13 year old Panu Wisetsombat from Kata Beach, Phuket wins 1st place in the first-ever RIPCURL GROM SEARCH series at Nai Harn Beach on Saturday, August 21, 2010!

The RIPCURL GROM SEARCH 2010 at Nai Harn Beach was the first of three events that are set for kids under 15 years old. With more than 25 up-and-coming young surfers in Phuket, including locals and tourists, the contest has sparked new interest in surfing among the Thai, foreign residents, and tourist youth.

The contest began on Saturday morning with sparkling overhead waves and brilliant sunshine. Although the following heats were made challenging by rain, wind, and low tide, the kids were nonetheless excited and stayed-on to show their surfing skill and impress the spectators. Everyone was made comfortable by fantastic and unlimited hot pizzas delivered from Davinci’s Restaurant!

The next RIPCURL GROM SEARCH will be held at Kata Beach on September 4th and then at Surin Beach on September the 18th. RIPCURL will have games and free gifts for kids and spectators alike, lasting for the whole day.... so come and join the fun for free!

RIPCURL GROM SEARCH 2010 Nai Harn Beach Results:

1st Panu Wisetsombat (13)
2nd Dyou Worawong (13)
3rd John Robinson (11)
4th Jimmy Partenent (11)
 
THE RIP CURL THAILAND GROM SEARCH 2010 is sponsored & supported by Rawai Municipility, Karon Municility, OBT Cheng-Ta-Lay, Surfing Thailand, Komunity Project, Ocean&Earth, Phuket Post, Phuket 91.5FM, Thailand Surfrider Magazine, Davinci Restaurant and Nautilus SurfShop.

Check pictures and other RIP CURL THAILAND activity at http://www.facebook.com/ripcurlthailand

News and Editing: Steven A. Martin - Surfing Thailand

Photos: Supat Onsuwan

Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2010

Quiksilver, along with the Surfing Thailand organization (recently recognized by the International Surfing Association (ISA)), is pleased to announce the second annual Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2010 to be held at Kata Beach, Phuket on September 22 – 26, 2010.

This year’s festival promises to be bigger and better than ever with a myriad of events and activities held over a 5 day period that will entice both surfers and non-surfers alike. Along with a professionally run international surfing competition, spectators and participants will be treated to concerts, parties, cultural shows, awareness presentations, surf instruction clinics, and a whole lot of fun on the beach!

Endorsed and supported by both government and public sector organizations, the Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2010 will provide local Thai surfers the opportunity to gain valuable experience competing at an international level, getting them familiar with the rules and regulations of ISA sanctioned events, and opening the door to competing in ISA competitions held throughout South Asia and the world.

The competition takes place during what is typically called the “Low Season”, though surfers have long termed this period the “Surf Season”, and the event brings to light yet another activity which both locals and visitors can enjoy during the Southwest Monsoon, helping to further endorse Phuket as a year-round holiday destination.

In addition to the surf contest, this year’s event will promote environmental awareness, introduce some of the multi-faceted local cultures, and provide introductory surfing instruction through a series of activities, presentations, and surf clinics.

Be there or be square!

Schedule

Date: September 22 – 26.

Divisions: Men’s Open Shortboard Division and Women’s Open Shortboard Division and Long Board’s Open Division

Day 1 (September 22)
- Opening Ceremony
- Environmental Awareness Presentation
- Surf Contest Heats
- Local Cultural Show

Day 2 (September 23)
- DJ Music and Beach Activities
- Musical Presentation
- Surf Contest Heats

Day 3 (September 24)
- DJ Music and Beach Activities
- Musical Presentation
- Surf Contest Heats

Day 4 (September 25)
- DJ Music and Beach Activities
- Surf Clinic for Tourists and Visitors
- Surf Contest Heats

Day 5 (September 26)
- Surf Clinic for Thai Singers, Movie Stars, and Other Celebrities
- Surf Contest Final Rounds
- Surfing Demonstration by Quiksilver Surf Team
- Awards Ceremony
- Party and Concert by Live Bands


Prizes

Men’s Open Shortboard Division
1st Place: B50,000 Cash, Surfboard, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver and Sponsors
2nd Place: B30,000 Cash, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver
3rd Place: B20,000 Cash, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver
4th Place: B10,000 Cash, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver

Women’s Open Shortboard Division
1st Place: B30,000 Cash, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver and Sponsors
2nd Place: B20,000 Cash, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver
3rd Place: B10,000 Cash, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver
4th Place: B5,000 Cash, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver

Longboard’s Open Division
1st Place: B30,000 Cash, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver and Sponsors
2nd Place: B20,000 Cash, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver
3rd Place: B10,000 Cash, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver
4th Place: B5,000 Cash, Trophy, Prize Package by Quiksilver


------------- Don't Missing -------------

The first free Thailand surf magazine - Thailand Surfrider Mag issue 2 April-June 2010 available online at http://issuu.com/thaisurfrider/docs/issue2

Enjoy!

การเล่นเซิร์ฟหรือการ เล่นโต้คลื่นนั้น มีที่มาจากประเพณีโบราณดั้งเดิมของคนพื้นเมืองของเกาะฮาวายและเกาะตาฮิติ ซึ่งชนพื้นเมืองจะเล่นโต้คลื่นบนกระดานโต้คลื่นที่ทำจากไม้เนื้อแข็งชนิด ต่างๆ โดยเฉพาะไม้เนื้อแข็งชนิดหนึ่งที่ขึ้นบริเวณเกาะฮาวายที่เรียกว่า “ไม้โคอา - Koa” ปัจจุบันสามารถชมกระดานโต้คลื่นที่ทำจากไม้ ที่ทำขึ้นในสมัยศตวรรตที่๑๕ ได้ที่พิพิธภัณฑ์บิชอฟ โฮโนลูลู บนเกาะฮาวาย  

มีตำนานของชาวฮาวายเล่าว่า มีการสวดมนต์บูชาให้กับท้องทะเลเพื่อขอให้มีคลื่นที่ดีในเล่นโต้คลื่น และแสดงความเคารพต่อท้องทะเลโดยการเข้าแข่งขันโต้คลื่น

เมื่อมกราคม 2010 ที่ผ่านมา สมาชิกของชมรมนักโต้คลื่นภูเก็ตจำนวน 15 คนได้เข้าร่วมการแข่งขันโต้คลื่น Monsoon Mayhem 2010 ที่หาดเดซารู ประเทศมาเลเซีย และได้คว้ารางวัล ชนะเลิศรุ่นลองบอร์ด และอันดับสามรุ่นลองบอร์ดมาครับ

ทริปของเราสนุกมาก โดยชมรมฯได้สนับสนุนค่าใช้จ่ายในการเดินทางและที่พักสำหรับนักโต้คลื่นของเรา สามารถดูภาพถ่ายของทริปนี้ได้ที่

http://www.phuketboardriders.com/members/profile/1/albums/79

ขอแสดงความยินดีกับเดย์ และดำ ด้วยครับ ที่คว้ารางวัลมา ปีหน้าเราไปกันใหม่ครับ

19 January 2010, Kuta, Bali: Indonesia’s elite Junior surfing team climbed about the Jetstar flight last evening at 9:45 and headed out of Bali en route to the ISA Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championships in Piha, New Zealand. They will make a stop in Sydney Australia to pick up their other team member Oney Anwar, before jetting over the Auckland and then on to the final destination of Piha.

When they arrive in Auckland, the team will be greeted by Nick “Chongee” Ngau-Chun and the crew from Fiona Anderson’s Piha Camp Ground then whisked away to the beach, which will be their new home for the next 8 days. Team Coach Tipi Jabrik will meanwhile head into Auckland to the ISA HQ to get everyone properly checked in, while Team Manager/Media guy Tim Hain will be catching a late flight tonight from Bali to join the crew at Piha tomorrow afternoon.

(Sunday 10 January, 2010): 13 year-old Jay-R Esquivel from the Philippines won his first international grommet contest today at the Billabong Occy Grom Comp at Cherating Beach in Malaysia.  Young Jay-R put on an amazing display of surfing during all three days of competition at the long, sandy-bottomed point break, getting cheers and wowing the crowd on the beach.  The energetic grom showed off a well-rounded repertoire of maneuvers consistently impress the judges and rack up big points in virtually every heat.

And this talented youngster not only bested his fellow groms in the Occy Grom Comp, but he also took a second place in the Billabong Pro Am Men’s Open Division, receiving a wild card into the event to try his luck against the bigger boys.  On the podium he was asked to say a few words to audience, so the shy little shredder bravely took the microphone and said, “Thanks Billabong and thanks to my sponsor” after accepting his trophy and prizes.  Jay-R won this trip to Occy Grom Comp as a reward for his second place finish at the Billabong Grom Comp in the Philippines in December of 2009.  

   AUSTRALIAN SURFER GREG HODGE WITH OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THE WATER.THE OWNER OF RAYONG-MAE RAMPHUNG BEACH  SURF /SHOP  SURF SCHOOL IN THE GULF OF THAILAND.ONLY 2 HOURS DRIVE FROM BANGKOK  WELCOMES ALL TOURISTS AND  LOCAL THAI'S.WE ARE MORE THEN HAPPY TO GIVE LONGBOARD SURFING LESSONS AND STAND UP PADDLE BOARD  LESSONS.ALL  OUR  EQUIPMENT  CAN BE  RENTED  BY THE HOUR / DAY AND WEEK.AFTER JUST A FEW LESSONS YOU WILL BE STANDING UP SURFING A WAVE AND ENJOYING THE OCEAN.WE ALSO  SELL/RENT  SURFBOARDS, STAND UP  PADDLE   BOARDS INCLUDING ALL SURFING ACCESSORIES AND CLOTHING.

FOR MORE DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT OUR SHOP EMAIL gre_g_2000@yahoo.com OR PHONE 0833050107.

(Tuesday 15^th December, 2009): The little known surf town of Cherating on the South China Sea coast of Malaysia will play host to its first ever Billabong Occy Grom Comp in one months time. The monsoon season, which typically starts in November and blesses the Malaysian shores for a solid four months, has already provided tourists and locals alike with some fantastic consistent waves.

In a major coup for the Asian surf scene, 1999 World Champion of Surfing Mark 'Occy' Occhilupo will bring his specialized Grommet event to the ridiculously long sand bottom point break, attracting the best young surfers in the region from January 8th to January 10th.

(Monday 14th December, 2009): It was a proud day for Malaysian surfing with the opening of the first co-concept store between Billabong and SatuSuku Surf on Saturday. The small Billabong space is set to compliment an already thriving surf scene and the well established SatuSuku Surf school and board hire business on the South China Sea side of the Malaysian coastline. Locals and tourists alike flock to Cherating Pt each monsoon season to get a taste of some of the longest sand-bottom point breaks in the world, a few boasting rides in excess of 1.5km long.