Joel Parkinson wins at Hossegor

Joel Parkinson has won the 2006 Quiksilver Pro France, beating fellow Australian Mick Fanning in the final.The Australians had deposed of world one and three, Kelly Slater and Andy Irons in the semi-finals and with world number two Taj Burrow falling in round three, the result is actually good news for Kelly Slater.

Slater increases his lead over Taj Burrow to a massive 1000 points and with the next event, he will surely be able to drop the 250 point injury score for the Globe WCT Fiji event, from his points total; the eight highest event scores are used to calculate the total ranking points. With four tour events remaining, the rest of the pack are left playing catch-up as Kelly Slater races towards his eigth world title.

Bede Durbidge beats Kelly Slater

Gold Coast, Australian surfer, Bede Durbidge (Gold Coast, Aus) scored a sensational victory when he beat Californian world champion , Kelly Slater, to claim victory at the 2006 Boost Mobile Pro.
This was Bede's very first Foster's ASP Men's World Tour final and leaves Slater waiting a little longer before he can claim outright, the record number of ASP event wins. His next opportunity will be the Quiksilver Pro France, held from September 22 to October 1, 2006 at Hossegor, the scene of the recent women's ASP event.

Looking at the Foster's ASP Men’s World Tour ratings Slater still holds the top spot with Burrow and Irons hotly contesting a slightly extended lead in second and third.

Boost Mobile Pro at Trestles 2006

Local California surfers Chris Ward and Tim Reyes staked a serious claim for the winners trophy at the Boost Mobile Pro in Wednesday's heats. Both USA surfers, who put on indifferent performances on the opening day, returned to the spotlight in round two after digging deep to find their best form.

Ward, surfs at Trestles, California (the location of the event) on a regular basis, while Reyes hails from Huntington Beach, just a 30 minutes drive north of Trestles.

Chris Ward in particular, showed that his local knowledge will carry him to the fore. His wave selection in the 30 minute encounter during his round 2 heat against Pancho Sullivan (HAW) was spot on. Sullivan struggled to find a swell that would enable him to gain the big scores required but Ward was in tune, snatching a wave that initially looked dubious but which then walled up, allowing him to notch up one of the biggest scores of the day.

Watch round 3 on a live video feed. The event is expected to finish on Saturday September 16, 2006.