AMAZING BILLABONG ISA WORLD SURFING GAMES 2009
Two weeks after the official closing of the Billabong ISA World Surfing Games 2009, all those who took part in the event still bask in the afterglow.
It was a record breaking event in many ways. The attendance of 35 countries, the excellent organization, the consistent and perfect waves, the best level of surfing in the world, the audience of 20,000 strong that lined the beach.
The Billabong ISA World Surfing Games had everything that a world-class surfing event should have.
United States returns to the highest place in the podiumThe last time the US Team earned a place at the top spot on the podium of a World Surfing Games was in 1996. August 8, 2009 will be forever engraved in the history books of US surfing.
Ben Bourgeois, Cory Lopez, Nat Young, Austin Ware, Courtney Conlogue, Sage Erickson, Tony Silvagni and Steve Newton, through the hands of their Coach and Team Manager, Ian Cairns, were the major players that brought the gold back to the United States.
Five surfers out of the team of eight had a place in the finals.
The new US Team Coach, Ian Cairns, said the following after their victory: “We had good surfers and what we did was to stay very concentrated. This is a long event and it was very important to preserve your energy. On the other hand, each time we made it through a heat, I tried to keep everyone focused, with all the athletes knowing what they had to do. In the end, I think that this is about finding talents and helping them to be successful. That was my job”.
Cairns finished saying: “I am really very happy. My goal was to come here and win. But I also wanted to establish a different personality for American surfing. I didn’t want to make a lot of noise until things were happening. We built the support, the calmness and we focused on being together and concentrating on doing things well. Later, at the final, we went to the beach to wave the flag. I wanted my team to have that personality and that’s what I’m trying to build in the Junior team. I’m anxiously waiting for the World Junior Championship to do my work there”.
Jeremy Flores sings La Marseilleise
French ASP World Tour member, Jeremy Flores showed great patriotism during the entire championship. He gave everything he could, showed the world his best surfing and won the Gold Medal for his country in the Open Men division.
During the medal ceremony, an emotional Flores proudly sang the French National Anthem before an audience of 20,000. “This is the most special victory in my life. It’s amazing! Wining the Gold Medal for my country is the best feeling I’ve ever had in my surfing career”, said Flores shortly after the event.
Antoine Delpero finally reaches the top of the podium
After a fourth place in the World Surfing Games in Ecuador in 2004, seventh in the United States in 2006 and sixth in Portugal in 2008, the gold for this standout French longboarder finally came in the waves of Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica.
Delpero showed his devastating skills throughout the event. Delpero stole the show by walking his longboard with style and executing powerful maneuvers with control and conviction.
Moved and excited, this World Champion said: “I feel unreal…But the fact is that I still don’t understand this, maybe in the podium or tomorrow I’ll find out what happened. I found good waves in the beginning and managed to surf well. I’m so happy I can’t say a word!”
Conlogue keeps her promises
Many call the young 16-year-old one of the greatest hopes in women’s surfing. Truth is, Courtney Conlogue’s surfing is no longer a hope but a reality.
The regular footer showed strength at the competitive level and radical moves not always seen in competition. Her skill belies her age and even at such a young age can scare seasoned professionals. In this event alone she faced off against experienced competitors like Sofía Mulanovich (PER), Amee Donohoe (AUS), Samantha Cornish (AUS) and Rossane Hodge (RSA) and won all.
She had a small passage in the repercharge, where she recovered, reached the final and scored 15.20 while her closest rival, Hodge, received 8.96 for her two best waves. It was an overwhelming victory.
Conlogue said after being crowned ISA World Champion, ten days after winning the US Open, “To obtain these two consecutive victories is amazing. I simply came to surf and have a good time. This last month was incredible and I am very happy with everything that’s happening. I have competed in ISA events for six years, worked hard and finally made it. To win this championship means a lot to me”.
FINAL RESULTS
ISA WORLD CHAMPIONS
TEAM RESULTS
GOLD – United States – 14910 points
SILVER – France – 13280 points
BRONZE – Australia – 10996 points
COPPER – Hawaii – 10856 points
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Open Men
Gold: Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Silver: Cory Lopez (USA)
Bronze: Gabriel VIllarán (PER)
Copper: Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Open Women
Gold: Courtney Conlogue (USA)
Silver: Rosanne Hodge (RSA)
Bronze: Sage Erickson (USA)
Copper: Pauline Ado (FRA)
Longboard
Gold: Antoine Delpero (FRA)
Silver: Harley Ingleby (AUS)
Copper: Ben Skinner (GBR)
Bronze: Tony Silvagni (USA)
Aloha Cup
Gold: Australia
Silver: France
Bronze: Peru
Copper: Tahiti
About the International Surfing Association (ISA)
The International Surfing Association (ISA) is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the World Governing Authority for Surfing. It was originally founded as the International Surfing Federation in 1964 and has been running world championships since 1964 and the Junior World Championships since 1980.
ISA membership includes the surfing National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of over 50 countries on six continents. Its headquarters are located in La Jolla, California. It is presided by Fernando Aguerre, first elected in 1994 in Rio, and re-elected six times since. The ISA’s four Vice Presidents are Alan Atkins (Australia), Robin de Kock (South Africa), Mike Gerard (USA) and Karín Sierralta (Peru).