Enter a world of magic and mystery, in my own head, where surfing and snowboarding are considered real jobs! Amazing feats of daring and skill are performed every day - and that's just getting the footage onto film!
Media anarchist, film guru, surf addict and web video blogger!
Red Bull Skylines meant big lines for the BMX Crew in Paris (rutgerpauw.com/Red Bull Content Pool)
The world's top BMX riders came together at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, for what must be one of the most surreal BMX events on the planet. Everything from the venue, lighting, course and the tricks being pulled were on another level!
5600 spectators saw 25 of the Worlds top pro BMX riders compete in Red Bull Skylines at the Grand Palais in Paris, France. In front of a
roaring crowd Ryan Nyquist (USA) came up with the title. Second place
went to San Diego local Dennis Enarson and Daniel Dhers (Ven) turned it
on and finished third in Paris. The set up impressed everyone who
stepped inside the Grand Palais building and the event turned out to be
one of the biggest BMX events France has ever seen.
I don't think you could ask for a better final day in professional surfing. Kelly versus Joel Parkinson and Jon Jon Florence versus Dane Reynolds, followed by a Dane and Kelly final. Some big names were also beaten early, meaning the world title race is now wide open! Joel has moved to number 1 with his 3rd place finish in France and Kelly slots in at number 2. This means poor Mick fanning has slipped to 3rd, followed by John John and Taj Burrows.it is super tight between the top 3 and you can believe that Portugal is going to be a huge fight for points.
Hats off to Dane Reynolds making the final as a wildcard. The guy ripped France and Kelly was the only guy ever looking like beating him. Kelly is a machine! With his 51st win on tour, he puts himself right back in the hunt for world title number 12 and solidifying his place as the greatest athlete of all time.
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 17.26
2 – Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.00
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Dane Reynolds (USA) 15.70 def. John John Florence (HAW) 15.60
SF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.27 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.93
CURRENT ASP WCT TOP 5 (After Quiksilver Pro France):
1. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 46,200 pts
2. Kelly Slater (USA) 45,450 pts
3. Mick Fanning (AUS) 43,000
4. John John Florence (HAW) 39,150 pts
5. Taj Burrow (AUS) 31,900 pts
I was to stoked to have our new National MX Champ in studio this week to talk about winning the title, the local MX scene, the recent Race of Nations and a few other motor and dirt related subjects. Tyrone Rawlins was in studio to discuss Bianca Buitendag qualifying for the World Tour of surfing, the Quiksilver Pro in France and all the latest news from the Maloof Money Cup. We also all got amped for Rocking the Daisies this weekend and headline act, Bloc Party. New music from The XX, Passion Pit, No Doubt, Mumford and Sons and Muse. Download and enjoy 2 hours of listening pleasure...
Here is hoping Jordy Smith canes it in France after being ripped at Trestles! (Photo: QuikPro/ASP)
The Quiksilver Pro starts today with the trials in some pretty heavy looking French beachbreak. After a manic week at Trestles, Kelly Slater has shaken the title race up and while Mick Fanning is still in the lead, he will be feeling Kelly breathing down his neck. Joel Parkinson and John John Florence are in the top 4 and both of these guys can cane the beachies in France. They were in the Brazil final with John John winning and if the swell stays small to medium, they could quite easily be in this final. Keep a beady eye on the Brazza, Adriano da Souza, sitting in 5th on the rankings and looking solid at Trestles.
My dark horses are Dane Reynolds, who has been awarded a wild card, and would probably love to win the contest doing the most outrageous surfing possible. But, my big call has to be Jordy Smith. he was totally ripped off in California and he knows it. I am hoping to see a hungry and merciless giant in the water in France. Jordy needs to take his surfing to the line and cane every wave he surfs. The French beachbreaks are very similar to the waves he grew up on and the man is just to good not to start winning more contests. I think France could be it.
BMX went large in France this weekend with the annual FISE Festival, on a weekend that also saw the Red Bull Empire of Dirt happening across the Channel in England. The level of BMX riding in Europe right now is off the charts, with many world firsts going down over the weekend in the trick department. Just watch the videos and be amazed!
Welcome to the Friday Mix for this week and what a mix it is. First up the long awaited GOPro video from Ultimate X - we still waiting for the 3D edit - followed by Dane Reynold's highlights from the Quik Pro at Snapper. He did not make Round 4, but hells he did some amazing surfing before being knocked out. Lastly, the king of Superpipe, Shaun White, takes another XGames Gold in France at the European Winter XGames. Shaun posted an almost perfect 98 on his first run to take the victory!
Gabriel Medina, the 17 year old wonder kid from Brazil, punting his way to victory in France. (Photo:ASP)
The ASP has turned into somewhat of a soap opera this year. We have had judging calls that have created media storms, unhappy Mexicans comparing the tour to Tennis and of course there is the old man, Kelly Slater, marching on to his 11th World Title. Not much changed in France.
Travis Logie the diminutive South African was on fire and came up against Taj Burrows in Round 3. Travis was ripping and we all thought he had won the heat - not so the judges of the ASP - and Travis was out. Check out the heat and make up your own mind, my call is that Travis was ripped! (You can check out the heat with scores on the Quik Pro website.)
Jordy Smith was back in business after a 2 event layoff from an injury sustained in Tahiti. He did well to surf with still damaged ribs and made it to the Semi Finals before losing to Julian Wilson, who had been ripping the entire event. Jordy also beat Dane Reynolds, also coming off of a long injury layoff, and Jordy must have been happy to get one over Dane again.
The real story though was, Gabriel Medina. The 17 year old out of Brazil proved that he is no slouch and deserves to have stormed into the premier division from the QS this year. The kid was pulling airs on demand and took out Kelly Slater on his was to the final and his first win on the WCT, in only his 2nd contest. The rest of the tour took notice and it will be very interesting to see where he goes from here.
Next up is Portugal, which should deliver some good waves. I will keep you posted. Here's hoping the judging sorts itself out...
ASP Press Release:
LA GRAVIERE, Hossegor/France (Wednesday, October 12, 2011) – Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17, newcomer to the elite ASP Top 34 after September’s rotation, has secured his inaugural ASP World Title victory today, taking out the Quiksilver Pro France over Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, in high-performance three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at La Graviere.
Stop No. 8 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title season, the Quiksilver Pro France culminated today in exciting fashion as the next generation of ASP World Title contenders announced their intentions on the world stage.
Medina, in only second event as an ASP Top 34 member, cut a swathe through the world’s best surfers, securing three of the top five highest single-wave scores of the event en route to his emotional win.
“This is the best feeling ever,” Medina said. “I beat some great guys on the way to Final and I’m very stoked now. I want to thank all my friends and family and god for their support. It has been an amazing week for me. Just two years ago, I was here competing in the King of the Groms and I won that event and now I’m here in the main event and I’ve won it. It doesn’t seem real.”
Opening their final clash with a strong 7.83 for a full-rotation forehand aerial, Medina was put on the back foot by an in-form Wilson until the dying moments, when the young Brazilian blasted several high-risk maneuvers on a lengthy lefthander to secure a 9.17 and regain the lead.
“The start of the heat was slow and it was going high tide so it was a challenge,” Medina said. “It was a fun heat. It was a hard hat as well. Julian (Wilson) is an incredible surfer and I know he wanted to win very badly. I knew I needed a big score on that final wave and I had to throw everything I had to get it. I’m very happy right now.”
Wilson built momentum throughout the final day of competition, dispatching of the tour’s heavy hitters and posting some impressive scores. The young Australian’s Runner-Up finish today marks a career best and is indicative of his recent run of improvements amongst the world’s elite (5th and the 3rd previously).
“Everything feels good and I’m very happy to be here on the podium,” Wilson said. “It’s been a great event for me and congrats to Gabriel (Medina) for his incredible run here in France. I have so many amazing memories of watching this event as a kid, seeing Andy (Irons) and Kelly (Slater) go for it and to be in it now is a very special feeling. I’m hoping to improve in the coming events and looking forward to Portugal.”
Taylor Knox (USA), 40, posted his best result of the year today, finishing Equal 3rd and bolting from 32 to 21 on the ASP World Title rankings. Knox, who was in searing fashion throughout the event, eventually fell to the high-flying antics of Medina in the Semifinals.
“This is one of the best events I’ve had for a while but yeah I definitely ran into ‘Medina Airlines’ there in the Semifinals,” Knox said. “It’s a huge result for me and I felt like my surfing was really coming together. I have some really good boards right now and I’m hoping to keep the momentum up. We’re looking at maybe getting some big barrels in Portugal next week so that will be exciting and we have a lot of interesting events to finish the year with.”
Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, back in his first event since injury in Tahiti, exhibited an impressive return to form throughout the event, but was unable to overcome Wilson in their Semifinal clash.
“I’m really happy with a 3rd and it’s a good result for me,” Smith said. “To be honest, I’m just happy to be back in the water. It feels great to be back and I just couldn’t get into the right waves until the end of that Semifinal there. Julian (Wilson) got off to a good start and he’s been ripping so I hope he posts a win here.”
Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 1, was ousted in today’s Quarterfinals by an on-fire Medina. The iconic Floridian looked out of sorts in the shifting morning conditions as the young Brazilian dominated on both his forehand and backhand.
“Not much of a performance by me,” Slater said. “I guess he surfed well, I didn’t really see much as I was just floating out the back. Unfortunately, I was out of synch the whole time and didn’t really have a chance to battle it out with him.”
With the dust settled in the south of France, it has been determined that the 2011 ASP World Title cannot be decided at the next event in Portugal and will go to at least San Francisco.
Highlights from the Quiksilver Pro France will be available via http://www.quiksilverlive.com
The next stop on the 2011 ASP World Title season will be the Rip Curl Pro Portugal from October 15 – 24, 2011.
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.00
2 – Julian Wilson (AUS) 16.10
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 19.57 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 7.00
SF 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.50 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.55
QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Taylor Knox (USA) 15.17 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 9.50
QF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.66 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 8.60
QF 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.26 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.77
QF 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.00 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 3.54
ASP WORLD TITLE TOP 5 (After Completion of Quiksilver Pro France):
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 50,150 pts
2. Owen Wright (AUS) 43,900 pts
3. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 35,900 pts
4. Taj Burrow (AUS) 34,450 pts
5. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 34,000 pts
Ok, admit it, we all want to experience the rock star, Hollywood style day at the races. Hot women, celebrities, and the guys who ride the insane machines, hanging with champagne and needing ear plugs because you are so close to the track. Well, thanks to Monster Energy, you can have a taste.
Monster always roll with a pack of Monster Girls!
The Monster Energy Grand Prix of France 2011 saw some of the most intense racing we've seen this season and one hell of a party as Monster brought the biggest public hospitality ever to MotoGP. Over the weekend pretty much 100,000 people soaked up the atmosphere which included FMX demos, signing sessions with fans, intense music sets and of course, the Monster Girls chilling in our hot tubs.
On the track Casey Stoner made the Honda dominance count but it was Valentino Rossi's first podium on his Ducati that made the headlines. Check out the racing and all the action from an epic weekend.
