Every session was filmed and the crew is currently editing each contestants section. This is a compilation of some of the best waves.
Chris had his big breakthrough on the ROAM production and of course on the “40 days traveling around the World” vid, and of course on the Movement Mag cover. Lately we see him more & more on crazy shots that pop out all over the Web.
Chris James has just been handed a wild card entry into the prestigious Shark Island Challenge and we all hear about the new ROAM #2 production. Therefore, we decided to contact him and ask some questions about his unique balls that gives him the strength and the courage to bb on crazy unbelievable waves!
USBA Keiki Ocean Fest
Jun 2008
The Bodyglove Bodyboards USBA Tour
Event: The Surf Sling First Annual
Keiki Ocean Fest ( Waimanalo Bay Beach Park)
Presented by:
The Hawaii National Guard
In association with:
Vertra, Wahoos Tacos, ELMNOP, BZ, Morey, POD & Kick Fins, Empire, NMD,
USBA Tour, Ballistic, Bodyboarders Hawaii, Nofriends, T & C, SCION, Keneke’s and
Diamond Head Catering
Organization supporters: Malama Hawaii, CHOICE
Media: Channel 9 KMGB, Honolulu Advertiser, Star 101.9, USBAMAG.COM & Bodyboard magazine.
The First Annual Keiki Ocean Fest went down with out a hitch with participants and spectators reaching into the hundreds. The Team of Jeff, Dave, Heather & Mike Hubbard along with Spencer Skipper, Jason & Roberta Bitzer as well Kolaih Jardin made a huge effort for the bodyboarding youth of Oahu.
All riders at today’s event walked away with a goodie back full with products donated by our sponsors as well with their bellies full by Kenekes’s, Diamond Head Catering and of course Wahoo’s Tacos.
The trade winds provide the riders with a fun 1-2 ft wave to compete and learn how to bodyboard.
Thanks to all our supports and to all the families for their support of this amazing event!
THE BODYGLOVE BODYBOARDS USBA TOUR
Presents
THE SPORT CHALET CA REGIONAL TOUR IMPERIAL BEACH PRO
Sanctioned: Regional and National USBA event
Title Sponsor: Sport Chalet
Presented by: BZ, No Friends Clothing, Hydro fins,Dakine and Custom X
Day two of the Sport Chalet IB regional tour began with a stellar performance. Starting off was the “Sling For Bling” tow assistance event. Competitors in 4ft plus clean Imperial Beach surf, were busting massive moves. Jeff Hubbard had a great energy in the water and really went for big on each attempt. The crowd on site and also on the web seemed to be elated to see Jeff pushing the sport as he always does. As for that reason, he was rewarded the winning vote from the judges as the winner of the event. A big first time performance went down with David Phillips coming from Kaui pulling out with a huge air reverse, fully completed rotation, and cleanly landed an air reverse! Spencer Skipper was not on his game as he had a final pro event on his mind coming up later that day.
Heading into the semi finals of the Sport Chalet/USBA DK pro division, it was all about Micah Mcmullin smashing every section in sight. Joe Grodzen was on his game with snaps and floaters which had other competitors talking about Joe may be a consistent finalist on the USBA tour! A stealer darkhorse performance came out from Jacob Romero with a huge front side floater pushing him into his first final of the USBA DK pro division. From the start to finish, David Hubbard was on fire! Slaying his first semi final and stamping his name into USBA legend book. A back side barrel and large floater/snap was Dave’s two highest scoring waves and he made both look like a walk in the park. The finals where dominated by Dave once similar to his semi final, with Micah placing 2nd place respectfully with very heavy rail and heavy tail riding. Jacob Romero finished 3rd overall which is amazing for a 95% prone rider. Joe Grodzen could not find his form from the semis and settled for fourth and hungering for a future final at the Sport Chalet Huntington Pro later this summer.
The Men’s Pro was up next in prime 4-5ft conditions which truthfully was best the USBA event has been seen for the IB Pro. Dave Hubbard and Jacob Romero both had amazing waves, but it was Dave’s massive back flip that rolled and overcame Jacob’s solid invert and combo to back flip. Jonah Romero rode solidly but did not have the wave selection of the other riders in his heat and had to settle for 3rd followed by Spencer Skipper who was not in full form but who had an solid performance throughout the entire event!
The final major heat of the Day was the Amateur division in which first time USBA competitor Anthony Zambino placed third in his first attempt. Kingsly Uaiwa had a great contest thus far but had a poor wave selection and tuff times in his final heat. Riley Dutro, coming out of Oahu, had put on a great performance at his first mainland USBA contest and came home with 2nd to the local favorite Taylor Paige, who put on a very impressive performance all day with good wave selection and combinations of maneuvers.
A huge thanks goes out to Sport Chalet for making the USBA CA regional tour a reality and for the all around support of bodyboarding. The 2008 Sport Chalet/USBA IB Pro has been forever inscribed in to the history books as the hands down best event ran in California. Great waves, great competition and great sportsmanship made for one of the USBA’s most notable events ever!
USBA STAFF
Images available at USBA offical site usbatour.org
The upcoming release from Heights Productions is almost here. it’s Bodyboarding Hawaiian Style…the underground Hawaiian bodyboarding scene.
Video footage from the past four years of footage has been collected throughout the Hawaiian islands to deliver a quality film that will not only have you viewing the film in awe, but also in the driver seat of a bodyboard with unique ocean cinematography on another level giving you all the angles you’ve yet to see.
The film will feature multiple soundtracks as well as feature segments of Hawaiian riders like:
Paul Benco
Derek Miyashiro
Happy Zurowski
Nakana Riveira
Herman Ano
Leslie Obara
Josh Chan
And more…
These are just a few names on a long list of hot shreddaz.
The DVD features exclusive footage of Sept. 11th, 2005 in Tahiti, one of many gigantic swells that have reached the South Pacific in the last few years. See talented Hawaiian bodyboarders tackling waves that you normally only would see Australian and other foreigners riding.
Helmet cam/board cam footage on the North Shore and in Tahiti by Mark Balasbas, Herman Ano, Paul Benco and Brian Wise.
The film wouldn’t have been possible without the help and support of the Heights Productions crew.
Heights Productions presents “The Unseen” due out this summer!
Here’s some recent news from one of our favorite board shops Alternative Surf.
Bodyboard EXPO 2008 - The bodyboard event of the year at AS
The AS Dana Point location is host of the biggest event in bodyboarding in the US. Check out new products, enjoy the free food offered by your favorite bodyboard brands. Get autographs from classic pros and new rising stars. There will be giveaways and live music. This is our 10th EXPO, come join us to celebrate our sport.
New Madrid line is here at the stores in Seal Beach and Dana Point
Jacob Romero (2 models), Mark Klein, T-page, Asylum, & Zion Models. All come in 2 sizes. Phone orders at (562)431-1010.
Available online soon.
New shipment of Spencer Skipper Denzien leashes
The Twizzler (red) and the Python (black).
-Heavy Duty Big Wave Bicep Coil
-Padded Cuff
-Comfort, Style & Durability
From Alternative Surf team rider, Spencer Skipper, who dedicates most of my life to the sport of bodyboarding and has figured out what works and what doesn’t. He believes Denzien products will enhance your riding.
Spencer Skipper - Promo at Alternative Surf Dana Point
Team rider, Spencer Skipper will be at Dana Point this Sunday, June 15 from 12:00 to 2:00pm signing authographs and raffling an LMNOP board and a pair of POD fins. DON’T MISS IT. Come meet the style master before he heads back to Hawaii and get a chance to win a brand new board.
USBA TOUR STAFF
www.bodyboarding.tv/usba
Day two of the Sport Chalet IB regional tour began with a stellar performance. Starting off was the “Sling For Bling” tow assistance event. Competitors in 4ft plus clean Imperial Beach surf, were busting massive moves. Jeff Hubbard had a great energy in the water and really went for big on each attempt. The crowd on site and also on the web seemed to be elated to see Jeff pushing the sport as he always does. As for that reason, he was rewarded the winning vote from the judges as the winner of the event. A big first time performance went down with David Phillips coming from Kaui pulling out with a huge air reverse, fully completed rotation, and cleanly landed an air reverse! Spencer Skipper was not on his game as he had a final pro event on his mind coming up later that day.
Heading into the semi finals of the Sport Chalet/USBA DK pro division, it was all about Micah Mcmullin smashing every section in sight. . Joe Grodzen was on his game with snaps and floaters which had other competitors talking about Joe may be a consistent finalist on the USBA tour! A stealer darkhorse performance came out from Jacob Romero with a huge front side floater pushing him into his first final of the USBA DK pro division. From the start to finish, David Hubbard was on fire! Slaying his first semi final and stamping his name into USBA legend book. A back side barrel and large floater/snap was Dave’s two highest scoring waves and he made both look like a walk in the park. The finals where dominated by Dave once similar to his semi final, with Micah placing 2nd place respectfully with very heavy rail and heavy tail riding. Jacob Romero finished 3rd overall which is amazing for a 95% prone rider. Joe Grodzen could not find his form from the semis and settled for fourth and hungering for a future final at the Sport Chalet Huntington Pro later this summer.
The Men’s Pro was up next in prime 4-5ft conditions which truthfully was best the USBA event has been seen for the IB Pro. Dave Hubbard and Jacob Romero both had amazing waves, but it was Dave’s massive back flip that rolled and overcame Jacob’s solid invert and combo to back flip. Jonah Romero rode solidly but did not have the wave selection of the other riders in his heat and had to settle for 3rd followed by Spencer Skipper who was not in full form but who had an solid performance throughout the entire event!
The final major heat of the Day was the Amateur division in which first time USBA competitor Anthony Zambino placed third in his first attempt. Kingsly Uaiwa had a great contest thus far but had a poor wave selection and tuff times in his final heat. Riley Dutro, coming out of Oahu, had put on a great performance at his first mainland USBA contest and came home with 2nd to the local favorite Taylor Paige, who put on a very impressive performance all day with good wave selection and combinations of maneuvers.
A huge thanks goes out to Sport Chalet for making the USBA CA regional tour a reality and for the all around support of bodyboarding. The 2008 Sport Chalet/USBA IB Pro has been forever inscribed in to the history books as the hands down best event ran in California. Great waves, great competition and great sportsmanship made for one of the USBA’s most notable events ever!
USBA TOUR STAFF
www.bodyboarding.tv/usba
The Sport Chalet USBA CA Regional Tour kicked off today with the start of the Imperial Beach Pro. This was the third year to this event’s history and was a day that will go down in the records. The surf was the largest scheme so far. In the event , USBA pros and Amateurs were using the solid surf to full extent.
Also the Sport Chalet Bodyboard promo team came down to support and raffle off
Boards by BZ ,Custom X and NMD. The word is out, Sport Chalet is the new game in
Town when it comes to west coast bodyboarding.
Highlights of the competition came in the form of Maui’s Riley Dutro and Kingsly Uaiwa. Also from the complete opposite side of the Nation, Dillan Druz of New Jersey
place first in his early rounds.
In Pro, it was beginning of a repeat of last year with CA talent Bobby Kichart
Pulling out the stops to edge out Spence Skipper (2nd place) in their first heat of the day.
Jacob Romero and brother Jonah cruised their first heat both taking first in separate heats.
Dave Hubbard surfed consistent in his first round heat with Jason Bitzer, following suit
Placing second. Heading back into the Drop Knee Pro, Dave Hubbard again threw his signature chunks on his way to his first DK heat win of the day.
Jacob Romero pulled a huge backside floater that plunged him right into the next round followed by the California DK threat Bobby Kichart. Joe Grodzen was narrowly beaten in his prone heat and took revenge in his DK heat against Kingsley Uaiwa and Dillan Druz. Finally Oahu’s Alan Lamphere placed second next to the man on fire, Micah “The Hammer” Mc Mullen
The Semi finals seemed to look more so like finals as with all the USBA top stars landing in star studded heats! Stay tuned for the Drop Knee Semi Finals followed by the finals action for Mens Pro, DK Pro and Open Amateur Divisions!
Rumors have surfaced on the long awaited Mike Stewart/Scotty Carter movie “Fire.”
According to the eBodyboarding forum, there was a private showing at the theater in Laguna Beach California.
“Chris got to see it. Scotty called us to come…official premieres are slated for the early fall here in SoCal,” Jay Reale said.
The movie premiered over three years ago with rave reviews:
Where in Spain are you guys based out of?
We are from Madrid (yeah! like the bodyboards), and its here we live and work. Madrid is a great city; it has it all except for the beach, that forced us from the beginning to travel a lot to catch some waves. We love to travel so that has never been a problem.
Who is involved with Cortxero Clothing?
Cortxero is composed of three young bodyboarders, Francisco aka Paco, Salvador and me (Adrian). We have been bodyboarding since 1995. In 2003 we decided to create the brand because there wasn’t any spanish clothing brand centred in the sport of bodyboarding.
What spots do you guys surf in Europe?
Our favorite spots are located in the spanish north coast and in the south-west coast of France (Hossegor, Capbreton, Anglet, etc.) But we also have surfed in the south and mediterranean coast of Spain, Canary Islands, Portugal and Ireland.
We have some travels in mind like: Hawaii, Mexico, California and Indo but for the time being we haven’t scheduled any date of departure.
How has your local community responded to your company?
As the first bodyboard clothing brand in Spain, things hasn’t been very easy at the beginning. Surf shops here where quite reticent (in some case still that attitude) to sell this kind of stuff in their shops. Thanks to our loyal costumers that support us day by day and our insistence, the market is beginning to accept us and surf shops are starting to offer bodyboard clothing brands together with bodyboards, wetsuits, fins, etc.
What is DK4LIFE?
It’s a video, and yet it’s more than just a video. DK is a family, and we’re trying to build a positive outlet to expose it.
Who is involved with DK4LIFE?
There are a lot of people “putting in work” for the video right now. We see it like this—if you dropknee, video, or just simply respect dropknee riding, then you’re involved in DK4LIFE. We don’t want to come off as this elitist group of riders that makes everyone else seem like they don’t mean anything. It’s not even like that. Like I just said, DK is a family. And DK4LIFE is an attempt to bring everyone under the same roof.
Now with that much said there are actually people who are putting their money, sweat, and efforts into making this happen. They deserve to be mentioned: Micah McMullin is basically spearheading the overall project with help from Leroy Kaiwi, Kyle Matsumoto, Mason Rose, Zach de la Cruz, Evan Fa, and other video guys and riders like Euan Morell, and a lot more.
Who came up with the idea?
While a bunch of us were cruising at Grant Molony’s house in OZ a few years back, we noticed he had “DK4LIFE” stamped on his boards. Probably since most of us were dropkneers, it got us amped! He eventually stamped our boards with it. From there we all kind of thought it’d be sick to make an all dropknee video—a video that would showcase as many dropkneers, if not all, without the political garbage that typically goes into making and selecting who goes into a video.
Where is the footage going to be coming from for DK4LIFE?
We are currently spread out through Australia, Europe, California, and Hawaii. We have support from some of the legendary video guys of the past and innovators of the present. While we are excited with the support we are receiving from these regions, and really hope to collaborate with more and more people, the video is only going to be made possible through riders getting a hold of footage or videoing each other. In other words, we are asking dropkneers out there to “put in work” and get some footage that we can put in the video. It has to be very high performance and good quality. That’s a given. But for how much we travel and shoot, there’s no way we’ll be able to get every dropkneer at his or her best, in his or her element, and on those days that you really have to live there in order to score. For this reason we need YOUR contributions in order to fill in the gaps!
Why do think no one has come up this idea before?
Actually, we decided to create and run with the idea of DK4LIFE as a follow-up to (Joseph) Libby’s work in Fumanchu (Libby/Scotty Carter) and Untouchables. Both videos helped give dropknee riding an identity of its own. Whereas dropknee had previously been, to a certain extent, subordinate to prone riding, as well as videos only including minute amounts of dropknee, Fumanchu and Untouchables set dropknee apart and pushed the standards for high performance dropknee to a new level. In some ways, we even feel it gave drop knee more validity as a functional way of riding waves.
The difference between DK4LIFE and Libby’s efforts is that we are the new generation of riders with higher expectations. We don’t want to couch ourselves in the past or sit in the shadow of Fumanchu and all the other videos that showcased dropknee, but rather we want to build on all their efforts while throwing our own spin on things—something fresh, stylish, and unique. Bodyboarding, specifically dropknee, has developed and expanded far beyond where it was only a decade ago. This video is going to prove that.
How has the reception been of the concept thus far?
We’ve been receiving a lot of support from people around the world. It probably helps that a lot of us already know each other. But we do realize that there are tremendous amounts of dropneers out there that aren’t within our present network—those we’ve both heard and haven’t heard about. We hope that little by little, getting the idea out there about DK4LIFE, we can reach out to those riders, become friends, and show who they are and their riding in the video.
What riders are involved with the project at this point?
Here are just a few names (forgive us for not mentioning you since we inevitably will): Mason Rose, Kim Feast, Kainoa Mcgee, Grant Molony, Adam Dumas, Micah McMullin, Leroy Kaiwi, Fred Compagnon, Scotty Carter, Kyle Matsumoto, Cass Sonada, Colin Black, Kaleo Patterson, Derek Miyashiro, Asa Aquino, Aka Lyman, Robbie Crawford, Kawika Kaui, Sean English, JJ Ayala, Keith Sasaki.
How much footage do you have thus far?
Actually, we already have a lot of footage. Right now, though, it’s limited to a select contingent of riders, especially when you compare it to the amount of good dropkneers there are all around the globe. For that reason we are still far from where we expect to go with this project. We want the footage to include a far broader audience than any videos have accomplished. In order to do that we have to reach out to those dropkneers, underground or not, who are killing it in places that most of us are either familiar or unfamiliar with. For example, how many of us have heard of a guy named “Chucky” in Costa Rica? By the photographs we’ve seen, the guy is punting dropknee airs that would have most of the WCT stand-ups in awe. He’s the Costa Rican version of Bud Miyamoto from Kauai, vice versa, in that respect. It is dropkneers like him that need and deserve more exposure, and we want to give it to them. If guys like him are able to link up with better sponsorship deals and get shots in the magazines as a result of the exposure we can give him, we could honestly sit down and say we’ve done our job.
When do you think the video may be released?
At this point, we really cannot give a firm date on when the video is going to be released. A ballpark estimate would be in about a year and a half to two years. People might wonder why we’re getting the concept out there so early, especially if our release date is so distant. The thing is we really want to assure ourselves that all our bases are covered: we want to include as many riders as possible and establish a solid following. We also don’t want to put out a mediocre product, so we’d rather hold back until all the footage is superb.
How can people keep up to date with DK4LIFE?
Check out our Myspace page www.myspace.com/thedk4lifevideo for interviews of riders, our video crew, supporters, etc. Shoot us an email to thedk4lifevideo@gmail.com with questions about where you can send footage and whatever else you got on your mind. Also check out these other companies that support us (we expect the list we grow more and more):
www.dksessions.com
www.bodyboardculture.com
www.hollowpits.com
www.bodyboarder.com
The United States Bodyboarding Association is proud to announce a new partnership with Sport Chalet the famous sport retail leader with over 50 locations. Sport Chalet has come on board as the USBA’s new California regional tour title sponsor. The Sport Chalet California Regional tour is part of format that has rolled out across the nation for the USBA 2008 season.
Jason Bitzer founder of the USBA and Bodyglove Bodyboards Athlete was quoted as saying:
“I find it hard to think of a better suited supporter of the USBA California Regional Tour! Sport Chalet has reached out to the bodyboarding community in full force! Through carrying the industries top brands & supporting key USBA CA events Sport Chalet is quickly becoming one of the most core supporters of the sport of Bodyboarding!”
“The Sport Chalet USBA California Regional tour will carry heavy weight on the Bodyglove Bodyboards USBA National tour. With Regional & National events on it’s 2008 schedule. This will guarantee the USBA top 16’s attendance. Jeff Hubbard 2x USBA National Tour Champion was excited to hear the news of the new partnership!”
“It is really cool to see a power house retailer like sport chalet giving back to the sport and the youth through this partnership via the USBA. These USBA west coast events should be a lot of fun and I am really looking forward to them.”
With the top riders in the US attending these events it will be a great show for all who come out to watch the Sport Chalet California Regional Tour both online and onsight at the event. Sport Chalet has many USBA branded promotions set for the summer and Todd Klasky Sport Chalet representative had this to say about the newly formed partnership
“Sport Chalet is excited to be able to promote the sport, the riders, and itself in such a positive atmosphere. One look at our bodyboard and accessory assortment this season and you will see that our position within the sport is very different. The partnership between our two organizations is a huge step in separating Sport Chalet from the competition of other general sporting goods chains.”
THE BODYGLOVE BODYBOARDS USBA TOUR Presents
THE SPORT CHALET USBA CA REGIONAL TOUR 2008
#1 The Sport Chalet Imperial Beach Pro June 7 & 8
(Regional & Nationally Rater)
2# The Sport Chalet Huntington Beach Pro August 23rd&24th
In association with BZ Proboards
(Regional & Nationally Rater)
3# The Sport Chalet Salt Creak Pro November 8 & 9
The sale is on NOW through Sunday, May 4th at midnight, PDT!
From eBodyboarding.com:
We delayed our annual Anniversary Sale a couple of weeks this year, but it’s on again! To thank you, our loyal customers, for 9 years as the Internet’s Bodyboarding Superstore, we’re offering 10% off nearly everything on the site now through Sunday at midnight Pacific Daylight Time. Simply enter the following code in the “coupon code” field during online checkout for the automatic discount:
ANNIVERSARY9
This discount will NOT apply for Gift Certificates or custom bodyboards! You must either enter the code or mention it if calling in.
Missed the sale and ordered before it started? No problem! If you’ve placed an order any time between April 15th, 2008 and now, simply email us at: info@ebodyboarding.com and request a store credit. We’ll email you a code that you can use any time in the next 3 months that will be worth 10% of the order subtotal for any order you may have placed between April 15th and now. Simply redeem that code by entering it in the “coupon code” field during online checkout by June 30th.
We have some great new stuff in including a stock of Hyperflex Spring Suits and Short Johns, the new South African DVD “Pull The Plug 2″, and Balin Skimboard bags for you skimmers out there! The Summer ‘08 No Friends line will be arriving any day now too. Summer is just around the corner, so get your summer setup now while you can save $$$.
Thanks again for all your support- The eB.com Crew (Jay, Vicki, Justin, and John)
Mike Stewart wrote on the eBodyboarding’s forum:
“OK, just an update on things in regards to Fire: I received yesterday a Fed Ex copy of the flick. We still have to adjust some titles and copy around, but otherwise it is complete. We are researching information on premiers and will post this up soon as we can figure it out.”
“Not a normal bodyboarding (or surfing for that matter) flick, but there will be some serious vindication to the spoonge loving tribe.”
- Mike Stewart
The whole bodyboard community should be stoked on this video. The video was played at a Hawaiian Film Festival in 2005 and received excellent reviews by both bodyboarders and non-bodyboarders.
Bodyboarding on National TV
IBA PIPELINE PRO BODYBOARDING CHAMPIONSHIPS: Watch as some of the best bodyboarders gather in Hawaii for the opening event of the International Bodyboarding Association’s 2008 world tour.
2008 IBA pipe contest featured on NBC Jeep World of Adventure Sports
Saturday April 26 @
Eastern: 2-3PM
Hawaii: 8-9 am
California: 11am-12pm
Make sure to send an email to info@worldofadventuresports.com
Telling them how much you appreciate the coverage of bodyboarding.
You can see a couple example letters on the eBodyboarding forum.
:: Next Page >>
