O'Neill

GIMPL WINS BIG IN LONDON

O'Neill team rider Stefan Gimpl celebrated his 30th birthday in winning style last weekend by claiming a memorable first place at the LG Freeze Big Air World Cup event in London.
The Austrian freestyle stomp master triumphed over a stacked field of more than 50 international riders, putting on an incredible aerial display for the 15,000 amped spectators packed in together besides the city's iconic Battersea PowerStation.

The rider from Leogang – crowned 2009 FIS Big Air World Champion earlier this year –edged out Switzerland's Gian-Luca Cavigelli and Slovenia's  Domen Bizjak to claim his first Big Air victory of the current season.

The standard of riding was mind-blowing throughout the 3-day event, with all manner of tricks being thrown down by the super motivated pro riders. Once again though, Gimpl reminded everyone that class is permanent, stomping "the best frontside 1080 of my life" in the finals to claim top spot.
Speaking after the event, Gimpl said: "To win an event of this size and importance is a dream come true for me, and to do it on my birthday is just the icing on the cake. It's a good sign for the rest of the coming season, but right now I'm just going celebrate my birthday and this win – it's a great moment!"
Stay tuned for more Big Air madness courtesy of Stefan Gimpl later thisseason as he looks to retain his FIS Big Air World Championship title.And if early season form is anything to go by, it would take a verybrave person to bet against him doing just that.

Psychofreak Featured in New York Times

Click on image to go to feature

JEREMY JONES DEEPER
INSPIRING NEW SNOWBOARD FILM TRAILER FROM JEREMY JONES

Psychofreak Named Wetsuit of the Year at SIMA Image Awards
Santa Cruz, CA. (October 5, 2009) – The Psychofreak wetsuit by O’Neill received the Surf Industry Manufacturers’ Image Award for the Wetsuit of the Year this past weekend at SIMA Surf Summit 12 in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The SIMA Image Awards identify the surf industry’s most influential companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry.

Determined to make the warmest high performance cold water wetsuit, O’Neill introduced the revolutionary Psychofreak with XDS-Air neoprene in fall 2008. &quotAs the original wetsuit manufacturer, it is in our blood to push the evolution of the wetsuit,&quot stated John Hunter, Senior Product Designer at O’Neill Wetsuits. Unlike traditional cold water wetsuits that utilize thicker neoprene, the Psychofreak with O’Neill’s unique XDS-Air neoprene, a complex 3D structure of rubber and trapped air components, provides increased insulation similar to a double paned window, without additional thickness or restriction. &quotThe ultimate goal in designing wetsuits is to make them as warm and flexible as possible; we obviously achieved that with the Psychofreak.&quot

Chosen by fellow surf industry companies and retailers, the SIMA Image Awards are a reflection of how brands and their products are viewed within the industry, but more importantly by those selling the product to the customer. &quotI really want to thank all of our dealers for supporting O'Neill for over fifty-five years and I'm stoked our dealers and customers recognize the difference between a functional innovative wetsuit and all the imitations out there,&quot stated Pat O’Neill, CEO and President of O’Neill Wetsuits. &quotOur dealers claim O'Neill wetsuits continue to represent seventy to eighty percent of their total wetsuits sales, so I am not surprised the Psychofreak has been recognized as the top wetsuit.&quot

CLICK ON JORDY/PSYCHOFREAK IMAGE BELOW TO WATCH PSYCHOFREAK VIDEO.....

SEB TOOTS WINS FREESTYLE.BERLIN
October 13 2009, Berlin, Germany - Sixteen year old Seb Toots won the freestyle.berlin on the weekend with a perfect backside 1080 double cork – showing just why he is currently TTR World Tour number one.

"I am super excited to win," said Seb "There were a lot of good ridersthere so it means a lot to me. It's like a dream to come out first."
The Canadian beat an impressive lineup at the big air contest in its first year in Berlin, taking victory over Eero Ettala and current TTR World Champ Peetu Piiroinen with his backside 1080 double cork. And he made it look easy. "I think the hard part about a backside 1080 double cork is learning it," said Seb. "It's always scary to try the first time, but once you can control it, it's a great trick."

His first place comes right after finishing second at the freestyle.ch a few weeks ago.

"Peetu and Eero are really good riders and you never know what they are gonna throw in the contest," said Seb. "Eero got first place at freestyle.ch, and I got second so I am really stoked to be first this time with this good line up of riders."

CONGRATUALTIONS SEB!

Seb Toots got 2nd at Freestyle.ch Big Air

Seb Toots has continued his onslaught of the season – coming second at the freestyle.ch in Zurich over the weekend.
The 16-year-old Canadian snowboarder who currently sits top of the TTR World Snowboard Tour ranking list, pulled off a Rodeo 5 and Back 1000 Double Cork to come second behind Eero Ettala.
And this is only the start of the season. Expect big things this year from the young star.

2009 Surfer Poll Results

O'Neill Team win recap at Surfer Poll:
Jordy Smith - #9 Ranking
Jordy Smith - Web Clip of the Year - Rodeo Clown
Cory Lopez - Best Barrel (5'5" x 19 1/4" Redux)

Charly Martin Wins Santa Surf Pro Junior!
Charly now qualified for ASP World Junior Champs

Charly Martin has won the ASP Grade-3 Santa Surf Pro Junior in Tenerife

Martin, who ousted recently crowned ASP European Junior Champion Marc Lacomare in the Semifinals, confidently led the final man-on-man battle of the year against Frederico Morais to win his second event this season after the ASP Grade-2 contest at Lacanau mid-August.
"The final wasn't that great because we macked a few waves," Martinsaid. "But overall, it was a great contest with good surf every day andlong enough heats. The level was pretty amazing this week since Round1, and the fast-breaking waves on offer offer a great scoring potentialwhen you get the right one.

Martin, who had missed the seasonkick-off due to school obligations in the first six months of the year,made a spectacular come-back into the ratings' front-runners pack inAugust after claiming the event at Lacanau.

Here he dominatedthe final day of competition to confirm his presence in this year'sWorld Junior Championships and to finish his 2009 campaign ranked No. 2on the ASP European Junior ratings.

"I am super stoked to finishthe year with a win," Martin said. "I felt good here this week, hangingout with my friends. I knew the title was out of reach so I focused onthat top 4 finish. After this I am finishing No. 2 which is prettygood. Looking back on the last few weeks, that early loss at Hossegoris my main disappointment but I think I wasn't focused enough. For nextyear, I am not really ready for the WQS yet but I want to keepimproving by surfing good waves. I'll spend time in Tahiti, Hawaii andAustralia."

Mark Mathews surfing inside Ours

Mark Mathews inside Ours with a hand-held video camera.
Awesome footage!

Timmy Reyes chases a South Swell to Mexico!

Check out this latest mind blowing footage of Timmy Reyes during one of the biggest south swells to rock the Pacific Coast in the last several years. Some wondered where Timmy was during all the action. Truth be told, he vanished down to old Mexico to score killer Puerto Escondido and the points down below. It's safe to say, he scored big time!

Martin Wins Oakley Pro Junior.
Winning this event is exactly what I wanted coming here
Charlie Martin (GLP), has won the ASP Grade-2 Oakley Pro Junior in France, finishing atop a huge international field to raise the coveted trophy in front of a massive crowd.

From left to right: Oakley Women's Pro Junior champion Pauline Ado (FRA), ASP European Women's Junior Champion Johanne Defay (REU) and Oakley Pro Junior champion Charles Martin (GLP). Martin will surf in the ASP WQS Sooruz Lacanau Pro in Round 2 thanks to his wildcard earned after his win today
Martin, who is considered one of the best European surfers of the new generation coming out of France, claimed his second ASP Pro Junior title at Lacanau, where he was a runner-up in 2008. Facing other favorites Joan Duru (Ondres, FRA), 19, and Wiggoly Dantas (BRA), 19, as well as Oakley rider and underdog Tom Cloarec (Capbreton, FRA), 15, Martin kept his unstoppable form throughout the 30-minute decider.

"Winning this event is exactly what I wanted coming here," Martin said. "I haven't won an event in a year and the Oakley Pro Junior was a main goal for me this year as it puts me back in the ratings' race and gives me that ticket for the Oakley Global challenge."

Martin, whose win today rockets him to No. 4 on the ASP European Junior ratings, will be a favorite when he heads back to Hossegor for the next event and tries and confirm his favorite status.

"It was a close heat and a tough finish with an amazing level," Martin said. "Joan (Duru) is a good friend of mine and he's ripping on the WQS at the moment so It's just perfect for me to get that wildcard into the main event starting tomorrow. This win here is just perfect on all sides and I will enjoy a good party tonight."

Martin was awarded a wildcard into the ASP WQS 6-Star Sooruz Lacanau Pro thanks to his win in the Oakley Pro Junior and will face current ASP World Tour surfer Tim Boal (Anglet, FRA), 25, in the first heat when Round 2 of competition resumes.

Kevin Langeree wins PKRA Germany for the third time.
Victory moves him to second in the World Rankings

CONGRATULATIONS TO KEVIN LANGEREE!
The Dutch kiteboarding sensation Kevin Langeree has won the 4th stop of the PKRA World Tour
HERE'S A LITTLE UPDATE FROM THE WINNER:

"I've been busy celebrating my 1st place here in Germany! It's already the 4th time that the PKRA is held here in St. peter Ording and I was able to win it 3 times in a row!!

We had the perfect conditions on the first day of wind, I was out on my 6m the whole day. It was a classic NorthSea storm and I'm really used to those conditions cause they are the same as at home. That really gave me an advantage to the other riders.

On the day of the singles it was really my day I landed all my trick in every heat I rode so before I knew it I was in the final again! In the final I had to go up against Aaron. Just before the final stared the wind dropped a bit so I toke a bigger size kite and that was a good decision. I landed a double front mobe, double back spin pass, doublesbent pass, a one handed kgb, a switch KGB and some other powered HP's.That was good enough to win the singles.

The next day it looked like it would be the last day with wind so we tried to finish of the doubles. Youri had a 3rd place in the singles in the doubles he was riding really well and kicked Aaron of his 2ndplace. That means that I had to go up against Youri in the finale ofthe doubles. An all Dutch final!

In the beginning it went pretty well but during the end of the heat we both started crashing a bit. In the last minute I still landed a front mobe to blind that really helped me to win that heat!!!!
The next event is in Brazil in October so we have a really long break to train!"

Janne Korpi starts his comeback from injury
After eight months out Janne anticipating return in New Zealand

On January 10 2009, Janne Korpi looked set for the season of his career. Sitting second on the TTR World Rankings he had just taken out the O'Neill Evolution slopestyle… in convincing and outstanding style. And he was looking like he would do the same on the quarterpipe. However a bad fall broke his shinbone and put him out for the rest of the season.
Now heading to New Zealand in August for his first time back on a board in eight months, Janne Korpi stopped by the O'Neill office for a quick update.

Tell us about the injury
"It was the quarterfinals against Risto Mattila and I landed on the flat and then something bad happened. I felt something break, but I didn't realise it was as bad as it was. It wasn't so painful so I didn't think it was too bad. Plus I watched the video of it recently and it didn't look as bad as it was at all."

How long does it take to heal?
"I needed two months total rest. For one month I just sat in my house watching Friends. I went a little crazy. Then I had to start a lot of gym training to get the muscle strength back. My leg was so small after two months of doing nothing."

When do you get back on your board?
"Two weeks will be the fist time I strap my board on. I'm going to New Zealand in August. I am not sure if I will compete or not – it depends how my leg is. I'm still a bit worried about how it feels to snowboard after eight months off. The most important bit is that I can ride again. That is my biggest goal for the season – to get back on the snow again. Only then will I start thinking about competitions and everything. The Olympics is the biggest contest in the world and I would love to go there, but there are also more contests."

KEEP UPDATED ON JANNE'S PROGRESS ON HIS TEAM PAGE

Duncan Zuur wins Dutch Wakeboarding Championships 2009

After four years out of competition in his native Holland, wakeboarder Duncan Zuur made quite a comeback on Saturday.
Known for his stunts wakeboarding through the Amsterdam canals and through the streets of Venice, Duncan took out the Dutch National Championships in Amsterdam on Saturday.
He will now continue to train as he sets his sights on the European Championships.

O’NEILL OUT OF BOUNDS - BREAKING BOUNDARIES TO BRING VISUALLY IMPAIRED KIDS THE JOY OF SURFING
First Out of Bounds day a huge success on the coast of Holland
Out of Bounds

The first stop on this year's O'Neill Out of Bounds event saw 14 visually impaired and blind children take to the stormy Dutch waters to learn to surf.
For some, like 18 year old Elroy Dominicus who is completely blind, itwas their first time ever on a surfboard. "I wanted to do it because Iwas excited to experience something new," said Elroy.

"It's a little unstable, but I loved it," he said. "I can hear thewaves coming so I'm not so scared. The waves are very long. One time Iwas going very fast and I was thinking where does it end."

"The best thing about it is you just lie on the board and go with the waves all the way to the beach," he said.

For others like Leroy Le Bock, 13, with only 1% sight, havingparticipated in the first ever Out of Bounds programme last year, hecould not wait for his second opportunity to get in the water with theSanta Cruz local instructors.

"I was so excited to come back again," said Leroy. "I loved it lastyear. I just love the feeling of surfing, I couldn't wait to get in thewater again," he said. "When they were giving us instructions in thetent before, I just wanted to get straight into the water."
It wasn't just the kids who were stoked on the day. For everyone involved this is one of the most rewarding days of the year.

Each kid was paired with a "buddy" – a volunteer from within O'Neill -as well as a qualified surf instructor as they were introduced to thesurfboard and the sea before learning the thrill of surfing.

Head instructor and Santa Cruz local surfer, Joey Hudson ran this daylast year with great success and satisfaction, and was stoked onceagain to be part of it.

"The O'Neill Out of Bounds day produced such a rewarding experience foreveryone involved last year, it was great to have it back," he said."This year was just as special as it was last year – although just abit more challenging in the swell. But all the kids were standing upand so excited – almost as much as all the volunteers."
Despite stormy summer conditions producing a surprising four-foot swellat Scheveningen making the experience that bit more challenging, allthe kids managed to cruise on a wave, some even standing up first time.

On the beach for the day and as a fitting source of inspiration for thekids was professional snowboarder and wakeboarder, Bibi Mentel.

"I spoke to the kids this morning before they went in the water," shesaid. "I told them about my story which in short is that in 2000 I hadan injury and they discovered bone cancer in my leg. Although theytried to save it, I ended up having to have it amputated. Four monthsafter, I was back on my snowboard and seven months later I was DutchChampion."

"I told the kids to just follow their dreams," said Bibi. "I hope Iinspired them to find out what they want and to just do it."

The O'Neill Out of Bounds programme was introduced last year for twodays on the Dutch coast. Based on its success it will now feature threedays in this year's Surf Academy – a day in Holland, one in Belgium andanother in France.

The O'Neill Surf Academy was started 12 years ago by Jay Moriarity,Richard Schmidt and Robert "Wingnut" together with O'Neill. Offeringfree day-long surf tuition to kids between the ages of 6-16 years old,it provides hundreds of children their first experience of surfing.

MARK MATHEWS SCORES THE BIGGEST BARREL OF HIS LIFE
O'Neill big wave surfer Mark Mathews 20km off the coast of WA

O'Neill surfer Mark Mathews has scored one of the biggest and heaviest barrels ever ridden – in shark infested waters some 20km off the coast of Western Australia.
The 26 year old from Maroubra in Sydney waited about six hours in order to get this incredible 15 second ride.

"It had been really slow all day and I hadn't had any good ones," said Mark. "Then this mountain came roaring out from the horizon I got goose bumps all over as soon as I saw it. I looked up at Hippo (Ryan Hipwood) who was on the jet ski and he didn't even smile he just said "this thing's huge."

"There was so much water sucking off the reef. I just kept my eyes right in front of me and hoped the corner of the barrel wasn't about to lip me in the head."

Trying to describe the sensation, Mark said: "Big barrels like that feel like they are alive. They suck all the air inside. That's what surfers mean when they say they felt the wave take a breath."

"You feel like you're surrounded by the whole ocean. The air has nowhere left to go and just gets spat out into the channel, taking you with it. This is the feeling that keeps coming back over and over and over again."

"This one can be topped," said Mark. "It's the thrill of the chase that keeps me going."

TANNER GUDAUSKAS WINS MR PRICE PRO BALLITO
Tanner now 6th on the ASP World Qualifying Series

Sunday July 5, 2009 – Just hours after celebrating both his 21st birthday and American Independence Day (both on 4 July), Tanner Gudauskas (California, USA) celebrated the biggest victory of his professional surfing career, taking out the ASP WQS 6-Star Mr Price Pro Ballito, today.

Gudauskas defeated Australian James Taipan Wood (Aus) rocketing to World No. 6 on the ASP World Qualifying Series and pocketing R159 000 (US$20 000) as well as 2500 ASP WQS ratings points.

"I just can't believe it, this is a personal best for me!" said Gudauskas. "Every night this week I've been going to bed dreaming about winning this contest and putting myself up there where Pat (Tanner's brother and WQS No. 10 Patrick Gudauskas) was at, and it came through today so I'm fired up!"

Attacking the 30-minute final with unprecedented determination, Gudauskas rode every lump of swell, snatching an early heat lead with a 6.83 (out of 10.00) for some clean backhand turns, riding out in an explosion of whitewater off his final maneuver.

While his opponent Wood opted to play the patience game catching his first wave at the 11 minute mark, Gudauskas projected fast out of his top turns, maintaining speed and power in the wind affected waves to score a 6.67 and further extend his lead over the Australian, who was left looking for a 7.67.

"I just got into this mindset that when the surf got worse I was going to get better and as the tide came up and it got less consistent, I just got more fired up and more pissed off," said Gudauskas. "It's crazy because I can hardly remember half of it now but my priority exchange worked out and it all came together and I'm just super fired up!"

Cloaked in stars and stripes, of the American flag, an emotional Gudauskas was chaired up the beach by his older brother Dane and quarterfinalist Dylan Graves (Pri), surrounded by a sea of adoring fans and media crew all wanting a piece of the newly crowned champ.

"When I came out of the water and saw my brothers and some of my friends all standing on the beach cheering for me I was almost in tears," said Gudauskas. "We have a really strong crew from America right now and we're all pushing as hard as we can to bust down the door and make the ASP World Tour and I think this year could be the year."

Guduaskas is now the highest rated American surfer on the WQS tour, surpassing both WQS No. 7 Brett Simpson and his older brother WQS No. 10 Patrick Gudauskas.

BLAKE THORNTON WINS THE O’NEILL COLD WATER CLASSIC SOUTH AFRICA
EPIC CONDITIONS FOR THE FINAL AT KALK BAY

THE MOST NORTHERN, THE MOST SOUTHERN, THE WILDEST, THE COLDEST & THE MOST CLASSIC SURF CONTEST ON THE PLANET
Blake Thornton, the 24 year old from Maroubra, Sydney, surfed the perfect final in epic Cape Town conditions to knock out local favourite Royden Bryson, and take victory at the O'Neill Cold Water Classic South Africa.

"I am so excited to win this," said Blake. "Royden fell on his wave at the end. I think maybe the cold was getting to us," he said shivering in his wetsuit. "I am sorry for him, but so glad I won."

In victory, Blake lifted the CWC South Africa trophy – a replica shark's jaw – high above his head on the shoreline at Kalk Bay.

"Thankfully this is a fake jaw," said Blake. "Hopefully I won't see any real ones. There was actually a seal swimming around out there with us in the final," he said. "Everyone knows that sharks love seals, but actually in a heat you're only worried about what's going on in the heat."

After a lay day yesterday which saw everyone hiding away from the storms, conditions came together perfectly on the eastern side of the Cape with offshore winds and a solid six-foot swell.

The barreling left hand reef break of Kalk Bay provided the dream final day for the first professional surfing event in Cape Town in 21 years - the 4 Star ASP WQS O'Neill CWC South Africa.

And local Cape Town surfer Royden Bryson almost provided the dream local ending. "From the water I could hear everyone supporting me – shouting and honking their horns on the beach," said Royden. "I don't think I've ever had support like that in a contest. It was amazing."

"I wish I hadn't folded on that last wave, but what can you do," he said. "I will kick myself for about half an hour and then it will be good."

Although eager to win the trophy, Royden hadn't been too keen on the idea of displaying the shark's jaw. "There would be no way I would want to see that thing before I went in for a surf!" he said.

The anticipation of Kalk Bay working for the final day had been building all week, so when contest director Matt Wilson made the call to start at 11am with man-on-man heats, the surfers were ready.

"It was a good decision to have man-on-man heats out there," said semi-finalist Jarrad Howse. "There would have been too much hassling if you had four man heats."

Jarrad was one of the standout performances of the day – actually looking like he was having a lot of fun as he pulled into barrel after barrel on his backhand.

The shock of the day was the early departure of World Tour star and event ambassador, Jordy Smith – knocked out by Glenn Hall in the round of 16.

And the wave of the day came from the eventual winner who pulled into an awesome barrel to score the highest wave score of the competition – a 9.6.

"My first heat was a shocker, I just wasn't understanding the wave," said Blake. "I think in the next heat I was a bit more relaxed and just pulled into that wave and it worked out."

The O'Neill Cold Water Classic South Africa had been billed as the 'wildest event in professional surfing'. Over the past week it more than lived up to its name.

"O'Neill took a risk to hold an event here in Cape Town in the middle of winter," said Royden. "There can be some pretty huge out of control storms down here."

With howling winds, huge rain squalls, and cold winter temperatures both in the water and out – there were definitely some out of control storms.

And although the sheltered east coast of the Cape provided a sanctuary, it was still quintessential Cold Water Classic conditions.

"I was cold all day," said Blake. "I think it is the adrenaline that kept me going. I cannot wait for a hot shower and a few beers. But that's part of the whole series – battling the elements."

And it's not going to get any warmer; next stop on the CWC Series - the freezing colds of Vancouver Island, Canada in October.

Virginie Faivre is FIS Halfpipe WORLD CHAMP!!

O'Neill team rider Virginie FAIVRE (CH) has been crowned FIS Halfpipe World Champion after winning gold in spectacular style at the 2009 FIS World Ski Championships in Inawashiro, Japan.
The 26-year-old beat a field of top international riders, including Winter X Games medalists Megan Gunning (CAN) and Jen Hudak (USA), to claim top honors and realize what ranks as her greatest career victory to date. Speaking to the press in the immediate aftermath of the event, Virginie said: "This is the best day of my life! I've worked really hard in the last few years to learn new tricks and hone my skills. After only just missing out on the top spot at last week's Nippon Freeski Open, this FIS World Championship title more than makes up for it – it's very special!"
Hailing from the picturesque mountainside town of Montreux in Switzerland, Virginie has been skiing for as long as she's been able to walk. After bashing racing gates for 10 years, Virginie only switched her attention from alpine racing to freestyle skiing in 2002. Marking herself out as one of the brightest young talents of the freestyle scene during those early years, Virginie announced her arrival on the global freestyle stage with a victory in the Slopestyle event at the European Freeski Open in 2006. Since then, the ever-stylish Swiss Miss – equipped with her awe-inspiring bag of gravity-defying tricks – has been busy traveling the world, filming video parts and competing in the world's biggest events.

O'Neill Global Snow Team Manager Franck Corbery couldn't be prouder of Virginie and her latest achievement, and said: "I'm really stoked for Virginie. She's one of the most determined and talented freestyle skiers of her generation, and to see her pull off something like this is just incredible. She's been threatening to score a result of this magnitude for some time, and it's safe to say her time has now come. I've no doubt she'll take the momentum of this victory and charge even harder into what's left of the season and what lies beyond. Congrats Virginie!"

From the Land of the Rising Sun, Virginie has already traveled back to Europe to battle it out for the overall title at the World Cup Finals in La Plagne, France before competing in the European Freeski Open in Laax, Switzerland as a three-time winner of the Slopestyle event. Given her current form, Virginie is in a great position to add yet more titles to her name in the Alps later this month. Beyond that, the newly crowned World Champion has her sights set on filming a jaw-dropping video part, scoring an elusive X Games medal and dreams of one day competing in the Olympic Games.

We'll leave the last word to Virginie: "This trip to Japan and my first world title is something I'll remember for the rest of my life. Thank you to all my friends, family and sponsors for all the support they've given me over the years!"

O'Neill launches the Cold Water Classic Series 2009
THE MOST NORTHERN, THE MOST SOUTHERN, THE WILDEST, THE COLDEST & THE MOST CLASSIC SURF CONTEST ON THE PLANET

Pushing boundaries, delving into the unexplored with a sense of adventure and innovation that defines O’Neill – this is the Cold Water Classic Series launching in 2009.

FIVE events exploring the edges of the world over four continents.
FIVE challenging, quality waves all in extreme and not to mention cold conditions.
FIVE 6-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) events in rugged and unique locations in the depths of nature.

Building on the iconic event in Santa Cruz, and the much lauded Highland Open in Scotland, O’Neill has added events in Tasmania, South Africa and Canada to make the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series a huge and much welcomed addition to the world of surfing.

"We wanted to provide a unique and challenging experience for the world’s best surfers," says O’Neill’s Global Event Manager, Bernhard Ritzer. "The Cold Water Classic series is the perfect extension of our existing events – it remains true to our spirit of innovation and adventure, pushing the boundaries, and exploring the limits. The CWC Series events will take us to incredible and unique locations around the world, where we will let the cold know that we’re not afraid."

Kicking off in March 2009, the Series will first travel to Tasmania for the most Southern event within professional surfing. The island state 240km off mainland Australia boasts big powerful surf and a variety of world class reef and beach breaks in a rugged and challenging environment, with an average water temperature of 13 degrees in March.

"Tasmania is pretty much as wild as it gets," says Australian WQS competitor Jarrad Howse. "It offers the more adventurous a surfing experience like no other in Australia. I love the reefs in Tassie - usually really hollow, and magnets for any swell. It’s a cold, rugged, beautiful place that deserves an event."
In May, the CWC Series will head to Scotland for the popular Highland Open event, providing world class reef breaks in the wilderness of the Scottish Highlands at Thurso East and Brims Ness.

Cape Town will host the third event on the CWC Series in June. With powerful swells sweeping into the peninsula, the event will no doubt take full advantage of the mobile format of each of the events on the Series in order to find the optimum waves available.

The coldest surf contest on the planet follows as the CWC Series heads up to Nova Scotia in Canada in October. This will be the first professional ASP surf event ever held in Canada. Known more for its snow than its surf, Canada’s wild and rugged shoreline actually offers a huge variety of pointbreaks, reefs and beachbreaks that can work on a wide combination of winds and swells. Fog, snow, freezing temperatures and ice-cold water add to the extremity of this event.

The Cold Water Classic Series will end up at the iconic Cold Water Classic event in Santa Cruz in November – Northern California’s premier professional surfing event since 1987. Now upgraded to a 6-Star WQS event, the Nor Cal event will be where the 2009 CWC Champion will be crowned.

ASP International CEO, Brodie Carr believes the introduction of the Cold Water Classic Series will have a significant and positive impact on the WQS; "The O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series represents an exciting and unique addition to the ASP World Tour Calendar. The established events of Scotland and Santa Cruz are already hugely popular with the surfers and the addition of the high rated events in Canada, Tasmania and South Africa really broadens and supports not only this series, but the WQS as a whole."

The CWC Series will be officially launched during the Cold Water Classic event from 21-26 October 2008 in Santa Cruz, California. More information about the Series will be released at this time.

Xavier de le Rue wins the Big Mountain Pro 2009
Xavier de le Rue wins the Swatch O’Neill Big Mountain Pro 2009

February 10, 2009 – Xavier de le Rue has won the 2009 Swatch O'Neill Big Mountain Pro after being voted best snowboarder as well as the overall winner of the competition with his signature dynamic and fluid riding.

"I thought coming into this competition that Cody Townsend was going to win the overall competition," said Xavier. "But when we were watching the videos it was so cool that everyone was cheering after my runs. Then I started to think that maybe I could win it."

For taking both prizes, French snowboarder Xavier walks away with $20,000 which he says he will "spend on a nice holiday with my family."

Last year's winner Jeremy Jones who was voted in second place, was happy to see his friend take victory: "It's been an amazing week," said Jeremy. "Xavier's riding is always incredible to watch."

Santa Cruz local, Cody Townsend walked away with victory from amongst the skiers with his always astounding fast runs and smooth skiing.

"A lot of people were saying I could win before I came here," he said. "I was surprised when I came here the first year and I finished second. Then last year when I finished fourth I was a little disappointed. So now to come first is amazing," he said.

"I think I learnt a lot in the past two years of the Big Mountain Pro. I don't do a lot of competitions so every time I do I improve a lot."

After an intense judging session, the riders are now off to celebrate the end of a successful week of near-perfect riding conditions and incredible snow at "Gosstall" in Saalbach Hinterglem with DJ Gitta Saxx and the Urban Knights from London.

Earlier this morning, the final day of competition was cancelled as the clouds came in earlier than predicted.

"This morning was off because the early morning window closed and the risk of having flat light was too big to hold the contest on that face," said event director Nicolas Hale Woods.

However with four very different competition faces completed in good weather and on amazing snow, this year's Big Mountain Pro has been the best yet for Nicolas and the riders.

"For me it's been the best edition of the Big Mountain Pro for the main reason that we've had very good snow conditions," said Nicolas. "We've been able to make it work with the weather, and we haven't had to drive too much," he said. "We were so welcomed in Austria. And very simply riders are smiling and that is the key."

For Fredrik Evensen it was his first Big Mountain Pro and his first venture into a freeriding competition.

"It's been fun," he said. "I've learnt a lot. It's been a great experience for me."

"The funniest thing has been having to pick a line before I drop in. It's the first time I've ever planned where I'm going. What surprised me the first time dropping in is instead of being four turns as I had thought, it was one. I had to improvise a bit," he said.

"When I do freeestyle riding I don't worry about safety precautions. It's been good to get a reality check," Fredrik said. "My understanding of the mountain has really improved."

"I want to continue freeriding. Freestyle riding is what I do, but I hope it will change. I'm tired of doing the same jump for the last ten years. I want to try something new. I'm not sure I want to do anything too crazy. The tree runs were what I loved. That's my thing."

Watch all the highlights from the 2009 Swatch O'Neill Big Mountain Pro on www.oneilltv.com

Sebastien Toutant signs new O'Neill deal

O'Neill Global HQ – Warmond, The Netherlands – December 13, 2008 – Freestyle professional snowboarding phenomenon Sebastien Toutant AKA Seb Toots has signed a new three-year deal with O'Neill.
The 16-year-old French Canadian exploded onto snowboarding's global stage for the first time in 2006, coming from nowhere as a 13-year-old amateur to win the Empire Shakedown contest in Canada. Since then, Toutant has been busy traveling the globe and cementing his reputation as one of snowboarding's brightest young talents.
Despite setting the bar so high at such a young age, Toutant hasn't been fazed by the weight of expectation. Instead, the young rookie has gone from strength to strength. After notching up another victory in Canada at the end-of-season Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival, the Montreal native traveled south to New Zealand this summer to compete in the Big Air event at the Billabong Snow Stock Festival. It was there that he chose to unleash his signature Tootsie Roll – a double corked backside 1080 – to claim his first career victory on foreign soil.
Toutant's appetite for trick innovation and his ability to land the unthinkable have made the industry sit up and take notice. This season, the rookie has been invited to compete in some of the world's biggest contests, including the TTR 6Star Nissan X-Trail Jam, O'Neill Evolution and Billabong Air & Style Quarterpipe. With Toutant clearly marked out as a star of the future, it surely won't be long before he fulfills his longstanding ambition to compete in the Winter X-Games. As well as going head-to-head against the world's best riders, Toutant will also showcase his skills on film this season by putting together another banger video part with one of the world's finest snowboard film production companies.
Pausing for thought on his way to Tokyo, where he'll compete in front of 70,000 fanatical spectators at the X-Trail Jam, Seb said: "I'm really stoked to sign with O'Neill. They're doing a lot of great things in snowboarding, and they've been supporting me for a long time already. They really understand what I want to achieve and have always given me the support and guidance I need to step my game up. Looking ahead, I just want to keep progressing and eventually end up pushing the sport as much as riders like Travis Rice and Eero Ettala. Thanks once again to everyone at O'Neill and a big shout out to my team manager Max Henault for all the support."
O'Neill Global Snow Team Manager Franck Corbery is proud to keep Toutant at the heart of the O'Neill Global Youth Team, saying: "Seb has the potential to occupy a position at the pinnacle of freestyle snowboarding for many years to come. More importantly, he's one of the few riders blessed with the talent and sense of creativity needed to take the sport to the next level. His groundbreaking riding style is bang in line with the innovative character of the O'Neill brand, and this latest deal is a real testament to Max's hard work and commitment towards nurturing local talent. We're all super happy to get right behind Toots as he continues to fulfill his incredible potential."
To witness the Toots madness first hand, check out KNOCKOUT – the latest movie by Alterna Films. And keep an eye out for Seb's signature O'Neill jacket, dropping worldwide in 2009/10.

Stefan GIMPL scores 2nd spot at FIS Big Air stop in Grenoble

It was a French dream come true: The competition couldn't have went better for the hosting home country as with Mathieu Crepel (52.1 points) a representative of the Equipe Tricolore took home the Gold medal in the first ever Big Air in the history of the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup on French soil. In an exciting final in Grenoble's Park Paul Mistral, the reigning Big Air and Halfpipe World Champion relegated 2008 World Cup winner Stefan Gimpl (51.4) from Austria with a lead of only 0.7 points to the second rank. In the class of its own battle for the podium in front of 15,000 spectators, Finland's Jaakko Ruha rounded out the podium with a score of 47.7.
Although France saw the desired win by one of it's riders it didn't seemed to end up like this after the first two rounds of the final as Stefan Gimpl had taken the lead due to an as usual stylish "Frontside 1080" earning a score of 27. Crepel followed with a gap of 1.8 points after he had performed the same trick. But although he had not competed in any Big Air contest after his big success at the 2007 World Championships in Arosa, the 24-year-old underlined in the decisive third run of the final that he rules the roost impressively winning his first ever Big Air World Cup.
Encouraged and whooped by the deafening cheers of 15,000 enthusiastic countrymen, Crepel sticked a "Switch Backside 900 tail" in defiance of the rain being awarded with 26.9 points by the five judges. Thereafter, the Austrian freestyle legend Gimpl couldn't counter in an adequate way any more – a fact, the new World Cup leader ungrudgingly accredited: "It was awesome today, simply high-class snowboarding at its best. I really enjoyed the battle with Mathieu although I lost it and finished as runner-up. In the end, he was spinning in the other direction while I was only able to throw in a "Frontside 900". However, I will take home only good memories of this outstanding event!

Nicolien Hosang Signs with O'Neill
from Groningen

Nicolien signs with O'Neill. YAY!

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