Taj Burrow 2004 Champion : photo ASPWorldtour/Karen

Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong

ASP WCT Mens Event
Florianopolis, Brazil
30 October - 9 November 2005

HUGE WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN EXPECTED IN BRAZIL DEFENDING CHAMP TAJ BURROW WITHDRAWS DUE TO INJURY

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 October, 2005, Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil;- - The focus of the sporting world will shift to Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil from this coming Monday, 30th October as the The Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong gets underway.

The event, the 10th on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour will play host to one of the hottest showdowns for world championship glory in the history of pro surfing as Andy Irons (HAW) attempts to score his fourth world crown and in doing so thwart Kelly Slater’s (USA) hopes of gaining a seventh.

Slater, who has dominated the 2005 tour, has made finals on five occasions this season, claiming four victories at Tahiti, Fiji, Jeffreys Bay and California and one second placing (behind Irons) in Japan. He currently sits in number one on the ratings with 7896 points and could potentially claim the crown here in Brazil.

Irons meanwhile, by his own admission, had a slow start to the year but has well and truly hit his straps after claiming wins at both Japan and most recently in France. He lurks behind Slater with 7128 points and a win here will keep his title hopes alive going into the last event of the year at Iron’s favourite location – Pipeline, Hawaii. After his French victory Irons showed his determination screaming “Bring on Brazil!” to the masses.

Post France, Slater and Irons are the only men still in contention for the 2005 world crown and as Slater has admitted several times, if anyone can accomplish the feat of coming from behind to win it’s Andy Irons.

It’s a similar situation to 2003 where Irons won at Pipeline, leapt past Slater who was in the number one slot, then claimed his second world title. For Slater the scars from that year ran deep as he quoted earlier in the year: “It took me till the win in Tahiti this year to get over what happened in 2003.”

Slater therefore will be eager to wrap up the title here at the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong and establish himself as the greatest surfer of all time.

If any one of the following situations take place, Slater will clinch the title in Brazil:
If Irons were to come in fifth place, Slater needs only to finish better than 33rd and the title is his. If Irons were to get a third, Slater will win by finishing fifth or better. If Irons were to get second, Slater needs to finish third or better to clinch, and if both make the final, Irons has to win to keep his title hopes alive entering Hawaii. If he loses, Slater will earn his seventh world crown.

Aiding the opening of an opportunity for a victory in Brazil for either surfer was the shock withdrawal of defending Nova Schin Festival champion Taj Burrow (AUS) who broke his foot while free surfing with some pro surfing buddies on NSW, Australia’s North Coast.

“I was freesurfing down at Yamba where I was attending Hitcho’s [former Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour surfer Luke Hitchings] wedding,” said Taj. “It was on the day of his wedding and I went for a big air despite there being an ugly landing section. I knew all the boys were watching so I had to try and make it.

“I knew I wasn’t going to land it right and when I did my toes curled up under my foot and I’d never felt pain like it. I was carried to the hospital and the X-Ray revealed my foot was broken. I now have to wear a boot for about six weeks.”

Burrow was obviously disappointed with not being able to defend his title but more so was shattered at not being able to gain a solid finish and climb further up the ratings. In both France and California Taj finished equal third and is currently ranked 6th.

“I’m devastated that I can’t go and defend my Nova Schin Festival title. But that’s what happens I guess. But I guess it could have happened at a worse time, it’s just a little forced holiday! [laughs] I’m excited that I’ll be back by Pipe, especially since I’ve had two 3rds in the last two events and am still in 6th. I really wanted to get a good result in Brazil and move up higher. But I guess I’ll just have to wait till Pipe.”

The Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong is supported by the Schincariol Group, the State Government of Santa Catarina and Tropical Brazil.

Live webcast: via www.aspworldtour.com

Large spectator crowds are expected : ASP/Francine

Fast Facts about the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong

Status: The Nova Schin Festival, presented by Billabong is number 10 of 11 stops on the 2005 Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour. It is South America’s sole event on this tour.

Location: The Nova Schin Festival, presented by Billabong will be staged in Florianopolis, Brazil. The event is mobile in the State of Santa Catarina and is predominantly held in fun beach-breaks with gorgeous locals, warm weather and passionate crowds.

The event's headquarter are at Joaquina Beach, a beach break with a headland that, with the right swell, can hold lefts from two to three metres (six to 10 feet). There is also a "peak" in the middle of the beach. The other prime spot is Praia da Vila (Vila Beach), in Imbituba, 11.5 hours south of Florianopolis. Vila Beach hosted the 2003 final and the last three days of the 2004 event. Conditions there can be compared to a reef break as the beach is very short with two small islands on either side. The beach holds a sand bar that never shifts. Rights and lefts are available but the right is the preferred wave.
 
Field: The Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong will feature the world’s top male full-time touring professional surfers and along with event wildcards will comprise a total field of 48.

Duration: A total of four full days of competition is required to finalize the event but the tournament has an 11-day waiting period for the best possible conditions from October 30th through to November 9.

Format: 16 x three man non-elimination round one heats (1st>rnd 3, 2nd & 3rd>rnd 2). Round two onwards feature man-on-man elimination heats

Prizemoney: Total prizemoney for the Nova Schin Festival, presented by Billabong is US$270,000. The winner receives US$30000 and 1200 World Championship points.
 
Defending Champion: Current world number six, Taj Burrow (AUS) has been forced to withdraw due to injury.

Previous Champions: 2004 Taj Burrow (AUS) 2003 Kelly Slater (USA).

World Champion Andy Irons: Hawaiian Andy Irons clinched his third consecutive world title at the Brazilian event last year. Following the shock elimination of title contender Joel Parkinson (AUS) in round three of the Nova Schin Festival 2004 at Imbituba, the Kauaian’s massive ratings lead became untouchable.

The crowd: The local crowd is regarded as the most vocal and passionate on the tour.

Wildcards: Awaiting final list.

Contest Director: Recently retired Flavio Padaratz is the most successful surfer to emerge from Brazil. His list of triumphs since he joined the ASP tour in 1988 includes three Top 10 finishes on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour and two ASP World Qualifying Series titles (1992 and '99).

Billabong Pro Events: Billabong is a strong supporter of the Fosters ASP Men’s World Tour. It hosts the Billabong Pro Tahiti, Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay (South Africa), Billabong Pro Mundaka (Euskadi – note: this event was cancelled in 2005), Billabong Pro Maui (Hawaii, Women’s WCT final event) and the Billabong World Junior Championships, Men and Women (Australia).

Previous reports:
# 1 : Coming soon
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon  

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For further information please contact:

Simon Barratt
Email: sbarratt@billabong.com.au

Mandy McKinnon
Email: mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com

Wayne Dart
darty@aspworldtour.com

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