Europe’s first artificial surf reef – the Boscombe Surf Reef - is under evaluation after several complaints from local surfers.

The project finished last November, 12 months after the initial plan, needs to be fine tuned as surfers say the waves are too steep, breaking too quickly and the ride is too short.

Also, at low tide, the huge sand bags are too near the surface and surfboard fins may rip off the artificial reef.

Dorset surfers think that the perfect waves might kick off if the experts adjust Boscombe’s surf reef.

Everyone agrees that the equipment is only suitable for the bodyboarders who do not have to stand-up and bottom turn.

A champion was crowned today on the final day of the Rip Curl MP Classic presented by Air Asia X at Duranbah Beach.

There was no shortage of action on and off the beach as the Rip Curl Surfboard Festival kicked off at Marine Parade Coolangatta in conjunction with the MP Classic.

As swell increased for day two of competition so did the surfing performances with competitors raising the level as Australian surfing icon Michael Peterson looked on.

Gold Coast surfers continued to dominate in the tricky 1 metre (3 feet) ENE conditions demonstrating local knowledge at their home break highlighting the importance of a win at the most prestigious regional event in Queensland.

Team Australia continued its dominance of the junior surfing scene, winning the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Champions for a fifth consecutive year in New Zealand today.

In dramatic fashion, wins to Lennox Head’s Tyler Wright and Port Macquarie’s Matt Banting lifted Team Australia into the top spot.

Coming into the final day of competition ranked second behind Hawaii, Australia rallied to finish in the lead with 6015-points nearly 1000 clear of Hawaii (5038) in second and the USA (4958) in third.
Australia’s win is also their sixth team’s title victory since the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship was launched eight years ago in 2003.

This is a unique surfing competition that will only be held in big surf with waves exceeding 30 foot face. This event is a Paddle-in competition (no tow in) where huge waves will only be faced with raw human force and pure athletic and mental ability! Surfers from around the world will compete in this 1 day event and will be judged on the size of the waves they surf with a simple reference point: “Risks equals rewards”.

Surfers will compete for the Todos Big Wave Champion title as well as a minimum prize-money of $10,000. All the best big waves riders will be looking forward for the event as another occasion to push themselves and establish their dominance. The prize money is a reward to their dedication and courage while it allows them to live simply of their passion for riding big waves.

Extra incentive for the surfers are points going toward the newly created Big Wave World Tour which will crown a Big Wave World Champion in April 2010 based on the results all international big wave events held during the season.

Medal time is one step closer for the world’s junior surf stars, with the penultimate day of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship finished today in New Zealand.

With national pride and all-important final day glory on the line, competitors went head-to-head in clean 3-4ft (1-m) beach break waves.

Competitors opted to surf the right-hand rip bowl on the northern end of south Piha Beach for the morning’s heats, with the predominant lefthander on the other end of the beach failing to produce quality waves.

The International Surfing Association announced the recipients of the 2010 ISA Individual Scholarship Program during the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in New Zealand.

The ISA Scholarship Program has consistently grown since it first started in 2007 due to the generous funding from Billabong, The Quiksilver Foundation and Reef Redemption, and the continued support from ISA member nations.

For 2010 the ISA will be issuing 25 scholarships to Under 18 junior surfers from 20 different countries. The ISA received 77 applications from 29 countries for this year’s program.

ISA President, Fernando Aguerre said about this year’s Scholarship Program: “I believe the ISA Scholarship Program is a huge step forward for the ISA to contribute to bettering the lives of junior surfers around the world. Together, we are supporting the dreams and hopes of good students who are also good surfers.”

The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) and Board Retailers Association (BRA) are proud to announce they have joined forces to present Surf Summit 13, to be held May 12-15, 2010 in Los Cabos, Mexico.

This year the annual Surf Summit conference will be taken to the next level by unifying the SIMA and BRA conferences into one event that will truly encompass and showcase the entire surf industry. With a larger manufacturer and retailer presence and a stronger representation of the industry’s top leaders, Surf Summit 13 will be a more complete union of the tribe.

“Surf Summit can only be made better by including the Board Retailers Association members and staff,” said Doug Palladini, SIMA President and VP of Marketing for Vans. “I’m really pleased that the BRA leadership agrees in all the mutually beneficial gains that can be generated by combining our forces for this important leadership event going forward.”

The 2010 Boards & Waves Expo will feature over 100 exhibits of surfboards, fins, foam, and surf accessories, Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and “eco/green” displays, action sports-related products (skateboard, kiteboard, motocross, BMX, wakeboard), surfboard painting with Drew Brophy, surf- and beach-inspired artists, surfboard shaping demos, homemade surfboard contest, educational seminars and more.

The two-day event is the East Coast’s ONLY “consumer expo for surfers” and will be held on April 17 & 18, 2010 at the Cocoa Expo Sports Center in Cocoa, Florida.

There will be free product giveaways including a raffle to win a Ricky Carroll surfboard each day.

Dean Bowen (Gerroa, NSW) today claimed the 2010’s Grade – 5 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Hurley Burleigh Pro Junior claiming a professional junior surfing world-record USD$25,000 winner’s cheque.

Bowen defeated Chris Friend (Alex Headland, Qld) in a seesawing final, which saw Bowen fall behind early, before retaliating with a blistering 9.17 (out of a possible 10) wave, registering a combined two-wave total of 16.17 (out of a possible 20) to Friend’s 14.63.

“I’ll definitely be having a few drinks tonight with family and friends, and possibly take a quiet little trip to the Gold Coast casino,” an excited Bowen, 19, said.

Epic surf and the world’s up-and-coming junior surf stars produced an unforgettable day at the 2010 edition of the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship in New Zealand today.

And what a show it was. With only two days to go in the prestigious tournament, competitors hit their straps, shredding apart the barreling 6-8ft (1.5-2m) waves that marched through for day six of competition at Piha Beach.

USA surfing sensation Kolohe Andino dealt with the pressure in a consummate fashion, setting the standard for the day with both the highest individual wave score (9.25) and two-wave heat total (18.00) in his main event round 4 of the Under 16 Boys´ heat.