Owen Wright : photo Kirstin Scholtz

Boost Mobile Surf Sho
Presented by Nokia

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

Owen Wright To Take On Top Guns In Boost Mobile Surf Sho Presented By Nokia

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 18 April, 2008 : - - Surfers Paradise -- A bombing pulse of swell is likely to give surfers competing in the second-annual Boost Mobile Surf Sho presented by Nokia an extra lift as the world’s top aerialists jetted into the Gold Coast today for the launch of this weekend’s event. 
 
Cavill Avenue was once again in the surfing spotlight with the likes of current world no.2 Bede Durbidge (Currumbin), former world champion CJ Hobgood (Florida), innovative teenager Julian Wilson (Coolum) and an injured aerial-wiz Dion Agius (Currumbin) on hand to open the $40,000 game show style tournament.         
 
2000 world champion Hobgood will enter the world’s biggest aerial tournament after receiving news that his twin brother and fellow world tour competitor, Damien, took a major beating while surfing solid 10-12 Teahupoo tubes in Tahiti on April 14, 2008.
 
Damien was sucked over the falls backwards and violently slammed on the reef and is expected to be unable to defend his Billabong Pro Tahiti crown, but is hopeful of returning in time to defend his Globe Fiji title. 

Owen Wright : photo Kirstin Scholtz

 
Hobgood was visibly concerned at the morning’s press conference, saying, “I didn't even know about it until Damo's missus called me and she was freaking,” he said.   “He broke his shoulder in six places so it’s serious. Damien won’t be surfing at the upcoming Tahiti event but he is hoping to be back in for the Globe Fiji tournament."
 
But the Floridian won’t let this dampen his Boost Surf Sho campaign and is upbeat about the tournament’s unconventional format. “The conditions at Surfers make it easy because you’re just going out their hunting ramps,” said Hobgood.
 
“In standard events your looking to link multiple moves together, but with this event your just concentrating on one big move. Your just trying to find that wave that lets you boost. Conditions have been building all day and the winds over the weekend look favourable for the goofy footers, so I’m eager to land a couple of big airs.”   
 
Adding to the injury list, free surfing kingpin Agius has been forced to withdraw due to a broken foot incurred last weekend at Keramas, Bali while practicing for the Boost Mobile Surf Sho with fellow entrants world no.9 Taj Burrow and Hobgood and will support the Airshow with a crack at on-beach commentary. 
 
The progressive goofy foot pulled into a backside barrel before being bounced while he was inside with all his weight on his front foot. His board came back at him and his 4th metatarsal was fractured at the knuckle under the pressure. 

Nick Colby : photo Kirstin Scholtz

 
Meanwhile, the world’s top aerial acrobats will have to be on top of their game after current Australian U/18 champion Owen Wright (Culburra) out-flew Australia’s hottest Pro Junior (aged 20-years and under) surfers to win today’s Boost Junior Surf Sho final. 
 
18-year-old Wright beat Byron Bay's Nick Colby with a top score of 8.5 (out of a possible 10) in building 1-1.5 metre beach break conditions to claim $1,000 and a wildcard into Sunday’s Surf Sho finale and a crack at the world’s top names including reigning world no.1 Mick Fanning (Coolangatta), defending champion Taj Burrow (Yallingup, WA), world no.2 Bede Durbidge (Currumbin), world no.13 Luke Stedman (Avalon) and retiring professional Troy Brooks (Currumbin).  
 
Also in the sho are surfers such as 2007 runner-up Dru Adler (Palm Beach), aerial king pin Dave Reardon-Smith (Yaroomba) and West Australian ripper Ry Craike.  
 
Action will continue tomorrow with the Open Men’s qualification round. 48 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.
 
Now in its second year, the specialty tournament carries no points towards the Dream Tour but attracts a hot international field due to its innovative Game Show style competition format. In contrast to traditional competition, the format is based around a large spinning wheel (Boost Mobile Surf Sho Wheel) that will dictate the aerial tricks to be performed by surfers.
 
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 at www.boostsurfsho.com.au.
 
Boost Surf Sho Band Line-up:
 
The action will be just as hot on land with a beachside music event to be staged between 3-5pm on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th April, 2008. Kicking off the music action on Saturday 19th will be Funky Mantis, before Amy Meredith and Future Role Models rock out Surfers Paradise. Kwerkshoppe will next hit the beach stage on Sunday 20th along with Amy Meredith and Razbin Sam.
 
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 maneuvers performed in the air, as opposed to the more traditional approach of judging surfing maneuvers 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 centered on youth activities such as action sports, music, fashion and entertainment. 
 
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 : Mick Fanning to star at 2nd annual Boost Mobile Surf Sho 
# 2 : Taj Burrow ready to unleash at the Boost Mobile Surf Sho
# 3 : Durbidge, Hobgood in line-up for Boost Mobile Surf Sho
# 4 : Coming soon  

www.boost.com.au
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www.boostsurfsho.com.au

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