GRINDTV NEWSWIRE via Billabong- Tuesday, August 17th 2010 (Tahiti local time): Local surfer, Taumata Puhetini (PFY), has claimed the 2010 Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials in solid six-foot waves at Teahupo'o, overcoming an international invite-only field of 64 to guarantee himself a wildcard into the main event of stop 5 on the ASP Men's World Tour, the Billabong Pro, Tahiti which begins next Monday, August 23.

Puhetini looked unstoppable in the all-Tahitian final versus fellow local, Tamaroa McComb (PFY), the 23 year-old registering one of the highest two-wave combined wave scores of the event, 18.17 out of a possible perfect 20, to see him claim the most important win of his career.

"I have had a lot of time to watch the Billabong Pro contest as a spectator and to watch Manoa reach the final (in 2008) was great. I have spent four hours in the water training every day. Now is my chance, I am ready," said Puhetini.

Both Puhetini and McComb will now join seeded wildcard, Manoa Drollet (PFY) in Round 1 of the upcoming Billabong Pro, Tahiti main event. All three Tahitians are certain to draw the world's highest rated surfers; world rated no. 1, Jordy Smith (ZAF), world-rated no. 2 Taj Burrow (AUS) and world rated no. 3 Kelly Slater (USA).

Drollet, a two-time trials champion and former Billabong Pro, Tahiti finalist (2008) believes MCComb and Puhetini are danger-men at Teahupo'o and easily capable of causing a serious upset to the ASP Men's Tour world title contenders.

Finishing third and fourth today was former two-time Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials winner (2009 & 2006) Heiarii Williams (PFY) and Steve Pierson (PFY), making it a clean sweep for the Tahitians in the semi-finals.

Australia's Anthony Walsh (NSW, AUS) saw his run for glory cut short in the quarterfinals against local Steven Pierson (PFY).

The Tahitian, Pierson, had the Aussie on the ropes early, scoring an excellent opening ride of 9.1 points for a long backhand tube ride which he backed up shortly after with another good score.

With just 10 minutes remaining, Walsh required a combination of scores to overtake the Tahitian and managed to answer back with a near-perfect 9.93 for an awesome double-barrel ride to put him within striking distance.

However, with time ticking away, Teahupo'o did not co-operate and still requiring a second good scoring wave Walsh, a former wildcard winner, was bundled out in equal 5th place.

Laurie Towner (NSW, AUS) had more than the wave drought to contend with in his quarterfinal. Earlier today, Towner received medical attention on-site after he head butted the reef during a wipeout in Round 3. He was treated for a gash in his scalp and doctors inserted a stitch in a cut above his right eye.

In his quarter final versus McComb, Towner's right ear copped it next. Towner unsuccessfully negotiated a frothy Teahupo'o tube and during the ensuring wipeout, the fin of his board struck his ear underwater.

He was taken to the nearby Marina by jet-ski and then driven to the nearest hospital immediately after the quarterfinal, a little shaken but otherwise okay.

At the time of writing, it's expected Towner will receive a few more stitches.

The world's top rated 45 surfers are due into Tahiti over coming days for the Billabong Pro, Tahiti which begins August 23rd and runs to Sept 3rd.

Just four full days of competition are required to crown a Billabong Pro, Tahiti champion.

The event carries major significance as the last event before the ASP Men's Tour adjusts to the new one world ratings system which will see the field reduced from 45 to just 32 full time touring competitors.
Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials

Final Results

FINAL: Taumata Puhetini (PFY) 18.17 def Tamaroa McComb (PFY) 17.27

SEMI FINALS

SF1: Taumata Puhetini (PFY) 16.67 def Heiarii Williams (PFY) 10.80 pts
SF2: Tamaroa McComb (PFY) 12.10 def Steve Pierson (PFY) 9.07 pts

QUARTER FINALS

QF 1: Taumata Puhetini 16.67 (PFY) def Heremoana Lucian (PFY) 6.67 pts
QF2: Heiarii Williams (PFY) 8.87 def Kamalei Alexander (HAW) 1.20 pts
QF3: Steve Pierson (PFY) 16.50 def Anthony Walsh (AUS) 13.43 pts
QF4: Tamaroa McComb (PFY) 13.17 def Laurie Towner (PFY) 7.00 pts

check out more at billabongpro.com

Anthony Walsh appears ready as of yesterday...

GRINDTV NEWSWIRE via BILLABONG - Sunday, August 15th, 2010 (local Tahiti timeline) Billabong Pro, Teahupo'o, Tahiti): Surfers competing in the Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials, the precursor to event number 5 on the ASP Men's World Tour, the Billabong Pro, Tahiti, have been blessed with the ultimate warm-up at the legendary Tahitian break, "Teahupo'o" today.


Laurie Towner warms up for the trials..

Waves in the eight-to-10-foot range (3.5 metres) broke throughout the day allowing dozens of international arrivals to practise ahead of tomorrow's Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials. Organisers are confident the first heat of the prestigious 64-man invitational will begin in similar conditions at 08:00am (local time) tomorrow, Monday 16th August.

Thirty-two internationals including surfers from Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, USA, South Africa, Brazil and Peru have flown in to compete at Teahupo'o and will fight it out against an additional 32 local invitees for just two wildcard spots into the Billabong Pro, Tahiti main event.

Last minute changes to the trials draw sees the inclusion of Nathan Fletcher (USA), Dylan Longbottom, Michael Hopkins (AUS), Makua Rothman, TJ Barron (HAW) and Fergal Smith (IRE).

Local hero Manoa Drollet, a two-time Air Tahiti Nui trials winner, is the recipient of the third Billabong Pro wildcard and has already been allocated a main event seed where he will face off in the first round against the likes of either world-rated #1 Jordy Smith (ZAF), world rated #2 Taj Burrow (AUS) or world rated #3 Kelly Slater (USA).

Competition is fierce with all invitees regarded as fearless tube riders and lovers of big-waves.

The Billabong Pro, Tahiti is unlike any other event on the ASP Men's World Tour. Spectators are afforded an unrivalled view from the deep channel that runs beside the intense, shallow reef break and on big days surfers are known to skim through the cheering crowds, water still dripping from them following incredible tube rides.

In excess of 140 media and personnel are accommodated by Air Tahiti Nui and preparations begin many months in advance. The 12-metre, three level tower that houses the ASP's judges, the Billabong Pro webcast team, commentators and VIP media can only be constructed during calm seas and is built from scratch each year.

Every heat of the Billabong Pro, Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui is webcast live with previous Billabong Pro viewing audiences topping more than 1.5 million people. Millions more will be able to watch the 2010 webcast live via FUEL TV (and its network affiliates) in countries as diverse as Portugal, Australia, France and South Africa.

Pascal Luciani of the Fédération Tahitienne de Surf also anticipates the Billabong Pro will be the first international event to utilise the "Honotua", the submarine communications cable system that connects several islands of French Polynesia via Tahiti to Hawaii, USA.

"We have been working with Mana (Tahiti telecommunications carrier) and OPT (Office des Postes et Telecommunication, Honotua operator) and we expect the Honotua to be fully operational, accommodating for the Billabong Pro, Tahiti's internet demands like never before," said Luciani.

The Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials features a nominal first place prize purse of xfp150,000 (approx US$2,000), however, the real glory for the victor is knowing he has overcome an elite field of surfing outlaws to earn his wildcard into the Billabong Pro, Tahiti. And, of course, the satisfaction of knowing he has tamed the mighty Teahupo'o, albeit momentarily ...

The Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trails waiting period is 16th - 19th August.

The Billabong Pro, Tahiti runs August 23rd - Sept 3rd, with just four full days of competition required to crown a champion.

Billabong's award winning production team will again webcast every heat of the Billabong Pro, Tahiti live via: www.billabongpro.com

Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials
2010 Official International Invitee field (updated Sunday Aug 15, 2010)

HAWAII
Jon Florence
Conan Hayes
Bruce Irons
Danny Fuller
Sion Miloski
Kamalei Alexander
Makua Rothman
Ian Walsh
Kalani Chapman
TJ Barron
Hank Gaskell
Clay Marzo

USA
Dane Ward
Nathan Fletcher

AUSTRALIA
Wade Goodall
Ryan Callinan
Laurie Towner
Nick Vasicek
Anthony Walsh
Damien Wills
Ryan Hipwood
Michael Hopkins
Dylan Longbottom

PERU
Alvaro Malpartida
Gabriel Villaran

BRAZIL
Ricardo Do Santos

Puerto Rico
Alejandro Moreda

JAPAN
Takayuki Wakita

FRANCE
Benjamin Sanchis

New Zealand
Blair Stewart

South Africa
Dale Staples

Ireland
Fergal Smith

Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials
Former Champions

2009 Heiarii Williams (PFY)
2008 Jamie O'Brien (HAW)
2007 Manoa Drollet (PFY)
2006 Heiarii Williams (PFY)
2005 Manoa Drollet (PFY)
2004 Heimata Carroll (PFY)
2003 Alain Riou (PFY)
2002 Vetea David (PFY)
2001 Bruce Irons (HAW)

So, it might be bold but it needs to be said. This teaser might be one of the best ones released yet.

The riding is sick, yes. However, the vibe and attitude are just proper. It's the perspective we all consistently maintain and it is why we all stay stoked on this sport. It's got powder lines, back country booters and cliffs, floater backflips, street riding, and friends just having a ridiculous time snowboarding.

Also...the song is pretty epic, not gonna lie. This will get you stoked - no question.

www.homiesgrounds.com

Featuring: Aymeric Tonin, Wojtek Pawlusiak, Frederic Couderc, Nico Droz, Morgan Lefaucheur, Pierre Rue, Cedric Giovanola, Benedikt Nadig, Margot Rozies, Christian Weber, David Livet, Arthur Girault, Corey Noble, Niels Shack, Kuba Dytkowski, and friends.

GrindTV Newswire, Via So-Gnar: (June 16, 2010) Summer is here and we have 7 events coming up to fulfill your some summertime snowboarding. Pat Milbery and Reed Silberman in conjugation with WoodWard @ Copper Mountain are hosting these dates. We have a lot of FUN planned.

Join us for summer camp at Woodward at Copper Mountain! We will be riding, coaching, filming for So-Gnar's TUBE-U-LAR Tuesday's, giving away tons of free stuff, and most importantly having fun!!!!! Pat Milbery and Reed Silberman will be hosting 7 dates at camp this summer you should NOT miss out on. We will be having couch jams, old school grab contests, pick a trick from a monster and bunny, spin til ya win, mini golf, dodge ball, sticker & stencil your snowboard and more...Prizes and support for these events will be provided by SO-GNAR, INK MONSTR, SKULLCANDY, ZUMIEZ, VON ZIPPER, CAPIX, SPACECRAFT, HEADHUNTER SUNSCREEN, & OTTER BOX. LOTS OF FREE PRODUCTS, BUT ONLY IF YOUR HAVING FUN. Hit up the links on the flyer to register with the folks at Woodward at Copper.

Joel Parkinson and Andy Irons are two good ol' Billabong mates who go on surf trips together, are in videos together, and surf contests against each other. So, you know they've had good times over the years. Recently, they had a session they can chalk up as all time. They scored a wave in Bali that simply goes by "The Left." Irons had surfed it before, but not Parkinson. He was so taken back by how perfect the wave was he even wrote a little story about it over on his website.

Sit back, relax, click here and enjoy sotrytime with Parko, plus more pictures.