Colleen clinches Surf Jam 6

Colleen Brennan won one of the closest surfing contests of 2008 at Majini Island last weekend, beating the competition by just a decimal place to take first place at the Vibrations Surf Alliance (VSA) Surf Jam 6. "The competition was incredibly tough, amazingly close, but a tonnes of fun!" confirmed Colleen (see pic, right) after the event.

Second place Crusader Arado was awarded one of the two highest scores in the preliminary heats (18.50) and then scored high again in the semi-finals with a 18.75, with Bonheur Chanaux Colleen both scoring 18.875. All three surfed consistently well throughout Surf Jam 6, but in the end there had to be a winner and Colleen managed to squeeze past Cru's finals score of 18.375 by 0.41 points, with Bon coming third with 18.00.

Colleen and Crusader came first and second respectively at the TCH Surfers Open earlier in August, although neither made the finals at the SLSA's first Season II event at Boneyard with Colleen getting knocked out in the heats and Crusader finishing in the semis. However, there must be a few people asking 'where the... did
Bonheur Chanaux come from?' Bonheur didn't compete in SLSA 2008 Season I at all, but was nominated as one of the Reef Riders Surf Team's five designated team scorers at Boneyard finishing with a sixth place and now taking a very respectable third at Surf Jam 6. One to watch out for in September's competitions!

FINAL HEAT
1. Colleen Brennan ( 18.785 points)
2. Crusader Arado ( 18.375 points)
3. Bonheur Chanaux ( 18.00 points)
4. Carolin Gausman ( 17.25 points)

Photo credit: Wilfrid DeCuir

Useful links
SurfWatch Results: VSA Surf Jam 30 Aug 08 -- FINAL HEAT RESULTS
SurfWatch: VSA draws Surf Jam heats (28 Aug 08)
SurfWatch: Surfing Calendar - August-September 2008
SurfWatch: Buffy wins big at Surf Jam! (8 Mar 08)
SurfWatch: ONeill Crowned VSA Surf Jam champ! (2 Feb 2008)
SurfWatch: SURF REPORT -- Majini Island
SLURL: Bishara Beach (spectator area for the VSA Surf Jam)
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LIVE RESULTS -- VSA Surf Jam 6

SurfWatch is reporting live from the VSA Surf Jam on Majini Island, Bishara Resorts -- Starting Saturday 30 August 2008 from 1100 hrs Second Life Time (SLT or PDT) or 1800 hrs GMT.

LIVE RESULTS


This is the sixth VSA Surf Jam surfing competition to be held this year. Today's event takes place on pipeline waves according to SLSA rules. 20 surfers are expected to take part in 4 heats. SurfWatch will post the competition heat draws, semi finals results and finals results only for the Surf Jam .


SurfWatch Results is also available on the mobile (cellular) Internet via SurfWatch Mobile.



Useful links

SurfWatch: VSA draws Surf Jam heats (28 Aug 08)

SurfWatch: Surfing Calendar - August-September 2008

SurfWatch: Buffy wins big at Surf Jam! (8 Mar 08)

SurfWatch: ONeill Crowned VSA Surf Jam champ! (2 Feb 2008)

SurfWatch: SURF REPORT -- Majini Island

SLURL: Bishara Beach (spectator area for the VSA Surf Jam)
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VSA draws Surf Jam heats

Vibrations Surf Alliance (VSA) announced heat draws for Surf Jam 6 on Thursday. SJ6 takes place at 1100hrs SLT (1800 hrs GMT) on Saturday 30 August 2008 on Majini Island, part of the Bishara Resorts sim.

20 competitors have signed up for the VSA Surf Jam, including ONeill Auer, winner of SJ1, Buffy Munro winner of SJ2 and Wilfrid DeCuir, winner of the first SLSA Season II contest at Boneyard earlier this month. There is also a wait list.

The VSA's monthly Surf Jam's are members only competitions, h
owever fellow surfers, visitors and prospective members are always welcome to watch from the spectator stands on the neighbouring Bishar Island.


HEAT 1
Quench Spotter (BLACK
)
Wilfrid DeCuir (BLUE
)
Kim Henig (GREEN
)
ONeill Auer (ORANGE
)
Triston Mayo (PURPLE
)

HEAT 2

MaryAnn Maa
(BLACK)
Colleen Brennan
(BLUE)
Crusader Arado
(GREEN)
Kohana Schimmer
(ORANGE)
Robbin Ember
(PURPLE)

HEAT 3

Abel Halderman
(BLACK
Buffy Munro
(BLUE)
Kimmy Leroux
(GREEN)
Gorka Urriah
(ORANGE)
Malcolm Sydney
(PURPLE)

HEAT 4

Amadis Thespian
(BLACK)
Carolin Gausman
(BLUE)
WickedV Carver
(GREEN)
Triston Mayo
(ORANGE)
Bon Chenaux (PURPLE
)

Notes: The (COLOUR) in brackets denotes the colour of the surfer's competition shirt. The heats draw may always be subject to last minute changes.The two highest scoring riders from each heat will go through to the semis.


Surfers contact: VW Sands


Useful links

SurfWatch: Surfing Calendar - August-September 2008

SurfWatch: Buffy wins big at Surf Jam! (8 Mar 08)

SurfWatch: ONeill Crowned VSA Surf Jam champ! (2 Feb 2008)

SurfWatch: SURF REPORT -- Majini Island

SLURL: Bishara Beach (spectator area for the VSA Surf Jam)
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New wave on Crab Island

HP Surf's new Sunset wave breaks on Crab Island

Surfers visiting West of Ireland may have noticed that there is a new type of big wave break on Crab Island, now giving surfers a choice of three different waves in the estate (Bundoran Reef has pipeline waves and Neart an Epic). The 100 meter wide, seamless sculpty wave is called a Sunset wave and is the first of HP Surf's new generation of waves. Judging from feedback from surfers invited to test the new wave, it's quite a ride.

"We've invested most of our development time in trying to create new, innovative wave forms in attempt to make surfing in Second Life more realistic," said leogarto (Leo) Burt, CEO of HP Surf Boards Inc. "Surfers will see that each generation of our surfing waves has new innovations in form, textures and scriptiing: all designed to help surfers have more fun!"


"I really like them, said surfer Kimmy Leroux at Crab Island. "The fact that the wave is seamless from end-to-end makes it a nice ride. The wave is really smooth and catching air is great! I also like the fact that HP Surf is asking surfers to test these new waves and is taking advice from us."


Crab Island has recently been taken over by HP Surf, which has made it the developer's new testing ground for surfable waves, surfboards and other watersports products. HP Surf Boards, the leading Brazilian developer of Second Life surfboards and brought a new wave out a few months ago called the 'Teahupoo'. HP Surf is also the key sponsor of the ABSSL (Associação Brasileira de Surf no Second Life), which will hold its third major surfing competition event in two weeks time.


"The Sunset wave will be available in 60, 100 and 200 meter models," said Leo. ""The new 200 meter Sunset wave is gigantic!" SurfWatch hears that HP Surf plans to start testing the new 200 meter wide Sunset wave at the Pacific Coast Xtreme group of sims during the next few days.

Useful links
SurfWatch: Brazilian surf circuit comes to Praia da Paz (5 Jul 08)
SLURL: Crab Island
SLURL: Redondo Beach (PCX)
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New fish and guns at Surf City

RJ Surfer Girl Kara Renfold shows off Rob John's smooth new shapes

Surf City boardmaker Rob John's Surf launched some of the largest and smallest surfboards in Second Life this weekend with the arrival of five RJ Fish and two RJ Guns. The ultra-short RJ Fish boards boast squared-off fish tails, making them ideal for snappy turns and radical maneuvers, whilst the RJ Guns are typically big, fast and streamlined. The sculpty shapes are brand new and all boards come with tri-fin arrangements. Both new lines are hybrid boards, combining RJ's sculpties together with Heather Goodliffe surfboard scripts.

"The fish and guns are not a retexture of Seb's sculpty boards, but are entirely new," explains Robin Mapp, owner of Rob John's Surf and Surf City. "I originally made just a few of these boards for the Surf City team to compete on. However, a lot of people tried them and dug 'em, so I put out a new line. My sculpts are 3D sculpted. Surfers will notice that they have no wavey edges and a tighter bounding box around the prim. They are totally unique."


The two new guns are the RJ Gun Pure Juice and the editor's personal favourite, coming between a Namiko and a regular longboard in length, the bright yellow and red RJ Gun Retro Bolt. The new square-tailed fish comes in a variety of designs: Black Stinger, Pink Hibiscus, Pink Neon, Neon Lights and a plainer RJ Fish Competition Board.


Rob John's Surf started making Second Life surfboards more than a year ago. The company also makes boardies, bikini's, beach chairs, loungers and, of course, Rob John's own surfing waves. The new boards are available from L$450 at Surf City South.

Useful links

SurfWatch: Surf City to test longboard skills (22 Jul 08)
SLURL: Surf City South
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LIVE RESULTS -- TCH Surfers Open 2

SurfWatch is reporting live from TCH Estates on the TCH Surfers Open surfing competition -- Starting Saturday 23 August 2008 from 1215 hrs Second Life Time (SLT or PDT) or 1915 hrs GMT.

LIVE RESULTS


This is the third TCH Surfers Open surfing competition to be held at TCH Estates, but numbering started after the inaugural 4th July event, so this is Surfers Open 2! Today's event takes place on an Epic wave with no restriction on surf board makes or scripts. 16 surfers are expected to take part in 8 heats. SurfWatch will post the competition heat draws, semi finals results and finals results only for the TCH Surfers Open.


SurfWatch Results is also available on the mobile (cellular) Internet via SurfWatch Mobile.

Useful links

SurfWatch: TCH heat draws posted (22 Aug 08)
SurfWatch: New judging format for TCH Surfers Open (25 Jul 08)
SLURL: TCH Estates (competitors & spectators)

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TCH heat draws posted

By Socks Clawtooth, Senior Furry Correspondent.

Dawn patrol at Saba Island

TCH Enterprises has posted the heat draws for this weekend's TCH Surfers Open, which starts on Saba Island at 12.15 hrs SLT (19.15 hrs GMT) Saturday 23 August 2008. The event is unique in that it pits two surfers against each other in a bracket format. Riders are judged by the spectators, with a popular vote determining who advances to the semi-final heats.

Spectators are welcome to watch from the sundeck of the TCH Enterprises building.


Here are the heat draws for the competition:


HEAT 1

Socks Clawtooth

Wilfrid DeCuir


HEAT 2

Kim Hening

Crusader Arado


HEAT 3

Forq Hamer

Kimmy Leroux


HEAT 4

Bobbi Laval

Colleen Brennan


HEAT 5

Rachelle Seetah

Pova Rustamova


HEAT 6

WickedV Carver

Immortelles Ames


HEAT 7

Abel Halderman

Locksley Blitzstein


HEAT 8

Aspen Parx

Desirea Beaumont


Notes: The heats draw and timings are always subject to last minute changes.


Surfers contact: ATown Fall


Useful li
nks

SurfWatch: New judging format for TCH Surfers Open (25 Jul 08)

SurfWatch: Wilfrid DeCuir wins TCH Surf Open (5 Jul 08)

SLURL: Surf City (Competitors and Spectators)
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Surf HUD enables classic surfer poses

HUD designer and programmer Locksley Blitzstein and animator Rayzer Haggwood launched a new HUD for Second Life surfers this week. A HUD (or 'Heads-Up Display') is a special kind of Second Life avatar attachment that is used to provide information displays, controls or can be scripted to provide functionality for your avatar. The Hang 10 Surf HUD has been designed to allow surfers to replace static animations that come with most Second Life surfboards with a choice of dynamic surfing animations.

"We've been working on the Surf HUD for a month or so," said Locksley, who is also a Rip Curl Pro Surfer. "Rayzer and I got introduced, put heads together and came up with the ideas for the HUD. I love it when surfers can pull a real looking hang ten off!"


The Hang 10 Surf HUD currently has four surfing stances to choose from: curl, glide, flying eagle and hang ten. Each surfing stance is animated. So, for example the hang ten animation has your avatar walking to the end of the board to stand in the hang ten pose (see Kimmy Leroux testing the new HUD in pic above).
'Curl' and 'glide' are regular surfing stances that can be used to replace the default surfboard animation such as standing and crouching.

Word has it that the new Hang 10 Surf HUD will be allowed at this weekend's TCH Surf Open, but don't expect to see flying eagles at SLSA competitions anytime soon. "It is a fun addition to surfing," said Colleen Brennan, SLSA director and ranked number three in last season's table. "However, the HUD is not SLSA competition legal and probably won't be, at least
for the current season."

The Hang 10 Surf HUD is available via automated vendors at a number of locations including April Island, Chi Island, Majini Island, TCH Estates and Boneyard.

Photo credit: Lollypop Congrejo
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New wing board under wraps

SurfWatch can now reveal that a new wing surfboard is presently under wraps and is expected to be brought to market during the coming few weeks. It seems that co-owner of Reaction Radical Twang himself has been burning the midnight oil modeling the new board shape, which will have a swallowtail, a single winglet towards the end of each rail and two new graduated sculpty fins on each side.

Wing-shaped boards and a quad fin system are typically used to provide exceptional maneuverability, equally useful for difficult conditions or to crank off radical carves and turns. The combination of the wing shape and quad fin works to decrease drag on the underside of the board and increase the efficiency of the fins. SurfWatch understands that the board's scripts are currently being tweaked for faster, nimbler turning, as is the shape and weight of the board for the same reason.


Reaction is apparently working on a completely new shape, which is likely to compare in length to Big Dawg's shortboard, or perhaps a little shorter.
The new Reaction wing may well turn out to be the quickest, most responsive board in Second Life when its finished, although we'll have to wait a few weeks to find out.
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Wilfrid DeCuir tops new table

Ranked just 18th place in the first 2008 Season, Wilfrid DeCuir's win at the SLSA Reaction Shortboard Pro Surfing Competition at Boneyard on Saturday puts him at the top of the new season's table. The surfer's Season I was patchy to say the least, with Wilfrid only competing at just two events, but taking 4th place at Surfline in April and 7th place at El Corazon in June. Wilfrid's first win of the year was at a non-SLSA event, the inaugural TCH Surfers Open on 4th July weekend at TCH Estates.

"I'm totally stoked," said Wilfrid after his Boneyard win (see pic right). "I was glad I made the finals and that heat had excellent surfers all around. I had an excellent 'wave one', bellied the second, poofed a wave with my third and managed to paddle to a fluffy and I think I also had a small belly with my fourth wave, so I figured I was placed somewhere between 3rd and 5th. After it was all over and the scores came out, I said to myself -- ok I'm not 6th and so on, then cool, cool I made 3rd, no, ok 2nd, and then they announced Desi with 2nd place, it was like, OMG I won this!"


Meanwhile, Desirae Beaumont's second place at Boneyard earns here the number two spot in the new table, exactly where she left off last season. Desirae had a slower start to 2008 Season I, beginning with a 15th place in the first SLSA event of the year at Majini Island, but she put in strong performances at Surfline and Neart competitions later in the season, going on to clinch a big win at El Corazon at the end. Desirae also picked up a nice win at the TCH Surfers Open late July.

Wilfrid and Desirae are trailed by the Vibrations Surf Team's consistent VW Sands and SLSA newcomer Sunrize Mornington. Although last year's champion, Pova Rustamova, was knocked out in the semi-finals by VW and Sunrize, his seventh place still leaves him well positioned ahead of the next competition at Morant Cays. However, Wil's Team Tsunami team mates Colleen Brennan (third in Season I) and Abel Halderman (fifth in Season I) have some catching up to do, coming just 17th and 30th respectively at Boneyard.

The next Second Life Surfing Association surfing competition of the season takes place on an Epic wave break at Morant Cays on Saturday 20 September 2008.

Photo credit: Colleen Brennan

Useful links
SurfWatch: LIVE RESULTS -- Boneyard (16 Aug 08)
SurfWatch: INTERVIEW -- Pova Rustamova (24 Jun 08)
SurfWatch: INTERVIEW -- Desirae Beaumont (19 Jun 08)
SurfWatch: INTERVIEW -- VW Sands (7 May 08)
SurfWatch: SLSA 2008 Season II surf breaks announced (30 Jul 08)
URL: SLSA Season Table points (SLSA Forum)
SLURL: Boneyard
SLURL: Morant Cays
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Wimbi wedding

VW Sands and Lissa Pinion on the big day (photo credit: Wilfrid DeCuir)

VW Sands may have finished in third place in the Reaction Shortboard Pro at Boneyard, but there were no doubts who Lissa Pinion thought was number one on Saturday!
Bishara Estate Manager, Vibrations Surf Team owner and surf legend of Majini Island VW Sands and his Bishara colleague Lissa Pinion tied the knot at a quiet wedding ceremony on Wimbi Island. We wish them all the best.

Useful links

SurfWatch: INTERVIEW -- VW Sands (7 May 08)

SLURL: Wimbi Island
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LIVE RESULTS -- Boneyard

7.30am SLT 16 August 2008 -- SurfWatch is reporting live from Boneyard Beach and Alternation on the SLSA Reaction Shortboard Pro Surfing Competition -- Starting Saturday 16 August 2008 from 1100 hrs Second Life Time (SLT or PDT) or 1800 hrs GMT.

SEE LIVE RESULTS NOW


Boneyard has quickly gained a reputation as the hardest, most dangerous surf spot in Second Life, with a double pipeline break rolling into a rock reef bay with rock hazards that stick out of the water. 40 surfers are taking part in the competition, which is expected to take place over a five hour period on Saturday starting at 11am SLT and ending sometime after 4pm. SurfWatch will post the latest competition heat draws, semi finals results and finals results for the Reaction Shortboard Pro Surfing Competition.


SurfWatch Results is also available on the mobile (cellular) Internet via SurfWatch Mobile
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Lag concerns dog Boneyard

Boneyard and SLSA comb the sim for scripts and objects


Lag concerns are top of mind with competition surfers ahead of Saturday's SLSA Reaction Shortboard Pro at Boneyard. 40 surfers are expected to take part in the surfing competition, which takes place on what is widely publicised as the most dangerous surf break in Second Life.

"Laggy. Riding through hell!" said one surfer practising at Boneyard on Friday. "This lag is gonna be a killer," added another surfer.

However, a lot has changed at Boneyard over the past 12 hours and sim owners and SLSA officials have been systematically going through objects on the sim to improve sim performance prior to Saturday's event.

"There have been numerous questions about extra scripts or objects that aren't needed for the competition, such as the falling coconuts, pool table, seagulls, sharks etc." said Radical Twang, SLSA director and co-owner of Boneyard Beach. "Things are being cleaned up for the competition to reduce lag. However, people need to remember it's also a public sim that needs to be presentable, and can't just take everything out so people can surf better on an empty sim of water."

"I've spent the whole day, working closely with Heather Goodliffe and Sally LaSalle cleaning up every script we can, the sim is now only using 0.7ms all up in scripts, which is reasonably low, the sim dilation is averaging 98 now, and the sim FPS is averaging around 40. Which is all a fair competition standard now," added Radical.

SurfWatch has also heard that the waves at Boneyard are running a little faster than before the weekend, meaning that surfers will have to make adjustments so as not to lose momentum on the wave and 'belly'.

"This will be like no other competiton, because of the hazards," comments Kimmy Leroux, whilst looking at her cuts and bruises. "More like real life that way. Makes me happy."


The contest starts at 1100 hrs SLT (1800 hrs GMT) Saturday 16 August 2008 at Boneyard Beach (spectators stands are on the adjacent Alternation sim).

Photo credit: Ashleigh Dickins

Useful links
SurfWatch: Heats drawn for first Season II event (14 Aug 08)
SurfWatch: Cautious welcome for new SLSA team rules (11 Aug 08)
SurfWatch: SLSA 2008 Season II surf breaks announced 30 Jul 08)
SurfWatch: Surf's up at Boneyard! (2 Jul 08)
SLURL: Boneyard
SLURL: Spectators stands for Boneyard

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Heats drawn for first Season II event

The Second Life Surfing Association (SLSA) has drawn the heat line-ups for what is now called the Reaction Shortboard Pro surfing competition at Boneyard, which takes place at 1100 hrs SLT (1800 hrs GMT) Saturday 16 August 2008.

"Well... Boneyard will be tricky," said Desirae Beaumont (see pic, right), winner of the last event of 2008 Season I and ranked number two in the Season I table. "Surfers may have to concentrate more on control and less on tricks due to the conditions at Boneyard."

A number of surfers have harboured concerns about lag at Boneyard, although the SLSA has assured competitors that all unnesessary scripts will be turned off, the sharks will be scared off the reef and that Boneyard will be restricted to competitors and officials for the duration of the competition.

The full complement of 40 surfers are expected to take part in 2008 Season II's inaugural event, including 12 competitors new to the SLSA event circuit. Preliminary heats will be judged on three waves per competitor, while semi finals and final heats will be judged on four waves per rider.

HEAT 1 - 11:00 am
Pova Rustamova (RED)
Carolin Gausman (BLUE)
Socks Clawtooth (GREEN)
Fungus Kamachi (ORANGE)
Dharma Austin (PURPLE)


HEAT
2 - 11:25 am
Desirae Beaumont (RED)
Mick Lunasea (BLUE)
Mateus Rieko (GREEN)
Egon Zimminy (ORANGE)
Jes Luik (PURPLE)


HEAT
3 - 11:50 am
Colleen Brennan (RED)
Cipriano Grut (BLUE)
Express Zenovka (GREEN)
Monq Pinklady (ORANGE)
Rachelle Seetan (PURPLE)

HEAT 4 - 12:15 pm
Abel Halderman (RED)
LeahJane Cazalet (BLUE)
Kimmy Leroux (GREEN)
WickedV Carver (ORANGE)
Kim Henig (PURPLE)

HEAT 5 - 12:40 pm
VW Sands (RED)
Wilfrid DeCuir (BLUE)
Selina Otsuka (GREEN)
Mychel Daviau (ORANGE)
Cymindra Deschanel (PURPLE)

HEAT 6 - 1:05 pm
Desne Aabye (RED)
Carlos MacAlpine (BLUE)
Alexsurfer Hirons (GREEN)
Aimee35 Mandel (ORANGE)
Bonheur Chenaux (PURPLE)


HEAT
7 - 1:30 pm
Bobbi Laval (RED)
Crusader Arado (BLUE)
Mysti Trevellion (GREEN)
Countess Decosta (ORANGE)
Robin Mapp (PURPLE)

HEAT
8 - 1:55 pm
QUENCH Spotter (RED)
Buffy Munro (BLUE)
Jaay Zymurgy (GREEN)
Aspen Parx (ORANGE)
Sunrize Mornington (PURPLE)

Notes: The (COLOUR) in brackets denotes the colour of the surfer's competition shirt. The heats draw may always be subject to last minute changes.


Surfers contacts: Milo Voss

Photo credit: Tauri Tigerpaw

Note on heat draws: changes have been made to the heat draws listed above and the updated list will be available on SurfWatch Results Saturday morning SLT (16 Aug 08).

Useful links

SurfWatch: Cautious welcome for new SLSA team rules (11 Aug 08)
SurfWatch: SLSA 2008 Season II surf breaks announced (30 Jul 08)
SurfWatch: Surf's up at Boneyard! (2 Jul 08)
SurfWatch: INTERVIEW -- Desirae Beaumont (19 Jun 08)
SLURL: Boneyard
SLURL: Spectators stands for Boneyard
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Cautious welcome for new SLSA team rules

The Second Life Surfing Association (SLSA) announced in its online forum Sunday that teams would be admitted from the first SLSA 2008 Season II competition at Boneyard next weekend. Reactions from Second Life competition surfers have been mixed. Surfers contacted by SurfWatch agreed that officially recognising teams was a good first step for the SLSA, although some had some reservations about different aspects of a team league table.

"I feel, while teams bring people together and deepen the sense of community here in the Second Life surfing world, that forcing teams to compete against each other for rankings and bragging rights highlights things that are counterproductive to the overall feeling that we as a community are trying to create," said Craig Stallion, Misfit Ring Leader and former SLSA director, who was careful to point out that his comments were personal opinion and not made on behalf of his whole team. "I just hope that we do not see an atmosphere that could foster the wrong kind of competitiveness in the surfing community."

New SLSA team competition rules

Whilst the regulations for recognising teams were published in the proposed - and since adopted - SLSA constitution on 29 July 2008, the event rules on team participation in competitions and the awarding of scores to teams seem to have appeared for the first time in Sunday's forum post (see text, above).

Teams have been requested by the SLSA to register no more than 5 members each for the next competition. Scores from the top three highest scoring competitors from each team will then be aggregated to calculate a team score for the competition. In the case of a tie, the winning team will be decided by the team with the highest placed surfer. First, second and third place teams scores will now be routinely announced at 2008 Season II competitions.

"Well, it's great news, but there are some obvious concerns," said ONeill Auer, Cornish Surf Team Captain. "In principle, it might be good for surfers to win points for their team. However, what's stopping all the 'best surfers' joining the 'best team' in the future? Second Life is a small world. For me, surfing is fun as a team surfer or a stand alone surfer and so I hope that surfing teams stay fun. Only time will tell, so let's wait until next year and see how many teams are left."


"I think it is a step into a right direction. Seeing teams competing against each other will add a new level of sport excitement to the SLSA events," said Abel Halderman, co-captain for Team Tsunami.

"I was one of the supporters of recognizing surf teams all along. For Reef Riders this gives us another chance to represent Project Children, the charity organisation we represent, so I am very excited about that," said Bobbi Laval, Team Captain for the Reef Riders. "By only scoring top three finishers from each team, that gives smaller teams like ours a chance to compete equally with the bigger teams. Only letting the first 5 team members that register be eligible to score points, I am not sure how well that will work out. Only time will tell, but it is a great start and I am happy about it."

Useful links
SurfWatch: New constitution voted in (9 Aug 08)
SurfWatch: SLSA 2008 Season II surf breaks announced (30 Jul 08)
SurfWatch: SLSA overhauls its constitution (29 Jul 08)
URL: Team competition rules (SLSA Forum post)
URL: New constitution (PDF file)
URL: SLSA Website
URL: SLSA Forum
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LIVE RESULTS -- Pacific Coast Xtreme Tandem

SurfWatch is reporting live from Redondo Beach on the Pacific Coast Xtreme Tandem Surf Competition -- Starting Saturday 8 August 2008 from 1100 hrs Second Life Time (SLT or PDT) or 1800 hrs GMT.

LIVE RESULTS

This event is for teams of two riders surfing one wave at the same time, one surfing a shortboard and one surfing a longboard. The contest will have three judges, one scoring for each rider and one for the overall performance of the tandem team. Other than that SLSA competition rules apply.
Twelve tandem teams (24 surfers in total) are expected to take part in the first three competition heats (see live results for information on heat draws). SurfWatch will post the competition heat draws, semi finals results and finals results only for the Pacific Coast Xtreme Tandem after each set of heats has been completed.

SurfWatch Results is also available on the mobile (cellular) Internet via SurfWatch Mobile
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New SLSA constitution voted in

The Second Life Surfing Association (SLSA) has adopted proposed changes following voting by eligible members last Wednesday and Thursday. 38 members took part in the vote out of a total of 54 members eligible to vote, with 36 voting to pass the new version of the SLSA constitution and two members voting against it.

In theory, as a result of the changes, the number of members eligible to vote at the next board member elections on September 1st could swell to nearly 100, taking into account six qualifiying competitions and other rules governing the electorate. The first SLSA Season II competition at Boneyard could possibly increase the size of the electorate further and is expected to count as the 6th competition that qualifies members to vote.

In addition to members that are eligible to vote by taking part in SLSA competitions, the 20 members of the SLSA Hall of Fame have lifetime voting rights. SLSA directors and officers that have held roles in organising the previous three SLSA competitions prior to an election also have voting rights.

Candidates for the SLSA board of directors electi
on in three weeks time must be nominated by SLSA members between Monday 11 August and Monday 18 August 2008, by informing each of the current board of directors Ashleigh Dickins, Colleen Brennan, Milo Voss, Radical Twang and Sally LaSalle of the nomination.

Meanwhile, the first competition
of the SLSA's 2008 Season II is scheduled to take place at Boneyard on Saturday 16 August 2008.

Useful links
SurfWatch: SLSA 2008 Season II surf breaks announced 30 Jul 08)
SurfWatch: SLSA overhauls its constitution (29 Jul 08)
SurfWatch: SLSA Elections (Part II) - Why should you care? (17 May 08)
SurfWatch: Election voices continued (2) (15 May 08)
SurfWatch: Election voices (14 May 08)
SurfWatch: SLSA Election Up-date (13 May 08)
SurfWatch: SLSA Elections (Part I) - What's going on? (10 May 08)
SurfWatcy: New SLSA directors announced (2 Mar 08)
SurfWatch: SLSA Opens Hall of Fame (9 Feb 08)
URL: New constitution (PDF file)
URL: SLSA Website
URL: SLSA Forum
SLURL: SLSA Hall of Fame
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Analog Surf showcases Hawaiian classics

Some of the new Analog Surf longboards out this weekend

Analog Surf launched 35 new surfboards this weekend, including a wide range of wooden boards and a new Honu series, which draws its theme from an ancient Hawaiian legend. The prolific designer-boardmaker Analog Jun, released his wide range of new surfboard designs to retail outlets on Thursday, which are all based on Sebastian Saramago and Heather Goodliffe's surfboard scripts.

Wooden surfboards have been used since the origins of surfing and Pacific islanders have been surfing using wooden boards for thousands of years. The Hawaiians turned making surfboards into an artform, long before the arrival of foam and fibreglass, making boards from Ulu (bread-fruit), Koa (Hawaiian Mahogany) and Wili-Wili (Hawaiian Balsa) in all sizes to accomodate all sizes of riders. Analog Surf's 'WOODY' range includes short sculptie boards (SSC*), long sculptie boards (SC*) and non-sculptie boards (LE* or Long Epic) with a variety of graphics overlayed on the boards' wood finish such as Gerbera (a type of sunflower), Hibiscus Orange, Hibiscus Yellow, Hibiscus White, Hibiscuses (Red), Rose and a plain wooden 'Hawaiian' version with a simple engraved pattern.


Analog Surf also draws on another traditional Hawaiian theme for this month's new surfboards: the legend of Honu-po'o-kea, or Honu, the mother of Kauila, a magical green sea turtle which gave spring water to the people of Punalu'u beach and, it's told, still watches over their children. The honu remains a popular theme in Hawaiian art today and a honu symbol appears on a series of Analog's wood and coloured surfboards including a Analog Surf LE*, SC* and SCC* WOODY Honu board (see pic right).

Other new Analog Surf boards out this month include variations on Rose, Fire, Thunder and Pheonix design themes. Analog Surf's surfboards start at L$555, with custom Boards available for between L$1,800 - L$2,500.


Thanks to Nicolesamantha Destiny of Southern Coast Surf Shop for her help with this story.

Useful links

SurfWatch:
Analog Surf: striking the right balance (27 Feb 08)
SLURL: Analog Surf Beach Shop

SLURL: Southern Coast Surf Shop
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LIVE RESULTS -- Cornish Classic Cup

SurfWatch is reporting live from Cornish Surfing Beach on the Cornish Classic Cup surfing competition -- Starting Friday 8 August 2008 from 1000 hrs Second Life Time (SLT or PDT) or 1700 hrs GMT.

LIVE RESULTS

This surfing competition is open to all board types, but other than that Second Life Surfing Association (SLSA) competition rules apply. 20 surfers are expected to take part in the first four competition heats (see live results for information on heat draws). SurfWatch will post the competition heat draws, semi finals results and finals results only for the Cornish Classic Cup after each set of heats has been completed.

SurfWatch Results is also available on the mobile (cellular) Internet via SurfWatch Mobile
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Tandem teams announced for Saturday

Organisers of Saturday's Pacific Coast Xtreme Tandem Surf Competition have announced the heat draws and full list of tandem teams. The contest takes place at 11am SLT Saturday 9 August 2008 at Redondo Beach (spectators stands are on the adjacent Freeport sim).

This event is for teams of two riders surfing one wave at the same time, one surfing a shortboard and one surfing a longboard. The contest will have three judges, one scoring for each rider and one for the overall performance of the tandem team. Other than that SLSA competition rules apply. Open invitation.


Here are the tandem team line-ups:

HEAT 1
Desne Aabye (RED)
Pova Rustamova (RED)

Wilfrid DeCuir (BLUE)
Abel Halderman (BLUE)

Buffy Munro (GREEN)
Quench Spotter (GREEN)

Sparkey Corleone (ORANGE)
Amadis Thespian (ORANGE)

HEAT 2
Christine Daffodil (RED)
Craig Stallion (RED)

Colleen Brennan (BLUE)
Crusader Arado (BLUE)

Mick Lunasea (GREEN)
Countess Decosta (GREEN)

Payten Harrop (ORANGE)
Galateia Vhargon (ORANGE)

HEAT 3
VW Sands (RED)
Milo Voss (RED)

Shelby Fitzgerald (BLUE)
AlexSurfer Hirons (BLUE)

Pyper Dollinger (GREEN)
Fernando Bergbahn (GREEN)

Aspen Parx (ORANGE)
Rockytheskaterboy Dreadlow (ORANGE)

Notes: The (COLOUR) in brackets denotes the colour of the surfer's competition shirt. The heats draw may always be subject to last minute changes.

Surfers contact: Colleen Brennan or Crusader Arado

Useful links
SurfWatch: Tandem teams ready for Pacific Coast Xtreme (6 Aug 08)
SLURL: Freeport (spectator stands)
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Cornish confirms Friday line-ups

Organisers of the Cornish Classic Cup announced competition heat line-ups today. The contest, which takes place at 1000 hrs SLT (1700 hrs GMT) on Friday 8 August 2008, is the first at Cornish Surfing Beach and 20 surfers are expected to take part. Whilst the competition is open to all board types, other than that SLSA competition rules apply.

"The Cornish Classic Cup is an opportunity for new surfers to experience the thrill of competing and for pros to wet their boards and check their skills in preparation for the SLSA season opener," said Tauri Tigerpaw, Cornish Surf Team captain and the head marshall for this weekend's competition. "It's also a great opportunity for spectators to see some of the most exciting surfers in Second Life strut their stuff."

Here are the heat draws for the competition:

HEAT 1

Bonheur Chenaux (RED)
Mick Lunasea (
BLUE)
Crusader Arado (GREEN)
ONeill Auer (
BLACK)
Bastante Little (WHITE)

HEAT 2
Shawn Vielle (
RED)
Desirae Beaumont (
BLUE)
AlexSurfer Hirons (
GREEN)
Aspen Parx (
BLACK)
Trev Baxton (
WHITE)

HEAT 3

Chill Qinan (
RED)
Sisu Bellic (
BLUE)
Colleen Brennan (
GREEN)
Rachelle Seetan (
BLACK)
Mychel Daviau (
WHITE)

HEAT 4

Buffy Munro (
RED)
Wil Youngblood (BLUE)
Bobbi Laval (
GREEN)
Kathy Heberle (BLACK)
VW Sands (
WHITE)

Notes: The (COLOUR) in brackets denotes the colour of the surfer's competition shirt. The heats draw may always be subject to last minute changes.


Surfers contact: Tauri Tigerpaw or Lala Recreant


Useful links

SurfWatch: Surf's up on Cornish Surf Beach (9 Jun 08)

SLURL: Cornish Surfing Beach
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Tandem teams ready for Pacific Coast Xtreme

VSA tandem surfing team QUENCH Spotter and Buffy Monro

Surfing teams are readying themselves for the Pacific Coast Extreme Tandem Surfing Competition, Second Life's first tandem long/short board competition, which is scheduled to start at 1100 hrs SLT (1800 hrs GMT) Saturday 9 August 2008 on Redondo Beach.

"I think that is going to be a great fun competition to be part of!" said Vibrations Surf Alliance surfer Buffy Munro, who is partnering with fellow VSA team member and 11th ranked Second Life Surfing Association (SLSA) surfer Quench Spotter for the competition. "It brings surfers together and it's something that I've not seen done in Second Life before, so I am really looking forward to it!"


The event requires that two riders catch a wave together and stay on the wave together on two different types of boards to score points. The contest will have three judges, one scoring for each rider and one for the overall performance of the tandem team. Other than that SLSA competition rules apply.


"We're looking forward to have a great time," said Crusader Arado, who is both co-organising the event with SLSA number three competition surfer Colleen Brennan and partnering with her to form a tandem team. "This event is unique and brings an aspect both of cooperation and the party wave to this event, and we are hoping it will encourage others to come up with other different ideas and events in keeping surfing in Second Life new and exciting."


"We wanted to give people a chance to do something with a fun twist," added Colleen. And the Pacific coast Extreme has more than one twist in store for competitors. The competition also takes place on HP Surf Boards' new Teahupoo surfing wave, presenting another challenge for the tandem teams.


"I think the tandem competition is going to be an awesome event," said Wilfrid DeCuir, who is partnering with 5th ranked SLSA surfer Abel Halderman. "Everyone will have a blast. Abel and I are partnering up, I like the long board and he likes the short, so after we come-up with a routine, we're going to kick some ass, all in fun of course!"


"I think it was an awesome idea," added Abel. "I don't think anything like that ever happened in the past so it's going to be something new and fresh. I'm competing there myself and looking forward to it since I'm in pair with one of the best surfers in Second Life right now - Wilfrid DeCuir."


Surfers contact: Colleen Brennan or Crusader Arado


Useful links

SurfWatch: Surfing calendar - August-September 2008 (3 Aug 08)
URL: Surfer registration

SLURL: Redondo Beach

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Surfing calendar - August-September 2008

Surfing competitions

Cornish Classic Cup

Friday 8 August 2008 1000 hrs SLT (1700 hrs GMT)


The Cornish Classic Cup, the first fully-fledged surfing competition to take place on Cornish Surfing Beach, starts at 10am SLT on Friday 8 August 2008. A fun event organised by ONeil Auer, Lala Recreant, Tauri Tigerpaw and the folks at Cornish beach to help new surfers gain competition experience. The competition is open to all board types, but other than that SLSA competition rules apply.
The competition is only open to the first 20 surfers to sign up (open invitation).

Surfers contact: Tauri Tigerpaw or Lala Recreant


SLURL: Cornish Surfing Beach



Pacific Coast Xtreme Tandem Surf Competition

Saturday 9 August 2008 1100 hrs SLT (1800 hrs GMT)


Billed as Second Life's first tandem surfing event, the Pacific Coast Xtreme Tandem Surf Competition takes place at 11am SLT Saturday 9 August 2008 at Redondo Beach. This event is for teams of two riders surfing one wave at the same time, one surfing a shortboard and one surfing a longboard. The contest will have three judges, one scoring for each rider and one for the overall performance of the tandem team. Other than that SLSA competition rules apply.
Open invitation.

Surfers contact: Colleen Brennan or Crusader Arado


URL: Surfer registration
SLURL: Redondo Beach



SLSA Shortboard Competition at Boneyard

Saturday 16 August 2008 1100 hrs SLT (1800 hrs GMT)


The Second Life Surfing Association's (SLSA's) first competition of the 2008 Season II calendar, the SLSA shortboard competition (as yet unnamed) takes place at Boneyard beach 11am SLT Saturday 16 August 2008 on pipeline waves (which break over Boneyard's nicely exposed rocky reef!). Only SLSA surfers may compete. Open for all spectators.

Surfers contact: Milo Voss

SLURL: Boneyard



TCH Surfers Open 2

Saturday 23 August 2008 1215 hrs SLT (1915 hrs GMT)


TCH Estates' August TCH Surfers Open competition will start at 12.15pm SLT on Saturday 23 August 2008 at Saba Island. The TCH Surfers Open has introduced a unique judging platform that includes spectator votes and a judging panel to score surfing heats, although according to Second Life Surfing Association (SLSA) scoring rules. TCH events will culminate in a TCH Surfers Open 2008 Invitational at the end of the year.
Competition open to all entries on a first-come-first-served basis.

Surfers contact: Locksley Blitzstein


SLURL: TCH Estates



VSA Surf Jam 6

Saturday 30 August 2008, 1100 hrs SLT (1800 hrs GMT)


Vibrations Surf Alliance (VSA) Surf Jam 6 takes place at 11am SLT Saturday 30 August 2008 on Majini Island, Bishara Resorts. The monthly Surf Jam's are members only events, limited to 20 competitors. Surfers will face off in four preliminary heats, narrowing down to 10 surfers in the semis and 5 for the finals' heats.
Open to VSA members only.

Surfers contact: VW Sands

SLURL: Majini Island



VSA Surf Jam 7

Saturday 13 September 2008, 1100 hrs SLT (1800 hrs GMT)


Vibrations Surf Alliance (VSA) Surf Jam 6 takes place 11am SLT Saturday 13 September 2008 on Majini Island, Bishara Resorts.
Open to VSA members only.

Surfers contact: VW Sands


SLURL: Majini Island



SLSA Shortboard Competition at Morant Cays

Saturday 20 September 2008 1100 hrs SLT (18 00 hrs GMT)


September's Second Life Surfing Association's (SLSA's) surfing competition for Shortboards on the Epic wave at Morant Cays. This competition takes place at 11am SLT Saturday 20 September 2008.
Only SLSA surfers may compete. Open for all spectators.

Surfers contact: Ashleigh Dickins

SLURL: Morant Cays


TCH Surfers Open 3

Saturday 27 September 2008 1215 hrs SLT (1915 hrs GMT)


The third TCH Surfers Open competition will take place at 12.15pm SLT on Saturday 27 September 2008 at Saba Island, TCH Estates.
Competition open to all entries on a first-come-first-served basis.

Surfers contact: Locksley Blitzstein

SLURL: TCH Estates



Other events


VSA Surf Jamboree!
Sunday 10 August 2008 1800 hrs SLT (0100 hrs GMT)


The Vibrations Surf Alliance Team is hosting a Surf Jam(boree) on Majini Island from 1800 hrs onwards Sunday 10 August 2008. This is a VSA event to welcome new riders to the Second Life surfing scene, to include fun events, a surfing competition, board tests and free coaching from some of the best surfers in Second Life. Open to members and non-members.


Surfers contact: VW Sands or Buffy Munro or QUENCH Spotter
SLURL: Majini Island

Windsurf RSX Fun Races (weekly)
Monday 11 August 2008, 1100 hrs SLT (1800 hrs GMT)


A weekly windsurfing competition for RS:X windsurfers organised on Mondays by Fishers Island Yacht Club in the Plum Gut and Sailor's Cove sims. RS:X and RS:iX windsurfers use real wind.


Windsurfers contact: Surfwidow Beaumont

SLURL: Plum Gut


Surfing lessons


Bishara Surf School (weekly)
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 1000-1300 hrs SLT (1700-2000 hrs GMT)

Established two years ago now, Bishara Surf School (on the East side of Majini Island) offers open surfing classes with a maximum of two students per instructor. One-on-one coaching can be arranged by appointment. Instructors include long-time SL surfing instructor
Slave Lacey, Bishara Estates Manager VW Sands, Vibrations surf team captain Buffy Munro or Vibrations co-captain QUENCH Spotter. Lessons are free, donations to the sim appreciated.

Surfers contact: Slave Lacey, VW Sands, Buffy Munro or QUENCH Spotter
SLURL: Majini Island

LIVESTRONG Surf Classes (weekly)
Tuesday 12 August 2008 1600 hrs SLT (2300 hrs GMT)

LIVESTRONG, one of the surf spots owned by the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF), has surfing classes every Tuesday at 4pm SLT, with surfing instructor Mick Lunasea. Ranked in the top 20 of the SLSA competition rankings, Mick teaches beginners and advanced classes. Lessons are free, but donations to the Foundation are very welcome.


Surfers contact: Mick Lunasea

SLURL: LIVESTRONG

TCH Surf Classes (weekly)
Saturday 9 August 2008 1500 hrs SLT (2200 hrs GMT)


TCH Surf Classes have been designed to allow people new to Second Life surfing a chance to work with an experienced surfer to learn the basics of surfing. These classes cover general surfing skills, plus a few surfing tricks to help new surfers on their way to becoming competition surfers.


Surfers contact: Locksley Blitzstein

SLURL: TCH Estates
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