Jaie Toohey: Dirt's Not Dead

Jaie Toohey canes a BMX on dirt and goes for some of the biggest tricks in the sport. Riding hard has its price though. Check out his leg breaking at the Nitro Circus Show.

Mick Fanning claims the Billabong Pro Tahiti Title 2012

Fanning just got better and better as the contest progressed. (Photo: ASP)

After we had to wait for a full week between Round 2 and 3, thanks to no surf in Tahiti, the contest fired on the last 2 days of the waiting period. Mick Fanning charged hard to beat his good friend, Joel Parkinson, in the final and solidified his Number 1 spot on the 2012 ASP rankings. Joel did well to make it past John John Florence in the semi finals, as the kid from Hawaii was charging hard. John John will be stoked as his 3rd place puts him into 3rd on the World Tour Rankings. Joel now sits in 2nd place behind Mick and Kelly Slater, after being knocked out in Round 2 by Ricardo Santos, the wildcard, is in 4th place with Taj Burrows in 5th. Ricardo beat Kelly, Jordy Smith and Taj Burrows on his way to the Quarters and won the Andy Irons Award in the process. It was a solid performace from Mick though for the win and he will be seriously looking at a 3rd World Title now.

TEAHUPO’O, Taiarapu/Tahiti (Monday, August 27, 2012) – Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, has claimed the 2012 Billabong Pro Tahiti over compatriot and Gold Coast stablemate Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, in classic four-to-six foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves at Teahupo’o. Event No. 5 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti culminated in dynamic fashion today, with swell pulsing for the all-Australian Final. Fanning was put on the ropes early in the Final bout with Parkinson collecting a 9.50 and an 8.87 on his opening two rides. However, former event runner-up fought back mid-heat with an impressive 9.37 before backing it up with a nail-biting 9.50 to take the lead and hold it as the buzzer ran out. With today’s win, Fanning has become the first Australian since Mark Occhilupo (AUS), 46, in 1999 to claim the Billabong Pro Tahiti title and has further cemented himself into the frontrunner spot on the 2012 ASP WCT rankings. “It’s a 35 minute Final so I knew the waves were going to come,” Fanning said. “I just had to be patient. It’s Teahupo’o so it goes on and off. You can get two 10s in two minutes so I knew I just needed to keep my composure throughout the Final. Joel (Parkinson) is such an incredible surfer and he’s gotten so good out here. He raced out to an early lead and I knew I needed to focus on my own game plan. I got that good score about mid-heat and then was able to sell him when he had priority on one that didn’t pan out for him. The second wave was the one and it’s an incredible feeling to come back and get the win. I’m stoked.” Today’s win marks the 15th elite victory of Fanning’s career, and the second of this season (after a win at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach in April). The two-time ASP World Champion is now firmly in the frontrunner spot on the ASP WCT ratings heading into the back half of the season. “Teahupo’o is one of the spots that I’ve worked hard on throughout my career to improve at,” Fanning said. “I made a Final out here before, but to come away with the win is great for my confidence and I’m in a good position heading into the next half of the year. Early days though and there are a lot of guys right up there. It’s still anyone’s game at this point.” Throughout the event, Parkinson consistently established himself as one of the preeminent backhand tube-riders on the planet. Despite an early lead in the Final, Parkinson priority decision in the dying moments opened the door for Fanning to pounce. “I held the lead in a 35-minute Final until the four minute mark,” Parkinson said. “It’s frustrating to lose that way, but you cannot fault Mick (Fanning). He’s been a true champion through the event and has proven that he’s one to watch out at Teahupo’o for sure.” Parkinson currently sits at No. 2 on the ASP WCT rankings at the halfway mark on the 2012 season. “It’s the second Final of the year for me and another good result,” Parkinson said. “I feel like I’m strong at all the remaining events on tour and I’ll shake this one off and start focusing on Trestles.” John John Florence (HAW), 19, competing in his first-ever Billabong Pro Tahiti, led the rookie charge at this year’s installment, confidently cruising into the Semifinals where he matched up with Parkinson. Despite locking in an impressive 9.67 out of a possible 10 for an impressive backhand tube, Florence was unable to find a solid backup score and finished the event with an Equal 3rd. “I’m stoked to have made the Semifinals,” Florence said. “I would have loved to make the Finals and it’s not the funnest way to lose without a lot of waves in the heat, but it’s still a good result for me. Thanks to all the Tahitians for letting us come here and surf their wave for the week. It’s a beautiful place and I always love coming here.” Florence moves from 5th to 3rd on the current ASP WCT rankings. Owen Wright (AUS), 22, last year’s event runner-up, looked poised for another Final’s berth today, posting an 18.96 to eliminate compatriot Julian Wilson (AUS), 23, and an 18.90 to oust former champ C.J. Hobgood (USA), 33, en route to his Semifinal match against Fanning. The young Australian continued his forehand dominance at Teahupo’o, netting an 18.10 in the process, but was unable to overtake the current ASP WCT frontrunner. “The waves were so perfect today that you can’t really be to disappointed in a loss,” Wright said. “I felt like I was surfing well all day and I put up a couple of 9s in my heat against Mick (Fanning) so there’s not too much to be upset about. Congrats to Mick on the win though. He’s been super impressive all event with his backhand tube-riding and hopefully I get the opportunity to return the favor at the next stop at Trestles.” Wright’s Equal 3rd finish today moves the young goofy-footer from 9th to 7th on the current ASP WCT rankings. Ricardo dos Santos (AUS), two time Trials winner and wildcard into the Billabong Pro Tahiti, was awarded the Andy Irons Forever Award for his inspirational performance at Teahupo’o this year. Despite bowing out in the Quarterfinals this morning to Fanning, Dos Santos was very emotional upon being awarded the prestigious honor. “Andy (Irons) was…is my hero,” Dos Santos said. “This Award means just as much, if not more than, winning the event for me. He is my inspiration and he is the reason I surf. He is the reason I surf Teahupo’o. To be awarded this by the Irons’ family is the biggest honor. Thank you.” Highlights from the Billabong Pro Tahiti will be available via http://www.billabongpro.com The Billabong Pro, Tahiti is made possible with the valued support of international partners Air Tahiti Nui, Sony, Xperia Sony Smartphone and Red Bull, along with our friends at Nixon, VonZipper, Mana and Hyundai. The next stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour will be the Hurley Pro at Trestles from September 16 – 22, 2012. For more information, log onto www.ASPWorldTour.com

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.87
2 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.37

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.93 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 18.10
QF 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.14 def. John John Florence (HAW) 15.17 BILLABONG PRO

CURRENT ASP WCT TOP 5 (After Billabong Pro Tahiti)
1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 34,750 pts
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 31,700 pts
3. John John Florence (HAW) 27,450 pts
4. Kelly Slater (USA) 25,450 pts
5. Taj Burrow (AUS) 24,950 pts

RVCA Doodle Bus and Office Wetting Party 2012

Ari Kraak, AVG and myself getting ready for the party. (Photo: RVCA)

During the Billabong Pro, RVCA South Africa, moved into their brand spanking new offices in JBay. To celebrate they hired a bus and packed it with the RVCA and ANP (Artist Network Program) athletes and artists, and drove from Cape Town to Jbay for the party. The artists spent the day making the new offices beautiful, while the skaters did what skaters do and Roosta and I were at the surf contest all day. That eve we all met up and had a huge party (Probably the best one of the Billabong week.) With Taxi Violence playing, followed by Narch and Twig handing out tequila like it was water, it was a great evening! Here is the video, narrated by Roosta and myself...

Surfing Magazine Swimsuit Addition 2012 - Hawaii

Looks like summer may be trying to fight through the gloom of winter here in SA, so i thought a little taste of summer waves and bikinis was in order. Thanks to Surfer Magazine for the behind the scenes footage of their annual Swimsuit Edition. I mean who does not love gorgeous woman in bikinis on the beach?

SURFING Magazine Swimsuit Issue 2012 47 Second Teaser from SURFING Magazine on Vimeo.

2012 Swimsuit Issue on Location: North Shore, Oahu from SURFING Magazine on Vimeo.

The Friday Mix - Surf, Snow and Wake videos heading your way.

Dieter doing what he does best, blow minds on Noisiavision.

This week I bring you 3 action sports videos that are going to make you very happy. First up is Wake Skate and the new movie called, Noisiavision. The new movie is available for download online HERE and features our very own Saffer charger, Dieter Humpsch. The movie looks insane.

Next up is Kai Neville's new surf film, Dear Suburbia, available next month on Itunes. It features the top young surfers on the planet in various wild and exotic places. Edited with Kai's usual unique style, this will be a must have if you want to watch the leaders in modern surfing. Interesting though, that Jordy is not in this one...

Lastly, DC brings us the Torstein Horgmo documentary, Horgasm, a Love Story. Torstein is one of the top snowboarders on the planet and this will be very high on my download list come October. Enjoy the teasers and have great weekend.

NOISIA VISION Teaser from NOISIA VISION.tv on Vimeo.

Dear Suburbia: Trailer from Kai Neville Studio on Vimeo.

HORGASM - A LOVE STORY - TRAILER from torstein horgmo on Vimeo.

Beyrick de Vries Edit 1.0

Beyrick ripping at home. (Photo: Zigzag)

Beyrick de Vries has been slaying it this year, with some solid results in the contests and arials all over the show during free surfs. This is his new web video.

Beyrick de Vries edit 1.0 from Luke Ochse on Vimeo.

100m on a Breath - Freedive World record

Swimming down into the deep blue without fins or weights to assist, William Trubridge set a new World Record. He did it to highlight the plight of New Zealand's, Hector Dolphin, but it was shot in Dean's Blue hole in the Bahamas.

HECTOMETER - World Record from Matthew Brown (Matty Brown) on Vimeo.

Snow Dreams in Africa

The snow season in South Africa has been a good one this year. The Afriski park has never looked better and the level of riding has been blowing up accordingly. After the show at Quiksnow, the park crew and some mates got to ride some weekends and Lebo was there to capture and edit the action for us. I really like this edit!

snow dreams from lebogang rasethaba on Vimeo.

MTB goes Slopestyle with Red Bull Joyride 2012

Red Bull bring you the most crazy MTB event of all time, the Joyride. Just check out the size of some of the tricks and obstacles. Must be one of the biggest backflips ever done on a bicycle during this event...

Captain Kai's World on www.2ov.fm - Podcast with Twig, Aces n Spades Bar and Greg Illingworth

This week I was joined by Grant "Twig" Baker and Reg MacDonald the owners of new rock bar, Aces n Spades. The bar launches on Friday and as you listen to this podcast you will realize that with these two in charge, the party is going to be rather large and full of Tequila.

Also on the show, live from Newcastle in the UK, was Greg Illingworth, to fill us in on all his BMX exploits from Europe to across the Channel in the USA.

Tyrone Rawlins was in the studio to give us the latest on the AMA Supercross Circuit and to talk about the first 2 rounds of the Billabong Pro in Tahiti.

Enjoy the show.

Download or Listen to the PODCAST HERE

Amazing Skate Slam Video

This has to be one of the best Skate Slam edits I have seen in a long time! From Vans Off the Wall TV on Youtube. I think the first face slam has to be the worst. What do you think?

UFC Ring Girl, Brittney Palmer's Playboy Shoot

Monday means another great video of a gorgeous Ring Girl. This week we are back with Brittney Palmer and behind the scenes footage of her Playboy shoot earlier this year. The UFC ring girl turned some heads with the shoot and all I can say, is WOW.

Red Bull XFighters Munich 2012

Tom Pages celebrates victory!

Welcome to the penultimate event on the 2012 Red Bull XFighters World Tour, in Munich. Levi Sherwood just needed to win to secure his World Title, but Frenchman, Tom pages, had other ideas. Pulling mad new tricks like "the Vault" and his patented "Flair", he took down the final against Danny Torres to win without one backflip!

Behind the Scenes shoot with UFC Girls Brittany Palmer ,Kendra Perez and Arianny Celeste

Kendra Perez is the latest and hottest addition to the UFC Girls.

Its Monday which means I am giving you guys some more gorgeous ring girls from the world of MMA. This week you get a triple hit, with the dream team from UFC of Kendra Perez, Arianny Celeste and Brittany Palmer. This is a behind the scenes shoot with Inside Fitness.

Captain Kai's World on www.2ov.fm - Quiksnow & US Open Podcast

Broadcast from Johannesburg Studio for the very first time as we were coming back from Quiksnow 2012 in Lesotho. I was joined in studio by Dustin from Skull Candy, Ryan van der Spuy from Locally Whipped, JoJo Krivec from Slovenia and the Quiksnow 2012 Champion, who came with manager and Olympic Snowboard judge, Iztok Sumatic. I also had Mikey February live from California talking about the US Open of Surfing and his travels on the West Coast of the USA. Enjoy the show and remember to listen in every Monday evening 6-8pm (CAT) on www.2ov.fm

Download or Listen to the Podcast here - PODCAST QUIKSNOW & US OPEN

Brittney Palmer, UFC Ring Girl, shoots 2013 Calendar

The boys have been hanging for another gorgeous Ring Girl to make a Calendar video. Lucky for you guys, UFC hotty, Brittney Palmer, has obliged. Feast your eyes on this gorgeous fitness model...

Quiksnow 2012 Final Day Action - Afriski Lesotho

JoJo Krivec on his way to Quiksnow Boss! (Photo: Quiksilver/Patto)

Another awesome day of snowboarding went down at Quiksnow 2012. The Afriski Park was the perfect playground for the Pro Mens Final. Defending Champion, JoJo Krivec was in amazing form, considering he has just come off 5 months of injury, to win the competition. Marcin Jekot fought off the youngsters to once again be the SA Slopestyle Champion. His sister, Marta, once again won the ladies and new kid on the block, Jan Linze Veenstra took down the Freeski title. Enjoy the video and get to Afriski!

Results Quiksnow 2012 
Snowboarding Amateurs
1) Davo Philips 2) Michael Rassmann 3) Alessio Lacovig
Snowboarding Women
1) Marta Jekot 2) Brigitte Heeb 3) Vanessa Jackson
Freeski Men
1) Jan Linze Veenstra 2) James Barret 3) Dale Andrews
Snowboarding Pro Men
1) JoJo Krivec (Slovenia) 2) Marcin Jekot (Gold SA) 3) Luke Dutton (Silver SA)
4) Dean van Greunen (Bronze SA)

Quiksnow 2012 Day 1 Highlights

Ryde Jones Backflip (Photo: Quiksilver/Patto)

Check out all the action from the Park at 3600m above Sea Level. Welcome to Afriski and the 2012 Quiksnow SA Snowboarding Champs. Day 1 saw some great riding in the newly extended Park. The foreign contingent were raving about the condition of the Park, so check out all the action from Day 1...

Dirt Bike Porn - Where the Trail Ends

Watching the trailer I start thinking that I may need to purchase a downhill rig again soon. These guys are seriously pushing the limits of what is possible in Freeriding. These are not many ridden trails on their local hill, but serious mountains in some remote areas of the planet. I cannot wait to watch the full movie.