As we all know, local boy Jamie O’Brien, took the 2008 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout back in January and took home a cool $50,000. He was followed by Bruce Irons who nabbed $25k and Ola Eleogram who brought home $15 g’s. DC Shoes just released the following footy from the contest. As you can see from the waves, this contest proved to have some of the best conditions at Pipeline in recent memory. 

Email me if you need any other info. matt@trunq.com

I plan on entering the contest and hoping to put together a strong TRUNQ team showing. Let me know if you are interested.

This sounds like a win-win to me as UNIV gets to team up with a living legend in Chris Cote, and at the same time they get some play in Transworld Surf as Transworld is planning on doing a feature on the surfboard very soon. On the other hand, UNIV gets a great board to sell in their shop to drive sales.

The surfboard is a four-fin double-ender, meaning it can be ridden both forward and backwards with ease.  Oh and did I mention it features all kinds of random weapons and things?

Stay tuned to Transworld Surf Magazine to get the latest scoop on this rad-looking board.

I note that surfing supernova Mick Fanning has signed with REEF for another 5 years of backslapping and mutual profit. “The relationship with Mick and Reef must continue” said REEF manager, Heath “Nutty” Walker in a voice that I imagined - completely without foundation, I admit - sounded like Dr.Strangelove. So expect a lot of sandals then. The next flip flop is “top secret and set to release Spring 2009″. Top secret?

The last lot had a bottle opener in the heel (grips dog shite harder than a sumo) - what the feck are they gonna stick in the new one? A GPS system that plots your course from bar to bar? Why break with tradition, I say?

Earlier we had the REEF Dram Sandal marketed by one retailer with refreshing candour thus: “Not content to simply open alcoholic beverages, the Dram includes a polyurethane encapsulated flask in the heel, good for smuggling liquor into pretty much any event you can think of.” Much loved by the underage drinker and college student majoring in alcoholism, US retail giant Nordstrom pulled it from the shelves - spoilsports. So go on REEF - give us a sandal with a cubby hole for coke. If you don’t, I will - and you’ll see Beach Bum’s Ganja Guttees hitting the stores sometime soon.

NB: This is not a picture of Mick Fanning’s arse. Unlike the REEF girls, it’s not easy finding a pic of Mick in a thong.

These shots were taken by Jerrod Mills at Port Aransas last friday. According to Jerrod, the dolphin bumped Keith’s board as it flew out of the water. Stoked!

More: CoastalSurfing.com  

“George Freeth was born in Honolulu November 8, 1883 of Hawaiian and Irish ancestry. As a youngster he revived the lost Polynesian art of surfing while standing on a board. Henry E. Huntington was amazed at Freeth’s surfing and swimming abilities and induced George to come to Redondo beach in 1907 to help the building of “the largest, warm saltwater plunge in the world.”

George Freeth was advertised as “the man who can walk on water.” Thousands of people came here on the big red cars to watch this astounding feat. George would mount his big 8-foot long, solid wood , 200 hundred pound surf board far out in the surf. He would wait for a suitable wave, catch it, and to the amazement of all, ride onto the beach while standing upright.

George Freeth introduced the game of water polo to this coast. He trained many champion swimmers and divers. George was the “first official lifeguard” on the Pacific coast. He invented the torpedo shaped rescue buoy that is now used worldwide. On December 16, 1908 during a violent south bay storm, George rescued 6 Japanese fisherman from a capsized boat. For his valour he received “the United States Lifesaving Corps gold medal.”

George Freeth died April 7, 1919 at the early age of 35 years as the result of exhaustion from strenuous rescue work.”

Honestly, Life Is A Beach at www.s-e-x-wax.com

So basically to sum this contest up; Oneill wants you to plaster their image of ‘Captain Jack’ all over the place. The person that takes a shot of the best location of the image of Captain Jack wins the contest. Kids, don’t worry about littering or vandalism, this is for a Jordy Smith autographed surfboard and signature gear!  

If you want to go litter for Oneill sign up for the contest at www.oneill.com/RuONE/

Ipath claims they are entering the surf game today by the creation of a new surf team. This is no joke, you can check out the press release here. Ipath which is known by everyone as a skateboarding company, plans on making a big impact in the surf world as they add pro surfers Nick Jiampa, Pat Millin, Ben McBrien, Rob Wurlitzer and Will Skudin.

This is very interesting as we are seeing more and more companies getting into different sports. We are seeing snow companies buyout surf companies and skate companies, and we are seeing skate companies getting into surfing….. What’s next? Skateboarders starting inline skate brands?