Quiksilver Bradley Surfboards accelerate up the ratings!

Surfers around the globe are surfing better than ever on the new Christiaan Bradley shaped Quiksilver Surfboards.  Based in France, Bradley has had a busy season with 22 of the top 45 surfers in the world filling out order forms in his shaping bay at Euroglass, Hossegor.
 
The world's best surfers have been touring events around the globe and are now pulling in big results on their new boards.  It's a win win situation for the surfers like Jeremy Flores, Miky Picon, and Dan Ross who all rode Bradley boards in Brazil to reach their career best results of second, third and fifth respectively.

Jeremy is now feeling right at home among the Top 10 and has always worked with the shaping team at Quiksilver Surfboards for his equipment.  Miky needed a big result to secure his spot on next year's ASP World Tour and has been working more than anyone with Bradley to create the best possible equipment.

His semi final result jumped him from 26th up to 18th in the world ratings, meaning he has almost certainly secured requalification for next year.  Also scoring points and prizemoney on his Bradley board was Brazilian Wiggoly Dantos who claimed a 6 star WQS victory in his home country.
 
In European waters, Dan Ross won the WQS in pumping waves in the Canaries. Glenn Hall won the Quiksilver 3 Degrees UKPST event in the cold water of Portrush, Northern Ireland also on his favourite Bradley 5'9" CB1.  The test pilots are proving that the boards work for every type of surfer in all types of waves.
 
While Quiksilver send Christiaan to Australia to spread his influence over the winter months, Bradley boards will be available in Quiksilver Boardrider stores throughout Europe for Christmas.  The new boards will be in the racks alongside the already established Quiksilver shaping team of Warner, Grace, Anderson and Mark Phipps.

Mark has also had major success with his shapes this season.  Nic Muscroft won the 6 Star Canaries event and Tim Boal the 5 Star Zarautz event riding Mark boards.  The victory helped Tim seal his qualification for next years ASP World Tour.  If you are looking for something else unique for your Christmas present then Mark Phipps has been working on a new Fibre Flex model which is proving to be a hit in the lineups of France and Australia.

Jeremy and Miky ripped at Imbituba

 

Jeremy Flores (Fra) and Miky Picon (Fra) both recorded career best results in the 10th ASP World Tour event, the Hang Loose Pro, held in Santa Catarina, Brazil. 

Jeremy, who is now ranked 10th in the world placed second to Bede Durbridge the world number two.  Miky placed third, clearly demonstrating the power of the Euroforce among the world's best.   

The event draw meant the two Quiksilver team mates and best friends Jeremy and Miky met in the semi final.  Yet both Miky and Jeremy were stoked with their respective results.  Flores said. "I had fun and Miky surfed good too. That was more important for me probably, his requalification for the Tour next year.  It was incredible to compete with him in the semifinals."  

Miky needed a big result going into the penultimate event of the Tour.  If he didn't get the job done in Brazil then all the pressure would have been intense for him going into the last event of the year at the notorious Pipeline, Hawaii.  Miky pulled out all the stops to achieve his highest career result.  Miky jumped from 26th to 18th in the ratings and is now almost certainly guaranteed a requalification spot for next year's ASP World Tour.  

Miky's first semi final could not have come at a more important time for him. He said, "It was a very good heat, the first heat of the year with no pressure, because I was surfing against Jeremy, so anyone who went to the final was good for me.  It was amazing, the feeling that I felt surfing with Jeremy in the semi final. If I won it was perfect, if I lost it would still be a good result, so I'm happy that my friend went to the final."

Jeremy and Miky now move on to Hawaii for what will undoubtedly be a fantastic climax to a year which has seen European surfing rise to a whole new level.

 

Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro Final Results:

 

Final: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 17.76 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 9.86

 

Semifinal:

Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.00 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 13.73

Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.33 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 8.50

 

Quarterfinal:

Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 18.06 def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 14.03

Heat 2: Mikael Picon (FRA) 12.23 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 11.83

Heat 3: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 17.17 def. Bernardo Miranda (BRA) 12.30

Heat 4: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.83 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 9.40

 

Quiksilver 3 Degrees Series: Scotland Open

Quiksilver 3 Degrees Score 6-8ft perfect Thurso East

After a great day of surfing in solid North Shore conditions, the Scottish Open yet again provided the goods.  With a swell of 6ft plus, the legendary break of Thurso East came alive, allowing the best of British surfers to shine in world class waves in the shadow of an ancient castle.

In a tough final, fantastic waves were traded and only a few points split the positions throughout as the four surfers turned up the heat in the icy water.  Reubin Pierce made the most of an exchange of waves in the dying seconds to take second place.  Despite a slow start Reubyn Ash landed a huge floater on his final wave to propel himself into third place.  Spencer Hargraves made the most of the the conditions with his strong surfing and dominated the middle part of the final but couldn't match the high scores of 16.93 that gave first place to Micah Lester.  Micah scored a 9.1 on his opening wave with a barrel and huge carving hack, leaving him looking for a back up wave that eventually came to him to seal the deserved victory.  'For me I couldn't ask for a better wave for this event.  It is the best right-hander in the country and maybe in Europe and suits me to a tee. It is my favourite wave in Europe and this is the highlight of my year.  Yesterday was the hell road trip and then today was pumping.   It's great, said Micah after the prize presentation. 

Quiksilver Team Captain Spencer got barrelled for most of the day and enjoyed the solid conditions and scored an 8.7 for his carve and barrel ride in the final.  Earning a perfect ten-point ride earlier in his quarterfinal with a late take-off barrel, Alan Stokes won both the King of the Waves award for the individual highest wave score and the Relentless Money move award.

The Roxy event also ran and the ladies were out in solid reef break conditions.  Surfing in cold water and over shallow rocks didn't faze them at all.  Nicole Morgan, Shauna Ward, Caroline Perret, Jo Dennison and Raine Jackson put on a great display, showing the crowds that the girls don't mind the big surf at all.  Jo Dennison came second in the thrilling final with Nicole Morgan stealing the wave she needed at the end to push Shauna Ward into third place and to take the victory.  Nicole thanked Roxy and the UK Pro Surf Tour for arranging such a  great event for the girls to showcase their talents in fantastic waves.  Shauna Ward won the Queen of the Waves award scoring a 7.63, which was the highest individual score of the final.

 The day didn't start out quite like it ended.  Rain, hail and strong winds greeted the surfers at the 8am start time.  As the day progressed however the 8ft messy waves improved as the wind turned offshore and the sun (yes sun!) shone through the clouds to provide a fantastic end to proceedings.  The conditions were well earned after some tough days of driving around England and Scotland in search of the best available waves in between snow and gales in order to complete the North East Open.

The surfers continue on to the third event of the 3 Degrees Series, which is organised and run by the UK Pro Surf Tour.  The entire team of surfers, organisers and supporters will be back on the road again tomorrow, with the next destinations being Portrush in Northern Ireland for what will undoubtedly be another display of impressive surfing. 

Gabe Davies.

3 Degrees Series: North East Open

Quiksilver 3 Degrees North East Open

Surfers Brave the Harshest Conditions ever seen in Professional Surfing!

 

Gale force winds, snow and below-zero temperatures made this event perhaps one of the most hard core professional surfing events ever!

The North East Open is part of Quiksilver and Roxy 3 Degrees Series. The event organised as part of the the UK Pro Surfing Tour was due to run in Tynemouth.  In searhch of the best available conditions, the surfers and organisers drove just about as far North and as about far East as you can go in mainland UK.  This morning the event ran just south of John 'o' Groats at Keiss beach.  Conditions were harsh at best and horrific at times.  In between hail and snow squalls small clean waves were found and the surfers dived in regardless.

 As the day progressed, better waves were reported at Sandside beach, so the surfers drove on in search of optimum conditions in which to surf their event.  This time to a beach that is in fact located in the shadow of the Dounreay Nuclear Facility.  A great left hand break allowed the surfers to show off their best manoeuvres to the judges.   No spectators unrelated to the surfers braved the elements! Except for perhaps the odd seal, few people would have known that the best surfers in the UK were fighting it out for the £2000 prize and vital points up for grabs as part of the UK Pro Surfing tour.

Eventual winner, Sam Lamiroy took the title and beat the other finalists in what was to be a tough day in the office.  The winner's cheque and the points will always make a bad day good.  Runner up in second place was Quiksilver Welshman Nathan Phillips, and not quite finding the required waves despite earlier great performances were Warren Tuck from South Africa in third and his countryman Mike Young in Fourth.  The King of Water Sports award for the highest wave score was awarded to the Australian Jye Goffton for a 9.77 ride.

Britain's best male and female surfers remain in the far North of Scotland to compete again in the Quiksilver and Roxy Scottish Challenge.  The tour will then be moving onto Northern Ireland for the Quiksilver and Roxy Portrush Open.

Despite the wind and the harsh elements the surfers and organisers will be ready in the spirit of adventure to face the conditions again for the upcoming contests.  Next year the events could be more aptly renamed.  The Quiksilver and Roxy 'minus' 3 Degrees Series.  One thing is for sure; surfing in the snow definitely pushes the limits of professional surfing!

Gabe Davies

 

October Sessions

Last week, riders benefited from perfect conditions to get sick waves in their home spot of Landes, France.

After two european ASP World Tour contests, a break allowed the boys to meet into barrels made in Landes.

 

Jeremy said : " It was so sick ! I think some days I surfed around 8 hours ! "

Check out Jeremy Flores, Micky Picon and Patrick Beven in action.

 

More videos available on the photo/video section!