Author: surf@saltwater-dreaming.com

[i]Saturday 31 December, 2005
Narrabeen Beach, Sydney, Australia (31 December 2005 – 8 January 2006)

THE ASSOCIATION OF SURFING PROFESSIONALS (ASP) PREMIER JUNIOR EVENT

Contest Director Luke Egan
Live on www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com

Organisers of the Billabong World Junior Championships have placed the VZ Trials have opted to put a hold on an early start but will look at kicking off the event at around 11am (local time) today.

With conditions looking to improve toward the afternoon, Contest Director Luke Egan opted to wait before sending the first batch of youngsters out into the Narrabeen lineup.

The VZ Trials are an integral part of the event as they give two competitors the opportunity to join the elite pack already slotted into the main draw. The field will be narrowed down from 16 and there is approximately three hours of surfing.

Billabong will be hosting a full live webcast of the trials from 11am also.… Read the rest

[i]IBA Women’s World Tour

Photo courtesy of www.ibatour.com

The Human Pro Women’s World Tour contest goes off, and two world champions are crowned!!!
Held in Port Macquarie on Dec 16th and 17th, and coinciding with the Australasian Bodyboarding Titles, the Human Pro had $5000US up for grabs, and 500 points to the winner, making it the biggest WWT contest ever held in Australia. [/i]16 Australian and New Zealand girls battled for the title in fun 2-3ft wedgy waves at the Breakwall on Town Beach. The weather was beautiful, the vibe was great, and the girls were RIPPING! The level of girls surfing has really picked up, every heat was close.

Even the younger girls were ! really pushing the limits. Grommets -Paige Gregory, Laura Verjbitsky, Lauren Williams, Bree Iskov, and Junior women’s Australian title winner, 15 year old Kaitlin Murphy, entered the event and put up a good fight against the more experienced girls.… Read the rest

27th December 2005, posted by SWD

more photos of the remembrance day www.saltwater-dreaming.com/gallery

[i]On the 26th of December 2005, many areas in Thailand stopped for a few minutes of silence in memory of those who were lost in the giant tsunami waves 1 year ago. One of the major memorials was in Patong where approximately 2000 people gathered for an emotional remembrance of there loved ones.[/i]On the 26th of December 2005, many areas in Thailand stopped for a few minutes of silence in memory of those who were lost in the giant tsunami waves 1 year ago. One of the major memorials was in Patong where approximately 2000 people gathered for an emotional remembrance of there loved ones. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra attended the ceremonies in Kamala and Patong, altogether there were 6 official memorial ceremonies in southern Thailand.

At Loma park on Patong’s foreshores people signed remembrance books which were placed around the park and laid wreaths and white roses at the base of a remembrance shrine.… Read the rest

[i]Saturday 24 December, 2005
Narrabeen Beach, Sydney, Australia

BILLABONG WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
(31 December 2005 – 8 January 2006)

Pablo Paulino 2004 Junior World Champion
Live on www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com

THE ASSOCIATION OF SURFING PROFESSIONALS (ASP) PREMIER JUNIOR EVENT

While the big boy and girl pro surfing tourers have headed home for a well-deserved Christmas break after all tours (both at World Championship Tour level and World Qualifying Series level) concluded in Hawaii, the future stars of the sport are headed “Down Under” to compete in the coveted Billabong World Junior Championships. [/i]Held at Narrabeen, a world class beach break in Sydney, Australia from 31 December 2005, the event will host the best junior (under 21 years of age) surfers both male and female from North America, South America, Hawaii, Europe, Asia, South Africa and Australasia.

On the men’s front, 48 surfers will do battle while on the women’s two from each region plus a wildcard (18 in total) will compete in a draw identical to that of the ASP Women’s World Tour.… Read the rest

[i]Saturday 17 December, 2005
Pipeline, Ehukai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

Brother’s in arms or sibling rivalry?
Andy Irons (Haw) celebrates victory in the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters
while younger brother, Bruce Irons places third in the event.
www.aspworldtour.com and www.ripcurl.com

Andy Irons (HAW) had a day to remember today when he claimed victory in the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters and the coveted Vans Triple Crown Of Surfing.

For Irons it was a fantastic ending to an amazing year and a tremendous finishing reward after relinquishing his Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour crown to Kelly Slater (USA) back in Brazil.

Finishing behind Irons was Mick Fanning (AUS), Bruce Irons (HAW) and Kalani Chapman (HAW).

Irons never looked like losing the final. Despite Fanning getting off to an early lead he looked solid and at home in the somewhat tricky conditions. Half way through the final he dropped into a freak set and scored a perfect 10 after he slipped inside two deep tube rides and finished with a massive but unsuccessful flying air.… Read the rest