Kelly Slater Wins 9th World Title in Spain

American surfing sensation Kelly Slater (Florida, USA) has won a record ninth ASP World Title by advancing into round four of the Billabong Pro Mundaka today - the ninth event of 11 on the 2008 ASP World Tour.

Grey skies and massive downpours couldn't dampen the moment for the 36 year-old who has dominated the 2008 tour winning five of the eight events staged so far.

Slater's 2008 crowning comes 16 years after claiming his first ASP World Title at age 20. He is the oldest and youngest surfer in ASP history to win a world title.

Slater showed no signs of pressure in the world title deciding heat, tactical as ever against local Basque surfer Eneko Acero (EUK) winning the round three Billabong Pro Mundaka heat to once again rewrite the sports history books.



Thirty-one year old Acero opened quickly for an early heat lead in the 1.5 metre (4-6ft) river-mouth waves before a relaxed Slater took control midway and claimed his ninth crown with the heat win.

Despite entering his 14th year on tour already the owner of most every accolade in professional surfing, 2008 has been a banner year for Slater. Five wins in the first eight events of the year.

Slater won his first ASP World Tour title in 1992, claimed five titles in a row from 1994 to 1998 and then went into semi-retirement at age 26 citing burnout and lack of motivation. He returned to the tour full-time in 2003, lost a heart-wrenching title race to Andy Irons (HAW) that same year, and wasn't able to reclaim the crown until 2005. Slater cruised to title No. 8 in 2006, finished World No. 3 in 2007 and is once again World No. 1 after winning his ninth ASP World Title today.

A1Surf.com signs up Alex Wade’s ‘Surf Nation’ blog

A1Surf.com, the surf site for the UK and Ireland, has announced today that they have signed up the renowned author and journalist Alex Wade to write his ‘Surf Nation’ blog exclusively for them.

Surf Nation was up until recently running in conjunction with a national newspaper, but now is partnering up with A1Surf.com, one of the UK’s biggest and most popular surfing websites.

David Somerville from A1Surf says: “We are really excited about signing up Alex and Surf Nation exclusively for A1Surf.

“Alex’s blog has been widely read and hugely popular with surfers across the UK and Ireland for the past two years.

“To have him on the A1Surf team as a blogger is perfect for us as he reflects the views, thoughts and feelings of the thousands of surfers who visit A1Surf.com every day.”

Alex Wade says: "I'm stoked to be writing the surf blog for such an established UK surfing brand as A1surf.com.

“I expect the blog to reach its target audience - surfers - much better than it did previously.

I will continue to cover our vibrant domestic surfing scene as much as possible, with a global glance or two and a fair bit of eccentricity, skating and surfboat rowing thrown in for good measure. Check it out and get in touch with any ideas via alex@alexwade.com."

Surf Nation can be viewed by visiting www.surfnation.co.uk or by clicking the links on www.A1Surf.com.

Alex Wade is also author of the book Surf Nation, which follows his travels across the UK and Ireland discovering the surfing heritage and people that make up this growing community.

Surf and Yoga Holiday in Spain

This November Errant will be heading to the warm shores of Spain for its second Surf and Yoga holiday at the stunning guesthouse La Hosteria de Latas. There are a few spaces left, check it out here http://www.errantsurf.com/surf_yoga_spain.php

Booked a Surf Holiday With Pure Vacations?

On the 14th August 2008 activity and surf holiday provider Pure Vacations ceased trading. A statement issued on the companies website confirms "Pure Vacations has ceased immediate trading and is set to be going into administration accordingly" blaming "Suppliers overseas increasing costs and our customers requesting cheaper journeys we simply were be squeezed"

In light of this Errant Surf Holidays understands that many people will have to re-book their surfing holiday for this winter. As such Errant Ltd is happy to offer discounts to anyone found in this unfortunate postion and who are still looking getting away to some sunshine and surf!

To find out how we can help click here

Rider Hits Poster

Errant's youngest team rider, Harry Timson is set to make a splash at this years X-Press yourself surf contest at Fistral Beach. Harry is seen here on the main contest poster, not bad when you are only 12 years old!

Winner of the Zoo Beach Babes Heads out to Spain with Errant

Watch The Rip Curls Board Masters Live!

International Surfing Holidays
www.errantsurf.com

Lucy Simpson Wins Award In Spain

On a recent surf trip to Loredo, Northern Spain, Amy Simpson won the award for "Most Waves Caught" in the end of week surf contest held in great surf at Loredo beach, Cantabria.

Rip Curl Board Masters Hit Newquay

Newquay -- The Rip Curl Boardmasters, an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star event, will start tomorrow Tuesday, August 5 at Fistral Beach, one of Great Britain's most renowned beaches, launching the Surf and Music Festival where thousands of people are expected.

The world's best qualifying campaigners will attend the event to battle for the prestigious crown during one week of top surfing action and grab the valuable 2000 ratings' points going to the winner. Ben Bourgeois (North Carolina, USA), defending champion now among the ASP Top 45, will not defend his crown and leaves an open door to a new champion this year.

Among those in contention will be current ASP WQS ratings' No. 2 David Wear (ZAF), a former champion at Newquay and former ASP World Tour member, who has been on a good roll this year with a win on his home lands of Durban in the ASP WQS 6-Star Prime event in April and an equal 3rd in Scotland's ASP WQS 6-Star Prime. With two major results already secured, Weare will be confident and going for a second crown in the British waters of Fistral Beach.

The Rip Curl Boardmasters is the first of a series of six major ASP WQS event that will take place across Europe, from England to Portugal including France and Spain, until September 14.

A1Surf.com sponsors ‘Surfer of the Year Award’ from inaugural H3O British Isles Surf Awards

A1Surf.com, the UK’s website for the surfing community, is sponsoring the ‘Surfer of the Year Award’ category, part of the inaugural ‘H30 British Isles Surf Awards’.
The awards, which are in association with Carve Magazine, are organised by the Surfstock Festival, which takes place in St Agnes on 29-30 August.
They will be presented to the winners during the two-day festival in a huge 42-foot yurt, which has been provided by the Driftwood Gallery.
The ‘A1Surf Surfer of the Year Award’ will be won by the surfer who has done the most for British surfing this year, as decided by votes from the public.
Nominations for this category include Rik ‘Peg Leg’ Bennett, Ben Skinner, Ben Granata, Easkey Britton, Chris Hines and Alex Wade.
The awards celebrate the achievements of surfers across the UK and Ireland, offering prizes in eight categories to be decided by a panel of elite judges and the surfing public.
For more information about the awards, the nominees and to vote visit www.surfstock.co.uk and click on the ‘Surf Awards’ link. You can also get information about Surfstock itself on this website.
A1Surf.com has been serving the UK surf community since 2001, with its surf reports and forecasts, news, forum, classified ads and online surf shop.
The website receives over 1 million hits every month and has over 10,000 registered members.