So it is all over the internet: Coco Ho dropped in on Layne Beachley in the Final heat of the Reef Hawaiian Pro. Layne needed a ride of 6.83 to beat out Hawaiian Carissa Moore, a close friend of Coco. After being cut of by Coco, she did not get the chance to show her stuff and possibly win the contest.

Was there a conspiracy amongst the friends? Did this incident cost Layne a chance to win a contest in her retirement year? These are all issues being debated in the surf world.

The latest news is the ASP Athlete Rules & Discipline Committee reviewed video, held interviews from those present, and made a ruling. Coco will not be fined, but will be required to attend counseling on the rules and sportsmanship expected in ASP events.

In a statement to the media, the ASP Rules Judge Robert Gerard said :

“Coco is a fine young athlete and person and as a result of my investigation, notwithstanding the countless opinions being thrown about in the surf media and blogs, I am completely satisfied that this incident was the result of over-zealousness in the dying moments of a Final heat by a 17-year-old competitor who was simply trying to get a score and qualify for the ASP Women’s World Tour. I could go on in great detail about what was going on in Coco’s mind at the time of drop-in/interference, but I am convinced that it was not directed toward harming Layne Beachley’s efforts to secure a win.”

Lucky for Coco, a relative new comer, the ASP saw things that way. She offered the statement:

“I feel so badly about this incident, especially since it involved Layne who I hold in such high regard and who has done so much for women’s surfing. I have certainly learned a lot from this whole experience and I am stoked that the ASP did not just go by the rumors and the press, but worked with me and my coach and my family to make sure I got to apologize and use this as a learning tool. For me, I just want to look forward and be the best I can be and I want to do everyone proud including my family, my sponsors, Hawaii, my country, and the sport.”

So what does Layne think? Her only comment to the press at this time is: “That’s what happens here in Hawaii.” Sounds like the Aloha spirit has not reached the women on tour this year. Though as a 7 time world ASP Women’s World Champ is use to letting her surfing do the talking.

Layne will be paddling out this week at the Roxy Pro Sunset. Today was another lay day as the event organizers are waiting for the surf to be more consistent. We will see if Layne can move up from her number 3 position and retire as the 2008 champ. Check back to read the Roxy Pro Sunset news. You can watch the action at www.triplecrownofsurfing.com

The Movistar Classic moved to a new location yesterday, from Mancora to Piscina, giving competitors a chance to compete in three to four foot swell. Stephanie Gilmore surfed consistently throughout the day, but managed to peak in the finals when it counted, and came out tops scoring the highest score of the day and taking the title.

Silvana Lima, who is incidentally lying 4th on the ratings, also had a ripper of a day, but just couldn’t seem to pull it together in the finals. Both will head to Hawaii with one common goal in mind, to win the 2008 ASP World Champ Title.

The big upset of the day happened when Rebecca Woods defeated former ratings leader and event favourite Sofia Mulanovich in the Quarterfinals, adding to the already tight race to the Title.

While it appears that Gilmore and Mulanovich are running away with the race for the title, it is obvious, especially after what happen in Peru, that anything can still happen.

Highlights from the Movistar Classic Mancora Peru pres. by Rip Curl are accessible here.

The next stop on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour is the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, Hawaii from November 24 - December 6, 2008.

Current ASP Women’s World Tour Ratings: Following Event No. 6 of 8
1 Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 5148
2 Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 4963
3 Layne Beachley (AUS) 4454
4 Silvana Lima (BRA) 4166
5 Amee Donohoe (AUS) 3691
6 Samantha Cornish (AUS) 3612
7 Rebecca Woods (AUS) 3050
8 Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 3038
9 Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 2628
10 Melanie Bartels (HAW) 2544
11 Julia De La Rosa (PER) 2474
12 Karina Petroni (USA) 2244
13 Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 2232
14 Megan Abubo (HAW) 2064
15 Nicola Atherton (AUS) 1836
16 Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS) 1692
17 Serena Brooke (AUS) 1656
18 Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 912

Layne Beachley, 7 x World Surfing Champ, announced last month that she is retiring from professional surfing at the end of the 2008/09 season. Although it is a massive blow to women’s surfing, it’s no surprise really as Layne has definitely put in adequate time over the last few decades, and can be stoked with her solid involvement in the growth and evolution of women’s surfing.

Layne got her first taste of life as a Pro at the young age of 16 when she made the decision to focus all her attention on the tour and competing, which back in the late Eighties was considered ‘a big thing’. She kicked off her professional career by winning her first event in 1993. By 1998 she had her first World Title under her belt, and has spent the last decade gathering a collection of trophies, awards, accolades and building in her own words, ‘an empire’ in the process.

As well as that, Layne has been a pivotal factor in the development of women’s surfing as we know it today. Formerly a massively male dominated sport, Layne’s hard work, constant efforts and skills have helped women’s surfing enter the inner golden circle of surfing and gain the respect and recognition it deserves. Gone are the days of women being the weaker sex, or being laughed at and gone are the days of contests offering virtually no prize cash purses, or getting embarrassing amounts of media coverage. Women’s professional surfing is a main stream sport now, and gets the coverage and attention it does because of women like Layne. With her involvement in movies like Blue Crush and Step into Liquid, she has promoted the sport beyond the boundaries that have kept it such in such a niche in the past too, and helped to open up its glorious lifestyle to the large and enthusiastic female masses globally.

Not only has Layne focussed her energy on surfing, but she has spread her ambition across different platforms too. In 2003, she started her own project company in Australia called Aim for the Stars Foundation, which was created with the aim to inspire Australian athletes and women to dream and achieve. Layne maintains that the inspiration behind her foundation was that she realized her personal struggles and hardships that she faced in her professional surfing career have given her the experience, that once transformed into knowledge and advice that can help people in similar positions to achieve their dreams. She also has her own company and brand, Beachley Athletics, and sponsors her own event on the world tour, The Beachley Classic, offering one of the most generous prize purses on the entire circuit. On top of all of that, Layne has recently released her own biography called Beneath the Waves. In it, she opens up to the world and surfing community and talks about how she dealt with personal issues, like finding out she was an adopted child and was in fact conceived through rape. For most the read is shockingly honest, and downright genuine, and leaves you feeling motivated and inspired. She talks about the tour, working to provide for herself and in the end, achieving her dreams. It’s about climbing over obstacles and letting go of the past.

Layne is currently lying 3rd on the tour, made the official announcement last week, saying that she was retiring from Professional Surfing as of the end of the season. When asked by an ASP representative as to why now, especially when she is lying 3rd on the tour and performing at her best, she commented that “I am an all-or-nothing kind of girl and to achieve the goals I set for myself in surfing, I have to give it my all and I’m not. It doesn’t mean that I can’t win world titles, but my priorities are beginning to shift and my focus and my passion in business and charity work and my ambassador roles is beginning to have more appeal to me than competing for a living.’

It will be sad to say goodbye to such an incredible women, although we can be sure that Layne will always remain an active figure in women’s surfing and on the tour. By retiring she is simply opening the door for the future of women’s surfing. In her own words, she has ‘instilled hunger and passion into the future generations of female competitive surfing coming up through the ranks. I know Steph (Gilmore) looks at me and wants what I got. It was Lisa Andersen before me that gave me the motivation to become seven-times ASP Women’s World Champion. That kind of drive and dedication that it takes to be a champion is the legacy I think I am leaving behind and it’s something I’m very proud of.

You pull your clothes off in a hurry flashing bits and bobs at the other people who are pulling into the parking lot, those other people who could potentially take your waves! One leg in the wetsuit, sunscreen being smooshed on your face and in your eyes, leashes, wax in your mouth, other arm through…right you’re ready to go. And then you stare at the nifty electronic key in your hand and think ‘What the hell should I do with my key?’

By now the other surfers are on the edge of the water and you’re scuttling around trying to find some shrubbery to hide it in that’s close enough to the water to keep an eye on it, but also not to obvious. Yep, that guy who parked next to you just got his first barrel already and you’re looking for a plastic bag so you can bury the key in the sand. And you just really hope the tide isn’t shifting right now, because it won’t be so fun if it gets washed away.

Eventually you get into the water, and when you get out after surfing yourself stupid, someone has picked up the can you were using as a marker for your buried key, and you’re forced to dig up half the beach to find it. Familiar? Well fear not dear fancy key owners, there are two options that will help you solve this problem one time shoe shine.

Firstly, there is the Surf Lock. An Aussie product, the Surf Lock is perfect for when you don’t have a key string in your suit or your boardies, when you want to surf in a bikini and are in a relatively safe place. It’s like an enormous padlock with a number code to open it up. You put your key inside and snap it onto your tow loop or door handle. It looks pretty solid, but if you’re in a seriously dodgy isolated place where someone can spend quality time working with a crowbar and a hammer I don’t know how long it would last. But it is infinitely handy, as most normal surf spots are pretty busy and no-one could get away busting it open.

But for uber peace of mind, there is the surf key pouch. This is about as water-proof as you can get, and is made of specialized rubber and plastic. I got my hands on the Derevko model. There are three zip-lock seals outside of the pouch that fold up on each other, and a Velcro strip to keep it wrapped up nice and tight. It’s about the size of a cell phone and has a string to tie it into your suit or boardies, and you might think it would feel awkward but it really doesn’t. It sits snugly in the hollow of your back, and you’ll forget it’s even there! It was the best $8/R50 I’ve ever spent!

What is so hard about it though, and are there a set of simple tips that will stop you from making a fool out of yourself, time and time again? As with most things in life, practice makes perfect, so the more time you spend on the mountain catching lifts, the better you are going to be. For those of you that don’t have an entire season to work on you dismounts though, take these bits of advice into consideration next time you find yourself approaching a lift ramp…

1. Don’t physc yourself out. When you’re on the ski lift, it’s easy to get all worked up and nervous, but try your absolute best stay calm and collected. Deep breaths and just remind yourself that it’s just a little ramp. The more you build it up, the more terrifying it’s going to be.

2. As you approach the unload area, get yourself ready. Lift the front/nose of your board up. The last thing you want to do is get caught with your nose down and have your board, and then body, sucked under the chair lift. Apart from being utterly painful, it’s got to be the most embarrassing thing ever. So avoid it all together, by being ready.

3. A lot of people may have told you this and the reason is because it happens all the time, but make sure you’re not attached to the lift in any way. I’ve seen it happen before, people trying to get off but part of the clothing gets lodged in somewhere and before you know it, they’re being dragged around the lift and are on their way back down the mountain.

4. As soon as the chair slows down and your board comes into contact with the snow, put all your weight over the front half of your board and you front foot.

5. As you move from a seated position to a standing position, with your weight over your front foot, use your hands to push yourself away from the chair and down the slope. Don’t wait for the chair to push you. While you are still learning, don’t try to unnecessarily steer yourself, just push off and go straight. Of course if you are on the sides you will have to eventually move off to either the right or left, but if you think you are going to stack it, simply let the people you are riding up with know you’re a beginner.

6. Once you’ve pushed off, place your back foot (the one not strapped into your binding) on the stomp pad and alter your weight so that you’re standing over the middle of your board.

7. Remember, your front foot is still the one that is controlling your direction, so if you do want to try and turn a bit, put more weight over your front foot.

8. Keep your centre of gravity low, so that means bend those knees of yours. If you look like you are trying to do the ‘Surfing Safari’ dance then you’re doing it right. Get low, evenly distribute your weight and point your shoulder and hand to where you want to go.

9. When you eventually slow down to a stop, take your free foot off of the board and push out of the unload area. Last thing you want to do is successfully get off a lift and then get mowed down by the next set of riders.

It will definitely take practice, but keep at it and in time, it will be like second nature. In the mean time, keep confident, keep your weight balanced (so don’t try to dig any edges in), and point to where you want to end up!

Got any funny stories about falling off lifts, we’d love to hear them!

But let me paint a scenario for you, and tell me if you can relate?

1. You get to the beach with your best fluro boardies, your board is waxed, your lotion is smeared on thick, and you’re ready to surf your guts out.

2. Hmm, okay it looks a little small, maybe a bit choppier than you’d like but there must be waves out there.

3. Paddle out. Ho-hum, preeeettty small. Ooh there’s a wave, paddle, paddle, aaah, it left you behind.

4. Okay here’s a bigger one, paddle like bunny rabbit on smack, get onto the wave, stand up, and the section in front of you falls down into foam and the rest of the wave races away leaving you panting like a dog and very annoyed. At all familiar?

Well, it’s not all you. Our regular thruster style boards are not made for dealing with summer waves, and this becomes obvious when we’re left eating foamie dust. And now, dear reader, I offer you the solution.

When summer hits with its surfing pitfalls it is time to extend your quiver. I know it’s money that we can ill-afford but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. It will make you a better surfer and a happier person though, which is something that religious fundamentalists strive for their whole lives. You can achieve it with a simple purchase, and who said shopping was the root of all evil?

There are a variety of boards that you can invest in, but the best board for a surfer who doesn’t want to compromise on their performance, is the Fish. On that note, a lot of people are quite reluctant try out a different board when they are super-comfortable on their normal ride. They are also worried that they’ll spend a whole bunch of cash and then find that the board limits them, and that they look like a kook. The beauty with the Fish is that it can be as high performance as you like, it turns on a dime, and has an awesome shape.

When choosing or designing your fish these are the elements that you’ll need to look at:

Length: A fish is typically 2 – 3 inches shorter than your regular board, so if you’re riding a 6′0″ you can drop it down to a 5′8″ or 5′9″.

Width: To make up for the drop in length, the width pops out by about two or three inches too. So if your board is an 18 ¾’s you can bump it up to a 20 ¾’s. This adds all the extra volume that you need to make up for what you lose by shortening the board. You want the board to be more buoyant than your regular board anyway, which helps in ‘floating’ over foamy sections, which feel like road bumps on a thinner board.

Thickness: This will generally stay the same, although shapers may have different advice.

Rocker: One of the most important things that you will find on a Fish is that the rocker is much flatter, which brings the base of the board in direct contact with the water, which allows the board to plane at a lower speed.

Fin-System: Traditionally the Fish uses a twin-fin system, which is very loose and gives the board an almost skateboard type feel. However it is more common today to use a thruster set-up of three fins, which allows you more control over the board and provides more drive. Again, it’s up to you and how retro you’re feeling!

Tail: The name ‘Fish’ came from the board’s resemblance of a stubby fish, and the shape of the tail adds to this. The tail on a fish is pulled in to allow for easier turning, especially on waves where there is limited space to do turns. They typically have a swallowtail shape, which I think looks really nice, but also have the groove for tight turns.

And there you have it! All these elements add up to a board that skims over messy surf; is easy to paddle and is easy to catch waves on! Yes, it’s the cost of another board, but since you’re surfing it only in summer it should last you a good few years, and it will improve your surfing more than you can imagine.

Go beanie-shopping. Go and get yourself a new beanie for the season! Check out some of this season’s designs and find something cute. It’s honestly a perfect time, with holiday sales going strong, you won’t feel too guilty buying just one little thing for yourself right about now. Keep posted for our beanie guide.

Take your board in for a hot-wax or full tune-up. Did you put your board aside after your final trip last season? Chances are it’s probably a little dinged from all of your runs, at least I know that mine is! Take it in to the shop for some TLC (and you can check out the guys working at the board shop while you’re at it).

Make sure your car, racks, and chains are ready. Do you have to pack chains each time you head to the mountains? Every season, you should always make sure they’re not worn or frayed, and if so, replacing them is a must. Then, if you have some free time maybe you should try to give yourself a refresher on how to put them on. Now, how about your racks? Are they covered in rust? It may be a good time to replace them as well, or maybe they just need a tiny adjustment or tightening so that you don’t lose your board at 70mph. Finally, whatever car you’re getting there with, make sure to ask yourself if it is ready for the winter? Before any long drive, make sure to check all your fluids, especially oil and antifreeze. It’s not very fun breaking down in the middle of a snow storm.

Watch some snowboarding videos. This is obviously a no brainer. You don’t even have to go out and buy a DVD. Simply head over to rent a film! You’ll find yourself with snow lust in no time!

Check your calendar and plan where to go each long weekend! Personally, I suck at planning, but there’s something REALLY exciting about planning trips to the snow, even if you think you might not actually be able to follow through. I’m sure you can relate? Do you have any of your snowboarding trips planned yet? Well, if not, it’s time to hop on it! Rooms/condos for the long weekends usually sell out way in advance at the ski resort towns around the country, so get those reservations now!

So you see, even on a steaming hot, sunburn radar, summer-like day, you can get yourself psyched up for lots and lots of snow and hopefully a ton of fun.

The effects of altitude on the body can be felt instantly. Apart from the obvious lack of air when doing anything physical, it can make you more sleepy, lethargic and in some cases, a little loopy. I definitely notice the affects immediately after a long drive inland and up to the mountains. I tend to have a racing heart, my breathing is much shallower, and I virtually have no stamina. While there isn’t much that can be done to prevent the effects of altitudes (I mean what are you going to do, ride with an oxygen tank on your back?), there are a couple of things you can do to reduce some of the major side effects.

1. Drink TONS of water. I always knew that it was pretty easy to get dehydrated up on the hill, although, I must admit I generally thought it was because I didn’t take enough water with me. I have since learned however, that apparently the body doesn’t conserve as much water when you’re at higher altitudes due to a decrease in the hormone that regulates the body’s water retention. So what does this mean? Drink up! Drink as much as you can physically handle. When you get to a place that has water - start pounding the agua! Try your best to drink at least two+ bottles over the course of your day on the hill. Stay hydrated! If you don’t stay hydrated you can black out or hallucinate. Being dehydrated will affect your performance both physically and mentally.

2. Don’t exert yourself unnecessarily. As I mentioned several times above, the result of the higher altitude and “thinner” air makes you breathe a lot harder and your heart beat much faster. So take it easy. Replace running up stairs or for the bus with leisurely strolls, well for the first night at least. Let your body acclimatize a bit before doing anything crazy.

3. Pack snacks. Load up with simple treats – protein bars, fruit (though be careful of round ones because if you fall the wrong way, you could get hurt) and a personal favorite, peanut butter and jelly. They’re only about 3-400 calories a pop, and the peanut butter is a fantastic source of energy. In fact, all nuts are. So walnuts, pecans, almonds, whatever you can get your hands on would be a good idea to bring along.

Hopefully, by the end of the 2nd day you should start to feel a tiny bit better - with less of racing heart and more regular breathing. If you genuinely don’t start feeling better, then you might be suffering from Altitude sickness, which is caused from a rapid change in altitude. You do get altitude sickness medication, which is worth looking into. Keep a close eye on FactiveGRL to learn more about altitude sickness and how to avoid it.

Keep in mind that the quads (thigh muscles) are huge muscles, so you need plenty of oxygen going through your body as you perform these workouts. Remember to breathe! A rule of thumb to help you remember when to breathe is to blow out when the exercise is hard. For instance, when performing a squat, it’s easy to lower your body, but when rising it is difficult. So breathe out the entire time you are lifting or rising. You’ll notice right away it gives you the extra energy to finish the workout. Make proper breathing a habit.

SQUATS WITH A BALL

*Place an exercise ball between the wall and the curve of your lower back while standing up, legs out just a step or two in front of you.

*Stand with your feet hip-width apart, pointing forward.

*Lower your body until your legs/knees bend to 90 degrees

*Press with your heels and lift your body back up. Lean back against the ball as you do so, breathing out all the way up.

Repeat for a total of 3 sets of 15 to start. To make this exercise more difficult, stand on a BOSU ball or resistance discs. Also try plie squats by spreading your legs wide, feet pointing out at an angle. By using this stance, you’ll work the inside of your thigh.

ONE-LEGGED SQUATS

*Stand up nice and tall, shoulders back, on one foot.

*Put the other foot either in front of you (leg bent at the knee) or behind you.

*Slowly lower your body until your knee is bent

*Rise up slowly

Try working one leg at a time, then switching after all of your reps. For beginners or days that you have less balance, try barely touching your toe on top of your foot to stabilize you.

Besides these two exercises, take one day a week to work out on three to four machines at the gym that focus on your legs. Lunges are killers, but they work - hands down. Running, jogging, and walking on the treadmill with an incline also helps tone up your legs. Try building up your endurance on the elliptical, too. If you want to see results, remember to always increase the incline so that you are not on a flat surface the entire time you are on a cardio machine!

I watched a program on Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado recently, and picked up a few tips that I want to share.

Anticipate turns and stops. In the snow or ice, it’s extremely slick, (as some of us have learned the hard way) so you need more than the normal stopping distance compared to when stopping on a dry road. Proceed to the stop street/traffic light/stopped vehicle with the car in control, and always make sure to leave plenty of room for cars in front of and around you, when possible. Try to avoid rapid movements, which can lead to loss of control, or in simplest terms – WIPING OUT! Don’t ever drive too fast in icy conditions, unless you have chains on, which will stop you from going fast anyway. When you are going fast you will not be prepared to stop suddenly, which is how most accidents in snowy conditions occurs. It is considered a crime to slam on breaks in ice, as you’ll simply skid and lose control. To avoid having to slam on breaks, decrease your overall speed.

Don’t over steer. I am referring to the tendency we have to assume that our cars will behave the same way they do in snowy, icy conditions as they do on dry roads. Obvious fact – they don’t! Make sure to approach turns slowly and don’t whip the wheel around. Over steering is likely to send the car into a skid, to which we usually overcorrect (spin the wheel in the other direction of the original turn) and make the car fishtail wildly. Ehh…not fun.

Look where you WANT to go. In the car, try to focus on picking the path where you initially want it to go. Instinctually, your hands will turn the steering wheel to keep it on that path. Do not be distracted by obstacles, because then you’ll find yourself subconsciously steering into them.

If you are interested in taking a driving class, look into the Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat Springs, Colorado if it’s close to you. If not just do a google search for something similar in your area. They offer a range of classes, all the way from a half-day of basic winter driving safety fundamentals, through to a high-intensity 2-day course where you can learn all of the advanced tricks for winter driving as used by world-class rally drivers. In this class, you’ll even learn “the ‘Scandinavian Flick’ as well as other rally-based cornering, acceleration, and braking techniques. Whoa, now that sounds pretty intense! On the show, they put a reporter behind the wheel to actually try to take the class in Colorado and practice his skills on the ice and snow-covered track that Bridgestone maintains for lessons. It’s a good skill to have, and something that could potentially save lives.

Be safe, and share your driving stories or tips with us!