Quiksilver Core Store Surf Challenge
Grand Final (running in conjunction with)

Quiksilver Pro
Presented by Samsung 

ASP Wct Mens Event #1/2006
Gold Coast, Queensland,
28 Februry - 12 March 2006

Live Webcast   |  Scores/Results/Photos/Videos etc   |  Windows Media Player

Lennox Head’s All Above Board claim Quiksilver Core Store Surf Challenge!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 01 March, 2006 : - - Lennox Head’s All Above Board surf team have 10,000 reasons to celebrate after winning Quiksilver’s second annual Core Store Surf Challenge held in perfect 1-to-1.5 metre offshore waves at Queensland’s Snapper Rocks. 

With the world’s best male and female professional surfers watching from the sidelines during the second day of the Quiksilver Pro and Roxy Pro presented by Samsung official waiting period, Dan Thomson, Carly Smith, James Woods and Noel Graham teamed up at the famous break to overcome six other teams from around Australia and New Zealand to claim bragging rights as the number one Core Store team and walk away with a whopping $10,000 first place prize. 

In the 45 minute tag-team style final that sees each team member ride just two waves with all scores counting towards a combined total, the Lennox-based mob stormed ahead of runner’s up, Fly Boardriding (South Australia), Aloha Manly (NSW) and Freeride (Tasmania) to finish on a whopping 56.63 points, nearly 17 points clear of their nearest rivals. 

Flanked by the enormous presentation stage and in the company of Quiksilver hosts, former World Champions Tom Carroll, Martin Potter and former world number five Matt Hoy, the All Above Board team stepped into the limelight, with captain Noel Graham accepting the $10,000 winner-take-all cheque on behalf of his team before the cork was popped on a magnum of champagne. 

“What can we say, we’re just overwhelmed, the competition has been just great. We come up here and the waves are great. Everyone in the team surfed really well and hey, it’s a bloody beautiful day!” Graham said. 

James Wood, the 2003 world junior champion, was the undisputed stand out for All Above Board in the peeling waves, easily locking in the highest scoring waves of the final with the same panache that has seen the 19 year-old natural footer scale to the top of his class as an individual performer. 

James Wood/All Above Board : ASP/Tostee

Wood’s near-perfect 9.67 out of a possible 10 was the clincher, on a day that saw other great rides from Fly’s Todd Goudie, Freeride’s Ethan Wilson and Aloha’s Matt Bemrose. While Graham overcame a damaged knee and was surfing with a brace to help lift his team to victory. 

Outer Island (NZ) and Strapper (Vic) finished in equal 5th place today after being eliminated in the mornings semi finals. Country Waves (West Aust) placed equal 7th. 

All of today’s competing teams won through via qualification rounds in each state, earning the right to compete in front of hundreds of spectators at Snapper and viewers logging in via the live webcast from around the world. 

All teams received VIP passes to the US $280,000 tournament, assistance with airfares and four nights accommodation. 

The Quiksilver Core Store Surf Challenge criteria is unique, requiring teams to consist of a total four surfers, including at least one female surfer and the option of one store sponsored surfer. All participating surfers must be surf store employees. 

The Quiksilver Core Store Surf Challenge is proudly supported by F.C.S. and ASB (Australian Surf Business magazine). 

Meanwhile the action has continued with round one of the women’s Roxy Pro presented by Samsung getting underway. Excellent surf is forecasted to continue over coming days. 

Official results Quiksilver Core Store Surf Challenge Grand final, Snapper Rocks, Qld.

1st, $10,000 > All Above Board (Dan Thomson, Noel Graham, James Woods, Carly Smith) – 56.36 pts
2nd Fly Boardriding (David Steel, Todd Goudie, Luke Horlin-Smith, Melanie Keelan) – 39.59pts
3rd Aloha Manly (Danny Sherwood, Matt Bemrose, Paul Evans, Tina Thompson) – 38.43pts
4th Freeride (Ethan Wilson, Dara Penfold, Luke Bugg, Ben Warbrooke) – 23.16pts
=5th Outer Island (Mike Oakley, Llew Thomas, Nick Black, Daisy Thomas)
Strapper Surfboards (Johnny Robbo, Simon Collier, Dylan Shultz, Sue Moller)
=7th Country Waves (Todd Taylor, Lisa Archer, Dan Waddell, Jason Duffy)

www.quiksilver.com

Previous reports:
# 1 : Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast gearing up for 28 Feb start
# 2 : Wildcards announced for Quiksilver Pro on Gold Coast 
# 3 : Rookie Sullivan eager to cause havoc in Quiksilver Pro
# 4 : Swell rising to greet Quiksilver Pro trialists at Snapper 

# 5 : Ben Dunn wins Quiksilver Pro Trials and wct wildcard.
# 6 : Favorites dominate Day 1 of Quiksilver Pro at Snapper 
# 7 : Coming soon
# 8 : Coming soon 

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Mandy McKinnon
mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com

JJ - Quiksilver Australia
jj@qsilver.com.au

Wayne Dart - ASP International
darty@aspworldtour.com

Melissa Buckley – ASP International
melissa@aspworldtour.com

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