Joel Centeio wins Hawaiian Pro; Nate Yeomans qualifies for 2010 World Tour

Local knowledge and a Houdini-like performance on an eight-foot barrel helped propel Joel Centeio to victory in the Reef Hawaiian Pro surf contest at Haleiwa on Oahu's North Shore. 

Centeio, 26, a Haleiwa resident, prevailed in the four-man final largely on the merit of his long tube ride, which received a score of 9.33 out of a possible 10. He won with a best-two-waves score of 14.76, and the victory makes him $20,000 richer and the early leader in the Triple Crown of Surfing series race.

That race now moves to Sunset Beach and will conclude at the fabled Banzai Pipeline.

"It's the best thing that's ever happened to me," a jubilant Centeio said, moments after emerging from the water. "It's a dream come true to win here at my home break."

Centeio defeated C.J. Hobgood, Australia's Jay Thompson and Tahiti's Alain Riou in the final after a marathon Monday session that began with the Round of 32.

Also celebrating is San Clemente's Nathan Yeomans, who by reaching the quarterfinals of the ASP World Qualifying Series contest earned enough points to qualify for the 2010 ASP World Tour. Yeomans climbed to No. 7 in the WQS standings with one contest remaining: the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach.

(The Billabong Pipeline Masters is a World Tour event and will decide this year's world champion.)

While the triumph catapulted Centeio from 131st to 51st on the WQS, he cannot qualify for the 2010 World Tour.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Joel Centeio ducks beneath the lip of a wave at Haleiwa. The subsequent barrel ride earned the surfer a score of 9.33 and helped him win the Reef Hawaiian Pro. Credit: Bernie Baker / Triple Crown of Surfing

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Skateboarder Mike Vallely in fracas at hockey game

News item: Mike Vallely, a legendary figure in the core skateboarding universe, is arrested after a brawl at the end of a Friday night Anaheim Ducks hockey game (a video has already been posted on YouTube). The fight begins when player Scott Niedermayer tries to toss his stick to a girl in the front row as a friendly gesture. Niedermeyer stares in disbelief through the glass at a group of people struggling for the stick, including Vallely. The Ducks reportedly have disassociated themselves from Vallely, who's a die-hard fan and had blogged on the team website.

Reaction: Perhaps the Ducks ought to discontinue the practice of tossing sticks to fans. This so-called fight was mostly just a struggle over a stick intended for a girl who might have been Vallely's daughter. Not to defend fighting among fans, but can you blame him if this was the case? That said, Mike V.'s rebellious acts have appeared in other videos and so have his fights -- the skateboarder/rocker is semi-famous for another fight video in which he takes on four people at once and beats them to a whimper. 

Were the Ducks right to yank Vallely's blog and will they be right if they also pull his season tickets, as they're reportedly considering? I wasn't there so I'll reserve judgment. If you were present or have any thoughts, please chime in.

-- Pete Thomas

 

Girl, 14, dies after skiing accident at Breckenridge in Colorado

A 14-year-old girl died late this morning after an accident on the slopes at Breckenridge in Colorado.

Vail Resorts, which operates Breckenridge, confirmed the news but did not release the name of the girl. The accident occurred on an intermediate trail called Spruce. The girl reportedly was wearing a helmet and might have struck a tree. 

She was administered to by emergency personnel and transported to Breckenridge Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Breckenridge has issued a media release stating: "Breckenridge Ski Resort, Breckenridge Ski Patrol and the Vail Resorts family extend their deepest sympathy and support to the family and friends of the young woman."

It's the first known fatality involving a skier or snowboarder this season in Colorado, and perhaps the first nationally. Breckenridge opened Nov. 12.

-- Pete Thomas

Storm arrives in Lake Tahoe area as resorts plan weekend openings

The Lake Tahoe area is already feeling the effects of the season's first significant winter storm, and resorts in the region are expected to receive about a foot of fresh powder through tonight.

At Heavenly ski area, which overlooks the sprawling lake, today's planned opening is postponed until Saturday because of strong winds that arrived in advance of the storm. Light snow began to fall during the lunch hour.

I checked the Heavenly website and plucked its "Snowmakers" video (above), which provides an entertaining glimpse of the crews in action, and some new powder as seen from spectacular vantage points the resort is famous for.

Boreal and Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe are already open. Northstar-at-Tahoe and Squaw Valley USA will open Saturday. Alpine Meadows will open Dec. 5. Kirkwood and Sierra-at-Tahoe will open when conditions allow.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area in the Eastern Sierra also hopes to receive a boost from the storm. It has about 100 acres open with top-to-bottom runs and a 16- to 24-inch base. Mountain High in Wrightwood and Bear Mountain and Snow Summit in Big Bear are open. Mt. Baldy plans to open before Thanksgiving.

-- Pete Thomas

Stephanie Gilmore poised to win world surfing title for third straight year

Chances are slim that any male surfer will ever match Kelly Slater's nine ASP World Tour championships.

But Australia's Stephanie Gilmore might accomplish that someday. She's currently establishing a dynasty on the Women's World Tour. She won the world title in her rookie season in 2007, defended her title in 2008 and is in Hawaii going for a championship three-peat.

There are two Women's World Tour contests remaining: the Gidget Pro at Sunset Beach on Oahu and the Billabong Pro at Honolua Bay on Maui. Both are part of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, which is underway on Oahu's North Shore with a an ASP women's specialty event at Haleiwa. 

Mathematically, six surfers are in contention for the title. But it's Gilmore's to win or lose. If she wins at Sunset, Brazil's Silvana Lima would need to finish second to stay in the race, and the others would be eliminated.

If Gilmore finishes second, Lima needs to finish at least third, and Peru's Sofia Mulanovich and Hawaii's Coco Ho would need a victory to stay in the race.

So, essentially, the 21-year-old regular-footer, a powerful backhand surfer, needs to falter in both contests to give all but Lima a realistic chance.

--  Pete Thomas

Photo: Stephanie Gilmore, the reigning and two-time ASP Women’s World Tour surfing champion and current ratings leader, is going for a title three-peat. Credit: ASP/ CI/ Scholtz via Getty Images
 

Will Eddie Aikau memorial surfing contest finally get green light this season?

It has been five years since the "Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau" big-wave surfing contest has been held, but organizers are hoping an El Niño-supercharged winter will provide the necessary conditions for a green light to the prestigious contest at legendary Waimea Bay on Oahu's North Shore.

On Dec. 15, 2004, Kauai's Bruce Irons won with a dazzling drop down the face of a towering breaker and a ride that culminated with a bone-crunching barrel wipeout in the shore break. The crowd went wild and Irons scored a perfect 100.

"This is greater than I could ever have imagined," he said afterward. "It's every bit as big as it looked in all the videos and pictures I saw growing up. To ride the biggest waves of my life, to win a contest in the name of Eddie Aikau, a hero we've all grown up with, I don't know. I just don't know what to say."

The event, which honors the memory of the famous Hawaiian waterman, is held only when waves exceed 20 feet when measured Hawaiian-style -- from the back, or about 40 feet from peak to trough. It has been held only seven times in 24 years.

The list of 28 invitees again includes both Irons brothers, Bruce and Andy. A few others: San Clemente's Greg Long, nine-time ASP World Tour champion Kelly Slater (who won "the Eddie" in 2002), Sunny Garcia, Grant Baker and Jamie O'Brien.

Outposts will follow developments and report on the contest as warranted.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Bruce Irons on his way to winning the Eddie Aikau memorial contest on Dec. 15, 2004. Credit: Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau

Rob Machado recalls North Shore memories during Triple Crown of Surfing lay day

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing remains in a holding pattern as organizers and competitors await more swell on Oahu's North Shore.

Above is a video featuring Rob Machado, recalling his early memories of a magical stretch of Hawaiian coastline referred to by some as "the seven-mile miracle." The Cardiff, Calif., surfer is shown ripping, of course, but he also shares his views on Haleiwa's special characteristics and the region's many iconic breaks.

As for the contest, it's stuck in the middle of the Round of 128, which, when it continues, will feature a heat involving Sunny Garcia, former ASP World Tour surfer and six-time Triple Crown champion. Another heat will feature Dane Gudauskas, of the the San  Clemente Gudauskas trio of brothers, all trying to qualify for the 2010 World Tour.

Pat Gudauskas already has qualified and is seeded in the Round of 64, along with Brett Simpson of Huntington Beach and Austin Ware of Solana Beach. Tanner Gudauskas and Nate Yeomans, also from San Clemente, are in the Round of 96. 

The surf is supposed to pick up at midweek.

-- Pete Thomas

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'Snowboarding With Shaun White' auction open on EBay; proceeds go to charity

Shaun White is up for auction on EBay -- well, the opportunity to snowboard with the Olympic gold medalist is.

Bidding is open through Friday for the chance to win a snowboarding session with Shaun and one-day VIP passes to the Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships on March 16-21 at Stratton Mountain in Vermont.

The auction winner will also enjoy lunch with Shaun; a complete set-up from "The White Collection" by Burton including board, boots, bindings and outerwear; and one night's accommodation at a four-star hotel on March 20. Plus, the auction winner can bring a friend (but all travel to and from Stratton Mountain is the responsibility of the winning bidder and his or her guest).

Bidding closes at 7 p.m. PST Friday and is restricted to preapproved buyers only, which means those interested must e-mail the seller to be placed on the preapproved list.

All auction proceeds will benefit Right to Play, an organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health and develop life skills for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world.

The video above shows Shaun teaching children how to skateboard at Right to Play programs in Rwanda. Their smiles and cheers speak volumes about the value of Shaun's involvement with the charity.

-- Kelly Burgess

Video credit: auctioncause via YouTube

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Vans Triple Crown of Surfing gets underway in Hawaii

The weather is beautiful; wish I were there.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing competition window opens today in Hawaii along a stretch of Oahu's north coastline often referred to as "the seven-mile miracle" because of its many outstanding surf spots.

In 20 years of covering surfing and the general outdoors beat for the Los Angeles Times, I've managed to attend this prestigious year-end series and witness the tribal gathering of hundreds of surfers from around the world a grand total of once.

But I saw Haleiwa breaking at 10 feet, Sunset at 15 feet and Pipeline at about 20 feet. I heard the swell arrive and start pounding the shore during the night, and witnessed some amazing surfing by the best in the world -- and even managed to catch a few waves myself.

But thank goodness for the Internet and webcasts, which will enable Outposts to provide updates during this year's $1-million series, which has lured more than 150 surfers from 17 nations. At stake, for men and women, are ASP World Tour championships and roster spots for next year's elite tours. Also up for grabs are the prestigious Triple Crown championships, won last year by Australia's Joel Parkinson and Stephanie Gilmore.

San Clemente surfer Pat Gudauskas qualifies for 2010 ASP World Tour

Patrick Gudauskas, finally, has ascended to the elite ranks of pro surfing.

After falling just short a few times, the flashy regular-footer from San Clemente has earned enough points to qualify for the the 2010 ASP World Tour before the season-ending Hawaiian swing.

His third-place finish in 10-foot waves at the Islas Canarias Santa Pro in the Canary Islands gave him the necessary points so the rest of the season will be spent trying to overtake World Qualifying Series tour points leader Ross Daniels and win the WQS title.

“I wanted to do well and get over the 14,000-points mark, which is done,” Gudauskas, 23, said after the contest, which was won by Australia's Drew Courtney. “It would have been good to win the event because I love coming here and I really liked the waves today. [But] next stop is Hawaii and I am looking forward at a strong finish.”

The World Tour accepts the top 15 from the WQS at season's end. Pat's brother Tanner is ranked No. 17. Brett Simpson of Huntington Beach is seventh and probably will join Pat on next year's World Tour. Nate Yeomans of San Clemente won the O'Neill Coldwater Classic in Santa Cruz on Sunday and is eighth.

Next up for WQS surfers is the ASP 6-Star PRIME Reef Hawaiian Pro beginning as early as Thursday at Haleiwa on Oahu's North Shore. That event marks the beginning of the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. 

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Pat Gudauskas in action at the Canary Islands. Credit: ASP Europe

Rob Machado's acclaimed film, 'The Drifter,' makes Southern California swing

Rob Machado, the wild-haired iconic free surfer from Cardiff, does not refer to his recent six-month soul-searching odyssey in Indonesia as a midlife crisis, but as a journey of self-discovery far beyond his  comfort zone.

Indonesia was the theater, and "The Drifter" is the result. The film, directed by Taylor Steele and produced by Hurley and Warner Bros. Records, has opened to rave reviews in Japan, Hawaii and Australia, and is making its domestic tour this week, with a premier at the La Paloma Theater tonight in Encinitas (7 and 9 p.m.) and at the Ricardo Montalban Theater in Los Angeles (8 p.m.) on Thursday night.

Machado, a stylish surfer and renowned humanitarian, just needed to get away, and during his travels he helped fund and construct a well for poor villagers. One scene shows Machado striking out on a lonesome road aboard a motorcycle he buys roadside on a whim, after he'd emerged from a taxi.

Machado spent three weeks in Bali, much of it surfing, but he also explored the outer islands of Indonesia. He missed home, but something inside wouldn't let him leave. He found ultimate solace on the island of Sumba, where he camped and surfed beautiful waves.

From a hilltop vista he remarks in the film, "A few months ago this might have felt lonely, but sometimes when you're most alone, you're not alone at all."

Mavericks Surf Contest opens competition window early, awaits winter swells

The waiting period for the Mavericks Surf Contest began Friday. The opening of the competition window came a month earlier than last year, when organizers missed out on an epic Thanksgiving weekend swell and the contest because of an otherwise flat winter.

They're hoping an El Niño-supercharged 2009-10 winter will provide the necessary 30- to 40-foot bombs and make choosing a contest day simple this time around.

Friday's opening ceremony was attended by legendary surfing pioneer Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, 90, who told the competitors how proud he was of their contributions to the sport of big-wave surfing. “As long as you surf, surfing will keep you,” said Paskowitz, who was accompanied by his son Abraham and  grandson Levi.

Veteran Mavericks surfer Peter Mel and past contest champions Greg Long, Darryl “Flea” Virostko and Anthony Tashnick talked about the what the notorious break near Half Moon Bay means to them. San Clemente's Long won the last event in 2008.

Competitors this season will vie for $150,000 in prize money, with $50,000 going to the winner. The event will air live via webcast, and a special giant-screen webcast will again be held at San Francisco's AT&T Park.

Here's the heat lineup (the top three in each heat advance to six-man semifinals, and the top three from each semifinal will compete in a six-man final). May the best man win and may there be no multiple-wave hold-downs, injuries, deaths or visits by hungry great white sharks:

Shaun White's private halfpipe in Colorado backwoods revealed in video

Olympic gold medalist Shaun White never required a special edge other than what the snowboarder already possesses, but he was provided one by Red Bull, which is as devoted to White's success and happiness as the sponsored athlete himself.

Yes, those long-whispered rumors of White's private halfpipe turned out to be true. It was sculpted last winter on a slope in the Colorado backwoods behind Silverton Mountain. It's where White escaped the "distractions" that shadow him in public pipes throughout the course of a training year.

And thanks to "Red Bull Project X," White now boasts an array of new tricks he'll reportedly unleash during the 2009-10 season as he aspires to claim a second Olympic gold during the Vancouver Games.

The "first-look" video has begun to circulate in cyberspace. It reveals an impressive endeavor. Whether White will garner another Olympic gold, though, remains to be seen. But few would bet against him.

-- Pete Thomas

Video courtesy of YouTube

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Tony Hawk to bring star-studded skatepark benefit act to Las Vegas

What happens in Las Vegas on Nov. 7, when Tony Hawk and his cast of high-flying action sports stars begin to soar and spin on their skateboards and bikes, will leave families thoroughly entertained and feeling charitable.

The legendary skateboarder is bringing his personal vert ramp to the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel, with numerous celebrities in tow, for a benefit called "Tony Hawk: RIDE Presents Stand Up for Skateparks." Among athletes scheduled to perform are Bucky Lasek, Simon Tabron, Mat Hoffman, Andy MacDonald, Kevin Staab, Shaun White, Jamie Bestwick, Bob Burnquist, Ryan Sheckler and Dennis McCoy.

In its sixth year, but for the first time in Las Vegas, the gala will raise funds for the Tony Hawk Foundation's national skatepark program. Hawk believes skateparks afford kids a healthy alternative to hanging out on the streets, and, as a millionaire entrepreneur who gained his fame and fortune through skateboarding, he should know. His foundation has awarded nearly $3 million to 448 communities that so far have opened 341 skateparks.

The benefit is a red-carpet affair expected to include such celebrities as Lance Armstrong, Andre Agassi, Elaine Wynn, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jamie Lee Curtis, Mia Hamm, Jon Favreau, Lorenzo Fertitta, Frank Fertitta III, Robin Greenspan, George Maloof, Andrew Pascal, Mat Hoffman, Shaun White, Robert Kotick and Ron Burkle. Rancid will provide the live music. [Updated 8:23 a.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly identified Frank Fertitta III as Frank Fertitta II.]

The benefit is pricey: Individual tickets are $350 and family packages range from $2,000 to $20,000. Guests will receive various goodies and the package prices include signed skateboard decks and, in some cases, a VIP reception with Hawk and other celebrities, and hotel accommodations. 

The event also will include a pledge drive to  fund improvements at a specific skatepark in Las Vegas. Similar pledge drives have benefited skateparks in Compton, New York City and the military community of Tierrasanta in San Diego.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available on the Stand Up for Skateparks website or by calling C.C. Hafner at (760) 477-2479.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Tony Hawk spins his signature 900 while Fred Durst checks the action from the ramp earlier this month in Beverly Hills. Credit: Jody Morris

Ski Dazzle opens Thursday at L.A. Convention Center

Ski Dazzle makes its return to Southern California, opening Thursday and running through Sunday at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The annual ski and snowboard consumer event, touted as the world's largest, will feature more than 375 exhibit booths showcasing equipment and resort information.

There will also be activities each day, including ski and snowboard lessons, contests and seminars, a climbing wall, and skateboard and BMX Vert ramp shows.

Event hours are 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Adult admission is $17; children ages 6 to 12, $5 ; and those 5 and younger, free.

Once inside, paid adult tickets can be exchanged for a one-day lift ticket coupon to either Snow Summit or Bear Mountain resorts (certain restrictions apply).

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: A snowboarder takes a turn at Snow Summit in Big Bear. Credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Mountain High in Wrightwood to open for skiing and snowboarding Thursday

 

Mountain High Resort in Wrightwood will open for skiing and snowboarding on Thursday. But there's a catch: The resort will open for season-pass-holders only. They cost $299 and can be purchased on the website.

However, the resort, which typically is the first in Southern California to open, will open to the general public on Friday, and adult lift tickets will be sold for $35 for four hours, and $40 for eight hours. Night tickets, good from 5-10 p.m., are $30. Lift tickets for children ages 7-12 are $25.

Up to two lifts servicing four beginner to intermediate trails will be available. Six to 10 terrain features also will be on the slopes. 

“This has the feel of a great season. With our early opening, El Niño looming, and the economy recovering, we feel very positive about the upcoming winter,” General Manager Karl Kapuscinski boasted in a news release issued Wednesday afternoon.

The resort's hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Sunday.

-- Pete Thomas

Colorado skiing and snowboarding resorts receive heavy blanket of snow

While resort operators, antsy skiers and snowboarders in California await the arrival of wintry weather, the waiting is over in Colorado.

A major storm arrived Tuesday and is still dumping snow throughout the Rockies. Arapahoe Basin and Loveland are already open and the new snow might spur more early openings. At the very least it will ensure that Colorado's resorts open on schedule.

Wolf Creek, which received eight inches from the latest storm, will open Saturday with powder and packed-powder conditions. Powderhorn has scheduled a Dec. 17 opening and so far is sticking to that. Copper Mountain, which plans to open Nov. 6, is unofficially reporting five inches but predictions call for up to eight inches more. Winter Park Resort has received eight inches and plans to open Nov. 18. The storm is lingering on the Front Range and has dropped more than 12 inches at Eldora Mountain Resort, which will open Nov. 20.
 
Most of the 22 resorts that are part of Colorado Ski Country USA will open the week of Thanksgiving. That's the plan throughout California as well, but lots more snow and colder weather will be needed for those resorts to open on more than a limited basis.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A crewman gets to work preparing the slopes at Aspen/Snowmass, which received more than five inches of snow. Credit: Colorado Ski Country USA

Mick Fanning wins Rip Curl Pro Search, closes in on world surfing title

Australia's Mick Fanning has claimed the Rip Curl Pro Search in Portugal to continue his blaze through the ASP World Tour homestretch and widen his lead in the race for the world title.

Fanning, 28, who won the title in 2007, defeated fellow Australian Bede Durbidge in the final in two-  to three-foot surf at Supertubos to win the ninth of 10 World Tour competitions. Fanning has now won three of the last four contests. The grand finale is in December at fabled Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore.

“Yesterday was one of the best days of competition I’ve ever seen and we all showed up today and had to adjust our frame of mind to deal with the drop in size and quality,” Fanning said, in reference to the six- to eight-foot barrels that pitched over the reef on Tuesday. “I’ve been surfing conditions like this all summer at home so I knew what I had to do out there. I was able to pick off a couple of good scores at the start and then I basically had to sit on Bede so he didn’t get any back on me.”

With conditions deteriorating, Fanning lacerated the punchy wedges on his forehand to net a solid 6.67 and a 6.00 that would prove insurmountable in the best-two-scores format.

The race for the world title is now officially a two-man competition between Fanning and Joel Parkinson, who finished an equal third at Supertubos.

Parkinson, who won three of the first five World Tour competitions and seemed a lock to claim his first world title, now needs a strong finish at Pipeline and a poor finish by Fanning to win the championship. Fanning can clinch the title with a second-place finish at Pipeline, even if Parkinson wins the contest.

“I am a little bit disappointed but overall I am pretty happy,” said Parkinson, who lost to Durbidge in their semifinal. “Third still keeps me up there and in contention for the title. I’m a little bit disappointed in myself, I made one error that changed the whole heat and they are the little things that you find hard sleeping on."

The only thing in Parkinson's favor is that he is the defending Vans Triple Crown of Surfing champion. The Pipeline competition is the last jewel of that prestigious series, which gets underway Nov. 12 at Haleiwa.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Mick Fanning celebrates his triumph at the Rip Curl Pro Search in Portugal. Credit: © ASP/ CI/ SCHOLTZ via Getty Images

Biillabong XXL big-wave contest producing wild rides and must-see footage

The midyear highlight video released today by organizers of the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards is a must-see.

Much of the footage is from Shipstern Bluff, a notoriously shallow and explosive wave off the southern tip of Tasmania, Australia. The rides on these towering behemoths are incredible and so are some of the rag-doll wipeouts which, fortunately, produced no serious injuries.

Spawned by a massive storm in the Southern Ocean, last week's huge swell was challenged by chargers such as Aussies Marti Paradisis and Karl Atkins, who used jet-powered watercraft to tow onto the shoulders of the waves.

Visiting surfer James Hick of Jersey, England, accomplished some of the day's most heart-stopping rides.

Meanwhile, surfers hoping to garner some of the cash prizes being offered by the yearlong XXL contest eagerly anticipate the onset of the Northern Hemisphere winter, which will be fueled by an El Niño condition and likely juice up the surf at Maverick's near Half Moon Bay, Todos Santos Island off Ensenada and perhaps even Cortes Bank, a high spot 100 miles off Orange County.

Other top rides to date include a huge paddle-in wave by Greg Long at Puerto Escondido, Mexico. (The San Clemente surfer won the prestigious XXL Ride-of-the-Year award last April.)

Also topping the list of contenders for what is called the Monster Paddle Award is South Africa's Grant Baker, who stroked into an ominous peak at Dungeons, near Cape Town, South Africa. Mark Mathews of Maroubra, New South Wales, crossed his home continent to score one of the year's roundest tube rides in Western Australia.

This season has also produced spectacular rides by female surfers, notably Brazil's Maya Gabeira and Australia's Layne Beachley.

Surfers have until March 19, 2010, to qualify for the XXL Awards and $130,000 in prize money.

-- Pete Thomas

Video courtesy of Billabong

Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson make semifinals of Rip Curl Pro Search in Portugal

Supertubos was at its death-defying best Tuesday as the third round and quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Search were completed at the notorious venue in Peniche, Portugal.

Still standing and neck-and-neck in the race for the world title are ASP World Tour ratings leaders and fellow Australians Mick Fanning (pictured) and Joel Parkinson.

Top-ranked Fanning muscled through one slabbing left-hander after another en route to a triumph over Fredrick Patacchia in the third round, then outclassed Tim Reyes of Huntington Beach in a quarterfinal heat.

“The wave just comes out of such deep water,” Fanning said of the thick-lipped tubes. “It is not super, super shallow, but one of those drops felt like Pipeline. It was crazy.”

Parkinson, who opened the season strongly but sputtered in three previous contests, returned to form and beat Kai Otton and Bobby Martinez of Santa Barbara.

“I’m just living to keep my dream alive,” said Parkinson, who is seeking his first world title. “I don’t focus on the opponent. I still have two heats to go and two heats to win and then the job is done.”

Parkinson scored a perfect 10 for a deep tube ride during the quarterfinal heat and afterward said of the waves and potential consequences: “Anyone is a danger in these waves. Mother Nature can send you the wave of the day, so anyone is a challenger. It has been awhile since I got really good waves in my heat and that has got the monkey off the back a bit.”
 
Owen Wright, 19, a wild card who competes on the qualifying circuit, continued to impress the judges and elite surfers, following up a second-round triumph over nine-time world champoin Kelly Slater with victories over Dane Reynolds of Ventura and Damien Hobgood of Encinitas.

However, Wright was victimized by the surf after a freefall wipeout late during his quarterfinal. He suffered a ruptured eardrum and it's questionable whether he'll be able to continue.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: ASP / CI / Cestari via Getty Images

Off-road bicyclists stage Fat Tire Fest

Hundreds of mountain bikers, from professionals to toddlers, descended upon Castaic Lake State recreation Area Sunday for the 2009 iteration of the Fat Tire Fest, put on by local bike trail advocacy nonprofit CORBA (Concerned Off-Road Bicyclists Assn.).

The event featured group rides led by professional mountain bikers Ned Overend, Brian Lopes and Sid Taberlay; demo bikes from companies including Cannondale, Giant, Ibis, Specialized and Trek Women; a skills clinic; poker ride; wheelie contest; a bike limbo contest; a silent auction; and a raffle drawing.  The festival is CORBA's biggest source of funding each year and all proceeds go to help the group advance the cause of mountain biking in the greater Los Angeles area, said association president Jeff Klinger.

"We get probably 50% of our operating budget from just this event," Klinger said.  The group has held the festival every year since its inception in 1987.

In addition to maintaining trails in L.A. and parts of Ventura counties, Klinger said CORBA advocates for greater trail access for mountain bikers; runs a youth-outreach program that brings inner-city kids ages 8 to 17 on mountain biking trips in the Santa Monica mountains; and provides free skills clinics and group rides for cyclists of all levels, including those new to the sport.

The big draw of the day was the chance to ride with pros Lopes, Overend and Taberlay. 

Sal Masekela has 'never been more scared' but will run in New York City Marathon

Well-known action sports figure Sal Masekela is scheduled to run in Sunday's New York City Marathon and, because long-distance running is not his forte, he's understandably nervous.

"I've never been more scared to do anything in my life," said Masekela, host of E! Entertainment's "Daily 10" program and longtime TV host of the winter and summer X Games. "In fact, I think I'd rather paddle into 20-foot Waimea Bay by myself than run in the NYC Marathon. However, this isn't about me. This is about the at-risk and disenfranchised teens desperately in need of the opportunities 'Stoked Mentoring' provides. I'm doing this for them."

Stoked Mentoring was founded by Masekela and Steve Larosiliere and its mission is to provide teens "a supportive, encouraging mentor along with a team of people determined to see them succeed."

The 'Stoked' mantra continues: "By introducing mentoring pairs to action sports, the very things many of us were warned against are now creating a positive environment and a foundation for teens. And one teen at a time, counterculture WILL change the world."

Rip Curl Pro Search surfing contests get mired in Portugal's fog

Fog has forced postponement of the Rip Curl Pro Search and the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Search in Peniche, Portugal.

The men's event has completed two rounds with the most notable heat involving nine-time world champion Kelly Slater losing to wild card Owen Wright, 19, of Australia. It is the ninth of 10 ASP World Tour contests, and Slater is out of title contention. Wright is ranked third on the ASP's World Qualifying Series tour and will be a rookie on next year's world tour.

The women's event - -the fourth of seven Women's World Tour contests -- began its waiting period today.

“It’s been very frustrating for us,” said Damien Hardman, the contest director. “The waves this morning were a bit tough, and then they improved and the sun came out. We got ready to go, and the fog came back in."

The top three on the women's tour are Stephanie Gilmore of Australia, Silvana Lima of Brazil and Sofia Mulanovich of Peru.

-- Pete Thomas 

Photo: South Africa's Jordy Smith, ranked No. 12 on the ASP World Tour, will take on fourth-ranked C.J.  Hobgood when the Rip Curl Search resumes. Credit: ASP/ CI/ Cestari / Getty Images

Drew Courtney posts top heat score as Rip Curl Search completes first round

Australia's Drew Courtney was the top performer Friday as the first round of the Rip Curl Search was completed in 3- to 5-foot surf at Lagido in the Peniche region of Portugal.

Courtney, an ASP World Tour rookie, posted a best-two-waves score of 17.17 out of a possible 20 in defeating Hawaii's Dustin Barca.

“It is probably the biggest comp all year for me,” said Courtney, who is ranked No. 32 and needs a good result to improve his chances of re-qualifying for the 2010 World Tour. “I have come off a good result last week [in Spain], so I just want to keep improving and hopefully get another fifth in this competition, that would be great.”

The top 27 at season's end automatically re-qualify. The Rip Curl Search is the ninth of 10 World Tour competitions. The grand finale is the Billabong Pipeline Masters Dec. 8-20 on Oahu.

From a Southern California perspective, re-qualification is not likely for San Clemente's Chris Ward and Huntington Beach surfer Tim Reyes, who are tied at No. 35.

Courtney will face Carlsbad's Taylor Knox when competition resumes. Knox is ranked ninth. Here's the second-round lineup:

Marlon Lipke, Owen Wright and Pat Gudauskas post upset wins at Rip Curl Search

The Rip Curl Search got underway today in three-foot surf at Mohle Leste, Portugal, and there were upsets in five of eight first-round heats that were contested before organizers paused the competition, which is expected to resume Friday. The upsets did not involved top-ranked ASP World Tour surfers, who were seeded directly into the second round.

World Tour rookie Marlon Lipke, who is German but was raised in Portugal, posted the day's highest best-two-waves heat score--14.66 out of a possible 20, while defeating fellow rookie Michel Bourez of Tahiti. Lipke utilized an aggressive backhand approach on the wedgy right-handers and afterward said: “It feels so good, I forgot how good it feels to get through a heat as I haven’t got through one all year."

Australian wildcard Owen Wright, who is ranked No. 3 on the World Qualifying Series tour and will likely compete on next year's World Tour, eliminated Hawaii's Kekoa Bacalso, who is ranked No. 17 in the world.

Also posting an upset was San Clemente's Pat Gudauskas, who defeated Australia's Chris Davidson, who is ranked No. 20. Gudauskas, who was allowed to compete as an injury replacement, is ranked fourth on the WQS.

Brazil's Jihad Khodr and Oxnard's Nathaniel Curran also posted upset victories. Eight first-round heats remain to be contested.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Marlon Lipke en route to scoring a major upset over fellow World Tour rookie Michel Bourez in the first round of the Rip Curl Search at Molhe Leste, Portugal. Credit: © ASP/ CI/ SCHOLTZ via GETTY IMAGES
 

Giant surf wreaks havoc at Rip Curl Search World Tour surfing event

Stormy seas and onshore winds have forced another postponement of the Rip Curl Search at Peniche, Portugal, but that's not all: The massive surf destroyed the event structure at Supertubos, forcing relocation to nearby Lagido.

Pictured is Taylor Knox, who was towed on to the shoulder of a bomb near Lagido during a free-surf session. Knox, 38, of Carlsbad, is seeded directly into the second round of the event.

"We really wanted to run today, but the site structure at Supertubos is too badly damaged today and the conditions at Lagido never materialized,” contest director Damien Hardman said. “We’re still seeing plenty of swell on the fore, and better weather, so we’ll be back at Supertubos at 8 a.m. tomorrow.”

Hardman will make the call Thursday on whether to begin competition. The Rip Curl Search is the ninth of 10 ASP World Tour contests. Australia's Mick Fanning is the ratings leader.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Taylor Knox tows into a large wave near the backup site of Lagido today. Credit: ASP / CI / Scholtz via Getty Images

Jessica Watson, a few days into global sailing odyssey, settling into a routine

Reading Jessica Watson's blog makes me long for the type of freedom she's enjoying, only a few days out from Sydney, Australia, and with an entire planet yet to circle as she aspires to become the youngest person to sail alone, nonstop and unassisted, around the world.

On Monday the 16-year-old adventurer wrote: "It's been so long since I've had anytime just to take it easy for a while and the freedom was amazing. No deadlines, nothing to rush off to, I can eat whatever I like whenever I like, no one to send me off to bed!

"It was pretty special this afternoon when the sea glassed right out, it was as if you could see right to the distant blue bottom apart from huge schools of jellyfish floating past. We even had a couple of dolphins drop in to say hi. The other unexpected visitor was a small plane who circled around overhead, just when I thought I was finally by myself!"

This will change. There will be issues, perhaps very serious problems. Watson is aboard a 34-foot pink sailboat and might have to negotiate swells taller than her boat is long. She has eight months of sailing ahead of her, and safety is not guaranteed.

But for now it's smooth going. On Tuesday she wrote: "It already feels like I'm settling right into a routine, grabbing a bit of sleep through the night and into the morning when I can, logging and plotting my position, digging through the food bags for meals and calling in for phone skeds twice a day. There's always something to do or check.

"I've been hard at work eating my way through all the last-minute presents and sweets that were shoved aboard just before we left. Every time I think I've eaten them all I seem to discover another packet stashed away somewhere!"

Watson has critics who believe she should not be allowed to attempt this voyage, but many supporters -- Monday's blog post generated more than 700 comments -- are behind her all the way.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Teenage sailor Jessica Watson. Credit: Greg Wood / AFP/Getty Images

ASP World Tour hopeful Brett Simpson calls changes 'awesome for the sport'

Huntington Beach surfer Brett Simpson, who is well-poised to qualify for the 2010 ASP World Tour, has spoken out in favor of the notable changes to be implemented on that elite circuit before and during the season.

They include a single rating system to incorporate both the World Tour and the World Qualifying Series tour, which serves as a steppingstone onto the World Tour; and a roster reduction from 45 plus three wild cards to 32 plus four wild cards on the World Tour.

The elite surfers--those at the top of the World Tour ratings-- had been strongly in favor of this change to narrow the competition field during elite contests. That reduction will occur halfway through next season to give those who qualify for the 2010 World Tour, via the WQS, enough opportunity to establish themselves in the Top 32.

Said Simpson, 24, who is ranked sixth on the WQS: “I think the 32-man format awesome for the sport. This is the kind of progression we needed to build or sport and take it to the next level. I already think it’s a pretty prestigious class of guys, but by the middle of next year there will likely only be 32 guys and that’s a huge honor if you’re a part of that.”

Of the single rating Simpson said: “The one-world rating is huge for us surfers too. Somebody will ask me what I’m rated, and I don’t even know what to tell them because I’m sixth on the [WQS] but there are still 45 guys ahead of me on the World Tour, so now it will be a much more clear answer.”

Among other changes is an increase in prize money for World Tour events ad for the year-end winner.

Simpson is not the only Southern California surfer positioned to qualify for the 2010 World Tour. Patrick Gudauskas and Tanner Gudauskas of San Clemente are ranked Nos. 4 and 17, respectively; and Austin Ware of Solana Beach is ranked No. 11. The top 15 WQS surfers at season's end qualify for the World Tour.

Next up for the top WQS surfers is the O'Neill Coldwater Classic Oct. 25-31 at Tofino on Vancouver Island.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Brett Simpson courtesy of Hurley

Pro surfer Andy Irons to make appearance Saturday in Costa Mesa

Three-time world surfing champion Andy Irons is scheduled to make an appearance Saturday from 2 to 4  p.m. at the AT&T store in Costa Mesa.

Irons, who is no longer on the ASP World Tour but is an immensely popular free surfer, will sign autographs and pose for photos with fans. Irons, a remarkably fast and fluid surfer from Kauai, Hawaii, won his titles consecutively from 2002 to 2004.

During his appearance, which is part of a FUEL-TV promotion, there will be a DJ spinning tunes and, of course, product and service deals and giveaways, one of which includes a surfboard signed by Irons.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Three-time world surfing champion Andy Irons, of Hawaii, exits the surf during the 2009 U.S. Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach Pier. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

Mammoth Mountain will open Friday for skiing and snowboarding

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area has announced plans to open Friday. It's the second-earliest opening
for the resort and almost a month sooner than the scheduled opening date of Nov. 12.

The storm moving through the area dumped at least two feet of snow at Main Lodge and significantly more on the upper slopes.

Free lift tickets are being offered for Friday, with only Broadway Express operating beginning at 8:30 a.m.

--Pete Thomas and Kelly Burgess

Photo: A skier speeds down the slopes at Mammoth Mountain last November. Mammoth's slopes received a substantial blanket of snow during the current storm and will open Friday, much earlier than planned. Credit: Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times

Life of iconic, schizophrenic surfer Michael Peterson explored in documentary now touring Southland

Any fan of iconic surf films will know the footage of rising Australian icon Michael Peterson in the movie, “Morning of the Earth.” Shot during the cyclone season of 1970 in Kirra, Queensland, the breakout performance of “MP” has been a point of obsession for almost 40 years; in it, he is supremely confident, handsome, animated, clearly a gifted athlete who, like the warriors in the Homeric epics, has the “shine” on him and is leading the field in a new direction.

It was an auspicious debut that not only foretold MP’s total domination of Australian surfing from 1972 to the 1977 Burleigh Heads contest that was the birth of the modern competitive surf tour – but also gave a glimpse of his strange and soon-to-be legendary intensity. That intensity gave way to bizarre and antisocial behavior, like hiding in the bushes after winning the 1975 Bells Beach contest and letting Ian Cairns accept his prize check for him.
 
That intensity that would also later find its root and bloom into uncontrolled paranoid schizophrenia, a brooding life as a recluse, drug use, a chaotic car chase to prison, and finally a life of relative obscurity. In his wake, MP left one of the strangest legacies of any modern sports champion.

A moving new film about MP, “Searching for Michael Peterson,” is making its debut tour and is in Southern California this week. Because Peterson rarely gave interviews, and when he did they were strangely brusque, Australian filmmaker Jolyon Hoff rightly focuses the piece on outstanding footage from the contests of the era and interviews with many of MP’s Australian contemporaries.

Adriano de Souza wins Billabong Pro Mundaka as world title race widens

Brazil's Adriano de Souza defeated Australia's Chris Davidson in the final of the Billabong Pro Mundaka at Sopelana, Spain, to post his first ASP World Tour victory and climb into the race for the world title.

De Souza, who lives in Laguna Hills, became the first South American to win an ASP World Tour event.

He dominated the crumbling left-hander at the backup site of Sopelana -- poor conditions at Euskadi caused officials to seek an alternate venue -- and won with a best-two-waves score of 16.40 to 11.83.

The triumph, in the eighth of 10 World Tour competitions, propels De Souza to No. 3 in the standings and gives him an outside shot at winning  his first world  title.

“I don’t have words to express how happy I am right now,” De Souza said. “I have been working so hard for this ever since winning the ASP World Junior Championships and the ASP WQS. To finally win here in Mundaka, where the culture is so rich and the people love surfing so much, is an incredible thing. This is the most special day of my life.”

The race for the world title widened after Australians Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning lost in the second and third rounds, respectively. Fanning has overtaken Parkinson and leads the race by a slim margin.

Florida's C.J. Hobgood is ranked fourth. Next up is the Rip Curl Search event, scheduled Oct. 19-28 in Peniche, Portugal.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Adriano de Souza goes backside on a left-hander en route to winning the Billabong Pro Mundaka. Credit: ASP/ CI / Scholtz via Getty Images

Mick Fanning overtakes Joel Parkinson to lead ASP World Tour

A month ago Joel Parkinson held a commanding lead in the ASP World Tour standings and seemed a lock to win his first world title.

Today, after an early exit during the Billabong Pro Mundaka in Spain, Parkinson is in second place behind fellow Australian Mick Fanning, who has advanced to the third round of the contest and is seeking his second world title.

“I’m not thinking about it at all,” said Fanning, who defeated South Africa's David Weare in the second round, with surf running 2-5 feet. “It’s just one heat. If you want to win the world title, you have to win heats and that’s all I’m working on. I’ve got a long way to go. It’s unfortunate for Joel that he got another bad result, but he’s still right there and it’s going to come down to the wire.”

The Billabong Pro, which has been plagued by lack of surf, is the eighth of 10 World Tour competitions. Parkinson opened the season with consecutive victories and added a third triumph at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa in July. Since then he has lost in the second round three consecutive times, most recently to Australia's Drew Courtney. 

“The top seeds may be battling for the world title, but we’re battling for requalification so we’re not giving anything away,” Courtney said. “It’s a super important event for me and I was stoked to get a couple of good waves under my belt out there. I’m feeling confident and looking forward to the next one.”

Fanning, whose nickname is "White Lightning," won two consecutive contests to climb back into the race, and by advancing to the third round in Spain he climbed 44 points ahead of Parkinson in what seems to be a two-man race for the title. Fanning won the title in 2007.

Fanning will battle Hawaiian goofy-footer Fredrick Patacchia when the third round commences, possibly Tuesday. If conditions warrant, organizers will run the event, which had gone six days without competition before Monday, through completion on Tuesday.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Mick Fanning has overtaken fellow Australian Joel Parkinson in the ASP standings. Credit: Kirstin Scholtz / ASP/Getty Images

Assn. of Surfing Professionals announces sweeping changes for next season

 

The long-rumored breakaway pro surfing tour seemingly is dead now that the Assn. of Surfing Professionals has announced sweeping changes that seem to have full support of the world's top surfers.

The changes include a single ratings system, more prize money and benefits for surfers.

Brodie Carr, ASP International CEO, announced the changes today in Spain, where the Billabong Pro Mundaka is in progress. “We have just completed a period of intense discussion with the world’s best surfers and the world’s best events which culminated in the unanimous support of the ASP and the commitment to the continuation of crowning undisputed world champions, as we have done so for 30 years, for generations to come,” Carr said.
 
As expected, the ASP next season will implement a single rating system that will include both the ASP World Tour and the ASP World Qualifying Series tour. Also, the World Tour field will be reduced from 45 plus three wild cards to 32 plus four wild cards.

That change will be made halfway through next season to give those who qualify for next season’s World Tour enough opportunity to establish themselves in the Top 32.

A smaller World Tour field is something the top-tier surfers had been striving for.

“By trimming back the field as well as instituting the one-world rating system, we ensure the ASP World Tour continues to be the most progressive and dynamic professional surfing tour on Earth,” said Mick Fanning, a former world champion and the tour surfers' representative.

Boreal becomes first ski/snowboard resort to open in California

 

Boreal Mountain Resort on Friday opened its Castle Peak quad chairlift and became the first resort in California to open for the 2009-10 skiing and snowboarding season.

It marks the earliest opener for the Lake Tahoe-area resort. Its previous earliest opening was on Oct. 11 in 2000.

The resort is reporting a 6-to-12-inch base but the accompanying photo shows the resort, like others in the region, need a helping hand from Mother Nature to develop a genuinely wintry appearance. The lift will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, servicing one groomed trail and a terrain park with up to 10 features for snowboarders and skiers.

To celebrate, Boreal will hold its annual Jibassic Public Invitational competition Saturday and Sunday. The contest is open to "all shredders willing to throw down great tricks for cash."

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Boreal opened Friday, offering what looks to be a sparsely covered run for skiers and snowboarders. Credit: Boreal Mountain Resort

Billabong Pro Mundaka called off yet again; Joel Parkinson still leads ASP tour

The world's best surfers are doing a lot of standing around and waiting in Spain as a lack of waves has forced organizers of the Billabong Pro Mundaka to call for a fourth consecutive lay day, and they're considering moving the venue from Euskadi to nearby Sopelana.

The event is the eighth of 10 contests on the ASP World Tour and it has yet to conclude the first round, which is an elimination round. When it resumes, the main players will be Australia's Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning, who are ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the race for the world title.

In the video posted below, Parkinson talks about the event, his equipment, the boredom associated with lay days, and the competition:

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: The Billabong Pro Mundaka has been called off yet again because of dismal swell opportunities. Credit: ASP/CI/CESTARI via Getty Images

Jessica Watson, 16, plans to leave next week on sailing voyage around the world

Jessica Watson's sojourn around the world, in a 34-foot pink sailboat, will begin as early as next week from Sydney, Australia. 

"She’s a really cute little boat and I’m so proud of her, but she’s really tough as well,” the adventurer said this week during a news conference regarding her controversial odyssey.

Jessica, 16, intends to become the youngest person to solo-circumnavigate the world in a sailboat. She will sail above New Zealand and into the Pacific and up toward the equator, then back down toward Cape Horn, which she calls "the big Everest of sailing."

If she successfully rounds the treacherous Cape passage she'll continue a southerly course back to Sydney.

But it won't be as easy as that; she will will get blasted by gargantuan waves and fierce winds and will, on many occasions, look out of place aboard her soft-hued vessel.

“I’ve got an amazing amount of equipment – we’ve got all sorts of satellite communication equipment and navigation gear and Panasonic Toughbook computers, so I’m in good company," she said.

But Jessica, although she's a skilled and experienced sailor, also suffers from seasickness. On Tuesday, after a five-day sea trial, she posted this statement on her blog: "Since I stepped off Ella’s Pink Lady yesterday afternoon my head has been spinning and I’ve been doing a bit of stumbling into things! Getting my land legs again has taken a while. I can’t image what I’m going to be like after eight months at sea, rather than five days!"

It does not require much of an imagination to conclude it'll be an adventure she'll never forget.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Jessica Watson sails her yacht Ella's Pink Lady past the Sydney Opera House during a media event earlier this week. Watson is attempting to become the youngest person to sail around the world alone and without stopping or receiving assistance. Photo by Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images

Loveland Ski Area is first in North America to open its slopes, resort says

Loveland Ski Area in Colorado opened its slopes at 9 a.m. today and claims to be the first resort in North America to open for the 2009-10 winter season.

The resort boasts an 18-inch base consisting of natural and man-made snow. Skiers and snowboarders enjoyed a top-to-bottom run consisting of 1,000 vertical feet via Chair 1. First turns were made on the trails Catwalk, Mambo and Homerun, which are part of the one-mile-long run.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Jr. congratulated Loveland on its earliest opening in 40 years, saying, “It’s only October, but the 2009-10 snow sport season is open for business in Colorado.

"Recreation and tourism are key economic drivers and job creators in Colorado, and we’re looking forward to a great year on the slopes.”

Loveland is part of a network of resorts represented by Colorado Ski Country USA.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: A skier makes first tracks at Loveland in Colorado. The resort claims to be the first resort in North America to open for the winter season.

Credit: Jack Dempsey / Loveland

'Searching for Michael Peterson' surf documentary making West Coast rounds

“The story of Michael Peterson makes 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' look like 'Alice in Wonderland,' " says Sean Doherty, the iconic surfer's biographer.

That might be a melodramatic description, but the story is compelling and the documentary "Seaching for Michael Peterson" has received rave reviews and is now showing on California's West Coast.

Peterson ruled the Australian surf scene in the early to mid-1970s but was an undiagnosed schizophrenic who could find normalcy only while in the water. He could not cope with with his increasing fame, however. Drugs and shadows came to rule him.

He struck bottom in 1977, after beating future four-time world champion Mark Richards before 20,000 fans to win the first event of the world tour. It was Peterson's last competition, and he was only seen occasionally until 1983, when he was arrested after a 15-car police chase from Coolangatta to Brisbane. "MP" never surfed again, and after years in prison, he was finally diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

The 55-minute documentary, directed by Jolyon Hoff, features footage of Peterson’s life and interviews with his friends and surfing rivals, including Richards, Peter Townend, Wayne Lynch, Phil Jarratt and others.  Screening locations and dates are as follows:

-- Today: San Fransicco, Victoria Theater, 7 p.m.

-- Thursday, Santa Cruz, Veterans Memorial Building, 8 p.m.

-- Friday, San Luis Obispo, La Perla Del Mar Chapel, 8 p.m.

-- Saturday, San Diego, Del Mar Fairgrounds, 6:30 p.m.

-- Oct. 15, Venice Beach, the Stronghold, 8 p.m.

-- Oct. 16, Santa Barbara, Victoria Hall Theater, 8 p.m.

--Oct. 17, Long Beach, Shelter Surf Shop, 8 p.m.

-- Pete Thomas

Mountain High begins making snow and strives for early opening

Mountain High in Wrightwood, which helped supply water for crews fighting the Sheep Fire, began making snow Sunday night and will continue to cover its slopes whenever possible in advance of a very early opening.

John McColly, director of marketing at the resort, said it could open as early as this week.

This marks the earliest the resort has made snow and it cites advancements in technology that enable snow-making in warmer temperatures.

The resort, which consistently the first Southern California resort to open, issued a news release today stating it has spent $500,000 to improve its snow-making system. That includes two new automatic fan guns at the base of East and West resorts, and a new three-stage turbo compressor to power the system.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Man-made snow is blown onto the slopes at Mountain High. Credit: Mountain High

Lake Tahoe area, Mammoth Mountain receive first significant snowfall of season

The Lake Tahoe area was transformed into a wintry wonderland over the weekend, much to the delight of resort operators preparing for what might be an epic El Niño-fueled skiing and snowboarding season.

All seven of the Ski Lake Tahoe resorts received a generous delivery of powder, raising hopes of October openings. Mammoth Mountain in the Eastern Sierra, likewise, received almost 8 inches and would like to open early. Mammoth has pegged Nov. 12 as opening day but that's subject to change.

Experts predict that moderate El Niño conditions will persist through the 2009-10 winter. If past El Niños are an indication, this will be a long and bountiful season on the slopes.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo of Mt. Tallac in the Lake Tahoe area courtesy of Ski Lake Tahoe

Billabong Pro Mundaka underway in Spain -- Can Mick Fanning overtake Joel Parkinson?

The Billabong Pro Mundaka, the eighth of 10 ASP World Tour contests, is underway in Spain, and officials decided to begin with the elimination format in the first round.

The top-rated surfers, including ratings leaders Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning, will compete beginning with the second round, and their opponents won't be known until the first round is complete.

What's clear at this point in the season is that the race for the world title is essentially an Australian affair between Parkinson, the ratings leader seeking his first championship, and Fanning, the 2007 champion who has won the previous two World Tour events to become a factor in the race.

Florida's C.J. Hobgood is ranked third and has an outside chance, but he desperately needs a victory in Spain. Fellow Floridian Kelly Slater, a nine-time and reigning world champion, is ranked fifth and is seemingly out of the race.

Half of the first-round heats were held in three-foot surf today. Here are the results and remaining matchups:

ASA World Championships of Freestyle Motocross take flight Saturday at Fairplex in Pomona

The ASA World Championships of Freestyle Motocross return to Fairplex in Pomona this Saturday and the quest for the title looks as fierce as ever.

Santee, Calif.'s Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg will be returning to defend his back-to-back titles against four-time champion Nate Adams from Glendale, Ariz. -- the only other rider to have won this event -- as well as other top-notch FMX athletes looking to upset this two-man hierarchy.

"This is the one event I most look forward to competing in each year," said Stenberg. "I'm looking forward to riding against Nate and all the other top pros to get my three-peat!"

Other riders competing include Ronnie Faisst of Mays Landing, N.J.; Takayuki Higashino of Osaka, Japan; Adam Jones of Warrendale, Pa.; and Mike Mason of Minden, Nev.

The seventh annual event begins at 7:30 p.m. All competitors will be seeded and will compete in a head-to-head, single-elimination format with the winner of each heat advancing to the next round, culminating in the two finalists riding for the title of World Champion.

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster and at the Fairplex box office. L.A. County Fair admission is separate and is required.

The event will be televised by CBS on Dec. 6.

-- Kelly Burgess

Photo: Jeremy "Twitch" Stenberg performing one of his signature release flips on his way to the ASA World Championships of FMX title in 2008. Credit: Jared Souney / ASA Entertainment

Mick Fanning wins surfing's Quiksilver Pro France

Australia's Mick Fanning has won the Quiksilver Pro France, beating countryman Bede Durbidge  in active 1- to 3-foot waves at Seignosse, France.

Fanning has scored back-to-back victories on the ASP World Tour, having won the Hurley Pro at Lower Trestles in San Clemente last week.

Fanning is now only 146 points behind No. 1-ranked Australian Joel Parkinson, who was upset by France's Patrick Beven in Round 3 on Saturday.

“It’s back on,” Fanning said. “Everyone thought Joel was going to run away with it, and it’s unfortunate for him that he fell out early, but I’ve put in a lot of work to get these last two wins, and I’m just psyched on heading into the rest of the season.”

Durbidge’s second-place finish propels him from seventh to fourth in the 2009 ASP World Tour rankings, putting him in a strong position heading into the remainder of the year.

"That's good news, but my goal is just to finish the year off good and be in a good position to start next year,” Durbidge said. “I would like to finish the year inside the top 5 for sure so I hope to keep things rolling."

Nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater didn't make it past the quarterfinals, losing to Tiago Pires of Portugal.

“I’m over the moon right now,” Pires said. “Kelly is my favorite surfer, and I have so much respect for him."

Though Slater opened up with some explosive surfing to score a strong 17.43 out of a possible 20 heat total, it was Pires who would answer back with a 9.57 followed by an 8.13 to take the heat.

“After I put up that first big score, I knew I had to wait for the bigger waves to get the scores to beat him," Pires said. "I had been watching all day, and I knew there would be sets so when it came, I just put everything I had into it."

The next stop will be the Billabong Pro Mundaka in Spain, the eighth of 10 World Tour events.

CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 RANKINGS:

1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 5,896 points
2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 5,750 points
3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 4,872 points
4: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 4,792 points
5: Kelly Slater (USA) 4,638 points
6: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 4,573 points
7: Taj Burrow (AUS) 4,417 points
8: Damien Hobgood (USA) 4,384 points
9: Bobby Martinez (USA) 4,314 points
10: Taylor Knox (USA) 4,216 points

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: Mick Fanning has claimed the 2009 Quiksilver Pro France. The win moves the Australian even closer to countryman Joel Parkinson in the hunt for the 2009 ASP World Title. Credit: ASP/ CI/ Cestari via Getty Images

Top-ranked Joel Parkinson eliminated in Round 3 of Quiksilver Pro France

Australia's Joel Parkinson, ranked No. 1 in the ASP World Tour standings, was upset by France's Patrick Beven in Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro France today.

Despite the smaller, one- to three-foot waves at the event in Seignosse, France, Beven scored 6.87 out of a possible 10 in the final minutes of his heat to defeat Parkinson and move on to Round 4.

Beven earned his seeding in the event through the Moskova Trials. A local in the south of France, he enjoyed the support of the hundreds of spectators today.

"I am stoked right now," said Beven. "I haven’t qualified for the ASP World Tour yet, but I am showing I can surf and do well in this event."

Kelly Slater, reigning nine-time ASP World Champion and currently ranked No. 6 on the ASP World Tour, surfed immediately after Parkinson’s elimination.

Despite being on the ropes from the outset, Slater patiently built momentum throughout the heat and netted an impressive 8.90 out of a possible 10 in the last minutes to take the win from Joan Duru of France and advance to Round 4.

With the elimination of the ASP ratings’ front-runner, the opportunity to gain ground exists for a number of ASP top seeds, Slater among them.

Ventura's Dane Reynolds, currently ranked No. 11, proved the form surfer of the day. Blending explosive aerials with searing carves,  Reynolds netted the highest heat total of the event, 18.27 out of a possible 20.

Riding high after a runner-up finish last week at the Hurley Pro at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, Reynolds is proving to be one of the most dangerous surfers on tour.

“I like it here in France,” Reynolds said. “The waves can be really similar to home and punchy and fun. We haven’t had too many waves, though, so hopefully it picks up.”

Reynolds will face Australian Bede Durbidge in the opening heat of Round 4.

The Quiksilver Pro is the seventh of 10 events on the ASP World Tour.

Here are the fourth-round heat matchups:

Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 2: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 4: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Patrick Beven (FRA)
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 8: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

--Kelly Burgess

Photo: Ventura's Dane Reynolds, current ASP World Tour No. 11, dominated the waves at the Quiksilver Pro France today, posting the highest heat total of the event, 18.27 out of a possible 20. Credit: Credit: © ASP/ CI/ CESTARI via GETTY IMAGES

Surfer Chris Ward oversleeps, arrives late, bows out of Quiksilver Pro France

The Quiksilver Pro France is sputtering along because of small surf and poor conditions, but at least the second round is complete and elimination rounds will begin as early as Saturday morning.

Speaking of sputtering along, San Clemente's Chris Ward missed his first-round heat because of confusion regarding the schedule. That relegated him to the second-round losers' bracket. Ward, who is ranked No. 32 on the ASP World Tour and on the re-qualifying bubble, reportedly overslept and arrived 15 minutes late for  his second-round heat.

Australia's Ben Dunn, who was paired against Ward, surfed alone for 15 minutes but was unable to catch any high-scoring waves until Ward arrived. Then sets began to come in and Dunn, who is ranked No. 26, dominated the remainder of the 30-minute heat. Using high-speed floaters and power turns in two- to three-foot surf at Les Bourdaines, he won with a two-best-waves score of 14.50.

“Wardo missed his Round 1 heat and I thought he was going to show up for today’s heat because I saw him yesterday, but he said he overslept or something," Dunn said. "It was still pretty even when he arrived though as I couldn’t get any waves.”

Huntington Beach surfer Timmy Reyes lost in the second round to Hawaii's Roy Powers. Reyes is tied with Dunn at the No. 26 ratings spot. The Quiksilver Pro is the seventh of 10  World Tour contests.

Here are the third-round heat matchups:

Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 2: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 3: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Ben Dunn (AUS)
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Greg Emslie (ZAF)
Heat 6: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Dustin Barca (HAW)
Heat 7: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Patrick Beven (FRA)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 11: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 14: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 15: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Brazil's Heitor Alves (pictured) defeated Australia's Jay Thompson in the second round of  the Quiksilver Pro France. Credit: Credit: © ASP/ CI/ Scholtz via Getty Images

Champion paddleboarder enjoys whale of a close encounter

Jamie Mitchell won't soon forget his encounter Tuesday with a humpback whale off New South Wales, Australia.

Mitchell, an eight-time World Paddleboarding champion and big-wave surfer, was aboard a standup paddleboard filming for his new television documentary project "Living in Liquid."

A pod of humpbacks approached and the whale in the photo above surfaced next to Mitchell, winner of the recent 32-mile Molokai-to-Oahu paddle race in Hawaii.

Humpbacks are among the most gregarious and curious cetacean species and often treat whale-watchers aboard boats to up-close encounters. About 13,000 humpbacks migrate each season along Australia's eastern seaboard. 

"They have amazing control in the water, so I relaxed and enjoyed the experience," said Mitchell, a Quiksilver-sponsored athlete. "I have an even greater respect for them now, they are so cool."

"Living in Liquid" will follow Mitchell's many waterborne challenges, from big-wave surfing to free-diving and paddleboarding. Presumably, the humpback footage will make the cut.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Jamie Mitchell stands in awe before the a humpback whale that approached him as he was paddling off Australia. Credit: Liam O'Brien/Jason Muir

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Quiksilver Pro France stalls during second round because of poor conditions

Organizers of the Quiksilver Pro were unable to complete the second round today because of poor conditions, but some heats were contested and among the upset victims in the ASP World Tour event at Seignosse, France, were French standout Jeremy Flores and the event's defending champion, Adrian Buchan.

Flores lost to Spain's Aritz Aranburu while Bucnan, an Australian, lost to South Africa's Greg Emslie.

The surf was five feet but currents were strong and made for sloppy conditions and low heat scores. Competition might resume Friday morning. Meanwhile, above is a video featuring first-round highlights and notably the performances of Mick Fanning, Patrick Beavan and Kekoa Bacalso.

The Quiksilver Pro  is the seventh of 10 World Tour events. Australia's Joel Parkinson is the ratings leader.

-- Pete Thomas

Video: ASP

Louie Vito footloose but stiff as a board on 'Dancing With the Stars'

The website Stomp and Flow writes: "While Louie Vito has no trouble spinning threes, sevens and nines in both directions on a snowboard in the halfpipe, he has his hands full in spinning The Foxtrot with his dance partner, Chelsie Hightower, on ABC’s smash hit television show, 'Dancing With The Stars.'

"We will keep our fingers crossed for Louie to make it another week."

Outposts would like to add that footloose Louie, in the accompanying video, looks as though he's merely trying not to trip up his partner as he goes through the motions. Relief seems to pour from the athlete when the dance is over.

You've got to hand it to him, though. He's trying his best, just as he always does in the halfpipe. But Louie has never looked that stiff in the halfpipe. Maybe it's the suit.

The three-night season premiere episode concludes tonight. We'll see if Louie makes the cut.

-- Pete Thomas

Video courtesy of YouTube

Adriano de Souza exits Quiksilver Pro; C.J. Hobgood advances on spare surfboards

They've completed only the first round and part of the second round of the Quiksilver Pro in Seignosse, France, but there will be a shake-up atop the ASP World Tour standings when the contest concludes.

That's because third-ranked Brazilian Adriano de Souza lost to Australia's Phillip MacDonald in the second round and has been eliminated.

Australia's Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning, who are ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, have advanced to the third round, although Fanning, who won last week's Hurley Pro at Lower Trestles in San Clemente, did not win his first-round heat and was relegated to the second-round losers' bracket.

Fanning defeated Peru's Gabriel Villaran in the second round.

Also advancing via the second round was fourth-ranked C.J. Hobgood, who had his competition surfboards stolen the night he arrived in France. Hobgood, using spare equipment, was trounced in the first round but won his second-round heat against French surfer Alain Riou, despite breaking a board and completing the heat on a spare he had never ridden.

"We all have our breaking point and a lot of things went through my mind and I was just wondering how much worse it could get," the Floridian said. 

De Souza, who lives in south Orange County, was the only major upset victim during the first day of competition.

-- Pete Thomas

Photo: Ventura's Dane Reynolds remains on a hot streak and managed a two-wave score of 17.33 out of a possible 20 in the first round of the Quiksilver Pro in France. Credit: ASP/CI/Scholtz