Ten surf-wear, the first surf-wear clothing line. He lives in Hawai’i

About the Photographer
Jeff Divine, a celebrated surfing photographer, is the photo editor at The Surfer’s Journal.

About MVP Books
MVP Books, a member of the Quayside Publishing Group, publishes illustrated and narrative books on subjects relating to sports, health and fitness, recreation, and the outdoors.

Legends of Surfing: The Greatest Surfriders from Duke Kahanamoku to Kelly Slater
By Duke Boyd
Photography by Jeff Divine
Foreword by Steve Pezman
ISBN: 978-0-7603-3599-4
Retail: $35.00 US * £22.50 UK * $43.99 CAN
Pub Date: November 2009
Hardcover / 9.25 x 10.875 / 208 pages / 158 color & 52 b/w photos
Available at bookstores and online booksellers and from www.mvpbooks.com

Actress Tia Carrere Will Star In and Produce “Wave Dancer” Film

Tia Carrere is suiting up to play her hometown idol.

The actress will star in and produce “Wave Dancer,” a biopic to be directed by Martha Coolidge about Hawaiian surfing legend Rell Sunn, known as Queen of Makaha.

A native of Oahu, Sunn was a pioneer in the big-wave world of the late 1960s as well as an expert diver, a black belt in karate and a hula dancer. She also founded a surf contest for children to combat juvenile delinquency. After a 15-year fight against breast cancer, she died in 1998.

Carrere and Simon Wakelin wrote the screenplay for the project. The filmmakers plan to shoot on location early next year.

Carrere has starred in the “Wayne’s World” films and “Rising Sun” and did voice work for “Lilo & Stitch.”

Coolidge has directed “Valley Girl,” “Real Genius” and “Rambling Rose.”

Fuel TV Partners with Hurley to Offer 2009 Hurley Pro Webcast

FUEL TV, the only network dedicated to the lifestyle of action sports, is partnering with Hurley to offer the exclusive high-definition webcast from the two final days of the 2009 Hurley Pro. The window for the event is September 13-19 and depending on which days the contest is held, FUEL TV will webcast Round Four action through the finals on www.fuel.tv/live/hurleypro.

The 2009 Hurley Pro takes place at Lower Trestles, California . As the sixth stop on the ASP World Tour approaches, the race for the world title is heating up. Joel Parkinson is currently ranked number one on the tour, but if one of the top seeds including CJ Hobjood, Adriano de Souza, or Taj Burrow win at the Hurley Pro, it would set up an exciting finish to the season.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Hurley for the only ASP World Tour stop on the mainland United States ,” says Gene Pao , FUEL TV Vice President of New Media and International Development. “We recently webcast the Hurley US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach and this occasion will offer fans another opportunity to watch all the action in an exclusive high-definition viewing experience.”

“Hurley is excited to partner with FUEL TV for the webcast of the Hurley Pro,” says Hurley Pro Contest Director Pat O’Connell . “With their help, we’re confident this webcast will reach new heights in quality and entertainment.”

FUEL TV continues to look for new ways to provide entertaining and exciting content to the action sports community, and it has recently produced several HD-quality webcasts, including the prestigious Hurley US Open of Surfing, 2009 Maloof Money Cup, and the 2009 Pro-tec Pool Party. Many of these can still be viewed on FUEL TV’s website. FUEL TV will also be doing HD-quality webcasts from the upcoming skateboard contests including the Vans Downtown Showdown later in September and the Tampa Am in December.

FUEL TV is offering a limited selection of full-length episodes of its programming in HD Streaming on its web site. Viewers can watch HD versions of shows such as “New Pollution,” “Firsthand,” and “Built to Shred Season 2″ using the same HD player as is used for the 2009 Hurley Pro webcast.

The Hurley Pro will also be covered on FUEL TV’s “The Weekly Update with Boost Mobile,” “The Daily Habit,” and in an hour-long television show.

Make sure to check out the FUEL TV webcast of the 2009 Hurley Pro starting Sunday, September 13 through September 19, 2009, depending on the waves and contest conditions on www.fuel.tv/live/hurleypro.

About FUEL TV
FUEL TV is the only 24/7 action sports lifestyle network for skateboarding, snowboarding, surfing, BMX, freestyle motocross, and wakeboarding. A unit of Fox Cable Networks, FUEL TV was launched July 1, 2003 and is seen in 30 million U.S. homes. To subscribe to FUEL TV, call 877-4-FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visit www.fuel.tv.

Insight Nominated For EuroSIMA Surf Ad Campaign of the Year Award

In the lead up to the EUROSIMA SURF INDUSTRY AWARDS, Insight invite you to vote for the already** award winning DOPAMINE campaign. Dopamine in the SURF category was photographed by Dustin Humphry and Art Directed by Insight’s Steve and George Gorrow and shot on location in BALI, INDONESIA. The Campaign launched in Aug 2008 and has circulated throughout 40 countries worldwide and features surfers Kai Otton, Luke Stedman and Jared Mell along with other categories of Skate, Women’s and Lifestyle. Named after a natural human bio chemical that heightens happiness, energy and pleasure, DOPAMINE is what we survive on whether we’re surfing, skating or procreating. Insight’s life blood! Click to the link below to support Insight and their DOPAMINE CAMPAIGN.

Votes are open to be submitted until September 11, 2009 The winner will be announced in the live Industry Awards Ceremony at EuroSIMA Waterman’s Ball on Friday, October 2nd, 2009 in Hossegor, France To view the entire ‘making of’ and official advertisements go to www.insight51.com/dopamine

The Living Curl” to Screen at La Paloma

When was the last time you saw a surf film narrated in person by the filmmaker?

Jamie Budge is doing just that with his sixties classic, “The Living Curl”, this Labor Day Weekend on Sunday night, September 6th: two shows at 7 and 9 pm at La Paloma Theater in Encinitas, California.

“The Living Curl” (which has been accumulating rave reviews since its release on DVD last November) has developed the reputation of being a “who’s who of surfers in the sixties”, all at the peak of their abilities. For the younger generation, it’s an eye-opener about what’s possible on a long board.

For everybody, it’s entertaining, funny, and manages to convey the wonderful spirit of the time when Southern California was the center of the surfing world.

Paper airplanes and bottles caps are encouraged (but no skateboarding in the aisles allowed). Door prizes will be handed out at intermission.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7MF-qsP8us http://www.thelivingcurl.com

Hurley Pro Webcast to Provide Comprehensive Event Coverage

Hurley today announced a comprehensive live HD webcast for the Hurley Pro, September 13 to 19 at Lower Trestles. The only U.S. Mainland appearance of the ASP World Tour, the Hurley Pro will broadcast in HD on www.thehurleypro.com and www.fuel.tv . A Facebook stream will be available at www.facebook.com/hurley.

Following an epic Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing, the Hurley Pro moves from the stadium to the stage, where the world’s best will be competing at the ultimate high-performance event. Stop number six (6) on the ASP’s elite grand prix circuit, the Hurley Pro at Lower Trestles pushes the top surfers to redefine the possibilities on a perfect, head-high wave. The Hurley Pro comes at a critical point on the year-long tour where world title contenders either finish the job or lose steam…and virtually every minute of it will be available online for the world to see.

The state-of-the-art Hurley Pro webcast, produced by Echo Entertainment, will feature unprecedented content for consumers including multiple videos and photos, heats on demand and pre-produced “broadcast-quality” segments. The extensive content also will be made available to print and broadcast media, free of charge. Press outlets can access the daily coverage via myriad sources including the web, ftp and satellite feeds on all five days that the event is slated to run (details forthcoming).

“Echo Entertainment is thrilled to be involved with this amazing event yet again,” said Echo’s Director of Production, Phil Smith. “The surfers, crowd, sponsors and city all go to great efforts to make this a premier stop on the ASP World Tour and we strive to bring innovative coverage of the event to the web and to television. Eight high definition cameras will capture the excitement of the Hurley Pro like never before and we have a few new ideas for the webcast to enhance the viewing experience.”

Leaving no cobblestone unturned, Hurley has lined up a world-class team of hosts, reporters, color commentators and special guests. Hosts include Dave Stanfield, Mark Fewell and Mitchell Ross. Pat O’Connell, Evan Slater, Brock Little and Saxon Boucher headline the color commentators and beach reporters are led by Jodie Nelson, Rosie O’Laskey and Peter King.

In addition to “yet to be named” celebrities, Hurley Pro guest commentators include Bob Hurley, Sean Collins, Rob Machado, Peter Townend, Ian Cairns and San Clemente locals Tanner Gudauskas, Pat Gudauskas, Dino Andino, Mike Parsons and the Hurley Sliders.

Along with all the great content, Hurley will be giving the fans a voice with the Hurley Expression Session powered by Facebook. “We wanted to give the online audience an opportunity to really be involved,” said Hurley Pro Contest Director, Pat O’Connell. “Everyone thinks they’re a good judge — now they have their chance. In the early rounds of the event, we will be holding an expression session with the world’s best surfers. At the end of the heat, the online audience votes for the winner on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/hurley . Stay tuned to the webcast for more details.”

Part of the philosophy in creating this elevated webcast is to allow surf fans across the globe to enjoy the Hurley Pro from the comfort of their laptop (and not drive to Trestles). With this in mind, Hurley is embracing Save the Waves’ World Surfing Reserve initiative and is implementing a comprehensive program to lessen the environmental impact on Trestles. The World Surfing Reserve initiative is designed to bring awareness to the world’s most pristine and valued surf spots.

“We understand that Trestles is a fragile ecosystem and want to do everything we can to minimize our impact on this world-class wave,” said Hurley’s Evan Slater. “Of course, we have all intentions of leaving the beach cleaner than we found it.”

The $340,000 Hurley Pro, September 13 to 19, 2009 at Lower Trestles, San Clemente, is Hurley’s first as the sole sponsor of an ASP World Tour event. Lined with cobblestones, Trestles is California’s premier point/reef break and a world-class showcase for high performance surfing. The five day competition, held during a weeklong window, features the ASP’s top 45 surfers (Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson, C.J. Hobgood, etc.) and three wildcards (Brett Simpson, Rob Machado and World Junior Champion Kai Barger).

“Women and the Waves” Raises Money for California Surf Museum at Oceanside Film Premiere

Due to high demand, Santa Barbara local and Film Director of the “Women and the Waves”, Heather Hudson is getting ready to embark on her first Southern California film premier to benefit the California Surf Museum. Slated for September 1, 2009 located at Grace Theater in Oceanside CA this screening benefit has joined forces with sponsors Future Fins, Surftech, Sex Wax, and Rob Havassy Art to aid in raising proceeds for the California Surf Museum located right in the heart of Oceanside, CA.

The evening’s events will include a special guest appearance by surf legend Linda Benson, live music with bands featured in the film – the Saltwater Coyboys, Sam Adams & Denny Aaberg, Rory Anton, and Kathy Fry, and a huge raffle give away including a new surfboard, surf merchandise, and art.

“The Women and the Waves” is a documentary surf film that explores the lives of female surfers who, through the decades, have chosen to paddle head first into the male dominated sport of surfing and found a place of their own. Surfer girls, women who surf, women who don’t, female athletes, and the men who love them gain insight into what it’s like to “Surf like a Girl!” This inspiring film, featuring generations of women surfers, reveals what has transcended surfing’s status as a sport to become a passion so strong, it is the dominant force in their lives.

Screening starts at 7:00pm at Grace theater located at 102 N. Freeman Street, Oceanside, CA 92054. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door, or at the California Surf Museum www.surfmuseum.org (760) 721-6876

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