STEPHANIE GILMORE WINS BILLABONG PRO MAUI; ABUBO TAKES VANS TRIPLE CROWN

Honolua Bay ? Steaphanie Gilmore (AUS) has claimed the 2007 Billabong Pro Maui after a showdown against fellow finalist and defending Billabong Pro Maui Champion Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) in two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves at Honolua Bay

The final event of the 2007 ASP Women?s World Tour, the Billabong Pro Maui saw the rookie Gilmore claim the 2007 ASP Women?s World Title following yesterday?s Round 3 action, and today?s victory at Honolua Bay marks the young Australian?s fourth win this season.

?It?s been such an incredible year for me,? Gilmore said. ?Everything from traveling with my friends to winning events to claiming the title in Maui, it?s all be so much fun. I can?t believe it. To finish the year with another win, I?m just over the moon.?

Making use of the declining swell, Billabong Pro Maui event organizers opted to run the final day of competition today. Although the Final was somewhat wave-starved, Gilmore?s stylish forehand assault would prove victorious over the goofy-footer, Miley-Dyer.

Check out my friend and owner of Maui Surfer Girls Dustin Tester’s video from the event.

Island hopping is a favorite pastime for residents of the islands. It’s especially exciting when there is a major surf event going on. My husband and I took off for the North Shore of Oahu to check out the Billabong Pipe Masters surf contest for a week. Although the waves were small, the excitement was nothing but. It was really cool to see all the people and all the photographers/filmers covering the event. I even got a piece of the surf action and was able to shoot some images with a huge Canon 500mm lens. We had a great time watching the pros and surfing. Check out our images below.

Kelly Slater making the most out of the surf.

The boys capturing the surf shots.

Fred P riding a barrel

Even the tourists got a piece of the surf camera action.

Me-Shell zooming in on the surf.

Stand up paddle surfing dates back to the 1930′s where the original Hawaiian Beach boys used to surf in Waikiki, Hawaii using canoe paddles to power themselves into waves.

Interest in the sport later faded out with the introduction of shorter and lighter boards, but it has recently seen a resurgence with a swag of surfers keen to try their hand at the latest aquatic craze. There are even Stand Up Paddle Boarding Contests happening around the world.

Our SwellWomen and SwellCo-ed Surf and Yoga retreats now have Stand Up Paddle Boarding added to our program.

Women’ Surfer, Me-Shell Mijangos, trying the new craze out.

I’m sure you have all heard about JAWS…not the shark movie but the incredible wave that breaks about 3 times a year. This wave gets to be between 30-70 feet and is not for the novice. You need to be towed into the wave and it certainly draws crowds of people to watch.

My husband and I early morning at our secret spot.

This is why I am not the photographer. Check out the little guy surfing the big wave!

It is a well known fact that staying active helps keep you looking and feeling young. Not many activities come close to the effect surfing has on the mind, body and spirit. According to experienced surfers, the special bond the surfer has with their surf board and the open ocean is almost impossible to explain.

Fresh Air

Fresh air does a body good! Surfers all over the world enjoy lots of cool, refreshing fresh air and sunshine. No matter if you’re surfing a remote location or something closer to the city, the ocean air smells fresh and clean. Out on the surf, there’s virtually no smog. When you are on the waves, it’s just you, the water and the fresh air.

Stress Free

Out in the swells, you can let your stress and every-day worries float away with the tide. Out there, it’s just you, the breeze, your board and the water. No one yelling for help or that report you should have handed in already. When you’re out there, you’re surrounded by total peace and relaxation. The only sounds are the sounds of the wind lightly kissing your skin and water slapping against your surfboard.

According to the majority of surfers, this type of relaxation is hard to come by anywhere else in the world. Just a few hours of surfing a week can help release the tension that builds up at home or in the workplace.

Muscle Tone

Surfing and swimming go hand in hand and are great exercise. Swimming works muscle groups you don’t always think to work at the gym. Sometimes even seasoned athletes will complain of muscle fatigue after swimming simply because of the different muscles being used.

People who surf are generally slender and well muscled well into their 60′s and even 70′s. Surfing is a non-impact sport, meaning it’s very easy on your knees and other joints. After all, you don’t jog or jump on your surf board!

Cardiovascular Health

Surfing provides an amazing aerobic workout that not only helps burn fat but also keeps your heart, lungs and entire cardiovascular system in tip-top shape. A healthy cardiovascular system keeps your immune system healthy as well as maintaining a high level of stamina, to keep you feeling young.

Fun in the Sun

Surfers love the sunshine for a wide variety of reasons. Besides giving surfers great tans to keep that youthful glow, the sun provides vitamins that maintain healthy skin and nails. Healthy bones, skin, hair and nails assist in a more youthful appearance.

Some say surfing keeps you young at heart. Seasoned surfers know surfing also helps keep them physically fit, looking and feeling much younger than their birth date declares.

Look how young SHE is! She is actually 92 years old.

Somewhere over the Rainbow…
There are waves of course!
Island folk love the winter time…we are blessed with huge surf on the north shore of Maui. Check out the recent storm, rainbow and all. We don’t take our women surf camps and co-ed surf camps here, but just look at what we have to look forward too!

Gorgeous Maui Rainbow

Better than a pot of Gold

Fishermen love to surf when the Swell is up

Marla and Roberto, owners of OLAS, located in San Clemente are one of the coolest couples I know. They do awesome surf camp tours in Panama and they are the creators of these incredible children’s books about SURFING! They are offering SwellWomen and SwellCo-ed a holiday gift deal. Check them out.

Mele Kalikimaka from Olas Books
Receive a Free My Surf Lesson Coloring Book($5.95 value) when you order any 3 books.(Special Swellwomen discount)
My Surf Tricks and My Surf Lesson enthralls the youngest would be surfer up to age 7.
Once Upon a Wave teaches surfers ages 8 and up all about ocean safety!

Surf Legend and star of the Endless Summer Trilogy, Robert August says that Once Upon a Wave is ” A must-read for any child who ventures into the ocean!”

Contact: Roberto Diaz @ OLAS 866.238.7759
OLAS

Olas Books

The Women’s Billabong Pro Surf Event is here. The contest is located at Honolua Bay on Maui’s North Shore main Highway. The window is from 12/8 to 12/20. Check out the clip below for highlights from last year’s event. I was there and the surf was incredible.

The $80,000 Billabong Pro Maui women’s surfing competition is the third and final event of the women’s Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Series. It is the only outer-island event of the Series and is held at the pristine right-hand point-break of Honolua Bay. As the final event of the women’s tour for 2007, the Billabong Pro Maui will crown the women’s world champion, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing champion, and the Billabong Pro Maui champion. Competition will be held on the two biggest and best days of surf within the designated holding period.

I love whale season on the islands. It’s a very special time…like greeting an old friend that you’ve known for a very long time but haven’t seen in a year. The whales are so amazing on the islands! I haven’t taken a tour yet this year but will soon. I like to take my tours with Pacific Whale Foundation that leave out of Maalea, Maui. They provide an educational tour and we always have the best luck seeing whales up close.
Another website to check out is Whales Revenge, it’s an ambitious campaign to gather 1 million signatures for a petition to stop whaling.

Every year thousands of precious mammals are slaughtered in the name of so-called ‘scientific research’.

Add your voice by signing this campaign then forwarding it everyone you know. I did it and it only took a second. I checked the signatures and they are more than half way there!

Please sign the petition.

If you haven’t heard of Peggy Hall and Yoga for Surfers, make sure you check her Yoga and Surfing Tips out.
I’ve been a fan for quite some time and am excited about her new video. She is running a special for her new DVD, Yoga for Board Sports, that you might enjoy. Thanks Peggy!

Here’s some information below:

Order Now and Save!

Purchase Yoga for Board Sports now through December 31, 2007 at $15.95

($19.95 regular price after 12/31/07)

Y4BS will ship on January 15, 2008

If you liked Yoga for Surfers I, then you’re going to love Yoga for Board Sports! The Pre-Ride Warm Up gets you loose and focused for a great session and the Post-Ride Recovery gives you a revitalizing stretch so you can get back up and riding the very next day.