Following three consecutive lay days, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro is back on with Round 3 hitting the water at 8am in clean three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) waves at the main site of Praia Vila.

Stop No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro will feature the remaining 32 surfers in Round 3 as they vie for advancement through to the final day of competition.

“We’ve got some pretty rippable surf coming through today so we’ll be getting underway at 8am with Round 3,” Perry Hatchett, ASP Head Judge, said. “There’s a good lefthander coming off the rock at about three-to-four feet, and we’ll be looking to complete Round 3 by the end of the day.”

When Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro competition s, first up will be defending event champ Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, up against ASP Dream Tour rookie Michel Bourez (PYF), 23.

Former ASP South African Pro Junior Champion Klee Strachan (Winkelspruit) was the lucky recipient of the Aloha spirit at the Mr. Price Pro Ballito today, when Hawaiian surfing heavyweight Michael Ho, 51, (Oahu) gave up his spot in the main event for the local surfer.

Strachan, who missed his first heat of the prestigious ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star event on Monday, slotted into today’s Round of 96 in place of Ho, where he did well in the difficult cross shore conditions, holding onto second position to advance into the Round of 48 behind heat winner Brett Simpson (USA).

“I’m very stoked that Michael Ho let me take the first replacement,” said Strachan. “I’ve been sitting around here for the last two days just hoping I would surf. Thankfully the chance came and I surfed my best and made it through and it’s all thanks to the Hawaiians, they’re all good guys and I’m really appreciative of them.”

Ho, who is currently travelling to South Africa with his daughter ASP World No. 6 Coco and son ASP WQS campaigner Mason (both of whom competed in the event), was only to happy to give up his spot for the campaigning youngster. He was later rewarded with a place back into the event where he finished in fourth position.

Surfing Australia is proud announce Barton Lynch as head coach of the TravelSIM Team Australia group of eight surfers heading to Costa Rica for the 2009 International Surfing Association (ISA) Billabong World Surfing Games.

As a former elite Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) surfer and 1988 ASP World Champion, Lynch is certain to bring his Australian passion and  outstanding competitive knowledge to the team.

A brief overview of Barton Lynch’s career includes – 1988 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP)  World Surfing Champion, 1988 ASP Billabong Pipeline Masters Champion along with 17 ASP World Championship Tour wins. Lynch managed to remain competitive well into his 30s. His consistency and drive kept him near the top of the ratings through to 1995 and at the time with 12 appearances in the top 10, the most of any male surfer. When he won the Rio Surf Pro in Brazil at age 32, he was the oldest surfer to take out an ASP World Tour event.                         

“Being asked to be Head Coach for Surfing Australia and my country at the ISA World Games is a real compliment and a responsibility I take very seriously.

“I am confident that I can handle the role and get the very best out of the team and I appreciate that Surfing Australia believes the same.

Reigning ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion Joy Monahan (Oahu, HAW), 23, will defend her title at the upcoming fourth edition of the Roxy ASP Women’s World Longboard Championships (WWLC), from July 10 to 14, 2009, at La Côte des Basques in Biarritz, France.

Monahan, whose first crown came with a surprise after she defeated several favorites including 2007 ASP Women’s World Longboard champion Jennifer Smith (California, USA) en route to winning her first ASP World title, will wear the favorite’s suit when she takes on the world’s best longboarding female surfers in Biarritz for a try at a second consecutive crown.

“I am very excited coming back to Biarritz as the defending champion,” Monahan said. “I feel a little pressure but only from myself as I want to surf at my very best.”

Monahan, whose quest will be tougher than ever as women’s longboarding is improving year after year towards excellency, knows how much her opponents and other favorites will be eager to grab their peace of glory when they paddle out in the expected good conditions in less than two weeks, knowing the Roxy Jam is the only chance of the year to take the prestigious trophy home.

“Every girl who qualifies for this event is a threat,” Monahan said. “The caliber of women’s longboarding is just phenomenal. Each year I have participated in the event, the talent level has increased! I think each region has their favorite but I look forward to surfing with everyone, because I know each person I surf against will help me push my own surfing.”

With only small conditions in the two-to-three foot (1 metre) range still on offer at the main site of Praia Vila, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro has called its third consecutive lay day for competition.

Event No. 4 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro enjoyed solid swell for the opening two days of competition, completing Rounds 1 and 2, but has since been in a holding pattern awaiting more optimal conditions.

“This morning is the smallest we’ve seen so far so competition is off for the day,” Perry Hatchett, ASP Head Judge, said. “We’re still tracking that swell model that is coming from a pretty good direction so we could be on as early as tomorrow. We’ll be back in the morning to assess conditions.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7:30am to review conditions for a possible Round 3 8am start.

When Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro competition recommences, first up will be defending event champ Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, up against ASP Dream Tour rookie Michel Bourez (PYF), 23.