Gold Coast -- Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24, is already an icon within the women’s sporting world after her short five-year tenure amongst the world’s best surfers. A four-time ASP Women’s World Champion, the young Gold Coaster has already scalped an incredible 18 elite tour events, including three at the opening event of the season, the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by Land Rover.

"I'm a competitive person,” Gilmore said. “I want to be the best. I feel like I've already accomplished more (competitively) than I ever thought I would and I'm proud of that. There's nothing forcing me to compete, I do it because I enjoy it and because I want to win. If you're winning events, you're winning world titles so yes, the world title is still very much the goal."

Jeff Hubbard has taken the 2012 IBA Pipe Challenge. The Hawaiian bodyboarder won the event in flawless 6-8ft barrelling waves, in what people are calling the best Pipe event of the last 15 years.

It was an historic final, with some of the most experienced bodyboarders in the world, in some of the most challenging waves in the world. Jeff Hubbard, Mike Stewart, Dave Winchester and Sam Bennett wanted to take the iconic trophy to their homes.

Pipe and Backdoor were firing outstanding deep barrels. Scores went up in the sky. Mike Stewart suffered the first punch after failing to come out of a dangerous tube. Watch the final highlights...

The 2012 IBA Pipe Challenge is on and pumping great waves. The opening stage of the 2012 IBA World Tour saw Australian Lewy Finnegan scoring the best wave of the day Thursday.

The 17-year-old bodyboarder took off deep on a six-foot Backdoor wave, pulled in and road behind the curtain, came out long after the spit, and raised his fist as he pulled off the back. Claiming waves is cool.

Ruben Quiñones, Timmy Hamilton, Nick Omerod, JB Hillen, Alex Lincoln and Bud Miymoto won their Round 2 heats and are through in the path of the dream.

GO LIVE HERE

 

"What do I like best about Hawaii? Everything" Check the Video...this guy can surf anything and very well...
"For me, being off the world tour has allowed me to be at the worlds best waves when they ARE their best".

12 year old Tanner McDaniel with the living legend Mike Stewart checking da Pipe Challenge.
While the judges deliberated, competitors on the beach diagramed a 12-year-old trialist’s new move with their flip-flops. Tanner McDaniel, from Hawaii, landed what he called an: ‘angry dragon’. “It’s like a reverse back flip”, said McDaniel. The Hawaiian became the youngest competitor to qualify for the IBA Pipe Challenge, placing second in his fourth round heat to Australia’s Drew Innocend, in testing 2-3ft side-shore conditions, last week at Sandy Beach at the IBA Pipe Challenge Trials. Now its all Pipe.

Great Hawaiian Waterman and Mr Aloha, Mel Kinney. R.I.P.
Word of mouth report: Mel suffered a heart attack while getting ready for another session at Sunset Beach Thursday 2/9. He was taken to Queens in critical condition and was on life support.
This is another huge loss in the surfing community.
We will add more news when it becomes available. Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Big Mel's family and friends. God Bless you Mel.

February 14, 2012