Andrew Doheny Takes Boys Under 16 Title in USA Championships, Kanoa Igarashi Grabs 4th in Under 12

HSS team rider Andrew Doheny pictured above wins Under 18 Title at the SIMA Surfing America USA Championships.

Kanoa Igarashi took 4th place in the Under 12 division.

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Courtney Conlogue Wins US Championship (16 & Under)

HSS Team rider Courtney Conlogue claimed the Girls Under 16 title at the SIMA Surfing America USA Championship this past Saturday, October 27th. Courtney also finished 2nd in the Under 18 Final.


USA Surf Team Trials to commence on Sunday to name the 2008 PacSun USA Surf Team

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – October 27, 2007 – Surfing America, the national governing body for the sport of surfing, is pleased to name eight new USA Surfing Champions after the youth divisions wrapped up in great Huntington Beach, CA surf. After six days of competition, the stage is now set for trials which will decide the 2008 PacSun USA Surf Team.
"This starts a whole new era for Surfing America. I think the level of surfing at this event has stepped up two-fold," said Mike Gerard, executive director of Surfing America. "And, from an operational standpoint, the bar continues to be raised. The program is getting better every year. We're making tremendous strides and working hard to raise the standard throughout the national competitive system."

Gerard’s sentiments come after an explosive show of talent during the finals. Athletes were narrowed down all week and only the best remained on the final day of competition. Two of the most action-packed heats of the day were the Boys Under 14 and Boys Under 16 finals, which were highlighted by high scores, early leads and see-saw battles for the podium.

In the Under 14 final, Kolohe Andino jumped out to a stellar lead in the first five minutes and left Keanu Asing, Luke Davis and Davey Brand playing catch up, after Andino posted a combined heat total of 16.10 on his first two rides.

"I put the pressure on early and it paid off," said Andino, who also made the finals in the Boys Under 16 division. "It feels good to be the Under 14 Champion of the USA because every one was ripping hard all week."

A similar story transpired in the Boys Under 16 final. Andrew Doheny’s first two waves set the bar early. With a combined total of 15.17, Doheny left Andino, Kiron Jabour, and Riley Metcalf going for broke. However, it wasn’t without a fight because all three surfers leap frogged for the second spot and each finished with combined totals in the 13-point range.

On the female side, four-year USA Surf Team member Courtney Conlogue easily claimed the Girls Under 16 title and also finished a point shy of fellow USA Team member Sage Erickson in the Under 18 final. Erickson, the 2007 ISA bronze medalist, blew through multiple turns on her forehand to take the win in what will be her last year as a Junior.

"Unfortunately, 2008 is my last year on the USA Surf Team… by three days because of my birthday," said Erickson after her win. "It’s a bit of a bummer, but I’m just so proud and blessed to be a part of this organization. It’s taught me so much, not just about surfing but teamwork and life in general. The USA Championships has been the most fun event of my year because it’s like a WQS setup. Plus, you’ve got the East Coasters, the Hawaiians and Californians here. We’re all friends but it’s good to have the little rivalries."

The Boys Under 18 final, often viewed as the premier division, was dealt wave-starved conditions. It started off with a bang when Hawaiian Kiron Jabour clocked in with a 7.67. Then USA Surf Team member Dane Zaun answered back with a pair of average rides netting him a two-wave total of 11.57. With time running out on the clock and Jabour only needing a 3.9, the ocean lulled in cooperation with Zaun and he was able to hold off Jabour for his maiden win in Under 18s.

The stage is now set for Sunday’s USA Surf Team Trials, which will be webcast live on www.SurfingAmerica.org. Surfline, the official forecaster of the 2007 SIMA Surfing America USA Championships, has been making accurate predictions for this stellar week of surf. Surfline is calling for a bit smaller conditions on Sunday but a gradually building south pulse should fill in towards the latter rounds.

After the finals of the Trials, the 2008 USA Surf Team -- who will compete at the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in France in May 2008 -- will be named.

Article taken from surfingamerica.org

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BILLABONG PRO MUNDAKA - OCT 2-14

Billabong Pro Mundaka is on!

Check out billabongpro.com for more info, pics, 360 degree angle of mundaka and more!

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