Get ready for the Ubatuba Pro Grand Slam 2013 taking place from the 27th April – 5th May at Itamambuca Beach. Puka Patch is a proud sponsor of the Stand Up World Tour.

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After a dramatic 2012 event that saw the young Mo Freitas (Focus SUP/ Body Glove) from Hawaii clinch the victory in the dying minutes of the heat ahead of current World Champion Leco Salazar, the pressure will be on this year as the World Tour Contenders return to the magnificent Itamambuca Beach for Stop 2 of the 2013 season. From the 30th April to the 5th May, Itamambuca Beach will play host to the world’s best.

Coming off a dramatic victory in Sunset, 2x World Champion Kai Lenny (Naish) is on a mission this year, as is Robin Johnston (Mistral), who finished 2nd at Sunset, but also Kody Kerbox (Naish), fresh off a 3rd place in the Abu Dhabi All Stars, but also at Sunset back in February.

However, also back and looking to retain his event title will be Mo Freitas and Brazilian superstar Leco Salazar will be looking to take  back the Brazil win with a 2 out of 3 record on the Stand Up World Tour here in Brazil.

All entries should email entry@watermanleague.com with their names, contact details and divisions entered.

The Ubatuba Pro Grand Slam will run from the 27th April – 5th May in the beautiful region of Ubatuba, just north of Sao Paolo, Brazil.

The first weekend will see the World Series hit one of the Town’s many beautiful beaches, with its Long distance and sprint races, coupled with open and youth racing divisions and relays.

After a dramatic World Series Opener held in the form of the Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge, presented by Stand Up Latino and powered by Big Foot Adventure, tension will be mounting as the best of Brazil will congregate to take on the world’s best international riders for the next chapter towards the World Championship Title in 2013.

Kai Lenny (Naish) and Connor Baxter (Starboard) will rekindle their battle in Ubatuba, but also the Danish Viking Casper Steinfath  (Naish) and the on form Zane Schweitzer (Starboard) from Maui amongst many others.

All entries should email: entryrace@watermanleague.com with their name, contact details and event entered.

Australian Longboard Surfing Open

ASP 3 Star LQS event
Kingscliff, New South Wales
20 – 24 March 2013

Georgia Young and Harley Ingleby crowned Australian Longboard Open champs

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 March, 2013 : – – Another day of challenging conditions greeted competitors for the final day of competition at the Australian Longboard Surfing Open in Kingscliff. The men’s and women’s ASP LQS division finals had contrasting tales but Georgia Young (AUS) and Harley Ingleby (AUS) have both come away convincing winners.

2009 World Longboard Champion, Harley Ingleby, got out to a strong start and never looked like relinquishing his lead throughout the final. “It’s always so hard to beat Taylor (Jensen) in these kind of conditions but I really just stayed focus and I’m so stoked to get the win. It’s been too long since I’ve won a contest and hopefully I can carry this momentum into China later in the year,” said Ingleby. Ingleby will also take home another $1200 for taking out the Noserider division.

World Longboard Champion Taylor Jensen (USA) was always playing catch up throughout the final and in the end it cost him the chance to defend his event title. “It was almost 15 minutes until I got a wave higher than a 1 or 2 so that makes it hard but that’s just how it goes sometimes and congrats to Harley, he surfed well all event,” said Jensen.

Taylor’s next big project is learning to become a dad with him and his partner Nava expecting a baby in the next 4-5 weeks. We wish them all the best on this new adventure!
In the Cancer Institute ASP LQS women’s division Georgia Young (AUS) snatched victory from Crystal Dzigas (HAW) in the dying minutes of their final to take out her first Australian Longboard Open.

“I was getting so nervous as the heat went on but I finally found the wave I needed in pretty hard conditions and I’m just so happy to win that one,” said Young.
Dzigas on the other hand was disappointed in letting victory get so close before being overtaken in the final minutes.

“It was hard out there and I couldn’t really hear the announcers but I knew I was right in it with a chance but then to lose it like that in the end is pretty hard. I blew it, but that’s surfing for you!” This may be Dzigas’ last contest for quite a while and she is uncertain if she will compete again in 2013.

In other results 2x Hawaiian Battle of the Paddle Champion and former 2x event winner, Travis Grant (Palm Beach, QLD) took out the gruelling 5km Battle of the SUPs race.
In a Herculean effort, Grant was barely puffing after taking out the most physical event of the Australian Open. In other SUP news, 2012 Australian Champion Beau Nixon (Coolangatta) has won the men’s SUP Pro final.

ASP LQS OPEN FINAL
1ST Harley Ingleby 14.23,
2nd Taylor Jensen 13.37,
3rd Jared Neal 12.30,
4th Justin Redman 8.74

CANCER INSTITUTE ASP LQS WOMEN’S FINAL
1ST Georgia Young 12.83,
2nd Crystal Dzigas 11.90,
3rd Alice Melissa Limoi 9.20,
4th Melissa Combo 8.47

OLD MAL FINAL
FINAL-1ST Ray Gleave 13.67,
2nd Joel Tilley 11.40,
3rd Dion Harris 7.33,
4th Michael Cottier 6.46

SUMMERLAND CREDIT UNION O40S FINAL
1st Nigel Cantebury 13.33,
2nd Mike Wilman 10.84,
3rd Danny O Brien 8.27,
4th Jay Carter 7.93,
5th Robert McLucas 7.46,
6th Trevor Skinner 6.56

O50’S FINAL
1st Ray Gleave 13.00,
2nd Ian Pearson 11.66,
3rd Gary Burden 9.46,
4th David Storck 9.37,
5th Storm Carter 8.20,
6th Mick Gett 6.47

O60’S FINAL
1st Graeme Wood 10.60,
2nd Neville Smith 10.00

NOSERIDER FINAL
1ST Harley Ingleby 17.50,
2nd Lawrence Harkness 13.57,
3rd Tony Silvagni 12.54,
4th Dane Pioli 12.16

CROCS UNDER 18S
1st- Jordan Griffin 13.17,
2nd Joel Skinner 11.10,
3rd Jake Almeida 8.40,
4th Taj Prasad 6.34

AMATEUR WOMEN
1st Lisa Nicholson 11.00,
2nd Sam Vanderford 9.73,
3rd Kathryn Hughes 9.06,
4th Pippie Simpson 8.04

BATTLE OF THE PADDLE SUP RACE
1st Travis Grant,
2nd Jake Jensen,
3rd Paul Jackson

RETRO FINAL
1st Matt Aldridge 11.37,
2nd Josh Munro 9.40,
3rd Luke Layory 8.63,
4th Nicholas Farago 7.03

PACIFIC FINANCE 8FT FINAL
1ST Ben Johnson,
2nd Dean Bevan,
3rd Ian Pearson,
4th Joel Tilley,
5th Damien Farago,
6th Anthony McCulloch

SCALES SEAFOOD 9FT FINAL
1st Joel Tilley,
2nd Ben Johnson,
3rd Scotty Channon,
4th Jordan Griffin,
5th Josh Munro,
6th Tony Rae

SUP PRO SURF FINAL
1st Beau Nixon 17.56,
2nd Justin Holland 15.70,
3rd Jackson Close 15.30,
4th Toby Cracknell 8.20

ILLUSIONS SUP AMATEUR WOMEN’S FINAL
1st- Shakira Westdorp 16.67,
2nd Sarah Mason 11.60,
3rd Karyn Jackson 9.33,
4th Jenny Ryan 7.37

ILLUSIONS SUP AMATEUR MEN’S FINAL
1st Andy Davies,
2nd Ray Gleave,
3rd Anthony Smith,
4th Michael Stokes

Abu Dhabi has all of the ingredients to become a World Class destination for the sport: from flat water cruising in the warm waters and continual sunshine, to the waves, yes, you did hear right, waves found at one of the world’s premier wave pools (Wadi Adventure), Abu Dhabi has something for everyone from entry level paddler, to high performance surfer. The event will be part of the Abu Dhabi Beach Games 2013 which is organized by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club. For this unique event, the Abu Dhabi Sailing & Yacht Club is teaming up with the UAE SUP Association, Wadi Adventure and the Waterman League to produce the Abu Dhabi Surf & Paddle All Stars Invitational from the 4th – 7th April 2013.

Connor Baxter powers to victory in Puerto Natales, Chile
Connor Baxter (Starboard) puts every last shred of energy into a tiebreaker to claim the overall victory here at the Aragas Magallanes Paddle Challenge. With Kai Lenny (Naish) taking the win in the long distance, Connor knew that it was all or nothing on the final day of action here in Puerto Natales, and that he had to put it all on the line to take down arch rival and the reigning World Series Champion.

He went onto win the sprint racing component, forcing a tie-breaker that would prove to be one of the most nail biting yet on the Stand Up World Series. In the end, after a rail and paddle clashing duel, it was to be Connor’s day, just edging ahead of Kai to take the victory and a $9,000 check here at Stop 1 of the 2013 Stand Up World Series.

Puka Patch is proud to be one of the sponsors of this year’s event!

AUSTRALIAN LONGBOARD SURFING OPEN SET TO COMMENCE IN FUN WAVES

Over 140 surfers from around the globe are set to go head to head in one of Australia’s premiere long-boarding contests; The Australian Longboard Surfing Open, which kicks off tomorrow and runs till Sunday (March 20-24th).
It showcases some of the world’s best men including current world champion Taylor Jensen, former world champion Harley Ingleby, multiple Australian Champion Jackson Close and women longboarding superstars from Japan, Taiwan, Brazil, Hawaii and of course our own Australian champions.

Former 3x Event Champion, former Australian Title Holder and defending nose riding champion Dane Pioli is pumped up to get back to the event that he has had so much success with in the past.
“I’m so excited for this year’s event! I’m looking forward to catching up with everybody and also pumped to try and get a 4th title. Bring it on!” Said Piolo.
Rounds 1 and 2 for both the Men’s premiere ASP LQS Open and the Cancer Institute ASP LQS Women’s will run on Wednesday.
Forecasters are calling for a very contestable 2ft+ swell which is likely to build later in the week.
So don’t miss your chance to experience the Australian Longboard Surfing Open; a celebration of beach culture with a little bit for everyone!

For all media enquiries contact:
Matt Miller- 0411953099
mattmiller2104@gmail.com