Boost Mobile Surf Sho
Presented by Nokia

ASP 2008 Specialty Event
Surfers Paradise QLD Australia
18 - 20 April 2008

Mick Fanning Set To Star In Second Annual Boost Mobile Surf Sho

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 18 March, 2008 : - - World surfing champion Mick Fanning (Coolangatta, Qld) is set to light up the streets of Surfers Paradise when he faces off against the world’s top aerial surfers in the ‘game show’ style Boost Mobile Surf Sho presented by Nokia in April.

Fanning, who is commonly known as ‘White Lightning’ for his thick mop of blonde hair and fast, gravity-defying surfing skills, will have top billing at the second-annual tournament that will attract a hot international field of aerial surfers.  “I’m thrilled to be involved with an event that steps away from the conventional roots of contest surfing,” said Fanning. “It’s going to be awesome to see world-class surfers perform aerial tricks that they spin up on the show wheel." 

Having picked up the nation's first men's world title since Mark ‘Occy’ Occhilupo in 1999, Fanning will trade in his duties on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour to join defending champion and world no.9 Taj Burrow (Yallingup, WA) as well as aerial young gun Julian Wilson (Coolum, Qld, Aus) in the innovative, ASP sanctioned $40,000 tournament.

Fanning, 26, will enter the event fresh from marrying long-time girlfriend and Gold Coast model Karissa Dalton, but is eager to rock Surfers Paradise boulevard with his incredible repertoire of entertaining aerial tricks, which are rarely seen in traditional surf events. “I can’t wait to go huge in front of the Surfers Paradise crowd,” he said.

Taj Burrow, winner of the 2007 Boost Surf Sho

“Taj (Taj Burrow) will be pushing the boundaries trying to boost the biggest airs, so I want to be right up there with him. Seeing Taj win $20,000 in last year’s event has really motivated me to pull out a big performance.”

A who’s who of the aerial surfing fraternity will line-up against the talented trio including 2007 runner-up Dru Adler (Palm Beach), aerial king pin Dave Reardon-Smith (Coolum), surfing artist Ozzie Wright (Narrabeen), Gold Coast high-flyer Dion Agius (Currumbin), Western Australian ripper Ry Craike (Kalbarri, W.A.) and Passion Pop inventor Wade Goodall (Caloundra, Qld).

“As promised Boost Mobile is back to bring fans around the world access to one of the most exciting events in world surfing,” said Anthony Torr, GM of Business Development for Boost Mobile.

“Last year we blew away fans when we introduced the Surf Sho wheel and ground-breaking format for the competition. Kelly, Taj and all the surfers say it’s one of their favourite contests as well because it’s fun, fast and challenging” Torr said, adding that this year they have “a few more tricks up our sleeve to keep it fresh and interesting.”

Similarly, Nokia Australia's Head of Marketing, John McCredie said, “We're really excited to be partnering with Boost Mobile on this unique event. We love the format which really allows the competitors to express themselves, and most importantly, have some fun."

“Nokia has had great success working with Boost Mobile in the past and we're sure that our support of the Boost Mobile Surf Sho and our offerings in mobile music and games will ensure that we maintain our leadership in the youth segment.”

More than just a surf competition, the interactive tournament will throw a weekend beach festival for fans. In addition to the action in the water, the Surf Sho features an 80m by 40m beach structure for integrated music events on site at the beach on Cavill Ave.  Those who can’t make it to Surfers Paradise for the event can catch all the action live from the global webcast.

Format: 

The three day Surf Sho will open with the Boost Mobile Junior Air Sho Challenge on Friday 18th of April, which is open to forty eight of Australia's hottest aerial punks aged 18-years and under. The winner will surf away with $1,000 plus a spot into the AUD $25,000 Boost Mobile Surf Sho final.

The action continues on Saturday 19th of April with sixty of Australia's finest aerial exponents fighting it out for AUD $7,500 worth of cash and prizes and one of four spots in the Surf Sho final. The format is as per a standard surfing event with four surfer heats.

Wrapping up the exciting, all weekend surfing festival will be the invitational Boost Mobile Surf Sho presented by Nokia on Sunday 20th of April, 2008. Twenty of the world's best aerial surfers will surf against each other in a one day; winner takes all AUD$25,000 Surf Sho. The format will be based around a large spinning wheel (Boost Mobile Surf Sho Wheel) that will dictate the aerial tricks to be performed.

Adding to the already high stakes is the Boost Mobile Jet Ski Tow-In Expression Session. Aided by a jet ski, Boost's global surf team will attempt to launch themselves as high as possible off a wave into the air, completing a technical aerial move at the same time. This session is bound to be a crowd pleaser!

Airshows have created a sub-culture for the world's most innovative and futuristic surfers and have attracted a strong cult following around the world. In Airshow surfing contests, judges only score manoeuvres performed in the air, as opposed to the more traditional approach of judging surfing manoeuvres on a wave.

About Boost Mobile
Boost-tel Pty Limited (Boost Mobile) is headquartered in Sydney, Australia. The company is a lifestyle-based telecommunications company that focuses solely on developing and distributing communications products for the youth market. Boost Mobile's offerings include prepaid mobile phone services, 'Re-Boost' pre-paid call credit and a wide range of accessories, Long distance and International calling cards and other cutting-edge mobile services. Boost Mobile's marketing is centred on youth activities such as action sports, music, fashion and entertainment. Find more information on the Web at

About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobility, driving the transformation and growth of the converging Internet and communications industries. Nokia makes a wide range of mobile devices and provides people with experiences in music, navigation, video, television, imaging, games and business mobility through these devices. Nokia also provides equipment, solutions and services for communications networks.

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

www.boost.com.au/
www.aspworldtour.com
www.boostsurfsho.com.au

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