Matt Banting (AUS) has taken out the Inaugural Australian Open of Surfing Pro at Manly beach today. The beach was packed with tens of thousands of surf fans for the final day of competition and they were treated to an exciting show with close back-and-forth battles, powerful turns and big airs as the world's best surfers fought for the prestigious crown, precious ASP World Tour ratings points and tens of thousands of dollars prize-money.

Matt Banting (AUS) went back-to-back at the Australian Open of Surfing after claiming the Pro Junior division title yesterday and today winning the blue ribbon ASP 6-Star division. Banting battled hard in the Final against American Evan Gieselman (USA), with both surfers going for broke in the small, but fun surf. The 17-year-old from Port Macquarie took to the air and landed some massive air-reverses that saw him post some big scores and claim the USD$25,000 1st prize and 3,500 ASP World Tour ratings points.

"This has been the best week of my life!" Banting said. "I'm so happy, this is the best feeling I've ever had! I'm shaking so much I can hardly talk. Evan (Gieselman) is a really good surfer, he was blowing up for the whole final, I was really scared. I was just lucky to start off well with a couple of good waves. I just want to thanks my Dad and Mum for supporting me, I love them!"

Quiksilver's Iouri Podladtchikov today won the Half Pipe event of the World Snowboarding Championships in Oslo (Norway). The Russian born Swiss rider dominated the final of the event gathering the world's best snowboarders, with a 90.8 points score from his first run of the final Iouri got the better of America's Matt Ladley (87.6) and Louie Vito (86.9). Second at the Winter X Games Aspen early this year and runner up of the 2012 Dew Tour (behind Vito) last week, despite throwing two of his best runs ever in competition, Iouri, this time, left no chance to his rivals. In the "fastest and best half pipe of the season", Iouri landed an impressive run in the foggy and rainy conditions : backside double cork 1260 mute, frontside double cork 1080 truck driver, cab double cork 1080 mute ended with a frontside 1080 tail.

Iouri also expressed the support from the swiss time and his sponsors and would like to thanks everyone for there support.

At the age of 23, Iouri clinches his first World Champion title in front of a massive crowd and his parents. With the trophy he was awarded with a 40,000 USD purse.

Iouri Podladtchikov is now heading to France for the Winter X Games Tignes with his sights set at winning gold again and ending his season in a blaze of glory.

By just one point, Iouri Podladtchikov missed tonight the opportunity of bringing back home the Dew Tour cup. Despite achieving a 97 point score on his best run in the Pipe finals(backside double McTwist 1260 – frontside double cork 1080 – cab double cork 1080 – frontside 1080 – cab 1080)

Quiksilver swiss rider was beaten by American Louie Vito, runner up on the Dew Tour ranking before the last event in Snowbasin (Utah, USA). The American pulled off his victory in front of his home crowd with the highest score ever set in the Dew Tour (98 points) and finally took the trophy for the second year in a row. After winning the last Dew Tour event in Killington (Vermont, USA) and getting Silver at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Iouri is heading to Oslo for the world champs then Tignes X-Games with his sights set at winning both.

Under bright, bluebird skies, 18 of the world's most notable up-and-comers alongside the icons of snowboarding progressed the sport to a new level, as Red Bull Supernatural ran on February 4th at Baldface Lodge outside of Nelson, B.C., Canada. From the first rider to drop, Scotty Lago, through Travis Rice's final run, the never before ridden Red Bull Supernatural course challenged every aspect of the competitors' talents, bringing the most progressive riding of our time together in a single run.
 
"We're walking away with a different state of mind. This was an experiment and it's the beginning of a new, possible future for snowboarding," says Rice. "These guys ride like this all the time. It's just a really tough thing to capture, even in a video part. No breaks, riding first tracks and on all-natural terrain. Here we are able to showcase the talent in snowboarding today."
 
Rice came out hot from the very start putting down a nearly flawless run, hitting as many features as possible, stomping landings and adding inversions to multiple maneuvers. His first score of 91 held the top spot throughout the day. Gigi Rüf scored 84 points on his first run, which held the second spot throughout the day. Nicolas Müller topped John Jackson's score of 80.6, with an 82.6 in the final run with buttery transitions and the solid, stylish riding he is known for. But Jackson didn't walk away empty handed, he won ‘Best Trick' by stomping a double cork 1080 off the big kicker on his final run.
 
"We had no idea that people would tee off that big without having ever seen anyone hit the features before," says Tom Burt, Head Judge for Red Bull Supernatural. "This contest puts together where snowboarding is headed, riding the mountains. But adding freestyle riding into the mix really ups the level. Nature alone can't fully provide a course like this."
 
Travis Rice's dream run for Red Bull Supernatural is built across 2,200 vertical feet on the slope nicknamed "Scary Cherry." The run is now host to over 80 man-made features including pillow lines, enormous platforms and goal posts in the over 40 degree top section. Most riders had hit five or more features over varying size before heading into the super-kickers where fresh powder landings allowed riders to open up with speed and style. The final slopestyle section had pillow platforms to tap and log rides that took riders straight into the finish line.  

"Today was a great example of where our sport is going and what we can do to get it to the next level," says Jeff Pensiero, Owner of Baldface Lodge. "I was surprised at how much these guys really stepped up their game to ride this course. I thought a lot of it was not rideable, but these guys proved that they earn their livings exceeding expectations."
 
RESULTS:
1.      Travis Rice                            91.00
2.      Gigi Rüf                                84.00
3.      Nicolas Müller                     82.60
4.      John Jackson                        80.60
5.      Lucas Debari                        77.00

Iouri Podladtchikov (Swi), 23, last night added a new medal to his name while taking the Winter X Games Silver Medal in Snowboard Super Pipe final behing Shaun White. This fourth medal at the X Games comes after Silver in Aspen in 2010, Gold in 2010 and Silver in 2011 in Europe and confirms the Russian born Swiss rider's amazing level. With a 93 points out of 100 in the final, Quiksilver's I-Pod is definitely one of the best Half Pipe riders in the world.

Despite missing Gold, Iouri said that although he didn't win, he was satisfied  with his performance. "I am really happy actually because I have never put that run down so clean," an exhausted Podladtchikov said following his last run. "I wish I had another run because I was just getting warmed up.  It was my personal best run so far but it wasn't enough today."

Quiksilver skate team is in China for the Quiksilver Film project. Check out in exclusivity some rider shots to see what's going on!

Natchete Bs 180 nose gring - Macho Nacho feeling the sun and the lovely marble chine has to offer.

Natchete sw Krooks - Nachetes  grinding that ss crooks hole into another level.

Ross fs boardslide - Ross sizing up this little fellow in Shenzen suburbs.

Ross Ollie over the rail - Ross the Boss. Over and out.

Ross Wallie Bs tailslide - Ross walling up bs ts.

Samu Gap Bs Lipslide - Samu Bs lipping under the radar. Spots couldn't get any smoother than this.

Samu Helikopteri sequence - Samu spinning the  switch propeller.

Samu bs Smith - Samu bs smith. Blogging it!

The Italian Wonderkid, 14, outclassed best under 16 aussie surfers.

Italian young prodigy Leonardo Fioravanti won this week end the Ocean & Earth International Teenage Rampage Final, a competition gathering Australia's under 16 best groms. Quiksilver's wonderkid wowed crowds with his phenomenal surfing. Winning all three rounds in the lead up to the semis, Fioravanti seemed unstoppable, with Sam Bond knocked out in the semi's and Broulee event winner Matt King (Ulladulla) going down to Mikey Wright and Luke Hynd, the final was packed with talent.

At the age of 14, the youngest contender of his category appreciates his performance : "Surfing against Australia's best teenagers was awesome, these guys ripped out there all day and it came down to the last minute it was unreal. It's so good being in Australia, I love the culture and the people here in Cronulla have been so friendly, I've made some good friends here and would love to come back and surf again", said a super excited Fioravanti.

After Eric Willett's win yesterday in the slopestyle event, Iouri Podladtchikov today carried again high the Quiksilver flag by winning the half pipe event of the 2011/2012 Dew Tour second stop in Killington, Vermont, USA. American rider Louie Vito was leading the final when I-Pod dropped in the icy killington half pipe.

The Swiss Russian born snowboarding star won the final throwing a Cab 720, frontside crippler into back 1260 into front 1080 to cab 1080 all perfectly landed with an impressive amplitude and his tailor made smooth style. Despite an engaged second run, Vito could not overtake Iouri, declared the winner by the judges with a 96,75 points score out of 100. After his third place finish in Breckenridge last month, Iouri takes the lead of the Dew Tour Rankings with 182 points in front of Louie Vito, second with 180 points. With one week to go before the X Games, I-Pod looks in a terrific shape !

Quiksilver rider Eric Willett, 23, came out swingng in his first run in Saturday's men snowboard slopestyle Finals in Killington, Vermont. On a day where a recent snow was slowing down the course, many of the havy hitters including Chas Guldemond and Mark McMorris were having trouble landing their reuns. But not Willett, who came in with confidence and came through with his riding.

“You just got to be confortable with your riding and know what you can do and just kind of go for it and send it,” Willett said.

His first run scored a 91,00 and went like this : front 270 on down rail in the first section to gap front lip 270 out on the gap down in the second. On the third section, he went for a front board switchout on the cannon. Next up were the three jumps, and he did a switch back 10 double into a cab 9 double to finish with a front 10 double.
He's now in third overall in the race for the Dew Cup heading into the last event in Snowbasin (UT).

Read more on http://www.allisports.com

The Quiksilver team surfer whose season was suspended due to injury during The Quiksilver Pro France (Oct) has started this year with some great sessions in preparation for his return to the ASP World Tour.

Following his ankle injury during the Quiksilver Pro France Round 3, last October, Jeremy Flores went through intensive rehabilitation until the end of 2011.

After he pulled out of The Quiksilver Pro and Peniche events, the surfer from Reunion Island was also forced to withdraw the Pipe Masters where he hoped to defend to defend his title.  He still achieved an impressive 13th in the World Ratings despite missing 3 events.

In spite of his intensive rehabilitation program, he traveled to Hawaii to honor his invitation and attend the opening of the Quiksilver In Memory Of Eddie Aikau Big Wave Event.  He is the sole European entrant in the competition that will only run when the waves reach the required size.

On Christmas Eve, Jeremy took part in a trip to Morocco, which was organized by Quiksilver alongside Ramzi Boukhaim and Dimitri Ouvre, to see if his ankle had recovered.  A solid swell hit Taghazout near Agadir, which allowed Jeremy and the boys to surf the famous spots of Killer, Anchors Point and the surrounding beaches.

Between Christmas and New Years Day there were some epic sessions at Graviere as well as Peniche and Ericeira in Portugal, where he surfed alongside Aritz Aranburu and Patrick Beven.

After returning to Hossegor, Jeremy Flores is preparing to travel to Hawaii this week in preparation for the start of the 2012 season, which begins with the Quiksilver Gold Coast event held during the 25thFeburay and the 7th March.

©Testemale