8
May
2008
6
May
2008
Roy Powers joins Komunity Project.
Komunity Project welcomes Kauai native and ASP World Tour social climber Roy Powers to their surf team.
Roy will be contributing his well known talents and personality to his signature series traction pads currently in development for 2009, as well as putting in some R&D time for Komunity’s growing surf accessories line.
We’re stoked to have him on the team and wish Roy continued success on the ASP and at Teahupoo!
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UPDATE: A really cool write up about KP and Roy from Shaun at 5ones.com
I’m not sure if anyone has noticed….But Komunity Project is quietly putting together one of the most deeply talented teams in all of surfing. They just added another ASP Top 45 surfer, Kauai’s Roy Powers, to their list of rock-star surfers and this only bodes well for the continuing growth and exposure of Komunity Project. Adding Powers to a line-up that already includes two of the best young surfers in the world in Jeremy Flores and Dane Reynolds ensures KP with plenty of arsenal for years to come.
If there were ever any doubt that Kelly Slater’s brilliance, innovation, and fluidity in the water would transfer over to his business sense, he is quickly putting that to rest. I’ve watched this company closely over the past several months and have come away impressed with everything Komunity Project is about. Their product designs on their traction pads, leashes, and surf bags are distinct and easily recognizable. This was has been especially evident while watching Kelly on the way to wins in the first two events of the 2008 WCT. Dane, Jeremy, Roy, the Gudauskas brothers, and many more of surfings young stars will continue to put Komunity all over the map and surf-shops everywhere will be flooded with grommets wanting to use the same equipment they see their idols ride.
- Shaun Johnson 5ones.com
5
May
2008
Pat G and Kiron Blazing Through at Lowers
Our boys were ripping on Saturday for the Nike6.0 Lowers Pro. Pat Gudauskas was in top form, placing an over-all 4th in the comp. This result puts Pat back in the #1 spot on the WQS.
Kiron Jabour, 17-year-old dark horse from Hawaii, was the giant killer. Kiron made a solid fight to the semis but unfortunately came up a little short.
RESULTS – Day 5
6.0 Nike Pro – ASP WQS 4-Star
Final
1 – Ben Bourgeois (USA)
2 – Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
3 – Joel Centeio (HAW)
4 – Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Semifinals: 8 surfers remaining (1st and 2nd advance)
SF 1: Joel Centeio (HAW) 16.76, Ben Bourgeois (USA) 16.00, Kiron Jabour (HAW) 15.66, Dusty Payne (HAW) 7.40
SF 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 17.10, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 16.47, Kieran Horn (USA) 14.67, Cory Lopez (USA) 11.87
30
April
2008
Kelly Slater Jams with Eddie Vedder and Ben Harper
Photo: Surfline.com
Eight-time world champ Kelly Slater and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder could easily just rest on their laurels. Kelly could kick back, focus on his golf game, chase the occasional world title and be set for life. At the same time, Vedder could kick back, focus on his surfing, record the occasional album and retire fat and happy. But these two friends – one the greatest surfer of all time and the other the greatest rock musician of his generation – do anything but rest on their laurels. Instead, they use their voices and influence to make a difference in the things they believe in.
Case in point: their most recent collaboration last Saturday, a party/fundraiser/private concert at former Broadcom mogul Marty Colombatto’s Cottons estate. The event, called the Kelly Slater Foundation Benefit, came together at the 11th hour (typical Slater style), but all appeared to flow as easily as Kelly on an overhead Lowers wall. More than 500 people gathered at the Colombatto compound, where there were Kettle One stations at every turn and grilled plate-lunch-style catering.
Bobby Shriver (brother of Maria) was one of the first to take the stage, and cracked a few jokes about getting canned by his brother-in-law (The Governator) for opposing the toll road at Trestles. “We knew it was wrong from the beginning,” he said, before breaking into his best Arnold impersonation and admitting that the Governor “isn’t the most popular in-law in the family right now.” He ended by appealing to the crowd to write their senators and congressmen and to continue the fight against the toll road. Because, he said, it’s working.
The auction came next – designed to raise crazy money for the Save Trestles Campaign, along with Miocean, Surfers Healing, The Quiksilver Foundation, Pipeline to a Cure, Mary Setterholm’s LA Surf Bus and other charities. Starting with $46,000 for a round of golf with Slater and Fred Couples all the way down to $10,000 for one of Kelly’s signed white wetsuits, people were in a generous mood. So generous, in fact, that at the end of the night, more than $350,000 was raised for the night’s causes.
All the giving gave the crowd plenty of reason to celebrate – especially when Vedder came on to play a solo acoustic concert. “My good friend Sean Penn is here,” he told the crowd. “We’ve set up a punching booth in the back. For 500 dollars, he’ll punch you in the face and sign his name in Neosporin.”
With that, came the Vedder we know and love, playing everything from old favorites (“Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town”) to new hits from his Into the Wild soundtrack. Continuing his comedy routine, Vedder stopped mid verse during “Rise” and said, “Damn, my hands are f—king freezing. Can someone come up here so I can stick my hand down their pants?”
All joking aside, both Vedder and Slater were there for serious issues. Real issues. Issues they want you to be aware of and do something about. From saving your favorite backyard pointbreak to bringing our troops back home, these two want us to be engaged. Good proof of that came toward one of the final encores, when Ben Harper and Kelly joined Eddie onstage and sang “Indifference.” “I will hold the candle till it burns up my arm,” they sang. “Oh, I’ll keep takin’ punches until their will grows tired/Oh, I will stare the sun down until my eyes go blind hey/I won’t change direction, and I won’t change my mind.”
With conviction like this, maybe, just maybe, these two really can change the world.
For more information on the foundation, please go to www.KellySlaterFoundation.org
29
April
2008
Magnum gets it big in Puerto Rico
Magnum Martinez, who is always searching for new challenges, was one of the stars of the best swell of the decade in Puerto Rico.
The huge swell was covered by Surfline and Surfing, two of the most prestigious surfing-related media of the world.
“I had the chance to surf at Tres Palmas, the spot with biggest waves in Puerto Rico. Thanks to Otto Flores, Craig and some other friends I could ride the biggest waves I have ever ridden in my life in the Caribbean.
We Towed-in with Otto’s Jet sky and we had a great time. We saw fascinating waves and very good surfers. It’s worth to mention that Carlos Cabrero went into the water one of the biggest days with a 8’4 and was almost 100 meters deeper than the rest of the group. He rode a suicidal left and Otto went to tow him. At the end of the afternoon, Otto drove Carlos into one of the biggest waves of the swell.
This had been a great experience for me, to be with friends in the Caribbean, especially in Puerto Rico where I had a great time surfing. It was a special blessing”, said Magneto to Surfpress.
SOMEWHERE IN SOUTH AMERICA
In a few days Mr. Martinez will be flying to South America with Luisma Iturria, Peter Mendia, Sam Hammer, Jesse Hines and DJ Struntz, Surfing Magazine photographer.
“The idea is to work on an article for Surfing Mag at some South American location. We can’t say what place until the article is published. Hopefully this will be seen in the next edition of Surfing”, said Magnum on a telephone conversation.
22
April
2008
Kiron Jabour at Lowers
Lowers is one of the fun-nest waves in the world. Last Friday I went down to Lowers and scored a fun early morning surf, and of course it was crowded! KJ.
Photos: AJ Neste
15
April
2008
11
April
2008
Komunity Project Future Stars Event Day 1
 |
| Durban – Day one of the Quiksilver Pro Durban started off with a fresh new swell at the New Pier in Durban, and some red hot surfing in the Komunity Project Future Stars event. This event showcased the top eight junior surfers who have progressed through Surfing South Africa’s Transformation and Development program, and who have their sights set on a career in professional surfing.
The conditions at New Pier were a fun two to three-foot with a kight onshore wind blowing, and highly contestable for the event. The first semi saw Bertjie Stuurman from Humansdorp win from Lungani Memani from Port Alfred. Eliminated were Grant Arendse (Cape Town) and Roger Vuanza, also from Cape Town. Bertjie Stuurman had the honour of catching the first wave of this year’s event. The second semi saw Bo Shabalala from Uhmlanga beat David Solomons from Gordon’s Bay into second place, with both going through to the final. Eliminated were James Maddocks from Durban and Dominic Abersalie from Jeffrey’s Bay. In the final it was both Shabalala and Memani who were finding the better waves, and linking up some good turns all the way through to the inside. Towards the end of the heat Memani paddled into a good looking wall and pulled off some big moves for a high score of 6.10, but on the siren Bo caught the last wave of the heat and went town on it, scoring a 6-point ride. This score, combined with his 7.07 ride earlier in the heat, saw Bo to victory. “I knew Lungani was getting some good waves out there, but I could see some other really good ones coming through,” said Bo on his victory. “I decided to be patient and wait for those waves, and it paid off. I’m obviously very stoked to win the event and I want to go on and carry on winning heats in the Quiksilver Pro Junior.” The first place prize is a wild-card into the second round of the Quiksilver Pro Junior as well as one-year sponsorship from Komunity Project. All other competitors in the Komunity Project Future Stars received entry into the first round of the Quiksilver Po Junior. After the Komunity Project was finished, it was the start of the Quiksilver Pro Junior, and with the dropping tide the waves showed some improvement. “The conditions are small, in the two-foot region, but we’re getting some good scores coming through,” said contest director Matt Wilson. “It doesn’t look like it’s going to get much bigger for the weekend but we’re going to carry on full speed ahead for the next two days.” The first heat saw a fine performance from Cape Town surfer Brendon Gibbens as he surfed to a comfortable victory in the fun conditions. Heat four of the round of 32 saw an upset take place, with highly-touted Clinton Gravett (EL) getting eliminated in a tight heat, with victory going to Matthew Bromley from Kommetjie with fellow Kommetjie surfer Mikey February in second place. “I sat wide in that heat,” said Bromley on his victory. “ I picked up a good left and scored a 7.17, then picked up another 5-point ride, so the heat went well for me.” The Quiksilver Pro Junior continues tomorrow morning, with the round three heats hitting the water at 8 am sharp. It is predicted to be another fine day on the beach with small waves. |
2
April
2008
Komunity Project Future Stars
The Quiksilver Pro Durban presented by Virgin Mobile in association with Resolution is soon upon us, and this year the event has a number of exciting facets making up the main event. One such facet is the dynamic new division, the Komunity Project Future Stars.
Eight junior surfers selected from Surfing South Africa’s transformation and development programme will be flown and accommodated in Durban, all paid for by Komunity Project, and will be taking part in an exclusive surf-off giving them an opportunity to win a wildcard into the Quiksilver Pro Junior main event as well as a one-year sponsorship from Komunity Project.
These eight juniors will all be decked out with the finest Komunity Project product and will also have the opportunity to rub shoulders with Travis Logie, Jordy Smith, Clay Marzo and a host of other world renowned surfers at the Quiksilver Pro Durban 2008.
The Quiksilver Pro Junior will take place on the weekend before the Quiksilver Pro Durban 6* Prime WQS event and Komunity Project decided that this event would be the perfect platform to showcase the progress that Surfing South Africa has made with the transformation of the sport of surfing in South Africa. Surfing will take place on Friday the 11th of April at New Pier.
Robin De Kock, General Manager of Surfing South Africa, is full of praise for this exciting event. “Surfing South Africa is committed to a number of transformation and development programmes, from the Let’s Go Surfing initiatives to the running of the annual SA Grommet Games, and the selection of regular Future Stars teams to participate in selected events,” said Robin when this event had been finalised.
“Surfing South Africa is therefore very pleased that 8 of the best surfers to come out of these programmes will get the chance to showcase their skills as members of the Komunity Project Future Stars during the 2008 Quiksilver Pro Durban. The fact that the winner of this initiative will receive a wildcard into the main event of the Quiksilver Pro Junior gives a huge opportunity to one of these surfers to perform on an international stage.”
The selected surfers are:
Lungani Memani (19, Port Alfred);
Bertie Stuurman (18, Humansdorp);
Grant Arendse (17, Strandfontein);
James Maddocks (18, Durban);
David Solomon (16, Gordon’s Bay);
Dominic Abersalie (18, Humansdorp);
Bo Shabalala (18, Umhlanga);
Siyabonge Sithole (18, Durban).
27
March
2008
Kelly Slater Rings His Third Bell
Kelly Wins Bells, Takes Big ASP Ratings LeadKelly Slater, undoubtedly the greatest surfer all time, just added another page to the history books today at Bells Beach in Australia. The 36 year-old scored the 36th win of his career in dramatic fashion over Bede Durbidge. With just over three minutes remaining he needed 7.84 and decided to take a risk by paddling over to the Rincon section of the wave – where no one had surfed all day. The gamble paid off when he raced down the line, blasted into a huge double-grab air and followed it up with a series of committed turns all the way to the beach. He locked 8.30 for the effort and, as the seconds ticked away, the celebration began.Just as he did in 2006, Kelly has won the first two events of the year and now has a big lead in his possible quest for a 9th World Title. While he still hasn’t committed to doing a full year on tour, he gave strong hints afterward that he will be at the next event at Teahupo’o, Tahiti. “I have a house reserved and every year I’ve stayed there I’ve won the contest,” he said.
The win marks the third time he’s taken home a prestigious bell trophy, putting him in the company of Mark Richards, Sunny Garcia and Michael Peterson. Ever gracious in victory and defeat, Kelly singled out fellow Quik team rider Dane Reynolds for high praise at the awards presentation. Reynolds, in only his second event of his WCT career, made the quaterfinals of the contest, posted the highest wave and heat scores, and inspired everyone who watched him surf, especially Kelly. “I think Dane might arguably be the best surfer in the world right now,” he said. “ Just everything from barrels to airs to carves, he’s really got the whole bag of tricks and power and everything. He’s so well rounded, and I think that’s got us all pretty fired up.”