Red Bull surfers Ian Walsh, Bruce Irons and Jamie O’Brien shake up the game with a night session at Pipeline. www.redbullsurfing.com

With the completion of the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships fueled by Monster Energy earlier this month (won by Maxime Huscenot (REU) and Laura Enever (AUS) respectively), ASP International has confirmed the activation of the ASP World Junior Tour (WJT).

“The WJT is a natural development for the ASP and serves as recognition for Billabong’s vision and long-standing support for world junior surfing and for the sheer and immense surfing talent we now

The Volcom Pipeline Pro finished in fine fashion in some of the best waves of the season. And once again, Jamie O’Brien reaffirmed his supremacy over the world’s most infamous wave. Check out some of the highlights from the action.

PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Monday, February 1, 2010) – Prayers, plundered surfboards and Pipeline perfection were the order of the final day of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 5-Star Volcom Pipeline Pro, and local boy Jamie O’Brien avoided the

Pipeline is the Mecca of the surfing world, and it is at this legendary location that Volcom is proud to announce their first ever ASP event: The Volcom Pipeline Pro, a WQS 5-star event running with a waiting period from January 23rd February 5th, 2010.

Check out this clip of the huge surf (5o ft faces) that hit Maui’s north shore on Christmas Day.  According to Jaws locals this was just an average day for this big wave spot.

Hand-crafted carbon fiber short board features Proenza Schouler Spring 2010 pre-collection wave print in rice paper beneath an epoxy resin finish. An exclusive collaboration by Kirna Zabete and Proenza Schouler in cooperation with Shire Board Company. 

Beginning in 2010, ASP International will activate a One Ranking structure for the men’s ASP Dream Tour and the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS).

The concept of the ASP One Ranking structure is to make both the ASP-sanctioned World Tour and Qualifying Series events contribute to a surfer’s year-end rating. The ASP One Ranking structure will be the primary means for determining if a surfer is eligible to compete in ASP World Tour events and the highly-rated ASP Qualifying events.

Surfers will start to accumulate their respective ASP One Ranking points from the start of the 2010 season. However, the first season will be a bridge year to allow ASP to ensure that points are correct across all events and the changeover times onto the ASP World Tour are finalized.

Below is a brief summary of the ASP One Ranking System and how the crowning of the ASP World Champion will work. We have begun with 2011, as it is the first full year season of operation.

ASP One Rankings from 2011

· A surfer’s ASP ranking is determined by their best eight results from 2010. These results can come from any ASP event.

· As a surfer progresses through the 2011 ASP World Tour, they to replace and results, but always counting their best eight results from the past 12 months. Essentially, a surfer’s ranking constantly changes throughout their career (subsequent years will work in a similar fashion).

· EXAMPLE: if a surfer is counting a result from the 2010 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, once the 2011 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast comes around, they need to that result and pick up their next best. That next best result can (but does not have to) come from the 2011 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast if they perform better than the previous year or from their 9th best result of the past 12 months.

· The ASP One Ranking structure will determine which surfers qualify for the 32-man ASP World Tour events at pre-determined changeover points throughout the year. The ASP is currently considering that the changeovers will occur approximately every three events or three months. However, 2010 will be used to better analyze the results of the ASP One Ranking tem before finalizing.

· The changeover points for each season will be announced as soon as the following year’s schedule is finalized.

· A surfer cannot count the same event twice in their top eight results should that event change dates to fall twice in 12 months.

The ASP World Champion will be determined by counting only results from ASP World Tour events. Each year, a new ASP World Title race will start and surfers can only win by counting their best eight results from ASP World Tour events. The rationale behind this is to ensure that the surfers competing for the prestigious ASP World Title are all competing at a level playing field and not chasing points in ASP Qualifying events at the end of the season,

ASP Bridge Year in 2010

2010 will act as a bridge year for the transformation into the ASP One Ranking structure. ASP One Ranking points will start accumulating from the first ASP-sanctioned event of 2010 – the ASP 1-Star Movistar Pro Peru from January 15 – 17, 2010.

The ASP Top 45 (the Top 27 from the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Top 15 from the 2009 ASP WQS and three wildcards) will commence 2010 as they have in the past, with the first ASP World Tour event at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.

After the fifth ASP World Tour event (the Billabong Pro Teahupoo), the field will be reduced to the Top 32 from the 45 who qualified for the start of the 2010 season. After the final ASP World Tour event of 2010 (the Billabong Pipe Masters), the ASP will determine the Top 32 surfers for the 2011 ASP World Tour. ASP International has built in a safety net to guarantee the number of surfers that comprise the 2011 ASP Top 32 – 22 from the ASP World Tour events and 10 from the ASP One Rankings events.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

With a historic 2009 coming to a close, the 2010 ASP schedule has been released and will mark some major shifts in venues and dates in order to ensure that the world’s best surfers battle one another in the world’s best waves.

“2010 will mark some major changes for professional surfing and the schedule reflects this,” Brodie Carr, ASP International CEO, said. “We’re moving dates of certain venues to ensure that we get the best possible surf as well as adding landmark new events. Across all disciplines, the 2010 ASP schedule will see nearly $12,000,000 paid out in prize money. It’s going to be an incredible year for surfing.”

The 2010 ASP World Tour schedule is as follows:

Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, February 27 – March 10, 2010

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, March 30 – April 10, 2010

Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro, April 21 – April 30, 2010

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, July 15 – 25, 2010

Billabong Pro Teahupoo, August 23 – September 3, 2010

Hurley Pro Trestles, September 12 – 21, 2010

Quiksilver Pro France, September 25 – October 5, 2010

Rip Curl Pro Portugal, October 7 – 18, 2010

Rip Curl Pro Search, October 30 – November 10, 2010

Billabong Pipe Masters, December 8 – 20, 2010

The 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour schedule is as follows:

Roxy Pro Gold Coast, February 27 – March 10, 2010

Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach, March 30 – April 5, 2010

Taranaki Women’s Surf Festival, April 11 – 16, 2010

Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic, April 21 – 26, 2010

Movistar Peru Classic pres. by Rip Curl, TBA

Rip Curl Pro Portugal, October 7 – 11, 2010

Rip Curl Pro Search, October 30 – November 4, 2010

Gidget Pro Sunset Beach, November 24 – December 6, 2010

Billabong Pro Maui (Tentative), December 8 – 20, 2010

2010 will see nearly 200 ASP-sanctioned events around the globe.  A full schedule and more information can be found on www.aspworldtour.com

The 2009 season had one of the most competitive and publicized showdowns since Kelly and Andy’s world title battle. Mick Fanning had a less than stellar start to the year and fought his way to the top. His ultimate success came from harnessing all of his experience and eventually evolving into a whole new level of competitor.

(via: in surf news)