Boost Mobile Surf Sho Presented by Nokia

For Immediate Release 20th April

Aussie Junior Defeats World's Best At Boost Mobile Surf Sho Presented By Nokia

Surfers Paradise (Sunday 20th April, 2008): WILDCARD entrant Owen Wright (Culburra, NSW) is surfing’s undisputed high-flyer after taking down the greatest-ever line-up of aerialists at the Boost Mobile Surf Sho presented by Nokia at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast today.

The Australian Junior champion stamped his mark on the second-annual tournament, soaring past surfing’s top names including reigning world champion Mick Fanning (Coolangatta, QLD), world no.2 Bede Durbidge (Currumbin, QLD) and defending event champion Taj Burrow (Yalingup, WA) to take the crown in excellent 1.5-metre beach break conditions.
18-year-old Wright out-flew his fellow finalist Luke Stickley (Byron Bay), boosting high over Surfers Paradise with a near-perfect 9.93 aerial move in the dying minutes of the 25-minute final to fly away with the winner-takes-all $25,000 prize cheque for the biggest pay day of his career.
On Friday, the super talent won the junior wildcard to secure a spot in today’s main event.
“It’s hard to explain how good I feel,” said Wright.
“I did a couple of good airs in the opening stages of the final, but couldn’t stick any. With a couple of minutes remaining the perfect ramp popped up and I sealed the deal.
“When I landed it I hoped no one landed anything bigger cause all the guys were capable of pulling a big move off. It feels great to win it.”
Wright emerged victorious from the water before being chaired up the beach in front of thousands of cheering spectators to the winner’s podium where he donned the perpetual surf sho champions jacket.
Surfers Paradise proved the ideal playground for today’s main event with surf conditions allowing the 20-strong field to throw down some gravity-defying moves in surfing’s biggest aerial extravaganza.
In contrast to traditional competition, the day’s format was based around a large spinning wheel (Boost Mobile Surf Sho Wheel) that dictated the aerial tricks performed by surfers.
Stickley, who finished in runner-up behind Wright, consistently lifted off above the lip to be one of the standout surfers of the day, but with the winner-takes-all prize purse he walked away with a huge dose of respect.
Finishing equal third in the five-man final were Julian Wilson (Coolum), Dru Adler (Palm Beach) and Asher Pacey (Coolangatta), who all posted impressive performances throughout the day.
Reigning world champion Fanning, just back from his honeymoon in Italy, took to the water in his first surf in over two weeks and was clearly excited to be competing under no ratings pressure in his maiden aerial event.
“I’ve never competed in an event like this, so I’m excited to be here mixing it up with everyone,” said Fanning.
“Its great to be competing in an event that’s so different. Everyone is rippin’ hard. It’s exciting to watch.”
After a slow start Fanning bounced back into contention on a red lilo to be one of the four top scorers of round two at the Boost Mobile Surf Sho.
The 26 year-old forced to exchange his surfboard for a surf mat after the event’s Game Show Wheel landed on the bizarre Goon section dictating the surfers’ craft for that heat.

World no.10 golfer and keen surfer Adam Scott joked it wasn't how he expected to see Fanning compete at his first ever-surfing event.
“I didn’t expected to see world champ Mick Fanning riding a red Lillo,” said Scott.
“This is my first ever-surfing contest, so it feels great to be here. The action is amazing.”
Defending event champion Burrow couldn’t repeat the form that saw him win last year’s inaugural event, but the world no.4 had a bash even scoring a 360-degree spin on a bodyboard.
Saturday’s qualifying winner Chris ‘Chippa’ Wilson continued his skyward brand of surfing in today’s main event, bagging a perfect 10-point ride for a superb full-rotation air reverse. Unfortunately, Wilson was unfortunately out-punted in the race for an elusive finals spot.
Not just a surf sho, the interactive three-day tournament rocked out Surfers Paradise today with a beachside music event. Hitting the stage at completion of the day’s surfing included Kwerkshoppe, 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. Find more information on the Web at http://www.boost.com.au/

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.

Media Contacts.

Mandy McKinnon.

Ph. 0417 079 941
Em. Mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com

Jake White.

Media Manager
Boost Mobile Surf Sho
Ph. 0422 987 069
Em. jake@surfingqueensland.com.au

Digital Photography.

Steve Robertson
Ph. 0407 706 874
Em. stever@surfingaustralia.com

For Immediate Release - SURFING - Boost Mobile Surf Sho presented by Nokia - April 18-20 - Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Australia.

Full Press Below:

World no.4 Taj Burrow To Defend Boost Mobile Surf Sho Presented By Nokia

Surfers Paradise (Saturday 19th April, 2008): WORLD no.4 Taj Burrow (Yallingup, WA, Aus) will have to defy a full-scale aerial attack as the next generation of high-flying aces punted their way into tomorrow’s main event of the Boost Mobile Surf Sho presented by Nokia at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast today.

Defending event champion Burrow was on hand as some of the world's hottest aerial artists punted-up-a-storm in the open men’s qualifying round before busting out some futuristic moves of his own in the day’s jet-ski assisted expression session.

Both Burrow and former world champion CJ Hobgood (Florida, USA) tipped Australian Junior champion Owen Wright (Culburra, NSW) as the surfer to watch out for after he posted another gravity-flying performance in today’s stormy 1.5-metre beach break conditions.

“Owen (Wright) is surfing really well,” said Burrow.

“I haven’t seen him surf much in real life, but his video sections are really impressive. It seems like he’s got a good strike rate at nailing airs.”

The aerial genius, who has the ability to successfully complete aerial tricks on que, is keen to jag his first victory for the 2008 season despite brilliant showings in the opening two events on this year’s ASP world tour and is fully aware of the talent he’s up against.

“It’s going to be pretty tough to defend my title,” he said.

“These guys spend a lot of time getting tricky in the air and they’re really consistent. But I’m not going to roll over. I’m going to give it my best.”

18-year-old Wright continued his sky-scraping aerial antics today, unleashing his own brand of explosive surfing to set alight the Surfers Paradise crowd.

Wright had already guaranteed his place in the main event after out-flying Australia’s hottest Pro Junior (aged 20-years and under) surfers to win yesterday’s Junior Surf Sho final.

Wright can’t wait to get a crack at the world’s top names including 2007 Boost Surf Sho champion Burrow, reigning world champion Mick Fanning, world no.2 Bede Durbidge (Currumbin), world no.13 Luke Stedman (Avalon) and retiring professional Troy Brooks (Currumbin) in the $25,000, winner-takes-all final.

“It’s awesome to be able to surf against the likes of Taj (Taj Burrow) and Mick (Mick Fanning) in competition,” said Wright.

“It’s great to be to hang out with those guys, have fun and do as many big airs in front of them. I can’t wait for tomorrow’s competition.”

Former world champion CJ Hobgood was in Surfers Paradise today ahead of tomorrow’s finale and is in good spirits despite his twin brother and fellow world tour competitor, Damien, being involved in a near-fatal surf accident this week.

World no.15 Damien is lucky to be alive after being slammed by a 4m wave on the Teahupoo reef in Tahiti, breaking his shoulder in six places.

The defending Billabong Pro Tahiti champ, Hobgood was practicing for next month’s WCT contest (May 8).

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.

The innovative surfing action will continue tomorrow with the invitational Boost Mobile Surf Sho presented by Nokia. 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.

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:

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:

About Nokia:

Media Contacts.

Mandy McKinnon.

Ph. 0417 079 941
Em. Mandy.mckinnon@bigpond.com

Jake White.

Media Manager
Boost Mobile Surf Sho
Ph. 0422 987 069
Em. jake@surfingqueensland.com.au

Owen Wright To Take On Top Guns In Boost Mobile Surf Sho Presented By Nokia
Damien Hobgood Suffers Serious Injury At Teahupoo

Surfers Paradise: (Friday 18th April 2008): A BOOMING 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.

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.

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 <http://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. Find more information on the Web at <http://www.boost.com.au/> http://www.boost.com.au <http://www.boost.com.au/> /

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.

Boost Surf Sho 2008 Event Format

Please download the Event Format in PDF format by right clicking (Cntrl - Click for Mac) the PDF document icon to the left and choosing to save the link to your desktop.

World no.1 Mick Fanning Set To Star
In Second Annual Boost Mobile Surf Sho Presented By Nokia

(Tuesday 18th March, 2008): WORLD no.1 Mick Fanning (Coolangatta, QLD) is set to light up the streets of Surfers Paradise when he lines up 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.2 Taj Burrow (Yallingup, WA) as well as former world aerial champion Josh Kerr (Coolangatta, QLD) in the innovative, ASP sanctioned $40,000 tournament.

Fanning, 27, is set to marry long-time girlfriend and Gold Coast model Karissa Dalton two weeks prior to the start of the tournament, 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.

“Kerrsy (Josh Kerr) and Taj (Taj Burrow) will be pushing the boundaries trying to boost the biggest airs, so I want to be right up there with them. 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 at www.boostsurfsho.com.au or www.boost.com.au

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 http://www.boost.com.au/

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.

For any Media or Editorial Enquiries please contact:
Hill & Knowlton PR
Sophie Coleman
Ph: + 61 2 9286 1206 / 0406 648 144
BoostMobileMedia@hillandknowlton.com.au

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