Euro Surf News - June
A Winning Formula
It may have seemed an awkward fit – Quiksilver and motor sport – but there’s no doubt Quik Europe’s sponsorship of Formula One driver Fernando Alonso and his Renault team is paying dividends.
After taking home the championship title in 2005, the Spaniard looks likely to enjoy a second year at the top following wins so far in Bahrain, Australia and Barcelona. The starting grid may be a long way from the line-up, but it seems this is one left-of-field association that is evolving in to another big success for the industry’s leading corporation.
Europe by Bus with Billabong
Billabong will be spreading the gospel by bus this northern hemisphere summer. The 12-metre bus – decked out with a stellar paint job and all the mod cons – is that latest addition to the European surf program.
The bus was launched this month at the opening of Billabong’s European flagship store in Hossegor and will make an appearance at all the biggest forthcoming events. It will be, says brand manager Reid Pinder, “fantastic (for) grass-root promos.”
Next stop? Donavon Frankenreiter’s English, German and Belgian tour dates, Portugal and the Girls Surf days, before a junior comp in Biarritz and – later – the Mundaka Pro. Check out www.billabong.com for exact dates and places.
Luck of the Irish
Raise your pint to the recent successful effort of Ireland’s Lahinch Surf School in breaking the Guinness Surfing World Record for the most surfers on one wave.
Around 300 surfers turned out for the record bid in County Clare, with 1000 others looking on as members of the school rode the knee-high wave in to the record books. As for the number of drinks consumed post-attempt, well, it wouldn’t be reaching too far to suggest the figure could have broken records of its own.
Answer to an English Surfing Prayer
The future of English surfing is looking a little brighter with the announcement that UK surf and watersports brand, Freespirit, has stepped up to fill the English Surfing Federation’s (ESF) funding gap.
The deal will see Freespirit become the new sponsor of the ESF surf school, right now the only income generator for the work undertaken by English surfing’s official governing body. (The school’s profits, generated from lesson sales, provide the only means for funding support for the ESF.)
The flagship ESF surf school will now become known as the Freespirit English Surfing Federation Surf School, with the deal ensuring support for the next year. The surf school provides top quality instruction, and Freespirit will provide new signage, uniforms and flags for the school alongside discounts and loyalty cards to Freespirit stores for the school’s students.
With 42 shops around the country, Freespirit is one of the major players in the surf clothing industry and 2006 will see the brand launching its own range of surf kit.
Awarding the Best
The International Festival of Surf Films was on in St Jean de Luz for the third year. Seventeen films took part, screening over four days and vying for top honours, including Best Film, Best Shooting and Best Surfer.
Films screened included ‘Mick, Myself and Eugene’, tracing the spectacular comeback of Mick Fanning following his 2004 knee injury, alongside Laird Hamilton’s latest contribution, ‘All Aboard the Crazy Train.’ (His film ‘Riding Giants’, received the Best Film award in 2004).
At the time ASB went to press the awards were yet to be decided, so tune in next month for an update.
A Highland High
Staging one of Europe’s biggest World Qualifying Series events in remote northern Scotland may have been a bit of a gamble for sponsors O’Neill, but it seems the bet paid off.
The US$100,000 event enjoyed fantastic weather and near-perfect waves, Thurso and nearby Brims Ness reefs showing just why the area is regarded by locals as the Teahupoo of the north.
Brit-born Russel Winter pocketed the US$12,000 winner’s purse, beating Brazilian Bernado Miranda in barreling conditions described as skyscraper high and “icy cold.” Not a bad thing for locals keen to protect their home break – hollow and barreling it may be, but we’re betting the 5/4/3 conditions are deterrent enough for all but the most dedicated cold water surfers.
…And Elsewhere on the British Isles
Reubyn Ash – the latest addition to Billabong UK’s surf team – took out the English National Junior Title at Watergate bay in May. It’s the second time running that Ash has claimed the championship title.
Briefly:
VF Corp is storming one of Paris’ most fashionable streets with the opening of two stores, Kipling and Vans, on the chic Rue St Honoré.
Emu Australia has regained some footing in the European market after dropping its prices by up to 20 per cent, bringing the product more in line with price points in the US.
Quiksilver is heading to Switzerland this June with its Wave&Wheels event, showcasing “trend sports” (think skateboarding, BMX, break dancing and kayaking among the usual surf events). Quik is also keen to promote the event’s “ecological and ethical principles”. See www.wave-wheels.ch for more.
In other Quik news, the mega-brands London flagship store was just opened in Regent Street. After Paris and New York, it is Quiksilver’s third flagship opening.
Also hitting Europe this summer is the Santa Cruz Euro Tour, with the brand’s sponsored surfers heading through the UK, Spain and France to promote the new range of EpoxySkin boards and the summer 07 clothing range.