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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

FANTASY SURFER


To build a team of 8 surfers that will accumulate the highest points for the entire 2007 WCT World Tour events.

Make your own clubhouse or compete against HSS.

To play The Fantasy Surfer Challenge, you must register. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER! Registration is FREE! Your registration will entitle you to become the owner of a fantasy surfing team. You can register at any time to play the game. The sooner you register the better your odds will be of winning.

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Tuesday, February 27, 2007

QUIKSILVER GOLD COAST PRO


Swell on the Way for Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast

A clean 3-4 foot swell greeted competitors and event organizers this morning prompting the opening two rounds of the Roxy Pro Gold Coast to be completed.

After the girls had a dig, Kelly Slater's innovative new competition format, dubbed "The Slater Concept", had a trial run featuring two simultaneous man-on-man heats. Without going into the functional, yet confusing, details, the trial was a success and showcased some of the action we're all in for once Quiksilver Pro competition commences.

With a promising forecast on the horizon, the action could hit as early as tomorrow morning.

Check back at 6am for the call tomorrow morning and see if the barrage of dynamic match-ups will hit the water.

Quiksilver Pro Round 1 Match Ups

Heat 1: Dean Morrison (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 2: Taylor Knox (USA), Mark Occhilupo (AUS), Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 3: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Luke Stedman (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 4: Damien Hobgood (USA), Michael Lowe (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA), Shaun Cansdell (AUS), Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS), Chris Ward (USA), Trent Munro (AUS)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), Daniel Wills (AUS), Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 9: Andy Irons (HAW), Greg Emslie (ZAF), Dale Richards (AUS)
Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Jake Paterson (AUS)
Heat 11: Cory Lopez (USA), Victor Ribas (BRA), Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 12: Phillip MacDonald (AUS), Troy Brooks (AUS), Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 13: Bruce Irons (HAW), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 14: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 15: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 16: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Michael Campbell (AUS), Ricky Basnett (ZAF)

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Thursday, February 15, 2007

BILLABONG XXL WAVE TROPHY @ HSS


See the Billabong XXL Wave Awards Trophy at: Bella Terra and Pierside HSS locations.

March 30th - April 5th the trophy will be at Bella Terra
located at:
7777 Edinger Ave.
Huntington Beach, CA 92647

April 5th - April 12th the trophy will be at HSS Pierside
located at:
300 Pacific Coast HWY.
Huntington Beach, CA 92648

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Monday, February 12, 2007

SCARY BUT LUCKY


Had an interesting day yesterday on Friday….

My son AJ and I hooked up with Aaron Pai and his son Taylor to shoot this new swell. Went to Bolsa jetties and got some shots. We then planned to go get the PWC’s and practice towing into some cloudbreaks on the low tide in the afternoon.

As we were leaving the entrance of Bolsa Chica State Park on Pacific Coast Highway (me in the left turn lane, Taylor’s Volvo wagon in the right lane next to me and Aaron’s Tundra right behind him) some guy in a Ford mid sized thing wasn’t paying attention and ran the red light. It’s amazing how one second can seem like such a long time with so much squeezed into such a short time frame.



As I went into the intersection I heard the whoosh sound of his car on my left and suddenly realized this guy wasn’t going to stop. I initially touched the brakes and looked at the light to confirm it was green, and it was. But then I realized this guy was for sure going to hit me, so I sped up and turned away from him to lessen the impact. Fortunately I didn’t hit Taylor.

The sound of the impact was sickening. This guy was still going about 55 mph and never hit the brakes. He hit us right behind my driver’s seat and we went airborne and did a 180 spin in the air before we landed - quite a feat for a huge Suburban. Everything in the car also went airborne and ended up in the back corner. (Mental note: In the future be sure to secure small fire extinguishers so they don’t become airborne projectiles…) Checked AJ and he was OK. I felt OK but my left arm was sore from getting slammed on the side of the car. My hat got ripped off somewhere. Inside of the car was shambles with camera gear, surf boards, etc.

Almost immediately the On Star people were talking to us on the car phone because my side air bags went off. After I told the guy everything about what happened and where we were, this On Star guy wanted to keep talking but by that time I smelled burning electrical stuff and said “Dude, you can keep talking if you want to but I’m out of here”. AJ and I both exited through his door because mine was crumpled and stuck.



Once we were out, the other guy came stumbling out of his car with a bloody face and we sat him down on the side of the road. Police and paramedics arrived within 5 minutes or so. I overheard him telling them that he was on some new medication. Great… They ended up securing him to a backboard and took him to emergency because he seemed to be going into shock. Otherwise he seemed OK and was the only passenger in his car.

Some lady stopped and gave her statement to police that the other guy ran the red light. Aaron and Taylor also gave police their statements confirming the same thing. The police thought my truck was probably totaled because the frame and drive shaft seemed to be tweaked, leaking fluids everywhere, etc. Damn! I liked that car…

Obviously from the photos, my truck won the battle between the cars, and I’m amazed and how well that side beam just behind my seat held up to protect us from a mid sized car hitting us at full speed. The police told us to go buy some lottery tickets given the nature of this accident, and that most of the accidents they respond to in this area have fatalities.

After doing all the police stuff, we did the only thing we could do – we went surfing. First we went out to breakfast and used Aaron’s Tundra to launch the PWC’s, and then we had a great afternoon towing into some really fun waves. Better to keep busy and slow down the shock of all that stuff sinking in I think. We’re actually a little more rattled about it today but it’s all good.

So this weekend I get to hassle all the insurance stuff. Aaron is going to immediately buy Taylor another car this weekend, a much bigger one than his current low Volvo… We were all very fortunate. If any of us were to be hit in that situation I was by far the best one to take it with my truck.

I’m also beginning to look for another car this weekend. Gee, I think I’ll buy another big Suburban. Exactly like the one that just saved our asses yesterday…

Just a reminder to be safe and not to take things for granted...

Sean…

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