Stylewars is well and truly wrapped up for 2010, but that doesn’t mean I’m done with the goodies. Here’s a video from the 28 Stairs rail jam. Mark McMorris was crowned the new ‘Stylewars Stairmaster’. Best Trick goes to Seb Toots with a Switch Hardway 270 Boardslide and Best Aussie Rider went to Jye Kearney from NSW.

It’s a pity that more people know Kazu ‘Turbo’ Kokubo for his issues with the Japanese Olympic committee than his absolutely massive McTwist Japan grabs he was doing in Vancouver. Still, Turbo has got himself signed to Armourdillo joining the likes of Corey Duffel, Chris Pastras, Corbin Harris and more on their team. Nothing on the site yet but here’s hoping we get to see a signature collection from the man. And just because, check the video of Turbo in action below…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tim, the main guy running the terrain park at Baw Baw, just shot me through a comprehensive run down of the features available up there at the moment. There’s now a total of 33 features across the mountain ranging from beginners jumps and rails right up to wooden stair sets, wall rides and whale tails. The guys are killing it up there! Head to the Baw Baw page for more info and check the full list below.

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SMALL FEATURES

- 1 x Jump
- Battleship
- Rainbow
- Flat down
- 2m Box
- 3m Box
- Elevated Rail
- Tyre Kick me

MEDIUM FEATURES

- Wall Ride
- Dance Floor
- Jumps x 3
- Blue Drum Bonk
- Grenade Rainbow
- Mini Staircase
- Steel Rainbow

LARGE FEATURES

- Whale Tail
- Staircase Box top
- Staircase Hand Rail
- Staircase Down Flat Down
- The Dub Rainbow
- Big Wall Ride
- 2 x Big Jumps
- Big Air Bag and Jump

TIMBER FEATURES
- Canon Box
- Pine A frame
- Log Flume
- Log Bonk
- Log Pole Jamb
- Spinning log Small
- Spinning log Big

Pop Magazine, Ashbury, Holden and Ride are pleased to announce the Melbourne premiere of the latest Videograss film, Bon Voyage. We’re heading to the big smoke for this one. It’s happening at 1000 £ Bend, 361 Little Lonsdale Street at 730pm on Friday, September 10th. That’s next week!

To help celebrate the premiere, our pals over at Trigger Brothers are giving Pop Magazine readers access to an exclusive pre-order deal. Just visit their online shop here and use the code ‘popmag’ at checkout to get free shipping! You’ll have the film as soon as it lands in the country (which is slated to be mid-September). You’re welcome.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Melbourne premiere of Emerica’s latest (and long awaited) flick, Stay Gold, happened at Revolver on Chapel St. in Melbourne on Monday night. Looks like it was a rad nite. Peep a few photos and a teaser for the film below the cut!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Burton has released a set of collaboration hardgoods and outerwear with Marley & Co featuring iconic photos of the man, Bob Marley. The new range will be part of Burton’s restricted line. More from Transworld over here.

(Via Transworld)

The new 2011 Holden Outerwear website is live. Those that know me already know what I’m going to say. It’s genius. I’ve been watching the homepage side shows all morning. Incredibly entertaining. Then when you want to see the new range, it gets even better! Incredible work really. Can these guys do no wrong?!

Last night was the launch of Dragon’s newest style, The Deca. The launch happened at the Kitten Club in Melbourne and was run exclusively with the Ozmosis staff, of which a couple of hundred packed the room for a bit of a talk before the bar was opened and everyone got loose. The Deca is a 50′s styled half frame piece with the name coming from Buddy Holly’s recording label. The night was themed on the 50′s and the Ozi staff got into it! Check a few photos above for the outfits.

From Monday, we’re going to be running a comp to win a pair of Deca’s a week for four weeks with the major prize being two tickets to a mystery festival over the summer… I don’t want to give too much away but let’s just say that this is THE festival you want to be at this year and tickets are ridiculously hard to come by. Check back Monday for details.

As a side note, it’s the last days in Australia for one of our favourite people – Jane Emerick at Dragon is taking off for a holiday then to work at Dragon in the U.S. Best of luck Jane, we’re going to miss you!

This is Tom Whitaker. Why are we running a photo of Tommy Whits instead of Dane or Kelly or Owen Wright? Because Tommy’s a great Aussie surfer from Bronte who surfed an incredible heat against Dingo Morrison today, when both boy’s careers were on the line. And he deserves, at very least, a bit more love from us at Pop, and from you too. Besides, he’s got some real nice pigdog steeze.

If you looked only at the surf, you wouldn’t have thought the Billabong Pro Tahiti, happening right now at Teahupoo in Tahiti, would end up being much of a contest.

Teahupoo has been surfed long enough, and is famous enough, for surf forecasters to have the place pretty dialed. So everyone knew well before this contest started that it wasn’t going to pump. For yet another year, the best waves would be ridden in the trials, and the main event would be ground out through endless lay days followed by the best surfers in the world trying to make themselves look like it in marginal conditions.

Except for two things:

1. Marginal surf at Teahupoo is still pretty bloody good by any reasonable standard, and
2. There were plenty of careers on the line.

The ASP is changing. Right now is as interesting as surf contests have been in years. I’ll discuss the changes and what they mean in another post, but for now, my tip is to hit the Billabong Pro webcast if there’s waves today. There might not be – it’s forecast to be flat – but it’s going to be a fascinating finish, and if you’ve been kinda semi following the tour this year, it’s a good time to get kinda semi serious about it.

There was plenty of drama in Tahiti yesterday. It wasn’t the “oh-shit-he-can’t-go-this-one … oh-shit-he’s-going … he’s-gonna-die” kind of drama, it was the kind where, even though it’s only halfway through the season, the ASP’s changes to the world tour meant this was the event where guys were surfing to keep their dreams alive. Veterans and rookies, innovators and power guys were all on the chopping block. The surfers who’ve been bumped are: Kieren Perrow, Tom Whitaker, Dean Morrison, Kekoa Bacalso, Ben Dunn, Tanner Gudauskas, Neco Padaratz, Jay Thompson, Nate Yeomans, Mick Campbell, Drew Courtney, Blake Thornton. And there’s one more to go.

Kelly’s still in the event, and looking as dangerous as he has in a long time. Jordy Smith’s been knocked, but is starting to live up to his potential. And that potential is frightening. And Dane Reynolds is doing stuff like this in heats.

Click here to view the embedded video.

And surf contests are interesting again.

Fredrick Patacchia was untouchable this afternoon in his Round 3 heat at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. Photo: ASP/SCHOLTZ.

A good day yesterday at the Billabong Pro Tahiti had everyone in good spirits for another big day of heats. However a lull late in the afternoon had heats being extended. That didn’t mean there wasn’t some excitement. Tour leader Jordy Smith went down to local Tahitian wildcard, Manoa Drollet. Things weren’t so lucky for the other Tahitian wildcard Heiarii Williams who lost to a last second 8.80 ride from Slater. Highlights in the video below.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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[Official Press Release]

ASP Frontrunner Smith Eliminated as 12 Surfers Fall Off Tour at Billabong Pro Tahiti

TEAHUPOO, Taiarapu/Tahiti (Tuesday, August 31, 2010) – The Billabong Pro Tahiti recommenced today in clean three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves for the completion of Round 2 and the first 12 heats of Round 3.

Event No. 5 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti played host to an incredible day of action, with major shifts in the hunt for the ASP World Title as well as surfers falling off the Dream Tour, the result of the midyear cut-off from the ASP Top 45 to the Top 34 (Top 32 finishers plus two surfer wildcards).

Manoa Drollet (PYF), 29, local Tahitian wildcard, caused the upset of the event today, eliminating current ASP World No. 1, Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, from Billabong Pro Tahiti competition in Round 3. The quiet Tahitian utilized his intimate knowledge of the break and picked off the better set waves to control the heat and come away from with the win.

“He (Smith) was sitting on priority and he only needed a small wave at one point,” Drollet said. “He waited forever and he didn’t catch anything. I have a good knowledge here. I’ve been doing water patrol so I’ve been watching the event and analyzing the guys’ strategies a lot. I managed to get scores and get back in the lead there towards the end. I was expecting Jordy (Smith) to come back with a 9 at anytime.”

Despite the loss, Smith remained gracious in defeat and positive as he transitions to the next event in California.

“It was pretty tough out there,” Smith said. “Wave-starved a bit and difficult to find the right one. I got an average one in the beginning and the cut my hand on the reef. Some heats go like that. You live and learn, and I’m looking forward to the next one at Trestles.”

Immediately following Smith’s ousting, Kelly Slater (USA), 38, past nine-time ASP World Champion scored a sensational come-from-behind victory to overtake dangerous wildcard Heiarii Williams (PYF), 23. Needing a major score with moments remaining Slater failed to emerge from an excellent wave, only to paddle straight into another impressive barrel to secure the 8.80 and the win.

“I knew what he (Williams) was going to do from the beginning,” Slater said. “He and Manoa (Drollet) have the same game plan: be patient and they know the wave better than anyone. He was going to play it smart; he did that in the first heat too. I had a couple of average waves before getting an okay one. I took one at the end, probably the best wave of the heat, and I got too greedy and fell. When I came out, there was one that popped up right away and I was fortunate to get it.”

With his Round 3 victory, Slater moves from No. 3 to No. 2 in the hunt for the 2010 ASP World Title, but the Floridian is pragmatic when discussing his campaign this season.

“If the roles were reversed from J-Bay to here and I won out here, then we’d be right back where we (Smith and I) were before the last one,” Slater said. “It’s especially hard when you go out early and someone else goes to win a contest, like in J-Bay. We’re at the halfway point this season so we haven’t even been dropping results yet so I’m not super focused on it yet. I’ve actually been more focused on my buddies on the bubble. It’s a bummer to see some of them go.”

By the end of the Billabong Pro Tahiti, the 2010 ASP World Tour will have completed half the season, and the ASP Top 45 will be reduced to 34 (Top 32 finishers as well as two surfer wildcards) meaning that 13 surfers will be relegated back to the ASP PRIME and Star events.

Today saw 12 of the 13 decided throughout Rounds 2 and 3 of competition:

- Drew Courtney (AUS), 31
- Neco Padaratz (BRA), 34
- Tanner Gudauskas (USA), 22
- Mick Campbell (AUS), 34
- Kieren Perrow (AUS), 33
- Tom Whitaker (AUS), 30
- Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 25
- Blake Thornton (AUS), 25
- Dean Morrison (AUS), 29
- Jay Thompson (AUS), 28
- Nate Yeomans (USA), 29
- Ben Dunn (AUS), 24

Today’s relegation proved emotional for both the victors and the defeated.

Andy Irons (HAW), 32, past three-time ASP World Champion, controlled his bout against Gudauskas from the outset, and admitted regret at knocking the young Californian off tour.

“It’s really slow this morning,” Irons said. “Tanner (Gudauskas) and I probably only had three or four good waves and I got two of them. He’s a really good kid. It’s a bummer and I hate seeing him off tour. But he’s young and I’m sure he’ll be back here really soon. It’s really emotional in the 33rd round. The point spread is so big. If you get in a bad rhythm, you can get a few 33rds and before you know it, you’re on the bubble.”

Despite the brevity of his ASP World Tour stint, a disappointed Gudauskas remained positive following his loss.

“It was a tough heat,” Gudauskas said. “There’s not a lot coming in and when you get a guy like Andy (Irons), you have to be on your game. Today wasn’t my day. It (being on tour) has made us push as hard as we can. No easy days. We’ve gone as best we can and we’ll just keep trying to go.”

Amidst the ASP World Title Race shakeup and the cutoff dramatics, the world’s best surfers quietly mounted and assault on one of the world’s most pristine lefthanders.

Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 29, current ASP World No. 15, past runner-up at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, posted the highest heat score of the event this afternoon, an 18.50 out of a possible 20, including an incredible 9.57 for a throaty barrel followed by a massive carve.

“I don’t know what to say,” Patacchia said. “I watched Owen (Wright’s) heat and it didn’t look consistent so I tried to start with turns, then a few gems came to me. That was probably the best surf I’ve had since I’ve been here. I feel really comfortable out here at Teahupoo. I’ve had a bit of bad luck in the past couple of years. So now I just have to make my own luck. I really feel one with Tahiti here. I feel at home. The family I stay with here shows me a lot of aloha. I have a bike, I have a boat, I have a kayak and all my dive gear here. So I have a lot of things to keep me busy here.”

Adam Melling (AUS), 25, 2010 rookie and current ASP World No. 19, continued to exhibit his maturity, dominating his Round 3 clash with fellow rookie Dusty Payne (HAW), 21, posting the highest single-wave score of the event, a 9.80 out of a possible 10, en route to his emphatic win.

“It was good to get on a roll out there,” Melling said. “A couple of wider ones that opened up for me and it felt great to get a couple of scores. Dusty (Payne) is such an amazing barrel-rider that I knew I had to be on my game from the outset.”

Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, current ASP World No. 4, continued to show the world why he is one of the best surfers in the world, dominating Teahupoo to the tune of an impressive 18.00 out of a possible 20 to take a Round 3 victory.

“There was just a flurry of sets there for us,” Reynolds said. “The waves that came in the beginning of the heat were better than most of the day. Blake (Thornton) probably picked the wrong ones and I was always in position for a better one. It’s frustrating when that happens and you’re on the receiving end. I got two 8s on today’s scale and then a better one came in and I got a higher score. It was a lot of fun and I hope the waves hang around a little longer.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6am to assess conditions for a possible 6:30am start.

When competition resumes, up first will be reigning ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, up against wildcard Tamaroa McComb (PYF) in Heat 13 of Round 3.

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for a small mix of south and southwest swell will prevail for the last three days of the waiting period along with moderate to strong easterly trades.

Highlights from the Billabong Pro Tahiti will be available via http://www.billabongpro.com/tahiti10/

FUEL TV will be broadcasting the Billabong Pro Tahiti LIVE in Australia. Check out http://www.foxsports.com.au/fueltv for details.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI REMAINING ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 7: Jay Thompson (AUS) 14.50 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 7.77
Heat 8: Chris Davidson (AUS) 9.77 def. Drew Courtney (AUS) 8.60
Heat 9: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.50 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 7.00
Heat 10: Andy Irons (HAW) 15.06 def. Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 5.20
Heat 11: Adam Melling (AUS) 14.44 def. Mick Campbell (AUS) 14.40
Heat 12: Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.16 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 6.33
Heat 13: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 12.20 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 10.74
Heat 14: Dean Morrsion (AUS) 17.23 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 15.10
Heat 15: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.83 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 10.17
Heat 16: Dusty Payne (HAW) 12.77 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 11.93

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI REMAINING ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Dane Reynolds (USA) 18.00 def. Blake Thornton (AUS) 12.67
Heat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.84 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 4.37
Heat 3: Tiago Pires (PRT) 16.03 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 15.66
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.10 def. Joan Duru (FRA) 11.00
Heat 5: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.33 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 2.17
Heat 6: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 18.50 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.07
Heat 7: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.87 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 5.07
Heat 8: Manoa Drollet (PYF) 15.10 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.36
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.73 def. Heiarii Williams (PYF) 15.64
Heat 10: Adam Melling (AUS) 17.83 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 6.84
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.13 def. Nate Yeomans (USA) 15.77
Heat 12: Michel Bourez (PYF) 9.17 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 4.50

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 13: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Tamaroa McComb (PYF)
Heat 14: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 15: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 16: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)