Oxbow World Longboard Championships
(Aug 9-wake)
Association of Surfing Professional (ASP)

Day 1

Defending Champion Scores Best Ride In Perfect Conditions

Jeffreys Bay, South Africa (Saturday, Aug 11th) Defending Oxbow world longboard champion Beau Young (Aus) today posted the highest single score during round one of the 10th anniversary event to advance straight into round three. In what proved to be a great day for previous event champions and those leading this year's ratings, most progressed directly through round one, or in the first six heats of the second round surfed this afternoon.

Conditions remained excellent throughout the day, with the offshore wind helping to create ideal 4-5 foot (1.5m) surf for the world's best longboarders at the Point.

Young, 26, dominated his match against fellow Australian Ian Bell and Hawaiian Keola Rapoza to earn a near perfect 9.25, as well as an 8.25 to seal victory. "I felt pretty good and was lucky to get the good waves," said Young. "It's a pretty long wave, kind of like home (Byron Bay) a bit. "It gets harder every year," he added, speaking of his competition. "There are a lot of good guys and I guess everyone is doing the best of both. Good turns and really good nose rides on these really long waves."

1999 Oxbow champion and current #3 Colin McPhillips (USA) produced the day's best total of 24.75 out of a possible 30-points. Up against Bruce Jackson (SAfr) and David Kinoshita (Jpn), the American found three great rides to convincingly avoid the pressure of round two. "Oxbow has put us at some good spots before, but this takes the cake," said McPhillips. "I've been dreaming of coming to surf this place my whole life, so finally I got to. I'm stoked."

1998 Oxbow champion and current ratings' leader Joel Tudor (USA) also made his presence felt. Riding the same 9'2" green Donald Takayama (Haw) board he rode to victory three years ago in the Canary Islands edition of the Oxbow titles, the 25-year-old weaved his style with grace to defeat Devon Howard (USA) and wildcard Zane Aikua (Haw). "That was good fun," said Tudor afterward. "It's a nice wave, and pretty much perfect for longboards. "I'm stoked I have my board back," he added, in reference to his green machine. "I haven't ridden it since the Canaries. I pulled it out of the rafters. It's been sitting there for years, but is still basically brand new. It was a good day to dust it off (laughs)."

Jason Ribbink (SAfr), who won the previous World Longboard Tour (WLT) event in Brazil two weeks ago, continued his recent dominance with a superb showing this morning. Against Phil Rajzman (Brz) and Kekoa Uemura (Haw) in the first heat of the day, the 28-year-old did his country proud by advancing straight into round three. "My waves didn't really wall up like I wanted them to, so I had to combine a bit of longboarding with shortboard surfing," reasoned Ribbink. "They (the judges) seem to be scoring nose riding quite high. "I was lucky in Brazil and it's definitely been a good boost," he continued. "I'm just taking it heat by heat. Every one I make I consider myself fortunate."

Current ratings' runner-up Jye Byrnes (Aus) also took a liking to the long right-handers on offer. The 21-year-old picked off one of the days' best rides for an 8.75, progressing past fellow Aussie Lucas Proudfoot and
alternate William Wallace (SAfr). "I'm happy and am just trying to do my best," said Byrnes. "Yeah, the world title's there, but really, I'm just trying to finish high. That's all that is on my mind at the moment."

Current #4 Kevin Connelly (USA), who won the WLT event in Portugal last month, lived up to his nickname of 'Magic Feet' with some superb footwork to outscore opponents Michael Grendon (SAfr) and Jeremias da Silva (Brz). The
26-year-old spent most of the 25-minute heat with his toes on the nose of his board. "There were a lot of waves for all of us to get, so there was no paddle hassling or anything like that," said Connelly. "You can turn, nose ride, a couple of guys are even getting barrels out there."

1996 Oxbow champion and current #13 Bonga Perkins (Haw) was another round one winner, holding off a strong challenge from Darren Ledingham (USA). "I didn't practice this morning, I just went out cold turkey," explained Perkins. "I wasn't surfing exactly how I want to be in this event, but we'll see what happens. This wave is a super fun longboard wave. By far the best venue we've had all year."

Three-time consecutive ('93-'95) Oxbow world champion Rusty Keaulana (Haw) wasn't as fortunate as his other titleholders, being defeated in round one by Olimpio Batista (Brz). He will now contest the 12th heat of round two
against Rajzman.

Wildcard Aikua went on to cause the day's biggest upset when he eliminated current #6 Zack Howard (USA) in a high scoring second round decider. Howard actually held the lead until Aikua secured his last wave and scored an 8.1
to progress. "I got through on my last wave," said a pleased Aikua. "I surfed the prior years (in Oxbow championships), but I was going to sit out this year. I've
been dreaming about this wave for a long time, though, so I had to come and enjoy it here (after being granted a wildcard)."

Alternate surfer Wallace, who was granted a spot after Chris Griffith (GB) failed to attend this year's event, also created a surprise result by eliminating current #13 Devon Howard (USA) in the second last heat of the day. Despite being beaten by Byrnes this morning, the 21-year-old snuck past Howard and will now meet McPhillips in the 9th heat of round three. "I was very shaken up 'cause I had to go out against Devon," said Wallace afterward. "I've never reached this far before and it's my first Oxbow (event) ever, so I'm just glad I've beaten a big name like him. I'm hoping
to get further and do well."

Three-time ('91, '95 & '96) Oxbow runner-up Alex Salazar (Brz) also survived his round two clash this afternoon. After a narrow defeat in round one by Josh Baxter (USA), he overcame his man-on-man match to eliminate Bruce
Jackson (SAfr). "I'm really happy 'cause I still have a chance to be the world champion," said Salazar after his win. "That heat was really important. I wasn't good
enough in the first round, but I did what I needed then."

Official Results of the Oxbow World Longboard Championships
Round One

H1: Jason Ribbink (SAfr) 22.0;
Kekoa Uemura (Haw) 17.surf;
Phil Rajzman (Brz) 16.75
H2: Kevin Connelly (USA) 19.5; Michael Grendon (SAfr) 19.25; Jeremias da Silva (Brz) snow.9
H3: Duane DeSoto (Haw) 20.0; Craig Daniel (SAfr) 17.4; Sam Bleakley (GB) 13.25
H4: Beau Young (Aus) 22.6; Ian Bell (Aus) surf.8; Keola Rapoza (Haw) 7.75
H5: Lance Hookano (Haw) 17.surf; Sebastion Wilson (Aus) 13.95; Zack Howard (USA) 13.3
H6: Jye Byrnes (Aus) 20.5; Lucas Proudfoot (Aus) surf.7; William Wallace (SAfr) 13.75
H7: Bonga Perkins (Haw) 20.2; Darren Ledingham (USA) 19.75; Luis Juquinha (Brz) 12.8
H8: Joel Tudor (USA) 23.5; Devon Howard (USA) 19.1; Zane Aikua (Haw) 17.5
H9: Collin McPhillips (USA) 24.75; David Kinoshita (Jpn) 20.55; Bruce Jackson (SAfr) snow.0
H10: Josh Baxter (USA) 21.0; Alex Salazar (Brz) 19.95; Gregg Mundy (SAfr) 19.7
H11: Augusto Saldanha (Brz) 22.surf; Josh Ferris (Aus) wake.55; Luis Bento (Port) 11.5
H12: Olimpio Batista (Brz) 21.surf; Rusty Keaulana (Haw) 16.25; Yoshinoi Matsuyama (Jpn) snow.3
H13: Dino Miranda (Haw) 21.35; Amaro Matos (Brz) 19.surf; Josh Constable (Aus) wake.0
Hsnow: Rodrigo Danilo (Brz) 19.5; Chris Vandervoort (Haw) wake.surf; Eduardo Bage (Brz) 16.3
Hsurf: Mathew Moir (SAfr) 19.25; Paulo Kid (Brz) 17.surf; Nahina Kapono (Haw) 17.05
H16: Jonathan Larcher (Fra) 22.35; Grant Thomas (Aus) 20.95; Cody Simpkins (USA) surf.1

Round Two (losers finish =33rd and receive US$700 and 288 points)
H1: Alex Salazar (Brz) 19.75 def. Bruce Jackson (SAfr) surf.0
H2: Zane Aikua (Haw) 23.6 def. Zack Howard (USA) 21.75
H3: Amaro Matos (Brz) 24.25 def. Gregg Mundy (SAfr) 17.4
H4: Chris Vandervoort (Haw) 21.6 def. Luis Juquinha (Brz) snow.05
H5: William Wallace (SAfr) 19.4 def. Devon Howard (USA) wake.4
H6: Sebastion Wilson (Aus) 19.65 def. David Kinoshita (Jpn) surf.1

Further Information:

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