X-TRAK and MAGMA are stoked to be the official traction and wax sponsors of the Jamaican Surfing Association starting in 2009. We look forward to working with Billy 'Mystic" Wilmot and the whole team and supporting them and helping them to represent Jamaican surfing talent around the world. Keep an eye on the blog for upcoming JSA events and promotions. You can check out their website HERE.
One love.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
New Skim Kits Available
Just a quick note to let everyone know that the all new Skim Kits are now available on the online store: www.xtrakstore.com
Made in the U.S.A. with testing and design input from pro skimmer Morgan Just, new color combinations and the first of many new graphic patterns the new skim kits from X-Trak separate themselves from the other traction options on the market. For years X-Trak has lead the way in skim and surf traction design and with this new dedicate skim kit they continue the tradition.
Starting from the tail up the new rear pad starts at 13 ¼ “ x 11 3/8” but the three pieces can be spread to cover any board width. All tail pads boast a 30mmm kick tail and 7mm arch. Knobby groove pattern and microdot embossed, lightweight, closed cell EVA foam finish things off.
On the front end, each kit comes with 2 combinable arch bars. Each arch bar is 13 ½” long x 2 ¼” wide by 10mm thick. Made from the same microdot embossed, light weight, closed cell EVA foam as the tail pad the arch bars are grooved horizontally and beveled around the outer edges to prevent hang-ups. The bars can be used individually or butted up back to back for a combined 26 ½” arch bar.
The kit is available in 8 color combinations: 4 solid color (black, blue, orange, green) and 4 Polka.com patterns (black/blue, black/orange, black/green, black/pink). Look for new pad outline and color combinations in the months to come. Also be sure to check out all the new products available from X-Trak and Magma at Surf Expo in January 14-17. We’ll be in booth 1063 right beside our south east distributor RDI.
X-TRAK is a product of HYPERFORM Inc.
485 Gus Hipp Blvd. Rockledge, FL 32955
ph: 321.632.6503 fax: 321.632.7019 email: info@xtrak.com
www.xtrak.com
Made in the U.S.A. with testing and design input from pro skimmer Morgan Just, new color combinations and the first of many new graphic patterns the new skim kits from X-Trak separate themselves from the other traction options on the market. For years X-Trak has lead the way in skim and surf traction design and with this new dedicate skim kit they continue the tradition.
Starting from the tail up the new rear pad starts at 13 ¼ “ x 11 3/8” but the three pieces can be spread to cover any board width. All tail pads boast a 30mmm kick tail and 7mm arch. Knobby groove pattern and microdot embossed, lightweight, closed cell EVA foam finish things off.
On the front end, each kit comes with 2 combinable arch bars. Each arch bar is 13 ½” long x 2 ¼” wide by 10mm thick. Made from the same microdot embossed, light weight, closed cell EVA foam as the tail pad the arch bars are grooved horizontally and beveled around the outer edges to prevent hang-ups. The bars can be used individually or butted up back to back for a combined 26 ½” arch bar.
The kit is available in 8 color combinations: 4 solid color (black, blue, orange, green) and 4 Polka.com patterns (black/blue, black/orange, black/green, black/pink). Look for new pad outline and color combinations in the months to come. Also be sure to check out all the new products available from X-Trak and Magma at Surf Expo in January 14-17. We’ll be in booth 1063 right beside our south east distributor RDI.
X-TRAK is a product of HYPERFORM Inc.
485 Gus Hipp Blvd. Rockledge, FL 32955
ph: 321.632.6503 fax: 321.632.7019 email: info@xtrak.com
www.xtrak.com
Monday, December 8, 2008
Recent X-TRAK Team News
Lot's going on lately with our team riders. Sorry if I haven't included everybody but the emails and updates have been pouring in faster than I can get the info up on the site. Great job to all our great teamers. Keep up all the hard work and great results.
Austin Ware finished up the year 38th on the QS. Last year he was 150th. He also won the Sun Diego Pro at Ponto In CA this weekend. He will be in Florida for the Sebastian Pro in January. Here is a recent sequence from Hawaii:
Teddy Navarro with a 3rd place result in the Sun Diego Series and won Electric Volt Thrower move of the day at the Volcom Stones Starfish Surf Series River Jetties, Newps:
Heres a pic of Corey Howell fresh off his ESA win at Cocoa Beach pier this weekend. SPLATATTACK!!
Nick Fowler 3rd place finish at the Volcom contest in Manhattan this weekend.
Austin Ware finished up the year 38th on the QS. Last year he was 150th. He also won the Sun Diego Pro at Ponto In CA this weekend. He will be in Florida for the Sebastian Pro in January. Here is a recent sequence from Hawaii:
Teddy Navarro with a 3rd place result in the Sun Diego Series and won Electric Volt Thrower move of the day at the Volcom Stones Starfish Surf Series River Jetties, Newps:
Heres a pic of Corey Howell fresh off his ESA win at Cocoa Beach pier this weekend. SPLATATTACK!!
Nick Fowler 3rd place finish at the Volcom contest in Manhattan this weekend.
Monday, December 1, 2008
This year was the turn for the Junior under 15 and under 18 men and women.
The contest was part of the Italian championship tour from the 1st to 30th of May delay in October.
Location: Anzio, Marinaretti
Date: 22/11/08
Wimnners: U 15 1°D'amico, 2° Fioravanti, 3° Stawowczyk, 4° Pacitto
U 18 1° Simi, 2° Bonomelli, 3° Perondi, 4° Montaldi
Women 1° Balistreri, 2° Ronconi
www.Counterstream.com
www.Foambox.blogspot.com
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
X-TRAK Team at King of the Peak 2008
We all had a great time this past weekend at King of the Peak. X-TRAK and MAGMA team riders were out in force and Frieda Zamba-Shaw and Christa Alves put on a great show making the full suit wearing guys look kinda silly on such a warm sunny day. Check out more photos here:
http://xkop.blogspot.com/
Thanks to Eric Diller for some of the photos: www.ericdiller.com
and Mike Rutherford http://mikerutherfordphotography.vpweb.com/contact_us.html
http://xkop.blogspot.com/
Thanks to Eric Diller for some of the photos: www.ericdiller.com
and Mike Rutherford http://mikerutherfordphotography.vpweb.com/contact_us.html
Friday, November 14, 2008
Hail to the chief
We had an overwhelming amount of requests for this particular Icon. Ask and ye shall receive. As soon as this pad is ready for production we'll post an announcement on the blog so RSS our feed or check back again soon. You can subscribe here: feed://xtrak.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss
Now available on the X-TRAK online store: www.xtrakstore.com
Now available on the X-TRAK online store: www.xtrakstore.com
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Jasset wins Again 9th Annual Tommy Tant Memorial Classic
The 9th Annual Tommy Tant Memorial Classic
MAGMA Official Wax Sponsor
November 1st - 2nd, 2008
Jasset Claims Pro Women and Open Women victories.
Photographer: Mike Rutherford
Surf Wire:
FIRST TIMES A CHARM
Asher Nolan beats two former champs and a local to win the 2008 Tommy Tant Memorial Classic
By: Mike Cianciulli
November 3, 2008
For a contest founded on good vibes, the final was heavy. There was 2007 champion Aaron Cormican on the south end punting towards the free surfers. 2006 champion Jesse Heilman was blowing up the pier bowl. In the middle was hometown hero/event organizer/brother of the deceased Will Tant. Next to him was Florida's top WQS warrior and first-time Tant Classic competitor Asher Nolan. All the pieces were in place for a doozy, as hundreds of spectators lined the arena on the south side of the Flagler Beach Pier.
In it's ninth year, the Tommy Tant Memorial Classic has always been more than a surf contest. It's a place where old friends get to relive memories of past times. New generations of Florida surfers compete in the "tadpole" division. Money is raised for scholarships and to feed hungry families during the holidays. But at its root, it is the local community's way of giving back to itself.
"When something tragic happens - like my brother Tommy's passing -- it's a beautiful way to honor the community that helped us in our time of need," explained Will Tant, whose brother Tommy, a great surfer in his own right, passed away in 1999 with an aortic aneurism. "They played Pennywise's 'Bro's Hymn' at the start of the final which was played that at my brother's funeral and I just got chicken skin. Even though it is competitive and there were interferences, you still get stoked to see someone get a barrel."
At most beaches, there's hardly a barrel in sight when the surf is two-to-three feet and blown to bits. But at the right tide (and with the right surfers in the water), Flagler Beach can produce a few drainers no matter how choppy the surf is.
Cormican drew first blood in the final with a pigdog wedge shack. Asher Nolan immediately answered back with a giant no-grab, full-rotation aerial that sent the crowd into an uproar.
"I was messing with Asher out there going, 'You're lucky you just did the air of your life,'" Cormican, the defending champion, laughed. He soon upped the ante with a second backside pit, this time going the old school layback route.
Meanwhile, Heilman hacked his way from the pier over to the middle peak to join Nolan and Tant. As soon as he arrived next to Nolan, a perfect teepee took shape and both surfers wanted in. Nolan went right, Heilman left and the two danced their way straight towards the beach, bumping and grinding. Heilman was flagged for the penalty, while Tant notched a few solid waves under everyone's noses.
"It was really cool out there until me and Jesse got into a little interference," Nolan recalled. "Two in two days and I haven't had one in like five years... but they weren't on me. I mean, I can't let a grom out paddle me."
Not to be denied, Nolan shook it off and found another barrel amongst the sloppy surf that was enough to top Cormican's pair of tubes. The Tant Classic had a new champion.
"It's such a cool event," Nolan said. "It's one of my top finishes for sure. I'm stoked to win."
"It's good to see the title go up to Jacksonville," Tant smiled, after Asher had taken the win and the $1000. "It's been in Daytona (with Heilman in 2006), it's been in Smyrna (with Cormican in 2007). This is Asher's first year doing the contest so hopefully he'll come back and defend the title next year. That's the way this event is -- the surfers who do it are stoked and tell someone and then they tell someone and that's how it grows."
Growth might be an understatement. There were two podiums running over two days, with over 200 competitors. There was a food festival, live concert, and a six-foot mural being painted. Plenty of contestants traveled from out of state, like Dylan Graves from Puerto Rico, Noah Snyder from North Carolina, and one of Tommy's close friends Shaun Noble returned home from California.
Noble, who made the semifinals in pro and the final in Open Mens best describes the inexplicable aura that surrounds the Tant Classic, "When there were no waves in my heat, I'd look up and say 'Tommy, where are you?' and every time he'd send me the nicest peak and that's how I got through."
As evident by the weekend's vibe and Noble's claim, Tommy Tant is still with us.
MAGMA in South Africa
BOOST SURF SHOP - BLOUBERG CAPE TOWN
TYRONE JENSEN - SPRAY GURU - DUTCHIE FACTORY
Just want to offer a delayed welcome to our new South African Magma distributor, Mike Rogers of Marine Traction Specialists. Mike has gotten off to a great start and we look forward to working with him far into the future. MTS can be contacted at the following:
Mike Rogers
Tel: 27 21 939 3615
Fax: 27 21 911 0410
Cell: 27 82 566 5776
http://marinetraction.co.za/
http://magmasurfwaxandseadekinsa.blogspot.com/
TYRONE JENSEN - SPRAY GURU - DUTCHIE FACTORY
Just want to offer a delayed welcome to our new South African Magma distributor, Mike Rogers of Marine Traction Specialists. Mike has gotten off to a great start and we look forward to working with him far into the future. MTS can be contacted at the following:
Mike Rogers
Tel: 27 21 939 3615
Fax: 27 21 911 0410
Cell: 27 82 566 5776
http://marinetraction.co.za/
http://magmasurfwaxandseadekinsa.blogspot.com/
Cameron Carothers New X-TRAK/MAGMA Skimmer
Our latest skimmer to make up the xtrak/magma team is Cameron Carothers from Santa Cruz, CA. He is 19 and rides for Roucsh Creations(skimboard) and Tac apparel. Cameron participated in four pro/am skim events this year and came back with three first place finishes and one fourth place. He is still competing as an amateur but, is looking forward to turning pro next year. He also has a significant part in an upcoming skim video to be released next spring.
http://www.tacapparelco.com/goon-troop-profile.php?id=4&keywords=Cameron%20Carothers
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
X-TRAK Italian team rider Elena Bertolini Wins Rip Curl Pro Italy
Elena Bertolini Wins Rip Curl Pro Italy
Xtrak – Magma team rider Elena (Ellen) Bertolini wins the Rip Curl Pro Italy (north of Rome) in 2-3 foot waves. Even though an injury on the right foot during the semi Ellen was able to Win the final, grab the prize and finish the women Italian Championship Tour second in the ranking.
Ellen likes the Grenade pad!
Congratulations!!!
If you need info on X-TRAK or Magma in Italy be sure to check out our distributor:
Counterstream Enterprise - Fab Ferruzzi
Via Carife76 Rome 00134 Italy
phone: 011-39-06-7194432 fax 011-39-06-71339042
web: http://www.counterstream.com/index.asp
email: fab@counterstream.com
Xtrak – Magma team rider Elena (Ellen) Bertolini wins the Rip Curl Pro Italy (north of Rome) in 2-3 foot waves. Even though an injury on the right foot during the semi Ellen was able to Win the final, grab the prize and finish the women Italian Championship Tour second in the ranking.
Ellen likes the Grenade pad!
Congratulations!!!
If you need info on X-TRAK or Magma in Italy be sure to check out our distributor:
Counterstream Enterprise - Fab Ferruzzi
Via Carife76 Rome 00134 Italy
phone: 011-39-06-7194432 fax 011-39-06-71339042
web: http://www.counterstream.com/index.asp
email: fab@counterstream.com
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Fun waves launch AAU - Hayes, Umbel, Duff, King among early champions
Corey Howell of Melbourne surfs in the AAU National Surfing Championships in the Men's Open in Cocoa Beach. (Rik Jesse, FLORIDA TODAY)
Shane Holmes
It was rainy, gloomy and gusty at the beach behind Coconuts on the Beach, and George Seguna could not have been any more pleased.
A quick look at the ocean would tell you why.
Waves were breaking 3 to 5 feet in glassy offshore sets -- and they didn't stop all day long, rain or not -- and the roughly 135 surfers who invaded Cocoa Beach for the AAU National Surfing Championships were taking advantage of it.
"Cocoa Beach is absolutely pumping," Seguna said. "This is a dream come true for us."
Seguna is the contest director of the tournament, which is sponsored by Bright House Networks and the World Skin Cancer Foundation.
The tournament's main event is the Open Shortboard and Longboard competitions because the top four from each will be awarded a slot in the Sean and Skippy Slater Invitational behind the Cocoa Beach Hilton.
The event will be Nov. 7-9, and Cocoa Beach native and nine-time world champion Kelly Slater is expected to compete.
Saturday, both events completed preliminary heats, and the semifinal and final heats will be conducted today. Multiple other age groups and divisions also finish today.
Ten surfers from the Open Shortboard event, who either finished first or second in one of the five heats, will surf today.
Cocoa Beach's Danny Cruden, who finished first in his respective heat, was a judge for last year's AAU tournament and said the surf could not have been better.
"Usually we don't get surf like this here," he said. "These are blessed conditions."
From the Open Longboard competition, 10 surfers from five heats also advanced and will compete today for one of four spots.
Because the tournament is all amateur, no money will be awarded, except for the opportunity to surf in the same competition as Slater. Star surfers C.J. Hobgood and Cory Lopez are also likely to attend, Seguna said, but that has yet to be confirmed.
"This is an unbelievable opportunity for these surfers," Seguna said. "Normally, they would have to go through multiple levels of surfing competitions to get a chance to compete with those guys."
Cruden said he'll just focus on today's competition.
"I'm trying not to think about that possibility (of competing against Slater)," he said.
The competition features about 135 surfers from all over Florida, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico. The age groups ranged from Super Menehune (6 and under) to Super Men's (46 and over).
The semifinals and finals for those events are also scheduled for today.
Blake Sands, a 23-year-old surfer who was born and raised in the Bahamas but has lived locally for the past four years, won his heat in the Men's division Saturday. He praised the level of competition.
"I feel really, extremely good about winning," he said. "That was a tough heat, everybody was really tough."
Sean Hayes won the Super Men's event, Joey Rosadio won the Open Bodyboard, Korey King won the Junior Women's, Julie Stine won the Masters Women's, Jasset Umbel won Women's Shortboard and Crystal Duff won the Women's Longboard.
Aside from the Open Shortboard and Open Longboard competition, today's action will also include an X-Games-style high school team competition between Satellite, Cocoa Beach and Jupiter.
Surfers enter the water at 8 a.m.
Shane Holmes
It was rainy, gloomy and gusty at the beach behind Coconuts on the Beach, and George Seguna could not have been any more pleased.
A quick look at the ocean would tell you why.
Waves were breaking 3 to 5 feet in glassy offshore sets -- and they didn't stop all day long, rain or not -- and the roughly 135 surfers who invaded Cocoa Beach for the AAU National Surfing Championships were taking advantage of it.
"Cocoa Beach is absolutely pumping," Seguna said. "This is a dream come true for us."
Seguna is the contest director of the tournament, which is sponsored by Bright House Networks and the World Skin Cancer Foundation.
The tournament's main event is the Open Shortboard and Longboard competitions because the top four from each will be awarded a slot in the Sean and Skippy Slater Invitational behind the Cocoa Beach Hilton.
The event will be Nov. 7-9, and Cocoa Beach native and nine-time world champion Kelly Slater is expected to compete.
Saturday, both events completed preliminary heats, and the semifinal and final heats will be conducted today. Multiple other age groups and divisions also finish today.
Ten surfers from the Open Shortboard event, who either finished first or second in one of the five heats, will surf today.
Cocoa Beach's Danny Cruden, who finished first in his respective heat, was a judge for last year's AAU tournament and said the surf could not have been better.
"Usually we don't get surf like this here," he said. "These are blessed conditions."
From the Open Longboard competition, 10 surfers from five heats also advanced and will compete today for one of four spots.
Because the tournament is all amateur, no money will be awarded, except for the opportunity to surf in the same competition as Slater. Star surfers C.J. Hobgood and Cory Lopez are also likely to attend, Seguna said, but that has yet to be confirmed.
"This is an unbelievable opportunity for these surfers," Seguna said. "Normally, they would have to go through multiple levels of surfing competitions to get a chance to compete with those guys."
Cruden said he'll just focus on today's competition.
"I'm trying not to think about that possibility (of competing against Slater)," he said.
The competition features about 135 surfers from all over Florida, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico. The age groups ranged from Super Menehune (6 and under) to Super Men's (46 and over).
The semifinals and finals for those events are also scheduled for today.
Blake Sands, a 23-year-old surfer who was born and raised in the Bahamas but has lived locally for the past four years, won his heat in the Men's division Saturday. He praised the level of competition.
"I feel really, extremely good about winning," he said. "That was a tough heat, everybody was really tough."
Sean Hayes won the Super Men's event, Joey Rosadio won the Open Bodyboard, Korey King won the Junior Women's, Julie Stine won the Masters Women's, Jasset Umbel won Women's Shortboard and Crystal Duff won the Women's Longboard.
Aside from the Open Shortboard and Open Longboard competition, today's action will also include an X-Games-style high school team competition between Satellite, Cocoa Beach and Jupiter.
Surfers enter the water at 8 a.m.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Morgan Just wins Fluid Skim Invasion
After a hard faught battle between Morgan Just, Corbin Dull and Kris Stone, Morgan Just beats Corbin Dull by one point to take the 2008 Fluid Skim Invasion. This contest was Kris Stone’s first PRO event and the deep knowledge of the local wave conditions led him into the final.
Morgan Just (Dana Point, CA)
Corbin Dull (Panama City Beach, FL)
Kris Stone (Fort Walton Beach, FL)
Jed Currington (Vilano Beach, FL)
Dave Armstrong (Venice, FL)
Derrick Pryor (Panama City, FL)
More at: http://skiminvasion.com/
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Congrats to Kyle Timm
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Jasset in FLorida Today
Surfing's new wave
Melbourne Beach's Umbel among Brevard County's female teen sensations
BY HILLARD GROSSMAN
FLORIDA TODAY
It's been 20 years since Jan Futch propped up her "competitive" surfboard and stopped traveling around the globe as a touring pro. She had dominated the mid-'80s as the Florida and Southeast champion and was chasing the world's best.
But at 21, she was ready to raise her son.
"What could I do?" she said. "Life starts getting in the way."
Little did she know she'd be the last true world-class champion from Brevard County for the next two decades.
But, that may be about to change, with the emergence of several teenage sensations, including 14-year-old Jasset Umbel of Melbourne Beach.
She has a sweet smile, a cute name and a refreshing perspective on competitive surfing. She also has enough energy to play tag, hide-and-seek and jump on a trampoline after a few hours of surfing at the Ocean Avenue break, just steps from her family's 1937 Cape Cod-style home.
"I just like to surf with my friends," she said.
"She loves people," said her mom, Dorette. "She'd be just as happy if her friends had won."
Don't let the lack of a killer instinct fool you. Her room is full of trophies, some shoulder-high, lending testament to her ability. She's only been surfing for three years, but already has won back-to-back National Scholastic Surfing Association and Eastern Surfing Association East Coast championships.
"She's the real deal, and I don't say that very lightly," Futch said. "I've been watching her since she was little. The first time I laid eyes on her was when I was watching Eddie (her son, Eddie Guilbeau) and the boys in a huge shore break. It was scary. But I saw her take off, and she just charged it. I haven't seen anything like that (from a girl) around here in a long time."
Neither has Quiksilver's Matt Kechele, who spent five seasons on the World Tour.
"I saw her in Cape Hatteras (N.C.) during the Easterns, and she just wanted to free-surf," he said. "She paddled out in these big waves, 6-feet Hawaiian. I mean, pretty big. People were concerned, for sure. But she had no problem. She's definitely got a bright future."
Surfing gets aggressive
It was the girls of yesteryear, including Futch, who set the tone for the local surf scene.
Girls such as Lynn Thomas Vignetti, who won the 1969 East Coast Championships before setting off for a stellar West Coast career, and Cocoa Beach's Sharon Wolfe, a two-time U.S. champion, who won the 1982 East Coast title. There also was Simone Maffey, an East Coast champion from Indialantic, and Satellite Beach's Mary Ann Hayes, now in the East Coast Hall of Fame.
Some have tried to duplicate their feats, girls such as Connie Arias and Kira Sheppard and Lauren McLean. But they've been few and far between.
So what happened in the past 20 years?
"Most of those girls started out on longboards -- that's where most of them got their training -- and they were beautiful surfers," said Dick Catri, a legendary Hall of Fame surfer from Melbourne Beach. "But then, shorter boards came into play. Several adapted very well to them, but surfing got a whole lot more aggressive, and guys were less tolerant about giving up waves to girls, so a lot of the girls gave up.
"Now, there's been a tremendous resurgence in the past 10 years. Some of these girls surf better than the guys, and they keep their femininity doing it."
Acceptance from the guys has been crucial to most female surfers, including Futch, who learned to surf from her brother, Johnny -- a pro.
"Plain and simple, most of the girls today start surfing with other girls," Futch said. whose once-candid reputation with judges helped level the playing surface between men and women. "They do great until they're 15 or 16, but they're so wrapped up in girls surfing. I just don't see where the level (of girls surfing) has accelerated all around."
Where the boys are
Jasset grew up in the shadows of East Coast stars such as Paul Reinecke and David Speir. She also happens to surf with a pretty good group of guys, including Guilbeau, Blake Jones (one of the top 10 progressive surfers on the East Coast) and Marshall Alberga (who once defeated nine-time world champion Kelly Slater in the finals of a Cocoa Beach contest).
"They encourage me," Jasset said.
"Sure, they'd tell her to take a wave, because they didn't want it," laughed her dad, Bob, a former nationally-ranked pro skateboarder who now is a zone manager for Ford Motor Company.
Realistically, Jasset's gracefulness and aggressiveness have impressed the "Inlet boys."
"She's killing it lately," said Guilbeau, 21, one of the area's top surfers and a regular at Ocean Aveue and Sebastian Inlet. "We're stoked because she's always trying to push it in bigger waves.She's eating healthy, she's so smart into it. She's so humble, too. One day I'll hear, 'I got this contest coming up.' But you'd have to hear it from someone else that she won.
"I've never won an East Coast title, and already she's got a couple. It's crazy. She was just a little girl a couple of years ago."
Hasn't been easy
Jasset learned to surf on her dad's longboard when she was 11 as he'd hold onto her ankles.
"She could swim, so after a couple of times, she was up," Bob said. "It started out as a hobby. Then, it got to be where her and her brother (Jack, now 10) would fight to see who'd get on the longboard. One day I said to her, 'Let your brother ride the longboard.' She jumped on my shortboard and it didn't take long. Then they started fighting over the shortboard."
By 12, O'Neill representatives in California had seen her on a shortboard and were asking to sponsor her.It was a big step for Jasset, especially to be on the same "team" with WCT superstar Cory Lopez.
But, it hasn't gone to her head. She still keeps her dad as her coach.
"He's a good coach, but I think I'm a better surfer than him," she giggled.
There is little doubt. She's already won 13 of 24 NSSA events, including her first one at age 11 and another one Sunday at Sebastian, often celebrating with ice cream from Moo's in Indialantic.
But it hasn't exactly been as smooth as the soft-serve cones she enjoys.
Jasset was born with double-deficit dyslexia, although her audio-visual shortcomings were not realized until later in life. After some trying times through public schools and private schools, Dorette now keeps her in home-school courses through New Covenant Christian School in Melbourne.
"We keep her home-schooled (now in eighth grade), but it's not because of surfing," Dorette said. "It's a learning deformity, which we discovered later, wondering why she wasn't reading."
But Jasset refuses to use it as a crutch in her sport, even though she struggled at first with such intricacies as learning which direction to take on a surfboard and when the clock would run out on her heats.
"In the beginning, it was different." Bob explained. "She couldn't understand there were 5 minutes left in the heat. She'd block everything out and go full-bore until the horn blew. But she's over all that now."
"I actually think it leads to more creativity on her turns," Dorette said, "because she thinks things out differently."
"I think she's getting better," her little brother said.
Wave of the future
Jasset is part of a new wave of female surfers who could take the sport to higher levels. Locally, there is Christa Alves (19), Savannah Bradley (15), Emily Ruppert (13) and Nikki Viesins (12), to name a few.
Just last week, 14-year-old Tyler Wright of Australia -- who also learned to surf with her brothers -- became the youngest female surfer to win an ASP World Tour event by capturing the Beachley Classic in her home country. The irony of Wright's win came just a few days after seven-time women's world champion Layne Beachley announced she'd be retiring in December.
Earlier this year, another 14-year-old, Malia Manuel of Hawaii, became the youngest to win the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, Calif.
"There are definitely some young girls out there in California, like (national champion) Courtney Conlogue," Kechele said. "All of those girls are beating some of the guys.Right now, you've got a good group of girls in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states, like Quincy Davis, and Ariel and Alexis Engstrom (all of Montauk, N.Y.).
"I think the movie 'Blue Crush' would have got them fired up years ago. I know we've had a competition gap, but as surfing continues to grow and capture people's interest, these girls will be a big part of it."
Jasset realizes World Tour stars, such as Slater and twins C.J. and Damien Hobgood, all began their surfing careers just minutes from her home.
"I know they started here, so you know it can be done," said Jasset, who also would love to work with animals as a veterinarian.
"She's such a sweet girl," Futch said. "Too many of them lose that sweetness."
As long as those ice cream celebrations continue, Jasset should have a very sweet future.
A look at Jasset Umbel
Age: 14
Hometown: Melbourne Beach
Big Feats: Winning Open Women and Explorer girls titles at the NSSA East Coast Championships, ESA Southeast Regional and East Coast girls Champion in 2008
Sponsors: O'Neill, Lost surfboards, Future Fins, Xtrak, Nixon, DNA energy drink, Ocean Minded and Catalyst surfshop.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
More new pads!
The all new SPLAT and POLKA.com pads are now available from X-TRAK. Check them out on the website, www.xtrak.com or purchase one now on the online store, www.xtrakstore.com. The first shipments are just now arriving at our distributors and will be in shop over the days and weeks to come.
Monday, October 13, 2008
X-TRAK/MAGMA Sign Three New US Distributors
X-Trak & Magma sign major US distribution agreements
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, - - Rockledge, Florida -- Hyperform Inc., the manufacturer of X-TRAK surf products and the new, innovative MAGMA Wax, is proud to announce that they have continued the expansion of their domestic distribution network with the addition of three new distributors on the US East and West coasts.
While customers are encouraged to order from the distributors in their regions factory direct communications will still be welcomed.
Their new distributors can be contacted at:
Coastal Surf Supplies
12636 Sunset Ave., H-2
Ocean City, MD 21842
Ph: (888) 569-7038
Fx: (410) 213-7825
Email: sales@coastalsurfsupplies.com
Just Surf, Inc.
1812 Milbank Rd.
Encinitas, CA
Ph: (877) 657-2594
Fx: (760) 434-5946
Email: info@justsurfusa.com
Rainbow Fin Co.
677 Beach Drive
La Selva Beach, CA 95076
Ph: (831) 728-2998
Fx: (831) 728-3156
Email: info@rainbowfins.com
In addition to the distributor’s in-house teams, each will be backed by factory support and the new X-TRAK/MAGMA National Sales Manager, and four time world champ, Frieda Zamba-Shaw. Look for joint promotional events in the weeks and months to come including the Jan 14-17 Surf Expo and other trade shows, contests and shop events.
With nearly 2 decades of experience in making surfboard traction, X-TRAK has become a trusted name in the surfing industry by providing: unbeatable traction as a result of our innovative microdot embossing processes and intricate, cutting edge designs that are offered in a variety of colors.
MAGMA surfboard wax has unique, patent-pending color coded embers for quick and easy differentiation between the 5 temperature formulas offered. MAGMA wax provides fast build up, advanced anti-slicking properties, and various tackifiers for total deck traction. Each bar of MAGMA is made of 3 break-away pieces that are poured into a recycled/recyclable packaging that can also be used for storage.
www.justsurfusa.com
www.rainbowfins.com
www.hyperforminc.com
www.coastalsurfsupplies.com
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, - - Rockledge, Florida -- Hyperform Inc., the manufacturer of X-TRAK surf products and the new, innovative MAGMA Wax, is proud to announce that they have continued the expansion of their domestic distribution network with the addition of three new distributors on the US East and West coasts.
While customers are encouraged to order from the distributors in their regions factory direct communications will still be welcomed.
Their new distributors can be contacted at:
Coastal Surf Supplies
12636 Sunset Ave., H-2
Ocean City, MD 21842
Ph: (888) 569-7038
Fx: (410) 213-7825
Email: sales@coastalsurfsupplies.com
Just Surf, Inc.
1812 Milbank Rd.
Encinitas, CA
Ph: (877) 657-2594
Fx: (760) 434-5946
Email: info@justsurfusa.com
Rainbow Fin Co.
677 Beach Drive
La Selva Beach, CA 95076
Ph: (831) 728-2998
Fx: (831) 728-3156
Email: info@rainbowfins.com
In addition to the distributor’s in-house teams, each will be backed by factory support and the new X-TRAK/MAGMA National Sales Manager, and four time world champ, Frieda Zamba-Shaw. Look for joint promotional events in the weeks and months to come including the Jan 14-17 Surf Expo and other trade shows, contests and shop events.
With nearly 2 decades of experience in making surfboard traction, X-TRAK has become a trusted name in the surfing industry by providing: unbeatable traction as a result of our innovative microdot embossing processes and intricate, cutting edge designs that are offered in a variety of colors.
MAGMA surfboard wax has unique, patent-pending color coded embers for quick and easy differentiation between the 5 temperature formulas offered. MAGMA wax provides fast build up, advanced anti-slicking properties, and various tackifiers for total deck traction. Each bar of MAGMA is made of 3 break-away pieces that are poured into a recycled/recyclable packaging that can also be used for storage.
www.justsurfusa.com
www.rainbowfins.com
www.hyperforminc.com
www.coastalsurfsupplies.com
Friday, October 3, 2008
Jasset's on a roll
Michel Laframboise
Mikey DeTemple & Picaresque
Here is a little excerpt from Mikey's blog:
"THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2008
First up!
After having 1,400 feet of super-16 sitting in the fridge, shot over a month ago I decided it was time to send it out. AKA, I had the money to have it processed. This surf-film-making thing is expensive. While I was in France last week it was processed, transfered and awaited my arrival yesterday when I returned to Rhode Island. We shot this whole trip on super-16, so it was kind of nerve racking wondering what we were going to see. Pleasantly surprised, it's all I hoped for. Here's a little tease of what you will be seeing.
Photos thanks to Chasen Marshal."
Here is a link to his blog: http://highseasfilm.blogspot.com/
Keep us posted on the progress Mikey!
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